ã€ŠThe God Shards [A Progression LitRPG]ã€‹


 World Map

    Hello, thank you for clicking on The God Shards! Since there''s a lot of travel in this story, I thought it might be useful to provide a world map. Currently only the countries are labelled, but I''m working on creating a more detailed version of this map and will update this accordingly.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    I realized some of the borders are a little unclear on this map, so here''s also a (much less pretty) version with more obvious ones.

 Chapter 1: Emblem of Beginnings

    Chapter 1: Emblem of Beginnings

    The [Executioner]¡¯s blade was exact and precise. Under the evening light, the slums were dyed in a warm gold that outlined the crowded, crooked wooden buildings and the scratches atop the scaffold. Sindrey had gone through a number of executioners in its years, some worse than others. This one was a professional.

    A crowd clustered around the raised platform like fluttering moths. Some hollered and jeered, a few gasping and drawing back as the victim¡¯s head was severed clean off. It landed on the worn wood with a thump, and the next person was brought forward.

    No one yelled too loud, of course. The prison warden stood off to the side, staring down at the crowd with hard eyes, while a line of guards in shiny armor circled the perimeter of the area. Shrieking would draw too much attention to oneself, and no one wanted to be accused of sympathy for an Empire spy.

    The newest victim walked past the executioner¡¯s billowing, stained cloak on shaking legs, hunching in on himself. His hands were tied in front of him, and the crowd got a little louder, a little more mocking, as he kneeled. This one must be unpopular.

    Standing at the edge of the crowd, Leo frowned and peered up at the scaffold, activating [Judgement].

    Name: Stanley

    Age: 46

    Level: 13

    Class: [Shopkeeper, Tier 0]

    Personal Skill: [Reliance Lvl 6]

    Leo clicked his tongue. Another false accusation, if his mundane class was anything to go by. Any criminal worth this sort of attention would¡¯ve had their class altered by the system ages ago, or they¡¯d at least be Tier 1.

    Tier 0 classes, unlike the ¡°proper¡± tiers, weren¡¯t set in stone. They¡¯d change to match whatever best described a person, which was one of the things that made poor slum folks like them so ¡°unreliable¡± to all the people living in the respectable parts of town.

    Personally, Leo thought it was bullshit. If you asked him, it was a whole lot easier to judge trustworthiness among Tier 0s. His [Judgement] personal skill let him view other people¡¯s stat sheets, though it was limited to only the first block of information and gave no descriptions. It was still a hell of a lot more than other people could do, and the skill had saved his ass more times than he could count.

    Being able to see that a supposed fruit vendor was actually a [Trafficker] let him stay safe. He couldn¡¯t do that with Tier 1s. A Tier 1 [Doctor] could go on a killing spree, but their class wouldn¡¯t change.

    Leo turned off [Judgement]. It was unfortunate, but he wasn¡¯t going to waste his time feeling sorry for the man. Not when this was such a valuable opportunity.

    Scanning the crowd, he hunched his shoulders and slipped deeper into the throng of people.

    ¡°Three strokes!¡± someone yelled, and Leo cringed. He wasn¡¯t going to lie and say he was a saint who wouldn¡¯t wish that on anyone (there were some people he definitely wouldn¡¯t mind subjecting to that fate), but for an innocent shopkeeper three slices for a beheading was rough.

    His eyes sifted through the mass of figures, landing on the source of the yell. Short, middle-aged, bloody apron¡ªsome kind of butcher. His pocket was full, and he watched the scaffold with rapt attention, a manic glee in his gaze.

    Leo edged closer, keeping his movements natural as he pushed through the crowd. In the corner of his eye, the executioner moved, sword gleaming in the evening light.

    In the end, it only took one swing for the victim¡¯s head to go flying. Leo didn¡¯t see the crowd¡¯s reaction. He was already slipping away, hand in his pocket, fingers gripping the rough fabric of a weathered wallet. He didn¡¯t stop moving until he made it safely into a nearby alleyway and ducked behind a pile of garbage. Across his vision, system notifications filtered in.

    [You have successfully stolen [1] wallet]

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [1] other party member]

    [Progress towards next level: 93%]

    93%. He was a lot closer to leveling than he thought. A few more successes and he¡¯d hit level 18. Two more levels after that and he¡¯d reach the Tier 0 cap, when class changing became possible.

    After scanning the alleyway one last time, Leo opened the wallet and started counting. A grin spread across his face. That butcher had way more than he¡¯d thought. He counted again to be certain, mentally adding the amount to his savings along with the money he¡¯d earned doing odd jobs that day. Thirty more arans, and there¡¯d finally be enough.

    100 gamils. That was the cost of a single Tier 1 class promotion crest. Double that for two.

    Hands trembling a little, Leo stuffed the coins back inside the wallet. Without a crest, a Tier 0 was forever stuck at the level 20 cap, but once he had one, he¡¯d be able to pick a Tier 1 class. A Tier 1 class opened up a world of opportunities. It meant a chance to finally escape the slums, a chance to get a job without getting turned away the second he was asked to show his stat screen and the [Thief] class popped up.

    Leo shoved the wallet back into his pocket. He¡¯d find somewhere to pawn the leather off later, once enough time had passed. He used to leave empty purses and wallets behind, but he knew better now. All it took was one person with a [Tracking] skill to discover it and he was screwed. Besides, they could fetch a good price depending on their quality.

    The [Thief] poked his head out the alleyway. Across the street, a rickshaw screeched. The puller was old, muscles straining and sweat dripping down a wrinkled face as he struggled to pull the two passengers behind him. Leo¡¯s eyes lingered on the struggling man for a moment before he looked away.

    From here, the scaffold was a shadowy shape, the crowd surrounding it a faceless sea. The executioner was pulling out a bag for the bodies and heads, the line of prisoners all disposed of. The warden flicked his wrist, dismissing the guards, and turned away.

    A few people began to turn and leave. It was as good a time as any, Leo thought. He waited until a few more passersby flooded the streets, then the [Thief] slipped out the alley and hurried back home.

    ¡ª

    ¡°Home¡± was little more than an abandoned, half-destroyed building. The roof and doorway had long been caved in, and weathered, jagged debris blocked the entrance. The only way inside was through a small hole on the side, which involved slipping between crooked pillars barely far apart enough for a single person to get through.

    Leo had found this place when he¡¯d first arrived in Sindrey, and the shelter at night was worth the inevitable bruises and cuts from trying to get in. They would never have survived so long without it. Besides, the narrow opening helped deter ¡°unwanted guests,¡± though that didn¡¯t stop him from checking the whole place every time he made it back just to be safe.

    Leo glanced up at the sky through the gap in the ceiling over the building¡¯s old living room. Rosy streaks were beginning to filter through long, flat clouds, and he could hear the bustle of workers readying to return for the day. He should be back by now, Leo thought.

    Hand clenched around the wallet in his pocket, the [Thief] glanced around. ¡°Allan?¡±

    No response. Leo frowned. It wasn¡¯t like him to be late.

    Silently, he pulled up the party map. It wasn¡¯t particularly detailed, but the glowing markers did give a general sense of location. Allan¡¯s dot was within the block.

    Leo was about to check the entrance area when the creaking of metal sounded just outside the building. He spun around and moved over to the opening in the wall, pushing aside some debris and peering through the crack. He grinned as a familiar figure pulled into the alleyway.

    Allan set down his rickshaw, the wheels releasing a final squeak, and he moved to chain it in place.

    ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± Leo said. He stepped aside, making space for the man to slip through the hole and into the building proper. Allan looked apologetic.

    ¡°Sorry, I got caught up in the square.¡± The [Rickshaw Puller] scrutinized the opening, then carefully heaved himself through, wincing as his leg caught the edge of a broken support beam. Being tall always made slipping into these sorts of spaces harder. ¡°Was that the second one this week?¡±

    ¡°Third if you don¡¯t count all the floggings,¡± Leo corrected. ¡°Anyway, Allan, guess what?¡± He pulled out the wallet, opening it and revealing its gleaming contents proudly. ¡°46 arans.¡±

    Allan¡¯s eyes widened as he stared down at the thick wallet, half in awe and half in disbelief, and Leo handed it to him to count as well.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna head out again tomorrow morning. Two more should do it.¡± Normally he avoided pickpocketing more than one person in such a close time span¡ªit was all too easy to get caught, and the bribe to get out of prison would set back their savings by months. But this was a special case. They were so close he could practically taste it.

    ¡°Actually¡­¡±

    Allan reached into his pocket and pulled out a worn bag of sweaty coins. Leo¡¯s eyes widened, rapidly counting them. 23 arans.

    ¡°The fuck? Did you rob someone?¡± Leo held the coins up, searching for any signs of forgery, but they were legitimate. Allan looked proud.

    ¡°One of my passengers tipped really well.¡±

    Leo lowered the coins, frowning. Sure, Allan was a very good [Rickshaw Puller]. Tall and strong, muscular where Leo was wiry, he could pull rickshaws fast and keep them steady while he ran.

    Of course, it helped that he had a good-natured personality and was handsome enough to have gotten more than a few unsavory comments over the years. Dark hair and eyes, lightly tanned skin, and well defined features that looked way too noble for the slums. If it was between him and one of the older, world weary rickshaw pullers who were one fall away from croaking, people very often chose Allan.

    Still, even then it was very difficult to earn so much¡ªnot when fares were so low. There was a reason you didn¡¯t see many rickshaws in Sindrey¡¯s center. They were ¡°unsightly¡± and the people there could afford actual carriages. Leo squinted.

    ¡°How many rides did you take?¡±

    Allan¡¯s voice was light. ¡°Oh, you know. Just the usual.¡±

    The [Thief]¡¯s eyes narrowed further.

    ¡°How. Many.¡±

    ¡°...Eight.¡±

    Leo didn¡¯t yell, but he did level Allan with the most disapproving glare he could muster. The [Rickshaw Puller] had on one of those innocent looks that really shouldn¡¯t work for someone with his build, but almost always succeeded with anyone who wasn¡¯t Leo.

    ¡°At least it wasn¡¯t ten?¡± Allan tried.

    Leo groaned. ¡°Just hurry up and use [Renewal].¡± The last time Allan had taken on more than five rides in one day, his legs had been swollen for weeks afterwards, and it had taken another month before he could run properly again.

    By the end of the ordeal, Leo was seriously considering destroying the rickshaw, but he knew Allan would just go out and rent one from the old shed owner if he did, and he¡¯d be damned if he let that happen. The current rickshaw belonged to an old puller who¡¯d allowed Allan to use it in exchange for a percentage of his daily fares. The percentage was higher than the old one, but Leo had insisted on the switch after he¡¯d happened to overhear some of the rickshaw shed owner¡¯s ¡°comments.¡±

    Suffice to say, Leo had cussed the owner out, found somewhere else to rent a rickshaw, then spread nasty rumors about the shed owner for good measure. Sure, it was petty, but in Leo¡¯s opinion there were certain things you just didn¡¯t fuck with. For him, Allan was at the top of the list. He would never have survived the past five years without him.

    ¡°It¡¯s really not that bad, they weren¡¯t very long trips?¡±

    ¡°Uh huh.¡± Leo pulled up Allen¡¯s stat sheet. Since they were party members, he didn¡¯t even need to use his [Judgement] skill.

    Name: Allan

    Age: 24

    Level: 17

    Class: [Rickshaw Puller, Tier 0]

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.Personal Skill: [Wrath Lvl 1]

    Health: 89%

    Stamina: 17%

    Mana: 14%

    Strength: 16

    Magic: 10

    Constitution: 15

    Agility: 15

    Defense: 15

    Resistance: 8

    Mana: 14

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Endurance Lvl 2], [Weather Tolerance Lvl 1], [Athletics Lvl 2]

    Active Skills (3/8): [Celerity Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 2], [Cleave Lvl 2]

    ¡°You¡¯re checking my stats, aren¡¯t you.¡±

    ¡°Sure am.¡± Leo clicked his tongue. His health wasn¡¯t as low as he¡¯d feared, but that stamina and mana were abysmal. ¡°Just don¡¯t do it again. Seriously.¡±

    The man saluted cheerily. Leo rolled his eyes and raised a hand for Allan to give him back the money. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll put it with the savings.¡±

    As Allan handed over the wallet, however, the [Thief]¡¯s eye caught on something. The cloth lining one side of the wallet was just a bit thicker than everywhere else.

    His eyes narrowed, and Leo peeled the cloth back. 10 arans dropped out and landed on the floor with a clatter.

    For a second both he and Allan just stared down at the coins.

    ¡°...Hey, Leo? How much more did you say we needed?¡±

    As the shock wore off, a wide grin slowly spread across the [Thief]¡¯s features.

    ¡°After this? Nothing.¡±

    Five years of saving. Five years of scraping by on the bare minimum for food, dodging the guards, sleeping with one eye open, returning with aching muscles from lugging garbage and any other odd job he could find. Five years, and it was finally over.

    Leo¡¯s eyes darted up to the sky. It wasn¡¯t quite sunset just yet. If he left now, he could make it to Wallace¡¯s and be back before nightfall. He distantly realized his hands were trembling, giddiness and excitement in equal measure. His fingers clenched around the wallet, and he swallowed.

    ¡°I''m heading out. You stay here and rest,¡± he said. ¡°No excuses.¡±

    "You sure you don''t me to go with you?"

    "I''ll be fine," Leo assured. "Wallace knows me. Besides, you don''t like the guy, right?"

    Allan frowned, but didn''t deny the statement. "Be careful," he finally said.

    Leo gave a mock salute, then turned to exit the building.

    ¡ª

    As the sun began to sink, the shadows of Sindrey¡¯s slums lengthened, stretching across the dusty road. Workers rushed past, eager to get home before night, and beggars hurriedly searched for shelter. You could never predict which nights would be safe, and making the wrong guess would get you killed.

    The closer Leo got to his destination, the faster his heart raced. He kept his eyes flitting about, moving from alley to alley. The money weighed heavy in his bag, and he resisted the urge to keep a hand over it. Doing so would just make it obvious that he had something valuable on him. Even if this was just a fraction of their total savings, it was still a high enough amount to tempt a desperate drifter who hadn¡¯t eaten in a week.

    Better to blend in, let people see nothing but another poor slum resident running home before the sun set. For most, the fear of the Silence overrode the temptation to mug someone so close to night. Without wards protecting Sindrey, they were left to their own devices after sunfall, and money didn¡¯t matter if you were killed the next hour.

    The [Thief] swerved around a passing carriage, the horses¡¯ hooves pounding against the dusty road in the carriage man''s haste to get away from the area.

    On the street over, a rickshaw puller collapsed in a heap on the ground, the rickshaw collapsing and his customer spitting curses from the back. How many times had Leo feared he¡¯d return home and see no one there, only to find Allan fallen somewhere on the street, just another rickshaw puller left to die? How many times had he feared the guards would kick them out of that abandoned building, leaving them the ones to scramble for shelter when night came?

    No more, Leo thought. With this final installment, they¡¯d finally, finally be able to buy the badges, and it would all be over.

    At the end of the road, warm light spilled from the windows of a two story shop. The building was constructed out of stone unlike the vast majority of wooden buildings in the area, and it stood on the border between the slums and the ¡°respectable¡± parts of Sindrey.

    Leo¡¯s pace slowed. Surrounding the building, a few guards mulled about, casually eyeing the passersby. Wallace had never hired guards before.

    Leo took a second to straighten out his clothes, attempting in vain to brush some of the filth off of them. He peered at his reflection in a nearby dusty window, and hazel eyes stared back.

    His brown hair was a mess, jutting out in every direction despite his attempts to smooth it out. Dirt smeared bronze skin, and he tried in vain to get it off. He would never look truly presentable, not in clothes that tattered, but he had to at least look decent enough for the guards to let him in.

    Inhaling, the [Thief] straightened his back and strode forward confidently. He didn¡¯t give the guards a second glance even as he felt their eyes following him, simply pushing open the door like he belonged there.

    It was immediately obvious why the guards were there.

    Sitting at the back counter was an unfamiliar elderly man. He wore a fine coat with shiny silver buttons that matched his thin eyeglasses. His greying hair was combed neatly back, and he eyed Leo with shrewd, glittering eyes. Across his chest was a small nametag. Aldas, it read.

    Leo came to a stop a foot away from the counter.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Wallace?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re referring to the former owner, he¡¯s been arrested for conspiring against Avel.¡± The man adjusted his eyeglasses, and his lips thinned in distaste as he studied Leo. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re out of luck if you¡¯ve any business with him. The warden sent me a notice just this morning that he¡¯s in line for tomorrow¡¯s execution. You¡¯ll have to head to the prison yourself for a word.¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed. Wallace wasn''t the best person or anything¡ªAllan''s constant avoidance of the man was enough to make Leo take a second glance at him, but the [Rickshaw Puller] had claimed it was a personal issue.

    Wallace had been one of the few people who''d helped him when he first arrived in Sindrey five years ago. They weren''t close, but he had more faith in the man''s integrity than in probably the rest of the slums combined.

    The shopkeeper certainly hadn¡¯t had anything to do with the Empire from what he knew. And another execution? At this point, he suspected the warden was simply trying to clear out the prisons. ¡°Taking out the trash,¡± he¡¯d probably say. If he and Allan stayed here much longer, if they happened to be thrown in prison themselves, then it was very likely they¡¯d meet the same fate.

    Schooling his expression, Leo stepped up to the counter.

    ¡°No need. I¡¯m here to buy two Tier 1 class badges.¡±

    The shopkeeper¡¯s face didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°That will cost you 200 gamils.¡±

    Leo pulled out the small pouch containing the savings, the coins inside clinking a little. He hadn¡¯t even pulled the drawstring yet when Aldas laughed, eyeing the bag with derision.

    ¡°I said 200 gamils. Do you take me for a fool?¡±

    Leo inhaled, attempting to calm his growing irritation. He spoke as politely and formally as he could.

    ¡°If you check Wallace¡¯s notes, you¡¯ll see I already reserved two badges to pay for in installments. This is the last one. I¡¯m guessing you have access to those records.¡±

    The man frowned, but Leo heard the wooden sliding of a drawer and a few papers being flipped. Aldas squinted down, eyes rapidly scanning the words.

    ¡°¡­Your name?¡±

    ¡°Leo.¡±

    The shopkeeper clicked his tongue. ¡°I see.¡± He straightened again, the drawer sliding shut. Aldas peered at Leo through those eyeglasses, and Leo stubbornly refused to look away. Internally, he was aware of the quickly reddening sky. Night would fall soon.

    ¡°And you claim to have the final payment installment.¡±

    In response, Leo opened the bag, revealing the clinking coins within. He didn¡¯t hand it to the man, however. As a store owner, he should have a class skill that let him count money at a distance, and he wasn¡¯t handing a damn thing over until he knew he was getting those crests.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need to see some form of identification.¡±

    Leo silently pulled up his stat sheet, making sure to only display his name and nothing else. Aldas frowned.

    ¡°Show me your class.¡±

    Leo froze for a second, but he quickly shook it off. From the gleam in Aldas¡¯s eyes, though, the man had noticed his hesitation.

    ¡°I¡¯m under no obligation to show you my class,¡± Leo said, words measured and precise. ¡°You asked for identification. I¡¯ve already proven my identity.¡± He didn''t mention that no one in the slums ever asked to see your class; the stores usually didn''t even ask for your name. He suspected the man wouldn''t care for the slums'' customs.

    A thin smile spread over the shopkeeper¡¯s features.

    ¡°On the contrary, I¡¯m well within my right to verify your class whenever I deem it pertinent. I don¡¯t see why that should be a problem.¡± Beady eyes narrowed into slits. ¡°Unless you happen to have a more, ah, unsavory class.¡±

    Leo wanted to say he¡¯d never wanted to become a thief. That he¡¯d tried over and over again to get an honest job, but got stopped the moment they asked to see his stat sheet. That even when he went months without stealing a thing, the [Thief] class remained stubbornly in place, as if the System was mocking him, telling him he could never change his ways. Telling him that deep down, no matter where he went, he would never be anything more than the scum of society.

    That first year after meeting Allan, he hadn¡¯t stolen a single thing. He¡¯d watched Allan¡¯s class easily change to [Rickshaw Puller] with a mixture of resentment, guilt, and anger at himself. He could only get minor jobs with his class, and eventually he¡¯d had enough of watching Allan work himself to the ground and started stealing again. Even then, he still kept his pickpocketing small and did what he could to stay off official records.

    And after all that, it looked like it wasn¡¯t going to matter.

    Leo inhaled, forcing his nerves to calm down. He pulled back the bag and tightened the drawstrings. This wasn¡¯t going to work. The shopkeeper had no intention of letting him buy the crests, and as much as it stung, as much as his anger boiled to think of losing the rest of their savings, he was better off getting out with at least the current installment¡¯s money.

    Voice tight, Leo said, ¡°Sorry for wasting your time.¡± He turned to leave.

    Aldas clicked his tongue and waved a hand. Too late, Leo jerked around just as two guards came rushing inside. He hurried to put the coin bag away, but one of the guards grabbed his arm. Leo yelped in pain as the fingers squeezed, and his hold on the bag loosened enough for the other guard to grab it.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Leo stomped down on the guard¡¯s foot, and he heard the man curse.

    Wrenching himself free, Leo elbowed the second guard, but a punch to his stomach sent him sprawling. He gasped, struggling to regain his breath. The whole time Aldas watched impassively from behind the safe confines of the counter.

    ¡°On second thought, we¡¯ll need to take these coins for inspection,¡± the shopkeeper drawled. ¡°Once we¡¯ve confirmed you haven¡¯t earned them through illegal means, we¡¯ll return them to you.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Leo grounded out. He was never going to see that money again, not even when the majority of it was completely legitimate. He glared up at the dispassionate store owner, making sure to memorize his features, the tilt of his frown, the derision in his eyes.

    Aldas¡¯s voice was cold when he spoke.

    ¡°Take the rat away.¡±

    A guard yanked him back, throwing him out onto the street. Another blow sent him to the ground, and Leo gritted his teeth and curled in on himself, protecting his vitals. He inhaled, waiting out the beating until the guards got bored. If he fought back now, he¡¯d just end up in prison.

    Wait it out, he told himself. He clenched his fingers. Just wait.

    A heavy boot stomped down on his fingers, and he muffled a scream as bones cracked. His vision was starting to blur, his ears ringing as more and more hits rained down on him. He couldn¡¯t think, couldn¡¯t breathe, couldn¡¯t feel anything past the rising pain.

    A shadowy figure looming overhead, the hard floor, yells that barely sounded human, layers of aching bruises¡ª

    The next blow knocked him unconscious, and everything faded to black.

    ¡ª

    Leo groaned as his shoulder slammed into the brick wall. He paused, using it to keep himself upright as he struggled for breath. His entire body ached, and he squeezed his eyes shut, gritting his teeth and using [Renewal] once the cooldown was up.

    The relief it provided was minor, but if he kept at it, eventually the worst of the injuries would be bearable. Aside from his broken fingers, clutched protectively close to his chest, everything else could be fixed.

    His bag hung empty. Everything was gone.

    The sun sunk quickly down, now halfway below the horizon. Leo shoved himself up and forced himself to keep going, half limping and tripping over himself as he made his way back. He had to hurry, he kept repeating to himself. Just a little further. It was almost night.

    ¡°Leo!¡±

    A familiar voice sounded down the street, and footsteps pounded towards him. Leo couldn¡¯t help but smile a little to himself, even as the action pulled on a bruise rapidly blooming across his cheek. Of course Allan hadn¡¯t stayed still.

    The [Rickshaw Puller]¡¯s eyes widened as he approached, and he quickly grabbed Leo, steadying him just as he stumbled.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Allan¡¯s voice was frantic as his eyes darted about, rapidly taking in the wounds. ¡°Who did this? I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Allan.¡±

    Leo cut the man off, surprised at how even his own voice was. He exhaled a rasping breath.

    ¡°It¡¯s almost nighttime. We need to get inside.¡±

    Allan¡¯s jaw clenched, and he breathed out, visibly calming himself.

    ¡°Right. Yeah. Of course.¡±

    The [Rickshaw Puller] straightened, carefully grabbing onto the [Thief]. With one smooth, effortless motion, he swung Leo onto his back and hurried down the darkening streets.

    Somehow, they managed to get through the building¡¯s opening, and Leo gritted his teeth as his wounds were knocked into the edges of the crack. He didn¡¯t voice any complaints though, and it wasn¡¯t until they were fully inside that he slumped down, heaving for breath.

    ¡°The store,¡± he finally managed to get out. ¡°There¡¯s a new owner. Wallace¡¯s gone. They¡¯re executing him tomorrow.¡± His hand stung, and he attempted to shift it to a less painful position. He laughed roughly.

    ¡°I fucked up. I should¡¯ve left the second I didn¡¯t see Wallace.¡± Then they would¡¯ve at least had something left, even if the earlier payments were lost. The fingers of his uninjured hand clenched into a fist.

    Slowly, Leo raised his head. ¡°They took the money, Allan. It¡¯s all gone.¡± The [Rickshaw Puller]¡¯s eyes widened, and Leo exhaled a shaky breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. All that work, and I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop it.¡± Allan shook his head, eyes hard. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. We¡¯ll earn it back. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± He swallowed, attempting a reassuring smile. ¡°We¡¯ve already done it once.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± This time Leo was the one who interrupted. He forced himself to straighten despite Allan¡¯s protests, sitting up until he could look his friend in the eye.

    ¡°No more. I¡¯m sick of this shit.¡±

    Hazel eyes gleamed with determination. The world would never see them as anything more than slum garbage, so he¡¯d keep doing what he did best. An honest job and life? Keeping their hands clean? For people like them, that had never been possible from the start.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna steal those badges.¡±

    ¡ª

    Name: Leo

    Age: 24

    Level: 17

    Class: [Thief, Tier 0]

    Personal Skill: [Judgement Lvl 2]

    Strength: 13

    Magic: 9

    Constitution: 11

    Agility: 19

    Defense: 10

    Resistance: 11

    Mana: 16

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Stealth Lvl 2], [Thievery Lvl 2], [Manual Dexterity Lvl 2]

    Active Skills (3/8): [Mana Recovery Lvl 2], [Fade into Background Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 1]

 Chapter 2: The Silence

    Chapter 2: The Silence

    Leo winced as he prodded at his hand, accidentally nudging the crude splint. They¡¯d managed to scavenge a few broken pieces of wood, and Allan had attempted to sand them down as much as he could. Splinters were still very likely, but a little less so.

    The swelling had gotten worse. His fingers now looked about twice their actual size, reduced to shapeless fleshy lumps. Allan frowned.

    ¡°Don¡¯t poke it,¡± he said, and Leo sighed.

    ¡°Just trying to see how much I can move it,¡± he muttered. The answer was ¡°not a lot.¡± He was just thankful that it was his right hand that got hit and not his left.

    Through the gap in the ceiling, the sky had dimmed almost entirely. A few lingering splotches of violet and crimson steadily dissipated into the growing inky darkness. It was a clear sky that night, Leo thought absently. The kind littered with stars, brighter and more visible in the slums than they were in the heart of Sindrey.

    The [Thief] shook his head and directed his attention back to the hastily scrawled map laid out over a particularly large, flat piece of debris that they¡¯d taken to using as a table. Leo squinted at the faint lines. They didn¡¯t actually have ink, so he just pressed harder with the quill to scratch the paper. Ironically, the paper being of poor enough quality to get scratched so easily was probably the only reason this method worked.

    ¡°The layout looked the same as when Wallace was around,¡± Leo explained, tapping the rough diagram. ¡°I know he kept storage in the back, but I¡¯m guessing there¡¯ll be a separate place for the crests. Someplace more secure.¡±

    Allan frowned down at the map. ¡°Another room?¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°That¡¯d be too easy. It¡¯s probably a secret compartment in the storage room, maybe even something underground.¡± He narrowed his eyes, remembering the positioning of the guards that evening. Aside from the ones at the entrance, the place with the second most was around the back, with the sides of the shop being the least protected. There were windows facing the sides, but those led into the main room; even if he slipped through them, he would quickly be caught. There should be a back door, but that was too heavily guarded.

    ¡°What if I carried you inside in like a bag or something?¡± Allan suggested when Leo brought the problems up. So far, the only part of their plan that was set in stone was Allan entering from the front door to distract the store owner and keep him from going to the back.

    Leo hummed thoughtfully. ¡°That could work.¡± Allan was certainly strong enough for it. The [Thief] frowned. ¡°It¡¯d be hard to get out without the old bastard seeing, though. We¡¯d need an even bigger distraction.¡± Leo tapped the map. ¡°Plus, getting out¡¯s a problem. I could take the crests and run, but with all those guards, it¡¯d be hard to make it out.¡± Especially with only one working hand.

    Allan frowned. ¡°Could you leave through the front? If I help you, we might be able to fight them off long enough.¡±

    ¡°Might,¡± Leo emphasized with a snort. ¡°You¡¯re strong, but a few of those guards¡¯re probably Tier 1s.¡± It didn¡¯t help that stats were capped at 20 for Tier 0 classes. His agility was high, but a Tier 1 could easily surpass it. Even if they got lucky and all the guards at the store were also Tier 0, the guards¡¯ combat oriented skills would easily swing the tide in their favor.

    Leo leaned back, resting his head on a cracked pillar behind him. ¡°I¡¯ve got [Acrobatics], but there¡¯s not a lot of buildings close by to run to. [Stealth]¡¯ll be hard too. It¡¯s too cramped inside.¡± The layout of the store was pretty smart, in that sense. It packed a lot of goods together, but made sure to position the shelves and tables in such a way that most places were visible from the back counter. There were very few places to hide.

    Leo furrowed his brow in contemplation, scrutinizing the diagram again.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± he said slowly, ¡°maybe I don¡¯t need to get out.¡±

    Allan frowned, but Leo continued, thinking out loud. ¡°There¡¯ll be more places to hide in the storage room, and there¡¯ll be less guards at night. If I wait it out until after the store owner closes shop, I could just leave out the front door and make a run for it.¡± Hell, if he was lucky, there might not be any guards in the front, depending on how secure Aldas thought his locks were.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it. You¡¯d be in there by yourself,¡± Allan pointed out.

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    ¡°You could wait nearby if you want.¡±

    The [Rickshaw Puller] crossed his arms, and Leo could tell the man was battling internally between his logic and his emotions. He was confident he¡¯d come around, though. He always did in the end.

    ¡°...Do you really want to risk running back at night?¡±

    And there it was. That was the biggest problem with this strategy. Leo¡¯s eyes flitted up to the sky, now fully emptied of sunlight, then back down. Faint silver moonlight filtered through the hole in the ceiling and down onto the map.

    ¡°If I stay in the shop ¡®til dawn, I could get out just before the shop opens.¡±

    ¡°And stay there the whole night alone.¡±

    Leo sighed. ¡°I promise it¡¯ll be fine. There¡¯s gonna be a risk in there somewhere no matter what we do, and this is way less dangerous than some of the other ideas we¡¯ve got.¡± This way, if he was caught, at least Allan could get away.

    The [Rickshaw Puller] frowned. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you at least wait until your hand¡¯s healed?¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°That¡¯d take too long. Who knows what¡¯ll happen by then? There might be another goddamn owner, or, hell, the old bastard might actually investigate those coins and send the guards after us.¡± He wouldn¡¯t put it past the shopkeeper to make good on his word.

    They were already guaranteed to end up with criminal records after a theft this major, and he¡¯d rather get that stamp of disapproval on his own terms than wait for Aldas to act first.

    Allan still didn¡¯t look too happy, but Leo could tell that he was beginning to begrudgingly accept it. The [Rickshaw Puller] heaved a defeated sigh.

    ¡°...I¡¯m guessing I can¡¯t convince you anyway.¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± Leo pronounced the ¡®p¡¯ with a pop.

    Allan shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Alright, but I¡¯m staying close by. And if I don¡¯t see you by the time the shop opens¡­¡± his voice trailed, and Leo pursed his lips. They¡¯d have to hope that didn¡¯t happen.

    Leo directed his attention to the map again. That settled the ¡°getting out¡± part, but they still needed to figure out how to get in. Allan¡¯s idea of carrying him hidden in a bag wasn¡¯t bad, but it¡¯d take a pretty hefty distraction to slip out and into the storage room. He might be able to get out and behind a shelf on his own, but he¡¯d have to cross an open area to get from there to the back.

    He did have [Fade into Background] as an option. It was a fairly powerful active skill that allowed its user to slip into the background of their surroundings, but it was an enhancement to pre-existing conditions.

    If someone was looking directly at him while he used the skill, it wouldn¡¯t have any effect. If their eyes happened to pass over where he was, then the spell would be broken, too. Running straight through an open area wouldn¡¯t work at only a level 2 skill level; they would need something that really occupied the shopkeeper¡¯s attention, more than just a simple conversation could do.

    Leo squinted, leaning a little closer in an attempt to make out the lines in the dim moonlight.

    ¡°Here, I¡¯ll get a candle,¡± Allan offered. He rose, but the second the man stood, both of them froze.

    There, drifting over the light whistling of the wind, was the faint, clear note of a ringing bell.

    Leo¡¯s eyes widened, and he met Allan¡¯s gaze. In the next second, the [Thief] dove forward, stumbling to the darkest corner of the abandoned home, far away from any openings or holes in the ceiling. He winced as the movement knocked his hand into a piece of debris, but he ignored it.

    Across from him, Allan kneeled down against the opposite wall, muscles tense as they waited. Like this, between the two of them, they had a full view of every possible entrance to the worn down building.

    Carefully, Leo reached out with his uninjured hand and tapped a finger lightly on the floor. No sound came. He¡¯d hoped, with how quiet the bell was, that they wouldn¡¯t be directly in the field of Silence, but it looked like they hadn¡¯t been so lucky.

    Sucking in a breath, Leo kept tapping his finger in a steady pattern. He could just barely see Allan¡¯s dark eyes darting about, searching for any signs of movement. Without their hearing, without sound, the Silence forced you to rely on your other senses and pray you reacted fast enough to sight.

    Another beat passed. Leo felt the cold wind against his skin, but heard no sound.

    Another beat.

    And then, the next time Leo tapped his finger, a soft thump sounded.

    The [Thief] exhaled, shoulders slumping like a deflating balloon. Allan relaxed as well, though he didn¡¯t take his eyes away from the opening. If the guards didn¡¯t do their job right, an Echo could still be left over and attack someone.

    The [Rickshaw Puller] moved over to the side opening, carefully peering outside. He remained like that for a few moments, then moved back, nodding.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s clear,¡± he said. Leo nodded in relief. That was a pretty short one, all things considered. He remembered one time, only a month after he¡¯d first met Allan, when a field of Silence had lasted an entire night. He couldn¡¯t sleep right for weeks after that.

    ¡°I guess the guards got them all.¡± Leo winced as he moved to stand, his hand throbbing. He must¡¯ve hit it harder than he thought.

    ¡°Did the splints break?¡± Allan moved closer, but Leo didn¡¯t respond. He was too busy staring down, mind churning as he repeated what he¡¯d just said in his head. Guards. The Silence. Allan¡¯s brows furrowed in concern.

    ¡°Leo? Are you okay?¡±

    The [Thief] looked up.

    ¡°Allan,¡± he said slowly. ¡°I think I might know a distraction.¡±

 Chapter 3: Daylight Thievery I

    Chapter 3: Daylight Thievery I

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Allan¡¯s voice sounded a bit muffled through the rough cloth he¡¯d draped over the rickshaw, and Leo snorted.

    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m fine.¡± He shifted his position a little so it¡¯d be easier to slip out. After they¡¯d hashed out the plan some more, they¡¯d agreed that it would be easier for Allan to use the rickshaw as transportation. The old vehicle creaked a little, bumping up and down as it was pulled down the rough street. They¡¯d added some extra boxes and bags to the seat as well for cover, which Leo carefully avoided touching.

    ¡°If anything happens,¡± Allan said lowly, ¡°Get out of there.¡±

    Leo smiled a little at that. ¡°I know. You watch yourself too.¡±

    The [Rickshaw Puller] chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re the one with the hard part.¡± He turned, the rickshaw gently moving around a corner. Below the cloth, Leo could hear more murmurs, the voices of street merchants selling wares, the screech of other rickshaws and even a few horse hooves. They were getting close.

    Allan¡¯s pace slowed. There was a small gap between the fabric and seat where the [Thief] could make out a sliver of the road ahead, and Leo¡¯s muscles tensed when he saw the same guards from the night before. He clenched his fist and quieted his breaths as Allan approached.

    ¡°Good afternoon!¡± the man greeted cheerily. The two guards glanced at each other, and one of them nodded.

    ¡°Afternoon,¡± he greeted in a gruff voice. ¡°You going in?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve got a few parts I want to buy.¡± Allan¡¯s tone remained perfectly pleasant. ¡°Do you think the owner would mind if I brought my rickshaw inside? I need to do some comparisons, and it¡¯s a little heavy.¡± He gestured at the rickshaw in question, pulling it further forward.

    The guards glanced at each other, then back at the door, then at Allan. The first guard hesitated.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s probably fine,¡± he finally said. He pulled open the door, and Allan beamed.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, and Leo bit back a snicker. Neither guard had even considered searching the rickshaw itself, completely unconcerned that there might be something¡ªor someone¡ªhidden inside.

    The rickshaw bumped as it crossed onto the smooth wooden floor of the shop. Through the gap, Leo could just barely make out the counter and a few shelves pushed to the sides of the store. On his right was a small hallway leading to the back of the store, just beside the counter. The [Thief]¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    The store owner looked up, adjusting his spectacles and frowning. He was wearing the same uniform as the previous day, the buttons shining in the light.

    ¡°Is there a reason you¡¯re bringing that filthy thing into my shop?¡±

    Leo¡¯s jaw clenched, but he kept himself still. Allan¡¯s voice was light and calm when he replied.

    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry. I wanted to buy a few repair parts, but I need to use my rickshaw to figure out the right sizes.¡± He sounded apologetic. ¡°Here, I can wipe the wheels first, if you¡¯d like.¡±

    Aldas blinked, evidently taken aback by the polite response. He cleared his throat.

    ¡°You do that then.¡±

    Leo could practically hear Allan¡¯s answering smile in response. There was a bit of shuffling as he lifted the fabric back just enough to grab a cloth. The fabric was replaced, the small gap maintained, and the [Rickshaw Puller] moved to clean the wheels. The store owner watched carefully from the counter.

    ¡°You have quite a few things there. I thought rickshaws were for pulling people, not packages.¡±

    Another shuffling noise sounded as Allan straightened and placed the cloth back. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± he said. ¡°These are for a separate delivery job. Since I already have the rickshaw, I thought I might as well use it to lessen the strain.¡± He frowned a little. ¡°With how things¡¯ve been lately, I¡¯m afraid both jobs are barely enough to keep me afloat.¡±

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    Leo waited for the store owner¡¯s response. Aldas¡¯s voice was a little quieter when he answered.

    ¡°I see. I can understand that.¡±

    The [Thief] gritted his teeth, glaring in the direction of the counter. If he really ¡°understood,¡± then why the hell had he taken all his money yesterday?

    The rickshaw creaked as Allan rolled it further inside, angling it to the right half of the store and bringing it to a stop half behind a tall shelf. The second Leo felt the movement stop, he inhaled and, after double checking his [Stealth] passive skill was equipped, he quietly slipped out at the same time as Allan reached down to grab some of the scraps they¡¯d placed in the rickshaw.

    Thanks to that, the sound of creaking metal was disguised, and Leo landed soundlessly on the floor, just outside the store owner¡¯s view. He winced. The movement had jostled his injured hand, but he was careful not to make a noise.

    His current location had a direct line to the back hallway. It would take one solid sprint to get there, but he¡¯d have to wait for the right moment. Leo tensed and moved as close to the edge of the shelf as he dared, keeping an eye on Allan as he strode up to the counter and set the heavy metal scrap down a little further to the left, drawing the owner further away from the hallway.

    ¡°I was hoping to find a replacement for this,¡± Allan was saying. Aldas frowned and leaned closer, raising his spectacles and squinting.

    ¡°I can¡¯t even tell what that is,¡± he muttered. Allan chuckled.

    ¡°It is pretty beat up.¡±

    ¡°Did you get into a crash?¡± The man furrowed his brow, and to Leo¡¯s surprise, he actually looked a little concerned as he scanned Allan for injuries. The [Rickshaw Puller] shook his head.

    ¡°No, I managed to get away in time. I¡¯m lucky I didn¡¯t have any passengers then, or they would¡¯ve gotten hurt.¡± He pulled out a second, smaller screw and set it down. Aldas leaned closer, and Leo held his breath.

    Quietly, the [Thief] shifted positions, readying to run. In his pocket, he pulled out a small bundle of cloth, pulling it open to reveal an old, worn bell that they¡¯d managed to find. With a bit of hammering on the metal, they managed to get the sound as close as possible to their desired effect. It would have to do.

    The bell¡¯s inside had been stuffed with scraps of fabric to keep it silent during the ride, and Leo removed all but one. He wanted the sound to still be a little muffled, otherwise it would be too obviously fake. He had to use his injured hand for it, and he carefully moved his fingers as little as possible.

    The [Thief] closed his eyes and inhaled, activating [Fade into Background]. They were going to have to hope that this occupied enough of the store owner¡¯s attention to keep the skill working.

    Leo glanced at the front door. Through the windows, he could see the two guards turned away, their backs facing the store. He shifted again and crouched low, carefully raising the bell.

    And then, very lightly, he hit it with the edge of a splint, and a muffled ringing echoed softly across the space.

    Almost immediately, the owner¡¯s head snapped up. Allan did the same, spinning around in such a way that his body blocked some of Aldas¡¯s view of the right side as the shopkeeper¡¯s eyes flitted wildly about in search of the sound.

    ¡°Guards!¡± he yelled, but Leo was already running towards the hallway, sprinting as silently as he could.

    He heard the front door creak open just as he slipped around the corner.

    The [Thief]¡¯s back touched the hallway wall, and he attempted to calm his racing heartbeat and quickened breaths. Away from the window, the hallway was a fair bit dimmer, its cream colored walls appearing closer to a dull grey. There were no paintings or decorations adorning the area, and he could see a closed door at the end where the storeroom must be.

    Once his breathing had steadied somewhat, Leo silently crept closer, carefully eying the floorboards for places that were looser and might squeak. The caution was perhaps excessive, given the store owner¡¯s yelling, but he wasn¡¯t going to take any chances.

    ¡°¡ªheard a bell!¡± Aldas was insisting.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t notice any Silence fields go up,¡± one of the guards responded. ¡°It¡¯s quite rare in the daytime.¡±

    ¡°Rare, but not impossible.¡±

    ¡°I thought I heard something too,¡± Allan piped up. ¡°Maybe it was something on the street?¡±

    Aldas said something in response, but Leo was too busy to focus on it. He equipped his [Lockpick Proficiency] passive skill and pulled out a simple, thin piece of metal that was bent at its end. He lifted it to the door.

    The lock took a bit more fiddling than he would¡¯ve liked, unused as he was to only having one working hand. Leo¡¯s shoulders remained tense, acutely aware that the owner could decide to go back at any time. He heard Allan¡¯s voice woven between the guards and Aldas¡¯s, light and unobtrusive while subtly extending the conversation at the same time. He was awfully good at stuff like this, Leo thought.

    Click.

    The lock finally opened, and Leo held his breath.

    The conversation continued at the counter without a single pause, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Taking a second to calm his nerves, the [Thief] gripped the doorknob, turned, and silently slipped inside.

 Chapter 4: Daylight Thievery II

    Chapter 4: Daylight Thievery II

    The inside of the storeroom was significantly bigger than he¡¯d expected, nearly as large as the front of the store. Tall stacks of boxes lined the walls all the way up to the ceiling, leaving very little space to maneuver. Other assorted wares were kept carefully assorted on the shelves or organized into crates and bins. Despite how packed it was, there was very little dust anywhere.

    Leo shut the door behind him and locked it again. He turned his head, searching for any hidden entrances. He got down on the floor, pressing his uninjured hand over the floorboards and knocking lightly. Nothing.

    His brows furrowed, and he kept searching. The conversation at the counter was muffled by the door, but it would probably be stopping soon. They¡¯d agreed on Allan leaving after Leo made it inside. That way, if he was caught, there was a lower chance of the owner putting two and two together and realizing the [Rickshaw Puller]¡¯s own role in the thievery.

    Leo straightened, frustrated, and made his way along the walls. It had to be a place that the owner could easily access, he told himself. His eyes scanned the space wildly for any sign of a secret compartment.

    There.

    The row of shelves to his right was just a little crooked, he realized. They came to a corner with a line of boxes tilted at an angle. He stepped closer and, after bracing himself, he carefully shifted the shelf all the way over until it hit the wall proper like the others were positioned. The [Thief] gritted his teeth as the action put more pressure on his injury, but it was worth it. A grin spread across Leo¡¯s features.

    There, nestled behind the false corner, was a plain wooden door.

    Leo restrained his excitement and slipped into the gap, pushing the shelf back into its former crooked angle with a combination of his uninjured hand and a leg. He inhaled and pushed at the hidden door, and it gave way easily. He stepped inside, and his eyes widened.

    A thin back section of the storeroom had been separated out, and here, long wooden shelves ran from one end of the wall to the next. There was only enough space for one person to step down, but that wasn¡¯t what Leo focused on. His heart raced.

    Lining those shelves were class crests.

    The [Thief] stepped forward, carefully picking one up. He¡¯d never seen one so close before.

    The badge was small, its looping metal edges cool to the touch. Embedded in its center was a single crystal clear stone that looked like glass at first glance. Unlike glass, though, its surface was matte, and when Leo tilted the crest, he could make out a few swirling, shimmering pieces of light caught in its center.

    This was it. This was what they¡¯d been working for for five years now, living on the bare minimum, taking whatever jobs they could scrounge up And now, all of that effort was there, condensed into the tiny little badge in resting his hands. He could almost laugh.

    Leo replaced the badge and moved to the end of the room. He¡¯d take two from the back, where the owner was less likely to notice them missing. Then, all he had to do was wait out the night and get out in the morning.

    The [Thief] carefully placed the two badges into the pouch tied to his belt, tightening the drawstring securely and knotting it again for good measure. He glanced around. Inside here, he couldn¡¯t hear what was happening at the counter. He hoped Allan had left already.

    [You have successfully stolen [2] Tier 1 class crests]

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [1] other party member]

    [You have leveled up! 200 points awarded]

    [Progress towards next level: 23%]

    Leo grinned at the notifications. Level 18 now. Stealing these crests gave a lot of experience. He¡¯d have to think about what to do with the points once he¡¯d found a hiding spot. The constant dull pain running through his right hand was making him consider using the points to raise [Renewal] to level 2, but that would cost half his points. With the leftover 100, he¡¯d only be able to raise 2 stats higher.

    Leo pushed the hidden door open, poking his head out. Between the gaps in the boxes and shelves, the store room looked undisturbed. Out here, he couldn¡¯t hear Allan or the guards¡¯ voices. Aldas must be alone at the counter.

    He turned his head, searching for a good place to hide. Aldas would definitely check the storerooms before closing, given how meticulous the man seemed, so it would have to be both fairly well hidden and also somewhere he could realistically remain in for a whole night.

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    Leo placed his hands on the crooked shelf, readying to move it aside again. Just as his fingers touched the wood, however, he heard the lock click.

    The [Thief] jumped aside, pressing himself against the wall and making himself as small as possible. Through the thin gaps in the shelf, he could see the doorknob turning, and he shrunk in on himself even more, allowing himself to blend into the shadows between the shelf and wall. He could feel the wood biting into his skin, but he ignored it, too focused on watching the door slowly swing open.

    ¡°¡ªuseless guards,¡± the store owner was saying, shaking his head with a deep scowl. ¡°Hardly any decent folk left these days.¡±

    Aldas grumbled some more, peering around the dim storeroom. He adjusted his spectacles and stepped further inside, past the boxes and crates, studying them for any signs of tampering. Leo remained still, activating [Fade into Background] and hoping it would be enough. He didn¡¯t have enough mana after this to use it again.

    ¡°¡­I know I heard something,¡± the shopkeeper muttered. He raised his head, studying the upper row of shelves lined with glass ornaments and wooden decorations.

    Using the brief moment the man was turned away, Leo grabbed a folded fabric clustered on the bottom of the shelf he was hiding behind, quickly draping it over himself and leaving enough of a gap to see what was happening.

    Aldas lowered his head. The floorboards creaked as he circled the space, finally coming to a stop at the false corner. Leo held his breath.

    The shop owner grabbed the edge and pushed the shelf further in, and Leo pressed himself as flat to the wall as he could. The shelf dug into his chest, and he sucked in his breath. Any further and he would notice the resistance. The [Thief]¡¯s heartbeat quickened, beating so loud that he was sure Aldas could hear it.

    The shelf came to a stop. Aldas leaned forward through the gap, just enough to press open the hidden door and glance inside, then lean back out. Leo froze, not even daring to look out the gap beneath the cloth as the man¡¯s eyes briefly swept the corner.

    Seconds ticked past. Leo heard nothing but his own breaths.

    And then, finally, the floorboards creaked and he heard the rumble of the shelf being pushed back, the weight against his chest lessening. Leo didn¡¯t dare celebrate yet, but he did allow himself to peer out from the cloth and through the shelves, where Aldas was giving the store room a final glance, a deep frown etched onto his face.

    ¡°Maybe I am hearing things,¡± he muttered. Through the doorway, the muffled sound of the store¡¯s front door opening slipped through, and Aldas yelled, ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a moment!¡± to the customer.

    The man turned, his back to Leo, and the [Thief] finally allowed himself to relax just a little. He¡¯d gotten lucky, he thought. He would need to make sure he found a very good hiding place after this, or the store owner would easily find him when closing time came and he gave the place a more thorough look.

    The [Thief] quietly activated [Mana Recovery], which would help boost its natural recovery speed. He had enough mana left over to use [Judgement], which thankfully didn¡¯t cost much, but he¡¯d like to have enough for more [Fade into Background] as soon as possible.

    Aldas reached for the doorknob, and Leo silently willed the man to leave faster.

    His hand touched the metal. Leo tensed.

    And then the world shifted.

    A sharp pain suddenly burned in Leo¡¯s head, and his hands flew up to grip it. It felt like his skull was being split open with a screw and then twisted and turned and drilled deeper and deeper.

    He vaguely felt his knees hit the floor, and he thought he heard something crash and a scream, but he could barely make anything out over the piercing cracks resounding in his ears, one after the other, crescendoing into a final snap that sent him careening forward.

    Pain blossomed from his hand as he landed on his healing fingers, but Leo didn¡¯t focus on that. All he could see were the notifications rapidly flashing across his vision.

    [ERROR: System Administrator not found]

    [Reconfiguring System to run automatically]

    [Administrator class functions have been condensed into a class crest]

    [ERROR: Administrator class crest has been broken]

    [System scattering fragments across continent]

    And then, at the end of the long line of notifications, there was a single, final message, written entirely differently from the previous ones in a voice that was at once unknown and yet deeply familiar.

    [Greetings.

    Some of you may know me as a god, others as the [Administrator]. Regardless of how you choose to address me, this is my final message.

    I have grown weary over the years. This world has evolved at a rapid pace. The Ancients have fallen. Kingdoms have been built and broken and built again. In this ever changing world, I believe someone new is needed to maintain it.

    Any moment now, the fragments of the [Administrator] class crest will be randomly distributed across the continent. Each fragment contains a portion of the System¡¯s power, though this amount will vary.

    Some of these fragments will embed themselves directly into those of you lucky enough to receive them. Others will remain unmoored, waiting to be claimed.

    To those of you who desire power, I advise you to seek these fragments out. The more you gather, the more of the [Administrator]¡¯s abilities shall be relinquished to you.

    And perhaps, should one of you gather enough, you may prove yourself worthy enough to take my place.

    Thank you.

    Goodbye.]

 Chapter 5: The Shattered God

    Chapter 5: The Shattered God

    Leo gasped, breaths ragged and vision swimming.

    ¡°What the fuck,¡± he whispered. ¡°What the fuck. What the fuck.¡±

    His hand was screaming at him, and as his senses slowly returned to normal, the headache dulling into a faint ache and the cracking leaving his ears, the [Thief] realized he was on the ground, the shelf fallen over and its contents scattered across the store room floor.

    Still gasping for breath, Leo struggled to rise, but he couldn¡¯t get his body to move. He forced his head up.

    Hunched over by the door, the storekeeper was gripping his head with one hand, the doorknob with the other. His eyes were wild, expression stunned, and Leo wondered if he looked like that as well. Aldas muttered under his breath and slowly straightened. He met eyes with Leo.

    For a second neither of them moved or spoke, still reeling from the barrage of notifications.

    And then, as the shock and dizziness faded, both sprang to action.

    Leo leapt to his feet, a stinging pain shooting down his hand as he pushed off it. He might¡¯ve cried out, but he was too focused on bolting for the door, pouring 100 of his newly earned points to raise his agility to its 20 cap and his strength to 14.

    The [Thief] was in front of the shopkeeper before the man had a chance to react, and he elbowed the man aside with all his strength. It was just barely enough to push Aldas aside enough to grab the handle and bolt out the door.

    ¡°Guards!¡± Leo heard Aldas yell, followed by the sounds of footsteps just behind him. ¡°Catch the thief!¡±

    Leo¡¯s feet pounded against the ground as he shot into the main store, vaulting over the back counter with the help of [Acrobatics] and sprinting ahead. The bag with the stolen crests hit his leg as he ran.

    Through the windows, he could see the two guards at the front still reeling, movements sluggish from shock. He pressed himself more. He could make it. He could bolt past before the guards recovered. He was so close.

    The [Thief] shoved the doors open with a bang. He heard Aldas yelling after him as the guards lunged, and he didn¡¯t think. He dropped low and slid past across the rough ground, ducking just below their reaching hands.

    Leo scrambled back to his feet. In his peripheral vision, he saw one of the guards rush at him, and he barely managed to dodge out of the way in time.

    The [Thief] gritted teeth, meeting eyes with the guard. He was the one who¡¯d broken his hand, he remembered. It figured he¡¯d also have invested into agility.

    Leo spun, jumping away from the second guard. He could hear the murmurs of the street. If he could just get away, he¡¯d be able to slip into the crowd and run.

    A kick slammed into his side. He was sent flying back, skidding across the ground until his back hit the storefront. Leo hacked, wheezing and struggling to stand. A guard he didn¡¯t recognize watched impassively, lowering her leg and unsheathing a blade as she approached. She must be one of the guards who¡¯d watched the back entrance. He¡¯d completely forgotten about them.

    A blade was held a mere inch away from the [Thief]¡¯s throat, and Leo froze. Back to the wall, the guards surrounded him, and he could see the store owner approaching to the side. His eyes flitted about, desperately searching for an opening, some kind of escape.

    ¡°Sir,¡± one of the guards muttered, his voice a little shaky. ¡°Those notifications¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Aldas cut off. His own voice was a bit dazed, his hair frazzled and coat rumpled. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with it later. We need to take care of this first.¡± He flicked a wrist at Leo. ¡°Search him.¡±

    Hands grabbed both of Leo¡¯s arms, holding him back, and he cringed as his injured hand was jostled.

    It didn¡¯t take long for them to grab the bag, untying the knots and finding the two crest badges nestled inside. Aldas held them, an eyebrow raised. Leo met those sharp eyes with a steady glare.

    ¡°I should¡¯ve known you¡¯d come back,¡± he said, nose scrunching with disdain. ¡°A wonder you managed to get inside.¡± His eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Two class crests, at that. Execution is the minimum punishment.¡± He leaned closer, those spectacles gleaming in the light. ¡°Now, who helped you?¡±

    ¡°No one,¡± Leo grounded out.

    ¡°Don¡¯t lie. You expect me to believe you managed this by yourself? Why else would you take two?¡±

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    ¡°One¡¯s for selling. I don¡¯t need any help getting into a store this shittily guarded. Your fault for not paying attention.¡±

    Aldas simply stared at Leo for a moment, the [Thief] holding his glare. Finally, the store owner clicked his tongue and straightened, gesturing to the guards.

    ¡°Get him up. We¡¯re bringing him to the prison.¡±

    One of the guards glanced at Aldas. ¡°After that, sir?¡±

    ¡°After that, you can accompany me to the city hall. I need to talk to the governor, see what those notifications were about,¡± he muttered.

    The guards seemed satisfied with that, and the two holding Leo¡¯s arms easily dragged him up, once again knocking into his injury. His eyes darted around, but he couldn¡¯t find a way out of the situation.

    A couple of people watched on the edges of the street, but no one approached. No one wanted to risk themselves. Besides, an arrest was hardly new in the slums. Many didn¡¯t even glance their way, instead murmuring amongst themselves, likely discussing those strange notifications. Several people still looked dazed; there were even a few on the ground, staring out sightlessly as they processed.

    He didn¡¯t blame them. It still made Leo¡¯s head reel whenever he remembered that final message, but he needed to get out of here before he could even begin to try to comprehend it.

    The sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Aldas came to a stop just in front of Leo. The shopkeeper frowned, narrowed eyes studying the [Thief]. He leaned closer.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think that pathetic little lie worked,¡± he muttered lowly. ¡°I don¡¯t enjoy sending people to their deaths, so consider this a mercy. I won¡¯t rat out your friend. He seems like a decent young man, if misguided.¡± He paused, his frown deepening.

    ¡°Consider this a word of advice. Don¡¯t drag people down with you.¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes widened, but the man was already stepping away and gesturing for the guards to move. The [Thief] was yanked forward, barely able to keep up with the aggressive pace.

    The crowd naturally parted around them, and as Leo struggled, his eyes landed on a figure standing, half hidden by shadows, in a nearby alleyway.

    Allan watched him, jaw clenched, a fist shaking. For a brief second they met eyes. A moment passed, an unspoken question.

    Swallowing, Leo silently shook his head. He just barely caught Allan¡¯s dark eyes widening before the [Thief] was roughly yanked away.

    ¡ª

    The doors to the slum prison were yanked open, and the guards dragged Leo unceremoniously inside. Despite his protests and yells, they hadn¡¯t loosened the crushing pressure around his wrists. If anything, he was pretty sure one of the guards was bumping into his injured hand as much as possible on purpose.

    The prison¡¯s front desk was nicer than almost every other place in the slums, but that didn¡¯t say much. Leo¡¯s eyes rapidly scanned sturdy, but worn stone walls. In the center of the room stood a thick wooden desk elevated slightly on a platform. He blinked.

    Where the receptionist would usually sit was empty. Instead, a few guards were clustered near the back, Leo quickly counted them. Too many.

    In front, standing behind the desk, a tall man in a crisp grey uniform spoke with a shorter man wearing a white uniform. The [Thief]¡¯s jaw clenched. He recognized the man in grey.

    The prison warden. He used to be a normal guard in the slums, and even back then he¡¯d been infamous. It figured that he, of all people, had been the one promoted.

    ¡°¡ªprisoners rioting,¡± the warden was saying. His voice wasn¡¯t particularly loud, but it carried a distinct air of authority. If someone didn¡¯t know better, they might think he was a gentlemanly type: elegant in bearing and always composed.

    Leo did know, though.

    ¡°I need extra security down by the cells at once.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorting through the schedules, sir,¡± the man who Leo assumed was the receptionist said apologetically, cowering a little. The taller man pinched his nose bridge and clicked his tongue.

    ¡°To think something like this would happen,¡± he muttered, shaking his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s unprecedented, sir.¡±

    Aldas strode forward, and the guards dragged Leo deeper into the prison. The [Thief] glanced back, attempting to judge how far the door was from him. There were no windows in the space. If he was going to try to run, the door was the only option.

    The guards stopped just past the desk, and Leo tensed as the warden, receptionist, and all the guards turned to look at them. The warden frowned.

    ¡°Aldas? What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°A slum thief. He tried to steal two Tier 1 class crests.¡±

    The warden¡¯s eyebrows rose, and he barked out a laugh. ¡°They¡¯re getting bolder by the day, I see.¡± He shook his head and heaved a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve already got my hands full dealing with those messages. Ah well, I suppose we¡¯re fortunate the executioner is on site. It will be simple enough to add him to tomorrow¡¯s lineup.¡±

    Aldas nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know what¡¯s going on with the notifications,¡± he spoke warily.

    ¡°No better than you do, I¡¯m afraid.¡± He turned, gesturing to the guards, and Leo tensed. He would only have one real chance at running: the moment the guards currently holding him handed him off to the prison ones.

    The two guards shoved him forward as two prison guards stepped forward to replace them. The second Leo felt his arms released, he surged forward, bolting¡ª

    He stopped in his tracks.

    Leo blinked, trying to get his legs to move. They didn¡¯t budge. It was like they were frozen in place.

    The two prison guards grabbed him and pulled him forward, and Leo stared at the warden watching him silently, eyes pointed unblinkingly at the [Thief]¡¯s legs. Leo activated [Judgement].

    Name: Sebastian

    Age: 30

    Level: 24

    Class: [Prison Warden, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Still Sight Lvl 3]

    What caught Leo¡¯s attention, however, wasn¡¯t the personal skill, the likely source of his lack of movement, or the man¡¯s class and level.

    Instead, what made the [Thief]¡¯s eyes widen was the single line beneath that.

    [Fragment in possession]

    Leo distantly felt the guards pulling him deeper into the prison, past the warden and receptionist and the other watching guards, but he kept his vision focused on the warden.

    If there had been any doubt before, now he knew for certain that the notifications were real.

    The warden met eyes with him calmly, undisturbed and unruffled.

    ¡°Take the rat to a cell,¡± he said. ¡°And tell the executioner we¡¯re adding another one to the list.¡±

 Chapter 6: Executioner I

    Chapter 6: Executioner I

    The guards unceremoniously threw Leo into the cell, and he barely managed to avoid landing on his injured hand. The [Thief] scrambled up, jerking around just as the cell doors creaked closed.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Leo yelled after the exiting guards. ¡°Don¡¯t I get a trial?¡±

    There was, as expected, no response. The heavy metal door slammed shut, leaving Leo alone behind the bars, a narrow strip of hard floor between the cell and the door an insurmountable dividing line.

    He slumped down, exhaling. Against his hands, the metal bars were cool and rough, and the sharp smell of metal mixed with the damp scent of earth and decaying stone.

    The cell was isolated and small, fully surrounded with thick stone walls with no windows or gaps in sight. The ground was equally solid, and the interior of the cell was covered in layers of old stains, some sticky and others powdery and caked on.

    A subtle chill permeated the space, the kind that crept forth and settled deep into the bones. There was very little light¡ªonly the small amount that got through the narrow slit in the door.

    Leo rattled the bars, but they remained solid. He eyed the heavy lock. The guards had patted him down and taken away his lockpick.

    He slipped a hand through the bars, attempting to fiddle with it, but he¡¯d need something to undo it. He forced his right hand through as well, wincing in pain, but he pushed on and attempted to dig the splints into the hole. They were too wide.

    The [Thief] slid back and glanced around, searching the area for anything he could use, but it was completely clear. They could be damn meticulous when they wanted.

    The chill crept higher. He could hear water dripping from somewhere, a steady, unending rhythm ringing from the darkness cloaking the cell.

    Leo shivered and gritted his teeth, the mix of smells swirling in his mind. In the shadows, the stone walls took on different shapes, the world outside nothing more than that thin sliver of light. He felt his breaths begin to quicken against his will.

    The stench of iron, a cold ground, impenetrable walls and the indefinite passing of time¡ª

    Leo squeezed his eyes shut, shoving the memories back. He clenched his injured fingers, focusing on the stinging pain as he forced his breaths to steady again. He needed to focus on the present, sort through the barrage of information that had been thrown at him.

    The fragment. The notifications. He exhaled. He needed to think things through one at a time.

    Hazel eyes opened again. Based on the appearance of his cell, both its isolation and the lack of a cot or washbasin, this was likely a temporary holding place meant for prisoners about to be transported or, in his case, executed.

    Based on the warden¡¯s words, the execution would be tomorrow, the man likely wanting to get it out of the way so he could focus on dealing with the ruckus the notifications had caused. He would probably be stuck here until the execution proper.

    Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he poked at his legs. The feeling had returned to them as suddenly as they had been paralyzed. However the warden¡¯s personal skill worked, it wore off quickly and seemed to have very specific requirements.

    The [Thief] frowned. For a level 3 skill, the effect was very strong; he hadn¡¯t been able to move his legs at all. It was true that some people¡¯s personal skills were simply more powerful even in the early levels, but his mind wandered back to that addition to the man¡¯s stat sheet, one he¡¯d never seen before. [Fragment in possession].

    The message had said that fragments would contain parts of the [Administrator]¡¯s power. Perhaps this one was amplifying the warden¡¯s personal skill somehow? He shuddered at the thought. That man didn¡¯t need any more power, especially not with a personal skill like this.

    Through the metal door, the muffled sound of distant footsteps sounded. Leo frowned. He couldn¡¯t physically get out of the cell, so he¡¯d need someone to let him out from the outside.

    Leo turned on the party map, scanning it for Allan¡¯s location. His brows furrowed.

    Based on the general position of the glowing dot, he recognized the area as somewhere deeper into the slums, the parts unsavory enough that even rickshaw pullers didn¡¯t take jobs there.

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    ¡°What is he doing?¡± Leo muttered. The dot remained still, a constant blinking light. Allan would be able to see his location too, and based on his unusual location, he suspected the [Rickshaw Puller] was planning a way to break him out.

    Maybe it was foolish of him to have that sort of faith in someone¡ªhe thought he would¡¯ve learned better by now. Still, the man hadn¡¯t let him down in the last five years.

    Leo closed the map. Even if Allan was planning a way to break him out, that didn¡¯t mean the [Thief] was just going to just sit around waiting. He pursed his lips, mind drifting back to Aldas¡¯s words. His jaw clenched. No, he¡¯d figure a way out himself.

    He could try bribing a guard, but based on how isolated this cell seemed, he doubted any would come by before the execution tomorrow.

    His eyes narrowed, remembering the scaffold yesterday and the blade under the evening light. If he remembered right¡­

    Leo¡¯s mind churned, and he exhaled. It was far from guaranteed, but if the stories were true and he played his cards right, he might just be able to get out of this cell.

    The [Thief] glanced around, quietly shifting to sit closer to the little bit of light. He drew his knees close to his chest to preserve warmth and stared at the metal door.

    Waiting.

    ¡ª

    About an hour later, a shadow passed in front of the door slit. Leo tensed, but remained in place as it slowly swung open with a creak.

    A new figure stepped inside, one who he¡¯d never seen up close before, but who was nonetheless unmistakable. He activated [Judgement].

    Name: Spade

    Age: 31

    Level: 22

    Class: [Executioner, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Empathy Lvl 3]

    Tall and with a toned physique, the best word to describe Sindrey¡¯s [Executioner] was ¡°striking.¡±

    Her long grey hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, and stray hairs fell over sharp, angular features. Scars of every size and shape littered deathly pale skin: long cuts and star shaped old piercing wounds, burns and broken bones and a nose that had healed crooked.

    She shut the door and came to a stop in front of the cell, raising an eyebrow. The motion was a little stiff due to the amount of scarring on her face, but the amusement in her grey eyes was clear even in the dim lighting.

    ¡°It looks like you were expecting me.¡±

    Leo met her gaze evenly, noting the long blade sheathed at her side. Her pants and boots had a few dark stains on them, though she wasn¡¯t wearing the cloak she usually donned for executions. Not to hide her identity, mind you; everyone knew who she was. It was supposedly just to mitigate the mess.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot of stories,¡± Leo said simply, and it was true. [Executioner] was an unsavory class, despised equally between the slums and the rest of Sindrey, but it was also a necessary one. Spade, from what Leo had heard, wasn¡¯t from Avel, which leant itself to a good amount of gossip.

    In this case, it seemed like some of the rumors had merit. At the very least, the one about her going to talk to all of her victims before their executions was true. It was a strange enough quirk that had immediately spread, and at this point Leo had heard countless theories on why.

    Considering Spade also dealt out public floggings, some suggested that the [Executioner] was a sadistic lunatic who enjoyed torturing victims beforehand, if not physically then at least psychologically. If that was true, then Leo¡¯s plan would immediately fall through.

    Spade stood in front of the cell, no tension or unease in sight. Those colorless grey eyes remained steady and sharp, increasingly uncanny the longer the [Thief] looked at them.

    Leo carefully eyed her [Empathy] personal skill. Personal skills were granted based on a significant event or topic in someone''s life typically before their twenties, though he¡¯d heard of some people getting theirs later. This meant each was custom tailored to an individual''s needs, but it also meant that their names often couldn¡¯t be taken literally. Still, it wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad sign. Maybe, just maybe there was a shot at this working.

    ¡°Interesting stories, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    Leo snorted, but he kept his gaze steady. ¡°Yeah, you could say that.¡± His lips thinned. ¡°I guess I¡¯m gonna see how true they were.¡±

    Spade chuckled. ¡°Well, since it sounds like you already know who I am, what¡¯s your name, crest thief?¡± Her voice remained calm and unperturbed, not a hint of judgement in her words.

    Leo hesitated, debating on using a pseudonym, then decided: screw it. If he messed up he¡¯d be dead anyway.

    ¡°It¡¯s Leo.¡±

    The [Executioner] hummed and sat down on the floor just outside the cell so that she was eye level with the [Thief].

    ¡°I see. Well then, Leo, I¡¯d like to know what made you decide to steal two class crests.¡±

    Leo frowned. The woman¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t changed at all, and from what he could tell, the question was serious.

    ¡°¡­You want to know the reason. That¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± She smiled. ¡°Not as exciting as you expected, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    The [Thief] stared for a second, trying to wrap his head around it. Maybe she was trying to get him to confess, but there was no need for that. He was already sentenced and slum thieves didn¡¯t get trials, especially not nobodies like him.

    ¡°Why?¡± Leo didn¡¯t even bother hiding the suspicion in his voice. Spade raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°I like to know more about the people I¡¯m going to kill.¡±

    He blinked, furrowing his brow. The [Executioner] remained difficult to read.

    The water continued to drip in the corner of the cell, its steady rhythm a reminder of his limited time. Leo clenched his fingers into a fist and took a deep breath.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±

 Chapter 7: Executioner II

    Chapter 7: Executioner II

    The [Executioner] remained silent as Leo carefully began his story. She barely moved or reacted at all. It was uncanny how still she was, and Leo felt himself growing increasingly antsy the longer he spoke.

    Still, the [Thief] kept his voice steady as he began first with yesterday morning, the gathering of the money after five grueling years, getting beaten by the guards, then deciding to steal the badges¡ªemphasizing the hardship. He laid it all out.

    His voice slowed when he got to the notification. From what he¡¯d seen, Spade didn¡¯t have a fragment like the prison warden did, but he was still hesitant to mention it when he was still getting over the shock of the announcement. So, Leo elected to keep it vague, cutting to him getting caught and dragged to the prison.

    He carefully did not mention Allan by name, simply referring to him as a friend. It looked like Aldas had kept his word, but that didn¡¯t mean the warden wouldn¡¯t eagerly send the [Rickshaw Puller] to execution, too.

    The [Thief] heaved a sigh, turning his eyes to the side with a wistful look. Not too exaggerated to seem insincere, but enough to hopefully elicit some emotions. ¡°I guess none of it mattered in the end.¡±

    Spade hummed. ¡°I see. That¡¯s unfortunate.¡±

    Leo eyed her warily. He couldn¡¯t tell how sincere the sentiment was, couldn¡¯t read her at all, and the thought was unsettling.

    ¡°I just feel bad for my friend,¡± he said in a quieter voice. ¡°I wish I could apologize properly, for all the shit I got him involved in. Maybe if I¡¯d done something different¡­¡± His voice trailed, and he made a frustrated noise.

    Spade listened silently for a moment. And then, she raised a scarred eyebrow.

    ¡°Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you?¡±

    Leo winced internally. Maybe he¡¯d been more obvious about it than he¡¯d thought. This was why he usually let Allan handle this kind of thing.

    He met eyes with the [Executioner]. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he thought he saw a spark of amusement there. Maybe he could work with that. His lips pulled into a thin smile.

    ¡°Depends. Is it working?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not a bad storyteller.¡± Spade hummed. ¡°And I can understand your struggles.¡±

    She cocked her head. ¡°Unfortunately, pity has never been enough for me to release someone before. My reputation would suffer.¡±

    The pity route wouldn¡¯t work, then. That was fine; Leo hadn¡¯t really expected it to anyway, at least not by itself. He leaned forward a little until he was nearly up against the cell bars.

    ¡°¡­What if you got something out of it?¡±

    ¡°Executioners earn a fairly high wage. I¡¯m sure you already know that.¡±

    Leo¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°I do.¡± He exhaled, steadying himself. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about money.¡±

    Spade raised a scarred eyebrow, and Leo took that as his cue to continue.

    ¡°You got that notification. You know about the [Administrator] fragments.¡± He kept his voice steady and even. ¡°I can tell who has them. I can get you one.¡±

    The [Executioner] was silent for a few moments, simply studying him. Leo didn¡¯t back down despite how unnerving those eyes were. They were pure grey and without a single trace of color. Finally, she cocked her head.

    ¡°Even if I were to believe you, I have little use for a fragment with no defined power. I¡¯m a professional. Executioners have more than simply laws to fear.¡±

    Leo couldn¡¯t argue with that. There were countless stories of [Executioners] getting mobbed and killed on the spot if the crowd thought a beheading wasn¡¯t clean enough or if they slipped at all.

    It was better for the [Executioners] who were over Tier 1, but safety still wasn¡¯t a guarantee with that job. Based on Spade¡¯s current level despite her obvious experience, Leo guessed she hadn¡¯t been given a class crest until very recently.

    ¡°The warden, that personal skill of his. Did it look stronger to you?¡±

    That got her attention. Leo kept pressing, trying to sound as confident as he could.

    ¡°He has a fragment, that¡¯s why it was stronger. Those fragments act like amps. Think about the possibilities if you had one. You might not be able to switch classes, but that wouldn¡¯t matter if you had that kind of power.¡±

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    Spade was quiet for a few moments, and Leo thought she might actually be considering it. And then, a smile spread across her scarred features.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize people knew I was Tier 1.¡±

    Leo froze, thoughts stilling as he realized what he¡¯d just said. Spade¡¯s smile widened.

    ¡°You¡¯re not very good at this, are you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s better for you, right?¡± Leo countered. ¡°Goes to show I really can see people¡¯s stats.¡± This was fine, he told himself. He was already planning on revealing his ability anyway.

    ¡°Well, I do believe you on that part. It¡¯s certainly a useful skill, especially now. I imagine there¡¯ll soon be a wave of people hunting for those fragments.¡±

    ¡°¡­What¡¯re you implying?¡±

    The woman chuckled. ¡°Did you really think I¡¯d believe you would hand a fragment over for free, when we have no idea how rare they¡¯ll be? This is an ideal opportunity for you to get one for yourself.¡±

    Leo¡¯s jaw clenched. She¡¯d seen through him after all. The fingers of his uninjured hand clenched into a fist, and he met her gaze, eyes hard.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± The fact that she was still talking to him meant she still had something to gain from the conversation, or she would¡¯ve left the second she realized he wasn¡¯t serious about handing a fragment over.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s quite simple.¡± Spade¡¯s eyes seemed to gleam in the thin beam of light from the door, the grey shining like metal.

    ¡°I have no interest in the fragments themselves. Frankly, I don¡¯t care who becomes the new [Administrator]. It doesn¡¯t concern me.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°I have another proposition.¡±

    Leo didn¡¯t move. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to join your party.¡±

    At that, the [Thief] couldn¡¯t hold back his disbelieving laugh.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m searching for someone.¡± Spade shrugged, the movement perfectly casual. ¡°I may not be interested in the fragments myself, but many others will be.¡±

    ¡°So, what, you think you¡¯ll run into this ¡®someone¡¯ if you hunt fragments too?¡±

    The [Executioner]¡¯s smile remained infuriatingly calm. ¡°Something like that.¡±

    Outside the door, the muffled sound of footsteps crossed the room. Leo froze instinctively, waiting as a shadow passed the thin slit, then disappeared from view. He was running out of time, he realized. Once Spade left, there was no telling if anyone else would show up. This could very well be his only chance.

    Leo silently pulled up the party map again. Allan¡¯s dot was now moving away from the area, and it was unmistakably heading towards the prison. On one hand, Leo was happy his friend hadn¡¯t abandoned him, but on the other, he really hoped the [Rickshaw Puller] didn¡¯t do anything too dangerous. Normally Allan was pretty level headed, but he had his¡­impulsive moments.

    The [Thief]¡¯s eyes darted back to Spade. Her suggestion was suspicious as fuck, and he didn¡¯t trust her even remotely. This whole situation had spiraled wildly out of his control, far beyond what he¡¯d predicted. But at the same time, if he could just get out of this cell, then he could find a way to slip away later and meet up with Allan.

    ¡°Fine.¡± He pulled himself to his feet, and his legs wobbled a little from sitting for so long. The [Executioner] did the same, rising to her full height. He eyed her warily.

    ¡°You gonna let me out?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have the keys, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    Leo opened his mouth, but before he could retort, Spade reached into the pouch attached to her belt and pulled out a very familiar lockpick. Leo¡¯s jaw clicked shut, and he stared at them as the [Executioner] held them through the bars.

    ¡°They were on Sebastian¡¯s desk. I assume you¡¯ll be able to undo the lock yourself.¡±

    The [Thief] barked a laugh, half disbelieving, half hysterical.

    ¡°You asshole,¡± he breathed.

    If Spade had bothered to grab his lockpick before coming here, that meant she¡¯d planned on letting him go from the start. All of that talking, his poor attempts at eliciting pity, the circular conversation and stress¡ªthey hadn¡¯t meant shit.

    Leo grabbed the tools and walked over to the lock, and Spade barely even raised an eyebrow. The [Thief] stretched his uninjured arm through the bars and began fiddling with the lock.

    As expected, it was fairly complicated, and he cursed a little under his breath as his attempts continued to fail and he grew increasingly impatient, aware of the shortage of time. He had to get out before Allan got here.

    He bit his lip. He had 100 points left from his last level up, which would be just enough to raise his [Lockpick Proficiency] skill to level 2. Passive skills leveled from use alone and didn¡¯t require points like active skills did, so he really didn¡¯t want to use the points here. At the same time, getting out of here was the most important. He inhaled, putting the points into the skill, and felt his hand and lockpick move more smoothly. His brows furrowed in concentration.

    Finally, several seconds later, the lock clicked and the cell door creaked open. Relief flooded through Leo, and he shoved the lockpick back into his pocket. He hurriedly stepped out, glad to be out of that confined space, the damp smell and constant chill, the¡ª

    Not now, Leo told himself. He exhaled. He still had to get out of the prison itself.

    His eyes landed on Spade, who stood waiting by the metal door. She¡¯d made no move to help with the lock, simply observing him. Now, she raised a scarred eyebrow and nodded silently at the hallway.

    Leo¡¯s fingers clenched.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

 Chapter 8: Prison Break I

    Chapter 8: Prison Break I

    The halls were empty as they ran past. Leo¡¯s eyes kept moving, scanning every corner and curve and shadow. Their footsteps sounded too loud in his ears, too obvious, but so far no one had appeared.

    His gaze moved back to the [Executioner] behind him. It seemed like her knowledge of the prison¡¯s guard rotations had been accurate, after all.

    Spade, for her part, didn¡¯t look remotely nervous. But then, he supposed if they were caught she could probably come up with a decent enough excuse. Pretend like she was trying to recapture him.

    Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed. He still didn¡¯t trust her at all, but he had to admit that he wouldn¡¯t have gotten out without her help.

    The [Thief] peered down the hallway. The Sindrey prison was constructed out of flat, hard stones lined together in sharp corners. The grid pattern and lack of distinguishing details made it easy to get lost in, but there were just enough little cracks and chips in the walls and uneven torches to make do. He turned right. Based on what Spade had said, their destination should be just past that bend.

    Leo slowed his pace, pressing his back against the wall and carefully peering around the corner. A single door lay at the end, two flickering torches bordering it. The warden¡¯s office.

    ¡°Hey, does this prison keep any class crests? Like for guards and stuff?¡±

    Spade raised an eyebrow. ¡°The warden has a few in his office, I believe.¡±

    Leo quieted at that, mind churning as he weighed his options. It would be safer to run, but at the same time, this might be the last ¡°easy¡± chance he got to get those crests. He¡¯d be a wanted criminal after this, and getting around and stealing would be much harder. The idea of simply leaving with nothing to show for it didn¡¯t sit right with him.

    And, if he was being completely honest with himself, there was a part of his brain still caught up on that little line of words on the warden¡¯s stat sheet. [Fragment in possession].

    The [Thief] swallowed and clenched his fingers into a fist. The fragment almost certainly wouldn¡¯t be in the office, but if there was any chance the warden had more information about that notification, about the fragments¡­

    ¡­Well, he couldn¡¯t let that opportunity slip by.

    Leo met Spade¡¯s gaze. ¡°Do you know where his office is?¡±

    If Allan were here, he¡¯d definitely yell at him. Leo smiled a little at the thought, then focused again.

    The [Thief] crept forward towards the door, keeping his footsteps light and stopping just outside the office.

    The door was made out of sturdy dark wood reinforced with a metal frame, and it had a heavy padlock wrapped around the handle in addition to the normal lock. Leo carefully pressed his ear against the door, listening.

    A second passed. Then another.

    Nothing.

    Leo pulled out his lockpick and began with the padlock. He felt a little less bad about using those points on [Lockpick Proficiency] now. The process was a little faster, and any amount of time saved was valuable.

    With the faint clanging of chains, the padlock came loose. Leo held his breath, but the inside of the office remained silent. He worked on the door lock next, which was much easier.

    Finally, he stashed the lockpick away and gripped the knob. He glanced behind him.

    Spade hadn¡¯t left from the corner, simply leaning against the wall and occasionally scanning the hallways. The [Executioner] met his eyes and raised an eyebrow, still unmoving. Leo understood the unspoken message. The [Thief] was on his own once he stepped through those doors.

    Leo turned back around, inhaling to calm his nerves. And then, a little at a time, he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open a hair.

    Through the thin opening, he could just barely make out a well lit office, cream colored walls contrasting the grey of the prison, and the corner of a desk and a chair. He opened the door a little wider, and sure enough, it was empty.

    Leo slipped inside, scanning the space. It was larger than he¡¯d thought, and tall shelves lined the walls next to cabinets of paper stacks and files. Vases of vibrant flowers decorated the space, and there was even a proper bed near the back.

    The desk stood in the center of the room facing the door. Leo could see a stack of documents and a half signed note resting under a smooth ink pen.

    The [Thief] moved to the desk, eyeing the drawers. He tugged them open one by one, revealing more files and prison records. And then, on the last one, the drawer didn¡¯t budge. Locked.

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    Compared to the door, it was easy to get the drawer open. Leo grinned.

    Inside were five first class crests. Five. The [Thief] didn¡¯t hesitate, swiping them and depositing them into his bag. They could sell the other three, and that money would last them years if they were wise with it.

    [You have successfully stolen [5] first class crests]

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [1] other party member]

    [Progress towards next level: 98%]

    That was really close. Leo had forgotten just how much experience he got from stealing crests.

    The [Thief] didn¡¯t waste time thinking, though. He shut the drawer and locked it again, then squinted at the documents on the desk, searching for anything mentioning the fragments.

    Sitting at the top of the stack was a paper requesting the ¡°removal¡± of a list of prisoners, and Leo¡¯s eyes widened as he scanned just how long the list was. The prison was low on space, and apparently this was their solution. His jaw clenched. Better to just kill the trash and make sure they¡¯re gone for good.

    The document underneath that was an edited guard schedule to go into effect the next week. Leo set it aside and moved on to the next document.

    There, in elegant, curling inked letters, was a note from the governor. Leo carefully lifted it up. It must have been sent using some sort of teleportation spell to get here so fast, because when he scanned the contents, he immediately saw that it was about the fragments.

    His eyes moved rapidly, taking in the words.

    ¡ªnotice from the Council of Avel¡ª

    ¡ªconfiscate any fragments found¡ª

    ¡ªannouncement tomorrow noon¡ª

    ¡ªColorless Lands empty¡ª

    ¡ªconfirmed true¡ª

    Confirmed true. True. Leo¡¯s hands shook a little, the paper trembling in his hands. The notification was real, and the [Administrator] was gone. Not only that, but it sounded like Avel would soon crack down on those in possession of fragments, likely to use for their own purposes.

    Of course, he thought with a hint of bitterness. The Council wouldn¡¯t want anyone around who might be able to challenge their power.

    Leo set the page down, eyeing the half written note beneath it. It looked like the warden had been in the middle of writing a response, the letters dark with bleeding ink. The [Thief] narrowed his eyes. Nowhere did the response mention that the warden himself had a fragment.

    A brief look at the rest of the documents revealed nothing noteworthy, and Leo carefully placed the pages back where they¡¯d been.

    He turned to leave, but paused. He glanced back, and after a moment of hesitation, he pulled open the top drawer. The inside was lined with a few small, unmarked vials. He took one and stuffed it into his pouch as well, right beside the crests.

    [You have successfully stolen [1] middle grade bottle of Spiderslake]

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [1] other party member]

    [You have leveled up! 200 points rewarded]

    [You have gained a new skill: Sprint]

    [Progress towards next level: 9%]

    Leo physically recoiled when he saw that first message. He stared down at the vial with disgust.

    Spiderslake, when ingested, functioned as an aphrodisiac and a sedative. It was cheaper and less safe than other options, and a favorite in the slums. He felt filthy even having the bottle on him.

    Luckily, the theft was enough to get him to the next level, and he¡¯d even finally managed to get the [Sprint] skill.

    Leo immediately put 100 points into leveling it to level 2, then spent the remainder on raising his mana up twice. [Sprint] was very useful, but it cost a lot of mana to use, and he had a feeling he¡¯d need the skill soon.

    As for the vial, he¡¯d get rid of it once he was out. He had no need for it, and he wasn¡¯t comfortable selling it, either, when he knew what it would probably be used for.

    Leo moved over to the door, listening outside for the metal footsteps of guards, but he heard none. A part of him was tempted to stay longer and take something else, but he couldn¡¯t carry much else on him and needed to get out of here. He¡¯d dawdled long enough.

    The [Thief] pushed the door open and relocked it. He frowned, pausing when he saw that Spade was no longer in the hallway. He moved over to the corner, but he couldn¡¯t see her in the longer corridors either. The [Executioner] was nowhere to be found.

    Unease bubbled in his stomach. He hadn¡¯t heard anything from inside the office, so there couldn¡¯t have been a scuffle. She must have left on her own. But why?

    Leo¡¯s fingers clenched, and he eyed the hallways again, remembering his location and how to get to the exit. The cold air bit at his skin, and the longer he stayed here, the more wrong everything he felt. He needed to get out of here now.

    The [Thief] hurried forward, switching out his [Lockpick Proficiency] passive skill for [Acrobatics] instead. He already had [Stealth] equipped, and he ran as fast as he could while not making a sound. Around him, the light of the torches seemed brighter and more harsh against the cold grey stone.

    The next corner came up ahead, the path splitting into four different directions. Through the dim lighting, Leo could see a group of four guards approaching from the right.

    He cursed internally and skidded to a stop. He had to use his injured hand to grip the wall and avoid falling from the momentum, and pain shot up his fingers. Leo exhaled, pressing back against the wall and activating [Fade into Background]. He made himself as small as possible, holding his breath as the sounds of metal footsteps approached.

    ¡°¡ªwent crazy,¡± one guard was saying as the group drew near. ¡°He¡¯s always been paranoid, but I think he¡¯s gone and truly lost his mind this time.¡±

    Leo saw them pass the corner, and he sank even lower to the ground as they strode casually across the intersection.

    ¡°I dunno, you see that crowd outside? Maybe he¡¯s got a point.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll say, those prisoners were damn near rioting.¡±

    They were halfway across now, and they hadn¡¯t turned in his direction. Leo waited, muscles tense, silently praying for them to move faster.

    The second guard scoffed.

    ¡°I don¡¯ blame them. That notification¡­¡± He shuddered. To Leo¡¯s dismay, he slowed down, and the other guards did the same.

    ¡°You think it was real, then?¡± the first guard whispered, her voice echoing a little in the narrow halls.

    ¡°I think we¡¯re in for a load of trouble is what I think.¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± The fourth guard finally spoke. His voice was low and commanding, crackling like flames. ¡°We¡¯ve got no time for petty gossip.¡±

    He strode forward past the other three and turned back to address them, his features drawn into a disapproving frown.

    ¡°If the warden were to hear you¡ª¡±

    He cut himself off. Leo stilled and held his breath.

    The guard was staring straight at him.

 Chapter 9: Prison Break II

    Chapter 9: Prison Break II

    Leo didn¡¯t think. He jumped up and activated [Sprint], taking advantage of the guards¡¯ shock and bolting in the opposite direction.

    ¡°After him!¡± he heard the fourth guard yell, and clanging footsteps rushed towards him from behind.

    Leo swerved, sharply turning at the next corner, mind churning as he ran through the structure of the prison and tried to determine how to get to the exit from here. He could feel his [Sprint] skill nearing the end of its effect; he needed to cover as much distance as he could.

    At an intersection up ahead, a guard suddenly appeared from the left, jumping in front to cut off his path. It was too late to slow down.

    The guard stretched an arm out, and at the last second, Leo threw his body forward, grabbing onto the guard¡¯s shoulders and vaulting over him.

    He landed hard on the ground, and piercing pain shot up his right hand. He screamed, stumbling and nearly tripping over himself as his legs struggled to recover from the impact of his landing. Leo heard the guard fall backwards behind him, and gritting his teeth, Leo activated [Sprint] again and kept going.

    Behind him, a loud, booming voice echoed from the fourth guard.

    ¡°Prisoner in block E has escaped, moving rapidly towards block D. Do not let him get away. Killing is permitted.¡±

    An [Amplification] skill. Leo¡¯s ears rang from the sheer volume, and he had no doubt every guard in the prison had heard. He cursed. Block D, was that what the section up ahead was? Was there another route to the exit?

    The [Thief] heard pounding footsteps coming from behind. At the next bend in the hallway, he turned right, catching sight of two new groups of guards. One of them shouted, and the footsteps grew louder. Leo¡¯s heart thrummed in his chest. He couldn¡¯t keep running recklessly like this.

    At the next fork in the hall, something crashed into his side and threw him backwards. Leo skidded across the ground from the force of the impact.

    He scrambled up, but before he could stand the guard was on him again. Another use of [Sprint] was barely enough for Leo to get away in time. This one was fast¡ªmuch faster than him.

    Leo turned and bolted away, using the remaining time on his [Sprint] skill and activating [Mana Recovery]. He estimated he only had three uses left before his mana ran out, and it would take a few minutes to regain some even with the help of [Mana Recovery].

    A hand yanked him backwards and slammed him into the wall, knocking the wind out of him. For a second Leo couldn¡¯t breathe, temporarily dazed by the impact. The guard had him pinned to the wall, the other hand reaching for the sword sheathed at his hip. He must also have [Sprint].

    Leo struggled, kicking out with his leg, but the guard easily avoided the blow. His fingers gripped the hilt of the blade, and the [Thief]¡¯s mind churned with rising panic. How do I get out of this, how can I escape, how¡ª

    The guard drew the sword back, the metal gleaming in the flickering torchlight. Leo¡¯s breath caught, his gaze fixed on that blade as he waited for pain.

    Instead, a booming blast sounded from within the prison.

    The walls shook, the ground shaking beneath their feet as the sound reverberated in their ears. The guard yelled in surprise, turning his head to look in the direction of the explosion for just a second.

    Leo didn¡¯t waste time. He yanked out his lockpick and dug it straight into the guard¡¯s eye.

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    The [Thief] barely processed the man¡¯s scream as he was dropped to the ground, the bloodied lockpick wedged into the guard¡¯s eye socket now dripping red.

    The man curled in on himself, gripping at his face while he thrashed with pain. Leo scrambled up and bolted, his breaths quick and harsh.

    An unfamiliar voice sounded from across the prison, also amplified with a skill.

    ¡°Intruder in block C. Structural damage done to cells. Several prisoners have escaped. Backup needed.¡±

    An intruder, the sound of that explosion, the walls shaking. Leo¡¯s heart raced in his chest. Could it be?

    The [Thief] swerved at the next corner, heading in the direction of the explosion and activating [Sprint] again, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

    In the party map, Allan¡¯s glowing dot hovered around the prison. There weren¡¯t any further details; for all Leo knew the [Rickshaw Puller] was only in the area and the explosion was someone else, but he didn¡¯t have the luxury to second guess himself. Either he was right or he wasn¡¯t. There was no room for hesitation right now.

    More footsteps sounded from behind, the other guards quickly catching up. He heard yells calling after him followed by a crackling sound.

    Leo ducked his head, and a sizzling stream of fire jetted over him, burning the tips of his hair. He could feel the heat of the flames.

    The [Thief] heard another crackle as a second blast was summoned, and he ran in a curving pattern in an attempt to throw the guard¡¯s aim off.

    The next blast whizzed over his right shoulder. Another flew narrowly past his arm. The third crackle came lower, and Leo jumped, wincing as some of the flames singed his leg. The noise paused. The guard must be waiting to recover their mana.

    Up ahead, the hallway widened, all the different paths converging together on a wide open space interspersed with stone pillars supporting the roof of the prison.

    Scattered debris lay strewn about in hard, jagged shapes. Prisoners and guards alike wove between broken pillars, metal weapons gleaming and bloodied fists moving in furious flurries. Hollers and yells combined into a deafening roar. The explosion must¡¯ve damaged their cells enough for them to escape.

    Towards the back of the chamber, Leo could just barely make out lingering wisps of smoke and a few hints of daylight streaming in from the corner. He pressed himself to run even faster.

    Activating his [Sprint] skill again, Leo leapt over the first piece of rubble, keeping a close eye on the other guards in the area. Most were preoccupied with the prisoners, and the [Thief] took advantage of the confusion.

    Using his [Acrobatics] skill, Leo dodged past fallen stones and wove between fights, hurtling himself towards the back of the room where freedom lay just beyond that corner.

    A gleaming blade narrowly whizzed past his nose, and the [Thief]¡¯s shoulder slammed into the corner of a pillar in his haste to avoid the swing. He kept going.

    In his peripheral vision, an elderly man in grey was slammed into the ground with a loud crack and fell limp. Three prisoners kicked at a fallen guard. Others bolted for the exit, and a guard¡¯s axe cleaved into the back of a fleeing woman.

    Leo jumped over a collapsed guard, and by now, he could smell the lingering smoke from the explosion. He could finally see past the corner of the large room, where a hallway led down into another block. There, a few smaller halls branched off towards the left, occasional flashes of guards¡¯ armor and grey prison uniforms appearing within, caught in their own fights.

    Long cracks snaked up the main hallway¡¯s stone walls, originating from a jagged opening blasted into the end of the hall. A scattered pile of rubble and debris surrounded it, and through the crack, the visible strip of blue sky was vibrant against the dull colors of the prison.

    Leo skidded as he sharply changed direction, turning towards the hall. He ducked beneath a fallen pillar leaned diagonally against the wall and made for that opening. He was almost there. He would make it.

    Just as he exited the large room, just as his feet crossed over that invisible boundary, his muscles seized.

    His legs froze mid movement.

    Leo crashed hard into the ground, crying out as he landed on his injured hand. He could barely think past the stinging pain coursing up his arm. He struggled to rise, but he couldn¡¯t move his legs at all, could only barely drag himself forward with his elbows. The opening was so close, if he could just¡ª

    Footsteps approached. The [Thief] jerked his head around, and his eyes met a familiar flat grey.

    Spade stood at the side of the hallway, her movements impassive and casual against the chaotic backdrop behind her.

    Leo didn¡¯t even have time to feel betrayed or angry, because walking past the [Executioner], hard eyes gleaming and mouth pulled into a thin line, was the prison warden.

 Chapter 10: Prison Break III

    Chapter 10: Prison Break III

    Leo scrambled back as much as he could with his limited movement, but he didn¡¯t move his eyes off the warden. The man kept approaching at a slow and steady pace, movements brimming with confidence. Everyone in the hallway knew there was no need for him to rush.

    Finally, he came to a stop just in front of Leo, and the [Thief] had to crane his head up to meet his gaze.

    He was acutely aware of his own position, the opening just behind him, the continuing sounds of clashes, and Spade leaning casually against the wall a few feet behind the warden. He glared daggers at the [Executioner], who simply raised an eyebrow. He should¡¯ve known.

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit, you¡¯ve managed to cause quite the ruckus for a mere slum rat.¡± The warden¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Though from the state of things, I find it difficult to believe that¡¯s all you are.¡±

    He leaned closer.

    ¡°Tell me who¡¯s responsible for this mess, and I¡¯ll let you die with your organs intact.¡±

    Leo narrowed his eyes, the fingers of his left hand clenching into a fist.

    His personal skill lets him halt the movement of anyone he looks at, Spade had said back when they were planning the details of the escape. It was true that the warden hadn¡¯t looked away from his legs once since activating his skill, but could he really trust any information the [Executioner] had given?

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Leo grounded out. The warden raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°I find it very difficult to believe that someone would happen to stage a break in at the exact same time as you escaped your cell.¡± He sighed and shook his head.

    ¡°Well, if you really wish to make this difficult, then we can always resort to other means.¡± Spade¡¯s presence nearby was a stark reminder of what he meant. Leo had seen the public floggings. The [Executioner] was every bit as proficient with torture as she was with killing.

    Leo heard a loud shout from one of the side rooms followed by the sound of something being smashed into the wall. In his peripheral vision, he could see a few more prisoners fall to the ground as more and more guards appeared. The tide was quickly turning, the escaped prisoners unable to hold up against the growing numbers.

    The warden waited for a response. When the [Thief] didn¡¯t give him one, he sighed and flicked a wrist in Spade¡¯s direction.

    ¡°You.¡±

    The [Executioner] simply lifted her head, not moving from her current position. Her sword remained sheathed at her side.

    ¡°This will count as an extra charge.¡±

    ¡°Yes yes,¡± the warden said, a bit of irritation filtering into his voice. He was nervous, Leo realized. He was a relatively new warden and had never dealt with a break-in of this scale before. They had yet to find the main perpetrator, which was why he was so impatient to get information out of Leo.

    The [Thief] eyed the man carefully, taking in all the little cracks in his otherwise calm demeanor. For a brief moment, his hazel eyes moved to the side, meeting Spade¡¯s grey gaze.

    In a subtle movement so small that Leo nearly missed it, the [Executioner] raised an eyebrow and silently jerked her head in the warden¡¯s direction. Leo¡¯s shoulders tensed. Was she telling him to trust her? How could he?

    He heard more yells. There was still no sign of Allan. Leo gritted his teeth.

    Just before Spade could take a step forward and make good on the warden¡¯s order, he blurted out, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who let me out of that cell?¡±

    The warden paused at that. Careful not to draw his attention, Leo silently moved a hand closer to his pouch, loosening the strings just enough to get his hand inside. He didn¡¯t move his eyes away from the warden, but in his peripheral vision, he saw the [Executioner] come to a stop just behind the man.

    ¡°I mean, I didn¡¯t have my lockpick, so obviously someone let me out from outside,¡± Leo continued. His fingers wrapped around the smooth glass vial he¡¯d taken from the office, and he worked to pop the cork off.

    The warden narrowed his eyes. ¡°Are you implying one of my guards betrayed me?¡±

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    Leo snorted at that. ¡°I¡¯m doing a lot more than just implying.¡±

    He heard a faint pop as the cork came loose, waiting with tense muscles for a reaction. Thankfully, the sounds of fighting behind them seemed to have masked the noise, and he quickly covered the open top with his palm.

    ¡°Ridiculous. I have no reason to believe a petty thief.¡±

    The [Thief] smiled, the edges sharp. ¡°I don¡¯t know, why don¡¯t you ask the executioner?¡±

    The warden paused, and in that brief opening, Leo flung his arm out, spraying the vial¡¯s contents onto the man¡¯s face. His aim was off, but that was fine. All that mattered was that the warden jerked back, and during that momentary, instinctive reaction, his eyes shifted away.

    A rush of feeling flowed through Leo¡¯s legs, and he sprung up, pushing off his injured hand.

    He activated [Sprint] and shot forward, swinging at the man¡¯s eyes, but he sidestepped the attack without missing a beat. Cursing, Leo tried again, adrenaline thrumming through his veins.

    The warden sneered, and Leo¡¯s arm froze midswing. The man whipped out a knife sheathed in his belt and lunged forward, and Leo struggled to twist his body out of the way.

    The schwing of metal sounded just as something dark and warm splashed onto Leo¡¯s clothes.

    The [Thief] froze, watching transfixed as the warden screeched and hunched in on himself, hands flying up to his face.

    His face, where a deep cut had slashed straight across his eyes, gushing red blood.

    Behind the convulsing man, bloody sword drawn, was Spade, whose scarred face remained impassive.

    For a second, Leo didn¡¯t move. And then, he rushed forward.

    ¡°Hold him down!¡± he yelled. The warden was still thrashing and clawing at his eyes, red leaking between his fingers. He tried to elbow at the [Thief], but his movements were clumsy with pain and easily dodged. Spade grabbed the man¡¯s arms in a tight grip, keeping him in place while Leo rapidly scanned him.

    The [Thief]¡¯s mind churned, aware of the yells of nearby guards. Every nerve in him told him to get out while he could, but this might be the only opportunity he had. Where was the fragment?

    His eyes landed on the ring of keys looped to the man¡¯s belt. People carrying multiple valuables usually kept them close together. They were easier to keep an eye on that way.

    Leo hurried to grab the pouch beside the keys, praying he was right.

    ¡°You¡¯d better hurry up,¡± Spade said. Those flat grey eyes watched him keenly. ¡°Once the shock condition wears off I won¡¯t be able to keep him in place.¡±

    Leo gritted his teeth. I know, he didn¡¯t say, instead moving to yank the knife out of the warden¡¯s hands. For now, the [Executioner] seemed to be on the same side as him. Whether or not that could be trusted to last, he would deal with later.

    It would take too long to untie the bag, so he opted to cut the loop that the pouch and keyring were both attached to. His fingers grasped the two objects, and a quick notification flashed in his vision.

    [You have successfully stolen [1] prison keyring and [1] minor fragment]

    The [Thief] didn¡¯t bother reading past that. He sprang to his feet. [Sprint] was still active, but it would run out soon.

    Around them, guards and even some prisoners were rushing into the hallway, having heard the warden¡¯s screams. Leo ducked under a swinging axe, leaping over a piece of rubble and bolting towards the opening. He could hear Spade behind him, clanging metal ringing as more guards drew near.

    Leo spun around, stabbing the knife into the next guard who came charging at him. He didn¡¯t stop to see if it had connected, too busy focusing on getting away.

    The opening was so close now, light streaming through and lighting up the broken, jagged edges of the wall. Leo pushed himself to go faster, to weave around the scattered debris. He could feel the wind on his face now, the warmth of the sunlight.

    Behind him, clanging footsteps sounded. He spun around just as two guards closed in on him, nearly knocking him off his feet. Leo¡¯s shoulder slammed into cold metal armor, and he barely managed to duck under a rapid punch.

    The guard¡¯s arm smashed into the hard wall behind him, and Leo used the opening to slice the dagger into the guard¡¯s neck.

    She stumbled backwards with a gurgling sound, and the second guard let out an enraged yell. He charged forward. Leo was cornered.

    Crack.

    The guard stumbled, and a second blow sent him to the ground in a limp heap.

    Leo stared. At the back of the guard¡¯s head was a bloody, deep dent in the skull where someone had slammed a blade into it vertically. He looked up, and his eyes landed on a familiar face.

    Dark hair a mess, covered in grime and sweat, Allan panted with exertion, but his grip around the axe in his hands was firm. He met Leo¡¯s eyes and hurried forward, grabbing the [Thief]¡¯s uninjured arm with a bloody hand.

    ¡°Come on!¡± he urged, yanking Leo away.

    Snapping out of his temporary daze, Leo hurried forward, aware of the growing chaos around them.

    The two ran for the opening in the wall, and Leo saw Spade kick a guard back before turning to follow.

    They burst out into the dusty street, and a crowd of murmuring onlookers gasped and reeled back. The [Thief] glanced behind him, noting the growing sea of prisoners being pushed away by the guards. The desperation clinging to hollow, starved faces. He hesitated.

    ¡°What¡¯re you doing? We need to go!¡±

    Leo ignored Allan¡¯s words, instead quickly asking, ¡°Whatever you used to make that explosion, do you still have some of it?¡±

    The [Rickshaw Puller] looked confused, but he pulled out a vial filled with scarlet liquid. Later, Leo would marvel at how the man had managed to get his hands on the explosive potion, but at the moment he simply snatched it out of Allan¡¯s hold.

    Squinting, the [Thief] reeled his arm back and hurled it at the prison¡¯s perimeter.

    The ground shook as the vial exploded, and Leo heard several guards yell as they were thrown off balance by the blast. Leo followed it up by tossing the prison keys into the chaotic wave of prisoners. A few used the opportunity to shove past, but Leo didn¡¯t stay long enough to see how many made it out.

    He turned, the fragment and crests secure in his bag, and bolted away from the prison.

 Chapter 11: Party Leader I

    Chapter 11: Party Leader I

    Leo shoved back a merchant, ignoring the man¡¯s indignant ¡°Hey!¡±

    More and more slum residents joined the growing mass, drawn to the sound of the explosion. The [Thief] pushed past as quickly as he could. He couldn¡¯t hear any guards following them yet¡ªthey were likely still dealing with the second explosion and the rioting prisoners¡ªbut that didn¡¯t mean they wouldn¡¯t appear soon.

    ¡°This way!¡± he called over to Allan, who nodded and ran closer. Spade was following a little ways behind, and he eyed the [Executioner] warily. Later, he told himself. Once they got out of Sindrey, they¡¯d sort things out.

    Swerving to the left, Leo¡¯s feet pounded down a narrow, winding alley. It looked like a dead end from afar, but up close, the building¡¯s wall was uneven and curved inwards, creating a small gap just wide enough for someone to squeeze through.

    Leo slowed his pace slightly as he waited for the taller two to make it through. Now that the initial adrenaline from the fights was beginning to wear off, he was realizing just how exhausted he was.

    [Stamina: 11%]

    The [Thief] winced. It would be fine, he told himself. Once they got past here, they only had one more road to cross before they were out of Sindrey.

    The second all three of them were through, Leo turned and hurried away, bolting down the street and weaving under hanging roofs and between squat buildings. More than a few faces turned their direction, but the slum residents knew better than to get involved with other people¡¯s messes. It probably didn¡¯t help that all three had blood on them.

    Beneath them, the dusty road began to give way to stray grasses as the buildings became less and less densely packed. Up ahead, Leo could see a few trees bordering one side of the road while grassy plains surrounded the other. He didn¡¯t hesitate to run straight into the forest, and branches snapped as they pushed through the trees.

    The forest looked a little different from the last time he¡¯d been here, the canopy having grown denser over the past five years, but the important landmarks were the same. A large flat stone beside a sprawling bush. A fallen tree forming an arch against a neighboring one.

    Leo turned left. There.

    A little ways away, nestled behind a drooping tree¡¯s thick leaves, was a cluster of boulders. One particularly large slab stood slanted against a neighboring stone, forming a small shelter in the center like a crude rock tent. The grasses around it were taller now, but it otherwise looked exactly the same as he remembered.

    Leo ducked under the stone, moving further into the makeshift shelter until he was out of sight. Finally, he slumped against one of the boulders, chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.

    ¡°Okay,¡± he wheezed. ¡°This should¡ªthis should be far enough.¡±

    The [Thief] slid to the ground. His mana was still recovering from all the [Sprint] uses, but in a couple of minutes, he should have enough for [Renewal].

    He heard a rustle and looked up to see Allan sitting down across from him. Spade, meanwhile, remained a little further away, lingering closer to the exit.

    For several moments no one spoke, all of them too busy trying to catch their breaths. Now that they¡¯d finally stopped running, Leo could feel just how bad his hand injury was. He¡¯d smashed it more than once during the escape, and most of the splints had come loose. The fingers were swollen again, and some were visibly crooked. He cringed and removed the rest of the ruined bandages. They weren¡¯t doing anything anyway.

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    Allan was the first to speak. He¡¯d set his axe down on the grass beside him, its worn blade bloody and stained. It looked like an axe used for chopping wood; he must¡¯ve picked it up somewhere before breaking into the prison.

    ¡°Who¡¯re you?¡±

    Despite his visible exhaustion, Allan¡¯s dark eyes were hard as he stared at Spade. Between the three of them, she looked the least tired. High constitution, Leo guessed.

    ¡°She¡¯s the executioner,¡± he explained

    ¡°I know. But why is she here?¡±

    ¡°I let him out of his cell.¡± Spade responded before Leo could, and Allan frowned. The wariness still hadn¡¯t completely dissipated, but he looked a fraction less tense as he shifted his gaze over to the [Thief].

    ¡°Is that true?¡±

    Leo nodded, albeit begrudgingly.

    ¡°Yeah, she did.¡± He scowled at the woman. ¡°Disappeared right after that, though.¡±

    Spade raised an eyebrow. ¡°I ran into the warden while you were in his office. I left to avoid drawing suspicion.¡±

    That did make sense, as much as Leo didn¡¯t want to admit it, and it was true that the [Executioner] had saved him during the fight as well.

    On the ground next to her, drying blood still coated the edge of her sword. Leo remembered how easily, how precisely, she¡¯d sliced the man¡¯s eyes with a single fluid motion. A professional indeed.

    Allan looked more confused than anything. ¡°But why would you help us?¡±

    Spade turned to Leo at that, nodding at the bag still tied to his belt. The [Thief] gripped it on instinct, and Allan¡¯s eyes shifted over to him curiously.

    After a sideways glance at Spade, Leo responded.

    ¡°I¡­my skill lets me see people with fragments.¡± His fingers tightened around the pouch. ¡°The warden had one. It said it was a minor fragment.¡± He had no idea what that meant for the fragment¡¯s abilities, other than the fact that major fragments probably also existed. ¡°I think it made his personal stronger.¡±

    Allan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Fragment¡­ you mean from that system notification? It¡¯s real?¡±

    Leo nodded seriously. ¡°I saw a letter in the warden¡¯s office. It¡¯s definitely real, and it sounds like the Council¡¯s gonna start confiscating them soon.¡±

    ¡°So you want to use Leo¡¯s skill to find fragments?¡± Allan¡¯s attention was back on the [Executioner], who snorted.

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in the fragments. It¡¯s rather simple. I¡¯m looking for someone, and I think it¡¯s likely I¡¯ll find them if I stick around you two.¡±

    The [Rickshaw Puller] frowned. ¡°But¡­¡± His voice trailed, and Leo understood the hesitation, the unspoken question. Where were they going after this?

    ¡°Hey, Allan, can we talk for a sec?¡± He shot a pointed look at the [Executioner], who just shrugged and shifted further away, utterly unconcerned.

    Leo and Allan moved deeper into the cluster of boulders, close enough to still see Spade, but far away enough to not be heard so easily.

    Leo released a long breath. From here, he could see the sunlight filtering through the forest canopy and hitting the grass in a speckled pattern. The faint breeze felt good on his skin, crisp and fresh without the rotten stench of the slums to contaminate it.

    ¡°Was that all true?¡± Allan blurted out. ¡°You stole the warden¡¯s fragment?¡±

    Leo nodded.

    ¡°Could I see it?¡±

    The [Thief] hesitated. In truth, he was itching to get a look at it too. Despite the notification, he wouldn¡¯t be satisfied until he could see and feel it in his hands and confirm for himself that it was real.

    Hazel eyes drifted over to Spade, who appeared to be studying the surrounding forest. She wasn¡¯t even looking in their direction.

    After a little more hesitation, Leo untied the warden¡¯s pouch and carefully pulled out a small, translucent shard.

    In the light, it looked like a piece of broken glass, its edges jagged but not quite sharp enough to cut. It easily fit in Leo¡¯s palm, cold to the touch and so weightless that he wouldn¡¯t notice it if he wasn¡¯t staring directly at it. Small and insignificant, too much so for the power it supposedly held.

    Allan frowned down at the fragment. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look very special,¡± he commented, and Leo snorted.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not wrong.¡± He furrowed his brow. The piece looked mundane, and he couldn¡¯t figure out how exactly it was supposed to be used. Was simply having it on him enough?

 Chapter 12: Party Leader II

    Chapter 12: Party Leader II

    Silently, Leo activated [Judgement] and checked Allan¡¯s stats, the fragment still resting in his palm. It looked the same as before, displaying only the first few rows of information.

    [Allan has activated the [Renewal] skill]

    Leo blinked. That was new.

    He turned [Judgement] off, and the notification vanished. He eyed the fragment consideringly, then handed it to Allan, who took it hesitantly like he was worried he would break it. Leo used his personal skill again, and this time the notification didn¡¯t pop up. That confirmed it, then.

    ¡­Was that it?

    Leo frowned. It couldn¡¯t be, could it? Even if it was a ¡°minor¡± fragment as opposed to what he assumed were major ones, a portion of the [Administrator] class had to do more than a simple boost¡ªand not even a particularly large one¡ªto his personal skill. Would major fragments simply provide larger boosts, or would they grant entirely new effects?

    ¡°Uh, Leo?¡±

    The [Thief] looked up, and Allan was still holding the fragment in confusion. He pointed at it, and Leo hastily grabbed it and placed it back in the pouch, tying the string securely.

    ¡°Sorry, I kind of zoned out there,¡± he muttered, mind still churning. How many fragments were there? Did their effects stack? He refused to believe that was all there was. What was he missing?

    In front of him, Allan¡¯s brows were furrowed. His hair was still messy from the escape, and a few splotches of drying blood sat on his clothes like dark stains. He didn¡¯t look injured, though the exhaustion was evident. Leo wondered how many people the man had fought before they¡¯d met up again.

    A fresh wave of guilt washed over him. Despite his attempts at escaping himself, in the end, he¡¯d still needed Allan¡¯s help. Not just his, but Spade¡¯s too.

    The [Thief] clenched his fingers. Even after all these years, nothing had changed. Not really. He was still weak, still a nobody who¡¯d only managed to survive on the kindness of others.

    His hand wrapped around the fragment, feeling its hard edges through the coarse fabric of the pouch. So small, so easily grasped. So easy for it to slip away.

    No more.

    ¡°Listen, Allan.¡± Leo¡¯s voice was quiet, but determined. ¡°I¡¯m gonna collect the fragments.¡±

    He frowned. ¡°I definitely won¡¯t be the only one. People¡¯ll start fighting for them soon, I bet. They probably already have.¡± His fingers tightened around the bag, and he inhaled.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s stupid of me to try, but I¡¯m not just gonna sit around and let this chance go. If these fragments do what I think they do, well¡­¡± Hazel eyes burned in the sunlight. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be the new Administrator.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Leo blinked, taken aback.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Allan repeated. ¡°Where should we go first?¡± He hummed to himself in thought. ¡°Bigger cities probably have more fragments, right? Is it a population thing? Maybe¡ª¡±

    ¡°Woah woah woah, hold on,¡± Leo cut in. ¡°That¡¯s it? You¡¯re just¡­going with it?¡±

    Allan looked genuinely surprised at the question.

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    Leo¡¯s jaw dropped, then closed again. He stared at the [Rickshaw Puller].

    Five years. Five years and he still couldn¡¯t understand how someone like Allan could exist, let alone in Sindrey¡¯s slums. A disbelieving laugh bubbled to the surface, and he shook his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but froze.

    ¡°Consider this a word of advice. Don¡¯t drag people down with you.¡±

    The shopkeeper¡¯s voice rose unbidden from his memory, and he stared at the [Rickshaw Puller] again. His jaw clenched, and Allan frowned.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Leo exhaled. ¡°I¡¯m serious. This is probably gonna be really dangerous; a lot of people are going to want those fragments.¡± His brows furrowed.

    ¡°You could move somewhere else, you know. Your class won¡¯t turn any heads. It¡¯ll be easy enough for you to find opportunities. You could live a peaceful life, get a normal job.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Allan cut the [Thief] off, and Leo blinked, surprised at how firm the rejection was. The [Rickshaw Puller] smiled, the expression just a little crooked.

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    ¡°Believe me, I really couldn¡¯t.¡± Something unfamiliar passed through those dark eyes. He shook his head, and the look was gone as suddenly as it had appeared, so quick that Leo wondered if he¡¯d imagined it.

    ¡°Besides, I helped with the prison break. We¡¯ll both be on the wanted posters soon,¡± Allan added in a lighter tone. ¡°I don¡¯t think a lot of jobs¡¯re looking for people good with explosives.¡±

    Leo snorted at that.

    ¡°How the fuck did you pull that off anyway? A Fireburst Potion?¡±

    The [Rickshaw Puller] grinned. ¡°A couple people owed me favors.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh.¡± Leo shook his head, deciding it was better not to ask. He stretched his neck, some of the tension draining away from his muscles.

    ¡°But seriously, you¡¯re sure you¡¯re okay with this?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to keep dragging you into things.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Allan hummed. ¡°Did someone say something to you? You¡¯re usually not so¡­¡± He gestured vaguely, and Leo punched his shoulder good naturedly.

    ¡°Fuck you, I can be thoughtful.¡±

    Allan¡¯s face twisted into one of doubt, only to chuckle when Leo attempted to hit him again, the [Rickshaw Puller] dodging to the side. As he moved, the bag at the [Thief]¡¯s waist jostled, and Leo¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°Shit, I almost forgot!¡± He¡¯d been so caught up in the fragments that their original concern had completely slipped his mind. He pulled out the pouch, opening it to reveal the five crests sitting inside. ¡°I swiped them from the warden¡¯s office. One more level and we¡¯re finally Tier 1!¡±

    Allan smiled. ¡°Actually, we already hit level 20. You probably didn¡¯t see it during the fight.¡±

    Leo hurried to check his notifications. Sure enough, there they were.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [1] other party member]

    [You have leveled up! 200 points awarded]

    [You have reached the Tier 0 cap!]

    [You are now eligible for class promotion]

    Giddiness rose in Leo¡¯s chest, a level of excitement that he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. They¡¯d actually made it. They would be Tier 1s.

    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± he said, trying to calm himself. ¡°We¡¯re definitely changing classes then. But¡­¡± His voice trailed, and he glanced over to where Spade was only partially visible, still seated casually against a boulder. ¡°Are we letting her into the party?¡±

    The [Rickshaw Puller] frowned. ¡°Do you trust her?¡±

    ¡°To be honest? Hell no.¡± Leo furrowed his brow. ¡°But, uh, I don¡¯t really trust anyone, and she did help out a lot back there.¡±

    ¡°We could add her to the party,¡± Allan suggested, ¡°and switch to a closed one.¡±

    When people joined parties, they gained access to the stat sheets and general location of the other party members, and any experience gained was averaged and distributed equally among them.

    Furthermore, a party member couldn¡¯t seriously injure another party member without severe repercussions. There was a bit of a grey area, as party members could still spar or even hurt each other on accident or in more minor cases. Strong, active hostility, however, was known to not work.

    Leo and Allan were in an open party, meaning they had no leader and both could choose to leave at any time. A closed party had a designated leader, and only the leader could add or remove people. The leader could also cut off the other members¡¯ access to each other¡¯s stat sheets and locations if they wanted to.

    If they switched to this system and then added Spade, it would assure them that the [Executioner] couldn¡¯t harm them while they traveled together.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea,¡± Leo said. He paused. ¡°Uh¡ª¡±

    ¡°You can be party leader,¡± Allan answered the unspoken question. He had a knowing look in his eyes, and the [Thief] relaxed a little.

    ¡°Thanks. We can switch back to an open party after we¡¯ve traveled a little longer,¡± Leo suggested.

    ¡°You sure?¡±

    The [Thief] nodded. ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t want to be leader that long anyway.¡± No one should have that much power, in his opinion. There were plenty of stories of abuse happening within closed parties, and even if he had no intention of abusing the system himself, it still made his skin crawl.

    [[1] party member has nominated you for party leader. Accept?]

    Leo mentally said yes, and a few moments later, a new notification popped up.

    [You have switched to a closed party system]

    [You are now the leader of your party]

    It didn¡¯t feel very different, all things considered, only now he had the option to turn off Allan''s ability to view his own location and stat sheet. He kept them on. He¡¯d turn off at least location for Spade, but he¡¯d rather not limit more than he needed to.

    The [Thief] peered over at the [Executioner] in question, who looked up and met his gaze with a raised eyebrow. Nodding at Allan, the two moved closer, going back to their original places.

    ¡°That was a long conversation,¡± the [Executioner] noted once they¡¯d sat down again, and Leo scowled.

    ¡°There was a lot to discuss.¡± He frowned. ¡°We decided you can join. For now.¡± He didn¡¯t need to voice the unspoken threat. For her part, Spade just looked slightly amused and not at all surprised or offended at the blatant mistrust.

    Focusing, Leo sent a party invite message to the [Executioner], who promptly accepted.

    [Spade has joined your party]

    Leo turned off her location access and immediately pulled up her stat sheet.

    Name: Spade

    Age: 31

    Level: 22

    Class: [Executioner, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Empathy Lvl 3]

    Strength: 21

    Magic: 6

    Constitution: 22

    Agility: 17

    Defense: 20

    Resistance: 11

    Mana: 14

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Anatomical Knowledge Lvl 2], [Mental Fortitude Lvl 3], [Blade Proficiency Lvl 2]

    Active Skills (5/8): [Reckless Wager Lvl 2], [Precision Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 1], [Cleave Lvl 2], [Duelist¡¯s Challenge Lvl 2]

    Leo carefully scanned the list. Nothing looked too strange about her stats and skills, and she wasn¡¯t too far off from them in terms of level, especially once he and Allan used the crests. That was good, at least.

    The [Thief] glanced over at Allan, and the man had a strangely intent look on his face as he presumably also checked the [Executioner]¡¯s stats. Leo shook his head, directing his attention back to Spade.

    ¡°Okay, we¡¯re good.¡±

    She nodded, cocking her head. ¡°I assume we¡¯re planning our route next?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll get to that,¡± Leo said. He eyed Allan pointedly and pulled out the bag of crests.

    ¡°First, we¡¯re changing class.¡±

 Chapter 13: Class Selection

    Chapter 13: Class Selection

    ¡°Are you sure this is how it works?¡± Allan stared dubiously down at the crest resting in his palm. Leo frowned down at his own.

    Against the calluses, dirt, and blood streaked over his hands, the delicate metal frame stood out all the more. Even with the relative lack of light beneath the slanted stone, the center gem still shimmered a little, smooth and cool to the touch.

    ¡°Yes I¡¯m sure.¡± Everything he¡¯d ever heard about class promotion said the same thing about how to activate the crests, though he¡¯d be lying if he said he wasn¡¯t still a little nervous. Knowing was quite different from doing, after all.

    Leo had just used the 200 points he¡¯d received from the last level up, dumping half into leveling [Renewal] to level 2 like he¡¯d promised himself.

    He¡¯d considered saving the remaining 100 to use after changing class; that way he could level agility once the stat was no longer capped. Tier 1 classes used more points to level stats, though, so in the end he¡¯d decided to level his constitution and defense. If they were going to get into more fights moving forward, he needed to make sure he could actually take some hits.

    ¡°Hey, this how it works?¡± Leo called over to Spade.

    She was seated casually against a boulder, idly cleaning off her sword with the sort of efficiency that only practice could breed.

    The [Executioner] raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s how it worked for me, yes.¡±

    ¡°There, see?¡±

    Allan still looked doubtful, but he nodded. His brows furrowed as he focused on the crest, Leo watching warily. They¡¯d agreed to do this one at a time since class selection could occupy someone¡¯s attention for a while, and they needed someone fully aware to keep an eye on Spade.

    At first, nothing happened. The crest remained still on his palm, and Allan frowned.

    Then, from its center, one of the swirling specks of light brightened. Then another. The glow spread until the entire gem emitted a soft, golden light, blurring the edges of the crest.

    Leo leaned a little closer, rapt with attention as the crest slowly sunk into Allan¡¯s palm. He¡¯d heard about how the crest was absorbed into the body, of course, but it still felt strange to see something so solid dissipate more easily than a liquid.

    With a final flash of light, the crest disappeared from sight entirely. Allan blinked a few times, going rigid.

    ¡°Allan? You good?¡±

    It took a moment for the man to respond.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he finally said. ¡°Yeah, it worked.¡±

    Leo breathed a sigh of relief, shoulders relaxing a little. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it, then,¡± he said, and Allan simply nodded.

    The [Thief] leaned back against the cool stone, settling into a more comfortable position to give his friend time to pick a class. He made sure to always keep Spade in sight, though if the [Executioner] noticed his scrutiny, it didn¡¯t seem to bother her. She simply continued cleaning the blade, unperturbed.

    A few minutes later, a notification popped up in Leo¡¯s vision.

    [[1] party member has changed class]

    He straightened. ¡°Done?¡±

    Allan nodded. He looked a little tired, but he was also beaming with a subtle, thrumming enthusiasm.

    Leo took the chance to check the man¡¯s stats, and his eyebrows raised. ¡°You sure about this class?¡±

    ¡°Is there something wrong with it?¡±

    The [Thief] shook his head. ¡°No, I guess I just wasn¡¯t expecting it, you know?¡± He gestured vaguely.

    Allan hummed and sat down, nodding at Leo. The temporary surprise at Allan¡¯s class choice was quickly replaced with his own excitement barely kept at bay. Taking a second to steady himself, Leo focused down on his own crest.

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    If it had been strange to watch, then it was even odder to feel the crest absorbed himself. It wasn¡¯t painful, barely more than a light tingle so slight that he might not have even noticed it if he wasn¡¯t so focused. In some ways, that was probably the weirdest part; it would feel more natural if it did have a stronger sensation.

    Leo didn¡¯t have the chance to think longer on the issue, however, because in the next moment, the words he¡¯d been waiting for appeared in his vision.

    [You have used a tier 1 crest]

    [System processing personal data]

    [Compiling potential tier 1 classes]

    Leo waited, nerves thrumming with anticipation.

    The system pulled from a set of standard Tier 1 classes based on a person¡¯s current skills, former Tier 0 classes, and stats. As such, the lists were highly personalized, and even after choosing a class the system would give different skill options specifically tailored to each individual.

    Two [Mages] wouldn¡¯t have the same spell options, and a [Fighter] who was once a Tier 0 [Shopkeeper] would end up with different skills than a [Fighter] who¡¯d been a [Musician], for example.

    One of the reasons Leo had dumped so many points into leveling his mana was both because he used his skills (especially his personal) often and because those with higher mana stats were often given more spells and skills by the system.

    In truth, Leo hadn¡¯t thought much about exactly what he wanted. While someone could try to influence the class options they¡¯d be given, it was difficult to make exact predictions.

    In the past, all he¡¯d wanted was to get rid of the [Thief] class and choose something simple that would give him actual job prospects. Now that he was going after the fragments, though, that had changed. He needed something that could stand against the inevitable combat oriented classes that they¡¯d encounter.

    Finally, with a flash of gold, the list appeared in front of his vision.

    [Thief - An upgraded version of the Tier 0 class. Agile, dexterous, and specialized in stealth and thievery.]

    [Messenger - A basic class focused on speed and stamina. Messengers travel long distances to deliver important notices safely and securely.]

    The first two were pretty standard, as Leo had expected. One option would always be an upgraded version of the Tier 0 class; he suspected this was the case for Spade¡¯s [Executioner] class. Some people chose to remain highly specialized, choosing the same class at every tier, though it was more common for those who reached Tier 2 and beyond to mix and match different classes for a unique array of abilities.

    As far as occupational classes went, [Messenger] wasn¡¯t bad, and he probably would¡¯ve happily taken it if not for the fragments. It was pretty easy to get jobs, it would help patch up his poor constitution, and some of the later transportation based skills could prove quite useful, from what he¡¯d seen. As it was, though, he kept reading.

    [Archer - A basic combat class focused on ranged attacks. Sharp sighted and precise, this is a versatile class suited to anyone interested in long distance combat.]

    [Mage - A basic combat class specializing in magic. This is a highly variable class, and it receives the most spells of any Tier 1 option.]

    [Assassin - A basic class focused on stealth and combat. Assassins are agile, precise, and deadly.]

    The spread of options was about what Leo had expected, given his previous stats and Tier 0 class history.

    None of the options were terrible, and they all had their own appeals, especially knowing that his skills would be custom tailored to him.

    [Mage] was an immediate draw; he hadn¡¯t been certain he¡¯d be given the option, given his low magic stat, but his high mana seemed to have compensated for it. While other classes learned spells as well, they couldn¡¯t match the [Mage] in sheer number and diversity of options.

    On the other hand, [Assassin] was the closest to his current class, meaning he¡¯d be able to adapt to it faster, and it could prove useful for taking out other people with fragments.

    At the reminder of the fragment, Leo moved a hand to the pouch he¡¯d taken from the warden. He frowned.

    Carefully, he pulled the little piece out again, shifting to get a better look at it past the words still floating in his vision.

    Leo heard Allan say something, but he was too focused to decipher what it was. The piece still looked much like glass, but when he squinted and twisted it slightly, he could make out a few glimmering specks of light drifting within. It was hard to imagine something so small could house the power of a god.

    He thought back to those system notifications, the words still sharp in his mind. Administrator class functions have been condensed into a class crest. Administrator class crest has been broken.

    The lights trapped within the translucent shard looked an awful lot like the ones that had been inside the class crest. His heartbeat quickened. Could it be?

    Leo exhaled, calming his nerves. Slowly, he closed his fingers around the fragment and squeezed, focusing on it like he had the crest. His brows furrowed in concentration.

    Finally, after a minute had passed, he carefully uncurled his fingers.

    His palm was empty.

    The words in front of his eyes warped, and the world seemed to lurch as a rush of information flooded Leo¡¯s mind.

    [ALERT: New class crest detected]

    [Overriding former crest]

    [ERROR: Class crest incomplete]

    [Adjusting class options]

    [Customizing class features and skills]

    A sharp pain coursed through his skull, and Leo hunched over, gripping at his head. He heard Allan rush over, but he was still focused on those notifications, still rapidly flashing in his vision, until finally a single one remained.

    [Tier 1 class successfully assigned]

    Leo felt his knees hit the ground, chest heaving with an unusual exertion.

    Slowly, he raised his head and viewed his own stat screen, his eyes immediately drawn to the brand new text listed beside his class.

    [Fragmentholder, Tier 1]

 Chapter 14: Fragmentholder

    Chapter 14: Fragmentholder

    ¡°Leo? Are you okay? Leo?¡±

    Allan¡¯s voice, increasingly concerned, sounded muffled. Leo rubbed his head and peered up, seeing the man frowning down at him.

    He exhaled and slowly rose again, still dizzy from the onslaught of notifications.

    [300 starting points awarded]

    [Magic +3, Agility +2, Resistance +1]

    [Calculating spell slots]

    [You have unlocked 13 spell slots]

    [You can now access the Fragmentholder Database]

    [You can now choose an initial spell]

    Leo felt a hand steadying him, and he turned to see Allan with his brows furrowed, even more worried than before. Based on the way his eyes seemed to be scanning something, Leo suspected he was viewing his updated character sheet in confusion. His suspicion was soon confirmed.

    ¡°Fragmentholder¡­?¡±

    The dizziness was starting to dissipate a little, at least enough that he no longer felt like he¡¯d fall over with one wrong step.

    ¡°The fragment,¡± he managed to say. ¡°It was part of the administrator class crest, so I figured I might be able to absorb it like the Tier 1 crest.¡± He opened his palm, bare and empty, and smiled. ¡°Looks like it worked.¡±

    The notifications had finally stopped, and Leo exhaled in relief. That had been a lot.

    ¡°Is it like a normal class?¡± Allan squinted. ¡°What¡¯s the database thing?¡±

    ¡°Not sure yet.¡± Leo shook his head. The last notification still lingered in his vision. ¡°Wait, I still need to finish choosing a starting spell.¡±

    He was vaguely aware of Allan stepping back and apologizing, but Leo¡¯s attention was already drawn back to the notifications. He was itching to figure out what the fragmentholder database was, but he couldn¡¯t check until he¡¯d completed his class change.

    It seemed like [Fragmentholder], however ¡°real¡± a class it was, could access spells. He had 13 slots, more than he¡¯d expected. The average was 10, with most people falling between 8 and 12. The number of slots could go as low as 4, and the highest recorded was the Sovereign of Zelyra¡¯s, at 16.

    The golden text shifted, and a list of spells appeared.

    [Message - Mana cost: Low. Enables the user to project a simple message telepathically to anyone within sight. The distance is unlimited for party members. At higher levels, the recipient is able to respond, the target distance increases, and the user is able to project a different voice than their own.]

    [Firebolt - Mana cost: High. An offensive spell that shoots a focused stream of fire. The spell excels in precise attacks against a single or a few targets. At higher levels, it gains distance, speed, power, and the flames become hotter and capable of burning objects within the stream¡¯s general vicinity.]

    [Visual Illusion - Mana cost: Medium. Enables the user to project a small illusion on a singular target. This illusion is intangible, visible only to the target, and has no auditory traits. The illusory image created must be smaller than a hand and lasts a maximum of 10 minutes. At higher levels, the illusion gains size, duration, and can target more creatures at once.]

    A low, medium, and high mana spell option. That seemed pretty standard, from what Leo could tell. He frowned.

    [Message] seemed like a very useful utility spell, and one he imagined would be especially good for large parties. It also looked decent as a distraction, especially once it gained the ability to adjust the telepathic voice it projected.

    [Firebolt], meanwhile, seemed like a standard precision based offensive spell. Leo was admittedly tempted to take it just to have more fighting options. He did find it interesting that it was a fire spell. From what he¡¯d heard, the system did tend to assign certain ¡°elements¡± to people, and those spell options would appear more frequently.

    [Visual Illusion], like [Message], seemed like it would become significantly more useful at higher levels. Right now it looked fairly limited, but with a bit of creativity, the possibilities were still huge.

    [Firebolt] seemed like the most immediately useful pick with no scaling, but the other two gave more options.

    Most importantly, Leo was drawn to [Visual Illusion] as a potential way to obscure his own stat sheet. ¡°The size of a hand¡± was enough to hide his class if he needed to, whether because he was asked to display his stat sheet or if he happened to run into someone with a similar skill as his [Judgement] ability.

    Having [Fragmentholder] so visible as a class felt like he was putting a target on his back, and he had no idea when he¡¯d run into someone who could see that target.

    Biting his lip, Leo picked [Visual Illusion]. It hurt to give up an offensive option, but he needed to mitigate risk. He could choose an offensive spell the next time he had the choice.

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    [You have learned the spell Visual Illusion]

    With that final notification, the golden text finally dissipated, and Leo breathed a sigh of relief. He still needed to distribute those initial 300 points, but before that¡­

    Furrowing his brow, Leo focused on the [Fragmentholder Database]. It wasn¡¯t listed as a skill, but was an entirely separate category.

    A few seconds passed of nothing happening. And then, all at once, a flash of golden light summoned an unfamiliar screen.

    It was a map of the continent, Leo realized, drawn in ghostly, translucent light. Across that map, different areas glowed with different degrees of brightness. Some countries, like Avel, were relatively dim, while others like the Solomere Empire and Zelyra glowed far more brightly. There were no details or labels, only that uneven gradient of light.

    Leo blinked, trying to make sense of it, when he noticed the counter hovering just above the map.

    [Current number of Fragmentholders: 276,121]

    As Leo stared, the number kept rising. The map was showing the general location of fragments, he realized. The brighter the light, the more were concentrated in that area.

    The number of fragmentholders continued to go up. He¡¯d known there would be many competing for the fragments, but still, seeing visual proof of it, of the scramble beginning to overtake the continent, was at once intimidating and strangely exhilarating.

    He was one of those numbers, had staked his claim in this fight. His fingers clenched into a fist. Those numbers, those other fragmentholders, were the ones he¡¯d be competing against.

    Leo stared at the map a little longer before finally turning it off.

    ¡°Done?¡±

    Still seated against the cold stone, Spade watched him with impassive eyes. Leo met her gaze evenly.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m done.¡± He glanced over at Allan, whose brows were still furrowed. ¡°I checked the database. It¡¯s a map of fragments, I think. And it shows the number of fragmentholders out there right now.¡±

    Crouching down, Leo scanned the ground and picked up a sharper stone. The earth was fairly hard, so he had to dig pretty deeply to get the lines to show up, but he managed to sketch a crude, rough drawing of the continent.

    ¡°It looked like the Empire and Zelyra have the most right now,¡± he explained. That made sense, considering they were the two most powerful countries. His brows furrowed at the thought.

    When the Solomere Empire had first invaded Valendell four years ago, no one had predicted that the much smaller nation would be able to keep them at a stalemate for so long. The only reason they hadn¡¯t already been completely taken over was because they¡¯d managed to capture and hold the High General¡¯s younger brother hostage, but would that hold true?

    Valendell had also glowed decently brightly on the map, but it was nothing compared to the Empire. Depending on what major fragments did¡ªno, even minor fragments that boosted personal skills in the hands of certain people would be terrifying¡ªhe suspected the war would be quickly expedited.

    He¡¯d already planned on leaving Avel. After that prison break, there was no way he or Allan could stay. Knowing the Empire might invade them next only bolstered that desire.

    ¡°I think we should head to Zelyra,¡± Leo said, tapping on the country in question. If war really did sweep the continent, that would be one of the few safe havens.

    ¡°There¡¯s a lot of fragments there, and it¡¯ll be safe from the Empire.¡± He glanced at Allan and Spade, who had moved closer to get a better look at the map. ¡°Does that sound fine?¡±

    ¡°You think the Empire will target Avel next?¡±

    ¡°Probably. It¡¯s that or Scaga, but they¡¯ve been at a stalemate for ages.¡± He frowned. ¡°Or they could maybe go after Dorryn and Ellis if they go through Valendell. Either way, I¡¯m not taking the risk.¡±

    Allan nodded in understanding, and Leo turned wary eyes on Spade. The [Executioner] had said she was ¡°looking for someone,¡± but she hadn¡¯t given any more details than that. It sounded like she didn¡¯t even have a general location in mind, but he doubted that was her only motive.

    ¡°It might be hard to get into Zelyra,¡± Spade said simply. ¡°They like to stay neutral.¡±

    ¡°Even if they close their borders, there¡¯ll still be ways inside,¡± Leo argued. The [Executioner] hummed at that, considering. She reached over, tapping Avel and drawing a line from it to the west, into Adrya and then Zelyra.

    ¡°Following the coast would be your best bet, then. It would avoid crossing the desert, and we could cut through northern Adrya.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s voice came out much harsher and blunter than intended. He swallowed. His fingers clenched, and he forced back the memories threatening to bubble up.

    ¡°No, it¡¯d be harder to hide by the coast. We¡¯re better off going south. If we circle through Ivalon, we can still make it around the desert.¡±

    Spade raised an eyebrow, and he could tell she¡¯d noticed his sudden tenseness.

    ¡°If your goal is to avoid the Empire, then going west first is better.¡±

    She was right, and they both knew it. Leo¡¯s jaw clenched. Maybe it would be fine, he told himself. Northern Adrya covered a large region. There was no reason they¡¯d have to go near that place.

    And yet, no matter how much he tried to reason with himself, it didn¡¯t help. He was vaguely aware of his breathing picking up, his thoughts getting hazier¡ª

    ¡°We can go south.¡±

    Allan¡¯s voice cut through his rising panic, and Leo looked up to see the man meeting the [Executioner]¡¯s gaze evenly.

    ¡°If we head north, we¡¯d need to go through the mountains. I¡¯d rather go south instead.¡±

    For a moment no one spoke, all of them eyeing each other. Finally, Spade shrugged.

    ¡°Fine. The exact route doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡±

    All at once, the rising tension broke, and Leo¡¯s shoulders slumped. He hadn¡¯t realized how shallow his breaths had gotten until now that he could breathe in more fully.

    He sent a grateful look over to Allan, but the man missed it, his dark eyes still fixed on Spade.

    Outside, the shadows of the forest lengthened, and a soft golden glow outlined the grasses. Leo exhaled, steadying himself, and reached for the rock again.

    ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°Okay, now we just need to plan our exact route.¡±

 Chapter 15: Nightfall

    Chapter 15: Nightfall

    By the time they figured out exactly where they would go, the sun was already sinking below the horizon.

    They were currently northeast of Avel¡¯s Glass Lake and would reach it within a few days of travel. They would move south around it, and there were a good number of smaller towns and villages on the road that they could use for shelter along the way.

    Leo wanted to pawn off the extra crests for money, but they couldn¡¯t exactly sell those out in the open. That would be beyond suspicious.

    They¡¯d have to head for a larger city to do that, one with an underground market. The city couldn¡¯t be too close to Sindrey or the authorities would immediately recognize them, so they agreed to head towards Alnwick, a city located near the southern shore of the Glass Lake.

    While they discussed their plans, Leo also had to figure out what to do with those 300 points. Part of him was tempted to use some to level [Visual Illusion] to level 2, but he wanted to wait and see how useful it was.

    Like passive skills, spells could be leveled with use, but they leveled much slower than the former. Anyone serious about magic would invest points in their spells, and mages often had to sacrifice using points on stats and active skills for the sake of magic.

    The few exceptions were those who gained enough bonus points that it didn¡¯t matter, like the Empire¡¯s High General, but Leo had never received any and still couldn¡¯t figure out how to. He decided to raise his agility, mana, and magic all up by 1.

    In the end, Leo felt thoroughly exhausted from the day¡¯s events. First the robbery, then the system notification, then escaping the prison. He could feel his weariness catching up with him, but even then, he couldn¡¯t sleep completely free of fear.

    When the Silence appeared, Echoes typically formed in open areas, so the rock shelter did provide some security. At the same time, one could never be too sure. He could still remember lying awake in this very same spot five years ago, alone and even more weary with travel. Every rustling branch, every shifting shadow had been enough to make him jump.

    Now, at least, there were others around. They quickly agreed to have two people on watch at a time, mostly because Allan and Leo didn¡¯t fully trust Spade yet, and the [Executioner] seemed to take their suspicion in stride.

    ¡°You should sleep first,¡± Allan argued. Leo scowled.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. You¡¯re the one who exploded shit.¡±

    ¡°That was just a potion. You were thrown in prison.¡±

    ¡°For a couple hours max.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s still more than me,¡± Allan said lightly. He frowned. ¡°I¡¯m serious, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± His eyes flicked over to Spade, and his voice went a little quieter. ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch.¡±

    Leo hesitated. With the party system limitations in place, they would be fine, but he couldn¡¯t help being paranoid. It was true, though, that he was struggling to stay awake at this point, and the constant dull ache of his injury was the only thing really keeping him conscious. He would probably be a terrible guard right now, which they couldn¡¯t afford when the Silence could appear at any time.

    After running through a few more arguments with himself, the [Fragmentholder] nodded, albeit reluctantly.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered. ¡°But don¡¯t forget to wake me up to swap shifts.¡±

    Allan smiled. ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡ª

    Night swept across the forest in a quiet whisper. As the sky darkened and the silver glow of the moon illuminated the canopy, the rustling breeze and distant calls of birds fell across the cluster of stones like a soothing wave.

    It was a full moon that night, bright enough to maintain some visibility. Under the shadow of the slanted stone, Leo slept curled in on himself, chest rising and falling in an even, albeit slightly quickened pattern.

    Allan and Spade sat at the exit on the border to the forest proper, where the moonlight provided just enough light to catch the shadowy shapes of the surrounding trees. Since starting their shift, neither had spoken a word to each other.

    Allan glanced back at Leo, then turned to the [Executioner] who sat leaned against the boulder casually, blade resting on the grass beside her.

    ¡°I think he¡¯s asleep now,¡± he muttered quietly. Leo didn¡¯t jostle or stir at the words¡ªproof of just how tired he must be. The [Fragmentholder] was usually an incredibly light sleeper.

    Spade snorted. ¡°Took long enough.¡± Despite her words, there was no malice in her voice, though that didn¡¯t stop Allan from narrowing his eyes slightly.

    The [Executioner] cocked her head. ¡°It¡¯s a nice night, at least. Avel¡¯s sky is quite clear.¡±

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    ¡°It is.¡± Allan glanced in her direction. ¡°Though I couldn¡¯t say if Avel¡¯s any different from other countries.¡±

    Spade chuckled. ¡°Understandable. I suppose you haven¡¯t traveled much, then.¡±

    ¡°Certainly not as much as you,¡± he said lightly.

    A beat of silence passed, broken by the distant call of a bird and the rustling of the canopy. The [Executioner] studied the man sitting across from her and raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Well? You look like you¡¯ve got something to say. Might as well come out with it.¡±

    Allan¡¯s eyes darkened. He leaned forward, any trace of friendliness gone and replaced with a hard look that was at once cold and icy and yet also burned like a blazing wildfire.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care what explanations you give,¡± he said lowly. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you, and I¡¯m not buying your bullshit. What do you really want?¡±

    Spade met his gaze evenly. ¡°You¡¯re out of luck, I¡¯m afraid. I really am looking for someone.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°That was the truth.¡±

    Allan snorted. ¡°As if. I know what you are. I saw your fucking stat sheet.¡±

    The [Executioner]¡¯s responding smile gleamed like the edge of a sharpened blade.

    ¡°You would know, wouldn¡¯t you.¡±

    For several moments neither one spoke, the sounds of the night seeping into the heavy silence between them. They didn¡¯t look away, eyes locked in an unspoken standstill as both refused to back down.

    And then, as a passing breeze scattered twisting leaves off pointed branches, Spade smiled.

    ¡°Does he know?¡±

    She didn¡¯t have to specify who ¡°he¡± was or what she meant. Allan¡¯s glare seemed to glow in the moonlight, and the [Executioner] continued without pause, the casualness of her voice at odds with the tense line of the man¡¯s shoulders.

    ¡°I was surprised to see you also had the [Cleave] skill. Level 2, even. How long did you spend in that class?¡±

    Shared skills weren¡¯t uncommon between classes. Some, like [Renewal], were general skills that many people could receive.

    Others were a bit more select, appearing within defined categories of class types. To those in the know, they could act as a ¡°signature,¡± a proof of a current or old class recognizable to others like them.

    [Cleave] was a fairly strong combat skill for its level, and it was a staple among a certain subset of criminal classes.

    Allan didn¡¯t respond to Spade¡¯s question, muscles remaining tense and eyes sharp. A brisk wind blew past the opening beneath the stones, hitting just his left side.

    Behind them, Leo continued to sleep, a dark silhouette on the ground. Allan watched him a moment longer, making sure he didn¡¯t wake up, before he turned back to the [Executioner] in front of him.

    ¡°You seem to care a great deal about him.¡±

    Allan¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°I owe him.¡± The words were low, so quiet that they were barely audible above the wind. ¡°I¡¯m warning you now. If you make one wrong move, one wrong step¡­¡±

    His voice trailed, not needing to voice the unspoken threat. Grey eyes met dark brown.

    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to it.¡±

    Spade¡¯s voice was steady and calm. She adjusted her position, gazing out into the shadowed forest. Allan remained in place, where he could see both the [Executioner] and Leo in his peripheral vision.

    The rest of their watch passed in silence, only the sounds of the forest providing any backdrop. It was a clear night, the kind that would indeed be considered beautiful in places with wards where the Silence wasn¡¯t a concern.

    Allan breathed in the crisp air, closing his eyes for a brief moment.

    The alleyway smelled of iron and piss. In the slanted shadows, colors lost their saturation and red became nothing more than a dark stain.

    Something squelched when he moved, knees engulfed in a warm, viscous pool. Garbage lay scattered over hard cracked stone, joining lumpy silhouettes and twisted shapes. One of them twitched, made a wheezing sound or perhaps a gurgle, but he couldn¡¯t hear it over the sound of his own heavy breaths, over his own heartbeat ringing loudly in his ears.

    A footstep echoed throughout the alleyway, and he jerked his head up. His muscles tensed, at once sore and still thrumming with adrenaline, and his fingers were sticky when he clenched them into fists.

    The figure stopped at the edge of the street, backlit by harsh lamplight and an overcast sky. He waited for the person to leave, to duck their head and hurry on with their own business like every other person in the slums did.

    The stranger didn¡¯t do that. Instead, he simply stood there, staring.

    And then, against all odds, he took a step closer.

    Dark eyes opened again, and Allan exhaled. He tilted his head back, letting it rest against the cool hard stone behind him.

    Tomorrow, they would set out. Tomorrow, they would leave Sindrey for good.

    ¡ª

    Name: Leo

    Age: 24

    Level: 20

    Class: [Fragmentholder, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Judgement Lvl 2]

    Strength: 14

    Magic: 13

    Constitution: 12

    Agility: 23

    Defense: 11

    Resistance: 12

    Mana: 19

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Stealth Lvl 2], [Acrobatics Lvl 2], [Lockpick Proficiency Lvl 2]

    Active Skills (4/8): [Mana Recovery Lvl 2], [Fade into Background Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 2], [Sprint Lvl 2]

    Spells (1/13): [Visual Illusion Lvl 1]

    ¡ª

    Name: Allan

    Age: 24

    Level: 20

    Class: [Healer, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Wrath Lvl 1]

    Strength: 19

    Magic: 16

    Constitution: 17

    Agility: 17

    Defense: 16

    Resistance: 10

    Mana: 16

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Endurance Lvl 2], [Athletics Lvl 2], [Weather Tolerance Lvl 1]

    Active Skills: (4/8): [Celerity Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 2], [Even Path Lvl 1], [Cleave Lvl 2]

    Spells (1/10): [Mend Lvl 2]

    ¡ª

    Name: Spade

    Age: 31

    Level: 22

    Class: [Executioner, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Empathy Lvl 3]

    Strength: 21

    Magic: 6

    Constitution: 22

    Agility: 17

    Defense: 20

    Resistance: 11

    Mana: 14

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Vigilance Lvl 2], [Athletics Lvl 3], [Blade Proficiency Lvl 2]

    Active Skills (5/8): [Reckless Wager Lvl 2], [Precision Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 1], [Duelist¡¯s Challenge Lvl 2], [Cleave Lvl 2]

 Chapter 16: Traveling

    Chapter 16: Traveling

    The moment the first rays of sunlight touched the horizon, they set off. Leo¡¯s eyes darted about the forest, still largely cloaked in shadow, but he could see no sign of any guards or pursuers. Not yet, at least.

    Overnight, the fragmentholder counter had ticked up to 411,786, and it showed no signs of stopping. How many fragments were there in total? He couldn¡¯t help but feel like he¡¯d wasted time sleeping when he could¡¯ve been searching for more, even if the more reasonable side of his brain reminded him that he¡¯d be useless exhausted anyway.

    Leo poked at his right hand. The swelling had gone down some, but it still wasn¡¯t in particularly good condition.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say something?¡±

    Leo turned to see Allan squinting at the injury critically. In truth, Leo had forgotten about it in the chaos of the previous day.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± The former rickshaw puller sounded genuinely flabbergasted as he took in the extent of the damage. Leo cringed. He hadn¡¯t thought it was that bad.

    ¡°I might have knocked it around a few times.¡±

    ¡°Might have knocked it.¡±

    ¡°Look, I was more worried about getting out, okay?¡±

    Allan shook his head with a frown. ¡°I think,¡± he said slowly, ¡°[Mend] should be able to heal it. But uh, you should probably wash off all the dirt first.¡±

    Leo hadn¡¯t noticed it last night because of how tired he was, but the blood and grime from yesterday still sat in a crusted layer atop his skin and clothes.

    ¡°There¡¯s a stream pretty close by,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with it then. First we should make sure we¡¯re far away from Sindrey.¡±

    Allan nodded in reluctant agreement, and they stepped out from the ring of stones and into the forest proper.

    Spade stood just outside the perimeter of the boulders, thin grey ponytail billowing in the wind as she peered between the trees into the distance. She glanced back at them as they approached.

    ¡°Ready?¡±

    Leo eyed the [Executioner] warily, but nodded. Nothing had happened overnight, and the woman looked as calm and unflappable as ever. Even with the party system acting as a precaution, he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be able to fully relax around her for a long time.

    The sun rose a little higher, stains of gold and pink beginning to bleed into the sky. Leo squinted, turning his head and listening for any other signs of life. Finally, he turned south.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said, and the trio set off.

    ¡ª

    Travel was quiet. Too quiet.

    Leo kept expecting to turn his head and find guards, but there were no one. Perhaps they were busy quelling the prison riot?

    Or, the [Fragmentholder] thought, they were dealing with the fallout of the notification. The mayor would probably have to make an announcement about it today.

    By then, the sun had fully risen above the horizon. Golden rays outlined jagged, sharp trees.

    The Aurelia Woods spanned far north into the Solomere Empire, but in Avel, the trees remained sparse enough to see through. Bird calls and rustling leaves sounded all around them, and when the sun was high in the sky, Leo heard the sound of running water. He hurried forward.

    Up ahead, a small stream ran between tall, thin trees¡ªtoo narrow to be called a river and only just deep enough to reach someone¡¯s ankles.

    The water was crystal clear, and the rocks beneath were clearly visible. This stream ran into the Glass Lake, and it shared the same impossibly transparent water.

    According to local legends, the waters in this region had been blessed by the fae before the Fall of the Ancients, but any surviving fae had long left Avel behind.

    Leo crouched down beside the water and finished unwrapping the bandages barely hanging onto his hand. He stuck both hands into the cool stream, sighing in relief. Dried blood and grime clouded the water before it was quickly pulled away by the waves.

    ¡°Let me see.¡±

    Leo glanced back and raised his now clean injury. Allan inspected it closely, dark eyes focused. Finally, with a deep breath, he raised his hand over the injury and a faint ultramarine glow emanated from his palm.

    [Allan has activated the [Mend] spell]

    Leo watched in fascination as crooked fingers shifted, creaking back into place. Thin cuts and torn skin stitched itself together, the invisible needle threaded by strings of the blue light.

    It became clear why he¡¯d needed to rinse the dirt off first; if he hadn¡¯t, it would¡¯ve gotten trapped beneath the healing skin as it folded over itself.

    It took a few minutes, but by the end, Leo¡¯s hand was much better than before even if a little sore. A few fingers were still just a tad crooked, but he could actually move them now, albeit stiffly.

    Leo flipped his hand around, inspecting it in awe. Healing magic really could do wonders.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± the [Fragmentholder] said sincerely once the ultramarine glow had faded. Allan didn¡¯t look nearly as impressed.

    ¡°There¡¯s still scars,¡± he muttered. Leo waved the concern off.

    ¡°That¡¯s my own fault for not taking better care of it. Seriously, it¡¯s way better now.¡±

    Allan still didn¡¯t look completely content, but he nodded and sat down by the stream as well, peering at the waters curiously.

    The axe he¡¯d taken rested at his side, the blade still crusted over with dried blood. Honestly it looked like the blade might fall off the handle, but Leo guessed the man was keeping it around since it was his only real weapon.

    Speaking of which, Leo dug into his pouch and pulled out the dagger he¡¯d taken from the warden. He squinted at it, turning it around in the light to inspect it.

    It was fairly plain, with a simple leather handle that fit comfortably in his hands. The metal gleamed in the light, and it did look fairly sharp. He dunked it into the stream to clean, just to be safe.

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    ¡°Does that flow into the lake?¡±

    ¡°Yep,¡± Leo answered. ¡°It curves a lot though, so we¡¯re not gonna be following it or anything.¡±

    ¡°You seem to know this area well.¡±

    Leo frowned over at Spade, who was filling a water canister. Ironically enough, the [Executioner] had the least amount of blood on her¡ªif you excluded the stuff already permanently staining her cloak, that is.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been here before,¡± he said shortly. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, though.¡±

    Leo lifted the dagger back up and wiped it off in the grass.

    ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s a town a day away where we can stock up on supplies. We¡¯ll have to spend tonight outside, and don¡¯t expect any food for the day.¡±

    That probably wouldn¡¯t be an issue for any of them. He and Allen were used to going without meals, and he wagered that the [Executioner] wouldn¡¯t mind it either.

    Allan handed a waterskin to Leo, who took it with a raised eyebrow. The [Healer] had one as well, and he definitely didn¡¯t remember seeing them anywhere in the house.

    ¡°I figured we¡¯d need them,¡± Allan explained, and Leo had to admit the man was well prepared.

    ¡°Were these also a favor?¡± he asked, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°Oh no, I stole them.¡±

    Leo choked mid sip. ¡°Don¡¯t just admit it.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no one around, though.¡± Allan¡¯s eyes darted to Spade, narrowing just a fraction, before returning to Leo. ¡°Well, no one who¡¯d care.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t really argue with that. Leo finished draining the waterskin, then moved to refill it. They¡¯d have to set out again soon, and he¡¯d rather not be low on water, especially since they¡¯d be exiting the woods soon and traveling on an open road exposed to the sun.

    The [Fragmentholder] rose, and Allan followed suit. Just as he was about to turn and continue, something flew at his face.

    Jerking back, Leo caught it on reflex, muscles tensing. Instead of an explosive or a weapon, he blinked down at a crudely wrapped bundle of dried meat.

    He looked up, and Spade looked faintly amused, a piece of jerky in her own hand that she tore into with no hesitation.

    ¡°Eat. You look like you¡¯re about to fall over.¡±

    Leo scowled, but ended up taking the offered food, albeit begrudgingly. He gave half to Allan, and after double inspecting the stuff, he bit into it. As expected, it was tough and largely flavorless, but it was edible.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna leave the woods soon,¡± Leo explained while they finished eating. ¡°There¡¯s not a lot of shelter on the road, so we¡¯ll have to be careful tonight. Two watches again, and we should get ready for the Silence if it appears.¡±

    ¡°You think it will?¡± Allan¡¯s brows were furrowed. ¡°The last one was really recent though.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not much of a guarantee anymore,¡± Leo argued. It used to be that the Silence wouldn¡¯t appear in the same area twice in quick succession, but as the frequency increased, any sense of pattern was lost.

    ¡°Have either of you ever fought an Echo?¡±

    Leo and Allan exchanged glances. Leo pursed his lips.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t fought one,¡± he said slowly. ¡°But we¡¯ve seen them.¡± He more often than Allan. When you were traveling alone at night, no wards or shelter anywhere nearby, it was usually better to run if the Silence appeared than to stay and try to fight.

    ¡°It¡¯s not much different from fighting people, right?¡± Allan said, and Spade hummed consideringly.

    ¡°Not really, no. It¡¯s a little harder to know where to hit sometimes is all.¡±

    Leo thought back to the [Executioner]¡¯s [Anatomical Knowledge] skill. It turned out executions and effective torture took more knowledge of human anatomy than he¡¯d expected.

    ¡°If an Echo shows up,¡± he began, ¡°and it doesn¡¯t look like we can outrun it, we should stay back to back to cover our blind spots. If it looks bad, we¡¯ll split up, and we can use the party map to group up again.¡±

    He paused, remembering that he¡¯d cut off Spade¡¯s access to it. ¡°Or, I¡¯ll find you both,¡± he amended.

    Finishing off his piece of jerky and storing the rest for later, Leo strode forward, and the group set out again.

    ¡ª

    Leo was glad they¡¯d cleaned most of the blood off. The main road wasn¡¯t crowded, per se, but they did pass by a few farmers carrying pails of water, a carriage that kicked up dust as its wheels rolled over the loose dirt path, and a peddler carrying a box of wares on his way to the next closest town.

    All of them, Leo noted, seemed to be in a rush, moving a little faster than usual. It wasn¡¯t close enough to sunset yet for it to be in fear of the Silence, but given the suspicious glances passed in their direction, the tension lingering in stiff shoulders, he suspected the system notification had unnerved people. Many were probably still wondering if it was real or not.

    The counter of fragmentholders went up to 503,561.

    They kept traveling throughout the rest of the day, not stopping until the sun began to set.

    ¡°Here.¡±

    At the side of the road, the grassy field sloped down slightly into a small dip in the ground. It wasn¡¯t much, but when seated, it wasn¡¯t visible from far away, which was better than the rest of the flat expanse.

    ¡°This should be a good spot,¡± Leo said. ¡°If we leave early tomorrow, we should reach the next village by noon.¡±

    A light wind blew past the blades of grass, causing them to ripple like ocean waves. Only a few stones and stray trees interrupted that smooth expanse, all too small to form a proper shelter.

    Leo slid down the slope, taking a second to look around and make sure there were no blindspots. He nodded in satisfaction.

    ¡°Allan, you sleep first. I¡¯ll take first watch with Spade.¡± He sat down on a nearby stone before the [Healer] could argue. ¡°It¡¯s only fair. You took first watch last time.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡°

    ¡°The faster you go to bed, the sooner we get to,¡± Leo cut in.

    Allan frowned. He casted a glance over at Spade filled with a degree of suspicion that genuinely surprised Leo. Between the two of them, he was usually the untrusting one.

    Leo looked between them, trying to identify the source of tension, but Allan looked away before he could.

    ¡°Wake me up if something happens,¡± he said, and Leo nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Hurry up and sleep,¡± he said, making a shooing motion. Allan smiled wryly, but he did end up lying down on the grass with his back facing them.

    Seated casually across from the [Fragmentholder], Spade watched with an amused look.

    ¡°As funny as it is, the suspicion must get tiring at some point.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s normal,¡± Leo muttered. He pulled out the dagger, carefully gripping it just in case. His muscles tensed, carefully studying their surroundings for any signs of movement.

    ¡°Do you know how to use that?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Leo frowned over at the [Executioner]. Her own blade rested across her lap, and from what Leo could tell, it looked like an ordinary blade as opposed to the ones missing a point that were designed specially for decapitation.

    ¡°...What did you even do before coming to Sindrey? Were you a mercenary or something?¡± If they were going to keep traveling together, it would be good to know a little more about her background.

    Spade chuckled. ¡°Something like that, though I¡¯ve been an executioner for about four years now. I used to travel around for work.¡±

    Four years ago. That was when the Solomere Empire had first attacked Valendell. Leo frowned.

    ¡°Where¡¯re you from, anyway?¡±

    ¡°The Empire.¡± She must have seen the look on his face, because she laughed. ¡°I did say I traveled to get here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not something people just say,¡± Leo muttered. It was the easiest way to get yourself executed as a spy.

    Spade simply shrugged.

    ¡°It¡¯s the truth. I don¡¯t have much love for the place regardless.¡± Those grey eyes settled on Leo, and she cocked her head. ¡°You¡¯re not from Avel either, are you? Adrya, I assume.¡±

    Leo¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± he muttered.

    The [Executioner] raised a scarred eyebrow. She opened her mouth to respond, but before the words could escape, she was interrupted.

    The clear, single ring of a bell echoed in their ears.

    Both of them jumped to their feet just as the sound of the wind abruptly stopped.

    Leo cursed, the words silent, and his head spun wildly around. A dark coiling wisp of smoke appeared in his peripheral vision, and he jerked back.

    There, in the center of the dirt road, a coiling cloud of monochrome smoke gathered, stray wisps escaping the tangling strands as a figure slowly formed.

    An Echo.

 Chapter 17: Echo

    Chapter 17: Echo

    Dark grey strands drifted like threads in the wind, a tangled knot of shapes that formed a rough torso and head floating just above the earth. The Echo could easily be mistaken for an odd cloud, a stain in a river, or a passing fog if you didn¡¯t give it a second glance.

    From the rough area the head occupied, the smoke twisted, and a bone white flower sprouted from where the creature¡¯s eyes would be. Layers of petals coiled around each other, fanning out in a spiral. The smoke flickered again, and black roots climbed down the body, rapidly reaching for the soil.

    Eyes widening, Leo jumped back just as those roots touched the ground.

    The earth shook violently. Woven cords of smoke shot out from the floating torso, flying in their direction, and Leo ducked beneath one aimed at his head. Dagger in hand, he sliced at the pseudo limb, but it dissipated seconds after he felt the blade hit something.

    The air vibrated. A web of those curling limbs bloomed from the Echo¡¯s back. Leo stepped backwards, and he felt himself bump into someone. Long grey hair streamed in his peripheral vision. Spade.

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s eyes darted rapidly around, taking in the expanse of misty tendrils surrounding them and obscuring the main body of the Echo. Based on the earlier hit, those limbs did indeed have a solid interior, but they moved with the freeness of smoke.

    Given the volume of the bell, they were in the center of the Silence. Outrunning the being would be difficult with its reach.

    Spade¡¯s presence was solid behind him. Without looking, he couldn¡¯t tell what the woman was thinking, but at the very least, they¡¯d be able to somewhat watch each other¡¯s blindspots.

    Silently adjusting his grip on the dagger, Leo inhaled. The flower twitched.

    All at once, the appendages shot forward.

    Leo twisted, narrowly avoiding two flying at his head and torso. A third one whipped forward, and he brought his dagger up just in time to deflect it. His foot slid slightly on the crushed grasses beneath him, and he leapt over the next appendage that swept low across the ground.

    Just as he landed, a hand shoved him and he swerved in time to see Spade raise her blade, blocking an attack aimed straight at his back.

    Leo didn¡¯t have time to process, because at that moment, the ground started to shake.

    He didn¡¯t think. He jumped forward and attempted to shove the [Executioner] away. The push was unsuccessful; it felt like trying to move solid rock. Thankfully the impact was enough to draw Spade¡¯s attention, and she pushed the appendages back and leapt away just as the ground split open and more of those tendrils shot upwards like spikes.

    Stray rocks rolled down the slope, and Leo jerked around, eyes widening. Allan was still sleeping at the bottom of the dip, caught in the field of Silence and unaware of what was happening.

    The [Fragmentholder] ran forward, activating his [Sprint] skill and half sliding down the grassy slope. Above him, a smoky limb arced overhead. Leo jerked around, raising his dagger to block it before it could reach the sleeping [Healer].

    This one was different from the earlier attacks, the smoke a mere thin coating around an otherwise significantly more solid base. Leo¡¯s hand shook from the exertion of keeping it pressed back, and this one showed no signs of dissolving.

    His feet slid, and he felt them hit Allan¡¯s sleeping form. Without looking, he kicked back with his heel just as, atop the slope, Spade¡¯s sword came swinging down, cleaving the appendage in two.

    Instantly the pressure was gone, and Leo released a harsh breath. He was fast enough to dodge the things, but they needed to end this soon, especially when the field of Silence showed no signs of leaving. Another Echo could appear at any time.

    The [Fragmentholder] felt something bump into his shoulder and glanced over. Allan appeared beside him, axe in hand and dark eyes rapidly scanning the situation.

    Spade seemed to be holding out on her own fairly well, but she couldn¡¯t get closer to the Echo with all her attention focused on blocking. Leo¡¯s eyes landed on the flower blooming on the creature¡¯s head, constantly cloaked by more smoky appendages. The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    He elbowed Allan, who turned in his direction. Nodding, Leo pointed at the flower with his dagger. Then he gestured to the twisting limbs Spade was still fighting off. The [Healer]¡¯s eyes gleamed in understanding.

    Allan raced forward, axe in hand, to where Spade was. At the same time, Leo swerved around, sprinting around the Echo and leaping and ducking around whipping tendrils.

    Closer to the creature¡¯s main body, the smoke thickened, and a thin haze shrouded it in a blurry fog. More appendages sprouted from its back aimed towards where Allan and Spade were blocking attacks with their weapons.

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    Allan swung his axe down, cutting into one of them. More rushed at the two of them, but Leo forced himself to focus. They would be fine.

    He studied the waving of the tendrils, how they curved and twisted and the smoke danced around them in a strange, almost hypnotic rhythm. Pushing and pulling like tides.

    In the corner of his eye, both Allan and Spade blocked two attacks at the same time. Leo surged forward.

    Activating [Sprint] again, he wove between rippling limbs and whipping attacks. The smoke thickened, but the white of the center flower remained visible even as the mass of appendages grew increasingly dense.

    Leo reeled his arm back, but just as he readied to attack, the swirling mass of the Echo¡¯s torso bubbled. His eyes widened.

    The [Fragmentholder] threw himself to the side. He felt something sharp graze his arm as a barrage of solid grey rushed forward. He felt himself fall, the earth rapidly approaching his vision.

    Gritting his teeth, Leo twisted around, eyes focused on the flower.

    With all his strength, he hurled the dagger straight at its center.

    The [Fragmentholder] hit the ground hard. A cloud of loose dirt rose around him from the impact, and Leo grunted.

    His eyes widened and he scrambled upwards. In his ears, he could distinctly hear the sound of dirt shuffling as he moved.

    ¡°Leo!¡±

    Allan¡¯s voice sounded in his ears, and he turned to see the man hurrying forward, axe still in hand and swinging behind him as he approached. Spade walked at a comparatively more calm pace.

    The smoke had cleared, leaving only the fresh night air. When Leo looked around, all that was left of the Echo was a pile of white petals sitting in an innocuous mound. His dagger lay just outside the main pile, and he moved to pick it up just as Allan reached him.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± The [Healer]¡¯s brows were furrowed in concern.

    Leo nodded, poking at the shoulder he¡¯d landed on. It was probably bruised, but nothing more serious than that.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he said. Even the place where he¡¯d felt one of the appendages graze his arm was, on closer inspection, only a faint scratch.

    ¡°That was a weaker Echo,¡± Spade commented. The [Executioner] eyed the being¡¯s remains with a clinical, detached gaze.

    Leo had to agree with the assessment. He was no expert on Echoes, but from what he¡¯d heard the one they¡¯d just fought would be considered on the lower end of the power spectrum.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [Progress towards next level: 13%]

    Leo paused, blinking at the notifications. His brows furrowed.

    ¡°Hold on. You both got that notification just now too, right?¡±

    They nodded, and the [Fragmentholder] frowned. Every class earned experience from different things; his old [Thief] class, for example, had leveled up by stealing. Defeating an Echo would still grant a small amount of experience to everyone, but definitely not that much.

    Leo¡¯s eyes landed on Spade. Allan was a [Healer], so it definitely hadn¡¯t been because of him. ¡°Does [Executioner] get experience from Echoes?¡±

    ¡°A bit, but to be frank, it¡¯s not nearly as much as I get from humans.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re way too fucking casual about that, you know.¡±

    The [Executioner]¡¯s responding smile was almost infuriatingly calm.

    ¡°It comes with the profession.¡±

    Leo glanced over at Allan, but the man was frowning at Spade with that oddly serious look in his eyes again. The [Fragmentholder] shook his head.

    ¡°That must mean the [Fragmentholder] class gets experience from killing Echoes,¡± he deduced aloud. Or at least, that was one of the things that granted experience. He¡¯d have to figure out what else could be done to level up, but it was nice to know at least one of the things for certain. Still, killing Echoes felt like an odd thing for the class.

    There were multiple theories about the Silence and its origins with no true consensus. Some thought of it as a natural disaster while others theorized that it had something to do with the Ancients. That was currently the leading theory since the Silence seemed to show up less often in places like Scaga, where there was a higher population of surviving Ancients.

    Another hypothesis, however, suggested that the Silence and Echoes were a sort of system error, though that had gotten some pushback from those who worshiped the [Administrator] and argued that a god wouldn¡¯t make such mistakes. Others thought it was a sort of trial to test if humanity was worthy of the System.

    Leo had never leaned too hard on any one theory himself. What mattered most to him was that the Silence and Echoes existed and how to survive them. The experience gained did suggest some sort of connection with the System, though.

    Around them, the night breeze whistled past. The soft rustling of grasses was a welcome sound after the field of Silence had swallowed everything up. It was still fairly early in the night, Leo noted.

    ¡°We should try to get some more sleep. We can go back to the planned watch.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Allan looked worried.

    ¡°The Silence won¡¯t appear in the same place in one night,¡± Leo argued. ¡°If anything, it¡¯ll be easier to sleep now. Besides, we¡¯re gonna need energy to keep traveling tomorrow.¡±

    The [Healer] slowly nodded. After a quick discussion, they moved a little further up the road. There was still a dip to rest in without drawing immediate attention, and it put them further away from the lingering cracks in the ground where the Echo¡¯s attacks had hit.

    As Leo settled down again to continue his watch, his eyes lingered on the pile of petals sitting further back in the center of the path. They seemed almost to glow under the moonlight, yet they remained undisturbed by the wind. From the distance, they could easily be mistaken for a snowy burial mound.

 Chapter 18: Wall of Light

    Chapter 18: Wall of Light

    Morning came with little fanfare. As expected, there were no more attacks during the night. The road remained quiet and bare.

    The three of them rose early, packing their meager belongings and continuing to the closest town while the sun still hadn¡¯t fully risen.

    Leo adjusted his thin cloak, attempting to shift it to better conceal himself. It had several rips from the prison break, not to mention that it had already been pretty tattered to begin with.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna need to get food, matches, and maybe some better bags and bedrolls,¡± Leo listed off as they walked.

    ¡°We should be good with water for now. There¡¯s enough streams to last us until we reach Alnwick.¡± He paused, frowning. ¡°We should probably get some better cloaks too, while we¡¯re at it.¡±

    ¡°Are you going to steal them?¡± Allan asked, and Leo pursed his lips.

    ¡°Not like we¡¯ve got a lot of other options,¡± he muttered. The extra crests remained secure in his bag, a constant in his awareness. The sooner they got to Alnwick and sold them off, the more at ease he would feel.

    ¡°No need.¡± Spade reached down and unhooked a small bag from her belt, tossing it at Leo.

    The [Fragmentholder] caught it and opened it. Inside sat a small pile of glittering coins.

    ¡°That should be enough for the essentials. I¡¯m guessing I don¡¯t need to worry about you overspending,¡± she added with an amused note. Leo raised an eyebrow and closed the pouch.

    ¡°You¡¯re trusting me with the money?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re pretty recognizable. You were going to suggest going into the town yourself while we waited outside, weren¡¯t you?¡±

    He had, in fact, been intending to do just that. He didn¡¯t know if Sindrey had spread their faces or placed a bounty on them yet, but it wasn¡¯t worth the risk.

    Within the group, he was the most inconspicuous. If he just pulled his hood up, he¡¯d be able to blend in pretty easily. Spade was, obviously, out of the question. The scars would be a dead giveaway.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I go? I¡¯m better at haggling than you,¡± Allan said.

    Leo leveled him with a flat look.

    ¡°People would definitely remember your face.¡±

    The [Healer] hummed in consideration. ¡°Maybe,¡± he said. ¡°But people always up their prices when you¡¯re around.¡±

    Leo stopped.

    ¡°What.¡±

    ¡°I thought you knew? Herbert made all his stuff cost 2 arans more whenever he saw you.¡±

    Herbert was a street vendor in Sindrey¡¯s slums. While the man was perpetually grumpy and generally unpleasant to be around, he was one of the few vendors who reliably sold food that wasn¡¯t drugged or poisoned, even if it was a little more expensive. Or so Leo had thought, at least.

    ¡°No, people made stuff cheaper when you were there. Don¡¯t get it flipped.¡±

    Allan¡¯s dark eyes gleamed with amusement. ¡°Sure.¡±

    Leo shoved the [Healer] good naturedly. Up ahead, a few houses could be seen as blocky shadows in the distance, and the [Fragmentholder] flipped his hood up.

    ¡°Whatever, it¡¯s not like anyone in the village¡¯s gonna know me. I¡¯ll get in and out quick. You two wait by the road.¡± He pointed at a thin patch of scraggly trees sitting a little ways away from the cluster of buildings.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make anyone mad,¡± Allan said, and Leo snorted.

    He turned away to begin heading towards the village, only speeding up his pace after he saw Allan and Spade reach the trees undisturbed.

    The village itself was little more than a few stray houses scattered around a packed dirt road. Leo pulled his cloak a little closer, noting the worn, wooden homes that all tilted a little off center.

    Despite the relative sparseness of the buildings, there were more people outside than he¡¯d expected. Just to be safe, he turned on [Fade into Background] before drawing closer.

    To his right, two women argued in raised whispers while three barefoot children chased each other in circles behind them, their laughs and shouts ringing sharply in Leo¡¯s ears.

    ¡°¡ªAdministrator could never die, this is a test of faith!¡± one was saying, shaking the broom in her hand a little.

    ¡°Screw your faith. Then what, the Hounds were lookin¡¯ for dirt?¡±

    Leo sidestepped one of the children before they could crash into him and break the requirements of his skill. He continued forward with his brows furrowed. The Hounds were a fairly prominent mercenary guild in Avel, but from what he¡¯d heard they¡¯d moved further north. Had they come here? And what for?

    Up ahead, the crowd grew more dense. Rising on his feet in an attempt to peer over the villagers¡¯ heads, he could just barely make out a young boy in the center of the group, a messenger hat on his head and his hands raised pleadingly.

    ¡°¡ªplease, I only know what the mayor told me,¡± he was saying. ¡°That¡¯s all he said. I need to get to the next town.¡±

    ¡°But what do these fragments look like?¡± one woman asked, cutting his path off. ¡°How¡¯re we supposed to know we¡¯ve found one?¡± Murmurs of agreement ran through the crowd.

    Leo carefully didn¡¯t react to the mention, slipping around the back of the gathered villagers. It sounded like the Council¡¯s message was finally getting around. As expected, there was a good deal of doubt, and he didn¡¯t blame them. He¡¯d struggled to believe the notification himself, too.

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    Past the crowd, the [Fragmentholder] could make out a squat building with a crooked sign reading ¡°Mabel¡¯s General Store.¡± He turned in its direction, pushing open the creaking door and shutting it behind him.

    Immediately the chatter of the crowd dulled, and Leo exhaled in relief, glad to get away from the throng of people.

    ¡°Rowdy bunch, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Leo looked towards the source of the voice. The store itself was small and cozy, the walls completely covered from floor to ceiling with shelves stuffed with wares. A few articles of clothing even hung from hooks attached to the ceiling. The counter was shoved to the very back of the space, and a short middle aged woman with greying hair pulled into a tight bun smiled up at him. He activated [Judgement].

    Name: Mabel

    Age: 55

    Level: 20

    Class: [Shopkeeper, Tier 0]

    Personal Skill: [Lullaby Lvl 5]

    Leo relaxed a little when he saw the ordinary class. It looked like the woman had reached the Tier 0 cap, but probably couldn¡¯t afford a Tier 1 crest. But then, given what seemed like an already secure job, he supposed she wouldn¡¯t have had a need for it to begin with.

    Considering her lack of surprise at seeing him, Leo guessed this village probably got a decent number of travelers passing through and upping business.

    ¡°It was a little hard to get through the crowd,¡± Leo admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t really blame them though.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes.¡± The woman scrunched her nose and shook her head. ¡°The village hasn¡¯t quieted down since that notification. Doesn¡¯t help that the Hounds had to come and worsen the rumors.¡±

    ¡°The Hounds are that mercenary guild, right? I didn¡¯t think they were planning on returning south again so soon.¡±

    Mabel snorted. ¡°They weren¡¯t. They said they were hunting fragments, but it¡¯s a load of nonsense if you ask me. Things¡¯ll settle down once people get the shock out of their system.¡±

    Leo didn¡¯t argue with that. Overnight, the fragmentholder counter had reached 611,794.

    ¡°Putting that aside, how can I help you today dear?¡±

    Leo listed off the supplies, and the woman pointed out their locations in the store. He was silently impressed at just how much stuff she¡¯d managed to fit into such a tight space. There were multiple options for things, and after comparing the prices to the amount of money Spade had given him, they could technically afford everything on the list.

    The [Fragmentholder] decided to get slightly better cloaks at the expense of no bedrolls. That way they still had some money left over for emergencies, and the cloaks were more than fine enough to sleep on.

    As Leo set the items down and pulled out the coin pouch, a thought occurred to him.

    ¡°Hey, do you have any road maps?¡±

    ¡°I believe I have a few. Where are you heading?¡±

    Leo hesitated for a moment, then decided to be honest. Even if someone figured out who he was and followed them, there were multiple paths leading south. He¡¯d rather get an accurate map that actually led to where he wanted.

    Mabel pulled a few dusty maps out from behind the counter, and Leo quickly scanned them as he answered.

    ¡°Zelyra.¡±

    The shopkeeper paused at that. ¡°Zelyra? You must not¡¯ve heard.¡± She nodded out the window, where Leo could just barely make out the messenger still surrounded by the crowd and being bombarded with questions. He kept inching backwards and shaking his head. Leo didn¡¯t envy his position.

    ¡°Zelyra¡¯s closing their borders,¡± the woman explained.

    The [Fragmentholder] frowned, but at the same time, it wasn¡¯t unexpected. They¡¯d been planning on finding a way through the border patrol anyway.

    He put on a disappointed look. ¡°Really? Shame. I¡¯ll have to see if I can hitch a boat to the League or something.¡±

    Mabel had a knowing look in her eyes. ¡°Trying to get away from the Empire?¡±

    ¡°Something like that. I just figured, they¡¯re definitely not gonna stop with Valendell, you know?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re probably right about that.¡± The woman sighed, the sound heavy with weariness. ¡°I don¡¯t see what¡¯s so wrong with peace,¡± she muttered. Shaking her head, she pointed down at the maps. ¡°Do any of them work for you? I have some more in the back if these aren¡¯t enough.¡±

    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s fine. If I¡¯m taking a boat I won¡¯t need them.¡±

    The shopkeeper nodded, and Leo made sure to burn the next closest roads into his memory as the woman grabbed the stack and put the maps back.

    Considering what had happened the last time he¡¯d been in a store, it was refreshing to have the transaction go so smoothly. Mabel even gave him a discount since the journey would be ¡°tough,¡± as she put it.

    Leo couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit smug about it as he carefully grabbed the bag containing all his purchases. He could get discounts too; it wasn¡¯t his fault Herbert was an asshole who hated his guts.

    ¡°Travel safely, dear,¡± Mabel said, waving at him from the counter. Leo nodded in gratitude and stepped outside, the weight of the bag heavy on his back.

    Now that he was in view of the crowd, Leo used [Fade into Background] again, not wanting to risk getting hassled on the way out. Villagers still lined the street, but the messenger was gone. It seemed like he¡¯d finally gotten away, though from the disgruntled looks on people¡¯s faces, they weren¡¯t satisfied with the answers they¡¯d received.

    Just as the [Fragmentholder] turned to make his way out of the village, however, a shout stopped him in his tracks.

    A few buildings down, one of the little kids he¡¯d seen earlier was pointing up at the sky behind him. Leo turned around reflexively. Gasps and shouts rang in his ears. His eyes widened.

    Across the clear blue sky, once a flat and smooth gradient, a distant glow illuminated the horizon. Golden light rose in a curving line, stretching higher and higher up that boundless expanse.

    No¡ªnot a line, Leo realized. It was a translucent wall, luminous and glowing with magic. It kept climbing, swallowing deep azure and transforming it into a pale yellow.

    Leo took a step back. The light showed no signs of stopping. He tilted his head, following the magic¡¯s seemingly endless rise until, at last, its upper limit disappeared into the clouds far beyond his vision.

    There, in the southern sky that had once been empty, now stood a shining wall, curling and tracing around a distant border. So massive, so all encompassing that it couldn¡¯t be taken in at once. Utterly dwarfing even the mountains on the horizon.

    Leo was vaguely aware of yells and panicked shouts around him. He heard doors slamming, objects falling, pounding footsteps.

    He activated [Judgement]. The boost from the fragment allowed the next two notifications to appear in the sky, backdropped by that glowing wall of light.

    [Skill identified: [Light Barrier]]

    [User: Unknown]

    A hysterical laugh bubbled up his throat. Leo turned the skill off.

    Unknown? With the name of the skill and the shape of that wall, so far south and yet distinctly curling and wrapping around a defined area, there was only one person it could be.

    The Sovereign of Zelyra, a Tier 4 and the highest leveled person on the continent, had clearly decided to take the border issue into her own hands.

    Leo ignored the frenzy around him. Someone had fainted, and a number of villagers were rushing back into their homes in fear of that immense display. The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s mind churned, heart racing as he considered the sight.

    The Sovereign was strong¡ªthat was undeniable. There was a reason it was said that if she and the High General of the Empire ever clashed, their battle would wipe out an entire country.

    But this? This was beyond anything the Level 98 had ever displayed before. If she had always been capable of magic at this scale, then she would¡¯ve used it in the past.

    Somehow, she¡¯d received a boost in power, a boost strong enough to wrap Zelyra¡¯s borders with her magic. There was one obvious explanation for it.

    The Sovereign of Zelyra had gotten hold of a fragment.

    It should¡¯ve been obvious in retrospect. Of course people who already had power would have an easier time getting fragments. The warden was a nobody by comparison; they were mere insects compared to those at the top.

    If Leo was serious about becoming the new [Administrator], then these were the people to be worried about. These were the people he would have to face one day.

    This was the future. This was what he was aspiring to.

    Leo¡¯s fingers curled into a fist. He exhaled, staring into that shining light. Beneath the shock and awe, beneath the unease, a new emotion rose up, thrumming with anticipation.

    He didn¡¯t look away.

 Chapter 19: Footprints

    Chapter 19: Footprints

    Leo had to physically restrain himself from sprinting out of the village. The chaos around him hadn¡¯t died down at all. If anything, the longer that blinding barrier lingered, the greater the panic grew once people realized it wasn¡¯t going to go away anytime soon.

    He turned and tugged his cloak closer, slipping between the buildings as quickly as he could without arousing suspicion. As he stepped past the perimeter of the village, he heard someone say, ¡°Sovereign¡¯s skill.¡±

    Even without [Judgement], people were starting to piece things together. Zelyra¡¯s ruler was too much of a known entity, her specific type of magic and skills too famous, for them not to.

    The moment the [Fragmentholder] was out of view of the squat buildings, he bolted, feet pounding down the dusty road towards the cluster of trees where he¡¯d told Allan and Spade to wait.

    Before he reached it, he nearly crashed straight into Allan, who must¡¯ve stepped back onto the main road to get a better look at the wall of light. A little ways behind him, Spade stood at the edge of the road, her own grey eyes narrowed in contemplation while the rest of her expression remained impassive.

    Dark eyes stared down at him, Allan¡¯s shoulders tense and brows furrowed.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Zelyra¡¯s Sovereign.¡± The words came out in a rush. His heartbeat hadn¡¯t slowed at all since first seeing it appear, the thrumming energy continuing to course through his veins. ¡°I think she got a fragment, and it gave her enough of a boost to do that.¡±

    Leo could practically see the [Healer] processing the words.

    ¡°You mean¡­?¡±

    ¡°It means we¡¯re going to need to reroute.¡±

    Spade suddenly spoke, the [Executioner] stepping forward at a remarkably calm pace. It seemed she¡¯d managed to take in the presence of the wall of light with an alarming quickness.

    She raised a scarred eyebrow. ¡°Am I wrong?¡±

    Leo barked a laugh at that. It was true. No amount of sneaking around would get them around a magical barrier.

    ¡°I was thinking we reroute to Ellis,¡± he said, half to himself. ¡°If we keep heading south and go through Ivalon, we could cross the Ivory Strait into the League and go from there without needing to risk a longer marine route.¡±

    He brushed off his bag, and it landed on the ground with a heavy thud. Leo bent down to open it and pull out the other two bags he¡¯d bought so they could divide the supplies.

    ¡°There¡¯ll definitely be fragments along the way. I say we keep heading to Alnwick; I got all the supplies, but we still need to sell off the crests.¡±

    He kept talking without pause.

    ¡°There¡¯ll probably be more people going after fragments now, once folks figure out that¡¯s how the Sovereign got the power boost. More regulations too, or at least they¡¯ll try. We have to move fast.¡±

    Leo finally looked up again, the rush of thoughts now released. He paused. Allan was giving him a weird look. The [Fragmentholder] frowned.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re smiling.¡±

    Leo reached up, and sure enough, the corners of his mouth were upturned. His hand shook slightly as he moved.

    The former thief exhaled, taking a second to try to calm his nerves. Allan¡¯s expression remained confused.

    ¡°Is this a good thing?¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] snorted at that and shook his head.

    ¡°Nah. If anything it¡¯s really bad.¡± He squeezed his fingers into a fist, then uncurled them, repeating the action until he felt in control again.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t know, I think I¡¯m kind of happy it happened? I was thinking too small,¡± he muttered. He looked up, peering into that distant light, utterly dwarfing everything in its presence. ¡°I forgot how big this is. How many people¡¯re gonna get involved. And I can¡¯t afford to do that if I want a serious shot.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s rather brave of you.¡±

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    Leo glanced over at Spade. Even given the circumstances, she was as impossible to read as ever. He might¡¯ve been annoyed at that, if he wasn¡¯t more concerned with other matters right now. He shook his head.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it brave per se. If I had to face Zelyra¡¯s Sovereign or, hell, the Empire¡¯s High General right now, I¡¯d probably piss myself.¡± He snorted and straightened, handing one of the bags to Allan. ¡°I¡¯m just not letting it stop me.¡±

    Hazel eyes moved to that wall of light again, its towering presence, gleaming like a faraway beacon. Its presence remained difficult to fathom, so distant and yet, if he raised his hand up, it appeared almost close enough to grasp.

    His fingers clenched into a fist, still a little stiff from the scarring. Leo exhaled and turned to face Allan and Spade again.

    ¡°I got the stuff we were looking for,¡± he said. Rummaging around his pocket, he pulled out the remaining coins and tossed them at Spade, who caught them with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Not going to keep it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like owing people favors.¡± Leo pointedly didn¡¯t mention that he already owed the [Executioner] enough from the prison break. He bent down to grab his own bag, significantly lighter now that all the purchases had been distributed.

    ¡°So we¡¯re going to Ellis now?¡± Allan¡¯s brows were still a little wrinkled, and he kept glancing at the wall of light, but he seemed more at ease than before.

    Leo took a second to double check they were alone on the road, then nodded. He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice.

    ¡°Listen, while I was in the village, the shopkeeper talked about the Hounds passing through. Said they were hunting fragments.¡±

    Dark eyes widened slightly, and Leo continued.

    ¡°Last I heard they were up north, but if they¡¯re moving south to hunt fragments, I¡¯m betting they¡¯ve got some way to track them¡ªelse they would¡¯ve stayed north to look.¡±

    ¡°You want to follow them.¡±

    It was less a question than it was a statement. Leo nodded.

    ¡°So far they¡¯re the only lead we¡¯ve got on a fragment. We can¡¯t afford to let any chances slip by.¡±

    Allan hummed in agreement. Leo¡¯s eyes flickered over to Spade.

    ¡°What about you?¡± He paused, a thought suddenly rising. ¡°Hang on, you don¡¯t know the Hounds, do you?¡±

    Based on the amount of scars the [Executioner] had and her own anecdotes about traveling, he highly doubted she¡¯d been an executioner her whole life. It would make sense for her to have taken on some bounties or mercenary work for extra cash along the way.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know them personally.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°I¡¯ve heard plenty though. A straight fight against them certainly wouldn¡¯t be to your advantage.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± Leo frowned. ¡°The way I see it, best case scenario we find the fragment first, take it, and run before the Hounds even know we¡¯re there.¡± Of course, knowing his luck, he doubted it would be that easy. But avoiding a direct confrontation would be at the top of their priority list.

    ¡°Do you know where they went?¡± Allan asked. Leo turned, peering out into the dusty road.

    Compared to the area leading away from Sindrey, the path here widened significantly, a few crossing roads intersecting it while it branched out further in the distance. He guessed the Hounds had crossed through the village from a side path before entering the main road.

    Leo strode forward, moving around the village while Allan and Spade followed. Even from a distance, he could still hear yells emanating from within. Zelyra¡¯s Sovereign had really made a mess of things.

    The [Fragmentholder] slowed his pace. Up ahead, he could make out faint hoof marks denting the hard ground. A lot of them.

    ¡°Looks like this is the way,¡± he muttered. Leo crouched down, running a hand over the marks. ¡°They seem pretty fresh.¡±

    The footprints trailed further south, and he could see them curve closer towards the Glass Lake at the next bend in the road.

    Leo stood again. He was about to continue to trace the tracks, but paused. He glanced back, eyeing the prints critically.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Allan asked.

    ¡°If someone else hears about the Hounds, they might follow their trail too.¡± Leo shifted his foot, smoothing out one of the hoof prints. ¡°If we could find a way to cover them up without slowing us down too much, that¡¯d be best.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that all?¡±

    Leo blinked as Allan stepped forward. The man bent down, placing a single hand flat against the ground. His brows furrowed slightly, a minute movement that Leo recognized from every time the [Healer] used a skill. He turned on [Judgement].

    [Allan has activated the [Even Path] skill]

    Originating from Allan¡¯s palm, the path rippled outwards. Clouds of dust rose as rocks and dirt shifted. A wave ran down the road, overturning little indents and footprints until the section smoothed and flattened, leaving behind only the most subtle of dips.

    Allan straightened, studying the road now free of any footprints, and nodded in satisfaction. Leo stared.

    ¡°Did you get that during the prison break?¡±

    Allan nodded. ¡°It was my last rickshaw puller skill.¡± He hummed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t use too much mana. I should be able to keep it up while we move, I think. If the skill was higher level I could probably get the road even flatter.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s perfect.¡± Leo grinned, and Allan looked about as close to smug as he could get. If the road was any flatter, it would look unnatural, but like this they could cover up the most egregious footprints without clueing people into the use of a skill.

    They wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up to the Hounds, not when they were on horseback, but they¡¯d have to bank on them not knowing the exact location of the fragment and simply beating them to it.

    Leo squinted. The light of the barrier was a constant presence, and it only made the crisp horizon line even more apparent. Based on his estimations, they should reach the Glass Lake¡¯s shore fairly quickly if they kept following this route.

    Whether or not they could successfully avoid running into the Hounds would remain to be seen.

 Chapter 20: The Glass Lake

    Chapter 20: The Glass Lake

    ¡°There.¡±

    Spade was the first to spot the lake, her grey eyes peering out into the horizon. Leo looked over and turned off [Judgement].

    Throughout their journey, he¡¯d continuously used the skill in an attempt to level it up as quickly as possible. When personal skills reached level 3, they developed both a passive and an active effect, and he assumed the fragment would amplify both.

    He wasn¡¯t going to hold out hope for some incredible new ability, but even just being able to keep [Judgement] on passively would help a lot with mana conservation¡ªespecially now that he also had spells to worry about.

    Beneath their feet, the hard earth softened, the dirt darkening into a richer color as moisture from the lake seeped into the soil. The grasses here, too, were taller and denser than the ones around Sindrey.

    Up ahead, just beyond a slight uphill slope, sat the Glass Lake.

    The Glass Lake was Avel¡¯s defining feature, occupying about a fourth of the country¡¯s combined territory.

    Legends claimed it had once been the heart of the water fae¡¯s civilization, but it had been abandoned after the Fall of the Ancients. Old magic, however, still lingered in its waters, and some even whispered that a few of the fae still remained, lingering deep within those depths and biding their time.

    The three of them crossed to the top of the slope at a steady pace, and Leo blinked his eyes.

    The waters of the Glass Lake ran perfectly clear. To the naked eye, their surface appeared as steady and unmoving as a flat mirror. It shone under the sun, and the wall of light looming in the distance added a new golden shine to the crystalline surface.

    The lake extended far into the horizon, stretching vastly under the boundless sky. A smooth plain that gleamed like the brightest metal, and yet seemed transient enough to disappear if one were to look away.

    A wind whistled past, stirring waving blades of grass, but the surface of the lake remained unmoving.

    Leo stood and stared, transfixed, as though he himself had been caught in the lake¡¯s stillness.

    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡±

    Allan was the one to break the silence. Leo forced his eyes away and nodded.

    ¡°I guess we¡¯re real Avel citizens now,¡± he joked.

    Looking around, the [Fragmentholder] noted the blocky shapes of buildings a little further away near the lake¡¯s shore. A village, he guessed. From what he see, the hoof prints on the main road curved in the village¡¯s direction, but he couldn¡¯t see anyone around currently.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get closer,¡± he said quietly, just in case. Allan nodded, and the [Fragmentholder] stepped forward, sliding a little down the slope on the soft dirt.

    The nearer he got, the more uncanny the still brightness became. He knew there were a number of islands deeper in the center of the lake, but from here it really did look like a flat line.

    Squinting, Leo attempted to stare down into the water.

    Even though it was crystal clear, its depths were obscured by a strange haze. It hurt his head to look at for too long. More of the lingering fae magic at play, he guessed.

    The [Fragmentholder] paused and glanced to his side.

    So far, Allan had been oddly quiet. On one hand, for someone like him who¡¯d been born in and lived his whole life in Avel, he imagined the sight of the Glass Lake would carry more meaning. It was, in many ways, the heart of the country.

    The expression on Allan¡¯s face, however, wasn¡¯t one of awe or reverence. On the contrary, the [Healer] was frowning, brows furrowed slightly as dark eyes gazed out into the water. Leo studied him closely.

    ¡°¡­Is something wrong?¡±

    Allan glanced over, and for a moment he didn¡¯t say anything. Finally, he shook his head.

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    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± The [Healer] turned back to the lake. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s a fragment down there?¡±

    Leo frowned at the obvious change in subject, but decided not to comment on it. Past experience had taught him that when Allan got like this, it was usually better to wait for him to say something first.

    ¡°Not necessarily. It could be on the shore or close by, or maybe it¡¯s on one of the islands.¡±

    If the fragment was inside the lake, that would be difficult. Even the Hounds would have trouble getting to it, especially given all the superstitions about living fae still hidden in the water¡¯s depths.

    Leo turned to the third member of their party, who had remained silent so far. He frowned.

    ¡°You been here before?¡± She didn¡¯t look particularly awed, but he couldn¡¯t tell if that was because she was familiar with the sight or if it was simply because all her reactions seemed so muted.

    ¡°Once, yes.¡± Spade turned, and her scars were especially prominent in the gleaming light. A hint of amusement entered her voice. ¡°I assume you have a question.¡±

    ¡°Are the tides really as bad as they say?¡±

    The [Executioner] didn¡¯t respond verbally to that. Instead, she crouched down and plucked a few swaying grasses from the ground, silently tying them together to form a crude wreathe. She stepped forward and dropped the circle of grasses onto the water. Leo held his breath.

    Despite the lack of visible waves or ripples, against all odds, the loop shifted, pulled across the water by an invisible tide. Dark green against glittering light.

    The grasses drifted straight ahead at a steady pace, not especially violent or lurching.

    And then, just as Leo was beginning to contemplate finding a boat to search the lake for the fragment, it vanished.

    Leo¡¯s head jerked around, blinking his eyes. His vision wasn¡¯t tricking him¡ªthe ring of grasses had really disappeared from view.

    ¡°What the hell?¡±

    A hand tapped his shoulder, and he turned to see Allan pointing to the left, expression serious.

    Several meters away from where the grass had vanished, it had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, atop the water drifting in a completely different direction.

    A maze of magic, the legends said. Invisible tides that warped space itself.

    The grass disappeared again, and this time it reappeared as a distant dark dot passing into the horizon, swaying back and forth, unreachable.

    Crouching down to pull out a few grasses himself, Leo threw them in, carefully watching their movements and activating [Judgement]. Just like before, they moved along invisible waves only to suddenly vanish and reappear elsewhere atop the lake.

    The [Fragmentholder] frowned. [Judgement] didn¡¯t pick up on anything.

    Squinting, he turned the skill off and tried again, activating [Mana Recovery] afterwards as well for good measure. His mana reserves had gotten quite low.

    [The skill [Judgement] has leveled up! Current level: 3]

    The notification flashed across his vision, and Leo studied the lake again in anticipation.

    Still nothing.

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s mind churned. It was possible that because the magic of the Ancients existed outside the System, [Judgement] wouldn¡¯t work on the lake even with the boost from the fragment. He frowned. If that was the case, then it was frustrating, but understandable.

    Before Leo could test his skill further, however, his thoughts were interrupted.

    ¡°Behind us.¡±

    Spade¡¯s low voice rang in his ears. His shoulders automatically tensed. Subtly so as not to draw attention, he turned his head.

    Standing atop the slope, three figures approached along the road.

    Their cloaks billowed in the breeze, and he could make out a gleaming spear in one man¡¯s hand and two sheathed shortswords hanging on another woman¡¯s belt. The sounds of their voices, carried by the wind, filtered over as fuzzy murmurs.

    ¡°¡ªreport back¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªlight wall¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªthink a fragment¡ª¡±

    ¡° ¡ªZelyra¡ª¡±

    Given their current position, the incline then downward slope of the shore hid them from view, but Leo wasn¡¯t going to bet on that being enough.

    He pressed closer to the ground, making himself as small as possible, and Allan and Spade did the same.

    ¡°Run or hide?¡± Allan whispered, so quiet that the [Fragmentholder] barely heard him.

    Leo pursed his lips. With the lake behind them, they didn¡¯t have a lot of places to run to. [Fade into Background] only worked on himself, but if they remained quiet enough, it was possible the group might pass by without noticing them.

    He opened his mouth to respond, but a flashing notification stopped him in his tracks.

    [??? has activated the [Watcher] skill]

    A chill ran down Leo¡¯s spine. Slowly, his eyes shifted upwards.

    Two of the members of the group hadn¡¯t turned around, seemingly in the middle of an argument, but the [Fragmentholder] barely processed their distant, muffled words. His attention was directed elsewhere.

    The woman with two blades was staring directly at them.

 Chapter 21: The Hounds I

    Chapter 21: The Hounds I

    A tap to his arm drew Leo out of his temporary stupor, and the [Fragmentholder] glanced over to see Allan frowning at him, still waiting for a response. He exhaled.

    ¡°No point hiding,¡± Leo muttered. ¡°They already know we¡¯re here.¡±

    Dark eyes flashed. ¡°Run?¡±

    The voices grew louder, and it was clear now that the two members of the group were arguing. The woman with the [Watcher] skill, on the other hand, hadn¡¯t looked away once, green eyes gazing calmly at them. She smiled.

    ¡°Good day,¡± she called over. All at once, the other two stopped and their heads snapped in their direction.

    Leo¡¯s eyes shifted, rapidly scanning the three. As he¡¯d thought, now that [Judgement] had reached level 3, he no longer needed to use mana to prompt their stat sheets to appear. They formed with only a slight focus.

    Flora was the name of the woman in the front, and [Watcher] was her personal skill. Twenty seven. Her light brown hair was drawn back in a single braid that billowed in the wind, and the two shortswords strapped to her belt remained untouched. She hadn¡¯t moved to draw them. Not yet.

    Leo¡¯s eyes shifted to the younger man standing on her right, who frowned down at them with his arms crossed, bearing significantly more obvious tension in his body language than Flora revealed. Ivan. Twenty four. [Foresight]. He carried no visible weapons.

    The final member of the group was a tall well built man carrying a long spear loosely in hand. His movements were entirely casual, and he grinned down cockily. This one was named Dalton, a year older at twenty five, and his personal skill was called [Candor].

    All three were of the [Mercenary] class, and all three of their personal skills put Leo on edge. Names couldn¡¯t always be trusted, but if they were at all accurate to what they did, then this would be difficult. He already had an idea of [Watcher]¡¯s ability, after all.

    Did they run while they had the chance? Talk and hope the three didn¡¯t realize what their true goals were?

    Pinned to their cloaks, silver badges gleamed in the light, the metal twisted and curved into the shape of an opening jaw. The symbol of the Hounds.

    ¡°Hello,¡± Leo replied. He carefully did not reach for the dagger at his side. There was no place for them to run; better to wait and hope they took them for simple travelers.

    ¡°Fine weather today, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Allan said. The [Healer] subtly shifted so that he was the furthest in the front, expression drawn in a pleasant smile. ¡°Though I must say, that light wall takes some getting used to.¡±

    Flora hummed. ¡°You also saw it go up, then.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid things have become quite a mess. Are you all travelers? I don¡¯t recall seeing you in Clearside.¡±

    That had to be the village nearby. Just behind Flora, the other two Hounds tensed. Leo kept his eye on them, judging the distance between the road and the lake.

    When he glanced over at Spade, the [Executioner] was doing the same. All three Hounds seemed primarily focused on her, judging by the angle of their stances and the occasional glances. He could understand why. Between the three of them, with her build, scars, and the long sword sheathed at her side, she was the most obvious threat.

    ¡°We are,¡± Allan said without hesitation, not allowing a trace of unease into his voice or posture.

    ¡°Is that so? Where are you from?¡±

    ¡°North,¡± Leo said simply.

    Green eyes scanned the three of them thoughtfully, and Flora¡¯s gaze slowed when it landed on Spade. She hummed.

    ¡°Are you mercenaries?¡±

    The other two Hounds shifted. Mercenary bands in Avel tended to be rather protective of their territory. Given Avel¡¯s lack of resources, the wardless roads and villages and the limited number of guards, most groups¡¯ primary source of income was from being paid to protect villages from Echoes.

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    The Hounds were a consistent group and fairly professional from what Leo had heard¡ªcertainly more reliable than some other mercenary bands. Still, they would naturally be wary of potential competitors.

    ¡°I used to work as a bounty hunter.¡± Spade chuckled. ¡°You could say I¡¯m retired now.¡±

    She tapped a particularly long scar at the side of her neck, its surface rough and edges jagged. ¡°It got a tad too dangerous.¡±

    ¡°I see. I imagine traveling by yourselves is quite dangerous as well, given the Silence.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve been fortunate so far,¡± Allan replied easily. ¡°We haven¡¯t encountered much trouble yet.¡±

    [Dalton has activated the [Candor] skill]

    Leo¡¯s eyes snapped over in the man¡¯s direction. His pupils seemed to enlargen, nostrils flaring as his body went still. What was he seeing?

    On instinct, Leo activated [Judgement]. The notification in his vision rippled, and in the next second, it dissipated entirely, leaving behind a new string of words mirroring the golden text hovering in front of the Hound. The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s eyes widened.

    [You have activated [Candor] on ???]

    [System processing]

    [Extracting past history and background]

    [Final score: 98]

    The mirrored notifications dissipated at the same time, and Dalton blinked. He turned his head from Spade to Allan.

    Leo¡¯s mind churned, but he kept [Judgement] on. Sure enough, he was able to see the next string of notifications appearing in front of the Hound as well as a mirrored copy across his own vision.

    Was this the new level 3 active effect? It seemed like an extension of the ability the fragment had given him, allowing him to directly view other people¡¯s system notifications instead of merely granting an outside awareness of them.

    The final notification popped up for Allan, and Leo focused on the number, trying to figure out what the man¡¯s skill did.

    In the background, he could hear the sounds of Allan and Flora still chatting amicably.

    [Final score: 21]

    Dalton¡¯s eyes narrowed. Definitely not good, then.

    Leo turned his eyes away just before the man moved onto him next. Based on the name of the skill and the scores, he guessed it wasn¡¯t a traditional lie detector, but perhaps an overall assessment of ¡°candor¡± and honesty. A way to gauge people at a glance.

    ¡°¡ªnever seen the lake myself,¡± Allan was saying. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be exactly as the legends say.¡±

    ¡°It is quite the sight, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Leo tuned out their words, instead focusing on the notifications forming in front of him. He wasn¡¯t looking up this time to verify it was the same as what Dalton saw, but by now he had a pretty good idea of how this new [Judgement] ability worked.

    [System processing]

    [Extracting past history and background]

    His shoulders tensed, waiting. And then, the final notification appeared.

    [Final score: 0]

    Leo froze.

    What? How was that possible? The skill must do something different than he¡¯d thought, because a zero should be impossible.

    Impossible, unless the skill was registering that. The [Fragmentholder] felt his heartbeat pick up, but he forced himself to stay calm.

    Atop the slope, Dalton jerked back and frowned. He turned and whispered something in the other Hound¡¯s ear, Ivan, and the man¡¯s brow furrowed before he stepped forward and tapped Flora on the shoulder.

    She didn¡¯t even look up or respond, the string of movements so quick and practiced that it happened in an instance.

    ¡°¡ªconsidering the dangers,¡± Flora continued, green eyes and steady voice betraying nothing, ¡°I hope you will allow us to accompany you to Clearside.¡±

    For the first time in their conversation, Allan hesitated. Dark eyes flicked over to Leo. The [Fragmentholder] subtly shook his head.

    ¡°¡­Thank you for the offer, but I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re a bit short on money.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense. We happen to be traveling towards the village as well. It would be no trouble to guard you along the way, and we won¡¯t require any price. Hounds¡¯ honor.¡±

    To his right, Leo noted Spade subtly shifting her stance so she could draw her sword more easily. A bit of stiffness creeped into Allan¡¯s jaw even as he kept talking.

    ¡°That¡¯s very generous of you, but we¡ª¡±

    ¡°Cut the bullshit.¡±

    A rough, raspy voice interrupted the [Healer].

    Dalton sneered down at them from atop the slope. His fingers flexed and retightened around his spear. He cocked his head. ¡°Enough. This is taking too long.¡±

    ¡°A bit of patience doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± Flora said, but she didn¡¯t look particularly perturbed by the interruption. She simply gazed down at them with those keen green eyes.

    ¡°But yes, I suppose there¡¯s no point in dancing around the issue any longer.¡±

    The woman took a step forward, and Leo¡¯s shoulders tensed.

    ¡°We don¡¯t mean to accuse you of dishonesty,¡± she said lightly, still in that calm, even voice that was becoming increasingly uncanny the longer he listened to it.

    ¡°However, my companion here has reason to suspect you. And while I¡¯m well aware that general tendencies aren¡¯t always indicative of singular behaviors, in the interest of security, we¡¯ll need to take you to see our leader.¡±

    Her eyes glinted, and she came to a stop a few feet in front of them. A sword¡¯s length away.

    ¡°Will you come peacefully?¡±

 Chapter 22: The Hounds II

    Chapter 22: The Hounds II

    Leo barely suppressed the scoff that rose in his throat. It wasn¡¯t a question, not really, and all of them knew it.

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s eyes slowly scanned the three, their stat screens appearing again from [Judgement]¡¯s ability. Ivan was level 20, still in Tier 0, but both Flora and Dalton were Tier 1 at level 26 and 23 respectively.

    Even now, he could see Dalton adjusting his grip on his spear, shifting his weight and grin sharpening in anticipation at the possibility of a fight. Given the reach of his weapon, it would be fairly easy for him to cut off escape routes.

    Flora, meanwhile, was close enough to lunge with her swords. With the Glass Lake stretching behind them, they¡¯d effectively been backed into a corner.

    Leo¡¯s gaze moved over to Ivan, standing furthest back. His lack of visible weapons made the [Fragmentholder] suspect some form of magic, or perhaps another means of attacking at a distance.

    If there were only two of them, then maybe they¡¯d have a chance at fighting them off and running away. All three was another story, especially when the Hounds undoubtedly possessed combat skills that would further swing things in their favor.

    Leo exhaled.

    Right now, he doubted they suspected them of pursuing fragments. More likely they assumed they were a part of a rival mercenary group or perhaps that they were bandits of some sort.

    Fighting was a bad idea, and running was impossible. For now, their best chance was going with them and hoping they could clear themselves of suspicion.

    Leo slowly nodded, raising his hands in a show of goodwill. ¡°Yeah, fine.¡± In the corner of his eye, he saw Spade do the same. Allan hesitated a little longer before he also nodded.

    Flora clapped her hands together, smiling.

    ¡°Excellent. Clearside is quite close, so we¡¯ll be there soon.¡± She gestured at the road. ¡°Why don¡¯t we set off now?¡± She stood waiting, and after a beat, Leo slowly moved forward and climbed up the hill onto the path proper.

    Dalton eyed him suspiciously as he passed, and Leo looked away before the man could see his scowl. No needless antagonizing, he reminded himself.

    That [Candor] skill, while not as bad as a straight lie detector, was uniquely unsettling in the way it picked apart and analyzed its targets. It still made his skin crawl just thinking about that score, how it so easily revealed everything he¡¯d painstakingly tried to keep hidden to the past.

    A tap on his shoulder made him turn, and Allan was frowning at him.

    ¡°You okay?¡± he mouthed. Leo shook his head.

    ¡°Later,¡± he muttered. [Candor] handn¡¯t painted a particularly good image of Allan either. The [Healer] would also need to watch his back.

    Flora was the last to step up the hill, and she nodded at them. The three Hounds casually took positions surrounding them, close enough to cut off escape routes but far away enough to maintain some plausible casualness. Leo didn¡¯t know why they bothered with the charade.

    For a long while, no one spoke. The sound of the wind and their footsteps along the dirt road were the only things filling the void of silence. To their right, the surface of the Glass Lake continued to gleam under the sun, and the wall of light remained a newly permanent fixture in the sky.

    Dalton clicked his tongue and squinted, moving a hand to shield his eyes.

    ¡°Does that barrier have to be so goddamn bright?¡±

    ¡°I suspect it¡¯s something we¡¯ll have to grow used to,¡± Flora replied easily. ¡°Sonia will likely have a better idea of what it is.¡±

    Leo¡¯s ears perked up at that. This Sonia must be another Hound, perhaps the leader they¡¯d mentioned.

    Initial silence broken, Flora and Dalton continued chatting idly as they continued down the path. It was probably a good sign that they didn¡¯t find them enough of a threat to stop talking entirely. It would make it easier to convince them they were normal travelers.

    The [Fragmentholder] glanced to the side. Out of the three Hounds, Ivan remained by far the most quiet. He walked at an even pace, eyes trained ahead each time Leo looked over, but he could swear he felt the man¡¯s gaze watching his back when he wasn¡¯t looking.

    Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed a little. [Foresight] had been his personal skill. At first he¡¯d thought a Hound might have a fragment themselves and thus have access to the fragmentholder database. But if the [Foresight] skill was a prophetic one like its name implied, then he could very well be looking at the source of the Hounds¡¯ ability to follow fragments.

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    He would have to keep an eye on him. See just how much he knew.

    Leo looked ahead again. As they approached, it soon became clear that Clearside, while still significantly smaller than Sindrey, was noticeably larger than the village they¡¯d purchased supplies from.

    From their current position, he could make out slanted roofs and wooden buildings, though he couldn¡¯t see any stilts like he was used to seeing in waterside settlements in Adrya. Then again, given the Glass Lake¡¯s lack of visible tides, he wouldn¡¯t be surprised if flooding simply wasn¡¯t an issue.

    Leo frowned. Along the perimeter of the village and within the streets, he could make out distant figures clustered along the road and outside buildings. Others seemed to be trying to block them off, and tethered horses kicked at the ground while others thrashed more furiously, barely restrained by their riders.

    Soon they could hear voices too. Angered shouts and hysterical yells. Cries and pleads. A man pointed violently at the wall of light in the sky, gesturing wildly, while a cloaked figure with a familiar silver pin shoved back at him, hand twitching closer to the weapon at his side.

    From this angle, Leo could see a line of people grouped behind the buildings closer to the lake as well while more Hounds seemed to be trying to force them back into Clearside.

    The flurry of voices grew, and Leo could see the Hounds surrounding them tensing as well.

    Up ahead on the road, eyes snapped in their direction, and a middle aged, gruff looking man carrying an axe in hand stepped forward with an irritable look.

    ¡°Where the hell have you been?¡±

    Flora met his gaze calmly. ¡°We were on patrol,¡± she said. He snorted.

    ¡°If you were gonna report that fucking light wall, it¡¯s too late now.¡± He waved at the chaos behind him. ¡°It¡¯s a goddamn mess.¡±

    ¡°I can see that.¡± Green eyes scanned the buildings. ¡°Do you know where Sonia and Douglas are?¡±

    The man snorted. ¡°Sonia¡¯s in the square. Douglas is off praying.¡±

    To Leo¡¯s left, Ivan¡¯s eyes darkened. The [Fragmentholder] raised an eyebrow at that, but the man didn¡¯t say anything, simply pursed his lips as the mercenary continued.

    ¡°¡ªdidn¡¯t have to play this waiting game,¡± he was saying. ¡°Don¡¯t know what the hell Sonia was thinking. If we¡¯d just¡ª¡±

    His voice cut off, and his head snapped in Leo, Allan, and Spade¡¯s direction as though only just noticing their presence. His eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Who¡¯re they?¡±

    ¡°They claim to be travelers. We found them by the lake shore. We¡¯re currently escorting them to see Sonia.¡±

    ¡°Lovely,¡± the man muttered. He jerked his head at the village, presumably in the direction of the square he¡¯d mentioned. ¡°Better hurry it up.¡±

    ¡°That was our intention.¡± Flora nodded at the man. ¡°We¡¯ll be on our way. Try not to be too rough with the villagers. We do have a reputation to maintain.¡±

    The man grumbled something at that, but it was ignored as the woman strode forward, the rest of the group following behind. Leo kept his eyes on the mercenary and the axe still gripped in his hand. The blade looked clean save for a few older stains¡ªno fresh blood in sight.

    ¡°Oh, and Fergus?¡± Flora stopped, turning her head just enough to glance back.

    ¡°Do try to watch your words more in the future.¡±

    Fergus¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he didn¡¯t respond verbally. With a final sweep of the group, he instead turned and strode towards the group by the lake shore.

    Leo frowned at his retreating back, mind churning. It sounded like the Hounds had been in Clearside for some time now and were ¡°waiting¡± for something. The fragment, perhaps? But why would they need to wait for it? What was going on?

    He didn¡¯t have time to ruminate on it much longer, because the group continued forward into the village proper.

    Leo¡¯s head turned every which way, taking in as much as he could. A few eyes turned in their direction, but most of the villagers seemed too preoccupied to bother with a trio of strangers.

    A child facing the wall of light wouldn¡¯t stop crying. Several villagers were on their knees praying. There were so many people yelling at once that it was difficult to differentiate anything in the cacophony.

    Flora moved steadfastly forward, and Dalton adjusted his spear threateningly, warding off anyone who might approach. For the most part, it looked like the three Hounds were a known entity, and other mercenaries stepped aside to allow them to pass.

    Finally, the road beneath them widened, fanning out into an open space in the center of the village where the earth had been roughly packed down into a harder surface. Abandoned wooden food stalls surrounded the perimeter, and a central patch of purple irises provided a pop of brightness to the otherwise muddy colors.

    An array of crates had been set down for seats beside stacks of bedrolls and bags. Piles of plates and utensils were left around a burnt out campfire. Horses stood tied to the edge of the square, a few boxes of grain laid out for them to feed on.

    Between the clutter, mercenaries moved around the area, but there didn¡¯t seem to be any villagers from what Leo could see. Every figure had on that silver badge, and all were either rushing somewhere or clustered around the center of the square, where it was too packed for the [Fragmentholder] to make out any details.

    His shoulders tensed, acutely aware of how utterly surrounded they were.

    A few Hounds glanced back and stepped aside when they saw them. Others were too preoccupied to notice.

    ¡°Out of the way!¡± Dalton yelled irritably. That did get more people¡¯s attention, and more shifted, though several also shot glares in Dalton¡¯s direction.

    Bit by bit, the throng of people parted. With each new step forward, the more tense Leo grew.

    Finally, after what felt like ages, they came to a stop at the front of the crowd.

 Chapter 23: The Hounds III

    Chapter 23: The Hounds III

    In the center of the square, seated atop a large wooden crate that had been flipped upside down, was a woman with pale blonde hair falling loosely over her shoulders.

    Despite the chaotic surroundings, she carried herself with an ease and dignity that made the plain crate seem as though it were a throne. The space around her had been left clear, a gap between her and the gathered Hounds, as though no one dared to stand too close.

    Name: Sonia

    Age: 40

    Level: 30

    Class: [Mercenary, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Lifeline Lvl 3]

    From what Leo could see, the Hounds leader only had a short dagger strapped to her belt and no other visible weapons. She might be another magic user, or perhaps her weapon was hidden.

    Currently, the woman was nodding along as a straight-backed mercenary reported to her, not having noticed them yet. Her eyes were intense with focus, and the wrinkles around their edges only made them seem sharper.

    At the front of the group, Flora stepped forward without hesitation.

    ¡°Sonia.¡±

    The woman in question turned their way with a tilt of her head. She didn¡¯t seem angered by the direct address or at the interruption, and the man she¡¯d been speaking to dipped his head and stepped back into the waiting crowd.

    ¡°Flora. Dalton. Ivan. I see you¡¯ve returned from your patrol.¡± She greeted the three Hounds with a nod.

    Her eyes snapped over, and Leo flinched on instinct. Directly facing them, those cold, pale blue eyes¡ªnearly silver in the light¡ªseemed to peer directly through him

    ¡°And who are these?¡±

    Flora glanced back at them briefly, then focused forward again.

    ¡°They claim to be travelers,¡± she replied. ¡°We found them by the lake. Dalton believes they may be suspicious.¡±

    At the mention of his name, the man in question stepped forward, maneuvering his spear to avoid hitting anyone in the crowd. His posture straightened, and he bowed sightly at Sonia before speaking.

    ¡°I used [Candor] on them, ma¡¯am.¡± He gestured first at Spade.

    ¡°She scored a 98. But,¡± he added, a slight scowl forming as he jerked his head at Allan and Leo, ¡°that one got a 21, and he¡­¡± His voice trailed, frowning as he glanced back at the [Fragmentholder]. Leo waited stiffly.

    ¡°¡­he scored a 0,¡± the man finally said, his voice sounding much less confident than before.

    Leo heard a few mutters at that, but he kept his focus on Sonia, whose face didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Her voice was flat. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that was possible.¡±

    Dalton shifted uncomfortably. ¡°I didn¡¯t either, but I thought it¡¯d be better to make sure they¡¯re not with the Serpents or something, ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± Sonia rose to her full height, eyeing the three of them critically. She took a step forward, and Leo resisted the urge to move back. He was faintly aware of the mercenaries around them shifting away, leaving more space between the three of them, Sonia, and the onlookers.

    The woman came to a stop a foot in front of them.

    ¡°Show me your classes.¡±

    The words stung, uncannily familiar, but the [Fragmentholder] kept from reacting. Sonia nodded at Spade.

    ¡°You first, since you¡¯re apparently the most trustworthy one.¡±

    A tinge of irony traced her words. Leo supposed it was ironic that the most truthful one of them was, at least according to that skill, the scarred [Executioner] self-admitted to have come from the Solomere Empire.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t necessarily phrase it like that,¡± Spade said lightly, but she didn¡¯t hesitate to pull up her class.

    Leo¡¯s eyes flitted over, carefully taking in the angle of the sheet. [Visual Illusion] could only target a single person at a time, so he had to make sure that no one watching on the sides got a clear enough view of his class to know something was wrong when Sonia got to him.

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    ¡°An executioner?¡± The Hounds leader raised an eyebrow, studying Spade. She hummed thoughtfully. ¡°I do seem to recall a few stories of a grey-haired executioner traveling around Avel.¡±

    ¡°Good ones, I hope.¡±

    ¡°A village the Hounds guarded briefly mentioned you taking on a job there.¡± She didn¡¯t say more about the exact opinions given, but the way she turned to Allan next suggested it wasn¡¯t bad. That was good. So far, she didn¡¯t seem to find them especially suspicious.

    ¡°What about you?¡±

    Allan eyed her warily, but brought up his class as well. For a moment the woman didn¡¯t speak, simply studying the screen with those unreadable eyes.

    ¡°You don¡¯t see that everyday,¡± she finally said. Allan frowned.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was so rare.¡±

    ¡°A pure [Healer] class certainly is. The System rarely presents it as a selection option.¡±

    Allan glanced over at Leo, but the [Fragmentholder] was just as surprised. Sure, he¡¯d known it was uncommon, but not so rare as to be given special notice.

    He didn¡¯t have time to think on it further, however, because Sonia turned to him next.

    Leo¡¯s heartbeat sped up, and for a crazed moment he worried she could hear it. If the mercenary detected his unease, however, she made no note of it, simply smiling amusedly.

    ¡°And you, impossible liar?¡±

    Shifting slightly, Leo moved so that his back was to most of the waiting Hounds.

    Inhaling, he activated [Visual Illusion], picturing his desired stat screen and attempting to project that to Sonia while pulling up his class screen as small as he dared to without arousing suspicion. Thankfully, since he stood in the center of Allan and Spade, they also helped block others¡¯ view.

    He quickly activated [Judgement], using the new active ability to get a sense of exactly what Sonia was seeing and to test if it would register his own illusions.

    [Class: Factoryhand]

    It seemed like it did show him the manipulated stats.

    Leo watched, tense, as Sonia studied the text, silently willing her to finish so he could dissipate the stat screen before someone else caught a glimpse of it. He¡¯d purposely chosen [Factoryhand] because it looked somewhat similar to [Fragmentholder], in case someone on the sidelines saw it at an angle, but it was far from perfectly safe.

    He waited, shoulders drawn in a rigid line, for Sonia to say something, trying to read any emotion in those icy blue eyes.

    Finally, the mercenary straightened. Leo held his breath.

    ¡°You¡¯re rather scrawny for a factoryhand.¡±

    The words were casual. Dismissive. He exhaled.

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty new at it,¡± he muttered. He dissipated the stat screen. Sonia hummed, not seeming to have noticed the illusion, but Leo didn¡¯t dare celebrate just yet.

    The mercenary stepped over to the overturned crate, sitting back down again in a fluid motion.

    ¡°Class wise you¡¯re not particularly suspicious, and I have my hands full enough already.¡±

    Leo eyed her warily. Would she let them go?

    Sonia didn¡¯t blink, betraying nothing. And then, raising a hand, she made a single sharp tugging motion with her finger.

    [Sonia has activated the [Lifeline] skill]

    An invisible force yanked on the [Fragmentholder], and Leo stumbled, lurching forward and barely managing to avoid being completely wrenched towards the woman.

    He felt himself fall, the ground rapidly approaching, and caught himself at the last second by landing hard on his hands.

    He gasped, chest heaving. It felt like the air had been drawn from his lungs, like his throat had been crushed. That ghostly pulling sensation still lingered and made his skin crawl. He shuddered.

    ¡°Leo!¡±

    Allan ran forward, and he was vaguely aware of the [Healer] crouching down beside him to help him up. His focus, however, was fixed on Sonia, whose expression hadn¡¯t moved.

    ¡°Decent resistance stat,¡± she remarked.

    Beside the [Fragmentholder], Allan¡¯s eyes darkened, an expression Leo rarely ever saw. His nerves spiked. The only time it had boiled over¡ª

    He quickly spoke before the [Healer] could.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re not letting us go.¡± In his peripheral vision, Allan¡¯s jaw clamped shut.

    ¡°You¡¯re free to leave in four days,¡± Sonia replied easily. She cocked her head. ¡°You¡¯re no fools. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re well aware that something is happening in this village, and I¡¯d rather not have blabbering mouths spreading rumors.¡±

    ¡°Killing us would accomplish the same thing.¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes darted back at Spade, but he couldn¡¯t make out the [Executioner]¡¯s face from this angle.

    Sonia laughed lightly.

    ¡°That¡¯s certainly true, and perhaps another group would have. Fortunately for you, the Hounds do maintain some integrity. We¡¯re protectors and guardians first and foremost, after all.¡±

    The villagers certainly didn¡¯t look like they felt ¡°protected,¡± Leo didn¡¯t say out loud, but Sonia must have guessed what he was thinking if the gleam in her eyes was any indication.

    ¡°Blame your misfortune on Clearside.¡± She smiled and gestured to the village around them.

    ¡°But not to worry. As long as the old fool does as we ask, this will be no more than a blip in your travels.¡±

    Leo had no idea what she was talking about or who the ¡°old fool¡± was, but he had the sinking suspicion that the four day release was significantly less likely than she implied it to be, if the tenseness of the surrounding mercenaries was any indication.

    ¡°¡­and if he doesn¡¯t?¡±

    He spoke slowly, carefully. The Hounds leader didn¡¯t flinch.

    ¡°For your own sake, pray it doesn¡¯t come to that.¡±

 Chapter 24: Irving I

    Chapter 24: Irving I

    Leo frowned at Dalton and Ivan. The two Hounds moved forward at a steady pace through the village, glancing back every few seconds to make sure they were following. According to Sonia, they were leading them to their ¡°temporary place of residence.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] silently rubbed at his hands, which were slightly sore from where he¡¯d landed on them earlier. Around them, it seemed like the Hounds had made some progress on herding the villagers back into their homes, and he was acutely aware of the eyes of various mercenaries tracing them as they moved.

    Among them was the man they¡¯d first seen outside the village. Fergus, Leo remembered Flora calling him. Dark eyes followed them with an uncanny intensity. Another Hound nudged him, and the two muttered something, but it was much too quiet for Leo to make out.

    ¡°Excuse me, could I ask where you¡¯re leading us?¡± Allan asked politely. Dalton snorted.

    ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out.¡± He spun around so he was walking backwards, mouth twisting into a sneer. ¡°And quit the friendly act. You¡¯re not fooling shit.¡±

    Ivan muttered something under his breath, and the other Hound scowled.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°If your skill wasn¡¯t broken maybe we wouldn¡¯t have wasted time on this.¡±

    Dalton laughed lowly at that. ¡°Not like we¡¯re not already wasting plenty of time.¡±

    Ivan shot the other Hound a glare, but didn¡¯t bother responding. Instead, his pace slowed, and he gestured at a small, unassuming home sitting by the edge of the village.

    ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±

    Leo carefully scanned the surroundings. The home was relatively small, made up of old wooden boards of varying colors where old leaks had been patched over. The Glass Lake was easily visible behind the home, the rolling grasses of the backyard leading to its flat expanse, and the path leading up to the front door had relatively fresh footprints marking it.

    What most caught his attention, however, were the number of Hounds mulling about the area. Two by the back between the home and the lake. Three around the perimeter leading to the village exit. One watching the other side across the street. Two more at the front.

    The difference in density of mercenaries between this building and the others in Clearside was stark, even if one could argue that some of them were watching the entire street or a block of buildings and not just this one.

    Ivan strode up to the door and knocked three times sharply.

    A few tense moments passed, but no response. Ivan frowned, but before he could knock again, Dalton strode forward and hit the door significantly harder, enough to rattle the lock.

    ¡°Open up!¡± he yelled, and Leo cringed internally at the volume of the Hound¡¯s voice.

    This time, from within the home, the [Fragmentholder] heard muffled, but steady footsteps drawing closer.

    Just when Dalton raised his hand to knock again, the door creaked open.

    On the other side stood an elderly man, a cane gripped firmly in one hand and thin silver hair nearly invisible in the light. He frowned at them, and deep wrinkles and creases lining his features gave him a weathered, tired appearance.

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    Name: Irving

    Age: 61

    Level: 20

    Class: [Fisherman, Tier 0]

    Personal Skill: [Ailing Lvl 5]

    Suspicious blue eyes flitted between them. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Leo studied the man closely. This must be the ¡°old fool¡± the Hounds leader had mentioned and, as such, the center of whatever was going on in Clearside.

    At a glance, though, he couldn¡¯t find anything particularly special or noteworthy about the man. He had a plain Tier 0 class and there was no indication that he had a fragment. What, then, was going on?

    ¡°Say hello to your new guests.¡± Dalton jerked his head at the three of them, and Irving¡¯s confusion mirrored Leo¡¯s own.

    ¡°What? Who¡ª¡°

    ¡°They¡¯re travelers passing by,¡± Ivan said evenly. His eyes narrowed. ¡°Given the¡­circumstances, Sonia thought it was pertinent to keep them in Clearside for the next four days.¡±

    Leo could see the man mentally processing the words, and a spark of rage ignited in his eyes as their meaning finally settled.

    ¡°They have nothing to do with this! You can¡¯t¡ª¡°

    ¡°It¡¯s just four days max, right?¡± Dalton butted in. He shifted his position casually, spear gleaming in the light. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    Indignance shifted into unease and an emotion Leo thought he recognized as guilt. Finally, it turned to resignation.

    ¡°¡­I assume I have no say in the matter.¡±

    The two Hounds¡¯ lack of response was answer enough. Sighing, Irving shifted to open the door wider.

    ¡°Come in,¡± he said in a defeated tone. Leo glanced back where Ivan and Dalton stood waiting. They weren¡¯t moving to follow, so they really had just been bringing them here.

    Dalton shot him a sneer when he noticed the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s gaze, and he scowled and stepped inside, Allan and Spade behind him.

    The moment the door shut and the two Hounds were out of view, Irving let out a spew of curses. Leo, however, was more focused on studying the interior of the home.

    It was small and cozy, the decorations simple and understated. The window in the back facing the lake had its curtain drawn shut, but the others remained open. Leo shifted his weight, and the floorboards creaked slightly beneath his feet. It wasn¡¯t exceptionally egregious, but he noted it for the future.

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    ¡°¡ªthose damned Hounds dare¡ª¡°

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    Leo¡¯s voice seemed to finally snap the man out of his tirade. Allan was frowning at him, though Spade if anything looked rather amused at his rant.

    Irving blinked a few times, as if pulled out of a trance. He stared at the three of them like he was just now seeing them. He exhaled.

    ¡°My apologies, I lost my temper,¡± he muttered. The man nodded at them. ¡°I am Irving. I¡¯m truly sorry that the three of you have gotten involved in this mess.¡±

    Leo frowned at the man. Something about his tone, his sudden passivity after that rant despite ostensibly being the source of this mess, irritated him. He could feel the tension from the earlier encounter with Sonia and his growing frustration starting to rise.

    ¡°And what is going on anyway?¡±

    Irving frowned, looking somewhat put off by the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s bluntness.

    ¡°It¡¯s a village matter.¡±

    Leo snorted at that.

    ¡°Look, if I¡¯m putting things together right, it sounds like the Hounds¡¯re threatening you to do something in four days and we,¡± he gestured at himself, Allan, and Spade, ¡°just got tossed into the pile as hostages or whatever.¡± He crossed his arms.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ve got more than a right to know what¡¯s going on.¡±

    The man went quiet, and Leo¡¯s jaw clicked shut. Had he gone too far? They couldn¡¯t afford to alienate the man when he was their only source of information.

    Before Leo had the chance to backtrack, however, Irving heaved a long, weary sigh.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said. ¡°You do have a right to know.¡±

    He raised his head and turned, gesturing towards the living room.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we have a seat?¡± he suggested. ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell you what¡¯s been happening in this village.¡±

 Sickness + Posting Update

    Hello, I hope you''re all doing well.

    I mentioned it in the last chapter''s author''s note, but I''ve been very sick for the past few days. I''d hoped it would get better by today, but that''s unfortunately not the case. Because of this, I''ve barely been able to write, and anything I do manage to produce has been pretty incoherent and messy.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Because of this, there won''t be any new chapters until this sickness passes. I usually don''t get ill (the last time was over five years ago), and I''m hopeful I''ll be better by the end of the week maximum. Maybe I''ll even wake up tomorrow and feel great. But in the interest of transparency, I just wanted to warn you all in case this sickness does end up lasting longer, and so that you''re not left in the dark about why there are no new chapters.

    I''m sorry for the abrupt notice, and thank you for your understanding!

 Chapter 25: Irving II

    Chapter 25: Irving II

    The ¡°living room¡± was essentially a single table laid out just beside the kitchen right next to the back window.

    If the curtains were open, it would¡¯ve received a good amount of light, the lake view providing an idyllic backdrop while eating. But right now, with the curtains shut, the wooden furniture simply looked dull and lifeless.

    The table itself was fairly large¡ªor at least larger than Leo would¡¯ve expected for an elderly man seemingly living by himself. The [Fragmentholder] sat down carefully, and Allan took a seat next to him. Spade sat down on the adjacent side and Irving across from Leo, the man carefully propping his cane up against the wall behind him as he settled down.

    The man¡¯s shoulders relaxed a little as he sat, relieving the weight on his legs. He frowned, scrutinizing the three of them, and Leo¡¯s shoulders tensed in anticipation.

    ¡°¡­My apologies for the lack of tea,¡± Irving said. ¡°If I¡¯d known you were coming, I would¡¯ve brewed some.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The response came out a bit more curt than Leo had intended. Irving nodded slowly.

    ¡°Yes, well.¡± He cleared his throat, visibly struggling to find his words. Leo forced himself to wait patiently; he didn¡¯t want to press too much or the man might decide to say nothing at all.

    It turned out to be the right move, because after a few more moments passed, the [Fisherman] finally spoke.

    ¡°It was quite sudden,¡± Irving said. His eyes were distant with memory. ¡°We¡¯d just received the Administrator¡¯s notification the day before, so you can imagine the village was still reeling.¡± He frowned. ¡°Yesterday afternoon, the Hounds arrived. They¡¯ve worked with Clearside before, but we¡¯d heard they¡¯d gone north, so it was odd to see them return so soon.¡±

    The man¡¯s voice slowed, brows furrowing. ¡°Sonia¡ªthe leader¡ªshe asked us for a map of the Glass Lake¡¯s tides.¡±

    Leo straightened a little at that. ¡°You mean those routes¡¯re consistent?¡± He¡¯d assumed the lingering magic warped space completely randomly.

    Irving nodded. ¡°It¡¯s rather complex, but there are indeed distinct paths across the water. Clearside has existed for generations by the lake shore, and we pass down knowledge of those routes.¡±

    The man frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s still extremely dangerous and, well, given the size, most fishermen only know a few consistent paths to take. We certainly don¡¯t travel carelessly to the lake center.¡±

    Leo¡¯s mind churned. When he mentally pulled up the fragmentholder database, the map was too vague to see an exact fragment location, but the Glass Lake did indeed glow, indicating that one was present in the area. The Hounds were likely planning on searching the lake and islands for it, and to do so they would need information to navigate the maze of fae magic.

    The [Fragmentholder] frowned. According to Irving, the fishermen only knew a few routes that remained close to the shore, but considering everything the Hounds had said and Irving¡¯s own involvement¡­

    ¡°¡­You know all the routes, don¡¯t you.¡±

    It was a statement, not a question. Irving pursed his lips.

    ¡°The knowledge has been passed down my family for generations,¡± he said stiffly.

    That explained the Hounds¡¯ behavior, then. They must have given the man an ultimatum to tell them the routes within four days using the rest of the village as a bargaining chip.

    Across the table, Spade studied Irving with unreadable grey eyes.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell them?¡± the [Executioner] said bluntly. She cocked her head. ¡°Seems like it would save you a lot of trouble.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡± Irving¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Some people can¡¯t be trusted with that much knowledge or power.¡±

    The ¡°power¡± part led Leo to believe that the Hounds had indeed told Irving about the fragment. He frowned. Even so, the more the former [Thief] tried to rationalize the man¡¯s behavior, the less it made sense to him.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    It sounded like Sonia wasn¡¯t above killing off the village if Irving didn¡¯t comply. Why risk it when he could just tell them the routes? Was Sonia such a threat in his eyes that he¡¯d endanger the entire village?

    ¡°Just checking,¡± Leo said slowly, ¡°but what did Sonia say they¡¯d do if you don¡¯t tell them in the next four days?¡±

    Irving¡¯s mouth thinned, and Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°How long¡¯re you planning to wait before you tell them the routes?¡±

    ¡°Ideally I never do,¡± Irving muttered, and Leo felt a tinge of irritation flare.

    ¡°I seriously doubt they¡¯re just gonna take ¡®no¡¯ for an answer.¡±

    ¡°Even so, I¡¯d like to delay it for as long as possible.¡± The man¡¯s voice slowed. ¡°Especially if that wall of light is what I think it is.¡±

    He definitely knew about the fragment, then. Leo wanted to ask about it directly, but it would probably come off as suspicious; Irving might even figure out that they wanted it for themselves, and he doubted a man as seemingly paranoid as the [Fisherman] would trust strangers with the fragment or routes.

    Still, this might be their only chance to get more information. Careful to keep his voice steady, Leo asked, ¡°Why do the Hounds want to get across the lake so bad anyway?¡±

    Leo felt Allan¡¯s gaze on him, the [Healer]¡¯s dark eyes gleaming as he figured out what the [Fragmentholder] was trying to do.

    ¡°We don¡¯t mean to push you,¡± Allan added, brows furrowing with what looked like perfectly sincere concern. He shifted in his seat.

    ¡°It¡¯s just, well, now that we¡¯re being forced to stay in Clearside, I can¡¯t help but feel a little¡­nervous about everything.¡± Dark eyes darted to the side, then back in a mimicry of unease, and Leo resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. No matter how often he saw it, Allan¡¯s innate knack for acting never failed to impress him.

    ¡°We just want to make sure we know what to expect,¡± the [Healer] finished. His face was earnest, and based on the hesitant furrow in Irving¡¯s brow, he was indeed being swayed.

    ¡°If the Hounds do get those directions and accomplish whatever they¡¯re trying to do, don¡¯t you think it¡¯d be better for us to know what to prepare for?¡± Leo added.

    That seemed to be the final nail in the coffin, because Irving exhaled a long sigh. His entire body seemed to deflate with weariness and defeat.

    ¡°I suppose there isn¡¯t much point in keeping it from you,¡± the man murmured. He raised his head, and Leo met the [Fisherman]¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Sonia claims one of the Hounds has a skill that grants him prophetic dreams. Supposedly he saw an image of an Administrator class fragment on an island somewhere in the Glass Lake.¡± He shook his head. ¡°They didn¡¯t give me more details, but it¡¯s clear they want to find it.¡±

    ¡°And you don¡¯t want that to happen.¡±

    Irving frowned. ¡°If those fragments are truly pieces of the Administrator¡¯s power, I wouldn¡¯t trust anyone with it. Especially not Sonia,¡± he added, eyes narrowing a little. ¡°The Hounds are more honorable than many other mercenary groups, but Sonia is ambitious. I fear this hunt will only fuel her most ruthless tendencies.¡±

    ¡°Why not look for the fragment yourself?¡± Spade pointed out. Flat grey eyes watched the man unblinkingly. ¡°You know the way across. You could search the islands faster than anyone.¡±

    Irving laughed at that, the sound harsh and sharp.

    ¡°I¡¯m no fool. I may know the way, but every child in Clearside knows not to anger the fae. The further into the waters you go, the more you provoke their wrath.¡±

    Leo raised an eyebrow. ¡°You think some survived then? It¡¯s not just lingering magic?¡±

    ¡°I know they did.¡± The harshness in the man¡¯s voice made Leo blink. He hadn¡¯t expected such an aggressive response.

    Irving raised a wrinkled hand, gesturing to the closed blinds where the Glass Lake lay hidden beyond. ¡°Ask anyone who¡¯s lived by these waters and they¡¯ll tell you. A tide once destroyed a village nearby. Nothing that falls into the lake comes back out.¡± His voice cracked a little, and he shook his head, visibly calming himself. He inhaled.

    ¡°That¡¯s more than mere ¡®leftover magic.¡¯ That lake is alive and the Hounds are fools to test the fae. I won¡¯t have their wrath destroy Clearside as collateral damage.¡±

    Leo exchanged looks with Allan and Spade. The Glass Lake was a legend to him and an interesting remnant from the rule of the Ancients, but he had no deeper attachment to it. He wasn¡¯t even from Avel, after all. But he did know that for many of the villages bordering its shores, it was sacred, and this attitude was likely common among them.

    Still, it did sound convincing. He made sure to note the part about entering the waters especially. They would have to make sure none of them fell in by accident; it was too much of a risk even if they were only going off Irving¡¯s claims.

    ¡°I see,¡± the [Fragmentholder] said slowly. ¡°Thanks for telling us about it.¡±

    The shadows and creases on Irving¡¯s face seemed deeper, like he¡¯d aged years in front of them.

    ¡°It¡ªyou¡¯re welcome.¡± He shook his head and slowly rose on shaky legs. The chair squeaked across the floorboards, and he grabbed his cane to steady himself. His fingers squeezed tightly around the handle.

    ¡°It appears that you will reside here for the next few days.¡± His voice was carefully controlled. ¡°I have a spare room you can use.¡±

    ¡°That would be wonderful, thank you,¡± Allan said with a smile. He stood up as well, and Leo and Spade followed suit.

    Irving simply nodded and turned down the hallway. The trio followed, leaving behind the lonely too-large table and the closed, opaque curtains.

 Chapter 26: Moonlight Plotting I

    Chapter 26: Moonlight Plotting I

    ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡±

    Spade glanced up from where she sat leaning against the wall and raised a scarred eyebrow.

    ¡°What part?¡±

    ¡°All of it.¡± Leo frowned. The room Irving had led them to was fairly small, holding a single bed, window, and a plain wooden desk and some extra chairs. Stacked boxes sat in the corner, and the rectangular bookshelf held a few children¡¯s books and toys covered in a layer of dust.

    Irving had given them new sheets, blankets, and pillows, and a crisp breeze blew in through the open window. An old, dusty smell had filled the space when they¡¯d entered, and they¡¯d opened the window in an attempt to counteract it. This room clearly hadn¡¯t been used in a long time.

    The window faced the lake in the back, and Leo could see a few old boats in the backyard. Tall grasses swayed in the wind, and even now, a few Hounds remained closer to the shore, loitering around and standing guard.

    Leo spoke in a low voice, not wanting to be overheard.

    ¡°No matter how stubborn Irving is, he¡¯s probably gonna end up telling the Hounds the directions.¡± He refused to believe the man would actually sacrifice the rest of the village just to hold onto the routes.

    ¡°And then they¡¯ll find the fragment first,¡± Allan finished Leo¡¯s thought. The [Fragmentholder] nodded. He¡¯d taken a seat at the desk while Allan sat on the windowsill, all three of their bags tossed onto the bed.

    The [Healer] frowned. ¡°Does the fragmentholder database show you where it is?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s too vague. The map just highlights the whole lake.¡± Leo bit his lip. ¡°If we could convince Irving to tell us the directions, we might be able to get past the guards and search ourselves. We could take a boat.¡± He huffed, rubbing his head in frustration. ¡°But I seriously doubt he¡¯d tell us.¡±

    They¡¯d gone back to the living room once for a brief, stilted dinner. Irving hadn¡¯t seemed particularly keen on talking to them¡ªunderstandably so considering they were unwanted guests¡ªbefore he¡¯d retreated down the hall to his own room with a few brief words.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch anything,¡± the man had said. ¡°And I¡¯m guessing I don¡¯t need to warn you not to leave the house. The Hounds keep guards around at all times.¡±

    After that, he¡¯d shut the door. They hadn¡¯t heard from the man since. He¡¯d seemed more friendly at first, but after their conversation, it seemed Irving had taken it upon himself to try and put more distance between himself and his guests. It would be difficult to get the man to open up again.

    ¡°Could we take it from the Hounds after they find it?¡± Allan suggested. ¡°Then we wouldn¡¯t need to search the lake at all.¡±

    Leo crossed his arms in thought. ¡°Maybe, but it¡¯s risky. We wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against all of them, and I¡¯m not sure we could steal it without them noticing. Our best bet is still trying to get it first.¡±

    The question, then, was how? Maybe they could try and get directions from other fishermen? They only had incomplete routes, but they might be able to piece something together.

    No, that wouldn¡¯t work, Leo thought. From the sounds of it no one in Clearside ventured close to the center of the lake, which was where most of the islands were. Leo¡¯s eyebrows wrinkled.

    Speaking of the islands, from what he¡¯d heard the Glass Lake had hundreds of islands scattered across its vast surface. The fragment being on one of them wasn¡¯t much of a lead; it¡¯d take ages to find it even if they did find a way to navigate the warped waters.

    The Hounds had to know that too. The [Fragmentholder] frowned. It was likely that the prophetic vision had contained a few more details that they hadn¡¯t told Irving, something that would let them narrow things down. Though, he supposed with the number of Hounds, searching that many islands would be easier for them than it would be if he, Allan, and Spade tried to do the same.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Outside, the sun finished its descent below the horizon. The wall of light glowed even more brightly in the night sky, illuminating a portion of the darkness with a hazy golden glow that merged with the silver moonlight and softened the edges of the landscape below. The surface of the Glass Lake continued to shine like a mirror, its uncanny stillness more apparent than ever in the quiet of the night.

    ¡°We can think on it more tomorrow.¡± Spade nodded to the window. ¡°Might as well sleep now and plan in the morning.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly, still unsatisfied. ¡°I guess.¡± He eyed the bed, their bags lying haphazardly on the blankets, and frowned. ¡°Did anyone want the bed?¡±

    ¡°I was going to sleep on the floor,¡± Allan said.

    ¡°I was as well.¡±

    Leo, as it turned out, had also been planning on doing the same thing. He was too used to it by now; a soft mattress wouldn¡¯t be comfortable. It did feel weird though, for none of them to actually use the bed.

    ¡°We can use it as a table,¡± Allan suggested when Leo voiced the thought, and he snorted.

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s one way to do it.¡± His eyes lingered on the open window, tracing the distant Hound guard still outside by the shore and the dark shadows of the boats resting in various backyards.

    ¡°Hey, do any of you mind if I leave the window open? The wind¡¯s nice.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got no problem with it,¡± Spade said. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°No watch tonight?¡±

    Leo jerked his head at the Hound outside. ¡°We¡¯re already being watched anyway. If the Silence shows up again that¡¯s their problem.¡± He eyed the [Executioner] carefully, speaking slowly. ¡°And by now I doubt you¡¯re trying to kill us, not that you could with the party system anyway.¡±

    The woman chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± she remarked. ¡°This would be a poor place to attack regardless. There¡¯s not much space for a fight.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯re trying to sound suspicious,¡± Leo muttered. He rose and settled down on the floor on one side of the bed, Spade on the other. Allan took up a spot in the middle, all three spread out nearly equally distant from each other. The breeze whistled past, the curtains billowing slightly.

    Leo rolled over and used the wooden desk to provide a bit of shelter. It helped block some of the light from the wall.

    ¡°Night,¡± he muttered. He heard a muffled response from Allan, and then the room fell silent.

    Leo kept his eyes open. He lay there, perfectly still, listening to Allan and Spade¡¯s breaths and the occasional squeaks of wood as they shifted positions. Silver and golden light continued to filter in through the open window.

    Allan¡¯s breathing evened out first, the [Healer] falling into a deep sleep. Spade took a lot longer, but Leo kept waiting, patient, as time ticked by. With the bed obscuring the [Executioner] from view, he needed to make sure.

    Finally, after what felt like hours had passed, Spade¡¯s quiet breaths also seemed to even out. Leo waited a little longer, listening just in case.

    And then, very carefully, he activated [Fade into Background], equipped his [Stealth] passive skill, and rose to a crouch.

    He waited, unmoving, for any sounds or shifts in breathing. There were none.

    Allan had always been a heavy sleeper, Leo knew. It was a rare trait for someone from the slums, but according to Allan he¡¯d become like that after a childhood head injury. When they lived together it didn¡¯t matter much since Leo would wake up if anything happened.

    At times like this, though, it made it easy to sneak away without inevitably worrying the man, who definitely wouldn¡¯t approve of what Leo was doing.

    The [Fragmentholder] slowly straightened enough to peer over the bed and out the window. Spade was facing the wall, and he frowned. He didn¡¯t know how heavy of a sleeper she was, or if the [Executioner] would even care if she did notice him. It was hard to know what she was thinking, but he figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

    Outside, two Hounds remained by the shore occasionally pacing back and forth. The dark silhouette of a tied up boat sat directly in front of the window, and Leo carefully shifted position, muscles tensing.

    When the closest Hound turned to begin pacing in the other direction, he jumped out the window in a smooth motion with the aid of [Acrobatics].

    His feet hit the grassy ground, and he shrunk in on himself, using the boat to hide himself from view.

    The house remained silent. The Hounds kept pacing.

    Leo exhaled, mind churning as he recalled the positions of the guards from earlier that day and the streets they¡¯d passed on the way here.

    Taking one more moment to steady himself, the [Fragmentholder] leapt forward the next time the guards turned, weaving around the home and into the alleyway like a silent shadow.

 Chapter 27: Moonlight Plotting II

    Chapter 27: Moonlight Plotting II

    Leo pressed his back against the hard wooden walls of the neighboring building, making himself as small as possible.

    The night air was crisp against his skin, and he kept his breaths slow and steady. With the wall of light glowing above, there were less shadows to hide in, more places to be accidentally seen.

    Hazel eyes narrowed as he peered out onto the street, where another Hound stood directly in front of Irving¡¯s home. Her gaze swept the road in front of her continuously, clearly alert.

    The dirt road was illuminated and too wide to cross in one leap; he wouldn¡¯t be able to step out the alleyway without risking [Fade into Background] deactivating. The moment the light hit him, it would be over.

    Leo cursed internally and scanned the surroundings for another way. Could he go on the roofs? They were close together enough to jump between, but the guards further away by the lake would definitely notice him.

    Around it was, then. Ducking low, Leo circled back around to the backs of the buildings, using the swaying grasses to partially conceal his movements and the shadows of the buildings and the items left in backyards to duck out of sight.

    It was slow progress. He kept stopping to check that the guards by the lake hadn¡¯t noticed him, and he ended up needing to activate [Fade into Background] a second time when the skill¡¯s duration was up.

    Still, slowly but surely, he made his way around the village¡¯s perimeter.

    Leo counted every alley he passed, mentally gauging how far he was from the village square.

    Finally, when he estimated he was close enough, he slipped into the next alleyway and gave himself a second to rest, exhaling in the shadows of the adjacent buildings.

    A persistent line of tension ran through his limbs, and he could hear his own heartbeat ringing loudly in his ears. He swallowed, forcing down his nerves, and carefully peered out.

    Scattered all around the square, sleeping Hounds occupied the space. Some had bedrolls while others simply slept on the ground. Leo even spotted a few tents put up. None, however, were noticeably larger or fancier than the others.

    The [Fragmentholder] frowned, scanning the figures. He noted Dalton across the square, the man¡¯s spear resting beside him as he slept, but he couldn¡¯t see any sign of the Hounds leader.

    As Leo turned his head, a faint flicker caught his attention.

    There, two buildings away from his current location, a candle glowed in the window of a shop.

    Leo narrowed his eyes. All the other shops bordering the square were dark. Pressing close to the alley, he carefully peered through the window of the building he stood beside.

    The interior was cloaked in shadows, and it appeared abandoned. Leo studied the square again and made a decision.

    He didn¡¯t have his old lockpick after the prison break, but he did have a hairpin he¡¯d picked up when buying supplies. The size and shape would make it a good temporary replacement, he¡¯d thought, and as he pulled it out now he was glad he¡¯d made the purchase.

    Getting the window unlocked didn¡¯t take too long, and he held his breath as he carefully pushed it up. It squeaked slightly, but there were no signs of movement from the square or from the guards by the lake. Exhaling, Leo grabbed onto the edge and heaved himself through.

    The [Fragmentholder] landed lightly inside. It was dark, a few tables with wares rendered into shadowy silhouettes. Leo didn¡¯t hear anyone inside, but he wasn¡¯t planning on staying long.

    Hurrying across, he opened the next window and dove through into the next alleyway. The window of the next building was lower, making it easier to repeat the process. Leo slipped inside. The store with the flickering candle was right next to this one.

    Straightening, the [Fragmentholder] looked around. Tall shelves of books lined the walls, but like the other building, it seemed abandoned. Maybe it was just for the night, but he also wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the store owner had decided to temporarily move somewhere else while the Hounds were there taking up the square.

    Leo pressed himself against the opposite wall and peered out the window. From there, he could see warm lights emanating from the adjacent building and a few blurry shadows moving behind the glass. He¡¯d have to get closer to see more clearly.

    Slowly, he opened the window a centimeter at a time, careful to keep out of sight of the figures and waiting after each movement for a shift in pattern. Muffled voices filtered into his ears, but he couldn¡¯t make them out from here.

    When there was a wide enough gap for him to squeeze through, Leo slipped into the alleyway between the two buildings, where several wooden crates had been stacked up.

    If he angled his body and stayed close to the walls, the crates allowed him to remain hidden from the guards along the shore.

    Leo tested the weight of one of them and stepped onto it. Like this, he could peer into the window from the corner of his eye while he kept his back pressed against the wall. He held his breath.

    Inside, he could just barely make out a few familiar figures gathered around a wooden table covered with a large piece of paper.

    Closest to the window was Ivan, his back to Leo. At his left was a tall middle-aged man with a stern expression and strong build that Leo didn¡¯t recognize.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Name: Douglas

    Age: 44

    Level: 28

    Class: [Mercenary, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Salvage Lvl 3]

    Douglas. Leo recognized the name from when Flora had mentioned him alongside Sonia. He must be fairly high up in the Hounds¡ªperhaps the second in command?

    There was some movement, and Flora stepped into view on Ivan¡¯s right.

    Leo froze. He distinctly remembered her [Watcher] skill from their encounter at the lake. Would she notice him? How did it work?

    Seconds passed, but the woman didn¡¯t turn in his direction. That suggested that the effect he¡¯d seen earlier was an active one. If he was careful and didn¡¯t give her a reason to turn the skill on, he might be able to escape notice.

    Still, it was risky, and Leo¡¯s muscles remained tense and ready to bolt. He vaguely considered that if Allan were here, he would definitely tell him to return, but he hadn¡¯t come all this way for nothing.

    He needed more information, and it looked like he¡¯d lucked out and stumbled on some sort of meeting between the Hounds. He couldn¡¯t just leave and let the opportunity slip past.

    Leo pressed his ear against the wall and strained to hear. It was faint and a little muffled, but if he focused, he could just barely make out the voices of the Hounds inside.

    ¡°¡ªbrought them to Irving¡¯s place,¡± Ivan was saying. Leo couldn¡¯t see who was seated at the other end of the table from his current angle, but he guessed it was Sonia. The responding voice soon confirmed his suspicions.

    ¡°Have they posed a problem?¡±

    The woman¡¯s voice, calm and yet with a subtle air of authority, was distinct. Ivan paused a little before shaking his head.

    ¡°No. I¡­I didn¡¯t foresee them, so I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll be much of an issue.¡± His words were slow, a bit hesitant. ¡°But my visions aren¡¯t complete, so I think we should still be careful.¡±

    ¡°And what of Irving?¡±

    ¡°He seemed upset when we brought the travelers to him, but he hasn¡¯t given us any more information.¡±

    Sonia hummed. ¡°I see. It seems he¡¯ll require more convincing.¡±

    ¡°If I may,¡± Flora said. She shifted her position, stepping forward. Leo held extra still, holding his breath until the Hound spoke again.

    ¡°I worry the time limit we gave was too long,¡± Flora said calmly. She still hadn¡¯t used [Watcher] yet. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed several Hounds are becoming impatient. I fear some of them may resort to violence soon. It may be better to reduce the number of days.¡±

    Douglas shook his head. His voice was low and difficult to make out through the walls; Leo had to press even closer to hear him.

    ¡°We must avoid angering the lake fae guardians. Harming Clearside will only lead to more trouble for us.¡±

    Leo raised his eyebrows slightly at that. He hadn¡¯t expected a Hound to also worship the Glass Lake¡¯s supposedly living fae. Perhaps the man had grown up around the area? Otherwise it was unusual for him to fear the fae so much, especially when it wasn¡¯t certain if any even survived in the lake¡¯s waters.

    ¡°I hear your concerns,¡± Sonia said, ¡°But I would not have the Hounds known for betraying their word.¡±

    There was a brief pause, and Leo wished he could see the Hounds leader¡¯s expression. When she spoke again, her voice was perfectly even and calm.

    ¡°If any Hounds cause issues, I will deal with them myself.¡±

    A brief silence settled over the building, the weight of the woman¡¯s words and their implication hanging heavy in the air.

    Leo resisted an instinctive shudder and kept listening. Something about the steady ease of Sonia¡¯s voice was far more unsettling than if she had been cold or harsher.

    The [Fragmentholder] heard some more movement, and he stilled as Sonia stepped into view, tapping at the paper laid out across the table.

    ¡°For now, let us resume our discussion.¡± She nodded at Douglas. ¡°How many boats have we managed to procure?¡±

    ¡°As of now, there¡¯s enough for all the Hounds if we travel in groups,¡± the man reported. His own eyes shifted down to the paper. Leo strained to see. A map?

    ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ll begin moving the boats to the shore. That way we¡¯ll be able to set out as soon as we have the routes.¡±

    ¡°Excellent.¡± Sonia picked up an ink pen lying on the table, drawing a line that Leo could only faintly make out through the foggy window.

    ¡°We¡¯ll need the boats in these areas to maximize the distance we cover.¡± She turned to Ivan, who straightened as her eyes landed on him. ¡°Have you had any more visions?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s the same one,¡± he reported, ¡°but I can say for certain now that the island is surrounded by fog.¡±

    ¡°That does narrow things down.¡± Sonia cocked her head, tracing the pen along the map and making a few more marks. ¡°Considering the sizes of the islands and their relative positions, we can rule these out. We¡¯ll need at least three groups to search this area¡ª¡± she tapped a section on the left, ¡°¡ªand another two here.¡± Her arm moved up.

    Leo¡¯s heart raced. If he could get a closer look at the map, that would give them a much better idea of which islands they needed to search, allowing them to remain in step with the Hounds.

    Inhaling, Leo slowly shifted closer. He just needed one clear look, and then he would leave before he was discovered. This was his chance; he couldn¡¯t let it go to waste.

    Fingers tightening around the windowsill, Leo bent his legs in preparation and carefully leaned closer to the glass.

    The map was fairly large, covering the entire lake, and there were even a few arrows by the shore indicating the movement of the magic there that must be from local fishermen. The more central parts of the lake, however, remained free of arrows, various scattered islands dotting its surface.

    The former [Thief]¡¯s eyes flitted by, rapidly taking in the shapes. Sonia had circled some and crossed out others; it appeared there was even a numbering system grouping islands together based on their search priority.

    Leo committed those lines to memory, heart pounding and limbs still tense.

    He leaned forward just a hair more to get a closer look. As he did so, the crate he was standing on wobbled and made a faint clatter.

    Leo didn¡¯t think. He ducked down and jumped back, activating [Sprint] and vaulting back into the adjacent building.

    His feet skidded slightly against the wood, but he didn¡¯t stop until he¡¯d reached the opposite wall and pressed himself against it, heart pounding in his chest.

    He waited for a notification from [Judgement] to appear, for Flora to activate [Watcher]. Seconds ticked by.

    Nothing.

    He remained still a while longer, but he heard no sounds, saw no movements.

    Slowly, Leo released a long breath, but he couldn¡¯t relax yet. Still running through the map in his head, he turned and checked that the other alleyway was empty and that no one in the square had overheard.

    Once he¡¯d confirmed the positions of the guards, he shut the first window, jumped out the second one and closed it too, then slipped back into the shadows.

    He needed to hurry and return before he was found. He couldn¡¯t let this information go to waste.

    With that in mind, the [Fragmentholder] ran as fast as he dared back to Irving¡¯s home, retracing the path he¡¯d taken there by inching around the perimeter of the village.

    Up above, the wall of light and the silver moon continued to shine like a beacon.

 Chapter 28: Morning

    Chapter 28: Morning

    Leo struggled to get any sleep for the rest of the night. He rolled over, attempting to find a more comfortable position, but the lingering adrenaline wouldn¡¯t stop coursing through his veins. He kept thinking about the map, scared that if he closed his eyes, he would forget it.

    He ended up finding a scrap paper and scratching the rough shape down, but without a proper pen it wasn¡¯t particularly detailed and only somewhat assuaged his anxiety.

    In the end, he managed to fall into a fitful sleep. By the time the sun rose and dawn¡¯s first rosy rays flooded the room, Leo woke up feeling barely more rested than before.

    The [Fragmentholder] slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. It was still rather early, so he tried to be quiet, not wanting to disturb the others.

    His concern turned out to be unwarranted, because when he rose, he spotted a familiar figure seated casually at the edge of the bed beside the bags. Leo stood silently, frowning at the [Executioner]¡¯s back.

    Spade had removed her cloak, revealing a simple short sleeved shirt underneath. Toned, muscular arms were covered in a multitude of scars as varied and messy as the ones on her face. Rough patches of burned flesh. Star shaped bursts. Jagged slashes and thin silvery lines.

    These were somehow even more dense, layers and layers of scars merging into shapeless masses of old tissue that could barely be distinguished individually. The [Executioner] slowly rolled her shoulder back, then repeated the motion. Was she stretching?

    Before Leo could think on it further, Spade turned her head, meeting the former [Thief]¡¯s stare with a casual smile.

    ¡°I see you¡¯re up early.¡±

    Leo frowned. ¡°You are too.¡± He squinted at the bright sunlight and moved to close the curtains a little, only slowing in order to study the shadowy figures of the Hounds guards by the shore. He turned to the [Executioner] again.

    ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡±

    Spade tapped the scars running along her bicep. ¡°Stretching my scars,¡± she said simply before continuing with the motions.

    Leo blinked. ¡°Are you supposed to do that?¡± he asked somewhat self consciously. He¡¯d certainly never bothered to.

    ¡°Usually it¡¯s not necessary.¡± She shrugged. ¡°In my case I¡¯ve got enough of them that if I don¡¯t, they tend to get stiff. A limited range of movement isn¡¯t particularly ideal when I need to handle a blade.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] nodded slowly. From what he could tell, there was no notable pattern to the scars¡¯ shapes or placements. Their lack of uniformity only made him more curious. Even if Spade had worked as a bounty hunter at some point and fought often, the sheer amount of scars still seemed far too extreme. He frowned. They certainly didn¡¯t paint a picture of a particularly rosy past.

    A rustle caught Leo¡¯s attention, and he turned to see Allan slowly rising. He looked much better rested than the former [Thief] felt.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said. Allan, however, didn¡¯t respond. Instead, those dark eyes shifted up to Leo.

    ¡°What did you do?¡±

    The [Healer]¡¯s voice was flat, and Leo blinked, taken aback by the sudden seriousness.

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°The party gained experience,¡± Allan interrupted. Leo¡¯s jaw clicked shut, and he hurried to check.

    Sure enough, in the rush of the previous night, he¡¯d completely missed a notification.

    [Progress towards next level: 31%]

    That was a decently significant leap. But why?

    The notification didn¡¯t give any hints as to the reason, simply stating that he¡¯d gained experience. Leo thought back to the previous night, estimating when the notification must have appeared. Had he gotten experience for learning more about the fragment¡¯s location? Was that another way that the [Fragmentholder] class could level?

    It would make sense, he thought. Definitely more sense than defeating Echoes at least. He found himself oddly relieved at the idea. It was a sign that he was on the right track, that this was indeed what he should be doing.

    Leo realized he¡¯d gone quiet, and when he looked up, Allan was still giving him that flat look. The [Fragmentholder] sighed. He¡¯d been hoping to explain on his own terms, but it seemed like that wouldn¡¯t be the case.

    ¡°I snuck out last night.¡± He kept his voice low; he didn¡¯t know how thin the walls were. ¡°Some of the Hounds were in a meeting. Sonia, Flora, Ivan, and a guy I think was the Douglas person Flora mentioned.¡±

    He exhaled. ¡°Apparently the fragment¡¯s on an island surrounded by fog. They had a map of the lake with diagrams and marks. They¡¯ve got their whole search operation planned out, with numbered groups and routes and everything.¡±

    No one spoke, so Leo kept going, the words tumbling out in a hush.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°I managed to get a look at the map, so I¡¯ve got a rough idea of things. If we can get those directions, we¡¯ll be a step ahead of the Hounds.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] paused, waiting for a response, but there was none. It was hard to tell if Spade¡¯s lack of reaction was her usual unshakeable calm or if she actually had heard him sneak out last night.

    Allan, on the other hand, was unreadable. Leo had expected one of his usual concerned, disapproving looks¡ªthe ones that never failed to make him feel guilty in their subtle disappointment. This, however, was disconcerting. It made the [Healer] opaque to him in a way that had him fidgeting.

    ¡°¡­Are you not gonna say anything?¡±

    Those dark eyes didn¡¯t blink. Finally, after what felt like ages, Allan responded.

    ¡°You already know what I¡¯m going to say.¡±

    Leo winced a little at that. The [Healer] just shook his head and sighed.

    ¡°Were you hurt? Did anyone see you?¡±

    Leo shook his head to both questions, raising his arms to show that he hadn¡¯t gotten more than a few scratches and bruises.

    ¡°No one saw me, I think.¡± His eyes flitted to the lake. A few more Hounds had shown up, though it was too far to see exactly who. Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed. One group was carrying a boat over to tether to the shore.

    The [Fragmentholder] turned back to Allan and Spade. ¡°The Hounds¡¯re moving boats to the shore,¡± he muttered. ¡°I heard them planning last night. They¡¯re gonna get the boats ready, then take off the moment they get the routes.¡±

    Allan nodded. ¡°What¡¯s our plan?¡±

    There wasn¡¯t a shred of hesitation in Allan¡¯s words, and Leo felt a wave of gratitude swell up. Gratitude, and a hint of guilt, too. You don¡¯t deserve that trust, a tiny voice said in the back of his mind. Leo shook his head and cleared his throat, shoving the thought back down.

    ¡°We still don¡¯t have the directions yet, but until then, I think we should scope out the lake. Once we do get the routes, we¡¯ll need to know the best spot to take off without the Hounds spotting us.¡± Leo frowned. ¡°I want to check the water again too, see if there¡¯s any kind of clue about how the tides work.¡±

    ¡°You think they¡¯ll let us near the lake?¡± Spade asked, an eyebrow raised. Leo pursed his lips.

    ¡°If they don¡¯t, I¡¯ll sneak out again and see if I can dodge the guards.¡± Ideally, though, they¡¯d find someone willing to let them stop by the shore. Considering Douglas had seemed fairly respectful of the supposedly alive fae the previous night, they might be able to go to the Glass Lake under the pretense of prayer. He explained as much, though Allan still looked doubtful.

    ¡°We should try at least,¡± Leo said. ¡°Otherwise we¡¯d just be wasting time. There¡¯s only three days left now, maybe less if Irving gives in sooner.¡±

    Allan opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Spade¡¯s head snapped to the door, grey eyes sharp. Leo tensed on instinct.

    In the next few seconds, he heard the faint thump of footsteps and a cane along the wooden floorboards, the sound steadily growing louder. Moments later, a knocking sounded on the bedroom door.

    The three exchanged glances. Allan stepped over and carefully opened the door, revealing Irving on the other side.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± the [Healer] said amicably. The man nodded in response, blue eyes scanning the room before finally landing on the bags still sitting on the mattress. He frowned.

    ¡°Was there something wrong with the bed?¡±

    ¡°Oh no, not at all! It¡¯s just, well, with all our traveling, we¡¯re more used to sleeping on hard surfaces,¡± Allan said with a bit of sheepishness.

    Irving¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°I see,¡± he muttered. He nodded to the group. ¡°I made tea downstairs. I don¡¯t eat breakfast, but you¡¯re free to use the kitchen if you¡¯d like. I¡¯ll be in my room if you need me.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Allan said sincerely. ¡°We¡¯re very grateful to you.¡±

    Irving just grunted and turned away, soon disappearing down the hallway in a slow, but steady walk. It wasn¡¯t until they heard the click of his room¡¯s door closing that the three finally exited the bedroom themselves.

    The kitchen and living room looked the same as the previous day, save for the small pot resting atop a worn placemat with steam still rising from its spout. Leo opened the lid and squinted down at the dark liquid. He hadn¡¯t had tea very often before; it was much more popular in the southern countries, though over the last few years it had begun to spread north as well.

    After opening various cabinets, he found a few cups and took out three. The top shelf, he noted, had quite a few more glasses, but they were coated in a layer of dust.

    ¡°That [Vigilance] skill is really useful,¡± Leo muttered as he poured a tiny bit of tea into one cup. He set down the pitcher and raised the glass, sniffing the liquid. He didn¡¯t think Irving would try to poison them, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

    Spade apparently had none of the same reservations, because she poured a cup and didn¡¯t hesitate to take a sip. At Leo¡¯s look, she simply raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°High constitution,¡± she said by way of explanation. She shrugged and set the cup down. ¡°It takes a bit more for poison to affect me unless it¡¯s very high quality. And we do have a healer.¡±

    ¡°[Mend] doesn¡¯t work on poison,¡± Allan muttered. He took a tiny sip from his own cup and frowned.

    ¡°Is something wrong with it?¡± Leo asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­interesting.¡±

    The former [Thief] stared down at his own cup and, after a moment¡¯s pause, drank some himself.

    It was, indeed, pretty bad. Weirdly sharp and yet somehow bland at the same time. It had the sort of bitterness that only showed up in the aftertaste. Leo was no expert on tea, but he doubted this was what it was supposed to taste like, otherwise he couldn¡¯t imagine why it was so popular in the south. Still, he drank the rest of his cup, not wanting to waste anything. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like he hadn¡¯t had much worse.

    Spade grabbed the pot and poured another glassful.

    ¡°You actually like this stuff?¡±

    The [Executioner] chuckled and took another sip. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t been able to taste anything for several years now.¡±

    Leo¡¯s jaw clicked shut. Whatever he¡¯d been expecting, it certainly hadn¡¯t been that. The woman¡¯s blas¨¦ attitude only made it all the more discomforting.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that make it even harder to detect poison?¡±

    Allan didn¡¯t look impressed, and Spade laughed.

    ¡°Probably.¡± She set down her now empty cup and glanced over at the door. Through the front windows, Leo could see movement up and down the streets, but he couldn¡¯t make out which specific Hounds were nearby. It was clear, however, that the village was waking up.

    ¡°Ready to go?¡±

    The two nodded, and after taking a moment to school his expression, Leo gripped the handle, turned it, and stepped outside.

 Chapter 29: Clear Waters I

    Chapter 29: Clear Waters I

    Clearside¡¯s streets were busier than Leo had expected, especially given that it was still fairly early in the morning. Villagers stood outside starting their morning chores, and more than a few stared up at the sky, where the wall of light remained. It was quickly becoming clear that it was now a permanent fixture, or at least it would be for as long as Zelyra¡¯s Sovereign saw fit to keep it up.

    It wasn¡¯t just Clearside residents, though. A number of Hounds moved about the dirt road, the villagers giving them a wide berth and constantly keeping the mercenaries in the corners of their eyes.

    Across the street, one villager watched with his jaw clenched as two Hounds lifted a rowboat away from his home. Though his fingers were curled into a fist, he made no move to stop them. That explained how the Hounds were getting so many boats, at least.

    A flash of movement caught Leo¡¯s attention. He turned, and there to the side were Ivan and a man he recognized as Fergus from earlier.

    The man¡¯s jaw was stiff, eyes narrowed, and he and the younger Hound seemed to be in the middle of an argument. A few other Hounds glanced in their direction as they passed, and a couple even sneered, but Leo couldn¡¯t tell at who. More than one muttered under their breath as they heaved the boats across the street.

    Leo cursed internally. Of course it had to be Ivan of all Hounds. He supposed it was better than Dalton, who seemed to actively dislike them, but the seer had seemed fairly suspicious of them so far.

    Just as the [Fragmentholder] considered trying to go around the two Hounds, however, the argument came to a close. Fergus scowled and stepped back, his axe resting across his shoulders. Ivan turned around, still frowning, when his eyes met Leo¡¯s and immediately hardened.

    ¡°What¡¯re you doing outside?¡±

    Leo resisted the urge to scowl. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we weren¡¯t allowed to walk around.¡±

    Ivan didn¡¯t answer that, which Leo took to mean that they were, in fact, allowed to leave Irving¡¯s home so long as they stayed within Clearside.

    The former [Thief] exhaled, forcing his muscles to remain relaxed and attempting to remove the edge from his voice.

    ¡°Look, we were wondering if we could go to the lakeshore. You can escort us or make another Hound do it if you want. We just want to see the waters.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°This is our first time seeing it,¡± Allan said lightly. ¡°We didn¡¯t manage to get a very long look last time, so we were hoping for another chance.¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t have enough time to leave offerings,¡± Leo added. Ivan paused at that, brows furrowing a little. Did he also worship the fae? The [Fragmentholder] certainly hadn¡¯t been expecting that.

    The Hound¡¯s eyes flitted between the three, then behind them at the gap between buildings where the shore could barely be seen. By now, even more Hounds had gathered by the waters with boats and oars ready. It was far busier than it had been when it was just the guards, and Ivan seemed to come to the same conclusion.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he finally conceded, albeit with obvious reluctance. ¡°I¡¯ll escort you. There¡¯s plenty of Hounds on the shore, so don¡¯t try anything.¡±

    Leo¡¯s brows raised a little. To be honest he hadn¡¯t really expected that to work, and he couldn¡¯t tell if the Hound was more or less reasonable than he¡¯d assumed. The seer was difficult to decipher.

    He nodded slowly. ¡°Okay. Thanks.¡±

    Ivan just grunted and strode forward, jerking his head for them to follow. After a quick exchange of glances, the trio followed.

    The closer they approached the Glass Lake, the brighter it became. The cloudless sky combined with the wall of light beamed off the flat waters like a beacon, and Leo had to squint to get a half-decent view of it.

    Backlit by the mirror-like lake, various Hounds moved about, shifting boats and tying them down, pointing fingers and barking orders at each other.

    ¡°I said left!¡± he heard one yell.

    ¡°There¡¯s a rock here,¡± another Hound retorted. ¡°You want this boat torn up?¡±

    A little ways behind the tide of movement, a tall figure stood watching with an impressive calm. He stood so still that Leo didn¡¯t notice him at first despite his massive build. As they approached, the man turned around, and he recognized the Hound as Douglas.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said. Douglas turned to Ivan, and though his expression didn¡¯t change much, his brown eyes visibly warmed. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were stationed here today.¡±

    The words sounded curious, not accusatory, and Ivan didn¡¯t stiffen or seem tense like he had been around Sonia. The Hound gestured to them.

    ¡°I¡¯m escorting these three to the lake. They said they wanted to pray.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± Douglas looked at them with a hint of approval. Definitely a fae worshipper. ¡°It¡¯s rather busy now, but you should be able to find some space.¡±

    Leo met eyes with Allan and Spade. It would be best for them to split up to cover the most ground. A number of boats had already been brought to the shore, and they could try and assess which would be the easiest for them to use once they had the tide movements.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to head this way,¡± Leo said, gesturing to the right. Ivan frowned.

    ¡°Are you splitting up?¡±

    ¡°I can help you keep an eye on them,¡± Douglas offered. ¡°Every soul has their own personal connection to the lake.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t go far,¡± Spade remarked in a casual tone. Ivan¡¯s eyes shifted to Douglas, then back, and he finally nodded slowly.

    ¡°Fine. You get ten minutes.¡±

    Douglas frowned at that, apparently disagreeing with the allotted time necessary for prayer, but he didn¡¯t say anything.

    With a final meaningful glance at Allan and Spade, Leo turned and stepped to the right with Ivan trailing close by.

    As he walked along the shore, the damp earth soft beneath his feet, Leo was acutely aware of the Hound¡¯s eyes on his back. His presence was a constant in the background.

    The [Fragmentholder] attempted to keep his steps casual as he continued along at a relaxed pace, carefully surveying the boats, the uneven parts of the shore that dipped closer to the waters, the flat expanse itself and the distant, barely perceptible hints of islands. Leo couldn¡¯t make out any mist from here, but he assumed it was further into the center of the lake.

    ¡°Walk faster.¡±

    Leo shot a frown over his shoulder at Ivan.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± he muttered. He did speed up a little though, not wanting the Hound to get too impatient, and his eyes scanned the shore faster.

    There weren¡¯t any trees nearby, but a few parts featured taller swaying grasses. Much of the areas the boats were being moved to sloped smoothly downward, making it easier for them to take off, but Leo noted a group of Hounds carrying a small rowboat towards an area below a slightly steeper incline.

    Hazel eyes narrowed, gauging the distance between the spot and the village. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was slightly more hidden than the other spots he¡¯d seen. Depending on the positioning of the guards, it might be their best shot.

    Leo could sense Ivan¡¯s growing impatience behind him, and so he finally came to a spot by the shore a little ways away from the shouts of nearby Hounds.

    Right there, a mere foot away from the water, the crisp wind blew strong and constant. The water gleamed like a shining jewel, deceptive in its stillness, and Leo exhaled.

    Acutely aware of Ivan¡¯s gaze, the [Fragmentholder] found a slightly thicker patch of grass and carefully kneeled down on it. The ground was soft, the position itself familiar even if the context was different.

    Leo had never been religious, believing in neither the Ancients nor the System Administrator as true gods. Still, he¡¯d seen prayers often enough and been made to perform them for the sake of blending in, so he knew what they should look like and what actions he needed to take.

    Clasping his hands together, he closed his eyes and muttered quietly under his breath. He forced his shoulders to relax, even as every nerve in his body balked at the idea of being so vulnerable when surrounded by enemies.

    He wasn¡¯t sure how much time passed, but Leo made sure to stay like that for a while¡ªas long as he imagined someone who worshipped the fae first visiting the Glass Lake would take.

    Finally, when he felt the dampness of the ground beginning to travel up the cloth of his pants, he opened his eyes and carefully rose again.

    When Leo turned around, away from the blinding waters, he found Ivan watching with an unreadable look. The [Fragmentholder] studied him carefully. The Hound hadn¡¯t pulled out any weapons and didn¡¯t look especially tense, so he didn¡¯t think Ivan was suspicious of him.

    If anything, the man looked contemplative, like he was trying to piece together a puzzle. Leo waited cautiously for him to say something, but he didn¡¯t. He simply stared out into the water, expression stoic and impossible to read.

    Leo turned to the waters as well. Ivan wasn¡¯t rushing him, so he guessed he still had some time left before meeting back up with Allan and Spade.

    He pulled up the fragmentholder database again, but as expected, the map was as unclear as ever. The number of fragmentholders had increased to 832,156.

    Turning his head slightly, he peered down at the still waters.

    Just like before, there was no disturbance across their surface, no sign of movement at all. Leo frowned. The fae magic, whether lingering or from living fae, likely affected not only the waters but also the area directly above the lake.

    Leo raised his eyes, attempting to see if there was a visible difference in the air. Maybe they could find a way to go above it, then land in their desired location? No, they had no means of achieving that sort of flight, and if the magic had a bigger range than expected then it could go horribly wrong.

    He took a step closer to the edge of the lake. If he could just figure out what was inside those waters, then maybe that would be a hint. But that same strange haze overtook him as he attempted to stare down into those depths. Leo gritted his teeth, ignoring his growing headache. He took another step closer, close enough that the tips of his shoes nearly brushed the waters.

    The [Fragmentholder] leaned forward, attempting to get as far above the lake as he could for the best view. Within that swirling haze, for a brief second he thought he caught a hint of real waves and ripples hidden below the flat surface. Before he could get another look, however, a hand suddenly jerked him backwards.

 Chapter 30: Clear Waters II

    Chapter 30: Clear Waters II

    Leo stumbled, falling and landing half on the soft ground and half on top of bony limbs. He jumped back up to his feet and jerked around, glaring down at Ivan, his fist clenched and ready to lunge.

    ¡°What the fuck is your problem?¡±

    The Hound rose as well, clothes now stained with dirt, and he met Leo¡¯s glare with equal venom.

    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± he hissed. ¡°Do you have any idea what happens when you touch the water?¡±

    Leo opened his mouth to respond, an angry retort already on the tip of his tongue. But just before it could escape, he paused.

    Now that he looked at the Hound again, he didn¡¯t just seem angry. Ivan¡¯s eyes were blown wide, frenzied and wild in a way that seemed utterly at odds with what he¡¯d seen of the man so far. He looked genuinely panicked, and he recognized a painfully familiar emotion bubbling under the sharper and more burning ones.

    Fear.

    The anger fizzled out before he could think about it. Leo studied the man, attempting to reconcile that visible panic with the mental image he had of the Hounds.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not like I was planning on jumping in or anything,¡± he finally said. ¡°I just wanted a closer look.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    Ivan released a shaky breath, and the Hound visibly attempted to calm himself. A few seconds passed, and finally the tense line of his shoulders slackened a little. When he spoke again, his voice was much steadier than before, and it carried with it a deep weariness that seemed to actively age him.

    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re planning and I don¡¯t really care. It doesn¡¯t concern me.¡± Ivan exhaled. ¡°But for the love of god, don¡¯t mess with things you don¡¯t understand. You have no idea how dangerous that lake is.¡±

    Leo stared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t care? You¡¯re a Hound. You¡¯re keeping us hostage. You¡¯re one of the ones who brought us to Sonia in the first place!¡±

    Ivan frowned at that. He glanced around, checking that no one else was nearby. The group of Hounds from earlier had left sometime during Leo¡¯s prayer, and only the boat they¡¯d deposited remained on the shore. Ivan stepped closer and lowered his voice.

    ¡°Believe me, none of us are happy with this situation. But as long as you three keep your heads down and don¡¯t mess with Sonia¡¯s plans or the lake, you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    You¡¯re the one who told her about the fragment, Leo wanted to say, but that would reveal too much of his knowledge. Instead, he swallowed down the words and took a deep breath. Leo¡¯s eyes darted over to the shining waters, then back at the Hound.

    ¡°Is it really that dangerous? I didn¡¯t even touch it.¡±

    Ivan¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°It drives people mad. I¡¯ve seen people walk straight in even when they know better.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard the saying? ¡®Clear waters drive men mad.¡¯ It¡¯s the same on Zelyra¡¯s coast.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not from around here.¡± Leo had actually heard the phrase, but like most sayings, it was hard to know how much of it was based in reality. Besides, it was most often associated with Zelyra, not Avel¡¯s Glass Lake.

    The [Fragmentholder] noted that Ivan¡¯s hand still shook slightly, and his brows furrowed. He didn¡¯t know how much to trust that the Hound was also ¡°unhappy¡± with the situation; it could easily be an attempt to get him to lower his guard and accidentally reveal something. His [Foresight] skill was also damning in Leo¡¯s eyes. Whether or not Ivan had wanted to tell Sonia about the fragment, he was technically responsible for all of this.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Still, Leo couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why¡¯re you with the Hounds anyway?¡± Ivan didn¡¯t look like the classic mercenary type, and with a personal skill like [Foresight], there had to have been better options. People would kill for that skill no matter how ¡°vague¡± or limited it was.

    Hell, Leo was shocked the Council hadn¡¯t already taken him in. Even countries outside of Avel might try to recruit him if they got wind of that skill¡ªthe Empire would certainly love to have it.

    ¡°I owe Sonia and Douglas.¡± Ivan¡¯s response was simple and curt, and he didn¡¯t offer any additional information. He simply turned away, closing off again.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. We¡¯re returning to Clearside.¡±

    Leo studied the Hound¡¯s retreating back for a moment, then with a final glance at the lake, he moved to follow.

    ¡ª

    Allan and Spade were waiting at the designated rendezvous point. By then the sun had fully risen, and a number of boats stood lining the shore. A few feet away, Douglas watched stoically, occasionally directing a Hound one way or another. When the man¡¯s eyes landed on Leo and Ivan, he frowned and stepped over.

    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± He eyed the dirt stains suspiciously. Ivan jerked a thumb back at Leo.

    ¡°He slipped and almost fell into the lake,¡± he muttered. Leo bit down an instinctive retort and just grunted in agreement. That was a much easier explanation.

    Behind Douglas, he met eyes with Allan and Spade. The latter had an eyebrow raised, while Allan looked more concerned than anything. Later, Leo mouthed, and the [Healer] nodded.

    ¡°¡ªshould rest more,¡± Douglas was saying. ¡°I¡¯ll let Sonia know.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ivan said. ¡°I¡¯m escorting them back to the village.¡±

    Douglas nodded. ¡°Alright,¡± he said. ¡°But be careful.¡±

    The other Hound looked somewhat exasperated and even a little embarrassed at the man¡¯s concern, but he nodded and gestured for Leo, Allan, and Spade to follow.

    Leo wondered what the connection between the two Hounds was. They didn¡¯t look alike enough for him to suspect a blood relation, but their interactions did seem almost familial in nature. Hazel eyes lingered on Douglas¡¯s retreating back. He¡¯d never known his own parents, but he¡¯d seen enough whole¡ªif not necessarily happy¡ªfamilies to recognize the similarities.

    He shook his head, shoving the thoughts down. The subject matter was getting dangerously close to that, and he couldn¡¯t afford to think about it right now. He didn¡¯t want to.

    The group stepped away from the shore, leaving the lake a shining line on the horizon intersected by the dark silhouettes of anchored boats and Hounds. The wind felt visibly softer away from the water, and as they approached Clearside¡¯s perimeter, Leo took a second to eye the location he¡¯d spotted earlier.

    From here, the boat that had been moved there was indeed obscured both by the sharper slope and the swaying grasses. From other angles it would be more visible, but it seemed like their best bet.

    Leo turned back to the village. By now they were approaching the back of Irving¡¯s home, the buildings a little sparser here. There were still Hounds standing guard, but now that so many were dealing with the boats by the lake, the streets were significantly emptier than they¡¯d been that morning.

    The group moved around the home to the front door, and Leo frowned as he heard two voices that sounded like they were in the middle of a whispered argument, the volume raising steadily with each new word.

    As they approached, he soon recognized the two voices.

    Standing at the front door, still behind the doorway, Irving glared up at Fergus, the man¡¯s fingers tight around his cane and shoulders tense.

    The Hound, meanwhile, loomed over the elderly man, his shadow cloaking the doorway. His axe was held firmly in one hand, and he gestured as he argued, the blade swinging threateningly around as he stepped closer and closer. Irving eyed the weapon warily, but he didn¡¯t seem intent on backing down.

    Their voices got louder, and Leo heard Ivan curse under his breath and rush forward. The [Fragmentholder] was just behind him, his heart pounding. Had Irving given up the directions? Were they too late?

    Just as they approached, Fergus seemed to give up on keeping quiet. He released a frustrated yell and grabbed the man, yanking him out of the home.

    Irving stumbled onto the street, barely managing to keep upright. The cane dug deep into the dirt, and Leo¡¯s eyes widened as Fergus raised his axe above him.

    Ivan shouted something, but the [Fragmentholder] didn¡¯t hear it. He was already bolting forward.

 Chapter 31: Overflow

    Chapter 31: Overflow

    Leo activated [Sprint], lunging and shoving Irving away just before Fergus¡¯s axe could come cleaving down.

    They landed in a heap, and Leo coughed, spitting out dirt and hurrying to get back on his feet. Beside him, Irving looked dazed, his cane having fallen a foot away, but from a cursory glance the man didn¡¯t seem injured at least.

    Leo spun around to face Fergus, glaring at the Hound, who frowned down at him with narrowed eyes. His arm was still half raised, axe suspended in the air.

    ¡°I thought there were three more days,¡± Leo spat. Fergus sneered.

    ¡°I was just giving the old fart a little scare.¡±

    Leo heard Irving shift, and he moved to help the man up. The [Fisherman]¡¯s hands were shaking, and his fingers held his cane in a vice grip when Leo handed it back to him. ¡°Thank you,¡± he muttered, and Leo grunted in acknowledgement, not taking his eyes off the Hound.

    ¡°Fergus!¡±

    Ivan¡¯s eyes blazed with fury. He stepped closer, unflinching. ¡°Stand down.¡±

    The older man simply snorted. ¡°Or what?¡± He pointed the axe at Irving, who froze. Leo placed himself between the man and the blade, one hand moving to the dagger sheathed at his waist.

    ¡°I¡¯m just doing my job. Someone¡¯s gotta get the info and clearly all of you are too busy sitting around waiting.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any idea what Sonia will do when she hears about this?¡±

    For a brief second something like hesitation seeped into the man¡¯s expression, but his eyes quickly hardened.

    ¡°So what? She¡¯s just using us to get the fragment anyway. Making us do all the dirty work while she walks away with the prize.¡±

    Behind Leo, Irving shifted, attempting to step back to his home. The [Fragmentholder] gritted his teeth. It would be better to keep going backwards into the street to put more distance between them, but for some reason Irving seemed intent on returning to his home even if it meant going around Fergus.

    Carefully, Leo moved as well, keeping guard of Irving as Fergus¡¯s attention was drawn to Ivan.

    By now, a crowd was beginning to gather, curious faces watching carefully from a distance, a few passing Hounds stopping in their tracks to stare. Leo noted Fergus¡¯s eyes flitting to them, his grip on his axe tightening as more and more people gathered.

    ¡°So that¡¯s it.¡± Ivan¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°You want the fragment for yourself.¡±

    Fergus laughed, the sound rough and sharp. ¡°Don¡¯t we all?¡± Dark eyes gleamed in the light. ¡°We¡¯re not all mindless little dogs.¡±

    Ivan¡¯s nostrils flared. He reeled his arm back, and a violent gust of wind rushed past them, Leo flinching a little as it passed. That wind rose, swirling and gathering around his open palm while the Hound¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Fergus. Magic? Spells before Tier 1 were incredibly rare, and yet, when Leo turned on [Judgement], it was unmistakable.

    [Ivan has activated the [Gust] spell]

    For a moment something like fear flashed in Fergus¡¯s eyes, but it just as quickly dissipated into a sneer. He didn¡¯t back away even as the wind grew stronger, kicking up dust and causing his cloak to billow.

    And yet, even as the wind continued to swirl around his hand, Ivan didn¡¯t lunge, simply glaring in Fergus¡¯s direction. Leo hurried to use [Judgement]¡¯s new ability, attempting to place himself in Ivan¡¯s perspective. The mirrored notifications appeared, and it soon became clear what the problem was.

    [ERROR: Target is a party member]

    [Override party limitations?]

    Leo cursed. Of course. The Hounds were in a party, and probably a closed one too. They couldn¡¯t actually attack each other without facing severe System backlash.

    The two Hounds glared at each other, neither one looking away or moving. Tense seconds passed, and then Leo felt the whipping wind begin to die down.

    Slowly, Ivan lowered his hand. His fingers clenched into a fist, so tight that it shook. His eyes were ablaze, burning with fury and disgust, and Fergus had a smug look on his face. There was nothing Ivan could do right now to get in the man¡¯s way, and they both knew it.

    Leo¡¯s mind churned. By now, a larger crowd had gathered, but he noted that none of the Hounds around seemed inclined on stopping Fergus either. No, based on the gleam in some of their eyes, there were quite a few in agreement with his actions. If they weren¡¯t careful, the Hounds could all decide to attack Irving at once.

    Leo felt something bump into shoulder, and his head jerked around. He met eyes with Allan, the [Healer]¡¯s expression grim. He nodded over at Irving, still trying to inch away but unsuccessful now that so many more people were blocking the way. The [Fragmentholder] nodded subtly, and Allan¡¯s eyes flashed in understanding. He shifted, carefully holding onto Irving to help guide the man to safety while Leo turned back to Fergus.

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    Ivan still seemed to be trying to de-escalate the situation, though his shoulders remained tense.

    ¡° ¡ªcut it out,¡± Ivan was saying. ¡°You might still be able to get away if you back down now.¡±

    It was the wrong thing to say, because Fergus clenched his jaw. His eyes darted around to the growing crowd. He wouldn¡¯t be able to get out of this at all, with how much attention they¡¯d drawn, and he seemed to come to that realization.

    His head jerked in Irving and Allan¡¯s direction, now halfway to the door. Leo saw the man¡¯s fingers tighten around the axe, and the second his arm began to move he didn¡¯t think.

    Unsheathing the dagger, Leo threw it at the Hound with all his might.

    It flew past the man, only managing to cut a thin line across his cheek, but it was enough to get his attention.

    Fergus whirled around, furious, and Leo noted Allan urging Irving to move faster. He silently prayed for them to travel quicker or to just go the other way. Why was Irving so insistent on going back to his house?

    He didn¡¯t have time to think on the matter, because in the next moment Fergus charged straight at him.

    Leo jumped to the side, easily dodging the axe swing. The man was slow, he noted. Even unarmed, he should be able to keep avoiding him for long enough for Irving to get to safety.

    Fergus wrenched the axe out from where the blade had dug into the earth, and a few spectators gasped and backed away. Leo spun around, purposely placing himself further into the street and away from Irving¡¯s home.

    ¡°That all?¡± he taunted. Fergus¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he surged forward. Leo tensed, readying to dodge.

    At the last second he leapt out of the way. Compared to the prison warden, this was easy, he thought. He could keep this up, then¡ª

    Something warm splattered onto Leo¡¯s arm. He blinked.

    The axe hadn¡¯t hit him. He¡¯d dodged it entirely, not even his clothes cut, and yet red dripped down the blade.

    It was the same shade of red that now stained the clothes of a villager who¡¯d been standing behind the [Fragmentholder].

    For a moment everything seemed to still. Even Fergus froze, and the villager, a thin boy who couldn¡¯t be past his teens, coughed. More red leaked out, and as he tumbled to the ground time started again.

    Someone screamed. The crowd burst into a frenzy as people shoved each other to get out of the way and others froze, wanting to get closer to help the boy but unable to with the Hound and the axe still present. Fergus¡¯s face paled and he backed away, but Leo didn¡¯t have time to think about his reaction because his eyes were still fixed on the boy bleeding out on the ground.

    ¡°Allan!¡± Leo yelled. He barely recognized the sound of his own voice.

    The man in question stood on the other side of the street, staring at the chaos. Leo spun around to face him, hazel eyes wild. ¡°Heal him!¡±

    The call was enough for Allan to snap out of whatever stillness he¡¯d fallen into. He hurried over, leaving a stunned Irving just outside his home¡¯s door.

    Leo crouched down, heart pumping, and attempted to assess the extent of the injury. The axe had slashed into the boy¡¯s abdomen, and his breaths were shallow. There was too much blood. His skin was quickly losing color.

    ¡°It¡¯s too deep,¡± Allan murmured, eyeing the wound. ¡°I can¡¯t heal it all at once.¡±

    ¡°Do it in sections then,¡± Leo urged. ¡°As long as you stop the bleeding.¡± That¡¯s the only way he might survive, were the unspoken words.

    The [Healer]¡¯s brows furrowed, hesitant as he scanned the messy, bloody cut. It looked worse up close, a nightmarish mix of torn fabric sticking to viscous red and gaping flesh. It was hard to even know where the wound began.

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°Here.¡±

    A low, steady voice rang out above the crowd¡¯s roar. Leo looked up to see Spade standing behind Allan, the [Executioner]¡¯s grey eyes keen as she scanned the wound. She reached over the [Healer]¡¯s shoulder, pointing to a specific section of the abdomen.

    ¡°This part needs to be closed first.¡± Her voice was perfectly calm. Allan frowned and met her gaze with furrowed brows. Something unspoken passed between them that Leo couldn¡¯t decipher. Allan slowly nodded.

    Inhaling, the [Healer] placed his hands just above the area, and they began to glow a rich ultramarine.

    [Allan has activated the [Mend] spell]

    Threads of light separated out from the glow, weaving towards the gash and beginning to sew the flesh together. The wound was too wide to close entirely, the magic struggling to stop the flow of blood.

    Leo watched, his own nerves still heightened, as Allan carefully worked. His brows were furrowed, and sweat was beginning to form on his forehead from the exertion of repeated healing. The whole time Spade remained in place, guiding the [Healer] with an even, calm voice.

    Slowly but surely, the bleeding began to slow down. Leo exhaled in relief.

    The [Fragmentholder] spun around, glaring venom at Fergus. To his surprise, the man didn¡¯t look smug or triumphant or even angry.

    Instead, his expression was one of unmistakable fear.

    Leo frowned. Did he regret hurting the boy? He hadn¡¯t seemed like someone who would care about that.

    The real source of Fergus¡¯s reaction, however, soon became clear when shouts rang out among the crowd. The lingering spectators¡ªvillagers and Hounds alike¡ªhurried out of the way, and the blood drained from Fergus¡¯s face.

    Through the parting crowd, Ivan hurried forward, hair frazzled and out of breath. Leo wasn¡¯t focused on him, though.

    Instead, hazel eyes were fixed on a familiar figure stepping forward in confident strides, icy blue eyes scanning the street with a cold, detached sharpness. The Hounds leader came to a stop.

    Sonia had arrived.

 Chapter 32: Consequences I

    Chapter 32: Consequences I

    A sudden hush fell over the clearing. It was as though as soon as Sonia had stepped through the crowd, time itself had slowed down.

    Eyes turned in her direction. People shifted as subtly backwards as they could, but for the most part the spectators remained perfectly frozen, unmoving under the weight of the Hounds Leader¡¯s presence.

    Leo¡¯s hand moved over to his belt, only to remember that he¡¯d already thrown his dagger. Hazel eyes never left the woman, all senses heightened as Sonia calmly studied the area.

    Her gaze first landed on Fergus, stock still, the hand around his axe shaking a little. Thin streams of red blood trickled down the blade, dripping down and staining the earth with dark blooms.

    Sonia¡¯s eyes then snapped over to Irving. The elderly man¡¯s jaw was tight as he stood in front of his home door. He hadn¡¯t gone inside and seemed to be trying to get a better look at the injured boy, but he wasn¡¯t moving closer either.

    Finally, the Hound turned to them, expression unreadable as she eyed the wounded boy, then Allan and Spade crouched over with the former¡¯s hands still glowing with magic, and finally at Leo.

    The [Fragmentholder] stiffened, but didn¡¯t look away. He was faintly aware of Ivan saying something and then running off again, but he didn¡¯t dare check.

    A calm smile spread across Sonia¡¯s features. She turned to Fergus.

    ¡°I like to think the Hounds are a fairly orderly group. We have structures and rules; we¡¯re not barbarians. Wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±

    The other Hound didn¡¯t say anything, and Sonia stepped forward.

    ¡°Imagine my surprise when I hear Ivan running over telling me one of my Hounds has knowingly broken my rules.¡± Her expression was unchanging, voice so calm that it sent a chill down Leo¡¯s spine.

    The woman came to a stop a few feet away from Fergus.

    ¡°Tell me, are you going senile, Fergus?¡±

    A beat passed. Slowly, the man shook his head.

    A rustle sounded nearby, and Leo shifted his gaze just long enough to see Ivan returning with a frazzled looking man carrying a wooden box.

    The two bolted for the wounded boy, where Allan and Spade were still crouched. The [Healer]¡¯s breaths were heavy, forehead gleaming with sweat. Given his current magic and [Mend]¡¯s level, it seemed the most he could do was keep slowing the bleeding through continual spell use.

    Spade glanced up and muttered something to the man, who quickly sat down and opened the box. He must be Clearside¡¯s doctor. The glow around Allan¡¯s hands finally died, and he swayed a little, but the primary expression on his face was one of frustration. Leo wanted to go over and check on him, but he had to keep an eye on Fergus and Sonia.

    The woman in question smiled, still facing the other Hound.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think so.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°Do tell me, then, what would possess you to make such a remarkably stupid decision.¡±

    The Hounds leader hadn¡¯t drawn any weapons yet; as far as Leo could tell she wasn¡¯t carrying any. And yet, the longer she stood there, the more and more wary he grew.

    Fergus swallowed, his fingers tightening around the handle of his axe. There would be no talking his way out of this, he seemed to realize. Dark eyes darted around. The crowd had given them a wide berth, and a mix of villagers and Hounds alike surrounded them on all sides. There was no escape.

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    The man swallowed, and Leo could see him visibly steeling himself. His own shoulders were drawn in a tense line. He had a bad feeling about this.

    ¡°What¡¯s stupid,¡± Fergus began, words starting a little shaky but gaining steadiness and intensity as he spoke, ¡°is us doing your dirty work while you walk away with all the spoils.¡±

    His voice got louder until he was nearly yelling. ¡°It¡¯s you ordering us around and expecting us to follow like dogs! I¡¯ve paid off my debts. I don¡¯t owe you anything.¡±

    A few murmurs ran through the gathered crowd, but they quickly died down. Sonia raised an eyebrow, expression as calm as ever. If anything, Leo thought he detected a hint of amusement.

    ¡°Is that so? In that case, I suppose there¡¯s no need for you to remain with the Hounds.¡±

    Fergus faltered for just a moment, and Leo quickly activated [Judgement]. Almost immediately, a mirrored notification appeared in front of him.

    [You have been removed from your party]

    Fergus¡¯s eyes widened, but it was too late. Sonia curled her index finger, beckoning the other Hound over.

    [Sonia has activated the [Lifeline] skill]

    In less than a second, Fergus was violently yanked forward, flying straight towards Sonia like a puppet on a string.

    A squelching sound rang too loud across the street.

    Dark red stained the earth beneath them, spreading and crawling outwards. The Hound¡¯s body was hunched over directly in front of Sonia.

    A hand had pierced straight through his chest.

    Dark eyes stared down in disbelief. Fergus coughed, and Sonia yanked her hand out. It came loose with another squelch.

    Red stained her hand and sleeve, soaking the fabric and dripping down in a steady stream. A few fleshy pieces were pulled out as well, and they landed on the ground in soft squishy heaps among the viscous puddle. Her expression remained impassive.

    Fergus stumbled back, gasping and clutching at his chest. His axe fell to the ground with a clatter, and a gurgling sound rose in his throat as he struggled to breathe. Leo was only vaguely aware of the screams, the sound of a child crying amidst the crowd of spectators.

    The Hound fell to the ground, hunching in on himself as he tried in vain to stop the bleeding with his hands.

    Sonia was going to make all of them¡ªHounds and villagers old and young alike¡ªwatch the man slowly die, Leo realized. A sick feeling rose in his stomach.

    He didn¡¯t know how long it took Fergus to fall still. It seemed like forever that the man kept jerking around, twitching and thrashing and making that gasping, wheezing sound.

    But finally, after what felt like hours, he finally landed in a heap on the ground. Unmoving.

    Sonia looked on idly, casually studying the stains on her sleeve. She ripped the bloodied part off, letting the soaked fabric flutter to the ground, and turned to the spectators, gazing at each of the gathered Hounds with those cool blue eyes.

    ¡°I understand that a number of you have grown¡­ discontent with the current situation.¡±

    No one dared respond. Fergus¡¯s dead body was all too prominent on the ground. Sonia smiled.

    ¡°Worry not. I¡¯ve heard your complaints, and I find them quite reasonable.¡± She gestured at the Hounds in the crowd, her hand still stained in red.

    ¡°You have my word that when our hunt begins, each of you will be able to search for the fragment individually. If you have the skill to find it first, then it¡¯s yours.¡±

    Leo frowned at that. He couldn¡¯t tell how truthful she was being, and based on the unease in the Hounds¡¯s expressions, they were just as unsure. If she was being honest, then that might change their search pattern.

    Sonia stepped over Fergus¡¯s corpse, not minding the pooling blood, and continued in that uncannily steady voice.

    ¡°Now that we have that established, I trust no one will be so foolish as to break our rules again.¡±

    The silence spoke volumes. Sonia nodded in what might have been approval, but it was difficult to discern anything from her.

    Raising her bloodied hand, she flicked her wrist, and Leo wasn¡¯t the only one in the crowd who instinctively flinched at the gesture.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough excitement for today. Back to your duties. Douglas is still waiting by the shore for those boats. Flora, you¡¯re responsible for cleaning up this mess.¡±

    A mutter ran through the crowd, everyone hesitating, but a sharp look was all it took for them to fully disperse.

    Everyone gave Fergus¡¯s dead body a wide berth. Leo saw that several onlookers, mostly villagers, had thrown up at the sight. The putrid smell of vomit mixed with the metallic stench of iron, but Leo barely processed it.

    He avoided looking directly at the corpse, instead focusing on Allan, Spade, and the doctor attending to the injured villager. It was the right call, because Sonia turned in their direction as well.

 Chapter 33: Consequences II

    Chapter 33: Consequences II

    ¡°You brought the doctor here, Ivan?¡±

    The Hound in question nodded slowly. He hovered a foot away from the doctor, close enough to see what was happening without getting in the way.

    ¡° ¡­I thought since we were trying not to hurt the villagers, I should call someone.¡±

    Sonia was silent for a few moments, and Allan watched her with wary dark eyes. He still looked tired, but not as much as before when he¡¯d had [Mend] constantly active. Spade, Leo realized, had placed her hand on her sheathed sword at some point, but he once again couldn¡¯t discern any specific emotion in those flat grey eyes.

    ¡°I see.¡± Sonia hummed. ¡°It could¡¯ve made for a good bargaining opportunity, but I won¡¯t waste your efforts, Ivan.¡± She nodded at the doctor, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°Sonia!¡±

    Irving¡¯s raspy voice sounded behind them. Leo mentally cursed the man for approaching instead of staying in the safety of his home, and he hurried to both help steady the [Fisherman] and to put himself between him and Sonia.

    His face looked pale, and his hand shook a little. Leo wondered if he¡¯d been one of the ones who¡¯d vomited. Still, his eyes remained firm as he came to a stop in front of the Hounds leader.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±

    ¡°I believe that was quite clear, unless you would¡¯ve preferred I allowed Fergus to get away with his behavior.¡±

    Irving shook his head aggressively. ¡°You swore no one would be hurt before the time limit!¡±

    Leo blinked. The elderly man looked genuinely furious.

    ¡°I promised the Hounds would not attack. Fergus stopped being a Hound the moment he broke my rules.¡± Sonia turned to face the man fully, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Your fury is misguided. Don¡¯t forget that you could¡¯ve stopped this had you simply given us the directions when we asked.¡±

    Irving faltered at that, and Sonia continued, gesturing to the village with that bloody hand.

    ¡°I do still care for Clearside, you know. I may not have lived here for a long time, but it¡¯s still my birthplace. We¡¯re similar. We¡¯ve both lost loved ones to the lake. We both value this village.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Why risk so much?¡±

    ¡°You know why.¡±

    Sonia¡¯s eyes darkened. Leo shifted to block Irving more, but she made no move to attack. Instead, after a few moments of silence had passed, the Hounds leader turned away, readying to leave.

    ¡°Three more days, Irving.¡± She nodded at the body of Fergus and the wounded boy still being tended to by the doctor. ¡°Ferguson wasn¡¯t the only one. A number of Hounds are still quite impatient.¡±

    Her eyes seemed to gleam sharp as daggers in the daylight. ¡°Watch yourself.¡±

    With those final words, the woman turned away and stepped down the street, every passerby giving her a wide berth.

    Ivan glanced at her, then back, briefly meeting eyes with Leo, before he turned and followed. Both Hounds soon disappeared from view.

    The moment they vanished, it was as though a weight had lifted. The last lingering villagers nearby hurried towards the boy, and Leo himself ran forward.

    ¡°How is he?¡± he asked urgently. The doctor frowned.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need to bring him to the infirmary, but I believe his life is not in danger.¡±

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    The [Fragmentholder] exhaled a long breath, shoulders slumping a little at the confirmation. ¡°Thank god,¡± he muttered. He¡¯d feared the worst. ¡°Can we help you move him?¡±

    The doctor shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯ve already called for my apprentices to bring a stretcher.¡± The man looked very tired.

    Leo slowly nodded and rose again. Staring down at the wounded boy, he looked very small. Young. He wondered if he had any parents, and if he did, where they were.

    There was a shuffling sound to his side, and Leo turned to see Allan had risen as well. He was a little wobbly, and the [Fragmentholder] helped him balance.

    ¡°You saved his life,¡± Leo said quietly, still not pulling his eyes away from the doctor and the other villagers beginning to crowd around the unconscious boy. Irving was among them, the elderly man¡¯s brows furrowed in concern.

    ¡°I only slowed the bleeding.¡± Allan studied him closely, brows furrowed. ¡°You know it wasn¡¯t your fault, right?¡±

    ¡°It was. I was so focused on Fergus I didn¡¯t pay attention to my surroundings.¡± Once again, he¡¯d gotten tunnel visioned on one thing and neglected everything else.

    Allan frowned, his own gaze on the wounded boy. Two villagers had arrived carrying a crude wooden stretcher, and under the doctor¡¯s instructions, they were carefully lifting him on.

    ¡°What¡¯re we doing after this?¡±

    Leo glanced briefly back at Fergus¡¯s still corpse, then turned away. His focus landed on Irving, and he set his jaw.

    ¡°I need to check something.¡± His voice got even quieter. ¡°We might be able to end things quicker than we thought.¡±

    Allan nodded. ¡°I¡¯m planning on going to the infirmary for a bit,¡± he murmured. A flash of that earlier frustration returned.

    ¡°I might be a [Healer] now, but it doesn¡¯t matter if I don¡¯t know anything about medicine. If Spade hadn¡¯t been here I wouldn¡¯t have known where to start. I¡¯m going to watch the doctor and see if I can learn anything.¡± He paused. ¡°As long as that doesn¡¯t interrupt anything.¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°No, that sounds good. We¡¯ve still got a little time.¡±

    It would be good for Allan to know more about healing. That, and it was rare for the man to initiate anything on his own. When Leo had first seen his class selection he¡¯d admittedly been a bit hesitant; the former [Rickshaw Puller] had never shown any passion for healing before. It seemed, however, that he was taking his new class seriously.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back by tomorrow morning,¡± Allan promised. The villagers were beginning to carry the boy away, and the [Healer] frowned at them. Leo gave him an encouraging nod.

    ¡°Be careful,¡± Allan said.

    ¡°You too.¡±

    The doctor, Allan, and the assistants soon disappeared down the street. Along with them, most villagers dispersed, eager to get away from Fergus¡¯s dead body. Leo took a moment to simply stare at it.

    Like that, fallen with his back up and face hidden, he almost didn¡¯t look like a person. Just an unmoving mass under the blue sky. A piece of furniture or a part of the landscape. The [Fragmentholder] could hardly reconcile the image with the sneering man threatening them with his axe.

    It was so easy, Leo thought, for a person to stop seeming human. The hole in Fergus¡¯s chest gaped like an open mouth.

    Leo turned away, moving to retrieve the dagger he¡¯d thrown. It had landed on the ground, but the blade still seemed fine, if a bit dirty. He wiped it off and looked around.

    In contrast to the villagers, Spade stood near Fergus¡¯s dead body, peering down with unreadable grey eyes. She looked up as Leo approached, raising a scarred eyebrow.

    ¡°Did they already carry the boy away?¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] nodded. ¡°Allan went with them,¡± he explained. ¡°He should be back by tomorrow.¡±

    Leo paused. ¡°Thank you,¡± he added, voice slow. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t helped Allan¡­¡± his voice trailed. He didn¡¯t like to think about the alternative. It was bad enough that someone had gotten hurt because of him. Incompetent, a voice said in the back of his head. This is your fault.

    Spade simply hummed. ¡°Think nothing of it. I was simply using my knowledge where I could.¡±

    ¡°[Anatomical Knowledge], right?¡±

    The [Executioner] smiled. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised. A number of executioners heal people as side jobs. There¡¯s a surprisingly large overlap.¡±

    Leo studied the woman carefully. ¡°Did you?¡±

    She laughed, finally turning away from Fergus¡¯s dead body. The blood stained her boots as she moved through the puddle.

    ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t have been very good at it.¡± Grey eyes scanned the surroundings in a steady, practiced motion. ¡°What now?¡±

    Leo¡¯s gaze darted over to Irving. After the doctor¡¯s departure, the man had begun to carefully hobble back to his home, giving Fergus¡¯s body a wide berth and avoiding the blood with his cane before he finally reached the front door and slipped inside.

    Leo remembered how the man had kept trying to return to his home even when running the other way would¡¯ve been easier, moving towards it with a strange insistence.

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s lips thinned. He might be wrong, but he had to be certain.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got some investigating to do.¡±

 Chapter 34: Searching

    Chapter 34: Searching

    The door was unlocked.

    When they stepped into Irving¡¯s home, the man in question sat at the table, the blinds still shut, his eyes staring listlessly in front of him. Leo frowned, and Spade shut the door behind them.

    ¡°You forgot to lock your door.¡±

    The man looked up, and he still had some of that distant cloudiness in his eyes. He didn¡¯t respond to Leo, staying silent for a moment before muttering half to himself, ¡°You told your friend to heal Tom.¡± He bowed his head. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, voice a little hoarse.

    Guilt formed a lump in the former [Thief]¡¯s throat, and he shook his head. ¡°No, it was my fault Fergus got so close to begin with. You should be thanking Allan and Spade for actually keeping his wounds at bay.¡±

    ¡°I just gave a bit of guidance,¡± the [Executioner] said simply. She cocked her head. ¡°I assume Fergus was asking you about the tides.¡±

    Irving¡¯s lips thinned. Leo studied the man closely. He did a fairly good job at hiding it, but he was still clearly shaken from what had happened¡ªunderstandably so. He guessed Sonia had purposely killed Fergus in such a violent way for precisely that purpose.

    The question was just how shaken he was. Enough to tell them the tide patterns tomorrow?

    Leo¡¯s eyes scanned the kitchen and living room, searching for anything out of the ordinary. There was nothing that he could see right away, but he¡¯d need to do a more thorough sweep later when Irving was asleep.

    He stepped forward. The pot of tea had long grown cold, but he poured some into a cup and handed it to the man, who accepted it gratefully. He didn¡¯t seem to have any issue with the taste.

    ¡°¡­So Sonia¡¯s from Clearside?¡± Leo asked carefully. Irving finished his sip and nodded.

    ¡°She is. She and her sister used to live here. Sylvia, her name was. Never the most extroverted, but they were fairly well liked I¡¯d say.¡± Memories clouded the man¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Even back then, I could tell Sonia was too ambitious for this village, but she did seem to care for Clearside. I never would¡¯ve thought she could threaten it, but I suppose it¡¯s been decades.¡±

    Leo hadn¡¯t known the Hounds leader had a sister. He frowned. Sonia had claimed both she and Irving had ¡°lost people to the lake.¡± Considering he hadn¡¯t heard about a sister until now, he guessed she¡¯d been the one lost.

    He studied Irving carefully. Part of him had the urge to ask who he¡¯d lost, but he knew it would be rude. His home¡ªthe dusty, empty bedroom and the too-large table and silverware sets said enough.

    ¡°Are you going to tell them?¡±

    Irving laughed hollowly. ¡°There isn¡¯t much of a choice now, is there?¡±

    Leo and Spade exchanged looks. Leo turned to Irving again.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a break?¡± he suggested, attempting to put on his best Allan impression. ¡°You fell earlier, and the whole situation was¡­stressful. It might be good to take a moment to rest before making any decisions.¡±

    Either Leo was getting better at being convincing or Irving was too tired to care. Regardless of the reason, the [Fisherman] nodded wearily and slowly rose, gripping his cane and setting his cup down.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on the offer,¡± he muttered. His eyes shifted to the closed door and the front windows, where some Hounds had gathered on the street.

    They were moving Fergus¡¯s body, Leo realized, and sure enough he could just barely see Flora at the front directing the other Hounds.

    ¡°We¡¯ll keep an eye out, don¡¯t worry,¡± he attempted to reassure the man. Irving nodded, and with a final glance at the windows, the man disappeared down the hall with slow steps.

    Leo waited until he heard the sound of his bedroom door closing before he exhaled.

    Spade glanced at the front windows and raised a scarred eyebrow.

    ¡°Are you planning on closing the blinds?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°No, that would draw too much attention.¡±

    Stepping forward, Leo carefully opened the cabinets, pretending like he was searching for silverware in case anyone looked in. The [Executioner] watched him for a few moments.

    ¡°I assume you believe there¡¯s something here.¡±

    Leo answered without pausing his search. ¡°Irving kept trying to go back here when Fergus was threatening him even if it was safer to go the other way. It¡¯s like he was trying to hide something.¡±

    Spade hummed. ¡°Sounds reasonable enough.¡± Her eyes lingered on the hallway, and Leo didn¡¯t need to check the party stat sheets to know that she had [Vigilance] equipped. ¡°I assume we¡¯re on a tighter time schedule.¡±

    Leo pursed his lips and didn¡¯t respond. There was nothing in the cabinets.

    He bent down to look at the drawers next. He doubted if Irving really was hiding something that it would be somewhere so easy to find, but he had to cover all his bases, especially since he couldn¡¯t look too suspicious in broad daylight. That night, he¡¯d come back and check everywhere he¡¯d missed.

    As Leo searched, he brought up the party map, confirming that Allan¡¯s dot had stopped at where he assumed the infirmary was.

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    According to his stat sheet, the [Healer]¡¯s mana had gone back up to 14%, but that was still very low. He hoped the man would try to take it easy, but he was almost guaranteed to overwork himself.

    ¡°Allan¡¯s at the infirmary,¡± Leo remarked.

    ¡°I thought so.¡± Spade cocked her head. ¡°He seems to be learning a fair bit if the amount of experience the party is gaining is any indication.¡±

    [Progress towards next level: 63%]

    That was a large jump. The repeated use of [Mend] had undoubtedly been a large part of that. As Leo stared at his stats, the percentage ticked up to 64%.

    ¡°You look worried.¡±

    ¡°He always overdoes things,¡± Leo muttered. In those first few years especially.

    Grey eyes studied him impassively. ¡°You two seem quite protective of each other.¡±

    The former [Thief] paused and glanced back, brows furrowing. ¡°Did Allan say something?¡± He rarely saw the two interact; Allan seemed to dislike the [Executioner] or at least heavily mistrust her from what he could tell.

    Spade chuckled. ¡°He threatened to kill me if I made a wrong move,¡± she said casually.

    She cocked her head. ¡°I was honestly rather impressed. I imagine he could be quite intimidating if he wanted.¡±

    Despite her words, she didn¡¯t seem remotely bothered by the apparent threat. It probably unnerved Leo more than it did her.

    He released a long breath. ¡°Did he seem¡­mad?¡±

    Spade raised a scarred eyebrow. ¡°Only about as much as I¡¯d expect for the situation. Why?¡±

    Leo didn¡¯t respond right away, mind churning. Caution was normal; he himself had been very suspicious of the [Executioner] and was still careful around her. It was probably fine.

    He belatedly realized he¡¯d let the silence go on for too long, because Spade spoke again, grey eyes seeming to pierce through him.

    ¡°I thought you trusted him quite a bit.¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Leo interjected without hesitation, voice firm. He realized he¡¯d gotten louder and lowered his volume again, but none of the conviction left his tone.

    ¡°I trust Allan with my life. I can¡¯t even count how many times he¡¯s saved my ass.¡±

    His voice slowed, frowning a little as he eyed Spade. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­well, I guess if you¡¯re traveling with us now you should know. It¡¯s not bad or anything,¡± he quickly added. ¡°But Allan¡¯s not always the most¡­ stable.¡±

    He winced a little at his own wording, but he wasn¡¯t really sure how else to put it.

    Spade hummed. ¡°I assume this is related to that personal skill of his?¡±

    Leo shifted uncomfortably and moved on to the next drawer. ¡°Maybe.¡±

    The woman looked amused. ¡°I assumed the two of you had known each other a long time. Do you not know what his personal skill does?¡±

    His silence was answer enough. Leo¡¯s lips thinned. It was true that he didn¡¯t know everything about Allan the same way the [Healer] didn¡¯t know everything about him.

    But in some ways, that was probably why they¡¯d managed to build up so much trust. Neither of them ever pushed when the other didn¡¯t want to speak about something.

    It was freeing, in a way, to be able to relate to someone purely on present terms without having to worry about his past coming back to haunt him. Leo knew it was probably weird, but that¡¯s just how their friendship worked. Allan didn¡¯t know exactly what [Judgement] did either.

    In the last five years, Leo had never once seen [Wrath] activate¡ªor at least he couldn¡¯t confirm that it had. And he would admit a small part of him didn¡¯t want to know what it did.

    Straightening, Leo moved to the living room next, and Spade walked casually behind him, partially obscuring him from the view of the Hounds on the street.

    A memory rose, one that was still crisp in his mind even after three years.

    It had been a cloudy day; the overcast sky made night seem to come sooner. Allan had been out late, and Leo left to look for him before the sun fully sank below the horizon.

    He didn¡¯t know what had led up to it or what the exact circumstances had been. All he knew was that he¡¯d come across Allan¡¯s rickshaw parked in front of an alleyway. And when he peered inside, he¡¯d seen the man, back facing him, half cloaked in shadows with bloody fists standing over limp bodies.

    Leo never told Allan what he¡¯d seen, but after that he¡¯d been acutely aware of any shifts in the [Rickshaw Puller]¡¯s moods. Not out of fear, but more a heightened awareness.

    And, if he was being completely honest, some of it was probably cowardice. He liked his current relationship with Allan. He was the first friend he¡¯d ever had, and he didn¡¯t want to ruin it. Not by poking into the [Healer]¡¯s past, and certainly not with his own, either.

    Allan¡¯s dot didn¡¯t move from the infirmary. He would probably be there a while, Leo thought. He straightened, giving the living room another sweep.

    ¡°Nothing?¡±

    Leo shook his head and turned back to the kitchen. ¡°Let¡¯s try again tonight,¡± he said.

    ¡ª

    Allan still wasn¡¯t back by the time night fell. After some discussion, Leo decided to search the house while Spade stood watch in the hallway, where she could hide in the shadows without immediately being seen by the Hounds¡¯ night guards.

    Leo carefully crept along the floors, avoiding squeaking floorboards and being sure to keep himself hidden behind furniture as he moved. [Fade into Background] was active, and he tapped lightly along the walls, shifting furniture in search for any hidden compartments.

    He must¡¯ve been looking for hours at that point. It was possible that there was nothing after all and Irving was just overly attached to his home, but Leo refused to give up so easily. This was the first real lead they had.

    Just when he was beginning to lose hope, he knocked into a pot in the corner. Leo hurried to right it before it could make too loud a noise, but he paused. Its weight distribution was off; it was too high up, as though the bottom was hollow.

    Heart racing, Leo carefully rose, pressing his back to the wall to remain hidden. A scraggly young tree stuck out from the top of the pot which went up to his waist.

    He attempted to pull it out from the base to get to the bottom, but to no avail. There was indeed a layer of dirt covering the pot¡¯s base. Breaking the pot would be the easiest way, but that would be too loud.

    Before Leo could try again, Spade strode over. One hand holding the vase down, she carefully pulled at the tree with the other. She had to move slowly to avoid snapping the trunk, but eventually, both the plant and a layer of dirt wrapped around its roots came loose.

    Some stray dirt landed on the floor, and Leo eyed the windows carefully. The shadows of the Hounds guards hadn¡¯t moved.

    Slowly, he reached down into the pot. A dirty false base sat a few inches above the true bottom, and he carefully popped it off. Underneath, some dirt had fallen through, but he searched methodically.

    His fingers closed around something cool and hard.

    Leo yanked the object out and stared down at his open palm.

    Sitting there, still speckled with dirt, was a pendant. Its vibrant azure stone shone in the dim light streaming in from the window, and the inside of the translucent gem swirled and undulated¡ªrippling like waves.

 Chapter 35: Amulet I

    Chapter 35: Amulet I

    Leo stared down at the pendant. He activated [Judgement], but neither the passive nor the active effect came up with anything. He frowned. It was undoubtedly important in some way, otherwise Irving wouldn¡¯t have gone to such lengths to hide it, but how?

    The former [Thief] dusted the gem off over the pot and replaced the false bottom, then dropped the pendant into his pocket. ¡°Let¡¯s clean this place up,¡± he muttered. He kept one eye on the window. The Hounds didn¡¯t seem to have moved.

    Spade nodded and carefully stuck the tree back into the pot, packing down the dirt again for good measure.

    Leo, meanwhile, gathered the scattered dirt and moved it back. He worked quickly, the weight of the pendant heavy against him. He was acutely aware of how easy it would be for them to get caught.

    Despite his fears, the two managed to get the area looking the same as before without any Hounds moving or Irving¡¯s bedroom door opening. Leo activated [Fade into Background] again, carefully creeping back to their bedroom with Spade close behind.

    The door clicked shut, and after taking another moment to double check that no one had heard them, Leo exhaled in relief. They¡¯d drawn the curtains over the window, and in the safety of the shadows, he pulled out the pendant again.

    ¡°You know what that is?¡±

    Leo shook his head, squinting down at the gem again. There was undoubtedly some sort of magic within it, but he couldn¡¯t tell if it was System or fae in origin.

    He said as much to Spade, who hummed thoughtfully.

    ¡°Well, I recommend sleeping for now. It¡¯s already quite late, and I doubt you¡¯d want to do anything before the healer returns.¡±

    Leo pursed his lips, but agreed albeit reluctantly. His eyelids were drooping, and he¡¯d need a clearer head to figure this out.

    Plus, while he was interested in trying to put the pendant near the water to see what happened, the last thing they needed was to do something so risky when they¡¯d just gotten their hands on the pendant.

    Patience, Leo told himself. No needless risks.

    He placed the pendant back in his pocket and rolled over, his whole body dripping with the exhaustion of the day. The image of the village boy bleeding out on the ground kept mixing with the memory of the gaping hole in Fergus¡¯s chest in his mind. He closed his eyes.

    ¡°Night,¡± he muttered.

    He was asleep before he could hear whether Spade responded or not.

    ¡ª

    Leo woke up to a few different things in the morning. The first was the pendant still solid in his pocket where he¡¯d rolled onto it while sleeping. He gripped it with a hand, and it was smooth and cool between his fingers.

    The second was a string of notifications flashing across his vision.

    [You have leveled up! 300 points awarded]

    [Progress towards next level: 9%]

    Leo blinked. Level 21? Just how much had Allan been using [Mend] last evening?

    Speaking of which, when Leo forced himself up, he found himself facing the [Healer] in question.

    On the outside, Allan didn¡¯t look especially tired, but Leo knew from experience that Allan was one of those people who always looked at least somewhat put together. He could go without sleeping a whole night and only have minor eye circles.

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    As Leo rubbed at his own eyes, he realized the curtains had been pulled open and that the sun was high in the sky. He shot to his feet.

    ¡°What time is it?¡± he asked urgently.

    ¡°Noon,¡± came Spade¡¯s plain response. The [Executioner] lounged on one of the chairs across the room. Leo turned to Allan.

    ¡°When did you get back?¡±

    The man blinked. ¡°Uh, maybe an hour ago?¡±

    An hour ago. That wasn¡¯t too bad, but he was still mad at himself for wasting time. Leo¡¯s eyes shifted to the lakeside, where Hounds could be seen moving the last few boats to the shore. There were much less than the day before, he noted.

    ¡°How¡¯s the boy?¡± He was almost hesitant to ask, but equal parts desperate for an answer.

    ¡°He¡¯s okay,¡± Allan assured. ¡°The doctor said he¡¯d probably make a full recovery.¡±

    Leo released a long breath.

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± he muttered. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±

    The [Healer] watched him closely, those dark eyes studying him keenly. ¡°You found something yesterday?¡±

    Leo nodded and pulled the necklace out, careful to make sure it was out of view from the window. The Hounds were all too far away anyway, but he wasn¡¯t taking any chances. Vision enhancement skills were a thing.

    ¡°Irving was hiding it in a pot. It seems like it¡¯s magical, but I can¡¯t tell what it does.¡± He frowned. ¡°I want to try holding it near the lake, see if that does anything.¡±

    The problem would be getting back to the lake; he wasn¡¯t sure he could pull the same prayer excuse a second time, especially not after yesterday. The Hounds and even the villagers would all be on edge.

    Allan squinted at the pendant, examining that strange, swirling movement within the gemstone.

    ¡°¡­Why don¡¯t we just ask Irving?¡±

    Leo stared at him. ¡°You want us to tell him we stole it?¡±

    Spade made a noise that sounded like a snort, and Leo tossed a scowl in her direction that she met with a simple shrug of her shoulders.

    ¡°We already have it,¡± Allan pointed out. He cocked his head. ¡°It¡¯s not like he could do anything to us. We¡¯d just surround him, and if he doesn¡¯t answer, well¡­¡±

    His voice trailed, and Leo gave the man a long, scrutinizing look. He lowered the pendant.

    ¡°You¡¯re saying we should threaten him for information. After we just saw Fergus try that.¡± They couldn¡¯t see the street from this room¡¯s window, but he suspected there was still a stain where his dead body had lain. He wondered vaguely what the Hounds had done with his body, if they would¡¯ve bothered with a burial or not.

    ¡°It¡¯s different, we actually have the pendant,¡± Allan pointed out. ¡°It¡¯ll be much more effective, and we¡¯re already in the house so we can keep it quiet.¡± He cocked his head. ¡°It¡¯s the simplest solution.¡±

    ¡°I agree with the healer,¡± Spade remarked. She raised a scarred eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s certainly less risky than attempting to sneak to the lake again.¡±

    Leo was reminded that in addition to executions, Spade had also done a lot of torture jobs and floggings. He peered down at the pendant again, frowning.

    He wasn¡¯t really against it; it did indeed seem like the route most likely to yield results, and he was fairly certain Irving would give up the information before they actually had to do anything. Or at least he hoped he did.

    Leo looked up. It was probably hypocritical for him to be wary at how easily Allan had made the suggestion. He himself mentally agreed that it was the best plan.

    Still, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure what to think when he took in Allan¡¯s completely relaxed expression¡ªas if he hadn¡¯t just alluded to torturing an old man. Leo pursed his lips. When they lived in the slums, Allan was supposed to be the nicer one between them. Then again, a small voice reminded him, Remember the alley?

    ¡°Fine.¡± Leo¡¯s fingers closed tightly around the pendant, obscuring it from view. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    When he opened the door, the hallway was empty. Irving¡¯s door was shut, but he didn¡¯t hear any noises either. He turned, stepping over to the living room with Allan and Spade¡¯s footsteps echoing behind him.

    Leo immediately noticed how bright it was. Light filtered through the front windows, turning the wooden floor golden where it hit. But where the space would usually shift into darkness, the brightness continued all the way through to the back of the room, where the curtains facing the lake were drawn for the first time that Leo had seen.

    Sitting at the table, which appeared so much larger in direct sunlight, was Irving.

    The [Fisherman] sat gazing out at the distant lake. He didn¡¯t respond when the three of them stepped up to the table, and it wasn¡¯t until their footsteps stopped that he finally turned.

    ¡°Good afternoon,¡± he said calmly.

    Leo nodded, a bit taken aback by his demeanor. He¡¯d expected the man to still be a bit rattled from the previous day; this odd serenity was unexpected. He glanced back and noted that Allan was frowning as well, though Spade remained as unreadable as always.

    ¡°Did you rest well?¡± Irving continued in that same even voice. He held a cup of tea in his hands, a line of steam still rising from the surface.

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit I was happy to see you sleep in today. Going to bed so late isn¡¯t healthy.¡±

 Chapter 36: Amulet II

    Chapter 36: Amulet II

    Leo jerked back, his hand flying to the dagger at his waist and muscles tensing. Irving continued to sit there, calmly taking another sip of his tea.

    ¡°¡­You heard?¡±

    ¡°I check the pot every morning,¡± the man said simply. ¡°It was the most obvious conclusion.¡± He frowned, those blue eyes scrutinizing the former [Thief]. ¡°I assume you have questions about the amulet.¡±

    Leo eyed the man warily. He didn¡¯t look worried or defensive at all. ¡°Are you offering to answer them?¡±

    Irving smiled a little at that. ¡°I am.¡±

    Leo met eyes with Allan and Spade. Allan¡¯s dark eyes were narrowed, staring intently at the fisherman, while Spade did the same with considerably less suspicion. Her hand hadn¡¯t even gone to her sword, Leo noted.

    ¡°Why would you tell us?¡± he asked the first thing that came to his mind. A bit of frustration entered his voice. ¡°Why now?¡± Why not say something to someone earlier, before people got hurt?

    A hint of remorse entered Irving¡¯s gaze as he stared down into his tea cup.

    ¡°Yesterday was a wake up call I desperately needed.¡± He exhaled. ¡°I¡¯ve been stubbornly putting things off, but now I realize this whole charade was pointless. I would never have been able to keep the information from Sonia for long.¡±

    The man shuddered, likely recalling the events of the previous day and how easy it had been for the Hounds Leader to kill Fergus.

    He looked up, blue meeting hazel, and his lips thinned.

    ¡°Your first instinct was to help Tom. I may not know you well, but that¡¯s enough for me to trust you more than Sonia.¡±

    ¡°So the pendant does have to do with the tides. Does it show the routes?¡±

    ¡°More than that.¡± Irving¡¯s voice lowered. ¡°There were never true routes to begin with. That amount of knowledge would be far too much for a human mind to handle.¡± He shook his head.

    ¡°When someone enters the range of the lake with that amulet on, it temporarily halts all lingering fae spatial magic. There will be nothing for you to need to navigate.¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes widened, and his fingers tightened around the stone. That¡­certainly hadn¡¯t been what he¡¯d expected. That confirmed at least that the gem must have some of its own fae magic inside it.

    His mind churned. On one hand, this would make it easier to get places quickly if it eliminated the warping entirely. On the other hand, if it stopped the magic everywhere, it also meant the Hounds could follow right behind them.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Spade suddenly said. Leo turned, and the [Executioner] was studying Irving with those uncanny grey eyes. She cocked her head. ¡°Was keeping Sonia from the fragment really the only reason you didn¡¯t give that up earlier?¡±

    Leo frowned. He couldn¡¯t tell what the woman¡¯s angle was, and Irving furrowed his brow.

    ¡°Is there a reason you want to know?¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°I like knowing these things,¡± she said simply. Her tone of voice, Leo realized, was very similar to the one she¡¯d taken when she¡¯d questioned him on his own motives back in that prison cell.

    Nothing came up with [Judgement], so either she wasn¡¯t using [Empathy] and this had nothing to do with her personal skill, or this was a passive effect that [Judgement] couldn¡¯t pick up on.

    Irving opened his mouth, then closed it again. He seemed to be battling with himself, but finally, he released a long breath. His gaze remained fixed on the tea cup, not meeting anyone¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°The last time I used that amulet was twelve years ago,¡± he began slowly. His eyes grew cloudy with distant memories.

    ¡°I¡­my grandson had just walked into the lake.¡± He released a shaky breath. ¡°I knew nothing could survive that, but you must understand. I lost my daughter and son-in-law to illness; that boy was the only family I had left.¡±

    His fingers tightened around the tea cup. ¡°I took the amulet and went to the lake. I must have searched for days trying to find a trace of him. No one ever remains on the lake for so long, and I knew that, but I didn¡¯t care.¡± His voice quieted. ¡°Of course, I didn¡¯t find anything in the end.¡±

    He paused, silent for a few moments. Finally, he looked up again, lips thin.

    ¡°The next day, a tide formed suddenly. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it; those waters moved like they were alive. There used to be another village close to Clearside. Now there isn¡¯t.¡± His voice grew even quieter at the end.

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    ¡°You think it was your fault.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t be certain of anything, but I suspect I angered the fae by remaining on the lake for so long. Since then, I¡¯ve never taken the amulet anywhere near it.¡±

    ¡°So it was fear,¡± Allan said. The man was frowning. ¡°You thought if you gave the amulet away, something like that might happen again.¡±

    Irving didn¡¯t respond verbally, but his silence was answer enough.

    Leo squeezed the amulet in his palm. The stone remained cool to the touch, like flowing water, despite it. It was possible the situation had been a coincidence, or maybe there really were living fae angered at the trespass. Would something like that happen again when they searched for the fragment, or would it be fine?

    ¡°Are you really okay with giving us the amulet?¡± Leo found himself voicing his own doubts. ¡°Risking that again?¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t imagine you¡¯d return it even if I asked nicely,¡± Irving remarked. He took another sip of his tea, draining the rest of the cup and setting it down with a clinking sound. ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s unavoidable now. And perhaps it was meant to be,¡± he added, a hint of bitterness entering his voice. ¡°The death of the Administrator followed by the resurrection of the ancients. It¡¯s almost poetic.¡±

    Leo frowned. The ancients had once ruled the continent while humans were seen as a lesser species, but the sudden appearance of the System had been the push humanity needed to take control. After the Fall of the Ancients, they¡¯d driven the surviving ancients into hiding in the edges of the continent, and human society had flourished.

    There¡¯d always been a segment of people who believed the ancients would rise again in vengeance towards humanity, and he supposed that to them, the death of the Administrator would feel like a reckoning.

    That wasn¡¯t quite true though, Leo thought. The System was still running, and it wasn¡¯t as though the Administrator was permanently gone. A new one was going to take the old one¡¯s place. His eyes narrowed at the thought, determined.

    Irving shook his head. ¡°What you decide to do now is your own business,¡± he murmured. He rose from the table, grabbing his cane firmly in hand. That distant, cloudy look had never fully left his gaze.

    ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±

    With those final words, the [Fisherman] hobbled away, disappearing down the hall.

    Left in the living room, Leo finally allowed himself to stare down at the pendant again. The sun had reached its apex outside, and it was beginning its steady arc down until evening inevitably came and the blue sky shifted to red. He could see the silhouettes of boats by the shore and the Hounds guarding them.

    His mind still reeled from the sudden influx of information, but growing among the flurry was undeniable excitement. This was the piece they¡¯d been missing, and now they were closer than ever to finding the fragment.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the room,¡± Leo said. ¡°We need to plan.¡±

    ¡ª

    The curtains remained shut, only a thin line of light managing to get through the edges of the window. On the bed, their bags sat fully packed beside their weapons. They likely wouldn¡¯t have time to return after they found the fragment, so they¡¯d need to take all their things with them.

    ¡°¡ªhow likely is it,¡± Leo was saying, ¡°for an Echo to show up on the water?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rare, but it happens,¡± Spade said. Leo frowned at that. They were going to set out that day, but whether they should leave in the evening or at night was the question.

    The latter provided much better cover, but the risk of the Silence appearing during their search was very real. He wasn¡¯t sure they¡¯d be able to handle fighting an Echo on a boat.

    ¡°Irving said the amulet affected the entire lake, right? So no matter what the Hounds will probably follow us,¡± Allan pointed out.

    ¡°And fighting off Hounds and a random Echo wouldn¡¯t go well,¡± Leo finished. His brows furrowed. ¡°Okay, so evening plus distraction it is.¡±

    ¡°You remember the most likely islands, correct?¡±

    Leo nodded. ¡°I know their rough locations, but there¡¯s still a lot of them. the Hounds¡¯ll most likely catch up while we¡¯re searching. We¡¯ll have to be ready for a fight and keep our eyes out. If one of them finds it first, we¡¯re pursuing them.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] leaned back. They¡¯d been planning for at least an hour at this point, but it still didn¡¯t feel like enough. They had to leave soon, though.

    He closed his eyes and pulled up his stat sheet to finish the final task¡ªdistributing the points from that morning¡¯s level up.

    Leo put 100 into raising [Visual Illusion] to level 2; the initial encounter with Sonia had shown him how important it was.

    As for the remaining 200, the points required for raising stats was more now that they¡¯d reached Tier 1 and he¡¯d only be able to raise two stats. He remembered the feeling of being pulled forward, Fergus¡¯s body jerking ahead and being speared on Sonia¡¯s hand, and suppressed a shudder. Decent resistance stat, she¡¯d said.

    As a general rule, magic spells targeted resistance, but certain skills (especially personal skills) could as well depending on how the System internally classified them. Sonia¡¯s [Lifeline] seemed to be one of them.

    Leo raised his resistance up by two points. He couldn¡¯t risk getting pulled by [Lifeline] if they ran into the Hounds leader, and he had a distinct feeling that, no matter how hard they tried to avoid her, they probably would.

    ¡°Done?¡±

    Leo and Allan both nodded. Spade hadn¡¯t leveled up yet since she¡¯d started out higher leveled and needed more experience, so it was just the two of them who¡¯d needed to distribute points.

    Leo grabbed his pack and slipped it on, tying his pouch to his waist with a tight knot right beside his dagger. He wasn¡¯t going to risk losing the crests during the search.

    He exhaled and nodded at Allan and Spade, who were making similar preparations. Leo waited for them to nod back, and he set his jaw.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

 Chapter 37: Embark

    Chapter 37: Embark

    The amulet felt cool against his skin. Leo grabbed the hanging pendant absently and tucked it behind his shirt. He exhaled, rolling around the flint and steel in his palm while he eyed the surroundings.

    Behind Irving¡¯s home, he could just barely make out Spade and Allan¡¯s figures crouched behind the wooden crates in wait.

    From their current position, they had a straight path to the raised portion of the shore where the boat Leo had identified earlier sat below. Between them was a smooth expanse of waving grasses.

    Leo, meanwhile, waited at the corner dividing the back of the building to the edge of the town. From here, he could see the dirt path leading into Clearside as well as a few Hounds guards mulling about.

    He narrowed his eyes, shifting so that he was better obscured by the grasses. This close to the lake, the ground was always soft, the grasses containing a bit of moisture at all times.

    It was this fact that Leo repeated to himself as he carefully crawled further away from Clearside, [Fade into Background] activated and body kept low to the ground. He kept one hand around the flint and steel and the other on his bag, pushing it down so it took up as little space as possible.

    Finally, Leo slowed down once he was as far away from Clearside as he thought he could get away with without being seen. He was still a little closer than he¡¯d like, but given the presence of Hounds and the massive body of water nearby, it would be fine, he assured himself.

    With a final inhale, Leo grabbed the flint and steel, took a moment to judge the place that would lead to the least amount of spread, and struck the two together.

    The first few sparks did nothing. Leo gritted his teeth, increasingly aware of how exposed he was, but he kept going. Eventually, one of them would catch.

    On the eighth strike, the grasses in front of him lit up in flames. They started small, barely more than a few whispers of red, but Leo knew they would grow quickly. He hurried backwards, attempting to put as much distance between him and the fire as he could before he would need to get up and start running.

    The fire expanded outwards, spreading from one patch of grasses to the next until they¡¯d tripled in height. Plumes of dark grey smoke rose up into the blue sky, and Leo heard a few alarmed shouts, then the sound of running footsteps.

    ¡°Fire!¡± someone yelled. Doors opened and curious villagers poked their heads out. Someone else called for people to bring buckets of water.

    Leo slipped further back, keeping low to the ground, and glanced back to see Hounds pointing from the lake and running over. By then, the smoke had risen above the height of the buildings.

    In the corner of his eye, Spade and Allan rose and bolted to the shore, taking advantage of the growing chaos and disappearing behind the bank. More and more Hounds and villagers alike appeared, and Leo kept crawling backwards through the growing crowd.

    Just as he passed the threshold of Clearside¡¯s border, however, he met eyes with a familiar Hound several feet ahead of him.

    Dalton¡¯s eyes widened for just a moment, but Leo didn¡¯t stay to watch him piece things together.

    He cursed. Foregoing all semblance of stealth, Leo activated [Sprint] and bolted towards the shore. He could vaguely make out Dalton¡¯s furious yells behind him, but there were too many people between them, too many distracted by the fire.

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s feet pounded against the ground. Leo didn¡¯t stop running, pushing himself faster and faster until he launched over the grassy bank.

    He landed hard on the ground right in front of Allan and Spade. The two had pushed the boat halfway into the water and sat inside, Spade using her oar to keep the boat in place. Even atop the lake, there were no visible ripples around the boat.

    ¡°Hurry!¡± Allan called. Dark eyes flitted over to the smoke and the Hounds and villagers flooding Clearside¡¯s streets.

    Nodding, Leo leapt into the boat, the wood rocking a little below him as he did so.

    The moment he crossed the border of the lake, a burst of warmth caused him to flinch.

    Around his neck, the amulet began to glow, exuding heat like a lit fire. Leo gritted his teeth and wrapped his hand around the gemstone as it began to shine even brighter, attempting to conceal the pure, blinding white light that slipped between the cracks of his fingers.

    The attempt at secrecy turned out not to matter much. Seconds after the stone began glowing, a beam of light spread through the lake, originating from the boat and jetting outwards across its perfectly smooth surface like a beacon.

    A moment passed.

    And then, the waters trembled.

    In the places where the light had just touched, the mirror-like stillness of the Glass Lake broke. Circular ripples spread across the surface as though touched by raindrops, growing until they blended and merged together into churning waves.

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    Leo felt the boat rock, swaying on the released tides, and gripped the edge of the boat to steady himself. The light from the amulet finally died down, and he glanced behind them.

    He could no longer see the fire itself, only lingering smoke. Parallel to the shore, Hounds and villagers alike stood facing the lake. A hush had fallen over them, their stunned expressions focused on those impossible waves.

    All at once, the quiet snapped.

    A Hound yelled, her voice ringing clear over the grasses. The mercenaries scattered, sprinting towards the shore and jumping into the other waiting boats. Leo cursed.

    ¡°We need to go!¡± he yelled.

    The oars in hand, Allan and Spade both pushed against the shore, launching them forward into the waters.

    For a second Leo worried that the amulet hadn¡¯t worked, that they would end up teleported to some random location, but the boat kept traveling straight and true.

    There were only two oars to paddle with. Leo moved to the front of the boat, hazel eyes scanning its surface. If he squinted, he could just barely make out a dot in the distance where the closest island on the map had been drawn. A thin, hazy layer of mist blurred its edges, further concealing it from view.

    He pointed the location out, and Spade rowed more on her side to get the boat to turn. Between her and Allan¡¯s strength stats, they were making decent progress across the water. They¡¯d lost the element of stealth, but they still had a head start.

    Leo looked behind them. Several boats had left the shore, groups of Hounds within. His eyes narrowed on one boat in particular that progressed forward at a noticeably faster rate than the others. It was quickly gaining on them.

    [Skill identified: [Rowboat Proficiency]]

    Three Hounds sat inside the boat proper. The tallest rowed on his own while the other two sat in the front.

    One met eyes with Leo, sneering as they drew closer and closer. His hand shifted, and the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s eyes widened when he made out a bow and arrow in the Hound¡¯s hands.

    The man stood in the boat, knocking an arrow, and Leo¡¯s heart raced. He activated [Visual Illusion] and projected an image of a boat a foot to the right of them, praying that with the distance, the image was small enough for the skill to work.

    The arrow flew wide, and Leo didn¡¯t waste time. He pulled out one of the knives he¡¯d gathered from Irving¡¯s kitchen and flung it at the man.

    If the boat hadn¡¯t been moving forward so quickly it would¡¯ve been too far to connect, but as it was, the knife flew true, embedding itself deep into the man¡¯s shoulder. Leo heard the man yell, but his attention was already drawn to the other two Hounds.

    By then the boat was close enough to get a good look at its passengers. The second Hound had a gleaming axe in hand, and the boat shifted to the left as it approached. They were trying to get parallel to them, Leo realized. The second Hound¡¯s eyes were focused on their boat, her axe raised and poised to swing.

    ¡°They¡¯re trying to sink the boat!¡± Leo yelled. He was vaguely aware of the boat beneath them shifting as Allan attempted to steer them away, but he couldn¡¯t compete against the Hound¡¯s rowing skill.

    Leo threw another knife, but the Hound deflected it with her axe. He couldn¡¯t keep throwing blindly; he only had so many knives on hand.

    As the boat drew close, the Hound raised her arm, readying to bring the blade down onto the wooden boat.

    Spade lunged from behind Leo before the Hound could swing, stabbing her sword into the Hound¡¯s chest. The woman choked, her grip on the axe loosening enough for it to fall from her hands, and Spade yanked the blade out.

    Behind the woman, the first Hound that Leo had injured shifted, and the former [Thief] saw him shakily knock another arrow with ragged gasps.

    Leo didn¡¯t think. He jumped, the boat lurching beneath him when he landed, and stabbed the man¡¯s arm. The Hound screamed in pain.

    The wound wasn¡¯t deep enough to do serious damage, but it was enough to interrupt his strike. One more swing from Spade cleaved into his side, and he fell into the water.

    The last Hound turned furious eyes on Leo and let go of the oars. The boat¡¯s momentum began to slow, and the [Fragmentholder] heard Allan yell, but he was too focused on the man in front of him to make it out.

    He was large, arms corded with thick muscles, and easily took up half of the space. Leo shifted, but there was no room to run on the boat.

    The man lunged for him, and Leo ducked down at the last second, slipping under his legs. He scrambled to his feet and shoved at the man, but he was too heavy.

    Gritting his teeth, Leo activated [Sprint] for a split second, just enough that his next step forward knocked the man overboard.

    The [Fragmentholder] stumbled, nearly tripping himself, but he just barely managed to catch himself on the edge of the boat. He stared down at the Hound, who spit out water, eyes wild and frantic. The man began to swim closer at impressive speed, and Leo tensed.

    Just before the Hound could reach the boat, however, a sudden force yanked him downwards.

    One moment he was there, arm outstretched, and the next he¡¯d completely disappeared from view.

    Hazel eyes widened. Leo stared down into the waves, but he couldn¡¯t find a trace of the Hound anywhere. Whatever fae magic that existed in the lake had simply pulled him under as though he were a mere pebble falling into the waters. Small and insignificant.

    Nothing that falls into the lake comes back out.

    ¡°Leo!¡±

    Allan¡¯s yell snapped him out of his stupor. He¡¯d passed both oars over to Spade, the [Executioner]¡¯s now bloody sword resting on the floor of the boat. The [Healer] gestured for him to hurry. Behind them, Leo could see more boats approaching, many aided by similar rowing and speed skills.

    Taking a deep breath, the [Fragmentholder] vaulted back into the boat. He nearly slipped, but Allan grabbed him, steadying him.

    The moment he landed, Spade started rowing again, and they jetted forward across the water.

    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Allan hissed, dark eyes rapidly scanning him for injuries. ¡°Don¡¯t just jump like that!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t really have time to think about it,¡± Leo muttered. His chest heaved, and he struggled to catch his breath. Now that the immediate threat was gone, he could feel how tense he was.

    Before Allan could retort, the [Fragmentholder] fell still. Allan hesitated, glancing behind him and following Leo¡¯s gaze.

    Just ahead of them, a thick, swirling mist cloaked the water like an ongoing storm. Leo could barely make out the dark silhouette of an island within, and as the air around them grew increasingly hazy, the boat slowed. Spade glanced back.

    ¡°It¡¯s in there?¡±

    Leo exhaled and nodded. The [Executioner] didn¡¯t need a second confirmation. She turned back to face the front.

    With another powerful push, the rowboat plunged into the mist.

 Chapter 38: Into the Mist

    Chapter 38: Into the Mist

    A chill washed over the boat. Leo shuddered, the hairs on his arm raising as their surroundings faded into swirling, hazy white and grey. It was the sort of cold that sunk deep into the bones, the kind that lingered long after its source dissipated.

    Behind them, the distant sounds of pursuing Hounds grew more muffled, and even the sound of the oar moving through water seemed muted. Leo swallowed, shaking away his growing unease, and squinted through the fog.

    Up ahead, the blurry silhouette of an island peeked through the haze. Leo frowned, mind churning as he recalled the map. Based on the location they¡¯d taken off from and their path thus far, he was able to get a rough estimation of their location.

    ¡°Are we stopping there?¡± Spade called, nodding her head over to the island in question.

    Leo shook his head. ¡°That one wasn¡¯t circled,¡± he muttered. Hazel eyes kept flitting backwards, acutely aware of the boats that could appear behind them at any moment. ¡°The closest one is the island past that one. Should be on the left if we keep going straight.¡±

    Spade nodded and paddled harder, Allan doing the same. The boat moved smoothly through the water and past the island.

    Through the fog, Leo could make out jagged stones and a few stray trees. A part of him worried that he¡¯d remembered the map wrong, that maybe they should check just in case, but then he remembered the Hounds behind them. They were on a time limit and couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate.

    ¡°Do you want to switch with me?¡± Leo asked, but Allan shook his head and Spade didn¡¯t seem to even consider the question.

    ¡°It¡¯s faster if we row,¡± Allan said. ¡°You should focus on navigating.¡±

    The [Fragmentholer] nodded and shifted position so that it was easier for him to look around. He pulled up the Fragmentholder Database again, just in case, but it once again showed nothing but a vague glowing area.

    More notable were the notifications that had appeared after their scuffle with the three Hounds on the boat.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [Progress towards next level: 36%]

    Spade had previously suggested that the [Executioner] class gained experience from killing, so that explained part of the jump. Even then, Leo couldn¡¯t help but wonder if his own [Fragmentholder] class also gained experience from killing; how else would they have gained so much experience from one fight?

    He didn¡¯t let himself think on the issue any longer. The rough shape of the next island was quickly approaching. Leo glanced behind, but he still didn¡¯t see any Hounds yet.

    ¡°Let¡¯s circle around from the right,¡± Leo said, pointing out the curved line of the shore to a spot that dipped in slightly. ¡°That way the boat won¡¯t be so obvious.¡±

    The boat soon bumped lightly into the island shore. Unlike the one they¡¯d passed, this one was covered in dark dirt and thick trees, and it was smaller than the first one.

    The three jumped out, and after some consideration, they pulled the boat a little further up so it wouldn¡¯t wash away and to better conceal it within the thick grasses running up to the water.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the center, you two search around the perimeter,¡± Leo muttered, the words coming quick and rushed. ¡°We¡¯ll meet back here.¡±

    ¡°The fragment looks like a glass shard, right?¡± Allan asked.

    ¡°It should.¡± Leo¡¯s brows furrowed, increasingly aware of what a colossal task this search really was.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what sort of place it could be in.¡± The last fragment had been on the warden, after all. They hadn¡¯t encountered a ¡°scattered¡± fragment yet.

    ¡°Just to be safe, let¡¯s be thorough, but don¡¯t take too long or the Hounds¡¯ll catch up.¡±

    With a final nod, the trio dispersed, rushing into the trees.

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    Leo scanned his surroundings, moving from the thick canopy to the soft dirt. Little puddles of water dotted the moist earth, forming a rough path through the small island. Hazel eyes lingered on them, the way they would shine at the right angle from the thin light streaming through the leaves. The fragment too would probably shine in the light, so he kept an eye out for any gleaming.

    Despite the island being so small, barely more than a patch of forested land drifting over the lake, it took far more time than Leo would like before they met up again at the shore.

    The [Fragmentholder] looked at Allan and Spade hopefully, but both shook their heads. Leo bit his lip. From here, he could make out the distant, faint silhouettes of more islands deeper within the mist.

    A distant splash sounded to the right, and Leo quickly ducked down into the bushes, Allan following while Spade stepped behind a nearby tree.

    Peering through the leaves, he could see another boat landing on the shore several feet away. There were only two Hounds on it this time.

    Leo could just barely make out a few muffled words. The two seemed to be discussing how to divide their search routes. It looked like they hadn¡¯t noticed them.

    Beside him, Leo felt Allan tense, the man¡¯s grip on his axe tightening. He silently placed a hand on his arm and shook his head. It was better to wait for them to come closer.

    The two Hounds finally seemed to come to an agreement. With a parting nod, one turned and walked the opposite direction while the other made his way towards them. Spade casually placed a hand on her sword. She was the closest, and as soon as the Hound was in range, she stepped out from behind the tree trunk.

    It would¡¯ve been inaccurate to call the resulting events a ¡°fight.¡± The [Executioner] made quick work of the surprised Hound, slitting his throat in one smooth, exact motion.

    The Hound¡¯s body fell limply to the ground with a thud, his hand still in the middle of drawing his own blade. Their progress to the next level crept up to 41%.

    A shout rang out across the island. Before Leo had time to close his stat sheet, he felt the air sizzle, and Allan shoved him to the side just as a burst of lightning flew past them, singeing the tree behind them.

    Jumping out from the bushes, Leo activated [Sprint] and ran at the Hound as he pulled his arm back to cast a second spell. The man jerked, taken aback by the sudden burst of speed.

    He attempted to re aim his spell, but it was too late. Leo lunged at the man, knife in hand, and aimed at his throat the way he¡¯d seen Spade do it.

    The cut was much messier than the [Executioner]¡¯s, a bit crooked, but it achieved the same thing. Leo felt the metal dig through flesh, and the Hound choked. A bit of lightning sparked around them, and Leo gritted his teeth. It wasn¡¯t as strong as a full spell would¡¯ve been, but it still stunned him momentarily. Thankfully his resistance stat was high enough for it to not do too much damage.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [Progress towards next level: 46%]

    That settled it, then. [Fragmentholder] did indeed also gain experience from killing. The question was if the System differentiated kills in the service of finding fragments or not.

    Leo turned away from the Hound¡¯s still body, pushing it out of his mind. They would¡¯ve attacked as well if they¡¯d seen them first, he reminded himself.

    ¡°Is he dead?¡± Allan asked as Leo returned to their hiding spot. He nodded, eyes still scanning the shore. Through the fog, he could see the silhouettes of more boats passing by.

    ¡°We¡¯ll need to pull up our cloaks when we travel,¡± he muttered. ¡°If the Hounds don¡¯t realize it¡¯s us, they shouldn¡¯t attack.¡±

    Then again, Sonia had said whoever found the fragment first would have it, so maybe the mercenary group wasn¡¯t above attacking each other either.

    Across the water, more boats passed by, dispersing in different directions. One approached especially close to the shore, and Leo ducked back behind a tree, peering out from behind to get a better look.

    It was hard to make out in the fog, but sitting within the boat, he could just barely make out two figures. A tall middle-aged man with a stoic expression. A younger one casually resting a long spear over his shoulder. Douglas and Dalton.

    Leo held his breath, waiting for the boat to touch the shore, but it never did. Instead, it continued past, swimming smoothly through the water and proceeding further into the fog.

    ¡°All the Hounds must be searching now,¡± Allan said quietly. If Douglas, the apparent second in command, was on the lake, then it was likely Sonia was as well.

    ¡°Let¡¯s follow them.¡±

    Leo blurted the words out, and Spade raised an eyebrow while Allan turned to him with his brows furrowed.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that dangerous? What if they see us?¡±

    ¡°If we keep far back enough, it should be fine,¡± Leo said in a rush. Hazel eyes remained trained on the boat growing smaller, and he squeezed his fingers into a fist.

    ¡°Even with the map routes, it¡¯s gonna take way too long to check the islands.¡± He frowned. ¡°I¡¯m guessing Douglas might have a better idea of which islands¡¯re more likely to have the fragment than others. We might have a better shot if we follow them.¡±

    He could be wrong, of course. Douglas might know as little as they did. But it seemed like a better option than their current plan.

    Allan nodded slowly, processing the words. ¡°Okay,¡± he said. His dark eyes shifted over to the boat in question. If they waited much longer, the two Hounds would disappear entirely from view.

    Their own boat sat along the shore, waiting. Leo exhaled.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

 Chapter 39: Pursuit I

    Chapter 39: Pursuit I

    The boat slid smoothly through the water, the fog around them growing thicker the further they went.

    Leo had to squint to make out the distant shadow of Douglas and Dalton¡¯s boat, which seemed to morph and shift in the mist. If he focused, he could hear distant splashes and other voices, the sounds of other Hounds.

    On one hand, the fog provided them cover, and no one had attacked their boat again so far.

    On the other hand, the limited vision made Leo¡¯s skin crawl. Draped in that haze, the lake¡¯s waters and the sky blending together in a curtain of white and grey, the world became unreadable.

    Up ahead, the silhouette of the boat turned, shifting away from another island¡¯s faint shoreline. This was the third island the two Hounds had skipped so far.

    ¡°Left,¡± Leo muttered, and Allan paddled more on his side. He and Spade had gotten quite good at maneuvering the boat around despite¡ªfrom what Leo knew¡ªneither of them having rowing experience.

    ¡°Is that the second one we¡¯ve passed?¡± Allan asked quietly.

    ¡°Third.¡± Leo frowned, not taking his eyes off the boat even as he spoke. He knew that the moment he did, they would lose Douglas and Dalton¡¯s trail in the fog.

    ¡°Looks like they do know a more specific route,¡± Spade remarked. ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll just have to hope it¡¯s the right one.¡±

    The boat drifted past the island. From Leo¡¯s peripheral vision, he could make out a rockier shoreline and less visible trees as well as two other boats already on the shore. Those two groups of Hounds clearly didn¡¯t know the route Douglas and Dalton were taking.

    One hand absently gripped the amulet still hanging from his neck. The stone had cooled down, and no trace of its earlier warm glow remained. Still, Leo was acutely aware of the possible ¡°time limit,¡± if Irving¡¯s theory about the fae was true. Not just that, but even though it was hard to see through the fog, he estimated they only had a few hours before the sun set and the risk of the Silence rose.

    ¡°Behind us, on the right,¡± Spade muttered.

    Leo jerked around, turning his head just enough to keep Douglas and Dalton in his peripheral vision while still getting a view of the approaching boat.

    The rowboat behind them glided through the water, and the sound of splashing waves reached Leo¡¯s ears. It was a larger boat, four Hounds sitting inside rowing with practiced ease.

    The [Fragmentholder] tensed. The boat was far away enough that they wouldn¡¯t be able to get a good look at their faces. With luck, it would pass by them assuming they were another group of Hounds.

    On the other hand, if they did attack, they were outnumbered. Leo remembered how quickly the Hound from before had been dragged under the water. There¡¯d been no fighting or resisting it. If a fight broke out and one of them touched the water, it was over.

    Leo silently wished [Fade into Background] could affect more than just himself. As it was, he leaned over to Allan and Spade.

    ¡°Let¡¯s turn left more, and paddle more slowly. Let them pass us.¡±

    ¡°What if we lose Douglas and Dalton?¡± Allan asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Leo assured. ¡°I can still see them.¡±

    With a nod, Allan and Spade slowed their rowing and the boat shifted slightly to the left, putting more distance between them and the approaching Hounds.

    Leo resisted the urge to adjust his cloak, not wanting to risk seeming suspicious, and kept his head turned ahead as the boat began to pass them.

    In the corner of his eye, he could just barely make out a few details in the fog. Gleaming weapons, some already dripping red, and a few bags sitting at the Hounds¡¯ feet.

    He waited, shoulders drawn in a straight line, for the boat to turn in their direction, for one of the Hounds to look their way.

    They never did. The boat continued past them, turning right and fading into the fog.

    Leo exhaled once the Hounds had completely vanished from view.

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    ¡°We need to hurry,¡± he urged, and the boat accelerated again. For a brief second he thought he¡¯d lost sight of Douglas and Dalton, but with one more push of the oars, their silhouette came into view close to another island. Their boat turned towards the shore, and sure enough, Leo could see that they were slowing down.

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s heart raced. This was the first island the two Hounds were stopping on. Could this one be the one with the fragment?

    Douglas and Dalton¡¯s boat gently pulled up to the rocky shore, and Leo saw the two Hounds jump out and disappear into the trees.

    Now that they were closer, Leo could see that this island was much larger than the first one they¡¯d searched. Like that one, it was covered in a forest, and he could see multiple streams running into the treeline. Through the fog, he could even make out distant hills.

    This would take a much longer time to search. If his memory of the map of the Glass Lake was correct, this was one of the largest islands within this portion of the lake.

    Their own boat gently hit the shore just between two rocks, stopping a little ways away from Douglas and Dalton¡¯s.

    After taking a second to make sure the two Hounds weren¡¯t nearby, the three of them jumped out. With a bit of pulling, they managed to get the boat further onto the shore where it wasn¡¯t in danger of being washed away by the waves.

    ¡°Should we split up again?¡± Allan asked, dark eyes studying the forest ahead of them. Leo hesitated.

    Based on the footprints left on the soft earth, the two Hounds were staying together. Considering both Douglas and Dalton were higher level than them¡ªthe former especially¡ªit would be bad for any of them to run into the Hounds by themselves.

    Splitting up, however, would let them cover the most ground and get off the island as soon as possible.

    Just as Leo opened his mouth to respond, he paused.

    Passing through the rolling mist, the silhouette of a boat passed the island. Its movements were jerky, progressing forward in sudden bursts, but what caught Leo¡¯s attention was the fact that there was only one person on the boat. Every other one they¡¯d seen had contained multiple Hounds in one group.

    Leo squinted, and he felt the passive effect of [Judgement] take hold.

    Name: Ivan

    Age: 24

    Level: 20

    Class: [Mercenary, Tier 0]

    Personal Skill: [Foresight Lvl 2]

    Ivan raised a hand, and a blast of wind bursted out of his palm, propelling the boat forward. Leo recognized the spell from the confrontation with Fergus.

    Though it was hard to make out from the distance, the Hound seemed to be moving with a steady purpose. He didn¡¯t give the island a second glance, simply continuing deeper into the fog with single-minded determination.

    Leo furrowed his brows, glancing back at the forest Douglas and Dalton had disappeared into, then back at Ivan¡¯s boat.

    Did the Hound know something? Based on the meeting he¡¯d eavesdropped on, it didn¡¯t sound like [Foresight] had shown the man any specific locations. Had he lied to Sonia?

    Or maybe Ivan was following his own pre-planned route just like Douglas and Dalton were, and he knew no more about the fragment¡¯s position than the high ranked Hounds did. But then, why was he alone when not even Douglas was?

    Whatever it was, he¡¯d have to make a decision soon or Ivan would disappear from view.

    Leo exhaled and clenched his fingers into a fist.

    ¡°Change of plans.¡± He turned to face Allan and Spade.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna follow Ivan. The two of you stay here and search the island, but keep out of Douglas and Dalton¡¯s sight.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t just leave you alo¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Leo insisted, cutting the [Healer] off. ¡°I can handle Ivan by himself. We can meet up again later.¡± He pursed his lips. ¡°You two¡¯re the ones in the more dangerous position. I¡¯m serious about avoiding Douglas and Dalton, you know.¡±

    He could tell Allan wasn¡¯t convinced. In the corner of his eye, Ivan was making his way past the island.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s all follow Ivan if you think he knows something.¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°Nothing¡¯s guaranteed right now. We need to make sure the fragment¡¯s not here either; there¡¯s no time. If you finish searching and it¡¯s not here, you can come find me, and I¡¯ll do the same if Ivan doesn¡¯t know where it is.¡±

    ¡°And how exactly should we find you?¡±

    Spade¡¯s expression was as unreadable as ever. Leo frowned, closing his eyes for a brief moment.

    [You have switched to an open party system]

    [You are no longer the leader of your party]

    The [Executioner] raised a scarred eyebrow, and Leo knew she and Allan must¡¯ve gotten the notification as well.

    ¡°There,¡± he said. ¡°Now we can all use the party map.¡± He shifted closer to Douglas and Dalton¡¯s boat and began pushing it back into the water, leaving their original boat for Allan and Spade to use.

    ¡°You sure about this?¡± Spade asked. Leo glanced back, setting his jaw.

    ¡°I¡¯m trusting you,¡± he said. Beside the [Executioner], Allan was frowning, still clearly unsatisfied with the situation but knowing that he wouldn¡¯t be able to convince Leo otherwise.

    The [Fragmentholder] picked up the oars. He could just barely make out Ivan¡¯s silhouette through the fog.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, I promise,¡± he assured the [Healer] again.

    Dark brows furrowed, but slowly, the man nodded.

    ¡°Stay safe,¡± he called.

    Leo adjusted his hold on the oars. ¡°You too,¡± he said, then he pushed off from the shore and into the lake¡¯s waters.

 Chapter 40: Pursuit II

    Chapter 40: Pursuit II

    Rowing was much harder than it looked. Allan and Spade had made it seem effortless, but Leo struggled to get the boat to move in a straight line. The oars felt awkward and heavy in his hands, and it took a while for him to get into a consistent rhythm.

    Now that he was alone, Leo activated [Fade into Background]. The fog around him grew thicker and thicker until he could barely see the water below him. Shadows passed by, and he heard the distant splashes of other Hounds rowing, but he kept his focus on Ivan¡¯s increasingly hazy silhouette.

    In the corner of his vision, he kept the party map pulled up to keep an eye on Spade and Allan. The two blinking dots representing them were still by the shore, and for a second he worried they would follow him anyway.

    Despite his fears, the two dots finally moved, circling the shore enough to get away from where Dalton and Douglas had disappeared and then slipping into the forest as well.

    Leo¡¯s shoulders relaxed a little, but he wasn¡¯t going to allow himself to be relieved just yet. He flipped over to Allan and Spade¡¯s stat sheets, checking that they were at 100% health, before focusing again on Ivan. He would keep pulling up the stat sheets to check on them, but he couldn¡¯t have them open at all times. That would obstruct his vision too much.

    Tightening his hold on the oars, Leo paddled faster. Now that the mist was so thick, he could get closer without risking being seen.

    At the side, he faintly caught the rough shape of an island that Ivan passed by. How far into the lake were they by now?

    The Glass Lake was massive, but they were definitely reaching the deeper waters, the parts that fishermen didn¡¯t go to and didn¡¯t know the routes to when the fae¡¯s spatial magic was active.

    Up ahead, Ivan¡¯s boat slowed. Leo held his breath, matching his pace as well as he could.

    He squinted. He could make out the faint outline of an island that was a bit smaller than the first one they¡¯d checked.

    As Ivan approached the shore, Leo realized that the mist thinned out around the island, allowing him to see more. He slowed down, keeping the boat in place as Ivan jumped onto the shore.

    At a glance, the island didn¡¯t look much different from the others they¡¯d seen. Sturdy trees with straight trunks dotted its surface, but they weren¡¯t quite as dense as the forest on the island Douglas and Dalton had gone on, and the trees here were much taller.

    As Ivan slipped into the trees, Leo¡¯s row boat gently brushed the shore. He climbed out, and after taking a moment to consider hiding the boat, he opted to simply tug it further into the shore and follow behind the Hound. He didn¡¯t want to risk losing sight of Ivan.

    The mist was indeed thinner here, no longer opaque but a faint haze that lended the trees an ethereal quality. Damp, fallen leaves littered the floor, and Leo was careful not to step on any twigs as he followed behind Ivan.

    The Hound didn¡¯t even look backwards. He kept moving forward, barely giving his surroundings a passing glance, which only furthered Leo¡¯s suspicion.

    Up ahead, the trees thinned out and faint sunlight pierced through the fog. Leo ducked behind a thick tree trunk, carefully peering out as Ivan stepped into a small clearing.

    Yellow-green grasses swayed in the wind, a few scattered leaves resting atop the otherwise smooth earth.

    The clearing itself was fairly small and almost perfectly circular in shape. The straight trees lining the perimeter almost looked like walls or pillars framing the space.

    What most caught Leo¡¯s attention, however, was the pond in the center of the clearing. It, too, was a nearly perfect circle, and its shallow waters were as crystal clear as the Glass Lake itself.

    And in the very center of that still surface, a faint glow lit up the waters with a golden shine. Although it was small, Leo recognized the rough shape in the center of the light.

    [Fragment identified]

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [Progress towards next level: 68%]

    ¡ª

    Allan frowned, cutting into the branches with his axe to clear the way. The forest was overgrown with thick bushes and dense branches, making it difficult to maneuver around.

    So far, they hadn¡¯t found a trace of the fragment.

    The [Healer] cursed under his breath, shoving aside another branch to continue through.

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    ¡°Looks like he¡¯s stopped moving,¡± Spade remarked, grey eyes focused on her party map. Allan just grunted in response and cut through another bush.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think the fragment¡¯s here,¡± he muttered. Dark eyes flitted about, watching both for the fragment and for any sign of Douglas and Dalton. They hadn¡¯t encountered the two Hounds yet, which wasn¡¯t too unlikely given the size of the island, but it didn¡¯t do anything to quell the tension in his muscles.

    ¡°There¡¯s one more area up ahead to check,¡± Spade said. ¡°After that we can leave, seeing as you¡¯re so worried.¡±

    Allan shot a frown at the [Executioner]. Before he could respond, however, his next step sank down a little deeper than usual. He looked down, noting that the dirt here was softer and more moist.

    He turned, veering right and pushing through the trees. Sure enough, he could hear the sound of running water, and when he made it through the bushes he found himself standing by a river.

    It was larger than he¡¯d expected, and the tides moved so quickly that a perpetual white foam dusted over the water¡¯s surface where waves crashed into the rocks sticking out from below. If anything were to fall in, it would easily be swept into that churning current.

    The forest stopped a few feet away from the river, leaving some clear ground to walk on. Allan frowned down at the waves.

    If he focused, he could swear he heard a louder sound further up ahead, a distant roar distinct from the rolling flow of the river in front of them.

    ¡°¡­Do you hear that?¡±

    Spade cocked her head, quiet for a moment as she listened.

    ¡°Sounds like a waterfall up ahead,¡± she remarked. ¡°Might be worth looking into.¡±

    Allan nodded slowly. The dot representing Leo on the party map had been moving slowly forward for a while now. Perhaps he¡¯d landed on an island and was searching as well? There were no injuries so far at least, if the health on the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s stat sheet was to be believed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry,¡± Allan said. The faster they got off the island, the better.

    The two turned, keeping along the bank of the river towards the distant sound of the waterfall. Soon, the tips of rocky hills poked out from above the canopy, and the sound of falling water was reaching a crescendo.

    As they stepped forward again, however, a rustle sounded from the forest.

    Allan jerked back, nearly crashing into Spade, but it was too late to hide.

    In the next second, two figures stepped out from the trees and onto the river bank. Allan¡¯s fingers tightened around his axe as Douglas and Dalton turned and the two groups met eyes. Dalton¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    For a second, no one moved.

    Then Dalton¡¯s mouth twisted into a sneer, and the Hound lunged.

    ¡ª

    Leo¡¯s mind churned as he took in the shape of the fragment, muscles tensing in anticipation.

    Right now he was too far away to reach it before Ivan did, but he could grab it from the Hound as he was leaving. After that, he would run back to the boat; it was a straight route through the trees from here.

    Ivan stepped forward carefully, wading into the shallow pond. The water rippled around him, but it didn¡¯t drag him in like the larger Glass Lake did. Still, the Hound¡¯s brows were furrowed, and he moved cautiously as though expecting the worst.

    Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed. He bent his legs, readying to [Sprint] out.

    For a moment, Ivan simply stood there staring at the fragment surrounded in that golden glow, frozen perhaps in disbelief or awe.

    Finally, he slowly reached out and grabbed it, fingers tightening around the shard.

    At once, the golden glow died down. Leo activated [Judgement] and projected his skill at Ivan, a mirrored notification appearing in front of both of them.

    [You have obtained [1] minor fragment]

    Before Leo had a chance to process that this fragment was again a minor one, a sudden yell drew his attention.

    Ivan hunched over abruptly, his free hand clutching at his head. His eyes squeezed shut, pain written across his features. Leo hesitated. What was going on? Was this an effect of the fragment?

    He forced down the questions and gritted his teeth. This was his best chance, while Ivan was frozen in place and not paying attention. He couldn¡¯t afford to let the moment pass. He¡¯d figure out what was happening after the fragment was in his hands.

    Activating [Sprint], Leo darted out from behind the tree and straight towards the Hound. He focused, readying to jump and grab the fragment from the man¡¯s hand.

    Before he could, a new mirrored notification flashed across his vision.

    [You have been removed from your party]

    Ivan¡¯s eyes widened, and Leo cursed.

    He threw himself at the Hound, shoving him out of the way just as the pond behind them burst, spraying the area in droplets. Leo felt a faint tugging just behind him, a hair¡¯s width away, before crashing roughly into the ground.

    He scrambled to his feet, ignoring the newly formed bruises and scratches, and spun around.

    On the other side of the clearing across the pond, a familiar woman stood, hand outstretched and finger pulled back from the use of her skill.

    The Hounds leader raised an eyebrow, pale blue eyes glimmering with faint amusement. Compared to Leo and Ivan, now covered in pond water and mud, her appearance was perfectly put together.

    Leo tensed, his hand flying to the dagger at his waist as Sonia stepped forward.

 Chapter 41: Confrontation

    Chapter 41: Confrontation

    Allan barely brought his axe up in time to block the spear¡¯s sudden thrust.

    Metal clanged. The [Healer]¡¯s feet skidded a little on the soft earth, the vibration from the blow climbing up his arms. Unflinching, Dalton drew the weapon back, readying to attack again.

    Before his next blow could connect, Spade swung at the spear, her sword hitting the metal shaft with a loud ring. The force of the impact seemed to be enough to temporarily stun the Hound, and the brief lull was all they needed.

    Wasting no time, Allan and Spade turned and leapt into the forest, branches snapping and leaves scattering as they ran. Allan heard Dalton yelling angrily behind them, then the pounding of pursuing footsteps. They wouldn¡¯t be able to run forever.

    Allan cursed, ducking under a low branch and swerving around a tree trunk. Behind them, he could see Dalton approaching and Douglas a little ways back, the older man not quite as fast. The [Healer] frowned.

    ¡°Any ideas?¡± he yelled over to Spade.

    The [Executioner] didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she swerved abruptly to the right. Allan stumbled, taken aback by the sudden change in direction, but he managed to catch himself and followed behind.

    They passed through a particularly thick canopy of low branches and leaves, green and brown obstructing their vision. Allan could feel cuts forming across his skin from the sting of sharp twigs, but he ignored them. They didn¡¯t slow down, barreling through the trees at a frenetic pace.

    Up ahead, a line of bushes blocked the path. Spade didn¡¯t hesitate, launching herself over with a powerful leap, and Allan followed suit.

    When they landed, their feet hit hard earth. They¡¯d finally escaped the trees.

    Allan gasped in the fresh air, free from the stuffiness of the forest, but they weren¡¯t done moving yet. The roar of the waterfall sounded loud in his ears, and he swore he could feel the spray of mist even though it was still a fair ways away.

    Around them, leaves and branches were replaced with rocky hills and boulders forming a jagged landscape. They wove between jutting stones, navigating the maze of boulders as they drew closer and closer to the cascading waters up ahead.

    Spade abruptly stopped running and ducked behind one of the rocks. Allan did the same after a brief moment of hesitation.

    The stone slab was slanted over another boulder, providing a bit of coverage for them to hide behind before the two Hounds inevitably found them.

    Allan¡¯s chest heaved, his breaths heavy, but he¡¯d thankfully had his [Endurance] passive skill equipped and his stamina was still quite high. He glanced over at Spade, whose expression remained blank. Her slightly louder breathing was the only visible sign that she was at all affected.

    ¡°How¡¯re we dealing with them?¡± Allan¡¯s dark eyes remained fixed on the gap between the stones. He could just barely make out Dalton bursting out of the forest, slowing down as the man took in the rocky formations. His spear gleamed in the faint light.

    Spade chuckled lowly. ¡°Running away hasn¡¯t even crossed your mind, I see.¡±

    ¡°Shut up, you know that¡¯s not an option,¡± Allan muttered. They might be able to outrun Douglas since the Hound seemed to have lower agility, but Dalton was fairly quick from what he¡¯d seen. The man probably had higher agility than both of them.

    Spade adjusted her grip on her sword. The blade was still coated in dried blood from the battle on the boat earlier.

    ¡°From what the thief said, the one with the spear is level 23 and the second-in-command is level 28.¡±

    Allan shot Spade a scowl at her casual referral of Leo as ¡°the thief,¡± but this wasn¡¯t the time to focus on that.

    His eyes narrowed. The level advantage on the Hounds¡¯ side wasn¡¯t good, but it wasn¡¯t impossible to defeat someone of a higher level than you. In a real fight, differences in strategy, stat distribution, and skills could have a huge effect on the outcome.

    ¡°You¡¯re a [Healer] now. I¡¯m guessing none of those skills of yours are for combat, excluding [Cleave].¡± Spade raised an eyebrow. ¡°Unless that [Wrath] personal skill of yours would help here.¡±

    Allan¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°It¡¯s a passive. I can¡¯t exactly choose when to turn it on.¡± He was aware of Spade¡¯s eyebrow raising, but he ignored it.

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    ¡°And you¡¯ve got plenty of combat skills,¡± he continued. He didn¡¯t recognize every skill on her stat sheet, but the ones he did said enough.

    Through the opening, Allan could make out Dalton and Douglas occasionally passing between various rocks in their search, approaching closer and closer. They would find them soon.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle Douglas,¡± Spade said. Her voice was calm and steady. ¡°I assume you can take Dalton on your own, unless your class made you forget how to fight.¡±

    Allan snorted at that. Dark eyes flitted around, adjusting his grip on the axe. It would be better for them to move now, before Dalton and Douglas got close enough to cage them in. Dalton, he noted, was towards the left, closer to the waterfall, while Douglas searched the other side.

    ¡°Left,¡± he muttered, and the [Executioner] grunted in affirmation.

    They circled to the back of the tilted stone, muscles tensed and eyes focused on Dalton and Douglas.

    Finally, just as the two Hounds turned, Allan and Spade leapt out from behind the boulder and sprinted in opposite directions.

    ¡ª

    ¡°¡­Sonia?¡±

    Ivan¡¯s voice shook slightly, bewildered and strained. Whatever headache that had taken hold of him earlier seemed to have cleared, and he remained on the ground, staring up at the Hound leader with wide eyes.

    The fragment, Leo noted, was still tight in his fist.

    ¡°Good evening to you too,¡± Sonia said pleasantly. Her smile only put Leo even more on edge.

    His eyes darted about, scanning the clearing in search of an escape route. Ivan was behind him and still had the fragment, but to get it he¡¯d have to turn his back to the Hounds leader.

    Two things immediately became clear to him.

    The first was that Sonia was clearly the biggest threat here. Just surviving and dodging her personal skill would require all his attention.

    Based on her attack just now and her removal of Ivan from the Hounds party, he assumed she would be targeting Ivan for the fragment as well. Leo didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be able to split his focus between trying to get the fragment himself while also stopping Sonia from doing the same.

    The second was that he couldn¡¯t afford to let Sonia get her hands on the fragment. Once she had it, it would be extremely difficult¡ªif not impossible¡ªto get it back.

    Leo glanced back at Ivan, seeing the Hound still dazed. The [Fragmentholder] gritted his teeth.

    Sonia stopped walking. The moment her hand moved, Leo yanked Ivan away.

    A loud cracking sound rang throughout the clearing. The tree behind them snapped, the top half of the trunk flying forward and splitting apart around Sonia¡¯s outstretched hand.

    Snapped branches and splinters showered the area, but the Hounds leader didn¡¯t seem bothered, simply brushing aside a stray leaf that had landed in her hair.

    If Leo hadn¡¯t moved Ivan out of the way in time, he would¡¯ve ended up like Fergus, speared to death with a hole in his chest. The [Fragmentholder] could see the man coming to the same realization.

    The Hound¡¯s face paled, and Leo felt a faint tinge of sympathy rise. It seemed like Ivan genuinely respected Sonia, and to see her attack with the clear intention to kill, no hesitation in sight, was probably deeply unsettling for him.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t negate the fact that they had no time for this right now.

    ¡°Run!¡± Leo yelled, shaking the Hound a little.

    Ivan blinked, forcibly pulled out of his stupor. He stared at the [Fragmentholder], brows furrowed.

    ¡°You¡ª¡±

    ¡°I said run!¡±

    The second yell seemed to finally get through to him; the Hound turned and bolted into the trees. Leo didn¡¯t turn around to watch him leave, keeping his own attention fixed on Sonia, but he could hear the rustle of leaves and the pounding of footsteps as Ivan escaped the clearing.

    He was acutely aware that the fragment was now moving away from him, but Leo assured himself that he would have a much easier time catching up to Ivan.

    Hazel eyes narrowed. Leo adjusted his stance so that he stood between Sonia and the direction Ivan had disappeared in. What was most important was that the fragment was far away from Sonia.

    ¡°I see you¡¯re searching for the fragment as well,¡± the woman commented. Her voice was plain, as though she were making an observation about the weather.

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit I¡¯m curious about how you managed to quell the tides, but I suppose we don¡¯t have time for that.¡±

    Leo¡¯s lips thinned. Sonia must have used her party map to locate Ivan and then followed him across the lake, he realized. His own map remained in the corner of his vision, and he closed it, not wanting to risk obstructing his sight.

    ¡°For a leader, you sure seem to like killing party members who¡¯re following your own rules,¡± he bit out.

    The woman chuckled. ¡°I did say whoever found the fragment first would have it, didn¡¯t I?¡± She cocked her head. ¡°That being said, I made no mention of what would happen afterwards.¡±

    She stepped forward, those icy blue eyes piercing. Leo didn¡¯t look away.

    ¡°Now, I need you to get out of my way.¡±

    Sonia raised her arm, and Leo lunged.

 Chapter 42: Scarlet Waters I

    Chapter 42: Scarlet Waters I

    The stones grew increasingly slippery the closer Allan got to the river. [Celerity] wasn¡¯t as effective as it would be for a longer run, but it still provided a bit more speed and energy that he capitalized on.

    Behind him, Dalton¡¯s footsteps rapidly approached.

    Allan cursed and spun around, bringing his axe up just as the Hound entered his range.

    The blade slammed into the shaft of the spear, and Allan felt the muscles in his arms strain as Dalton attempted to brute force the weapon back. He held firm, and the Hound¡¯s eyebrows rose when the axe didn¡¯t budge.

    Dalton jerked the spear back, putting space between the two of them. Allan kept his axe raised in preparation.

    ¡°Hell of a strength stat for a [Healer],¡± Dalton muttered. His eyes narrowed. ¡°Unless that class was a lie. You lie all the time, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Allan distinctly remembered the man¡¯s personal skill¡ª[Candor], he believed it was called. What score had he been given? 21?

    It made his skin crawl to think about it. He didn¡¯t need a goddamn skill of all things peeling him back and digging at everything underneath. His fingers tightened around the axe. What gave the Hound the right to judge him? He did what he had to to survive, and he wasn¡¯t ashamed of it.

    Allan met Dalton¡¯s condescending look with his own glare. He took a step back and his foot sank into soft dirt. The roar of rushing waters rang behind him.

    They¡¯d reached the river bank.

    Dalton lunged, spear tip thrust forward. Allan jumped to the side to dodge the attack, but just as he was readying to retaliate, Dalton brought the spear around in a wide, sweeping arc that forced the [Healer] back.

    He felt a slight sting on his cheek where the spear had grazed him. Dark eyes narrowed. The range of the Hound¡¯s weapon was a problem, but if he could get close, that would be where the man was the most vulnerable.

    He didn¡¯t have time to think more before Dalton pounced again. Allan gritted his teeth as the spear tip sliced into his arm, his movements too slow. He ignored the cut and brought his axe up, locking it with the extended spear, and ran forward.

    Metal screeched, loud and sharp against the backdrop of the river. Allan dug his feet into the ground and reeled his arm back, activating [Cleave].

    Dalton¡¯s eyes widened, the Hound leaping back just as Allan swung.

    The blade sliced into his forearm, and the Hound cursed. He stumbled back, but managed to maintain his grip on his spear. Red dripped down from his torn sleeve.

    Allan frowned. Not fast enough, he thought. The wound wasn¡¯t deep enough to do real damage.

    His own wound continued to drip, but he could still move his arm. Allan glanced around.

    Beneath their feet, a few stones jutted out from the dirt, forming a slightly bumpy texture that allowed them to maintain a better grip on the otherwise slick river bank. Dark eyes narrowed.

    The [Healer] surged forward. Dalton raised his spear defensively.

    Instead of attacking, however, Allan abruptly dropped to the ground. He slammed his free hand onto the soft earth and activated [Even Path].

    The dirt rippled, a flash of ultramarine spreading out from his hand like a passing wave. Stones overturned, the ground suddenly smoothing out, and Dalton stumbled.

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    Allan leapt to his feet. He activated [Cleave], taking advantage of the Hound¡¯s unstable balance and bringing his axe carving down.

    A piercing clang rang throughout the river bank. The axe blade collided with the spear¡¯s metal shaft, but in his hastiness to block, Dalton¡¯s foot slid, and the force of the blow was enough to knock him into the ground.

    The man landed hard on his back. He grunted from the impact but kept his weapon up, the spear providing a thin wall between him and the [Healer].

    Allan pressed his advantage, trying to force the spear back. His hands shook from exertion, but slowly but surely the blade crept closer and closer to the Hound¡¯s neck. Dalton gritted his teeth.

    Just when the axe blade was a hair¡¯s breadth away from slicing skin, Dalton slammed his knee into the [Healer]¡¯s stomach. Allan choked, the wind knocked out of him, and the moment was enough for Dalton to throw him off, knocking his axe out of his hands at the same time.

    Allan landed on the dirt, coughing and skidding along the ground. He heard his axe land beside him with a clatter and gritted his teeth, forcing himself up past the blooming pain in his stomach.

    Dalton ran at him, eyes murderous. Allan dug his fingers into the ground. The moment the Hound was in range, he chucked the pile of dirt at his face.

    Dalton winced, some of the dirt getting into his eyes. Allan didn¡¯t bother reaching for his axe. He rose and punched the man in the face, the hit landing cleanly and knocking his head to the side.

    Roaring in anger, Dalton slashed the spear out, forcing Allan back again. He quickly grabbed his fallen axe and raised it defensively.

    For a moment the two simply stood there, hunched over slightly, weapons raised, breaths loud. Neither one looked away, both watching for any openings.

    Allan could feel the sweat on his skin mixing with dirt and smeared blood, the lingering dizziness from the earlier blow finally subsiding some. Carefully, he felt his stomach with his free hand, checking the wound while the Hound caught his breath.

    The area hurt to touch¡ªdefinitely bruised¡ªbut it didn¡¯t seem too serious beyond that. He moved onto the cut in his arm and activated [Mend]. A faint blue glow surrounded the wound.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [Progress towards next level: 82%]

    That was too much experience. Allan frowned. Leo and Spade must both be earning experience as well, for the jump to be that big.

    He didn¡¯t have time to think on the subject more, because the Hound in front of him spoke, his own breaths finally evening out.

    ¡°Some [Healer],¡± Dalton bit out. A dark bruise was beginning to form on his left cheek. He wiped his eye, clearing it of lingering dirt, and adjusted his grip on the spear. ¡°Should¡¯ve known. You¡¯re another filthy fucking liar.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t lie about shit,¡± Allan spat. He could hear the river loud beside them, and he shifted a little, putting himself at an angle so that his back was partially to the waters. Dalton sneered.

    ¡°Yeah? I knew the friendly act was bullshit.¡±

    Allan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What¡¯s your problem with lying anyway?¡± He cocked his head, the corners of his mouth pulling into a sneer. ¡°What, did a liar fuck you over?¡±

    The Hound¡¯s jaw stiffened. He took a slow step forward, muscles tense in warning. Allan remained stubbornly in place and tested his shoes¡¯ grip on the dirt subtly as he continued.

    ¡°Never seen a personal skill like that. You so naive you need a skill to tell you who to trust?¡± He laughed coldly. ¡°Whatever happened must¡¯ve been your own fault if you¡¯re so goddamn gullible.¡±

    Dalton roared in fury and charged forward, spear aimed straight at Allan.

    Allan twisted, the world around him seeming to slow down as the tip of the spear narrowly passed him. He heard his cloak rip, felt a faint sting, but he didn¡¯t try to block.

    Instead, Allan kept moving until he was behind the Hound, equipping his [Grappling Proficiency] passive skill, and threw himself at the man with his full body weight.

    The force of the blow was enough to knock Dalton over, and Allan barely managed to catch himself as the Hound tumbled into the rushing river.

    Churning waves splashed around him, and Dalton gasped, spitting out water and struggling against the rapid current. He seemed to be a fairly strong swimmer, barely managing to fight against the tide, but Allan could see he was quickly growing tired.

    What felt like hours passed. Finally, the Hound barely managed to drag himself over to the river bank and grab onto the shore, chest heaving and soaked head to toe. The wound in his arm bled heavily, the blood leaking into the waves and mixing with the current.

    Dalton slowly raised his head, breaths ragged and movements heavy with exhaustion, but his eyes remained venomous as they met Allan¡¯s. The [Healer] tightened his grip on the axe.

    He stepped forward and activated [Cleave], dark eyes hard.

    Neither one looked away as the axe came crashing down into Dalton¡¯s skull.

 Chapter 43: Scarlet Waters II

    Chapter 43: Scarlet Waters II

    Spade sprinted through the trees, uncaring of the branches slicing into her face as she ran. She glanced back occasionally at the Hound pursuing behind her. Douglas was a bit slower than her, but he still managed to keep up well enough. She hummed in contemplation.

    Up ahead, the [Executioner] felt the wind streaming through the trees. She leapt over a flat stone and landed on the soft dirt. She heard a splash, and when she looked down, she realized that the forest floor was covered in little puddles and ponds.

    The one her foot had landed in was small and shallow, but they varied in size and depth. Their surfaces shone clearly like miniature versions of the Glass Lake.

    A rustle sounded behind her, and Spade turned to see Douglas step out from the trees.

    The man¡¯s expression was stoic as he scanned the area. His sword remained sheathed at his side, and though his posture was seemingly relaxed, he had no clear openings. A quiet, subtle guard.

    Spade cocked her head, her own movements casual as she nodded at the Hound.

    ¡°Nice evening,¡± she remarked. ¡°Though the fog gets in the way of the scenery.¡±

    Douglas frowned. ¡°Indeed.¡± His voice was a low rumble that seemed to echo off the trees. He didn¡¯t move to step forward or to unsheathe his sword.

    ¡°You are Spade, correct? Sonia told me you¡¯re a bounty hunter.¡±

    ¡°Former bounty hunter,¡± Spade corrected. ¡°Turns out executioners earn a more stable income these days. War paranoia¡¯s gotten me a good number of jobs.¡±

    ¡°I imagine it has,¡± Douglas murmured. Dark brown eyes studied the [Executioner] carefully. ¡°I suppose your group is also pursuing fragments. I¡¯d be curious to know how you learned about the one on the lake.¡±

    Spade chuckled, brushing a few stray gray hairs out of her face. ¡°You¡¯d have to ask one of the other two about it. I¡¯m not particularly knowledgeable about it myself.¡±

    Her fingers flexed around the hilt of her sword. Douglas¡¯s eyes studied the movement, but they served more as a reminder than a threat. The Hound¡¯s frown deepened.

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose a compromise could be reached.¡±

    The [Executioner] raised a scarred eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s a bit difficult when it comes to fragments, I¡¯m afraid. They seem like a zero-sum case.¡±

    She stopped, cocking her head a little to listen to the rustling leaves around them. If she focused, she could just barely make out the faint, distant echo of clashing metal. Spade hummed.

    ¡°Besides, it doesn¡¯t seem like those two are interested in talking.¡±

    Douglas shook his head. ¡°Dalton¡¯s always been rather¡­hot headed.¡±

    Spade laughed at that. She stepped back, bending her knees and bringing her sword up in a ready stance. ¡°Youthful energy, as they say.¡±

    Douglas slowly unsheathed his sword as well, the movement drawn and deliberate. He eyed the woman carefully even as he, too, held his blade up in preparation.

    His gaze lingered longer on the dried blood already coating the [Executioner]¡¯s sword. He set his jaw.

    A light breeze whistled past them, swirling the mist and scattering a few stray leaves that twisted and danced in the air before finally landing delicately on the puddles covering the forest floor. For a moment neither of the two spoke, both simply watching the other¡¯s movements.

    As the next wind passed, the Hound shifted.

    ¡°Douglas,¡± he said, his low voice ringing clearly between the trees. ¡°Hounds second in command. Avel native.¡±

    Spade brought her sword up without hesitation, matching the man¡¯s movements. Her voice was steady and calm when she spoke.

    ¡°Spade. Traveling executioner. Empire born.¡±

    Douglas¡¯s arm twitched slightly at that, and the brief pause was enough of an opening. Grey eyes narrowed, and in the next second, Spade surged forward.

    In one smooth motion, she swung her blade straight at Douglas, activating [Cleave].

    A loud clang echoed around the forest trees as the Hound brought his own sword up to parry. The force of the blow sent a shockwave up both combatant¡¯s arms, but neither one flinched.

    Spade kept forcing the blade further, using up the remainder of [Cleave]¡¯s active time. She¡¯d expected the Hound to have a higher strength stat given his level advantage, and this initial swing proved that [Cleave] was enough to at least match it.

    Douglas¡¯s foot slid slightly on the soft forest floor, his shoes brushing the edge of a puddle with a faint splash. Spade¡¯s eyebrows rose as the pressure on the sword increased.

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    The Hound stepped back, landing fully in the pool of water, and forced the blade back with a sudden burst of strength.

    Spade jumped away, narrowly avoiding the tip of the sword.

    She landed in a crouch and used a hand to steady herself. Grey eyes narrowed, studying the Hound carefully as her gaze swept the forest floor.

    Douglas charged forward with a burst of speed, and Spade barely had time to bring her sword up to block the blow. Some sort of combat skill that boosted the speed of an attack, she assessed. She felt her muscles struggling against the force of the blade.

    Not pausing, Spade brought her leg up in an arcing kick aimed at Douglas¡¯s exposed side.

    The kick slammed into the man¡¯s torso, but he barely flinched. The Hound yanked his sword back and lunged, step landing in a deeper puddle, and slashed at the [Executioner].

    Spade twisted her body to the side, and the sound of cracking bark rang in her ears as Douglas¡¯s blade cleaved into the tree behind her.

    She leapt away, putting space between her and the [Mercenary] as more of the tree trunk split and the tree began to sway and come crashing down.

    Jerking around, Douglas surged forward again with the aid of that skill, but Spade was prepared for it this time. She kept her gaze focused on the angle of his sword and brought her own blade up to block less than a second before metal collided with metal.

    Reeling back, Spade spun around, bringing her blade in a low arcing sweep that forced Douglas to jump back. She didn¡¯t stop, darting forward and feinting to the side before thrusting her blade at Douglas¡¯s exposed shoulder with [Cleave].

    The Hound knocked back the blow at the last second, stray water droplets spraying the surroundings as they clashed within the shallow pools of water.

    Douglas gritted his teeth, throwing his body weight into his next swing and knocking the [Executioner] away. Her back slammed into the tree behind them, the bark cracking from the impact.

    Spade paused for only a moment. She hunched over slightly from the blow, but her eyes never flinched, darting rapidly between Douglas and the surrounding trees and puddles as she mentally assessed the situation.

    A skill that provided a speed boost to his next attack, but only in a single direction. High defense and constitution as well as attack. And, she thought as her gaze landed on those puddles, he had some sort of skill that gave him a boost in strength when touching water.

    Distantly, Spade could make out the faint sounds of Allan and Dalton¡¯s clash over her own breathing.

    [You have leveled up! 300 points awarded]

    [Progress towards next level: 4%]

    Spade smiled to herself at that. Allan and Leo were earning a good deal of experience, it seemed.

    The [Executioner] shoved herself away from the tree just in time to avoid Douglas¡¯s next attack. Her eyes scanned the forest. She vaulted over the fallen tree from earlier without pausing and bolted through the bushes.

    Behind her, she heard Douglas pursuing, but Spade kept her focus forward. As she ran, she distributed the stat points, raising her agility by 2 and her strength by 1.

    Up ahead, the trees thinned, and with another leap she landed in a small clearing. She tested the ground. It was more densely packed than the soft soil from before. There were very few puddles or even rocks interrupting the area. It was smooth and bare, a natural battle ring that she and Allan had passed during their search around the island.

    Spade turned around just as Douglas stepped through the bushes. The man¡¯s expression remained stoic, his slightly heavier breathing the only thing giving any indication of exhaustion.

    Spade wiped at the sweat forming on her forehead, and her hand came away bloody. She clicked her tongue. She must¡¯ve gotten cut earlier and hadn¡¯t noticed it.

    ¡°You¡¯re a good fighter,¡± Douglas said. Spade chuckled lowly. Mentally she unequipped her [Vigilance] passive skill, leaving [Athletics], [Blade Proficiency] and one empty slot.

    [You have equipped [Anatomical Knowledge]]

    ¡°Same to you.¡± Spade brought her sword up, exhaling once to release any lingering tension in her muscles. Douglas watched her warily, and she met his gaze without flinching. After all her uses of [Cleave] up until this point, she had just enough mana left for this.

    [You have activated [Duelist¡¯s Challenge]. Target: Douglas]

    [Damage to [Douglas] boosted. Penalty applied to [Douglas]¡¯s damage when attacking another foe]

    [You have activated [Precision]]

    [Attack precision increased for the next minute]

    [You have activated [Reckless Wager]. Target: Douglas]

    [Both user and target¡¯s defense reduced for the next minute]

    The familiar string of notifications flitted past Spade¡¯s vision. It had been a long time since she¡¯d last needed to use this particular combination of skills. It was almost nostalgic.

    Douglas shifted, and the brief stillness was broken.

    Spade lunged, gleaming sword aimed straight at Douglas. The man brought his own weapon up to block, but at the last second, the [Executioner] adjusted the angle of the blade.

    The movement left her side exposed, and she raised her free hand, using it to block Douglas¡¯s sword. She felt the metal carve into her arm, warm blood splattering from the wound, but she didn¡¯t flinch.

    Twisting the tip of her sword, she severed the man¡¯s tendon.

    Douglas winced and shoved the woman back. Dark red trickled down from her arm, staining the earth, the wound far more serious with [Reckless Wager] active.

    The pain, however, hardly registered. The [Executioner]¡¯s eyes were instead fixed on Douglas, whose hand was covered in red. His thumb twitched, unable to bend properly.

    Spade slammed her blade down again, and Douglas was forced to block with a single handed grip on his sword.

    The Hound¡¯s arm shook from the impact, but Spade didn¡¯t stop there. Blades still locked, she twisted, activating [Cleave] one final time as she forced the blow through the man¡¯s parry and brought the blade arcing straight at his neck.

    Warm blood splattered Spade¡¯s face. Douglas choked, eyes widening as sharp metal carved into flesh.

    He stumbled back, gasping and clutching at his bloody throat, but it was too late. The blade had sliced cleanly through his arteries.

    His knees hit the ground. The Hound¡¯s mouth moved, a wheezing sound escaping his throat as he tried to speak. He stretched his arm out as though reaching for something, grasping at air. The [Executioner] watched with flat, detached grey eyes. Her own wound continued to bleed freely.

    It wasn¡¯t until Douglas had finally slumped onto the ground, limp and unmoving¡ªthe life drained from his body and the earth around them stained scarlet¡ªthat Spade moved again.

    Casting Douglas¡¯s still form with a final cursory glance, the [Executioner] turned away and left the body bleeding red under the silver mist.

 Interlude: Douglas

    Interlude: Douglas

    They said the Glass Lake was the great mirror of the world. It held the fragmented sky in its depths. It was older than the System, humans, and ancients. Douglas couldn¡¯t remember a day without seeing it on the horizon line, its perfectly smooth surface gleaming even brighter than the sun.

    The children of Everford liked to play by the lake¡¯s shore. Their parents warned them of the dangers, of course, but they couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to it.

    Douglas himself could¡¯ve sat for hours at the water¡¯s edge staring into that silent stillness. He used to think the stories of people going insane from looking at the waters were ridiculous, but the older he got, the more he understood. It seemed to him that those waters were perhaps the only part of the world that remained untainted.

    ¡°What, do the corpses not count as stains?¡± his wife said with a snort.

    ¡°You know what I mean.¡± Douglas frowned. Even in their home, he could see the lake through the window. A lingering, permanent presence.

    Anne laughed and bounced their sleeping son a few times in her arms. Wrapped and covered in a cocoon of blankets, Douglas thought he looked terribly small.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯d better watch Finn. If he¡¯s anything like you he¡¯ll end up wandering too close to the lake when he grows up.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be a good example,¡± Douglas promised. Anne rolled her eyes and lightly tapped his forehead.

    ¡°You do that,¡± she murmured. ¡°And watch yourself, too.¡±

    ¡ª

    Douglas frowned down at Finn, the boy¡¯s arms crossed and cheeks slightly puffed out in a pout. His hair¡ªthe same light blonde as Anne¡¯s¡ªwas a rumpled mess, and there were a few telltale scratches on his cheek.

    His first instinct was to coddle the boy, but Anne shot him a knowing look from behind Finn. He made sure to keep his shoulders squared.

    ¡°Were you fighting Ivan again?¡±

    Finn¡¯s face twisted into a scowl.

    ¡°He started it!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what your teacher says,¡± Anne said in a sing-song voice, and if possible Finn only pouted even more. Douglas shook his head and attempted to look as disapproving as possible.

    ¡°You should know better. You¡¯re older than him.¡±

    ¡°By four months,¡± Finn muttered under his breath. Anne cleared her throat and he straightened again.

    Douglas waited for Anne to say more, but she kept looking at him, and he realized she was leaving this to him. The thought made his chest twist with anxiety; he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever get used to the concept of ¡°raising children.¡± Still, he exhaled and fixed his son with a stern look.

    ¡°You need to apologize to him.¡± Douglas paused, thinking about what Anne would probably do.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you invite him over, while you¡¯re at it?¡± he added.

    Anne nodded approvingly behind Finn, and Douglas mentally sighed in relief. Finn, meanwhile, looked like he¡¯d just swallowed a very sour lemon.

    ¡°Do I have to?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Douglas said firmly.

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    Douglas frowned, and that seemed to be enough to cut Finn off. The boy mumbled and grumbled under his breath, but he didn¡¯t voice another complaint. Not loudly, at least.

    Spinning around, Finn ran out the room without another look at them. It hurt a little to see the boy angry at him. This was fine, Douglas reminded himself. He was teaching Finn important life lessons. He couldn¡¯t always be soft, as Anne always liked to remind him.

    ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll actually apologize?¡± Douglas asked. The woman chuckled.

    ¡°Probably not, but that¡¯s what the dinner is for.¡± She glanced outside, where the high afternoon sun beamed down on the shimmering lake. ¡°Could you get some more flour? We¡¯re running low.¡±

    Douglas smiled. ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡ª

    Douglas burst out of the house, head swiveling frantically until his eyes finally landed on a familiar figure seated a few feet away from the lake shore. The man ran forward.

    ¡°Anne!¡± he called. She glanced back, an eyebrow raised, and made a shushing motion. Douglas frowned, but he followed the woman¡¯s gaze and realized that Finn was sleeping on her lap, the boy¡¯s snores loud and constant. Anne looked amused.

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    ¡°Careful, you¡¯ll wake him up.¡±

    Douglas¡¯s shoulders relaxed, but only slightly. His brows remained furrowed.

    ¡°We need to get indoors,¡± he urged. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous.¡±

    Anne sighed. Above them, silver moonlight beamed down on the sleeping village, illuminating the surface of the Glass Lake.

    Compared to the bright light of day, this was softer, blurring the edges of the waters and lending them an almost ethereal glow. Littered across the surface, Douglas could see the reflection of scattered stars, as though the night sky itself was contained within those depths.

    ¡°The Silence hasn¡¯t appeared yet,¡± Anne murmured.

    ¡°But what if it does?¡± Douglas urged. He was acutely aware of how exposed they were, the village buildings rendered as silent silhouettes behind them.

    Anne was quiet for a moment, one hand softly stroking Finn¡¯s hair.

    ¡°Another ten minutes,¡± she finally said. Douglas opened his mouth to argue, but she cut him off. ¡°Come on, you¡¯re the one who used to want to see the lake at night, right?¡±

    Douglas faltered. That had indeed been a wish of his when he was younger and the world had seemed full of possibilities. When he thought any and all dangers could be surmounted.

    Anne smiled and patted the grass beside her. Her golden hair waved in the wind. The moonlight softened the wrinkles on her face and the bags under her eyes that had remained stubbornly in place since the birth of their son. She looked more at peace than Douglas had seen in a long time.

    ¡°Ten minutes,¡± she repeated. ¡°If a field of Silence appears, we¡¯ll run indoors.¡±

    Douglas stared down at her and the sleeping Finn for a moment, the Glass Lake shining in his peripheral vision.

    Finally, after a moment of hesitation, he carefully sat down on the grass beside her. The ground was cool and soft.

    In front of them, the surface of the water remained perfectly tranquil.

    ¡ª

    The wave rose without warning.

    One moment the Glass Lake was the same as it always was. The next, its surface twisted and shot upwards, casting a dark silhouette over Everford as the water stretched and grew before finally reaching its peak.

    The village didn¡¯t stand a chance.

    That day was a blur to Douglas. He remembered watching wooden beams snap like twigs under the roaring rush of water. He remembered waves rising and smothering everything below.

    He remembered the cold permeating his bones, the violent tides tugging him in every direction and forcing him under only to drag him out and back in again.

    He remembered the village crumpling like a sandcastle underneath the force, the entire lives of the people within destroyed and rendered into nothing in less than an hour.

    Soaked head to toe, vision blurry and lungs heaving, he remembered clutching the shivering form to his chest like a lifeline¡ªthe only thing he¡¯d managed to salvage in the wreckage.

    He remembered hearing the boy¡¯s voice shaking as he muttered apologies, saying he¡¯d been playing by the water before, blaming himself for not seeing the wave coming.

    In Douglas¡¯s weariness, he didn¡¯t say anything. His mind was too busy, still filled with images of his own home broken and destroyed. Imagining the limp bodies he hadn¡¯t been strong enough to save.

    He barely noticed the sound of approaching horse hooves or the voice speaking to him. Everything was a blur¡ªa whirlpool of vague impressions and sensations.

    By the time he finally returned to his senses, barely managing to blink through the fog in his mind, brown eyes met pale blue. The woman atop the horse simply studied him and Ivan for a moment.

    Finally, she turned and yelled at someone to bring blankets and food, and Douglas heard pattering footsteps around them as people hurried to follow her orders.

    He heard Ivan sniff, and he unconsciously hugged the boy closer. They were the only ones left now, he thought vaguely. Him and the one person he¡¯d managed to pull from the water.

    A notification popped up in his vision, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to care. It was too late now, anyway. He used to bet with Anne what his personal skill would end up being, what would trigger its appearance. Now he wished he never had to find out.

    Douglas closed his eyes, imagining that it was Finn he was holding, that Anne was sitting beside him.

    When brown eyes opened again, he wondered if he was a terrible person for thinking that he¡¯d saved the wrong person.

    ¡ª

    ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea?¡±

    Sonia raised an eyebrow, turning to face Douglas.

    ¡°What exactly do you mean?¡±

    The man frowned. ¡°The fragment. I understand pursuing them, but a fragment on the lake? Can we be certain it¡¯s there? It¡¯s a great risk to bargain on.¡±

    Sonia chuckled. ¡°Are you doubting Ivan¡¯s vision?¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Douglas said immediately. ¡°I simply worry about angering the fae. We both know how dangerous the Glass Lake is.¡±

    The Hounds leader hummed. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± she remarked. She rose, standing and striding past her second in command to exit the tent.

    ¡°I, however, have no intention to let fear get in the way of an opportunity like this.¡± She paused, glancing back at Douglas with a raised eyebrow. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the fae, then you can sit this one out, Douglas.¡±

    The man shook his head. He couldn¡¯t leave the other Hounds, especially not when there were so many younger people in the group. Dalton had joined a year ago. And, of course, he couldn¡¯t leave Ivan alone. They were the last remnants of Everford.

    ¡°No, I¡­I just wanted to clarify the situation,¡± he said.

    Sonia hummed, and without another word, she turned and exited the tent, leaving Doulas alone inside.

    The man frowned, mind churning as he heard Sonia calling the Hounds for a gathering. Through the open tent flap, he could see the clear sky above them. Though the Glass Lake was nowhere in sight, he could easily picture it sitting on the horizon, its flat expanse and shining waters.

    Douglas closed his eyes. When they¡¯d searched the wreckage after the destruction twelve years ago, they¡¯d found no bodies. Sonia had theorized that the waters had pulled the bodies back into the lake when the wave retreated, though of course, the waters remained crystal clear afterwards.

    If they went through with their plan, they would end up on the Glass Lake¡¯s surface. He wondered if Anne and Finn and the rest of the village were really there, buried deep below the waters.

    Straightening, Douglas stepped out of the tent. The cool wind of northern Avel greeted him, so much sharper than he was used to.

    For a brief moment, caught on the threshold of the present and memory, the breeze sounded like the roar of an all consuming tide.

 Chapter 44: Scarlet Waters III

    Chapter 44: Scarlet Waters III

    Leo reeled his arm back and bolted forwards with the aid of [Sprint], dagger poised and aimed at the Hounds leader standing in front of him. He could hear the wind rushing past his ears, his own heartbeat racing with adrenaline as he rapidly approached Sonia.

    His fingers tightened, but just as he readied to throw the dagger, a notification flashed in front of his eyes.

    [Sonia has activated the [Lifeline] skill]

    Leo cursed and dove out of the way just as Sonia flicked her finger.

    Behind him, the sharp crack of splintering wood rang throughout the clearing. Snapped branches and stray pieces of bark exploded out, a few cutting into Leo¡¯s skin as the tree behind him was roughly yanked from the earth.

    The [Fragmentholder] shuddered. He hoped that Ivan had gotten far enough away by now, because at this rate, he wouldn¡¯t put it past Sonia to clear out the entire forest if that¡¯s what it took to find the fragment.

    The Hounds leader raised an eyebrow as Leo scrambled up, expression faintly amused. Hazel eyes focused on her outstretched hand, watching. Waiting.

    The moment her finger moved, Leo surged forward. He swerved to the side as the notification appeared again and the earth behind him burst.

    He skidded on dirt, circling around the path of [Lifeline], and hurled his dagger. The blade gleamed in the diffused light, flying straight towards Sonia.

    Before it could hit its target, the Hound jerked her head.

    [Sonia has activated the [Lifeline] skill]

    The trajectory of the dagger suddenly shifted, pulled by an invisible force, and curved at the last second. Sonia caught it harmlessly in her hand. She twirled the weapon and raised an eyebrow, sheathing the blade as though to say that she wouldn¡¯t need it to defeat the former [Thief].

    The notification flashed again. Leo barely managed to leap out of the way in time. He felt the skill brush against his arm, a ghostly tugging sensation that sent a chill up his spine.

    Leo coughed as he landed hard on the ground, spitting out dirt. He didn¡¯t let himself stay still, jumping back to his feet and bolting away from the clearing in a zigzagging pattern.

    Sonia¡¯s footsteps sounded behind him, and his fingers pulled out his last dagger¡ªthe one he¡¯d taken from the prison warden.

    His mind raced as he leapt over a boulder and veered around a fallen tree. Projectiles clearly didn¡¯t work against the Hound, meaning he had to get into melee to attack.

    [Sonia has activated the [Lifeline] skill]

    A cold sensation gripped Leo and wrenched him backwards. He yelped, struggling against that consuming force. An image of Fergus impaled on Sonia¡¯s arm flashed through his mind. If he let himself get pulled back, it was over.

    Leo¡¯s shoes slipped, his own resistance stat still not high enough to hold out long against the skill. Gritting his teeth, Leo grabbed onto the nearest tree. His arm shook with exertion, the skill insistently tugging back, but he managed to force through with a final push.

    He felt the skill¡¯s hold disappear from his arm now that it was out of range of [Lifeline]. He gripped onto the tree tighter, the bark cutting into his hands.

    Leo yelled. A flood of sharp pain burst from his shoulder. It felt like his arm was being torn off, and he barely managed to hang on until the end of the skill¡¯s duration.

    All at once the pulling sensation vanished and Leo fell forward, gasping for air. His shoulder burned, but adrenaline kept his legs moving.

    His feet pounded against the earth, right arm hanging limply at his side while his left maintained a vice grip around the dagger. His vision was blurred with pain. When he chanced a glance behind him, he could barely make out Sonia following at a steady pace without a hint of exhaustion on her features.

    Leo pushed himself to move faster, to get out of range. He activated [Renewal], and he could feel his mana reserves depleting as a soothing wave washed over him.

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    It wasn¡¯t nearly enough to fix things, but it provided enough relief to at least temporarily quell some of the pain.

    Up ahead, Leo could see the fog thickening, meaning he must be getting close to the shore. He ducked beneath a low branch and skidded down a grassy slope.

    Through the silvery mist, he could just barely make out the clear waters of the lake. A boat sat along the rocks that he didn¡¯t recognize. It must be Sonia¡¯s.

    A branch snapped close behind and Leo cursed, turning and running along the perimeter of the small island. He made sure to keep within the forest itself even as he scanned the shore for any sign of Ivan. Had the Hound gotten away with the fragment?

    [Sonia has activated the [Lifeline] skill]

    Leo activated [Sprint] and dove forward. Trees lined him on both sides; there was no space to veer out of the way, so instead he prayed he was far away enough to pass the skill¡¯s maximum range.

    The [Fragmentholder] braced himself for another pull, another wave of pain, but there was nothing but the cracking of more wood as another tree was uprooted.

    He glanced back, taking only a moment to gauge the distance, then kept running. If he could keep the current gap, he thought, then he¡¯d be out of range of [Lifeline].

    But that, Leo knew, was only a temporary solution. He couldn¡¯t keep running forever, especially not with the shore rapidly approaching, and he didn¡¯t want to chance the skill across the lake¡¯s waters. He doubted he¡¯d be able to row fast enough.

    Sonia¡¯s own steady pace and lack of hurry was likely because she, too, knew that he would eventually run out of places to go.

    Through the mist, Leo could just barely make out the shadowed silhouette of the boat he¡¯d left on the shore. The spot where Ivan¡¯s boat had been was now empty. The Hound must have made it off the island with the fragment.

    Leo burst out of the trees, feet sliding on the rocky shore. He jerked around to face Sonia, muscles tensed, the Glass Lake¡¯s surface shining behind him.

    [Sonia has activated the [Lifeline] skill]

    Leo ducked behind a large boulder jutting out from the earth. Its surface cracked, the stone and surrounding rocks yanked violently towards the Hounds leader in a cloud of debris. Leo ran forward just behind it.

    As the stone and smaller rubble flew towards Sonia, the former [Thief] used it as a cover, fingers squeezing around the dagger and waiting until the last second.

    Sonia stepped out of the way of the boulder. Just as she did so, Leo jumped out and lunged.

    The blade came slamming down, but before it could hit, a rough grip stopped his arm in place. Sonia¡¯s fingers tightened, and Leo couldn¡¯t jerk out of the hold, his own hand shaking around the dagger as he tried to wrench himself free.

    Shifting forward, Sonia wound back her other arm. The next thing Leo knew, his head had snapped to the side and his jaw burst in pain.

    Leo reeled back from the force of the punch, attempting to put more distance between them. His head throbbed, vision blurry, but he forced himself to stay focused on the Hound.

    Sonia, however, wasn¡¯t even looking at him. Instead, the woman¡¯s icy blue eyes honed in on the little indent in the earth where Ivan¡¯s boat had been.

    ¡°It seems,¡± she said in that eerily calm voice of hers, ¡°that the fragment has gotten away.¡±

    Leo watched her warily. He wiped his mouth, and the back of his hand came away bloody.

    ¡°Are you gonna go after him?¡± His voice came out strained, his lungs heaving for air. The temporary relief from [Renewal] was starting to fade, and the pain in his shoulder was returning full force.

    Those pale eyes turned, so sharp they seemed to pierce straight through him.

    ¡°Of course.¡± And yet, despite her words, the Hounds leader didn¡¯t move.

    Leo slowly edged backwards only to feel the spray of the lake¡¯s waves against his back. Any further and he would end up in the water itself. He used the brief lull to activate [Mana Recovery] while he had the chance.

    Sonia kept studying him, and the longer the silence went on, the more nervous Leo got.

    ¡°You¡¯re searching for fragments as well,¡± she finally stated in a matter-of-fact tone. Leo blinked, taken off guard by the comment. He didn¡¯t respond, but it didn¡¯t seem like Sonia had expected him to.

    Instead, a slow smile spread across her face. She stepped forward.

    ¡°I did find it curious that you seemed so knowledgeable about fragments. That notification was quite recent, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Her eyes seemed to gleam under the faint light filtering through the fog. The sun would set soon, if it hadn¡¯t already begun.

    Leo¡¯s fingers tightened around the dagger. Hazel eyes scanned his surroundings. There were no trees or boulders nearby to hide behind, just the rocky shore and the vast expanse of the Glass Lake behind him.

    The Hounds leader came to a stop. She cocked her head.

    ¡°I suppose firsthand experience is the best teacher.¡±

    Leo froze for a fraction of a second before he managed to school his features again, but it was too late. Sonia¡¯s smile widened. She might¡¯ve suspected it before, but now he¡¯d all but confirmed that he had a fragment.

    The next moment seemed to pass by in slow motion. There was Sonia raising her hand, the familiar notification flashing across his vision as she activated [Lifeline] again.

    There was the spray of water behind him, his own position cornered at the edge of the shore. No place to run, no time to dodge.

    There was the memory of the Hound he¡¯d pushed into the water, the way the waves had dragged him under.

    There was the sharp pull beckoning him forward.

    Nothing that falls into the lake comes back out.

    He didn¡¯t think. As Sonia jerked her finger and the force of her skill coiled around him, Leo threw himself backwards and plunged into the waters.

 Chapter 45: Rising Tides

    Chapter 45: Rising Tides

    Allan cursed under his breath. Leo¡¯s health had dropped to 44%.

    The [Fragmentholder]''s stat screen was pulled up alongside the party map, and the longer Allan looked at the blinking dot representing the former [Thief], the more and more uneasy he became.

    He shook his head and kept moving forward, roughly pushing through the trees as he made his way back to the shore. His bloodied axe dragged behind him.

    Subconsciously, he knew he should probably move slower considering he¡¯d just finished healing his injuries, but he ignored his better judgement. He needed to hurry¡ªhe had to get to Leo before it was too late.

    With another sharp shove of a branch, the trees cleared and Allan finally saw the jagged line of the shore.

    Their boat was nowhere to be found.

    Allan rushed forward, dark eyes scanning the rocks. He couldn¡¯t see Douglas and Dalton¡¯s boat either. He soon realized what the problem was.

    The waterline had risen. The lake now swallowed more of the island¡¯s shore, and it had taken their boats with its heightened waves.

    Allan frowned down at the crystal clear waters, recalling what Irving had said about the lake. Had they spent too long on its surface? Would another wave rise like the one that had destroyed that village?

    Unease mixed with growing impatience. Without a boat, how the hell was he supposed to get off the island?

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    Allan jerked around, dark eyes meeting familiar grey. Spade¡¯s expression was calm, movements casual.

    His gaze flickered over to the bloody arm hanging limply at her side. Even from here, he could tell the wound was deep. The [Executioner], however, walked as if it wasn¡¯t there, ignoring its existence and simply nodding at him.

    ¡°I see you managed to deal with the other one.¡±

    Allan snorted at that. ¡°And you killed Douglas.¡± His voice was blunt. The scarlet dripping off her sword was confirmation enough.

    Spade shrugged. Her gaze sharpened as she studied the shore, taking their surroundings in without missing a beat.

    ¡°The water rose?¡±

    Allan nodded. ¡°The boats must¡¯ve been washed away. I can¡¯t find them anywhere.¡±

    Spade hummed in acknowledgement and stepped over to a flat stone sitting a few feet away from the new shoreline. She sat down, not seeming remotely concerned or hurried. Allan frowned.

    ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡±

    ¡°If our boat¡¯s gone, we¡¯ll just have to wait for another group of Hounds to come here.¡± She nodded at the [Healer], leaning back to settle into a more comfortable position atop the rock. ¡°Until then, may as well relax.¡±

    Allan¡¯s fingers tightened around the axe handle. Leo¡¯s health bar remained in the corner of his vision, but he couldn¡¯t argue with Spade¡¯s logic. As long as they were stranded here, there was nothing to be done, infuriating as it was.

    Spade seemed to notice the tension coursing through the man, because she raised a scarred eyebrow.

    ¡°Worried?¡±

    The [Healer]¡¯s jaw clenched, which was answer enough.

    ¡°He¡¯ll probably be fine.¡± If someone else had said it the words might have been comforting, but Spade¡¯s tone didn¡¯t change at all, maintaining that slightly detached, unreadable distance that had initially set Allan off. ¡°He can take care of himself.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± Allan¡¯s fingers squeezed into a fist. Leo was plenty capable, he was well aware of that. But it was precisely because he knew Leo so well that he was worried.

    Because for all that Leo was smart, he had a reckless, impulsive side too.

    Sometimes the former [Thief]¡¯s emotions flared up and he threw all caution to the wind.

    Sometimes he¡¯d randomly freeze in the middle of something or start panicking when something triggered a bad memory. It was rare, but he could never be sure with Leo. The man had never known his own limits.

    A low chuckle brought Allan out of his thoughts, and he realized he must¡¯ve spoken out loud. Dark eyes narrowed at the [Executioner].

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    ¡°What?¡±

    Spade waited until her chuckles had faded to answer. ¡°I just found it funny,¡± she said. She cocked her head, grey eyes still glimmering with faint amusement. ¡°Earlier Leo said something similar.¡±

    That made Allan pause. His brows furrowed.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    The [Executioner] shrugged, leaning back on her uninjured arm. ¡°He mentioned that you¡¯re not always the most ¡®stable,¡¯¡± she quoted casually.

    ¡°Unstable.¡± Had Leo really said that about him? Spade¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t malicious, and he doubted the [Executioner] would bother lying about something like this. He didn¡¯t think she cared enough to.

    The far more likely possibility, then, was that this was the truth.

    Allan frowned, silently combing through his memories and trying to find what could¡¯ve led Leo to that conclusion. He¡¯d been careful, he thought.

    When he looked up again, Spade was studying him with those eerily blank eyes.

    ¡°That bothers you.¡± It was a statement, not a question. ¡°Is it because you¡¯re trying to fix your personality? Turn over a new leaf?¡±

    Allan didn¡¯t bother suppressing the snort that rose in response.

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to fix shit.¡± He stepped over and took a seat on a boulder beside the one Spade was occupying. The fog remained thick, no signs of movement within. Not yet, at least.

    The [Executioner] smiled. ¡°I assumed your class choice was some sort of atonement.¡±

    ¡°Well you assumed wrong.¡± Allan picked at some of the blood drying on the axe blade. The handle was a bit loose, and he suspected another good swing would be enough to send the blade flying off. He¡¯d need to get a new one soon.

    Selecting [Healer] had simply been the most logical choice. It filled in some necessary gaps in their group, especially knowing how dangerous hunting fragments would likely be. He¡¯d been surprised it was even an option for him given his past, but he¡¯d given up trying to understand the System ages ago.

    ¡°Seems like a bit of a wasted opportunity,¡± Spade remarked. ¡°[Healer]¡¯s a rare class.¡±

    Allan glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for a System-fate believer.¡±

    The [Executioner] laughed. ¡°Hardly. I simply believe in taking advantage of the opportunities you¡¯re given.¡±

    ¡°That, we agree on,¡± Allan muttered. A particularly large chunk of dried blood flaked off his axe. He stared at the dark red specks absently, rolling them between his fingers. His eyes flicked over to Spade¡¯s wound again, still bleeding steadily. He frowned.

    ¡°Here.¡± He rose and grabbed the arm, squinting at the gash. Spade made no comment or move to stop him.

    He was almost surprised at how deep the wound was. The [Executioner] had high defense. Had Douglas been that strong, or did he have a skill that lowered his opponent¡¯s defense?

    This would probably take a while to stitch together, Allan thought, but he supposed they had time while they waited for more Hounds to show up.

    ¡°For someone so protective, you hide a lot from your friend.¡±

    Allan pulled a cloth out from his bag and dabbed at the wound, attempting to clean it. He then worked on peeling away the shredded, bloodied pieces of sleeve that had stuck to her skin.

    ¡°I¡¯m not gonna worry Leo for nothing,¡± he muttered. He tossed the cloth aside and activated [Mend], a familiar ultramarine glow lighting through the mist.

    ¡°He won¡¯t admit it, but he¡¯s a good person deep down.¡± Not like them, was the unspoken addition. And it was a sentiment Allan stood by. Very few people¡ªespecially in the slums¡ªwould¡¯ve walked into that alleyway and helped him five years ago.

    Though, to be fair, Leo had never said he was from the slums, and Allan was increasingly certain that he hadn¡¯t been born there. The man had much of the same paranoia that slum folks did, but there was a different tinge to it. A different sort of fear that was both familiar and not.

    Regardless of where he¡¯d come from before stepping foot in Sindrey, that didn¡¯t change the fact that, in Allan¡¯s eyes, he was a rare sort. It had taken him months to accept that the then [Thief] hadn¡¯t had ulterior motives for helping him, and with that realization had come a growing respect and, perhaps, admiration.

    That was why Allan didn¡¯t mind quietly taking care of things when Leo pissed someone off or put a target on his back. He could turn up the charm, talk his way out of most things. The exceptions could be solved with a few threats¡ªsometimes more if necessary. That was what he was good at.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [Progress towards next level: 94%]

    Allan leaned back, the glow fading from his hands. The gash wasn¡¯t fully healed, the skin around the area still quite tender, but it was no longer bleeding everywhere.

    Spade took her torn sleeve and roughly wrapped it around the area in a makeshift bandage while Allan scanned for other places he could use [Mend].

    One of the first things he¡¯d done after gaining the spell was find its experience limitations. He¡¯d quickly learned that minor wounds granted little to no experience. Deliberately injuring himself to heal and gain more experience hadn¡¯t worked either.

    Allan sighed when he couldn¡¯t find another place to use the spell. Leo¡¯s dot hadn¡¯t moved on the party map, and he couldn¡¯t tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

    The [Healer] watched Spade warily as she tested the bandages, rolling her shoulder a few times. He still couldn¡¯t read her expressions, still didn¡¯t quite know what to make of her.

    ¡°What about you?¡± he finally asked. The [Executioner] raised a scarred eyebrow. Allan nodded at her.

    ¡°Was [Executioner] your first pick?¡±

    Spade laughed. ¡°Of course not.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯d you choose it then?¡±

    She wiped a cloth down the bloodied blade of her sword, then sheathed it in a single smooth motion. ¡°It¡¯s what I¡¯m good at.¡±

    Allan paused, dark eyes darting over to her. Before he had a chance to respond, however, a flash of movement caught his eye.

    Through the mist, a shadow grew and steadily approached the island. The outline of a boat formed, and soon two blurry silhouettes were visible within.

    Allan exchanged looks with Spade. Without another word, the two ducked into the forest as the boat drew closer. Spade silently pulled out her sword again.

    ¡°You put that away too soon,¡± Allan remarked.

    ¡°Looks like I did.¡±

    They fell into silence as they waited for the boat to reach the shore. Leo¡¯s dot continued to flash on the party map.

    Allan¡¯s fingers tightened around his axe. He only hoped Leo would be able to hold on until they got there.

 Chapter 46: Mirage I

    Chapter 46: Mirage I

    Icy cold burst around him, freezing him down to the bone. Leo choked, bubbles escaping his mouth as two forces pulled on him¡ªone yanking from above, the other attempting to drag him deeper into the depths.

    He squeezed his eyes closed and forced himself to keep his mouth shut and not yell like he wanted to. Every muscle in his body screamed at him. He felt like he was being torn apart, a tense string on the verge of snapping.

    Leo¡¯s mind grew hazy as the piercing pain engulfed him, thoughts and emotions flitting past in fleeting, broken fragments. Strongest among them was regret.

    Another sharp pull brought him deeper into the water, the draw of the lake¡¯s fae magic beginning to gain the upper hand against [Lifeline]. Behind the darkness of his eyelids, the world was reduced to nothing but the pain coursing through his body and the growing roaring in his ears.

    Memories rose in flashes.

    Pristine long corridors where all footsteps echoed, dwarfing everything within. Hazel eyes that looked just like his own. A looming figure, a constant presence felt in every corner and room. Bruises and wounds layered on top of old ones. The clanging of chains. Mildew and iron. The smell of smoke. Screaming.

    Then, amidst that landscape of crackling red and grey, the whipping strands of hair that billowed in the wind. Crimson against scarlet.

    Leo¡¯s eyes snapped open.

    The roar in his ears faded into chilling silence, and the pain abruptly dulled. He couldn¡¯t tell how much time had passed, how much time was passing now. All he knew was that for a moment, suspended in the crystal clear waters, everything fell still.

    Had the fae magic and [Lifeline] temporarily canceled each other out? He didn¡¯t know, but he was certain this wouldn¡¯t last. Both forces seemed to fluctuate during their durations. Soon enough one of them would win out again, and he had to get away before that happened.

    Lungs and muscles aching, Leo forced himself to move, ignoring the sharp pain in his shoulder as he attempted to swim away.

    The amulet floated around his neck. Its blue stone gleamed in the light that filtered down into the waters. Though the tides above had been released, down below, the lake was every bit as still and silent as it had been when they¡¯d first seen it.

    Leo felt a faint tugging return, and he swam faster. He was running out of breath. He kept swimming diagonally, up towards the surface but further along the shore so he could resurface away from Sonia.

    The pull grew stronger. The [Fragmentholder] gritted his teeth and kept going.

    Up above, the light of the surface became increasingly blinding. It seemed like the fae magic somehow allowed the waters to catch the sun¡¯s rays through the cloaking fog.

    The fae. Normally their magic made it impossible to see within the waters, but here he was, barely hanging on, hazel eyes opened and vision clear.

    Leo looked down.

    Only his own tight control kept him from gasping and losing the last of his air. He didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d expected¡ªliving fae watching from the lake floor, perhaps an underwater kingdom like the ones artists loved to depict of the days before the fall of the ancients.

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    A part of him wondered, distantly, when he¡¯d also started to believe that there were living fae in the Glass Lake. Perhaps it was the conviction of people like Irving and Ivan. Perhaps it was his own experiences with the magic that seemed so alive.

    Whatever it was, somewhere along the way he¡¯d subconsciously begun to believe in those ancient fae lurking in the depths below.

    But what Leo saw were not water fae gazing up at the surface, nor did he see the underwater paradise depicted in the paintings.

    Instead, what lay beneath the Glass Lake was a graveyard.

    Cracked stone and debris jutted out from the lake floor like tombstones, dull grey crumbling into dust and wasting away. Pearly white bones lay scattered in chunks and pieces, pulled apart by the water. Steadily eroding to nothing.

    Amongst the wreckage, curled above like a parent protectively cradling their child, was a massive corpse that completely dwarfed its surroundings.

    Long, curling white bones as thick as Leo was tall wrapped around the ruins, forming a crude ribcage. Several bones were gone, and they left wide gaps for water to flow freely through. From the side, they looked like a gaping mouth with missing teeth.

    The sharp edges of what were once fins fanned outwards, climbing down a crooked spine. Though scattered in rough, uneven patches, Leo thought he could make out the opalescent gleam of scales.

    Dark stringy hair floated in the waters, tangling around the corpse¡¯s own skeleton like seaweed. They drifted in front of the drooping head, obscuring its face from view and leaving the head shadowed. A sagging, sharp mouth flashed behind the occasional gaps in the strands. A chill ran up Leo¡¯s back.

    It had to be nearly the size of the old water titans. He didn¡¯t know fae could be this massive. He could picture the creature alive, the way it would fill up the space with its presence.

    In its current state, bones gnarled and loose patches of surviving flesh barely clinging onto its skeleton as they decayed, it was nothing more than another piece of the lake floor. Once the rulers of the Glass Lake, now swallowed inside with only their lingering traces of magic to indicate that they¡¯d ever existed here.

    Leo stared at the sight, transfixed. If he wasn¡¯t still trying to take everything in, he might¡¯ve thought it was ironic.

    The force responsible for the labyrinth of tides that had stumped the Hounds for so long, for the wave that had destroyed an entire village and rendered the people here so afraid¡ªit was nothing more than the lingering remains of a dead legend. Clearside and all others living by the Glass Lake¡¯s shores were haunted by the ghost of what once was.

    Another sharp yank caused Leo¡¯s body to lurch upwards, and his eyes squeezed shut again.

    His lungs burned. His limbs struggled against the pull, but he could feel himself rapidly approaching the surface as [Lifeline] began to win out over the leftover fae magic.

    Seconds later, he broke through the waves. Leo gasped, spitting out water and gulping for air. He was shivering, head reeling, and only barely managed to drag himself up to the shore.

    His entire body felt heavy and weak, as though his limbs weren¡¯t his own. His shoulder burned, and he was faintly aware of his stamina dipping down to 13%.

    The image of the fae corpse still lingered vividly in his mind, so much that he almost didn¡¯t notice the sound of footsteps approaching.

    Slowly, Leo raised his head and met eyes with a cool, icy blue gaze. Sonia studied the shivering form in front of her, and there was something resembling curiosity on her otherwise stoic features.

    ¡°Clever,¡± she remarked. Leo attempted to hack some more water out of his lungs and forced himself to rise on shaky legs.

    ¡°Did you see the fae?¡±

    The question caught Leo by surprise. He frowned. He tried to study the Hounds leader, but he couldn¡¯t discern her motive. As far as he could tell, she genuinely wanted to know.

    His fingers squeezed tighter around his dagger¡¯s handle. Somehow, he¡¯d managed to keep a hold on it through everything, and he was grateful to not be completely weaponless right now.

    ¡°I saw their corpses.¡±

    Sonia was quiet for a moment, expression still. It seemed like she was processing something, or perhaps she was coming to a decision. When she responded, her voice was unreadable.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    And then she surged forward.

 Chapter 47: Mirage II

    Chapter 47: Mirage II

    Leo leapt to the side, barely managing to get out of the way of a swift punch. He stumbled a little, still fighting to get the feeling back in his cold limbs. Sonia followed through the blow by slamming a kick into his stomach.

    The [Fragmentholder] felt the breath leave his lungs from the force of the impact. The Hound moved to grab him, and he only barely managed to duck down in time.

    He swung out at her legs with his dagger. The blade pierced skin, but Sonia didn¡¯t even flinch.

    Instead, she aimed a second kick that Leo rolled out of the way of. He felt his skin scraping against the rough stones of the shore and staggered back up to his feet. Sonia wasn¡¯t using [Lifeline] anymore, he realized. She was probably too low on mana.

    Hazel eyes scanned their surroundings. The tree line stood several feet away, Sonia standing between him and the forest. He¡¯d have a much better chance fighting her there than out in the open like this.

    Beneath his feet, stray loose pebbles rolled around as he shifted his weight. He still felt a bit light headed, and he squeezed the dagger harder to try and force his limbs to steady.

    Leo bolted forward, knife reeled back as though to strike. Sonia raised an arm to block.

    At the last second, the [Fragmentholder] swerved to the side, side stepping the Hound entirely. His shoes dug into the earth, kicking up a spray of rocks as added cover. The forest was so close, Leo thought. He was almost there. He¡ª

    A hand shot out and yanked him backwards, hurling him back towards the shoreline.

    For a moment, he was suspended in the air, caught between sky and earth. Then his reflexes kicked in. Leo gritted his teeth and jerked his legs around, maneuvering in the air and managing to land roughly on his feet.

    The Hounds leader didn¡¯t give him a chance to think or catch his breath before she was lunging again. Leo barely dodged her next left hook, which was followed by Sonia ramming her right hand straight into his dislocated shoulder.

    Leo screamed in pain, vision blurring. He swung his dagger blindly, feeling it cut something, but a knee colliding with his gut stopped him before he could make another strike.

    Temporarily stunned, his fingers loosened. He distantly heard his dagger land on the ground with a clatter.

    The next thing Leo knew, a hand gripped his throat and slammed him down onto the shore. He choked, hands flying up to try and loosen the hold, but Sonia didn¡¯t budge. She loomed over him, immovable, those piercing eyes staring down at him.

    This was nothing like fighting the other Hounds on the lake or the warden, Leo realized. The gap in levels between them was too large, and he¡¯d foolishly assumed that because Sonia usually attacked from a distance with her [Lifeline] skill, she wouldn¡¯t be proficient at close combat.

    He was wrong.

    ¡°Now then, where is the fragment?¡± the woman spoke coolly.

    The pressure around Leo¡¯s throat lessened just enough for him to speak, but he remained pinned in place.

    He could feel the spray of the lake on his head; a single push would be enough for Sonia to throw him into the water, and this time there would be nothing to stop the lingering fae magic from yanking him under for good.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have it,¡± Leo gritted out. Sonia stared at him for a moment, then moved her free hand and ground her knuckles into his wound.

    For a moment there was nothing but blinding pain. Black dots appeared in his vision. He couldn¡¯t think or speak, the world reduced to only the shooting sensation coursing through his shoulder.

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    By the time Leo finally felt aware again, his throat was hoarse, his chest was heaving in ragged breaths, and Sonia was still holding him in place, perfectly patient. Her other hand remained hovering above his shoulder in a silent threat. Leo swallowed.

    Even as he spoke, his mind churned, moving a mile a minute. He tried to think of a way, any way, out of this situation. If he could just manage to get Sonia into the lake, the fae magic would take care of the rest, but he had so little stamina and mana left that he couldn¡¯t afford to mess up.

    ¡°I¡¯m not lying,¡± he managed to gasp out. ¡°It¡¯s not on me.¡±

    If he could just find a way to distract her, get her to loosen her hold, then maybe he had a chance. He had [Visual Illusion], but its scope was still limited. What was small enough for the spell to manage, but would still catch her attention for long enough?

    Sonia raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is that so?¡± Her right hand shifted away for a moment and she pulled out a dagger. The same dagger, Leo realized, that he¡¯d thrown at her earlier.

    His heart beat faster. Maybe a system notification? That would be small enough, and his personal skill allowed him to see her perspective on system notifications so he could make it look authentic. But what would be enough to distract her?

    Sonia spun the dagger around once in her hand, pale eyes cold and sharp.

    ¡°I heard a rumor that the fragments can be absorbed. It would make sense, given what they are.¡± The pressure around Leo¡¯s throat grew heavier.

    ¡°The question is whether or not they maintain a solid enough form in the body to dig out.¡±

    Leo¡¯s mind skimmed through every interaction he¡¯d had since arriving in Clearside, every little piece of information he¡¯d gotten. His conversations with Irving, his first encounter with Sonia, even her most recent question about the fae in the lake.

    The Hounds leader¡¯s eyes narrowed. She seemed to be scanning him almost clinically, searching for the best place to begin carving. The dagger gleamed in the fading light.

    Think, think. There were only so many things a notification could say without being immediately recognizable as fake. What would catch his own attention, Leo thought desperately.

    Hazel eyes flashed in his mind.

    And then, it hit him.

    ¡°She is. She and her sister used to live here. Sylvia, her name was. Never the most extroverted, but they were fairly well liked I¡¯d say.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve both lost loved ones to the lake.¡±

    Sonia raised the dagger. Leo exhaled, casting [Visual Illusion] just as the blade plunged down. The fake notification appeared in an instant.

    [Sylvia has joined your party]

    Abruptly, Sonia¡¯s hand stilled. Her hold around the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s neck loosened.

    Leo yanked himself up, activating [Sprint] to aid the motion. Every muscle in his body strained, his shoulder screaming at him as he threw the Hound off of him with all his strength.

    The weight atop him lessened slightly, but Leo didn¡¯t stop there. With a final heave that sent another piercing pain shooting through his shoulder, he managed to shove Sonia off far enough that her hand touched the lake.

    It was enough.

    The moment her skin brushed against the waves, a sharp force jerked Sonia downwards. Her eyes widened slightly, and she wrenched herself back, pushing against the force of the magic.

    Her expression shifted into something sharp and fierce. Her normally calm, pale blue gaze blazed with fire as she fought against the lake, mouth twisting into a snarl.

    For a second Leo thought she would succeed, that the Hound would manage to win out.

    And then as another wave crashed onto the shore, the magic gave a final tug and pulled Sonia down into the depths below.

    Leo stared down into the clear waters, chest still heaving as he gasped for breath. Like the Hound from earlier, Sonia had completely vanished from sight.

    He wondered distantly if she was seeing the same fae corpse or if the magic would pull her somewhere else. He didn¡¯t know. His mind still felt fuzzy, his whole body utterly drained and his shoulder aching so much that his arm didn¡¯t even feel like a part of him anymore. His stamina was at 6%.

    Closing his eyes and taking a moment to collect himself, Leo gritted his teeth and forced himself up.

    He didn¡¯t move his gaze away from the water, half convinced that Sonia would suddenly appear again. Was she really dead? Was it over?

    His vision flashed in answer.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [You have leveled up! 300 points awarded]

    [You have gained a new skill: Dagger Proficiency]

    [You have gained bonus experience! You can now select how to distribute your bonus experience among your party]

    [Progress towards next level: 31%]

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 Interlude: Sonia

    Interlude: Sonia

    She¡¯d always thought it was interesting how a place could change so much in the mind. Its exterior could stay the same, frozen in time, and yet the way the memory viewed it could alter irrecoverably.

    Sonia wasn¡¯t sure when exactly the first shift occurred. All she knew was that one day as she gazed at Clearside¡ªat its quaint wooden homes, its dirt road, the still lake behind it¡ªits scenery was no longer the calming presence it had once been.

    The comforting routines of village life became dull and predictable. The once reliable community was now stifling. Somewhere along the way, she¡¯d realized how colorless Clearside truly was and how little it mattered.

    It was fitting, she thought, that it sat on the Glass Lake¡¯s shore. Both were static and unchanging. Neither one could ever grow into something more.

    Perhaps it was simple aging that had done it. Or perhaps the early death of her parents had planted the seeds, and only now were they blossoming.

    Their deaths had occurred fairly early in her life, early enough that the most Sonia had ever felt towards them was resentment at her own lost childhood. There had always been a weight on her, one that kept her from running carefree along the shores like the other kids her age.

    Regardless of the exact reason, by the time Sonia had reached her mid twenties, she¡¯d come to resent Clearside.

    She detested its inhabitants, the way they put on false smiles and lived their days happily ignorant of the world outside. She despised its enclosed buildings, the low ceilings that she could never seem to breathe properly in. And she hated the lake¡ªits flat, dull line that seemed to mock her with its presence.

    And yet, despite this growing resentment, she remained within the village. Not because she enjoyed stewing in hatred or because she feared leaving. She was plenty capable and had even managed to slain an Echo by herself. She knew she would do fine on her own.

    But Sonia wasn¡¯t alone, and no matter how tainted her own image of Clearside became, Sylvia had never held that same bitterness.

    Of course she didn¡¯t. Sonia had made sure of it.

    The childhood Sonia had never had, she gave to Sylvia. She took care of household responsibilities so her sister could laugh and run freely outside. She worked multiple jobs to maintain a steady income so Sylvia wouldn¡¯t have to.

    ¡°You¡¯re a good sister,¡± the general store owner had said to her once.

    They¡¯d been running errands when one of Sylvia¡¯s school friends had shown up and invited her over to a party. ¡°Parties¡± weren¡¯t much in Clearside, but Sylvia had looked at her with big blue eyes, so Sonia had told her to go and leave the rest of the day¡¯s chores to her.

    Her sister had beamed and thanked her profusely before running off, and Sonia remembered the fond look on the store owner¡¯s eyes as they¡¯d both watched her leave. The woman¡¯s own daughter had moved away from Clearside a few years ago, if Sonia remembered correctly.

    ¡°Not really,¡± she¡¯d said. The store owner had given her a knowing look that Sonia had ignored. She didn¡¯t expect the woman to understand.

    Of course she knew why people would say that. Sonia was responsible, and she took care of Sylvia with the same diligence and effort she put into everything else.

    But at the end of the day, she would be lying if she said she was particularly fond of her sister. Most of the time she thought of watching over Sylvia the same as she did her other jobs; something that had to be done and that she did well, but there wasn¡¯t much emotion in it.

    Some days there was more. The time she¡¯d walked into the kitchen and seen Sylvia failing miserably at baking her a cake for her birthday. The evenings when they sat on the roof to watch the sunset and she listened to Sylvia ramble about her day.

    But those moments, Sonia had noticed, were growing fewer and farther between. It wasn¡¯t love that made her stay in Clearside to watch Sylvia. It was a sense of obligation and duty, and Sonia had always been nothing if not dutiful.

    And so, she allowed her own growing bitterness to fester as she continued about her days, feeling each grain of time slip past.

    ¡ª

    The second time Sonia¡¯s view of Clearside changed was after Sylvia died.

    The villagers left condolence flowers. Sonia didn¡¯t answer the countless knocks, but at night she would open the door and see them piled around the home, the petals spread around the worn wooden walls in colorful bunches. It looked like someone had pulled a piece of a meadow and dropped it around their house.

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    Her house, now.

    Sonia left the flowers outside. She didn¡¯t have room for them indoors, and they would wilt soon anyway.

    A week after Sylvia¡¯s death, Sonia began her old routines again. She heard the whispers around her as she did her errands and went to work, saw the sympathetic glances tossed her way.

    ¡°Poor girl,¡± they would say. ¡°Taken by the lake.¡±

    Sonia let them whisper. She brushed off any attempts from people to ¡°talk.¡± Irving had been particularly persistent about it, but she wasn¡¯t interested in trading sob stories with the man.

    The landscape had shifted again. It was no longer just stifling, but actively insulting.

    Sonia watched the villagers add Sylvia¡¯s name to the list of people ¡°lost to the lake¡± and wondered if they were conditioned to be so spineless, so unthinkingly accepting of the state of things. If the fae ever appeared, she knew Clearside¡¯s inhabitants would probably all drop to their knees and pray.

    Sonia had no interest in ¡°paying respects¡± to the lake. She had no interest in playing the village¡¯s song and dance.

    The other villagers wouldn¡¯t even acknowledge that Sylvia had died. It was always ¡°taken,¡± as if the word could soften the truth. Or perhaps there were some who were foolish enough to believe that those dragged into the lake somehow survived.

    She had never minced words before, and she wouldn¡¯t do it now. Her sister was dead. Her sister was dead, and she still didn¡¯t know how to feel about it.

    She was sure she should¡¯ve felt more sorrow; that was certainly what the villagers expected. Instead, that moment when she¡¯d watched Sylvia step into the waters, ignoring Sonia¡¯s yells and calls, she¡¯d felt nothing but hollowness.

    And now, as the days passed, that hollowness morphed into anger.

    Sonia didn¡¯t have a lot of experience with anger, but she decided that she liked the emotion. It made her mind sharper, made the world snap into focus. Anger made it easier to come to a decision. It made it easier to shut out the little voice in her head that whispered that maybe Sylvia hadn¡¯t been possessed by some old fae magic, that maybe she¡¯d stepped into the lake of her own accord.

    That maybe Sonia had failed her duty so deeply that she hadn¡¯t even noticed why Sylvia might choose to be pulled into the waters.

    Sonia tightened the drawstring on her bag and gave the house a final cursory glance.

    It had always been mostly bare. Their parents hadn¡¯t owned much, and Sonia had never seen the point in excessive decorations. Sylvia had tried to ¡°spruce it up¡± by adding some flowers she found, but they always died quickly.

    Sonia swung the bag over her shoulder and double checked that she had everything. Once she was certain, she stepped outside and left the door hanging open behind her, departing Clearside.

    ¡ª

    Sonia didn¡¯t believe in fate, but when she heard Ivan¡¯s vision of the fragment on the Glass Lake, she understood why others did.

    Up in northern Avel, the night air was crisper, the dark shadow of distant forests and mountains blocking out the horizon. The Hounds had guards posted to watch for the Silence, and as a safety precaution no one was allowed to leave the camp alone after nightfall.

    The rules, of course, didn¡¯t apply to Sonia. The guards simply nodded at her as she stepped past, and she didn¡¯t give them a second glance.

    She enjoyed taking strolls at night. Most would only call nighttime dangerous, but to her, the quiet was a welcome reprieve. She liked how the wind grew chillier, how the entire word softened under a blanket of darkness.

    Tomorrow, she would inform the rest of the Hounds about the fragment. Then they would head to the lake.

    The corners of her mouth curled up in something that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. Perhaps she should¡¯ve felt trepidation or unease at returning to the Glass Lake¡ªto Sylvia¡¯s graveyard.

    Instead, another emotion rose, one that was hard to put her finger on. It burned like ambition but cut with a sharper edge. It was old and deeply familiar. It was the desire to conquer that which had once taken from her.

    A soft chirping interrupted Sonia¡¯s thoughts. She glanced over to see a small bird hobbling along the dirt road. Animals usually hid at night too, but based on its uneven movements, it was likely injured. The bird flapped its wings a few times, but could never leave the ground for more than a few seconds at a time.

    Sonia watched its movements grow increasingly frantic. She activated [Lifeline].

    With a simple tug of a finger, the bird flew backwards. She caught it in her hand, staring impassively down at it as it struggled in her grasp. As she¡¯d thought, its wing was broken.

    Footsteps sounded behind her, and Sonia glanced back to see Flora stopping a few feet away.

    ¡°Excuse me, Douglas is looking for you. He said he wishes to speak with you about something.¡±

    So the man had heard about the vision. She should¡¯ve known Ivan would tell him. Sonia nodded and waved Flora away. ¡°Tell him to meet me in my tent. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±

    Flora nodded and left, her movements calm and steady as she walked. She was one of the most reliable of the Hounds, Sonia had found.

    After taking a moment to enjoy another breeze, she tossed the bird aside, the creature scrambling away in uneven hobbles. It likely wouldn¡¯t survive the night.

    Turning towards the camp, Sonia made her way back, blond hair gleaming in the moonlight.

 Chapter 48: Tidal Wave I

    Chapter 48: Tidal Wave I

    The string of notifications was the final confirmation he¡¯d needed. Leo allowed his shoulders to slump back down. The fight was over.

    He¡¯d won.

    Leo squinted, still struggling to process things through the pain. He found he had just enough mana left for [Renewal] and activated it, thankful that he¡¯d used [Mana Recovery] earlier.

    A familiar soothing wave passed through him, dulling the pain in his jaw and stomach and healing a few minor cuts and bruises he¡¯d gotten during the fight. His shoulder still stung, but it was at a level he could somewhat tolerate.

    Leo exhaled and quickly scanned the notifications. His eyebrows rose at the third one, and if he wasn¡¯t so exhausted, his heart would probably be racing in excitement.

    He¡¯d never gotten bonus experience before. It and bonus points were one of those things that everyone had heard about, but only a select few received. It looked like he could choose how to distribute it too, unlike regular experience that automatically divided itself between party members.

    The question was why he¡¯d gotten it. The easiest answer was that it was because of the level gap between him and Sonia, but you never knew when it came to the System. It could just as easily have to do with the lake and the lingering fae magic.

    He would deal with it once he was somewhere safe. Leo carefully moved over to where his dagger had fallen and sheathed it.

    [Dagger Proficiency] was a nice addition. The System was finally rewarding his constant use of knives. He remembered Spade had a skill called [Blade Proficiency], which sounded like a more general version.

    Leo looked around, trying to place himself on the island shore. His brows furrowed. His boat should be around here, but he couldn¡¯t see it anywhere. Leo carefully began circling the small island while he distributed his points.

    He was almost tempted to level up [Dagger Proficiency], but it was a passive that could level on its own, and he¡¯d probably be using it a lot anyway.

    Instead, he raised his constitution up by 2 and his strength by 1. He couldn¡¯t keep running out of stamina like this in the next fight.

    Leo stopped walking. His eyes widened. The water level had risen, he realized. The island was even smaller now, and if he looked closely, he could see the waves creeping further into the shore with each new push and pull.

    He cursed, a hand flying to the amulet around his neck, but it remained cool to the touch. Was this the fae magic acting up?

    He rapidly scanned the shore, searching for a way off. He had to leave before the entire island was underwater. He still needed to find Ivan and get the fragment.

    ¡°Leo!¡±

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s head snapped to the side, muscles automatically tensing, but he relaxed when his eyes landed on an approaching boat with two familiar figures seated inside.

    ¡°Over here!¡± Leo yelled. As the boat drew closer, he could see both Allan and Spade within.

    Their clothes were covered in dried blood, mud, and new rips. Spade¡¯s arm was wrapped in a bandage, the wound quite nasty if the amount of blood soaking through her torn sleeve was any indication, but they otherwise seemed fine. Leo¡¯s shoulders slumped in relief.

    The boat lightly hit the shore and Allan jumped out, running over. His eyes were wide, rapidly taking in the former [Thief]¡¯s injuries. Leo cut him off before he could scold him for his recklessness.

    ¡°Not now. We need to get off the island first.¡±

    Allan¡¯s jaw clenched, but he nodded. Carefully, he helped Leo over to the boat, making sure not to put any pressure on his injured shoulder. Spade kept the boat in place as they got in, and Leo winced as he accidentally bumped his arm.

    He gritted his teeth. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said. The fog, he realized, was starting to thin out. Combined with the rising water level, he got a very bad feeling about the whole situation. The faster they got off the lake, the better.

    Spade pushed off the shore and began rowing while Allan looked over his wounds.

    ¡°What happened? Did you fight Ivan?¡±

    Leo snorted, then immediately regretted it when the motion caused his ribs to sting.

    ¡°The fragment was there. I was gonna steal it from him, but Sonia showed up.¡± He winced as Allan carefully lifted his arm to get a better look at his shoulder.

    Taking a moment to catch his breath, Leo continued. ¡°I managed to throw her into the lake, but Ivan left with the fragment,¡± he muttered. He stared down at the wooden floor of the boat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

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    ¡°Shut up.¡±

    Leo looked up in surprise. Allan¡¯s eyes were hard.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare blame yourself. You fought Sonia by yourself and won.¡± He raised a hand and activated [Mend]. A now familiar ultramarine glow lit up the boat and the remaining few wisps of fog.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the fragment. We¡¯ll just find Ivan and take it back.¡± There was zero room for question in Allan¡¯s voice.

    Leo felt a wave of relief wash over him as the cuts and broken ribs from the fight began to heal. This seemed a little advanced compared to past uses, but when he checked Allan¡¯s stat sheet, he saw that [Mend] was now level 3. He must¡¯ve used all his points on their recent level up to raise it.

    ¡°I have to set your shoulder before I can use [Mend] on it,¡± Allan explained. He frowned at the offending wound. ¡°Will you be okay until we reach shore?¡±

    Leo smiled crookedly. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve got much of a choice here.¡±

    The [Healer] shook his head, but returned the smile.

    ¡°What about you? Did you run into Douglas and Dalton?¡±

    Allan¡¯s eyes darkened at the mention of the two Hounds. Spade was the one to answer, the [Executioner] continuing to row through the increasingly thin fog in smooth motions as she spoke.

    ¡°We fought them,¡± she said simply. It didn¡¯t need to be stated who had won, given their presence here. She glanced back at Leo. ¡°Any ideas where the other one landed?¡±

    She must be talking about Ivan. Leo shook his head. ¡°Probably not too far from Clearside,¡± he guessed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll land a little ways away from the village then.¡± She gestured with her head, and through the rapidly vanishing fog, Leo could see the shapes of other boats atop the lake¡¯s surface.

    His fingers squeezed into a fist. The remaining Hounds would get a notification that their party leader had died, and while he didn¡¯t know how many among the mercenary group were loyal to Sonia, he¡¯d rather not risk a confrontation right now.

    He nodded, and Spade carefully rowed the boat in a diagonal angle. Leo¡¯s brows furrowed. Maybe it was his imagination, but the waves looked much stronger now.

    The chill from before returned. Leo turned back towards the center of the lake. It was faint, but he swore he saw the surface bubble, pulsing like a breath. He heard Irving¡¯s voice in his head telling him about the other village that had been destroyed. About the sudden wave that had risen.

    Cold dread settled in Leo¡¯s stomach. His heart raced.

    ¡°Head to Clearside,¡± he blurted out. Spade glanced back, raising a scarred eyebrow. Allan shot the [Fragmentholder] a confused look.

    ¡°The lake. I think there¡¯s gonna be another tide, like the one Irving was talking about.¡± His hand grabbed the amulet, its cold, solid weight a steady comfort. ¡°It¡¯s gonna take out the entire village if it¡¯s anything like he said. We need to warn the villagers. Hell, the Hounds too.¡±

    Allan frowned. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to stay away? There¡¯s no reason to risk getting close.¡±

    Leo shot the [Healer] an incredulous look. ¡°Are you kidding? I¡¯m not letting a whole ass village die if I can help it.¡±

    As far as he could tell, the residents of Clearside were perfectly normal people who¡¯d ended up in a shitty situation. They definitely didn¡¯t deserve to drown.

    He was more iffy on the Hounds, but even if they¡¯d had conflicting interests by virtue of the fragment, he didn¡¯t want them all to die. He would do what had to be done to get the fragment, but he wasn¡¯t going to let a senseless massacre occur just because some leftover fae magic had gone haywire.

    The boat turned, pointing back towards Clearside¡¯s silhouette on the shore. Leo stood in the boat as they drew closer to the remaining Hounds.

    He could see heads turning in their direction, a few hands flying to their weapons. Sucking in a breath, he yelled with as much force as he could.

    ¡°Get off the lake!¡±

    There was some hesitation at that, but it wasn¡¯t enough. It didn¡¯t help that his lungs still felt tight and his voice wasn¡¯t nearly as loud as he¡¯d like.

    Leo waved his uninjured hand, gesturing towards the center of the lake where the water was now visibly bubbling.

    ¡°Just see for yourself! If you don¡¯t get to shore now you¡¯ll get caught in the wave!¡±

    That got a few more people to stop, and some of the Hounds glanced at each other. Some saw the bubbling and started rowing away, but others still seemed hesitant. Leo lowered his hand in frustration.

    The boat shifted, and Leo felt a presence at his side. He turned to see Allan had moved beside him.

    The [Healer] leaned forward as their boat drew closer to the remaining groups of Hounds, dark eyes narrowed and so cold that Leo had to remind himself this was Allan. He turned on [Judgement] almost instinctively as the man yelled at the lingering Hounds.

    [Allan has equipped [Intimidation]]

    Leo blinked. That had to be a passive. Their party stat sheets only showed equipped passives. He¡¯d never seen Allan use that skill before; he hadn¡¯t even known that he¡¯d had it.

    Leo snapped back to the present. He¡¯d missed what Allan had said, but it seemed that it combined with the growing bubbling across the lake¡¯s surface had finally been enough to get the rest of the Hounds scrambling.

    Allan sat back down, eyes back to their usual warm black. Leo studied him for a moment, trying to find a trace of that intensity, but it had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

    ¡°¡­Thank you,¡± he said quietly. Allan nodded at him, and his smile was completely familiar.

    ¡°No problem.¡±

    The boat sped forward, Spade rowing rapidly through the churning waves. Leo¡¯s muscles tensed as they drew closer to the shore, where he could see a crowd of villagers had gathered. Perhaps they¡¯d watched the Hounds when they¡¯d initially set out, or maybe they¡¯d noticed the thinning fog.

    The waves kept rising, and Leo¡¯s fingers squeezed around the hard edge of the boat.

    He hoped they weren¡¯t too late.

 Chapter 49: Tidal Wave II

    Chapter 49: Tidal Wave II

    By the time the boat reached the shore, the waves thrashed violently. Leo had to grip the edge of the vessel with his uninjured arm to cling on. The water¡¯s spray was icy cold against his skin.

    Up ahead, the crowd gathered by the shore had grown in size. Nervous faces murmured and watched the returning boats with wary unease.

    Leo noted that a few Hounds seemed to have stayed behind during the fragment hunt, perhaps to watch over Clearside. Among them, standing in the front of the crowd, was Flora.

    The first few boats up ahead reached the shore, and the groups of Hounds leapt out. Most rushed over to Flora, confirming Leo¡¯s suspicion that she was the de facto leader of the ¡°land group.¡±

    They were too far away to hear what the Hounds were saying, but Leo suspected they were explaining what had happened on the lake. Throughout it all, Flora¡¯s green eyes remained fixed on them. Leo swallowed. He wondered for a brief moment how far her [Watcher] personal skill extended¡ªhow much she¡¯d seen.

    The moment their boat hit the shore, Leo jumped out, ignoring Allan¡¯s concerned call. He jostled his shoulder with the motion, but the temporary pain relief from [Renewal] and his own adrenaline allowed him to push past the sharp sting.

    ¡°You all need to evacuate!¡± he yelled at the gathered crowd. He jerked his head at the lake. ¡°There¡¯s gonna be another wave; it¡¯s not safe here!¡±

    Eyes flashed to the waters, and Leo was distantly aware of more Hounds landing behind them. The murmur of the crowd rose to a panic. Villagers began to scatter, fleeing from the shore. The people of Clearside knew to take any warnings about the Glass Lake seriously.

    Through the growing chaos, Flora continued to stare at Leo, who met her gaze evenly. She didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°I¡¯m not lying,¡± he said, muscles tense. Flora, however, acted like she hadn¡¯t heard him.

    ¡°What happened to Sonia?¡±

    Leo blinked, caught off guard by the question. They¡¯d definitely received a party notification about her death.

    The [Fragmentholder] gritted his teeth. He could hear the sound of the waves growing; they didn¡¯t have time for this right now. Just as he opened his mouth to retort, however, a second figure stepped up to Flora. The words died in his throat.

    Ivan, clothes and hair smeared with mud and eyes haunted but otherwise unharmed, shot Leo an inscrutable look, then turned to the other Hound.

    ¡°You can trust him, Flora,¡± he muttered. ¡°He saved my life.¡±

    The surprise that filtered into Flora¡¯s expression mimicked Leo¡¯s own. He¡¯d expected Ivan to take off running with the fragment, but here he was. A single use of [Judgement] confirmed that the fragment was indeed still on him.

    Slowly, Flora nodded and turned to the other Hounds.

    ¡°You heard him. All injured Hounds move to higher ground. The rest of you, evacuate the villagers.¡±

    Her voice was steady¡ªnot quite a yell but clear enough to be heard.

    After a brief pause, the Hounds burst into movement. The last lingering parts of the crowd scattered.

    Yells rang across the street. Doors opened and slammed as people rushed into their homes. Others ran about in a frenzy, searching for their families.

    By now, the rippling tide could be seen from within Clearside¡¯s borders, and it only further inflamed the growing mayhem.

    ¡°Leave your possessions, move to higher ground!¡± Flora yelled, taking charge. Leo hadn¡¯t expected the Hounds to help the villagers; he didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d been expecting.

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    Allan stepped beside him, dark eyes tracing Ivan¡¯s movements as the man went to help with evacuations.

    ¡°What do you want to do?¡± he asked quietly. Leo frowned, hazel eyes fixed on the Hound.

    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s just keep an eye on him for now,¡± he finally said. He turned to Allan and Spade. ¡°First, we need to help the villagers get away.¡± Ivan didn¡¯t look like he was planning on running. They could get the fragment after this.

    The two of them nodded and scattered. More boats landed on the shore, the Hounds inside jumping out and bolting. Many of them were drenched head to toe. Leo could see a boat still left on the lake flip over, unable to withstand the rocking waves. The people inside yelled as they fell in, but their voices soon stopped as the Glass Lake pulled them under.

    Leo looked around, and he spotted a man leaning against a store wall in an alleyway, shoulders hunched. He hurried over. A quick scan revealed that the man was only putting weight on one leg.

    ¡°I dropped my cane,¡± he muttered, eyes flicking between Leo and the lake. Leo nodded and stepped closer, offering his uninjured arm.

    ¡°Here, lean on me.¡±

    The man nodded gratefully, and slowly but surely they made their way out of the village up to higher ground. Leo gritted his teeth. The man was taller than him, and the weight put pressure on his injured shoulder regardless, but he pushed through and kept going.

    The [Fragmentholder] could see a growing crowd gathering outside the village¡¯s perimeter. There, the grassy ground sloped upwards into a hill overlooking the lake. The main dirt road that he, Allan, and Spade had traveled on acted as an unofficial boundary.

    A woman hurried over to help the man as they approached, thanking Leo profusely. He waved her off and ran back down to the village. It felt distinctly odd to hear someone thanking him like that, he thought.

    Time moved in a blur. Leo wasn¡¯t sure how long had passed. The world seemed to both speed up and slow down at once.

    Clearside was in a frenzy. He hurried down battered dirt streets, helping the remaining villagers up to the hill. Hounds and villagers alike aided the evacuation efforts. Flora continued to take charge; doors slammed and were left swinging open on their hinges in the race against the clock.

    Slowly but surely, the village emptied out. The streets, once flooded with people, now lay deserted with abandoned possessions strewn across the damp earth. Leo¡¯s own heart was racing, his breaths rough, but he cast Clearside a final scan.

    By now, Flora and the Hounds were also moving to higher ground. Leo could see Allan and Spade approaching, the two also done with their sweeps.

    ¡°The wave looks like it¡¯ll hit soon,¡± Spade remarked, grey eyes studying the roiling surface. Leo nodded and readied to leave.

    And yet, despite it all, something felt wrong. Like there was something he was missing.

    Leo¡¯s eyes widened. His head snapped back up to the gathered villagers atop the hill, quickly taking in their faces and stopping when he didn¡¯t find the one he was looking for.

    Leo cursed.

    ¡°Irving,¡± he said. Understanding passed through Allan and Spade¡¯s faces while the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s mind raced. They needed to hurry. There wasn¡¯t much time left.

    Spinning around, Leo sprinted down the streets towards the man¡¯s home.

    In his peripheral vision, the surface of the lake rose. A high pillar of water formed and extended higher and higher into the red and pink sky. The lingering light of the sun¡¯s dying rays and the glowing wall of light reflected off the wave, making it shine blindingly bright. It hurt to look at.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time!¡± Allan yelled. ¡°We need to go!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡±

    Even as he spoke, Leo knew it was too late. He could hear the overwhelming roar of water as the pillar surged forward, barrelling towards Clearside. His heart thumped. They were too far to make it to the main road. They¡ª

    ¡°Over here!¡±

    Hazel eyes snapped up, widening when they landed on Ivan. The Hound gestured for them to follow, waving frantically. Leo didn¡¯t have time to hesitate. He changed direction.

    The moment Ivan saw them follow, he turned and ran. He led them out the village towards another area of higher ground that lay further up the main road from where Clearside¡¯s residents had gathered.

    The wave hit the shore and began to flood the buildings. Wooden support beams snapped and splintered under the pressure. Debris and litter drifted to the surface. The earth vanished under the water.

    As they raced down the empty streets and exited Clearside, Leo chanced a glance back at where Irving¡¯s house sat on the perimeter of the village.

    For just a brief moment, as the water engulfed the sky, he thought he caught a glimpse of the man seated by the window, a portrait in front of him, his eyes fixed outside and watching the rising wave with a strange look of peace.

    Leo blinked, half wondering if it was a trick of the light.

    He didn¡¯t have the chance to check again, because in the next instant, the water swallowed the home whole.

 Chapter 50: Clearside

    Chapter 50: Clearside

    The waters took on a golden hue in the sunset. The crashing wave flooded the streets, lurching and colliding with emptied buildings. The spray glowed like a dancing fire.

    Leo stared down below at the destruction. Allan, Spade, and Ivan remained silent beside him.

    Wood snapped like branches in the wind. Stray splinters drifted in the tidal waves, pulled alongside a growing pile of debris. Blankets, broken furniture, scattered boats, limp rag dolls, torn clothes, cracked plates, blurred paintings.

    With each new building devoured by the water, a new pile of items was added to the surface of the tide until the entire wave looked like a speckled shadow.

    Irving¡¯s home had been one of the first ones to go. The fury of the old fae magic left nothing in its wake. Nothing could remain whole under that all consuming pressure. Leo¡¯s hand drifted over to the amulet hanging around his neck, and he absently clutched the cool stone.

    The water had worked quickly. Already he could see it beginning to draw back towards the lake. It carried within it the possessions of the people of Clearside, and as the wave surged backwards, those drifting items were pulled down into the depths.

    In the end, when the bubbling settled and the last few streams trickled in, the surface of the Glass Lake was once again rendered perfectly smooth. A mirror reflecting off the sunset and the wall of light. Utterly tranquil.

    The hush that had fallen over the onlookers broke. Leo could hear the evacuated villagers further back on the road, but he couldn¡¯t make out specific words.

    He kept staring down at the darkened earth where Clearside had once stood. There was barely anything left. All of this, he thought, the result of some dead fae ghosts.

    Leo heard a slow exhale to his side, and he turned. Ivan was staring down as well, eyes distant with memories. The icy numbness slowly began to dissipate from Leo¡¯s mind, and he carefully studied the man.

    Name: Ivan

    Age: 24

    Level: 20

    Class: [Mercenary, Tier 0]

    Personal Skill: [Foresight Lvl 2]

    [Fragment in possession]

    Ivan hadn¡¯t absorbed the fragment or his class would¡¯ve changed. It was still on him.

    Leo pursed his lips. Thinking about taking the fragment now, while the people of Clearside mourned so close by, felt distinctly wrong.

    He remembered the lack of hesitation in Sonia¡¯s eyes as she¡¯d prepared to physically cut the fragment out of him. That was the sort of single minded ambition most fragment hunters would have. This was what he¡¯d signed up for, Leo reminded himself. His fingers squeezed into a fist.

    Before he could move, however, the Hound suddenly spoke.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Leo blinked, taken aback. Ivan turned to face him.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have a chance to thank you properly earlier. For saving me,¡± he said quietly. ¡°So, I¡¯m doing it now.¡±

    Leo didn¡¯t respond. He wasn¡¯t sure how to, and the silence stretched to a point of awkwardness. He cleared his throat.

    ¡°Uh, it was nothing.¡± He¡¯d mostly done it for himself, for the sake of keeping the fragment from Sonia.

    Ivan smiled wryly, perhaps sensing Leo¡¯s thoughts. His hand moved to a pouch tied to his belt, and Leo instinctively tensed as he rummaged around its contents. He could see Allan and Spade both shifting in his peripheral vision.

    What Ivan pulled out, however, was not a weapon or some other means of attack.

    Instead, he held up a small translucent shard that Leo would recognize anywhere.

    The fragment.

    Leo¡¯s jaw must¡¯ve fallen, because Ivan snorted at him before dropping the fragment into Leo¡¯s palm. He hurried to catch it, mind still reeling, and stared down at the shard resting in his hand.

    Its material was identical to that of the first fragment, but its shape was slightly different. This one was a bit more rounded than the warden¡¯s had been.

    If he¡¯d had any doubts about its authenticity, the notification that flashed across his vision confirmed it.

    [You have obtained [1] minor fragment]

    Leo curled his fingers around it, carefully keeping it secure in his hand. He looked up at Ivan, brows furrowed, a clear question on his face.

    ¡°Call it a debt repaid.¡± Ivan¡¯s eyes flitted over to the lake, then back again. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    Allan was the one who spoke. His dark eyes were hard as he scrutinized the Hound. Ivan met his gaze warily, glancing between him and Spade, before he sighed.

    ¡°I thought it would fix things, but it just made them worse,¡± he muttered. He tapped his head, mouth twisting into a bitter smile.

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    ¡°I thought the fragment would let me control my visions. You know, I used to pray I had a skill like [Foresight], but the longer I have it the more I hate it. The visions don¡¯t even feel like mine. It¡¯s like someone¡¯s just putting these random images in my head, and I¡¯ve got no say in it.¡±

    He laughed hollowly. ¡°Most of the time I don¡¯t even know what they mean, and if I do, I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡±

    The first fragment had enhanced Leo¡¯s personal skill. He thought back to Ivan clutching at his head when he¡¯d first grabbed the shard from the pond.

    ¡°Was that what that headache was? A vision?¡±

    Ivan pursed his lips and nodded. His shoulders were tense, and he didn¡¯t seem keen on talking about it. Leo carefully placed the fragment into his bag, the one where the stolen crests were stored.

    ¡°Still, you could¡¯ve given it to someone else.¡± Like one of the other Hounds, for one.

    ¡°I could¡¯ve.¡± Ivan turned to the surviving Clearside residents and the lingering Hounds, who seemed to be talking with Flora.

    A number of villagers were hugging each other, clutching each other like a lifeline. Others were crying, and Leo couldn¡¯t blame them. Their homes had been destroyed in an instant, and they hadn¡¯t been able to do anything to stop it.

    ¡°I guess,¡± Ivan finally said, ¡°I felt like you should be the one to have it.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. He still didn¡¯t fully understand, but he assumed it was part of the man¡¯s gratitude for saving his life on the island. He decided to not question it more, lest the Hound change his mind.

    Instead, he nodded at the former Clearside villagers. ¡°What¡¯ll happen to them? The Hounds?¡±

    Ivan shrugged. ¡°We¡¯ve always been split. A lot of Hounds¡¯ll probably leave, join other groups or work alone, but there¡¯s some who¡¯ll stay. Flora will take over what¡¯s left of us. I¡¯m guessing we¡¯ll guard the villagers until they find shelter.¡±

    Ivan must have seen the look on Leo¡¯s face, because he sighed.

    ¡°What Sonia said wasn¡¯t a lie, you know. We do pride ourselves on staying honorable, or at least we used to,¡± he said quietly.

    The mention of the former Hounds leader made Leo pause. He remembered their brief conversation on the lake shore and his supposed debt to the woman. How close he¡¯d seemed to be with Douglas in particular.

    ¡°About¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop.¡± Ivan cut him off. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about Douglas or Sonia or Dalton or anyone else you fought on that lake.¡±

    The man¡¯s jaw was clenched, muscles coiled tightly. He exhaled a shaky breath. ¡°I know it was fair game. We all knew what we were getting into when we signed up for the hunt, but that doesn¡¯t mean I want to hear about it.¡±

    He was giving them an out, Leo realized. This was a temporary truce sprung from his gratitude towards Leo for saving him and for warning the Hounds and villagers about the wave. That was the only reason he wasn¡¯t attacking them right now in vengeance.

    The [Fragmentholder] nodded slowly. He couldn¡¯t help but admire Ivan¡¯s self control. He wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d be able to put aside his own emotions like that, however briefly.

    By then the sun had completely disappeared below the horizon, and the last few rays of light lit up the dirt road in a warm glow. Leo doubted they¡¯d be allowed to stay the night. This goodwill would only last so long, and it was better for them to leave now to find shelter before nightfall. Then, they¡¯d be able to properly treat their wounds and deal with the bonus experience and fragment.

    Leo removed the amulet around his neck and handed it to Ivan, who stared down at the glassy blue stone with furrowed brows.

    ¡°It stops the spatial magic on the lake,¡± the [Fragmentholder] explained. ¡°It was Irving¡¯s, but¡­¡± his voice trailed, an image of the man¡¯s final expression rising in his mind. He cleared his throat.

    ¡°You¡¯ll probably get more use out of it than us. Call it a trade.¡± He patted the pouch containing the fragment for emphasis.

    He knew he could probably sell it, but the amulet¡¯s ability to stop the wave warping was likely the result of old fae magic, and he didn¡¯t want to see what would happen if the necklace was moved too far from the Glass Lake. The image of the fae corpse still remained vivid in his mind¡ªhe¡¯d had enough of dealing with the ancients. Their magic wasn¡¯t compatible with the System anyway.

    Besides, Ivan handing the fragment over, even in gratitude, felt too much like a debt. This at least made it a little more equal in his mind, and it avoided any guilt he would¡¯ve felt from selling Irving¡¯s heirloom.

    Understanding flashed across Ivan¡¯s face, and he nodded.

    Leo took a step back, readying to leave and head to where Allan and Spade were waiting on the road. Before he finished turning, however, Ivan suddenly stopped him.

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] glanced back. The Hound looked hesitant, but determined at the same time. He took a deep breath.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if this¡¯ll mean anything, but if that vision¡¯s relevant to anyone here, it¡¯s probably you three.¡±

    That got Leo¡¯s attention. ¡°The one you got on the island?¡±

    Ivan nodded. His brows furrowed in thought, and a hand flew to his head as though still feeling the lingering pain.

    ¡°It¡­It was vague. The actual images were hard to make out, but it was dark. There was a barren field covered in dead bodies,¡± he muttered in a rush. His eyes squeezed shut in focus, and his voice grew more hesitant.

    ¡°I saw lightning crackling across the sky. Hitting the bodies.¡± He exhaled. ¡°I think¡ªno, I know it was the Stormcaller.¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes widened. Ivan continued.

    ¡°Like I said, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll matter, but if I¡¯m handing you the fragment I thought you should know.¡±

    Leo nodded, mind already churning. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said sincerely. He forcibly shoved his theorizing aside for later.

    ¡°You¡¯re staying with the Hounds, right?¡±

    ¡°I am.¡± Ivan glanced back at the remaining Hounds in question, who did indeed appear to have dwindled in numbers as several chose to leave. ¡°They¡¯re not perfect, but they¡¯ve been my family for years. I know Flora will be a good leader.¡±

    ¡°Be careful.¡± The words rose unbidden, and Leo was surprised at how genuine they were. ¡°With a personal skill like yours, you could end up in a lot of trouble one day.¡± Any prophecy skill was bound to get attention.

    ¡°Believe me, I know.¡± Ivan smiled thinly. ¡°I¡¯ve been hiding pretty well so far. I just have to keep it up.¡±

    A beat passed.

    ¡°You be careful too.¡± Ivan raised a hand, and Leo didn¡¯t hesitate to shake it with his uninjured arm.

    With a final nod, the [Fragmentholder] stepped over to where Allan and Spade were waiting.

    Leo gazed up at the steadily darkening sky, then back at the evacuated villagers, at Ivan joining the remaining Hounds, at the ruins of Clearside, and at the shining Glass Lake one final time. He turned away.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

 Chapter 51: The Second Fragment I

    Chapter 51: The Second Fragment I

    Leo rubbed his shoulder and winced. Allan sent him a disapproving frown.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch it,¡± he said. The [Healer] rolled up their remaining bandages and stored them in his bag. He¡¯d used them to form a crude sling for Leo¡¯s arm after he¡¯d finished setting his shoulder.

    Leo sighed, but nodded. The actual process of popping the shoulder had been painful, to say the least, but it did feel significantly better now that the bone was back in its socket.

    Allan had used [Mend] to fix some of the tearing too, which had further soothed the pain, but the area was still a bit tender. According to Allan, even after [Mend] he should still take it easy for a few days, but having one working arm made Leo antsy.

    It was ironic, he thought. It seemed like every time they went after a fragment, he came out of it with an injured arm. The scars from his broken fingers during the store theft and prison break still lingered on his hand.

    Leo glanced around. The group had taken shelter in a small thicket of trees growing off the side of the road. They were close enough to still be able to see the dirt path, but the branches provided a little more cover. Though, with the wall of light ever present in the sky, night would probably never get as dark as it used to.

    ¡°Are you going to use the fragment?¡±

    Leo glanced over at Spade, who sat a little ways away. Her grey eyes coolly watched the road through the gaps in the trees.

    He frowned, a hand flying to his bag. The fragment lay securely nestled beside the stolen crests. Leo carefully pulled it out.

    Under the combined luminosity of the moonlight and the Sovereign¡¯s glowing magic barrier, the specks of golden light drifting within its glass-like interior were more apparent than ever. They moved on their own even when he didn¡¯t shake the fragment, Leo noted. It was as if the little lights were alive.

    ¡°It¡¯s another minor one?¡± Allan asked, curious, and Leo nodded. It seemed like major fragments, assuming they indeed existed, would be harder to find.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to absorb this one too?¡±

    Leo nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯ll be able to.¡± He would be lying if he said he didn¡¯t have a few doubts; he hadn¡¯t run into anyone with more than one fragment yet, after all, and there was always a chance that absorbing multiple fragments could have some sort of side effect.

    In the end, though, the risk was worth it considering the potential benefits. Leo rolled the fragment around once more in his hand and glanced between Allan and Spade. Both were watching him, the former more visibly nervous than the latter, but no one made a move to stop him.

    Taking a deep breath, Leo squeezed his fingers around the fragment and closed his eyes, imagining it disappearing like the first one and the Tier 1 class crest had.

    He waited a few seconds, then looked again. When he uncurled his fingers, the fragment was gone.

    [ALERT: New class crest detected]

    [ERROR: Duplicate class crest found]

    [Combining class crests]

    [ERROR: Class crest incomplete]

    [Customizing class features and skills]

    [Adjusting class options]

    Leo gritted his teeth, a sudden spike of pain flaring in his head much like it had the first time. This time he was more prepared for it, but that still didn¡¯t erase the sensation of his head being split open.

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    He squeezed his uninjured hand into a fist so tightly that his hand shook, but finally the pain subsided to a dull throb, leaving only a string of notifications behind.

    [You have gained 300 bonus points! You can now select how to distribute your bonus points among your party]

    [Select an additional spell from the options below]

    [Teleport Object - Mana cost: High. Enables the user to teleport a single nonliving object smaller than a foot in width, height, and length up to a distance of 10 feet from the object¡¯s starting position. The object¡¯s initial position must be within 10 feet of the user and the user must have a line of sight to the ending position. The object cannot be teleported directly into a solid material and its final position must be a certain distance away from any solid material nearby. At higher levels, the teleport distance and size limit of the object increases and the user is able to teleport more objects at once.]

    [Auditory Illusion - Mana cost: Low. Enables the user to project a small auditory illusion onto a singular target. The illusion is intangible, audible only to the target, and the target must be within the user¡¯s line of sight. The illusion must be shorter than 5 seconds in duration and contain sounds that the user is naturally able to produce without assistance. The maximum and minimum volume of the sound is the same as that of the user¡¯s unassisted voice. At higher levels, the illusion gains duration, can target more creatures at once, and can project different types of sounds.]

    [Shockwave - Mana cost: Medium. An offensive close range spell that shoots out a minor electric shockwave originating from the user. This spell does minor damage to anyone within its range excluding the user and temporarily inflicts the [Stunned] condition. The amount of damage and effectiveness of the [Stunned] condition is dependent on the target¡¯s resistance stat. At higher levels, the spell increases range, damage, and the [Stunned] condition lasts longer.]

    Once again the System had given him a low, medium, and high mana cost option. And they were damn tempting options, too.

    Leo noted that this time the offensive spell option was lightning rather than fire based like it had been last time. He wondered if the System was cycling through all elemental types or if his future spell choices would always be fire or lightning. He¡¯d have to keep an eye on that.

    Either way, [Shockwave] was an attractive choice. The damage didn¡¯t seem to be much, but that stun condition could be hugely beneficial in melee fights. If he was in a difficult position or surrounded, it would provide an opening to escape or gain the upper hand again. He certainly would¡¯ve appreciated a spell like that when he was trying to escape Sonia¡¯s grip.

    [Auditory Illusion], meanwhile, was clearly a companion to his [Visual Illusion] spell. Leo had no doubt that the two spells would prove especially effective when combined, but the limits around it made him more hesitant.

    In particular, the short range and the fact that he could only project sounds he could naturally produce significantly lowered his options. Maybe if he was better at mimicking voices it would be better, but as it stood he would probably end up using it mostly for passing messages or as a distraction. Still good, but not quite as good as he¡¯d hoped.

    It would probably become much more powerful at higher levels, Leo guessed, but he¡¯d prefer something with greater immediate benefits. He was making do with [Visual Illusion] already. The spell wasn¡¯t his top choice even if he¡¯d still be happy with it.

    [Teleport Object] was another appealing option. It also had some strict limits, but Leo was particularly focused on its potential synergy with his dagger throwing.

    If he threw a knife 10 feet away, then used this spell on it, he could effectively double its range without losing momentum. It would also make it significantly easier to aim and harder to dodge, even with its limits in place. There were also a multitude of potential utility options for it.

    Its high mana cost in addition to its strict limits, however, made Leo hesitant. [Shockwave] comparatively cost less, but for that spell, there was the danger of hitting allies. Spade was definitely a close range fighter, and if Allan chose to continue using his axe, then he would be as well. [Teleport Object] provided a good deal more flexibility.

    His current fighting style mostly relied on evasion, speed, and misdirection. [Teleport Object] would complement that more, but [Shockwave] could patch up a weakness if he ever found himself in a worst-case scenario.

    Leo groaned and tugged at his hair. He could spend ages deliberating this if he wanted.

    He decided to consider possible future spell options as well. [Auditory Illusion]¡¯s presence showed that the System had remembered his first spell pick and was giving him more options within its vein. ¡°Illusion spells¡± had been added to the System¡¯s internal database on him.

    If Leo went with [Shockwave], he guessed lightning based spells and more offensive spells in general would be given as future options. On the other hand, the System had already been listing offensive spells unprompted. Maybe it would lock in elemental damage type.

    If he chose [Teleport Object] and his theory was right, on the other hand, then he might unlock more spatial magic spells in the future, and the thought was very tempting.

    Leo swallowed. Screw it, he thought. He¡¯d always preferred more versatile options anyway.

    [You have learned the spell Teleport Object]

 Chapter 52: The Second Fragment II

    Chapter 52: The Second Fragment II

    The notifications disappeared from his vision, and Leo breathed a sigh of relief. He might come to regret that choice later, but for now he was pretty happy with it.

    ¡°Done?¡±

    Leo turned to face Spade. The [Executioner] looked vaguely amused. He frowned.

    ¡°What, did I take a long time or something?¡± He hadn¡¯t thought it was that bad.

    ¡°Not too long,¡± Allan assured. ¡°You were just really focused. You looked like¡ª¡±

    ¡°Okay, never mind.¡± Leo sighed and rubbed his forehead. ¡°Give me a break, it was a tough choice okay,¡± he said with no real heat. Instead, he turned on [Judgement].

    The first fragment had boosted his personal skill¡¯s abilities, and it was entirely possible that this one would as well. So far, though, he didn¡¯t notice a difference. Maybe the personal skill boost was a one time thing, or maybe the boost would only be noticeable later?

    He shook his head and turned off the skill. ¡°It also gave me 300 bonus points,¡± he explained. His brows furrowed. ¡°I, uh, I got bonus experience too. After the fight with Sonia.¡±

    Allan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really? That¡¯s amazing! Was it because of the level gap?¡±

    Leo shrugged. ¡°Maybe. I¡¯m not really sure how it works, to be honest.¡± Hazel eyes shifted over to Spade. He knew Allan hadn¡¯t gotten bonus experience before¡ªhe would¡¯ve told him if he had¡ªso he asked the [Executioner] if she¡¯d ever received any.

    ¡°Once,¡± she replied. ¡°I don¡¯t know any more than you how the System decides to give it out.¡±

    That came as a genuine surprise, mostly because of how rare bonus experience and points were. Leo couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Did you also fight someone with a level gap?¡±

    Spade chuckled at that. ¡°Not this time. He was the same level, actually.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Leo couldn¡¯t help but deflate a little. There went the easy explanation.

    ¡°What happened to him?¡± Allan¡¯s dark eyes were fixed on the [Executioner] as he spoke, his expression blank. Spade met his gaze, silent for just a moment before she responded in an even tone.

    ¡°I sliced his arm off,¡± she said simply. Leo stared at her. Her voice remained casual, displaying no more attachment than someone would use to describe the weather, and her grey eyes were as unreadable as ever. She must have seen his face, because she raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Is that surprising?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Allan said flatly. Sindrey had often employed public demonstrations to discourage lawbreaking. The executions themselves were always displayed, of course, but in the slums public floggings were even more common. Not to mention everyone knew the [Executioner]¡¯s job scope also included torture.

    Leo¡¯s brows furrowed. While rarer, he had heard of dismemberments being used as sentences, though supposedly they were less common across Avel now. He guessed the Council realized it was a bit hypocritical of them to denounce the Empire¡¯s cruelties while employing some of the same methods.

    Still, even if not completely unexpected, it would always be a little unsettling to hear someone talk so casually about cutting off someone¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Was it some kind of sentence?¡± Leo asked.

    ¡°Not in this case, no. It happened a long time ago.¡±

    For a second Leo could¡¯ve sworn the [Executioner]¡¯s eyes hardened, something sharp and burning entering their usual flat grey, but it was gone in an instant. He blinked, half wondering if he¡¯d imagined it.

    Spade turned to Leo with a nod.

    ¡°Congratulations on your bonus experience, though I¡¯m not sure why you¡¯re telling us about it,¡± she said lightly.

    It was an obvious change of subjects, but as curious as Leo was about the whole story, he didn¡¯t want to press. The woman didn¡¯t seem particularly keen on revealing more, and he knew what it was like to keep secrets.

    He cleared his throat. ¡°Yeah, about that. Looks like I can choose how to distribute the exp and points. That¡¯s what the notification said, at least.¡±

    Spade raised a scarred eyebrow. He guessed the [Executioner] hadn¡¯t been part of a party when she¡¯d gotten her bonus experience, so she wouldn¡¯t have known about the option.

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    ¡°You should keep it,¡± Allan said. ¡°You¡¯re the one who earned it.¡±

    ¡°Maybe. The thing is, I¡¯m already getting the fragments. I know you both said you don¡¯t want them, but, well¡­¡± his voice trailed.

    ¡°You still feel like you¡¯re indebted to us,¡± Spade guessed. The [Fragmentholder] nodded, glad someone else had voiced the feeling. It wasn¡¯t like he wouldn¡¯t gladly use them for himself, but he owed Allan plenty from the last five years and Spade had saved them back on the boats.

    Allan looked like he wanted to argue, but Spade spoke before he did. She cocked her head.

    ¡°How about this. If any of us earn bonus points, we keep it for ourselves. If we earn bonus experience, we distribute it among the party.¡±

    That sounded like a logical solution to Leo. After all, because of the way experience was spread through parties, higher level members levelled more slowly. One person keeping all the bonus experience would give them a temporary boost, but it would slow down their levelling until the rest of the party caught up.

    It was for this same reason that he and Allan would eventually catch up to Spade¡¯s level and why parties with significant level differences were rare. The ones that existed were usually either temporary, used for military squadrons, or were ¡°assisted levelling parties,¡± which involved someone being paid to join a party and gain experience, thereby boosting the paying member. The latter was often employed by wealthy families looking to give their children a leg up while doing none of the real work.

    ¡°Yeah, that works,¡± Leo said. He closed his eyes and mentally selected the options.

    [Bonus experience distributed among party]

    [Progress to next level: 42%]

    As for his bonus points, Leo raised his mana by 2 and his magic by 1. Now that he had more spells, he needed to keep his mana high to make sure he had enough for both magic and skills. Magic was another obvious stat given it was likely he would continue to gain more spells.

    By then, night had fully settled. The world was cloaked in a dark shadow cut through only by the moonlight and the wall of light¡¯s glow. So far there was no sign of the Silence, but they¡¯d still need to set up watch shifts. Tomorrow they would continue making their way south towards Alnwick.

    ¡°I can take first watch,¡± Allan offered. ¡°I¡¯m not as injured as you two.¡±

    ¡°Gee, thanks,¡± Leo said with a snort, but he didn¡¯t argue with the [Healer]. His entire body still felt sluggish from the events of the day. Spade took the second watch, which left Leo with the last one.

    As he moved to settle down for the night, he paused and glanced back.

    ¡°Hey, Spade?¡±

    The [Executioner] inclined her head towards him but otherwise didn¡¯t move from her position seated against a tree trunk. Leo was aware of Allan listening in on their conversation while he sorted through his bag.

    Leo hesitated, but kept going. ¡°¡­You¡¯re good with knives, right? Could you teach me?¡±

    That got Spade¡¯s attention. She raised a scarred eyebrow.

    ¡°I remember you saying you knew how to use a dagger.¡±

    Allan made a noise that sounded like a snort, and Leo shot him a scowl before turning back to the [Executioner].

    ¡°I can get by,¡± he muttered, ¡°but if we¡¯re gonna keep getting in fights, that¡¯s not gonna be good enough.¡± In the brief moments he¡¯d seen the woman fight, it was clear from her sharp movements, her lack of hesitation, and her general precision that she was far more experienced in combat than him or Allan.

    Hell, Leo had already been imitating some of her movements when they¡¯d fought the Hounds. He needed that sort of skill if they were going to keep running into people like Sonia.

    Spade shrugged. ¡°Sure.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] blinked. He hadn¡¯t expected it to be so easy to convince her.

    ¡°I should warn you, it won¡¯t be very formal if that¡¯s what you¡¯re expecting. I¡¯m self taught.¡±

    Leo mentally filed that information away. A lack of formal combat training removed one of the theories he¡¯d had of Spade being some sort of Empire military deserter, but that had been shaky from the start. The Empire¡¯s use of the party system made desertion near impossible anyway.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± He nodded gratefully. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Spade just waved, the conversation apparently settled. She closed her eyes, though given her seated position, it was difficult to tell how asleep she actually was.

    Leo settled back down across the cool grassy earth, shifting onto one side so that his wrapped shoulder would remain on top. He assumed this was fine since he wasn¡¯t putting pressure on the area. If it wasn¡¯t, Allan would definitely have something to say about it, he thought amusedly.

    He must¡¯ve been more tired than he¡¯d thought. Within minutes of closing his eyes, Leo was fast asleep.

    ¡ª

    Name: Leo

    Age: 24

    Level: 22

    Class: [Fragmentholder, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Judgement Lvl 3]

    Strength: 15

    Magic: 14

    Constitution: 14

    Agility: 23

    Defense: 11

    Resistance: 14

    Mana: 21

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Stealth Lvl 2], [Acrobatics Lvl 2], [Dagger Proficiency Lvl 1]

    Active Skills (4/8): [Mana Recovery Lvl 2], [Fade into Background Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 2], [Sprint Lvl 2]

    Spells (2/13): [Visual Illusion Lvl 2], [Teleport Object Lvl 1]

    ¡ª

    Name: Allan

    Age: 24

    Level: 22

    Class: [Healer, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Wrath Lvl 1]

    Strength: 19

    Magic: 17

    Constitution: 17

    Agility: 17

    Defense: 16

    Resistance: 10

    Mana: 17

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Athletics Lvl 2], [Intimidation Lvl 3], [Grappling Proficiency Lvl 2]

    Active Skills: (4/8): [Celerity Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 2], [Even Path Lvl 2], [Cleave Lvl 2]

    Spells (1/10): [Mend Lvl 3]

    ¡ª

    Name: Spade

    Age: 31

    Level: 23

    Class: [Executioner, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Empathy Lvl 3]

    Strength: 22

    Magic: 6

    Constitution: 22

    Agility: 19

    Defense: 20

    Resistance: 11

    Mana: 14

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Anatomical Knowledge Lvl 2], [Athletics Lvl 3], [Blade Proficiency Lvl 2]

    Active Skills (5/8): [Reckless Wager Lvl 2], [Precision Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 1], [Duelist¡¯s Challenge Lvl 2], [Cleave Lvl 2]

 Chapter 53: Wreckage I

    Chapter 53: Wreckage I

    Leo squinted up at the sky. It was a cloudless day, and the beaming sun was so bright that it washed out the colors of the landscape. If they¡¯d chosen to travel along the lake, he imagined it would be blinding, but they¡¯d elected for a different path. He didn¡¯t really want to see the Glass Lake if he didn¡¯t have to.

    Leo lowered his hand and adjusted his posture. It still felt weird to have one arm in a sling, but he was supposed to keep it on for at least another day, if not more.

    ¡°¡ªsounds like a battlefield,¡± Allan was saying as the group continued south. ¡°Or the remains of one. He said the lightning killed them?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what it sounded like.¡±

    The [Healer] furrowed his brows. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose he could tell how far into the future it was.¡±

    Leo snorted. ¡°I wish.¡± He sighed and rolled his uninjured shoulder, though his eyes never stopped scanning their surroundings for movement.

    They hadn¡¯t encountered anyone on the road yet, and while normally he¡¯d consider that lucky, it was starting to become worrying. The further south they went, the more populated Avel was, so the lack of people was a little disconcerting.

    It did, however, allow them to travel more freely without fear of someone recognizing them or overhearing them.

    Allan frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not very helpful then.¡±

    Leo mentally agreed. He¡¯d told Allan and Spade about Ivan¡¯s vision, and none of them could make full sense of it.

    There wasn¡¯t a soul on the continent who didn¡¯t know who the Stormcaller was. The younger brother of the Solomere Empire¡¯s High General, he¡¯d been the youngest person to reach Tier 3 and on track to be the youngest to reach Tier 4¡ªthe highest class tier¡ªas well. It would¡¯ve been easy to get lost in the High General¡¯s shadow, but he¡¯d been a feared, capable general in his own right.

    It was precisely because of this reputation that his capture four years ago had come as such a shock. Everyone had expected the Empire to easily take over Valendell, but following his capture, the war had ground to a stalemate. Since then, no one really knew what had happened to him, but that didn¡¯t stop people from speculating.

    The official answer was that it was a hostage situation, but many argued that Valendell didn¡¯t have the resources to keep someone of his power level at bay.

    Others suggested that he¡¯d actually died all those four years ago and Valendell was only pretending to have captured him in order to stave off the High General¡¯s fury.

    Another popular theory involved some sort of mind magic on Valendell¡¯s part. Others took it a step further and claimed the former general had turned traitor on his country.

    Leo huffed and rubbed his head. Truthfully he¡¯d always leaned on the traitor theory, even if a part of him also doubted that someone so close to the High General and Emperor would ever betray his country, but it had made the most logical sense to him. Ivan¡¯s vision hadn¡¯t specified whose bodies were on that field; they could¡¯ve belonged to the Empire or Valendell.

    Leo glanced over at Spade, who walked a few feet ahead of them. He hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke.

    ¡°You said you¡¯re from the Empire, right?¡±

    The [Executioner] glanced back, grey eyes betraying nothing. ¡°I did,¡± she confirmed.

    Allan¡¯s eyebrows rose, and Leo remembered that he¡¯d been asleep when Spade had first mentioned it. He pressed on.

    ¡°Do you know anything about the Stormcaller? I mean, stuff the rest of the world wouldn¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Nothing that would be particularly relevant here.¡± She continued walking at a steady pace, eyes watching the bright horizon. ¡°His reputation was mostly the same, only in the Empire it had more positive connotations.¡±

    ¡°Great,¡± Leo muttered. Spade chuckled.

    ¡°If it helps, he was actually very well liked. It might be hard to believe, but he was considered one of the most honorable generals.¡±

    Huh. That was interesting to know.

    Leo exchanged looks with Allan. If that was true, maybe the traitor idea wasn¡¯t so far fetched after all. In an ideal world, the field of dead bodies Ivan had seen would be on the Empire¡¯s side.

    He cleared his throat. ¡°Well, whatever it means, it¡¯s a good thing we¡¯re staying away from the Empire,¡± he muttered.

    If the war between them and Valendell really did break out of its current stalemate, Leo would be happy to stay as far away as possible.

    ¡ª

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    By the time they stopped for food, they still hadn¡¯t seen anyone else on the road.

    Leo glared down at his slice of stale bread. They were running low on rations and would need to restock, but thankfully they should reach Alnwick in about a day¡¯s time, if his memory of the map was correct.

    Allan raised an eyebrow from where he sat on the grass beside him.

    Spade had gone ahead for a stroll despite the fact that they¡¯d been walking all day, but Leo supposed the [Executioner] was probably used to traveling even further distances than this.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Bread taste bad?¡±

    ¡°Well yeah, but you know I don¡¯t care about that.¡± He took another bite and wrapped the rest for later.

    They¡¯d moved to the side of the road to eat, and it was noticeably drier here than it was in Sindrey. Stray pebbles sat in piles on the edge of the grass. Leo carefully gathered a handful near him.

    ¡°It¡¯s just, don¡¯t you think we should¡¯ve seen someone by now? This¡¯s a pretty big road, right?¡±

    Squinting down at the pebble in his hand, Leo located a spot of yellowed grass up ahead, aimed, then threw the rock with all his strength.

    He watched it soar with sharp eyes. When it looked like it was about 10 feet away, he quickly used [Teleport Object] and focused on the spot he wanted it to reach.

    Leo felt his mana reserves deplete, and he blinked as the pebble abruptly teleported away. In a flash, it vanished and reappeared elsewhere, landing a few feet to the right of his intended target.

    He sighed. He should¡¯ve known it wouldn¡¯t be so easy. [Visual Illusion] had barely taken any practice at all, but it looked like this spell was much harder to control. Considering how powerful spatial magic was, he supposed it made sense.

    ¡°It might just be an off day,¡± Allan suggested.

    Leo picked up another rock to throw. This time he tried to shift his eyes as he activated the spell to see if his line of sight was what determined the teleport¡¯s final position. It was closer than before, but still not nearly accurate enough.

    He felt Allan¡¯s gaze on him as the [Healer] studied his movements. Leo tried again with a third pebble.

    ¡°Maybe.¡±

    This time he used purely his thoughts to project the final position, and it ended up being the least accurate so far. It really was tied to the eyeline, then.

    One more try, Leo thought. He didn¡¯t want to use up too much mana right now in case they ran into trouble on the road. Inhaling, he picked up another stone and rolled it around in his palm.

    Narrowing his eyes, he flung the rock. At the last second, he activated [Teleport Object] and flicked his eyes sharply to his desired position. Due to the speed of the movement, his gaze didn¡¯t land perfectly on the patch of yellowed grass.

    The rock reappeared exactly where he was looking.

    The former [Thief] grinned triumphantly. It looked like the spell was indeed tied to the movement of the eyes. To use it properly, he¡¯d have to practice shifting his gaze quickly and precisely.

    His satisfaction at solving the issue, however, soon waned the more he thought about it. Unless he got another skill or spell to increase his reflexes, there would probably always be a margin of error with the spell given how tight the timeframe was.

    Furthermore, if someone figured out how the teleport was aimed, it would be easier to predict. This could be somewhat mitigated by attacking from further away, where it was harder to see the eyeline, but it was something to keep in mind.

    Leo rose to his feet and activated [Mana Recovery]. He¡¯d need more practice to figure out the best way to use the spell, he decided, but this was a start at least.

    Allan stood as well, having finished his own piece of bread while Leo messed with [Teleport Object]. Spade was still nowhere to be seen. Leo pulled up the party map and found her blinking dot up ahead.

    ¡°Ready to go?¡±

    Allan nodded, and they continued on their way.

    As they walked, Leo opened the [Fragmentholder Database]. The map, from what he could tell, looked the same as before: a gradient of gold draped across the continent.

    He furrowed his brows. It might just be his imagination, but he swore the golden light seemed more concentrated around the Empire and Zelyra¡¯s capitals than before. Earlier it was more evenly spread across the two countries.

    [Current number of Fragmentholders: 996,835]

    The number would hit one million soon. Honestly Leo was surprised it hadn¡¯t already. Compared to when he¡¯d first gotten access to the database, the increase in fragmentholders seemed to be slowing down.

    He would¡¯ve thought it¡¯d have done the opposite after the wall of light went up, but maybe most of the fragments had scattered straight to people and the number of ¡°loose¡± ones like the one on the Glass Lake were rarer.

    Just as Leo was about to close the database, a flash of movement made him pause. The number ticked down to 996,834.

    He stopped walking. Allan shot him a confused look.

    ¡°It went down,¡± Leo said. ¡°The number of fragmentholders.¡±

    Understanding washed over the [Healer]¡¯s face, and his shoulders tensed. Dark eyes scanned their surroundings, but they remained alone on the road. Leo silently closed the database.

    ¡°I guess now we know for sure I¡¯m not the only one with more than one fragment,¡± he attempted to joke. Allan snorted, but nodded.

    Of course, he¡¯d already known that he couldn¡¯t be the only one, and it was clear from the start that fragmentholders would end up hunting each other once all the scattered fragments were found.

    Still, there was something disconcerting about actually seeing that number go down. Leo wondered if the counter¡¯s pace had actually slowed, or if the number of fragmentholders being killed had simply made it look like that.

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    Leo¡¯s head snapped around, uninjured hand flying to his dagger.

    Hazel eyes landed on Spade¡¯s familiar form. Before he had a chance to relax, however, the [Executioner] jerked her head backwards, gesturing further ahead on the road.

    ¡°I thought you two might want to see this.¡±

    Leo and Allan exchanged looks, then turned and hurried forward.

 Chapter 54: Wreckage II

    Chapter 54: Wreckage II

    It soon became clear what Spade was talking about. Leo¡¯s steps slowed, eyes widening as the dark, jagged silhouette of a village came into view. It was small, smaller than Clearside had been, and the path cut cleanly through its center.

    Leo rushed forward, ignoring Allan¡¯s call. He didn¡¯t stop until he reached the edge of the village.

    Squat, crooked wooden buildings sat in clusters along the road. Strips of wooden planks had been ripped from the walls and left lying in scattered piles. Deep cuts slashed across the buildings¡¯ surfaces, and shattered glass gleamed in the bright light beneath broken windows.

    Doors had been torn from their hinges and tossed aside. Stray pieces of furniture, clothes, cookware, and other possessions spilled out of those open doorways and gaping holes, recklessly thrown without a care.

    Against that pale wood, dark red stains crusted over.

    Bodies lay slumped against walls, limp across the street, open wounds attracting flies where they¡¯d been cut down.

    A few dead villagers had crude weapons in hand: kitchen knives and shovels. They¡¯d put up a fight, but in the end, it hadn¡¯t mattered.

    Iron and rot mixed into one putrid scent, and Leo instinctively covered his nose as his eyes darted around.

    The dirt road was covered in overlapping footprints, making it difficult to discern a clear set of tracks. He cursed under his breath and slowly stepped deeper into the village.

    ¡°¡­What the hell happened here?¡± he muttered.

    Allan crouched over one of the bodies, frowning down at it. ¡°I think,¡± he said slowly, ¡°they¡¯ve been dead for a few days now.¡±

    Spade nodded in agreement. She peered down at a body slumped against a wall with cool grey eyes. The [Executioner] didn¡¯t hesitate to actually touch the corpses, apparently unbothered by the smell and rot.

    ¡°The bodies¡¯ve gone soft,¡± she remarked, ¡°and there¡¯s some marbling already."

    She flipped the corpse over, and Leo cringed when a bloody face was revealed, the upper right half of the skull smashed in.

    With the body turned over, it was easier to make out the thin, discolored skin and patches and streaks of blood vessels popping through.

    ¡°No bloating or foaming yet, so I¡¯m guessing two days ago,¡± Spade finished. Allan hummed thoughtfully and stepped closer.

    ¡°Is that how you tell?¡±

    ¡°Well I¡¯m certainly not an expert, I¡¯ve just seen a lot of dead bodies,¡± the [Executioner] said with a chuckle. Allan cocked his head.

    ¡°What about the flies? Would that¡ª¡±

    ¡°Guys,¡± Leo cut him off, voice a bit strained. ¡°Can we save it for later? We don¡¯t even know what happened yet.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right, sorry,¡± Allan said sheepishly. Spade just shrugged and rose back to her full height. Leo kept looking around.

    The damage was extensive; the villagers clearly hadn¡¯t stood a chance. For a second Leo wondered if the Silence had appeared here and this was an Echo attack, but he quickly brushed the idea aside.

    An Echo wouldn¡¯t have left so many bodies.

    ¡°Bandits?¡± Allan suggested, and Leo nodded slowly.

    That was the most likely explanation, but at the same time, the brutality and thoroughness of the attack was strange. For a village this small, there wouldn¡¯t be much in the way of valuables to begin with. Why waste the effort?

    Glancing around, Leo noted that every single building looked like it had been broken into. He turned and, after a moment of hesitation, ducked into the closest house.

    The interior was in even worse condition than the exterior. Every drawer had been pulled and turned inside out. Vases were shattered, a dingy couch slashed and its hay stuffing roughly yanked out from the cloth.

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    Leo frowned and stepped over broken plates and splintered wood. He pushed open an ajar bedroom door and peered inside, only to immediately look away.

    Lying face up on the bed, a couple stared lifelessly up at the ceiling. Their bloody chests had been carved open, and organs spilled out from their abdomens.

    Leo resisted the urge to retch and took a moment to calm his breathing, then turned and stepped back outside of the building.

    ¡°They were definitely looking for something,¡± he muttered a little hoarsely. He just didn¡¯t know if money was the answer.

    The [Fragmentholder] paused. The image of the dead couple was still sharp in his mind, but he forced himself to push past his automatic recoil.

    He glanced around at the bodies outside and realized that all of them had been cut open in some way.

    An image of Sonia, dagger pointed down at him, flashed in his mind, and he froze.

    ¡°Leo?¡± Allan asked questioningly. The former [Thief] swallowed before turning to the other man.

    ¡°I think,¡± he said slowly, ¡°they were looking for fragments.¡±

    Allan¡¯s eyes widened. He looked to the bodies again, scrutinizing. His voice was quiet.

    ¡°¡­You can rip the fragment out of someone?¡±

    ¡°Sonia seemed to think so.¡±

    The [Healer] looked up, dark eyes flashing with something resembling anger. Leo was quick to shake his head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine,¡± he assured. He smiled wryly. ¡°I definitely wouldn¡¯t be walking around if she¡¯d actually succeeded.¡±

    That seemed to appease the man, and Allan raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°You did try to break into a store with a broken hand.¡±

    Leo made an affronted sound and punched the [Healer] good naturedly. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna hear that from you of all people.¡±

    Allan chuckled. For a brief moment, it was almost like they were still in Sindrey¡¯s slums, gathered inside that abandoned building and casually chatting after a long day.

    The reality of the situation and their surroundings, however, quickly hit, and Leo sobered.

    ¡°¡­I guess that explains why we haven¡¯t seen many people around.¡±

    While they¡¯d been in Clearside, other groups must have begun hunting fragments¡ªsome clearly far more brutal than the Hounds had been. If it had really grown so dangerous, it was no wonder there were less people willing to travel.

    ¡°What should we do?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s search for survivors,¡± Leo decided. ¡°There¡¯s not that many buildings. If we split up, we can be done in a few hours.¡±

    Allan and Spade nodded, and the group dispersed.

    Leo carefully combed his way through various houses, now more mentally prepared to find the dead bodies inside. Just like the first one, every building had been thoroughly ransacked and destroyed.

    Though he couldn¡¯t confirm it, the houses further up the road seemed even more damaged than the first few. Leo wondered if the bandits had gotten increasingly frustrated as they failed to find a fragment. He certainly saw no signs of any, and the fragmentholder map remained vague.

    By the time they gathered back together, none of them had found a sign of life. They were a few days too late.

    Leo felt bad about leaving the bodies behind, but they didn¡¯t have the time to give them a proper burial.

    Hopefully a guard on patrol would spot the place, but he didn¡¯t have a lot of faith in that happening. There was a reason Avel¡¯s citizens were so reliant on mercenary groups for protection, after all.

    The trio continued traveling south, the sun now beginning to sink.

    Spade soon spotted a stream off to the side of the road, partially obscured in a field of tall, swaying grasses.

    They elected to take a detour there to clean up. Their clothes were still covered in dried blood and grime from the fight on the lake, and the search through the ravaged town certainly hadn¡¯t helped any.

    While Leo waited his turn to bathe, he practiced flicking his gaze to various locations. He didn¡¯t actually activate [Teleport Object] in case they ran into a fight or the Silence appeared that night and he needed the mana, but he could practice the motions.

    It turned out it was harder to get it right than it looked. When he was accurate, he wasn¡¯t fast enough and vice versa. By the end his eyes were feeling sore.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take first watch again,¡± Allan said when he returned. He¡¯d been the last one to use the stream. ¡°Are we staying here tonight?¡±

    Leo frowned up at the sky. There was still some lingering sunlight left, the moon still faint and hazy.

    ¡°Well, we could travel a little more,¡± he said slowly.

    ¡°If we wake up early tomorrow, we¡¯ll reach Alnwick before noon,¡± Spade pointed out.

    That was true, if Leo¡¯s memory of the map was correct, and traveling in the early morning was a lot safer than the late evening, when the time of the Silence was so close.

    He nodded in agreement, and the group settled in for the night.

    Leo curled up near a round grey boulder jutting out from the ground. The tall grasses provided some cover already, but he appreciated having something more solid near him while he slept. Its shadow also helped block out some of the wall of light.

    It took some time to fall asleep despite the weariness of traveling all day. The destroyed village and limp bodies still lingered in his mind, as did the fragmentholder counter ticking down.

    Leo¡¯s uninjured hand unconsciously moved to his chest as if he could physically feel the fragment there, but there was nothing. Exhaling, he forced his muscles to relax and let sleep take hold of him.

    As his breathing finally steadied and the sounds of the night faded around him, a notification flashed just as he slipped into sleep.

    [??? has activated the [Dreamscape] spell]

 Chapter 55: Dreamscape I

    Chapter 55: Dreamscape I

    Leo¡¯s eyes snapped open. He jerked his head around, rapidly scanning his surroundings as his muscles tensed.

    Gone were the waving sea of grasses and the darkened sky. Gone were the silver moon and the cool night air.

    In its place now stood a luxurious manor. The earth had transformed into a plush maroon carpet bordered with polished mahogany pillars. Up above, glittering gold chandeliers hung down from a high, arching ceiling.

    The hallway extended forward until it branched into two grand staircases leading up to the second floor. Faint light streamed through tall windows, and the dark, rich burgundy walls were decorated with ornate torches and oil paintings. Between the pillars, occasional forks led to separate rooms and smaller passageways. The place was pristine.

    Allan and Spade were nowhere to be seen. In the brief second after the notification had appeared and Leo had reopened his eyes, the spell had completely taken hold.

    That, however, wasn¡¯t what made him freeze.

    Leo knew this place.

    Seven years had passed, but he still knew every dip in the wood, every stroke on the paintings, every nearly imperceptible bump in the carpet. It was exactly as he¡¯d remembered.

    His heart raced. Leo was faintly aware of his breathing picking up, but his mind felt hazy and disconnected, as if he was detached from his body and simply looking in.

    Desperate to ground his churning thoughts, Leo grabbed his arm, only to realize his sling was gone.

    He stared down at himself. Not only were his injuries erased, but he was wearing different clothes. A plain, standard issue loose cream shirt belted at the waist. Dark trousers. Worn brown shoes.

    Leo suddenly felt an intense urge to vomit. He squeezed his eyes shut.

    It¡¯s a spell, he repeated to himself. Dreamscape. A dream. You¡¯re not really here.

    He focused on his breathing, forcing his breaths to slow down while his mind scrambled for explanations.

    The only real comfort he got was that he couldn¡¯t feel anything, confirming that this was indeed a dream.

    Finally, Leo¡¯s breathing steadied to a slower pace. He was still shaking a little when he opened his eyes again, but for now, he¡¯d gotten the initial wave of panic under control.

    His fingers squeezed into a fist. Now for the more pressing matter: who the hell had cast that spell?

    Leo certainly hadn¡¯t seen anyone around them, and Allan was standing guard. He doubted the man would miss someone approaching. The spell must have a fairly long range, and given the elaborateness of this illusion, he guessed the caster was very powerful.

    Danger sharpened his senses. Leo slowly stepped forward, scanning his surroundings for any sign of movement, but the manor appeared perfectly empty.

    The [Fragmentholder] came to a stop in front of the staircase, lips thinning as he squinted up at it.

    The idea of progressing deeper into this illusory manor didn¡¯t bode well with him, and he knew the memories would only get worse if he went up to the second floor.

    He might¡¯ve managed to get his initial panic under control, but a part of him still couldn¡¯t shake the fear that he would turn a corner and see a familiar face. Accusatory hazel eyes. Cold dark grey ones. He didn¡¯t know which would be worse.

    It didn¡¯t seem like he had a choice in the matter, however, so Leo steeled himself.

    Just as he moved to step forward, a voice sounded behind him.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°Good evening.¡±

    Leo spun around, the hairs on his neck raising.

    There, a few feet away in the center of the once empty hallway, stood an unfamiliar man.

    He was around average height and had deep skin that seemed to glow in the light. Curly black hair fell in an asymmetrical fringe, and his eyes were a light brown that was nearly amber. Good looking in a way that seemed almost unreal, the stranger carried himself with an effortless, calm ease that only put Leo even more on edge.

    The man looked amiable¡ªfriendly, even¡ªbut Leo wasn¡¯t about to trust someone who was almost certainly the one responsible for this [Dreamscape] spell. He turned on [Judgement].

    Nothing happened.

    Leo blinked and tried again. Once more, his vision remained clear of any notifications. He could feel his mana reserves depleting slightly with the activation of the skill, and yet no stat screens appeared.

    Cold dread settled in Leo¡¯s stomach. He tried a third time to no avail. A fourth.

    Nothing.

    ¡°Are you trying to use a skill?¡±

    The man¡¯s voice, serene and smooth like a flowing stream, startled Leo out of his rising panic. He narrowed his eyes at the man, who actually looked apologetic.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid no skills or magic work here. This is a dream, you see.¡±

    Leo forcibly exhaled and shifted his position so he was close enough to run up the stairs if he had to. So far the stranger had yet to move.

    ¡°Yeah? And this is your spell, I¡¯m guessing?¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± the man confirmed. ¡°I know it¡¯s quite crude. I do hope you¡¯ll forgive me; I had few other options for communication,¡± he explained. ¡°If it helps appease your concerns, you should know that no harm can come to you while inside this dream.¡±

    Leo frowned. He didn¡¯t budge from his position, not having any reason to trust the man, but his words did spark some curiosity in the [Fragmentholder].

    ¡°¡­So, what, you just wanted to talk and figured a whole ass spell was the best way to do it?¡±

    The man actually laughed at that, the sound light and ringing in the wide hallway.

    ¡°When you put it like that, it is rather absurd, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Leo just grunted. ¡°Definitely not a normal greeting, no,¡± he muttered.

    Digging up his worst memories and throwing them out into the open in some sort of twisted illusory dream was a special kind of fucked up. His skin crawled just thinking about it.

    The man remained silent, watching the former [Thief] with that calm gaze. There was no open hostility to it, but he had a keen perceptiveness that put Leo on edge. The [Fragmentholder] hated feeling so vulnerable.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Leo blinked, taken aback by the sudden apology. ¡°What?¡±

    The stranger gestured at the hallway around them. ¡°If I don¡¯t specify a location, [Dreamscape] will draw out a setting that¡¯s particularly prominent in your memory.¡± He sighed, brows furrowing a little. ¡°Unfortunately these locations tend to be negative ones. It wasn¡¯t my intention to make you uncomfortable.¡±

    A spark of anger flared up at the man¡¯s words. Leo¡¯s fingers squeezed into a fist.

    ¡°Yeah? Well excuse me, but I still don¡¯t know who the fuck you are. So forgive me if I don¡¯t exactly trust you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± His voice remained infuriatingly calm. ¡°And I won¡¯t ask for your trust. I was speaking the truth, however.¡± He nodded at Leo. ¡°I truly do mean for this to be a peaceful conversation.¡±

    Hazel eyes narrowed. Try as he might, he couldn¡¯t find a trace of dishonesty on the man¡¯s expression, but he might just be a very good liar.

    ¡°How about you start by saying who you are first.¡±

    ¡°Of course, how rude of me. I completely neglected to introduce myself.¡± He placed a hand on his chest, the gesture striking Leo as very proper. Definitely someone from a well-off background, he thought.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m unable to share my real name at this time, but you may call me Sol,¡± he said.

    Leo scoffed, about to point out how badly the man was making his case, but his next words made him freeze.

    ¡°We¡¯re in a similar situation.¡±

    Alarm bells blared in the former [Thief]¡¯s head.

    He stared at the man¡ªSol or whatever his real name was¡ªand waited for him to continue, to elaborate, even as the answer crashed over him a second before the man said it out loud.

    ¡°I¡¯m also a [Fragmentholder].¡±

 Chapter 56: Dreamscape II

    Chapter 56: Dreamscape II

    A million different thoughts raced through Leo¡¯s head, but chief among them was danger.

    His shoulders went rigid and he instinctively moved to grab his dagger, but of course, in this dream he had no weapons on him. It was just him and the other [Fragmentholder] stuck in this spell.

    How did this guy even know he had a fragment? He¡¯d certainly never met him before.

    Leo said as much, and Sol hummed thoughtfully.

    ¡°I have my ways,¡± he said simply. ¡°If it reassures you, you¡¯re not the only [Fragmentholder] I¡¯m contacting in this way right now. Dreaming allows the mind to accomplish what I could never hope to in physical form.¡±

    ¡°How many?¡± Leo blurted out, mind still reeling. Sol paused for a moment, thinking.

    ¡°I believe,¡± he spoke slowly, ¡°that the counter was at 997,214 before I began using [Dreamscape].¡±

    Leo stared at him. ¡°You¡¯re shitting me.¡±

    Did he just imply he¡¯d used [Dreamscape] on every single [Fragmentholder] on the continent? That he was doing it at the same time? The idea was too ridiculous for Leo to even consider. He didn¡¯t care if it was ¡°only mentally,¡± the mind couldn¡¯t possibly split that many ways simultaneously.

    Even if he put that aside, the amount of mana it would take to do this, to reach [Fragmentholders] at such long distances and in such a ridiculous quantity, was impossible for any single person to have.

    Sol could be Tier 4 for all Leo cared; he didn¡¯t think even the Sovereign of Zelyra could manage a spell of this scale, and the wall of light had already been an extraordinary feat.

    ¡°I can assure you I am not.¡± Sol tapped his head. ¡°I have methods for handling the mental burden. This type of magic happens to be a bit of a specialty of mine.¡±

    Hazel eyes flicked across the man, trying to guess who he might be or even what country he was from. His clothes weren¡¯t excessively lavish, but they were clearly well made.

    He had on a green coat with some subtle, but intricate embroidery over a loose silky shirt. Flashes of gold necklaces and asymmetrical earrings gleamed in the light whenever he moved.

    It was a distinctly southern style of fashion, the kind popular in countries like Ellis or Zelyra or the Vemian League. The jewelry especially struck Leo as the kind that a noble from the south might wear¡ªexpensive, but tasteful.

    That didn¡¯t actually confirm anything, though. A lot of southern fashions had been spreading north for years now as they gained popularity, especially among the upper classes. He could just as easily be a noble from Adrya or even a particularly fashionable Empire aristocrat.

    Furthermore, Leo didn¡¯t actually know if this was Sol¡¯s true appearance. Leo himself had ended up swapping clothes and losing his injuries in the dream.

    Considering [Dreamscape] was Sol¡¯s spell to begin with, it wouldn¡¯t surprise him if the man had the ability to alter his appearance freely with his magic.

    Leo gritted his teeth and forced his voice to remain steady.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s say I believe you¡¯re strong enough to pull like this off and you¡¯re actually talking to every single [Fragmentholder] in their heads right now. That¡¯d still be draining as hell. Why now? Why bother?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m doing this now,¡± Sol replied simply, ¡°because I believe this is the highest the counter will reach.¡± He nodded at Leo.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve noticed the number of new [Fragmentholders] slowing down. Perhaps you¡¯ve even seen the counter go down or been responsible for it yourself.¡±

    A hint of hardness entered his voice, cold enough to make Leo shudder, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Sol continued in the calm, serene tone Leo was learning to associate with him.

    ¡°That brings me to my reasoning. This fragment hunt has already spilled much blood, and it will only shed more the longer it lasts.¡±

    Leo thought back to the ravaged village, and he was inclined to agree with the assessment.

    ¡°I wish to prevent that from happening.¡±

    The former [Thief] furrowed his brow, the confusion evident on his face. That certainly wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d expected to hear.

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    ¡°Think about it,¡± Sol said. ¡°This entire fragment hunt is predicated on the need to find a new [Administrator], correct?¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. The longer this conversation went on, the more trapped he felt. He needed to find a way out of [Dreamscape]¡¯s hold. But how?

    He tried digging his nails into his palm, but he still couldn¡¯t feel anything. He couldn¡¯t use pain to wake himself up.

    Would he have to die in the dream? That wasn¡¯t a risk he was particularly keen on taking¡ªthere was the possibility that he¡¯d end up killing his consciousness instead.

    ¡°My hope is,¡± Sol continued, ¡°that we [Fragmentholders] may cooperate and peacefully select the next [Administrator] without the need for further violence.¡±

    Leo snorted at the absurdity of the idea. And yet, when he studied the other man, he seemed genuine. More than that, Sol didn¡¯t strike Leo as being particularly naive, which made the suggestion even stranger.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a fragment too,¡± he pointed out. ¡°Clearly you¡¯re also in the race.¡±

    ¡°That is true,¡± Sol said, ¡°but I personally have no intention of becoming the [Administrator]. I¡¯m keeping these fragments primarily as a¡­safety measure.¡±

    Fragments plural. Somehow that didn¡¯t surprise Leo. Actually, the longer he interacted with the man, the more he was starting to wonder if he really was telling the truth about [Dreamscape]¡¯s scale.

    It was still ludicrous to think about, but the way he carried himself, the way he moved and spoke¡ªthey all spoke of someone with far more power and status than Leo in his current state could comprehend.

    That didn¡¯t bode well for his hopes of escaping. Would he have to wait until he woke up naturally? For Sol to decide to end the spell?

    ¡°Safety measure,¡± Leo quoted, partially to fill time while his mind scrambled for an exit. ¡°So, what, you¡¯re hoarding fragments until you think you¡¯ve found someone worthy enough?¡±

    He attempted to use [Sprint], and once again, the skill did nothing despite his mana reserves depleting as normal.

    Leo¡¯s mind stilled. Mana.

    His pulse sped up, but he kept talking even as he swore he could hear his own heartbeat ringing in his ears.

    ¡°You say you want the [Fragmentholders] to work together, but you¡¯re the one in control right now. You¡¯re the only one talking to all of us.¡±

    Leo thought back to what Sol had said earlier. Their current illusory surroundings had been pulled from Leo¡¯s memories of the manor.

    It was impossible for one person to have enough mana to pull off a spell of this scale. But what if Sol wasn¡¯t using his own mana? What if [Dreamscape] used the target¡¯s reserves instead, and he was spreading the cost around all the different [Fragmentholders]?

    ¡°It sounds to me,¡± Leo continued, voice a little louder, ¡°like you just want to make sure the next [Administrator]¡¯s got your approval. You don¡¯t actually give a shit about anyone else¡¯s opinion.¡±

    He could be wrong. He barely understood this spell if at all, but he had to try.

    Leo saw Sol¡¯s brows furrow, and without hesitating, he activated [Teleport Object], his highest mana costing spell.

    Nothing happened as expected, but he felt his reserves drain, and that was what mattered.

    He used [Visual Illusion] next while the other spell was on cooldown, then [Sprint], then back to [Teleport Object].

    He could see Sol saying something, but the words were muffled in his focus. Sweat dripped down his forehead, exhaustion overtaking him and a sharp pain piercing his skull from the excessive mana use.

    Leo gritted his teeth and kept going, activating spell after spell and skill after skill.

    Sol took a step forward just as Leo activated [Teleport Object] a final time.

    The well of mana within him was drained of its last drop.

    An ear-spitting crack rang throughout the illusory hall. Sol paused, frowning, and looked up to see a wide, jagged cut snaking across the manor ceiling.

    Another snapping sound echoed. The fissure grew, allowing inky darkness to spill inside. Sol¡¯s eyes widened and he looked down.

    Across the ground and over the walls, thin lines branched out, spreading throughout the false manor like tangled roots. Another crack sounded and more pieces fell away, the dream shattering around them as their surroundings began to shake violently.

    Leo stumbled and nearly tripped, adrenaline coursing through his veins as more and more pieces of the illusion fell away to reveal a swirling black void around them.

    Through it all, Sol remained in place, a static form amidst the trembling. He stared at the shattered pieces falling around them with an unreadable look.

    And then, the man turned to Leo and smiled.

    ¡°I see,¡± he said as the entire left half of the hallway splintered and sank into the void. He tilted his head.

    ¡°Not bad.¡±

    The ground split open, the rocking intensifying to a violent degree. Leo felt himself fall as the last pieces of the floor beneath him ruptured.

    He might¡¯ve screamed, but his ears were ringing too loud to hear. His whole body hurled down into the depths.

    The last thing he saw was Sol, steady and unruffled, staring down at him.

    ¡ª

    Leo gasped. His eyes snapped open, and it took a moment for him to realize he was staring up at the night sky.

    He was covered in a cold sweat, and when he dared glance around, he could just barely make out Allan and Spade¡¯s forms further away in the darkness.

    He exhaled and tried to steady his breath, but his heart was still pounding like crazy. His uninjured hand gripped the ground almost hysterically, clinging to its solid surface even as memories of the encounter flooded his mind.

    ¡°What the fuck,¡± he whispered to himself. ¡°What the fuck.¡±

 Chapter 57: City Gates

    Chapter 57: City Gates

    Leo didn¡¯t tell Allan or Spade about the dream. He was still grappling with it himself, half convinced it was a paranoia-driven nightmare. He didn¡¯t want to worry Allan needlessly over something that was ideally either entirely fake or a one time scare.

    The only real tangible proof he had of the dream¡¯s existence were his drained mana reserves.

    [Condition: Mana Fatigued]

    Leo winced and rubbed at his forehead with his uninjured hand. It had taken him a long time to fall asleep again after getting out of [Dreamscape], and any rest he¡¯d gotten afterwards had been fitful. He¡¯d woken up in the morning with a piercing headache and an accompanying dizziness similar to how he felt when he was dehydrated.

    Leo wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with mana fatigue, but it had been a while since he¡¯d last experienced it.

    He gritted his teeth and stepped a little harder to try and keep himself steady. It would go away eventually as his mana reserves refilled. He only had himself to blame.

    ¡°¡ªreckless even for you,¡± Allan was saying as they walked. ¡°I mean, your reserves were fine yesterday. You could¡¯ve waited to practice.¡±

    It was times like these when Leo wished party members couldn¡¯t view each other¡¯s stat sheets, because of course a single glance had made it clear what the problem was.

    ¡°I told you, I just went a little overboard with my new spell,¡± Leo said with a huff. ¡°It¡¯s fine, my reserves¡¯re already halfway back now anyway.¡± He would have to wait for his mana to completely regenerate before the mana fatigue went away.

    Allan looked doubtful. Leo carefully kept his eyes focused on the road ahead in an attempt to avoid further questioning. The [Healer] definitely suspected he was hiding something.

    He did feel a little guilty for keeping the encounter a secret. But, he reasoned, this was also a precautionary measure. He didn¡¯t know yet whether making others aware of Sol¡¯s existence might endanger them.

    Leo¡¯s current theory was that Sol had first used an extremely advanced tracking spell to locate [Fragmentholders] by using his own fragments as initial sources. Once he¡¯d located them all, he activated [Dreamscape]. If this was indeed the case, then Sol wouldn¡¯t know about Allan or Spade, and Leo intended to keep it that way.

    Then again, given how out of his depth Leo was, nothing was certain.

    Up ahead, a smaller path branched off from the wide dirt road. In the center of the fork stood a worn wooden sign. Leo squinted at it, and sure enough, the arrow pointing right was labelled ¡°Alnwick.¡±

    He sighed in relief and straightened his back. ¡°Finally,¡± he said. He nodded to Allan and Spade. ¡°We should be there soon. Then we can finally sell these.¡± He patted the pouch containing the remaining stolen crests for emphasis.

    The road leading to Alnwick passed through a line of trees planted on either side. What was formerly plain dirt transitioned into carefully laid stones packed down into a winding path. If Leo had had any doubts about their directions, they were now appeased. Only large cities like Alnwick could afford stone paved roads.

    The canopy blocked out much of the sunlight, and Leo appreciated the shade while simultaneously wishing the trees didn¡¯t obstruct so much of his vision.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Spade abruptly stopped walking just as they neared the edge of the trees. She nodded ahead.

    Immediately alert, Leo ducked behind a trunk and peered out.

    Beyond the line of trees, the road curved forward towards a city bordered by a high, thick stone wall. From the distance, Leo could make out a few flags hanging down from evenly spaced watchtowers displaying Avel¡¯s crest and an unfamiliar one he assumed was Alnwick¡¯s.

    The wall obscured much of the view, but he could see the tops of a few buildings poking out¡ªslanted shingled roofs and smoking brick chimneys.

    Sitting on top of the wall, spaced sparsely around the city¡¯s perimeter, were what appeared to be glass spheres. They gleamed in the light, but when Leo tilted his head, he could make out swirling, vibrant colors within them that twisted and swayed like a living pulse.

    ¡°Are those the wards?¡±

    Leo glanced at Allan, whose dark eyes were fixed on the spheres with a sense of wonder. He realized the former [Rickshaw Puller] had never visited a city with wards before, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    ¡°Yep,¡± he said, pronouncing the ¡®p¡¯ with a pop. Alnwick was big enough to warrant them, lest a single appearance of the Silence completely destroy it.

    The spheres preserved various forms of barrier magic within them. At night, those swirling lights would glow and the protective ward would drape itself over the city, fending it off from Echoes.

    Leo¡¯s eyes shifted down and landed on a group of guards standing in front of the city gates. A few travelers stood in two separate lines in front of them, and even from a distance Leo could see the weariness in their slumped shoulders and worn, ragged clothes.

    The man in front of the left line waved his hand and pulled up his stat sheet while a guard appeared to be questioning them. Based on the man¡¯s increasingly sharp gestures, it looked like it wasn¡¯t going well.

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    Finally, the man threw up his hands and stormed away in a huff. The next person moved to the front.

    ¡°¡­Are they scanning classes?¡± Allan asked quietly. Leo thought back to the letter on the prison warden¡¯s desk, and his brows furrowed.

    ¡°I think,¡± he said slowly, ¡°they¡¯re checking for fragments. Council said to turn them in. They¡¯re probably extra paranoid with the bandit attacks, too. I don¡¯t think the gate¡¯s usually closed like this.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Spade confirmed. ¡°It¡¯s a trade city. You¡¯re right that this is likely a recent protocol.¡±

    She turned to Leo, an eyebrow raised. ¡°It seems you¡¯ll have to use that illusion spell of yours again.¡±

    Leo watched as the man in the right line was allowed through. A few seconds later, the small family of three in the left line turned around, eyes filled with defeated resignation as they were turned away from shelter.

    ¡°Looks like it,¡± he muttered.

    ¡ª

    The plan was simple. Leo would go in one line while Allan and Spade went in the other. This would hopefully minimize the number of people looking in Leo¡¯s direction when he used [Visual Illusion] since it only worked on one person at a time.

    He was lucky he was traveling with them, Leo thought as they stepped up to the gates. Most of the guards¡¯ attention immediately turned to Spade, wariness and suspicion in their eyes. Her stature, extensive scarring, and the sword sheathed at her side made her the biggest threat in their eyes.

    Leo and Allan stepped up to the front of their respective lines, Spade coming up behind Allan.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± Leo heard Allan say, a pleasant smile on his face. ¡°I see you¡¯ve been busy.¡±

    The guard looked somewhat surprised at the friendliness. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°You could say that. What¡¯s your purpose in Alnwick?¡±

    Allan¡¯s expression shifted subtly to one more downcast. ¡°We¡¯re from Clearside,¡± he said, nodding to Leo and Spade. ¡°We¡­our town was destroyed. There was this flood and¡ª¡± his voice caught and he swallowed, pausing before continuing as though he needed a moment to compose himself. ¡°We were hoping to find shelter here.¡±

    The guard glanced at the others for confirmation, but Leo could tell from the way her expression softened that she¡¯d bought the lie.

    ¡°The watch did report a tidal wave on the lake two days ago,¡± one of the guards standing to the side said. The woman nodded thoughtfully.

    ¡°I see. I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°Unfortunately, due to recent Council orders, Alnwick is only allowing a select few inside the city walls. Only those of Tier 1 and above may enter. It¡¯s a precautionary measure.¡±

    That explained all the people turned away. Leo felt a surge of indignation rise up, but he squashed it down.

    He couldn¡¯t afford to make a scene right now, and this wasn¡¯t all too surprising. Tier 0s were still ¡°unreliable¡± to most, and for a city paranoid about bandits and fragment hunters, they probably weren¡¯t willing to risk letting in people whose classes weren¡¯t fixed.

    That didn¡¯t make the former [Thief] any less angered by it.

    ¡°We¡¯ll need to see your name and class,¡± the guard continued after a pause. She¡¯d probably expected an argument.

    This was it. Leo tensed as Allan nodded. The guard in front of him peered down at him expectantly.

    Slowly, Leo raised his hand to pull up his name and class. He activated [Visual Illusion] and projected the altered class just as the screen appeared.

    Name: Leo

    Age: 24

    Level: 22

    Class: [Farmer, Tier 1]

    The guard leaned forward, squinting as he inspected the screen. Leo¡¯s eyes shifted subtly to the surrounding guards standing around them, silently praying none of them looked over.

    Thankfully, most of them still seemed to be watching Spade. A scrawny, undernourished traveler didn¡¯t warrant as much suspicion.

    The guard finally nodded and stepped back, and Leo almost sighed in relief as he quickly shut the stat screen. He saw Allan waved forward in his peripheral vision as well.

    Leo shot him a grin as they stepped up to the gates, which Allan returned. They paused, waiting for Spade to get through. As expected, the guards looked much more dubious about her.

    ¡°You¡¯re an executioner?¡± the guard who¡¯d spoken to Allan questioned. Spade nodded.

    The guard frowned. ¡°And you¡¯re also from Clearside?¡± She sounded doubtful, probably aware that Clearside wasn¡¯t big enough to warrant a full time [Executioner].

    ¡°She¡¯s my sister,¡± Allan said. Leo almost snorted and barely managed to catch himself in time. To his credit, the [Healer] looked completely sincere, and Spade didn¡¯t even react to the blatant lie.

    The guard glanced between them. ¡°You don¡¯t look much alike.¡±

    Spade chuckled at that and casually brushed a few stray grey hairs out of her face. ¡°The scarring does make it harder to tell.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°I travel around a fair bit for my job, but I was near Clearside when the flood happened. Had to make sure my family was safe.¡±

    Another guard¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, the same person who¡¯d mentioned the tidal wave earlier.

    ¡°Hang on, I thought I recognized you! You¡¯re the one they hired for the Gillis case, right?¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyebrows rose. He hadn¡¯t known Spade had been to Alnwick before.

    ¡°I am.¡± She nodded at the city. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been here,¡± she remarked. ¡°I assume you found a permanent executioner.¡±

    Leo could almost visibly see the tension in the air loosen. The guards relaxed now that Spade had been confirmed as, presumably, reliable, and it only took a few more minutes of questioning before the woman was allowed through as well.

    The three of them stepped through the open gate, a wide arcing opening cut into the wall.

    Overhead, Leo could see a metal gate that would slam down with the pull of a lever, permanently cutting the city off from the outside. It was more apparent than ever how thick those walls were as they walked through.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you said you were siblings,¡± Leo said once they were out of earshot. Allan shrugged.

    ¡°It worked out fine,¡± he pointed out with a small smile. Leo snorted, but he couldn¡¯t argue with that.

    Turning to face ahead, Leo kept walking, and the three finally entered Alnwick proper.

 Chapter 58: Alnwick

    Chapter 58: Alnwick

    The first thing that struck Leo was the noise.

    After traveling on the empty road for the past few days, he¡¯d forgotten how loud a city was.

    At every second there was some sort of sound: the murmurs of passersby, the yells of merchants selling wares, the clopping of horse hooves, the squeak of rickshaw wheels. The clamor of Alnwick was everywhere he turned.

    The next thing that hit him was the sheer amount of people. All across the stone paved road, city residents passed by in huddled masses. Stores and houses were packed tightly together, their material ranging from solid wood to carefully laid bricks, adding to the cramped feeling.

    Here, most of the buildings were at least two stories tall, and the shingled roofs rose in sharp points and slopes. If Leo squinted, he could make out even more buildings in the distance, all of them packed together inside the walls.

    Then there were the eyes. Leo would¡¯ve thought, with such a large population, that another group crossing the gates would be nothing, but he¡¯d underestimated how much attention both Allan and Spade naturally drew¡ªalbeit for different reasons.

    Leo tugged his cloak closer and ducked his head, making himself smaller.

    ¡°This way,¡± he muttered. ¡°Too many people by the gate.¡±

    Turning, he edged closer to the side of the street. There were proper sidewalks here, separated from the street with rows of flowers. Leo moved quickly down them, but not so fast as to stand out.

    It looked like they were on one of the main roads. Leo turned at the first fork, stepping into a still noisy, but slightly less populated street. He kept moving, hazel eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.

    There were a lot of guards, he realized. At least two at every block, and even more on the main street.

    Based on the way other passersby would glance at them or give them a wide berth, he suspected this wasn¡¯t normal. His jaw clenched. Was this also part of the ¡°precautions?¡±

    On closer inspection, everyone seemed a little more tense than usual. Leo spotted multiple shifting gazes, glances across the shoulder, a general avoidance of others, a heightened briskness to everyone¡¯s walk.

    For all the buildings and people and colorful flowers, it felt¡­off, like everyone was waiting for the shoe to drop.

    Leo turned another corner, the next street a narrow stone pathway that crossed between two large buildings. It was noticeably quieter, only a few people strolling along. Leo breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think there¡¯d be this many people,¡± he muttered.

    His eyes darted briefly over to the two guards standing at the mouth of the road, then back. Another reason he¡¯d stopped here was because there were less guards.

    ¡°Were there this many guards last time you were here?¡± he asked Spade quietly.

    ¡°No.¡± The [Executioner]¡¯s grey eyes swept across the street thoughtfully. ¡°And the atmosphere was certainly less tense.¡±

    ¡°Oh good, I¡¯m not crazy.¡± Leo shifted so that his bag was better concealed under his cloak. ¡°The hell is going on?¡±

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of the notification?¡± Allan suggested. ¡°It¡¯s hard to know who has a fragment.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. ¡°Yeah, probably.¡±

    Without a skill like [Judgement], people would have to rely on deduction to determine who was a possible fragment hunter. It wouldn¡¯t surprise him if the guards were there as much for catching law-breaking city residents as they were for outsiders.

    The Council had made it illegal to gather fragments for yourself, but that certainly wouldn¡¯t stop people.

    In places with less guards and resources, Leo could easily see them descending into chaos. Alnwick was barely clinging onto a sense of normalcy with all its new rules and regulations.

    He shook his head and exhaled. ¡°Well, first thing¡¯s first. We¡¯re gonna need to find a place to sell these,¡± he muttered, gesturing to the stored crests. Though, with the amount of guards posted, selling them might be harder than he¡¯d anticipated.

    ¡°I know someone who¡¯ll take them.¡±

    Leo raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡±

    The [Executioner] nodded. ¡°Her name¡¯s Lenore. She has a lot of connections around the city.¡± Illegal connections, was the implication.

    Leo nodded slowly. He was a little hesitant, but this did seem like their best bet for selling the crests off.

    ¡°You know where she is?¡±

    In response, Spade simply turned and gestured for them to follow.

    ¡ª

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    Leo was silently impressed at how good Spade¡¯s memory was. She probably hadn¡¯t been to Alnwick in a few years now, but other than an occasional pause at a street corner, she easily navigated through the winding, narrow roads.

    The further away from the main street they went, the more sparsely the guards were posted. A formerly even mix of wooden and brick walls transitioned to mostly wood, and Leo saw far more one-story buildings now.

    He¡¯d long stopped seeing any carriages around, though there were still rickshaw pullers running down the street, heads lowered and drenched in sweat.

    Leo¡¯s gaze lingered on them, remembering when it used to be Allan tugging the rickshaw along. He shook his head and looked away. It was hard to believe how much things had changed in such a short period of time.

    Spade¡¯s pace slowed. They finally came to a stop in front of a plain, unassuming two-story building.

    On the outside, it looked like some sort of inn. The words The Pearl were carved in curling, looping letters across the wooden sign, and a single guard stood posted outside the door. That was the first thing that got Leo¡¯s attention. Usually an inn wouldn¡¯t bother with hiring a guard.

    It was possible, of course, that the inn was more well-to-do than its exterior indicated, in which case a guard would make sense. As soon as Leo¡¯s eyes landed on the door, however, he knew that wasn¡¯t the explanation here.

    An innocuous garland decorated the otherwise plain door, filled with a collection of flowers and leaves that normally wouldn¡¯t warrant a second glance. Leo¡¯s eyes honed in on the six red camellias woven into the display.

    ¡°This is a brothel,¡± he said bluntly.

    He made sure to keep his voice down. They were alone on the street save for the guard by the door and the city guards on the other end, but he still didn¡¯t want to draw needless attention.

    Brothels were illegal in Avel, and after crossing into the country from Adrya, he¡¯d picked up on some of the hidden symbols they used. There¡¯d been one in Sindrey¡¯s slums, too.

    ¡°It is,¡± Spade said simply. She walked forward towards the door without pause, ignoring the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s questions.

    Leo exchanged looks with Allan, who had an eyebrow raised and looked mildly curious at most.

    Leo sighed and shook his head. Giving the city guards at the end of the street a final glance, he hurried after Spade, nodding once to the guard standing by the door as they stepped through.

    The interior of the building was noticeably more extravagant than the exterior. Draping, silky curtains wound up and down the ceiling, where hanging lamps added a warm, ambient glow to the space.

    Tall vases with lush blossoms decorated the corners, and across the elegantly patterned walls, various landscape oil paintings hung.

    Leo¡¯s gaze drifted to the back, where a reception counter stood in the center of two separate staircases leading upwards.

    Hazel eyes narrowed as they approached the counter. A single man with pale skin, messy black hair, and a bored look on his face stood with a book in front of him.

    Name: Kai

    Age: 26

    Level: 14

    Class: [Receptionist, Tier 0]

    Personal Skill: [Memento Lvl 2]

    ¡°Good evening, welcome to The Pearl,¡± the man said in a dull monotone. He wasn¡¯t even looking up, light brown eyes instead focused on the open book lying atop the counter. ¡°How can I help you?¡±

    Spade came to a stop in front of the counter and raised a scarred eyebrow.

    ¡°Technically it¡¯s still afternoon.¡±

    ¡°Good afternoon then. Wait.¡± Kai¡¯s head snapped up. His eyes widened when they landed on Spade.

    ¡°Holy shit. Spade?¡± He laughed, the sound a mix of disbelieving and giddy. ¡°You¡¯re still alive? I thought for sure you¡¯d died in a ditch somewhere!¡±

    ¡°I did say I was heading north to find more jobs,¡± the [Executioner] said with a smile. The man snorted.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s kind of why. Figured the Empire¡¯d¡¯ve invaded Avel by now, but eh, I guess you got lucky with the timing.¡±

    He leaned forward, grinning. ¡°Anyway, what¡¯ve you been up to? Lenore just mentioned you, like, a week ago.¡±

    Spade chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m looking for her, actually. I have some business to discuss.¡±

    Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Business as in¡­?¡±

    The [Executioner] paused for a moment, thinking over some old memory, before responding.

    ¡°A warm cup of tea and a night and a half, if you could book days in parts.¡±

    Kai¡¯s eyes sharpened with understanding, posture immediately straightening from its earlier lazy slump. Leo tensed instinctively. Some kind of code phrase?

    The [Receptionist] scanned the empty space, eyes finally landing on Leo and Allan as he noticed them.

    Kai¡¯s gaze briefly swept over the [Fragmentholder]¡ªLeo noted how he pinpointed the location of his dagger¡ªbefore lingering a little longer on Allan. He whistled.

    ¡°Damn. You¡¯re really hot.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Allan said without missing a beat. He had on one of those perfectly pleasant smiles that never failed to take people off guard.

    Kai blinked. Temporary surprise morphed into laughter, clearly not having expected the response. He turned back to Spade, grin wide. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had actual friends.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re traveling together. They¡¯re here on the same business.¡±

    ¡°Oh come on, let me have my fun.¡±

    Kai shoved aside the book he¡¯d been reading and pulled out another one, flipping through the crinkled pages and squinting down at it.

    After verifying that the lobby was empty save for them, he seemed to have returned to his earlier relaxed demeanor. Leo supposed he didn¡¯t have to worry about secrecy now with no one else around.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re in luck. No one comes by this early, so Lenore¡¯s free right now.¡± He jerked his head towards the right staircase.

    ¡°Should be up in her room.¡± The [Receptionist] grinned. ¡°She¡¯ll be happy to see you again.¡±

    Spade nodded and turned to Leo and Allan.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go explain the situation to her first,¡± she said. A hint of amusement flashed in her grey eyes. ¡°She tends to give worse deals if she doesn¡¯t know you beforehand.¡±

    Leo glanced down at the bag containing the crests with a frown. He tugged his cloak over it.

    ¡°I mean, you know her best. We¡¯ll just wait in the lobby for now.¡±

    Things were moving so quickly that he was still trying to wrap his head around it all. This would at least give him time to process and to figure out how best to haggle over the crests¡ªno one dealing with the underground market would agree to sell them without taking part of the cut, after all.

    Spade turned and ascended the right staircase. The stairs creaked slightly beneath her.

    After the [Executioner] disappeared from view, Leo stepped over to one of the soft-looking armchairs placed around the lobby and sat down with a sigh.

    Now to wait.

 Chapter 59: The Pearl

    Chapter 59: The Pearl

    Leo squinted at the Pearl¡¯s wallpaper. At first glance the pattern had appeared abstract, but on closer inspection, the larger overall image was made up of individual tiny blossoms invisible from a distance.

    Whoever was responsible for decorating the place must really like flowers, Leo thought. They were everywhere, from the vases to the wallpaper to the wreaths hanging over the two staircases. The one on the left was constructed of orchids and the one on the right of lilies.

    He didn¡¯t remember the one in Sindrey being so well decorated. He¡¯d only glanced at it in passing, but the outside of the building had been almost entirely worn down. He wondered if Alnwick had its own slums with a less expensive brothel.

    Probably. Traveling had taught him that cities were usually more similar than they were different.

    The [Fragmentholder] squinted at the staircases. It hadn¡¯t been that long since Spade had disappeared to talk to Lenore, but it felt like ages. He sighed. Allan shot him a knowing glance.

    ¡°She¡¯ll probably be back soon,¡± he said. After pacing around the lobby, he¡¯d taken a seat in the armchair across from Leo¡¯s.

    The [Healer] frowned, thinking. ¡°She knows what she¡¯s doing.¡± The words sounded vaguely begrudging, like a concession, though Leo wasn¡¯t sure if he was imagining it.

    After the tension of those first few days, Leo had assumed Allan and Spade had worked out whatever differences had caused said tension, or at least came to a mutual understanding. They¡¯d seemed more comfortable around each other, but he supposed they still didn¡¯t really get along.

    ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Leo adjusted his position on the chair. The armchair was so soft that it was hard to get comfortable.

    ¡°So¡¯re you three actually friends?¡±

    Kai suddenly spoke up from the counter, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. Leo and Allan exchanged glances.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Allan said. ¡°She was the executioner of our town. Our goals happened to align, so we  ended up traveling together.¡± The man smoothly avoided mentioning the fragments, the prison break, or any of their other more illegal activities. Then again, considering what the Pearl was and its own status, Leo doubted Kai would care.

    The [Receptionist] snorted. ¡°Yeah, that sounds like her.¡±

    ¡°What about you?¡± Leo found himself asking. Kai raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°You mean how I know Spade? Eh, it¡¯s not that interesting.¡± He nodded at the curtained windows concealing Alnwick behind them. ¡°A few years back, there was this pretty big case. Some noble getting executed. You know how it is.¡±

    Kai shrugged. ¡°Our local executioner didn¡¯t want the job. Didn¡¯t want the rest of the family on his ass, you know? You never really know with those upper class folk.¡±

    That was true. Executioners were already quite unpopular, and they often garnered resentment from the families and friends of their victims. When said loved ones were also wealthy, it created an extra headache for them.

    Not only did they have to worry about the usual vengeance seekers, but if someone thought they¡¯d done a poor job or weren¡¯t quick enough or caused too much pain or whatever, they could file a complaint.

    Leo was pretty sympathetic to them. They were just doing their jobs, after all. He could see where Alnwick¡¯s executioner must¡¯ve been coming from.

    ¡°After that, they had to find someone new, but no one else wanted to either. Spade ended up being the only one. Once the execution was done, she stuck around Alnwick for a bit. Did some guard jobs, dropped by the Pearl a few times, that sort of thing.¡± The man waggled his eyebrows, to which Leo just gave him a flat stare.

    Kai shrugged and continued. ¡°She even had a guard stint at the Pearl, but not very long. She doesn¡¯t like to stay in one place.¡±

    That didn¡¯t surprise him. ¡°So you don¡¯t know her very well either,¡± Leo confirmed.

    ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t think anyone does. Maybe Lenore, but that¡¯s still a longshot. You know how it is.¡± Kai shook his head. ¡°Anyway, welcome to Alnwick I guess.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Leo said, albeit not particularly enthusiastically. Kai snorted.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not that bad.¡±

    ¡°Too many guards,¡± Leo muttered. The [Receptionist] winced and scratched his hair.

    ¡°Ah, yeah, that¡¯s kind of bad. But it¡¯s a new thing, with all this going on.¡± He gestured vaguely. ¡°Could be worse.¡±

    Allan raised an eyebrow. ¡°Could it?¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah.¡± Kai nodded vigorously. ¡°It¡¯s even worse at the capital.¡± He leaned over the counter, lowering his voice conspiratorially. ¡°And I heard the Empire¡¯s making fragment possession punishable by death. Well, for the regular peasant folk anyway.¡±

    Leo exchanged looks with Allan. The [Healer] turned to Kai, brows furrowed.

    ¡°But,¡± he began slowly, ¡°would people really comply with a law like that?¡±

    ¡°If the High General comes knocking on your door, would you say no?¡±

    Leo couldn¡¯t really argue with that point. He remembered the fragmentholder map and how the gradient of light had shifted, becoming more concentrated around Zelyra and the Empire¡¯s capitals. He hadn¡¯t been imagining it, then. Fragments were indeed being moved en masse.

    To confirm, Leo asked, ¡°Is it just the Empire doing it? What¡¯ve other countries said about fragments?¡±

    Kai shot him an odd look. ¡°You really don¡¯t keep up with the news, do you?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve been on the road,¡± Allan replied smoothly. He furrowed his brows a little, face a perfect mask of sincerity. ¡°Alnwick is the first place we¡¯ve stopped in a while.¡±

    ¡°Huh, okay. I guess that makes sense.¡± Kai frowned. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you haven¡¯t run into fragment hunters. Heard it¡¯s been getting real nasty out there.¡±

    Leo bit his lip to avoid reacting to the statement. Oh, we know, he thought.

    The [Receptionist] shook his head. ¡°To answer your question, Zelyra put in a pretty strict law too, but I don¡¯t think they¡¯ve had much issues with it.¡± His brows furrowed as he thought. ¡°I think Ellis tried too, but it wasn¡¯t very successful.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t too surprising. Zelyra was very isolated¡ªthe wall of light was proof of that¡ªand very wealthy. Its citizens lived in luxury and comfort.

    From what Leo knew, the people of Zelyra practically worshipped their royal family as gods. Most would probably have been happy to give up their fragments to the Sovereign.

    Leo hummed in thought. He¡¯d already been planning on avoiding the Empire and Zelyra anyway, so the fragment gathering didn¡¯t affect him too much. Not right now, at least.

    He silently pulled up the fragmentholder counter and carefully kept from reacting. 931,144. That was a significant drop, and he suspected it would keep decreasing as the Empire and Zelyra consolidated their fragments.

    Hazel eyes narrowed slightly. I believe this is the highest the counter will reach, Sol had said. He must¡¯ve known about this too.

    That did make Leo wonder, though. If someone hadn¡¯t absorbed a fragment, it could easily be given away, but what about [Fragmentholders]? Could they choose to give up the class and fragment? There had to be a way that didn¡¯t involve death.

    ¡°Thank you for telling us,¡± Allan said politely. ¡°You¡¯re well informed.¡±

    Kai shrugged, expression a bit smug. ¡°Yeah, well, it¡¯s part of my job. Gotta know what¡¯s happening to stay safe and stuff. Lenore knows way more than me.¡±

    As if on cue, the right staircase creaked.

    Leo¡¯s head snapped in its direction. A few seconds later, Spade descended down the stairs and stepped into the lobby. Leo stood.

    ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡±

    The [Executioner] raised a scarred eyebrow. ¡°Fine. Lenore knows what¡¯s going on.¡± She nodded her head at the staircase. ¡°She wants to talk to you alone.¡±

    Allan frowned at that.

    ¡°It¡¯s for safety reasons,¡± Spade said, sounding amused. ¡°Nothing to fret about.¡±

    That did make sense, Leo supposed. He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he assured the [Healer]. ¡°I can make a deal on my own, you know.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Allan said, ¡°you can, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯ll be good.¡±

    Leo snorted. ¡°Gee, thanks.¡± He stepped forward towards the stairs. ¡°Which room?¡±

    ¡°End of the hall. You can¡¯t miss it.¡±

    Leo nodded and stepped up the stairs. They creaked slightly beneath him, but were more solid than their appearance suggested. The walls on either side were quite narrow, heightening Leo¡¯s unease, but he kept climbing.

    The stairs soon transitioned into a long, dim hallway lit with flickering torches. The dancing lights casted the space in a hazy glow, and Leo could smell traces of incense slipping between the cracks of closed doors.

    Glancing around, he made his way down the hallway. The doors were carved with ornate patterns, and draping curtains hung down from the ceiling. The combined decor gave the floor a mysterious, almost intangible atmosphere.

    Up ahead, Leo approached the end of the hallway. His pace slowed.

    As Spade had said, there was only one room, and it was separated with a double door unlike the rest.

    The [Fragmentholder] stepped closer, inspecting the winding blossoms and vines carved into the dark wood. He pressed his ear to it, but he didn¡¯t hear anything on the other side.

    Leo raised his fist and knocked. A few seconds passed, then a muffled voice sounded from inside the room. ¡°Come in,¡± the voice said.

    Taking a deep breath, Leo grabbed the cool metal doorknob and pushed.

 Chapter 60: Lenore I

    Chapter 60: Lenore I

    The thick scent of incense immediately filled Leo¡¯s nostrils. Floral, earthy, and with a rich, almost bitter undertone.

    The smoke rose in drifting trails from ornate ceramic burners placed around the room, and it was so thick that it cast the entire space in a foggy haze.

    The room itself was dimly lit. Deep maroon walls and mahogany furniture glowed under carefully placed candles. Silk cloths, strings of pearls, golden cords, and woven flowers hung down from the ceiling in a veil, and a few petals had been artfully scattered over the soft, plush carpet.

    The walls, Leo noted, were decorated with oil paintings. They were a bit hard to make out in the lighting, but the imagery he did see was surprisingly surreal in nature. Dark, even. He certainly wasn¡¯t expecting paintings like that here of all places.

    ¡°Admiring the artwork?¡±

    A voice, smooth and light, spoke. Leo turned, facing the woman cautiously.

    In the center of the room stood a large canopy bed. Its red curtains had been pulled back, and sitting on the massive mattress was a woman who must be Lenore.

    Long, silky dark hair fell across bare shoulders in waves. Her honey skin seemed to glow in the candlelight, and she wore a long silk robe patterned with red and gold flowers that accentuated her curves.

    Dark blue eyes watched him from under thick lashes. Her features were best described as ¡°noble.¡± Even the way Lenore sat, resting gracefully back on plush pillows, appeared elegant and effortless. She was probably the most beautiful woman Leo had ever seen.

    Name: Lenore

    Age: 33

    Level: 20

    Class: [Courtesan, Tier 0]

    Personal Skill: [Lacrimosa Lvl 4]

    ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± Lenore gestured at the armchair placed near the bed, separated by a small round table with an incense burner placed in its center. The burner was shaped like one of the ancient sea serpents, Leo noted.

    ¡°Thank you for agreeing to meet with me,¡± he said politely, taking a seat.

    Allan would probably be proud. He was always saying that things would go better for the former [Thief] if he was just nicer to people, but Leo had been there and done that. Unfortunately being polite wasn¡¯t nearly as effective when you didn¡¯t look like Allan.

    In this case, though, he made sure to pull out all the manners and formalities he¡¯d buried away since leaving Adrya. The stolen crests would likely make up a majority of their money for some time, so he needed a good deal on them.

    Lenore smiled. ¡°Polite, I see. A lovely trait to have.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Leo said. It came out sounding more like a question than he¡¯d intended it to. Lenore chuckled, the sound light like ringing bells.

    ¡°No need to be shy. Spade tells me you wanted to chat.¡± She tilted her head, her long dark hair shifting with the motion and revealing more of her bare collarbone. ¡°What can I do for you today?¡±

    Leo frowned. ¡°I thought she already told you.¡±

    A beat passed, neither one speaking. Lenore¡¯s dark blue eyes didn¡¯t move away from the [Fragmentholder]. Leo shifted uneasily.

    Finally, when the silence had stretched on long enough that Leo was seriously considering speaking again, Lenore laughed.

    It wasn¡¯t like her earlier laugh. That, by comparison, felt soft and insubstantial. This one was full and rich with a hint of raspiness, filling up the room with its presence.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t working, is it?¡±

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    Lenore pulled up her legs to sit on the edge of the bed, demeanor changing in a flash. Gone was the soft delicacy in favor of a much more lax posture.

    She reached over to the nightstand and opened the drawer, pulling out a curved pipe, a matchbox, and a small black box with an embossed gold flower on the center of its lid.

    She filled the pipe and lit it in a smooth, practiced motion while she spoke, and Leo noted that her voice sounded much heavier than before and had gained a raspy edge to it.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m certainly not going to bother if that doesn¡¯t work on you,¡± Lenore said. She took a long drag of her pipe and breathed out a ring of smoke.

    Leo blinked, brows furrowing. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Lenore said with a chuckle. She held up the box. With its lid off, Leo could see crushed dried leaves inside, though he didn¡¯t recognize the plant. She shook the box, jostling the contents.

    ¡°You smoke? We just got this imported from Ellis. You won¡¯t find it anywhere else.¡±

    Leo shook his head, still trying to process the sudden shift in demeanor. Lenore shrugged.

    ¡°Your loss.¡± She placed the box and matches back and closed the drawer, then took another puff of the pipe. ¡°You¡¯re looking to sell some crests, right? Tier 1, stolen?¡±

    Leo bristled, and the woman¡¯s eyes sparkled in amusement.

    ¡°Nothing to worry about. We don¡¯t care much for legality here.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°How many?¡±

    ¡°Three,¡± Leo said begrudgingly.

    ¡°Let me see.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] hesitated, and the woman raised an eyebrow.

    Carefully, Leo detached the bag from his belt and opened it wide enough to reveal the three crests nestled inside, but he kept the bag firmly in his grip. Lenore didn¡¯t move to take them either, simply peering down with sharp eyes before sitting back again.

    ¡°Good condition. You got them straight from a store?¡±

    ¡°A prison,¡± Leo corrected. ¡°I think they were for the guards.¡±

    Lenore smiled wide. ¡°Even better.¡± She pointed at the bag with her pipe. ¡°Those¡¯ll be easy to sell. I can get the money to you in two days.¡±

    That was faster than Leo had dared hope for. He carefully quashed down his rising excitement and kept his voice steady and professional. ¡°What do you want for them?¡±

    The woman shrugged. ¡°Not much. A 60% cut of the sale will do.¡±

    Leo choked. ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°I and my sellers take on a significant risk, especially with the increase in guards lately.¡± She nodded at Leo. ¡°I wager those will earn at least 900 gamils combined. You¡¯ll still keep 360 gamils¡ªenough to comfortably last you years if you¡¯re smart with it.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] frowned. ¡°One Tier 1 crest costs 100 gamils,¡± he pointed out. ¡°How¡¯re you planning to get someone to buy one for 300?¡±

    Lenore raised an eyebrow. ¡°Think about it this way,¡± she said simply. ¡°What kind of person would buy a class crest on the black market?¡±

    That made Leo pause. He hadn¡¯t really considered it before, but it was true that most people who could afford a crest would simply buy one from a store. Tier 1 crests weren¡¯t hard to find.

    The only exceptions were people who couldn¡¯t afford them and people who weren¡¯t allowed to buy crests. Those who were banned from using them and forced to resort to other means as a result.

    The former [Thief]¡¯s brows furrowed. The answer to his own question seemed obvious in retrospect.

    Criminals. Violent offenders ruled too dangerous to be allowed crests. They were the ones who Lenore would be selling the stolen crests to.

    Leo was aware of the woman¡¯s eyes on him, watching him, but he ignored her.

    The thought was uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, Leo wasn¡¯t in a position to complain about where their money came from. It wasn¡¯t as though he was new to dirty money.

    He looked up again, meeting Lenore¡¯s gaze. ¡°60% is still too high,¡± he said. ¡°The money¡¯s getting split between three people, and we¡¯re doing a lot of traveling.¡±

    He narrowed his eyes a little. ¡°It¡¯s like you said, there¡¯s a lot of people who¡¯ll take three good quality class crests. We¡¯ll sell them to someone else if we have to.¡±

    Not that they actually knew anyone else, but Lenore didn¡¯t need to know that.

    ¡°40%,¡± Leo continued, ¡°is the most we can give you. That¡¯s already very high.¡±

    Lenore hummed and took another drag of her pipe. ¡°50%.¡±

    Leo frowned. ¡°I just said¡ª¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t go any lower, not when I¡¯m also giving you information.¡±

    Leo paused at that, brows furrowing as a spark of curiosity rose at the words. He studied Lenore carefully, but the woman¡¯s expression betrayed nothing.

    ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡±

    Lenore smiled, wide and sharp, and cocked her head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know where the next fragment is?¡±

 Chapter 61: Lenore II

    Chapter 61: Lenore II

    Leo¡¯s head snapped towards Lenore, shoulders immediately tensing. ¡°What¡¯re you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Relax.¡± The woman cut him off. She exhaled another puff of her pipe, an eyebrow raised in amusement. ¡°Spade told me everything. No need to get worked up.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s jaw clenched, the words doing nothing to appease him. Lenore seemed to anticipate his response, because she chuckled lowly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I hardly care. I¡¯ve no need for fragments. I¡¯m quite happy with the little empire I¡¯ve already built.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I like you knowing about it,¡± Leo muttered. Lenore sighed and shook her head.

    ¡°Come now, it¡¯s not everyday an old fling comes back from the dead. Of course I was going to get as much information as I could.¡± She twirled the pipe around her fingers, the smoke circling around with the smooth, practiced motion. ¡°Now, do you want to hear about the fragment or not?¡±

    Hazel eyes narrowed. ¡°Depends. Are you gonna charge me more if I say yes?¡±

    ¡°No additional fee. Consider it part of our crest deal.¡±

    Leo bit his lip. On one hand, this would effectively lock him into a 50% cut without much room left for negotiation. But at the same time, considering how huge Alnwick was and the strict guard presence, this could very well be his only chance to learn more about a fragment here.

    If he walked away from the city knowing there might¡¯ve been a fragment that he¡¯d let go, he¡¯d never stop regretting it.

    ¡°Fine,¡± the former [Thief] conceded. ¡°Where is it?¡±

    In response, Lenore reached over to the dresser and opened the bottom drawer. From where Leo sat, he could make out stacks of papers and files carefully organized between dividers.

    The woman navigated the files easily, pulling out a card and shutting the drawer again. She tossed the card onto the table and it slid to a stop beside the serpent-shaped incense burner.

    Leo leaned over and squinted down at it. The card was made of thick, creamy paper that was undeniably expensive, and golden embossed letters looped across its surface.

    Annual Masquerade, he read. The smaller inked words below it contained more information, including a date and a location that he didn¡¯t recognize. It was clearly an invitation to a ball. A very expensive one too, if the invitation card was any indication.

    ¡°A masquerade?¡± he said, voice dubious. Lenore took another puff of her pipe.

    ¡°It¡¯s the most famous ball in Alnwick,¡± the woman explained. ¡°Quite exclusive. You¡¯ll only find the wealthiest there, or those with power and connections,¡± she added with a smile. She belonged to the second half, her tone implied.

    ¡°What¡¯s that have to do with the fragment?¡±

    ¡°Patience, I¡¯m getting there.¡± Lenore adjusted her position, leaning closer.

    ¡°The masquerade is only the first half of the event,¡± she continued smoothly. ¡°After the ball is over, there¡¯s an even more exclusive auction.¡±

    Leo sat up straighter, sensing where this was going. Lenore smiled.

    ¡°I have it on good authority that one of the items being auctioned this year contains a concealed fragment.¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes darted back down to the invitation, mind churning. A fragment hidden in the auction? It was difficult to believe.

    But at the same time, if someone wanted to try selling a fragment without getting caught, this would be the place to do it. The guards were always more lax around wealthy functions like this, and an auction of this caliber would have plenty of other rare items to disguise its presence.

    He frowned. ¡°Concealed,¡± he repeated. ¡°You don¡¯t know which item?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately not. Only a few do. They can¡¯t exactly advertise it to the general public. I¡¯d wager most guests aren¡¯t even aware of the fragment¡¯s presence.¡±

    ¡°Would someone really just sell one?¡± Leo muttered. An image of the destroyed village flashed in his mind again, of Clearside and the Hounds mulling about its streets. So many were willing to kill for a fragment, and here someone was willingly handing one over for money.

    ¡°Plenty of people are perfectly happy with their place in the world.¡± Lenore cocked her head. ¡°Becoming the system administrator would be quite the burden, you know. Lots of us would rather live peaceful, comfortable lives without having to worry about the responsibility.¡±

    The woman¡¯s expression was unreadable as she spoke. Leo stared down at the invitation card again.

    ¡°¡­Why¡¯re you telling me this?¡± Even if Lenore didn¡¯t want the fragment, she could easily buy it and resell it herself for an even higher price.

    ¡°A favor to Spade,¡± Lenore replied. ¡°That, and an exchange.¡±

    That got Leo¡¯s attention.

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    ¡°For what?¡±

    In response, the woman rose from the bed, silk robe trailing behind her as she stepped across the room. Leo watched her movements warily, but her shoulders remained lax and casual.

    ¡°I can get the three of you into the auction if you agree to bring me an item I want.¡± She stopped walking and turned to face Leo. ¡°I can¡¯t go myself, you see. I¡¯m too recognizable, and I¡¯ve made enough enemies that I¡¯d rather not risk it.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the item?¡±

    Lenore nodded at the wall. She stood in front of one of the many paintings Leo had noticed hanging around the room earlier. She touched the frame with her free hand, the other one still holding onto her pipe.

    ¡°A painting,¡± she said simply.

    Leo blinked; he certainly hadn¡¯t been expecting that. Lenore laughed.

    ¡°Surprised? What can I say, I¡¯m a collector.¡± She shook her head and sighed. ¡°I suppose I just can¡¯t let go of my Ellisean roots.¡±

    She was from Ellis, then. That would explain the sea serpent incense burner. It was a very Ellisean symbol, and the country was indeed famed for its arts.

    ¡°The painting,¡± Lenore continued, ¡°is another piece by this same artist.¡± She nodded at the one she stood in front of. ¡°It¡¯s extremely valuable.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s the painter?¡± Leo couldn¡¯t help but ask, curious. The woman¡¯s smile sharpened.

    ¡°That¡¯s the interesting part; no one knows who their identity is. The current theory is that these works are done by a famous artist under a pseudonym.¡± A mocking edge entered her tone, and Leo studied her closely.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m guessing you don¡¯t think so.¡±

    Lenore clicked her tongue and stepped back over to the canopy bed, plopping down on it. ¡°The auctioneers don¡¯t understand art.¡± She took another long drag of her pipe, blowing out a perfect circle of smoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m fairly certain I know who the painter is, and if I¡¯m right, those paintings are worth far more than any of those fools could imagine.¡±

    She chuckled lowly. ¡°It¡¯s certainly worth more than its going rate. And that brings me to you.¡± Lenore nodded at Leo. ¡°I¡¯ll get you three into the auction as long as you bring me that painting. I¡¯ll even provide you the money for it, but of course you¡¯ll be in charge of finding and bidding for the fragment yourself.¡±

    Leo frowned, running over the offer in his head. ¡°And the crests?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll sell them for you for 50% of the profit.¡±

    He bit his lip. Buying the painting wouldn¡¯t be difficult, especially if Lenore was providing the funds. They¡¯d have to use their own money for whatever piece held the fragment, though, provided they were able to find it in the first place.

    Still, the more he thought about it, the more inclined he was to agree with the deal. Considering how high profile the masquerade and auction seemed to be, he doubted they¡¯d be able to get in themselves, and it was true that 50% of the sale from the crests would still be a considerable amount.

    ¡°¡­Fine,¡± Leo said. ¡°On one condition.¡±

    Lenore raised an eyebrow, waiting. The [Fragmentholder] swallowed.

    ¡°You said you could sell the crests for 900 gamils, which means we¡¯d end up with 450. I want half of that now.¡±

    A slow smile spread across Lenore¡¯s features. She cocked her head. ¡°Don¡¯t trust me, do you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not personal or anything,¡± Leo muttered. Hazel eyes flashed darkly as he remembered Aldas and the money he and Allan had spent five years saving. All of it down the drain in seconds. ¡°I¡¯ve just been fucked over before.¡±

    Lenore hummed. ¡°I¡¯ll do better.¡± She nodded at the bag of crests. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the 450 gamils now. The auction is in three nights. You¡¯ll come to the Pearl before the masquerade to prepare, and if I manage to sell the crests for more than 900, I¡¯ll give you the rest of your share then.¡±

    It was a better offer than Leo had hoped for, not to mention a testament to how wealthy Lenore really was if she could pay him 450 gamils out of pocket.

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    Lenore smiled and rose from the bed. She took a final puff from her pipe, then set it aside atop the table.

    ¡°Wait outside,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you in the hallway.¡±

    Leo nodded. It was a precautionary measure, he knew, to avoid him learning where she kept the Pearl¡¯s money.

    Clutching the bag of crests close to him, Leo exited the room, carefully shutting the door behind him.

    The hallway looked the same as before, all the doors still closed. He inhaled, relieved to finally be away from the thick scent of incense even if a few traces of it still lingered on the floor.

    A few minutes later, Lenore stepped outside carrying an innocuous brown pouch and a card. Leo¡¯s eyes landed on the latter.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°A note to the owner of the Blue Cup.¡± The woman turned and began to descend down the stairs, only glancing back at Leo once with a raised eyebrow. ¡°A tavern. I assume you¡¯ll need a place to stay until the auction.¡±

    Leo followed behind her, the stairs creaking a little beneath his feet. ¡°You¡¯re not about to take an even higher cut in exchange, are you?¡±

    Lenore chuckled. ¡°Of course not. The deal is already made. This is simply a bonus for an old friend.¡±

    The two stepped back into the lobby where Allan, Spade, and Kai were waiting. Leo noted the way Lenore¡¯s dark blue eyes shifted over to Spade, and he privately wondered just how much higher she would¡¯ve charged them if not for her past relationship with and goodwill towards the [Executioner].

    ¡°Done?¡± Spade nodded at them. ¡°You were up there a while.¡±

    ¡°Your companion¡¯s an interesting one.¡± Lenore stepped over and handed the tavern note to the other woman. ¡°I assume you remember where the Blue Cup is?¡±

    Spade chuckled. ¡°My memory hasn¡¯t begun failing me, no.¡±

    ¡°I would certainly hope not,¡± Lenore said with a smile. She paused, and for a moment it looked like she wanted to say more. Seemingly deciding against it, her dark blue eyes moved over to the window instead.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have customers arriving soon,¡± she murmured. She turned back to Leo and held out the brown pouch. Leo raised the bag of crests at the same time, and in a simultaneous motion, they swapped them.

    Both of them opened their respective bags at the same time to check their contents. Leo found a pile of gold coins nestled inside the pouch. He picked one up, rolling the cool metal between his fingers to check that it was real.

    ¡°How much is that?¡± Allan whispered. Leo told him as he began counting, and the [Healer]¡¯s eyebrows shot up.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to explain the rest,¡± Lenore said, typing up the bag of crests once she was satisfied. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in three nights.¡±

    Leo nodded and closed the pouch as well, having verified the amount. It was hard to believe the deal was over so quickly; it had simultaneously felt both too long and too short. Still, he was relieved. They¡¯d finally sold the crests off and would have enough money to buy supplies now.

    ¡°Thank you for helping us,¡± Allan said.

    Lenore waved the gratitude aside. ¡°It was no trouble on my end.¡± She sounded amused.

    Behind the counter, Kai waved cheerily. ¡°Come back soon!¡± he called.

    After a few more farewells, Leo, Allan, and Spade turned and exited the Pearl.

 Chapter 62: The Blue Cup I

    Chapter 62: The Blue Cup I

    There was still a fair amount of sunlight left in the day, so the group decided to begin restocking supplies. The quicker they got everything done, the better; Leo didn¡¯t want to spend any more time in Alnwick than necessary.

    That, and he didn¡¯t feel comfortable walking around with so much money on him. It felt like he was asking to get robbed.

    It was still fairly crowded on the streets, and Leo wasn¡¯t a fan of how much attention they drew. He kept the bag of money tucked under his cloak, away from view, but it still felt like everyone was looking at it.

    In the actual stores it was better since they had shelves and tables to block them. The little shops and markets were welcome reprieves from the hustle of the roads, even if only temporarily.

    ¡°¡ªso we¡¯re supposed to go back to the Pearl before the masquerade starts,¡± Leo finished quietly.

    He, Allan, and Spade stood in the corner of a dusty bookstore with a single lamp dangling overhead. The space was dim and crowded with shelves and stacks of books, but the main reason they¡¯d entered was because it was empty.

    Leo adjusted the bag he was holding. He¡¯d barely managed to convince Allan to let him carry something (¡°My other arm still works fine,¡± he¡¯d pointed out), and at this point they¡¯d bought most of the necessities. Weapons they would buy tomorrow when their hands were more free and when they had a better sense of their budget.

    They¡¯d mostly stopped in the bookstore because other areas had been too crowded for Leo to feel comfortable explaining everything. The shadowy aisles provided a perfect space to converse.

    Allan nodded slowly, brows furrowed in thought. ¡°And she didn¡¯t know what item the fragment would be in?¡±

    Leo shook his head, hazel eyes darting around the dark corners to make sure no one was listening. ¡°No, we¡¯ll have to figure that out. We should be able to recognize it, though.¡±

    ¡°How much do you think we¡¯ll need to bid on it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing. I was thinking it over, and I really don¡¯t think we¡¯d have enough even if we kept everything from the crest sales. It¡¯s an auction for the upper crust, right? The prices¡¯re gonna be ridiculous.¡±

    Leo saw understanding flash in Allan¡¯s eyes. He leaned closer, lowering his voice even more.

    ¡°We just need to see who wins the bid, then steal the fragment from them. If we can win the bid ourselves that¡¯s great, but if not, that¡¯ll be the backup plan.¡±

    Allan nodded, humming thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s a masquerade though, right? What if we can¡¯t recognize them?¡±

    Leo carefully didn¡¯t react. He felt a familiar tinge of guilt for not explaining how [Judgement] worked, but he reasoned that he didn¡¯t know what Allan¡¯s personal skill did either. It was normal to keep them private, even between party members.

    Leo felt Spade¡¯s eyes on him. After their interaction in the jail cell, the [Executiner] probably suspected what his personal skill did. He could practically feel the amusement in those keen grey eyes.

    ¡°We can just follow them,¡± Leo said. He glanced over at Spade. ¡°You¡¯d probably recognize some of the party guests, right?¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°Some of them, maybe. I wasn¡¯t in Alnwick very long.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. He cleared his throat.

    ¡°Anyway, we just have to lay low until the auction. We can finish up shopping tomorrow, maybe explore the city a little.¡±

    Based on the thin sliver of sky visible through the shop¡¯s cloudy window, it was late enough that they could probably start heading over to the tavern now.

    ¡°Oh wait, before we go.¡±

    Leo turned to Allan curiously. The [Healer] disappeared down an aisle for a few minutes only to reappear with a thick, dusty book in hand. Leo squinted down at it, attempting to make out the faded title.

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    ¡°A medicine book?¡±

    Allan nodded. He opened it and flipped through a few pages. ¡°It has general medical advice too. The doctor in Clearside had the same one. I never got a chance to finish reading it.¡±

    After the wave had destroyed the village, he definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to use the doctor¡¯s copy again, Leo thought.

    ¡°You¡¯re really taking healing seriously,¡± the [Fragmentholder] observed. Allan hadn¡¯t shown any interest in medicine prior to class selection.

    The man shrugged. ¡°Someone has to,¡± he said. Leo couldn¡¯t argue with that.

    They paid for the book and soon exited the bookstore. Allan tucked the book safely away in his bag, and the trio made their way over to the tavern.

    Outside, the sun was beginning to set. The blue hues of the sky shifted to warmer shades, and the shadows grew longer until they covered the street in crisscrossing patterns. Leo frowned.

    While it wasn¡¯t truly sunset yet, there were a lot of people still outside. In Sindrey, people would be hurrying home by now.

    His eyes shifted over to the clear orbs sitting innocuously atop the city walls. There was no active barrier now, the glow within them soft and faint. This was the difference between places with wards and places without. He wondered if the people who¡¯d grown up in Alnwick even feared the night or if a life without having to worry about the Silence had removed that caution.

    Ahead of them, Spade came to a stop in front of a wood and stone building. She nodded. ¡°This should be it.¡±

    Leo stared up at the structure. The Blue Cup was situated in the middle of a busy street, crammed between other stores and buildings. The tavern had four different floors from what he could see, and the glowing firelight beyond the windows seemed to beckon passersby closer. He could hear muffled music and laughter even from outside. It would be fairly busy now that it was dinner time.

    ¡°It¡¯s very crowded,¡± he muttered as Spade pushed open the door. It was even more packed inside, the long wooden tables filled with guests clinking together mugs of ale and eating heaping plates of food.

    In the back of the room, a fiddler sat on a stool, his foot tapping in time with the music. The space just in front of him was clear of any tables, leaving room for patrons to dance on the wooden floors. The bar counter stood on the opposite end of the room, and Leo could see a wide staircase leading up to what must be the inn rooms proper.

    He was once again struck by how relaxed everyone looked. There was no fear of nightfall at all.

    A number of heads turned their direction when the door creaked open, but thankfully a good chunk were too busy with their meals and conversation to care.

    Leo speed-walked over to the counter, eager to get away from all the attention. The tavernkeeper nodded at him as he approached.

    ¡°Evening,¡± he said. His voice was gruff and quiet, nearly blending into the background music and chatter. Leo nodded.

    ¡°Good evening. We¡¯d like to book a room, please,¡± Allan said. The tavernkeeper looked between the trio.

    ¡°Three? For one night that¡¯ll be¡ª¡±

    Spade stepped forward before the man could finish, handing over the note Lenore had given them. The tavernkeeper raised an eyebrow but took it, his eyes quickly scanning over the words. After a few moments had passed, he looked back up and squinted at the group.

    ¡°¡­Lenore sent you?¡±

    ¡°Something like that,¡± Spade said. The man frowned, and for a second Leo was worried he¡¯d charge them anyway.

    Instead, he slid open a drawer and rummaged around its contents, finally pulling out a small metal key with a numbered tag hanging off its handle.

    ¡°Second floor,¡± he muttered. ¡°Mealtimes¡¯re posted on the bulletin, and the bar opens at noon. Enjoy your stay.¡±

    Leo took the key, turning it over in his hand. It was fairly light, and the number on it read 208.

    He nodded in thanks, still processing how easy it had been to get a room with just a note. He wondered if this was what it meant to have influence.

    The three ascended up the stairs, leaving the rowdy first level behind them. It was much quieter in the proper inn sections of the building, the hallways surprisingly spacious and well lit with torches. Leo¡¯s eyes scanned the doors, finally stopping when they reached 208. He inserted the key, and the lock opened with a click.

    The interior of the room was larger than Leo had expected, with three beds evenly spaced across the clean floorboards.

    A round table sat in the corner beside the closed window curtains and a couch, and there was even a washroom connected by a secondary door. He wondered how expensive this room would¡¯ve been normally.

    Leo set down his bag and opened the curtain just enough to peer outside. They had a direct view of the main street, and he could see the city gates they¡¯d entered from. If he pressed his ear against the glass he could hear the bustle of the streets, but otherwise the room had much better soundproofing than he¡¯d expected.

    ¡°This is a really nice room,¡± Allan observed, setting down his own bags. The book he placed atop the table, where a small cloud of stray dust rose when he set it down.

    ¡°Lenore doesn¡¯t do things by halves,¡± Spade said simply.

    Based on what he¡¯d seen so far, Leo would agree with the assessment. He closed the curtain again.

    ¡°The tavernkeeper said we got free meals too, right?¡±

    ¡°That he did.¡±

    It felt distinctly strange to have both food and shelter come so easily after living in Sindrey¡¯s slums for so long. The bag of coins weighed heavily on his belt.

    Leo nodded slowly. ¡°I guess we should head down now then,¡± he said. Odd as it was, they might as well take advantage of the break while they had it. He suspected they¡¯d have less and less time to relax the further into the fragment hunt they went.

 Chapter 63: The Blue Cup II

    Chapter 63: The Blue Cup II

    Leo squinted outside the windows as he finished off his meal. By now, the sun was halfway below the horizon and the wall of light glowed brightly against the increasingly dark sky.

    Lamplighters had lit the streetlamps half an hour ago, and yet the tavern and roads were just as full as before. If anything, it had only gotten more busy.

    ¡°They really don¡¯t care it¡¯s night,¡± Allan said, his own eyes fixed outside. He¡¯d finished eating some time ago and set his plate aside for the tavernkeeper to take it away.

    The three of them sat at the front counter, preferring it to the considerably more crowded tables and dance area. A few more musicians had joined the fiddler from before, adding to the noise, and even the bar was getting more busy than Leo would like.

    ¡°You three from outside?¡±

    Leo turned to the tavernkeeper. He was wiping a glass while his eyes swept across the tavern with a subtle, practiced sort of caution that Leo knew well. He nodded slowly.

    ¡°Yeah. Just arrived today, actually. It¡¯s very different here.¡± He set his fork down, and the tavernkeeper swept the plate away without pause. The man chuckled.

    ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. I moved here some ten years ago, couldn¡¯t believe it when I saw folks roaming the streets at night.¡± He nodded his head out the window, where the wards were rendered distant specks in the dense shadows.

    ¡°After seeing Echoes clawing at the wards enough times, you start to realize it really is safe. There¡¯s even some folks who like to watch whenever the Silence shows up. Think it¡¯s fun to see the Echoes all pressed up against the wards.¡±

    Allan frowned. ¡°Really? I can¡¯t imagine it.¡±

    ¡°Definitely not for everyone, that¡¯s for sure,¡± the tavern owner said with a chuckle. ¡°Personally I¡¯d take living in a warded city any day, even if the guards¡¯re a bit much.¡± The last part he said quieter, though Leo caught it all the same.

    The man shook his head. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s enough of that. You three need anything else? Some drinks? The Blue Cup¡¯s got the finest ale around, perfect for a couple of weary travelers.¡±

    Allan chuckled. ¡°Thank you, but we¡¯re fine. He¡¯s very bad with alcohol.¡± He gestured to Leo.

    ¡°My tolerance¡¯s average,¡± Leo muttered, shooting Allan a scowl. The [Healer] raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Really? I guess you were just tired that time we tried some of old Marg¡¯s¡ª¡°

    Leo groaned, cutting the man off. Allan¡¯s face was a perfect picture of innocence, but he could detect the faint, subtle smugness buried beneath. He narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°You know what? A drink doesn¡¯t sound so bad after all.¡±

    ¡ª

    ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding,¡± Spade observed.

    The [Executioner] sat at the bar, posture relaxed as she took a sip from her drink, a scarred eyebrow raised.

    On the other side of Allan, slumped over the counter, was Leo. The man was fast asleep, his own mug still a quarter full. Every now and then he would mumble something, the sound muffled by his arms, but he clearly hadn¡¯t been fully conscious for a while now.

    ¡°Of course not. He can¡¯t hold a drink to save his life,¡± Allan said amusedly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose that medicine book recommended drunken blackouts.¡±

    The [Healer] rolled his eyes and took a sip from his own cup of plain water. ¡°A bit of extra sleep doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± he muttered.

    It was obvious that Leo had barely slept the previous night. He didn¡¯t know why or what was wrong, but the [Fragmentholder] was stubborn enough to keep pushing himself until he actually collapsed. If he couldn¡¯t get him to explain what was going on, he could at least ensure Leo got some rest.

    Spade chuckled. ¡°How thoughtful of you.¡±

    Before Allan had the chance to respond, the sound of glass being pushed against wood caught his attention. He glanced over to see the tavernkeeper sliding another cup over to him, the man simply nodding across the room in explanation.

    Allan sighed and didn¡¯t bother turning to see his ¡°gifter,¡± simply pushing the glass over to the side without a second glance.

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    ¡°Is that the third one tonight?¡± The [Executioner] sounded amused. Allan grunted in assent.

    ¡°Pity. It¡¯s a waste of drinks.¡± She reached over and took the glass in a smooth motion, draining her current cup (which had also been one of Allan¡¯s). The man snorted.

    ¡°You¡¯re cleaning them up just fine.¡±

    ¡°Well, you certainly don¡¯t seem to want them.¡± She took a sip of the new glass, not showing any particular reaction to it.

    Allan studied the [Executioner] closely. So far, nothing about her appearance or behavior had changed at all despite the sizable amount of alcohol she¡¯d consumed. His fingers squeezed around his cup, a bit of tension lingering in his shoulders. It was an ingrained habit at this point.

    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re not a fan of drinking,¡± Spade continued. Allan pursed his lips, eyes darkening a little.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±

    Spade remained quiet, studying him with those uncanny, unreadable eyes. Allan simply took another sip of his water, steadfastly avoiding her gaze. Finally, the [Executioner] shrugged and looked away, dropping the subject.

    The two sat in silence for several minutes, the tavern cheering behind them as the fiddler played faster and faster and the dancers tried to keep up with the tempo.

    Allan glanced over at Spade, noting the empty cups beside her. He frowned.

    ¡°Can you even get drunk?¡± He finally voiced the thought.

    ¡°I have a very high tolerance.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like there¡¯s much of a point then. You can¡¯t even taste the drinks, and you can¡¯t get drunk. ¡±

    The [Executioner] shrugged, taking another sip from her most recent cup. ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t try.¡± Her voice was plain and casual, as detached as ever.

    Allan gave her a long look. Finally, he shook his head and set his empty cup down. He stood.

    ¡°I¡¯m heading back up,¡± he said. Spade waved dismissively, not moving from her own seat.

    Allan turned to Leo¡¯s slumped form. The [Fragmentholder] shifted every now and then, head still flat on his arms, but the [Healer] didn¡¯t hear any snoring.

    He tapped his shoulder. Leo swatted his hand away, so Allan shook him harder until Leo finally groaned and lifted his head an inch.

    ¡°What?¡± His voice was slurred. Allan smiled.

    ¡°I need the room key,¡± he said. Leo squinted, clearly attempting to process the words. Allan elected to step over and help the man up, deciding this would be faster than trying to talk.

    Making his way up the stairs turned out to be significantly more difficult when he was also supporting a stumbling drunk, but they did manage to reach the second floor without injury. It was probably a good thing they weren¡¯t on any of the higher levels, Allan thought.

    The hallway was empty, and they easily made their way over to room 208. By then, Leo seemed to have regained enough consciousness to have pulled out the key, though his hands were far too shaky to actually get it into the lock.

    ¡°Here,¡± Allan said, taking the key himself. Leo scowled.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need help,¡± he said. His voice sounded a little less slurred than before, even if his movements remained sluggish. Allan just raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Sure,¡± he said. He pushed the door open. Leo stumbled inside, flopping down on the nearest of the three beds with a groan. Allan shut the door lightly and moved over to the table to grab his book.

    ¡°You should sleep,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s already late.¡±

    ¡°Thought I just did.¡±

    Allan chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t think collapsing on the bar counter counts.¡±

    Leo raised his head just enough to look over at the [Healer]. The man had taken a seat at the table and was already staring down at the book pages, dark eyes focused.

    Leo¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not tired yet,¡± Allan said, gesturing to the book. ¡°And I have to wait for Spade to come back anyway.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] flopped back down on the bed. It was thankfully a firmer mattress, but still much softer than he¡¯d prefer. In his drunken state, though, he found he cared much less. ¡°I feel like shit.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s not really a surprise.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m serious. I might vomit.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± Allan said simply.

    Leo sighed and rolled over so that he was facing the ceiling. The wooden planks looked uniform at first, but there were a few patches of darker or lighter colors where old leaks must have been fixed. Allan flipped a page. Leo sighed again.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he finally relented. ¡°But wake me up if anything happens.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± the [Healer] promised. Despite the assurance, Leo didn¡¯t feel much more at ease. He turned to the side so that his back was facing Allan

    He knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid sleeping no matter how stubbornly he clung to consciousness. Even now he could feel an incoming wave of weariness threatening to take hold. He pursed his lips.

    Maybe it was better to rest now, in the safety of the tavern and Alnwick¡¯s wards, than to put it off until later.

    Might as well get it over with, Leo thought. He shut his eyes. It took some time to calm down enough, but he finally allowed sleep to wash over him.

    He wasn¡¯t surprised when a familiar notification appeared. Instead, he simply braced himself as his surroundings dissipated into another [Dreamscape].

 Chapter 64: Sol

    Chapter 64: Sol

    Leo blinked his eyes open, automatically tensing. Just like the first time, the inn around him had completely vanished, supplanted with a completely new landscape that looked all too real in its vibrance and detail.

    Unlike the last [Dreamscape], however, Leo didn¡¯t recognize his surroundings this time.

    He turned his head, hazel eyes scanning a wide, rich blue sky dotted with pure white clouds drifting lazily in the soft breeze. There was no wall of light, Leo noticed.

    He stood in the center of a stone path cutting through a lush garden. Colorful blossoms grew up to Leo¡¯s waist, their petals scattering in the wind. A little ways ahead, he could see the area dip down into a rocky shore brushing against the sea.

    The waves were crystal clear and gentle in their push and pull, so bright under the sunlight that they sparkled with every movement. It didn¡¯t look much like the ocean near Adrya had been. Those waters had seemed so much darker and more turbulent.

    Leo turned back to the garden, slowing as his eyes landed on a white circular gazebo situated in the center of the densely packed flowers. Vines climbed up the pillars, and in the middle stood a small round table. Sitting on one side was Sol.

    Leo¡¯s jaw stiffened. Sol nodded calmly at him, completely at ease. Based on expression alone, he didn¡¯t look particularly angry about how the last interaction had gone, which was a good sign at least.

    Inhaling, Leo stepped over to the gazebo. He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to think he could avoid interacting with the man in his own spell. And, he reasoned, at least he knew how to escape [Dreamscape] if it became necessary.

    He attempted to use [Judgement] just in case, but like last time, it did nothing. It seemed like the spell was functioning the same way as it had before.

    ¡°Good afternoon,¡± Sol said pleasantly, ¡°though I suppose it¡¯s evening in reality.¡±

    Leo just grunted in response. His eyes briefly swept the surrounding garden.

    ¡°Guessing this is one of your memories.¡±

    ¡°It is. I apologize again for last time.¡± The man nodded at the surrounding flowers and the distant sea. ¡°This is one of my favorite places to relax, though of course I did make a few changes to ensure my identity wasn¡¯t too obvious,¡± he added lightly.

    Assuming this wasn¡¯t some sort of vacation spot, the man was definitely from the southern coast, then. Unfortunately that didn¡¯t narrow things down nearly as much as Leo would like.

    ¡°Please, take a seat,¡± Sol said, gesturing to the empty chair. Leo gave him a long look, then sighed and plopped unceremoniously down.

    ¡°Let me guess, this is still about the whole ¡®peaceful selection¡¯ thing. Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d try again so soon after last time,¡± he added with a mutter, eyeing the man suspiciously. From his experience, people who didn¡¯t visibly show anger were often the most terrifying.

    Sol laughed lightly. ¡°Well, I couldn¡¯t be too upset. You weren¡¯t entirely wrong with your assessment.¡±

    Leo blinked. ¡°What?¡±

    The other [Fragmentholder] tilted his head, the gesture relaxed and calm. ¡°It¡¯s true that I¡¯m a bit of a, hm, how should I put this. A control freak, I suppose.¡±

    If Leo had been drinking something, he would¡¯ve spit it out. Sol continued.

    ¡°You¡¯re right that one of my reasons for doing this is to ensure the next [Administrator] is deserving of the position. I¡¯ll fully admit to that.¡±

    The man smiled. ¡°However, that is not exclusive to my desire to see this search end with minimal bloodshed. The latter is just as true, and it¡¯s a sentiment I¡¯m sure you share as well.¡±

    Leo hadn¡¯t expected the man to be so frank. Nobles usually loved to hide truths in twisted mazes of words, and while Sol still spoke elegantly, he was also being much more forthright than people of his status usually were. Or at least, of his assumed status. The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s identity was still a mystery.

    Leo frowned.

    ¡°¡­What¡¯re your goals this time, then?¡±

    ¡°Firstly, I wanted to apologize for our last conversation ending on such a sour note.¡± Sol noticeably didn¡¯t mention that Leo himself had very much contributed to said ¡°sour note.¡±

    ¡°Beyond that, I simply wanted to chat. I met a number of interesting people last night and decided to follow through.¡±

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    ¡°So you¡¯re saying I passed your first round,¡± Leo said half disbelievingly. He snorted and shook his head. ¡°Guess I should be flattered.¡±

    Sol laughed. ¡°You did leave a strong impression. I¡¯m glad I decided to include minor [Fragmentholders] in my first spell. Originally I was only planning on contacting major and core [Fragmentholders].¡±

    Leo¡¯s ears perked up, and he sat a little straighter. ¡°Core?¡±

    He¡¯d already guessed there were major ones, but this was the first he¡¯d heard of ¡°core¡± fragments. His heartbeat picked up, but he carefully quashed down his excitement so it wasn¡¯t too visible.

    Sol studied him for a moment, then nodded. ¡°They¡¯re the most powerful type of fragment that I¡¯m aware of.¡± He raised his hand, and his palm began to glow a warm golden light.

    Leo instinctively flinched backwards, but Sol simply shifted his arm, tracing out shapes with his fingers. When the glow died down, golden particles of light swirled around in crude, three dimensional forms.

    Leo stared at that swirling light. He couldn¡¯t help but be impressed.

    Though he couldn¡¯t use [Judgement] right now to confirm, he suspected this was part of the [Dreamscape] spell. It was an impressive degree of control, especially considering how easily Sol had done it. Manipulating active illusions was difficult. If it hadn¡¯t already been clear before, this confirmed that the man must be highly adept at illusory abilities.

    The lights clustered together, forming the shape of a smooth, perfectly round sphere. As Leo watched them, the particles shifted, pulling apart until the sphere was broken into an impressively large amount of shards, some larger and smaller than others.

    What caught his attention, however, was the secondary, smaller sphere revealed within the initial one. Leo watched as it too broke, but instead of forming randomly shaped pieces, it cracked into perfectly even parts.

    ¡°Major and minor fragments are believed to come from the outer shell of the [Administrator] class crest,¡± Sol explained.

    As he spoke, those pieces vibrated and morphed into smaller spheres in front of Leo¡¯s eyes. The golden light shifted, and they began to cycle between different hues.

    ¡°The core fragments, on the other hand, come from the center of the crest, and each one holds a specific aspect of the [Administrator]¡¯s power.¡±

    Leo looked up sharply. ¡°You mean¡­?¡±

    Sol nodded. ¡°Yes, they grant specific forms of System access.¡± He hummed. ¡°Each one is believed to have a unique color, and their functions can vary quite a bit. I can¡¯t confirm what color and ability each one possesses or their exact number, unfortunately, but I suspect there¡¯s less than twenty total.¡±

    He waved his hand, and the floating diagram disappeared in a spray of golden lights.

    Leo frowned. ¡°I thought you said you tracked down all the [Fragmentholders] last time. Wouldn¡¯t you be able to tell how many core ones there are?¡±

    ¡°That was a slight exaggeration. Some of the more powerful [Fragmentholders] anticipated a spell of this nature and raised mental barriers that I wasn¡¯t able to bypass. Even more did so after last night.¡±

    That made sense. When so many people were involved, it was inevitable that at least one or two would have magic like this. Mental magic barriers were good precautions. If Leo had the ability to do the same, he would¡¯ve.

    His mind churned, still digesting the information. He hadn¡¯t been certain any fragments would grant [Administrator] abilities on their own or if it would take someone gathering all of them to be given System access, but this confirmed that there were indeed fragments that would grant those abilities.

    Leo studied Sol, who¡¯s expression was as serene as ever. The former [Thief] frowned.

    The man hadn¡¯t said it out loud, but he was almost positive Sol had one of those core fragments. He seemed far too knowledgeable and calm about them. If he¡¯d discovered this information, Leo would expect him to seem more hesitant, concerned, or really anything else.

    He doubted it was a secret either. From the knowing look in his eyes, Sol had probably known Leo would put the pieces together. But if anything, that only added to the growing list of questions swirling around his mind.

    ¡°Why¡¯re you telling me this?¡± he finally blurted out.

    It felt too good to be true, for Sol to just decide to part with information this valuable for seemingly no reason. There had to be an ulterior motive, or perhaps he was lying about the fragments.

    ¡°I simply wish to even the playing field, so to speak,¡± the man said calmly. ¡°Currently you¡¯re still an [Administrator] candidate.¡±

    The unspoken implication was that he¡¯d already ruled out several others during his first [Dreamscape] use. Leo wondered if anything had happened to them, or if Sol was simply no longer bothering to contact them.

    The man smiled. ¡°Of course, I know little about you and will reserve full judgement, but for now I¡¯m curious about your potential.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re telling me this stuff so you can watch what I do and figure out if I¡¯m good enough to be the new [Administrator], is what you¡¯re saying.¡±

    Sol chuckled. ¡°Yes, essentially. If you¡¯d prefer not to believe my words then that is your right. I will not involve myself unnecessarily in your journey. Consider me an observer.¡±

    A self proclaimed control freak and an ¡°observer.¡± Leo pursed his lips.

    On one hand he still didn¡¯t trust Sol at all, and he was even less of a fan of getting treated like an interesting show or some kind of weird experiment.

    On the other hand, this was also a huge opportunity.

    ¡°In other words, you get to sit back and judge my worthiness, and I get to use you for information.¡±

    Sol smiled. ¡°Indeed.¡±

    The thrumming excitement that had been present since learning of the core fragments only grew, and Leo felt a smile of his own slowly spreading across his features.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be so honest about it.¡±

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d appreciate a more candid approach.¡±

    Leo would never be a fan of someone casting a spell on his mind, but there was a lot to be gained from this. And, he reminded himself, if things went south, he did already know how to escape the [Dreamscape].

    He might even be able to piece together Sol¡¯s identity after enough interactions, and then he¡¯d know who one of the supposed core [Fragmentholders] was.

    He met Sol¡¯s gaze, eyes steady and gleaming in the light.

    ¡°Deal.¡±

 Chapter 65: Preparations I

    Chapter 65: Preparations I

    When Leo woke, his veins thrummed with lingering excitement. Every detail of the meeting was burned vividly into his memory. Major fragments. His tentative understanding with Sol. Core fragments.

    He sat up, unused to how soft the mattress was underneath him and how much it gave way when he moved. Leo exhaled and forced himself to relax. He still had the auction to worry about, he reminded himself. He needed to focus on that, get the fragment, then he could concentrate on Sol and the existence of other fragment types. One thing at a time. He couldn¡¯t afford to get distracted with the masquerade so close.

    That, and being too excited would draw unnecessary attention to himself. The [Fragmentholder] still didn¡¯t think he was ready to tell Allan or Spade about the dreams¡ªnot until he had more information and could say with confidence whether or not Sol could be trusted.

    Leo rubbed his eyes, surprised to find that he actually felt well rested. [Dreamscape] really did function exactly like a regular dream.

    ¡°Sleep well?¡±

    Leo turned to find Allan reading at the table, a mug of tea in hand. He¡¯d already gotten dressed and it looked like he¡¯d woken up a while ago. On closer inspection, the sunlight slipping through the thin crack in the curtains was quite bright. Leo must¡¯ve slept in more than he thought.

    ¡°What time is it?¡± Leo slid off the mattress and realized he hadn¡¯t changed his clothes. Memories of the previous night surfaced in flashes. It was faint, but sure enough, there was a recognizable dull throb pounding at his skull. He winced and rubbed his head.

    Allan looked amused. ¡°It could be worse,¡± he said. ¡°You were pretty far gone.¡± He set his book down and rose, moving to check Leo¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°I really wasn¡¯t that drunk,¡± Leo muttered. He shifted so that the [Healer] could better see his arm. ¡°Can I finally take this thing off?¡± he asked hopefully. The sling was quickly becoming a hassle, and he¡¯d definitely need full mobility by the time the auction rolled around.

    In response, Allan raised his hand, an ultramarine glow exuding from the center of his palm.

    [Allan has activated the [Mend] spell]

    After a few minutes, the glow faded and Allan nodded, satisfied. ¡°Okay, it should be fine now.¡± He began removing the makeshift sling, and Leo exhaled in relief. He rubbed his shoulder and rolled it around a few times. There was no pain, but the area was still a bit stiff¡ªprobably because he hadn¡¯t been able to move it properly for the past few days.

    Turning his head, Leo studied the room and frowned.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Spade?¡±

    Allan shrugged. ¡°She left earlier, said she¡¯d be back this evening. We have to buy weapons and she doesn¡¯t need to.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. That made sense, though he was a bit doubtful of how well her sword was holding up. It looked quite old, but then again, there weren¡¯t any visible cracks on the blade and the [Executioner] was quite meticulous about its upkeep.

    Leo rose and smoothed out his clothes so that they were a little more presentable. Still wrinkled and obviously worn, but he¡¯d take what he could get. ¡°You eaten yet?¡±

    ¡°Just breakfast. Their tea¡¯s very good.¡±

    Leo raised an eyebrow. ¡°Seriously?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing like what Irving had,¡± Allan said wryly.

    A weird feeling rose in Leo¡¯s chest at the mention of the man, the image of him sitting at the window, watching the incoming tide, still firmly engraved in his mind. He shoved it down.

    ¡°Okay. Food first, then we head out.¡±

    Allan nodded, and with a final sweep of the space, the two exited the room and made their way downstairs.

    ¡ª

    The Blue Cup did indeed have very good food. Leo hadn¡¯t thought he was all that hungry before, but then again he was used to his stomach never being full. He ended up eating an extra plate of fruit and swiped a few extra loaves of bread to shove into his bag for good measure.

    Freshly full and rejuvenated, he and Allan made their way to the main street, where the constant bustle of the crowd and the yells of merchants acted like a beacon.

    Leo frowned down at the weapon rack in front of him, squinting between the spears and axes and swords that gleamed dully in the dim light. The entire shop smelled of sharp metal, and every inch of the space was covered in a wide array of weapons.

    They¡¯d passed by a number of stores on the street, far more than Leo would expect to find in one city, but they¡¯d settled on this one because it seemed to have the widest selection and because it was less packed than some of the other places had been.

    Reaching out, Leo picked up one of the smaller daggers and carefully weighed it in his hand. Its blade looked sharp and it felt decently sturdy, but the balance wasn¡¯t as easy as the warden¡¯s dagger.

    He set it back down. He would stick with the warden¡¯s dagger for now as a main weapon, but he wanted to get some proper throwing knives too. The kitchen knives had worked out better than he¡¯d thought they would, but that certainly didn¡¯t mean they were good.

    Turning, Leo noted Allan testing the weight of a double-sided axe. He raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Sticking with axes?¡±

    Allan shrugged. ¡°Might as well, right? You¡¯re keeping the knives,¡± he pointed out.

    Leo snorted. ¡°True.¡± Especially after gaining the [Dagger Proficiency] skill, not making use of it felt like a waste. Besides, even if it had been out of convenience at first, he felt comfortable with knives and liked how they didn¡¯t get in his way like a bigger weapon would.

    As Allan continued testing the axe, moving on to a few practice swings, Leo¡¯s eyes shifted behind him.

    Sitting on a crude, crooked wall shelf were a number of smaller blades. The former [Thief]¡¯s gaze settled on a set of throwing knives in the back stored in a plain canvas holder.

    He stepped over and slid one out. It was light and easy to handle, but it had enough weight to not feel flimsy. He flipped it experimentally and caught it again in the same hand. It spun evenly in the air, and Leo grinned.

    ¡ª

    Half an hour later, Leo and Allan exited the store with their new weapons in hand. Allan had been able to trade away his old axe, albeit not for much given its condition, but it was still nice to save money when they could.

    The bag of gamils didn¡¯t feel much lighter than before, which said a lot. Leo was still half expecting some guards to show up and arrest him; it felt wrong for him to have so much money on hand, like the very act of possessing the coins was illegal.

    And yet, despite now having more money than all his previous meager savings combined, this was probably nothing compared to the prices they¡¯d see at the auction.

    ¡°You did say we¡¯d probably end up stealing it,¡± Allan pointed out quietly. The two navigated down the crowded street, the bustling crowd and yells of vendors providing a cloak of noise to hide under.

    ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯d be easiest if we could just buy it.¡± Leo sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe I¡¯m getting worked up over nothing. It¡¯s like, I keep thinking all of it¡¯s gonna disappear, you know?¡±

    He carefully didn¡¯t specify what he was talking about, but Allan nodded in understanding. He smiled wryly.

    ¡°Slum paranoia,¡± he said. Leo snorted.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Yeah, you could call it that.¡±

    Before he could say anything else, Allan¡¯s pace slowed. Leo frowned at the [Healer], turning to see what he was looking at.

    Further ahead on the street, a small crowd had gathered behind a simple table laid out on the edge of the sidewalk. A single chair sat in front of a grinning man with a missing tooth and a thick beard, and in the center of the table was a deck of cards.

    The person seated across from him groaned, her head in her hands while the man seemingly comforted her to no avail. Without looking up, she rose and practically shoved the chair aside in her haste to leave, the group following after her. They were probably friends.

    With the group gone, that left the chair vacant and the table empty save for the bearded man. Through the thrum of the crowd, Leo heard his voice call out.

    ¡°Gather ¡®round for the chance of a lifetime! Try yer luck! Easy to play and easy to win!¡±

    Leo and Allan exchanged knowing looks.

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t,¡± Leo said. ¡°This is a bad idea.¡±

    Allan¡¯s face was one of perfect innocence. ¡°I think,¡± he said, ¡°we can have one bad decision per day. Besides, this is way less risky than it was back in the slums, with your new spells and all.¡±

    Leo stared, trying to project disapproval, but he could already feel a grin stretching across his mouth.

    ¡°I thought I was supposed to be the reckless one.¡±

    Allan smiled. ¡°Not reckless at all. Besides, you¡¯re not the only one who likes money.¡±

    Leo snorted, but didn¡¯t disagree. It was easy to forget sometimes with the way he looked and acted, but Allan was more of a ¡®slum rat¡¯ than he was. He¡¯d been the one calling the shots that first year while Leo was still reeling from his escape from Adrya.

    Right now they were far away enough that the man hadn¡¯t noticed them yet. They exchanged looks, a silent agreement passing between them. Leo smoothly handed Allan the coin bag, then they turned and walked in separate directions.

    Leo moved easily through the crowd, activating [Fade into Background] as he blended into the many passersby and made his way behind the table. From there, he slipped into a store and pretended to browse the shelves, keeping the table in view through the front window. No one gave him a second glance.

    Allan, meanwhile, continued forward at a slow pace. As he approached the table, Allan glanced over as though just noticing it, and Leo could see the bearded man gesture to him.

    ¡°What about you? How¡¯s a handsome young lad like you want to try his luck?¡±

    Allan blinked like he was surprised. He shifted his weight, just the right combination of curious and hesitant.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on, live a little! In times like these, what¡¯s life without some risks? I mean, what¡¯s a few cards next to the whole system admin disappearing, ey?¡± the man joked. He was clearly used to this; he had the charming, casual demeanor down to a science.

    Allan bit his lip, and after a final pause, he slowly sat down in the chair. Leo kept his eyes down on the shelf, but listened closely as the man began to explain the rules.

    ¡°I like things simple, you see, and this here¡¯s a very simple game! I pick up a card, and you just have to guess if it¡¯s odd or even.¡± He held one up as an example. ¡°Make a bet, and if you guess right, I¡¯ll double it. Guess wrong and I keep your money. Easy, right?¡±

    Leo snorted to himself while Allan nodded. He¡¯d seen similar games in Sindrey¡ªthough this version was absurdly basic¡ªand there was usually a trick to it. He double checked that [Fade into Background] was still active as the man shuffled the deck and Allan pretended to mull over his initial bet.

    Leo couldn¡¯t see exactly how much the [Healer] ended up sliding over, but it was enough to make the bearded man raise an eyebrow and whistle.

    ¡°See, I knew you had a betting heart deep down,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve got an eye for these things.¡± Allan laughed sheepishly.

    ¡°I guess so. I just thought I should make it worth it, you know?¡±

    ¡°Course, ¡®course!¡± The man set the deck down in the middle of the table, then picked up the first card and held it in front of him so Allan could only see the back. From Leo¡¯s angle, he could make out a 9 through the store window.

    Leo activated [Visual Illusion] and projected the word ¡°odd¡± to Allan. The [Healer] furrowed his brow, pretending to think, then finally answered, ¡°Odd?¡±

    The dealer flipped the card over, revealing the 9. ¡°Not bad,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s one win for you. How about another?¡±

    Allan nodded, and the bearded man picked up the next card. 4. Leo did the same thing as before, and once again Allan answered correctly. This happened a third time, then a fourth.

    By the fifth in a row, the dealer looked impressed. He didn¡¯t seem remotely bothered by the amount he¡¯d lost so far even as he slid more coins over to join the steadily growing pile on the table.

    ¡°You¡¯re a real natural at this,¡± the man said. ¡°Tell you what, I¡¯ve got an offer. You can walk away with this money right now and I¡¯ll take my loss. Or, you can stay for one more round. Same rules, but if you get it right, I¡¯ll triple what¡¯s already in the pot. Since I like you, if you get it wrong and you only need to pay double. So? You up for it?¡±

    There it was, Leo thought. Allan pretended to think hard.

    ¡°Okay,¡± he finally said, keeping just enough eagerness in his tone to properly mimic a naive young man excited about the possibility of winning big. The dealer nodded and reached for the next card. 12.

    Leo projected ¡®even¡¯ to Allan, but he wasn¡¯t done yet. He remained focused, because after the [Healer] answered and the man began to flip the card around, he caught it.

    In one quick, smooth motion, the man swapped the card with one hidden in his sleeve, the action hidden by the flourish of the flip and so fast that most would be none the wiser.

    Not today, Leo thought. Just as the man set the card down on the table, Leo activated [Visual Illusion], this time projecting the original 12 card onto the dealer¡¯s own vision.

    Sure enough, the man blinked down at his swapped card, which was a 7, still seeing the illusion Leo had projected.

    ¡°Wha¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh thank goodness,¡± Allan said, releasing a sigh of relief. He reached forward and grabbed the man¡¯s hand with a beaming smile, pulling him out of his surprise.

    As he moved, Leo noted that he casually knocked the deck over just enough to be seen as an excitable accident. With the swapped card now hidden among the scattered deck, the [Fragmentholder] released the illusion.

    ¡°Thank you, I didn¡¯t realize how much fun this would be,¡± Allan said. The dealer nodded slowly, but he still looked like he was trying to figure out what had happened.

    Allan frowned, furrowing his brows with concern. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    That seemed to finally snap the man out of his stupor. He shook his head and muttered something under his breath.

    ¡°Nothing, nothing,¡± he said. He turned and grabbed the promised coins, sliding them, albeit reluctantly, over to Allan, who quickly deposited them into the bag before rising from his seat.

    Leo didn¡¯t hear what he said to the bearded man or what he said back. He was already slipping out of the store and back onto the street.

    ¡ª

    It wasn¡¯t until they were a few blocks away that Leo finally allowed his grin to overtake his features. Allan¡¯s smile bordered the edge of smug.

    ¡°Okay, you were right. That was way easier than I thought.¡±

    Back in Sindrey, they¡¯d done similar things a few times¡ªalbeit without the help of spells. It had actually worked fairly well, between Leo¡¯s stealth and Allan¡¯s ability to project earnestness, but they ultimately had to stop before they became recognizable. One incident a dealer could chalk away to a fumbled sleight of hand. More than that and they¡¯d get suspicious.

    Leo stretched his arms and sighed. ¡°Feels like old times,¡± he remarked. Allan smiled in agreement. ¡°How much¡¯d you end up getting anyway?¡±

    Before Allan could answer, a commotion drew both their attention away.

    Across the street, a group of guards surrounded a harried looking man. His eyes were wide and frazzled, and he didn¡¯t hesitate to shove at the guards and jab his finger at their faces as his voice rose in growing hysteria.

    ¡°¡ªis dead!¡± he was yelling. ¡°There¡¯s no Administrator left! It¡¯s the end! It¡¯s the end and you fools don¡¯t even see it!¡±

    The guard in front of him frowned, her mouth a line of grim determination.

    ¡°Sir,¡± she said. ¡°If you don¡¯t stop causing a ruckus, we¡¯ll have no choice but to remove you.¡±

    The man laughed, the sound harsh and sharp.

    ¡°Ruckus? Our god is gone and here you are caring about ruckus!¡± His hands flew together, clasped in prayer. ¡°Oh forgive us, no wonder we were abandoned. It¡¯s too late for salvation now. We¡ª¡±

    He didn¡¯t get to continue, because the guards apparently decided they¡¯d heard enough. They surged forward, immobilizing the man despite his frenzied shouts and struggles.

    When Leo looked around, he saw that no one passing by gave the man a second glance. They simply kept their heads down and continued walking as if this was just another everyday occurrence.

    Maybe it was. It had now been a week since the notification appeared. The man wouldn¡¯t be the only one with those thoughts, and the guards seemed more than ready to remove him for ¡°disturbing the peace.¡±

    Leo swallowed as the guards dragged the hysterical man away. His former good mood had quickly soured, and he suddenly found he couldn¡¯t stand being out in the street any longer.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the tavern,¡± he said quietly. Allan nodded in agreement, and the two left without another word.

 Chapter 66: Preparations II

    Chapter 66: Preparations II

    Spade was already inside by the time they returned to their room. ¡°I got an extra key from the tavern keeper,¡± she explained.

    The [Executioner] was lounging on the couch while she idly polished her sword. Steaming plates of food covered the table a few feet away, which she waved at. ¡°Go on. I already ate.¡±

    When neither Leo nor Allan made a move, she raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Something happen?¡±

    They exchanged looks. ¡°There was a¡­confrontation on the street,¡± Allan finally said. He quickly summarized the incident, describing the hysterical man and how the guards had intervened while the [Executioner] listened in silence. She didn¡¯t look particularly surprised at the story. By the end, the most reaction she showed was a simple hum of acknowledgement.

    ¡°Lenore mentioned something like that. Sounds like it¡¯s been going on all week.¡±

    Leo grunted and moved over to the food, grabbing a grape and popping it in his mouth. He supposed it did make sense. For someone like him who¡¯d never really worshipped the [Administrator], that notification had been an opportunity. But to others, it must have felt like the end of the world.

    ¡°¡­It must be really bad in other places,¡± Leo muttered. Down south especially.

    ¡°Apparently a city a few days west of here was completely taken over.¡± Spade continued to wipe her blade with even swipes. ¡°Mass panic and fragment hunters don¡¯t make for a good combination, it seems.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I assume Alnwick¡¯s leaders wanted to avoid a similar situation happening here.¡±

    And so they¡¯d implemented extra guards and shut the gates and took away anyone who showed the faintest sign of breaking the city¡¯s delicate peace. Leo remembered the tension he¡¯d felt in the streets when they¡¯d first crossed the gates. The current peace was a well-maintained illusion, one everyone seemed to be waiting to crack.

    Allan sat down and began eating as well, though Leo remained standing even as he yanked off a few more grapes. They¡¯d almost never been able to afford fruit in Sindrey, and he wasn¡¯t going to waste food no matter his mood.

    ¡°We finished buying everything,¡± Leo said, eager to change the subject. He nodded to Allan¡¯s new axe and his own bag concealing the new set of knives. ¡°Should be all set for tomorrow.¡±

    Allan used the opportunity to pull out their coin bag and dump its contents onto the bed to count. Leo leaned forward, finally getting to see just how much they¡¯d earned. His eyebrows rose and he whistled.

    ¡°Damn. The guy really didn¡¯t suspect anything?¡±

    ¡°I can be very convincing,¡± Allan said simply, ¡°and I don¡¯t think he was very smart.¡± Leo snorted.

    ¡°You were gambling?¡± Spade¡¯s eyebrows were raised in faint amusement. The [Fragmentholder] shrugged.

    ¡°It was just one game on the street. It¡¯s still nowhere near enough for the auction though, so we¡¯ll have to keep an eye on all the buyers.¡± They did manage to earn back all that they¡¯d spent on supplies and weapons, though, which was certainly a plus.

    ¡°What about you? What¡¯ve you been up to?¡± Leo asked, curious. Allan looked up from the food as well.

    ¡°I saw Lenore,¡± the [Executioner] said without pausing her polishing. She flipped the sword over and began inspecting the other side of the blade. Leo stared, but didn¡¯t ask the question that immediately popped into his head. He still didn¡¯t know Spade particularly well, after all.

    Instead, he asked, ¡°Did she bring up the auction?¡±

    ¡°Only to remind us to head to the Pearl first.¡± Spade cocked her head. ¡°She did say she managed to sell the crests for more than she¡¯d expected.¡±

    More money. It felt weird to suddenly get so much in the span of a few days, but Leo certainly wasn¡¯t going to complain. It would be much easier to keep searching for fragments if they didn¡¯t also have to worry about money at the same time.

    The [Executioner]¡¯s words served as a stark reminder of how soon the masquerade and auction were. The whole thing had been brought up so suddenly that it was easy to forget, but tomorrow would be crucial.

    Spade finished cleaning her blade and sheathed it. The metal wasn¡¯t shiny per say, but it was a noticeable improvement. Its edge gleamed in the light, and the movement drew Leo¡¯s attention. His eyes shifted first over to his bag, then back to the sword. He leaned forward a little.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Hey, can we start training today?¡±

    Spade raised an eyebrow. ¡°Awfully eager, aren¡¯t you.¡±

    ¡°If something happens tomorrow, I want to be ready,¡± Leo argued. ¡°Besides, I just got new knives. I need to test them.¡±

    The woman hummed thoughtfully, grey eyes sweeping across the room for a moment. ¡°I suppose I could explain a few basics, though more practical demonstrations will have to wait until we¡¯re somewhere with more space.¡±

    She turned to Allan. ¡°Mind if we use that medical book of yours?¡±

    The [Healer] grabbed it and tossed it over one-handed. Leo was impressed the book survived the throw, give its ragged state.

    Spade caught it easily and flipped it open, turning the pages until she stopped on an illustration. Leo leaned closer.

    Covering the page was a crude diagram of the human body. Some of the ink was faded and much of the text now illegible, but the main muscles and veins were still visible in thin, painstakingly drawn lines. On the page next to it was an equally detailed illustration of a skeleton. Spade tapped the drawings.

    ¡°For now, I can point out some good areas to target in a fight.¡±

    Leo remembered the [Anatomical Knowledge] passive skill on her stat sheet. He wasn¡¯t the only one, as Allan¡¯s eyes were sharp as he watched them.

    ¡°Where¡¯d you learn all this anyway?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rather important for executioners,¡± Spade said simply. She stood and set the book down on the bed where they could all see it more easily. ¡°Efficiency is often best achieved with accuracy.¡±

    Leo remembered all the times he¡¯d seen her behead people in a single swing. ¡°Efficient¡± was certainly one way to put it.

    ¡°You prefer to keep most of your stat points in agility, correct?¡±

    Leo nodded. He¡¯d always been scrawny, but agile. After initially unlocking his base stats, he¡¯d figured he was better off playing to his natural strengths than wasting points trying to completely rework his overall stat balance. It had already cost him a lot of points just to patch his constitution and strength up to their current levels, and they were still far from impressive.

    Spade hummed in acknowledgement. ¡°That¡¯ll give you an advantage in most cases, but you¡¯ll struggle against anyone you¡¯re physically unable to damage.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] frowned, remembering the fight against Sonia. His knife had practically done nothing to her; if it weren¡¯t for the Glass Lake, he doubted he¡¯d have been able to significantly injure her at all.

    It was a sobering thought, and while it hadn¡¯t mattered as much when he was a simple thief trying to get in and out of places as quickly as possible, he knew confrontations with other [Fragmentholders] were inevitable. His meeting with Sol had only confirmed that. He needed to know how to inflict damage consistently, and this was as good a start as any.

    Grabbing a handful of food and dumping it onto a plate, Leo moved closer to the open diagram and exhaled.

    ¡°Okay, where do we start?¡±

    ¡ª

    Leo rolled his shoulders back, attempting to get rid of some of the soreness.

    After Spade had finished going over the diagrams in slightly terrifying detail (turns out there were even more weak spots in the human body than Leo had realized, and it certainly hadn¡¯t helped his paranoia), he¡¯d stayed up longer practicing handling the new knives.

    There indeed wasn¡¯t much space in the room even if it was larger than average, but he¡¯d found that if he hung up one of the pillows on the wall, it made for a decent throwing target. They could afford to pay for a damaged pillow now, after all, and he wanted to get his [Dagger Proficiency] passive skill levelled up as fast as possible.

    By the time he¡¯d finally gone to sleep, a restless bundle of nerves and excitement, he¡¯d gotten more better at throwing the knives, but [Teleport Object] was still giving him trouble.

    Try as he did, he just couldn¡¯t get his eyes to move both quickly and accurately enough for the knives to go where he wanted them to. Maybe improving his agility stat more would help?

    Realistically he knew it was normal for a spell to take a while to learn, and [Teleport Object] was only level 1 and thus quite limited to begin with.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t help but find the situation frustrating. He¡¯d expected there to be a skill curve, but he hadn¡¯t realized it would be so steep. It didn¡¯t help that he¡¯d passed up other good spell options for this.

    Leo gave his shoulder a final roll. Sol hadn¡¯t appeared either, though he supposed it was probably for the better. He needed his full focus on the auction, and [Dreamscape] still kind of freaked him out.

    The [Fragmentholder] looked over to Allan and Spade, who were finishing gathering their belongings.

    The three of them had decided to pack their bags and bring them to the Pearl. They wouldn¡¯t be able to take them inside the masquerade without looking suspicious, but they¡¯d keep the essentials on hand and place the bags somewhere close by where they could easily grab them if things went to shit.

    Leo swallowed down his growing anxiety. By now the sunlight streaming through the window was a little more red as the sun approached the horizon, but the streets were as crowded as ever.

    The masquerade and subsequent auction took place at night, which did little to calm his nerves. Wards or not, having such a large gathering at night just seemed like a bad idea to him. It was practically asking for trouble.

    ¡°You ready?¡±

    Allan nodded and swung his bag over his shoulder. Spade did the same as she finished adjusting her sheath.

    They gave the room a final sweep, turning over blankets and cushions to double check that they hadn¡¯t left anything.

    Finally, the three headed out the door and made their way towards the Pearl.

 Chapter 67: Preparations III

    Chapter 67: Preparations III

    As they passed by the front of the Pearl, it was noticeably more crowded than before. Leo barely managed to catch a brief glimpse of Kai through the window, the [Receptionist] chatting with a line of clients behind the counter and looking significantly more alive than he had when they¡¯d visited at noon.

    ¡°It¡¯s busy hours,¡± Spade said simply as she circled around the building, leading them through a series of narrow alleyways that were distinctly reminiscent of Sindrey¡¯s slums. They were entering through the back door, where they¡¯d have more privacy.

    ¡°Figures,¡± Leo muttered under his breath. He glanced around, but no one else was nearby. This back entrance probably wasn¡¯t public knowledge. The maze of cramped alleys acted like a shield deterring unwanted visitors.

    In front of them, the door itself was a plain, weathered thing. A bit of dust rose when Spade knocked on it in a quick pattern of three followed by a longer pause, then another three knocks. The sound was hollow, and the whole door shook a little under the knocks.

    Leo waited, tense, his fingers tight around the straps of his bag. Finally, after what felt like ages, the door swung open with a low creak.

    On the other side, Lenore raised an eyebrow at them. She was dressed in another robe, but this one was a dark navy blue with twisting embroidered golden accents. Her dark hair had been pulled up into a messy bun that left her neck and collarbone bare. In one hand, she held the ornate pipe. The end was still smoking.

    ¡°Well? Don¡¯t just stand there. Quickly.¡± She gestured for them to enter, and they slipped through the door while Lenore closed and locked it behind them.

    Compared to the dim outside, the room they¡¯d stepped into was surprisingly well lit. Leo took a moment to blink and let his eyes adjust before he looked around.

    They appeared to be inside some sort of dressing room. It was larger than expected, but packed with racks of clothes, old furniture and blankets, candleholders, perfumes, makeup, and a number of mirrors. Several open compacts and brushes lay strewn across the scattered tables, having been recently used and abandoned.

    Leo shifted awkwardly. It was so crowded that he was sure he¡¯d knock something over if he wasn¡¯t careful. He felt distinctly out of place.

    Lenore, however, had no such issue. The woman stepped past them towards the clothing racks without pause, barely giving them a chance to set their bags down before she was thrusting a set of clothes into their hands. Leo blinked down at the folded bundle while the woman raised an eyebrow, amused.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t think you could walk into the masquerade wearing that, did you?¡° She nodded. ¡°Go on.¡±

    Leo turned the clothes over in his hands. From touch alone, he could tell the fabric was high-quality. Smooth and silky with the tiniest bit of give, it was the sort of material produced in the south. Northern regions favored stiffer, sturdier cloth. He couldn¡¯t imagine how expensive it must¡¯ve been.

    Glancing around, the former thief spotted a series of curtains in the back forming a crude dressing room. He hurried over and ducked inside.

    Now that he was alone, Leo gave the clothes a second glance. It was a suit, complete with an overcoat and a half mask for the masquerade portion of the evening. A simple, elegant geometric pattern ran up the sleeves in a bronze shade that complimented the dark green fabric. This was a fairly common style among nobility in Adrya, and it looked like Avel¡¯s upper class fashion didn¡¯t differ much.

    He was relieved Lenore had picked something relatively plain. Leo already felt weird knowing he¡¯d be wearing such expensive clothing in the first place. At least he wouldn¡¯t also have to worry about looking like a peacock.

    The former [Thief] changed quickly, though he struggled with getting the shoulder pads aligned. Putting something on yourself, it turned out, was distinctly different from helping someone else.

    The thought made his eyes darken. He shook away the memories and forced himself to remain focused. The auction. The fragment.

    Finally, Leo stepped outside the curtain. The suit felt wrong on him, the fabric too fine and constricting. He fiddled with the collar self-consciously. It didn¡¯t help that Lenore was watching him like a hawk, the woman¡¯s eyes narrowed as she studied him clinically.

    She stepped closer, moving around the [Fragmentholder] in a circle. She hummed to herself.

    ¡°Well, the height looks about right.¡± She frowned. ¡°A little large, but I suppose it¡¯s acceptable.¡±

    Leo shifted uncomfortably, well aware that the suit was a bit too baggy on him. He doubted the tailor had been designing it with a malnourished thief in mind. He decided to change the subject and held up the mask.

    It, like the clothes, was simple. The mask covered only the eyes, and it was constructed out of a dark, solid material with only a few golden swirls adorning its edges.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing this is for the ball,¡± Leo said. Lenore nodded.

    ¡°Be thankful, I could¡¯ve chosen something much more flashy,¡± she said with a hint of amusement. ¡°I hear feathers are all the rage these days.¡±

    Leo shuddered at the thought. ¡°Yeah, no thanks.¡±

    Lenore laughed, but Leo¡¯s attention was quickly drawn to two of the curtains shifting.

    Like Leo, Allan had been given a simple suit, but his was a dark navy blue with silver embroidering. If he didn¡¯t know better, Leo would¡¯ve easily mistaken the [Healer] for a noble.

    In contrast, Spade was wearing what looked like a standard issue guard uniform with an equally plain gray mask. Leo raised an eyebrow.

    The [Executioner] shrugged. ¡°A mask doesn¡¯t do much to hide my identity, I¡¯m afraid.¡± She gestured at the scars littering her face with a raised eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s easier for me to pose as a guard.¡±

    Leo supposed that was true, especially since Spade had worked in Alnwick before. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but be a little jealous. He¡¯d much prefer the more comfortable clothing.

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    Lenore walked around Allan and Spade as well, assessing. She looked rather pleased.

    ¡°Well, it seems I¡¯ve outdone myself.¡± She eyed Allan approvingly. ¡°You¡¯ll fit right in.¡±

    The [Healer] just smiled. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said politely.

    Lenore gestured to a row of shoes lined up against the wall. ¡°You should be able to find a pair that fits,¡± she told them. ¡°The dress shoes all have a compartment in the heel.¡±

    Leo raised an eyebrow at that. ¡°Seriously?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± the woman said lightly. She took a puff of her pipe, blowing out a circle of smoke that seemed to glow in the warm light. ¡°They¡¯re large enough for a small knife. Spade can hold onto any larger weapons.¡±

    That was another benefit of having the [Executioner] posing as a guard, Leo supposed. He and Allan moved over to the shoes, and he was glad to see that one of his new throwing knives could fit in the compartment. The warden¡¯s dagger couldn¡¯t, but this was better than nothing.

    He grabbed a second one to give Allan, then carefully handed the rest of the knives and his dagger over to Spade. He didn¡¯t like not having them on him, but at least they¡¯d be within reach if something went wrong.

    Allan, meanwhile, looked much more reluctant to give up his axe. He slowly held it out to Spade, eyes slightly narrowed. The [Executioner] raised a scarred eyebrow. Leo glanced between the two of them, but whatever the issue was, they seemed to come to a silent agreement. Spade took the axe, and Allan turned away.

    ¡°Is there anything else we need?¡± he asked. The former [Thief] hummed and glanced at Lenore.

    ¡°You have the money? For the auction, I mean.¡±

    Lenore chuckled. ¡°Who do you think I am?¡± She stepped over to a dresser sitting in the corner of the room and pulled open a drawer, rummaging around before finally removing a large, worn book.

    The woman flipped it open, and Leo saw that the inside was hollow. Lenore withdrew a bag of coins and handed it to the former [Thief].

    Leo nearly stumbled when the bag landed in his hands. It was heavy, its contents clinking and shifting whenever he moved.

    Curious, he opened the bag and found a pile of gold coins, including 100 gamil pieces. He never saw those in the slums. At a glance, there had to be well over 1,000 gamils inside. His breath caught, stunned.

    ¡°Six thousand. I did say I was serious about that painting.¡± She pulled a second, smaller bag from the compartment, then closed and returned the book to the drawer. ¡°This is the rest of your earnings from the crest sale. 33 gamils.¡±

    Leo¡¯s jaw finally dropped, and he quickly closed it. Based on the amused glint in Lenore¡¯s eyes, however, she had seen the reaction.

    ¡°Who did you swindle?¡° Leo couldn¡¯t help but ask. If this was how much was left after Lenore had taken her cut, he couldn¡¯t imagine how much the original person had paid. He¡¯d been expecting maybe 5 gamils extra at most. They had to have been incredibly desperate.

    The woman simply smiled in response, not bothering to explain further. Leo gingerly placed the extra coins in his own coin bag in one of the coat¡¯s inner pockets. For the auction funds, Lenore handed him a leather briefcase that looked as expensive as the clothes.

    ¡°Anything new on the fragment?¡± Leo asked.

    ¡°Nothing new, no.¡±

    Leo bit his lip, but the response wasn¡¯t a surprise. It looked like they were on their own for that one. Instead, he asked, ¡°Is there anything else we should know?¡±

    ¡°About the auction?¡± Lenore shook her head. ¡°I will need to coach you on a few things first, though. Especially you two.¡± She gestured at Leo and Allan, who exchanged confused looks. The woman laughed.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t think you could walk into the most prestigious ball of the year and blend in with no extra training, did you?¡± She clicked her tongue. ¡°You still have a long road ahead of you.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t kidding. For the next hour, Lenore ruthlessly drilled them on upper crust manners, from the way to talk and hold yourself to the order of dances they could expect to the types of food that would be served and how to properly eat them. It suddenly made sense why Lenore had told them to come to the Pearl so early, Leo thought darkly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand how these are any different,¡± Allan muttered. His dark eyes glared at two spoons set out amongst the rest of the cutlery on the table. Leo snorted. It had been a long time since he¡¯d seen the man so visibly annoyed for a mundane reason. It was almost refreshing.

    ¡°That one¡¯s for hot soups. See? It¡¯s less curved. Supposed to help the liquid cool or something.¡±

    Allan blinked and picked the spoons up, turning them over. ¡°Huh, you¡¯re right.¡±

    Leo nodded sagely. ¡°It¡¯s stupid, I know.¡± He twirled a butter knife absently in his hand. He really didn¡¯t think they¡¯d need to know any of this for the masquerade, but Lenore wanted them to be ¡°prepared for anything.¡±

    ¡°What about this?¡± Allan held up a small glass.

    ¡°Non-alcoholic drinks. And you¡¯re supposed to hold those with your left hand.¡± Lenore had made sure to emphasize the last part. It was one of those southern customs that the nobles of Avel had decided to adopt. Allan sighed at the reminder and switched his grip.

    ¡°You know, I figured you¡¯d be good at this,¡± Leo said amusedly. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re so good at acting.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s different.¡± Allan didn¡¯t look up from the array of silverware. ¡°It¡¯s easy to change expressions. This? This is all memory.¡±

    ¡°To be fair, it¡¯s a lot harder to remember stuff when it¡¯s dumb.¡±

    Allan chuckled. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem to be stopping you.¡±

    Leo finally set the butter knife back down, the silver clinking slightly as it hit the table. He snorted. ¡°I¡¯ve also had way longer to learn.¡±

    The ensuing silence made the [Fragmentholder] pause. His eyes widened a little as he realized what he¡¯d said, and he turned over to Allan, who was watching him with an unreadable expression.

    Leo swallowed, waiting for the inevitable question, but it never came. Instead, the [Healer] simply hummed and turned back to the table. Leo¡¯s shoulders sagged back down with relief. Damn it. This was bringing up way more memories than he¡¯d like.

    The sound of footsteps approached as Lenore strode over from where she¡¯d been sitting and chatting with Spade. Leo once again felt a jolt of envy that the [Executioner] didn¡¯t have to deal with all this. She seemed to know it too, judging by the raised eyebrow betraying only the slightest hint of amusement.

    ¡°I assume you¡¯ve had enough time to practice,¡± Lenore said when she reached the table.

    She didn¡¯t give them a chance to respond, immediately launching into a string of questions followed by a ¡®practical exam¡¯ where they had to walk around while she called out every problem with their posture. She didn¡¯t let a single misstep pass by, and by the end Leo was ready for the night to be over. Knowledge of noble habits and behaviors did not, it turned out, translate to actually being able to walk and talk like one.

    Finally, after what felt like hours, Lenore stepped back and nodded.

    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°I suppose that¡¯ll do for now.¡± Leo and Allan exchanged looks.

    ¡°So we¡¯re good?¡± Leo asked hopefully.

    Lenore took another puff of her pipe, blowing the smoke out in a long, steady stream that coiled around the room like a serpent. ¡°Oh no. Allan¡¯s cutlery knowledge is depressing at best and your posture is shit.¡± She smiled sharply. ¡°But it¡¯s good enough for a few hours¡¯ work.¡±

    She reached into a pocket concealed between the folds of her robe, pulling out the invitation card Leo had seen earlier. ¡°This is your ticket inside. I assume you haven¡¯t already lost your masks?¡±

    The three of them held them up, and she nodded approvingly.

    ¡°Good. When the masquerade ends, move to the stage after the musicians leave. Past the curtain you¡¯ll find the auction entrance.¡± She tapped the card as she handed it over to Leo. ¡°Show the guards your invitation again and tell them ¡®orchid.¡¯ You¡¯ll get your bid cards and be led to the auction area.¡±

    Leo nodded, tucking the card safely away in his coat pocket. How long had they been at the Pearl? The masquerade must¡¯ve started already, or it would be starting soon.

    With the event so close, his earlier tension returned. He could feel his shoulders stiffening in anticipation as they readied to leave.

    This was it. They¡¯d need to blend in, find the fragment, then either win or remember who won the bid so they could locate them and steal the fragment from them afterwards. The plan sounded simple enough in his head, but Leo was acutely aware of all the ways it could go wrong.

    ¡°Oh, and Leo?¡±

    The former [Thief] turned around at the sound of his name. Lenore was watching him, pipe still in hand, an eyebrow raised. She smiled.

    ¡°Make sure you get me that painting.¡±

    Leo snorted.

    ¡°Will do.¡±

 Chapter 68: Masquerade

    Chapter 68: Masquerade

    The muffled sound of horse hooves echoed through the carriage. Leo¡¯s finger tapped his leg absently. He couldn¡¯t help but glance outside every minute or so, the translucent curtains pulled aside just enough to give him a glimpse outside.

    Night had fully settled, and the golden wall of light cast the city streets in a hazy glow. The wards were now fully active, the orbs glowing distantly atop the encircling wall. Though the barrier itself was invisible, every now and then Leo thought he caught a faint shimmer high up in the air where the magic cloaked Alnwick.

    A burst of laughter caught Leo¡¯s attention. He glanced over to the other window and saw a group of wealthy looking teenagers exiting a store, bags in their hands. They didn¡¯t give the sky a second glance as they proceeded down the streets, chatting and joking with all the carefreeness of people who¡¯d never needed to fear the night.

    Seated across from him in the carriage, Allan shook his head disbelievingly.

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it,¡± he murmured. Leo snorted and turned to face the front again.

    ¡°No kidding.¡± His finger kept tapping across his leg. At least the masquerade was indoors. Even if logically he knew the wards were protecting them from Echoes, that didn¡¯t stop him from being paranoid. At least this way he wouldn¡¯t have to split his focus between the auction and fear of the Silence.

    ¡°You think Spade¡¯s already there?¡± Leo asked. The [Executioner] had left earlier to report to the venue with the other guards, their weapons in tow.

    ¡°Probably.¡± Allan glanced outside the small carriage window. ¡°I think I see the hall.¡±

    Leo nodded. He leaned forward and raised his voice a little, calling out to the driver in the front. ¡°Hey! Can you drop us off here?¡±

    The driver didn¡¯t respond, but a few seconds later the carriage veered to the right before coming to a full stop. Leo leapt out, sighing in relief when his feet hit solid ground. He breathed in the crisp night air. Luxurious as it was, the inside of the carriage had felt far too stuffy.

    Leo heard Allan thanking the driver before he appeared as well, and the carriage soon disappeared into the night with a snap of the driver¡¯s reins.

    The building where the masquerade took place was across the street. The shadows of the alleyway they stood in provided some cover, allowing them to study the hall from a distance.

    Leo could see guests dressed in lavish clothes stepping up to the entrance, where a line of guards stood with their weapons held at ready. The security around the place was better than most prisons, the former [Thief] thought.

    Leo shrugged off his bag and set it down behind an empty crate, and Allan did the same. Their coins and the money for the auction stayed on hand, but the rest of their stuff would be too conspicuous to carry inside.

    ¡°You got your mask?¡± Leo asked. Allan nodded and put on a mask similar to the one the [Fragmentholder] had, only it was dark blue and silver.

    After double checking that their masks were in place and everything was in order, the two headed over to the doors. Leo consciously tried to stand straighter as Lenore had instructed, but it was habit at this point to hunch in on himself. Being surrounded by so many wealthy people wasn¡¯t helping, and he knew it would only get worse once they were inside.

    Allan, for all his struggles with cutlery and ballroom dance knowledge, was significantly better at the whole ¡°pretending to be a noble¡± schtick. He strode confidently forward in a smooth gait that looked just relaxed enough to seem natural.

    ¡°Good evening,¡± he greeted the closest guard pleasantly. The man grunted. He barely gave their invitation card a second glance before waving them inside.

    Leo¡¯s shoulders slumped with relief. They¡¯d gotten in. Now they just needed to make it through the masquerade and auction without arousing suspicion.

    As they entered the building, the distant chatter of guests was accompanied by the clear, ringing notes of a violin drifting over the voices. In his peripheral vision, Leo saw Allan¡¯s eyes widen.

    The ballroom was massive. The narrow entryway quickly expanded into a wide space complete with an arching, high ceiling that stretched far above them. Glass panels revealed flashes of the night sky, and a shimmering golden chandelier dangled down in the center of the dance floor, its bright light mirrored by the flickering torches lining the walls.

    At the edges of the ballroom, a few artful white columns rose up to meet the ceiling. Long tables covered in food and drink had been laid out while servers carrying trays maneuvered around the crowd. A line of silent guards surrounded the perimeter of the ballroom, but Leo couldn¡¯t make out Spade from their current position.

    Some of the guests stood by the chairs near the food chatting or taking a break from dancing. The majority, however, were on the dance floor, where nobles in suits and gowns twirled and swayed to the music.

    Leo¡¯s eyes quickly landed on the stage tucked in the back corner of the room. A group of musicians sat in chairs while a conductor stood in front of them, her hands never once pausing their movements. The thick maroon curtains behind them remained still.

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    ¡°It¡¯s so bright,¡± Allan breathed beside him. Leo snorted.

    ¡°Yeah, I know what you mean.¡± The first time he¡¯d seen a ball like this, he¡¯d been awestruck at the sheer opulence. So awestruck that he¡¯d stopped in place and almost dropped the trays he was carrying, Leo thought bitterly.

    He shook his head. That was in the past, and he would admit that the ballroom did look very different from the center, among the nobles, than it did from the sidelines.

    ¡°When the ball ends, meet me by the stage,¡± Leo said under his breath, hazel eyes flitting about to make sure no one was listening. ¡°Until then, we just need to lay low. Maybe try to guess who¡¯ll be at the auction, look around, chat up some nobles if you¡¯re up for it.¡±

    Allan nodded. ¡°Be careful,¡± he muttered. Leo grinned.

    ¡°Always am.¡±

    The [Healer] snorted and shook his head. With another nod, he turned and slipped deeper into the crowd, where Leo could see a group of primly dressed nobles talking. He shook his head amusedly. It figured that Allan would head straight into a conversation. He probably wouldn¡¯t have any issue fitting in.

    Now on his own, Leo glanced around and decided to head towards the food table. If he was going to be here all night, he might as well enjoy the free food.

    The former [Thief] navigated through the crowd, accidentally bumping into more than a few people along the way. He gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to immediately lower his head and apologize. He was here as their equal, he reminded himself, and he wasn¡¯t going to grovel to a bunch of haughty aristocrats. Never again, he thought.

    It was a relief when Leo finally managed to break free of the crowd. He stopped to double check that his mask was secure before finally heading for the table.

    It turned out Lenore hadn¡¯t been overdoing it; the spread looked more appropriate for a feast than as complimentary treats for a ball.

    The [Fragmentholder] grabbed a plate and loaded it up, careful not to go too overboard despite his urge to try everything. None of the nobles were drooling at the food, so some restraint would probably be in order.

    Once Leo had grabbed as much food as he thought he could get away with, he moved over to one of the white pillars where it was quieter and leaned against it.

    Balancing the plate in one hand, he stabbed his fork into one of the cake slices. His eyes lit up when he took the first bite. He quickly devoured the rest of the piece with probably a bit more enthusiasm than was appropriate.

    As he ate, Leo casually scanned the crowd. There was no actual way to tell if someone would be attending the auction afterwards or not, so he tried to commit as many faces to memory as possible in case one of them won the fragment.

    There was a woman in a bold red dress and an equally bright feathered mask. An elderly man in a plain black suit and a grey mask who carried himself with a distinct aura of dignity that automatically commanded respect. A family of five who seemed to be attracting a good amount of attention, all of their postures perfectly straight and rigid.

    Allan had taken up conversation with a smaller group of nobles near the woman in red. Leo could see the man laughing, and none of the nobles he spoke to seemed to suspect for a second that they were actually speaking to a former [Rickshaw Puller] from the slums. They¡¯d probably be horrified if they knew the truth. Leo smiled to himself at the thought.

    As Leo moved to scoop up more of his food, a sudden chill crawled up his spine.

    He shuddered, nearly dropping his fork as his head snapped around, searching for the source of that chill.

    There. Across the ballroom, barely visible behind the swaying dancers, was a man standing beside the opposite pillar.

    It was hard to make out details from the distance, but he caught a glimpse of a plain white mask, a black suit, and ashy hair pulled into a low ponytail that looked noticeably messier than that of the other nobles. The man¡¯s clothes, too, seemed a little more rumpled, as if he¡¯d thrown the suit on half-heartedly.

    Even though he couldn¡¯t see his eyes, Leo was sure the man was staring directly at him. His shoulders tensed and he activated [Judgement], but when he looked again, the man was gone. Vanished into the churning crowd.

    Leo swallowed, suddenly losing his appetite. Who was that?

    He set his plate down, attempting to calm his nerves. It was possible he was just another noble, maybe one with a little less care for formality than most.

    And yet, every instinct of his was screaming at him that there was more going on. There¡¯d been a danger hanging over him, and he couldn¡¯t have imagined that chilling gaze.

    ¡°Not liking the food?¡± an amused voice suddenly spoke from behind him.

    Leo jumped. He spun around, ready to draw his hidden dagger, when hazel eyes landed on a familiar [Executioner].

    Spade was dressed in a standard guard uniform with an equally unassuming mask, but her grey hair and the visible scars poking out from under the mask made her easily identifiable. Leo¡¯s shoulders slumped back down.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do that,¡± he hissed. His eyes darted around, double checking that no one was watching them. He stepped closer, keeping his voice low.

    ¡°Hey. Just now, did you see that weird guy in the crowd?¡±

    Spade raised a scarred eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re going to have to be a little more specific.¡±

    Leo gestured vaguely across the ballroom. ¡°There was this guy, he had a white mask, black suit. I could¡¯ve sworn he was watching me. He seemed¡­dangerous.¡± God, he probably sounded so paranoid right now.

    To her credit, the [Executioner] didn¡¯t immediately scoff at him. Humming, she raised her head, grey eyes scanning the crowd with a casual, yet sharp efficiency. When she was done, she shook her head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see anyone like that.¡±

    Leo bit his lip. ¡°Figures. Look, could you keep an eye out? It might be nothing, but I got a bad feeling from the guy.¡± Her [Vigilance] skill would be particularly useful in this case.

    ¡°I can do that,¡± Spade said simply. She turned to head back over to her guard position by the wall, but before she reached it, she paused and glanced back.

    ¡°There¡¯s still a few hours left until the auction starts. You might as well mingle until then.¡± Spade nodded at the crowd.

    Leo groaned, but he knew the [Executioner] was right. This was a rare chance to gather intel, and he¡¯d be wasting it if he just stood around for the rest of the masquerade.

    His eyes darted over to where Allan was still chatting with the nobles as easily as if he¡¯d been born to the aristocracy himself. Leo sighed and straightened.

    ¡°Yeah, I guess so.¡± If he got lucky, maybe he¡¯d even manage to find the man from earlier and use [Judgement] on him. That would get him a name and a level, at least.

    Emboldened by the thought, Leo took a deep breath and strode forward.

 Chapter 69: Auction I

    Chapter 69: Auction I

    Leo didn¡¯t end up seeing the man again by the time the ball ended. He was both unnerved and also slightly relieved, though he would never admit the latter out loud.

    By now, the masquerade had begun to die down. The hall slowly cleared as guests said their goodbyes and exited the building, leaving more of the floor exposed than had been all night. Leo hadn¡¯t even noticed the swirling patterns in the marble tiles.

    Servers began clearing away the tables and pushing aside chairs. The conductor had left earlier, and the remaining musicians were packing up their instruments.

    Still, despite the masquerade presumably being over, a decent chunk of people stayed behind. They must also be here for the auction, Leo thought.

    In the thinned crowd, it was easy to find Allan standing near the stage. Spade had disappeared, presumably off with the other guards to the auction room early.

    Leo¡¯s eyes darted around, but he still didn¡¯t see the man from earlier anywhere. Maybe he¡¯d left with the other half of the party guests and wasn¡¯t attending the auction.

    ¡°Hear anything interesting?¡± Leo asked as he approached Allan. The [Healer] was nursing a cup of plain water (in his right hand, Leo noted with amusement). The man frowned.

    ¡°Apparently the nobles have a lot to say about the closed gates. Something about it being bad for trade,¡± he added with a faint snort. He shook his head. ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°Nothing here either.¡± He¡¯d had a much harder time getting anyone to talk to him at all, and a part of him couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the guests could somehow smell his past on him.

    Even when he had finally managed to enter a conversation, he¡¯d mostly been ignored and talked over. To add insult to injury, the few bits and pieces he¡¯d overheard had been about as useful as having five different kinds of spoons.

    ¡°There was this guy earlier, though,¡± Leo continued. ¡°Something about him didn¡¯t feel right.¡±

    Allan straightened at that. ¡°Did he do something?¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°Nah, he was just standing there. But he just felt¡­off, you know?¡±

    The [Healer] nodded in understanding, which Leo appreciated. Both of them had learned to trust their instincts over the years, both their own and each other¡¯s. It was a necessary survival mechanism in the slums. Sometimes something ¡°feeling wrong¡± was the difference between surviving and dying in a ditch.

    ¡°Is he still around?¡± Allan¡¯s dark eyes scanned the crowd warily as he spoke.

    ¡°No, I think he left with the first wave.¡± Leo glanced up at the stage, where the last musician was leaving with her violin case and music stand.

    By now the number of party guests had dropped even further, and the ones remaining all lingered in the hall, making no move to leave. Without the music and chatter, the building suddenly felt terribly quiet.

    ¡°Should we go?¡± Allan whispered, watching the stage. The curtains hadn¡¯t moved. Leo shook his head.

    ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit. Best get in around the middle.¡±

    The [Healer] nodded in agreement, and the two stood patiently. A few minutes later, the woman in red Leo had seen earlier stepped up to the stage and disappeared behind the curtains. After her, an elderly couple followed, and that seemed to be the dam that finally broke the temporary stillness.

    The remaining guests flocked towards the stage like moths drawn to a light. Leo and Allan quickly slipped into the unofficial line forming. The [Fragmentholder] fumbled for the invitation in his jacket as they ducked behind the curtains, which were a good deal heavier than they looked.

    Behind the stage was a second narrow hallway. Candles lit the way, but the low ceiling gave it a claustrophobic atmosphere. Some of the noblewomens¡¯ gowns didn¡¯t even fully fit from wall to wall and had to be held close as the group made their way down.

    At the end of the hall was a single door with two guards flanking it. Guests were stopped a few feet away by another guard while the current person was let through the door, probably to avoid someone overhearing the code word. Leo exhaled as he and Allan stepped up to the front of the line.

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    ¡°Invitation?¡± The guard¡¯s voice was gruff, her face invisible behind her helmet. Leo held up the card, hesitating for a second. Was he just supposed to say the word? Were they going to ask for it?

    In the end, he muttered ¡°orchid¡± when the guard didn¡¯t make a move. She nodded, to the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s relief, and the second guard handed them a bidding card. #41.

    With another wave, they were let through the doors into a dark auditorium. Rows of plush seats circled the brightly lit stage, where a wooden podium stood in the center. Leo could see more guards encircling the space like they had in the ballroom, and the guests who¡¯d arrived first were already seated, scattered among the sea of chairs.

    ¡°There.¡± Allan tapped Leo¡¯s arm and nodded to the left, where Spade could be seen leaning against the wall not too far from the door.

    Leo nodded and the two made their way over, taking a seat beside the aisle so that they were right next to the [Executioner]. She didn¡¯t give any indication of recognizing them, and they didn¡¯t greet her either, instead focusing on the stage as more and more guests trickled in.

    With the curtains currently drawn, Leo couldn¡¯t see what items lay beyond. He frowned. What kind of object would the fragment be hidden in? And which guests knew about it? If he could figure that out, he could use their reactions to determine where the fragment was.

    He glanced around, but before he could look more closely at the guests, a bright flash of movement caught his eye.

    Just below the stage, a tall man with slicked back hair and a trimmed mustache was speaking to some of the nobles. His suit was a blindingly bright white that caught the light of the stage whenever he moved. He was obviously important; maybe he was the auctioneer.

    Around them, more and more seats filled up, though everyone seemed to be following an unspoken agreement to maintain space between parties when possible. As a result, when the doors finally closed with an echoing slam, Leo and Allan were decently far from the next closest group.

    Leo¡¯s fingers tightened around the plain wooden bid card. In the darkness, it was difficult to make out faces, especially since no one had removed their masks. It was a good thing he had [Judgement] to identify people, he thought.

    The faint chatter dimmed, and the man in the white suit straightened. He stepped onto the stage and behind the podium with a smile that was just a little too wide to look natural. Leo narrowed his eyes.

    Name: Atticus Maigner

    Age: 42

    Level: 44

    Class: [Senior Auctioneer, Tier 2]

    Personal Skill: [Hush Lvl 5]

    Tier 2, Leo noted¡ªand he had a last name, which meant he was a noble.

    His level wasn¡¯t much of a surprise. Without the cost of crests impeding them, nobles were often higher level. In this case the man didn¡¯t have a combat class, so Leo wasn¡¯t too worried, even if still wary.

    ¡°Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!¡± Atticus¡¯s voice boomed, easily filling up the space and bouncing off the walls. ¡°Thank you for joining me on this fine evening! We wouldn¡¯t be here today without your generous contributions.¡±

    Leo snorted at that, and the man continued.

    ¡°Now, I¡¯m sure most of you are old hats to this game, but I do spot some new faces this year! Along with some familiar ones, of course.¡± He shot a flirtatious wink down at the woman in red seated in the front row.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re all excited to get this show rolling, so I¡¯ll be quick! Just some basic rules, nothing complicated.¡±

    He raised one finger. ¡°Firstly, these wonderful items have been donated and acquired by our gracious sponsors. In the interest of privacy, these sponsors are to remain anonymous! Any questions about an object¡¯s source or past owners are strictly forbidden.¡±

    ¡°Sounds illegal to me,¡± Leo muttered. Allan huffed out a laugh.

    ¡°With that out the way, the bidding process itself is quite simple! I give an opening bid, and you raise your card and shout out your offers! Biggest number wins 100% of the time. Don¡¯t worry; I can assure you I¡¯m very unbiased.¡±

    That got a few laughs from the audience, but Leo remained unmoved.

    ¡°Once I hit the gavel, the bidding¡¯s over! If you¡¯re the lucky winner, just head on over to our lovely Lady Anne and she¡¯ll handle the transaction,¡± the [Auctioneer] continued. He gestured to a woman standing by the side of the stage where there must be some sort of entrance leading backstage, based on the number of guards situated around the area.

    ¡°Now, for the sake of avoiding interruptions, once you¡¯ve received your item please return to your seat until the end of the auction! No need to worry about theft, folks. The city guard are here to watch out for any¡­unsavory characters.¡±

    Atticus nodded to the guards in question, who remained silent by the walls. Leo had assumed they were private guards, but it figured that the nobles involved would rope the city into this.

    He tried not to react to the comment about thievery. They weren¡¯t going after the fragment until after they exited the building, after all.

    ¡°Hear that? No leaving until the end of the auction! Once the last item¡¯s been sold, you can exit through those doors and be on your way.¡±

    ¡°Now, I trust everyone has their bid card ready?¡±

    A few guests nodded in agreement, some calling out verbally. Leo¡¯s fingers tightened around the smooth wooden handle in anticipation.

    Atticus smiled in that slightly unsettling way of his again. He spread his arms wide in a grand gesture.

    ¡°Well then, ladies and gentlemen, let¡¯s bring out the first item!¡±

 Chapter 70: Auction II

    Chapter 70: Auction II

    Leo leaned forward as the curtains shifted. Atticus remained standing in the center of the stage, still beaming that wide smile, as four workers wheeled a cart out from behind the curtains.

    As the cloth moved, Leo caught a brief glimpse of rows and rows of shelves brimming with gleaming objects, but they were quickly obscured again before he could get a better look. He frowned.

    The workers rolled the cart until it was next to the podium. Atop, sitting in an open plush box that looked like it would probably go for a ridiculous price by itself, was a round black oblong object. It was a little larger than a head, and its leathery surface gleamed a rich red hue when the light hit it at just the right angle. Leo¡¯s eyebrows rose. Was that¡­?

    ¡°First up we have a real, authentic wyvern egg extracted from a nest in the deserts of Dorryn!¡±

    Murmurs rose around the audience. Leo had to admit he was impressed.

    After the Fall of the Ancients, wyrms were among the rarest of the four major species. Fae numbers had dwindled significantly, but a decent chunk survived in forests and lakes, secluded away from human civilization. Giants could still be found in the most extreme regions of the continent, like the ice giants of northern Scaga and the deep sea titans to the south.

    Wyrms and demons, on the other hand, had fared much worse after the war. The latter group was completely wiped out, and the dragons¡ªonce the most powerful of the wyrms¡ªhad also gone extinct. Only a few sea serpents and desert wyverns remained of the group, and they certainly weren¡¯t found anywhere near Avel.

    Snatching a wyvern egg from Dorryn would¡¯ve been no small feat, if the stories of the creatures¡¯ viciousness were even half true. Leo shuddered at the thought. He couldn¡¯t imagine living in Dorryn with those things wandering around; no wonder the country was always in turmoil.

    Opening with the egg was certainly a statement on the auction¡¯s part. If they were starting out with something like this, what else was in store?

    Atticus stepped out from behind the podium and gestured to the egg, tapping a hand along its hard shell. A few audience members gasped. Leo flinched, but the egg remained still and unmoving. The [Auctioneer]¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    ¡°No worries, folks. This egg was confirmed nonviable by our experts. You won¡¯t have to worry about a little wyvern wrecking your mansion, but the shell would certainly make quite the dazzling centerpiece!¡±

    A few laughs sounded at that. Allan leaned closer to Leo, voice quiet.

    ¡°You think the fragment¡¯s in there?¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t bring it out first thing,¡± the former [Thief] whispered under his breath. ¡°Let¡¯s wait some more.¡±

    On the stage, Atticus announced a starting bid of 5,000 gamils. Leo winced. He hoped that painting Lenore wanted wasn¡¯t that expensive, or the 6,000 gamils she¡¯d provided wouldn¡¯t be enough.

    Bid cards rose, numbers shouted out and echoing around the enclosed auditorium. As guests placed their bids, Leo continued to stare at the curtain, trying to guess what else might be behind it.

    He was fairly confident that the fragment would appear later on in the night. It would have to be hidden in an expensive item, too, for the bids on it to make sense for everyone not in the know. Well over 5,000 gamils, he wagered.

    Atticus struck the gavel against the podium. Leo glanced over just in time to see the noble family he¡¯d noticed earlier at the masquerade rise from their seats, the first winners of the night. They were definitely powerful¡ªprobably powerful enough to know about the fragment. But would they bid on something else so early on if they were waiting for it? Leo wasn¡¯t sure. He had no idea what these prices meant for people that high up the ladder.

    The next item was wheeled in. Leo looked away from the family and redirected his attention to the stage. Focus, he told himself. He couldn¡¯t afford to miss anything.

    As the auction continued on, Leo started to get more and more nervous. What if he was wrong about the fragment being at the end? What if he¡¯d already missed it? There¡¯d been a couple of necklaces and gems auctioned off that would be easy to conceal a fragment in. His gut instinct told him those hadn¡¯t been the ones, but that was no guarantee.

    The curtains shifted again as the next piece was wheeled out. Leo sat a little straighter.

    ¡°Next we have this gorgeous original painting framed in pure gold.¡± Atticus stepped forward and gestured at the artwork.

    From a distance, Leo could make out rough, bold paint strokes overlaid across a dark background depicting what looked like the half-decomposed corpse of a giant. The creature sat hunched in on itself, its stomach carved open and spilling out, the innards rendered in abstract splashes of red that were somehow even more unsettling than if the painter had drawn the actual organs.

    The whole thing was grotesque, unsettling, and haunting. Leo shuddered. Yeah, that was definitely the one Lenore wanted. It had the exact same uncanny atmosphere that the paintings in her room did. Why she was so interested in them, Leo would never know, but he grabbed his bid card nonetheless. A deal was a deal.

    ¡°¡­going for the low low starting price of 1,000 gamils! Do I hear 1,000?¡±

    A few bid cards rose in the audience, and Leo was internally relieved that the painting didn¡¯t seem quite as popular as the other objects already auctioned off that night. It looked like it was a little too disturbing for anyone not deep into the art scene.

    ¡°1,050!¡± someone yelled. Another bid card belonging to the older gentleman Leo had seen earlier rose.

    ¡°1,100 gamils.¡±

    Leo waited until the bidding had slowed down, only a few active bidders remaining, before throwing up his own bid card.

    ¡°2,200!¡± he called. His voice sounded awfully loud in the enclosed auditorium, but he made sure to keep his head held high.

    Leo felt several eyes glance in his direction. Another bidder slowly lowered her sign. Atticus pointed at him, much to Leo¡¯s annoyance. He¡¯d prefer not having any more attention directed his way, thank you.

    ¡°2,200 from #41! Do I hear 2,300?¡±

    ¡°2,400,¡± the elderly man called out in a crisp, clear voice. Leo frowned, but kept his card up.

    ¡°2,500,¡± he yelled. He¡¯d barely finished speaking when the man made another bid. The [Fragmentholder] gritted his teeth. All this for a gross looking painting? It figured it wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    On and on the two continued, the number steadily climbing higher and higher and probably well past what the painting was actually worth. Still the man stubbornly continued, undeterred. At this point Leo was bidding less to get the painting for Lenore and more for the sake of his own pride.

    The [Fragmentholder] could feel Allan watching him amusedly, but he set his jaw and threw up his bid card a final time.

    ¡°5,000 gamils!¡±

    The noble paused. His arm, already half way up by reflex, stilled, and his lips thinned into a frown. Leo tried his best not to look too smug.

    A few moments passed. After no one else moved, Atticus slammed his gavel down. ¡°Sold to #41! Congratulations on your new painting!¡±

    Leo rolled his eyes, but he slid out from his seat and into the aisle to go collect the piece as instructed. He handed over the coins as quickly as possible, not wanting to give anyone a chance to stare at him too long in case they started questioning what noble house he was from or something. He was grateful the painting wasn¡¯t too large, at least, otherwise carrying it would¡¯ve been a hassle.

    Wrapped painting in tow and pockets noticeably lighter, Leo slid back into his seat. Up on the stage, they were auctioning off a rare flower found only in the Issa Isles.

    ¡°Was that what Lenore wanted?¡± Allan whispered. Leo nodded.

    ¡°Yep. Don¡¯t ask why, though.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s kind of nice. Might look good in a dining room.¡±

    Leo shot the [Healer] an unimpressed look, which the man responded to with a beaming smile. He snorted and shook his head.

    After the flower (sold to some noble who¡¯d probably throw it at their gardener to deal with) came an old set of armor, a faded book of ancient history, a pearly comb carved out of fae bone, and a glass sphere not unlike the ones atop Alnwick¡¯s walls containing powerful spellwork.

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    At this point, Leo¡¯s nerves were buzzing. The auction had to be nearing its last stages by now. Based on the brief glimpses when the curtains moved, the number of items had dwindled significantly. If the fragment was going to show up, it would probably be soon.

    ¡°Next up we¡¯ve got some real stunners!¡± Atticus gestured behind him as the cart was wheeled to a stop. Its top had been covered in a plush velvet cushion, and nestled amidst the cloth were three distinct objects that shone in the light. Leo sat up straighter.

    ¡°These three items were donated by the same generous sponsor, but they¡¯re being sold separately. More chances for all you lovely bidders,¡± Atticus said with a wink. He stepped over and gestured at the objects.

    ¡°This magnificent set comes from the personal belongings of the legendary Iron Empress herself, directly imported from the Solomere Empire! They¡¯ve got historic and monetary value, and they¡¯re one of a kind!¡±

    He picked up the first object, a gleaming crown covered in glittering jewels. Its metal prongs were twisted in a knotted pattern, giving the piece a rough look that contrasted against the smooth gemstones adorning its surface.

    ¡°Here we have the late Empress¡¯s crown with all its original jewels intact.¡± The [Auctioneer] lifted it higher, turning it to allow the light to bounce off the gems. The audience oohed and aahed.

    ¡°Next up, a dagger said to have slain a demon lord!¡± Atticus picked it up, revealing a silver, engraved handle embedded with a line of stones sitting beneath the dull, stained blade. ¡°As you can see, the blade has been perfectly preserved; those stains may very well be some of the last remaining traces of demon blood left!¡±

    Murmurs rippled through the crowd, an almost visible energy electrifying the air in the auditorium. Leo¡¯s jaw clenched, gaze remaining fixed on the stage.

    ¡°And finally, we have this lovely hand mirror¡ªthe Empress¡¯s favorite.¡± Atticus raised the object in question. It, like the dagger handle, was made of silver. When the [Auctioneer] moved it, the surface shone a bright turquoise mixed with flashes of gold. ¡°This was polished in ice dragon breath; it¡¯ll never stain or dull!¡±

    Atticus set the mirror down and moved back to the podium, but Leo didn¡¯t take his eyes off of it.

    ¡°It¡¯s that one,¡± he whispered. Allan turned to him, frowning.

    ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡±

    Leo nodded. The odd shine from the ice dragon polish would perfectly mask the unique way fragments gleamed in the light. That particular golden sheen had been exactly the same as the specks found in the fragments so far.

    That, and the mirror was probably the least valuable object in the set on its own. Leo doubted the [Auctioneer] would miss a chance to add to its value by hiding the fragment inside, and it was still rare enough to justify whatever ridiculous prices ended up being bid on it. It was perfect.

    Around the auditorium, bid cards flew up as bidding began on the crown. Leo could be wrong, but his gut told him the fragment was in the mirror.

    ¡°Sold to #1 for 14,600 gamils!¡±

    Leo looked over to see the woman in red that he¡¯d spotted at the masquerade stand up. He cringed internally at the price. That confirmed it; there was no way they¡¯d be able to win a proper bid on the mirror. Stealing was their only option.

    The dagger was auctioned off next for 13,900 gamils. After that came the mirror.

    More bidding cards rose. Leo tilted his head just enough to be able to see who was bidding, activating [Fade into Background] for good measure.

    Atticus¡¯s eager voice soared over from the stage as the numbers climbed higher and higher. More cards went down with each increase until only a few remained. Leo¡¯s gaze shifted between the remaining bidders, finally landing on one as Atticus struck the gavel and only a single sign remained in the air.

    ¡°Sold for 21,100 gamils to #22!¡±

    Name: Noah Suchet

    Age: 27

    Level: 31

    Class: [Noble, Tier 2]

    Personal Skill: [Locked]

    Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed as he took in the information from [Judgement]. A young, wealthy noble who hadn¡¯t received his personal skill yet. 28 was very late to still be waiting on a personal skill, and if he was feeling particularly insecure about it, then it made sense to Leo that the man would be seeking out fragments at any cost.

    The noble stood up and headed over to the side of the stage to finalize his purchase. The auction continued. Leo barely paid attention to it; he kept his eyes fixed on Noah Suchet for the rest of the night.

    By the time the final object was auctioned off and Atticus delivered his unnecessarily long ¡°closing remarks¡± (he was pretty sure the man just liked to hear himself talk), Leo was ready to bolt out of the room.

    The former [Thief]¡¯s fingers flexed around the wrapped painting before he remembered he should probably be more careful with it and forced himself to relax again. Behind them, the doors remained shut, the guards still standing in their designated places. Spade had done an impressive job of remaining completely stone faced the entire time.

    When they returned to the Pearl, they¡¯d need to look into Noah Suchet. Spade might even already know who he was, depending on how old and powerful his family was in Alnwick. After that, they¡¯d scope out his manor, maybe even tonight.

    The faster they stole the fragment, the better. Leo didn¡¯t want to give the man a chance to absorb it and gain the [Fragmentholder] class. It didn¡¯t seem to be widespread knowledge, but he wasn¡¯t taking any chances. He wasn¡¯t even sure how to retrieve a fragment from a [Fragmentholder] yet.

    Images of the wrecked village and the limp bodies flashed in his mind, their chests carved open. Sonia above him, pointed dagger gleaming in the light. Allan¡¯s questioning voice.

    ¡°You can rip the fragment out of someone?¡±

    Leo set his jaw. They¡¯d cross that bridge when they came to it.

    ¡°¡ªwish you all a lovely night and safe travels! See you next year!¡±

    Atticus¡¯s booming voice followed by two sharp slams of the gavel marked the end of the auction.

    Leo practically jumped to his feet and quickly slid out into the aisle, then moved to the side to let some of the other guests out first. Noah was seated near the front, so he¡¯d probably be one of the last ones out the door.

    ¡°It¡¯s on him?¡± Allan whispered, dark eyes peering at the noble between the throng of guests. Leo nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s what my gut says.¡±

    ¡°What about your brain?¡±

    Leo glanced over to see Spade watching them with a raised eyebrow. Around them, the crowd flowed towards the door, the guards following¡ªlikely to keep an eye out for thieves. The movement combined with the chatter allowed them to blend in without drawing unneeded attention, but they¡¯d have to get moving soon.

    ¡°Brain says 50%,¡± Leo said with a frown. In the corner of his eye, Noah was halfway to the door on the opposite side of the auditorium. If they left now, they¡¯d still be able to keep an eye on the man in the crowd.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Leo muttered. He gripped the painting closer, lest it get jostled, and made his way over to the door with Allan. Spade walked a little further behind, putting some plausible distance between them as they filed out the door.

    The hallway felt even more narrow now, with so many guests carrying wrapped auction wins in addition to their evening finery. It was a relief to step back into the light of the ballroom and then, finally, outside.

    The crisp night air was a welcome presence after so long inside the stuffy auditorium. Leo breathed it in, allowing himself a moment to simply enjoy the feeling of the breeze.

    The [Fragmentholder] veered off to the side so that he was still on the main road, but slightly more separated from the crowd. He had a good view of the doors from here, though to his annoyance the nobles seemed intent on lingering around on the street to continue talking. Noah Suchet was just one person in the sea of figures.

    Then again, this might just be part of Alnwick¡¯s culture. There were still plenty of other passersby mulling about, the road lit up with the warm glow of streetlamps and the wall of light above. A city like this never really slept.

    Allan peered down the road. ¡°Are we heading back to the Pearl?¡±

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Leo said. ¡°I want to see what direction he goes first.¡± He adjusted his hold on the painting, which was a lot heavier than it looked. What was the frame made of again? Allan chuckled.

    ¡°Here, I can hold it if you want.¡±

    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m fine.¡± A bit of stubbornness crept into Leo¡¯s voice. The [Healer] raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°I have 4 more points of strength than you.¡±

    Leo snorted. When he opened his mouth to respond, however, the words died in his throat. His jaw clicked shut and his brows furrowed. He tried again. No sound came out.

    Above them, the clear note of a bell rang across the city.

    Leo¡¯s whole body froze. His head snapped upwards.

    Under the moonlight, coiling clouds of monochrome smoke gathered across the sky. He felt someone grab him and looked over to see Allan looking up as well, dark eyes grim, but they seemed to be the only ones even remotely nervous.

    Around them, passersby continued walking down the streets even as their footsteps no longer made noise. The nobles, now unable to talk, remained in place, instead looking upwards as though watching a vaguely amusing spectacle.

    They didn¡¯t run for cover or flee. They didn¡¯t panic even when the smoke curled into the shape of a hand clawing at the city.

    The glass orbs atop the walls glowed, the crooked fingers repeatedly banging against the shimmering barrier as more strands of smoke gathered and even more Echoes formed. The magic held strong.

    Leo couldn¡¯t decide if it was more unnerving so see those Echoes pressed up against the translucent barrier, just barely out of reach, or to see how utterly unbothered the people of Alnwick were about it. This was just a normal night for a warded city.

    He met eyes with Allan, who looked just as perplexed. There still wasn¡¯t any sound. The field of Silence remained present, and Echoes would continue forming until it vanished.

    Slowly, Leo allowed his shoulders to relax. He still kept some tension¡ªit was hard not to when literal monsters were above you¡ªbut he glanced around and confirmed that Noah Suchet was one of the nobles who apparently thought watching Echoes try to break through the wards was a leisurely activity. He paused.

    With so many people in the crowd and their attention drawn skywards, maybe he wouldn¡¯t even need to track the fragment back to the noble¡¯s home. The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s heart sped up. He still had [Stealth] equipped.

    Carefully, Leo propped the painting up against a wall where it would remain a safe distance away from any passersby. Allan shot him a questioning look, but Leo just gestured in the direction of the noble. The [Healer]¡¯s eyes widened in understanding.

    Turning to face the crowd, Leo activated [Fade into Background]. The Echoes were still pounding at the ward; there had to be over twenty by now. Leo took a careful step forward. His eyes scanned the area for the easiest way to slip in.

    As hazel eyes swept past draping ballgowns and crisp suits, a distant gleam caught his attention. Leo raised his head.

    There, crouched atop the rooftop several buildings away, was the man he¡¯d seen at the masquerade.

    He¡¯d gotten rid of his suit in favor of a dark cloak and simple pants. His hair billowed out in the wind, and his eyes were fixed on some distant point. In his hands he held a bow and arrow.

    Time seemed to slow down. Leo¡¯s eyes traced the gleaming tip of the sharp arrowhead, following its trajectory to the top of the city wall where one of the glass spheres sat, its inside curling and twisting with activated magic.

    Leo realized what was happening just as the man let the arrow loose, but when he tried to yell in warning, no sound came out.

    It was too late.

    The arrow flew straight and true.

    In one hit the sphere shattered. The swirling light within faded as sharp shards rained down below. Above Alnwick, the barrier flickered. A few people stepped back in alarm.

    The barrier flashed again, then again as the magic struggled to work with one of its components broken.

    With one final flash, it disappeared completely.

    Now free of obstructions, the gathered Echoes plunged down into the city.

 Chapter 71: Silent Shards

    Chapter 71: Silent Shards

    There should¡¯ve been screams. Leo should¡¯ve been able to hear the sound of stones cracking as the Echoes crashed into the earth. Stray rocks and dirt sprayed from the impact, scattering across the street. The ground shook. An Echo landed atop a lamplight, bending the metal pole clean in half.

    But there was no sound. There was nothing but the same pervasive, hollow silence running through his ears. The soundless images didn¡¯t feel real, as if they were nothing more than a dream.

    In front of the masquerade hall, an Echo plunged down into the center of the road and rose to its feet. It was large, the size of a small house, with hunched shoulders and long arms that dangled limply at its sides.

    In sharp, jerking movements, it turned towards the nobles gathered on the street. Eight whip-like tendrils hung down from its mouth, brushing against the ground as it moved.

    A few people stumbled back while others froze in place. Eyes kept flitting upwards, as though the ward might appear again if they looked a second time. The sky remained empty.

    The Echo advanced, cracking its neck as those tendrils rose and pointed straight at the crowd. It readied to lunge.

    Just as it reeled back, however, a blade pierced through its chest. Dark liquid splashed across the earth, and the creature lurched. Before it had a chance to retaliate, the blade twisted, flaying surrounding flesh and widening the wound until Leo could see clear through the Echo¡¯s body.

    With a final twist, the Echo fell to the ground in a twitching heap. Behind it stood Spade.

    The [Executioner] yanked her sword out and stabbed it straight down into the creature¡¯s skull, not flinching as more of that liquid sprayed outwards, staining her face and arms. The Echo finally fell limp. Its limbs began to smoke, and she kicked it to the side.

    Spade looked up, face an expressionless mask as grey eyes swept across the street. She jerked her head at the gathered nobles, and the silent gesture finally broke through the shock.

    The crowd erupted into chaos. Mouths opened in silent screams. People pushed and shoved at each other in their frenzy to get away while the guards from the auction rushed forward as more and more Echoes landed. Leo¡¯s eyes darted about wildly, but the rooftop where he¡¯d seen the man before was now empty. Where had he gone?

    A sharp tug drew Leo¡¯s attention away. He turned and met eyes with Allan, who was frowning and gesturing at the fleeing nobles. The street was already becoming a mess of bodies, rubble, and Echoes; if they stayed much longer, it would be hard to escape. Still, the [Fragmentholder] hesitated.

    On the other side of the road, Noah Suchet was hiding from the Echoes in an alleyway. Others elected to sprint down the streets, tripping over their evening wear as they scrambled away. Leo turned his head just in time to see a finely dressed noble stumble, pierced through the back by an Echo¡¯s spindly finger.

    More people poured around the street corner. It looked like most of the Echoes had landed in the marketplace, and the people there were trying to escape.

    A block away, a building collapsed. The field of Silence still hadn¡¯t vanished; smoke trails continued to swirl in the night sky as more and more Echoes formed.

    The guards were already struggling to hold the ones here back. It would be even worse in the market square where there were less guards to begin with.

    Leo set his jaw. He shook his head at Allan, trying to convey his plans with his eyes. The [Healer] furrowed his brows in confusion, glancing between Leo and the ongoing battle.

    Finally, understanding dawned on him. He nodded slowly, and Leo couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved. He would¡¯ve stayed regardless, but it was good to know Allan would have his back.

    Mind set, Leo didn¡¯t hesitate to turn and run straight towards the hoard of Echoes.

    He easily spotted Spade as the grey-haired [Executioner] blocked a blow from a skeletal Echo. She glanced in their direction.

    Shoving the Echo away with a sharp kick, she used the brief reprieve to turn and hurl her bag over at them before blocking the next incoming blow.

    Leo caught the bag, yanking out his dagger and throwing knives and thrusting Allan¡¯s axe into his hands. He scanned the street rapidly; it looked like most of the Echoes here were already being dealt with by one or two guards. He focused on the marketplace.

    Fingers tightening around his dagger, Leo sprinted down the street, leaping over rubble and ducking under a whipping tail that slammed into the building behind him.

    More people rushed past him, some limping or clutching broken bones, blood spattered. The [Fragmentholder] moved determinedly in the opposite direction of the crowd until he¡¯d turned the corner and reached his destination.

    It was worse than he¡¯d expected. The entire square was ruined, carts overturned and broken window shards littering the cracked ground. There must have been some sort of event going on considering the number of civilians present, all of them now desperately trying to get away. Collapsed bodies already littered the earth.

    Leo rushed forward, slicing into an Echo¡¯s back before it could lunge at a cowering teenager pressed up against a wall. That succeeded in getting its attention, and the creature whirled around.

    A single large round eye peered down at him. This Echo¡¯s body was amorphous, skin soft like a slug¡¯s and bubbling whenever it moved. A rotten stench filled Leo¡¯s nostrils. He scrunched his nose in disgust.

    The Echo whipped a thick tail at him, but it was slow and Leo easily dodged to the side. He surged forward, plunging his blade into the creature¡¯s chest. Its flesh was so soft that the knife simply sank in.

    Leo gritted his teeth and tilted the blade, carving up the Echo¡¯s body just as the tail swung at him again.

    The dagger reached its eye seconds before Leo was forced to duck down to avoid the tail. He rolled away, stray stones digging into his back, and hurried back to his feet. Would that be enough?

    It was. Just as Leo readied to lunge again, the Echo¡¯s body split open. A crack formed across its eye, spreading into a web of fissures until the whole thing had disintegrated into a pile of dust.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    The [Fragmentholder] exhaled, but he didn¡¯t dare celebrate just yet.

    He spun around to face the rest of the square. There weren¡¯t nearly as many guards here as there¡¯d been at the auction, but the few present were battling the Echoes furiously. He caught Allan carving his axe straight through an Echo on the other side of the square.

    Just as he moved to go help the [Healer], three more Echoes dropped down from above. Leo¡¯s shoulders tensed. He adjusted his grip on the dagger and took a deep breath.

    Before the Echoes could rise fully, he activated [Sprint] and plunged the blade into the closest one. It fell limp, but before the [Fragmentholder] could relax, a curled fist the size of his whole body barreled straight towards him.

    Leo leapt away, heart racing as he narrowly dodged the blow. The ground split where he¡¯d been standing mere seconds ago, shaking from the impact.

    Leo scrambled back to his feet and eyed the hulking Echo, tracing the line of its arm up to its squat head. He made a split second decision.

    Equipping [Acrobatics], he ran up the massive creature¡¯s arm and vaulted over its head, barely avoiding snapping rows of gleaming teeth. Leo landed roughly on its back, but he didn¡¯t waste time steadying himself.

    Instead, he dug his dagger into the Echo¡¯s neck, trying to aim where Spade had shown him. Echoes didn¡¯t have a set anatomy, so there was no telling what was and wasn¡¯t a weak spot, but in this case it seemed his instincts had been correct.

    He struggled to bring the dagger all the way through the creature¡¯s thick neck, but when he finally yanked it free, the Echo fell forward and collapsed into a heap on its chest.

    [The skill [Dagger Proficiency] has leveled up! Current level: 2]

    Before Leo had a chance to finish reading the notification, a sharp pain burst from his upper arm. He yelled and grabbed at it, but no sound escaped.

    Whirling around, Leo hurled a knife in the direction the blow had come from.

    The third Echo dodged to the side, limber limbs coiling like liquid. A mass of sharp spikes bloomed like a flower across its back. One of them dripped red where it had slashed his arm.

    Gritting his teeth, Leo ducked behind a piece of rubble as those spikes shot outwards. He activated [Renewal] and felt instant relief. It looked like the cut on his arm wasn¡¯t too deep, thankfully.

    From here, he could see most of the surviving civilians had fled the square, but new Echoes were still forming up above. If the Silence didn¡¯t go away soon, the Echoes would simply chase them down the street. It looked like a few of the guards had come to the same conclusion. They shoved away Echoes and moved to follow and protect the fleeing civilians.

    Leo waited another second, then rushed out from behind the rubble, throwing another knife at the Echo.

    This one landed in its chest, and the creature lurched. More spikes surged towards him, but Allan was suddenly there, axe raised to block them as Leo ran at the Echo.

    The spikes trembled. Before the creature had a chance to attack again, Leo aimed his dagger and activated [Sprint].

    The knife pierced straight through the Echo. It burst like a bubble, clear droplets spraying out and staining the ground.

    Leo stumbled, nearly tripping from the abrupt loss of momentum. He gasped out a breath. He paused, eyes widening. He could hear himself breathing again.

    ¡°Leo!¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] turned to see Allan hurrying towards him, his axe hanging in his grip. One of his arms had a nasty cut running down its center, but it looked like it had already stopped bleeding.

    Leo glanced around; the Echoes had indeed stopped forming, and the last few remaining in the square were being taken care of by the guards. He could hear the sounds of battle ringing the next street over.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? What happened to the wards?¡± Allan asked.

    ¡°That guy at the ball, I saw him on the roof,¡± Leo said. ¡°He shot one of the ward stones and broke it.¡±

    The [Healer]¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Why?¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He disappeared right after the Echoes landed, I don¡¯t know where he went. It¡¯s like¡ª¡± his voice caught. The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s eyes widened in realization.

    ¡°Shit!¡±

    Leo spun around, ignoring Allan¡¯s concerned shout. ¡°I¡¯m an idiot!¡±

    Not wasting anymore time, Leo bolted down the street. He was vaguely aware of Allan running behind him as the former [Thief] jumped over rubble and fallen bodies, sprinting towards the auction hall with single-minded determination.

    Leo cursed at himself for not realizing it sooner. The odd behavior at the ball, the way the man had seemed so out of place among the nobles. Him appearing just as everyone left the auction only to break the wards and send the city into a panic.

    All of it had been nothing but a distraction. They¡¯d been hearing about fragment hunters this whole time, and somehow he¡¯d still failed to put it together.

    Up ahead, city guards continued to push back the remaining Echoes. A number of injured people huddled in a destroyed shop nearby, and Leo could see smoke rising in other spots of the city where Echoes must have landed. A chimney collapsed, bricks tumbling down and clattering onto the street.

    Leo ignored it all, his feet carrying him towards the alleyway he¡¯d last seen Noah Suchet in. He skidded to a halt.

    In the center of the alley, Noah Suchet lay on his back, an arrow embedded into his chest. Glassy eyes stared unseeingly up at the night sky. The package containing the mirror and fragment was missing.

    Leo looked about wildly, searching for any trace of the man. He was vaguely aware of Allan¡¯s voice in his ears, but his own growing anger and panic were drowning everything else out. He couldn¡¯t believe how stupid he¡¯d been for not seeing it sooner. And now he¡¯d not only lost the fragment, he¡¯d stood by and let that bastard unleash a hoard of Echoes on the city as a distraction.

    ¡°Leo!¡±

    Allan grabbed his shoulder and yanked him around until he was facing the other man. The [Healer]¡¯s eyes were hard and serious, jaw set in a grim line. His features seemed sharper like this, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. Memories of that alleyway flashed in Leo¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on,¡± Allan demanded, voice firm and leaving no room for argument.

    Leo swallowed. He took a deep breath, forcing his rising panic down. He needed to calm down before he made another impulsive mistake.

    ¡°He was a fragment hunter,¡± he blurted. The words poured out in a rush. ¡°Breaking the ward was just a distraction. He took the fragment.¡±

    Allan¡¯s eyes shifted over to Noah Suchet¡¯s dead body, sweeping across the scene clinically. He nodded.

    ¡°Okay. Is he close?¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes darted around the alleyway. Now that his momentary panic was dying down and his mind was clearer, he inspected it more closely, noting the angle of the arrow, the faint traces of mud leading up the roof on the right wall. His eyes narrowed.

    ¡°I think so.¡± The man couldn¡¯t have gotten that far; it might be possible to chase after him, especially since carrying the mirror would slow him down.

    Leo shifted his gaze to the main street. There were still Echoes left, and he could see Spade fighting alongside a few guards. Several people were injured, and while a few doctors were beginning to arrive, it was clear given the suddenness of the attack that they were severely understaffed.

    Leo exhaled and turned to Allan. He kept his voice steady. ¡°You and Spade stay here, help the survivors.¡±

    The [Healer] didn¡¯t look too happy about that, but he nodded. If it came down to a chase across the city, he and Spade wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up. Neither was slow, per se, but navigating the city rooftops was a different sort of beast.

    ¡°What about you?¡±

    Leo turned back towards the mud trail, hazel eyes tracing its path up the wall and to the roof. He could still remember that chilling gaze watching him at the masquerade. He clenched his fist.

    ¡°I¡¯m going after the fragment.¡±

 Chapter 72: The Chase

    Chapter 72: The Chase

    With a running start, Leo scaled up the alleyway wall, using the uneven bricks to grip onto as he climbed up. He swung his legs over the roof edge and landed lightly. The texture of the roof shingles made it much easier to grip onto¡ªshingled roofs had been rare in Sindrey¡¯s slums.

    Straightening, Leo looked around. From his current vantage point, he could see the rest of the city sprawled out before him. He¡¯d known Alnwick was large, but like this, with rows and rows of roofs forming a sea of buildings and the encircling wall so visible, that fact was made more clear than ever.

    In the distance, plumes of smoke rose from various parts of the city. Several roofs were visibly damaged or torn completely apart while chunks of debris littered the streets, and that was just what he could see from here.

    Leo¡¯s lips thinned. Echoes must¡¯ve landed in other areas of Alnwick as well. The whole thing was a mess.

    Turning, hazel eyes continued to trace the lines of the building tops, searching for any trace of movement in the moonlight.

    There.

    A few blocks away, a lone shadow leapt silently from one roof onto the balcony of the next building. He was wearing a cloak, but Leo could see a bag bound tightly to his back that must contain the stolen mirror and fragment. The man began to climb. Leo surged forward.

    He activated [Sprint] and leapt over to the next building, landing on the roof ridge and balancing atop it as he continued running in the direction of the man. He was experienced, Leo could tell, but his movements were careful. He was probably trying to make sure he didn¡¯t drop the package.

    In front of him, the roof sloped sharply. He didn¡¯t stop, instead using his momentum to slide down, the rough shingles digging into his shoes as he did so.

    He heard something crack, possibly a shingle snapping away from the friction, but he didn¡¯t take his eyes off his target. The man had almost made it up the building. Leo pressed himself to move faster.

    Ahead of him, the line of houses broke away into an open street. Ducking lower, Leo sped up and activated [Sprint] again. He didn¡¯t have time to hesitate. The moment he reached the edge of the roof, he hurdled over the gap.

    For a moment, his body was suspended in the air above the road, his blood roaring in his ears. Then all at once, gravity took hold and he was barrelling towards the opposite roof.

    Leo twisted in the air, curling into himself in an attempt to soften the landing. It only half worked.

    He landed hard, rolling across the shingles and cursing as they dug into his back. He dug a hand into the roof to try to slow himself down. His fingers burned, but he gritted his teeth and held on for dear life.

    Finally, a foot away from the edge, he slid to a stop. Leo scrambled up to his feet. He could feel fresh bruises all along his arms and back and warm blood trickling down his fingers, but the sensations were dulled from adrenaline. His heart raced as he sprinted forward again. He was almost there. Just a little further.

    Leo landed on the balcony and scaled up the wall at a record rate, completely ignoring the pain in his hand. By the time he swung his legs onto the roof, he could see the man about to leap to the next building.

    Thinking fast, Leo slid out one of his throwing knives and hurled it at the man. In his haste, it flew wide, but it was enough to make him pause and turn around.

    The moment of hesitation was all the [Fragmentholder] needed. Green eyes widened as Leo launched himself at the man, throwing both of them over the edge of the building.

    He heard a gruff voice curse as they crashed down into the balcony below. The metal railing barely held on when they slammed into it, creaking dangerously.

    Leo scrambled to remove the mirror from the bag, but it was closed with a complicated knot and tied securely down. He attempted to cut away the cloth with his dagger when, in the blink of an eye, the man disappeared.

    Leo whirled around wildly, gaze finally landing on the man a few feet below running down the fire escape. Some kind of escape ability? Why hadn¡¯t [Judgement] registered it?

    ¡°Shit!¡±

    Leo took one second to assess the drop height, then leapt over the railing and down into the alleyway.

    A cloud of dust and loose dirt rose around him from the impact. He rushed forward, the man¡¯s back visible ahead of him as he ducked between crates and piles of garbage cluttering the narrow alley. He was fast, fast enough that Leo had to use [Sprint] to keep up with him.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    He tried to use [Judgement], but nothing appeared in his vision. His mind raced. Now that he thought back to it, with the passive ability gained from the skill reaching level 3, he shouldn¡¯t have needed to activate the skill back at the masquerade. The man¡¯s status screen should¡¯ve simply appeared at a thought.

    Now, as he felt his mana reserves depleting as they always did with the activation of the skill, it was confirmed. The man was somehow blocking the use of his abilities.

    The fragment hunter veered around a sharp corner. Leo followed, using his hand to balance himself as his shoes skidded on the loose dirt.

    Before he had a chance to straighten again, chunks of debris suddenly rained from above. The roof of the store next to him had been damaged during the Echo attack, and now it was crumbling down onto him. Leo ducked, barely managing to roll away in time to avoid getting crushed.

    He¡¯d just passed the bounds of the store when three barrels came tumbling straight at him. He yelped and jumped over, stumbling when he landed. In his peripheral vision, he saw the man turning back around to continue running, a hand outstretched where he¡¯d shoved the barrels over. Leo fumed. Oh it was on.

    With a fresh burst of energy, Leo raced forward, vaulting over overturned carts and stray debris. He was vaguely aware of his [Acrobatics] skill leveling up, but he was too focused on his target to give the notification more than a glance.

    [The skill [Acrobatics] has leveled up! Current level: 3]

    They were passing through Alnwick¡¯s slums now, feet pounding on the dirt streets as they navigated around twisting, coiling alleyways. Whoever this guy was, he clearly knew the city well.

    Leo kept a throwing knife on hand, but every time he thought he had an open shot at the man, he¡¯d suddenly swerve to the side or duck behind something. The [Fragmentholder] narrowed his eyes and tried to activate [Visual Illusion].

    He felt his mana draining, but the man didn¡¯t react, certainly not seeing the false obstacle he¡¯d projected out.

    Leo cursed and activated [Mana Recovery]. That, like [Sprint], worked just fine. Whatever was causing his abilities to fail, it looked like it only affected skills and spells that directly targeted the man.

    Up ahead, the number of houses dwindled as the road widened. They were fast approaching the wealthier sectors of the city, and the open space up ahead could very well be his last chance at a clean shot before the man disappeared into the maze of buildings in the center of Alnwick.

    Heart pounding, Leo reeled his arm back and willed himself to focus. He ignored his aching lungs and took a deep breath.

    The moment the man stepped onto the road, he hurled his knife at him and activated [Teleport Object].

    Leo flicked his eyes towards his intended target, just like he¡¯d practiced. The knife disappeared, then reappeared a centimeter away from the man¡¯s neck. A few droplets of blood dripped down where it nicked flesh, but his aim hadn¡¯t been accurate enough. It flew past, only managing a thin scratch.

    ¡°No no no,¡± Leo muttered to himself. He was quickly running out of mana; he only had enough for one more use of [Teleport Object]. He couldn¡¯t afford to miss again.

    The [Fragmentholder] veered sharply into the alley the man had turned into, coming to an abrupt halt when he was met with a dead end. He spun around, hazel eyes running over the solid brick walls surrounding him on all three sides. Where had he gone?

    Then he felt it. A cold chill ran down his spine, the same icy sensation he¡¯d felt at the masquerade.

    Leo spun around just in time to see the man crouched on a neighboring roof, cloak billowing in the night breeze, bow drawn and a gleaming arrow pointed straight at him.

    He let the arrow loose.

    There wasn¡¯t enough time to dodge or get out of the way.

    Without thinking, Leo activated [Teleport Object] just before the arrow reached him and flicked his eyes haphazardly away from himself. The projectile disappeared, then reappeared to the side, embedding itself into the alleyway wall with a dull thud.

    Leo gasped. He could hear his own breaths ringing loudly in his ears, his limbs shaking slightly from the close call. He forced himself to look up, but the man had vanished.

    He tried to take a step forward, but his limbs suddenly felt weak. He nearly collapsed and just barely managed to grab onto the wall in time to steady himself.

    All the adrenaline fueling him before was gone, and now exhaustion hit him like a brick. He was acutely aware of the stinging pain in his hand and the aching bruises covering him that he¡¯d ignored during the chase. Even his leg felt wrong; he must¡¯ve landed on it worse than he¡¯d thought.

    [Stamina: 6%]

    [Mana: 4%]

    Leo gritted his teeth and made one last attempt to try and see where the man had gone, but deep down he knew he¡¯d lost both him and the fragment.

    ¡°Damnit!¡± Leo punched the wall in frustration. He was so close. He still didn¡¯t even know the fucker¡¯s name.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [You have leveled up! 300 points awarded]

    [Progress towards next level: 11%]

    Leo couldn¡¯t even be happy about the level up. It felt like a consolation prize, like the System was taking pity on him even if logically he knew he¡¯d gained experience from fighting the Echoes and the multiple skill and spell uses.

    The [Fragmentholder] gave himself a few more moments to sulk, then forced himself back up.

    He limped over to the arrow embedded into the wall and wrenched it out. It was sturdy and well made, with a jet black fletching and no other distinguishing characteristics. Leo looped the arrow into his belt for safekeeping.

    This wasn¡¯t over, he swore to himself. The man had clearly been skilled, and there couldn¡¯t be that many people in Alnwick with an ability that neutralized skills. Someone would know him. He¡¯d find out who the man was, chase him down, and get the fragment back.

    Fist clenched in newfound determination, Leo spun around and made his way back to the auction hall.

 Chapter 73: Aftermath

    Chapter 73: Aftermath

    The trek back took longer than Leo would¡¯ve liked. His limbs felt sluggish from the chase, and his stamina was recovering slowly. It was probably a good thing that most people had hidden away during the Echo attack, or he would¡¯ve drawn a lot more attention than necessary.

    While Leo made his way down the winding streets, he took the time to distribute his stat points from leveling up.

    200 points he used to raise his agility up by 2¡ªthe fucker had been fast, and he¡¯d need more agility to keep up the next time they met.

    That, and a petty part of him didn¡¯t like the idea of someone being faster than him. Sure there wasn¡¯t a logical basis for it, and obviously higher level people would have higher agility, but speed had always been his thing. Like hell was he going to let this guy one up him in that department.

    After some thought, Leo used the remaining 100 points to raise [Teleport Object] to level 2. Now that he¡¯d had some time to calm down and his initial fury had died down, he was gaining a new appreciation for how the spell had saved him from that last attack.

    Maybe he¡¯d been looking at it wrong this whole time. He¡¯d exclusively been thinking of ways to use [Teleport Object] offensively with his throwing knives, but if he used it defensively against incoming projectiles, the accuracy issue wouldn¡¯t matter. As long as he was quick enough to activate the spell when the objects entered the spell¡¯s range, it could very well be his best defense against long distance attacks.

    Based on the way the man had disappeared after firing that arrow, he probably didn¡¯t know Leo had survived, and the [Fragmentholder] planned to take full advantage of that fact.

    He turned the next corner, dragging his foot behind him. A little longer and he¡¯d have enough mana to use [Renewal], but until then he¡¯d just have to deal with it.

    Some of the rubble had been cleared out, Leo noted. It looked like all the Echoes had been dealt with, and he could spot a few guards and other volunteers working to try and deal with the damage.

    Leo hunched in on himself in an effort not to draw attention. He did have enough mana for [Fade into Background], but he didn¡¯t think it was worth it. He looked like just another survivor; no one would pay him extra attention as long as he didn¡¯t do anything suspicious.

    Speaking of survivors, Leo passed by several people huddled on the ground cradling fresh wounds. There was a haunted look in their eyes, one he recognized all too well. He swallowed and kept walking.

    The city would never be the same after this. Even after the ward was fixed, any illusion of safety had been thoroughly shattered with the ward stone. This was probably the last time Alnwick would have so many festivities happening at night.

    Soon the auction hall came into view. Some of the worst damage was here, and Leo had to weave around collapsed buildings and upended chunks of the road.

    He spotted the painting where he¡¯d left it, still propped up against the wall, and snorted. It figured that it would survive the attack. Leo moved over to grab it; at least he wouldn¡¯t owe Lenore after this.

    ¡°Leo!¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] turned around just as Allan approached. The [Healer] was holding a bloodied cloth in one hand and had fresh blood stains covering his clothes that hadn¡¯t been there after the fight. There was a noticeable weariness to his shoulders, which Leo guessed was from excess mana use. He must¡¯ve been helping heal the survivors.

    Allan¡¯s pace slowed as he approached, dark eyes scanning him for injuries. ¡°Did you¡­?¡± His voice trailed, but the unspoken question was clear.

    Leo shook his head. ¡°He got away.¡± He didn¡¯t bother hiding the bitterness in his tone and tapped the arrow he¡¯d grabbed. ¡°This is all I got.¡±

    He turned to the street in general, noting the guards clearing away rubble and the tarps covering what must be dead bodies. He frowned. ¡°How¡¯s it been over here?¡±

    Allan pursed his lips. ¡°Not great,¡± he said quietly. ¡°The guards took out the rest of the Echoes, but too many of them made it into the city.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Rebuilding will take a long time.¡±

    Leo swallowed. ¡°How many dead?¡±

    The [Healer] glanced over at him, then back to the street. ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact number, but there were more than 40 in the square alone and even more injured. Some of them might not survive the night.¡±

    Leo¡¯s jaw clenched. Even if logically he knew better, he couldn¡¯t help but feel responsible somehow. If he¡¯d just realized what the man was planning sooner, he could¡¯ve taken care of him or warned someone and the ward would still be intact.

    Allan must¡¯ve sensed his thoughts, because he frowned at the [Fragmentholder].This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°You know it¡¯s not your fault, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Leo let out a huff. ¡°Can¡¯t help feeling guilty about it though.¡±

    Allan hummed. ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing.¡±

    Leo furrowed his brow, but before he could ask what the man meant, a familiar figure stepped closer.

    Spade¡¯s borrowed guard uniform was covered in blood and other odd Echo parts that Leo didn¡¯t want to think about. She still had her sword out, and the blade was just as coated, so much so that barely any of the actual metal was visible.

    That being said, the [Executioner] herself didn¡¯t look particularly injured. On her back, she was casually carrying the bags they¡¯d left in the alleyway before the masquerade, which thankfully looked undamaged. The [Executioner] nodded at them.

    ¡°Looks like you made it back. You ready to go?¡±

    Leo frowned. ¡°We¡¯re just¡­ leaving them?¡± He gestured vaguely at the injured civilians huddled on the streets and the frazzled guards and doctors. Spade shrugged, flipping her sword and sheathing it in one smooth motion.

    ¡°We¡¯ve done all we can here. I heard some of the guards talking. The guard captain and city mayor will be here soon. Unless you want to risk the extra attention, I suggest we leave while we still can.¡± She nodded down the street. ¡°We¡¯ll be able to hide out in the Pearl while we plan our next move.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. He couldn¡¯t really argue with that logic.

    The [Fragmentholder] adjusted his grip on the painting, still silently impressed that it had survived the attack, and gave the ruined street a final look before turning away.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he muttered.

    ¡ª

    About halfway to the Pearl, Leo had to pause and catch his breath. The pain in his leg was getting worse, and there wasn¡¯t a way to hold onto the painting without exacerbating the injury in his hand.

    Allan¡¯s face was a mixture of exasperated and worried as he eyed the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s ankle, which was now slightly swollen. ¡°You really should¡¯ve said something,¡± he said.

    Leo winced. ¡°I figured you wouldn¡¯t have enough mana left?¡±

    The [Healer] snorted and raised a hand.

    [Allan has activated the [Mend] skill]

    By the time the familiar ultramarine glow faded, the sharp pain had softened into a still annoying, but tolerable ache. Allan dropped his arm back down.

    ¡°I saved enough mana for another [Mend].¡± He shot Leo a pointed look. ¡°I figured you¡¯d probably end up needing it.¡±

    Leo snorted. ¡°Yeah, you got me there.¡±

    He stood and readied to begin moving again. When he went to grab the painting, however, Spade leaned forward and picked it up, then continued walking without a word. Leo exchanged a look with Allan, who just shrugged. Shaking his head, the [Fragmentholder] moved to follow.

    The three of them passed by more collapsed buildings, and more than once they had to take a detour just to get around piles of debris. Occasional pieces of stray rubble fell onto the road as they moved. Leo made sure to keep an eye on their surroundings to make sure they didn¡¯t get caught under any buildings on the verge of collapse.

    Soon the Pearl came into view. The building itself seemed to have survived the attack unscathed, though the neighboring shops hadn¡¯t been so lucky. Leo could see the tall chimney of the building across the street was cracked straight across. It looked ready to fall down any minute.

    As they approached, the front door of the Pearl swung open. Leo was surprised to see Lenore stepping outside.

    The woman was wearing the same robe as earlier and smoking from that seemingly ever present pipe of hers. Leo was about to call out, but before he could open his mouth, a loud crack rang throughout the street.

    His head snapped up to the damaged chimney, where the cracks had spread across the brick surface. The entire thing broke in half and fell, tumbling down towards the Pearl.

    Leo yelled in warning, instinctively activating [Sprint], but he only felt a sharp pain in his chest from his insufficient mana reserves.

    Lenore remained in place, watching the incoming bricks with a steady gaze. She removed her pipe and exhaled a ring of smoke.

    [Lenore has activated the [Lacrimosa] skill]

    It was as though a boundary was drawn through the air. On one side the collapsed chimney was a solid mass, hurtling towards the brothel. But as soon as it crossed that invisible line, the object disintegrated into streams of ash.

    The ashes flew into the night sky, carried away by the twisting breeze, while the rest formed a grey pile on the ground in front of Lenore¡¯s feet.

    Only a few pieces of brick made it past the skill¡¯s range, weathered down into chunks so small that they clattered onto the ground like pebbles. Perfectly harmless.

    Lenore took another long puff of her pipe, then turned to face them with a detached, assessing gaze.

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming the wards weren¡¯t your doing?¡±

    Leo realized his jaw had dropped and promptly clicked it shut. That was one hell of a personal skill; no wonder the woman had never bothered to change into a Tier 1 class despite undoubtedly having the money for a crest. She probably had other skills suited to her profession, and her personal skill took care of any defensive needs. If she was only interested in maintaining her current lifestyle, then that was more than enough.

    The [Fragmentholder] quickly shook his head. ¡°No, it was¡ª¡±

    Ringing laughter cut him off before he could continue. Lenore shook her head, still chuckling.

    ¡°Relax, I was joking. I know you wouldn¡¯t do something like this.¡± She pointed her pipe at Spade, eyes sparkling in amusement. ¡°Besides, I like to think I have better taste in bedfellows than that,¡± she drawled.

    The [Executioner] raised an eyebrow, some kind of unspoken conversation passing between them that Leo didn¡¯t think he could even begin to try to decipher.

    Finally, Lenore snorted and took a step back. She pulled open the door and gestured at them.

    ¡°For now, why don¡¯t you three come in before another building collapses?¡± Dark blue eyes swept over their bloodied clothes and the wrapped painting from the auction, finally landing on the arrow still strapped to Leo¡¯s belt.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you have a lot to talk about.¡±

 Chapter 74: Hunters

    Chapter 74: Hunters

    ¡°A nullification ability?¡±

    Allan sounded skeptical, and Leo didn¡¯t blame him. That kind of skill was equal parts rare and coveted¡ªfor good reason. In fact, he was pretty sure the only other person he knew of who had an ability like that was the Sovereign of Zelyra, which spoke volumes.

    He nodded. ¡°It looks like it only works on skills that target him directly, though. I could still use [Sprint].¡± He frowned, thinking back to the encounter.

    ¡°He had some kind of skill that let him teleport too, I think, or it might¡¯ve been an escape ability.¡± The latter was probably more likely; if it was pure teleportation, he would¡¯ve used it during the rest of the chase, but instead it had only appeared when he¡¯d been trapped.

    Leo pulled out the arrow he¡¯d salvaged and held it out for the others to observe.

    After letting them inside, Lenore had led them back to the changing rooms they¡¯d gotten ready for the masquerade in. They hadn¡¯t passed by anyone else on the way; the counter was deserted. According to Lenore, all the workers had hidden away during the attack, and any lingering customers were kicked out earlier.

    ¡°He used a bow and arrow to shoot the ward stone,¡± Leo explained. ¡°It was a distraction. He stole the fragment during the Echo attack.¡± His brows furrowed in contemplation. ¡°What I don¡¯t get is how he knew the Silence would appear tonight in the first place.¡±

    ¡°It might¡¯ve been a lucky coincidence,¡± Allan suggested. ¡°He could¡¯ve planned on shooting the noble, but when the Silence appeared, he used the chance to stay hidden.¡±

    Leo could see that. In the aftermath of the attack, Noah Suchet¡¯s dead body would draw much less attention than if he¡¯d been a singular dead noble exiting the auction.

    The [Fragmentholder] glanced over to Lenore, who was studying the arrow intently.

    ¡°Do you recognize it?¡± he asked hopefully. If anyone would know, it would be the information broker.

    ¡°I might.¡± She straightened and met eyes with Spade, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°You want to explain? If I do, it¡¯ll cost you.¡±

    In response, Spade gestured at the arrow. Leo handed it to her, and she turned it around in her hands, inspecting the jet black feather and finally nodding and passing the arrow back. The [Fragmentholder] watched her warily.

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a name, but there¡¯s a bounty hunter who works in southern Avel with arrows like that.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°If I remember right, his personal skill negates skills and spells that target him directly. Sends some kind of notification if anyone¡¯s got an ability like that.¡±

    That would explain the staring at the masquerade; his personal skill must have picked up on [Judgement] when its passive ability was active.

    Leo frowned, thinking. ¡°Does it tell him what the abilities do?¡±

    The [Executioner] shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, no. It just blocks them.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. That was good, at least. If he was hunting fragments and knew what [Judgement] did, that would¡¯ve probably turned Leo into one of his targets.

    ¡°How do you know this guy anyway?¡± the [Fragmentholder] found himself asking. Allan snorted.

    ¡°She probably used to work with him.¡±

    ¡°Close, but not quite. We did run in the same circles, but he was a loner. Never took a job with anyone else if he could help it.¡± The [Executioner] nodded at the arrow. ¡°That¡¯s the odd part, actually. You said he took the fragment, correct?¡±

    Leo nodded. ¡°Yeah, the whole mirror.¡±

    Spade hummed, leaning back a little in her chair. ¡°From what I heard, he wasn¡¯t the ambitious sort. Would take a job, get paid, and leave. He doesn¡¯t strike me as the fragment hunting type.¡±

    ¡°You never know, fragments¡¯re kind of a special case, right? Most people would be at least a little interested.¡± Leo certainly had been. If someone had the skill to get a fragment and knew where one was, why wouldn¡¯t they go after it?

    ¡°Perhaps. But you did say you saw him run towards the upper district.¡±

    Leo paused, considering the words. He ran through the information in his mind.

    The man was a bounty hunter. The auction had been for the highly affluent, and only a select few knew about the fragment¡¯s existence and what object it was hidden in. His brows furrowed. Allan soon voiced his growing conclusion.

    ¡°You think he was working for someone.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s likely, yes.¡±

    Leo groaned. Great. Just when they were making progress. If the guy really was working for someone, then they¡¯d have to figure out who if they wanted to find out where he¡¯d taken the fragment.

    Leo glanced over at Lenore. ¡°You know who it might be?¡± While he wasn¡¯t eager to be in the woman¡¯s debt again, at this point he¡¯d take a hit to their funds for any information she had.

    To his dismay, Lenore shook her head.

    ¡°I can¡¯t help you there; you¡¯ll have to ask someone else. If it makes you feel better, that bounty hunter¡¯s name is Asher, though apparently he never goes by it. Most just call him ¡°the hunter.¡± Consider it some free bonus intel for the, ah, added hassle tonight.¡±

    Asher. It was good to put a name to the fucker¡¯s face, at least. Small victories.

    Speaking of the auction, Leo reached over to where they¡¯d left the painting propped up against the wall and handed it to Lenore. She didn¡¯t hesitate to rip off the wrapping, revealing the painting still perfectly pristine on the other side.

    ¡°Ah yes, this is exactly it.¡± She sounded pleased. ¡°Though the frame is too gaudy for the piece. I¡¯ll need to get it changed before I hang it up,¡± she added, clicking her tongue. Leo shuddered at the idea of having that thing on the wall. He must not have hid his disgust well, because Lenore raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°I see you don¡¯t appreciate true art,¡± she said. ¡°All the South cares about these days are pretty landscapes, and don¡¯t get me started on the Empire painters and their portrait obsession.¡±

    She tapped lightly against the painting. ¡°This? This is raw, undistilled emotion. Makes you feel alive, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Leo frowned, hazel eyes shifting between the painting and Lenore. It certainly elicited emotions, that was for sure, just not particularly pleasant ones.

    ¡°I guess,¡± he said slowly. The woman snorted and shook her head. Tucking the painting securely under her arm, she rose from her seat.

    ¡°Well, considering how late it is, I don¡¯t mind letting the three of you stay the night. You look like you¡¯re about to keel over.¡±

    Leo opened his mouth to argue. The more time they wasted, the harder it would be to find the fragment in the end. The earlier they hunted it down, the better.

    The dull ache in his leg and the pain in his hand, however, were a stark reminder of reality. He¡¯d barely recovered some mana and his stamina was still dangerously low. A quick glance at the party stat sheets showed him Allan and Spade weren¡¯t much better off.

    The streets would be crowded with officials investigating the attack, and they had no leads. Running aimlessly in the night would do nothing but tire them out. Better to rest, then look at the situation again with fresh eyes in the morning.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    That, and a part of him was curious if Sol would appear tonight. They¡¯d seemed to come to an agreement during their last meeting, as vague as it was, and he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the man would know something about Asher or the fragment. It was certainly worth a shot.

    Slowly, Leo nodded. Allan¡¯s eyebrows rose, appearing genuinely surprised that the [Fragmentholder] had agreed to rest for the night. Leo winced internally. Maybe he had a bigger problem with not knowing when to rest than he thought.

    Lenore gestured at the room around them, still cluttered with clothing racks and other assorted knick-knacks.

    ¡°There¡¯s some blankets and pillows in the corner, help yourselves. I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re not stupid enough to try stealing anything.¡±

    Leo scowled at the pointed remark. The woman grinned, giving them a final casual wave before exiting the room and shutting the door behind her.

    It didn¡¯t take long to find the blankets in question. They were worn, some barely more than a few scraggly threads loosely connected together, but Leo had dealt with far worse. Combined with the crates and discarded furniture crowding the room, it almost reminded him of Sindrey when he and Allan would sleep in random abandoned areas back before they¡¯d finally settled on the one ¡°house.¡±

    Leo closed his eyes, allowing his breaths to steady. It was easier than he expected to fall asleep despite his mind still reeling with the events of the day and plans for tomorrow. Exhaustion didn¡¯t wait for anyone, it seemed.

    Sure enough, he soon felt the familiar pull of sleep taking hold.

    [??? has activated the [Dreamscape] spell]

    ¡ª

    The first thing he heard was the sound of crashing waves. When Leo opened his eyes, he was met with the same lush garden and clear waters that he¡¯d seen during his last encounter with Sol.

    He snorted. The ??? in the [Dreamscape] notification confirmed that Sol wasn¡¯t his actual name, but he¡¯d already known that.

    Leo turned and made his way towards the distant white gazebo. The sun was bright and the sky perfectly clear again. He wondered if this place was always like this, blessed with perfect weather, or if Sol was just reusing one particular memory.

    The marble columns of the gazebo soon came into view. Seated at the circular table was Sol, looking exactly the same as he did during their last meeting.

    Leo realized belatedly that his own clothes were still bloodstained and torn. Maybe because he now knew how the spell worked, he was unconsciously projecting a more true-to-life version of himself compared to the first time it had happened. He¡¯d have to test it next time, see if he could alter his appearance in the dream.

    Sol looked up from the book he was reading as Leo approached¡ªhow did books even work in a dream like this anyway?¡ªopening his mouth in greeting. He paused halfway, however, brows furrowing in concern as he took in the former [Thief]¡¯s appearance.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    Leo snorted and plopped unceremoniously down on the opposite chair. ¡°Rough night,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that.¡±

    Leo squinted at the man. He looked genuinely sympathetic, but he could also look however he wanted in the dream.

    He sat back, thinking. They¡¯d made a tentative agreement for information in exchange for observation or whatever Sol was calling it last time, but he wasn¡¯t sure how much that would hold if he tried asking about the fragment in Alnwick. That, and Leo wasn¡¯t too keen on giving away possible location details.

    He decided to ask something safe first, something that wasn¡¯t directly related to Alnwick or Asher, to see if and how Sol would respond.

    ¡°Hey, you know a lot about fragments, right?¡±

    ¡°As much as I believe is currently possible, yes.¡±

    Leo hummed, choosing his next words carefully. ¡°We¡ªI, uh, passed by this village. The whole place was trashed by fragment hunters.¡± His fingers clenched at the memory. He could easily remember the smell of decay.

    ¡°The villagers¡¯ chests were ripped open. Like they were looking inside the bodies. Can you really dig a fragment out of someone like that? I mean is that the only way if they¡¯ve already absorbed it?¡±

    It was a question that had been nagging at him for a while now, ever since fighting Sonia on the Glass Lake. So far they hadn¡¯t run into any other [Fragmentholder], except Sol of course, but it was likely that whoever Asher was working for would already have absorbed the fragment by the time they found them. They needed to know how to deal with that.

    Sol was quiet for a moment. Finally, he shook his head.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s possible to remove the fragment by focusing.¡± He raised his hand and demonstrated closing his fingers into a fist. ¡°Simply hold out the hand you used to absorb the fragment initially and imagine it materializing in your palm. Once it reappears, it will remove the [Fragmentholder] class and any other abilities gained as a result of it.¡±

    Leo frowned. Was it really so easy?

    Sol chuckled. ¡°I can see you don¡¯t believe me. You¡¯re free to try it yourself when you wake up. Provided it¡¯s the same fragment, reabsorbing it will restore your abilities, so there¡¯s no need to worry about losing your progress.¡±

    Leo could see that becoming an issue if someone let a fragment go but managed to get it back. His mind churned as he processed the information.

    On one hand, it was a relief that there was a way to remove fragments harmlessly, but this method would require the [Fragmentholder] to willingly give it up. If they refused to remove their fragment, then¡­

    ¡°¡­Does the other way also work?¡±

    ¡°It does.¡± Sol¡¯s voice remained calm and matter of fact. He pointed to his chest. ¡°Once absorbed, the fragment typically rests near the bottom of the sternum, though it¡¯s embedded quite deep into the chest cavity.¡±

    Leo swallowed, watching the man warily. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve got first hand experience.¡±

    The other [Fragmentholder] didn¡¯t respond, simply leveling Leo with a steady gaze. The lack of a denial spoke volumes, and Leo found himself speaking again before he could think better of it.

    ¡°You know, with all your talk of peace and avoiding bloodshed and all that, I would¡¯ve thought you¡¯d practice what you preach.¡± It came out sounding more bitter than he¡¯d intended.

    ¡°You misunderstand.¡±

    Sol¡¯s voice remained smooth and calm, but something about it sent a chill up Leo¡¯s spine.

    ¡°It¡¯s true that I would prefer to avoid needless bloodshed, and I will take every measure I can to prevent it. But that does not mean I will not resort to harsher methods if there is no other choice.¡±

    Leo swallowed, throat suddenly dry. He carefully nodded his head. It was suddenly abundantly clear to him that the man across the table was far more powerful than him, was basically confirmed to have a core fragment, and had already proven himself capable of ridiculous long range magic.

    Leo cursed his impulsive mouth, shoulders tensing as he gauged the man¡¯s reaction and readied himself to drain his mana and escape if necessary.

    A few moments passed, only the gentle breeze and distant waves providing any noise to break up the silence. Finally, Sol sat back and Leo released the breath he¡¯d been holding.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of this method either,¡± the man said in a softer voice. He smiled. ¡°I¡¯m glad you seem to feel the same way.¡±

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s kind of a normal reaction,¡± Leo mumbled. The idea of ripping someone¡¯s chest open wouldn¡¯t even cross most people¡¯s minds, that¡¯s how gruesome it was. Sol shook his head.

    ¡°You¡¯d be surprised.¡± His eyes shifted to the side, watching the clear waves push and pull on the horizon.

    ¡°Most of the [Fragmentholders] I¡¯ve contacted have been far more keen on violence. Power seems to attract certain types of people.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Actually, of the [Fragmentholders] I was able to get a hold of a second time, you¡¯re one of the only ones I¡¯ve managed to have a civil conversation with.¡±

    Leo stared at the man. If their first encounter had been ¡°civil,¡± he¡¯d hate to see what the others had been like.

    Sol continued gazing calmly out into the illusory ocean, eyes filled with distant memories. Leo suddenly found himself wondering if the man was lonely. He shook the thought away. That was ridiculous, he told himself. He barely even knew the guy.

    Sol turned back to Leo as the next breeze whistled past. ¡°Was there anything else you wanted to ask me?¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] straightened. This was it. If Sol didn¡¯t know about the fragment directly, he might know a spell or some other way to locate it. The question was how much to reveal.

    He decided to play it safe, keeping specific locations and names vague and only describing what had happened in rough terms. If Sol knew about the fragment, he¡¯d be able to identify it based on the context clues.

    When Leo finished, however, the man shook his head.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have no idea who that could be. There¡¯s currently too many [Fragmentholders], and admittedly I don¡¯t pay as much attention to those who only possess minor fragments.¡±

    Leo¡¯s shoulders slumped a little. ¡°Yeah, that makes sense.¡±

    ¡°If I had that arrow you described, I could use a tracking spell on it, but I¡¯m afraid such a thing is impossible at a distance. It would require the object¡¯s memories, and a dream recreation would not contain them.¡±

    Leo nodded, about to thank him anyway for the effort, when something in Sol¡¯s words made him pause.

    Object¡¯s memories. Why did that remind him of something?

    His brows furrowed. Quickly, Leo ran through the events since arriving at Alnwick in his head, combing through them, searching until he found what he was looking for.

    His heart beat faster. It was a stretch, and he was probably wrong, but it was better than nothing.

    Leo shot up, his chair falling behind him. ¡°I have to go,¡± he blurted out. Sol looked up at him with faint amusement.

    ¡°I assume you have an idea?¡±

    Leo nodded. ¡°Yeah, something like that. Thanks for the help.¡± He paused, glancing around at the tranquil garden surrounding them. ¡°Uh, could you release this spell?¡± He¡¯d rather not drain all his mana again.

    Sol glanced up at the sky, humming to himself. ¡°It seems it¡¯s already daybreak. Yes, that would be prudent.¡± He waved a hand, palm glowing a soft, warm yellow. In the distance, the flowers at the edge of the garden suddenly dissipated, scattering away into glowing lights. The next row followed, then the row after that, the wave of lights steadily approaching the gazebo as the [Dreamscape] faded.

    ¡°Good luck, Leo,¡± Sol said when the columns of the gazebo began to scatter away. ¡°I hope you¡¯re successful in your search.¡±

    Leo¡¯s fingers clenched into a fist, and he nodded.

    ¡°I hope so too.¡±

 Chapter 75: Memento

    Chapter 75: Memento

    Leo¡¯s eyes snapped open. He shot up, forgetting that he¡¯d been sleeping under the desk and promptly hitting his head against it with a loud bang. He cursed and grabbed his skull¡ªthere would probably be a bruise there later¡ªbut he kept moving, sliding out and rising to his feet.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Allan asked from where he was seated at one of the tables. It looked like he¡¯d been awake for a while; his axe was laid out on a worn cloth, and he seemed to be trying to get some of the Echo gunk off the blade. The [Healer]¡¯s expression was a mixture of amused and concerned.

    Leo waved the worry off. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just, uh, forgot I was under the desk.¡± He glanced around, noting that they were the only ones in the room. ¡°Where¡¯s Spade?¡±

    Allan snorted. ¡°Probably with Lenore.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± He probably should¡¯ve expected that. The [Fragmentholder] promptly switched topic to the more pressing issue. ¡°Have you seen Kai anywhere?¡±

    Allan paused, glancing up from his axe. ¡°Kai? The receptionist?¡± His brows furrowed in thought. ¡°I think he might be in the lounge. It looks like the Pearl¡¯s closed today for cleanup, so he¡¯s probably helping out. Why?¡± He sounded curious.

    Leo¡¯s hand moved over to the arrow, still securely tucked in his belt. ¡°I got an idea,¡± he said. ¡°I might be wrong, but I figured it wouldn¡¯t hurt to check.¡±

    Allan nodded slowly, though he still looked a bit confused. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go then.¡±

    The [Healer] rose from his seat, pushing the axe aside and making for the door. Leo hurried behind, both of them exiting the room and shutting the door behind them.

    The hallway was fairly quiet, though Leo could hear the distant sounds of footsteps and objects being moved around the building. Someone was on the roof fixing the shingles, and up ahead, a voice he recognized as Kai¡¯s whistled cheerily.

    It didn¡¯t take long to reach the main room. The front door was closed shut and some couches had been moved, but other than a few piles of dirt scattered about the floor, the reception area looked the same as it had the first day they¡¯d visited.

    Kai stood a little ways away from the counter, broom in hand as swept the floor. He looked up when Allan and Leo entered, shooting them a friendly grin.

    ¡°Morning! How¡¯d you guys sleep?¡±

    ¡°Very well, thank you,¡± Allan said, polite as ever. Kai nodded enthusiastically. He seemed awfully chipper considering the Echo attack that had happened last night, but then Leo supposed it was probably the most exciting thing that had happened to the [Receptionist] in a while. A break from the daily monotony.

    He stepped forward, scanning the space again to make sure they were alone, then cleared his throat. ¡°Hey, can I ask you something?¡±

    ¡°Yeah sure, what¡¯s up?¡±

    Leo winced a little as he tried to think of a good way to go about this. He quickly realized there wasn¡¯t one, so he opted for being blunt. Might as well get this over with.

    ¡°I know this is gonna sound really weird and probably kind of creepy, but your personal skill is called [Memento], right?¡±

    A beat passed. Kai blinked, staring at him as the words processed. The [Fragmentholder] could practically hear the moment they clicked. The man¡¯s shoulders immediately tensed.

    ¡°How the fuck do you know that?¡±

    His voice was low, dangerous. That wasn¡¯t a surprise¡ªpersonal skills were, well, personal. They had important memories and events tied to their origins, and their uniqueness made them a powerful tool. Anyone would get defensive if someone randomly knew their personal skill without being told. Leo raised his hands appeasingly.

    ¡°It¡¯s my personal skill, it lets me see other people¡¯s personal skill name,¡± he quickly explained. Ideally he would keep knowledge of [Judgement]¡¯s ability from as many people as possible, but if he didn¡¯t tell Kai how he knew about his skill, there was no way the man would trust him enough to tell him what he needed to know.

    Leo could feel Allan¡¯s gaze on him as he spoke to the [Receptionist]. He turned, sending Allan an apologetic look.

    ¡°Sorry, could you leave us alone for a bit?¡± He needed to know what Kai¡¯s personal skill did to see if his theory was right, and the man was more likely to reveal it if there was less people in the room.

    Allan nodded slowly, expression unreadable. It was a little unnerving to see the [Healer]¡¯s face so flat. He turned and exited the space, leaving Leo and Kai alone in the reception area. The [Fragmentholder] faced Kai again, who looked a mixture of confused, pissed off, and slightly freaked out.

    The second Allan was out of earshot, Kai hissed, ¡°You can see people¡¯s personal skills? You can¡¯t just go around telling people that shit!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I wanted you to know,¡± Leo countered. ¡°If I didn¡¯t have to tell you I wouldn¡¯t.¡±

    Kai frowned. He still looked suspicious, but a little less like he was considering punching the former [Thief], which was good. Progress.

    ¡°So why?¡±

    In response, Leo pulled out the arrow, holding it up for the man to see. The morning light streaming through the windows made the jet black feather stand out even more. It had no shine to it, Leo noted, but was completely matte.

    ¡°You know what happened at the auction?¡±

    Kai frowned. ¡°Sort of. Lenore told us someone shot the ward stone. Crazy fucker,¡± he added under his breath, and Leo wholeheartedly agreed with the assessment. He nodded.

    ¡°Yeah, I saw the guy just before he did it. This is one of his arrows.¡± Leo set it down on the counter. ¡°We¡¯re trying to hunt him down, but none of us can figure out where he went or who he¡¯s working for.¡±

    He took a deep breath. This was it. ¡°I was thinking, your personal skill¡¯s called [Memento], right? What¡¯s it do?¡±

    Understanding dawned on Kai¡¯s face. ¡°You think I can trace the arrow back to the guy.¡± He barked out a disbelieving laugh and shook his head. ¡°Off of just the name. How¡¯d you even come up with that? You memorize everyone¡¯s personal skill or something?¡±

    ¡°It was a hunch.¡± If Sol hadn¡¯t mentioned the ¡°object¡¯s memories¡± last night, he probably wouldn¡¯t have remembered the brief glimpse of Kai¡¯s stat sheet that he¡¯d gotten earlier.

    Once he had, though, he¡¯d started to think harder on the previous night, especially how Lenore had said that she, specifically, wouldn¡¯t be able to track who Asher was working for. She hadn¡¯t mentioned anyone else in the Pearl. It was a long shot, but from what he knew of her so far, he wouldn¡¯t put it past the woman to be so deliberately particular in her wording.

    Kai propped the broom up against the wall and stepped over, picking up the arrow. Leo couldn¡¯t help the bit of hope that rose as the man turned it around in his hands, inspecting the object. Personal skill names didn¡¯t always correlate to their abilities, but he hoped it did this time.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    After what felt like hours, Kai looked back up. He seemed to be debating something with himself, but finally, he nodded.

    ¡°Yeah, I could probably figure out where it came from. But,¡± he added, ¡°just so you know, for most things I only get quick little memory flashes. If the object¡¯s got a lot of sentimental value, I can see more, but for an arrow the most I¡¯ll probably get are some hints of its past locations. If I don¡¯t recognize the place, I can¡¯t really tell you where it is. Just a general description.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s more than enough,¡± Leo said sincerely. As long as they had something to go on, any landmark or unique decoration, he would check every noble¡¯s house for a match himself if it came down to it.

    Kai nodded and stared down at the arrow again. He squinted, focusing on it, and Leo felt the air shift slightly.

    [Kai has activated the [Memento] skill]

    It didn¡¯t look like anything was happening at first. Kai simply stood there, still as a statue, staring down at the arrow.

    A minute passed, then another. The man still didn¡¯t move. Leo was debating calling out to see if he was okay when the [Receptionist] suddenly lurched forward and gasped.

    Leo jumped, but quickly recovered from his surprise and hurried over. ¡°Are you okay? Did you see something?¡±

    Kai groaned and rubbed his head. Slowly, he straightened again and threw the arrow back onto the counter with a look of disdain.

    ¡°Well, good for you, I know who the guy¡¯s working for. That thing¡¯s got a fuck ton of memories on it; the guy must travel a bunch. But the recent ones¡¯re definitely from Alnwick.¡±

    Kai moved over to the counter, yanking open a drawer and pulling out a scrap piece of paper and a pen. He scribbled something down before standing back and handing the paper to Leo.

    The [Fragmentholder] took it and squinted down at the drawing. In the center of the page, Kai had sketched what looked like an emblem. Curving lines twisted together to form the rough shape of a single bird wing bent into a V-shape, the feathers long and jagged. It definitely looked like a noble house¡¯s crest, though the design wasn¡¯t one he personally recognized.

    ¡°House Gillis,¡± Kai said. He shook his head. ¡°If you¡¯re going after them, you¡¯re gonna have your work cut out for you.¡±

    The name sounded familiar. Leo wracked his memories, remembering the day they¡¯d stepped through the city gates into Alnwick. He could¡¯ve sworn one of the guards had mentioned that name.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one they hired for the Gillis case, right?¡±

    ¡°Hold on, isn¡¯t that the guy Spade executed?¡± Leo said in realization.

    ¡°Sure is.¡± A hint of disgust crossed Kai¡¯s features, and the man shuddered. ¡°Marcus Gillis. Nasty case. You know how fucked up you gotta be to get executed as a noble?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I think damn near the whole city celebrated when he was finally put down. Good riddance.¡±

    Leo stared at the crest drawing warily. ¡°Who took over after him?¡±

    Kai scrunched his brows, thinking. ¡°It was his younger brother. I think his name was Darius? Haven¡¯t heard much about the guy; he¡¯s pretty quiet as far as nobles go. Mostly just tries to stay out of the news after what happened with Marcus.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I thought he might be trying to turn his family name around, but I guess the shitiness runs in the blood.¡±

    The pieces were beginning to fall into place. Leo carefully folded the paper up and stuffed it into his bag, grabbing the arrow as well for good measure. He needed to talk to Spade¡ªshe might know more about Darius Gillis, and Leo wanted to make sure they were as prepared as possible going in.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Leo said, heartbeat racing with renewed excitement. They were finally getting somewhere; the fragment wasn¡¯t completely lost. ¡°Seriously, you really helped us out. Can I pay you or something?¡± A hand was already moving to his coin bag, but Kai waved him off.

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s nothing. Unless you can get me a date with your hot friend, but I¡¯m guessing not.¡±

    Leo snorted. ¡°Allan? Sorry dude, you¡¯re out of luck.¡± Back in Sindrey¡¯s slums, he¡¯d personally witnessed the former [Rickshaw Puller] turn down every single person who¡¯d approached him. And there had been a lot.

    ¡°Yeah, I figured.¡± Kai sighed dramatically. ¡°Oh well. Seriously though, don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m just glad my skill was useful.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a cool personal skill,¡± Leo said, and he meant it too. ¡°You could get a lot done with it.¡± Especially considering the Pearl¡¯s ties to the black market and Lenore¡¯s job as an informant.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true.¡± Kai leaned back against the counter and stared out the windows. By now the sun had fully risen, and the warm daylight made the glass seem to glow. ¡°You know, it¡¯s kind of funny, but I used to really hate my personal skill.¡±

    Leo raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yep.¡± Kai pronounced the ¡®p¡¯ with a pop. He gestured vaguely at the streets through the window. ¡°I was abandoned as a kid, never knew who my parents were or where I came from. I only had an old earring to go off.¡±

    He sighed. ¡°Pretty standard slum rat background, I know, but I was really obsessed with knowing who my parents were. Built up this whole story in my head about them. I thought for sure if I just found them, they¡¯d welcome me back and we¡¯d be a family again.¡±

    The man¡¯s gaze shifted down to the floor. He laughed bitterly. ¡°I guess I was so obsessed the System decided to give me a personal skill for it. Long story short, it turns out I didn¡¯t actually like the answer, but what can you do.¡± He shrugged. ¡°I was so pissed off I didn¡¯t use my personal skill for a bit after that. I thought the System was mocking me or something. I ended up getting over it though, and now I¡¯m here.¡±

    Leo nodded. It was a familiar story, and an experience many could likely relate to. Personal skills were formed from significant events and moments in a person¡¯s life, but because they were unlocked after the fact, it often felt like they¡¯d come too late to matter. Never there when they were needed the most.

    ¡°Yeah, I get that,¡± he said quietly.

    Kai was silent for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. After a while, he shifted. ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer if you don¡¯t want to,¡± he began, ¡°but how¡¯d you end up with a personal skill like yours? I mean, I¡¯ve never heard of that sort of thing as a personal.¡±

    Leo could hear the curiosity in the man¡¯s voice, and he didn''t begrudge him for it. Identification skills were rare as is and usually tied to specific class abilities, not personal skills.

    Memories rose unbidden in his mind, flashes of cold stone walls, the clattering of chains as he yanked against them, the distant sound of screams. Hissing fire and red hair billowing in the wind. A cold body lying limp on the ground.

    It took a single day for him to lose the only family he¡¯d had in the world, and it had been his own fault. If he closed his eyes, he could still remember his brother¡¯s face.

    Leo shook the memories away and pursed his lips.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say,¡± he began, ¡°I had some bad judgement.¡±

    ¡ª

    Allan was waiting in the hall when Leo returned from the lounge. The [Healer] stood with his back against the wall, arms crossed and more visibly tense than Leo had seen him in a long time. He turned to face him as the [Fragmentholder] approached.

    ¡°Did everything go okay?¡±

    Leo nodded. ¡°Yeah, I know who Asher¡¯s working for. Darius Gillis. Turns out Spade executed the last head of the house.¡±

    Allan hummed, but his expression was still oddly flat. There was none of the usual warmth. Leo shifted his weight uncomfortably.

    ¡°Listen, about my personal skill,¡± he began, but the [Healer] cut him off.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I probably should¡¯ve realized what it did a long time ago. I¡¯m not mad at you for not telling me.¡±

    Leo¡¯s shoulders relaxed slightly, though the tension didn¡¯t fully dissipate, and he nodded. A few beats of silence passed before Allan spoke again.

    ¡°¡­Can [Judgement] see what skills do?¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] blinked, surprised at the question. He shook his head. ¡°Nah, just their names. Maybe it¡¯ll be able to at a higher level.¡±

    The moment he was done speaking, it was like a weight had been lifted from Allan¡¯s shoulders. The lingering stiffness vanished, and his expression returned to his usual amicable smile as if nothing had happened. The shift in demeanor was so jarring that it took Leo a second to process it.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Allan said. ¡°I just wanted to check.¡± He pushed away from the wall and gestured down the hall. ¡°Spade got back a few minutes ago. You probably want to ask her about the Gillis case, right?¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. Taking that as an answer, the [Healer] turned and began making his way down the hall.

    Leo remained in place a little longer, hazel eyes staring at the man¡¯s retreating back. Questions, old and new, rose to the surface of his mind, but he pushed them down. Another time, he told himself. First they needed to get the fragment.

    Shaking his head, he stepped down the hall.

 Chapter 76: The Gillis Brothers

    Chapter 76: The Gillis Brothers

    When Leo entered the room again, Spade was seated at the long table eating. Someone had laid out a plate of grapes, cheese, and loaves of bread. Leo raised an eyebrow. He hadn¡¯t thought Lenore would give them free food, but then again she had given them that note for the Blue Cup. He shook his head. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever understand the woman¡¯s odd mix of extreme pragmatism and odd generosity in other ways.

    Allan took a seat a few chairs away from the [Executioner], who glanced up at them as the door swung shut. Her hair was loose, Leo realized. Spade¡¯s usual ponytail was low to the neck, so he hadn¡¯t noticed the difference at first.

    ¡°You two figure something out?¡± she asked.

    Leo slid out a chair and sat down across the table. He immediately jumped to the topic at hand.

    ¡°You executed Marcus Gillis, right?¡±

    Spade raised an eyebrow. ¡°I did,¡± she confirmed. ¡°You think the Gillis family hired the Hunter?¡±

    Leo quickly summarized his conversation with Kai, explaining how the man¡¯s personal skill worked and the images he¡¯d seen attached to Asher¡¯s arrow. The whole time, the [Executioner] listened without comment.

    As he spoke, it occurred to Leo that Spade probably already knew what [Judgement] did. He¡¯d been vague when they¡¯d bargained in that prison cell, but after she joined the party and was able to see the rest of his stat sheet, it would¡¯ve been easy to guess that his personal skill was the one that let him see fragments. That meant she¡¯d have known about [Judgement] before Allan did.

    Hazel eyes flickered over to the man in question. The [Healer] looked relaxed¡ªno trace of the earlier tension anywhere to be found. Still, Leo remembered the odd flatness in the man¡¯s face. An unexpected wave of guilt rose, but he quickly shoved it down. Later, he told himself. Right now they had to get the fragment. Leo turned back to Spade.

    ¡°¡­so we think his younger brother¡¯s probably the one who hired Asher,¡± he finished.

    The [Executioner] hummed thoughtfully. ¡°The brother¡¯s name is Darius, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it is.¡± Leo¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d remember something like that.¡±

    ¡°I had a long chat with Marcus before his execution. Rather fascinating man. It was one of my most memorable conversations.¡±

    Leo cringed. Right. He¡¯d forgotten about the [Executioner]¡¯s weird habit of talking to all her victims before their executions. In his case it had ended up working out in his favor, but he still didn¡¯t get the logic behind it. To him, it seemed pointless to learn someone¡¯s life story when they were going to be dead in an hour, especially if you were the one executing them. It would be much easier to keep them as nameless faces to be cut down on the job.

    ¡°What¡¯d he say?¡± Allan asked. The [Healer] looked curious.

    ¡°Not much that would be useful for us, I¡¯m afraid.¡± Spade cocked her head. ¡°He had a rather interesting worldview and quite the ego. As far as I can tell, he did seem to care about his brother. Frankly that might¡¯ve been the only thing he cared about. As for Darius himself, I don¡¯t know much. Marcus described him as reserved, if a bit paranoid, and soft-hearted.¡±

    Allan raised an eyebrow at the last part, and Leo snorted.

    ¡°Sounds like that didn¡¯t last.¡± Either the noble had snapped after his brother¡¯s death, or he¡¯d just been better at hiding his apparent total lack of empathy until the fragment hunt brought it out in full force. Leo doubted Asher would¡¯ve broken the ward stone unless he knew he had the noble¡¯s approval.

    ¡°What did Marcus get executed for, anyway?¡± Leo found himself asking. Kai had never stated exactly what his crime was, though the implications alone had already been disturbing.

    Spade hummed and reached over to the plates of food, plucking a piece of cheese and popping it in her mouth before answering.

    ¡°He had a penchant for serial murder. It was quite a big deal back in the day, especially once he began targeting nobles as well.¡± She pointed to her chest. ¡°His signature was to cut open his victims¡¯ chests and remove one of their rib bones, if I remember right.¡±

    Leo blanched as he digested the information. He was glad he hadn¡¯t touched any of the food. Yeah, that would be enough to get an aristocrat executed, especially if they were targeting other nobles. If it was just people from the slums, he probably would¡¯ve gotten away with it.

    Allan raised an eyebrow. ¡°He cut open their chests? That¡¯s kind of ironic.¡±

    ¡°Disturbing, more like,¡± Leo muttered. Images of the wrecked bedroom and the couple lying on the bed, chests torn open, flashed in his mind.

    Marcus Gillis had killed for his own pleasure years before the Administrator class crest had shattered, but it did feel like an eerie prelude for what was to come¡ªespecially now that his younger brother was participating in the fragment hunt. He was no System-fate believer, but if he was, then this would be something he looked to as evidence.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Leo shook his head and changed subjects. Deranged killer or not, Marcus Gillis was already dead. It was his younger brother that they now had to worry about.

    ¡°Okay, so Asher probably went to the Gillis manor. We¡¯re gonna have to break in to get the fragment.¡± He frowned, glancing over at Spade. ¡°They do have a manor, right? You know where it is?¡±

    She nodded. ¡°It¡¯s at the edge of Alnwick, quite isolated. The Gillises were known for being reclusive.¡±

    The reason for the reclusiveness probably had to do with the former head being a psycho killer, but this was good. The further away from the more populated parts of the city the manor was, the easier it would be for them to get in and out without being seen. Leo hummed, resting his head on his hand as he thought.

    ¡°We¡¯ll need to figure out what the layout of the place is, see if there¡¯s any way in. And we¡¯ll probably have to split up once we¡¯re inside to cover more ground.¡± He frowned. ¡°If we could get the floor plans, that¡¯d help a ton. You know who¡¯d have those?¡±

    ¡°The architect, I assume,¡± Spade said. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you planning on stealing the floor plans?¡±

    Across the table, Leo and Allan exchanged glances.

    ¡ª

    ¡°¡ªI must say, it¡¯s been quite some time since I¡¯ve had a client who appreciates my chimney designs!¡±

    ¡°I find them exceptionally creative, truly marvelous work!¡±

    Leo tuned out the chatter of the architect and Allan as they continued to talk in the main room. The single wall and door separating them was quite thin, which made it easier to keep track of the architect¡¯s location, but it also meant he had to be extra careful to avoid being discovered.

    Leo peered around the office. It was decently large, but the amount of clutter made it seem smaller. He carefully crept around the stray boxes scattered about, moving over to the heavy desk sitting in the center of the room. Slowly, he slid open the bottom drawer. The inside was stuffed with different files and folders. Apparently organization wasn¡¯t the man¡¯s strong suit, because the floor plans weren¡¯t organized at all. Leo mentally cursed and quickly began flipping through them.

    After a bit of asking around (namely, asking Kai who seemed much happier to divulge information for free than Lenore), it turned out almost all the manors in Alnwick had been designed by one architect, and he had an office located on the city¡¯s main street. The moment they had an address, they¡¯d headed out.

    Through the wall, Leo could hear Allan continuing to talk with the architect, now discussing something about different types of wood and their pros and cons for engraved furniture. Leo was once again impressed at the [Healer]¡¯s ability to bullshit. The architect seemed to be falling for it, so he kept searching, shutting the bottom drawer and moving on to the top one.

    ¡°Come on,¡± he muttered. Laughter sounded from the main room, but he was too focused on the files to catch what was so funny about furniture.

    There. Leo¡¯s fingers stopped at a familiar crest. He quickly pulled the folder out and flipped it open. Sure enough, the front page had the Gillis family crest stamped on it, the same one Kai had drawn earlier. Leo¡¯s eyes scanned the other papers inside. There were a few notes and records, some letters and copies of invoices, but at the very back, there they were. The floor plans.

    Leo shut the drawer and carefully tucked the folder under his arm. He crept over to the office door, where through the crack, he could see Allan and the architect still conversing on the other side. He activated [Visual Illusion], projecting a quick message to Allan, then turned and made his way over to the window in the back of the room.

    It took more time than he¡¯d like to get it open without making a sound, but once it was high enough, Leo squeezed through, folder in tow, and leapt down into the back alley. He shut the window behind him. He couldn¡¯t lock it again from the outside, but hopefully the architect would just think he¡¯d left it open and forgotten to close it. Leo hadn¡¯t left any traces in the office, and he doubted the man would notice a single missing folder¡ªespecially not in such a cluttered office.

    ¡°That was quick.¡±

    Leo jumped and spun around, cursing when he saw who it was. He shot a scowl at Spade, who stood leaning against the alleyway wall, arms crossed casually and an eyebrow raised. She nodded at the folder, then at the building, where Allan was still inside and probably wrapping up his conversation.

    ¡°You two seem very familiar with this,¡± she remarked.

    The former [Thief] snorted. ¡°You have no idea.¡± After he¡¯d first arrived in Sindrey and met Allan, they hadn¡¯t had a lot of options. Eventually they¡¯d stopped the thefts¡ªAllan started working as a [Rickshaw Puller] while Leo took on odd jobs in an attempt to get rid of the [Thief] class¡ªbut at this point they¡¯d done enough coordinated thievery that they barely needed to plan it out first. It was all too easy to slip into their old roles.

    ¡°I feel rather useless waiting here,¡° the [Executioner] continued, but she looked amused. Leo rolled his eyes. The one thing they had discussed was that Spade would wait for them outside. A heavily scarred six-foot tall executioner drew exactly the wrong type of attention for their usual strategy to work.

    Leo heard the sound of a door closing, and he turned to see Allan exiting the building. He took that as his cue to leave the alleyway, Spade following behind him.

    ¡°You found them?¡± Allan asked quietly once they¡¯d regrouped. Their voices were easily lost in the chatter of the surrounding passersby.

    It was the busiest time of day, the sun beaming high above them, and the street was flooded with people. Leo heard several residents discussing the Echo attack, which hadn¡¯t reached this particular part of the city. It was almost odd to see so many people around after last night. Life went on, he supposed.

    Leo nodded and pulled his cloak closer, double checking that the folder was still in place. ¡°Yeah, I got them. Let¡¯s head back.¡±

    They had a lot of planning to do.

 Chapter 77: Before the Storm I

    Chapter 77: Before the Storm I

    Leo pulled out the floorplans and spread them across the table. There was a separate page for each section of the manor in addition to an overall map. He tossed the folder next to the plates of food they¡¯d shoved to the side when they got back, eyes never leaving the papers.

    As he¡¯d suspected, the Gillis manor was a massive, sprawling structure. Spade hadn¡¯t lied about it being isolated, either, as it was surrounded by a large garden and a small ¡°forest¡± planted in its backyard. A single winding road ran up to the front gates, and based on the overview, it was located quite close to Alnwick¡¯s western gate.

    Leo tapped the page showing the outside of the manor. A line had been drawn to represent the enclosing fence, and atop said fence, four circles had been crudely sketched in each of the cardinal directions. Leo squinted down at the note written beside the circles.

    ¡°Ward stone,¡± he read aloud. It wasn¡¯t unheard of for some noble families to use ward stones to protect their property. They essentially functioned as smaller scale versions of the wards that protected cities from Echoes. Thanks to Asher, though, they already knew how to get through a ward.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna need to break one of the stones,¡± Leo said. ¡°Probably this one.¡± He tapped the one situated at the back of the manor, which faced the forest. ¡°We can use the trees to stay hidden.¡±

    ¡°Will they know the ward¡¯s broken?¡± Allan asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Leo frowned, thinking. ¡°Back when Asher shot the stone, the barrier flickered a few times before it went out, but that was it.¡±

    ¡°So if no one¡¯s looking outside, they wouldn¡¯t notice,¡± Allan concluded.

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll need to deal with the guards though.¡± They would definitely realize the ward was broken and report it to Darius. Leo turned to Spade. ¡°Do you know how many guards these manors usually have?¡±

    ¡°It varies. I would imagine at least two by each ward stone and more at the front gate.¡± She hummed. ¡°Given how private the Gillises are, I imagine there won¡¯t be too many guards inside.¡±

    So they were looking at about ten or so guards at the bare minimum¡ªprobably more. That was a lot, but not impossible to deal with. They might be able to take them out one group at a time before breaking the ward stone, but then they¡¯d risk alerting the other guards to their presence. They¡¯d have to be quiet about it, find some way to knock them out without being seen.

    Leo frowned, thinking. If not for the ward completely encasing the manor, they could¡¯ve tried sneaking past the guards without facing them at all. With the stones in place, though, that was no longer an option. In some ways breaking into the manor posed an even greater challenge than escaping Sindrey¡¯s prison had, especially since the guards were all guaranteed to be on high alert.

    As Leo ruminated on the issue, a thought suddenly occurred to him. Memories of the prison break rose, and a plan began to form in his head. He looked up.

    ¡°Hey, are there any apothecaries nearby? Any shops that sell potions?¡±

    Spade raised an eyebrow. ¡°There¡¯s quite a few, yes.¡±

    Leo¡¯s pulse quickened in growing anticipation.

    ¡°I think I''ve got an idea.¡±

    ¡ª

    Leo squinted down at the maps, muttering under his breath. Allan had gone to the apothecary shop while Spade was grabbing extra guard uniforms from the nearest station. Left alone in the room, Leo had taken the opportunity to draw out specific routes atop the floor plans. Now he was just waiting for the two to return.

    The former [Thief] sighed and set his pen down. He¡¯d gone over the planned paths several times already, enough that the lines were starting to bleed together in his vision. There were still far too many variables for his liking.

    Leo pursed his lips as he thought. For one, it was possible that Darius had already absorbed the fragment. He¡¯d outlined the routes so that the three of them would each cover a different branch of the manor, then they¡¯d gather near the master bedroom, where the noble was most likely to be.

    The best case scenario was that they found the fragment and didn¡¯t have to face the noble at all, but if they were all empty handed by the time they regrouped, they would need to confront the man directly.

    Of course, there was no guarantee Darius would be where they thought he was. Or maybe he hadn¡¯t absorbed the fragment, but had dropped it off in some secure place outside of the manor. And that wasn¡¯t even taking into account the question of Asher and whether he¡¯d be at the manor as well.

    Leo exhaled and forced his nerves to settle. They¡¯d done what they could to prepare; thinking more about it would just make him more uneasy, and he couldn¡¯t afford to slip up tonight.

    He peered down at his hand, flexed his fingers, then closed them into a fist again. Since his last conversation with Sol, he hadn¡¯t had a chance to test removing the fragment yet. Now was as good a time as ever.

    Leo closed his eyes and focused on his palm, allowing his surroundings to blur around him. His breathing steadied. He pictured the fragment shards sitting in his palm, willing them to appear. A slight warmth rose in his chest, reminiscent of a fire, and he urged it to grow.

    ¡°Leo?¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] yelped and jumped, knocking his knees against the underside of the table. His head snapped in the direction of the door. There stood Allan, bag in hand, brows furrowed in concern. Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    Leo cleared his throat. ¡°Yeah, fine. I just, uh, hit my knee.¡± His eyes landed on the bag, which clinked slightly as the [Healer] stepped into the room and set it on the table. ¡°Did you find them?¡±

    ¡°Spiderslake and bottled wind,¡± Allan confirmed, pulling out a few glass vials in demonstration. He smiled wryly. ¡°The shopkeeper looked at me funny when I bought them; I had to say it was for insomnia. I was a little worried he¡¯d call the guards on me.¡±

    Leo picked up one of the vials and turned it around in his hand, inspecting the liquid inside. The ones labelled spiderslake certainly looked the same as the vial he¡¯d found in the prison warden¡¯s office. While spiderslake was most often used to lace drinks, when it was inhaled, it instead caused drowsiness. Back in the slums, some people had indeed used it to help them sleep, so it wasn¡¯t a completely unreasonable excuse.

    Leo winced a little at the price tags¡ªbottled wind was even more expensive than he¡¯d thought¡ªbut he reminded himself that they weren¡¯t short on money right now. If the plan worked, those potions were more than worth the cost.

    ¡°Yeah, figures.¡± Leo set the bottle back down and shot Allan a grin. ¡°Well, nothing happened, so we¡¯re good.¡± That was the main reason he¡¯d sent the [Healer] to get the potions. The city would be on especially high alert after the Echo attack, and Allan was the only one of the three of them who could get away with buying the potions without immediately raising all alarms.

    ¡°What were you doing just now?¡± Allan asked, cocking his head in curiosity. Leo hesitated.

    ¡°¡­I was trying to see if I could remove the fragment.¡±

    The [Healer]¡¯s eyes widened, and Leo quickly continued, gesturing at the floor plans.

    ¡°I mean, if it turns out Darius already absorbed it, I need to know what options we¡¯ve got.¡± He carefully avoided mentioning Sol. He would tell Allan and Spade about the man at some point, but that would be after he had a better sense of how trustworthy the other [Fragmentholder] really was.

    Allan frowned. ¡°You think you can remove it without¡­¡± his voice trailed, but both of them knew what he was referring to.

    ¡°Yeah, I think so.¡± Leo squeezed his fingers together into a fist, concentrating again on his palm and that brief flash of warmth he¡¯d felt in his chest. ¡°I absorbed it like this, right? So I can probably expel it the same way.¡±

    He closed his eyes, exhaling, and focused again. After the first attempt, it was easier to return to the sensation. That warmth pulsed slightly, like its own heartbeat, and Leo imagined it moving down his arm and into his palm.

    A sharp pain suddenly coursed through his skull. Leo hunched in on himself, gritting his teeth as the same pain he¡¯d felt when absorbing the fragments returned full force. It was somehow even worse this time, like something was twisting a screw into his skull, but he forced himself to continue.

    Finally, the pain subsided and Leo dared open his eyes again. He was drenched in sweat, he realized, and his heartbeat had picked up. But when he opened his palm, there in the center sat a single fragment¡ªnoticeably larger than both of the ones he¡¯d absorbed.

    [ERROR: No class crest detected]

    [Overriding former class]

    [Assigning temporary class]

    [Tier 1 [Thief] class successfully assigned]

    Leo stared at the fragment. It had actually worked. Sol had been telling the truth. He raised the fragment up closer to inspect, turning it around a few times in his hand. It had the same gold specks and iridescent sheen in the light, but it was definitely bigger. The two separate fragments must have combined into one.

    Experimentally, he nudged the fragment with his finger. It snapped into two. He blinked and pushed them together again, and they easily reformed into one piece. Interesting.

    ¡°It worked?¡± Allan¡¯s voice sounded from the side, though Leo couldn¡¯t quite place the tone. He nodded slowly.

    ¡°Yeah, I think it did.¡± A quick check of his stat sheets showed his [Fragmentholder] class was gone, as were the associated spells and skills. Allan must¡¯ve been looking at the party stat sheets as well, because his brows furrowed.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be able to remove it so easily. Is the class change permanent?¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°If I reabsorb it, everything should go back.¡± To prove his point, he took a deep breath and focused on the shard again. The second burst of pain wasn¡¯t quite as intense at the first, but it still sent him reeling. He must¡¯ve blacked out at some point, because when he came to again, Allan was helping him sit up and he had a fresh bruise on his forehead where his head had fallen onto the table.

    [ALERT: New class crest detected]

    [ERROR: Class crest incomplete]

    [Old information found, recovering data]

    [Adjusting stat sheet]

    [Tier 1 class successfully reassigned]

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m never doing that again,¡± Leo said once he was able to speak again. He¡¯d confirmed that the fragment could be removed and reabsorbed with his old skills and progress still intact. The intense pain had been an unfortunate side effect of his experiment, but now he knew for sure.

    Allan nodded grimly. He raised a palm, but Leo stopped him before he could use [Mend].

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, the bruise¡¯s the only actual injury.¡± Based on what he knew of the spell, [Mend] wouldn¡¯t do anything in this case. It was better to preserve their mana. ¡°I¡¯m fine, just give me a few seconds.¡±

    The [Healer] nodded slowly and lowered his hand, though he didn¡¯t look too happy about it.

    The two sat in silence for a few moments, Leo catching his breath as the pain subsided and his vision fully cleared. He released a breath once he felt fully alert again. ¡°Okay, I think I¡¯m good now.¡± He nodded at the floor plans.

    ¡°I drew some routes earlier,¡± he explained. He tapped the one labelled with an ¡®A.¡¯ ¡°This is the one you¡¯ll be taking. We¡¯ll split up after we break the ward stone, then regroup here.¡± He moved his finger to the central hallway.

    Dark eyes scanned the map quickly, and Allan nodded in understanding. ¡°We¡¯re heading out tonight?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, the sooner the better. We¡¯ll go once it¡¯s dark. All we need now is for Spade to get back with those uniforms.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I think she¡¯s back already. I heard the door open while you were¡­¡± Allan gestured at the table.

    Leo snorted. ¡°While I was knocked out, got it.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] carefully pushed himself up from the table. The chair creaked behind him. His legs felt a little wobbly, but he quickly righted himself and turned to Allan. ¡°I¡¯ll go find her, could you go over the routes before we get back?¡±

    The [Healer] nodded and began scanning the floor plans. In the meantime, Leo turned and made his way over to the door to begin searching for the [Executioner].

 Chapter 78: Before the Storm II

    Chapter 78: Before the Storm II

    The floorboards creaked under Leo¡¯s feet as he stepped around the Pearl. It was getting later in the day, the light streaming in through the windows adopting a warmer hue. He passed by a few of the Pearl¡¯s workers as he walked, and Kai waved at him when he crossed the reception area, but so far Spade was nowhere to be found.

    Leo paused at the staircase and peered up at it. It was just as dim and narrow as he remembered. The [Executioner] wasn¡¯t on the first floor, so the second floor was the next logical conclusion. He grabbed the railing and made his way up.

    The carpet was soft under his feet when he reached the second floor. The familiar scent of incense wafted about the dim hallway, though it wasn¡¯t quite as strong as it had been that first day. Leo carefully stepped past the closed doors towards the room at the end of the hallway. He slowed down when he realized the door was slightly ajar. Murmured voices drifted through the air.

    On instinct, Leo stepped to the side, pressing his back against the wall. Here, he could just barely make out two figures through the narrow opening of the door.

    The room looked the same as Leo remembered, wispy trails of smoke hovering about the dim space. The new painting from the auction had been hung directly over the bed, where Lenore and Spade sat on the edge.

    The two seemed to be talking, though the words themselves were too quiet to make out. They sat close together, hunched over slightly as though to block out the rest of the world. Leo watched as Spade raised a hand and brushed a stray strand of hair from Lenore¡¯s face back. The action struck him as oddly tender, and he suddenly felt like he was eavesdropping on something private. Should he leave? Wait in the reception area for the [Executioner] to go back downstairs? Make his presence known?

    Before Leo had a chance to overthink more, Spade suddenly rose with a final murmured word to Lenore. Leo froze as the [Executioner] rapidly approached the door, and before he had the chance to jump away, it was swinging open and grey eyes landed on him. Spade raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Oh, there you are.¡± She raised her arm, and Leo belatedly realized she was carrying a bag. ¡°I got the uniforms. How¡¯re the routes coming along?¡±

    It took a moment for the question to process, but once it did, Leo cleared his throat and straightened.

    ¡°Fine. Allan¡¯s downstairs going over the floor plans.¡±

    ¡°Is that Leo?¡± Lenore¡¯s voice sounded from the right, and soon the woman was poking her head out of the doorway. She¡¯d grabbed her pipe again, though it was currently unlit.

    ¡°Seems like he was looking for me,¡± Spade said. Those grey eyes shone with faint amusement. She turned to Leo with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ll head down, then.¡±

    Without another word, the [Executioner] stepped down the hallway and disappeared down the staircase, leaving just Leo and Lenore.

    For a moment the [Fragmentholder] just stood there awkwardly, not quite sure what to do. It felt like he¡¯d just missed his opportunity to get away. Lenore raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°What¡¯re you doing standing there?¡± She flicked her pipe, gesturing for him to enter the room. After a brief moment of hesitation, Leo did so, the door swinging shut behind him.

    Once inside, Lenore stepped over to the drawer and pulled out a match, lighting her pipe and taking a puff of it. She gave Leo a long look.

    ¡°I hear the three of you are heading out tonight.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. ¡°That¡¯s the plan, yeah.¡±

    Another moment of silence paused, and Leo was seriously regretting not following Spade downstairs when a knowing smile spread across Lenore¡¯s face. She cocked her head, dark blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

    ¡°Well? I can tell you have questions. Go on.¡± She gestured with her pipe to emphasize her point.

    Leo hesitated for just a moment, then blurted out the words before he could think too long and regret them.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you two were serious.¡±

    Lenore raised an eyebrow. ¡°And what do you mean by that?¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] gestured vaguely. ¡°It¡¯s just, you guys said it was an old fling,¡± he tried to explain. Based on that, he¡¯d assumed the two had just had a casual hookup while Spade had been in Alnwick, but the brief moment he¡¯d just seen had seemed too intimate for that. It made him wonder if maybe the [Executioner] would prefer staying in Alnwick as opposed to continuing their travels.

    ¡°Ah, that.¡± Lenore stepped over to the bed and sat down on the rumpled blankets, exhaling another smoke ring. ¡°No, that was the truth.¡±

    She chuckled at the skeptical look on Leo¡¯s face. ¡°There might¡¯ve been something there, but it wouldn¡¯t have worked long term. We¡¯re fundamentally different people.¡±

    Leo frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Lenore gestured for the [Fragmentholder] to sit down, and after a moment¡¯s pause, he took a seat on one of the armchairs in front of the coffee table. The serpent-shaped incest burner was still there, but it was currently unlit.

    ¡°Let me put it this way,¡± Lenore began. ¡±I like to think of life as a long road. Most walk down it until eventually, they find a spot they like, stop, and build something of their own.¡± She raised her hands in demonstration. Though she didn¡¯t say it out loud, the implication was clear. For her, that ¡°spot¡± had been the Pearl.

    ¡°But that¡¯s not the case for everyone,¡± she continued. ¡°Some people¡ªsome people go through life running.¡±

    Her gaze shifted, eyes distant with memories. ¡°I was born in the slums, you know. Never had anyone to rely on. I survived by any and all means necessary.¡± She chuckled as though reminiscing on an old joke. ¡°And yet, even someone as cynical as me couldn¡¯t help but be taken in.¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°Of course, I quickly realized things wouldn¡¯t work out. I¡¯ve long come to terms with it.¡± Those dark blue eyes turned to Leo assessingly, and the woman smiled. ¡°You and that friend of yours seem to fall into the same category. Sprinters.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Leo frowned, still trying to wrap his head around her metaphor. He didn¡¯t think he fully understood her meaning, but the idea of ¡°going through life running¡± had struck an oddly personal core, though perhaps not in the way she¡¯d intended. He shifted in his seat.

    ¡°¡­When we first met,¡± Leo began slowly, ¡°Spade said she was looking for someone. Do you know who that is?¡±

    Lenore didn¡¯t answer right away. Leo was half expecting her to ignore the question entirely when she suddenly spoke again.

    ¡°I do.¡± Her voice was matter-of-fact, betraying nothing. She took another puff of her pipe. ¡°I won¡¯t tell you who it is¡ªyou¡¯ll have to ask Spade for that. But I¡¯ll say this.¡± Her eyes darkened, and for a brief moment the shadows of the room seemed to grow longer.

    ¡°For everyone¡¯s sake, I hope she never succeeds.¡±

    Leo opened his mouth, then closed it again. What was he supposed to say to that? He¡¯d been hoping for answers, but Lenore¡¯s words had just left him more confused. Would Spade succeeding at her search not be a good thing? It was certainly making him rethink some of his original assumptions about who the [Executioner] might be looking for and for what purpose.

    Lenore rose from the bed and glanced over at the clock hanging on the wall. It was starting to get late, Leo realized with a start, and he quickly rose as well.

    ¡°I assume you won¡¯t be returning after tonight,¡± Lenore remarked.

    Leo shook his head. They¡¯d have to leave Alnwick as soon as they got the fragment, lest they risk getting found and captured by the guards. A part of him would miss the place, Leo realized. Though they hadn¡¯t stayed in Alnwick for long, in some ways this was the most ¡°settled¡± he¡¯d felt in a long time.

    Lenore smiled, shooting the [Fragmentholder] a knowing look.

    ¡°Well, if you three are ever near Alnwick in the future, feel free to drop by the Pearl. The doors are open to you.¡±

    Leo felt a tinge of warmth glow in his chest at the words. He nodded gratefully.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, and the words were sincere.

    Lenore opened the room door, revealing the empty hallway. Leo couldn¡¯t see anyone around, but Allan and Spade should both be downstairs preparing for tonight.

    The [Fragmentholder] inhaled, gave Lenore another grateful nod, and hurried down the stairs to join them.

    ¡ª

    Evening light trickled in through the window, dying the room a rosy hue. Leo watched outside with a tense jaw, one hand absently adjusting the sleeve of the guard uniform he was wearing. They¡¯d already packed everything and gone over the floor plans enough times that Leo could practically see them with his eyes closed.

    In one of the easily accessible bags hanging from his belt, he¡¯d stashed one third of the potions they¡¯d bought. His daggers and knife were on the other side. They were as ready as they could be, and now they were just waiting for nightfall.

    Leo glanced up at the clock. They were currently waiting in the reception area since the Pearl was closed that day. By his current estimates, they still had a few hours to go.

    Across the room, Spade lounged casually on one of the armchairs while Allan stood a little ways away, inspecting his axe. Leo¡¯s eyed landed on Asher¡¯s arrow, which he¡¯d kept tucked into his belt after wrapping the arrowhead in a cloth for safety. He ran a finger along the black feather, remembering the brief encounter in the alleyway and how close of a call it had been. He frowned.

    ¡°Hey, Allan?¡±

    The [Healer] looked up. Leo raised the arrow, handing it to the man, who took it with a confused expression.

    ¡°I know this sounds weird, but could you throw this at me?¡±

    Allan stared. ¡°What?¡±

    Leo gestured at the arrow. ¡°Back in the alleyway when Asher shot at me, I used [Teleport Object] to redirect it.¡± His fingers squeezed into a fist. ¡°If we run into him again, I need to make sure I¡¯m ready.¡±

    With his high mana and the aid of [Mana Recovery], he would be able to practice right now and have full mana by the time they reached the manor. It was as good a time as ever.

    Understanding dawned on Allan¡¯s face, and he slowly nodded. ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°If you¡¯re really sure.¡±

    Leo shot him a thumbs up and took a few steps back. Allan squinted at him, raising the arrow and aiming.

    ¡°Do you want me to count, or¡­?¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] shook his head. ¡°Just chuck it. The more sudden, the better.¡±

    Allan still looked a bit reluctant, but he nodded. Leo inhaled and braced himself. No sooner had he done so, Allan flung the arrow at him with surprising speed. The [Fragmentholder] immediately activated [Teleport Object].

    Because of the speed of his reaction, he couldn¡¯t be precise when flicking his gaze. But like before, it didn¡¯t matter. The arrow disappeared and reappeared to the left, where it hit the wall and fell to the floor harmlessly. Leo exhaled. So it hadn¡¯t been a fluke the first time, then. This was a genuine way to make use of the spell, and arguably more effective than what he¡¯d originally been trying to do.

    Leo bent down and picked up the arrow, handing it to Allan again. ¡°One more time,¡± he said. He needed to make sure he could do this consistently in a variety of situations.

    The [Healer] nodded slowly, and Leo returned to his original spot and braced himself.

    After about an hour of this, the sun had nearly disappeared below the horizon and Leo had to force himself to stop in order to give his mana enough time to recover. He was covered in sweat, but he felt better about the spell than he had since the day he¡¯d first chosen it from his spell options. He tucked the arrow back in his belt and glanced at the window.

    At some point during their practice, Spade had moved over to the window, where she currently stood inspecting the streets. Leo approached, and the [Executioner] nodded at the glass.

    ¡°There¡¯s quite a few guards out,¡± she remarked. One look confirmed her words. Compared to the previous nights, the streets were practically crawling with guards. And, most notably, there were no regular residents that Leo could see.

    It was a stark contrast from yesterday, when so many had been happily walking down the sidewalk. Even from here, he could see the tightness in the guards¡¯ shoulders as they patrolled, how they kept glancing up at the darkening sky. It was a bleak image, and one that would likely last even after the city fixed the ward stone. Tonight, unprotected by the barrier, all of Alnwick was tense.

    ¡°That¡¯s to be expected,¡± a voice said. Leo turned to see Lenore and Kai enter the reception area. The former had put a coat on over her usual robe. Leo frowned.

    ¡°Are you going out?¡±

    Lenore chuckled. ¡°If the Silence does appear tonight, I¡¯m certainly not trusting the guards to protect this place.¡± She grabbed a chair and dragged it over to the door. From there, she had a complete view of the windows, and Leo suspected she would move the chair outside later in the night.

    ¡°You guys haven¡¯t headed out yet?¡± Kai asked. He was rummaging behind the counter, finally pulling out a crossbow and setting it down where it was within reach.

    By now, the last slivers of sun had disappeared. The lingering scarlet and orange hues were quickly fading, leaving only the wall of light and the brightening moon to cut through the darkness.

    Allan stepped over to join them, all his bags ready and axe stashed where he could easily grab it. Leo exchanged looks with him and Spade, and after a nod of unspoken agreement, he turned to Kai and Lenore.

    ¡°We¡¯re heading out now,¡± he said. He adjusted his own bag. ¡°I know I said it before, but thanks again for everything.¡±

    Lenore waved dismissively. ¡°It was nothing.¡± Those dark blue eyes were sharp. ¡°I would wish you good luck, but I assume you won¡¯t need it.¡±

    Allan smiled at that. ¡°Hopefully not.¡±

    ¡°You guys should drop by again,¡± Kai said cheerily from the counter.

    ¡°We¡¯ll try to,¡± Leo answered, and he was surprised to find that he genuinely meant the words.

    In the corner of his eye, he caught Spade leaning down while Lenore whispered something to her, but after a few moments the two separated and the [Executioner] stepped over to join Allan and Leo by the door. Lenore gave them all a long, assessing look.

    ¡°Stay alive,¡± she finally said. Leo felt himself smile. He twisted the doorknob and pulled the door open. A cool breeze blew past, rustling the wreath hanging from the Pearl¡¯s door. From here, the dark street seemed to stretch endlessly onwards. At the other end, they would find the Gillis manor, Asher, Darius Gillis, and the fragment.

    ¡°We will.¡±

 Interlude: Lenore

    Interlude: Lenore

    ¡°Gillis got sentenced.¡±

    Lenore looked up and raised an eyebrow. Kai had burst into the Pearl, breathless and looking more excited than she¡¯d seen him in years. Like this, he resembled his round-faced teenage self, the same awkward lanky-limbed boy who¡¯d wandered into the Pearl one day looking for a job.

    She paused her current writing and reached for a new piece of paper, setting it down on the table. ¡°Is that so?¡±

    Kai nodded vigorously and handed over a crinkled newspaper, which Lenore studied critically.

    ¡°Yeah, they announced it at the square and everything! They¡¯re trying to find an executioner now.¡±

    A quick scan of the newspaper indicated that Kai was correct. SERIAL KILLER TERRORIZING ALNWICK UNMASKED, the headline read. Marcus Gillis¡¯s actual name was located further down in the body text¡ªthe Gillis family had likely paid the newspaper to keep their name out of the headlines directly, but the damage was done. Lenore hummed and set the newspaper aside to add to her file on the Gillis family later.

    ¡°Joshua wouldn¡¯t do it?¡± she remarked. Kai shook his head.

    ¡°Nah. He said he didn¡¯t want to deal with any nobles getting pissy with him.¡± Kai leaned over the table conspiratorially. ¡°I heard Marcus¡¯s brother¡¯s been sending out threats to anyone thinking of taking the job.¡±

    Lenore chuckled. ¡°Come now Kai, what¡¯ve we said about rumors? I only deal in fact.¡±

    The [Receptionist] snorted and shrugged. ¡°Well I¡¯m not the informant here. I¡¯m just saying what I heard.¡± His nose scrunched in thought. ¡°It sounded like they were thinking of hiring someone outside Alnwick to do it.¡±

    ¡°They may need to, if that¡¯s their only option.¡± Lenore scribbled a few extra notes on her paper. She¡¯d known the identity of the Ribcage Killer, as the newspapers had dubbed him, some time ago, but she was genuinely surprised that he¡¯d been arrested considering his family name.

    Old memories rose, nudged to the surface by the present. She still remembered running barefoot through the slums as a little girl, hiding away at night behind trash piles and anywhere else she could find. The wards protected Alnwick from Echoes, but there were other types of monsters that lurked the streets in the darkness.

    The ones of her childhood hadn¡¯t been caught, had been allowed to terrorize the slums freely while the upper crust turned a blind eye to it. No reason to waste guards protecting trash, after all.

    Lenore shook her head and set her pen down. Either Marcus Gillis was foolish or particularly deranged to have targeted fellow nobles when he could¡¯ve easily gotten away with his crimes, though she didn¡¯t care much to understand the mind of a man like that.

    ¡°Anyway, the execution¡¯s next week if they can find someone,¡± Kai was saying. ¡°Right in the square. You gonna watch?¡±

    Lenore hummed. It was clear Kai was going regardless of whether or not it was during his shift, but if it was exactly a week away then the Pearl would be closed that day anyway. She supposed this might be an opportunity to collect more information, and she would admit she was curious to see who would take the execution job.

    Lenore rose from her seat, gathering her notes and the newspaper to put away with the rest of her files.

    ¡°Perhaps I will.¡±

    ¡ª

    The city square was packed. Lenore exhaled, the cool air crisp against her skin. She pulled her cloak closer¡ªshe was wearing her long overcoat and a hat specifically designed to hide her face. She¡¯d become well known enough in Alnwick by now that she¡¯d rather not draw extra attention to herself.

    There were more people gathered than Lenore had seen in a long time, but she supposed the situation was indeed quite rare. The scaffold had already been set up, and murmurs coursed through the waiting crowd. She listened in, catching flashes of conversation. Most were commenting on the killings or the execution¡ªnothing new or particularly useful.

    ¡°Yeesh, it¡¯s packed,¡± Kai said from beside her. He was squinting in an attempt to get a better view of the scaffold. A row of guards stood in the back, but there was no sign of Marcus Gillis or the executioner. ¡°See anything yet?¡±

    As if on cue, the volume of the crowd surged. Lenore¡¯s gaze shifted to the right. The doors of the city hall opened and a man in chains was roughly dragged out by two guards, three more standing stiffly behind him.

    It was Marcus Gillis, though he was hardly recognizable in his current state. His usual finery had been replaced with tattered prisoner¡¯s clothing, his dark hair was limp and fell messily in front of his face, and he was covered in a layer of grime. Angered shouts and jeers rose from the crowd as he was dragged forward towards the scaffold, Kai joining in with a few creative hollers of his own.

    The guards stopped just at the edge of the scaffold stairs, muscles tense as they waited. They, too, were likely worried about repercussions at the hands of the Gillis family, though Lenore herself doubted they would be particularly severe. The only other surviving member of the family was the convicted¡¯s younger brother, and the Gillis family itself had continuously lost influence over the past several years.

    As Lenore waited, the crowd suddenly quieted. She was immediately on alert, dark eyes scanning the square before they landed on the source of the hush.

    The city hall doors had opened a second time, and this time an unfamiliar figure stepped out. She was tall and well muscled, with thin grey hair pulled low to the neck that streamed behind her as she walked. But the most distinguishing features were the scars. There were layers of them, thin lines and dark splotches and burns and stab marks piled on top of each other until there was barely any unmarred skin left. Lenore felt her eyebrows raise. She¡¯d never seen someone with so many scars before, and evidently from the onlookers¡¯ reactions, she wasn¡¯t the only one.

    Kai cursed under his breath. ¡°Damn, what do you think happened?¡± he muttered.

    Lenore didn¡¯t answer, too focused on watching as the woman strode forward towards the scaffold. She didn¡¯t give the crowd a second glance, ignoring the stares and whispers, and walked with a quiet, calm confidence. A few people leaned further away as she passed them. Everything about her exuded danger, and even after she slipped the executioner cloak on, some unease lingered.

    The execution itself was almost laughably short for the fanfare. Marcus Gillis was shoved roughly onto the scaffold. Face now covered by the cloak, the [Executioner] unsheathed a long blade that gleamed in the light. A single swing was all it took to behead the man, and then it was over. Quick. Practiced. Professional.

    The temporary stillness that had fallen over the crowd broke, and the cheers and hollers returned full force as the people celebrated. Lenore, however, remained quiet, watching as the [Executioner] silently stepped down the stairs and headed towards the city hall, blood-soaked blade still in hand. A creeping shadow distinctly separate from the crowd.

    She didn¡¯t look away until the woman had disappeared into the building, and it was only after the [Executioner] was long gone that Lenore finally peeled her eyes away.

    She turned away from the scaffold and nodded at Kai.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡ª

    Alnwick quickly returned to usual following the execution. By then, Lenore had brushed aside her interest in the [Executioner] as a passing curiosity.

    She was an informant; it was only natural that something new and mysterious would grab her attention. She knew the city so well by now that anything out of the ordinary warranted a second glance. With that in mind, she continued working at the Pearl and put the scarred stranger out of her mind.

    That was until one evening, when Kai burst into her room out of breath.

    Lenore raised an eyebrow and finished tying her robe. ¡°I assume you have a good reason for barging in,¡± she remarked.

    The [Receptionist] didn¡¯t answer right away, instead taking a moment to catch his breath. Evidently he¡¯d sprinted up the stairs.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°She¡¯s here,¡± he finally got out, gesturing wildly. Lenore hummed in acknowledgement.

    ¡°And who would that be?¡±

    ¡°The scary executioner!¡±

    That finally got Lenore¡¯s attention. She turned to the man, dark eyes sharp.

    ¡°She showed up a few minutes ago,¡± Kai explained. ¡°She said she¡¯s looking for guarding jobs in the city.¡±

    ¡°Not a client?¡±

    The [Receptionist] shook his head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like it.¡± He nodded down the hallway. Through the open door, Lenore could see a few of the other courtesans had poked their heads out of their doors, curious at the noise, but they didn¡¯t interrupt the conversation. They knew Lenore would tell them what was going on later.

    ¡°I told her to wait in the lounge,¡± Kai continued. ¡°I said I¡¯d get my boss.¡±

    Lenore smoothed out her clothes a final time and grabbed her pipe as she headed to the door. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t send her away immediately,¡± she remarked as she exited the room.

    Kai shrugged. ¡°Eh, I figured we could use an extra guard. Besides, you looked interested.¡± He shot her a pointed look, indicating he¡¯d noticed her staring at the execution. Lenore laughed.

    ¡°Cheeky, but not wrong.¡±

    They descended down the stairs at a steady pace with Lenore leading at the front. The reception area quickly came into view, empty save for a single person who stuck out like a sore thumb amidst the Pearl¡¯s elegant decorations. The Gillis case [Executioner] turned to face them as they neared the first floor, and she looked exactly the same as Lenore remembered.

    No one spoke for a moment. Grey eyes scanned the two new arrivals, and Lenore noticed the practiced ease of the gesture. There was an almost clinical, detached quality to it. She next took note of the sheathed sword kept at the [Executioner]¡¯s side where it was both unobtrusive and could still be easily drawn. Her body language was casual, but also deliberately left no openings.

    This was likely someone well acquainted with combat, Lenore guessed, and smart or experienced enough not to judge by appearances. She¡¯d purposely avoided putting anything on over her robe¡ªshe¡¯d found over the years that she could learn a lot about a person depending on how they reacted to her, and right now, the [Executioner] was regarding her as a potential threat.

    Lenore smiled and leaned forward on the railing, purposely remaining on the staircase to force the other woman to look up at her.

    ¡°My receptionist tells me you¡¯re looking for a job,¡± she began. She kept her voice light and fluid even as she deliberately asserted her authority by referring to Kai as ¡°her¡± receptionist.

    ¡°He would be correct.¡± The [Executioner]¡¯s gaze remained even and steady. ¡°I¡¯m staying in the city for a while, so I¡¯m looking for guard jobs. I thought I¡¯d check every place I saw.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± Lenore casually crossed her arms on the railing, the neck of her robe falling lower with the movement. ¡°And are you aware that this is a brothel?¡±

    ¡°I thought it might be.¡± The [Executioner] nodded at the building¡¯s front door. ¡°The Empire uses a different flower pattern, but it¡¯s quite similar to your wreath.¡±

    That gave Lenore pause.

    ¡°You¡¯re from the Empire?¡±

    ¡°I am.¡± The stranger raised an eyebrow. ¡°Will that be a problem?¡±

    It occurred to Lenore in that moment, as she stared down at the scarred woman, that she, too, was being tested. Dark blue eyes met steel grey, neither one speaking as they continued to assess the other. Lenore heard Kai shift behind her, but she didn¡¯t move her gaze from the [Executioner].

    A slow smile spread across her face, sharper and more genuine than the one from before.

    ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll be an issue at all.¡±

    ¡ª

    ¡°Is that a new scar?¡±

    Spade paused and glanced back, raising an eyebrow. In the flickering candlelight, her eyes seemed to glow. ¡°Which one?¡±

    Lenore pushed herself up from the bed and placed a hand along the [Executioner]¡¯s bicep, where a long thin scar sat underneath a larger jagged one. ¡°This.¡±

    Spade hummed. ¡°Ah, that one might be. I think it¡¯s from an Echo attack.¡±

    Lenore snorted and shook her head fondly. ¡°Of course you wouldn¡¯t remember.¡±

    The [Executioner] smiled. She finished tugging her shirt on, hiding the new scar. ¡°Well, there¡¯s an awful lot to keep track of, and that one¡¯s been there for a few years now.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°I believe I got it on the road to Sindrey.¡±

    ¡°Ah yes, Sindrey.¡± Lenore gestured at her robe lying in a crumpled heap at the foot of the bed. Spade silently grabbed it and helped her slip it on. ¡°I¡¯m still shocked you stayed in one place for so long.¡±

    ¡°It was a decent enough job,¡± Spade said simply as she finished tying the sash. ¡°And I did get a Tier 1 class out of it.¡±

    That had indeed been a surprise when they¡¯d met again. Spade had been stuck at level 20, Tier 0 during her stay in Alnwick as many often were when they couldn¡¯t afford a crest.

    Lenore hummed and gestured for the [Executioner] to turn around. It was rare to see her with her hair down, and she found herself running her fingers through the dry, thin strands, untangling any knots she found. Those grey strands, like the scars, told a story.

    ¡°Paid better than Alnwick, I assume.¡± The words were joking, and Spade chuckled at them. Once there might¡¯ve been some bitterness there, but that had long since faded.

    ¡°If you want me to stay, there are better ways to ask,¡± the [Executioner] said wryly. Lenore snorted.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I act like too much of a fool around you,¡± she drawled. ¡°I do have a reputation to maintain.¡± Her gaze shifted briefly to the closed door.

    It had been odd to see the [Executioner] again. She¡¯d long accepted their brief affair as a single flash in a long life, transient in nature. But then the door had opened and Spade had walked through looking the same as she had two years ago, and for a moment it was as though nothing had changed.

    Lenore reached over to the dressing table and grabbed her pipe, lighting it and taking a puff. Neither of them had changed much, it seemed¡ªboth for better and for worse. Dark blue eyes landed back on Spade.

    It was almost funny to look back on it now. In the beginning, she¡¯d held a certain awe for the [Executioner]. She¡¯d seemed larger than life in a way that no other person had made her feel. While the respect remained, as she¡¯d grown closer to Spade, she¡¯d begun seeing more of the cracks.

    These days, Lenore often thought of the [Executioner] as an explosion happening in slow motion; so bright and awe-inspiring in the moment that you couldn¡¯t take your eyes away. It was only after you forced yourself to step back that you realized the scale of the destruction. There was no stopping it. There would be¡ªcould be¡ªnothing left in the aftermath.

    Lenore twisted the pipe around in her fingers, idly exhaling another smoke ring as she pulled herself away from the thoughts. If she focused, she could just barely make out the sounds of footsteps downstairs. It seemed her guests were beginning to wake up.

    ¡°How are those two?¡± she found herself asking. She gestured vaguely. ¡°What¡¯s your opinion of them?¡±

    Spade hummed noncommittally. ¡°They¡¯re interesting. Leo¡¯s more soft-hearted than I thought he¡¯d be, and Allan reminds me a bit of myself when I was younger.¡±

    Lenore raised an eyebrow at that. ¡°Really? He doesn¡¯t look the type.¡±

    ¡°I thought you were the one who always said not to judge by appearances,¡± Spade said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m keeping an eye on him. I suspect things will come to a head with him soon.¡±

    Lenore hummed in agreement. ¡°Do you think Leo will manage to become the new Administrator?¡± It was a serious question, and if she hadn¡¯t seen the determination in the [Fragmentholder]¡¯s eyes following the Echo attack last night, she might not have entertained the thought at all.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Spade said truthfully. She turned back to Lenore. ¡°But I think he¡¯ll surprise people.¡±

    Lenore didn¡¯t respond to that, simply digesting the words. She hadn¡¯t known what to think at first when Spade had appeared again traveling with two other people, but the more she saw of them and spoke with them, the more she understood how their odd little group had managed to stay together so far. Like draws to like indeed, she thought.

    She rose from the bed and smoothed out her robe. Spade followed, waiting while Lenore twisted the doorknob. They¡¯d done this routine enough times not to need to speak about it.

    As Spade grabbed her bag and readied to leave the room, grey hair trailing behind her, Lenore gave the [Executioner] a final look. Words rose to her lips that she allowed to fade away, unspoken. Useless questions and sentiments with answers she already knew. Are you still searching. Are you happy. Don¡¯t die.

    She shook her head, tugging the door open and revealing the dark hallway beyond.

    ¡°Take care,¡± she finally settled on. She expected Spade to nod and leave as she always did, but instead, the [Executioner] paused long enough to look back. Those flat grey eyes watched her, as unreadable as ever.

    ¡°You too.¡±

    And then she turned and exited the room, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway beyond.

    Lenore stood by the open doorway for a moment longer, simply watching the [Executioner]¡¯s retreating back. It was only after she¡¯d long vanished from view that she finally shut the door again.

    Now alone in the room, she stepped over to the rumpled bed and sat down, gazing up at her new painting. It looked good there, she thought, tracing the rough, violent brush strokes with her gaze.

    A sudden weariness took hold. She¡¯d need to attend to the Pearl soon; the Echo attack had rattled everyone, and she could hear the creaking of floorboards as the whole building began to wake.

    But for now, alone in the dim quiet, she allowed herself to close her eyes and rest.

 Chapter 79: Heist I

    Chapter 79: Heist I

    Leo¡¯s eyes darted across the street. It was eerily quiet with the people of Alnwick hidden away in their homes, and the few guard patrols they¡¯d passed had been similarly tense. His gaze shifted to the road ahead of them again, jaw tight with anticipation.

    So far, no one had given their fake ¡°patrol group¡± a second glance. The guard uniforms Spade had taken from the guard station were perfectly nondescript, and he¡¯d activated [Fade into Background] as well for good measure.

    Up ahead, the road split into an intersection. Another patrol group of four approached on the opposite side of the road, their footsteps echoing slightly amidst the narrow buildings. Leo, Allan, and Spade kept walking at a steady pace. It was only after they¡¯d passed the guards that Leo exhaled.

    Next to him, Allan gave him a worried look, but he shook his head to indicate he was fine. This sort of ¡°hiding in plain sight¡± had never been his thing. He would be happy once they were out of view.

    The buildings around them grew taller as they entered the wealthier sections of the city. Spade led the group at the front, both because she knew the roads the best and because she¡¯d already pretended to be a guard during the masquerade, so her presence was a known entity. Leo squinted. In the distance, he could make out a few manors as well as the dense silhouette of the forest against the city walls. They would reach their destination soon.

    ¡°There.¡±

    A few minutes later, Spade¡¯s pace slowed. Leo¡¯s eyes quickly landed on a sprawling manor situated at the edge of the city bounds.

    Buildings gave way to tall grasses swaying in the wind, their tips glowing from the wall of light. The ground sloped upwards in a steady incline, and at the top of the hill sat the forest and the manor itself. If the [Fragmentholder] squinted, he could make out bushes and flowers decorating the front lawns. The shape of the building¡¯s exterior matched what was in the floor plans.

    Leo glanced around them. It was indeed more isolated here, and he couldn¡¯t see any guard patrols nearby. ¡°This way,¡± he muttered.

    He turned to the right and kept walking normally, in case anyone was watching from the windows. He didn¡¯t stop until they¡¯d nearly reached the wall. Here, with the shadows of the trees providing cover, he finally ducked into the forest and let out a relieved sigh. So far, things were working out as planned.

    ¡°You guys got everything?¡±

    Allan and Spade both nodded. Now that they were out of sight, Leo took a few seconds to adjust some of his bags and the placement of his throwing knives. Too many on his belt would¡¯ve looked suspicious for a guard.

    Once their belongings were secure, they continued traversing through the forest, trudging up the hill until the manor was visible through the trees. Leo could make out four guards in the lawn and two more flanking the front gate itself. He couldn¡¯t see the sides of the building, but there would be more guards there and at the back. His hand moved over to his bag, reaching for the potions nestled inside.

    ¡°Okay, remember to meet up again at the back gate,¡± Leo said. ¡°If something goes wrong, walk in a triangle.¡± As he spoke, he mentally pulled up the party map to keep in the corner of his vision. Their three dots blinked at a steady pulse.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Allan stopped them before they could separate. ¡°Hold out your hands.¡±

    Leo frowned, but did as instructed, as did Spade. The [Healer] closed his eyes and breathed out. A faint blue glow surrounded him, winding down his arms like coiling snakes. He grabbed both of their hands, and the light jumped to them. Leo flinched a little, then blinked as a strong, steady warmth filled his body. His breaths seemed deeper than before, and he felt more energized.

    [Allan has activated the [Fortify] spell]

    Leo¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Is that¡­?¡±

    Allan smiled and dropped his hands, the glow immediately fading. ¡°I learned it after the Echo attack,¡± he explained. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to boost your stamina for the next hour.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± Leo grinned. He¡¯d had issues with his low stamina and constitution in past fights, and this would definitely help. The [Healer] looked pleased.

    ¡°Very useful indeed.¡± Spade sounded amused. Almost immediately, Allan shot her a scowl. Leo snorted and shook his head. Despite some of the initial tension between them disappearing after the fight on the Glass Lake, it looked like the two still didn¡¯t get along.

    ¡°Everyone ready?¡± he asked. Allan and Spade both nodded. Leo returned the gesture, fingers flexing around the potion bottles.

    ¡°See you soon.¡±

    Almost immediately, Allan and Spade turned away and moved deeper into the forest. A notification appeared in Leo¡¯s vision indicating that Allan had activated [Celerity]. He had the longest route to go, as he¡¯d need to loop around to the other side of the manor. Meanwhile, Spade would first deal with the right side guards, then the group at the back once she reached them. The [Executioner] currently had a higher agility stat than the [Healer], but they¡¯d decided on splitting the routes this way because of Allan¡¯s [Celerity] skill.

    The two quickly disappeared into the trees, and Leo directed his attention back to the manor. He had to deal with the largest group of guards, but they¡¯d split it this way for a reason.

    Ducking low, Leo preemptively made sure his [Stealth], [Acrobatics], and [Dagger Proficiency] skills were equipped. [Fade into Background] was still active, and with a final inhale, Leo darted out of the trees.

    The manor front lawn consisted of a large garden with perfectly trimmed hedges and flowers bordering circular paths. The walkways themselves were wide and open, but the green sections of the lawn provided more cover. Leo ducked and rolled behind the closest bush. A bit of gravel dug into his back, but he ignored it.

    The former [Thief] held perfectly still, listening for any sounds. When there were none, he peered through the thick leaves to check that the guards were still in the same place. Once he confirmed that they were, he crept out and quickly hid behind the towering hydrangea bush a few feet in front of him.

    Even with the help of bottled wind, spiderslake¡¯s drowsy effect only worked when inhaled at a closer range. At the sides of the manor, Allan and Spade would be able to mix the potions from within the tree line, but here at the front, Leo needed to get closer first.

    The former [Thief] carefully crawled under the hydrangeas, moving as slowly as possible to avoid rustling the branches. He kept the guards visible in his peripheral vision at all times.

    Up ahead, the garden was divided into smaller sections by a dense wall of hedges. He couldn¡¯t afford moving along the road lest he be seen, so he¡¯d need to jump over the bushes to get onto the green patches of the garden.

    Leo poked his head up just enough to determine the position of the guards. Now that he was closer, he could see that they seemed tense¡ªdistracted, even. They kept glancing up at the sky, likely fearing the reappearance of the Silence. That paranoia would mean they were on higher alert than usual, but their shifting gazes also gave Leo a window of opportunity.

    The [Fragmentholder] ducked down again, thinking. Even with [Fade into Background] active, entering the guards¡¯ direct lines of sight would still get him noticed. He needed a distraction that would grab their attention, but not enough for them to immediately sound the alarms.

    Leo peered out again. From here, he should be at the maximum distance for [Visual Illusion] to work.

    After some thought, he picked one of the guards flanking the gate. In the corner of his vision, Allan¡¯s dot was nearing the other side of the manor while Spade¡¯s dot was already beginning to move to the back.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Focusing on the guard, Leo waited until he glanced up, then projected the image of a faint wisp of black smoke similar to what he¡¯d seen before the Echoes had appeared. It was small¡ªhe still couldn¡¯t make very large illusions¡ªand he made sure it was quick, appearing and disappearing again in the blink of an eye. The guard tensed.

    ¡°Did you see that?¡±

    The second guard frowned and glanced over. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The sky, I thought I saw something.¡±

    The second guard looked up, then back down. She shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing there,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re being paranoid.¡±

    ¡°I swear it was there. It looked like Echo smoke!¡±

    The four guards in the lawns began to look over at the growing argument, immediately on edge at the mention of Echoes. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± one asked.

    Leo waited until he was sure all of them were turned away, then he jumped out and leapt over the hedge with a burst of speed from [Sprint]. He landed a little harder than he¡¯d intended, some fallen leaves crunching beneath his feet. He cursed internally.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    Leo scrambled to wrap the scrap cloth he¡¯d prepared around his nose and mouth. He held the two potions in hand, silently uncorking them and raising the spiderslake over the bottled wind. He heard footsteps approaching as one of the guards in the lawn moved to check the sound, and he mentally counted.

    Three¡­two¡­one!

    Leo dumped the spiderslake into the bottled wind. The potions reacted instantly, and a mist began to rise from the mouth of the bottle. Leo jumped out and pointed it at the nearby guards. Almost immediately, they began to sway as the effects of the potion took hold.

    ¡°Hey!¡± One of the two guards at the gate shouted. Leo spun around. Thinking quick, he activated [Teleport Object] and flicked his eyes in their general direction. It didn¡¯t have to be accurate; as long as the bottle landed close enough, the fumes would reach them.

    Leo saw the guards beginning to draw their blades just as the potion disappeared and reappeared on the grass a few feet in front of them. The mist swarmed around them, and their eyes rolled back. Before they could take a step, the two slumped forward and collapsed onto the ground like the other four guards.

    It was only after he was certain none of them were moving that Leo finally let out the breath he¡¯d been holding. He waited for the mist to settle, then kicked the now empty bottles into the bushes and glanced over at the manor.

    The curtains were all shut, though light glowed faintly from within. No shadows crossed the windows, and he didn¡¯t hear any noise inside. He hadn¡¯t been seen.

    Leo quickly turned and ran back into the trees to make his way around to the back. He lowered the face cloth and activated [Mana Recovery]. He was already going through his mana way faster than he¡¯d like, and he wasn¡¯t taking chances.

    On the party map, Allan and Spade¡¯s dots had converged at the back of the manor. They stood still, no triangles or other walking patterns in sight. It looked like things had gone smoothly for them as well; all the guards around the manor should be unconscious. They just had to get rid of the ward now, and then they¡¯d be able to get inside.

    Leo ducked under a low branch, weaving between tree trunks. He glanced over as he passed the right side of the manor and saw two guards slumped down against the fence. He kept running.

    Up ahead, Allan and Spade were waiting just inside the forest. He slowed his pace. Four guards lay collapsed here, a now empty bottle rolling on the ground near them. Like the front, there was a garden here as well, but it was much smaller. Leo¡¯s eyes moved to the gate surrounding the manor itself.

    Sitting at the top of one of the fence posts was a translucent sphere that looked exactly like a smaller version of the ward stones on the city walls. If he squinted, he could make out a faint ripple in the air where the web of magic cloaked the building.

    ¡°Have either of you heard anything?¡± Leo asked once he reached them. Allan shook his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s been really quiet. I haven¡¯t seen anyone by the windows either.¡±

    ¡°Darius is the only living member of the Gillis family,¡± Spade said. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be many people inside.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. With luck, there wouldn¡¯t be many servants around either. In more remote areas, servants tended to live inside the manors they worked for, but here in the city it was more common for them to retire to their own homes at the ends of their shifts. If things did turn south, he¡¯d rather not involve innocent workers in the ensuing mess.

    Hazel eyes shifted back over to the stone. ¡°Let¡¯s get closer first,¡± he said. They were too far away to break it from here.

    As they approached, stepping between the carefully trimmed hedges and around the few trees planted in the garden, Leo noted that the stone was a fair bit higher than he¡¯d anticipated. They¡¯d have to throw something to break it, then he could climb the fence and unlock the gate from the inside.

    Leo was about to explain his plan to Allan and Spade, but before he had the chance, an unfamiliar voice suddenly called out from behind him.

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    Leo spun around. A few feet away, an elderly man in plain clothes stood holding a pair of pruning shears. [Judgement]¡¯s passive ability automatically activated as he scanned him.

    Name: Arthur

    Age: 62

    Level: 20

    Class: [Gardener, Tier 0]

    Personal Skill: [Quiet Presence Lvl 7]

    ¡°Who¡¯re you?¡± the man demanded, holding the shears up defensively. ¡°What happened to the guards?¡±

    Leo¡¯s mind whirred. It was just their luck that the [Gardener] would have a personal skill like that¡ªno wonder Spade¡¯s [Vigilance] hadn¡¯t picked up on his presence. They were out of potions, but so far it didn¡¯t look like the man had alerted anyone to their presence. That was a good sign. He doubted the servants here had much loyalty to the Gillis family. They might be able to talk their way out of this.

    Slowly, Leo raised his hands in an attempt to look nonthreatening. ¡°They¡¯re just unconscious,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re not here to hurt anyone. Just leave us alone and we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±

    The man looked dubious, eyes briefly flicking over to Spade before landing back on Leo. ¡°Yeah? And what are you, thieves?¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] hesitated. He mentally debated the pros and cons of telling the truth, trying to determine what would get the [Gardener] to leave them alone. He opened his mouth to respond.

    Before he could get the words out, the man collapsed onto the ground in a limp heap.

    Leo jumped, his gaze darting up. Standing behind the unconscious man was Allan, the handle end of his axe still raised from where he¡¯d slammed the knob into the man¡¯s head.

    ¡°Allan,¡± Leo hissed. He quickly crouched down to check the man, letting out a sigh of relief when his pulse was steady. A thin trickle of blood dripped down from his head, and he was thoroughly knocked out, but he seemed to be breathing.

    The [Healer] frowned. ¡°This is fastest,¡± he said. Leo rose again and gestured at the unconscious man.

    ¡°He¡¯s old, you could¡¯ve accidentally killed him!¡± he argued.

    Allan¡¯s brows furrowed. Dark eyes moved down to the man, then back to Leo, intense and unreadable. He looked like he was contemplating something, and after a moment¡¯s pause, he spoke again.

    ¡°I was going to [Mend] him,¡± he said. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t risk something like that.¡± He lowered his axe and raised his other hand, a familiar ultramarine glow emitting from the center of his palm as he bent down to touch the man¡¯s injury.

    [Allan has activated the [Mend] spell]

    The glow faded, and the blood stream stopped. Leo gave Allan a long look. Slowly, he nodded his head.

    ¡°¡­Right. Sorry for doubting you.¡± Of course Allan would¡¯ve thought of that before going for a head blow. He probably understood how to avoid lethal wounds better than him anyway, given all that medical reading he was doing.

    Leo shoved any lingering doubt down and forced himself to focus again on their goal. He glanced around. ¡°Is there anyone else around?¡± He didn¡¯t want to be surprised again.

    ¡°All clear,¡± Spade said. At some point she¡¯d moved over to the gate near the ward stone. Her gaze seemed to linger on Allan for a moment, grey eyes unreadable, but she looked away before Leo could guess what she was thinking.

    Up close, it was much easier to make out the glow of the ward itself, though it did blend in slightly with the wall of light. Unlike the one that had cloaked Alnwick, this one had a faint green tinge that was probably the magic signature of whoever had created it.

    Leo stared up at the stone, judging the distance. He removed one of his throwing knives, and after a final sweep of the windows to make sure no one was watching, he hurled the blade at the sphere.

    It landed cleanly, the orb shattering on impact. Above them, the ward flickered, then faded out entirely. Leo waited. No sounds came from the manor.

    Now that the ward was down, it was easy enough to scale the metal fence. He landed lightly on the other side and let Allan and Spade in through the gate. The manor had a smaller back entrance that was closed with a heavy padlock, but it was nothing that [Lockpick Proficiency] couldn¡¯t handle.

    After a bit of fiddling, the lock came undone with a click. Leo exhaled in relief. The first part of their plan was done.

    He didn¡¯t let himself completely relax, though. After all, this had arguably been the easy part. Once they were inside, they¡¯d split up to search for the fragment, and if they were unlucky, they¡¯d need to confront Darius Gillis for it. His jaw tensed. They had to be ready for a fight.

    Leo grabbed the doorknob and carefully twisted it. The door swung open smoothly, revealing a long corridor lit with candlelight on the other side. There was no one in view.

    The [Fragmentholder] took a deep breath and turned to Allan and Spade, hazel eyes determined.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

 Chapter 80: Heist II

    Chapter 80: Heist II

    The manor was eerily quiet. After living in the slums for the past five years, Leo was accustomed to the sound of floorboards creaking, of the wind constantly whistling beyond thin walls. Here, there was nothing. Even the flickering torches made no noise.

    Leo¡¯s eyes darted about as they inched further down the corridor. Despite the hall being very wide, the dim lighting and dark wallpaper made it feel narrow and cramped. Many nobles preferred flashy colors and elaborate, shiny decorations, but it seemed the Gillis household wasn¡¯t one of them.

    The only real decorations they passed were a few oil paintings on the walls, each one a portrait of, presumably, old Gillis family members. Leo steadfastly ignored them. He didn¡¯t like the way it felt like their painted eyes were watching him.

    Up ahead, the corridor widened into a large entrance area. A chandelier hung down from a thick chain, and engraved pillars bordered the space, converging at the high ceiling. For a brief second, his surroundings seemed to shift, and Leo saw a different manor superimposed onto this one. He dug his nails into his palm and shoved the memories away. Adrya and Avel¡¯s nobles, it seemed, preferred similar architecture.

    A quick scan of the area revealed that no one was around, though Leo was finding himself increasingly unnerved by the silence. Where were the guards? Asher? Darius Gillis himself?

    He shook his head, forcing himself to remain focused. Several corridors branched out from this main hall, just as the floorplans had indicated, while a tall staircase led up to the second floor of the manor. That was where the bedrooms¡ªand most likely Darius¡ªwere located, and it was where they would regroup.

    Leo turned to Allan and Spade, shoulders tensed. He pointed at the stairs and made a triangle gesture with his hand, indicating their signal for if something went wrong, then a square, which was the walking pattern they¡¯d use if they found the fragment.

    They both nodded, and after one more scan to make sure they were alone, the three separated. In the party map, Leo could see Allan and Spade¡¯s dots moving down to the east and west wing respectively. He would take the south.

    Ducking his head, the former [Thief] raced ahead as fast as he could manage while still keeping an eye on his surroundings. He passed by more paintings and a few tables set against the walls as decoration. He doubted the fragment would be in them, but he stopped and checked each one anyway.

    Leo¡¯s pace slowed. Up ahead, he could just barely make out the sound of approaching footsteps. Glancing around, Leo slipped into the nearest room¡ªa guest room, judging from the plain furnishings and the lack of personal possessions¡ªand closed the door, leaving a small gap just wide enough to see through. The footsteps grew louder. There was a distinctly metallic quality to them.

    He held his breath. Two shadows passed by the room. Through the opening, he could make out three guards wearing the same uniforms the ones around the manor had. His eyes narrowed. Judging from their slow pace and steady walking direction, they must be part of the nightly patrol.

    Leo did some quick calculations in his head. They hadn¡¯t run into any patrols after they¡¯d entered from the northern back entrance, and this sounded like the only one in this wing. There were probably very few guard groups: three at most, possibly just this one.

    The [Fragmentholder] frowned. Spade had said that the Gillis family was private, and nobles with wards usually didn¡¯t bother with as many guards inside, but it still felt almost suspiciously low.

    His eyes narrowed. Then again, if Darius Gillis was hunting fragments, he might purposely avoid hiring more to lower the risk of being found out. A guard could easily decide to turn him in to the city for illegally keeping fragments, especially if there was a bounty involved.

    For now, this was an advantage for them. Once the sound of footsteps had disappeared, Leo slowly cracked the door open to double check that the hallway was clear. It was.

    Taking a deep breath, the [Fragmentholder] exited the room and continued down the corridor.

    ¡ª

    Leo closed the drawer and mentally cursed. So far, he¡¯d found the kitchens, a dining room, more guest rooms, and the manor library. They were all clear. No fragment in sight.

    How much time had passed by now? An hour? Two? The moonlight didn¡¯t provide the greatest gauge.

    In the party map, Leo could see Allan and Spade¡¯s dots slowly progressing through their respective wings as well. He¡¯d been keeping an eye on them, but there hadn¡¯t been any signals yet. On one hand, that meant no one was in trouble. On the other hand, it also meant they hadn¡¯t found the fragment either.

    Leo exited the room and proceeded down the hall. There was one more room left to check in this wing, and it was situated at the very end of the corridor.

    He pushed open the heavy mahogany doors with a grunt, stumbling forward into the room. He looked around.

    There were no candles here. The sole source of light was a thin strip of moonlight that filtered in through the crack in the curtains, highlighting the edges of the desk and shelves. Leo glanced around, taking in the dark silhouettes and searching for any signs of movement. Once he was certain no one was inside, he pulled out a match and lit a nearby candle.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    It was an office. The large desk sitting in the center of the room was stacked with different papers, and a cloak had been haphazardly flung onto the back of the chair. Leo rummaged through the drawers and shelves, but he found no sign of the fragment. He moved the candle over to the papers on the desk.

    They were maps and notes, words hastily scrawled in dark ink along different circled cities and towns. Leo set the candle down and picked up the paper on top. A good chunk of it was comprised of random numbers that were meaningless to him, but a few bullet points stood out.

    DREAM, one of them read. No contact after first night. Long distance mental spell. Powerful. From south?

    Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed. This had to be talking about Sol and that first night he¡¯d used [Dreamscape], which confirmed a few things.

    First, it meant Darius had already been a [Fragmentholder] before stealing this current one or Sol wouldn¡¯t have contacted him, so he should have more than one fragment.

    Second, it meant he knew how to absorb fragments and had probably already absorbed the one from the auction.

    Leo cursed internally and set the notes down, grabbing another paper to see if there was anything he could use.

    It looked like Darius had taken extensive notes about the day the Administrator crest had shattered, managing to copy down the initial message with remarkable accuracy. There was another page dedicated to the appearance of the wall of light and theorizing about what it was. It seemed he¡¯d quickly come to the conclusion that it had to be Zelyra¡¯s Sovereign.

    Further down the stack, he had notes listing strange occurrences and other information he¡¯d heard about through rumors at aristocratic gatherings. Blood rains. Restless fae in the Vemian League. Lightning flashes above the Graveyard of Demons. A strange mist and disappearances in southern Avel.

    There was even a note about the recent tidal wave in the Glass Lake. It seemed the man was recording all of these and marking them down in an attempt to narrow down possible fragment locations.

    Leo had to admit, he was impressed with the level of detail. Darius had to be spending all his time researching when he wasn¡¯t attending noble gatherings for more information. That was how he¡¯d learned about the fragment at the auction, judging from another page of notes, but it seemed his other searches hadn¡¯t been quite as fruitful.

    The maps were covered in circles, but there were far too many to meaningfully narrow things down. It was about as vague as the actual Fragmentholder map, not to mention that a lot of those ¡°suspicious incidents¡± could have nothing to do with fragments at all. Still, just in case, Leo committed a few of the more prominent locations to memory.

    He set the pages down. While he wanted to look at the notes more thoroughly, he didn¡¯t have time.

    A quick glance at the party map showed Allan and Spade still in their respective wings. Leo carefully walked in a figure eight pattern, wide enough to get picked up on the map. He kept going until both Allan and Spade¡¯s dots repeated the shape, indicating they¡¯d seen. Good. This was their signal to regroup immediately.

    Leo exhaled and snuffed the candle, exiting the office and carefully shutting the door behind him. If they had time afterwards, he¡¯d go back and look at the papers more thoroughly, though he was pretty sure he¡¯d seen everything important. Right now, he had bigger issues.

    Darius had the fragment. If they confronted him now, they would have the element of surprise on their side. Any longer and they risked discovery, which would make fighting him significantly more difficult.

    Leo stepped as quickly down the hallway as he dared, keeping an eye out for the guard patrol from earlier. He hadn¡¯t seen them since that initial encounter, so they were probably patrolling a different wing.

    Up ahead, the corridor widened into the main entryway. He didn¡¯t see Allan and Spade yet, but their dots showed them progressing in this direction. For now, he¡¯d find a place to hide until they arrived. After that they would head upstairs to find Darius.

    Leo turned to the nearest pillar. The dark shadows behind them provided a decent hiding spot that would still afford him a full view of the staircase and connecting hallways. Given how open this area was, they were his best shot. As he moved to take a step, however, he froze.

    An icy chill crept up his spine, causing him to shudder. The hairs on his neck rose. His entire body tensed, every instinct screaming danger.

    He didn¡¯t think. Leo dove for cover seconds before an arrow embedded itself into the wall exactly where his head had been. He spun around.

    There, just in front of the manor front doors, was Asher. He wore the same cloak Leo had seen on the roof that day, the fake suit from the masquerade abandoned. A quiver hung on his back containing 30 or so arrows. The feathers were all jet black.

    Leo drew his dagger. For a second neither one moved, both studying the other. Asher¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°You should be dead.¡±

    His voice was low and gruff. Leo pursed his lips, but didn¡¯t bother giving a response.

    Allan and Spade still hadn¡¯t arrived yet. A quick check showed he couldn¡¯t use [Judgement] or other skills that directly targeted the man, the same as before, which put him at a disadvantage. But this would be different from the chase across Alnwick, he told himself. This time he was prepared.

    The [Fragmentholder] inhaled, readying to lunge, but just before he could, a notification suddenly flashed across his vision.

    [Darius has used the [Ignite] spell]

    Leo barely had time to process the words before the air around him crackled. He activated [Sprint] and leapt out of the way just as the pillar he¡¯d been using as cover exploded.

    Stray chunks of debris scattered across the entryway, smoke billowing up the high ceiling. He could feel residual heat lingering on his back, the edges of his cloak singed. Leo coughed and quickly righted himself.

    Atop the staircase stood Darius Gillis himself. The man was fully dressed in his noble finery, a sheathed sword resting at his waist. His eyes, dark brown that looked black in the light, were cold as he stared down at the former [Thief]. His hand was still raised, palm glowing with lingering magic.

    Name: Darius Gillis

    Age: 27

    Level: 37

    Class: [Fragmentholder, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Imitation Lvl 2]

    Level 37, nearly at the Tier 1 cap. Leo swallowed. He instinctively moved to take a step back, but stopped when he caught Asher advancing in his peripheral vision. Leo¡¯s eyes darted between them.

    He was surrounded.

 Chapter 81: Ignite I

    Chapter 81: Ignite I

    Leo mentally cursed, hazel eyes scanning his surroundings for any possible opening. Both Darius and Asher used long range attacks. If he tried to run into one of the connecting hallways, he¡¯d expose his back to them¡ªnevermind that they were blocking the exits anyway. In the corner of his eye, Allan and Spade¡¯s dots drew nearer on the party map.

    Darius Gillis stared down at him from the staircase, face an unreadable mask. He looked exactly like what Leo imagined when he thought of an aristocrat: cold, rigid, and detached.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± the noble asked. His voice was steady and even. ¡°What are you doing here? How did you get in?¡±

    Leo swallowed, keeping his face blank as he assessed his options. He couldn¡¯t use targeted abilities on Asher because of the bounty hunter¡¯s personal skill, but they would work on Darius. On the flipside, [Teleport Object] could deflect Asher¡¯s arrows, but they wouldn¡¯t work on spells.

    He gritted his teeth. If he could just get away from his current position so he was no longer surrounded, he¡¯d have a much better chance.

    ¡°¡­I knocked the guards out,¡± Leo answered, purposely dodging the first two questions. Behind him, Asher spoke up.

    ¡°He broke the manor wards.¡± His voice was blunt and rough.

    So they¡¯d realized it. Darius frowned, cocking his head in thought. His hand, however, remained raised, though the glow from his last spell had faded by now.

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t have done that alone. Who else is with you?¡±

    ¡°No one.¡± Leo carefully adjusted his grip on his dagger. ¡°It¡¯s pretty easy to break a ward stone if you know what you¡¯re doing.¡± The words came out sharp and pointed. Though he couldn¡¯t see Asher behind him, he could practically feel the bounty hunter¡¯s eyes narrow. Darius looked thoughtful.

    ¡°This is the one who followed you?¡± He spoke as if Leo wasn¡¯t even there. To him, the former [Thief] was probably little more than a minor nuisance. A pest.

    Asher grunted in assent. ¡°Fucker chased me halfway ¡®cross the damn city.¡±

    ¡°You broke the ward,¡± Leo retorted. ¡°You know how many people died because of those Echoes?¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] heard the man snort behind him, but he was more focused on Darius. The noble¡¯s eyes narrowed, and slowly, he descended down the staircase until he was on the ground floor in front of him.

    ¡°Are you suggesting that you¡¯re a vigilante out for revenge? Do you expect me to believe that?¡±

    Leo heard Asher pull his bow string taut.

    ¡°You¡¯re a fragment hunter, aren¡¯t you.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] pursed his lips. ¡°So are you.¡±

    Darius stopped walking a few feet in front of him. Those dark eyes were cold, assessing. ¡°Who else is with you?¡± he asked again. The tip of his finger began to glow with a dark maroon light. ¡°How did you learn about the fragment?¡±

    Leo took a slow step back even as he barked out a laugh. ¡°I already told you, no one¡¯s with me. It¡¯s really not that hard to break in; you might wanna work on your security.¡±

    Darius¡¯s eyes narrowed. The light glowed brighter, but this time Leo was ready.

    A fraction of a second before the man fired the spell, he activated [Visual Illusion], projecting a false notification in front of his vision. It didn¡¯t matter what it was; he just needed to draw his attention away.

    [ERROR: Class crest not found]

    Darius¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What¡ª¡±

    He didn¡¯t have a chance to finish his sentence. Leo lunged, dagger pointed straight at the man.

    Before the blade could reach him, however, he heard the sound of a string snapping and spun around just in time to see an arrow flying towards him.

    Leo activated [Teleport Object] and flicked his eyes, deflecting the arrow away as a new notification flashed across his vision. The air around him heated.

    [Darius has activated the [Ignite] spell]

    With a burst of speed aided by [Sprint], Leo barely managed to throw himself to the side as the spell whizzed past his shoulder, slamming into the wall and shaking the entire entryway. A few cracks formed along the stone, the wallpaper now burnt black.

    Leo skidded along the ground, using a hand to keep himself upright as the smoke from the explosion filled his nostrils. He cursed. He¡¯d been so close. The former [Thief] coughed. His eyes watered, but he forced them to stay open.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    It was good that he did, because almost immediately a second arrow pierced through the smoke. He barely activated [Teleport Object] in time. The projectile disappeared then reappeared, flying harmlessly into the nearby pillar. Asher gritted his teeth.

    ¡°How the fuck are you doing that?¡±

    Leo didn¡¯t bother answering. He vaulted over a jagged chunk of rubble and sprinted along the walls of the area in an attempt to reach one of the connecting corridors. Darius seemed to realize what he was doing, because another [Ignite] spell engulfed the nearest hallway in flames before he could reach it, cutting him off.

    Leo¡¯s mind whirred. Thinking fast, he grabbed onto the closest pillar and began to climb. The surface was hard to get a grip on, but he forced himself to move as quickly as possible. The pillar would provide cover from Asher¡¯s arrows, but the same couldn¡¯t be said for Darius¡¯s spells.

    Below, the maroon glow strengthened. Another spell would be coming soon. He had to move now.

    Taking a deep breath, Leo threw himself off the pillar and towards the chandelier hanging from the center of the room. For a moment in the air, he felt weightless¡ªthen gravity took hold and he was hurling towards the chandelier.

    He reached out and grabbed onto one of the curling arms. His shoulders screamed at the impact, but he didn¡¯t let go. The chain above the chandelier creaked and the whole thing swung violently. Leo used that lingering momentum to propel himself across the room just as the next explosion went off behind him.

    [Darius has activated the [Ignite] spell]

    The [Fragmentholder] landed hard. He felt stray debris dig into his back and something snapped, but adrenaline kept him moving. He heard a loud crash as the chandelier fell to the ground. More smoke billowed up from it.

    Leo flipped over and hurled a throwing knife in Asher¡¯s direction as the bounty hunter began to pull his bow back again. He yelled, which Leo took to mean the knife had found its target. He didn¡¯t actually have time to check, because in the next moment a sword pierced through the smoke and swung straight towards him.

    Leo rolled over, the blade stabbing the ground where his head had just been, and scrambled onto his feet in time to parry the next strike.

    Darius stood in front of him, the noble¡¯s sword drawn and eyes dark as he forced the blade forward. Leo¡¯s arms shook with exertion as he struggled to stop the blade from slicing into his neck, his dagger barely managing to keep it at bay. He aimed a kick at the noble¡¯s stomach, using the temporary distraction to shove the sword back and twist away, putting some more space between them.

    Leo¡¯s breaths came in heavy pants. His vision was a bit blurred; he suspected he would be in a much worse state if Allan hadn¡¯t used [Fortify] earlier. He activated [Mana Recovery] as he forced himself to assess the surroundings.

    The chandelier had landed in the center of the floor during Darius¡¯s last attack, a bit of lingering fire burning around it and forming a rough barrier splitting the area in half. Asher stood behind the fallen chandelier wrapping his arm where Leo¡¯s knife had sliced into it. The crude bandage was bloody, but the injury itself didn¡¯t look serious enough to stop him for long. The [Fragmentholder] swallowed. Everything still smelled like smoke.

    Fire. Damn it, why did it have to be fire of all things? A noble manor, fire, even the sound of chains as the chandelier had fallen. It all felt like a poor mockery of his past. If he wasn¡¯t in his current situation, Leo would laugh at how ironic it was.

    He adjusted his hold on his dagger. Darius stood watching him, assessing. Calculating. If he hadn¡¯t thought Leo was a threat before, he did now.

    He took a step forward, then another. In a sudden burst of speed, he thrust the sword at Leo.

    [Darius has activated the [Lunge] skill]

    Leo activated [Sprint] at the same time and dodged to the side, the sword burying itself into the wall, but it looked like the noble had predicted that. His free hand surged forward, gripping onto Leo¡¯s arm and holding him in place. His palm glowed maroon.

    He couldn¡¯t get away in time. Leo braced himself for pain.

    A string of notifications flooded his vision.

    [Darius has activated the [Shock] spell]

    [Spade has activated [Duelist¡¯s Challenge]. Target: Darius]

    [Spade¡¯s damage to [Darius] boosted. Penalty applied to [Darius]¡¯s damage when attacking another foe]

    Leo screamed. Sharp, stinging pain burst from his arm and coursed up the limb in a bolt. His muscles convulsed, his dagger falling to the ground with a clatter, and he desperately tried to wrench himself away.

    Vision blurry and ears ringing, Leo fumbled for one of the throwing knives on his belt and flung it in the direction of the noble. He didn¡¯t see if it hit, but the vice grip on his wrist loosened enough for him to yank his arm away.

    He stumbled back, still dizzy from the shock as he struggled to process everything. Hands grabbed his shoulders, steadying him. He almost elbowed the person on instinct, but stopped when a familiar voice spoke.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Allan¡¯s worried voice sounded in his ears. The [Healer] raised a hand, a wave of ultramarine light washing over the cuts and scrapes he¡¯d collected thus far.

    [Allan has activated the [Mend] spell]

    By now, the pain of the [Shock] spell was beginning to fade and he felt more aware again. Leo forced his breaths to steady.

    Closer to the collapsed chandelier, he recognized Spade trading blows with Darius, the noble¡¯s face twisted into an uncharacteristic snarl as they fought. If the [Executioner] hadn¡¯t activated [Duelist¡¯s Challenge], the damage from [Shock] probably would¡¯ve been much worse.

    The glow from [Mend] faded and Leo exhaled.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± he breathed. On closer inspection, Allan had a few bloodstains on him as well, but he didn¡¯t seem to be injured. Had he run into the guard shift? Leo¡¯s eyes darted around the room.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Asher?¡±

    As if on cue, Leo felt the air shift. He instinctively shoved Allan back as a black-feathered arrow flew past them and embedded itself into the wall.

    On the other side of the entryway, Asher, arm now bandaged, drew another arrow from his quiver.

    Leo slowly picked up his fallen dagger, eyes never leaving the bounty hunter in silent challenge. In his peripheral vision, Allan raised his axe as well.

    He could hear the ringing of metal to his left where Spade and Darius fought. A few lingering embers glowed from the broken pillars and chandelier, outlining the five figures clustered together in the space. There was nowhere to hide.

    This was it.

 Chapter 82: Ignite II

    Chapter 82: Ignite II

    Leo¡¯s heart pounded so loudly that he was sure the others could hear it. He swallowed, his eyes never leaving Asher.

    The bounty hunter was moving more cautiously now, more careful in the way he used his arrows now that he knew Leo had a way to counter them. The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s eyes briefly flitted over to the quiver hanging from the man¡¯s back. The amount was slowly but surely dwindling.

    A loud explosion rang from close by, shaking the ground slightly. Leo could see Spade dodging through the smoke. The [Executioner] seemed to be holding up fairly well, but with Darius continually firing spells, she had no way of getting close.

    Leo¡¯s mind churned. Right now, they needed to deal with Asher. Once his arrows were out of the equation, they could team up against Darius. He¡¯d just have to hope Spade could hold the man off for that long.

    Leo inhaled and flung a throwing knife in Asher¡¯s direction. The man dodged and released his arrow, but Leo had expected it. He leapt to the side as it whizzed past and sprinted forward. In the corner of his eye, he caught Allan racing ahead on the opposite side of the man.

    Asher fired another arrow, lightning quick, and Leo activated [Teleport Object]. He vaulted over a large chunk of debris, using the momentum of the jump to throw himself in the bounty hunter¡¯s direction.

    His dagger plunged into the wall as Asher ducked below the swing. An elbow flew at Leo¡¯s face, and he barely managed to let go of his knife and duck down in time. He swept his leg around in an attempt to knock the man over, but Asher was quick on his feet, leaping backwards to put more distance between them.

    Just as he moved to draw another arrow, an axe slammed into the wall an inch away from his neck. Allan cursed and went for another swing while Leo hurriedly yanked his dagger out of the wall.

    Asher nimbly adodged the [Healer]¡¯s attacks, easily evading them with his speed. He reached for the knife hanging from his belt. Leo lunged.

    A second before his dagger could reach the man, another explosion shook the area.

    [Darius has activated the [Ignite] spell]

    Leo stumbled, barely managing to remain on his feet, but the brief break in concentration gave Asher enough time to twist away.

    Across the space, a fresh hole had been blasted into one of the walls. Jagged pieces of wood and cracked stone collapsed onto the ground in broken heaps. Lingering flames burned brightly, and for a second Leo was worried Spade had been caught in the blast before he made out the [Executioner]¡¯s form a little ways away.

    ¡°Leo!¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] snapped around just in time to activate [Teleport Object] as another arrow flew straight towards him.

    The arrow was immediately followed by a punch to the gut that knocked the wind out of his lungs. Leo¡¯s vision blurred, and he fumbled for his dagger. He caught the gleam of a knife swinging towards him when Asher was suddenly yanked back.

    Allan had appeared behind the bounty hunter, arms straining as he held him in place. His axe lay on the ground a few feet away, likely having fallen during the previous explosion.

    Leo immediately used the chance to slash at Asher¡¯s neck, but in the blink of an eye, he vanished.

    Leo swung around, eyes wildly searching only to finally spot the man standing near the bottom of the stairs. He cursed. So close, he thought. He¡¯d nearly forgotten about the escape skill.

    [Darius has activated the [Ignite] spell]

    Umber light flashed. Leo quickly grabbed Allan and pulled both of them behind one of the few standing pillars. Two arrows flew past where their heads had been mere seconds ago.

    Hidden behind the pillar, Leo allowed himself a brief moment of rest. His breaths were heavy, and he quickly activated [Mana Recovery]. Even with [Fortify], they wouldn¡¯t be able to keep this up for long.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Allan said beside him. The [Healer] also sounded out of breath. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t dropped my axe, I could¡¯ve¡ª¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°Not your fault. I messed up too.¡± He peered out from behind the pillar, just far enough to see what was happening. Spade was on the other side of the room and utilizing the debris as cover. Darius barely looked tired¡ªjust how much mana did he have?

    They couldn¡¯t just hide here forever. Eventually Asher would either approach or he¡¯d start targeting Spade, and the [Executioner] wouldn¡¯t be able to deal with both of them at once.

    [Darius has activated the [Ignite] spell]

    Another explosion rocked the entryway, more plumes of grey smoke filling the space. Leo coughed. His throat felt dry and stinging. It was already hard enough to land a blow on Asher, nevermind the constant blasts messing with their balance. He paused.

    The blasts.

    Slowly, an idea began to form in Leo¡¯s mind. He quickly scanned the area again, noting the wide range of the magic and the position of the staircase. He eyed the party stat sheets to confirm, and he felt his heart race as more of the pieces fell into place.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    It was risky, dangerous, and probably only had a fifty percent chance at working. But they had to try.

    ¡°Allan,¡± Leo said. ¡°I think I¡¯ve got an idea.¡±

    ¡ª

    The clang of clashing metal rang clearly throughout the entryway. Spade had managed to get close and was duelling Darius with her sword, but the noble looked like he was trying to put more distance between them. The two¡¯s proximity was probably the only thing that was stopping Asher from shooting, but the second Darius got away again, the bounty hunter would aim.

    Leo¡¯s fingers tightened around his dagger. They had to act now.

    He gave Allan a nod, and with one final inhale, he bolted out from behind the pillar. He was vaguely aware of Allan running around the perimeter of the room behind him, the [Healer] using the pillars and debris to hide him from view, but Leo kept his gaze focused on Asher.

    The bounty hunter¡¯s eyes flashed as the [Fragmentholder] came into view, and his lips twisted into a sneer. Leo met the gaze with narrowed eyes of his own.

    He jumped over a fallen pillar and hurled a throwing knife at the man. Asher rolled to the side, landing in a crouch and immediately shooting another arrow that Leo deflected. He could see the man scowl at that. Good. The more angry he was, the more he¡¯d keep his attention on him.

    ¡°Enough,¡± the man snarled. He let loose another arrow, but this time Leo dodged it and countered with one of his own throwing knives. It went wide, but it was enough to temporarily draw Asher¡¯s attention away.

    Leo activated [Sprint] and quickly closed the distance. He swung at the man, but Asher blocked it with his own knife. Leo gritted his teeth. His hand shook as he attempted to push forward, but the opposing blade held firm.

    A flash of movement appeared in the corner of his eye. A leg swept towards his torso, and Leo immediately vaulted over Asher. He used the bounty hunter¡¯s shoulders to propel himself upwards and attempted to yank at the quiver straps, but Asher quickly realized what he was doing and shoved him back.

    Leo landed on the opposite side of the man in a crouch, his back now to the stairs. One of his legs stung, screaming at him, but he ignored the pain. In front of him, Asher fumed as he straightened his quiver straps.

    ¡°You persistent little¡ª¡±

    Leo¡¯s mouth twisted into a sneer. ¡°Maybe,¡± he said, ¡°you should get better at aiming.¡±

    Asher¡¯s eyes flashed dangerously. Lightning quick, he shot another arrow that Leo barely managed to deflect in time. In the corner of his eye, he caught Spade and Darius still fighting towards the center of the space and Allan approaching the stairs on the opposite side. It was now or never.

    Leo spun around and raced up the staircase with the aid of [Sprint]. He ran in a zigzag pattern, silently praying that he¡¯d gotten Asher angry enough to follow him.

    Sure enough, the sound of pounding footsteps soon sounded from behind. He was fast¡ªfast enough that he¡¯d catch up in no time at all.

    Adrenaline pumped through Leo¡¯s veins. He was quickly approaching the top of the staircase, and he could hear Asher getting closer and closer. Come on, he thought.

    And then, the notification he¡¯d been waiting for appeared.

    [Darius has activated the [Ignite] spell]

    ¡°Allan! Now!¡±

    Leo flung himself towards the railing and gripped on for dear life just as a mix of ultramarine and umber light filled the entryway. His ears rang as another blast echoed throughout the space, but his attention was fixed below him.

    At the bottom of the staircase, Allan slammed his hand down onto the first step.

    [Allan has activated the [Even Path] skill]

    The stairs rumbled, clouds of dust rising as they began to turn over and flatten down into a smooth slope.

    Asher¡¯s eyes widened. He stumbled as he attempted to jump away, but it was too late. He plummeted backwards towards the ground floor, but he wouldn¡¯t land far enough, Leo realized. The explosion was too far away.

    Without thinking, Leo released the railing.

    He skidded down the steep slope, ignoring Allan¡¯s panicked shout and barely managing to stay upright. The wind whipped violently past him, the soles of his shoes heating as he rapidly approached the ground. There, he could see where Asher had landed and was now climbing back to his feet.

    [Darius has activated the [Ignite] spell]

    Leo hurled himself at the bounty hunter as burning heat burst in front him, shoving the man forward with all his force. He heard a piercing scream, the sizzling of flames followed by the painfully familiar stench of burning flesh.

    He was still falling, still moving. He couldn¡¯t stop himself, the momentum driving him forward towards that bright fire with no end in sight. This was it. Leo closed his eyes and braced himself for pain.

    At the last second, a hand grabbed onto him and yanked him back.

    Leo tumbled backwards onto the ground, landing in a heap. He quickly scrambled up and saw Allan behind him.

    The [Healer] was panting, his chest heaving with exertion. Leo¡¯s own limbs felt shaky and weak from the close call, and he could still feel the lingering heat of the fire on his skin.

    ¡°Never,¡± Allan gasped out, ¡°ever do that again.¡±

    A hysterical laugh bubbled up Leo¡¯s throat, and if he was in any other situation, he might¡¯ve let it loose. ¡°I promise,¡± he said.

    By then, Asher¡¯s screams had faded. The thick plumes of smoke began to settle, revealing the bounty hunter¡¯s collapsed body, unmoving and charred beyond recognition. Leo swallowed and looked away, suppressing the memories that rose at the sight.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [The skill [Dagger Proficiency] has leveled up! Current level: 3]

    [Progress towards next level: 71%]

    Leo barely processed the notifications flitting by his vision. Instead, he scanned the area, quickly locating Spade on the other side of the entryway. The [Executioner] had a long burn running down one arm and her breaths were heavier than usual, but grey eyes remained trained on Darius.

    The noble stood in the center of the room, his sword drawn and other hand still raised. A bit of smoke rose from his palm. His dark eyes briefly passed over Asher¡¯s dead body, but he otherwise paid him no attention. In the light of the hissing fires, his eyes seemed to glow.

    Leo¡¯s jaw tensed. Slowly, he rose back to his feet and raised his dagger again. Asher was dead, but it wasn¡¯t over yet.

    They still had one more person to deal with.

 Chapter 83: Ignite III

    Chapter 83: Ignite III

    Leo carefully stepped over a stray piece of rubble. He rubbed his nose, attempting to block out the smell of burning flesh that was quickly filling the space. His limbs still felt shaky, and he moved over to pick up one of the throwing knives he¡¯d tossed earlier that had landed nearby. With this one included, he only had five more left. Beside him, Allan raised his axe.

    Darius Gillis stood in the center of the wrecked entryway, eyes still fixed on Spade. Cleary he¡¯d recognized the [Executioner], if the animosity present in his expression was anything to go by. Leo tensed and adjusted his grip on his knife. If they hit him now while he was focused on Spade, they might be able to land a blow.

    The man raised his arm, palm glowing a rich umber hue.

    [Darius has activated the [Ignite] spell]

    Leo rushed forward before he¡¯d even finished reading the notification, aided with a burst of [Sprint]. As he reeled his arm back to fling the dagger, however, the glowing light burst. The resulting explosion knocked him backwards. His throwing knife landed on the ground several feet away with a clatter.

    He cursed, reaching out a hand to stop himself as he slid across the floor. Across the room, Spade had managed to dodge, but the pillar next to where she¡¯d been standing had been completely shattered. Getting close would be harder than he thought.

    A flash of movement zipped past the corner of his eye. Allan raced forward and swung his axe at the man, who turned around just in time to block with his sword. The resulting clash of metal rang loudly throughout the space. Leo could see the [Healer] narrow his eyes as he attempted to push the blade back, but it held strong. Darius raised his other hand.

    [Darius has activated the [Shock] spell]

    Leo yanked a throwing knife out and flung it at the man¡¯s outstretched hand on instinct. It dug into the flesh, and the man yelled and reeled back. Bolts of lightning dispersed harmlessly from his palm.

    Darius spun around to face Leo, the cut on his hand now dripping blood down onto the dirtied floor. He raised his wounded arm in the other [Fragmentholder]¡¯s direction.

    Allan rushed forward to intercept his next spell, but the resulting blast from his next [Ignite] was enough to blow him backwards. Leo barely managed to scramble out of the way in time, rejoining Allan.

    [Darius has activated the [Renewal] skill]

    The cut on the man¡¯s hand began to close. Of course he¡¯d have a healing skill, Leo cursed, and it looked like he had more than enough mana to keep firing spells without a care.

    His eyes narrowed in thought. So far the man hadn¡¯t used [Shock] very often, even when he¡¯d been sparring Spade in close quarters, so that spell must have a much longer cooldown than [Ignite] did. He¡¯d just used it. They needed to get close now while it was still on cooldown.

    Pounding footsteps rang out from behind the man. A gleaming sword thrust towards the noble, who barely managed to leap out of the way in time. Spade followed the strike with an arcing swing that Darius only dodged with the aid of a backwards [Lunge], putting more distance between them.

    Leo leapt up and struck out with his dagger, not giving the man the chance to use more of his magic. The swing went wide, but Allan was there in an instant to follow up with his own attack.

    [Allan has activated the [Cleave] skill]

    The blade of his axe came crashing down towards Darius. He hastily raised his sword to parry, but the force of the swing was enough to knock him backwards in the direction of Spade. He attempted to push them all away with a wide sweep of his sword, but they dodged and kept going.

    Leo¡¯s heart raced as they continued to batter the man with attacks, pushing him closer and closer towards the wall. It was working, he thought. Despite his higher level, Darius couldn¡¯t fight all three of them at once, and they weren¡¯t giving him enough time to use [Ignite]. Once he was cornered, he would have nowhere to run.

    Darius gritted his teeth, anger flashing in his eyes as he was forced further and further back. His back hit the wall with a thump, and Leo surged forward to deal the final blow.

    The man ducked under the swing and slammed his hand down on the ground.

    [Darius has activated the [Ignite] spell]

    The floor exploded. Leo screamed as he flew backwards from the blast, sharp pieces of rubble and debris slicing into his skin as he tumbled through the air. He¡¯d barely managed to block his face with his arms, and he could feel the skin there burning with heat.

    Leo landed hard against a pillar. He gasped as the impact knocked the breath out of his lungs. He felt one of his ribs crack. He groaned, clutching his chest and desperately attempting to get back on his feet. His vision was blurry, his ears ringing. Across the entryway, the thick plumes of smoke were only just beginning to settle, revealing the cracked, shattered remains of that section of the ground.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    Leo attempted to yank himself up with the aid of the pillar. His ribs stung, but he ignored it and kept going.

    Through the dissipating smoke, he could make out Spade¡¯s figure a few feet away, the [Executioner] slowly climbing back to her feet. One of her shoulders was bleeding where a piece of shrapnel had dug into it, and her sword had landed on the other side of the room. Her breaths were heavy, face covered in grime. Leo imagined he didn¡¯t look much better.

    Where was Allan? Leo desperately scanned the space, trying to make out shapes through the smoke.

    He finally spotted the [Healer] by the foot of the staircase. He was attempting to get back to his feet, his own axe having landed several feet away. He reached a hand out for it, but a shadow moved in the smoke behind him. Leo froze.

    ¡°Allan!¡± he called out. His throat felt like it was burning, his voice hoarse and dry.

    The warning was a second too late. Darius lunged and grabbed the [Healer], wrenching him backwards before he could pick up his weapon. Allan cursed and attempted to elbow the man, managing to land a blow to his jaw, but his grip held firm.

    [Darius has activated the [Shock] spell]

    Bright beams of light flashed as lightning burst forth from the man¡¯s palm. Leo yelled, but his voice was drowned out by Allan¡¯s piercing scream as the lightning coursed through him. He thrashed, desperately trying to escape, but the magic didn¡¯t stop.

    It felt like ages before the light finally faded. The [Healer] slumped down to the ground, limbs twitching. Leo was terrified for a second that he¡¯d died, but then he saw the man¡¯s chest move. He was still breathing. It was shallow, but he was alive.

    The momentary relief was quickly replaced with anger. White hot rage flared in his chest like a roaring wildfire. Leo gritted his teeth and forced himself all the way up to his feet, ignoring the sharp stabbing pain in his chest.

    In front of the stairs, Darius grabbed Allan¡¯s collapsed form, yanking him up by his hair. Leo could see the [Healer] fighting to stay conscious as he attempted to bat the man away.

    ¡°Let. Him. Go,¡± Leo bit out, his voice echoing throughout the enclosed space. Darius narrowed his eyes. He yanked Allan¡¯s head back and raised his sword to the man¡¯s neck. Leo barely resisted the urge to lunge right then and there.

    ¡°I want your fragment,¡± the noble said. Even as exhausted as he was, his voice still managed to sound commanding. His gaze shifted over to Spade, who¡¯d gotten back to her feet. His eyes narrowed. ¡°And the executioner¡¯s head.¡±

    The roaring anger rose. Leo¡¯s fingers clenched into a fist. He forced himself to take a deep breath. Damn it, what was he supposed to do? What could he do?

    His eyes flitted desperately around the ruined entryway as he tried to think of a way out of this situation. He¡¯d dropped his dagger during the explosion and only had two throwing knives left on his belt. Spade didn¡¯t have her weapon. Allan¡¯s limbs were still twitching slightly, and it was clear he was struggling to keep his eyes open.

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s mind raced. Could he distract Darius with [Visual Illusion]? No, he couldn¡¯t risk it when his sword was so close to Allan¡¯s neck, and the man already knew about his illusions. One wrong move, one misplaced movement, and Allan was dead.

    Darius pressed the blade closer, and Leo could see a thin line of red forming. His heart raced. He was running out of time. If he could just get his arm away, something.

    ¡°Well?¡± the noble taunted. ¡°What¡¯s your answer?¡±

    Leo opened his mouth, then closed it again. He had a clear line to Darius. He just needed a distraction.

    Beside him, stray debris crunched as Spade approached. She was gripping her wounded shoulder to stop the bleeding, grey eyes fixed on the two across the room. When she spoke, her voice was low, just barely loud enough for Leo to hear.

    ¡°How many knives do you have left?¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes briefly darted over to her, then back to Darius and Allan. ¡°Two,¡± he murmured. She nodded slowly.

    ¡°Give me one.¡±

    The [Fragmentholder] wasn¡¯t sure where she was going with this, but he carefully slid one out of his belt and handed it to her, keeping his eyes on Darius the whole time. ¡°What¡¯re you planning?¡± he asked uneasily.

    Spade adjusted her grip on the dagger and turned to face Leo, grey eyes gleaming in the flickering flames. ¡°You need a distraction, right?¡± She raised her other hand.

    ¡°Don¡¯t miss.¡±

    In a single motion, she dug the blade into her arm.

    [Spade has activated the [Empathy] personal skill. Target: Darius]

    Blood gushed out from the cut, dripping down the [Executioner]¡¯s arm and onto the floor. Across the entryway, Darius screamed. Crimson bloomed from the fabric of his sleeve. He hunched over and clutched his arm in pain, dropping Allan in the process.

    Leo didn¡¯t have time to think, to process what had happened. He acted on pure instinct.

    In a burst of speed, he activated [Sprint] and surged forward towards the other [Fragmentholder], racing across the wrecked entryway. He reeled his arm back just as Darius looked up.

    In one violent swing, he carved his knife into the man¡¯s throat.

    [You have gained experience! Experience shared with [2] other party members]

    [You have leveled up! 300 points awarded]

    [You have gained a new skill: Return]

    [Progress towards next level: 23%]

    The notifications flitted past Leo¡¯s vision, and for a moment he simply stood there, adrenaline still pumping through his veins. Darius collapsed in a heap, landing on the ground with a thump. The noise was enough to snap him back into focus.

    ¡°Allan!¡± Leo spun around and hurried over to where the [Healer] had landed. He was struggling to get up to his feet, and he bent down to help. Hazel eyes quickly scanned the man.

    Allan¡¯s face was pale, his breaths heavier, and he had a thin cut across his neck where the sword had touched. But he was okay. Leo felt a wave of relief wash over him.

    ¡°Is he dead?¡± the [Healer] asked once he¡¯d caught his breath. He nodded his head in Darius¡¯s direction. Leo glanced back.

    The noble now lay on the ground, bleeding red from both the wound on his arm and his neck. Leo could see how deep the knife had dug, the flesh at his throat flayed open and dripping crimson into a growing puddle on the floor. His eyes stared lifelessly ahead, body utterly still. Across the room, Spade stepped towards them, clutching her bleeding arm.

    Leo exhaled and slowly nodded.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡±

 Chapter 84: The Next Fragments I

    Chapter 84: The Next Fragments I

    As the adrenaline of the fight began to fade, Leo suddenly felt aches and pains all over his body. His hand was still a bit shaky from the earlier [Shock] spell, and his lungs heaved for air. He swallowed. His throat was dry; everything smelled and tasted like smoke and iron, and the entryway was completely destroyed.

    But it was done. They¡¯d managed to beat both Asher and Darius.

    Leo checked his mana, finding he had just enough left to use [Renewal], and quickly activated the skill. Allan raised a hand, but he stopped him and gave a firm shake of his head.

    ¡°Heal yourself first,¡± he insisted. The cut on the [Healer]¡¯s neck had long stopped bleeding, but the dried red there was still a terrifying reminder of how close of a call that had been.

    Leo shuddered. He¡¯d known things would be dangerous, and the whole fiasco on the Glass Lake had had plenty of near misses, but that had been different. He¡¯d fought Sonia alone and hadn¡¯t actually seen Allan or Spade¡¯s fights. It was one thing to come near death himself¡ªit was another thing entirely to watch it happen to a friend. Especially when that friend was only in that situation because of him.

    Allan frowned. By now, the earlier dizziness seemed to have cleared from his eyes, and replacing it was a growing look of frustration. Leo would¡¯ve expected a bit of fear or maybe even relief that the ordeal was over. The [Healer] didn¡¯t seem to think the same.

    Behind them, the sound of footsteps approached, and Leo turned to see Spade calmly striding forward. Her walk was a bit more uneven than usual, indicating that she must¡¯ve hurt her leg, and she was clutching the bloody wound on her arm, but her face otherwise gave no indication of pain. Grey eyes swept over Darius¡¯s corpse, lingering on the deep cut at his throat.

    ¡°That was a good strike,¡± she said. ¡°Quite accurate.¡±

    Leo frowned, gaze lingering on her arm. Now that the battle was over, he had time to fully process what had happened. He could still vividly recall the [Executioner] stabbing the dagger into her arm, then Darius¡¯s subsequent scream as the same wound appeared on him.

    It seemed Allan had been aware enough when it happened because he, too, was staring at the injury. He took a step forward and raised a hand.

    [Allan has activated the [Mend] spell]

    Ultramarine light glowed from his palm. Spade raised an eyebrow, but moved her hand to give the [Healer] better access to the cut. With nothing covering it, it looked much worse.

    Dark red freely dripped down from the sliced open flesh, falling onto the ground below. The [Executioner] apparently hadn¡¯t had any qualms about stabbing her own arm, if the depth of the wound was any indication. She hadn¡¯t held back at all.

    ¡°¡­That was your personal skill, wasn¡¯t it.¡± It wasn¡¯t really a question.

    ¡°Yes, it was,¡± Spade said simply. She remained still, letting Allan continue to stitch the flesh back together with his magic. Leo opened his mouth, then closed it again. She seemed to understand his unspoken question, however, because she continued.

    ¡°It lets me create a link to a target. While the link is active, any wound I receive is mirrored on the target and vice versa.¡± Her eyes shifted over to Darius¡¯s dead body, then back. ¡°I cut off the link before you attacked.¡±

    Leo nodded slowly. He¡¯d never heard of a personal skill like that¡ªhe couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of event would spur its creation, either. It sounded like a double-edged sword to him. Even just now, if she hadn¡¯t stopped [Empathy] in time, she would¡¯ve died when Leo sliced Darius¡¯s throat. It was a terrifying thought.

    Leo found himself staring at the scars covering the [Executioner]. How many of those were from that skill? Another thought struck him, and he furrowed his brow.

    ¡°But that¡¯s just the active effect, right?¡± Based on her stat sheet, [Empathy] was at level 3, so it should also have a passive effect.

    Spade was silent for a moment. Leo thought she might not answer, but finally, she spoke in a simple, matter-of-fact voice.

    ¡°The passive effect lets me see connections between people.¡± She gestured at him. ¡°I like to think of them as stains. Every person has their own signature, and when you interact with someone, part of that mark is left on you.¡± She chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s quite useful for tracking.¡±

    As Leo processed the information, several pieces began to slot together in his mind. Realization dawned on him.

    ¡°Hold on, so when you said you wanted to join us because you were looking for someone, you mean I¡ª¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know them,¡± she interrupted. ¡°You have a stain on your aura that the person I¡¯m looking for also had.¡± She cocked her head. In the dying embers of the surrounding flames, her eyes seemed to gleam in the light like sharpened blades¡ªdangerous and intense. ¡°It¡¯s an indirect link, but that indirect link is more than I¡¯ve found anywhere else.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Leo didn¡¯t know what to say to that. Lenore¡¯s words suddenly rose in his mind unbidden. For everyone¡¯s sake, I hope she never succeeds. He was still missing so many details, but he thought he was beginning to understand what she¡¯d meant.

    The ultramarine light of [Mend] faded, and Allan exhaled, finally stepping back. The cut was no longer bleeding from what Leo could see, and it seemed mostly closed.

    ¡°That¡¯s all I can do with [Mend],¡± the [Healer] muttered. ¡°I¡¯m going to wrap it a few times. As long as you don¡¯t move it around too much, it should be fine.¡±

    At the mention of bandages, Leo glanced around the ruined entryway. Nearly every part of the floor was damaged in some way, and only two pillars remained standing. Between the chunks of rubble and burned wood, Leo could see his scattered knives as well as their bags. He hurried over to them, pulling out a roll of bandages and tossing it at Allan. The [Healer] nodded gratefully and turned to begin wrapping Spade¡¯s wound.

    In the meantime, Leo gave his notifications a more thorough read. He¡¯d been too caught up in the fight before, but now that they were no longer in combat, he read through his newest skill¡¯s details.

    [Return - Mana cost: Medium. After throwing an object, allows the user to summon the object back to their hand. The object will fly back in the shortest direct path possible. At higher levels, the range and allowed weight of the object increases.]

    He certainly could¡¯ve used a skill like that just now, Leo thought somewhat bitterly. Unfortunately he didn¡¯t have enough mana to test it right now, so he instead elected to move around the area collecting all his fallen throwing knives and daggers.

    As he did so, he used 200 points to raise both his agility and resistance up by 1. His encounter with Darius¡¯s magic had been more than enough for him to want to keep the latter stat high; he couldn¡¯t imagine how much worse [Shock] would¡¯ve been if his resistance was lower.

    The last 100 points he used to raise [Return] to level 2. He suspected that skill would become crucial for fights in the future.

    Leo stored away the last knife, picked up their bags, and returned to where Allan and Spade were by the stairs. By then some of the smoke had finally begun to settle, and he was anxious to get outside and inhale the fresh air again.

    Allan stood back after tying off the last bandage. He and Spade had been conversing in low voices, too quiet for Leo to hear, but whatever conversation they¡¯d been having seemed to have come to an end by the time he reached them. Based on the frown on Allan¡¯s face and his furrowed brows, it must not have been a pleasant one.

    ¡°I got our stuff,¡± Leo said, dropping the bags at their feet. He glanced around, but he couldn¡¯t see any signs of movement nearby. Allan and Spade must¡¯ve knocked the guard patrol out before they reached the entryway.

    Still, he wanted to get out of the manor as quickly as possible. The fight would¡¯ve at the minimum lit up the windows, and at its worst someone might¡¯ve heard the explosions. Who knew when guards would arrive to investigate.

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s gaze landed on Darius¡¯s still corpse, and he swallowed. He¡¯d spent all that time questioning Sol and testing it himself to see if he could remove a fragment without violence. With the noble dead, none of that mattered anymore. Darius couldn¡¯t willingly give up the fragment now even if he wanted to. Leo stared down at his dagger, then back at the motionless body.

    ¡°Do you need to cut the fragment out?¡± Spade asked. Leo nodded slowly.

    ¡°Yeah. It should be in the chest.¡± One hand moved unconsciously over to his own sternum where Sol had pointed. ¡°Right about here.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°I can remove it if you¡¯d like,¡± she said. ¡°It would hardly be the worst thing I¡¯ve done.¡±

    Leo shuddered. ¡°Thanks for the reminder,¡± he muttered. He¡¯d almost forgotten about the [Executioner]¡¯s other main job back in Sindrey. ¡°Really nice imagery.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    Leo spun around. Behind him, Allan stood staring down at Darius¡¯s corpse, a strange look in his eyes. He frowned.

    ¡°You sure? I can do it myself. It¡¯s kind of my responsibility anyway.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Allan said with a surprising amount of force. Leo blinked. The [Healer] must¡¯ve realized how he¡¯d sounded, as he quickly backtracked and added, ¡°I mean, I¡¯ve been studying anatomy from that book. I¡¯m the party healer now, right?¡± He smiled, though it was a little crooked. ¡°This¡¯ll be good practice.¡±

    Leo glanced down at the dagger in his hand, hesitant. It was clear the [Healer] wasn¡¯t being entirely truthful about his motives. His eyes drifted back over to the dried cut at his neck. Maybe this was some kind of revenge or a form of closure. That kind of thing seemed out of character for Allan, but at the same time, given how close to death the man had been, he didn¡¯t want to deny him something that might make him feel better, either.

    ¡°¡­Okay,¡± Leo finally said, slowly handing the knife over. Allan took it, fingers wrapping tightly around the handle. For a moment he simply stared down at the blade, then after a pause, he stepped over to Darius¡¯s corpse and crouched down.

    The ensuing process made Leo more queasy than he¡¯d like to admit. He swallowed, but forced himself to keep watching as the [Healer] methodically cut open the man¡¯s chest with a clinical precision. He shuddered a little at the squelching sounds. It didn¡¯t help that neither Spade nor Allan seemed at all affected by what was happening. Still, this was what he¡¯d signed up for. He¡¯d never be able to become the Administrator if he couldn¡¯t even handle this much.

    After what felt like hours but likely only amounted to a few minutes, Allan finally stepped back. One of his hands was covered in blood and flesh and other things Leo preferred not to think about. He opened his fingers. In the center of his bloody palm sat a large fragment.

    ¡° ¡­It really was there,¡± Allan murmured, staring down at the shard with something akin to wonder.

    Leo grabbed a scrap piece of cloth and handed it over to the man, who wiped off his hand and then the fragment. With the blood removed, Leo could now see the distinct golden specks dancing beyond its glassy surface. His brows furrowed. It looked a lot bigger than usual.

    Clearly he wasn¡¯t the only one to have noticed, as Spade raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°That looks larger than the other two were,¡± she commented.

    Allan dropped the cleaned fragment in Leo¡¯s palm. It was cool to the touch. He frowned at it, remembering when he¡¯d experimentally removed his own fragments earlier.

    Slowly, he raised a finger and nudged the shard.

    It split into three.

 Chapter 85: The Next Fragments II

    Chapter 85: The Next Fragments II

    Leo¡¯s eyebrows rose. He poked the fragments in disbelief, half convinced it was an illusion, but they were very real. It looked like Darius had been a lot more successful with his fragment hunting than he¡¯d thought.

    ¡°Is that¡­?¡± Allan sounded just as surprised, and Leo nodded, holding them out for the [Healer] to get a better look.

    ¡°Looks like Darius managed to find a lot,¡± he murmured. Allan¡¯s gaze shifted back to Leo. He frowned, brows furrowing.

    ¡°Will you be able to absorb them all at once?¡±

    Leo paused at that. ¡°Shit, you¡¯ve got a point.¡± He squinted down at the shards again. ¡°I think I should be able to? It might hurt a lot though.¡± He cringed, remembering the last two instances. ¡°Actually, if it gets worse the more fragments you have, I might go unconscious for a bit.¡±

    ¡°You might want to hold off on that, then,¡± Spade interrupted. When Leo turned to face her, he found the [Executioner] standing by one of the windows, peering out into the night. She jerked her head outside.

    ¡°Guards. They¡¯ll be here soon.¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes widened, and he immediately scrambled to grab his bag while Allan did the same. He briefly glanced down at the shards, and after some consideration, he stuffed them into the pouch on his belt and tied it securely. They needed to get out before the guards arrived¡ªthen he¡¯d absorb the fragments and deal with whatever consequences came afterwards.

    Hazel eyes darted around the ruined entryway. ¡°Where¡¯re they coming from?¡± he asked.

    ¡°The main road. If we leave from the back, we should be able to circle around to the southern gates before they arrive.¡±

    Leo nodded. He turned and quickly made his way down the hallway while Allan and Spade followed behind. They had to take a bit of a detour due to rubble blocking the most direct route, instead cutting through the east wing. His feet pounded against the manor floors, mentally thinking back to the floor plans.

    He turned the corner, only to nearly trip over something. He stumbled and spun around, hazel eyes landing on the guard patrol he¡¯d seen earlier. They lay motionless on the ground, limbs sprawled out in crooked angles. Their heads had been bashed in, the bloody wounds already starting to dry, and their skin was pale and lifeless. He stared at the bodies.

    ¡°Leo?¡±

    Allan¡¯s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He quickly shook his head and continued running. Right now, they needed to get out of here.

    Leo continued down the corridors, finally spotting the back door. They¡¯d left it unlocked, and it was easy to swing open. A blast of cold night air hit him on the face, and he gulped down the fresh breeze, glad to finally be rid of the smell of smoke.

    He glanced around, scanning their surroundings, and saw the guards and the gardener they¡¯d knocked out were still unconscious. He couldn¡¯t hear anyone else nearby, so he hurried outside and turned towards the forest.

    Branches snapped and leaves rustled above them. Between the trees, he could just barely make out distant torchlight as the guards Spade had spoken of approached the manor. He directed his attention back to the path ahead. As soon as they exited the forest, they would be just by Alnwick¡¯s southern gates.

    Up ahead, the trees began to thin, the wall of light glowing softly down on them. Leo¡¯s pace slowed. Here at the southern gates, the massive stone walls gave way to thick metal doors chained and locked tightly together. He could see two guards standing at the gate sides, helmets down as they peered ahead of them.

    Leo cursed under his breath. His eyes flitted back to the manor. The group of guards were approaching the front lawns and would see the unconscious guards soon. They¡¯d have to move quickly.

    He bent down, hiding within the trees, and preemptively pulled out his lockpick. With the element of surprise, they could knock the guards out and he¡¯d hopefully be able to pick the lock and get the gates open before the next group arrived.

    He nodded at Allan and Spade, gesturing towards the two guards. With a final inhale, he jumped out of the trees, readying to lunge at the closest one.

    Just before his hit could land, however, the guard yelped and jumped back in a decidedly undignified manner. Leo paused. That voice sounded familiar.

    The guard reached up and raised his helmet, and Leo was suddenly face to face with Kai. His eyes widened.

    ¡°What the¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shh!¡± the [Receptionist] hissed, looking frantically around, but it was just them. The second guard chuckled from her position, and Leo easily recognized the voice as Lenore¡¯s.

    ¡°No time to dawdle. You¡¯d better leave while you still can,¡± the woman drawled. Leo¡¯s gaze shifted over to the side. Sure enough, hidden in the shadows of the wall, two guards had been knocked unconscious, stripped of their armor, and tied up. Leo let out a disbelieving laugh.

    ¡°No need to thank us,¡± Lenore said in an amused voice. ¡°Go on now. Shoo.¡±

    She made a waving gesture, and after another huff of laughter, Leo turned and carefully pushed open the gates. They¡¯d already been unlocked and were easy to move, though the metal did squeak more loudly than he¡¯d like. The [Fragmentholder] hurriedly stepped through, but paused at the last moment, hesitant. He glanced back at Kai and Lenore, then at the distant group of guards approaching.

    ¡°Are you two gonna be okay?¡± Clearly they were good enough to knock out the guards, but he couldn¡¯t help but worry a bit.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we know what we¡¯re doing,¡± Lenore said. Her eyes briefly shifted over to Spade, an unspoken conversation passing between them. She reached over and shoved something into the [Executioner]¡¯s hands before turning back to Leo.

    ¡°You can pay me back the next time you stop by Alnwick. I expect 500 gamils as compensation,¡± she joked.

    Leo snorted at that, but gave the woman a grateful nod. She smiled and put her helmet back on.

    With one final glance back at the city, Leo turned and ran down the dirt path, Allan and Spade following. They kept running, not stopping until Alnwick was nothing more than a shadowy silhouette behind them.

    ¡ª

    After what felt like hours, Leo finally stopped. He hunched over to catch his breath. His stamina had already been low after the fight in the manor, and this certainly hadn¡¯t done it any favors.

    Still, when he straightened again, he couldn¡¯t see anyone following them. The road was empty as usual in the night, and they¡¯d stopped in a patch of trees bordered by tall boulders that further hid them from view. Leo allowed himself to slump back against one of the tree trunks, a wave of exhaustion crashing over him.

    ¡°Okay, I think we¡¯re clear,¡± he said. Allan nodded, but he was looking over at Spade curiously.

    ¡°What did Lenore give you?¡± he asked.

    In response, the [Executioner] unfurled her hand, holding up a dried flower. It looked like the ones they¡¯d seen on the Pearl¡¯s wreath. There wasn¡¯t anything else on it that Leo could see¡ªno note or anything. Spade, however, smiled at it before setting it in her bag. Whatever message had been there had clearly come across to its intended recipient.

    A cool breeze blew past, rustling some of the leaves. It was fairly deep into the night, and Leo was glad the Silence hadn¡¯t shown up. If it had, tonight would¡¯ve been even more chaotic than it already was.

    After checking again to make sure no one was on the road, he carefully removed the three shards from his pouch. They looked exactly the same as before, and after closing his fist around them, they easily merged back into one larger shard that shone under the moonlight.

    ¡°Are you going to absorb all three at once?¡± Allan frowned. ¡°Is that a good idea?¡±

    ¡°Probably not,¡± Leo admitted. ¡°But it shouldn¡¯t kill me or anything, and I¡¯d rather get it over with.¡± If Darius had three shards while remaining largely stationary in Avel, there were definitely those with far more who were alive and well. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if people like Sol, Zelyra¡¯s Sovereign, or the Empire¡¯s High General had well over a hundred at this point.

    Leo took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He wrapped his fingers tightly around the shard, letting it sink into his palm.

    [ALERT: New class crests detected]

    [ERROR: Duplicate class crests found]

    [Combining class crests]

    [ERROR: Class crest incomplete]

    [Customizing class features and skills]

    [Adjusting class options]

    [You have gained 900 bonus points! You can now select how to distribute your bonus points among your party]

    Leo had already mentally prepared himself for pain, but it was somehow even worse than he¡¯d thought. If the last two times had felt like something being drilled into his skull, this was like someone ripping his head into two.

    He lurched forward, almost crashing into the ground before a hand grabbed onto his arm and steadied him. An ultramarine light glowed in the corner of his eye, and almost immediately the pain dulled some.

    [Allan has activated the [Pain] spell]

    He must¡¯ve learned that after their last level up, Leo thought, though the name of the spell was a little misleading given its apparent effect.

    His breaths evened a bit as the pain faded to a more manageable ache. He shot the [Healer] a grateful look, but kept most of his attention on the notifications currently flooding his vision.

    [Select an existing spell or skill, excluding your personal skill, to upgrade]

    [Select a spell from the previously discarded options below]

    [Message - Mana cost: Low. Enables the user to project a simple message telepathically to anyone within sight. The distance is unlimited for party members. At higher levels, the recipient is able to respond, the target distance increases, and the user is able to project a different voice than their own.]

    [Firebolt - Mana cost: High. An offensive spell that shoots a focused stream of fire. The spell excels in precise attacks against a single or a few targets. At higher levels, it gains distance, speed, power, and the flames become hotter and capable of burning objects within the stream¡¯s general vicinity.]

    [Auditory Illusion - Mana cost: Low. Enables the user to project a small auditory illusion onto a singular target. The illusion is intangible, audible only to the target, and the target must be within the user¡¯s line of sight. The illusion must be shorter than 5 seconds in duration and contain sounds that the user is naturally able to produce without assistance. The maximum and minimum volume of the sound is the same as that of the user¡¯s unassisted voice. At higher levels, the illusion gains duration, can target more creatures at once, and can project different types of sounds.]

    [Shockwave - Mana cost: Medium. An offensive close range spell that shoots out a minor electric shockwave originating from the user. This spell does minor damage to anyone within its range excluding the user and temporarily inflicts the [Stunned] condition. The amount of damage and effectiveness of the [Stunned] condition is dependent on the target¡¯s resistance stat. At higher levels, the spell increases range, damage, and the [Stunned] condition lasts longer.]

    Leo expected it to stop there, but the messages kept flooding in.

    [Select two additional spells from the options below]

    [Air Walk - Mana cost: Medium. Enables user to step on air as though it is a hard surface. At its initial level, the spell is only active for one second. At higher levels, the activation length of the spell increases and spell cooldown decreases.]

    [Veil - Mana cost: High. Enables user to create an illusory shroud up to five feet around them on all sides. The veil moves with the user. While within the veil, all sound is silenced. Living beings inside the veil and objects carried by those beings become invisible to those outside the veil¡¯s range. After leaving the veil, they become visible again. The veil has a limited duration and immediately vanishes as soon as the user casts another spell. At higher levels, the range and duration of the spell increases.]

    [Distant Eyes - Mana cost: Low. Enables user to see through the eyes of a target. While the spell is active, the target¡¯s vision completely replaces the user¡¯s own. At its initial level, the spell can only be used on willing targets who the user has previously touched. At higher levels, the range and duration of the spell increases and the user gains the ability to select unwilling individuals as targets.]

    [Inflict Condition - Mana cost: Medium. Enables user to inflict one of the following status conditions on one target the user touches: [Stunned], [Blinded], [Deafened], [Dazed]. The conditions are listed in order from shortest to longest duration. The effectiveness of the condition is dependent on the higher of the target¡¯s resistance or constitution stats. Spell duration and effectiveness increases at higher levels.]

    Leo waited, but it seemed the notifications had finally stopped. For now.

    He exhaled. By then, the pain had fully dulled to a distant ache, and the light from Allan¡¯s magic disappeared. Now with a clear-head, Leo carefully read through the options again to make sure he hadn¡¯t missed anything.

    Now, he thought. What to pick?

 Chapter 86: The Next Fragments III

    Chapter 86: The Next Fragments III

    Leo¡¯s head reeled at the sheer number of notifications. He took a deep breath. One thing at a time, he told himself.

    First he noted the bonus points from the fragments¡ª900 was a staggering amount for him to wrap his head around. For now, he¡¯d hold off on distributing them until after his spell selections in case that affected things.

    His eyes moved down to the small message claiming he could select a skill or a spell to upgrade. He frowned. He¡¯d never had an option like this before, and he wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. The wording of ¡°upgrade¡± rather than level up made him think it would be an expansion of the skill or spell¡¯s scope. A horizontal movement rather than a vertical one, you could say.

    With that in mind, he quickly scanned his current stat sheet. It was a shame [Judgement] was explicitly excluded, he thought. An upgrade to his personal skill would¡¯ve been interesting. He shook his head and continued thinking.

    Leo immediately ruled out any passive skills. Those all had fairly clear, specific effects, and they leveled with use. A few of the active skills he considered, but the uncertainty of what an ¡°upgrade¡± would entail made him hesitant. What would an upgrade of [Renewal] do? Would it let him heal other people? Was that stretching the scope of the skill too far?

    He focused on his current spells, [Visual Illusion] and [Teleport Object]. Right now these two were probably his best options, so he¡¯d have to consider what he¡¯d get from upgrading them.

    He pulled up their individual descriptions again, reading through them. If he was right about what ¡°upgrade¡± meant, he thought it was a fair guess that an upgrade to [Visual Illusion] would include other sensory components.

    [Teleport Object], on the other hand, was a lot harder. The spell already specified that the size limit, distance, and amount of objects he could teleport would increase with levels. Would an upgrade mean he could teleport himself? If that was the case then taking it was a no brainer, but he wasn¡¯t so sure it would do that.

    Leo had already been given multiple types of illusion spells as options, but he hadn¡¯t received any self-teleport skills or spells, which meant they were probably beyond his current level. He doubted the System would let him extend teleportation to himself this early on. It felt like too much of a stretch for an ¡°upgrade.¡±

    Not only that, but if [Teleport Object] kept its current method of following eye movement to determine final location, it wouldn¡¯t be very accurate or reliable even if it did let him teleport himself. He seriously doubted the spell¡¯s activation conditions would change.

    Leo stared intently at the notifications, aware that he probably looked ridiculous to Allan and Spade right now. He could take a risk on upgrading [Teleport Object], not knowing what the result would be, or he could upgrade [Visual Illusion], which he had a much more clear understanding of.

    His eyes briefly moved down to the next string of messages, and he bit his lip. Upgrading [Visual Illusion] would also have the bonus of cutting down on his next spell selection since he¡¯d be able to ignore [Auditory Illusion] from the options.

    Screw it. Leo distinctly remembered all the time he¡¯d spent trying to get his throwing knives to teleport where he wanted them. There was a reason he¡¯d used the spell mostly defensively during the last fight. Plus, he liked the flexibility of illusions. He might regret this, but if he got the option to upgrade a skill or spell every few fragments, then he could always upgrade [Teleport Object] in the future anyway.

    Taking a deep breath, Leo chose to upgrade [Visual Illusion]. His vision flashed, swirling golden lights flooding his surroundings for a moment, before a new screen appeared.

    [You have upgraded [Visual Illusion] to [Intangible Illusion]]

    [Intangible Illusion - Mana cost: Medium. Enables user to project a small illusion on a singular target within the user¡¯s line of sight. The illusory image created must be smaller than a five foot cube and lasts a maximum of 10 minutes. During its duration, it can produce sounds that the user is naturally able to produce without assistance. The maximum and minimum volume of the sound is the same as that of the user¡¯s unassisted voice. This illusion is visible and audible only to the target. At higher levels, the illusion gains size, duration, can produce different types of sounds, and can target multiple creatures at once.]

    As Leo predicted, it had indeed merged [Visual Illusion] with [Auditory Illusion]. Not only that, but the size of the illusion had increased to a five foot cube. He was pretty happy with it, all things considered. He could already picture himself getting a lot of uses out of it.

    Satisfied, Leo moved on to the next series of notifications. He hadn¡¯t thought he¡¯d be able to pick from his old discarded options, but the fact that he could opened up new possibilities. It made him a little less nervous about missing out on a good ability, for one. Maybe he¡¯d be allowed to pick from old options and upgrade skills or spells every five fragments?

    Regardless, he read on. He could now rule out [Auditory Illusion], which left [Message], [Firebolt], and [Shockwave]. He still liked the utility of [Message], but it seemed redundant with [Intangible Illusion]. He could just project an illusion on someone to send a message. The spell did have the benefit of unlimited range with party members, and it let the recipient respond, but so far they¡¯d gotten by pretty well by using walking patterns on the party map for signals. He didn¡¯t feel too bad about discarding it¡ªprobably for good this time.

    That left [Firebolt] and [Shockwave], two offensive spells with different purposes. [Firebolt] was a long range damaging attack while [Shockwave] was a close range spell that primarily functioned as a form of crowd control, judging by the way the description specified that it only dealt minor damage. [Shockwave] would be good for escaping a tight spot, especially if he was up against multiple enemies at once, while [Firebolt] would let him safely deal with enemies at range.

    Leo¡¯s brows furrowed. His old concerns with [Shockwave] were still there. He couldn¡¯t choose who he targeted, so the risk of hitting Allan or Spade was very real. Allan seemed to prefer fighting with his axe, judging from the battle against Darius and Asher, and Spade definitely fought at close range. They also didn¡¯t have any strong long-range attacks right now. His throwing knives only went so far.

    Leo decided to look at his new spell options before making a decision, in case they affected his choice. The four options were all very enticing¡ªthis was probably the hardest decision he¡¯d had yet. At least he got to pick two of them instead of just one, Leo thought.

    When he read [Air Walk]¡¯s description, his first instinct was that the duration was too short to be useful. But after he sat and thought about it a little more, a second was long enough to jump at least twice, maybe more given his high agility. And if he combined the spell with his [Sprint] skill, he¡¯d probably be able to get more distance out of it than he thought.

    It was definitely still limited, but he liked the idea of having more movement options, plus it synergized well with [Sprint], [Acrobatics], and his high agility stat. Every time those three things improved, [Air Walk] would get better by proxy, and of course the duration would lengthen as the spell leveled as well.

    [Veil] was also a tempting pick. Its ability to grant invisibility in a limited range would make it incredibly useful for sneaking into places. It would be much more powerful than [Fade into Background].

    He did note that it didn¡¯t look like he could choose what was affected by the veil; anything within its range became part of it. That limited its offensive uses since a thrown object would become visible after leaving the shroud and he¡¯d become visible if he went for a close range attack, though it would still help him keep the element of surprise. No, the main use he currently saw was as a means of escape. If they were being chased, he could put up [Veil] and their pursuers would be none the wiser.

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    On the other hand, [Distant Eyes] was every bit as useful as the previous options. He was especially curious to see how it would interact with his ¡°line of sight¡± spells and skills. [Teleport Object] still had a designated range, but [Distant Eyes] could let him teleport objects into another room if he used the vision of someone in that room. [Intangible Illusion] also had a line of sight range¡ªhe could use [Distant Eyes] on Allan or Spade while they were far away and project an [Intangible Illusion] on whoever they were dealing with. It sounded like it would synergize incredibly well with his current abilities.

    That brought him to the last of the spell options, [Inflict Condition]. It seemed to work a lot like [Shockwave] did, though it traded [Shockwave]¡¯s burst range and minor damage for more status options on a single target. Leo didn¡¯t mind the latter; having to touch the person he was targeting removed one of his biggest concerns with [Shockwave].

    It was true that he could only use the spell in close combat, but he could easily see the spell swinging the tides of a fight on its own. If he¡¯d had it during the fight against Darius just now, they probably would¡¯ve finished things much earlier, and Allan wouldn¡¯t have been put in such a dangerous position.

    Leo frowned. Out of the former discarded spells, it was between [Firebolt] and [Shockwave]. If he took [Shockwave], he probably wouldn¡¯t take [Inflict Condition] to avoid too much overlap. Which one was he leaning towards, though?

    The [Fragmentholder] scanned the list again. Huh. The System hadn¡¯t actually given him an offensive spell option this time around. Before, it looked like it had been cycling through different elemental attacks, but maybe it had stopped giving him the choices altogether after he¡¯d repeatedly rejected them.

    Depending on which of [Firebolt] or [Shockwave] he picked, he guessed the System would adjust his future spell options to be in line with that choice. His eyes narrowed. If that was the case, he¡¯d much rather choose [Firebolt] in the hopes of getting more long range attacks. But what about the new spells?

    He was taking [Distant Eyes] for sure, Leo thought. It synergized extremely well with his current abilities, and he¡¯d only get more use out of it the more spells and skills he got. It opened up too many possibilities for him to justify skipping it.

    As for the last pick, he was a lot more evenly split. [Air Walk] was a good but limited movement skill that would get better over time. [Veil] was an extremely powerful choice that would be immediately beneficial, but its future use wouldn¡¯t change as much as a spell like [Air Walk]. He could say the same about [Inflict Condition], to be honest. It would get more effective at higher levels, but the spell description sounded like it would always be a touch range spell.

    In the end, that was the deciding factor. It physically hurt to pass up on [Veil] and [Inflict Condition], but he¡¯d always liked flexible options that stayed relevant far into the future. He only had so many spell slots, after all. [Air Walk] would keep getting better, probably exponentially so, and synergized well with his current fighting style and abilities. He¡¯d have to make do with [Fade into Background] and [Stealth] for hiding, and since he was picking [Firebolt], he was committing himself to more long-range combat anyway.

    Taking a deep breath, Leo read through all his options one last time to make sure he wasn¡¯t missing anything, then silently chose [Firebolt], [Air Walk], and [Distant Eyes].

    A wave of dizziness suddenly washed over him. He reached a hand out, grabbing onto a nearby tree to steady himself while he waited for the feeling to fade. A quick glance at his stat sheet revealed that the spells had taken hold. Now all he had to do was distribute his bonus points.

    First he raised his mana by 3 points. He¡¯d just gained three new spells; he¡¯d need all the mana he could get. He raised his magic up by 1 point for the same reason, though he held off on increasing it more for now. It was already as high as his strength at this point.

    That left him with 500 more points to distribute. After some consideration, he decided to raise [Firebolt], [Air Walk], and [Distant Eyes] to level 2. [Intangible Illusion] as well; it had reverted to level 1 after it was upgraded. He¡¯d have to keep that in mind for upgrades in the future.

    With 100 points left, Leo raised his agility up by another point. With [Air Walk], he was going all in on his speed, so he wanted it as high as possible¡ªespecially if they kept fighting people higher level than them.

    Finally, he was done. The screens dissipated, and Leo let out a sigh of relief. He slumped down, suddenly feeling very tired. It was either a side effect of absorbing so many fragments at once, the residual weariness of the fight and escape from Alnwick, or most likely a combination of both.

    ¡°You done?¡±

    Leo looked up to see Spade watching him from across the small clearing. The moonlight still shone brightly above, and their surroundings remained deserted.

    ¡°Yeah, I think so.¡± He shivered a little as a cold breeze blew past. ¡°There was, uh, a lot of stuff to go through.¡±

    ¡°Sure looks like it.¡± Allan was squinting at something in front of him. He¡¯d probably pulled up the party stat sheets.

    The [Healer] turned to face Leo. A large paper had been spread out on the ground in front of him; it looked like he and Spade had pulled out their map at some point. ¡°We were just talking about what road to take,¡± Allan explained. ¡°You said you wanted to go through Ivalon to Ellis, right? There¡¯s a lot of different paths in the south.¡±

    Leo leaned over, inspecting the map closely. He reached over and tapped one of the roads. ¡°This one,¡± he said. Spade raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Any particular reason why?¡±

    ¡°I found Darius¡¯s office,¡± Leo said. ¡°He had a bunch of circles all over his map. I think he was trying to find fragments.¡± He sat back again, frowning down at the wrinkled paper. ¡°I don¡¯t know which ones¡¯re real, but on that road, he had a note about disappearances and some kind of weird mist. Maybe it¡¯s a fragment, maybe it isn¡¯t, but we might as well check it out if it¡¯s on the way.¡± If the map was to be believed, they should reach the area Darius had circled within two days of travel.

    Allan hummed in agreement. Leo opened his mouth, ready to discuss more of their plans, but instead a huge yawn came out. The [Healer] laughed and grabbed the map, carefully folding it up to place back into their bags.

    ¡°Maybe we should sleep for now. It¡¯s getting late,¡± he said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take first watch.¡±

    Allan frowned at Spade. ¡°Your arm¡¯s hurt,¡± he said bluntly. The [Executioner] raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°You were hit with [Shock]. Both of you. Chances are there¡¯s still some magic lingering in your bodies. You would do well to sleep it off.¡±

    Allan looked like he wanted to argue, but couldn¡¯t come up with a decent excuse. Leo couldn¡¯t either, so after a few beats had passed, they both relented and dispersed to their respective sleeping areas.

    Leo settled down under a tall tree. The canopy provided some cover above, but he could still make out pieces of the sky between the gaps in the leaves, jutting out like dark fractures speckled with shining stars.

    He vaguely wondered if he¡¯d see Sol again that night. Maybe he¡¯d heard of the mists down south. He didn¡¯t have much time to think on it, however, before a heavy wave of exhaustion crashed over him.

    Leo rolled over and closed his eyes. For now, it was time to rest.

    Tomorrow would begin a new journey.

    ¡ª

    Name: Leo

    Age: 24

    Level: 24

    Class: [Fragmentholder, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Judgement Lvl 3]

    Strength: 15

    Magic: 15

    Constitution: 14

    Agility: 27

    Defense: 11

    Resistance: 15

    Mana: 24

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Stealth Lvl 2], [Acrobatics Lvl 3], [Dagger Proficiency Lvl 3]

    Active Skills (5/8): [Mana Recovery Lvl 2], [Fade into Background Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 2], [Sprint Lvl 2], [Return Lvl 2]

    Spells (5/13): [Intangible Illusion Lvl 2], [Teleport Object Lvl 2], [Firebolt Lvl 2], [Air Walk Lvl 2], [Distant Eyes Lvl 2]

    ¡ª

    Name: Allan

    Age: 24

    Level: 24

    Class: [Healer, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Wrath Lvl 1]

    Strength: 19

    Magic: 19

    Constitution: 17

    Agility: 18

    Defense: 16

    Resistance: 12

    Mana: 18

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Athletics Lvl 2], [Endurance Lvl 3], [Anatomical Knowledge Lvl 2]

    Active Skills: (4/8): [Celerity Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 2], [Even Path Lvl 2], [Cleave Lvl 2]

    Spells (3/10): [Mend Lvl 3], [Fortify Lvl 1], [Pain Lvl 1]

    ¡ª

    Name: Spade

    Age: 31

    Level: 25

    Class: [Executioner, Tier 1]

    Personal Skill: [Empathy Lvl 3]

    Strength: 23

    Magic: 6

    Constitution: 23

    Agility: 19

    Defense: 22

    Resistance: 11

    Mana: 14

    Equipped Passive Skills (3/3): [Slow Bleeding Lvl 1], [Athletics Lvl 3], [Blade Proficiency Lvl 4]

    Active Skills (6/8): [Reckless Wager Lvl 2], [Precision Lvl 2], [Renewal Lvl 2], [Duelist¡¯s Challenge Lvl 2], [Cleave Lvl 2], [Guard Lvl 2]

 Chapter 87: Warnings

    Chapter 87: Warnings

    Sol didn¡¯t appear that night. They spent the next day traveling south towards the area Darius had circled, the sun beaming down on them from high above. There wasn¡¯t another soul on the road. The path they¡¯d chosen was a narrower one, a bit off the main course, but the silence was still a bit disconcerting.

    ¡°If fragment hunting is becoming a problem, people might be staying indoors for safety,¡± Allan suggested. Leo was inclined to agree with the assessment, though if the previous wrecked village was any indication, avoiding travel wouldn¡¯t save anyone.

    The trio continued making their way south, though they took a few more breaks than usual. All three had some lingering injuries from the fight at the manor: Spade¡¯s arm was still wrapped, Allan looked a lot more weary than usual and had the scar on his neck, and Leo could feel various aches and pains throughout his body from scrapes and bruises. Considering what they¡¯d accomplished last night, though, he thought they¡¯d earned a slower travel day.

    Now, Leo sat amidst a field of tall grasses, casually tossing his dagger up and down. Allan was checking Spade¡¯s wounds a little ways away, leaving the [Fragmentholder] on watch.

    He eyed a nearby tree consideringly. After some thought, he hurled the dagger at the trunk, where the blade buried itself into the wood. Focusing, he activated his new skill, [Return]. Almost immediately, the dagger flung itself backwards as though pulled by an invisible thread, and Leo nearly didn¡¯t close his fingers around the handle in time. As the skill description had said, it had flown back in a straight path, and it was a lot faster than Leo had thought it would be. He grinned. It was better than he¡¯d hoped.

    He should test his new spells too, he thought. Leo glanced around. Considering he was surrounded by vegetation, [Firebolt] might be better left for another day. [Intangible Illusion] and [Distant Eyes] would both require someone else¡¯s help, though he was fairly confident he¡¯d be able to use those without much issue. That left [Air Walk].

    Leo rose to his feet and scanned the road. It was as deserted as it had been all day. Spade raised an eyebrow in the corner of his vision, the [Executioner] able to see him while she sat waiting for Allan to finish with her wound, but he ignored her gaze. Instead, he took a deep breath, then jumped upwards and activated [Air Walk].

    It started out the same as normal, a standard jump, but as he began to fall back down towards the earth, his feet abruptly hit something hard. Leo stumbled and landed ungracefully on the ground.

    ¡°Ugh.¡± He sat up again and brushed some dirt off his clothes, frowning. The spell seemed to work by creating invisible ¡°platforms¡± in the air that he could step and jump on like hard surfaces, but it would definitely take some getting used to. He could control where the ¡°platform¡± appeared, but he¡¯d need to practice more to get it right.

    ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± Allan asked. The [Healer] had finished rebandaging Spade¡¯s wound and was now watching him with an amused expression.

    ¡°Testing a new spell,¡± Leo said. ¡°It¡¯s, uh, a work in progress.¡±

    ¡°Huh. Is that one,¡± Allan paused and squinted, presumably reading off the party stat sheets, ¡°¡­Air Walk?¡±

    Leo nodded. ¡°Yep. I think it¡¯ll be really useful, I just need to practice more.¡±

    ¡°You might want to save that for later,¡± Spade interrupted. The [Executioner] nodded at the road, and Leo immediately lay down so that he was hidden behind the tall grasses.

    After a few moments of tense silence, three figures appeared from the south. As they got closer, Leo could make out what looked like a family of three. They were dressed in cloaks, their attire worn, and they were carrying heavy bags, the younger man pulling a wagon behind him stuffed with carefully balanced pieces of furniture. Leo frowned. The group certainly didn¡¯t look dangerous, and they didn¡¯t even glance at the tall fields, simply continuing north at a steady pace until they¡¯d vanished from view.

    Leo waited a little longer after they¡¯d gone before slowly sitting up again. Based on their bags and the wagon, it looked like the family had been moving north, maybe even to Alnwick. That wasn¡¯t too unusual on its own, but combined with the rumors he¡¯d read about in Darius¡¯s office, he wondered if they were running from whatever was happening down south.

    His mind wandered back to the brief glimpse he¡¯d gotten of the family. All three of their eyes had looked dull and lifeless.

    He met Allan and Spade¡¯s gazes, and he could tell they were thinking the same thing. Leo swallowed and stood, brushing off his clothes. Something heavy and cold settled in the pit of his stomach.

    ¡°We¡¯d better get moving,¡± he muttered.

    ¡ª

    By the time they stopped for the night, they were just above the area Darius had highlighted.

    Here, the surrounding forest was much thicker, growing right up to the road with no bare patches to serve as delineation. It looked like a place where people could disappear, Leo thought, which certainly didn¡¯t help his growing antsiness. So far, they hadn¡¯t seen anything odd or run into anyone besides that family earlier in the day, but he couldn¡¯t shake a feeling of foreboding.

    Logically, he shouldn¡¯t be so freaked out about a bunch of rumors that may or may not be true. They¡¯d just had a huge victory, and he was the strongest he¡¯d ever been. Still, he couldn¡¯t get rid of that nagging unease, and he trusted his instincts too much to completely ignore it.

    It ended up taking Leo an hour to finally fall asleep, a stark contrast to the previous night. But when he finally did, he was greeted with a familiar notification.

    [??? has activated the [Dreamscape] spell]

    The sound of crashing waves was almost nostalgic at this point. Leo opened his eyes, immediately greeted by the blindingly bright sunlight beaming down on the churning waters. He squinted, raising a hand to shield his vision while he looked around.

    The [Dreamscape] looked exactly the same as the last time, from the bright blossoms to the scattered petals twisting in the warm breeze. Sure enough, he spotted a familiar white gazebo deeper into the gardens. There, Sol sat at the same table, sipping from a porcelain tea cup.

    Leo made his way over to the gazebo and pulled out the opposite chair, raising an eyebrow at the steaming pot of tea resting on the table.

    ¡°Can you taste that in here?¡±

    Sol carefully set his cup down with a light clink. Assuming this was a tea set he actually owned, it only further confirmed that he must be very wealthy. The cup had elaborate designs painted on its sides that looked vaguely Ellisian, but Leo was no expert on art (as Lenore had shown him), and it could¡¯ve easily been imported.

    ¡°I can choose to turn different senses on and off while we¡¯re here,¡± Sol explained. He picked up the teapot and carefully poured a second cup, which he pushed towards Leo with a nod. ¡°Please, give it a try. I¡¯m quite fond of this blend.¡±

    Leo eyed it suspiciously, but it wasn¡¯t like he could poison him through a dream. He figured the worst that could happen was that it tasted like shit, so after another pause, he picked it up and took a gulp.

    He was immediately hit with a subtle mixture of floral and woody flavors. Leo raised an eyebrow and set it back down. Sol smiled.

    ¡°Good, isn¡¯t it?¡±

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    ¡°It is,¡± Leo admitted. ¡°Tastes expensive.¡±

    Sol chuckled at that, but didn¡¯t try to deny it. He took another sip of his tea, looking far more sophisticated than Leo could ever manage, before setting his cup down again. ¡°How have you been?¡± he asked.

    The [Fragmentholder] blinked. ¡°Uh, pretty okay, I guess. Thanks for telling me about the fragment removal thing, by the way. I tested it and it worked.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you need not thank me for that,¡± Sol said warmly. ¡°I do hope it was helpful.¡±

    Leo cringed, an image of Darius with his chest cut open flashing in his mind. ¡°Uh, not this time, but I¡¯ll keep it in mind for the future.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Sol¡¯s expression was sympathetic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The other method is not easy.¡±

    Leo shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll get over it,¡± he muttered. He paused, briefly wondering if he should ask Sol about the weird mist Darius had written about. If he did that, though, he¡¯d fully be giving up their location. He shook his head. ¡°Uh, was there something you wanted to talk about?¡± he asked instead. He must¡¯ve used [Dreamscape] tonight for a reason.

    ¡°Yes, about that.¡± Sol nodded at the other [Fragmentholder]. ¡°I must confess that I have not been entirely truthful to you.¡±

    Leo immediately tensed at that. ¡°...What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve known your location this entire time.¡±

    Leo looked up sharply, alarm bells blaring in his mind. His hand instinctively moved to the dagger at his waist, only to find his fingers grasping at air. Leo glanced down. Sure enough, neither his dagger nor his throwing knives were here. Then again, even if they were, he couldn¡¯t hurt anyone in a dream anyway. He mentally cursed, readying to drain his mana if he needed to.

    ¡°How?¡± His voice was blunt, harsh.

    Sol simply watched him, the man¡¯s expression as calm and unreadable as always. After a few beats of silence had passed, he sighed.

    ¡°In truth, a certain set of [Fragmentholders] have access to a more detailed version of the fragment map. It displays exact locations, the number of shards each person has gathered, and a few additional details.¡± He cocked his head. ¡°Given my use of [Dreamscape] early on, it was fairly easy for me to match names and faces with the information from the map.¡±

    Leo¡¯s mouth opened, then closed again. What could he say to that? He could feel his heart racing in his chest as the implications of the words hit him full force.

    Sol knew exactly where he was, and he wasn¡¯t the only one. How many [Fragmentholders] had access to that version of the map? Should he expect to wake up one day to a [Fragmentholder] about to slice his chest open for his shards? How was he ever supposed to relax again knowing something like that?

    Something touched his hand, and Leo jumped. He looked over to see Sol had rested his hand on his in a calming gesture. The man looked as serene as ever, watching the former [Thief] patiently.

    ¡°If it helps relieve some of your stress,¡± he said, ¡°you are unlikely to be a target in your current state. Very few [Fragmentholders] have access to that version of the map, and the ones who do would not bother attacking someone with so few fragments. We primarily use the map to monitor each other¡¯s movements.¡±

    A half-disbelieving, half-hysterical laugh bubbled out of Leo¡¯s throat. ¡°So you¡¯re saying I shouldn¡¯t be scared ¡®cause I¡¯m too weak for anyone to care about.¡±

    Sol smiled and sat back again. ¡°Well, I would phrase it differently, but essentially yes.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Okay. Sure.¡± Leo¡¯s brain was still moving a mile a minute, and it was taking every ounce of willpower he had to not completely fly off the handle. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

    Honestly, if he really thought about it, he shouldn¡¯t be surprised that the fragment map could get more detailed. Sol had been vague, but it was very likely that the ones with access to that map were those with core fragments, which meant there were less than twenty total. That was still way more people than he¡¯d ever want to know where he was at any point in time, but it did sound like Sol was pretty uniquely able to identify exact identities, and it was true that he was probably nothing more than an insect to high level [Fragmentholders] with a lot of fragments. It was still unnerving, still something that would probably keep him up at night, but not quite as world-shattering as it had felt at first.

    Hazel eyes focused on Sol. Despite knowing his location this entire time, the man hadn¡¯t attacked them either despite more than likely having the means to do so, if his magic range was any indication. And he had been telling the truth about fragment removal and generally helpful so far. He wouldn¡¯t go so far as to say he trusted him, but he was at least willing to hear him out.

    ¡°¡­Okay. So you¡¯ve known where I was this whole time. That¡¯s not creepy at all.¡± He frowned. ¡°Does that mean you know where all the [Fragmentholders] are?¡±

    ¡°Theoretically yes.¡± He cocked his head. ¡°However, I was only able to deduce exact identities as a result of [Dreamscape]. A few [Fragmentholders] placed mental barriers before I could use the spell on them, so I do not know who they are.¡±

    Now that Leo thought about it, that map would also explain how Sol had known exactly where to target with his [Dreamscape] spell, which meant that he¡¯d gotten a core fragment very early on. He might¡¯ve even had it since the initial scattering.

    Leo nodded slowly, a thin smile curling at the corner of his lips. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s too much to hope that you¡¯ll just. Forget where I am,¡± he said dryly.

    Sol chuckled at that. ¡°If it helps, I truly do not mean you any harm. If I did, you would¡¯ve known by now.¡±

    Leo shuddered. ¡°Yeah, sure, great. Really appreciate the reminder.¡±

    The other man sobered, his expression suddenly shifting to one more serious that instantly put Leo on alert. Sol pushed his tea cup aside.

    ¡°To be frank, I would not have told you this if it were not relevant. Not for deceptive reasons, but for your own peace of mind.¡±

    ¡°¡­I thought you said I was too weak for anyone with the map to hunt.¡±

    Sol shook his head. ¡°This is something else. You¡¯re currently venturing south, correct? I assume you¡¯ve heard about the disappearances in southern Avel.¡±

    Leo nodded, muscles tense. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s really a fragment then?¡±

    ¡°A [Fragmentholder],¡± the other man corrected, ¡°and a rather dangerous one at that.¡±

    Every new word put Leo on edge. A [Fragmentholder] implied someone deliberating targeting people, and if Sol looked so serious about it, he guessed they weren¡¯t just going after people with fragments. He swallowed. How bad was it that someone as powerful as Sol was referring to them as dangerous?

    ¡°¡­Are you saying I should run away?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°No, but I do suggest you exercise additional caution.¡± He gazed down into his tea cup, the liquid shining slightly under the illusory sun. ¡°I do not call him dangerous because I don¡¯t believe you can handle him. Rather, it¡¯s his exact nature that is the problem.¡±

    Sol cocked his head. ¡°I believe those of us with illusory magic possess a greater obligation to truth than anyone. We may manipulate what others see, but we ourselves must never be drawn into our own illusions.¡±

    The words struck a chord in Leo. With [Intangible Illusion], he fit into that category, too. Sol¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he continued.

    ¡°However, the [Fragmentholder] you are about to encounter is not like that. He fell mad to his own illusions long ago, and left to his own devices, he¡¯d sooner pull the rest of the world into his delusions than he would willingly wake up from them.¡±

    A chill ran down Leo¡¯s spine, and he shuddered. Something about the other [Fragmentholder]¡¯s words was deeply unsettling.

    In front of him, Sol was quiet for a moment. Finally, he smiled softly. ¡°This is not to scare you,¡± he said. ¡°I simply wanted to warn you of what you¡¯re approaching. Please, be careful.¡±

    Leo slowly nodded. ¡°Yeah, okay.¡± He swallowed. ¡°Thanks for telling me.¡±

    A [Fragmentholder] apparently making people disappear who had illusion magic and had gone mad. With every new piece of information gained, Leo¡¯s doubts were only growing. Suddenly that foreboding feeling he¡¯d had during their travels made a lot more sense.

    Sol looked up at the sky, still a clear blue, and hummed. ¡°It seems our time is coming to an end.¡± He turned to face Leo again. ¡°Thank you for speaking to me, Leo, and for heeding my warning.¡± He smiled. ¡°I truly do think you will go far. And I apologize for not telling you about the map earlier.¡±

    Leo snorted at that. Despite his nerves still being jittery, he managed to return the smile. ¡°Yeah, well, as long as you don¡¯t start giving my location out or trying to attack me, I¡¯ll let it slide for now. But maybe you could give me a heads up next time my location¡¯s compromised.¡±

    Sol chuckled. ¡°Will do.¡±

    As the next warm wind passed, scattering vibrant petals, their surroundings dissipated into a swarm of glowing lights. When Leo opened his eyes again, he was on the ground looking up at a thick canopy, the earth cool beneath him. Slowly, he rose and rubbed his forehead.

    Around them, the trees were quiet, casting long shadows along the hard earth. He couldn¡¯t see anyone else nearby. Further down that path, he knew, would be the [Fragmentholder] Sol had spoken of. He exhaled, forcing his breaths to steady. His fingers tightened into a fist.

    One thing was for sure, Leo thought. He wasn¡¯t going to run away. Not when the next fragment was so close.

    He turned his head, spotting Allan sitting up a few feet away as the last person on watch. Behind him, Spade had slept seated with her back against a tree trunk, but from her unnatural stillness, Leo suspected the [Executioner] was already awake. He swallowed, feeling Allan¡¯s curious gaze on him. It was now or never.

    ¡°I need to tell you something.¡±

 Chapter 88: Through the Fog

    Chapter 88: Through the Fog

    ¡°He knows where you are?¡±

    Leo winced, but didn¡¯t deny Allan¡¯s words. When he¡¯d first started explaining his meetings with Sol, both Allan and Spade had taken it surprisingly well. There¡¯d been some questions and concerns, of course (mostly from the former), but for the most part they seemed to agree that the possible information he could gain from speaking to the other [Fragmentholder] was worth the risks.

    This attitude had quickly changed, however, when Leo had reached their most recent meeting. He raised his hands placatingly, attempting to calm Allan¡¯s obvious alarm.

    ¡°I know, I freaked out too,¡± he said. ¡°Apparently his fragment map is more detailed than mine. I think it¡¯s a core fragment thing.¡±

    That didn¡¯t seem to assuage the [Healer] at all. If anything, it just made it worse. ¡°So anyone with a core fragment knows your location at all times?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Allan opened his mouth to respond, but Leo quickly cut him off.

    ¡°Look, I know it sounds really bad, but Sol had a point. No one with a core fragment¡¯s gonna bother with me when all I¡¯ve got are minor ones, and if Sol really wanted to attack me, he could¡¯ve done that a long time ago.¡±

    Allan frowned, and Leo continued. ¡°I¡¯m not happy with it either, believe me, but we can¡¯t really do anything about it.¡± He cringed. ¡°At least we know about it now so we can prepare for when it becomes a bigger problem.¡±

    The [Healer] was quiet at that, brows furrowed in thought. Leo waited, preparing for another argument, when the man finally spoke again.

    ¡°¡­You trust him?¡±

    Leo paused at that, thinking. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say trust,¡± he finally said. ¡°I barely know anything about him.¡± He didn¡¯t even know Sol¡¯s real name.

    He frowned, recalling every prior meeting they¡¯d had. The man¡¯s apparent distaste for violence combined with those flashes of ruthlessness, his steadfast belief in finding a worthy new Administrator. That moment he¡¯d stared out into the false ocean of the [Dreamscape], lost in old memories, appearing the most vulnerable and human he ever had. Sol was secretive, that much was undeniable, but he¡¯d never come across as insincere to Leo.

    ¡°I don¡¯t trust him,¡± he repeated, ¡°but I do think he¡¯s telling the truth about his goals. I think he genuinely believes in finding a worthy Administrator, whatever that means to him, and as long as we don¡¯t get in the way of that, he won¡¯t harm us.¡±

    Allan nodded slowly, digesting the words. ¡°Okay,¡± he finally said. ¡°If you really think so. But be careful. If anything seems off, get out of the dreamscape immediately.¡±

    Leo smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t have to tell me twice.¡± He paused and turned to the third member of their party, who had remained largely silent up until now. The [Executioner] sat leaning casually against a tree trunk, her grey eyes as unreadable as ever. He frowned. ¡°Spade? What about you? You¡¯ve been quiet.¡±

    ¡°I was thinking.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°I¡¯m trying to determine what his real identity is. You said you think he¡¯s from a southern country?¡±

    Leo nodded. ¡°His clothing looks like it, and the place we meet in the dreamscape is by the ocean. He said it¡¯s from his memories.¡±

    ¡°He could be lying,¡± Allan pointed out.

    ¡°He could be,¡± Leo agreed. ¡°He seems to have total control over everything that appears in the dreamscapes. For all I know, he might look completely different from how he does in real life.¡±

    ¡°So we don¡¯t really know anything.¡±

    ¡°Kind of, yeah.¡± Leo sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration. ¡°He¡¯s definitely a powerful mage, and he seems to specialize in illusion magic. I¡¯m 99% sure he¡¯s a noble, too, but that doesn¡¯t really narrow things down.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps the next time you meet, you can try to learn more about him,¡± Spade suggested. ¡°If he¡¯s as strong as you described, he¡¯s likely a publicly known figure. Any details would help determine his identity.¡±

    Leo nodded. ¡°Good idea. I¡¯ll see if I can get something the next time I see him.¡± Despite his words, he doubted it would be that easy. Sol struck him as a very careful person who would never reveal anything he didn¡¯t intend to, but it was still worth a shot.

    The thought of ¡®next time,¡¯ however, brought him back to their current situation. Leo turned to face the road stretching ahead of them. The thick trees cast long shadows across the path, and in the cool morning, a faint silvery mist hovered in the air that obstructed the end of the road from view. After his conversation with Sol, the unease he¡¯d felt the previous day was stronger than ever. Through that fog, they¡¯d find the next fragment.

    ¡°For now,¡± Leo said, ¡°we should be careful. If Sol was telling the truth, there¡¯s a [Fragmentholder] up ahead, and a pretty nasty one by the sounds of it.¡±

    He rose to his feet, Allan and Spade following suit, and dusted off some of the dirt that had collected on his clothes overnight. ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of illusion magic he has,¡± he continued, ¡°but be careful and keep an eye out.¡±

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    [Judgement]¡¯s passive effect would be able to catch any skill or spell use, but he wasn¡¯t sure what its maximum range was. If these illusions were cast from long distances, it might not be reliable. He''d been able to detect [Dreamscape], but that one seemed to partially jump off its target, so he wasn''t sure if it was a good estimate for [Judgement]''s range. Doubly so if this [Fragmentholder] used area illusions that didn''t target him directly. He¡¯d have to stay vigilant and remember to use the active effect whenever he saw anything new or strange.

    After a final sweep of the area and another round of [Mend], the group picked up their bags and continued deeper into the forest.

    ¡ª

    The fog was getting thicker. A faint chill had crept into the air, and Leo shivered and tugged his cloak closer. His eyes constantly scanned their surroundings as they walked; every tree and branch appeared like a hazy shadow in the mist. He could barely even make out the glow of the wall of light in the distance, and he suspected soon the fog would be thick enough that it obstructed it entirely.

    So far, they hadn¡¯t encountered anyone on the road. The path remained eerily silent¡ªhe didn¡¯t even hear birds chirping. Leo activated [Judgement] and did a quick sweep of the area, but nothing appeared. This fog, for all intents and purposes, seemed to be natural.

    He said as much to Allan and Spade, partly to break the oppressive quiet. Spade hummed.

    ¡°Before the Fall of the Ancients, southern Avel was controlled by fae. Perhaps this fog is another result of their lingering magic.¡±

    Leo felt his face scrunch up on instinct. ¡°Not the fae again,¡± he muttered. He still remembered that sight at the bottom of the Glass Lake, the looming, decaying corpse sitting in the clear waters, strings of hair drifting in the waves. It had been unsettling back then, and it still was now¡ªperhaps even more so than an actual living fae kingdom would¡¯ve been. He wasn¡¯t superstitious, but the fact that they were once again on old fae territory didn¡¯t bode well with him.

    Up ahead, a shadow moved in the fog.

    Leo¡¯s hand immediately flew to his dagger, muscles tensing as he spun around to face the attackers¡ªonly to pause as his eyes settled on the figures now surrounding them.

    They were people, about twenty or so, dressed in worn clothes with dark circles under their eyes. They held a mixture of pitchforks, shovels, kitchen knives, and seemingly anything else they could get their hands on. These makeshift weapons were now pointed at the trio, faces hard with mistrust.

    Leo swept his eyes over the group, allowing [Judgement] to pull up their stat sheets, but none of them were [Fragmentholders] or even had a Tier 1 class. He frowned. They were exactly what they appeared to be: tired, weary, and scared villagers.

    Carefully, he moved his hand away from his dagger, raising it in a show of good faith. The action didn¡¯t seem to ease the strangers much.

    ¡°Who¡¯re you?¡± the villager in the front demanded, holding his shovel up threateningly. His eyes kept darting between Leo, Allan, and Spade.

    ¡°Travelers,¡± Leo said steadily. ¡°We¡¯re heading south.¡±

    A few murmurs passed between the villagers at that, but none of them lowered their weapons. Beside Leo, Allan spoke, his own hands also raised placatingly.

    ¡°Please, we don¡¯t mean any harm,¡± the [Healer] assured. ¡°We¡¯re only passing through.¡± His brows were furrowed in concern as he studied the group surrounding them. ¡°Are you all alright? We heard some rumors about the area, but we weren¡¯t sure if we should believe them.¡±

    The man snorted. ¡°You¡¯re fools then,¡± he said.

    ¡°So it¡¯s true? People have really been going missing?¡± Leo asked. The villager¡¯s eyes darted to him suspiciously, but the way he and the others tensed was answer enough. The [Fragmentholder] must be close by.

    ¡°What do you care?¡± the man retorted. He waved his shovel threateningly. ¡°If you¡¯re really just travelers, hurry up and get out of our faces!¡±

    Leo felt a twinge of annoyance flare up, but he shoved it down, reminding himself that these people were probably terrified. More than that, they likely knew more about the disappearances than they were letting on. If they could just get more information, they could locate the [Fragmentholder] doing all this in the first place.

    His gaze shifted back over to the villagers. His first instinct was to try saying they were mercenaries and offer their protection, but given the obvious wariness on their faces, he doubted they¡¯d take up the offer. What other options did they have? He racked his brain, trying to come up with a way to gain their trust, when a voice interrupted his thoughts.

    ¡°We¡¯re fragment hunters.¡±

    Leo¡¯s head snapped around. Spade was watching the villagers with a calm, steady gaze, her grey eyes unreadable.

    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Leo hissed. Considering the reputation fragment hunters had right now¡ªand probably deservedly so, given what they¡¯d seen and heard so far¡ªthe last thing they needed was to have that label associated with them.

    Almost immediately, the villagers recoiled, several raising their weapons higher. Leo could practically feel the air growing heavier as the weight of those words settled over the gathered crowd. Before he could do anything, however, Allan took a careful step forward.

    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± he said simply. ¡°I know fragment hunters have built up a bad reputation, but our intention isn¡¯t to hurt anyone. We¡¯re searching for fragments, and we heard there might be one in this area. One clearly being misused.¡± His brows furrowed sympathetically. ¡°Please, if you would simply tell us who is responsible, we can stop anyone else from disappearing.¡±

    Another wave of whispers passed between the villagers. By now, the fog had thinned out just enough for Leo to make out worn, crooked wooden buildings up ahead, nestled right between the trees in small clusters. There were even more villagers there, some watching the interaction out of their windows or from their doors.

    ¡°And how¡¯re we supposed to trust you? I bet those fragment hunters in Wolford said the same thing!¡±

    Wolford. Leo recognized the name from the map; that was the wrecked village they¡¯d passed through the day he¡¯d first met Sol. He still distinctly remembered the stenches and sights, the family lying on the bed with their chests torn open, and he felt his face twist in disgust.

    ¡°We¡¯re not like that,¡± he argued. He took a deep breath. ¡°Look, if we really planned on killing everyone and ransacking the place, we would¡¯ve done that already. Look at you. Half of you don¡¯t even have weapons.¡±

    The man in front made an affronted noise, but Leo continued before he could interrupt.

    ¡°Just tell us who has the fragment or point us in the right direction, and we¡¯ll be out of your hair. That¡¯s all we want. I swear it.¡±

    The villager¡¯s jaw clenched. Leo mentally prepared himself for an argument, maybe even a fight, but to his surprise, the man slowly lowered his shovel.

    ¡°¡­Fine,¡± he said gruffly. ¡°If you three¡¯re really stupid enough to go after that fragment, I¡¯ll tell you what I know.¡±

 Chapter 89: The Man in the Manor

    Chapter 89: The Man in the Manor

    Leo¡¯s eyes scanned the area, waiting in tense silence. Since the man had agreed to tell them about the [Fragmentholder], the other villagers had also lowered their weapons, but none had actually spoken yet. It was as if they were waiting for someone else to break the quiet first, and it didn¡¯t help his unease. Exactly how powerful was this [Fragmentholder] to make people scared of even talking about him?

    Just when Leo was considering saying something himself, the man¡ªMorris, according to [Judgement]¡ªfinally opened his mouth.

    ¡° ¡­You ever hear of the Lowthell family?¡±

    Leo furrowed his brow. The name sounded a bit familiar, but he wasn¡¯t sure from where. Spade didn¡¯t seem to recognize it either, but Allan¡¯s eyes sharpened.

    ¡°They¡¯re a noble family, aren¡¯t they?¡± He turned to Leo and Spade. ¡°They used to be one of the most powerful families in Avel,¡± he explained, ¡°but they fell out of the public eye several decades ago. Rumors say there was some sort of disease that killed the family line off. There¡¯s a lot of horror stories about them that kids like to spread. It¡¯s a bit of a local legend.¡±

    Morris snorted. ¡°It¡¯s more than a legend. They¡¯re real, and you¡¯re not wrong about the disease.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I never knew what it was, but for long as I can remember, there¡¯ve only been two living Lowthells around.¡±

    That caught Leo¡¯s interest. ¡°So they didn¡¯t all die out?¡±

    ¡°Nah.¡± Morris roughly pointed his shovel behind him, past the small village buildings and into the foggy forest beyond. ¡°The Lowthells moved south and bought up some property. Technically we¡¯re standing on their land right now.¡±

    He lowered his shovel back down to the ground, forehead creased. ¡°For long as I can remember, the Lowthells¡¯ve always been kind. More than any other noble I¡¯ve ever seen. Lord Lowthell used to visit the village and ask us if we needed anything, that sort of thing.¡±

    Leo listened intently, committing each detail of the story to memory. So far, it wasn¡¯t at all what he¡¯d been expecting. ¡°¡­What happened after that?¡±

    Morris shrugged. ¡°Dunno. Nobody can say for certain, but about a year ago, he started acting different. More paranoid and jumpy. Rumors say his daughter got sick around that time. She¡¯s the only other living Lowthell, or, well, she was,¡± he added in a quieter voice. ¡±No one¡¯s seen her in years.¡±

    The man heaved a heavy sigh. ¡°Lord Lowthell stopped showing up so often, starting keeping to himself. Pretty soon after that, the disappearances started.¡±

    Spade raised an eyebrow. ¡°They began before the Administrator crest shattered?¡±

    ¡°Yep.¡± A few of the villagers shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Mind you, it didn¡¯t happen often. First few times we thought folks had just gotten lost. In this forest and fog, it happens.¡±

    Morris rubbed his forehead. ¡°Then that blasted notification appeared, and ever since then folks¡¯ve been vanishing left and right. No one really wanted to believe what was happening at first, but it became pretty hard to deny.¡±

    Morris nodded his head to one of the other villagers, and Leo turned his attention to her. She appeared young, a teenager still, and had a pair of garden shears in her hand. Her eyes flitted nervously between the trio before she spoke.

    ¡°I¡ªI was out gathering firewood,¡± she explained. ¡°I was close to the manor, and I remember seeing someone standing outside. It was foggy so it was hard to see, but it looked like Lord Lowther. It looked like he was casting some sort of spell.¡± She shuddered. ¡°I swear the air rippled. Something didn¡¯t feel right, so I ran back here fast as I could.¡±

    ¡°Next day, someone else who¡¯d been out at the same time didn¡¯t come back,¡± Morris finished. The girl nodded glumly.

    Leo studied the villagers. According to [Judgement], the girl¡¯s personal skill was called [Clear Sight]. While he only had the name to go on, he suspected it gave her some sort of ability to see through illusions or magic in general, which was likely why she¡¯d been able to escape whatever spell Lord Lowthell had used. The villager who¡¯d vanished hadn¡¯t been so lucky.

    He frowned, thinking. It seemed all but confirmed that Lord Lowthell was behind the disappearances, aided by the boost in power he¡¯d received from the fragment, but what was his motive? Why kidnap random villagers, villagers he¡¯d supposedly once cared about?

    His mind wandered back to what Sol had said. ¡°We ourselves must never be drawn into our own illusions.¡± If Morris¡¯s theory about his daughter¡¯s sickness and possible death was true, then the whole thing painted a rather dark picture.

    Leo shook the thoughts away. Regardless of the man¡¯s motives, he had a fragment. Confrontation was inevitable, and his motives wouldn¡¯t change that. Leo turned back to Morris. ¡°How do we get to the manor from here?¡± he asked.

    The man¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°You¡¯re still going after him? He¡¯s a powerful mage, you know, and that was before the fragment.¡±

    Leo smiled wryly. ¡°Well, we¡¯re fragment hunters. It¡¯s kind of our thing.¡±

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    Morris shook his head disbelievingly. ¡°Crazy fuckers,¡± he muttered. He jerked his head back, gesturing southeast. ¡°You walk straight through the woods and you¡¯ll see it. The thing¡¯s huge. Hard to miss.¡±

    Leo nodded, carefully following the line of the man¡¯s arm to make sure they had the direction right. It looked like they¡¯d have to step off the main road to reach it.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. Morris snorted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t go thanking me. We¡¯re not gonna go after your corpses.¡± He made a shooing motion with his hand. ¡°Now hurry up and get out of here.¡±

    Leo shrugged, but stepped back. They¡¯d gotten the information they¡¯d needed; it was time to leave. As he turned towards the forest, however, he paused, a thought entering his mind. He glanced back.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you all leave?¡± he asked. He was willing to bet the family they¡¯d encountered on the road was from here, and given the circumstances, it seemed like getting out of the area was the best bet.

    ¡°How?¡± Morris gestured to the wooden homes behind them. ¡°John¡¯s family tried to leave the other day, and you know what happened? We found their corpses along the road the next morning. They got caught in the Silence.¡±

    Leo was quiet at that. Between the risk of the Silence appearing and the increase in fragment hunters, traveling was even more dangerous than before. Most people weren¡¯t equipped to fight off Echoes, and there was no way of predicting what nights the Silence would show up.

    It was odd to think about, in a way. He used to be like that; he remembered barely sleeping on the journey from Adrya to Avel.

    At some point since the shattering, though, he¡¯d gotten used to traveling, and he was more confident in his ability to deal with Echoes than ever before. So much had changed in such little time.

    Leo¡¯s gaze moved over to the villagers¡¯ tired, sunken faces. They¡¯d been living in fear since the Administrator crest had shattered¡ªarguably for the past year. In a small community like this, how many knew someone who¡¯d vanished? He swallowed.

    ¡°I know it probably doesn¡¯t mean much,¡± he began, ¡°but we¡¯re going to stop him.¡±

    There was no response to that, no change in their deadened eyes, but he hadn¡¯t expected one. With one final look, Leo turned around, Allan and Spade behind him, and stepped into the forest.

    ¡ª

    ¡°This whole thing seem weird to you guys too?¡± Leo asked, shoving a branch away from his face. This part of the forest, it seemed, became increasingly dense, and they had to wade through the bushes covering the forest floor as they maneuvered around the trees. The fog didn¡¯t help the visibility.

    ¡°A bit, yeah.¡± Allan ducked under a branch himself, frowning in thought. ¡°Do you think his daughter is actually sick?¡±

    ¡°It would make sense, especially if what you said about that disease running through the family is true. I don¡¯t know how kidnapping comes into the picture, though.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s using the villagers to create some sort of medicine.¡±

    Leo paused, glancing over at Spade. ¡°That¡­¡± His voice trailed as he thought about it a little longer, and he furrowed his brows. ¡°Shit, you might be right.¡±

    He shuddered at the mental image. It made his gut churn to think about, but that would explain the disappearances. If the [Executioner]¡¯s theory was correct, it might even mean that a few villagers could still be alive.

    He swallowed. He had a feeling that whatever they ended up finding at the manor wouldn¡¯t be pleasant.

    Returning his attention to their surroundings, Leo squinted, attempting to make out the manor through the trees. They¡¯d been walking for at least half an hour by now and should be nearing the building, but it was impossible to tell through the dense fog. The whole world was blanketed in a hazy white, and only the dark silhouettes of nearby trees gave any sense of solidity.

    ¡°Can either of you see the manor yet?¡± he asked. He tugged his cloak a little closer to his body. The thicker the mist became, it seemed, the colder it got.

    Allan paused, taking a moment to peer past Leo, but shook his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but the second he did, a notification flashed across Leo¡¯s vision.

    [??? has activated the [Specters of the Mind] spell]

    The [Fragmentholder]¡¯s eyes widened. He immediately snapped around, wildly scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. ¡°Careful!¡± he yelled. ¡°There¡¯s an illusion spell active!¡±

    Leo turned to tell Allan and Spade to stick close by, but he came face to face with empty air. There was no one behind him. Nothing but an endless sea of white fog and crooked trees.

    He cursed and quickly used [Judgement] on the spot Allan and Spade had been standing. No spells showed up¡ªit wasn¡¯t an illusion hiding them from sight, then. They must have wandered off, caught in the spell¡¯s visions. His heart raced. Where had they gone? It couldn¡¯t be far; the spell had only just activated.

    Leo raised his voice, calling out again, but there was no response. He carefully took in the surrounding trees, then directed his attention upwards. He narrowed his eyes.

    With one powerful jump, he leapt upwards and immediately activated [Air Walk] just as he began to fall back down to the ground. Like before, he felt a solid ¡°platform¡± of air form below him, but this time he was prepared for it. He jumped up again, using the boost to get above the treeline and peer down.

    Below him was a dense sea of mist and leafy canopy, but he caught a quick flash of movement further south towards a grassy area that must be around the manor.

    Leo plummeted back down to the earth and used [Air Walk] again to break down his fall, landing softly on the cold ground. He immediately straightened and ran in the direction he¡¯d seen the movement.

    Vaulting over a jagged boulder, Leo shoved a swinging branch out of his face and burst past a dense bush, leaves scattering behind him. ¡°Allan! Spade!¡± he yelled again, but all he heard in response was the echo of his own voice.

    He glanced around. The trees were beginning to thin out around him, meaning he was probably close to the clearing he¡¯d seen, but the fog made it impossible to see the manor itself.

    Carefully, he withdrew his dagger and held it in one hand, his other one prepared to fire off a [Firebolt] at a moment¡¯s notice. He didn¡¯t know how long Lord Lowthell¡¯s magic range was, but on the off chance that he was close by, he was prepared to fight.

    Exhaling, Leo stepped forward slowly, making sure to activate [Judgement] every now and then. ¡°Allan?¡± he called again. ¡°Spade?¡±

    He didn¡¯t hear from the [Healer] or the [Executioner].

    Instead, a different voice answered.

    ¡°Brother?¡±