The morning brought with it a new perspective, among other things. Between the exhaustion, hunger, injuries, and the superbly uncomfortable sleeping conditions, it was not shaping up to be a pleasant start of the day. Quite the opposite, in fact. And yet, there was one element that seemed to offset most if not all of those problems. Mixed in with the crisp mountain air was the enticing scent of freshly grilled fish. Angela was the first to be roused by this enticing aroma. She sat up, groaning quietly at her sore back and was both surprised and delighted to find that the scent wasn’t just her imagination. Three of the fattest trouts she had ever seen had been skewered onto sharpened sticks and left to roast over the campfire. A certain man-shaped mound of muscle was watching over them while yawning mightily.

“Ozzy?” the gunslinger mumbled.

“Oh. Morning, Angela. How are you feeling?”

“Like hell. You?”

“Can’t complain.”

“Where’d all this come from?” she gestured at the fish.

“River.”

“But wasn’t that… like… an hour’s walk from here?”

“I had an early morning.”

“If you say so.”

“I also found a friend of yours while I was out and about.”

Ozzy nodded his head at something above Angela, prompting her to look up and spot a certain falcon with a red scarf perched on a nearby branch.

“Marcello!” she squealed. “There you are! Come-a to mama!”

A few snaps of her fingers saw the bird hop off his resting place and land on the redhead’s outstretched arm. She immediately started cooing and petting him, which he seemed to enjoy quite a bit. The commotion also woke up Wade and Eva, and they were just as pleasantly surprised to find breakfast waiting for them. Admittedly the meal on offer was rustic to the point of being primitive, completely devoid of spices, and probably inappropriate for the time of day, but none of them cared. At that moment, that fish felt like the most delicious thing either of them had eaten in their lives. Within minutes all of yesterday’s hardships seemed to fade away as the group instead focused on the mystery and excitement of it all.

Invariably, however, the team had to consider some uncomfortable matters regarding their situation.

“So… what do we do now?” Wade inquired.

“We go back to town and find you a real surgeon,” Eva stated. “I did my best to patch you up, but infection might set in if it’s not treated.”

“That would be bad, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“How bad?”

“You’d lose the arm.”

“That’s bad.”

“Indeed.”

“Then it’s decided,” Ozzy nodded. “We return immediately.”

“And then we tell the whole world how amazing we are!” the redhead cheered. “There will be interviews, and pictures, and-”

“Hold your horses, Angela,” the librarian cut in. “While I agree we should inform the proper authorities, I’d rather not turn this into a media circus.”

“No, no. We have to get the word out, make sure people see our side of the story. Know what I mean?”

“Ugh… I’m afraid I do.”

“What does she mean?” Ozzy raised an eyebrow.

“The government or the League might not like the implications of what we found and try to bury it. They have a history of covering up… uncomfortable truths.”

“I see.”

It would appear that human nature was the same regardless of the world. Of course those in power would want to stomp out anything that compromised their position. The Chucklenut Quartet had unearthed more than a few such ‘uncomfortable truths’ in their quest to foil Mezzo and his evil schemes. It hadn’t exactly made them a lot of friends on Einhan’s political stage, and they nearly caused a civil war at one point. Going public with whatever secrets that ruin held could very well paint a target on the entire team. This was likely Eva’s concern as well. On the other hand, this story would get Ozzy’s name and face out there. He hadn’t really stopped to think about it before, but wasn’t this opportunity the exact reason why he signed up with the League?

“Before any of that,” Wade piped up, “we need to resolve the issue of getting back to town.”

The others looked at him with varying degrees of confusion.

“Can’t we just… y’know… take the truck?” Angela pointed out.

“We could. If I still had the keys for it. And that engine part I took out.”

“Don’t tell me…” Eva groaned.

“Yuuup.”

“Well, where are they?” the gunslinger questioned.

“In my backpack,” he smiled bitterly.

“… Merda.”

“Come to think of it, all our samples and survey equipment were in there, too,” the librarian rubbed her temple.

Last night’s excitement and monumental discovery aside, this was supposed to be a survey expedition. Unless those materials were returned, the League could very easily declare the job a complete failure, then use that as an excuse to hand out some nasty sanctions to everyone involved. They’d absolutely do it, too. The League would have to sink a lot of money into whatever was going to happen next with that gnomish ruin, and they became quite ruthless whenever they were financially pressured. The punishment in question would be in the form of heavy fines and maybe expulsion from the League. It wasn’t the end of the world, but still an undesirable outcome that would sour what was supposed to be a moment of triumph.

“You know, I could just go and fetch our abandoned gear.”

Ozzy’s suggestion was instantly met with silent yet obvious doubt.

“What? It’s not like that place has any more surprises,” he shrugged.

“That’s not the issue, Ozzy. Are you going to do your druid thing?” Eva bluntly asked.

“Yes. Of course.”

“I don’t think you should be doing that.”

“Why not?”

“That might make your mutation worse, or, or, or develop some weird side effects. Or you mess something up and end up as bug food!”

The man couldn’t help but cringe slightly when he heard that. Eva had no way of knowing it, but she had struck a nerve. Ozzy was not easily riled, but one thing that never failed to get under his skin was the way people just assumed things about him and his kind. Indeed, druids were far from well-respected in Einhan. For instance, many wizards dismissed their natural magics were chaotic and ‘unoptimized,’ and therefore inherently inferior to their arcane formulas. Then there were the big-shot know-it-all adventurers that automatically dismissed Ozzy’s wisdom and warnings as the ramblings of an ignorant treehugger. Common folk weren’t exempt as they actively distrusted druids, believing them savages that conspired to bring about an end to civilization itself. Hearing Eva spout that nonsense therefore hurt, but he couldn’t hold it against her. Even though she automatically assumed Ozzy’s gifts were inherently harmful, and likely thought less of him for relying on such things, she did so out of concern and ignorance. These faults were much more easily forgiven than the malice and arrogance he was used to.

Also, he couldn’t really get mad at her. She was too cute.

“That won’t happen,” he tried to reassure her. “I’ve been practicing the druidic ways since I was a boy, and I’ve had ample opportunity to hone my skills and test my limits since. Please trust me when I say I can do this.”

“What about your injuries?” Angela chimed in. “You took some nasty hits yesterday.”

“I’m fine, right as rain,” he hopped in place.

“Are you sure? I shot- misfired into your leg.”

“Really, it’s all good. In fact, I feel better than I have in a long while.”

That wasn’t an empty boast. He hadn’t quite figured out why, but he was stronger than he had been in weeks. He was still far from full power, but definitely closer than he had been since coming to this realm. It was, of course, a bit suspicious and worrisome that this recovery happened here and now. However, Ozzy decided to make use of it while he could and figure out the details later. His positive outlook seemed to resonate with the worrywart librarian, who was finding it hard to object to him going to get their stuff. Wade didn’t know what to think, but Angela spotted a severe problem with his plan.

“And how do you expect to avoid the mine-munchers?” she posited. “You may be strong, but you’re not exactly quick. Or quiet.”

“You let me worry about that. Wait here, I’ll return shortly.”

With little warning or forethought, the druid invoked the Feral Aspect of Panther With Thumbs. His considerable bulk slimmed down, his blond hair turned midnight black, and his eyes became green and distinctly feline. He then hopped back and to the side, behind a large bush. And then, it was as if he had vanished into thin air. There was neither sight nor sound of him despite the group’s reflexive efforts to locate him. Angela even went over to check the shrubbery he disappeared into, and sure enough, he was gone without a trace.

“Damn it,” she clicked her tongue. “I was going to be nice and back him up, but nooo. He just had to show off.”

“He’s definitely a free spirit,” Eva chuckled.

“Is this really okay, though?” Wade asked, his tone grim. “Bringing a mutant back to Last Flag, I mean.”

“Really, Wade?” the librarian looked appalled. “Really?”

“I didn’t mean it like that! It’s just that, if word gets out that he’s not normal, things will get ugly. For him and for us.”

It was the unfortunate reality of the druid’s situation. The government had a zero tolerance policy for mutants, and were known for rounding them up along with anyone who was associated with them. They claimed it was for safety and science and all that, but Wade never bought the official statement. Though he had no idea what was really going on, he could smell that truckload of bullshit from space. Whatever the government’s actual goal, it was undeniable that the mutant-affiliated people they took away were never heard from again. Wade knew that from personal experience. Four of his childhood friends had gotten involved with a strange albino alligator in the sewers a few years back. They claimed he could talk and that they were bringing him food in exchange for valuable stuff he found down there. Wade never found out if that was true or not before a bunch of armed thugs and people in weird suits showed up to take them all in. It was not a fate he wished on anyone.

“The polizia won’t find out if we don’t say nothing,” the gunslinger crossed her arms.

“Double negative.”

“Not the point, Libby. Look, the only ones that know are us three. And Ozzy, but he clearly knows how to hide it. He’s gone this long without being found, right? So, the only way he gets got is if someone snitches.”

She then leaned towards the mechanic, her piercing stare burning a hole through his forehead.

“Are you a snitch, Wade-boy?”

“Hell no!” the man immediately replied. “Papa didn’t raise no snitch!”

“Libby?” she glanced over to Eva.

“Don’t look at me. You know I can keep a secret. If anyone here’s going to spill the beans, it’s you.”

“… What?”

“You blabber too much. Especially when you’re drunk.”

“That’s not true,” she rebuked the claim.

“What about the time when you told everyone that Old Mike had a toupee?”

“It was funny. Wasn’t it?”

“You also showed Jeremy that strange brass key we found in Old Ostor last year.”

“He didn’t believe my story!”

“And what about telling everyone here how I flunked out of med school?”

“I was just teasing!”

“So how long is it before you let loose something about Ozzy because you just felt like it?”

“That-! Ugh…”

Wade didn’t dare butt into this conversation, but he definitely agreed with Eva. Angela did not inspire confidence about her ability to keep her mouth shut. It wasn’t just the things the librarian was saying, but the general impression he got of her after spending a week with her. The redhead’s attempts to defend herself weren’t exactly working in her favor, either.

“It’s not the same,” Angela claimed. “Those things you mentioned were not secrets. They were trivia, a bit of spice to liven things up. But this thing with Ozzy, it is serious. Only bad things will happen if this gets out, and I keep a very strong guard on those kinds of secrets.”

“If you say so.”

It was clear the librarian wasn’t entirely convinced, but she also couldn’t deny that Angela’s blabbermouth never revealed anything beyond the realm of gossip. It also occurred to Eva that she knew very little about the feralian’s past. Things like where she came from, her family, or why she came all the way to New Ostor were a complete mystery. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t inquired about those subjects, but was quickly shut down every time she did until she eventually gave up on asking. Perhaps those topics fell under the realm of ‘serious secrets’ that Angela was talking about. If she promised to treat Ozzy’s mutant nature with the same severity, then that would have to be sufficient.

With the argument seemingly over, Wade decided to finally get the conversation back on track.

“So… we’re going to stick with Ozzy?”

“Absolutely,” Angela nodded.

“Of course,” Eva agreed. “He gave up his secret to save our lives. How could I possibly abandon him?”

“Yeah…”

The mechanic slightly rolled his eyes while grumbling inwardly. He hated it when people talked like that. Wade believed that one should never allow a singular deed or event to paint their entire perception of a person or organization. Good people sometimes did bad things, and bad people sometimes did good things. He wasn’t being ungrateful to Ozzy for bailing him and the others out of there yesterday, but he also didn’t want to implicitly trust the guy because of it. He had no intention of ratting Ozzy out or anything of the sort, but Wade believed that maintaining a healthy dose of doubt went a long way. Whether it was a former classmate, a family member, or a customer, there was no way to know what was going through their head.

Though, of course, the mechanic never considered that this borderline paranoid way of thinking was perhaps why didn’t have any close friends.

“You know,” Angela smirked at Eva, “I can help you out if you really want to thank him.”

“Wh- what?! Absolutely not!”

The librarian went beet red in an instant, as she knew exactly what her lascivious friend was suggesting.

“I see, I understand,” the redhead nodded mockingly. “You want him all to yourself.”

“That’s not true! I mean, uh… Sh- shut up!”

Eva threw her half-eaten fish-on-a-stick at Angela, only for the redhead to snatch it out of the air. She thanked the brunette for the treat and continued teasing her about Ozzy, though it looked like borderline bullying from where Wade was sitting. The lad did not want to get involved and attempted to retreat quietly. Unfortunately, he was spotted and the feline feralian seized this opportunity to mess with him as well. She threw an arm over his shoulder just as he was going to leave for a walk and leaned into him in such a way that her bosom was pressing against his side. She started whispering suggestive things that made him superbly uncomfortable, but he couldn’t escape her grip. Not with his arm the way it was. Or perhaps, deep down, he didn’t want to pull away.

It was at around this time that Ozzy had already returned to that natural chasm just outside the underground ruin’s only entrance. Much as he had hoped, the munchers had cleared out of the area and had taken the hulk’s body with them. The foul diamond was still there, too. The druid had a quick-yet-hard think about the gemstone as he considered whether he should bring it with him. He struggled with its weight before, but he was now both rested and stronger, as demonstrated by his ability to maintain his Feral Aspect for an extended period. He ultimately decided to drag it along, primarily because he wanted to keep his promise to the great mountain spirit. He said he’d remove the cause of its ills - which was most definitely this hexed diamond - and the best way to do that was to deliver it to the League. He couldn’t care less about what happened to it after that, so long as they took it far away from here.

So, after backtracking and retrieving all the bags and equipment the team had been forced to leave behind, he got about dragging the gem-boulder outside. He grabbed onto the remaining ropes tied around it and turned himself part bear. Dragging that thing was indeed an easier task this time around. The loud grinding noises the action produced might have alerted the munchers to his presence, but the gem was just big enough to block the path behind him, so he wasn’t too worried about them following. He managed to pull it all the way out of the square gnomish tunnel and past the ancient goblin cave until it hit sunlight before he had to stop and rest a bit. He sat on the soft grass and leaned against the primitive dwelling’s outer wall, letting his eyes close for a bit.

It was then that a distant yet familiar rumble echoed in the back of Ozzy’s head.

“This one… welcomes you once more… old friend.”

“Hail, ancient one,” the druid returned the greeting. “I trust you are feeling better?”

The great spirit sounded better, if nothing else. Its speech was still slow and a bit slurred, but it was without a doubt more awake and alert than before.

“It is so. The leech has been extracted, but not removed.”

“I’m working on that. Will you be fine from here on?”

“Yes. It is… an old wound, but it may now… heal. What was lost will regrow… and be remembered.”

That was good to hear, though, given the scale mountains operated on, Ozzy estimated that recovery would take anywhere from a decade to a few centuries.

“Before that, old friend… This one must settle... a debt.”

“What kind of debt?”

“A great favor… has been received… A great favor… must be returned. A blessing for a blessing… a gift for a gift… as the stone demands.”

That wasn’t why Ozzy agreed to help the great spirit. He did it because it was the right thing to do. But, even if he didn’t ask for a reward, he would scarcely refuse one if it was offered. Assuming, of course, it wasn’t anything too… binding. That phrase the spirit used, ‘as the stone demands,’ sounded like some long forgotten covenant that was still in effect. Ozzy probably wouldn’t get much out of it if he pressed the issue, so for the moment, he chose to focus on the offer at hand.

“What sort of boon do you wish to bestow, ancient one?”

“This one has… witnessed you, old friend. The power you drew upon while in this one’s bowels. It is familiar, recognized by the ash and bone in this one’s soil. They wish… to join you, old friend. Will you go with them?”

‘Ash and bone’ sounded pretty grim and creepy, but the druid knew better than to take those words literally and at face value. It wasn’t his first contract with a spirit, after all, and he knew enough of the vague and loose terms they used to tell where this was going.

“I will,” he stated.

“So be it, Osmond of clan Stigandr,” the voice thundered. “Let this one’s power bolster your own. Let it nurture and strengthen you on your journeys ahead, so that you might continue to sow the seeds of hope.”

Ozzy’s eyes suddenly shot open, as if awoken by the quiet rumble of the stone at his back. Moments later, he felt a tightness in his chest that settled around his ribs, like an invisible hand squeezing down on him. He watched with shock as his skin dried up and turned gray. The flesh then started bulging outward, forming large, hard bumps with deep cracks running through them. Both his equipment and humanity disappeared underneath the aberrant growths that covered his entire being, and then only continued to expand and harden. It was a drawn out process that was surely terrifying to see from the outside, and felt just as unpleasant as it looked. However, Ozzy allowed it to happen. Welcomed it, even. The first time with a new form was always ugly, and the best thing he could do was to accept it while maintaining a grip on his own consciousness.

The druid thus weathered the strain, and emerged from the ordeal to find he had been born anew. His shape no longer resembled a man, not even slightly. He was now a bear, but not just any dumb beast. He had become a truck-sized grizzly, its fur replaced by a craggy substance reminiscent of stone. He rose to his feet, brick-like paws sinking deep into the soil. He bared his fangs, a set of crystalline daggers that could rip through bone like paper. He swiped with his steel claws, rending the air with terrible speed and force. He reared up on his hind legs, the balance awkward due to the excessive weight. He roared into the sky, a voice like a devastating earthquake. Finally, he slammed his front paws down, feeling the tremors of the impact as they travelled through the ground.

There was no longer any doubt in Ozzy’s mind that this was exactly what he initially suspected - he had reclaimed one of his old bestial transformations. The oldest, in fact. The craghide grizzly was a magical creature native to his mountain home and seldom found anywhere else, and the first beast the druid was ever able to emulate. The ‘ash and bone’ the ancient one referred to must have been the remnants and memories of the common bears that have lived and died here since ancient times. This feral essence had resonated with traces of its otherworldly ‘cousins’ in Ozzy’s body and, with a little help from a spirit primarily born of stone, allowed the craghide to resurface. The druid would have been fine with any transformation, but this? This was fantastic. Practical benefits aside, it was extremely reassuring and comforting to have this piece of himself back.

Nevertheless, he figured showing up like this to his new friends might be a bit much for them. He had put them through enough already, not to mention they were probably worried. His communion with the mountain had probably taken longer than it felt like, though he couldn’t be sure how much time had passed. He then remembered he had a pocket watch, though he couldn’t look at it like this. So, reigned in his wild side and willed the craghide grizzly back inside himself. Reversing the transformation was much quicker and significantly more painless, taking only a few seconds for the man to return to normal. He confirmed it had been almost an hour since he left the others. The man thought he’d best not delay any further and resumed dragging everything back to the others.

The rest of the gang were naturally relieved to see him return safe and sound, if somewhat surprised by the extra piece of luggage.

“You actually brought the diamond!” Angela squealed with joy. “You’re the best!”

The redhead gave him a quick hug, then went over to leer at the boulder-sized gem. Wade offered a curt nod as welcome and went over to give the prize a thorough inspection. As for Eva, she just shook her head with a bewildered smile.

“You never cease to impress, do you?” the librarian said.

“I just hate leaving a job half-done,” Ozzy shrugged.

“And what about that bizarre thunder?”

“Thunder? What thunder?”

No sooner had Ozzy asked that than he realized she was referring to the craghide roar he let out in the heat of the moment.

“Oh, that… was… me, actually.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. It’s nothing to worry about. Just, uh, druid things, you know?”

“I don’t know what to even do with you anymore,” the brunette threw her hands up in defeat. “Even after all this, you’re still hiding things from us?”

“It’s not like that. I just don’t want to-”

“No, it’s fine,” she sighed. “Forget I said anything. I’ll just go check on the survey samples, shall I?”

“Good idea. So, Wade!” the man turned around, desperate to change the subject. “Think we can load this diamond into the truck?”

“Hmm… Probably. Shouldn’t be too hard so long as you do the heavy lifting.”

“Leave it to me.”

“It’s a bit weird, though.”

“What is?”

“Not a single scratch or chip,” he ran his hand across the gem. “I get that diamonds are ridiculously hard, but we dragged this thing over bare stone for almost a kilometer. And then you threw it against a wall, and dragged it some more. Shouldn’t it have at least a bit of damage after all that? Or am I just underestimating diamonds?”

“Does it matter?”

“No. I suppose not. Also, Angela, please stop licking that. You know where it’s been.”

“S-sorry,” the redhead wiped her mouth. “I got a bit too, uh, excited. Anyway, let’s get this bad boy on board and back to town!”

And so it was. It took a bit of doing and the construction of an improvised ramp out of empty cargo crates, but the ridiculously huge gem was successfully loaded into the back of the truck. There was a slight argument over who got to drive the truck. Wade insisted that he do it since the only other person with a license was Angela, and he didn’t trust her to transport the heavy cargo safely down those rural roads. Especially not with how she drove on the way up. Of course, the state of his right arm meant he wasn’t exactly suited to the wheelman position. Ultimately the mechanic agreed to let the gunslinger do the honors on the condition that he rode shotgun with her, to make sure she wasn’t being reckless. With the two of them in the cabin, Ozzy and Eva climbed in the back. The druid’s job was to keep a close eye on the gem and make sure it didn’t bounce around too much while the team’s scholar verified the condition of their recovered gear. The metal containers holding the samples for the survey were intact, though there were a few pieces of measuring equipment that were broken. Unsurprising, given what the gadgets had been put through.

It was midday when the team finally returned to Sharnwick. The village was a small and boring place, a rural area where barely anything of note took place. So, when the truck full of explorers returned, it attracted some eyes. Seeing that the team was covered in injuries attracted even more attention. A small crowd had formed by the time they started taking something big, heavy, and wrapped up in blankets out of the back of their vehicle. This was good, as Ozzy’s team wasn’t trying to keep the affair under wraps. Just the opposite. They needed to get their version of the story out there as soon as possible, to minimize the odds of the powers that be sweeping it and them under the rug. As such, it was decided they would do their best to make a spectacle of themselves.

And so, the group unloaded their priceless cargo and set it down right in the middle of the unpaved road. They fanned out around it and turned towards the crowd, which was both growing and buzzing. People were even poking their heads out of the surrounding windows to see what all the commotion was about, with more and more pedestrians showing up from neighboring streets. There was an undeniable atmosphere of anticipation that drew the locals in like flies to honey. Within a few minutes the onlookers had grown from a small handful to several dozen, all of them keeping a distance of at least ten paces. They naturally wanted to get closer, but were wary of the orc-sized man covered in blood and the heavily armed foreigner with a bird of prey perched on her head. Speaking of Angela, it was at this point that she figured this was enough of a crowd to work her magic. Far too humble a stage, given the majesty of what she was about to unveil, but the best she was going to get on such short notice. She shared a few knowing nods with the rest of the team before she stepped forward and cleared her throat. All eyes were immediately drawn to the flamboyant gunslinger as she took a deep breath.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” her voice rang out, crisp and clear. “Thank you all for lending us your attention. And count yourselves lucky, for you are about to bear witness to a once-in-a-lifetime event! My compatriots and I have uncovered something incredible! A buried and forgotten ruin, hidden deep beneath the mountain! It was a nefarious maze, infested with deadly creatures and riddled with devious traps. If you doubt the risks we braved then you need only look at our brave technician’s terrible injuries!”

Wade felt his heart leap into his throat. This wasn’t part of the plan. Angela was supposed to ham things up a bit, but surely there was no need for her to put him on the spot like that. It was stressful enough to be standing in front of a crowd even without being singled out. He also disliked her blatant exaggeration. Sure, he had a broken arm, a black eye, and a few other scrapes and bruises, but hardly what he’d call ‘terrible injuries.’ The crowd didn’t seem to agree, however, as they started murmuring amongst themselves, saying things like ‘Poor guy,’ ‘That looks painful,’ and ‘How brave!’

“Of course,” the redhead continued, “we did not shy away from such danger! We persevered and emerged victorious, so that we could stand before you now, bearing news of the most significant discovery of the century! No, the millennium! A vast fortress built into the heart of the mountain! By gnomes, no less! Yes, you heard me, ladies and gentlemen! Ancient gnomes once dwelled beneath these lands! Though they are long vanished without a trace, they still left behind something truly incredible! This is why we stand here, before you! Behold, a treasure that is unmatched in its splendour and radiance!”

As expected, mention of riches made the tension in the air thicken to the point where one could almost swim in it.

“I present to you… The Lost Star of Forchill Hill!”

Eva couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that ridiculous name while Ozzy took it as his cue. The druid grabbed the layered blankets and peeled them back with a singular motion. The drab fabrics fell off to reveal the prize in question. The enormous diamond instantly caught the midday sun’s rays and scattered them in every direction, momentarily blinding all the onlookers. As their eyes adjusted and realization set in, they could only stare aghast at the unbelievable sight before them. A few moments later, one or two of the younger ones ran off to fetch the mayor and possibly the sheriff. About half of the ones left suddenly surged forward, their curiosity barely overpowering their wariness of Ozzy and Angela. They almost tripped over each other to barrage the team with questions and touch the mystical treasure.

As luck would have it, there was actually a professional journalist in town - a reporter for the Gentlegob Gazette who just so happened to be visiting relatives. Or so he claimed. Whatever his reason for being there, the savvy goblin jumped on this story the instant he caught wind of it. He was taking pictures and conducting interviews within the hour, which the entire team agreed to. Ozzy chatted with him a bit, trying to gauge how big this news actually was. He was glad to hear that ‘This one’s goin’ global, kid!’ It meant that he had completed the first step in his plan to reunite with the rest of the Quartet. He was somewhat dreading the next part, however. It would take about a month for the story to reach the other continents, and probably just as much before his friends could find him. That was nearly eighty days of waiting with nothing to really do. And what if this wasn’t enough? What if Angela and Eva’s fears turned into reality and the government did indeed manage to cover the whole thing? It seemed prudent to pursue another claim to fame, one that was much more difficult to silence. As Lady Cassandra Weathersax said on multiple occasions, there was no such thing as too many redundancies.

With all this in mind, Ozzy concluded that it was perhaps time to have a serious look at winning the Ostorian Grand Prix.