THE MISTS OF CROAKA I

Pepper was running through the caverns of a distant dungeon as if her life depended on it. Her friends had reluctantly left her behind to log out while she chose to stay and grind another level. Unfortunately, she had been followed by a group of shady characters.

At first, she thought they were just some other group that wanted to clear the dungeon, but turn by turn, they dogged her every footstep. That’s when the fear set into her heart.

She watched the news on a regular basis, so she’d heard about all the terrible things that could happen in Chaos Online. Yet, as time passed without incident, she’d figured it’d never happen to her since she always played with her friends. So there was no way she’d be targeted. No way at all.

’Shit!’ She cursed herself for her complacency as she sprinted. She should have gone back with the rest of her friends, but she just had to get that last bit of experience.

She turned down another abandoned shaft, slamming her staff into the ground as she ran. A glyph appeared wherever the wood touched the stone. It was a simple trap that could close off a passage with a wall of rock, possibly separating or stalling any pursuers. Pepper was a Terramancer, so the fact that she was being chased inside a gigantic cave was her only thread of hope.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed of the walls, fooling her into believing that her pursuers were terrifyingly close. Then the sound of one of her glyphs activating interrupted the sound.

“Argh!! My nose! Fuckin’ bitch!!”

“Hurry up and knock it down!”

“Hah hah...” Pepper’s breathing was rough and her stamina was starting to tap out. If there was any other exit to the world outside, she’d have to find it soon. Otherwise…

“We’re comin’ for ya girl!”

“Just slow down and we’ll talk it out!”

“Don’t make us wait any longer than we have to!!”

“Hah hah ha ha.” Despite her labored breaths, a terrified chuckle escaped her lips. She wouldn’t let herself be captured so easily. In fact, she’d collapse the entire dungeon before they could even lay a hand her. But that was a last resort, she wanted to delay such a painful death for as long as possible.

Pepper ran her hands against the wall as she turned again. Her ‘Read Stone’ ability allowed her to see the formation of nearby passages to see if they were clear of monsters. The dim light from the various luminescent fungi lit her path, but it was her ability she had to rely on the most. Running into a monster in her current situation wouldn’t be funny at all.

She turned down another narrow passage, and this time, there was a high rock wall at the end of it. If she could make it up there, she’d be able to put some much needed distance between her and the pursuers.

She quickly ran to the rock wall and summoned her mana, carefully adjusting how much she needed. If she didn’t have enough for ‘Earthquake’, then she’d have to get creative with her suicide, and Pepper wasn’t a very creative woman.

“Mighty stone of the earth, take me to new heights! Rock Stair!” she cried.

A giant square of earth rose from the ground and rushed her toward the top of the rock wall, right into the path of a cave prowler. The giant cat must have been out of range of her ‘Read Stone’. That, or she was simply too scared to pay close attention. Whatever the case, it was her problem now.

The prowler pounced as soon as the rock stair merged back into the earth.

“Boulder Member!” she cried as she slammed her free arm into the ground. The stone crumbled under her blow and wrapped around her arm in time to receive the cat.

Hungry jaws clamped around her arm while the cave prowler used it’s full weight to pin her to the ground. The feral snarls it made as it tried to chew through her arm would no doubt carry to her pursuers, informing them of her plight.

As a mage, Pepper’s strength was non-existent, so it was impossible for her to push the beast off. However, Pepper was a veteran dungeon crawler, so she had plenty of tricks up her sleeve for situations like this.

She let go of her staff and placed her other hand against her rock arm. “Member Spikes!”

Her arm suddenly sprouted jagged spikes that stretched outward, proving to be especially deadly for the cat that had its mouth around it. The stone spikes punched through the skull in several places, killing it instantly. When it died, Pepper got her desired level up message, but she payed no attention to the signature sound as she struggled to escape from the corpse.

“We’re coming up to help you! Don’t shoot!”

“I’mma do a lot more than help.”

“Ha ha. She’ll hear you.”

Pepper finally managed to squeeze out from underneath the cave prower and quickly reached for her staff at the edge of the ledge.

-725hp

But a lighting bolt came roaring past her shoulder, numbing her arm and burning a hole in her robe. Thankfully, her arcane shield mitigated most of the damage, but the maneuver had stopped her long enough for her pursuers to catch up.

-2322hp

Another bolt hit her in the chest as the figures of three men rose over the edge of the cliff.

Numbness spread throughout her body, but it wasn’t full paralysis. She could still move.

Though given the situation, she’d have to logout to avoid the worst. After the tangle with the cave prowler, she didn’t have enough mana for strong ‘Earthquake’, and she needed her staff to channel her larger spells. She still had ‘Spike’, but it would only take one of them by surprise.

‘You’ll get my corpse, but you won’t get me!!’ If she didn’t log in for a couple days, she respawn in town as if nothing happened.

“Log-”

“Silence.” said one of the men.

“....!” Pure terror gripped Pepper’s heart when her mouth moved without sound. She reached for her staff again in desperation, only to have a heavy boot come down on her hand.

-1239hp

“......!” she screamed silently.

Standing over her was a warrior clad in heavy platemail. He was smiling as he removed his sword belt. “I’ll admit, you made us work for it. But trust and believe, you’ll be worth the trouble.”

Tears streamed down Pepper’s face. Even if she fought after the silence wore off, it would be too late. She shook her head, praying that this was just some nightmare she’d yet to wake up from.

“Now don’t be like that.” The warrior whispered as he kneeled down to caress her face. “You’ll enjoy this just as much as I will. I’m quite gent- Who’s there!?” he shouted in surprise. He quickly grabbed his discarded sword belt and unsheathed his weapon, staring into the dark tunnel that stretched out before them.

“I thought you said she was alone!”

“She is!! I already used ‘Detect’!”

As the other two quarreled with each other, the warrior stared into the void. Moments passed before the sound of footsteps could be heard.

“Whoever you are, turn back if you know what’s good for you!” the warrior threatened, releasing his full pressure on the unknown figure. The sound of the footsteps only grew louder.

Everyone watched as a the mysterious figure walked out into the dim light of the ledge. He was a slim man dressed in an all black tuxedo. He sporting a top hat, leather gloves, and a cane to match. In the soft light he was extremely pale, and his blonde hair seemed saturated in comparison. A mechanical eye surveyed the situation while an eyepatch covered the other.

The warrior took a cautious step back as the man came to a stop beside Pepper.

“Ms.Pepper, you seem to be in distress. Are you in need of assistance?” the man said as he looked down at her. The red glow in his eye was ominous, but Pepper nodded vigorously. She wasn’t in any position to deny help.

“I thought so.” The man took of his hat and held it out to her. “Would you mind?”

he asked kindly.

Pepper took the hat with a confused look on her face, for she was wondering how the man could act so calmly in this situation. She looked down into the hat and found a small silver mallet inside. Had the man intended for her to use it?She couldn’t have been further from the truth.

“Please don’t touch that.” he said, giving her a stern look with his eye.

“Hey, Alfred! You should get out of here while we’re still in a good mood. It’d be a shame to get blood on your suit.” the warrior threatened once more as he took menacing step toward the man.

“It would be a tragedy to soil this tuxedo; however, should any blood be spilled, I assure you that it will be yours Mr. Magnum.” The man glared at Magnum, whose blood seemed to freeze in his veins.

“Where did I put- Ah, here it is.” The man pulled a small notepad from his coat pocket along with a quill. “Now that I have this, we can begin our introductions. My name is Jeeves, and I will be your mentor in regards to etiquette and proper social behavior. Today’s lesson gentlemen, is that a woman’s virtue is a gift to be given, not loot to be taken whenever you please.”

“Jeeves!? I got a message about this guy yesterday.”

“You too!?”

“Shut it!” Magnum screamed as he positioned himself in front of Jeeves and readied himself for combat. “All we need to do is kill this bastard and we can get back to business!”

The other two men readied themselves as well, but before Magnum could take a single step, Jeeves was behind him stabbing a quill into his neck.

“Argh!”

“Pardon me, I wasn’t supplied with ink.” he said solemnly.

“You bastard! Sky Render!!” Magnum swung his sword high into the air and brought it down with lightning trailing along the blade.

Jeeves caught the sword in his hand while he was still holding the quill. “That’s quite rude. Can’t you see I’m trying to write?” He leisurely tossed the blade aside and continued to write in his pad. “I’ll be with you momentarily Mr. Magnum, please be patient.”

None of the men moved while Jeeves scribbled in his pad. He’d taken Magnum’s strongest attack as if it were nothing, so any further fighting would be futile.

Only a moment had passed before Jeeves snapped his notepad shut. Then he smiled, “Thank you for waiting Mr. Magnum, Mr. YungDolla, Mr. PewZapPow. Your patience is appreciated. I will now be administering your punishment.”

“””......!”””

The trio went pale as Jeeves pulled a rapier from his cane. “Don’t worry gentlemen, this is simply a warning. Should you refrain from sexual crimes in the future, it’s possible that we’ll meet under friendlier circumstances. Now, Mr. Magnum,” Jeeves turned toward the retreating warrior, “I believe we were having a discussion about your blood on my tuxedo.” As he spoke, his mechanical eye shined brilliantly.

“Wait a se-” Magnum’s words were cut short by a stab to the heart. He was dead before he hit the ground.

A bolt of lightning stuck Jeeves as he turned to face YungDolla and PewZapPow. The electricity washed over him and dissipated without so much as a singed thread. Then he proceeded to take the lives of the last two men in rapid succession.

Pepper could only watch in awe as Jeeves sheathed his weapon.

“I’m terribly sorry that you had to witness such grisly business Ms. Pepper.” he apologized as he helped her up.

“I’m just glad you showed up when you did.” Pepper handed over his hat.

“I’m always watching Ms. Pepper, for it is my duty to protect Travelers like yourself.” Jeeves bowed and replaced his hat.

“Well, thank you Mr. Jeeves.”

“It’s just Jeeves Ms. Pepper.” he smiled

“T-Thanks Jeeves.” she stuttered. Being saved from such an ordeal had her dizzy with relief.

Jeeves turned to walk away, but turned back. “Do be careful Ms. Pepper, they’re some feisty creatures further down.” he said, pointing down the passage he came from. “I’d hate to see you stumble into an ambush.”

“Okay.” Pepper just nodded. She didn’t really feel like hunting anymore today.

“Then, I’ll be taking my leave.”

After saying his goodbyes, Jeeves vanished into thin air. He was gone just as quickly as he appeared.

---

Harbor City of Alia, Naleng Dominion

“Get off me you oaf!!” the hobbit cried as he kicked at his attacker. The behemoth of a man shrugged off the kick as if it was nothing.

“You owe me boy! Did you think I lent you all that gold as a favor!” the man punched the hobbit again.

The two had met after-hours in one of the warehouses by the docks to discuss their agreement. Unfortunately for the hobbit, his benefactor had wanted to do much more than just talk, and he now found himself cornered.

The hobbit pulled out his hidden knife in an attempt to fend off further attacks, but the man used his monstrous strength to pin the halfling’s arm against the wall.

“You will pay what you owe me boy, one way or-” A cane under the man’s chin cut his words short.

“Mr. NomNomBabies, how is it that you’ve returned so soon? Didn’t we speak earlier?”

Jeeves asked as he glared at the man.

“H-hey Jeeves, wait a minute! I’m not doin’ nothin’ but a havin’ a talk with this ‘ere hobbit.”

“Anyone can clearly see that you’re aroused Mr. Babies. Do you mind if I call you that? Your name is quite the mouthful.”

Just as Jeeves stated, NomNomBabies’ erection was clearly visible through his trousers. But with Jeeves staring him down, it wouldn’t last for much longer.

“You’ve been caught red-handed Mr. Babies. Now why don’t you unhand Mr. Romulus so that we can further discuss your conduct.” Jeeves suggested.

NomNomBabies quickly let go of the hobbit and proceeded to run for his life.

Jeeves shook his head in exasperation and moved a hand to his cane. In the next moment, he was in front of NomNomBabies with his back facing toward him. Yet, instead of drawing his weapon, he was sheathing it.

A resounding click echoed throughout the quiet warehouse, and NomNomBabies collapsed on the spot.Then a ghost of himself rose from his body and split into two.

Romulus came running up to the seen. “What did you do to ‘im?” he asked.

“Mr. Babies has just had his level and skills reset. He shouldn’t be able to bother anyone for a while. However,” Jeeves removed his rapier once more and stabbed it into the heart of the weakened man, “I can’t let a foolish deed go unpunished.”

“I appreciate it.” Romulus said, nodding in thanks.

“No problem at all Mr. Romulus. Though I do suggest you repay Mr. Babies as soon as possible. He’s liable to be furious upon his return, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he beat you to within an inch of your life.”

“But you’ll come back and help me if that happens right?” the hobbit asked hopefully. He was usually at a disadvantage when it came to fights. He only played Chaos Online to sail, so his stats were relatively low.

Jeeves just smiled and said, “Goodbye Mr. Romulus.” Then disappeared into thin air.

---

Valor Fields, South edge of the Bealte region, Todos Kingdom

A battle had just taken place on Valor Fields, and the survivors of the battle spread out into the surrounding villages. Nelang soldiers invaded the homes of Todos citizens, taking what they wanted before killing every living soul.

The armies of Todos weren’t much better. They pillaged just as much as their enemies, but they left the citizens alive so that they could continue to serve the kingdom.

On a nearby ridge, overlooking one of burning villages, a man was struggling to subdue a young woman. She had fled the village with her sister, but the man had killed her as soon as he caught up with them.

They struggled in the grass, and blood oozed from a hole in the man’s chest. His eyes glowed green with the signature color of the undead.

“I simply can not comprehend how you managed to revived twice in one day Mr. Boogeyman.”

At the sound of the voice, Boogeyman stood up and distanced himself from the woman.

“Give me a fuckin’ break! She’s just an NPC!” the necromancer cried.

“Do you see this?” Jeeves held up his notepad. “This flags you as a potential sex offender Mr. Boogeyman, meaning any attempted sexual attacks from you will be stopped by me. It no longer matters whether or not the victim is a native or a Traveler.”

“That’s bullshit!!” Boogeyman spat furiously.

“No, Boogeyman!! What’s ‘bullshit’ is the fact that you’ve repeatedly attempted to assault these women despite my warnings! I even set you back to square one, and still you managed to prey on someone weaker than yourself!? You are a visitor in this world, and there is enough evil in it without you constantly trying to add to it!!” Jeeves bellowed in rage. Then he took a deep breath and removed his hat. “I apologize for shouting... I’m just extremely disappointed with the choices you’ve made. You’ve left me no choice....”

The necromancer back away in fear. He’d already been reset, and there was only one thing that could be worse than that.

Jeeves reached inside his hat and pulled out his silver mallet. Then with god-like speed, he smashed the mallet into the Boogeyman’s face. Once the man hit the ground, he shattered into a hundreds of pixelated pieces.

“Goodbye Boogeyman.” Jeeves whispered as he replaced the mallet and hat onto his head. Then he turned to the astounded Npc. “You should run along now, Ms. Guthrie. It’s not safe here.”

“But my sister-” she whimpered.

“Is dead.” he interrupted. “And if you don’t want to end up like her, I suggest you leave quickly.”

The woman looked toward her sister with hesitation, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

“I’ll see to it that she receives a proper burial.” Jeeves said quietly as he walked over to place a hand on her shoulder. The woman nodded and started to run as fast as her legs could carry her. Once she was a fair distance away, Jeeves snapped his fingers and burned the body of her sister to ashes.

“I told you if we followed him, he’d show up.”

Jeeves turned around to face two men as they revealed themselves. They were both clad in bright silver armor with the insignia of scale imprinted on the chestplate.

“Mr. Marius, Mr. Fourscore. What brings you here at this hour?” Jeeves asked as he straightened his tie.

Marius stepped forward. “We’ve come to see you in action Jeeves. We followed that necro and his friends from Todos, but when you came online, we figured we’d leave him to you.”

“Why not help sooner? You could have saved Ms. Guthrie's sister.” Jeeves questioned.

“We could ask you the same thing.” Marius countered.

“Boogeyman didn’t show enough intent at the time, and my protocol doesn’t extend protection to the natives. They must live in this world, no matter how ugly it turns out to be.”

“So I’m guessing you won’t be going down into that burning village.” Marius looked over to the blazing flames that lit the night.

“I can’t.” Jeeves said.

“You won’t.” Marius walked up to stand in front of Jeeves. He looked him over once before he spoke again. “I happen to know a man who helped to program you. And while it’s true that you can’t interfere too much in worldly affairs, I know for a fact that your limitations aren’t as severe as you believe.”

As if on cue, a scream resounded into the night from the blazing village below.

“Fourscore.” Marius said without turning. He continued to stare into Jeeves’ eye as Fourscore removed the bow from his shoulder and shot an arrow. A few seconds later, the screaming died down.

Jeeves’ face contorted in confusion.

“Don’t look so surprised Jeeves. It’s been a while since he’s missed.” Marius smiled as he patted Jeeves on the shoulder. Then he began to walk with Fourscore to the village below.

“It’s not your place to help them. This isn’t your world.” Jeeves called out to them as they walked away.

Marius stopped and turned around. “You’re right...it’s not our world. It’s yours isn’t it?”

Jeeves frowned as he turned to watch the burning village. It had only barely been one day since he came online, and he was already contemplating the purpose of his existence.

---

Church of Thena, Todos, Todos Kingdom

The girls dormitory was silent except for the soft breathing of the initiates. Magical stones at either end of the room provided a dim glow for any late night restroom trips. Soon all girls would wake up for morning prayer and chores, then the entire church would be bustling with life.

Thadius stood looking down at the sleeping Christina, who had an impossibly bulky shape underneath the covers. He immediately guessed it was Yuna using her bodyguard detail as an excuse to snuggle up next to someone, and shook his head at the blatant exploitation of the Goddess.

After he’d returned to the inn, Thadius had spent the rest of the day weaving. The integration of his Corbae robe into his new armor set had gone so well, he’d decided to get a head start on the next shipment of Wolf Gear. He had a feeling that once he was out in the field, he wouldn’t have much time for tailoring.

Unfortunately, his focus had gotten the better of him, and he ended up sewing until his room went dark. Thadius had to let the girls know about his absence, but he didn’t want to alert anyone who hadn’t yet fallen asleep. So he waited until the very early morning when he could wake Yuna and Christina up without them losing too much sleep.

Still, the thought of sneaking into the girls dormitory was nerveracking, and every fiber of his being was screaming at him to exit the premises. But Thadius was a man on a mission, and he was also pressed for time.

He kneeled down beside Christina bed, admiring the beauty of stillness.

’Why fall for me? You’ve barely reached adulthood and you’re already putting your heart on your sleeve….If I fall for you now, there’d be no more room in my heart for- Thadius sighed and shook his head. ’No, she’s gone. And that’s how it should be. What’s wrong with making life here? A full life...’ He looked at Christina again, and as gently as he could, traced his finger along her jaw to her chin.

Her brow furrowed a bit in her sleep, and the reaction prompted a devilish grin on Thadius’ face.

He pulled out a few strands of thread from his inventory and tickled her ear with them. Once she shook her head in annoyance, he moved the threads down to her neck, and held his breath as she moved a hand to scratch.

’He he heee’ Thadius giggled silently. He knew he was terrible for it, but she wasn’t expecting his visit, making it the perfect opportunity for mischief.

He lightly brushed the threads across her face, and when she slapped herself, Thadius had to cover his mouth to keep from bursting out in laughter.

“Hmm, stop Thadius.” Christina murmured.

Thadius froze. Had his Fighting Spirit woken her up? He had tested the effects of it in the men’s dormitory, so he was sure that wasn’t the case. Yet, the only other explanation…

’Is she dreaming about me?’ Thadius smiled to himself. But the smile was short lived as his thoughts drifted back to matters of the heart. That alone drained the mirth out of him.

“Christina.” he whispered as he poked her nose.

She twitched, then went still. Thadius poked her again. This time, her face scrunched up as she opened her eyes.

”Thadius?” she said drowsily.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” she said, turning her head to the other side to get more comfortable.

’You must have been knocked out. Poor thing...I’ll wait.

A few seconds passed before reality set in, then Christina sat up abruptly and stared at Thadius through squinted eyes. “Thadius?” she whispered.

“Hey.” he smiled.

“Hey.” A smile slowly spread on her face in turn.

“No night gown?” he asked.

Christina looked down at her grey set of Wolf Gear, then quickly laid back down and covered herself. “I didn’t bring one…” she replied, blushing fiercely.

“I could make you one.” he offered.

“That’s okay.” She pulled the covers up to her nose while her cheeks filled with more color.

“Christina likes to sleep half-naked huh? Good to know…”

“Don’t say it like that!” She covered her face with her hands. “I just like the way it looks.”

Thadius just smiled.

“What’s wrong Thadius?” Christina said in concern. She sat up again to get a better look at his expression.

Thadius rubbed a hand across his face, he didn’t think he made any expression in particular. Yet, Christina had somehow picked up on his inner turmoil.

“That depends, do you want a lie or do you want the truth…” he whispered with a stern expression.

“The truth of course.” she responded immediately.

“I’m wondering what my life would be like if I started a relationship with you. Not as a companion, but as a woman.”

Christina chewed on her lip as she slowly laid back down. The divine glow in her eyes, the aftermath of Tegaia’s healing, completed the picture of her anxious face. Men wrote poetry with less raw material.

“Her golden hair, shines like the sun, no matter how it lies.” Thadius recited as he ran a finger through her hair. “Eternal-blue eyes, endless as Heaven’s skies, promise a life filled with joy.”

He moved from her hair to stroke her cheek then cupped his hand under her chin. They locked eyes as Thadius coaxed her into releasing her lower lip.

“And with love and joy, she’d try to destroy the walls that surround my heart. The tricky part, is where to start without tearing my heart apart.”

“I wouldn’t tear apart anything, Thadius.” she said quietly, taking his hand into hers.

“I don’t think so either…” Thadius replied truthfully.

“Then what’s stopping you? What’s stopping us?” she questioned softly. Though she could guess what it was.

Under her honest gaze, Thadius couldn’t lie to her. “Nothing at all.”

“Then why do you look so sad when we talk about it?”

“Because being with you would mean letting go of the love that already fills my heart, and I don’t want to let go just yet.” he whispered to her.

Christina looked down as she traced his palm with her finger tips. “You don’t have to.”

There was a sadness in her voice that clawed at Thadius like a wild beast.

“Yes I do.” he replied.

Christina carefully moved herself to the edge of the bed, maneuvering her legs slowly so as not to wake the sleeping Goddess below. The warm breeze from Serenity, and Thadius’ aura, protected her from the chill as she held his head in her hands.

"I know that I'm a burden on you Thadius." she said.

"Christina-"

"I know it." she whispered fiercely. Her stern gaze wasn't one of a love-struck girl without any common sense. "You and Yuna could be out there right now, hunting down monsters on some grand adventure. I know that." she continued, brushing his lips with her thumb. "And I know some other woman has your heart. But I'm here and she's not. While she's away in some far off land, you're here with me, and I'm fine with that."

She pulled Thadius closer, so close that he had to look up at her. "With time, I know I’ll find my place beside you. Until then, you won't run from me, remember?" Christina leaned down and placed her lips on his, as if she could convey all she felt with her touch.

Lost in the moment, her legs wrapped around him, then she trembled as the warmth of his hands slid across her back.

But Thadius had to pull away before he completely lost his sanity. If he gave the wolf control, the initiates would wake up to quite the show, and he would never hear the end of Yuna' and her ‘stuff’ talk.

"Do mind setting me free?" Thadius smiled slyly as he moved his hands to her legs.

Christina nodded and reluctantly detached herself, allowing Thadius to move toward the edge of the bed to proceed with his mission. He lifted the covers and searched through layers of white hair to find the slumbering Goddess underneath.

"Yuna. Yuna, wake up." he whispered as he poked her cheeks.

"Hmmn? Leave me alone Thadius..." she protested.

"Yuna." he poked her again with a little more force.

She opened one eye and glared at her tormentor. "What?"

"I'm leaving on a trip. I won't be back for a week or so." he said.

"Uh huh. Tastes good." she yawned.

'What exactly are you hearing....'

"Yuna, I'm leaving. I'm never coming back."

"Mmmhmm." she murmured as her eye closed slowly.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"Cookin' time." It was an instant reply.

"If you understand that, then you must be awake. Do you understand what I just told you?"

"Going away...a week...bringing back food to eat."

'Close enough.' Thadius sighed as he left Yuna to fall back to sleep.

"Where are you going?" Christina asked.

"I'm going out with the city guard for a bit. Nothing to worry about. Now cover up. Too much temptation is bad for my health." Thadius chuckled softly.

"Thadius finds my body tempting. Good to know." She smiled playfully.

Thadius eyes widened in feigned surprise, and Christina nearly burst out laughing from the look on his face. Both of them ended up covering their mouths until the mirth subsided.

“Well, it’s time I headed out. Try and get some more sleep.” Thadius said as he raised from the floor.

“But I’m wide awake now.” Christina pouted. She blamed Thadius 100%.

“Then you and your friend should get a head start on those chores.” Thadius whispered.

Christina eyes went wide as she watched him disappear in front of her eyes. She heard a chuckle, then the subtle click of the door leading down to the first floor.

“He he. I saw somethin’ good.” a voice said from the next bunk over. A pair of narrowed cat eyes looked at Christina like a prized fish.

Christina just shook her head and got up to go put on her robe.

“Wait! Christina!” Esaa cried out as quietly as she could manage, which wasn’t very quiet at all.

---

Thadius shook his head as he closed the doors of the church behind him. Esaa had woken up in the middle of Christina’s display of affection. Fortunately, Christina counted on her as a friend, so the fact that there had been a man in the girls dorm would be a secret between the two.

’At least I hope so.’ Thadius thought as he set out for the building he’d met Tony at yesterday.

Dawn had yet to break over the city, and the streets were quiet and still. Thadius set out at a brisk pace, anxious to make it to the meeting on time. His robe flapped violently behind him because of his speed and the continuous wind released by Serenity.

He reached the doors of the recruitment center just as the sky began to brighten. When he walked in, a familiar face was there to greet him.

“This is the youngin’ I was talkin’ about.” Old Man Tony said as he maneuvered his piece on the chessboard. His opponent looked up at Thadius in irritation.

“So you’re Thadius, huh.” The man got up and came around the counter to scrutinize Thadius. “Hmph, You don’t look so tough.” he said, despite the obvious twitch in his jaw that was triggered by Thadius’ Fighting Spirit.

“I’m stronger than I look.” Thadius responded confidently as he looked down at the man. “And if you still doubt my abilities after the excursion, I’ll leave.”

“Excursion he says!” the man exclaimed as he threw up his hands and walked back to his seat. “He talks about a walk into the mists as if it’s some sort of picnic!” He looked at Tony in disbelief. “How many rookies will you send out there to be killed before you’re satisfied, General?”

Thadius raised an eyebrow in surprise. He figured the old man had connections, but he never expected him to have such a high rank.

Tony laughed, and his bushy eyebrows quivered with amusement. “Oh, this one won’t go dyin’ so easily Richie. He’s been taught good and proper!”

Richie sighed, rubbing his forehead to ease his tension.General Antony always found a way to make his job more difficult than had to be. “Fine,” he said, holding out his hand. “give me your status card.”

“He doesn’t-”

“I have it right here.” Thadius interrupted Tony, winking at the old man as he removed his status card from around his neck.

“Ho ho!” Tony chuckled.

Richie narrowed his eyes in suspicion, looking at both Thadius and Tony, but he could only guess as to what transpired between the two. He snatched the card from Thadius’ hand and barked orders. “You’ll report to Captain Dain. He’s the commanding officer for this ‘excursion’.” he said, turning back to the chessboard to make his move.

Thadius waited patiently for further instructions, yet it only served to flame Richies misdirected anger.

“Well!? What in the hells are you waiting for!? Go to the mess hall!” he shouted. “And make sure you change out of that ridiculous armor before you do! You’re in the Todos army now, so you need to dress the part!”

Thadius quickly moved behind the counter and through the door in the back, frowning at his unceremonious recruitment as he walked into the connecting corridor. Not only had he been fussed out moments after he arrived, he’d also been told to remove the armor he’d just bought yesterday. He understood the need for uniformity, but he was disappointed nonetheless.

Thadius followed the corridors to the mass of presences that could only be the mess hall that Richie mentioned. The place was packed with rows of tables and soldiers. And when he walked in, he received all sorts of glares from them. Some men even thought to put a bit of pressure on Thadius, only to have their pressure returned ten-fold.

’The faster I find the Captain, the better.’ He thought as he approached the nearest soldier.

“I’m looking for Captain Dain, do you know where he is?” Thadius asked.

The soldier merely looked at him, then returned to eating.

Thadius turned to the man opposite him. “Excuse me, kind sir. Do you know where Captain Dain might be?” The second soldier gave him the cold shoulder as well.

’Please don’t make me get ignorant.’

Thadius walked over to the next table, hoping to find someone friendlier. “Hey, I’m looking for Captain Dain. Mind pointing me in the right direction?” he asked another soldier.

This time, the soldier didn’t even acknowledge his existence.

’Okay...’ Thadius sucked in a breath.

“CAPTAIN DAIN! WHERE ARE YOU!?” he screamed at the top of his lungs. To his satisfaction, the soldier that had ignored him nearly jumped out of his skin.

“Who in the hells is yelling in my mess hall!” a voice shouted at the end of the room.

Thadius located the man immediately. He was a short, broad-shouldered man with black hair and a goatee. His sharp gaze had no mercy, and his posture as he leaned on the table screamed intolerance.

Once Thadius made his way over, he made sure to be polite as possible. “I apologize for screaming, sir. The soldiers were uncooperative when I was trying to find you.”

The captain glared daggers at him. “And you thought that gave you the right to disturb the meal of my men!?” he hissed.

“Yes sir.”

“Oh? Then you must be one of those entitled little pricks!” Dain came face to face with Thadius. “I’ve ordered my men to remain silent during every meal. So they were following orders when they kept their mouths shut!” he spat.

“They still could have gestured, sir.” Thadius frowned.

The captain stared at Thadius as if he’d bumped his head, then he sighed heavily.“State your business.”

“I was told to report to you for duty, sir.”

“And where is your uniform, rookie?” Captain Dain questioned with narrowed eyes.

“I’m aware that I’m not in uniform, sir, and I apologize for that as well. I wasn’t informed as to where I could obtain a set of armor.”

“He wasn’t informed, he says!” Dain cried out to the eating soldiers, a chorus of laughter followed. “Well then, why didn’t you ask?” he questioned in a mocking tone.

“I was ordered to report to you immediately, sir. It seemed like an inappropriate time for questions.” Thadius responded tactfully. He felt like Captain Dain favored obedience, so an excuse like ‘I was following orders’ seemed acceptable.

The captain sighed again and shook his head in exasperation. He turned toward the opposite end of the table. “Elroy!” he called. Immediately, a young man jumped up and came rushing over.

Thadius was instantly reminded of Marshal by the way the man carried himself. It wasn’t just his dirty blonde hair or his sharp eyes that reminded him of Christina’s father, it was the way the man carried himself with the same air of nobility. Thadius was willing to bet that the man had come from a wealthy family.

“Yes, sir?” Elroy said.

“Elroy, this one will be your fourth. Make sure he’s thoroughly informed on the situation.”

said the captain with an overly sarcastic tone. Thadius was starting to feel like they wouldn’t be friends.

Elroy nodded and gestured for Thadius to follow him. When they were in the hallway, Thadius asked, “Is he always like that?”

“I wouldn’t know. I only arrived yesterday.” he replied stoically.

“You arrived yesterday? And you have a unit already?”

Elroy shot Thadius an annoyed look, but he answered the question. “...I received basic training at an early age.”

“Oh…”

’Definitely nobility.’

“And what about you? You don’t seem like you belong in the city guard.” Elroy asked.

“I have friends in high places.” Thadius smiled.

Despite his stern expression, the smallest of smallest of smirks appeared at the edge of Elroy’s mouth. “Indeed.”

They walked down a few more corridors before they arrived at the armoury. Racks filled with poor equipment littered the place. Elroy picked one out at random and handed it to Thadius. “I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping once we return from the mission. For now, you should be curious about where we’re going, yes?”

“I heard something about the mists?”

“The Mists of Croaka. Further south of Todos there is a gigantic stretch of marshland. Due to the climate, a never ending mist hangs over the entire area. For years, the Croaka have waged war against Todos. It’s one of the reasons why Todos is so militant, and also the reason why we raised the city off the plains.

“Now, we send subjugation squads into the mists just to keep the Croaka in check. They know Todos rules this land, so they hide in their marsh, rarely leaving its protection.” Elroy explained.

“Why attack if they don’t come out of the mists?” Thadius asked, he was curious as to why country like Todos would waste time with an enemy that’s weaker than them.

Elroy shook his head. “Don’t be mistaken. The Croaka are amphibious monsters, and the entire marsh is some sort of massive dungeon. No matter how many we kill, we go back and find the same number in their place. If we left them alone, they’d gain the strength to strike back. And that will not be tolerated.”

“Monsters huh?” Thadius made a confused face.

“Is something the matter?” Elroy frowned.

“Nothing, I just thought there’d be more to it.” Thadius mumbled as he looked at his new armor in disdain. It smelled like a used jock strap.

“So did I, but here we are. Any questions?”

“Yes. Where do I sleep?” Thadius asked.

“I told you I’d show you after we return.”

“I need a place to set my armor after I change…” Even though he could easily use his inventory, Thadius wanted to keep his identity as a Traveler under wraps.

’Which reminds me, I need to get my status card back.’

Elroy nodded. “We’ll be meeting in the courtyard after breakfast, so I suggest you change quickly. There’s a latrine down the hall, first door to the left, if you want privacy. Once you’re done, the bunk room will be the last door on the right, just pick any empty bed.” With his orders fulfilled, Elroy left Thadius to his business and returned to the dining hall.

Thadius looked around the neglected armory, it was a good a place to change as any. From the look of it, the chances of someone walking in on him were slim-to-none, and slim just left town.

’Just what am I getting myself into?’ Thadius sighed as he removed his mint condition armor. He sincerely hoped that his week in the mists wouldn’t be as disappointing as his first impression of the city guard.