A few minutes later, I hear a boom and feel a slight pressure in my ears as the air is pushed out and then rushes back in. Our group is set up for a battle when Xenfova jogs unhurriedly into sight with a small smile.

“They were very close together," is the only explanation needed.

“Charles’s is accessible then?” Sam asks, excited. “I bet we can grab a few chocolates. As a reward and thanks.”

I glare at him and clear my throat. “You are being paid,” I say firmly. “That is your reward.”

Not that I’m not tempted too. But it isn’t right. Charles is a decent fellow, for being utterly insane. He’s a gnome and obviously off in the head. I think he might have seen too much in the war or something. He wears a bright striped blue and orange suit, a matching tall orange tophat, and a monocle. He also has the oddest habit of saying utterly random things in the middle of a sentence that have nothing to do with what he was originally talking about. And if that wasn’t enough, he occasionally takes out and plays a flute in the middle of a conversation. But goodness can he make a dessert!

Sam apparently has less sympathy for the nutty fellow as he glares right back at me. “You’re not in charge. We can do what we want.”

I place my hands on my hips trying to emphasize my point. “Actually, I am. Stealing will result in an immediate termination of our agreement and the questline.”

Xenfova steps between Sam and me. “Enough." He turns to Sam and says, “We are not thieves, Sam.”

Sam humphs, turns, and begins to walk towards the chocolate shop and the explosion. The dwarves walk past me and Dramdo gives me a smile and a wink as he moves on.

Xenfova steps beside me, sighs, and shakes his head. “We all have reasons for what we do. Do not judge him because his are different from yours.”

I slump a little, my anger fading. He’s right, I should not be so judgemental. Of all people, I should be understanding of others’ pasts and needs.

I follow the group, reflecting on how I would act if a newbie had been dropped into my group, flashed some coin, and declared herself the leader by making decisions that would not really affect her.

Be mindful, Aria. You will soon approach an area that has no functional surveillance so I will be unable to monitor you…

I nod, which Jo may or may not be able to see. It is time for us to move on, kill some more ants, and hopefully rescue some folks.

***

We decide to bypass anywhere that has no obviously vulnerable individuals. The group believed, and I agreed, that bringing attention to hidden humanoids was unwise. Ironically, the first Pike patrons we come across are not in hiding and we don’t actually have to find them. They find us. Or more precisely, they are sprinting towards us like massive flaming ants are on their tail.

We set up our standard defensive line and I wave to them to come and hide behind the mana shields with Flordica, the healer.

“How many are after you?” I call out as Flordica starts asking about injuries and checking people over.

A gnome in a red suit says between gasping pants, “Two." He then leans over putting his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

“Ready,” Sam calls excitedly. “Two silver here we come!"

I wonder if coin is the only thing that puts him in a good mood. Again, I try not to judge but it’s hard for me; I’m not sure why.

I prepare my crossbow aiming over the mana shields alongside the mana projectors of the elf and human. We can clearly hear the creatures’ chittering now.

Xenfova says, “Aria, make sure you have enough ammunition to attack if they raise their flame shields.”

“Affirmative,” I confirm with a nod. Vic focused on teaching me the right terms to use in different situations, insisting they’re important. He repeated stated that miscommunication kills people, and I don’t want that on my conscience.

As soon as the flaming brown monsters appear from behind a partially destroyed and blackened wooden Pasta Restaurant, we all open fire. The two ants screech as the barrage of bolts and mana projectiles strike their bodies. One goes down as its head explodes from a combined strike of one of my bolts and a small red ball of mana in the mouth. It bursts into flame and turns to ash. The other, slightly behind, steps through the space previously taken up by its fellow insect and tosses numerous needles which are all deflected or destroyed upon contact with the mana shields. Now that the team is being paid, the dwarves are less hesitant to replace their mana shield cores and thus the barrier is bright and holds well.

One of my bolts makes contact with the ant’s antenna and hits dead center slightly above the connection with its head, slicing it in half. The ant screeches and wobbles. The three of us destroy it shortly and it flashes black and then into ash.

Everyone lowers their weapons and begins to relax.

Thinking I might have something, I speak to the group. “That’s the second time I’ve struck an antenna and the creature has been weakened. It might be a vulnerability."

Vic has told me numerous times of his many missions where all he had to do was find a weakness. Sometimes it took days or weeks, and sometimes it was a lucky break, like in this instance. Or potentially at least.

“I also noticed that,” Xenfova states with a nod. “Our mana projectiles do not seem to have that effect. It must require physical damage over mana damage."

Sam offers his two coppers. “Great. You can just go shoot everything in the antenna from now on then while the rest of us save ammo.”

I sigh.

A retreat and withdrawal order has been issued to all combat personnel in The Pike. A substantial swarm of ants has been reported and defenders are instructed to return to the entrance immediately or risk being overrun…

As if to prove Jo right, the yellow flashing mana lights suddenly shift color to red and flash faster. Moreover, all of the others are either holding their fingers to their ears or looking off as if listening to something.

Sam kicks a nearby piece of broken wood and growls, “So much for our payday."

Despite my frustration with him, I do feel bad that he didn’t get what he clearly wanted or needed quite badly. Trying to provide some comfort, I tell him with a smile, “Don’t worry, Sam. I’ll pay for the full hour. At least your group made over two gold today. Plus we have to work our way back and there could be more bounties.”

He nods and seems to perk up a bit at that.

We work our way back with our rescues and the healer in the middle of our now pentagonal party formation.

***

We run into a few more ants and have some quick battles in which Sam tells me to, “hit their damn antenna already," as the fight is “costing coin.”

It’s fucking hard shooting a small moving target. He’s such a rude human. He’s right though. The longer it lasts, the more power his team uses.

We eventually arrive at the infusion pad and find it blocked by a party of four heavily armored dwarves with red mana shields in one hand, large projector rifles in another, and large axes on their backs. They have a badge labeling them as a guild team.

“Pad damaged. Gotta take stairs," the one on the left tells me as he jerks his thumb over his right shoulder.

We all grumble and walk to the stairs which are also guarded but only by a single dwarf who just jerks his head at the stairs. Heading up and arriving outside, we find ourselves facing the vertical palm of a human with Sea Saddle City Law on his beast leather chest plate. I notice the tag on the left side of his chest telling me his name is “Carlson.”

“Civilians to the left, combat-capable individuals to the right," constable Carlson tells us. He then lowers his hand and our rescued humanoids thank us profusely and wander off to the left with relief and a few tears. I go to the right as does everyone but Sam. The red flashing mana lights are still active and can be seen all over, even outside.

“Is there any pay or bounty for this defense work?” Sam demands from the constable.

Carlson shrugs. “That’s between you and your guild. Sea Saddle City’s Vice Leader of Civil Defense has issued an order for combat personnel to report there for instructions.” He jabs his hand to a massive tent set up on the right.

Aria, you have been exempted and can return home to Vic and safety…

Ignoring Jo, I speak up. “I’m going to report in and see how I can help. You all earned your coin. I’ll report in on the questline when this is over.”

“Aye lass,” Dromgo says with a nod. “We goin too."

He and Dramdo wander over and stand near me.

Flordica, the elven healer, says, “I’ll go see how I can help. I’m sure they need healers."

I nod at him, debating whether I should go with him to the healers or the dwarves and the rest of the fighters.

I hear Sam yell, “Do you have any idea how much it will cost to replenish what we are about to spend? Way more than she paid us!"

That last sentence has bite to it as he jerks his chin at me. I’m really getting fed up with this guy. It’s a good thing Vic isn’t here. I sigh at that thought wishing he was. He could probably do as much damage as ten fighters just with his physical prowess, never mind his magica. Selfishly, I wish he was there next to me, not for the city, but for me.

I step to the side, hold my fingers to my ear, and whisper. “Any updates on you know what?”

No, I’m sorry, Aria. No change. I am able to monitor you again though…

“How long has it been now?" I ask her.

It feels like forever ago he created that cocoon thing. Or egg or whatever the fuck it is. I want him back. Needing reassurance, I send mana into my ring and still feel his life force blazing like usual. It’s so bright now. Before he went under it wasn’t this bright. Sure it was bright, but not blazing like this world’s sun.

Nine weeks and three days since hibernation. Five weeks inside the crystalline structure. Four days since my last system restart…

I sigh. I miss him so much. There is no way I'm allowing him out of my sight for at least a day or two when he wakes up. I don’t want to think if he wakes up – who knows what is going on in that damn cocoon.

I’m startled from my musings when I hear a yell from Sam. “No! No reward, no pay, no fighting! That’s it. I’m done." I see him turn and walk to the left with the civilians.

An armored constable with shiny gold stars on his shoulders steps in front of the stomping warrior and places his hand on Sam’s chest. “Combat personnel are ordered to the assignment tent. City Leader Caster is about to initiate an Order of Martial Assembly."

As the constable spoke that last part loudly, the entire crowd heard and I can make out gasps and a cry of “No!"

I lean down and whisper to Dromgo, “What’s that mean?"

He looks at me, surprise evident on his face. “It means everyone tha ca fight must. Messages bein sen ou now an shoulda been received or will be quick like. Be punished if ya skip ou. Also mean this be serious. City lord be fraid.”

Suddenly the red flashing lights that I had just gotten used to, change to a rotation of red, purple, and black.

Confirmed. An order has been received for you and Vic to report to the combat zone. I have sent a receipt on your behalf that states you are already present. I have also asked Ms. Owens to respond on Vic’s behalf given he is currently unavailable…

Oh, shit. What will happen when he doesn’t show? Hopefully, Omamba, V.I.’s chief lawyer, can deal with it. Otherwise, Vic will be in trouble. I don’t want to speak out loud about this topic though. I’ve been pretty careful not saying anything about him specifically.

Sam is pissed at this statement. He screams “No fucking way!” in the face of the constable.

Calm as can be, the constable replies, “Sir, you are required to report to the assignment tent if you are combat-capable. Failure to do so will result in you being charged. Any attempt at leaving the city will result in a fine, charges, and your banishment of the city for no less than ten years.”

Reflecting on the punishment I chuckle to myself. A decade would only matter to a human; and not for too many generations longer. Although they likely don’t know that yet.

Ms. Owens has asked if there is any evidence of Vic’s current situation. She has alerted me that her options are limited at this point…

I feel a tap on my shoulder and as I look at who it was, I see Flordica. “We should head over. I bet they will need healers.”

Thinking about that, I say quietly, “I don’t think they will need that many actually."

The elf healer looks at me oddly then figures out what I mean. He looks sad as his face lowers to the ground. He knows as well as I do that if anyone is struck by a flaming needle or mandible, the victim will simply burn to ash in seconds.

I tilt my head back and look up thinking about Vic. What do I do? The unsurprisingly cloudy sky is flooded with flyers and transports of various kinds. As I scan them, I can identify half with Sea Saddle City Law on the sides, others with standards that I do not recognize, numerous with nothing denoting them at all, and a few that appear to be from some news source or another.

The news is going to be horrific when this is over. A lot of people are going to die, as always happens when a city’s defenses are compromised. Jo’s right, I should probably go back to Vic. I can protect him, and not risk myself. It’s the smart thing to do. And Vic would want me kept safe, as he had been doing since we’ve known each other.

But I'm not who I was when he found me in the forest with my family more than a year ago. I’m not weak any more. And I promised myself that I would become strong enough to be part of Vic’s team. It is time to prove it.

I look down, turn to the dwarves. “Let’s go check-in.”