In a quiet corner of the outpost stood Alex, still thinking over what transpired previously. He was so deep in thought that he could not tell how much time had passed. For all he knew, it could have been fifteen minutes, or it could have been two hours. He focused all his will on concentrating on the problem at hand, rather than wallowing in self-pity, like he usually did. This was a common occurrence for Alex; when he would be faced with a problem, not a small issue, but a do-or-die situation, he would enter this hyper-focused state of mind until he solved the issue at hand. And afterwards, he would break down, but not before.

“Okay, so someone or something is actively getting in my way. I don’t know who or why, but I know how, thanks to Lady Eastfire.” thought Alex to himself.

Affirming that he could do nothing about these mysterious circumstances, Alex filed this piece of information away. Later, when he would find out more, he would return to this issue. Now though, he had more pressing matters.

“It’s useless to try applying to other factions; I can’t waste time getting more rejections,” Alex added a mental note.

As soon as he finished his thought, he heard his stomach growl with the humming of deep hunger. Following previous events, Alex’s body was running on pure adrenaline for quite a while now, but his heart couldn’t pump the substance non-stop. He could already feel his body weighing more, as well as his muscles aching with a hollow pain.

“First things first, with recruitment out the window for a while, I need to get some accommodations. I think Alaric mentioned something about contribution points being used for everything, including living quarters. Maybe they have the equivalent of whatever a motel is around here? Maybe I can grab a bite there as well. Either way, I have to move.” decided Alex.

With his immediate plan of action decided, he willed his tired legs to lift him from the ground. He took another look at himself, and after slightly dusting off what remained of his clothes, he took off.

Business was slow today at the Hidden Star Clan, but that was to be expected. This outpost opened its gates only hours before. Even though there were already thousands of new arrivals scurrying about, most of the rabble didn’t have contribution points aside from the initial allowance granted to them. Most of the poor fellows were still looking for a faction to join and so didn’t even grant a second glance to the weird booth near the arrival checkpoint after being told they’re not recruiting.

Inside the booth was seated a figure fully clad in a dark robe, complete with an oversized cowl. Some of the few people that took a moment to inquire about the booth’s services would say that the individual looked eerily like the grim reaper, though no intimidating scythe could be seen about them.

The figure inside the booth was bored out of its mind, that being accentuated by the way it leaned its head onto its hand along with the incessant tapping along the surface of the table with the other hand’s fingers.

“Who the hell decided it was a good idea to open this soon?” thought the figure.

Deciding that even thinking about the issue at hand was an unwelcome chore, the figure opted to watch the crowd while continuing to tap on the booth’s table. In the beginning, the figure was excited to observe a new world’s inhabitants. From the little the hooded figure heard from its higher-ups, this world seemed to be monitored by both sides for quite a while now, meaning both the incursion and themselves came fully prepared for what this world had to offer. In time, the novelty of observing the humans before it wore off, due to the fact the Great Starry Sky contained a multitude of species, among which humans could be found as well.

“Sure, these humans come with a variety of weird contraptions, but soon enough, the Divine Breath will offset any technological advantage the inhabitants of this world might have had and send them straight into the stone age, forcing them to adapt to our ways.” ruminated the figure.

“Excuse me?” said a voice.

Engrossed in its own thoughts, the figure didn’t even notice the arrival of the man standing before it outside the booth. It would have been a welcomed distraction save for the fact it meant someone sneaked upon them while they were daydreaming, even if there was virtually no chance the man before it could inflict significant damage.

“Get a grip. If the others hear about this, I’m going to be a laughingstock for the foreseeable future.” thought the figure.

Taking a moment to compose itself, the hooded figure straightened itself out and took a look at the man standing before it—ragged clothes, exposed shoulder, and an unremarkable face, save for a pair of green eyes.

“A new arrival.” the figure made a mental note.

“I am afraid we are not recruiting,” said the figure nonchalantly.

“I’m not looking to join,” replied the man before it in a snap.

After taking another moment to observe the man, the figure slowly stood up, tucked both its hands into the opposite hand sleeves, and slightly bowed to the man.

“How may the Hidden Star Clan assist this young master today?” asked the hooded figure.

After leaving his last resting spot, Alex decided to back-track to the platform where they first arrived at the outpost as a group. While walking back, he noticed something slightly out of place. A short distance away from the grey platform which Alex took to calling the arrival checkpoint stood a booth. The booth was reminiscent of a kiosk if the person behind the kiosk’s counter would be the grim reaper. What truly drew his attention, though, was the black and white sign above the booth, which read ‘Miscellaneous Services’ and nothing more. Thinking back to his previous interaction with the outpost’s inhabitants, Alex thought it a better idea to try his chances at the booth rather than exposing himself to the same ridicule as before.

As he kept walking towards the booth, he could see the hooded figure behind the counter better, though that meant little considering the individual was clad in dark robes from head to toe, with the only exposed part being its red, scaly hands. As Alex approached, he expected a greeting or something, but what welcomed him instead was the figure tapping the counter with its claws.

After a few moments of silence passed, it became apparent to Alex that the figure standing in front didn’t notice him. At first, Alex was content to wait for it to see him, but after some time, his tired body was starting to wear him down even more than before, which affected his patience. After fake-coughing multiple times to get the creature’s attention, and having failed spectacularly, Alex decided to go for a more direct approach.

“Excuse me?” said Alex.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the figure before him immediately turned its head towards him in a startled manner. Even though the oversized cowl obscured its head, Alex could still feel the distinct feeling of being looked over but was content to let it do that as an apology for disturbing it. After taking a good look at Alex, the figure seemed to calm down.

“I am afraid we are not recruiting,” it said in a clearly bored but rumbling voice.

“Yeah, I fucking know,” thought Alex with annoyance.

“I’m not looking to join,” he said with only a fraction of the annoyance he was feeling at the moment.

After taking another moment to observe Alex, the figure slowly stood up, tucked its red, scaly, clawed hands into the opposite hand sleeves, and after slightly bowing, addressed Alex once again, this time in a more polite manner.

“How may the Hidden Star Clan assist this young master today?” asked the hooded figure before Alex.

Looking at the bowing figure before him, Alex felt elation at a response other than the one he encountered so far.

“What do you provide?” asked Alex while pointing up at the sign above the booth.

“As the name implies, we provide a myriad of services. Truth be told, it would be easier to tell you what we don’t provide.” replied the voice behind the hood.

“Do you provide information?” Alex expectantly asked again.

“Certainly. What are you interested in?” replied the figure.

“Is there any place around here that provides affordable living quarters? Preferably one that also includes food and a shower,” asked Alex.

“There is. As a matter of fact, the Hidden Star Hall is one of the finest establishments in that regard,” replied the figure.

“I did mention affordable, didn’t I?” double-checked Alex.

“Of course, in fact, we have a promotion going on for new arrivals. A cosy room complete with a cleansing enchantment along with three meals a day for the small price of a hundred contribution points.” expectantly replied the figure.

Hearing the hooded figure’s reply before him, Alex was starting to wonder whether he was being scammed out of his contribution points. Unfortunately, the fact that he did not have a reference point for the value of contribution points aside from the previous transaction with Alaric, along with the fact that his body was being held upright by nothing except his will at the moment, made this train of thought somewhat moot. After waiting another moment not to appear too eager, he replied.

“Sounds good. Where do I go?” asked Alex.

The hooded figure took out his hand out of his sleeve and motioned with a red pointy finger to a tent whose surface was littered with seemingly moving stars and other celestial bodies.

“Tell them I sent you, and they should take care of you.” added the figure.

“And you are?” Alex asked with interest.

“You may call me Dalar. Make sure to mention my name,” replied Dalar.

“Thank you,” added Alex.

“It was a pleasure assisting you,” Dalar said, quickly turning his attention away from Alex and back to his boredom.

A short walk later, Alex found himself in front of the Hidden Star tent. After taking a single moment to admire the tent’s outside, he pushed the entrance cloth aside with a tired hand and found himself inside. What greeted him was what Alex always imagined when he read about fantasy inns, except it was empty. Behind the bar’s counter stood another hooded figure with an oversized cowl covering its head, with the only visible element being its red-scaled hands. After noticing the new arrival, it turned its head towards Alex.

“May I help you?” asked the figure.

“Dalar told me you provide accommodations. I need a room for a day, some food, and hopefully a shower,” replied Alex.

“A hundred points,” said the figure.

Hearing the figure’s reply, Alex took a couple of steps toward the figure, took out his Darkstone, and expectantly extended it towards the figure. Seeing Alex’s actions, the figure quietly took out its own Darkstone from his sleeve and touched it to the already extended one. With a slight effort of his will, Alex transferred a hundred points to the other Darkstone, leaving him with only seven hundred. As soon as the transaction was done, the figure made a quick nod speaking.

“You may call me Sepler. Your room is there,” said Sepler pointing to a door which clearly was not there when Alex entered.

“Would you like to eat now?” Sepler asked in a monotone voice.

“No, I would like to clean myself and sleep,” replied Alex.

“Very well, enter your room, and the cleansing enchantment should do its thing. If there is anything else you’d like, you can always find me here,” Sepler added in a way that clearly indicated that the conversation reached its end.

Too tired to care, Alex forced his legs to move towards the previously non-existent door. As soon as he reached it, he extended his hand towards it and pulled. Immediately after entering it, he was greeted by a cosy, if simple, room. In the back corner was a queen-sized bed and near it a small table with a glass lamp shining with soothing azure colour. As he took his first step into the room, the same azure light started to envelop him from head to toe. Alex quickly surmised that this must be the cleansing enchantment after seeing a sizeable chunk of dried blood thoroughly disappearing off his clothes. As soon as the azure light finished its job, Alex squeezed the last vestiges of his strength and walked over to the bed, and with a loud thud, crashed onto it. Usually, falling asleep would be a vastly different process for Alex. Most of the time, it would be akin to being caught in a storm of thoughts. Every idea, notion, and event from his day would replay in his mind, demanding analysis before his mind would be allowed to sleep. And then finally, only when the raging storm of thoughts came to a stop, would his mind be able to rest. Not today, though. Today was a day for deep, untroubled sleep.

The next day came in an uneventful manner when considering all that happened before. Alex was still in a deep sleep at the Hidden Star Hall. As he was slowly starting the transition from being asleep to being awake, the door to his room could be heard opening as two pairs of feet walked inside. The mysterious guests quickly walked towards the bed, and as soon as they saw Alex’s sleeping body, both of them spoke at the same time.

“Wake up.” “Wake up.” intoned the voices.

Hearing the unfamiliar voices, Alex’s mind immediately awoke, all traces of drowsiness gone from his mind. As he turned around in his bed, he immediately started surveying the room for the source of the sounds. As soon as he finished turning around, he finally saw the would-be intruders—a pair of children, no older than ten, clad in matching silky black robes.