Dexter

I sat in the same position, on the same field, wearing basically the same outfit, and staring at the same house I had seen yesterday. Only this time, I was surrounded by my guildmates and nursing a growing fatigue. The fight this morning had really taken it out of me and I was quickly losing what little adrenaline I had left to stay alert. I crossed my arms as I let out a sigh. “I can’t wait to get back to the barn,” I muttered. “That hammock is going to feel like heaven after today.”

Amelia nodded as she knelt beside me, still cradling her arm as he stared at the house. “As uncomfortable as the hay bag is, I can’t wait to get some sleep.”

I chuckled as I stretched my back absentmindedly. “We should try and make something a bit softer,” I remarked. “My clothes will wear out eventually and we’ll want something softer than the fur shawls.”

Amelia nodded as she gave a thoughtful grin. “Mabel might be able to help with that,” she replied. “We just need to learn how to make cotton fabrics from raw cotton.”

I nodded as I let out another sigh. Cloth production was just another in a long list of things to make. It was honestly daunting to think about. I had already spent about three months here and only managed to get steel production up and running. The quartz production was another thing accomplished, but it was going to take longer to bear real fruit, on account of its magical nature. Manastones took time to enchant to their fullest and the Institute was still working on the spellstones. The spellstones honestly should have been our next priority, but now that we had Elites to deal with, I wanted to train up for next time. Not to mention the artifacts we had nabbed from the four at Mabel’s glade. I had a plan for them, but I still needed to set it up and make sure every contingency was accounted for. Thinking about all the potential work while dealing with this fatigue was giving me a headache. I let out a sigh as I rubbed my temple tiredly. “The list just keeps getting longer and longer,” I groaned.

Amelia turned to me as she noticed my tone. “You feeling alright?” she asked.

I nodded instinctively as I lowered my hand and let out a slow breath. “I’m fine,” I replied. “I’m just tired. Today was a long day.”

Amelia nodded as she turned back to the house. “It feels like we left the Institute forever ago. That’s not even considering the fight we had with that other guild group.”

I let out a groan as I remembered the group, the ones that had taken the other route. “What do you think they found when we split up?” I asked. “It must have been potent if they could sniff it out through the forest.”

Gremach suddenly piped up as he sat beside me. “It may have been some form of oil,” he remarked.

Brokil took a seat as well as his eyelids drooped tiredly. “I recall one of them mentioning primrose oil and adympian leather,” he added. “That may be all they found.”

I nodded as I rubbed my eyes tiredly “In any case, we should expect some kind of retaliation from the Elites. We’ve taken four of them, after potentially years or maybe decades of missions without a hiccup. This will be their first mistake, possible ever, and they’ll want revenge for it.”

Bruga let out a nervous groan as she watched the house carefully, fiddling with something around her neck as she did so. “They are going to be troublesome, aren’t they,” she said worriedly.

I nodded reluctantly as I drummed my fingers along my arm. “We’ll have to prepare, all of us.” I glanced at Brokil, who was practically falling asleep where he sat, then at Gremach, who was rubbing a spot where an Elite had gotten a lucky shot. I rubbed my own chin as I recalled the cut that had dashed across it. “Brokil,” Brokil sat up slightly as he turned to me, but did not open his eyes. “Did you finish your work with that spell Amelia suggested?”

Brokil nodded as he waved behind us. “I have the theory complete. I merely need to transcribe an official spell that implements the theory. It will take a bit more time, but it should be possible.”

I nodded and was about to say something when a voice sounded from behind us. “Outsiders?” I turned as I recognized the voice and saw Uloth standing thirty feet back, gazing at us in amazement.

I waved to her as I let out a groan and stood. “Hey, glad you’re here. We were actually planning to find you after stopping here.”

Uloth hesitated as I walked over, her expression one of amazement. “You bring news of Orthan?” She asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.

I grinned and nodded as I pointed to the house behind me. “We just stopped here because Dumag and Orthan wanted a word with Garthan. They should be out any-”

I barely got the thought out before Uloth gasped, tearing starting to fill her eyes. “Orthan is safe?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. “How is he? Was he hurt?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but was interrupted again by a groan of rusty hinges from the house behind me. I turned to see Dumag and Orthan exiting the house, Orthan carrying a bundle of cloth and Dumag gently patting his shoulder. They looked up as they noticed Uloth beside me. Orthan’s face immediately brightened as he rushed over, still cradling the bundle of cloth. “Uloth!” he shouted gleefully. He ran past and threw an arm around her, pressing her head into his shoulder. “I am so happy to see you again.” I couldn’t help but grin as I watched the two embrace. I felt a twinge of satisfaction as I realized the pain that had just been alleviated in that moment.

Uloth hesitated for a moment, her hands trembling, then wrapped her arms around Orthan, holding him tight as tears ran down her cheeks. “I thought you had been slain,” she gasped. “I was so worried for you.”

Orthan could only grin and laugh as he held his girlfriend tight. “I nearly was,” he admitted, “but these outsiders came to my rescue just in time.” Othan then pulled away from Uloth as he began unwrapping his bundle of cloth. “I made you something,” he said, his hand shaking slightly. “I wanted to wait for a better time, but …” Orthan suddenly pulled a beautiful rose from the mass of cloth, causing Uloth the gasp in surprise. He held out the delicate flower as he gave her a grin. “After today, I’m worried that another chance may not arise.”

Uloth took the plant in amazement, cradling the petals gently as she admired them through tear-filled eyes. “It’s beautiful,” she gasped. “Where did you get it?”

Orthan grinned as he scrunched up the bundle of cloth. “I made it,” he repeated, fingers tapping nervously against one another. “It is to show my love for you. I will be yours until the last petal falls.”

Uloth smiled sweetly as she grabbed one of the petals and tugged experimentally. Surprisingly, the petal didn’t come free and only then did I realize that the flower in question was unnaturally stiff. The rose was no rose at all. It was a strip of wood made to look like a rose, painted a vibrant hue of red and green that shone in the setting sun. Uloth chuckled amusedly as she looked up at Orthan again. “Then I shall be yours forever,” she said happily.

I couldn’t help but grin as I saw the two hug once more. Our group stood in silence for a moment, not daring to interrupt the tender embrace, save for sudden and loud ZZZZZ that came from Brokil’s upright form. Even in his slumbering state, he was sitting, head bowed, and swaying only slightly. I let out a tired sigh as I gestured to the slumbering guildmate and turned to Orthan. “We should get going. We have a lot to do now that we’ve poked the bear.”

Orthan nodded understandingly as he looked at our group once more. “I owe you my life,” he repeated. “If there is anything you need of me, just ask.”

I shook my head as I gestured dismissively. “Think nothing of it,” I sighed. “It was just business.”

Orthan nodded concernedly as he glanced at Uloth, who still had a large smile plastered across her face. “How much did I-” he was about to ask.

“Speaking of business,” Amelia said suddenly, reaching into her satchel. She then held up a coin before flicking it in their direction. Orthan caught it in surprise as Amelia continued. “Back home, businesses have what’s called a return policy. Since no one has come to collect the pay, we’re returning it to its rightful owners, save for an administrative fee.” Orthan opened his hand and gazed in amazement at the solitary coin that lay there. Amelia grinned happily as she gestured towards the coin. “Don’t worry, we round down.”

Orthan let out a sigh of relief as he looked at the coin, understanding washing over his face. “You truly are a blessing from the gods,” he sighed, looking back up. “How can I ever repay you.”

I chuckled as I rubbed my tired muscles. “Spread the word, I guess,” I replied, half-joking. “It’ll be nice to hear some good rumors about us for once.”

Orthan grinned again as he nodded understandingly. “I shall keep that in mind then,” he said happily. Another loud snore from Brokil as he slumped again indicated that it was long overdue for us to head out. Uloth gently took Orthan’s hand as she held the intricate carving.

Gremach crouched and began pulling Brokil onto his back as I stretched tiredly. “The day isn’t over for us. We’ll have to inform Garahk about where we hid the Elites.”

Uloth’s eyes grew wide for a moment as she turned to Orthan, but he let out a solemn nod as he squeezed her hand. “I apologize for not being any help in the cavern. I pray to Xutjja that you will find ease in capturing the other Elites.”

I waved a hand dismissively again as I glanced at Gremach. He was just straightening with Brokil slumped on top of him. Brokil must have really been out of it after today. “We’ll figure something out,” I said assuredly. “We just need time and a bit of luck, for once.”

Orthan nodded again as he let out a relieved sigh, glancing at the house in the distance. He didn’t speak for a moment, merely gazed contently at the farm around him. “I never expected to feel such joy standing here,” he muttered amusedly. “I suppose that is one good thing that has come of this venture.”

I grinned at the remark as I rubbed my eyes. I was really starting to envy Brokil. I turned to the others as I felt my eyes starting to droop. “Who’s ready to head out?” I asked. Everyone but Brokil raised their hand, but I counted the loud snore from him as a vote in agreement. I nodded as I turned back to Uloth and Orthan. “I guess the only thing left to say is good luck on .. whatever you’re going to do now.”

Orthan nodded in agreement as he let out a nervous sigh. “If the gods favor me, an apprenticeship,” he replied.

Dumag nodded proudly as a rare grin crept across his face. “I am certain they will look favorably upon you,” he said encouragingly. “You have much potential to offer.”

I nodded insistently as I gestured everyone towards Snakhagr. “In any case, we should head out. If we’re lucky, we’ll be home by the time the sun sets.”

Dumag hesitated for a moment then nodded as the grin on his face vanished. “Then let us depart. We have much to discuss on the morn.”

I nodded as I gave Orthan a brief wave. He mirrored the motion as Uloth gave him a relieved hug. I then turned and began walking away as the others said their goodbyes and followed suit. I rubbed my head tiredly as my stomach growled hungrily. “I don’t suppose we have any food supplies left?” I asked, turning to the group.

Dumag let out a tired sigh of his own as he reached into his satchel and began rummaging around. “I have some dried meat for such cases.” He admitted, pulling them out and handing a couple of strips to me. I took the food happily as Dumag began handing it out to the others. It was a salty and tough meal, but my stomach was just happy to get something in it after the ordeal.

Amelia let out a relieved sigh as she swallowed her first bite. “I have never been so relieved to finally eat,” she muttered “We spent way too long walking around today.”

I nodded as I practically wolfed down the first strip of meat. My hunger only enhanced the flavor as I greedily worked the tough food into a manageable pulp. Despite the saltiness, it was rather savory. I wouldn’t prefer it if given a couple of options, but it definitely seemed serviceable for emergency food.

Dumag gripped his own piece in between his teeth as he reached in again and pulled out a leather skin with a cork on the end. He uncorked the stopper before handing it to me. “Drink,” he commanded. “You must be parched after such a day.”

I nodded gratefully as I took the skin and drank deeply. It was a mixture of clear water and what tasted like mozzarella. It was unexpected, but not unwelcome. I took a few gulps of the strange drink before handing it to Amelia who took it as I turned back to Dumag. “What is that?” I asked, feeling the familiar aftertaste of cheese occupying my now empty mouth. “It tastes like watered-down milk.”

Dumag nodded as he slowly chewed his food. “It is water mixed with an energizing powder. A recipe I learned of during my time in the guard. It does not spoil easily and is serviceable as rations for a time. It is also rather delectable, which is rare in the standard guard rations.”

I nodded understandingly as I let out an exhausted sigh. “I’ll have to put something like that together at some point. Too bad I don’t know any good recipes off the top of my head. Well, maybe the twice-baked potatoes, but I’ve yet to see a potato around here. Even then, they’re best eaten fresh and not after sitting in a bag for who knows how long.”

Amelia suddenly let out her own sigh of relief as she finished with the skin and handed it to Bruga. “Do you think Orthan will be alright after today?” She suddenly asked. “He did seem rather nervous.”

Dumag popped the last piece into his mouth as he nodded thoughtfully. “He has given his future some thought,” he replied. “My only concern is his fortune in finding a suitable master. There are many woodworkers in the city.”

I rubbed my eyes as I felt my stomach begin to consume the food I had just eaten. “Do you want to try and help him out?” I asked. “We could probably put a good word in to help him get an apprenticeship.”

Dumag shook his head as he swallowed the last of the meat. “He would not accept our help,” he replied, “not after today. He has already received great aid from us and it would wound his pride to receive help with such a monumental decision. No, he must accomplish this on his own.”

It was Amelia’s turn to bob her head thoughtfully as she ran her tongue over her lips. “You don’t think it’s possible to help him out indirectly?”

Dumag and I turned to her curiously, clearly confused at the notion. “How the hell would we accomplish that?” I asked, still tired from today.

Amelia stopped in her tracks and thought, causing everyone to stop in turn as they all turned to her. Amelia tapped a finger to her cheek thoughtfully for a moment before looking up at me. “Didn’t one of the warriors in the Arena have a carpenter for a father?”

I paused for a moment then turned left as I recalled every detail I could about that month span of time. I furrowed my brow and nodded as I finally recalled the name and turned back to Amelia. “Yeah, Yamarz’s dad. He even told me where his shop was. Why?”

Amelia nodded as she gestured for everyone to wait a moment then turned and started jogging back the way we came, rushing towards Orthan and Uloth as they began making their way towards a nearby path. I looked on with confusion as they had a brief conversation where Uloth and Orthan exchanged confused looks before handing something to Amelia. Amelia nodded gratefully as she took the item and began rushing back. My eyes grew wide as I saw that she now held the carved rose. She held it out with an air of triumph as she began to explain. “I told them we could enchant it as one last favor to them. As durable as wood is, it can still rot and decay.”

I furrowed my brow once more as I turned to Dumag. “Is that really so easy to do?” I asked. “I thought that stuff was expensive.”

Dumag nodded as he held his hand out for the rose. Amelia gave it to him gingerly and he lifted to examine it, admiring the detail in every curve and crease. “It is time-consuming,” he admitted, “but far more simple if you know of the enchantment well. Fortunately, a soak in a fortifying elixir is all that is required.” He then turned to me. “Do you believe it is possible to convince this woodworker to accept my nephew as an apprentice? Without raising his suspicion, of course.”

I let out another tired sigh as I rubbed my head and gave it some thought. “We did technically leave on pretty good terms. I was able to help Yamarz get his warrior status. Shouldn’t be too hard to give him a story to use. Kind of too tired to think of one right now though. Not to mention, we have a shit ton of stuff to do now. I can make time to head down there. It shouldn’t be too hard.” I finally let out a tired sigh as I rubbed my head and nodded, resigned, but eager to help Orthan out one last time. “I can make time for such a visit,” I admitted sleepily. “Right now, I’m just too tired to think clearly.”

Dumag nodded understandingly as he glanced back towards Orthan. Another rare smile crept across his face as he slipped the carving into his satchel with great ease. “Then let us return and inform the Elder Mother of our success. She will also wish to know the location of the captured.”

I nodded tiredly as I looked towards the path once more, the sun sinking lower and lower as I scanned the horizon for Snakagr. I only saw trees, grass, roads, and hills though as I let out one last exhausted sigh. “Let’s get going then,” I muttered, beginning the trek back to the city. For once, I was content with the fact that we might not get the Guild approval. There were a lot of ways we could help without being a sanctioned guild.

I practically dove into my hammock when we got back to the barn. The nagging thought that the Elites might be around was pushed to the back of my mind as I embraced the warm comfort of slumber. The Elites, however, weren’t the only dark entities that were plaguing the corners of my mind.

The steady drip of water on a cavern floor punctuated my footfalls as I dashed through the cave. The walls appeared warped and tangled, refusing definition as I ran. A sense of fear was surging within me as I tried to escape the nameless thing behind me. I couldn’t put a name to what I was running from, because I refused to look back to get any details, but I knew I couldn’t let it catch me. Every time I slowed, the surge of fear grew and forced me to move faster. The stinging in my lungs did little to hinder me as I dove under a portion of the wall that jutted out into my path. My aching muscles and pounding heart were equally ignored as I let over a large pit that was immediately behind the outcropping.

A surge of pain shot up my leg as I felt my ankle twist. My cry echoed unevenly as my movement slowed and I tried desperately to hobble forward. The panic at the pit of my stomach rose to suffocating proportions and I turned back in a desperate attempt to see my final moments. A wave of blackness was barreling towards me, unfaltering as it ate everything in its path. I flinched as the darkness slammed into me and enveloped the cavern itself. I felt the ground beneath me vanish and the sensation of falling filled my stomach. I screamed as I clawed uselessly at the air, barely catching the whisper of a remark that permeated the blackness. “Intriguing,” it said in a growl. I froze in disbelief as the voice continued. “That was far more capable than I anticipated.”

I twisted in space, searching for the source of the sound. I stopped, however, as a new voice whispered in my ear, tickling a sense of familiarity in the back of my mind. “Don’t react. Another is watching.” I felt the panic rise again, forcing me to gasp in fear.

Suddenly, another voice made itself known, accompanying the rise in panic and holding an equal twinge of familiarity. “Just wait. We have to listen for a moment.” I continued to pant as I looked around. The blackness was the only sight visible every which way I turned. Yet, the falling sensation was still present, as if an updraft had caught me and was holding me in a cloud of blackness.

Suddenly, from all around me, the first voice returned, its attention seemingly focused elsewhere for the moment. “I don’t understand why Beldroth insisted I study this one.” It muttered. “He is unusual, but not particularly remarkable. I have had devotees more resistant than this. Now then,” Suddenly, I felt my hands get pulled upward, slowing my fall as the darkness faded and a new ground came up to meet me. The dull throb in my ankle quickly dissipated as I was plopped onto a different floor, this one made of wood. It reminded me of old Japanese architecture. As if on cue, walls began to sprout from the floor, the same appearance as the architecture that came to mind. I looked about, confused, as the voice spoke once more. “Let us test spatial awareness.” A loud scuttling sound suddenly made itself known behind me. I felt my heart drop as I turned to identify the noise and saw its source. About twenty feet away, a floorboard was beginning the shake violently, the scuttling sound growing louder as the creaking of wood indicating the board was bending.

The voice in my ear whispered once more. “Don’t tell me.” I felt my heart racing as I knew what it was thinking. A loud crack signaled a large split to appear in the wood and a long hairy leg suddenly reached out from below. My heart stopped as more legs reached out alongside it, two, three four, six, eight, and suddenly a large hairy spider was squeezing its way out. “Don’t Panic Now!” The voice said, trying to be calming. “You Need To Run. We Need To Get More Information On This New One. Just Run!” It was no use though and I found myself frozen in fear, paralyzed as the spider as it finally burst from the crack with a sucking pop. It was even larger than I feared. It was the height of a small child and large enough to bend the wood it stood on. Its eight beady little eyes glared at me as it charged, closing the distance in almost an instant as another spider began to push its way free.

I felt my head vibrate as I screamed in fear and barely drowned out the mysterious voice that permeated the blackness once more. “Interesting. It seems he is even weaker than I-”

I couldn’t hear him finish the thought, however, as the giant spider leapt at my face and I sat bolt upright in my hammock, my face covered in sweat. I gasped as the detail of the nightmare quickly faded from my mind, save for the spider that was now burned into my mind. I growled angrily as I let out a calming sigh. “Damn cave spiders,” I muttered, glancing at my watch. 5:42 A.M. I let out another sigh as I scratched my hair, reluctant to get up so early. My muscles were already complaining about being awoken.

Suddenly, a loud rumble turned my attention to the far end of the barn. It was only then that I realized there was a drizzle pattering onto the rooftops. However, the rain and thunder weren’t holding my attention after I turned. Amelia was sitting, knees pulled to her chest, as she gazed out at the city. I looked at her with concern as I twisted and dropped from my hammock. I felt myself cringe as I recalled the spell I had used and the pain I had inflicted yesterday. I swallowed the memory, however, as I walked up beside her. “Hey,” I said gently.

Amelia looked up in surprise then let out a sigh of relief as she looked out over the city again. “Hey,” she whispered in response. I said nothing for a minute as I sat beside her and looked out over the city. The rain gave the city a dreary and cloudy look, causing a few columns of steam to rise where fires were still lit. A flash in the distance and a soft rumble punctuated the morning, like a rooster crow that was trying to signal the start of the day but was way too early to actually wake anyone.

I glanced at Amelia as I again heard her scream of pain in the back of my mind. I looked towards where she had been sliced, my heart sinking as I saw the incomplete mark on her arm, little more than a ragged blotch, where my healing spell had taken hold. It was only an inch or two from end to end, but it might as well have spanned her entire body for how guilty I felt. I let out a sigh as I gestured at the mark, drawing her attention. “I’m sorry about yesterday,” I said sheepishly. “I forgot about my healing problem for a moment.”

Amelia furrowed her brow for a moment as she glanced at her shoulder then shook her head instead. “It’s not your fault,” she said simply. “Yesterday was stressful. These things happen.”

It was my turn to furrow my brow as I looked at her. “You’re not mad?” I asked, practically in disbelief. “But you were so quiet yesterday. I thought you were upset about it.”

Amelia gave me an amused grin as she shook her head and looked out over the city again. “It’s sweet that you asked, but no,” she replied. “I wasn’t upset yesterday. I was just … thinking.”

I let out a relieved sigh for a moment before the concern welled up again. “What were you thinking about?” I asked hesitantly, almost afraid of what she might say.

Amelia sighed again as she looked out over the city, gazing at the gently falling rain and the rising plumes of steam. After a moment, she finally turned to me, her face a mixture of hesitation and concern. “Can … can I borrow that knife Mabel gave you?” She asked, catching me off guard.

I gave her a concerned look as some dark implications surfaced in my mind. “W-why do you want the knife?” I asked, confused.

Amelia was strangely quiet for a moment as she stared out at the city, her lips pursed nervously. She finally shook her head dismissively as she ran her fingers through her hair. “It’s nothing I was just … thinking again.”

I nodded understandingly as I continued to stare at her with concern. “Do … Do you want to talk about it?” I asked, hoping to get some semblance of understanding.

Amelia let out a sigh as she scratched her neck and stared off thoughtfully. “I’m just disappointed in myself,” she finally admitted. “I spent so long studying and expecting a confrontation and … all I could do was freeze.” Amelia let out a long sigh as she bowed her head, her face drooping solemnly. “I thought I was done, with being powerless, with being at the mercy of slavers and elves, and with being nothing more than a damsel in distress.” She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “As enticing as this magic stuff is, I just want to go home.”

I let out a sigh as her words hit me like a mountain of bricks. I looked out over the city as I mulled over the words and thought back on yesterday. She had said the same thing and this time I was certain what she meant. I thought back to my first night in this strange land and to the very moment I had been snatched from home. I wondered if I could have changed the outcome of things then, avoided the storm entirely, and been left to my own devices. I thought about what I might be doing now. Which classes I might be taking and what kind of people I might be mingling with. I let out a sigh as I quickly realized there was no point in it. It was only a what-if and all it did was make me long for home. I let out a sigh as I looked at my knees and thought deeply. After a few moments, I finally looked up again as I stared out at the city, watching the gentle patter of water beginning to subside. “I feel the same way,” I finally admitted. “I wish I could say I knew how to get home, but I’m still not sure how those Banestorm things work. Hell, we even talked about the possibility that someone caused the Banestorm. For all we know, they’re not natural at all. It could-” I stopped myself as I quickly realized I was thinking in circles again. I let out a sigh as I tilted my head back and stared at the ceiling. “We just don’t know enough right now,” I muttered, wishing that weren’t the case.

Amelia was silent for a moment as she stared out at the city. She finally turned to me with a worried expression. “Do you think we’ll ever make it back home?” She asked.

I didn’t reply for a moment, just stared at the ceiling as I thought deeply. I finally shrugged as I turned to her. “If we’re lucky,” I finally replied. “We don’t know enough yet; about this magic stuff, about the elves, or about the Banestorms in general. It might be possible, but it might also be a one-way trip.” Amelia’s face fell at the idea as she looked longingly out over the city again. I quickly continued as I realized what I was implying. “Or we might be able to reverse the trip, I don’t know,” I said, turning to look out as well. Fires were being doused as the sun was starting to peek over the horizon, signaling the city just starting to wake up. I sighed as I tried to unravel what might have caused the Banestorm and how it might be induced, but it was no use. I was still too new to the arcane to even think how it might have been possible. “I just can’t be certain of anything. It’s too early to say.” I let the silence hang for a moment, thinking about yesterday and its implications.

As if reading my mind, Amelia quickly changed the subject, pursing her lips nervously as she scratched the back of her head. “What about today?” She asked. “What should we be doing to prepare?”

I let out a sigh as I rubbed the scar on my chin and thought, analyzing where things went wrong and what could be done to avoid it in the future. “Combat training,” I finally replied, a little relieved to get my mind off the idea of Banestorms. “Something that will prepare us for whatever techniques or training the Elites have gone through. We had the element of surprise and magic and it still wasn’t enough to take most of them. That wasn’t even considering that was only half of the ones that would have shown up.” I let out a disgruntled sigh as I scratched my head and thought about our choices and how they ended up panning out. “We walked into something that was still way over our heads,” I sighed. “Dumag and Bruga were the only two that were even able to hold their ground. Brokil was already out of it after that Illusion spell. I was not tactical at all and just flung myself in and made a mess of things. And you-” I stopped as I reminded myself that Amelia was still tender about not being able to help. I let out a sigh as I looked out over the city again, the sun slowly starting to bathe the city in its light and warming the cool morning air. “The Elites will be an ongoing problem,” I growled, recalling the shield that had swallowed my spells and the various other artifacts that made them that much more dangerous. “We need to make sure we can mitigate that problem as best we can, alone and together.” I used my thumb to press on my other fingers and elicit a soft pop from each knuckle. “That will be the only way we can end-”

A loud ZZZZZZZZZZZ suddenly sounded from downstairs and I turned in surprise. It was only now that I noticed that Bruga, Brokil, and Gremach were sleeping below, laying in piles of hay made into makeshift beds. Even Salthu was here, his head resting on his satchel as a trail of drool slowly dripped into the fur he was lying on. Dumag was the only one not laying in a bed. Instead, he was sitting in a chair, his arms folded and his chin resting on his chest. Dumag had chosen to sleep nearest to Bruga, keeping an eye on the front and side exit to the barn. Another loud snore from Brokil told me he was the one that had drawn my attention. I let out a sigh of relief as I turned to Amelia curiously. “They slept here last night?” I asked.

Amelia nodded as she turned to look down at the five of them. “You were barely lucid when we arrived,” She explained. “You practically passed out on the way to your hammock. Dumag was the one that came up with the idea of spending the night. Brokil was still asleep and Gremach was also on the verge of clocking out. Bruga and I thought it would be rude to leave Salthu hanging for so long so we went down to the Institute and informed Garahk of our successful mission.” A grin briefly flashed across her face as she let out a soft chuckle. “Actually, we walked in on Kertug giving his report in the Arkanul Portath. He was claiming we had abandoned them and going on about recovering a stash of Elite garbs. Fortunately, it seems he got there after Salthu and Garahk wasn’t very happy about being given such a biased report.”

I chuckled to myself as I thought about the mage being scolded by Garahk. “Did he get chewed out once you arrived?” I asked curiously.

Amelia shook her head as she smiled once more. “Garahk just said she would have words with the Menagerie when time allowed. Though, she still did not seem happy with Kertug.”

I chuckled again as I turned towards the five once more, thinking back on what Dumag had said earlier. “We cannot dash off alone to fight battles anymore, not if we are to consider ourselves a guild.” I nodded as I climbed to my feet and stretched, energized once more for the day ahead. “Let’s wake the others up then,” I said, reaching a hand towards Amelia. “They’ll want to hear about the plan as well.”

Amelia smiled and nodded as she grabbed my hand and allowed herself to be pulled up. As she stood, she wrapped an arm around me for a moment before pulling back and giving me a wide smile. “Don’t worry about the healing,” she said cheerily. “We’ll figure something out.”

I returned the smile before turning towards the edge of the loft and gesturing for her to follow. “Come on then,” I said as I prepared a Hop spell. “Let’s figure it out with the others.” With that, I dropped from the loft, using the Hop spell to precisely time my fall and come to a stop just before hitting the ground. Amelia followed suit as I walked over to Dumag and gently shook him awake.

He awoke with a start as he blinked up at me blearily. “Outsider?” He croaked sleepily.

I nodded as I walked over and shook Salthu’s shoulder, speaking loudly so that everyone in the barn would hear. “We have work to do. Up and at `em. No time like the present.” A collective groan came from Brokil and Gremach as the two rubbed the sleep from their eyes. Bruga sat up almost immediately and Salthu turned groggily to the shaking.

Salthu wiped the spittle from the side of his face as he looked up at me. “Is it morning already?” He asked in a dazed state.

I nodded as I moved over to a half-empty pitcher of water and began pouring everyone a glass. “We have a lot of work to do after yesterday,” I said as I started handing out the drinks.

At the mention of work, Dumag sat up in a much more alert state, quickly blinking the remaining sleep from his eyes. It seemed he was familiar with being woken to work at early hours. Salthu, Gremach, and Brokil, on the other hand, let out tired groans as I handed each of them their glasses. “Can this not wait another hour?” Brokil asked, laying back but keeping the cup upright. “Surely we have earned a day of rest.”

I nodded as I reached over and handed Bruga and Dumag their cups. “We could, but then the Elites will be one day further in their plans. We can’t let them get even an hour ahead of us.”

At the mention of Elites, Brokil let out a reluctant sigh before sitting up and taking a large gulp of water. He then turned and rested his feet on the ground as he nodded with a tired but determined expression on his face. “Is there a matter which must be discussed at once?” He asked. “Or is there another reason for waking us so early?”

I nodded again as I leaned on a nearby table and gestured at the piles of hay. “We need a plan for sleeping arrangements.” I then gestured at the piles of artifacts that still littered the various tables. “And a safe to keep all these items. We should have done it sooner, but now it’s a real priority, what with the Elites and all.”

Dumag nodded as he looked at the various items scattered about. Most all of them were designed to enhance an existing spell or exude their own magical effects. I was starting to become nervous leaving them out for so long. “A safe is easy enough to procure, but it would not be enough to contain all of them unless I enchant it with a space expanding spell, which would take time. Moreso, considering any safe we acquire would be composed of metal.”

I nodded as I recalled the lecture about enchanting materials and their effects. “Can you just make a wooden box that can fit inside a safe?” I asked. “It won’t be a perfect solution, but it’ll work with what we have at the moment.”

Dumag thought for a moment as he took a few sips of water. He finally nodded as he glanced at the pile of artifacts once more. “That is more manageable,” he admitted, wiping the corners of his lips. “It will still require time. A week or two, at least, but it is possible.”

I nodded as I suddenly gestured at his satchel. “We’ll also need to enchant that flower carving and drop by Yamarz’s place.” I then turned to Amelia as a thought occurred. “You told Garahk about where to find the Elites we captured, right?”

Amelia nodded as she poured her own cup of water and took a sip. “We filled Garahk in on everything that happened. She said she’d be stopping by the glade today to check in anyway. So, it worked out for her.”

I nodded as I scratched my head and did a quick inventory of anything else I could do today. I gestured to the piles of hay again as I recalled what I first said to Brokil. “We should also get some proper beds and spruce the barn up. It’s been a good first couple of months, but it’s time to really start reorganizing.” At the mention of the barn, everyone glanced around. The barn was practically in the same state we have found it in, save for the large car near the center, the tables scattered about, and the chairs pulled from various corners of the place. Even the items that had originally come with me were right where I had left them, except for the cycle of shirts and shorts me and Amelia were going through. I pointed specifically to the four stacks of hay with fur covers resting on them as everyone turned back. “If the Institute grants us our Guild status, we’ll eventually need places for everyone to sleep. I feel bad for leaving you guys to sleep like this.”

Gremach gestured dismissively as he stood and stretched. “It is no bother,” he said tiredly. “I have had worse nights in worse places.”

I nodded again as I gestured around the barn once more. “Well, If you’re going to be sleeping here again, we might as well get some extra beds. I’d prefer that over having to set up a pile of hay again.”

Bruga nodded in agreement as she yawned and stretched before taking a big sip of water. “What of the Elites?” She asked, cradling the cup in both hands. “How are we to deter them and prepare for their next infiltration?”

I nodded as I let out a tired sigh and rubbed the back of my neck. “That is more up in the air,” I admitted. “I have a couple of ideas, but they’re mostly on preparing us for another fight and using those magic items as a trap.” I then turned to Dumag as I pointed at his satchel again. “We’ll also want to talk to White Rock today about converting one of their storage rooms into a trap. If the Elites have a way of tracking their magical items, we’ll know once the trap is sprung.”

Brokil nodded as he climbed to his feet and finished his cup of water. “We should also determine a method of detection that will penetrate their Bloodform potion. We cannot be certain who we pass may really be an elf in disguise.”

Gremach nodded in agreement as he glanced about. “What of your abode?” He asked worriedly. “Surely they would attempt to attack in the dead of night. Perhaps we may lay an alarm spell that could alert you should unwanted visitors arrive.”

Dumag nodded as he finally stood as well. “A great many tasks are needed now that we have made such formidable enemies. It would be prudent to determine what is simple or essential and divide the tasks accordingly. What’s more, we must discuss the future of this group.” His head turning to me told me exactly what he was about to say next. “If we are to act in battle, we must act as one. There can be no room for dangerous or reckless actions”

I let out a sigh as everyone glanced between me and Dumag. The dull pain in my chin made itself known as I recalled the near misses I had with that magical dagger. I nodded in defeat as I swallowed my guilt and turned to Dumag. “I should have been more cautious,” I admitted. “I acted recklessly and endangered everyone that was in that cavern. I knew explosive spells carried a risk down there, but I didn’t care that it did. I just wanted blood and the only one that shed it was me.” I glanced at each of them as I remembered what Dumag had said yesterday. “What if you were slain? How would you keep your vow then?” I turned back to Dumag as I felt a sense of determination well up within me. “I promise I will never let my emotions get the best of me again.”

Dumag nodded happily as he turned to the others. “In any regard, valuable information was gleamed from your action. So, I cannot entirely fault you. Though I still condemn you for rushing off so quickly without us in tow; It would have been more prudent.”

I nodded in agreement as a smile briefly flashed across my face. “Next time will be different,” I promised. “We’ll be more prepared next time we face the Elites.”

Dumag nodded grimly as he suddenly glanced towards the door. “As will the Elites,” he said solemnly. “They will not be idle before confronting us once more.”

Amelia’s face betrayed a flash of worry as she fiddled with her arm once more. “How soon do you think that’ll be?” She asked nervously.

Dumag shrugged as he glanced around at the artifacts, likely estimating how large a safe would be needed and the degree of enchantment he would need to create. “It is difficult to determine,” he admitted. “They will likely strike when we least expect and in a manner of their choosing. What that manner is, can only be known by them and the gods themselves.”

I nodded again as I took one last sip of water before setting the empty cup on a nearby table. “Then we’ll have to prepare for everything we can,” I said solemnly. “Train whenever we can and arm ourselves with our own magical items. Amelia and I still don’t have our own combat kit like you guys have.”

Salthu nodded as he glanced down at his bracers. “If possible, it would be wise to improve all of our armaments.”

Bruga sighed in agreement as she reached into her satchel and removed the circlet. “Items that are of our own design,” she said affirmatively. Her face was suddenly alight with recognition as she quickly turned to me. “As well, Garahk told us to visit the announcement board sometime in the afternoon. She would not reveal more, but it sounded as if the matter was important.”

I gave Bruga a curious but intrigued look as I felt a spark of hope. “Is it something to do with our guild submission? Naw. It can’t be. It’s been forever. We won’t know until we go there to see.” A similar look of confusion and excitement flashed across the faces of Gremach, Brokil, and Dumag. Salthu and Amelia were the only ones that appeared to have heard this news before. I finally nodded as I glanced at everyone here, recalling the expeditions we had already gone on and all the others that might be present in our future. “Only one way to find out then,” I said, drawing everyone's attention. I then lifted my hand and counted on my fingers. “So we’ll need a place to train. I’ll need to visit Yamarz’s woodworking place. We also need a safe and a box to enchant as well as any ingredients you need for the enchantment, Dumag, and a set of beds to add to the barn. We’ll also need to go through everything again and find places to put everything while we also figure out an appropriate alarm spell for the barn itself. Last, but definitely not least, we need to head to the announcement board and see what Garahk wanted us to see.”

Everyone nodded in agreement as we began to divide the tasks and decide who would need to go where. All the while, I felt a nagging thought in the back of my mind, as if I was forgetting something.