And so I saw him off; I stood there at the crossroads until his back disappeared into the stubborn darkness that was standing defiantly against dawn’s light. My dearest friend was off to see the bony girl that I aided in remotely healing, and I was now needing to head towards a meeting of my own.

The 4th of the seven treasures in hand, I gazed at it once more to ensure it was the genuine article.

“Hidden inside of a nightmare, huh? How troublesome, all these spaces Gods can allocate. Even I could only watch from afar.” I looked back up at the space my friend once took up, “And now I’ve secured your help in investigating the anomaly in the Northwestern Alliance. Thank you for your kindness,” I said, before kindly bowing.

A wind blew, leaves fell, and I leapt into the air and propelled myself through the sky to my next meeting.

“Let’s put this away now.”

The hand holding the treasure turned to wax and swallowed up the treasure before returning to the form of a hand. I continued to dash across the starry sky, high above the jungle canopy, making a fist with my hand and releasing it multiple times. It was then that I remembered something crucial.

“Ahh, I need to change my face I suppose. Oh, and I suppose I should make myself undetectable.”

I was still a significant distance away; the person I was to meet didn’t have the capabilities to track or detect me from this distance. In other words, I hadn’t exposed myself just yet.

I activated my magic and turned invisible. Next, I began work on my face as I continued my eastward dash.

Now, if only I had true teleportation magic.

I arrived ten minutes later, near the mist threshold; the zone where the mists that surround the world are just light enough that the denizens of the world can still survive within them. I landed, making sure not to let my feet touch the ground. The person I was meeting had not yet arrived at our meeting spot; the violet ore deposit growing out of a giant’s corpse.

Surely, they know I will not be the first to reveal himself.

I relented; I needed to wait. My eyes wandered over to our agreed upon landmark. I wasn’t around when this giant fell. I cannot say when it fell either.

The giant’s body was draped over a stone, its chest faced outward. The middle of its back was what made the most contact with the stone, and its feet were still firmly planted on the ground. To me, it looked like it was thrown onto the stone, and just when it was about to face its enemy once more, it was pierced, and its life was extinguished right there. What was interesting about this giant was that it seemed its body went rigid right at the moment of death. Its head was pointed towards the sky. Its palms too were pointed upwards and open like they were about to take grip of the very fabric of reality itself. If I was to wager, it seemed to me like the giant was preserved at the moment of death due to these confounding mists. The crystal too may have been the product of a strange chain reaction, growing from the place the giant struck was struck. Maybe the crystal used some of the giant for nourishment.

As I was pondering the nature of the landmark, I heard a shuffle and a crack of the earth behind me.

My appointment is here.

From the light mist cover, a menacing figure appeared, covered in oily, black plate, wearing a nondescript black helm. The palms, the only thing uncovered. The hulking figure, with metal wolf heads on its shoulders walked past me, not noticing my hidden presence and stood in front of the giant. For being such a terrifying figure, the woman within that armor was not very good at the finer arts.

Though I may have the upper hand, I wonder, could a sneak attack kill you… perhaps not.

“Is he not here yet?” She asked aloud before crossing her arms and tapping her fingers impatiently.

If only you knew, I was here the whole time. Ahh right, I need to stay in character.

With a flicker of the image of the spell circle in my mind, I cast a swirl of purple flame behind the figure. This, the figure was able to notice and turned around. From the swirling mass I appeared, turning off my non-detection spells. I stepped out, long greasy green hair falling in front of my sunken in eyes and crooked nose. I must have looked so sickly to my contact; I wonder how she saw me.

“Took you long enough,” she spat, still tapping her fingers.

Even though you obscure your face, I can so easily see you don’t hold me in high esteem.

It was in moments like these that I missed my exchanges with Fin. At least he didn’t hate our time together and would even wish me a good day. But still, this was not the time to gripe and moan. Now was the time to wear the face of a consummate professional.

“I beg your forgiveness. I lost track of time,” I fibbed; this character was a serial late arriver. Naturally I had to keep up the appearance. Though, I would only ever arrive a few seconds after my acquaintance.

“What else is new?” she spat.

“Come now,” I said, clutching my chest in offence, “Don’t be like that Ms Blood Claw.”

A low growl came from below that hulking mass’ helm.

“Don’t call me that embarrassing name. I’ve told you before.”

“Ahh no, sorry, sorry. It’s just that’s the name on the stones. I forget.” I didn’t forget, I merely wanted to bother her, but now was the time to change the subjects, “Never mind that, did you do what I requested?”

“....” the Blood Claw was silent until she scoffed. “Yes, I beat the skull knight girl within an inch of her life. When I left her she was still alive. Was that enough for your purposes?”

Now came the greatest stint of acting I would need to do for today.

“Yes. Of course,” I said before interrupting myself with a sickly chuckle, “It was imperative we only send a message to the other side. I suspect that the girl's benefactor will know that this was a warning.”

“Right, right, I don’t need to know the games your type play,” the Blood Claw replied, shaking her head, “Can I count this favor scratched off?”

“Of course,” I said clasping my clammy hands together, “You only owe my side eight favors now!”

“Yippee.” A dry, sarcastic response.

“Say,” I started, ”did you encounter any trouble?”

Fin told me of their encounter in his summary, but I wanted to hear it from her; how did she appraise Fin? I wasn’t able to see the clash in detail myself, after all. The hulking mass stood unmoving without flinch. How I wished to be able to see beyond that exterior but unfortunately, that power was beyond my reach for now. Maybe one day.

“Hmm. The most trouble came from the were-jaguars that pursued me. I lost a few of the runts accompanying me.”

“Ahh, should we perhaps mourn them?”

She scoffed once more, “Why mourn trash?”

“I’m sure your comrades wouldn’t revel in hearing the way you speak of them.”

“If they have time to revel, they have time to learn to be useful.”

“Right.” There was no point trying to guilt this ball of sunshine. “So, there was no other trouble from the other side?”

The Blood Claw fell silent. I detested not being able to see the face she was making.

“Not particularly trouble, but perhaps a peculiarity.”

“Oh?” That wasn’t acting, I was surprised to hear confusion from the Blood Claw.

“There was a man that appeared, some kind of ogre or giant variant.”

“Okay? Is the peculiarity his race?”

“No. He seemed to know me. His fists were filled with rage and he was screaming nonsense.”

Come now, you’re making light of his suffering?

“Ahh? Well, with your illustrious career, it is only natural you would breed enemies that would want your throat.”

“Naturally.”

“Huh?” I was caught by surprise, I thought she was confused that people hated her.

“The peculiarity is that I met someone who would hate me in general. In such a wide world, with so many people, here in this insignificant town, that I was asked to attend to because of a favor I owed, I ran into someone that hated me while within another plane of existence.”

I was silent for too long, processing what it was that the Blood Claw was getting to.

I could feel my body was beneath her gaze; she was trying to make her presence known, “Tell me, weasel, am I being targeted by the other side? Is that why that insignificant cell was targeted? So as to send a warning to you?” she asked.

“Well that’s-”

“Has the person you’re fighting found out that I am one of your pawns? And is that person now sending their own pawns after me in convoluted, roundabout, unnecessary schemes? Schemes similar in nature to the ones you employ? ”

Oh good, you’ve already come up with a story.

I broke a sweat internally; I’m not made for walking mental tightropes, but I recomposed myself using the story she concocted.

“I would wager, perhaps, you’re partly correct. I would not be surprised that my adversary assumed that I was making use of your organization. I doubt they know that you, yourself, are completing favors for me.”

“So it's a coincidence?”

“No, I would posit, sheer likelihood.” I took the position of a know-it-all scholar, “If the other side picked up someone that for instance was slighted by the Blood Hounds, then it becomes more likely they would have history with you given how… prolific… you are.” I patted myself on the back for that wonderful explanation.

The Blood Claw fell silent before finally consenting to my explanation, “I see.”

My reasoning accepted, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Truth be told, the situation had only recently evolved to its present state. Had the anomaly in the northwestern forests not appeared, I would not have had to have the bony girl maimed. But since I had to, it only made sense to make use of the Blood Claw who was already legitimately in the area on their own business. That way, I could at least earn more of Fin’s confidence which is a resource that has no cap on its accumulation. Although… There was a happy miscalculation; Fin. Fin already trusted me and he was also much more effective than I initially estimated. I was prepared to do my best to ensnare Fin. I was prepared to terminate the nightmare womb as soon as I confirmed the Blood Claw had left, and also had many storylines at my disposal to justify my heroic entry into the story and inform Fin of what had transpired. It was a shame that the scenes I rehearsed would go to waste, but it is a small blessing that Fin was so capable.

“Could you do me a favor?” the Blood Claw asked, knocking me out of my thoughts. I naturally nodded my consent and she continued, “Could you give me a heads-up the next time that guy’s on my tail?”

“Oh? Did he give you some kind of challenge?” I taunted her, but I was truly trying to salvage some of Fin’s pride, though he didn’t know he had any to lose.

“No. It’s just that guys like that always hurt my ears.”

“Oh.” I felt that blow to Fin’s pride, but hurting her ears? That’s something… right?

I nodded at my acquaintance, “I will do my best, but I can’t promise anything. The other side is good at sneaking around.”

“I don’t expect promises from your kind,” she said, before beginning to walk past me.

Right as she crossed me, I felt compelled to ask, “And what is my kind exactly?”

She was silent until right before she disappeared into the mists; right when she would disappear, “Slaves.” she said. And like that she was gone, leaving me and the corpse.

“Well.” I put my arms on my hips, “That’s not an entirely correct description.” I shook my head and casted a spell that created a little mirror-like porthole.

Oh? It seems I missed the best parts. Good thing my little bug has a recording feature.

I casted a simple spell, and the image in my porthole rewound through time until I got to the part I wanted to watch from.

On the other side, I could see Fin with his party, the other three girls in the inn; the glamorous woman, the bony girl and the sleepy one.

“Really?” Fin asked as he chuckled, “You’re going to make a joke about it? It hasn’t even been a day.”

It seemed that Ange had just made an awkward joke. She always had a lovely sense of humor, that girl. Her teacher lightly reprimanded her by tapping on her skull helm.

In that small moment, the girls hadn’t noticed that a certain someone was reaching his limit.

“Ange! I’m…. I’m so glad you’re okay!” Fin said, hugging the now blushing girl as she sat in her bed.

Their teacher put her hand on Fin’s shoulder but stayed silent. She too was relieved that Ange had recovered so quickly.

“Me too… I’m happy Ange is okay! …. That was scary, I thought I was still sleeping,” the sleepy one said, motivated to speak after watching Fin’s outburst.

It was such a heartwarming moment. I jumped over to the giant and took a seat on his chest, reclining against the purple crystal and watched the scene for another ten or so minutes.

As I saw Fin and his amethyst filled-teacher together, I couldn’t help but notice something. I looked around where I was sitting.

“Is this giant a metaphor for Fin and his teacher? Fin’s Incarnate Form would be about the right size, and Deleim’s an Amethyst Gemian.” I continued to look around, “Time travel? Is that possible in this age?” I tried my best to put together random pieces, but I couldn’t link anything. Eventually, I just had to conclude, “Now this is the real coincidence.”

And so, after having a round of theorising, I enjoyed looking in at my friend, Fin, for a little bit longer.

The Nightmare and the Ogre

End