The squads which had been keeping their distance from our engagement with the Shapers immediately jumped into action. Positions in smaller towers I hadn't noticed built into the bridge landing were manned and magic flew into the river without delay. The light show went on for almost a minute before an all clear sounded.

Water Attuned rushed into the river with vine nets in tow and hauled back a few dozen fish. The Mer and lizardfolk moved through the slower water of the banks before their catch could amble far. Their companions clapped them on the back as they returned to land and a few of the fish were immediately skewered before being set out to the fire to cook.

The response had been so quick and smooth our group hadn't actually moved from our spot more than a few feet in the direction of the alarm.

"Patrick, what's going on?" I asked, even as the answer made itself known. The Metier Crystal seemed to strobe with laughter.

"Sarah mounted an expedition to bring a sliver of Gec here," PatPat said, hesitating as he glanced over my shoulder.

"You fragmented your crystals too!?" Ponzio said, not having missed the naming conventions and allusion to the Entity resting by the main tower. "You made Grandfather and us guilty over our unknowable actions!"

"Ponzio," April said, her voice flat. "You draw too deep of an assumption. Collect the evidence and only then, if need be, do you strike for the kill."

"I--"

"Willing fragments," I explained, cutting off any potential arguments. "We can speak with them and they can make their own decisions... Even if I wasn't informed of this one."

"Uhhh..." Patrick struggled under the pressure of unknowable circumstances. Thankfully, his salvation was striding across the bridge.

Sarah looked even more imposing than the last time I'd seen her. The orc wore the emblem of the Wild Guard proudly on her chest as her muscular arms helped carry a whole cow strung up on a log. Her tusks glinted in her smile as she spotted my flabbergasted expression. With ease, she passed her burden to another in the group that had been crossing the bridge. I noticed Igor and the Wild Fists following close behind, the whole lot of them salivating as the cow was taken to a table to be processed.

"My, hit a growth spurt I see?" Sarah said, now looking up at me rather than eye level. "Might need you to shut your mouth unless you are planning to eat my hair there, Ron," Sarah said, smiling easily.

"I have way too many questions about what is happening here right now," I said. The orc woman chuckled at my confusion before freezing. She'd spotted our two followers.

"Care to update me on what's happening here?" she said, not unkindly. However, I could see her eyes scanning the pair of Ocalans and assessing their threat levels like they were Dungeon bosses in her map room.

"Right. How about we all go and take a seat and get on the level?" I said, pointing to one of the nearby tables. The two people that had been inconspicuously eavesdropping scattered like the wind the moment my hand moved in their direction, opening up more than enough space for our group.

"Let's," Sarah said, nodding and turning.

---+---

"So let me get this straight," the orc woman said, rubbing her temples as she looked at me. "You went into hostile territory and brokered a trade for our people with the help of the Zebelos."

"Yes, that part I know Igor would have told you about," I replied.

"Oh, I know. Just need to get the full context right here. Then, you go to their town, tour their production facilities, upend their understanding of magic on the surface and then agree to an exchange program with people you've known for barely a week?"

"That's about right," Sam agreed. Ponzio and Jolene also nodded, April was more focused on scanning the surroundings.

"Madness!" The orc shouted, her arms thrown up in the air. "No offense to your city but this can go terribly for everyone involved. Not to mention you left Daniela Vega as your emissary!? What were you thinking?"

"Sarah, let me put it like this," I said, steepling my fingers. "It's not much worse than what we did when we arrived at Wildwood. Outnumbered, unaware of the greater world and not what I would call prepared for responsibility. Yet... Here we are."

The orc woman grumbled, crossing her arms as she looked away. While I understood her concern, and I hadn't realized the similarities until she'd forced me to repeat our actions several times, I still stood by them. April and leaving our friends alone were the only things causing me heartburn, but there were certain things that needed risk for the sake of progress. Spending weeks bedridden and recovering had taught me that one.

"So with that out of the way," I said. " Can you run us through what's going on?"

Sarah cast a look at our tag-alongs, but I waved her on. She sighed, her face scrunching up like she'd eaten a lemon. "We got the update on the kidnapping and the completion of the bridge. So, we decided to make a statement. When we'd amassed two squads to bring along and post them up here to assist you all, Gec reached out to Wec which reached out to us. Loudly."

"Is it safe to assume these are more Crystals you've interacted with?" April asked.

Sarah gave me an incredulous look, but nodded. "They requested us to expand our force here and take a sliver of them along. Considering what I've heard, I suspect you might have had something to do with it."

"Hmmm." I scratched at my beard as I processed what she said. The orc woman said they'd rushed yesterday to arrive within a day, even traveling a part of the way and relying on the Wild Fists to keep watch during the night. Considering the distance itself, it wasn't an impossibility; unlike the stretches of land between the towns, the road between Gec and the River Base was fairly direct and undamaged by the wildlife. Beyond that, all the recent passes of the Weirdians and our own trips between the towns and the River Base had culled many of the creatures that would respond to the allure of the sliver-- giant slimy sturgeon included. Adding the increased influence of Gec for the southern stretch into the mix meant that they were likely fairly safe for most of the trip. The issue became when they settled down here, with creatures coming from the southern edges of the city and from the Ock River.

Considering how much stronger the members of the Wild Guard were when compared to our first trip with Wec, I wasn't overly worried about them being able to hold the line against random creatures. The concern was the Entity Gec had identified still hadn't been sighted. I wouldn't put it past an Aberrant Dungeon to nudge more enemies in our direction if we put up the equivalent of a clarion call in the neighborhood. Considering the timing of Gec's request, if the Entity hadn't been already planning to ask for the sliver expansion, then our presence in the town had been what prompted the request. It was entirely possible an Aberrant Entity would have the means to sense whatever it was we did and respond in kind.

"Is it alright for you to be here?" Sam asked while I pondered. "Not that I'm not glad, but you seemed pretty slammed with the Trainees and everything last we talked."

"Funny you should mention that," Sarah said, chuckling. "We've actually slowed down on that front. No new people to train since your folks set up the boarding school, you understand. As for it being alright for me to be here, yeah. Some old world veterans took over training and managing the Dungeons in our immediate vicinity. Without the need for the militia, they felt comfortable setting up this thing they are calling the Mission Hall. Unsurprisingly, it was supported by Irwin and built right across from your Crafter's Hall. Requests for specific Attunements or Materials are coming through there and the squads deal with them whenever they are off duty."

"Where was this when I was stuck fishing!?" Jolene protested.

"Right where our hopes and dreams were," Sarah said, letting out a dark chuckle. "The dump."

The development stunk of someone from the old world that played just as many RPGs as us getting involved with the politicking in town. However, it was as good a system as I could think to deal with monsters, incentivize the economy and train people.

"Okay, we are getting a bit off topic here," I said, waving my hands as if clearing spiderwebs. "You are here. The Crystal is here. Us and our new friends are here. How long are we thinking things will keep trying to eat us?"

"What was it? Less than a week with Wec?" Sarah said, tapping her tusk in thought.

"Felt like a year," Sam grumbled.

"We've got plenty of people so I think we should be alright," I said, combing my hair back.

"Are you sure?" Ponzio asked, rejoining the conversation. Everyone except April turned to him. Without his grandfather there, however, his spine was solidly in place even if everyone else at the table was a Q6 fighter. "Not questioning your abilities, but beasts around here climb Thresholds like a death slime with a corpse."

"Come again, Thresholds?" Sarah asked.

"He means level," I said, pinning the elf with a look. "We hadn't heard anything about this."

"You haven't been around long enough," April said evenly. "The monster waves are almost a monthly thing around here. Some of the keepers think it has to do with all the mana the condensers put out. Even if it's only really concentrated around the buildings the density of the entire area climbs with it. If it wasn't for the Crystal Wards, Ocala would have long been buried under the weight of their failures and the corpses of its children."

Sarah blinked, processing the finality built into the statements. She pointed a green finger in the demoness' direction before turning to look at me. "Is she alright?"

Ponzio sighed. "Yes, she's fine. She's also right. The reason the Wards correlated to the power of the Factions in the city is because of the territory. Space in the center of the city is at a premium and further out is dangerous even with the Wards. Not to mention the presence of the Breakers of Beasts and Flesh, the Cloth Muscles, the Clan Mercs and the Wyldspeakers, which only patrol the outer reaches of the city instead of living there. With the revelation that the Wards are actually alive... I'm not sure how things will go from here."

"Ugh, I thought I left the politics behind for some good ol' punch and run," Sarah groaned.

"You followed Ronan here. Did you expect things to be cut and dry?" Jolene said, rolling her eyes. That got a chuckle out of my friends, but Ponzio only gave a confused smile in return.

"Alright, I suppose I walked into that," Sarah said with a shake of her head. "On a serious note, this... Everything actually works well with our original plan."

"Which is..." I said, urging her on.

"Well, for Gec's you'll have to talk to the Entity. As for ours, Ian is actually back in the River Base. He was hoping to act as our diplomat now that he's passed the mantle fully to Maurice."

Sam chuckled. "Took him long enough. They'd been dancing that dance since before they took over the Infused Plant growing for me."

"We restocked your smoothies, by the way," Sarah said. "But I will say that yours taste better. Those Weirdians make a mean fruit salad but they could take some mix lessons from you."

"You can thank Danny for that particular skill," Samuel said, smiling as he seemed to remember something fondly.

"So, maybe we can add Ian to the exchange program when we collect Daniela and Billy?" Jolene suggested, getting the conversation back on track.

Ponzio nodded. "I don't see Grandfather having a problem with that. Someone new from your towns would also benefit from experiencing Ocala as well."

"We planned for two days. Considering the situation with the sliver, I think we might have to up it to three but I can have our scouts run a message to Daniela," I said, turning and giving Sarah a meaningful look. The rest of the message I sent via the comm-plant. "They don't know about the comm-plant just yet. I'm not trying to hide it necessarily, but I don't want it to be too common a knowledge."

"Might be too late, that demon has you pegged," Sarah replied, the sigh coming through the connection even as she turned back to the Ocalans. Sure enough, April had an eyebrow slightly raised which was more expressions than she'd shown during the whole meeting.

"No issues with us," Ponzio said. "Is there anything you'd like us to do?"

"Perhaps you'd like to get settled in," Sarah said. "Gec is eager to hear from Ronan and I'd rather not have the Entity spend all of their energy yelling about how we need to expedite our efforts and contact the Dreg Warrior Leader."

Pushing on my temples, I nodded. Gec was difficult at the best of times, and I wasn't much looking forward to interacting with a sliver personality of themselves. Ponzio and Sarah kicked up a conversation while Sam headed towards the small garden that had been set up on the inside of the upgraded wall. I almost laughed when Sam had to physically stop the satyr working the space from bowing upon seeing the Druid arriving at his small plot; title aside, Sam had a very positive reputation with the Life Attuned of the Allied Towns. As for Jolene, she went to check on one of the squads with people she knew. I spotted her casting glances at me more than once, but I pushed it out of mind for the moment. I knew our conversation was lurking in the background, but responsibility didn't wait for no one.

"If you are all okay with sticking with me, Ron can go speak with the Entity," Sarah said, breaking me from my thoughts.

"The more people we meet the merrier," Ponzio said. "Not much point to an exchange program if we just stick with what we know, yes?"

Sarah smiled as she stood, gesturing to a cleared area inside the perimeter of the wall. If I had to take a guess, it was a rudimentary training yard based on the stone and wood protrusions I could only visualize as targets. Ponzio and April moved to join her, the demoness locking eyes with me for a second before following. A shiver crawled up my spine and I turned back towards the Entity.

Along the way I took in the squads arrayed around us again; they were near unrecognizable compared to when we'd first arrived at Wildwood. Scales were deeper, tusks more pronounced, skin and fur smoother and their eyes sparkled with inner power even as they did the most mundane of tasks. Traits and Skills, guides for the changes to their bodies and the magic that flowed through them. It had made all the difference. With thoughts of the past and the future, I finally arrived at the sliver of Gec. The area of influence gently pushed on Fievil the closer we got to the Entity and I left the axe-hammer resting inside the tower itself, just out of sight.

The light flickered as I approached and I took a deep breath before plunging into the crystal surface. When I opened my eyes again, white stretched into an invisible horizon. A pyramid of light hovered down from above until it was level with me.

[-] It has been some time, Dreg Warrior Leader[-] Surprise and confusion must have shown on my face. I could practically feel the mirth coming from the Entity manifestation. [-] Didn't expect to see me here?[-]

"Uh... Kinda? Isn't your personality supposed to... I don't know... Splinter?"

[-] Normally you'd be correct. As I have reached the realm of Category 4 my physical form is more flexible than your human mind could comprehend. Though perhaps you might comprehend it better than I expected, if the connection I felt with this human city is accurate.[-]

I didn't say anything for a second as I processed what she said. If Entities split, then the fragments would be copies of themselves. Apparently higher categories meant that they could retain themselves somehow. If the signal from Ocala only marked as one Entity but I knew for a fact that there were multiple Metier Crystals in the form of the Crystal Wards... Then all of the Wards were one Entity. An entity I had met and I knew for a fact had been unwillingly splintered for the sake of the use of their area of influence.

"Hec is all the Wards at the same time," I whispered. That had been more to myself, than for Gec, but the Entity had taken it as my response.

[-] Already named another of my kin did you? What's the name mean this time?[-]

"Hidden," I said, still coming to terms with the equivalent of confirmation that the city did indeed only have one Entity as Gec had sensed. That, by itself, brought a problem to mind when it came to what I knew for crystals in the Category 2 and 3 range regardless. "Before we talk about anything else, what would happen to your personality if we merged this crystal with another already containing a personality?"

The glowing pyramid dipped, tilting side to side as if contemplating. [-] The normal dominance rules would apply. One would be overruled or the two would blend into something new, severing the connection to the original Entity[-]

"Oh. Oh boy," I said, feeling a headache starting to form.

[-]You believe these fragments are exploitable weaknesses. [-] Gec provided smoothly.

"Not sure what else I could call them," I said. I let my legs drop, a chair a shade darker than pure white forming beneath me. "We know that the people in the city are actively working with Tendrils."

The world quivered-- not even a shadow of what I knew Gec was capable of in their Cat 4 body, but still. [-] Your kind's foolishness will doom our mission![-]

"Needs must!" I shot back, pointing a finger at the Entity's manifestation, and feeling defensive of the Ocalans all of a sudden. "I'm not excusing their actions, but they did what they had to. Need I remind you that our 'foolishness' is what kept you from being corrupted into Aberrationland?"

Gec reeled, the light of their manifestation strobing along with their frustration. Eventually, the light evened into a weaker tone. Frustration dripped off their voice as they changed the subject. [-] This form is limiting.[-]

I sighed, rubbing at my temples ineffectively. "I still don't have the full picture. I've taken some steps to help Hec, but even with the Allied Towns behind me Ocala is an order of magnitude bigger in many regards. Acting recklessly will get us nowhere."

[-] You are correct.[-] Gec admitted. The reluctance didn't take away from my surprise. The Entity hardly removed their stance of supremacy. [-] There is little I can affect, but I will do my best to watch over this encampment.[-]

"Let us know when you've got enough juice to make an Implant," I said, rising to my feet. "In the meantime, I will create a permanent housing for you up in the observation tower. As I'm sure you've sensed, we have some visitors and I think mirroring something from home will send a message of unity."

[-] Hmmm. It also makes sense tactically. By relocating my physical form to a higher elevation, I will be able to extend my influence further.[-]

"Wait, what? Your influence is not a sphere?" I asked, snapped away from my construction daydream. The fact that I was technically already in my mind in a way didn't deter such airheaded pursuits.

[-] Influence brushes the material world, not unlike that filthy pebble you call a weapon. It has a point of origin and a set amount of strength. As it collides with things, it is depleted. Ergo, removing the direct impediments will allow me to reach further and reshape the 'sphere' you so ineloquently attributed to our Influence into a more proper dome. Of course, the alternative of strengthening my physical form with your purged Dregs so it reaches further is also valid. [-]

"I don't think I've ever been dissed so regularly and taught so much in so few sentences before," I said, as deadpan as I could manage while being excited about the new information I had been provided. It seems there is something to the Ward designs other than glorified nightlights.

[-] I aim for only the most succinct of deliveries. Now, my energy draws low. If you wish for me to expedite the reversal of the lure upon my self, I would suggest you get out. [-]

"Always a pleasure, Gec," I said, rolling my eyes even as my perception shifted to the foot of the Observation Tower.