The cottage was silent, no lights, no sound, apart from the gentle lapping of the waves on the lakeshore. SJ and Kibble landed softly in the garden. The faintest rays of light were appearing in the night sky as the sun slowly crept into view on the horizon. The skies were clear, and it would be another beautiful day in Killic. Not that beauty was a word SJ could associate with under the current circumstances. Her dress had self-cleaned as it always did from her recent antics, but her hands were stained with her victims' blood.
She walked down to the lake's edge, bending and rinsing her hands and forearms and then splashing her face with water. It felt cleansing and refreshing. Then she removed the small silken pouches that contained the communication stones from her inventory. The first she tipped out had a blue gem, and Zigferd had said Petunia's was yellow, so she returned it, opening the other. The communication stone fell into her palm, and she looked at it nervously before pressing the gem.
It started its call as the stone vibrated. SJ stared at it, her stomach twisting with impatience, then just as she was about to give up hope and consider contacting the chancellor directly, a voice broke through the night.
"Do you know what time it is, you big oaff!" Petunia said.
SJ couldn't help but smile, even under the circumstances. Petunia was a feisty being, her level exceeding any other in Asterfal by far, from what SJ was aware of and Zigferd's unorthodox mum by all accounts.
"Petunia. It's SJ," SJ said.
"SJ," Petunia's voice came over, surprised. "What's wrong? Why do you have Zigferd's stone? Is he alright?" The questions tumbled from her.
SJ took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Yes, and no. He is currently safe, but I assume you have heard of the troubles here in Killic with the attack?"
"Yes. Yes. I have been versed in the problems, although not by Zigferd directly. You would think after all I have done for that boy that he would at least keep me informed."
The fact that Petunia called Zigferd a being who was definitely no boy showed the paternal love that Petunia held for him.
"They have taken the town..."
The only sound that came over the stone was a gasp, followed by silence.
"What do you mean, taken the town? The last I heard, they were building defences, and the immediate threat had been removed."
"They were, but the attackers found another route to the plateau. A tunnel created by a Rock Gobbler months ago, from what I am aware. It was a surprise attack. I wasn't here when it happened. I've only just returned."
"Where is Zigferd?"
"In a cell. He stayed behind. I don't think he wished to leave."
"Isavil? The others?"
"I know that Isavil, Alice, and several others escaped, but I'm not sure fully. It's chaotic here. The draconian and gnoll forces have the town locked down. Many, I believe, left for the crags, although I am aware others may still be cut off and trapped by the ridge to the valley."
The stone filled with an explosion of expletives, which made SJ raise an eyebrow. When she finished her tirade, Petunia continued.
"So, he is in a cell. They have taken the town. What is the plan?"
SJ did not know. She hadn't even thought that far ahead.
"I don't know. The reason for the urgency of the call is that I need you to get a message to Wystria."
"Wystria? Why? What can the church do to help? We do not get directly involved in conflicts. The church has always remained neutral. Yes, individual beings are entitled to take personal actions, but the church's stance has always been neutrality."
"Zigferd believes that once she is aware of the reason behind the attack that it may trigger their support."
"What reason?"
"Bellakiy," SJ said, spitting his name with vehemence.
"You mean Wystria's dismissed brother? That Bellakiy?"
"Yes. He is in league with the draconian tribe that has been instrumental in carrying out the attack."
"Oh, my!" Petunia now sounded shocked. "That may very well indeed cause issues. Wystria is considered an up-and-coming star in the church. I wouldn't be surprised if she got offered a senior role in the capital in the future. But a whiff of a family scandal could damage her. She can't have her family name sullied by such actions."
"Do you think the church would react?"
"It's a little more complicated than a direct answer, but Wystria has connections. Very vast connections, her family name carries a weight in the social circles of many regions."
"I didn't know that it was so well-known."
"Yes. Her father was the old mayor of Killic before Zigferd. Cut his claws in the capital. He created one of the strongest and most stable trading partnerships seen on the continent and drove change. Many of the established trade routes between regions originated through his work. That is why the family name holds so much sway. Well, until her brother stupidly dragged it into the mud, with his greed and lack of understanding. He was always a stupid boy, even as a clawling."
The history of Wystria and Bellakiy didn't come as too much of a surprise under the circumstances.
"Could you inform her?"
"Of course. I am already dressed. Are you safe?"
"Yes. I'm currently on the island where the fishing dock is at Alice and Darren's cottage. The gnolls and draconian forces have been here, but they are focused on the town, where they have gathered those they captured."
"You said you weren't there? Where were you?"
"I was in the desert region. It's a long story, not for now, but I was seeking help. We knew that Asterfal was stretched with what was happening across the south of the continent and wouldn't be able to send too many troops to help."
"I see. I'm not sure what you would find in a desert region."
SJ heard rustling and then a door being closed.
"Right. I'm on my way," Petunia said, as SJ heard her footfall as she ran down the street. "DRIVER," her voice cut through the stone.
SJ heard the clatter of cartwheels before Petunia directed the driver to take her to the Astaria urgently.
"I'll call you when I have spoken to her," Petunia said.
"Of course. I'll be waiting," SJ replied, cutting the call.
She hadn't realised the whole time she had been talking to Petunia; she had been pacing and came to a stop abruptly.
"Well, it looks like we just have to wait for now," SJ said to Kibble.
He squeaked from where he had been standing on the grass watching her.
SJ's stomach rumbled; she hadn't eaten since returning, and after her night's activities, the hollowness in her stomach growled in protest. The cottage was in darkness as SJ approached. The front door, like many others, was open. The inside had been trashed, with broken furniture and glass crunching underfoot. Darren's small alchemy lab had been destroyed; not a dish remained intact. SJ made her way to the kitchen area and hunted for some food. She found bread rolls and some wrapped hogling, made herself a roll and fed Kibble, who squeaked appreciatively.
Then she went back outside, sitting on a small jetty while eating her roll. The roll was tasteless and bland, and her mouth was dry while eating. SJ wasn't sure if that was the food or her recent actions that made it taste so. How many had she killed tonight? It was a fleeting thought, only, as in her mind, it still wasn't nearly enough.
There wasn't much else she could do at the moment, and considering the state of the cottage, she wondered what might have happened to hers. The thought nearly made her investigate, but under the current circumstances, it probably wouldn't be a good idea, and she had nothing there that she needed currently.
An unsettling silence had taken hold of the town as the light broke its fear; the scars of the attack, still visible across its streets, smoke still rose in several areas, but whether fires still burned, SJ couldn't be sure.
SJ had called her claws to her hands and washed them off in the lake's water, cleaning them as best as she could under the circumstances. They were amazing weapons, but she also knew that now that she was over level 20, she could consider upgrading them again. Now, though, wasn't the time.
Her notification icon blinked with a steady frenzy in the corner of her display, and she was about to open it when a voice she had been desperately waiting to hear from erupted in her ears.
"SJ," Dave said.
"You're back," SJ spoke aloud. She didn't need to worry about where she currently was.
"Yes, thank the gods. I had to cut all communication. I may have a link to you, but the other links aren't reestablished yet. The system is still in full meltdown. I have never seen so much chaos before. They are considering isolating me from the system, but I reminded them that I am the only one who has had direct contact with this being they are after."
"After?"
"This Aletheia. I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a world announcement; the system is so frantic about it."
"A world announcement? You're sure."
"Potentially, at least continental. If it does, then the game changes completely."
"I wouldn't classify this as a game," SJ sighed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say something so insensitive."
"Yeah. I know, but I have lost friends. This definitely feels anything but a game."
Dave didn't reply immediately. "Who?" he asked cautiously.
"Little Stuart, and I'm not sure who else. I know that we are separated from Lorna and Darren and that Alice, Isavil and I assume Cristy and Jay made it safely away. I don't know about Setu, Gary, Kerys, Fhyliss or Bert." As SJ started to list some of her friends, her heart again felt leaden. If any more had been slaughtered by these beings she wasn't sure what she would do.
"I'm sorry," Dave said, his voice genuine and soft.
"I know. It's not of your doing. I'm just glad you're back. I missed you, and you would have been so proud of me."
"Why?" Dave said sceptically. "What have you done?"
"I may have gone into full assassin mode."
"You what? You're telling me that after all this time, you actually performed your class, and I damn well missed it."
SJ chuckled at his reaction.
"Yes. But I plan on doing it again, don't worry. I will kill as many of these attackers as I am able."
"Bah. I can't believe I missed it," Dave grumbled. His childish behaviour made her smile. "How many?"
"I think fifteen, perhaps, with Kibble's help."
Kibble growled and stuck his head up.
"Good. Good. So, what's the plan?"
"I'm so drained, though; my mind is a fog. I'm really not sure what to do next now. I have just spoken to Petunia, who is speaking to Wystria, and will see what happens."
"What?" Dave was now confused.
"Oh. You were offline. Yes, well, I believe the reason for the attacks is Bellakiy."
"Bellakiy? That obnoxious imbecile, who thought he would be the mayor of Killic got Zigferd removed."
"Yes," SJ said as she then went on to explain what she had discovered and the current plan by contacting Wystria.
"Ooooo," Dave said when SJ finished. "You have been busy."
"I'm just glad Zigferd is okay."
"Right then. Let's prioritise. You are a fae assassin. You are able to fly, whereas none of the attackers have that ability. That gives you a massive advantage, never mind your ability to stay miniature. I would advise you to do so for the foreseeable future. Two reasons. One ration and food needs will be reduced. You can grow and shrink as needed when you eat to preserve them. I would head to the ridge and see if you can locate Lorna and the rest. As you mentioned, you will probably have fewer opportunities to kill in the light of day, so make the most of it."
"Yeah, I was starting to think the same. If I can locate Lorna and Darren and any others that were cut off, maybe we can come up with a plan to attack them."
"This is no time for all-out attacks. They may have lower numbers, but this is a time of opportunity. I have witnessed sieges and other battles over my time as an AI, and one of the best tactics is chaos building. Grounding uncertainty into your enemy. Attack from the shadows, causing disruption. You mentioned that you believe the gnolls don't even really appear to want to be here."
"I believe that they have been forced. The feeling I get from seeing several of them is that they would prefer to have been left alone."
"Well, that's the path to take. If you can cause enough issues for the gnolls and cause them to revolt, then that would be the perfect solution."
"That draconian leader though..." SJ trailed off.
"He is only one being."
"Yes. One that leads through fear and death."
"He isn't a priority for now. Do what you have been doing; focus on the gnolls. Make them uncertain and start to question really why they are there."
"I agree."
The pair continued to chat for a while when Dave suddenly blurted out in shock.
"HAVE YOU READ YOUR NOTIFICATIONS?"
SJ frowned.
"No. I was ignoring them for now."
"I suggest you do..."
SJ opened her display where the icon flashed and accepted it. As soon as she did, her display was flooded. Lines and lines of text erupt in a cascade. The text made her lean back in shock. Eventually, it stopped, and a single message replaced it.
Dissolution - Failed
"What does that mean?" SJ asked, confused.
"Erm. It means you should be dead."
"What?"
"Dissolution is the status a Legionnaire is given when they have been retired for the better of a word to the Requiem."
"Aye. But I'm still here?"
"Yeah. That's what's so strange, it failed. It appears that the system attempted to purge you. Ooo, the crafty thing. It tried to remove you from its coding and, on doing so, was hoping you would be unalived."
"Unalive. You mean murdered?"
"Well, technically yes, I suppose you could classify it as murder."
"But why? I haven't caused the issues?"
"Technically, no, and technically yes, you have. If you hadn't located Aletheia, then none of their current problems would have occurred."
"If the system is trying to kill me..."
Dave chatted excitedly. "You have them. You have them right where you want them now."
"Sorry?"
"Remember when you accepted the waiver of the terms and conditions."
It had been months now since the conversation with the system when she had agreed to their waiver and the subtle changes she had challenged. "Vaguely. It's been a while. A lot's happened since then."
"Then let me remind you," Dave said cheerily. "You said, 'And I have indemnity from any further action taken on your part'."
SJ sat for several moments, recalling the conversation. She couldn't remember it word for word, but it did sound familiar.
"That was related to challenging authority, wasn't it?" SJ's recollection wasn't perfect.
"Ah. That is the crux. It was a new sentence and considered a separate statement. The system had attempted to remove you from existence, and in doing so, it has broken its agreement with you. You have it bound to rights now," Dave giggled gleefully.
"What good will that do me? If it has already tried to dissolve me, de-mana me, or whatever it does, it isn't going to listen to me, is it?"
"That depends on where the dissolution protocol was activated. Suppose it were a direct system mainframe command of its own doing, or it could very well be a subsystem threat response by another. I need to do some more digging. Oh, this could be so much fun," Dave chuckled.
