#forfend

Forfend nodded quickly.

"You did crafting," Howell restated, gesturing at Forfend. "What about the rest of you guys? Also, who's this one?"

He cocked his head at Vesper, eyeing the purple tiefling and his basket of what was clearly Howell's giant arrows.

Vesper's tail straightened and fluffed up as his whole back went briefly rigid. He seemed to put effort into schooling himself back into a more relaxed position.

The whole display happened with such speed Forfend wondered if anyone else had seen it.

Vesper stared awkwardly at Howell for a moment, then looked to Forfend.

"This is Vesper," Forfend took the hint and introduced the anxious man. "He is a new ally of ours."

"Vesper," Howell tested out the name.

He strode straight to Vesper and stared up into his face, scrutinizing. "What can you do?"

"Well," Vesper almost mumbled. He cleared his throat and spoke with more confidence, "There is the casting of magic. There is the speaking with the dead. And there is the... carrying these." He shuffled the bundle of arrows, causing them to clank against each other.

Speaking with the dead. That was certainly an interesting talent. Befitting of an undertaker, but concerning just the same.

Forfend hoped Vesper wasn't a necromancer.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Vesper finished.

"Those mine?" Howell asked despite obviously knowing the answer.

"Yes. You want them back?"

Howell drew in a deep breath. He seemed to assess Vesper's posture again. "I can always make more. Besides, you could use them to stab someone with."

"That is a possibility." Vesper reconsidered the arrows in his arms and nodded to himself.

Howell turned to Melzaryn. He gestured over Vesper, but also to Forfend and Kagoshi. "You trust them?"

Melzaryn hummed to himself for a moment before deciding to nod.

"That's good enough for me," Howell said. "I've gone ahead and hired some mercenaries who should be able to turn the tide of battle for us. They're from the Valley of Glass, so they're adept in arcane arts as well as martial combat. They should be able to make do. They're already waiting inside the Teleportation Hub." He folded his arms. "So what's the plan? How are we getting back?"

Forfend looked immediately to Melzaryn.

Melzaryn spread his hands. "I intend to provide some means of magical teleportation. There are a few options and I'm not sure which one we'll need to take yet. One is almost risk free. Another is probably only dangerous to me. The last one could endanger all of us. We'll see."

"How many could each one transport?" Howell asked.

"Depends." Melzaryn smiled his unhelpful, inscrutable smile.

"What exactly are the options?" Howell pressed.

"My mother is searching for a magic item that would be able to get us all there. It would only work once, but it's pretty much a guaranteed safe bet. I could also request the college's help, but I'd have to pay them back somehow. That's the risky part. And the last option is to get help from my sister." Melzaryn grinned again, but he looked decidedly nervous this time.

"Your sister?" Howell schooled his tone firmly into neutral but his expression betrayed his own apprehension even through the wealth of cloth over his face.

"Yeah, I'm sure that she can build something," Melzaryn said. He shrugged. "It just might explode."

"It explodes... or we explode?"

"Now that's the question, isn't it?" Melzaryn giggled, but everyone else took an unsettled half-step back.

"That's also not really an answer," Howell grumbled.

"I'll give you a proper answer just as soon as I have one."

"Great," Howell deadpanned.

"I mean, this one hasn't exploded." Melzaryn gestured to a mechanical snake curled across his shoulders.

The constructed creature moved and acted with all the grace and watchfulness of the flesh and bone animal it was modeled after. Frankly, Forfend was impressed. The machinated rarely emulated the natural so fluidly.

It was curious how Moli could both be so skilled and apparently so dangerous. Maybe she was like Fletch and sometimes let her eccentricity take her further than she should.

Howell watched the metal serpent for a moment. He scratched at the back of his neck. "Have you heard back from anybody yet?"

"Not yet, no," Melzaryn shook his head. "Of course, I also haven't asked Moli yet. That's a bit of a last resort. I'm more or less expecting my mother to contact me when she's ready."

The mechanical snake's head suddenly swiveled toward Melzaryn. Its jaw dropped open.

"Hey, uh, Mel?" Moli asked in a tinny voice that seemed to originate from somewhere within the snake's mouth. "I think Mom wants to talk to you? Here, hold on." Her voice grew more muffled. "Here, Mom, just speak into this."

"Is this working?" someone, presumably Melzaryn's mother, nearly yelled. The tinny, buzzing voice screeched sharply when the volume grew too loud for the speaker. "Hello? Mel? Is this working?"

"It is working," Moli promised. "Just speak into the--"

"Hello?" the speaker squealed painfully loudly as Melzaryn's mother raised her voice even further.

"You don't have to yell!" Moli sounded exasperated. "Just speak into it. You got it."

"Hello, Mel." This time the volume was finally at a level the speaker could properly process.

Apparently unfazed by the uncoordinated back-and-forth, Melzaryn simply replied, "Excellent timing. We were just wondering when and how this would happen."

"Of course, darling," Melzaryn's mother hummed. "I was able to procure a magic item for you from one of the deeper vaults. It's a spell scroll of Teleport, or, well, moreso Teleportation Circle. It should let you Teleport everyone in your group to a location of your choosing."

Melzaryn glanced around the group and mentally counted out everyone who would be returning. "It'll definitely take everyone?"

"It's something of an experimental spell. Very high level. It's almost a mix between the two spells, taking aspects from both. According to the description I've got here, you simply draw the magic circle on the ground using the spell scroll and anyone who'd like to be transported needs to walk through it within six seconds. You need to have your intended location in mind when you draw the circle and you need to be familiar with it. You wouldn't want to appear in the middle of the aether." She giggled. "I'm sure you'll be able to handle it, son."

"Utterly fascinating," Melzaryn nodded once.

"I did have to pull some strings in order to procure it," she said, "but this will do for your use, correct?"

Melzaryn glanced at Howell, a sly smile on his face.

"If it's a circle, it should fit all of us," Howell figured. "Well, the big one may have some trouble." He tilted his head toward Forfend. "But I think it should still work."

Forfend hummed quietly to itself.

"Excellent," Melzaryn nodded again. "That sounds perfect."

"Splendid!" his mother announced. "Absolutely Splendid!" Her voice grew very quiet, distant. "Moli, do you have a way of transporting this to your brother?"

"Yeah, of course. I've got it, Mom," Moli answered. "I'll send another bird. I'll have to make another bird... It'll be fine! Don't worry about it."

"Thank you. Melzaryn, be safe and do arrive home again relatively soon. But most importantly, don't get stabbed. Or, if you do get stabbed, let me know."

Melzaryn sighed. "Trust me, I'm not looking for a third stab wound," he grumbled bitterly.

"Please do be careful," his mother begged.

"I'll do my best," Melzaryn promised.

"Thank you." Her voice grew quiet again. "Moli, how do I turn this off?"

"Don't touch--" Moli cut herself off with a gasp. "Here, just let me, uh--"

The speaker made a loud boop and the snake snapped its mouth closed.

"So does that mean we're just waiting for something?" Howell asked.

"Well, the last time anything bird-related showed up, it was a bit weird," Melzaryn offered. "It bumped into a window, I let it in, and it gave me things. I assume we're waiting for that."

Right on cue, a mechanical bird tumbled to the ground at Melzaryn's feet. It rolled twice, bounced back upright, spread its wings, and shook itself off.

"And that right there is the reason Moli had to rebuild it," Melzaryn noted.

He crouched down and held his hand out.

The bird's head popped forward and craned upward on thin metal scaffolds that ejected from the neck. Once it was eye-level with Melzaryn, its beak dropped open.

"Hello. This is for you," it said in a voice too deep and too monotonous.

Forfend hoped it wasn't that disconcerting when it spoke.

"Caw," the bird added after a moment of thought.

The creature spread its wings again and a panel on its back popped open. A metal grasper thrust from within the compartment beneath, a spell scroll in its clenched metal prongs.

The second Melzaryn's fingers brushed the scroll, the grasper released it.

"Thank you," he told the bird. He turned around to address the group. "Alright, so–"

"On a scale of one to ten," the bird suddenly piped up again, "how would you rate my performance?"

"Right, um..." Melzaryn looked the little creature over.

"That landing was definitely a three," Kagoshi commented.

Melzaryn touched the scuffed, dented stone floor where the bird had landed and nodded his agreement.

"I'm going to have to give you an eight for this one," he decided.

"Understood." The mechanical beast seemed slightly disappointed not to have gotten a perfect score. "Self-destructing."

"Whoa, okay!" Melzaryn rapidly scrambled backwards.

Something inside the mechanical bird exploded, bloating the metal with the barely-contained force. The creature fell into a thousand tiny broken pieces.

Vesper raised an eyebrow at the scene. He plucked a card from the ever-shuffling deck in his hands, frowned at it, and tucked it away again.

Forfend knelt down to inspect the shattered metal. "Why destroy the creature and the material like this?"

It didn't get an answer.

Melzaryn was already busy unrolling the spell scroll and realizing it was much larger than it first appeared. "Oh, this is a big one."

"Why is it a carpet?" Kagoshi grumbled.

"Big writing?" Melzaryn guessed. "I don't want to open it fully up until we're ready to use it."

"Well, now's the time, isn't it?" Howell prodded. "We're on a pretty tight time constraint, aren't we? We're in a hurry. We need to move as fast as we can."

Melzaryn nodded. "That's true."

"Then what are we waiting for?" As soon as the words left Howell's mouth, he straightened up and looked toward the Teleportation Hub.

"Probably the rest of that group you mentioned," Melzaryn teased.

"Right." Howell sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Let me go get my guys."

With that, he left.

A few minutes later, he returned with a trio of mercenaries dressed very similar to himself. All of them were covered in fabric that would blend easily with the desert sands.

One stark difference, though, was that none of them obscured their faces the way Howell chose to.

Some of them wore bits and pieces of armor sporting metal that was such sharply polished silver that it resembled glass more than anything else.

The mercenaries sized up Forfend and its allies.

Kagoshi returned the sentiment, watching them all with a vaguely hostile air.

Forfend knelt and nodded politely to them.

"So you're the ones that hired us to help kill a despot king, yes?" one of them said, stepping forward slightly. "A bit of regicide?"

"Yes," Kagoshi growled. "Preferably with my bare hands."

The mercenary's eyes lit up. "Ooh, this'll be fun!"

Another mercenary swatted him on the back of the head. "Hey! We're being professional here!"

"Ah, let me have a bit of fun. Anyway, I'm ready to go whenever you are."

"I like this one," Kagoshi said.

The first mercenary grinned uncannily.

"Don't encourage him," the second sighed.

"Why not?" Kagoshi questioned.

"He killed a cat yesterday."

Forfend startled. It looked to Howell, who grimaced, and then to the third mercenary, who maintained the same flat silence he'd held this entire time.

Forfend hissed steam deep and slow.

It seemed they had a quiet mercenary, a serious one, and a crazy one. What a combination.

"Reprehensible," Forfend finally found its voice.

Vesper glared at the unhinged mercenary, his tail swishing swiftly beneath his cloak.

Melzaryn found himself an interesting ceiling tile to observe.

"Alright, well, fuck this guy," Kagoshi changed his mind.

"Like I said: don't encourage him," the serious mercenary reiterated.

"Aw, come on, it was just one little creature," the crazy one complained. "It was stealing our food."

"I gave it that food!" the serious one snapped.

"Semantics!"

Vesper narrowed his eyes. "You know, you are a little creature compared to some and I'm sure you will bleed the same."

"I guarantee it," the crazy one hissed, reveling in the idea. "Can't wait."

Forfend shuddered, humming its disapproval in a low tone.

"Please don't encourage him," the serious one begged.

"That's some serious sadomasochism," Melzaryn noted.

"You have no idea."

Vesper shared a glance with the quiet mercenary and subtly shook his head. He paused a moment and tilted his head. He tilted further, further, until he threatened to knock himself off balance. He stumbled, straightened, and awkwardly cleared his throat.

Forfend cocked its own head at the odd behavior and the quiet mercenary seemed to share its confusion.

Vesper pointedly looked at no one, his ears tilted down and burning red.

"Are you alright?" it asked.

Vesper gestured vaguely at the quiet mercenary. "The... The kit-- The cat."

"What cat?" Kagoshi asked.

Vesper's tail slowed and disappeared beneath his cloak. "Nevermind."

"Alright." Kagoshi shrugged. "You're being weird, but alright."

"No weirder than you."

"That is true," Forfend nodded.

Kagoshi huffed. "What did I do?! I haven't done anything yet!"

"The key word is yet," Howell mumbled.

"The plan is to kill a disgraced king! I plan to do that!" Kagoshi seemed to be trying to get them back on track in his own strange way.

"It will be a fun hobby to pick up," Vesper added.

"Oh yes, regicide!" the unhinged mercenary shouted with almost lustful glee.

"Shut up!" the serious one yelled.

Kagoshi jabbed a finger into the crazy mercenary's chest. "You shut the fuck up before you're next on the list."

The man raised his chin and grinned. "Oh, come on now, we're all on the same side for the moment, aren't we?"

"No," Vesper said immediately.

"Only until Falco's dead," Kagoshi contradicted.

Melzaryn looked over everyone and folded his arms neatly behind his back. "Well, it's going to be a battlefield. A lot will go down and a lot will go unseen. Watch your own backs."

The quiet mercenary looked pointedly at the crazy one and stared daggers.

Forfend wondered if all Howell's mercenaries would be making it back from this, or if one of them would intentionally allow the unhinged one to disappear.

"We're wasting daylight," Howell interjected. "What are we doing? Are we leaving?" He paused and glanced over his little band of mercenaries before looking apologetically back to Melzaryn. "Also, if you're wondering why I got these guys, it's because they're the only ones who'd do this job for only a favor in return. I don't have any money on me right now. It was pretty much all taken."

Melzaryn chuckled. "They'll manage. Probably. Is everyone prepared?"

"As prepared as we are going to be," Forfend hummed. "Unless we would like to discuss a plan first."

"Do any of you guys have one?" Howell asked. "Because I'm going to be completely frank, I have no idea how to fight what we're going to fight."

"Well, in my experience, it's just attack and don't let Falco touch you. Unless you have a way to turn off magic items, that's about all we've got," Melzaryn said.

Howell nodded. "Before we try to come up with anything solid, we should scout the place out first. Try to get the lay of the land."

"Luckily, I don't intend to drop us into the middle of the fight," Melzaryn shared. "So we should be good there."

"Where are you dropping us?"

"There's a resistance outside Cragwall and my staff was imbued with magic there. I should be able to use that as a focus to get us back there." Melzaryn trailed his fingers along the staff and fiddled with its odd spinning chamber.

"Alright. Ready and waiting," Howell reported. He glanced over at his band of mercenaries.

The crazy one nodded eagerly. The quiet one continued to glare at him. The serious one simply nodded.

"Everybody group up close together then," Melzaryn ordered. "I'm not sure exactly how big this thing will be or if it'll activate immediately."

Everyone huddled tightly against each other.

Melzaryn unfurled the scroll in one smooth motion. He crouched down over the enormous thing and read the runes adorning the elaborate magic circle.

"Great." Melzaryn straightened. "Everyone, get into place around the scroll. When I tap my staff to the center, it'll activate and we'll all need to go through it as quickly as we can."

Everyone spread out.

Melzaryn reached out to touch his staff to the circle, but paused. He looked pointedly at the unhinged mercenary who nearly vibrated with anticipation. "A reminder: no stabbing until we tell you to."

The mercenary deflated, pouting. "Okay, fine."

"Most of the Envema members are victims," Forfend added. "Actually, I believe they all are, save Despot Falco himself."

"I wasn't worried about Envema. I'm worried about the genasi we're about to meet," Melzaryn griped.

"I am worried about everyone around this man. He has already murdered a cat.”

"It was stealing food," the man in question whined.

"I gave it to him!" the serious mercenary yelled.

Melzaryn stepped into the circle and touched his staff to it before the argument could progress any further.

Immediately, a beam of pearlescent white magic consumed him.

Kagoshi stepped through right on Melzaryn's heels, his form dissipating as he passed through the magic.

Howell and his band went next.

Forfend turned to Vesper, but he was watching it.

It nodded and stepped into the circle.

White filled its vision like a blanket of snow and a sense of weightlessness whisked it off its feet.

A moment later, all of its considerable bulk came back to it. Uneven ground slipped from beneath its overlarge feet. It fell with a resounding thud.

Ko'Dan rose, pulling himself together out from beneath the group's intruding feet.

"Apologies," Melzaryn yelped as he deftly leapt off Ko'Dan.

Kagoshi managed his own graceful landing.

The quiet mercenary gasped and tumbled onto his rear much like Forfend had.

Howell and the rest of the mercenaries managed to stagger off the rising tower of emerald and stone and vine.

Vesper slipped and scrambled on all fours like a startled animal to flee the huge elemental.

Ko'Dan, startled by their sudden appearance, clasped his fists together and bore down on the first thing he saw.

Unfortunately, that was Forfend.

It didn't flinch. This was their fault for landing on him.

Luckily, Ko'Dan recognized it and halted just short of striking it.

"I am sorry," Forfend hummed, ducking its head.

Ko'Dan stepped back, a rockfall tumbling as he spoke his language. He eyed the lot of them with his featureless gem-and-vine face.

Forfend rose slowly to its feet and dusted itself off. "Again, I apologize. We have returned to help."

The sound of ice cracking and wind howling escaped Ko'Dan as he cocked his head to inspect the gaggle of new additions: Kagoshi, Howell, Vesper, and the three mercenaries.

Vesper's tail bristled, the fur standing like hackles. He looked outwardly calm, but he stood as far from Ko'Dan as he could. He was scared. Terrified, even.

Forfend found itself wondering why. Vesper hadn't responded so severely to meeting it and Ko'Dan was larger, more regal, more imposing than it was, but not by some immeasurable margin.

He only demanded a little more respect and reverence, and it was surely owed to him. He was not a person to be feared by an ally of the genasi.

Ko'Dan made a sound like dust settling after a sandstorm. He looked out over the group of staring genasi and raised one enormous hand as he voiced the clamor of a torrential downpour.

The genasi startled, backing away.

Forfend grimly noted how many of them were injured.

A genasi with rose quartz hair and beach white skin recognized Forfend and Melzaryn. He cautiously approached.

"Oh, the saviors are here!" he said.

Forfend's chest lit up reddish-orange. It wasn't wholly certain how it felt about such a title. There was so much more work to be done before anyone could be considered saved.

"Who are the newcomers?" the genasi questioned. "Are you alright?"

The man's arm was immobilized in a sling, but he was worried for them after they'd only suffered an embarrassing entrance.

"Are you?" it asked, healing magic warming its fingertips. It held back the urge to expend the magic now. The injury was far from fatal and Forfend would need every last drop of divine energy to stop Despot Falco.

"Yes," he nodded. "Though a number of us were injured defending the people, but now you're here to help!"

"To the best of our ability," it hummed.

The genasi looked past Forfend to Ko'dan. "I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Our protector, Ko'dan, was wondering whether or not the new ones here could be trusted."

"Yes," Forfend answered immediately.

"Understood," the genasi smiled.

Forfend suddenly thought better of its statement.

"Well, keep an eye on him." It pointed out the unhinged mercenary.

"Why?" the crazy mercenary whined.

"He killed a cat," Kagoshi supplied.

The genasi man grimaced. He translated to Ko'Dan in the rustle of dry fall leaves.

Ko'Dan visibly recoiled. He stared harshly down at the unstable mercenary.

Howell sighed and dragged a heavy hand down his cloth-covered face. "They were the only ones who'd work for only the promise of a favor."

Ko'Dan rattled like branches in a hurricane and pointed toward the exit.

"He says River and the others are at the entrance to the lair," the genasi translated. "They're keeping an eye out, but as far as we can tell, Envema doesn't know the location of this place."

Forfend nodded once. "Good."

"Time may change that," Kagoshi said, unnecessarily ominous.

"Let us hope not," Forfend hummed.

Ko'Dan rumbled and thundered in much the same way as a volcano.

"Ko'Dan thanks you," the genasi said. "We were able to retrieve Ry'Ha'Dach, though he's slumbering due to his injuries."

Forfend's chest lit up briefly orange. It was glad to know Ry'Ha'Dach was safe, even if he was too wounded to fight. He would see another day. The genasi hadn't lost him.

"Who is that again?" Kagoshi asked.

Forfend hissed a heavy bout of steam. "The dragon. The emerald dragon."

"That the guy that tried to fight King Fuckwit?"

"He did fight Despot Falco, yes." Forfend stared down at Kagoshi, both irritated and concerned by his flippant regard of their draconic friend.

"He didn't exactly win though, did he?" Kagoshi growled.

"Did you?" Vesper snapped.

"Definitively, we did not," Forfend answered.

Kagoshi scoffed, closing in on himself and letting his deep-set rage burrow even further beneath his skin. "No, but I get a second round," he hissed murderously.

Ko'Dan grumbled and rushed and cracked like a tidal wave sweeping through a forest, his broad shoulders squaring as he loomed over Kagoshi.

"I think Ry'Ha'Dach has been through quite enough," Forfend said.

Slowly, Ko'Dan ceased his disastrous-sounding speech and settled back down. He didn't take his baleful gaze off Kagoshi.

Forfend apologized to Ko'Dan for Kagoshi's behavior and turned from the conversation. "I am going to speak with the people who have been fighting out in the city. They will be able to tell us what has been happening."

Ko'Dan nodded. He rumbled as he descended back into a pile of rocks, vines, and gemstones.

Forfend picked out people who held themselves like warriors, who were still trying to keep morale up and the people organized.

Just by the looks of them though, Forfend was quite certain the battle had gone poorly.

Forfend moved through the crowd and offered up the weapons and armor it had made to anyone still abled enough to use them.

Whether the genasi would be fighting again soon or not didn't matter. They needed their damaged gear replaced either way.

It spoke to several of the more seasoned fighters as it made its rounds, until it had a decent understanding of what had occurred in its absence.

Kiyori had valiantly defended the Teleportation Hub, but she'd had to leave her post to retrieve Ry'Ha'Dach. In that interval, many genasi had been severely wounded.

River was among them.

Jewel and Flint were also too wounded to fight.

Despite its inquiries, no one seemed to be certain how Kiyori fared.

Forfend worried for her. She was exceptionally powerful, but still as mortal as itself. It hoped she hadn't been hurt.

Melzaryn popped up at Forfend's side. "We're going to have to speak to the leaders about what happens after all this."

Forfend nodded, humming low in its center. "The whole of the government will need to be restructured. King Maggard Stormrike may take this as a strike upon his kingdom. It may all get worse before it gets better."

Melzaryn smiled his inscrutable smile and made for the exit.

Kagoshi and Vesper were already making their way out with the mercenaries right on their heels.

Forfend decided to follow Melzaryn before they all left it behind.

As they made their way through the caves, trailing a ways behind Vesper and Kagoshi, Forfend noticed there were more and more people crowding every open cavern.

These people were almost all human, with smatterings of elves, gnomes, halflings, and dwarves amongst them. There were almost no genasi here. And there had been only genasi in the last chamber. They were separating themselves from one another.

Despite all being trapped beneath the thumb of the same wretched despot, despite suffering the exact same situation, they held onto their petty prejudices.

Forfend found itself disappointed in Cragwall.

Kagoshi, Vesper, and the mercenaries disappeared through the illusion covering the cave entrance ahead of them.

Melzaryn idled along. He didn't seem to be in any special hurry to catch up with the others.

Forfend felt a touch more rushed and worried, but it tried to maintain the calm it would need in the coming battle.

The world shimmered around it as they finally passed through the illusion themselves.

Melzaryn continued on, unfazed by the oddity of the magics.

Forfend paused to catch its bearings.

It spotted Kiyori kneeling on a tree stump, her sword embedded in the earth by her side and her eyes fixated firmly on the route to Cragwall. She stood sentinel, ever ready.

The best Forfend could tell, she was unharmed.

It hummed to announce its presence.

Kiyori cocked her head slightly in acknowledgement and continued her dead set staring.

Melzaryn eyed her blade as he passed by the unsheathed weapon. He nodded to himself and looked up at Kiyori. "A lot of things are about to start happening very, very quickly," he started. "I think it's best the leading parties speak with each other sooner rather than later about what follows Falco's fall. Who do I need to see?"

Kiyori's gaze never wavered from the woods in front of her. She ripped her blade from the ground, gestured to the cabin with it, and returned it to its place buried in the dirt.

"Understood." Melzaryn turned on his heel and strode into the hideout.

Vesper and Kagoshi already stood outside, but neither of them seemed inclined to enter.

Forfend nodded to them both as it followed Melzaryn.

Immediately, Jewel startled awake and thrust a blade at them. She gasped when she recognized them. Her shortsword quickly rediscovered its sheath as she settled back into her chair by the door.

"Oh, it's you," she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hello," Forfend greeted.

Jewel was heavily bandaged and clearly fighting exhaustion. She needed rest. A lot of it.

"The other two are at the back," she mumbled, sleep already coaxing her eyes closed again.

She shook her head and shot up from her chair. "I'll walk you," she said suddenly.

Forfend nodded. It offered her an arm to hold if she needed assistance.

Jewel frowned at it, but only a few steps down the hallway, she decided to brace her hand against its shoulder after all.

As they rounded the corner at the back of the hideout, Forfend caught sight of River and gasped in a sharp hiss of steam.

He sat in a chair leaned back against the wall and heaved for every breath. His right arm was gone, completely gone. Blood filled the thick bandages around the stub of his shoulder and occasionally dripped onto the floor.

"Oh, good, you've returned," he panted.

Forfend fought the urge to heal him now. He was strong. He'd survive until after Despot Falco had been dealt with.

Forfend was going to need every last resource it had available to defeat the rampaging demigod. It couldn't heal River and the rest of the genasi yet. It would, it promised itself, but not yet.

"We have brought allies," it hummed.

"They are outside?"

Forfend nodded.

"Good." River groaned as he tried to sit up straighter. He grasped at his side just beneath his wound and slumped back down.

Flint knelt at River's side, grimacing at his grievous wound.

Out of all of them, he looked the least injured, but he was not unharmed.

The onyx crystals atop his head were cracked and the side of his face was bandaged. His eyes seemed to struggle to focus. He looked unsteady on his feet, dizzy, nauseous.

"What can you tell us about what has happened in Cragwall?" Forfend hummed. "What happened after we left?"

"The battle was hard fought," River answered. "Once you and the refugees escaped, he had to hold down the Teleportation Hub for as long as we could. Kiyori proved invaluable in that. She essentially held off the entirety of Despot Falco's army all by her lonesome, using the Hub's entrance as a choke point."

River made another attempt to sit up straight and managed it this time, though he had to grit his teeth against his pain.

"Then she charged out into the fray completely alone to retrieve Ry'Ha'Dach. She fought valiantly through the tide of Envema," he continued. "She succeeded, but we took heavy losses while she was away. I lost my arm saving another." He gestured to his blatant injury. "The Envema members seemed to notice my adept arcane practice and targeted me accordingly to cripple it. That proved to be a major blow to our endeavor here."

Flint dropped into his own seat and leaned in to hear the story, despite having lived the details.

River cast him a glance Forfend couldn't read and carried on with his tale, "The Abjurist, Sonya Caddel, and the Hawk Knight, Kendrick Arvad, also proved themselves invaluable. Sonya created countless barriers while Kendrick guarded any gap Kiyori couldn't. It was only due to their combined efforts that we escaped the city alive with as many as we did." River sighed heavily, sinking once again into his chair. "I don't know where they've gone now though."

He shook his head. "As far as I'm aware, the Despot himself is still residing inside his castle preparing gods only know what. I wish we had Ry'Ha'Dach to assist us, but he transformed into a human so Kiyori could carry him and he seems unable to turn back. He's still healing."

Jewel set down a map of Cragwall without being asked.

Immediately, River pointed out key points around the city.

"The entire place is overrun. I can't recommend a full-frontal assault," River said. "If anything, I'd think the best bet would be to sneak into the Mountain Quarter. What you do from there will be up to you."

Forfend hummed long and low and slow.

"The best we can tell, they don't know our whereabouts in the forest. Kiyori, though, she's worried they'll find us. She's been fighting from before you left until only a short while ago. Even now, she's out there standing guard."

Forfend nodded and shared a glance with Melzaryn. The wizard looked mildly impressed, if anything.

It, however, was concerned.

"That is all I know," River concluded.

"We know for certain that Despot Falco's intention is immortality," Forfend offered.

River considered this briefly. "I don't know how he plans to do it, but whatever he's going to try will take place within his castle. That's where he'll be safest and most secure. No interruptions."

"Oh, there's going to be an interruption," Melzaryn spoke with unexpected ferocity.

Despite himself, River almost smiled.

Flint snorted.

Jewel let a ghost of a smirk cross her tired face.

"According to the scouts I've sent out, Falco's children have returned to Cragwall," River shared.

Forfend and Melzaryn both took a moment to ponder this information.

"Concerning," Melzaryn matter-of-factly decided.

"That cannot be good," Forfend seconded. "If they are not on his side willingly, then he has certainly got them under his mind control."

"What is your plan?" River asked, his fingers steepled. "How do we proceed here?"

Forfend looked to Melzaryn.

Melzaryn chewed his lip.

"I'm not sure most of us will be of much use here. But with four demigods, you can surely accomplish something." River glanced toward the hallway. "Are Kagoshi and Kairi outside? I don't recall seeing Kairi with you when you left."

Forfend hissed steam, its core sinking low in its chest. "Kagoshi is outside. Kairi... Kairi did not survive Despot Falco's attack."

River's lips pressed tightly together. He rubbed his face. He looked to them with deep sympathy in his eyes, the sorrow of every loss laying heavy on him. "I see. I'm sorry. May she rest in peace."

Forfend hummed. It muttered a prayer for the departed in celestial.

"Still, the three of you survived and proved yourselves mighty," River offered some hope. "You could alter the course of a nation if you truly wanted to."

That was, Forfend assumed, more or less their intention at this point.

"What's the plan?" River asked again.

"Truthfully, the plan is to sneak in and fight Falco," Melzaryn shrugged. "We don't have enough information to plan beyond that. There is no more strategic-minded idea besides just winging it."

He drew in a deep breath and scratched at the back of his neck. "I think it's going to be more important to talk about what happens after. Once this is all over, things are going to happen very, very fast. I took the liberty of speaking to a sovereign from Harmonia about some potential solutions for everyone. You're about to lose a king. I'd like to cut down on the chaos where I can because the world is... not friendly."

"I understand," River responded grimly.

Melzaryn nodded. "I spoke to my mother about it. Being the son of one of the heads of the Collymore family, I've got some sway. She's willing to help us with these matters."

River paused, the gears in his mind turning as he looked over Melzaryn anew. He swallowed thickly. The gravity of who Melzaryn was settled onto him.

"Oh," he finally said.

"She suggested three possible solutions we can take after Falco's death," Melzaryn carried on as though River, Flint, and Jewel were not all still thoroughly stunned. "Of course, I have my preference and opinion on what's likely to be the best one, however, they're all viable options."

Melzaryn placed his hands on the table, leaning forward to draw all attention to himself. "I think the thing you're probably most worried about is King Maggard taking this as an attack and deciding to oust all of you from his vassal state."

All three genasi nodded.

"Well, the best solution to that is to use the rules and precedents already put into place by the Celestial Summit," Melzaryn explained. "One of the options this affords us is simply to declare war and fight it out with the Howling Plains using the Kuumedian Desert as an ally, but I'm not a huge fan of this one. It's not ideal for you or the Desert. We'll almost certainly win, but there will be a lot of loss and Tyrwedia will end up owing the Kuumedian Desert for our services."

River glanced to Jewel.

Jewel wiped her tired eyes and looked to Flint.

Flint folded his arms on the table to bury his face in them.

They all looked exhausted and well out of their depth.

Forfend also felt like it had only the vaguest notion of what Melzaryn's plan was. The genasi weren't title holders in Tyrwedia. Their power in the Land had been rather effectively stripped from them.

Melzaryn seemed to have a very clear idea on how he intended to seize that power back the second Despot Falco was dead, even if Forfend couldn't parse it.

"Another option could be for a demigod to simply assign themselves as leader of this region." For some reason, Melzaryn was watching Forfend from the corner of his eye. "That would allow them to claim the territory right out from under King Maggard and give the nation autonomy.”

The genasi also each cast a quick peek at Forfend as they considered the option.

It turned away. It may be the only local demigod they had, but it was incredibly far from the leader they needed. Everyone here knew as much, but other demigod options were effectively non-existent.

"The third option is the one I think is best," Melzaryn said. "We can form a council."

River perked up.

"As a member of a high-ranking family from another country, I'll be able to take the role of foreign emissary,” Melzaryn offered. "I won't have any more power or sway than any other member on the council, but I can provide insight and advice. You could also place Forfend on the council, since it seems he has very strong morals. Ideally, he'll play the role of tiebreaker when necessary, instead of having total control over the decisions that get made. He can bring the staying power we'll need, as the local demigod. I'd prefer my own demigod status not be disclosed, but Forfend's probably should be to give us the most possible credibility."

River rubbed his chin, his head tilting. "Maybe. If there's anyone we'd consider to be sovereign, it's Ry'Ha'Dach."

Forfend nodded its agreement. Ry'Ha'Dach was certainly more of a dependable, experienced leader than Forfend. Tiebreaking for a council didn't sound as difficult or terrifying as controlling a nation on its own, but it still wasn't sure it liked the idea of wielding that much power.

That said, the colonizers of Tyrwedia would never accept Ry'Ha'Dach as their ruler. Forfend may have an easier time in that regard.

Melzaryn opened his mouth to continue the discussion, but Forfend felt dizzied by the whole situation.

It politely ducked its head. "I will leave you to discuss while I check on our allies," it excused itself.

Forfend left as quickly as it could without drawing more attention to itself.

Outside, it found Vesper standing by the door.

"May I ask a question?"

Vesper nodded affirmatively. "You certainly may ask."

"Do you have any ideas for a plan? No one else seems to, I certainly do not, and I am concerned."

Vesper cocked his head. "Step one: place Howell at a distance because that's how he fights best. Step two: place someone in between him and Falco. I'll volunteer. I have a skill that sometimes causes people to flee from me. You should be between me and Falco. Step three: place Melzaryn opposite Howell and just as far away from Falco. Kagoshi will stay between them. Step four: cast Silence and Hold Person on Falco at any cost to prevent him from using his demigod ability. Step five: magically buff Kagoshi as much as possible."

Forfend's chest lit up. "That is brilliant, Vesper. Thank you."

"We should also try to get Falco's equipment off if we can. He'll be much less effective without it," Vesper added.

Forfend hummed thoughtfully.

Howell nodded. "Got it."

"I will tell Melzaryn," Forfend said. It pulled its Sending Stone from its belt rather than risking getting pulled back into the delicate political conversation. It was out of its depth and nervous about the role it may need to play. It had enough on its mind at the moment as it was.

"Melzaryn," it called into the Stone.

"Yes?" came the immediate reply.

It relayed Vesper's plan almost verbatim.

"That is a worthy plan of engagement with the Despot himself," River's voice sprang through the magic connection. "Getting to him will be another matter. You may be able to sneak into the Mountain Quarter, but all the tunnels into Castle Ledrian have been collapsed. There will be no sneaking inside the castle itself. The only real method left is entering directly through the front gate."

Forfend hummed anxiously.

"I'm sure that will be fine," Vesper said.

Kagoshi grunted from somewhere behind Forfend.

"If you do make it into the Mountain Quarter though," River continued, "the defenses were designed to work both ways. You can use that to your advantage. It's difficult to get in, but it's also difficult to get out. They won't be able to mobilize effectively to rally reinforcements. Once you're inside, you should be safe from that threat, though I can't say what others you may face."

Vesper chewed his lip and wandered away from the conversation.

"So what exactly is the fucking plan?” Kagoshi gruffed. It seemed he hadn't been listening.

Forfend actually wasn't certain where he'd milled off to or when he'd come back.

"The outside of the Mountain Quarter is heavily guarded," River informed them. "They're using their sheer numbers as a threat to keep us away, and I must say that it's working. We couldn't possibly handle a deluge of forces like that. Stealth will be paramount in getting past them. The tunnels beneath have all been collapsed, but perhaps you could find another option."

"I might have some suggestions," Melzaryn's voice wafted through the Stone.

"Something I've observed that might be helpful is that most of Falco's puppets are of unsound minds. There are some that seem to possess more free will and more intelligence to go along with it," River continued, "but the more control Falco has, the less functional his puppets seem to be. He has to make things simple for them or they fail to find their way. Hence, the open main gate into the Mountain Quarter, but the closed gate into the castle itself. His most intelligent personnel are being kept close at hand."

"So if we collapse the Mountain Quarter gate, the fodder will be too stupid to find a way into the castle to provide reinforcements," Melzaryn stated. "We won't have to hurt them or worry about them causing problems. We'll only have to deal with whoever's already inside."

"Noted," Forfend hummed. It considered the possibility.

Between the enchantment it had added to its mace, Kagoshi's raw strength, and Melzaryn's propensity for targeted destruction, bringing down the gate should prove fairly easy.

A few minutes passed and Melzaryn exited the hideout. "They showed me a map they made of the destruction in the city. Hell of a maze, but I've memorized us a really good route that should make stealth easy for us. Let's go."

Forfend nodded. It fell into step behind Melzaryn.

Kagoshi followed.

Vesper looked up from conversing with his odd wooden box. "We're leaving?"

He jogged to catch up.

"Seems so," Forfend answered.

Howell and his mercenaries also rushed to join the march to Cragwall.

"Do we have a plan?" Howell asked.

"More or less," Melzaryn shrugged.

"We are sneaking in," Vesper provided. He flipped through his deck of cards over and over again. Forfend thought at first the fiddling was perhaps a nervous habit, but then it sensed the magic in the air.

Occasionally, he nodded or muttered a question as he watched the empty air by his side. He was holding a conversation with someone or something.

Forfend wasn't certain what Vesper was doing, but it hoped the ritual would prove useful for them.

"Do any of you partake in any forms of stealth?" Howell looked doubtfully at Forfend and Kagoshi, suspiciously at Melzaryn, and uncertainly at Vesper.

"I'm very good at going unnoticed," Vesper answered flatly.

Kagoshi cracked his knuckles. "Can't get caught if there's no witnesses."

Howell shook his head, but dropped the subject.

The group made their way through Cragwall's east gate.

The city lay in ruins and all was silent save for the crackling fires. Most of the living denizens escaped with the genasi, and any still remaining kept well hidden.

All of Falco's forces were deeper in the city, protecting him as he prepared his murderous ritual.

Vesper hugged his carved wooden box and watched the unshifting rubble around them with a detached sort of wariness.

Howell ruffled his heavy cloak. He sighed.

A thick, dark mist rolled out from beneath his hood and engulfed the party.

It dissipated as quickly as it came, but it left all their movements muffled into silence. There was no longer a chorus of footsteps on stone. Even Forfend's creaking body stopped announcing its presence.

"Since none of you are any good at stealth, I figured I'd do this to keep us hidden," Howell said, his voice barely a whisper beneath the muffling magic. "It's Pass Without Trace."

Forfend nodded. Kairi had used the same spell for the same reason only a day ago.

Howell's magic had a distinctly different feel in the air than Kairi's had.

Where her arcana had felt bubbly and soft, his felt coarse and sun-warmed.

Howell's magic didn't hold a negative sensation, but the stark difference made Forfend miss their feisty, soft-hearted druid companion.

The group slipped soundlessly through the dead and dying city.

Forfend took stock of the immense damage.

Eamon's house lay in ruins alongside the majority of his neighborhood.

Forfend could only hope he and the other inhabitants had survived and escaped.

Kagoshi paused to stare at a section of road not far from the center of the city.

A space nearly a hundred feet in diameter had been steamrolled flat and every inch was covered in deep red blood.

Forfend recoiled, rocks tumbling in its chest.

Kagoshi only squinted. "I remember leaving corpses."

"You did this?!" Forfend couldn't help the whetstone shing that passed through its chest or the sharp sinking of its core into its midsection. The strong mix of emotions nearly threatened to knock it off its feet.

It knew Kagoshi had rampaged in the aftermath of Kairi's murder, but what sort of excessive, hellish violence was this?!

Kagoshi didn't respond to it.

"Either you mashed them into paste or someone cleaned up your mess," the serious mercenary interjected.

Kagoshi growled.

Forfend clenched its fist. Angry and indignant as it was, there was no time to have this conversation now.

The quiet mercenary grabbed Forfend's shoulder and tugged it down behind a pile of rubble.

Howell motioned for everyone to hush.

A patrol of Envema members marched past.

Two of them were the enormous amalgamations of flesh and metal.

Vesper stared, the fur of his tail standing on end as he watched them pass. He swallowed thickly, but said nothing.

The unhinged mercenary also watched the hulking beasts, though his expression was one of concerning giddiness.

Howell motioned for the group to get moving again.

Melzaryn resumed his place in the lead.

With him navigating, they very soon found themselves sneaking past the horde of Envema outside the Mountain Quarter.

"Good luck," Vesper whispered to Melzaryn the second they crossed through the gate, Guidance magic lacing his words.

He ducked into hiding with Howell and the other mercenaries.

Melzaryn hopped on his broom. "Kagoshi, smash that pillar and, Forfend, you've got the other." He zipped up into the air.

Kagoshi and Forfend both nodded.

They were spotted as they took their places, but it was much too late for that to matter now.

Melzaryn cast Shatter at the top of the arch above the open gate. A large section of stone exploded into dust as the unsupported stone began to collapse downward.

Forfend used what Byr had taught it in all his masonry lessons. It smashed its mace into the weakest spot it could determine.

The destructive magic imbued within Gilthur's Inspiration reverberated through the wall. Cracks shocked like lightning up the pillar.

Kagoshi slammed his fist through the wall of the pillar on the opposite side.

Both shivered, then shook, and suddenly crumbled before the Envema members could scramble through the gate.

The earth shook as all of the rubble tumbled to the ground, piling on top of itself into an impassable wall.

Dust whipped out from beneath the destruction.

Kagoshi was swept off his feet by the buffeting wind.

Forfend braced itself as sharp gravel bounced harmlessly off its stone body, but the rushing air wasn't strong enough to move its weighty body.

The Envema members hollered from the far side of the rubble, but there was nothing they could do to get over the dangerously shifting pile.

Forfend turned. It, Melzaryn, and Kagoshi all rejoined the group.

Kagoshi swore under his breath as he dusted off his dirtied jacket.

Howell whistled. "It wasn't stealthy, but I'll give you that it was kind of impressive."

They left the scene of the collapse and made their way toward Castle Ledrian.

Vesper stopped dead in his tracks in the center of the pathway. He spoke to someone who wasn't there.

"Hello, do you know where King Falco is?"

He stood in silence, his tail swishing thoughtfully.

Forfend assumed he must be conversing with a ghost.

Everyone paused, hovering awkwardly nearby as they observed what looked to be a one-sided conversation.

"What do you know of the renovations?" Vesper questioned.

Further silence.

Vesper tilted his head. "What sort of things would those be?"

No audible response.

"Thank you for your time."

Vesper paused for only a moment, then spoke again, "You are dead."

There was another beat of quiet. Vesper blinked as though surprised.

He shrugged off whatever oddity he'd encountered and looked up at everyone in turn. "My work here is done."

Forfend nodded slowly, though it wasn't sure what had happened.

"He is at the top of the castle," Vesper relayed as they all began moving onward again.

"You got some intuition on that or something?" Kagoshi asked, ever dense.

"No. I know for certain he is at the top."

"Oh." Kagoshi rolled his eyes. "Sure, whatever you say, Fluffy."

"I do believe he has... reinforcements of sorts up there."

"Yeah, I'd imagine so," Kagoshi gruffed.

"It is likely the very big, scary ones though, so take precaution," Vesper said. "You know. Grrah," he growled, poorly mimicking the hulking flesh-and-metal monsters. "The icky ones we have seen strutting about. The flesh monstrosities."

"I'm sure those guys are easy to take care of," Kagoshi decided.

"I disagree," Forfend hummed.

"You only say that because you wouldn't be able to just throw one of them." Kagoshi clenched his fists and flexed his thick muscles.

Forfend shook its broad head.

As they neared the castle gates, they encountered a small caravan of upturned wagons still smoldering as they belched pitch black smoke into the fire-stained sky.

"Wagon," Melzaryn noted, craning his head to see what may lie beyond them.

"Wagon," Forfend concurred.

Vesper cocked his head at them. "Why are you repeating the same word? It's just a bunch of wagons."

"Yeah, why are you guys doing that?" Howell asked.

"It is strange. Seems very repetitive," Vesper noted.

"Thank you!" Kagoshi shouted, throwing his hands into the air. "Somebody gets it!"

"Why does it even matter?" Vesper shook his head in confusion.

No one answered.

Melzaryn huffed, a bit sad his game had ended so soon.

Forfend found itself missing Kairi all over again.

The mercenaries moved forward, taking cover behind the wagons.

Forfend, Melzaryn, and Vesper followed their lead.

Kagoshi, however, didn't seem concerned in the slightest about staying out of sight.

Forfend peered around the edge of the wreckage, hoping the smoke and flames would obscure its form.

A small group of Envema members stood watch.

A cluster of them guarded the gate while another pair manned the barrels of boiling oil stationed along the ramparts above.

This was a very, very small group to be guarding such a critical point.

Pebbles clattered in Forfend's chest as it fretted over the situation. This was too simple, too easy. A trap. It had to be.

Something hazy entered the edge of Forfend's field of vision.

It focused its gaze and stiffened sharply.

Kairi, ghostly pale and translucent, waved to them from off to the side.

Forfend couldn't tell if she was a true spirit or a dark trick, but it couldn't tear its gaze off its fallen friend.

Kairi's glittering wings spread and whisked her around a stack of abandoned supplies tucked close to the wall. She disappeared from view.

Forfend shook its head, uncertain if what it had seen had even been real.

It locked gazes with Melzaryn who simply frowned, his eyes narrowed.

Forfend hummed softly. It seemed he'd seen it.

They silently agreed not to chase the startling entity.

Kagoshi finally ducked behind cover before the Envema guards spotted him.

Forfend motioned to him in an attempt to catch his attention, but he was staring too intently at the space Kairi had ducked into.

"Don't do it," Melzaryn whispered an almost idle warning, as though he was joking or teasing Kagoshi instead of truly trying to ward him off.

Kagoshi paid him no mind. He darted out from hiding and dove behind the huge supply pile Kairi had disappeared behind.

"Wh-- Hey, what the fuck?" Howell whisper-yelled as his cloaking magic fell away from Kagoshi.

Luckily, Kagoshi had been quick and silent enough that the guards hadn't seen him, but Forfend feared what he may be about to encounter.

"Well, he's dead," Melzaryn shrugged. "At least he'll probably soften them up for us."

"What the hell?!" Howell threw his hands up.

The crazy mercenary snickered, but the other two just stared.

Vesper chewed his lip thoughtfully. "Why would he do that?"

Forfend shook its head. It couldn't so much as pretend it understood Kagoshi.

There was silence from Kagoshi's hidden corner for a few seconds too long.

Forfend shuffled as it considered trying to follow Kagoshi.

Vesper stilled it with a hand on its side and a subtle shake of his head.

A chorus of a dozen bloodcurdling screeches ripped through the air.

The Envema members startled, snatching up their weapons and whirling around to face the hidden corner.

"How dare..." came a broken, raspy, struggling cacophony of voices. "How dare you. Should not have let... such fine flesh as this... go to waste. Wasn't she your dear... friend?"

The voices laughed mockingly, wheezing with every strained breath.

"Should not have left... the body behind. How... cruel," the voices admonished and cackled all over again. "Now you can't even give her... a proper burial. Who's fault... is that?"

Forfend squeezed its mace tight in its grip.

Whatever that creature had been, it wasn't Kairi and now it had Kagoshi.

The Envema members weren't prepared for it either. They were acting as though they hadn't known it was there.

They didn't approach. Nervously, they waited to see what would happen.

"You?" the voices asked. "Who found yourself wallowing in rage... and grief? Or me? Who saw... a simple use... for what you... discarded?"

The voices screamed their wailing laughter.

"I'll be sure to torture you before I kill you!" Kagoshi yelled back.

"I'm not sure." Kairi pat its arm. "Maybe."

"It certainly is not worth giving chase." Forfend shook its head. "We have no proof of wrongdoing and we are not authorities."

Kairi hummed her agreement.

Ahead of them, a group of knights stood stockstill at attention in front of the entrance.

Forfend nodded politely.

They regarded it and the rest of its party with mild disdain.

"State your business," one of them ordered.

"We are here to report to Roman Summerstead regarding the kruthik infestation," Forfend stated.

They glanced among themselves.

One of them pulled a Sending Stone from his belt and whispered into it, eyeing the party suspiciously.

The Sending Stone flickered at the knight's ear. After a moment, he nodded to the others.

They pushed open the gate.

"He'll be waiting for you in the meeting room," one of them said.

"Thank you," Forfend nodded politely as it passed them.

The building ahead was huge. Much larger than any house Forfend had ever seen.

It was opulent too, the grounds covered in perfect topiaries and the house adorned in the Summerstead crest. The oversized double doors sported an exquisite dark wood Forfend was sure had been imported. Golden knockers shaped like twin peacocks spread their wings in perpetual flight in the center of either door.

Forfend hesitantly touched one of their outward-curling tails and bumped it against the wood with just barely the force needed to be heard on the other side.

A butler, the same butler they'd seen the first time they visited Roman, opened the door and nodded to them. He turned and led them up a wide, fanciful staircase to the second floor.

Forfend felt steam breeze easily through its chest. No tight, twisting staircases this time.

It took a moment to assess its surroundings.

The inside of the house was far more ostentatious than the outside. Decorative armors lined the hallways. Expansive paintings of beautiful scenery or sneering relatives or winery-related agriculture lined the walls. Glass display cases filled to the brim with gracefully designed wine bottles also dotted the pathways periodically.

The butler led them what felt to be very deep into the house, but may have actually not been very far at all. Forfend was disoriented by the neverending network of halls and stairways and doors.

Finally, he stopped and quietly opened a door. "Your guests, Lord Summerstead," the butler introduced them as the party filed inside.

Forfend ducked carefully through the doorway. The meeting room itself was fortunately quite sizeable. Forfend stood upright with ease and did not feel it was crowding its companions.

Roman sat on the opposite side of an almost comically large mahogany table.

To his right sat a human woman with long plaited brown hair. She wore an elegant red dress and a placid expression.

To his left was a young half-elf woman. The structure of her face was slightly sharper than Roman's own, but otherwise resembled him quite closely. She, too, wore a red dress accented in gold, though she wore a bit more jewelry on her fingers than the other woman.

Forfend hummed quietly to itself. She was likely Roman's daughter and the other woman must be his wife. Those were the only people Forfend was currently certain lived in this house. Perhaps they had seen a thief.

Behind Roman, the arcanist Zoshaan quietly ruffled through the pages of a book. He looked up and shut it as softly as he could manage.

Roman gestured to four chairs neatly arranged in front of his desk. Well, more accurately, it was three chairs and one exceptionally large and apparently reinforced ottoman.

A slight glow emanated just beneath the cracks of Forfend's body. Accommodations just for it. How polite and inclusive!

Forfend took the ottoman while its other companions each slid into one of the offered chairs.

"I heard word you were here to report progress on the kruthik extermination," Roman prompted. "Is that correct?"

Forfend nodded. "The infestation is dealt with. There are no kruthiks left in Brightcrossing."

Roman drummed his fingers on the table. He didn't quite seem aware he was doing it. Perhaps, his wife or daughter disliked when he smoked in an enclosed space with them, so he wasn't sure what to do with his hands. "I heard from Knight Thomas Adri that your work was complete. For that, I would like to first offer you thanks. I would also like to interview you to acquire the exact details of what occurred."

Zoshaan subtly leaned forward, apparently interested as well.

"We will answer any questions you have." Forfend ignored the sensation of pebbles tumbling within its chest. It disliked lying, but it would have to omit every demon and Calamity Shard from its retelling of events as per Knight Thomas's orders. It was for the greater good. If the real tale got out, there could be mass panic. Still, Forfend couldn't help but feel guilty and nervous.

Luckily, it had no face to give away those feelings.

"Oh, um, Forfend." Kairi nudged it lightly.

"Ah, yes." Forfend nodded. "I feel we should mention that we saw someone jump your fence on our way in. They were leaving."

"Hm. Interesting." Roman did not look concerned. Instead, he was more flatly unamused. He waved to a knight standing against the wall.

The man nodded and left immediately, his armor clanging with every step.

Up until that moment, Forfend had genuinely thought that he and the three other knights in the room were just armor decorations like the others in the estate.

Now that it was watching, it saw them shift occasionally. Still, they remained so sharply at attention that they were almost motionless.

"We will see to it, do not worry," Roman assured. "We have other matters to discuss. I would like a full report on what happened. While I do trust Knight Thomas's experience and ability to produce accurate reports, I would still prefer to hear it firsthand."

Forfend hummed. "Of course."

Roman nodded seriously. "What happened down in those tunnels?"

Forfend glanced at its companions.

Melzaryn wore an easy smile. He kept his eyes straightforward and his shoulders pulled back.

Kairi looked up at Forfend, her wing softly brushing its back.

Kagoshi picked his teeth. He wasn't listening in the slightest.

It had been hoping one of them would be willing to speak, but apparently not.

Steam rushed as Forfend turned back to Roman. Nonetheless, it launched into the sanitized, demon-free version of the fiasco.

"Hm, I see," Roman muttered mostly to himself. "I suppose that leaves the hive lord firmly marked in the unusual category. I have no explanation for what caused it to migrate here."

Zoshaan stepped forward far enough to make eye contact with Roman. "It is strange, my lord. Given the report, it does not sound as though anyone planted them here. We could perhaps surmise this was something of a fluke. The Adamantine Mountains are not too far away in the grand scheme of things. This could've been an unnatural migration due to a number of things: natural disaster, outcompeted by another hive, predators, civilization destroying their local habitat. Anything really."

"You're sure of this? There was no sabotage?" Roman narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Kruthiks are fickle, unpredictable creatures. Herding and manipulating them is exceptionally difficult. If it's possible at all, it would likely be more trouble than it's worth. Every point on the path from A to Z would have to unfold perfectly or the kruthiks would escape and probably cause grievous harm to their would-be captors in the process," Zoshaan placated.

Roman nodded and relaxed. "I see." He turned back to the party. "Well then, it appears you were very much successful in your endeavors. Congratulations on a job well done. As per our contract, you will be provided a lawyer to assist with your court date in Cragwall. You may meet him outside the courthouse on the day of your trial, or you could meet with him early at the Summerstead Estate within Cragwall."

Roman sat forward, his fingers steepling. He glanced over at his wife. "And due to your extraordinary expediency, we would like to offer you an additional reward."

"Oh?" Forfend straightened and nodded politely. "Thank you for your kindness."

"What do you seek?" Roman spread his hands out to encompass the party as a whole.

Forfend looked from one side to the other at its companions. It, personally, wasn't seeking anything. It had no requests.

Everything was quiet for a moment.

"I could, perhaps, commission Gilthur on your behalf. Kagoshi." He tilted his chin up, trying to keep his brows from twitching at the idly distracted man.

"Hm?" Kagoshi only just bothered to make eye contact with Roman.

"You aren't currently carrying a weapon, but your stature suggests you could easily use something heavy. Perhaps two-handed?" Roman looked down his nose at Kagoshi. "Would you accept such a humble reward?"

Kagoshi leaned back his chair, wobbling dangerously as he considered the possibility. "Yeah. Yeah, I could use a weapon."

"Alright," Roman nodded. "What would you like? A great sword? A spear? A hammer?"

"Do you happen to know what a kanabo is?" Kagoshi grinned wickedly.

Roman's brow knit. He turned to look up at Zoshaan.

Zoshaan opened his spellbook, flipped through the pages, and whispered something into them. He snapped and a flash of magic briefly lit the page.

"It is a club-like weapon of Fulgar Isle design," Zoshaan read.

"I see." Roman glanced back at Kagoshi, his expression denoting that the weapon choice was unsurprising. "Gilthur should understand how to make you something such as that. It will be done."

Roman turned to Forfend and the rest of its companions. "Despite your expediency, you have been delayed a day in your travels. As such, Zoshaan has already alerted the Tyrwedian Grand Court that your delay was due to your assistance here. It will not be held against you."

Steam hissed as Forfend let itself relax slightly. "Thank you."

"I do not suggest you delay further," Roman warned.

"Of course not," Forfend agreed.

"I believe that will conclude this meeting and all associated addendums. Is there anything further you wish to request of me or discuss regarding the matters of our contract?" Roman asked in a tone that suggested he'd prefer if they did not.

Everyone shook their heads.

"If not, then I must kindly ask you to leave." Roman placed a stack of papers on his desk. "I have work to do."

"Have a nice day," Forfend said as it stood.

"Same to you," Roman replied. "Forfend," he added after a moment.

As they filed back out of the room, Zoshaan followed them.

He twirled his hand and a paper flipped itself into his grip. Magic raced across the white sheet. He handed it over to Kagoshi.

"If you give that to the blacksmith, Gilthur, it will accommodate everything," he instructed.

Kagoshi nodded.

"I wish you luck on your journey," Zoshaan said politely. "And with your trial."

"Hm," Kagoshi barely vocalized.

"Thank you," Forfend spoke up in his stead.

The party were escorted back outside and off the grounds.

"Gilthur is exceptionally talented," Forfend shared with Kagoshi as they made their way to the smithy. "He will forge you an excellent weapon."

"Yeah? Good," Kagoshi huffed.

As they approached, the ringing sound of Gilthur striking metal grew louder.

Kagoshi opened the door to the shop and headed straight in.

Kairi followed him.

Forfend sat down outside. It had already said its goodbyes to Gilthur. It would leave him to his business.

Melzaryn leaned up against its shoulder.

Forfend heard Kagoshi yell from inside and inwardly cringed. Kagoshi was purchasing a service from a highly skilled craftsman. Where was his respect?

A few minutes later, Kagoshi and Kairi exited the shop.

"He already had something similar in the works, so we'll only have to wait four hours," Kagoshi informed them.

Forfend nodded. "While we are waiting, we will talk outside town about what happened during that fight."

Kagoshi grimaced. "After I get my weapon."

Forfend shook its head. "We have the time to talk right now. We will not put this off. It is too important."

"Kagoshi, we really should talk about it," Kairi nudged. "I'm worried."

"Fine," Kagoshi ground out. He jabbed his finger into the metal brace of Forfend's chest. "You've got four hours."

"That will be plenty enough." Forfend led the group outside the city.

They found a spot down a short incline off the main road, tucked into the shadow of the Brightcrossing wall. No carts going past would spot them, no guard patrols were stationed in such an empty spot, and no one could get close enough to eavesdrop without being spotted. They could have a confidential conversation without worry here.

Forfend crossed its arms as it looked down at its deeply scowling companion.

Kagoshi glared up at it, his own arms folded defiantly over his chest.

Kairi scooped up a little lump of dirt. Green light shown through gaps in the soil as a cluster of lavender sprouted up. The calming scent filled the air around the tense party.

Forfend let steam hiss for a long moment. "Does anyone else understand Abyssal, aside from myself and Kagoshi?"

Kagoshi flinched and grit his teeth, though his eyes didn't waver from Forfend's face.

Kairi shook her head.

"Not currently," Melzaryn shrugged. "And not during the fight either."

Forfend hummed. "The greater demon said in no uncertain terms that Kagoshi is, in fact, a demigod of Atrox. I have had my suspicions since shortly after we met, but now I know for certain."

Kagoshi ground his teeth and looked away from Forfend for the first time since their pseudo-standoff had started. "Yeah," he growled.

"Kagoshi, did you know?" Forfend asked with deadly seriousness.

"No, I didn't know." Kagoshi looked... Maybe uncertain wasn't the word, but it was as close as Forfend could get to naming the complicated emotions flitting behind Kagoshi's eyes and getting buried before they could make it onto his face. He was uncertain of himself, likely for the first time in a long time.

"As Callan explained, I know that some demigods take a long time to discover their patrons. Some never do. I believe you are being honest with me." Forfend hummed to itself, tapping its fingers against its metal chest. "Still, it is troubling. We do not know if there are others out there. It is good to know that you want to fight against demons, Kagoshi, but others like you may not."

Kagoshi huffed. "I don't know if there could be others like me."

Forfend tilted its head, but Kagoshi pointedly didn't elaborate.

"When did your power first manifest?" it tried a different avenue of questioning. "And what did your family do?"

"I can answer that first question," Kagoshi offered. "About ten months ago, give or take."

Forfend straightened. Ten months? From the way Callan talked, most demigods manifested their powers in their childhood. Kagoshi was easily in his twenties. Perhaps older.

"That is very late," Forfend finally said aloud. "What occurred ten months ago that triggered your abilities?"

Kagoshi evaded its gaze and stood silently.

"There is nothing interesting?" it said disbelievingly. "Nothing of note happened? What were you doing at the time? Were you in a fight?"

Kagoshi was quiet for another moment. Forfend was beginning to think he would refuse to answer when he finally looked up. "I did wake up after a fight."

"Elaborate?" Forfend requested.

Kagoshi was silent once again. He looked as though he was gathering his thoughts. And also deciding what he was willing to share. Forfend had never met anyone so closed off.

After a long moment, Kagoshi finally unfolded his arms and spoke. "There's a reason I know so little about the current era."

Forfend knelt to bring itself closer to Kagoshi's face. "Are you saying you are like me?"

"Yes and no," Kagoshi shrugged. "I'm not from the Sundering. It was later than that."

"But you were from a previous era and awoke here in this age." Forfend tilted its head curiously. "How long ago did you awaken?"

"About ten months," Kagoshi gruffed.

"And that is when your powers began manifesting. What was happening before that? Do you remember?" Forfend couldn't remember what had been happening before it had suddenly woken up in the present. Not really. It was all so fragmented.

Kagoshi shook his head. "When I try to remember, I mostly get fuzz. A blur."

"That is... common, apparently," Forfend hummed.

"The last thing I remember vividly is watching my entire kingdom burn." Kagoshi took a deep breath to steady himself.

He looked more vulnerable in this moment than he had ever let himself look before.

Forfend bowed its head respectfully. "I am sorry for your loss."

"Hm," Kagoshi acknowledged.

Forfend took in Kagoshi's visage with a new perspective. He'd seen tragedy. That's likely why he was so standoffish. It was a sensible reason, though hardly an excuse for his rudeness.

Forfend found itself wondering as well how someone who hadn't been a demigod before, had suddenly woken up from a tragedy in the distant future with a patron so heinous as Atrox.

It placed a hand tentatively on Kagoshi's shoulder.

Kagoshi glared at its arm as though he was offended it dare exist at all.

Forfend removed its hand and straightened its back, a deep metallic hum resonating in its center. "It is clear to me that you are at least trying to get a handle on your newfound abilities and your circumstances are not your fate. If you want to do good with them despite their terrible origin then I will support you. Kairi, myself, and Melzaryn, if he would like, could help you on that path."

Kagoshi growled, staring towards the Brightcrossing wall.

"Is that the path you want to take?" Forfend prompted.

"I am a warrior. And I will fight whatever I must," Kagoshi answered cryptically. "If that includes my own self, then so be it."

"What are you fighting for?" Forfend asked. Everything was always a battle with Kagoshi.

"I fight for the things I care about."

"And what do you care about?"

"Strength," Kagoshi growled, his gaze meeting Forfend's with sharp determination. "Real strength. Not given strength."

Earned strength. That's what he wanted. Maybe all he wanted. If that's the case, the abilities dropped on him must be difficult to reconcile with.

And it begged another question regarding demons and unwanted power.

"Kagoshi, what do you remember about the fight with the demon after you went down?" Forfend rolled its shoulders as it recalled the dawning horror of Callan's limp weight being lifted from its back.

"Everything," Kagoshi breathed, angry and world weary.

"Could you explain to me what happened? Because, frankly, it was terrifying. And I know that thing was not you because I have never seen you not swing to kill. That monster was toying with us." Forfend shuddered.

"Well, you got me on that one. I don't play." Kagoshi cracked his knuckles and stared down at his hands. "My body wouldn't respond to me. It didn't do what I wanted. I was just trapped in my own mind. Watching."

"Could it happen again?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly.

"I dislike that we have no idea what caused it. Was it the presence of the demon? Or was there something else at work? Was it the shard in your spine?"

Kagoshi shrugged. "I don't know. Whatever's causing it, I plan on conquering it."

"Noble," Forfend nodded approvingly. "Easier said than done."

"Yeah," Kagoshi agreed grimly. "But I'll do it."

Forfend angled its face and leaned slightly forward in hopes of giving an intent, curious impression. "What do you think of Atrox? Of what you know of it?"

"I've always heard him described more as a demon than a god."

It nodded. "It is effectively both a demon and a god. Though, that did not truly answer my question."

Kagoshi rolled his eyes. "Ask what you meant to ask."

Forfend let a rush of steam release from its center. "Can we trust you?"

"Well, that's a good question." Kagoshi let a smirk twitch at one corner of his lips. "Do you trust a random stranger?"

"We have been traveling together and encountered enough dangerous happenings that I would no longer call us strangers."

"We ain't exactly friends either," Kagoshi countered.

Forfend looked Kagoshi over and shook its head. "No, I wouldn't say so." It hummed softly. "Perhaps a better question: do you trust yourself?"

"I trust my own strength. If it fails me, I'll fail everyone else." Kagoshi glanced at Kairi. "I can't let that happen."

"Knowing that you are a demigod of Atrox, cultists and demons may offer you power. Or money. Anything they think you'll want." Forfend had seen demons promise the world and more before. It had seen good people fall for it. "Would you accept it?"

Kagoshi shook his head firmly. "I'd fight them. I'll always fight them. I'll kill every one. I don't want my strength handed to me."

Forfend nodded. That was enough of an answer for it. At least for now. "Well, that is reassuring. If you will have me, I will help you on your journey. There is a bold sense of justice in fighting Atrox's demons alongside one of its demigods."

"You do what you want," Kagoshi huffed. "I won't stop you either way."

Kairi smiled and bumped her wing against Forfend's shoulder. It took that to mean Kagoshi's response was about as positively receptive as he was capable of being.

"We will help you learn to control your rage," Forfend assured.

"I just have to try harder," Kagoshi muttered partially to himself.

"Do not hesitate to fall back on us when you need us," Forfend pushed. "Especially Kairi. She has been your friend the longest."

"I've traveled with her the longest. That's all." Kagoshi shrugged noncommittally.

Forfend glanced at Kairi, concerned.

Kairi grinned smugly. "Uh-huh. Sure."

Kagoshi pointedly looked up into the air and away from all of them to hide his face.

Forfend shook its head at his stubbornness.

"Any more interrogation questions you want to ask me about my life?" Kagoshi griped.

Forfend tapped the side of its stone head thoughtfully. "I do not think so. You know, you could always ask me questions about mine, if you were ever curious."

Forfend hummed low in its chest. "For the record, I believe that all of us were brought together for a reason. I have heard from Fornax for the first time in two years, not just once but twice. I have a new shield and a new mace. I think something very big is happening here and that is why we stumbled across an Atroxian cultist. There is more work for us to do."

Kagoshi scoffed, but Kairi and Melzaryn both looked to at least be considering it.

"Well, if you're done asking questions, I'm going back into town to wait for Gilthur to finish my weapon." Kagoshi tromped off immediately.

Forfend and the others followed him.

"Perhaps I should ask if Knight Thomas is alright," Forfend suggested. "Surely, he is home by now."

"Yeah, you do that." Kagoshi waved dismissively. "I don't think he likes me all that much."

"I would imagine not. You scared him quite significantly and threatened his life," Forfend chastised.

"Oh, c'mon! That was a joke!" Kagoshi argued.

"It did not sound like a joke!" Forfend scolded more harshly.

"Fine! My apologies for always looking angry!" He huffed, then muttered, "Not like I can turn that off."

"The least you could do is simply not threaten people." It gazed down at Kagoshi as they walked. "If you looked angry but said nothing, people would think you were averagely grouchy. As opposed to homicidally grouchy."

"I will punch you in the face," Kagoshi casually threatened.

"Technically, I do not have a face to punch," it countered.

"You've got a rune. Maybe I'll just break that. Fuck it, I don't know." Kagoshi stood up on his toes and eyed Forfend's blank face. "What would happen if I broke it?"

"I do not know and I would prefer not to find out," Forfend answered honestly. "It has never been damaged. I would like to keep it that way."

Kagoshi hummed to himself.

"I imagine it would not be dissimilar to caving in a person's skull," Forfend elaborated.

"Yeah, that makes sense." Kagoshi grinned. "Speaking of which, I need my kanabo. Pick up the pace."

Forfend completely disregarded Kagoshi and paused to speak to a pair of guards.

Both of them tensed sharply and looked at each other. One turned to stare straight forward as though ignoring Forfend would make it go away. The other craned his neck up to take in Forfend's full height and swallowed hard.

"H-hey, man," he muttered, "you're really tall. What the fuck?"

Forfend chuckled softly. "I thought we had moved past this." It didn't recognize these particular guards, but surely word of its presence and unusual appearance had gotten around.

"I've never seen you before," the guard squeaked.

"Do you work under Knight Thomas?" it asked simply.

"Yeah?"

Forfend crouched to make itself less intimidating. "Have you seen him recently? Is he off duty? Did he make it home alright?"

"I'm pretty sure he's off duty," the guard managed. "He's taking a nap, probably. Something about a late night?"

"Very late, yes," Forfend agreed.

"Alright. Um, can I help you?"

Forfend shook its head. "I think not. Thank you for your time."

"That thing was so big," one guard whispered nervously to the other as Forfend walked away. "What the fuck was it?"

Kagoshi rolled his eyes at the pair. "He's friendly."

"Really?" the second guard sounded unconvinced.

"I do my very best," Forfend called back to them.

"Oh shit, it heard us," they panicked.

"He's a lot more friendly than I am," Kagoshi grumbled.

"Oh, that's good! That's nice! You seem nice," one of the guards nodded.

"Me?" Kagoshi balked.

"Sure," the other guard shrugged. "You're talking to us, aren't you? Most people would just walk on past."

Kagoshi huffed irritably. "I can't wait to get my damn kanabo." He turned and stalked away.

The rest of the party followed him to Gilthur's smithy. They waited patiently outside until the four hours was up.

Kagoshi rushed inside as soon as the fourth hour mark hit. Kairi followed him.

A moment later, Kagoshi was back and swinging his massive studded club.

Forfend took a short step back, but assessed the weapon with admiration. Gilthur had once again done a brilliant job.

"Alright, let's get going!" Kairi fluttered her wings. She had a new rapier at her side, apparently freshly purchased from Gilthur as well.

Forfend nodded and the party set off for Cragwall once again.

The first day of the journey was blissfully quiet and uneventful. At dusk, they made camp by a stream.

Forfend took the opportunity to tidy up its stone body. Demon blood and bug innards and golden ichor gathered in every crack of its body. It felt uncomfortable and disgusted. It also stank.

The cool water of the river washed away all of its filth and most of its worries, leaving it relaxed and eager.

Rest was easy.

The next day was similarly quiet and the weather was beautiful. And the next day as well. Travel was smooth, easy, enjoyable, and free of hiccups or hitches. Finally, they were making steady progress.

Forfend's spirits were lifted. Confidence and optimism filled its form as Cragwall's massive outline came into view on the horizon.

The path turned abruptly from dirt to cobblestone beneath their feet. A refreshing breeze drifted off a wide, deep river flanking the slow slope Cragwall was built upon. Beyond the expanse of water, the Howling Plains of Begstrom were living up to their name.

A towering, swirling storm framed Castle Ledrian, which sat imposingly at the very top of Cragwall's incline.

Even from a distance, the sprawling stronghold looked intimidating. Like one could spend their whole life living inside those walls and never find their way into every room.

The next district below the castle on the mountainous outcrop was similarly excessive. Forfend assumed the line of mansions would each belong to the major nobles of the realm. One of them must be the Summerstead Estate. Another could belong to the Gallofords. Though, that left at least three noble families that Forfend knew nothing about. It hoped that wouldn't be important.

The base of the hill was filled up with what was by far Cragwall's largest district. That was the area where the common folk lived and worked. The very air bustled with all the lively happenings of everyday routine. Forfend had never seen so many people in one place.

A handful of particularly large buildings stuck out. One of those was a wide, circular building with a domed roof made up of red glass. The sunlight glinted brilliantly off it.

Not far from it, a grand cathedral rose up towards the heavens as though the building itself was beseeching the gods. Forfend hoped it was truly filled with all the holy energy it looked to encapsulate.

Other domed buildings and large dwellings surely marked myriads of libraries and shops.

Along the sides of Cragwall's outcropping ran aqueducts, poised as both water infrastructure and railings for the steep drops on either side of the raised city. They collected the rain that fell around Castle Ledrian and the noble district whenever a storm might cross the river from the Howling Plains and carried it all the way out into the farmlands Forfend and its companions were now passing through.

Of everything, Forfend was most interested in this area outside the soaring stone walls. These people were farmers and likely the poorest people in Cragwall. Their ramshackle homes clustered beneath the shadow of the city and spread outward from there.

The earthy scent of farmland permeated the air, adding a familiar undertone to the river breeze. This area was nearly like home, though even it alone would dwarf Foumedo.

Many people worked the fields without so much as glancing up. Others were out hanging laundry to dry or tending to playing children. Fewer people stopped to stare here than Brightcrossing. Those that did looked awestruck or nervous or curious.

Forfend waved to them.

As always, the children were most delighted by this. Some of the adults hazarded a smile and wave of their own.

The road itself was crowded with people coming into or out of the city. Occasionally, a street vendor called out to Forfend and its companions, or approached them pitching all manner of supplies and tools and luxury goods.

Forfend shook its head politely before Kagoshi could cause a fuss.

Melzaryn looked perfectly comfortable in this bustling atmosphere as he led them into the line at the gates.

Kairi had slipped into the back of the party, massaging her temples. Forfend worried for her. She had mentioned that crowds of people overwhelmed her with their collective emotions. She couldn't turn her demigod ability off. She would have no choice but to endure.

Forfend raised itself to its full height and looked out over the line ahead of them.

The gates were heavily guarded. Two knights on horseback stood watch on either side of the road. More knights and guards handled the paperwork of those entering, asking various questions before allowing passage. Yet more guards crowded the ramparts above, staring down at the throngs of people.

All of it looked far more rigorous than what they'd gone through in Brightcrossing. Forfend touched the bag of Calamity Shards at its side. Hopefully, they wouldn't search it.

Forfend fretted silently as the line slowly inched forward.

Melzaryn nudged it gently and cast a relaxed smile.

Forfend nodded.

"Next," a guard called the party forward without looking up from his list.

An arcanist is deep green robes sat nearby. He perked up at the sight of Forfend.

"What is the purpose of your visit?" the guard asked.

"We are reporting for court," Forfend hummed.

"Ah, alright," the guard nodded, pencil pressed to the paper. "Names please."

"Forfend."

"Forfend," the guard repeated and looked up for the first time. His next words caught in his throat. He glanced at the arcanist.

"Excuse me," the arcanist said, "but where is your owner, good sir?"

Forfend hissed steam and shook its head. "I own myself."

The arcanist gasped. "A sentient construct!" He paused and blinked curiously up at Forfend. "Is that correct?"

"Effectively, though not precisely," Forfend answered.

"You said your name was Forfend?"

"I did. Forfend Smith."

"Fascinating! And where do you come from?" the arcanist pulled out a journal and began taking notes.

"Foumedo," it said proudly.

"Foumedo?!" the arcanist exclaimed. "Perhaps they have more down that way than I thought. Perhaps I should visit."

"It a very small and beautiful town," Forfend agreed.

"And what are the rest of your names?" the guard prompted Forfend's companions.

"Kagoshi," came the first flat answer.

"Kairi Camilla," came the next in a singsong tone only a bit more muted than usual.

"Melzaryn. Collymore," the third chimed smartly after.

The guard's eyes widened slightly, but he tried to keep his surprise concealed.

"Thank you," he said as he wrote all their names down. He took them through the very same set of questions Knight Thomas had originally asked.

Now familiar with the proceedings, it was a quick process for Forfend and its companions.

The guard nodded. "Everything seems to be in order here." He passed the papers to the arcanist.

Copies of the papers faded into existence as the arcanist accepted them. He held them up and they all burnt away in a flash of magic. "There we go," he smiled. "Enjoy your visit and pose no trouble. And welcome to Cragwall." He gestured through the archway into the massive commons area.

Forfend strode into the city and stared up at the absolutely sprawling space. It had looked huge from a distance, but from within it was overwhelming.

Just ahead was a statue of a knight on a horse stoically keeping vigil over the marketplace beneath him. The monument was so collosal Forfend nearly expected the knight's aloft sword to brush the clouds drifting over. He wore a crown upon his head, his armor lacking key defensive platings in favor of fashionable flair.

This was meant to depict King Falco then. Forfend huffed steam at the bold narcissistic display and pulled its gaze back down to street level.

The marketplace at the horse's hooves was overrun with merchant stalls and rushing shoppers. A cacophony of shouted pitches and prices and products slashed the otherwise busily peaceful atmosphere.

Forfend found itself drawn in towards the noise.

No one here so much as paused to give it a second look. All of them were buzzing about their own business.

"Where are we going?" Kairi asked meekly.

"I do not know," Forfend hummed, stunned by its new surroundings.

"Oi!" a rough voice cut through the noise. "You bunch newcomers here?"

"Yes," Forfend replied as it looked for who had spoken.

"Ah, well, welcome to Cragwall!" The voice's owner stepped forward into the circle the lively crowd was making around the stalled group.

He was a halfling man whose head was only just level with Forfend's midriff. He wore a duster jacket over mussed, baggy clothes. His boots were spattered with dried mud and so worn down they looked steps away from falling apart.

He brushed dirty fingers through his messy hair in an effort to tidy himself. "You look a bit lost. Can I help?"

Forfend knelt. "Perhaps you can."

The man tugged his jacket and grinned proudly. "If you're lost in Cragwall, I can certainly help you find your way. For a fee of course."

Forfend tilted its head. "What is the fee?"

He looked over the party and tapped his chin. "Let's call it a good four gold. I charge per person. How's that sound?"

"Four gold? Per person? For directions?" A chuckle rumbled in Forfend's chest.

"Big city," the halfling reasoned. "I've got some insider secrets too, if you catch my drift. I'm Cragwall born and bred! I know this city inside and out."

"Ah, I see." Forfend let a soft hiss of steam cover the last grindstone chuckles in its core. "Could you lead us to the Summerstead Family Estate?"

"Yeah, it's in the mountain quarter! There's a lotta noble homes up that way," he nodded sagely. "I could tell you a bit about all of them. Whatever you need, wherever you need to go, I'll be here to help you out." He paused, then added. "If you pay my fee."

Forfend felt its chest begin to glow faintly. It could get directions from anyone and probably rather easily too. There was no need to pay this stranger.

But Forfend liked his moxie, his brazen audacity. It was charmingly reminded of Fletch's insistent positive attitude.

The halfling also looked as though he may need the money much more than Forfend did anyway.

It pulled the four gold from its pouch and its companions each did the same.

The halfling almost looked startled. He shook himself out of it and accepted the payment. "Thank you! Alright, on with your tour then! C'mon, c'mon, I'll show you the way!"

Forfend followed him intently.

"By the way, my name is Erzor Littlefoot," he introduced himself.

"Forfend."

"Nice to meet you, Forfend! You're a big one, ain't you?" Erzor teased. "What's it like being made of stone?"

Forfend's thought process was momentarily stymied by that question. It hummed deep in its core. "I... imagine it is quite different from being made up of flesh, but I have never been anything other than stone. I have no comparison."

"You know what? That's fair," Erzor nodded appreciatively. "Carrying on, I'll let you in on the destinations of interest here in Cragwall."

He pointed out three buildings clustered near one another far off to their left. "That first one there with the domed roof is the Tyrwedian Grand Library. That's where the greatest minds and scholars in Tyrwedia come to learn."

He tossed his head at the next stately building. "That one's the Tyrwedian Grand Court. You only go there if you really fuck up some shit. Most legal business is dealt with in the town or city it happened in, but if somebody fucks up real bad they get sent there."

"That is our destination," Forfend sighed in a weary rush of steam.

"Really?" Erzor blinked in surprise.

"It is a long and complicated story," Forfend lamented.

"No, no, I'm just your guide for the afternoon. Your business is yours. You'll get no judgment from me." He nodded kindly and pointed to the third building. "That one is one of our resident artisans. A woodcarver's place. The dwarf there does a fine job with his craft. I bought something there recently myself. A gorgeous chair. Real comfortable."

"I will certainly make it a point to visit before I leave Cragwall," Forfend said.

"You should!" Erzor encouraged. "Over yonder is the statue of King Ledrian on his mighty steed. Of course, I've never actually seen the steed. Or the king, for that matter!"

He laughed, but Forfend heard the steel across whetstone noise slice through its chest. A king, or any leader, should be present for their people. It was not a good sign that a citizen of the capitol had never seen his king.

"Off to our right there is the general military installation. That's where the guards and barracks and all are at. Jail's part of it too." Erzor gestured toward thick stone walls surrounding a heavily fortified brutalist structure. Everything about the place was designed to project strength and authority.

"Not far from there is the Tyrwedian Grand Cathedral. It's got a spot for every deity in the pantheon." Erzor whistled appreciatively. "Ain't she gorgeous?"

Forfend took a long moment to appreciate the grandiose church. It whistled like a kettle. It didn't have the time right now, but it would have to visit this place before it left Cragwall.

Erzor pat its arm and pointed off towards the building with the red glass dome. "That's the Teleportation Hub. It can take you to almost any other capitol city in Rozdarta. Not Ashea though. They're very isolationist."

Forfend tilted its head at the crowd forming there. The place had been busy before, but now droves of people filled the surrounding plaza. Most of them were earth genasi. They were shouting, chanting. Some of them brandished signs.

"What is going on there?" it asked Erzor.

Erzor grimaced. "I don't really get much into politics. The earth genasi are protesting something. I don't know much about it."

Forfend hummed and edged closer to the crowd.

Erzor followed hesitantly.

Melzaryn pointed up at the glimmering ruby dome. "The glass is designed as an arcane focus. It channels sunlight to power the magic circle and everything else in the building."

Forfend nodded, but it was more focused on trying to catch the jumbled yells of the protestors.

Kagoshi dropped back from the shuffling throng to check on Kairi. She had her hands pressed to her temples and her eyes squeezed shut.

"They are talking about stolen land," Forfend shared over the din. "I wonder what happened."

Half-elves, humans, dwarves, and halflings interspersed the crowd occasionally, but almost every protestor was earth genasi.

Forfend could not recall ever seeing so many genasi of any element in one place like this. They were livid.

"They're all so upset," Kairi mumbled, pain scrunching her face. "They just want their homeland returned."

Forfend nodded, gazing over the crowd to the building they surrounded. It paused as an oddity caught its attention.

There were several hooded people around the base of the Teleportation Hub. They appeared to be doing maintenance, but then why were they wearing such dark clothing?

"What are they doing?" Forfend stood taller, watching them suspiciously.

"What's going on?" Erzor wondered aloud.

"Can you see?" Forfend asked the much, much shorter man.

"Not really," he answered predictably.

"Would you like assistance with that?"

"Um, sure." Erzor squinted at Forfend.

Forfend knelt down, carefully lifted the man up onto its shoulders, and stood back up.

"Oh, oh wow, this is really tall!" Erzor blinked owlishly at his new vantage point.

Forfend pointed out the strange workers. "Them. What are they doing?"

"Oh, those are the maint--" he abruptly cut himself off. "Wait, who the fuck are they?"

The mysterious figures stepped away from their handiwork. They'd stationed large barrels all around the front entrance.

Forfend glanced at Erzor, then at its friends.

Melzaryn's brow was creased with a rare show of concern.

"Kagoshi, look at this," it beckoned urgently.

One of the hooded workers pulled a scroll from his side pouch and whispered into it just as Kagoshi turned.

Every barrel ignited in violent, surging flame. A shockwave crashed through the city. People screamed, glass shattered, blood splattered, stone cracked.

The crumbling building cascaded forward, bearing down upon the protestors.

Kagoshi dashed in immediately, shoving panicking people out of his way as he doubled in size. He slammed his oversized hands into the tumbling wall. His knees nearly buckled, but he held strong.

Erzor half-fell half-jumped from Forfend's shoulders.

Forfend ran, but it wouldn't reach the next section before it collapsed onto the protestors. It was too far.

"Mel!" it yelled frantically.

Melzaryn responded immediately. Magic warped around Forfend.

In an instant, it was deposited beneath the shadow of the massive falling slabs of stone. It threw its arms up and felt the heavy burden nearly crush it. It grunted, cracks arcing across its straining shoulders.

Somewhere above it, the remaining pieces of the glass dome began splintering. The red light of the magic bathed the scrambling streets like an omen of blood yet to spill.

Forfend spared a look to its left and saw more crumbling rubble coming down.

Magic whirled in its core and burst free, smoke belching from its back. Its body seared so suddenly and so strongly with heat it thought it may truly melt.

The golden magic coalesced into a large adamantine support beam with a broad, flat top. The sound of a hammer striking metal reverberated through the plaza as the form solidified.

The weight of the rubble buried the support's stake through the cobblestone and into the ground, locking it in place.

A perilous creak emanated. The support began to bend.

Too thin! Forfend cursed and fumbled for the magic coursing through its shield.

The Orison Aegis responded. A new stream of golden magic met Forfend's and thickened the adamantine device.

The creaking stopped. No more stone or shrapnel fell. For the moment, the collapse was stalled.

Forfend let its head hang and focused on not letting its feet slip or its knees buckle beneath the unbelievable crushing weight on its back.

People scrambled out from beneath the imminent, looming shadow. They dragged their injured comrades with them.

They would make it. All of them not fatally caught in the initial blast would survive.

Forfend felt its body shaking. It wouldn't quit. It managed a glance at Kagoshi.

He'd transformed. Normally, that made him a violent threat, but right now he didn't look like an Atroxian demon. His giant form was wholly changed.

Instead of onyx skin with glowing scars and burgundy flames, he was ashy gray with burning orange hair. His scars lit up like flickering firelight.

He looked far more like a fire giant than a demon.

Forfend almost wasn't certain if this new creature was Kagoshi until he caught its gaze. He grit his teeth, a snarl on his face.

"Go, move!" he shouted at the fleeing protestors in a deep growling voice.

That was surely Kagoshi. He wasn't a demonic monster this time, but he was still characteristically angry.

Forfend nodded gratefully to him.

Kagoshi huffed irritably. He looked away to focus on his work.

Long, agonizing seconds crawled by as the last of the crowd finally escaped the collapse.

Forfend could feel more cracks shooting across its shoulders and chipping pieces off its back.

It was nearly at its limit.

"On three," Kagoshi strained.

Forfend nodded.

"One. Two." Kagoshi tensed, preparing himself. "Three!" he shouted.

Forfend released the crumbling building and staggered backwards.

Kagoshi dropped his section as well and dove as the mountain of debris finally crashed to the pavement.

Forfend's support melted into golden slag and dissipated as the final section fell with rattling clatter.

Kagoshi doubled over, panting heavily as he shrank back to his original size. "Shit," he wheezed.

Forfend knelt, one hand on the ground to steady itself. "Shit," it concurred. It wiped at the ichor pouring down its runic face.

A warbling electric crackle whipped through the plaza.

Forfend looked up, locking onto a spinning sphere resting near the top of the rubble. Lightning flashed off it, stinging the air with the sharp scent of ozone and uncontrolled arcana. It spun faster and faster and faster as it pulled in unfettered energy.

Suddenly, it exploded.

A violent blast of magic energy careened deafeningly through Cragwall. Forfend and everyone else in the crowd was flung backwards, slamming into similarly tossed market stalls or rolling across the pavement.

Forfend skidded to a halt and flattened itself further as glass and other shrapnel launched over its head.

An alarm rang out. Dozens, maybe hundreds, of guards flooded from the military complex. Immediately, they swarmed the swaths of downed citizens, yelling orders to one another and providing aid however they could.

Forfend hauled itself upright.

Kagoshi was by its side a second later.

Melzaryn and Kairi rushed to them, coughing at the dust in the air.

The smoke cleared enough for them to see through to the ruined foundation of the Teleportation Hub.

Those same cloaked men were already picking through the rubble. One of them pushed debris off a survivor in the wreckage and stabbed her where she lay, wounded and helpless.

The others appeared to be following suit, finishing off anyone who'd dared survive their assault.

The emotions that coursed through Forfend were too strong for words. More than grief, more than horror, more than rage.

"Holy hells," the human swore.

Forfend did not respond. It waited.

"Did you say Fornax?" the human asked. He very much still looked like he may run if Forfend moved, but he was attempting to engage in conversation.

Forfend accepted. "I did."

"You're... Fornax made you? What for? How'd you get broken?"

Forfend tilted its head slightly, recalling as much as it could. "Fornax made me, yes. I was designed to fight the forces of Atrox during the Sundering. I do not recall how I was damaged."

"The Sundering was a real long time ago," the human said doubtfully.

Forfend nodded. "It was. I have long been unaware of the world or even myself." Stone ground as it shifted a bit. The human flinched. Forfend stopped moving. "May I sit up? Something is strange and I would like to examine it."

"Uh, yeah," the human hesitantly allowed.

Forfend creaked and groaned and ground like a rockfall as it sat up. It expected dirt and mud to fall from it, but there was only dust. It had been cleaned up. Unburied perhaps, given its surroundings.

Forfend examined itself.

Beneath its arm, a large sheet of metal sat expertly bent to match its natural form. It was braced carefully but firmly into Forfend's stone chest and presumably its back as well, though it could not see as much.

Forfend knocked on the metal with a resounding clang. To its surprise, the device held.

"You have repaired me," Forfend observed. "You are the reason I have reawakened."

"Uh, y-yeah," the man admitted, rubbing sheepishly at the back of his neck. "I didn't know you were alive. It was a bit of an accident."

Forfend nodded graciously. "I thank you for your assistance. May I ask your motivation?"

"Oh, well, I'm a blacksmith by trade," the human explained. "A merchant caravan came through the other day and said they'd seen an odd hunk of rock with a symbol carved into it sticking up out of the ground. I wouldn't have thought much of it, but they said it looked like Fornax's anvil so I figured it might be nice to bring it into my shop and put it up on display. When I started digging though, there was a lot more of ya than I thought."

The human intended to keep talking, but Forfend hunched forward so they were nearly eye level with one another. The mortal's jaw audibly clicked shut and he suddenly looked frightened again.

"I do not mean to scare you," Forfend began, "but I do not have a symbol of my creator carved into me."

The man shifted foot to foot nervously. "You do," he said carefully. "It wasn't lit up before but now it's glowing orange like heated metal. It's right where your face oughta be."

Forfend hummed and sat back again. "I have never seen my own face. I did not know."

"Oh. That's kinda sad, ain't it?"

"Is it?" Forfend did not feel sad. Its body was a tool. Its appearance was a happenstance. It did not care for the specifics of its form.

"Well, sure," the human nodded adamantly. "You were built by Fornax, right? Beautiful craftsmanship. That kinda thing deserves to be seen, yeah?"

It had never considered as much, but Forfend presumed that was true. Perhaps it should take care to learn itself. It nodded.

"See, you get it," the man grinned.

Forfend simply nodded again. "You may continue your tale."

"Oh, right," the man perked up as though he'd forgotten that he was sharing a story. "Uhh, yeah, I took some time to dig you out. Wasn't too sure what I'd found, but I knew it was high quality material left too long in bad conditions. I gotcha cleaned up and all, but you were damn near crumbling right here." The human tentatively touched Forfend's new metal side. "Had a great big chunk knocked out of you. I took a wild hair and decided to fix you up. Couldn't move you though because I was scared you'd fall all to pieces on me with nothing to support that side."

Forfend nodded. "I very well may have."

"Yeah, you were looking rough. I know a touch of masonry, but it ain't my strong suit. I took the rocks I could still tell used to belong to you and patched them back into your chest there, but you were still missing an awful lot of pieces. Figured I could use something I'm a little better at to finish you up. So I took your measurements and made you that metal brace. I was gonna display you in my shop so I could show off my smithing skills. It takes some talent to secure metal to old stone like that, if I do say so myself."

"I agree," Forfend stated. "You have done me a great service and with excellent craftsmanship."

"Aww, hush," the man turned his head and waved in an off-with-you gesture. "You're too kind."

"It is true," Forfend insisted.

"I suppose. Still, I was just planning to use you as a shop prop. I didn't expect you to wake up."

"Regardless of your original intentions, you have saved my life. I owe you much gratitude."

The human blushed and scruffed at the back of his neck. "Alright, alright. Thank you. Or you're welcome? Either way, I suppose. So what are you planning to do now that you're awake again?"

Forfend hesitated. It looked to the cloudless sky. "I was designed to fight in the war against Atrox. My purpose is fulfilled. I do not know."

"This might be a little presumptuous, but are you as strong as you look?" the mortal asked.

Forfend nodded.

"I could always use a heavy lifter around the shop," he offered.

A thought struck Forfend. "I would like to learn your trade. It is the best way to pay heed to Fornax in the absence of a new objective."

"Oh, yeah, sure! I can teach you smithing!" the man readily agreed. Forfend had honestly not expected as much. "Been needing an apprentice anyway. I got a hunch you'll have a knack for it too, given who you were made by."

"Yes, I believe so as well." Forfend carefully braced its hands against the dirt walls on either side of it and rose. Its body grumbled like falling stone, but remained solidly in one piece.

The human whistled. "You're a whole lot bigger than I thought. It'll be hell and a half getting you through the village gates. The guards ain't gonna like it a bit."

"I apologize for the inconvenience," Forfend said.

"Nah, it's alright. If I didn't piss off ol' Jessie with something everyday, I wouldn't even know what to do with myself," he chuckled. "This'll just about take the cake."

Forfend did not understand, but it nodded anyway. "I did not ask your name."

"Oh! It's Fletcher Smith. Most people just call me Fletch. You can too."

"Fletch," Forfend repeated. "Thank you for your kindness, Fletch."

"Ain't nothing," he grinned. "Let's get on before the dark catches up to us."

Forfend stopped and looked up at the twenty-foot stone walls surrounding the city. The craftsmanship was notable. Byr would approve.

There was a beat of silence.

"Oh, i-it listened," the guard managed to mumble through his surprise. After a moment, he yelled again, "What do you want?!"

"We are travelers coming into town to--"

The guard's sudden yelp cut it off, "It fucking speaks?!"

A short huff of steam, something between exasperation and amusement, escaped Forfend.

"I do," it responded. "We were witness to your infestation problem and we would like to help."

"That thing just say it handled the bug problem?" Jimmy asked from where he cowered behind the guard.

Forfend stepped aside to reveal the two farmers riding on the cart.

"Hey, Jimmy, how'd ya like your workout?" the shorter jeered.

"Oh, fuck you!" Jimmy hollered.

The guard glanced around the group and slowly took a more relaxed stance. "Are you two vouching for this... golem?"

"I am not a golem," Forfend said evenly.

"Forfend the Fornaxian is pretty great!" the taller farmer shouted. "Him and his buddies smashed those bugs like they were... uh, bugs. You gonna let us in? We need to get our produce delivered and that little ambush already made us late."

"Alright, alright," the guard relented anxiously. "Well, Forfend... Is that the name?"

"Yes," Forfend confirmed.

"Forfend, I think we'll need to have you cleared by the knight. Would you mind coming with me?" The guard shifted, holding his shield in front of his body. Even though he'd stopped pointing his spear at them, he was far from relaxed. "After you drop the wagon off, I suppose."

"Certainly," Forfend nodded.

"Alright, good. Good, good, good," he repeated to himself under his breath a few times. "Stand down, they're safe. I think."

Along the wall, dozens of guards with bows drawn and aimed directly at Forfend slowly relaxed.

Forfend waved.

One archer confusedly returned the gesture as he dispersed alongside his brothers in arms.

"Go ahead inside," the gate guard offered, stepping aside.

Forfend nodded politely and took up the tattered reins of the wagon again.

"Thank you," it said as it passed the guard.

"Uh, sure." he mumbled. "Do you mind if I follow you?" He made to tail the cart a few paces behind.

"That is fine."

"Seriously, thank you for carrying the cart, Forfend," the shorter farmer spoke up. "This shit's heavy."

"It is no trouble for me," Forfend assured.

As they passed, Jimmy started to step up on the cart.

Forfend paused to allow him, but the taller farmer stuck his leg out in the way. "You can fucking walk!"

"Motherfucker!" Jimmy swore. "After I ran all the way here?!"

"You ran for the first time in your godsdamn life," the shorter farmer gruffed. "You can walk."

Jimmy looked like he was going to keep arguing, but he his bit his tongue and kicked the dust. "Fine."

Forfend nodded to him and hauled the cart into the city proper.

Immediately, Forfend was stunned. Brightcrossing was much, much larger than Foumedo. And not just on the ground level either. The city sprawled outwards, sure, but it also rose upwards.

Two and three story buildings, many sturdy stone rather than the wood it was used to, lined the crowded streets.

People stared. Some scattered, but the presence of the calm guard trailing behind seemed to placate most.

"Would you mind dropping us off at the winery?" the shorter farmer asked.

"Of course. However, I will need direction." Forfend whistled like a kettle. "This is a larger city then I have been to before."

"Yeah, we can do that. We gotcha," the taller man promised.

The winery was massive, so much so that it couldn't be contained within one building. Instead, it took up three. Every one was ornately decorated and bore what Forfend assumed was the Summerstead crest.

People flooded in and out, shoppers and workers crisscrossing each other's paths in their haste. The bustle was so great that Forfend's appearance was not enough to stop it.

Forfend found that as a relief.

The farmers directed it around to the back of the middle building. The second it stopped the cart, they hopped off and started unloading.

Melzaryn and Kairi hopped off the back of the wagon to get out of their way.

Kairi joined Kagoshi and helped him tie his mess of bug corpses back together.

Melzaryn joined Callan who was brushing the drying mud off his pants leg.

The shorter farmer fussed at Jimmy to get to work before catching Forfend's wrist.

It turned and cocked its head.

"You said y'all were interested in helping with our bug problem, right?"

Forfend nodded. "Yes."

"Gods know we could've died out there without y'all and you seem alright to me," he grinned and pat one of the lower chimneys protruding from its back, "so we're gonna put in a good word for ya with Roman. He's our boss. Roman Summerstead. Maybe he'll contact you about it. Make sure you get paid, ya know?"

Forfend bowed slightly, ducking its head. "Thank you. We appreciate that greatly."

"It's the least we can do." The farmer scratched at the back of his neck. "Y'all saved our skins."

"Get back over here, dammit!" Jimmy fussed.

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Bye, Forfend," he called as he disappeared around the back of the wagon.

"Goodbye, friends," it returned.

The guard stepped up beside Forfend and flinched when it turned to look at him.

"C-could you come with me now?" he stuttered.

"As promised," Forfend confirmed.

"Thank you. The knight should be in, so we'll just head straight over to the guard barracks."

"Am I the only one that needs to go?" it asked.

The guard paused and reassessed the group. His eyes paused for a moment over Callan, but lingered much longer on Kagoshi. "No, all of you."

"Out of the five of us, am I the only one here with papers?" Melzaryn piped up.

"Hm," Callan frowned. "I don't have papers."

"What do you mean, papers?" Kagoshi creased his brow.

Kairi shrugged sheepishly.

Just like Kagoshi, Forfend also had no idea what was meant by that.

"Oh," the guard blinked. "Are you all travelers?"

"Yes," Callan nodded.

"I'm traveling," Melzaryn agreed.

"We are," Kairi answered.

"We are traveling to Cragwall," Forfend provided more context.

"Then none of you are legal Tyrwedian citizens," the guard stated.

"I am. I hail from Foumedo," Forfend corrected.

"I... see." The guard tried and failed to hide the confusion in his features. He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, but the perplexity would not be dispelled. "Did someone make you there?"

"No," Forfend shook its stone head. "The local blacksmith, Fletch, found me there. I have been living in Foumedo for the past two years. It is my home."

"So you're like an artifact?"

Forfend paused, humming quietly for a moment. "That is not... inaccurate."

"Well, this will be a very interesting report. Please follow me." The guard hustled along, a pep in his step. He was eager to see where the next interaction would lead.

The party followed close behind.

As they walked, the crowds thinned more and more until no one was on the streets. A gaggle of guards who certainly thought themselves much more stealthy than they were tailed the group.

"Kind of want to teleport behind them and yell 'boo,'" Melzaryn snickered under his breath.

Kagoshi elbowed him. "You wanna hold these bug guts while you teleport me behind them? I'll scare the fuck out of them," Kagoshi teased much louder.

"No," Kairi and Forfend fussed at the same time.

"That would be unadvisable," the guard leading the group warned nervously.

"You're already spooking them, my friend," Melzaryn noted.

"I'm just carrying bug guts. If anybody's spooking them, it's Forfend," Kagoshi returned.

"I am an upstanding citizen," Forfend stated, defending itself.

"You're an anomaly to them," Kagoshi said scathingly.

"But he has been an upstanding citizen so far. He's very nice," the guard agreed.

"Thank you." Forfend graciously accepted the praise.

Up ahead, the guard barracks loomed, jutting out of the stone wall surrounding the town. The sharp angles of the building and the shadow of the wall gave the place an imposing and ominous vibe. Forfend wondered if that was intentional.

A human man stood at attention out front, listening intently to the archer guard reporting to him. He was wearing full plate armor in the same style as the knights who'd disrupted Foumedo, but he held his helmet at his hip. His shield was still strapped to his back. His sword remained in its sheathe at his side.

He didn't anticipate a fight. Forfend took that as a positive sign.

He looked up as they approached, his eyebrows arching. "Well then, they weren't kidding about the construct." His voice was smooth, but commanding. "You are a construct, is that correct?"

"Technically speaking, I am, yes." Forfend was well aware that constructs couldn't be healed by magic, but it could. That meant it lay somewhere on the outskirts of that realm. Construct was a close enough title to be true though.

"I'm glad I was correct. Greetings to you all. I am Tyrwedian Knight Thomas Adri," he introduced himself.

"Pleasure to meet you," Forfend bowed slightly.

Knight Thomas nodded. "Unfortunately, your arrival has caused something of a panic throughout town. We just need you to fill out some paperwork and answer some questions so we can assure you're safe to allow here in Brightcrossing."

"Alright," Forfend agreed amicably.

"Normally, we would do this indoors, but you won't fit inside." Thomas hummed thoughtfully to himself.

After a brief moment, he motioned to a patrolling guard.

The guard huffed, quit what he was doing, and disappeared inside. He dragged out a lengthy table and set it up in the street. With a few more trips, he hauled out enough chairs for everyone.

Forfend touched one of the chairs. The wood wouldn't hold it. Forfend could tell as much immediately. It shifted the chair aside and knelt on the ground.

"Oh," Thomas frowned. He motioned for the same guard to take away the chair Forfend wasn't using.

The guard groaned, snagged the chair, and started to drag it back inside.

"Wait a moment," Melzaryn stopped him with a wave. "Just leave it right here."

The guard rolled his eyes and deposited the chair next to Melzaryn who immediately kicked his feet up on it.

Thomas squinted, but said nothing. He passed out legal documents to everyone as they took seats around the table.

Melzaryn pulled papers out of his spellbook and handed them directly to Thomas.

Thomas looked surprised, but accepted them. He glanced at them, blinked, leaned in, cocked his head, and peered over the top of the documents. "You're a Collymore," he said incredulously.

"A what?" Kagoshi asked. He was ignored.

"Yes, I try to avoid cities," Melzaryn shrugged.

Thomas nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Melzaryn Collymore."

Forfend hummed, wondering who exactly Melzaryn was. It didn't recognize the surname Collymore from anywhere.

"I hope you will have a pleasant visit here in Brightcrossing," Thomas continued, ducking his head politely.

Melzaryn smiled. "I'm sure I will."

Forfend stared down at its document. The first section prompted for a first and last name. It didn't have a last name, but it was sure its family wouldn't mind if it claimed theirs.

Forfend Smith. An odd ring, but it worked.

The second section asked Forfend to check the box for its race. There was a lengthy list, some of which Forfend didn't recognize at all. Naturally, its race was not included. Forfend checked "Other" and wrote out "Fornaxian" in the provided space.

The third section asked for an age.

Forfend hummed. "Would this go by years technically alive or years actually experienced?"

Thomas paused, brow creasing. "Years... experienced?"

"Ah. Then, give or take, fifteen," it estimated. Truthfully, it wasn't wholly certain.

Thomas blinked and a short murmur of confusion ran through the guards.

Forfend ignored it to ponder over the gender question. It marked "Not Applicable."

Place of birth was next. Forfend supposed that was meant to be a city name, but even if the Sundering had actually had a wealth of established, non-nomadic dwellings, Forfend would not have been created in one.

"Would the fires of Fornax's Forge count as a valid place of birth?" it asked.

"In your case, I'll allow it," Thomas replied, keeping his tone carefully even despite his clear confusion.

Forfend nodded, moving on to current residency. That was easy. It had been living in Foumedo for two years with no plans of leaving.

The last section requested an explanation for its arrival in Brightcrossing. Forfend wrote, "Traveling through en route to Cragwall; assisting with infestation."

It pushed the documents to Thomas, who took them and scanned them over. He set his jaw, eyes narrowed. "There's no birthdate."

"I have no idea on what date I was created," Forfend admitted.

The guard hummed. "I'll need you to put down something here."

"I could use the date I was reawakened in Foumedo and my best approximation of the year I was initially created," Forfend offered.

"That will do." Thomas placed the papers down just long enough for Forfend to mark them. When he took them up again, he inhaled sharply. "Are you aware you've written 'AS' as in 'Age of the Sundering' as opposed to 'AA' which would be the current age."

"Yes," Forfend nodded once.

"I... see..." Thomas pinched the bridge of his nose.

Kairi handed her papers over next, followed shortly by Kagoshi.

Thomas scanned through them as well, glad to tear his eyes off Forfend's document.

"Kagoshi, do you not have a family name?"

"Nope," Kagoshi answered curtly.

"Alright," Thomas said suspiciously.

Callan tilted his head at Kagoshi as well.

He ignored both of them.

Callan passed his documents to Thomas.

Thomas glanced over them and let a little sigh of relief escape him. It seemed Callan's answers were more in concordance with the norm.

"Alright, I will file these away for you. Now for the last thing I will need you to do." Thomas snapped at the frustrated guard and gestured for him to get something.

The man grumbled and swore under his breath as he disappeared into the guard barracks again. He returned with a glass orb and deposited it carefully into Thomas's hand.

Thomas held it out to them. It was crystal clear with a gem suspended in the center.

"Please speak clearly. This will detect any lies." Thomas looked over each of them to make sure everyone understood. "To the best of your knowledge, is everything on these papers correct?"

"Yes," Forfend answered immediately.

"Yes," Kairi said next.

"Yes," Kagoshi huffed.

"Yes," Callan confirmed.

"Yep, I am me and these are my papers," Melzaryn replied last.

"Do you harbor any ill intent towards Brightcrossing?" Thomas asked.

"None," Forfend said at the same time as Callan, Kairi, and Kagoshi.

"If anything, my intent is purely beneficial." Melzaryn spread his hands to indicate he had nothing to hide.

"Agreed," Forfend nodded.

Thomas watched the glass sphere for a moment. It appeared inert.

"Alright, the last and most important question: do you, intentionally or otherwise, pose any danger to Brightcrossing?"

Forfend glanced at Kagoshi who looked like he'd just bitten into something unexpectedly sour. "No," it answered for itself.

"I don't," Kairi shook her head.

"Nor do I," Callan echoed the sentiment.

"Nah, I'm good." Melzaryn leaned back in his chair.

Kagoshi grit his teeth. "Probably, but they can handle it."

Thomas made a note on Kagoshi's form. "Alright, as a result of your responses, there will be a guard detail following you throughout the duration of your stay. They will not disturb you or impede any of your business so long as you abide by our laws."

"Can you ask them not to act sneaky?" Forfend requested. "If they are going to follow us around, they may as well enjoy some conversation."

"I'll be sure to let them know." Thomas shook his head incredulously.

"What do you want me to do with these bugs?" Kagoshi lifted up the dripping mass of gore from where he'd dropped it on the ground beside him.

Thomas stared at the mess and looked back down at the papers in his hands. "You've already gotten started assisting with the infestation then. Well, we'll take those and pay you accordingly."

Thomas motioned for the same irritated guard to take them.

The guard carefully pinched the strings between his fingers and set the corpses aside. The stench of death and exposed guts was palpable. The guard gagged.

"I think there's six," he strained. "Three little ones and three big ones."

"Excellent, take them away," Thomas ordered.

The guard gave a long and exasperated groan before carefully picking up the tied bodies and carrying them around the barracks.

"These creatures have caused us a great deal of trouble as of late." Thomas rifled through a large jingling pouch on his belt. "The bounty on them is two gold per smaller bug and five per larger. I believe that's going to be twenty-one gold for you." He slid the money across the table.

Kagoshi took it immediately.

The annoyed guard rounded the corner, insectoid goop dripping thickly down the front of his uniform. He looked sick.

"Get the table and chairs back into their proper place," Thomas commanded.

The guard's eyes flashed and his nostrils flared. He grit his teeth. "Yeah, I got it," he ground out, sharply irritated.

Thomas ignored him.

"Due to your answers to my questions today, I cannot hire you directly in good conscience," Thomas stated. "However, if you recover more corpses, you will be paid properly."

"Is anyone aware of the creatures' nesting grounds?" Forfend asked.

"No, unfortunately not." he pressed thoughtful fingers to his chin. "It's been strange. There have been no attacks within the city. Only the surrounding farmlands. We can't pinpoint a nest. They may be coming from very deep underground or they could be coming from the river, though I doubt the latter."

"Yeah, they really don't like water," Kagoshi quipped.

Kairi giggled.

"Is that so?" Thomas tilted his head curiously.

"They certainly do not like water anymore," Forfend added.

"Hm. Alright then. Well, with that, I believe our business is concluded. You are free to travel the city as you wish. Take care. Stay out of trouble." Thomas waved them off, returning to the guard barracks.

"Thank you," Kairi called after him. "We'll help as much as we can!"

"We appreciate it. Have a pleasant day," he said just before he shut the door.

The party stood and began to wander back the way they'd come. Three guards followed a short distance behind.

Slowly, people filtered out into the streets again.

Forfend guessed the guards had created a barrier around it and its companions until they'd been cleared by Knight Thomas.

"The Summersteads own the winery, right?" Kagoshi asked rhetorically. "I say we pay them a little..." he trailed off.

"A visit?" Kairi supplied.

"A beating. That's it." Kagoshi slammed his fist into his open palm.

"No!" Forfend fussed.

All three guards tensed sharply. One leveled his spear.

"It was a joke!" Kagoshi rolled his eyes. "Fuck, chill."

The guards relaxed with sighs of relief. One wiped his brow of sweat.

"I apologize for his crass humor." Forfend pressed its hand to its chest and bowed slightly to the guards.

They murmured their acceptance of the apology.

"If you're going to openly admit to being a danger, you're gonna have to go lighter on the jokes," Melzaryn teased.

"I blame Kairi. She told me to make jokes," Kagoshi deflected.

"Nice jokes," Kairi clarified.

"To help you make friends?" Forfend asked.

"Yeah," Kagoshi nodded.

"They'd work if you were funny," Callan jabbed.

Forfend's chest lit up as a rumble escaped it.

Melzaryn snickered as well and even Kairi hid a smile behind her hand.

"I could throw you," Kagoshi threatened.

Callan laughed and clapped Kagoshi on the back.

"I think I'm going to take a walk," Melzaryn announced suddenly. "That's fine, right, guards?"

He didn't wait for them to reply before striking out.

One of the guards jogged after him. "Wait, Mr. Collymore. Would you like a tour?"

"Hm. Give me a list of the interesting places and I'll decide what I want to explore today."

"Oh, alright then." He hummed thoughtfully for a moment. "The main locations we're known for. Hm. There's the town hall which is in the center of town. It's the largest building in Brightcrossing. Also the Prancing Dragon, a tavern known for its very lively demeanor and interesting late night parties."

He paused and pondered for another moment. "If you're looking for general goods and especially fresh produce, Odds And Ends is the best place to shop. A new jewelry shop opened up very recently as well. I haven't been for myself yet, but I've heard good things. Reece's Jewels, I think. Gilthur's Forge is another interesting place. He's very well respected around here. His craftsmanship is beautiful."

Forfend perked up. It had never actually seen another forge. It wondered how smithing was done outside Foumedo.

"There's also the Temple of the Triplets located in the middle of the TwinRoad district to the north and a potion shop by the name of Unseen Visions. And, of course, the Summerstead Winery," the guard finished.

"What was the name of that smithy again?" Forfend asked.

"Gilthur's Forge," the guard provided.

Forfend hummed. "I will need to stop there."

"It sounds like you have a wealth of interesting places here." Melzaryn mulled over his options for a moment. He started walking again without a word and was very quickly out of sight.

No guards followed him.

Kagoshi made for the winery. The rest of the party followed him. If they were going to get audience with the Summersteads, the winery would be the first place to try.

They passed the two farmers they'd assisted. The pair were hauling their horseless cart painstakingly back towards the fields. Jimmy sat on the back of the wagon, picking idly at his teeth.

Forfend sighed with a rush of steam. "Jimmy, please. Do your fair share."

Jimmy shrank under its gentle reprimand and hopped off the back of the wagon. "Alright, alright," he mumbled as he joined his coworkers at the front of the cart. "I'll help."

Both farmers heaved a heavy sigh of relief and paused to catch their breath while Jimmy fiddled with the snapped reins.

The shorter farmer approached Forfend first, followed promptly by his taller friend.

"Hey, Forfend, we wanted to thank you and your friends again. We put in a good word for you with the Summersteads, but the daughter is the only one around at the moment. I'm sure they'll reach out to you when they're ready to meet."

Forfend nodded. "Thank you very much, friends."

"No problem, no problem," the shorter one shook his head. "They're real interested in your bug-killing skills. Damn things are messing up the winery business they're trying to run here."

"I would imagine so," Forfend acknowledged. "Especially if they are getting into the crops and attacking the farmers."

"Oh yeah, it's fucking awful," the taller farmer complained. "Had one try to pop up outta the ground right under me just the other day. Luckily, I was quick with my pitchfork and got it skewered before it could bite me. Jimmy damn near pissed himself."

"Hey, fuck you!" Jimmy hollered.

The other two farmers cackled at him.

"In all seriousness though," the shorter farmer cleared his throat as he composed himself, "we could really use your help."

"We will do all we can," Forfend promised.

"Thank you," the taller one reiterated. "And just between us--ah, well, can you drink?"

"I cannot."

"Dammit!" he swore.

"I told you." the shorter farmer crossed his arms.

Forfend tilted its head.

"Still, we want you to have this. They gave it to us for our troubles, but we felt you like you earned it." The taller man pulled a large bottle of red wine from his pack and handed it to Forfend.

Forfend looked it over. The bottle was branded with the Summerstead crest and the label professed it to be of exceptionally high quality. It was an expensive drink, to say the least.

"While I do not drink, I know a number of people who do and they will greatly enjoy your generosity. Thank you." Forfend bowed. "Stay safe in the fields."

"We'll do our best," the shorter farmer promised.

Jimmy dug his feet into the ground and only just managed to get the cart moving on his own.

The other two quickly joined him, making easy work of it.

Forfend waved them off.

"So no use going to the winery then," Kagoshi grumbled.

"To the smithy then," Forfend decided immediately.

"I don't need anything from a blacksmith. I don't use any of their stuff," Kagoshi complained.

"I will not force you to go with me. Unless the guards do not want us to split up." Forfend turned curiously toward them and tilted its head.

"Oh well, it should be fine," one of them spoke up, scratching at the back of his neck. "See, I'm assigned to you and he's assigned to Kagoshi. Arin here is supposed to run for help if a fight breaks out. If you give us a minute to get a fourth guard, we should be able to let you split."

"Alright. We will wait here," Forfend ensured.

The two guards looked to the third.

He nodded and ran off.

A few minutes later, he returned with two additional guards.

"Cool, I'm going to the tavern," Kagoshi announced.

"Do not get in any trouble," Forfend enunciated to get its point across.

"That's why Kairi's coming with me," Kagoshi huffed.

"Please keep him out of trouble," Forfend pleaded.

Kairi stood at attention and saluted, a wide grin on her face. "Will do!"

"I want those three with me." Kagoshi pointed out the three largest guards.

All three glanced at each other and slowly shuffled more towards Kagoshi.

Callan looked back and forth. He was standing by Forfend, but his brow was creased with concern.

"Maybe I should go with them," Callan offered. "Just to be safe."

"Nah, I'll be fine." Kagoshi waved dismissively.

"I don't know that you will," Callan frowned.

"It's gonna be fine," Kagoshi insisted.

Callan looked up at Forfend, doubtful. "What do you think?"

"Per your advice," Forfend started slowly, steam hissing as it spoke, "I am going to choose to trust him. I would like you to accompany me."

Callan grinned widely. "Alright then. I will," he said confidently.

"So that's settled. C'mon, Kairi, let's go find the tavern." Kagoshi jerked his head in a seemingly random direction and started walking.

"Sure. It'll be fun!" Kairi skipped along behind him.

Their gaggle of guards followed.

Forfend turned to its pair of guards. "Will you escort us to the smithy?"

"Oh, um, sure." One of the guards stepped up in front of them and led the way.

Gilthur's Forge was much larger than Fletch's. That was immediately noticeable just from the storefront.

Smoke billowed, thick and black, from the smokestack. An indoor forge. Forfend whistled like a kettle.

Fletch had talked about fully enclosing his forge for years, always during the winter months. Sometimes his hands would get so frigid they reddened and shook.

The weather wasn't a problem when they were working with red-hot metal, but there were far more jobs to do than just that. Still, fully enclosing the forge cost more than they could afford.

Forfend took solace in the fact that Fletch could use it as a heater. If he shivered, Forfend found an excuse to be closer. Such was the winter routine.

"Nice place," Callan commented, startling it from its reverie.

"It is." Forfend listened to the hammering of metal ringing out rhythmically from within. "It sounds like home."

Callan huffed a short laugh. "I suppose it does."

Forfend carefully opened the door and edged sideways into the shop, shoulders hunched. The building had been designed with primarily humans in mind. Luckily, the inside had high enough ceilings for Forfend to stand up straight.

It made note right away that Gilthur specialized in arms and armor. Fletch was a generalist, often making nails, horseshoes, locks, decorative pieces, and the like. It was somewhat rare that he even made knives, much less swords, shields, helms, and other such things Gilthur's shop was bursting at the seams with.

A dwarf--Gilthur, Forfend presumed--sat behind the counter in the forge proper and hammered away at a sword glowing orange with heat.

Gilthur huffed and wiped the sweat from his brow. He turned and dunked the blade into the barrel of water at his side, quenching it with a loud hiss as steam roiled up into the air.

Forfend looked the man over. He was so hard at work he hadn't noticed them yet, his focus burning as brightly as the fires of his forge.

Gilthur's long brown hair and thick beard were both braided ornately in the typical style of dwarves. Brass caps hung from the tips of the braids, giving the man the appearance of a gilded lion.

He rolled his shoulders, mountains of muscle forged by years of metalwork bulging as he pulled the blade free of the water. He inspected his handiwork, humming thoughtfully to himself.

Forfend thought the blade looked impeccable, though it couldn't get a close look without disturbing Gilthur. It would rather leave him to his craft.

Instead, it turned to the other wares. It touched the hilts of axes and traced the inlaid patterns of chest pieces. The detail work was incredible and the metal itself of excellent quality.

Callan was admiring the more extravagant pieces while the guards seemed to be comparing their current weapons with those available for sale.

Forfend heard Gilthur begin the grinding process to give his blade a clean, sharp edge, but he stopped suddenly and sucked in a sharp breath.

"By the Apostle of Iron, look at you," he said as Forfend turned to face him.

Gilthur was staring deadset at Forfend's runic face.

"Hello," it nodded politely.

Gilthur glanced at the other people around the shop, but quickly returned his focus to Forfend. "And it speaks," he noted aloud. "And here I thought I was having a vision."

Forfend tilted its head, a bit confused by the reaction. People were often caught off guard by its ability to speak, but it hadn't heard anyone assume they were having visions before.

"How can I help you?" Gilthur prompted, crossing the room to have a proper conversation.

Forfend hummed. Truthfully, it had only come to look.

"I learned to smith from Fletch in Foumedo. It is a very small village and I have not left it since I first awoke there. I simply wanted to see examples of craftsmanship elsewhere," Forfend explained.

"Well, as you can see, I specialize in weapons and armor." Gilthur gestured around his shop.

"They are of excellent quality."

Gilthur's eyes widened slightly. "Thank you."

After a moment, he cleared his throat. "What do you specialize in or are you more of a generalist?"

"Fletch and I create and repair general goods. However, I have dabbled a bit in every aspect of smithing I am currently aware of," Forfend shared. It was proud of the variety of work it had done, limited though it was.

"You're yet to find your expertise then," Gilthur said. It was almost a question, but not quite.

Forfend hummed. "I suppose so."

Gilthur ducked back behind the counter and returned with the longsword he'd been working on. He stiffly offered it up to Forfend.

"Have a look at this longsword I've just finished up. Truth be told, it belongs to the local Knight. It was acid-damaged in one of the insect attacks and brought to me for repairs. It was too far gone for that though. I scrapped the metal, but kept the hilt. Forged a brand new blade. What do you think of it?" Gilthur asked, eyes firmly affixed to Forfend's face.

His expression was carefully neutral, but he was clearly bracing himself for Forfend's reaction. It wondered if it was frightening him.

Forfend bent down to inspect the weapon.

The blade was designed for practically. It was not embellished in any capacity. Every inch of the design, from tip to pommel, was made to withstand heavy wear and tear. This was a sword meant for reliability, for consistency, and for lethality. With proper care, it could very well outlast its wielder and be passed through a family for generations.

Forfend noticed, though, that there was a bit more to the longsword than that. Something more personal. Something important to Gilthur.

It reached out, pausing as apprehension crossed Gilthur's face before deciding to press on anyway. Its thick fingers glided along the steel without leaving so much as a scratch, as Forfend knew they would.

Seeing that, Gilthur relaxed marginally.

Forfend traced the etchings tucked in the groove of the blade. A prayer in symbols invoking Fornax. The crossguard and pommel had similar subtle etchings.

Forfend had noticed them tucked somewhere on every single piece in the shop. Gilthur was devout and everything he created was an offering. His passion was brilliant.

"Beautiful," Forfend praised, a rush of steam turning to a high-pitched whistle as it finally withdrew its hand.

Gilthur slowly lowered the blade and slipped it into its sheathe. He set it on the counter. "I appreciate it. What may I call you?"

"My name is Forfend."

"Forfend," Gilthur repeated. "Pleasure." He held his stubby, calloused hand out to shake. "Gilthur Lutgher."

Forfend carefully took his hand. "It is nice to meet you as well."

"I'm a long-standing blacksmith here in Brightcrossing. Been here since it was founded," Gilthur nodded proudly. "Even before King Falco declared it an official city."

"Ah, that reminds me of the dwarf in my town, Byr. He has also been in Foumedo since it was founded. He built our fountain." Forfend's chest lit up as it thought about its notoriously cranky friend.

"You know Byr?" Gilthur blinked. "How's he doing?"

"He is doing very well! He actually just recently repaired an injury I sustained."

"Dabbling in witchcraft, huh? That damn old man," Gilthur tutted and shook his head, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"It is only masonry," Forfend assured.

"Witchcraft," Gilthur said more adamantly and waggled his finger.

Forfend chuckled, rocks grinding loud enough to catch the guards' attention.

At a glance from Gilthur, they ducked their heads and returned to quietly discussing the merits and drawbacks of the different gauntlets they were inspecting.

Gilthur huffed a soft laugh and looked up at Forfend. "I'm glad to hear he's doing alright. And if he sees fit to repair you, then I see no reason not to oblige you as well. After all, you're a mighty fine sign from Forfnax that I'm doing something right."

Forfend hummed deep in its chest as a realization struck it.

Gilthur hadn't been stiff. He was reverent.

Forfend hadn't taken its appearance into account when it entered the shop. Gilthur had taken it as a blessing or an omen from Fornax himself.

Forfend wasn't sure if it should correct that assumption, or if perhaps it were true. It had no way to know for certain. In this instance, Fornax could very well be using it as a vassal of approval for Gilthur.

Forfend hoped that was the case. At the very least, that would mean Fornax was aware if its continued existence.

In the end, it only politely ducked its head.

"Is there anything I could do for you? Perhaps some detail work, sharpen an edge?" Gilthur offered. "Though I don't suppose you have to worry much about blades, given that mace you've got there."

Forfend glanced at the mace on its belt and gripped the head of it. It pulled the weapon free and offered the hilt to Gilthur.

Gilthur took the mace, stifling a grunt. The weapon was enormous in his hands. He spun it.

"Fine work here. Little banged up. Recently used?"

"Very recently, yes."

"Could do with some cleaning too." Gilthur eyed the dried insectoid blood and greenish goop clinging to the mace. "I could take care of that for you."

"I would appreciate it greatly." Forfend passed his shield over as well.

Gilthur took it, testing the weight. Just like the mace, the shield was too big in his hands. It wasn't quite the right size for Forfend either though, making it less unwieldy than the weapon it was paired with.

Gilthur set both down at his workstation and gave them a long, critical look.

Forfend tilted its head and eyed its armaments over properly for the first in too long.

The shield was a simple rectangular shape bearing a good few embellishments. Symbols of Fornax adorned it, etched carefully into the metal. They were not fanciful. Instead, they were angular and simple. In part because Forfend had still been learning and in part because Fornax had never been one for flashy displays. Forfend had designed the piece as a prayer.

The mace was all practicality. Every etched symbol lay in the hilt, primarily on the pommel and in the leather wrapping. The head of the mace was smooth and geometric. It lacked deep grooves for gore to become trapped in. It was heavy, even moreso than it looked, but excellently balanced. Forfend had designed it for damage and easy cleaning.

"This is some fine work," Gilthur complimented as he began carefully cleaning the shield. "I can see the designs and runes you've done here. Practical, simplistic, geometric. Very nice. You've seen my work. You know I appreciate that. Some people aim more for appearance that practicality."

"It would not serve its purpose if it were only pretty."

"Would still be art though, wouldn't it?" Gilthur mused. "Some things are made to be beautiful. Some are made to simply do their work. Some are both. Some are neither and develop into their own unique thing."

Forfend hummed. "That is true. I feel that my teacher Fletch leans more toward appearance than practicality when he gets the chance to do so. His purely artistic work is soft and flowing in a way I did not know metal could be."

Gilthur nodded. "He sounds like an interesting fellow."

"He certainly is."

Gilthur set aside the shield and started work cleaning up the mace. "You've done excellent work here. You should be proud."

"Thank you," Forfend accepted the praise. "I was quite new to the craft at the time. I feel I have improved since, but I have not taken the time to create new weapons. Up until very recently, they were not seeing much use."

"Really?" Gilthur's brow creased. "Hm. Have you ever had the chance to work with some real metal?" He knocked on Forfend's shield.

Forfend understood what he meant immediately. It had always been limited by the subpar quality of materials available to it in Foumedo. It was all it and Fletch could afford. The metal served its purpose, but only just.

"I have not," Forfend admitted.

Gilthur chuckled. "Alright. How about this then?" He motioned toward his forge. "Take a swing at it. See how you feel working in a full forge."

Forfend felt the light in its chest and face surge as it looked over the tools and equipment and vastly superior materials available here.

Gilthur held open the door built into the counter until Forfend managed to carefully lumber through it.

It wandered around the huge smithy, gently touching all of the items it had never had access to before. Its metal core felt like it was jittering in its chest.

Everything was designed with dwarvish proportions in mind, making it awkward for Forfend. Fortunately, it wasn't much more awkward than the human-sized forge it was used to working in. Being cramped was par for the course for Forfend.

Gilthur idly cleaned Forfend's mace as he watched it mill about.

"You could upgrade your own things, create something new, or if you're not feeling up to it, I'd be happy to sell you something of mine. Feel free to take a crack at it," Gilthur encouraged.

"Thank you kindly," Forfend said, heat building from its center outward and intensifying the glow in its chest.

Forfend took a bit longer inspecting the different stations of the forge before it began picking its way through the raw materials Gilthur had set out.

In the meantime, Gilthur looked up at the two guards now clustered at the counter. They were trying to keep an eye on Forfend, but they weren't certain they should leave the shop front. Crossing the counter into the backroom proper without the owner's consent was certainly a taboo, in this and every establishment.

"Can I help you?" Gilthur asked, eyes narrowed.

"Oh, uhm, we're supposed to be watching the... construct thing..." one of the guards mumbled lamely.

A muscle in Gilthur's jaw twitched with irritation. "I see. Well, what we're doing in here is worship now. I'm sure you boys don't want to interfere with that."

The pair glanced at each other hesitantly. "If anything happens..."

Gilthur got up and shooed them out the door. "Nothing will happen."

"But, sir--" the guard's mouth audibly clicked shut as Gilthur raised his hand and shook his head once.

Callan slipped carefully past Gilthur to join the guards outside. "Enjoy yourself!" he called.

"I certainly will!" Forfend returned.

Gilthur nodded politely to Callan, shut the door in the guards' faces, and locked them out. "This is a temple now," he said solemnly.

Forfend muttered a prayer under its breath and selected the thick sheet of steel it wanted to use as its base.

Immediately, inspiration struck it.

Forfend snatched its old shield off the counter and hauled both into the forge. It scanned over the metal sheet and the shield as its mind drifted away from its body.

It didn't need to prepare. It didn't need to make a sketch. It didn't need a design concept at all. It knew what it wanted, what it needed, to make.

A heavy, but welcoming presence settled in the smithy.

Forfend automatically began the process of melting down its original shield. It trimmed the thick steel sheet down just enough to create the outline of the massive tower shield it intended to make. It heated the metal and began to hammer it into proper form.

Forfend could feel its body moving, could see the work it was doing, could hear the tinging of hammer against metal and the hiss of rising heat. It knew the chimneys along its back were billowing dark smoke while its core glowed so brightly it shone through its stone body like magma just beneath the surface.

It did not feel like it was guiding its own actions. Fornax had taken hold. He was teaching it something.

And Forfend was elated to learn.

Time stretched out around it as it hummed prayers. It was working impossibly fast, everything bending to its will. Every intention was flawlessly executed with barely a hint of effort.

Fire burst from Forfend's smokestacks. Once the initial rush receded, embers continued to free themselves from its core. They floated, glowing hot but impossibly harmlessly around the room until they'd filled it with a glimmering ethereal beauty.

Forfend thought it heard Gilthur speak, but had forgotten him before it could so much as acknowledge the idea.

There was work to be done.

With the basis complete, Forfend moved on to adding the intricate symbols flashing through its mind using the recycled metal from its previous shield.

It didn't rush. It didn't need to. It had all the time in the world.

And yet, the work seemed to be done in a flash. The tangle of embossed designs glowed, but not with heat.

With power. Power that burst at the seams, divinity seeping into the room and coloring everything Forfend touched.

The heat of its body left the metal glowing radiantly golden.

Forfend quenched the shield, the water boiling and steaming wildly.

It pulled the massive shield up and placed it on the workbench. Intricate runes flashed through its mind. It knew, somehow, that it would not need to carve them.

A low hum resonated from deep within Forfend's chest. It raised its hand and glided it along the shield's edge. Runes lit up in its wake, pressing themselves into the steel.

A voice spoke, cutting through the fog of Forfend's focus.

"Forfend. Do you know why I chose for you to have a heart of gold, for your blood to run golden?" Fornax asked, quietly but deliberately.

A memory.

Forfend was recalling it vividly now. There'd been a lull in the battle. Some fleeting time for rest.

Forfend hadn't known. It had tilted its head and awaited the answer.

"It is, all in all, a rather impractical metal. Frankly, it is useless in battle. Too soft and malleable to be anything more than pretty." Fornax frowned, the expression set deeply into his weathered face. "And yet mortals, they take this metal that is useless in most practical applications and they make it valuable. They use it for worship. They use it for commerce. They use it for symbolism. They make this metal worth something."

Fornax paused and turned toward Forfend, regarding it carefully. "That is what I wanted of you. I did not want you to be a mere construct on the line. I wanted you to be more."

Suddenly, the moment shattered. The spell was broken.

Forfend felt as though it had been dropped back into its body. It was rattled, discombobulated, staggering.

The glimmering ashes in the air blinked out.

Forfend regained its footing and gazed down at the shield on the table before it. Nothing short of perfect.

Forfend could scarcely believe it was real.

It turned to Gilthur and found him on his knees, a symbol of Fornax clutched in his hand and Dwarvish prayers tumbling from his lips.

Forfend hadn't gotten so much as a hint from Fornax since it had awoken. Two years of silence. Broken in Gilthur's forge.

Finally.

It knew it hadn't been abandoned.

Forfend knelt with him and joined the prayer.

When Gilthur finally lifted his head, he shakily pulled himself to his feet and stumbled across the room to look at Forfend's handiwork.

His breath caught in his chest. "This is... divine. It's literally divine," Gilthur breathed.

Forfend nodded dumbly. It didn't feel as though it could speak

"A piece like this has to have a name." He turned, hand hovering over the shield.

Forfend nodded again and Gilthur gently touched the textured metal surface.

"You made this place a temple," Forfend managed, its words much thinner and quieter than normal. Almost breathless, though it didn't breathe at all.

"You brought Fornax to this place," Gilthur replied, his tone also a reverent whisper. "More wholly and intensely than I have ever felt."

Forfend looked over its shield again. It ran stone fingers across the embossed designs crossing the face of it. It swore they glowed beneath its touch.

"What's the name?" Gilthur nudged again.

"Orison Aegis," Forfend blurted out.

Gilthur nodded approvingly. "Perfect." He opened a drawer and pulled chalk from it. "May I take a rubbing?"

"Of course!" Forfend grabbed one of the large sheets of paper Gilthur had for just such a purpose and passed it to him. "Without you, I would not have been able to forge this shield at all. We never would have had this experience. Of course you may create a memento."

Gilthur nodded. "Thank you."

He took his rubbing and immediately placed it in a frame. He ran his hands carefully along the edge of the display.

Forfend wrapped the shield in cloth. A soft warmth permeated the fabric.

"I figure your guards are scared shitless out there. Guess I best let you leave," Gilthur muttered. He was still well and truly starstruck.

Forfend couldn't blame him. It felt just the same.

They both stumbled out of the shop into the mid-afternoon light with no grace and quite a lot of discombobulated head shaking.

The guards stared between the two.

"Is everything okay?" one ventured.

"Better than it's ever been," Gilthur said and returned to his reopened shop without further explanation.

"What did you make?" Callan asked.

"A shield," Forfend replied quietly, its gaze firmly affixed to the bright blue sky.

Callan was silent as they walked, though he seemed to be in a perfectly jaunty mood.

It was Forfend who was distant. Its mind was still crowded with thoughts.

Three hours.

Callan had told it how long it had been at work, but that number seemed impossible for two reasons.

The first was that it hadn't felt hardly any time pass at all.

The second was that it should take much longer for one to forge a shield of the size and intricacy of the one Forfend held carefully in its hands.

It hadn't even dared to unwrap the Orison Aegis from the cloth yet, much less put it on. Forfend's hands locked up when it thought about gazing upon the shield again. The idea was daunting. This shield was a message.

It replayed every detail of its trance in its mind, especially the memory Fornax had brought forth for it.

Gods had quite the habit of saying little and meaning much. The fact that Fornax had, metaphorically speaking, said so much this time meant that there was a mountain of context Forfend was sure to be missing.

Fornax had always intended for Forfend to be beloved by mortals. He had wanted it to have personhood, to experience fellowship, to love and be loved. He had created it for war, but prepared it for peace and kindness.

That was important now. Moreso than it had been in a very long time.

Forfend wondered why.

The message could've been about Foumedo. Fornax could've been expressing approval for the life it had built for itself. That didn't quite feel right though.

The Orison Aegis itself was part of the message.

A shield to protect itself, or to protect others?

Forfend knew the answer to that question. Both. It had always been both.

Fornax approved of ingenuity, spontaneity, and improvisation but not recklessness. He would not want Forfend to protect others with no regard for itself at all. He would want it to protect them with good sense and preparedness.

The better question, then, was what needed protecting?

Forfend hummed deep in its chest.

Brightcrossing for now. Jessie next. But there was something bigger happening. Something important to Fornax.

"Forfend?" Callan yelled.

It startled and turned to look at its companion.

He had stopped in the middle of the town plaza. Kairi and Kagoshi were already waiting there with their entourage of guards.

Forfend had walked ten feet past them before Callan had caught its attention. It would've walked much further if he hadn't.

It backtracked to stand by Callan and wait for Melzaryn, its mind still spinning endlessly.

"So, we asked around about those fucking bugs," Kagoshi shared. "Sounds like they're all over the fields, but they're tearing into the Summersteads' winery crops more than anything else. Sounds fucking suspicious. A couple of people have died."

"Ah, damn," Melzaryn swore, snapping his fingers and shaking his head. "I wish you'd have told me we were gathering information. I've been all over the whole city."

"Wow," Kairi blinked in surprise. "What about you two?" She tilted her head at Forfend and Callan.

"I made a shield," Forfend replied vacantly.

"He did," Callan agreed.

"That's nice," Kagoshi deadpanned. "While you were playing with your toys, we were actually doing the bug job."

Forfend barely heard the rude comment. It ignored Kagoshi's jab entirely.

"It's interesting that the creatures are only outside town, though I suppose it does make sense. There's no soft ground here for them to burrow through," Callan noted. "Thankfully, that means I haven't fallen into anymore holes lately."

Melzaryn and Kairi giggled.

"Yeah, you'd be fucked," Kagoshi commented. "I think the bugs are being used to target the Summersteads. That, or the Summersteads are growing something those things really like."

"It could be targeted." Callan rubbed at his chin. "As a noble family, they're certain to have rivals of some sort."

Forfend forced itself to escape its daze and look down at its companions. "I believe the best course of action may be to follow the farmers into the Summerstead fields. If they are attacked, we will be right there to assist them. Perhaps, it will lead us to clues as to where the insects are coming from as well."

"They're not gonna attack if we're all standing around out there. The only ones of us who could wander around without getting caught are Melzaryn..." Kagoshi scanned the rest of the group, face falling from his trademark scowl to exaggerated irritation. "...And me. Fucking hell."

"Excuse me, hello," man in a red vest bearing the Summerstead crest on the shoulder interrupted the group's discussion.

He looked to be a butler given the way he dressed and held himself. His hair was meticulously slicked back and his thin mustache carefully kempt.

"Are you the new arrivals in town?" he asked.

"We are," Forfend answered.

"I am here on behalf of Lord Roman Summerstead to request your audience at the Summerstead Winery," the butler recited.

"Hey, that's convenient! We were just about to head there!" Kairi grinned.

"Indeed? Then let us make haste. I shall lead you." The butler began walking, his pace swift and perfectly measured.

A savage roar split the bleeding sky. Kagoshi slammed his oversized fist into Callan.

A resounding metal clang rang out, but Callan was remarkably undamaged. In fact, he looked elated.

Kagoshi hissed in wild rage. He crashed into Callan's unguarded side with his other massive fist.

This time the metallic clang was followed with a creak. Callan grunted. The grin on his face never faltered.

"Good strike!" Callan praised. The fire harbored in the creases of his body dimmed as Kagoshi's necrotic energy seeped into him.

Kagoshi growled deep in his throat.

Callan struck at Kagoshi's knee again, glancing off with nothing to show for it. Kagoshi's stance was solid and his skin unnaturally tough.

Callan barely dodged raking claws, slipping under Kagoshi's arms to punch him in the stomach again. Fire erupted from his elbow and rocketed his fist forward.

Kagoshi grimaced, roaring through clenched teeth and staggering back a step.

Forfend glanced at its companions. Kairi looked concerned, but not nearly as panicked as Forfend felt. Melzaryn sat in the grass, watching the fight with detached curiosity.

Forfend turned back to the fight, apprehension rising ever higher within it.

Callan was like Forfend. It was quite certain of that now. It hoped he would win the fight. It prepped a spell in case he didn't. Kagoshi would certainly kill him.

Kagoshi clasped his hands together and slammed both fists down directly on top of Callan's head. The ground cracked beneath Callan, burying him up to his knees in the dirt.

"Yes!" Callan screamed, inexplicably elated. He didn't even seem to notice he was trapped in place.

Kagoshi brought both his fists down again, this time slamming one into each of Callan's metallic shoulders.

Callan sank further into the earth, laughing manically in his excitement, "Fantastic!"

Suddenly, he jolted and panic crossed his features. He chanced a glance down at his entrapped feet.

Kagoshi roared into Callan's shocked face. The burns on his scarred and glowing flesh mended themselves back together.

Callan glared intensely. He hauled back and swung at Kagoshi's kneecap. He fell short as Kagoshi shifted out of the way. Undeterred, Callan struck out with his other fist. It connected with a heavy crack, fire spurting from beneath his knuckles.

Kagoshi dropped to one knee, the boiling heat of Callan's body catching the scraps of his mangled shirt alight with radiant flame.

Kagoshi wavered and fell.

There was a moment of tense silence as Kagoshi slowly shrank back to his proper size.

"That was fun! Oh, uhm..." Callan nudged Kagoshi's arm. "He's unconscious. Whoops."

Forfend hesitated briefly. It looked up at the sky. The unsettling red was beginning to slowly fade away.

It began making its way across the field. It tapped the symbol on its chest and felt the magic stutter uncertainly.

"Oh, no, it's alright," Callan called. "I can heal him."

He reached out again, soft orange magic drifting from his hand and closing Kagoshi's wounds.

Kagoshi groaned and slowly sat up. He looked irritated.

"That was very well fought!" Callan praised. He dragged himself awkwardly out of the dirt and brushed himself off. The metal rescinded, leaving his flesh its proper color. "Fantastic, honestly! I genuinely felt those blows! I have to say, I have not felt, well, pain in a very long time!"

Kagoshi grumbled, "Glad I could help." He stood shakily.

"Did you enjoy our bout?" Callan asked.

"Hmph," Kagoshi huffed noncommittally.

"I'll be perfectly frank with you," Callan began, undaunted by Kagoshi's ever-foul mood, "this was one of the best fights I have had in a very long time. I honestly didn't expect to find anyone like you--like me--here. I only came here to train. This has been a very pleasant surprise."

"May I ask a question?" Forfend interjected, stepping further out onto the field.

It strayed more towards Callan and paused a distance away so as not to be too close to Kagoshi. The sky was still bleeding overhead. Though the wounds were moving from throbbing red to muted purple, Forfend did not trust Kagoshi to be in control of himself while this symbol of his rage still stood.

"Of course," Callan welcomed, glancing between Forfend's tense form and Kagoshi's spent one.

"What deity blesses you?" Forfend asked.

Callan stepped forward, actually placing himself between Forfend and Kagoshi, and sat down in the soft grass. "Why, the Apostle of Iron himself," Callan answered, confirming what Forfend already knew. "I'm not wholly certain why or how I was chosen, or why this particular ability was given to me, but who else could have gifted it to me but Fornax?"

Forfend's chest lit up bright orange. It had never met others like itself.

"If I may ask," Callan began and looked Forfend over, "what precisely is your nature? I have seen many stone creatures in my travels, but you seem a bit more unique. Especially given that." He motioned to Forfend's glowing runic face.

"I am a Fornaxian," Forfend answered proudly. "Fornax built me himself during the Sundering."

"During the Sundering, you say!" Callan nearly shouted, impressed.

Forfend nodded.

"You fought during that time?" His eyes grew wide as he considered the thought.

"I did," Forfend nodded again.

"Would it be presumptuous to ask if we could have a friendly bout?" Callan's hands were twitching, an adamantine sheen glinting off his fingertips.

Forfend looked him over. He had heavy bruising already forming around his face and shoulders. His knuckles were bruised and bloodied. His breathing was beginning to steady out, but it was still heavy.

Even if Forfend did want to fight, which was a rare occurrence all its own, it could not fight Callan in good conscience while he was in this condition.

Forfend glanced over Callan's shoulder to where Kagoshi sulked. He was much worse for wear, but Forfend also feared he would get involved if another fight broke out.

"I would prefer not," it answered.

"Ah, alright. That's fair." Callan dusted himself off a bit more.

"We are actually very lucky your bout did not go awry."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"It is. And Kagoshi," Forfend called sharply.

Kagoshi rolled his eyes before settling an irritated gaze on Forfend.

"The sky."

Both Kagoshi and Callan looked up. The last tints of murderous red were fading back into the proper blue.

"Why does it look like the Sundering?" Forfend was nearly certain it knew why at this point, but it also had a hunch that Kagoshi knew more than he was saying. It wanted him to admit it.

"Oh," Callan said, shock overtaking his features.

Kagoshi shrugged. "I don't know. I've only heard stories about that. So that's what the sky really looked like, huh?"

Forfend hummed grimly.

"Uhm, if I may," Callan studied Forfend's blank face for a moment. "Why are you discussing Kagoshi's ability to become a giant as something, well, bad? He may look like a demon, that's true. But he isn't one. Is he?"

Kagoshi shrugged again. "I don't know."

"He has needlessly attacked me once, nearly twice, in that state," Forfend recounted.

"Is it like a battle frenzy?" Callan asked.

"The first time I was holding a child from my hometown. If I had been slower, Kagoshi would have killed him. It is much worse than a battle frenzy." Forfend had seen battle-crazed warriors. It had never seen anything but monsters of Atrox attack children.

"Oh dear," Callan exclaimed.

Kagoshi grumbled and shrank into himself, ducking away from Forfend's gaze for the first time.

"Well, I have heard that every demigod power--ah, it is safe to assume you're all demigods, right? Given Kagoshi's ability and all of that?" Callan gestured to Forfend as a whole.

Forfend nodded.

Kairi gasped. "That explains so much!"

"I'm glad to know my hunch was correct. I have always heard demigods give off a certain presence, though it isn't necessarily obvious." Callan glanced over the group again, assessing their statures. "Anyway, I've heard that every blessing, every unique power, comes with a drawback. I suppose that is Kagoshi's. Still, that ability is what makes you special. It's nothing to be ashamed of. And who knows? Maybe you will overcome that weakness."

Callan sounded very earnest, but Forfend was struggling to agree.

Kagoshi looked doubtful as well. He mumbled noncommittally.

"You've seen my ability. I'm able to turn parts or all of my body into metal. It does have its fair share of weaknesses, though thankfully none were exploited during that battle. One of the drawbacks is that it sometimes takes a bit for me to register pain," Callan shared. "I'm only just now beginning to feel the effects of the fight."

He gently ran his hands across his heavily bruised shoulders, twinging each time he attempted to apply pressure.

"Actually, those were some fantastic blows! Where did you learn how to fight!" he asked Kagoshi. He was trying to lighten the mood.

"I... grew up learning," Kagoshi muttered.

"Self taught then?"

"No," Kagoshi corrected. "I had a few mentors." He looked to be uncomfortable discussing his situation.

"Oh! Well, you've got a leg up on me in that regard. I taught myself and I've always had my crutches when it came to fighting." He clenched his fist, letting adamantine slide up his arm to his elbow. "You were very lucky to have teachers to assist you."

Kagoshi evaded eye contact. "Mhm."

"What about the rest of you?" Callan inquired. "What are your powers? If I may ask, that is."

"Look, I'm not even certain if anyone else here even has powers or whatever," Kagoshi shook his head.

"They're demigods, aren't they?" Callan countered.

"You've seen mine," Forfend reminded.

"Alright, Chimney," Kagoshi waved dismissively at Forfend, "I don't even know if what you did is actually a demigod power or just something unique to you."

"It is both." Forfend crossed its arms, stone grinding from within it.

Callan glanced between them, a question forming on his lips.

Melzaryn spoke up before Callan could voice his thoughts. "I can tell you the ground here would be a horrible foundation for building." He shrugged. "But that's all I've got."

"Oh, do you have an analytical eye? Is that it?"

"Something like that. Mostly, I just like construction." Melzaryn grinned.

"Oh, then Tallbarius is your patron. Is that right?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." Melzaryn looked wholly unconcerned.

"I can see people's emotions, like an aura surrounding them," Kairi piped up. "But I can't turn it off so it gets overwhelming in crowds. Oh, and it doesn't seem to work on other demigods."

"Ah, I have heard that's a problem for many powers affecting others. For one reason or another, they don't work on people like us. Fascinating." Callan nodded.

"Kairi, if I may ask, who is your patron deity?" Forfend was very curious. Out of the group, Kairi had been the one best able to conceal her true nature. Forfend would not have guessed she was a demigod. Only startlingly perceptive.

"I don't know," she shrugged sheepishly.

"Hm, if it's based on emotions, it could be a number of them." Callan tapped his chin. "Perhaps Amare."

Kairi nodded. "That makes sense!"

"And Kagoshi," Forfend turned its gaze to him again. "What is yours?"

"I. Don't. Know," Kagoshi growled.

"It's a very intense rage, isn't it? Your patron could be Pumearon, god of punishment. Or perhaps Maestus, god of vengeance," Callan offered. "Tell me, do you have a grudge of some kind?"

Kagoshi was silent for a long moment. "Maybe."

"Well, for some it isn't quite so obvious. For myself and..." He glanced at Forfend. "I apologize, I haven't caught your name."

"Forfend," it replied simply.

"Excellent. Do you perhaps have a title?"

"I do not."

"Oh, well, I do have one you can use. The Fornaxian!" Callan grinned excitably.

Forfend wasn't certain it needed or even wanted a title. It was a blacksmith by trade, not a leader or a warrior. Not anymore.

"The Chimney," Kagoshi joked dryly.

"Hm, I'm not certain that suits him," Callan muttered as he considered it.

"It does not. I cannot create smoke on command." Forfend rolled its shoulders. The smokestacks on its back were only active during a small handful of events, typically when it was creating. It had no cognitive control over them.

"Well, as I was saying," Callan guided the conversation back on track. "For some, our patrons must be guessed at. But for those like Forfend and I, it is quite obvious. My ability to turn myself into metal and Forfend, well, your appearance including the chimneys is a dead giveaway. I don't mean to offend."

Forfend shrugged. It wasn't concerned with what others thought of its appearance. It had become proud of its divine craftsmanship. If that craftsmanship made clear who had created it, that was for the better.

"There are others who go their entire lives without ever knowing of their demigod status," Callan continued. "Or caring about it either."

That surprised Forfend. It had been aware of its demigod abilities the second it had first awakened.

Flesh and blood beings were very different though. Unlike a blessed construct, they needed to grow up slowly and garner an understanding of the world from the experience. It would be easy for a god to touch their lives long before they had any capacity to remember it happening.

Callan caught Forfend's thoughtful stance and glanced at the rest of the group who had similar expressions.

"Do you not know these things?" Callan asked, confusion showing in his halting speech. "I would think that demigods would be aware of this information."

"For my part," Forfend answered, "I was damaged during the Sundering and reawakened only two years ago. I am quite unaware of recent events."

"Ah, I see, I see," Callan nodded. "Well, I hope you are enjoying the present!"

"I was, up until quite recently," Forfend crossed its arm, irritation cracking stones in its chest.

Callan held up his hand and started to question the rather bitter response, but Kagoshi spoke up instead.

"I've just been busy."

Kairi shrugged.

"I knew a good bit of that stuff." Melzaryn fiddled absently with his staff. He wasn't paying much attention.

Callan stepped over to Melzaryn and held his hand out. "I haven't greeted you properly, have I? What's your name and do you have a title?"

Melzaryn briefly clasped Callan's hand. "Melzaryn. You can call me Mel if you'd like, but I guess my title would be 'The Only One Here With A College Degree.'"

"You went to college?!" Kagoshi yelled.

"So that's why he's so smart," Kairi nodded to herself.

"I've never been to a school before. That sounds interesting," Callan said.

"I am not certain what a college is." Forfend tilted its head.

Melzaryn stifled a laugh. "Well, it's good to know I was right."

"It's a place of education." Callan tapped Forfend's shoulder.

"Ah. Sounds wonderful." Anywhere designed for sharing knowledge was a place Forfend could support.

The thought reminded it that Callan had some knowledge Forfend would like him to share. "What is the Celestial Summit you mentioned?"

Callan perked up excitedly. "This will be a pretty considerable explanation. Let's rest for a bit while I explain."

Kagoshi dropped into the soft grass immediately.

Kairi sat beside him and nudged his head into her lap. She wiggled her fingers above him, letting pink and yellow glittering magic fall onto his wounds.

Melzaryn plopped onto the ground next to Forfend.

Callan placed himself in the middle of the group and glanced up at Forfend with a friendly smile.

Taking the hint, it carefully lowered its bulk to the ground.

"The Celestial Summit is two things. Firstly it's a place. It is a great mountain to the..." Callan trailed off and checked his surroundings. It seemed he'd lost his bearings. "... Northeast of here," he finally decided.

"It's believed to be blessed," he continued. "They say it was actually the place that the gods gathered for the final assault against Atrox and its forces. That's an interesting tidbit, but it is also rumor. Regardless, there are most certainly some kind of celestial blessings going on there."

"The second thing is that the Celestial Summit serves as a gathering place for all of the most powerful and important demiurgic figures through all of Rozdarta." Callan was getting more excited the longer he talked. "All of the major players attend. The Tempestuous King Maggard Stormrike, the Sword Saint Takahiro Suzume, the rulers of the great Azure Sea, and the rulers of the Theocratic Alliance. The Flame's Ire is even there!"

Forfend had heard a couple of those names a time or two, but it couldn't honestly say it was familiar with any of them.

Jessie had talked about them with something between pity and disapproval. He'd never liked the idea of demigods wielding their abilities to gain power and control, but he also recognized that the path was unavoidable for many of them.

Forfend agreed. As a demigod, it felt it had a responsibility to do good and help others. That responsibility did not require it to gain fortune and notoriety. It preferred to live quietly which is why it didn't share its status with just anyone.

Most people assumed it was a blessed statue and nothing more. It was fine with that.

"The Celestial Summit was founded when, ah, well..." Callan shrugged. "To be honest, the details have mostly been lost to time. But they say a group of powerful demigods banded together there to fight back against a calamity of some sort. It was something about a cult, they say."

Callan's eyes lit up. "There were a number of demigods who were members of the Celestial Alliance, namely Takahiro Suzume the Sword Saint! He is still around, though the other founding members have since passed. Takahiro Suzume is a demigod of Deallus and he's known to be able to wield any weapon to its fullest potential with unrivaled expertise!"

"There's also Nero Archontas the Riptide! They say she could manipulate water at a whim to create massive waves!" Callan threw his hands out to emphasize.

"And Tachys Featherhand the Tempest! He wielded control of the weather at his fingertips! Asheaon the Amber Saint for which the land of Ashea is named! He was known as an incredibly kind paladin!" Callan was getting visibly more excited, practically bouncing as he described these people. "Warick Exypnos the All Knowing from the great Adamantine Mountains! He was a great wizard, but he unfortunately passed rather recently. Ah, there's also Casvir Harmony the Inspiring! A great bard and diplomat of the Kuumedian Desert famed for his leadership and kindness. He was actually the one to bring the Desert together!"

"The last member of the Celestial Alliance is Vallurn Senshi the Undying." Callan leaned in conspiratorially. "I've actually heard rumor he's still alive, but no one knows for sure."

"Wait, what was that name again?" Kagoshi sat up, tuning in for the first time since Callan began speaking.

"Vallurn Senshi, the Undying demigod. He was, or perhaps is, a giant. It's said he has the ability to become impervious to damage for a short time."

Kagoshi stared intently, the gears in his mind turning. He didn't seem to find whatever information he was trying to recall. Perplexity settled on his face.

"There's an old tale about a great wave of fire that threatened to destroy the entire Kuumedian Desert. They say he stood in front of the blaze and parted the flames into the air," Callan shared. "It's a fascinating story and it is my favorite out of all the stories I've heard."

Forfend tilted its head. These were all epic tales of extraordinary individuals, but that's all they were. They did little to actually explain anything.

"May I ask what it is they do at the Celestial Summit?"

"It's, um, they..." Callan trailed off. "I've never actually been invited. I don't know firsthand." He rubbed sheepishly at the back of his neck. "You either have to be formally invited or make yourself famed enough to earn a title. I hope to gain entry one day but from what I understand, they gather together to discuss the state of the world and keep the peace in Rozdarta. They have something known as the Pact at World's End which is where they've agreed to leave the leadership of... uhm..." He trailed off again and creased his brow like he was trying to remember. "Ah, well, I'm not very into politics, so I can't say. I know all about the Celestial Alliance and the Celestial Summit, but the legal jargon escapes me. They essentially just keep the peace."

Forfend gazed up at the blue sky. "It sounds like racket." The Celestial Summit sounded like demigods ruling the world by abusing their powers, deciding what was right and wrong, what was legal and illegal, what would and would not be tolerated all across Rozdarta without the input of the people they governed. That didn't sit right with Forfend.

"Yes, it is very complicated," Callan nodded. "They do things like make sure no one is committing illegal warfare and that any wars that occur actually have grounds for the conflict. Can't have people warring for no reason. That would bring all our lives crashing down around us."

"And why do you want to join this Summit?" Forfend asked. Callan wasn't political, but he was looking at a great deal of political work if he chose this path. Forfend doubted he'd be suited for it.

"Well, you see, I made a promise a long time ago. I personally want to fulfill my goal of becoming a great hero. One for the legends, as they say. Like Vallurn! Honestly, I'm still surprised you don't know any of these stories."

Kagoshi cast a sharp glance at Kairi and she returned a knowing smirk.

Forfend felt it had missed the context for their silent conversation.

"Vallurn," Forfend repeated to itself. The more Callan said the name, the more familiar it sounded.

Jace.

Jace talked about Vallurn as a great hero.

Forfend could never tell which stories he'd heard and which ones he'd made up though. He was hardly a reliable source.

"I'm trying to gain some notoriety for myself to achieve my goal and I've recently heard rumor of a sort of festival of combat taking place in the deadlands of the Kuumedian Desert," Callan shared. "I actually came here to Tyrwedia to train for that event!"

Kagoshi leaned forward, listening intently.

"I've also caught wind of a rumor that four famous warriors have all traveled here for one reason or another. I'm hoping to test my mettle against them, but my bout with you, Kagoshi, was a very unexpected event!" Callan flashed a friendly grin. "I mean no disrespect in this, but you don't strike me as someone with a great deal of renown. Especially given that you don't have a title. So I assume you aren't one of the famous warriors."

"No, I'm not," Kagoshi answered flatly. "But they do pique my interest."

"Oh yes, certainly!" Callan almost shouted. "One even came from the great Fulgar Isles! The one with the Swiftblade! Could you imagine that?!"

"So tell me more about the festival of combat," Kagoshi nudged.

"Oh, well--"

Forfend cut Callan off with a sharp sound like metal across a whetstone. "Before we can do anything else, we must get to Cragwall and clear Jessie's name."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Kagoshi scoffed and waved dismissively. "How long do we have until the festival?"

"They didn't give a specific date, I'm afraid. Just something about the stars aligning." Callan shrugged.

"Ah, shit. A fucking riddle."

Melzaryn held up a finger. "The stars align in the colder months, but before the first frost. It's already cooling off, so you've got two months, give or take. Maybe three."

"Oh!" Callan yelled. "That makes since! Right around when the winter season first begins!"

"There, ya see," Kagoshi huffed at Forfend. "We have plenty of time to take care of this bullshit for the town and then we can--"

Forfend cut him off. "And then I can go home."

"Sure, yeah," Kagoshi said dismissively.

Kairi nudged him a bit, but he paid her no mind.

"Oh, I'm sorry, is there some sort of issue you've got going on here?" Callan asked.

"Yes," Forfend replied simply.

"Forfend, explain," Kagoshi rolled his eyes.

"I'll help if I can," Callan insisted.

Steam hissed as Forfend released a heavy sigh and allowed its shoulders to hunch. "A monster attacked our town. It was stealing children. We hunted it down, retrieved the children, found military supplies on the way, and brought them with us when we returned to town. The military came into town two days later and we were happy to return their supplies, but they refused to listen to us. They claimed we had stolen them and attempted to arrest the town leader, a very dear friend of mine. I was able to convince them not to incarcerate him until we could reach Cragwall and make an appeal for his innocence, but he is still on house arrest and will be until his name is cleared. We must get to Cragwall within the next week."

"I see. Perhaps you could... Hm, no," Callan stopped himself, rubbing at his chin as he thought. "It's a bit odd, but Tyrwedian doesn't have a ruling demigod. It's been odd how many renowned warriors have been coming here as well. All in all, Tyrwedia is quite new in terms of lordship. It's actually a vassal state for the Howling Plains of Begstrom, though I'm not certain precisely how that came about. Anyway, I'm off on a tangent here. Would you like some assistance with this?"

"Assistance how? Do you know a lawyer I could hire?" Forfend deadpanned.

"Well... no," Callan admitted sheepishly. "But I do know that two or three days northward from here is a town called Brightcrossing. It's on the way. We'll pass right through it on the path to Cragwall. The Summerstead noble family has some investment there. If you can gain their favor, they may be willing to assist you. They have some sway with the other nobles in Cragwall. They could vouch for you."

"That is helpful," Forfend nodded gratefully.

"How would we make them like us?" Kairi asked.

"Hm," Callan mused. "Tyrwedia isn't a particularly powerful nation. Being so new and without demigod leaders, it doesn't have its bases covered in regards to defense and military as well as its neighboring nations. If you were to offer the Summersteads your divine assistance, I'm sure they'd be very grateful."

"That could work," Kairi nodded.

"I think the Fulgar Isles are an excellent example of that. Despite the recent incursion there where some thieves attempted to raid Takahiro's castle, the nation's reputation hasn't suffered. No one dares raise a hand against them simply because of Takahiro's presence," Callan announced and then promptly veered off topic. "They say he once cut a mountain in half with a sword! A mundane one at that! Incredible!"

"Yeah, alright, that's kind of impressive," Kagoshi admitted with a half-hearted shrug.

"Kind of?! Callan stared, bug-eyed. "Really?!"

"What? You don't want to aim higher?" Kagoshi asked.

"What?! I-- Well, I mean, I do! Of course!" Callan stuttered. "But it's still impressive, isn't it?"

"Sure," Kagoshi allowed nonchalantly.

Callan turned his shocked gaze to the rest of the party.

Forfend hummed idly. It had fought on battlefields containing full-blooded deities fighting to their highest and most desperate potential. Cutting a mountain in two was not a mortal feat, but neither did it rival the divine acts Forfend had been witness to.

"It's a nice story," Melzaryn spread his hands noncommittally.

Kairi gave a polite little clap as though she was listening to a bard finish a poem rather than a tale of impossible strength.

Callan gaped. After a moment, he collected himself and straightened the furs wrapped around his shoulders. "Would you be willing to allow me to travel with you for a while?"

Forfend nodded. "I see no reason not to. At the very least, we could have you around to..." it trailed off, glancing at Kagoshi. "Help keep him under control," it finished with less bite than its first thought had harbored.

Melzaryn nodded. "Always glad to welcome more heavy lifters."

"It'll be fun to have you along!" Kairi called cheerfully in a singsong voice.

"It's fine," Kagoshi huffed as though he didn't care at all.

"Fantastic, I haven't had much company in a very long time," Callan admitted. "I still need to partake in my training, so I won't stay for too terribly long. Thank you for having me."

Forfend bowed its head politely.

"I've actually never met any other demigods in person," Callan said.

"Nor have I." Forfend looked over the odd group in this new light.

"But you've all met each other," Callan observed with some confusion.

"I was quite certain of Kagoshi, but not Melzaryn or Kairi. Not until now."

"Ah, I see."

"I am still not certain if I would call Kagoshi's transformation a demigod ability," Forfend admitted.

"I understand," Callan nodded. "Sometimes people do claim to be demigods when they're not. You can never be too certain until you see their powers for yourself. Kagoshi's ability and its drawbacks do fall right into line with everything I know about demigod abilities though."

Forfend hummed. Callan was an odd one, but he seemed to be a library of demigod information. Perhaps it was best to defer to his expertise.

Callan clapped and stood up. "Well, since you're all on a time limit and I think we've rested adequately, how about we get a move on, yes?"

"Yeah," Kagoshi grunted as he climbed to his feet. Kairi's healing had certainly helped but he still looked rough around the edges. "And off the demigod topic."

"Oh. Alright." Callan looked crestfallen.

Forfend's rune light flicked on. It had heard Callan grunting and huffing as he'd followed his training routine before he'd gone to bed last night, but he was already up and performing a similar routine this morning.

Sunlight cast dim rays over the horizon, but it wouldn't be morning proper for a while yet.

Forfend stood and turned from where it watched the road.

Callan struck at the air with vicious punches, dodging invisible fists swinging back at him. When he caught sight of Forfend, he paused and rolled his shoulders.

"Oh, good morning," he panted.

Forfend lumbered toward him and glanced around the campsite. It felt like it should be lighting the forge and attending to the morning ritual with Fletch. They always took the time to offer their hard work and routine up to Fornax before they opened the shop in the morning. Sometimes, Fletch burned an offering.

That routine had been shattered by these unexpected circumstances and Forfend wasn't certain how to worship Fornax properly while traveling like this. It felt like it had nothing to do with its hands.

"Uhm, good morning," Callan repeated, leaning back into Forfend's field of vision curiously.

Forfend locked its gaze on him. It had lost itself in contemplation. "Good morning," it finally returned.

"I accidentally acquired some breakfast this morning." Callan scratched at the back of his neck, a sheepish smile following the blush climbing his cheeks.

"I heard," Forfend nodded.

Callan had turned himself to metal and been slamming himself into trees for a good portion of the morning. One of them hadn't been able to withstand the force. It had fallen and crushed a startled deer.

Given that it didn't sleep, Forfend had watched the event play out and, subsequently, it had also watched Callan skin and cook his impromptu kill. Forfend was shocked no one else had awoken. If they had, they'd gone straight back to sleep without investigating.

"Oh, did you? I apologize," Callan ducked his head.

After a moment, he stepped over to the campfire, disrobed completely, turned himself to adamantine, rearranged the wood with his bare hands, and sat down in the middle of the flames.

"You did not wake me," Forfend assured. "I do not sleep."

"Oh, well, that's good, I suppose." Callan settled into the fire, his metal body slowly heating up.

Forfend gathered some of the firewood they'd set aside and added to Callan's careful arrangement, stoking the fire around him.

"May I ask how you first discovered you had been blessed by Fornax?" it asked as it sat down in front of him.

"Hm. I've had this ability for as long as I can remember. Since birth, actually." Callan smiled fondly. "My mother likes to tell the story. My father held me just after I was born. I turned to adamantine and, between the sudden weight and how severely I'd startled him, he dropped me. I hit the floor without any damage at all."

Forfend gave a rumbling chuckle.

"My parents took a look into it and determined I was indeed blessed by Fornax. They were both blacksmiths, you see. They thought perhaps my abilities had been gifted to me to better suit forge work. After all, I can withstand high temperatures using my Forge Body. That's what I've named my demigod ability, by the way. Forge Body." Callan held up his metallic hand, watching the reflected firefight dance across his skin.

Forfend caught itself staring as well. The effect was entrancing.

"Over time, we realized that my abilities extend beyond just turning into metal." He reached down and tapped one of the logs crackling in the heat. When he nudged it out of the fire, it continued glowing with a golden magical Light. "I have celestial blood of some type as well. My parents did more research and we asked a traveling arcanist for his thoughts. We came to the conclusion that I'm both Aasimar and a demigod."

"Very interesting," Forfend hummed.

"What about you?" Callan asked. "Well, you're quite sure of your creation though, aren't you? Since you were built during the Sundering."

"I am," Forfend confirmed. "I was designed specifically to fight the forces of Atrox and I did so up until I was damaged."

"Is the metal part the damaged part or the stone?"

"The metal is quite new. The blacksmith that discovered me designed it for me," Forfend answered. "In fact, he is the reason I reawoke."

"Ah!" Callan exclaimed. "Isn't that interesting? We both have blacksmiths in our lives."

"I am a blacksmith myself now. I decided to learn Fletch's craft in the absence of further instruction from Fornax." Forfend twiddled its fingers together. It still felt like it should be working on that craft right now, though it had no means to do so.

"In an odd turn of events, I'm actually not very talented in that regard," Callan admitted. "I'm excellent as an assistant in the forge, but my hands are too clumsy to perform the craft itself."

"Odd," Forfend commented and held up its thick, stony hands. By all rights, it should've been quite clumsy itself. "I have become quite skilled, even if I do say so myself." It didn't intend to brag, but it had surprised itself with how quickly it had picked up the skill and how quickly it had surpassed Fletch.

"Really? What are some of the things you've made?" Callan leaned forward, interest sparkling in his eyes.

Forfend slipped its shield from its arms and pulled its mace from its belt. "Both of these were my doing, though I was still somewhat new to the craft then. Fletch assisted greatly."

Callan reached out of the fire and ran his red hot hands down the edge of the shield. "It's expertly crafted, I must say."

"Thank you," Forfend nodded graciously.

Callan tilted his head. "I've shared my demigod ability with you, but I don't believe you answered that question yesterday, did you? Would you mind sharing now, since we're on the topic of it again?"

Forfend hesitated. Jessie and Fletch had warned it to be careful of sharing its status and abilities. Demigods were predisposed to long lifespans, but many who became well known suffered short and tragic lives. Many, perhaps even most, demigods did not know peace.

"It does require significant trust. I'll understand if you don't want to," Callan promised.

Forfend hummed. It did like Callan. They shared a blessing after all. It may even be a disservice to Fornax to scorn another of his chosen.

"Alright," it decided. "I refer to the ability as Soul Forge. I can create a raw material from nothing and magically convert it into a form I can use. For example, I could manifest a length of raw wood and fashion it into a bridge in the span of around three seconds. The drawback is that it uses my life essence. The ability is very painful and potentially deadly under the wrong circumstances."

"That is... Frankly, that's amazing if not a little frightening. It could really kill you?" Callan asked.

"It nearly did the last time I used it. I took a dangerous risk," Forfend confirmed.

"Incredible." Callan started to say more but the tents rustled behind them.

Kagoshi and Kairi crawled blearily out of their bedrolls into the early morning light. Melzaryn followed shortly from his own tent, though he looked much more awake and aware.

"Good morning," Callan greeted as he pulled a chunk of firewood over his bare lap to cover himself. "There's venison for breakfast. Help yourself."

"Thank you," Kairi almost sang as she made herself a plate and sat down a ways off, closer to the road so she could watch the sunrise.

Kagoshi snagged two hefty handfuls of meat without a single word and joined Kairi.

"Thanks," Melzaryn grinned cheerfully, filled his plate with more than he should reasonably be able to eat, and returned to his bedroll to enjoy the meal.

Once everyone was settled again, Callan turned back to Forfend. "I've heard that there are many demigods who aren't proud of their power. Perhaps because they never asked for it or because the drawback is more than they can handle. Sometimes simply because the ability doesn't suit them. I feel that your power suits you well though. You're a creation of Fornax and thus able to create from nothing the way he can, though as a mortal you suffer consequences."

Forfend nodded. It also felt its power was an excellent fit for its personality and abilities, though Callan was technically wrong about it being mortal. It could die, yes, but only if it were killed. Disregarding outside factors, it would live indefinitely. Its inorganic body wouldn't age or decay.

"It does suit me," Forfend said aloud after a moment. "That said, it is still very dangerous. As I told you, I am quite lucky my last use of it was not the end of me."

"May I ask what you created?"

"A massive block of lead," Forfend shared. "I used it to crush that monster I mentioned to you. The one that was kidnapping children."

Callan snorted. "Frankly, that's hilarious."

"It is now, yes," it agreed. "At the time, it was quite terrifying."

"I'm imagining this great creature trying to flee from you, thinking it's almost gotten away and then..." Callan stifled a laugh. "Have you ever heard those silly bard tales, the ones for children, where an anvil falls from nowhere and hits someone on the head?"

A deep rumbling sounded from within Forfend's chest as it chuckled.

"Like that, but even more absurd," Callan let the giggle escape him properly this time.

Forfend's chest lit up bright orange.

Callan grinned. "That's an incredible power. When it comes to demigods and their abilities, I am quite the fanatic. I'm sure you've noticed."

Forfend nodded.

He grew more serious then, glancing at Kagoshi's back. "Some demigods see our powers as a gift, but for others... They feel like they've been cursed. Like the downside outweighs the upside."

Forfend hummed and watched Kagoshi chat absently with Kairi as the morning sky turned golden in front of them. "I can see how some would come to that conclusion."

"Those downsides, though. I believe they can be overcome. I believe the ability is worth the drawback. Look at you, for example," Callan spoke adamantly and gestured at Forfend's body as a whole. "I mean no offense by this, but you are a statue. You're an artificial being, but your blessing allows you to do something on par with the power of gods. You can literally create something from nothing!"

Forfend nodded, listening intently.

"In contrast, I turn myself from flesh into an object," Callan continued. He stood and stepped out of the fire. Once his body had cooled from glowing red back to its silvery sheen, he returned to his original form and pulled his clothes back on. "I become something soulless and artificial."

Forfend heard rocks grind in its chest, but it let the feeling go. Callan meant no offense. In fact, he seemed solemn, reflective.

"It caused me quite a bit of trouble growing up back home. Since then, I've come into my own. The power is mine." Callan perked himself up, determination strong in his stance.

"I understand that certain powers have very serious drawbacks," Callan continued, gesturing slightly in Kagoshi's direction. "Dangerous, even. But those drawbacks can be overcome. It seems unfair to judge him based purely on the worst aspect of his ability."

Forfend averted its gaze and straightened its back, considering Callan's argument.

"During the transition, he was at least somewhat aware of his surroundings. That means he's got some lucidity so there must be some way to calm him," Callan theorized.

"Kairi can help him. Somewhat," Forfend acknowledged. "It seems he does not want to harm her."

"Well, there it is then!" Callan exclaimed, then cleared his throat and lowered his voice again. "If one person can assist him, then others could surely learn as well. Maybe he could even eventually learn to calm himself and become capable of channeling his power."

"I hope so," Forfend hummed solemnly. "He is exceptionally dangerous."

"Sometimes danger is worth it," Callan insisted. "My drawback is rather unpleasant in combat. Fighting for sport and glory is what I want to do, but my ability is a double-edged sword. It helps as much as it makes things more dangerous for me. You see, I cannot be healed while in my adamantine form."

Metal ran up Callan's arms again. He flexed his metallic fingers.

"You cannot heal? At all?" Forfend asked incredulously. It grazed its stone hand over Callan's forearm. Something about touching the metal made Callan's claim sink in.

Unlike Forfend, the inorganic material was not his body. It was only his power. It wouldn't respond to magics meant for living beings.

"If I were to be, for example, impaled while using Forge Body, no healing could be performed until I returned to my original form. At that point, I'd begin bleeding very significantly. If I wasn't already in the presence of a talented healer, I would certainly die. I also can't be healed in the midst of battle if I'm using it, so I can't magically enhance my stamina either." Callan let the metal slip back down his arms and disappear. "It's a delicate dance discerning how much damage my Forge Body can handle before I start sustaining serious injury."

"It sounds difficult," Forfend sympathized.

"It is. It has been," Callan blurted. His eyebrows twitched upward as though he was surprised by his own comment. He gave a slight shrug and continued the thought, "I grew up in frigid lands. It was cold enough for metal to freeze and become brittle. When people learned that even clerical healing magics could not heal me, it... It garnered some ill intent."

"I am sorry," Forfend said sincerely. It had been lucky enough so far not to be ostracized from a community. It couldn't imagine how difficult that must've been, especially for a child.

"It's alright." Callan lifted his chin up. "The downside to my ability does not define me. I am not my flaws."

Forfend gazed towards Kagoshi again, more intensely than before.

"I don't believe they should be all he is either." Callan placed a hand on Forfend's shoulder. "From your kin--if I may be so bold?"

Forfend nodded. It certainly did feel kinship with a fellow demigod of Fornax, and especially one so open as Callan.

"From your kin," Callan repeated, "please don't judge him only for his drawback. He can't help it. He didn't choose it. And I honestly believe he's already making attempts to overcome it."

Forfend hummed.

"Perhaps you could even try to help him, rather than only remaining paranoid. I've seen how you try to either stay away from Kagoshi or put yourself between him and everyone else, like you may need to protect us all from him."

Melzaryn got up from his bedroll and deposited his plate next to the fire. He made his way over to the other pair and took a seat right by Kagoshi, striking up conversation amicably.

Callan and Forfend both watched the trek.

"They don't fear him," Callan insisted. "You shouldn't either."

Steam hissed loudly and for a long moment. "I understand your point," Forfend allowed. "I think I will still harbor distrust for some time yet though. I cannot escape it. The first time he attacked me, I was holding a child from my village. If I had been a second slower, Kagoshi would have killed him. It was also the first time I had been damaged since I awoke in this era. It was frightening. I am still frightened, I must admit."

"I see. Well, those wounds will heal with time," Callan assured.

Forfend nodded. It hoped they would.

Callan was right about what it should be doing regarding Kagoshi. Fearing and distrusting him would not help his plight. If it allowed itself to let go of its fear, it could meaningfully assist him. If Kagoshi allowed it, that was. It found itself hoping he would.

"I trust you will make the right decision for yourself and your friends," Callan spoke up again.

"You are quite the interesting person," Forfend complimented, pulling its gaze away from Kagoshi for the first time in a while.

"I could say the same to you," Callan smiled.

"Have you tried eating before?" Callan asked, nudging Forfend. He held a chunk of dried venison in his hand.

Forfend didn't take it. "I have no idea how I would achieve such a feat."

"Perhaps you could drop it down one of your chimneys." Callan jumped up onto Forfend's back, not unlike how Jace usually did.

Forfend twisted, a panicked rockfall tumbling loudly from within its chest as it tried to snag Callan. "I think all that will earn you is smoke-covered meat and then a rotting smell I will have a great deal of trouble removing!"

"Smoked meat is good though," Callan insisted, laughing as he evaded Forfend's grasping hands.

"I disagree," Forfend protested.

Callan's foot slipped and he fell to the ground in the midst of a giggling fit. The venison lie wasted on the dirt road.

Steam hissed. Forfend crossed its arms. After a moment, the light in its chest lit up. It chuckled despite itself and offered Callan a hand.

Callan accepted, collecting himself.

Kairi and Melzaryn both wore amused grins.

Kagoshi was stone-faced as always.

Callan grinned at him and tossed his head towards the dropoff they walked alongside. It wasn't nearly so deep as the last, but it was still a good thirty feet. "Would you like to jump off the edge here as a test of endurance?"

Kagoshi scoffed and rolled his eyes. It was the dozenth little challenge Callan had offered. Kagoshi had just bested him in an impromptu arm wrestling contest only an hour ago.

"Sure, yeah, we can jump off the cliff," Kagoshi shrugged and stepped up to the edge.

Callan strode up beside him. "Alright. On the count of--"

Kagoshi pushed him off the cliff.

Forfend rushed to the edge and watched as Callan's skin rapidly transmuted into adamantine. He landed headfirst in the mud at the bottom and struggled uselessly to free himself.

Kagoshi laughed scornfully.

Kairi summoned her glittering purple wings and floated softly down towards Callan.

Melzaryn snickered.

Forfend turned to ask him what he was laughing at, but suddenly found itself wrapped in magic.

In a blink, it was teleported over the edge of the cliff. It only just had enough time to lock its startled gaze onto Melzaryn's smug face before it fell.

Melzaryn jumped after it and swung his staff.

Forfend jolted as it suddenly stopped falling. It was floating now, as gently as Kairi under the effects of Melzaryn's Feather Fall.

Melzaryn giggled to himself as they drifted downwards.

Below them, Callan gave muffled cries for help. In his hurried attempt to free his head, he'd ended up sinking up to his elbows. He kicked and struggled, but he was getting nowhere. All he was really doing was sinking faster.

Kagoshi half climbed, half slid down the steep drop.

Forfend landed lightly on a drier section of ground than Callan had hit and tugged Melzaryn out of the sky.

"You have me quite a start," it reprimanded, the light in its chest shining through with an embarrassed reddish-orange.

Melzaryn pat its arm. "Sorry, but it was pretty funny."

Standing safely on relatively solid dirt, Forfend couldn't disagree. It wasn't often involved in practical jokes, but it couldn't deny the humor in them.

Kagoshi tromped through the muck and snatched Callan's furs, hauling him upright just the way he had the first time they'd met.

Kairi fluttered over and wiped the mud from his eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked through a laugh.

Callan spat mud, his face screwed up with disgust at the taste. "I'm quite alright," he assured as he shook himself off and allowed the metal to recede from his skin. "And what a test of my agility that was! I think I can safely say I won this round."

"Ya sure can," Kagoshi smirked.

"You realize we now have to climb back up the cliff, yes?" Forfend inquired.

There was a group groan from everyone but Kairi. She was already soaring back to the top and laughing gleefully at her companions.

"Oh, wait a minute," Melzaryn shook his head and rolled his eyes like he thought himself dull for having forgotten something. He snapped his fingers and was gone. "Good luck," he suddenly called from the top of the cliff.

There was another groan from Kagoshi and Callan. Forfend joined with a rush of steam.

"We're nearly to Brightcrossing," Callan mentioned as they walked.

It was the fifth day of travel already. Forfend had found the time passing more easily with Callan around. He joked and teased and told stories, keeping everyone's spirits up.

Forfend had even begun joining him at the end of his morning routine, stoking the fire around him and meditating on the flickering licks of flame.

It was only a few more minutes before they crested a hill and saw the town in the distance.

Just at a glance, Forfend could tell the town was larger than Foumedo. It wasn't the largest city Forfend had heard about, but it was still larger than anywhere Forfend had been before.

Farmland surrounded the area, fruits and vegetables and grains offering a fresh scent in the air.

It was a beautiful day. It struck Forfend as odd it hadn't seen anyone tending the fields yet. It started to keep an eye out for farmers.

"Hey, guys," Kairi said, pointing to the road ahead. "Wagon."

"Wagon?" Melzaryn asked.

"Wagon," Forfend confirmed as it caught sight of the tipped carriage stranded in the middle of the path.

"Yeah, it's a wagon!" Kagoshi griped harshly. "Can we move on?"

Callan tilted his head, confusion knitting his brows as he glanced between the group and the carriage. "W-wagon," he repeated hesitantly.

"Oh, shut up!" Kagoshi huffed.

"It is strange though," Forfend mentioned. "We should see if they need assistance."

It picked up its pace.

As it gained a better vantage point, it spotted three farmers standing at the back of the carriage. In the ground it front of them writhed a mess of black shapes. Forfend couldn't make out what they were, aside from creepy.

One of the farmers yelled something and another took off running as quickly as he could toward town.

The two remaining farmers pulled pitchforks from their fallen cart and jabbed at the approaching mass of what might've been oversized centipedes. Forfend still couldn't get a clear look at them as it rushed closer with its companions right on its heels.

The black wiggling monsters disappeared beneath the earth.

"What's happening? I can't see," Callan yelled from behind Forfend.

"Is everything okay?!" Forfend yelled to the farmers. "Do you need help?!"

"Who the hell are?!" one of the farmers yelled, his voice shrill with fear. "What do you want?!"

"Nothing nefarious! We are travelers!" it called back.

"You need to get out of here! There's monsters!" the second farmer hollered.

"What monsters?!" Forfend asked.

As if on cue, the ground fell away in several places. Creatures much larger than the ones it had first seen burst from the holes.

Forfend finally got a good look at them and wished it hadn't.

Their dark carapaces harbored a purple sheen while their undersides were the fleshy pink of exposed intestines. Snapping reptilian jaws produced gutteral hisses and snarls. All six of the monsters' legs ended in serrated knife points.

There were six of them in total. Three were significantly larger than the others. They skittered toward the frightened farmers.

Melzaryn didn't waste a second. He hefted his staff like a crossbow, his eyes glowing as magic audibly crackled. A massive white bolt split the air like thunder, launching free of the staff with enough force to slide Melzaryn backwards a few inches despite how he'd dug in his heels.

The bolt separated. Each Magic Missile slammed into its individual target.

Every monstrous bug on the field chittered and writhed in startled pain. They whipped around, clicking their sharp teeth together. They all scattered at once into their burrows.

Kagoshi charged forward and froze, fists at the ready for when the beasts emerged.

Kairi stepped off the edge of the road. Magic crackled around her fingers. She scanned the ground for any sign the bugs were burrowing beneath her.

Forfend freed its mace from its belt and shifted its shield in front of itself. It quickly tapped the medallion on its chest. "Fornax, lend me your hammer," it muttered.

Fiery orange magic spilled from the symbol. The sound of metal striking metal rang out as the magic coalesced into a massive forge hammer. Forfend willed the weapon to position itself right in the middle of the group.

Forfend prepared to strike at the insects the moment they showed themselves.

The farmers scrambled up onto their cart's side. They held their pitchforks at the ready, but they were watching the demigods much more than their own feet.

Callan spun around, seeing everyone else take battle stances. He'd never actually gotten a glimpse at the monsters and was quite bewildered.

"Alright, okay, a fight," he nodded and took his own battle stance. Metal shot across his body at lightning speed. He clanged his adamantine fists together.

"Good news, I got their attention," Melzaryn grinned. "Unfortunately, I got their attention." He slid himself between Callan and Forfend's floating Spiritual Weapon.

Melzaryn's eyes darted across the earth. "The ground's weak where the monsters are burrowing. They're headed straight toward us, fast." He still sounded perfectly cheerful.

All at once, the dirt beneath Melzaryn's feet rose and then buckled. Clacking teeth burst up and tried to snag his feet as he all but danced out of the way.

Callan yelped and swung at the monster, but his foot slipped into the collapsing earth. "Aah!" he yelled, "I'm trapped again!"

"Eep!" Kairi startled, blasting a glittering pink Guiding Bolt at the thrashing bug. She missed in her haste and the sparkling stars dissipated into the grass.

"Where are the others?!" Kagoshi demanded.

"I don't know!" Melzaryn snapped. "They're underground!" He kicked the monster before it could sink its teeth and claws into his leg.

Kagoshi dashed up to where Melzaryn had pointed out weaker ground caused by the first insect's approach and punched through the slightly disturbed soil.

He ripped one of the smaller twisting monsters out of the earth by its throat and crushed it with his bare fists.

Kagoshi dropped the dripping, twitching corpse and slammed his hand back into the hole. He ripped another small bug into the sunlight.

This one squealed and hissed.

Kagoshi crushed it too and tossed it over his shoulder.

Kairi giggled manically as an idea struck her. "Kagoshi, watch this."

She raised her quarterstaff and spun, chanting and trailing sparkles as a rainbow portal swirled into being a few feet above the hole Kagoshi had made.

Water suddenly gushed from it with deadly force, rocketing into the hole.

The summoned Tidal Wave filled the underground rapidly, cracking the earth and sending spouts of water gushing high up into the air.

Melzaryn, Kagoshi, and Callan all got thoroughly soaked by the sudden rain.

Bugs were launched out of the ground, screeching wildly, and splattered on the road. One curled up and died on impact.

Forfend's Spiritual Weapon struck at one as it fell, launching the beast into the mud. Blood and viscera splattered as its carapace shattered.

Forfend nodded at another squirming bug and the Weapon zipped to it immediately, slamming down on the creature with reckless abandon.

More gore spilled and blood sizzled on the hammer's scorching surface.

Forfend paced to the last struggling monster and crushed the thing beneath its mace with a satisfying crunch.

Forfend shook the blood from its weapon, dispelled the Magical Weapon in a spray of sparks, and turned to face the slack-jawed farmers.

"By the gods!" one of them yelled.

"Are you alright?" Forfend asked again. It slipped its mace back into its belt. It didn't want to appear threatening.

"What the hells?!" the other farmer hollered.

"I'm still stuck," Callan sighed. "I think I can get myself out."

Forfend spared a glance at Callan. He was muddy, sopping wet, and visibly disappointed at losing his chance to hit something.

Kagoshi and Melzaryn looked only a bit less damp and dirty, but they didn't have their legs stuck in a pit of muck so it was still a significant improvement.

Forfend realized even it had gotten splashed.

Kairi giggled, dry as a bone.

Kagoshi offered his hand, allowing Callan to pry himself free with the added leverage.

Melzaryn shook himself off like a wet dog, Prestidigitation freeing the muck from him and splattering some of it onto a disgruntled Callan.

Forfend turned back to the farmers and made its way towards them. It stopped well short and knelt to make itself less frightening.

Kairi followed it, twirling her skirt as she stood at its side.

"That is one hell of a golem," the taller farmer whistled, impressed.

"Are you alright?" Forfend asked.

"Oh gods, it speaks," he jumped. "Are you really a golem?"

"I am not," Forfend shook its head.

"Then what do I call you?"

"I am Forfend."

"You're one hell of a Forfend!" the farmer praised.

"Forfend is my name," it corrected. "I am a Fornaxian."

"Well, you're one hell of a Fornaxian, Forfend!" He took off his hat and slapped his knee with it for emphasis. "Whew, that's a tongue twister."

"Are you alright? Do you need healing?"

"Nah, nah, we're all good. Just a couple scrapes and bruises from those damn bugs tipping our cart. We were not expecting it," the farmer shook his head vehemently. "Nor were we expecting what the hells you just did here! That was amazing!"

"Thank you." Forfend stood slowly and approached the cart. Neither human looked panicked so Forfend reached out, letting a warm glow flow from its fingers to the farmers.

The tendrils of light found their wounds, slight though they were, and converged around them. Within seconds, the light dissipated along with their pain and injuries.

Both farmers stuttered.

Kairi tapped her cheek thoughtfully. "For a real tongue twister, you could say, 'Fantastic Fornaxian Forfend.'"

"I-I don't think I can," the shorter man managed.

"Who are you?!" the taller one shouted.

"I am Forfend."

"Kairi."

The men gaped incredulously.

Eventually, the taller one wrenched his jaw shut. "Maybe we should get Jimmy. He was running into town."

"I don't think he saw the water explosion," the shorter farmer shook his head. "He ain't gonna stop running. Let him do it anyway. He's so damn lazy."

"That's true, that's true," the taller one agreed and turned to address Forfend and Kairi. "I take it y'all are new around here."

"We are. We are only passing through on the way to Cragwall," Forfend confirmed.

Callan and Melzaryn finally made their way over to the cart. Both waved.

The farmers returned the gesture, though they were both still quite stunned.

"I gotcha. Well, y'all did a great job of handling our little infestation problem there," the taller praised.

"Little," scoffed the shorter man. "It's fucking huge."

"Either way, they did a great job."

"Can't argue with that."

"We appreciate what you've done here," the taller farmer said. "We work for the noble family here, helping out mostly with getting them their fruit for the winery. Do y'all do this sort of thing often? Because if ya do, I'm sure they'll pay you to do it."

"Hush!" the shorter ordered and lightly smacked his companion on the back of the head. "You're being presumptuous! These folks are just passing through! You don't know if they've got the time to help us and you don't know if the guard'll pay them to do it either! They ain't gonna do it."

"I would be happy to assist regardless of a monetary reward," Forfend stated.

"Well, I'll be damned. I stand corrected."

Kagoshi wandered up, a pile of goopy bleeding bug heads stacked in his arms. "We can use these to prove we can help around here. Get on those noble guys' good sides or whatever."

Forfend hummed. It hadn't actually considered that yet, but it was an excellent point. They could use this opportunity to gain favor just as Callan had suggested.

It shook itself from its thoughts to focus on the task at hand. "Do you need help righting your cart?"

"Oh, please." Both farmers nodded and hopped down from on top of it.

"Hang on," Kagoshi huffed and dropped his mound of disembodied bug heads.

He strode over to one side of the wagon and lifted it effortlessly. He had it upright again in seconds.

"Really though, who are you people?" the shorter man asked. "This one's strong as fuck." He pointed at Kagoshi. "And Forfend is a Fornaxian, whatever the hell that means, with some kind of fire magic. Kairi caused a flood. Blondie there was throwing all kinds of magic spells. And that one's metal! Are y'all monster hunters?"

"No," Kagoshi said flatly.

"Not usually," Melzaryn shrugged.

"We've picked up some experience lately," Kairi nodded.

"Crazy stuff," the taller man shook his head incredulously. "Better than we've been doing with our pitchforks, I'll tell ya that."

"You've been fighting these monsters with only pitchforks?" Callan asked.

"Well, normally we run from them. We're usually a little quicker on the draw, but they ambushed us this time," the shorter man explained. "Seems like they're getting smarter as the damn infestation gets nastier."

"Chased our horses off," the taller farmer lamented.

"I will get it," Forfend offered. It took hold of what was left of the reins. It looked like the bugs had bitten them in two. That had been an exceptionally smart move and Forfend hoped it had also been a fluke.

The farmers stared at one another, but slowly they clambered back into their cart.

Forfend tied the remaining rope around its belt and set off, tugging the wagon behind it easily enough.

Melzaryn and Kairi hopped onto the back.

Kagoshi tied up his mess of insect heads to keep them bundled together and walked alongside the cart.

Callan followed, moping a bit.

Forfend watched the city gates draw closer and wondered what would await it and its companions within.

It hobbled back across the room and dispelled the block of lead crushing the monster, sending the incredible weight up in a hiss of thick black smoke. It leaned down and carefully disrobed the blasphemous creature.

Crossing the room a third time, Forfend's body creaked dangerously. It knelt slowly and leaned its weight away from its damaged side. It had been cleaved nearly in two. It feared it would fall apart if it wasn't aware of itself or its movements.

"Forfend?" Kairi called.

It wrapped the boy gently and respectfully in the cloak before sparing a glance over its shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Kairi asked.

Jayden and Louis eyed Forfend, both silently encouraging it to answer honestly.

"I will be alright, but I would not turn away assistance."

Kairi stretched her arm out towards it. Glittering stars left her palm and crossed the room in a meandering wave. They coalesced around its side.

Within seconds, Forfend felt more solid around its middle. The wound was far from gone. Golden ichor still spilled unhindered. But it was far more manageable now.

"Thank you," it nodded as it lifted the corpse into its arms. "Let us get out of this awful place."

"Wait, the armor," Kairi spoke softly. "It has more of the gems like the one that did this to Kagoshi."

Forfend swore lowly. That was true. They couldn't leave such dangerous things lying around for anyone to stumble across. Someone could get hurt or even killed.

Forfend placed the body next to Kairi and waved the children over as well. "Stay with Kairi. She will take care of you while I handle this." It placed a gentle hand on both their heads.

They nodded.

"Be careful," Jayden pleaded.

"And prepared," Louis added.

Forfend nodded. "I certainly will."

It gathered the armor sets from around the room and dragged the clanking pile back to the large empty crate that had originally concealed the passageway.

Forfend removed the lid entirely, threw the armor inside, and then gathered up all the armors scattered in this room as well before moving to the next.

It caught up with Melzaryn going through all of the boxes on the far side of the cavern, the side they hadn't yet explored, as though he was conducting inventory.

"Valuable things here," he commented idly.

Forfend hummed and continued gathering armor sets. It was tedious work. By the time it was done, it had gathered thirty armors, each one bearing a tiny obsidian crystal with a strange blue sheen. All of them were thrown haphazardly into the crate.

Forfend latched a rope around the box and tied it securely. Dragging the mess in its current state would be difficult, but certainly not impossible.

Forfend returned to the children who were huddled around Kairi and poking curiously at Kagoshi's prone form.

"Alright, now we may go," it announced.

"What do we do with Kagoshi?" Jayden asked.

Forfend sighed like escaping steam. "I'll add him to the crate of armor."

Kairi looked skeptical, but she wouldn't be able to carry him herself so it would have to do.

Forfend hefted Kagoshi up.

Kairi hesitated before lifting the wrapped corpse. She held it against herself with careful reverence.

Forfend returned to the box and unceremoniously added Kagoshi to the contents. He didn't so much as flinch, though his eyes were still open. Forfend wondered if he'd ever wake up at all. It seemed increasingly unlikely.

Melzaryn returned with an armful of miscellaneous items. "I believe this is everything useful." He also jingled heavy pouches of coin. "And we can split this between us too."

Forfend nodded, but it wasn't really paying attention. It tied the excess rope around its box of armor to its shoulders. "Let's just get home. I'm certain we are all sick of this cavern."

Everyone made different sounds of affirmation.

The trudge home was slow. Melzaryn spent it rifling through the things he'd found and distributing them amongst everyone. Kairi spent it downcast and fretting. Predictably, Kagoshi spent it staring into the void with empty, glassy eyes.

Louis and Jayden stuck close to Forfend's side. They were exhausted from their ordeal and flagging quickly. Louis stepped onto Forfend's foot mid-stride and wedged his hands into stone gaps to keep himself balanced.

He weighed very little for a creature of Forfend's size and had rightly earned his rest. Forfend shifted its gait slightly to make the ride easier on its charge.

Jayden took the opportunity to step up on Forfend's other foot. She chose her handholds very carefully and leaned away from the gold-dribbling gash in its side.

"I'm sorry I could not get to you sooner," Forfend apologized sincerely. "You should not have suffered."

"We're gonna be okay. You got to us in time." Loius squeezed Forfend's leg in a cumbersome hug.

It nodded, though it still felt it should've caught on quicker.

Beside it, Melzaryn whipped out a fanciful quill and opened a scroll.

"What is that?" Forfend asked.

"New spell," he answered simply.

Ink rose from the page and funneled its way into the quill, leaving the scroll blank. Melzaryn pressed the quill to an empty spot in his spellbook and scribbled rapidly.

He shut the heavy book with a dull thump and put everything away again.

Forfend returned its gaze to the road. Foumedo's gate was just ahead. Lights were lit and people, shivering in their pajamas in the chill night air, awaited the results of the monster hunt.

Forfend was glad to have mostly good news for them. Circumstances could've been far worse given the dangerous situation they'd been in. Still, they'd caught their share of losses too.

Jessie was chatting with Byr and hadn't yet seen them. He pointed towards the bridge.

Byr begrudgingly headed in that direction, a scowl firmly affixed to his face.

Jessie sighed and glanced up in Forfend's direction. His eyes went wide as he sprinted over. "F-Forfend," he stuttered, staring in shock at the bleeding wedge cut from its midsection. "What happened?!"

"We found the children," it answered.

Jessie blinked, his eyes barely flicking away from the injury to the children clinging to its legs. Relief flooded him, washing away his unnatural stiffness.

"Joel! Rosie!" Jessie called.

Both parents broke from the forming crowd and scooped up their respective children.

Rosie was in tears as she checked Jayden over. She thanked Forfend and its companions in a torrent of completely jumbled gibberish.

Joel was silent as he took in Louis's tired state. He nodded slowly. "You survived and I'm very proud, but you've got to be more careful out there. Check in at home base more often, you got it?"

Louis nodded, wavering on his feet.

Joel picked him up and looked squarely at Jessie. "I told you something like this would happen one day. We've got to be more prepared."

"I understand," Jessie acknowledged. "We'll discuss it tomorrow. The whole crew."

Joel nodded, apparently satisfied, and left to get his son fed and rested.

Avery the Huntress stopped him just long enough to push cured meats into his hand. He humphed his thanks.

She offered the same to Rosie who took them with even more tearful gratitude.

Avery slipped her bow into her hand and pat Forfend's shoulder as she passed it. She stationed herself at the town entrance, eyeing the dark meadow beyond. She was wholly prepared to fight anything that may have followed them.

Forfend doubted anything had.

"So, uh, two things," Jessie mentioned. "Where's Kagoshi and what's with the box?"

Forfend tugged idly at the ropes around its shoulders. "Kagoshi is in the box."

"Why? What happened out there?"

Kairi climbed the edge of the box and watched her comatose friend. "I hope he's alright."

Forfend tilted slightly, its body grinding precariously. "If I'm sharing the whole story, I would like to see Byr while we do it."

"It was... definitely a lot," Kairi agreed.

"Ah, well, I understand since something managed to damage you like that, but Byr's looking at the bridge. He's already busy," Jessie said apologetically.

Forfend sighed.

"What's in the box though?"

"Armor, mostly."

"And Kagoshi," Kairi noted.

"And also Kagoshi," Forfend nodded.

Forfend pulled the wrapped gem from its pocket. "Do not touch this," it forewarned. It held the cloth at eye level and carefully exposed the black gem within.

"All of the armors have these strange obsidian power sources. They're very dangerous and very potent. Touching them causes people to experience intense emotion and do strange things."

"I'll be certain to tell Fletch that," Jessie assured, watching the gem with suspicion.

Forfend returned the item to its folded cloth and dropped it back into its pocket. It hauled the box to the back of Fletcher's Forge.

Fletch halted his conversation to follow. "Whatcha doing?"

"Do not touch anything in this until I can tell you what it is," Forfend iterated carefully.

"Alright, that's fair," Fletch nodded as he hopped up on the side of the box to peer into it.

"And whatever you do," Jessie added, "especially do not touch the blue gems in the chest pieces."

"What, you mean these?" Fletch teased as he reached into the box. He stopped well short of contact with anything, but Jessie snagged his waist and hauled him off the box anyway.

"Be careful!" he admonished his husband.

Fletch chuckled.

Jessie heaved an exasperated sigh.

"Hey," Fletch tapped Forfend's arm. "You need to get some rest. You look like you've seen some shit."

Forfend nodded.

"Byr's busy with the bridge and probably will be for the rest of the night," Jessie reminded. "He's been sleeping a lot lately because he hasn't had much to do, so he doesn't mind working through the night. I'll ask him to come by in the morning, alright?"

"That would be excellent, thank you." Forfend turned towards its home.

"Could you get Kagoshi out of the box?" Fletch asked.

"Ah, right." It scruffed Kagoshi by the back of his collar, which was very nearly the only thing left of his jacket, and lifted him out of the box.

It carried Kagoshi to Kairi and set him down, taking the wrapped corpse from her instead. "Get some rest. We will reconvene in the morning and see if anything can be done for Kagoshi as well."

"Thank you," she said. She hoisted Kagoshi up as well as she could and half dragged him towards the inn.

Melzaryn had already disappeared. Forfend wasn't certain when he'd made his exit, but he was likely in his tavern room by now.

Forfend returned to Jessie and Fletch, kneeling carefully.

"What's that?" Jessie asked, turning his face away from the bloody cloak and covering his nose.

"This is a young boy who we found caged the same way Louis and Jayden were. Unfortunately, he had been there for much longer and has been deceased for weeks. I hope that we can give him his burial rites. He deserves that much, since we could do nothing else for him." Forfend gently laid the child on the ground.

Jessie nodded, sadness befalling his features.

Fletch placed his hand on his husband's shoulder, though he wore the same expression.

"We'll see what we can do," Jessie sighed. "Just rest tonight. You've been through a lot."

Forfend hobbled into its home without another word.

It wanted to lie down on the massive straw bed, but it feared it would struggle to get up again. It settled for sitting down on the soft pile, wrapping its oversized blanket around itself, and leaning against the wall so that there was no weight on its injured side.

The light of its rune flicked out.

Forfend found itself thinking of very little in its exhaustion. It was rare that it wished it could sleep as other creatures do, but tonight was among those rare instances. What few coherent thoughts cut through the droning, muddled tiredness were worrisome, prickling its mind like thorns.

A memory wedged itself into the edge of Forfend's consciousness. It fumbled for the distant thing, desperate for something other than deep-seated concern.

The warmth of its body beginning to slowly knit itself back together fled from it all at once. It felt cold, right into its very core.

Flashes of another place crossed its vision. Somewhere distant in time or space or both. Its imagination was playing tricks on it, likely due to how severely damaged it was. There was nothing to be done for that.

It saw great iron pillars for a fraction of a second, then darkness.

Crucibles, hammers. Darkness.

Iron clanged against iron in the confines of its memory. Steel against steel. The hiss of water steaming off red-hot metal. The sounds of a forge, one so hot Forfend was certain its stone body would melt in the flames.

Had its body always been stone? The thought startled it, but it couldn't hold onto the idea. It was dismissed as quickly as it had arisen. It simply didn't matter.

Forfend wasn't certain anymore that it recognized this memory. It was old. Perhaps older than Forfend truly was.

Darkness filled its mind again, bringing a nothingness with it. Peace, in a sense. Nonexistence, more accurately.

"No, it's not right," a deep voice reverberated into the nowhere the concept of Forfend floated in. "It's the same, same as all the others."

A heavy metal tang sounded, light flashing blindingly across Forfend's vision.

A feeling struck it. Warmth, but not its own.

"Hm. Different," the voice spoke again. "Yes, different. Good."

Forfend should recognize the speaker. It couldn't dwell. If it wondered too far from what it was recalling now, it may not find its way back.

Another heavy strike of a hammer against steel. The metal sang, vibrating in the depths of Forfend's chest.

The same flash of light, this time followed by a thought. A simple one. Acknowledgement of its own existence.

"Yes," the voice brimmed with emotions Forfend lacked the awareness to recognize. "This is good. Almost done. What else?"

The hammer struck. White flashed.

An emotion hit Forfend. Reverence, or love? Love. Certainly love.

"Iron for the body, for fortitude and will," the voice explained. Whether the speaker was talking to Forfend or someone else, it could not be certain. "Magma for the muscle, the ability to change and be grounded all the same. Liquid metal for the heart for strength ever growing, tempered in the first fires of new life. Quenched in tree oil for spirit and clear mind."

There was a pause.

"Hm. What else? Something is missing."

The voice huffed as it mused.

"Ah," it spoke again. "A flame. Not fire as to strengthen, but a flame of its own. Hm. What to start it with?"

Silence abounded.

"Hm. Ah, a flame from the hearth."

A presence Forfend hadn't realized was there left its side. It felt colder and quite alone, missing the speaker with what little awareness it had.

"The first furnace. The birthplace of the forge," the voice said from a short ways away. "This, this will do." The presence returned. "Hearth flame for bravery, for kindness. For soul. Yes."

Warmth of its own filled Forfend once again, traveling through it from its core to the tips of its extremities.

"Ah, there it is. Good, good," the voice praised either itself or Forfend. "Now, what to call it? No, what to call them?" the speaker corrected. "Hm. What would they want to be called? Would they prefer to have their own name? Or perhaps one I give them? Hm."

The speaker paced, humming thoughtfully.

"For now," the voice decided, "let us call you--"

"FORFEND!" Byr shouted.

Forfend jolted upright, the light of its rune flickering several times as its mind struggled to escape the memory. The light steadied, but Forfend's head still felt like it was spinning.

It couldn't speak yet so it just transfixed its gaze in Byr's approximate direction.

"By Fornax's shiny metal head, you got fucked up!" Byr swore irritably and slammed the doors open wider. They banged off the wall, hinges creaking.

"What the hell did you-- What the hell did that to you?" he continued yelling without pause. "Jessie said I should head over to help you out, but godsdamn!"

Forfend glanced around the room, gathering its bearings and assessing its surroundings.

It was morning. The time had gotten away from it.

Byr watched it for a moment, arms crossed. When Forfend failed to respond, he continued talking. "Seriously, I never would've thought something like that could happen. I've seen some shit hit you and it didn't do anything. You never even flinched."

Forfend nodded, distinctly recalling the time it had assisted Byr with a repair and a granite block had fallen from well above it. The stone had broken over Forfend's shoulders. There had been no damage to Forfend. It had regretted moreso that it hadn't been quick enough to catch the stone. At least it had caught the mason.

"Do I need to change everything in town to prepare for something like that?" Byr approached Forfend, staring directly into its face and awaiting an answer.

Forfend realized it still hadn't spoken. A metallic hum rose from its core, its own version of clearing its throat. "The monster that did this is quite dead."

"Well, that's good." Byr leaned back, less concerned now.

He grabbed a stool and sat himself at Forfend's wounded side. "Alright, let's see what we've got to work with here. Who's blood is this?"

"The gold is mine."

"Yeah, I gathered that much," Byr grumbled. "I meant the dark, nasty shit."

"It was the monster's."

"We're cleaning that off you."

"Please," Forfend almost pleaded. The thick dried goop was very uncomfortable against its stone skin.

Byr reached into a bucket of rocks Forfend hadn't noticed he was carrying.

The pieces were raw, unpolished. However, they were remarkable quality. Byr had brought his best.

The first stone was broken into a wide wedge and carefully slid into the depths of the wound.

Golden ichor coated Byr's hands.

Heat flared up in Forfend's side, melding the rock into its body.

Byr broke another stone into the approximate shape and added it as well. He kept observing, breaking, and inserting stone until the heat was more than he could stand.

He sat back, watching Forfend's body transmute the different stones to marble as it incorporated them into its form. Ichor, almost boiling, dripped down its side.

"Took that 'heart of gold' thing literally, didn't you?" he quipped.

Forfend tilted its head slightly. "Literally speaking, I do not have a heart at all."

"You missed the joke," Byr tutted and shook his head.

Forfend lit its chest up, a slight grinding sound emanating from within it. A chuckle, of sorts. "I suppose I did."

Byr carefully wedged one last stone into Forfend's side.

It seamed tightly into place, marbled, and the wound was gone.

"There ya go." Byr pat Forfend's shoulder.

Forfend tested its range of motion. Twisting and bending was easy again and no longer came with ominous creaking. It leaned down and turned to show Byr its cracked upper back.

"Could you fix this as well?"

Byr stood up on his stool and ran his stubby fingers along the thick cracks. "Just needs a little mortar. We'll get you patched up in no time."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. I throw the material at you and you do the rest. Easiest damn repairs I've ever made." He cracked his knuckles and hopped off his stool, gathering supplies. "Lay down. I ain't reaching over my head to do all this."

"Yes, sir." Forfend followed the order.

Repaired and cleaned, Forfend squeezed carefully into the Scattered Hawk Inn. It couldn't honestly say it was excited to be checking in on Kagoshi. Truthfully, it was more worried for Kairi than the feral monster she was charged with handling.

"Oh, hi, Forfend, I don't see you here too often," Narad greeted with some confusion. "What brings you around?"

"Good morning. I am here to--" Forfend paused as it caught sight of Kagoshi and Kairi sitting at one of the tables. "Oh, Kagoshi, you are awake." It was genuinely surprised.

"Yep," Kagoshi shrugged.

Melzaryn sat on the far side of the room. His pointed ears tuned into the conversation, but he continued eating without looking up.

"How are you... feeling?" Forfend asked, trying and failing to keep the suspicion out of its voice.

"I mean, I feel more or less the same as I did when I got up yesterday." Kagoshi glanced sharply at Narad, who raised his hands up placatingly and took his leave to the kitchen.

"Would you like to explain yourself?" Forfend fiddled with the hilt of its mace. It hoped it wouldn't need the weapon, but it didn't feel it could safely conversate with Kagoshi without it.

"What do you want me to explain?" He cocked an eyebrow.

"All of it. Why do you turn into a demon? What happened with that strange gem?"

"Oh." He scowled even deeper, if that was possible. "You won't like the answer to either of those."

"I expect as much," Forfend nodded.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" Forfend balked. "You're extremely dangerous. You need to figure that out!"

Kagoshi shrugged. "I've been trying. The gem thing was new. Normally, I don't have any rhyme or reason for what I do when I'm enraged. But that time, I felt pulled in a specific direction. That's never happened before."

Narad slinked back into the room, pretending he couldn't hear the tense conversation from the kitchen. He set down a plate piled high with every breakfast food Forfend had ever heard of.

"It's on the house," Narad smiled. "As a thanks for rescuing the children."

Kagoshi wasted no time digging into the meal like a starved animal.

"Lady Kairi, what would you like?"

"Same thing," Kagoshi mumbled through a mouthful of bacon-flecked pancake. "It's so good."

Kairi nodded. "Same thing," she confirmed.

"Alright, I'll be back shortly." Narad bowed his head politely and returned to the kitchen. "Oh," he poked his head out from the doorway. "Not really any of my business, but, Melzaryn, didn't Jessie give you reward money for those two?" He ducked back into the kitchen.

Melzaryn stood up, waved shortly to Forfend, and left.

"Hey, what the hell?" Kagoshi started to stand until a floating coin pouch bumped his face.

He paused, going cross-eyed to look at the note attached. "'Going for a walk,'" he read. "Is this from Melzaryn? Okay, cool, I guess." Kagoshi snatched the money and pocketed it.

Forfend hummed. "Well, it is nice to see you are up and about, Kagoshi. Now please refrain from causing anymore trouble. I am going to report the full situation to Jessie."

"Yeah, whatever. I'll be fine." Kagoshi dug back into his food, waving Forfend off.

It left, shaking its head exasperatedly.

One lengthy and detailed incident report later, Jessie stood stunned. He swallowed hard. "I'm glad we've got you. Nobody else would've survived."

Forfend nodded grimly. "May I ask what arrangements are being made for the departed?"

Jessie hid his face and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Right. About that..." He trailed off.

Forfend patiently waited for him to gather his thoughts.

"I took a look at him. He's from a noble family. I could tell by the clothes."

Forfend tilted its head. "Yes, I recall he looked as though he may have been affluent."

"I know we haven't told you that much about the ruling families and Tyrwedian politics and all, but we can't bury him here." Jessie shrugged helplessly. "They'd take exception."

"Will you contact them then? And they can perform their own rites."

"I hope it's that simple," he sighed. "I am going to try to get in contact. For now, he's in Fletch's storage building. It's not great, but it's cool and dry. That's the best we can do."

Forfend hummed. "Alright. So long as he gets his burial rites."

"I'm sure he will." Jessie pat Forfend's arm gently. "In lighter news, there's a party planned this evening to celebrate the safe return of Louis and Jayden. You can invite your... friends? Are they friends? If you want."

Forfend rolled its shoulders. The mortar on its back had assimilated into its body and the wound was gone, but Forfend had not forgotten the pain. "I like Melzaryn and Kairi. They are friendly acquaintances. Kagoshi, on the other hand, is quite unpleasant for a number of reasons."

"I can see that," he nodded.

"Nonetheless, he certainly did help us," Forfend allowed. "I will invite them if I see them again today. For now, I need to see Fletch regarding the armor."

"Right. Be careful."

"I will." It lumbered towards the forge.

Fletch was carefully assembling a sculpture of bent nails. He could use them for scrap, but he'd instead chosen to create a shaky tower of odd angles and sharp points. It wasn't far enough along yet to resemble anything specific. Maybe it never would.

"Oh, hey, Forfend. Glad you're looking better!" he grinned.

"I am feeling better as well. If you are not busy, could you help me go through this crate?" Forfend asked.

"The one I'm not supposed to touch? Sure!" Fletch practically bounced up and hauled himself over the edge, staring down at the contents. He whistled. "Tyrwedian military. Gorgeous craftsmanship. We can't be fucking with this stuff."

Forfend grabbed its oversized pair of gloves and pulled them on. It dragged the first armor set out of the box. "I do not intend to have us melt it down or resell it."

"That's good. I'm hesitant to mess with anything here. I don't think the noble houses will take kindly to us having their stuff." Fletch eyed the armor with a rare display of apprehension.

"You may contact anyone you would like about returning it."

"That's probably a good idea," he nodded. "So what's the deal with the little gems?" Fletch leaned down and squinted at the miniscule stone.

"If you touch them directly, they will overwhelm and injure you," Forfend warned.

Fletch pulled on his own pair of gloves and grabbed a set of tongs. "Noted."

"I want to remove them all."

Fletch blinked. "This is looted Tyrwedian military armor. I don't know if we should do that."

"If they wanted these back, they should not have lost them. They are far too dangerous to be left lying around. They are part of the reason the children were kidnapped," Forfend stated firmly.

"Alright, I guess that's true," Fletch conceded. "I'll help you with that, but then we put them back in the box and I'll figure out who to write to come pick up their shit."

Forfend nodded and began the painstaking process of pulling every individual gem out of every individual armor.

The process was significantly easier with Fletch's assistance. Altogether, however, it still took the better part of the day.

When the last armor was freed of its gem and tumbled into pieces, Fletch tossed it back into the box and brushed his gloved hands off. "That does it."

Forfend nodded. It carefully wrapped the last gem in a tiny scrap of cloth as it had all the others and added it to the collective pouch. "I will store these away for now."

"Alright. I'm gonna get ready for the party. You're coming, right?"

"Of course."

Fletch grinned. He headed into the house while Forfend made for its room.

It tossed the bag of obsidian shards into the large chest at the back of the room and, for the first time, it locked the chest closed. Forfend added the key to one of its belt pouches. It grabbed the key to its door next and locked that behind it for the first time as well.

Forfend sighed with the long, slow hiss of a steam leak. It hadn't been so paranoid in a long time. It did not welcome the feeling.

At least the night's party would alleviate some stress. Hopefully.

Avery offered Melzaryn a massive cut of beef almost as soon as he walked in. He took it, nodded politely, and found himself a seat to eat at.

Kairi and Kagoshi followed a few minutes behind Melzaryn. They also made for the food first.

The party was split. Some people were eating. Some were dancing.

Forfend was with Fletch on the dancefloor, listening to its friend laugh and prod it for details on the monster fight.

Jessie couldn't relax and neither could Joel. Both were circling the room every few minutes, making certain windows were locked and doors were closed.

Forfend spotted Mavis and Jace slip in a bit late. It hadn't expected to see them so soon after the incident, but Jace was practically vibrating with excitement.

Forfend made its way to them. "It's good to see you." It rested a gentle hand on Mavis's shoulder. "Are you both doing alright?"

Mavis nodded. "We'll be okay."

"Forfend, you're so cool!" Jace yelled. "I didn't know you could get hurt."

Forfend hummed. "It has been a very long time since I have been hurt."

"Did you kill the big blue thing?"

"Yes, it is quite dead."

"How'd you do it?" Jace's eyes sparkled, wide with wonder.

"I dropped a block of lead on it," it answered simply.

"Did you pick it up and throw it at the big monster because you're so super strong?"

Mavis smiled apologetically, but Forfend wasn't bothered by the deluge of questions.

"Something to that effect, yes."

"Did you use your magic?" Jace asked next.

"I did."

"What did you make with it? Did you make fire?" He mimicked tossing fireballs.

Forfend nodded.

"Was it scary?"

"It was very scary. I am glad everyone is safe." Forfend lightly tapped Jace's helmet. A steady orange glow spread across the surface.

Jace grabbed the helmet and took it off only long enough to look at it. "It's glowing!"

"It will wear off in a while, but enjoy it while it lasts." Forfend's chest lit up the same color.

Jace squealed. "Mom, look!" He barely gave Mavis a chance to glance before he took off like a shot, showing everyone in the room in turn.

Forfend chuckled with a sound like grinding stone.

"Thank you for looking out for him," Mavis said seriously. "If it weren't for you and those travelers, I would've lost him."

"We only did what needed to be done."

Mavis smiled. "I'm going to try to catch up to him before he bumps into something."

"Best of luck," Forfend chuckled again.

Mavis had barely passed it before the telltale ting rang out.

"Jace, be careful!" Mavis called with much exasperation.

"I'm okay!" Jace yelled back.

Forfend checked in on Loius and Jayden next.

Louis was eating and chattering. He kept trying to get his father to stop pacing and sit down. Fletch was having the same argument with Jessie just a few feet away.

Jayden was stuck to her mother's side. Rosie encouraged her to talk and enjoy the company.

Forfend spoke with them for a bit, but eventually it decided it needed to help Fletch.

Forfend found Fletch following Jessie on his hundredth circuit around the room.

"You gotta enjoy yourself. You're gonna worry yourself to death," Fletch complained.

"It's basic safety precautions. Somebody has to do it," Jessie argued.

Forfend picked Jessie up off the ground.

"What, hey?!" He kicked at the air.

"Have you eaten?" Forfend asked.

"Well... I will," he mumbled sheepishly.

"You will," Forfend repeated and carried Jessie to the table.

"Yeah, that's my boy!" Fletch cheered.

It plopped Jessie down in a chair right between the two affected families.

Fletch sat next to him and hooked their elbows together. "Sit. Eat. Enjoy yourself. It's a party!"

Jessie sighed deeply, running his hand down his tired face. "I dunno."

Joel watched the ordeal suspiciously before slowly giving in to Louis's begging. He sat down as well. Sharp eyes kept darting towards the doors and windows, but he ate and spoke with his son.

With even Joel giving up the endless rounds, Jessie had no excuse.

Fletch pushed a full plate in front of him as Forfend sat down on his other side.

"Alright, okay, you got me." Jessie dug in, suddenly starving now that he wasn't otherwise focused.

Forfend awoke early. All in all, it felt less on edge than it had lately. It was a good sign. Things could go back to normal.

A rapid knock sounded on Forfend's door.

It hauled itself up. "Is something wrong?" it asked as it crossed the room, unlocking the door.

Fletch opened the door as soon as the kerchunk sounded. "There's a whole caravan coming."

"I'm not sure they're merchants," Jessie added fretfully.

Forfend hummed. "We should greet them and find out what they need."

Jessie nodded.

"I'll stick by the forge. Keep an eye on all our stuff," Fletch offered.

"Thank you." Forfend followed Jessie into the town square.

It wasn't long before the caravan entered the city proper. The astounding twenty soldiers escorting the three wagons were worryingly well armed and dressed in the flawless armor of Tyrwedian military. It was certainly a far more serious display of force than a town like Foumedo needed.

Forfend wondered where they were heading.

They stopped. Five knights stepped out of the middle wagon and stood in careful formation. The middle one stood slightly more forward than the others, a scroll in hand

He unraveled it and read, despite how difficult it must've been to see the words through the slats in his helmet's visor.

"In the name of Lord Clayton of House Galloford, merchant house and vassal under King Falco Feldrian, we request the leaders of the town of..." the Knight trailed off, squinting at his scroll. "Fou...mee-do," he mispronounced, grumbled under his breath, and continued, "to present themselves."

No one moved.

After a moment, Jessie hesitantly stepped forward. He was the only leader this town really had. He lacked official titles, but filled the role nonetheless.

The knight waited, watching the rest of the crowd.

Melzaryn opened the tavern door and stepped outside. His eyes flicked over the commotion briefly. He spun on his heel and went back indoors.

Kagoshi and Kairi stepped out shortly after. They watched whatever was about to unfold. Kairi looked curious. Kagoshi wore his ever-present scowl, arms crossed tightly over his chest.

Remiss to leave Jessie alone, Forfend stepped up behind him and to his right like an assistant.

"Alright," the guard started slowly, realizing no one else would be joining them. "Very well. Leader of Fou-mee-do, we are in search of a shipment of Tyrwedian military goods. As per our orders from Lord Clayton, we are to search the merchant route that the shipment traveled upon and recover the shipment. Upon arrival into each town we are to request an audience with the town's leadership and receive a detailed report of the last five weeks. We will remain in Foumedo until we receive the report and a full search of the town has been completed." The man rolled his scroll back up and stood at attention.

"I can show you precisely where the caravan crashed and where most of the supplies are," Forfend offered.

If that's all they were looking for, the knights would be in and out very quickly. They could return home. Forfend and its companions had already handled the hardest part for them. Fletch and Jessie wouldn't even need to contact anyone anymore. It was a stroke of luck.

"I see," the man spoke, slightly startled. He scanned the crowd, overlooking Forfend each pass in his search of who spoke up. "That, uh... And the goods are present here? Is that correct?"

"We have some of the armors in a crate by the forge. We only found them the night before last."

The knight continued to look right past Forfend. For some strange reason, he was wholly incapable of pinning the voice down as belonging to it.

"Hm. I see." The knight took a deep breath. "In the name of Lord Clayton of House Galloford, merchant house and vassal under King Falco Feldrian, I hearby place you under arrest for theft, possession, and use of military property, kidnapping a noble, and ransoming."

Gasps and murmurs ran through the crowd.

Forfend was stunned. The only thing in that list they were technically guilty of was possession and even that had been a faultless happenstance. They'd done nothing wrong.

The knight continued, "You are to be transported to the Tyrwedian royal capital of Cragwall and, further, the castle of Feldrian to be held under trial for your crimes. This action will be carried out immediately."

"Oh hell no!" Kagoshi yelled out.

The knight ignored him and approached Jessie, pulling manacles from his belt.

Kagoshi rushed forward with Kairi right on his heels. He glowered at the man with unbridled contempt.

Several guards intercepted, suddenly on edge. Tension filled the air.

"Wait, wait," Kairi warned.

"Oh good, you've got shields. That means the rest of your buddies have got something to carry you home on," Kagoshi threatened darkly.

The tension sharpened rapidly. Every single soul in Foumedo was overwhelmed with apprehension.

"Kagoshi!" Forfend and Kairi yelled at the same time.

"What?!" he yelled back. "They're trying to make an arrest on falsehoods!"

"Yes, but this is not a problem one can solve with violence," Forfend argued. "They will perform an investigation and find that the wreck happened weeks ago and was only recently discovered. No one here was involved. None of us are guilty of anything."

The knight shifted his focus from Kagoshi back to Jessie and continued his advance.

"Wait, Jessie had nothing to do with this," Forfend insisted.

"As the leader of this town, he is held liable for everyone within it," the knight explained loudly, still blindly failing to acknowledge Forfend as the speaker.

"Oh, fuck," Jessie swore, panic in his eyes. He stepped back and bumped into Forfend.

Forfend pushed Jessie behind it and stood staunchly in front of him.

The knight paused. He looked Forfend up and down.

"And where did you procure this golem?" he asked suspiciously.

"I am not a golem," Forfend responded evenly.

"It speaks," he marveled.

"It has been speaking for a while." Forfend gazed stiffly down at the man.

He seemed to realize all at once that Forfend had done most of the talking thus far. He cleared his throat and eyed Jessie where he nervously stood against Forfend's back.

"Leader of Fou-mee-do, if you do not command your golem to move out of the way, we will have to take more forceful methods."

"I am not a golem," Forfend repeated adamantly.

"If you do not order this construct to stand down," the guard enunciated, "we will be forced to escalate the situation."

The sound of stone cracking resounded from somewhere within Forfend's body as its frustration peaked. "Jessie, give the order."

Jessie inhaled sharply. He glanced at Forfend, then at the guard, and back again. "Forfend, get out of the way," he whispered shakily. It was only just loud enough for the knight to hear.

Forfend held its ground without a word.

"I see," the guard said slowly.

Fletch pushed through the crowd behind the guard and locked eyes on Forfend. He caught sight of Jessie next and Forfend knew his desperate expression was a plea to protect his husband.

Forfend nodded so subtly no one but Fletch would catch it.

"I just wanna punch him. Just one hit," Kagoshi announced aloud.

Kairi whispered something to him.

"I'm not gonna hit these two," he waved dismissively at the guards directly in front of him, their spears crossed and their anxiety skyhigh. "I just wanna punch him." He pointed at the knight currently stalled uncertainly in front of Forfend.

"Kagoshi, you are not helping," Forfend admonished harshly.

It knelt slowly and hunched its shoulders until it was nearly eye level with the guard.

"May I ask that before you make any arrests, you investigate for yourselves," it requested.

The knight sighed. He turned to the guards and nodded.

The guards and a couple of the other knights scattered to scour the town.

The head knight returned his attention to Forfend. "These are orders from our lord, golem," he scathingly emphasized the last word. Forfend had no intention of letting the man get a rise out of it though. "We are to arrest this person immediately and transport them to the royal capital."

"Why is that?" Kagoshi called.

"We are given strict orders. It is our duty to adhere to them," the knight responded sharply.

"I understand this, but you do not have all the information you need to make a judgment here," Forfend said carefully. "I will tell you everything that we know about this situation. I only ask that you allow me to share our story before your guards return. I am quite certain they will find nothing that contradicts what I will tell you."

The knight looked irritable, but he motioned for Forfend to keep talking.

"Alright, from the very beginning." Steam hissed as Forfend gathered its thoughts. Jessie pressed against its back, both giving and seeking comfort. "Two of our town's children recently went missing. We were on the hunt for them when a third was nearly kidnapped. Myself and a handful of companions were able to prevent the kidnapping. The perpetrator was a strange blue demon-like creature. I have never seen such a thing before. If you would like to see it for yourself, the remainder of its body is likely still in the back of a cave due north from here. My companions and I tracked it there after it escaped from us during the attempted abduction."

Forfend paused. It was already getting ahead of itself.

The knight crossed his arms skeptically.

"During our initial hunt for the children, we stumbled across a cart wreck also perpetrated by this same creature and its will-o-wisps. The wagon was destroyed and everything raided from it already. We found evidence of a previous wreck as well, though the wagon itself was gone. We found it later in the monster's lair, similarly raided. Most of your missing goods are likely still scattered around the cavern, though we do have what I believe to be your armors here in town. You will find them in a crate behind the forge, dismantled but undamaged."

"Why are they dismantled?" the knight asked suspiciously.

"To better fit in the crate. Storage space for that much armor is not something a town so small as Foumedo has in abundance."

The knight nodded, apparently satisfied with that response.

"In the back of the cavern, we caught up with the monster and slayed it. The missing children were there. We were able to bring them home safely. However," Forfend sighed like a rush of steam, "there was a third child in the cave. I believe him to be the child of one of the merchants from the caravans and he has passed away. He had already been deceased for weeks when we found him."

One of the passing guards still searching the town snapped his head up and stared at Forfend, concern clear even through his visor.

The head knight held a carefully neutral stance. "So, golem, it was you and your companions who commenced this investigation. Is that correct?"

"Yes," it nodded. "Jessie was not among those companions. No citizen of Foumedo save for myself was."

The knight glanced briefly at Kagoshi, who was being mercifully silent, and Kairi. He seemed to glean the unspoken identities of Forfend's companions quite easily.

"Everything he's told you is true," Kairi piped up. "We were there."

Kagoshi nodded.

A number of the townsfolk shouted their support, backing up every aspect of Forfend's story.

"I see," the knight hummed. He looked around at all the people nodding and yelling. Every testimony matched every other and they all matched Forfend's. "It would appear this golem is telling the truth."

He nodded at one of the knights that had stayed behind.

She nodded and set about rounding up the guards and their findings.

The massive crate of armor was hauled out. One of the guards also carried the carefully wrapped corpse of the young noble. He held the body at arms length, apparently apprehensive to touch the bloodied cloth.

"What the hell is he wrapped in?" the head knight asked.

"The monster's cloak," Forfend answered. "It was all I had for him. There were no other blankets or articles of clothing in the cavern. Please, just make certain he gets his burial rites."

The knight nodded. He took a deep breath. "I've made my decision."

Jessie peeked out from behind Forfend. All of Foumedo leaned in to hear the verdict.

"Our orders still stand."

Foumedo erupted in indignant swears.

"However," the knight shouted over the din, "in accordance with our laws, you may be able to travel to the court itself and make an appeal. That is all. Our orders still remain."

The crowd quieted down. It was a chance, a reason to hope.

"Now will you continue to obstruct the official business of the law?" he asked Forfend. "Or will I have to resort to more forceful means?"

Forfend sighed deeply, steam whistling for a long moment. "Please. Do not take Jessie from this town. I am more than happy to go with you, but Jessie was not involved and Foumedo needs him here."

The knight looked Forfend up and down carefully. "You are not willing to relinquish the town leader, but you are offering to travel in his stead. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Very well then. In that case, I will permit it." The knight nodded to another who spoke into a rune-marked stone.

"You are to travel to the Tyrwedian royal capital of Cragwall and seek audience with Lord Clayton Galloford. We will remain here to make certain you complete the journey." The head knight cocked his head. "Is that agreeable?"

"It is. Thank you, sir." Forfend bowed slightly.

"You and your companions must depart immediately."

"May I have half an hour to gather my things for the trip?" Forfend asked.

"That will be allotted," the knight nodded.

"Thank you," it said again.

Forfend took its leave immediately. It headed straight to its home and unlocked the door.

Luckily, it looked like the guards hadn't been too keen on damaging property in their search. They had left the building alone.

Forfend unlocked the chest in the back of the room and added the sack of obsidian shards to a pouch on its belt. It grabbed its shield and a handful of other supplies it might need.

All in all, it was ready to go in less than fifteen minutes.

When Forfend went back outside, the guards were escorting Jessie into his own home. Thankfully, they hadn't shackled him.

"Be careful! Stay safe! And come home!" Jessie yelled.

"I will," Forfend called back.

Melzaryn, Kairi, and Kagoshi were already at the town gates. As was Fletch.

When Forfend approached, the former three struck out immediately. Forfend started to follow, but Fletch's hand grazed its arm.

It turned.

Fletch had tears in his reddened eyes. He swallowed thickly and wrapped his arms around Forfend's waist.

It placed an oversized hand gently on his back.

"Thank you, Forfend," he managed, his voice cracking with emotion. "If they'd taken Jessie, he... They never would've let him come home. I never would've seen him again. I don't--" A sob cut him off. He dug his fingers into the cracks of Forfend's body, trying to hold it tighter. "I don't know what I'd do without him."

"Everything is going to be alright," Forfend assured. It pressed Fletch into its chest.

Fletch stepped back, sniffling and wiping at his eyes. He looked directly into Forfend's face. He had never looked so serious before as he did now.

"You'll come back to us, right?" He barely got the question out before he had to grit his teeth to bite back another sob.

"Of course."

"I'm gonna hold you to that. Alright?" He took Forfend's hand. "Come home."

"I will," Forfend nodded.

"That's a promise?"

"It is. I will return." It lightly squeezed Fletch's hand and gently pulled away.

"You got everything you need? All your supplies? Your mace? I guess you don't really need any food for the road, huh?" Fletch sniffled, trying out a weak smile. He was prolonging the moment.

Forfend allowed him to do it. It didn't want to leave anymore than Fletch wanted it to.

"Do you have stuff to repair your body with? Your shield? Ya know, just, have you got everything?" he continued his line of questioning.

"I have everything I need. I am certain of that."

"You're, uh, you're really gonna leave," he said softly. Tears brimmed in his eyes again.

Forfend picked Fletch up and pulled him into a hug, squeezing him as much as it safely could.

Fletch sobbed against its chest. "Come home. Please come home," he begged.

"I will." It set Fletch down and kept its steady hand on his shoulder until he composed himself a bit.

"You better. That's a promise. Okay?" Fletch shook with emotion, trying desperately not to fall apart for a third time.

"I will. I swear to you, I will return," it promised.

"Alright," he almost whispered. "Alright. I'll, uh... I'll let you go." He pat Forfend's arm one more time and trudged back toward his home, which was already surrounded by guards.

Forfend pulled its gaze away. It couldn't risk seeing the gathering of somber citizens there to see it off. They were all its friends and its family. And it knew Jace was crying. It couldn't stand to see him in such a state.

Forfend followed after its companions, jogging to catch up. Its metal core had never felt so heavy or so low in its chest. It was scared, worried, and remarkably alone despite the group it traveled in. Already, it missed home.

"Gods, what a pain in the ass," Kagoshi remarked of the road ahead.

Forfend glanced up, distracted from its thoughts. The first day of travel had been wholly uneventful, though very sad. It had watched everything it knew disappear over the horizon.

The second day, however, was going to be a long, strenuous hike.

Ahead of them was a sheer dropoff. The road zigzagged carefully down it.

Shortly after they began the descent, a voice called out from below.

"Hello? Is anyone there? I'm quite stuck!"

Forfend leaned over the edge of the cliff, followed by Kairi then Melzaryn and finally Kagoshi.

"Hello! Help!" Despite the calls for aid, the deep voice sounded more inconvenienced than endangered.

It took them all a moment to spot the man. He was at the very bottom of the cliff, firmly embedded up to his shoulders in a crater in the ground.

"How did that happen?" Forfend wondered aloud.

"Hello?" the man called again. "Is anyone there? I could use some help!" He slumped, mumbling to himself too quietly for Forfend to hear from so far above.

"We're here!" it called down. "We can help!"

"Oh, good! Ah, are you at the top of the cliff? I can't see you!"

"We are!" Forfend answered.

"When and how?!" Kagoshi yelled.

"Oh, well, I assure you when I travel this is usually faster! Um, but I would appreciate if you could help me out of this hole!" The stranger wiggled ineffectually.

Forfend tilted its head. Had he jumped? It seemed likely based on his predicament, but it should be impossible. From the top of the cliff to the bottom was easily a hundred feet. Maybe more.

"Ugh, fine!" Kagoshi responded and continued the path down the cliff.

Everyone followed, picking up their pace to keep the man from waiting too terribly long.

"Ah, hello, friends," the man grinned when they finally reached the bottom level.

"Hello," Forfend greeted, taking in the stranger.

His eyes were a striking steel color and his shaggy brown hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail. He had a scar notching out a small section of his eyebrow. If Forfend had to guess, he was a survivalist like Joel and Louis.

"If you could just help me out of here, that would be greatly appreciated. If I could move my limbs, I could free myself but I cannot. They are quite pinned."

"Do you have any particular method you'd like us to use to free you?" Melzaryn asked, pulling his spellbook from a holster on his belt.

"Oh, not really. I'm quite sturdy. There's no need to worry about hurting me," he responded earnestly.

"Oh, good." Kagoshi reached down and snatched the furs around the man's shoulders.

"Oh, you're just going to pull me?" the stranger asked incredulously. "Are you sure you're quite strong enough?"

"Ready? One... Three!" Kagoshi yanked sharply upward, straining against the tight hold the earth had on the stranger. Slowly, the ground cracked and gave way.

"Oh, you're very strong," the stranger complimented.

As soon as his arms were free, the man hauled himself the rest of the way out of the the pit.

"Oh, thank you!" the man shouted, stretching stiff muscles. He popped his neck, then braced his hands on his back and popped it with a series of loud cracks. "That's much better."

Forfend began dutifully refilling the deep gap left in the ground. This was the middle of the main road. Such a dangerous hazard couldn't be left for cart wheels to get stuck in, or people to fall down, or horses to trip into.

"How did you end up in this situation?" Forfend asked.

"Well, I travel a lot and I usually find that it's faster to just jump off the edge of the cliff."

Forfend craned its head up to look at the top of the cliff face.

"I can take the fall," the man assured.

"Correct me if I am wrong," Forfend started, "but I do not believe that is something a normal human could survive."

"Well, you see, I'm very durable." He smiled proudly.

Forfend looked him over again. He wasn't wearing a shirt, only a fur wrap around his shoulders. Muscles bulged from his chest and arms. It had no doubt he was durable, but this was not the kind of thing human durability would let a person do. This man was more than he was claiming.

Kagoshi eyed Kairi, a hungry look in his eyes.

"If you ask him nicely, maybe," Kairi answered a question that hadn't been asked.

"Mm," Kagoshi responded and turned to the stranger. "I have an important question for you."

"Yes, my friend, uh..." He tilted his head quizzically.

"Kagoshi," Kagoshi supplied. "We're not friends."

"Ah, but we will be. I am Callan. Callan Hearthborn."

"Sure, I'll try to remember that. Listen, I want to fight you. I wanna test your durability claim." Kagoshi cracked his knuckles.

"Good! I was about to ask the same! Would you like then--and I hope it's not too presumptuous of me to ask--to partake in a friendly bout?" Callan was rocking on his heels, getting just as excited as Kagoshi over the prospect of a fight.

Kagoshi glanced at Kairi, a spark in his eyes.

"Go for it," Kairi encouraged.

Forfend shifted nervously. It did not like the idea in the slightest. It didn't understand why Kairi would enable his violent behaviors.

"Let's do it!" Kagoshi smirked.

"Excellent! Let us get into our starting positions." Callan took a fighting stance.

"Not on the main road," Forfend interjected. "I have just filled the hole you put in it. We should not damage it further. It is needed."

"Oh, that is fair," Callan acknowledged. He moved a good distance off the road.

Kagoshi followed and both got into position.

"Well then, friend Kagoshi, do you have a title perhaps?" Callan asked.

"No. None at the moment," Kagoshi answered somberly. Forfend couldn't read the sudden distant emotion in his eyes.

"That is fair. You see, I have not been officially recognized by the Celestial Summit to have any titles either," Callan shared. "But I hope to be recognized soon and named Callan Hearthborn the Unbreakable."

"Celestial what?" Kagoshi asked.

"What is the Celestial Summit?" Forfend inquired.

Callan looked wholly puzzled and very caught off guard. "How..? What..? Do you..?" He shook his head. "Ah, questions for later. For now, let us spar. What rules are we using?"

Kagoshi shrugged. "I dunno, just whoever gives up first."

"Oh, perfect!" Callan clapped and assumed a wide stance, arms outstretched. "Perhaps, would one of your companions like to start the countdown?"

Kagoshi tilted his head at the stance. "Oh, you're a confident bastard. I like you."

"You're quite confident as well," Callan returned. "Let this duel be something to remember."

Forfend fretted at the sidelines. Its fingers tapping nervously on its shield. It hoped Kagoshi would stay under control.

Melzaryn tilted his staff forward.

A glowing three appeared between the two fighters with a beep. It faded. A two appeared with the same noise. Then a one. When it faded, a loud ding rang out.

Kagoshi charged across the field without a moment's hesitation.

Callan made no motion to get out of the way or strike back.

Kagoshi reeled back and slammed his fist into the man's face. A surprising metal twang rang out, rattling up Kagoshi's arm.

Kagoshi swore and bounded back, hands still up despite his undoubtedly bruised knuckles.

Callan leaned forward slightly, adamantine slowly being replaced by skin once more.

"That was a good first hit, friend," he praised. "Do you mind if I take mine?"

Kagoshi looked a bit bewildered.

"I can tell that wasn't your full strength. Are we doing this or not?" Callan cocked his head.

"Don't ask him for full strength," Kairi warned.

"Alright, fine," Kagoshi growled and rolled his shoulders.

"No!" Forfend yelled.

"I guess it is your turn," Kagoshi said.

Forfend and Kairi both breathed a sigh of relief.

Callan crouched low and aimed a devastating uppercut to Kagoshi's stomach. The distinct sound of dull metal against flesh resounded across the clearing. When Callan pulled his adamantine fist back, Kagoshi had burns on the front of his shirt.

Kagoshi doubled over, staggering a bit.

"Alright, this is just trading blows. Are we actually going to fight?" Callan asked idly.

Kagoshi gave a wheezing laugh.

"Do not!" Kairi yelled.

"C'mon, friend, I know you've got more in you," Callan egged him on.

"Please do not ask him for more," Forfend shouted. It feared what would happen.

"He's obviously having a good time! Let him have a good time!" Callan argued.

"You don't understand," Kairi shook her head.

"No one else will have a good time." Forfend edged sightly in front of Melzaryn in case it needed to protect him.

Kagoshi looked up, fire spilling from his mouth and a wild look in his eyes.

"You have your own unique abilities too! C'mon, use it!" Callan was practically jumping with excitement. "C'mon! Do not worry, everything will be fine. I can take it. In the battle between you and I, nothing else matters."

"'Everything will be fine,' he says," Kagoshi chuckled darkly. "Let's see if you can deal with hell on earth!" he roared, his body contorting as it grew.

Callan stared with wide eyes, a grin plastered to his face as Kagoshi burst into flames and doubled in size.

The sky darkened, turning the same violent red as Kagoshi's pulsing scars.

"Fantastic!" Callan screamed. "I feel a shiver run up my spine. This is fear! This means this fight is worth undertaking!"

Kagoshi growled, breathing heavily.

"Look at this, we do have a title for you!" Callan announced. "Kagoshi the Giant!" Callan slammed his fists into one another, a metallic clang ringing out as adamantine crawled up his arms and covered his entire body. "Versus Callan Hearthborn the Unbreakable!"

Forfend stared at the sky, shock and fear filling its body. It readied its shield and pulled its mace from its belt. If Kagoshi came toward it, Forfend would be prepared.

Forfend grunted and clutched tighter to Jace.

A second blow crashed into Forfend. It flinched, a second resounding crack splintering across its stone shoulders.

Kagoshi roared and braced for a third monstrous attack.

Forfend straightened from its hunched position. It turned just enough to catch a glimpse of Kagoshi's snarling face above it.

"Stop," it commanded.

Its rune flashed brighter as ethereal chains shot from it's face, binding Kagoshi tightly.

He strained against the scorching orange light to no avail.

Forfend backed away from him, keeping Jace clutched firmly behind its shield. Kagoshi would not be allowed to hurt him.

Kairi gasped and called out to her struggling friend.

His wild eyes flicked to hers. He shuddered, grit his teeth, and slammed his arms out wide.

The ethereal chains burst, dissipating into the cool night air like smoke.

Kagoshi growled.

Forfend readied its shield.

"Kagoshi!" Kairi called again, putting her body between the pair. Her ethereal wings were on full display, trailing rainbows the same way her eyes were.

He eyed her suspiciously. After a moment, contempt slipped into recognition.

The fire consuming his features blinked out. The eerie red lights around town desisted, fading back to their original soft yellow glow. He shrank.

Forfend watched him hawkishly.

Kagoshi blinked and rubbed his face. He stared blankly for a moment. "Wha--?" He cut himself off and shook his head. He'd figured out what he'd done.

Forfend edged between Kagoshi and Jessie as Jessie caught up to them.

Kagoshi scowled and stalked off down the river.

"Ah, didn't Melzaryn go that way?" Jessie asked, skin pallid as Decessus himself.

"If he screams, I will go over there," Forfend assured, though it hadn't even seen Melzaryn wander off. "More likely though, we'll see a flash of magic and Kagoshi will go floating down the river."

"I'll check on them."

"Don't," Forfend demanded more harshly than it meant to. It was, if it were honest with itself, frightened.

"Alright." Jessie threw his hands up placatingly.

"The monster disappeared in that direction and I don't trust Kagoshi not to hurt you either." It turned a bit, showing its back to Jessie.

"Blood of Genesis," Jessie swore. "Are you okay? Can you heal yourself? Gods, I never thought to ask. Do you need to see Byr?"

Forfend hesitated. Perhaps the damage was more severe than it thought. It could certainly feel the cracks arching across its back. They burned.

It hadn't been in pain a single time since it had awoken, until now. It felt like it didn't have a proper baseline anymore. How much pain was too much? At what point was this dangerous?

"I'm alright," it finally answered.

"Are you sure because--"

Forfend cut him off, "I will be just fine."

"Alright," Jessie relented uncertainly. "What the hell was that?"

Forfend looked down at Kairi. She was fidgeting and fretting as she watched Kagoshi stalk through the water. She tensed when she sensed Forfend watching her and looked up at it.

"What was that?" Forfend asked intensely.

Kairi heaved a heavy sigh. "Well, it's Kagoshi's privacy. I can't tell you much, but when something triggers his rage--in this case, the children being taken--he turns into that monster. I'm usually able to calm him down. I'm sorry I wasn't quick enough this time."

"So you are effectively a caretaker for an extremely dangerous monster," Forfend summarized.

"More like a handler," Jessie muttered.

"Yes," she admitted. "I'm sorry he hurt you. I hope this will at least help a bit." She held her hands out. A sparkling pink flowed from them and pressed into its back. The pain eased, though it didn't disappear.

"Thank you. But I need you to understand: if he had hit anyone else in this town like that," Forfend spoke clearly and with great emphasis, "he would have killed them."

"I know," Kairi almost whispered, regret and worry heavy in her voice. "I know."

"Hey," Kagoshi called, his voice notably less aggressive than usual. He'd worked his way up the river until he stood somewhat near them. He intentionally kept his distance.

Forfend watched him carefully.

Mavis grabbed Forfend's arm, startling it. She was sobbing.

"Is he okay?!" she nearly wailed.

Jace was huddled tight against Forfend's chest. Terror kept him silent, but his shivering had stopped.

"He is," Forfend answered and lowered him within Mavis's reach.

She hauled him into her arms, cradling him and squeezing him and sobbing all over again.

"I'll escort you home," Jessie offered. He glanced at Forfend for confirmation.

It nodded. "We will go after the monster."

"All of you?" He eyed Kagoshi anxiously.

"Yes." Forfend had no intention of leaving Kagoshi in town when it wasn't around. He would be going with the rest of them whether he liked it or not. Though by the looks of things, he was more than keen to continue the hunt. Maybe he could put that violent, destructive force to good use.

"Alright." Jessie tore his worried gaze off Kagoshi and put a gentle, guiding hand on Mavis's back.

Forfend turned uneasily back to Kagoshi.

He hadn't gotten out of the water. He simply held up the monster's broken horn. How he'd managed to find the little thing in the muddy, flowing river was beyond Forfend.

Kagoshi tossed it.

Forfend caught it easily and turned the ivory over in its hand. It barely glanced at the material. It was still watching Kagoshi.

"Can you track the monster with that?" he asked.

Forfend hummed. "No." It lightly tossed the horn back to Kagoshi. "However, I got a decent look at that cloak it's wearing."

"It may just lead us to the hole under the bridge," Melzaryn piped up. "We can't get through it."

"Its route is impassable?" Forfend asked.

"Completely, unless you can turn into mist," Melzaryn confirmed. "And it's ruining the structural integrity of the bridge."

Forfend hummed again and lightly tapped the medallion on its chest. "It's still worth trying. Louis and Jayden are in grave danger."

The holy symbol lit up. "Brown cloak, right shoulder singed by magic and stained with dark blood," Forfend described.

The orange light floated idly in front of the symbol. It was not a good sign.

All at once, the magic shot off, dragging against the ground and zigzagging almost at random.

"It's well below us and moving erratically." Forfend rushed after the rocketing light.

The magic froze occasionally, sitting stockstill until they'd nearly caught up. Then it was off again at breakneck pace. Forfend guessed it was losing track of the target periodically, likely due to it using its mist form.

"It must be in a cave system," Melzaryn panted. "It's moving pretty steadily north despite all the hoops it's jumping through though."

Forfend nodded.

Kagoshi growled and surpassed Melzaryn and Forfend in his single-minded determination.

Forfend and Kagoshi were both promptly stopped by their feet sinking deep into mud.

Forfend's weight dragged it down into the muck. It didn't mind much. Even if it were completely submerged, it would still have a sense of where the magic was going. It didn't need to breathe.

Kagoshi powered right through, trudging forward before the suction could pull him under.

Forfend managed one more step before a series of cracks sounded from beneath it. The mud gave way, sliding into the tunnel below. Forfend was carried with it.

"Hm." Melzaryn observed the situation. "Looks like it had an entrance hidden with branches and leaves here. You were more than it could support."

"Fine with me," Forfend called up. "We were going to need to find a way down here very shortly anyway."

Kagoshi doubled back and jumped into the pit. He started after the light again, but the spell blinked out.

"Hey, what the fuck?" Kagoshi glared over his shoulder.

Forfend helped Melzaryn and Kairi get into the hole with considerably less mud on them.

"What?" it asked. "Ah. We lost it."

"Fuck," Kagoshi swore.

Melzaryn dragged his hand along the wall. "Lot of scrapes here."

Kairi twirled around the room. "There's more on the floor and wood planks scattered around too."

Forfend took its own look around. There were many things it could do well beyond human ability. However, seeing in the dark was simply not one of them. The pitch blackness of the room offered it nothing.

It held up its hand to cast Light on its bandolier.

Another Light, bright like a supernova, lit up the corridor. It dimmed into a sparkling purple glow. Kairi passed the bespelled rock to Forfend.

"Thank you," it said, almost startled. It wedged the Light rock into a small mesh holster on its belt. "This will be a great help."

Kagoshi was already rushing into the room ahead.

"No problem," Kairi smiled and followed her charge.

Melzaryn stuck near Forfend, though he meandered further inside as well. "Look at this."

Forfend followed his gaze. Little droplets of blood splattered the floor in a couple of places. It wasn't much blood. It was still more than Forfend would've liked to have seen. It hummed disapprovingly.

The entire room smelled of wood rot. Busted, empty crates lay scattered around. Only a handful were still intact, and even they were damp.

Water dripped from stalactites above them and trickled down the walls. The whole place was dank, uncomfortable, and molding. Forfend couldn't imagine how the children had been putting up with it.

It passed by an unopened crate as they exited the room into the next corridor. It paused and lifted the rotten top off. Nails slipped out of the softened wood with ease.

Inside was nothing but rusted armor and weapons. They'd been good quality at one time. Now they were barely fit for scrap.

Forfend gently replaced the lid and followed its companions.

The overwhelming stench of death and rotting meat filled the air.

The group stopped very shortly into the room to take in the gruesome sight.

There was a pile of horse bones sloughing putrid flesh onto the bloodstained floor. To the left of it was a wrecked cart, its front two wheels missing entirely. It was shredded and empty.

This was all that remained of what was missing from the wreck they'd found earlier. Forfend felt particularly bad for the mutilated horse. It's partner hadn't faired much better, but at least it hadn't been torn apart and left to rot on the cave floor.

"Huh. I always kind of figured I'd be able to tell the difference between rotting humanoid and rotting animal. Guess not," Kagoshi shrugged.

"To be perfectly frank, it all smells roughly the same." Forfend turned away from the mess. It hadn't seen such gore in a long time. It had forgotten how awful it was.

"How would you know?" Kagoshi crossed his arms and tilted his head suspiciously.

"I have been in a warzone," it answered simply.

"Sure, but how do you smell?"

Forfend touched its runic face. "Magic. Same as the rest of my senses. I can see, hear, and speak. Is it so strange that I can also smell?"

"Yes."

Forfend shook its head. "We should move on."

Kagoshi wasted no time moving across the room to another corridor on the right.

Forfend's attention, however, was caught by something straight ahead. It crossed the room, passing carefully by the foul horse carcass.

Something of a haphazard barricade was built into the wall here. It was messily stacked and chained. At least, Forfend thought so until it pushed at the debris. Nothing moved in the slightest. It was far more solid than it appeared.

Closer inspection revealed a device that seemed to serve as a lock. It looked as though something of a particular shape, a key by technicality alone, could be pushed into it to knock down the barricade from the other side. It was an atrocious way to build a "door."

Melzaryn shuddered. "Who designs things like this?"

"Nothing sound of mind." Forfend leaned into the door and listened intently.

Distantly, oh so distantly, Forfend heard a cry. It recognized Jayden's voice immediately.

"Kagoshi!" it called.

"What?!" he snapped and stormed out of the other tunnel over to Forfend's position.

"The children are this way. I heard them. We need to tear this down."

Kagoshi snagged the lock and ripped it off effortlessly. A series of tumbling clatters sounded from the other side. He hadn't fully "unlocked" it, but he'd definitely destroyed part of the barricade.

Forfend squared its shoulders and punched the door. The rest of the debris exploded apart, leaving a clear path for them.

"I could've designed a better locking mechanism in my sleep," Melzaryn fussed.

Kagoshi stormed into the room. "What the fuck, Forfend?"

Forfend followed him inside.

It was a simple storage room. More armor sets like the one they'd seen at the cart wreck sat up against the walls. Old crates, a bit less damp and a lot more intact, were scattered around the room.

"I thought you said you heard the kids," Kagoshi growled accusingly.

Forfend hummed. "I did."

It ran its stone hand over the nearest stack of crates and pried it open. There was nothing inside but old weapons and rusty armor.

It moved to the next substantially-sized crate. This one held more of the same.

It moved on to the next one.

And the next one.

"They're boxes," Kagoshi complained. "It's a storage closet. You interrupted the search to drag us all into a storage closet."

"No." Something wasn't right here. Forfend knew it.

It paused at a large crate jammed into the corner. The lid on this one was already ajar. Forfend peered into it.

Empty.

"This one is different." It pulled the old wooden box out from the wall. With nothing inside, it was quite lightweight.

"A hidden passage," Kairi gasped, tiptoeing around the crate to stare down the passageway.

"That's a little bit better of security system, but still terrible," Melzaryn noted. "I hope it fights like it floorplans."

Forfend entered the corridor with Kagoshi right on his heels. It continued on for a long ways.

"Hey," Kairi called. "This must've fallen off it."

Forfend slowed but didn't stop, and looked over its shoulder.

Kairi held up the scrap of her dress she'd torn off to throw at the monster. It was no longer glowing. It had already served its purpose.

"Then it's certain to be here." Forfend steeled itself for the encounter.

Melzaryn stuck close to Forfend, his staff at the ready.

The tight hallway finally opened up again, this time into an exceptionally large cavern. A strange magic circle painted using blood marred the floor. Cages were stationed around it.

"Jayden! Louis!" Forfend yelled.

Both kids perked up from within their tiny prisons. They were dirty, bloodied, and wholly exhausted.

"Forfend!" Jayden called ecstatically.

There were two other caged children Forfend didn't recognize. One cowered in a cage just behind Jayden. The other lay curled in a tight ball on the floor. He was asleep, unconscious, or...

Forfend dismissed the thought. It hoped he was alright and left it at that.

Jayden's cage was closest. It padded to her as quietly as it could manage.

The cage was makeshift at best. Forfend tore it open with ease.

Jayden hugged Forfend's leg and rushed across to Loius's cage.

Forfend approached the cell just behind Jayden's and crouched down.

The boy inside it gasped, cowering against the far wall.

Forfend tried its best to look less intimidating. It knew how disconcerting it could be.

"I'm sorry to frighten you, but I and my companions are here to help." It opened the cage up and pulled a cloth out of a pouch on its belt. It unfolded it and offered the boy a piece of hardtack. Forfend didn't eat, but it occasionally carried small amounts of food for situations such as this one where it may need to feed others.

The boy reached out shakily.

All at once, claws burst from his fingers and dug aggressively but ineffectually into Forfend's arm. His skin paled to deathly blue. An impossible malevolent grin split his face to his ears.

The monster grew, its features twisting horribly as it burst from the cage until it was the full towering size they'd seen before.

It kept growing. Magic thrummed around it, billowing its cloak. It towered over Forfend, moreso than even Kagoshi's monstrous form had.

The creature pulled a massive glaive out from behind its back. The sinister blade glimmered in the light, a tiny obsidian gem glinting red in the center of it. The demon swung with impossible speed.

Forfend tried to move. Too late.

The monster's veins surged with pulsing red energy as the glaive struck Forfend's midsection. It clenched its muscles and blood red magic exploded into Forfend's side.

Rocks splintered beneath the cleaving force. Golden light spilled from the wound.

The blade caught in the center of its body, but the swinging arc didn't slow.

Forfend was launched, skidding hazardously, across the floor nearly twenty feet from the beast.

It laughed murderously as Forfend clutched its injury. "Naughty, naughty," it wailed gleefully and launched itself at Forfend a second time.

This time, Forfend got its shield up. The glaive glanced off, the demon and the weapon both now devoid of the deathly red magic.

The creature snarled, "Come, friends! Let us dispatch these intruders!" It whirled the glaive through the air above its head.

Three wispy yellow lights blinked into being and giggled mischievously. They shot off in different directions, each inhabiting a separate strange armor propped against the wall. Forfend hadn't even noticed how many of them there were crowding the edges of this room until now. If every one had a will-o-wisp to match, they were in grave danger.

Kagoshi stomped toward the monster, his muscles bulging as he once again doubled in size. Fire erupted from his face and his scars glowed deep red. He roared.

He was smaller than the demon, but his hulking stance did not make that obvious. He snatched the monster's gangly arm as it tried to bring its weapon down on him.

The monster yanked backwards and went nowhere.

Kagoshi crushed its arm in his fist with a sickening crack and twisted the bleeding mess into an unnatural angle.

The monster screeched in pain and horror.

Kagoshi pulled the monster in closer and punched it squarely in the face. Its nose audibly crunched. Sharp teeth clattered to the floor.

The creature swore aloud in a language Forfend didn't understand.

Kagoshi snarled back in the same gutteral tongue.

Magic sparked behind Forfend. It hoped that meant Kairi and Melzaryn were handling the wisps.

The whistling whirr of a wisp sounded as the creature dissipated. Kairi had gotten one.

An ice dagger launched between Kagoshi and the monster. It lodged itself into the armor on the far side of the room.

The wisp inside giggled, apparently unharmed.

The ice knife exploded into shards.

The wisp screeched.

Melzaryn grinned, magical frost dripping mist from his fingers.

The monster swore at the wisps. Its arm crunched, snapping partially back into a more natural position. It was healing.

Its jaw dropped, freezing mist spilling out. Suddenly, a torrent of blizzardous air blasted directly into Kagoshi's face and beyond.

Kagoshi barely flinched, despite the way the ice dug into his skin.

The wisp in the armor was caught in the crossfire. It had no escape. Ice crystals cut right through the metal helmet and froze the tiny creature solid. It dissipated in a breath of yellow light.

Forfend pressed its hand to its medallion. "Fornax, give me strength."

The holy symbol lit up. Magical energy filtered into Forfend's body, restoring its nearly spent reserves. Its prayer had been answered.

It stepped back and released the symbol, pointing straight at the demon.

A bolt of flaming bright light shot out and struck the creature directly in the face. Sparks danced around the deep, ragged burn the Guiding Bolt left in its wake.

The monster hissed through its teeth.

The last will-o-wisp seized control of the armor it resided in and stood. It giggled as the armor clanked awkwardly but intently forward. It raised a hand and fired a beam of ice at Kagoshi. Its jerky movements sent the shot wide. It giggled anyway as though it hadn't missed its mark.

Kagoshi squeezed tighter on the monster's trapped arm, apparently irritated at being shot at by lackeys.

Blood spurted. The creature groaned.

A dark aura burst forth from Kagoshi, his eyes dimming to burning burgundy. Black magic seeped from his back, spilling and solidifying until it formed skeletal wings. They clung tight against his shoulders.

He slammed his almost stony-looking fist into the demon's sparking face. Its horn cracked, tumbling to the ground as it swore violently in its gruff language.

Kagoshi's eyes flared with even more rage if that were possible. He yanked the creature into him and met its head with his own, cracking their skulls together.

The demon's entire face split, the bone splintering and dark blood oozing freely. More sharp teeth fell to the cave floor.

Kagoshi, the clear winner of the clash, hissed lowly in their shared language.

The creature's bloodied eyes widened in terror.

"Don't let it in the circle!" Louis warned from the far side of the cavern.

Kagoshi's eyes flicked briefly to him, then locked back on the monster. He dragged it off towards the corner. Its clawed feet dug into the rocks and dirt, but Kagoshi didn't slow.

Melzaryn propped his staff into his arms like a crossbow. Six sharp white orbs floated around the tip and shot off one after the other with blinding speed. They zipped around Forfend and pierced through the will-o-wisp's animated armor.

The wisp screeched and jolted upward, warbling straight out of the armor which promptly collapsed to the ground.

Kairi appeared in the corner of Forfend's vision. Her appearance was wholly changed. She wore a hooded cloak, a mask, and leather armor, all of which sparkled in rainbow pastels. A bow glimmered in her hands. She drew it back, a Guiding Bolt forming as she did so. She unleashed the mystic arrow and struck true. The magic impaled the wisp and sent it up in a hiss of lavender steam. It barely had time to squeak before it was no more.

The monster howled, red magic shooting like lightning through its veins again.

"Kagoshi!" Forfend tried to warn him.

Too late.

The demon twisted free of his grip and sliced into him with its massive glaive. Even wielding the blade awkwardly with a single functional hand, its raw unnatural power exploded with enough force to throw Kagoshi backwards into the wall. He fell.

Kagoshi grunted and shook himself. His arm was bleeding heavily where the weapon had impacted it, but he hadn't taken nearly the kind of brutal damage Forfend had.

The monster leapt into the air and shot backwards, floating ten feet off the ground and swearing murderously at Kagoshi.

The red light faded from its veins once again, this time leaving trails of necrotic black in its wake.

Kagoshi growled in response and pushed himself to his feet.

The monster turned towards the vile magic circle.

Forfend's chest tightened. It rushed the creature, but it wasn't going to make it in time. It panicked.

Forfend slammed its fist to its chest and called upon the demigod heritage Fornax had blessed it with.

The core of its body welled with energy and it funneled upwards, toward Forfend's rune. Smoke billowed from the chimneys along its back as every crack in its body glowed. Heat even Forfend couldn't truly withstand radiated off of it.

It had never used the ability at a distance like this. It worried it wouldn't be able to control the outpouring of energy. It was too late to stop now.

Forfend outstretched its hand. Bright orange magic, pulled straight from its internal core, sprung from its face and coalesced rapidly above the demon.

The heavy metallic clang of a sledgehammer striking red-hot metal reverberated off the cave walls once, twice, three times in rapid succession.

With each thunderous strike, the magic solidified above the monster until it formed a massive lead block.

The demon looked up with wide eyes and swore just as the magic rescinded.

The impossibly perfect lead cube fell, crushing the monster into the ground before it could get out of the way.

It thrashed, digging its bloodsoaked claws into the stone floor, but it was thoroughly trapped.

Forfend staggered. Golden ichor spilled from its face and its wounded side. Most of the magical lifeforce evaporated before it hit the ground, but there was so much now that some of it managed to splatter shining droplets across the floor.

Forfend wasn't done. It tapped the symbol on its chest as its body gave out and it fell to one knee. "Begone," it grunted at the struggling monster.

Magic spilled from the medallion it wore, forming a massive forging hammer which slammed down on the leaden weight.

A sickening crunch sounded as the demon's entire upper body was crushed beneath the block. Blood splashed and dribbled.

Silence.

Kagoshi roared, charging at Forfend with his fists raised.

Forfend shakily raised its shield. It was in no shape to fight him off.

Kagoshi stopped short and jerked his head to the side, eyeing the monster's glaive. He stomped to it and knelt. His hand hovered briefly over the hilt. Rather than grab it, he balled his fist and punched the blade. It shattered.

The gem at the center embedded itself into his knuckles. Every vein in his body lit up red.

Kairi gasped, "Kagoshi, don't!"

The stone sank into his flesh and lurched just beneath his skin, moving upwards.

Kagoshi shivered with untamed rage and glared blankly forward.

"Kagoshi!" Kairi yelled again, rushing towards him.

The tiny obsidian jewel continued its trek unhindered, crawling up Kagoshi's arm and across his shoulders.

Forfend grunted. It forced itself forward as the gem settled in the base of Kagoshi's neck and descended.

The light pulsed ominously between red and orange.

Neither Forfend nor Kairi reached him before it slipped to the center of his back and burrowed so deeply it was out of sight.

Kagoshi shuddered, shrank down to his original size, and fell to his knees. His eyes were open, but sightless. He was, as best Forfend could tell, unconscious.

His chest rose and fell with steady breaths, but he was wholly unaware of the world. He was unaware of Kairi clinging to him, talking to him, and begging him to be okay.

Forfend hesitated twice before it brought itself to touch his back. It brushed aside the tatters of his shirt. He was clammy with sweat, almost as though he had a fever. A miniscule scar, black as night, with strange crawling veins spreading from it rested directly above where the stone had sunk in.

If Forfend focused hard enough, it could see the dim red gem pulsing beneath his spine. It highlighted the column of bone like a candle casting an eerie shadow. It was far too deep to remove.

Forfend turned his focus to the children. It had hoped Melzaryn would be with them, but he'd instead taken an interest in exploring the blood circle making up the center of the room.

Jayden and Louis were huddled around the last cage, dismantling it together to free the boy inside.

"Tend to him," Forfend requested of Kairi.

She almost flinched and nodded numbly, holding tight to her stockstill friend.

Forfend hobbled across the room. It wiped the ichor dripping from its runic face, but it could tell more continued to flow. It hadn't been so damaged in a very long time. It had almost completely forgotten the toll its demiurgic ability took on it.

Louis stared, eyes wide. "Forfend, are you..?"

"I'm alright." That was true, more or less. Provided it was able to rest and see Byr, it would heal completely. It wasn't in mortal danger.

Melzaryn whistled lowly. "This is... old magic. Very, very old magic. It looks like it was meant to power up the stone it had."

"The one in Kagoshi's back?" Forfend asked as he carefully looked the children over.

"Yep," Melzaryn answered, his tone inscrutably matter-of-fact. "I'm not even totally certain it would've worked. The rune work is hodgepodge and most of them are so ancient, I couldn't tell you their original meanings."

Forfend gently touched the cuts on the children's arms. It glanced past them at the boy on the floor.

He was dead. He had been for quite some time.

Forfend hummed regretfully. He must've been taken first. So much bloodletting with so little food had been too much. It wished it had known he was here. It would've rescued him at any cost.

Though, it had no idea who he was. His attire was unfamiliar, foreign. It was the garish style of nobles. If Forfend had to guess, it would say he was likely the son of the first merchant who'd had their cart ambushed.

Jayden whimpered, tears in her eyes.

"It's alright," Forfend solemnly told her and Loius both. He gently ushered them away from the body. "There's nothing else we could have done. We did not know."

It would find something to wrap his body in and it would take him back to the surface with them. If nothing else, it would make certain he got his burial rites. It was the least Forfend could do.

Louis gasped sharply and clapped his hands over his mouth.

Forfend snapped its gaze to whatever he was looking at.

Louis turned and retched onto the floor.

Jayden very nearly followed suit, a gag catching high in her throat.

Forfend's metal core felt like it had dropped into its midsection.

Melzaryn crouched over the corpse of the demon, digging claws into its busted skull and shoveling them into a mouth that was wrong in every way. His chin was split and his jaw stretched open impossibly wide.

Forfend caught a glimpse of his eyes. Thin slits, focused blindly on what he was doing and nothing else.

"Kairi, stop him!" it called as Melzaryn tore open the creature's neck and reached down its throat.

Kairi tugged Kagoshi's face against her chest, horror plain on her face. "What are you doing?!" she yelled.

Melzaryn did not respond in the slightest.

"Melzaryn!" Forfend shouted.

It staggered as quickly as it could across the room. "Melzaryn!" it shouted again.

Melzaryn glanced up at it, the demon's slowing heart beating in his hand. "Leave," he hissed with an inhuman snarl.

The magic in the word stunned Forfend, piercing its mind in a way that was harshly dissimilar to Melzaryn's usual casting style. It shook off the Suggestion.

"Melzaryn, you need to stop. You cannot eat that." It tapped the symbol on its chest. "Please do not make me hurt you."

It pointed, Guiding Bolt blasting from the medallion.

Melzaryn raised his hand, a glassy all-seeing eye embedded within a triangle appearing before him.

The Guilding Bolt warped into it on impact. Both magics disappeared in a pop and left Melzaryn completely untouched.

He shoveled the heart into his mouth and swallowed it with a heavy gulp.

"Fuck," Forfend swore.

Melzaryn wavered briefly. His jaw stitched itself back together. His eyes brightened. He stared down at his hands.

The scales along his knuckles claimed more territory in a slow, creeping motion.