Old APeiron Draft
Be forewarned: Here there be cringe.
This is a very old version of From Beyond and Back Again, a story that would much later (with some huge changes) become Anima Mundi. It has some good bits, but most of it is really rough. I mean really rough. I wrote this in 2011 for Nanowrimo, and got most of the way before quitting.
This is a very old version of From Beyond and Back Again, a story that would much later (with some huge changes) become Anima Mundi. It has some good bits, but most of it is really rough. I mean really rough. I wrote this in 2011 for Nanowrimo, and got most of the way before quitting.
The Abomination, or
From Beyond and Back Again
Prologue
Blood seeped into the book's edges. A boy, no older than twenty years of age, violently turned the page, tearing it in the process. His tears mixed with the blood on his face. His eyes, though streaming and bloodshot, sharply focused on the printed diagrams. Waving the splintered remains of his right hand in the air in accordance with the diagrams, he intoned the customary words of power, his voice shaking with hate, and clear anger substituting for the usual discipline that recited these words precisely and loudly.
One could have easily mistaken this act for a desperate prayer. In some ways, it was beseeching higher powers, though not those most would think of. Complex geometric inscriptions covered the floor, surrounding a large, crudely cut crystalline hoop erected on a raised dirt platform. The boy's bloodied eyes burned with a passion for this “prayer”, though too intense for mere supplication and too resigned for fervor.
His hands, or what was left, glowed very slightly. His voice rose, as he continued the chant in a controlled monotone, the rage and pain in his heart barely noticeable. Blood smeared the dirt as he moved his hands the best he could, in intricate patterns mirroring the floor's inscriptions. Fresh blood spread across the pages, ruining the pages. He continued nonetheless.
Now, he did not believe in blood sacrifice, nor did this ritual require it. But a corner of his mind faintly recognized the symbolism of bleeding on a magic circle, with an altar of sorts before him. This was the future. His future, for he could not attend to his wounds. He would be dead before he could stop the bleeding. This was the only way left. The only way out.
The hoop floated slowly off the platform into mid-air. It slowly pulsed with ethereal light as the chant continued, and a flicker, an image of something not of this world appeared within the plane enclosed by the hoop.
Whatever lay beyond it was the only way out. His only other choice was to lie down and die like a dog, believing that he could do nothing else. No... he had to “pray”. The only way out.
The chant continued. The hoop pulsated, and image grew sharper and brighter. Sparks and globes of light streaked and spun around it as the boy's hands guided unseen forces. He brought the chant to a climax, shouting in a language long dead. His hands stopped immediately in front of the levitating, shining hoop, his digits now pulsing with the same light as it. He looked directly into the hoop, looked into the floating circle, and comprehended nothing in there. No matter. It was the only way out. With a desperate scream, he leaned into the hoop, and fell within.
He found himself in a place that can only be described as time and space. Not the space above the skies, nor the time that we experience moving forward like an arrow- this was something entirely else. The boy simply saw everything and nothing.
He looked down at himself, barely aware of his own person as he marveled at eons flying and passing, atoms breaking and embracing, worlds colliding and shattering, probabilities waxing and waning. Here, he did not bleed, nor did he breathe, think, see, hear or act. He merely was. The act of existence was all he could manage within this gargantuan place.
He felt a colossal emptiness within him, as if the very atoms constituting his body fluctuated in and out of existence, and his mind flickered, as if it was the modest flame of a candle swirling in the face of a hurricane. He saw galaxies forming, microbes scurrying, lives and deaths frantically chasing each other like dust in a storm. Civilizations ending, stars burning and bursting, timelines flowing like streamers. It was all so much.
He understood it not. Yet he remembered it all. The winds of the hurricane grew ever stronger, as it finally blew out the little flame and he knew only darkness.
And when he awoke, he remembered it all.
Chapter One
Mark Cizin, 25, dropped his clenched fist soundly onto his damn alarm clock. It did not break this time, much to his chagrin, as the damned noise ended. Might as well get up then, he reasoned. Cizin inched out of bed, fighting his own body for every centimeter of ground that he retreated from his resting place. When finally he broke contact, he ignored his stupid instincts' crying for extended unconsciousness and walked into the bathroom.
“Today is a special day”, he muttered to himself as he shaved and brushed. Yes, today was that special day when he got out of bed, where no one bothered him, drove his ass all the way to work, put up with all kinds of fun shit, went home and then go back to sleep, nothing accomplished, nothing gained except the chance to do it again tomorrow. Yipp-fucking-ee. And it was special because very few people had to put up with this much shit. If there was a Noble Prize for Putting up with Shit, he'd probably have to turn down the stream of prizes eventually to give everyo...
“Shit!”
Cizin interrupted his so very clever witticisms to realize exactly what he had seen on his clock. Eight fifty.
“FUCK!”, he shouted far louder than was necessary. “Fuckitty fucking FUCK!”
Toothbrush still in mouth, he ran back into his bedroom and to his closet to change while he brushed. Today was a mess already. He hastily dressed, grabbed his briefcase, and left a storm of recklessly abandoned hygiene products and pajamas behind him. He ran over to his kitchen, grabbed some cereal and a soda, rushed into his car, and drove off.
It was at this point that he realized . Bus stop was five minutes' walk away, so he actually had five minutes to spare. Half embarrassed, half angry at himself, he went back inside, had a few bites and then actually locked the door on the way out this time (damned if he was going to let a burglary add to his daily misery). Halfway to the bus station, he remembered he forgot to pack the design specs he spent half of last night designing. A mad dash back and forth later, he finally reached the bus station. Great. He was already panting and sweating, and he didn't even start work yet! Cizin saw the bus leaving as he got into position. God fucking dammit. Cizin gave chase, pushing his rather pathetic legs to the limit as the frickin' driver finally noticed his shouting and stopped the bus.
Cizin stewed all the way to work.
As he approached his cubicle, trying his damnedest to appear calm, collected and obviously on time and just coming back from the bathroom or something like that, his boss called his name out loud.
Great, single me out again, he thought, if it fucking makes you feel better, by all means.
“Hey, Mark, you're late... AGAIN.”
“Why, hello, sir, did you want something from me?”
Cizin's would have worn a toothy slasher smile as he said this, simply out of sheer pique, but he valued his ass too much.
“Goddamnit, Mark, late again. Late. Again.”
Why, yes, thank you, so I am. Thank you for stating that multiple goddamn times, as any good and efficient boss would bother to, Cizin thought.
“I don't see any place in this company for the habitually late, except for outside of it.”
My how professional of you, sir, Cizin said to himself, that's just what any flawed employee needs: a good self-esteem beating. I for one, pledge to work harder for a boss who cares enough to abuse me.
Cizin tried his best to remain placid and respectful on the outside as he nodded his agreement. Any sign of irritation would be weakness, a cue for the chihuahua to latch onto his leg and never let go.
“Do you at least have the recommended specs for the Howards job?”
“Yes, I do, sir, right here.”
Cizin hoped to heaven that the documents didn't fall out of the briefcase or something else that showed how much fate urinated on him. To his relief, the Howards docs were where they belonged.
The chihuahua snapped it out of his hands and gave the papers a good death glare, in case they weren't scared enough already. Cizin rolled his eyes.
Fate must have gone dry this time, because his boss simply turned and left with the papers.
Cizin crashed down on his cubicle chair. He rubbed his temples as he braced himself for the annoyances of work. It wasn't that he hated it. It hated him. Cizin stared into space, longing to stab his job repeatedly with a dirty marker. Then, Cizin's brain came down from the adrenaline rush fending off his daily migraine, and the headache quickly overtook the self-loathing. Cizin downed some painkillers and tried to distract himself in the meantime by checking his email. It was merely nine thirty five, and his inbox was already full of co-workers' ANNOYING links to cat videos. Cizin used to love cats. Kind of like his job.
Cizin headbutted his desk, reminding himself that the pain from the impact and from the migraine would at least be small beans compared to what was coming next.
For starters, frickin' management had no idea what was possible. All they knew was that clients said this, and he had to design it. Dammit, computer hardware design was NOT supposed to twist physics. He was not a wave-your-hand-make-good-things-appear-magic-man. If you wanted more room for neon lights to make the product look good, the heat sink should be the last thing to go! Common sense! Not that management listened when he or his team leader told them something was going to be too expensive, or too low-power or too prone to freaking exploding. I bet they were trained to ignore good advice at frickin' business school while all furiously jac-GAH I'M SUPPOSED TO FIT THIS IN THIS DINKY CASE? Cizin slumped in defeat and resigned himself to BS'ing the arrangements to suit the damn clients. Why on Earth weren't people like him in charge?
Most co-workers, aside from Cizin's circle of friends, were of little help. All they could talk about was kids and sports and office politics and drama and constant bitching, including bitching about all of the above. Even Cizin had enough good form to save his whining for people who cared, or at least didn't mind. Cubicle is small and boring. Boss is micromanaging. People won't shut up and let me work in silence. Migraine. Management won't let me do nuts. The freaking aircon still makes that rattling noise while the repair people take their sweet time. And will someone please, PLEASE take a baseball bat to the hacks who made those fucking cat videos? Cizin attacked his desk with a great fury, hoping there would be fewer brain cells left to experience the suffering.
Nine hours of silent suffering and loud idiots later, Cizin took the bus home, relieved and mentally battered. Well, it could be worse, he thought. I should be grateful for any kind of employment in these times. Damned if quitting isn't tempting still.
Once home, Cizin plopped his ass down on his sofa, and gave his brain and body a well-deserved break with TV and ordering out. He fell asleep almost immediately after eating, then woke up again to find it was bedtime already. Grumbling, he cleaned up the mess from his rushed morning and crawled onto his bed, no longer tired, but too sleep-dizzy to be productive. As he lay awake in bed, Cizin waxed, or rather, rambled, philosophical. Was this really all his life amounted to? Sleep, TV and work? Cizin sighed. Even if he had a life, it really wouldn't amount to much in the end. A party here, some clubbing there, all these beautiful people and nothing to see. Sometimes he didn't feel like something was wrong here, like he didn't belong here. Cizin paused for a while, and blinked. Anyways, was this it? Just to stay alive, he had to get bitten in the rat race? Dealing with shallow people in a shallow world, where everything you did came to nothing.
Come on.
That can't be it. No frickin' way. There has to be something else out there. Some way out. If he didn't have to cope with work and fatigue and migraines and chihuahua-assed bosses and all those idiots who called themselves his colleagues, he could really find some way OUT of his rut. Purpose in his life, some fun that wouldn't come back to bite his ass, who knows. Some kind of escape. Something else has to be out there!
At that moment, Cizin, his body wracked by his irregular sleep schedule and general irritation, felt a sudden surge of desire, a mental rebellion against his life's pathetic status quo. He wished with every single synapse in his brain, every single cell in his body, every single thought that he could. Just. Frickin. Live. Some. Other. Way! He wished with all his might and hopes and dreams and...
There came a loud crash from the direction of his kitchen. Cizin hopped out of bed, grabbed his cell phone and opened his bedside drawer to produce a handgun, which he then loaded. It never hurt to take precautions.
As his mind raced to simultaneously find an explanation for the crashing noise and try to reassure himself, he mused his wish might have come true and that the zombie apocalypse has started. At least rotting masses of the overflowing dead wouldn't care how much he slept.
With 911 ready on speed dial, and pistol in hand, Cizin slowly approached the source of the noise, not quite sure what to do.
Please don't be an armed robber or rapist or crazy drug addict or something, please please please...please be only a raccoon or zombie or something... please...
Cizin shut his inner worrier up. This was time to take action.
The moment his finger produced the dial tone, a huge shape lunged at him from the side. Cizin narrowly dodged, as something painful grazed his left hip, and fired off a shot. Cizin was knocked on his posterior. His shot missed, but his adversary was startled enough by the noise to stumble back slightly. In the darkness, Cizin's eyes adjusted enough to determine that the biggest, ugliest, half-naked dude in a loincloth he had ever seen stood in front of him, with a huge weapon of some kind, lifted overhead. In a panic, Cizin fired again at the man's head. The head fell clean off onto Cizin's lap, as the body hit the tiled floor with a sickening splat.
Cizin boggled for a few seconds. He poked at the head, and everything he knew told him it was quite real. The sheer shock and surprise kept him silent and calm. He continued to stare blankly at it.
Another man, shorter and leaner, stepped back from the body, bloody knife in hand. Cizin's mind caught up with him a second later, and he shakily raised his gun and blustered, “Don't move, or, or I'll shoot. I will!”
“Easy there. You have just had a close call. Are you all right?”, came the reply.
Cizin, entirely unsure of what to do, nodded, unaware that the man probably couldn't see him in the dark. The man apparently took the motion for a yes, as he extended an empty hand to Cizin. He helped Cizin up.
“W-w-what's going the hell on?”, Cizin demanded.
“You tell me.”, the man said. “Do you have a light or anything similar?”
Cizin, in a daze, flipped on the lights.
The man flinched at the sudden illumination and quickly re-composed himself. Cizin saw that the man was dark-skinned, and clad in some suit of tanned leather and a cloak. His face was fairly wide, he had a fairly full beard, scruffy graying brunette hair, and he looked quite vigorous and dashing for someone in his early fifties, someone whose face indicated he had been through a lot.
The man extended his other arm, hand vertical, a disarming smile on his face. “My name is Renato. If I am trespassing, I apologize, I am not at all sure why I have appeared here. I have no explanation. I would like to ask where I am.”
The man practically exuded honesty, odd as it was.
“Err... thanks for the save. I'm Cizin. Mark Cizin. You're in my house, and I have no idea why you're here either.”
The man wrinkled his forehead and drooped his eyebrows in confusion.
Cizin's sarcasm took over, for lack of any other available parts of his brain.
“Well, you're sure not in the Renaissance Fair any more.”
“Sorry?”
“You're in Cloudy Springs City. Uh, Texas. In America? The United States of America? On... Earth?”
The man registered no hint of recognition or comprehension.
“Well, you speak pretty good English, so I'm sure you know where the freakin' U. S-”
“English? Is that your language, Sir Cizin?”
Uh oh.
“Yeah, um, you're not speaking English?”
This was becoming more and more surreal. Cizin's brain fizzled and struggled to keep apace with his mouth.
“As far as I know I am speaking in perfect Kelmran, as are you.”
“Uh...you really aren't from around here, are you, Renato?”
This was going to be a long night.
“So, I am on a planet called Earth. Not Amytlei. I am in your house and you have no idea why an ogre showed up in your kitchen. Somehow, you believe that I am speaking your language, and you speak perfect Kelmran to me, for some reason. Also, we both have no idea what just happened here.”
Renato appeared surprisingly composed, despite his clear tone of agitation.
Cizin slowly nodded, no better off than the man adjacent the table. A cool night breeze from an open front door rolled into his face.
With a grunt, Cizin lifted himself from the chair, carefully keeping his injured hip still, and moved over to inspect the damage.
“Damn.” The door had been lifted off the hinges. If the thing that did that had hit him...
“Is there anything else outside?”
Cizin raised his gun, perked his ears and cautiously scanned the world outside. Seemed like another quiet downtown night outside, save for raspy tribal chan-
What on- ?
The smell of fire was thick in the air. Thunder clapped, despite the absence of clouds or light. Cizin could have sworn he heard something... low-pitched.... crunching on raw meat.
Whoa.
The distant chanting was in a voice unlike any other he had heard. Cizin could have sworn a bloody arrow was lodged in a neighbor's fence, barely visible in the night. As he squinted, he saw movement in a nearby bush- a very large shuffle.
Cizin ducked back in.
“I think you've been followed, Renato. We'll ha-”
Cizin turned to look at Renato. The table was empty.
“Goddamnit.”
Cizin, gun at the ready, raised his cell phone and braced himself to address the police operator.
Renato spoke from behind him, “Hm. Do you have any chalk?”
Cizin spun around. Renato crouched, staring intently at the edge of the floor.
It was probably best not to question him.
Cizin produced a marker from a nearby drawer and tossed it. Renato caught and inspected it from various angles.
“You have to pull off the cap.”
Renato did so and began scrawling strange patterns on the intersection between floor and wall.
“Is there any way I can help?”
Cizin shuffled anxiously.
“Yes. Make sure nothing comes in. If it does, be careful and don't trust your eyes.”
Cizin carefully stared at Renato.
“You are still the guy I just met, right?”
Renato grinned, still swiftly scrawling. “Smart. Yes, I'm writing protective runes on the ground. Don't let anything interrupt me.”
Again, probably best not to question.
Cizin carefully took another peek outside. There was nothing moving in the bushes or in the open. He debated the merits of calling the police– dammit, the police were probably useless right now. Get eaten by a dragon or something the moment they show up. Common sense told him that there was a dead body in his kitchen and the police should get involved before this shit spiraled. Something deeper in the back of his mind overrode common sense, though. That didn't bode well.
Cizin stepped over the remains of his front door, changing his pistol to a fresh clip. The night sky practically pulsed with intrigue and impending death. Aware of how vulnerable he was in the open in front of a major light source and night-blind, Cizin's mind immediately cried for the lit, safe indoors , yet he carefully advanced into the night, again against common sense.
Then, a human figure presented itself, hands next to its head. A female voice called out, “I mean no harm. I come in peace.”
A saner Cizin would have rolled his eyes at the cliché. As it was, he readied his gun and replied, “Who are you, and what are doing here?”
The woman replied, “My name's Leah Perditam, of the Paladins. I apologize for intruding upon your domain, good sir, but I have been separated from my team. May I avail myself of shelt-”
“Yes, yes, come in.”
The woman stepped into, the clank of metal armor evident as she walked.
Dark red hair, partially covered in mail plate, with a fairly lithe, athletic physique and a stern, disciplined countenance, she walked forward. Cizin covered her while keeping another eye on his surroundings.
An arrow loudly lodged itself in the ground beside her leg.
“Dammit!” She and Cizin retreated into the house.
Cizin sidestepped behind a wall and peered through a nearby window. Hopefully whatever the hell shot it wasn't a crack shot and didn't hide itself well.
Leah ran into the room, and looked around.
Renato looked up at her, and their eyes met.
“Need help with that?”
“Can yo-”
“Yes. Out of the way.”
With a wave of her hands and an intense look of concentration on her face, Leah did... something. Cizin didn't see anything really happen, yet Renato leapt back with surprise.
“Uh? You can...do that?”
“You can't?”
“No... I do not know anyone who can.”
“Eh. I didn't mess up the etheric foci, right?”
Paul looked back at the runes, now completed and intricately drawn, apparently not entirely by his hand.
“It should hold out whatever's out there, or at least give us warning.”
“Excellent. Leah Perditam of the Paladins. Pleased to meet you mister...”
“Renato. Paul Renato. Paladins? Am I still in 651 AN?”
“Six what?”
“Ask him. This is Marcus Cizin of Earth, and the owner of this house.”
“Mister Cizin, where or when am I?”
Cizin's mouth reacted automatically.
“Cloudy Springs City, Texas, the year Two Thousand A.D.”
“What.”
“I don't know what that means either!”, Paul Renato exclaimed.
Cizin interjected, “Guys. Are we safe now from whatever is outside? I mean, really safe. The door's still open and we're sitting ducks right now. I'm pretty sure I don't want to get eaten by a dragon.”
“These are Gleem Azwal's Fortunate Shielding Runes, Mister Cizin. If they don't hold, we have a big problem on our hands.”, replied Paul Renato.
Cizin looked at Leah, who merely nodded assent.
“Okay. You are both apparently from another dimension or world or something. We don't have magic here, we don't have dragons or demons or wizards or shit. Some things are outside, and they're stuff that doesn't exist in this world, from what I can tell. I would shrug this all off as a stress-induced hallucination or some shit, but I'm not this imaginative. I have no idea why you are both here, but we are REALLY not used to having visitors from other worlds here on Planet Earth.”
Cizin realized he just ran his mouth without thinking, as Leah stared in shock.
“Another world?”
Paul sighed and hung his head. “Yes.”
“Oh, oh oh oh okay. Uh...I have to find my team. They're probably-”
“Save it. I am not going the hell out there, Leah. Dragons aren't my thing, especially their digestive systems.”
“He is right, Leah. I am not sure if you are familiar with the effects of these runes, but they should provide adequate protections and we can always get to work on third or fourth reinforcements. Forsaking their protection for running blind outside would be a less than ideal trade.”
Leah sighed in resignation.
“Alright.”
Cizin's mind was just starting to see the finish line where his mouth stood, but it was hardly there yet.
“Anyone hungry?”
They both stared evenly at him, as he remained barely aware of his speech.
“I've got some leftovers, and... stuff”
Paul shrugged. “Might as well. Give me a few minutes to finish reinforcing the protections.”
“Oh god, you guys are like straight from a novel. Hey maybe it's like that one book where reading a story book made the characters jump out or something.”
Cizin continued to run his mouth with small talk as he tried to remain composed and stoic. He pulled his leftovers out of the fridge, and set them on the table.
Leah ignored him and after examining the pizza, ate slowly.
It was at this point that the part of the brain that controlled Cizin's eyes snapped back into reality.
Leah was about his age, red headed with a pointed chin, tall face, shoulder-length loose hair, and a nose a tad too soft for someone looking so soldier-like, but her expression was hardened and carefully calculating. She had a sheathed shortsword on her hip, and a small bag strapped to one arm, nothing else on her person. She was rather cute for someone with the small, grim frown of a tough army inspector. Cizin didn't get any real sense of distrust out of Leah, but there was a very silent distance to her, a mild but habitual standoffishness coming from her.
Paul was dirty, had bags under his eyes and his leather armor (or clothing) was quite roughed up, but some great form of discipline kept his body language from appearing the part. Cizin couldn't tell what he carried, as a tattered cloak hid Paul's sides and back, but as the cloak bulged nowhere, it couldn't have been much, either.
Paul joined them at the table, and dug into the pizza without hesitation.
Cizin's mind cursed and panted after his mouth like a late man after his bus.
“Hey, wait you are human, right, Leah? It's not an illusion or anything?”
Paul stifled laughter.
Leah raised an eyebrow. Fortunately, her mind must have been busy as well, as she simply replied in the positive and continued to eat. Her eyes went to her surroundings, unsure of what to think about the unfamiliar furniture and devices in the small room.
Cizin's mind finally reached him.
I'm... sitting... with people... who wouldn't be out of place in Dungeons and Dragons. Any edition. There are probably fucking dragons outside, and magic runes adorning my house which I have been assured can keep anything out. This is all happening in Cloudy Springs on a late, cloudless Wednesday night. I have work tomorrow. There are people in my house from another dimension or something. I just ate with them. I had a fight with an ogre. There is a dead guy on the kitchen floor. The police haven't shown up. I just saw fucking magic being done. Fucking magic. With runes and all! Magic. Dragons. Ogre. Dead ogre. Knives. Plate mail. Dammit.
Cizin grabbed at his head and grunted-screamed “AGGGGGGHH.”
Evidently, Leah had the same thoughts as well, and buried her head in her arms and let out a loud muffled agreement with Cizin's argument.
Cizin continued his eloquent, monosyllabic rhetoric.
Leah followed in perfectly harmonic counterpoint to Cizin.
“AGGGGHHHH!”
“MMMMMMMFH!”
“AAAAAAGGGHH!”
“MMMMMFFFHH.”
Paul put his hand on his forehead and sighed.
“Um, hello, Boss? Sir?”
“It's one A.M., Cizin. This better be good.”
“Boss, I need to take the next two days off. Something big has come up. I really need time to take care of it.”
Fate must have not have had anything to drink for a while, as Cizin's boss raised no argument.
“Alright. This had better not be any shenanigans to have the rest of the week away. I expect you'll come in to the office with the next batch on Saturday?”
“*sigh* Yes, of course, sir”
“Good.”
Slave-driving fuck. Oh well. Bigger concerns.
Cizin slumped back in his chair. Paul was keeping guard by the window. Leah remained where she was, head in arms. Cizin waded into oblivion.
Chapter Two
He awoke to find Paul dozing in a corner and Leah sitting with her head still buried in her arms.
Not a dream.
Cizin's first act of the day was to run over to the bed room, and dig around in his bedside drawer for a pack of smokes and a lighter.
It was early morning, the air as sleepy as those who breathed it. Cizin inhaled deeply, cigarette in teeth. He looked into the mirror and checked for injuries.
Cizin was a skinny, bitter-looking young man. Lean, fairly tall, with an unremarkable musculature. His hair was a dark walnut brunette, fairly short. Only the barest of stubble framed his face- Cizin was not a beard man. The mild scowl on his face enclosed the cigarette that he often had in it. He possessed a penetrating stare, although not in a particularly intimidating or wise-seeming way.
Aside from a faint bruise on his hip, and a small spot where he had chewed his lip earlier, Cizin believed he was in fairly good condition.
Cizin walked back into the kitchen and warily glanced outside. All was calmed, or so it seemed. Paul Renato woke up with a silent yawn and quickly sprung to his feet. He must be a light sleeper.
“Good morning.”
“...Morning, Paul.”
“Miss Leah, wake up.”
Leah snorted, then very slowly raised her head, looking up at nothing in particular.
“Ugh.”
She stretched and got up.
“Okay, let's assume, people, that it's not quite safe to go outside yet. First things first. I'd like my door fixed. Can you fix it or something?”
Paul, leaning on a wall, nodded silently.
Leah pondered, hand on chin.
“Okay, take that as a yes. Second thing. As far as I know, you probably teleported here or something. I don't know. I would guess magic, or something, or this is a very elaborate joke or severe case of mental illness we are dealing with here. *Ahem* so, I don't think we'll find out how this happened for a while. Describe what you were doing when you showed up here.”
“I was investigating a local cult with a crack team of Paladins. It was a routine assignment, and as far as I know, we were entering the building when I felt the oddest sensation. Then, I woke up in some shrubbery. After I got up, I wandered around, looking for someone to ask, and then I saw you and your house...”
“Right. Paul?”
Paul shrugged. “I do not know. I was ambushed by bandits. Then I found myself right in front of your abode.”
“I take it bandits and cults don't usually teleport you away?”
“No.”, they both replied.
“Right... um... is it possible that you get sent here when you die?”
Paul and Leah's eyes widened.
“Impossible. I felt energies at work entirely unlike battle magic, and it wasn't painful like a wound would be!”, Leah protested.
Paul slowly nodded.
“Well, I guess we're shit out of luck to find a way to get you back.... I guess you'll have to fit in Earth here in the meantime. I don't mind you staying here, although I'm not sure how long I can handle...”
As Cizin spoke, Paul promptly produced a pouch and dropped a good-sized pile of yellowish coins onto his palm.
“Tell me, is gold worth anything here?”
Cizin raised an eyebrow.
Reading Cizin's face, Paul continued, “Alright, I suppose this will more than pay for my stay here, as well as Miss Perditam's. I do not wish to impose.”
Leah blushed slightly.
Cizin looked at Leah. She said, “Enchanted stone isn't worth much in a world without magic, I suppose.”
“That's fine. I'll take what I need from you, Paul. Hold onto the rest.”
Cizin picked up a few gold coins. He gulped. It could have been what he made in a week. So much money... but it wasn't his money. He had to use it responsibly.
He bit on the coin. It bent a little. He wasn't sure at all if it was real gold, but at least it wasn't an obvious fake. He put the coins in his wallet to exchange later.
“Alright. After you guys magic my door together and we dispose of the dead ogre-guy-thing I've forgotten about, I'll get you started on Earth life one oh one.”
Some convenient magicking later, Cizin inspected the re-assembled door as Paul finished disintegrating the body.
Leah flicked her armored hands.
“What's wrong?”
“There's so little aether here. So thin. How do you manage it?”
“What?”
“Aether. What magic is made of. There's barely any magic here.”
“We have technology and devices and science to take care of our needs.”
“Technology without magic? How?”
“Eh, we use electricity.”
“Electricity. Without magic.”
“Yes. It is possible, thank you very much.”
Cizin braced himself for explaining modern life to someone with scientific beliefs like the average fundamentalist and winced a bit inside.
“...and that is why everyone is a dumbshit on the internet.”
Leah and Paul took notes with pen and paper in text that Cizin didn't recognize, unsurprisingly. They did write in languages clearly different from each other's.
What was surprising was that they could read just fine in English, when he read from a manual, it seemed they could read too.
“So, try not to touch anyone unless they're good friends or family or you really need their attention. People don't take kindly to getting too close unless you know them well.”
Fortunately, they seemed to quickly pick up the social customs.
About three hours of lecture and some leftover casseroles for breakfast later, Paul stared through the kitchen window.
“There is something close to us.”
“What?”
“I hear someone moving outside.”
“Oookay.... mister wizard. Do you think it's safe to go outside?”
“Probably.”
Cizin, gun in hip holster, gingerly ventured outside with Paul, while Leah watched over them from inside the house. All was calm. A few cars drove by, not slowing down to notice the dark old man in leather armor and a cloak standing by a normal person.
“So, over here?”
Cizin pointed to the bushes on the side of his small front lawn.
“Yeah.”
Cizin trudged through the thick bushes when he accidentally kicked something.
“Whoa.”
“Urgh.” A very tall, black-haired girl in her late teens or early twenties lay on the bushes.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Cizin looming over her.
“Wha- where am I? What-?”
The girl wore a black-and-white T-shirt and long khaki pants.
“Last night was the best goddamn party EVER, that's what.”
Paul elbowed Cizin.
“Ow... alright, I have no idea what the hell you're doing here either.”
“... Am I sleeping in bushes? What the-?”
“Come on, let's get you up.”
After helping the girl up, Cizin inspected her. She didn't seem to be hurt or even roughed up, even though she had slept on some uncomfortable branches. She had very long, black hair, with a veil of hair covering nearly all of the left side of her face, wide violet-blue eyes, a round chin, and rather pale skin. She was also half a head taller than Cizin. Cizin considered her not particularly attractive, but there was some kind of unusual perfection to her face. Something off. Not in a threatening way, but it was still there. Her expression was innocent and blank.
After they brought her indoors, Leah decided to handle the questioning.
“So, you don't know why you're here?”
“No...”
She clutched her head in distress.
“I don't know... what happened?”
“Do you know at least your name?”
“I... uh... A- A-... A-”
“I'm sorry?”
“Ah-...Ah-...”
She struggled to form the word.
“A-... My name is A...Abi...gail. Abigail.”
She was no less confused than everyone else.
Further questioning revealed little. Apparently, she was an Earthling like Cizin, or at least familiar with Earth, but other than that, she didn't seem to know anything.
“Magic?! What?”
“It's a long story.”
After the others updated her, she swallowed the facts without much question, clearly desperate for anything to understand her situation. She twisted uncomfortably in her chair.
“So... what happened to you?”, Cizin asked.
“Abigail, do you mind if the three of us talk in private?”, Leah asked.
Abby nodded.
“So, what's her deal?”
“Cizin, she's obviously an amnesiac. I'm pretty sure she isn't faking it.”, Leah replied.
“Yeah, but why is she amnesiac?”
“Well, either something, a monster or something, erased her memory. Either through magic or trauma. That, or she is one, in human form, trying to lure us in.”
“She doesn't seem traumatized to me. More confused. And she's clearly from here. She knows what I'm talking about and she says she speaks English. Can't be a monster.”
“Yeah. Alright.”
“Can't you magically scan her brain or something?”
“Cizin, magic doesn't work like that, and even if it did, I'm not qualified for that kind of thing. I do know she is as magical as you, which is to say, not magical.”
“Yay. First I get dark, old and mysterious, then I get miss death-stare paladin, that's you in case you didn't get it, and now I get tall, dark and mysterious little girl. And you all teleported here or some shit and brought magicky-ness with you. I need another freakin' smoke.”
Leah frowned. Frowned more, at least. “Hey, where's Paul?”
Chapter Three
Paul hurried back into the house. Abby got up, and walked after him.
“Um... mister, uh, Paul, where are you going?”
“Abby, bring the others in. Now!”
Abby walked back outside.
“Paul says to get back inside now.”
As they entered the house, they found Paul kneeled on the floor with his hands on the floor's marker-ed glyphs, in a state of intense focus. The air around him distorted visibly, much like hot air.
Cizin started to ask, but then Leah spoke.
“Something coming?”
Paul, without looking up, replied through clenched teeth, “Leah, I'm gonna need some help here!”
Leah immediately assumed the same pose as Paul, knees to the floor, hands on glyphs.
Cizin, unsure of what to make of their posing, stood back and nervously looked outside for any sign of trouble.
Minutes passed. Cizin felt a sense of incoming dread, true dread, something he had not felt in a long time. It was a sort of dread different from before an exam you did not study for or after remembering you left the gas on or forgot to lock the front door. No, it was the kind of dread you felt as death was coming. Slow. Inexorably. Horribly and messily. Alone an...
Cizin's mind whipped back to the present situation.
Something made a “thump”, a loud, low pulse. Despite this, Cizin heard and felt nothing. Another “thump.” It was not a sound or sensation, but it echoed in his mind nonetheless. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Next to Cizin, Abby whimpered slightly.
Cizin looked around for the source of the... “noise”. He noticed that Leah and Paul shivered slightly with every thump. It may have been his imagination, but the view outside gradually grew darker as the thumping continued.
There was a very low, very silent growl, another noise that did not have sound in it.
Cizin would have readied his gun, but he somehow... felt he couldn't.
The thumping continued for minutes, finally growing softer and softer. The noises faded away.
“What was that?”
Cizin blinked as he heard this and realized he was hiding under the table, arms over hands. He scrambled out and got up in as dignified a manner as possible.
Abby was already standing and looked expectantly at Paul, hoping for an answer to her query.
Paul brushed his shoulders off as he stood, and looked grimly into Abby's eyes.
“That... was something called a shade.”
“A what? A ghost or something?”, Abby replied.
“It makes ghosts. I'd rather not introduce you as to what it is. It is not entirely understood and you are best not knowing until later. But I do know that we are very unlucky to have one near us, much less attacking us.”
“So... the magic marker kept it out?”, Abby asked.
Cizin silently frowned at “magic marker.”
“Yes, you could say that. Leah and I had to reinforce the barriers however. The Fortunate Shielding spell diverts attention. That doesn't work as well on creatures without minds, like a shade. ”
Cizin looked at Leah. She hunched over, pale, and...drained, for lack of a better word. Not tired or exhausted. Drained. He didn't feel so good himself, as if he had locked himself in a small room for a few weeks. He wondered how Paul and Abby could talk like this after the shock. Right now, he just wanted to curl up in bed for a few days, and he was pretty sure Leah felt that way, too.
“So... what does that, er, spell do?”
“It reduces one's desire to cross the barrier that the sigils form.”
“Will that thing return?”
“Possibly. I do not know what it wanted. It probably wanted to devour our souls, but I believe other people's souls would also work in a pinch. So, it will probably distract itself with someone else.”
Abby gulped.
“Shouldn't we... you know... stop it? It's going to hurt someone!”
Leah spoke up. “There must have been other people who came in with us, if a shade could appear so suddenly. Normally, they stick to haunting a specific area and only that area. It must have been brought here, and someone else better qualified to handle it should show up, too.”
“But t-”
“Abby. Listen to me. Either we can add to its body count, or we can survive minding our business.”, Leah continued.
“Who said we were going to go around playing hero now?” Cizin blurted, as he struggled for the energy to speak.
Paul said, “I believe we have a resp-”
“Well, I'm sorry, Paul, I have a responsibility to myself. Don't die. I think that's pretty reasonable. If you guys go off and die, I'm going to have a problem against it takes magic to fend off. And I'm pretty sure you won't be very happy either, getting your souls eaten or taking a nap in a dragon's colon.”
Seeing the upset looks from Paul and Abby, Cizin sighed and continued.
“Let me explain. This is not some cozy medieval town where you can go exploring on wacky adventures and kill demons and shit. This is a place where if you walk around with even a knife, you will get into big trouble with the authorities, and believe me, our town guards are much more dangerous than your town guards. Now, I have little idea what you 'adventurers' get up to, it's probably saving kittens from trees or stabbing dragons or shit, but here, we do NOT goddamn kill things all the time. This is a civilized place...”
Cizin paused to consider, as he realized this was Texas he was talking about.
“...My point is, I know better than you how this world works. I say going out and pulling stunts like getting eaten by a dragon or killed by a shade are both hazardous AND illegal. No reason to try it. Got that?”
Abby nodded after some hesitation.
Paul sighed, hand on forehead and nodded.
Leah looked at Cizin in stern agreement.
“...And as much as I would LOVE to have wacky hijinks fighting spirits with a giant sword and magic finger gun, or doing back-flips while staking vampires, I have a job! And it's called a JOB because I need the money. I am not going to get fired for falling behind and being seen outside fighting monsters, and even if money is not a concern, the police are going to be looking for suspicious activity, like someone suddenly quitting their job! Have you ever thought of that? Yes. Law enforcement probably figured something was up, with the fire and lightning and arrows and shit last night all over. I mean, I enjoy laying open orcs with a sword as much as the next guy, but I can't really do that if I'm dead, now can I!”
Now spent from his rant, Cizin abruptly sat down hard on his chair, face flushed yet still pale around the edges.
Abby looked at Cizin and spoke.
“I know, but we can't leave innocent people out there to die! That's-”
“Enough.”
Paul stood up, making gentle eye contact with all involved. He continued speaking in a soft voice:
“Abby, my understanding, from what Cizin has said, is that there is little we can do to finish off an opponent that we can barely fend off. Let Leah and I adjust to this place, and then we can consider gathering our available resources to better fight. I'm sure it would please all involved, as we will later have the option of disassociating with mister Cizin so he may enjoy his neighbors' random deaths in peace. But for now, we must cope. Do you understand, Abby?”
Abby's unease was clear in her folded lips. “Yes.”
Cizin stood back up. “I just want you guys to stay down for the duration of your 'adventure' here. We can't risk our necks for some silly monster-stabbing playtime.”
About to see Paul respond less-than-favorably, Cizin interrupted, “But I'm sure we can find some way to make it work out eventually or whatnot. For now, first things have to come first, as we can all agree.”
“But-”, Abby interjected.
“You don't count.” said Cizin.
“Aww.”
No one pushed it further, so Cizin took out a pencil and paper as he collected his thoughts.
“Okay, I think it's best that we make a list of what needs to get done. There's just too much to handle here First, we'll have to make sure bad things don't come into the house and brutally murder us all on the spot. I'd say that's pretty important right now. Second, we have to get you two accustomed to Earth. Abby can help with that, by keeping watch outside and, uh, guest-lecturing. Third, we need to figure out who the hell Abby is, if we can. Fourth, new clothes. For all of you. Fifth, we need to scout out the situation and see if we can find out more about what happened here. Sixth, I need to attend to my job. Seventh, we have to balance our time between all of these things, all while keeping you people safe and hidden, or at least inconspicuous. Eighth, now that I think about it... I'm going to need more gold, Paul. For the smokes I'm going to have to burn through.”
Paul nodded sympathetically.
Cizin inhaled deeply into his cigarette, and shuddered slightly.
“Oh yeah, and I just realized that I don't know enough about you people. Sorry if I'm acting paranoid, but I want to know a little more about who you two are before putting my life and job on the line.”
“No, that is fine. Let me start. I am Paul Renato, professional wanderer and explorer, no longer particularly active in either, but I was still wandering before I came here. I hail from the Kelm empire in the realm of Amytlei, I suppose- no particular region. I could rattle off a long list of formal achievements in the finest Kelm tradition, but most of them are trivial and you wouldn't recognize the ones that are not. ”
Paul sat down.
Cizin thought: Note to self: Probably a former assassin. Cloak plus old man plus knives plus vague,humble and short response equals he did something violent he doesn't want to talk about. Must be an awesome old guy. That or he's some kind of outlaw. Either way, remind self not to get too attached to potential mentor figure due to future risks.
“Huh. Well, my full name is Leakaorarane Perditam, but no one calls me that, for obvious reasons. I have no idea what my parents were thinking either. So, I go by Leah. I used to live in the city of Felzper, in the nation of Nort Minas, and whole planet is called Ketegam... I have no idea where 'Amitlee' is, but anyways, I'm a member of the local Paladins and a practicing white magician. Partially self-educated, partially taught at the Paladin's Academy. I, uh, grew up in a city named Corandon, and haven't really done anything famous yet, as I'm pretty new to peace-keeping.”
Leah wrung her hands a bit.
“Really not sure why I'm now here. Kind of crazy how I got here on a routine raid... Goddamn cultists. So, yeah, that's me.”
Note to self: Talks slightly too much. Remember to make fun of long name. Also, Latin-ish country name...Roman, somehow? Also, Paladin? Be sure to ask what kind of paladin. Doesn't seem stupid lawful... yet.
Cizin finished taking notes.
“Alright. Back to Earth 101.”
“So, wait, the power company *supplies* power, but the fire department *fights* fires. And gas stations give you gas, and the gas company gives you gas too? But why would you want to go to the gas station if you have it at home?”
“Leah, yes, don't ask me why they named it that way, and those are two different kinds of gas. Natural gas and gasoline. One's for our vehicles, the other is for burning. I mean, they both burn, but one burns for heat and the other burns for movement and... agh... let's just say one's heat and one's for powering transportation.”
“But doesn't power produce heat?”
“...”
Cizin obviously was not meant to be a teacher, or else he'd have been dealing with idiotic students instead of idiotic coworkers.
He haphazardly supplied Paul and Leah information as it came to the surface of his thoughts, with the occasional addition or agreement coming from Abby. He had to backtrack and correct himself or answer questions many times because of “common” knowledge he wrongly took for granted, or elementary social differences that he didn't bother to consider. He often struggled to think of the next thing to show and explain. And he had a hard time properly conveying social values to these medieval-ish folk, such as gender issues, modern news media, and so on.
Cizin suddenly appreciated his former teachers and professors much more.
“Wait, so depictions of gruesome violence are okay, but nudity is icky here? How the hell does that even work? Murder is okay, whoopee is not?”
“Mister Cizin, this 'political correctness'... why must we refrain from using these slang words for people that they themselves may freely use? Must they not treat all instances of such words equally? Or are these magical words that only work for them and have a good chance of ending the world in fire and ice if used by others?”
Cizin's only response was grimacing, grabbing his forehead and shifting his weight towards Abby. It turned out Abby, too, failed to coherently answer.
Cizin sighed. “I don't know, guys... Let's take a break.”
Cizin emptied his fridge of all items immediately edible and dumped it all on the table. He looked at the roads outside. Probably not completely safe out. Shopping could wait.
As he ate, he sat with Abby by his side.
“So, Abby, what's with those...er, bangs of yours?”
“Huh?”
“You've got a friggin' curtain of hair hiding your face. Got something to hide?”
“No...”
“Hey, you've got some chili on your shirt.”
“What?”
Abby looked down.
Cizin immediately grabbed and lifted her bangs.
There was more hair behind the hair. It was apparently a very thick blanket of hair. Weird.
“Hey!”
“Sorry about that... but in order to trust you, Abby, you can't be hiding a dark secret or some kind of that shit under that hair. Or at least I should know about it.”
“*sigh* I don't think there's anything.”
Abby lifted her bangs to show the half of her face. The second blue eye stared into his quite worriedly.
“No scars, no tattoos, no sinister mismatched eye. Alright, Abby, you're not obviously evil. Congrats.”
Then came a long, awkward silence while they both ate.
“So...uh...yeah, it's kind of hard to tell them about Earth, huh?”
“Yep. Abby, I think we need to think like teachers now, ... we need lesson plans.”
“Yeah...”
Cizin noticed Abby was practically annihilating a pot of chili. Lying unconscious in the bushes all night and then some must make one quite hungry. He went to fetch his laptop. Time for some research. Alright, let's look up missing reports of locals... Okay, no one matching Abby's description there. Maybe the next county over?... Nope. State?... Wow, that's pretty damn depressing.... okay, narrow it down. Search filters...a few maybes, nothing about that friggin' hair shield or really long hair. Probably should wait until more reports from yesterday come in.
Well, let's see what the Internet says about teaching someone a new culture...surprisingly unhelpful... I don't have even one hour to narrow these searches and browse through technical papers. Looks like time to improvise. *sigh* Says normally this kind of adjustment takes months. Yippee.
Okay, so, item number three, find out who Abby is, should be delayed until later. Items four, five, and six- clothes, investigation and work- can wait until Saturday. Can probably shove item three in Saturday, too. Item eight can wait. Items one and two, safety and acclimation, are the most important right now. I guess item seven, keeping cover, will tag along for the ride.
Cizin hastily penciled an outline of topics to cover and shared it with Abby, starting with the obvious: first aid, phone calls (especially emergency numbers), basic economics, civics, basic socialization and how houses worked. He couldn't help but feel it was a less-than-ideal list of things to start with, but
To their credit, Paul and Leah picked up rather quickly for strangers in a strange land. Cizin couldn't help but feel silly as they occasionally picked apart a social norm or he stumbled to properly explain an arbitrary custom. He sharply reminded himself that Leah and Paul were not here for sociology lessons, only how to get along in the meantime.
Abby was a less than ideal teacher's assistant, always needing prompts from Cizin. To be fair, he thought, she has no idea who she is or where she's from, which does kind of suck.
The lessons continued into the night. Cizin's voice began to give out, so he decided to call it a day. He then realized that the fridge was completely empty, and he was already hungry from the day's exertions. “Well, I suppose one guy's leftovers and frozen food isn't anywhere enough to sustain four people at once. Normally, I'd have to go shopping and risk getting murderized or whatever by that shade or whatever. But you're damn lucky I'm not just any normal schmuck.”
Cizin opened a tiny combination lock on a cupboard and pulled it wide open. The cupboard was packed with tins, sacks, cans and a can opener. A double-barreled shotgun leaned against the pile of food, and a print-out taped to the wall depicted the proper ways to dispose of zombies.
“Yeah. Well, none of you are zombies right? Because half of this is for humans and half of this for zombies. Haha.”
Seeing the lame attempt at a joke fly far over three heads, Cizin sighed and started carrying cans over to the table.
Everyone ate well, at least as well as those with canned food could. The table was silent, as all four sat in deep thought, contemplating their situation. As they finished eating, cleaning up and checking on their magical and mundane safety measures (at Cizin's insistence), they wordlessly headed for bed, Cizin on his couch, Leah and Abby on Cizin's bed, and Paul in Cizin's sleeping bag. Cizin reflected on this rather surreal day as he drifted off to sleep. It sucked to be unable to tell anyone about this.
Chapter Four
Cizin woke up with his vocal chords sore, but thankfully still working. Slowly shaking off the morning's fatigue, he sat up and got his bearings.
Now that I've mulled it over, I don't think I can just tell Leah and Paul what Earth is like. They'll have to step outside for themselves. I can prepare them for that, first, though. Hope it's not too much of a shock. Baby steps now.
Breakfast came in cans, as expected. Damn, Abby tore into it. Paul and Leah ate in their usual contemplative silence. Cizin wasn't feeling too hungry, seeing as how he was eating part of a stash intended for the end of civilization. Cars still rolled past outside, so it was safe to say the “magical night” wasn't too disruptive. Now that he thought of it...there weren't any police sirens that night or after. Maybe something bad happened to the cops? No... there would be a breakdown of society or something. Cizin recalled what he saw on the internet. There was nothing special on local news sources, and if there was something big that escaped his notice, his co-workers and friends surely would have digitally pestered him about it.
Either that, or someone's covering this up. Doubt it, though. Absent mind-wiping lasers from guys in suits, all that fire-and-lightning commotion should have turned up on the news...
Unless something magical hid it. Could well be the case. Remember to ask Leah about this. Somehow, I think she knows more than Paul about magic stuff.
Hm...in either case better get the situation on control as soon as possible before I have to go to work on Saturday. Will have to expose Leah and Paul to the real world probably later today. Can squeeze in shopping, supplies, and other things. Geez, look at Abby eat. Well, I'd rather save the cans for when I need 'em.
Time... nine o clock AM. Huh. I'm still wired to be a good little drone. Well, all the better to get things done before I have to collapse again.
Cizin began the lessons, thoroughly expounding on modern life and its complexities and requirements. He decided to cut it short at around noon.
“Okay, guys, it should be good to go outside. I can't really tell you everything, so I might as well show you. Time for a field trip. You're going to see the world outside. I don't think you'll be ready, but the sooner we get ready, the better. Hopefully we won't encounter anything from your world. If we do, I have you guys to save my ass from magic stuff, I guess.”
“That's very reassuring.”, Leah replied.
Cizin ignored her.
“Now, I'm assuming the more bad stuff comes out at night, so we'll have to leave early. I'm personally packing first aid, supplies and a spare cell phone. If you have any requests for things to bring, tell me now.
“VERY reassuring, Cizin.”
“If you get your immortal soul torn out by a shade or your guts torn out by a dragon, though, I'm going to be heading in the other way at full speed, though, so keep that in mind. Don't get lost if that happens.”
“Light sources, cutlery, and religious symbols, if you have any.”
“You're sure this is a religious symbol?”
Leah pointed to the team jersey on her back as the four walked to the bus station
“Absolutely. Some people will eagerly assault strangers over affiliation, and many key figures have legions of obedient fans and huge monuments built for them. No worries. I'm not much of a believer, though.”
“....okay?”
Paul wore one of Cizin's spare coats. He rapidly scanned the environment as if there were bullets flying about. Cizin could feel Paul's anxiety from within Paul's attempt at a cool demeanor.
“Alright. Act like you belong here. Except for you Abby, act like you know who you are. Uh... do assume the worst. People will talk weird, they will dress weird, you will see horrible, strange things that you have never seen before. Don't worry. You can't get hurt unless you really make a scene. Remember to act casual and imitate other people if you can. I'll explain things when convenient.”, Cizin explained.
Paul responded, “I'm beginning to share Leah's feelings of reassurance.”
Cizin thought again. “Alright, just act casual. Remember to be polite and think twice about overreacting or doing stuff you're used to.”
Abby wasn't much better off, either. Though the landscape was not as alien to her as it was to the outsiders, it was still unfamiliar. She practically clung to the others.
The walk to Cizin's garage was fortunately short.
Cizin didn't believe in driving to work. He considered himself a pretty bad driver, and he'd rather put up with the idiots on the bus than with idiots on the road. He could read something on the way and didn't have to worry about fender-benders. he car was beat-up and small anyways. It barely held the four people currently inside it, and the only thing keeping him from junking the car and getting a new one was expenses. Fun stuff. Still, right now it was best that he have access to as many areas as possible, since he was combining a lot of errands on this trip.
The car's occupants shared a lot of tension. Paul and Leah stared outside, evidently trying to figure as much about the world outside as they could before they had to step outside. Abby desperately looked for anything familiar about the environment. Cizin focused on the road, afraid of the others distracting him somehow and causing an accident.
“Don't distract me, guys. This takes focus.”
At least for me. Fucking idiot, get off the cell phone, he thought at a careless driver. Odd how Cizin could worry about small things when he had so much else on his mind.
They first stopped by a jewelry dealer. Cizin walked in with Paul's gold coins. He walked out with an unaccustomed fat wallet. The others nervously looked at the streets through the car windows.
Next stop was the mall. Cizin opened the car doors, and Paul, Abby and Leah emerged into their new world.
They followed Cizin's lead as Cizin walked indoors. Cizin, keeping his face as stiff and natural as possible (not realizing how both at once combined to give “mildly constipated”) made a beeline for a clothing shop, the others following. He reached out and haphazardly grabbed some shirts, coats and pants that he thought might fit the other three, and walked towards the changing room. Only then did he think to turn around and check to see if they were still there.
Whew.
Cizin realized how distracted he was right now. He just barely managed to function, because of his concern that Leah or Paul would stick out or do something embarrassing. They instead carried expressions of active but restrained amusement, like tourists in a foreign land, only much more subdued.
Of course. They won't freak out because of modern technology and fashion and norms. It's like being in another country to them, because they're used to magic and shades and dragons and shit. This won't scare them. I may have played up how different this place is. I mean, people are people, after all. Doh.
Relieved and embarrassed, Cizin shoved some ladies' clothes in Leah's arms and shoved her into the ladies' changing rooms.
She looked confusedly at him.
He stared back.
“Oh. Yeah, you're supposed to try on the clothes before we buy them. Give me the ones that don't fit or that you don't like.”
Cizin scratched his head. He was assuming too much again.
Cizin gave Paul and Abby their clothes.
He waited outside. Abby walked out, and handed a bunch of clothes back to Cizin.
Paul and Leah walked soon after, and did the same.
As they were walking to the register, Abby then whispered to him, “Wait, what about underwear and stuff?”
Oh. ... this might be awkward.
A half hour more than expected later- partly because Leah insisted on browsing through the store despite having little idea what was appropriate- they regrouped back in the car.
“Alright, we're going to the supermarket. It's where they sell food and stuff. I shouldn't have to tell you this, but let me do all the talking. And don't touch it before asking me.”
Cizin penciled off the lists. He had put off buying most of his emergency supplies until now. So, storm matches, emergency water, fresh food (lots of it), flashlights (multiple), kerosene, first aid supplies...
Paul, Abby and Leah for the most part followed him unobtrusively.
They returned home shortly after, Cizin immensely relieved at the complete lack of incident and near-lack of awkwardness. He got what he wanted, they got a sneak peek at the world outside, and no one died on the way back from shopping.
That's not something you think everyday.
“So, what did you all think of Cloudy Springs?”
“Cloudy what?”
“The city outside.”
“Oh. It was nice, I suppose. Everything looked weird and the people talk funny, but that's to be expected, I guess.”
“Paul, how about you?”
“Hm? Oh, I cannot pass judgment with what little I know of your world. I did observe much, of course. It was educational.”
“Oh, goody. So, Abby, I take it you didn't find it familiar?”
“Sorry.”
“It's all right. Alright, everyone, you might want to take a break while I look up how to cook for four.”
Cizin' mind wandered as he copy-pasted recipes off the web.
Hm. This is all really weird. Not that it happened, that's weird of course, but everything's so... convenient. Every one of them can communicate just fine in English, apparently. They know magic, and can use it well. N Another is decidedly loaded, and generous with his cash. The third is from around here and so can assist me with helping the outsiders. The house is magically guarded, somewhat at least, and now well-stocked. They're coping well with the world outside. Besides the shade, no monsters have showed up either outside or at home. Society at large seems oblivious enough to this all... It's all going my way, which means it's about to get a whole lot worse. Probably have some giant monster attack the city and we have to find a way to kill it through the power of friendship or some shit, while keeping up the illusion of normalcy. Or cultists abduct one of us or some crazy shit that will provide some lead into how this all started, and I'll have no choice but to enter a big goddamn conspiracy of some sort. It has to be conspiracy- it's just too convenient to be random. God damn it.
Best find a way to cope, then.
With that thought, Cizin shut his laptop and walked over to where Leah was doodling weird runes on paper. Paul slept in his chair (or was he trying to sleep? Hard to tell with old guys sometimes), and Abby had asked to use the internet after he was done, so she could try to get a clue of who she was.
“So, Leah, can you teach me magic?”
“It's not easy, Cizin. I think I can show you the ropes, but there will be...unusual obstacles for you.”
“Great, I'm sure I'll have a fucking apropos lightning scar after this is over, so I'm game.”
“I don't use lightning magic and you won't hurt yourself if you use common sense.”
“It was a j- aw, forget it.”
“I'm absolutely laughing on the inside. Alright, so you seem to have some sort of preconceived idea what magic is. Just to be clear, there is absolutely NO magic on Earth, right?”
“I think so. It's debatable, most people don't believe in it, besides ghosts and religion and stuff, but that may or may not be magical anyways.”
“So... no?”
“Yeah, let's say no.”
“Alright. Throw away whatever ideas about sorcery you have. Those will probably get in the way.”
“Of course. Midi-chlorians or tectonic energy?”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Leah gave him a strange look.
“So, the very basics... magic draws on 'aether', a nearly undetectable substance that permeates the air, ground and body. It's piss-weak here though, so I can't spare much for demonstrations. Way stronger where I come from. Anyway, to spellcast, one has to focus the aether into specially made inscriptions or one's own body, usually focused at the hands, and convert the aether's energy into something else, usually another form of energy. Some people like to yell appropriate words in dead languages to help them do it, but it's not necessary. As for...hm...Cizin don't struggle, just for a second.”
Uh oh.
Leah waved a faintly glowing hand at Cizin's face.
“Oh, good. You do have a soul. I was wor-”
“WHAT?!”
“Sorry, sorry. I was curious. All humans, at least that I know of, have a soul. It is a intangible organ made of aether which directs and stores more aether. Not having one would be kind of weird. I just wanted ot make sure. Yours is pretty small, but I guess that comes from living in a place with barely any aether... I suppose 'soul' means something else in your language, then?”
“Yeah, it's supposed to be the immortal human spirit. The mind, or the part of you that goes to the afterlife or whatnot.”
“Huh. Okay then, just so you know, they're separate things. So, the soul controls...”
“Sorry, one second. I think we should get Abby into this. That way, at least she knows too.”
Cizin fetched Abby. Leah repeated herself. Abby didn't show much interest, but she was probably distracted by her just-interrupted, literal search for identity.
“...okay. So, the soul governs one's use of magic. The soul unconsciously inhales aether and stores it for later use, much like lungs. When the time comes to cast a spell, the soul “exhales” aether onto your hands or a wand or amulet or some other focus and becomes fuel for fire, motion, light, healing, whatever. The soul, once emptied a bit, fills up again with aether.”
“Great. So 'how do I shot magic'?”
“Hm...Your soul has barely any aether right now, and I'm pretty sure it's too weak to actually do anything with what it has. Even magical novices on Ketegam start out with more than what you have, no offense. I'm pretty sure I can't teach anyone to use magic. It's pretty hard to grasp, and you have less to work with that usual. Maybe Paul can help. I can offer information, though.”
“That'll do, I suppose. Let me ask- what are the limitations on this magic?”
“Let me think... the big one is that energy is limited, both magically and physically. It's very tiring to use up aether quickly, and casting too much in the first place can deplete the aether itself, just like fire can deplete the air in a closed room. Also, the other big rule is that it's hard to hurt people directly. They'll struggle if you try to magically cut or strangle them or something. You'll take a portion of what you hit them with, depending on... let's see... how powerful they are compared to you, and how aware they are that they're being cursed. It's called 'feedback.' So, you have to use indirect spells to fight. Fireballs, lightning, et cetera. This also applies to animals, including monsters, but not to the undead or unliving creatures. Oh, and healing, as long as it's purely white magic, won't be resisted.”
“White magic? How many kinds of magic are there?”
“There's three big schools. Living Magic, Elemental Magic and Pure Magic. Living Magic affects living, or once-living matter.. Elemental magic for the most part controls non-living matter. Mineral, Gas, Water, and Flora. Then there's Pure Magic, or Energy. Fire, Electricity, Motion, Light, Entropy and Space.
“Wait, Entropy and Space?”
“Entropy. Disintegration and explosions, mostly. It's pretty convenient but they're very difficult to use without a proper wand. Space magic is really, really rare, and it takes crazy skill in Pure Magic to even try to use it. It's teleporting and time alteration and lots of crazy stuff. Don't worry about it.”
Note to self: The very mention of it means we're totally going to meet a space magic user in the future. Inquire about specific countermeasures at soonest convenience. For now, I want general countermeasures.
“So... what can magic do?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“A legitimate one, coming from someone who doesn't know jack.”
“Alright, listen up. This is going to be a big list:
Living magic has three parts- Black Magic, White Magic, and Necromancy.
Black magic is mostly curses, stuff to hurt or hinder people mentally, physically or spiritually. It's a very broad category.
White magic is healing and temporary improvements to one's physical and mental functioning. Like 'black magic', it is also a broad category.
Necromancy is the act of altering the dead. It's both Black and White magic. It involves bringing them back to life as undead, communing with dead spirits, deriving energy from dead flesh, all kinds of blasphemous bullshit.”
Leah simmered as she spoke these words.
“Okay. Elemental Magic is pretty obvious. It manipulates the elements, moving them around, except when for these elements are present in intelligent creatures, in which case the manipulation of those fall under Living Magic, probably under Black magic.
Mineral is dirt, rocks, and sand. Sort of includes metal.
Gas is just about any kind gas, especially air.
Water is, of course, water, including ice, not including steam, which falls under Gas.
Flora is controlling and altering plants, at least unintelligent plants, and plant products. Intelligent plants go under Living Magic.
“Aaaand... Pure Magic. It's the crudest and easiest to learn form of magic. You'll probably be learning it first. It's based on converting and directing forms of energy to a target.
Fire, Electricity and Sound are obvious. Make pretty flames or what not.”
Leah flicked her armored wrist and a few sparks flew from her fingertips.
“Light is also obvious. It's also pretty hard to control. You can make illusions, but they're hard to maintain.
Entropy is pure destructive energy, and converts the target matter into energy, possibly with explosions.
Space Magic... I don't have any experience with it, but I've already described it. Teleporting around and warping space and all that.”
Cizin frantically scribbled notes. “So, which types of magic do you use?”
“I use White Magic (can't stand Black Magic or Necromancy), Fire, Sound and Motion magic. Maybe a little Light or Lightning, but not much.
Most people stick to two out of the three big schools of magic, as learning the third takes way too much time after you've grasped two already. Most humans I know end up going for Living and Pure Magic. Also, some people like to specialize, which makes them brilliant in one sub-school, and decent in the rest of that school, but crap in everything else. To each her own, I guess.”
“So, you're a medic?”
“I guess you could say that. I'm more interested in the augmentation part of white magic. But I suppose the healing is a nice bonus.”
“So, what kind of magic are those runes protecting the house?”
“Those are Black magic. It causes an unwanted effect in living creatures, and is thus Black magic.”
“You said you can't stand Black magic.”
“I admit it has its uses at times, and I can stand Black Magic if it'll save my life. It's not evil or anything, just very distasteful.”
Leah said this matter-of-factly, her voice absent of justification or defensiveness.
Good to know she's not the stupid flavor of paladin.
“What are ' 'theric sigils'?”
“It's a fancy way of saying magic runes. 'Theric is short for aetheric, and sigils refer to any kind of runes that have been enchanted.”
“Do you think magic is responsible for you being able to talk to me?”
“Definitely. It's a high-end translation spell of some sort. It's not my kind of thing, so I can't give details, but it's definitely the work of someone with quite a bit of magical oomph. No idea how they got it on me, though.”
Note to self: Totally conspiracy.
“What kind of magic is the shade?”
“Definitely black magic, probably a bit of necromancy since it can create ghosts.”
“How would you fight ghosts?”
“At a very safe distance. And with lots of Pure Magic.”
“And, how would you go about countering magic? In general.”
“Well, obviously, use your own magic, but I guess you can't do that. Best solution is to kill the spellcaster before they can react. I'd like to see them hit me with a spell after that.”
Definitely not the stupid paladin.
“But of course, that's not always a good idea or possible. Distractions help weaken spells, as does injuring or restraining the caster, preferably at a distance. Some materials are magic-resistant, but those are magically created in the first place, and I don't have any, so you're out of luck here. Some spells require seeing the target, so blinding or hiding can work. Mental black magic can be fought off through strength of will and discipline. And of course, the more predictable techniques of Elemental and Pure Magic can simply be dodged or blocked with a strong enough shield. Not much else you can do besides those.”
“What about removing the power source?”
“You mean aether?”
“Yeah. Any way to deprive mages of it?”
“Mmm... I suppose you could cast a ton of spells, but they could just move away or wait for aether to seep in again, and you'd be tired after that, so it's a bad idea. And there's no way that I know of to access aether without magic, so it's really not an option.”
“Thought it was worth a shot.”
“Anything else?”
“This is a lot to absorb. I have one more question, though. How can you tell if something is magic?”
“I can 'feel' magic being used, and sense concentrations of aether at very close range- including other mages. I don't think you can.”
“Well, I felt a thumping during the shade's attack.”
“That was the shade trying to mentally reach out to us, for some reason.”
“They can do that?”
“Well, I didn't know that either until it tried.”
“Huh. Well, that'll be it for today.”
Abby left to continue her search.
Leah suddenly pulled Cizin close with a sense of urgency.
“Cizin. Listen. Something's wrong. Just now, I tried to see if Abby has a soul. She doesn't. I can't feel any amount of aether in her. Not a bit.”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Everything has some kind of aether in it, Cizin, even the smallest insect has something akin to a soul. Now, I'm quite sure Abby's not undead, or else I would have killed her when we met her. There's just nothing else that moves besides undead that doesn't have a soul. It's inexplicable.”
“Great. Just great. That just means she's probably some very important magically engineered person or something that somebody out there really wants their hands on.”
“What?”
“It's obvious. She has no magic stuff in her. Someone probably made her that way, either as an artificial human or extracting her soul or some shit. Then she had an accident trying to escape them, hit her head or something and lost her memory entirely.”
Leah stared in cautious amazement.
“I … see now. Wait, no, actually, I don't.”
“Oh come on. You really think this is just coincidence?”
“You know, for a moment there, I thought you were the sharp sort, the kind who lets nothing past him. Apparently, you're actually the local bard. The loony kind usually found passed out behind the tavern. I'm gonna go talk to Abby and make sure you don't burn her at the stake or anything.”
Leah got up and walked away.
“I'm a hardware designer, damn it! Come back here!”
What's the point of calling it out if no one believes you? She's so blind it hurts.
Cizin decided to spend the next few hours reviewing his notes and making future plans.
Chapter Five
“So, Paul. Hey. Paul, wake up. WAKE UP...Oh, good, still breathing. Come on. It's nine o' clock. You'll never go to sleep tonight if you doze all day. Geez, Paul, you're making me sound like my mother here... Wake the fuck up!”
Paul smirked and smoothly sat up in his chair, eyes now wide open.
“And how are you today, Madame Cizin?”
“Screw you, old man, I've been through enough already. I need to talk to you.”
“And you needed to wake me up for that?”
Cizin rolled his eyes.
Paul grinned. “Sorry, I guess I'm just irritable from being woken up from my cranky old man sleep. How can I help you?”
“Leah tells me Abby has no soul, no 'aether' in her body. That's not a normal thing. It's like she's some kind of freak, apparently. I wanted to talk to you about that, and please spare me your 'wit', Wise Master.”
“Ah, aether. The dazzling blood of the universe has ma-”
“No sidetracking little platitudes, either. It doesn't make you look smarter, and annoying me will not help your cause, I assure you.”
“Heh heh, you got me there. Well, I will assume Leah has acquainted you with the basics of magic... On second thought, I would like to see what you know, since I do not know if we are talking about the same magic or practices of magic here.”
A quick review session later...
“Okay, some minor disagreements on fine details, but nothing significant. In practice, it is the same, I suppose. So, as for Abby's soul- I have no explanation either. It is likely that your theory is correct, that she was altered in some way, purposefully or not, and there are likely some that would find that trait valuable and may or may not be pursuing me. Her amnesia may be related to this, or it may not be. And Leah's evaluation of your theory has merit as well, so it may be that there is another explanation. Or not.”
“That is a *very* long way of saying 'I have no clue.'”
“Well, there's only one way to find out what Abby is.”
“I hope it doesn't involve waxing a car or sitting on mountains for the truth.”
“Well, we wait.”
“That's very helpful. I'm sure it'll help if we are suddenly attacked by huge armored guys seeking a soulless person so they can use Abby to fight psychics or crap.”
“Well, they may not necessarily be armored.”
“Seriously. What do you know about soullessness?”
Paul looked Cizin dead in the eyes.
“I have no clue.”
“Thhhhhanks.”
“However, I do recall a story about a man who had his soul injured during a doubtlessly illegal magical experiment.”
“What happened?”
“He swiftly went insane, lost most use of his limbs and died a horrible, gibbering and paralyzed mess.”
“That's cheerful.”
Note: This is probably going to happen some time now that it's been mentioned. Great.
“And he couldn't cast any spells.”
“My heart weeps for his spell-lessness. And what are the odds of this happening to me?”
“I'd believe if someone has the power to get at your soul, they might as well just lobotomize you to save time.”
“Lovely.... So, you think Abby's going to go stiff as a board on us while trying to flip out and kill everyone?”
“Who knows?”
A loud scream came from Cizin's bedroom, where Abby was on the computer.
Cizin immediately readied his gun and dashed in the direction of the scream.
Cizin burst into the room.
Leah, kneeling next to Abby, had covered her own mouth, and stared in the laptop in horror. Abby, resting her face on her fist, showed a mixture of sympathy, annoyance and disgust.
Cizin walked over to the laptop, craned his neck to see the screen and immediately looked away. It was a shock site. Cizin shut the laptop.
“Yeah, don't click on any ad you see. My ad blocker isn't perfect, and the ones that get through are usually assholes anyway. Carry on.”
Leah suppressed something like an urge to vomit.
“Oh, for fuck's sake, it's only human waste. I'm sure you have plenty of it back in the Middle Ages.”
Paul stepped forward from behind Cizin.
“Huh. How'd you get there, Paul?”
“I have no clue.”
“Haha. Okay, Abby, you won't make this mistake again. Leah, this is what I meant when I said everyone on the Internet is an asshole. They do this to random people for giggles.”
Leah had recovered enough to hoarsely reply, “I have an urge to rip a spleen out of the bastard who made this.”
“Welcome to the Internet.”
“I want to get off this planet.”
“Get in line. And no cutting.”
“Ugh... can we talk again? In private?”
“Alright, Cizin, I've thought about it. You said Abby was probably wanted by someone. As far as I can tell, she doesn't have any leads from the Internet. If there really is someone, maybe we can a hint from them?”
“I thought you didn't believe me.”
“Well, damned if I'm going to let her run around into that kind of thing again. And it didn't seem too productive before that anyways.”
“Look, Leah... I know we're going to run into whoever wants Abby sooner or later. I'd rather it'd be when I'm prepared, as opposed to now. Let's not expedite their search, thank you very much.”
“As you wish. I'm going to turn in. It's too damn late to be arguing, and I'm going to need the extra time to sleep after THAT.”
“Alright.”
It was getting late, very late.
Cizin returned to Paul and Abby, Paul now staring at the computer screen with curiosity.
“Alright, guys, I have to go to work tomorrow. I will be gone for most of the day, from 9 to 6. I can already smell the fucking hilarious hijinks you guys will get up to in my absence, so I have written a list...”
Cizin whipped out a few pages of scribbled text and pointed at several sentences triple-underlined with bright red ink.
“of shit to do and to avoid doing during the entirety of my absence. I'd like to pay special attention to 'Don't talk to strangers without calling me first if you can help it', and 'Call the police only if something damn serious happens because getting arrested for being suspicious is not fun.', among others. Cheers.”
Cizin threw the pages on his table, and prepared to go to bed.
As he lay drifting off on his sofa, his mind was occupied with magic, and what would happen if the general population found out it existed.
He shivered. It wasn't cold inside.
Chapter 6
Dammit, I'm probably late again. Forgot to set the alarm.
His alarm rang anyway. It was eight thirty.
Huh.
Cizin got up, and prepared himself for the daily grind, yet again. The prospect of a day at work seemed even more boring than before, now that he knew that MAGIC AND DRAGONS EXISTED. At least his job seemed far easier now that he knew he would have to put up with said magic and dragons as well.
Abby, Leah, and Paul were slumped in various places around the house, still enjoying the luxury of a good night's sleep. Cizin hoped they'd follow his instructions. They didn't seem like the “run off and be idiots” type, but they did surprise him yesterday. People are like onions, he mused, as he walked out the door and decided it was a shitty metaphor.
Cizin took the bus again, to work. His mind ran various scenarios of what the others would get into, particularly Abby. Best case scenario involved a mess on the kitchen floor. Worst case scenario would involve disposing of it before more cops showed up. While the house was on fire. While giving the survivors CPR or getting a dragon to blow its chunks. And while Cizin lacked at least one of his limbs. And that was the worst case scenario that he could do something about and could logically be thought about.
Cizin grimaced. Okay, probably best to consider only the more likely scenarios. Won't go as insane that way.
Cizin's mind kept running with possibilities as he entered the office, sat down in his small cubicle and started typing.
They say time flies when you're having fun. Normally, the day would drag endlessly on as Cizin endured minute after minute of drudgery.
But time also flies when you know something horrible is up ahead and you try to savor what precious time you have before that.
Cizin tired of dealing with hypothetical situations in his own house, so he expanded further. What if a dragon showed up? Zombie apocalypse, but voodoo instead of viral? Portal to an alien world materializes on his front lawn? Cizin worked through every scenario, mentally cataloguing lists of preparations and reactions.
Cizin looked at the clock for the first time. Lunchtime already. That was fast. He didn't get quite as much done in the meantime, but that was acceptable.
As Cizin stepped outside to get a bite, he called home from his company cell. He was glad he had decided to blow cash on a second cell phone a year ago. Didn't make as much sense at the time, but a spare sure came in handy now.
Leah picked up. “Hello? Cizin? What is it?”
“Yeah, Leah, everything okay over there?”
“Yeah. Everything's good. It's boring around here. Don't worry, I still remember everything on the list, and I made sure everyone else did too.”
“Really? Nothing's gone wrong? You're sure.”
“Yep. Abby's searching again, I'm playing around with the aether here, and Paul's still sleeping. Not much to do around here. If something happens, we agreed to notify you by phone or electronic mail. I haven't forgotten.”
“Alright. I'll introduce you to something called TV later if you're that bored.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Bye.”
“Bye?”
Cizin returned after lunch and fantasized of more scenarios as he worked. As he attempted to predict the weak spots on a tyrannosaurus rex, Cizin now realized that no one had nagged him yet. True, it was a Saturday, but that only meant one in three or so people were there.
It was quite a bit emptier than usual.
Cizin stood up from his cubicle and looked over the walls.
No one there.
Cizin decided to wander around the room, pretending to look for his project team members. Under normal circumstances, he'd never think of striking up conversation with random idiots, but he needed information, dammit.
After consulting with the few people who were around, including his boss, Cizin pieced together that quite a few people had moved to other jobs or called in sick. No one was aware of anything special happening on Wednesday- even the local rumor mill failed to come up with any wild stories or relevant minutiae. As far as his coworkers were concerned, this was just other week.
Oh. Shit. No one's aware of anything. This is a cover up.
Cizin decided to call Leah again.
“Hey Leah?”
“Yeah?”
“Everything all right?”
“Still the same.”
“You aren't talking as much as usual. Something's wrong, isn't it?”
Cizin's put a tone of resignation in his voice.
“*sigh* Fire alarm.”
“What?”
“Apparently, your fire alert device doesn't like it when I toy with fire magic. I saw you smoking in the room, but nothing happened, so I thought it would be okay.”
“You didn't set anyth-!”
“No, nothing important got set on fire. A few useless scraps of paper.”
“Nothing bad after that happened, right?”
Note to self: People are listening. Keep it vague.
“No. No one showed up. I put out the fire and the smoke and it all went away.”
“*whew* Thank you. Well, you know what not to do now. Be a good girl now. Bye.”
“Excuse me?”
Cizin hung up.
Okay, so people are actually disappearing for whatever reasons. Boss is under impression that it's normal. So either he's dense as lead as usual, or else he's in on it. Too much investigation will warrant suspicion. In any case, carry on as usual.
The regular hypothetical scenarios turned into dark thoughts of dread as Cizin dreadfully buried himself in his work and dreaded every single second of dread. Cizin took care to carry his usual tired and irritated work face.
Cizin took the bus home. He found himself estimating the number of cars on the road, to see how many were missing, before dismissing the thought as silly. He thought about calling again, but decided against it.
Cizin very carefully approached his house from the bus stop. It seemed all the lights were on, and there wasn't any mental thumping, but the house was quite still. Too quiet. He looked in every shadow outside for a lurking dragon or something. Who knows what came at every corner. He'd look silly with his gun out (he brought it to work without realizing, but thankfully it was hidden in his briefcase), and like a burglar of some sort, but he wished he had a weapon at the ready.
Note to self, invest in less alarming weaponry.
Cizin tuned into his instincts. It didn't feel like anything was wrong, but that probably meant something was wrong. Who knows what could have happened.
Cizin entered the house tactically, weapon at the ready, covering all corners of the room.
Abby, Leah and Paul stared at him.
Cizin looked silly.
Chapter Seven
“Cizin, you need to relax. You're getting too paranoid. And what was that 'good girl' thing about?”
“I suspect the conspiracy has breached my workplace. Someone in on it could have been listening. I told someone 'Leah' was my cousin, and went with it.”
Leah sighed heavily. “You're really something.”
Paul interrupted, “Look, from what I was told, it was a single incident. Leah was not overly aware of the fire alarm. It's over now, nothing really bad happened. The house remains intact, no one was hurt and no outside authorities were alarmed.”
“Alright. Alright, guys, since there's really not much to do here, and I don't have to work tomorrow we're going to figure out how deep the cover-up goes.”
Paul raised an eyebrow. “Cover up?”
“Yeah, some people disappeared from the office, and I was told they moved to new jobs or are sick. It's bullshit, of course.”
“So, what do we do?”
“We look into it, duh.”
The local law enforcement and news websites, even three days later, yielded absolutely zero mention of any local disruptions that could be related to Wednesday's incident. To Cizin, no flag could have been redder. It didn't help that he couldn't discuss this with anyone else, for fear of being suspected himself. The authorities would be on to him in moments, email or not. Plus, his buddies could have been part of the conspiracy themselves. Who knew?
The question was how to get information. Hm... but there were other concerns first.
Cizin tried some new recipes for four. Leah and Paul helped out, having little better to do. Abby idled. She was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Cizin would have found this odd, but she probably got attached to whatever she had, having nothing else and she didn't stink or anything (yet), so it was okay.
Cizin tried not to spray the eggshells everywhere. Being a single bachelor did not make for decent cooking skills. At least he had people to help him make something complicated. After all, he couldn't exactly make chili, stew and sandwiches every single day for his gu-
Cizin stopped himself. Huh. Was it really coming to this? Was this his repl-
“Cizin? I think you were supposed to simmer the oil and garlic a minute before the eggs.”
Doh.
After dinner, Cizin took Abby aside for a private talk.
“Alright, Abby, as you are aware, you're a mysterious amnesiac girl. We don't know why you're here, have only a faint suspicion how you got here, have no clue regarding your amnesia, and definitely no clue who you actually are. You only know your name, and we have no hint as to who you were from your likes and dislikes.”
“Wh-wha?”
“Also, I looked at your browser history and you need to spend less time on Youtube.”
“Erm....”
“Anyways, here goes.”
Cizin braced himself and swung just in front of Abby's head.
“Wah!” Abby awkwardly stumbled back a second later.
“Okay, no super-reflexes.”
Cizin threw a soft foam ball at her face. It smacked off her nose.
“Gah!”
“No psychic powers. What about superstrength?”
He shoved a dumbbell into her hands.
Her fist dropped to the ground immediately, and she cried out in surprise, then let it go.
Cizin offered her parts of a toy dart pistol.
She practically cringed as she accepted the pieces.
Cizin stared at her expectantly.
“Uh... what am I supposed to do with this?”
Cizin snatched away the pieces. “No latent firearms training.”
Leah burst into the room. “What the hell are you doing to her?”
“Oh, hey Leah, I was wondering if you could test her for mag-
Abby cried out, “He's gone nuts! He thinks I'm some kind of soldier!”
Leah slowly approached, coolly making eye contact with Cizin and with a hand on her sword. Cizin slowly backed away.
She grabbed Cizin's collar. “Look, if you want to test random crap on her, at least invite me.”
Abby boggled.
“Okay, so... nearly zero resistance to magic, zero hand to hand ability, average-to-below average physique, overly sensitive to everything, big eater, average reasoning and memory, excellent sense of location- huh-, but not anything out of the ordinary, and a complete lack of common magical abilities. What do you make of it, Ciz?”
“You don't have to rub it in.”, Abby exclaimed.
“I think we could be doing this more scientifically, actually, but in any case, it's likely that any special abilities Abby are either specific or related to something we don't have easy access to. Or she fell victim to something, and is actually disadvantaged in any case.”
“Now you come up with an alternate theory.” Leah scratched her temple. “Well, not much we can do, Cizin. Let's see what Paul thinks.”
“I believe Paul's sleeping again. Lazy old guy, huh?”
“Hey, let's see how energetic you are when you're his age.”
“Guy's only like fifty. And he's got those knives on him and can decapitate ogres. He's clearly fitter and badder than your average old man. Clearly just lazy.”
“Whatever. I'm pretty sure he can help.”
Paul's firm amber eyes stared into Abby's open dark blue eyes.
Paul put both index fingers on the sides of his head.
“Hm... I don't sense anything.”
“I'm don't think that's how magic works.”
“Shush, Ciz. Let him do his thing.”
“As far as I can tell, all we have one confused little girl on our hands. Nothing more.”
“She's not exactly little, Paul.”
“You're all children to me. I'm just a crotchety old man, you know.”
“Uh huh.”
Abby stared down, doubt and worry on her face.
Cizin felt a spot of guilt in his chest.
“Look, Abby, sorry 'bout picking at you, but we have to take what information what we can get. The more we know about what you can do, the better we can cope with our current situ-”
Paul sighed. “Let me deal with it. You need to learn how to talk to people. Both of you, please leave. And please consult me before pulling something like this again.”
Cizin and Leah left the room.
“That was awkward.”
Leah sighed. “It was also your fault.”
Cizin rubbed his forehead. “We're really running out of leads.”
“How so?”
“The Internet brings up nothing, not even shadowy magical conspiracy rants. I can't ask around at work or in public without raising suspicions. I mean, what can I say, 'Hey what do you know of magic and sorcery and amnesiac ladies?'. I'm positive the police and other authorities can't be trusted- there's no way they couldn't have publicly responded in some way to Wednesday's activities. Wandering around and searching the neighborhood is risky, and I'm sure whoever is covering this up already took care of anything we can find. Nothing fantastic besides that shade and Abby has shown itself, and we're sure not chasing down the shade.”
“Great. We're going to have to sit on our asses now. Can't be too bad. I mean, it is a foreign country where I am sure as hell not planning to stay.”
“But that's it.”
“ 'Scuse me?”
“We have to wait. Some little thread will dangle itself in front of us in due time. We just have to prepare for it for when it comes.”
“You can't be sure. And it could take months or years for something to show up, if at all. I'd hate to spend the frickin' rest of my life here.”
“No, no I'm sure something is up. Think about it- the cover up is competent. Immensely competent. A bunch of people disappear, no one puts up a fuss over it. Fucking fire, arrows and lightning- it's just a storm, and everyone who encounters something probably disappears. It's a matter of time before they look into us.”
“Really. You can't be so sure about this. I think you just resent th-”
The doorbell sang its crude melody of arrival.
Cizin smugly raised an eyebrow before his face dropped into nervousness. “Leah, discreetly fetch Paul and Abby. I'm pretty sure it's the cops or someone else, so please, please stay quiet and prepared to flee.”
Cizin roughly stood up, adjusted his hair, put on his best faked grin, and casually strolled towards the door.
He looked through the peephole. Yep. Coppers.
He opened the door, trying not to smile too much. “Good evening, officers. How can I help you?”
A policeman and a policewoman stood in front of him.
The policeman was a tall, well-built, brown-haired man. The policewoman had bright red hair in a bun and wore sunglasses. They seemed unremarkable.
Both still exploded with alarm bells in Cizin's mind.
They look too damn sharp to be local police. They're in the kind of body language that doesn't draw attention to themselves- cops are supposed to radiate authority. Everything is in too much of the right place- uniform's too neat and fussed-with- on-duty cops aren't this damn neat. And they're too damn light on their feet- I didn't hear them walk up like I usually hear cops walk up, and they look too damn balanced for any normal person. Who the fuck are these people?
Cizin desperately hoped he looked normal right now, as he could tell they too were analyzing the hell out of him- way more suspicious of him than normal officers in their position would be.
“Evenin' sir.”, the man spoke. His voice sharp and his words perfectly enunciated. “Please do not be alarmed sir, we're not suspecting you of anything, we're just collecting eyewitness testimony from people in the area. You may have heard there were some disappearances a few nights ago. We were wondering if you could provide us with some information to help us solve these disappearances.”
Should I ask them for their badges? Should I decline to answer? They could be fakes, but they'll get suspicious if I ask. Oh shit oh shit oh shit. Probably should just let them do their worst.
“Sure thing. Would you like to come in?” Best pretend to be ignorant of everything, but not too ignorant. Gulp. I have nothing to hide, right? Shit.
“Thank you, sir. We don't mean to intrude. This will only be a few minutes of your time.”
To Leah's credit, Cizin didn't hear any movement inside the house as the officers walked in. In fact, he didn't hear any footsteps behind his own. These “police” really were too light on their feet.
“So... mister...?”
“Cizin. Mark Cizin.”
He could feel them very thoroughly observing the house as they walked in. Incredibly thoroughly. It was obvious they suspected something was up. He tried not to look around too. They took seats at his kitchen table.
“Mister Cizin, can you provide a brief introduction of yourself?”
I'm not harboring mysterious adventurers from another world. Or worlds.
“I'm Mark Cizin, 25 and I'm a computer hardware designer at Solz. Inc. I, uh, don't really have much to say.”
“Very well. Mister Cizin, can you describe your experience on Wednesday night?”
Ohshit. Was that a suspect-kind-of-question or usual procedure?
“Um, well, I got home from work at six fifty five. Work wasn't too busy that day. Um, I sat down to watch television. Television wasn't working too well. I ordered out for pizza, and it came pretty quickly- don't think anything was wrong with it, and I ate it and had leftovers. Then, I was feeling really beat from working on design specs all Tuesday night so I went to sleep early, at nine o' clock. I did hear some of those fucking kids making noise outside, and maybe something like thunder. Eh.”
Cizin tried to keep eye contact with the policeman, but his eyes wandered. Down to the floor...
Oh fuck, the runes. Fuck fuck fuck fuuuuuuuck! Did they notice? FUCK.
Cizin prayed that they didn't see the marks on the wall. Goddamnit, I should have had those erased, or at least covered, earlier! FUCK. Why didn't I prepare for a police investigation?
Cizin benignly looked on as the “policewoman” jotted down notes.
“Okay. So, these kids making noise. What exactly did you hear?”
“Oh, you know, just a bunch of shit and whooping and talking. The usual. Probably drunk or something again.”
“Alright. No... screaming, no unusual noises from these kids at all?”
“Damned if I know. Teenagers're always doing weird shit like this. I guess it counts as screaming. I couldn't really tell, I was trying to tune the little shits out and get some damn sleep already.”
“I know the feeling. So, did you ever take a look outside that night?”
“Nah. Prefer my TV and my unconsciousness to this boring neighborhood. What's there to see?”
Look at my eyes. Not the runes. Nor at the copious, too-much-for-one-man amounts of groceries on the floor. Come on. Don't look around too much.
“Uh huh. Mister Cizin, what have you heard about any disappearances that night?”
“I dunno. I don't talk to anyone much. I read the news a lot, and I didn't know anything happened here.”
Don't mention the co-workers.
“Mister Cizin, where were you on the days after?”
Son. Of. A. Fucking. BITCH. The million dollar question! I know they can tell if I lie. These guys look like fucking lie detectors. And I can't change my story to what I told Chac earlier. Goddammit so much.
“It turns out I was tired because I was coming down with some flu. Or something. That's what my doctor said. So, I spent the next few days away from work.” Pretend to be innocent and scared. “... do you think I'm a criminal because I wasn't at work, sir?” Cizin raised his voice appropriately as he ended the question, the fear in his words very real. “I don't know anything about disappearances. Did any of my friends disappear? Oh God, can you give me a list of people who're missing? Are my parents all right?”
“Calm down, Mister Cizin, it's all right. I'm sure no one you know disappeared. We're just checking to make sure you were all right. Did you see or hear anything unusual the next few days?”
I hope that threw them off. They're professionals. They're probably still on to me, judging by that next question.
“I had some of the weirdest dreams ever. The flu...”
“What were your flu symptoms?”
What the fuck, why would you ask that? Oh shit, make something up.
“Pounding headache, sore throat like it was shaved with a cheese grater, pounding headache, 102 degree fever, pounding headache, and some of the freakiest dreams ever. Oh, and the pounding headache.”
“Mmm, good to see you've recovered quickly.”
Oh shit. Suspicious.
Cizin knew he was losing his composure and redoubled his efforts to hold on. He could feel the policewoman's cold eyes almost boring into his soul. It almost hurt.
“Alright, Mister Cizin. It seems you're innocent.” The man's tone was joking, but Cizin couldn't be sure. “We'll call you if we need further information. Sorry about the intrusion, we'll be on our way now.”
“Okay. Have a nice night, officers.”
“You too, sir.”
They left the room, evidently unaware of the runes.
Cizin collapsed like wet cardboard in his chair.
That went badly. Okay, they might still be listening in or watching in. Stay quiet and calm.
Cizin slowly got up out of his chair, joints aching more than they should have. He turned around and walked deeper into his house, where the others were doubtlessly hiding.
Leah peeked out of the bedroom doorway.
At least she has the sense not to hide in the bathroom.
Cizin pressed the side of his index finger to his nose and lips, and gave the thumbs up sign.
The four of them whispered under a blanket, with pillows and awkwardly sound-proofing the room. The sounds of a police car driving off barely echoed in the room.
“Alright, so those were definitely not policemen, guys.”
“How can you tell?”
“They were off, Paul. I can't explain they just were. Too... smooth, too sneaky, too sharp to be normal policemen.... give me a moment to reflect on what I saw.”
The others respectfully let Cizin think about the conversation.
“Okay, so they definitely suspect something is up. They did not ask questions I would expect normal cops to ask. I acted as best as I could, but I gave them a different story than what I gave a co-worker of mine, and probably not a very airtight story too. Told them I was sick, so I was off from work.”
“Alright. Can we expect another visit from them?”
“Hold on, Leah. Alright, they didn't notice the runes, amazingly enough. We should cover up those up as soon as we can. They told me there were disappearances on the night you guys showed up. I told them what happened, minus you guys, and said the noises outside were drunk teenagers. They didn't seem suspicious until I mentioned I took time off from work, and then they really pressed me. The woman stared at me really creepily.... uh...yeah. So, they left soon after that, and they might still be listening from a distance, which is why we are talking like this now.”
“Cizin... we're probably going to get another visit from them or something else. We should be prepared.”
“Yes, we should. Let's make a plan to hide the evidence in case they come along again. By the way, Paul, Leah, did you notice any magic coming from them?”
“Nope. Can't tell unless I'm really close, or unless they cast some kind of spell.”, said Leah.
“Not at all.”, said Paul.
“Alright. Let's call this a day after we investigation-proof the house. Oh, and people, if anyone asks- Leah, you're my cousin staying over for a few nights, Abby, you're also my cousin, Paul, you're the uncle.”
“We hardly look related.”
“Too bad, Paul. If any of you can come up with a better alibi, by all means,.”
A quick hiding of personal effects, burnt paper (Leah wasn't particularly good at entertaining herself), and excess food and other supplies away, the four went to bed.
Cizin slept on his couch again. He spent his minutes drifting off to sleep dissecting the conversation, worrying about what to do next time...
Chapter Eight
Sunday. This wasn't going to be fun. Cizin would have to act very carefully. He honestly could be being watched or listened to at any moment for any reason.
This is going to suck. No doubt about it. Damage control is going to be a bitch. Those two had police uniforms, so either they're part of a government agency or an organization powerful enough to obtain local police uniforms on short notice. If they're even from Earth. Goddamnit.
Oh shit, and they didn't give me their names or show their badges. I didn't see their nametags, but they didn't give me their names. Shit!
Cizin continued to reflect on his close call as he brushed, shaved and blankly stared at his tired face in the mirror, before reminding himself he had breakfast to attend to.
Cizin introduced Paul and Leah to bacon. They clearly had bacon where they came from, or something equivalent or similar to bacon. Huh. Maybe the world they come from really isn't that different after all.
“Okay, guys. I'm pretty sure they suspect us and are likely going to do something about it soon, something not good. We need to start chasing for leads quickly, just in case they are. Either we figure out who's after us, or we start searching around town. Both are risky. Both are necessary. And we also need to set up better, more inconspicuous security measures. I'm pretty sure those runes didn't detract from their attention.”
“The runes do not work on people who make it their specifically purpose to enter your house in particular. Otherwise, it would turn you away. Only works on those who don't care which house they enter, it makes them pick another house.”, said Paul.
“Oh, that's fun. Look, can you help come up with better magicky security stuff?”
“I'll see what I can do. The Fortunate Shielding was an improvisation anyways.”
“Alright. Leah, can you help Paul with this?”
“Why not.”
“Abby, oh, by the way, I'm sorry about what happened yesterday.” Abby shrugged to indicate her having gotten over it. “Anyways, Abby, I want you to find a way to block off some of the windows as inconspicuously as possible. Don't make any sudden movements. Just do it.”
Abby nodded.
“I myself will be evaluating our potential leads and making plans.”
Cizin narrowed down the list of agencies who could care about the disappearances, whether magical or not. It seemed not many of them would have no logical reason to care. But of course, he was working on the assumption that he knew their motives and that it was a government agency those two “police” belonged too. Both were too general. Cizin realized he couldn't have gone far with this line of inquiry- there was just too little known.
The other option was waltzing around town, trying to sniff out weirdness and any traces of magic. It was risky, but Cizin wasn't exactly gifted with any other options. It would have to do.
“Alright, if anyone asks, I'm showing you guys around town. Leah, Paul, you guys tell me if you sense any magic.”
They left late. Paul and Leah had erased the previous marker runes, and imperceptibly engraved runes that would make the house appear as if it were empty and quiet. Anyone staring at the house would magically be convinced it was boring and lose interest. Or so Cizin hoped. Apparently, those with strong willpower or magical training wouldn't be affected. He desperately hoped the shadowy conspiracy guys were muggles.
It was nearing three o' clock, and the four of them set out in Cizin's car.
He made sure to cover as many streets as reasonable possible, without backtracking or staying in the same area for long, making a second trip back if necessary. No cars were tailing him, so he felt a lot better. For now. They drove around for four hours, without incident. It was quite boring overall, and there was zero magic detected around town. Cizin was also glad that he had Paul's gold coins to pay for the gas, and he made sure to exchange a few more at the jewelers', since no one was following him around anyways. Then he realized the gold coins in themselves were a pretty damn uncommon thing, and therefore suspcious, and silently cursed himself for the slip-up.
Deflecting suspicion was already getting on Cizin's nerves. Analyzing every single situation from the conspiracy's perspective and from the normal person's perspective really taxed his mind, and he hoped to return home, where he could worry less about being seen at the wrong time by the wrong person.
“Got one.”, Leah said.
“Where?”
“Right over there.”
It was an old abandoned building, a former warehouse in a dusty corner of town.
“Great. Abandoned warehouses always have fun things in them. Probably evil cultists summoning monstrosities from another world or a supervillain holding someone's girlfriend hostage. Can't wait to check it out.”
Cizin made sure to park in the back, and prepared to go in. He hoped this wasn't illegal. Still, had to make sure the risks were worth it.
“Alright, Leah, are we sure this isn't a trap of some sort?”
“If it is, I probably can't tell.”
“Well, I'm sure wacky adventures wait inside but I don't want to know that the shade or a dragon or something is inside waiting to eat us. Can you give me any additional details?”
“It's not a particularly strong source, so it's probably not anything we can't handle. Unless it's luring its in by pretending to be weak.”
“I'm feeling very reassured... let's take a look while it lasts.”
The front door was open. Paul took point. They slowly entered the warehouse, being sure to cover all. Abby held a baseball bat, Leah her sword, Cizin his pistol and a crowbar, and who knows what Paul had besides his knife. Cizin brought a couple flashlights, and handed Abby one.
There were humongous metal shelves everywhere, all almost entirely filled with boxes and various trinkets. A quick inspection of one box revealed it was full of paper stuffing. Strange.
“Hello? Is there any one around?”, Paul yelled.
“Great, broadcast us.”, Cizin muttered.
“Well, there's the possibility you could accidentally shoot someone friendly if we snuck up on them.”, Leah mused.
“I assure you, I'll feel very guilty if that happens.”, Cizin kept muttering.
A man stepped out from behind a shelf. He had very light brown hair, a cheery smile on a fairly handsome face, and wore jeans and a fur vest over a t-shirt. Strapped to his back was a massive axe almost as tall as he was.
“Hey there! Who are you?”
“A few curious wanderers from Ketagem and Amytlei investigating a source of magic coming from this warehouse. And who might you be?”, Paul replied.
“Also investigating the magic around here. It's like a maze in here- there's . Anyway, nice to meet you. My name's Chac. I'm actually from around here, but I got a couple buddies from Amytlei around here.”
“Chac. I'm Paul Renato, and these are Leah, Abigail and Mark. It is nice to meet you too.”
Great. At least he didn't give my last name. This Chac doesn't seem too sinister.
“Great. You've got any magic users in your group? If you'd like, we can follow my group to the magic source. I'm just guarding the entrance, but it doesn't seem necessary now if you'll join us.”
“Alright. Leah will lead the way.”
Cizin remained cautious as Chac followed them. The maze of shelves made for prime ambush territory. There probably wasn't much he could do in cramped quarters, so he'd probably have to rely on the ones who knew what they were doing.
Paul made small talk as they wound their way through the maze. It wasn't so much a diverging sort of maze, as it was extremely cluttered, so getting lost with Leah to guide them was not a concern. “So, Chac, you are from Earth then? I take it you are hosting your friends from Amytlei?”
“Yep. Bunch of magic people showed up on my lawn, we killed a bunch of monsters together, and then hid inside for a few days, 'til now when they pop up and say there's a magical signal coming from here. Of course, I'm curious to know more about this all, so we go on a little expedition. Same with you, I suppose?”
Paul nodded. “How did you get that axe? It looks too large to use comfortably?”
“Art said it's enchanted with lightness or something, I dunno. I think I'm pretty good. I've been practicing the last few days.”
“Hm. Well, good thing we showed up, weaponmaster. Let's focus on our surroundings, lest something pop up and kill us all, huh?”, Cizin interjected.
The mood thoroughly slain, they marched on. The warehouse was dusty, dark, and, of course, quiet.
It wasn't long until the five of them found the rest of Chac's group.
“Hey. Guys, meet Venus and Artemas, or Art, as he insists. Venus and Art, meet Paul, Leah, Mark, and Abigail.”
Venus was a gorgeous, lithe young woman in a short white dress, with long, flowing silver hair, and rather interestingly, pointed ears. Her face was cheerful and dainty, and she had the figure of a supermodel with the poise of an experienced warrior.
“Hiya. Nice to meet you all.” She gave a slight curtsy.
Art, was blond, fairly tall, muscular in the thin-and-wiry sense, and had a rough demeanor coupled with a thin, angular, face. His hair was fuzzy and fairly long, enough to obscure his ears and neck, his grim face contrasting with Venus' and Chac's smiles.
He nodded in acknowledgment and left it at that,
“Is you an elf?”, Cizin blurted to Venus.
“Yeah. All pointy eared and all. Art is too, he's just hiding it.”, Chac replied.
Art rolled his eyes.
Standing between the both of him was a humongous man was a massive figure sporting a long brown trenchcoat, with a ski mask and fedora on his head, and a very flat face under the ski mask. A large pair of guns (at least Cizin assumed they were- they didn't look like any firearms he'd seen) were strapped to his back. His eyes, if they could be called that, glowed the color of the twilight sky, and his body very quietly trembled and hummed with energy.
“Is he with you too?”, Leah asked.
“Oh, yeah, and this is Justice. He's a golem, made of magic and all. He doesn't talk at all, so sometimes I forget about him. He's been following us around as well.”
Cizin looked at Abby.
Justice grumbled.
“So, where's the source of magic?”
Art grunted and thumbed at a particular box a few feet behind him.
Cizin walked up to the box, but Art held out a arm, blocking him.
“It's trapped. Got a spell that'll blow you up.”, Art said.
“Uh... so, how do we figure out what it is?”, Cizin asked.
“Dunno. Probably should keep away for now. Some of these spells are proportionately effective to the target's magical power, but you need someone magical in the first place to disarm them.”
“I take it you're not capable of disarming it?”
“Not quite. And I think your magician, the lady, is probably too much for it.”
“I'll handle it.” Paul rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward. “Let's see here...”
Paul started waving his hands next to the box, in a manner somewhat of a cross between a mime in a box and a lobster's feelers.
Art stepped away and waved his hand. The box suddenly exploded with a bright neon blue light. Paul flew backwards.
At the same time, Venus swept Leah off her feet and held her at swordpoint, and Justice grabbed Abby. Cizin was not caught unprepared by Chac's lunge, and pistol whipped him.
Chac stumbled backwards, awkwardly, and drew his axe.
“I knew it was a trap. I'm guessing you're our evil twins or something? Because I'm pretty sure I'm not as stupid as Chac here. I brought a gun to a swordfight.”
Cizin leveled his pistol at Art, while keeping an eye on Chac.
Art drew a silver spear. “Your 'Paul' is actually a dangerous fugitive on Amtylei. We're bringing him in.”
Leah sat up as much as the sword pointing at her face would let her. “Look, Paul seems like a nice enough guy. I appreciate you giving us a chance to walk away, sword in face not withstanding but we can't just let our ally off and leave with complete strangers, and you have no way to bring him back to Amutlee or whatever it's called.”
Cizin and Abby nodded their agreement.
Art glared. “It just takes enough power. And 'Paul' obviously isn't his real name. You have no idea what kind of danger you're bringing to yourselves?”
“So, you basically pulled a bunch of random creatures to Earth to get to Paul here? No thanks, I'd rather have Mister mysterious old guy than an obvious nutbag hunter like you. The 'thrill of the hunt' type, I'm guessing?”
“We're not responsible. You talk big for someone at my mercy. Oh, and Justice, get him.” Art pointed to Cizin.
Justice pulled a gun with one arm while restraining Abby with the other arm and pointed it at Cizin. Cizin leaped out of the way, and Art followed him with spear ready.
Cizin barely dodged the spear lunge, but hesitated to shoot.
Art thrust again and this time held his spear an inch away from Cizin's throat.
“Don't.”, he whispered.
Cizin raised his hands.
Suddenly, Abby broke free of Justice's grasp, and awkwardly swung her baseball bat at Justice, knocking him (it?) back slightly.
Chac hit Abby on the back of the head with the flat of his greataxe. She stumbled, turned, then swung back at him, which he clumsily parried.
Cizin took this opportunity to shoot Art in the hand, making him drop his spear, which Cizin caught. Cizin then rammed the spear's handle into Art's abdomen, doing absolutely nothing.
Art's other hand made a fist and smacked Cizin's face, and Cizin dropped like a stone. Art yanked away the spear.
Abby continued flailing wildly at Chac, frantically warding him off. Art casually walked up and tripped her from behind. She, too hit the floor, and Art held her down with his spear. It was then that Leah blinded Venus with a flash of light, rolled off the ground and drew her sword. Venus recovered quickly, and sized up her opponent.
Art told Chac to hold Abby, and rushed over to where Leah was. Leah entered a cautious stance with her shortsword, wary of both Art and Venus around her.
Chac audibly hit the floor behind Art.
“Oh, can't ANY of you stay down?”, Art roared.
Paul, clothing slightly singed and hunched from pain, a dagger in each hand, stood over Chac.
“Well shit.”, Art muttered.
“I'll get it!”, Venus yelled, as she enthusiastically darted past Leah and Art. Her blade met Paul's knife.
Cizin, crawling from the pain, then grabbed Art's calf, held his gun to it, and fired. Art grunted in pain as the round exited his leg and kicked Cizin in the face with the other foot, knocking him out cold.
Leah swung at Art and was immediately relieved of her weapon with a single swipe of the spear. She stared at her abruptly empty hands in shock and backed away. A large cardboard box then contacted with Art's back, staggering him enough for Leah to land a good punch on his face. Abby picked up another box and threw it at Art as Justice and Venus were engaged in a fast-paced exchange of blows with Paul.
Art's forearm went up to intercept the box, then his knee rammed into Leah's abdomen, solidly knocking the wind out of her, and he ran towards Abby. Abby immediately put her hands over her head and cringed, the little fight in her now clearly gone.
Paul leaped away from Justice's massive fists as he parried a kick from Venus, exertion clearly showing on his face. Art seamlessly entered the fray, prepared to skewer Paul at an opportune time.
A police siren broke into the sound of combat.
“Dammit, I will catch you, 'Paul'!” Art screamed, freely bleeding from hand and leg, as his posse ran from a very exhausted Paul.
Paul limped over to and picked up Cizin's unconscious form. He nodded at Abby to move. Leah got up and followed.
The four of them left the warehouse through the back. Leah put her hands over Cizin's face, and with a brief glow of light, Cizin woke up.
“Dammit, let's go, Cizin. Police are here!”
Cizin stared to Leah for a few seconds, then the four of them rushed into Cizin's car and Cizin drove the hell out of there.
Chapter Nine
Cizin should have been amused when he saw the news. The scuffle was chalked up to local gang warfare. But he was not actually amused because Cloudy Springs City only had one gang, and they lived on the other side of town.
Goddamnit, another cover-up.
Leah had patched up everyone. It turns out that the process of magic healing was surprisingly painful, though the pain wore off quickly. Cizin had a cut on his head, and it felt just as bad healing it as receiving it.
“I'd also fix your bruises, guys, but there's only so much aether to go around. I can draw from the enchanted money I brought here, but I'd rather save that for an emergency.”, she had said.
Cizin understood. He'd find a way to hide the injuries.
The whole debacle was quite the alarm. The four of them thought they had found allies they could trust, and got ambushed and jumped for their troubles. At least none of the injuries were permanent or serious- in fact, Abby came out of it surprisingly well and Paul seemed more rattled than actually injured by the explosion. Cizin, for one, was rather disturbed at the ease with which Art took a bullet through the calf. Weren't elves supposed to be agile and fragile?
In any case, they had another enemy to worry about. He wondered how they knew who Paul was and manage to prepare a trap in advance. But first, he had to talk to Paul about this whole incident.
“So, you're a dangerous fugitive on your world?”
Paul sighed. “Yes, in a way. Let's say I stepped on one too many tails.”
“Seriously, who are you? You say you're a 'retired adventurer', but that's too vague. What did you do to piss someone off?”
“I overthrew the king in a game of darts, stabbed women and children to death and urinated on graves. All of them.”
Cizin gave Paul a look.
Paul looked back. “Sorry if I am being rude. But I have secrets that I would like to keep, as surely you do. Suffice to say, I mean you no harm. I could have left the battle while our opponents believed I was still unconscious, after all. But if you still wish to turn me loose and part ways, I will not object. I can find my own way from here.”
As tempted as he was, Cizin had to decline. He needed all the help he could get, and Paul had been nothing but helpful until now. Besides, now Cizin could relate to Paul being on the run. Not that it was a pleasant thing.
“It's all right, Paul. We have bigger problems to deal with...unless you actually weren't lying about those things.”
Paul stifled a snort.
“By the way,” Paul asked, as he wiped his nose. “How did you manage to fight like you did?”
“Fight like what?”
“I'm assuming you have never killed a man before. You do not have the eyes or gait of someone who has killed or even seen battle. Yet you managed to inflict crippling force, or at least severe injury, twice on a very competent fighter. Which I presume you did without training in the matter.”
Cizin thought for a while and reflected on the chaos. “I kind of... hesitated to shoot him at first, but later I realized I had to defend himself. It was only logical to go for the hands and feet.”
“That is indeed good judgment. And anyone who kills their first with neither hesitation nor remorse is not the sort of company I would be keeping right now. But that is not what I meant. I referred to, to be honest, your lack of experience.”
“He was holding back. Kept holding me at spear point and punching and kicking me, Abby and Leah. I took the opportunities that he gave me.”
“Really? I could not see. He must not be of an entirely bad sort then, leaving you rather unharmed considering what you did to him.”
“I guess. By the way, do you know any of them?”
“Not at all. Golems, however, rarely act on their own initiative. I do not personally know any golems, but it is a possibility someone I know is acting through it. Then again, though, that golem could merely be that group's property. Justice would be a fitting name for someone of that mindset.”
“'Kay. I think we should get everyone together so we can speculate and plan.”
“Fair enough. Oh, and Cizin, in the future, remember this regarding today's incident- I am glad that you risked your life and health defending me, but it is rarely wise to take advantage of a man's mercy- particularly when he has not showed you all his cards.”
“... that was stupid, huh?”
“It was your first time. Relax. Though if we meet him again, I doubt he will spare you again, unless he has practical and very strong motives for doing so.”
“I feel better now already.”
After tending to their injuries, and settling down at home, the four of them assembled again.
Cizin rubbed his hands. “Okay, so this entirely changes things. Let's review what happened. We found a source of magic. It turned out to be an ambush. That elf fucker triggered a trap, blew Paul across the room, accuse him of being a criminal. We get into scuffle, they win. Now, these are a group of people who I presume are in the same situation as us. Chac is probably from around here, judging from his accent and appearance. But this shit absolutely fucking fails to make sense. Why would they instantly attack instead of allying with us and backstabbing Paul later? The elf guy said something about enough power being able to send him back to his world. Why did this 'Chac' guy jump into the fight? What has he got to gain from this? And how the fuck did they know Paul was here? I got a dozen other questions, but they can wait.”
“My theory is”, Leah began, “Chac was simply roped into this. He seems naïve enough, and he certainly doesn't mind the risk to life and limb. And the reason they attacked now is probably because they were chasing leads like we were. They set up a magical beacon, either because they want attention, and detonated it when they realized it was Paul, or because they specifically want to get at him. As for why they attacked Paul in the first place, who knows? Maybe they have something special against him. Maybe we should ask Paul?”
Paul shook his head.
Leah waved her hand. “Whatever then. Could be that they were lashing out at whatever they saw as an familiar enemy in this strange new land. I could relate. But I'm more interested in the implications of their existence, though. We had no clue they existed. There weren't even traces of anything magical around here, and then they show up. I think this means we have to look harder. There could be more people like them in hiding, only perhaps helpful.”
“Agreed”, Paul said. “But I doubt we will ever get close to them if they hide so well.”
“Exactly. We need a plan to draw such people out rather than to seek them. It'd help that we could meet them on grounds of our choosing, in case things get ugly.”
“How about we do the very same thing they did? Magic beacon and all. Find an abandoned building and whatnot.”, Cizin suggested.
“Risky.”, Leah said. “Assuming the shade is no longer active- I doubt that's the case- we will probably run into those elven nutbags again. Which brings me to this question- Cizin, where can we acquire weapons and armor here? I don't want us to be caught that unprepared again.”
Cizin smirked. “I know just the place.”
“Whatever. Get us something we can use. We have another concern...Cizin, you also probably know how to handle this best... how can we get these fake policemen off our tail, or keep them from recognizing us? It's likely that they will recognize at least Paul, if he is really a wanted fugitive from Amytlei.”
“Not much we can do. I think wearing a hat, sunglasses, scarves, other concealing clothing, should help protect my and Paul's identities. And to take care of Abby as well, since she may be wanted, too. At least you're probably unknown, Leah.”
“Gee, thanks. So, our chief concerns are- weaponry, staying inconspicuous, and luring additional help in.”
Cizin thought of his previous list. “Don't forget figuring out who Abby is.”
“I suppose, as long as it doesn't conflict with the other goals. So, Abby, Paul, any thing you'd like to add? You've been silent so far.”
Abby startled, disrupted from a slight daze. “Um... no... Well.... how do we know that there's someone after me?”
Cizin sighed. “Again, you're a defenseless, mysterious amnesiac chick with unusual hair and an entirely unknown background discovered in the middle of a massive magical migration. What are the odds you're NOT going to turn out to be crucial to someone's master plan?”
Abby stared in blank confusion.
Cizin looked away. “Nevermind.”
Paul gently snored, propped against the wall.
“Good idea”, Cizin said. “Got fucking work tomorrow.”
Without excusing himself from the table, Cizin left, plopped into bed early and slept off the soreness all over his body.
Chapter Ten
Cizin woke up before his alarm went off. It was the first time in a year this had happened.
Cizin made sure to remind the others of his usual instructions- call or have Abby email him from his laptop if anything goes even slightly wrong, don't touch it if you don't know how it works, don't use any magic unless not using it will result in horrible death, and don't dare step outside unless not getting out so also results in horrible death.
Cizin drove to work this time- he would be seen by fewer people, at least. He looked at and carefully inspected every car around him, in case someone was following him.
Eventually realizing no one was following him, Cizin relaxed and drove as usual, contemplating solutions to his problems. Until he realized that a secret organization would probably assign teams in different cars to tail him. He resumed paying too much attention to every single other person in a car, mentally flinching whenever even a vaguely familiar face or car came his way. It was going to be a long day.
Cizin arrived at the office very tightly wound. It was not to get better. He worked in silence for most of the day, trying his best to avoid as many people as possible and keep as low a profile as ever. So, he didn't have to change his routine.
Cizin called home at lunchtime. Not much was going on, fortunately. Leah drew up a plan to create a magical beacon and (great minds think alike, don't they?), Paul slept (as usual), and Abby watched the news all day.
The day was fortunately uneventful, if boring as hell next to getting into fights and playing with magical forces.
Cizin stopped by the local gun shop on the way home. It was certainly a suspicious move, but the possibility of being unprepared wasn't much nicer.
Cizin handed Leah a plain but functional replica cavalry saber. Funny what they stocked sometimes.
Leah examined its weight and balance before placing it back in its sheath with a faint, satisfied smile.
He tossed Paul a pair of large bowie knives, which Paul caught and stowed without further word.
Abby got nothing.
“Oh, and over the weekend, remind me to take you guys to the firing range. I really think you would all benefit from being able to use these.”
Cizin pulled out a few newly-acquired automatic weapons of various makes and calibers. He also had a hunting rifle at home and a couple of shotguns, though he certainly would not be carrying those anywhere that he didn't absolutely need to.
Leah unfolded a large poster.
“The plan should be simple, though it will probably get pretty complicated when something goes wrong.”
“When?”, Abby asked.
“When.”, Leah responded.
Abby said nothing.
“Well, there's always freak chance. Anyways, we find an abandoned building. Cizin in the back, gun ready in case something needs to be shot. We'll bring something to enchant- probably best that it's food- it's easily eaten, which will destroy the enchantment quickly and cleanly should we need to. It's going to take a while for me to enchant something, so Paul will have to keep guard, probably from an elevated position. Abby will be with me, on the phone, in the event law enforcement must be summoned. Obviously a very last resort, though. She'll also call Cizin if need be.”
Cizin thought for a while. “We'll have to have an escape plan ready, too.”
“You'll have the car parked right outside your position. Leave without us if you need to.”
“What? You'd just let me ditch you like that?”
“Chances are, if you have to run away, we're all screwed anyways. If you're discovered, we are also screwed, just later.”
“Maybe.”
“Actually, Abby will stay with you. Take her with you if you must leave.
“Alright. I hope you're okay with this, too, Paul.”
Paul slowly nodded.
Cizin drew a deep breath. “Okay, I know an abandoned hotel. Pretty decrepit place, but it's in a part of town relatively free of people, including cops and troublemakers. We can make quite a bit of noise there, and it's not that far from here.”
Cizin leaned against a slightly cracked window. It rained outside. Great, time for a dramatic old battle in the rain. Sigh.
On the plus side, reduced visibility reduces the chances I'll be spotted. Aaaand on the down side, I'm probably not going to be as able to hit something outside.
He waited as a faint, penetrating eerie white light seeped through the place. He hoped it was the result of Leah's magicking, at least.
One hand rested on window sill, another lay ready on the holster of his handgun.
It was only two minutes into this operation. Leah said it would probably take four minutes to gather enough aether to make a decent signal, so the soonest someone would arrive was then. It didn't help that she was basically improvising what amounted to a lighthouse for magical creatures.
He hoped he didn't have to go for a rematch against that crazy elf guy. He wasn't sure even a headshot would stop that guy- he had fought full force even with a pierced leg.
Just as well. Cizin ran through theoretical contingency plans to pass the time.
Abby was waiting in the corner of the room, with a baseball bat. She wasn't looking particularly calm, either, fidgeting with a walky-talky. Cizin had remembered he had walky-talkies as leftovers from his zombie apocalypse plan, and everyone now carried one. He still brought his cell, and Abby had one, too.
Cizin didn't want to risk talking to her and distracting the both of them from potential threats. She probably didn't have anything interesting to say, anyways.
He examined the window. It would probably break easily with a chair or bat through it. He hoped it would break easily enough to climb through. Thankfully, he brought his towel. At least it would make escaping through window remnants that less...slicey.
He mentally chuckled at the thought of wetting it and using it in hand to hand combat. Convenient that it rained outside.
He should have brought three more towels for everyone, he thought.
There was a crash from across the building. Abby clicked on her walky-talky.
“Uh...Paul... what was that?!”
Paul's voice came through quietly. “We have company. Probably same guys as last time. Get ready.”
Cizin undid his gun's safety and readied it. As the team's lifeline, he'd more or less have to sit this one out. If he was captured, recognized or injured enough, it would likely mean the end of the other three.
That was why he broke out the rifle and ski mask.
“Cizin? What are you doing?”
“Being prepared.”
“Wha-”
“Quiet. If I'm needed, you're staying behind. I'm not getting you shot or stabbed, okay?”
“Okay...”
Cizin waited.
Leah came over the walky-talky. “Cizin, get out of there! It's over.” There were a few grunts and the sound of metal meeting concrete. The resignation in Leah's voice bit at Cizin's heart.
“Ah, goddamnit.”
“What?”
“We're playing big damn heroes. Get ready.”
“But she s-”
“Follow me at a distance, stay low, and keep your eyes open.”
Without waiting for any response, Cizin dashed towards Leah's position, down the hallways, into the dining room that held the beacon. His heart beat like the rifle he was holding was probably about to. How hard could shooting a guy with a spear and a guy with an axe be? Huh? Huh? Oh god I hope the golem isn't bulletproof. Oh god what am I doing? Can I even shoot this thing?
Leah was backed against a wall held at spearpoint.
“Well, shit.”
Art, Justice and Chac stood around her. Venus and Paul were nowhere to be seen.
Leah, cut and bruised, stared in surprise at the masked and heavily armed Cizin leveling an assault rifle at her attackers from the side.
“P-p-put the sp-p-pear down.” Cizin immediately regretting letting his voice tremor. He was definitely not cut out for this. He wasn't sure if he could even bring himself to shoot at another person.
Probably should kill the golem first. It's not alive right- just a robot. But what if the elf is too fast? Or Chac has a gun? He isn't stupid enough not to, is he? Oh no oh no oh no focus Cizin focus.
Cizin's best attempt to rally his courage was interrupted by Art's sudden shout.
“Justice, keep Leah busy. Chac, get Abby. I'll take down the gunman.”
Oh joy he forgo-SHIT
The spear almost instantly embedded itself in the wall, inches away from Cizin's head. He fired off a burst at the cluster of people. The three of them swiftly dispersed before the bullets fired, Justice ramming into and pinning Leah against the wall, Chac running to the side, and Art dodging and spinning his way towards Cizin. Cizin's frightened hands barely had time to track the rapidly moving target, and was about to fire when Art swiped at the rifle, elbowing Cizin in the chin and twisting to wrench the rifle away, all in one move. Art now held Cizin's rifle to Cizin's chin.
A saber flew across the room and connected with Art's back. Unfortunately for Cizin, it wasn't the blade that landed, and the impact didn't even attract Art's attention.
Cizin could do nothing than stare in abject terror and bewilderment at the man pointing the gun at his face. It was probably the longest five seconds of his life. Before he remembered his hands were actually right next to the gun. In a fit of desperation, he flipped the rifle's safety.
Art moved the barrel at Cizin's shoulder immediately afterward and fired, resulting in a pitiful “click” and Cizin's breath of relief.
Cizin's backhand meeting Art's face helped along Art's resulting surprise.
Art managed to still roll with the blow, and swung the rifle by its barrel. Cizin crouched in response, so that the gun butt only grazed his head. The strike still staggered him enough for Art to follow up with a knee to the head. Cizin's world spun terribly as he stumbled backwards, and his vision was half filled with off-black.
Art dropped the gun and lunged at Cizin with a hook to the chest and series of jabs to the head. Cizin blindly fumbled with parrying each blow, failing miserably as his hands were brushed away like pine branches.
Cizin fell backwards, out of breath and barely conscious, as Art left and retrieved his spear from the wall.
Abby ran, as directed. Chac chased after her, axe in hand, fortunately not appearing like any kind of mass-murderer. Abby sure didn't want to take any chances, though, and kept running through the lobby, praying each room she entered was not a dead end. Chac was gaining rather quickly, until Abby remembered she also was carrying a weapon. She tossed the baseball bat behind her, but Chac easily sidestepped it without slowing down. Now only a dozen or so feet separated them, as Abby ran again. She suddenly remembered she had a walky-talky. She was about to throw it before she realized she had hit a dead end. She had hit a closed-off section in front of the restrooms, both of which had their doors locked and probably rusted shut. There was only one option now. Both of her hands went to shield her head as she cowered.
“Aaaah! Please don't hurt me, please please please, I didn't do anything wrong to you guys, I didn't want to hurt you, please please please please please!”
Chac looked taken off guard at her sudden pleading.
“Um... I'm not going to hurt you. I just can't let you leave here. Sorry?”
“Oh thank you thank you thank you!” Abby wasn't sweating, but she still wiped her forehead in deep-hearted relief. “I'm so sorry for what my friends did, please don't kill them, please, I don't have anyone else!”
“Wait, what?”
“I...don't know where I came from. I don't know. They're the only people I've known. Don't hurt them.”
Chac gave a faint, reassuring smile.
“I can't do anything about it, but my crew probably won't go that far. Art wants to find out more about that Cizin guy.”
“How do you know his name?”
“Erm...divination spells.”
“Divination spells?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why do you still want to find out more?”
“Um....”
“And why are you even hanging around them?”
“Well, duh.” Chac put his hands on his hips. “I'm the chosen one.”
Abby boggled. “Uh... huh?”
“Art said so. He said I have the makings of one. I've got a whole elven destiny prophecy thing devoted to me.” He beamed.
It did not occur to Abby to find a way to attract help, or to distract and sucker-punch Chac. What did occur to her was that maintaining this position as long as possible probably wasn't a bad idea, since she didn't seem to be in immediate trouble and if Cizin got out all right, he could come fetch her. Except that he was probably insane. A chosen one?
“Aaand... what does this chosen one do?”
“Something about a prophecy to save the world from sure destruction from untold horrors from beyond.”
“Untold horrors from beyond? Huh...”
“Yeah. Real neat. He's given me some warrior training and stuff, so I can do stuff like this!”
Chac flourished his axe, but caught himself just in time to avoid giving Abby an opening.
Abby couldn't wait to get out of here.
Justice pinned Leah against the wall, crushing her slightly from the sheer weight. Leah squirmed to escape. Seeing Cizin being disarmed out of the corner of her eye, she summoned the last amount of freedom and leverage she had in her position to roughly throw her sword at Art's back. She failed to hear any reaction or the splat of blade meeting flesh, so she knew she had missed.
She then remembered what exactly it was pinning her. She wrapped her extended sword arm around its neck and thought hard of breathing in, only at a spiritual level.
Leah was silently thankful, then, for the Earth's pathetic level of background aether, as it meant that she was short of aether after her brief scuffle against three adversaries. But the golem was anything but dry. And against all odds, it apparently had relaxed or lacked the usual built-in defenses against this kind of thing. Wherein she then drained Justice of most the magical energy it contained.
Art had just retrieved his spear when Justice flew clean across the room in a spectacular splash of flame. He turned to engaged the new threat and saw Leah charging at him with her sword, hands glowing with newly-acquired arcane energy.
His eyes opened slightly, as he parried the sudden strike and countered in the same flowing motion, slightly cutting Leah's arms and shifting her off balance.
Leah was also silently thankful she brought her plate mail this time, as it took the cuts and allowed her to thank Art for the opening with a steel-and-energy-clad fist to the face.
Paul walked down the stairs. He was covered everywhere in cuts, his coat ripped, an eye blackened, and probably a rib or two cracked. He had a rather pleased smile, considering. Both of his knives were stained in blood, but very shallowly.
He walked towards the nearest source of the rest of the ruckus.
Art rolled with the punch, twisting his face to the side to deflect the worst of the blow, and met Leah's strike with his own as he turned, a hook to the chest. That she was wearing a metal breastplate did not dissuade him from hitting her quite hard, as she flinched for a split-second from the blow, and continued her assault with her hands crackling with yellow-white lightning.
Art easily dodged the remainder of her attempts before almost nonchalantly perforating her a few times with his spear, dropping her immediately.
“Damn, these people never stay down.”
He spun, spear extended, to meet Cizin. Cizin still lay, dazed, on the floor, much to Art's relief.
Behind him, Abby stuck her head out of the next room with a loud “Hi!”
He turned around again, in frustration, and charged at her...before realizing that was probably a bad idea.
Paul landed on him, foot-first, with a very painful-sounding crunch.
Art managed to flip back onto his feet, amazingly enough, and swung at Paul, who dodged out of the way. Paul was roughed up again, and Art showed little sign of slowing down. They exchanged swings, parries and kicks, Paul barely keeping up with Art while Abby crept past them both to where both Leah and Cizin lay.
The golem, of all people, then barged into the fight, slamming into Paul, knocking him off-balance. Art bashed Paul with the handle of his spear. Paul landed onto the dirty carpet, struggling to get up as Art carefully placed a boot on his neck.
“Justice, see to the oth-”
They were all gone.
“Goddamnit. Get Chac and Venus, if they're still alive. We're getting out of here and turning this bastard in.”
He looked down at Paul.
“We sure got lucky today.”
Chapter Eleven
Cizin tried to recall what just happened as Leah placed her healing hands on his head and Abby kept lookout. He retained just enough function to drive the car a suitable distance from the hotel, hoping the mental impairment he felt was only temporary.
“Wow. At least we're not dead, huh, Leah?”
“We had to leave behind Paul.” Leah had patched up her wounds earlier, bandages wrapping around her stomach. “We all got our asses kicked.”
“Ah. Did we at least get one of theirs?”
“Sorry. I managed to really drain the golem, though.”
“You can do that?”
“As long as it's not protected, its energy is up for grabs. This one wasn't protected, oddly enough. Most are. But enough, Cizin. I think we should go back.”
“What?”
“They. Took. Paul. I'm not leaving him behind.”
“I'm not dealing with that fucking elf again.”
“Shut up. He would do the same for us. Besides, they might torture him to tell all about you.”
“You don't know that! It's probably too late.” Even as he said this, Cizin restarted the engine and drove back.
They returned in time to see another car speeding away from the hotel. Cizin couldn't make out much of its passengers besides a huge man in a trenchcoat. Must be Justice. He smirked as he followed the car.
It was likely luck that Cizin, with his awkward and now-headache-impaired driving, followed the car for several minutes without arousing suspicion.
The car entered a forested hill overlooking a nearby abandoned building. It was small, though inconspicuous and rather clean for something that was apparently derelict.
Sure are a lot of abandoned buildings being involved for shady magic crap.
He parked a safe distance outside and he, Leah and Abby observed the building.
The car's occupants left it and entered the building, Justice draping Paul's unconscious form over its massive shoulder. Art knocked on a door. After a short wait, and possibly some conversation, the door opened, and the four of them, plus Paul in tow, entered.
They have allies. Or at least someone willing to take them in with a prisoner.
Cizin picked up his rifle, glad Abby decided to take it with her as she dragged him and Leah along.
He considered the possibility of sniping someone through one of the windows as they showed up, before remembering he had little experience shooting that far under pressure. Besides, who knew if someone else indoors had guns too? Or bows or crossbows or magic zappy sticks that would surely kill him just as nicely and messily. Maybe he could lure them outdoors from a covered position, and pick them off one by one as they fled back indoors?
Leah, too, pondered their options.
Abby interrupted, “Can't you use divination, Leah?”
Leah frowned. “You mean, like prophecies, and farseeing and shit?”
Abby nodded.
“Yeah, I've never heard of that stuff in practice. It isn't possible with the magic I know. Who told you about that?”
Abby related what Chac told her.
Cizin groaned. “Idiot played one too many JRPGS... Well, they know who I am now, and I am NOT letting them get away with that. We simply can't retreat here. Otherwise, lord knows what'll happen to us at home. ”
Leah stared at the building. “Well, I think we should flank around the building and find a back entrance. If we're quick, we might be able to get in unseen, or at least seen too late.”
Cizin stared at her. “I was thinking it'd be better to lure them out. Pen them in, maybe run 'em over with the car.”
Abby looked down. “Maybe we could just knock on the door and ask to be let in.”
Everyone ignored her.
Leah thought for a while. She looked very closely at the windows... there were shapes standing guard at the windows. This had to be a paramilitary compound of some kind.
“Fuck it. I just came up a great idea. We are desperate, right?”
Abby sat in the driver's seat, hands firmly locked, foot prepped on the metal. Leah and Cizin sat in the back, with assault rifles at the ready.
None of them had their seat belts on.
Cizin looked at Leah and Abby with a bit of apprehension. He hoped there would not be much accuracy or driving skill required for this.
Why are we even fucking considering this again? Son of a bitch, this is going to suck if it doesn't go just right. I hope Leah doesn't accidentally shoot me.
Cizin fired a single pistol round into the air as Abby revved the motor.
A bearded man clad in rags slightly opened the door in alarm. He gaped in shock when a car flew out of a hill to his left, the air surrounding it bursting with torn tree branches and flung dirt.
Cizin somehow found the presence of mind to fire into the door as the car sailed through the air into the building.
Abby, Leah and Cizin dived out of the car as it entered the building.
The resulting crash utterly blew out the front wall and the car went up in flames.
Well, no car now, all or nothing.
Abby, Leah and Cizin burst in, guns blazing, blades swinging. Everything that moved that wasn't them or Paul received a good measure of lead near it to scare it off or shoot it apart.
Justice charged towards them, but was knocked down by loads of badly-aimed automatic fire.
Cizin changed a clip, and Leah clumsily followed suit. Abby followed in back, baseball bat in hand, struggling to keep up and stay on guard.
Unkempt men in ragged coats emerged from various rooms and pulled sub-machine guns.
Cizin's eyebrows flew up as he shoved Leah behind cover and ducked. Abby also fell back, as a storm of rounds showered around them but failed to draw blood.
What the fuck. Cizin returned suppressive fire and shouted at Leah to do the same. The hobos fell back. Why are there machine gun hobos here? Leah threw a magically-lit molotov cocktail to isolate a group of ragged squatters charging his flank. Cizin sprayed at the first group of hobos. Dammit, where's Paul and those fucking elves and stuff? Cizin screamed, partially as a battle cry and partially because he was quite scared out of his mind, as they pushed farther into the building. Abby whacked a hobo in the face.
The hobos were mostly kept behind cover due to the spray of lead, but Cizin knew this wouldn't last, so they had to keep moving.
They found Art, Venus and Chac in the very back of the building, clearly shaken by the sudden intrusion and gunfire. They clearly were not expecting this.
Cizin and Leah levelled barrels at them. I hope they weren't bright enough to bring guns.
Art hands went to a holster, but Leah fired a burst, which utterly missed, but apparently cowed Art enough to place both hands on his head instead. Venus and Chac did the same. Chac looked just as scared as Cizin.
“Dammit, I missed.” Leah brandished her gun like a spear. “Where's Paul?”
“He's in the building behind us.”, Chac whimpered.
“Hope you didn't accidentally shoot him”, Cizin muttered.
“Out of the way”, Leah, yelled, as she charged through. Art, and Venus let her pass, while Cizin rifle-butted Chac out of the way and took his wallet.
A hobo with a knife charged into the room to be surprised unconscious by Abby's baseball bat.
“Hurry up, guys! They're kinda regrouping!”, Abby screamed.
Cizin noted that both Art and Venus looked quite beat-up despite their respite, and Chac wasn't looking too pleasant himself. Maybe that explained the sudden lack of fight? Or else it's a trap...this is ridiculous.
He inserted himself into a corner, covering both Art's group and the entrances to the room. Leah emerged with Paul, being sure to keep him out of the hobos' lines of sight.
“Yes,” a voice screamed. “it's coming! You will all die now!”
Uh oh. Cizin leaned into the entrance with the enemies outside and carefully blind fired a clip, hoping to shoot whatever was coming. He suddenly felt a very primal dread deep in his heart...
Oh god, no, I don't want to be eaten...
“Oh hell no. Shade!”, Leah said in a very low voice.
Paul yanked away Venus' sword in anticipation, while Abby hid in a far corner.
The screams of the dying filled the room, as the hobos outside died rather gruesomely, some appearing as if the life had been strangled out of them, froth pouring from their mouths, faces reduced to horrific, grayed... crusts, and hearts and chests burst open without warning.
The environment darkened considerably.
Art suddenly produced a sharp light from his hands while swearing rapidly under his breath.
The light managed to relieve some of the dread.
Leah joined in, her hands also glowing with light, from the energy she had stolen from the golem.
Suddenly, a massive, extremely tattered gray sheet floated through the air and swooped down at them, through the ceiling. Venus nimbly leapt out of the way, and the gray cloak lunged at the nearest person- Art.
Art managed to yell and struggle as the cloak flew at him, latching onto him. He managed to forcefully push it off, his hands actually withered from the contact. Cizin fired into the cloak in a blind panic, not caring for he hit, but his rifle only issued clicks, not that he cared in his panic.
The cloak flew past Leah, visible draining the energy from her and withering her hands and legs as well.
It flew straight at Abby, ignoring all others.
Abby screamed. Paul lunged at the shade's form, only to be forced to jump back upon his blades' touching it, the very blade reduced to iron flakes.
Abby continued to scream and writhe horribly under the shade's assault. Leah, her weakened fingers struggling to so much as move, sprayed bullets into the cloak in sheer desperation, then followed up with a magical flash of light, which did absolutely nothing. Abby's form fell to the ground, still and stiff, and the cloak stopped moving.
After a minute of terrified silence, Abby stirred.
Cizin's, already internally screaming with fear, cried out, drew his pistol and fired into it. Dammit, has that thing taken over Abby or something? Oh Jesus Christ no no no no no no no! I must put her down!
Abby ignored the bullets entering her through the sheet and got up, letting the cloak falling to the ground, inanimate.
She seemed... serene. But the sense of dread was gone. Entirely so.
Everyone stared and paused, scared stiff.
Abby regarded every one of them, with both eyes, her bangs shifted to the side. She looked perfectly normal, except for the blazing, steel look in her eyes.
“Thank you. That was quite a treat.”
It spoke just like Abby, but more controlled, more mature... more... sure.
“I have to hand it to you, you did a great job of protecting me. I'm afraid it won't make up for your wonderful escapades earlier, animals.”
She spoke with a malice entirely unlike Abby, yet strangely quite natural in her voice.
“You used us, you bitch!” Cizin screamed in panicked irrationality, as his second clip entered his gun and he fired at her. The bullets passed through without effect.
Abby evenly gazed at him and smiled in the most horrible but sincere fashion.
“Time to die.”
Suddenly, Leah surrounded Abby in bright magical fire. Abby uttered a horrid wail completely unlike anything Cizin had ever heard before. His ears bled slightly. Cizin wasted no time in running past her out the door, cursing the lack of other exits.
Five minutes later, having run out at top speed and his legs completely on fire and unable to so much as twitch right now, Cizin flopped down in some nearby woods with Leah and Paul.
“Well, that was scary and sudden. Really scary and really sudden. Scary and sudden, scary and sudden, scary and sudden...”, Cizin muttered, his brain having angrily quit on him during the recent overtime.
“What the HELL just happened there?” Leah was still completely white through with terror, although some of it may have been part of the shade's effects. She struggled to heal her shriveled limbs.
Paul simply stared at the ground, eyes wide open, apparently unsure of what to even think.
Art, Venus, Justice and Chac had disappeared, and Cizin presumed. But he had no time to care.
“Holy shit guys! I FUCKING TOLD YOU SHE WAS FUCKING TROUBLE IN ONE FUCKING WAY OR A-FUCKING-NOTHER.”, he roared, barely aware of his words.
Leah slapped Cizin. “Snap out of it! SNAP OUT. Abby's become some kind of monster. She'll be coming after us any time now!”
Cizin immediately sat down, now slightly back to his senses. “There's no way... how could she show up now? I … we... we can't do shit. If she shows up now, we're fucked. FUCKED.”
Abby walked in.
“HOLY SHIT.”
Cizin fired his completely empty pistol at her, the rate of his frantic clicks resembling a machine gun, then turned the barrel upon himself, the clicking rattling against his own skull.
Leah desperately prepared a feeble magical flame, while Paul simply knelt down, shut his eyes and prayed.
“Aaah! Aaaaaahhhh! Don't shoot, don't shoot! It's me, Abby...”
Abby unexpectedly prostrated herself before them, her bangs covering one half her face as before. She spoke as before.
Cizin stared in complete confusion, his clicking slowing down as he processed the words and then mentally rebooted every time.
Abby was in tears. “Oh god. Please, I won't hurt you. Don't leave me. Please...”
Leah stared at her in rage and panic, presenting some form of complex hand gesture. “Get away, Spawn of HELL! Back to hell with you, and with the monster within you.”
Abby continued to prostrate herself.
The same inhuman roar as before echoed all around them from within the distant building.
Paul continued to pray.
“Wh....wh...wh...what? It's... not...you?” Leah's eye twitched.
Abby looked up, tears shining on her face. “I... I can explain.”
Cizin's functional consciousness had left him entirely during this sequence of events. He stared dumbly at Abby without so much as breathing audibly.
Paul was not much better. He continued to pray while seated, his eyes wildly darting around now and then as he looked up in fear.
Leah spoke with Abby.
“What happened there, monst- Abigail?” Leah tried her hardest not to stutter, squirm or hiccup in fear. Everyone sat at least twenty feet away from Abby.
Abby stared into the dirt, not daring to make the slightest eye contact.
She spoke softly and with great paint in her voice.
“Guys... I-I used to be an amn-n-nesiac.” She drew a deep breath. “But I'm not human. You probably can see. I remembb—b-ber n-now. P-p-part of my story began a few hund-d-r-dred years. Ag-g-go. I'm not ask-king you to believe this, but... please hear me... it's th...the truth...” She took another deep breath, collecting her thoughts and burying her head in her hands.
“I came from... far away from here. It was a few hundred years ago, I was assigned to Earth. We... we... my species... travel the galaxy, devouring anything we find. I was an advance scout, sent for Earth. It was fifty years I was here. I was to... see if the population was worth eating... I sometimes took human form, like now, and I...” She buried her head in her hand, completely despondent.
“What? What?” Leah tried hard to keep her voice below shrieking.
“I concluded... Earth was good for harvesting a few months ago... as I prepared to leave... I was attacked. I don't know who did it. I was attacked by humans. They hurt me badly, unlike anything I had ever seen before. I still killed them all, but it was horrible. Then I started to pass out, and then I tried to seal my main personality in a human-like personality, a shell of sorts, so I could go into hiding...I don't know what happened then, but when I woke up, I was a human, i-i-in mind. I... had forgotten everything thanks to my injuries, but the old me lay hiding. You... you guys found me. I.. .don't know how I got where you found me- I had never seen you before.”
Abby sighed, her voice weighted with fear and sorrow.
“Then...I woke up. The shade attacked me. I don't know why, but it was something like what I was used to... back on my home... world? I.... felt the instinct to devour it... it was horrible, but it gave the real me enough strength back to break out of me...and then she... it?... she hated humans for hurting her. She hated humans terribly... she wanted to kill you all. She's so mad. I don't know why. But I didn't want her to hurt you. I couldn't do anything, only watch as she tried to murder you all. Then Leah attacked her, saving me. It weakened her concentration enough for me to try to escape. I don't know how I did it. I struggled in her mind, and managed to take part of body with me... and I ran as far as I could... I saw you... you're all I have...”
Abby shuddered and stopped talking, head completely entombed in her hair, arms and lap.
Leah listened carefully.
Her expression softened, but the confusion was still all there. “I... I'm sorry? Must have been rough... huh?”
Abby slowly nodded.
Paul looked up from his prayer, looked around again, and then looked straight at Abby.
“How can we stop 'her'?”, he whispered.
Abby lifted her head ever so slightly, still staring at her lap. “Runes. Protective circle. I'm... still remembering what happened... humans... surrounded me with runes. It hurt.”
Cizin looked on, barely comprehending all of this.
Leah tilted her head forward in thought. “Can you draw me these runes?”
Abby softly nodded, and slowly traced a very complex pattern on the ground with her finger in dirt.
Leah, upon looking at the finished figure and failing to recognize it, finally had a realization. “I'm... sorry Abby, but I'm not sure if we can trust you. It could be a trick.”
Abby stared forward, without reaction. She had expected this. Her face was totally still, her breathing quiet.
“But... I think I have something that will help... if it doesn't, we're really fucked... it's the most powerful spell I can make....it's called a geas.”
Leah tried to explain as slowly as possible, looking for some sign of comprehension in Abby. She continued anyway.
“It will bind you to a set of conditions we both agree on. You agree not to do certain actions... if you break it, the spell will detonate and turn all of your soul's energy upon you... it's instant death, and extremely powerful… but I saw... you may not have a soul... and aren't human... it may not work, but I suppose it's the best I can do. Do you want it?”
Abby slowly nodded.
Leah carefully approached Abby and put her hands on Abby's shoulders, Leah's hands shining with a soft light. She silently mumbled under the breath, and gritted her eyebrows in intense concentration. She spoke after a few minutes of focus. She gritted her teeth, mulling over her words as she spoke, slowly and carefully.
“The being we know as Abigail... you will never to harm or betray us, directly or indirectly. You will never to allow us to be harmed or betrayed or assist those who would do such things. You will always protect us when possible and never falter in this duty when you can help it. you will never lie to us or omit important information unless you genuinely believe it will directly help us, in which case you will say you cannot tell us. And you will avoid compromising our security in any way, whether it be mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically. Do you agree to bind yourself to all of the above, on pain of death?”
Abby softly whispered back, “Yes.”
“I've probably forgot something or made a loophole somewhere... can't help it.... *sigh* oh well. I'll trust you now, Abby. I'm not sure the spell's retribution will work if you break the contract. I suppose that's why I'm trusting you right now, Abby. ...Geas!”
Abby sighed slightly in relief as a surge of invisible magical energy swept over her, but kept staring into the ground.
Leah, stood, terribly exhausted. She looked into Abby's eyes.
“Alright, so we make runes and trap it. That's not going to be enough, I can tell. What else do we need?”
“Normal weapons don't work... fire will work. Fire and electricity. But they don't work very well. It only hurts, it's not permanent... Ugh...most magic won't work either.”
“Okay. I trust that's all you know?”
Abby nodded, silently.
“Get up. Look at me. Come on. Look me back in the eyes.”
Abby haltingly stood up, weary and hurt. She slowly looked at Leah, meeting her stare with big sad eyes.
Leah looked back. “Alright. Let's go. We can't something like that around. It'll rip this town apart, who knows how much else. Cizin, Paul, snap out of it.”
Paul got up, hunched and even more tired-looking than before.
Cizin slowly looked up and then snapped to an upright position. “I'm not leaving that thing alone!”, he shouted, as if automatically.
Leah eyed him with suspicion. “Abby, can you list what 'she' is capable of? Mind control?”
Abby shook her head. “She can move in hyperspace, mostly shifting out of sight and reach, and take horrible blows without trouble. She can change shape, slice things apart, fly, and is really strong. I... I'm not sure what else she can do... it's been... so long since I was her...”
“Can you do those too?”
Abby looked down again, unsure. “I...I think so... maybe... I think so.”
“Then Cizin's just gone nuts again. Well, Do or die, Abby. Let's go.”
They walked back, as doomed heroes do. Leah slowly engraved a very wide perimeter of runes roughly a hundred feet away around the building, letting the others keep guard while she finished the circle. Abby paced frantically, as she was the only one aware of her own capabilities.
The thing-that-used-to-be-Abby roared as it noticed them. It stormed out of the building in Abby's shape... only more mature, more sinister and considerably more twisted. It still looked human- but in letter, not in spirit. It disappeared the moment it set foot outside.
“Oh no, she's coming!”, Abby squealed.
“Buy me time!”, Leah roared.
Abby screamed as something invisible dragged her in. She futilely clutched at the ground. “Help me... I don't want to...die!”
Cizin shot at the approximate location of her assailant, to no effect. Paul tossed magical fire at it, also uselessly. Abby was pulled into thin air, and disappeared.
Suddenly, a black line appeared across and through Cizin's leg, tearing it open. Cizin screamed, as Paul threw fire around but not at Cizin. Paul was rewarded with the monster's scream, as something invisible felt the flames.
Leah continued the perimeter, making it wrap around smaller in hopes that the monster was stupid enough to stay in the same location. She knew damn well this was probably not the case, but any bigger circle would take far too long.
Paul spread fire all over the area, hoping to ward it off. Cizin clutched at his leg, but no wound was serious enough for Paul to let down his guard to treat.
Paul was practically elated at the lack of continued assault. Until he somehow felt something big moving towards Leah. “Oh shit.”
He ran towards Leah, yelling at her to defend hserful. Unfortunately, this lapse in defense caused him to meet Cizin's fate as something unseen tore into his shoulder and torso. He fell to the ground unmoving.
Leah heard him and then blazed with fire all over, despite her great fatigue. No spot, save the runes, left without fire and even parts of the the ground were scorched away.
The monster charged at her and Leah heard the flames scorch something as a scream of pain shattered her eardrums. Guessing the creature's approximate location, Leah hastily finished the circle and activated it. Immediately a humongous...black, writhing thing appeared and a vortex formed around it. Leah dared not look at it, for that way surely lay madness.
She heard Abby mutter, “Well, there I go. I'm sorry....” from within the beast.
Paul yelled “Hell no, you don't!”, as he reached into the and grabbed at Abby.
The monstrosity crackled with otherworldly energy as Paul pulled Abby out of the wind and monstrosity onto soft dirt.
The thing just disappeared. Not a fizzle of energy, not a flash of light, no roar or hiss or click- the monster simply ceased to be there anymore.
Paul stared in amazement before remembering he was covered in a massive chest wound and one of his arms was practically laid open to the bone. He passed out.
Chapter Twelve
Cizin woke up. He lay in his own bed. The clock read five o' clock AM. His sheets were there, his clothes were there, his gun was on his bedside dresser as he usually kept it there. Thank God. Just a dream.
He tried to get up, and crippling pain ripped through his leg. He looked down and saw a horrible scar, like an earthquake fissure lying on his left calf.
He fell back down and yelled in pain.
Leah and Abby walked in. Cizin screamed in terror as he saw Abby, before he suddenly remembered what happened.
“Ugh!”, followed by a shocked gurgle, was all he could manage.
“Okay, so little miss defenseless girl with the funky-assed hair here is actually a hideous alien genocidal monstrosity's discarded split personality. Great, did I enter some crazy Japanese cartoon porn? Because you must be f-”
“Cizin! Be civil, goddamn it. Abby saved our asses.” Leah looked like she had multiple hangovers stacked on top of each other in addition to being beaten half to death, with an attitude to boot. Cizin was in comparable shape.
“Really now? I'm pretty sure this scar reaches a few inches into what could be considered my buttocks.”
“How pleasant. Look, Ciz. I'm still recovering enough aether to finish healing that, and I just finished un-shading my own hands so I can actually do that. Wait your turn.”
“Oh, fucking good, because I have work in... four hours. Less than four hours. I'm going to need this shit stitched up as soon as possible. Now... I have probably thousands of fucking questions as to what the FUCK happened last night. Abby being some kind of freakin' monster is only related to a few of them.”
“Well, that's why we brought Abby here. You're going to have a lot to answer, Abby. Let's wake up Paul first.”
Abby did not look particularly happy or sure of herself. Understandably.
“Okay, so, first things first. Who are you, Abby?”
“Um... my name is-” Abby then made a shrill, horrid noise for several seconds.
“AGGGH. What the fuck was that?”, Cizin screamed. “It sounded like a million demonic dolphins fucking at a monster truck rally while everything explodes, only played back extra-fast. GAH.”
“Sorry! I... I don't think my language can ...”
“Alright, what can we call you then? Is there some kind of translation?”
“Translation...”Abby thought for a while. She twisted her face in deep thought and consideration...then shrugged and looked at a complete loss.
Leah, after nursing her still-tender ears said, “I think the beginning part of it kind of sounded like “Ab.... something something something- I don't think there are words that sound anything like any of the rest...so... we'll stick with Abby.”
“Why not.”, Cizin muttered. “Okay, what species are you? Can you describe them?”
Abby emitted another horrible noise. Cizin twitched in pain, which only got worse due to his cut leg.
“Gah! More dolphins!”
Abby's jaw dislodged awkwardly.
“Uh... I don't think human mouths are made for pronouncing my language...erm...”
“Alright. We'll just call you all freaks or something. It works. So, Abby, how do we know we can trust you?”
Leah jumped in. “I put a spell of geas on her. It backfires on her if she breaks the promise she agreed to. It may or may not actually work if it should trigger. But really, I don't think.
“Okay. Do you plan on eating us?”
Abby's voice radiated pain. “No, I would never!... that would be... h...”
Abby put her head in her hands as she contemplated it and shuddered.
“I think I should handle it, Cizin. You're being too fucking delicate for her.”
“Whatever, princess.”
Leah rolled her eyes.
“I wish. Okay, Abby, what happened to that monster? What exactly was it, and what did we do to it? Are there others like it? What do we have to worry about it.”
“Um.... that was... me...sort of... part of me? Um... she's like me... only not.” Abby grabbed at her hair in frustration. “... well... I'm not sure what we did to her. The runes caused me... her... horrible pain earlier...”
“Well, now that I think about it, those runes look a bit like runes of banishment.”
Seeing the fearful curiosity on Cizin and Abby's faces, Leah continued, “Basically sends something somewhere else, provided it doesn't resist too hard.”
“Hmm... interesting. That some people of an unknown faction would try teleporting a monster somewhere, let alone try to fight it. Definitely something higher at work.” , Cizin pondered.
“No doubt. Paul, would you know anything of this?”, Leah asked.
Paul sat up, in clear pain, a large scar running across his shoulder. “I... I have no idea what happened.”
“By the way, what did they do to you when they caught you?”
“Cizin...I don't recall... they injected me with something... likely a soporific. I managed to come to in a dark room when I heard gunfire. Then, I walked out and Abby got eaten by a shade and then how did you put it... shit hit the fan?”
“Actually, I, uh, ate that shade.”
“What?!”, went three other voices.
“Yeah... I don't know how to explain it, but the shade was something that felt... usable. It was disgusting, and not made of flesh, but it had energy I could use. I don't know... something within me wanted it, and I had to defend myself. Next thing I know, the other me is crying out in rage, and I lose control.”
“Alright... so, what about any other aliens? We know the one that was you got sent somewhere. And where did that one... erm, where did she get sent to?”
“Um...I think we're safe, actually. I have no idea where 'me' went... probably where the people that attacked me wanted me to go... but, the others are far away. The way they work is they send one of them...er, us, them?... to a planet. They won't do anything until that one returns with information.”
“Oh good. That means we'll just meet them later, not now.”, Cizin groaned. “And odds on seeing mysterious evil Abby are pretty much 1 now that we have to bring her up.”
Leah glared at him. “Shut up, Ciz. We don't know that. Abby, what condition are you in? Are you going to flip out at any point?”
“No! No, of course not! I'm not like her... even though I was... I-I- I- I'm not sure at all. But I really don't want to hurt anyone.” Abby said that in a way that was the furthest thing possible from a threat or excuse.
“Eh... she's just another stranger, I guess. I trusted you two, Miss Paladin and Mister Mysterious Knives. I guess I can trust Miss Alien Monster as well.”
Paul softly chuckled.
Cizin continued. “I'm probably making a mistake, but let's face it... we have much more mundane threats to us right now. This is just another risk I'm taking, what the fuck. I mean, we haven't heard jack about the conspiracy guys who are doubtlessly on to us, the elf and his buddies have a building filled heavily armed friends dressed as homeless people, Paul and I are cut up as hell, and my car is missing. Wait, how the fuck did I get home? This isn't a dream or illusion or something?”
Leah looked at him with concern. “Well... uh... Abby says she carried us all home.”
“Wait, what? Without being seen, what the fuck?!”
“Er... tell him, Abby.”
“I, uh, can travel fourth-dimensionally. And carry you all without having to be seen.”
“What's that?”
Abby sighed in anticipated dread, much like Cizin tended to when explaining something totally unfamiliar to people who probably needed it explained several times over.
“Okay, so, uh, i-imagine you guys are 3-D space. A box, of sorts. There's three axes, x, y, and z, like on a graph. x and y are side to side, more or less, z is up and down.”
“Math. Yay.”
“Cizin, shut the fuck up. Abby, ignore him.”
“So, so, uh, each of these axes is a dimension and a direction. Only one direction would be the first dimension, a line, like a number line or a timeline, there's only two ways you can go. Two directions is second dimension, a geometric plane, like, paper or a TV screen, you can go anywhere as long as it's on that plane. Three dimensions like swimming, you can go up or down as well as anywhere on, uh, x and y. Four dimensions is the same as three dimensions, but now I can move out of the reality you can see, in a fourth dimension. It's really hard to visualize... let's go back and simplify it... let's say some people live in the second dimension- don't take offense, I don't mean to imply anything, sorry, um.... so say you live in the second dimension. You can only see stuff that exists in a flat sheet. This is your reality, all you see. Uh... I would be a third dimensional thing then. I could be in your reality, but I could move up or down, and you wouldn't see me then unless I intersected with your plane of reality, and the stuff in your plane, I could go above or under obstacles without having to go directly from point A to point B. Get it?”
She roughly sketched a picture of a stick figure resembling her standing on a sheet, with a small stick figure Cizin on the sheet saying “I see your feet.”
Cizin nodded cautiously. Leah nodded and looked a little more sure, but she too was clearly straining to relate this all to what she saw. Paul showed no reaction.
“So... I can disappear from the reality you know of and show up somewhere else, ignoring obstacles and not being seen. I can sort of see through walls and into things, too, like you can see through a television. That's what it's like to be one dimension more.
“And... sorry if this is a surprise, guys, but I wanted to tell you what I'm really like. I... exist in fourth-dimensional space. I have human parts, and the rest of me that's not human is contained out of sight. At the same time. I'm not really like the others of my species. I'm not as powerful or as big as I used to be, since I only could take a small part of my body from the other me. And I can't really help it, I'm only comfortable 'here', more or less. I have some parts of myself in 4D, but... to be honest... 4D space kind of ...scares me.”
“Scares me? You're an alien, and you're used to it.”
“Cizin, you are not helping!”
“Er... yeah, it's freaky. The things you see... it's all vibrating and shadow-like and twisting stuff. I never looked at it as a human before...”
“So, why don't you go back to being all alien-y?”
“Um... I don't want to...I'm scared.”
Abby looked ashamed. Her voice trembled.
“The irony is overwhelming. Monster's scared of herself.”, Cizin felt the need to remark.
“I'm not a monster!”, Abby snapped. “I am a person!”
She hyperventilated and withdrew.
Paul put his good hand on her shoulder. “Don't mind him. You're still Abby, right?”
Abby nodded.
“Good. Breathe. If you need to breathe.”
Abby shook her head a little.
“Ah. Well, breathe slowly anyway. I'm sure it'll help. Calm down. Atta girl.”
Leah helped Abby out of the room.
Cizin plopped his head back down on his pillow. Leah could at least have immobilized the leg somehow. He made a mental note to self-learn first aid. This was all too much for him. Abby was a monster. He got his leg cut open by an invisible Abby-Cthulhu. He had a gunfight machine gun hobos after ramming his car into a building. Those fucking elves abducted Paul and also had guns. The conspiracy was everywhere. Leah turned out to be a horrendously bad shot.
He needed time to think about all of this.
Cizin stewed in a constantly rotating phase state of confusion, deep thought, pain and plain old unconsciousness. Somewhere around seven, Leah walked back in with a towel and a bottle of pain pills.
“Okay, I'm going to try to get your leg back in working condition. Hold still.”
Cizin downed a pill as Leah carefully lay his injured leg over the towel. Leah then, thought better of that, and gave Cizin the towel.
Pain crushed Cizin's leg to chunky applesauce as Leah held her lightly-glowing hands on the scarred section. Cizin bit into the towel with all his might as he felt an agony, equal to receiving the wound, smash his consciousness to smithereens, then slowly rebuild it, raw and flayed.
Cizin interrupted Leah with a grunt. Leah continued healing without looking up.
“What? I'm afraid I can't go slower. The more time it takes, the more likely a complication will come up.”
Cizin gestured to his cell phone by his side.
Leah handed it to him.
Cizin nodded for her to continue.
Leah gave him a confused look as he dialed.
“Hey, Boss...NGGGHHH.... GAH... Sorry, sir, I'm having a baaAAARGGGH sorry, bad day, I'm gonna need couple of sick da FUUUuuhhhhh.....uh... funny how I had a bit of an accident today, it's nothing too seriouNNGGHAAAAAAAGGG OWOWOWowow.... sorry. So, yeah, two sick days...GGGGGGHHHHHUHHHH..... Thanks! Boss! For! Your! GAH! CONCERN! Good Bye!”
Cizin dropped the cell phone, a smirk alternating with excruciating pain on his face.
The scar remained and it still hurt quite badly, but at least Cizin could walk now, and the scar wasn't painfully obvious. Leah had to take care of Paul and herself later, so this would have to do. Cizin couldn't just leave an eldritch horror from another dimension at home, now could he?
Paul had finished comforting Abby some time ago and went back to a long, much-deserved sleep. Cizin figured he could talk to Abby again. But Leah would have to supervise him, for safety.
“Alright, Abby, I'm interested in seeing what you can do.”
“Wha?”
“I'd like to figure out what strengths, abilities and weaknesses you have before my life potentially depends on those factors. I know we're going to be outmatched worse than ever now that aliens enter the picture. So, let's find out what you can do.”
“S-sure?”
“Alright.”
Without warning, Cizin punched, stopping just before Abby's head, stepped back, threw a foam ball at her head and then shoved a dumbbell into her hands.
She ducked after the foam ball hit her and didn't even notice the dumbbell in her hands for a few seconds.
“Hm... slow but strong. I wonder why you can lift it now? I guess you don't need to hide it now.”
Abby looked confused as she easily lifted the weight, despite her awkward grip.
“Leah. Now.”
Leah shrugged, and did her usual glowy-hands routine on Abby, making various gestures for a few seconds.
“Still no magic resistance, but her physiology, now that I try to understand it, barely resembles a normal human. Probably means black magic won't do much to her. Or white magic, either. Huh.”
Abby looked rather confused.
“Um, I'll explain how magic works to you later, Abby.”
As Leah spoke, Cizin punched Abby hard in the shoulder.
Abby looked down at her shoulder without so much as flinching.
“Hm... hold still for a bit.” Cizin bent down slightly and pulled out something.
Abby's face now held both anxiety and confusion.
After a few seconds, Cizin looked up at her.
“Wow...did you feel anything?”
Abby shook her head.
“Look at your left elbow.”
Abby slowly turned her left arm to look at it.
“Gah!”
There was a needle stuck in it. No blood, no wound, just a needle sticking out of apparently human skin.
“And you didn't even notice, Ab. Impressive.”
Abby looked faint. She gingerly removed the needle and handed it back to Cizin. Then remembered that she was carrying a dumbbell and gently set it down.
“Okay, we're going to have to do endurance tests. That means jumping jacks.”
Abby was still going strong at five hundred, although she was getting sloppy and rather irritated.
Cizin stared with a mixture of fascination and envy.
“Abby, hold still again.”
Uh oh, she thought.
Eight minutes and one extinguishing of a small fire later-
“Okay, so, according to our highly scientific method, you're physically powerful and/or tough, have a low pain threshold, not particularly bright-”
“Hey!”
“Well, yeah, I mean really, anyways, no observed mental powers besides now-explicable perfect sense of direction, does not need to breathe, weighs 263.3 freakin' pounds, still no magic and still eats a crapload, which kind of explains the density. All good, I guess.”
Abby finished her eighth ham sandwich. This was the only test she liked.
“Okay, so show us your 'fourth dimensional' mojo, Ab. Take your time if you must.”
Abby closed her eyes, inhaled and then faded from sight.
“Huh. So, you just turn invisib-”
Abby stuck her head out from the ceiling. Her upside-down face stared at Cizin.
“Okay. So you can teleport.”
“It's not teleporting. Teleporting is instant. I still have to move in and out.”
“Sure. So this lets you go around obstacles, right? And we can't reach you while you're in the fourth dimension.”
“Yeah.”
“Excellent. So, you can just snipe people from there when we're in a fight.”
“Err.... no.”
“No?”
“Um...I can't really hurt you guys from here. I have to drop back to 3D-space to hit you.”
That Cizin found talking to an upside-down girl's disembodied head only slightly surreal spoke much of his state of mind.
“Can't you do that crazy slicing stuff like before?”
“I could... if I had enough mass. Right now, I'm like a tenth of my old self. I don't have the muscle to actually slice anyone, and it's kind of gross doing that.”
“Can you just punch someone's internal organs from where you are?”
“Actually, no. I can see you guys kind of glowing from there. Um... I think I tried to touch the glowing a long time ago and I remember it really hurting, so I don't wanna try that.
“Glowing?”
Leah, idly reading the news, looked up with curiosity. “Could it be... she's seeing our souls?”
“What?!”, Cizin and Abby exclaimed.
“What color was it?”
“I... I don't know... it was glowing, but I don't know if it had a color.”
“That's probably a soul. It supposedly glows with a terrible light and doesn't have any color. And it overlaps with us, I guess it exists on this 'fourth dimension' in a way.”
“Alright, so no telefragging either way.”, Cizin muttered. “So, Abby, what else can you do?”
“I, uh, not much. I can turn into my old form. Right now, I'm keeping the non-human bits of me away from sight.”
“Good thinking, I guess. By the way, I didn't see what you look like.”
“Uh, that's not probably a good idea.”
“If you say so.”
“Well, this is a lot of process. I'll go bug you later, Abby. Leah, make sure she doesn't hurt herself getting back down here.”
“Uh huh.”
Cizin hobbled over to his laptop and checked the local news.
Thankfully, all evidence was found destroyed, as the building and surrounding had been leveled by the time the reporters got there. It appeared to have been all burned to a crisp and knocked down as if by a battering ram. If the conspiracy wanted it all gone, they would have made it look like a gas leak or something, not something unusual (but at least still not uncommon) like arson plus demolition. Cizin rested easy, looking at the (most likely undoctored) photos showed little identifiable in the ruins. He had just walked by the front door and saw his personal effects in a pile, so the odds that he could be traced back to this were fairly low. Still, it never hurt to stay on guard and assume the worst. This was almost too convenient, after all.
Cizin started listing ways to reduce his odds of getting implicated when someone screamed in terror.
Cizin limped at top speed out of the room with gun in hand. It would not be doing much good against Abby, he grimly mused as he, Paul and Leah burst into the bedroom.
He saw Abby huddling and shivering in a corner, staring blankly into space.
“Oh god oh god oh god why why why why why so terrible so terrible it's staring at me why does it have to stare at me why is it there why why why...”
Abby couldn't stop gibbering as Paul tried to get answers out of her.
Leah took point and Cizin swept the area with a gun.
“What was it, Abby? What is staring at you?”
Abby, still shivering all over, stared with wide open eyes at Paul.
“I saw myself.”
She then resumed silently muttering to herself.
“Oh god why those eyes, those eyes those eyes why are those eyes there....”
“Lemme handle this, Cizin. Paul, out of the way.” Leah extended her arm across her body and drew her knuckles across Abby's face with all her might.
Abby stared at Leah for a while.
“Abby, what did you see.”
“... I... I wanted to see what I really looked like. I looked in the mirror and looked at my real self.”
“You aren't used to what you really look like?”
“....no. I haven't seen myself since I turned human...like. It's horrible. So horrible.”
“Really now. It can't have been that bad. What is this, a Lovecraft novel? You're no Cthulhu.”, Cizin interjected.
“You haven't seen it...”
“Well, show us. Can't be that bad.”
“Cizin, please stop tempting fate.”
“Oh come on. Look at her. She's literally scared of her own shadow. I mean, you didn't pass out when you saw the monster yesterday, right?”
“We didn't get a clear look, Cizin.”
“Look, let's just get this over with. Abby, show yourself.”
“But... I can't-”
“Come on. We're all curious. Abby can handle it. Why can't I?”
*sigh* “All right, Abby, do it.”, Leah muttered.
“I-”
“No worries, Abby. It's not your fault if you drive us all mad. We're going to have to see you sooner or later, might as well be prepared.”, said Cizin.
“O-okay then. Uh... here goes.”
Cizin was suddenly underneath his bed. Muscles shaky for some reason, he got up, and realized he was kneeling in his own vomit. Or not his own, as he checked his mouth.
Nearby, Leah sat with jaw agape and Paul wiped his lips with his sleeve.
Abby stood in the same corner with a very worried look.
“What just happened?”, Cizin asked. He looked down and saw his fists were clenched white.
Leah sat speechless, for once.
Paul put his head in his hands and shook his head vigorously.
Cizin suddenly felt very little desire to ask to see Abby's alien-y form again. “Well, I guess that answers a few questions... I kind of blacked out there.”
He scratched his head in embarrassment.
Abby stared at him, still worrying.
“Let us never speak of this again.”, said Paul, as he reached for a napkin.
Everyone nodded.
“So far, the damage seems to be contained.”, Cizin said. “Abby doesn't seem to be kill-everyone-y, and I think my identity isn't publicly compromised. Big concern right now is tracking down that fucking elf. No clue how to start. Chances are magical beacon plan won't work again, now that we know they have access to guns and mysterious allies.”
“I guess. Who were those guys with the guns?”, Leah asked.
“I have no idea. They are probably with the conspiracy, though. Well... now that I think about it, we're not going anywhere without a car. There's only one thing we can do for now. We have to go shopping.”
Leah's eyes lit up.
Cizin checked off his grocery list. Guns, ammo, a new car, first aid supplies (including field surgery supplies, apparently Leah knew how to use them), and cigarettes. So many cigarettes. Cizin would be smoking his lungs out from all this bullshit. Paul still had plenty of coins left, and they went for a lot, so the costs were not a concern right now. Cizin was indeed tempted to blow the money on something fun to forget about his situation for a while, but he remembered that would attract attention and screw him over in the long run.
They had lunch at a local sandwich place. Abby got twice what everyone else did. Cizin made sure they sat in a far corner.
“You know, I didn't see what you actually look like. Can you at least describe it?”
Abby twisted her face in thought and opened her mouth several times, then stopped every time, frustrated and at a loss.
“Okay then. Do you resemble anything?”
Again, Abby made a bunch of noncommittal noises as she reached at a metaphor and promptly lost it.
“Big, dark, warped and full of tentacles.”, Leah remarked. “I didn't remember much else.”
“Tendrils! I don't have tentacles. I have tendrils.”
“Whatever, tentacle chick.”, said Cizin.
“Don't call me that!”
“Abby has tentacles!”
“I do not! Tendrils! They're tendrils!”
“Tentacles.”
“Nggghhh... Teeeendriiiils!”
“Shut up, kids. Someone'll hear you.”, said Leah.
“You're like a couple of years older than me.”
“More than that, mentally. Now, stop it, both of you.”
“Whatever. So Abby, I thought about what you can do... you can move stuff into this, um, 'hyperspace' of yours, right?”
“Yeah... but I can't hold too much.”
“Alright. Seeing as we're pretty much fucked if you turn on us anyways, I figured we might as well rely some more on you. Here.”
Cizin handed Abby a list.
“I want you to store those away when we get home. They're listed in decreasing order of importance, and I've put down how much each weighs as well. Carry as many as you can around and I'll ask you for them if and when the need comes up. Is that all right with you?”
Abby nodded and examined the list. “I can probably hold up to the ...uh...what's an FN FAL?”
Cizin beamed. “Excellent.”
“Oh, Paul...I've been thinking...”
“Hm?”
“Those guys wanted to capture you alive, right?”
“I am talking to you, are I not?”
“Right. I was thinking- what if you were the bait?”
Paul reacted rather reasonably to the question.
“Hm... I don't know... perhaps it would be a good idea. It seems dangerous, but if it is only my life on the line, I have no objections.”
“Good to know. For now, we'll lie low as before.”
The day ended rather amicably. Abby hadn't murdered anyone, and Cizin didn't feel like he was being tailed or suspected of anything. He got all of his preparations, plus a new car, out of it, and arrived home safely.
This means things can only get worse.
Leah sat up in her seat as they were a few minutes from the house.
“What is it?”
“Magic. I recognize it. It's that Justice guy... golem.”
“Great. Which way. Let me guess, an abandoned building.”
“That way.”
Leah pointed to a car driving driving away perpendicular to them.
*sigh* “I'm about to regret this, aren't I.”, Cizin groaned as he pulled a sharp U-turn followed by a right.
He followed the car. He couldn't tell who was in it.
After ten or so minutes car drove out of town.
Uh oh. Pretty sure they can see me now. No cars here. Was this a trap? How could they just let Leah detect the golem right away? Shit. Well, there's not much choice. Don't know if we can get a lead again before the conspiracy nabs me.
Cizin reduced his distance and kept driving, making sure to hide behind other cars when possible. He wasn't a good driver, but damned if he was going to fail to follow this possibly-critical lead because he was too slow.
About twenty minutes later, the car stopped outside of some sort of government compound. At least, it looked official-ish. Might not be government.
Either we're the luckiest bastards on Earth, or this is the king of all set-ups. Why would they go back to base?
Art and Justice emerged from the car, and walked over to the compound gates.
“Hm...Abby, can you teleport us in?”
“It's not really teleporting, and I'm not sure if I can hold you all, or if I should put you in the fourth dimension.”
“Why?”
“It's scary in there.”
“*sigh* I'd call BS, but the last thing you said was scary made me black out, so we'll do it the hard way. Fun time.”
Cizin watched Art and Justice. Venus and Chac must be in the car.
“Hm...I think we should get out and look for a back door of some sort.”
CIZIN AND CREW SNEAK INTO THE PLACE, GET SEPARATED.
Venus stood in the corridor, kindly smiling, sword by her side. Cizin was no expert on swords, but he could tell it was a katana of exceptional, probably even magical, make. He hoped it wouldn't get involved. Venus flipped through her long silver hair. Cizin slowly approached her with his rifle safety on, careful not to look too threatening.
“Oh heya, you must be Mark. Nice to meet you. Art said to guard this place, so I'm doin' that. Sorry, you're gonna have to find another way around.”
“Um... Venus, do you have a full name? No? Um... so, why do you hang around those guys anyway? You're clearly fighting for fun here. I mean, I can tell. Why not join us? We've got bigger guns.”
“Ah, no thanks”, Venus giggled. “I like Paul. Can't really dance with him if I'm with him. 'Sides, Chac's the chosen one. Can't really help it.”
“What? Dance? Cho-”
Venus lunged at him. Cizin lifted his gun, hoping she knew better than to try something. Unfortunately, she closed in much faster than he expected, slapped away his gun, and lightly punched him in the gut. Cizin tried to ward her off with the rifle butt. Venus danced barely out of reach as he thrust, then kicked him harder in the knee. He staggered and realigned his rifle to fire while backpedaling. Venus easily dashed in close again and batted away his gun completely, sending it flying. Cizin anticipated the worst shielded his face with an unsure boxing guard, thankfully absorbing a punch to the face.
He blindly lashed out to counter, striking only air and receiving a boot to the stomach for his trouble. He fell back.
“What's wrong, Cizin? You're kind of slow.”, Venus unmockingly, honestly observed.
Cizin would have seen red any other day. Instead, he drew his pistol and fired off a shot, surprising himself with his sudden lethal intent.
He could have sworn the shot was dead on. Instead, he was relieved of the gun without seeing anything other than a flash of Venus' hand. Venus jumped back, unharmed. It was then that he realized he was being toyed with.
Cizin's hand went to a knife on his belt. He didn't know how to use it, but it was better than getting the shit kicked out of him.
He lunged at her. She dodged forward, pinning down his wrist with her forearm, then placed her knee in his stomach again. Cizin grunted and promptly folded to the ground in pain.
“Hee. Come on, Cizin, you can do better than that.”
Cizin suddenly rolled over, smoothly throwing his knife in the same motion. That would have impressed himself if he was watching the fight. Cizin roughly flipped up to see Venus had caught the knife right in front of her face, but was clearly taken off guard by the sudden feint.
He took the opening to spring forward and charge her her, hands on her arm, attempting to push forward the knife she held towards herself.
She unexpectedly twisted with his lunge, sending him tumbling forward, destroying his grip. He knew then that the fight was over. He slowly rolled over, expecting a finishing blow which never came.
Venus stood over him. She slid the knife over to him.
“Come on. We're not done.” She carried a genuine smile. This could have been playing with dolls to her.
Cizin cautiously reached for his knife. He backed off in a crouched stance, knife pointing at her, desperation in his eyes. He looked around. Her sword was lying on the wall behind him. He wouldn't risk going for it- she was probably sure it wouldn't make much of a difference if he held it. You could never tell with these fight-for-fun types. He circled slowly, considering going for his gun or simply turning and running.
Venus, as far as Cizin could tell, wasn't the type who would , and he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to ventilate her just like that, or if he even could. He tensed himself for another run at her, then turned and tore hell out of the room.
Venus followed him without making a sound. Cizin ran as fast as he could, glancing back, and he could tell she wasn't spending any effort in keeping up. He sweated heavily, aware that she could easily catch up to him and beat him down where he stood whenever she liked.
He entered a wide hallway when he nearly bumped into Abby. She was also running, although not as desperately as Cizin was. He pushed her into Venus' path. Venus easily cleared Abby, tall as she was. Cizin stared at the leap, as Venus came down softly and without stopping, and swung at him again. He frantically dived out of the way, rolled awkwardly, turned, and stepped next to Abby.
Abby turned and looked at Venus, quite scared.
Venus was apparently happy that she had two challengers now.
Chac suddenly walked up by Venus' side.
Cizin took stock of the situation. Abby was running from Chac? Huh. Abby and Cizin faced off against Chac and Venus. Chac had his enormous axe out, and appeared winded, but unhurt.
Well, that wasn't good.
“Abby, gun.”
A pistol materialized out of thin air. Abby caught it and gingerly handed it to Cizin.
“And get something for yourself.”
Abby pulled her baseball bat out. It had a large chunk taken out of it, presumably by Chac's axe.
Cizin stared down Chac. Running would only exhaust him and Abby.
“Abby, can you teleport us out of here?”
“I.... I can't teleport. And I'm too tired to move you into hypersp-”
“Damn. We'll have to die here, I guess.”
“DIE?”
“Well, or get the shit kicked out of us.”
“Heya, Chac!”, Venus apparently just now took notice of Chac.
“Venus, did that guy attack you?”
“Sure did.”
“Attacking a lady. Despicable.”
Cizin frowned. “Um... what? She lunged at me.”
Chac shifted his axe onto his shoulder and stood proudly upright.
“Same difference. You gladly shelter a criminal like Paul Renato. And I cannot stand those who will so easily abide his crimes. Come and face me, scoundrels. Honesty and right will prevail.”
Cizin stared blankly. Chac actually said that. And meant it.
Well, Venus is going to kick my ass, but at least I might take this nutbag down with me. Hope he can't use that thing.
Cizin flipped his safety and shot at Chac's legs. Venus shoulder-rammed Chac out of the way, as the bullets ricocheted down the hall. Cizin switched targets to Venus, missing badly in his haste.
They should really prepare us for this shit at the firing range.
Abby hung back as Venus charged Cizin, casually slipping out of his shaky line of fire and again relieving him of his weapon, this time holding onto it herself.
Abby looked rather unsure of what to do with all the fast moving around. She looked at Chac, hoping he wouldn't attack her again. Chac recovered from the shove, and charged past Venus and Cizin, charging at Abby.
Abby suppressed a shriek as she stiffly held her bat horizontally above her head, praying she could hold off that humongous piece of metal heading towards her. The baseball bat held, amazingly enough, and Chac rebounded it backwards.
Abby sort of poked the bat at Chac. He batted it away and landed a respectable left hook on her shoulder.
He pulled back in confusion as Abby failed to register the punch. He punched her in the stomach, to no effect again.
Abby, quite frightened now, slapped Chac across the cheek. He stumbled backwards with the unexpected force of the blow. Then, Abby remembered she was stronger than she thought.
Slightly emboldened by this thought, Abby was about to take a swing when Chac suddenly got up and punched her square in the nose. She stopped as the punch did nothing.
“Huh.” Abby thought about it for a moment before Chac's axe slammed into her face. She was knocked slightly off balance, but ended up still no worse for the blow.
Chac sighed as he swung the axe at her arm, holding back enough to ensure a rather-painful-looking cut. It did nothing- she didn't even bleed. In frustration, he swung again, again to no effect, as she futilely tried to ward off his assault with her hands.
Chac then swung harder. Abby's elbow, forearm, wrist and hand landed on the floor beside her.
She looked him at a moment before uttering, “Owww!”
There was no blood. Instead, her stump crackled with a plume of black.
She picked up her arm, not entirely sure of what to make of this through her pain. Chac decided he was outmatched, apparently, as he pulled back beside Venus.
Cizin kneeled next to Venus, light bruises and a black eye on his face. He clearly had little fight left. He stared at Abby picking up and reattaching her arm with some confusion.
Venus grinned, and said, “Chac, why don't you go back to Art. I'd like a shot at this!”
Abby's face turned from confusion to dread as Venus charged her, this time with sword in hand.
Paul intercepted the blow with a knife, leaping from out of the blue.
Venus grinned even more as she dodged several very rapid swings. “Why, hello Paul. Another dance?”
“Let Abby go.”
“Sure.” Venus grabbed and dragged Abby behind her.
Abby wasted no time in taking Cizin and heading down the hallway, as the sound of steel on steel and bone on muscle rang out from behind her.
A mad dash later, Abby stopped to rest on some stairs, leaning on a wall with one arm supporting Cizin. It seemed safe now. She could barely hear fighting. Suddenly, a thumping came from above the stairs as Leah ran down, one of her hands clutching her limp arm.
Justice followed down. Abby yelped, and blindly pushed her free hand forward to ward off the worst of the collision. Justice's large clay frame actually flew a foot or three up before slamming back onto the stairs and tumbling all the way down. Leah barely dodged the rolling golem.
“Thank you thank you thank you!”, Leah quickly shouted, as she ran back up the stairs. “Come on. Don't let it get back up!”
“Okay?”
They ran up and beyond the stairs. “Why aren't there any fucking doors in here?”, Leah screamed, as the golem clambered over the stairs a hundred or so feet behind them.
“Which way?”, Abby yelled as the three limped towards a branching hallway. There were five paths.
“Um... that way?” Leah headed into a dingy-looking, unlit path.
The golem rapidly gained on them, appearing furious somehow. It fired a blast from its gun, which narrowly exploded behind them. They desperately ran through the darkness.
Abby, in the lead, suddenly crashed into a wall of some sort, ripping through it. Cizin stumbled over the remains of the wall, over it, and Leah barely managed to dive through the opening.
The golem continued running. Leah helped Cizin up as Abby recovered from the blow, and they continued running. A blue glow now emanated from a distance, without any particular source. They kept running. The golem seemed to speed up, now thirty or twenty feet from them.
Leah gained some kind of newfound strength as well, suddenly running a bit faster than Abby.
Leah suddenly swerved into an opening on the right, and Abby and Cizin barely kept up. The golem followed, via a violent shortcut through the wall ahead of the opening.
The golem found that they were gone. Utterly gone. It searched the area, but found nothing.
They found themselves in darkness again, the glow gone. There was nothing of the golem.
“Uh... Leah, what just happened?”
“I felt some kind of aether field... a strange kind, not like a spell, just a weird concentration of aether. We seem to have ran into it... and now we're here?”
“Um... let's go somewhere there's light.”
“Sure.”
They wandered for a few minutes, completely unsure of where to go. Someone suddenly burst out from behind them.
They screamed. Leah produced magical light from her good hand, straining to do so. It was Paul. He shielded his eyes slightly. He was covered in many shallow cuts and bruises. The area around them was pitch-black despite the light.
“What? Abby? Leah? Cizin? What are you doing here?”
“What's going on, Paul?”, Leah shouted.
“I lost my fight. So, I ran, and I heard you running with someone. I followed, dodged past that golem, and felt a strange sensation like more aether. And then I found myself in the darkness with... um, with you. I take it you followed the aether too?”
“Are you really Paul?”, Cizin spoke through a groan of pain.
“What?”
“Can't be too sure. Someone could be mimicking you or something.”
Paul sighed, and handed over the knives Cizin gave him earlier, and the knife he used to save Cizin's life a week ago. Cizin inspected them and handed them back, satisfied.
“So, any idea where we are?”, Leah asked.
“Nope.”, came three replies.
“Best get wandering then.”
Cizin's eyes should have adjusted to the dark by now, but it was still completely dark, and from what he could tell, Paul and Leah were just as blind as he was. Light magic clearly wasn't helping the incredibly thick darkness though.
“Hey... there's something here.”, Abby blurted.
“What?”, Cizin asked.
“There's a hatch of some sort on the ground a couple feet that way.”
“You can see in the dark?”
“Um... I kind of touched it.””
“Wait, wha- oh, right, tentacles.”
Abby gave him a hurt look. Or not, he could just barely make out everyone's outline.
“Well, I'm just glad I can't see your tentacles right now. Let's try it, I guess?”
To their relief, the hatch was unlocked and there was a ladder moving down.
“I will go first.”, Paul said. “If I at any time yell, abandon me and seal this hatch. I will signal you if it is safe.”
“Sure.”, Leah said.
Paul jumped down the hatch. After a few seconds, his hand came back up with a beckoning gesture.
Cizin landed hard, eight feet later. His cut leg flared in pain. He didn't bother to hide his pained expression in the dark. Leah and Abby climbed down after him.
Paul waved and his hand glowed with light. The four of them walked down a curved hallway. The walls were a shiny, dark green and flat obsidian-like material, without adornments or noticeable cracks. The air was still, heavy and damp, and the oppressive gloom ignored the light. They followed the hallway for a few minutes without encountering anything other than more hallway. Cizin felt like saying something to break the monotony, but he knew that it was important everyone remain able to hear clearly.
A loud, very distant voice eventually broke the awkward silence.
As they approached, it settled to some kind of dramatic speech being given.
Crazy ass-cultists, or some of kind of evil magician with an army?
A number of replies came to the speech. Cizin couldn't make out what was being discussed, but it was clear someone was angry. Suddenly, dying screams cut into the hallways without echoing, and a huge ruckus broke out from ahead of them.
The group ran forward in anxiety. Leah muttered what might have been a prayer, and Paul pulled his knives. Cizin thought better of drawing his gun, and also pulled a knife, not quite sure if it would cut it at this point. Pun intended.
They ran forward and came to series of identical, empty-looking doorways on both sides. The hallway terminated in a small, slightly ajar door. Cizin carefully looked into each doorway as the group walked forward towards the small door ahead, the source of all the screaming. They huddled around the door and peeked in.
Cizin could not make much sense of it. Leah, Paul and Abby stared forward in shock. A large amount of people and creatures he did not recognize lay dying, shredded apart. Only a single figure was standing next to the corpse of what appeared to be a dragon. A dragon easily a hundred feet tall. With its belly torn open. The figure appeared to be a man, clothed in some manner of light robes. No other details could be seen at that distance. The room was poorly lit and stank with blood and feelings of recent battle.
Paul faintly swore in a language that apparently did not translate well.
Abby's breathing came out panicked.
The person slowly looked up, apparently right at them. It walked towards them casually, with ill-meaning intent that made Cizin sick even at the great distance.
They withdrew from the door and huddled together.
“Oh shit, what do we do?”, Leah muttered uneasily.
“Let's find a way out of here. Search the doors here. That clearly isn't human.”, Paul answered. Paul's voice also shook with uncertainty.
“What do you mean?”, Cizin asked.
“He might as well be made of pure compressed magic, for all I know.”, Paul replied. “It is beyond the-”
Paul was cut off by a very loud ripping sound.
“Shit. What was that?”, Cizin asked, fear now creeping into his voice.
“Let us move!”, Paul shouted.
Cizin had no time to disagree. They dashed into a randomly-selected doorway, and blindly ran down it.
The person suddenly stepped out of nowhere a few dozen feet behind them in the main hallway. Cizin glanced backwards and ran faster, as the figure suddenly crackled out of existence. Cizin hoped it wouldn't catch up to them.
A massive beam of light annihilated everything immediately behind them with a deafening boom. Cizin ran as fast as he could, completely disregarding the crippling pain in his leg out of sheer adrenaline. Abby yelled in terror as the hallway in front of them was suddenly torn to shreds. Cizin stumbled and plowed through on the suddenly not-intact ground, not daring to stop for anything.
Paul and Leah dodged over the shrapnel and falling sections of ground, and Abby disappeared in midair and reappeared forward in time next to the others. The figure dropped from the torn ceiling, and ran after them. Cizin pulled his pistol and blindly fired off everything behind him without breaking stride or slowing. Another explosion and bright flash emanated from behind, and Cizin thanked his luck he wasn't dead, as the very noise sent shockwaves through his body.
They reached the end of the hallway, a small room with a small throne-like object, an upright hoop in the middle of the room. It faintly shined with energy.
“It's a portal! Everybody through!”, Paul yelled as he stood next to it.
“What? Bu-”
Leah cut off Abby. “No time!” She made a move towards the portal.
The man walked towards them, half a hundred feet away. His features and clothing could still not be clearly seen, but that didn't matter.
Leah stopped, mid-lunge, to look back. Cizin stared.
A huge, dark object lunged at the man and engulfed him. Another massive beam of light rang out, and Cizin could hear struggling and horrific, inhuman screams as he suddenly turned around and ran.
Whether Cizin ran into the portal after Leah out of fear of the figure or fear of what attacked it, he did not know. All he knew was darkness and a sudden sense of disorientation, then an impact.
After Paul followed Cizin, Abby took one last worried look behind her as she stepped through the hoop.
ACT II
Chapter One
Cizin crumpled onto something rough, hoping hard he was somewhere. He could barely see, on account of dirt.
Well, at least that was a comfort. He wasn't still in the fortress, and probably not in an alien dimension, on account of dirt.
He spent the next few minutes recovering, futilely wishing away the immense pain in his body from the substantial fall and his previous exertion. Someone walked overhead. Cizin hoped it was one of his buddies.
“Well, we seem to be safe from immediate danger.”
Cizin relaxed. It was Paul. Or so he hoped. Never could be completely sure, when one lost contact with one's teammates.
Cizin struggled through the tightness and heaving in his chest to reply as he slowly powered through his pain to lift himself off his stomach.
“nngh... Paul. Where are we? And how do I know you're really Paul?”
Paul replied, “I am clearly not. You're imagining me entirely, paranoid one.”
Cizin felt strong arms dragging him up, Paul roughly patted the dirt off of Cizin.
“You are merely hallucinating that.”
“I get it. Real helpful, old man.”
“More helpful would be some idea where we are.”
“Um...”
Cizin took a moment to look around.
“Um... a forest?”
“Really now. I was not aware that there were trees everywhere.”
“I'm sorry, I'm only familiar with a tiny part of my planet's surface, unlike someone who's life it is to walk the frickin' earth. We could be a few miles from home or on another planet entirely, for all I know.”
“Right. It would be best if we found the others.”
“On it. LEAH! ABBY! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS?”
“Cizin! We do not know who is listening!”
“So?”
“Cizin?”, Leah's voice cried out.
Cizin smirked. “See? Results.”
Paul sighed as they made their way towards the source of the voice.
Leah and Abby stood in a clearing a minute away.
“We have no idea where we are.”, Cizin said.
“We're in a forest of some sort?”, Leah guessed.
“Congratulations.”
“Oh shut up.”
Cizin pulled out his cell phone. The screen was cracked, but it still worked.
“Great.”, he sighed. “No service. That rules out anywhere within the United States. I guess we're going to have to find some locals and hope they don't try to eat us.”
Leah thought for a while. “There's quite a bit of aether here. It's like home, actually.”
“So, we're not on Earth?”, Cizin asked.
“I wouldn't say that. This might just be an aether-rich part of Earth.”
“Paul, do you recognize this place from the aether or whatever?”
“Cizin, I consider myself something of an expert of the land. These trees are not at all familiar, and the aether fields here are richer than I have ever experienced. We're most likely not in Amtylei.”
“So, that rules out the United States, Paul's world and possibly Earth in general. Great. I could be on another planet or dimension. Hey, Abby.”
Abby snapped out of contemplation. “Huh?”
“Sense of direction. Know where we are?”
Abby looked confused. “I have no clue. We didn't really travel here, so much as teleport, and I don't recognize here at all.”
“Should have bought that GPS app. Well, what do we do?”, Cizin asked.
“We find a high position so we can see what we're dealing with.”, Leah said.
“Alright. Paul, Abby? One of you?”
Paul was already gone. A nearby tree rustled as Paul quickly ascended.
“What do you see, Paul?”, Cizin asked.
“There's a city far away. It is about five days' travel away, and thick smoke rises from some impressively tall towers.”
“Can you describe anything else?”
“The buildings are unfamiliar. They appear to be... glittering?”
“Glittering?”
“They're made of what appears to be solid steel.”
“Anything else?”
“Do you have a spyglass of some sort?”
“Abby, binoculars.”
Abby pulled a pair of binoculars out of thin air and handed them over.
Cizin threw the binoculars. Paul caught them without moving his gaze.
“Well?”
“I see... hm... perhaps one of you should take a look. These do not look anything like what I am familiar with. As if... they were carved out of a single piece of steel. A single giant piece of steel.”
“Wait, are there runes all over them?”, Leah called out in excitement.
“Several. I cannot clearly see what they look like, but there are strange carvings at the tops of several of these chunks of steel.”
“Oh, Fate.”
“What? Leah? You know this place?”
“Yeah. A little place called Ketegam.”
Chapter Two
“Wait, what?”
“Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod, I'm home!”, Leah practically squealed.
“Hurray for you.”
“I'm finally back.”
“Huzzah.”
“I can finally see mom and dad! And you've got t- wait... oh.”
Cizin's expression was rather resigned. Abby looked dazed, and slightly horrified. Paul was grim as he climbed back down.
“Uh... I guess you guys are even more away from home, I guess.”, Leah said.
“Thanks. Well, it's your world. I expect you'll be guiding us here?” Cizin replied.
“I guess.”
A moment of awkwardness flooded the area with silence. Something similar to crickets chirped in the background.
“Well, we can figure out what to do once we're at the city. I'm not sure which city it is.... Cizin, you okay?”
“Yeah. Just a bit of a shock.”
“Really? You seem to be taking this well.”
“...yeah. I knew what I was signing up for. Bunch of guys with swords and armor show up on my doorstep, it's only natural I get out of my comfort zone.... and then some. Can't say I enjoyed my job anyways.”
“That's good, I suppose. Paul, you okay?”
“I am a wanderer by nature. If I seem unhappy, it is because my expertise cannot come in handy in a foreign world. I have few attachments to home. Don't worry about me.”
“Okay. Abby?”
“*sigh* One place is just as strange as another. Well, it sure beats getting eaten or blown apart.”
“Yeah...what the hell happened back there?”, Leah wondered.
Cizin suddenly recalled the events leading up to their teleportation here. Something was definitely amiss there.
“Okay... so, I understand we have bigger concerns right now, but while the memory is fresh, we need to connect the dots. Who was that guy?”
“I don't know. I've never seen such... that guy was exploding with magic. It was a fucking supernova. It's crazy.” Leah grabbed at her bangs in nervousness, before suddenly taking her hands off.
“Yes. I am not sure who that was, or why they would have a grievance with us. Perhaps some sort of guardian to whatever device managed to bring us here?”, Paul mused.
“I think so. But it was incredibly powerful. Even Hamul isn't like that.”
“Hamul?”
“He's the champion of the Paladins here. I mean, THE champion. He's all kinds of amazing, but not compared to this...and what was that thing that attacked that guy?”
“I have no idea.”, Cizin shrugged.
“... I think it was one of us.”, Abby whispered.
“You? You mean another abominations?”
“It wasn't me... it looked different.... I don't know why it was there, didn't recognize it. I didn't see it until it lunged at that person. But it couldn't have been anything else.”
“What the hell.”, Cizin grumbled. “This just gets weirder by the minute.”
“Well, can't do anything about it anytime soon. We can't stay out here too long. The sun's going to go down in four hours, and we're hardly equipped to survive outdoors. Best we hurry. If we can find one of the roads here, we can hopefully catch a ride before sundown.”, said Leah.
“Right. We can speculate as we're walking.”
“I would recommend against that. We want to have our ears open in case these woods are unfriendly.”
“Well, we've got to pass the time somehow.”
They trudged through a trees towards the city. Abby cringed in fear at the trees, staring at them silently.
“Scared of trees still?”, Cizin asked.
“I can't help it. They look like those runes.”
“They kind of do, huh?”, Leah chuckled.
Cizin's mind wandered. “So, Abby, what the hell was another eldritch abomination doing there?”
“Eldritch?”
“Means otherworldly.”
“Uh... if you mean that thing of my species...I think it was injured. It kind of saw me, I think. Tried to come over to me, maybe to talk and then that guy attacked it or it attacked him. I don't know.”
“Huh. So, that guy wasn't one of you.”
“Uh... I don't think we are capable of that stuff he did, the magic. I have no idea what went on, but he definitely wasn't like me. I'm... pretty sure that was human.”
“Pretty sure?”
“Um, his soul was amazingly intense. Like Leah said, it was like being next to a star. And I'm pretty sure I have actually been near a star. It was very hot and bright, and nothing can compare to it, really.”
“I'm sure. So, Leah, tell us more about this place. What is it like compared to Earth?”
Leah laughed in smug anticipation. “Oh, you have no idea. I'm going to have to pull your lecture routine on you, aren't I? It can wait until nightfall, I guess.”
They walked for hours onward, Abby and Cizin pestering Leah with miscellaneous questions while Paul silently took point. It got dark, and Cizin took comfort in the day apparently being as long as on Earth.
“So, you have a ton of magic energy here?”, Abby asked.
“Yeah, lots of aether. Spellcasting on Earth is really exhausting, and the magic takes a long time to get back. It was like being on a mountain, thin air and all. It's nice to be back.”, Leah replied.
“So, how's the technology here?”, Cizin asked.
“You'll have to be more specific.”
“Mmm.... weapons?”
“You have some idea, I guess. We have swords, crossbows, spears, wands, spell-staves...”
“Spellstaves?”
“It's basically a spear that's designed to channel raw magical entropy. Recent invention. Fun stuff. We should probably get you one. They're cheap and even non-mages can easily use them.”
“I'd probably do better with a crossbow... speaking of cheap, what's the currency?”
“Well, we do use gold, but I doubt Paul has much left, and it's not that big of a deal. The usual currency is enchanted objects, such as the rocks I had. Much more convenient than shiny metal. You can even draw from the magical reserves in an emergency.”
“Do you have much?”
“Uh... I kind of had to use the rocks, and they were already faded from Earth's crappy aether field, and I don't have anything else on me. So, I'm pretty much flat broke, and Paul doesn't have anything enchanted on him, I think.”
“Well, shit.”
“Well, it's not like I was loaded before, Cizin. I'm sure we can do a few odd jobs on the way to the nearest Paladin compound. ”
“Is that were we're headed?”, Abby asked.
“Yeah. We can enlist the help of the local Paladins. If not, I can sign you guys up as contractors so we can make a living while. Gold won't take us very far.”
“Sounds like a plan.”, Cizin said. “So, what are these Paladins like? What do you do?”
“We're law enforcement, in a way. We regulate the big cities and keep them safe, seeking out threats and destroying them, in exchange for a small piece of the warlord's treasury.”
“Huh. I always imagined Paladins as being big dudes in shining armor leading crusades against evil wizards and dragons and shit.”
“Well, that'd be kind of hard. Dragons have been extinct or near-extinct for a decade now. And we're hardly crusaders. Just everyday folk who decided on safety in arms.”
“Really? No dragons?”
“Yeah. Got wiped out. I suppose it was bound to happen, with Hamul on the job.”
“Don't suppose we'd like to meet him?”
“Well, he's a busy guy, 'cause he's our number one answer for all the big problems. It's rare to get a glimpse of him before he goes off.”
“Really. He a nice guy?”
“Yeah, everyone loves him. At least, everyone he's not fighting. He saves hundreds of lives just by being around. No one starts shit when they know he's around, and even when he's not.
“He's a hero, then?”
“Yep. My hero, my friends' hero, everyone's hero. If you're not causing trouble, he's a gift from Fortune.”
“Fate?”
“Ah...that'd be our, erm, hard to call it a religion... our beliefs? Superstition?”
“Tradition?”
“Whatever. We basically believe in Fate the weaver, the intertwiner of lives, sewing together timelines to form the tapestry of creation.”
“Poetic.”
“Mmm, yes. Of course, that's a big simplification there. Fate really is two hands. Fortune, and Fate. Fortune is the good half, associated with wealth and improvements in situation, Fate is the bad half, sort of, in that it represents unexpected (thus usually unwanted) changes and death. Hence the words 'fatal', and 'fortunate'.”
“Makes a lot of sense. Does....this have anything to do with the Fortunate Runes earlier?”
Leah laughed. “Maybe. I hadn't remembered that. Man, you have a good memory, huh? No, I've never heard of that spell, but it would make sense for a name. But we generally avoid referring to Fate and Fortune trivially. I'm not sure why, maybe its because it's respectful, but you better not use any words related to luck unless you really mean it was divine or something.”
“Don't take Fate in vain.”
“Basically. We also have a number of more formal religions and gods, though it's really not a big deal around these parts.”
Cizin waved his hand in dismissal. “Bore me with the details later. So, back to money. What are these 'odd jobs'?”
“Well, we'd sign up as Paladin contractors. We basically 'troubleshoot' local problems that require the use of force.”
“Sweet, so we get to explore dungeons and shoot things?”
“Why would we end up in dungeons? It's not illegal.”
“Well, I mean, caves and secret lairs and cultist hideouts and shit. Fun adventurer stuff.”
“Eh. Usually, it's just hunting down criminals or wandering a few miles out doors to deal with some pest that's been bothering townsfolk.”
“So... no adventuring?”
Leah suppressed a snort. “Noooo. There's no money in it, and I'm not the kind of girl who'd bother with that shit.”
“Really? Why?”
“Because I have better things to do.”
“So it's a hobby then?”
“I suppose.”
“But Paul is an adventurer...”
“Well, from where he comes from, adventuring might pay. Here, 'adventurer' usually means eager, enthusiastic young gits who think adventuring actually accomplishes something or rich folk with nothing better to do.”
“Alright then. So, is this contracting dangerous?”
“Hardly. You might get roughed up fairly often, but people know not to mess with the Paladins. As long as we don't go around pissing off everyone and don't charge into the woods screaming, we should be quite safe.”
“That's good to know. Mmm....
From Beyond and Back Again
Prologue
Blood seeped into the book's edges. A boy, no older than twenty years of age, violently turned the page, tearing it in the process. His tears mixed with the blood on his face. His eyes, though streaming and bloodshot, sharply focused on the printed diagrams. Waving the splintered remains of his right hand in the air in accordance with the diagrams, he intoned the customary words of power, his voice shaking with hate, and clear anger substituting for the usual discipline that recited these words precisely and loudly.
One could have easily mistaken this act for a desperate prayer. In some ways, it was beseeching higher powers, though not those most would think of. Complex geometric inscriptions covered the floor, surrounding a large, crudely cut crystalline hoop erected on a raised dirt platform. The boy's bloodied eyes burned with a passion for this “prayer”, though too intense for mere supplication and too resigned for fervor.
His hands, or what was left, glowed very slightly. His voice rose, as he continued the chant in a controlled monotone, the rage and pain in his heart barely noticeable. Blood smeared the dirt as he moved his hands the best he could, in intricate patterns mirroring the floor's inscriptions. Fresh blood spread across the pages, ruining the pages. He continued nonetheless.
Now, he did not believe in blood sacrifice, nor did this ritual require it. But a corner of his mind faintly recognized the symbolism of bleeding on a magic circle, with an altar of sorts before him. This was the future. His future, for he could not attend to his wounds. He would be dead before he could stop the bleeding. This was the only way left. The only way out.
The hoop floated slowly off the platform into mid-air. It slowly pulsed with ethereal light as the chant continued, and a flicker, an image of something not of this world appeared within the plane enclosed by the hoop.
Whatever lay beyond it was the only way out. His only other choice was to lie down and die like a dog, believing that he could do nothing else. No... he had to “pray”. The only way out.
The chant continued. The hoop pulsated, and image grew sharper and brighter. Sparks and globes of light streaked and spun around it as the boy's hands guided unseen forces. He brought the chant to a climax, shouting in a language long dead. His hands stopped immediately in front of the levitating, shining hoop, his digits now pulsing with the same light as it. He looked directly into the hoop, looked into the floating circle, and comprehended nothing in there. No matter. It was the only way out. With a desperate scream, he leaned into the hoop, and fell within.
He found himself in a place that can only be described as time and space. Not the space above the skies, nor the time that we experience moving forward like an arrow- this was something entirely else. The boy simply saw everything and nothing.
He looked down at himself, barely aware of his own person as he marveled at eons flying and passing, atoms breaking and embracing, worlds colliding and shattering, probabilities waxing and waning. Here, he did not bleed, nor did he breathe, think, see, hear or act. He merely was. The act of existence was all he could manage within this gargantuan place.
He felt a colossal emptiness within him, as if the very atoms constituting his body fluctuated in and out of existence, and his mind flickered, as if it was the modest flame of a candle swirling in the face of a hurricane. He saw galaxies forming, microbes scurrying, lives and deaths frantically chasing each other like dust in a storm. Civilizations ending, stars burning and bursting, timelines flowing like streamers. It was all so much.
He understood it not. Yet he remembered it all. The winds of the hurricane grew ever stronger, as it finally blew out the little flame and he knew only darkness.
And when he awoke, he remembered it all.
Chapter One
Mark Cizin, 25, dropped his clenched fist soundly onto his damn alarm clock. It did not break this time, much to his chagrin, as the damned noise ended. Might as well get up then, he reasoned. Cizin inched out of bed, fighting his own body for every centimeter of ground that he retreated from his resting place. When finally he broke contact, he ignored his stupid instincts' crying for extended unconsciousness and walked into the bathroom.
“Today is a special day”, he muttered to himself as he shaved and brushed. Yes, today was that special day when he got out of bed, where no one bothered him, drove his ass all the way to work, put up with all kinds of fun shit, went home and then go back to sleep, nothing accomplished, nothing gained except the chance to do it again tomorrow. Yipp-fucking-ee. And it was special because very few people had to put up with this much shit. If there was a Noble Prize for Putting up with Shit, he'd probably have to turn down the stream of prizes eventually to give everyo...
“Shit!”
Cizin interrupted his so very clever witticisms to realize exactly what he had seen on his clock. Eight fifty.
“FUCK!”, he shouted far louder than was necessary. “Fuckitty fucking FUCK!”
Toothbrush still in mouth, he ran back into his bedroom and to his closet to change while he brushed. Today was a mess already. He hastily dressed, grabbed his briefcase, and left a storm of recklessly abandoned hygiene products and pajamas behind him. He ran over to his kitchen, grabbed some cereal and a soda, rushed into his car, and drove off.
It was at this point that he realized . Bus stop was five minutes' walk away, so he actually had five minutes to spare. Half embarrassed, half angry at himself, he went back inside, had a few bites and then actually locked the door on the way out this time (damned if he was going to let a burglary add to his daily misery). Halfway to the bus station, he remembered he forgot to pack the design specs he spent half of last night designing. A mad dash back and forth later, he finally reached the bus station. Great. He was already panting and sweating, and he didn't even start work yet! Cizin saw the bus leaving as he got into position. God fucking dammit. Cizin gave chase, pushing his rather pathetic legs to the limit as the frickin' driver finally noticed his shouting and stopped the bus.
Cizin stewed all the way to work.
As he approached his cubicle, trying his damnedest to appear calm, collected and obviously on time and just coming back from the bathroom or something like that, his boss called his name out loud.
Great, single me out again, he thought, if it fucking makes you feel better, by all means.
“Hey, Mark, you're late... AGAIN.”
“Why, hello, sir, did you want something from me?”
Cizin's would have worn a toothy slasher smile as he said this, simply out of sheer pique, but he valued his ass too much.
“Goddamnit, Mark, late again. Late. Again.”
Why, yes, thank you, so I am. Thank you for stating that multiple goddamn times, as any good and efficient boss would bother to, Cizin thought.
“I don't see any place in this company for the habitually late, except for outside of it.”
My how professional of you, sir, Cizin said to himself, that's just what any flawed employee needs: a good self-esteem beating. I for one, pledge to work harder for a boss who cares enough to abuse me.
Cizin tried his best to remain placid and respectful on the outside as he nodded his agreement. Any sign of irritation would be weakness, a cue for the chihuahua to latch onto his leg and never let go.
“Do you at least have the recommended specs for the Howards job?”
“Yes, I do, sir, right here.”
Cizin hoped to heaven that the documents didn't fall out of the briefcase or something else that showed how much fate urinated on him. To his relief, the Howards docs were where they belonged.
The chihuahua snapped it out of his hands and gave the papers a good death glare, in case they weren't scared enough already. Cizin rolled his eyes.
Fate must have gone dry this time, because his boss simply turned and left with the papers.
Cizin crashed down on his cubicle chair. He rubbed his temples as he braced himself for the annoyances of work. It wasn't that he hated it. It hated him. Cizin stared into space, longing to stab his job repeatedly with a dirty marker. Then, Cizin's brain came down from the adrenaline rush fending off his daily migraine, and the headache quickly overtook the self-loathing. Cizin downed some painkillers and tried to distract himself in the meantime by checking his email. It was merely nine thirty five, and his inbox was already full of co-workers' ANNOYING links to cat videos. Cizin used to love cats. Kind of like his job.
Cizin headbutted his desk, reminding himself that the pain from the impact and from the migraine would at least be small beans compared to what was coming next.
For starters, frickin' management had no idea what was possible. All they knew was that clients said this, and he had to design it. Dammit, computer hardware design was NOT supposed to twist physics. He was not a wave-your-hand-make-good-things-appear-magic-man. If you wanted more room for neon lights to make the product look good, the heat sink should be the last thing to go! Common sense! Not that management listened when he or his team leader told them something was going to be too expensive, or too low-power or too prone to freaking exploding. I bet they were trained to ignore good advice at frickin' business school while all furiously jac-GAH I'M SUPPOSED TO FIT THIS IN THIS DINKY CASE? Cizin slumped in defeat and resigned himself to BS'ing the arrangements to suit the damn clients. Why on Earth weren't people like him in charge?
Most co-workers, aside from Cizin's circle of friends, were of little help. All they could talk about was kids and sports and office politics and drama and constant bitching, including bitching about all of the above. Even Cizin had enough good form to save his whining for people who cared, or at least didn't mind. Cubicle is small and boring. Boss is micromanaging. People won't shut up and let me work in silence. Migraine. Management won't let me do nuts. The freaking aircon still makes that rattling noise while the repair people take their sweet time. And will someone please, PLEASE take a baseball bat to the hacks who made those fucking cat videos? Cizin attacked his desk with a great fury, hoping there would be fewer brain cells left to experience the suffering.
Nine hours of silent suffering and loud idiots later, Cizin took the bus home, relieved and mentally battered. Well, it could be worse, he thought. I should be grateful for any kind of employment in these times. Damned if quitting isn't tempting still.
Once home, Cizin plopped his ass down on his sofa, and gave his brain and body a well-deserved break with TV and ordering out. He fell asleep almost immediately after eating, then woke up again to find it was bedtime already. Grumbling, he cleaned up the mess from his rushed morning and crawled onto his bed, no longer tired, but too sleep-dizzy to be productive. As he lay awake in bed, Cizin waxed, or rather, rambled, philosophical. Was this really all his life amounted to? Sleep, TV and work? Cizin sighed. Even if he had a life, it really wouldn't amount to much in the end. A party here, some clubbing there, all these beautiful people and nothing to see. Sometimes he didn't feel like something was wrong here, like he didn't belong here. Cizin paused for a while, and blinked. Anyways, was this it? Just to stay alive, he had to get bitten in the rat race? Dealing with shallow people in a shallow world, where everything you did came to nothing.
Come on.
That can't be it. No frickin' way. There has to be something else out there. Some way out. If he didn't have to cope with work and fatigue and migraines and chihuahua-assed bosses and all those idiots who called themselves his colleagues, he could really find some way OUT of his rut. Purpose in his life, some fun that wouldn't come back to bite his ass, who knows. Some kind of escape. Something else has to be out there!
At that moment, Cizin, his body wracked by his irregular sleep schedule and general irritation, felt a sudden surge of desire, a mental rebellion against his life's pathetic status quo. He wished with every single synapse in his brain, every single cell in his body, every single thought that he could. Just. Frickin. Live. Some. Other. Way! He wished with all his might and hopes and dreams and...
There came a loud crash from the direction of his kitchen. Cizin hopped out of bed, grabbed his cell phone and opened his bedside drawer to produce a handgun, which he then loaded. It never hurt to take precautions.
As his mind raced to simultaneously find an explanation for the crashing noise and try to reassure himself, he mused his wish might have come true and that the zombie apocalypse has started. At least rotting masses of the overflowing dead wouldn't care how much he slept.
With 911 ready on speed dial, and pistol in hand, Cizin slowly approached the source of the noise, not quite sure what to do.
Please don't be an armed robber or rapist or crazy drug addict or something, please please please...please be only a raccoon or zombie or something... please...
Cizin shut his inner worrier up. This was time to take action.
The moment his finger produced the dial tone, a huge shape lunged at him from the side. Cizin narrowly dodged, as something painful grazed his left hip, and fired off a shot. Cizin was knocked on his posterior. His shot missed, but his adversary was startled enough by the noise to stumble back slightly. In the darkness, Cizin's eyes adjusted enough to determine that the biggest, ugliest, half-naked dude in a loincloth he had ever seen stood in front of him, with a huge weapon of some kind, lifted overhead. In a panic, Cizin fired again at the man's head. The head fell clean off onto Cizin's lap, as the body hit the tiled floor with a sickening splat.
Cizin boggled for a few seconds. He poked at the head, and everything he knew told him it was quite real. The sheer shock and surprise kept him silent and calm. He continued to stare blankly at it.
Another man, shorter and leaner, stepped back from the body, bloody knife in hand. Cizin's mind caught up with him a second later, and he shakily raised his gun and blustered, “Don't move, or, or I'll shoot. I will!”
“Easy there. You have just had a close call. Are you all right?”, came the reply.
Cizin, entirely unsure of what to do, nodded, unaware that the man probably couldn't see him in the dark. The man apparently took the motion for a yes, as he extended an empty hand to Cizin. He helped Cizin up.
“W-w-what's going the hell on?”, Cizin demanded.
“You tell me.”, the man said. “Do you have a light or anything similar?”
Cizin, in a daze, flipped on the lights.
The man flinched at the sudden illumination and quickly re-composed himself. Cizin saw that the man was dark-skinned, and clad in some suit of tanned leather and a cloak. His face was fairly wide, he had a fairly full beard, scruffy graying brunette hair, and he looked quite vigorous and dashing for someone in his early fifties, someone whose face indicated he had been through a lot.
The man extended his other arm, hand vertical, a disarming smile on his face. “My name is Renato. If I am trespassing, I apologize, I am not at all sure why I have appeared here. I have no explanation. I would like to ask where I am.”
The man practically exuded honesty, odd as it was.
“Err... thanks for the save. I'm Cizin. Mark Cizin. You're in my house, and I have no idea why you're here either.”
The man wrinkled his forehead and drooped his eyebrows in confusion.
Cizin's sarcasm took over, for lack of any other available parts of his brain.
“Well, you're sure not in the Renaissance Fair any more.”
“Sorry?”
“You're in Cloudy Springs City. Uh, Texas. In America? The United States of America? On... Earth?”
The man registered no hint of recognition or comprehension.
“Well, you speak pretty good English, so I'm sure you know where the freakin' U. S-”
“English? Is that your language, Sir Cizin?”
Uh oh.
“Yeah, um, you're not speaking English?”
This was becoming more and more surreal. Cizin's brain fizzled and struggled to keep apace with his mouth.
“As far as I know I am speaking in perfect Kelmran, as are you.”
“Uh...you really aren't from around here, are you, Renato?”
This was going to be a long night.
“So, I am on a planet called Earth. Not Amytlei. I am in your house and you have no idea why an ogre showed up in your kitchen. Somehow, you believe that I am speaking your language, and you speak perfect Kelmran to me, for some reason. Also, we both have no idea what just happened here.”
Renato appeared surprisingly composed, despite his clear tone of agitation.
Cizin slowly nodded, no better off than the man adjacent the table. A cool night breeze from an open front door rolled into his face.
With a grunt, Cizin lifted himself from the chair, carefully keeping his injured hip still, and moved over to inspect the damage.
“Damn.” The door had been lifted off the hinges. If the thing that did that had hit him...
“Is there anything else outside?”
Cizin raised his gun, perked his ears and cautiously scanned the world outside. Seemed like another quiet downtown night outside, save for raspy tribal chan-
What on- ?
The smell of fire was thick in the air. Thunder clapped, despite the absence of clouds or light. Cizin could have sworn he heard something... low-pitched.... crunching on raw meat.
Whoa.
The distant chanting was in a voice unlike any other he had heard. Cizin could have sworn a bloody arrow was lodged in a neighbor's fence, barely visible in the night. As he squinted, he saw movement in a nearby bush- a very large shuffle.
Cizin ducked back in.
“I think you've been followed, Renato. We'll ha-”
Cizin turned to look at Renato. The table was empty.
“Goddamnit.”
Cizin, gun at the ready, raised his cell phone and braced himself to address the police operator.
Renato spoke from behind him, “Hm. Do you have any chalk?”
Cizin spun around. Renato crouched, staring intently at the edge of the floor.
It was probably best not to question him.
Cizin produced a marker from a nearby drawer and tossed it. Renato caught and inspected it from various angles.
“You have to pull off the cap.”
Renato did so and began scrawling strange patterns on the intersection between floor and wall.
“Is there any way I can help?”
Cizin shuffled anxiously.
“Yes. Make sure nothing comes in. If it does, be careful and don't trust your eyes.”
Cizin carefully stared at Renato.
“You are still the guy I just met, right?”
Renato grinned, still swiftly scrawling. “Smart. Yes, I'm writing protective runes on the ground. Don't let anything interrupt me.”
Again, probably best not to question.
Cizin carefully took another peek outside. There was nothing moving in the bushes or in the open. He debated the merits of calling the police– dammit, the police were probably useless right now. Get eaten by a dragon or something the moment they show up. Common sense told him that there was a dead body in his kitchen and the police should get involved before this shit spiraled. Something deeper in the back of his mind overrode common sense, though. That didn't bode well.
Cizin stepped over the remains of his front door, changing his pistol to a fresh clip. The night sky practically pulsed with intrigue and impending death. Aware of how vulnerable he was in the open in front of a major light source and night-blind, Cizin's mind immediately cried for the lit, safe indoors , yet he carefully advanced into the night, again against common sense.
Then, a human figure presented itself, hands next to its head. A female voice called out, “I mean no harm. I come in peace.”
A saner Cizin would have rolled his eyes at the cliché. As it was, he readied his gun and replied, “Who are you, and what are doing here?”
The woman replied, “My name's Leah Perditam, of the Paladins. I apologize for intruding upon your domain, good sir, but I have been separated from my team. May I avail myself of shelt-”
“Yes, yes, come in.”
The woman stepped into, the clank of metal armor evident as she walked.
Dark red hair, partially covered in mail plate, with a fairly lithe, athletic physique and a stern, disciplined countenance, she walked forward. Cizin covered her while keeping another eye on his surroundings.
An arrow loudly lodged itself in the ground beside her leg.
“Dammit!” She and Cizin retreated into the house.
Cizin sidestepped behind a wall and peered through a nearby window. Hopefully whatever the hell shot it wasn't a crack shot and didn't hide itself well.
Leah ran into the room, and looked around.
Renato looked up at her, and their eyes met.
“Need help with that?”
“Can yo-”
“Yes. Out of the way.”
With a wave of her hands and an intense look of concentration on her face, Leah did... something. Cizin didn't see anything really happen, yet Renato leapt back with surprise.
“Uh? You can...do that?”
“You can't?”
“No... I do not know anyone who can.”
“Eh. I didn't mess up the etheric foci, right?”
Paul looked back at the runes, now completed and intricately drawn, apparently not entirely by his hand.
“It should hold out whatever's out there, or at least give us warning.”
“Excellent. Leah Perditam of the Paladins. Pleased to meet you mister...”
“Renato. Paul Renato. Paladins? Am I still in 651 AN?”
“Six what?”
“Ask him. This is Marcus Cizin of Earth, and the owner of this house.”
“Mister Cizin, where or when am I?”
Cizin's mouth reacted automatically.
“Cloudy Springs City, Texas, the year Two Thousand A.D.”
“What.”
“I don't know what that means either!”, Paul Renato exclaimed.
Cizin interjected, “Guys. Are we safe now from whatever is outside? I mean, really safe. The door's still open and we're sitting ducks right now. I'm pretty sure I don't want to get eaten by a dragon.”
“These are Gleem Azwal's Fortunate Shielding Runes, Mister Cizin. If they don't hold, we have a big problem on our hands.”, replied Paul Renato.
Cizin looked at Leah, who merely nodded assent.
“Okay. You are both apparently from another dimension or world or something. We don't have magic here, we don't have dragons or demons or wizards or shit. Some things are outside, and they're stuff that doesn't exist in this world, from what I can tell. I would shrug this all off as a stress-induced hallucination or some shit, but I'm not this imaginative. I have no idea why you are both here, but we are REALLY not used to having visitors from other worlds here on Planet Earth.”
Cizin realized he just ran his mouth without thinking, as Leah stared in shock.
“Another world?”
Paul sighed and hung his head. “Yes.”
“Oh, oh oh oh okay. Uh...I have to find my team. They're probably-”
“Save it. I am not going the hell out there, Leah. Dragons aren't my thing, especially their digestive systems.”
“He is right, Leah. I am not sure if you are familiar with the effects of these runes, but they should provide adequate protections and we can always get to work on third or fourth reinforcements. Forsaking their protection for running blind outside would be a less than ideal trade.”
Leah sighed in resignation.
“Alright.”
Cizin's mind was just starting to see the finish line where his mouth stood, but it was hardly there yet.
“Anyone hungry?”
They both stared evenly at him, as he remained barely aware of his speech.
“I've got some leftovers, and... stuff”
Paul shrugged. “Might as well. Give me a few minutes to finish reinforcing the protections.”
“Oh god, you guys are like straight from a novel. Hey maybe it's like that one book where reading a story book made the characters jump out or something.”
Cizin continued to run his mouth with small talk as he tried to remain composed and stoic. He pulled his leftovers out of the fridge, and set them on the table.
Leah ignored him and after examining the pizza, ate slowly.
It was at this point that the part of the brain that controlled Cizin's eyes snapped back into reality.
Leah was about his age, red headed with a pointed chin, tall face, shoulder-length loose hair, and a nose a tad too soft for someone looking so soldier-like, but her expression was hardened and carefully calculating. She had a sheathed shortsword on her hip, and a small bag strapped to one arm, nothing else on her person. She was rather cute for someone with the small, grim frown of a tough army inspector. Cizin didn't get any real sense of distrust out of Leah, but there was a very silent distance to her, a mild but habitual standoffishness coming from her.
Paul was dirty, had bags under his eyes and his leather armor (or clothing) was quite roughed up, but some great form of discipline kept his body language from appearing the part. Cizin couldn't tell what he carried, as a tattered cloak hid Paul's sides and back, but as the cloak bulged nowhere, it couldn't have been much, either.
Paul joined them at the table, and dug into the pizza without hesitation.
Cizin's mind cursed and panted after his mouth like a late man after his bus.
“Hey, wait you are human, right, Leah? It's not an illusion or anything?”
Paul stifled laughter.
Leah raised an eyebrow. Fortunately, her mind must have been busy as well, as she simply replied in the positive and continued to eat. Her eyes went to her surroundings, unsure of what to think about the unfamiliar furniture and devices in the small room.
Cizin's mind finally reached him.
I'm... sitting... with people... who wouldn't be out of place in Dungeons and Dragons. Any edition. There are probably fucking dragons outside, and magic runes adorning my house which I have been assured can keep anything out. This is all happening in Cloudy Springs on a late, cloudless Wednesday night. I have work tomorrow. There are people in my house from another dimension or something. I just ate with them. I had a fight with an ogre. There is a dead guy on the kitchen floor. The police haven't shown up. I just saw fucking magic being done. Fucking magic. With runes and all! Magic. Dragons. Ogre. Dead ogre. Knives. Plate mail. Dammit.
Cizin grabbed at his head and grunted-screamed “AGGGGGGHH.”
Evidently, Leah had the same thoughts as well, and buried her head in her arms and let out a loud muffled agreement with Cizin's argument.
Cizin continued his eloquent, monosyllabic rhetoric.
Leah followed in perfectly harmonic counterpoint to Cizin.
“AGGGGHHHH!”
“MMMMMMMFH!”
“AAAAAAGGGHH!”
“MMMMMFFFHH.”
Paul put his hand on his forehead and sighed.
“Um, hello, Boss? Sir?”
“It's one A.M., Cizin. This better be good.”
“Boss, I need to take the next two days off. Something big has come up. I really need time to take care of it.”
Fate must have not have had anything to drink for a while, as Cizin's boss raised no argument.
“Alright. This had better not be any shenanigans to have the rest of the week away. I expect you'll come in to the office with the next batch on Saturday?”
“*sigh* Yes, of course, sir”
“Good.”
Slave-driving fuck. Oh well. Bigger concerns.
Cizin slumped back in his chair. Paul was keeping guard by the window. Leah remained where she was, head in arms. Cizin waded into oblivion.
Chapter Two
He awoke to find Paul dozing in a corner and Leah sitting with her head still buried in her arms.
Not a dream.
Cizin's first act of the day was to run over to the bed room, and dig around in his bedside drawer for a pack of smokes and a lighter.
It was early morning, the air as sleepy as those who breathed it. Cizin inhaled deeply, cigarette in teeth. He looked into the mirror and checked for injuries.
Cizin was a skinny, bitter-looking young man. Lean, fairly tall, with an unremarkable musculature. His hair was a dark walnut brunette, fairly short. Only the barest of stubble framed his face- Cizin was not a beard man. The mild scowl on his face enclosed the cigarette that he often had in it. He possessed a penetrating stare, although not in a particularly intimidating or wise-seeming way.
Aside from a faint bruise on his hip, and a small spot where he had chewed his lip earlier, Cizin believed he was in fairly good condition.
Cizin walked back into the kitchen and warily glanced outside. All was calmed, or so it seemed. Paul Renato woke up with a silent yawn and quickly sprung to his feet. He must be a light sleeper.
“Good morning.”
“...Morning, Paul.”
“Miss Leah, wake up.”
Leah snorted, then very slowly raised her head, looking up at nothing in particular.
“Ugh.”
She stretched and got up.
“Okay, let's assume, people, that it's not quite safe to go outside yet. First things first. I'd like my door fixed. Can you fix it or something?”
Paul, leaning on a wall, nodded silently.
Leah pondered, hand on chin.
“Okay, take that as a yes. Second thing. As far as I know, you probably teleported here or something. I don't know. I would guess magic, or something, or this is a very elaborate joke or severe case of mental illness we are dealing with here. *Ahem* so, I don't think we'll find out how this happened for a while. Describe what you were doing when you showed up here.”
“I was investigating a local cult with a crack team of Paladins. It was a routine assignment, and as far as I know, we were entering the building when I felt the oddest sensation. Then, I woke up in some shrubbery. After I got up, I wandered around, looking for someone to ask, and then I saw you and your house...”
“Right. Paul?”
Paul shrugged. “I do not know. I was ambushed by bandits. Then I found myself right in front of your abode.”
“I take it bandits and cults don't usually teleport you away?”
“No.”, they both replied.
“Right... um... is it possible that you get sent here when you die?”
Paul and Leah's eyes widened.
“Impossible. I felt energies at work entirely unlike battle magic, and it wasn't painful like a wound would be!”, Leah protested.
Paul slowly nodded.
“Well, I guess we're shit out of luck to find a way to get you back.... I guess you'll have to fit in Earth here in the meantime. I don't mind you staying here, although I'm not sure how long I can handle...”
As Cizin spoke, Paul promptly produced a pouch and dropped a good-sized pile of yellowish coins onto his palm.
“Tell me, is gold worth anything here?”
Cizin raised an eyebrow.
Reading Cizin's face, Paul continued, “Alright, I suppose this will more than pay for my stay here, as well as Miss Perditam's. I do not wish to impose.”
Leah blushed slightly.
Cizin looked at Leah. She said, “Enchanted stone isn't worth much in a world without magic, I suppose.”
“That's fine. I'll take what I need from you, Paul. Hold onto the rest.”
Cizin picked up a few gold coins. He gulped. It could have been what he made in a week. So much money... but it wasn't his money. He had to use it responsibly.
He bit on the coin. It bent a little. He wasn't sure at all if it was real gold, but at least it wasn't an obvious fake. He put the coins in his wallet to exchange later.
“Alright. After you guys magic my door together and we dispose of the dead ogre-guy-thing I've forgotten about, I'll get you started on Earth life one oh one.”
Some convenient magicking later, Cizin inspected the re-assembled door as Paul finished disintegrating the body.
Leah flicked her armored hands.
“What's wrong?”
“There's so little aether here. So thin. How do you manage it?”
“What?”
“Aether. What magic is made of. There's barely any magic here.”
“We have technology and devices and science to take care of our needs.”
“Technology without magic? How?”
“Eh, we use electricity.”
“Electricity. Without magic.”
“Yes. It is possible, thank you very much.”
Cizin braced himself for explaining modern life to someone with scientific beliefs like the average fundamentalist and winced a bit inside.
“...and that is why everyone is a dumbshit on the internet.”
Leah and Paul took notes with pen and paper in text that Cizin didn't recognize, unsurprisingly. They did write in languages clearly different from each other's.
What was surprising was that they could read just fine in English, when he read from a manual, it seemed they could read too.
“So, try not to touch anyone unless they're good friends or family or you really need their attention. People don't take kindly to getting too close unless you know them well.”
Fortunately, they seemed to quickly pick up the social customs.
About three hours of lecture and some leftover casseroles for breakfast later, Paul stared through the kitchen window.
“There is something close to us.”
“What?”
“I hear someone moving outside.”
“Oookay.... mister wizard. Do you think it's safe to go outside?”
“Probably.”
Cizin, gun in hip holster, gingerly ventured outside with Paul, while Leah watched over them from inside the house. All was calm. A few cars drove by, not slowing down to notice the dark old man in leather armor and a cloak standing by a normal person.
“So, over here?”
Cizin pointed to the bushes on the side of his small front lawn.
“Yeah.”
Cizin trudged through the thick bushes when he accidentally kicked something.
“Whoa.”
“Urgh.” A very tall, black-haired girl in her late teens or early twenties lay on the bushes.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Cizin looming over her.
“Wha- where am I? What-?”
The girl wore a black-and-white T-shirt and long khaki pants.
“Last night was the best goddamn party EVER, that's what.”
Paul elbowed Cizin.
“Ow... alright, I have no idea what the hell you're doing here either.”
“... Am I sleeping in bushes? What the-?”
“Come on, let's get you up.”
After helping the girl up, Cizin inspected her. She didn't seem to be hurt or even roughed up, even though she had slept on some uncomfortable branches. She had very long, black hair, with a veil of hair covering nearly all of the left side of her face, wide violet-blue eyes, a round chin, and rather pale skin. She was also half a head taller than Cizin. Cizin considered her not particularly attractive, but there was some kind of unusual perfection to her face. Something off. Not in a threatening way, but it was still there. Her expression was innocent and blank.
After they brought her indoors, Leah decided to handle the questioning.
“So, you don't know why you're here?”
“No...”
She clutched her head in distress.
“I don't know... what happened?”
“Do you know at least your name?”
“I... uh... A- A-... A-”
“I'm sorry?”
“Ah-...Ah-...”
She struggled to form the word.
“A-... My name is A...Abi...gail. Abigail.”
She was no less confused than everyone else.
Further questioning revealed little. Apparently, she was an Earthling like Cizin, or at least familiar with Earth, but other than that, she didn't seem to know anything.
“Magic?! What?”
“It's a long story.”
After the others updated her, she swallowed the facts without much question, clearly desperate for anything to understand her situation. She twisted uncomfortably in her chair.
“So... what happened to you?”, Cizin asked.
“Abigail, do you mind if the three of us talk in private?”, Leah asked.
Abby nodded.
“So, what's her deal?”
“Cizin, she's obviously an amnesiac. I'm pretty sure she isn't faking it.”, Leah replied.
“Yeah, but why is she amnesiac?”
“Well, either something, a monster or something, erased her memory. Either through magic or trauma. That, or she is one, in human form, trying to lure us in.”
“She doesn't seem traumatized to me. More confused. And she's clearly from here. She knows what I'm talking about and she says she speaks English. Can't be a monster.”
“Yeah. Alright.”
“Can't you magically scan her brain or something?”
“Cizin, magic doesn't work like that, and even if it did, I'm not qualified for that kind of thing. I do know she is as magical as you, which is to say, not magical.”
“Yay. First I get dark, old and mysterious, then I get miss death-stare paladin, that's you in case you didn't get it, and now I get tall, dark and mysterious little girl. And you all teleported here or some shit and brought magicky-ness with you. I need another freakin' smoke.”
Leah frowned. Frowned more, at least. “Hey, where's Paul?”
Chapter Three
Paul hurried back into the house. Abby got up, and walked after him.
“Um... mister, uh, Paul, where are you going?”
“Abby, bring the others in. Now!”
Abby walked back outside.
“Paul says to get back inside now.”
As they entered the house, they found Paul kneeled on the floor with his hands on the floor's marker-ed glyphs, in a state of intense focus. The air around him distorted visibly, much like hot air.
Cizin started to ask, but then Leah spoke.
“Something coming?”
Paul, without looking up, replied through clenched teeth, “Leah, I'm gonna need some help here!”
Leah immediately assumed the same pose as Paul, knees to the floor, hands on glyphs.
Cizin, unsure of what to make of their posing, stood back and nervously looked outside for any sign of trouble.
Minutes passed. Cizin felt a sense of incoming dread, true dread, something he had not felt in a long time. It was a sort of dread different from before an exam you did not study for or after remembering you left the gas on or forgot to lock the front door. No, it was the kind of dread you felt as death was coming. Slow. Inexorably. Horribly and messily. Alone an...
Cizin's mind whipped back to the present situation.
Something made a “thump”, a loud, low pulse. Despite this, Cizin heard and felt nothing. Another “thump.” It was not a sound or sensation, but it echoed in his mind nonetheless. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Next to Cizin, Abby whimpered slightly.
Cizin looked around for the source of the... “noise”. He noticed that Leah and Paul shivered slightly with every thump. It may have been his imagination, but the view outside gradually grew darker as the thumping continued.
There was a very low, very silent growl, another noise that did not have sound in it.
Cizin would have readied his gun, but he somehow... felt he couldn't.
The thumping continued for minutes, finally growing softer and softer. The noises faded away.
“What was that?”
Cizin blinked as he heard this and realized he was hiding under the table, arms over hands. He scrambled out and got up in as dignified a manner as possible.
Abby was already standing and looked expectantly at Paul, hoping for an answer to her query.
Paul brushed his shoulders off as he stood, and looked grimly into Abby's eyes.
“That... was something called a shade.”
“A what? A ghost or something?”, Abby replied.
“It makes ghosts. I'd rather not introduce you as to what it is. It is not entirely understood and you are best not knowing until later. But I do know that we are very unlucky to have one near us, much less attacking us.”
“So... the magic marker kept it out?”, Abby asked.
Cizin silently frowned at “magic marker.”
“Yes, you could say that. Leah and I had to reinforce the barriers however. The Fortunate Shielding spell diverts attention. That doesn't work as well on creatures without minds, like a shade. ”
Cizin looked at Leah. She hunched over, pale, and...drained, for lack of a better word. Not tired or exhausted. Drained. He didn't feel so good himself, as if he had locked himself in a small room for a few weeks. He wondered how Paul and Abby could talk like this after the shock. Right now, he just wanted to curl up in bed for a few days, and he was pretty sure Leah felt that way, too.
“So... what does that, er, spell do?”
“It reduces one's desire to cross the barrier that the sigils form.”
“Will that thing return?”
“Possibly. I do not know what it wanted. It probably wanted to devour our souls, but I believe other people's souls would also work in a pinch. So, it will probably distract itself with someone else.”
Abby gulped.
“Shouldn't we... you know... stop it? It's going to hurt someone!”
Leah spoke up. “There must have been other people who came in with us, if a shade could appear so suddenly. Normally, they stick to haunting a specific area and only that area. It must have been brought here, and someone else better qualified to handle it should show up, too.”
“But t-”
“Abby. Listen to me. Either we can add to its body count, or we can survive minding our business.”, Leah continued.
“Who said we were going to go around playing hero now?” Cizin blurted, as he struggled for the energy to speak.
Paul said, “I believe we have a resp-”
“Well, I'm sorry, Paul, I have a responsibility to myself. Don't die. I think that's pretty reasonable. If you guys go off and die, I'm going to have a problem against it takes magic to fend off. And I'm pretty sure you won't be very happy either, getting your souls eaten or taking a nap in a dragon's colon.”
Seeing the upset looks from Paul and Abby, Cizin sighed and continued.
“Let me explain. This is not some cozy medieval town where you can go exploring on wacky adventures and kill demons and shit. This is a place where if you walk around with even a knife, you will get into big trouble with the authorities, and believe me, our town guards are much more dangerous than your town guards. Now, I have little idea what you 'adventurers' get up to, it's probably saving kittens from trees or stabbing dragons or shit, but here, we do NOT goddamn kill things all the time. This is a civilized place...”
Cizin paused to consider, as he realized this was Texas he was talking about.
“...My point is, I know better than you how this world works. I say going out and pulling stunts like getting eaten by a dragon or killed by a shade are both hazardous AND illegal. No reason to try it. Got that?”
Abby nodded after some hesitation.
Paul sighed, hand on forehead and nodded.
Leah looked at Cizin in stern agreement.
“...And as much as I would LOVE to have wacky hijinks fighting spirits with a giant sword and magic finger gun, or doing back-flips while staking vampires, I have a job! And it's called a JOB because I need the money. I am not going to get fired for falling behind and being seen outside fighting monsters, and even if money is not a concern, the police are going to be looking for suspicious activity, like someone suddenly quitting their job! Have you ever thought of that? Yes. Law enforcement probably figured something was up, with the fire and lightning and arrows and shit last night all over. I mean, I enjoy laying open orcs with a sword as much as the next guy, but I can't really do that if I'm dead, now can I!”
Now spent from his rant, Cizin abruptly sat down hard on his chair, face flushed yet still pale around the edges.
Abby looked at Cizin and spoke.
“I know, but we can't leave innocent people out there to die! That's-”
“Enough.”
Paul stood up, making gentle eye contact with all involved. He continued speaking in a soft voice:
“Abby, my understanding, from what Cizin has said, is that there is little we can do to finish off an opponent that we can barely fend off. Let Leah and I adjust to this place, and then we can consider gathering our available resources to better fight. I'm sure it would please all involved, as we will later have the option of disassociating with mister Cizin so he may enjoy his neighbors' random deaths in peace. But for now, we must cope. Do you understand, Abby?”
Abby's unease was clear in her folded lips. “Yes.”
Cizin stood back up. “I just want you guys to stay down for the duration of your 'adventure' here. We can't risk our necks for some silly monster-stabbing playtime.”
About to see Paul respond less-than-favorably, Cizin interrupted, “But I'm sure we can find some way to make it work out eventually or whatnot. For now, first things have to come first, as we can all agree.”
“But-”, Abby interjected.
“You don't count.” said Cizin.
“Aww.”
No one pushed it further, so Cizin took out a pencil and paper as he collected his thoughts.
“Okay, I think it's best that we make a list of what needs to get done. There's just too much to handle here First, we'll have to make sure bad things don't come into the house and brutally murder us all on the spot. I'd say that's pretty important right now. Second, we have to get you two accustomed to Earth. Abby can help with that, by keeping watch outside and, uh, guest-lecturing. Third, we need to figure out who the hell Abby is, if we can. Fourth, new clothes. For all of you. Fifth, we need to scout out the situation and see if we can find out more about what happened here. Sixth, I need to attend to my job. Seventh, we have to balance our time between all of these things, all while keeping you people safe and hidden, or at least inconspicuous. Eighth, now that I think about it... I'm going to need more gold, Paul. For the smokes I'm going to have to burn through.”
Paul nodded sympathetically.
Cizin inhaled deeply into his cigarette, and shuddered slightly.
“Oh yeah, and I just realized that I don't know enough about you people. Sorry if I'm acting paranoid, but I want to know a little more about who you two are before putting my life and job on the line.”
“No, that is fine. Let me start. I am Paul Renato, professional wanderer and explorer, no longer particularly active in either, but I was still wandering before I came here. I hail from the Kelm empire in the realm of Amytlei, I suppose- no particular region. I could rattle off a long list of formal achievements in the finest Kelm tradition, but most of them are trivial and you wouldn't recognize the ones that are not. ”
Paul sat down.
Cizin thought: Note to self: Probably a former assassin. Cloak plus old man plus knives plus vague,humble and short response equals he did something violent he doesn't want to talk about. Must be an awesome old guy. That or he's some kind of outlaw. Either way, remind self not to get too attached to potential mentor figure due to future risks.
“Huh. Well, my full name is Leakaorarane Perditam, but no one calls me that, for obvious reasons. I have no idea what my parents were thinking either. So, I go by Leah. I used to live in the city of Felzper, in the nation of Nort Minas, and whole planet is called Ketegam... I have no idea where 'Amitlee' is, but anyways, I'm a member of the local Paladins and a practicing white magician. Partially self-educated, partially taught at the Paladin's Academy. I, uh, grew up in a city named Corandon, and haven't really done anything famous yet, as I'm pretty new to peace-keeping.”
Leah wrung her hands a bit.
“Really not sure why I'm now here. Kind of crazy how I got here on a routine raid... Goddamn cultists. So, yeah, that's me.”
Note to self: Talks slightly too much. Remember to make fun of long name. Also, Latin-ish country name...Roman, somehow? Also, Paladin? Be sure to ask what kind of paladin. Doesn't seem stupid lawful... yet.
Cizin finished taking notes.
“Alright. Back to Earth 101.”
“So, wait, the power company *supplies* power, but the fire department *fights* fires. And gas stations give you gas, and the gas company gives you gas too? But why would you want to go to the gas station if you have it at home?”
“Leah, yes, don't ask me why they named it that way, and those are two different kinds of gas. Natural gas and gasoline. One's for our vehicles, the other is for burning. I mean, they both burn, but one burns for heat and the other burns for movement and... agh... let's just say one's heat and one's for powering transportation.”
“But doesn't power produce heat?”
“...”
Cizin obviously was not meant to be a teacher, or else he'd have been dealing with idiotic students instead of idiotic coworkers.
He haphazardly supplied Paul and Leah information as it came to the surface of his thoughts, with the occasional addition or agreement coming from Abby. He had to backtrack and correct himself or answer questions many times because of “common” knowledge he wrongly took for granted, or elementary social differences that he didn't bother to consider. He often struggled to think of the next thing to show and explain. And he had a hard time properly conveying social values to these medieval-ish folk, such as gender issues, modern news media, and so on.
Cizin suddenly appreciated his former teachers and professors much more.
“Wait, so depictions of gruesome violence are okay, but nudity is icky here? How the hell does that even work? Murder is okay, whoopee is not?”
“Mister Cizin, this 'political correctness'... why must we refrain from using these slang words for people that they themselves may freely use? Must they not treat all instances of such words equally? Or are these magical words that only work for them and have a good chance of ending the world in fire and ice if used by others?”
Cizin's only response was grimacing, grabbing his forehead and shifting his weight towards Abby. It turned out Abby, too, failed to coherently answer.
Cizin sighed. “I don't know, guys... Let's take a break.”
Cizin emptied his fridge of all items immediately edible and dumped it all on the table. He looked at the roads outside. Probably not completely safe out. Shopping could wait.
As he ate, he sat with Abby by his side.
“So, Abby, what's with those...er, bangs of yours?”
“Huh?”
“You've got a friggin' curtain of hair hiding your face. Got something to hide?”
“No...”
“Hey, you've got some chili on your shirt.”
“What?”
Abby looked down.
Cizin immediately grabbed and lifted her bangs.
There was more hair behind the hair. It was apparently a very thick blanket of hair. Weird.
“Hey!”
“Sorry about that... but in order to trust you, Abby, you can't be hiding a dark secret or some kind of that shit under that hair. Or at least I should know about it.”
“*sigh* I don't think there's anything.”
Abby lifted her bangs to show the half of her face. The second blue eye stared into his quite worriedly.
“No scars, no tattoos, no sinister mismatched eye. Alright, Abby, you're not obviously evil. Congrats.”
Then came a long, awkward silence while they both ate.
“So...uh...yeah, it's kind of hard to tell them about Earth, huh?”
“Yep. Abby, I think we need to think like teachers now, ... we need lesson plans.”
“Yeah...”
Cizin noticed Abby was practically annihilating a pot of chili. Lying unconscious in the bushes all night and then some must make one quite hungry. He went to fetch his laptop. Time for some research. Alright, let's look up missing reports of locals... Okay, no one matching Abby's description there. Maybe the next county over?... Nope. State?... Wow, that's pretty damn depressing.... okay, narrow it down. Search filters...a few maybes, nothing about that friggin' hair shield or really long hair. Probably should wait until more reports from yesterday come in.
Well, let's see what the Internet says about teaching someone a new culture...surprisingly unhelpful... I don't have even one hour to narrow these searches and browse through technical papers. Looks like time to improvise. *sigh* Says normally this kind of adjustment takes months. Yippee.
Okay, so, item number three, find out who Abby is, should be delayed until later. Items four, five, and six- clothes, investigation and work- can wait until Saturday. Can probably shove item three in Saturday, too. Item eight can wait. Items one and two, safety and acclimation, are the most important right now. I guess item seven, keeping cover, will tag along for the ride.
Cizin hastily penciled an outline of topics to cover and shared it with Abby, starting with the obvious: first aid, phone calls (especially emergency numbers), basic economics, civics, basic socialization and how houses worked. He couldn't help but feel it was a less-than-ideal list of things to start with, but
To their credit, Paul and Leah picked up rather quickly for strangers in a strange land. Cizin couldn't help but feel silly as they occasionally picked apart a social norm or he stumbled to properly explain an arbitrary custom. He sharply reminded himself that Leah and Paul were not here for sociology lessons, only how to get along in the meantime.
Abby was a less than ideal teacher's assistant, always needing prompts from Cizin. To be fair, he thought, she has no idea who she is or where she's from, which does kind of suck.
The lessons continued into the night. Cizin's voice began to give out, so he decided to call it a day. He then realized that the fridge was completely empty, and he was already hungry from the day's exertions. “Well, I suppose one guy's leftovers and frozen food isn't anywhere enough to sustain four people at once. Normally, I'd have to go shopping and risk getting murderized or whatever by that shade or whatever. But you're damn lucky I'm not just any normal schmuck.”
Cizin opened a tiny combination lock on a cupboard and pulled it wide open. The cupboard was packed with tins, sacks, cans and a can opener. A double-barreled shotgun leaned against the pile of food, and a print-out taped to the wall depicted the proper ways to dispose of zombies.
“Yeah. Well, none of you are zombies right? Because half of this is for humans and half of this for zombies. Haha.”
Seeing the lame attempt at a joke fly far over three heads, Cizin sighed and started carrying cans over to the table.
Everyone ate well, at least as well as those with canned food could. The table was silent, as all four sat in deep thought, contemplating their situation. As they finished eating, cleaning up and checking on their magical and mundane safety measures (at Cizin's insistence), they wordlessly headed for bed, Cizin on his couch, Leah and Abby on Cizin's bed, and Paul in Cizin's sleeping bag. Cizin reflected on this rather surreal day as he drifted off to sleep. It sucked to be unable to tell anyone about this.
Chapter Four
Cizin woke up with his vocal chords sore, but thankfully still working. Slowly shaking off the morning's fatigue, he sat up and got his bearings.
Now that I've mulled it over, I don't think I can just tell Leah and Paul what Earth is like. They'll have to step outside for themselves. I can prepare them for that, first, though. Hope it's not too much of a shock. Baby steps now.
Breakfast came in cans, as expected. Damn, Abby tore into it. Paul and Leah ate in their usual contemplative silence. Cizin wasn't feeling too hungry, seeing as how he was eating part of a stash intended for the end of civilization. Cars still rolled past outside, so it was safe to say the “magical night” wasn't too disruptive. Now that he thought of it...there weren't any police sirens that night or after. Maybe something bad happened to the cops? No... there would be a breakdown of society or something. Cizin recalled what he saw on the internet. There was nothing special on local news sources, and if there was something big that escaped his notice, his co-workers and friends surely would have digitally pestered him about it.
Either that, or someone's covering this up. Doubt it, though. Absent mind-wiping lasers from guys in suits, all that fire-and-lightning commotion should have turned up on the news...
Unless something magical hid it. Could well be the case. Remember to ask Leah about this. Somehow, I think she knows more than Paul about magic stuff.
Hm...in either case better get the situation on control as soon as possible before I have to go to work on Saturday. Will have to expose Leah and Paul to the real world probably later today. Can squeeze in shopping, supplies, and other things. Geez, look at Abby eat. Well, I'd rather save the cans for when I need 'em.
Time... nine o clock AM. Huh. I'm still wired to be a good little drone. Well, all the better to get things done before I have to collapse again.
Cizin began the lessons, thoroughly expounding on modern life and its complexities and requirements. He decided to cut it short at around noon.
“Okay, guys, it should be good to go outside. I can't really tell you everything, so I might as well show you. Time for a field trip. You're going to see the world outside. I don't think you'll be ready, but the sooner we get ready, the better. Hopefully we won't encounter anything from your world. If we do, I have you guys to save my ass from magic stuff, I guess.”
“That's very reassuring.”, Leah replied.
Cizin ignored her.
“Now, I'm assuming the more bad stuff comes out at night, so we'll have to leave early. I'm personally packing first aid, supplies and a spare cell phone. If you have any requests for things to bring, tell me now.
“VERY reassuring, Cizin.”
“If you get your immortal soul torn out by a shade or your guts torn out by a dragon, though, I'm going to be heading in the other way at full speed, though, so keep that in mind. Don't get lost if that happens.”
“Light sources, cutlery, and religious symbols, if you have any.”
“You're sure this is a religious symbol?”
Leah pointed to the team jersey on her back as the four walked to the bus station
“Absolutely. Some people will eagerly assault strangers over affiliation, and many key figures have legions of obedient fans and huge monuments built for them. No worries. I'm not much of a believer, though.”
“....okay?”
Paul wore one of Cizin's spare coats. He rapidly scanned the environment as if there were bullets flying about. Cizin could feel Paul's anxiety from within Paul's attempt at a cool demeanor.
“Alright. Act like you belong here. Except for you Abby, act like you know who you are. Uh... do assume the worst. People will talk weird, they will dress weird, you will see horrible, strange things that you have never seen before. Don't worry. You can't get hurt unless you really make a scene. Remember to act casual and imitate other people if you can. I'll explain things when convenient.”, Cizin explained.
Paul responded, “I'm beginning to share Leah's feelings of reassurance.”
Cizin thought again. “Alright, just act casual. Remember to be polite and think twice about overreacting or doing stuff you're used to.”
Abby wasn't much better off, either. Though the landscape was not as alien to her as it was to the outsiders, it was still unfamiliar. She practically clung to the others.
The walk to Cizin's garage was fortunately short.
Cizin didn't believe in driving to work. He considered himself a pretty bad driver, and he'd rather put up with the idiots on the bus than with idiots on the road. He could read something on the way and didn't have to worry about fender-benders. he car was beat-up and small anyways. It barely held the four people currently inside it, and the only thing keeping him from junking the car and getting a new one was expenses. Fun stuff. Still, right now it was best that he have access to as many areas as possible, since he was combining a lot of errands on this trip.
The car's occupants shared a lot of tension. Paul and Leah stared outside, evidently trying to figure as much about the world outside as they could before they had to step outside. Abby desperately looked for anything familiar about the environment. Cizin focused on the road, afraid of the others distracting him somehow and causing an accident.
“Don't distract me, guys. This takes focus.”
At least for me. Fucking idiot, get off the cell phone, he thought at a careless driver. Odd how Cizin could worry about small things when he had so much else on his mind.
They first stopped by a jewelry dealer. Cizin walked in with Paul's gold coins. He walked out with an unaccustomed fat wallet. The others nervously looked at the streets through the car windows.
Next stop was the mall. Cizin opened the car doors, and Paul, Abby and Leah emerged into their new world.
They followed Cizin's lead as Cizin walked indoors. Cizin, keeping his face as stiff and natural as possible (not realizing how both at once combined to give “mildly constipated”) made a beeline for a clothing shop, the others following. He reached out and haphazardly grabbed some shirts, coats and pants that he thought might fit the other three, and walked towards the changing room. Only then did he think to turn around and check to see if they were still there.
Whew.
Cizin realized how distracted he was right now. He just barely managed to function, because of his concern that Leah or Paul would stick out or do something embarrassing. They instead carried expressions of active but restrained amusement, like tourists in a foreign land, only much more subdued.
Of course. They won't freak out because of modern technology and fashion and norms. It's like being in another country to them, because they're used to magic and shades and dragons and shit. This won't scare them. I may have played up how different this place is. I mean, people are people, after all. Doh.
Relieved and embarrassed, Cizin shoved some ladies' clothes in Leah's arms and shoved her into the ladies' changing rooms.
She looked confusedly at him.
He stared back.
“Oh. Yeah, you're supposed to try on the clothes before we buy them. Give me the ones that don't fit or that you don't like.”
Cizin scratched his head. He was assuming too much again.
Cizin gave Paul and Abby their clothes.
He waited outside. Abby walked out, and handed a bunch of clothes back to Cizin.
Paul and Leah walked soon after, and did the same.
As they were walking to the register, Abby then whispered to him, “Wait, what about underwear and stuff?”
Oh. ... this might be awkward.
A half hour more than expected later- partly because Leah insisted on browsing through the store despite having little idea what was appropriate- they regrouped back in the car.
“Alright, we're going to the supermarket. It's where they sell food and stuff. I shouldn't have to tell you this, but let me do all the talking. And don't touch it before asking me.”
Cizin penciled off the lists. He had put off buying most of his emergency supplies until now. So, storm matches, emergency water, fresh food (lots of it), flashlights (multiple), kerosene, first aid supplies...
Paul, Abby and Leah for the most part followed him unobtrusively.
They returned home shortly after, Cizin immensely relieved at the complete lack of incident and near-lack of awkwardness. He got what he wanted, they got a sneak peek at the world outside, and no one died on the way back from shopping.
That's not something you think everyday.
“So, what did you all think of Cloudy Springs?”
“Cloudy what?”
“The city outside.”
“Oh. It was nice, I suppose. Everything looked weird and the people talk funny, but that's to be expected, I guess.”
“Paul, how about you?”
“Hm? Oh, I cannot pass judgment with what little I know of your world. I did observe much, of course. It was educational.”
“Oh, goody. So, Abby, I take it you didn't find it familiar?”
“Sorry.”
“It's all right. Alright, everyone, you might want to take a break while I look up how to cook for four.”
Cizin' mind wandered as he copy-pasted recipes off the web.
Hm. This is all really weird. Not that it happened, that's weird of course, but everything's so... convenient. Every one of them can communicate just fine in English, apparently. They know magic, and can use it well. N Another is decidedly loaded, and generous with his cash. The third is from around here and so can assist me with helping the outsiders. The house is magically guarded, somewhat at least, and now well-stocked. They're coping well with the world outside. Besides the shade, no monsters have showed up either outside or at home. Society at large seems oblivious enough to this all... It's all going my way, which means it's about to get a whole lot worse. Probably have some giant monster attack the city and we have to find a way to kill it through the power of friendship or some shit, while keeping up the illusion of normalcy. Or cultists abduct one of us or some crazy shit that will provide some lead into how this all started, and I'll have no choice but to enter a big goddamn conspiracy of some sort. It has to be conspiracy- it's just too convenient to be random. God damn it.
Best find a way to cope, then.
With that thought, Cizin shut his laptop and walked over to where Leah was doodling weird runes on paper. Paul slept in his chair (or was he trying to sleep? Hard to tell with old guys sometimes), and Abby had asked to use the internet after he was done, so she could try to get a clue of who she was.
“So, Leah, can you teach me magic?”
“It's not easy, Cizin. I think I can show you the ropes, but there will be...unusual obstacles for you.”
“Great, I'm sure I'll have a fucking apropos lightning scar after this is over, so I'm game.”
“I don't use lightning magic and you won't hurt yourself if you use common sense.”
“It was a j- aw, forget it.”
“I'm absolutely laughing on the inside. Alright, so you seem to have some sort of preconceived idea what magic is. Just to be clear, there is absolutely NO magic on Earth, right?”
“I think so. It's debatable, most people don't believe in it, besides ghosts and religion and stuff, but that may or may not be magical anyways.”
“So... no?”
“Yeah, let's say no.”
“Alright. Throw away whatever ideas about sorcery you have. Those will probably get in the way.”
“Of course. Midi-chlorians or tectonic energy?”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Leah gave him a strange look.
“So, the very basics... magic draws on 'aether', a nearly undetectable substance that permeates the air, ground and body. It's piss-weak here though, so I can't spare much for demonstrations. Way stronger where I come from. Anyway, to spellcast, one has to focus the aether into specially made inscriptions or one's own body, usually focused at the hands, and convert the aether's energy into something else, usually another form of energy. Some people like to yell appropriate words in dead languages to help them do it, but it's not necessary. As for...hm...Cizin don't struggle, just for a second.”
Uh oh.
Leah waved a faintly glowing hand at Cizin's face.
“Oh, good. You do have a soul. I was wor-”
“WHAT?!”
“Sorry, sorry. I was curious. All humans, at least that I know of, have a soul. It is a intangible organ made of aether which directs and stores more aether. Not having one would be kind of weird. I just wanted ot make sure. Yours is pretty small, but I guess that comes from living in a place with barely any aether... I suppose 'soul' means something else in your language, then?”
“Yeah, it's supposed to be the immortal human spirit. The mind, or the part of you that goes to the afterlife or whatnot.”
“Huh. Okay then, just so you know, they're separate things. So, the soul controls...”
“Sorry, one second. I think we should get Abby into this. That way, at least she knows too.”
Cizin fetched Abby. Leah repeated herself. Abby didn't show much interest, but she was probably distracted by her just-interrupted, literal search for identity.
“...okay. So, the soul governs one's use of magic. The soul unconsciously inhales aether and stores it for later use, much like lungs. When the time comes to cast a spell, the soul “exhales” aether onto your hands or a wand or amulet or some other focus and becomes fuel for fire, motion, light, healing, whatever. The soul, once emptied a bit, fills up again with aether.”
“Great. So 'how do I shot magic'?”
“Hm...Your soul has barely any aether right now, and I'm pretty sure it's too weak to actually do anything with what it has. Even magical novices on Ketegam start out with more than what you have, no offense. I'm pretty sure I can't teach anyone to use magic. It's pretty hard to grasp, and you have less to work with that usual. Maybe Paul can help. I can offer information, though.”
“That'll do, I suppose. Let me ask- what are the limitations on this magic?”
“Let me think... the big one is that energy is limited, both magically and physically. It's very tiring to use up aether quickly, and casting too much in the first place can deplete the aether itself, just like fire can deplete the air in a closed room. Also, the other big rule is that it's hard to hurt people directly. They'll struggle if you try to magically cut or strangle them or something. You'll take a portion of what you hit them with, depending on... let's see... how powerful they are compared to you, and how aware they are that they're being cursed. It's called 'feedback.' So, you have to use indirect spells to fight. Fireballs, lightning, et cetera. This also applies to animals, including monsters, but not to the undead or unliving creatures. Oh, and healing, as long as it's purely white magic, won't be resisted.”
“White magic? How many kinds of magic are there?”
“There's three big schools. Living Magic, Elemental Magic and Pure Magic. Living Magic affects living, or once-living matter.. Elemental magic for the most part controls non-living matter. Mineral, Gas, Water, and Flora. Then there's Pure Magic, or Energy. Fire, Electricity, Motion, Light, Entropy and Space.
“Wait, Entropy and Space?”
“Entropy. Disintegration and explosions, mostly. It's pretty convenient but they're very difficult to use without a proper wand. Space magic is really, really rare, and it takes crazy skill in Pure Magic to even try to use it. It's teleporting and time alteration and lots of crazy stuff. Don't worry about it.”
Note to self: The very mention of it means we're totally going to meet a space magic user in the future. Inquire about specific countermeasures at soonest convenience. For now, I want general countermeasures.
“So... what can magic do?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“A legitimate one, coming from someone who doesn't know jack.”
“Alright, listen up. This is going to be a big list:
Living magic has three parts- Black Magic, White Magic, and Necromancy.
Black magic is mostly curses, stuff to hurt or hinder people mentally, physically or spiritually. It's a very broad category.
White magic is healing and temporary improvements to one's physical and mental functioning. Like 'black magic', it is also a broad category.
Necromancy is the act of altering the dead. It's both Black and White magic. It involves bringing them back to life as undead, communing with dead spirits, deriving energy from dead flesh, all kinds of blasphemous bullshit.”
Leah simmered as she spoke these words.
“Okay. Elemental Magic is pretty obvious. It manipulates the elements, moving them around, except when for these elements are present in intelligent creatures, in which case the manipulation of those fall under Living Magic, probably under Black magic.
Mineral is dirt, rocks, and sand. Sort of includes metal.
Gas is just about any kind gas, especially air.
Water is, of course, water, including ice, not including steam, which falls under Gas.
Flora is controlling and altering plants, at least unintelligent plants, and plant products. Intelligent plants go under Living Magic.
“Aaaand... Pure Magic. It's the crudest and easiest to learn form of magic. You'll probably be learning it first. It's based on converting and directing forms of energy to a target.
Fire, Electricity and Sound are obvious. Make pretty flames or what not.”
Leah flicked her armored wrist and a few sparks flew from her fingertips.
“Light is also obvious. It's also pretty hard to control. You can make illusions, but they're hard to maintain.
Entropy is pure destructive energy, and converts the target matter into energy, possibly with explosions.
Space Magic... I don't have any experience with it, but I've already described it. Teleporting around and warping space and all that.”
Cizin frantically scribbled notes. “So, which types of magic do you use?”
“I use White Magic (can't stand Black Magic or Necromancy), Fire, Sound and Motion magic. Maybe a little Light or Lightning, but not much.
Most people stick to two out of the three big schools of magic, as learning the third takes way too much time after you've grasped two already. Most humans I know end up going for Living and Pure Magic. Also, some people like to specialize, which makes them brilliant in one sub-school, and decent in the rest of that school, but crap in everything else. To each her own, I guess.”
“So, you're a medic?”
“I guess you could say that. I'm more interested in the augmentation part of white magic. But I suppose the healing is a nice bonus.”
“So, what kind of magic are those runes protecting the house?”
“Those are Black magic. It causes an unwanted effect in living creatures, and is thus Black magic.”
“You said you can't stand Black magic.”
“I admit it has its uses at times, and I can stand Black Magic if it'll save my life. It's not evil or anything, just very distasteful.”
Leah said this matter-of-factly, her voice absent of justification or defensiveness.
Good to know she's not the stupid flavor of paladin.
“What are ' 'theric sigils'?”
“It's a fancy way of saying magic runes. 'Theric is short for aetheric, and sigils refer to any kind of runes that have been enchanted.”
“Do you think magic is responsible for you being able to talk to me?”
“Definitely. It's a high-end translation spell of some sort. It's not my kind of thing, so I can't give details, but it's definitely the work of someone with quite a bit of magical oomph. No idea how they got it on me, though.”
Note to self: Totally conspiracy.
“What kind of magic is the shade?”
“Definitely black magic, probably a bit of necromancy since it can create ghosts.”
“How would you fight ghosts?”
“At a very safe distance. And with lots of Pure Magic.”
“And, how would you go about countering magic? In general.”
“Well, obviously, use your own magic, but I guess you can't do that. Best solution is to kill the spellcaster before they can react. I'd like to see them hit me with a spell after that.”
Definitely not the stupid paladin.
“But of course, that's not always a good idea or possible. Distractions help weaken spells, as does injuring or restraining the caster, preferably at a distance. Some materials are magic-resistant, but those are magically created in the first place, and I don't have any, so you're out of luck here. Some spells require seeing the target, so blinding or hiding can work. Mental black magic can be fought off through strength of will and discipline. And of course, the more predictable techniques of Elemental and Pure Magic can simply be dodged or blocked with a strong enough shield. Not much else you can do besides those.”
“What about removing the power source?”
“You mean aether?”
“Yeah. Any way to deprive mages of it?”
“Mmm... I suppose you could cast a ton of spells, but they could just move away or wait for aether to seep in again, and you'd be tired after that, so it's a bad idea. And there's no way that I know of to access aether without magic, so it's really not an option.”
“Thought it was worth a shot.”
“Anything else?”
“This is a lot to absorb. I have one more question, though. How can you tell if something is magic?”
“I can 'feel' magic being used, and sense concentrations of aether at very close range- including other mages. I don't think you can.”
“Well, I felt a thumping during the shade's attack.”
“That was the shade trying to mentally reach out to us, for some reason.”
“They can do that?”
“Well, I didn't know that either until it tried.”
“Huh. Well, that'll be it for today.”
Abby left to continue her search.
Leah suddenly pulled Cizin close with a sense of urgency.
“Cizin. Listen. Something's wrong. Just now, I tried to see if Abby has a soul. She doesn't. I can't feel any amount of aether in her. Not a bit.”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Everything has some kind of aether in it, Cizin, even the smallest insect has something akin to a soul. Now, I'm quite sure Abby's not undead, or else I would have killed her when we met her. There's just nothing else that moves besides undead that doesn't have a soul. It's inexplicable.”
“Great. Just great. That just means she's probably some very important magically engineered person or something that somebody out there really wants their hands on.”
“What?”
“It's obvious. She has no magic stuff in her. Someone probably made her that way, either as an artificial human or extracting her soul or some shit. Then she had an accident trying to escape them, hit her head or something and lost her memory entirely.”
Leah stared in cautious amazement.
“I … see now. Wait, no, actually, I don't.”
“Oh come on. You really think this is just coincidence?”
“You know, for a moment there, I thought you were the sharp sort, the kind who lets nothing past him. Apparently, you're actually the local bard. The loony kind usually found passed out behind the tavern. I'm gonna go talk to Abby and make sure you don't burn her at the stake or anything.”
Leah got up and walked away.
“I'm a hardware designer, damn it! Come back here!”
What's the point of calling it out if no one believes you? She's so blind it hurts.
Cizin decided to spend the next few hours reviewing his notes and making future plans.
Chapter Five
“So, Paul. Hey. Paul, wake up. WAKE UP...Oh, good, still breathing. Come on. It's nine o' clock. You'll never go to sleep tonight if you doze all day. Geez, Paul, you're making me sound like my mother here... Wake the fuck up!”
Paul smirked and smoothly sat up in his chair, eyes now wide open.
“And how are you today, Madame Cizin?”
“Screw you, old man, I've been through enough already. I need to talk to you.”
“And you needed to wake me up for that?”
Cizin rolled his eyes.
Paul grinned. “Sorry, I guess I'm just irritable from being woken up from my cranky old man sleep. How can I help you?”
“Leah tells me Abby has no soul, no 'aether' in her body. That's not a normal thing. It's like she's some kind of freak, apparently. I wanted to talk to you about that, and please spare me your 'wit', Wise Master.”
“Ah, aether. The dazzling blood of the universe has ma-”
“No sidetracking little platitudes, either. It doesn't make you look smarter, and annoying me will not help your cause, I assure you.”
“Heh heh, you got me there. Well, I will assume Leah has acquainted you with the basics of magic... On second thought, I would like to see what you know, since I do not know if we are talking about the same magic or practices of magic here.”
A quick review session later...
“Okay, some minor disagreements on fine details, but nothing significant. In practice, it is the same, I suppose. So, as for Abby's soul- I have no explanation either. It is likely that your theory is correct, that she was altered in some way, purposefully or not, and there are likely some that would find that trait valuable and may or may not be pursuing me. Her amnesia may be related to this, or it may not be. And Leah's evaluation of your theory has merit as well, so it may be that there is another explanation. Or not.”
“That is a *very* long way of saying 'I have no clue.'”
“Well, there's only one way to find out what Abby is.”
“I hope it doesn't involve waxing a car or sitting on mountains for the truth.”
“Well, we wait.”
“That's very helpful. I'm sure it'll help if we are suddenly attacked by huge armored guys seeking a soulless person so they can use Abby to fight psychics or crap.”
“Well, they may not necessarily be armored.”
“Seriously. What do you know about soullessness?”
Paul looked Cizin dead in the eyes.
“I have no clue.”
“Thhhhhanks.”
“However, I do recall a story about a man who had his soul injured during a doubtlessly illegal magical experiment.”
“What happened?”
“He swiftly went insane, lost most use of his limbs and died a horrible, gibbering and paralyzed mess.”
“That's cheerful.”
Note: This is probably going to happen some time now that it's been mentioned. Great.
“And he couldn't cast any spells.”
“My heart weeps for his spell-lessness. And what are the odds of this happening to me?”
“I'd believe if someone has the power to get at your soul, they might as well just lobotomize you to save time.”
“Lovely.... So, you think Abby's going to go stiff as a board on us while trying to flip out and kill everyone?”
“Who knows?”
A loud scream came from Cizin's bedroom, where Abby was on the computer.
Cizin immediately readied his gun and dashed in the direction of the scream.
Cizin burst into the room.
Leah, kneeling next to Abby, had covered her own mouth, and stared in the laptop in horror. Abby, resting her face on her fist, showed a mixture of sympathy, annoyance and disgust.
Cizin walked over to the laptop, craned his neck to see the screen and immediately looked away. It was a shock site. Cizin shut the laptop.
“Yeah, don't click on any ad you see. My ad blocker isn't perfect, and the ones that get through are usually assholes anyway. Carry on.”
Leah suppressed something like an urge to vomit.
“Oh, for fuck's sake, it's only human waste. I'm sure you have plenty of it back in the Middle Ages.”
Paul stepped forward from behind Cizin.
“Huh. How'd you get there, Paul?”
“I have no clue.”
“Haha. Okay, Abby, you won't make this mistake again. Leah, this is what I meant when I said everyone on the Internet is an asshole. They do this to random people for giggles.”
Leah had recovered enough to hoarsely reply, “I have an urge to rip a spleen out of the bastard who made this.”
“Welcome to the Internet.”
“I want to get off this planet.”
“Get in line. And no cutting.”
“Ugh... can we talk again? In private?”
“Alright, Cizin, I've thought about it. You said Abby was probably wanted by someone. As far as I can tell, she doesn't have any leads from the Internet. If there really is someone, maybe we can a hint from them?”
“I thought you didn't believe me.”
“Well, damned if I'm going to let her run around into that kind of thing again. And it didn't seem too productive before that anyways.”
“Look, Leah... I know we're going to run into whoever wants Abby sooner or later. I'd rather it'd be when I'm prepared, as opposed to now. Let's not expedite their search, thank you very much.”
“As you wish. I'm going to turn in. It's too damn late to be arguing, and I'm going to need the extra time to sleep after THAT.”
“Alright.”
It was getting late, very late.
Cizin returned to Paul and Abby, Paul now staring at the computer screen with curiosity.
“Alright, guys, I have to go to work tomorrow. I will be gone for most of the day, from 9 to 6. I can already smell the fucking hilarious hijinks you guys will get up to in my absence, so I have written a list...”
Cizin whipped out a few pages of scribbled text and pointed at several sentences triple-underlined with bright red ink.
“of shit to do and to avoid doing during the entirety of my absence. I'd like to pay special attention to 'Don't talk to strangers without calling me first if you can help it', and 'Call the police only if something damn serious happens because getting arrested for being suspicious is not fun.', among others. Cheers.”
Cizin threw the pages on his table, and prepared to go to bed.
As he lay drifting off on his sofa, his mind was occupied with magic, and what would happen if the general population found out it existed.
He shivered. It wasn't cold inside.
Chapter 6
Dammit, I'm probably late again. Forgot to set the alarm.
His alarm rang anyway. It was eight thirty.
Huh.
Cizin got up, and prepared himself for the daily grind, yet again. The prospect of a day at work seemed even more boring than before, now that he knew that MAGIC AND DRAGONS EXISTED. At least his job seemed far easier now that he knew he would have to put up with said magic and dragons as well.
Abby, Leah, and Paul were slumped in various places around the house, still enjoying the luxury of a good night's sleep. Cizin hoped they'd follow his instructions. They didn't seem like the “run off and be idiots” type, but they did surprise him yesterday. People are like onions, he mused, as he walked out the door and decided it was a shitty metaphor.
Cizin took the bus again, to work. His mind ran various scenarios of what the others would get into, particularly Abby. Best case scenario involved a mess on the kitchen floor. Worst case scenario would involve disposing of it before more cops showed up. While the house was on fire. While giving the survivors CPR or getting a dragon to blow its chunks. And while Cizin lacked at least one of his limbs. And that was the worst case scenario that he could do something about and could logically be thought about.
Cizin grimaced. Okay, probably best to consider only the more likely scenarios. Won't go as insane that way.
Cizin's mind kept running with possibilities as he entered the office, sat down in his small cubicle and started typing.
They say time flies when you're having fun. Normally, the day would drag endlessly on as Cizin endured minute after minute of drudgery.
But time also flies when you know something horrible is up ahead and you try to savor what precious time you have before that.
Cizin tired of dealing with hypothetical situations in his own house, so he expanded further. What if a dragon showed up? Zombie apocalypse, but voodoo instead of viral? Portal to an alien world materializes on his front lawn? Cizin worked through every scenario, mentally cataloguing lists of preparations and reactions.
Cizin looked at the clock for the first time. Lunchtime already. That was fast. He didn't get quite as much done in the meantime, but that was acceptable.
As Cizin stepped outside to get a bite, he called home from his company cell. He was glad he had decided to blow cash on a second cell phone a year ago. Didn't make as much sense at the time, but a spare sure came in handy now.
Leah picked up. “Hello? Cizin? What is it?”
“Yeah, Leah, everything okay over there?”
“Yeah. Everything's good. It's boring around here. Don't worry, I still remember everything on the list, and I made sure everyone else did too.”
“Really? Nothing's gone wrong? You're sure.”
“Yep. Abby's searching again, I'm playing around with the aether here, and Paul's still sleeping. Not much to do around here. If something happens, we agreed to notify you by phone or electronic mail. I haven't forgotten.”
“Alright. I'll introduce you to something called TV later if you're that bored.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Bye.”
“Bye?”
Cizin returned after lunch and fantasized of more scenarios as he worked. As he attempted to predict the weak spots on a tyrannosaurus rex, Cizin now realized that no one had nagged him yet. True, it was a Saturday, but that only meant one in three or so people were there.
It was quite a bit emptier than usual.
Cizin stood up from his cubicle and looked over the walls.
No one there.
Cizin decided to wander around the room, pretending to look for his project team members. Under normal circumstances, he'd never think of striking up conversation with random idiots, but he needed information, dammit.
After consulting with the few people who were around, including his boss, Cizin pieced together that quite a few people had moved to other jobs or called in sick. No one was aware of anything special happening on Wednesday- even the local rumor mill failed to come up with any wild stories or relevant minutiae. As far as his coworkers were concerned, this was just other week.
Oh. Shit. No one's aware of anything. This is a cover up.
Cizin decided to call Leah again.
“Hey Leah?”
“Yeah?”
“Everything all right?”
“Still the same.”
“You aren't talking as much as usual. Something's wrong, isn't it?”
Cizin's put a tone of resignation in his voice.
“*sigh* Fire alarm.”
“What?”
“Apparently, your fire alert device doesn't like it when I toy with fire magic. I saw you smoking in the room, but nothing happened, so I thought it would be okay.”
“You didn't set anyth-!”
“No, nothing important got set on fire. A few useless scraps of paper.”
“Nothing bad after that happened, right?”
Note to self: People are listening. Keep it vague.
“No. No one showed up. I put out the fire and the smoke and it all went away.”
“*whew* Thank you. Well, you know what not to do now. Be a good girl now. Bye.”
“Excuse me?”
Cizin hung up.
Okay, so people are actually disappearing for whatever reasons. Boss is under impression that it's normal. So either he's dense as lead as usual, or else he's in on it. Too much investigation will warrant suspicion. In any case, carry on as usual.
The regular hypothetical scenarios turned into dark thoughts of dread as Cizin dreadfully buried himself in his work and dreaded every single second of dread. Cizin took care to carry his usual tired and irritated work face.
Cizin took the bus home. He found himself estimating the number of cars on the road, to see how many were missing, before dismissing the thought as silly. He thought about calling again, but decided against it.
Cizin very carefully approached his house from the bus stop. It seemed all the lights were on, and there wasn't any mental thumping, but the house was quite still. Too quiet. He looked in every shadow outside for a lurking dragon or something. Who knows what came at every corner. He'd look silly with his gun out (he brought it to work without realizing, but thankfully it was hidden in his briefcase), and like a burglar of some sort, but he wished he had a weapon at the ready.
Note to self, invest in less alarming weaponry.
Cizin tuned into his instincts. It didn't feel like anything was wrong, but that probably meant something was wrong. Who knows what could have happened.
Cizin entered the house tactically, weapon at the ready, covering all corners of the room.
Abby, Leah and Paul stared at him.
Cizin looked silly.
Chapter Seven
“Cizin, you need to relax. You're getting too paranoid. And what was that 'good girl' thing about?”
“I suspect the conspiracy has breached my workplace. Someone in on it could have been listening. I told someone 'Leah' was my cousin, and went with it.”
Leah sighed heavily. “You're really something.”
Paul interrupted, “Look, from what I was told, it was a single incident. Leah was not overly aware of the fire alarm. It's over now, nothing really bad happened. The house remains intact, no one was hurt and no outside authorities were alarmed.”
“Alright. Alright, guys, since there's really not much to do here, and I don't have to work tomorrow we're going to figure out how deep the cover-up goes.”
Paul raised an eyebrow. “Cover up?”
“Yeah, some people disappeared from the office, and I was told they moved to new jobs or are sick. It's bullshit, of course.”
“So, what do we do?”
“We look into it, duh.”
The local law enforcement and news websites, even three days later, yielded absolutely zero mention of any local disruptions that could be related to Wednesday's incident. To Cizin, no flag could have been redder. It didn't help that he couldn't discuss this with anyone else, for fear of being suspected himself. The authorities would be on to him in moments, email or not. Plus, his buddies could have been part of the conspiracy themselves. Who knew?
The question was how to get information. Hm... but there were other concerns first.
Cizin tried some new recipes for four. Leah and Paul helped out, having little better to do. Abby idled. She was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Cizin would have found this odd, but she probably got attached to whatever she had, having nothing else and she didn't stink or anything (yet), so it was okay.
Cizin tried not to spray the eggshells everywhere. Being a single bachelor did not make for decent cooking skills. At least he had people to help him make something complicated. After all, he couldn't exactly make chili, stew and sandwiches every single day for his gu-
Cizin stopped himself. Huh. Was it really coming to this? Was this his repl-
“Cizin? I think you were supposed to simmer the oil and garlic a minute before the eggs.”
Doh.
After dinner, Cizin took Abby aside for a private talk.
“Alright, Abby, as you are aware, you're a mysterious amnesiac girl. We don't know why you're here, have only a faint suspicion how you got here, have no clue regarding your amnesia, and definitely no clue who you actually are. You only know your name, and we have no hint as to who you were from your likes and dislikes.”
“Wh-wha?”
“Also, I looked at your browser history and you need to spend less time on Youtube.”
“Erm....”
“Anyways, here goes.”
Cizin braced himself and swung just in front of Abby's head.
“Wah!” Abby awkwardly stumbled back a second later.
“Okay, no super-reflexes.”
Cizin threw a soft foam ball at her face. It smacked off her nose.
“Gah!”
“No psychic powers. What about superstrength?”
He shoved a dumbbell into her hands.
Her fist dropped to the ground immediately, and she cried out in surprise, then let it go.
Cizin offered her parts of a toy dart pistol.
She practically cringed as she accepted the pieces.
Cizin stared at her expectantly.
“Uh... what am I supposed to do with this?”
Cizin snatched away the pieces. “No latent firearms training.”
Leah burst into the room. “What the hell are you doing to her?”
“Oh, hey Leah, I was wondering if you could test her for mag-
Abby cried out, “He's gone nuts! He thinks I'm some kind of soldier!”
Leah slowly approached, coolly making eye contact with Cizin and with a hand on her sword. Cizin slowly backed away.
She grabbed Cizin's collar. “Look, if you want to test random crap on her, at least invite me.”
Abby boggled.
“Okay, so... nearly zero resistance to magic, zero hand to hand ability, average-to-below average physique, overly sensitive to everything, big eater, average reasoning and memory, excellent sense of location- huh-, but not anything out of the ordinary, and a complete lack of common magical abilities. What do you make of it, Ciz?”
“You don't have to rub it in.”, Abby exclaimed.
“I think we could be doing this more scientifically, actually, but in any case, it's likely that any special abilities Abby are either specific or related to something we don't have easy access to. Or she fell victim to something, and is actually disadvantaged in any case.”
“Now you come up with an alternate theory.” Leah scratched her temple. “Well, not much we can do, Cizin. Let's see what Paul thinks.”
“I believe Paul's sleeping again. Lazy old guy, huh?”
“Hey, let's see how energetic you are when you're his age.”
“Guy's only like fifty. And he's got those knives on him and can decapitate ogres. He's clearly fitter and badder than your average old man. Clearly just lazy.”
“Whatever. I'm pretty sure he can help.”
Paul's firm amber eyes stared into Abby's open dark blue eyes.
Paul put both index fingers on the sides of his head.
“Hm... I don't sense anything.”
“I'm don't think that's how magic works.”
“Shush, Ciz. Let him do his thing.”
“As far as I can tell, all we have one confused little girl on our hands. Nothing more.”
“She's not exactly little, Paul.”
“You're all children to me. I'm just a crotchety old man, you know.”
“Uh huh.”
Abby stared down, doubt and worry on her face.
Cizin felt a spot of guilt in his chest.
“Look, Abby, sorry 'bout picking at you, but we have to take what information what we can get. The more we know about what you can do, the better we can cope with our current situ-”
Paul sighed. “Let me deal with it. You need to learn how to talk to people. Both of you, please leave. And please consult me before pulling something like this again.”
Cizin and Leah left the room.
“That was awkward.”
Leah sighed. “It was also your fault.”
Cizin rubbed his forehead. “We're really running out of leads.”
“How so?”
“The Internet brings up nothing, not even shadowy magical conspiracy rants. I can't ask around at work or in public without raising suspicions. I mean, what can I say, 'Hey what do you know of magic and sorcery and amnesiac ladies?'. I'm positive the police and other authorities can't be trusted- there's no way they couldn't have publicly responded in some way to Wednesday's activities. Wandering around and searching the neighborhood is risky, and I'm sure whoever is covering this up already took care of anything we can find. Nothing fantastic besides that shade and Abby has shown itself, and we're sure not chasing down the shade.”
“Great. We're going to have to sit on our asses now. Can't be too bad. I mean, it is a foreign country where I am sure as hell not planning to stay.”
“But that's it.”
“ 'Scuse me?”
“We have to wait. Some little thread will dangle itself in front of us in due time. We just have to prepare for it for when it comes.”
“You can't be sure. And it could take months or years for something to show up, if at all. I'd hate to spend the frickin' rest of my life here.”
“No, no I'm sure something is up. Think about it- the cover up is competent. Immensely competent. A bunch of people disappear, no one puts up a fuss over it. Fucking fire, arrows and lightning- it's just a storm, and everyone who encounters something probably disappears. It's a matter of time before they look into us.”
“Really. You can't be so sure about this. I think you just resent th-”
The doorbell sang its crude melody of arrival.
Cizin smugly raised an eyebrow before his face dropped into nervousness. “Leah, discreetly fetch Paul and Abby. I'm pretty sure it's the cops or someone else, so please, please stay quiet and prepared to flee.”
Cizin roughly stood up, adjusted his hair, put on his best faked grin, and casually strolled towards the door.
He looked through the peephole. Yep. Coppers.
He opened the door, trying not to smile too much. “Good evening, officers. How can I help you?”
A policeman and a policewoman stood in front of him.
The policeman was a tall, well-built, brown-haired man. The policewoman had bright red hair in a bun and wore sunglasses. They seemed unremarkable.
Both still exploded with alarm bells in Cizin's mind.
They look too damn sharp to be local police. They're in the kind of body language that doesn't draw attention to themselves- cops are supposed to radiate authority. Everything is in too much of the right place- uniform's too neat and fussed-with- on-duty cops aren't this damn neat. And they're too damn light on their feet- I didn't hear them walk up like I usually hear cops walk up, and they look too damn balanced for any normal person. Who the fuck are these people?
Cizin desperately hoped he looked normal right now, as he could tell they too were analyzing the hell out of him- way more suspicious of him than normal officers in their position would be.
“Evenin' sir.”, the man spoke. His voice sharp and his words perfectly enunciated. “Please do not be alarmed sir, we're not suspecting you of anything, we're just collecting eyewitness testimony from people in the area. You may have heard there were some disappearances a few nights ago. We were wondering if you could provide us with some information to help us solve these disappearances.”
Should I ask them for their badges? Should I decline to answer? They could be fakes, but they'll get suspicious if I ask. Oh shit oh shit oh shit. Probably should just let them do their worst.
“Sure thing. Would you like to come in?” Best pretend to be ignorant of everything, but not too ignorant. Gulp. I have nothing to hide, right? Shit.
“Thank you, sir. We don't mean to intrude. This will only be a few minutes of your time.”
To Leah's credit, Cizin didn't hear any movement inside the house as the officers walked in. In fact, he didn't hear any footsteps behind his own. These “police” really were too light on their feet.
“So... mister...?”
“Cizin. Mark Cizin.”
He could feel them very thoroughly observing the house as they walked in. Incredibly thoroughly. It was obvious they suspected something was up. He tried not to look around too. They took seats at his kitchen table.
“Mister Cizin, can you provide a brief introduction of yourself?”
I'm not harboring mysterious adventurers from another world. Or worlds.
“I'm Mark Cizin, 25 and I'm a computer hardware designer at Solz. Inc. I, uh, don't really have much to say.”
“Very well. Mister Cizin, can you describe your experience on Wednesday night?”
Ohshit. Was that a suspect-kind-of-question or usual procedure?
“Um, well, I got home from work at six fifty five. Work wasn't too busy that day. Um, I sat down to watch television. Television wasn't working too well. I ordered out for pizza, and it came pretty quickly- don't think anything was wrong with it, and I ate it and had leftovers. Then, I was feeling really beat from working on design specs all Tuesday night so I went to sleep early, at nine o' clock. I did hear some of those fucking kids making noise outside, and maybe something like thunder. Eh.”
Cizin tried to keep eye contact with the policeman, but his eyes wandered. Down to the floor...
Oh fuck, the runes. Fuck fuck fuck fuuuuuuuck! Did they notice? FUCK.
Cizin prayed that they didn't see the marks on the wall. Goddamnit, I should have had those erased, or at least covered, earlier! FUCK. Why didn't I prepare for a police investigation?
Cizin benignly looked on as the “policewoman” jotted down notes.
“Okay. So, these kids making noise. What exactly did you hear?”
“Oh, you know, just a bunch of shit and whooping and talking. The usual. Probably drunk or something again.”
“Alright. No... screaming, no unusual noises from these kids at all?”
“Damned if I know. Teenagers're always doing weird shit like this. I guess it counts as screaming. I couldn't really tell, I was trying to tune the little shits out and get some damn sleep already.”
“I know the feeling. So, did you ever take a look outside that night?”
“Nah. Prefer my TV and my unconsciousness to this boring neighborhood. What's there to see?”
Look at my eyes. Not the runes. Nor at the copious, too-much-for-one-man amounts of groceries on the floor. Come on. Don't look around too much.
“Uh huh. Mister Cizin, what have you heard about any disappearances that night?”
“I dunno. I don't talk to anyone much. I read the news a lot, and I didn't know anything happened here.”
Don't mention the co-workers.
“Mister Cizin, where were you on the days after?”
Son. Of. A. Fucking. BITCH. The million dollar question! I know they can tell if I lie. These guys look like fucking lie detectors. And I can't change my story to what I told Chac earlier. Goddammit so much.
“It turns out I was tired because I was coming down with some flu. Or something. That's what my doctor said. So, I spent the next few days away from work.” Pretend to be innocent and scared. “... do you think I'm a criminal because I wasn't at work, sir?” Cizin raised his voice appropriately as he ended the question, the fear in his words very real. “I don't know anything about disappearances. Did any of my friends disappear? Oh God, can you give me a list of people who're missing? Are my parents all right?”
“Calm down, Mister Cizin, it's all right. I'm sure no one you know disappeared. We're just checking to make sure you were all right. Did you see or hear anything unusual the next few days?”
I hope that threw them off. They're professionals. They're probably still on to me, judging by that next question.
“I had some of the weirdest dreams ever. The flu...”
“What were your flu symptoms?”
What the fuck, why would you ask that? Oh shit, make something up.
“Pounding headache, sore throat like it was shaved with a cheese grater, pounding headache, 102 degree fever, pounding headache, and some of the freakiest dreams ever. Oh, and the pounding headache.”
“Mmm, good to see you've recovered quickly.”
Oh shit. Suspicious.
Cizin knew he was losing his composure and redoubled his efforts to hold on. He could feel the policewoman's cold eyes almost boring into his soul. It almost hurt.
“Alright, Mister Cizin. It seems you're innocent.” The man's tone was joking, but Cizin couldn't be sure. “We'll call you if we need further information. Sorry about the intrusion, we'll be on our way now.”
“Okay. Have a nice night, officers.”
“You too, sir.”
They left the room, evidently unaware of the runes.
Cizin collapsed like wet cardboard in his chair.
That went badly. Okay, they might still be listening in or watching in. Stay quiet and calm.
Cizin slowly got up out of his chair, joints aching more than they should have. He turned around and walked deeper into his house, where the others were doubtlessly hiding.
Leah peeked out of the bedroom doorway.
At least she has the sense not to hide in the bathroom.
Cizin pressed the side of his index finger to his nose and lips, and gave the thumbs up sign.
The four of them whispered under a blanket, with pillows and awkwardly sound-proofing the room. The sounds of a police car driving off barely echoed in the room.
“Alright, so those were definitely not policemen, guys.”
“How can you tell?”
“They were off, Paul. I can't explain they just were. Too... smooth, too sneaky, too sharp to be normal policemen.... give me a moment to reflect on what I saw.”
The others respectfully let Cizin think about the conversation.
“Okay, so they definitely suspect something is up. They did not ask questions I would expect normal cops to ask. I acted as best as I could, but I gave them a different story than what I gave a co-worker of mine, and probably not a very airtight story too. Told them I was sick, so I was off from work.”
“Alright. Can we expect another visit from them?”
“Hold on, Leah. Alright, they didn't notice the runes, amazingly enough. We should cover up those up as soon as we can. They told me there were disappearances on the night you guys showed up. I told them what happened, minus you guys, and said the noises outside were drunk teenagers. They didn't seem suspicious until I mentioned I took time off from work, and then they really pressed me. The woman stared at me really creepily.... uh...yeah. So, they left soon after that, and they might still be listening from a distance, which is why we are talking like this now.”
“Cizin... we're probably going to get another visit from them or something else. We should be prepared.”
“Yes, we should. Let's make a plan to hide the evidence in case they come along again. By the way, Paul, Leah, did you notice any magic coming from them?”
“Nope. Can't tell unless I'm really close, or unless they cast some kind of spell.”, said Leah.
“Not at all.”, said Paul.
“Alright. Let's call this a day after we investigation-proof the house. Oh, and people, if anyone asks- Leah, you're my cousin staying over for a few nights, Abby, you're also my cousin, Paul, you're the uncle.”
“We hardly look related.”
“Too bad, Paul. If any of you can come up with a better alibi, by all means,.”
A quick hiding of personal effects, burnt paper (Leah wasn't particularly good at entertaining herself), and excess food and other supplies away, the four went to bed.
Cizin slept on his couch again. He spent his minutes drifting off to sleep dissecting the conversation, worrying about what to do next time...
Chapter Eight
Sunday. This wasn't going to be fun. Cizin would have to act very carefully. He honestly could be being watched or listened to at any moment for any reason.
This is going to suck. No doubt about it. Damage control is going to be a bitch. Those two had police uniforms, so either they're part of a government agency or an organization powerful enough to obtain local police uniforms on short notice. If they're even from Earth. Goddamnit.
Oh shit, and they didn't give me their names or show their badges. I didn't see their nametags, but they didn't give me their names. Shit!
Cizin continued to reflect on his close call as he brushed, shaved and blankly stared at his tired face in the mirror, before reminding himself he had breakfast to attend to.
Cizin introduced Paul and Leah to bacon. They clearly had bacon where they came from, or something equivalent or similar to bacon. Huh. Maybe the world they come from really isn't that different after all.
“Okay, guys. I'm pretty sure they suspect us and are likely going to do something about it soon, something not good. We need to start chasing for leads quickly, just in case they are. Either we figure out who's after us, or we start searching around town. Both are risky. Both are necessary. And we also need to set up better, more inconspicuous security measures. I'm pretty sure those runes didn't detract from their attention.”
“The runes do not work on people who make it their specifically purpose to enter your house in particular. Otherwise, it would turn you away. Only works on those who don't care which house they enter, it makes them pick another house.”, said Paul.
“Oh, that's fun. Look, can you help come up with better magicky security stuff?”
“I'll see what I can do. The Fortunate Shielding was an improvisation anyways.”
“Alright. Leah, can you help Paul with this?”
“Why not.”
“Abby, oh, by the way, I'm sorry about what happened yesterday.” Abby shrugged to indicate her having gotten over it. “Anyways, Abby, I want you to find a way to block off some of the windows as inconspicuously as possible. Don't make any sudden movements. Just do it.”
Abby nodded.
“I myself will be evaluating our potential leads and making plans.”
Cizin narrowed down the list of agencies who could care about the disappearances, whether magical or not. It seemed not many of them would have no logical reason to care. But of course, he was working on the assumption that he knew their motives and that it was a government agency those two “police” belonged too. Both were too general. Cizin realized he couldn't have gone far with this line of inquiry- there was just too little known.
The other option was waltzing around town, trying to sniff out weirdness and any traces of magic. It was risky, but Cizin wasn't exactly gifted with any other options. It would have to do.
“Alright, if anyone asks, I'm showing you guys around town. Leah, Paul, you guys tell me if you sense any magic.”
They left late. Paul and Leah had erased the previous marker runes, and imperceptibly engraved runes that would make the house appear as if it were empty and quiet. Anyone staring at the house would magically be convinced it was boring and lose interest. Or so Cizin hoped. Apparently, those with strong willpower or magical training wouldn't be affected. He desperately hoped the shadowy conspiracy guys were muggles.
It was nearing three o' clock, and the four of them set out in Cizin's car.
He made sure to cover as many streets as reasonable possible, without backtracking or staying in the same area for long, making a second trip back if necessary. No cars were tailing him, so he felt a lot better. For now. They drove around for four hours, without incident. It was quite boring overall, and there was zero magic detected around town. Cizin was also glad that he had Paul's gold coins to pay for the gas, and he made sure to exchange a few more at the jewelers', since no one was following him around anyways. Then he realized the gold coins in themselves were a pretty damn uncommon thing, and therefore suspcious, and silently cursed himself for the slip-up.
Deflecting suspicion was already getting on Cizin's nerves. Analyzing every single situation from the conspiracy's perspective and from the normal person's perspective really taxed his mind, and he hoped to return home, where he could worry less about being seen at the wrong time by the wrong person.
“Got one.”, Leah said.
“Where?”
“Right over there.”
It was an old abandoned building, a former warehouse in a dusty corner of town.
“Great. Abandoned warehouses always have fun things in them. Probably evil cultists summoning monstrosities from another world or a supervillain holding someone's girlfriend hostage. Can't wait to check it out.”
Cizin made sure to park in the back, and prepared to go in. He hoped this wasn't illegal. Still, had to make sure the risks were worth it.
“Alright, Leah, are we sure this isn't a trap of some sort?”
“If it is, I probably can't tell.”
“Well, I'm sure wacky adventures wait inside but I don't want to know that the shade or a dragon or something is inside waiting to eat us. Can you give me any additional details?”
“It's not a particularly strong source, so it's probably not anything we can't handle. Unless it's luring its in by pretending to be weak.”
“I'm feeling very reassured... let's take a look while it lasts.”
The front door was open. Paul took point. They slowly entered the warehouse, being sure to cover all. Abby held a baseball bat, Leah her sword, Cizin his pistol and a crowbar, and who knows what Paul had besides his knife. Cizin brought a couple flashlights, and handed Abby one.
There were humongous metal shelves everywhere, all almost entirely filled with boxes and various trinkets. A quick inspection of one box revealed it was full of paper stuffing. Strange.
“Hello? Is there any one around?”, Paul yelled.
“Great, broadcast us.”, Cizin muttered.
“Well, there's the possibility you could accidentally shoot someone friendly if we snuck up on them.”, Leah mused.
“I assure you, I'll feel very guilty if that happens.”, Cizin kept muttering.
A man stepped out from behind a shelf. He had very light brown hair, a cheery smile on a fairly handsome face, and wore jeans and a fur vest over a t-shirt. Strapped to his back was a massive axe almost as tall as he was.
“Hey there! Who are you?”
“A few curious wanderers from Ketagem and Amytlei investigating a source of magic coming from this warehouse. And who might you be?”, Paul replied.
“Also investigating the magic around here. It's like a maze in here- there's . Anyway, nice to meet you. My name's Chac. I'm actually from around here, but I got a couple buddies from Amytlei around here.”
“Chac. I'm Paul Renato, and these are Leah, Abigail and Mark. It is nice to meet you too.”
Great. At least he didn't give my last name. This Chac doesn't seem too sinister.
“Great. You've got any magic users in your group? If you'd like, we can follow my group to the magic source. I'm just guarding the entrance, but it doesn't seem necessary now if you'll join us.”
“Alright. Leah will lead the way.”
Cizin remained cautious as Chac followed them. The maze of shelves made for prime ambush territory. There probably wasn't much he could do in cramped quarters, so he'd probably have to rely on the ones who knew what they were doing.
Paul made small talk as they wound their way through the maze. It wasn't so much a diverging sort of maze, as it was extremely cluttered, so getting lost with Leah to guide them was not a concern. “So, Chac, you are from Earth then? I take it you are hosting your friends from Amytlei?”
“Yep. Bunch of magic people showed up on my lawn, we killed a bunch of monsters together, and then hid inside for a few days, 'til now when they pop up and say there's a magical signal coming from here. Of course, I'm curious to know more about this all, so we go on a little expedition. Same with you, I suppose?”
Paul nodded. “How did you get that axe? It looks too large to use comfortably?”
“Art said it's enchanted with lightness or something, I dunno. I think I'm pretty good. I've been practicing the last few days.”
“Hm. Well, good thing we showed up, weaponmaster. Let's focus on our surroundings, lest something pop up and kill us all, huh?”, Cizin interjected.
The mood thoroughly slain, they marched on. The warehouse was dusty, dark, and, of course, quiet.
It wasn't long until the five of them found the rest of Chac's group.
“Hey. Guys, meet Venus and Artemas, or Art, as he insists. Venus and Art, meet Paul, Leah, Mark, and Abigail.”
Venus was a gorgeous, lithe young woman in a short white dress, with long, flowing silver hair, and rather interestingly, pointed ears. Her face was cheerful and dainty, and she had the figure of a supermodel with the poise of an experienced warrior.
“Hiya. Nice to meet you all.” She gave a slight curtsy.
Art, was blond, fairly tall, muscular in the thin-and-wiry sense, and had a rough demeanor coupled with a thin, angular, face. His hair was fuzzy and fairly long, enough to obscure his ears and neck, his grim face contrasting with Venus' and Chac's smiles.
He nodded in acknowledgment and left it at that,
“Is you an elf?”, Cizin blurted to Venus.
“Yeah. All pointy eared and all. Art is too, he's just hiding it.”, Chac replied.
Art rolled his eyes.
Standing between the both of him was a humongous man was a massive figure sporting a long brown trenchcoat, with a ski mask and fedora on his head, and a very flat face under the ski mask. A large pair of guns (at least Cizin assumed they were- they didn't look like any firearms he'd seen) were strapped to his back. His eyes, if they could be called that, glowed the color of the twilight sky, and his body very quietly trembled and hummed with energy.
“Is he with you too?”, Leah asked.
“Oh, yeah, and this is Justice. He's a golem, made of magic and all. He doesn't talk at all, so sometimes I forget about him. He's been following us around as well.”
Cizin looked at Abby.
Justice grumbled.
“So, where's the source of magic?”
Art grunted and thumbed at a particular box a few feet behind him.
Cizin walked up to the box, but Art held out a arm, blocking him.
“It's trapped. Got a spell that'll blow you up.”, Art said.
“Uh... so, how do we figure out what it is?”, Cizin asked.
“Dunno. Probably should keep away for now. Some of these spells are proportionately effective to the target's magical power, but you need someone magical in the first place to disarm them.”
“I take it you're not capable of disarming it?”
“Not quite. And I think your magician, the lady, is probably too much for it.”
“I'll handle it.” Paul rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward. “Let's see here...”
Paul started waving his hands next to the box, in a manner somewhat of a cross between a mime in a box and a lobster's feelers.
Art stepped away and waved his hand. The box suddenly exploded with a bright neon blue light. Paul flew backwards.
At the same time, Venus swept Leah off her feet and held her at swordpoint, and Justice grabbed Abby. Cizin was not caught unprepared by Chac's lunge, and pistol whipped him.
Chac stumbled backwards, awkwardly, and drew his axe.
“I knew it was a trap. I'm guessing you're our evil twins or something? Because I'm pretty sure I'm not as stupid as Chac here. I brought a gun to a swordfight.”
Cizin leveled his pistol at Art, while keeping an eye on Chac.
Art drew a silver spear. “Your 'Paul' is actually a dangerous fugitive on Amtylei. We're bringing him in.”
Leah sat up as much as the sword pointing at her face would let her. “Look, Paul seems like a nice enough guy. I appreciate you giving us a chance to walk away, sword in face not withstanding but we can't just let our ally off and leave with complete strangers, and you have no way to bring him back to Amutlee or whatever it's called.”
Cizin and Abby nodded their agreement.
Art glared. “It just takes enough power. And 'Paul' obviously isn't his real name. You have no idea what kind of danger you're bringing to yourselves?”
“So, you basically pulled a bunch of random creatures to Earth to get to Paul here? No thanks, I'd rather have Mister mysterious old guy than an obvious nutbag hunter like you. The 'thrill of the hunt' type, I'm guessing?”
“We're not responsible. You talk big for someone at my mercy. Oh, and Justice, get him.” Art pointed to Cizin.
Justice pulled a gun with one arm while restraining Abby with the other arm and pointed it at Cizin. Cizin leaped out of the way, and Art followed him with spear ready.
Cizin barely dodged the spear lunge, but hesitated to shoot.
Art thrust again and this time held his spear an inch away from Cizin's throat.
“Don't.”, he whispered.
Cizin raised his hands.
Suddenly, Abby broke free of Justice's grasp, and awkwardly swung her baseball bat at Justice, knocking him (it?) back slightly.
Chac hit Abby on the back of the head with the flat of his greataxe. She stumbled, turned, then swung back at him, which he clumsily parried.
Cizin took this opportunity to shoot Art in the hand, making him drop his spear, which Cizin caught. Cizin then rammed the spear's handle into Art's abdomen, doing absolutely nothing.
Art's other hand made a fist and smacked Cizin's face, and Cizin dropped like a stone. Art yanked away the spear.
Abby continued flailing wildly at Chac, frantically warding him off. Art casually walked up and tripped her from behind. She, too hit the floor, and Art held her down with his spear. It was then that Leah blinded Venus with a flash of light, rolled off the ground and drew her sword. Venus recovered quickly, and sized up her opponent.
Art told Chac to hold Abby, and rushed over to where Leah was. Leah entered a cautious stance with her shortsword, wary of both Art and Venus around her.
Chac audibly hit the floor behind Art.
“Oh, can't ANY of you stay down?”, Art roared.
Paul, clothing slightly singed and hunched from pain, a dagger in each hand, stood over Chac.
“Well shit.”, Art muttered.
“I'll get it!”, Venus yelled, as she enthusiastically darted past Leah and Art. Her blade met Paul's knife.
Cizin, crawling from the pain, then grabbed Art's calf, held his gun to it, and fired. Art grunted in pain as the round exited his leg and kicked Cizin in the face with the other foot, knocking him out cold.
Leah swung at Art and was immediately relieved of her weapon with a single swipe of the spear. She stared at her abruptly empty hands in shock and backed away. A large cardboard box then contacted with Art's back, staggering him enough for Leah to land a good punch on his face. Abby picked up another box and threw it at Art as Justice and Venus were engaged in a fast-paced exchange of blows with Paul.
Art's forearm went up to intercept the box, then his knee rammed into Leah's abdomen, solidly knocking the wind out of her, and he ran towards Abby. Abby immediately put her hands over her head and cringed, the little fight in her now clearly gone.
Paul leaped away from Justice's massive fists as he parried a kick from Venus, exertion clearly showing on his face. Art seamlessly entered the fray, prepared to skewer Paul at an opportune time.
A police siren broke into the sound of combat.
“Dammit, I will catch you, 'Paul'!” Art screamed, freely bleeding from hand and leg, as his posse ran from a very exhausted Paul.
Paul limped over to and picked up Cizin's unconscious form. He nodded at Abby to move. Leah got up and followed.
The four of them left the warehouse through the back. Leah put her hands over Cizin's face, and with a brief glow of light, Cizin woke up.
“Dammit, let's go, Cizin. Police are here!”
Cizin stared to Leah for a few seconds, then the four of them rushed into Cizin's car and Cizin drove the hell out of there.
Chapter Nine
Cizin should have been amused when he saw the news. The scuffle was chalked up to local gang warfare. But he was not actually amused because Cloudy Springs City only had one gang, and they lived on the other side of town.
Goddamnit, another cover-up.
Leah had patched up everyone. It turns out that the process of magic healing was surprisingly painful, though the pain wore off quickly. Cizin had a cut on his head, and it felt just as bad healing it as receiving it.
“I'd also fix your bruises, guys, but there's only so much aether to go around. I can draw from the enchanted money I brought here, but I'd rather save that for an emergency.”, she had said.
Cizin understood. He'd find a way to hide the injuries.
The whole debacle was quite the alarm. The four of them thought they had found allies they could trust, and got ambushed and jumped for their troubles. At least none of the injuries were permanent or serious- in fact, Abby came out of it surprisingly well and Paul seemed more rattled than actually injured by the explosion. Cizin, for one, was rather disturbed at the ease with which Art took a bullet through the calf. Weren't elves supposed to be agile and fragile?
In any case, they had another enemy to worry about. He wondered how they knew who Paul was and manage to prepare a trap in advance. But first, he had to talk to Paul about this whole incident.
“So, you're a dangerous fugitive on your world?”
Paul sighed. “Yes, in a way. Let's say I stepped on one too many tails.”
“Seriously, who are you? You say you're a 'retired adventurer', but that's too vague. What did you do to piss someone off?”
“I overthrew the king in a game of darts, stabbed women and children to death and urinated on graves. All of them.”
Cizin gave Paul a look.
Paul looked back. “Sorry if I am being rude. But I have secrets that I would like to keep, as surely you do. Suffice to say, I mean you no harm. I could have left the battle while our opponents believed I was still unconscious, after all. But if you still wish to turn me loose and part ways, I will not object. I can find my own way from here.”
As tempted as he was, Cizin had to decline. He needed all the help he could get, and Paul had been nothing but helpful until now. Besides, now Cizin could relate to Paul being on the run. Not that it was a pleasant thing.
“It's all right, Paul. We have bigger problems to deal with...unless you actually weren't lying about those things.”
Paul stifled a snort.
“By the way,” Paul asked, as he wiped his nose. “How did you manage to fight like you did?”
“Fight like what?”
“I'm assuming you have never killed a man before. You do not have the eyes or gait of someone who has killed or even seen battle. Yet you managed to inflict crippling force, or at least severe injury, twice on a very competent fighter. Which I presume you did without training in the matter.”
Cizin thought for a while and reflected on the chaos. “I kind of... hesitated to shoot him at first, but later I realized I had to defend himself. It was only logical to go for the hands and feet.”
“That is indeed good judgment. And anyone who kills their first with neither hesitation nor remorse is not the sort of company I would be keeping right now. But that is not what I meant. I referred to, to be honest, your lack of experience.”
“He was holding back. Kept holding me at spear point and punching and kicking me, Abby and Leah. I took the opportunities that he gave me.”
“Really? I could not see. He must not be of an entirely bad sort then, leaving you rather unharmed considering what you did to him.”
“I guess. By the way, do you know any of them?”
“Not at all. Golems, however, rarely act on their own initiative. I do not personally know any golems, but it is a possibility someone I know is acting through it. Then again, though, that golem could merely be that group's property. Justice would be a fitting name for someone of that mindset.”
“'Kay. I think we should get everyone together so we can speculate and plan.”
“Fair enough. Oh, and Cizin, in the future, remember this regarding today's incident- I am glad that you risked your life and health defending me, but it is rarely wise to take advantage of a man's mercy- particularly when he has not showed you all his cards.”
“... that was stupid, huh?”
“It was your first time. Relax. Though if we meet him again, I doubt he will spare you again, unless he has practical and very strong motives for doing so.”
“I feel better now already.”
After tending to their injuries, and settling down at home, the four of them assembled again.
Cizin rubbed his hands. “Okay, so this entirely changes things. Let's review what happened. We found a source of magic. It turned out to be an ambush. That elf fucker triggered a trap, blew Paul across the room, accuse him of being a criminal. We get into scuffle, they win. Now, these are a group of people who I presume are in the same situation as us. Chac is probably from around here, judging from his accent and appearance. But this shit absolutely fucking fails to make sense. Why would they instantly attack instead of allying with us and backstabbing Paul later? The elf guy said something about enough power being able to send him back to his world. Why did this 'Chac' guy jump into the fight? What has he got to gain from this? And how the fuck did they know Paul was here? I got a dozen other questions, but they can wait.”
“My theory is”, Leah began, “Chac was simply roped into this. He seems naïve enough, and he certainly doesn't mind the risk to life and limb. And the reason they attacked now is probably because they were chasing leads like we were. They set up a magical beacon, either because they want attention, and detonated it when they realized it was Paul, or because they specifically want to get at him. As for why they attacked Paul in the first place, who knows? Maybe they have something special against him. Maybe we should ask Paul?”
Paul shook his head.
Leah waved her hand. “Whatever then. Could be that they were lashing out at whatever they saw as an familiar enemy in this strange new land. I could relate. But I'm more interested in the implications of their existence, though. We had no clue they existed. There weren't even traces of anything magical around here, and then they show up. I think this means we have to look harder. There could be more people like them in hiding, only perhaps helpful.”
“Agreed”, Paul said. “But I doubt we will ever get close to them if they hide so well.”
“Exactly. We need a plan to draw such people out rather than to seek them. It'd help that we could meet them on grounds of our choosing, in case things get ugly.”
“How about we do the very same thing they did? Magic beacon and all. Find an abandoned building and whatnot.”, Cizin suggested.
“Risky.”, Leah said. “Assuming the shade is no longer active- I doubt that's the case- we will probably run into those elven nutbags again. Which brings me to this question- Cizin, where can we acquire weapons and armor here? I don't want us to be caught that unprepared again.”
Cizin smirked. “I know just the place.”
“Whatever. Get us something we can use. We have another concern...Cizin, you also probably know how to handle this best... how can we get these fake policemen off our tail, or keep them from recognizing us? It's likely that they will recognize at least Paul, if he is really a wanted fugitive from Amytlei.”
“Not much we can do. I think wearing a hat, sunglasses, scarves, other concealing clothing, should help protect my and Paul's identities. And to take care of Abby as well, since she may be wanted, too. At least you're probably unknown, Leah.”
“Gee, thanks. So, our chief concerns are- weaponry, staying inconspicuous, and luring additional help in.”
Cizin thought of his previous list. “Don't forget figuring out who Abby is.”
“I suppose, as long as it doesn't conflict with the other goals. So, Abby, Paul, any thing you'd like to add? You've been silent so far.”
Abby startled, disrupted from a slight daze. “Um... no... Well.... how do we know that there's someone after me?”
Cizin sighed. “Again, you're a defenseless, mysterious amnesiac chick with unusual hair and an entirely unknown background discovered in the middle of a massive magical migration. What are the odds you're NOT going to turn out to be crucial to someone's master plan?”
Abby stared in blank confusion.
Cizin looked away. “Nevermind.”
Paul gently snored, propped against the wall.
“Good idea”, Cizin said. “Got fucking work tomorrow.”
Without excusing himself from the table, Cizin left, plopped into bed early and slept off the soreness all over his body.
Chapter Ten
Cizin woke up before his alarm went off. It was the first time in a year this had happened.
Cizin made sure to remind the others of his usual instructions- call or have Abby email him from his laptop if anything goes even slightly wrong, don't touch it if you don't know how it works, don't use any magic unless not using it will result in horrible death, and don't dare step outside unless not getting out so also results in horrible death.
Cizin drove to work this time- he would be seen by fewer people, at least. He looked at and carefully inspected every car around him, in case someone was following him.
Eventually realizing no one was following him, Cizin relaxed and drove as usual, contemplating solutions to his problems. Until he realized that a secret organization would probably assign teams in different cars to tail him. He resumed paying too much attention to every single other person in a car, mentally flinching whenever even a vaguely familiar face or car came his way. It was going to be a long day.
Cizin arrived at the office very tightly wound. It was not to get better. He worked in silence for most of the day, trying his best to avoid as many people as possible and keep as low a profile as ever. So, he didn't have to change his routine.
Cizin called home at lunchtime. Not much was going on, fortunately. Leah drew up a plan to create a magical beacon and (great minds think alike, don't they?), Paul slept (as usual), and Abby watched the news all day.
The day was fortunately uneventful, if boring as hell next to getting into fights and playing with magical forces.
Cizin stopped by the local gun shop on the way home. It was certainly a suspicious move, but the possibility of being unprepared wasn't much nicer.
Cizin handed Leah a plain but functional replica cavalry saber. Funny what they stocked sometimes.
Leah examined its weight and balance before placing it back in its sheath with a faint, satisfied smile.
He tossed Paul a pair of large bowie knives, which Paul caught and stowed without further word.
Abby got nothing.
“Oh, and over the weekend, remind me to take you guys to the firing range. I really think you would all benefit from being able to use these.”
Cizin pulled out a few newly-acquired automatic weapons of various makes and calibers. He also had a hunting rifle at home and a couple of shotguns, though he certainly would not be carrying those anywhere that he didn't absolutely need to.
Leah unfolded a large poster.
“The plan should be simple, though it will probably get pretty complicated when something goes wrong.”
“When?”, Abby asked.
“When.”, Leah responded.
Abby said nothing.
“Well, there's always freak chance. Anyways, we find an abandoned building. Cizin in the back, gun ready in case something needs to be shot. We'll bring something to enchant- probably best that it's food- it's easily eaten, which will destroy the enchantment quickly and cleanly should we need to. It's going to take a while for me to enchant something, so Paul will have to keep guard, probably from an elevated position. Abby will be with me, on the phone, in the event law enforcement must be summoned. Obviously a very last resort, though. She'll also call Cizin if need be.”
Cizin thought for a while. “We'll have to have an escape plan ready, too.”
“You'll have the car parked right outside your position. Leave without us if you need to.”
“What? You'd just let me ditch you like that?”
“Chances are, if you have to run away, we're all screwed anyways. If you're discovered, we are also screwed, just later.”
“Maybe.”
“Actually, Abby will stay with you. Take her with you if you must leave.
“Alright. I hope you're okay with this, too, Paul.”
Paul slowly nodded.
Cizin drew a deep breath. “Okay, I know an abandoned hotel. Pretty decrepit place, but it's in a part of town relatively free of people, including cops and troublemakers. We can make quite a bit of noise there, and it's not that far from here.”
Cizin leaned against a slightly cracked window. It rained outside. Great, time for a dramatic old battle in the rain. Sigh.
On the plus side, reduced visibility reduces the chances I'll be spotted. Aaaand on the down side, I'm probably not going to be as able to hit something outside.
He waited as a faint, penetrating eerie white light seeped through the place. He hoped it was the result of Leah's magicking, at least.
One hand rested on window sill, another lay ready on the holster of his handgun.
It was only two minutes into this operation. Leah said it would probably take four minutes to gather enough aether to make a decent signal, so the soonest someone would arrive was then. It didn't help that she was basically improvising what amounted to a lighthouse for magical creatures.
He hoped he didn't have to go for a rematch against that crazy elf guy. He wasn't sure even a headshot would stop that guy- he had fought full force even with a pierced leg.
Just as well. Cizin ran through theoretical contingency plans to pass the time.
Abby was waiting in the corner of the room, with a baseball bat. She wasn't looking particularly calm, either, fidgeting with a walky-talky. Cizin had remembered he had walky-talkies as leftovers from his zombie apocalypse plan, and everyone now carried one. He still brought his cell, and Abby had one, too.
Cizin didn't want to risk talking to her and distracting the both of them from potential threats. She probably didn't have anything interesting to say, anyways.
He examined the window. It would probably break easily with a chair or bat through it. He hoped it would break easily enough to climb through. Thankfully, he brought his towel. At least it would make escaping through window remnants that less...slicey.
He mentally chuckled at the thought of wetting it and using it in hand to hand combat. Convenient that it rained outside.
He should have brought three more towels for everyone, he thought.
There was a crash from across the building. Abby clicked on her walky-talky.
“Uh...Paul... what was that?!”
Paul's voice came through quietly. “We have company. Probably same guys as last time. Get ready.”
Cizin undid his gun's safety and readied it. As the team's lifeline, he'd more or less have to sit this one out. If he was captured, recognized or injured enough, it would likely mean the end of the other three.
That was why he broke out the rifle and ski mask.
“Cizin? What are you doing?”
“Being prepared.”
“Wha-”
“Quiet. If I'm needed, you're staying behind. I'm not getting you shot or stabbed, okay?”
“Okay...”
Cizin waited.
Leah came over the walky-talky. “Cizin, get out of there! It's over.” There were a few grunts and the sound of metal meeting concrete. The resignation in Leah's voice bit at Cizin's heart.
“Ah, goddamnit.”
“What?”
“We're playing big damn heroes. Get ready.”
“But she s-”
“Follow me at a distance, stay low, and keep your eyes open.”
Without waiting for any response, Cizin dashed towards Leah's position, down the hallways, into the dining room that held the beacon. His heart beat like the rifle he was holding was probably about to. How hard could shooting a guy with a spear and a guy with an axe be? Huh? Huh? Oh god I hope the golem isn't bulletproof. Oh god what am I doing? Can I even shoot this thing?
Leah was backed against a wall held at spearpoint.
“Well, shit.”
Art, Justice and Chac stood around her. Venus and Paul were nowhere to be seen.
Leah, cut and bruised, stared in surprise at the masked and heavily armed Cizin leveling an assault rifle at her attackers from the side.
“P-p-put the sp-p-pear down.” Cizin immediately regretting letting his voice tremor. He was definitely not cut out for this. He wasn't sure if he could even bring himself to shoot at another person.
Probably should kill the golem first. It's not alive right- just a robot. But what if the elf is too fast? Or Chac has a gun? He isn't stupid enough not to, is he? Oh no oh no oh no focus Cizin focus.
Cizin's best attempt to rally his courage was interrupted by Art's sudden shout.
“Justice, keep Leah busy. Chac, get Abby. I'll take down the gunman.”
Oh joy he forgo-SHIT
The spear almost instantly embedded itself in the wall, inches away from Cizin's head. He fired off a burst at the cluster of people. The three of them swiftly dispersed before the bullets fired, Justice ramming into and pinning Leah against the wall, Chac running to the side, and Art dodging and spinning his way towards Cizin. Cizin's frightened hands barely had time to track the rapidly moving target, and was about to fire when Art swiped at the rifle, elbowing Cizin in the chin and twisting to wrench the rifle away, all in one move. Art now held Cizin's rifle to Cizin's chin.
A saber flew across the room and connected with Art's back. Unfortunately for Cizin, it wasn't the blade that landed, and the impact didn't even attract Art's attention.
Cizin could do nothing than stare in abject terror and bewilderment at the man pointing the gun at his face. It was probably the longest five seconds of his life. Before he remembered his hands were actually right next to the gun. In a fit of desperation, he flipped the rifle's safety.
Art moved the barrel at Cizin's shoulder immediately afterward and fired, resulting in a pitiful “click” and Cizin's breath of relief.
Cizin's backhand meeting Art's face helped along Art's resulting surprise.
Art managed to still roll with the blow, and swung the rifle by its barrel. Cizin crouched in response, so that the gun butt only grazed his head. The strike still staggered him enough for Art to follow up with a knee to the head. Cizin's world spun terribly as he stumbled backwards, and his vision was half filled with off-black.
Art dropped the gun and lunged at Cizin with a hook to the chest and series of jabs to the head. Cizin blindly fumbled with parrying each blow, failing miserably as his hands were brushed away like pine branches.
Cizin fell backwards, out of breath and barely conscious, as Art left and retrieved his spear from the wall.
Abby ran, as directed. Chac chased after her, axe in hand, fortunately not appearing like any kind of mass-murderer. Abby sure didn't want to take any chances, though, and kept running through the lobby, praying each room she entered was not a dead end. Chac was gaining rather quickly, until Abby remembered she also was carrying a weapon. She tossed the baseball bat behind her, but Chac easily sidestepped it without slowing down. Now only a dozen or so feet separated them, as Abby ran again. She suddenly remembered she had a walky-talky. She was about to throw it before she realized she had hit a dead end. She had hit a closed-off section in front of the restrooms, both of which had their doors locked and probably rusted shut. There was only one option now. Both of her hands went to shield her head as she cowered.
“Aaaah! Please don't hurt me, please please please, I didn't do anything wrong to you guys, I didn't want to hurt you, please please please please please!”
Chac looked taken off guard at her sudden pleading.
“Um... I'm not going to hurt you. I just can't let you leave here. Sorry?”
“Oh thank you thank you thank you!” Abby wasn't sweating, but she still wiped her forehead in deep-hearted relief. “I'm so sorry for what my friends did, please don't kill them, please, I don't have anyone else!”
“Wait, what?”
“I...don't know where I came from. I don't know. They're the only people I've known. Don't hurt them.”
Chac gave a faint, reassuring smile.
“I can't do anything about it, but my crew probably won't go that far. Art wants to find out more about that Cizin guy.”
“How do you know his name?”
“Erm...divination spells.”
“Divination spells?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why do you still want to find out more?”
“Um....”
“And why are you even hanging around them?”
“Well, duh.” Chac put his hands on his hips. “I'm the chosen one.”
Abby boggled. “Uh... huh?”
“Art said so. He said I have the makings of one. I've got a whole elven destiny prophecy thing devoted to me.” He beamed.
It did not occur to Abby to find a way to attract help, or to distract and sucker-punch Chac. What did occur to her was that maintaining this position as long as possible probably wasn't a bad idea, since she didn't seem to be in immediate trouble and if Cizin got out all right, he could come fetch her. Except that he was probably insane. A chosen one?
“Aaand... what does this chosen one do?”
“Something about a prophecy to save the world from sure destruction from untold horrors from beyond.”
“Untold horrors from beyond? Huh...”
“Yeah. Real neat. He's given me some warrior training and stuff, so I can do stuff like this!”
Chac flourished his axe, but caught himself just in time to avoid giving Abby an opening.
Abby couldn't wait to get out of here.
Justice pinned Leah against the wall, crushing her slightly from the sheer weight. Leah squirmed to escape. Seeing Cizin being disarmed out of the corner of her eye, she summoned the last amount of freedom and leverage she had in her position to roughly throw her sword at Art's back. She failed to hear any reaction or the splat of blade meeting flesh, so she knew she had missed.
She then remembered what exactly it was pinning her. She wrapped her extended sword arm around its neck and thought hard of breathing in, only at a spiritual level.
Leah was silently thankful, then, for the Earth's pathetic level of background aether, as it meant that she was short of aether after her brief scuffle against three adversaries. But the golem was anything but dry. And against all odds, it apparently had relaxed or lacked the usual built-in defenses against this kind of thing. Wherein she then drained Justice of most the magical energy it contained.
Art had just retrieved his spear when Justice flew clean across the room in a spectacular splash of flame. He turned to engaged the new threat and saw Leah charging at him with her sword, hands glowing with newly-acquired arcane energy.
His eyes opened slightly, as he parried the sudden strike and countered in the same flowing motion, slightly cutting Leah's arms and shifting her off balance.
Leah was also silently thankful she brought her plate mail this time, as it took the cuts and allowed her to thank Art for the opening with a steel-and-energy-clad fist to the face.
Paul walked down the stairs. He was covered everywhere in cuts, his coat ripped, an eye blackened, and probably a rib or two cracked. He had a rather pleased smile, considering. Both of his knives were stained in blood, but very shallowly.
He walked towards the nearest source of the rest of the ruckus.
Art rolled with the punch, twisting his face to the side to deflect the worst of the blow, and met Leah's strike with his own as he turned, a hook to the chest. That she was wearing a metal breastplate did not dissuade him from hitting her quite hard, as she flinched for a split-second from the blow, and continued her assault with her hands crackling with yellow-white lightning.
Art easily dodged the remainder of her attempts before almost nonchalantly perforating her a few times with his spear, dropping her immediately.
“Damn, these people never stay down.”
He spun, spear extended, to meet Cizin. Cizin still lay, dazed, on the floor, much to Art's relief.
Behind him, Abby stuck her head out of the next room with a loud “Hi!”
He turned around again, in frustration, and charged at her...before realizing that was probably a bad idea.
Paul landed on him, foot-first, with a very painful-sounding crunch.
Art managed to flip back onto his feet, amazingly enough, and swung at Paul, who dodged out of the way. Paul was roughed up again, and Art showed little sign of slowing down. They exchanged swings, parries and kicks, Paul barely keeping up with Art while Abby crept past them both to where both Leah and Cizin lay.
The golem, of all people, then barged into the fight, slamming into Paul, knocking him off-balance. Art bashed Paul with the handle of his spear. Paul landed onto the dirty carpet, struggling to get up as Art carefully placed a boot on his neck.
“Justice, see to the oth-”
They were all gone.
“Goddamnit. Get Chac and Venus, if they're still alive. We're getting out of here and turning this bastard in.”
He looked down at Paul.
“We sure got lucky today.”
Chapter Eleven
Cizin tried to recall what just happened as Leah placed her healing hands on his head and Abby kept lookout. He retained just enough function to drive the car a suitable distance from the hotel, hoping the mental impairment he felt was only temporary.
“Wow. At least we're not dead, huh, Leah?”
“We had to leave behind Paul.” Leah had patched up her wounds earlier, bandages wrapping around her stomach. “We all got our asses kicked.”
“Ah. Did we at least get one of theirs?”
“Sorry. I managed to really drain the golem, though.”
“You can do that?”
“As long as it's not protected, its energy is up for grabs. This one wasn't protected, oddly enough. Most are. But enough, Cizin. I think we should go back.”
“What?”
“They. Took. Paul. I'm not leaving him behind.”
“I'm not dealing with that fucking elf again.”
“Shut up. He would do the same for us. Besides, they might torture him to tell all about you.”
“You don't know that! It's probably too late.” Even as he said this, Cizin restarted the engine and drove back.
They returned in time to see another car speeding away from the hotel. Cizin couldn't make out much of its passengers besides a huge man in a trenchcoat. Must be Justice. He smirked as he followed the car.
It was likely luck that Cizin, with his awkward and now-headache-impaired driving, followed the car for several minutes without arousing suspicion.
The car entered a forested hill overlooking a nearby abandoned building. It was small, though inconspicuous and rather clean for something that was apparently derelict.
Sure are a lot of abandoned buildings being involved for shady magic crap.
He parked a safe distance outside and he, Leah and Abby observed the building.
The car's occupants left it and entered the building, Justice draping Paul's unconscious form over its massive shoulder. Art knocked on a door. After a short wait, and possibly some conversation, the door opened, and the four of them, plus Paul in tow, entered.
They have allies. Or at least someone willing to take them in with a prisoner.
Cizin picked up his rifle, glad Abby decided to take it with her as she dragged him and Leah along.
He considered the possibility of sniping someone through one of the windows as they showed up, before remembering he had little experience shooting that far under pressure. Besides, who knew if someone else indoors had guns too? Or bows or crossbows or magic zappy sticks that would surely kill him just as nicely and messily. Maybe he could lure them outdoors from a covered position, and pick them off one by one as they fled back indoors?
Leah, too, pondered their options.
Abby interrupted, “Can't you use divination, Leah?”
Leah frowned. “You mean, like prophecies, and farseeing and shit?”
Abby nodded.
“Yeah, I've never heard of that stuff in practice. It isn't possible with the magic I know. Who told you about that?”
Abby related what Chac told her.
Cizin groaned. “Idiot played one too many JRPGS... Well, they know who I am now, and I am NOT letting them get away with that. We simply can't retreat here. Otherwise, lord knows what'll happen to us at home. ”
Leah stared at the building. “Well, I think we should flank around the building and find a back entrance. If we're quick, we might be able to get in unseen, or at least seen too late.”
Cizin stared at her. “I was thinking it'd be better to lure them out. Pen them in, maybe run 'em over with the car.”
Abby looked down. “Maybe we could just knock on the door and ask to be let in.”
Everyone ignored her.
Leah thought for a while. She looked very closely at the windows... there were shapes standing guard at the windows. This had to be a paramilitary compound of some kind.
“Fuck it. I just came up a great idea. We are desperate, right?”
Abby sat in the driver's seat, hands firmly locked, foot prepped on the metal. Leah and Cizin sat in the back, with assault rifles at the ready.
None of them had their seat belts on.
Cizin looked at Leah and Abby with a bit of apprehension. He hoped there would not be much accuracy or driving skill required for this.
Why are we even fucking considering this again? Son of a bitch, this is going to suck if it doesn't go just right. I hope Leah doesn't accidentally shoot me.
Cizin fired a single pistol round into the air as Abby revved the motor.
A bearded man clad in rags slightly opened the door in alarm. He gaped in shock when a car flew out of a hill to his left, the air surrounding it bursting with torn tree branches and flung dirt.
Cizin somehow found the presence of mind to fire into the door as the car sailed through the air into the building.
Abby, Leah and Cizin dived out of the car as it entered the building.
The resulting crash utterly blew out the front wall and the car went up in flames.
Well, no car now, all or nothing.
Abby, Leah and Cizin burst in, guns blazing, blades swinging. Everything that moved that wasn't them or Paul received a good measure of lead near it to scare it off or shoot it apart.
Justice charged towards them, but was knocked down by loads of badly-aimed automatic fire.
Cizin changed a clip, and Leah clumsily followed suit. Abby followed in back, baseball bat in hand, struggling to keep up and stay on guard.
Unkempt men in ragged coats emerged from various rooms and pulled sub-machine guns.
Cizin's eyebrows flew up as he shoved Leah behind cover and ducked. Abby also fell back, as a storm of rounds showered around them but failed to draw blood.
What the fuck. Cizin returned suppressive fire and shouted at Leah to do the same. The hobos fell back. Why are there machine gun hobos here? Leah threw a magically-lit molotov cocktail to isolate a group of ragged squatters charging his flank. Cizin sprayed at the first group of hobos. Dammit, where's Paul and those fucking elves and stuff? Cizin screamed, partially as a battle cry and partially because he was quite scared out of his mind, as they pushed farther into the building. Abby whacked a hobo in the face.
The hobos were mostly kept behind cover due to the spray of lead, but Cizin knew this wouldn't last, so they had to keep moving.
They found Art, Venus and Chac in the very back of the building, clearly shaken by the sudden intrusion and gunfire. They clearly were not expecting this.
Cizin and Leah levelled barrels at them. I hope they weren't bright enough to bring guns.
Art hands went to a holster, but Leah fired a burst, which utterly missed, but apparently cowed Art enough to place both hands on his head instead. Venus and Chac did the same. Chac looked just as scared as Cizin.
“Dammit, I missed.” Leah brandished her gun like a spear. “Where's Paul?”
“He's in the building behind us.”, Chac whimpered.
“Hope you didn't accidentally shoot him”, Cizin muttered.
“Out of the way”, Leah, yelled, as she charged through. Art, and Venus let her pass, while Cizin rifle-butted Chac out of the way and took his wallet.
A hobo with a knife charged into the room to be surprised unconscious by Abby's baseball bat.
“Hurry up, guys! They're kinda regrouping!”, Abby screamed.
Cizin noted that both Art and Venus looked quite beat-up despite their respite, and Chac wasn't looking too pleasant himself. Maybe that explained the sudden lack of fight? Or else it's a trap...this is ridiculous.
He inserted himself into a corner, covering both Art's group and the entrances to the room. Leah emerged with Paul, being sure to keep him out of the hobos' lines of sight.
“Yes,” a voice screamed. “it's coming! You will all die now!”
Uh oh. Cizin leaned into the entrance with the enemies outside and carefully blind fired a clip, hoping to shoot whatever was coming. He suddenly felt a very primal dread deep in his heart...
Oh god, no, I don't want to be eaten...
“Oh hell no. Shade!”, Leah said in a very low voice.
Paul yanked away Venus' sword in anticipation, while Abby hid in a far corner.
The screams of the dying filled the room, as the hobos outside died rather gruesomely, some appearing as if the life had been strangled out of them, froth pouring from their mouths, faces reduced to horrific, grayed... crusts, and hearts and chests burst open without warning.
The environment darkened considerably.
Art suddenly produced a sharp light from his hands while swearing rapidly under his breath.
The light managed to relieve some of the dread.
Leah joined in, her hands also glowing with light, from the energy she had stolen from the golem.
Suddenly, a massive, extremely tattered gray sheet floated through the air and swooped down at them, through the ceiling. Venus nimbly leapt out of the way, and the gray cloak lunged at the nearest person- Art.
Art managed to yell and struggle as the cloak flew at him, latching onto him. He managed to forcefully push it off, his hands actually withered from the contact. Cizin fired into the cloak in a blind panic, not caring for he hit, but his rifle only issued clicks, not that he cared in his panic.
The cloak flew past Leah, visible draining the energy from her and withering her hands and legs as well.
It flew straight at Abby, ignoring all others.
Abby screamed. Paul lunged at the shade's form, only to be forced to jump back upon his blades' touching it, the very blade reduced to iron flakes.
Abby continued to scream and writhe horribly under the shade's assault. Leah, her weakened fingers struggling to so much as move, sprayed bullets into the cloak in sheer desperation, then followed up with a magical flash of light, which did absolutely nothing. Abby's form fell to the ground, still and stiff, and the cloak stopped moving.
After a minute of terrified silence, Abby stirred.
Cizin's, already internally screaming with fear, cried out, drew his pistol and fired into it. Dammit, has that thing taken over Abby or something? Oh Jesus Christ no no no no no no no! I must put her down!
Abby ignored the bullets entering her through the sheet and got up, letting the cloak falling to the ground, inanimate.
She seemed... serene. But the sense of dread was gone. Entirely so.
Everyone stared and paused, scared stiff.
Abby regarded every one of them, with both eyes, her bangs shifted to the side. She looked perfectly normal, except for the blazing, steel look in her eyes.
“Thank you. That was quite a treat.”
It spoke just like Abby, but more controlled, more mature... more... sure.
“I have to hand it to you, you did a great job of protecting me. I'm afraid it won't make up for your wonderful escapades earlier, animals.”
She spoke with a malice entirely unlike Abby, yet strangely quite natural in her voice.
“You used us, you bitch!” Cizin screamed in panicked irrationality, as his second clip entered his gun and he fired at her. The bullets passed through without effect.
Abby evenly gazed at him and smiled in the most horrible but sincere fashion.
“Time to die.”
Suddenly, Leah surrounded Abby in bright magical fire. Abby uttered a horrid wail completely unlike anything Cizin had ever heard before. His ears bled slightly. Cizin wasted no time in running past her out the door, cursing the lack of other exits.
Five minutes later, having run out at top speed and his legs completely on fire and unable to so much as twitch right now, Cizin flopped down in some nearby woods with Leah and Paul.
“Well, that was scary and sudden. Really scary and really sudden. Scary and sudden, scary and sudden, scary and sudden...”, Cizin muttered, his brain having angrily quit on him during the recent overtime.
“What the HELL just happened there?” Leah was still completely white through with terror, although some of it may have been part of the shade's effects. She struggled to heal her shriveled limbs.
Paul simply stared at the ground, eyes wide open, apparently unsure of what to even think.
Art, Venus, Justice and Chac had disappeared, and Cizin presumed. But he had no time to care.
“Holy shit guys! I FUCKING TOLD YOU SHE WAS FUCKING TROUBLE IN ONE FUCKING WAY OR A-FUCKING-NOTHER.”, he roared, barely aware of his words.
Leah slapped Cizin. “Snap out of it! SNAP OUT. Abby's become some kind of monster. She'll be coming after us any time now!”
Cizin immediately sat down, now slightly back to his senses. “There's no way... how could she show up now? I … we... we can't do shit. If she shows up now, we're fucked. FUCKED.”
Abby walked in.
“HOLY SHIT.”
Cizin fired his completely empty pistol at her, the rate of his frantic clicks resembling a machine gun, then turned the barrel upon himself, the clicking rattling against his own skull.
Leah desperately prepared a feeble magical flame, while Paul simply knelt down, shut his eyes and prayed.
“Aaah! Aaaaaahhhh! Don't shoot, don't shoot! It's me, Abby...”
Abby unexpectedly prostrated herself before them, her bangs covering one half her face as before. She spoke as before.
Cizin stared in complete confusion, his clicking slowing down as he processed the words and then mentally rebooted every time.
Abby was in tears. “Oh god. Please, I won't hurt you. Don't leave me. Please...”
Leah stared at her in rage and panic, presenting some form of complex hand gesture. “Get away, Spawn of HELL! Back to hell with you, and with the monster within you.”
Abby continued to prostrate herself.
The same inhuman roar as before echoed all around them from within the distant building.
Paul continued to pray.
“Wh....wh...wh...what? It's... not...you?” Leah's eye twitched.
Abby looked up, tears shining on her face. “I... I can explain.”
Cizin's functional consciousness had left him entirely during this sequence of events. He stared dumbly at Abby without so much as breathing audibly.
Paul was not much better. He continued to pray while seated, his eyes wildly darting around now and then as he looked up in fear.
Leah spoke with Abby.
“What happened there, monst- Abigail?” Leah tried her hardest not to stutter, squirm or hiccup in fear. Everyone sat at least twenty feet away from Abby.
Abby stared into the dirt, not daring to make the slightest eye contact.
She spoke softly and with great paint in her voice.
“Guys... I-I used to be an amn-n-nesiac.” She drew a deep breath. “But I'm not human. You probably can see. I remembb—b-ber n-now. P-p-part of my story began a few hund-d-r-dred years. Ag-g-go. I'm not ask-king you to believe this, but... please hear me... it's th...the truth...” She took another deep breath, collecting her thoughts and burying her head in her hands.
“I came from... far away from here. It was a few hundred years ago, I was assigned to Earth. We... we... my species... travel the galaxy, devouring anything we find. I was an advance scout, sent for Earth. It was fifty years I was here. I was to... see if the population was worth eating... I sometimes took human form, like now, and I...” She buried her head in her hand, completely despondent.
“What? What?” Leah tried hard to keep her voice below shrieking.
“I concluded... Earth was good for harvesting a few months ago... as I prepared to leave... I was attacked. I don't know who did it. I was attacked by humans. They hurt me badly, unlike anything I had ever seen before. I still killed them all, but it was horrible. Then I started to pass out, and then I tried to seal my main personality in a human-like personality, a shell of sorts, so I could go into hiding...I don't know what happened then, but when I woke up, I was a human, i-i-in mind. I... had forgotten everything thanks to my injuries, but the old me lay hiding. You... you guys found me. I.. .don't know how I got where you found me- I had never seen you before.”
Abby sighed, her voice weighted with fear and sorrow.
“Then...I woke up. The shade attacked me. I don't know why, but it was something like what I was used to... back on my home... world? I.... felt the instinct to devour it... it was horrible, but it gave the real me enough strength back to break out of me...and then she... it?... she hated humans for hurting her. She hated humans terribly... she wanted to kill you all. She's so mad. I don't know why. But I didn't want her to hurt you. I couldn't do anything, only watch as she tried to murder you all. Then Leah attacked her, saving me. It weakened her concentration enough for me to try to escape. I don't know how I did it. I struggled in her mind, and managed to take part of body with me... and I ran as far as I could... I saw you... you're all I have...”
Abby shuddered and stopped talking, head completely entombed in her hair, arms and lap.
Leah listened carefully.
Her expression softened, but the confusion was still all there. “I... I'm sorry? Must have been rough... huh?”
Abby slowly nodded.
Paul looked up from his prayer, looked around again, and then looked straight at Abby.
“How can we stop 'her'?”, he whispered.
Abby lifted her head ever so slightly, still staring at her lap. “Runes. Protective circle. I'm... still remembering what happened... humans... surrounded me with runes. It hurt.”
Cizin looked on, barely comprehending all of this.
Leah tilted her head forward in thought. “Can you draw me these runes?”
Abby softly nodded, and slowly traced a very complex pattern on the ground with her finger in dirt.
Leah, upon looking at the finished figure and failing to recognize it, finally had a realization. “I'm... sorry Abby, but I'm not sure if we can trust you. It could be a trick.”
Abby stared forward, without reaction. She had expected this. Her face was totally still, her breathing quiet.
“But... I think I have something that will help... if it doesn't, we're really fucked... it's the most powerful spell I can make....it's called a geas.”
Leah tried to explain as slowly as possible, looking for some sign of comprehension in Abby. She continued anyway.
“It will bind you to a set of conditions we both agree on. You agree not to do certain actions... if you break it, the spell will detonate and turn all of your soul's energy upon you... it's instant death, and extremely powerful… but I saw... you may not have a soul... and aren't human... it may not work, but I suppose it's the best I can do. Do you want it?”
Abby slowly nodded.
Leah carefully approached Abby and put her hands on Abby's shoulders, Leah's hands shining with a soft light. She silently mumbled under the breath, and gritted her eyebrows in intense concentration. She spoke after a few minutes of focus. She gritted her teeth, mulling over her words as she spoke, slowly and carefully.
“The being we know as Abigail... you will never to harm or betray us, directly or indirectly. You will never to allow us to be harmed or betrayed or assist those who would do such things. You will always protect us when possible and never falter in this duty when you can help it. you will never lie to us or omit important information unless you genuinely believe it will directly help us, in which case you will say you cannot tell us. And you will avoid compromising our security in any way, whether it be mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically. Do you agree to bind yourself to all of the above, on pain of death?”
Abby softly whispered back, “Yes.”
“I've probably forgot something or made a loophole somewhere... can't help it.... *sigh* oh well. I'll trust you now, Abby. I'm not sure the spell's retribution will work if you break the contract. I suppose that's why I'm trusting you right now, Abby. ...Geas!”
Abby sighed slightly in relief as a surge of invisible magical energy swept over her, but kept staring into the ground.
Leah, stood, terribly exhausted. She looked into Abby's eyes.
“Alright, so we make runes and trap it. That's not going to be enough, I can tell. What else do we need?”
“Normal weapons don't work... fire will work. Fire and electricity. But they don't work very well. It only hurts, it's not permanent... Ugh...most magic won't work either.”
“Okay. I trust that's all you know?”
Abby nodded, silently.
“Get up. Look at me. Come on. Look me back in the eyes.”
Abby haltingly stood up, weary and hurt. She slowly looked at Leah, meeting her stare with big sad eyes.
Leah looked back. “Alright. Let's go. We can't something like that around. It'll rip this town apart, who knows how much else. Cizin, Paul, snap out of it.”
Paul got up, hunched and even more tired-looking than before.
Cizin slowly looked up and then snapped to an upright position. “I'm not leaving that thing alone!”, he shouted, as if automatically.
Leah eyed him with suspicion. “Abby, can you list what 'she' is capable of? Mind control?”
Abby shook her head. “She can move in hyperspace, mostly shifting out of sight and reach, and take horrible blows without trouble. She can change shape, slice things apart, fly, and is really strong. I... I'm not sure what else she can do... it's been... so long since I was her...”
“Can you do those too?”
Abby looked down again, unsure. “I...I think so... maybe... I think so.”
“Then Cizin's just gone nuts again. Well, Do or die, Abby. Let's go.”
They walked back, as doomed heroes do. Leah slowly engraved a very wide perimeter of runes roughly a hundred feet away around the building, letting the others keep guard while she finished the circle. Abby paced frantically, as she was the only one aware of her own capabilities.
The thing-that-used-to-be-Abby roared as it noticed them. It stormed out of the building in Abby's shape... only more mature, more sinister and considerably more twisted. It still looked human- but in letter, not in spirit. It disappeared the moment it set foot outside.
“Oh no, she's coming!”, Abby squealed.
“Buy me time!”, Leah roared.
Abby screamed as something invisible dragged her in. She futilely clutched at the ground. “Help me... I don't want to...die!”
Cizin shot at the approximate location of her assailant, to no effect. Paul tossed magical fire at it, also uselessly. Abby was pulled into thin air, and disappeared.
Suddenly, a black line appeared across and through Cizin's leg, tearing it open. Cizin screamed, as Paul threw fire around but not at Cizin. Paul was rewarded with the monster's scream, as something invisible felt the flames.
Leah continued the perimeter, making it wrap around smaller in hopes that the monster was stupid enough to stay in the same location. She knew damn well this was probably not the case, but any bigger circle would take far too long.
Paul spread fire all over the area, hoping to ward it off. Cizin clutched at his leg, but no wound was serious enough for Paul to let down his guard to treat.
Paul was practically elated at the lack of continued assault. Until he somehow felt something big moving towards Leah. “Oh shit.”
He ran towards Leah, yelling at her to defend hserful. Unfortunately, this lapse in defense caused him to meet Cizin's fate as something unseen tore into his shoulder and torso. He fell to the ground unmoving.
Leah heard him and then blazed with fire all over, despite her great fatigue. No spot, save the runes, left without fire and even parts of the the ground were scorched away.
The monster charged at her and Leah heard the flames scorch something as a scream of pain shattered her eardrums. Guessing the creature's approximate location, Leah hastily finished the circle and activated it. Immediately a humongous...black, writhing thing appeared and a vortex formed around it. Leah dared not look at it, for that way surely lay madness.
She heard Abby mutter, “Well, there I go. I'm sorry....” from within the beast.
Paul yelled “Hell no, you don't!”, as he reached into the and grabbed at Abby.
The monstrosity crackled with otherworldly energy as Paul pulled Abby out of the wind and monstrosity onto soft dirt.
The thing just disappeared. Not a fizzle of energy, not a flash of light, no roar or hiss or click- the monster simply ceased to be there anymore.
Paul stared in amazement before remembering he was covered in a massive chest wound and one of his arms was practically laid open to the bone. He passed out.
Chapter Twelve
Cizin woke up. He lay in his own bed. The clock read five o' clock AM. His sheets were there, his clothes were there, his gun was on his bedside dresser as he usually kept it there. Thank God. Just a dream.
He tried to get up, and crippling pain ripped through his leg. He looked down and saw a horrible scar, like an earthquake fissure lying on his left calf.
He fell back down and yelled in pain.
Leah and Abby walked in. Cizin screamed in terror as he saw Abby, before he suddenly remembered what happened.
“Ugh!”, followed by a shocked gurgle, was all he could manage.
“Okay, so little miss defenseless girl with the funky-assed hair here is actually a hideous alien genocidal monstrosity's discarded split personality. Great, did I enter some crazy Japanese cartoon porn? Because you must be f-”
“Cizin! Be civil, goddamn it. Abby saved our asses.” Leah looked like she had multiple hangovers stacked on top of each other in addition to being beaten half to death, with an attitude to boot. Cizin was in comparable shape.
“Really now? I'm pretty sure this scar reaches a few inches into what could be considered my buttocks.”
“How pleasant. Look, Ciz. I'm still recovering enough aether to finish healing that, and I just finished un-shading my own hands so I can actually do that. Wait your turn.”
“Oh, fucking good, because I have work in... four hours. Less than four hours. I'm going to need this shit stitched up as soon as possible. Now... I have probably thousands of fucking questions as to what the FUCK happened last night. Abby being some kind of freakin' monster is only related to a few of them.”
“Well, that's why we brought Abby here. You're going to have a lot to answer, Abby. Let's wake up Paul first.”
Abby did not look particularly happy or sure of herself. Understandably.
“Okay, so, first things first. Who are you, Abby?”
“Um... my name is-” Abby then made a shrill, horrid noise for several seconds.
“AGGGH. What the fuck was that?”, Cizin screamed. “It sounded like a million demonic dolphins fucking at a monster truck rally while everything explodes, only played back extra-fast. GAH.”
“Sorry! I... I don't think my language can ...”
“Alright, what can we call you then? Is there some kind of translation?”
“Translation...”Abby thought for a while. She twisted her face in deep thought and consideration...then shrugged and looked at a complete loss.
Leah, after nursing her still-tender ears said, “I think the beginning part of it kind of sounded like “Ab.... something something something- I don't think there are words that sound anything like any of the rest...so... we'll stick with Abby.”
“Why not.”, Cizin muttered. “Okay, what species are you? Can you describe them?”
Abby emitted another horrible noise. Cizin twitched in pain, which only got worse due to his cut leg.
“Gah! More dolphins!”
Abby's jaw dislodged awkwardly.
“Uh... I don't think human mouths are made for pronouncing my language...erm...”
“Alright. We'll just call you all freaks or something. It works. So, Abby, how do we know we can trust you?”
Leah jumped in. “I put a spell of geas on her. It backfires on her if she breaks the promise she agreed to. It may or may not actually work if it should trigger. But really, I don't think.
“Okay. Do you plan on eating us?”
Abby's voice radiated pain. “No, I would never!... that would be... h...”
Abby put her head in her hands as she contemplated it and shuddered.
“I think I should handle it, Cizin. You're being too fucking delicate for her.”
“Whatever, princess.”
Leah rolled her eyes.
“I wish. Okay, Abby, what happened to that monster? What exactly was it, and what did we do to it? Are there others like it? What do we have to worry about it.”
“Um.... that was... me...sort of... part of me? Um... she's like me... only not.” Abby grabbed at her hair in frustration. “... well... I'm not sure what we did to her. The runes caused me... her... horrible pain earlier...”
“Well, now that I think about it, those runes look a bit like runes of banishment.”
Seeing the fearful curiosity on Cizin and Abby's faces, Leah continued, “Basically sends something somewhere else, provided it doesn't resist too hard.”
“Hmm... interesting. That some people of an unknown faction would try teleporting a monster somewhere, let alone try to fight it. Definitely something higher at work.” , Cizin pondered.
“No doubt. Paul, would you know anything of this?”, Leah asked.
Paul sat up, in clear pain, a large scar running across his shoulder. “I... I have no idea what happened.”
“By the way, what did they do to you when they caught you?”
“Cizin...I don't recall... they injected me with something... likely a soporific. I managed to come to in a dark room when I heard gunfire. Then, I walked out and Abby got eaten by a shade and then how did you put it... shit hit the fan?”
“Actually, I, uh, ate that shade.”
“What?!”, went three other voices.
“Yeah... I don't know how to explain it, but the shade was something that felt... usable. It was disgusting, and not made of flesh, but it had energy I could use. I don't know... something within me wanted it, and I had to defend myself. Next thing I know, the other me is crying out in rage, and I lose control.”
“Alright... so, what about any other aliens? We know the one that was you got sent somewhere. And where did that one... erm, where did she get sent to?”
“Um...I think we're safe, actually. I have no idea where 'me' went... probably where the people that attacked me wanted me to go... but, the others are far away. The way they work is they send one of them...er, us, them?... to a planet. They won't do anything until that one returns with information.”
“Oh good. That means we'll just meet them later, not now.”, Cizin groaned. “And odds on seeing mysterious evil Abby are pretty much 1 now that we have to bring her up.”
Leah glared at him. “Shut up, Ciz. We don't know that. Abby, what condition are you in? Are you going to flip out at any point?”
“No! No, of course not! I'm not like her... even though I was... I-I- I- I'm not sure at all. But I really don't want to hurt anyone.” Abby said that in a way that was the furthest thing possible from a threat or excuse.
“Eh... she's just another stranger, I guess. I trusted you two, Miss Paladin and Mister Mysterious Knives. I guess I can trust Miss Alien Monster as well.”
Paul softly chuckled.
Cizin continued. “I'm probably making a mistake, but let's face it... we have much more mundane threats to us right now. This is just another risk I'm taking, what the fuck. I mean, we haven't heard jack about the conspiracy guys who are doubtlessly on to us, the elf and his buddies have a building filled heavily armed friends dressed as homeless people, Paul and I are cut up as hell, and my car is missing. Wait, how the fuck did I get home? This isn't a dream or illusion or something?”
Leah looked at him with concern. “Well... uh... Abby says she carried us all home.”
“Wait, what? Without being seen, what the fuck?!”
“Er... tell him, Abby.”
“I, uh, can travel fourth-dimensionally. And carry you all without having to be seen.”
“What's that?”
Abby sighed in anticipated dread, much like Cizin tended to when explaining something totally unfamiliar to people who probably needed it explained several times over.
“Okay, so, uh, i-imagine you guys are 3-D space. A box, of sorts. There's three axes, x, y, and z, like on a graph. x and y are side to side, more or less, z is up and down.”
“Math. Yay.”
“Cizin, shut the fuck up. Abby, ignore him.”
“So, so, uh, each of these axes is a dimension and a direction. Only one direction would be the first dimension, a line, like a number line or a timeline, there's only two ways you can go. Two directions is second dimension, a geometric plane, like, paper or a TV screen, you can go anywhere as long as it's on that plane. Three dimensions like swimming, you can go up or down as well as anywhere on, uh, x and y. Four dimensions is the same as three dimensions, but now I can move out of the reality you can see, in a fourth dimension. It's really hard to visualize... let's go back and simplify it... let's say some people live in the second dimension- don't take offense, I don't mean to imply anything, sorry, um.... so say you live in the second dimension. You can only see stuff that exists in a flat sheet. This is your reality, all you see. Uh... I would be a third dimensional thing then. I could be in your reality, but I could move up or down, and you wouldn't see me then unless I intersected with your plane of reality, and the stuff in your plane, I could go above or under obstacles without having to go directly from point A to point B. Get it?”
She roughly sketched a picture of a stick figure resembling her standing on a sheet, with a small stick figure Cizin on the sheet saying “I see your feet.”
Cizin nodded cautiously. Leah nodded and looked a little more sure, but she too was clearly straining to relate this all to what she saw. Paul showed no reaction.
“So... I can disappear from the reality you know of and show up somewhere else, ignoring obstacles and not being seen. I can sort of see through walls and into things, too, like you can see through a television. That's what it's like to be one dimension more.
“And... sorry if this is a surprise, guys, but I wanted to tell you what I'm really like. I... exist in fourth-dimensional space. I have human parts, and the rest of me that's not human is contained out of sight. At the same time. I'm not really like the others of my species. I'm not as powerful or as big as I used to be, since I only could take a small part of my body from the other me. And I can't really help it, I'm only comfortable 'here', more or less. I have some parts of myself in 4D, but... to be honest... 4D space kind of ...scares me.”
“Scares me? You're an alien, and you're used to it.”
“Cizin, you are not helping!”
“Er... yeah, it's freaky. The things you see... it's all vibrating and shadow-like and twisting stuff. I never looked at it as a human before...”
“So, why don't you go back to being all alien-y?”
“Um... I don't want to...I'm scared.”
Abby looked ashamed. Her voice trembled.
“The irony is overwhelming. Monster's scared of herself.”, Cizin felt the need to remark.
“I'm not a monster!”, Abby snapped. “I am a person!”
She hyperventilated and withdrew.
Paul put his good hand on her shoulder. “Don't mind him. You're still Abby, right?”
Abby nodded.
“Good. Breathe. If you need to breathe.”
Abby shook her head a little.
“Ah. Well, breathe slowly anyway. I'm sure it'll help. Calm down. Atta girl.”
Leah helped Abby out of the room.
Cizin plopped his head back down on his pillow. Leah could at least have immobilized the leg somehow. He made a mental note to self-learn first aid. This was all too much for him. Abby was a monster. He got his leg cut open by an invisible Abby-Cthulhu. He had a gunfight machine gun hobos after ramming his car into a building. Those fucking elves abducted Paul and also had guns. The conspiracy was everywhere. Leah turned out to be a horrendously bad shot.
He needed time to think about all of this.
Cizin stewed in a constantly rotating phase state of confusion, deep thought, pain and plain old unconsciousness. Somewhere around seven, Leah walked back in with a towel and a bottle of pain pills.
“Okay, I'm going to try to get your leg back in working condition. Hold still.”
Cizin downed a pill as Leah carefully lay his injured leg over the towel. Leah then, thought better of that, and gave Cizin the towel.
Pain crushed Cizin's leg to chunky applesauce as Leah held her lightly-glowing hands on the scarred section. Cizin bit into the towel with all his might as he felt an agony, equal to receiving the wound, smash his consciousness to smithereens, then slowly rebuild it, raw and flayed.
Cizin interrupted Leah with a grunt. Leah continued healing without looking up.
“What? I'm afraid I can't go slower. The more time it takes, the more likely a complication will come up.”
Cizin gestured to his cell phone by his side.
Leah handed it to him.
Cizin nodded for her to continue.
Leah gave him a confused look as he dialed.
“Hey, Boss...NGGGHHH.... GAH... Sorry, sir, I'm having a baaAAARGGGH sorry, bad day, I'm gonna need couple of sick da FUUUuuhhhhh.....uh... funny how I had a bit of an accident today, it's nothing too seriouNNGGHAAAAAAAGGG OWOWOWowow.... sorry. So, yeah, two sick days...GGGGGGHHHHHUHHHH..... Thanks! Boss! For! Your! GAH! CONCERN! Good Bye!”
Cizin dropped the cell phone, a smirk alternating with excruciating pain on his face.
The scar remained and it still hurt quite badly, but at least Cizin could walk now, and the scar wasn't painfully obvious. Leah had to take care of Paul and herself later, so this would have to do. Cizin couldn't just leave an eldritch horror from another dimension at home, now could he?
Paul had finished comforting Abby some time ago and went back to a long, much-deserved sleep. Cizin figured he could talk to Abby again. But Leah would have to supervise him, for safety.
“Alright, Abby, I'm interested in seeing what you can do.”
“Wha?”
“I'd like to figure out what strengths, abilities and weaknesses you have before my life potentially depends on those factors. I know we're going to be outmatched worse than ever now that aliens enter the picture. So, let's find out what you can do.”
“S-sure?”
“Alright.”
Without warning, Cizin punched, stopping just before Abby's head, stepped back, threw a foam ball at her head and then shoved a dumbbell into her hands.
She ducked after the foam ball hit her and didn't even notice the dumbbell in her hands for a few seconds.
“Hm... slow but strong. I wonder why you can lift it now? I guess you don't need to hide it now.”
Abby looked confused as she easily lifted the weight, despite her awkward grip.
“Leah. Now.”
Leah shrugged, and did her usual glowy-hands routine on Abby, making various gestures for a few seconds.
“Still no magic resistance, but her physiology, now that I try to understand it, barely resembles a normal human. Probably means black magic won't do much to her. Or white magic, either. Huh.”
Abby looked rather confused.
“Um, I'll explain how magic works to you later, Abby.”
As Leah spoke, Cizin punched Abby hard in the shoulder.
Abby looked down at her shoulder without so much as flinching.
“Hm... hold still for a bit.” Cizin bent down slightly and pulled out something.
Abby's face now held both anxiety and confusion.
After a few seconds, Cizin looked up at her.
“Wow...did you feel anything?”
Abby shook her head.
“Look at your left elbow.”
Abby slowly turned her left arm to look at it.
“Gah!”
There was a needle stuck in it. No blood, no wound, just a needle sticking out of apparently human skin.
“And you didn't even notice, Ab. Impressive.”
Abby looked faint. She gingerly removed the needle and handed it back to Cizin. Then remembered that she was carrying a dumbbell and gently set it down.
“Okay, we're going to have to do endurance tests. That means jumping jacks.”
Abby was still going strong at five hundred, although she was getting sloppy and rather irritated.
Cizin stared with a mixture of fascination and envy.
“Abby, hold still again.”
Uh oh, she thought.
Eight minutes and one extinguishing of a small fire later-
“Okay, so, according to our highly scientific method, you're physically powerful and/or tough, have a low pain threshold, not particularly bright-”
“Hey!”
“Well, yeah, I mean really, anyways, no observed mental powers besides now-explicable perfect sense of direction, does not need to breathe, weighs 263.3 freakin' pounds, still no magic and still eats a crapload, which kind of explains the density. All good, I guess.”
Abby finished her eighth ham sandwich. This was the only test she liked.
“Okay, so show us your 'fourth dimensional' mojo, Ab. Take your time if you must.”
Abby closed her eyes, inhaled and then faded from sight.
“Huh. So, you just turn invisib-”
Abby stuck her head out from the ceiling. Her upside-down face stared at Cizin.
“Okay. So you can teleport.”
“It's not teleporting. Teleporting is instant. I still have to move in and out.”
“Sure. So this lets you go around obstacles, right? And we can't reach you while you're in the fourth dimension.”
“Yeah.”
“Excellent. So, you can just snipe people from there when we're in a fight.”
“Err.... no.”
“No?”
“Um...I can't really hurt you guys from here. I have to drop back to 3D-space to hit you.”
That Cizin found talking to an upside-down girl's disembodied head only slightly surreal spoke much of his state of mind.
“Can't you do that crazy slicing stuff like before?”
“I could... if I had enough mass. Right now, I'm like a tenth of my old self. I don't have the muscle to actually slice anyone, and it's kind of gross doing that.”
“Can you just punch someone's internal organs from where you are?”
“Actually, no. I can see you guys kind of glowing from there. Um... I think I tried to touch the glowing a long time ago and I remember it really hurting, so I don't wanna try that.
“Glowing?”
Leah, idly reading the news, looked up with curiosity. “Could it be... she's seeing our souls?”
“What?!”, Cizin and Abby exclaimed.
“What color was it?”
“I... I don't know... it was glowing, but I don't know if it had a color.”
“That's probably a soul. It supposedly glows with a terrible light and doesn't have any color. And it overlaps with us, I guess it exists on this 'fourth dimension' in a way.”
“Alright, so no telefragging either way.”, Cizin muttered. “So, Abby, what else can you do?”
“I, uh, not much. I can turn into my old form. Right now, I'm keeping the non-human bits of me away from sight.”
“Good thinking, I guess. By the way, I didn't see what you look like.”
“Uh, that's not probably a good idea.”
“If you say so.”
“Well, this is a lot of process. I'll go bug you later, Abby. Leah, make sure she doesn't hurt herself getting back down here.”
“Uh huh.”
Cizin hobbled over to his laptop and checked the local news.
Thankfully, all evidence was found destroyed, as the building and surrounding had been leveled by the time the reporters got there. It appeared to have been all burned to a crisp and knocked down as if by a battering ram. If the conspiracy wanted it all gone, they would have made it look like a gas leak or something, not something unusual (but at least still not uncommon) like arson plus demolition. Cizin rested easy, looking at the (most likely undoctored) photos showed little identifiable in the ruins. He had just walked by the front door and saw his personal effects in a pile, so the odds that he could be traced back to this were fairly low. Still, it never hurt to stay on guard and assume the worst. This was almost too convenient, after all.
Cizin started listing ways to reduce his odds of getting implicated when someone screamed in terror.
Cizin limped at top speed out of the room with gun in hand. It would not be doing much good against Abby, he grimly mused as he, Paul and Leah burst into the bedroom.
He saw Abby huddling and shivering in a corner, staring blankly into space.
“Oh god oh god oh god why why why why why so terrible so terrible it's staring at me why does it have to stare at me why is it there why why why...”
Abby couldn't stop gibbering as Paul tried to get answers out of her.
Leah took point and Cizin swept the area with a gun.
“What was it, Abby? What is staring at you?”
Abby, still shivering all over, stared with wide open eyes at Paul.
“I saw myself.”
She then resumed silently muttering to herself.
“Oh god why those eyes, those eyes those eyes why are those eyes there....”
“Lemme handle this, Cizin. Paul, out of the way.” Leah extended her arm across her body and drew her knuckles across Abby's face with all her might.
Abby stared at Leah for a while.
“Abby, what did you see.”
“... I... I wanted to see what I really looked like. I looked in the mirror and looked at my real self.”
“You aren't used to what you really look like?”
“....no. I haven't seen myself since I turned human...like. It's horrible. So horrible.”
“Really now. It can't have been that bad. What is this, a Lovecraft novel? You're no Cthulhu.”, Cizin interjected.
“You haven't seen it...”
“Well, show us. Can't be that bad.”
“Cizin, please stop tempting fate.”
“Oh come on. Look at her. She's literally scared of her own shadow. I mean, you didn't pass out when you saw the monster yesterday, right?”
“We didn't get a clear look, Cizin.”
“Look, let's just get this over with. Abby, show yourself.”
“But... I can't-”
“Come on. We're all curious. Abby can handle it. Why can't I?”
*sigh* “All right, Abby, do it.”, Leah muttered.
“I-”
“No worries, Abby. It's not your fault if you drive us all mad. We're going to have to see you sooner or later, might as well be prepared.”, said Cizin.
“O-okay then. Uh... here goes.”
Cizin was suddenly underneath his bed. Muscles shaky for some reason, he got up, and realized he was kneeling in his own vomit. Or not his own, as he checked his mouth.
Nearby, Leah sat with jaw agape and Paul wiped his lips with his sleeve.
Abby stood in the same corner with a very worried look.
“What just happened?”, Cizin asked. He looked down and saw his fists were clenched white.
Leah sat speechless, for once.
Paul put his head in his hands and shook his head vigorously.
Cizin suddenly felt very little desire to ask to see Abby's alien-y form again. “Well, I guess that answers a few questions... I kind of blacked out there.”
He scratched his head in embarrassment.
Abby stared at him, still worrying.
“Let us never speak of this again.”, said Paul, as he reached for a napkin.
Everyone nodded.
“So far, the damage seems to be contained.”, Cizin said. “Abby doesn't seem to be kill-everyone-y, and I think my identity isn't publicly compromised. Big concern right now is tracking down that fucking elf. No clue how to start. Chances are magical beacon plan won't work again, now that we know they have access to guns and mysterious allies.”
“I guess. Who were those guys with the guns?”, Leah asked.
“I have no idea. They are probably with the conspiracy, though. Well... now that I think about it, we're not going anywhere without a car. There's only one thing we can do for now. We have to go shopping.”
Leah's eyes lit up.
Cizin checked off his grocery list. Guns, ammo, a new car, first aid supplies (including field surgery supplies, apparently Leah knew how to use them), and cigarettes. So many cigarettes. Cizin would be smoking his lungs out from all this bullshit. Paul still had plenty of coins left, and they went for a lot, so the costs were not a concern right now. Cizin was indeed tempted to blow the money on something fun to forget about his situation for a while, but he remembered that would attract attention and screw him over in the long run.
They had lunch at a local sandwich place. Abby got twice what everyone else did. Cizin made sure they sat in a far corner.
“You know, I didn't see what you actually look like. Can you at least describe it?”
Abby twisted her face in thought and opened her mouth several times, then stopped every time, frustrated and at a loss.
“Okay then. Do you resemble anything?”
Again, Abby made a bunch of noncommittal noises as she reached at a metaphor and promptly lost it.
“Big, dark, warped and full of tentacles.”, Leah remarked. “I didn't remember much else.”
“Tendrils! I don't have tentacles. I have tendrils.”
“Whatever, tentacle chick.”, said Cizin.
“Don't call me that!”
“Abby has tentacles!”
“I do not! Tendrils! They're tendrils!”
“Tentacles.”
“Nggghhh... Teeeendriiiils!”
“Shut up, kids. Someone'll hear you.”, said Leah.
“You're like a couple of years older than me.”
“More than that, mentally. Now, stop it, both of you.”
“Whatever. So Abby, I thought about what you can do... you can move stuff into this, um, 'hyperspace' of yours, right?”
“Yeah... but I can't hold too much.”
“Alright. Seeing as we're pretty much fucked if you turn on us anyways, I figured we might as well rely some more on you. Here.”
Cizin handed Abby a list.
“I want you to store those away when we get home. They're listed in decreasing order of importance, and I've put down how much each weighs as well. Carry as many as you can around and I'll ask you for them if and when the need comes up. Is that all right with you?”
Abby nodded and examined the list. “I can probably hold up to the ...uh...what's an FN FAL?”
Cizin beamed. “Excellent.”
“Oh, Paul...I've been thinking...”
“Hm?”
“Those guys wanted to capture you alive, right?”
“I am talking to you, are I not?”
“Right. I was thinking- what if you were the bait?”
Paul reacted rather reasonably to the question.
“Hm... I don't know... perhaps it would be a good idea. It seems dangerous, but if it is only my life on the line, I have no objections.”
“Good to know. For now, we'll lie low as before.”
The day ended rather amicably. Abby hadn't murdered anyone, and Cizin didn't feel like he was being tailed or suspected of anything. He got all of his preparations, plus a new car, out of it, and arrived home safely.
This means things can only get worse.
Leah sat up in her seat as they were a few minutes from the house.
“What is it?”
“Magic. I recognize it. It's that Justice guy... golem.”
“Great. Which way. Let me guess, an abandoned building.”
“That way.”
Leah pointed to a car driving driving away perpendicular to them.
*sigh* “I'm about to regret this, aren't I.”, Cizin groaned as he pulled a sharp U-turn followed by a right.
He followed the car. He couldn't tell who was in it.
After ten or so minutes car drove out of town.
Uh oh. Pretty sure they can see me now. No cars here. Was this a trap? How could they just let Leah detect the golem right away? Shit. Well, there's not much choice. Don't know if we can get a lead again before the conspiracy nabs me.
Cizin reduced his distance and kept driving, making sure to hide behind other cars when possible. He wasn't a good driver, but damned if he was going to fail to follow this possibly-critical lead because he was too slow.
About twenty minutes later, the car stopped outside of some sort of government compound. At least, it looked official-ish. Might not be government.
Either we're the luckiest bastards on Earth, or this is the king of all set-ups. Why would they go back to base?
Art and Justice emerged from the car, and walked over to the compound gates.
“Hm...Abby, can you teleport us in?”
“It's not really teleporting, and I'm not sure if I can hold you all, or if I should put you in the fourth dimension.”
“Why?”
“It's scary in there.”
“*sigh* I'd call BS, but the last thing you said was scary made me black out, so we'll do it the hard way. Fun time.”
Cizin watched Art and Justice. Venus and Chac must be in the car.
“Hm...I think we should get out and look for a back door of some sort.”
CIZIN AND CREW SNEAK INTO THE PLACE, GET SEPARATED.
Venus stood in the corridor, kindly smiling, sword by her side. Cizin was no expert on swords, but he could tell it was a katana of exceptional, probably even magical, make. He hoped it wouldn't get involved. Venus flipped through her long silver hair. Cizin slowly approached her with his rifle safety on, careful not to look too threatening.
“Oh heya, you must be Mark. Nice to meet you. Art said to guard this place, so I'm doin' that. Sorry, you're gonna have to find another way around.”
“Um... Venus, do you have a full name? No? Um... so, why do you hang around those guys anyway? You're clearly fighting for fun here. I mean, I can tell. Why not join us? We've got bigger guns.”
“Ah, no thanks”, Venus giggled. “I like Paul. Can't really dance with him if I'm with him. 'Sides, Chac's the chosen one. Can't really help it.”
“What? Dance? Cho-”
Venus lunged at him. Cizin lifted his gun, hoping she knew better than to try something. Unfortunately, she closed in much faster than he expected, slapped away his gun, and lightly punched him in the gut. Cizin tried to ward her off with the rifle butt. Venus danced barely out of reach as he thrust, then kicked him harder in the knee. He staggered and realigned his rifle to fire while backpedaling. Venus easily dashed in close again and batted away his gun completely, sending it flying. Cizin anticipated the worst shielded his face with an unsure boxing guard, thankfully absorbing a punch to the face.
He blindly lashed out to counter, striking only air and receiving a boot to the stomach for his trouble. He fell back.
“What's wrong, Cizin? You're kind of slow.”, Venus unmockingly, honestly observed.
Cizin would have seen red any other day. Instead, he drew his pistol and fired off a shot, surprising himself with his sudden lethal intent.
He could have sworn the shot was dead on. Instead, he was relieved of the gun without seeing anything other than a flash of Venus' hand. Venus jumped back, unharmed. It was then that he realized he was being toyed with.
Cizin's hand went to a knife on his belt. He didn't know how to use it, but it was better than getting the shit kicked out of him.
He lunged at her. She dodged forward, pinning down his wrist with her forearm, then placed her knee in his stomach again. Cizin grunted and promptly folded to the ground in pain.
“Hee. Come on, Cizin, you can do better than that.”
Cizin suddenly rolled over, smoothly throwing his knife in the same motion. That would have impressed himself if he was watching the fight. Cizin roughly flipped up to see Venus had caught the knife right in front of her face, but was clearly taken off guard by the sudden feint.
He took the opening to spring forward and charge her her, hands on her arm, attempting to push forward the knife she held towards herself.
She unexpectedly twisted with his lunge, sending him tumbling forward, destroying his grip. He knew then that the fight was over. He slowly rolled over, expecting a finishing blow which never came.
Venus stood over him. She slid the knife over to him.
“Come on. We're not done.” She carried a genuine smile. This could have been playing with dolls to her.
Cizin cautiously reached for his knife. He backed off in a crouched stance, knife pointing at her, desperation in his eyes. He looked around. Her sword was lying on the wall behind him. He wouldn't risk going for it- she was probably sure it wouldn't make much of a difference if he held it. You could never tell with these fight-for-fun types. He circled slowly, considering going for his gun or simply turning and running.
Venus, as far as Cizin could tell, wasn't the type who would , and he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to ventilate her just like that, or if he even could. He tensed himself for another run at her, then turned and tore hell out of the room.
Venus followed him without making a sound. Cizin ran as fast as he could, glancing back, and he could tell she wasn't spending any effort in keeping up. He sweated heavily, aware that she could easily catch up to him and beat him down where he stood whenever she liked.
He entered a wide hallway when he nearly bumped into Abby. She was also running, although not as desperately as Cizin was. He pushed her into Venus' path. Venus easily cleared Abby, tall as she was. Cizin stared at the leap, as Venus came down softly and without stopping, and swung at him again. He frantically dived out of the way, rolled awkwardly, turned, and stepped next to Abby.
Abby turned and looked at Venus, quite scared.
Venus was apparently happy that she had two challengers now.
Chac suddenly walked up by Venus' side.
Cizin took stock of the situation. Abby was running from Chac? Huh. Abby and Cizin faced off against Chac and Venus. Chac had his enormous axe out, and appeared winded, but unhurt.
Well, that wasn't good.
“Abby, gun.”
A pistol materialized out of thin air. Abby caught it and gingerly handed it to Cizin.
“And get something for yourself.”
Abby pulled her baseball bat out. It had a large chunk taken out of it, presumably by Chac's axe.
Cizin stared down Chac. Running would only exhaust him and Abby.
“Abby, can you teleport us out of here?”
“I.... I can't teleport. And I'm too tired to move you into hypersp-”
“Damn. We'll have to die here, I guess.”
“DIE?”
“Well, or get the shit kicked out of us.”
“Heya, Chac!”, Venus apparently just now took notice of Chac.
“Venus, did that guy attack you?”
“Sure did.”
“Attacking a lady. Despicable.”
Cizin frowned. “Um... what? She lunged at me.”
Chac shifted his axe onto his shoulder and stood proudly upright.
“Same difference. You gladly shelter a criminal like Paul Renato. And I cannot stand those who will so easily abide his crimes. Come and face me, scoundrels. Honesty and right will prevail.”
Cizin stared blankly. Chac actually said that. And meant it.
Well, Venus is going to kick my ass, but at least I might take this nutbag down with me. Hope he can't use that thing.
Cizin flipped his safety and shot at Chac's legs. Venus shoulder-rammed Chac out of the way, as the bullets ricocheted down the hall. Cizin switched targets to Venus, missing badly in his haste.
They should really prepare us for this shit at the firing range.
Abby hung back as Venus charged Cizin, casually slipping out of his shaky line of fire and again relieving him of his weapon, this time holding onto it herself.
Abby looked rather unsure of what to do with all the fast moving around. She looked at Chac, hoping he wouldn't attack her again. Chac recovered from the shove, and charged past Venus and Cizin, charging at Abby.
Abby suppressed a shriek as she stiffly held her bat horizontally above her head, praying she could hold off that humongous piece of metal heading towards her. The baseball bat held, amazingly enough, and Chac rebounded it backwards.
Abby sort of poked the bat at Chac. He batted it away and landed a respectable left hook on her shoulder.
He pulled back in confusion as Abby failed to register the punch. He punched her in the stomach, to no effect again.
Abby, quite frightened now, slapped Chac across the cheek. He stumbled backwards with the unexpected force of the blow. Then, Abby remembered she was stronger than she thought.
Slightly emboldened by this thought, Abby was about to take a swing when Chac suddenly got up and punched her square in the nose. She stopped as the punch did nothing.
“Huh.” Abby thought about it for a moment before Chac's axe slammed into her face. She was knocked slightly off balance, but ended up still no worse for the blow.
Chac sighed as he swung the axe at her arm, holding back enough to ensure a rather-painful-looking cut. It did nothing- she didn't even bleed. In frustration, he swung again, again to no effect, as she futilely tried to ward off his assault with her hands.
Chac then swung harder. Abby's elbow, forearm, wrist and hand landed on the floor beside her.
She looked him at a moment before uttering, “Owww!”
There was no blood. Instead, her stump crackled with a plume of black.
She picked up her arm, not entirely sure of what to make of this through her pain. Chac decided he was outmatched, apparently, as he pulled back beside Venus.
Cizin kneeled next to Venus, light bruises and a black eye on his face. He clearly had little fight left. He stared at Abby picking up and reattaching her arm with some confusion.
Venus grinned, and said, “Chac, why don't you go back to Art. I'd like a shot at this!”
Abby's face turned from confusion to dread as Venus charged her, this time with sword in hand.
Paul intercepted the blow with a knife, leaping from out of the blue.
Venus grinned even more as she dodged several very rapid swings. “Why, hello Paul. Another dance?”
“Let Abby go.”
“Sure.” Venus grabbed and dragged Abby behind her.
Abby wasted no time in taking Cizin and heading down the hallway, as the sound of steel on steel and bone on muscle rang out from behind her.
A mad dash later, Abby stopped to rest on some stairs, leaning on a wall with one arm supporting Cizin. It seemed safe now. She could barely hear fighting. Suddenly, a thumping came from above the stairs as Leah ran down, one of her hands clutching her limp arm.
Justice followed down. Abby yelped, and blindly pushed her free hand forward to ward off the worst of the collision. Justice's large clay frame actually flew a foot or three up before slamming back onto the stairs and tumbling all the way down. Leah barely dodged the rolling golem.
“Thank you thank you thank you!”, Leah quickly shouted, as she ran back up the stairs. “Come on. Don't let it get back up!”
“Okay?”
They ran up and beyond the stairs. “Why aren't there any fucking doors in here?”, Leah screamed, as the golem clambered over the stairs a hundred or so feet behind them.
“Which way?”, Abby yelled as the three limped towards a branching hallway. There were five paths.
“Um... that way?” Leah headed into a dingy-looking, unlit path.
The golem rapidly gained on them, appearing furious somehow. It fired a blast from its gun, which narrowly exploded behind them. They desperately ran through the darkness.
Abby, in the lead, suddenly crashed into a wall of some sort, ripping through it. Cizin stumbled over the remains of the wall, over it, and Leah barely managed to dive through the opening.
The golem continued running. Leah helped Cizin up as Abby recovered from the blow, and they continued running. A blue glow now emanated from a distance, without any particular source. They kept running. The golem seemed to speed up, now thirty or twenty feet from them.
Leah gained some kind of newfound strength as well, suddenly running a bit faster than Abby.
Leah suddenly swerved into an opening on the right, and Abby and Cizin barely kept up. The golem followed, via a violent shortcut through the wall ahead of the opening.
The golem found that they were gone. Utterly gone. It searched the area, but found nothing.
They found themselves in darkness again, the glow gone. There was nothing of the golem.
“Uh... Leah, what just happened?”
“I felt some kind of aether field... a strange kind, not like a spell, just a weird concentration of aether. We seem to have ran into it... and now we're here?”
“Um... let's go somewhere there's light.”
“Sure.”
They wandered for a few minutes, completely unsure of where to go. Someone suddenly burst out from behind them.
They screamed. Leah produced magical light from her good hand, straining to do so. It was Paul. He shielded his eyes slightly. He was covered in many shallow cuts and bruises. The area around them was pitch-black despite the light.
“What? Abby? Leah? Cizin? What are you doing here?”
“What's going on, Paul?”, Leah shouted.
“I lost my fight. So, I ran, and I heard you running with someone. I followed, dodged past that golem, and felt a strange sensation like more aether. And then I found myself in the darkness with... um, with you. I take it you followed the aether too?”
“Are you really Paul?”, Cizin spoke through a groan of pain.
“What?”
“Can't be too sure. Someone could be mimicking you or something.”
Paul sighed, and handed over the knives Cizin gave him earlier, and the knife he used to save Cizin's life a week ago. Cizin inspected them and handed them back, satisfied.
“So, any idea where we are?”, Leah asked.
“Nope.”, came three replies.
“Best get wandering then.”
Cizin's eyes should have adjusted to the dark by now, but it was still completely dark, and from what he could tell, Paul and Leah were just as blind as he was. Light magic clearly wasn't helping the incredibly thick darkness though.
“Hey... there's something here.”, Abby blurted.
“What?”, Cizin asked.
“There's a hatch of some sort on the ground a couple feet that way.”
“You can see in the dark?”
“Um... I kind of touched it.””
“Wait, wha- oh, right, tentacles.”
Abby gave him a hurt look. Or not, he could just barely make out everyone's outline.
“Well, I'm just glad I can't see your tentacles right now. Let's try it, I guess?”
To their relief, the hatch was unlocked and there was a ladder moving down.
“I will go first.”, Paul said. “If I at any time yell, abandon me and seal this hatch. I will signal you if it is safe.”
“Sure.”, Leah said.
Paul jumped down the hatch. After a few seconds, his hand came back up with a beckoning gesture.
Cizin landed hard, eight feet later. His cut leg flared in pain. He didn't bother to hide his pained expression in the dark. Leah and Abby climbed down after him.
Paul waved and his hand glowed with light. The four of them walked down a curved hallway. The walls were a shiny, dark green and flat obsidian-like material, without adornments or noticeable cracks. The air was still, heavy and damp, and the oppressive gloom ignored the light. They followed the hallway for a few minutes without encountering anything other than more hallway. Cizin felt like saying something to break the monotony, but he knew that it was important everyone remain able to hear clearly.
A loud, very distant voice eventually broke the awkward silence.
As they approached, it settled to some kind of dramatic speech being given.
Crazy ass-cultists, or some of kind of evil magician with an army?
A number of replies came to the speech. Cizin couldn't make out what was being discussed, but it was clear someone was angry. Suddenly, dying screams cut into the hallways without echoing, and a huge ruckus broke out from ahead of them.
The group ran forward in anxiety. Leah muttered what might have been a prayer, and Paul pulled his knives. Cizin thought better of drawing his gun, and also pulled a knife, not quite sure if it would cut it at this point. Pun intended.
They ran forward and came to series of identical, empty-looking doorways on both sides. The hallway terminated in a small, slightly ajar door. Cizin carefully looked into each doorway as the group walked forward towards the small door ahead, the source of all the screaming. They huddled around the door and peeked in.
Cizin could not make much sense of it. Leah, Paul and Abby stared forward in shock. A large amount of people and creatures he did not recognize lay dying, shredded apart. Only a single figure was standing next to the corpse of what appeared to be a dragon. A dragon easily a hundred feet tall. With its belly torn open. The figure appeared to be a man, clothed in some manner of light robes. No other details could be seen at that distance. The room was poorly lit and stank with blood and feelings of recent battle.
Paul faintly swore in a language that apparently did not translate well.
Abby's breathing came out panicked.
The person slowly looked up, apparently right at them. It walked towards them casually, with ill-meaning intent that made Cizin sick even at the great distance.
They withdrew from the door and huddled together.
“Oh shit, what do we do?”, Leah muttered uneasily.
“Let's find a way out of here. Search the doors here. That clearly isn't human.”, Paul answered. Paul's voice also shook with uncertainty.
“What do you mean?”, Cizin asked.
“He might as well be made of pure compressed magic, for all I know.”, Paul replied. “It is beyond the-”
Paul was cut off by a very loud ripping sound.
“Shit. What was that?”, Cizin asked, fear now creeping into his voice.
“Let us move!”, Paul shouted.
Cizin had no time to disagree. They dashed into a randomly-selected doorway, and blindly ran down it.
The person suddenly stepped out of nowhere a few dozen feet behind them in the main hallway. Cizin glanced backwards and ran faster, as the figure suddenly crackled out of existence. Cizin hoped it wouldn't catch up to them.
A massive beam of light annihilated everything immediately behind them with a deafening boom. Cizin ran as fast as he could, completely disregarding the crippling pain in his leg out of sheer adrenaline. Abby yelled in terror as the hallway in front of them was suddenly torn to shreds. Cizin stumbled and plowed through on the suddenly not-intact ground, not daring to stop for anything.
Paul and Leah dodged over the shrapnel and falling sections of ground, and Abby disappeared in midair and reappeared forward in time next to the others. The figure dropped from the torn ceiling, and ran after them. Cizin pulled his pistol and blindly fired off everything behind him without breaking stride or slowing. Another explosion and bright flash emanated from behind, and Cizin thanked his luck he wasn't dead, as the very noise sent shockwaves through his body.
They reached the end of the hallway, a small room with a small throne-like object, an upright hoop in the middle of the room. It faintly shined with energy.
“It's a portal! Everybody through!”, Paul yelled as he stood next to it.
“What? Bu-”
Leah cut off Abby. “No time!” She made a move towards the portal.
The man walked towards them, half a hundred feet away. His features and clothing could still not be clearly seen, but that didn't matter.
Leah stopped, mid-lunge, to look back. Cizin stared.
A huge, dark object lunged at the man and engulfed him. Another massive beam of light rang out, and Cizin could hear struggling and horrific, inhuman screams as he suddenly turned around and ran.
Whether Cizin ran into the portal after Leah out of fear of the figure or fear of what attacked it, he did not know. All he knew was darkness and a sudden sense of disorientation, then an impact.
After Paul followed Cizin, Abby took one last worried look behind her as she stepped through the hoop.
ACT II
Chapter One
Cizin crumpled onto something rough, hoping hard he was somewhere. He could barely see, on account of dirt.
Well, at least that was a comfort. He wasn't still in the fortress, and probably not in an alien dimension, on account of dirt.
He spent the next few minutes recovering, futilely wishing away the immense pain in his body from the substantial fall and his previous exertion. Someone walked overhead. Cizin hoped it was one of his buddies.
“Well, we seem to be safe from immediate danger.”
Cizin relaxed. It was Paul. Or so he hoped. Never could be completely sure, when one lost contact with one's teammates.
Cizin struggled through the tightness and heaving in his chest to reply as he slowly powered through his pain to lift himself off his stomach.
“nngh... Paul. Where are we? And how do I know you're really Paul?”
Paul replied, “I am clearly not. You're imagining me entirely, paranoid one.”
Cizin felt strong arms dragging him up, Paul roughly patted the dirt off of Cizin.
“You are merely hallucinating that.”
“I get it. Real helpful, old man.”
“More helpful would be some idea where we are.”
“Um...”
Cizin took a moment to look around.
“Um... a forest?”
“Really now. I was not aware that there were trees everywhere.”
“I'm sorry, I'm only familiar with a tiny part of my planet's surface, unlike someone who's life it is to walk the frickin' earth. We could be a few miles from home or on another planet entirely, for all I know.”
“Right. It would be best if we found the others.”
“On it. LEAH! ABBY! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS?”
“Cizin! We do not know who is listening!”
“So?”
“Cizin?”, Leah's voice cried out.
Cizin smirked. “See? Results.”
Paul sighed as they made their way towards the source of the voice.
Leah and Abby stood in a clearing a minute away.
“We have no idea where we are.”, Cizin said.
“We're in a forest of some sort?”, Leah guessed.
“Congratulations.”
“Oh shut up.”
Cizin pulled out his cell phone. The screen was cracked, but it still worked.
“Great.”, he sighed. “No service. That rules out anywhere within the United States. I guess we're going to have to find some locals and hope they don't try to eat us.”
Leah thought for a while. “There's quite a bit of aether here. It's like home, actually.”
“So, we're not on Earth?”, Cizin asked.
“I wouldn't say that. This might just be an aether-rich part of Earth.”
“Paul, do you recognize this place from the aether or whatever?”
“Cizin, I consider myself something of an expert of the land. These trees are not at all familiar, and the aether fields here are richer than I have ever experienced. We're most likely not in Amtylei.”
“So, that rules out the United States, Paul's world and possibly Earth in general. Great. I could be on another planet or dimension. Hey, Abby.”
Abby snapped out of contemplation. “Huh?”
“Sense of direction. Know where we are?”
Abby looked confused. “I have no clue. We didn't really travel here, so much as teleport, and I don't recognize here at all.”
“Should have bought that GPS app. Well, what do we do?”, Cizin asked.
“We find a high position so we can see what we're dealing with.”, Leah said.
“Alright. Paul, Abby? One of you?”
Paul was already gone. A nearby tree rustled as Paul quickly ascended.
“What do you see, Paul?”, Cizin asked.
“There's a city far away. It is about five days' travel away, and thick smoke rises from some impressively tall towers.”
“Can you describe anything else?”
“The buildings are unfamiliar. They appear to be... glittering?”
“Glittering?”
“They're made of what appears to be solid steel.”
“Anything else?”
“Do you have a spyglass of some sort?”
“Abby, binoculars.”
Abby pulled a pair of binoculars out of thin air and handed them over.
Cizin threw the binoculars. Paul caught them without moving his gaze.
“Well?”
“I see... hm... perhaps one of you should take a look. These do not look anything like what I am familiar with. As if... they were carved out of a single piece of steel. A single giant piece of steel.”
“Wait, are there runes all over them?”, Leah called out in excitement.
“Several. I cannot clearly see what they look like, but there are strange carvings at the tops of several of these chunks of steel.”
“Oh, Fate.”
“What? Leah? You know this place?”
“Yeah. A little place called Ketegam.”
Chapter Two
“Wait, what?”
“Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod, I'm home!”, Leah practically squealed.
“Hurray for you.”
“I'm finally back.”
“Huzzah.”
“I can finally see mom and dad! And you've got t- wait... oh.”
Cizin's expression was rather resigned. Abby looked dazed, and slightly horrified. Paul was grim as he climbed back down.
“Uh... I guess you guys are even more away from home, I guess.”, Leah said.
“Thanks. Well, it's your world. I expect you'll be guiding us here?” Cizin replied.
“I guess.”
A moment of awkwardness flooded the area with silence. Something similar to crickets chirped in the background.
“Well, we can figure out what to do once we're at the city. I'm not sure which city it is.... Cizin, you okay?”
“Yeah. Just a bit of a shock.”
“Really? You seem to be taking this well.”
“...yeah. I knew what I was signing up for. Bunch of guys with swords and armor show up on my doorstep, it's only natural I get out of my comfort zone.... and then some. Can't say I enjoyed my job anyways.”
“That's good, I suppose. Paul, you okay?”
“I am a wanderer by nature. If I seem unhappy, it is because my expertise cannot come in handy in a foreign world. I have few attachments to home. Don't worry about me.”
“Okay. Abby?”
“*sigh* One place is just as strange as another. Well, it sure beats getting eaten or blown apart.”
“Yeah...what the hell happened back there?”, Leah wondered.
Cizin suddenly recalled the events leading up to their teleportation here. Something was definitely amiss there.
“Okay... so, I understand we have bigger concerns right now, but while the memory is fresh, we need to connect the dots. Who was that guy?”
“I don't know. I've never seen such... that guy was exploding with magic. It was a fucking supernova. It's crazy.” Leah grabbed at her bangs in nervousness, before suddenly taking her hands off.
“Yes. I am not sure who that was, or why they would have a grievance with us. Perhaps some sort of guardian to whatever device managed to bring us here?”, Paul mused.
“I think so. But it was incredibly powerful. Even Hamul isn't like that.”
“Hamul?”
“He's the champion of the Paladins here. I mean, THE champion. He's all kinds of amazing, but not compared to this...and what was that thing that attacked that guy?”
“I have no idea.”, Cizin shrugged.
“... I think it was one of us.”, Abby whispered.
“You? You mean another abominations?”
“It wasn't me... it looked different.... I don't know why it was there, didn't recognize it. I didn't see it until it lunged at that person. But it couldn't have been anything else.”
“What the hell.”, Cizin grumbled. “This just gets weirder by the minute.”
“Well, can't do anything about it anytime soon. We can't stay out here too long. The sun's going to go down in four hours, and we're hardly equipped to survive outdoors. Best we hurry. If we can find one of the roads here, we can hopefully catch a ride before sundown.”, said Leah.
“Right. We can speculate as we're walking.”
“I would recommend against that. We want to have our ears open in case these woods are unfriendly.”
“Well, we've got to pass the time somehow.”
They trudged through a trees towards the city. Abby cringed in fear at the trees, staring at them silently.
“Scared of trees still?”, Cizin asked.
“I can't help it. They look like those runes.”
“They kind of do, huh?”, Leah chuckled.
Cizin's mind wandered. “So, Abby, what the hell was another eldritch abomination doing there?”
“Eldritch?”
“Means otherworldly.”
“Uh... if you mean that thing of my species...I think it was injured. It kind of saw me, I think. Tried to come over to me, maybe to talk and then that guy attacked it or it attacked him. I don't know.”
“Huh. So, that guy wasn't one of you.”
“Uh... I don't think we are capable of that stuff he did, the magic. I have no idea what went on, but he definitely wasn't like me. I'm... pretty sure that was human.”
“Pretty sure?”
“Um, his soul was amazingly intense. Like Leah said, it was like being next to a star. And I'm pretty sure I have actually been near a star. It was very hot and bright, and nothing can compare to it, really.”
“I'm sure. So, Leah, tell us more about this place. What is it like compared to Earth?”
Leah laughed in smug anticipation. “Oh, you have no idea. I'm going to have to pull your lecture routine on you, aren't I? It can wait until nightfall, I guess.”
They walked for hours onward, Abby and Cizin pestering Leah with miscellaneous questions while Paul silently took point. It got dark, and Cizin took comfort in the day apparently being as long as on Earth.
“So, you have a ton of magic energy here?”, Abby asked.
“Yeah, lots of aether. Spellcasting on Earth is really exhausting, and the magic takes a long time to get back. It was like being on a mountain, thin air and all. It's nice to be back.”, Leah replied.
“So, how's the technology here?”, Cizin asked.
“You'll have to be more specific.”
“Mmm.... weapons?”
“You have some idea, I guess. We have swords, crossbows, spears, wands, spell-staves...”
“Spellstaves?”
“It's basically a spear that's designed to channel raw magical entropy. Recent invention. Fun stuff. We should probably get you one. They're cheap and even non-mages can easily use them.”
“I'd probably do better with a crossbow... speaking of cheap, what's the currency?”
“Well, we do use gold, but I doubt Paul has much left, and it's not that big of a deal. The usual currency is enchanted objects, such as the rocks I had. Much more convenient than shiny metal. You can even draw from the magical reserves in an emergency.”
“Do you have much?”
“Uh... I kind of had to use the rocks, and they were already faded from Earth's crappy aether field, and I don't have anything else on me. So, I'm pretty much flat broke, and Paul doesn't have anything enchanted on him, I think.”
“Well, shit.”
“Well, it's not like I was loaded before, Cizin. I'm sure we can do a few odd jobs on the way to the nearest Paladin compound. ”
“Is that were we're headed?”, Abby asked.
“Yeah. We can enlist the help of the local Paladins. If not, I can sign you guys up as contractors so we can make a living while. Gold won't take us very far.”
“Sounds like a plan.”, Cizin said. “So, what are these Paladins like? What do you do?”
“We're law enforcement, in a way. We regulate the big cities and keep them safe, seeking out threats and destroying them, in exchange for a small piece of the warlord's treasury.”
“Huh. I always imagined Paladins as being big dudes in shining armor leading crusades against evil wizards and dragons and shit.”
“Well, that'd be kind of hard. Dragons have been extinct or near-extinct for a decade now. And we're hardly crusaders. Just everyday folk who decided on safety in arms.”
“Really? No dragons?”
“Yeah. Got wiped out. I suppose it was bound to happen, with Hamul on the job.”
“Don't suppose we'd like to meet him?”
“Well, he's a busy guy, 'cause he's our number one answer for all the big problems. It's rare to get a glimpse of him before he goes off.”
“Really. He a nice guy?”
“Yeah, everyone loves him. At least, everyone he's not fighting. He saves hundreds of lives just by being around. No one starts shit when they know he's around, and even when he's not.
“He's a hero, then?”
“Yep. My hero, my friends' hero, everyone's hero. If you're not causing trouble, he's a gift from Fortune.”
“Fate?”
“Ah...that'd be our, erm, hard to call it a religion... our beliefs? Superstition?”
“Tradition?”
“Whatever. We basically believe in Fate the weaver, the intertwiner of lives, sewing together timelines to form the tapestry of creation.”
“Poetic.”
“Mmm, yes. Of course, that's a big simplification there. Fate really is two hands. Fortune, and Fate. Fortune is the good half, associated with wealth and improvements in situation, Fate is the bad half, sort of, in that it represents unexpected (thus usually unwanted) changes and death. Hence the words 'fatal', and 'fortunate'.”
“Makes a lot of sense. Does....this have anything to do with the Fortunate Runes earlier?”
Leah laughed. “Maybe. I hadn't remembered that. Man, you have a good memory, huh? No, I've never heard of that spell, but it would make sense for a name. But we generally avoid referring to Fate and Fortune trivially. I'm not sure why, maybe its because it's respectful, but you better not use any words related to luck unless you really mean it was divine or something.”
“Don't take Fate in vain.”
“Basically. We also have a number of more formal religions and gods, though it's really not a big deal around these parts.”
Cizin waved his hand in dismissal. “Bore me with the details later. So, back to money. What are these 'odd jobs'?”
“Well, we'd sign up as Paladin contractors. We basically 'troubleshoot' local problems that require the use of force.”
“Sweet, so we get to explore dungeons and shoot things?”
“Why would we end up in dungeons? It's not illegal.”
“Well, I mean, caves and secret lairs and cultist hideouts and shit. Fun adventurer stuff.”
“Eh. Usually, it's just hunting down criminals or wandering a few miles out doors to deal with some pest that's been bothering townsfolk.”
“So... no adventuring?”
Leah suppressed a snort. “Noooo. There's no money in it, and I'm not the kind of girl who'd bother with that shit.”
“Really? Why?”
“Because I have better things to do.”
“So it's a hobby then?”
“I suppose.”
“But Paul is an adventurer...”
“Well, from where he comes from, adventuring might pay. Here, 'adventurer' usually means eager, enthusiastic young gits who think adventuring actually accomplishes something or rich folk with nothing better to do.”
“Alright then. So, is this contracting dangerous?”
“Hardly. You might get roughed up fairly often, but people know not to mess with the Paladins. As long as we don't go around pissing off everyone and don't charge into the woods screaming, we should be quite safe.”
“That's good to know. Mmm....