“Special Order Ovnen Aota. All legionnaires head to designated locations and perform anti-insurgency patrols. Squadrons XIII to XVI are to secure any breached zones at once. Heightened security protocols are in place. Requisition local guard forces as required and ensure hostile activity is pacified by any means necessary.”


    - Clover Legion Special Operations Order, “Ovnen Aota - Enemy/Hostile Action”


    <hr><hr>


    Something wet and squidgy touched her forehead. Sophie scrambled awake once again. Except this time there were no marble ceilings or gilded decorations. Only dull wooden planks and muted browns and yellows. As she lifted her arm, the squeak of her standard adventurer’s leathers were a far cry from night gowns or the Meltonian armor she often wore  months ago. The bed creaked as she shifted her weight and she sat upright, still dressed in almost full adventurer’s gear but clearly not in the basement anymore.


    A white robed priestess leaned backwards as she sat up. Their gazes meeting as Sophie slowly registered the lusterless, but still lively eyes. The priestess cocked her head in curiosity as she lifted a damp towel away from Sophie’s forehead, the source which had woken her up.


    “Oh. You’re awake.” The priestess stated emotionlessly.


    The woody almost damp smell of the room mixed in with the priestess’s perfume and Sophie unconsciously twitched as her mind ran into overdrive. A memory long forgotten was driven to surface, combined with flickers of meetings in recent time. Sara?


    “Sara?” Sophie gawked.


    “It is I. Are you well?” The priestess asked in a monotone, a fragment of a smile present.


    “I… yeah? What… what am I doing here? Where are we?” Sophie stammered out before letting out a groan, “Ugh.”


    “I found you sleeping in the ruins of a building. A bad choice, I must say. We are currently in a tavern.” Sara stated matter-of-factly, as if Sophie should’ve already known this.


    “Huh? What? The ruins?!” Sophie gasped, the ones where mana would kill someone?


    Sara nodded. Her eyes showing just enough emotion for Sophie to tell that the resurrected priestess was confused at her confusion.


    “Ah.” Sophie mumbled, right. Resurrect. She’s undead. Stars above… she looks so human.


    “Please. Remain here. I’ll go inform the others of the news of your recovery.” Sara awkwardly waddled out of the tavern room.


    Sophie felt a pang of sadness at how distant the priestess acted. They hadn’t interacted too much, but Sophie still remembered the kind and caring nature of the woman back when she travelled with Annalise’s party. Stars… and the rest of them are like this too. All besides….


    Click


    The doorway swung back open as a cheery if a little ragged looking man beam a gregarious smile at her. His casual demeanor masking the evident tiredness that was still etched upon his wrinkles. Arnold, the sole survivor of Runebound besides for Anna, waved to Sophie.


    “Well, well, the plunky little maid survives yet another dance with death. Good to see you’re awake.” Arnold grinned.


    As much as Sophie disliked him, she felt a sliver of calm at how expressive he was. How alive he was in comparison. It made her shiver at the idea of necromancy, worse still after the hard fought fight against the undead that had cost so much back at Eichafen. Especially for Anna and… she frowned at him, the rest of them.


    “You don’t look all too happy.” Arnold smirked.


    “Given what happened I doubt anyone would be happy.” She scoffed, “Where am I anyways?”


    “A tavern.”


    “Specifically?” Sophie growled.


    “The Mermaid’s Twist. A little… scuffed, today more so for sure. But a great place nonetheless.”


    “And how-” She began.


    “I’ll catch you up in a few minutes. For now, how are you? You think you’ll be ready to move about?” He interrupted and dropped his joyous expression, a more stern expression overtaking him.


    Sophie narrowed her eyes, her hands half clenching the bedsheets before letting them go. She nodded.


    “Good.” He let out a soft sigh, “Get yourself sorted and back to reality, hmm? We’ll be right downstairs, first room to the right.”


    Without any fanfare, he spun around and proceeded right out the door. But as she was about to step over the threshold. Sophie’s professionalism won out and she called out.


    “Hey. Arnold.” She muttered.


    “Hmm?” He turned about, his boots clacking right on the doorframe’s wooden beam.


    “Thanks.” She begrudgingly grunted.


    He smirked and winked before leaving. How annoying.


    Left alone, she flopped back onto the bed to stare at the ceiling. Her head ached but the pleasant memories of her time in the void beyond still flooded her mind. With a half satisfied sigh, she closed her eyes. Five more minutes. Five more minutes then I’ll go talk to them.


    <hr><hr>


    Things had definitely changed since she had last been here during her first semester. The interiors were simultaneously more gritty yet refined. Some home decorating done here and there that accentuated the remnants of countless adventurers who had started or ended their journey here with a fine mug of ale or ten. At least, that was what she assumed had changed.


    Right now, the Mermaid’s Twist was one of the few surviving buildings in the port district. The rooms for one now quartered adventuring parties whilst the main tavern floor and side rooms had been converted into emergency shelter and medical rooms. Countless adventurers and civiliains alike anxiously milled about on the tavern room floor, all in varying stages of shock at the day’s events.


    “This way.” A gruff voice called out to her.


    Like Sara, Thulgrim unnerved her. The dwarf’s normally alcohol laden speech was far too crisp and clear. Though whether it was for Anna’s sake, Mila’s, her own curiosity, or misguided obligation to repay those that brought here here or something else, instead of simply leaving the tavern, she followed the resurrected dwarf.


    He led her into one of the side rooms where the remaining members of Runebound were gathered. Sophie felt her chest tighten at the sight. It felt terrifically nostalgic and yet, horrifically wrong at the same time. Dressed in what could be best described as an incredibly worn suit of armor, the original leader of Runebound, Gil, waved.


    Thulgrim ushered her into the room before closing the door. The tavern door clicking shut behind her. No backing out now.


    The only two fully living people within the room finally had their gazes meet once more. Arnold wore an amused smirk on his face, far too delighted by her presence for it to be anything pleasant. Sophie meanwhile, tried her best to emulate Mila’s scowl. At this point, she was both curious to hear what they might have said as well as discover their purpose in having scouted the ruins. But she also felt that getting tangled up in whatever Arnold had planned would mean even more trouble on top of what she already had to deal with.


    “I’m here.” She announced.


    “That you are. Please, take a seat.” Arnold mockingly saluted.


    Sophie grimaced at his gesture but complied. She nestled herself on the edge of the table, keenly aware that Arnold very much did not have her best interests at heart. But he is still working with Anna, somehow. She vaguely remembered Mila’s warnings and stories about her old friend. None of it ended well and seemed to be a tragedy in the making. I wonder what power she has over him, or is it the other way around? Just what obligations must be there for someone so betrayed to be working alongside their betrayer.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    “Now that’s an unflattering look for you.” Arnold chuckled at her.


    Sophie was taken aback for a moment, looking bewildered by the strange comment. Her scowl returned quickly enough as she rolled her eyes.


    “You don’t seem entirely pleased with being here amongst old friends.” He motioned towards the party, “Admittedly, our time together was brief. But you were like a very memorable flash. And we did care about your well-being, me included.” He put on a pleading look that only annoyed her even more.


    Sophie wanted to retort, and yet, she could not. He survived a fight that was all but lost, abandoning his comrades when staying would’ve meant certain death. It was cowardly. Unheroic. But it was human and natural to embrace the desire to live. Alongside him, the others, though undead, seemed lively enough were it not for some noticeable shifts in behavior. He did not seem to puppet them or control them in the manner a necromancer might. Can I really… fault any of them, for what happened? Even him?


    As she looked him up and down. Her hands balled themselves up into a fist, before a low sigh was released, and they relaxed. She took one more look around the room. She finally saw adventures, comrades, and a man straining to always appear his best. She let out a soft snicker of her own before lazily sliding down into her seat. I can be cordial, at least. Though I doubt I’ll ever view him as anything but a coward. She huffed to herself.


    “So, you said you’d catch me up on things?” Sophie asked.


    “Aye. Cause remember how you and I had that little chat, you said you’d visit dear old Anna alongside that black hat? Where is she, by the by?” Arnold playfully asked.


    “She’s my business. Focus.” Sophie tried her best not to growl, “And yes, I do remember. After my community service is served and the semester ends.”


    “Well. The semester ends in winter, but your sentence ends halfway through the spring semester, does it not?”


    I don’t like this. “That is correct.” Sophie answered.


    “What if I were to say, that is, we were to propose an idea that’d see your sentence reduced or outright annulled.” He motioned to the party.


    “I vaguely recall something about it. If it endangers or harms the people of Arteria you can count me out right now.”


    “Nothing of the sort!” Arnold reeled back indignantly, his exaggerated action done with enough flair that Sophie nearly gagged on instinct. “In fact, I’d very much prefer if it was the opposite. That we do what we couldn’t back then. To help the people.”


    Sophie tensed up. Eichafen was a bad memory. Riza, fuck.


    “I mean it, despite the absolutely daunting situation we have given the explosion in the port. Which, that’s right. I almost forgot, I need to catch you up.”


    “Nevermind that part, I think I can get the gist. What’s your proposal?” Sophie dismissed it.


    Arnold’s eyes sparkled dangerously upon hearing this. Sophie felt her stomach drop. She had been reeled in already. Dammit. I didn’t even think before answering.


    He grinned properly this time, “Our party has done quite a few quests here after coming back you see. Throughout them all, I noticed something strange after one of them. See, one commission had us retrieving a basilisk heart. Which, okay, a little weird, but people who practice alchemy might need rare goods like that.”


    Sophie arched her brow, unfortunately curious about where this would end up.


    “We delivered it, of course, our honor and all. The client lived at a manor so someone else handled the hand off and reward, fair enough. But then after a day or two, we found another quest on the board, another heart, this time from a gargoyle which, “ he chuckled to himself, “A bit of a bitch to get.”


    “And?”


    “And it was suspicious. The ingredients they needed seemed overly organic in nature. Blood, organs, you get the idea. Almost like they were for a bigger ritual of sorts. So I had Sara keep an eye on the postings, to let us take the ones from the manor. Lo and behold, more requests for strange items.” Arnold’s smile turned into a frown, the man evidently capable of being less jovial when the situation called for it.


    “A ritual?” And what does that have to do with me?


    “Aye. Nasty one at that. A summoning ritual methinks.” He sniggered, “Nothing good, I reckon.”


    “And that involves us?”


    He nodded, pulling out a small flask to offer her. She naturally shook her head and declined.


    “Suit yourself.” He shrugged as he took a swing before continuing, “We suspect that the ritual is summoning something bad. And given that the requests stopped, I assume that they have most of what they need.”


    Sophie let out a small breath, “And we should stop them, or at least investigate?”


    He chuckled, “Investigate? Oh no, much too late for that I fear. We stop them when things go wrong. Given what’s happened today, I expect if anyone would want to cause chaos, it’ll be soon.” He motioned at her, “The guards could probably do with some help when that does happen.”


    Sophie leaned against the table and furrowed her brow. Her nose wiggling with distaste. That would mean he intends to let the ritual happen anyways despite his suspicion? Why?


    “Why?”


    “Really? I thought you’d at least get the gist of things.”


    “Just explain.”


    “Arteria’s gonna need a symbol. Someone they can raise up as doing their part. The ordinary guardsmen, sure, I guess. What if the young adventurer who unravelled a conspiracy cropped up once more. To guard the city in its time of need.” He pursed his lips, his fingers drumming against the table as he leaned towards her conspiratorially, “I’d scarcely see why anyone wouldn’t want to pardon such a person. It’s be a great inspiration for morale.”


    “You can’t be serious.” Sophie gasped at the implication. To take advantage of the vulnerable at such a time. How despicable.


    “I very much am.” He stopped right in front of her face before grinning, “And I see a hero, one who freed souls from the clutches of the dead, even stopped a civil war before. And she is, sitting, right, here.” He reached out and poked her with his finger.


    Sophie shuddered. Now I really don''t like where this is going.


    <hr><hr>


    Sophie raced towards the Noscali gate in a frenzy. She ignored the passerby''s, the ruins, the guards, the crowds, and the now slowly more orderly environment in the city. In the time she had reached the mana bomb’s center and now, order had mostly been restored with guards and checkpoints more orgainized than at the start of the disaster.


    She knew she stood out, that she’d only invite suspicion upon her for her actions. But she needed to speak to Mila. She needed the church, the inquisition or the templars.


    Her heart pounded so loudly that she thought the people around her would hear it. Her boots smashed against the cobblestone streets with a frantic pace, her legs already tired from all the exertion today only growing more weary with every step.


    What Arnold told her terrified her. He didn’t even bother trying to convince her to take the role. She had so willingly ran out the door to tell those who would.


    For he had shared the that although the ritual sounded malicious in nature, he tried to find sources on what might need those organic ingredients he provided. The conclusion he reached and shared with Sophie was a simple yet horrifying one. A dark summoning ritual. What manner of beast the accused intended to call out, he did not know. But Arnold was certain that it wouldn’t be anything good.


    In any other circumstance, that information would’ve been equally horrifying. One that spelled of a disaster to come. Of misguided and lost souls doing the foulest of deeds. But today was different. For today, disaster had already come. A catastrophe that engulfed the port district, likely part of a completely different conspiracy.


    But it was a day which was filled with death. Where loss lingered the air as much as the mana that now infused it. Rituals for summoning usually failed due to a lack of sacrifice or the exhaustion of the summoner’s mana.The result being that modifications might be made, or worse.


    Today was different. With the mana bomb, there was no chance of it failing, no chance of it simply not summoning something. Compounding her fears, it was likely that whatever was called through would be a being hungry for mana, one that would prove far too powerful or deadly for the summoner to handle.


    Sophie felt a chill run down the back of her neck. Like whenever It first sent me here. The entire area in the forest, I still remember. No one survived.


    She grit her teeth in frustration. Her mission was now clear. Inform the church, purge the evil, protect the city. It was even more vexing that as Arnold described the situation, she realized that there was nothing she could do to deviate from his plan. The pieces were already in motion for another disaster. And unless she wanted to simply let it unfold and watch more of Arteria burn, more lives to be lost and potentially even risk her compatriots, she couldn’t sit idly by.


    But as she got closer to the Noscali gate, she froze in defeat.


    The massive gates were filled with a wall of people trying to get as far from the explosion as possible and a large contingent of guards restricted all access. Those trying to skirt the queue were being forced back, by hand or by pike. Dammit, I don’t have time for this! I have to-


    She felt it. A sickening lurch that was all too familiar. The crack in the world as the fabrics of reality were torn apart once more. For her, it meant she was too late.


    She slowly turned in the direction of where the energy was calling to her from. Oh no, no, no, no. Her heartbeat raced to an end before almost coming to a stop completely. Part of the noble district borders the arena. Stars above, Goddess protect them. "Goddess protect them." She mumbled out loud. No time to waste.


    Lost in a frenzy, she dashed towards the redcloaks at the gates. The contingent of about fifty odd troopers quickly trained their weapons towards the fast approaching target, their words of warning lost to the wind. Bows were drawn, arrows nocked, while swords and pikes were pointed her way. Just as one of the halberds facing her got a little too close for comfort, she halted in her step, the sweat already forming above her brow.


    “Morea''s tits! Stop right-” The guard spoke.


    “Tell the church there’s an illegal summoning ritual somewhere on the southside. Now!” She barked at the wary man. Ignoring the looks of nearby onlookers and other guards.


    “Blasted, you… huh? Wait-”


    Without giving it a second thought, she pivoted on her heel, leaving the bewildered guardsmen behind and immediately started sprinting towards the source of the energy. Astralis give me strength. May your radiant light keep us safe.