Uh. It's been a while. Now I just gotta... Build and resolve conflict... Which is hard. I was never good with combining occurring conflicts into a larger one.

College has been more of a bitch since quarantine, but it allows me more time to my thoughts and stew in 'creative juices' (fecal matter and tears). With that, I should be writing more consistently than once per year, so that's good.

Other than that, I was interested in writing some Rainbow Six Siege, SCP, or FNAF fics. I'd think they were more in-line with my writing style, as I don't have to worry myself with world building and expansion. With how I like to pace things, I don't have to slow down to explain the surroundings for too long and create relationships (because they already exist!). So who knows? If I have any ideas or people would like to see it, I'll put it into action.

And after all that, Enjoy!

"S-so... Uh. W-huh, where do you... hail from? Sir?" asked the now sheepish officer, his face blackened from bruises and brown from the dried blood. Despite the officer's best attempt to make idle conversation, John simply sat, hands precisely caring for his firearms between his legs. His eyes however were wandering elsewhere, an almost empty and tired look gazed into the cracks and bends of the planks in the floor. John seemed to not care for the nurse tending to his minor wounds, a few scratches and gashes from the panicked sword slices he gracefully dodged.

"He's a professional... Uh. If I were to put it simply... A Mage-Killer Assassin?" joked Uri, in a futile attempt to ease the tension in the medical bay. The tension was so thick, you could hardly smell the decaying bodies of those John had slain.

"I mean after all, he DID wipe out my scouting unit."

*CLACK*

The sound of John chambering his pistol snapped, with him then proceeding to lay it on the nightstand besides him. Frightened the nurse backed off, unsure whether or not to continue. With this the officer nodded towards the door, the nurse taking no time to let himself out. The officer seemed to have a passing thought, and took a big gulp as he tried to gather his wits and resolve.

"I-I know that we... got off on bad footing. BUT~ I as a first-class officer can vouch for you to be employed as a leader of your own special unit. I know you'll be wel-" Interrupting the officer, John stood. John had the bag packed and in hand, proceeding to walk towards the door as well. Before he left however, John placed his hand on the officer's shoulder and looked him in the eyes.

"I want to hear none of it. We're going to Tristain" John said coldly, as he soon let the door slam behind him.

"So about that Job..."

...

"It's been a week since Foquet broke in the academy..."

"Yeah."

"We can't do anything against them. They have the wand of destruction."

"PLUS! They have all these golems that could activate at any time..."

"Every time we take one down, it seems another pops up somewhere else!"

"Hush now!" interjects a visibly worn and tired Osmond, as he tries to gain control over the meeting room.

"Yes, it is as you all say, this situation is a concerning one that we are ill-equipped for. We are so ill-equipped that we have shamed ourselves by allowing our students to go out in our stead." Everyone in the room silently hung their heads, at loss for what to do.

"However! With the sudden disappearance of several of our staff, it is an inevitable occurrence. We simply have to assist our students to the best of our capacity. Is that clear?" And with a resounding agreement, the meeting room was filled with murmurs of approval.

"Okay. That is all. Dismissed." As soon as Osmond said those words, the teachers dismissed themselves. Behind the door, Louise and the gang were waiting for the room to clear before entering themselves. Still seated Osmond was reading an almost comically large tome (oh shit. dead meme), comparing the images within the tome to a few sketches he had beside him.

"Excuse me." called Kirche, attempting to garner the principal's attention.

"Oh hello there, girls. So sorry to involve you three with all of this, but hopefully the teachers are kind enough to lend their assistance." Osmond then gestures them into the seats across from him, clearing his throat before he continued on.

"I was discussing with your teachers about what happened and what we're going to do about it. In short, you three have taken notice that immobile clones of Foquet's golems have appeared across villages and towns around the academy for some time..." The girls only nodded along, letting the principal continue on.

"And we hope to somehow catch Foquet and take down the golems with it... The issue is that they have the Staff of Destruct-" before he could finish his sentence, Ms. Longueville enters the room. However, she soon notices the situation she had walked into.

"Oh sorry, didn't know you were talking to someone." blushing as she said so.

"No worries! Plus, we were all wondering where you had gone." Osmond stated, with Longueville taking place beside him. After doing so, she began to report:

"Well I was going around tracking where Foquet had gone, and I think I might have found her hideout." When she finished, the others, except for Tabitha, seemed to perk up from those news. Without a second pause, Osmond then asked Longueville:

"Really? Then, why don't you take these three with you."

"O-okay." With that, they began to leave the room, almost ready to leave immediately. However before Louise could leave the room, Osmond called out the Louise.

"Louise. Can I speak to you for a moment?"

"Yes?"

"Well, I was hoping you could bring your familiar along with you." With that statement, she showed visible confusion, even following up.

"What? It's just a puppy?" As if that was response was expected, Osmond answered her with an almost authoritative take.

"Contrary to what you think, it might be related to the a lot of the events that have occurred as of late..." After that, she was dismissed and the three of them were on their way, following Longueville past some villages and towards the forest. The daunting image of possibly violent golems lingering over innocent villages worried Louise, amping her up to deal with the criminal. Soon, Longueville began to relay to the trio what she had found.

"I last saw her and an active golem in a rundown shed in the middle of the forest. From the looks of it, she seems to have been ready to make a move soon. And before that happens, I shall show you where she is." With that, Longueville made her horse pick up speed, and the others followed suit.

A week prior...

"I-I'm sorry! But please! Don't hurt me! I've already finished my end of the deal! Plus I just needed a new job!" Uri was cowering, fearing John would beat down upon him, with Uri just recently telling John he took the officer's offer. However John answered unexpectedly.

"Good for you." With that, Uri let down his guard and looked up upon the Mage Killer that towered over him. There was an obvious tension, but John simply turned away, started to walk, and started to look around town.

"Wait! Before you go... Tristain is just north. If you take a carriage, you'll make it within the week." called out Uri, hopefully giving John a hint on what to do. If it was to convince John to spare his life the next time they meet, it would be useful to bring up...

Soon enough John had met up with a carriage driver who was offering to bring people to whatever country they desired.

"Tristain." John stated, which caught the driver off-guard.

"Excuse me? Tristania? But-" before the driver could finish, John interjected.

"Tristain. Now." With that, no other questions were asked or answered.

"But I hope you'll be able to pay me for each stop we make it too." The driver pointed to a burly looking guard, who cracked his knuckles to intimidate John. However, John simply seated himself into the carriage and waited. Soon enough it started to move, the driver confused and wary towards his own passenger. However, John paid no mind and simply left himself to his own thoughts. Why he even listened to that figure in the bar, he didn't know, but his gut felt like there was a semblance of a truth within the statement.

"Your companion's down in Tristain. Sic'em boy."

...

His trip to Tristain was uneventful, only going through the hassle to change a coin he had on hand into local currency. There was no issue with the exchange apart from a confused and inquisitive look from the shopkeeper. He spent the money he got on paying the fare and meals. However at the border between Gallia and Tristain, he was dropped off, the carriage refusing to pass into Tristain. Apparently the place had gotten 'unsafe for travelers and civilians' like him. Whether it was the rumored bandits or soldiers, John was sure he would be able to dispose of them. He needed to know what he was sent there for, but as if by divine interference the sound of crashing, explosions, and yelling screamed out from only a fair distance ahead.

Well. I'm hoping to post at least once more before the year ends!

And until then,

Ciao!