Rigged from the Start

Chapter 81

Yato

The Valmese coastline lay ahead, shrouded in mist. In the mist, I saw a massive harbor, with small waves lapping at wooden pillars holding the docks above the waves. Dockworkers, shiphands, and the general populace of Yato moved through the mist like ghosts, the white fog swirling around them. It did not bother them, but I could not help but get a sense of foreboding from it. Despite that foreboding, I was excited. It would be good to stand on dry land again.

I wasn't even the most excited in our party to be on solid ground in a few moments. The sound of a quiet belch followed by a pathetic moan reminded me of the one most anxious to get off the ship. I glanced to my right and sighed when I saw Severa draped over the railing, face down, losing her breakfast.

"It's still rocking," She shuddered as I reached over and rubbed her back.

"Try not to think about it," I said for the hundredth time.

I wasn't annoyed by this. If anything, I was irritated that I couldn't do anything about her seasickness. None of us; Anna, Virion, Gerome, or Cynthia, were trained to use a healing stave. None of the Chon'sin sailors knew either. They had salves and potions for injuries, but seasickness was something they laughed at. They mocked Severa for her lack of sea legs. I was pretty sure if she wasn't feeling so ill, she would have beaten several of them to a pulp.

"Sam, if you tell me… to not think about it one. more. time. I'm gonna- gonna-" And Severa hurled again, her legs wobbling beneath her as she clung to the railing.

I winced and kept moving my hand in a gentle circle. As soon as I paused, Severa craned her face to look at me.

"Don't you dare stop," She hoarsely snarled.

"Right," I nodded, and I continued as another groan left her lips.

"I never want to get on a boat again. I'll swim back to Archanea when we're done here."

"I'd be impressed," I remarked. She narrowed her eyes at me while I smiled and shook my head. "Don't worry. We'll be on shore soon enough."

"Thank Naga."

A loud, happy sigh sounded nearby. Cynthia sat astride Baelfire as she readied for docking. A large grin sat on her face as she looked at us.

"How long do you think it'll take us to find Lucina?" She asked.

"Valm is a vast continent," I shrugged. "Might take a while."

Gerome snorted as he stood next to Minerva. The Wyvern seemed to echo his derision as it puffed out a hot breath through its nostrils.

"Oh, stop being so hopeless, Gerome," Cynthia said with a roll of her eyes.

"That's like trying to tell the sky to stop being blue," Severa croaked.

"Which can happen," Cynthia pointed out. "The sky can be black, yellow, red, purple… green?"

Before Severa could open her mouth to refute, I nodded, causing her jaw to fall open.

"Green?" She said.

"Ever seen a tornado sky before?" I replied.

"A what?" Severa shook her head, groaned, then held her hand to her forehead. "Too sharp of a movement. Don't… don't confuse me with your otherworld stuff till I'm on solid ground again."

"Sounds fair."

The ship lumbered to a stop at one of the docks. Once there, ropes flew down from the ship hands to dockworkers below. The ship was swiftly tied to the dock. Anna then emerged from the hold with Virion. To my surprise, Virion wore a hooded cloak. Anna's hand was resting on one of her daggers. Did they expect trouble?

Anna spotted my concern and pursed her lips. Instead of saying something, she nodded to the docks. I followed her gaze to a group of soldiers marching towards us. At the head of those soldiers was, what had to be, the Chon'sin equivalent of a knight. Perhaps Samurai was a better term given how he was armed and armored. Red lacquered armor shifted around his slender form as he strode up the gangplank of our ship. I could not see the Samurai's face. It was covered by a mask with an intimidating, snarling visage.

Right as the Samurai made it to the top of the gangplank, the ship captain went over to him. They spoke in hushed tones at first. Then, the samurai's attention turned to us.

"What's going on?" I asked Anna.

Anna shrugged. "No idea, but it's not good."

"Why not?"

"We should've been off the ship without any trouble already."

I gave her a sidelong glance. "Does it have anything to do with-"

"Hush up, he's coming over now." Anna then put on a winning smile for the Samurai. "Hello, good sir. The name is Anna-"

"I know who you are. Members of your family are hard to forget," The Samurai interrupted, his tone sharp and cutting. He had no time for any nonsense, and he wasn't going to allow Anna to dance her way around what he wanted. "Were you aware of the Embargo imposed by the Emperor?"

Anna blinked, surprise flashing over her face. It was swiftly masked by her usual, charming, relaxed grin.

"It takes time for such news to make it across the sea, as I'm sure you know," Anna replied. "I must've already been en route when it occurred."

"That is unfortunate for you then, because all of your cargo is being impounded and searched, as are you and your companions."

Now Anna's eyes twitched. She stood, frozen, as the soldiers marched past us and down to the hold. I could see her jaw tightening and her hand flexing near the dagger she had visible. I knew very well she had several hidden in her outfit, but that one would be the first out if she needed it.

"What business do you have in Yato?" The Samurai asked. Behind his mask, I saw his dark eyes glance at me, Gerome, Cynthia, Severa, and Virion. His gaze stayed fixated on Minerva and Baelfire for a long moment, before Anna spoke up, drawing his attention again.

"Other than business?" Anna smirked. "I'm… I'm actually coming in to visit my mom. Y'know, the matriarch and whatnot. She lives out near Zofia- er- what used to be Zofia. Gotta go check on her every so often, as good daughters do."

The Samurai said nothing. Did he believe her? Did he think she was full of it? The mask made it impossible to tell. Now I could feel my hand twitching towards the knife Anna "gave" me when we reunited. More than ever, I wish I still had my kukri. That weapon would do some good against the katana at the Samurai's hip, unlike the knife I had now.

"And they are?" The Samurai asked, nodding at me and the others.

"My bodyguards," Anna immediately answered. "The roads through Regna Ferox are dangerous and, despite the wonderful efforts of yourself and the Conqueror, Valm is still a treacherous place at times. I gotta keep the merchandise safe."

"You mean yourself safe?"

"Well," Anna thinned her lips, "I never really considered myself merchandise since you can't put a price on this." She gestured at herself with her hand. "But, I see your point."

Armored boots marched back onto the deck. The soldiers emerged with Anna's crates. One of the men nodded at the Samurai. Now the Samurai had his hand on his Katana.

"Open that crate," He instructed.

The corner of Anna's mouth twitched. She did a phenomenal job hiding her anxiety, but I had been around her long enough in the future to know the small ticks that showed she was nervous. She'd wear a smirk for too long, be a bit too friendly with a potential enemy, and almost certainly try to talk her way out of a sticky situation. All three have happened.

What is she trying to smuggle into Valm?

A nervous chuckle spilled from her lips as she placed a hand on top of the crate. "As you wish, sir."

Anna produced a key from a pouch on her belt, inserted it into the crate's lock, then gave me a look. I placed my hand on my hip, close to my dagger's hilt, but not close enough to make the soldiers nervous. Around the ship, I saw sailors going about their duties, but they were flashing us glances. The ship captain had backed up a step, choosing to stand behind Virion. One look from Gerome and Minerva kept him from retreating any further.

A sigh came from Anna. "Damned embargo". I held my breath as my hands tensed. She threw the crate open. Several loud squawks erupted from the crate, followed by a flurry of feathers a straw. Four chickens burst from the crate, clucking and squawking as they rushed for freedom. Anna's hand snapped out and snatched one before it could get away.

"I'm guessing chickens are an illegal product now, hm?" Anna asked, making eye contact with the Samurai. "I'll have you know," She wagged a finger at the man, "these are prize Ylissean birds here. The best eggs you will ever see. Some call them golden even." The chicken squawked, and a brown egg popped out, splattering on the Samurai's boot. Anna's lips twitched into a sheepish smile. "Gold is a different color there."

A heavy breath left the Samurai's mask. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the other soldiers off the ship. "Make sure you register with the harbor magistrate. You are not to leave Yato without informing him and myself, per the Emperor's orders."

"Of course," Anna said with a strained smile.

The samurai flicked runny egg from his shoe, turned on his heel, and marched off the ship. As soon as he disappeared back down the dock, Anna's shoulders sagged with relief. The chicken that did not escape her clutched spun its head and clucked at her.

"Damned bird," She muttered. "Although, I guess your nervous egg saved him from inspecting further." She set the bird down. Surprisingly, it stuck close to Anna's foot. With a grunt, she replaced the lid. After smacking the crate once, she turned to the ship captain. "Make sure these get delivered to the Inn. I'll have them loaded on a cart there."

"Of course, Miss Anna. The rate is the usual for your family," The captain said.

"As I like it," Anna nodded. Without another word, she glanced at me. I gawked at her, stunned. "What? The birds worked."

"Th-the birds?"

Anna snorted. "Do you think I need that big of a crate for a few chickens?" She leaned close to my ear. "Arrows are definitely an illegal commodity in Valm."

I paled and nodded. "Good to know."

"And don't forget, compromise my business, and we're no longer friends."

My eyes glanced at the dagger on her hip. "Of course."

"Good," She patted my arm. "Now then, Ruffles, Gerome, Cynthia, Sev-" Severa moaned weakly as she lay curled up on the deck. "Not you then." Anna cleared her throat. "Sam, carry your girlfriend. The rest of you, help with the crates. And don't break them!" She eyed Cynthia specifically.

"Yes ma'am!" Cynthia saluted.

Gerome rolled his eyes, hopped off Minerva, then picked up one crate with Cynthia. Virion hoisted a smaller crate. While they marched off the ship with Anna's cargo, heading towards a large building near the harbor with a sign swaying the breeze, I scooped Severa in my arms and marched down the gangplank. Once on dry land, she shivered, and her face reddened.

"Gawds, I feel useless," She mumbled.

"You're not. You're just a tad malnourished."

"That makes no sense."

"You threw everything up," I pointed out.

Severa pouted in my arms as her ghost-pale face started to get some color back. "Okay, it makes some sense. Gawds I'm hungry."

"We'll get some food at the inn."

"We better."

The inn was large. An enormous common room took up the entire ground floor. One, long, bar ran the length of the back wall. Bottles stuffed the shelves behind the bar counter, each one with a different color or label than the one beside it. One, scrawny, Chon'sin man stood behind the counter, polishing a mug with his dirty apron. He gave us one glance then nodded towards some tables close to a large fireplace.

"Find a seat. One of the girls will serve you then."

For how large the inn was, it was mostly empty. Then again, it was around noon. Most of the traffic likely didn't come until the evening. That was good. It meant we could talk about finding Lucina without having to worry about anyone listening in.

As we took a seat, we spotted one other table occupied by some off-duty city guards. They were busy drinking, laughing, and talking about their day. I paid them no mind as I set Severa down in a chair.

"Better?" I asked.

"Much," She mumbled, brushing some of her hair behind her ear. "No more rocking and rolling. Just solid, steady ground. Thank the gawds."

I snickered. The door to the inn opened, allowing Gerome, Virion, Anna, and Cynthia to march inside and head towards us. Cynthia reached the table first thanks to the happy skip in her step.

"Baelfire likes his stall," She smiled. "Very clean."

"Minvera hates hers," Gerome grunted. "Too small."

"Minerva is just too big," Anna chuckled, taking a seat across from me then kicking her boots up on the table. She glanced at Virion as he sat down beside her. "Look, just because you're being polite and sitting beside me does not mean your attempts at flirting are going to work any more than they did on the boat."

Virion winced beneath his hood. "Letting someone down easy is not one of your strong suits, I must say."

"Trying to comment about the heart shape of my-"

"Okay, okay," I raised a hand. I then jabbed a thumb at Cynthia. "Children are present."

"Hey!" Cynthia folded her arms and pouted. "I'm not a child."

"As you so wonderfully showed us." Severa shook her head. "So, Anna, are you joining us?"

Anna let out a laugh. "I join no one unless they pay me to do so." She pursed her lips. "Then again, Lucina still owes me the entire royal treasury."

Cynthia's eyes widened. "She what?"

"Pretty sure that was said out of desperation," I reminded Anna.

"Pretty sure a deal is a deal. But," Anna bobbed her head back and forth, "I gotta find her for some sort of payment, I guess. There'll be some interest tacked on of course."

"She's just going to point Falchion at you," Cynthia remarked.

Anna raised her hands. "Oh, look at me, scared of a sword. Please," she snorted, "if that was enough to make me cave in, I wouldn't be where I'm at today." The barmaid stopped by for a second. Anna raised five fingers, and the barmaid retreated away. As quickly as she left, the barmaid returned with five mugs of ale. She set them down on the table, and Gerome passed them around, noticeably excluding Cynthia, who pouted.

"I drank at our last stop," She frowned.

"That was an oversight on our part," Gerome grunted. "You're still too young."

"You don't tell Owain and the others that!"

"Owain obtains most of the time," Severa pointed out, "And I dare you to try to tell Noire no when she gets in a mood."

Cynthia winced. "Er, fair enough I guess." She leaned over the table. "Do you think we'll find more of the others here?"

Severa shrugged. "Who knows. Right now, I'm more concerned with finding Lucina. We can search for the others with her help."

"Right," I nodded in agreement. It would be nice to have backup on our missions. Hell, it would be nice to not be the one others were relying on for a change.

"Makes sense to me. So long as you all pay, I'll let you ride on the cart," Anna stretched her arms then grabbed her mug. "Speaking of which; I gotta go buy one. Where are we heading anyway?"

"The Mila Tree," Severa and I answered together.

Anna arched an eyebrow. "Lucina's the religious type huh? Alright then." She shrugged and sipped her ale. With a sigh, she set her mug down again. "Let me go get us a cart. From there, we travel north through the mountains." Her eyes darted back and forth. "Might actually pass by my mom's place. Great."

I raised an eyebrow. Did Anna want to stop by her mother's? She never talked about her in the future. The only time she mentioned her mother, or any family, was when she mentioned they all died because of Grima. Judging by the amount of hesitation in Anna's voice, I was going to guess there was a complicated history between her and her mother. It was best that I didn't pry.

"Be right back," Anna said, rising from her seat and marching out of the inn.

Once she was gone, Severa relaxed a bit, leaning back in her seat as she had one hand wrapped around her mug.

"So, Sam, any ideas on what we're going to do once we do find Lucina?"

"Let her take charge," I answered, earning an amused snort from Severa. "I'm tired of trying to take the lead in things. Hasn't gotten us far."

"You don't give yourself enough credit," Severa countered. "Even if you screw up from time to time."

"Aw," Cynthia stared at us, her head in her hands, a goofy smile on her lips, "you two are adorable."

I brought my mug to my lips. Severa rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, Cynthia."

Anna returned a couple of hours later. My smile upon seeing return was dashed when I saw the deep scowl on her lips. An annoyed huff shot from her lips when she rejoined our table. Her fingers danced along the tabletop, drumming against the weathered wood as she stewed in her thoughts. Right as she drew in a deep breath to say something, Virion leaned over the table towards her.

"What happened?"

Anna gritted her teeth. "I was about to explain, do you mind?" Virion shrank back. Anna cleared her throat. "So, I got a cart, that's the good news."

"Bad news?" I asked.

"We're not allowed to leave Yato. This is the only port open in Valm to foreign trade right now, and that's because the governor of Chon'sin managed to have that happen somehow."

I furrowed my brow. That wasn't good. If we couldn't leave then we couldn't find Lucina.

"So, we're stuck?" Severa asked.

Anna scoffed, shaking her head in irritation. "I'm never stuck. No one, not a soul, can keep an Anna from moving around." She leaned back in her seat, mug near her lips as she continued to fume. "Just gonna have to get creative."

"Ah, we have to become fugitives," I muttered, causing Severa to groan and her head to fall to the table.

"Again?" She sighed.

"Again!?" Both Gerome and Cynthia exclaimed.

"When did this happen-" Virion blinked beneath his hood. "Oh right, the Plegian War and my one-night stand."

Gerome coughed hard. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Tell you later," I replied with a wave of my hand. "It's a long story." I twisted in my seat to face Anna. "What do you have in mind?"

"Hm?" Anna set her mug down. "How do you know I have something planned?"

"Well, you're an Anna. When are you not planning something?"

The corner of Anna's mouth twitched upward. "Well, while I was at the market, I overheard something quite interesting. Sounds like Chon'sin doesn't like being under Emperor Walhart's thumb. Some idiots are planning to cause some havoc soon. During that, we'll slip out of the city. The guards will be none the wiser."

"Are you sure about that?" Virion asked. "Sounds like an easy way for us to get swept up in the wars taking place here."

"Well isn't that your goal, your lordship," Anna droned. "I thought you wanted to free Rosanne."

"Not so loud!" Virion hissed, ducking his head and darting his eyes around the tavern. A few more people had milled in for the afternoon. None overheard us. "Do you want to get us killed?"

"I'm careful, Ruffles. Relax." Anna's lips thinned as she thought to herself again. "One problem with the plan is figuring out when the city is going to riot."

The answer came with the sound of shattering glass and one of the tavern's large windows exploding into the dining room. Shards of glass flew through the air and scattered along the uneven floor. Bricks flew in after it. Yelling and screaming erupted from outside, near the docks. Torches flickered, casting shadows despite the still bright sunlight. Horns blew.

I turned to Anna. "You were saying?"

"To the cart, fast!" Anna barked.

We bolted out of our seat, with Anna making sure to slap a couple of gold coins on the table for the drinks. Once out of the tavern, the chaos of what was occurring slammed into us.

The city was rioting. Citizens of all walks of life marched through the docks carrying whatever they could use as a weapon: pitchforks, clubs, sheers, I even saw a couple of rolling pins carried by some maids. All of them marched towards a guard post where we saw the Samurai who greeted us on the ship waiting for them. His sword was drawn, his soldiers were ready for battle.

"We need to leave," I gulped.

A blade flashed. One of the soldiers stepped behind the samurai, drew a knife, and slid it across his throat. With a distressed cry, the samurai fell, clutching his throat as blood spurted between his fingers. The mob screamed and charged. For a split second, I saw the traitorous guard remove their helm, revealing a young woman with jet black hair and a steely gaze. I locked eyes with her briefly, then she disappeared into the crowd.

"Sam, come on!"

Severa grabbed my arm and spun me towards Anna's cart. Cynthia and Gerome were already mounted on their steeds. Virion had Happy loaded into the back of Anna's cart. I hopped into the seat beside Anna, a slight thrill making my heart jump. Somehow, this felt just like old times.

"Hang on!" Anna shouted right as Severa got settled in the back with Virion.

She snapped the reins once. The cart took off. We hit several sharp bumps in the uneven road as she bolted from the tavern and into the growing crowd of rioters. Behind us, a building went up in flames. Soldiers came screaming out of it. Those who escaped the flames were unfortunate enough to meet clubs and pitchforks outside.

More horns blew, growing louder as we neared Yato's walls. Anna did her best to avoid the growing throngs of people, but there was one way in and out of Yato. A lone gate that led out to a road which snaked through the nearby mountains. Somehow, it was still open. I was confused as to why when I noticed the guards watching the gate were already dead.

Who killed them?

A roar echoed over the chaos. At first, I thought it was Minvera. No, it had to be Minerva. It sounded exactly like that lizard. Was Gerome about to enter the fray? He better not!

Behind me, I heard Severa yelp. My eyes darted behind us. A second black wyvern swooped down onto the city, snatching guards from the rooftops and lifting them high into the air before letting them go. The poor sods screamed all the way down. The cobblestones silenced them. On the back of the second Wyvern, I saw a woman with pink hair, wearing onyx armor and wielding a wicked ax. A snarl sat on her pale lips as she wheeled her beast around to take on more enemies.

"Don't pay attention to them!" Anna shouted. "Just keep the guards from cutting us off!"

I nodded and drew my knife. Soldiers rushed towards the open gate from other sections of the wall, desperately trying to close it and trap whatever resistance fighters remained inside. Rioters continued to sprint in and out of the city, causing more mayhem. They threw rocks at the soldiers, screamed at them, chucked their clubs up onto the walls. Now, the soldiers started fighting back, firing arrows and drawing their blades. It was a bloodbath.

Right as the gate's iron bars shuddered downward, Anna's cart burst through. We rocketed out of the city, the entire cart jostling as the road changed from cobblestone to dirt. For a split second, the cart tilted onto two wheels. Me, Severa, and Virion slammed all our weight onto the airborne side, forcing the other two wheels down again.

"Haha!" Anna whooped, flicking her eyes back as the iron bars on the gate shudder closed, trapping resistance fighters inside, and keeping anyone else from escaping Yato. "No one keeps an Anna caged!

A relieved breath puffed from my lips. I glanced up and felt even more relief when I saw Gerome and Cynthia flying low, keeping pace with the cart. Anna's plan worked to perfection. We got away from Yato and were now into the Chon'sin countryside.

A bamboo forest sprouted around us, growing denser as the road grew narrower. Cynthia and Gerome landed their steeds, deciding to trot along the ground with us rather than risk losing sight of us from beyond the canopy. The deeper into the forest we delved, the steeper and slimmer the road became until it resembled little more than a hunting trail snaking into the rocky cliffs.

A sense of unease filled me. Our pace slowed to crawl, which I did not blame Anna for. We had to be careful on this road. One wrong move and a wheel could break, then we could easily be caught by any passing patrol. Knowing my rotten luck, that's exactly what would happen.

A small crack echoed in my ear, and I sighed. Anna bellowed a curse. I hung my head.

"I can't even think about my luck any more," I muttered.

"We're not far enough away for this… shit… yet," Anna's voice trailed off, her anger fading completely, leaving me puzzled and anxious.

Carefully, I turned in my seat. Anna was frozen beside her front right wheel. An arrow was embedded in it. Nothing broke. Someone stopped us.

I swallowed hard. As I moved to get off the cart, a throwing knife slammed into the bench beside me. I froze. Several men and women wielding crude swords, scythes, and pitchforks emerged from the bamboo. All of them looked weary and haggard. Their clothes were torn and filthy. Were these bandits? No… they didn't have malice in their eyes. They were afraid.

"You all," Anna seethed, reaching for her daggers, "have some fucking nerve!"

"Peace, Lady Anna," A commanding voice called, causing the enraged redhead to stand still. Virion and Severa poked their heads out of the cart. "No harm will come to you or your companions. We simply wish to speak with you."

"Speak?" Anna scoffed. "You have a fine way of introducing yourself. Which grimy villager are you anyways? Quit hiding!"

A soft laugh echoed from the bamboo. "Fie! Tales of an Anna's fierce reputation are indeed true."

The scrappy band of villagers parted among the bamboo, allowing the same young woman I saw slit the Samurai's throat to approach us. She still wore the attire of a Yato guard, complete with a faded yellow tunic and some bits of armor hidden beneath it. She had two swords now instead of a pike and dagger. My jaw fell open when she spotted me again. She said nothing, instead choosing to address Anna.

"Here I am. My name is Say'ri, leader of the Chon'sin Resistance against Walhart the Tyrant."

My jaw fell open. I knew who this was. She was one of the first people to help the Shepherds when they invaded Valm in the game. A brief pang of excitement hit me, causing me to glance at Severa. When I saw her confusion, my excitement turned to puzzlement. Did she not recognize Say'ri? Why not? Wasn't she a Shepherd too, like in the game?

"You'll come with us," Say'ri said, her tone making it clear that her words were not a suggestion. Anna bristled at that.

"You can't command me to do anything," Anna snarled.

"I am the one with the arrows pointed at your skull. I say I can," Say'ri countered, causing Anna to fall silent. "Besides, with us, you will have a better chance of avoiding the Tyrant's men. Now come. We must vacate the road before nightfall."

"And my cart?" Anna asked.

Say'ri glanced back at her as she turned away. "Will be in good hands, along with your merchandise. T'would be foolish of me to get between a merchant and their wares. A knife in the back would be my payment then."

"Oh, that would be the minimum," Anna growled. She flicked her eyes around the forest, no doubt searching for the archers. When she failed to spot any, she uttered a defeated sigh. "You heard the lady."

I gave my surroundings a hesitant look, then I moved one hand. When no arrows or knives soared in my direction, I gulped in a breath and scrambled off of the cart. After almost losing my balance, I managed to get to the ground, then I exhaled. My heart pounded as I waited for another projectile. Still nothing. Say'ri was a woman of her word, it seems.

Anna marched after Say'ri. Gerome and Cynthia cautiously followed, refusing to leave their mounts behind. Thankfully, no one protested. Me, Virion, and Severa drew up the rear. As we walked into the thickets, Severa leaned towards me.

"Well, this wasn't part of the plan."

"No kidding," I whispered. "Virion, any ideas?"

Virion shook his head. "Keep our heads down and keep quiet. The Chon'sin are a stubborn people. Anna's wiles may yet keep us alive and send us safely on our way."

"Or get us killed when she loses her patience," Severa muttered.

"Then we do what we do best," Virion pointed out. "Two of the best scouts I've ever seen are by my side after all. We shall be fine."

With that, he moved ahead to walk beside Anna and Say'ri, leaving me and Severa by ourselves at the back of our group, his boots crunching on fallen bamboo reeds and leaves. I drew in a deep breath, calming my racing heart. At least we weren't stopped by Walhart's men.

"Well, finding Lucina is going to have to wait now," Severa said. "I'm betting these people will want us to do something for them before they let us go on our way."

A pit formed in my gut. "Yeah… probably."

Severa was right. The rebels owned this road through the mountains. They would demand payment in one way or another. Say'ri may be honorable, that is how the game portrayed her, but she still needed to fund her campaign against Walhart somehow. Banditry and extorting tolls could be a profitable business. And, I doubt Anna would be willing to part with a single gold coin right now.

We'd have to do a favor for the resistance. But what would it be?

My eyes settled on Say'ri at the front of the group. She was speaking in hushed tones with Virion, likely learning about who he was and why he was here. Maybe that could help us? Who knows. All I know is that I have a bad feeling about all this.

And chapter! We are FINALLY in Valm. The beast that is this arc is now before us, and I'm still not sure how this is gonna turn out lol. All I can promise is that I'm going to do my best to make this a fun, wild ride as always. Now then, let's have fun. Let me know what you all think of this chapter. As always, I hope you all enjoyed it. Have a nice day!

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