AN: I feel really good about this Chapter. It's interesting and a decent length. Let me know what you think reading it in the reviews. I like reading reviews.
I took a vacation from work. I got like four weeks to spend, so I decided to take one off for just myself. Also, I wrote a paper for someone for like 200 bucks. They thought I was crazy to agree to a 12 page paper. Little did they realize I've types over TWO MILLION WORDS in a Minecraft Fanfic. Betcha they never saw THAT coming. I'm eager to see how the paper did. This isn't my first time writing papers for money. First one I got an A+ for them. And it was on a topic I never studied! HA!
Now that I've beaten Elden Ring, I'm looking for the next big game to occupy my free time. I cheesed so many bosses, but my Sorcerer Build really came in handy. Malenia was the worst.
Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, right. Chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add braids.
Chapter 210
The Two Sisters
[Noman]
There was nothing quite as nerve-wracking as caring for a comatose Cobb with the knowledge that a cultist Lieutenant was in your midst, and uncovering that traitor depended entirely on whether Cobb's deteriorating health killed him or not. Nothing came close, but I was still sweating bullets walking up to those toll gates with Soul while knowing Carys - a wanted criminal in several Kingdoms - was invisible alongside us. I tried to relax as the guards checked us over.
"Hey, you're the parrot guy." A guard recognized immediately. "I thought you left for the night. Why are you coming right back?"
"...Forgot to get groceries." Soul said lamely.
"What he means," I interrupted, "is that we didn't feel safe camping out. We're terrified of those Stigmata we've heard about. He just doesn't like admitting it."
"I'm not scared of some Mobs." Soul protested.
"You should be." A guard spoke gravely. "The Stigmata are stampeding death. I've seen what they can do to a village. I can't impress enough how dangerous they are." He nodded out to the vast, black Lacquerlands. "They're out there somewhere, idling, their course chosen by fate, and Zipshin have mercy on whoever crosses their path." He shuddered. "You're right to seek shelter in our village."
"The Stigmata won't get to you." Another guard assured with a confident smile. "We have people on watch, bunkers, and an alarm system if they ever rear their ugly heads."
"Bunkers? How many?"
"More than a dozen. We use the old mine tunnels. They're picked clean, but make great shelters with how we've lit them up. We've had eleven Stigmata sightings within range of Galitsino over the past three-hundred years. They breached the village once or twice, but we were able to safely evacuate the populace with a minimum of casualties."
That implied there were still casualties. Despite their preparedness, they could never truly guarantee everyone's safety.
"Red Creeper-faced fireworks are the warning." The second guard went on. "We set it off early while the Stigmata is still miles away from the village. You see it, just follow the civilians to the bunker."
"Welcome to Galitsino... again." The first guard let us through. "There are a few good inns on the west side of town if you're looking for a place to stay. Oh! And one last thing."
He reached into his backpack and pulled out a snow print depicting a woman with long, honey-blonde hair arranged in a complicated-looking waterfall braid. Her name was emblazoned at the bottom, making it a wanted poster.
"Be on the lookout for this woman." He pointed to the happily smiling depiction. "Alexandra_Artyom isn't a criminal, but she's wanted for questioning. Some citizens caught sight of her in the village and Captain XoX himself came all the way from the capital city to help find her. If you uncover any information about her, or catch any sighting of her, please report it to your closest guard. She's not dangerous, but the guards should really be kept informed."
"Oh. Of course. We're happy to do our part."
After being informed, we left the toll gate and entered the village for the second time that day. I was relieved to put the guards and their scrutiny behind us.
"'We're happy to do our part.' Honestly, could you be any more of a goody two-shoes?" Carys whispered to me unseen.
"I was just trying to be agreeable. Would you rather I be thuggish and unapproachable like someone else I know?"
"Might remedy your Aikido problem, yeah."
"It's not a problem." I asserted. "Aikido changed the way I view fighting. It gave me a new outlet to realize my goals; I can stop the cultists without killing them."
"That's no way to fight."
"It's how I want to fight."
"You don't fight at all Mr. Cower-Behind-A-Shield. How did not fighting work against Gunnah? How did not fighting work against XoX?"
"Shut up you two!" Soul hissed as a patrol of guards passed. One or two of them spared a glance in Soul's direction, but the axe-wielder covered it up with an overexaggerated laugh while rubbing his parrot's beak. "Oh, Christopher, you're so funny!"
"Raaawk! I have a muscle fetish!"
"Hahaha! HA!"
The guards gave Soul weird looks before fleeing the opposite direction.
"What did that bird just say?" Carys asked, and by her voice sounding like she was trying not to laugh.
"Raaawk, Carys needs to get laid!"
"Really, I have no idea where he's - HNGH!" Soul doubled over as if getting kneed in the gut. Or below the belt. It was hard to tell with Carys invisible.
She carried on as if nothing had happened. "At least we found the mystery girl XoX is tracking. Alexandra_Artyom. It's rare for a snow print to be made for someone who's apparently not a wanted criminal."
"What about with Cobb? Or Floyd? Or Lenz?"
Carys chose to ignore that. "Wonder why she's on the Captain's radar?"
"Speaking of the Captain," I began, "you're really going to... kill him... on a hunch?"
"If I deem him a cultist, then yeah. I'll do it on the spot." She said too casually.
"Don't you think you're taking him a little too lightly?" Soul asked, having recovered from Carys' blow.
"You're right. He's already proven himself stronger than a pacifist who cowers behind a shield. Oh me oh my, how can I possibly compete with such an adversary?"
"Okay, you've made your point, but the guy was ferocious." Soul soldiered on. "It was like fighting a bear. He's got raw, destructive power in that hammer."
"Don't need to be stronger, just faster." Carys answered simply. "For one, I won't be standing still behind a shield while he readies his swing. I'll dart around and look for openings; I know how he fights."
"But killing him on the spot?" I asked with distaste. "Don't you need evidence? Wouldn't it be better to expose him to the authorities if he's really-"
"Exposing him the legal way would take too long." Carys cut him off. "If he's a threat, I'm not gonna wait. I'll take him out now."
"Yeah, I know." I replied shortly. "That's how you became a criminal in Ringwood, right? You jumped the gun."
"You seem to be misinformed, so allow me to clear things up." She snapped. "I uncovered a band of cultists in Ringwood, hiding in plain sight. The problem was, there was no evidence linking them to their activities - they destroyed it all to cover themselves. I didn't have time to arrange a case, request warrants, or pursue them through any legal channels. Nobody would believe they were cultists but me, and me was all I needed to make the call. I could've done it as the Angel of Death, but I chose to keep my greater reputation untarnished and willingly defamed myself to put those cultists in the ground. That's why I'm a wanted criminal. Because I knew the truth that nobody else would believe, and I chose to act upon it. I'm not some indecisive invalid like you!"
"I just look at all the options." I defended. "Rushing a choice can backfire. You wrongly framed Cobb. You could be wrong with XoX."
"I purposely wrongly framed Cobb. There's a difference." She countered. "Everything was a measured move. The Paragons wouldn't've spent resources on a pair of pig killers, so I fudged things a little."
"And we're just supposed to trust you won't fudge things with your hunch of XoX, then pat yourself on the back and call it a job well done?"
"I don't care how you feel about it or what harm befalls your tender conscience. If I say he's a cultist, he's dead." She scoffed. "Or are you hoping he'll admit to things, confess his sins, and leave no shred of doubt as to who he is?"
"There's this little thing called morals, Carys." I stressed. "Would it bother you to kill an innocent man?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"On whether or not it would affect me in any way." She spoke carelessly, possibly shrugging under the veil of invisibility. "What about you? The guy savaged your arm and flooded your mind with agony. You can't tell me you don't want some payback. Maybe to hurt him even a tiny bit, hm?"
"No, I don't." I frowned. In truth, I'd rather just avoid him entirely. The only reason I'd get in the way of a charging bull is to keep someone else from getting hurt.
"Shame. Perhaps a second opinion, then." Carys switched attention. "How about it, Soul? Do you feel like Captain Sucks Cocks deserves forgiveness or mercy for savaging poor, squishy Noman?"
"Not on his life." He spoke without hesitation before blanching under my accusatory glare. "I-I mean, framing the wrong person is wrong... but after what XoX did... I mean, I can't act like seeing him gone won't be a relief - you feel the same, right?"
I did not in fact feel the same, as Soul could tell by my betrayed expression. He was supposed to be on my side to curb Carys' brutal mindset.
"Sounds to me he's got the right idea." I could practically hear Carys' triumphant smirk.
Soul coughed awkwardly caught between us. "L-Let's just focus on the task at hand. How are we going to find XoX at this time of night? He could be anywhere."
"Easy." Carys answered simply. "We make him come to us. We know he's looking for Alexandra, so let's give him what he wants."
Soul and I raised an eyebrow each.
We set up the 'ambush' spot - and how I loathed for Carys to call it that - near the edge of the village, where street met wall. The area had sealed tunnels and leftover track and mining equipment, but was clearly derelict. It also had a bunch of low buildings that likely served as storage or offices for the mine. It was satisfactory enough for Carys who intended to use the buildings as cover to spring me on the Captain when he arrived to investigate the fib we had Soul leak.
"Yes, sir." He had told a guard. "I saw that Alexandra woman hide out in one of those storage buildings at the Lovushka Mine. Better get a force together right away."
The guard had left in a hurry then, presumably to get XoX and some other guards, and now the three of us were stuck waiting between some buildings.
I wasn't too keen on revealing myself to XoX and his guards while they were, well, on guard, but Carys said it was essential to get a read on XoX.
"Just ask him the questions I told you. Don't let him get a word in edgewise." She instructed. "He won't expect you back so soon after your beating. You'll catch him off guard, he'll speak his mind, and that's when I'll know for sure."
"And what do I do after that?" I asked, desperately clinging to her instructions. It was the fearful nerves causing it; I was about to face the man who had attacked me the very same day.
"If he attacks, you flee back here, turn a corner out of sight, and use this Invisibility Potion," she handed one to me, "to disappear. Then you can even kick on those flying boots of yours and you're home free. It'll be Soul and I that'll have a harder time escaping."
"And if he doesn't attack?"
"You can flee after you ask all the questions I gave you." She stressed. "Just don't panic and you'll do fine."
"And if you consider him a cultist?"
"Just flee the scene after you ask the questions and I'll take care of the rest." She pointedly ignored my question.
"Guys," Soul called from his vantage point above on the building's roof. "The fish is taking the bait. I repeat, the fish is taking the bait."
"Raaawk, taking the bait!"
"Shut that bird up!" Carys hissed before her footsteps petered away. She was getting into position, which meant my role was close at hand.
I steeled myself before peeking out to witness the approaching architect of my dread. Captain XoX cut an imposing figure stood like a giant at the head of a band of a dozen guards. His giant hammer was dragging against the street, the scraping growing louder as he drew near. The sound made me shrink slightly, but I remained in position.
Everything will be fine. I told myself, shutting my eyes. I'll ask the questions, he won't react, and then we can call it a night and move on. He's not some secret cultist like Jade was. He just... doesn't like my arm unbroken is all.
Oh God, the memories of that pain came flooding back. Shredded arms that burned like fire in my veins. Searing agony that worsened with each throb.
What if he attacks? What if he catches me? I wondered, fear mounting. What if he breaks more than my arm this time? I can't go through that pain again. I won't!
"Crap, they've stopped!"
"Lang... what?" I opened my eyes and saw that XoX and his guards had indeed stopped. They had turned around as a new guard ran up to them looking both exhausted and urgent. "What's happening?"
"I don't know. Shush!" He hissed back, trying to listen in. Something was being relayed, and whatever the new guard said, it got XoX and his entourage to leave in a hurry back the way they came.
"No. NO!" Carys' voice called out from the emptiness. "Damnit! They must've found where Alexandra actually is."
That must've been it. They were only coming here because they heard Alexandra was nearby. A fresh, if inopportune, sighting pulled them away.
"We can't let him slip away." Carys ordered. "Change of plans, we're tailing them. Look alive, Noman."
A slight prod and I was after them, Carys and Soul following in my wake. The group of guards weren't hard to miss, but they were fast. We also had to proceed carefully or else risk getting discovered. From the edge of the village, we went down roads and streets before stopping at some large storehouse. A guard was stood outside it, though he did XoX and the guards welcome before gesturing inside.
"They're going inside." Carys hissed before bumping my shoulder. "Get us on the roof."
While the guards filed through the door into the storehouse, I carried an invisible Carys, then Soul, up onto the roof with the help of my Bottes Zephyr. Once there, we perched along a glass skylight to get a perfect view of the interior. Even better, part of the glass frame had been damaged, meaning we could hear everything inside.
We watched as XoX and the guards gathered around the center of the room where a woman was being held by two guards. They weren't rough with her - only keeping her hands behind her back - but they weren't about to let her get away either. The honey-blonde hair in a waterfall braid matched the poster for Alexandra, as did the name floating above her head.
"Where find her?" XoX asked gruffly.
"Right here." One of the guards holding her informed. "She was taking from the storehouse. Her arms were full of food."
"Running from guards is hungry work." Alexandra spoke idly. She winced when the guards shot her unamused looks. "Tough crowd. Alright. Noted."
XoX swung his warhammer menacingly, the wind displacing Alexandra's hair slightly. A guard was quick to get between them and ease the Captain back, but I couldn't help but shiver involuntarily at his actions. I knew just how heavy that hammer was, and how much damage it could cause in his brutal hands.
"Alright, miss." A guard, not XoX, began half exasperated. "Where is she?"
"You'll never get me to squeal!" The woman stuck her chin out defiantly (and a bit overdramatically considering the guards were just holding her arms behind her back).
"Miss, please," the guard rubbed his temple with two fingers, "we mean no harm. We just want to talk to her."
"Well, she doesn't want to talk to you, so why don't you take no for an answer?" Alexandra replied huffily. "She knows what's been going on. She knows what you want to do with her. Well, she's happy just where she is, thank you very much, and no offer or trick you use on her is gonna work. You may as well lock me up now, because I'm not giving up my sister."
"We're not locking you up. You're not a criminal - neither is she. We made that very clear in the posters." The guard tried to assure. "We got off on the wrong foot. We're on your side - on Pheodora's side too. We just want what's best for her."
"Then leave her alone. Quit chasing her." Alexandra said. "That girl is scared of her own shadow and you're not helping sending all these thugs after her. Look at Mr. Tall, Bare, and Muscley over there." She gestured her chin towards the Captain who grunted unhappily. "Does that look like the face of kind compassion?" She shook her head. "If you're really looking out for Pheo, call off this manhunt. She just wants us to be left alone."
The guard sighed. "You know we can't do that, Miss Artyom." He rubbed the back of his head. "This is about more than just your friend's safety - which by the way is paramount. Our King has had to make a deal with the Hack Clan or else risk the lives of every Crafter in Exter. Part of the deal involves reuniting the clan with their long-lost brothers and sisters. We've already located several individuals and sent them home where they belong. And I'm not gonna lie, we had to uproot their lives to do it." He grimaced. "They were compensated, but I don't like this anymore than you do."
"We're doing this unpleasantness, however, to stave off something worse. Each and every Hacker we've sent over has played a part in keeping tens of thousands of the people we've sworn to protect safe. Pheodora can be a part of that! She can help us save a lot of people by coming with us. And you can help us too if you'd just tell us where she is. Please! Or are you and her okay with letting what befell Akasha befall your own kingdom?"
Alexandra thought long and hard, considering the points the guard made. It almost looked like she would comply, but she shook off the sentiment and made her stance clear.
"If you need Hackers so badly, quit wasting your time with her and find someone else. Pheo's not going to that monument for murderers."
"But Miss Artyom-"
"Waterfall Girl made choice." XoX silenced the guard with his voice. "She loyal to Plait Girl. She not giving up."
Alexandra watched with wide eyes as the Captain hefted his warhammer up and slapped it meatily into his palm.
"XoX won't give up either."
Fear gripped my heart as I recognized that stormy look in those hazel eyes. He was about to do something brutal.
"The guards are looking for a Hacker!?" Soul hissed in my ear. "What sort of deal did their king make? You can't deal with these people!"
"Keep your mouth shut!" Carys reprimanded. "You'll learn something."
"Captain..." One guard asked cautiously. "What are you planning to do?"
"Make Waterfall Girl talk." XoX promised, lumbering over with hammer in hand. His eyes roved the storeroom before lighting on a barrel. "Sit her up on barrel."
"Yes sir." The guards complied, dragging the struggling woman to the barrel before setting her down upon it. They held her still while XoX approached. His next question took my breath away.
"Which knee, left or right?"
Alexandra's eyes widened and she started thrashing even more, throwing one guard off momentarily before he was back to hold her.
"Keep her still." XoX ordered two more guards who came to seize Alexandra by her arms. They anchored her to the barrel, her desperate screams stifled by a guard's hand.
This... this wasn't right.
This was unlawful torture. Criminal or not, they couldn't do this!
"This is sick." Soul said with disgust, though he didn't tear his eyes away.
"He certainly exemplifies the callousness of the cult." Carys commented idly as if judging the weather. "Neither of you make a move. We'll see how far the good captain takes this."
I hardly heard Carys as my arms wrapped around my head. Seeing XoX approach with the warhammer, knowing what it could do, remembering the pain of those crushed bones...
"HHHHNNNNGH!" Alexandra screamed through her nose, her turquoise eyes wide and afraid, full of fear.
It was in that moment, while XoX was aiming at one of her kneecaps, that I made my decision. The pain I suffered under that warhammer was immense, but I would be darned if I sat back and let someone else experience that pain while I could do something to stop it.
I stood up and took out the Splash Potion of Invisibility. Carys shot up.
"Noman, don't you fucking-!"
I didn't hear her over the shattering glass, both of the bottle and the skylight as I plunged down on Bottes Zephyr. XoX and the guards looked up at the noise, seeing nothing but a pair of floating boots and armor. I kept my mouth shut as I dropped onto the barrel, startling the guards into releasing Alexandra. I seized her by one arm and lifted her into the air moments before a warhammer smashed the barrel she'd been on to pieces.
"It's Pheodora! She's using a flying Hack!"
"GET HER!" XoX roared.
Bows were drawn and arrows pelted the ceiling after I had extricated us from the building. I passed Soul and Carys as I ran on air away from the storeroom, my bewildered passenger swinging precariously underneath.
"Whoa! This is so cool! Way to go, Pheo!" Alexandra whooped enthusiastically while dangling from one arm. "I didn't think you had it in you! Since when could you fly?"
"Er..." I made my voice known and wiped the enthusiasm from her face. "I'm not actually Pheo. Sorry."
"Who is this? What are you doing?"
"You looked like you needed help. Sorry." I felt apologizing over and over was the best way to go.
Alexandra sighed. "Well, you're right about that. Darn. And here I thought little Pheo was finally showing some grit."
I carried us over a few blocks before depositing us on the flat roof of a two-story building. I made sure not to get spotted by any guards as I let Alexandra stand on her own two feet. As soon as her feet touched solid ground, she took three leaps away from me, regarding me with caution. I tried to smile reassuringly before realizing my invisibility rendered such a gesture moot.
"So what are you?" She asked suspiciously. "A Hacker here to 'help' Pheo? Or maybe a concerned citizen with an interest in making powerful friends? Or-?"
"Captain XoX broke my arm." I cut off her defensive accusations. "He mangled it. Beat it to dust with his warhammer. I wasn't so lucky to pass out before the pain and felt every bit of that burning, shrapnel-like agony." I unconsciously rubbed it, grimacing.
"I didn't want to see someone go through what I did. I didn't want that to be you - or anyone. It's too cruel." I shook my head. "That's all there is to it."
Alexandra looked taken aback by such a reason, though she also looked touched. I was glad. Doing the right thing meant something to her, and it meant a lot more to me. I smiled proudly before deciding I'd overstayed my welcome. Trusting she'd find her own way off the roof, I stepped into the air and-
"Hey, hang on!" She called up, her voice making me nearly trip in midair. "A good Samaritan is just what I need. Can I trouble you for a cup full of helping hand?"
My polite, gentlemanly instinct was already getting me to agree before I had even heard the whole story.
"Hooray! Finally, some help with Pheo! Pheo's my best friend and sister by the way. Short for Pheodora_Prizrak." The honey-blonde girl spoke amicably and swiftly. "Why don't you come down from there? We can talk on the same level. Save my neck the discomfort."
Cautiously at first, I descended until my boots touched the roof. Alexandra watched with keen interest.
"If you're not a Hacker, how come you can fly like that?"
"I... can't tell you that." I said evasively.
She tilted her head cutely.
"I really can't."
"Alright, I won't pry. Especially since you kept my kneecaps intact." She wobbled her knees enthusiastically. "They're grateful. And as the girl attached to these knees, I'm just as grateful."
"You're welcome." I nodded before scowling. "That Captain doesn't know how to hold back. He had no business threatening you like that."
"Yeah, I'm none too keen on repeating that trauma, thanks." She smiled sheepishly. "How much did you hear before swooping in to save me?"
"Uh, well, I may have heard something about your friend being a... Hacker?" I guessed.
"You heard right. But don't panic!" She waved her arms before her. "Pheo's not like those killers at the Obelisk. She's harmless. Not a violent bone in her body."
Sounds kind of like me.
"Is she a pacifist?"
"What? No. Weeeeeell..." She paused as if considering it before waving it off. "Nah. She's just really, really timid. Like a bunny. She's not good at making friends - and it took her forever to warm up to me - but she's really very sweet. You'd never think her a Hacker what with the Clan's ghastly reputation. Not all Hackers are terrible."
"You don't have to convince me of that." I assured while thinking of Floyd. "How long have you and Pheo been friends?"
"Six years." She said proudly. "We're not from Galitsino, but Suzdal, the next village over. I got her to open up and we've been roommates ever since. I've kept her status as a Hacker a secret and been slowly trying to get her to break out of her shell with others, but then this unpleasant conscription came up."
"Conscription? You mean what the king wanted?"
"Yeah. See, ever since Akasha fell, the Hackers have had their eyes on Exter to supply them food. The king made the deal to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, which is great, but there was the added caveat of bringing in lost Hackers to the Clan. Everything was fine for Pheo until that decree went public. Now we're getting all these visits from guards trying to steal Pheo away, and she's scared our of her mind at the prospect of journeying to that monument to killers." She shook her head. "When it was clear they weren't going to take no for an answer, I grabbed Pheo and legged it. We got as far as Galitsino before becoming proper fugitives. It sucks! My money's no good and I can't even buy food without getting chased away!"
"Language."
"Snrk. Really? You're one of those types? Okay." She giggled.
"There's no reason for profanity."
"On the contrary." She raised a finger. "It's something I'm always telling Pheo. Sometimes the best way to impress the gravity of an unpleasant situation is with an unpleasant curse. But I will acknowledge that using a curse often will make it depreciate in meaning. It's the rare curses, from the ones who curse the least, that mean the most. When Pheo curses, you know things are bad."
That was an interesting point. Someone like Carys or Soul cursing was common and meaningless; they were as likely to curse out a horrible situation as they would when it rained suddenly. But when I cursed, it had been when Jade, Floyd, and Lenz were cast into doubt with Cobb having gone into a coma. Floyd had told me later how wary my uncharacteristic profanity had made him. Because I cursed so rarely, it carried weight.
"Anywho, back to the matter at hand." Alexandra steered us back on topic. "Pheo and I are effectively stuck in Galitsino with the guards covering all the exits. The Ogre of the West only complicates matters. We can't get out quietly and our money is no good. That's where you come in." She smiled cheerfully. "You can fly us out of here. Straight over the guard's heads! It's perfect! And we'll pay you!" She added hastily. "So long as you stay invisible, you won't get in trouble with the guards. So? Can you help us?"
She tried to keep her voice casual, but it was clear how desperate she was. Her clothes were soot-covered from being on the run and she had to be hungry if her money was no longer accepted. She'd been caught stealing food when the guards found her. I could only assume Pheodora was in a similar state. They clearly needed help.
As for their reasons for being on the lam, I wasn't sure what to think. The Hack Clan was trying to find their lost brothers and sisters - people like Floyd, Pheodora, Kalmarin - and Exter was helping them to avoid ending up like Akasha. Lives would be saved if Pheodora went with them to the Hack Clan, and Aikido was all about saving lives.
But then I thought about XoX's methods. He was going to pulp Alexandra's kneecaps just to get her to talk - a clear violation of the Art of Peace. Pheodora had the right to refuse, and did so, only to get hounded for it. And if handing over Pheodora was acceptable, I may as well hand over Floyd to the Clan, which was unacceptable. He didn't want to be like them, and neither did Pheodora.
Thinking like that, it was easier to take Alexandra and Pheodora's side, and I was ready to help them. But there was one problem.
"About helping you out..." I rubbed my neck. "I'm sorry, but I can't make any commitments without asking... uh... let's call her my boss."
"Your boss?"
"That would be me." The husky voice of Carys carried across the roof as she made herself known. Soul appeared moments later after hauling himself over the ledge and rolling onto his back, panting like a dog. Christopher Squawken fluttered placidly upon his belly.
The two new arrivals made Alexandra wary. "Who are you?"
"How'd you find us?" I asked, genuinely curious. I had been pretty careful not to get followed. In answer, Carys jerked her head towards Soul, who held up a linked map.
Right. He knew where I was at all times while I carried my linked map.
"Good work not doing anything rash and sticking to the fucking plan!" Carys hissed at me. I couldn't look at her as I cast my gaze low.
"My body just moved on its own." I answered. I wasn't going to let XoX break more bones.
Carys shook her head at me in exasperation before turning to Alexandra. "My name is Carys. I'm this one's keeper." She added dispassionately. "From what I've heard, I take it you and your friend need a safe route out of Galitsino?"
Alexandra didn't immediately answer. Instead, she looked to me as if asking if this woman was trustworthy. She wasn't in some ways - and helping random strangers was one of those ways - but she could be counted on when things got ugly. I gave her a reassuring nod before she spoke to Carys.
"...That's right. I was hoping your... man?" She asked leadingly.
"Noman."
"Wha - you're a woman!?"
"Huh? No! I'm Noman."
"A woman, then!"
"No! Noman!"
"But you sound like a guy!"
"Oh for the love of - His name is Noman!" Carys snapped. "N-O-M-A-N! Like a YES man, only a NO man!"
"Oooooooh! He's NOman. I get ya." Alexandra nodded in understanding before turning to me. "Let me say it properly. Thanks for saving me, Noman. You're a wonderful human being."
I clasped my hands over my chest, touched by her gratitude. "Thank you!"
"No, thank you!"
"No, no thank you!"
"Thank youuuuu!"
"Thank you!"
"I'm getting diabetes here." Soul groaned.
"Agreed." Carys retched before getting between us to stop. "You're both thankful, we get it."
""Sorry."" We said in unison. Alexandra then added, "You're right about us wanting out of this village. I was hoping your guy, Noman, could help me and Pheo get over those guards."
I was sure Carys would refuse - tell them to take a hike. This was a woman all about self-reliance and ignoring victimized innocents. This was a woman who wanted to reach Exter as soon as possible. Someone who kept us to a strict schedule with no time for detours. This was a woman whose sole purpose was vengeance on the cult. Acts of kindness towards strangers were nonexistent to-
"Of course he'll help. And so will we." Carys' words floored me, but not as much as the tone she used. She hardly ever used it that it took me a second to realize she was speaking with compassion. Even Soul bolted up off the ground as if sensing an ill omen afoot. "We're always happy to help those in need."
"Really?" Alexandra asked with hope in her turquoise eyes.
"Really." Carys' smile was so out of place I feared for my life. "It's our responsibility - nay, our duty - to help those that can't help themselves. I'm sure Noman and Soul would agree."
"Who are you and what have you done with Carys?"
Instead of pummeling him, Carys let out an amused laugh before seizing his shoulder. The gesture was friendly, but the way Soul's face twisted made it clear that she was pinching his nerves in a vice-like grip. "Such a kidder. I'm the same Carys I've always been."
"Carys... Carys..." Alexandra repeated the name with a fist to her chin. "I feel like I've heard that name somewhere. Are you famous?"
"It's a more common name than you'd expect." Carys dismissed with a wave, stepping away from an uncomfortable Soul. "How about we start discussing how to get you and your friend out of Galitsino? Tell me about your past attempts."
"Mm!"
And I thought XoX bearing down on me with that hammer would be the scariest thing I'd experience today. This was terrifying. Soul took a step away from Carys as she continued to chat kindly with Alexandra.
"Have you ever seen her this happy?"
"Maybe once when she was about to kill Cobb." Soul answered with narrowed eyes. "She's faking it for Alexandra, but why?"
"I don't know, but if Carys is willing to help, I'm not complaining. Alexandra and Pheodora need to get out of this village and away from Captain XoX. Her helping us means the Paragons will have to lend a hand."
"Good point." Soul nodded. "Pheodora. That's the Hacker, right? Wonder what powers she's got."
"Alexandra says she's timid and harmless."
"Doesn't mean she doesn't fire missiles from her hands."
"Should that matter? We're just helping them sneak out."
"Oh, yeah, yeah. Of course." Soul waved absentmindedly as he followed Carys and Alexandra, trying to ingratiate himself with the latter. I watched him for a few moments before sighing wearily and jogging to catch up.
Carys didn't drop her amicable attitude even after we got down to the streets. She was all smiles chatting with Alexandra, asking her questions regarding any past escape attempts she and Pheodora had made. From the sounds of it, just two: once on the south side and once on the west side. Each attempt had gone progressively worse, and the captain being in town would introduce another unpleasant factor to any future attempts.
Alexandra was keen on returning to Pheodora. After her stomach grumbled and Carys gave her food and water, she had taken extra to deliver to Pheodora.
"We haven't eaten in a while since nobody accepts our money." She explained through bites of chicken. "Mmmm. I got to get some of this to Pheo."
"We have plenty of food. Take what you want." Carys offered generously.
I scratched my head trying to figure out the cause of her change in behavior. She wasn't acting like herself - she was acting like someone I wouldn't mind being friends with. If Cobb saw this, he would probably clutch his head screaming and fall into a coma again.
Ugh, did I really joke about that? That's in poor taste. I thought in disgust.
We went down streets, dodging guard patrols and the like until dawn broke. It was then that my invisibility wore off and Alexandra was able to see me for the first time.
"Whoa! Nice suit!" She complimented. "Black hair and blue eyes. Dunno why I envisioned you as a blond, but you definitely fit the gentlemanly image. You got style, Nowhere_Man."
"Thanks. It does get hot, though." I admitted. Already I was feeling the rising sun baking me. Alexandra was dressed light by comparison - short sleeves, breathable cloth. I may have had style, but would it have killed whatever clothing gods governing Minecraftia's attire to allow for some more casual options? A t-shirt would have been nice!
"So you said she's your boss." Alexandra looked between Carys and I. "How'd you two meet?"
"Well, it's a funny story." Soul immediately pounced, speaking fast to get his farfetched story out. "Noman was in debt and sold himself as a sex slave, and Carys was willing to plunk down a fortune to have him - whoa there!"
Soul ducked a scythe that nearly decapitated him. Carys' face was no longer smiling but snarling, and I could feel heat creeping up my neck.
"Oh my." Alexandra blushed, averting her eyes. "I didn't know the two of you had that sort of relationship."
""We don't!"" Carys and I shouted in unison.
"Ignore Soul. He likes to stir the pot, and has no sense of self-preservation." Carys explained while brandishing her scythe. "He's going to pay for it, though. Later. Where there are no witnesses."
"No mistress, please don't whip me like the other sex slaves. I'll be good." Soul continued to sell the lie just to make us look bad in front of Alexandra. How could he say such things without being mortified?
"I swear, once our alliance is over, you'll be the first to die." Carys promised darkly. "Enjoy your bladder control now while you still can, asswipe."
"Lang-"
"You wanna be the second to die?"
I zipped my lip while Soul chortled, pleased with himself.
"Oh, I get it." Alexandra brought her fist down into her palm. "You guys are just messing with each other. Ha. Sex slaves and threatening to kill one another. You're such good friends."
"The best." Carys deadpanned.
"Well, here we are." Alexandra made a grand gesture. We had followed her to some rickety old tower in the middle of a fenced-in compound. The tower had supports and a demolished staircase trailing up to a room about forty meters high. "Pretty cool, huh? It's a fire lookout tower!"
"Fire lookout tower?"
"Back when they were mining this place out, they used wooden platforms for the rails. There was so much lava flowing that things constantly kept going up." She pointed to the top. "The fire lookout tower gave the person up there a good enough view of the village to spot the fires and warn the guards to put them out fast. It's been abandoned ever since they stopped unearthing lava. The perfect hiding place to keep an eye on any approaching wierdos."
"So Pheodora is up there?" Carys asked pointedly. Her eyes held on the demolished staircase. How was anyone supposed to get to the top?
"Let me handle this. The rest of you will just spook her." Alexandra kept us back before stepping up to the lookout tower.
"Hey, Pheo." She greeted the empty air. "These three aren't trouble. One of them saved me from the guards, and they've agreed to help us find a way out of Galitsino. I got food too." She held up some cooked chicken as if presenting it to the tower. "Come on. It's your favorite and you're probably starving by now. So how about letting me up?"
I watched in confusion. Did she think her voice loud enough to carry to the top? Why was she talking to the tower like that?
"Come on, Pheo. Trust me. I won't let anything happen to you." Alexandra promised. "So help me out, hm? The chicken's getting stale."
After a few more moments of silence, a stream of water cascaded down the lookout tower. Alexandra smiled as it touched the ground and pooled out.
"Give me a few seconds alone with her." Alexandra asked with a look over her shoulder. "I need to calm her down and explain things."
"Take all the time you need." Carys stooped down to sit. "We need to check in with our other teammates anyway."
Alexandra nodded before swimming up the waterfall. As soon as she swam through the tiny hole the water had been pouring out of, the stream shut off and prevented us from swimming up after her.
Carys got to work with her linked map, sending messages to Anibal and Kalmarin that likely spoke of our safety, our mission with Captain XoX, and our latest development with Alexandra and Pheodora. That left Soul and I to meander about without much to do but talk.
While I could get to the top of the tower with my Bottes Zephyr, Alexandra had asked for privacy. I didn't want to spook anyone, so I respected her wishes.
Soul, on the other hand...
"Why do we have to wait down here when she's the one asking us for help?" Soul complained. "We shouldn't be hung out to dry like this."
"She said Pheodora's shy and easily frightened."
"Doesn't she know she's a Hacker and that the world is more frightened of her than she is of it?"
"We don't know what her circumstances are." I admonished. "From what I heard, all they want is to be left alone. We shouldn't force ourselves upon her, and I know you, Soul, will do exactly that."
"I can be subdued and composed!" He defended paradoxically in an explosive yell.
"Just take it easy, please." I tried. "If Alexandra needs time to convince Pheodora we're no danger, you aren't going to be helping by screaming your head off and lugging that wicked axe of yours. Think about how you look with your scar, toothy grin, military jacket and dog tags, and burly stature."
"And you're approachable with your suit, tie, and tidy hair. I get it." He sighed. "We might be better off if Floyd were here. The two Hackers would hit it off."
"I'm not too sure about that." I said with uncertainty. Soul was stuck thinking of them like Hackers instead of people. If all they had in common was their race, did that account for common interests?
Dawn stretched into morning as we awaited Alexandra's permission to climb up. Then morning turned to noon. Then afternoon.
*tk tk tk tk tk* came the sound of Carys' heel as she tapped her foot impatiently.
Every so often, Alexandra would poke her head out to assure us she was making progress into convincing Pheodora to let us up.
The afternoon passed the longest as the sun crossed the sky and began to dip into the rim of Galitsino's outer limits.
*tktktktktktktktktktktktk* Carys' foot flew as the sky darkened. Sunset turned to evening without a word from Alexandra. Carys had her clock up to her face, her eye twitching. The Paragons had even messaged her asking what the delay was.
She was certainly taking her time. We'd been waiting nearly a full day.
Finally, Carys had enough. Her tapping foot stomped down with finality as she stormed up to the lookout tower and gave it a swift kick.
"HEY!" She called up, frustration overriding fake kindness. "We've been waiting all day! You want our help or don't you!?"
Alexandra came back out fast. "I'm really, really sorry! Pheo says she doesn't trust you two. She says you're scary!"
"Scary!? How would she know? We haven't met her yet!"
"I'm sorry, she's too frightened to get much closer to either of you!" Alexandra called back. "But I managed to convince her to give Noman a chance. She says he's not that scary."
I pointed to myself in surprise just as the stream of water was lowered. I hesitantly gave Carys a look before taking to the water and swimming up. Carys and Soul grumbled about getting left behind while I was allowed entry into the lookout tower.
At the end of the stream, Alexandra reached a hand down and helped me up before sealing the water behind me. I was able to get a good look at the tower room's interior. It was thirty-six square meters of floor space with dust-caked glass window in every direction. A simple table with two chairs was set up in the middle while a single bed was laid in the corner. A fence post beam was in the opposite corner connected to a four meter high roof. There was also a barrel on its side for storage purposes. No furnace, sink, bathroom, or fridge.
And finally, there in one of the two unoccupied corners, there were two brown banners hastily erected like a changing curtain, the silhouette of a cowering woman could be made out behind it. She was peeking at me between the gaps, though she slid aside when my eyes met hers. Orange, with thin black vertical lines over the eyelids.
"This was the most I could get her to compromise." Alexandra admitted sheepishly before cutting straight to introductions. "Pheo. This is Noman. He's the young man who saved my lovely kneecaps. Why don't you come out and say hello?"
Again, Pheodora lifted her head up to peek at me. I offered a light wave, but that only made her dart back under cover. Alexandra moved closer, her voice reassuring.
"It's okay, Pheo. It's just us three. The two scary people are still downstairs. They can't get to you."
Pheo took another peek at me, and this time I sat down and stared at the floor to convince her not to be scared. It did the trick, and she slid from behind the brown banners agonizingly slowly. I couldn't see what she looked like because making eye contact would startle her back to the banners. Instead, I kept my head bowed and listened to her inch forward before rushing to hide behind Alexandra.
"Yeah, you see? He's not scary at all." Alexandra moved forward, presumably with Pheodora cowering behind her. "Noman here helped me out. He saved me. And he's going to save us again. He and his friends have agreed to get us out of this rotten village. You want that, right?"
There was a frantic rustling as Pheodora must have nodded her head against Alexandra's clothes.
"Then you're okay with letting him carry you over the guards?"
More frantic rustling, followed by a faint whine. Alexandra let out a dissatisfied noise.
"Come on, Pheo. Noman's a good Samaritan." She defended. "He carried me to safety and look. Not a scratch on me. He can carry you past those scary guards and then we can put this village behind us."
Pheo didn't say a word, but I heard more frantic rustling that didn't sound promising.
Getting an idea, I risked speaking up. "Excuse me..."
As soon as I spoke, I heard the floor creak as Pheo crouched behind Alexandra's legs, cowering. I didn't spare a glance, but I did reach into my backpack for my Art of Peace book.
"You really have nothing to be scared of with me." I assured, my eyes sticking to the floor as I held out the book. "I practice Aikido: The Art of Peace. I fight to preserve lives because I believe all life is precious. So I fight non-maliciously, non-violently. Disarming or paralyzing people. I don't hurt others and I don't allow for others to be hurt. That's why I saved your friend, Alexandra, and that's why I agreed to help you."
I placed the book down without making any aggressive moves and I slid it across the floor towards Alexandra and Pheodora. I heard the timid woman shrink behind her legs again, not even caring for the book. Another faint whine made me disappointed my attempt to calm her had failed.
"It's okay, Pheo. It's okay." Alexandra patted her sympathetically. "Sorry, Noman. She still needs more time. I'll send you back down. A little space will help make her feel comfortable."
"Alright." I nodded, standing up. As I got up, Pheodora rushed back to the banners and I caught a short glimpse of what she looked like. Orange eyes with the signature black Hacker lines. Long, dark brown hair thickly braided and then bundled behind her head in a spiral to appear like a short bun. It was a curled plait style of braid.
She wore a mouse gray, wool, princess coat. It was a long fit, double-breasted coat, with a flare at the end that flapped as she darted about. It had a removable shoulder cape for the winter, and it made me immediately forget all my complaints for my heavy attire. Pheodora must have been cooking in that thing. It was the kind of clothing you'd wear in the tundra to stay warm. Additionally, she had a black backpack, a red shirt underneath her coat, a red belt, chocolate brown boots, and a long, black skirt. I was able to glean all that from her appearance before she slid behind the banners to cower from me.
I wasted no time leaving. As soon as Alexandra placed down the stream of water, I swam back down with the current and landed calmly on my feet. Carys and Soul were quick to get in my face, bombarding me with questions.
"What happened? Is she coming down? Are we doing this?" Carys demanded.
I shook my head. "She's still afraid. She needs more time to-"
"She's had plenty of time." Carys cut off harshly, her crimson gaze settling on the lookout tower. "It's time to introduce her to my sink or swim philosophy."
"What are you...?" I trailed off as Carys darted to the base of the tower and began nerdpoling up with blocks of cobblestone. "Carys, STOP! You'll ruin all our progress!"
"Waiting outside all day is no progress worth keeping." She countered before getting high enough to leap onto the wrecked staircase. I put on the Bottes Zephyr and kicked into the air to stop her.
She reached the underside of the wooden floor of the tower room and began rapping at it sharply with fist. "I've waited long enough, Alexandra! Best way to deal with fear is to scare it out of her! I'm coming up!"
There was a loud 'Eep!' from the tower before Alexandra was heard shouting, "Stop! Stop it! Don't come up here! She was getting used to you!"
"Knock, knock!" Carys' scythe swung into the floor before hacking away at it like in some horror movie.
Oh, sure. That'll calm her down.
"Carys, knock it off!" I flew up and got behind her. My arms reached up to lock hers in place only for her to crack the back of her head against my nose to stagger me. She pried open a hole in the floor until I abandoned all form and just grabbed her legs to drag her down. "This isn't a comfortable environment!"
"Comfort is for the weak!" She wriggled out of my grasp and freed a leg only to kick my face. After that, I let go and she squirmed into the lookout tower.
"For the record," Soul spoke from right next to me, having nerdpoled up with some dirt and cobblestone, "I'm only coming up because I don't want to be left out. So... yeah."
I sighed in frustration before Soul and I followed Carys into the lookout tower. The scene we came across was Alexandra spreading her arms out before an irate Carys. The Angel of Death had her hands on her hip, looking unimpressed, as Alexandra stood before the twin brown banners. They had been moved to cover the bed, the unmistakable shape of a body laying down on it.
"That's enough!" Alexandra shouted. "Pheo's not ready for this level of confrontation! Leave before you upset her further!"
"Listen to her, Carys." I tried to pull her back only for a scythe handle to come swinging from my left to ward me off. "You're being too pushy!"
"Well, then maybe it's about time for little Pheo here to push back." She swept Alexandra aside with little effort and tore the twin banners down to reveal...
"What the hell?"
Pheodora was lying on the bed as if asleep, but there was a dark smoke enveloping her. It gushed from her closed eyelids and swirled around her body like a cocoon. If it ever drifted away from her body and onto the sheets, it would dissipate like formless vapor.
Her Hack was active.
"Well I hope you're happy with yourself." Alexandra spat accusingly at Carys. "You scared her into hiding!"
What did she mean by hiding? She was lying right in front of us.
Carys spared her a half-glance before standing over Pheodora's smoke-clad body. She hesitated for a second before grabbing the girl by the shoulders and leaning her up. "Wake up, girl." She shook her gently.
Pheodora didn't wake.
Carys tried jostling her more jarringly. "Don't pretend to be asleep! Face your fears with courage!" Pheodora's head lolled to the side, her body as limp as ever. The only thing animated about her was the Hacker smoke still swirling around her body. "Wake. Up."
Carys had shook her quite enough. Even Soul agreed. Together with Alexandra, the three of us were able to pull Carys away. Pheodora's body flopped back onto the bed, the tranquil flow of smoke continuing to blanket her.
"What's wrong with her?" Soul asked worriedly. "Is this some kind of sleep Hack? Because that doesn't sound very applicable."
"She's not sleeping, she's hiding." Alexandra sighed sadly as she shoved Carys to the far side of the tower. "Pheo was so afraid of you and had nowhere for her body to escape. You left her with no other choice, so she left her body behind and fled."
"Left her body behind? What do you mean?" Carys asked.
"Pheo has a unique Hack called Freecam. It allows her an out-of-body experience. Her body might be here, but her consciousness is elsewhere, free to flit about like a spirit. She could be here right now, watching us, listening to us."
"What do you mean she could be?" Soul asked.
"I don't know where she is. She has no form without a body." Alexandra said matter-of-factly. "As a spirit, she's invisible to the naked eye and can move through people and solid objects. She can hear and see us, but we can't hear or see her beyond the body she left behind." She gestured to Pheodora's body lying still on the bed with smoke swirling around. "She could be watching us right now and we wouldn't know it."
"She didn't want to meet us that badly..." I muttered in a troubled tone. Pheodora clearly had trust issues and trouble with social interactions. While Alexandra was an extrovert, Pheodora was an introvert. So shy and frightened that she'd flee her own flesh just to avoid facing a scary lady carrying a scythe.
"This is ridiculous." Said scary lady with a scythe uttered. "She thinks she can just leave her problems behind with her body? If I tried this whenever things looked bad, my body would have been torn asunder." Carys folded her arms. "What happens if her body dies without her inside it?"
"Her body is the anchor for the Hack." Alexandra explained, though she took a defensive position before Pheodora as she said it. "If the body dies, so does the spirit."
"So all she's really doing is making herself vulnerable." Carys huffed. "Does she have any other Hacks?"
"...No just the one. Why?" Alexandra asked suspiciously while Carys clicked her tongue in disappointment. She hid it well, though.
"Just curious." Carys shook her head. "Well, if Pheo here-"
"That's Pheodora to you." Alexandra spoke sharply. Gone was there friendly banter from earlier. The two were cold with each other now, a combination of Carys' disappointment over Pheodora's Hack and Alexandra realizing she only cared for her friend's Hacker powers.
"Whatever. If Pheodora is too sensitive to speak to us, she can leave her body a ragdoll for all I care. Easier for Noman to carry her over the guards."
"...You're right." Alexandra nodded without emotion. "No chance for you to try anything with her either."
Carys narrowed her eyes. "Whatever might you be implying?"
"Only what I've seen." Alexandra stooped down to pick up Pheodora in a princess carry. "Noman, would you mind helping me carry her?"
"Me? Uh, if you're okay with that..."
"You're fine." She assured with a half smile. "It's her I'm wary of." She added with a scowl.
"Can I be fine too? I didn't do anything."
"No." Alexandra shot Soul down.
"A-Ahhh..."
With my help, we were able to carry Pheodora between us. As we were leaving, however, I noticed my Art of Peace book wasn't where I left it on the floor. Did Alexandra or Pheodora move it? I didn't see it anywhere in the room. I had long since read through the teachings, so I suppose I didn't need it anymore. It was why I slid it to Pheodora in the first place, but seeing it missing still stood out to me.
Maybe Pheodora took it after all.
"I'm sorry about Carys." I apologized as we floated down the stream to the bottom of the lookout tower. "She's... difficult."
"I saw you try to stop her. She's your boss. I get it." Alexandra smiled. "You don't have to feel sorrow on her behalf. If she wants to apologize for being pushy, she can say it herself." She raised her voice at the end, which Carys promptly ignored.
"Will Pheodora be okay like this?" I gestured to the girl shrouded in smoke who we were carrying like a sack of dirt. "Carys is right. She's defenseless. If Captain XoX or a guard grabs her-"
"I don't really have a choice. I can't make Pheo return to her body." Alexandra shook her head. "I was trying to avoid this. Not much we can do when she gets this scared. We'll just have to wait for her to come back of her own volition."
"Presumably when we're miles away?" I guessed.
"Bingo."
"We'll try for the east gate." Carys decided, her map in her hands. "We passed through there before. Low security and it's the opposite direction of the capital. The nighttime cover will only help with Noman wearing black. Any problem with that?"
"Fine." Alexandra said shortly. Carys nodded before dropping and picking up her map in Morse Code fashion.
"What are you messaging them about?" Soul asked.
"I'm gonna have Kal and the others cause a diversion." Carys explained while sending the message. "It'll draw attention away from Noman while he does his thing."
It was a solid plan, and I was grateful she was sticking with the escape despite Pheodora not having a combat-oriented Hack. It explained why she had been so helpful and nice to Alexandra earlier. She had been hoping to recruit another Hacker like Kalmarin to bolster her ranks. That was the only reason she had agreed to this at all.
Pheodora's Freecam Hack just wasn't good enough to suit Carys. Maybe it would make Pheodora a good spy for Team Delta's intelligence network, but it would be useless in Team Alpha or Epsilon. Plus, Pheodora was too timid to be thrown into battle. I was glad she wouldn't be pulled into the meat grinder that was Carys' Paragons.
Pheodora's way of thinking was strange, though. She didn't want her conscious mind to meet us, but she was fine leaving her body in the hands of people that terrified her? Was it just an escape? Her body should have been the most important thing to control if she felt imperiled.
There was still the small matter of getting Pheodora close enough to the east gate without getting detected. The girl was literally covered in Hacker smoke, and Alexandra and Carys were too easy to identify. Gosh, there was no telling what Alexandra would do if she put together that Carys was a wanted criminal. Seemed like revealing her was the quickest way to cause chaos.
We kept to the shadows and utilized the night for cover. It made Pheodora's Hacker smoke harder to see. It was still a laborious process, however, as every block we seemed to pass ten Crafters on late night errands.
Finally, after narrowly dodging a patrol of guards, I made up my mind.
"I'll just fly her out now." I told Alexandra, requesting she hand over her half of the unconscious girl. "It'll be faster and safer. Nobody will think to look up."
"No." Carys said suddenly. I waited for an explanation - she was usually reasonable with those - but she said nothing more to convince me.
"No, what? Why is it a bad idea?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Because I said so!" She tried to intimidate me into compliance, but I wasn't having it.
"I can fly her out and be back to pick up Alexandra in ten minutes. We won't be seen at night and it'll be safer than sticking on the ground."
"No."
"Why!?"
"Because." Carys tried to end it again without any good reason. What was her problem?
"You know what? Go for it." Alexandra pushed her half of Pheodora into my hands. "Be quick and come straight back. I don't want to leave Pheo alone for too long."
"I will. I promise." I nodded. Carys had no protest ready as I put on the Bottes Zephyr and kicked into the sky. Pheodora was held in my arms in a bridal carry, the smoke licking at the edges of my vision as I ascended into the night sky.
High above the streets, it was a hundred times easier navigating. No longer did I have to worry about guard patrols or curious citizens. The rim of Galitsino Village called to me, and I headed straight there with my lone passenger firmly in hand.
The cool night wind blew through my hair and chilled me to the bone. Exter may have been warm during the day, but it was cool at night, just like in the desert. Now Pheodora could call herself lucky wearing her long coat and shoulder cape. If she were in her body, she wouldn't feel cold at all.
In no time, I was passing over the eastern gate. There were and alarming number of guards - nearly ten times as many - but I knew they wouldn't think to look up. I wouldn't even need the Paragons' diversion to sneak her past the village limits.
That was what I thought until an arrow whizzed by. "Ah!"
"There they are! Open fire, men! First volley!"
My eyes widened as countless arrows flew towards me like rain. I turned in midair to try and avoid them, but one or two sunk into my forearm. I was at least able to keep Pheodora from getting hit, but a bright white light suddenly outlined by body. The first volley was gold tipped spectral arrows!
"Target marked! First volley successful! Second volley, GO!"
The cover of night was useless now that I glowed in the dark. The guards took advantage as a second volley of arrows flew at me with more precision. I shifted Pheodora to one shoulder and brought out my shield for cover. In tandem with the Bottes Zephyr's solid air blocks it spawned underneath me, I was able to block all the arrows coming towards me at the cost of movement speed. I couldn't very well run, carry a shield, AND carry Pheodora without something being let go.
As the arrows struck the invisible air blocks I used as platforms, I saw that the arrowheads were coated in different colored liquids. Gray blue and gray. Slowness and Weakness. These were the tipped arrows Cobb's group had described. They were trying to paralyze us so we'd drop right out of the sky.
The guards were definitely prepared with their spectral arrows and tipped arrows, but how could they have known to search the sky? How could they gather in such numbers and prepare such expensive projectiles so quickly? This went beyond normal preparedness. They were waiting for us!
"Fire again!" I heard the unmistakable roar of Captain XoX as he commanded the archers. Even he was waiting down there!? "Bring them down!"
I hoped I was too high for them to make out my name, appearance, or shield design. Either one of them would have tipped XoX off that I was the one helping Pheodora.
More and more tipped arrows pelted the invisible blocks I stood on. None of them were getting through, but every second I lingered was another chance for someone down there to identify me. I had to either push forward with the plan or fall back.
I decided on the latter solely because the guards had been waiting for us. They were prepared and were likely ready in case we recklessly charged past the village limits. They could have a fleet of horses on the ground ready to give chase, and I couldn't leave Pheodora's body lying around. Besides, Alexandra would want assurance that her friend was okay. I promised her. Sometimes a step backward is a step in the right direction.
I shifted slightly to place Pheodora down on my foothold of solid air blocks before grabbing one of her arms with my shield arm and slipping my other arm between her legs in a foreman's carry. Her torso was resting on my back, but it allowed me to keep my shield up to block arrows. With my solid carry, I turned around in the air and fled back the way I came. There was a commotion below and a yell from Captain XoX, but I ignored it in favor of getting us safely to the village streets.
I would need to rendezvous back with Carys and come up with a better escape plan for Alexandra and Pheodora. Going by air was a no go.
[Miles Outside Galitsino Village]
"Hey, we just got orders from the Captain in town." A guard announced to a patrol of guards on horseback. "He wants everyone recalled from the outer limits to help track down Alexandra and her Hacker friend."
"We can't pull back." One of the patrolling guards refused despite half of the others already guiding their horses home. "We're responsible for the perimeter. We have to watch out for Stigmata. So do the other patrols."
"It's a direct order from XoX. He says finding the Hacker is more important. Or at least, that's what I gleaned from his unintelligent grunts and groans."
"He can't order us around just because we're guards and he's a Captain. He's not from around here." Another guard protested.
"You want to get on his bad side? I heard he broke some dude's arm just for looking at him funny."
Several guards shuddered before becoming more agreeable.
"Y-Yeah, alright. Let's head back."
They spurred their horses back towards the village, the sounds of galloping fading on the wind.
And in their absence, a Zombie Pigman wearing a glass dome with the number '3' hanging over it emerged from the jagged landscape, its half-rotted eyes guiding it west.
*uhu*
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Carved Pumpkin, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling IV, Depth Strider III], 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Diamond Sword [Sweeping Edge III], 12 Cobblestone, 2 Glass, 16 Ender Pearls, 9 Ender Pearls, 56 Glass Bottles, 1 Stone Pickaxe, 1 Furnace, 17 Flint, 1 Flint and Steel, 17 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 Milk Bucket, 10 Coal, 64 Snowballs, 11 Snowballs, 4 Ender Chests, 29 Obsidian, 43 Steak, 2 End Crystals, 9 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Nether}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Bounty Days}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 64 Eyes of Ender, 64 Chorus Fruit, 1 Potion of Strength II {1:30}, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}
[EXP: 38]
Inventory (Lenz): 1 Chainmail Helmet, 1 Dragon Head, 1 Chainmail Chestplate, 1 Chainmail Leggings, 1 Chainmail Boots, 32 Pumpkin Seeds, 1 Iron Dagger, 16 Ender Pearls, 13 Cobblestone, 1 Compass, 25 Gunpowder, 1 Bow, 1 Bow [Infinity], 1 Crossbow, 42 Arrows, 1 Crafting Table, 16 Steak, 1 Stick, 63 Chorus Fruit, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Akasha Entry Pass}, 1 Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}, 1 Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 1 Shears, 1 Lever, 9 Redstone Torches, 8 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}
Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 63 Arrows of Poison {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Harming II, 64 Arrows of Harming II, 63 Arrows of Weakness {0:30}, 60 Arrows of Slowness {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Fire Resistance {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Healing II, 64 Arrows of Invisibility {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Leaping {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Slow Falling {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Night Vision {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Strength II {0:12}, 64 Arrows of Swiftness {1:00}, 63 Arrows of Swiftness II {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Water Breathing {1:00}
[EXP: 21]
Inventory (Baltic): 1 Iron Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Sword [Sharpness II, Unbreaking III], 1 Shield, 1 Bow, 1 Diamond Pickaxe [Silk Touch I, Mending I, Unbreaking II], 10 Arrows, 3 Brewing Stands, 1 Water Bucket, 28 Bones, 1 Ender Chest, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 26 Emeralds, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Healing II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Harming II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Harming II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Harming II {0:05}, 1 Splash Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Splash Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 64 Glass Bottles, 64 Dragon's Breath, 64 Dragon's Breath, 45 Blaze Powder, 42 Nether Warts, 30 Soul Sand, 63 Phantom Membranes, 64 Blaze Rods, 20 Fermented Spider Eyes, 53 Carrots, 53 Melon Slices, 55 Rabbit's Feet, 50 Golden Ingots, 1 Golden Nugget, 55 Gunpowder, 54 Redstone Dust, 55 Glowstone Dust
[EXP: 30]
Inventory (Z7): 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 32 Cobblestone, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 21 Charcoal, 14 Torches, 9 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 3 Pumpkin Pies, 29 Baked Potatoes, 1 Bucket, 1 Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Potion of Slow Falling {4:00}, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 1 Purple Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
[EXP: 42]
Inventory (Floyd): 1 Mob Head {Creeper}, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Diamond Helmet [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Shears, 5 Cobwebs, 2 Iron Ingots, 64 Steak, 3 Steak, 2 Sticks, 29 Coal, 20 Torches, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Furnace, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Minecart, 1 Bed, 1 Boat, 1 Diamond Boots [Projectile Protection IV], 16 Gunpowder, 16 Ender Pearls, 2 Ender Pearls, 1 Splash Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Bucket, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 44]
Buckner's Horse
Inventory (Soul): 1 Diamond Axe [Sharpness V], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 62 Iron Ingots, 20 Flint, 12 Gold Ingots, 1 Shears, 8 Cobwebs, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Crafting Table, 1 Jukebox, 1 Music Disc {chirp}, 1 Bed, 1 Furnace, 24 Torches, 34 White Wool, 7 Pumpkin Seeds, 64 Cobblestone, 53 Cobblestone, 32 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Armor Stand, 16 Steak, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Exter Entry Pass}
[EXP: 41]
Devers' Horse
Cat-Face the Cat
Christopher Squawken the Parrot
Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness I], 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Leather Boots {Bottes Zephyr} [Dyed White], 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Diamond Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Green Shield [Beginners], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 64 Cobblestone, 60 Nether Warts, 20 Soul Sand, 1 Flint and Steel, 1 Shears, 10 Cobwebs, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Water Bucket, 5 Buckets, 1 Bed, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Brewing Stand, 33 Glass Bottles, 4 Packed Ice, 1 Ender Chest, 16 Ender Pearls, 4 Ender Pearls, 3 Phantom Membranes, 61 Glowstone Dust, 29 Gunpowder, 18 Redstone Dust, 61 Blaze Powder, 62 Golden Nuggets, 61 Brown Mushrooms, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Exter Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Enchanted Golden Apple
[EXP: 35]
Snow the Horse
AN: Ruh roh. Now you know why this Arc is called the Stigmata Arc.
Alexandra_Artyom and Pheodora_Prizrak are both Russian names, with Pheodora's style of hair reminiscent of a Russian style of braid. She and Alexandra both have braids of some kind in their hair, as I feel like I don't give enough characters braids. Both were interesting styles I wanted to depict.
The fire lookout tower is an actual thing. In those protected forests, they literally build these cozy little rooms forty or fifty meters up, and they put some ranger in there to watch for smoke or flames. I had to look that up to find a name for it, as I've seen one but I didn't know what it was called.
I also put a lot of focus stressing that Pheodora - the Hacker - is an easily frightened girl willing to leave her body behind just to flee. She's even more timid than Erin.
FAV. FOLLOW. REVIEW. PM. FORUM. DISCORD. CHOCOLATE CHIP CRUMB CAKE WITH COOKIES AND CREAM ICE CREAM ON TOP.