Chapter 22 – Fireforged Alliance (William)

William gripped the edge of his seat in the Guildmaster's quarters. Even though they had been assured Jacob would be found, he and Leon exhausted themselves last night trying to search for him. They searched the guild grounds and the nearby town until curfew was enforced. As they returned to their dorms, all they could do was hope Jacob would turn up in the morning.

Instead they were awakened by the Quartermaster, who took them to the Guildmaster's quarters. William's mind was hazy and unfocused from his brief sleep, but the news from the Arcanine sobered him immediately.

"Jacob's been kidnapped?!" Leon exclaimed, expressing the same shock William harbored.

Dawn nodded gravely. "Whoever took him, they wrote this." She pushed a letter across her desk.

Leon grabbed the paper, and William leaned in to read it alongside him.

To the esteemed leader of the Wolfhaven Guild.

One of your apprentices has come with us for a visit to our stronghold. We assure you that no harm will befall him, for the time being. However, if you wish for his safe return, then we require something of you first.

The apprentice in question, a Charmander named Jacob, has a possession that we are keenly interested in: his pocket watch, which we need for reasons of our own. We request you to bring this artifact to us at the citadel on the Silver Shore.

You need not reply with a letter. We expect you to arrive one week from the time you receive this, with the artifact, of course. If not, then we will assume that you have chosen to not heed our request, and you will not be seeing your apprentice again.

Caydence, envoy of the Eidolons.

"These mons, the 'Eidolons,'" Dawn explained. "They must have taken him last night, near the woods. I don't know how they've done it, but their demands are clear."

"His pocket watch," William uttered. "They're going through this much trouble to get that, of all things?"

He flashed back to the night he met Leon and Jacob, how a Staraptor assaulted them and stole that pocket watch. He had risked himself to help Jacob get it back. Now they still pursued it for reasons William couldn't even begin to fathom. "Why?" he asked aloud.

Off to the side, the Excadrill Quartermaster shook his head. "Your guess is as good as ours."

"This…" Leon uttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "This can't be happening. Jacob? G-gone?"

"I'm afraid it is happening, Leon," the Guildmaster replied. "I've never had an apprentice abducted under my watch before. This has blindsided us just as much."

Leon buried his face in his hands, silently processing the news.

William, meanwhile, read the letter a second time. "The Silver Shore," he said, recalling the maps he had studied. "It's a coast to the northeast, isn't it? I thought it was just a barren beach. What's this 'citadel' they're referring to?"

"You would be right," Dawn replied. "Aside from a few cliffs, the Silver Shore has only empty land and sea." Her expression turned even more grim. "On first glance."

"What do you mean by that?" William inquired.

"We have records that, sometimes, a clifftop castle looms over the waves and rocky crags. We don't know what causes it to disappear or reappear, but we do know that it's no ordinary castle."

The Guildmaster paused, staring down at her desk as she gathered her next words.

"If I'm understanding all of this correctly, this 'citadel' may actually be a particular anomaly– a strange phenomena that's been discovered only recently." She lifted her head, meeting them with a hard gaze. "A Mystery Dungeon."

A wave of goosebumps cascaded over William's scales."Mystery Dungeon?" he echoed. "What is that?"

"There's no easy answer," Dawn explained. "From what we know, they're… bizarre spaces that defy reality itself. They're difficult to articulate. As far as we know, these 'Mystery Dungeons' didn't even exist until recently. One of our own teams ventured into one about six months ago." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "…Not all of them came back out."

"And the guys that did come back," Flint spoke up, "gave reports full o' nightmare fuel. Like demons that look like mons, and ten times more vicious than ferals. Or the dungeon bending itself tryin' to kill 'em. Messed up gravity. Portals… Everything about 'em just screams supernatural."

"Whatever they experienced, it was a harrowing ordeal," the Guildmaster said. "They weren't quite the same when they came home. None of them remained with the guild."

A chill shot down William's spine. As horrific as these Mystery Dungeons sounded, these descriptions likely only scratched the surface. Despite the warnings, a small part of him desired to know for himself– to see what dangers these dungeons presented with his own eyes.

"And that's where they're taking Jacob?" Leon finally spoke, lifting his head. "Holding him hostage in that… that… deathtrap?"

An uncomfortable silence froze the room.

"There's no point in pretending otherwise," the Guildmaster said. "If they really have taken him into a Mystery Dungeon, then he's in peril."

Leon clutched his eyes shut, gripping the edge of his seat. "Then that's where I'm going," he said quietly, yet boldly. "I'm going to that Silver Shore. I'm getting Jacob back."

"The guild is on lockdown now," Flint retorted. "No one is going anywhere."

"That's enough, Quartermaster," Dawn admonished as Flint and Leon exchanged spiteful looks. After the Excadrill took a step back, the Guildnaster softened her tone. "Leon, please. I know this is harder for you than anyone else involved."

"It's hardest on Jacob," Leon remarked, followed by more silence.

"…In any case," Dawn continued, "we can't afford to be rash. The Guild has only a basic understanding of the situation. But even as we speak, we're gathering our most elite teams to handle this situation. Once they're ready, they'll head out and rescue him."

"And how long will that take?" Leon pushed, raising his voice.

"With how sudden the situation is, I expect we'll be able to launch our rescue mission on Tuesday– three days from now."

"That's not good enough!" Leon shot up from his chair. "We've got only a week, and the shore is several days away! We need to save him now!"

Flint moved, ready to put Leon back in his seat, but paused as Dawn held up a paw.

"Leon," the Guildmaster looked on with a soft, empathetic gaze. "I'm sorry. I really, truly am. But we can't risk losing more guild members. As Flint has said, the guild is going on lockdown. No apprentices will be allowed outside of the hall without an escort from a mentor. They're already drafting a new schedule for you all. And curfews are being tightened tonight."

William watched as Leon's shocked disbelief flared up into righteous anger, only to be quashed almost immediately. It was true that this situation put the guild's leadership in a bind, but the emotional turbulence Leon must have felt, especially after yesterday, made the Cubone's heart sink. Even he was struggling to come to terms with the situation.

Jacob, abducted, held for ransom, and kept in an incomprehensibly dangerous place? Willliam was torn between scorn for such maliciousness, and sorrow for how much Jacob must be suffering. He held his bone club close to his chest.

"I promise that we'll keep you informed," the Guildmaster said. "In the meantime, we're doing everything we can to keep the rest of the guild safe. I would invite you two to stay for questions." The Arcanine's sympathetic expression hardened into a stern, commanding gaze. "But we haven't a moment to waste– we have to mobilize our teams. For now, I'll ask you to return to your dorms."

Leon promptly stormed out of the room. William jumped out of his chair to pursue him. Though he hesitated at the door, glancing back at the Guildmaster. She spoke with Flint in hushed tones, uncertainty painted over her expression.

He continued to the main hall, watching Leon resolutely march toward his room. As William followed, he stopped to listen to a group of mons on the ground floor– a mentor was addressing a group of apprentices.

"–That means fieldwork will be limited to the town's borders," an Escavalier explained. "And anyone out of their rooms past nine in the evening will be reprimanded and placed in Nightwatch custody."

The apprentices buzzed with questions.

"What happened, anyway? Why so strict?"

"Yeah, everything's been all 'hush-hush' so far."

"We'll let you know that information when the time comes," the mentor answered. "For now, let's move to the dining hall–"

William moved on, crossing the threshold into the apprentice dormitory. He made his way over towards Leon's room, finding that the door was left unlocked. With a twist of the handle, he opened it.

"Leon," he announced as he entered. As he stepped inside, he saw the Totodile stuffing his backpack with berries, seeds, and other traveling necessities. As he noticed William, he didn't pause.

"I'm going after him," Leon said in a hard voice that matched his stalwart expression. "I don't care what they say– I can't sit here all cozy knowing that Jacob is…!" He looked away, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Leon…" William took a step closer, shutting the door behind him. "I know you're distraught. I am, too. But you should think this all the way through."

"What's there to think about?" Leon growled. "Some lowlives took Jacob away, doing who-knows-what to him. And the guild's not gonna move fast enough." He looked up, meeting William's gaze. "We've had a rough patch. Maybe we can put it past us, but not now. Don't try to stop me. I need to save him."

"I'm not here to stop you," William replied, tightening the grip on his club. "I'm here to stop you from going alone."

Leon blinked. "You're… what?"

"Jacob matters to me, too." William thought back to the beginning of his own memory. Meeting Leon and Jacob, helping them fight off the Staraptor who stole his watch, and them buying medicine for him in return.

"He showed me kindness," William went on. "And after he told me about his own predicament, missing his own family… It was like we were kindred spirits."

Leon's face softened. "Is… that why…?" Though he trailed off, leaving his sentence unfinished.

"I don't want to stand idle, either," William added. "Even if that wasn't the case, you'll need steadfast allies if you want any chance of reaching Jacob. We don't know what these 'Eidolons' are capable of."

"Will, I appreciate the offer," Leon said, then blew out a sigh. "But no."

His words hung in the air, leaving William rattled. He gave Leon a critical look. "No?" Was Leon really going to hinder himself because of a grudge? "Leon, wasn't it your mistrust of others that drove Jacob away?"

Now Leon was visibly rattled. He bowed his head. "Yeah… I don't need a reminder."

"Then why insist on going alone?"

Leon turned away, slowly walking toward the window. He stared at the glass, either looking outside or at his own reflection. "You already said why," he replied. "I'm the one who drove Jacob away. So it's my problem to solve."

William tilted his head to the side, a wrinkle forming on his forehead under his helmet. "I don't understand…"

Leon's logic didn't make sense. He acknowledged that his own mistrust helped lead to this situation, yet insisted on going alone because it was 'his fault.' Was he motivated by something more than Jacob's safety? Did he feel guilt?

"Leon," William spoke slowly. "Are you saying that you're the reason why Jacob was kidnapped?"

At those words, Leon dropped to the floor, curling himself up. "It is my fault," he uttered, voice cracking. "I should've done more– or I should've backed off, I don't know!"

Sorrow infected William, pushing him back.

"It was my job to look after him," Leon continued. "But all I did was… drive him away." He lowered his head further. "Why should I make others pay for my mistakes?"

It seemed that Leon wasn't just moved by guilt. He was overwhelmed by it. He had staked a great amount of pride on being Jacob's older brother, his protector. And since he failed to keep Jacob safe, he now saw fit to punish himself. Such a mentality would do nothing to help in this situation, and William couldn't reason with him.

How could he redirect Leon's energy? Maybe the answer wasn't by appealing to logic, but by appealing to emotion first?

William composed himself, then walked over beside Leon. He sat down beside him, seeing his eyes glisten. "Leon," he began. "I know this hurts. I'm not sure if I can fully fathom how much pain it brings you."

The Totodile offered no reaction. He just sat there, crumpled.

"I'd like to ask you something," William inquired. "If Jacob could see you now, do you think he'd be happy to see you like this?"

Leon closed his eyes, blinking slowly. "I… don't know."

"How do you think he would feel if he knew you were about to throw yourself in harm's way, knowing how reckless that is?"

He lifted his head up, staring at the window again. "He'd… probably feel really bad."

"Because you'd be getting yourself hurt, or worse," William added. "Even if there's a rift between you now, Jacob still cares about you, doesn't he?"

Leon wiped a tear from his eye. "…I hope he does."

William kneeled down beside him. "Not only that, but if you went alone, you would miss the point he's been trying to convey to you."

A few seconds passed, and Leon looked straight at William. "W-what?"

"Think about it," William invited. "Tension brewed between you and Jacob began because, in his view, you've been too closed off to others. To the point where his own freedom was diminished. If you reject help now, wouldn't that show Jacob that you still haven't listened to him?"

Leon stared at William with his jaw hanging open. Though he offered no reply, his wide eyes showed a spark of epiphany.

"Bearing all of this in mind, I think the best choice is clear," William concluded. "Leaving alone would put you in grave danger. Even if you somehow reached Jacob, he may still be upset with you. But if you have allies, you'll greatly reduce your own risk."

Although Leon remained silent, William could read his expression. The Totodile's face scrunched up, pondering over the words he had offered. He was torn between his own emotions, and how his missing brother might feel about this.

After a while, he finally nodded. "Alright, Will. You've made your point."

William rose to his feet and offered a hand to Leon.

Leon accepted it, rising up to William. "If you really want to help, then I'll let you. But still…" He paused, scratching his arm. "I don't think just the two of us gives us much better chances."

"I know," William replied. "We'll need to assemble a proper team. It won't be easy to solicit help, either. We'll be risking our membership with the guild, and likely much more than that."

"But we have to try," Leon said. "For Jacob."

William nodded. "Agreed. So, who would be willing to help us? Anyone familiar with Jacob, or you?"

Leon raised a hand to his own shoulder, rubbing it. "Well, I worked with a Bulbasaur, Chase. I could see if he'd be up for it."

"A good start. How about Jacob's training partner, who would that be?"

"That'd be Enzo," Leon answered, though his face soured. "He's a Quilava, and not the friendly type. I don't think you'll have any luck with him."

Suddenly, the door reverberated as someone knocked on it.

"All apprentices need to come to the training field in five minutes," announced a voice on the other side. "We'll be giving dueling lessons. Attendance is mandatory."

Footsteps followed, as the announcer moved on to more doors throughout the dorm, knocking and repeating the same message.

If all the apprentices were going to be in the same place, William would have a chance to find Enzo. Even if recruiting him was unlikely, he still had to try.

"We'll find them outside," William said. "Then meet each other at lunch. Hopefully with good news."

"Okay." Leon sighed. "Though I gotta be honest, I still don't like waiting. The sooner we can get to him, the better."

"It'll be alright," William assured as he walked toward the door. Already, he was forming an idea of what their rescue team might look like. "If we do this right, we could leave as early as tonight."

A Poliwhirl skidded across the dirt of the sparring arena, skin smoking from the Flame Wheel that had launched him. He crashed into a leaf pile beneath a tree, scattering a plume of yellow leaves in every direction.

The crowd of apprentices cheered wildly at the carnage, whooping and clapping as the victor– a stone-faced Quilava– walked out of the ring.

"That's another victory for Enzo," Aleister, the Lucario, announced. "He demonstrates offense being the best defense!"

William stood among the crowd. Earlier, the guild mentors had demonstrated a crash-course in self-defense. Then they had the apprentices fight in the makeshift dueling rings they had set up– patches of dirt with their boundaries marked by ropes on the ground.

William hadn't dueled yet, but Enzo had fought three times. And so far, he was undefeated.

Flint blew a whistle. "Break time," the Excadrill announced. "Grab juice and a snack. Next lesson is in five, then we'll spar again."

As the crowd dispersed, William looked around for Leon. He spotted the Totodile near the back entrance to the guild, flagging down a Bulbasaur. It seemed that he had already found Chase. All the more reason to find Enzo, so he could play his part, too.

So he walked through the crowd of fellow apprentices on his way to the snack table. As he thought of his proposal to Enzo, chatter from the others filled the air.

"Didja see that Thundershock? Hit 'em right between the eyes!"

"Dude, that wasn't a fair swing. Rematch!"

"Hey, I dare ya to fight Enzo…"

"What? No! Why don't you step in the ring with him?"

Once the crowd thinned a bit, William finally found Enzo toward the end of the table, who was helping himself to a small bowl of almonds. He approached the Quilava. "Hello, Enzo," he greeted. "How have you been?"

Enzo shifted his gaze over towards William. He finished chewing his food before speaking. "Have we met?" he asked.

"I believe so," William answered. "After the Hunt, we spoke at the afterparty, remember?"

"…Ah." He turned his attention back to the food. "William?"

William nodded.

"Need something?" Enzo asked, reaching for more almonds.

"As I recall from our last conversation, you put a great emphasis on strength. A point that you've readily demonstrated today."

If Enzo felt any flattery, he didn't show it. "And?" he asked bluntly.

"I'm sure you've figured out that something is amiss. Sudden training, the guild locking down. They're not saying why yet– I suspect to keep us from panicking."

"Hmm." The Quilava tossed a handful of almonds into his mouth.

"If I told you that I knew what was going on, why they're putting us on lockdown, would you want to hear it?"

Enzo stopped chewing and turned his head toward William. Though subtle, there was a glint in his eyes that, to William, seemed close enough to interest.

"There's been a kidnapping," William whispered. "Jacob. Taken by mons calling themselves 'Eidolons.' They've gone to someplace called a 'Mystery Dungeon.'"

"Why?" Enzo whispered back.

"We're not sure. They're after something Jacob has, so they're holding him for ransom. We intend to get him back."

Enzo blinked. "You and Leon."

"We're not going alone. We'll need a team as soon as possible. Those Eidolons have given us a time limit."

"Sounds serious."

"It is. That's why I came to you." This was it, time to make his pitch to Enzo. "I heard you were Jacob's training partner. And I know you'd like to prove yourself, this could be the challenge you're seeking. It's not like you're getting that by smacking around these novices, right?"

He couldn't tell if it was his imagination or not, but for a moment it looked like Enzo had a small smirk.

"Tempting," Enzo replied. "But I don't carry."

William tilted his head. "What does that mean?

Before Enzo could answer, Flint's whistle sounded off. "A'right, everyone gather 'round. Got one more thing to show ya before we spar again."

William grabbed a handful of trail mix, then hurried after Enzo as he and the other apprentices returned to the sparring rings.

Aleister faced off against the Quartermaster, Lucario versus Excadrill. The former started lecturing about how to change the battlefield to one's own advantage, changing tactics, and so on. Though William was only half-listening as the mentors circled each other.

"Enzo," he addressed the Quilava. "What did you mean by that? That you 'don't carry'?"

"I don't follow weaker mons," Enzo said, staring ahead. "Simple."

"Is that to say you won't join Leon and I?"

"Probably."

William overlooked Enzo's implied insult and pondered his point of view. In the few interactions he had with him, Enzo had been unshakably blunt, stoic, and laconic. Even though it wasn't exactly important, he couldn't help but wonder how Enzo had come to be the way that he is. It was a curiosity similar to when he first met Corvo a couple weeks ago.

If anything, it bolstered William's motivation to recruit Enzo. It would give him the opportunity to peel back layers of the badger's personality and see his composition.

Meanwhile, the spar between Aleister and Flint ended as the latter erupted from the ground with Dig, attempting to ambush the Lucario. Aleister, who had his eyes closed, moved automatically, delivering a swift kick that launched the Quartermaster out of the ring. The crowd cheered, thoroughly enjoying the show.

Aleister walked over towards Flint, offering a hand back up to his feet.

"…A'right mavericks," Flint announced as he dusted himself off. "Got time for one more brawl 'fore closin' lessons and dinnertime." He pointed a claw at the Quilava, beckoning him to step forward. "Anyone reckon they can go toe-to-toe with Enzo?"

Almost the whole class took a step back, shrinking into dead silence. Indeed, the mere mention of his name was intimidating. They all sheepishly looked on to see if anyone was brave or dumb enough to challenge him.

Of course, William was undeterred. "I will," he said, stepping forward. Already he could feel the stares of the other apprentices on his back, hearing their silence break into excited murmurs.

"No way! Isn't that Clueless Cubone?"

"Hell yeah, headcase versus hothead!"

"Heheheh, this ought to be good."

"Don't count him out. He's surprised everyone before."

The only emotion on Enzo's face was a flicker of surprise, though it may well have been William's own imagination.

He stepped into the ring, opposite of the Quilava. His opponent made the air shimmer with heat from his vents.

"A'right, just like the matches before," Flint said. "Push the other guy out, you win." He started walking out of the ring.

William locked eyes with Enzo. The latter stared him down in return, as if he was trying to read him.

"Enzo," William spoke quietly. "If I best you here, will that be proof enough of my skill?"

The Quilava blinked. "What?"

"You said you 'don't carry.' If I show you I don't need to be carried, will you join Leon and I?"

Enzo's expression shifted, and the interest he showed wasn't imaginary.

Flint started counting down.

"Three… two… one…"

Enzo nodded. William mirrored it.

The whistle blew.

Flames burst out of Enzo's vents as he charged, morphing into a fireball with Flame Wheel.

Dodging wasn't an option– Enzo would just turn around and build more momentum. William dug in his heels. Right when he felt the edge of fiery heat he swung his Bone Club in an uppercut, striking Enzo's chin.

The flames fizzled as Enzo stumbled back, smacked out of his fiery cloak. The crowd cheered, though William paid them no mind.

Pressing the advantage he hurled forth a Bonemerang.

But Enzo spun to the side, letting the Bonemerang rush past him with a whistle. Once again his vents ignited, and he shot back with a Flame Burst.

Now unarmed, all William could do was leap aside, and the fireball detonated behind him. The scarlet blast fanned out, grazing his back with sizzling embers. The notched bone club rounded and flew back to him, sailing through the air alongside a second fireball.

Timing his movement, William caught his Bonemerang with his left arm, but the searing flames grazed his wrist, singeing him. He switched his club to his right arm to throw it again, but another Flame Burst was already flying straight at him.

The flames on Enzo's vents bloomed to double their size, and he fired off Flame Bursts at twice the speed. All William could do was evade, jumping around the ring as explosions peppered him with hot sparks. If he could just close the gap between them, get within melee range…

But Enzo led his next shot, launching another fireball right at William as he landed.

The blazing burst crashed into his chest, spraying him with blistering heat as it exploded. The force sent him sliding back, and he jammed the sharp end of his bone club into dirt, carving through the ground. His maneuver slowed his momentum and he stopped a few feet away from the arena's edge.

Yet the hot pain in his chest lingered, leaving a discolored mark– he had been burned. Just as William regained his bearings, a volley of golden stars hailed him as Enzo fired Swift, peppering him with heat-seeking stars. Even if they weren't forceful enough to push him, they still battered his wounds and wore him down.

This fight was turning into a one-sided beating, and William couldn't let that continue.

He reeled his arm back, then thrust it forward to hurl another Bonemerang. The whirling club sheared through the stream of stars like water, deflecting them.

Enzo's eyes widened as the hard projectile rushed toward him, and he dropped down at the last second– the Bonemerang grazed the flame atop his head. It had stopped his attack, but it was still a miss nonetheless. As Enzo stood up again, William's club sailed back around, allowing the Cubone to snatch it out of the air.

He clutched his club– his strategy wasn't working. Between his burn, missing attacks, and Enzo's onslaught, victory seemed impossible. He needed to change tactics… While Enzo's flames towered and he gathered his strength, William's attention was drawn towards his own weapon.

The bludgeon of the bone club was alight with a red-hot glow, as if it had absorbed part of Enzo's flames. William recalled how he combined his Bonemerang with Andrew's Dragon Rage to spectacular effect. Once more he inspected his club, tracing his eyes over its strange hook and the geometric runes engraved on the calcium.

Could he do it again?

Suddenly, a brilliant orange light eclipsed the ring. A five-pronged scarlet-star materialized in front of Enzo, his Fire Blast charging as he breathed deeply. With an exhale, the flames raced toward William.

William fought his own instincts, which yelled at him to run and hide. Instead of evading, even as the Fire Blast surged toward him like a comet, he stood his ground. The only thing between him and hellfire was his trusty club.

Infernal flames engulfed and blinded him. Savage heat threatened to knock him unconscious, demanding every ounce of his focus to stay standing. He tightened his grip on the club, determined to see if his wild gambit was worth the pain, worth staking this match on. The hellish storm passed as heat and flames dissipated, scattering into embers in the wind.

The edges of William's vision remained darkened. Through labored breaths, he gazed up at his club.

The once white bone now glowed a radiant red, like steel pulled from a burning forge. Beams of fire curled around the hot bludgeon, leaving a streak of flames as William swung it back and forth. The runes on the side glowed like a blazing hearth. The crowd was silent, and even Enzo looked on with a shocked expression.

He had done it. He had infused fire into his curious, extraordinary bone club.

And now it was time to test its power.

Across the ring, Enzo reclaimed his senses and shook off his awe. He spat a quick fireball in William's direction.

William swung his Bone Club in an arc, and a fireball of his own shot out from the bludgeon. Mirrored Flame Bursts collided in the middle of the ring, exploding between their casters. Manic cheers erupted from the crowd, reminding William that they were still there, watching with great interest.

The two circled each other as they traded more fireballs. Enzo would shoot, and William would swing. Some collided again, creating a shower of hot sparks. Others missed and exploded on the ground, washing heat over their backs. If Enzo was hoping that William's club would run out of fire, his hope wasn't paying off. Despite his wounds, William's discovery had rejuvenated him, and his fighting spirit burned bright. After a few more Flame Bursts, the Quilava lost his patience.

The fire from Enzo's vents engulfed him once more as he charged toward William, revving up another Flame Wheel.

William countered with Bonemerang– hurling his club forward. The radiant bone showered embers as it spun, leaving a trail of flames in its flight. Though Enzo sidestepped the attack, the fiery streak left a headwind in its wake, slowing him down.

Rather than wait for his Bonemerang to return, William ran to meet Enzo near the center of the ring. He met the badger's charge head on– literally, as he smashed into Enzo with a rattling Headbutt. Though William's burn hampered him, Enzo's own energy was dwindling. The collision halted Enzo's momentum and even staggered him.

Meanwhile, the inbound Bonemerang crashed into him, finally hitting his back.

In one swift motion, William caught his Bonemerang out of the air, swung around, and struck Enzo again with his fire-infused Bone Club. The clash of flames combusted an explosion, and the blast of heat and light forced the fighters apart.

William staked his club into the ground again, slowing his momentum, keeping himself in the ring.

Enzo wasn't so lucky– the detonation tossed him and he skipped across the dirt like a stone over water. He rolled over the ground, finally spinning to a stop… outside of the ring.

And as the dust settled, a certain Lucario called everyone's attention. "I don't know how he did it," Aleister announced, "but William won! Excellent fighting, both of you!"

The nearby crowd burst into feverish cheers and applause. Despite the energy, William collapsed and sat on the edge of the arena. The burns were catching up to him, and he hung onto consciousness by a thread.

Flint approached William, offering two berries– Sitrus and Rawst– as well as a "helluva good job." He then moved on towards Enzo.

William promptly ate his two berries, healing himself just as his own adrenaline stopped masking his injuries.

"Way to go, Will!"

He turned his head and saw Leon, smiling widely and clapping. Next to him was a Bulbasaur– Chase– eyes glimmering with sheer wonder. "I knew you could do it!" Chase cheered. "You handle fire like a pro!"

William nodded and waved, though he quickly turned his attention back to his Bone Club, which had reverted back to its natural state. Plain, white, and unassuming. His mind swirled with new questions. If this cudgel could absorb power from other mon's moves, what else could he do with it? Where did such an extraordinary tool come from, and what purpose did it serve? Did it hail from the islander Marowaks he had heard about?

Before his mind could explore the possibilities, William's attention was drawn elsewhere– Enzo sat up where he had landed. Staring at the berry Flint had handed to him, making no effort to eat it.

William walked over to him, and Enzo didn't seem to notice the Cubone until he was right next to him. "Are you alright?" William asked.

Enzo tilted his head to the side. "I lost," he said quietly. He didn't seem angry, but rather, disappointed.

"You still fought very well," William said. "You almost had me more than once."

Still, Enzo offered no words. He merely sat there with cold vents.

"So, our agreement," William went on. "Will you join Leon and I?"

The Quilava blinked, turning his head to William with a modicum of surprise. "You still want me?"

"Of course. I can't say I know what you're thinking, but I can guess. Losing isn't what matters. What does matter, is picking up oneself afterwards, and learning from the experience." William offered his hand. "You're strong, Enzo. And you'd make our team stronger."

Enzo's face flickered with a gauntlet of expressions, as if he was wrestling with a slew of new thoughts. Half a minute had passed, and William wondered what was going through Enzo's mind. Eventually, the Quilava formed a small, but genuine smile. His paw met his hand, and he let William help him up.

"Thanks."

After more training and lessons, William finally had a chance to speak with Leon at dinner. They sat together in the dining hall, sharing a table in the corner with Chase and Enzo.

"I still can't believe you did that," Leon said. "Powering up your bone with fire. How'd you do it?"

Chase and Enzo both looked at William expectantly, awaiting an answer.

"I've only recently discovered this," William answered. "As much as I'd like to know myself, that's a mystery for another day. So, we're all in agreement?"

Leon nodded. "I think so."

"I know so!" Chase said. "I can't believe they took Jacob and all his warmth."

"You're telling me," Leon sighed.

"Hmm," Enzo sipped his berry smoothie.

"You know," Leon began, addressing William. "I'm glad you stopped me this morning. I was ready to break the doors down and, well… now there's four of us. I owe you."

"Until we find Jacob, I haven't done anything," William replied.

"Don't sell yourself short," Leon said. "You've done great work. I think we're good to go tonight."

"There's still a lockdown," Enzo reminded.

"Right," Leon said. "We'll need to work on some kind of escape plan."

"About that," William replied. "There's one more mon I'd like to recruit, someone who can help us with sneaking out."

"Who would–" Leon began, but he narrowed his eyes. His expression grew sour. "Is it who I think it is?"

"Most likely," William answered.

"Who is it?" Chase asked.

"My Snivy partner, Corvo." He turned to Leon again. "I know you have reservations about him, but our chances of escaping are slim without a stealth expert. Besides, the more we have on our team, the more likely we are to succeed with this quest."

"Ooh, a quest!" Chase echoed. "We're gonna be knights!"

Enzo gave the Bulbasaur a puzzled look.

Meanwhile, Leon rested his head on his hands. He still didn't seem all that convinced, though after some time he spoke up. "…I guess you have a point. I still don't like it, but… no point in dragging this out. Do whatever you have to do."

William nodded, then stood up to scan the hall, looking for Corvo. The cafeteria was about three-quarters full, but after a minute of looking, he saw no sign of him. "I don't see him here. Maybe he's up in the dorms?"

Leon sat up straight. "Take your time. We'll meet up in my room later."

William nodded, and left to put his tray away. As he exited the dining hall and walked into the main hall, he noticed Nightwatch guards standing by the front desk. Already there appeared to be more than usual. As he passed by them on his way to the stairs, he overheard them talking.

"Gonna need a few more tonight. Gotta cover our blindspots."

He didn't have time to stop and listen. William climbed the stairs to the apprentice dormitory two steps at a time. Before long he reached the door to his own room which he promptly unlocked.

"Corvo," he announced as he pushed the door open. "I need to ask you something."

Inside, he spotted his Snivy roommate packing an already overstuffed bag.

Corvo's half of the room seemed barren and he froze, as if he had been caught red-handed doing something he shouldn't. Behind him, the window showed a red-tinted sky as sunset approached.

"Oh… Hey there, brother," Corvo greeted.

"I was wondering why you weren't at dinner," William said. What an odd coincidence it was, to walk in on someone packing their bags twice in the same day. "Are you going somewhere?"

Corvo turned his head and, seeing how empty his half of the room is, blew out a sigh. "Well, I reckon there ain't a point to being coy about it." He finished shoving his rolled-up blanket. "Yeah, I'm buggin' out."

Given Corvo's drifter lifestyle, this wasn't too surprising. William was struck by yet another coincidence– how they were both looking to leave the guild tonight, albeit for different reasons.

But rather than sharing his intentions right away, William wanted more of Corvo's perspective. "Why leave now, of all times?

Corvo folded his arms. "For starters, we nearly got buried alive at Cloudcroft. That's a helluva lot more than I bargained for."

"Yeah," William quietly agreed. "I don't think any of us expected our investigation to turn that dangerous."

"And second, they're tightening things up around here. Soon ya won't be able to even strut down the hall without someone breathin' down yer back. I ain't keen on being under house-arrest, now's a good a time as any to bail."

"So you're moving on to another town? Someplace away from the drama here?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Corvo shrugged. "Like I said before, priorities change. And I got a lot more freedom since I made plenty o' coin here in the guild." He patted his bag, making its contents jingle for emphasis.

"I see," William commented. He stayed quiet, leaving the conversational ball in Corvo's court.

"…So, I've been thinking," the Snivy continued. "Dunno how you're feelin' about this whole mess, but… If you're thinkin' about bailing, too, well, I've got room for one more on the road." He gestured at his overstuffed pack again. "If you wanna."

Corvo trusted him enough to invite him into his life? To William, there was something comforting about that– knowing he was trusted that much.

"I appreciate the offer, Corvo. I actually am planning on leaving tonight."

"Really?" Corvo's eyes widened a bit.

"Yes, but for a different reason. You know why they're locking down the guild? It's because one of the apprentices has been kidnapped. It was Jacob."

"Flametail?" Corvo's own tail stiffened. "How'd that happen?"

"No one is certain. But the ones who took them left a letter, calling themselves 'The Eidolons.' Do you remember that Bisharp from Cloudcroft?"

"I do. He said he was goin' after something Jacob had."

"Yes, his pocket watch." William started to pace between the two desks, back and forth. "Yet they wound up taking Jacob and not his watch, so now they're holding him for ransom, saying they'll give him back to us in exchange for his watch."

Corvo blinked. "And now you're lookin' to go after 'em yourself," he concluded. "Playin' hero?"

"Not just me," William answered. "I'm going with Leon, and a couple others. We're forming a team because we're afraid the guild won't make it to him in time."

"I don't think I like where this is going," Corvo remarked, his expression turning bitter.

"We need your help. We need a stealth expert to help us get out of the guild. And the more people we have on our team, the better our chances are of finding Jacob."

A long pause lingered between them, broken only once Corvo offered a single chuckle. "So we're both lookin' to get outta this guild, and tryin' to pull each other into our own camp."

"That's one way of looking at it, I suppose. But my mind is made up. I'm going to help save Jacob." He gestured at Corvo with his club. "And you?"

The Snivy crossed his arms and tapped the floor with his foot. "…Honestly? Between the two choices, goin' my own way seems better. I'm lookin' to get outta danger, not throw myself at it. Not the answer you're hoping for, but–"

"Wouldn't that be more dangerous in the long term?" William interrupted.

"Huh?" Corvo took a step back. "What do ya mean?"

"Think it all the way through." William took a step toward him, pausing as he gathered his words. "You could move on and keep doing what you've always done. Drift to a town, make some money with risks and petty crime, and repeat. Wouldn't stability be better? Wouldn't you rather break that cycle?"

Corvo's face shifted into a scowl, as if William had said something offensive. "Pfft, you say it like it's that easy. Like I've never tried. How 'bout I ask you somethin'– do ya know what it's like to get your face pushed in the mud, over and over?"

William paused, deciphering that Corvo wasn't issuing a threat. "I do. And I assume you bring it up because you've experienced it, metaphorically."

"And I'm tryin' to avoid it again." Corvo turned back to his inventory.

"What happened before?" William pressed.

"What is it with you and twenty questions?" Corvo snipped. "Why do you want my life story so bad?"

William steadied himself. After everything he experienced today, from the bad news about Jacob, to keeping Leon calm, to dueling Enzo, and now trying to reason with Corvo, it was all taking its toll. Exhaustion creeped up on him, threatening to ensnare his sense of reason. He took a deep breath– he had to focus just a little longer.

"Because I want to get to know you," he said calmly. "That's what I've been trying to do this whole time. I don't know how you see yourself, Corvo. But I think you're interesting. I'd like to know more, if you'll grant me that. But I won't force you. It's your choice."

Corvo stared at William. His expression was conflicted, difficult to read. Behind him, the evening sky turned a deeper shade of red, signaling the coming night. The cover for their escape, if they could leave in time.

Finally, Corvo spoke.

"…I used to be just a kid on the streets. I'd wander around lookin' for table scraps, sometimes get a few coins tossed my way– if I was lucky. Though half the time when someone took pity, someone else would have a problem with me just being there. One day I decided I had enough of gettin' my teeth kicked in."

"So you turned to larceny."

"It wasn't like I had a choice. No one, and I mean no one even thought about letting me work for them. Half said I was too young, other half said I looked too rough. So I said 'to hell with all this,' and took things in my own hands. I've been able to keep my belly full, and on my own terms."

"An improvement, to be sure. But it's still not an ideal life to lead, is it? A lot of what you do carries risks with heavy prices. Can you really see yourself living as a lone thief your whole life?"

Corvo stood in silence, holding back any words or expressions that may have conveyed his thoughts. All he did was stare at his bag, running a hand over it as if to make sure it was still there.

"…I don't know," he finally answered. "With the cards I've been dealt, thinkin' long-term was never on the table."

"If you could live differently, would you?"

"As a matter o' fact, I did have a chance at a better life." Corvo's voice turned to something between nostalgia and sorrow. "Wanna guess what happened when I tried to take it?"

William bowed his head. "Life pushed your face in the mud again."

Corvo nodded. "I met a nice lady a few years back…" His tone softened. "A Kangaskhan. Elizabeth was her name. She lived up north, in the middle o' nowhere with her own homestead. Took me in when I was caught in a snowstorm. She… No one had ever been as kind to me as she has. Kept me fed, gave me a warm bed… Even taught me some coin tricks."

Corvo's signature silver appeared in his free hand, like magic. "It was like I was one of her own."

William raised a hand to his chin. He recalled how Andrew offered to let him stay at his own home, asking for nothing in return, and the gentle warmth such a gesture instilled in him. "She sounds like a saint."

"Definitely." Corvo leaned back against his bed, glancing at his silver coin. "I… I miss her."

"Did something happen to her?"

"No. Well, at least, I don't think so. It's complicated, but…" Corvo sighed. "I was on a smuggling job at the time. I hunkered down cuz of the snowstorm, but I stayed because of her. The guys who paid me to smuggle? They noticed I didn't come back. They went searchin', but not cuz they were worried about me."

"They wanted their money. Or at least, their goods."

"Yep. They were gonna ransack the house. I hardly had enough time to scrawl a goodbye note an' lead 'em away." Suddenly, Corvo's expression and tone hardened once more. " I tried to leave the game, and wound up putting someone in harm's way– the last person who ever deserved it. I can't escape my past… It'll just catch up to me."

William sensed genuine sorrow from Corvo. His own expression softened, offering sympathy. But more importantly, he thought of a pitch that could solve both of their problems at once.

"Corvo, I'm really sorry you've had to endure everything life's thrown at you. But, even if you feel stuck, haven't you already taken steps toward escaping that life?"

"Huh?" Corvo turned to him again. "What'chu mean?"

"You said that priorities change. But you said that people change, too. You've joined a guild. I think that's a fair sign that you're trying to change your life for the better. How can anyone turn you away, knowing that?"

"It's never that easy," Corvo dismissed. "They'll throw me out once they figure out what I've been up to. And by the sound of things, they're already on my tail for that 'midnight snack run' we had. Besides, what if those Eidolons or whatever cone after us next? The smart thing would be gettin' out of their way."

"But don't you see?" William pressed. "If you join our rescue team, you'll address both of those issues at once."

Corvo tilted his head. "How?"

"I can't imagine the guild expelling us after saving Jacob," William said. But that was a lie. He had no way of knowing how they'd be judged when they got home… If they got home. He had been so focused on assembling a team, he neglected to consider just how dangerous this trip may be. Though apprehension loomed over his mind, now wasn't the time to second-guess himself.

"And we'd be striking the Eidolons first," he continued. "Before they can go after us. More importantly though, we want to make sure that Jacob is safe. I don't want to make assumptions, but… I like to think that part of you cares about him, too."

Corvo leaned back, raising a hand to his chin as he considered William's proposal. He stared into his silver coin, while William tapped his thigh with his club.

"…Alright," Corvo finally spoke. "Let's say I go with ya. Help you and your little rescue party sneak-out. What's gonna stop me from splittin' up with you guys once we're out?"

Now it was William's turn to ponder Corvo's words. He had laid out what he believed were several good reasons for Corvo to join their cause. Even though their mission was dangerous, it would help him break free from the cycle of his criminal life. But to persuade Corvo, besides words and reasoning, William had…

"…Nothing," he answered, to Corvo's surprise. Even if his energy hadn't been spent on the day's events, he doubted that he'd have anything to offer Corvo, or force him into cooperation.

"You're welcome to leave with us," he continued. "Just as you're free to leave on your own. And if you do leave with us, then you can walk your own path, if you truly want, and we may never see each other again."

Corvo remained silent. He simply stared at William with a twisted expression, as if he was internally struggling to reach a decision.

"The choice is yours," William grabbed his own backpack from the chair of his desk. Then he walked over to the door, placing a hand on the handle.

"We'll be next door, in Leon's room. We're heading out after dark, should you decide to join us. If not… I'm glad I got to know you, Corvo."

He opened the door, then closed it softly behind him.