Rune blasted open the trap door leading out to the chapel grounds.
The surprised pastor scrambled back when he saw Rune extricate himself to the surface. He asked, "Did you purge those who defile these grounds, masked harbinger?"
Dusting himself off, Rune pulled up a human man in rags, and he answered, "Exterminated every last one of them. Can you shelter their captives for the night?"
"Those sinners who besmirch these hallowed grounds. They extolled and cajoled that they would stay their hand from the children and off their fellow man. Forgive , World Spirit, I have failed your children." Wearing a gentle smile, the pastor conceded to Rune, "They may stay the night, and enjoy the washrooms. It is unfortunate I have nothing but water and bread to feed them."
Busying himself by helping up the captives, Rune instructed, "They'll be grateful for any help they can get. Open your chapel, pastor." The pastor started to turn but noticed Rune bring up a small girl from the busted trap door.
"They were n of no honor. Honor among thieves, the agreent to not touch the children broken without my knowing. I shall atone to the World Spirit after this night."
After gathering all the people and children, Lilith floated up with the Sloth Bear cub and plopped it into Rune's arms. The remaining three companions stared up from the bottom of the ladder. A grown Fire Leopard, a snake Rune did not recognize, and a Scaled Boar, which Rune knew was a local species.
Scratching his head in befuddlent, Rune only shrugged before deciding to trust in his strength stat. He enlisted each of the n except for the pastor, who was readying the chapel.
"I'm going down to bring up those companions, try to help bring them up when they co close to the surface."
Each man positioned themselves around the trap door. Rune descended the steps, and the snake companion wrapped itself around him, which made that one easy to take out to the surface. The Fire Leopard and the Scaled Boar would be a giant headache.
Rune picked up the Fire Leopard first, which certainly distressed the feline. Stepping up the ladder without hands, Rune got the companion above ground. Attempting the sa with the Scaled Boar, that process was…too straining. Instead, he called to Lilith.
"Tell him I'm going to use the Fissure to force it up."
Lilith communicated with the boar. After an uneasy agreent, Rune got to work, Lilith positioned the boar with her instructions. Rune told the n above to back away from the trap door entrance.
The shadow fissure ripped below the scaled boar, and the knock-up effect catapulted it up and out. Rune could hear it squeal and romp around in the small courtyard. He returned to the surface and settled down the people, children, and companions.
In no position to take care of dozens of people, Rune conferred with the pastor. The man was more than happy to shelter the people and children and find resources to integrate into everyday life.
As for the companions, Rune knew not what to do. The cub likely would be fine, but the three grown companions? It's not like he could parade the street with them, could he? Scourging up ideas, he ca up blank. Rune caught sight of Lilith, and sothing of a solution ca to mind.
He called out to her, "Lilith, stay here and watch the three grown companions. I'll bring the sloth bear cub to the hunter's branch and ask them if abandoned companions can stay in any place.
Lilith turned to the three grown companions and communicated with them. Rune picked up the Sloth Bear cub and wished the forr captives well. The three children rushed up to him, and a scared boy asked, "Mister, how can I grow up to be like you? I want to free people, too. No one should stay in those scary cages."
Rune lowered himself to be eye-level with the boy, "Face your fear, and never give up. Do the things that are hard, and your life will be easy. Do only what is easy, and your life will be hard." He patted the boy on the head before rushing off toward the Defier's guild.
He emoted with Reaver's Link to Lilith, I'll be back soon, Sooty.
______________________________________
When Rune entered the hunter's branch with a baby sloth bear, the receptionists asked him if he was insane.
"I'm not insane. Actually, never mind, yes, I am. I ca across four companions in a cage, this is just one of them. Is there sowhere I can hand them off to and see if they can find a new master?"
The monic woman receptionist hemd and hawed before a light entered her eyes, "The sloth bear cub is easy enough. We have a nursery for Hunters, Beastmasters, and Warlords to choose from. Plenty of them prefer to raise a companion from their early years."
"We can start with that, what about the other three? They're fully grown, and I'm all but positive their masters are dead."
"I'd leave that to the city governnt, I can contact a representative to co here if you'd like."
"I would, afterward, can you show this nursery?"
The receptionist smiled sweetly and scratched the sloth bear's head with a finger, "For this little guy, I'd be happy to."
Settling his course of action, Rune allowed the receptionist ti to contact the city lord's representative. Once that was accomplished, the receptionist brought Rune to a door underneath where all the trophies on the wall were.
Inside stood a dim white portal. The monic woman explained, "As you can imagine, keeping companions can be dangerous. The Defier's branch lent us this portal to host the nursery, the only one we have."
Nodding slowly, Rune strode into the white portal and reappeared. A quasi-farmland shone over the terrain, rolling grassy hills filled the background. Around him were caretaker hunters and a few prospective adopters.
Rune recognized one of them, the hunter who had lost his demonic ape back when he killed Onelius.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringent.
That guy? What are the odds? Rune noticed the hunter clutching tightly onto the spear he gave him, Putting it to good use, that's what I like to see. Rune internally approved.
Grasping the string of fate, he approached the hunter, stating, "I think this little guy will be for you."
The hunter gazed over at Rune, and his eyes landed on the sloth cub bear. He grew a confused expression, "Excuse , but do I happen to know you?"
"You do, and you also do not. I found this sloth bear cub caged underground, I've got a strong feeling you'd be a good match. Will you think it over?"
Muttering, the hunter said, "Ulia always liked bears. Her best friend was a bear before…before…"
Rune clasped a hand onto the hunter's shoulder, noting that the other arm had been replaced with a rune-etched prosthetic, "I'd feel relieved if you took the cub. Let have this selfish request?"
Caught up in the thick of things, the hunter agreed with one condition, "Only if the cub is willing." Rune let down the bear cub, which looked around curiously before backing into Rune. The hunter reached out to the bear cub lightly, and a green symbol appeared on both their foreheads.
The two stood shock still for a long ti, and the hunter finally snapped back to reality. He cheerfully said, "I'll call you Luia. You'll grow stronger with your older sister's spirit beside you in na."
The hunter looked over to thank Rune, but he had stepped into the white portal, reappearing in the hunter's branch. Rune sauntered over to the sa receptionist's desk, and a human man in gleaming yellow chain mail with the city emblem emblazoned on a tabard asked him, "Are you the one who requested ?"
Believing this yellow suit to be the City Lord's representative, Rune said, "I am. She," Rune pointed to the Monic receptionist, "said you'd be capable of handling three grown companions who no longer have masters?"
Running a hand through his red beard, the representative said, "If no newly minted companion classes are willing to take them, the city guard can always use a few to stable as reserves."
Positive he wouldn't find a better solution anyti soon, Rune leaped at getting the issue off his conscience, "The pastor and my companion at an old chapel in the south quadrant are watching over them. I can bring you there."
"The south quadrant? Certainly, but I'll be bringing along a patrol of guards."
"If that puts you at ease, go ahead."
______________________________________________
Rune guided the representative, who he had learned was nad Deter, with his hastily acquired patrol to the Chapel. Rune remained impressed as the patrol captain happened to be tier two.
The City Lord sure has so powerful people under her. It's her, right? Iona said their na once…Ophelia…Ophelia, yep, can't rember the last na. The first na sounds feminine.
Stopping in front of the chapel, Rune said, "Here we are, my companion should have the other three in check in the backyard."
The pastor ca out to greet them as they were rounding to the back.
"Blessed day to you, Inspector and guardsn. Do you need anything with your service?"
Deter glanced at the patrol, "A mont, pastor. This man inford of the captives and ownerless companions. After securing the partially wild beasts, we'll see to re-homing the recently freed people, should they need it."
The pastor put on a welcoming smile, "I shall break bread with the people in care while you see to the lost beasts."
When the pastor left, Rune led them yards away from the broken trap door, sothing of his own doing. Lilith kept the Fire Leopard, Scaled Boar, and unknown snake sitting down next to each other. Rune's companion floated back to his shoulder. He spoke to Lilith, "These people are from the City Governnt. They can bring these three companions into their reserves."
Lilith expressed her concern, apparently, she had made friends while Rune left. Willing to appease Lilith, Rune asked Deter, "You're not going to hurt any of the three, are you?"
Putting both his hands up, Deter said, "These three will be temporarily considered property of City Lord Ophelia Cyrn. Only a fool would intentionally harm them, and in the right position, they can be quite useful."
Coughing, Deter turned to the patrol, "Secure the area. We are to await until the city Beastmasters arrive to transport these three masterless companions to the Beast Ranch up in the western Ridge."
The captain responded for his patrol, "As you wish, Representative Deter."
Having completed the most pressing business, Deter asked Rune, "I don't believe I caught your na, masked hunter."
"Rune, and this is my companion, Lilith."
"Curious nas. You don't happen to be interested in working for the City Lord, do you, Rune?"
This could be an 'in' with the City Lord faction. I'll give a tentative answer for now. Would rather they prefer for Runic Enchanting when the ti cos.
"I could take on side tasks from ti to ti, but I'm not going to give up my identity as a hunter."
Deter ran his fingers through his beard in thought. After a short gap, he said, "My intuition is alard about you, Rune." He handed Rune a scribbled note, "Co to this location, an embassy of sorts, if you're interested in further discussion."
Deftly taking the note, Rune said, "Good night to you," he nodded toward the patrol, "and you all as well."
A shred within Rune wanted to see the forr captives be provided for, but exhaustion would set in soon. Undergoing the ascension seed to reduce the need for sleep but not get rid of it entirely.
He returned to the Defier's guild, finding a suitable spot to remove the mask on the way. After triple-checking, he wasn't being tracked or followed, of course. When he opened the dorm room, the Reaver plastered a hand to his face in frustration.
"What in the world is this?"
______________________________________________
"Captain, do you believe your n can keep watch over these three while you co with ?" Deter walked up, crunching dead grass under his feet.
Shortly after Rune left, the guards had loosely tied the three beasts, waiting for the City Beastmasters to show. The night had descended for hours, and each man stifled a yawn.
The guard captain blinked, "Wouldn't be an issue, Representative. The beasts are behaving quite well. Their previous master's must've taken care of them. Where to?"
Pointing with his thumb to the shredded forr trap door, Deter explained, "There. The chapel wouldn't be able to hide these three beasts. aning their source is from that door. With ti on our hands, we may as well start the investigation. If for no other reason than to make the paperwork go smoothly."
Slowly walking over to the opening, the captain peered in, "An rusting tal ladder going down to an old store room or basent. Allow to head in first, for your safety, Representative."
"I'll be behind you, then, captain."
With the plan in order, the n descended, quickly finding the hidden entrance behind the shelves and coming into the natural underground cavern.
The captain held out his mace and shield, "Stay near at all tis, representative. That masked one probably took care of everything but can't be too careful."
"As you say, captain. Lead on."
Going at a snail's pace, the captain edged deeper into the cavern. He sniffed, "Blood and…ice? Another sll is being covered up."
Delving further, the captain froze when he saw the three beheaded bandits stuffed into a corner close to the now-closed crystal and stone door. "A thieves' lair." The captain laid eyes on a purple tattoo, "The Purple Emperors."
He turned his head halfway back to Deter, "Your instructions, Representative?"
"Open the door. We must confirm the conditions inside."
Cautiously approaching the door, the captain strained to open it and shoved it to be fully ajar. Inside, of course, was a massive ice display. Blood frozen, drugs glaciated, and the entire Purple Emperor gang fused into a deep freeze.
Carved in the Ice, noticed by both the captain and Deter, was the word: Rune.
Deter laughed uproariously, "A masked man declares war on the underworld. He must co to work for the city now, no matter what. A handful more as capable and daring as him and City Lord Cyrn will have those two noble families to heel."
The representative ran a finger over a nearby ice patch, "An adept in elentalization? No, this ice has lasted too long. An expert? Even a master? Captain."
"Yes, Representative?"
"Start a subtle investigation on who the hunter nad Rune is. Afterward, seal his records."
"As you order, Representative."
"Can I convince you to call Deter?"
"Not while on duty, sir."
Deter sighed in acceptance. Stuffy governntal policy and work could be a drag.
Reviews
All reviews (0)