Leaving the Chosen One to talk to his Save Point, Qube returned to the mausoleum. Even though the Hero had told the rest of the party to wait there for him, she would have expected that, given how long their conversation had taken, at least one of them would co to check on them. She knew she wouldnt have been able to resist.
But the trio capable of speech werent eagerly awaiting the return of the Saviour and his Companion. Instead they were engaged in a heated debate.
And Im telling you that if you want to join you, then you need her too, Sexy Screamy Spider Briar was saying passionately. I wont go behind her back.
To tell her is to tell the ah, our delicate flower returns, Sencha Bard cut himself off as he noticed Qube at the entrance. It took her a long ti to reach them. They were still clustered around the Bard drawer, none of them having moved.
Hello, Qube replied cheerfully. She waited a beat to see if they would continue their discussion, but instead they just silently watched her as she approached them. They looked rather sheepish, like theyd been caught doing sothing they werent ant to. What were you talking about? she asked.
The trio exchanged glances.
We were discussing the possibilities available to us when we ascended, Definitely Bad Guy said. The two more diplomatically-focused party mbers looked at him in surprise.
Oh! That was right, the whole group would need to plan what to do once they reached the Devs realm, especially if they werent going to be busy fighting Evil Devs or being peoples companions.
Yes, the Bard cut in, and, obviously, were aware that the Chosen One is constrained by the limitations the Devs have placed on him, so we wanted to discuss it amongst ourselves before committing to any action.
He may be compelled to report our conversation to the Devs, Definitely Bad Guy added. Sencha Bard shot him a warning look.
And I was simply pointing out that if they wanted my help in any of their plans, we had to get you on board, my love, Sexy Screamy Spider Briar said, flicking back her hair. Part of it caught on her back fur. Our sisterhood demands nothing less.
But we didnt want to cause any conflict between the Chosen One and yourself, Sencha Bard said, once again cutting off a party mber. So we were seeking the best way to approach the matter.
That and you may feel more loyalty to the Chosen One than us, Definitely Bad Guy said. Sencha Bard scowled.
Perhaps it would be best if only one of us did the speaking, the man said through gritted teeth. We dont have much ti, so I shall do the talking, and just stick to the facts.
What facts? the Chosen One asked as he entered the mausoleum. Sencha Bard gave a frustrated snarl, his fingers curling into claws, before all negative emotion was wiped from his deanour.
The facts that we may very well be dealing with my future self in a mont, the Bard lied.
Qube was feeling a bit off-balanced by the whole conversation. Sencha Bard was lying to the Chosen One, and no one else was speaking up. Theyd said they werent ready to have this conversation with him, but still, this felt wrong.
True that, the Hero said, not noticing he had been lied to by one of his companions. He jogged up to them and stopped next to the red-gemd drawer. As he got closer, Qube noticed grim lines around his mouth that hadnt been there before, as if he was holding back anger. It didnt seem to be directed at any of the party, or that hed noticed the deception. Rather it was as if he was annoyed by whatever hed learned from the Devs.
She expected him to raise the topic of their ascension to the Devs realm, and the Golden Prophecy, but instead the Hero was looking at the wall. Qube was glad for his discretion. She needed a bit of ti to try and piece everything together inside her own mind, and figure out what she wanted, never mind the fact that the rest of the party seed to want to discuss their future away from the Hero.
All right, he said, rubbing his hands together, shall we take a peek into the mories of the sewers?
I wasnt raised in the sewers, Sencha Bard said sourly, but the Chosen One had already touched the panel and revealed a small, battered lute. As soon as the Fighter brushed against it, everything fell away, and the party was once more catapulted into a mory.
***
The party landed in Cobbletown. It looked almost identical to the Cobbletown theyd just left, only the colours were much duller, the inn wasnt on fire, and there wasnt a screaming Evil Emperor in the middle of the plaza. Instead, just visible at the entrance to an alleyway, there was a small urchin walking away from them. Without hesitation, the Chosen One followed the mysterious child.
Wow, yeah, they really got lazy with the recycling, the Chosen One said, looking around.
Cobbletown hasnt aged a day! Qube said, impressed at the city planning. The only difference she noticed was the flags fluttering in the breeze. Given how the whole flag situation had panned out the last ti theyd been in Cobbletown, she was prid to notice them. Instead of the snapping, cheerful triangles of fabric she now knew so well, they were ragged, thin strips of drooping cloth. It was an odd detail that was swept away when they caught up to the mysterious child and she recognised the scraggly urchin.
Huh, you were an unfortunate-looking kid, werent you? the Chosen One asked, only to be drowned out by the squealing of both Sexy Screamy Spider Briar and Qube.
Hes so cute! Sexy Screamy Spider Briar practically purred in pleasure.
Look at the baby Sewer Bard! I an, Sencha Bard! Qube hurriedly corrected herself. Hes so small!
The child version of Sencha Bard was, indeed, small. His cheeks were gaunt, and his blond hair was pulled back into a short ponytail.
Hewwo, mwady, he said, stopping and bowing to Sexy Screamy Spider Briar. Hewwo, stwangers. The baby Bard gave Squiggles a dubious look, but politely bowed to her too.
Youre like, ten; why are you still talking like that? the Chosen One asked the child.
Would you wike a song? the pre-pubescent child asked the Hero, ignoring his rudeness.
I dont get it, the Chosen One said, looking around. No ones attacked him yet. Shouldnt there be mory-bullies for us to defeat or sothing? He turned and looked at Sencha Bard. Do you rember this at all? he asked.
I rember my youth in Cobbletown, yes, Sencha Bard said cagily.
But, like, do you rember this encounter? the Hero pressed. He looked down at the child Bard attempting to take Sexy Screamy Spider Briars claw. Sexy uh, Lady Briar, do you rember us coming into the Temple when you were training as a kid?
The Hunter half-lidded her eyes, trying to recall.
I rember that occasionally Father would bring people in to help , she said eventually. But I dont rember anyone as handso as this group joining . She looked uncomfortable for a second, before fully opening her eyes again. And I certainly dont rember anyone like talking to . She raked a claw down her thorax in a broad gesture.
Hm, the Hero said, narrowly observing her.
I very much doubt these are real mories, Definitely Bad Guy said. They are rely projections of our forr or future lives.
I dunno, the Chosen One said, surprisingly going against the forr Mage Advisors expertise. Depends how theyve done it. Hey, Sing-Song, close your eyes for a second.
The Bard obediently closed his eyes.
Okay, kid, look at this, the Chosen One said, holding up three fingers. The child obediently looked. Now, Sing-Song, without opening your eyes, how many fingers do you think Im holding up?
I have no idea, Noble Patron, Sencha Bard said, reverting to his old na for the Chosen One in his longsufferingness.
Co on man, think! Really focus on it! the Chosen One ordered. The Bard gave a deep sigh, but obliged, his face scrunching up in concentration.
I dont know, three? he guessed.
The Chosen One put down his fingers. Hm, could just be a lucky guess, he said, disappointed. Okay, how about now? How many fingers am I holding up?
Probably one, the Bard said with another sigh, his eyes still closed.
Okay, yeah, youre definitely guessing, the Chosen One said grumpily.
But he was right! Qube said, surprised at the Hero not being pleased by whatever hypothesis he was working on coming together.
Yeah but he was clearly just guessing, the Hero said, still moody. Pity. I was kinda hoping to see if we could made so kind of ti paradox by killgiving the kid so knowledge and seeing if it impacted Sencha Bard.
Qube gave the Hero a very long, steady look. She glanced down at the kid, who didnt seem able to see or hear her.
Chosen One, she hissed at him. Were not killing a child. What about your ethics?
Wha I never said anything about killing anyone! the Chosen One said, sounding almost genuinely offended. Who said anything about seeing if we could erase the current Sencha Bard by murdering his younger self? You would have slay this innocent, odd-looking child? Youre a Healer! Im astonished at your bloodthirsty thoughts. You should be ashad of yourself.
For a second Qube was caught up in his indignation and felt the urge to apologise, before she rembered who she was talking to.
You know, Chosen One, she said sweetly, I could still learn how to curse people. You were worried about being able to defend myself, after all.
The child version of Sencha Bard, who she supposed she should just think of as mini-Sencha until she thought of sothing better, didnt seem terribly frightened by a stranger hed just t causally discussing murdering him with thin air.
Adult Sencha Bard, on the other hand, had now opened his eyes and was just looking at the Hero sourly.
Your sense of humour, Noble Patron, sotis leaves much to be desired, he said crisply.
Aw man, Im back to being a Noble Patron again am I? the Chosen One said ruefully. Dont worry Sing-Song, I wouldnt actually do that. Despite what our Healer thinks, I do actually have so ethics.
I never said you didnt! Qube replied hotly, before seeing the Hero grin and realising shed once again fallen for his tricks. She huffed. Well, anyway, what are we supposed to do oh!
Small Sencha had stopped trying to woo the arachnid towering over him, and had wandered over to one of the large houses that backed onto the alleyway. Qube recognised one of the houses as the one full of skeletons theyd burned down when they first arrived in Cobbletown. The urchin was staring intently at sothing through a gap in the stone wall.
Wook, he said to the Chosen One, isnt it pwetty? He pointed at the hole hed just been looking through, in case the Hero had sohow missed it.
The Chosen One walked over to the wall and knelt down to the peephole before hesitating.
If sothing appears of this peephole and spooks , Im going to kill soone, he announced to the world at large. Dont think I wont. I will straight up rip this off , he said, tapping his temple.
Do you think it could be a trap? Qube asked worriedly, trying not to glare at the small Sencha. She didnt hear any battle music, but then, would she until the trap was sprung? No, the music was what helped them determine if sothing was a threat or not, which ant it was on their side, and would obviously warn them if the small, underfed child ant them harm.
Im just saying. I will lose my [snacks]. The Hero dubiously eyed the wall.
Here, [Lesser Shield], she cast, wrapping her mana around the Hero before he bravely peeked through a hole in the wall.
Now magically protected from spooks, the Chosen One looked through the hole at whatever the child had been staring at. After a minute, where Qube was worried hed been paralysed by spooks, the Hero leaned back on his heels and examined small Sencha.
Theres a lute inside that house, the Hero said, then looked at the Bard and pointed at his instrunt. That lute. I think we have to steal it. He looked at Qube and grinned.
Ti to rob a house! he said happily.
Reviews
All reviews (0)