I am individual. I am Antinium.
That was the first whisper Erin heard out of Pawn. He sat, no longer bleeding in the inn as she wrapped a bandage around his severed stumps.
The healing potions the adventurers had used had stopped the bleeding, but there was no way to restore lost limbs. And his severed wounds were still exposed to the air. The Antinium didnt have skin but exoskeleton. Lacking that, the healed areas were still vulnerable.
He whispered to Erin as she sat next to him. The half-elf nad Ceria and the other adventurers hovered around her or watched from their tables, silent spectators. But all of Erins attention was on the Antinium in front of her.
What happened?
He trembled.
I was asked questions. I was tested. I passed.
Erin looked at his broken body. Three arms had been cut away. And part of his foothis carapace was cracked in multiple places and cut in others.
Torture.
Is he coming after you? Ksmvr?
The na made Pawn freeze like aa cockroach caught in the light. He began shaking so uncontrollably the two Workers had to hold him so Erin could finish wrapping the bandage.
Hethe Prognugator let go. He let go. I am individual. Not Aberration. He let go.
Pawn repeated the words several tis, rocking back and forth. Erin stared at him. She didnt know what to do.
Erin
She looked around. Ceria was staring at the Antinium.
Who is this?
Pawn. This is Pawn. Hes a Worker.
No.
All four Workers said the word as one. Erin looked at them. They spoke in unison.
The individual known as Pawn is no longer a Worker.
Then what is he?
Individual. Antinium. Not Aberration.
Ceria looked at Erin.
This has sothing to do with the Antinium in the city, right? Did they have aa fight? Ive heard of Prognugators. If this Ksmvr is after your friend
No. No!
Pawn waved his one good arm wildly. Again, the other Workers had to retrain him.
I am not Aberration. I am not. I am
He was incoherent, or as close to it as Erin had ever seen one of the Antinium. She stared at him. He was still shaking. And if he had the ans, Erin was sure he would have wept. Instead all he could do was tremble.
It was curious. Erin felt as though in this mont, she should be full ofsothing. Rage perhaps, or grief. But instead there was nothing. Just a few thoughts.
Pawn was still babbling. He kept repeating his innocence as the other adventurers watched helplessly. So of them looked disgusted, others actually sympathetic. And so were simply silent because it wasnt the ti to speak.
Erin had no ti for them. Instead, she walked slowly over to a table. Olesm was paralyzed in his seat. He stared up at her, eyes wide. But Erin didnt speak to him. Instead, she picked up what was in front of the Drake.
A chessboard.
Ceria blinked as Erin carried it back. But Pawns eyes latched onto the simple wooden board as Erin put it on the table in front of him. Pawn looked up into her eyes and she felt the nothingness in her deepen.
Slowly, the two Workers propped Pawn up and he moved so he could access the board with his remaining arm. The forr Worker hesitated and then moved.
He shook like a leaf in the breeze. Pawn fumbled at the chess pieces with his single arm, clumsily trying to set them up and knocking them over. Trembling.
Erin stared at the Antinium and felt not a trace of fury in her. Not black fury, not burning rage nor wrath enough to power a thousand suns. Nothing.
Her hands were calm as she took Pawns pieces and set them up on the board. Carefully, she arranged his pieces and hers. He was white she was black. He clumsily moved a pawn forwards and she replied.
Queens Gambit. Dutch Defense. Erin crushed Pawn in only a few moves. Ruthlessly. Without guilt or hesitation.
The Antinium wavered. She felt and saw him hesitate, and saw the other Workers around him staring. But then she reset the board and he moved again.
Kings Pawn Ga. French Defense. Erin played exactly the opposite ga Pawn expected to, staying defensive and picking off his pieces slowly. She won again, overwhelmingly.
Nothing. No feeling. Erin played in a void of calm, playing her best against a broken Pawn who could barely move his pieces. She reset the board and they played.
Again, and again. Glacial silence, forest silence. The silence of endless days on the open desert where the winds devoured all and the sand was the only thing that ever changed. The silence of the open ocean on a sunny dayvast and loud, engulfing all things and making the world a green-blue landscape.
The silence of eternity, played out in the soft clicking of chess pieces on the board.
Again, Pawn played and Erin won. She rotated the board and made the first move. She won again.
He was alone. Alone, and not half the player she was. But with every ga sothing that had been cut away ca back. Slowly, the Antiniums trembling stopped.
He played. He lost. And Erin felt nothing. But each ga was a small slice of eternity cut and drifting between the two, a mont of healing, a mont of concentration and silence. An immortal mont.
And when it was done, when the gas had finished and the sun had fallen, and then night had turned back into day Erin stopped. She let Pawn gently push over his king. The Antinium no longer trembled, and she sat in a silent ring of Workers, Goblins, and even adventurers who sat watching the ga. A single skeleton hovered with a platter of food in hand, watching with eyes that had seen forever in death and saw forever caught in a single ga of chess.
And still, Erin felt nothing. Not a flicker of pain, anger, or sadness crossed her heart. The emotions were too big for her. But whatever was in her prompted her. Erin felt it move, like the way the tide changed. A vast, deep feeling.
She spoke as Pawn hung his head low, drowsy with sleep.
Ksmvr.
The single word brought the Antinium out of his half-sleep, shuddering. But he was strong enough to hear the na now, strong enough to listen and not weep. Erin t Pawns eyes and saw a person staring through insects multifaceted gaze.
She made no promises, spoke no untrue words. Erin reached out and held the cold insect Worker, hugging him gently. Then she stood up and said two words.
Im sorry.
The door closed softly behind Erin. For a mont all the adventurers stared, still caught in a fragnt of forever. Then the silence was broken by shock and cursing as half the adventurers in the inn rushed out after her.
-
Erin!
Ceria was the first out of the inn. She was no warrior, but her heritage gave her grace and speed. And she wasnt weighed down by armor.
The Half-elf ran into the rainy night, and found the other girl was already gone. The door opened and Yvlon and Cervial were outside right behind Ceria.
Where did she go?
Towards the city, obviously. But she must be moving fast. I cant even see her from here.
Well lets get after her! If shes trying to pick a fight
Humans.
Ceria snapped the word, more as a general curse on the situation than an attack on Erin. She looked at Yvlon.
I can go but that Antinium needs watching. And Ive got no movent Skills. Can you?
Of course. You stop Calruz.
Right. And if she gets there first, dont fight the one called Ksmvr. Attacking him is the sa as attacking the hive.
Cervial nodded. He looked around, seeing through the dark night better than even Ceria could.
Lets go. I cant see her. The girl must have so kind of running Skill.
Without a word the two captains ran towards the city, moving like a blur. Ceria watched them go and then turned. She saw other adventurers standing just outside, caught in indecision.
If you want to go, go. But only drag that innkeeper back. Fighting here would be a mistake. But it would be better if less people were out in the darkness. We dont know what kind of monsters live here.
At her words, most of the adventurers went back into the inn. Or tried to. They had to retreat as a large shape pushed his way through the crowd.
Calruz erged from the inn, face dark with anger. None of the humans wanted to get in his way, but Ceria stood in front of the Minotaurs path.
Where do you think youre going?
After the innkeeper. Where else?
Yvlon and Cervial are already after her. You wouldnt be able to catch her anyways.
Calruz grunted.
Who says Im going to catch her? The child needs a second for a proper death duel.
You will not go. If we cause a disturbance
Honor is at stake. You will not stop .
Ceria felt a massive hand move her aside. She thought about the few spells she could use, and then abandoned the idea when she saw the look on Calruzs face. She stared helplessly as the Minotaur strode off in the direction of the city.
The other two might be able to stop him. If they get to the innkeeper in ti.
Gerial said it loudly behind Ceria. She had to raise her voice above the pounding rain. She was already soaked, but at least her enchanted robes werent getting soggy with water.
I just hope she doesnt actually try to fight that Antinium or whoever he is. Shes no warrior.
No.
The two leading mbers of the Horns of Hamrad stared at each other. They both felt it. The hint of dj-vu.
If you want to go
No. Calruz wont listen to anymore than you. And if he does pick a fight, better its only him. Besides
Besides what?
Gerial stared out into the rain, hand clenched.
If I went out there I dont think I could stop myself.
Ceria followed his gaze. The night was dark and stormy. She spoke distantly.
Thats not what Im worried about.
What?
Its night. Andthe timing of it.
Ceria paused. Gerial stared at her. They trusted each other, and adventurers learned to listen to their feelings. Ceria hit on what her instincts were telling her and spoke.
It feels like a trap.
-
Ksmvr stood on a hilltop, waiting. He was not within the boundaries of Liscor. It was important that he was not.
Boundaries. Rules. Ksmvr understood them. They were important. Rules and order made up the Hive, and by such things could everything be understood.
Pacts had been made. The soldiers of the Hive were not permitted above-ground save for tis of ergencyor war. And while the definition of ergency could allow for nurous occasions, bringing the soldiers above ground would bring about questions regardless. And the Queen was not to be disturbed.
But no such pacts had been established outside of the city. Therefore, four of the Soldier Antinium stood silently next to Ksmvr, silent giants waiting for his order. They were eliteperhaps not as strong individually as he was, but close. Together, they were more than enough to subdue a single [Innkeeper].
It might have been overkill to a human, but the Antinium took no chances. And Erin Solstice had established her worth. Initially Ksmvr had only known what his Queen had told him, and from that he had thought of her as insignificant. Worthless.
Butand here was the difficult partErin Solstice was important. She was valuable. Perhaps unique. His Queen had been wrong in her appraisal of Erin and that bothered Ksmvr greatly.
But the duty of a Prognugator was to protect and serve the hive. And Ksmvr would do just that. He waited for Erin Solstice in the certainty that she would co.
Her actions were a matter of record. More than that, the established thought processes of humans were well known to Ksmvr. She would co in fury and vengeance to be caught and the individual known as Pawn would be easily retrieved. Minor obstacles like the Goblins, adventurers and skeleton were of no object.
Ksmvr shifted in his position on the hilltop that afforded him a view of the area surrounding the city. He was not bored. He was incapable of being bored. But the ti he had spent waiting bothered him.
The Soldiers behind Ksmvr did not move. They waited, alert for any threat. They did not get bored either.
But Relc was quite bored. The Drake yawned and all five Antinium turned. Ksmvrs swords and daggers sprang from their sheaths and the Soldiers imdiately raised their club-like hands.
Hold it.
Relc sat up in the grass, appearing out of the dark landscape as if by magic. It wasnt magic of course. But mud and the Drakes dark scales had made him practically invisible in the grass.
Ksmvr held up a hand and sent a ntal order to the Soldiers. But neither he nor the other Antinium relaxed. He kept his swords pointed at the ground.
Senior Guardsman Relc. Do you have business with at this ti? If so, I request it wait until tomorrow.
Relc scratched at the back of his head. He looked at Ksmvr and glanced away.
What? Oh, no, no. I dont have business with you.
Ksmvr waited, but Relc didnt say anything else. More questioning was in order.
May I inquire as to your purpose here?
Sure, inquire away.
More silence. Ksmvr was aware that Relc was being deliberately obstinate and confrontational. A troubling complication.
Why have you followed my group?
Relc raised what would have been an eyebrow.
Im not following
Please refrain from lying. There is no other reason for you to be out here at this ti of night. Moreover, you are not currently on duty. Why are you here?
The Soldier Antinium shifted slightly. Relc eyed them, unimpressed. He flicked his tongue out and shrugged.
Im just taking a walk. And uh, a nap. In the rain. Which I do quite often.
Talking to peopleor rather, interacting with those not of the Hive was difficult. And Ksmvr was unused to conversations with outsiders in the first place. Still, he persisted, keeping one eye on the dark landscape the entire ti.
Will you return to the city, then?
Maybe. In ti. Im just enjoying myself.
I see. And will you continue to remain here so long as we are here?
Oh, no. Ill leave pretty soon. Just as soon as a certain stupid human girl gets back to her inn all safe and sound.
Ksmvr interpreted that information and the Soldiers around him raised their hands. Relc waved at them with his tail.
Stop that. Im not here for a fight. And neither are you, since Id win.
It was an accurate statent, at least in that the chances of Relcs victory were higher than Ksmvrs. And a deeply complicating factor. Therefore Ksmvr attempted a higher degree of diplomacy than before.
Your presence is unneeded. If Erin Solstice cooperates she will be unhard.
Yeah, but I dont think she will. Do you? And frankly, even if you plan to feed her with a golden spoon I dont think I should let you take her.
Erin Solstice is not a citizen of Liscor. Your duty does not extend to
Would you shut up?
Relc said it pleasantly, but with an edge that made Ksmvr consider silence the most appropriate response. The Drake shook his head.
You sound just like Klb backwell, back when I first t him. I dont like that. So shut up and listen since I have to spell it out. Heres whats going to happen tonight. Erin Solstice is going to run into the city, probably with that stupid frying pan and not find you and a bunch of your big Antinium friends. Shes going to go back to her inn all safe and nice.
You are protecting her.
I guess.
Why?
Relc paused.
I like her. WellI used to. Now I think shes a bloody idiot Human like the others. But at least she makes good pasta. Andwell, lets call it a favor. Klbkch died protecting her. I just figured it would be a sha if all his effort went to waste.
There was an inconsistency in Relcs statents and Ksmvr leapt on it, sure of his success.
Klbkch was a mber of the Hive. By obstructing my work you obstruct the Hive.
Strangely, Relc did not respond to this logical inconsistency like Ksmvr had predicted. He just shrugged.
Yeah. But I dont like you.
Dealing with non-Antinium was soso frustrating. Ksmvr felt an unexplored emotion within him. Troubling. But he persisted.
I am Prognugator of the Free Antinium of Liscor. My authority
Shut up.
Another tact.
I have four Soldiers with .
Relc yawned. He eyed the silent Antinium, whose hands were literal weapons. Their carapaces were equivalent to unenchanted plate armor, and they possessed nurous abilities inherent to the Antinium that other species did not have. Even so, Relc did not appear intimidated.
Ive heard that a newly grown soldier is the equivalent of a Level 15 [Warrior] for most species. Interesting. But if you think those guys frighten , Ill rip a few of their heads off for you. The Antinium never attacked Liscor in the second war, so you have no idea how strong I am.
Ksmvr paused and tilted his head as he accessed the required mory.
Relc Grasstongue, forr sergeant of the 1st Wing of the Liscorian army. Currently Level 33 in the [Spearmaster] class, and Level 12 in the [Guardsman] class. Negligible levels in the [Archer] class as well as the [Carpenter] class. Possesses mainly combat skills as well as the rare skill [Triple Thrust].
Damn bugs. Did Klbkch tell you that?
At last. Dialogue. Ksmvr did not have the facial musclesor faceto smile, but a part of him felt relieved. He attempted to continue the conversation.
Klbkch estimated that if necessary, he would be able to hold you off for five minutes and inflict serious wounds before death. If given the order to terminate, he predicted a sneak attack had an even chance of killing you.
The look Relc gave Ksmvr did not indicate a positive reaction to the conversation.
I really dont like you, you know.
Your regard for matters little. My position is temporary.
Good for you, I guess. Why are you talking so much, anyways?
I am attempting to build the sa level of camaraderie shared between you and forr Prognugator Klbkch.
Another pause, and this ti Relcs expression darkened.
Well. Ino. Im going to stand over here until Erin cos by.
He began to walk off. Ksmvr called out after him.
Sixteen more Soldiers are currently moving towards this location. You will not be able to stop them alone.
Relc paused. Ksmvr couldnt seebut the Drake looked like he was grinning.
Thats sort of funny. I guess not all of you Antinium are alike, huh?
What leads you to that conclusion?
You dont have [Dangersense]. Youd better pray you get it, or another skill like it soon.
Relc nodded towards a distant hill. Ksmvr looked and ntally ordered the Soldiers leaving the Hive to hold position. Perhaps if he were Human he might never have seen the silent figure crouching and smiling down at the two warriors. But he was Antinium and he recognized Gazi on sight.
The Drake sat down on the hill casually, ignoring the other Antinium still watching him. He nodded towards Gazis distant figure.
Now she could eat you and your cute little soldiers for breakfast. , shed probably choke on the way down.
Ksmvr was capable of free-thought, a mark of his position and importance to the Hive. He was a leader, ant to direct soldiers and deal with unexpected situations as they arose. Never mind that he had beco Prognugator before his training period was overhe was trusted by the Queen. Butbut
But no matter how hard he thought, he couldnt decide what to do. Erin Solstice was important. But with the presence of Gazi the Omniscient as well as Relc, suddenly the costs of capturing Erin Solstice beca too high.
But she was important. But it was too costly. But she was important. But it was too costly. What should he do? His Queen had ordered him not to disturb her. But he knew the importance of individuals. His entire dutythe entire duty of the Antinium within Liscor revolved around the importance of this. But it was too dangerous.
What should he do? For the first ti in his short life, Ksmvr had no idea what he should do.
-
It was a silentwell, stalemate wasnt the word. From their position within a deep section of the grass the other watchers could see that the Antinium were in trouble. Even as they watched, their leader ca to a decision. He spoke a few words to Relc and the Antinium surrounding him began marching back to the city.
That was good.
There. It is well that we did not have to intervene, yes?
Krshia spoke her comnt quietly, but even with the pouring rain the other Gnolls lying in the grass heard her perfectly. Tkrn and six of the other Gnolls relaxed their hold on their bows. Tkrn nodded at Ksmvr as the Antinium swiftly descended the hill, flanked by his Soldiers.
It might be best to slay the bug before he returns to the city, yes? It would not be too difficult to do, especially if he intends to hurt this Erin Solstice.
Fool.
Tkrn barely saw the paw that cuffed him on the head. Krshia glared at him between the long stalks of grass.
He was not trying to kill her. Use your brain, you fool, you.
The other Gnolls chuckled in amusent as Tkrn flattened his ears in embarrassnt. As the most junior mber of the Gnollsand the most inexperienced, it was even more humiliating to make a mistake in front of their leader.
But he had Soldiers.
Krshia snorted.
Yes, to capture her. But he was waiting for Erin Solstice to arrive, yes? That is suspicious. Who waits for a challenge? Only Humans in their pride and Drakes do that, yes? We fight without needing large open spaces and people to watch. But the Antiniumthey are even more different than we.
She nodded at Ksmvr as the Antinium marched back across the flatlands. The Antinium was alertconstantly scanning the landscape. But despite the Antiniums impressive dark vision, they were no hunters of the plains. Krshia and the other Gnolls were perfectly hidden in their cover.
If he Ksm wanted Erin Solstice dead then dead she would be already. He would stab her before she saw him, yes? But he wanted her here, and had many soldiers with him.
She shook her head.
Soone else wants Erin Solstice. And excluding the foolish Drake, three different sides ca for her tonight.
It seems you are right. This Erin Solstice, she is important.
Another Gnoll made that comnt and the others nodded. If they had doubted Krshia beforeand if they had they were wise enough to never have said it in her presencetonight changed that. She glared at them.
I said it, did I not? But it is poor fortune that it is known. We must hurry.
The other Gnolls nodded. One spoke.
The other warriors will arrive soon. Within the week.
Good.
Tkrn shifted. He eyed the hill where the silent figure of Gazi was still crouching and engaged in a staring contest with Relc.
Should we leave, then? Or will Gazi do sothing?
The other Gnolls muttered. They knew the odds of taking on a Nad Adventurer. Krshia shook her head.
I do not think so. She is crafty, and she is waiting. I do not think she would have intervened unless all others failed, including we.
But she is still here, yes.
Yes.
Krshia scowled up at Gazi. It was impossiblethey were perfectly hidden, but the Gazers eye flicked away from Relc and towards them for the rest fraction of a second. Krshia muttered sothing as the other Gnolls growled.
She likes to watch.
Well, she cant do anything to us even if she knows were here.
This ti Tkrn received several admonitory paws to the back of the head. Krshia shook herself and sent water drops flying now that their cover had been broken.
Maybe not. But it is an ill thing to be spotted. We will wait to make sure she does nothing. Just in case.
The Gnolls sat up in the grass, relaxing. Relc still hadnt spotted them but then, the Drake only relied on his Skills. And the problem with [Dangersense] is that it only told him when there was potential threat.
Still, they ant him no harm. They were on the sa side, at least for the night. So the Gnolls waited. The Gazer sat patiently, and the Drake ripped up pieces of grass. The night was silent.
They waited.
And waited.
And
From their position in the grass, the Gnolls saw Relc shift and scratch irritably at his scales. He looked around and then voiced the question on everyones mind.
Where is she?
-
We couldnt find her.
Ceria stared in disbelief at Yvlon and Cervial as the two adventurers returned, panting. Theyd run all the way to Liscor and back in less than thirty minutes.
What?
We got to the gates, but the guard there said no one had co by.
Both of the adventurers shrugged helplessly. Ceria chewed at her lip.
Maybe she got lost?
I doubt it.
Then a monster
We would have noticed that.
Then where is she?
I dont know. Did you spot Calruz by any chance?
Cerival smiled crookedly.
Yeah. He tried to get into the city, but the guard told him the gates were closed. Hes stomping his way back now.
Well, that was one problem solved. But the bigger problem remained. Where was Erin Solstice? Ceria stared around, but the night was still full of rain and seeing was impossible.
Well, well just have to wait. Co on insidethe skeleton is mad as hell but its staying put for so reason. I guess we should as well.
Yvlong and Cervial trooped back into the inn. Ceria looked around one last ti. It was so strange. Shed assud
Sothing dropped from the roof of the inn and landed right next to Ceria. The half-elf yelped, grabbed for her wand, and stopped.
Erin got up from the ground, wincing at the bad fall. She brushed mud off her shirt and paused as she saw Ceria.
Oh. Hi.
Ceria clutched at her heart. It felt as if it had stopped.
What are youwhere were you?
Erin blinked at her. She pointed up.
I was on the roof.
Ceria stared up. The roof.
Doing what?
Erin shrugged. She wiped at her face. It didnt do much in the rain.
I was crying. What did you think I was doing?
Her eyes were red. Ceria could see that perfectly. She replied, laly.
Wewe thought you were going after Ksmvr.
Why would I do that?
Again, Ceria had to stop. She grappled with words.
Well, after what he did to your friendId say everyone in the inn would have joined you. Calruz especially.
Really. Really?
Erin snuffled again and wiped at her nose.
Thats nice of you. I guess. You could all hold him down while I bashed his brains out with a frying pan, right?
We wouldnt do that. Calruzthought you were going to duel him.
And kill him?
Erin looked at Ceria. It was an odd stare. Accusatory. Hurt. Ceria shifted, suddenly awkward.
But what he did
Evil.
Erin said it flatly.
Pawn was innocent. He didnt deserve that. When I saw what that bastard did
Yeah. So we thought
Ceria trailed off laly. Erin was still staring at her. As if it was the most obvious thing in the world, she shook her head.
He hurt Pawn. But does that an I should go out there and beat him to death? How? Hes a warrior and ImIm an innkeeper. And I dont murder people. I kill monsters and Ive killed in self-defense. But I dont murder people. Ever.
It was too hard to et the girls eyes. Ceria looked away. It felt like she was speaking to soone strange. Sothing
She had no word for alien in her language. The closest words Ceria knew were outsider, strange, unnatural. Erin was staring at her, a hint of accusation in her stare. And it was hard to bear. There was sothing innocent in her gaze, sothing that Ceria had lost long ago when she first stared into a dead mans eyes.
Im sorry. I just assud
Erin shrugged. She paused, and stared around at the dark landscape. Ceria saw her lips move.
Can I tell you sothing? Sothing sort of offensive?
Sure.
Erin stared at the ground and the wet grass. Her breath appeared in the cold air.
You guys have a really shitty world. A really bad one.
We do?
I dont like it. Its so wonderful at tisso beautiful and full of magic. But then this happens. Every ti. Well. Almost every ti. I hate it.
Ceria had nothing to say to that.
For a mont I wanted to kill Ksmvr, too. But I would die if I tried that, right? Hes fast. Strong. A warrior. Maybe I could kill him. But then what?
Hed be dead.
And so would Pawn. Probably. That Queen would send her soldiers to rip off his head and mine.
I understand. You made the right choice.
Erin shivered.
Did I? It seems like all I can do at tis like this is just accept what happened and move on.
She shivered. Ceria was conscious of how cold it was. The enchantnts on her robes made her feel warm even in the freezing rain but the human girl had sat up on the rooftop forit had to be an hour at least.
You should co inside. Im sure Pawn will want to see you.
She reached out for Erin. The girls skin was deathly cold. She muttered sothing.
know.
What?
Erin shook her head.
I dont know. I dont know what to do to stop it. But I do know what to do.
She walked past Ceria, into the inn. The half-elf followed, watching. There was sothing in the human girls eyes.
Pawn half-rose in his seat when he saw her. Anxiety was written all over his face, although only Erin could see it. She smiled at him and sneezed.
The other adventurers stared at Erin. She ignored them. They were not important. Instead, she sat down as Toren rushed towards her with a towel. She patted the cold water off her and felt a bit more alive when he gave her a steaming mug of boiled water.
Olesm had been playing Pawn. But the Drake instantly stood to give her his seat. Erin shook her head.
Go on. Keep playing.
The Drake blinked at her, and then awkwardly sat down. Erin sat next to Pawn. At first the Antinium looked at her, but she smiled. It was very quiet in the room. After a while, Olesm coughed and awkwardly moved a piece forward.
Pawn played. The two played. Erin looked at the Workers and got them a chess set. It was strange. The Workers sat and began playing. The adventurers sat awkwardly. After a while Erin had Toren bring out so leftovers.
And it was still silent. So when the feeling in Erin couldnt be contained she opened her mouth.
And began to sing.
It caught Pawn off-guard. He froze as he held a knight in his hand and stared at Erin. So did everyone else. But the awkwardnessthe fear she might have felt was nothing. So Erin sang.
She had never been good at singing. Or rather, shed never been as good at singing as she had at playing chess. But when she was a kid, before shed quit going to church, shed been part of the choir. Shed sung in the school choir and once, just once, her teacher had encouraged her to study singing.
But she hadnt. Erin had played chess and forgotten how to breathe properly, stopped singing every week. But the music had lingered, and shed never really forgotten how.
I dont know why you hurt inside or what was said to make you cry
She didnt know why she started with a Lady Gaga song. But that one shed always loved because it made her feel better. And Greatest was probably her greatest song.
Erin had no piano. No voice synthesizer, no backup choir; she didnt even have a microphone. But she didnt need those things.
Her voice filled up the room, and it seed to her audience that even though only one person was singing, they could hear sothing else. The sa song Erin had heard first while sitting in her room playing chess.
Was it one person singing or two? They heard another voice. Strange drumsthe sound of a pianoa voice singing with electronic sound in ways they could never have imagined.
Ceria listened, and heard another voice, and a kind of music shed never heard of wherever shed gone. She closed her eyes, and thought of a girl who knew colors that Ceria had never seen in her life.
Olesm was playing. Pawn kept moving pieces, but that was a backdrop to the music. Erin finished her song and silence beat down again. It was oppressive so she chose another song.
The adventurers had never heard a ukulele played before. But even though Erin wasnt playing one, they heard it now. And in her voicea mans voice. Singing.
Sowhere over the rainbow way up high
Shed always loved Israel Kamakawiwooles version of that song more than the Judy Garland one. And shed loved both with all her heart.
The song was lighter, happier in a way but in another waynot. Soone was crying. Erin kept singing, conjuring a piece of sothing the people in her inn had never heard before. A piece of immortal music.
Another immortal mont.
And then of course, she kept singing. Sowhere, Erin started singing Hallelujah and smiled as she rembered watching Shrek for the first ti. The music poured out of her as Pawn played a ga of chess, pausing to stare at her.
The other adventurers were silent. Ceria listened in silence. She was half Elf. Half of her had grown up knowing the fragnts of foreverbut the other half was still in awe.
But the humans listened to sothing that was not part of their world. They listened as Erin sang to their hearts.
I have died everyday, waiting for you. Darling, dont be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
Gerial wept into his mustache. The adventurers sat in silence. Yvlon closed her eyes and Cervial kept rubbing at his.
A mont of eternity. A song. A fragnt of the past. A mory.
Immortality brought to life with every verse.
-
She taught them one song. Here I Am Lord, a song from church. It mattered. It was important. And when she sang it, Pawn looked up.
First Erin sang.
I, the Lord of Sea and Sky. I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin, my hand will save.
Erin sang with Ceria, two soft voices singing as the half-elf joined in.
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.
And then the others joined in. n and won, singing a song for a god this world had never known. By the end of the third verse all the humans were singing. Calruz leaned against the doorway, frowning, closing his eyes and listening, silent. Pawn listened as Erin sang, leaning against him, warming him.
I will hold Your people in my heart.
He shuddered then. And then when she looked at him he did not cry. The Antinium do not weep. But she still saw the tears in his soul.
And the night passed to day and Erin sang on. Small songs, grand songs. And the magic was with her, fading with every note. Until she simply sang and the mont was no longer forever. But it was enough. When Erin finally closed her eyes the inn was silent.
And though the Antinium didnt smile she did. For him. For the both of them.
Erin closed her eyes and slept.
[Innkeeper Level 15!]
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