Realization

Something's not right…

Reaching the end of the second cart, Neia began thinking about the feeling deep in their gut.

But what? The explanation fits… it’s just too convenient… If we think about why the man died, is it as the conductor said, is someone trying to disconnect the carts?

Their walking speed quickens.

But why? You’d have to kill like twenty people to disconnect them all, what's the point?

Is the target the noble? Nerissa’s father?

But there is no world where the Magus assigned to the connection of that cart would be the occupants… And even if they are the targets, why wouldn’t you just go for the Noble himself… Do they need him alive?

There's too much strangeness going on… First it was that girl, teleportation, then the big man, and the horde… Is it all connected?

If I think back to the hordes, lot’s was strange… The timing with that dragon was too perfect… And, they only went straight toward the square… No, town hall! And beside the mayor was Mr. Orlaith!

The monsters were after Orlaith? But why…

Neia reached the door leading to the cart that the noble, Mr. Orlaith was occupying.

Kr-chink

The door slides open and they step inside, almost expecting to find another crime scene.

Knock knock!

Neia taps on the door they had seen Nerissa tap on earlier.

“Yes?” A voice asks with suspicion.

“Uh… I’m a friend of Nerissa’s” Not that we can actually be called that… “ Is she still there?”

The door slides up, revealing two men.

One wears a fancy and comfortable looking robe. The other is in ranger armor and has a sword at his hip.

“No, she already left.” The one with the sword says.

“I see, tha-” Neia cuts themself off, their eyes catching onto the symbol on the robe of mr orlaith.

The symbol is that of a whale jumping over a ship.

“Shit!”

“Wha, where are you going!?” The man screams after Neia, but doesn't pursue

That symbol! I just saw it, it was on the box! I remember, Osmond said something about monsters blocking his train. And I saw him and the others bringing the box before they missed it!

With the assumption that they can control monsters, then both that strange crate and Mr. Orlaith are on the same train!

“Haah! Haah!”

They used monsters to get the crate from the first train, to the second train. Then, the horde convinced Orlaith to leave on this train. Both of the things they need are in one place! And now, they don’t even need to get orlaith! They can use Nerissa, Shit!

When I think about it, it's so obvious… Hiiro said that he was saved by Uda, who then took the Dracofolk, then he reappeared at the gate, only for Absalon to once again take him down… And him being able to cancel his spell, I know what that is! Fuck, it was so obvious.

The Guild master obviously could have helped with the monsters, but they were stuck in that meeting, and who was it they were stuck with, Absalon!

Now those bastards have wormed their way to the exact location they need to be, and Nerissa is walking right to them!

I should have paid more attention, I should have played a more active role!

“Tch” Opening the door to the third last cart, the scene immediately became clear.

The bodies of 6 guards, in dark blue cloaks and Saionian uniforms laid on the ground. The body of the Aid was not far away.

“Dammit, all dead.” Every body was flimsy as a noodle, however, unlike the previous body, there were obvious burn marks.

“Shit!” Quickly opening the door, Neia immediately saw the culprit.

Deep red scales covered his body, except for his stomach, which was made up of tan scales. His eyes glaze over and in his hands, a large clump of dark blue and brown is quickly thrown at Neia.

“Gah!” The large projectile slams into them. It's hard and soft at the same time, sending pain coursing through their body.

“Gahaahahaha” The man laughs maniacly in the blue light of the moon.

“Osmond?” Looking at the projectile, the body of Osmond Uzziel now sprawled out on the floor.

Neia immediately ducks to the side, hiding behind the wall to the right of the door. A fireball flies directly through where they just stood.

“Im going to have to-” Neia drops something from their hand into the pile of bodies. “ Fuck it!”

Immediately, Neia runs out from beside the door and jumps toward the scaled-man.

As soon as their feet leave the ground, another realization strikes. The carts are disconnected!

The second and first to last carts slowly drift away, gaining a wider and wider gap.

“Gaahahahaha, what an idiot.” The man says as he turns and enters the cart.

“Shit!” Neia falls towards the tracks below, the still moving carts threatening to crush them.

But just as neia is about to hit the tracks, a massive boar, twice the size of the carts, rushes from the treeline and rams the carts, sending them flying off track.

Ah, so this is the end…

Neia barrels towards the track, unable to do anything to save themself.

I’ve sinned again…

I'm sorry, Neia.

I'm truly slothful.

The first part to hit the ground is the legs, which immediately shatter, crunching and snapping and molding into lumps of useless material.

The waist and chest go together, separating from the legs. They simply flatten as they roll along the tracks. The arms fly off into unknown directions to become food for monsters and scavengers.

The head is last, and sees all. The smacks into the ground, rolling as it flattens. The characteristic blue and red Eyeballs popping out and seemingly disappearing, exploding under the pressure.

Neia Samsa dies.