Volume 2 - Chapter 17 - Crossroads at the Bridge

The group had set up camp back inside the cave, the rough stone walls glistening faintly in the dim shimmer of the giant nightstone outside. Cold air seeped through cracks in the entrance, carrying with it the distant crackling of shifting rubble and the faint moan of the wind. Krrr...krrr... came the distorted sound from the communicator, echoing oddly against the cavern walls. "Luke, can you hear me?..krrr.k." Silence pressed in, broken only by dripping water deeper in the cave, until at last a reply stuttered through: krrrk..."I'm here something come up?."

Karna asked, voice low so as not to wake the others stretched on bedrolls near the flickering campfire. Krrrr...."Yes, we need some manpower. I have two people I want you to protect while they search through some ancient city. Who knows, something might jog your memory." .krrr.k

Luke's voice buzzed again. "That's fine by me, because Evergreen City isn’t jogging my memories. I've wandered its streets, asked questions, even tried handling scraps of old tech, but nothing stirs a spark—just the same blank wall in my head...krrr.."

Karna frowned, glancing at the shadows dancing on the cave ceiling. "I thought you were at the Grand Lift...krrrk."

Luke replied, krrrk.k "I was. The Grand Lift is always crowded—massive wagons and caravans lining up to board, merchants shouting as guards direct the flow of traffic. The whole place is more a rest town than a real city, inns and stalls thrown together for travelers waiting their turn. I lingered there for a day, hoping the sight of that colossal mana-powered platform carrying people between continents might spark something in me. But all I found were weary traders, suspicious guards, and no answers. So when one caravan offered me space to travel with them, I decided to leave with the merchants. And though they were friendly, nothing in their tales stirred my memory. By the time we reached Evergreen, I knew I had to keep moving, hoping somewhere else would hold the key...krrrk."

Ash, leaning against the rough stone, spoke up to Karna. "If he is in Evergreen, have him find Toby. They can travel together—it should save time." Karna nodded, then continued into the communicator. "...krrrk.. Luke, go and find a man named Toby and have him work with you...krrrk..k."

Luke responded, static breaking his words. "And where can I find this Toby? What would you want me to tell him?..krrrk."

Karna looked to Ash, who extended a hand for the device. Ash explained clearly where Toby’s residence was and mentioned the favor Toby still owed him. Luke responded, Krrrk..."So where do we meet these people?" Ash paused, eyes narrowing as he thought of the most optimal location, then spoke: krrrrk..."Meet us at the giant bridge that crosses the river to the north, toward the Grand Lift."

Krrrk..."Ahhh, that bridge. Yeah, we can meet there."

Ash handed the communicator back to Karna, who spoke, krrrk..."Stay safe Luke, we will see you tomorrow."

Krrrkk.k..."Alright, good night. We’ll see you tomorrow."

The communicator fell silent, its faint static fading into the cave’s natural hush. The group settled back into their makeshift camp. The fire had burned low, casting a warm orange glow across the damp stone. Karna lay awake for a while, staring at the shifting shadows, her mind restless with thoughts of the coming journey. Emma and Ernest whispered softly before sleep claimed them. Ash remained quiet, eyes half‑closed, listening to the faint drip of water in the deeper tunnels. Xanathis stretched lazily near the entrance, the cold night air flowing in past her hair. Eventually, the cave grew still as each of them drifted into uneasy rest, knowing the morning would bring new paths and choices."

The next day Karna awoke to the damp chill of the cave. She looked around, seeing Emma and Ernest stirring near the ashes of the fire, but Ash was nowhere in sight. Karna’s voice edged with concern. "Where is Ash?"

Ernest replied while tightening his cloak. "He left early this morning to scout ahead, to check if there are beastmen still around. He asked us to meet him at the bridge."

Karna muttered anxiously, already pushing to her feet. "We have to go after him. Let’s go"

From the shadows near the cave wall, Xanathis emerged, her crystalline-blue eyes catching what little light filtered in. She smirked faintly. "Calm down, little hero. Ash will be fine. Have some trust."

Karna turned sharply, frustration on her face. "He was badly injured yesterday and almost died. We shouldn’t push him too much, and he shouldn’t be alone."

Xanathis shook her head slowly, her long hair swaying. "Calm down. He is stronger than you think. That body of his... it’s something special."

Meanwhile Ash was already scouting near the caved-in entrance of the cavern. The ground smelled of damp earth and blood. He spotted the beastmen’s rotting limbs crushed under the collapsed rock, clawed hands frozen in twisted gestures as if still reaching for help. The rest of the beastmen had fled, abandoning their wounded. No sign of survivors remained apart from the corpses. Ash knew better than to linger he quickened his pace to follow the wagon tracks, a knot of urgency twisting in his chest. Corpse Eaters could appear at any time, drawn by the stench of blood and decay, and he had no desire to face the nightmarish creatures while alone among the rotting remains. Ash’s boots crunched against loose stone as he followed wagon tracks across the open plains, the wide expanse stretching under the morning sky before giving way to the the forest in the distance. The morning air carried the scent of pine mixed with the acrid stench of smoke. But when the trail reached the main road, heavy merchant traffic had scoured it clean hoofprints, wagon wheels, and countless boots masking the beastmen’s escape.

Ash clenched his jaw, deciding there was nothing more to find. He turned back south toward the northern most bridge. By the time he arrived, Karna and the others were already waiting, mist rising over the river and the ruins below.

Xanathis was first to ask, arms crossed. "So, how did it go?"

Ash exhaled, the memory of the corpses fresh in his mind. "After the cave-in they all fled, not even bothering to save the ones that were crushed. Some seemed alive, but they just left them. As for the tracks once they hit the main road, I lost them."

Xanathis studied the broad stone road stretching into the distance. It was unreasonably large, its width easily enough for four carriages abreast, but here it was normal, built for the constant flow of goods from the Grand Lift. She finally asked, "So what now? Do you have an idea?"

Ash nodded grimly. "They either headed to Evergreen or took the Grand Lift to the next continent. But we should check Evergreen first. If they’re abducting people regularly, they wouldn’t risk the Grand Lift—it’s too easy to get trapped there. With all the traffic moving between Evergreen and the Lift, someone there may have noticed something. All we have to do is ask around, maybe even check with the adventurers guild. They might have heard rumors or picked up more info on the beastmen since I last spoke to Toby."

From the distance came movement, two figures crossing the bridge. Toby walked with his usual steady stride, and at his side was Luke, the blond man Karna had spoken to the night before. Ash, Emma, Ernest, Karna, and Xanathis waited, watching the pair approach. Luke’s facial scars caught the light, and from his back protruded two oddly shaped handles, like sheathed swords of unfamiliar make. His eyes were bright, his manner lively as he called out.

"Karna, we’re here! So who will we be protecting?"

Karna gestured toward Ernest and Emma. Luke gave them a quick look, then grinned. "So these are the explorers you mentioned." His gaze lingered on Emma, and he added with a chuckle, "Wow, she’s quite the beauty."

He strode forward, boots clattering on the stone, and shook their hands firmly. "It’s going to be a pleasure working with the two of you. I heard from Karna that the city holds some ancient technology—I can’t wait to dig through it."

The siblings exchanged awkward glances as Luke kept talking enthusiastically. Karna cleared her throat, reminding him. "Luke, you’re supposed to be protecting them. Don’t forget that. Don’t get too lost in the technology—unless something jogs your memory."

Luke smiled wide. "I know, I know. It’s just—exciting. Ancient technology! I can’t wait."

Ash leaned toward Karna and whispered. "For someone with amnesia, he’s sure lively."

Karna replied quietly, her eyes softening. "Yeah, he’s been like this since the day we met. Even if he doesn’t find his memories by searching the city, he might pick up new tech from the scraps lying around. He may have lost his memory, but his genius still shines through."

Just then Toby pulled Ash aside, his face solemn. "So, how is the mission going? Found anything about my granddaughter yet?"

Ash’s shoulders slumped slightly. He spoke in a low, sad tone. "Nothing yet. Still trying to track down their hideout. But what little I’ve learned about the beastmen isn’t good. They refer to the kidnapped as sacrifices, taking them somewhere. There’s still a chance she could be alive."

Toby’s brows furrowed. "So how close are you to finding them?"

Ash sighed. "I lost their tracks when they hit the main road. So we’re heading to Evergreen to ask around. With all the merchants passing through, someone might have seen something. If nothing comes up, we’ll head to the Grand Lift."

Toby placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder. "Alright. Looks like you’re keeping your promise. Did you manage to try that soul capacitor I brought you? How well did it work?"

Ash managed a small smile. "It worked great—but it was destroyed. Ran into a nasty monster made of acidic poison. It ruined it along with my clothes."

Toby chuckled ruefully. "That’s too bad. Guess you can fetch a new one in Evergreen. You know where the key is to my place. The stash of shards is still under my bed—you should be able to pick up a new set of gear."

At the bridge, the group paused. Emma and Ernest clasped Ash’s hands in turn, both siblings offering words of thanks and promises to stay safe on their own route. Toby gave Ash a firm nod, his expression equal parts pride and worry. Luke, already falling into step with them, raised a hand in farewell. "We’ll hold things down here. You three have a safe trip."

Karna stepped forward, offering a firm nod and a faint smile. "Stay safe on your road north. We’ll cross paths again soon."

With that, Emma, Ernest, Toby, and Luke parted ways, heading up the northern road toward the Grand Lift. Ash, Karna, and Xanathis turned south, the road winding steadily toward Evergreen City.

Ash, Xanathis, and Karna finally saw Evergreen as the mid‑sized city came into view. The stone walls rose high, patched in places with newer masonry where cracks and gaps had been repaired. One such section stood out in particular, a scar across the battlements left from the recent abomination attack—its pale stones contrasted against the older weather‑darkened blocks. The road leading to the city gate was busy with carts rattling over cobblestones, merchants calling to their beasts of burden, and travelers trudging with dust on their cloaks. As the group descended the last stretch, the air grew thick with mingled scents of sweat, smoke, and cooking food drifting from inside the walls.

Upon entering the gate, Karna slowed, her eyes widening. She was in awe at the bustle—streets alive with shouting vendors, children darting between wagons, and adventurers striding by in armor polished or battered from travel. Wooden stalls crowded the thoroughfare, each hung with colorful cloth banners, the clang of smiths hammering echoing down side alleys. Her thoughts swirled with both wonder and unease; the sheer energy of Evergreen felt overwhelming compared to the quiet forests and caves they had traversed.

Xanathis tilted her head back, nostrils flaring. She sniffed the air and murmured with a grin, “Mmm, that smells good.” Drawn to a nearby street vendor, she approached the smoke‑wreathed stand where skewers of meat sizzled over a bed of glowing coals. She bought a few skewers, testing the savory, charred morsels with an eager bite as grease dripped onto the dirt street. “Not bad,” she muttered between chews. Karna wrinkled her nose at the heavy scent of roasting fat.

Karna tore her gaze from the crowds to ask, “So what do we do? Just ask around town?” Even as she spoke, her eyes darted nervously over the crowd, wary of cutpurses and watching strangers.

Ash shook his head. “Yes, but I have a faster way. It’ll require shards. I need to stop by Toby’s house and pick up my shards, then we’ll head to the adventurers guild. They have members whose sole job is to gather and sell information—so the guild first.” His tone was calm, but inside he weighed each step carefully, the weight of failure pressing against him.

The trio made a quick detour to Toby’s modest home, retrieving what Ash needed. For Ash, the creak of Toby’s door and the sight of dust‑covered shelves stirred memories of quieter days when he and Toby had spoken of simpler things. He lingered a moment longer than needed, then pressed on.

The streets grew louder as they neared the adventurers guild, a stout stone building with tall arched windows. Outside, mercenaries loitered on the steps, weapons strapped to their backs, while others bargained over notices pinned to a quest board. Karna straightened her shoulders, trying to appear less like a wide‑eyed youth. Xanathis smirked at the posturing, finding amusement in her unease.

Inside the guildhall, the atmosphere was thick with voices. Several lines stretched before counters, adventurers of every type waiting their turn. The air was heavy with parchment, ink, and the faint tang of ale wafting from a side tavern. Ash and his companions approached the shortest queue, every step echoing on the stone floor. After several minutes they reached the front. The receptionist greeted them briskly. “So, what is your business today?”

Ash answered, “I need some information. I want to hire some seekers.”

The receptionist raised an eyebrow. “Are you an adventurer? If so, may I see your card?”

Ash grimaced inwardly. He hadn’t wanted to reveal it and risk commotion in such a crowded hall. “What’s the point of showing it?” he asked.

“There have been changes recently,” she replied. “To help adventurers, the higher your rank the cheaper your fees. It’s a new incentive to motivate rank increases. Some partnered stores even give discounts depending on your rank.”

With a sigh, Ash handed her the card. He felt eyes prickling on his back, imagining whispers at the sight of it. She examined it, then said, “Wait one moment, please.” She crossed the hall to speak with another receptionist—a striking woman with long blond hair tied back into a pony tail and a commanding presence. One of her arms ended just below the shoulder, her other hand deftly handling the documents with practiced ease. A scar traced faintly along her collarbone, half-hidden beneath her attire, giving her a hardened air. Her sharp green eyes studied the card, then she spoke briefly before approaching Ash herself.

“My name is Lina. I’m the head manager. So tell me—how do you know the guild master?”

Ash replied flatly, “I don’t. Never met the man.”

Lina frowned. “Then how did you acquire this card?”

“From Toby,” Ash said simply.

“Ah, I see. That explains it. Toby went behind our backs to acquire it for you.”

A door to the side opened and the first receptionist returned, this time accompanied by a tall, commanding woman with long green hair, sharp glasses resting on her nose, and thin scars crossing her face, her expression dignified but severe. Her presence carried authority, and her piercing gaze swept over Ash as she spoke in a firm, measured tone. “So this is him,” she said.

Lina nodded. “Helen, you’re just in time. seems Toby went behind our backs again.”

Helen muttered, “Figures. Not the first time he’s pulled something like this with Garm. We’ll have words with him later. But you—Ash—follow me. The guild master wants to speak with you.”

Helen lifted the bridge in the counter, allowing Ash and the others through. They followed her down a torch‑lit hall lined with guild banners until they entered a lavish office. Garm, a broad‑shouldered man with short white hair, a trimmed beard, and scars running across the side of his head above his ear, clad in the guild master’s dark, finely tailored coat, stood by the window, gazing at the rooftops and smoke‑stacked skyline of Evergreen, while Erica, a girl of perhaps sixteen with long green hair and glasses, sat at a desk diligently scratching quill across parchment. but her focus never wavered, the lamplight catching in the lenses of her glasses as she kept writing.

Helen’s tone was sharp. “Garm!”

The man turned lazily. “Yes, my dear?”

“Quit being lazy and get back to work. Stop making Erica do your job for you.”

The girl looked up, adjusting her glasses. “It’s fine, Mom. I don’t mind. If I didn’t help, the guild wouldn’t run this smoothly. Think of it as training for when I replace him as guild master. At least now we know where Sigurd inherited his laziness—it wasn’t from, Mother Lina.”

Helen sighed. “Then shall we change rooms? I don’t want to disturb Erica.” She guided the group to a guest chamber nearby. “Take a seat. Garm will join you shortly.”

Shortly after, Garm entered the room, his boots thudding against the polished floor. He carried himself with the easy weight of authority, though his posture leaned toward languid. A faint smile tugged at the edge of his bearded face as he spoke. "Sorry you had to witness that. I’m not much of a desk worker—I excel more as a strong figurehead and leader." His voice was rough, edged with the rasp of age and the authority of experience. Scars traced faint lines above his ear, partially hidden by the loose fall of his white hair, and when his sharp eyes locked on Ash they carried both scrutiny and curiosity.

He lowered himself into a chair opposite, the leather creaking under his broad frame. "So—you’re the one Toby praised so highly. I’m glad I listened to him and secretly procured a guild card for you. He wasn’t exaggerating when he said you could handle whatever quest I threw your way."

Ash’s brow furrowed, his voice edged with annoyance. "You should never take Toby’s words too seriously. He loves to exaggerate. Most of the quests I completed were with my wife, who is also a strong fighter. We accomplished them together."

Garm chuckled, stroking the line of his beard. "I see. Well, whatever the case, it doesn’t matter. Let’s get to the point. What information are you needing from the seekers? Is it pertaining to the quest you accepted about the missing Bernswick villagers?"

Ash nodded. "Yes. I saved some of the villagers, but lost track of the culprits. I need to see if they can find anything on them." He then described Ren and the wagon that had lost its back left wheel, a detail provided by Xanathis.

Garm leaned back, thinking for a moment before replying. "I see. So you want the seekers dispatched to ask around town about this Ren fellow and the wagon."

"That’s correct," Ash confirmed. "I suspect they may have more hostages, so I need this information as soon as possible."

Garm’s expression hardened into seriousness. "Alright, I’ll send them out. But I also have another job for you while they gather the information."

Ash’s eyes narrowed slightly. "And what would that be?"

Garm’s voice dropped lower, weight settling in his tone. "The city is in a crisis right now—"

A sudden knock on the door cut him off. Knock… knock… Helen entered, her presence sharp and commanding. "It is time to get ready for the town square meeting."

Garm glanced at the clock and sighed. "I suppose it is that time." He stood, straightening his coat before turning to Ash. "There will be a town meeting announcing something important in about two hours, where the mayor and myself will be speaking. You should be able to pick up on the request I have for you after the meeting. Return here afterward, and we can continue our conversation. Until then, go out and enjoy the city—you look like you could use a little downtime."

Garm left the room, the door clicking softly shut behind him. Helen’s heels tapped against the stone floor as she escorted them out through a quieter back passage, the corridor lined with faded banners and the muffled sounds of the busy guild fading behind. The corelight hit them as they stepped out into the street, the chatter of merchants and clatter of wagon wheels filling the air. Karna shaded her eyes, then asked, “So what now?”

Ash exhaled, scanning the lively square. “Garm is gone, and we have to wait until after the meeting to see him. We might as well do as he says. Let’s split up here—everyone go enjoy the town and ask around while you’re at it.”

Karna tilted her head. “What about you?”

Ash tugged at his tattered clothes with a grimace. “I need a new outfit and some supplies. I’m not fighting in this thing.”

Karna gave a small laugh, then nodded. “Alright, a little exploration couldn’t hurt while we wait. What about you, Xanathis?”

Xanathis smirked, her crystalline eyes glinting as she leaned lazily against a post. “I think I’ll help Ash pick out his clothes, then maybe get a bite to eat. We passed a restaurant that smelled amazing.”

Karna raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you eat on the way to the guild?”

Xanathis licked her lips, utterly unashamed. “That was just snacks. I need to try everything at least once—I can’t help it.”

Ash cut in, glancing at the clock tower visible over the rooftops. “We’d better go. We have less than two hours before that meeting Garm wants us to see. Let’s go enjoy ourselves.”

With that, Karna headed down one street, her boots clicking against the cobbles as she melted into the crowd. Ash turned in the opposite direction with Xanathis falling in close behind, making sure not to let him slip from her sight as they began to explore and take a rare moment of respite from the madness of the past few days.