Loot and Explanations

A cold filled the air.

The old man smiled at his Guild Master, followed by a potent blue beam. Yet the Ice Wizard was already behind the old Counter Speller. Ice shards pierced the magic shield and the Dabimen's chest.

“You taught me every one of your tricks.”

“Boy, don’t be so cocky.” The old man was interrupted by blood pouring out of his mouth. “I was already defeated.”

The Guild Master looked at his old companion expressionless.

“Why, sensei?”

“He he, you need to live another 50 years to understand me, boy.”

After the magician breathed his last breath, I began to lose consciousness.

No, no, this time.

As if I were carrying the entire weight of the world on my bones, I stood upright in front of Dreadoxprime. The rest of the Guild hurried to their Guild Master, and some of them quickly attended Madego and Kalandra.

Healytroll the Druid informed everyone of their status.

“The native is good, only mentally affected. The lieutenant will not make it to dawn. Tooko, Renzhar…they are done already, Master.”

The Guild Master was silent for a few seconds. No tears came, but I’m sure his eyes were crying.

“All present supports, no matter their class or profession, tend to the women right here. Healytroll, call back all the Guilds and independent raid representatives. We shall hold an Assembly right now in the Plaza.”

Five Solid members quickly moved and carefully carried us to the medical building. Before leaving, the Ice Wizard said one final word to me:

“You did well, girl. Keep the dagger. You’ll need it.”

I cried inconsolably from pent-up rage. At last, I fell unconscious on a bed.

* * *

When I woke up four days later, nobody was expecting me. I was alone in an unknown room again. Alone in a foreign world.

After staring at the ceiling for an hour or so, I noticed that there was a large bag in one corner, and Dreadoxprime—my dagger. Then Healytroll entered the room. He wasn’t surprised to see me awake.

The Druid put a small figure of a yellow man beside my bed.

“I assume you want an explanation, do you?”

Silence. However, my face said everything, and the provisional relator began.

These four days have been pure chaos in Matilda. An Assembly of all important factions was held just a few hours after the fight against Dabimen. A list was made of the casualties, which were not few. Almost all the Heirs of Othal remnant forces in Matilda, Madego, Renzhar, Tooko, and many more. It was a blessing that Kalandra and the comatose women were alive and safe after such a chaotic night.

The Assembly members concluded the prison escape was an inside job, that Dabimen couldn’t have done alone. Moreover, the timing of the combined attack by prisoners and soldiers commanding mobs matched with preparations to receive reinforcements from the Court of Peace’s Magic Stones.

Red Army infiltrators? Matilda's natives working in secret? Or more traitors within the Second Raid Army? Healytroll seemed dismayed at the mere possibility.

“And the Master…well, you met him. He’s a cold man, but one who is also easy to anger. After gathering testimonies for an entire day, he left. Now the main Solid forces are on their way to the region’s capital city to face Toran. Yes, he suspects his involvement.”

As if I care about your politics. I didn’t even care about my own world.

The Druid made a pause as if expecting more questions, but since I didn't show any interest, he continued in his formal tone.

“Only a few of Solid stayed here in the rear. And in particular, I was assigned to directly support you in a few matters. Some of it of your…distaste.”

Go on, now you have my attention.

“Maybe I should start with the bad news. Artanas escaped. No one knows how, but she might have received help from the Red Army.”

That bitch. I should have killed when I had the chance.

A new pause, before he resumed.

“We also received the results of your Blood Boon test. It was kept in our provisional base, untouched during the attack. You have the Blood of the Asura, the Avenging Titans, the Revengers of the lands of old.”

I just looked him in the face, making the man uncomfortable.

“Yes, I imagine ex-civilians may not have a full account of the Bloods. Let’s you say you have a rare blood blessed by the Asura. I understand you already made use of your…powers.”

“What powers?” My voice asked hesitantly. I didn't know how much I could reveal my ignorance about this world.

“Sadly, not much is known. Not even our Loremaster has much information about your blessing. Still, we know the Asura or Revengers of old got stronger after receiving a lot of damage. Oh, that would also explain your story with the serpent you talked about before.

“Regarding such a tale, we believe you know. The Mapinguari attack was not normal. Those are beasts from the restricted area of the jungle, kilometers away from here. Something is happening. Something wicked.”

My head started to hurt from so much information.

“In any case, there’s also the matter of the loot. I understand that you may be a novice in some of the rules behind it. Let’s just say that you were part of the Raid, and Dreadoxprime followed the Master Loot system. Therefore, he assigned you a share of it.”

Healytroll brought the bag from the corner to the bed. This was quite a surprise.

“Let’s see…he already gave you his level 40 dagger. That aside, you are entitled to the following:

“Fifteen Court of Peace silver coins, that you could use in any Raid Army post and market.

“Four standard level 12 bronze swords from the deceased Red Army members you defeated that night.

“All leather and cloths from such dirty men, yet their value is put to question.

“A level 80 magic ring from the deceased Dabimen the Treator. It will give you a magic shield through your skin for a period of time, yet unless you have at least half the item level, you won’t be able to use it.

“And…this.”

Healtytroll took a blue uniform out of the bag. A lightweight but durable uniform, including boots, all in good condition despite what happened to its previous owner.

“It wouldn’t make sense to deliver this to other Heirs members—not that there’s any of them left here. Madego the Lieutenant seemed to appreciate you, so the Master ordered a full repair and thorough cleaning. Oh, and we confirmed you are level 10, so you can wear it and receive its perks.”

“Do you think it’s ok for me to wear it?”

He was startled for a moment. The Solid member hadn't expected me to ask his opinion.

“It's been years since I've asked myself that question. To be honest, I don’t know how to say. But you will see with your own eyes. No matter our previous profession, origin, background, social class, or religion, we only want to survive, and we’ll do what is needed. I know that’s what Madego would have done.”

Then he gave me some blood-stained papers and a black bracelet.

“And this, please keep it between us. The Master is breaking some rules for granting this to you. This is Madego’s Bull. That means she would have received lands for herself and her family in the event that she had survived until the full Reconquest of the Land of the Four Corners.”

‘She would have received. She had survived. Damn you, Madego.

“It also grants citizenship for her and her entire family in the Morningstar Republic, in the event that she had achieved great feats during the Reconquest. And you know this one. The IIB. Since you lost your own, Dreadoxprime thought you should have an extra, just in case. The rule stated to send it back to the respective GM after each death, so please don’t boast of it.”

Papers, bracelets, rules. What would I do with it? Madego’s dead.

“Where’s her body?” I was afraid of the answer. I didn’t want to confirm once more that she was dead, but I asked nonetheless.

Sometimes I just want to torture myself.

“Oh, well…we followed the custom. She was cremated a day after her death. We tried to wake you, especially because your native friend insisted, but you were almost comatose. Yet the other girl would wake up soon.”

I tried to breathe to calm myself down. It didn't work. My first protector was no longer in this world. And at that moment, for some reason, I knew what I had to do. I couldn't live in fear.

“What do you know about a White Rabbit?”