Next Steps

Tracey had been surprised, as had Amanda, but after a little thought, she'd put up a possibility.

"Maybe because you brought me back from the brink... from nearly dying?"

"You think so?"

Tracy couldn't put her silver parchment away, as Amanda rested peacefully on the squishy bed.

"It's only a guess... since you didn't kill that madman, but still got an addition to your Kill Count... That or you did get some kind of review..."

There were still so many mysteries about those 'skill sheets'.

Maxis had been present, checking Amanda's temperature, heart and lungs again, and had been quiet until that moment of pondering.

"I actually have something to say about this matter..."

Arran stopped, leaving them in suspense.

"Go on then!"

"Yes... well I figured out I don't have a KC - at all."

The women about him were left speechless.

"See for yourselves..."

His almost white, but faintly blue parchment appeared for them; Arran Maxis - V: 8, D: 11, RC: 9.

RC... what's that...?

"I believe it matches the lives I've saved... so a Revival Count perhaps?"

He answered her unspoken question.

It made a lot of sense, since he had devoted his life to medicine and keeping people alive, so a Kill Count was totally redundant too.

So directly saving a person's life... maybe reduces a KC...? While saving more lives makes a RC...?

"I never knew that..."

"To be fair; I hadn't told anyone before either."

He gave a sheepish smile.

There are so few capable healers about this land... so it's obviously not common knowledge...

Still after everything else, Tracey had reclaimed her justly deserved 0 again.

Any reason was fine, as Tracey had lost her depressing mood and felt a little joyous about reclaiming her proper stat.

After a little more tending to Amanda, who didn't want for anything, the thin assistant - Millie, returned with the also slim and previously missing companion - Shizuka.

"You don't look so bad."

She gave to the patient, who had finally lost most of her trepidations about the smaller Beast-girl.

"Thank-you for all your help..."

Amanda returned, as the Fox uncloaked herself and plopped herself on her bed end.

"Don't mention it."

Shizuka was content that the Human lady appeared fine, and moved her sights to the un-introduced male in the room.

"Who's the stud?"

She eyed the guy with the good, slightly fading, combed back hairdo and the fitting grey shirt, who'd also become slightly interested in the sight of the Beast-girl.

"Arran Maxis, I'm a doctor... nice to meet you."

He offered a hand, which was lightly shaken.

"My my, a medical man... are you currently seeing anyone Mr Doctor?"

Shizuka was maybe slightly blushing, possibly for show, as the fairly handsome man had his hand held a little longer as she blinked her blue eyes at him playfully.

"I think I'm a little old for you..."

Maxis said, looking down on her, as he was probably in his mid-forties, and then paused with a unexpected reply.

"Nonsense, I'm nearly half a century in age..."

Tracey fought back a snort, first thinking the comment was a joke, as she certainly didn't appear older than her, but Shizuka promptly backed up her claim.

"My forty-ninth birthday is coming in a few months I'll have you know. So what's your stance on older women?"

She smiled, cheekily, as she perhaps toyed with him instead, as he attempted to distance himself.

"I am married by the way."

"Pitty..."

The Foxy-lady continued to watch him closely as he left the room with his assistant.

Maybe she was trying to lift the mood a little too...?

Shizuka turned back to the other women, still grinning.

"So what's the plan now?"

After their close run-in, Tracey was going to be extra cautious now, as there was a lot at stake, not just for her too.

"I think we should wait here another day... until Amanda is feeling a hundred percent. Then we have quite a bit to do then..."

Tracey had always decided that she'd return home, see her parents and other relations in the small sleepy village of Moore Hills, nestled in the small mountains, before also having a stopover at the nearby Sword Skill School. There were things that needed to be said and done, especially since her life had been thrown a curve-ball, which she'd struck back well.

But as her situation had developed after her successful campaign, Tracey needed to know that those she cared for the most, and those who had little chance against any possible reprisals, they needed to be made safe, as safe as Tracey could manage to make them anyway.

While she had few options to her, she did finally have some possibilities now, that she could manage to utilize.

So with a half a day to organise what she wanted, and the other half to set things in motion, by the following morning; what she had hoped for was beginning to happen, and only then did a trip back to the summoning Senator seemed appropriate.

I know he's going to make my world become much more... problematic... Especially once I arrive alive to his place... I just hope everything I've organised here will go alright...

There were a few items they needed, that could be grabbed in town, so while Tracey would no doubt be waiting to see the spiteful and shady Senator, Amanda could get about and find what she could, and be ready when Tracey was too.

Before their quick trip began, Tracey had made it a point to see all her people still in Alama and get a list of anything they'd desired, figuring it could be their last chance for some time. While it wasn't possible to get word back to Yarn for the others, and some items would be almost impossible in the brief time too, Tracey wanted to make every effort to get a hold of a much as she could for those loyal and kind people she relied on, that deserved even better.

So they'd split up, with Shizuka keeping an eye back at her home, Amanda in town and Tracey attending to the politician - everything was going to plan, even if the worst was about to happen, Tracey would find a way to get things done.

To arrive at the big estate, Tracey walked up along the scrappy streets to the main entrance to find it oddly shut tight.

It was quite strange, as she'd never seen the lavish grounds barred up before, but here it was gated up behind the fence, while armed guards stood watch from the safety inside.

It wasn't the only out of place thing about today , as she noted the streets seemed rather empty, and surprisingly no challengers had found her during her walk either - actually there didn't seem to be any sword wielding people about the town of Aspley at all, which slightly made sense by the time she arrived at her destination.

Perhaps every possible fighter had been sent south to assist with this terrible and ill-conceived war...? I've only seen workers and civilians about in the streets all day... even the usually numerous beggars are absent actually... maybe they've been rounded up too...?

Three men in dark-blue uniforms hung about the street before the excessively sized residence, and as she approached them, she recognised one of them.

"Miss Spikelet."

The bald Constable, who was wearing a small matching near black cap, greeted her with a little nod.

"Mr... Frontier?"

His nod continued.

"Why are you here?"

"We have matters with the Senator... and you."

He said flatly, not giving anything away.

Tracey still felt a little apprehensive, but it really didn't matter if they were there or not.

"Well I'll be going in now."

Tracey stated hopefully, as she turned her attention to the nearest guard behind the tall gates.

The quite nervy guards stood behind the chained gates, keeping their eyes trained on those who stepped up to the secured and tall bars.

I don't think I've ever seen this place shut up so tightly... and with such a low number of guards too... I wonder what's been going on around here lately...?

"Please state your purpose..."

The nearest watcher asked, sounding as authoritive as possible.

"I am Spikelet... I've come because I was summoned."

Tracey let them know, before pre-emptively showing her status scroll to authenticate her identity to them.

The guards glanced to one another, but soon asked the nearby accompanying policemen too.

"...we are here at the Senator's request as well."

The led Constable said after they too proved themselves.

"Very well..."

The big gates were unlocked and the chains unravelled, but only opened wide enough for them to slip in, one at a time, before being secured tightly behind the four, who then went on into the estate, onward and unescorted to the house.

Finding Whittle in his usually large room, being tended to by two much thinner servants, he twitched with displeasure and anger, in catching sight of Tracey, but he soon returned to his smirking pompous self when she came to his lavish seat's side, while the other three stood back behind her to wait their turn.

I would have thought his anger would have stayed evident... must be because we have company...

"Bloodless Hero... I see you are well."

His eyes narrowed as he kept his off putting smile to try and hide his surprised eyes.

Tracey said nothing, knowing he didn't like to hear her speak anyway.

"So you return - as the victorious Hero?"

Tracey still said nothing, bare of emotions before him again.

"But you won't for long, as word has reached the ears of the Senate, of your misdeeds and treachery..."

Without any true congratulations, he suddenly jumped to attacking her character, in front of the small audience, and lay false claims upon the teenager.

"You have been colluding... with the Empire's enemies!"