The quiet hum of their underground haven had settled into a comfortable. While the immediate threat that evening but there was a different kind of tension lingering in the air filled with a subtle anticipation of what lay ahead. Some of the group where once more suggesting they build a thick defensive wall around their new home. Lesh however once more firmly but gently refused such a prospect. He reminded them that their greatest asset was their concealment and that was why, even though he allowed them to make some repairs on the main area and some of the surroundings he kept things looking destroyed. "Our home is now deep underground and well hidden from prying eyes," he had explained, his voice resonating with a quiet authority. "A wall, no matter how sturdy, would only serve as a beacon to draw unwanted attention well we are still far from ready. Should those who find us have ill intent it would only invite trouble we are not yet prepared to face. Our current strength lies in our anonymity, being unknown and overlooked even if it's annoying and has seemingly acted to keep traders and new residents away." His logic was sound and the idea of a visible fortification quickly faded into low grumbles again.
Soon though e brought a pause to matters, having felt the undeniable shift within him. It was a subtle pull, a weakening of his hold and a clear sign that his time was drawing to a close. The rightful owner of this body, his master John would soon be returning and he would be pulled back into the mindscape. Knowing he had limited time, Lesh called for everyone else to come, not wanting to have them surprised or taken off guard by the sudden change, wanting to make it a proper, albeit unusual announcement.
In front of the gathered group, even Elena, who often remained a silent observer, looked on with a rare intensity, over the weeks her hatred had slowly turned into a mild dislike and annoyance. Lesh met their gazes, a flicker of something akin to regret mixed with resolve in his eyes as he let out a sight and began to explain, his voice steady yet heavy. "Now everyone, listen up closely. I will soon be departing, I understand that many of you won't fully grasp the true nature of my existence or the unique circumstances that brought me here, hell I don't doubt that a majority of you had already forgotten what had happened that day you were all freed. So for simplicity's sake consider it akin to a spiritual possession, much like those depicted in old films where a demon or ghost takes over a person's body and I am that ghost or demon." He paused, allowing the strange explanation to sink in, noting the murmurs and grumbling among some who began to speculate if things would be getting better or worse with the body's owner back.
"The original owner of this body, my master John, will be returning in approximately an hour or two. He waits just behind the veil, so to speak. But let me assure you, he is a far more capable leader than I have been even if he will endlessly deny it, he is also significantly more hands-on with a desire to try and put others first. Under his guidance, the probation period many of you were under will also be brought to an early end. To spell it out for everyone after he has regained control you will be permitted to leave if you so wish." He offered a small, unseen smile towards them. "That's all, everyone. I'll be seeing you around." With that cryptic farewell, Lesh finished, leaving behind a bewildered group that had fallen into silence as he headed back into the house.
"So, John's coming back? Finally!" Alice's voice was edged with genuine relief and excited madness. She was the first to break the stunned quiet before quickly hurrying after Lesh as he led them towards a previously unnoticed section of the house. "I didn't know him for long, but he was quite nice and he knew exactly how to be. His truly perfect and once his back I refuse to let him ever go again!" Her words hinted at a longing along with a deep, possessive madness.
Lesh guided them to a cleverly concealed entrance within the house, a path descending into the earth. A newly crafted tunnel, surprisingly well-lit by glowing moss and carefully placed crystals, led downwards into a large, circular chamber far beneath the surface, a second entrance into the underground office. The walls of this subterranean room where he had even used some of his own abilities to help his masters body adapt to the use of energies had been fashioned from heavily compressed soil interwoven with a dense network of roots and faint bone fragments to give it a mix of organic yet fully resembling a high classed office. Around the central space, a few makeshift shelves smoothed and carefully crafted and designed jutted from the walls while various podiums, some carved from solid earth topped with smooth, polished stones rose from the floor. The air was cool, dry and carried a faint sandalwood smell, imbued with the quiet solemnity of a hidden library or an ancient vault.
On the shelves, meticulously organized, were the various pieces of parchment and scrolls they had recovered from the marauders all those weeks ago along with some notes on what he had managed to find out about them. On the podiums, each resting with an almost reverent importance, sat the stone, the jade medallion and the weird metal plate they had liberated from the Jester's office with scribbled notes yet a lot more question marks showing he wasn't sure what they were or their purpose. The books were placed neatly and separately on a robust wooden desk, its surface gleaming faintly, while smaller paper slips were stacked with unusual precision in three distinct piles on its corner. A large, intricate map composed of various smaller, stitched-together pieces, adorned a side wall, its faded lines hinting at various vending machine locations, dangerous locations such as the dragons and the rough locations of the dominant forces. Down its side, a list of words and phrases to be used to get a discount from merchants, yet honestly, he felt it was more a joke he couldn't prove.
"He will certainly be in for quite a surprise," Lesh murmured, his gaze sweeping over the gathered artifacts. "I honestly wanted to uncover more about these various interesting items but hopefully this will be good enough for the time being. And we should have a slightly easier time swapping with him now or at least influencing him at the very least after this… episode." A faint weariness touched his voice, an unspoken burden he was about to lay down.
"This place is amazing! I didn't know you had a hidden place like this!" Ash's voice was tinged with genuine wonder as she rushed around the chamber, her eyes wide with excitement. "Truly fitting for a boss and main character! It's like the Tomb of Nazarick but with far less levels and more business treasury. But is this an office, armory or a treasury? And if it is any of those doesn't that mean were all just stepping stones for when someone comes by as the main character's opponent who might suddenly become the main character? Since they often kept all their stuff on them and the big bad guys keep everything in places like this." Her usual meta-aware questions burst forth, blurring the line between their reality and the stories she loved making Alice round on her.
"Ugh, why the hell did you follow us?" Alice demanded, her face contorting in a familiar expression of annoyance. "Don't you know this is a private area, you delusional cow? PRIVATE! As in off limits to people like you!" Her words were sharp and cutting.
Ash, holding her hands under her rather large bust – a feature Lesh honestly felt had somehow grown ever so slightly and steadily since she had been in their care – couldn't help but grin at Alice. "Oh, I am more than allowed here washboard! Why do you think I can't be here? I'm just as much a part of the main group now as you are by being a love rival!" She relished using her chosen nickname for Alice, knowing it would annoy her beyond measure. There time together allowed Lesh to see each of the women under there care, fully clothed of course and from that was easily able to tell that Alice, while certainly not having the largest bust, wasn't entirely flat either; rather a modest A or low B if one were being generous but even so Ash seemed to make it a constant focus of her taunts, knowing precisely how to needle her with that opening.
"Again, you cow, my size is perfect for my height and weight and everything!" Alice returned fire, her voice rising in pitch. "Unlike you, who seems to constantly be swelling! What, are you secretly pregnant and that's causing those tits of yours to fill up? Or are you stuffing your shirt? Honestly, either option wouldn't surprise me!" Ash clearly tried to maintain her triumphant grin, but the slight twitch of her brow betrayed that Alice's words had struck a nerve in return.
"Okay, that's enough now." Lesh interjected, the weariness in his voice growing as he pinched the bridge of his nose, the familiar headache caused by their bickering settled in. He took a seat on one of the earthy podiums, trying to inject some levity. "Alice, I want you to explain things to John when he comes out, about everything that has happened and changed, he may know the bare bones of it but hearing it form you should help bring him properly up to speed. And as for you Ash, well, I'm sure he will enjoy someone talking weebanese to him." He offered what he thought was a humorous joke, but instead of the expected laughs he was met with flat, unamused looks from both of them who soon turned to glaring at each other. The argument was clearly far from over, leaving Lesh with a sigh that carried his relief for his imminent departure.