Please read till the end of the chapter for Author's notes :D
Enjoy!
...
A buzz.
A faint, familiar vibration at the base of Fin's mind that had become synonymous with a system notification.
His eyes remained closed, lying on his bedroll, arms folded loosely across his chest, staring into the darkness behind his eyelids. There was that early morning quiet he always liked. The kind where the air was cold enough that every breath fogged faintly in front of your face. A few coals still glowed inside the firepit from the night before.
Someone was snoring softly.
Karlach probably. It sounded like a distant forge.
Fin sighed slowly. "Please don't be something stupid," he muttered.
The buzz intensified. A faint blue glow flickered across the inside of his eyelids as the first window appeared.
Fin did not open his eyes.
He already knew what it would say.
The System chimed cheerfully.
[Major Achievement Complete: Goblin Leaders Slain]
[PP Gain: 500]
Fin exhaled through his nose.
Right.
That one made sense.
The text continued.
[Description: All the leaders of the goblin horde and followers of the Absolute have been defeated. The leaders have fallen, and an army has been left without its head.]
Fin's eyebrow twitched.
Five hundred, not bad.
He was just beginning to drift back toward sleep when...
DING!
His left eye cracked open. Another window appeared.
[Major Achievement Complete: The Camp Falls]
[PP Gain: 200]
Fin stared at the glowing box hovering above his nose.
"…of course there's a second one."
[Description: The Goblin Camp has been eradicated. An army once gathered under the Absolute now lies in ruin.]
He closed his eyes again.
Two notifications.
Fine. Understandable.
His brain began slipping back toward sleep.
Three seconds passed.
Then...
DING!
Fin did not open his eyes this time.
Instead, he spoke quietly into the void.
"…don't."
The System did not listen.
[Achievement Complete: Cursed Ingenuity]
[PP Gain: 100]
Fin groaned softly.
[Description: Creative application of cursed energy detected. Ratio analysis combined with Dismantle resulted in maximised damage efficiency with minimum work.]
Fin rolled onto his side.
"Okay. That's three."
"Surely that's the end."
DING.
Fin sat halfway upright immediately.
"You're doing this on purpose."
Another blue panel appeared.
[Achievement Complete: Unexpected Asset Acquired]
Fin stared blankly.
The panel confirmed his suspicion.
[Description: You captured a goblin instead of killing it. Strange decision. Potentially useful.]
[PP Gain: 100]
Fin rubbed his face.
"Wonderful."
He dropped back into the bedroll.
He closed his eyes again.
Silence returned.
Five seconds passed.
Six. Seven. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
He exhaled slowly.
"See? That wasn't so hard."
DING.
The System chimed again.
Fin opened both eyes and stared straight upward.
"I hate you."
The panel appeared anyway.
[Achievement Complete: Fear of the Fake True Soul]
[PP Gain: 100]
[Description: Your actions have begun shaping how others perceive you. Reputation is forming.]
Fin stared at the number. "…I'm developing a reputation."
He looked toward the treeline.
"That sounds concerning."
Another pause followed.
His breathing slowed.
Sleep crept back.
Then—
DING.
"For fuck sakes!"
The final window appeared.
A smaller one, a suspiciously smaller one.
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Chicken Connoisseur]
[PP Gain: 10]
Fin blinked.
"…what?"
[Description: You calmly enjoyed roasted chicken while in a fight.]
Fin stared. "…that is not an achievement."
The System disagreed. Fin slowly dragged a hand down his face.
"Ten."
He looked up at the top of his tent.
"Ten."
He flopped backward into the bedroll again.
"Thank you, mysterious cosmic entity."
He waited.
Finally, the summary panel appeared.
[Current PP Balance: 52 → 1062]
Fin stared at the number.
"…okay, that part is actually pretty good."
A small holographic figure popped into existence beside his head.
Ali. Except not the full-size version. This one was tiny.
Chibi-sized. Barely the height of his hand.
She sat cross-legged on his chest with a smug expression. "Good morning."
Fin squinted at her. "You woke me up six times."
Ali smiled sweetly.
"Technically seven if you count the summary screen."
Fin pointed a finger at her.
"You could have sent those all at once."
Ali tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Yep."
Fin waited.
Ali continued smiling.
"…and?"
"I didn't want to."
Fin stared at her.
"...Bitch"
Ali leaned forward conspiratorially.
"You also received one thousand and ten PP."
Fin leaned back slowly.
"…continue."
Ali clasped her tiny hands together. "You now do several Path rolls."
Fin looked toward the camp and rubbed his chin.
"Indeed, indeed, indeed~."
Ali leaned closer. "Very interesting~."
Still early. No one else was awake enough to bother him.
He stretched his arms slowly. "Well."
Ali's grin widened, and Fin exhaled.
"Let's see what 1000 PP can do."
Somewhere behind him, Skrikka squeaked softly in her sleep.
Across the fire, Minthara's eyes flicked toward Fin's tent.
She had clearly been awake long enough to notice he had just been talking to absolutely no one.
Minthara narrowed her eyes.
Fin nodded. As last time, he selected 4 rolls and let it rip; the interface then shifted.
Weirdly, a circular wheel of light formed in front of him, and the symbols flickered rapidly.
Techniques. Abilities. Passives. Weapons.
Fin watched silently as the wheel spun faster and faster.
Ali leaned forward dramatically.
"Rolling…"
The light slowed.
Slower.
Slower.
Then—
DING!
A panel appeared.
[You have rolled...Nanami's Work Ethic!]
[You have rolled...Maki Zenin's Weapon Mastery!]
[You have rolled...Todo Aoi's Boogie Woogie!]
[You have rolled...Alfira's Panties]
[1000PP deducted]
[Remaining PP Balance: 1062 -> 62]
Fin stared at the last reward.
Ali floated beside him, slowly leaning closer to the screen like someone inspecting a painting in a museum.
Fin pointed at the final line.
"…what the fuck is that?"
Ali blinked innocently.
"What?"
Fin jabbed his finger harder at the interface.
"That part."
Ali read it again.
[You have rolled... Alfira's Panties]
She tilted her head.
"Well."
Fin continued staring.
Ali folded her tiny arms thoughtfully.
"That is unusual."
Fin inhaled slowly.
"Unusual."
Ali nodded.
"Yes."
Fin closed his eyes for two seconds.
Then opened them again.
"…how."
Ali tapped her chin.
"The Jujutsu Path pulls from your current narrative environment."
Fin stared.
"How does that even make sense? It should be locked to stuff from jjk"
Ali continued.
"You are currently travelling with Alfira."
Fin did not blink.
Ali nodded toward the panel.
"The system determined this was an item associated with her."
Fin slowly rubbed his face.
"…this is humiliating and a scam, I want a refund"
Ali shrugged.
"Technically, it's very on brand for gacha mechanics, but I'll review it."
Fin exhaled through his nose.
"Do I even want to know what the stats are?"
Ali clapped her hands once.
The panel expanded.
Reward Type:Unusual Item
[Alfira's Panties] - Uncommon
Description: A soft pair of undergarments belonging to the bard Alfira. Somehow drawn into the System's reward pool. Their presence here is questionable.
Effect:
-> Slight increase to charisma when worn or carried
-> Weilder is just very weird
Fin stared at the screen.
"…I hate everything."
Ali tried very hard not to laugh.
Fin pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Where are they?"
Ali pointed.
Fin followed her finger, and there was now a small folded cloth sitting quietly inside his inventory window.
He stared at it for a full five seconds.
Then closed the inventory.
"I hate you."
Ali saluted. "Understood."
Fin leaned back onto his bedroll
"Let's review the other ones before I get an aneurysm."
Ali happily pulled up the reward list.
...
Reward Type: Passive
[Nanami's Work Ethic] - Rare
Description: Kento Nanami's strict self-discipline allowed him to control his cursed energy output with exceptional efficiency. You now instinctively conserve cursed energy, reducing unnecessary output and improving long-term stamina during prolonged combat.
Effect:
-> Cursed energy consumption reduced
-> Greater endurance during extended fights
-> More precise cursed energy control
...
Reward Type: Passive
[Maki Zenin's Weapon Mastery] - Rare
Description: Through relentless training, Maki Zenin achieved extraordinary proficiency with cursed weapons. You gain an instinctive understanding of melee weapons; this instinct is boosted further on cursed weapons.
Effect:
-> Increased effectiveness when using cursed weapons
-> Faster adaptation to unfamiliar weapons
-> Improved strike efficiency
...
Reward Type: Ability
[Aoi Todo's Boogie Woogie] - Uncommon
Description: A cursed technique belonging to Aoi Todo. By clapping your hands, you can swap positions with a marked target within a range.
The current limitation prevents complex multi-target swaps, but this can change with practice.
Effect:
-> Short-range position swap with one marked target
-> Requires hand clap activation
...
He slowly looked at his hands, and Ali leaned closer.
"You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Fin nodded. "Oh yeah."
Ali grinned, and Fin clapped once.
Nothing happened.
Ali raised a finger.
"You dummy, you need to actually swap with something"
Fin nodded thoughtfully. "Right."
He left his tent and looked around the camp.
Karlach was still snoring in her tent.
Astarion was asleep.
Durge looked to be rubbing her neck. She looked half awake but dead inside.
Minthara was now sitting near the fire, stoking the flames
Skrikka peeked nervously from behind a log.
Fin's eyes landed on a rock below his feet.
"Alright."
He picked it up then threw it forward, infusing his cursed energy into the rock as he did it, and as it flew through the air, Fin clapped.
CLAP!
A faint pop of displaced air echoed.
Fin vanished.
The rock appeared where he had been standing.
Fin appeared beside the firepit.
He blinked.
"…oh."
Fin looked at the rock now sitting on the ground.
"...cool."
Ali nodded enthusiastically.
Slowly. Very slowly, Minthara turned her head; her red eyes were fixed on Fin.
"…you just teleported."
Fin turned calmly.
"Good morning."
Minthara stared at the rock.
Then at Fin.
"…you were over there."
Fin nodded.
"Yes."
Minthara narrowed her eyes.
"How."
Fin shrugged.
"Personal growth."
Durge sat up slowly.
"…he clapped."
Suddenly, a goblin fell forward onto her face at Fin's feet.
"AH—!"
Skrikka scrambled up instantly, dusting herself off and standing at rigid attention like a soldier who had absolutely no idea how soldiers worked.
"Boss awake!"
Fin blinked slowly. The goblin stood there in the pale morning light, looking extremely serious. Her back was straight. Her hands were clasped behind her back. Her ears twitched with nervousness
"Ready for work," she declared.
Fin stared at her for three seconds.
"…what work?"
Skrikka blinked. "Work work."
Fin rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You don't have a job."
Skrikka frowned, as if this were deeply disappointing news. "But the boss captured Skrikka."
"Yes."
"So Skrikka belong to the boss."
Fin sighed. "That's not how—"
Skrikka nodded firmly. "So Skrikka ready."
She stood there waiting, very proudly.
Fin slowly rubbed his hair, "Of course."
Ali appeared beside his shoulder again, barely holding back laughter.
Fin sighed, palming her head in his hand and pushing her aside. The camp was slowly waking around him. Durge sat quietly on a rock nearby, pale frost drifting faintly from her breath as he stared at nothing in particular.
Minthara glanced at Skrikka, with the goblin immediately moving slightly behind Fin.
"Night warden scary."
Minthara's eye twitched slightly; Fin ignored that for now and instead looked around the camp again.
He tilted his head slightly.
"…huh."
Ali noticed immediately.
"What?"
Fin scanned the clearing again.
"No Halsin."
Ali blinked.
"Oh."
Fin focused his haki...Nothing.
He could not feel the large druid anywhere nearby.
Fin scratched the back of his head.
"Did the bear leave?"
Skrikka immediately nodded.
"Yep."
Fin looked down at her.
"You saw him?"
Skrikka puffed out her chest proudly.
"Yes."
"Explain."
"Big druid man wakes early."
She mimed someone walking.
"Says he goes to the grove."
Fin nodded slowly.
"Right."
Skrikka continued.
"Say he tell tieflings' camp dead."
Fin hummed thoughtfully. That made sense. Halsin had been very clear about wanting to get back to the grove quickly once the goblin leaders were dealt with.
"Alright."
Ali floated beside him.
"That simplifies things."
Fin nodded.
"We were heading there anyway."
Skrikka raised her hand. "Um, boss."
Fin looked down. "Yes, goblin."
"Skrikka is still ready for work."
Fin stared at her.
"…you are very committed to this."
The goblin nodded proudly.
Behind him, Karlach appeared, shadowboxing the air.
"Morning!"
She looked around wildly.
"Do we kill anything yet?"
"Meh, maybe later?" Fin chuckled
Karlach stretched like a giant cat.
"Good."
Across the camp, Astarion also appeared, looking wide awake.
"…why is the goblin saluting you?"
Wyll sat up slowly.
"…the goblin's still here?"
Skrikka stood straighter.
"Propa' employee now."
Fin immediately rubbed his face again.
...
By the time the sun had fully crested the treeline, the camp was awake.
It happened gradually, the way it always did. Everyone was once again surrounding the central campfire, which was settled in a comfortable, quiet place where everyone was waking up, but no one quite wanted to talk yet.
Karlach broke the silence first.
"So, today's plans", she said brightly.
Fin shrugged. "Breakfast then grove"
"Nice," Karlach nodded approvingly.
There was a pause.
Then Durge cleared her throat.
Softly.
"Before we leave," she said, her tone oddly casual, "there is something everyone should probably know."
Astarion's head turned slowly.
Fin noticed immediately.
He was already smiling.
Durge continued sipping from her cup.
"Last night," she said calmly, "Astarion bit me."
"..."
Wyll blinked.
Karlach leaned forward slightly, Lae'zel tilted her head, Alfira froze with her fingers on the lute strings, Skrikka looked deeply confused, and Minthara's dagger stopped sharpening.
Astarion sighed dramatically. "…well."
He leaned back slightly and spread his hands.
"I suppose the secret was going to come out eventually."
Durge held up a finger. "With consent, might I add"
Astarion pointed at her immediately. "Very important detail."
Fin casually tossed another stick into the fire.
Astarion looked around the camp.
"Yes," he said calmly. "I'm a vampire."
There was a long pause.
Karlach blinked once.
"Okay."
Wyll rubbed his temples.
"…you're serious."
Astarion nodded.
"Quite."
Lae'zel narrowed her eyes.
"You are undead."
"Partially," Astarion corrected.
Durge gestured to her neck.
"Again, with permission."
Astarion nodded again.
"I asked."
Karlach leaned closer.
"…did it hurt?"
Durge thought about it. "Not particularly."
Astarion cleared his throat.
"Yes, well, thank you for that glowing testimonial."
Wyll looked at Fin.
"…you knew?"
Fin shrugged.
"Pretty obvious."
Astarion pointed accusingly. "Oh come now, it was not."
Fin raised a finger. "You don't breathe, not once have I seen or heard you take a breath"
Astarion paused.
"…fair."
Fin leaned back slightly. "You're pale, and I also saw you hiss at sunlight, twice."
Astarion frowned. "Unimportant."
Lae'zel spoke next.
"If you attempt to feed on me without permission, I will remove your head."
Astarion nodded politely.
"Entirely reasonable."
Karlach pointed at him.
"Yeah, same."
Wyll folded his arms.
"I would prefer not to wake up with bite marks."
Durge lifted her cup.
"It was a mutually agreed arrangement."
Alfira raised a cautious hand.
"So… we're not… in danger?"
Astarion sighed again.
"Nope."
He gestured to the group.
"I have absolutely no intention of biting any of you unless you explicitly ask."
He paused.
"…which, I must say, tends to be surprisingly common in some circles."
Fin immediately raised a hand.
"Don't bite me."
Astarion looked at him.
"You wound me."
Fin shrugged.
"Boundary."
Karlach nodded.
"Yeah, same. Don't bite me."
Wyll added quickly, "Also me."
Lae'zel crossed her arms.
"Attempt it and die."
Durge raised her hand.
"You may continue with me."
Astarion gave a polite bow of his head.
"Much appreciated."
Skrikka finally raised her small hand.
"Question."
Everyone looked at her.
The goblin pointed at Astarion.
"Vamp man drink blood righ' ?"
"Yes," Astarion said patiently.
Skrikka shook her head. "Bleegh!"
Fin snorted, and Astarion looked offended.
"Honestly."
Minthara finally spoke in a calm tone.
"If he intended to feed on us," she said flatly, "he would have done so already."
Astarion gave her a small approving nod. "Precisely."
Minthara resumed sharpening her dagger. "Therefore, it is irrelevant."
Karlach leaned back with a grin.
"Well."
She clapped her hands together. "Vampires are cool."
Wyll sighed.
"I cannot believe this is how casually we're treating this."
Fin poked the fire again.
"We did wipe out a goblin camp yesterday."
Wyll opened his mouth.
Then paused.
"…fair point."
Astarion looked around the camp again.
"So."
He smiled slightly.
"Nothing changes then?"
Karlach shrugged.
"Just don't bite me."
Lae'zel nodded.
Wyll sighed again.
"Preferably none of us."
Fin leaned back.
"Business as usual."
Skrikka pointed at Astarion again.
"Vamp man still gross."
Astarion stared at her. "…I regret nothing~."
...
Karlach began cooking something aggressively over the fire. Astarion and Durge were talking about blood or something. Wyll tried to restore some sense of dignity to the camp, cleaning up. Minthara sharpened her weapons as if she were preparing for war at all times, and Skrikka attempted to organise things no one had asked her to.
Fin left them to it.
Behind the camp, he had assembled what could generously be called a makeshift gym.
A thick branch hung from a low tree, rope wrapped around it to serve as a pull-up bar.
Several stones had been tied together into crude weights.
Playful Cloud leaned nearby, because swinging that thing around counted as exercise whether you wanted it to or not, plus it was pretty fun.
Fin moved through his usual routine.
Pull-ups. Push-ups. Weighted squats.
Sweat rolled down his back as he trained. The morning air was still cool, steam faintly rising from his skin as his body warmed.
His skills were growing well.
Now, layered with Maki's weapon control, Nanami's efficiency and improving Shrine in his last fight, everything was feeling a whole lot easier. By the time he finished, his arms trembled slightly from exertion.
Something he found interesting was that there was no longer any progression in his skills; there wasn't a way to upgrade them. Initially, there were two ways for Fin to improve: either by grinding PP and using it to upgrade himself or simply training like normal.
Obviously, grinding out PP was time-consuming but yielded sufficient reward. Take Shrine, for example, he was able to receive rewards in efficiency and automatic access to moves like Cleave and his Divine Arrow.
And if he'd continue using PP to improve this technique, he could no doubt achieve his domain and other benefits, rather than simply refining it for its own sake. However, he'd noticed that when accessing his System, there was no longer any progress detail previously shown on ANY of his skills, etc.
It was as if he had now been given the keys and was being forced to learn on his own; it gave him a goal. He'd obviously continue to use PP; he would be stupid not to, but by the time they enter the Shadowlands, he will have learned RCT.
Fin exhaled slowly and rolled his shoulders.
"…good session."
Ali hovered nearby, watching.
"You're still a skinny fuck."
Fin looked at her.
"Rude."
She shrugged. "Just being honest."
Fin grabbed his shirt and tossed it over his shoulder before heading toward the nearby river to clean himself. The water cut through the forest just beyond the camp, clear and cold as it rushed over smooth stones. Fin crouched at the bank and splashed water over his face first; it was a refreshing, cold feeling.
He let out a breath and then stepped into the shallows, washing sweat and dirt from his arms and chest. The water rushed softly past his ankles, and for a few minutes, it was peaceful. The river was very calming, the current was almost massaging, and the birds chirped in the trees.
Then he heard footsteps behind him.
Fin didn't turn immediately.
"Morning," he said.
Shadowheart stopped a few steps away. "…morning."
Her voice was quieter than usual.
Fin glanced over his shoulder. She stood near the edge of the riverbank, arms folded loosely, watching him, also shoeless...get your mind out of the gutter!
Fin did notice something immediately, though.
She was… different. Not as tense, nor as guarded. Just… watching him.
Fin scooped another handful of water over his head.
"You were quiet this morning," Fin mentioned.
Shadowheart shrugged. "Listening like always"
She stepped closer. Now that she was nearer, her eyes drifted over him.
His shoulders. His back.
The faint lines of muscle were built, more than what he had when they first met, anyway. Then she noticed the scars; there were quite a few. Thin lines across his ribs and old cuts across his forearms.
A deeper one across his shoulder.
But it was a particular scar that caught her interest; her gaze dropped lower, to around his ankle.
A scar that had the indentation of a chain's links, like something had shackled his leg.
Her brows knit slightly.
"…what happened there?"
Fin followed her gaze.
"Oh."
He lifted his foot slightly, glancing at the mark.
"That?"
Shadowheart nodded.
"It looks like a shackle."
Fin shrugged casually. "It was."
Shadowheart blinked. "…you're saying that very casually."
Fin splashed more water onto his face. "Wasn't a particularly fun time of my life, a story for another time maybe"
Shadowheart studied him for a moment, expecting a better explanation than that.
But he didn't elaborate.
So she let it go.
Instead, she leaned lightly against a nearby tree, watching him.
Fin stepped away from the water and, flicking his shirt, dried off slightly before pulling it over his shoulder.
Shadowheart spoke again.
"…Karlach has a crush on you."
Fin paused mid-movement. "…huh?"
Shadowheart looked very satisfied with herself. "I heard her."
Fin raised an eyebrow. "Heard her?"
"She was talking in her sleep."
Fin blinked, "…Karlach sleep talks?"
Shadowheart nodded once.
"She said your name."
Fin considered that. "…interesting."
Shadowheart tilted her head slightly. "You don't seem surprised."
Fin shrugged. "I've heard stranger, I guess."
Shadowheart narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…that's all you're going to say?"
Fin looked at her. "Should I be concerned?"
Shadowheart scoffed softly. "You really are dense sometimes."
Fin frowned slightly. "Why would that bother—"
Shadowheart cut him off. "Do I have to make it so obvious?"
Fin blinked. "…what?"
She stepped forward suddenly, and before he could react, her hands grabbed the back of his neck.
And pulled him down, then she kissed him.
Not a hesitant one nor a shy one. A deep, passionate kiss that completely stole the air out of his lungs.
For a moment, Fin froze. Shadowheart's hand tightened slightly as she held him there. The kiss lasted only a few seconds, then she pulled back.
Just enough to look him in the eyes.
Her expression was calm.
"…that obvious enough?"
...
The road was quiet.
Fin walked, Karlach beside him, and neither of them had spoken. She then glanced sideways.
Fin looked… wrong.
Not injured or angry, just… somewhere else. Like a man whose brain had left the building.
Karlach scratched the back of her neck.
"Alright," she finally said. "I gotta ask."
No response. Fin kept walking.
Karlach leaned closer, yet not so close as to burn him.
"Hey."
Fin blinked once. "Hm?"
Karlach squinted at him.
"What's up with you?"
Fin looked ahead at the path.
"I'm fine."
Karlach snorted.
"Yeah, that's the least convincing 'I'm fine' I've ever heard, soldier"
Fin shrugged.
"Just thinking."
Karlach studied his face for another second.
"About what?"
Fin opened his mouth, then stopped.
Because how exactly did one explain this?
He had fought goblin armies. He had been stabbed. Burned. Held prisoner, not once but twice.
He had even had extremely aggressive sex with Lae'zel without batting an eye.
Yet somehow...One kiss had completely thrown him off.
It made no sense. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"…nothing important."
Karlach leaned closer.
"That bad, huh?"
Fin sighed.
"…it's weird."
Karlach grinned.
"Buddy, you look like a man who just got struck by lightning."
Fin exhaled slowly.
"…something like that."
Karlach walked beside him, arms swinging loosely as the dirt road curved through the forest. She watched him out of the corner of her eye for another few steps.
Still distant and weirdly quiet.
Karlach got closer, being careful not to burn him.
"C'mon," she said. "You can't just drop that and then go all mysterious."
Fin rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's nothing."
Karlach snorted.
"That's the second-worst 'nothing' I've heard today."
Fin raised an eyebrow.
"What's the first?"
"You said you're fine earlier."
Fin sighed. Karlach slowed slightly, turning her body to walk backwards in front of him.
"Alright, new plan," she said. "You talk, or I keep guessing."
Fin frowned. "You guess."
Karlach immediately pointed at him.
"Okay."
She squinted dramatically.
"You... fought something weird in your sleep."
Fin kept walking.
"No."
Karlach snapped her fingers.
"You realised Astarion drank the last wine."
"No."
She leaned closer.
"You found out Wyll sings in the bath."
Fin glanced at her.
"That sounds clearly made up"
Karlach grinned. She tilted her head slightly, studying him.
Then she asked the question.
"…did someone kiss you?"
Fin stopped walking.
Just for half a step, but it was enough.
Karlach's eyes widened.
"…oh."
Fin immediately resumed walking.
Karlach spun around and hurried after him.
"Oh! Oh, that's good."
Fin groaned quietly.
Karlach jogged ahead of him and turned around again.
"Who was it?"
Fin stared at the road.
"…irrelevant."
Karlach grinned like someone who had just discovered a new sport.
"Oh no, it's extremely relevant."
Fin kept walking, and Karlach folded her arms dramatically.
"Alright, fine."
She leaned forward.
"Shadowheart."
Fin did not react.
Karlach's grin widened. "Oh gods, it was Shadowheart."
Fin rubbed his face.
Karlach pointed at him. "I knew it."
Fin sighed. "…it was one kiss."
Karlach blinked.
Then she looked away briefly.
Her grin faded just a little.
"…huh."
Fin didn't notice. He was still trying to process his own brain.
Karlach kicked a small rock along the road.
"…so."
Fin glanced at her.
"So."
Karlach shrugged.
"Nothing else?"
Fin shook his head.
"No."
Karlach nodded slowly.
"Right."
There was a small pause.
Then she added casually—
"Well."
She scratched the back of her neck. "Lucky her."
Fin glanced sideways.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Karlach shrugged again, but the grin she gave him was slightly forced.
"Just saying."
She nudged his arm.
"You're not a bad guy to kiss."
Fin frowned.
"That sounded backhanded."
Karlach laughed loudly.
"It wasn't!"
Fin eyed her suspiciously, and Karlach waved her hands.
"I'm serious!"
Then she quickly changed the subject.
"So what's got you all scrambled?"
Fin thought about it.
"…I didn't expect it."
Karlach raised an eyebrow.
"You're surprised someone likes you?"
"People usually try to kill me."
Karlach burst out laughing.
"Fair point."
Fin rubbed the back of his neck again.
"I haven't considered love, true love, in a long time. It just… caught me off guard."
Karlach studied him for a moment.
Then she smiled again.
A little softer this time.
"Yeah. That'll do it."
Before Fin could say anything else—
A small goblin launched herself through the air.
"BOSS!"
Skrikka landed on his back with the enthusiasm of a missile.
Fin staggered half a step.
"…Skrikka, I wondered where you went"
The goblin clung to him like a backpack.
"Boss thinking too much."
"…also correct," Fin sighed.
Skrikka leaned forward beside his head.
"Boss okay?"
Fin adjusted the goblin slightly so she wasn't choking him.
"I'm fine, thank you for asking, Skrikka"
Skrikka nodded firmly.
"Good."
Then she settled there like that was her permanent seat.
The road curved gently ahead, and through the trees, the grove's entrance came into view.
Karlach stretched her arms.
"Well."
She smiled.
"Back to the grove."
Skrikka leaned forward again.
"So many 'orn people."
Fin nodded.
As they approached, movement stirred along the wall.
A tiefling guard leaned over the edge, then his eyes widened.
"…it's them!"
Another voice shouted.
"The goblin slayers!"
The heavy wooden gate began to creak open as Fin stepped inside and immediately noticed something different.
The grove was busy. Very busy.
Tieflings moved everywhere.
Packing. Loading carts. Tying down supplies. Children running 'round.
Karlach slowed slightly.
"Oh."
Fin watched the scene quietly. The refugees were already preparing to leave, as without the goblin camp threatening them, the road to Baldur's Gate should finally be safe.
Or at least safe enough.
One of the tieflings spotted them.
"They're back!"
More heads turned, and relief spread through the camp like fire catching dry grass.
Karlach grinned.
"Looks like word got around quick"
Fin nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Skrikka peeked over his shoulder again.
"So many 'orns."
Karlach laughed, and Fin watched the tieflings moving through the grove, a lot more hopeful than before, now preparing for the road ahead. They believed the worst was behind them and that their journey would finally lead them safely to Baldur's Gate.
Fin didn't say anything, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he felt pity.
The road ahead wasn't going to be nearly that simple.
"You're back!"
"Is it true?"
"Did you really kill the goblin leaders?"
Karlach gave them a big grin and a thumbs-up.
"Camp's gone," she said. "All of it."
That sent a wave of relieved murmuring through the nearby crowd.
One of the tieflings clasped Fin's arm as he passed.
"Thank you."
Fin was uncomfortable pulling his arm away, but still gave a small nod and kept moving.
He scanned the grove as they walked.
"…where's Dammon?"
Karlach blinked.
"Oh!"
She snapped her fingers.
"The smith guy."
Fin nodded.
"Yeah."
Karlach grinned.
"Probably at the forge."
Fin stopped one of the passing tieflings.
"Hey."
The man looked up.
"Yes?"
"Dammon still here?"
The tiefling nodded quickly.
"Yeah, he's finishing repairs before we leave."
Fin nodded.
"Thanks."
They continued walking.
Skrikka leaned forward over Fin's shoulder.
"Boss looking for hammer man?"
Fin nodded.
"Something like that."
Karlach folded her arms.
"You really think he can help?"
Fin glanced at her.
"He's an infernal smith, I'm sure Zevlor mentioned at some pont"
Fin lied; he just wanted to get her checked out before they left.
Karlach shrugged.
"Fair."
The path sloped downward toward the lower section of the grove.
Soon, the sound of hammering echoed through the air.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
A small forge burned near a rocky wall. Sparks flew with each strike of the hammer as a tiefling man stood over an anvil, his sleeves rolled up and sweat streaking across his arms despite the cool air.
Dammon.
He lifted the hammer one more time.
CLANG!
Then he set it aside and wiped his hands on a cloth.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "That should—"
He turned.
"Thought I sensed an infernal around here. But you aren't from Elturel. What's your story?"
The two shared their stories, and it was then that Dammon mentioned her engine sounded off as he put it.
"Thing like that wasn't meant to run outside the Hells long-term. Without maintenance, it'll keep overheating."
Karlach crossed her arms.
"So what's the verdict, doc? Can you fix it?"
Dammon thought for a moment.
"…I might be able to fix it."
Karlach's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Dammon held up a finger.
"But."
Karlach groaned. "There's always a but."
"I'd need Infernal Iron."
Karlach blinked.
"Of course you would."
Dammon shrugged.
"It's the only thing that'll handle the heat."
Karlach sighed and looked down.
"…yeah, that might be a problem."
Fin casually reached into his inventory.
"Is this it?"
Karlach and Dammon both looked at him.
Fin pulled out a heavy, dark red chunk of metal and tossed it lightly in his hand.
Infernal Iron.
Dammon's eyes widened.
"…where did you get that?"
Fin shrugged. "Stole it."
Karlach blinked.
"…from where?"
Fin nodded toward the horizon.
"Ragzlin's treasury."
Dammon took the metal from him slowly, turning it over in his hands.
"…well, I'll be."
Karlach stared at Fin.
"You robbed the goblin warlord."
Fin shrugged. "He wasn't using it."
Dammon chuckled. "Fair point."
He carried the chunk of infernal iron back to the forge.
"Alright then."
He tossed it into the heart of the fire.
The metal slowly began to glow as the heat built.
Dammon grabbed his hammer.
"Let's see what we can do."
CLANG!
The hammer struck the metal, and sparks burst outward.
CLANG!
Again.
CLANG!
Again.
Fin leaned against the post, watching as the tiefling smith worked. The infernal iron slowly reshaped under his blow,s and after several minutes, he pulled it from the forge again.
The metal now glowed bright orange, and Dammon wiped sweat from his brow.
"Alright."
He held the newly shaped piece with his tongs and turned back toward Karlach.
"This should stabilise the engine."
Karlach stepped forward, and Dammon hesitated slightly.
"Normally, I'd install it myself."
He lifted the glowing metal slightly.
"But I don't have gloves thick enough to survive touching that."
Dammon carefully passed the burning piece toward her, and Karlach took it without flinching.
The heat rolled off it like a miniature sun.
"Alright, big guy," she muttered to the engine in her chest.
There was a sudden flare of heat, and the engine roared briefly.
Then—
The sound shifted.
Karlach froze as the glow beneath her chestplate steadied.
Dammon leaned forward.
"How's it feel?"
Karlach slowly rolled her shoulders. The constant heat that had lived inside her for so long had eased. It was not gone entirely, but it definitely quieted
Her eyes widened.
"…holy hells."
Fin chuckled.
"…I can breathe."
Dammon smiled. "That'll hold you for a while."
Karlach nodded quickly. "Thank you."
Behind him, Skrikka whispered excitedly.
"Fire lady fixed."
Karlach stretched her arms with a wide grin.
"Haha! This is amazing!"
Fin smiled faintly.
"Pleasure. And as for the heat, I haven't got any solutions now, but I'm not giving up. Could be if the combustion chamber had its own insulation, or if we had some kind of enchanted coolant." Dammon thought of the possible solutions.
But right now, Karlach was simply happy to be heading in the right direction.
...
Fin and Karlach were sitting along a walkway, their feet dangling over the edge. Skrikka was still on Fin's back, not that he cared.
"You really just had infernal iron on you."
Fin shrugged. "I loot efficiently."
She stared at him for a second.
Then laughed again.
"Gods, I love that."
The words came out easily, thoughtlessly, carried on the momentum of her happiness, yet Karlach froze.
Just slightly.
Fin noticed.
Skrikka did not. Skrikka was busy examining a horseshoe on the ground as if it might be edible.
Karlach coughed into her fist and looked away.
"I mean," she said quickly, "I love that for us. For the situation. Not, y'know."
Fin raised an eyebrow.
"I got my engine under control. Big moment. Emotions. You get it."
Fin, still not fully recovered from the morning and Shadowheart's kiss, simply nodded.
"Mhm."
Karlach narrowed her eyes.
"Don't you 'mhm' me."
Fin's mouth twitched.
"Wasn't judging."
"Good."
A brief silence settled.
"Well, we outta go find Zevlor before the teiflings leave."
Fin pushed off from the post and rolled one shoulder.
"We'll find him somewhere. Come on. Let's go."
Karlach lingered one second longer by the forge, hand briefly resting against her chest.
As they walked, Karlach bounced lightly on her heels, almost unable to contain herself.
"I can actually think," she said, looking at Fin. "Do you get that? It's quieter. Still hot, but quieter."
Fin nodded.
"Good."
Karlach studied him for a second.
Then grinned.
"That's all I get?"
"You want a speech?"
"Maybe."
Fin thought for a moment.
Then deadpanned, "Congratulations on being slightly less on fire."
Karlach barked a laugh so loud that a nearby tiefling looked over.
"Perfect. No notes, soldier."
Skrikka raised one hand from Fin's waist.
"Fire lady now medium spicy."
Karlach wheezed. "Medium spicy?"
They passed one of the central training areas, where refugees were rolling bedrolls and bundling spears together. A pair of tiefling children ran past them, one carrying a wooden sword, the other wearing a cooking pot as a helmet.
For a moment, everything almost looked normal.
Hopeful even.
Karlach's grin softened as she looked around the grove.
"They really think they're gonna make it now."
Fin followed her gaze.
Tieflings are laughing from sheer relief. Parents are packing with renewed urgency. Guards standing taller on the gate.
They did think that, and part of him hated knowing what lay ahead on the road.
The shadow curse.
The ambushes.
The deaths.
Act One optimism was a brutal thing when you knew what came next. Fin shoved that thought down for now; one problem at a time.
Karlach looked at him again, still smiling faintly.
"You okay?"
Fin glanced at her.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
She shrugged.
"You've had a weird morning."
That was one way to put it. Fin rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'll survive. I normally do"
Karlach's grin turned knowing for just a second.
"Yeah," she said. "I think you will."
Skrikka suddenly straightened on his back and pointed ahead.
"Big horn man."
Fin looked up.
Near the centre of the grove, surrounded by crates, rolled maps, and exhausted-looking tieflings, Zevlor stood speaking to several others in clipped, efficient tones.
He looked tired, but when he saw Fin, his eyes lit up, and he moved to greet them.
"A scout just reported - the goblins' leadership has been decimated. We might escape this place yet.
He raised his hand.
"And it's you we have to thank for it, thank you."
Fin gave a small nod.
"Happy to help."
Zevlor let out a tired breath that almost became a laugh.
"I confess, when we first spoke, I hoped for help. I did not expect annihilation."
Fin shrugged.
"I'm just really good at my job"
Skrikka, still riding on his back, nodded solemnly.
"Camp go bye-bye."
Zevlor blinked at the goblin. Then, to his credit, he simply accepted that a goblin was attached to Fin now and continued.
"There's more," he said. "The tieflings took up a collection."
His hand moved to a leather pouch at his belt.
"A reward. It isn't nearly enough for what you've done, but it's what we could gather."
The faint clink of coin reached Fin's ears. His eyes immediately dropped to the pouch, and a deeply spiritual silence followed.
Karlach turned to look at him.
Fin was staring, eyeing that pouch like it was a holy relic.
Karlach narrowed her eyes. Fin straightened a little, then glanced at her.
Karlach said nothing.
She didn't need to; the look was enough.
Fin looked back at the pouch.
Then at Zevlor.
Then at Karlach again.
Then back at the pouch.
His soul visibly suffered.
"…you should...keep it," he said at last, with the strained dignity of a man making the worst decision of his life.
Zevlor paused.
"Are you sure?"
"No," Fin said immediately. Karlach elbowed him lightly, slightly singeing his haori, and Fin sighed. "But yes."
Zevlor's expression softened.
"That is generous."
Fin's eye twitched slightly.
Skrikka noticed.
The goblin said absolutely nothing.
But the way her ears flicked suggested she had just learned something important about her boss.
Zevlor lowered the pouch slowly.
"If you change your mind, the offer stands."
Fin nodded with all the grim resolve of a martyr.
"Understood."
Zevlor studied him for another moment, then smiled faintly.
"Halsin will likely want to thank you as well, though I suspect he already has in his own way. We've spoken."
Fin tilted his head slightly.
"Oh?"
Zevlor nodded.
"He returned not long ago. He told us what happened at the camp."
A little of the tension left Zevlor's shoulders at that.
"And more than that, he intends to deal with Kagha."
Karlach raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Zevlor's mouth tightened.
"What she attempted with Arabella will not be swept aside. Halsin called it what it was."
He let out a breath through his nose.
"Catching up, as it were."
Zevlor glanced back at the bustle of the grove, then to Karlach, then to the goblin on Fin's back, and finally back to Fin.
"We won't wait too long before we set off from here," he said. "But before that…"
A faint smile touched his face.
"We'd like to celebrate. Properly. Tonight."
Karlach brightened immediately.
"Oh, now that sounds good."
Zevlor gave a small nod.
"If you'd have us, we would join you and your companions at your camp."
Fin considered it.
A free party.
Food.
Likely alcohol.
And, most importantly, one night where people might actually breathe for a while.
"Yeah," he said. "That's fine. I wouldn't mind a night to properly relax."
Karlach grinned.
"There we go!"
Zevlor's expression warmed.
"Then we'll come by once things here are settled."
He placed a hand briefly over his chest.
"Again. Thank you, Fin. You've given my people more than just a path out of here."
Fin nodded once.
"Try not to waste it."
Zevlor smiled at that.
Then he turned, already being pulled back into the chaos of carts, refugees, and last-minute preparations.
Karlach stretched her arms over her head.
"Well," she said. "Looks like we've got a party tonight."
Skrikka perked up.
"Party?"
Karlach pointed at her.
"Yes. Party."
Skrikka bounced excitedly as she clung to Fin's back.
"Yes, boss! Back to camp!"
She tried to leap down dramatically, immediately misjudged the landing, stumbled forward two steps, windmilled her arms, then caught herself.
Without missing a beat, she took off after Karlach at full speed.
"Ha! Last one back is rat stew!" Skrikka laughed.
Karlach barked out a loud laugh and broke into a jog.
"Oh, you're on!"
Fin stayed where he was for a moment longer, watching the two of them disappear down the path.
The grove behind him hummed quietly with distant voices and torchlight. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before he turned and followed after them.
...
End of Chapter!
Did y'all miss the Grove after your first play-through?
The next chapter will be a long one. I plan on wrapping up most of the Act 1 missions that make sense, so expect the next one to take a while, but it'll definitely be worth it!
Last thing. I haven't done it in a while but after the completion of Act 1, I'll be making a Q&A chapter where YOU the reader can ask ANY character from this book a question, if you've been following me for a while you'll know what I mean, if you don't check out my old book on Wattpad and you'll see it.
So don't be shy and ask away, just make sure when you ask the question, start with naming the character you're asking, then your question
[QUESTIONS HERE]
I hope to see many questions!
Cya!
PS - REMEMBER TO REVIEW AND COMMENT, I LOVE READING THEM!!!
Word Count - 7120