"See that mountain in the distance? That's StormWatch," I said, pointing to the snow-capped peaks cutting into the horizon. "We'll be there in a couple of hours."
She followed my finger, eyes widening as she spotted it. "Well, it better live up to the hype. After the way Emily talks about that one sweatshop, I'm expecting greatness." She smirked, but I could tell she was excited, as she ditched her slow pace and glided ahead on her hoverboard.
A few hours later, the city rose into view.
But something was off.
It wasn't glowing with its usual vibrant colors. Storm clouds had rolled in, casting a heavy, gray shadow over the once-lively city. The fields below were empty, with no workers in sight, just rows of still crops under a darkening sky.
Ella, noticing the change, turned to Grace, "Usually, this area is bustling with farmers."
Benjamin chimed in, "It's probably because of what happened to the expedition."
Approaching the city's gates, which had remained tightly shut, a sense of tension gripped my chest as I watched the cannons mounted on the walls track our every move.
Stopping before the gates, I watched as four guards emerged to greet us. The eldest of the group stepped forward, his voice gruff as he barked, "Halt! State your purpose here!"
Amelia stepped forward and displayed her guild token. "We're from the guild," she stated before going on. "We were part of the expedition sent out nine days ago."
The elderly guard eyed us up and down before conceding, "You do look the part. Any other survivors with you?" he inquired.
Amelia shook her head. "No, just us," she replied. "May I ask how many have already returned to the city?"
The guard nodded, and after checking with the other, he responded. "A total of thirty-nine people have made it back so far."
Then, after a glance at our worn clothes and mud-caked boots, he stepped aside. "Well, let's get you inside. You all look terrible." The gate groaned open, and we stepped through.
Heading to the guild felt like the most sensible move.
"We should let them know we're alive," Benjamin said.
"Right after that, we need clothes and a bathhouse," Ella said, glancing down at herself with a grimace. "We're a mess."
"I'm just glad we can afford it," I said, nodding toward Benjamin. "Seriously, without your art skills, we'd look like a bunch of broke wanderers."
Benjamin waved it off. "You act like we didn't have money before. With the guild covering lodging, it's not hard to save."
"Alright, let's not waste time," Amelia cut in, already picking up the pace.
As we walked, Ella's voice dropped. Her usual energy was gone, replaced by worry. "I wonder who else made it out. I really hope David's group survived."
"Don't worry," I said, more calmly than I expected. "They're strong. I'm sure they pulled through."
When we reached the guild, Grace stopped just outside the doors. "I'll wait here," she said quietly. "My presence might complicate things."
We nodded in understanding, then stepped inside, greeted by a warm rush of air and the quiet murmur of voices. It felt strange to be back within the guild's walls after everything that had happened in the ruins; it was almost unreal, yet undeniably comforting.
Inside, it was surprisingly lively for a place shaken by recent tragedy; the buzz of conversation and activity was unexpected. As we approached the front desk, Samantha's eyes widened at the sight of us, as she practically jumped out of her chair.
"Oh, thank god!" she exclaimed. "You made it back! I've been worried sick." She leaned forward, a hand pressed to her chest as if steadying her racing heart. "I kept telling myself you'd be fine, but… seeing you here, it's such a relief."
Her warm reaction brought a brief smile to Ella's face. "We're glad to be back," Ella replied softly.
Samantha hurriedly pulled open a drawer, her fingers deftly sorting through papers. "Let me get you checked in." She scanned the list of expedition participants and ticked off our names with a swift stroke of her pen. "Good, that's logged now. Thank you for checking in. I hate to say this, but we can't offer any payment yet. Once things settle down, we'll make sure you're compensated."
As Samantha spoke, I felt a gnawing sense of unease. I had to know. "What about David's team? Did they make it back?"
Samantha's cheerful expression faltered, replaced by a flicker of hesitation. Her gaze dropped to the list, and she nodded slowly. "David's team… they made it back. But…" Her voice caught as her eyes settled onto two names. "Lauren and Matthew… they didn't make it."
The news hit harder than I expected.
Emily stiffened. Her lips parted slightly, like she might say something, but no words came. Her gaze dropped to the floor as her breath hitched.
I watched her carefully. We hadn't known them long. But they were one of the first people we spent time with in this world. Lauren with her dry wit. Matthew with his easy smile. Emily had spent nights talking with them by the fire, laughing about small things, asking about their home, their past.
Now that silence hurt.
Amelia stepped forward and gently touched Emily's arm. "I'm sorry," she said softly.
Emily gave a small, shaky nod. Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she blinked them back, swallowing hard. "They were… good people," she muttered. "Better than most."
"We'll honor them," I promised.
Ella folded her arms tightly across her chest, her expression somber. "Yeah. Even in a short time, they made this place feel a little more normal."
Samantha's voice came again, low but sincere. "I know it's not easy."
Emily didn't respond, but her silence said enough. She turned from the desk and walked slowly toward the exit, her steps heavier than before.
We followed her out into the street and immediately had to cover ourselves as the clouds that had been looming overhead finally let loose a torrent of rain.
Grace jogged up, about to say something about the downpour, but faltered the moment she noticed everyone's expressions.
"Come on," I said gently, offering up my jacket as shelter over her head. "Let's get out of this rain."
"We should find a shop," Ella added. "New clothes will help."
Emily nodded slowly at the thought. "Yeah… I think I'd like that," she murmured.
Amelia gave her a small smile, looping an arm around her as we hurried down the street.
The rain kept falling, steady and cold, but we didn't stop. A little further down the street, a small clothing store still had its lights on. We ducked inside, soaking wet, but the clerk didn't seem to mind as he helped us with all our needs.
Once we had our fresh clothes in hand, we dashed off to search the bathhouse the store clerk had kindly recommended. The rain grew more insistent, and despite our best efforts, our clothing still got a bit damp. Luckily, it wasn't too far away, so we dashed under the cover of the bathhouse.
Inside, it was nearly empty, with only a handful of patrons scattered about. Without wasting any time, we split up to take care of our individual needs.
I stepped into the men's side of the bathhouse, and the warmth hit me immediately. Steam hung in the air like a thin mist, curling gently around the tiled room. At the center was a wide, steaming pool, the surface rippling softly with bubbles. The scent of aromatic oils lingered, earthy and calming, carried by the humid air.
Despite the bathhouse's welcoming atmosphere, taking off my clothes was anything but fun, as I had to tear them off piece by piece. It didn't help that portions solidified from the bug guts I missed.
But eventually I had it off, and without much reluctance, I tossed them into the trash.
There was no way I could get the smell out of it.
Finally, with all that over, I lowered myself into the water slowly, letting out a long breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The heat wrapped around me like a blanket, easing the wear and weight from the last few days. Muscles I didn't know were sore started to unwind.
The room was quiet. Benjamin and Henry were already in, each lost in their own little world. The sound of the water gently shifting around us and the occasional patter of rain from outside created a rhythm that was almost meditative.
Henry broke the silence first. "God, I needed this," he groaned, sinking deeper into the water until only his face was visible. "Haven't felt this relaxed since… I don't even know when." He floated lazily, eyes half-lidded, then turned toward Benjamin. "What about you, man? You alive over there?"
Benjamin, his eyes closed and his face wearing an expression of utter serenity, responded with a contented grunt. He had settled into the water as if it were a familiar friend, offering solace and respite.
Soon enough, the building was devoid of any other souls, the only sounds resonating were the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops outside and the shared exhale of collective relaxation within. In that tranquil space, Henry's question hung in the air, a gentle prompt that drew my focus. "What do you think of this world, Atlas?" he asked, fixing his gaze upon me.
I took a moment to collect my thoughts, my gaze drifting across the steamy pool. "I actually like it here," I admitted. "My life on Earth was pretty dull compared to this, except for the time I spent fighting in wars when I was twenty."
Henry, now curious, floated closer. "When were you recruited?"
I nodded, my mind wandering back to those days. "I was recruited when I was eighteen. Honestly, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. It was a nice distraction from my life back then."
Henry seemed genuinely interested. "That's pretty cool," he acknowledged.
Turning his attention to Benjamin, Henry continued his inquiries. "Hey, Benjamin, have you ever been in the military before?"
Benjamin leaned back against the smooth stone edge of the pool, his voice calm and reflective. "I haven't fought in wars or anything like that. But I served as a camp medic for a while, though I never saw a battlefield."
He glanced toward Henry. "What about you?"
Henry shook his head, water rippling around him. "Nah, no military for me. The closest I got was obsessing over tanks and combat gear as a kid. I used to build model kits and memorize specs. My whole room looked like a war museum."
His tone dipped for a second, a flicker of something heavier in his expression. Then he perked back up and shifted his weight in the water. "Hey, Atlas, do you think it's possible for me to get some kind of close combat ability? I feel useless just standing around, waiting for my poison to kick in." He frowned. "I hate feeling like dead weight."
The admission caught me off guard. Henry wasn't usually so direct about his doubts. I sat up a little straighter. "You're not a burden, Henry. Your poison saved us against the Apocalypse Beast. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
Henry didn't answer right away. He slowly started to drift in a slow circle in the middle of the pool, pushing himself off the edge and spinning like a lazy top. "That was then," he muttered. "Since then, it's like… I don't know. I'm just watching from the sidelines. I want something more direct. Maybe something cool, like acid blasts or a bow that melts through armor."
He completed another spin, then grinned at himself. "You know what? Yeah. A bow. I took archery lessons when I was younger, and I wasn't half bad either."
Benjamin chuckled. "Could totally see you with a bow. Maybe not the tights, though."
Henry shot him a mock glare. "One step at a time, Ben."
Benjamin raised a hand in mock surrender. "Fair enough. But if we're shopping for gear, I want armor."
I smiled, the mood lifting between us. "Alright then. First chance we get, we find a forge. Henry gets his acid bow, Benjamin gets his armor, and I get the satisfaction of having the most stylish crew in the multiverse."
Henry raised his hand from the water and gave a lazy splash. "Deal."
We stayed a little longer, letting the warmth soak into our bones. Eventually, though, it was time to move on. One by one, we climbed out of the pool, steam trailing off our skin as the chill of the bathhouse air rushed back in.
After toweling ourselves dry, we changed into the new clothes we had hastily acquired. Outside, the storm had finally relented, leaving behind a tranquil atmosphere. The cloudy sky still held the vestiges of its earlier fury, but now it was punctuated by the night sky peeking through the gaps in the cloud cover. The moon, its ethereal glow piercing the darkness, painted a mesmerizing tapestry.
As the girls finished dressing and joined us, there was an air of joviality about them that hadn't been there before. Ella and Grace seemed to have forged a fast friendship, their laughter ringing out like a soothing melody in the evening air. It was good to see the two getting along so well.
Ella, still bubbling with enthusiasm, shared an interesting tidbit about the bathhouse. "Did you know the pools are heated by a token that's constantly active? And there are others that clean and refresh the water. It's actually quite ingenious," she explained.
I couldn't help but be impressed. "That's pretty cool. I didn't notice any of that," I admitted, realizing how I had taken for granted the intricate workings behind the scenes.
As we began our walk back to the hotel, Benjamin brought up a topic that had been looming. "I think it's about time you shared a bed with Henry," he declared.
I let out an audible groan of disappointment. "Come on, just one more night?" I pleaded, hoping to eke out a bit more solitude, but my plea fell on unsympathetic ears.
"Not at all, I only let you sleep in that bed alone because you were missing an arm," he retorted, resolute in his decision.
Henry, always ready with a quip, chimed in with a sly grin. "It's alright, Atlas. I don't bite."
Benjamin, seizing the opportunity for some good-natured ribbing, joined in. "But he does roll."
My heart sank as I considered the prospect of being crushed by a restless sleeper. "Oh great, I'm going to get rolled on," I muttered, a touch of melodrama in my voice.
By the time we reached the hotel, fatigue had set in, but the sight of its softly lit entrance offered a quiet comfort. Inside, the scent of warm food greeted us before the staff did, teasing our empty stomachs as we made our way to the dining area.
The restaurant was mostly quiet, scattered with a few locals chatting in low voices. Amber lanterns bathed the room in a calm, golden light. A server welcomed us with a polite smile and guided us to a wide table by the window. We settled in, flipping through menus filled with unfamiliar but tempting dishes.
As we waited for our food, the room's gentle lighting and lingering aromas wrapped around us like a blanket, inviting us to relax. Conversations picked up naturally.
Amelia leaned forward slightly, her tone casual but purposeful. "We should figure out a plan for tomorrow."
Ella perked up immediately. "Grace and I want to see what kind of tech this place has. So we'll probably spend most of the day at the library."
Benjamin, Henry, and I shared a look, already on the same wavelength. "I'm dragging these two to a forge tomorrow," I said, nodding toward him and Benjamin. "Henry's convinced the right bow will turn him into a legend."
Henry scoffed. "No offense, but not everyone has sparkle fingers and can summon weapons."
That earned a laugh from Benjamin, but Emily didn't join in. She sat still, hands folded in her lap, eyes distant. Finally, she spoke.
"I don't know if I can keep doing this."
The laughter faded as we all turned toward her.
"After everything… I've been thinking," she continued, her voice a little tighter. "I just don't know if I have it in me to keep going on missions. Not like before."
There was a beat of silence that no one rushed to fill.
I leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Are you sure?"
Nodding, she turned to everyone, almost as if to expect rebuke, but she was only met with understanding.
Benjamin nodded, a warm smile forming on his face. "I'm proud that you made it this far."
She didn't answer right away, but her shoulders eased just a bit.
Henry leaned back, grinning. "Okay, well, if you're not gonna be on the frontlines anymore, we're putting you on a saddle. I say we find you a racing mount, Something flashy and fast."
Emily blinked, caught off guard. "Racing?"
He shrugged. "You've got the reflexes. And you've always had a need for speed."
A flicker of a smile crept onto her face. "That… doesn't sound awful."
"I know a few people," Amelia chimed in. "If you're serious, I can ask around. It might be good."
Emily nodded slowly, the doubt still in her eyes—but softer now, not so heavy. "Yeah. I think I'd like that."
Amelia leaned back in her chair. "While I'm at it, I'll keep an ear open for the colony. Something's got to give soon."
The server appeared with a plate of sizzling steak, cutting through the moment like a starting bell. I hadn't even realized how hungry I was until the smell hit me…
The night was quiet as we headed up, the promise of a good night's sleep beckoning to us. Henry, with a mischievous grin while wiggling his eyebrows, had warned me of the impending "roll-over," an apparent strategy of his to secure more bed space.
"Be prepared to get rolled on," he taunted with that smirk that seemed permanently etched on his face.
Rolling my eyes, I opened the door to let them in.
Benjamin headed straight for his bed, worn out from the day's events. Meanwhile, Henry, true to his word, approached his bed with a determined look, ready to execute his plan.
As I contemplated the impending bed-sharing, an idea occurred to me. I summoned a void string and just held it there, with a thought, I expanded the edges and formed it into a hammock. securing it by tieing one end to one side of the room and the other end to the opposite side. Luckily, the room's layout conveniently accommodated this impromptu hammock project. I chuckled softly as Benjamin caught on and couldn't suppress his laughter at my inventive solution.
With my makeshift hammock now in place, I lounged comfortably within it, using more void to conjure a pillow for added luxury. Henry, on the other hand, remained incredulous, his eyes locked on the seemingly magical hammock suspended before him.
"What are you doing, Atlas?" he asked, baffled.
Benjamin, still chuckling from his own bed, chimed in, "Looks like he's taken 'making your own bed' quite literally."
I grinned at their reactions. "I like having my own bed," I explained with mock seriousness.
Henry, still amazed by my skills, conceded with a mixture of amusement and frustration. "Whatever. I bet you won't be able to maintain it through the night."
I reclined comfortably in my hammock, the void strings supporting me effortlessly. "It's actually pretty easy to maintain these things," I replied confidently. "I don't even have to think about it. They only deactivate if I will it."
Henry grumbled something unintelligible under his breath.
With our sleeping arrangements settled, I wished him a good night. "Good night, Henry. Sweet dreams."
He grunted in response, seemingly torn between admiration and annoyance at my skills. I closed my eyes, feeling the gentle sway of my hammock as it cradled me in its embrace...