"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 sweetshop, 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.
However, it wasn't exactly the most comforting sight. We were met with empty fields stretching as far as we could see, with no farmers tending to the crops. Far above, storm clouds painted the land in a hollow gray, making the approach to the walls all the more daunting as the massive cannons mounted along the top tracked our every move.
Then we caught sight of four guardsmen, the eldest among them greeting us with a gruff bark.
"Halt! State your purpose here!"
"We're from the guild," Amelia called out to them as she displayed her guild token. "We were a 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."
In response, the massive gate swung open, allowing us passage. Yet even before we could take a couple of steps past it, Benjamin spoke up as he eyed the empty streets. "I feel it's best if we head to the guild. They should know we're alive as soon as possible.
"Ya, 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, nudging Benjamin. "Seriously, without your art skills, we'd look like a bunch of destitute 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.
When we reached the guild, Grace stopped just outside the doors.
"I'll wait here," she said quietly. "I'd rather not draw any unnecessary attention."
Nodding in understanding, we stepped inside, greeted by a warm rush of air and the low murmur of voices. It felt strange to be back within the guild's walls after everything that had happened, but there was also something comforting about it.
However, that feeling didn't last long as my eyes drifted to the countless empty seats that adorned the hall, with the few seated looking off with a distant sort of gaze.
I recognized a few faces from the expedition.
They stared back at us solemnly, their expressions darkening at the sight of how few had made it back.
Yet, the moment we reached 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!"
She leaned forward, one hand pressed to her chest as if trying to steady her racing heart.
"I kept telling myself you'd be fine, but… seeing you here is such a relief."
Her warm reaction brought a small smile to Ella's face. "We're glad to be back."
"Oh! And before I forget." Samantha hurriedly pulled open a drawer and grabbed a sheet of paper. "Let me get you checked in before I lose track of myself."
She scanned the list of expedition participants, then ticked off our names one by one with a swift stroke of her pen.
"There," she said, letting out another breath. "Now that that's logged. I won't have to worry about forgetting it later."
Then her expression faltered slightly.
"I hate to say this, but we can't offer any payment just yet. With everything that's happened, things are still a bit of a mess." She gave us an apologetic look. "But once it all settles down, we'll make sure you're compensated."
Nodding, Amelia reassured her that we were fine, but as she spoke, I felt a gnawing sense of unease settle in my chest.
I had to know.
"What about David's team?" I asked. "Did they make it back?"
Samantha's cheerful expression faltered, giving way to 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 on two names. "Lauren and Matthew… they didn't make it."
I froze at the news, the words taking a moment to fully sink in.
"I… I don't understand," I said quietly. "How could they have—"
I stopped as, beside me, Emily stifled a cry. She covered her mouth and turned away, as if trying to hide her tears from everyone.
"I'm so sorry," Rebecca tried, but her words seemed to get lost in the silence.
Emily hiccuped, then moved toward the door with quiet, sniffling sobs. Ella and Amelia followed quickly after her, but not before Amelia gave me a look.
I watched them go, unsure how to process it.
We hadn't known them for long. But they were some of the first people we had 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 the small things.
Now all that was left was the hollow space their names left behind.
Turning to Rebecca, I asked softly, "How did it happen?"
I almost regretted asking, but I had to know. If it had been one of those monstrosities that took them, I didn't know how I would have dealt with that.
Rebecca's expression tightened.
"It was quick," she assured me, though her eyes briefly drifted toward the others around the guild, as if to say, unlike so many others.
I nodded in silent understanding, then turned from her and headed for the door.
Outside, I found Emily collapsed against the wall, silently sobbing into Ella's shoulder while Ella held her close. Above us, the heavy clouds finally began to break, the first faint drops of rain falling in a soft drizzle.
Grace looked up, grimaced, then walked over to Emily and crouched down in front of her.
"Hey," she said softly.
She slipped off her jacket and draped it around Emily's shoulders.
"How about we get out of here and give them a proper farewell?" Grace asked, her voice gentle. "I know if they were anything like all of you, they wouldn't want you sitting out here in the cold rain after hearing about their deaths."
She held out a hand.
"So what do you say? Should we go?"
Emily sniffled and slowly nodded. "Yeah… I think you're right," she muttered.
She accepted Grace's hand and let herself be pulled to her feet.
Seeing Grace's genuine care, Amelia gave her a small, grateful smile before looping an arm around Emily's shoulders and pulling her into a tight squeeze.
"Let's get out of here before we end up completely drenched."
Nodding, we quickly moved through the city, picking up our pace. Rain poured harder with every passing minute, driving us from one shopfront to the next as we tried to put some distance between ourselves and the horrors of the day.
It wasn't long before we found ourselves standing before a modest little bathhouse, its warm light spilling through the rain and inviting us inside like a lighthouse in a storm.
But it wasn't until I sank into the soothing water that I truly began to appreciate the work put into the space around me. From the walls to the floor, everything had been carefully cleaned and polished until it shone. Every stone beneath the water had been smoothed to a fine finish, while the walls were painted with the vague outlines of a forest. The shapes were blurred, seemingly on purpose; the brushstrokes left soft and smudged so the scene felt more like a memory than a real place.
Strangely enough, it helped my mind relax and forget about the harrowing experience of getting my clothes off.
I swear, I should have waited a couple more minutes out in the rain. At least then the dried bug guts might have softened before I was forced to peel my clothes off piece by piece, tearing them apart until all that remained was a trash bin full of grime-covered fabric.
Beside me, Benjamin let out a long sigh of relief and sank deeper into the warm embrace of the water, breathing in the scent of aromatic oils that lingered in the humid air.
Aside from us, the room was quiet. The only sound was the occasional patter of rain outside, creating a rhythm that was almost meditative.
"God, I needed this," Henry groaned, sinking deeper into the water until only his face was visible. "Haven't felt this relaxed since… well, I'm not entirely sure."
He floated lazily, eyes half-lidded, then turned toward Benjamin.
"What about you, man? You alive over there?"
Instead of answering with words, Benjamin simply gave a contented grunt.
For a while, none of us said anything. We just sat there, letting the heat sink into our aching bodies while the rain tapped softly against the outside walls.
Then Benjamin finally spoke, his voice quieter than before.
"Henry, I've been meaning to ask… what do you make of this world?"
Henry cracked one eye open. "What do you mean?"
Benjamin leaned his head back against the stone edge of the pool, staring up through the humid air. "All of it. The horrors. The wonders. The things we've gained. The things we've lost." He let out a slow breath. "I simply can't seem to get my head around it."
A little caught off guard by the question, Henry took a second to think.
"What do I think?" he repeated, almost like he was asking himself. "Well… I'm not really sure." He shifted in the water, sending small ripples across the surface. "I mean, sure, I love what I've gained. I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But what we've seen in the past week alone makes me want to fly away from this place and never come back."
He paused, his expression tightening for just a moment.
"But then there's so much more to it than that. The city, the powers, the monsters, the people…" He sighed and sank a little lower. "I don't know. I guess I'm still figuring it out."
Thinking about the question myself, I found my answer came easier than expected.
"I actually like it here," I admitted.
Henry turned his head toward me, one brow lifting.
I shrugged. "My life on Earth was pretty dull compared to this." Then, after a moment, I added, "Well… except for my time in service."
That caught his attention. Henry floated a little closer, curiosity already pushing away the heavier mood. "Wait, you were in the military?"
I nodded, my mind drifting back to those days. "I was recruited when I was eighteen. Honestly, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Back then, it was that or probably die in a ditch somewhere."
Benjamin raised an eyebrow. "That sounds somewhat exaggerated. Was it really that bad?"
Smirking, I leaned back against the stone. "Who knows? Maybe I'm exaggerating, maybe I'm not. Either way, I don't regret it for a single moment."
Though even as I said it, I couldn't help thinking about what I might have been if things had gone differently. But every time I tried to picture another path, another life, I came up blank.
Henry turned his attention to Benjamin. "What about you? You ever been in the military?"
Benjamin shook his head. "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 back at Henry. "And you?"
Henry shook his head. "Nah, no military for me. Closest I got was obsessing over tanks and combat gear as a kid. So I wasn't exactly taught any cool fighting techniques."
Then he perked up.
"But I did take a lot of archery lessons." He lifted his chin, suddenly looking far too proud of himself. "Not to brag, but I once got second in state at an archery contest."
"Wow," I said, drawing the word out. "Second?"
Henry's smile faltered.
"That's like the furthest you can get from first while still being reminded you almost made it. At least if you were third, you'd be the best of the worst. But second?" I shook my head. "That's just the worst of the best."
Henry scowled and crossed his arms. "That's not how that works."
Benjamin, kind as ever, came to his rescue. "Now, now. Coming in second at a state level is quite the achievement."
Henry pointed at him. "Thank you."
Benjamin nodded solemnly. "But first…" He glanced at me and gave the smallest wink. "Now that would have been something."
Henry's scowl deepened as I failed miserably to hold back a laugh.
"But still," I added, trying to ease up on him, "that is impressive. It's almost a shame you haven't used those skills in this world."
For a moment, the words seemed to stick with him.
"A bow, huh…" Henry mused, his scowl slowly fading into something more thoughtful. "I wonder how that would pair with my poison." Then he let out a small scoff. "Heck, it might help with my utter uselessness in battle."
A little caught off guard by the remark, I sat up. "Hey, you're not useless."
"That's easy to say when you're not the one waiting for your skills to actually do something." Henry leaned back, staring at the ripples around him. "I mean, I can practically leave right after I land the first hit. The poison does the rest eventually. But with a bow?" His eyes sharpened slightly. "At least then I could do something on top of all that. Like I was actually helping instead of just standing around waiting."
Seeing his point, Benjamin nodded. "I could see you with a bow."
Henry glanced toward him.
"Maybe not the tights, though," Benjamin added.
Henry shot him a mock glare. "One step at a time, Ben."
Benjamin raised a hand in surrender. "Fair enough." Then he looked down at himself, seeming to consider it. "But if we're talking about gear, I suppose I could use some 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 best-looking crew in the universe."
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 just how much I had taken for granted the intricate workings behind the scenes.
And as we began our trek back to the inn, Benjamin sidled up beside Henry and me, a single coin already pinched between his fingers.
"If I could have your attention for a moment," he said, lifting it into view, "I've been thinking it's about time we decide who has to share a bed."
Eyeing the coin, I looked to Henry as a dawning realization sparked to life between us.
"About time," Henry said, already celebrating like this time was going to be any different.
But whether through cosmic intervention or Benjamin's suspiciously accurate predictions, Henry was soon trudging along in a somber mood. I followed just behind him, equally defeated and wondering if what had just transpired could even be considered a fifty-fifty chance. We had both lost so soundly that I was beginning to suspect Benjamin had somehow rigged the coin to always land exactly how he wanted.
"Come on," I pleaded, hoping to eke out at least one more night of solitude. "Just one more night?"
But my plea fell on unsympathetic ears.
"I'm sorry, boys," Benjamin said, slipping the coin away with a grin. "The coin has decided your fates."
After a moment, Henry seemed to recover. He nudged my side with his elbow and gave me a faint smirk.
"Hey, it's not like I bite or anything."
Benjamin, never one to waste an opportunity, nodded thoughtfully.
"No," he said. "But you do 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.
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.
Amelia leaned forward slightly, her tone casual but purposeful. "We should figure out a plan for tomorrow."
Ella perked up immediately. "Oh, I've been meaning to tell everyone, but Grace and I will probably spend most of the day at the library."
At that, 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 everyone but Emily, who sat with her hands folded in her lap, eyes distant.
"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 front lines 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."
Emily nodded slowly, the doubt still lingering in her eyes, though it had softened now.
"Yeah," she said. "I think I'd like that."
Amelia leaned back in her chair. "While I'm at it, I'll keep an ear open for David's team. I want to make sure I properly say goodbye to those we lost."
I nodded, and after that, the rest of the night passed in relative quiet. We ate in a kind of tired peace, letting the warmth of the meal and the low murmur of the room settle over us before eventually heading upstairs for bed.
Henry, on the other hand, seemed to have spent most of dinner coming up with a plan.
Throughout the meal, he had warned me of the impending "roll-over," an apparent strategy of his to secure more bed space by force.
"I'm just saying," Henry said, walking beside me with that smirk that seemed permanently etched onto his face, "I'd be prepared if I were you."
Rolling my eyes, I opened the door and stepped aside 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 considered the impending bed-sharing, an idea occurred to me.
I summoned a thin strand of void and held it out in front of me. With a thought, I widened it, stretching the edges until the dark thread spread into something closer to a hammock. Then I secured one end to one side of the room and the other to the opposite wall.
Luckily, the room's layout was perfect for my impromptu project.
I chuckled softly as Benjamin caught on, his own laugh slipping free before he could stop it.
Once the makeshift hammock was in place, I climbed into it and settled in comfortably, using a little more void to shape a pillow beneath my head for added luxury.
Henry, on the other hand, remained completely still, his eyes locked on the dark hammock now hanging in the middle of the room.
"What are you doing, Atlas?" he asked.
Benjamin, still chuckling from his bed, shook his head. "Looks like he's taken making your own bed quite literally."
I grinned at them. "What? I like having my own bed," I said simply.
Henry stared at the hammock for another second before scoffing. "Whatever. I bet you won't be able to keep that thing up all night."
I reclined deeper into the void, letting the strands support me with ease. "Actually, it's pretty easy to maintain. I don't even have to think about it." I gave the hammock a small bounce just to prove my point. "It only disappears if I will it to."
Henry grumbled something unintelligible under his breath and turned away.
With our sleeping arrangements settled, I closed my eyes and smiled.
"Good night, Henry. Sweet dreams."
He answered with a grunt, though I couldn't tell if it came from admiration, annoyance, or both.