[2 minutes after I decided to walk]
Sh*t…. everything hurts. My entire body is burning like it's been dipped in acid.
We're currently in the grasslands between the forest and the town, just crossing the spot where I first met Carl. Carl, Joey, and Jack look completely fine.
They're in the lead while I'm bringing up the rear. Joey took my backpack and Carl is carrying the heavy artifact. They're moving like they aren't even injured... probably because they aren't. I'm the only one suffering here.
How is it possible that I'm the only one who got wrecked?!
Every step is agony. I don't know how much further we have to go, my body still hurt so badly that I felt like if I walked any longer, I wouldn't be able to move tomorrow.
I look at Jack. He's only carrying his own supplies, which means he's effectively free labor. I know what I want, but I can't just say, "Carry me, steroid-bro." I need an excuse.
Actually, why do I even need an excuse? I'm literally covered in bandages; it's common sense to carry the injured.
I stop walking and clear my throat. "Ahem. Jack?"
"What is it, Mr. Darcy?" Jack asks, looking back. Joey and Carl stop too.
"Can you carry me?"
"As you can clearly see, I currently resemble a walking mummy because of all these bandages. And as an ADVANCED ADVENTURER, I must preserve my strength for when we encounter the advisor."
"If you were hurting, you should have told me earlier, Mr. Darcy!" Jack says with intense determination. "I would have gladly done it."
"Yes, Mr. Darcy, it's the least we can do to repay our debt," Joey adds.
"Are you sure?" I ask, trying to sound humble.
"Yes!" they both proclaim.
"In fact, I'll help carry you too!" Joey adds.
"Are you sur–"
Before I could finish, they lifted me onto their shoulders like a wooden plank.
Jack in the front, Joey in the back. Their shoulders are so broad it's weirdly comfortable. I rest my head on Joey's shoulder, feeling like royalty.
Carl doesn't seem to mind. It's nearly 4:00 PM now. We're using the same road we took to leave town. As we pass a massive tree that looks exactly like a Banyan tree from Earth, Carl suddenly calls out, "Stop!"
My resting body jerks, startling Joey and Jack.
"What is it?" they ask in unison. Seriously, these guys have been on the same frequency since the womb. …Wait.
Were they brothers?
Did they ever say that?
…I'll ask later.
"We have to meet someone," Carl says.
"Who?" I ask.
"Lyra," he replies.
"Lyra."
"Lyra who?"
Carl stared at me blankly.
"…Idiot. Didn't you meet her in your room the night before we departed?"
"Oh."
OH.
"HERRR?!"
"She's still alive?!"
"I mean—how do YOU know her?!" I asked with visible confusion.
"I met her after she left your room," Carl replied.
"Wha—"
"Guys, put me down. I need to talk."
The steroid brothers gently lowered me to the ground.
Seriously.
These guys were huge.
I immediately walked toward Carl.
"Where did you meet her?" I whispered aggressively.
"Did she come to your room too?"
Carl suddenly grabbed the back of my head and pulled me closer before whispering back:
"Don't forget I'm a vampire. My senses are far superior to most people."
"I caught her after she left your room through the window and told her the plan."
"…Window?"
"And I explained the plan to her."
"…What plan?" I asked hesitantly.
"Wait until she arrives," Carl replied.
"I'll explain everything then."
Joey and Jack looked at me with obvious confusion.
Their expressions practically screamed:
"How are YOU his partner and still clueless?"
"Ahem! There's no need for confusion," I announce to the boys. "I had already considered that plan myself. It was one of the many options at my disposal. I just didn't consider it the primary plan because it puts Lyra in danger..."
"But since Carl independently arrived at the same conclusion, I have decided to approve the strategy."
"What plan, Mr. Darcy?" Joey asked curiously.
"…Carl will explain after Lyra arrives."
"She's close," Carl suddenly said.
"Wait," I interrupted.
"How does she even know we arrived?"
"Encrypted spiritual messaging," Carl replied casually.
"I told her to remain connected to the frequency whose omega signature I provided."
"…OH. The usual method, huh Carl?"
"Yes."
Carl chuckled lightly.
Meanwhile my brain was dying.
What the hell even WAS that?
If I survived this whole thing, I am absolutely forcing Carl to teach me that later.
That sound insanely useful.
[Around 5 PM]
Four silhouettes appeared near the entrance of Dunford.
Then,
They entered the town.
This time, there were no guards at the gates.
And what awaited them inside…
…looked less like a town and more like an apocalypse.
Silence filled the streets.
Not even birds made noise anymore.
Could they even still survive here?
Most had either died or fled long ago when the curse began spreading.
The same went for the animals.
People lay scattered across the roads, parks, and streets like fallen autumn leaves.
And now—
There was something else.
A barrier.
An invisible pressure that could physically be felt the moment one entered the town.
It had grown stronger.
Much stronger.
The few townspeople who still possessed enough strength to move looked toward them with expressions full of horror.
Even Carl looked disturbed now.
Tears were clearly visible in Joey and Jack's eyes.
Though they lacked the strength to speak, their eyes said enough.
Why did you come here?
Are you here to save us?
…Or are you here to join him?
Without saying a word, Carl continued walking toward the Baron's mansion while carrying the artifact.
The others silently followed behind him.
The mansion doors were already open.
So they entered.
And suddenly—
A voice echoed throughout the entire house.
"WELCOME, MY ADVENTURERS!!"
"WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME!"
"UNFORTUNATELY, I AM NOT THERE RIGHT NOW!"
"YOU WILL NEED TO COME TO THE TOWN HALL!"
"I HAVE A RITUAL THAT REQUIRES A MUCH LARGER AREA!"
"BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT, DON'T YOU?"
"YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME BEFORE MY DREAM BECOMES REALITY?!"
"FOOLISH."
"ALL OF YOU."
"MY RANGE NOW EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE TOWN."
"I KNOW ABOUT YOUR LITTLE PLAN."
"THE ONE YOU DISCUSSED WITH LYRA OUTSIDE THE TOWN."
"UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOU, I HEARD EVERYTHING."
"YOUR PLAN MIGHT HAVE WORKED…"
"…IF JOEY AND JACK WERE NOT MERELY SECOND-CIRCLE MAGES."
"YOU WERE FORCED TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING DIRECTLY INSTEAD OF USING SPIRITUAL ENCRYPTED MESSAGING."
"THAT MISTAKE SHATTERED YOUR ENTIRE PLAN."
"YOU INTENDED TO KILL ME DURING THE TRANSITIONAL STATE BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE COREGNET, DIDN'T YOU?"
"YOU PLANNED TO DISTRACT ME WHILE LYRA ATTACKED FROM BEHIND."
"FOOLISH."
"YOU TOLD HER TO ENTER THROUGH THE NORTH GATE WHILE YOU CAME FROM THE EAST."
"UNFORTUNATELY FOR HER…"
"I PLACED A SIXTH-CIRCLE CURSED BARRIER AROUND THE ENTIRE TOWN."
"ANYTHING THAT ENTERS OR LEAVES WITHOUT MY PERMISSION DIES INSTANTLY AS ITS SPIRITUAL POWER IS DRAINED AWAY."
"THE ONLY REASON YOU FOUR WERE ABLE TO ENTER…"
"…IS BECAUSE I ALLOWED IT."
"BUT YOUR LITTLE ACCOMPLICE WHO APPROACHED THROUGH THE NORTH GATE?"
"I NEVER GRANTED HER PERMISSION."
"SHE IS ALREADY DEAD."
"I CAN NO LONGER SENSE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST TRACE OF HER SPIRITUAL PRESENCE."
"AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR UGLY COMPANION GOT HIS THROAT STOLEN. HE HASN'T SPOKEN A WORD SINCE HE ENTERED MY DOMAIN."
"I MUST ADMIT…"
"I RATHER LIKE YOUR TACTICS."
"NOW COME TO THE TOWN FIELD."
"AND IF YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK UNDER ME…"
"…I MAY ALLOW YOU TO LIVE."
"We accept!" Carl shouted instantly.
"Please don't kill us!"
"Yes!! We accept too!!" Joey and Jack added nervously.
Yeah... all according to plan, I think.
Sh*t, my legs and hands still hurt. Will I even be able to do this? I thought silently while running through the North Gate of the town.