Genesis Locorum

The day after, Father Chiron arrives at Heathcliff and the Rosenkreuz guild’s request in the wake of what had transpired recently. He observes the Cells in Emily that were once the children of Hamlin.

The centaur sees the children, with their new mechanical mouse-like features scurry about without a care in the world. Among them are Euryale and Stheno disturbed at what had befallen their fellow village people that they act like they had lived here all their lives. Chiron holds out a special instrument, a diagram of Sepira and Qlipha, the Lifetree and Unlifetree, engraved on a flat transparent surface.

Elizabeth holds up a similar lends towards the children. She observes that the nodes of the Unlifetree radiate a jet black while the corresponding white notes of the Lifetree are not as bright.

The Centaur uses his abilities as a Resonator to assess the mana of the children. “It’s just as I feared,” he says ominously. “The demonic influence had altered their minds.”

Nearby, Clara stands distraught. Concern washes over her face. Emily’s walls also betray her own feelings of remorse. Feelings that Chiron had also picked up on.

“How bad is it, Father Chiron?” Elizabeth says.

The priest gives a solemn answer. “Right now these children’s mana are both entangled with this dungeon’s and their minds have been altered, bereft of any ties to their place of birth. To them, it is as if they had lived here all their lives.”

Charlotte speaks up. “Is there any way to free them?”

“I’m afraid not,” Chiron says, “Their mana has been embedded into the very core of the dungeon themselves. Trying to extract them at this stage would risk shattering the core and destroying the consciousness therein, both the dungeon’s and the children’s.”

Emily stays silent, shocked over the idea that they cannot be released without great harm to them. Heathcliff and Tim soon arrive, and the latter disdainfully glares at the priest.

“What’s the verdict? Frère Chiron?” Heathcliff says.

“Unfortunately, it is as we feared, Sir Heathcliff,” Chiron says. “As it currently stands there is no way to free the children without your dungeon being adversely affected. Furthermore, their memories had been severely altered.”

“What about Pruflas?” Carla asks. “Is he still—“

“The Unlifetree reveals that the demon yet draws breath,” Chiron says. “However even if he was vanquished it would only undo his effects on their minds.”

“Why,” Emily speaks up. “Why would he do this?”

“There had been reports of demons visiting dungeons, infusing them with mana sourced by nefarious means. I know now why they do this, but I do know that you are but the latest who received their so-called gifts,” Chiron says.

“Is there anything we can do?” Emily says with hesitancy.

“The best you can do right now is to ensure they are hale and hearty and to be prepared,” Chiron warns. “For their parents will want answers.”

Carla’s mind ruminates on the ramifications of what would happen if the villagers of Hamlin knew of what befell their children. Cursed into a monstrous form, unable to recognize their parents. Would they even be seen as their children anymore? Would the parents keep them around? What would they do in the dungeon that now holds them as prisoners? Her recent experiences have led to one conclusion “They must not know!”

✦✦✦

While Chiron continues examining the children, Emily activates her avatara and leaves her dungeon body for fresh air.

Emily looks back at the children now trapped inside her and sighs. “Why did I let this happen?” Her forlorn expression carries the regret of absorbing the cursed pipe.

Elizabeth sees Emily’s avatara lying on a hilltop, mournfully gazing at the frontiers beyond. “There you are!” she says.

“Elizabeth?” Emily says.

The fairy flutters towards her friend. She can already tell that the recent events weigh heavily on her mind. “Wanna talk?” she says courteously.

Emily stays silent.

Elizabeth simply sits down next to her. She ponders if there is any way to lift Emily’s spirits as she continues to sulk.

“Their mana is entangled with mine,” Emily says. “That’s what Chiron said.”

“That is true,” Elizabeth says.

“Does that mean, they would be trapped inside me forever?” Emily says.

After a moment of hesitation, Elizabeth says, “It is too soon to say for sure?”

“But…”

“But it is highly probable,” Elizabeth shows her the diagram of the two trees. The ebon dots show a vivid dark glow that nearly feels like it’s sucking in the nearby light. The white does in turn shine with a glimmer that matches their counterparts.

Though race through Emily’s head. Though she had wanted to help Carla free the children from Pruflas’ clutches, her careless action had ensured that she had become tantamount to a kidnapper herself.

“Is there any way we could free them?” Emily says.

“I don’t know,” the fairy says with sorrow in her voice.

“You’re supposed to know everything about dungeons!” Emily says.

“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth says. “But this situation had never occurred to me!”

Emily sighs again.

The two stare into the vast wilderness before them, majestic and near untamed. The wind blew through the trees as the nacreous clouds illustrate a colorful image on the blue canvas above. The emerald hills are dotted by blooms of various hues and colors.

A while later, as they look at the calm land, a realization soon strikes Emily. “Elizabeth?”

“Yes?”

“Do you know if it is possible?” Emily asks.

“If what is possible?” the fairy asks.

“If I have enough mana, could we free them without harming them?”

Elizabeth muses on the idea. “It feels like it should be possible, but…”

“But?” Emily says. Fear washes over her face.

“Under normal circumstances,” the fairy says. “As a dungeon grows in power, so too do its cells and its gear. Their strength gathers proportionately with each bit of mana they absorb, but with every defeat, a bit of mana seeps from them in the form of the gear and items the victors are able to leave with.”

Emily knew as much. She makes a dejected face, realizing that she might hemorrhage mana before being able to free the children from herself.

“But..”

Emily’s face perks up. “But…”

“There is another way to gain mana,” Elizabeth says. “You recall the reason why Dungeons have avatara to begin with, and why they join adventurer parties?”

“To raid other dungeons, right?” Emily says.

Elizabeth nodes with a confident smirk.

Emily then remembers her absorbing the core of Tarantulapolis and comes to a realization. “We go for the cores, right?”

“Right,” Elizabeth said. “In theory, this would ensure you have a rapid growth of mana that would allow you to disentangle the children without endangering them or yourself. But there are still a few hurdles.”

Emily sighs once more. “Of course there are,” she grumbles in frustration.

“The first is that they are not in the right state of mind right now,” the fairy says. “They had lost memories of their live sin Hamlin, and are barely unable to recall their names. Even if we can free them physically those chains of memories must also be broken as well.”

Emily attentively listens to Elizabeth.

“Secondly there is the other matter that they had been mutated by you. Unlike Sentinels, Cells are a part of you. Created from Constructs made unconsciously or by living beings that had assimilated to the dungeon. Absorbing the pipe might have just expedited a very natural process.”

Emily makes a distressed reaction to that.

“The last matter is that the Cells themselves are unable to leave the premises of the dungeon unless certain actors are in play. Usually involving a subconscious desire to ‘advertise’ the dungeon’s presence. This usually results in attacks on nearby settlements, though in this case we don’t have to worry about the children ransacking towns.”

Emily groans.

“But,” Elizabeth says. “The dungeon can allow a few of them to accompany their Avatara, serving as impromptu allies for dungeon raiding. How many will depend on their mana levels, but I have heard that some of the most powerful dungeons are able to have an army of cells exist in places far remote from their original body.”

Emily’s face brightens a little at that fact, as she realizes that even if she cannot cleave herself from the children, there is a possibility that she can at least be able to enable them to live back in the village one day.

“In summary,” Elizabeth says. “We’ll have to find a way to restore their memories as well as make sure returning them to the village doesn't risk their families behaving adversely to them.”

“But we can do it, right?” Emily says.

“Once you have enough mana,” Elizabeth says. “It will take some time, but it could be done, in theory at least.”

Emily is a little relived that there is a method to being able to free the children from herself after all. “Thanks for coming here Lizzie,” she says.

“I’m happy to he—“ Elizabeth says. “When did you start calling me Lizzie?”

“Just now,” Emily says. She giggles a bit at the realization of the sudden nickname.

“Oh come om!” Elizabeth says. “I’m you special guide fairy! Sent by the Administrators! At least try to use my name properly.”

“Nope, don’t want to,” Emily says with a mischievous grin.

Elizabeth fumes as Emily refuses to stop using a nickname for her. While Emily giggles at the increasingly flustered fairy’s futile feats at trying to get her to cease calling her Lizzie.

✦✦✦

Meanwhile, a trio of boys approaches Charlotte. They were Charles and his friends. “Good day to you, Charlotte,” Charles says in a polite manner, almost robotic.

The last time they met, he was calling her a monster and claiming that the town of Hamlin doesn’t want her around and now, in the Black Box, he is beavering like a polite and well-spoken lad. The shift in attitude, caused by his loss of memories, disturbs the Alraune child to the point of speechlessness.

“Is something the matter?” Charles asks.

Charlotte finally musters up a response. “It’s nothing.”

“Okay,” Charles says. “Maybe you’d want to play with us later today?”

The question had an eerie effect on Charlotte, under any other circumstances, she’d happily accept an offer to play with people her own age, an opportunity she was often denied by them not making the offer to begin with. But now, when she knows why he is even here with her, it gives her pause.

“I’m sorry,” Charlotte says. “But I can’t right now, my mom wants me to do some chores later.”

Charles’ fellow children groan collectively. Charlotte senses a dark presence in their mana.

“That’s alright then,” Charles says. “Some other time then.”

Later that day she sees her mother tending to the Chimeras and Dire Wolves. “Is something wrong dear?” Carla says.

“It’s nothing.” Charlotte lies. She doesn’t have the heart to tell her about the encounter, knowing that she is already burdened by the fact that the Piper Pruflas had tricked Emily into absorbing them.

Chiron soon approaches them with Euryale and Stehno in tow.

“How did it go?” Charlotte said to her two friends.

“Aside from that a demon has turned us into human mice and trapped us inside a dungeon while my father is likely in jail?” Euryale says. “Very swell”. An air of frustration and sarcasm drips from her voice.

Charlotte makes a forlorn face, feeling that she shares some guilt in their fates.

“Don’t mind my sister,” Stheno says. “She’s just lashing out.”

Euryale sighs. “Sorry.” The sarcasm fades from her voice. “I know it’s not your fault or Emily’s.”

Carla meanwhile turns to Father Chiron.

“I understand you and your daughter were also of Hamlin?” the centaur says.

“The watchword is ‘were’,” Carla says.

“My apologies,” Chiron says. “I want to inquire about your relationship with the demon called Pruflas.”

Clara and Charlotte explain their encounter with the demon and the mother specially recalls its successful attempts at breaking her faith in the village to the priests. As well as how she was accused of murdering Samuel before.

“It seemed like that village hid some very ugly truths under the surface, “the centaur priest says.

Clara sighs. “And yet there is still some business there I must take care of.”

The three girls, and Chiron, are confused.

“Oh my,” Clara realizes what she had just said. “Forgive me, I was thinking about my sister.”

“You have a sister?” Chiron says.

“Auntie Geraldine,” Charlotte says.

“Yes,” Clara says. “Recent events had me fearful for her. I want to make sure she is alright.”

“Ah,” Chiron says. “I’ve still some more things to do before leaving, but perhaps I can arrange a visit to eh town to check on her safety?”

“You can do that?” Clara says.

“Of course,” Chiron says with a serene and calming tone. “I believe the Administrators would not abide innocents being harmed because their peers felt they are too different.”

“You’re a brave man,” Clara says. “Would it be alright if I accompany you?”

“Of course,” Chiron says.

With that, a plan has formed inside Clara’s mind, a plan to bring Hamlin the closure it craves. A plan that will ensure they have time to find a way to free the Children without worrying about retribution from the village.

✦✦✦

A while later, Carla requests to talk to Emily and Heathcliff about a matter.

“You want to be a Sentinel?” Emily’s incredulous voice echoes to the Alraune. “Why?”

“I want to visit Hamlin one last time,” Carla thinks. “The village needs closure, and so do I.” Her expression is usually stern. “I think my talents can be better suited towards providing bosses to better bar adventurers’s paths.”

“It is rather uncommon for tamers to take up the role, cher,” Heathcliff says. “Not unheard of, but rare nonetheless. I understand they don’t do direct fighting even in that role though.”

“That is correct,” Carla says. “But the beast they enlist does, and I understand you are quite deficient in Sentinels, only having Tim and the spider Construct.”

Heathcliff notices something in Carla’s eyes. “I hope you understand what you’re getting into, Carla.”

“I do,” the Alraune says. “I think it best for everyone involved, you, me, and the children, if I became one of your Sentinels.”

“Heathcliff observes several details in Carla’s face. Her avoidant gaze peers not quite at Heathcliff, but slightly to the right of him at at a lower angle. Her face makes a conflicted microexpression for a split second. The corners of her mouth appear more tense than usual.

“This about your impromptu trip to Hamlin?” Heathcliff asks.

Carla is stunned by the question, her composure breaks for a moment.

Heathcliff sighs.

“I’m confused?” Emily says.

“You remember that time Tim got his derriere handed to him by Father Chiron?” Heathcliff asks.

“Yes and—“ Emily begins to realize the ability of the dungeon to involuntarily recreate the body of Sentinels that fall in battle.

“Let me clear,” Carla says. “I am not some immortality seeker looking to exploit our partnership, but…” She struggles to explain herself.

“I get it,” Heathcliff says. “But I want you to be honest, cher. You can trust us.”

A sense of dread can be felt on the dungeon’s azure and ebony walls. As if Emily can tell Carla plans on doing something drastic.

Carla sighs. “Very well.” The Alraune begins explaining her motive. “I want to bring closure to Hamlin, to grant them a proper farewell and to ensure that they…they do not intrude upon here while we work to prepare the children.”

“Now I really hope she knows what’s he getting into, “Heathcliff thinks. He had already suspected something was up the moment he learned that Carla is planning to accompany Father Chiron to Hamlin.

“Before, I had faith in the village, in the goodness of the people that resisted in Hamlin and their capacity to accept me and people like me,” Carla says. “But now things had changed.” Tears well up in her face. “The demon had proved to me that deep in their heart of hearts, they would not accept me, that they would blind themselves to the truth if it didn’t conform to their misconceptions. That they only tolerated me because I married Samuel.”

Carla begins to tell her feelings to the dungeon and her dungeon master. “I should have known sooner, when the visits were fewer, and when most of them ignored my daughter’s very existence!” Tears stream down her face. “Now I see the truth in all of its ugly ignoble glory!”

Emily uses her abilities to create a handkerchief from Dreamcloth, and Heathcliff hands the nacreous fabric to the Alraune. “There there, let it all out.”

Carla continues to express her emotions. “After all that I done, after all, that Samuel did, they accused me of murdering him, and then when Pruflas made his move, they blamed me for the abductions. And now…and now,” Clara becomes inconsolable for several moments. Heathcliff solemnly stands by, his warm aura being a solace to the Alraune.

Carla soon calms down and regains some composure. “Hamlin needs closure, I need closure. Please, help me claim it!”

“Don’t worry,” the knight says. “We’ll help you, but first.”

Clara regains more composure, and the tension around the corners of her mouth fades. “Right. Hated as I now am in the village there is an opportunity here to ensure peace, even if I am to cast myself as the village to achieve it, even if I have to die as one.”

Clara’s statement gives Emily pause. “Clara, I-I’m sorry but surely there must be another way.”

“If there is, I would love to know, “Clara says. “Right now All I know is that if their rancor is allowed to fester, they will come here, and it is far from guaranteed we have the strength to ward off an angry mob guided only by rage and concern for their children, unwilling to accept the truth that their children were spirited away by a demon and their mana entangled with yours by a trick of his. Even if they did they would rationalize your careless absorption of the pipe as malice. Right now they do not know you exist, but they know I do, and I want to use that to our advantage.”

“I see the pragmatism,” Heathcliff thinks. “She does have a point, cher,” he says. “If Hamlin does come knocking right now, we’re toast and so are the kids.”

Emily mulls over the possibility of herself being invaded by a small army of concerned parents desperate to save their children, yet instead sealing their fates by their own careless actions. Still, she is also aware of Stheno and Euryale’s own concerns for their parents.

“Are you certain this is the right path?” Emily asks with some uncertainty.

The Alraune mother makes a determent expression. “I’m certain. Hamlin’s current state presents a risk to all that must be addressed immediately.”

“You know what you’re getting into, right?” Heathcliff asks again. Clara nods.

A while alter, Emily’s voice echoes to Clara. “I’ll do it, but on one condition, I think Douglas and Medusa have the right to know what really happened.”

Clara understands, they are the parents of her own daughter’s friends and Douglas is the friend of her late husband as well. They are also among the few villagers that didn’t shun either. “Those terms I’ll gladly accept.”

“Chiron also has the right to know, cher.” Heathcliff says. “Religious types like him don’t take kindly to deceivers.”

“Very well,” Clara says. “I’ll appraise him properly.”

“I can only hope neither of us will regret this,” Emily thinks. She authorizes the process to make Clara a Sentinel.

✦✦✦

Later, Heathcliff talks with Father Chiron at the Rosenkreuz guildhall. Two cups of beverages stand on their table. A cup of coffee for Heathcliff and a special brew of tea for Chiron.

“I see,” the centaur says. “She wants to appease the rancorous village.”

“Oui, le monsieur,” Heathcliff says. “But there are some wrinkles to that.” He explains Clara’s intended plan. Chiron’s eyes widen in shock.

“She wants to— Administrators forgive…”

The priest clutches his tome as he regains composure. Heathcliff looks at his friend. “I’m sorry, mon ami.”

“And you wish to enable this mad plan?” Chiron asks. “Is there not another way?”

“For what it’s worth, the Dungeon I presided over asked Clara that same question too,” Heathcliff says. “But she was very insistent on it and her reasoning is somewhat sound.”

“By Astra,” Chiron says. “What horror did the demon to that would lead her to such a rash decision?”

Heathcliff muses over his coffee. He tries to lighten up the mood. “Heh, you know how difficult to have a cup of joe back home?”

“Because of the Arachne?” Chiron says.

“Oui,” the knight says. “I hear that they get drunk off the stuff, and we’ve gotten a lot of young ones before we visited Hamlin.” He chuckles.

The priest flashes a gentle smile, appreciating his friend’s attempt at quelling the tense atmosphere.

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, cher,” Heathcliff says.

“I appreciate the gesture, kind sir,” Chiron says. “But I must go. She will do as she must I’m certain, but if anyone is harmed as a result then I would not forgive myself, nor would I be certain the Pathfinder would forgive me.”

“You’re a good man, Father Chiron.” Heathcliff stands sup. “Want some grub, cher? It’s getting late.”

“I must decline,” Chiron says. “And is there any reason why you must refer to everyone as ‘dear’ all the time?”

“Can’t a guy be friendly?” Heathcliff says.

Chrion’s eyes flash with bemusement. “You never changed, haven’t you? It’s a miracle people haven’t cottoned on to your true identity by now.”

Heathcliff smiles as he leaves his friend to buy a hamburger for himself. He soon returns to his meal. He takes a bit from his sandwich and chews it. “Man this Hamburg steak’s good,” he says after swallowing. “You sure you don’t want one?”

“I’m certain,” Chiron says. “Does your page still harbor hard feelings?”

“Big time,” Heathcliff says with a hearty laugh. “You sure did put him through the wringer. I think he’s angling for a rematch.”

“My apologies,” Chiron says.

“Ah, don’t sweat it,” Heathcliff says. “Sooner he learns that you can’t win ‘em all the better.”

“Still,” the priest says. “He does show promise. I’m certain he’ll make a fine warrior one day.”

“And then the younglings will be looking up to him instead of you!” Heathcliff teases.

“Perhaps,” Chiron says.

Heathcliff finishes his dinner and coffee while Chiron finishes his water. The two men go their separate ways.

✦✦✦

The next day, Carla and Chiron are near the edge of Revotos’ Valley. With them are Emily, Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno.

The centaur priest strums his lyre, sensing something familiar about Emily. “I don’t think we’ve met dear child, pray tell me your name?”

“My name is Emily,” she says.

“Emily,” Chiron says. “A pleasure to meet you.” His resonator powers grant him a feeling that he had encountered her before.

Clara turns to Charlotte, and she hands her a letter, “Now then we must be discreet, dear. We can’t let the other villagers see you.”

“Okay, Mom,” Charlotte says.

Chiron senses a tension in the air as he strums his lyre. He is trying to find the notes that best match the atmosphere. He conjures up a drizzle for his troubles. “Whoops!” The priest tries to undo the shift in the weather as Emily, Charlotte, and the twins depart from Chiron and Carla.

“Know that I do not condone what you plan to do,” Chiron says.

“I do not expect you to,” Carla says. “But I thank you for coming here with me.”

The two enter the premises of Hamlin. A cold wind blows across the town as the Alraune and Centaur enter the village. Carla can feel the eyes of the villagers staring into her like daggers, poised to strike her in the same manner they assume she struck her husband. The villagers stand silent, standing there menacing as Carla solemnly walks to the town square.

The mayor is already at the square, alongside several of the gendarmerie. Carla notices that Officer Owens is not among them.

“So,” the mayor says with a smug smirk. “The monster returns. Here to turn yourself in?”

“I am,” Carla says. Her face maintains a stoic demeanor.

The villagers murmur among themselves, wondering if she will return the children that were kidnapped.

“And who is this gentleman with you?” the Mayor says.

The centaur introduces himself. “Father Chiron. I am a priest associated with the Rosenkreuz guild.” He looks around and notices the villager sizing up his equine body. “I caught this woman acting suspiciously around the guildhall,” he lies. His calm face hides the regret on his face. “Astra have mercy on our souls,” he thinks.

“Thank you for apprehending this monster, kind priest,” the mayor politely says. “By any chance did you find any children with her?”

“No sir,” he says. “I had tried to inquire into their whereabouts, but she refused to answer.”

The mayor’s brow furrows. “I see. We shall take things from here.” The mayor leaves with Carla in tow.

✦✦✦

At the same time, Charlotte, Euryale, and Stehnto sneak their way around the village, being careful to avoid the sight of the villagers. Emily rendezvous with them afterwards. The four soon make their way to the twin’s house without anyone noticing. They soon move to the backyard and knock on the oversized glass door.

Medusa arrives with some plates in hand. She soon sees Emily and the three young girls. Upon seeing the altered states of her daughters, she drops the plates in her hand. The dishes fall onto the floor and shatter.

With a grim and solemn expression, Emily says, “We have found the children but…”

Medusa opens the door and they quickly enter the house. She makes sure to close the curtains in case of prying eyes.

Douglas arrives after hearing the commotion, “Honey is that the lawy—“ he soon sees his daughters are home, but also that they have taken on features of rodents. Round ears adorn their mundanely-colored hair and whiskers jut out from their noses.

“What-what happened?” Douglas says.

Emily explains the visit from the Piper Pruflas. “The Piper had come to the dungeon where we resided. We have vanquished him, but he had succeeded in granting the dungeon his ‘gifts.’ The children of Hamlin had been transformed into the Dungeon’s cells and are bound to this place. I’m sorry.”

Charlotte had already known Emily was the core of the Black Box for a while now, but Euryale and Stheno had inadvertently found out the night they were absorbed into her.

“Drat!” Douglas slams the table in frustration. The force was enough to cause the dishes on it to bounce a minuscule distance.

“It wasn’t he- their fault, Daddy!” Euryale says. Her expression is filled with fear that Douglas might attempt to free the children from the dungeon. “It was that stupid demon’s.”

Douglas calms down a little. “I know sweetie, I know.” He wipes some sweat from his brow. Emily nor her entourage had never struck him as kidnappers, and he is well aware that Cells are usually forbidden from leaving unless accompanied by the core. The presence of his daughters here is proof enough that the dungeon is willing to right this wrong. “Please tell me you know how to free them?”

“We have an idea,” Emily says. “But I fear it would take some time to enact.” The guilt on her face is apparent as she avoids looking either Douglas or Medusa in the eye, as tears well up in her own. Douglas gives her a comforting look. “Look, I don’t blame you. You seem like a good person, trapped in unfortunate circumstances.”

Charlotte meanwhile stays silent, fidgeting with her fingers.

“Daddy,” Stheno says. “I’m afraid those circumstances are more dire than you’d expect.”

“I can hardly imagine,” Douglas says.

“The Piper, Pruflas,” Emily says, now having the courage to at least look Douglas in the eyes. “He had altered most of their minds. Aside from your daughters, they had forgotten about Hamlin and their lives there.”

Douglas is stunned by the ramifications of that. He takes a good look at his twin daughters and realizes that in their current state. With features that risk them being deemed as monstrous and amnesia that renders them unable to recall their lives there, the lost children of Hamlin would be mistaken as changelings, fowl tricksters that exploit their parents’ grief, and that the parents would react accordingly and with tragic consequences.

“This just can’t get worse,” The architect and adventurer says.

“Douglas…” Medusa says.

“Are you alright, Daddy,” Euryale says. “Did they harm you?”

“No, sweetie,” Douglas says. “Not yet. I bought myself some time, but—“

“But what?” Euryale says. Her and Stheno’s faces make pained expressions, awash with fear that the consequences of Douglas covering everyone’s escape were grim.

“Predictably,” Douglas says. “They accused me of helping Carla kidnap the children. Bought me some time, but I fear it isn’t much.” He then realizes that Charlotte is also here. The Alraune child’s presence causes him to make a stark realization.

“Carla,” Douglas says. “Where is she? What happened?”

✦✦✦

Carla sits in a room in the town hall, dimly lit by a solitary candle in each of the corners and a crude askew hole in the wall, the only ingress for Stella’s glow. The walls slate gray as cement and cold as ice, unadorned except by a ring of mirrors. A single wooden table is in front of her. The unevenness of the table and the few furnishings in the room suggest Douglas had a hand in the design. The door stands opposite Carla, blending in with the walls with its equally gray palette and lack of discernible features.

The drab door opens and the mayor arrives, flanked by two guardsmen. “Carla, why did you do it? Why did you kill your husband? Why did you kidnap the children?” his voice is calm, but Carla can see the malice in his eyes.

Carla had known this would happen. But she also knew that she has to play the villain. Even though she did not kidnap the children. Even though she is not to blame for Samuel’s demise. She must play along and pretend she has. She must play her cards right if Hamlin is to get proper closure.

“I guess I was bored,” Carla says.

The mayor’s brow furrows with rage and disgust, but also satisfaction. “You were bored?”

“It gets tedious after a while,” Carla says. “Tending to wild beasts, playing the housewife, being seen as an accessory to Samuel.”

Carla senses a tinge of contentment in his voice, as if the mayor wanted to hear the response. Her face makes micro-expressions that betray her heartbreak that even the Mayor despised her as much as the others, but none of the guards or the mayor himself notices these subtle shifts. “So, even he sees me as a monster,” Carla thinks.

“Very well,” the mayor says, making a slight smirk. “Now where are they? Where are the children?”

“In the Pathfinder’s embrace,” Carla lies. She makes a smirk to mask her microexpressions.

The mayor stands undisturbed, but his guards were shocked at the declaration. “What did you do?”

Carla continues her charade. “Oh, be honest. If I were capable of murdering my husband in cold blood, the man I married and one who the village loved dearly, what do you think I would do the children of people I barely know?”

“Forgive me, Geardine,” Carla thinks.

The mayor’s expression shifts to shock, but his microexpression suggest that he too is purring on an act. “How could be so heartless?”

“Bold of you to assume I have a heart in the first place,” Carla says. “I’m a monster, plain and simple.”

“But Samuel—“

“A foolish adventure in foolish love,” Carla lies. “Yet I’m the bigger fool,” she thinks. “It was easy to manipulate him and bend him over my pretty little thumb!”

“And Douglas? Was he in on your wicked scheme?” The mayor asks.

“He knows not my intentions. He was a close friend of Samuel’s you’d think I’d trust him not to rat me out?” Carla says.

“Oh Douglas,” Carla thinks. “I’d hope they not blame you for aiding my escape.”

“So you admit to using him?” the mayor says.

“I’ve used you all,” Carla lies.” Even Samuel. What is one more? It would be foolish to enact justice for a man whose only crime is letting himself be manipulated, at least not without extending that to all else with the same ‘sin’.”

“Even your sister?” the mayor says, referring to Geraldine.

“Especially my naive sister!” Carla says. “She came to the village by her own will.”

The mayor turns to one of the guards at his side. “Samuel is to be exonerated at once,” he whispers.

The guard leaves through the gray door.

✦✦✦

“What?” Douglas exclaims in shock. “Carla let herself be captured! But why?”

“She says she wants to bring ‘closure’,” Emily says, her face long with sadness. “She fears that the dungeon would be attacked by the villagers without it.”

Charlotte’s eyes widen in surprise. “Mom let herself be…oh no!” she realizes that she wants the village to kill her.

“This is madness!” Medusa says. “Why would she do this?”

“We tried to stop her,” Emily says. “But she was insistent in this course of action.”

“Dammit!” Douglas says. Before he could make a further response, they heard a knock on the front door.

Medusa tells the others to head to their bedroom, away from their new visitor’s sight. She then heads towards the undersized front door. “Yes?” she calls.

“I have a message for Douglas Arion,” the visitor says. Medusa opens the small door and her hand hand reaches out from under the top of the door frame. The visitor hands her a parcel and then leaves.

Medusa looks out the window to confirm the visitor’s departure and opens the message. The letter is from the town hall and tells of both Carla’s capture and her testimony, a claim that she had merely manipulated Douglas and took full responsibility for all the crimes of recent note. And subsequently, that all charges against Douglas had been dropped.

A grief-stricken Medusa hands the note to Douglas, who reads the contents.

Charlotte also reads the letter and immediately rushes out the door, desperate to save her mother from her self-inflicted fate.

“Charlotte, wait!” Emily follows suit in a desire to keep her safe.

Douglas sighs. He turns to his daughters. “Go, you cannot stay here, it is unsafe.”

“Daddy?” Euryale says.

“He’s right girls. Return to the Dungeon, and take care of the others.” Medusa’s gaze is forlorn and solemn. Tears stream down her face as she musters the courage to say goodbye to her daughters.

Douglas meanwhile leaves his house, wanting to ensure that Carla’s plan does risk endangering his daughters.

✦✦✦

The mayor continues confronting Carla. “What do you have to say for yourself, you fowl fiendess?” the mayor says.

“I have no excuse, I am what I am,” Carla continues her deception and attempts to goad the mayor into executing her. “A cavernous monster who is a bane upon all that is good and just in Hamlin. My victims are myriad, my sins immeasurable.”

“I can only hope the repercussion of this do not extend beyond me,” Carla thinks.

Carla faces the mayor, her eyes show a steely determination obscuring the feelings of guilt she had within her. “I daresay letting me live would be a grievous sin,” she says.

The mayor chuckles. “You’re right, wicked wretch. Guards, I have heard enough. She is to be executed at once! I want her body executed by sundown!”

“Yes sir,” the lone guard says.

“Excellent,” Carla says. Her goad worked perfectly. “This will soon be over and with it the life of Carla, the Tamer of Hamlin.”

✦✦✦

Chiron stands in the town center, waiting for the next stage of Carla’s plan. The villagers try their best to ignore the incongruous centaur while whispering rumors about him. “Was there really no other way?” he thinks.

The town hall’s doors open and the priest’s eyes witness Carla being escorted by the mayor and several gendarmerie. Her body is bound to a small pile and paraded around by a strong guard as the mayor parades her body around.

“Citizens of Hamlin,” the mayor yells. “We have apprehended the witch that had murdered Samuel Truce, and the children of Hamlin. She had confessed to her heinous crimes and will be judged by the full extent of the law.”

A guard stands forth and reads a transcript of her testimony, afterwards, he reads a different scroll of parchment, “By the continuation of the village of Hamlin and section 87 of code 145. The crimes of abduction and massacre of children, as defined as those beneath the age of sixteen, are to be punished by execution! For the crime of treason and murder of a husband, the punishment is to be modified into an immediate execution by fire! She shall be sentenced posthaste!”

Chiron grimaces, as that means Carla’s plan has worked so far. The townsfolk murmur about why Carla had deceived them and how they let it happen.

“To think Samuel saw any good in her!” one village laments with furor in his eyes.

“I knew there was something wrong about her!” A woman cries. “You cannot trust monsters, I tell you!”

“Our children?” a father doubles over in grief. “They are…dead?”

“Furthermore,” the guard explains. “Per the criminal’s testimony of manipulating him, all charges against Douglas Arion for aiding and abetting the criminal had been dropped. He is exonerated of all claims of criminal wrongdoing pertaining to the missing children.”

Carla’s face bears a satisfied yet sorrowful expression. “A shame that it has to be this way,” she thinks.

Geraldine leaves the shelter upon hearing the clamor outside and sees Carla at the center of the commotion. Her green body was bound to a pole being carried by a strong muscular guard. She lets out a gasp. Emily arrives at her side a few seconds later. “I’m sorry,” she says as she hands the pale Alraune a tablet with a message on it. Geraldine takes the slab and reads it, learning of the fates of the children, Carla’s plot to sacrifice herself, her means of cheating death. The message ends with an apology from Carla, and a declaration that what will occur is necessarily for Hamlin to get closure. Emily vanishes before Geraldine could turn back to her.

✦✦✦

Carla’s pole stands in full display of the shocked and increasingly ravenous villagers. An executor arrives with a torch. The flame glowed red with the malice of those who sentenced her to death. An outcome Carla welcomes, for she has ensured that “death” is not an ending except to the town’s grief. “This will sate their vengeance,” she thinks.

Chiron averts his gaze to what is about to unfold and keeps an eye out for the others. The priest plays a tune on his lyre. A rhapsody and a lament that summons storm clouds over the village.

Charlotte rushes through the crowd, the villagers too affixed to the sight of the execution to notice the little Alraune’s presence. “Mom!” she cries out.

Chiron notices Charlotte’s presence in the crowd and realizes that her safety is in jeopardy. He intercepts her and plays a song. “Oh Halcyon,” he sings in whispers. “Please keep this child from harm.”

Charlotte trips and falls to the ground, her legs have been frozen as rain falls.

The guard keeps the torch safe from Halcyon’s tears as he prepares to set the pole and Carla ablaze. Carla solemnly awaited her fate.

The torch touches the pole and the bottom ignites. The rain is unable to quell the blaze as it ascends the wood. Sparks, ash, and smoke fly out from the flame, evaporating the water as it makes contact with it.

“Any last words?” the mayor says with a contented smirk.

Carla Truce stays silent. Her job is done, all she has to do is wait for the flames to consume her and she will wake up to a new life.

Charlotte tries to free her legs from the ice as it creeps across her legs. Emily catches up to her and picks her up. Lightning strikes the pole, igniting it from the top. The mayor’s face makes a bemused expression. “Even the Administrators, the children of Astra, see this is just!” The mayor bellows.

“Nice to see even the Administrators wish to help me,” Carla thinks to herself. The flames encroach on the pole, creeping closer and closer to the Alraune.

Emily carries Charlotte away. “Let me go! I have to help Mom!”

Emily’s face is washed with regret as she carries the young Alraune away. “I’m sorry, but there is nothing we can do now.”

“But she’s going to die!” Charlotte says, her tears indistinguishable from Halcyon’s.

“She won’t die,” Emily says. “I made sure of it!” Indeed she knows full well this is why Carla desired to become a Sentinel even though she had already offered her a role as a tamer there. Thoughts race through her mind. “Did I do the right thing?” She asks herself.

✦✦✦

Chiron sees Emily carrying Charlotte and leaves. He continues playing his lyre. Singing a lament, an ode to the lost town of Hamlin and the tragedies that led to it.

The crowd jeers at Carla and cheers at her imminent “demise”. Relieved that their children had been avenged. They would not consider leaving the village to search for them, they would be too content with the outcome to leave the village. Though they will mourn their lost babies, they will move on.

As the first spark lands on her body, Carla winces in pain, her flesh begins to char as the fire spreads around it. “This will buy us enough time, “she thinks. “Enough time to try to free the kids,” her mind becomes clouded by the pain as haze and smoke flood her vision, unhindered by the rain.

The heavens weep as the blaze creeps upwards to Carla’s petals. Her skirt-like petals become smoldering cinders as they fall onto the ground.

On the ground, Medusa and her twin daughters search for Emily. The mousy ears and whiskers of Euryale and Stheno are obscured by the hoods on their heads, their tails touch the wet ground as they move. They eventually rendezvous with Emily, still carrying Charlotte.

“Please,” Medusa says. “Keep my girls safe, keep the children safe.”

Emily nods. “I will.” Her heart grows heavy with the responsibility she had taken on, to not only protect the children of Hamlin but to free them from the chains Pruflas had sued to bind them to her.

Charlotte struggles to free herself from Emily’s grasp. She kicks and screams as she futilely struggles to escape and to aid her mother. Her tears are assimilated into the puddles of rainfall as they move through the crowd, spellbound as they are by the sight of smoldering wood and the charring remains of the woman bound to it. The villagers’ heart of hearts are revealed as they celebrate Carla’s demise.

“Mom!” Charlotte cries out as Emily carries her away. The avatara’s tears fall and become absorbed by the puddles. Stheno and Euryale follow suit to their new home. Emily wonders if she should let Charlotte go, before realizing that there is nothing that could be done and that releasing her would only ensure Clara wakes up to find her daughter had also perished.

Carla’s consciousness slowly fades away. Her last thoughts are of Charlotte, the daughter she loved dearly, and of Samuel, her late husband. As bits and pieces of her body fall off, blackened, and burnt, she slowly succumbs to the pain of the inferno immolating her. The conflagration that consumes her flesh. The blaze that burns her bones. Bit by bit pieces of her body continue to fall off as the pole is reduced to cinders and charcoal. And these bits and pieces vanish into golden dust.

“Farewell, Hamlin. I’ll always treasure the times I’ve spent here.” The last vestige of Carla's consciousness fades, content that her noble lie will ensure Hamlim is pacified enough to not disturb their efforts.

The crows cheer as the last piece of Carla’s corpse falls onto the ground, an unrecognizable charred mass. Chiron finishes his song and silently walks away. The look of disgust on his face is unseen by the rapturous crowd. As the crowd celebrates the barbaric execution, they do not notice the charred mass has disintegrated into golden dust, washed away in the rain.

✦✦✦

Carla wakes up in the Black Box. A couple of days after the fateful visit to Hamlin. She is greeted by Heathlciff’s face. Her body has regenerated by the powers that enable Sentinels to cheat death.

The knight sighs. “I hope that plan of your worked, cher. After the lengths, you went to…”

“I’m certain of it,” Carla says. Her voice hoarse with regret at the fact that she could not find a solution or a more amicable way to bid farewell to the town.

Charlotte glares petulantly at her mother. Bitter tears fall from her eyes and snot falls from her nostrils as she grapples with what had occurred the other day.

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” Charlotte says. “There was no other way.”

“You had...” She fails to articulate the gravity of what she has witnessed.

Carla looks at her daughter and hugs her. Her heart is weighted down by the trauma she has inflicted on her precious daughter.

“Please tell me you’re not planning on doing that again,” Emily’s voice echoes to her latest sentinel.

“You have my assurance that this will be the last time I would meet the pyre,” Carla says.

Heathcliff sighs. His face shows disappointment at Carla. His hand rests on his chin as he thinks deeply about Carla and the dominoes that led to that fateful day.

Elizabeth also shows signs of remorse over the tragedy. “Carla…” she tries to find the right words.

“I must apologize for putting your all through this,” Carla says. She too tries to find the right words and she keeps Charlotte in her embrace.

“What’s done is done,” Tim says while leaning against the wall. “There is nothing we can do now. Except make sure that these actions are not in vain.”

Heathcliff sighs. “He’s right, A Dungeon Emily may be, but a prison she should not be. I’m heading to the guild, gonna check in to see if there are any rouge Dungeons or dungeons that overstayed their welcome.”

“Actually,” Emily says. “I’ve taken care of that.”

“Huh?” Heathcliff says in confusion.

“I examined the changes in Emily that PRuflas’s little presents made in her and it turns out the mana from the absorbed children had also manifested in underground extensions that lead straight to the City Noir. A hotbed of rouge dungeons as its underground was barely regulated.”

Heathcliff smirks. “The Big ol’ Apple huh? That is a nice catch, cher!”

“What is a city?” Nina innocently asks.

“A densely populated place,” Minerva says. “Like Websdale, but with more people.”

“I’m going with you,” Richard says. “There are some things I want to do in Noir.”

Sarah sighs. “Are you sure they will not object to our presecne.”

“I gots a friend in Noir,” Heathcliff said. “Even visited Rosenkreuz a while back. He gots himself connected to an unofficial guild in tis underground. He’ll make sure we won’t meet with any trouble on the city streets.”

The Black Box’s ebony walls reflect a little bit more light. The azure elements glow brighter as if Emily’s spirits had been lifted a little. “How long will it take to prepare. I want to visit as soon as possible.”

“Patience, cher,” Heathcliff says. “Gotta make sure things are calm first. And that we are good in ready. Those dungeons can get really tough.”

“Indeed, “Elizabeth says. “The mana levels of the avenge dungeon there varies drastically. One could be well suited to rookie adventurers while the one across from it could have monsters that would tear any season adventurer limb from limb.”

“We’ll also need to talk with the Ebony Guards,” Tim says. “Noir’s only official guild.”

“Aw,” Emily says. “How long will that take?”

“If we’re lucky,” Heathcliff says. “About a week. Plenty of time to prepare, and to get Carla and Lotte here situated.”

“Hey!” Euryale says as she arrives with Stehno and Lydia. “Only we’re allowed to call her that!”

Stheno giggles at bit at seeing her nickname with Charlotte spread.

“Well I ain’t gonna call her Charlie, don’t to confused people here,” Heathcliff says.

“How are the children?” Carla says.

“They are already sound asleep, save for these two,” Lydia says.

“We will need to find out what to do with them in the meantime,” Emily says. “I’d rather not have them facing adventurers.”

The group begins their first plans for the future, the trip to Noir and finding out what the children can do while they stay in the dungeon.

✦✦✦

Meanwhile, a man in red and black walks. His strides are accompanied by a pipe’s tune. The Piper Pruflas walks down a jungle. Contented in his objective’s finish.

“Þe [Administrators] are not pleased. [Revotos] and [Ereshkigal] are livid wiþ your actions.” The demon hears a female voice. He turns to see one in a similar garb—a woman in pointed shoes, red in hue. Bells draped from her dress rings as she draws near.

“[Claudia], delighted to meet you. I’m a big fan,” Pruflas says.

Claudia’s glare pierces through the demon. Yet bemusement lies behind that glare. “I’m flattered, but you still made a mess.”

“That is a problem for [the Ascendant],” Pruflas says.

“Be lucky I’m þe one here wiþ you,” Claudia says. “If [Elpis] knew what you had done—“

“The treasonous demon, deceived in her hopes?” Pruflas says. “I’m surprised you still kept her around.” He plays his pipe.

Claudia sighs. “Þe [Dungeon] is working on cleaning up your mess. I’ve managed to get [þe Forgemaster] to route her ill-gotten gains to Noir.” She flashes a warm smile and a smirk.

“I only want to enhance the [Dungeons],” Pruflas says. “After all, it’s no fun fighting weaklings. You could say our interests align in this case.”

Claudia approaches Pruflas. She beckons him closer with a smile. “Well þen my fan, I’m in þe mood for giving away some memorabilia. Interested?”

“I would be honored to accept such gifts.” The demon says. “But how would I know it is not a trick?”

“I’m þe [Administrator] of tricksters,” Claudia says, conjuring up images of a coyote. “Everyþing I do is a trick.” In truth, Claudia loves to grant boons to those who act in methods favorable to her, even to demons.

“I only revealed the truth, milady,” the Piper says. “The generous truth’s what the [Tamer] needs.”

“Þis will be better suited to your [Charmer] host,” she says, handing over a pipe made in her image.

Pruflas accepts the goddess’ bequest and takes the pipe. Claudia smirks. “Thank you for this humble bequest, milady.” Pruflas leaves with his new instrument.

Claudia turns around and sighs. “[Astra] will smite þat fool one of þese days.” Claudia leaves, certain that her enchanted pipe will reveal the bard’s locations to the local exorcists.

She walks towards a hill overlooking Hamlin the village. She sees a large crowd had gathered for a mass memorial in honor of the children they believed were deceased. Centered on the burnt remains of the charred pole Clara was tied to.

“A so-called honest man who used deception to create an unenviable situation,” Claudia muses. Her voice carries a sense of contempt and disapproval. “A wicked man who spirited away þis village’s future, and who fostered events to get a brand new host. He is a good trickster, worþy of my boons, but a wicked man, and þus worþy of my judgment.” The wind blows, causing the bells on her dress to ring, and her golden tresses to billow.

“An Alraune moþer, innocent, yet betrayed, accused for two crimes she had not committed.” Her voice takes on a calmer tone. “She tricked þe village into þinking þe children were deceased, in þe hopes þat þey would one day reunite wiþ þeir parents. An honest woman and a good trickster. Worþy of my praise.”

“A determined mayor,” Claudia says with a tone that is in between the previous two. “Determined to bring prosperity to þe town, yet þe beneficiary of a trick þat saw an honest man killed and set þe stage for þe tragedy. Wiþ malice in his heart, would his ambitions make him worþy of my treats or my tricks?”

The stars shimmer in the night sky. Claudia looks up. Claudia lets out a giggle as she vanishes.

“Tell me what you þink, [Astra].”