Hero Of Broken History

"What the fuck is this?"

Avian stood in the doorway of their new accommodations, staring at what could only be described as a small mansion pretending to be an inn suite. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over furniture that cost more than most people's houses. The sitting room alone was bigger than their entire previous lodging, with doors leading to what he assumed were equally ridiculous bedrooms.

"Our new base of operations!" Kai announced proudly, already sprawled on a couch that looked like it had been upholstered with clouds and good intentions. "Much better than the Silver Swan, don't you think?"

"This is the Golden Griffin. The Golden fucking Griffin." Avian stepped inside reluctantly, feeling distinctly out of place despite technically being nobility. "Do you know what they charge per night here?"

"Fifty gold."

"Fifty—" Avian's eye twitched. "That's more than most families see in a year."

"Good thing we're not most families then." Kai's grin had that particular quality that meant he was enjoying himself far too much. "Besides, we needed the space. Three bedrooms, private bath, and most importantly - excellent soundproofing. Can't have the neighbors complaining when we're planning questionably legal activities."

Leontis emerged from one of the bedrooms, somehow already changed into what appeared to be silk pajamas in eye-searing purple. "The protagonist approves! The beds are magnificent. Like sleeping on crystallized dreams!"

"How are you already—never mind." Avian pinched the bridge of his nose. "Kai, please tell me you didn't rob someone to afford this."

"I'm hurt you'd even suggest that." Kai placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "I'll have you know this is all perfectly legitimate. Investments paying off, family connections, that sort of thing."

Family connections my ass. This has Aedric's fingers all over it. Subtle as a brick to the face, father.

Lux materialized from her ring form, immediately beginning to investigate every corner of the suite with the dedication of someone who'd found a new territory to claim. She sniffed at an ornate vase, sneezed lightning that made the flowers inside bloom instantly, then continued her exploration without pause.

"We're going to get kicked out," Avian said flatly. "She's going to break something irreplaceable and we're going to get kicked out."

"The concierge assured me they're very understanding about spirit companions." Kai pulled out a bottle of wine from somewhere—probably the suite's fully stocked bar. "Besides, after the warehouse incident, we needed somewhere secure to plan our next move. Can't exactly discuss hunting death mancers in a common room."

That was frustratingly logical.

Avian sighed and claimed a chair that probably had its own pedigree. "Fine. But if we're doing this, we're doing it properly. Leontis, stop posing in the mirror and get over here."

"The protagonist doesn't pose! He naturally arranges himself in aesthetically pleasing configurations!"

"Just sit down."

They gathered around a low table that was definitely worth more than a small house. Kai poured wine—something that smelled expensive and old. Leontis immediately pulled out his notebook, ready to document whatever dramatic turns the evening would take. Lux finished her investigation and flopped down at Avian's feet, occasional sparks indicating she was processing everything she'd smelled.

"Right," Avian began, organizing his thoughts. "What we learned tonight. The Black Mage Association—fifty or so death mancers operating in cells. An Elder who's been around since the Demon War. And our friend Goldus Merchantius funding the whole operation because he's got a hard-on for pre-Empire artifacts."

"Don't forget about your corpse," Leontis added helpfully. "The Demon King's perfectly preserved body being studied for five centuries. That's narratively significant!"

"Not my corpse," Avian said quickly. "Just... significant that they have it. From a historical perspective."

Smooth. Real smooth. Definitely not suspicious at all.

"Historical perspective," Kai repeated, tone suggesting he wasn't buying it. "Right. Well, historically speaking, what's our next move? We can't take on fifty death mancers."

"We don't need to take on fifty." Avian leaned back, mind already working through possibilities. "Organizations like this have weak points. Funding is one of them. Cut off the money..."

"And they start making mistakes," Kai finished. "Goldus then?"

"Eventually. But we need more information first. The death mancer mentioned dead drops, coded messages. If we can intercept some of those communications..."

"The Weeping Angel statue in Greenvale Cemetery," Leontis said, scribbling notes. "He said that was his drop point. Oh! The protagonist could stake it out! Wait dramatically in the shadows for—"

"No dramatics," Avian cut him off. "This needs to be subtle. Professional."

"The protagonist is extremely professional!"

Kai and Avian exchanged looks.

"What?" Leontis asked. "I am! I professionally saved your lives. I professionally extracted justice from my family's murderer. I professionally—"

"Got distracted by a butterfly during the ghoul fight yesterday," Kai supplied.

"It was a narratively significant butterfly!"

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"Moving on," Avian said firmly. "The cemetery drop is a start, but we need to be smart about this. These people have been operating for centuries. They didn't survive by being careless."

He stood and moved to the window, looking out over the noble district. Somewhere out there, Goldus was probably counting his money, unaware that his comfortable life was about to get very uncomfortable. Beyond that, fifty death mancers pursued their research, thinking themselves safe in their secrecy. And somewhere, an Elder old enough to remember the Demon War kept his corpse like a trophy.

My body. What the fuck have they been doing with my body?

"We'll need to map their operations," he said, turning back to his companions. "Find their safe houses, identify key members, understand their hierarchy. Can't just charge in swinging."

"Charging in swinging has worked pretty well so far," Leontis pointed out.

"Against one death mancer at a time. This is different. This is..." Avian paused, searching for words that wouldn't reveal too much. "This is like fighting a hydra. Cut off one head, two more grow back. Unless you know exactly where to strike."

"Speaking from experience?" Kai asked, too casually.

"Common sense. Any organization that's survived this long has contingencies. Failsafes. Ways to ensure continuity even if members are compromised."

Plus I've dismantled similar groups before. Demon cults were all the rage during the war. Same structure, different flavor of crazy.

"So we start small," Kai said, refilling his wine. "The cemetery drop. See what intelligence we can gather. Build from there."

"Speaking of the warehouse," Leontis interjected, "I've been meaning to ask - where was your magnificent lightning wolf during the construct fight? Not that we needed her, the protagonist handled it brilliantly, but—"

"She was handling the perimeter," Avian explained. "The death mancer had dozens of ghouls stationed around the warehouse. Probably thought they'd alert him to trouble or serve as reinforcements."

"And Lux dealt with all of them?" Kai asked, impressed.

"Every last one. Why do you think she smelled like ozone and ghoul ash when she came in?" Avian scratched behind Lux's ears, and she preened at the memory. "Can't have backup arriving mid-fight. Basic tactics - control the battlefield before engaging the main threat."

"The protagonist approves of this strategic thinking! Though he would have preferred a more dramatic entrance, perhaps through the skylight—"

"We'll take turns," Avian interrupted. "And we'll need better equipment. If we're going up against death mancers regularly, standard Bronze-rank gear won't cut it."

"Already ahead of you." Kai produced a pouch that clinked with the sound of excessive wealth. "Our newfound prosperity should cover some upgrades. There's a discreet armorer in the merchant quarter. Doesn't ask questions if the gold's good."

"Since when are you the equipment expert?"

"Since I realized you'd keep wearing the same bloodstained leathers forever if someone didn't intervene." Kai grinned. "Also, Lux has been sparking more lately. Might want to get you something lightning-resistant."

As if to demonstrate, Lux yawned and a small bolt earthed itself in the expensive carpet, leaving a scorch mark.

"We're definitely getting kicked out," Avian muttered.

"The carpet needed character anyway," Leontis decided. "Now it tells a story!"

They spent the next hour planning, mapping out what they knew and what they needed to learn. Leontis contributed surprisingly useful insights between dramatic declarations. His three years of tracking Wilhelm had given him knowledge of death mancer habits, common hiding spots, and supply chains.

"Preservation salts," he explained, momentarily serious. "They need specific alchemical compounds to maintain their experiments. Only a few suppliers in the city carry the quality they need. Watch those, and you'll spot their procurement agents eventually."

"How do you know all this?" Kai asked.

"The protagonist's tragic backstory included extensive research! Also, I may have broken into several death mancer workshops over the years. For narrative purposes."

"And you didn't think to mention this earlier?"

"You didn't ask! Besides, they were all empty by the time I found them. Wilhelm was always one step ahead." His expression darkened. "Was."

Kid's more competent than he lets on. The theatrical nonsense is armor, same as my noble boy act. Question is, what's he really hiding under there?

"Right," Avian said. "So we have leads on suppliers, the cemetery drop, and Goldus. That's a start. But we need to be careful. If they realize they're being hunted..."

"They already know," Kai pointed out. "Wilhelm's death won't go unnoticed."

"One death mancer in a warehouse full of necromantic experiments? The watch will write it off as infighting. Happens often enough." Avian smiled grimly. "But you're right. They'll be cautious for a while. Which means we need to be patient."

"Patience is not the protagonist's strong suit," Leontis admitted.

"Then learn," Avian said flatly. "Because impatience gets people killed. And despite my better judgment, I'd prefer you both stayed alive."

"Aww, he cares!" Leontis clutched his chest dramatically. "The bonds of friendship grow stronger!"

"I take it back. Die whenever you want."

But he was smiling slightly as he said it.

They talked until well past midnight, wine flowing freely—except for Avian, who stuck to water after the first glass. Someone needed to stay sharp, and his companions were well on their way to drunk.

"You know what we need?" Kai said suddenly, words slightly slurred. "A name. Every good group has a name."

"The Protagonist and His Supporting Cast!" Leontis suggested immediately.

"Absolutely not."

"The Magnificent Three!"

"Worse."

"The Destiny Defiers! The Fate Breakers! The—"

"How about we focus on not dying first, then worry about branding?" Avian suggested.

But they were already off, suggestions growing increasingly ridiculous as the wine took hold. Avian watched them with something approaching fondness, though he'd die before admitting it.

When did this happen? When did I start collecting strays again?

It was uncomfortably familiar. Different faces, different era, but the same dynamic. People who should have run screaming instead choosing to follow him into danger. People who made him care despite his better judgment.

That worked out so well last time. Arrow through the heart, remember?

But he couldn't help the warmth that spread through his chest as Kai and Leontis argued about whether "Doom Bringers" was too ominous or just ominous enough.

Eventually, they stumbled off to their respective bedrooms—or in Leontis's case, performed an interpretive dance to bed. Avian remained in the sitting room, staring at the scorch mark Lux had left on the carpet.

The Golden Griffin. Fifty gold a night. His companions drunk and planning revolution against an organization that had survived five centuries.

Could be worse. Could be raining.

Thunder rumbled outside, and within seconds, rain lashed against the windows.

I need to stop tempting fate.

Lux raised her head, tail wagging at the sound of the storm. She padded over to the window, pressing her nose against the glass to watch the lightning with professional interest.

"See anything useful?" Avian asked.

She turned and gave him a look that clearly said 'it's lightning, what do you think?'

"Fair point."

He joined her at the window, watching the storm paint the noble district in shades of silver and shadow. Somewhere out there, death mancers were probably receiving word of Wilhelm's demise. Planning their response. Tightening security.

Good. Let them worry. Let them wonder who was hunting them and why.

Because I'm coming for all of you. For what you did to my soldiers. For keeping my corpse like a trophy. For existing in the world I bled to save.

The planning would continue tomorrow. Intelligence gathering, equipment upgrades, careful moves on a dangerous board. But tonight, he had drunk friends, an overpriced suite, and a spirit wolf who was now trying to bite the lightning through the window.

"Lux, that's glass. You can't—"

CRACK.

The window now had a perfect semicircle of bite marks, electricity still crackling around the edges.

"We're definitely getting kicked out," Avian sighed.