System Reset: Forged in Nightmare

Velrick wasn't one to waste effort. For that matter, he wasn't the type to expend much effort at all; his limited time in this mortal body would be better spent sleeping rather than in service to his duties. Oathbound or not, his duties as a guide were impersonal for him. Just tasks to be done and done with—and without lingering, lest the boredom of it all went on to affect his dreams. He was a man beholden to his oath, nothing less and nothing more.

Yet, no oath compelled him to linger at the smithy. No sacred duty held him there after his charge believed him gone. There was no reasoning behind his actions except for the age-old reason anyone does anything unnecessary.

While having his nap interrupted annoyed him, Velrick's only complaint now was that he had none of this infamous "popcorn" on hand.

Profile Request by Xii-Velrick has been approved.

Alex Smith: Tier 1
Race: Human

Bloodline: Forged in Fire
Affinity: Fire
Class: Stone Dancer - Level 16

Traits: ???

Titles: The First Spark, Forgefather
Attributes: Half-dead Persistence

> Skills

Stealth (Adept)
Metalwork (Adept)
Meld (Novice)
Examine (Novice)
Pierce (Novice)
Glancing Blow (Novice)
Feather-foot (Novice)
Enchant (Novice)
Sever (Novice)

Weapon Mastery:

Nythca: Novice (20% to Adept)

> Stats

Vitality: 6
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 10
Fortitude: 8
Perception: 10
Arcane: 8

Velrick absorbed the information in seconds and waved the display away. Nothing stood out beyond what he'd already noted: an ancient blacksmithing bloodline, an antique class, an unclassified trait. They were individually special, but he had seen "special" countless times before. If being special was all it took to interest him, he wouldn't have come to loathe his responsibilities. Reduced by eons' of experience and simple arithmetic, "special" became another word for predictable. His only interest in such people was in learning whose hand it was that moved them.

As he stifled a yawn, a guttural, sing-song hiss echoed in his ear, "Then whose hand moves him?"

Velrick didn't turn to the voice. An addendum to that; there was no voice, it was only a remnant of last night's dream. To perceive it is to make it real, and he had no reason to destroy this world.

He stretched, the barest hint of a smile spread across his face.

"Or is there even a hand at all?" he pondered.

Though not a voyeur, Velrick found ironic pleasure in observing Alex, who hummed contently while forging a new dagger. When he was done he carved a wooden hilt for 'Nythca', seemingly oblivious to his blood splattered surroundings, and to the fact that he'd nearly died from Sepsis just hours earlier. Seemingly—except the first thing he'd done was reflect on the experience to increase his Vitality. Satisfied with his hilt, Alex ceased humming and prepared to leave.

The vestige whispered in Velrick's ear, "If he's unclaimed, then might we…?"

No, let's not be hasty.

He was no Constellation, and that was easily the most boring option he had available. Alex could die tomorrow, and perhaps it might take Velrick another millennia before someone captured his interest, but come what may. Mysteries were only captivating until solved. Besides, whether Alex was claimed or not was uncertain. Some hands were invisible to even him.

Velrick's gaze wandered back to Alex, gathering his drying clay back into his inventory and disappearing down the road.

System, he commanded. Grant this town's attendant additional privileges.

Request has been Denied. Guides do not have access to—

Denial Overridden.

Velrick sent further instructions and prepared to transfer his consciousness back to bed.

Dear Ms. Guild Attendant, Awakened 'Alex Smith' will be arriving shortly. You will answer these questions truthfully if he asks…

He yawned as reality shifted around him, considering waking up earlier starting tomorrow.

…no. Don't want to.

* * *

Alex's walk back to the Guild Hall was quiet. He heard skirmishes to the south, likely Jun and the other survivors, but the town's center was devoid of undead, so his walk went undisturbed.

He pushed open the Guild Hall doors.

"Hello," greeted a cheery voice. "Welcome to Starter Town's Adventurer's Guild! My name is Illyana. How can I assist you?"

Alex didn't respond right away. He'd kicked these doors in rage the previous night, and they had held firm. But now, from the slightest push, they creaked with a sickly whine and fell flat off their hinges. He looked at his palm, splintered by the contact. Ash and soot rained from the burnt rafters. He stepped inside and the Guild's signboard crashed behind him.

"Thank you for using our front entrance," Illyana said brightly, her eye twitching in irritation. "Very few do anymore."

The front entrance was no longer the only one; the wall it occupied was actually one of the last walls still standing. Alex could have sidestepped and entered through the rubble, but when there's a door, it's most polite to use it.

Alert: You have entered a safe zone. No monsters may harm you here.

Monument: Lionheart, Level 17 Scenario Boss.

Time Remaining: 1:13:53

A seventeen-hour safe zone for a level seventeen boss; it reminded Alex that only sixteen hours had passed since the scenario began. He noted one other occupant: a man hunched under a fallen beam, mumbling deliriously to himself. Finding no injuries, Alex stepped past him.

Illyana was the same freckled attendant from before the scenario. Yesterday, Lionheart had shattered the info-desk, but it was restored now, its polish contrasting harshly with everything burned to cinders around it. A trail of soot fell and blemished the polished wood and Illyana worked to clean it but only smudged it more with each swipe. Her eye twitched again.

She made it sparkle, then another trail of soot fell.

"How may I assist you?" she repeated, resigned.

Alex smirked, leaning his smith-grimed palms on the desk. "I'd like to register as an Adventurer."

"Of course!" She said, smiling tightly. "Please put your hand on this device! It will measure your magical output and assign your starting rank. Once you have registered, you can accept quests!"

She slid the steam punkish contraption forward, and Alex touched the shimmering orb. Despite his initial reluctance and desire to reject the idea of registering, he knew he had to follow some of Nightmare's rules in order to break others.

The orb glowed, and Illyana—likely a contractor rather than a member of the System's order—jerked in annoyance at the smear of dirt then gave an audible, and obviously fake gasp. "Wow! A blue-grade adventurer! That's not something you see every day!"

Alex tried not to groan. "So what does that give me?"

"As a Blue-rank adventurer, you can accept blue grade or lower quests. Luckily, all quests here are Green! The more quests you clear, the more points you earn towards ranking up! Keep at it!"

She slapped the quest board behind her. Alex had already seen it earlier. There were the green quests she'd mentioned but those weren't what he was really here for; he was here for the quest that would give him the weapon he needed to kill Anne. Access to the Special Quests was one of the Second Scenario's bonus rewards, and they were framed at the top of—

No—what?!

Alex's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "It's gone!" He shouted. "There was a quest here, the last time I came! The Special Quest: Crucible of Sun! Where'd it—"

"Oh! Would you like to redeem your fifth bonus reward?" Illyana asked.

Yes/No

"No—I, yes, but where is it? How—"

Please select from the available Special Quests at your Local Guild.

Alex took a calming breath as his hand subconsciously reached for the Guild Attendant's collar—that… wouldn't be smart.

She smiled. "Do you know which quest you would like to—"

"Give me a sec," he snapped.

Yes, he did. Of course he did. Alex already knew which quest he needed the second he'd entered Nightmare. And it wasn't here. It had been there just yesterday, but who could've…

His frown deepened. The bodies he'd seen when escaping the burning mansion—the person unaccounted for. They had to have been the one to take it, but 150 points?! He would've noticed if… no, actually, he wouldn't have noticed. He'd been locked away in the smithy for the entire afternoon—his brain had been elsewhere. But seriously? There were over a dozen Special Quests framed up there and they'd chosen the one he needed?!

Damn it…

It wasn't like he could just replace it with another. The Special Quests all rewarded access to different vaults and he needed the Sun Vault. Against all odds he'd managed to win that crucible in his last life, but he couldn't for the life of him remember who he'd originally taken the quest off of. The chances that he'd come across the same person again or any of the other Crucible of Sun quest-holders was astronomically low. But if I don't get it, my odds of killing Anne…

"Who took it?" Alex asked. "The Crucible of Sun Quest, Who was it?"

Illyana, who had been passively-aggressively wiping the surface surrounding Alex's hands, looked up. Her eyes glazed over in annoyance as she engaged with something on her interface. "A… small girl. Around your chest in height. I'm sorry, but I'm not permitted to say more.

Alex massaged his temple. Gloomy? She had to be the only person here who fit that description. He'd assumed she was weak… no, she was weak, or low-level at least. But Alex had been too before last night. What if she knew more about Nightmare than what she let on? Alex thought back to the gauze he'd been given. His First Spark title would've lit a beacon for the Constellations anyway, but they only should've caught on after Scenario two ended. But what if Gloomy had had a Constellation watching out for her from the very beginning?

Then by watching her, they found me.

"Excuse me, which Special Quest would you like to redeem, Adventurer?" Illyana repeated.

"Any of… no, I'll take blood."

Special Quest: Crucible of Blood

Before the first throne was carved from bone, an oath was made. Blood for passage. Blood for truth. You who bear the mark now stand at the edge of that forgotten vow.

Parties can be formed with up to five individuals.
Only one may gain access to the Vault.

Reward:

The Blood Vault shall open.

Alex's eyes skipped past the drivel. Glowering, he asked one more question. "What Scenario Three path did she follow?"

The attendant's eye just twitched in response and Alex removed his hands from the desk so she could clean it. She bit her lip.

Well, of course she wouldn't tell me…

"It was the Path of Buried Ghosts," Illyana said at last.

Alex winced at the familiar name. "I see. Then I'll take as many quests along that path as you have."

"I can only give three, Adventurer. Which would you—"

"It doesn't matter which ones. Thank you. And please deliver this note to the man named Jun."

"Of course, Adventurer."

He handed over a folded piece of paper, and the attendant randomly tore three quests from the bulletin board. They dispersed into a flutter of pixels in Alex's hand.

Slay Three Ghouls

Ghouls lurk in the passages of the Misting Valleys. Slay three of them and make the mountains once safer for travelers.

Reward: 3,000 Essence

Missing Caravan

A caravan has gone missing along the Path of Buried Ghosts. Investigate and report your findings to the Adventurer's Guild.

Reward: 3,000 Essence

Haunted Manor

Rumors of an abandoned manor hidden within the mists suggests that all who travel there never return. Verify the rumors' integrity.

Reward: 3,000 Essence

Alex reviewed them briefly, then dismissed them to the quest tab in his interface. Their descriptions were meaningless, but their rewards weren't. This was one of the advantages of beating the Scenario boss. If he'd failed to, the next time he'd have come across an Adventurer's Guild would've been near the end of the Third Scenario—unless he sought out their elusive outposts.

Ultimately, none of it mattered to him. Not even the Special Quest he'd chosen in absence of the one he needed. Alex already knew his path, and if Gloomy was the one that had taken it from him, then he would find her. He was wary, but they were at least familiar with each other. There was a good chance she would cooperate.

"Alright," Alex said. "Then if that's all…"

"Wait, you were missing during the registration yesterday, weren't you?"

Illyana straightened theatrically, her polished demeanor completely out of place in this wreckage. She took a steady breath—the kind someone took when they weren't going to shut up for a while. Alex sighed, resigning himself as she opened her mouth.

"Thank you for joining our ranks!" She beamed. "We're glad to have you, Adventurer! This world has been troubled by dark forces for far too long. It's… a long story, but it all began when the mad tyrant, King Eldiwin of Orynthia and his Eight evil Lords of the round table became tempted by darkness. In their boundless greed for immortality and dark powers, they sold the souls of their people—and King Eldiwin unleashed a Nightmare on this world.

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"For the price of his kingdom, he became a Demon King! His vassals became Undead Lords, and the people he once served were cursed and twisted. Heroes from all corners of the universe rose up against him—bastions of light against the spread of his dark plague. They killed five of his Lords, but in the end they only managed to seal King Eldiwin in the ruins of Estir, Orynthia's once-beautiful capital. However, those heroes gave their lives for the feat, and Demon's King's curse persists across the lands. Now, only those in outskirt settlements like Starter Town have resisted the curse… and retained their humanity…"

Illyana trailed off, looking around them. Her eye twitched again as she tried to keep her mask. This speech was clearly written to be delivered before the Second Scenario, and Alex only suffered through her performance because he had a feeling he'd have to hear it all again at the next guild if he didn't let her finish.

"Just speed through the rest," he said.

"An-anyway, The three remaining Undead Lords now seek to revive their brethren and reign havoc on the world once more! Karvarath the Dark Scourge, Lord of Hallowmere Reach! Hadrial, Harbinger of Destruction, Lord of The Pale Labyrinth! And the Berserk Calamity—William, Lord of Misting Valleys! Orynthia's three most powerful Knights now seek nothing but the world's destruction! And it is only a matter of time before their liege's seal is broken. The fight against Demon King Eldiwin has reached its darkest hour, but with you by our side, Adventurer, we can surely—"

A raspy voice interrupted her speech. "Are you… Alex…?"

They both turned to the other man in the room, who had been muttering gibberish under his breath until just then. He was middle-aged, clean-shaven but dirty, and wore tattered jeans and a bloodied jacket beneath a wizard's robe. His blond hair hung in sweaty, sooty strands, and he hugged himself as if expecting an attack despite this being a safe zone.

"Yes?" Alex asked.

The man's clouded eyes and trembling lips told Alex everything he needed to know about him. "Jun said… t-that the one who killed the boss… i-it was…"

"Yes, that was me."

Blood crusted the man's jacket around a tear in the fabric. It wasn't hard to imagine that a fatal wound was once there, and it wasn't hard to imagine Jun giving the man a healing potion from his rewards. He was healed now, and physically fit to fight, yet… he still hid away.

The man's next words were as Alex expected.

"Help me…"

"I'm sorry," Alex said. "I cannot."

His mood dampened, he nodded to the guild attendant before she could start up again, then turned to leave. But the man desperately clutched his pant legs. "Please… you're strong, right? P-Protect me! Or even just… food, man. You got any?"

His stomach grumbled, and he slinked back down, abashed.

Food. Alex was not particularly short on food. It had been the first thing he stocked up on before the apocalypse. In spite of that… the man could've asked for anything else—even the dagger Alex had just forged—and he would've hesitated less.

"P-please? I…"

Kneeling on one knee, Alex pressed some jerky into the man's fist. "It's not much, but no one has a lot of food right now. This is just from my sign-on bonus, Don't bother stretching it. Give yourself a full stomach."

"Thank—"

"No need for thanks." Alex suppressed an impatient sigh, sitting down in front of him. "What's your name?"

"…Julian."

It was evident that Julian gave his name entirely on reflexively. He wasn't really there, and Alex could tell. His stare was void of any recognition as he looked at the jerky in his hand. Whatever he was perceiving with those clouded eyes was not reality, but a collection of disjointed thoughts and memories. Alex had little patience for any of it, but he waited regardless.

Eventually, Julian began picking at his meal. Noticing Alex was still there, he nodded glumly.

"...are you a pitcher?" he asked.

"Excuse me?"

He mimed a weak throwing motion. "The muscles on your right arm."

"Oh." Alex felt there, only noticing a slight difference. "My work sees me using my dominant arm more. You?"

"I played Catcher. Or was… I was… backup for the Mets. Retired some…"

A small smile died on Julian's lips before it could take root, and his words trailed off. A silence hung between them, and Julian tilted his head up. Alex followed his gaze, taking in the clear sky through a hole in the rafters.

"Wow… the world's really gone to shit, huh."

Alex grunted.

"You think there'll still be another season of Stranger Things?"

Alex frowned. "Probably not."

"So, it's just going to leave off like that, huh…"

"I suppose so."

Alex stifled a sigh. Julian should be leveling up while there were still easy mobs to target, but no doubt Jun would've tried convincing him of that already. More importantly, Alex had places to be. Gloomy had taken the quest he needed, and every second he tarried here, the distance between them grew. His actions were beyond pointless. No matter what he said or did, nothing good would come as a result of this.

But even so…

"Well, how did it end?" he asked.

"What?"

"Stranger Things, I never watched it."

"For real…? It was like, crazy popular for a while, man."

Alex shrugged. Against his better judgement, he gave the man some of his drinkable water. "So are you gonna tell me or what?"

"You don't care about spoilers dude?"

"I'm probably not gonna watch it now anyways," Alex said.

Julian scoffed and some of the cloudiness in his eyes faded as he explained the show. There were these kids, and sometime in the eighties there was some weird shit going on. The more he spoke about it, the more Alex thought it sounded familiar. Then he remembered Cameron had been watching something like that on the TV soon after they moved in.

"Like… how are they just gonna do that to him?" Julian exclaimed. "And they end the season with it?!"

"Yeah, sounds fucked up," Alex agreed. "But deaths make fiction more realistic. They probably should've killed most of the other characters too."

"Really? That's your complaint? You—you're out of your mind, dude."

Alex gave a lopsided grin. "Ain't we all."

"Man, what kind of TV have you been watching anyway? Let's say you come home from work, crack a beer—what do you put on?"

The Solarian League, Alex immediately thought. But he didn't know how he'd explain to the man the appeal of watching the strongest people in the universe kill each other for sport. Nor, how to explain how extraterrestrial entertainment worked.

"No, I didn't watch much TV," he said instead. "Something always came up, and I ended up leaving things half-finished. Movies were more my thing. Used to sneak into the theaters and decide what to watch at a glance. You can find some interesting stuff that way."

Now, Julian smiled.

He was looking more lively by the minute. He laughed, and they talked a bit more about nothing really important. He shared his favorite movies, hobbies, foods and celebrity crushes—and Alex didn't share with the man about which ones were dead now. They didn't talk about family, friends, monsters, or Nightmare. The only magic discussed was Julian's schoolyard trick of disappearing his pinkie, made easier with his higher dexterity stat.

For Julian, it was probably a necessary distraction; for Alex… it was an unexpectedly gratifying chance to reminisce.

Earth had always been a barred topic after the apocalypse. Alex never cared to hear what extraterrestrials had to say about it, and between his people, it only ever brought up painful memories. It had been their home after all, and though Alex had never truly found his place there, it was the closest he'd ever come. Neither the peaceful planet where he'd "apprenticed" to his Master, nor the dark layers of Dykriest were places he would call home. God forbid Nightmare.

No, only Earth.

But there was a disconnect. For Julian, Earth was still his home. When he spoke, it was of the present, of a life he expected to return to—not knowing that such a thing was impossible. Even if, against all odds, Julian lived, Earth would still end. He would come to see it as Alex did: a place to hold dear in the heart, but just a memory. A ghost of a world.

Before Alex realized it, he was already speaking of it as such. It was just as well that Julian hadn't noticed; it would have been counterintuitive to what he was trying to do. Alex checked his interface. Reminiscing, he had lost track of time. Time was something Julian didn't have to spare, even more than Alex.

"And then," Julian cackled, "they decided to announce a sequel to the first one for whatever reason. Recontinued after all that—can you imagine?"

"Yeah, that does sound crazy," Alex said. The man was meeting his eyes now, that was good enough.

"Yeah, like what were they even think—"

"Julian," He interrupted. "I had fun talking, but you have a choice to make now."

The man stopped short. Then, as if remembering where he was, his disposition made a one-eighty. His face simultaneously darkened even and paled. "A choice?"

"While we sit here talking, the others are out there killing the remaining undead and getting stronger. They asked you to come with them, didn't they?"

Julian's immediate panic told Alex he'd been right.

"I'm not going!" He yelled. "You saw what those bastards were like! I'm not going to risk my life so—"

"That's not what the choice is," Alex said.

Julian flinched as Alex forcibly dragged him to his feet. The man resisted but the time for softness was over, and Alex yanked him up. Julian didn't really have it in him to fight Alex.

Alex summoned a gun into his grip. He unclipped its magazine and removed its bullets until there was only one in the chamber. Then he clicked it back into place, feeling a weak, skittish intent through his dangersense.

"Easy now," Alex said, arm outstretched, "I'm not here to force you to go, Julian. No one's forcing you to do anything. But this safe zone will only last one more hour, and we both know staying here isn't an option."

The older man gulped. "Th-then… you'll take me with—"

"No," Alex said simply. "I can't do that. I'm sorry."

Julian clutched his head; his eyes began to cloud again until Alex was certain he wasn't truly seeing his surroundings anymore, only the horrific death he inevitably faced.

"Please… " He said. "Don't-don't leave… Take me…"

Alex sighed. "Jun offered to take you with him, right? Why haven't you gone with him?"

And why am I doing this? He added in his mind.

When Julian didn't respond, Alex continued. "I know why. You're scared, right? But death is only death. Do you know what it's like to starve? Have you ever experienced the pain of—"

Julian wasn't hearing him. Tears formed in his eyes. "Oh god," he droned. "I'm going to die… Leslie, I'm going to… someone please…"

The man's incessant mumbling quickly became unintelligible. Alex pinched his eyes in frustration.

Why do I bother?

In the end, there would be only 217 Nightmares, and an untold minority of survivors from those who found Return Crystals. The man sobbing his eyes out before Alex held no chance of being any one of them. There was no point to this.

Why am I even…

"Julian, look!" Alex slapped him, and Julian raised his head momentarily. "You're not going to be abandoned. Jun will probably take you whether you're useful or not because that's just the kind of person he is. But he won't be able to protect you, Julian. That's on you."

"No. No, no, no. I can't do it. I can't risk my—"

"Julian! Stand straight you idiot! Is there something interesting on the ground?! Raise your head—look me in the eyes, damn it!"

Julian flinched in fear. Shakily, he followed the order until they stood eye to eye. Alex pressed the gun into Julian's palm, closing the man's fingers around it in a firm grip. Julian tried to pull away, but Alex kept it there. "I told you. You have a choice to make."

"I can't…"

"I'm not telling you to risk your life," Alex said coldly. "You're already risking it just by being here. But you have to decide how you're going to spend it—on your own terms."

Julian's lip trembled as understanding flashed in his eyes. Alex continued.

"It's only going to get worse, Julian. Stay here and starve to death if you'd like. Follow Jun like a lost lamb if you must, but it will only get worse if you keep like this." Alex's voice took on a grim tone. "You'll wish you ended it here, Julian."

The man quailed. His eyes, which had begun to clear became murky again. Distantly, Alex was aware of the guild attendant watching them. Julian's hand, the one holding the gun, shook, and he raised it to his temple.

Alex gripped the barrel tightly.

"Not on impulse," he scolded. "I'm not telling you this is the answer; I'm just telling you what's going to happen. Think about it, and take your time."

Julian did so. Or perhaps he wasn't thinking at all with that blank stare of his. The thought ran through Alex's head again. Why am I doing this?

Then he had a counter-thought: Why not? At worst, it would only cost him thirty minutes and a bullet. And at best, maybe it would…

No, Alex didn't really believe anything good would come from it. Yet, he made Julian look into his eyes regardless. "Some fates are worse than death," he said. "But no fate is sealed. If you accept other's help and prepare yourself while there are still easy targets, and if you fight for your life, there's always a chance. A very, very slim chance. Choose wisely, Julian, but make your choice now."

Silence stretched for a long instant, and Alex stepped back. The hand gripping the gun trembled. The guild's attendant watched with hollow eyes.

Eventually, Julian chose.

"It would've been kinder to let him do it," she said.

Alex didn't respond. He simply stared off in the direction where Julian had gone to reunite with the other survivors. She was right. By the end of this, Alex would be cursed for his interference.

But maybe… just maybe, they were both wrong.

Remembering herself, the attendant resumed her character. "Adventurer, would you like to learn more about Demon King Eldiwin and his Undead Lords—"

"Apologies," Alex said, "But I'm not in the mood for it anymore. You said the girl that grabbed the Crucible of Sun came this morning? Was it right at dawn by any chance?"

"Yes."

Then I'll have to be fast if I want to catch up.

Alex nodded his thanks and turned, leaving for Starter Town's… no, D'lorn's front gates. The name came to him unbidden. The Third Scenario had already begun; he'd received the notification earlier that day and the premise was deceptively simple. He just had to follow the cryptic path they gave him that led to a city deep in the Misting Valleys. Then the Fourth Scenario would begin, and he knew what he had to do.

Before, he'd planned to get his weapons, sniff out treasures, and kill Anne after Nightmare, when he was strong enough to pose a threat. Now, Alex wasn't sure he actually had the patience to wait that long.

* * *

Jun left the Starter Town through the same gates he'd entered. The sun cast a long shadow as it began its descent, and he'd started to think the evenings in this world were terrifying. The sun fell so fast that it was high in the sky one second, and the next, he was already bathing in its golden glow. He read the note by its light, then folded it.

Meet me in the city. 16:00, twenty-nine days from now. At a bar called Lucian's Tomb in the northwest sector. Or don't.

- Alex

It was… as candid a message as Jun expected from Alex. Although… he didn't really know what to think of him anymore. These last couple nights had given Jun a whirlwind of emotions. During that time, Alex had come into his life, saved him, betrayed him, helped him, saved him again, helped him save the others, and then he disappeared without another word. What was Jun even supposed to think?

Or maybe what he thought didn't matter. The letter omitted one crucial word: if. This was only if he reached the city. He closed his eyes.

"Jun? Which path should we choose?" someone asked.

Ahmed, Frank, Julian, Kim, Donovan, Aili, Rachel, Brennen. They all looked to his back for direction. He could feel them looking, and he wanted to help them. They were stronger together than they ever would've been alone, and they were very friendly. But he couldn't help wondering what would happen if…

No, these were good people. He shouldn't be thinking that.

"It says we must choose one of them for Scenario Three. Jun?"

He kept his eyes closed, taking some calm breaths. In through the nose… hold… and out through the mouth. They were good people.

But… Jolyn had probably been a good person too. Jolyn…

The name sparked some sadness in him. They'd found her corpse. It looked like it had been quick and painless, for all that it mattered. They hadn't found that young girl however. She hadn't been with the other sacrifices. She'd… Jun didn't know how, but she'd been awake that night. He could only hope she was doing okay.

"Jun?"

"How about we go with the Path of Poisoned Thorns," Jun finally said.

He didn't think it mattered which they chose; they all had equally ominous descriptions. The Scenario itself also didn't give a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Scenario 3: Rite of Passage

You have been provided three paths through the Mists of Lost Souls to the city of Gryndal. Air drops containing supplies will be visible from all paths, but only the path you choose is safe. Beware what lurks in the mists. Take care that you don't become a lost soul yourself.

Clear Conditions: Arrive at the city within thirty days.

Penalty for failure: Death.

Jun stood at the unnatural tree line separating the mists from plains of dead grass. Those tempestuous whispers of the mist's 'lost souls' pulled and pushed at his mind. Then when he selected the Poisoned Thorns path, a straight clearing opened before him, pushing the mist's boundaries away.

"Woah…" Someone muttered.

"This place is insane," Someone else said. "Should we get going?"

Jun could tell the question had been directed at him. He had no clue why they'd designated him their "leader", but he felt the weight of their gazes on his back. He scrunched his eyes.

Then he turned around to face them. Kim crossed her arms expectantly. Julian smiled. Frank muttered something about getting on with it, and Ahmed hooked his arm around the man's shoulder, telling him to take it easy.

Some of Jun's tension faded and he felt a smile pull at his lips. "This might be a little a little crazy to say, but I want you guys to know you've made my day a lot easier. And I know that's a weird thing to say. We saw a lot of people die, and we even lost Jacob just a few hours ago. We don't even know if our friends or family are alright. But what I do know is my day would've been a lot harder without you guys for company."

Jun saw bittersweet expressions and knew he wasn't the only one who felt that way.

"I ain't in disagreement there bud," Frank said. "But what now?"

"Frank."

"What? Just askin'."

Jun shook his head. "It's getting dark. Let's head out for a bit, and if these paths really are safe, we'll set up camp for the night and look out for supply drops."

His companions all assented and followed Jun into the path, mists closing around them. Julian lagged a little, but Aili and Ahmed helped him along. They were all good people, really. And even if people could never be perfect, Jun couldn't stop loving them. It was why he'd been able to brave a smile in front of Lionheart.

But when Jun turned his back, those gazes turned venomous and all he could think was that humans were animals too.

"This… this place gives me the creeps, man," Julian said.

"It really does," Aili agreed. "Especially now that it's night."

"And it's cold too. I really hope those supply drops have blankets or something."

"Think we'll have to snuggle up?" Frank asked.

"Ew, gross."

Jun laughed, but inwardly he felt uneasy. Humans were animals—and he was an animal too. In the end, when his gut was impaled with a sword, he'd finally realized just how terrifying it was to die.

Path of Poisoned Thorns

The more beautiful the rose, the more poison lies on its prick.

May your passage prove safe.