CHPT 340: Hectic Nights Birth Hectic Thoughts....

The skies on the outside world were a heavy sheet of black studded with the glimmering stars higher above. They failed to reflect the madness taking place on the grounds they stretched over. Failed to take in the abject violence of the desert that sometimes seemed more like a battleground than a land of sands and snow. Much like the skies, the sporadic placement of Tangents failed to replicate the violence they were face to face with.

Pockets of small worlds, housing beings of raw power and magical creation...housing civilizations-- love, war, hate, power, discovery, truths and lies.

The pinnacle of risk and reward, power and price. Only the most grizzled warriors find themselves routinely venturing within these separate existences because in many ways, it is their purpose upon Rebirth. At least that's what it's perceived to be...

VWOOMP!

"HOLY FUCK!.....I think I'm back to hating running....and loving bathing." Ursula said as she flew from the light blue Tangent and skidded to a halt on solid sanded grounds.

Before she could say anything else, the others came in after her, running her over as they moved in the form of a wolven stampede covered in Ghoul blood.

VWOOMP!

Crash!

Rocks and the crumbled remains of the terrain within the Tangent cluttered as it rolled off them in the midst of their tumble, speaking volumes of their barely successful escape and the chaos that eventually rose to incredible levels towards the end.

"That was....close." Claude announced, while sitting up and ripping off a discarded Ghoul arm that latched onto his shoulder desperately. As soon as it hit the ground, Frosty stomped it and Gil scorched it out of existence. It was safe to assume they were tired of Ghouls.

[+1 Stat Point]

"[Remarkable...]" Arne whispered in response to the random notification that was one of a kind in terms of it's origin.

Claude ignored the sign and it's implication as he got to his feet, remaining thankful despite what it meant. Hell, if he hadn't gotten the title, maybe he would've never been able to gain the spell.

The Spell that was still active as he stood in the deserted lands in silence with his Pack.

"Undead....good choice-- even if they're annoying as hell. The good thing is they aren't smart.....just foul smelling practice dummies. Damn, I think I leveled up twice in there.."

"Three times...." Claude corrected, "And yea, The Undead are always a good choice for power gain..but that was dangerous towards the end."

Ursula stood up, dusting off her pants and shaking her cloak while Blackbeak cawed in protest beside her.

"Luckily we had a trump card." She replied with a smile while looking at his arms in reference to his newly gained Spell, Second Frenzy.

"Definitely useful...definitely." He said in a distant tone while studying the Spell.

In the darkness, he held his arms out in front of him studying the green cloak of magic as it flowed and burst with arcing sparks of verdant light. When he moved his arms, glowing green after-images of his arms followed in a sort of semi-blur. It was almost beautiful in a way-- kind of ironic considering only moments ago he'd used the Spell to dismember and debilitate Ghouls faster than ever. One slash or stab of his spear transformed into two with it activated, in a way, it was a damage boost-- making any normal attack that much more gruesome. But it had potential for more.

It was a simple Physical Spell that mirrored the fighting style of the Deviant Boss they'd slain, but it was all the more effective in his hands. A good first Spell he'd say.

In a flash, it was gone with a burst of green energy particles that faded up into the night. It was almost like a concluding factor to their little endeavor, causing them both to take a deep inhale and sigh at the same time. When they were done, they smiled at each-other briefly, they'd done a good thing. Hopes had risen, fears had fallen-- but both were still as prominent as ever at large, their training had just begun.

"[Well done to the both of you. Positively stunning for a first run with such an unsettling twist.]" Arne commended them.

Claude thanked him silently and pulled out the folded up wad of Infested Area Quest Forms, leafing through them to decide their next target.

When he finally did, he put the rest back, holding a single piece of paper littered with writings and descriptions of what was to come.

"Back to work?" Ursula questioned, causing the rest of the pack to rise to their feet fully alert.

"Of course, let's get moving."

***

They ran for a few miles at most before entering a calm stride once out of the condensed and unsafe deserts. Afterwards, they settled into a calm state of silence only disrupted by them checking their weapons and armor and the distant chains of thoughts everyone picked up on through their connections.

He couldn't get all of it, but he was sure Ursula was thinking of their friends back home-- Maris to be exact. She did often, but the last string of thought he heard was a solid memory. He didn't think much of it, trying to ignore how much he missed them as he pressed onward.

The mountains in the distance shifted and split under the dark-night sky, revealing the dozens of extra rising peaks and sloping mounds that jutted up into existence further behind. It was a nice sight, made nicer by the winter snowfall that cast their view in an accented covering of cold whiteness. It's icy touch failed to reach him from beneath his cloak despite it's many newly gained holes and rips. Despite the more that would come from what they were journeying to face.

It was a hectic night, and it would be that way often. Tangents, combat, monsters, blood, death, power. The thought of it had slowly pulled him deeper and deeper into his own mind on the walk despite his best efforts. Deep into his very newly made sea of confusion filled with waters falling straight from a steaming waterfall of gray area.

Gray area....not good...not bad. Heavily nuanced and difficult. Tangents had become that for him-- as if they weren't already difficult enough. Someday, he'd have to explain to Ursula....that maybe some Monsters don't need to be ripped from their homes and murdered...but some people did. Would she get it? Would she understand? How would she feel knowing he'd slain four Heroes on the verge of villainy to save a family of Monsters?

Hell, he still didn't full know how he felt. He knew they were wrong-- the Heroes looking for maximum profit that they thought they'd find in the insidious Midnight Wardens. They were wrong-- and he'd die behind those words. But the question was, did that make him right?

"Oh my-- You saved Maris!"

Ursula's voice ripped him from his thoughts of impending doom and moral confusion, causing him to turn and face her with no words as she caught up to him, speeding up her trademark heavy and brash walk that used to make her cheeks and ponytail bounce.

"...Erhm-- what?" Was all he could manage at the moment.

"No no, we're past the secretive shit...you told me." She said, pointing her meaty index finger in his face. "You....you're the one who saved Maris. She described you perfectly, your eyes...the face....the mask...the swords. That was you."

Claude shrugged, adjusting the arm bracers that guarded his forearms, "Well, yea. That was one of my first Infested Areas I did after....erhm. It was just me and Frosty."

"She lost her parents that day....." Ursula said in an angered tone that was also softened by sadness causing her to look strongly different to how she held herself only moments before.

"She lost it all that day-- it was bullshit. Someone should've came sooner....I should've came sooner. I wasn't able to though. But I was able to let her avenge them."

"The Goblins.." Ursula said, sadly smiling at the memory and cause of why Maris hated them so much.

"Yep. I'm glad she's tougher than most...a bit colder-- less affected. No normal and unsuspecting village girl should have to endure that."

"But, she did." Ursula said, nodding as if to agree with herself, "She endured it and succeeded beyond expectations I'm sure. All the other stuff will come, Isaac and Warren are there for her-- even Lucy...if not distantly."

"You played a pretty big role as well." Claude added as he walked beside her.

"I like her. She's fun. After the age of...I don't know, eight? Other kids my age stopped approaching me as if it already wasn't weird when people found out my last name. I was alone for a while-- and then I met you. The scrawny little awkward kid with a nasty mean mug. Maris is much the same....odd...angry. She's got that thirst for progress too."

"Right....her journey to enslave the water." Claude joked, getting a laugh out of Ursula.

When she quieted, she was serious once again, "We'll get back. And when we do, you should talk to her more."

"We both know exactly why I can't."

Ursula shrugged, "I think that's exactly why you should to be honest."

Claude's face twisted in confusion as Blackbeak landed on his shoulder, seemingly interested in the conversation, "What? Like let her find out?"

"....Or tell her."

"You're drunk, Ursula."

She playfully punched him in the shoulder, barely missing Blackbeaks territorial peck as her hand fell, "Come the hell on! Out of all of us, she's the one to take the information the best!...Claude, It's Maris we're talking about. If anybody would be loyal to that portion of the secret it's her...hell, to all of the secret even. We both know she doesn't give a damn about the norms and practices of the modern world or their moral views. She cares about power and her team. That's us-- just in case you forgot..."

Claude stayed silent, forgetting they were connected by something deeper than regular speech for a moment too long.

"Fuck endangering someone. We're all in danger anyway." She replied to his thoughts.

He shrugged and nodded, unable to refute the facts.

They walked in silence for another few seconds before she sighed and placed her hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry....I just care about her."

"Of course. I get what your saying....it's just....tough." He replied.

She nodded in understanding before adding, "Also, I don't know exactly what you were thinking about earlier. But I think what you're doing is right-- ignore what I said earlier. And I don't need to tell you this, but you're doing good. Or did you forget you saved a village? Maris? You gave her strength and a second chance...friends even. Just like you're doing for me?? And who knows what the hell else you've been doing as a Night Runner. Who knows.....but I don't think it's something you need to question. Not in a world like this. But, if the questions ever become unavoidable, talk to me....or Frosty...or the others. Don't sit there spiraling into a rabbit hole of anxiety and depression."

Claude quietly laughed at the accuracy of her final statement before she spoke again.

"No seriously. Stop doing it, I can feel it sometimes and it makes me want to headbutt my axe." She added, failing to pick up on the new coppery and sweaty dirt riddled scents swirling strongly in the air.

"No, no. I'll definitely get on that. Would you like me to now...or after we deal with them?" Claude replied sarcastically, referring to the distant sight of old scraps of a village teeming with Goblins riding DireRats.

Ursula smiled faintly before pulling out her twin battle-axes and preparing to follow him into the fray.

"Smartass..."