Owin hadn't intended to follow Zezog around all day, but once he started, he found it was difficult to stop. The Barbarian knew his way around the compound perfectly. Whenever Zezog said he'd go to a specific room or building, he ended up at that place. Owin still didn't have any real map made of the place in his mind and without Basolia, he would never get to where he was trying to go. Shade wasn't any better. Not that the skeleton would admit that.

At first, Zezog seemed somewhat annoyed, but he never protested. Before long, he was making jokes to Shade, and telling stories about working on a farm as a child.

Owin didn't find the stories particularly interesting, but he listened anyway. Something about shoveling hay and milking cows seemed boring. Or at least, it wasn't exciting.

Everyone else was so busy with the work assigned that he had nobody but Shade and Zezog to spend time with. Raif and Sanem were somewhere out in Vraxridge, Potilia was still reading, Siora was off on her own or something, and everyone else was working in the alchemy studios. A few significant explosions had made Zezog pause in his chores or whatever it was that they were doing, but a quick message from Basolia confirmed nobody was dead and nothing significant was destroyed.

"Miya," Basolia said.

"Is that a full message?" Zezog asked.

"Yes," Owin said. "She tends to blow things up."

"Ah." He continued walking through the hall and soon was chuckling. "Just like a young Al."

"She blew things up?"

"I don't think she did much else until after I met her. She never tinkered much early on. It was all bombs all the time."

Owin had always assumed she had been more like Ernie, especially with how she held Ernie to a higher standard compared to Katalin.

"Can you tell me about her when she was younger?" Owin asked.

"No." Zezog stopped at a door, opened it, and gestured for them to enter.

The room was full of barrels.

"If you want stories of young Al, you will have to ask her yourself. I will avoid her wrath. Grab a barrel or two and help me." Zezog managed two barrels in each arm.

They were extremely heavy, but the weight didn't prove a challenge for Owin. The only difficulty was actually holding onto them. With careful balance, he could hold two.

Shade picked up a single barrel and hugged it. "What's in here? Pickles?"

"It is food. I'm sure one barrel in there is all pickles." Zezog didn't turn to speak, instead focusing on keeping the barrels balanced as he walked back through the halls.

"I hope this is all pickles," Shade said.

"What's a pickle?"

"Do you know a cucumber?" Shade asked.

"No?"

"Oh, boy. This is going to be a long day," Shade said.

***

Kikuno Itou stood outside the portal circle. Sai scurried around, gathering information and directing the Security Regime heroes toward other parts of the city. The military was still hesitant to listen to any of Kikuno's directions, but it wasn't as if they had much of a choice.

She had been hired specifically because she was an outside observer and one of the only people in the world that could handle all involved parties if it came to a battle. All except one hero.

Althowin stepped out of the portal as elegant as ever. Her hair was tied off into a ponytail with every strand accounted for. Instead of her lab coat that Kikuno had seen in the past, Althowin only wore a cropped shirt that showed the full extent of her metal left arm. Her right, which was often covered by a glove, was spotted with burn scars and criss-crossed with old cuts.

Despite all the scarring, she looked friendly and approachable, which weren't phrases Kikuno would have previously associated with Althowin.

Behind her, Chorsay Eoghet stepped from the portal. The huge man stood tall. He was unarmed, but his massive hands looked like weapons on their own. He was a towering figure compared to Althowin, and even with only two shards, Kikuno was well aware that he was not to be underestimated. It was Chorsay Eoghet who was ultimately responsible for the death of Isaak Agapov. And it was Chorsay Eoghet who had the second highest bounty of all of Verdantallis, only behind Sofia Halaby.

Kikuno was primarily known as the best bounty hunter in the world. She didn't let it get to her head. She was well aware of her own failings socially and in the eyes of the public. People were uncomfortable about her fusion and often worried about her battling in cities when criminals didn't come willingly.

Her presentation was a key thing to work on, alongside her social skills and her connection with the public. People knew about her, whether she wanted them to or not, and ignoring all that wasn't going to benefit her, Sai, or anyone else.

But despite all this, she was the top bounty hunter, and that made her the primary figure in dealing with odd, dangerous, and terrifying situations.

"Kikuno," Althowin said.

Kikuno pushed her thoughts aside, smiled, and extended a hand. "Althowin."

"This is Chorsay," Althowin said, pointing over her shoulder with a thumb. "I assume you know who he is."

"I am aware." She figured it was better to keep it simple.

The look on Chorsay's face said he was well aware of the situation. Kikuno wouldn't admit that she didn't know much about the older man. He had been part of Void Nexus, created his own hero company, then was silent for many years. When the goblin showed up, Chorsay ended up in nearly every piece of intel.

The huge man ignored them and looked longingly at the ruins of what had once been the Nimble Hogs Hero Company. Workers had cleared most of the wreckage, but that left very little. Whatever hadn't been destroyed in the actual battle with Owin and Nikoletta or Sofia and Veph was then destroyed by the fires from Sofia's spell. Parts of the building still stood, but it was primarily the reinforced courtyard in the back that remained.

"You know he has a bounty," Kikuno said.

"We are almost too aware. Why do you think I'm here?" Althowin raised an eyebrow, challenging. "Do you plan to arrest him?"

"We'll see." Kikuno's spider legs twitched uncomfortably. They sensed her uncertainty and readied to attack, if necessary. Hopefully, it wouldn't be.

To Kikuno's surprise, Althowin was watching the legs with her hand hovering near a small black pouch tied at her waist.

"They won't do anything," Kikuno said.

"Chorsay, let's go." Althowin started walking, passing right by Kikuno without hesitation.

Chorsay seemed accustomed to this. He nodded respectfully and followed.

Sai approached and stood silently for a moment. When she finally spoke, she whispered. "Is that really her?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"It is."

"She's walking toward Void Nexus."

"She is."

Sai fiddled with the cuffs of her sleeves. "Are you going to. . . Are we supposed to stop her?"

"I don't believe I could even if we had to." Kikuno had her tome tucked away in her backpack and her spear was easily accessible from her back, should she need it. Neither of those would help her get far if Althowin detonated an explosive.

Before they could get too far into the city, Kikuno caught up to Althowin and boldly stepped in front of the 7 Shard Hero.

"There are rules you will both abide by during your visit to Atrevaar today." Her spider legs clamped hard against her shoulders and ribs. They were tense, just like her.

Althowin crossed her arms. "Let's speed this up."

"You will not interfere with my investigation. I won't prevent you from speaking with Veph. While you do, you cannot accuse her of attacking the goblin. It would be best if you avoided mentioning Sofia as well." Kikuno noticed Security Regime officers already watching from the fringes. They might not recognize all Shard Heroes, but Chorsay was a local.

"As long as you're here," Kikuno continued, "I will ignore the bounty for Chorsay Eoghet. I never accepted a mission to apprehend him, and while I am in service to the Security Regime, I have no current ties to the Golden Bulls or anyone involved in issuing that bounty. Do not misunderstand this for a free pass. You are guests in Atrevaar at my behest. You are allowed here because I will be with you. Is this understood?"

Althowin simply nodded. "Who is that?" She gestured with a metal thumb toward Sai, who was anxiously standing nearby.

"Sai Nishi. She's my assistant, in a sense. Sai is the liaison between me and whoever I am working with. In this case, the Security Regime." When Kikuno gestured to her, Sai bowed.

"Easy enough." Althowin continued without actually paying Sai any attention.

Chorsay stopped and extended a hand. "Chorsay Eoghet."

Sai took his hand and shook once. "Yes, sir. I'm aware."

Chorsay smiled sadly and continued following Althowin deeper into the city.

It was an unpleasant walk. Kikuno stepped away for some time, still within sight. Security Regime officers watched with too much interest. By her order, they returned to the portal circle or back to their headquarters. She didn't really care which.

When she returned to the little procession, she expected some type of conversation to be happening. Althowin didn't seem keen on speaking with Chorsay or Sai. She didn't even glance at Kikuno when she returned.

Sylmare Virtress stood outside the Void Nexus headquarters, resting her back against the massive blackened door. She had her arms crossed with a band tied around her forehead, holding her frizzy hair back.

"You know, I really did think you'd be smarter," Althowin said.

"You don't know me." Sylmare casually opened the door. When Althowin stepped forward to enter, Sylmare pulled out her quarterstaff and blocked the 7 Shard Hero's entrance.

Veph appeared in the doorway. She wore her usual button up and golden slacks, but without the gold jacket, she looked under dressed. The mask still hid her features, making it difficult to read any expression on Veph's face.

"I have business with Kikuno," Althowin said as she stepped aside. "He wants to speak."

Veph immediately moved Sylmare's staff aside. "Come in." She offered a hand to Chorsay.

The old man took it and let himself be guided into the Void Nexus headquarters.

Sylmare followed them inside and closed the door.

"This is a bad idea," Kikuno said.

"It's not. Chorsay wants to talk, and Veph wants to speak with him. Easy enough. Simple, really. Now, for you." Althowin poked Kikuno in the chest.

Sai flinched.

"What is the end goal here? Arrest Veph? Find a way to get Sofia? Why take this job? I know you have enough money to do anything you want."

Kikuno straightened her back even as the spider legs tightened like a restrictive harness. "This is the first time a Power 7 spell has been used outside the dungeons in decades."

"So, it's fame?"

Kikuno took off her hat. "Althowin, I know we aren't close, but please think better of me. This is for the good of the people, and for my own knowledge. I still intend to reach your level, and every bit of information I can acquire is knowledge that may assist me in some situation in the future."

Althowin appeared to think about it for a moment, then relaxed. "What's next?"

"My sixth shard."

Althowin sat right on the sidewalk. "Great. Let's discuss. What tower? What's your plan?"

***

Sylmare stood like a statue outside Veph's office. Ever since returning to Atrevaar, Veph had been distant. None of the old familiarity seemed to exist. None of the banter passed between them. As much as she didn't want to take it personally, it was impossible to think of anything else.

After spending over a month with Althowin's party, coming back to Veph only to discover a cold, distant stranger was jarring. Without speaking to other people, Sylmare wouldn't have even known the full extent of what happened outside the portal circle.

She was Veph's right hand before Althowin got involved, and now . . . Now Sylmare pretended not to exist just in a poor attempt to be involved.

After a stretch of silence in the room, Chorsay leaned forward in his chair. It creaked under his weight.

"Why?"

"Look at the clues," Veph said. "More people are worried about the goblin every day. The only fans he has are citizens that aren't aware of how dangerous even a normal goblin can be in the right situation. I don't know how a shardless hero convinced you to take care of a monster."

"Artivan Morro was not a shardless hero. He was one of the greatest friends I've had the pleasure of meeting in my life. It hurts me to know you never had an opportunity to meet him." Chorsay dragged the chair closer until he could lean his elbows on the desktop.

Veph's new desk was smaller than the one Althowin had destroyed, but this one was far more elegant. It was made of perfectly black wood with faint hints of light brown, almost gray grain across its smooth top.

Chorsay looked like he was barely leaning on it, likely trying not to damage the beautiful furniture.

Sylmare barely shifted her feet, allowing her to get a better view of Veph. The leader of Void Nexus sat scrunched on her chair. Her arms were folded across her chest and her legs were pulled up, cross-legged. As long as they had been working together, Sylmare had never seen Veph sit like that. She was one to lounge or find some way to assert dominance in the conversation purely with body language.

"He's such a good friend that you promise to take care of a goblin more than you took care of me?"

Chorsay started to shake his head slowly. "Veph." He extended a hand across the table, letting it lie palm up on the desk. "You said you didn't want to speak to me again."

"I was angry. Leaving Grandpa. Leaving me." She pulled off her mask, let it fall to the floor, and grabbed Chorsay's hand with both of hers. "I never wanted any of it."

Chorsay rubbed her metal hand with his thumb, frowning as he touched the prosthetic. "This violence against other heroes needs to stop."

"You killed Isaak Agapov," Veph said. There wasn't a hint of malice in her voice. If anything, Sylmare would've qualified it as awe or admiration.

"I will always do what I have to do." Chorsay enclosed both of Veph's hands with his. "What if we leave? We can move to the countryside, somewhere in southern Stelsodo. We leave the Nimble Hogs and Void Nexus. I can build you the cottage you always wanted, and I can start a farm with goats. We could have dinner every night in the farmhouse."

Veph pulled her hands free. "This isn't some joke. You say you cared about Romoalt, then you tell me to leave his legacy."

"You're his legacy, Veph."

"No, I'm not. My whole family is dead, except you. And you're galavanting around with a monster pet and trying to tell people not to be afraid. But people are afraid. I'm afraid, Chorsay. He can go around and pretend to be friendly all he wants, but I've seen goblins kill people. I've seen them tear heroes to shreds and laugh. There is nothing funny or friendly about any fucking goblin or any other monster. It's people like you who convince heroes to befriend mobs that betray them. There is no such thing as a friendly mob. They will slaughter like any wild animal, and the best thing we can do is hunt them before they hunt us. It was only heroes who had to worry about that. It was only those of us that chose to fight that had to worry. But what about now? Do you think the old woman at the bank that's never trained a day in her life should worry about what to do when faced with a monster? I don't even know if she's still alive after what the Rat did in our city!" Veph slammed her metal hand on the table, cracking the black wood. "This is your city too, Chorsay, and you're letting these freaks kill innocents!"

Chorsay sat back. He didn't raise his voice or change his tone at all. He was even and calm, as always. "Sofia acted to protect Owin. If anyone is to blame, Veph, it's you. I love you. You know I do. That doesn't excuse a thing." He placed a hand on his chest. "I've made mistakes, and I will do what I can to atone for every one of them. I will not shy away. I will not lie or pretend. I've killed other heroes to protect those I love, and now I am whole heartedly admitting that I have made mistake after mistake as your grandfather. I thought I would do better, and I want to. I still do."

Veph's face was red and scrunched, but she didn't say a thing.

"I'll come back. I—"

"Don't leave." Veph reached back across the desk.

Chorsay took her hand.

"Take over. If you want us to stop competing, then order it. It's all yours. I-I don't want to lead. I don't want any of this. I want to go on my own adventures again. Everyone's scared of me." Veph rested her forehead on their hands. "I'm so tired."

"I'm done with Void Nexus, Veph. I promised I would care for Owin. That doesn't mean I can't care for you. If you want dinner, or a drink, or you just want company, send a message. I'll be here as fast as the portal allows."

Veph didn't lift her head. Her voice was shaky. "I don't want the goblin to kill you."

"He won't." Chorsay ran a hand over Veph's head, scratching it gently. "I'm safe. I'll be here whenever you need me."

Sylmare watched for another few minutes as the office fell into silence. When she felt like nothing more of note would happen, she slipped away as silent as possible.

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