(Chp 21) Gw2 Fanfic: Beneath the Heart

Hahaha I predict that I will feature in the story .... Next year haha jks

Chapter 14

Without much light, they couldn't see much. Though there was the tiny dim glow of Nathaniel's palm, darkness engulfed them like deep sea diving, swimming through inky murkiness with nothing but the smell of rust and gases thick in the air as their company. Earlier, they had followed the rough walls dug out of the earth with careful steps and hands planted against the wall to feel their way around. Now, the temperature was descending as they were climbing into a deep tunnel that they found. At the same time, it was harder to breathe, the air was stale, stuffy and full of dust that their boots kicked up.

They discovered they'd fallen a good distance below the surface. Initially, they slipped off the wooden landing platform which had stairs that went down to a general staging area, with parked equipment and gear, collections of the mined ore at the end of a work day, ready for processing. But somehow, the ground had collapsed, and fed a hole right beneath, cutting past the tiny tunnels through which workers would enter the depths of the mine, accessible from the staging area. They landed probably one mining level down. Usually, the gates would cut off access to the underground layers, when the mine was not in use. But it was as if the sinkhole had been waiting for them with its open jaws. It was quite the fall and it was the guardian's magic that managed to saved them from demise.

Yet, a few bruises and sore muscles were hardly a misfortune now, as it put a great deal of distance from their pursuers. From far above, they could hear the hooves wandering into the mine. But the guardian doubted centaurs could fit into the small and narrow tunnels and certainly would not survive a fall down into this same hole either. Still they could take no chances.

It is said horses have superior eyesight, particularly recognizable during the night. Their nocturnal vision could identify a far larger range of light values and colors. However, it took them a longer time to adapt to different lighting conditions. The centaurs were not so different from their fully equine counterparts. They could use this time to their advantage.

The lieutenant knew he could not create a large light source or they might be spotted, so with the limited field of vision from a small orb of light, they gathered themselves and pushed onwards.

No, they had no clue where they were going or what was onwards. But they had to continue to move. With pursuers behind, and no guarantee of a viable path to escape the mine, they felt trapped. The ceiling above their heads were just as constricting, low and nearly scraping against the Seraph's scalp. Rather than a mining area, they were still within a maze of tunnels. In the darkness, it felt like they had navigated into the catacombs of Ascalon, where ghosts and sinister creatures lived or a labyrinth with a minotaur awaiting them.

Reina's heart was pounding, every sense and nerve on end, trying to listen for sounds and hints of danger. The more she listened, the more sensitive her hearing became until she felt like she could absorb every detail and reflection of their troubled breathing and crunching of their boots on dirt and rock, against the subterranean textures around them. Every sound began to cause a sharp panic, an alert shooting through her mind, even though nothing was happening yet. 

She was wound up, yet, it wasn't as bad as it would be if she was put here alone. Surely, she could still feel the warmth of her companion radiating from in front of her, and his steady footsteps. She came so far after all, away from Divinity's Reach, there would be no way to turn back. She still had her weapon and wasn't entirely defenseless. And she had to continue to place her trust in the lieutenant, who had far greater combat and travel experience than her nervous self. If anything, at least she didn't have to die alone.

"These paths are descending lower into the underground mines." His voice was strained. "From what I recall, when I was deployed here with a unit while I was still a Corporal, all the tunnels from where we came in leads downward. The only way out on this end would be to face the centaurs."

"So... We're trapped...?"

"But, there should be another entrance to the mine, towards the east. If I guess correctly, it was actually used by bandits before. That was why we were deployed here. That exit is far to the east, in the direction of Lion's Arch. If we can make it there, that would be fortunate news, we would have put a good mile of the journey in."

She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't celebrate yet, we have yet to figure out the maze. Mines can be tricky and dangerous. I'll be increasing the light when we put more distance between us and them."

She nodded to herself in the darkness and fell silent behind his gait. His slow cautious footsteps were somehow relaxing to hear. More light would do well. The tunnels were closing in on all sides and though she couldn't see, she felt extremely claustrophobic. She was too used to the luxuries of Divinity's Reach.

The wide open gardens lined with flowers and hedges trimmed and groomed neatly. The high white marble walls and statues standing guard on vast streets of tiles and interlocking cobblestone that one could see for what seemed like miles. The chambers and hallways of the palace of tall vaulted ceilings and long tapestries, with giant archways for doors and massive windows set with stained glass or would be open air letting in the summer breeze. That refreshing brisk air she would breathe in every morning, in that grand human city, the last of such glory on the continent of Tyria. There sometimes would be the scent of cooks preparing a feast or a roam in the city would present the smells of restaurants and fresh groceries, perhaps the lacquer and polish of a shoe boy. There might be the metal tinge of the blacksmiths or a light stink of cattle passing by towards the markets. Here and there, voices and laughter fill the air before giving back to a gentle silence. Young and old would be on the streets, men and women courting or elderly couples walking arm in arm. Sometimes the clanking armor of a Seraph guard or a warrior from distant travels. Sometimes the clip clops of horse hooves of a passing vanguard. In the distance you could always hear the muted hushes of the market and people dealing in low voices. Every hour there would be the sound of the belltower and magical hums and whistles in various places. Everything was always painted over with a delicate peace and a secretive hush, washed in light creamy colors of golden sun reflecting off of shingles and city walls. But for the most part all the sights, sounds and smells were all pleasant, at least in the neighbourhoods she grew up in, all home for Reina.

Tears came to her eyes as she remembered the years she spent in the great city, protected, sheltered, doted on. She remembered her soft warm four poster bed and large room, with decor in her favorite colors as a kid, pinks and purples. She remembered all the kind and gentle faces and polite, mannered interactions with nobles. She learned to become a lady. But she was now forced to become a refugee, crawling through dirt and grime. How much of it had been real? Everything seemed like an illusion that was bound to disappear.

She was glad he couldn't see her tears. Her homesickness. Her discomfort.

But she was a fighter. She decided to be. From now on she would - 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the rumbling she felt under her feet.

"What is that?!"

The lieutenant remained still.

"Are they trying to bury us alive?"

He waved his hand and the light on his palm grew and grew, becoming an enormous white light that illuminated the entire tunnel ahead. It was so bright it caused her eyes to water even more.

"I don't know but let's move faster, we need to find the next mining station camp."

Above them little pieces of dust trickled down, floating gentle like feathers. That couldn't be a good sign. 

Yet, as if the rumbling wasn't enough, suddenly there was a large shadow that flitted by.

There was something else. Something else in these tunnels.



Next Chapter

Write more!

^

waiting eagerly for chapter 15!!

Chapter 15

She shuddered but the Seraph stretched out his arm and kept her behind him. She could barely see past his built figure in the narrow tunnel. With his illuminated hand held forward, they pushed on, following the dark shadows that seemed to waver and retreat in fear. Whatever it was up ahead, the lieutenant was determined to take it upon himself alone.

As much as she appreciated his protection she couldn't be helpless either. So she lifted the greatsword off of her back which responded with a faint purple glow. The sword was a family heirloom, something passed down through the generations that contained potent magical energies of the mysterious realm of the Mists. Originally, it was her sister who was supposed to inherit the blade, upon her promotion to Lieutenant, but she never made it to that rank. On the other hand, Reina wasn't to touch it either until she graduated from her studies. She never thought she would be taking up the Takayama sword and would have preferred to have forfeited it to her sister instead who would have been seeing many more battles. She wondered if the sword would glow in the hands of her sister. Would it respond more than it does with her? She was certain she wasn't worthy of such a great weapon. Yet, somehow, it was all she had left to bring with her. That and the locket that hung around her neck.

She had nearly forgotten about her charm, given to her by her mother when she was ten. It was supposed to grant her mind protection from outside forces and magic and bend the favors of fate and luck her way. But it wasn't seeming to work now.

However, Reina and her minimal belongings might be the last trace of Takayama history in the entire world. She had to continue their heritage. But first, she would have to find out more about her people, their history, her past, her inheritance. Perhaps Nathaniel would tell her  more. Perhaps someone in Lion's Arch might know.

The tunnels were increasingly narrow and brushing up against her shoulders, while an occasional rumbling above shook loose sand into her eyes. They might be buried here. Here in the darkness, with no sun, with no one to remember their deaths, with no fresh air or honor of battle. No, they couldn't be buried here. There was still so much to see. The fields of Kessex Hills looking back upon Divinity's Reach had already been a spectacular and beautiful new view on life. There was bound to be so much more. Snow capped mountains and thick forests, the great spires and pirate ships of Lion's Arch, the deserts and seas, maybe even the dragonbrand and the corrupted ice that she had overheard rumors about during her sheltered life. And, she hadn't even fallen in love yet.

She felt her fear and frustration beginning to wedge against her heart inside. She absolutely didn't want to die here. She couldn't. Her eyes pleaded but there was no one to see it. They had to make it out. Alive.

Following the lieutenant's brisk pace and seeing nothing out of the ordinary ahead, they had shouldered through the rest of the tunnel and suddenly found themselves deposited into a grand chamber with great walls drilled and excavated from the ground, rising hundreds of feet up. The air was immediately fresher and cold against her nose. But it was a welcome feeling, they could finally catch a breath.

The mining station was still dark and unlit, but with the extra cavernous space, the light from Nathaniel's hand would reflect off of distance surfaces and spread an ambient glow around the room. There were many dark shapes scattered about, that they couldn't make out clearly of different sizes and forms. But as they moved into the room, the lieutenant holding the light up high, they could see large amounts of gear set in dusty metal racks and tables. Safety masks, suits and armored helmets. Picks and drills, shovels and strange mechanical devices. One particular machine was built into the rock walls, pipe and collection bucket, presumably to wash the gathered ore. Other than that, there was a narrow rail track that ran across the middle of the room. Upon it, three small iron cart on wheels.

If they followed this track they would surely be led somewhere. But most likely even deeper into the mine before there could be any way out.

"How are you feeling? Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

The pale white light on his face revealed a small smile. But she didn't tell him she had some trouble breathing. With the clearer air, it was still thick with gases and dust, invisible to the eye.

"I just know I have to get out of here." Her voice trembled but she was full of determination.

"We will."

Just then, as if on cue, the rumbling of the walls grew louder and vibrated through the ground they were standing on. Loud splintering cracks and shuddering of the rocks could be heard. Dust billowed and pooled at their feet. Until the supports gave in and the tunnel they had just been in, caved with a sickening sound.

There was no way to turn back now.



Next Chapter

Chapter 16


"Looks like we're past the point of no return." Reina's voice was hushed. But for some reason, she was not surprised. With all the unfortunate chain of events that had happened thus far, this was no longer a concern. She was more concerned that they would survive.

"Seems like the case." The lieutenant's visage in the light was grim. But his features softened when he turned to look at his companion. "It's late afternoon above ground by now. Do you need to rest?"

She shook her head with determination. "No, I'm fine. Rather, I prefer to leave this place as soon as possible."

"As you wish, milady."

She smiled weakly. "Please, call me Reina."

They wasted no time and spent the next few minutes picking their way along the perimeter of the underground chamber, following its rock and dirt walls to search for exits. Every step of the way raised more dust that threw her into a coughing fit. Eventually, they discovered a gated entrance on the westward side, with a narrow downslope, much like the first tunnel they entered. On the entrance, a sign was nailed to the top that read in New Krytan, "Danger: High Voltage. Refinery."

They moved on for it wasn't what they were looking for, but, for a brief second, Reina thought she saw a shadow again, flickering by like a ghost by the light of the guardian's spell.

"Did you... see..."

But he wasn't listening, he had moved ahead along the wall and darkness descended around her once again. She shivered and took off after him, rubbing her arms, but not before catching an odd noise from the depths of the tunnel. It was a strange scritch-scratch, like someone was scratching their fingernails over and over against a wooden door.

Or perhaps, it was just a rat and her horrible sense of imagination. She shuddered again. The mine was definitely less than abandoned.

"Did you find anything else?" Her voice was small and shaky as she scrambled towards him.

"Looks like the only other path is to follow the cart and its tracks into the mine. The refinery hardly is a place that leads anywhere." He was studying a door built into the rock face now. But it was sealed shut and would be too narrow for any equipment to pass through.

They decided on following the rail track and taking a deep breath of the cleaner air, they entered into the shaft once again. The tunnel with the tracks was much larger, with enough space for the cart and both of them to walk side by side, and a ceiling that was higher. Even the walls were well supported and polished, with what seemed like brick and mortar overlay. But she couldn't ignore the thickening air - again, the air of minerals and gas, churning her stomach and making her head feel light and queasy.

The guardian's light source was still strong and lit deep into the tunnel, highlighting the ceiling's red-brown bricks, but it was also illuminating the masses of particles and clouds of gaseous material hanging in the air. They glowed white, yellow, and parted before them, like they were swimming through plankton and a polluted sea. She found it difficult to accept that workers had to traverse the depths of this place every day, to scrape a few coins as a way fo survive. Would it not affect their health?

His words broke her train of thoughts.

"Sorry about earlier."

"What do you mean?"

His expression darkened just like it had earlier.

"I didn't mean to be harsh. I understand you were teasing."

She said nothing.

"You don't know, but, I am quite extreme towards the centaurs."

"They have taken many lives. Lives of my men, my comrades, my friends..."

He paused.

"And my family."

Reina felt guilt swallowing her. "Oh not... I'm terribly sorry..."

"It's okay. You never knew. It's been many years."

His lips curved into a warm smile, telling her its alright. But it wasn't. She could feel the fresh pain of losing her entire family, what seemed like overnight, once again, splintering through her heart like breaking a dam that held the waters back. She struggled to hold in her anguish.

"So I understand how you feel."

His words drove deep into her heart. And she turned away to blink back her tears. He had lost his family too. What was he searching for now? What was he living for now? For revenge? Or for justice? Could she even ask?

But it was like he read her mind. Or had she subconsciously feed her thoughts to him? She had to be careful with her abilities.

"Now, I would never live for revenge. But only for righteousness. To protect those who are still alive. To protect those who are innocent. To protect those from having a similar fate to me. To us."

His voice was so calm and soft, yet firm, she listened with absolute amazement. How could someone say such a thing so quietly profound?

"So, are you acting as my protector?"

He smiled. "Maybe so."

"Why? What do you know about my parents and about my heritage?"

He frowned in thought. "It is a complicated story. It is best if we reach Lion's Arch. I have acquaintances there who are waiting for you. They will explain everything."

He continued, "But, I will say, the Canthan District in Divinity's Reach suffered from the Great Collapse, they say, a sinkhole wiped out the entire area. You must know about that."

She nodded. But she had never visited that area, for her ventures outside the prestigious grounds, weren't supposed to be in the "dangerous" areas of the city, with the slums and commoners or especially not near the Collapse.

"The Shining Blade, the Ministry Guards and the Seraph will tell you that they had    a safe and orderly evacuation putting the citizens first. Yet, citizens will speak in hushed tones about everything happening suddenly and the loss of lives."

She was listening intrigued. She only heard whispers of the Collapse but those were only from the guards.

"Indeed, there is more to what meets the eye. We aren't sure exactly what happened. But it should have something to do with Cantha and more precisely, your family line."

"We're... responsible..?"

"No, not at all. I'm not certain how it ties together, but which is why I need to take you to Lion's Arch."

"Ah."

Silence fell upon them, as both were lost in their thoughts. If her family was responsible for the Collapse, she would be the sole survivor that might have blood on her hands indirectly. Yet, there was so much she didn't know about her family or even what Cantha is. Of the historical documents she had read, they only mentioned briefly about the clashing of tribes and clans, an emperor and later, something called the Jade Wind corrupting the land and sea, and cutting off its ties with other nations. Most of the Takayama clan had fled Cantha before the Jade Wind happened. She had to find out more, or she would fail to carry on the name. Why hadn't her parents taught her about their past? Were they also unaware?

Her thoughts faded into the darkness. There were too many unanswered questions. It would do her well to make it to Lion's Arch without trouble. Then she might have her answers.

Their feet crunched against the smattering of rocks and dirt, and sometimes her boots would fall against a metal rail and let out a muted clang.

After what seemed like an hour, exaggerated by her prickling senses, fear and impatience, they found their path gently slowing to flat ground. And in front of them was a large wooden gate, bolted and locked. The wood was fraying and falling apart but she could still make out the words carved on it that read Mining Level II.

They've just reached deeper into the mine. But this level wasn't as dark. There were small lamps lit by an unknown fuel source that glowed an eerie green. The green washed the entire room beyond the gate and their faces with a ghastly ambience that leaked through the door like toxic fumes. Maybe venturing into the mines was not such a great idea after all. Every thought in her mind was as imaginative as a child's nightmares. She was not cut out for this.

The lock and its door wouldn't open as Nathaniel pressed his shoulder against the door. Instead, he pulled the hammer off of his back and made it clear he intended to smash it open.

"Hold on."

He raised his eyebrows inquisitively.

"Let me try something."

Mesmeric art in the recent years had developed to involve the manipulation of space and time beyond the limitations of altering the perceptions of a target's mind, as seen in the intricate concept of the illusion created above. The illusion which was interrupted by the centaurs, somehow. Yet, she was willing to give it a try.

Her most basic offensive attack was a focused concentrated beam of magical energy that she could use to alter the space around it, building a powerful gravitational charge that could strike or destroy physical matter. In the same way, as she rubbed her hands together in preparation, she realized the same concept could be applied to the lock.

If she could send a charge into the lock's keyhole, it may be able to force it to open.

She wasn't wrong, for her hands lit with a purple aura of energy before trickling out of her index finger like a thin blade. It wedged inside the lock. But while her control of her power was not delicate enough and didn't unlock the key pattern inside, it shattered the lock completely, falling to the floor in a loud clatter.

"Well, that was a much better proposal." Nathaniel grinned, a genuine smile, that filled her heart with warmth. She could be useful after all.

Despite the unlocked door, it took some effort before they could force the gate open from its position, swinging inward and launching them into the room abruptly. This wasn't a fortunate situation for them however, as they looked up towards the sound of a great howl in front of them.

It shook the floor and was so loud they had to clutch at their ears, squirming. All they could hear was the sound of a thousand souls tearing through their mind, echoing through the chamber. Rocks and pebbles shook loose from the ceilings and the force of a gale whipped at their crumpled bodies.

With bloodshot eyes and a quickly fading eyesight, she thought she saw the figure of a giant creature, wicked smiling mouth and beady large eyes, its black glistening body reflecting the green lights and glowing with spots of orange.

What was that?



Next Chapter

Two chapters posted in one go! We are so spoilt.
Sounds like..... It's a warg? A charr? Can't wait til the next chapter heheh keep up the good work reireii!

It better not be a mutant quaggan. Or I will cry.

it's a nasty risen!!!

It's superman!

Reina Takayama, on 01 July 2013 - 02:35 PM, said:

Spoiler Alert.

superman? let's add batman instead xD

Is there a superman vs batman thread here?

Chapter 17


Liric and her Asura client backpedaled to give the monstrous Charr and Sara more room. Claws and fangs swiping and snarling, and big bouts of flame launched from what seemed like a gun with a dragon's grotesque mouth. But Sara was keeping herself between the furry oversized cat and her surviving patrons, nimbly dodging between his attacks and flipping backwards to avoid the fire. It wasn't an easy task however, Liric could tell that even the veteran of war was struggling to keep her ground against the ferocity of an angry battle seasoned Charr.

"You kitty cat scum!"

Two daggers in her hands at lightning speed launched towards the charr's throat but with just as much agility, he parried the blow with the sharp edge of his gun. Then he pulled the trigger and flames billowed up the bartender's daggers towards her arms. She was quick enough to avoid it and sidestepped behind the Charr to strike at his back. But he remained unscathed as his tail whipped out to catch Sara's wrists and knocked her aside. Even his tail had the strength of a powerful blow to send "Dagger Hands" stumbling. Charr were not to be trifled with.

Even though Lion's Arch was founded as a multi-racial tolerant society where old biases and conflicts like the eternal war between the humans and charr epitomized by horrendous results of the Searing of Ascalon City, the sinking of human Orr by human vizier's dark spell, King Adelbern's Foefire that turned his own Ascalonian human citizens into ghosts to haunt the city and it's catacombs forever, were set aside, a single ruff up of feathers and confrontation between angry sailors would stir the innate hatred in some once again. Sara's Ascalonian bloodline and long serving years in the wars of the Mists and between large guilds built in a loathing for the Charr. But working in Lion's Arch she had put on a fake smile and accepted patrons without question - as long as they were well behaved. This Charr was perhaps the worse they had seen in Lion's Arch for a while.

As they sparred, she was being pushed backwards deeper into the tavern which was now in ruins of splintered wood and smoking patches where magic and weapons had clashed. The poisonous smoke was lifting however, and it no longer had the same potency. But they felt lightheaded still.

The Charr wasn't alone either. Behind them from the main entrance stood several figures that slowly approached them, circling like predators around their prey. One of them was a smaller lighter Charr, ram's horns and a lighter furcoat of cream, there was a staff in one of her hands, clearly a spellcaster. The other three humans were bandits or thieves, dark clad and masked with daggers and thin rapiers. One carried a small flintlock pistol in one hand with the hammer cocked anticipating the next shot.

Out of the conscious survivors, there was only an older man with greying hair and a thick beard was clutching at a bloody gash on his arm but still stood strong with a short cutlass and a large shield crested with the Krytan symbol. Seraph? Or perhaps not. On his right, backs nearly pressed together was a green leafy shape of a Sylvari female, her fronds were tipped with purple and her eyes narrowed in cold calculations. Her weapon was a scepter but half of the wooden wand was splintered off presumably by a thief's knife. Flotsam Sam, the quaggan shopkeeper was nowhere to be seen. With no combat ability, he must have sought shelter or hopefully reported it to the Lionguard. But all in all, they were not in a good position. They had been caught so unaware. Most of the patrons were out cold, unconscious or dead.

Liric had anticipated a fight and spent the last few seconds calculating an escape route. There were only two exits and she preferred the main. It would be easy for her to dispatch of the caster charr and her lackeys. Somehow taking on more foes was more appealing than the huge ferocious charr who swung around his flamethrower dangerously.

She would throw two empty bottles on their table at the caster and the pistoleer to guarantee a distracted line of sight before lunging forward with her sword. The distance was not too far.

But she never had a chance.

With a mighty roar, the flamethrowing charr had managed to swipe Sara across the midsection with his arm, throwing her backwards into Liric and the professor. They sailed back a few feet with the momentum and slammed into the bar counter.

Before they got a chance to recover, and stagger back up, the Charr began to speak.

"Pah! Pathetic." He spat. "I'm done with the games. I would slowly pick your weakly limbs off one by one and fry them over the fire but let's get this over with. You've got three seconds."

His beast like eyes bore into the Asura's to which the professor started quivering.

"Hand over the crate, mouse."

His voice was but a growl, firm and thick with contempt and danger.

Yet, the Asura made no move.

"You've really got no choice." He snarled and crushed one of the wooden tables into the ground. A sickening crunch. "Beneath your feet, seven bombs had been installed. Enough to blow the Foefire back into the ground."




Next Chapter

i would never be downed by a filty charr engineer



like it though

DaggerHands, on 05 July 2013 - 02:39 PM, said:

Haha no you wouldn't be downed! xD that was just a knock back!

Need more stability to counter CC's!
Another exciting installment to this series of awesomeness!

Chapter 18

Like a stalemate in a game of Krytan checkers, for what seemed like hours, no one moved a muscle. Liric and Sara, both with a glare that could stop a warg in its tracks, were matched with the charr's ferocious growl. Clearly hungry for death, he showed no sign of hiding his clenching and unclenching claws.

Despite, the humans' superior martial prowess, a charr's upbringing in warbands, warfare and their inbred animal instincts, speed, strength and sheer size, could easily take both of them on. None can tell the outcome of battles between humans and charr. In such, they were hesitant to attack. No doubt his flame throwing contraption would easily keep them from closing in on him with their weapons.

But to prove his point, the charr engineer slipped something from his pocket. A long thin piece of metal, with a red button. One clawed thumb over it. No fear or hesitation. They must have had a way out if they were not concerned about the explosion. Liric noted where he stood. He had never moved past that point during the struggle. If he detonated the bomb, there was a great chance he wouldn't be affected.

"The crate. Now."

The Asura professor stiffened and shrunk back like a mouse.

He couldn't bring himself to look up at the charr at all, his size barely reaching his knees. On the other hand, Sara studied the charr's thumb. One dagger thrown at precisely the right spot, spearing through his hand. No, it wouldn't be deep enough in the charr's arm to stop him from detonation.

"Professor, hand over the crate." It was Liric's voice.

He was surprised, jumping up in shock and spinning to stare at Liric's emotionless face.

"W-what are you foolishly spouting out of that foul and ignorant mouth?!" His voice was high pitched and cracking but it was still no doubt full of Asuran contempt. "This.. this... is worth much more than all of your lives in my calculations!"

"I don't care about your calculations, professor." Liric was in no mood to jest. Nor did she care about speaking in a room full of strangers. "You paid me to ensure your safety. I will ensure your safety. Nothing else. I am still awaiting the final payment we have agreed on. A dead Asura client can't ensure my payment." Not once did she mention her own risk. For her, there was no risk. There was no way the battle-hardened warrior could be affected by the charr's threats. Though even if the crate was not sacrificed, she could possibly keep both and her employer safe, it would greatly increase the risk factor. A risk she was not willing to take.

For Sara, she was more concerned about the already damaged condition of the tavern. To induce costs because of one Asura's shortcomings was grimace-worthy. Flotsam Sam and her would wince at the damage control. If anything, she wouldn't hesitate to hang the conceited professor up by the feet and shake the money out of his pockets to pay for the repairs, let alone force him to give up the crate.

The professor was under pressure - both women, the shield wielding guardian and the Sylvari spellcaster were staring at him, waiting for his response.

He sighed and his ears drooped low, like he had given up.

"Very well. Very well. I quite understand how it is. Cornered into a preposterous circumstance by a few hairbrained bookah more concerned about their survival than the ruin of the universe and the threat of the quantum mechanics behind..." He stopped shortly.

With a wince he shuffled a small step forward and set the crate on one of the few remaining tables.

"You will pay. All of you. All of you. I will remember this clearly. I will record this in my reports -"

"And I will receive my payment as agreed on the contract, professor." Liric's voice was laced with underlying threat.

The Asura said nothing in response. The charr, satisfied, showed his serrated jagged fangs, a pitiable attempt at a smile. He picked up the little crate with one palm.

"Let's go." He snarled at the others standing at the main entrance.

The rest of the room watched them leave, the hulking lumbering stride of the massive charr creaked over the floorboards as he disappeared through the doorframe, into the night beyond.

If the charr was only here for the crate, the extravagant approach to it, the group of lackeys, the terrorizing of a tavern full of bystanders and potential resistance, the set up for explosives and damage caused, could only put him on the scale of pure insanity or senseless aggression. It was an act of unnecessary abundance. Even Charr usually would never be this over the line.

"W-wait, you're just going to let him away?" Tekks was shouting hysterically at Liric. "Do you have any idea what he could use that for?"

"50 percent of your profit and I'll retrieve the crate for you."

The charr engineer with his massive flamethrower by now had become a dwindling shadow in the darkness of the evening. Professor Tekks was floundering, cursing at the human warrior, who wore a smug smile. She was not concerned in the least. If she were to retrieve the crate, she was confident she would be able to. Even if it disappears from sight. Perhaps that would be better, as she would find out what is truly in the crate and why it would be so important, if she followed the charr's trail. The engineer had his cards to play, and she was in no place to risk the destruction of the tavern, bluffed or not. That would be up to Sara or Sam's call. And Sara was clearly not going to toss the bar into the flames.

The speechless Asura was staring after the charr, flailing his short arms wildly.

Dejectedly, "Twenty percent."

"Forty five."

"Twenty five."

"Thirty." Liric grinned.

"Deal."

Liric hefted her greatsword. She could catch a vacation. But her curiosity was pleading to be satisfied. With a good payment, she reasoned she could work for a few more days.


Next Chapter

Chapter 19


With a protesting Asura and his golem in tow, Liric picked her way out of the tavern at midnight after helping Sara with the clean up. Most of the tables and chairs had been splintered and lay in ruins on the ground, spilt drinks and crushed meals strewn like a horrible piece of abstract artwork. It took them a good few hours to restore the tavern to half of its former musty pirate glory -- without its furnishing. On the other hand, it was necessary to revive the patrons who had collapsed from the gas, knocked unconscious by the assaulting thieves, or already intoxicated by alcohol. There were no deaths thankfully.

That didn't stop the bartender's curses that spat from her mouth like the flames from the charr's weapon the whole time. Liric didn't bother to speak to her friend and worked in silence. Professor Tekks however received most of the fiery insults, shouldering the weight of the blame. He clearly winced and huddled in a corner out of the way drenched in his own loathing of the humans who had taken away his greatest would-be-experiment to date. And the fortune that awaited him. Should he had been allowed to bring his golem inside the tavern, such a humiliating situation would not have occurred. So he thought. He didn't trust Liric, no more than a thin strand of thread of a monetary contract, and his golem was far more favorable and reliable but he had no choice.

Flotsam Sam showed up partway in their clean up with the Lionguard in tow. To his slow Quaggan surprise, he realized the perpetrators were nowhere to be found. Sara criticized his tardiness but kept her mouth shut afterwards. While the Lionguard investigated what was left and sent several off in the direction the charr had made, Flotsam Sam had to see to the wounded and infuriated customers. They didn't dare complain however, for Sam and the tavern had a great reputation. There were no doubt a handful of racist comments on the Charr however.

It happened one of the patrons now awake was an editor for the local newspaper, whom Sam took to the side and spoke in low hushed tones. Surely, this would be an incident to make the news headlines tomorrow morning. He would ensure it will be covered as respectfully as possible with an appropriate wanted notice issued by the Lionguard. Sam would in no way take responsibility or be involved in the mess. In fact, after a few glances over to Tekks, the Asura realized that he might be under scrutiny or even in danger of imprisonment as well. He, however, kept silent.

When they finally ridded the debris and closed up shop, it was spotless again, with that dusty tavern air left behind. Liric led the way, with clanking footsteps that she didn't bother to quiet, down the high hanging boardwalks over the night air back to ground level. The Crow's Nest was a grand overturned shipwreck at the heights of Lion's Arch built atop a high cliff, reached by suspended wooden walkways. Luckily, the commotion from the evening so high up didn't bother too many of the citizens, else, there might be more than one place speaking poorly of the Crow's Nest.

The Asura professor certainly was protesting once again, fuming at Liric's lack of action in pursuing the criminals.

"I am no Lionguard or Seraph, professor. Justice is hardly the priority. But I have my methods. Trust me."

"Pah! Trust your hookah brain and that.... monstrous barbaric weapon?"

The Profesor was in foul moods but he sighed. "I will have your head should you fail. I want this back in three days."

"Three days we will be able to retrieve it should we like to."

"What would you ever mean?! Of course I should want to."

"We'll see. Do you not want to understand who your enemy is?"

Tekks faltered as did his golem who reflected his thoughts. "I should have no reason to care about such lowlife abominations who 
may attempt thwart my ideals."

"Suppose another Asura, a rival of yours, is your enemy."

"W-why! That's impossible!" But the professor's expression said otherwise. After a brief pause he picked up his pace to fall in beside the human warrior. "Touché. Point taken. Very well, we will proceed to locate our objective and decide what is the most rational strategy to undertake."

"Now you're talking."

Satisfied, Liric stretched her arms into the sky. She recalled two faces. Two people she would start with who might be able to help.

But first, a good night's sleep.




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