The walk back to the main village in the Mid Tier Zone was, thankfully, uneventful. I’d tried to prod Cerus on the whole Gnome thing she had going on, but she was mum on the subject. I wondered whether the 100 Battle Points she had at the start of the Territory Quest had anything to do with that – as did Opix given how many questions he asked about it –, but she wasn’t any more forthcoming with him than she was with me.

When we returned to the main village, the first thing I noticed was how festive it looked. It was like a small-town festival; paper lamps dotted the sky as children played and adults mingled beneath them. A man I’d never seen before offered us drinks, and it was only now that I learned Opix and Cerus were 17 and 19 respectively. Turns out Satyrsong had a “21 and Over” limit for alcohol as well, and Cerus made sure to complain about how “unnatural” that was. Following that, we agreed to follow the scent of barbecue before finally turning in before getting stopped once again by one of the mercenaries from earlier in the day.

“Ah, if it isn’t the Galerose Alliance!” The man cheered. He’d been dressed in shiny silver armor similar to the suit Opix had thrown away. The mercenary grabbed Cerus’ hand and raised it in the air, drawing a chorus of cheers from everyone close by us.

“Hmph. Your praise, though appreciated, is certainly gratifying.” Cerus intoned. She gave the same look of fake nonchalance she gave Opix and me when she first showed off her armor to us.

“Sorry about her” I groaned. “But what are you praising us for?”

“Those Quests, kid! You got us enough Battle Points to arm ourselves real good with that stuff off the marketplace! I hear the Gnomes have been working hard to get a big batch of items on there tomorrow.” The mercenary laughed. “Henrietta and her guys cleared it out yesterday, and we cleared it out today! We left that Gem for you guys, though. That’s not a tree we’re barkin’ up.”

It’d only just occurred to me that I hadn’t been actively checking the Battle Board since earlier this morning. These guys weren’t actively participating in the Territory Quest, they’d just claimed Quests that I abandoned. I doubted they had more than 200 Battle Points, and the fact that they turned the city into a block party over it felt a bit excessive. I know Opix mentioned that they’d be happy, but I didn’t think they’d be this happy. Opix gave me a look that suggested he knew what I was thinking and sent me a message.

Opix: Mercenaries make their money getting hired by Reincarnators all across the Ellalara Belt. Naturally, things have changed, so there isn’t much work for them.

Grim: Why don’t they just leave?

Opix: It’d be easy, right? I agree with you, but the prospect of leaving and potentially getting pursued by the Rangers is too great. Statistically speaking, this is the safest world in the Ellalara Belt. And for someone who doesn’t have any more fight in them, it’s the perfect place to live and wait out the rest of your days until the Felzian Queen inevitably kills you anyway. Fighting in those Quests probably reminded them of what they used to have, or perhaps let them live a fantasy of what they could’ve been in another life. Regardless, we’re here, and I think they deserve to have this moment. Please don’t inquire about it to them.

Grim: I won’t, but I have a question for you.

Opix: What’s up?

Grim: Will killing Final Testament and the Felzian Queen give these people their fight back?

Opix: I doubt it, at least on its own. That “futility” is rooted deep inside of them.

Cerus: do not worry about it grim hearts

Cerus: when i am the dictator of the ellalara belt these people will be fighting beneath me for my entertainment

Cerus: they will be happy and i will be happier

Grim: Nobody’s going to agree to that, Cerus.

Cerus: i can work a crowd

Cerus: watch me

“If you truly feel thankful to us,” Cerus began. “Then show your thanks with a feast! A feast with ale and meat!”

“Aye! Ale and meat for Galerose Alliance!” The Mercenary roared.

A chorus of cheers sounded all over the city as the mercenaries led us into the Quest Hall we started our day in. It’d been repurposed into a banquet hall. trays of food lined a row of tables at the furthest end of the room as music sounded from speakers I couldn’t see. The room was packed with mercenaries, tradesmen, and regular civilians from around town. They’d seated us at the center table, surrounded by the mercenaries that’d fought in those Battle Network Quests I’d summoned earlier.

They served us barbecued Tucaby, of all things, and it tasted delicious. It was like the juiciest chicken I’d ever eaten in my life, except twice as big and paired with seasoned vegetables. Cerus ate like she hadn’t eaten a meal in her life, and even Opix wasn’t nearly as table-mannered as he’d been with Ciz or us in the morning. I knew I was no better considering how good the food tasted.

The After-Action Report finally came after I’d finished my second plate of food. It was later than normal, and when I told Opix he explained that it was probably because our bodies hadn’t been in a true state of rest until we’d arrived in the village. Once the mercenaries caught wind that we’d received them, though, they demanded we open our Achievements in front of them.

Cerus went first, revealing a comically long 1-Star sword. She made it clear that she was unhappy with it, shoving it at Opix who put it away in his inventory. Opix went next, revealing a set of oversized gauntlets. He gave them a look like he was trying to like them, but I knew he’d be tossing them as soon as he had the chance. I made sure to send a chat message about my foam sword, and he said we could head to a trade shop after this party to get that sorted. I went last, and while I only had three Achievements I decided to show off only one in front of everyone.

Achievement Unlocked: In the Presence of a Presence

You were in the presence of a Presence! Oh, I can’t wait for you to go to Unity. I wonder what your Presence is gonna be like! Are you excited? I’m excited!

Reward: You have received a 0-Star Armor Set.

Since 0-Star Weapons and Items provided no benefit, this “Armor Set” may as well have been a new outfit. The one I’d earned was identical to the Satyrsonian Forager Set except it was black and red instead of navy blue and brown. I did prefer the colors, though, so I swapped to it after I finished inspecting it.

We made our way back to our inn shortly after we ate. The innkeeper upgraded us to the largest room they had. It was identical to the one we were in except there was a massive floor-to-ceiling window at the furthest wall covered by a velvet curtain.

”I will be taking my shower first!” Cerus declared, standing in the doorframe of the bathroom. She’d bolted to it the moment we stepped foot in the room.

“You do that. I need to stop by a trader to sell our junk anyway.” Opix shrugged. “Grim, you wanna come?”

“Might as well,” I said. I’d been sitting on the middle bed while Opix looked out the massive window to the right of us. “Not like I have anything else to do.”

***

Opix didn’t know what to make of Grim as a person. He’d attempted to get some sort of clue about him as they walked to the half-drunk black market trader at the edge of town, but nothing he asked about Grim’s past seemed to give a definitive answer as to who Grim was. He’d learned from his master’s lessons as well as sayings from home that members of the Hearts family tended to be… tunnel-visioned, but Opix couldn’t tell what motivated him. Sure he said he wanted to be strong, but strength wasn’t a goal. It was simply a means to achieve a goal.

He decided to take the long way back, partly because he wanted to pass the time for when Cerus got out of the shower, but mainly because he wanted to pick Grim’s brain. Opix led Grim around the town, ducking through alleyways and backstreets with no clear direction in mind. Opix couldn’t help but notice how happy the people looked… how at peace they were.

I’ll make sure parties like this are daily. Their smiles will be so bright they’ll even reach you. That I promise, Lady Somnia.

“...at the end of the day, experience will always outweigh raw strength. Not only could Ciz debuff, but she could also completely nullify one of my Stats. When the fight started, she nullified my Stamina, so I started using weak Wind Bursts to get around. Eventually, she nullified my Intelligence, but my Wind Bursts and Fire Bursts don’t need to be strong to blast you away. Besides, I got this new Skill called Ziodyne that speeds me up, but it takes way too much of my Mana to be useful in a strategic battle.”

They’d been talking about Opix’s fight with Ciz, and Grim ate up every word Opix said like an eager student. Opix felt a little embarrassed by it, so he’d purposefully been focusing on the city around him to try and avoid Grim’s piercing stare.

“How’d you learn to fight like that? I know the weapons have their own skill built-in, but that “Three Minute” tip and your ability to adjust against Ciz on the fly is…” Grim coughed. “T-that shit’s pretty cool.”

“I learned from Chancellor Kato,” Opix lied… sort of. Opix trained with Chancellor Kato, but he wasn’t trained by him like Celestia was.

“Isn’t that the guy you said was on Dogtooth’s level?”

“He’s a few steps above, actually,” Opix smirked. If there was ever a perfect transition opportunity, it was right here. “I need to train with the best if I’m ever going to kill Final Testament.”

“Do you think he’d ever train me?” Grim asked tentatively.

“He definitely would,” Opix answered. “Chancellor would love you, honestly. He likes people like you, that want to get stronger in the Ellalara Belt. If things were normal, he’d probably have a million students right now.” Opix laughed, recalling his first meeting with Chancellor. “Honestly? He’d probably be begging to train you instead of the reverse.”

Grim stopped dead in his tracks. “We should go to Azeltos then! That’s where he is, right?”

There.

Opix stopped alongside him, furrowing his brow ever-so-slightly as he crossed his arms. “Why should we? What do you want strength for? Aren’t you just going home?”

Grim’s face twisted as he registered Opix’s words. If it were anyone else, Opix would be stunned by what he saw. He’d seen glimpses of it in Ciz. Less in Henrietta, more in Ysnik. Cerus was oozing the stuff, but she was a Rose. She didn’t count. Grim, though, was a member of the Hearts family. So when he saw the unmistakable flash of Control in his eyes, Opix couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. There was a reason they were so reviled in The Light.

I look at my team and I know you’re still with me. I know you did this. None of this was by chance. Thank you, Lady Somnia.

“Opix, what do you think about the Rangers?”