"We're missing someone."

Teleus glanced over the group and counted them over.

"Heizar Dusta?"
"Here and ready to rumble!" The pugilist raised a fist.
"Budam Zahlin?"
"Mhm," the swordsman grunted, sharpening his blade.
"Gurden Crestbrace?"
"Obviously." The young noble folded his arms and leaned on his spear.
"Hallim Chaom?"
The kid leaned on his sword, sweating profusely. "Y-yeah, still alive..." he groaned.
"Stay with us, kid. Grin Gloryroar?"
The axe-bearing paladin smirked. "Hooah! Won't ever catch me lost in this hell-hole."
"Bron Wildcreek?"
"Welp, I ain't missin', that's for sure," crowed the archer.
"Law Lum?"
The rogue grinned. "You remembered me. I'm touched."
"Sam Studz?"
"Here sir." The mage adjusted his glasses.
"Gio Forebraid?"
The young man inclined his head. "You haven't driven me off just yet, I'm afraid."
"Cho Naon?"
The spearfighter didn't answer.
"Cho Naon?" Teleus repeated.
Still no answer.

Teleus turned to Afki, his brows knitted with concern. "I wonder if he got lost in the hive. What do you think we should do, Afki? I was thinking we should split up to look for him and return within a quarter-hour, but I suspect your danger sense is stronger than mine. Maybe there's something else afoot warrants a different plan. Any ideas?"

“Did the Witch now send one of her minions to talk to us?" the swordsman sneered. "I'm sure she could not be bothered with us. Why don't you tell her...I will only believe that when I see it happen. Not before.”

"Tell me," the Revenant demanded, "why I shouldn't cut you down, for even speaking to that wretch. Tell me-" He drew his sword and pointed it at Chatak. "-why I should show mercy to the same creatures that are slaughtering countless innocents in this burning city."

I told you, Chatak. See how they judge you with so little knowledge of you. Is this not the true nature of men?

The jock looked around at the group. “Whoever or whatever The Witch is, she needs to be taken down. I’m not gonna stand here and die. We need to think of a plan." He then held his head and winced with pain. After a few moments like that, he shook himself and looked up. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I’ll be fine…I think.”

I don't know what came over you either, making plans like that in broad daylight.

“I think if we’re going to take on The Witch, we need to make a point to her," he continued, "to show her we’re not going to back down or compromise with her. I think we should begin by taking out outposts run by her. First thing we need is a map of this place, because I don’t think any of us know where the hell anything is.”

Thanks for the tip. Now I know where to lay my traps. Hm, that gives me an idea...

But it was Chatak's retort that made her blood run cold.

"Gob not welcome in world."

Because goblins weren't welcomed in the world. She herself had slain many of them shortly after she was summoned to the world. And even when she returned to the realm of the living, she'd recruited goblins because they seemed more expendable than the humans she'd been trying to save. They weren't welcomed. She used them.

Guilty.

She tried to bury that uncomfortable feeling deep in her heart.

"And even then, Chatak still ask Witch to free humans. You know why? Because Chatak believes in human."

Believe in humans? Her lips pursed. You fool! Did you not see how Jared drew his sword at the mere sight of you? You have seen for yourself, with your very eyes, the folly of persuading humans to be any better than they are! How can you say you believe in them? What nonsense!

She readied her stance to leap as she watched the female archer approach. That one in particular had killer reflexes. If she wanted to end Chatak, she could do it before the Witch could even finish blinking.

"Sir Chatak," she began with a curtsy, "My name is MacKensie Trydant, and I thank you for coming to speak with us. You speak with great wisdom and a good heart. That much is certain. And thus, we will heed your words and trust that the prisoners will be set free. You have my gratitude for coming to a peaceful negotiation with the Witch."

The Witch continued to watch from the shadows for any sign of foul play from the girl. Her decision to believe Chatak felt too good to be true. Surely it was some sort of trap to let his guard down. But she just walked away and didn't look back. So did Robert.

I don't believe it. Something strange is afoot.

Yakeru seemed to sense her presence, because he looked back briefly in her direction before joining his party. The Witch stared back at him.

How easily this was resolved. Too easily. I need to find out what they're planning. When they'd vanished out of sight, the Witch swiftly returned to the Sealed Tower to roll out her map.

While Pelinor was the nearest town, it was a fortified military town where civilians weren't exactly welcomed. That meant they'd have to make for Hildegard, the next closest city to Ormouth. As a coastal city next to the Misty Isle, it formed something of a trading hub between the two regions. It wasn't terribly profitable compared to its northern neighbor, but that was soon to change with the influx of 30,000 people and the loss of their former coastal trading hub.

If they're trying to be the most hero-like or aiming for the largest city, they will probably make for Hildegard. Will they escort the civilians the whole way, or turn back part-way to strike me? My next target was Pelinor, so maybe they're planning to wait me out until I leave Ormouth, then retake the city while I'm away. Should I stay and fortify? Leave a garrison? But what if I'm overthinking things and they really were persuaded to a truce? I'm not keen to move the civilian population again, though, so it's not like I have much choice. If I want to cripple the Empire, I need to continue to Pelinor, regardless of the reincarnations' strategy.

I wonder if Chatak would have good input on this.

As she mulled over alternative strategies, she overheard a commotion broiling just outside the office. She poked her head out to find a certain well-dressed goblin making a fuss. "How canst thou not have any baths? What manner of ignoble creature liveth altogether in filthy squalor day and night? Dost not the reek of sweat and half a fortnight's toil repel thy very soul?"

He has a point. I use a bit of cleansing magic, but they don't have that luxury. That needs to change. Who is that goblin, anyway?

When the Witch stepped out of her office, the knights stopped their confused scrambling and bowed the knee, drawing Shaktak's attention. "Aha! Surely thou art the mistress of this place. Hast thou a bath for Chatak and I to cleanse ourselves of this filth?"

"I can arrange for one. What brings you here to Ormouth?"

"Ah, yes, that. See, I came here with mine alchemist companion to locate a friend of ours, Chatak, and suffice it to say we found him. That strapping young lad delivered quite the speech, did he not?"

She smiled slightly. "He has certainly given me much to think about. Do you know what brings him to Ormouth?"

"The boy hath been on an everlasting hunt for skilled craftsmen to build his country. I expect his aim has not changed since I last saw him."

"I have one or two goblin smiths I can afford to part with, for the right price. Kolgat?"

An intelligent-looking goblin in yellow mage robes made his way in and bowed. ["Yes, milady?"]

["You are in charge of negotiations with Chatak. Treat with him as if he were a friend of ours."]

["Yes, milady."]

Then she received a message on her comm: ["Another one has awakened, milady!"]

The Witch inclined her head to Shaktak and left to greet the newly awakened reincarnation.

Shaktak returned from the Sealed Tower with a yellow-robed goblin in tow. "I must say, my boy, that was a marvelous speech thou didst make. Thou hast a certain eloquence beyond thy years. We'll make an orator of thee yet!" He slapped Chatak on the back and chortled. "Anyway, I expressed to her thou desirest craftsmen, and she agreed to sell them to thee, for which purpose she sent this brightly colored fellow to negotiate. Introduce thyself, I prithee?"

The goblin, apparently grasping Shaktak's meaning, bowed in greeting. "I am Kolgat. I am librarian of tomes. Greetings, Chatak. What craft-people do you want?"

Shaktak folded his arms and muttered behind a smile, "Whoever taughtest thou thine english, to start, for it is a mark better than thy brethren..."

A quiet hum was the only other sound in the dimly lit room. What little light there was came from glowing veins in the walls, pulsing a gentle blue in steady rhythm with the hum. Seven stone coffins stood lined up against the wall, all of them tightly closed to guard the lifeless bodies slumbering within. The humming throbbed for a moment, and the lid of one of these coffins opened up just as Enya began to push on it.

As Enya and the newly awakened individual conversed, a figure stepped into the doorway. Robed in blackest ebony and wreathed in the flickering embers of the mystic arts, she gazed upon the pair from behind a featureless bone-white mask, her silver eyes the only indication she was human.

"You are the ninth."

She paced over and offered a hand to lift him to his feet. "Seventh to awaken within this tower. You are not alone in having reincarnated here. Welcome to Aion. I trust you have some questions."