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"Boy, I'm stuffed," Zell said to himself as he hobbled his way to the secret exit of the temple with the aid of his crutch.  The Englishman hadn't stopped at his milk and oats.  He'd gone through a variety of easy-to-make foods in the kitchen, leaving unwashed dishes in his wake. After that, and without hesitation, he proceeded to fill up his belt satchel with anything that tickled his fancy.  He figured it all an 'extra service charge' for his work.  The magical way that inventory worked for Source Crystal users meant that he could pack quite a bit too.  It never ceased to amaze him just how compressed dimensional space and weight was in satchel.  And this was [i]nothing[/i] compared with the enchanted haversack that Adam carried around with him.  [i]You could probably fit a piano in that thing,[/i] Zell imagined jokingly.

When he got outside, "Crap, where'd everybody go!?" he hurried as best he could across the courtyard towards Temple Hill steps.  But not before stopping by the severed head of Zigmund.  "Thought you were Bee's Knee's, didn't ya, ye bastard.  Well look at you now," he said with contempt.  He spat on the metal-plated head, then hobbled off to make his descent down to the village of Cherrad.

...

Of course, Second Chance didn't leave without him.  He wasn't sure how long he'd held them up, so he forgoed stopping to hear any gratitude or platitude, giving a salute to the village elder Antonius as he passed him by.  "All the best, old man.  Pleasure to serve in your hour of need.  We go by Second Chance, also known as The Heroes from the Sky, Slayer of Aurok the Maneater and probably a dozen other things before the year's end.  Tell your friends."

He wasn't his gracefully athletic self getting up onto the flat-bed wagon with a crutch, but he managed it, giving a nod in leui of a hello for anyone who looked.  He plonked himself between James and Barracker, first checking on the Cleric.  "How's it going, mate?  You're looking a little better than before."  He thought it not best to pry too hard in front of everyone, but he was sure something was up with James.  As soon as he got a moment alone with his friend, he would have to find out what [i]exactly[/i] had happened between him and Zigmund before the final checkmate.

...

It wasn't with comfiest journey he'd ever been on, but Zell enjoyed the relaxing views, his bad leg stretched out before him, elbows resting on the guard-rail he was leaning back against.  After a while, he gave Barracker a nudge.

"Sorry about your sword, bro," he said quietly, sincerely and [i]very[/i] seriously.

A warrior's weapon was an extension of themselves - quite often sentimental, named, [i]even gendered and given personality[/i] by it's owner.  The best swordsmen often cared for their sword deeply, maintaining it like a solid friendship.  This, Zell understood as part of his vast knowledge of swords, swordplay and the other adjacent subjects he'd been gifted with, upon entering this world.  On top of that, Zell remembered the pride and fondness Barracker spoke with when the two of them, as strangers in Golden Tree Park, traded weapons to each show off their prized possessions.  To see the Orichaclum Claymore in pieces was an extra injury amongst the party.

"Gildor Hammerfist in Valhiem should be able to repair it.  Don't worry about it, it'll be stronger than ever once he's through with it," he gave the Paladin a grin with his attempt to cheer the man up.  They talked for a little bit about the best materials for swords and what the best alloys were.  Then the topic went on to the best kinds of swords beyond their katana and greatsword.  Then techniques and stances.  And finally a mix of all three topics: 'What worked best; [i]for[/i] what, [i]with[/i] what and [i]when[/i].'

But in the end, thinking back on that finishing moment when he'd gotten the drop on Zigmund and delivered his promise to the bastard, Zell changed the subject completely.

"You know..." he started, a short glance at the sky to consider his wording before looking back at his friend.  "You being a Paladin of Hades n all - what happens to a person when they die, in this world? Or at least; what's supposed to happen?  Is there a heaven and hell, or something?"  He gave Barracker a chance to speak a little before asking some follow up questions to get more detail about Hades himself, the religion of The Quinity in general, and where Zigmund would be rotting right now, if it was possible to know.

"Was never sure if God was real, back in my world.  Never cared, tee-bee-haeche.  Now I'm starting to think that there probably was... well... [i]something[/i], at least.  Maybe like The Source.  Or maybe a full-on fucking man in a cloud.  After spending a few weeks in Mytheria, I'm not sure I can be surprised by [i]anything[/i] anymore. Ha."