The trio awoke in the morning refreshed and ready for the day ahead. Though he couldn't help but think something was amiss. "Something just… Doesn't feel right?" Dillee was the first to comment on the matter. "I believe we have made a critical error, chaps."

Horace had barely a single eye open as he grumbled and shouted, "Oh yeah? WHAT would that BE? Doesn't feel LIKE anything is off."

Proceeding to inform his companions, Dillee reminded them of a certain someone.

*** (?)

Where the hell are they? I have been here ALL NIGHT. I'M FREEZING OVER HERE! It would seem a lack of thinking among the trio has led to the poor unfortunate Norman being stuck at the bridge to the Tusen Atolls all night.

Mutual facepalming occurred between the three of them, though they did find it pretty damn funny at the same time. "Well, that was a monumental screw-up, wasn't it, ha! We'll have to go back there to find him."

"IT'S HIS FAULT. Who avoids the area just BECAUSE YOUR WIFE LEFT YOU FOR SOMEONE ELSE?" Horace's life experience within social circles seemed to be showing today.

MC, trying to make Horace think about it a little, replied, "Chill, lad. I'm sure it's difficult to deal with." Horace was dismissive of it, shoving a pillow over his face, "Pff, DON'T lecture me, MOM."

"Either way, chaps, let's not forget to visit that kitchenware store today. Let's not get caught with our pants down, eh?"

"Not unless you want to get arrested, no. Let's make a move; they said we can have breakfast on the house after all. It's getting on a bit already."

*** (W)

Earlier that morning...

My stomach is trying to die... Sweet baby Yeesus, Wardi was holding on to his stomach for dear life as he painfully waited his turn in the bathroom after the gals finished their morning routines. Hurry, you pair; it doesn't take an hour to wash yourselves. What the fuck are you doing in there?

The door swung open, and steam filled the room quickly as Rhua and Lucy emerged wearing their adventuring clothes.

"Bathrooms free War,"

Wardi flew past them and started blasting the taps loudly, trying to silence the machine gun about to hit the rim. "Wonder what's wrong with him?" Lucy asked Rhua, looking towards the bathroom.

"Stomach issues, probably. He was holding on tightly to that waistline of his."

"I see..." The pair gathered their things and sat by idly, waiting for Wardi to finish up. Lucy tried to sit down, but she felt antsy, needing to do something. I'll call Larry. I'll do anything to curb the silence.

She swiped at her system windows and dialled for Larry.

Shing shing, shing shing shi-

"You lot, I swear to the goddess herself, are going to put me in an early grave!"

"HI LARRY, NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU TOO," Lucy shouted with sarcasm set to maximum.

"You're causing mayhem with that client; they won't stop hounding me, and they won't take your details either. It's driving me MAD. When are you going to finish that bloody request?"

"MC went down to the Tusen Atolls to deal with it; has he still not met with the client yet?"

"Obviously not, or I wouldn't be screaming at you... Where are you three now? This request needs dealing with pronto. "I cannot be bothered with this middleman nonsense."

"NCS, we were actually about to start heading out."

"Good, I've told the client to wait at Lexi's Blackmoon and not to leave. You're covering the bill. HURRY."

Lucy let out a 'huff'. 'Well, that was a little rude LARRY.' "We have to go to Eccles Ville. The client's going to wait for us at Lexi's Blackmoon."

Rhua rolled her eyes. "Wardi. We're going to Eccles Ville next."

"Just let me die in peace," Wardi's muffled words came through the door.

Wardi and his companions made their way out of the hotel and headed for Gallop's Path towards the high-rise eyesores of region capital.

Although it was a rocky path, it was one that would get them there much faster than any other road. It would lead them quickly to the Widdlewans, a largely wooded area with fixed paths. Many budding adventurers made their start, thanks to the 1-star dungeon located there.

Fresh air filled their lungs as they headed towards the eastern side along Gallop's Path. "I really needed to get some air. Strange, isn't it? Some light exercise and breathing techniques can do wonders for your health." Deep inhaling and exhaling, Wardi's stomach knots were undone, though it was probably more because whatever gave him grief had left his system by now.

"You ate too much, didn't you? That pie was massive, you fool; no wonder your stomach turned on you." Rhua was unhappy at the stupidity of Wardi's binge eating. But she felt the rumblings in her stomach, too. "Looks like the tables have turned, eh?"

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The pain caused Rhua to keel over while holding on tightly to her stomach. "PISS OFF... Ugh, that hurts. I'll be right back," darting into the bathroom.

As the trio made the walk towards the Widdlewans, Lucy couldn't help but point out something: "It's funny how sandy paths from the Tusen Atolls just abruptly end as we get close to greenery, as if they have some sort of border issue at hand."

Wardi and Rhua looked at each other behind her, pulling confused faces.

"Uh, are you sure it's not a coincidence because of the wind or something, lass?"

Silently observing for several seconds, Lucy continued to monitor the floor as they travelled north. "Maybe..."

Lucy was going to follow up on her speech until Rhua spotted someone familiar in the distance. Pointing over to them and turning to her companions.

"Hey look, it's Zip. Shall we go say hello?" Wardi noticed the faint smile on her face. I think she has a little bit of a soft spot for the Impies, just like MC does.

"Sure. MC would appreciate updates; he's quite fond of Kungle."

Zip was like every other Impie, wearing a haunting smile, a black bowler hat, and a striking red and lined jacket full of faded yellows and oranges. Wardi noticed his shoes as they got closer and turned to Rhua. "Have you seen his shoes? They look like they're from that shoe brand Crikey. Haven't seen those since the 2010s."

Zip is the only child of Kungle and Pana. He often travelled on his own, though it seems he may have made some friends in his recent travels around the world.

A group of four were with him, noticeably different from each other. A tall half-Koanit/half-Hankae with a strikingly sharp beak appeared to maybe be some sort of knight. His gear was astoundingly odd as the trio began to close in on them.

Is that a plant-based buzzsword whip? Rhua couldn't take her eyes off the randomness of the creation.

The smaller one in the group was some sort of Koanor, much younger than the others, and followed behind them shyly. They didn't seem to have anything special about them, though Wardi found it odd: a Huum/Terrahuum wearing yellow summer dress with hand-drawn flowers on it… The thing looks ancient.

The one that stood out the most was the exceptionally unusual-looking individual standing next to the tall knight. Their armor was like nothing the trio had seen before. Cloth-like with metal plating added around the critical parts, yet they wore a masked helmet shielding their appearance. Everything about them oozed of mysticism as the trio grew closer and closer.

"Zip!" Rhua called out, grabbing his attention. He quickly turned, showing his happy smiling face, and bounded over to them in three or four mighty steps.

"Hi, Hi, Rhua, Wardi & Lucy too! Are you well? Where are MC and Horace? I haven't seen them in ages. Wee!"

The rapid talking of Zip was something they had forgotten about, but they weren't going to end the conversation after a brain melting just yet.

"We're doing fine, Zip. Looks like you're ok. We can see you've made some friends. Where are you off travelling to? MC and Horace are... somewhere hiding away scared; I'll give them both a good smack, heh."

Bouncing from side to side, Zip was enjoying seeing some familiar faces. "Oh yes, I'm fine. These are my friends, DD, Linasa, and Tortiq

Linasa waved and bowed to the trio, saying, "Nice to meet you."

DD and Tortiq synchronised their stammering "H-hello" together; Tortiq hid behind DD, who raised his shield out in defence.

Rhua waved both her hands. Trying to calm them both, "Relax, we're friends of Zip. Nice to meet you all."

"We are off training. We're going to be strong adventurers just like you~." Frantically springing side to side with excitement, Zip was bounding with energy. "You should say hello to MC for me when you can. I would like to see him again."

"We shall do it; don't worry about that. Have you decided where you're going to go and train? I didn't know you had become a sentient Zip." Wardi asked him, curious to know how he was able to join the system; the Impies had always been separated from it.

Still bouncing side to side, he replied, "Oh, I haven't; we are going to train anyway though. We're on a mission from To."

Linasa interrupted him, "We're heading to the Koan lands. We want to say hello to the Colossi there." Her words were hurried, though Lucy swore she recognised the voice. She seems so familiar. Lucy couldn't stop staring at Linasa. And Linasa could see that Lucy wasn't letting up either.

"Oh, you're going to say hello to Lipatua? What's made you want to do that? It's one of the weirdest of the bunch..." Rhua grew concerned something was up, but Zip seemed no different. She was curious if he knew how Kungle and Pana were doing and spoke up, "Hey Zip, How are your mum and dad doing?"

His bouncing slowed down, ending in a complete halt. Winds passing between them blew their loose clothing around, and the silence with it.

DD came forward to speak. He lowered his shield, informing everyone of the news: "They were killed a short time ago."

Tears began to form in Zip's eyes, his skin paling from colour; the warmth on his face was gone.

And he wasn't alone. Lucy broke into a waterfall of hysterical sobbing; Wardi fought back, biting his lip, but there was nothing that could stop this floodgate from opening as those drops leaked out.

Rhua fell to her knees, dropping her sword and shield to the floor; she was silent and struggling to comprehend what she just heard.

"S-say it's not true, Zip?" Lucy quivered the words out.

"I can't; it's true." He said, as his tears were wiped away by the sleeve of Sil.

Rhua was lost for words. There was nothing she could do right now.

Wardi composed himself, roughly wiping away the tears and trying to dry his eyes with his clothing. "What happened? I know you're not fighters, but hardly anyone can match your movements when you're in motion."

DD spoke for Zip again; he was in too much pain to speak as Sil wrapped her arm around him for comfort. "The report said they stopped in the Eastern cavern passageway for a break. Mandems were fighting purple-robed citizens, and then a man appeared. Shamus the Entertainer, they called him. He killed them the moment he appeared with a click of a finger. An adventurer managed to make it back to the city and inform the guard. It didn't take long before they found me and Zip when we were in Ecclesville."

This name would leave a burning mark on the trio, similar to Gwyn and the rising dawn.

Rhua, still on her knees, head hanging low. Teary anger rose up within her; Kaha began to rise outwards, and the white aura startled her companions as it expanded.

Rhua began to float off the ground as the air warped and twisted.

Wardi shouted and reached out to her, "What the hell is happening? Rhua, are you ok? What's going on?"

Time stopped for those around her, and she looked around. What the hell is happening? Why aren't they moving? "Guys!?" she shouted, but no responses came. Only a single faint whisper within the gentle wind. One that only she could hear. And a figure came down with a warming glow around them.

"I have watched you for many years now, Rhua. The time has come to make a decision."

"Who the hell are you? What have you done to my friends?" She struggled to free herself from the floating grip holding her in place.

"Forgive me. You met my cherub seven years ago. It is I, Scanger. Rhua Seisyll."

The soft and pleasant voice carried across the wind. Rhua felt a sense of calm come over her. Scanger? Are you the god Scanger!?

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