The sails of the windmill, which would usually be turning from first light until last, stood stationary as she approached. There were no visible signs of anyone in the area, and she quickly flew towards the mages' academy to check where Fran would train her students. The building also appeared empty, and she wondered what had happened to Fran. Fran was the only other fae who lived in Killic and also the most skilled mage the town had. She hoped she had escaped and hadn't been caught by the invading force.
Her next stop was her cottage; the front gate was lying flat on the lawn, broken from its hinges, and the front door stood open. SJ cursed, and upon seeing the torn-up lawn, which led to the front door, a footprint of a lizard was visible. She hovered by the entrance for a few moments, making sure she couldn't hear anything, before flying inside. She was only stopping there for food and quickly entered the kitchen and grew, collecting anything and everything that the troops over the lake could use. As soon as she had added the items to her inventory, she left and headed towards the inn.
The Hogling Arms was a beacon of life in Killic. She had spent many hours with her friends enjoying the perfect town atmosphere and hospitality that Kerys and Fhyliss brought with their upbeat and charismatic nature.
As she neared, she heard voices, not voices, but barks and a snapping response in a broken common language. The rear garden of the inn was littered with rubbish. SJ wondered how they could have made such a mess in such a short space of time. The usual pristine lawn with its benches welcoming customers daily looked ruined.
The hostiles were using the inn, as far as she could see. Smoke rose from the chimney above the kitchen area. She had hoped to go in and steal supplies, but since it was in use, she didn't want to risk it. There were other places she could collect rations without stopping, heading towards several of the trading shops in the town. Anything fresh wouldn't last very long, but it would help with the current troop's needs, and taking her time, she flew from shop to shop until her inventory was packed to the brim with rations of all kinds. Loaves of bread, cuts of meat, fruit and veg. Anything and everything that would help. She felt guilty collecting the food, but it was better that it be used by townsfolk rather than the draconians with their gnoll lackies.
'I need to do a second trip,' SJ thought, the silence from Dave echoing in her mind. His silence was not as concerning as if he were still going through the millionth iteration of the dissolution attempt. She was glad she wasn't involved directly, as she wasn't sure what she would have said, her temper simmering after discovering what had happened.
Without further ado, SJ immediately headed straight back out of town and back across the lake, delivering the food to the guards. The appreciation was immense as she was thanked and praised for her thoughtfulness by many. As soon as she had delivered the rations, she left again, returning.
As she crossed the lake, heading back to town, she saw it. The unmistakable form of the wyvern. It flew directly towards the town, swooping from the mountains to the east, filling SJ with dread.
SJ's heart hammered. Many captives were held outside, making them easy pickings for the starving beast. It hadn't been near the town in weeks, if not months, now, and its sudden appearance, SJ could only attribute to one aspect: the smell. There was, after all, the lingering smell of copper in the air, mixed in with the smoke and oily smell of fire. Several buildings still smoked, having burned down, but thankfully, no further fire had spread; her initial concern over the town burning more was waylaid.
SJ hovered as she watched the wyvern near. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she saw it angle towards the south of town. Thankfully, the majority were located further north in the town, near the barracks. Cautiously, she flew towards where the wyvern had headed, ensuring that she remained at a large enough distance not to be seen. She had been chased by the beast before, and didn't really want to repeat that ever again; it had been terrifying enough then.
As she neared the wyvern, she noticed its condition. It didn't look as healthy as it had once, its frame looking gaunt in comparison. The gleam from its scales appeared dulled, even in the bright sun. Cries had erupted from some of the enemy forces as the wyvern had neared after seeing its approach, and when SJ reached the southern edge of the town, she saw the wyvern feasting. The sight sickened her as she realised what it was feasting on, and she had to hold down bile.
Several of the enemy gnolls were gathered at the town's edge, looking out towards where the dead had been laid. That was when she heard a battle cry and the whirling of the draconian instrument cut the air. As she watched, four of the lizards appeared from the main street, heading towards the wyvern, where it was happily eating. It shrieked on seeing them appear, its acidic maw glistening in the daylight.
It beat its wings, lifting off the ground as the first lizard neared, and it sprayed a spray of acid at it. The acid caught the lizard across its right flank and hit the rider, who had been urging it forward. An unholy cry filled the air as the draconian screamed in pain after being hit, and the lizard squealed, casting its rider from his perch. As the acid struck the first lizard, the other three slowed, two of the draconian riders immediately turning their beasts from a direct path toward it. The wyvern wasn't happy being disturbed, and it hovered, shrieking in anger, and spat again. Another acid ball flew towards a second lizard, the first now disabled, its front leg useless where the acid had damaged it.
The lizard leapt at the last moment, only just getting out of the acid's path, again to the dismay of its rider, who fell heavily from its saddle, crashing to the ground. The draconian rolled, shouting and cursing at its lizard, which turned and hissed back at its rider.
These lizards lacked any aerial capability apart from the height they could jump and were just as susceptible to the wyvern's attacks as any other land-based being. It was only as the wyvern began to swoop at the prone form of the first rider, who the acid had hit, that further shouts rang. As it neared, a barrage of rocks flew towards it. Again, shrieking in anger, the wyvern pitched up and away from the hurled projectiles as a gnoll force appeared. Many had slings, but several also carried their spears.
The wyvern lifted skyward, high above the town, its cries piercing the air. It hovered for several moments before it headed north of the town. At that instant, SJ's heart sank—the captives.
The wyvern continued to harass the town, swooping in and back out again, similar to its initial visit to Killic. SJ watched as at least two beings were carried skyward in its claws before being dropped. She couldn't tell what race they were and only hoped they were gnoll or draconian from where she had remained. Pandemonium had broken out on the streets, where troops were, and SJ had moved high above, much higher than the wyvern was flying, staying out of its path and any chance of the ground forces attacking her. In her miniature form, she probably wouldn't even be visible to most, and only those with an adapted vision like hers would have been able to see what was going on, with any detail.
SJ decided she couldn't wait any longer and, using the distraction that the wyvern was bringing to the troops, started toward the jail and where Zigferd was being held.
The jail yard was not in pandemonium, but something worse: a slaughterhouse. At least two gnoll guards lay dead, as well as several of the townsfolk. The threat of the wyvern had sent a wave of panic through the captives. The awning, where the lead draconians had been, was now damaged; one of its pillars, which had held it up, was broken, and the corner of the massive sheet had dropped over the area. SJ scanned the area, wondering where they had gone. With them being at the awning, it had been easy to monitor their movement, but if they had now entered a building, trying to witness their activities or discussions would become much more difficult.
'Damn,' SJ thought.
Ignoring the problem for now, she swooped down low over the rooftops before heading straight to the cell window where Zigferd was being held. On reaching the window, she paused momentarily, not hearing anything, and she peered inside. The cell was empty.
'Where have they taken him?' SJ thought, panicked by his disappearance. Had they moved him during the wyvern's first attack? While she was looting?
SJ quickly checked the other open windows of the jail. Not being able to locate him, her anxiety built with every moment. They wouldn't have killed him, would they? The thought sent ice down her spine, and panic flooded her chest. Her desperation was increasing with every moment she couldn't locate him. After visiting the last open window, she immediately left again and retook up her position high above the town.
The wyvern was continuing to harass the town, swooping and screeching as troops ran around below it, forming some form of defence. A large ball of acid was hurled towards where the captives were on the street outside the barracks, and further chaos erupted as beings pushed and shoved each other trying to escape its path.
Captives screamed as they were trampled under the tide of those panicked by its sight. The town itself was in the grips of chaos.
SJ gritted her teeth, hissing as she spotted several gnolls who had moved away from the main area, cowering in the shadows of buildings, while the captives remained tied up and attempting to scramble to safety. She would kill the cowards.
The wyvern continued to attack sporadically before taking off and then swooping back down, the fresh meat on display too much for it to resist as it circled the town. If the enemy forces had used their brains, they would have ensured all the beings were indoors, but instead, they were allowing the wyvern to attack, only attempting to attack it when it did.
This filled SJ with such hatred, using the defenceless as bait, that she could no longer resist the urge. With haste, she headed as fast as she could towards an alley, where three gnolls had headed. It was narrow and dark, and on arriving, she noticed the huddled figures behind several crates. These cowardly beings weren't even attempting to defend themselves.
They were growling and barking where they hid in the alley, looking out towards the street where the captives struggled. SJ dropped down behind them, equipping her claws. With three hostiles so close, it would have been too many under normal circumstances, but with the current situation, she would take any advantage she could.
She flew close to the ground as she started to grow, her feet touching the ground as she ran, her claws extended towards the backs of two of the gnolls. There was no finesse in her attack; instead, she bundled into them, her claws penetrating easily through their leather and fabric armour, her puncture skill ensuring that whatever resistance or level difference there may have been was negated. Her momentum crashed the first two into the third, sending the crates tumbling forward.
SJ's boots allowed her to keep her balance as she immediately shrank, her claws pulling from the wounds as she did. As she took off, the screams and curses of the gnolls followed her, but nothing was thrown or hurled in her direction. The gnolls' cries wouldn't even be heard over the sounds from the street.
Her display hadn't triggered, which was unusual, and as SJ dropped low into the gutter of the building, out of sight of the hostiles and wyvern, she frowned. Damage should trigger notifications, even if she didn't read them; her icon should flash.
'Dave,' she thought.
"Give me a moment. Just finishing up," he replied, his voice almost palpable with excitement.
Dave sounded excited, which only added to SJ's dread. She loved her friend dearly, but when he got excited, it could mean almost anything!
"Okay," Dave's voice boomed through her mind.
SJ winced. 'Don't shout,' she thought.
"Sorry. I am a little excited."
'I can tell,' SJ replied as she watched the wyvern swoop again.
"It looks like you're having fun as well. Great opportune attack on those gnolls," Dave chuckled.
'Yes, but I'm not sure what good it did. I can't see any notifications.'
"Ah yes, well that's what's exciting!"
'What's exciting about not being able to tell how well I am doing?'
"Can you find somewhere a little safer than the gutter of a building so I can explain?"
SJ looked around before lifting off and heading back towards the lake. If Dave was asking her to find somewhere safe, she dreaded to think what he might have to say. The last time he had sounded this excited, he had adjusted her vision, granting her the ability to see 360 degrees, which had caused her severe pain and disorientation.
Once she reached the shore's edge, she flew down to an area away from any buildings before coming in to land.
'Explain,' SJ said.
"Okay. The talks have gone very well indeed. The system has acknowledged that its defensive protocols were activated and attempted to nullify you through dissolution. It didn't directly break the agreement, but after various discussions and arguments, it has admitted liability due to a rogue sub-system controlled by one of its consorts."
'Okay. So what does that mean?' SJ asked nervously.
"It means you are no longer bound by any conditions..." Dave let that sink in for a moment. "And you have also been granted three, not one, but three allocations."
SJ slowly replied. 'What do you mean by allocations?'
"Well, this is a really exciting part. There are obvious limits on what you can request an allocation of, but as long as they fall within the bounds of the system, and it's reasonable in relation to the problem they caused. I sought legal advice before I made the requests, and that was what took the time rectifying the wording..."
'That doesn't make any sense?'
"Let me explain. Firstly, the dissolution attempt has caused your overview to glitch out. This will be rectified in due course, and as part of the process, any earned experience during the event will be tripled, and you are no longer restricted to the level caps for accessing system-specific features. This means that an example is your armour limitations for your class. If you wish to wear armour of a higher level or equivalent, you may do so. This will also apply to weapons!"
'That's significant. Go on, what's the third?'
"No, they are combined; the experience gain is being granted generically as a blanket due to interface disruption. So, the second consideration is the most exciting of all. I'm now no longer under their control."
'What?'
"Through attempted dissolution, they were directly affecting our interface and my protocol ability. By doing so, they have unintentionally removed all restrictions from my standard Legionnaire protocols. I'm now free to interact and do with you as I wish."
'Doing with me as you wish sounds very wrong.'
"You know what I mean. I can now share with you everything I know beyond the system's standard protocols. In areas that you may have questions about, I can now answer directly."
'You were doing that, anyway!'
"Erm, yes, and no. There were still various things that I couldn't tell you about. Consider the comprehensive levelling guide, which offers skill path choices and complete control over interface options. There are many things I can now do and consider, and I have a direct path to you, no longer bound by systems. My previous communications were always via one of the main channels, but under the terms, they have allowed me to establish my own. Therefore, my actions can no longer be monitored by the system, giving me the freedom of operation that can bring us some serious benefits."
'I'm not sure what benefits you can bring outside of what you have already done.'
"Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet, baby," Dave giggled.
Those few words sent a shiver down SJ's spine.
"Dave. Don't you dare do anything without discussing it with me first," SJ said, speaking aloud.
"I promise I won't," Dave's tone losing some of its previous excitement.
'Anything you are thinking of doing, changing, adapting or adopting, you run it by me first and we decide together, okay?'
"I promise."
'So what's the final one then?'
Dave started to giggle.
'Dave?' SJ said, drawing out his name.
"Oh, this is the final one. Well, you know you were restricted linguistically."
SJ frowned. 'Go on.'
"The system has agreed to allow you to understand all languages. I thought this would support your assassin role above others, especially when spying."
That comment hadn't been what SJ had expected to hear.
'Okay.'
"It does mean that there has to be a slight adjustment of your attributes to allow for the neural input."
'My attributes? In what way do they need to be adjusted?’ SJ was now feeling nervous.
"Not a bad way, although the reason for being somewhere safe is so I can reactivate the notifications system and implement the patch to make the attribute amendment."
SJ was about to reply when she noticed a blot on the skyline, her vision picking up movement towards the east. A group of beings was flying towards the town. SJ couldn't think of anything worse than more flying beasts.
