System Change

“Bones and Ogre? Yeah, that’s what they called themselves.” Derek replied to Jacks.

“The assassins?” Jacks asked.

“Yeah… You know them?”

Jacks adverted his gaze from Derek’s. “Malcolm has hired them before… more than once. I saw them at those times. They’re the best assassins you can hire for a reasonable amount of coin. I think that’s just because they enjoy killing…” He explained.

“Well, now they are inmate number two and three.” Derek said.

“Are you and Miss Brighton hurt?” Jacks asked, after scanning Derek’s clothes.

Derek couldn’t blame him for asking. His clothes looked like he had just taken them out of a blender. Derek laughed. “We’re fine. They were instructed to leave Stella alone. They only attacked me. It was a fun break to the usual. I’m sure they wouldn’t agree, though.”

Jacks glanced at the locked doors. “No, I’d guess they wouldn’t.”

Derek then looked at Brandi and the others. They had been quiet, just listening to his encounter with the assassins. “We’re almost to Wilmette. I’m going to let you all out before we get there. I don’t know about any laws about smuggling, but I’d rather be square when paying the teleport fees. Besides, I’m not sure about teleporting while people are inside the prison. I’m sure it’d be fine, but I’d rather just do it all legitimately.” He explained.

“Oh yeah. Brandi, I have a bunch of bats from the Undying Dungeon in here.” He took off his storage ring and tossed it to the girl. “There are also some other things from a battlefield. Take all the bats and whatever else you want. I’m going to need some more shirts at this rate, if you don’t mind.” He then took one of his last pairs of undamaged jeans from his storage bracelet and tossed them to the girl. “If you could find a way to make something close to those, it would be awesome.”

Brandi grabbed the pants and examined them intensely. Seeing that she was too caught up in work to reply, Derek turned around and walked out of the prison. He then closed the door and pieced the space back together.

As soon as he pulled the space together, he received a notification that the skill had leveled to two. Nice. I’ll have to check on that later.

Back outside with Stella, Derek took his shredded shirt off and replaced it with another one made out of the thin bat cloth that Brandi had made for him. He also replaced his jeans with his last good pair. Still, this pair had holes in the knees. He had given Brandi the best pair he had left, so it was the best he could do. He wasn’t about to wear tunic and pantaloons, or whatever they called the pants that were popular in this world.

“I thought you had scars all over your body?” Stella broke the silence.

“And how would you know that?” Derek asked.

“News travels. I didn’t see any scars though.” She replied.

“Oh? How hard were you looking?” He asked with a smirk.

Stella scoffed. “It’s nothing like that. I was just surprised, is all. It was all Walter’s guards could talk about after you arrived. That and blasting you with scalding water without you so much as making a noise the whole time. You know, Bones and Ogre aren’t the only people who have called you a monster.”

“It seems to be a theme with anyone who sees me fight.” Derek said.

Stella only shrugged.

“Well, now that the theatrics are finished, we should probably get to Wilmette before Torith somehow manages to get them to shut down access to teleport. I don’t know if he has that type of power, but it seems like something he would do if he could. Especially if he learns that his assassins failed.” Derek said.

Stella nodded. “It would take a lot for a City Lord to allow the shutdown of their teleport circle. For most cities, other than the Capital and Savannah, the teleport circles make a good chunk of the money that goes back into them. Well, that and whatever the lords are able to sneak into their own pockets. It’s kind of an open secret.”

“However, if anyone can get them shut down, it’s Gerald. It would cost a lot of money and favors, but he could do it. Though, after your display just then, I don’t think anything could come from it. Worst-case scenario, you get kicked out of the city and they send more… prisoners… to you. Not to mention your speed. You didn’t so much as break a sweat while we were running, so I doubt you would have trouble getting to Savannah on your own, as long as you know the direction.” She continued.

Derek nodded. “That’s true, but you never know, someone truly strong could be sent. Plus, I’d rather use the teleport circle and get there sooner rather than later. Let’s go.”

With that, Derek and Stella broke through the forest and onto the open road. Not long after, they arrived at Silvi’s battlefield.

“This…” Stella said.

“It’s where we caught up to Malcolm.” Derek replied.

The bodies and remains were still littered around the area. Occasionally, Derek took note of people searching through the remains. Derek, Jacks, and Silvi only took things they thought could provide value to them, so there was plenty of stuff left for scrappers and looters. The majority of the looters were covered in dirt and mud, and most were children.

Derek clicked his tongue. “If we had time, I’d at least burn the bodies. I may have caused their deaths, but they still don’t deserve that.”

“Caused their deaths? You didn’t kill them?” Stella asked.

Derek shook his head. “No, that was all Silvi’s work.”

Stella came to an abrupt stop, so Derek did as well. “The cute bunny? The one who we’ve been teaching to cook? That Silvi? She did all that?”

Derek nodded. “Yeah. I told you she was strong… remember? I wasn’t joking.”

“I didn’t think you were, but this…” Stella sighed. She seemed to be having a hard time overlapping the picture of the cute bunny cook with this bunny of mass destruction. “Sorry… let’s continue.” With that, Stella started running again. Derek followed.

“You don’t need to worry about their burial or proper funeral. If the looters are already here, it won’t be long before the others arrive. Some of those religious classes would miss the opportunity to send off a large amount of dead. They’re probably already in the city fighting over who gets to do it. It’s an easy way for them to gain levels in skills and class.” Stella explained.

“That’s… useful?”

Stella smiled. “Not really, but there’s a class for everyone and everything. You just have to hope that those with religious rites get there before the necro classes.”

Derek shuddered. He still hated fighting the undying enemies. The only thing more annoying than fighting an army of enemies is fighting them twice or three times… or however many times they are able to be raised by a Necromancer.

“Let’s hope.” He answered.

Before long, they could see the outline of Wilmette. Derek and Stella broke off from the main path and went to a spot not easily seen. Derek opened his prison.

“We’re close. Please exit the bus in an orderly fashion.” Derek said.

Everyone gave him an odd look, but they all left the prison with no comment. Silvi hopped onto Derek’s shoulder as he closed the prison. Occasionally, Derek could see Stella side eyeing the bunny cautiously. He chuckled.

‘Why don’t you let Stella carry you for a bit. She was just saying how cute you were.’ Derek sent to Silvi.

Silvi turned her gaze to Stella. Stella flinched.

‘Doesn’t look like it.’ Silvi replied.

‘Just do it.’ Derek said.

Silvi hopped off Derek’s shoulder towards Stella.

Stella’s eyes went wide and with her maximum speed, she dodged the bunny. Silvi landed on the ground.

‘She doesn’t want to carry me. And now I have dust on my fur.’ Silvi sent.

‘Have her carry you and I’ll make sure the kitchen is one of the first facilities we put in the building.’ Derek said.

‘Deal.’

While Stella and Silvi played tag, Derek explained the plan to the others.

“I wanted us all to arrive at the city and use the teleport circle together. I don’t want to be accused of smuggling people between cities without paying.” He spoke.

They all nodded in understanding, but they were more intrigued by watching the beautiful woman dodge the cute bunny over and over.

“What are they doing?” Rayna asked.

“Just playing a game.” Derek said. ‘You have five seconds. We’re leaving.’ He sent to Silvi.

Receiving his warning, Silvi disappeared. When she reappeared, she was sitting on Stella’s shoulder. Stella let out a surprised shriek, and Derek laughed.

“Let’s go.” He said and took off at a moderate pace that everyone could keep up with.

Stella tried to brush Silvi off her shoulder, but each time she did, Silvi disappeared and reappeared on her other one. Eventually, she gave up and followed after the rest.

‘I won.’ Silvi’s voice sounded in Derek’s head.

‘Yes… you won.’