“Thatch, please ask me for help,” I say quietly.
He looks at me. His skin has gone even paler, and sweat covers him almost constantly, now. I can see the way it hurts when he walks. How he winces, how he listlessly pokes at his food. And despite that, he slowly shakes his head. “I’ve got this,” he says.
When his emerald eyes meet mine like that, all I can do is sigh softly. He doesn’t cry, he doesn’t complain. None of us mention it too often, but we can all see it by now. Thatch is wasting away.
It’s been a week since we set up the healing hall, and we’ve been making a lot of money. People have been hearing, word has been quietly spreading. As just a rumor, but with more substantial evidence each week. And each person visiting is bound - if they tell a guard, they’ll hurt, and Sylves will know.
Until now, it’s only happened once, and we moved before the big raid happened. Twelve guards, all in their fancy armor, wielding spears and halberds, finding nothing but an empty house. They want to set up a meeting with Raven, but Aviary is ignoring them - because Raven values their life.
Tensions are higher than ever now, and despite that, I watch my friend waste away. Just because he got poisoned once. And yet, he turns me down so easily. He wants to do it all by himself, and all I can do is watch.
Watch as he lifts his brush and draws another line on the canvas.
I focus on myself again, on the marks inside me, the runes I am slowly carving on the inside of my flesh. Twisting and modifying them, using [Biological Restoration] to erase any mistakes and redo them. Working without my hand is odd and takes some getting used to, but I’m learning.
[Inscription 23 > 24]
[Biological Restoration 27 > 28]
Despite that, though, I’m getting tired of it. The hiding from unknown forces. It’s starting to get on my nerves. I want my token, and I want it soon. The mono is waiting.
- - -
“How are your injuries, Yuki?” Raven asks.
“Jean has been very helpful,” I reply, giving a nod that I hope is interpreted as grateful.
Raven leans back, crossing their arms. “Good, good,” they say. Somehow, their gaze lingers on my eyes for longer than usual. “So, what did you bring?”
I take out the things I made. Mostly cloaks, fancier now, with more than basic enchantments. They’re imbued with durability - something I recently figured out - handwoven by Sylves, with heating enchantments, too. They’re about the best cloaks money can buy, and I know some flobs who might kill to have one.
Raven traces the fabric approvingly, giving me a hum. “Good,” they say. “And?”
As always, they want weapons. Nodding faintly, I pull out some more standard issue things. Shields, swords, knives. Knives are the most popular, because knives are easy to hide. Again, Raven nods in approval, pleased at what they’re seeing.
“Anything special, Yuki?” they ask, tilting their head. “You owe me, after all. But you’ve been improving. Show me something fancy, so I can send you into the mono, c’mon,” they offer smugly. Always holding the bait over me.
But this time, I have something.
Gingerly, with slow motions, I take out an axe. It’s a large battleaxe, and I see Owl’s eyes widen to the side - because she knows it’s for her. After all, she seems like the nicest member of Aviary, I think. I sign as much as Raven inspects it.
“No visible runes,” the leader of the Aviary says, and I can feel everyone from within the den look over. Very slowly, Raven channels mana into the weapon, and then… golden flames.
They light up along its edge.
Raven stares. Every single person inside the den stares. Owl’s mouth drops open, even through her fuzzy fur. “No falling way,” Raven hums. I learnt a stunning amount from the spear that my favourite dead guard left me. “No falling way.”
Very slowly, I nod. “Mhm,” I say. “I watched some of the guard. One of them didn’t have hidden runes. So I remembered them,” I say, tapping the side of my head.
The way Raven looks at me changes. I was always an asset, but this… this made my value skyrocket. And my risk. They know I’m weak. I was “almost killed” by Sylves, after all. And there’s just one easy way to strengthen me. I watch as Raven realizes.
“You sneaky little bird,” they hum, sounding almost pleased. “Yes, fine. It’s worth it.”
With a quick motion, Raven snaps their long fingers, and one of the cages in the back opens up. A single raven flies forward, turning into a blur of feathers, before landing on the table in front of me, unwrapping a parcel held in its claws.
I look down, and it’s a token. A single sheet of golden metal, with white lines alloyed into it, shaping the five rings and the central spire of downpour on one side, and an image of the monolith on the other. The whole thing is shaped like a miniature shield, and I quickly curl my fingers around it.
Raven looks at me as I take it, and then nods. “Good. You need to find a group to climb with, though. You know monos will get mad if you take too few or too many, right?”
“Yeah, it was in the compendium,” I say with a nod. “Groups of three, seven, or eleven people.”
“Every second uneven number,” Raven nods with a small smile.
“How are the others gonna get tokens?” I ask.
At that, the gang boss shrugs helplessly. “That, my dear Yuki,” they hum, “is your problem, not mine.”
“Sure, Raven,” I say. “Sure.”
- - -
In the end, they give me a second sigil after negotiating. We need at least seven of them.
Six for our main group; Me, Inu, Thatch, Opal, Sylves and Richard. And then another for an open slot. Kuro counts as part of me.
Of course, it’s possible to climb monos with a different number of people, but it’s not, at all, recommended. The monos don’t like it - usually getting a lot harder and more cruel. More… unfair. And with how many Eyes would love to see me fail right now, I don’t think I can afford to give them that opening.
[Respitia the Pure dares you to try and conquer the monolith. She vows to destroy you as soon as you show vulnerability.]
Case in point. No, we need to fill the seventh slot, the question is just who to fill it with? Jean? Anna? Zinc, maybe? I hum in thought, as the day of the climb draws nearer, when Bofoy approaches me.
The zoof comes to my table quietly, trying not to interrupt my thoughts, and only perks up when I look at them. “Yes?” I ask.
“Yuki,” they whisper conspiratorially. “I have more intel for you.”
I tilt my head. Last time, they told me that Jean was being brought up. They must have a good ear for info if they already have something else for me. “What is it?” I ask.
“Respitia is sending down a descender to comb the fifth ring for the healer.”
Gosh dang it.
“When?” I ask Bofoy.
The zoof leans in helpfully, and explains what they know - but it’s limited. The only thing they know is that the descender is strong; over level 200. They’ll be here soon, within the week, and constantly surrounded by guards.
In and of itself, it should have been easy to hide. But, apparently, this is a person with some of the best sensory skills Respitia has in employment. Delfine, the oracle. And I start to feel just a little annoyed.
Apparently, having Jean escape was enough justification for Respitia to eventually convince someone to come down here and take a look. Which is a real fricken pain, because I know that she doesn’t care about Jean that much. She’s sending Delfine in order to find me. No one else.
Which puts me on a timer. Because Delfine will find me. So, no more healing, no more experimentation with Respitia-brand skills. None of that. From now on, I must move forward as a clean shadowmancer, and maintain an impeccable cover.
… Fuck that.
“Thanks, Bofoy,” I say calmly, glancing at the zoof. “That’s good to know. Very good.”
Despite my words, they linger for a little while, fidgeting. I look at them. Bofoy looks at me. I tilt my head. The zoof gives a weak expression. “Will you be climbing the Monolith soon?” they ask.
I tilt my head even more.
“You see, I am looking for a group. Going up with someone who has a healer would be far safer, and…”
Sighing softly, I wave my hand. “I’ll see.”
With that, they already brighten up, then nod and scamper off. Somehow, they have a good gauge of my patience, despite being a little annoying. Still, the info they gave was very helpful… twice over now. So I owe them. And I’m okay with taking them along.
Which means Jean is also climbing with us, since they’re hunting him. He’ll ask to bring Isabelle. Then, I’d suggest Anna… and she’d want to take Trey along.
Putting us at eleven people. Exactly right for an expedition. Now we needed to just get the sigils, and then get the fuck out of the city and into the mono.
- - -
“Alright,” Inu agrees at my suggestion. “They seem like an alright crew.”
“You sure you trust this Bofoy-feller?” Opal asks, raising an eyebrow.
Shrugging softly, I shake my head. “Nah,” I say simply. “But I owe them.”
“We do,” Thatch nods with a rasp. “How are we getting the rest of the tokens.”
At that, Sylves chimes in. “Scamming,” she says casually. “We ask every gang for a token to help Jean climb, in exchange for free healing for a while after. He’s proven himself this last week. That’ll hopefully net us five.”
“Which puts us at seven, with the ones Snow has,” Thatch hums. “Alright. I’ll fight Bloodstain for another token. She’ll give me one if I beat her.”
Opal grins brightly. “And the other three?” I look at them and I can see it in their eyes. They’re just like me.
“We’re stealing them,” I confirm.
“Fuck yes!” they cheer happily. “Who from?”
I smile slowly. “Aviary,” I reply easily. Because I now know where Raven keeps their sigils. Foolish of them to show me; they must think their ravens are safe spots, but I’ve already figured the enchantments on those locks a long while ago. Can they see through the birds? Probably.
Will that stop me?
Not at all.
It’s time for another heist.
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