"I’m just saying," Mark said, dragging the last of the beast’s carcass out of the way, "don’t you think it’s a little bit unfair that we have to fight beasts with less than half our strength when we get back?"
"You say that like you haven’t survived everything we’ve been through till now" Eleanor said, already crouched beside the newly claimed relic, examining it with careful hands.
"I *survived* I didn’t win." Mark said, rolling his shoulders. "This is so unfair. I demand hazard pay."
"Take it up with the system."
"The system doesn’t listen to complaints. Believe me, I’ve tried."
The relic sat small in her palms, a coil of copper bright metal wound around a humming core of blue light, pulsing with low, steady current that made the hair on her arms stand on end even through the protective wrapping.
[Ding!]
[Relic Identified: You have claimed the Spark Conduit.]
[Description: The relic channels stable electrical current throughout a designated Faction Zone. Provides consistent lighting and activates electrical appliances.]
"Electricity," Eleanor said, satisfied. "This is going to change a lot back home."
"Better be worth the three separate near death experiences it took to get here," Mark said crossing his arms.
They carried it back to the fortress that evening, and the moment Eleanor activated it at the courtyard’s center, light bloomed across the entire compound in a slow, spreading wave.
The lanterns flickered to life along walls that had sat dark since the place was once built, strings of wiring humming faintly overhead, the whole fortress alive in a way it hadn’t been.
A cheer went up from the gathered survivors happiness spreading just from having actual light after weeks of firelight and darkness.
"Okay," Mark admitted, watching the courtyard glow around them. "That’s genuinely satisfying."
***
They went to the rooftop later that night, the same quiet place they had gone to more than once since the fortress was built, and sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the newly lit compound below as the survivors settle into their evening routines.
Mark glanced at the system window, eyeing the timer that was counting down.
[Time remaining to the next Edgewalk: 05:20:14:07]
"Five days," Mark said, "Five days before we get dropped into that hell again."
Eleanor simply nodded. Her expression showing that she was already thinking of a plan.
Mark studied for her a moment and didn’t say anything. He already knew, without needing to ask, exactly what she’d be doing the second they dropped back into the Edge.
He knew that whatever objective they would receive in the coming five days, they would not be leaving that place if she didn’t achieve what she wanted.
He didn’t say any of that out loud. Some things didn’t need saying....
"City’s coming back, though," he spoke instead, nodding toward the horizon that was visible beyond the fortress walls, to streetlights flickering weakly to life across the distance.
"Ever since we got back through, it’s been slowly returning to normal. Though there are Relics popping up here and there, and the issues of beasts running loose, it almost feels like the world’s trying to remember what it used to look like."
"Almost," Eleanor agreed. "But it will never quite get there, though. People still live in fear, the Relics will no doubt cause conflicts between Factions, and the beast.... I guess they’ll just have to get used to it."
Mark hummed. "You’re probably right. But it seems the Relics are there to make things easier for us. At least the gods are considerate." Mark said in a scoff.
"I heard that there was a water relic too. The scouts reported that they heard people talk about it." She said.
Mark raised an eyebrow. "Wait. Why didn’t those people try to get it?"
Eleanor shrugged. "Beats me. When the scouts asked, they weren’t given a clear enough answer." A pause. "Didn’t bother sending a team for it. Figured my own ability had that covered well enough."
"Of course you did." Mark huffed. "Must be nice, being a walking infrastructure department."
"Extremely convenient," Eleanor said, with a smile. "You all need me."
"Show-off." Mark said, and there was no heat to it. He was just glad that the Eleanor he knew was gradually coming back.
They sat in comfortable silence after that, the newly lit fortress below them with the people moving through their evening with a brightened mood.
[Ding!]
They both turned to the notification...
[New Objective: Retrieve the Water Relic.]
Eleanor sighed, pushing herself up from where she had been sitting. "Guess the system disagrees with me."
Mark tapped his chin. "I mean, if you think about it, the Relic is probably something that would give us an endless supply of water."
Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "So? What’s the difference? We have a reservoir."
"True," Mark agreed, "but that would need you to refill every few days."
"I can take it."
"I know you can. But with that relic, the strain on you will be less."
She studied him for a moment, silently agreeing. "You may be right." She turned to the exit. "Fine then. Come on. We got to—"
"I’ll go," Mark said, cutting her off before she could finish speaking, already on his feet himself.
She glanced at him, surprised. "You don’t have to—"
"I know." He shrugged, unbothered. "Always wanted to try the solo mission thing. And besides, you’ve got to prep for the next Edgewalk and distraction is the last thing you need."
Eleanor studied him a moment longer, understanding that there was point in arguing. "Fine," she said finally. "But you’re not doing that alone. Take one person with you. Don’t do anything stupid."
"When have I ever done anything stupid?" He asked in mock offense.
"Do you want the full list or just the highlights?" She replied in a deadpan.
"Rude." Mark turned, heading for the rooftop’s exit. "I’ll be back before you even miss me."
Eleanor rolled her eyes. "You better."
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