—— ? ——

  They reached a junction and crossed the street, both falling into their own thoughts as Simon continued to follow the Frost-kin.

  The streets here started to look familiar to Simon.

  “We are heading to the lab?” He asked.

  Kaelalin nodded. “Right.”

  Simon was silent for a moment, his bravado deflating. “Any idea what the plan is?”

  Silence rolled over the two as their footsteps crunched across snow on stone.

  “I don’t know.” Kaelalin whispered.

  Simon let out a nervous laugh. “Oh good, neither do I.” His words hung in the air, gaining weight as they were left unanswered.

  Each step forward felt like he was walking into disaster.

  So. I’m banished. His eyes traced the mismash of buildings. The odd artificial separation between Varnholt's original buildings and the cobbled together workshops in between. With each minute that they traveled, the signs of life disappeared.

  Brian’s lab did have a habit of exploding after all.

  Simon couldn’t think of what to say next. He had expended what little snark he had left with the tailor joke. Now he just had the heavy weights of his thoughts to keep him company.

  Finally they reached the lab.

  The lab that was blockaded by multiple Frost-kin Guards.

  “Oh come on.” Simon groaned.

  Kaelalin strode right towards the door, Simon in tow. Two guards immediately barred their paths with spears.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Kaelaling growled.

  “We cannot allow the banished one to enter your lab.” The guard said, his voice stern. “He must remain under watch out here.”

  “It’s Simon, you ice stain.” Simon snapped. “Don’t act like my name's taboo, or you don’t know it, you ass. There was a vote and everything.” He glared at the guard. “SI-MON. Say it with me.”

  The guard’s teeth glinted as his face twisted into a snarl. “You would do well to keep your mouth shut.”

  Simon smacked his forehead. “Whoa? I never thought that.” He looked at the guard in amazement. “If only you had told me sooner! Damn. Thanks man! I will treasure your advice. Now I’m just going to sneak by and grab some things and then leave this horrible town. K?”

  He made to move towards the entrance of the lab, but the guard moved his spear point in his way.

  “I have my–”

  “Orders!” Simon cut him off. “Wow, it’s like we just finish each other's sentences. We should duet some time. You can start the verse, and I'll finish it.” Simon took another step forward. The spear moved and then Simon felt pressure on his chest.

  “Really?” Simon huffed. In response, two more spears inched towards him.

  Kaelalin's face started to change color as anger flushed her skin. She was about to reach into her jacket when a knife appeared at her neck.

  “Let’s leave those toys of yours out of this discussion.” Dravlen’s slick voice snaked from the shadows. “Alright, Kaelalin?”

  The Frost-kin’s eyes traced down the blade to the shorter Yoreboon.

  “Dravlen, we are just going to go inside for a few minutes.”

  “You threatened a councilor. I have no reason to trust you won’t do something dramatic.” He nodded to Simon. “The kid can stay out here, and you can go get his things.”

  The street was silent as Kaelalin stared down Dravlen, Simon stared down the guards, and no one seemed willing to bow out.

  “Soo… are we all going to just stand here batting our eyes at each other?” Simon asked. He winked to the guard in front of him. “I’m sure you’re cute for your race, just not really my type.”

  The guard frowned, confusion spreading on his face.

  “Oh?” Simon raised his eyebrows. “Am I your type? I’m flattered.” He reached a hand towards the spear slowly. “I mean, maybe I could…” He put two fingers on the blade of the spear and lightly stroked it. “Make an exception.”

  The guard’s eyes went wide and he recoiled in disgust.

  *pop!* an instrument materialized and smacked into Simon’s hand. Without another thought, he swung to a wide arc to intercept the other spears.

  And missed.

  Simon looked in disbelief at the harmonica.

  “God damnit. I promised I would give Kurda this the next time it appeared.” Simon said in dismay. He looked down at the three spear points that were now less than an inch from his neck. Simon twitched the hand with the harmonica and immediately felt pain from his neck. A point pricked his neck and a hot drop of blood dripped down.

  Simon raised an eyebrow at the Frost-kin. “Wow, so you’re into the more kinky stuff huh? Guess I'll pass then, it's not really my style.”

  “Shut your mouth.” The guard snarled.

  “Or what?” Simon said incredulously. “You’re going to banish me. Again?”

  Another spear point pricked his neck.

  “You too? Ohhhh this must be a royal guard thing. Don’t worry, your secrets are safe with me.”

  “SILENCE!” The guard roared then shoved his spear forward. That was a metallic clash and a barely visible flashing glint.

  Simon reflexively flinched, his mind bracing for the pain of the spear point plunging into his neck.

  It didn’t come.

  Instead, all three spears were scattered to the ground as Dravlen stood in front of him.

  “What the hell do you frost-bitten idiots think you’re doing!?” Dravlen said, his voice low and dangerous.

  “Well.. Uh.. He was… he wouldn’t.” the guard stammered.

  “Pathetic.” Dravlen spat. “Aren’t you guards to a king? The very same king that voted to banish this man from town.”

  He gestured toward Simon.

  “Not slay. Banish. How dare you disobey your master.” The Yoreboon slid forward, his twin blades glinting in the setting sun. The guards scrambled to pick up their spears. There was a flash of light and then a yelp.

  The guards stared dumbfounded at the empty ground where their spears once were. One of them stumbled back, holding his neck. The guards that had been following them on the street closed in on Dravlen.

  “You attacked me!” One of the spearless guards screeched.

  “I nicked you.” Dravlen snarled. “And you yelped like a babe. Come now, the kid didn’t even react when you did the same to him. Nor did he scream when you drove a spear towards his neck.”

  The Yoreboon looked back at Simon. Simon gave him a thumbs up.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Works for me!”

  Dravlen scowled at him. “You need to keep that mouth of yours shut. At least until you leave my town. I have had more than enough work for one evening.”

  Simon decided now was the time to follow some sage advice. He nodded.

  Dravlen turned back the guards, about to rip into them again when a voice echoed down the street.

  “What the hell is going on?!” It huffed out.

  All eyes turned to see a wheezing, bespectacled inventor turn the corner. Floating above him was a glowing metal construct.

  “Ayy! Brian, Zerathis! Come to join the party?” Simon beamed, gesturing at the Frost-kin. “Brian, I am not a fan of your new lab security system. They have no sense of humor.”

  “What?” Brian said, screeching to a halt. “Lab security…. What do you mean?” His eyes went hard as he examined the guards. “Acutally, what are you doing outside my lab? You’re Krakofis’s guards, correct?”

  The guard holding his neck stood straighter. “We are, Councilor Brian. We were instructed to not allow the banished–”

  “Simon!” Simon said in a sing-song voice.

  The guard grimaced at him. “.. Simon, from entering these premises.”

  The Frost-kin that hadn’t been involved in the scuffle were eyeing Dravlen with malice. They seemed to be judging their chances at repaying the favor to the man.

  Dravlen’s eyes snapped to them, his eyes glowing. Every royal guard shrunk back.

  Brian watched all of this, completely flummoxed.

  “Excuse me? What gives you the right to deny Simon from entering my lab?” Brian asked incredulously.

  The guards all exchanged glances. One spoke up, his voice deeper then nicked neck. “Our king ordered that we–”

  “Is he my king?” Brian snapped.

  The guard froze. “Um… No sir..”

  “Does he own my lab?”

  “No…”

  “So lets run this through one more time.” Brian said, tapping his fingers together. “Your king, a representative and fellow council member. Told you. To stop Simon from entering the laboratory of another council member. Correct?”

  The guard’s face filled with regret at choosing to speak up. He glanced at the other guards, but their eyes were fixed on Dravlen.

  “That’s correct. We were told he might try to break in or potentially do something… rash.”

  Brian stared the guard down. “Such as stabbing someone in the neck?”

  The Frost-kin gulped. Simon grinned at him, his face beaming.

  “Now.” Brian’s voice was colder than the air. “I, Brian, a councilor. Will escort Simon into my lab. We will gather his belongings and then I will personally escort him to the gate.”

  Brian’s eyes gleamed as he looked at each Frost-kin in turn.

  “Are there any objections?”

  Silence.

  “No?” Brian’s tone changed back to his chipper gait. “Fantastic! Kaelalin, Simon, time to go inside.”

  Simon grinned like a dog that had stolen a steak from the table. As he passed nicked-neck, he met his gaze.

  “Maybe in another life.” He whispered, his face sorrowful.

  Before the Frost-kin could process that, he made quick steps to the airlock. The three turned back and Simon waved.

  “Dravlen, see you a few!”

  The Yoreboon sighed.

  —— ? ——

  Simon sat on the couch in Brian’s lab, his mind a bit numb. He pulled the teacup to his mouth and took a deep sip of the blue tea Kaelalin had made him. The two inventors were busy deeper in the lab finding items to help out the current situation

  Simon flicked up the banished prompt and watched the seconds tick down.

  > Time Remaining: 00h 42m 44s … 43s … 42s

  He sighed, his mind trying to parse through what had happened today.

  Man, this is shaping up to be the worst Tuesday ever. I just don’t understand… Why?

  Was this always Marden’s plan? Why do this to him?

  It made no sense. Well, unless he was a hollower. He could kind of understand the fear. Those guys sounded like a new level of asshole.

  That was saying a lot coming from Simon.

  He had dealt with Varrax, Melodian, and most recently Maelis.

  That thought made his mind shutter. Why had that jerk voted to not banish him? Everything that scarred Yoreboon did was confusing.

  But Marden was far more confusing. Simon assumed that the potion he had taken when he’d first entered town must have had something to do with all of this. Somehow the healer knew more about Simon than anyone else.

  Hell, he hadn’t even told Brian and Kaelalin about Varrax. Thinking back on it, he realized that had been a mistake. He guessed part of the reason the two had been silent while he was getting spit roasted on stage might have something to do with that.

  Brian had looked horrified, but Simon guessed he had gotten over that. But the man had definitely been questioning everything on the discovery that Simon wasn’t entirely truthful.

  Simon let out a sigh.

  He glanced over the system screen… then frowned.

  Something wasn’t right. He was forgetting something. His eyes squinted as he concentrated. It was when he had gotten into town, his gut told him. Simon concentrated harder, his mind feeling light as he tried to remember.

  Wait.

  God. Damn. It.

  He probed into his mind, feeling for something that he had somehow forgotten.

  A System notice.

  One he had forgotten…?

  He practically ripped it into his view, anger coursing through him.

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE—-

  > SKILL GROWTH

  > Skill: Unshakeable Resilience (Unique)

  > Level: 3 -> 4

  > Description:

  >> You don’t know when to quit, and your body and mind agree. Every step forward is a choice. Every breath, an act of will. Let them fill with your intent. For you refuse to be moved by anyone or anything but yourself.

  > Effects:

  >> Firm Soul - Changed. Effect enhanced.

  >> Your soul resists direct control, anchoring your identity against external forces. Attempts at possession or coercion must now contend with your internal will and resolve. Manipulation attempts while you are unguarded have a chance to be reduced based on willpower.

  >> Threshold Stabilization - Unchanged

  >> The chance of staying conscious under injury is greatly improved. Minor wounds stabilize automatically; moderate wounds can be endured for longer periods. Use of intent and resolve will enhance this effect.

  >> Presence Resistance - Unchanged

  >> When reduced to critical health or exposed to extreme stress, you may ignore minor debuffs (pain, dizziness, fatigue) for a short time. Duration scales with willpower.

  Harmony is offered, growth is earned, limits are unknown.

  ——————————

  There it was.

  That had leveled? Why?

  Simon hadn’t really thought about the skill since he got it. It had been put to use during his battle with the golden reliquary but besides that he had just… forgotten about it.

  “While I’m unguarded?" Simon said to himself. “Really descriptive, thanks a lot.”

  He thought about it.

  “Guess I was pretty guarded around that god. But who wouldn’t be?”

  Of course, then he had landed in Varnholt Valley. When he wasn’t fighting for his life, he had been trying to let his mind rest. He ate, slept, and moved stone.

  What was there to guard against? I mean, besides the tunnel’s roof.

  But that was a mistake. He had been lured in by the jovial, and focused atmosphere of the town.

  Simon wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

  Someone in Varnholt had been fucking with him.

  The prompt had appeared… when he was with… Kurda???

  That made absolutely no sense.

  But then there was the time in the plaza. Right as Serel cast her flashbang light effect. Then that prompt appeared.

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE—-

  > SKILL ATTEMPT - FAILED

  > The skill “Mallable Mind” has failed to take hold. You have resisted.

  …

  ——————————

  Simon was ruling out Kurda by default. There was just no way.

  So who then?

  Serel? Marden?... Maelis?

  He rolled the names over in his mind, putting the pieces together.

  Around him, devices clicked, clacked and bubbled. The lab slogged forward with each sound.

  With each sound, he felt he was drawing closer to the answer.

  "No, Kaelalin. You can't do this. It's a horrible plan. You can't..."

  Kaelalin’s loud reply followed Brian’s. "It’s not up for debate!" The words bouncing down the hall.

  The Frost-kin stormed into the room. "Simon, I'm going to go grab my things. You want me to come with you, right?"

  Simon frowned, confused. “What?”

  “I’m done with it all.” She scoffed. “These people. These fearful morons. They’re sentencing you to death and yet they don’t care.”

  Simon was taken back. “Death? Wait huh?

  Brian hurried in.

  “It’s a horrible plan, Kaelalin. You’re going to… I mean…” The man turned to Simon, his eyes pleading. “You said we can leave it up to him right? What do you think Simon?”

  Simon looked between them. “Someone want to explain what the hell is going on?”

  Kaelalin huffed, then started moving to the door exiting the lab.

  “You explain it Brian. I’m going to grab my things.” She moved past the first airlock door. “When I get back, he better have decided. Or you two had better have a better plan to change my mind.”

  The hissed shut behind her. A moment later there was another hiss as the outer door opened.

  Through the walls, Brian and Simon heard yelling outside. It was muffled, but was probably an irate Frost-kin researcher chewing into a bunch of guards.

  Brian sat down across from Simon. His face twisted with worry, hands shaking.

  "Simon, I have a plan."

  —— ? ——

  Next week's chapters will follow the normal Mon-Wends-Friday upload schedule.

  - The main reason this is happening is that, I have an editor coming on board and will be going through the whole book with them :)

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