When morning came, the sun was reluctant to rise, as if it had heard about the world’s new management and wasn’t particularly keen. The forest, which had been eerily quiet the night before, was now alive with the sounds of . . . birds - yes, let’s call them birds, Lorelei thought - chirping, leaves rustling, and the occasional distant growl that suggested not all of the local wildlife was interested in a vegan breakfast. Ent included, which was weird for something made of vegetation. The group packed up their camp in silence; at least two of their number were engaging in a shambles of shame, whilst the rest of them were doing their best to pretend they hadn’t heard what they’d definitely heard.
Quite apart from the startling amount of noise Chrissy and Steffan had been making, Lorelei hadn’t slept well. When they’d eventually come, her dreams had been full of shadows and fleeting images of her parents’ faces, always just out of reach. She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the lingering unease as she joined the others. They were preparing to continue their journey towards Drayton Bassett, where the first step of their quest for the amulet awaited them. And then, as they set off down the winding path through the woods, the Guide decided to make its presence felt.
Lorelei scowled, trying to ignore the intrusion. She was not in the mood for the Guide’s particular brand of cheerleading. Its comments were increasingly abrasive, like sandpaper applied to a raw wound.
“What do you want?” she muttered under her breath, not particularly caring if anyone overheard her talking to herself. At this point, everyone in the group had their own quirks, and if talking to invisible, sarcastic entities was hers, so be it.
Lorelei’s eyes narrowed. “Go on, then. Spit it out.”
Lorelei’s stomach dropped. “Wearing off? What do you mean, wearing off?”
Lorelei stopped in her tracks, forcing herself to take a deep breath. She could still remember how it felt when her Guide switched off her dampening just after she had beaten some Kobolds to death. It hadn't been a joy. "What's causing it to run out?"
She resumed walking, her pace quickening as she tried to outdistance her own thoughts. “So what happens now?”
Lorelei gritted her teeth, trying to focus on not tripping up on the path they were following. The woods were beginning to thin out, the trees becoming sparser as they drew closer to their destination. She could see the others up ahead, moving steadily towards the outskirts of what Steffan confidently predicted was going to be Drayton Bassett. If his map doodles were to be believed, they were on the final stretch before they reached the village. The sense of foreboding she’d felt earlier was now a full-blown storm cloud in her mind. And she didn't think it was just to do with the failure of the System's dampening.
“What about the others?” she asked quietly. “Are they going through the same thing?”
Lorelei cast a glance at the rest of the group. Pete, solid as ever, was leading the way, but she could see the lines of strain in his face and his broad shoulders hunched just a little more than usual. Zorrobar was close behind, his robes continuing to billow dramatically, yet even he looked a bit frayed around the edges, his usual bravado tempered by something more cautious.
“What do you expect me to do about it? I can’t just wave a wand and fix everyone's feelings of doom and despair!"
She felt a headache beginning to brew. “And what if I’m the one who cracks?”
“You really are the worst,”
Almost as the message spun across her vision, the path opened up into rolling fields dotted with hedgerows and the occasional copse of trees. The path had widened, becoming more of a dirt road, and in the distance, Lorelei could make out a sign announcing their arrival at Drayton Bassett. Apparently, Steffan could find something without Chrissy loudly and enthusiastically giving precise directions. It probably used to be a fairly picturesque village, a place you might find on the cover of a country living magazine—except that now it was apparently filled with adventurers looking to bash each other’s heads in for the Amulet of Drayton.
The road leading into the village proper was lined with people from all walks of life, all sporting different Classes and gear. Some were huddled in small groups, strategising or sharpening swords, while others eyed the competition warily, hands twitching near their weapons as if ready to draw at the slightest provocation. The tension was palpable, a buzzing undercurrent that made the hairs on the back of Lorelei’s neck stand up. The last time she had seen this many people gathered together in one place, post-integration, had been the slaughter at the Botanical Gardens.
“Looks like we’re not the only ones who got the memo,” Hild said dryly, coming to stand beside her. Her eyes flicked over the crowd with a practised wariness, nervous about the sheer number of potential threats around them.
“Aye,” Pete rumbled, his voice low. “Best keep our wits about us. No tellin’ what kind of trouble might be lurkin’ round the corner.”
Lorelei nodded, her hand unconsciously to her chest. “Let’s stick together. No need to attract any more attention than we already have.”
They moved forward as a unit, the others falling behind Pete and Hild. As they entered the village, it became clear that they were walking into a powder keg. The square was filled with a press of humanity, all jostling for position, their eyes darting from one person to the next. Lorelei felt a shiver run down her spine. This wasn’t just a simple quest—it was a battle royale, and the stakes were higher than she’d anticipated. If they wanted to get their hands on the Amulet of Drayton, they were going to have to fight for it. And with the emotional dampening starting to fade, the thought of what might happen if someone cracked under the pressure was terrifying.
