Grant: I can, try. My abilities accelerate the body's natural healing, so it wouldn't seal too well if the wound is too severe.

A telepathic message reaches you.

Telepath: The lord wishes for you to join her meeting.


________________________________________


You head back to the capital building with Monk following behind, and it's a short trip before you're back in the office.

Aucupe is already waiting inside, admiring her loot while in a tiny suit of Lucida armor. Andrew is standing by as well, and he gives you a wave as you enter.

There are others as well - the usual mage team that seems to hang around the room, as well as another group of mages. Six black mages in armor and quivers of crossbow bolts on their hips. Three of them have quivers on their backs that hold longer, heavier bolts, dull grey in color. Artificial matter, you think.

There are also two blue mages, and the armored form of Torrent. Except, Torrent seems to be smaller. There appears to be a person inside, but the helm's visor prevents you from identifying them.

Elizabeth: "Looks like you're done. I'll call the others. Feel free to get comfortable in the meantime."

Linna is here with a coffee kettle in hand, and a familiar armored lupus stands in his usual spot beside the lord's desk.


________________________________________


A knock on the front door of the house wakes you from your dream.

You let out a groan as you roll of the bed and get to the door. Opening it up, you see a soldier there.

Soldier: "Apologies for the disturbance, Sir Vandolf, but the lord asks you to join her meeting."


________________________________________


Aucupe: "I saw all those monsters fighting. I want to be a hero and fight them all!

So I took Lucy."


Someone else enters the office - Kyeltziv, carrying a chirop body wearing a dark green cloak. A few blood stains here and there.

Everyone gives him a questioning look.


________________________________________



Miimas: "Oooooookaaay.

Try not to do anything, uh, you know what nevermind."

She leaves.



You cut into the chirop's body, and instantly you notice something's off.

The flesh is tougher than it should be, and looking closely, you can make out hundreds of minuscule threads running through muscle and tissue.

You keep at it, cutting deeper while the threads get denser, until you expose a small object that resembles a round bell nestled within the intestines. With careful knife work, you work the core out and cut off the threads that are attaching it, pull it out, and then channel Grant to seal the body, which closes up well enough, you think.

Finally, you transfer the spirit from the core (that was in your memory stone shard) into the body, which continues to remain motionless, only breathing softly.

Picking up the chirop's body, you head to Vranhal's capital building.



Everyone gives you strange looks as you walk into town, into the building, and upon entering the office (which was guarded, and all the guards gave you looks), you find yourself in the center of attention of several teams of mages, the lord, her assistants, John, and a small child in white shining armor.

Aucupe: "He says he feels like he has a bonus in diplomacy."

Miimas: "Here."

Miimas appears, and following her is a team of whitehawk members, lead by a blonde woman with green eyes.

Karina: "Sooo. What happened."