Byrnolf: "Yeah. Your buddy probably had some merchant friend or business partner, or maybe he just traveled a lot.

There's an obscene number of physical sensors in this thing, and these motors ain't cheap. WELL, we just need a rough copy for testing, no need to get over our heads here."

He pulls out some materials from a drawer and starts forming AM. Looks like he's working on a chassis first.

You keep at it, tediously copying the memory pattern over, double checking your work, correcting errors and triple checking afterwards. 25% complete, you might be getting better at this.

Byrnolf: "So what's he like? The guy who built this doll. Seems pretty skilled, I can tell he's got an eye for precision."


________________________________________


Man: "No no, calm down. You're in Imum, you're safe. And the conflict is over. Well, the one with Vranhal. There's, some bigger stuff that came up. The Second and Esthen are in an alliance with Vranhal for now to sort out the, thing.

I don't know where the rest of your formation is, maybe there're a few of 'em in here. Like I said, I just man the desk. I don't know who was in what formation or under whose command."


________________________________________


Adele: "It is now or whenever you wish for it to take effect. Post-contract as well, assuming the contract is complete."

Nonstop questions, here I come!

>Narrow eyes, lift shirt and check for muscle atrophy.

"How long was I out? And... What 'thing'?"

YOU GO AND SEARCH FOR MONK BY WALKING AROUND THE CITY

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE SHE IS


________________________________________


Miimas: "Doesn't matter who's idea it was if everyone agrees, right?"

An ink pen is provided, and Adele signs and prints her name in the designated space along with her butler, and the form and pen are slid over to you. Miimas seems to be eyeing the form.

Miimas: "Hey, I get somethin' too for cosignin', right?"

Adele: "Heh, if John wishes to give you something."


________________________________________


You look under your shirt for muscle atrophy - a little less muscle than before, maybe? Hard to tell. Maybe you're just imagining things.

Man: "A few days? Weren't out for that long.

And, the uh, 'thing', some giant monsters duking it out to the east. A leviathan, witches, some dragon, and a berserk construct."

Leviathan. The name sends a chill through your body.

You've never seen one in person before, but you can instantly see its massive form. A grey, stout, bulky lizard-like monstrosity the size of a small mountain, capable of moving a lightning speeds and leaving ravines of lava wherever it goes. The bane of civilization, so terrible that it left its mark in the genetic memory of almost every race...

A quick shake of your head clears your sight. Getting caught up in inherited visions won't help here.


________________________________________


You do the transfer. 45% complete, you're getting better at this!

Byrnolf: "Maybe he was one of those uh, cross species guys or whatever. Y'know, chirop or lupus shavin' themselves clean and cutting off bits, humans putting on ears and tails.

Last one isn't too bad, until they start getting the fur suits."

The ex-magister lets out a visible shiver before getting back to work on his AM. It looks like a crude shell of a doll, something you'd see in a child's nightmares.


________________________________________


You skirt the outside of the city, taking in the sight.

Numerous buildings are missing chunks here and there, but none of the towers have actually fallen. The only buildings that have been demolished are the much smaller ones. One by one, the witches around you vanish in a ripple of warped space, returning to Stahlnacht's twilight city.

Although it's night, you can make out the silhouette of a massive sphere-like object to the south-east, and the rapidly moving shape of the leviathan. A faint tremor travels through the ground every time the massive beast moves.

"If you wish to move to Vranhal, the armor can be removed and I can hide in the sword."

YOU CHECK THE HOUSE AND BANANA SHOP AND BU 4 MORE BANANAS

MONK IS NOT FOUND

YOU RUN LAPS AROUND THE CITY WHICH DOESN'T SEEM TOO BUSY AT NIGHT

MONK IS NOT IN SIGHT

YOU MIGHT NEED TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS


________________________________________


You sign and print on the contract, soon followed by the Westerner, completing the contract where you trade your soul for loot and an on-demand wife.

Miimas: "Aha, I was just joking. Anyways, now that that's that, I'm gonna to get back to training. Just yell at the nearest telepath if you need me."

She gives a tip of the hat before leaving while the butler takes the documents away.

Adele: "Now that it's official, let's get you some gear. The armory is one of my favorite places in the mansion."

She stands up, patting her skirt straight and takes a few steps away, motioning for you to follow while she unbuttons her green coat.

Adele: "Second only to the bedroom."

The brunette flashes you a devilish wink while tossing her coat on to the couch, the ruffled blouse underneath framing a seductive figure.


________________________________________


TRANSFERENCE IN PROGRESS

70% COMPLETE

Byrnolf: "You think it needs to talk? Would be easy to tell if the spirit got in the right way, screaming and all."