Chapter 333 (2/2)

His fury was hot and sharp, but after hitting the Wild Rider with the Anguish for several seconds, he withdrew it. One because the focus of keeping it from spreading and hitting the rest of them was more difficult than Randidly wanted to wrestle with right now, but also because he owed her a debt. When he was injured, she had provided him with a path forward.

With a huge effort of will, one that consumed almost all his Willpower in that moment, Randidly dropped the issue and forgave the Wild Rider. But all of the good will that had been built up between them disappeared along with it. Once more, Randidly was alone.

Not alone. Us. Neveah reminded him, looking up from her buffet. Randidly smiled in spite of himself.

Yea, Us.

There was another reaction, as Randidly acted. Rose gasped, her eyes going wide as she looked at him. Randidly scratched his ear awkwardly. He had forgotten about her ability to detect skills. Based on her reaction… it wasn’t just that she could read a skill’s name, but perhaps she could sense its strengths, or some of its effects. Which was an incredibly powerful effect, and it would probably cause more problems than Randidly was willing to deal with, if she would see some of his other skills…

“...Anyway,” The Wild RIder said, after she had recovered. She nodded toward Randidly, acknowledging what happened. That sickened Randidly even more, that she would accept his attack gladly as payment. Her brutal calculus of life was too much for him to handle. “This level of forces… this could only happen if the battle in the South concluded. It appears that Donnyton is no longer tying down 3/4ths of his forces. We need to be on our guard, and run-”

“We will be returning to the Refuge.” Rose interrupted. She shrugged in a manner that was supposed to seem apologetic, but was clearly not. “If this many skeletons are coming up… we need to make some preparations.”

The Wild Rider simply shrugged. She hadn’t been counting on them to begin with, but she would have accepted them. Randidly couldn’t figure that out. As more meat shields? Or-

But then the Wild Rider spared him a glance, and he got it. The Refuge simply was another lever she could use to bind him to her. A convenient coincidence for the Wild Rider, had it gone right. Randidly’s blood went even colder, his heart slowing.

“Sure, sure,” Ace said affably, waving his hand. He turned to Randidly, and opened his arms wide and embraced him. “You are welcome to come back with us. We could use your strength. Together-”

“I’ll come back after this is over.” Randidly said quietly. “But… someone I know was taken in this attack. The look-alike for the Wild Rider. I need…. I want to try and help her.”

“Hahah! When did you become such a hero type?” Ace asked frankly, his eyes scanning Randidly. “You aren’t particularly religious, or moral. Or is that just an excuse. Are you looking for battle…? Do you have that lust in your heart…?”

Randidly had opened his mouth to answer Ace, but then he continued speaking, and Randidly began to frown. “...Perhaps. I certainly don’t act like a hero. But this is… transactional. She did me a favor in the past. I’m paying her back.”

Laughing, Ace moved back, and the strange twisted heaviness of the moment passed. Perhaps Ace had more demons than Randidly had expected. That would be something he looked out for, next time they met. For now, Randidly turned to Simon and Thea. Randidly noticed how although Simon still kept his distance, his gaze wasn’t quite so icy as it was previously. Which was good, because their options were limited.

“I’m heading for the Skeleton Knight.” Randidly said bluntly. “It might be safer for you to stay with Ten, but god knows that might not be much safer. But if you come with me… we need to figure this out.”

Randidly stood still, trembling inwardly. He winced, just remembering it. God, he couldn’t believe he just said that. And despite every part of him that wanted to curl up and look away, he found himself staring straight at Simon.

For several seconds, Simon was just looking at the ground. Then he seemed to notice the gaze, and looked up. Their eyes met. There was something there… something dense and emotional and confusing.

Randidly would rather fight Drak again. His stomach roiled unpleasantly. The seconds seemed to crawl past, as they just held their gazes. But being with Ace reminded him of the old days, of the way he could be, if he had the right energy. Where he needed to steal that from Ace before, Randidly knew in his heart that he could create that too, especially now.

He had grown strong. Strong enough by far to communicate.

Or at least try his best. Simon opened his mouth slowly, seemingly ready to speak, but they were interrupted.

“Wait.”

Randidly turned, annoyed. Ace had walked over to Rose, and now turned and regarded Randidly with a grin. “I’m done with you, but…”

Very slowly, deliberately, Ace removed a grey mask, featureless except for two eye holes from his bag, and put it on. “...That does not mean Dauntless will remain silent.”

His voice didn’t change, precisely, but it gained weight. Randidly narrowed his eyes. There was definitely an edge of madness here, and honestly, he wasn’t willing to put up with this shit right now. If he could find a way to settle this…

But now Ace was settling into his role, and his voice boomed as he spoke. “Randidly Ghosthound! You came to my town. As we were friends, and I am a respectful host, I did nothing. But now...If you insist on leaving my influence, I must first test you. Let us own a wager. If I win… I demand your soul. Fight for me, for all of eternity. If you win… you may take your life and slink away. For I am Dauntless, and there is nothing I dare not do.”

“Generous terms,” the Wild Rider said, not even bothering to hide her smile.

Randidly felt… strange. After all this, really….?

True, the Ace that Randidly knew was competitive to a fault, wild, reckless, and stubborn. But this was to a whole different level. This was a self destructive recklessness combined with a satirical amount of hubris. But another very real part of Ace was his deadly seriousness when he set his mind to something.

Things had slowed down a lot, since he came back to Earth, as he recovered, explored the strange new wrench in the System, and tested his new knowledge. But now that he had a concrete purpose, and wanted to move forward…

The world resisted.

What did it matter though? He would break the world that wouldn’t bend for him. And every idiot who thought his hovel was a castle. Randidly cracked his knuckles and smiled.