Chapter 756 (2/2)

At the top of the pathway, there was a round opening where the relative darkness of the upper chapel gave way to clear blue sky. There as a view platform there where it was possible to see almost 270 degrees around Carthak. The clouds churned overhead in a donut shape, even as the crisp blue seemed to be sharp enough to drink.

There, Allica found Tessa and Rejt.

“Ha, you ran away from work again?” Came an amused voice, and Allica glanced to the side. Kurag was there too, leaning against the wall. “It is a wonder that this city has managed to accomplish anything. If you would just give me a group of strong young men-”

“We don’t need a guard,” Allica said for the hundredth time. “The laborers need to labor. And god knows young men who can wield a blade will find ways to use those shiny new Skills. With the sandstorms, no one will approach. Our internal structure is more important.”

Tessa, who was now almost big enough to reach Rejt’s waist, scurred over and rubbed her soft head against Allica’s hand. After giving her a few seconds for Allica to scratch, Tessa turned her gaze upward. Her eyes were limpid and full of longing.

Her glance went pointedly to Allica’s pockets.

Laughing, Allica tackled Tessa to the ground and tickled the gluttonous ferret. “No snacks today. I skipped lunch to learn about the importance of smelting and why an entire lower assembly hall needed to be dedicated to it. “

Kurag continued to grumble. “All I’m saying is that it is a mite unnatural to have so many Earth Golems gathered in one place and not have some training to pursue the martial path. Even if it was only a handful-”

“You stayed with me for a reason, when Talim left with all of our would-be warriors,” Allica said softly. “Trust that instinct. Don’t let your wrinkles and stubbornness get in the way.”

“I would beat anyone else who spoke to me like that, you know,” Kurag said with a glower.

Allica winked at him.

As the older man silently fumed, she turned to Rejt. “What are you looking for?”

“News. The wind carries it. Sometimes I can see it. Today… today is a bad day.”

“No news?” Allica said.

“....unfortunately not. There is much news. But it is all bad.” Rejt said solemnly. He squinted out toward the sky. As he did so, the movement emphasized the web of scars that crossed his face and torso. When the strange judgment of the Progenitor descended and reshaped the chapel, Rejt had been caught in the center of it. Those scars were the constant, visceral reminder of what he had to go through to survive that ordeal.

And because he survived, he was marked. And because he was marked, Allica was constantly asked by the well-to-do remnants of society whether he was single and would be interested in a very willing wife.

“More news of the Monster land?”

Rejt’s frosty exterior instantly broke. “Ha! That boy Randidly returned more slowly than we expected, but when he arrived, the rebel faction disappeared without a trace. Within a week, he had all their heads. For all his kindness, he bloodies his hands without much fanfare. I appreciate knowing him. I am made better for it.”

But then his smile slowly disappeared. What was left was only a deep wariness. “No, it is not that. I see... movements. The Spriggits will come, but it is more worrying than that. The Weavers… they are moving. The entire host. Descending South through the Lands, crushing anything that gets in their way. They will be here… perhaps another six months, maybe a year at the latest. And with them, Talim will return. They go to chase the dream of an Emperor.”