Slowly regaining my senses as the voice fades. I found myself awakening in ‘The meat and veg.’ A roadside tavern nestled between Hawkestown and Et-Navn town.

  “He’s finally… BACK TO US” Horace says, terrifying all the patrons except Rhua and Wardi.

  “Jeez man, what the hell happened?” Wardi says grabbing a bottle of checkered armour ale. “This is why you’re not the glue Wardi, this stuff is three hundred HFC a bottle and I’ve had piss that tastes better, zing-zing-ZINGERONI!” I shouted at him.

  “This is serious!” Rhua’s face was glowing red, and she wanted to lash out at me. “You just stood there, after you did the usual mimicry pretending your trying to say something important, then all of sudden you stopped, looked right through us and said something that sounded like ‘Phahl’ and dropped to the floor faster than any of us could react, Barry tried to aid you but something blocked any attempts at aid.” Rhua’s verbal assault crushed my soul, and Horace patted my back to cheer me up from sulking.

  “Seemed it was just the four of us in the potions shop affected by it- I carried you from there to the tavern, and we said you got carried away trying to enhance yourself, but you had a potion too many at Barry’s.” “Easy enough cover story for transporting of a body out of town and not getting the police on our tail.” Wardi said smiling confidently.

  “I’m sorry for the worry” I say with sincerity. “I have no idea what it is was, I feel my normal self, if there’s anything wrong with me like that again I will say something.” I said to the others.

  “WE… know you will man” Horace pipes up, this time the Tavern owner Spaff Tap heard Horace’s angelic wailing and stormed over to us.

  “Oh, sugar hunny eyes tee, get those shields up this is going to be a moist one” Rhua says.

  “Listen ya tarts! Snapped Spaff, showering us with spit as he talks. “If HE duz tha again, aye will smash im ard enuf tha Dornam wull Fockun ere it! Horace looked down at the floor, sulking, and in need of a warm hug. Wardi quickly jumped in after seeing his party member looking as if he will start crying and apologises. “No need to threaten him Spaff, he has a disability, and tried going on welfare, but the job office said he was not fit for work, ‘An oral disability is not enough for a claim these days’ they said, and who wants to employ someone that bursts into an angelic chorus every other line?”

  The barkeep was flustered at Wardi’s politically correct beatdown and it looked like he began to sweat a little from the societal pressure. “Aye woll, luk, am sorreh, biznes been shet lately, am on tha brunk of branchin off inteh less moral, moar dangerus thangs, no ard feels Horace, Woll sort yaz a bag of svine scratchers on tha hus” Horace looking a bit more positive on life, nods and walks over to the front of the bar with Spaff.

  Wardi keeps his ears on us, but his eyes on Horace, on the off chance Spaff was trying to secretly give him a sneaky beatdown. “You can’t go scaring us like that again anytime soon, preferably never if possible” I replied to Wardi “Noted bossman.” I say trying to bring my own normality back into play and getting things a bit more upbeat.

  “C'mon, let’s finish up and return to action, what’s on the agenda, did you discuss anything whilst I was out in a state of probably alive?”

  “Nothing really” Wardi says, melting into the tavern banquette. If I mentioned that I don’t think the seats have had any basic cleaning ever, noticing all that lovely dirt built up; it had many different coloured layers to it. I imagine he would melt the thing instead if he paid enough attention. It’s nice to be a good friend sometimes hee-hee! I thought.

  “You have been the priority man, so we were all focused on whatever the heck was happening, but not far from the tavern, I got a call from Lucy however on the Shellnet, saying we should meet her over in Et-Navn town. “She said Von Manor and something about weird screams coming from the inside? I wasn’t paying much attention to be quite honest” said Wardi.

  “I’ll take the lead” Rhua says, and heads to the door. “Take care” she says to Spaff waving as she left. Wardi gave a small wave of the hand whilst I spoke on behalf of myself and Horace.

  “In a bit Bruskin.” I say tapping my chest with my fist then pointing a finger at Spaff who waves back despite having a look of audible confusion.

  We decided to reach our destination taking the Hasseln?tt wood route, the detour wouldn’t affect the journey time overall and it’s safer with Colossi – Vivyoly. The four of us have a good rapport with her after the allotment scandal in forty-three.

  Turns out someone tried selling her Implom seeds which grow into highly explosive plants. Horace spotted them without having to double take and warned her they’ll destroy the forest if she doesn’t get rid of them as soon as possible. It’s been a while since we’ve spoken, so it would be nice to walk and talk.

  Besides, she’s got a soft spot for Horace, loveable little sausage that he is, so it will probably work in our favour if we can keep it that way. Vivyoly; unlike most Colossi, enjoys talking with the various races. Rhua called out her name “Vivyoly! Yoo-hoo!”

  The winds suddenly picked up as she quickly sped in our direction. Horace runs or well… at least tries to, what can you do against gale force winds really? Vivyoly lands in front of us and her gardening tools drop to the floor.

  A scythe narrowly misses Horace, and the rest of the tools suddenly embed themselves inches away from us. “Viv! Your tools, your TOOLS! Piped Horace.

  Viv looks in horror as she realises, we just watched our life flash before our eyes and lets out the most harrowing sorry, and her tears come bursting out onto the floor.

  “I’m grateful for the flash shower, it cleared my nose right out and I could smell the Skumpur blood undertones, with a base note of vinella emanating from my pits.” I whispered subtly to Rhua. “Now that you mention it, I do feel more refreshed myself, it’s been days of work, more work and fighting, let’s clean up properly in Et-Navn.” She replied.

  While Viv focused on creating a makeshift paddling pool for us. A certain someone couldn’t contain himself any longer. VIV! It’s so good to SEE YOU, let me wipe away those TEARS Horace belts out, seemingly louder than normal. Viv noticing Horace is quickly closing in on her, scoops him up in one hand and nuzzles him into her fuzzy cheeks. The polin she had built up from collecting, essentially dyed the entirety of Horace’s body, no longer recognisable for his faded red Boofal leather attire or his makeshift Pixaye glass bowl helmet he is adamant offers an increase to defence. It was a lilac colour, notable from the Laven plants that grow here in Hasseln?tt.

  It’s notable for its sedative inducing affects after it’s heated, something of a staple for those with a focus on sneaking and debilitating effects on enemies. She pulled him away from her face and he rolled around a little trying to dust himself off. Her eyes totally focused on Horace, she said she was doing well now that he was here and asked how we were. Though it was clear she just wanted to speak to him specifically.

  “We’re doing fine Viv, you’re looking well, how have things been in the wood lately? Said Wardi. “Calm, quiet and bountiful hee-hee! She boldly bellows blowing us back a little in her excitement.

  “I’m glad to see my little Horacio is being looked after, that fills me endless joy, come now, hop on I’ll take you through the woods it’ll be faster than walking.” We would have rejected the offer, however; the hand that scooped us into a tool bag, scored a fatal blow to the idea and we weren’t up for a rebellion right now.

  Horace being the chosen one, had a special seat upon her head. Viv stomped her way through the forest a little before we were travelling at high speed through the woods hovering low above the floor.

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  Horace being much closer to her than anyone else took the initiative to ask her a question or two. “VIV, have you noticed anything changing IN THE WINDS lately? Horace piped. A concerned “hmm” came out of her, the vibrations so strong that if she tried to hide her true thought, we could probably detect it without the need for an ability.

  “I’m aware Dornam have been trying to expand, by digging underground.” - “Eyronbruu, sent me a message saying he gave them fair warning not to build near his cavern, you know what it’s like dealing with us, nobody ever says no, they haven’t stopped digging around his caverns though…wait” she said pausing and vibrating our brains to pieces.

  “There was also something that happened, maybe fifteen days ago.” She paused in the air before continuing talking and flying. “It felt like an energy manifested, lasting mere seconds then completely vanished.” – “I’m certain I could hear cries in the wind when it happened, although I just don’t know for sure if what happened was maybe just my imagination, or if was just me losing my marbles from not eating, I tend to get disoriented when I haven’t eaten as you know hee-hee!” She said as her and Horace continued talking between themselves about what happened recently and in general. The ride may have been fast, so was our last meal coming back up to exit.

  She picked us one by one out of the tool bag and placed us at the edge of the woods. Horace earned himself a large wet smooch on his entire body which I’m sure was well received, then Viv waved and said “I picked up the smell of some recently bloomed Laven, it’s time to get my purple thumb skills In action, bye friends, Bye Horacio~!” she winked at him then proceeded to stomp her way back through the forest.

  Horace looking exceptionally pleased with himself told us that he had asked Viv if she knew about the Vechesia stone, but she knew as much as the rest of us.

  “Well can you say that without smiling like you just found out some really critical information Horace you dohnoot” Rhua said with a harsh tone.

  “I am SO happy after seeing my old friend VIVYOLY, my buzz will not be UNBUZZED TODAY!” said Horace. I choose not to say anything this time on account that I can see the vein bulging in Rhua’s forehead, and I’ve had enough excitement for now.

  Et-Navn is just a stone throw away; the town is famous for the Von family. They originally were in the western land of Somervun back on Terra and had been a well-established and respected entity within the catering industry. They fell on challenging times after the youngest daughter Skankerella Von had an affair with adult book star Kong Celerie and his wife Jenna Ricka, went on a media rampage defaming the family for being a bunch of harlots. ‘She just fell onto him!’ and ‘Affair at first sight’ the headline news outlets went with.

  When the rebuild occurred, their notable distinctive manor house was for reasons nobody really knows, strangely placed adjacent to the town. Et-Navn was notable for its distinctive black wooden housing, which was a stark contrast to the bleached sand-coloured bricks of the manor house. Sort of like the yong-yung symbol you see in the eastern lands you may or may not see later who knows, and who’s talking now anyway!?

  The Hasseln?tt route exits close to Et-Navn’s eastern gate entrance. Wardi is fond of this place, Barry’s cousin Larry is the head of the Scrollitorium shop. Hopefully, I have the opportunity this time to explain how the world and system works a little more, this time without going into a forced dream sequence, because nobody got time for that. I thought.

  Scrolls are hard to produce and cost a fortune to buy outright. The mats to make them only come from chasm, and everyone wants that sort of stuff. So many users typically end up working via contracts for new arts on a monthly fee basis, with: MONEY or mean-old-non-negotiating-egotistical-yowlers for short. Let me break it down for you:

  Scroll of lightning tempest, only 800000 HFC Light up your foes today!

  This is Norman. He is an art user but does not have that sort of coin. He has just noticed a fast method of obtaining the powerful new art advertised in the store window.

  Dave from MONEY offers to pay for said scroll plus a fixed rate fee of 10% APR. Norman knows he could just adventure and prove his worth to a teacher for lessons in higher ranking arts. Dave say’s to him “Look mate, it’s an unmissable deal I can offer you and only YOU exclusively Norman” convincing him to sign up.

  Norman believes he can make it all back quickly, despite not being able to afford the scroll. This plan did not pan out.

  MONEY gives him a 30-day period to pay back effective immediately because he’s failed on two repayment months. The wife is not happy, and the kids keep saying the name “Dave” instead of “Daddy.”

  Norman pleads with a suckstomer service agent but due to the signed contract; MONEY has sent in the goon squad for repossession purposes. They take the house, cart, and the wife has run off with the kids in Dave’s locomotion mode of transport to the Samahab’s atoll.

  Now Norman is on a court order to payback all the accrued debt and has currently repaid 600000 HFC / 960000 HFC. If you hadn’t realised by now, Norman is a real guy, and the total repayments increased by the two months he failed to pay.

  I think I’m currently two-thirds on the scoreboards without something weird happening during an explanation. Can I make it ?!? Stay tuned to find out. I laughed in my head.

  We approach the Scrollitorium and notice the lights are off. “Strange for the light to be off don’t you think” Rhua said.

  “Let’s work together, regardless of the weather, high or low we go, it’s on with the show little lambs, so expect the unexpected” Wardi says whilst he maintains a look of smouldering concentration staring off into the distance. He’s positioned his legs to look like an L shape, whilst holding his rapier behind his back and clenching the left hand into a fist pressing against his hip.

  “HVA I HELVETE! What are you talking about you fool?” Rhua barked at Wardi who sulks, looks away, kicking the floor in that way children do to act all cute or innocent.

  “It’s a line FROM those books he’s been reading. You know, THE BRAVE LITTLE LAMBS” Horace piped up.

  “Oh, THOSE books, aren’t they for kids Wardi? Don’t you want to read something a bit more mature like: The adventures of Chuckles Smelly-Bins.” Rhua joked a rare thing to experience with her.

  Wardi scoffed and replied, “Just because it’s a kid’s book doesn’t mean it’s not worth a read.”

  Whilst they were bickering, I was trying desperately to work out the pose Wardi had struck. Think I remembered a spiky haired soldier with a big sword that used to do that at the end of every fight… Ah well it’s not that important.

  Whilst the grand bickering was still on-going, I waved to Horace and he nodded following me to the door, which was of course locked, but the gods love a trier. We walked around the back of the shop, and I tried to open the garden door, “Damn, it’s locked” I said to Horace. The energy, we spent on that short perilous journey left us unharmed; but annoyed. I asked Horace if he may be able to use his gift to find us something to get in, a key perhaps.

  “My time to SHINE” Horace piped up, then proceeded to take off his helmet. As he began to use his gift, eight symbols appeared behind him activating his gift. All the gifts appeared the same way, the symbols are related to their god the gift came from is what I’ve learned over time.

  Horace sniffs the air and suddenly bolts off. With any luck he’ll come back with a key or a scroll that can get us inside. Wardi and Rhua have come back to me during the time Horace went off looking. “Sorry about that, things got a little heated back there” Wardi said with sad smile. “Take no notice of me I shouldn’t let my emotions get the better of me” Rhua said with sincerity.

  “Not sure why you’re apologising we didn’t hear much after round one kicked off ha, Horace should be back soon though so let’s compose ourselves never know what’s going to happen with that gift of his” I said. We passed time playing Ele-Manna-Go. Easy enough to play if you have someone capable of entry level combat or healing spells.

  With the players looking away, the mage begins creating a small elemental orb whilst chanting Ele-Manna-Go. At the word Go, the players must call out what the element was. The mage can choose to throw the orb at the loser/s if they desire or save it for the next round/s to increase the impact. Fun for the whole family! It is great to play with new mages, they have almost no spells at the start of their journey and good targets for a quick coin build up.

  It was around ten minutes before the rumblings of an incoming Horace was audible in the distance. He quickly darted into sight, leaping over the various neighbouring fences before eventually making it back to the backyard of the shop. Only Wardi noticed that Horace, had returned to us with a large shimmering stone like object, having noticed what he had; quickly dived into the alleyway besides the shop.

  Horace without warning, proceeded to launch the object which activated a defence mechanism as it hit one of the windows. The object proceeded to multiply and came back at us with double the speed, hitting us all at the same time just in different critical zones. I took a blast to the gut, Horace took a clean hit to the face, whilst Rhua had her leg’s taken out.

  “WE HAVE DIED” piped Horace.

  “Well, that is a new one, never expected him to find a clone-nite stone out this way wonder where he got it from? That’ll make some good items if we can find a high-ranking Jeweller” Wardi said with a devilish grin.

  “I think I can see my great-great grandma; she’s telling me, go into the light” Wardi interrupted my goodbye by throwing soother salves at us recovering a bit of my beaten down gut. “That wasn’t going to kill you …just hurt …a lot…” he said with a twisted aura about his person.

  “I’m sorry everyone I wish this gift would be more USEFUL” Horace piped quietly, Rhua comforted Horace, placing her hand on his head and rubbing his hair. If actions could speak, she said it’s ok, you can’t control it. And initiated the high five jive to bright him up begrudgingly.