Four days already? Man, time flies when you're dodging goblins and handing out candy.
We'd been cruising along without a hitch, just the odd monster popping up like uninvited party crashers. Ettal was only a couple hours away now, and everyone was in high spirits.
"Jirei! Get over here it's speed time!" (Card game.)
I was sprawled out on the grass, half-asleep, when Wed bellowed at me. The guy looks like a gorilla that lost a fight with a lawnmower—huge, scarred, and grinning like an idiot.
The rest of the crew waved me over. "Come on, one hand!" "Loser does cleaning for a week!
"No way," I groaned. "I lose every time because you cheats shuffle the deck whennwe don't look. Never again."
They all started whistling at the sky, innocent as baby lambs. Yeah, right.
Look, four days ago I made the mistake of sharing some fancy sweets from home. Now they're glued to me like kids to an ice-cream truck. Wed especially, he's built like a siege weapon but melts for anything sugary. I've got crates of the stuff, so whatever. Free morale boost.
Still... aren't we supposed to be *working*? This is an escort quest. Fina, our VIP, is over there sipping tea like we're on a picnic. Zero tension. It's disgustingly wholesome.
Except for one guy.
Blond, brooding, kneeling in the dirt like he's praying for the sweet release of death. Cain.
"Hey, Cain! Fresh pudding today, wanna try? If not, Letty's gonna inhale it."
I waved the cup under his nose.
"..."
Nothing. He stood up, face blank as a fresh tombstone, and shuffled off into the bushes. Dude looks like his soul got repo'd. You okay, buddy?
I've been at this every day, nobody turns down free dessert, right? A noble's taste buds could be gold for feedback. But zero progress. He's like a stone wall.
Wed lumbered over, scratching his scar. "You again? Quit wasting pudding on that spoiled brat."
"Eh, we've come this far. More reviews, better letter to the candy lady."
"You're too nice. Kid's only B-rank 'cause Daddy pulled strings. Thinks he's hot stuff—rotten apple, straight to the core."
"MASTER!" Letty came sprinting, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk. "That pudding wasn't enough! Gimme seconds!"
I shoveled the rest into my mouth. Letty's face crumpled like wet paper. Victory.
Three more hours of jokes, songs, and zero ambushes. Ettal's gates peeked over the hill, quest complete in T-minus five.
Then suddenly ....
"—!! —!!"
A scream ripped the air.
"Haa... haa... Run! Ettal—ETTAL!!"
Our scout burst from the treeline, soaked in sweat, eyes wild.
Fina dropped her teacup. "Breathe. Talk."
He collapsed, gasping. "Monsters... everywhere. The city's *gone*."