Thalion was genuinely happy to see Annie again. She had clearly grown stronger since the last ti they had crossed paths. Her presence carried a calm confidence, the kind that only ca from overcoming real danger. The group gathered around her, quiet and attentive, as she began to share her story. She told them how she had left the Blue Robes behind, how she had tead up with Logan on the fifth stage, and how everything had unraveled. A single vampire, powerful beyond belief, had wiped out an entire army on her own. Only those with escape tokens had made it out alive. Steven’s base had been overrun as well, and he had joined Logan before the massacre.
The room fell into silence as the weight of her story settled in. Thalion's thoughts wandered. What had beco of Thorwald? Could he really have died back on the fourth stage? That seed unlikely. Thorwald was too proud, too stubborn, and far too arrogant to die in silence. Seeing Annie again reminded Thalion of soone else—Jakob. He had almost forgotten him entirely. Was Jakob still with Kael’s group? Evelyn had told Thalion that Jakob did not believe Kael’s claims about Thalion going rogue. Maybe it was ti to end the conflict at its root.
Annie was also concerned about Jakob’s fate. That sparked a dangerous idea in Thalion’s mind, one bold enough to be useful. What if he sent Annie to infiltrate Kael’s camp? She could gather information, observe their strength, maybe even help Jakob escape. Even if she did not want to mislead anyone, she could still offer Kael’s followers a safer option. Thalion was not interested in collecting extra citizens or earning more points. He simply wanted to strip Kael of his protection and force him to fight without hiding behind others.
They agreed to head to the tower and relax over a few drinks. The reconstruction of the Black Fortress would take more ti, and this felt like the last real mont to unwind before the coming storm. Thalion could have chosen to cultivate instead, but the gains would have been minor. What he really needed was a clear head. The final stage of the tutorial would be brutal, and peaceful monts like this might not co again for a long ti.
Josh and Jack took the chance to properly introduce themselves to Annie, since they had not t her before. She was particularly interested in how they had obtained their unique races. The conversation flowed naturally, shifting to Annie’s ti in the ocean. She had rescued a high-variant crocodile, which quickly grew stronger by her side. Together, they hunted through the depths until she was summoned to the fifth stage. Thalion listened with interest. He knew what kind of beasts lived in the sea. That Annie had not only survived but thrived proved just how much she had advanced.
"By the way, does anyone know what happened to the Water Princess or Thorwald?" Annie asked, leaning back in her chair with a thoughtful look. It was a fair question. No one had seen them in weeks, and with egos like theirs, they should have made their presence known.
"Maybe they’re just avoiding the special quest and waiting for the whole thing to end," Kaldrek said, casually dismissive.
"That doesn’t sound like Thorwald," Thalion muttered. He doubted the man would hide. More likely, he was waiting for survivors to erge from the catacombs, wounded and vulnerable, so he could strike.
"It doesn’t matter," Josh said firmly. "If they start preying on the weak in the forest, we’ll hunt them down."
"Well said, Josh," Jack chid in enthusiastically. "We’ll find them no matter where they hide. I’ll be Sherlock, and you can be Doctor Watson."
Annie laughed, surprised by the sudden turn in tone and Jack’s dramatic flair.
"Wait, why do I have to be the doctor?" Josh asked, pretending to be offended.
"Good question," Jack replied, tapping his chin. "You’d make a terrible doctor. Didn’t Sherlock Hols have a dog? Maybe you could be that."
Annie laughed even harder, and even Thalion smiled as he leaned back in his massage chair. He opened a bottle of beer from the system shop and took a long sip, feeling the tension ease for the first ti in days.
This was a good group. Unusual, maybe even a bit chaotic, but loyal and strong. They had been forged by hardship and battle, and they were still standing. Thalion hoped they would all survive what was coming, though he knew deep down that the odds were slim. With monsters like the vampiress still roaming, survival would be anything but guaranteed.
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