Another Stupid Isekai

I spent the night on that roof without sleeping at all. Just me and my thoughts. When the morning came, I got down and took care of my daily routine, but the Wuxia soldiers were on my mind all the time.

I took my friends to the canyon right after, but then I didn’t go hunting. I needed to check if something bad didn’t happen. I didn’t really have to go there and could use the coins, but at that time I wasn’t really familiar with them, besides that thought never actually crossed my mind.

I ended up shadow walking there, just to discover, that actually completely nothing have happened. People were surprised to see me. Amit even joked that I was concerned about him, so that’s why I came.

I realized it could take days to catch the people behind this whole thing. Maybe even we wouldn’t catch them at all in such a way.

I returned to hunting, and the day progressed as it normally would. Then in the late evening, I parted ways with my friends and went to take a bath, then to eat. Brutus and Nadzieja appeared again, this time discussing some stories from their past, but I didn’t listen too much, with all the thoughts in my head.

I finished quickly, to get some rest. As soon as I got to my room I knew something was off. The door was slightly open. I looked discreetly through the crack, but the inside was dark, which led me to use ‘Eyes of the Void’.

There was only one thing that wasn’t supposed to be there. A piece of paper, lying on the bed. Evidently a message. I went inside, creating a firebird to get some light, and picked up the letter.

“Meet me on the academy grounds, Mbeki.”

Immediately lights turned on in my head. He was one of the stronger people in the city, who survived through the first war, and then The Invasion. If he had the help of few others like him and wasn’t concerning himself with losing people, killing those bosses would be possible. There was only one thing against that theory. That guy wasn’t an asshole. Something was off, and I needed to find my answers.

First, though, I needed to find out where the hell was the academy located. Fortunately, I knew someone who could give me such information.

I almost ran to the cafeteria, hoping to still catch the elderly couple, and I did. They both were surprised as I approached them.

– Peter? – Brutus looked at me.

– Hi. Can I borrow the lady for a moment?

Nadzieja’s eyebrows rose the very moment she heard my words.

– Why do you need her? – Brutus was a bit confused and kept looking at us both.

– A little favor. I need to know where the academy grounds are in the city.

– Oh I can show you – he said and smiled.

– I’ll show him – she replied to that and stood up immediately.

– Maybe I’ll keep you two company?

– Brutus… You had a tough day. Have a break. It’s just a short walk.

He nodded in silence, and I was led by her outside the cafeteria.

– So what is it really about? – she asked as soon as we got there.

– It is about what I said it was. I just got a message from an old friend to meet there, but I have no idea where it is, so I came and asked somebody who knows.

– You seem a bit upset Peter. I’m sure Brutus also noticed.

– Let’s just say it might be a tough conversation.

It was pretty dark outside. We could only see the outlines of buildings around us, and few people, still walking at this hour. There was a bit more light closer to the pub, as for some people the day wasn’t nearly close to its end yet.

The academy grounds were surprisingly close, just behind a line of buildings belonging to Wuxia. Probably because the project started as their own academy.

It was a whole complex, but I noticed where I should go very quickly. The sand arena, surrounded by stone stands, dissected into sections, with pathways leading down since it all was just a massive hole.

There was a bunch of people there. Some standing in the darkness, some with torches in their hand. In the middle, down below, was a familiar person, Maia, surrounded by a bunch of people. Mbeki and Urho among them, with four mysterious cloaked characters with heads in grey hoods.

– Thanks. I think you should go now – I said do Nadzieja after stopping for a moment.

– Are you sure?

– Yes – I looked at her. – Whatever it is, I’m enough to deal with it.

She nodded and turned around. That was enough for me, to start moving. I approached the arena.

– Welcome, Peter – Maia said as soon as I topped on top of the stairs, leading to her.

– What is this about?

– It’s about chances. About opportunities. It’s about making things right – she said with a smile.

It was hard to read her emotions, but she seemed confident and calm. Moreover, I didn’t find any hostility in her behavior. The others, on the other hand, at least those whose faces I could see, were completely blank, just waiting patiently.

Some were armed, some not, but I wasn’t scared. I was confused.

– Come, join us, please. I have a lot to explain – she continued.

– Oh yes, you do. And it better be a fucking good explanation – was my answer, as I started walking down.

– I know Hatta and some others have been busy lately looking for people who were clearing dungeons at night. You don’t need to look anymore. It was us.

[0)ᴠʟ – What a surprise. Did you start doing some bullshit again? Didn’t you learn your lesson?

She smiled at me.

– I learned my lesson a very long time ago, and I didn’t come here to fight or argue with you. I came with gifts, and explanations, which I’m sure you gladly will accept.

I snorted, knowing that whatever it was, I for damn sure wasn’t accepting it, and definitely not gladly.

– People of this city, and even your close friends have no idea of how a wonderful person you are. They don’t understand, and they probably never will on their own. They all are blinded by greed. They want to take, and not give. I’m different. I fully understand. I want to give, I want to serve.

– Oh please. Again this messiah bullshit?

She smiled again.

– It’s true, even if you don’t accept it.

– Cut the bullshit, and explain yourself, because I don’t have time for this.

She nodded.

– I came to offer you the owner of this city. I came to offer you the position you deserve. I came to give back, what was taken from you.

– Wha… – the words stuck in my throat, as one of the hooded figures took their hood down.

It was Zhang Yong.

– How? – my focus quickly shifted to her.

– I told you. I came to bring gifts. To return what was taken.

– No, it’s…

My mind was going nuts, trying to figure out what happened. Trying to connect the dots. And it did. The ‘Necromancer’ class, what she somehow got sacrificing the lives of people who died out there, in the graveyard. How the hell she got the body, I had no idea.

– He is dead.

– Yes – she agreed. – But that might change. If I get better at this he will be alive again. I just need your help. Let us join forces. Let us be what we were meant to be from the beginning. The messiah sent to us by the Divine Tree and his high priestess.

– No. This is bullshit. What we are gonna do is, you will stop, and I will take you to Hatta. Then we will figure out what to do with you.

She smiled again.

– I know you are surprised. You never thought this was possible. You never thought you might get back what was once lost, and now when you learned it can, you got confused.

– No! – I shouted.

She reacted calmly, with a hand gesture. The other three hooded figures took their hoods off, revealing one by one who they were. Blitzkrieg, Mark, and somebody who almost made me collapse, as my legs suddenly got weaker.

Like all the strength was sucked out of them. Nadia.

I tried to find words, but I couldn’t. I keep opening and closing my mouth, like a fish desperately trying to breathe after being taken out of the water.

– As I said. I’m bringing gifts. You might not like some of them, but this one – she approached Nadia – I’m sure you love. Is this enough to change your mind?

It was not easy to answer her question. I had chaos in my head wreaking havoc. Storm of thoughts and pictures from the past. Our past. I could no longer stand on my legs. I needed to sid town, and that’s what I did.

I sat down, right on the sand.