Light route: I overcome my fear.

Our eyes meet again. Despite the pounding of my feet as I run, I can feel her shaking like a leaf. I see the look in her eye, see how she has already given up hope. The thief girl seems convinced that I’m about to let her go and leave her to the mercy of the beast behind me. “Is that what happens in the world? The weak are left at the mercy of the strong? The powerless clambering over each other for any advantage whilst those with power watch, doing nothing? No. I will not allow it!”

The panic of moments ago is gone, replaced by a wave of fiery rage that threatens to consume me. Up until this point, I have been treating this world like a game. I was wrong. My expression must have changed as my resolve hardened. I see a flicker of something new in the Mouse-kin’s eyes, hope. Through my laboured breathing, I **** out, “Don’t worry sweety, I’ve got you, I won’t let you go.”

The look of relief and gratitude I receive in response makes my heart swell. I focus on moving faster, getting us away from our pursuer. Remembering my earlier tumble, I focus on the route ahead to make sure there’s nothing that’s going to send us sprawling. The Kitsune is looking back at us, eyes and hands flaring with a purple light as her lips move soundlessly, clearly in the middle of casting.

Her hood has slipped somewhere during our flight, so without her mask I get my first proper look at The Alchemical Rogue. She has pixie-like features lending her an ageless quality. Early twenties maybe? She has a cute button nose, smooth pale skin and intense eyes. damn, she cute, real cute. Her hair is the colour of copper and flows down her shoulders, barely contained in a long braid. On top of her head are two pointed fox ears, a shade darker than the rest of her hair at the base and shading gradually to black at the tips, her long fluffy tail is shaded similarity to her ears, the only difference being a tuft of white fur right at the tip.

She looks impressive as hell, eyes and hands blazing with eldritch energy as she taps into the hidden energies of the world to bend it to her will. Less impressive is the fact she isn’t paying attention to where she’s going. I am, so I see the shin high rope tied at the mouth of the alley that the mage is unwittingly hurtling towards. I only have moments before disaster strikes. “JUMP!”

The urgency and forcefulness of my single world command comes through to the woman. She doesn’t question me. She doesn’t check to see the danger for herself. She jumps. My breath catches in my throat as she sails towards the obstacle. She clears the tripwire by mere centimetres. Then it’s my turn. My muscle bunch, then release. I spring forward, clearing the rope with plenty of room to spare.

My elation at clearing the obstacle is short-lived. We’ve run right into a dead end. It appears to be a courtyard ringed in by the backs of several buildings. The surrounding buildings have doors that let out into the area, but a quick look shows that most if not all of them are securely padlocked. No escape that way. The space is about as large as a tennis court and is criss-crossed with washing lines from which laundry is haphazardly hung. At the very centre of the courtyard is a well, which probably acts as a water source to the complex.

I scan the upper floors of the surrounding buildings, but other than a few shuttered windows, theres not much in the way of handholds. Not that I could scale the face of a building, but it was worth a look. Ahead of me, the Kitsune woman finishes casting her spell. I look back from where we came, the entrance now covered with a subtly shimmering barrier. “That won’t buy us long.” She says, then motions for me to follow her deeper into the courtyard.

When we are hidden from the complex entrance, the Kitsune turns back to me and says, “Well, this is a heap of shit. Any chance you have a way out if this? Some super powerful Outworlder gismo hidden away in your jeans?” I shake my head numbly, taken aback by the question. “Outworlder? How does she know I’m from another world?” I shake my head, clearing it. Now is not the time. “How about you?” I ask, “Anything you can do?”

She considers a moment before replying, “I’m an illusionist, but only a novice. It’s taking all my concentration to maintain the fake wall hiding the courtyard entrance.” I nod, that answered my next question about why we weren’t currently being pummelled. A sudden wigging from arms reminded me of my passenger. I look down to see the pouting face of the Mouse-kin thief. I set the disgruntled girl down with an “oops, sorry”.

When she was back on her feet, she turns to look at us, giving me my first proper look at the girl. She has an olive complexion under the grime and is almost as cute as the Kitsune in a slightly more rugged way. A pale scar runs across the bridge of her nose, proof of a close call with blade or claw. She has deep brown eyes, filled with an intense hope. Her straw coloured hair is styled in a bob, but is a little on the scraggly side. Despite the dirt and grime, I can see she’s a looker. With some care and attention (and copious amounts of soap), I could see her being called beautiful.

She blushes slightly, aware of my scrutiny. In an attempt to put her at her ease, I ask her, “How about you, little one?” She pouts at me for my new nickname, before reaching into the folds of her cloak and withdrawing a dagger. The blade showed signs of mild corrosion, lending the copper blade a blue-green tint, but still looks sharp enough. In a voice brimming with confidence, she replies, “I’ve got this! Also, I’m really quick and quiet.”

Never one to miss an opportunity to compliment an attractive woman, I ask, “What are both of your names? Probably best if I stop referring to you as sexy fox lady and cute thief girl in my head.” In a slightly exasperated tone, sexy fox lady replies, “Call me Anna.” In a decidedly less confident voice, cute thief girl replies, “My name’s Mia. Are we really gunna fight that thing?”

A roar of frustration from the courtyard entrance answers her question for her. We don’t have much of a choice. Speaking out loud for the benefit of the group, I try to come up with a plan.

“Okay, so we have me, extremely good-looking but functionally useless in a fight. Probably means I’m going to be bait, which will suck, but if it gets us out of here alive, I’m game. Then, we have Anna, an illusionist, and Mia the rogue, pretty much a match made in heaven. Hey, Anna, can your illusions cover someone else?”

I look over to Anna. She’s looking back at me like I’ve said something dumb. Confused, I look over at Mia. She is clearly embarrassed and is blushing furiously. “What did I say?” In a small voice, Mia replies, “I’m no Rogue, technically, I’m not even a Thief. I have yet to receive a Class.” I frown before replying, “Well that’s bullshit. You fight with daggers, your sneaky and quick.” I nod, self-assured in my ignorance. “Mia, You’re a Rogue.”

Both women open their mouths, clearly about to protest. Before they can get a word in, the courtyard seems to darken. From pools of shadow scattered around the courtyard, bands of black energy emerge, before converging in Mia’s direction. The bands of black light wrap loosely around an extremely startled Mia as Anna and I watch, mouths agape. The bands compress, joining and merging with each other. From within the blackness shimmering gold can be seen, glittering like coins at the bottom of a deep pool.

The energy pulses once, before merging with Mia’s body. The slight Mouse-kin gasps and sinks to a knee, whether from pain or pleasure is impossible to tell. Then she looks up, and our eyes meet. In a steady voice she says, “I, Mia, accept your freely given gift, and, from this day until the day I die, bind myself to you. In return, I vow my life and my soul to your service. I will follow your orders, carry your burdens, and if necessary, trade my life for yours. I will become your blade in the dark, and the centre of the web from which no secrets are safe.”

Unbidden, words fill my head, and before I fully understand what’s going on, I am speaking. “I, Emily Silver, accept you vow and bind to my service. In return, I will keep you clothed and fed. You always will have a place at my table, and, should you excel in your duties, a place in my heart. I name you Shadow-Dancer and bestow upon you the aspect of Greed. Rise, and take your first step as my Champion.” Silence fills the courtyard, all the sounds of the town and the enraged cries of our pursuer muted.

I practically jump out of my skin as a blaring fanfare sounds in my ears, disrupting the complete silence. Before I can look around to find the source, a notification fills my vison.

Congratulations, Outworlder! By naming your first Champion, you have taken the first step down the Path of Unification!

(Champions claimed 1/6)

Increase your personal power to continue down the path.

I gawp at the message, uncomprehending. “Path of Unification? Champions?” Before I could consider the message further, I let out an involuntary “Oof” as something small collides with me, bowling me over. My eyes focus, and I return to the present. I am lying on my back, being squeezed tightly in an intense hug by a sobbing Mouse-kin. Between sobs, I hear an endless tirade of “thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.” She pauses, probably to take a breath, so I say, in my most soothing voice, “Hey, It's okay, your welcome, everything’s fine.”

Hands grab Mia under the arms, peeling the cute but extremely damp woman off me. The space allows me to clamber back to my feet, and I idly brush the dirt from my clothes as I watch Anna plop Mia back on her feet. Anna then looks at me wide eyed, before saying in a voice full of wonder, “How the fuck did you….?” She shakes her head, then continues, “Once we get out of this, me and you are going to have a loooong talk.”

A triumphant noise rings out from the courtyard entrance. We both turn, realising with horror that the mouth of the alley is no longer covered in shimmering energy. A meaty fist grips the building to the left, then another grips the building to the right. Every so slowly, the head of the monstrous man emerges into the courtyard, blazing red eyes taking in the surroundings. His eyes settle on us, filled with malevolent glee.

“remember the plan.” I mutter. “What plan!?!” hisses Anna. “I distract him, you two hit him until he stops moving.” Anna and Mia nod, and we spread out. This is going to be one hell of a fight.