One choice or another

You lingered in the lobby of the Extra Ordinary, mentally and physically exhausted. You hadn't been able to sleep much at all in the past few days. Harlihn's eyes stared at you in the night, the echoes of his words fill whatever room or space you've found yourself in. Returning to the scene seemed like an odd choice to your family, especially your doting father, trying his best while being out of his depth for a situation like this, but it always seemed like the most appropriate place to be. It's where he would want you to be, you figure. Despite what he had said in his last moments, you kept circling back through what had happened, trying to figure out any way that you could have prevented or stopped what had happened. You were coming up short, and while it did mean what he said was true, it did little to comfort you. You'd lost your boss, someone who, now that he was gone, you finally recognized as a good friend. Probably the only person other than your family to see past your lustful ways and saw something more in you. He was trying to mold you and help you grow, you realized far too late, and never gave up. If there was ever a wake up call to change, this was it.

The silence was broken as your sister walked through the door, joining you at a table, bringing along the book she had discovered that fateful night. She'd been struggling her own vintage of guilt and remorse. Harlihn hadn't been her boss like she was yours, but she had known him, and felt the loss. Moreover, she had been beating herself up over Allanathras.

"Hey" you started meekly "How're you doing?"

"I should be asking you that," as she sat down across from you "probably the first time I've had to say this, but you don't look so good."

"Ya, probably not." You nodded in admission "Not exactly in the spirit to put on appearances and go chasing down boys." You let out a brief sigh as you looked out the window "Not in much spirit for anything, to be honest. Such a sudden shock, everything changed, how do people go back to living? Acting like everything's the same?"

"I couldn't tell you. I'm sure it isn't easy. I know we've got different things going on right, but right now, I keep asking myself how am I supposed to trust again? How can I trust me again?"

"What do you mean?" You asked, leaning forward slightly

Bethany took her heavy book and slammed it against the table "I mean this, Tiff! My boyfriend was a cultist, a died in the wool, capital H Heretic. And a murderer on top of it." She was right to be upset, you admitted. Heretics, the insidious group trying to actively work against the Gods and destroy their creation, were the most feared and despised group in all of T'sara, even more so than the followers of the **** God, Dineth The Destroyer. "And I didn't see it!"

"Nobody saw it, Bethany" You tried to give her some comfort, to little effect

"But I should have!" Her response was immediate and visceral, the heart of the matter come to bare. "I knew him, I liked him. I had more ability to get to the truth than anyone, and I couldn't see it." There was a slow pause "and all the things I let him do to me, cause I thought he liked me. Ugh, I feel like I need a shower just thinking about it."

"Hope that doesn't turn you off of guys alltogether" You remarked "certainly not just because you found the most rotten fruit in the whole field."

"Ya, well, let's just say it's going to be a while before I get down on my knees again." Beth was as insatiable as you were, and you weren't sure how long this would really last. Regardless, you had to acknowledge that for the moment, the revulsion was valid. "I just...I think I'm probably going to be joining you in the single life for a while. Least until I can figure out who I can really trust."

"Thanks, but I'm no hurry to take anyone to bed right now either." You groaned, looking out the window "I don't even know what to do now. Nothing makes sense anymore."

You hear the familiar voice of your cousin, Senna. Her companion Zok was with her, along with a human man you hadn't seen before. He was even younger than you, barely an adult and very fresh eyed by the looks of him. Well dressed, suggesting his wealth or that of his family, belied the nervous demeanor about him. "I may have an answer to that. Two answers, possibly."

The three came in, taking chairs to join you at the table. Senna motioned her hand towards the stranger "This is Valyn, he's a courier, he has something for you.

"Umm, yes" He began, as he reached into the parcel bag across his shoulder "I am here as an agent of and with the authority of the magistrate. Regarding the recent **** of Harlihn Flintaxe of the Holy State of Vahn."

"Yes?" You asked, unintentionally impatient "we already answered all the questions they had. The case is quite clear, unless Allanatharas has been found."

"I can't speak to that ma'am. Please, if I may." He retreived a metallic box, likely bronze, and opened the built in lock with a small key. "This is regarding Harlihn's will. Having no communication with kin of his home, nor any spouse or children here, he has stated all of his property and affects shall be granted to you."

Your eyes were wide in disbelief. "That can't be right. He would never"

"Well, I can't speak to that, you knew the deceased better than I did." Valyn removed the papers from the box to show you "But, it would seem that he did in fact. The papers were approved of and are of in record in the Deed Books of the court."

"The Ordinary is yours now" Beth said as she came close to put her hand on your shoulder "things happen for a reason. You were meant to have it."

You shook your head "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

The couriers' bedside manner was appalling "From the little that I've seen, things like this never work out the way people intend for it to happen. In any case, this business is concluded. The Extra Ordinary, and all other belongings known to belong to Harlihn are know your property, and your responsibility. Good day" The young man got up and excused himself from the premises.

"Charming, really" You replied sarcastically as he left. You grabbed the will and read it over "Fuck," You said out loud in continued bewilderment "This is real. This is mine now. I, I don't know what to do."

"Learning is a good first step." Bethany replied "There's a learning curve for sure, but I'm sure Harlihn had notes or something that you can use. Someone out there can be a mentor for you, I'm sure."

"I don't think so" you shook your head slightly, adjusting your hair as you went. "Knowing the number of people who were trying to get this place from Harlihn. Legitimately, buying it." You added, given circumstances "it would be hard to find someone ready and willing to help their own competition."

"Well, if you're not ready to become a business owner, there's another option" Senna said as she took a dagger from the sheath on her side and drove it into the table

"Suicide?" Koz asked, not understanding the intention. Senna, for all her patience, rolled eyes at her comrade. While you weren't thinking that, you shared in Koz's lack of comprehension.

"We go after him." Senna said "word through the grapevine of the other adventurers is that Allanathras isn't the only Heretic slunking around. We figure out what's going on, and that murdering psychopath gets what's coming to him. If we find more like him, we take care of that problem too."

"You're talking ****?" You asked. The words of Harlihn's last sentence rang in your head. It was precisely what he told you to do. You had never had that kind of spirit inside you, but the sleepnights, the look of his face forever supplanted in your memory, it was starting to ferment the seed that had been planted inside you.

"I'd call it 'self help justice' "Senna replied "but vengeance works too. I'm not really too concerned with what we call it. He and anyone he associates with" Turning to your sister briefly "prior company notwithstanding, are a threat to everyone here. They cannot be tolerated, and I wouldn't think you would be one to do so. Not after what happened."

"It's not that, I don't think. It's just, where do I even start? You're trying to get me into joining you in adventuring again, from the sound of it. I can't cut it, you know that." You rose your hand, using your innate sorcerer skills to create a small optical illusion of dancing lights "That's about the extent of what I'm good for, right now."

"It's time to get you out of your comfort zone Tiffany." Senna said as she stood up, Zok following closely behind "Past time, if you want frank family advice. Either help me, or make this place your own so some scavenger doesn't steal it from under you. Maybe even both, if you're feeling bold and daring," She took her dagger out of the table and put it back in it's sheath "I'm not here to be the bad guy, I promise. Whatever you choose to do, we all have your back. But you can't choose to do nothing, not anymore."

"Thanks" you replied meekly as the two of them walked out the door. Beth sat, looking at you quietly,

"I don't envy the position you're in" She remarked "But Senna's right. I'll do whatever I can to help you out, no matter what that is."

"I know, and I appreciate that. I just need some time to think about it."