In bastion I look over beths shoulder at the table. Mostly trying to see what teacher was reading. Her hand grabs my face
"Sit down pelio or your going to be dealing with the rock work again"
I quickly scramble to sit down i am not getting no extra work. I do keep eyeing the book. The exploration report, I myself don't really care but death got very interested in who wrote it. I'm the youngest of us 6, the time right after I beat my first nightmare. Meaning I don't have those odd gaps in memory neither does sun the one I'm partnered with, still mad i got that one as a partner. Their scary. Teacher notices my gaze and smiles gently. I remember that look well its the look of when I'd take interest in research. It still feels weird to not be his student.
"Oh taking a interest in this? Don't tell anyone you two but, its the exploration report on the Tomb of Arial"
I frown I'm not shocked teachers the one reading it
"Now some people think Heat Seeker made it but i don't think so! The writing style simply is not the same and no art"
I scowl at the mention of death. Beth shakes her head almost disappointed
"You know they really dislike you mentioning your old student."
Still I'm more then a little pissed at death, not that ill say it to their face, war is always around them. Plus I don't know where the two set up shop. They had me and sun rob the great clans, using that memory from what a corrupted devil, Still can't believe they so easily killed one, and some clothes that summon of the chain lord or whatever, used that weird writing magic of his on to hide our presence.
"Yes yes i know but their so similar"
I scoff loudly at his comment
"me? Oh hell no."
He sighs
"Hey their a saint at least."
I scoff. Its good I was able to change my face using my transcendent ability or I would get caught. That and the bracelet that chain lord made to dampen my presence.
"They're also being hunted by both great clans."
Beth scoffs waving her hand almost annoyed
"Stealing from both sovereigns, how did they even manage that?"
I sit with Beth after teacher left, apparently shes meeting some people from Antarctica. My older self never met Beth so ill probably not know any..... fuck. Its both deaths cohort and... well whoever was forgotten. The whole world forgot their old boss, but in a different way then me. I'm able to remember I've forgotten someone and put the pieces together of whoever it was. Everyone else can't even remember they've forgotten someone. Nerds.
"Oh! It's you, senior. Uh… where's that cute little assistant of yours?"
Oh yeah that guy, master sunless or whatever. He's weird looking, skin too smooth and his eyes are too dark. Weirdo.
"So uh. Why is there some kid here."
I get very very tempted to punch the weird pervert. Nicknamed beast i think.
"Oh pelio? I was walking around two weeks after coming to the dream realm. Thats when I found newly awakened pelio here. At this point they've been working with me for the whole time I've been here. And their 23 idiot"
The fool coughs looking away. Yeah he better be embarrassed. Asshole.
"I'm from Antarctica and all that"
Kim, i think, smiles
"Oh, where are you from?"
I think for a second a scowl forming on my face
"Falcon scott"
Everyone goes silent, I do note the weirdo who owns this place glancing at me like he's trying to figure something out. Weirdo.
They talk for a while i dont talk much myself. I'm not very talkative after all.
"Oh… I heard something strange a few days ago, by the way."
I glance up from my, admittedly very good, pancakes at the master
"Good strange or bad strange?"
The guy hesitates for a while
"I'm not sure. You see… that thing. The Winter Beast. Apparently, it's gone."
I really want to correct him but... that would blow my cover a little
"Gone? What do you mean, gone?"
He shakes his head
"It seemed like someone… or rather, something… killed it. You know how hard it is to catch glimpses of the Southern Quadrant, but apparently, the evidence suggests that it was killed years ago. We just didn't know."
I think for a while
"I think.... I think it was a person."
They look over at me
"Well, you see, if it was a nightmare creature it would be of the great rank and a high class one at that. No doubt the great clans simply would not want that around. Even more so with the skin walker making so much trouble"
Shielder nods at my words
"I must agree. I dont think it was saint heat seeker either, from what you said it just doesn't line up"
Over at ravenheart I jump down from a tree using a dormant dagger of the 4th tear to stab a dormant monster. It of course quickly falls. I take out a whistle and I blow into it. Quickly a group of mundane people come over and take the thing away to cut up. I walk back to camp and I sit down. I only work with the road builders to avoid the puppeteers gaze. My boss offers me a cup with a smile while the others happily chat, or well tiredly happy.
"Nice work solar"
I scowl taking the drink he's offering. A warm cup of synth coffee.
"Well?"
I sigh and I hand him the dagger. Annoying. All of this is annoying. I'm a saint, a divine aspect having one. Working as a good for nothing road builder. My partner is that brat. I can believe we were the same person. Death is truly a fool to put us together.
Later I flop on my bed after doing a ton of road making. Acting tired is annoying. Its all annoying. If death hadn't stolen we wouldn't have to hide. At least the fool thought better then to put the ones who stole in the same place they stole from. The hound master would clearly notice me considering I stole from him. And heart is a terrible liar, that mirror fiend would have noticed them. Piece of work that guy. Always watching and with that smile of his, he is a little too hateable. Boss opens the tent
"Hey come on join in, we are cooking that monster you brought in"
I sigh for a while standing up. Acting nice, playing some game for other benefit, all of it is just tiring. I sit down with everyone. Still i can not believe we got put to make a road to a citadel so close to the hollow mountains without push from anyone important. No matter how god i am at acting, I think that man has noticed me.
"So? Are you goin tell us anything about yourself solar, or should we guess. Because I've got a few"
I scoff rolling my eyes
"Fine."
The whole group looks at eachother. One points to my memory backpack.
"Where did you get that?"
I stare at him
"Killing a nightmare creature"
Obviously to them at least.
"No no what kind?"
I shrug
"Called the lone wanderer or something. It was a dormant demon and I had some help killing it"
One leans forward Cain I think.
"Really the dagger?"
I shrug
"First nightmare."
He frowns leaning back. Its funny hes called Cain considering the boss is called Abel.
"Okay the armor you've got?"
I glance at Mike
"Bought it."
Abel leans forward
"So why join the road building crew?"
I frown giving him a deadpan look
"To avoid this situation"
And of course to give plausible reason to join the puppeteers army without being looked at carefully so I can probably stab her in the back. And of course to avoid annoying questions.
The next day as I'm about to start my shift someone walks out from the forest putting everyone of edge. Even me. Not because their a skin walker but... god damn it. That guy is here. What does he know when you think about him or something? Knowing how weird the guy really is, I wouldn't be shocked. The citadel I'm helping build the road to is one of the closer to the hollow mountains.
"Uh hey... I uh am a little lost, could you point me to a close by citadel?"
I study him. Late 20s early 30s, awakened, not a strength based aspect most likely.
"Yeah... follow the road down. That should take you to one. I've mostly cleared it so the trip should be safe"
He smiles, it almost seems genuine but there's something slightly wrong with it
"Oh really? Thank you. Which one?"
I frown why is he here anyways?
"The one controlled by the han li clan."
He thinks for a second then he snaps
"Didn't that clan just get a saint?"
I nod
"Yes from what I heard it did. Although i wouldn't take my word on it as we've been put here for a few weeks"
He nods thanks us and leaves. That... felt ominous to say the least. I'm quite sure that will pop up again, he's too smart not to.