Vance eyes widened as the fading stars lingered beside the sun.
'That wasn't real.' He staggered back, turning to the others.
Their necks were stiff. Heads tilted upward. Eyes empty, lifeless, as if frozen in place.
"Huff... ha..." he forced slow breaths, trying to steady himself as vivid memories of his death replayed in his mind.
Then.
As last star vanished, the city came back to life.
Noise flooded the streets. Voices rose as people spoke of the miracle they had just witnessed.
Darius smiled.
The others stood in shock with wide eyes, slack jaws...
"Guys what gods did you choose?" Cael asked.
"War," Darius said with a grin.
"Wind," Ember added.
"Shadows," Jennifer said.
"Fate," Elizabeth replied, earning a smile from Cael.
"Looks like I'll be leaving with Elizabeth" Cael said.
Then their attention shifted to Vance, who was still catching his breath.
"What?" He asked.
"What god did you chose?" Ember pressed.
"I didn't."
Silence fell.
Darius chuckled. "Good to know you choose suicide."
Vance ignored him, turning to Jennifer, 'I'll learn everything I need from her'
"Even without a god... you still plan to go through the valley?" Cael asked.
"Yes."
Cael sighed. "There's nothing I can do then. The Church of Fate would have welcomed you."
"How do I get past the valley?" Vance asked.
"The safest time is the morning," Cael replied. "But once you get beyond it, there's no coming back."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Ceal nodded. "This is where we part ways."
Goodbyes were brief.
Ceal walked away with Elizabeth. Ember hugged Jennifer and departed.
Darius raised a middle fingers at Vance before walking off.
Now only Vance and Jennifer remained.
"What did you gain from choosing a path?" Vance asked.
Jennifer crossed her arms, "its a system."
"What does it do?"
"It's like those games interfaces or novels."
"I don't play games or read novels," Vance said flatly. "I need more details"
She sighed. "It shows stats and skills."
'I know skills are those strange abilities we can use but what are stats?' he thought then said, "What are stats?"
Another sigh but this one was heavy. "Stats are numerical representation of your abilities such as strength, stamina, intelligence... things like that. Everything gets measured and turned into numbers."
As he nodded slowly someone interrupted.
"...Greedy.. slow human..." Skritch arrived with a bag slung over his shoulder.
He dropped it at Vance's feet. "...here."
He crouched down opening the bag.
It was filled with gold coins. He smiled, "good."
He stood and turned to Jennifer. "Take the bag. Let's move."
The streets were alive with vendors shouting, creatures bargaining, laughter echoing between the iron building.
But Vance eyes moved elsewhere.
The narrow alleys were filled with watching eyes.
'This could be a problem.' He glanced at Jennifer then.
A sharp whistle cut through the noise and from the alleys, figures began to move.
An orc from behind.
An ogre and another orc at front.
They moved blending into the crowd.
Vance's gaze snapped back to Jennifer. "...Where's the bag?"
Here hand were empty, her back bare.
"I think we should deal with him first." She said, nodding torward the approaching orc.
Skritch tugged at Vance's pants, "..stupid human... getting robbed..."
Vance sighed 'where's my money?'
Then.
A massive hand landed on his shoulder.
"Let's step to the side, little guy." A green figure in a dark uniform smiled down at him.
Vance didn't resist. They moved into a narrow alley with Jennifer and Skritch behind.
The orc glanced back, and no unwanted eyes could be seen.
"Sorry about that," the man said casually. "I'm one of the city officers."
"I see," Vance replied.
"It's good that you understood because." He pulled Vance further into the alley, "your goblin friend is under investigation."
Vance's eyes narrowed slightly, "for what officer?"
"No need to be formal," the orc smiled. "Call me Tooka."
Vance nodded.
"Your friend is a scavenger," Tooka continued. "Not the kind of company you want to keep."
"Of course officer,"
"Your a good person, unlike him." Tooka glanced back at Skritch, "He hunts people with two others. Sells their organs on the black market.
Vance eyes widened as he said in a shocked tone. "That can't be true."
"it is." Tooka smiled faintly. "And worst of all he's dragged you in his scheme."
"No, officer" Vance said in a strained voice "I'm innocent."
"We know," Tooka replied. "We have him trapped, all we need is a bag he brought into the city."
Vance sighed. "We lost it"
Tooka's smile vanished, his eyes narrowed as he leaned in. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm," Tooka leaned back. "Then we have a problem."
"How so?"
"You're associated with a criminal and I doubt you're registered with the city." He pulled out a pair of cuffs spinning them casually on his finger.
"How do we know your not covering for him?"
Vance went quiet. he'd seen this befor, the illusion of salvation, the set up. The police tell you that your in trouble because of your friend or associate but they know that you innocent yet they tell you they can't prove it for you.
This is when they expect you give them something to clear you out of the trouble, in short it was a nice way to rob someone by making them think your helping them. A clean robbery disguised as procedure.
"I suppose there's nothing we can do until you investigation is over." Vance said calmly. "Or are we under arrest?"
A pause.
Tooka eyes narrowed yet his lips smiled. "No. But I was wondering how are you planning to pay for the city toll."
"I was going to beg for money."
Tooka glanced at Vance's torn suit.
''That won't do." He stepped closer. "I'll cover your entry."
"And since your friend is under investigation, a couple of my friends will accompany you around for your safety" although his words were kind his tone was cold as ice.
"Thank you, officers Tooka." Vance spoke as they stepped out of the alley.