Book Two Chapter Sixty Four: Tomb Level

Book Two Chapter Sixty Four: Tomb Level

The giant dancing scorpion burst out of the wall, and looked at the two newcomers with interest.

[By the Words] [fiddling] [snacks], Cazza shrieked, while the Chosen One instantly drew his Sacred Sword.

Its okay! Qube shouted, throwing up her hand to stay the two men. This Boss is our friend!

Your friend? The Dev stared at Qube blankly. How the [fiddle] is the Light Temple Boss your friend?

Sewer Bard helped! Qube beamed. The Chosen One turned to the Bard, sword still drawn.

Did he now? he asked, a strange undercurrent to his words. Did you happen to use that spell I asked you not to?

Of course not, Noble Patron! Sewer Bard said, sounding genuinely offended. This was a different spell!

Oh, the Chosen One said, lowering the point of his sword. Like an animal taming one? That explains the scarabs, but not the mummies. Which was super creepy, by the way, walking into a room with a bunch of those just standing about.

Di he have an animal tamin one? Cazza asked. I don remember.

You wouldnt remember anything at the moment, the Chosen One said, diverted from his questioning by his fellow otherworldly person.

True, but Id member makin a giant [fiddling] scorpion you could turn friendly, the Dev said, quite reasonably from Qubes perspective.

Did you make the scorpion? she asked, curious. The Dev attempted, and failed, to straighten himself upright.

Thas right! he said proudly. I made most of the enemies you fight! An I did all the Bosses!

You made them? Qube asked, eyes sparkling in admiration. The Dev preened.

Yeah, he said. S more of a side thing, though, cuz originally I was supposed to be dealin with how to integrate the Dev broke off and squinted at Qube. m not supposed to tell you.

The idea that all of the enemies theyd made were nothing more than a side thing was a terrifying notion. Just how powerful was the almost definitely drunk being swaying before her? He pointed at her, and she flinched. The Chosen One noticed her movement.

Youse was gonna get me to tell you things. Youre sneaky.

Cazza, the Hero said warningly.

Anyway, the Dev continued, waving at the patiently waiting scorpion, this fella is supposed to be in a sandnado, an you gotta get rid of tha, and then he tunnels like a tricky little [bit] and you gotta get on his back and stabbity stab stab. The Dev mimed violently thrusting a sword down. The scorpion backed away from him, and Squiggles hissed. The Dev pointed at Squiggles.

An tha one, he said, before squinting even harder. Tha one

So you managed to befriend the Boss, the Chosen One said, looking at Qube with a lopsided smile. Of course you did.

An we woulda seen it if youd jus let me

Cazza, I swear to [Golden Prophecy], if you dont stop talking

Qube had never seen the Chosen One interact with someone from his world before. As the two of them devolved into yelling at each other about actually trying to do the right thing, and being a boring piece of [snacks], she reflected that, on the whole, she shouldnt have been surprised at how it was going.

It was nice to know that it wasnt just their world that the Chosen One treated lightly. He didnt even treat the Devs with any respect.

Id remember tha! the Dev yelled at the Saviour of all Human and Human-Adjacent Beings.

You barely remember to wear pants! the Hero shouted back at one of the creators of their world.

Although, given the sample of Devs shed experienced, it wouldnt surprise her to find out that the Chosen One was considered fairly normal by his peers.

No worries, he said vaguely. By the way, how long you been in? he asked the Chosen One. Forgot to check.

Go to sleep, Cazza, the Chosen One said firmly. Cazza looked at the Fighter out of the side of his eye, a mixture of clumsiness and cunning that was very strange to see on Warwicks face.

Imma go check, he said.

Dont you dare the Chosen One said angrily.

The Dev touched the Save Point, and was gone. The Chosen One seemed to flicker in place for a moment, before stabilising himself. Once he was solid, Qube noticed that he looked a lot healthier than he had a moment before. Like hed actually had a good nights rest.

My apologies if I spoke out of turn, Sewer Bard said diplomatically to the Chosen One.

Huh? When? Oh, telling Cazza to come back later on. No, that was good thinking, he said to Sewer Bard, much to the other mans obvious surprise. Cazza might be a bit odd, but theres no one better to have on your side. Would probably be a good idea for Caz to meet you all while at least somewhat sober, too.

Oh, Sewer Bard said, looking a little lost. It was like hed braced himself for an argument, only to find there was none.

The Chosen One absentmindedly flicked a hand through the Save Point.

Are you feeling better for your rest? Qube asked, worriedly. Now that the Chosen One and the Dev were no longer in danger of murdering their new friend, Qube felt her emotions re-engage. A part of her wanted to rush over and check on him, and tell him how much shed missed him. But the feeling had no real power behind it. It was like someone was pulling a rope that used to be connected to a bell, but had frayed. She felt the faintest chime, but no real call.

I didnt fall asleep, the Chosen One said defensively. And I was following you guys for a while with Cazza. Trying to get them to keep quiet was a task and a half, believe you me.

Im glad you didnt fall asleep! Qube said brightly. Falling asleep outside of your bed can lead to bad dreams!

The Chosen One looked at her like shed grown another head, before a lever seemed to switch in his mind.

Oh, he said, yeah, theyd want you to stop people just trying to sleep anywhere. Apparently, even just resting looked super weird. Although why Caz thinks they can boot me just because ooo theres a time limit for a reason, yeah, theres a rule against using it while drunk too, but whatever. Before Qube could ask any more questions, the Chosen One clapped his hands together and looked out at the party.

So, he asked conversationally, anyone care to explain how you managed to stop all the mobs from aggroing?

Qube rapidly blinked as she tried to parse the Heros meaning.

Do you mean how we managed to make them non-aggressive? she ventured.

Yeah, sorry, the Chosen One said, pinching the bridge of his nose. Words, yup, should probably use those.

It is a new spell, Definitely Bad Guy said simply.

Is it a mind control one, like the [Siren Song]? the Chosen One asked, seemingly casually. However, his whole body tensed.

No, Sewer Bard said, smoothly stepping between the Hero and the Mage. Its more akin to an illusion or compulsion removal spell. It heals whatever part of the person has been damaged in order to make them act against their own will. In fact, it was only by adding in our fair Healer ah, I mean our woman of worths, [Heal] ability that we were able to befriend the scorpion.

Oh, sweet! the Chosen One said, relaxing. So its kinda like an anti-[Sirens Song]. I like that! Nice work!

Both Definitely Bad Guy and Sewer Bard brightened at this affirmation from their leader, and seemed to swell slightly with pride.

That poem did say something about the pharaoh dude doing bad things, probably included mind control, the Hero continued. Thats pretty neat that they let you disrupt it like that. Thats actually kinda unique. Although I dunno how much of that is just cuz you added in a certain someones special touch, he finished, bumping Qube with his shoulder. Definitely Bad Guy frowned slightly.

Absolutely true, Sewer Bard said, cutting off whatever Definitely Bad Guy had been about to say. One of the nice things about the party doing the Temple on their own was that Qube had noticed that Sewer Bard, in particular, had really come into his own, and was becoming increasingly confident. Given how much hed struggled with understanding and accepting his place in the party, it was genuinely heartwarming seeing him stepping up, and almost becoming the second leader.

It was a position Qube could have occupied, had she wished to. But she found that leadership was not really to her taste. She much preferred being support.

On the other hand, Sewer Bard needed to let others talk and not be quite so rude.

What was it you were going to say, Definitely Bad Guy? she asked the Mage kindly. He looked at her, then Sewer Bard, and finally the Chosen One. His fingers twitched as he reached for his robe.

I was wondering, he said, pulling out his book and flipping through it, keeping his eyes on the pages, who was going to be in charge of this room?