Book Three Chapter Sixty Seven: Companion_Spawn

Book Three Chapter Sixty Seven: Companion_Spawn

Two more of her dead friends angrily greeted them at the end of the corridor.

How could you? Quinton shouted at the Chosen One. The Hero squinted at him.

You look kinda familiar, he said.

Thats Quinton! Hes a Fighter, like you! Hes the companion of Warwick, the village Wizard! Qube chirruped automatically. She suppressed additional details that bubbled up within her. While she was now aware that the Chosen One was a transplant from another realm, he still didnt need every last detail about the villagers explained to him.

You've betrayed the code of Fighters! Always protect the Wizard! Quinton continued. The Fighter, who had once made Qubes life mildly unpleasant by flirtatiously talking down to her while they were growing up, was pretty clearly a ghost. He was blue, as was tradition with ghosts, and see-through. But, unlike the other ghosts Qubed encountered since leaving the village, he seemed in no hurry to dissipate.

Id thought better of you. Qube would have been disappointed in you, Quince emerged from the shadows to hover disapprovingly at the Chosen One. She loved Ruth.

I wouldnt say I loved her, Qube started, before interrupting herself. Wait, thats not the point. Chosen One, this is Quince, who was a Hunter, like Sexy Screamy Spider Briar. He was Ruths Childhood Companion. The arachnid looked at the young ghost with the exact same amount of interest as before. Which is to say, a lot of interest. The female Hunter had been staring at the two ghosts unblinkingly, far more intrigued than she had been with any of the other spirits theyd encountered.

While it was possible that it was because they were two very attractive young men (especially for ghosts) and Sexy Screamy Spider Briar was just being flirty, something about the way the Hunter was eyeing them felt different from her usual seduction attempts. Both her childrens faces and hers had their mouths closely shut, and they were all frowning slightly. Maybe she was just getting tired of meeting those whod passed?

It struck Qube that shed now met nearly half a dozen spirits since leaving the protection of the village. It was honestly surprising that, given how common they seemed to be, none of the potential Chosen Ones or their Childhood Companions parents had become ghosts. Or, more horrifyingly, that none of the villagers had been ghosts when shed returned to the wreckage that had once been her home.

Obviously neither of her former compatriots had been affected by the spreading [The Bards Ballad], as they failed to acknowledge her.

I cant believe youd choose that thief over Warwick, Quinton continued scolding the Hero, more serious than Qube had ever seen him before. Sure, shes beautiful, but leaving Warwick to suffer forever? What kind of monster are you?

Wait, what was he talking about?

Ruth had a hard enough life, I cant believe youd leave her to suffer forever. What kind of monster are you? Quinton asked in his gravelly voice.

Qube was now hopelessly confused. Ruth had a hard life? Did he mean the fact that she was a Rogue in a village with no crime? But theyd figured that problem out! Was it the fact that she was an orphan? They all were! Why were they copying each others speeches, too?

And why were both Quince and Quinton acting like only one of the potential Chosen Ones had been saved? Surely they should be more attuned to their particular Chosen One! The thought slid into Qubes mind that maybe this was why her Chosen One had been the one actually Chosen. Their connection was so strong she was able to see Save Points; shed certainly know whether or not he was cursed to remain undead!

Except for the part where shed not known the Chosen One was someone from the Devs realm possessing the body of her Childhood Companion, whose spirit was destroyed in the process.

Oh no. Oh no. Was Felixs spirit going to be the next one they faced? She felt her guts twist at the thought. If the Evil Emperor was able to summon and bind the dead, it would make sense that hed have the final ghost they had to face be Felix himself. Only two things stopped this potential future from being a certainty:

She sat with that realisation for quite some time, deliberately oblivious to the world around her.

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I keep wanting to say something about jewellery, necklaces in particular. Sexy Screamy Spider Briar sounded annoyed as the words burst out of her. I dont even wear any jewellery! Qube returned her attention to reality, unsure of how much time had passed.

What, like theres a door thats hidden by an illusion and I need to put on that illusion-removing necklace so I can see where the doorway is, and also realise that these two ghosts are nothing but illusions? The Chosen One once again displayed his amazing grasp of how to navigate trials.

Surely youd only need one necklace for that, Sencha Bard said, pointing out the flaw in the Heros reasoning. Although the fact that they seem unable to realise that both the Rogue and the Wizard were put to rest does imply that theyre merely illusions, incapable of processing any information outside of what the spell that brought them into existence gave them.

Im telling you, man, youre assuming a whole lot more sense-making than reality allows, the Chosen One said to his Bard, before pulling out both necklaces and donning them at the same time.

You required both nectars to pass the last trial, Sencha Bard replied.

Do you really think we werent supposed to make a gut-wrenching choice back there? the Chosen One asked as both Quinton and Quince dissolved into nothingness and, just as he predicted, a doorway emerged. However, in a move he hadnt anticipated, two small wooden chests also appeared. He turned to the rest of the group, the faint smile on his face disappearing as he saw Qubes expression.

Oh, [snacks], he whispered. Hey, Im really sorry, he said, reaching out a hand towards Qube, then dropping it.

Qube blinked at him in confusion.

Sorry?

Yeah, I should have asked if you wanted to talk to any of the guys we just put to rest. Both here, and back there. He nodded at the corridor theyd emerged from. They were your friends, werent they?

Qube shook her head. I would have spoken up if Id wanted to, Chosen One, she said quietly.

I still should have asked, the Hero replied.

The answer is no. I didnt want to talk to my friends while they were suffering like that. I she paused, uncertain of how to express the feelings swirling within her. Ill talk to them once theyre restored, and all this is behind us. Thank you, though.

All right, the Chosen One said, his eyes scanning her as if searching for clues. If you say so. He nodded at the two chests, clearly trying to lighten the mood. Dont worry. See, our superior Temple-breaking skills have paid off and, with all our double items, well breeze through this castle, and youll have your friends back in no time. This is gonna be easy.

Sencha Bard stared at the ceiling in exasperation. The rest of the party looked confused, but Qube closed her eyes in exquisite agony. Even though she wasnt as attuned to narratives as Sencha Bard, she knew the Hero had just doomed them all.