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Island of Woe - Ancient City
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Seriously, guys… This isn’t a video game. You don’t respawn IRL. Remember that the next time you wanna do something so boneheaded. You’re lucky I’m the one in charge right now. If it were anyone else, you’d be gone. |
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Wow… It’s a whole underwater city! |
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Yes. We have truly arrived at our destination. The Island of Woe! |
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Sorry to rain on your parade, but this isn’t some tourist destination. You can’t just roll up on your broom like, “Me and the boys looking for classmates!” You guys got a screw loose or something? |
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Whoa… Idia’s really here! |
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So the Roi des Dragons spoke the truth. He claimed that Idia Shroud was the Watchman of the Island of Woe, who governs Styx. Goodness… I truly am shocked. |
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That makes two of us. How’d you get here? |
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Before I answer that, might I have confirmation of one thing? Are those who were abducted safe? |
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I’m gettin’ sick of this cloak-and-dagger act, so sure, I’ll tell you. Yes, they’re all full of life to an annoying degree. |
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Wonderful! I’ve been so worried, I thought I might burst! |
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But like… The Charon troops trounced you back at school. Why did you follow us when you knew you couldn’t beat ‘em? |
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I told you—Vil is in mortal peril. |
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Mortal peril. My searches indicate this is a state of grave danger involving the risk of death. You’ve said this a few times now, Rook Hunt. Is Vil Schoenheit afflicted with something that endangers his life? |
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No, but he might, given time. We have come to avert a terrible crisis for Vil. I care not what happens to me, as long as my dear friend is safe. Please, I implore you, could you deliver this to him? |
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What’s all this stuff? Doesn’t really look like medicine. |
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Scanning bottle ingredients. Main ingredients: water, vitamin C, collagen, essential oils… Wait, are these…? |
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Indeed! They are dear Vil’s skincare products! |
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THEY’RE NOT LIFE-SAVING MEDICINE?! Wha… It’s really just a buncha creams and stuff? You’re not, like, trying to smuggle in some dangerous potions to help them break out? |
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I’ve just finished scanning the whole set. There are no corrosive fluids or any other toxic ingredients. While they do contain moisturizing agents and a cantrip-level enchantment… They appear to be honest-to-goodness homemade skincare products. |
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Dude… I don’t even know where to start. It’s CLEARLY not worth risking your life over skin creams. Like, ever. |
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How can you say that, Roi de sa Chambre?! You are right—there is nothing more sacred than life. However, some of us hold aesthetic principles in such high regard, we’re willing to stake our lives on them. |
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Yeah! You’re just sayin’ that ‘cuz you don’t know how scary Vil gets when you skip yer skincare routine! It’s BAD NEWS, Ah tell ya! |
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Okay, you don’t have shout… So… You guys don’t have any other demands? That’s it? |
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Oui! |
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Wow, attacking the Island of Woe just to deliver cosmetics… Even with Styx’s supercomputer system… Your behavioral patterns are impossible to predict. We should probably save this data as an edge case. |
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Okay, I get why Rook and Epel are here. Well, I don’t GET it, but I get it. But that doesn’t explain why the prefect of Ramshackle Dorm came along. Are you here to deliver some cat food to Grim? Or like, a grooming brush? |
| I’m here to bring Grim back. | I’m here to talk to Grim. |
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Sorry, I don’t think I heard you right. You mind runnin’ that by me again? I must’ve had a chunk of brimstone wedged in my ear or something. |
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Trickster is here as the prefect of Ramshackle to retrieve Grim, the one other student in said dorm. |
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I wasn’t actually asking you to repeat it. I obviously heard every word. Is your sarcasm detector broken? I guess SOME PEOPLE let their emotions get the better of ‘em, and they pull wannabe hero stunts, even when they got no real skills. Well, unlike YOU guys, I’m busy. I’ve got better things to do than listen to speeches about friendship. |
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Should we ship them back to Night Raven College, then? |
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I’d like to, but… …Ortho, c’mere a sec. |
SFX |
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It’s better to have everyone go through the River Lethe at the same time, to minimize cognitive dissonance. Besides, consider what would happen if we did send them back now. We wouldn’t want them getting the teachers or other students involved before the River Lethe is ready to run. tl;dr, I say we keep ‘em here until the other troublemakers’ tests are over. |
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You make a good point. I’d also like to gather data on how Rook’s group found this island. I’ll access our systems and find a safe place for them to stay. Looks like we’ve got a free room in a training facility right here in the Hecate sector. I’ll bring them there and draw up the paperwork. They’ll need to sign a few things. |
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Great, thanks. I’ve gotta get back to HQ and finish up the rest of tests. We put Subject F’s investigation on hold yesterday, so that’s gonna take some time too. |
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Grim really is special, huh? Hang in there, Idia. Okay! Rook Hunt. Epel Felmier. And MC. We’ve got lots of questions for all of you. Would you please come with me? |
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Oui. But might we be allowed to at least glimpse Vil and others first? I would feel so much better if I saw they were well. |
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No contact with the subjects is permitted until the tests are complete. Sorry. I’ll make sure you get to see each other once we’re done, though. So please, just be patient. |
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I see… Very well. I suppose I should be grateful you’re letting us stay at all. |
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So, uh… I’m going back to HQ now. As for this new banner of troublemakers—don’t get any more funny ideas. Just behave and do as Ortho says. Later. |
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Idia, wait! |
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| Chapter 38 | Book 6 • Chapter 39 | Chapter 40 |
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