August Intruder- Chapter 74- War of Ideas (Patreon)

Saxi’s feet almost faltered beneath him as he came to an almost stumbling stop. Melmarc spared him a backwards look, but only a brief one. In that shot time, Saxi gave him an assuring smile to let the boy know that he was alright.

Are you sure? He asked in his mind. He was sure to make sure he used his inside voice. Apparently, telepathic communication was easier for people who had active inside voices.

Although some of them had overactive inside voices and had to learn to control them. Saxi had spent his time learning to have one.

Certain. The voice that came back in his head was Deoti’s.

No longer running, Saxi strolled after Melmarc. Doesn’t that kind of go against keeping him safe?

You’re still keeping him safe, Deoti replied.

You sure that’s a good idea? Fendor’s voice popped up inside Saxi’s head. He was always one to question anything Deoti said just for the fun of it.

Sometimes Saxi wondered if the man really didn’t like Deoti romantically. There was a quiet bet within the group that he did like her. David wasn’t a part of the bet, though.

He’s been stuck in a Portal for a few days, Deoti answered. I think it would be good to see what he’s at least capable of. Saxi, you can just hang around and keep him safe. You can do that, right?

Saxi could. Still…

It sounds kind of harsh to me. In the distance he could already hear the chaos of fighting. The sound of gunshots lasted only very shortly before being replaced by the sounds of bodies clashing and walls being struck.

The walls in the castle were broken but they didn’t break. Not anymore. Even the Boss had been unable to break it with a single punch.

Every one in the team agreed that with a few more he could probably succeed in destroying a few of the walls. After all, they’d seen him break down what should’ve been the impossible with enough punches.

It was very likely a skill no one knew about.

Saxi cocked his head from side to side and reveled in the relieving pops that came with it. I need a gun and a source of light, Fendor.

Where are you?

Saxi spared the map at the left bottom corner of his vision a glance. North West. I’m the only one in that area.

Got you.

A moment later, two black holes appeared beside Saxi at shoulder level. He reached into it and his hand settled on the handle of a gun. He closed his hand around it and pulled the gun out. When he put his second hand, it came out with a bright orb.

It glowed a nice white. He placed it on the ground.

The gun was a simple handgun, but only at a glance. Its internal workings, however, had enough force to pack a significant punch.

Thanks.

Saxi came to a stop over thirty feet away from the chaos of the fight. At the end of the hallway, it opened up into what looked like an oversized living room. Like the rest of the castle rooms it was nothing short of a mess. The carpets were tattered, their colors faded from age and potential disuse. Everything was more brown from dust than any real color. A massive chandelier hung from the ceiling. It was made of wood. It was the kind of chandelier used in the old days when there was no electricity. Fashioned to be filled with lit candles.

It still had unlit candles scattered around it, half-melted from having once been used some time ago. The place was lit from the glowstick the team had been using that was now on the ground

Saxi activated a skill as he watched the fight, going closer as the battle moved away from him and deeper into the living room.

[You have used skill Sense of the Survivor]

The skill was an interesting one. He had gotten it on his fifth skill upgrade and it had been the skill that had turned him from a simple S-rank scout, to an S-rank scout that could hold his own even in a combat situation.

[Sense of the Survivor (Mastery 38%)]

The Gifted is aware of the roads leading to their demise.

The description had been simple and very precise when it had been offered to him. It would’ve been stupid not to take it. Then he’d gotten it and it had been so useful that he’d focused on it through out its entire evolution.

As far as he was concerned, every ten percent mastery he gained in it, he pushed forward with its evolution. No alternate skill was chosen from it.

At first, it had served to keep him alive. Then it had hit thirty percent mastery and Saxi had realized how to use it to keep others alive.

Before he knew it, he was standing in the living room, securely placed at the wall, far from the real fight.

From what he was seeing, some of the things he knew about the Lockwood family weren’t making sense.

Marc’s the good one, right? he asked. The favorite one?

Lisa sighed and he panicked.

Is Boss still on this line? He couldn’t believe he’d said that.

Lucky for you, Axe answered, he’s not.

Saxi relaxed slightly.

During their missions, when they weren’t in any real combat situations like right now, David allowed them their own secure telepathic line. It was like having a group chat at work while your employer told you to have a group chat specifically for only the employees.

Whenever they reached such a decision, one of them always remained with David. Today, Lisa was the one that was with him.

So, Marc’s the good one, right? he continued.

First, Axe interrupted, so that you do not repeat this mistake in the wrong company, there is no favorite one.

Saxi was confused by that. I could’ve sworn I heard something about favorites.

He was the only member of the team that hadn’t seen the Lockwood family. Not even Mrs. Lockwood. He’d joined them long after she’d left the Oath program. From the little he knew, she was the only known person to have left the Oath program in the entire world.

You heard right, Fendor said. You just misunderstood.

Deoti chuckled. Correct. Marc is my favorite. Emphasis on the ‘my.’

Oh.

Still, that wasn’t what was important. Favorites were out of the question.

So… he continued, his attention never leaving the fight scene. He’s your favorite because he’s calm and collected.

He’s a large teddy bear who wouldn’t even hurt a fly.

Arguable, Fendor thought. It’s not that he wouldn’t hurt a fly. It’s more about him being a little too timid.

The attack changed him, Lisa thought.

I wouldn’t say that, Fendor disagreed.

Yea, Axe chimed in. The kid’s always been on the timid side. He only came alive when his family was around.

Specifically Ark. There was a little disapproval in Deoti’s voice.

Ark’s not so bad, Fendor thought. He’s just a really active kid.

They were going tangent as far as Saxi was concerned. So Marc’s the quiet one and Ark’s the loud one.

Marc’s the good one and Ark’s the bad influence. Deoti was fixed on her opinion on the brother. Ark is more violent. I’ve seen his school reports.

You’ve seen them? Axe asked, surprised.

Deoti hesitated. Not physically, obviously.

Saxi raised his gun and took aim as [Sense of the Survivor] came alive. A small red line tracked from one of the [Damned] that was fighting the Delver called Jude. It made a straight line, tracking a clear path to Melmarc.

Saxi was about to pull the trigger when the creature turned abruptly and charged at Melmarc in a single motion. In the end, he didn’t. Jude blasted the creature with a skill that sent it staggering before it had even cleared half the path.

Saxi lowered his gun and returned his attention to the fight. You sure I shouldn’t help them?

Our job is to keep Melmarc safe, Deoti answered. The others can take care of themselves.

Saxi almost sighed. You do know that there are only C-ranks in that fight, right? Marc’s the only B-rank.

If they can’t survive, then that’s their problem.

A collective sigh went through the entire telepathic communication. Deoti was the perfect stereotype of what the Delving world thought of S-rankers. You only registered to her if you were an A-rank.

She didn’t hate you or discriminate against you if you weren’t up to A-rank. You simply didn’t matter. Anything below an A-rank was as important as an ant to a normal person. You didn’t think of them until they became an inconvenience. And it took a very significant amount of benevolence to show them kindness. A significant amount of cruelty to show them wickedness.

Her discrimination, however, was reserved specifically for the [Enchanter] class. It didn’t matter the rank. Deoti had the [Mage] class. And while people looked down on the [Faker] class as a false [Mage] class, she looked down on the [Enchanter] class weak [Mage] class. A blight on the class.

Why? No one knew.

Saxi grimaced as he watched Melmarc turn. With a bright white ring of mana shining around his wrist, he delivered a vicious back handed slap straight into the lowered head of a [Damned].

The blow sent the thing staggering at least eight steps to the side. More surprising was the fact that Melmarc didn’t even flinch. His attention shifted away from the creature just as easily and he threw the ring straight into another [Damned].

This one was suffering under a barrage of attacks from Jed and the ring of mana severed its leg at the knee. The monster dropped to the severed knee and Jed claimed its head with an arc of blue mana to the neck flashing from one of his knives.

Melmarc had done everything without a single expression on his face.

You sure he’s the good kid? Saxi found himself asking.

Fendor laughed. The sound echoed inside Saxi’s head as if it were his own thought even though his mind knew it was not.

Timid, Fendor corrected. Not good.

Timid is also good, Deoti scowled.

The inability to do violence doesn’t make you good, Deoti. It’s the ability to do violence and not do it that makes you good. When he started his self defense lessons with Ark, their instructor said that he was having a hard time fighting back.

Saxi’s brows furrowed. Do all self defense class involve fighting back? Aren’t they more about defending yourself?

It’s complicated, Deoti answered dismissively. Mel isn’t violent because he’s good.

Mel isn’t good just because he’s violent, Fendor disagreed. He’s not violent but that doesn’t make him good. He’s just timid.

I’ll be honest, I agree with Fendor, Lisa said.

Me, too, Axe agreed.

Ever since the attack the boy has been too timid, Lisa explained. Sometimes I worry that the therapist was wrong about him and the attack had affected the boy greatly.

I love Mel, don’t get me wrong, Fendor said. But let’s be honest, sometimes he can be present and you’ll forget.

I remember when Ark got in trouble for beating up a kid because he said Mel didn’t have a personality. Lisa laughed. I had to teach Ark calming techniques for a day to help with his temper.

Saxi couldn’t believe the conversation that was happening in his head as Melmarc shoved one of the creature’s head into the wall, then proceeded to bash it in with at least four blows with a ring of mana around his wrist.

As if it was not enough, he ripped the helmet off, along with its head and a length of rotten spine and flogged a random [Damned] with it.

Sometimes I think Mel should be put in trying positions, Deoti said. With his size I’m sure he can be a force to reckon with if he just put his mind to it.

Saxi’s jaw almost dropped. What the hell were these people saying? The boy fought like his father that one time they’d been forced to fight a SS-rank Demi god.

That’s why you didn’t want him helping? Fendor said. Because you want to force the boy to grow? I don’t think Boss is going to like that.

He’s six feet and two inches at sixteen, Deoti said simply.

Saxi was confused. I don’t see what you’re getting at.

He plays basketball but not well enough to qualify for the school team, Fendor explained.

That’s not very surprising.

The coach said its because he’s not physical enough. He keeps avoiding contact. And the sport is a contact sport, if we’re being slightly honest.

Still nothing out of the ordinary. Saxi almost chuckled when Melmarc took a kick to the chest that sent him staggering back and into the wall. He’d defended the blow with raised hands though, and the line that had tracked from the creature’s foot to Melmarc’s chest had been white which meant the damage would be inconsequential, so Saxi hadn’t been worried.

Let me put it to you simply, Lisa said. He would rather sit and read a book or play a board game if you gave him the choice between one of those and playing any contact sport.

So he’s a good kid that doesn’t like violence. Saxi shrugged. Sounds more like he’s been trying to control himself to me. Kids his age aren’t usually as large as he and his brother are. It’s only reasonable that he’s afraid of hurting them.

I don’t think it’s a fear of hurting them, Lisa said. With her communication and people skills, she was the team’s mini-psychologist. I think he’s just afraid of violence itself.

Saxi couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped from his lips. Trust me, I wouldn’t say he’s afraid of violence.

His self defense instructor would, Lisa said.

Deoti had a different response. Why do you say so? How’s he doing?

Saxi shrugged. He’s doing alright.

It was the understatement of the year. The boy was unbridled and emotionless violence as far as he was concerned. Saxi would’ve thought that the boy had been fighting for a long while with the way he moved.

Add a smile on Melmarc’s lips and Saxi would’ve said the boy loved the violence. But with how empty Melmarc’s face was, Saxi wasn’t even sure which he would’ve preferred. A fighter that enjoyed the fight or a fighter that brought so much efficient violence without care, as if he simply did it because he was supposed to.

Because it was inevitable.

What about the others? Fendor asked.

They’re doing alright, too.

Now that Saxi thought about it, maybe Melmarc was so efficient because he’d been forced to fight for his life from the moment he’d stepped into the portal. When you’re forced into violence, a lot could change about you.

Maybe that was why the Melmarc in front of him sounded nothing like the Melmarc the others were talking about.

How’s Boss doing? Saxi found himself asking. Down the hallway, not too far from him, Claire was checking Clinton’s pulse with two fingers to his wrist. Naymond sat beside quietly Clinton with crossed legs and a worried expression.

He’s doing just fine, Lisa answered. We’re in front of one of those rooms we aren’t allowed to enter.

Yea, Deoti groaned. One of those ones with the yellow barrier, right? I hate them.

Me, too, Lisa agreed. Well, the Boss has been staring at it for the past five minutes. I think the orb’s in here.

So that thing practically said we aren’t allowed to clear the portal, Deoti thought in annoyance.

I guess it seems that way.

Or he could just be lost in his thoughts, Saxi offered. It wasn’t as long as five minutes but David did stand and stare at nothing sometimes. Ever wonder what would happen if you tried to read his mind?

I’d probably turn into a vegetable, Lisa replied without missing a beat.

That surprised Saxi. Really?

Lisa was a bit of a bed time horror story among the S-ranks in the country. None of the things they said about what she was capable of doing with her skills had ever been confirmed, but there were terrible rumors.

Do you know that a [Telepath] once tried to read Boss’ mind, Axe thought.

Saxi raised his gun again, but Melmarc was already out of harm’s way and body checking the [Damned] with a shoulder thrust that sent it staggering back into Nelson he threw it into a full body slam.

From Saxi’s count, they were still outnumbered at least two to one. At this point, Jude was the only one struggling out of the three of them.

What happened to the [Telepath]? Saxi asked since no one else was going to. Since he was the last to join the team, he assumed the others already knew the story.

Bed ridden for two months. Fendor laughed. In an asylum.

When he got out, he kept claiming Boss had trapped him inside his mind. Deoti was just as humorous as Fendor. It was hilarious.

I believe him. Lisa’s voice came out of nowhere.

Really? Axe asked.

Yes, Lisa answered seriously. Boss’ mind isn’t the only Oath mind I’ve used my skill on. I can confirm that Shield is the hardest to get into. In fact, when they tested me with her, I only succeeded in getting in when she allowed me. Getting out was difficult but not as much as getting in.

And the Boss? Deoti asked.

Getting in’s not the problem. It’s getting out.

A terrified shiver ran through the entire telepathic link. Lisa was the source. It was surprising because she never let her emotions affect the link.

That bad? Axe thought, sympathetic.

Worse. You guys don’t understand how much control he has. The first time I used my skill on him, I got lost.

I don’t get it, Fendor thought. Was it like a maze?

No, Lisa answered. It was like a war zone.

A war zone? Deoti sounded reflective. So like the after math of a war?

No. Like a literal war. For example, you have an advanced mind which is common to mages.

Thank you.

But it’s not really that complicated to navigate. It’s like a maze, at best, but not a complicated one. People with the [Mage] class have minds like that because they spend too much time doing complex things with their skills.

What about mine? Fendor asked, his tone filled with pure interest.

Focused, Lisa answered. Like the regular crafter. It’s like a machine just waiting to be turned on. Once it is, it comes to life with creativity. If your minds are sentences, yours are interesting four sentence paragraphs. Deoti’s is a mathematician that wrote an essay but forgot that paragraphs exist.

What of Axe? Fendor asked.

No. It was a single word from the Delver. I do not want to know.

Me, too, Saxi said, half of his attention still on the fight in front of him.

Another [Damned] had gone down at Melmarc’s hand. He’d thrown one of those rings into its forehead. The ring had exploded and the creature’s head had gone with it.

The boy was brutal.

So what’s the Boss’ like? Deoti asked, ever curious about the Oath of Madness.

Lisa sighed. Give your sentences guns and cannons and swords and shields and have them fight against each other.

There was a moment of silence.

It lasted for only a moment before Deoti broke it.

Oh.

Oh is an understatement, Lisa replied. It’s like every idea inside his head is fighting against another idea. And there are countless active ideas going through his mind at the same time. The normal person has a lot of things going on in their minds but there is always a hierarchy. An importance amongst them.

Some of them are subconscious, Axe supplied.

Yes, Lisa agreed. Like blinking or getting up. But even something as subconscious as blinking is an active idea in Boss’ mind, and its an active part of the fight.

So what? They’re fighting for supremacy? Saxi asked. For which one will be the most important?

Lisa snorted. I wish. It’s more like they just don’t want the other one to win. That’s all.

Saxi slipped his finger back into the trigger guard of his weapon. Something was getting fishy about the fight. So how did you get out?

I didn’t. Boss guided me out. The [Telepath] wasn’t strictly lying. Boss didn’t trap him inside his mind, the person was simply lost. The way some telepathic skills like the one strong enough to do what mine can do work is that the [Telepath] has to figure out how the subject’s mind works in order to do a good work. But Boss’ mind doesn’t have how it works. At least, if it does, he’s the only one that can figure it out.

“Ideas fighting each other,” Saxi muttered to himself.

It had to be a tough way to live.

And his mind is always like that? He asked.

Anytime I use a skill on it.

Suddenly, Melmarc moved from where he was standing in relative safety and was behind Jude. Saxi raised his gun immediately as an extremely short line appeared between the swung mace of one of the [Damned] and Melmarc.

Saxi’s mind was already running haywire with his gun raised when the blood red line suddenly turned a translucent white.

Melmarc braced himself for impact and swung a defensive forearm into the blow. The mace struck him on the forearm and bounced off as if it had struck a particularly sturdy stone.

Saxi’s jaw dropped. “What the hell?”

Melmarc’s face twisted in pain, his mouth opened in a soundless cry. Despite it all, he was already on the move. He slipped beneath the creature, caught it by the arm, kicked it behind the knee so that it fell down to its knee, placing it at a comfortable height and pulled its head back.

“Jed!” he called out.

Jed turned, ducking away from his attacker, and came to a stand. Melmarc pulled its head farther back as if indicating the thing’s neck.

Jed’s eyes narrowed in a questioning look. Melmarc nodded. Saxi shook his head.

He could see the entire plan. Melmarc’s intent. It was ludicrous. Saxi had no idea how Melmarc had even survived the first strike but there had to be consequences to what he was about to do.

But as much as he wanted to shout out his objection, he feared the outcome would be worse. But there was nothing he could do. He didn’t trust his aim well enough to shoot the [Damned] from where it was.

Jed swung his knife. A blue slash erupted from it and shot at Melmarc. It severed the head of the [Damned] but not completely. The attack stopped at the spine in the neck.

Jed frowned as the [Damned] continued to struggle in Melmarc’s hold. Unfortunately, he didn’t have another attack to give since he became occupied with another [Damned].

With a frown Saxi took aim. The [Damned] continued to struggle. Taking the shot would be difficult. It would be… Saxi frowned.

There was a mild sensation. It was not enough to be a distraction, but it was there, like the breeze in your hair during a fight. It was there but not enough to dissuade you from your actions.

A second or two later, Melmarc put his back into it and ripped the creature’s head open with enough strain.

A red line appeared behind him almost immediately. That one was a [Damned] Saxi could deal with. He shifted his aim and Melmarc stepped out from the line easily. It went from red to nonexistent.

The [Damned] struck, quick and efficient. It missed entirely.

Saxi frowned at that. For a moment he wondered if it was luck. Then he saw the look on Melmarc’s face. He looked as if he knew what he did but was surprised by it. He raised his head and made eye contact with Saxi.

“What just happened?” Saxi muttered to himself.

Melmarc still looked slightly confused on his side of the living room.

What did the Boss’ friend say Melmarc’s class was again? Saxi asked as Melmarc returned himself into the fray of the fight, ducking, and weaving, and striking.

He didn’t say, Deoti answered. Why?

No reason.

The rest of the fight was smooth and seamless after that. Melmarc fought with the same detached efficiency as he’d done. Surprisingly enough, Saxi couldn’t help but notice that he had become faster since his tag team with Jed. He’d also become stronger. Sharper.

There was also the more disturbing part of where each time Saxi’s skill informed him of an action that led to a path of danger against Melmarc, Melmarc was always quick to disrupt it or step out of it. It was eerie to watch.

For Saxi, it felt like watching the version of him people liked to describe whenever that saw him in a fight.

Saxi had a very strong feeling that the boy was using his skill. Whatever was happening, Melmarc had to be seeing whatever lines that he was seeing.

I’ve got to ask, Deoti piped up after a while.

Ask what? Fendor replied.

In front of Saxi the fight was coming to an end. All four Gifted were bullying the last [Damned]. They were almost toying with the creature as they literally beat it to death.

Not you, big head, Deoti thought. I meant Lisa.

I’m listening, Lisa replied.

Are you telling me that every time you establish these connections for our communication the Boss always has to guide you out of his mind in the end?

Lisa chuckled, and Saxi had a feeling she’d also chuckled verbally.

God no, she thought, that would be stressful for me. While I’m in you guys’ head, touching only on your surface mind so that I can link all of you to me, I’m more in the Boss’ ear. Linking him to me would be nothing short of madness.

Wait, you’re never in his mind? Deoti sounded surprised.

Oh, I’m there, just hovering at the edge of it, barely touching.

Then what’s the whole sound effect we hear anytime he thinks? Axe asked.

It’s so distracting, Fendor complained. Not that I’m complaining.

Lisa gave a thoughtful pause before she replied. Think of it as the sound of the war of ideas.

But you just said that you’re not in his mind but in his ear.

True. Now imagine what it sounds like inside his actual mind.

That’s terrifying.

Yep. Boss is more terrifying than you people think. You have no idea how much control he has to have to have a mind like that and still walk around and act normal.

Fendor chuckled. Boss doesn’t act normal.

Trust me, Fendor. The fact that he acts the way he does already scares me. He’s a walking impossibility as far as telepaths are concerned.

In front of Saxi, Melmarc and the other Delvers were what was left of the fight. Their entire section of the living room was a mess. Broken chairs were technically crushed. The carpet—what was left of it—was shredded beyond what it had once been.

Everyone sported one injury or the other. For Melmarc, it was only a bruise on the forearm he’d been kicked in where the others had cut marks and sharp injuries.

It was a good thing they had a Healer with them.

Saxi held up his gun and looked at it. “Also a good thing I didn’t have to use this.”

The gun was not a weapon designed for stealth in anyway.

He raised a hand to catch their attention and Melmarc was the first to turn to him.

“Nelson,” Saxi called out to the tanker. “You’re Nelson, right?”

The large man nodded.

“Can you come help us with Clinton so we can continue on our way.” Saxi nodded towards the hallway. “Our destination isn’t far anymore.”

As Nelson walked back, past him, and towards the hallway, he added: “And get your injuries checked.”

The others started walking over to him. Saxi waited as the others drew near. Jude had the most of the injuries and Saxi found himself wondering if the Delver had even killed a single [Damned].

Melmarc was staring at nothing as he approached. He was clearly looking at his interface. Saxi wondered if he was checking his mastery.

Unlike the others, Melmarc didn’t make his way back into the hallway. Instead, he came to a stop beside Saxi.

“How did you know my class and rank?” Saxi asked.

“I have a skill,” Melmarc answered.

Saxi nodded as if he understood. And he did. Class information was always advisable to be kept a secret unless you had to divulge it. It was a good mentality.

“You played it a little loose during that fight,” Saxi said. “You had reckless moments. Like that thing you did with Jed.”

Melmarc nodded.

“Was it a skill that made you sure it would work?” Saxi asked.

Is the fight over? Deoti asked.

Yea, Saxi answered.

How far are you from me?

Two rooms. I’m approaching you from the, Saxi checked his map, North. Just hold your position.

Got it.

Saxi returned his attention to Melmarc but the boy looked like he wasn’t interested in having much of a conversation anymore.

He was a spitting image of his father in this moment. Lost in his own thought even though he was present. He is so much like his father.

He’s his kid, so no surprise there, Axe thought.

Saxi shook his head. Oh, no. You guys have no idea. Trust me.

“I saw you looking at your interface earlier,” Saxi said, unable to shake the urge to be the adult that holds a conversation with a kid just to make them more comfortable. “Did your mastery go up in a skill?”

Melmarc paused. He looked as if he was considering his next words.

“You’re an S-rank Gifted.”

It was a statement of fact but Saxi still nodded. “I am.”

“And you’ve experienced a lot of things.”

“Also correct.”

Melmarc blinked. It was slow, purposeful. “Have you ever heard of a skill that goes over ten percent mastery but does not give you an alternative.”

Saxi nodded. “I knew a guy who had a contaminated skill that didn’t give him an alternate skill. Sadly, he’s no longer with us.”

Melmarc nodded, unbothered by the information of the dead Gifted. “What of a skill that passed ten percent but didn’t give an alternative and didn’t evolve?”

Saxi shook his head. “That would be a first. I don’t even think it’s possible.”

“I agree.” Melmarc nodded thoughtfully. “Sounds like an error for something like that to happen. An anomaly.”

Saxi nodded slowly. It was difficult to imagine but he wondered if that had happened to Melmarc.

He wanted to ask but had a feeling that the boy would ignore him. I think your favorite might need therapy again, Deoti.

It was always in the realm of possibilities, Deoti replied a little saddened. Having to go through all this out of nowhere must be tough. But he’s definitely going to get the best.

Best believe that, Fendor added.

Saxi looked up at Melmarc. The empty expression. The now piercing eyes that seemed to be contemplating too many things. Those eyes had been calmer during the fight. Now that he thought about it, Melmarc hadn’t been anywhere he wasn’t supposed to be during the fight.

He had been in sync with the rest of the team.

Well, not necessarily in sync with them. The entire team’s teamwork had been a mess, but he had been in the right places. The necessary places.

When he’d put the [Damned] down and teamed up with Jed, he hadn’t hesitated. He turned in Jed’s exact direction and signaled for the attack as if he’d known where the Delver would be. It was difficult to believe since Jed fought like a Delver with a focus on agility, always moving around and all over the place, doing ten things to achieve a single goal.

Melmarc was going to need more than just therapy if he was going to return to that sweet harmless boy that Deoti had come to know and love.

Melmarc looked down at him. “Is everything fine?”

Saxi nodded. “Peachy. Deoti’s just around the corner.”

A frown creased Melmarc’s brow as if something annoying had just happened. It was a shadow of one of the Oath of Madness’ very limited number of expressions.

It reminded Saxi of the one the Oath of Madness had whenever someone told a lie.

He looked down at the bruise on Melmarc’s arm. “You should get that checked before we continue.”

Melmarc looked down at it. It was red. “It’s not a problem.” He paused, the same look crossing his face once more. “It’s not a big problem.”

It didn’t take long for the other to reconvene with Saxi.

“So what’s next?” Jed asked.

Saxi looked at their Healer first, Claire. She looked drained. Even he knew that Healers were important. The last thing you needed as a team was to overwork your Healer.

Although he didn’t think she’d done anything to drain herself. Then again, she was only C-rank, and Saxi was used to S-rank Healers.

“How do you feel?” he asked her first.

She gave him a thumbs up. “Peachy.”

Melmarc gave her a look but said nothing.

Saxi nodded. She was obviously lying. But he wasn’t going to push it. They were going to meet their interim Healer who was capable of much violence, after all.

“Alright, let’s—”

Saxi was cut off by the sound of a door on one side of the living room opening. Deoti burst out from it with a worried look on her face.

I thought I told you to hold your position? Saxi scowled.

Deoti gave him no outward reaction. And I held it for as long as I could.

Melmarc turned when the door opened and his eyes focused on Deoti. When they settled on her, they softened.

Deoti gave him a wide smile. Saxi had to admit that it was pretty on her round face. When she smiled, with her crazy bouncy curls, she was actually cute.

He could see what Fendor saw in her.

Deoti came to a stop a few feet from Melmarc, her eyes scanning him for any injuries. They settled on his arm immediately and she shot Saxi a short scowl.

I thought you were supposed to protect him, her thoughts came at him, sharp.

Saxi shrugged. I did. He’s not some toddler, an injury or two were inevitable.

“Hi, Mel,” Deoti said fondly, as if she hadn’t just had a short displeasure with Saxi. “No hug for aunty Deoti?”

Melmarc took a single step forward, hesitated, then crossed the remaining distance. He came to a stop in front of Deoti.

“I’m sixteen,” he mumbled timidly. “I might be too old for a hug.”

Deoti paled in size next to him. Not in height, though he was taller than her by a good head, but in size.

Deoti scoffed, still smiling. “Well, then I guess it’s a good thing that the hug’s for me.”

Melmarc looked her in the eye before stepping forward and hugging her. He wrapped his arm around her in an easy embrace and she returned the gesture.

“You’ve grown,” she said.

“Thanks, aunty.” It was all Melmarc had to say.

She created a little space between them so that she could look up at him. “I hope you haven’t let your brother influence you. You’re still a good boy, right?”

Melmarc looked down and away, shy. Then he scratched the back of his neck nervously. The action made him look bigger. “Yes, aunty.”

Saxi almost chuckled. Deoti had no idea. But she would… hopefully.

Beside him, the others looked at Melmarc with varying degrees of blatant confusion. It was like watching people stare at a vicious bear acting like nothing but a teddy bear.

That was the proper reaction to what was happening.

Naymond leaned out from behind the group and waved at Deoti. “Hello.”

Deoti looked at him and her face tightened in anger.

“[Sage],” she said bitterly.

Naymond smiled impishly. “[Mage].”

That got a new reaction out of everybody.

“Saxi,” Deoti said, returning her complete attention to Melmarc. “Please punch him in the face.”

Saxi wasn’t sure what that was about but he wasn’t about to punch a [Sage] in the face. More importantly, he was stuck wondering what Melmarc’s class was. The boy had fought like someone with high strength stats. Then there were the hits he’d taken without damage that made him feel like a tank.

That brought a new question to mind.

Does anyone know the Boss’ class?

The response he got came from everyone as one.

No.