OctupleCompressedNeodymium

  Heustam stood, his eyes closed and back against the wall. He was taking a short break while Kat was debating with some of their cssmates about he didn't even know what at this point. They had lost him pretty dang quick.

  Instead, he heard steps coming from his side, and turned a bit to look at the new High Priestess dy that had come in the other day. She was... well, if Heustam was frank she was hot. But, well, girls didn't like leering weirdos, so he looked at the ceiling instead.

  Man, he would've liked his phone to not have ran out of battery. That would've been a great distraction. But, well, there were no power outlets in this pce, so it was bound to happen at some point. "Heya, miss priestess.", he said after a short bit.

  "Ah, sir Outsider.", she said, her voice doing weird things in Heustam's ears. Not the moment, monkey brain. "Taking a break ?"

  "Yeah. Kat and Franq and I think Myrianne and Titanja are arguing about... something and frankly I can't follow.", he started. "What about you ?", he continued.

  "I was having some negotiations with Her Highness.", she answered. "Although calling it by that term feels excessive. It was more of a discussion.", she continued, correcting herself.

  "Talking about ?", Heustam asked, trying to keep the conversation going. Man, I cannot talk to girls.

  "Curious, are you not ? Well, that is fine. It concerns you Outsiders anyway." Heustam raised an eyebrow, keeping his eyes strictly locked on her face. "My precedessor, Sir Kvutar, was... very thoroughly against the crown involving itself too deeply into Outsider business, and I was renegotiating the details with Her Highness."

  "Huh. Wonder why the old dude did that. Like, he's.. is ? Was ? Whatever. But yeah, it's def rather strange for an High Priest to be in opposition to this, no ? Isn't he a subordinate of the crown ?"

  "I cannot speak for other countries, but not much here in Xvodane. We servant of the Heavens had always had a strong and independant influence, whether for best or ill.", the High Priestess answered. Heustam believed her name was Luxanxa, but he always had a fairly poor memory.

  "So what does this involve for us, then ?", Heustam asked instead.

  "On a practical level, not much other than it will be easier for Her Highness to provide you with materials and simir. That said, we're going to establish a few safeguards to prevent the nobles from causing trouble.", she expined.

  "Well, sounds good to me. Now you go expin that to them while they're arguing about... I don't even know what.", Heustam said, grinning.

  This made the priestess chuckle slightly. Heustam's smile turned more good-natured and genuine, and he rexed a little.

  Luxanxa wandered through the corridors, before being interrupted by the sounds of something hitting wood. She approached the room, and knocked on the door.

  "Hmm ? Wh... Oh, hi miss priestess.", a voice answered her. It was a male voice, and the door opened to reveal a male Outsider. "Somethin' wrong ?", he asked, more confused than angry.

  "I was hearing the noises and got curious. Wanted to make sure everything was fine.", she answered.

  "Oh, yeah, I was just carvin' wood. Want a look ?" Luxanxa considered for a short while. I can take the time.

  "Certainly.", she answered, and the door opened, the blonde Outsider inviting her in. He had a lithe frame, but he felt... strange. It was more of a magical thing than a physical one. "What's your name ?", Luxanxa asked, trying to break the ice.

  "Brandrew.", he answered, sounding somewhat... off. The room was covered in little wooden figurines. They represented various things : animal, people, objects, many of which unfamiliar to Luxanxa and likely coming from Outside.

  It was a bit of a mess, and the window had been left open. Likely to avoid the sawdust building up. It added a pleasant spring breeze to the room. "I see you enjoy wood carving.", Luxanxa said.

  "Yeah.", Outsider Brandrew said, scratching the back of his head. "My old man was a carpenter. He was obsessed with getting me doing "dude" stuff, but the wood workshop he had and basketball were basically the only thing that stuck. Carvin' helps me clear my head."

  Luxanxa was driven towards a specific figurine depicting a fox jumping. "Impressive work to make it look as if it was jumping.", she said. "That must have been difficult to make."

  "Yeah, it's a quick brown fox jumpin' over a zy dog. Don't remember where I read that, but it stuck with me. Took me a while to do the bancin'." She could sense bits of magic that had been used to meld the wood back when he had removed too much. It was really impressive.

  Luxanxa hesitated as a lull settled in the room while she looked at the carvings. She was feeling... strange. Torn, almost. She couldn't deny something troubled her, but she didn't really know what to say, or what to do about it.

  Do I want to involve myself ? Luxanxa took a deep breath. Like it or not, this is probably one of my fuctions now. "Is everything alright ?", she asked after a bit, needing a bit to gather her courage. Much to her surprise, however, he simply sighed.

  "Dudes ain't supposed to talk 'bout these kinda things.", he said after a short while, clearly looking troubled about it all. "If I was a girl, it would be a different story, but I'm not, so..."

  "Is it an Outside thing ?", Luxanxa answered, confused. That didn't make much sense to her, but Luxanxa understood the Outside had been a very different pce from Xvodane, so it was to her the most reasonable cause.

  "Either way, if you don't to tell me now, you can tell me ter if you feel more comfortable, or even never at all." She did not wish to be seen as pushy, but she heard him take in a deep breath, and so she pivoted and sat down.

  "...I didn't tell anyone 'bout this. Not the cssmates because... I didn't want to have to deal with their reactions. And the old man... that Kvutar guy, I didn't trust him, I don't know why. He seemed pleasant enough, but..." He folded his arms.

  "You don't have to justify yourself.", Luxanxa answered. She knew little of the retionship Sir Kvutar had with the Outsiders. But, as much as Luxanxa wanted it to be simir, if only for their sakes, she was not Sir Kvutar. "I promise I'll keep quiet about anything to tell me it.", Luxanxa said.

  "...There's something's... off. About... about it all. I... don't know what it is, but I always feel... wrong somehow.", he started. "It's some kinda... soul-sickness. Like somethin's missin' my whole damn life and I don't know what it is." His head rose up.

  "I never really got most other dudes. And it's weird, because, like, I like dudes. I think they're hot. But I don't get them on a... primal level. Like I'm an alien stuck somewhere I don't belong, watchin' 'em engage in all kind of contests to impress girls or what."

  Luxanxa closed her eyes. She needed to find the proper words to answer. "...No one will hear of this. I promise.", she started.

  "Thanks, miss priestess."

  "For the rest... I wish I knew. I wish I could tell you or give the cure to your soul-sickness.", Luxanxa started. "If you need to talk to me, just let me know.", she continued, uncertain of what else to do.

  "Thanks, miss.", he answered. He looked to be on the verge of tears. It was odd, but Luxanxa didn't comment on it. Clearly much weighed on him, and her support might be the only thing she could offer. "Might well the first time I can actually talk 'bout it with anyone.", he said, and Luxanxa simply nodded.

  Heustam sat in the quiet side-room, looking at his dead phone. It was a pointless exercise, but it was one he partook in all the same. It kept him sane and grounded. "Hey mate.", Franqiss said, and Heustam invited him to sit.

  His dark-skinned friend sat next to him, pearly-white teeth almost shining as he grinned. "Man, that was a conversation we had ! What were you doing ?", he asked, sounding chill as usual.

  "Chatting a bit with the High Priestess.", Heustam answered, looking at his friend instead of his dead phone since it wouldn't do anything here anyway.

  "My man's aiming high !", Franqiss answered, obviously teasing Heustam a little. Heustam merely shrugged in turn.

  "Nah, we just chatted about boring stuff. Something with negotiations with the princess. Apparently she'll have an easier time furnishing us with materials."

  "Nice.", Franqiss replied, clearly pleased. "Kat will be happy to hear it. But you look kinda down tho." Can't hide anything from him. It was a little disturbing how good he was at reading people.

  "I... don't know.", Heustam admitted. "Something's troubling me."

  "Ramble away.", Franqiss said, and Heustam took a deep breath.

  "Please keep quiet about this.", Heustam started, and Franqiss nodded. Heustam knew he could trust Franqiss about it. "...So. You remember that time where I talked to you about a burner mailbox ?"

  "Oh, yeah... it was... that day. Man, that was insane. Thought she was a demon.", Franqiss said. "But why bother ? You ain't the type to dig up old ghosts.", he continued, Heustam nodding. Indeed...

  "...There was a stomped lighter on the floor of the sports court. I took a photo on my phone.", Heustam started. "Sent it anonymously to the faculty."

  "Damn.", Franqiss answered, his eyes opened wide in surprise. "How did that even get there, and why did you never mention that before ?", Franqiss asked.

  "I don't know, and because Lyna would have fucking ruined my life, respectively." Heustam looked away. "...I've already been on the wrong end of that kind of asshole when you screw up their pns. Am I a coward for it all ? Yeah. I'll be the first one to admit it."

  Franqiss looked away. He knew why Heustam did nothing. Frankly, Heustam had thought for a time that they all had a good reason they did nothing. He would be the first to admit it as much, phantom pain cropping up in his left arm.

  "...And now Lyna's gone. I have the perfect opportunity to do... I don't even know what, but it doesn't matter because my phone's battery is dead and it's all goddamn pointless.", Heustam rambled bitterly.

  "But why do you even care, man ?", Franqiss asked him, his tone of voice expressing genuine concern, and Heustam answered with a bitter smile.

  "...I don't know. Something about this whole story doesn't sit right with me.", Heustam admitted openly. He had asked himself this question, and he couldn't tell why. Guess I just do. Franqiss sighed, but simply grinned before pulling off some more loose paper.

  Paper Mokepon time. Heustam refocused. That was more likely to be fun.

  "You Highness.", Yngrid said as she looked at the princess. The pink-haired young woman looked haggard, and Yngrid's teammates behind her were nervous to varying degrees.

  "Outsider Yngrid. Thank you for answering my summons.", the princess answered. "I have need of an adventurer and you are the only person I can ask.", she continued.

  "What is the matter ?", Yngrid asked.

  The princess closed her eyes. "As you have noticed, your fellow Outsider Rickard has been missing for a while, and quite a few members of high nobility who invested into him are pressuring me for answers."

  "Do you want us to look for him ?", Yngrid asked.

  "With a catch.", the princess answered, before staring at Yngrid right in the eyes. "I cannot discount the possibility that something horrible has happened to Outsider Rickard. You cannot, nay, must not put yourself into danger for more information."

  The princess looked away. "There is a very real chance we are already down one Outsider, and with Lyna getting forced out that makes two. I... no, Xvodane cannot afford losing any more of you. Am I clear ?"

  Yngrid nodded. "Clear as crystal, Your Highness. Study's Rickard whereabouts safely and return to you with information."

  The princess nodded. "You will be compensated appropriately.", she said. "You are dismissed." Yngrid nodded, and her team left the room.

  "So, how do we proceed ?", the mage asked behind her. Yngrid sighed, uncertain. She had expected that request, if she was sincere, but not that early.

  "I don't know.", she answered after a bit. I have no idea how to even begin. At least the exhortation to keep herself safe made her feel better. She wasn't getting used and thrown away.

  "Where to even start ?", the fighter behind her asked, the burly father of two clearly troubled.

  Yngrid took a deep breath. "Rickard came back at one point to grab some purification jars, but beyond that..."

  "Rickard, you say ?", a female voice spoke to the side, Yngrid turning to face the maid. She had an unfortunate face, it reminded Yngrid of a snake. It was the shape of her eyes, their green-gold color, and her chin that was retively thin and elongated.

  The maid approached them a little, lowering her tone of voice. "One of his fellows told me they were looking for that Kvutar priest man... and wouldn't you know, but I overheard him talking about a pilgrimage to the south some time before he disappeared."

  "South, huh ?". Yngrid sighed. "It's a lead. We'll investigate. Carefully.", she said, more to herself than to her teammates as the maid left them be and returned to her duties.