Rune Seeker

Three hours after Hiral finished his part of the trial, one final note sounded across the room. The last Grower, Wule, had completed his challenge, and he stumbled off his platform, exhausted but smiling.

“Sorry that took me so long,” he said, meeting the party that’d all stood and gone over to congratulate him on his success.

“Scrawny arms make fighting hard,” Nivian said, walking over to his twin and throwing an arm over his shoulders.

“Says the guy who just finished fifteen minutes ago,” Yanily mumbled.

“Don’t listen to him,” Seena said. “You’ve never had any combat styles—of course this would be tougher for you. How’d it go?”

“Good,” Wule said. “I learned the Chord of the Primal Tide.”

At the mention of the name, Hiral looked up at the wall behind the healer. Yup, that symbol looked kind of like a wave. Beside it, a dark, straight line—Nivian’s style, the Chord of the Primal End—likewise glowed. On the other side of Yanily’s storm cloud, Seeyela’s crescent shone to represent her Chord of the Primal Moon.

Adding those to the Chords of the Primal Echo, Fire, and Storm, the party had completed all six trials. Now they just needed the…

Dynamic Quest Complete

Congratulations: Achievement unlocked – Strike a Chord.

You’ve mastered the first part of a Lost combat style (at least, you will, when you reach the next dungeon interface).

Please access a Dungeon Interface to unlock class-specific reward.

Hiral raised an eyebrow at the notification window. Somebody is getting lazy writing these notifications. Seems almost entirely a copy from the last one. Still, that was two down and one to go, so he closed the window with a thought as the door leading to the next challenge ground opened.

Even though the large double doors parted wide enough for the party to walk through, something about the space between them seemed hazy. Like there was a layer of something between them so they couldn’t see through to divine what their next trial would be.

“We’ll give Wule a chance to get some rest, then head through to the final trial,” Seena said, turning away from the open doors to address the party.

“Thanks, guys,” Wule said, practically staggering over and dropping down onto his sleeping bag. Nivian didn’t even have a chance to offer his brother something to eat before the twin was soundly snoring.

“Wow, almost as fast as Yanily,” Nivian noted before looking at the sandwich in his hand, shrugging, and taking a bite of it himself.

“Anything you can tell us about the third trial?” Seena asked Odi as they all settled down again.

“Nothing that will help you at this point, I’m afraid,” Odi said. “As with the second trial, there are too many possible variations for me to make any predictions. All I can really say is that the third trial tends to be the most difficult of the three. It will challenge you in ways you can’t predict, as well as push you to—and past—limits you didn’t know you had. It will be grueling. Unforgiving. Some of you may even wish you could die.”

“I bet you’re a real hit at parties,” Yanily said with a shake of his head, lying down on his own sleeping bag.

“If it’s so difficult,” Seena said before Odi could get into it with Yanily, “we should all get some sleep.”

Hiral activated Foundational Split to bring Left and Right back out, and the two quickly took up positions to keep an eye on the Lizardman while the others slept. Though, for Odi’s part, he also flopped down onto his sleeping bag and began snoring almost as fast as Wule had.

With Yanily also already out, and Nivian curling up as well, that just left Hiral, Seena, and Seeyela awake. And, after looking at Hiral and Seena, Seeyela’s eyes narrowed. “I think we should have a talk,” she said quietly, nodding over towards the door where they’d entered.

Though Seena was the party leader, and Seeyela didn’t dispute it, something about the way she spoke turned the tables right around. Maybe it was her status as big sister or that Raid Leader role Seena had mentioned before, but Seeyela had a definitive air of command to her, and Hiral didn’t hesitate before following. Even Seena quick-stepped to keep up with her sister.

Finally, when they were all the way over at the entrance to the room—far enough away not to be overheard—Seeyela looked at them both and crossed her arms.

“I don’t know Hiral’s tells, but Seena, you look exactly like that time you were planning the… What did you call it? The great cookie theft. And, if I had to guess, Hiral here is thinking about the same thing. Pretty sure it isn’t cookies this time. So, spill it.”

“I was six, and it was a heist, not a theft,” Seena said, scowling. “And I would’ve gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those meddling kids.”

“Mom baked,” Seeyela explained quickly. “Seena here planned to steal an entire batch. Tripped over Wule and Nivian play-fighting. Got caught with the whole cookie jar in her hands.”

“I didn’t know you liked cookies,” Hiral said.

“Who doesn’t like cookies?” Seena again looked at her sister, who had an impatient eyebrow up. “It’s the Urn,” she finally said with a sigh.

“You’re thinking about trying to steal it?” Seeyela asked, and Seena nodded. “So was I.”

“What? You were?” Hiral asked.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Seeyela said. “If it’s as powerful as Odi says, it might be exactly what we need to save Fallen Reach. Maybe even get Picoli back.”

“You think we should do it?” Hiral asked, something in his gut twisting at what her answer would be. Did he want her to say yes or no? Or did he just want somebody else to make the choice so he didn’t have to?

Seeyela shook her head. “I don’t think we should.”

Somehow, that answer surprised Hiral.

“But, it might be the difference that saves Favela…” Seena said, something in her voice cracking.

“You’re right—it might be,” Seeyela said. “And I won’t lie; I’ve spent every hour since we learned about the Urn considering just that.”

“So, why?” Hiral prompted.

Seeyela blew her breath out between her lips, a calming gesture he’d seen a dozen times from Seena. “First off, I don’t even know if we can. This is still a dungeon, Lost or not, so I don’t know what the rules of it are.”

“You got your daggers from the last one,” Seena pointed out.

“I did, which is the only reason I even consider this a possibility,” Seeyela said. “When it comes down to it, though, the reason I don’t think we should take it—maybe it’s kind of silly—is how I’d explain it to my daughter.

“What kind of example would I be setting? That twists my stomach in all kinds of knots I don’t like. Maybe this sounds silly to you both, especially since this Urn could make such a big difference, but there’s one thing I’ve always taught my little girl when it comes to making a difficult decision. If you have a choice between two things, and you’d be ashamed to admit you chose one of those things, it’s not the right choice.

“Looking at your faces—especially yours, Sis—I’m sure you’ve both considered whether or not Odi is real, and if the Urn will stop the undead. There’s no way for us to know for sure until we’re out of here. Until after we’d have to make the choice. I don’t know if he is, but I’m going to assume it’s possible. With that in mind, stealing the Urn, just the thought of it makes me feel dirty.” She looked at Hiral and Seena once again. “I’m guessing it’s the same for both of you.”

“Almost to the word,” Hiral admitted.

“But it might be the only thing that can save Favela,” Seena said.

“And all of Fallen Reach,” Hiral said. “All the other Growers.”

“Might be,” Seeyela replied, holding up a finger. “We don’t know that. We don’t even know what the threat is. Or how this Urn could help us. What would connecting to the Lizardman ancestors even do for us?”

“We could…” Hiral started, but Seeyela had a good point. Would a few extra abilities save everything? Save them from what? Dr. Benza says the island is going to crash, but why? That’s what we need to figure out and stop.

Still, if we had the Urn… it’d be an option. If we let Odi keep it, we lose that option completely.

But he doesn’t lose his entire people, if this can actually save them.

Our race versus his. A maybe built on a foundation of more maybes. Is it worth it?

“I can tell you’re both thinking about it, and it’s not an easy question,” Seeyela said. “This is your party, Seena, so at the end of the day, the choice is up to you.”

“It’s our choice,” Seena said, but Seeyela shook her head.

“It’s the group’s choice when there’s the luxury for it,” Seeyela said. “When it comes to the tough decisions, you and I both know it’s the leader who has to make the final call. You’re good at those difficult choices, and it’s why the others trust you. Why I do. Who knows? The option may never come up, and we’ll have been worrying for nothing.”

“It might, though,” Seena said.

“Yes, it might. If it does, you’ll make the best choice you can. I’m going to get some sleep. You two shouldn’t stay up long. We’ll need you in top shape for the third trial… and what comes after.”

Seeyela pulled her little sister in for a tight hug, rubbing her back for a few seconds with a whisper in her ear, then stepped away. A quick nod to Hiral, and she turned and walked back towards the small camp.

“She totally just laid the entire decision on me, didn’t she?” Seena asked while watching her sister leave. “Then walked away to nap.”

“Sure seems like it,” Hiral said.

Seena was quiet for a minute, and when she finally spoke, her words came out as barely more than a whisper. “I don’t know if I can make a choice like this. What if I choose not to take it, and something happens to Favela? To the islands? Will Seeyela hate me? Will the others? Will you? Or, what if I do decide to take it, condemning all of Odi’s people—if it can save them—and then it doesn’t help us at all?”

Hiral walked over to stand beside Seena, then gently elbowed her in the arm. “None of us are going to hate you. Ever. If you didn’t notice it, they all love you. Nothing’s going to change that.”

Seena raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “Just them, huh?”

“Eeeeeh, we just met. I’m slow to warm up to people.” He gave her a second gentle elbow. “Seriously, though. We all trust you with our lives. Favela—and Fallen Reach—couldn’t be in better hands. You’ll do fine.”

“What if I don’t make the right choice?” Seena asked.

Hiral let the question hang in the air for a second before he replied, “I think that’s the mistake we’re both making. There isn’t a right choice. Just a best choice. No matter what, there are too many maybes.”

“You’re not going to give me a straight answer either, are you?” Seena asked with a sigh.

“I don’t have one,” Hiral said, shrugging. “If I knew what to do, I’d tell you.”

“We could let Yanily choose,” Seena said, looking over at Hiral with a small grin.

“He’d just get some random new ability or class from it,” Hiral said.

“Probably,” Seena said, and then she turned to look straight at him. “Hey, Hiral?”

“Uh, yes?” Hiral said, looking at her. He hadn’t really noticed it before, but this close, she was a bit shorter than him, and he had to tilt his head down slightly to meet her eyes.

“If we have the choice—about the Urn, I mean—will you help me?” she asked, her hands wringing in front of her chest. “It’s probably too much to ask, but…”

Hiral turned and stopped her hands by putting his over them. “I meant what I said about trusting you to make the right choice.” He squeezed her hands as she opened her mouth to interrupt. As soon as her mouth closed again, he continued, “But, I won’t make you shoulder it alone. If you want my help, you’ve got it. We’ll make the choice together.”

Some of the stress eased out of Seena’s face, and she nodded at him.

“And, to be clear,” Hiral said, “that decision is not going to be to let Yanily choose.”