Chapter 24: The Road
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Chapter 24: The Road
Cilla turned out to be a talking and likeable companion as the time whiled away. The two continued to chat as those around them cast them odd glances and continued to stand at attention as much as possible.
"So, I thought this was called Northgate street," Tyron asked, "but you called it Victory road?"
She smiled, her dark brown eyes twinkling in amusement.
"That's something I got from the Slayers. That's what they call it, not sure exactly why. Apparently just about every keep has a 'victory road', a glorified name for a street that takes them straight to hell. Morbid fuckers."
Tyron glanced up and down the rather plain cobbled road and solid, but ordinary looking gate at the end of it.
"Little ordinary looking for a gate to hell, don't you think?"
She looked at him sideways.
"You've never been out there, right?"
He had to shake his head.
"No, I've never set foot in the broken lands."
He'd heard about it his whole life though, from two who knew it better than most.
"It's hell out there," she told him emphatically. "Let me tell you, most of these pricks haven't gone out yet and a good chunk of those who manage to come back won't ever go twice."
Surprised, Tyron's brows rose and he contemplated the people around them.
"Truly? They quit after their first run?"
An unladylike snort erupted from Cilla.
"Abso-fucking-lutely they do. Those that make it back anyway. Around half don't come back at all."
She turned and leered at him.
"It's a graveyard out there, Lukas. Make sure you don't piss your pants."
He rolled his eyes.
"My pants are perfectly dry," he said, "but I am surprised to learn that so many don't come back."
"Weak," the young man rumbled from beside them. "Too weak for the job. Fatass farm boys who should have stayed home milking cows."
He leaned over the road and spit.
"Lukas, this is Rell," Cilla introduced him with a hand on his back. "He's been around for a few months and gone out three times already. Too stuck up to sit with us riff raff though."
Rell frowned.
"You never know when the Slayers might be watching, they could have people scouting the road right now."
"I highly doubt it," she replied, "they give roughly zero shits about us at the best of times and I'm rounding up."
Although he didn't say anything, Tyron nodded, since that lined up with what he knew. Slayer rats, or just rats, hirelings that proper Slayers took out into the rifts with them were there to do the dirty work that they couldn't be bothered or didn't want to do themselves.
"Whatever. You do things your way and I'll stick to mine. How many times have you been out anyway?"
"Uppity cunt. You know I've only been out once."
"You're still here at least."
"Damn right I am."
"You've been out there?" Tyron asked, failing to mask the surprise in his voice.
Cilla flicked him an angry glance.
"Yes. Why? You didn't think I was good enough?!"
He raised his hands quickly in defence.
"No, no! I just figured most of the people here hadn't so the odds were against you. I can't say if you're good enough or not, I know nothing about you!"
Cilla sighed and slumped back down to her seated position.
"They didn't even take anyone? Rude."
"Probably on a longer trip so they picked up a loose Slayer to fill out the team," Rell observed.
"How could you tell?"
"Emblem on the sleeve. Not all teams have one but they did. The guy at the back didn't have one so I think they might have roped him in to help with the dirty work."
"Sucks for us," Cilla sighed.
That was the only team to leave that day and as dusk fell Tyron bid farewell to his two new acquaintances and made his way back to the inn where he gladly filled his stomach and exchanged gossip with the staff before heading to his room to practice mana bolt until he cast Sleep on himself and passed out.
Undaunted, he awoke the next day and checked his status, pleased to see he'd managed to raise the spell to level three, not bad for a non-class skill with only a few nights practice. His speed was improving along with his efficiency. How well would he do with a moving target? Hard to say, but at least the magick felt more comfortable than before. With a little luck, it might even be usable in a fight.
Although he didn't rush over like he had the previous morning, he was still there before the bulk of the crowd, which meant he was able to secure a similar location to the day before and soon enough he welcomed both Rell and Cilla back with a smile and a wave.
"Nice hat," Rell observed.
"I think I got burned yesterday," Tyron admitted sheepishly.
"You are unusually pale for a rat," Cilla poked at his arm. "You allergic to the sun or something?"
"Just spent a lot of time indoors. I'm a bit of a night owl as well."
The three chatted on and off as there continued to be little action throughout the morning as the crowds continued to build. Just before lunch something finally happened when a team made their way out of the keep. As before, Tyron stood and tried to appear capable as all around the rats did the same. When the Slayers came into sight he could feel a rush of excitement from his right as Cilla seemed to swell up on the spot, a grin plastered on her face despite her efforts to hide it.
Tyron was confused, but his questions were soon answered as the woman who led the team wandered a little closer when she spotted the girl waiting.
"Cilla you useless lump," the slayer shook her head. "Ready to go kill some rift-kin?"
"Hells yes!" she cheered. "I'll even help carry your shit, that's how gracious I am."
"Damn right you will," the woman replied, a hint of laughter in her eye. "Come on then, let's get to it."
Filled with energy, Cilla grabbed her pack and practically leapt out onto the road to join the group. Tyron didn't have a chance to wish her good luck before she ran off down the road and through the gate, on her way to the broken lands. When the gate rattled shut behind them, he settled back down with a sigh.
"That's Marion's team," Rell told him, "same group she went out with the first time. Good group, good rep. Hopefully she'll be fine."
"I never asked what level she was," Tyron realised. "Is she really strong enough to fight against the monsters?"
Rell grimaced.
"Look, it's kind of rude to ask people what level they are, and if you ask the people around here, they're going to lie to you nine times out of ten, there's just no need to inform your competition. As to fighting the rift-kin, hell no, we aren't really expected to fight them. Offer support, chip in if there's an emergency, sure, but not go toe to toe. Usually the Slayers will let the rat fight a couple of weaker creatures as part of the payment, helps them get some experience, develop their skills and gain levels, which makes them more useful rats."
"Usually?"
"Well, you can negotiate your price, a little, with the teams. The more cash you want, the less they'll feel inclined to help you fight. You need to make a call as to whether you want money, or to help develop your status."
"Doesn't that just mean you have to go without pay if you want to become a Slayer?"
"Pretty much."
Ouch.
"The more I learn about it, the more I think this system sucks," he observed.
The other man rolled his shoulders and sighed.
"There isn't a single person here who isn't desperate, Lukas. If you can't hack it, then you're better off somewhere else."
Tyron just shrugged.
"I think I fit right in, Rell. I've got nowhere else to go."
The two didn't say anything else for a long time, instead they settled in to wait.
The rest of the day passed in much the same way, as did the next. Tyron struggled with the wasted time, a sense of urgency growing inside him with each passing moment. He had to get out there, he had to improve. More than once he considered just slipping outside of the city and rushing into the broken lands by himself, but he knew deep down he would more than likely die if he were to try. He was far too weak to chance it, the monsters of the rifts would tear him apart. He didn't even have minions to fight on his behalf, without them he was worse than useless. No. He had to wait.
Thankfully, the fourth day proved more promising than those that had gone before.
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Chapter 24: The Road
Cilla turned out to be a talking and likeable companion as the time whiled away. The two continued to chat as those around them cast them odd glances and continued to stand at attention as much as possible.
"So, I thought this was called Northgate street," Tyron asked, "but you called it Victory road?"
She smiled, her dark brown eyes twinkling in amusement.
"That's something I got from the Slayers. That's what they call it, not sure exactly why. Apparently just about every keep has a 'victory road', a glorified name for a street that takes them straight to hell. Morbid fuckers."
Tyron glanced up and down the rather plain cobbled road and solid, but ordinary looking gate at the end of it.
"Little ordinary looking for a gate to hell, don't you think?"
She looked at him sideways.
"You've never been out there, right?"
He had to shake his head.
"No, I've never set foot in the broken lands."
He'd heard about it his whole life though, from two who knew it better than most.
"It's hell out there," she told him emphatically. "Let me tell you, most of these pricks haven't gone out yet and a good chunk of those who manage to come back won't ever go twice."
Surprised, Tyron's brows rose and he contemplated the people around them.
"Truly? They quit after their first run?"
An unladylike snort erupted from Cilla.
"Abso-fucking-lutely they do. Those that make it back anyway. Around half don't come back at all."
She turned and leered at him.
"It's a graveyard out there, Lukas. Make sure you don't piss your pants."
He rolled his eyes.
"My pants are perfectly dry," he said, "but I am surprised to learn that so many don't come back."
"Weak," the young man rumbled from beside them. "Too weak for the job. Fatass farm boys who should have stayed home milking cows."
He leaned over the road and spit.
"Lukas, this is Rell," Cilla introduced him with a hand on his back. "He's been around for a few months and gone out three times already. Too stuck up to sit with us riff raff though."
Rell frowned.
"You never know when the Slayers might be watching, they could have people scouting the road right now."
"I highly doubt it," she replied, "they give roughly zero shits about us at the best of times and I'm rounding up."
Although he didn't say anything, Tyron nodded, since that lined up with what he knew. Slayer rats, or just rats, hirelings that proper Slayers took out into the rifts with them were there to do the dirty work that they couldn't be bothered or didn't want to do themselves.
"Whatever. You do things your way and I'll stick to mine. How many times have you been out anyway?"
"Uppity cunt. You know I've only been out once."
"You're still here at least."
"Damn right I am."
"You've been out there?" Tyron asked, failing to mask the surprise in his voice.
Cilla flicked him an angry glance.
"Yes. Why? You didn't think I was good enough?!"
He raised his hands quickly in defence.
"No, no! I just figured most of the people here hadn't so the odds were against you. I can't say if you're good enough or not, I know nothing about you!"
Cilla sighed and slumped back down to her seated position.
"They didn't even take anyone? Rude."
"Probably on a longer trip so they picked up a loose Slayer to fill out the team," Rell observed.
"How could you tell?"
"Emblem on the sleeve. Not all teams have one but they did. The guy at the back didn't have one so I think they might have roped him in to help with the dirty work."
"Sucks for us," Cilla sighed.
That was the only team to leave that day and as dusk fell Tyron bid farewell to his two new acquaintances and made his way back to the inn where he gladly filled his stomach and exchanged gossip with the staff before heading to his room to practice mana bolt until he cast Sleep on himself and passed out.
Undaunted, he awoke the next day and checked his status, pleased to see he'd managed to raise the spell to level three, not bad for a non-class skill with only a few nights practice. His speed was improving along with his efficiency. How well would he do with a moving target? Hard to say, but at least the magick felt more comfortable than before. With a little luck, it might even be usable in a fight.
Although he didn't rush over like he had the previous morning, he was still there before the bulk of the crowd, which meant he was able to secure a similar location to the day before and soon enough he welcomed both Rell and Cilla back with a smile and a wave.
"Nice hat," Rell observed.
"I think I got burned yesterday," Tyron admitted sheepishly.
"You are unusually pale for a rat," Cilla poked at his arm. "You allergic to the sun or something?"
"Just spent a lot of time indoors. I'm a bit of a night owl as well."
The three chatted on and off as there continued to be little action throughout the morning as the crowds continued to build. Just before lunch something finally happened when a team made their way out of the keep. As before, Tyron stood and tried to appear capable as all around the rats did the same. When the Slayers came into sight he could feel a rush of excitement from his right as Cilla seemed to swell up on the spot, a grin plastered on her face despite her efforts to hide it.
Tyron was confused, but his questions were soon answered as the woman who led the team wandered a little closer when she spotted the girl waiting.
"Cilla you useless lump," the slayer shook her head. "Ready to go kill some rift-kin?"
"Hells yes!" she cheered. "I'll even help carry your shit, that's how gracious I am."
"Damn right you will," the woman replied, a hint of laughter in her eye. "Come on then, let's get to it."
Filled with energy, Cilla grabbed her pack and practically leapt out onto the road to join the group. Tyron didn't have a chance to wish her good luck before she ran off down the road and through the gate, on her way to the broken lands. When the gate rattled shut behind them, he settled back down with a sigh.
"That's Marion's team," Rell told him, "same group she went out with the first time. Good group, good rep. Hopefully she'll be fine."
"I never asked what level she was," Tyron realised. "Is she really strong enough to fight against the monsters?"
Rell grimaced.
"Look, it's kind of rude to ask people what level they are, and if you ask the people around here, they're going to lie to you nine times out of ten, there's just no need to inform your competition. As to fighting the rift-kin, hell no, we aren't really expected to fight them. Offer support, chip in if there's an emergency, sure, but not go toe to toe. Usually the Slayers will let the rat fight a couple of weaker creatures as part of the payment, helps them get some experience, develop their skills and gain levels, which makes them more useful rats."
"Usually?"
"Well, you can negotiate your price, a little, with the teams. The more cash you want, the less they'll feel inclined to help you fight. You need to make a call as to whether you want money, or to help develop your status."
"Doesn't that just mean you have to go without pay if you want to become a Slayer?"
"Pretty much."
Ouch.
"The more I learn about it, the more I think this system sucks," he observed.
The other man rolled his shoulders and sighed.
"There isn't a single person here who isn't desperate, Lukas. If you can't hack it, then you're better off somewhere else."
Tyron just shrugged.
"I think I fit right in, Rell. I've got nowhere else to go."
The two didn't say anything else for a long time, instead they settled in to wait.
The rest of the day passed in much the same way, as did the next. Tyron struggled with the wasted time, a sense of urgency growing inside him with each passing moment. He had to get out there, he had to improve. More than once he considered just slipping outside of the city and rushing into the broken lands by himself, but he knew deep down he would more than likely die if he were to try. He was far too weak to chance it, the monsters of the rifts would tear him apart. He didn't even have minions to fight on his behalf, without them he was worse than useless. No. He had to wait.
Thankfully, the fourth day proved more promising than those that had gone before.
Chapter 24: The RoadCilla turned out to be a talking and likeable companion as the time whiled away. The two continued to chat as those around them cast them odd glances and continued to stand at attention as much as possible."So, I thought this was called Northgate street," Tyron asked, "but you called it Victory road?"She smiled, her dark brown eyes twinkling in amusement."That's something I got from the Slayers. That's what they call it, not sure exactly why. Apparently just about every keep has a 'victory road', a glorified name for a street that takes them straight to hell. Morbid fuckers."Tyron glanced up and down the rather plain cobbled road and solid, but ordinary looking gate at the end of it."Little ordinary looking for a gate to hell, don't you think?"She looked at him sideways."You've never been out there, right?"He had to shake his head."No, I've never set foot in the broken lands."He'd heard about it his whole life though, from two who knew it better than most."It's hell out there," she told him emphatically. "Let me tell you, most of these pricks haven't gone out yet and a good chunk of those who manage to come back won't ever go twice."Surprised, Tyron's brows rose and he contemplated the people around them."Truly? They quit after their first run?"An unladylike snort erupted from Cilla."Abso-fucking-lutely they do. Those that make it back anyway. Around half don't come back at all."She turned and leered at him."It's a graveyard out there, Lukas. Make sure you don't piss your pants."He rolled his eyes."My pants are perfectly dry," he said, "but I am surprised to learn that so many don't come back.""Weak," the young man rumbled from beside them. "Too weak for the job. Fatass farm boys who should have stayed home milking cows."He leaned over the road and spit."Lukas, this is Rell," Cilla introduced him with a hand on his back. "He's been around for a few months and gone out three times already. Too stuck up to sit with us riff raff though."Rell frowned."You never know when the Slayers might be watching, they could have people scouting the road right now.""I highly doubt it," she replied, "they give roughly zero shits about us at the best of times and I'm rounding up."Although he didn't say anything, Tyron nodded, since that lined up with what he knew. Slayer rats, or just rats, hirelings that proper Slayers took out into the rifts with them were there to do the dirty work that they couldn't be bothered or didn't want to do themselves."Whatever. You do things your way and I'll stick to mine. How many times have you been out anyway?""Uppity cunt. You know I've only been out once.""You're still here at least.""Damn right I am.""You've been out there?" Tyron asked, failing to mask the surprise in his voice.Cilla flicked him an angry glance."Yes. Why? You didn't think I was good enough?!"He raised his hands quickly in defence."No, no! I just figured most of the people here hadn't so the odds were against you. I can't say if you're good enough or not, I know nothing about you!"Cilla sighed and slumped back down to her seated position."They didn't even take anyone? Rude.""Probably on a longer trip so they picked up a loose Slayer to fill out the team," Rell observed."How could you tell?""Emblem on the sleeve. Not all teams have one but they did. The guy at the back didn't have one so I think they might have roped him in to help with the dirty work.""Sucks for us," Cilla sighed.That was the only team to leave that day and as dusk fell Tyron bid farewell to his two new acquaintances and made his way back to the inn where he gladly filled his stomach and exchanged gossip with the staff before heading to his room to practice mana bolt until he cast Sleep on himself and passed out.Undaunted, he awoke the next day and checked his status, pleased to see he'd managed to raise the spell to level three, not bad for a non-class skill with only a few nights practice. His speed was improving along with his efficiency. How well would he do with a moving target? Hard to say, but at least the magick felt more comfortable than before. With a little luck, it might even be usable in a fight.Although he didn't rush over like he had the previous morning, he was still there before the bulk of the crowd, which meant he was able to secure a similar location to the day before and soon enough he welcomed both Rell and Cilla back with a smile and a wave."Nice hat," Rell observed."I think I got burned yesterday," Tyron admitted sheepishly."You are unusually pale for a rat," Cilla poked at his arm. "You allergic to the sun or something?""Just spent a lot of time indoors. I'm a bit of a night owl as well."The three chatted on and off as there continued to be little action throughout the morning as the crowds continued to build. Just before lunch something finally happened when a team made their way out of the keep. As before, Tyron stood and tried to appear capable as all around the rats did the same. When the Slayers came into sight he could feel a rush of excitement from his right as Cilla seemed to swell up on the spot, a grin plastered on her face despite her efforts to hide it.Tyron was confused, but his questions were soon answered as the woman who led the team wandered a little closer when she spotted the girl waiting."Cilla you useless lump," the slayer shook her head. "Ready to go kill some rift-kin?""Hells yes!" she cheered. "I'll even help carry your shit, that's how gracious I am.""Damn right you will," the woman replied, a hint of laughter in her eye. "Come on then, let's get to it."Filled with energy, Cilla grabbed her pack and practically leapt out onto the road to join the group. Tyron didn't have a chance to wish her good luck before she ran off down the road and through the gate, on her way to the broken lands. When the gate rattled shut behind them, he settled back down with a sigh."That's Marion's team," Rell told him, "same group she went out with the first time. Good group, good rep. Hopefully she'll be fine.""I never asked what level she was," Tyron realised. "Is she really strong enough to fight against the monsters?"Rell grimaced."Look, it's kind of rude to ask people what level they are, and if you ask the people around here, they're going to lie to you nine times out of ten, there's just no need to inform your competition. As to fighting the rift-kin, hell no, we aren't really expected to fight them. Offer support, chip in if there's an emergency, sure, but not go toe to toe. Usually the Slayers will let the rat fight a couple of weaker creatures as part of the payment, helps them get some experience, develop their skills and gain levels, which makes them more useful rats.""Usually?""Well, you can negotiate your price, a little, with the teams. The more cash you want, the less they'll feel inclined to help you fight. You need to make a call as to whether you want money, or to help develop your status.""Doesn't that just mean you have to go without pay if you want to become a Slayer?""Pretty much."Ouch."The more I learn about it, the more I think this system sucks," he observed.The other man rolled his shoulders and sighed."There isn't a single person here who isn't desperate, Lukas. If you can't hack it, then you're better off somewhere else."Tyron just shrugged."I think I fit right in, Rell. I've got nowhere else to go."The two didn't say anything else for a long time, instead they settled in to wait.The rest of the day passed in much the same way, as did the next. Tyron struggled with the wasted time, a sense of urgency growing inside him with each passing moment. He had to get out there, he had to improve. More than once he considered just slipping outside of the city and rushing into the broken lands by himself, but he knew deep down he would more than likely die if he were to try. He was far too weak to chance it, the monsters of the rifts would tear him apart. He didn't even have minions to fight on his behalf, without them he was worse than useless. No. He had to wait.Thankfully, the fourth day proved more promising than those that had gone before.
