A Bored Lich

"I'm sorry," Frey said. "I shouldn't have fallen for it. I was stupid."

Doevm, whose frown had slowly deepened throughout the explanation, shook his head. "I understand."

Frey furrowed his brow. "You do?"

Doevm rubbed at his wrists. "I know the War Monks better than most, unfortunately. First they implant themselves in your life, then they learn about you and try to isolate you. If you had been captured, you would have been broken. Trust me on this one. There was no 'right' choice."

'Doesn't feel like it,' Frey thought, glancing at Olpi's neck. The marks Owen gave her might have been healed away, but the memory was fresh like an open wound.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Thomas asked.

"Well…I want my nephew back." Frey repeated. "And maybe Gwen too."

"Are you going to go alone?"

"I gotta look for them," Frey lamented. "It's not a choice. It's just something I gotta do." He glanced at the foggy window as suddenly the blankets felt weighted.

Elero reached over and flicked Frey on the forehead. "Did you hit your head or something? He asked if you're going alone."

"I don't have anyone else who's in this fight with me," Frey snapped. "My grandparents are dead, as is my mother. My father is a murderer. My sister's spouse betrayed her. I'm the only…" He took a breath. "I'm the only Botoman I know of."

Thomas perked up. "Botoman? As in Arthur Botoman? The hero of legend? Arthur freaking Botoman!?"

Frey let out a nervous chuckle. "He was my grandfather. That's…how I got this." He held up his hand, displaying a flash of his flaming, white aura.

"Oh," Thomas looked as if he could have slapped himself. "I'm just an idiot. Wait, Arthur was…" He glanced at Doevm, then began mumbling to himself. "I am a freaking idiot."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Elero comforted Thomas by patting him on the shoulder. "At first, I figured that power was from a prominent figure but not the hero's bloodline."

Frey took a deep, labored breath, and looked each of his friends in the eyes. "Will you help me? Thomas?"

Thomas nodded. "Yeah! It's like I'm saving the kids of my hero. Oh this is so cool. I want to hear all about him! Was I really the only one who didn't know all of this?"

Frey chuckled. "I guess so. Elero?"

Elero nodded. "I can't let you go die on your own now, can I?"

"Doevm?"

Doevm nodded. "We're going to the monasteries in Vilbar anyway."

'We're going to the monasteries?' Frey thought, but ultimately chose to save his questions for later. "Olpi?"

All the heads turned towards Olpi, who hesitated. "I thought you didn't want us poking our heads into your mess."

"I don't," Frey said. "That doesn't mean I can't invite you to help."

Olpi sighed. "May I get the room for a moment?" Everyone but her and Frey stood up.

Elero patted Olpi on the shoulder and turned towards the door. "Let him have it!"

"Just figure it out quickly," Doevm said before he left.

"Come get us when it's done," Thomas said before he shut the door behind him.

Both Olpi and Frey were silent for a few moments, seemingly listening to the fire crackle as they each formed their thoughts.

"Why-why did you save me?" Olpi was the first to speak. "I only got in your way, and Owen knew where your family was. It was the best option to save him. It was as you said. I poked my head in your business. Though you were a bit of a jerk about it, I deserved it. And I-"

"Owen didn't stick his neck up for me," Frey interrupted her. "Thank you."

"Still," Olpi said.

"Have some more self-respect, damn it," Frey snapped.

"Sorry."

Frey sighed. "Whatever. What about you? Why did you go out of your way to help me?"

"Well…because you helped me and my family," Olpi explained. "You helped the Demis survive by fighting back the demon army with everyone. Didn't I tell you this before?"

"...oh yeah."

Olpi paused. "Wait, what? You forgot? Oh my gosh did you actually forget? Frey, It's been two weeks!"

"It feels longer."

Olpi put her head in her hands and sighed. "Still! Maybe you are a bit dumb. Oh, I want to cry." She could only laugh at Frey's embarrassment, whose face had gone bright red.

"I just forgot."

Olpi threw her hands up. "Whatever. I'll help you, but now I want something in return."

Frey patted his pockets down. "I don't have much money on me."

Olpi smiled. "Just be my friend, that's all."

"That's it? I can try to make gold."

"No, that's really it."

"Sure it is."

"It is!"

"Is it?"

"It is!"

"...I can do that."

The door opened and in walked Thomas, Elero and Doevm following close behind. "Great, that's solved!"

Frey narrowed his eyes. "You were listening this whole time?"

Thomas ignored him and sat down. "So, what are we going to do? We're all still going to Vilbar, right?"

Everyone turned to Doevm.

Doevm took a moment to think to himself. His eyes flicked from left to right, as if he had dove into his thoughts. "Things have changed," he said after a while. "I need all of you to rest while I adjust the plan. Meet up tomorrow night in The Pit. I'll explain everything then." He turned around and left, leaving the room with a sudden silence.

The others talked some more, about the fight and Owen. Elero soon left for a nap, and Thomas soon after to check on his father, who had also been poisoned.

Frey looked at Olpi. "What do you think Doevm has in store for us tomorrow? He looked pretty serious."

Olpi shrugged. "Isn't that what he normally looks like?"

Frey also shrugged. "He's changed a bit since the academy. He's much more uptight."

"Maybe he's about to tell us why. Have a good sleep, Frey. I'm going to get some rest too."

"See ya."

Olpi shut the door and her footsteps faded as they traveled down the hall.

Frey leaned back into his pillow and stared aimlessly at the ceiling, a little smirk on his face as he listened to the fire crackle in the silence. 'Who says I don't have anyone?' he thought. 'I really am a distrusting idiot.'

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