Fight. Level. Survive.

Chaos happenings, or what the locals of the neutral world call ACTS, are random occurrences caused by Chaos Magic. Since the people of Ganefrel started harnessing the power of Chaos, these happenings have occurred far more to and around participants of ‘The Trials’. Whether this is, an accidental side effect of Chaos Magic infusions or the mythical consciousness of Chaos attempting to take revenge upon us is unknown. But, it is advised that you be aware of your surroundings at all times, even if you believe yourself to be safe.

- Excerpt from ‘The Trials’ chapter 3, Chaos happenings

Chapter 34 - Trolled

Mason could have run back to Town with the Trunk on his back, but Mayry elected to walk with him instead of being stuck in the Trunk with the hostages.

Mason kept shooting concerned looks at Mayry, unsure if she should be walking this distance so soon after nearly dying.“Are you sure you are okay? You really had me worried.”

She sighed, “Mason, for the last time. I’m fine. The healing potion fixed me right up. No reason to worry.”

“I know, I know. It’s just when you got hit… I got so angry. It was strange. I have a skill that makes me hit harder when I feel intense emotion, but this time, there was something else.”

Mayry perked up when he mentioned the skill. “You know, one of these days, I’m going to need a full list of your abilities because I cannot keep track.”

Mason, deep in thought, hadn’t heard her. He continued talking, “It was almost as if something… else was taking over, moving me. I felt these foreign emotions as if I was intensely enjoying hurting the Troll….”

Looking at Mason with a frown, “That sounds kind of lik- No, never mind. I’ll talk to Viv and see what she thinks.”

He was going to nudge her for more but stopped when he saw the fearful look on her face.

By the time they made it back to Sparksford, it was alright, well after midnight. It had been a disgustingly long day. Fighting the Arboroth, dinner with the Mayor, then everything with the Trolls, all Mason wanted to do was go to sleep.

Luckily, when they reached the Inn, Nays was manning the reception. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, only to widen when she saw and probably smelled him. He was, as he always seemed to be, covered in blood, guts, and who knew what else. This was the first time they had properly seen each other since their little outing before he went off to save Mayry.

“Oh wow, Mason, what happened to you?" Nays exclaimed as she wrinkled her nose.

Mason grinned, "It's a great story involving me being heroic as fuck, but I’ll have to tell you about it another time. Do you have any rooms available?”

She frowned, “Yes, of course, but… you know you already have a room, right?”

“Yeah, It isn’t for me. I kind of saved a group of hostages from a load of Troll Bandits. We’ll see if we can find a more permanent solution tomorrow, but they need somewhere to sleep tonight, and I don’t want them touching my stuff.” Nays opened her mouth, but Mason cut her off. “I have stuff, Nays.” Nays shut her mouth.

“Where are they now?”

“In there,” he said, pointing to the Trunk he had set down beside him.

Mason opened the lid at Nays’ questioning look and called for the people inside to come out.

Her eyes went wide at the state of them.“Wow, you weren’t joking. Err, yeah, no problem, we can sort out a room for them.”

“Thanks, Nays. Let me know what it costs, and I’ll cover it. Im going to head up to my room. I’m dying for a decent night’s sleep.” Mason turned and walked toward the ex-hostages, who had congregated next to the stairs, to tell them what was going on.

“Yeah, no worries. See you later!” She looked at Mayry, who had been standing next to him, her smile fading slightly. “Glad you’re alive, by the way. Do you also need a room?”

Mayry smiled at her and said, “Nope.” Then followed Mason as he headed up the stairs.

As they made their way up the stairs, Mayry couldn't help but ask, “So, what's the plan for tomorrow?”

Mason sighed, “I don't know, really. I need to talk to your father and find out why he tried to send me to my death.”

Mayry rolled her eyes. “Oh, stop, it was probably just a mistake, I doubt he knew the bandits were Trolls. Let me talk to him first.”

“Hmm, pretty fucking big mistake… but yeah, talk to him, tell him what happened, but I still need to see him tomorrow. Even if just to get paid.”

“And what about these people we rescued? What happens to them?”

“I don't know,” Mason said. “You tell me. You’re the one who works with the Mayor. Maybe add it to the list of what you talk to him about.”

They stopped at the door to his room. He sighed, “I really do need to get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow, maybe we could do something that doesn’t involve ‘Others’, Trolls or giant lizards?”

“Hmm, sure. I can introduce you to your new trainer.”

Suddenly excited, “You found someone?”

“Yeah, I’ll tell you more tomorrow since you ‘really need to get some sleep.” She turned and headed back down the stairs.”Oh, and Mason?” She called back.

“Yeah?”

“Take a bath. You stink.”

Chuckling, “Yeah, I’ll get right on that!” He called after her.

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Mason had been playing video games for hours now, he wasn’t even sure what time it was. He had finally reached the last level and was determined to beat it. However, as he was about to make the final move, he felt the takeout he had eaten earlier start to wreak havoc on his stomach. Mason groaned, paused the game, and got up from the couch.

He walked towards the bathroom, grumbling to himself about how he shouldn’t have eaten that dodgy-smelling shrimp. As he sat on the toilet, Mason decided to take a break from games and pulled out his phone to scroll through Facebook. He liked a few memes, commented on a few others, and before he knew it, he had been sitting there for far longer than he had intended.

A sudden knock at the door shook him from his meme binge. He wasn’t expecting anyone, but there was always something coming from Amazon, so he assumed it was a delivery. Mason shouted, "Just leave it at the door!" He was pretty comfortable where he was, and didn’t want to interrupt his bathroom break. But the knocking continued, becoming more insistent. Mason let out a frustrated sigh, “Fine! I’m coming!” he got up, tucking his phone into his pocket.

As Mason made his way to the door, he checked the time and saw it was pretty late at night. He wondered who could be knocking at this hour. He was certain he didn't have any plans, and thinking about it, he didn't remember ordering anything. He peeked through the peephole. Huh, that was weird. All he saw was an empty hallway. The knocking started again, making him jump back. He took another look, and there was a man standing there. He was looking down so Mason couldn’t see his face.

Yep, he had definitely been awake far too long. He shook his head as if to shake away the tiredness.

He grabbed the handle and opened the door.

For just an instant, he saw the man standing there. A towering figure with broad shoulders and a rugged appearance.

=============================

Mason woke up. He tried to remember the dream he had been having, but the harder he fought to remember, the more it slipped away.

He froze. There was a dark figure in the room with him.

“Holy mother fucking shit bricks.” He shouted. He was moments away from shooting his entire Mana pool worth of Magic Missiles into the figure when a ball of flame appeared in his hand—lighting up his face and causing Mason to relax slightly.

“What the hell are you doing here? I almost blew you to pieces.”

Mayor Sparks sneered at him, “As If you could.” He pointed at him with the hand not holding a fireball. “You almost got my daughter killed,” He took a step forward threateningly.

Mason got out of bed. He was wearing nothing but the pink boxers he had gotten on his very first day in this world. “No, YOU sent me out there to die, she insisted on coming. YOU almost got us both killed!”

His fire dimmed as emotion crept into his voice, “You weren’t supposed to take her with you!”

“So you did know!” It was Mason’s turn to step forward, his dagger appearing in his hand. “Why were you trying to kill me?“

His fireball went out, leaving the room dark again until Mason activated the light rune. The Mayor walked over and collapsed into a chair. A glass full of whisky appeared in his hand. “I didn’t know about the trolls.”

Mason’s eyes narrowed, “Bullshit.”

Taking a sip of the liquid in his glass, he replied. “It’s the truth. I was… threatened. This woman told me about the bandits and told me to send you there. She said it was a present to you, to help you get stronger. I… I think she was the ‘Other’ who took Mayry.”

“Mayry… told you about that?”

“Yeah… of course she did. I’m her father.”

Mason had thought, Mayry would keep that a secret. He also wondered what else she had told him.

“Hmm, this woman… black eyes? Kinda hot but in a psychotic kind of way?”

“I guess that could describe her pretty well. Yes”

“Gael.” She was supposed to be leaving him alone for a year, not ‘helping’ him train… he would need to keep a closer eye out from now on in case he tries to ‘help’ some more.

The Mayor produced a large bag of coins and handed it to him. “This is the payment for getting rid of the Trolls. It is significantly more than we agreed on.” He produced a much larger bag of coins, holding it just out of reach, “and this is yours if you agree to stay away from my daughter.”

“All due respect, Sir.” Mason said, “Your daughter does what she wants.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of, young man. Since she met you, she’s nearly died several times. Tell me, how many of those would never have happened if you had never come here? You seem to attract danger. If you care about my daughter, just think about it.”

Mason went quiet. He was right, apart from maybe the Basilisk Mayry would never have been taken by the ‘Other’s’ or been nearly killed by the Trolls.

He was considering taking the money when a thought occurred to him. “How’d you even get in here?

He stood up and made a show of brushing off his jacket.“I am the Mayor of the city. I have my ways.”

Mason had faith in Nays’ rune work. He knew there was no way he had gotten through that door without waking him up. “You climbed through the window, didn’t you?”

“Yes… and with that, I think I’ll be leaving. Think about what I said, won’t you?”

“I will.” He said thoughtfully before adding, “And Sir? If you come into my room again uninvited, I don’t care whose father you are. You won’t be leaving uninjured.”