REVILED

Everyone held their breath as Rench secured Reviled’s chest plate back on. The silence weighed on them. Oppressed them. The monster’s eyes lit up, and it rose to a seated position. Reviled’s gaze fell to its new left arm. It twitched, and the metal screamed as the arm started moving. Slowly, the grinding disappeared as Reviled continued working its arm.

“It’s stiff,” Reviled said looking to Rench.

“I’ll try oiling the joints,” Rench grabbed a broken bowl full of lantern oil and lightly drizzled it over the arm. “How’s that?”

Reviled flexed his arm, “Better,” It’s mandibles cried as they opened and closed repeatedly. They no longer had the sharp teeth, but a thick wedge that could crush a skull, “Our mandibles could use some too.” Rench oiled the gears and sat behind everyone else, “Update,” It said, continuing to work its mouth.

“Samon tried retaliating against us while you were out,” Meridith said, “But we were able to handle it.”

“What happened?”

“Samon and another noble kidnapped one of Oria’s friends,” She said, “Kogna, Oria, and I went to negotiate her return. I was able to convince them into a temporary truce by implicating Decker is behind all this, and it looks like it worked. The loyalty between Decker and his nobles is starting to break.”

“Good, we can use this,” Reviled said with a chuckle, “Who was the other noble?”

“His name’s Andren,” Oria said biting her nail, “He provides Decker with information, and contracts assassins.”

“So, he’s key to Decker’s organization,” Reviled said, “And how is your friend, Oria?”

“Ada’s doing fine boss,” Oria smiled, “She’s still a bit shaken up, but she’ll recover.”

“I recommend we bring her into the fold,” Meridith said drawing everyone’s attention, “Despite being a prostitute, she’s proven to be valuable by helping me with the tavern. Actually, she’s pretty much been running it by herself.”

“Is that so,” Reviled tapped its fingers.

“Ada’s able to keep my boys in line, and that’s saying something,” Oria laughed, “There hasn’t been a man yet who could withstand her charms.”

“She must be an incredible woman, if she can get you two to agree,” Reviled’s chuckle echoed, “Very well, we will accept your recommendation.”

“What do we do now?” Kogna said sitting in the back.

Reviled stood, “We’ve broken Samon’s hold on the lower city. We’ve sown distrust among his subordinates, and now, we are whole,” it said with arms wide, “Why not take this time to celebrate.”

Cappy screamed at the top of her lungs, “Party!” she jumped on top of Antwuan and rode her out of the tent.

“There’s something you should know master,” Skivret said, “Adventurers have been entering the sewers in mass lately. It seems they’re hunting my people and trying to locate our camps.”

“Was the bounty reissues?”

“It looks like it,” Meridith said, “But not by Decker. Samon issued the bounty.”

Reviled growled as it stroked its chin, “Have your loses been great?”

“No master,” Skivret sighed, “They’ve only attacked scouting parties we have out, and we’re using the sewers to evade them. But it’s only a matter of time before they find one of our camps.”

“I see,” Reviled turned to Kogna, “How’s they’re training coming?”

“Well, enough,” Kogna said with a shrug, “Overall, the bulk of the soldiers should be able to fight against any adventure and soldier, but we lack any who could fight against heroes, save for Nimble.”

“Then that’s what we’ll focus on next,” Reviled said, “Gather the best among them and train them. Skivret, see to it they are properly equipped.”

“Yes master,” they both said.

Everyone left the tent to go about their tasks. Reviled was the last to leave. The guards manning the rainbow palace bowed as it walked past. The wererats walking the camp streets moved to the side and lowered their heads. Good, they’re starting to recognize our authority. Reviled left the camp. We should head back to the tavern. We need to deal with our newest members.

The eerie quiet of the sewers surrounded Reviled. However, the quiet was broken by the soft sounds of music. Reviled followed the music and peeked around the corner.

“Dammit! Why can’t I get it?” Mina groaned.

She was sitting on a stool with her rymujin between her legs. Empty bottles were lined up in front of her with a few laying on the ground. Mina sighed and started playing again. The wind started swirling round her and with a final note a blast of air shot forward but died before hitting the bottles.

Mina stamped her feet, “Dammit, dammit, dammit!”

“What are you doing?” Mina jumped when Reviled came around the corner.

“Master,” Mina’s face turned a deep red, “I…I was t-trying to master air slash. But I…keep failing.”

Reviled looked between Mina and the bottles, “You can use that ability too?”

“Yes,” Mina kept her head down, “Onomori are known as skilled battlefield support. They can use their songs to strengthen allies or weaken enemies, not to mention their combat prowess.”

“So, you’re wanting to support us in combat,”

Mina nodded, “I…don’t want to be a hindrance anymore,” she said, “I want to be useful!”

Reviled petted her head, “Then why not ask your brother,” it said, “Surely he can train you to use the ability?”

“Are…you sure,”

“He’s the only one who can teach you,” Reviled said, “And if he doesn’t, then we’ll order him to.”

Mina embraced Reviled, “Thank you.”

“Come now, you have training to get back to.”

Mina sat in the center of the training ground with her rymujin held tightly. Ten glass bottles sat on a plank twenty feet in front of her. Others were around engaged in their own training, but she was too focused on Kogna’s words.

“The key to performing air slash is visualization,” Kogna said behind her, “For example, I see the attack as an extension of my sword, so I focus the air pressure on the blade. You need to find an image that works for you.”

Mina looked at her instrument and focused the air pressure on the strings. In her mind, she pictured the sound as a blade and plucked a note. A blade of air shot from the instrument, but it dissipated halfway to the bottles.

“Not strong enough,”

“I…don’t know what to picture,” Mina said, “I always try picturing a blade, but it doesn’t work.”

“Stand up,” Mina stood setting her instrument to the side. Kogna drew his sword and placed it in her hands. It’s heavier than I thought. “Heavier than you expected isn’t it,” Kogna voiced her thoughts. He guided her through several practice swings, “That weight is a part of its power. When you pluck your strings, is it hard or easy?”

“Easy,”

“That’s the problem,” Kogna said, “It should be hard to pluck the string since the accumulated air pressure should increase the weight. Sit down and try it again.”

Mina sat down and picked up her instrument. She then drew upon the air around her causing the pressure to change and she focused it on the strings.

“You need to draw in more air,” Kogna said, “And focus it on one string, not all of them.”

Mina took a deep breath and pulled the air pressure around one string. She pulled it and noticed that it was a little heavier.

“More,”

Mina pulled more air around her. Sweat started beading around her forehead, and her breathing quickened. The string vibrated under the air pressure, and her finger was starting to hurt.

“More,”

Mina groaned as she placed a second finger on the string. It feels like I’m trying to lift a sword. She breathed heavily through gritted teeth, but the string’s weight caused it to slip from her fingers. A blade of air flew forward. It didn’t cut anything, but it forcefully pushed the bottles off the plank and onto the floor.

“Better,” Kogna said with a small smile, “But you’ll need to work on your wrist and grip strength.” He gently patted her back.

Mina nodded and went back to practicing. She didn’t practice for long. Her wrists ached, and blisters were forming on the tips of her fingers. She wrapped bandages around her fingers after soaking them in cold water. I’m not playing tonight. She picked up the rymujin and headed back to the tavern.

The sewers weren’t nearly as scary since Reviled and Skivret took complete control over them. Thankfully, the training camp they established wasn’t far from the tavern either. Mina pulled out a brass key and entered the tavern’s basement. Ada stood at the bar taking stock.

“Welcome back,” Ada said giving her a warm smile, “How was training?”

“Tiring,”

“There should be food upstairs. Would you like me to grab some for you?”

“Yes please,” Mina followed Ada upstairs, “How are you liking it here?”

Ada’s face went slightly pale, “It’s not the worst place I’ve worked at,” she said with a nervous laugh, “It’s actually the best, but the b-master…”

“Can be intimidating,” Mina finished.

“How do you all get along with it?”

Mina smiled, “It took me a while,” she said, “But from what I understand, the master sees us as extensions of himself. Therefore, he does everything in its power to make us satisfied.”

“But it’s a monster,”

“I won’t deny that,” Mina laughed, “But truthfully, I’d rather have him as a master than Delilah. To me, she was the monster.”

Ada nodded as they entered the dining hall. Oria’s gang sat at the bar nursing mugs as they tore through a chicken that Yula brought out. Vaera and Teddy were bringing out produce from the pantry to prepare for that night. Teddy was hauling a sack of potatoes while Vaera carried a small basket of assorted vegetables. Ada chuckled as she watched her brother struggle under the weight.

“They look close,” Mina said with a smile.

“I’m glad he’s stopped flirting with Oria,” Ada said, “I was afraid that he’d develop some strange obsession.” Teddy set the bag on the ground and slapped Vaera on the butt, which caused her to kick him hard between the legs, “Unfortunately, boys don’t learn decency when they grow up in a brothel.” Vaera stormed out of the kitchen as Teddy clawed at the ground.

The door opened and five large men entered the tavern. They each carried a spiked mace and had a bull tattoo on their left shoulder.

“We’re no open yet sirs,” Ada said with a tight smile, “Please come again later.”

One of the men stepped forward and destroyed a chair with his mace, “That’s a shame,” he said, “From what I hear you aren’t going to open for a long time.”

The large bald man in Oria’s gang rose from his stool, “Dammit, why can’t you just leave us alone?” he said cracking his knuckles, “Rylie, get everyone out of here. We’ll take care of them.”

“You sure Mak,”

“Do it Rylie,” the lanky Emmett smiled, “Once we’re done, we’ll come get ya.”

“Downstairs everyone!” Rylie pulled Ada and Yula along.

Mina followed them and stopped in the basement, “Master!”

Reviled’s familiar appeared, “What is it, Mina?”

“More of Samon’s men are attacking!”

“Get out of there,” Reviled said, “We’ll contact Kogna and have him deal with them.”

“What about you?”

“We’re with Meridith and Oria. We’re trying to secure another shipment from the Black Wolves. Just get out of there Mina, we can always rebuild after we’ve dealt with Blackhammer.” Mina nodded and the familiar disappeared.

The others had already fled to the sewers, but Mina stood there shaking. I…want to help. A scream came from upstairs. Mina tightened her grip on her instrument and ran back upstairs. She drew on as much air as she could and focused the pressure on a single string. She nearly lost focus when she entered the dining room.

Oria’s gang laid on the ground with Samon’s men beating them with their weapons. One looked to have a terrible wound on his right temple. The others tried covering their heads.

Mina used four fingers to pull back the string. An onomori’s place is on the battlefield! She plucked the note and sent a blast of air. It struck against the attackers and sent them flying, but the attack didn’t leave any physical damage. Blood seeped through her bandages and ran down her wrist, but Mina started playing an upbeat tone.

“Get up!” She called to the men on the floor.

Her desire for them to rise fueled her playing. Pale purple light shined off the men on the floor and they slowly started to stir. Mina grunted in pain as she continued playing. Four of Samon’s men were also starting to rise.

“My brother’s coming,” Mina shouted to them, “We just need to fend them off for a few minutes!”

“You heard her boys,” Mak said with a pained smile, “Emmett, get Lyle outta the way. Zak keep the lady safe. The last thing we need is the boss to get mad because his girl got hurt.”

“I’m more afraid of her brother.”

“I’ll keep enhancing you all,” Mina said changing to a sharp, fast tune. She could see the veins bulging in their necks.

The men smiled as they rushed forward. Mak grabbed a chair and slammed it down on one of the men. It broke apart, but Mak continued slamming the broken pieces into his opponent. The fifth member of Oria’s gang, Dobe, kicked a second thug hard in the face. One of Samon’s thugs rose to his feet and struck Dobe against the head and threw him to the side. Emmett joined in and stabbed the thug with the fireplace poker.

The battle was chaotic. Mak and Emmett fought hard against the three remaining thugs, but one of the thugs threw a chair towards Mina. She dove out of the way, and for that moment, they lost all momentum. Mak and Emmett fell from exhaustion, and Zak tried to fight them off with a kitchen knife, but he couldn’t get close enough. The two of them were pushed to the back of the tavern by the two remaining thugs, but Zak was taken out with a strike to his side. Mina found herself pinned against the wall.

“You’re the whore that started this all aren’t you? I certain the boss would be happy if we took you back.”

Mina steeled herself, “No!” she kicked him hard between the legs.

The thug fell to his knees, and Mina dashed to the side getting out of reach of the other one. There was only one thug left. Mina was breathing heavily, and her right hand wouldn’t move properly. I can’t play like this.

“The master told you to run,”

Mina relaxed when her brother walked up the steps. The last thug tried to strike Kogna, but he was quickly cut down. Kogna looked around and released a heavy sigh.

“You could have been hurt,” he said, “Why didn’t you run?”

“Because…I wanted to help,” Mina said staring him down, “I’m tired of being a burden.”

Kogna noticed her bleeding hand and wrapped it up, “You’re not a burden,” he said, “But you should know your limits. That’s why it’s important to listen to the master and myself.”

“But…they would have died,” Oria’s gang members groaned on the floor.

“Well, they’re alive because of you,” Kogna said with a small smile, “I’ll make sure they thank their onomori properly.”

Tears ran down Mina’s face, but that didn’t stop her from giving him the largest smile he had ever seen.