However, lying down with your mind running was a sure way of depriving yourself of sleep. She thought she would go to the park and have a nice calming stroll.
While watching the trees, Sherry remembered Otaczac forest and quickly wanted to think about something else. She sat down on one of the park benches.
She stared at the afternoon sky and admired its auburn brilliance. While watching the beautiful setting sun, tears started running down her cheeks.
The culpability of losing Jinggu and Sharur followed her wherever she went. She decided to do some mobile banking to distract her mind from such sad thoughts.
Despite all her efforts, her mind would always find its way back to the twin OrkElves. She conceded and started to cry once more.
Then, she remembered Jinggu and Sharur's life long wish. They wanted to look for other OrkElves. Sherry decided to read up on all the information she could find about Orks in Zectas.
She also thought to look up the different religions in Zectas. She didn't want to experience one of Adder's disappointed stares.
At a jogging pace, Sherry headed home and quickly went to her laptop to find all the information that she needed.
She used the remaining time on research and only took quick breaks for basic necessities. She found that the forums did not have as much information as she had hoped for.
Sherry started to search through other player's blogs and conspiracy theories for answers.
The hours passed and there were only a few minutes left before she could get back into Zectas. Sherry never got Nash's call, which she interpreted as Adder not contacting him.
* * * * * *
Sierra's eyes opened. She expected to be in front of their burnt down fort, but instead she saw the welcoming fountain of Nanahuatl.
It took her a couple of seconds to realize that this was her last save point before dying. She hadn't been to any other villages or cities since they started the Maneator quest.
Twenty four hours ago, she wanted to get in contact with everyone in her party, but when she was back in Zectas she couldn't bring herself to contact any of them.
Sierra was still deep in thought when an old man wearing a high-end wizard robe lightly tapped her shoulder.
"Oh, Darius. You startled me."
"Sorry about that. I just wanted to ask how you were. You looked deeply troubled. Is everything alright? Wait a minute. You appeared here, in front of the fountain alone. Don't tell me... Is Adder and everyone else dead?"
Sierra instantly came to her senses and defensively answered.
"NO! No, no, not everyone died... Adder is alive, at least from the last time I saw him and I think all of the Hunters are alive as well."
Darius looked at Sierra intensely.
"Then are Laernea and Gandiva alright? Hmm, Gandiva's suppose to come here to get the latest batch of double bladed swords... No... That means that... Jinggu and Sharur? Are they really dead?"
Sierra tried her best to hold back the tears. She hadn't been this emotional since her mother passed away.
"I'm so sorry. Smoke divided his private army and he gave me command over Adder, Jinggu, Sharur, Sharanga, Vijaya, and Thyrsus. Maybe he should have left Adder in charge. I thought I had everything under control. I thought I was protecting them. I honestly thought they would be safer inside the fort. How could I know that those Brandal bastards had such massive explosives. If only they followed my instructions and ran away. They would still be alive today."
The red Werebear whimpered. Darius patted her back to console her.
"I'm sure those two knew what they were doing. If they could talk, they'd probably say that they didn't regret anything. I bet they're smiling right now, wherever they are. Don't beat yourself up. Learn from this experience and grow from it. You have to be strong for everybody else... Um, how did Smoke take the tragic news?"
Sierra covered her face with her claws.
"I... haven't told him yet, and I think no one else has as well."
"Oh... But you are planning on telling him right? You can't keep something like this from him."
"Of course! He'll eventually find out, sooner or later. He might as well hear it from me. If you'll excuse me. I'll give him a call now."
Sierra walked to the direction of Smoke's house. She wanted to get some privacy. Smoke answered her call on the first ring.
"Hey! I've been wondering when you'd call. I was so busy after winning the tournament that I completely forgot to check in with you. I'm so sorry. Anyway, have you found the exit?"
Smoke's voice was ecstatic. It was clear that he was in a state of euphoria. It was understandable, given all that devoted attention and luxurious prizes.
Sierra thought that she would just tell him directly but it wasn't as easy as she thought.
"Oh... Well, we still haven't found the exit. Although we've finished investigating all the villages. Don't worry we'll find it sooner or later."
"Ahh, that's okay. Don't worry about it. I know you'll eventually find it."
Sierra took a deep breath and readied herself to tell Smoke the horrific news.
"Listen... I have to tell you something important. While we were waiting for the Bran..."
Smoke wouldn't let Sierra finish her sentence.
"Right. Well, let me tell you, once you've won that championship and equipped this glorious armor the crowd just wouldn't let go of you. I've had dozens of friend requests that I decided to disable the friend request notification. Oh, and that reminds me. Do you remember Macher? The Cavalry Knight who helped me enter the city?"
"Yeah, I think so. What about him?"
"He offered to be my sponsor in the Mounted Race event. It costs 80,000 zecs to join, and if I agree I get to join for free. What do you think? Should I accept his offer? He only asks that when I win the grand prize I give him ten million zecs from the winnings. I think it's a fair deal."
Sierra was upset with Smoke. She wanted to tell him the sad news but he was too full of himself to give her the chance.
"It sounds like you've already made your decision. Why do you need to hear what I think?"
"I knew you'd agree with me. Alright, call me when you get any new developments on your search. I'll also do the.. Hello? Sierra? You still there? Hmm. She hung up on me."
Sierra couldn't believe Smoke. How could he be so insensitive and not give her the opportunity to tell him about Jinggu and Sharur.
She went back to the fountain where Darius was still waiting for her.
"So, how was it?"
"Well, he was too occupied with winning some tournament in Coatl that he wouldn't let me tell him what happened."
"But did you really try to tell him?"
"I tried, believe me I tried, but I think I'll tell him about it later. When he has gotten over all this hype of winning."
Darius was troubled, he stared into the fountain to calm himself. He carefully watched the flowing water.
"You know, I wish all relationships were as peaceful as this fountain. Sadly, it isn't. I think if you want a relationship to work then you need to have a strong foundation. One way of building that foundation is through trust. I think trust between two people is like this egg."
Out of nowhere an egg appeared in Darius' right hand.
"I think gaining someone's trust is like holding this fragile egg. It can take a few cracks here and there but once it's broken, it's broken."
Darius released the egg and before it hit the ground it disappeared.
“Make sure you keep those cracks at a minimum. Anyway, Gandiva will be here soon. You can hitch a ride with her. I'm assuming you want to rejoin with Smoke or Adder?"
"Yes, yes. That would be great."
"While we're waiting, why don't you tell me what you've been up to these past few days? Perhaps sharing your experience will help you deal with the grieving process."
Sierra told Darius about their investigation on the five villages of Poludnie, Nisko, Betul, Salah, and Silap. She also asked him about Cuezaltzinity. She wanted to get a deeper understanding about the other religions as well.
A few hours passed and Gandiva finally arrived.
"Sierra? What are you doing here? I thought you were out looking for the labyrinth's exit?"
"Uh... Something came up. I can't tell you all the details yet. If you don't mind, I'd like to tell you after I tell Smoke. I hope you understand?"
The Lioumerean tigress looked puzzled but nodded her head nonetheless. Darius came out of his house, and with his right hand he levitated the batch of double bladed swords to be delivered.
"Here they are. Let me just drop them beside in carriage and you'll be all set."
"Oh, wait. Please give me a second. Let me just empty my carriage. Smoke gave me some stuff to to give to the Nanahuatlanos."
"That's okay. Let me help you with that."
Darius made a series of motions with his left hand and the assorted packages floated into the air.
"Where do you want me to put them?"
"Right in front of Smoke's house would be great."
Darius calmly placed the levitating bundle of double bladed swords into Gandiva's carriage and proceeded to bring the assorted packages to Smoke's front porch.
“You know, Gandiva, I can't get over how mature you and Laernea have become.”
The tigress Lioumerean beamed, she was proud that her master had praised her.
“On that note. I want you to respect Sierra's request and keep everything you know about this trip to yourself. If she's going to tell you anything, let her do it on her own volition. Don't force it out of her. Okay?"
Gandiva's smile disappeared and her face became serious.
"Of course, of course... So, I can't ask questions then? Wait I still need to ask you whether Sierra wants me to drop her off somewhere. You are still planning on going to Adder and everybody else right? I hope that's okay to ask?"
Sierra grinned at Gandiva's effort of having a serious conversation.
"Yes, that's alright. If you don't mind, can you drop me near Betul? Adder and everyone else should be there."
"That's no trouble at all. Let me just do one quick thing. After I finish this up, we'll head for Betul immediately. Just give me about ten minutes."
Gandiva went to Smoke's house and rang the newly installed village bell. Everyone heard the bell and excitedly went outside their homes. The villagers couldn't wait to receive their gifts from Smoke.
The Lioumerean tigress also promised all the kids to give them one action figure of the participants in Coatl city's 'Swordsman to Knight Tournament'.
When Smoke heard about Gandiva's promise, he gave her more than enough money to buy all the children a complete set of the wooden action figures.
Gandiva also delivered a variety of vegetables and fruits for Franz Briar and his family to plant. She also delivered an abundant supply of meat and spices for everyone to enjoy new dishes.
She gave silk, linen and other raw materials for sewing to James Jackal, and the top of the line tanning tools to Howard Hide.
Peitro Fischer also received the latest fishing rod and ten new nets for fishing. Smoke had something for everyone in Nanahuatl.
Everyone gathered in front Smoke's house were laughing and showing their new items to each other. Darius who stood beside Sierra told her that this scene was something that he thought he would never see again.
"Smoke saw this scene once. I never imagined that he'd follow in Kumbaba's footsteps. Kumbaba was..."
Sierra stopped Darius' from telling her who Kumbaba was. She knew that he was the great DarkElf village chief of Nanahuatl who was also the only Beggar Imperator of the secret society of Verum de Mendicantibus.
"I know who Kumbaba was. He was your closest friend, right?"
Sierra smiled as she saw the happy faces of the Nanahuatlanos. She thought that Smoke had become too self-absorbed, but as she saw the scene before her. She realized that maybe he hasn't.
"Don't worry. I'll tell Smoke about Jinggu and Sharur, as soon as I see Adder and everybody else."
After Gandiva gave out all the packages she turned to Sierra and asked if she was ready to leave.
The red Werebear nodded and the two of them were on their way to Betul.
* * * * * *
Sierra and Gandiva spent the next couple of hours talking about Smoke's adventures inside the heraldic city of Coatl. The Werebear made sure to keep Gandiva thinking about anything else aside from asking her about Jinggu and Sharur.
