382 Ayla (1/2)

Thessa, the Leader of the Serpent Clan, pushed a plate in front of him. ”You must keep your strength up, First.”

After being nudged by Sharl under the table, Floyd smiled and thanked the woman. ”You're right, of course. Thank you, Thessa.”

Thessa nodded and opened up her hud. ”I can't believe so many were involved in this plot.”

Nix studied her while she spoke with the Gemini Trickster. She seemed young for a Clan Leader but also very smart. With the removal of the bad apples, the Serpent Clan should thrive again.

Thessa shook her head slowly. ”What will the First do now?”

Floyd glanced at Sharl, who seemed to be deliberately avoiding eye contact. ”I will stay here for a while to help rebuild the Serpent Clan. Tautius said that the clan would flourish because of my existence. It's even likely that new abilities will start to manifest in the clan's children. After that, I will rejoin Inferno and my spirit companion.”

/Alpha: Wind: I don't get the First thing.

/Alpha: Nix: Think of it as the Clan Spirit; without it, the clan withers and dies. That's what happened to the human totem clans.

/Alpha: Semmi: You know a lot about the totem clans boss.

/Alpha: Nix: True. This was important, though. Bo'raz has already joined Khione, if the Serpent Clan were to join her too...

/Alpha: Semmi: Do you think Khione is actively recruiting? Maybe even spying?

/Alpha: Nix: Yes.

Sharl smiled at her spirit companion's words. ”That's a great plan, Floyd.

Nix reached for the drink in front of him only to bump hands with Thessa. ”Hmm?”

Thessa pointed to the drink on the other side of him. ”That one is yours, Nix.”

Nix grabbed his own mug and slid it closer. ”Of course. Sorry about that.”

Thessa smiled pleasantly. ”So, you do speak.”

Nix nodded in agreement. He deliberately let Floyd do the interacting with the Serpent Clan Leader. ”I do.”

”Your basilisk form is amazing, by the way.” Thessa stole a glance at Milat, who was sitting at the bar with Sori. ”From what I hear, Inferno also has a Sand Snake that is particularly effective.”

Nix saw the bodies throughout the under-city, most of them were put there by Milat's snake form. The miniature sand snake puppet they had taken from Eidengal was terrifying. Did that mean the other two were equally impressive? ”Does the Assassin Guild have a presence, Seryndefi?”

”I wish I knew.” Thessa frowned at the mention of the Assassin's Guild; over the past few months, there had been many rumors.

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/Inferno: Semmi: What's our priority?

/Inferno: Nix: I guess it would be the Wolf Trial? Since they collapsed most recently.

/Inferno: Milat: Sori, and I will do that one in the morning.

/Inferno: Nix: The restoration trials will have to wait. No idea how to proceed with those.

/Inferno: Semmi: So do the trials first? How come there wasn't a reward for Sharl and Floyd?

/Inferno: Nix: The trial quests are all turned in at the same time. Guess that means we have to do them all first.

/Inferno: Semmi: How come there isn't a trial for the Falcon Clan?

/Inferno: Nix: Because the council hasn't found one they could appoint as Second.

/Inferno: Semmi: You're doing the Scorpion Trial with Ducky?

/Inferno: Nix: Yep. Inferno will knock out the remaining three trials and get out of this desert.

[Whisper: Wind to Nix] And then you'll go find the old bastard?

[Whisper: Nix to Wind] Correct. Then I'll find the old bastard.

/Inferno: Semmi: Let's get some rest. Long day tomorrow.