Everything will be fine

Daiki and Ashira step out into the streets of Evermere after leaving Lordwise. Amber has just finished with Grom, taking her oath, and Masaki has begun studying a new spell, planning to research oni and portals.

Daiki, still in his “buff bodyguard” role from earlier, relaxes the moment they’re outside. “Okay, okay,” he says to Ashira. “This was not as helpful as we thought it would be, right, Ash? But do we have enough for the song?”

“I think it was helpful,” Ashira replies. “Maybe we should go to the inn.”

“Just to experience how we experience life,” Ashira explains.

“Do we have the money for that? I remember Wolfgang said it was quite expensive.”

“We’re not staying there for long. I think we have the money.”

“Okay. Well, I’m fine, but do you mind if I don’t be Amber anymore? I don’t know, it doesn’t really suit me.”

“That’s fine. We’ll manage.”

“I’ll just be me. So let’s go to the Kingfisher then.”

Ashira nods. “Yeah,” she says, and starts to hail another carriage.

Daiki tilts his head. “You want to take a carriage? I think I’d rather walk. Are you okay with walking, Ash? Maybe we could promenade like the other day.”

“I don’t mind. It’s not very Wolfgang-like, though. Oh—if we could fly, that would be even better. Then we could truly feel like Wolfgang.”

“There are ways to fly,” Daiki says.

“But Wolfgang never really flies when he doesn’t have to, right? He always walks or takes a carriage.”

“But he takes in the view. He explores and then flies,” Ashira says.

Daiki remembers. “Yeah. I remember him smiling when he had a little fly in the morning… when everything was burned and slayed by the dragon.”

“Exactly. So we need to get up high.”

“Maybe he was happy when he died and we shouldn’t bring him back.”

“Ooh, maybe instead of flying, we should just aim to get the bird’s-eye view. Maybe go to the highest point in Evermere, try to get the view Wolfgang would get.”

They decide to try the Dawnbringer’s Cathedral, its towers the tallest they know of.

Daiki points to the distant spires. “There. Let’s go.”

They walk through the busy midday streets, reaching the cathedral in about fifteen minutes. Ashira immediately begins looking for a way up, eventually spotting a priest in the crowd.

She approaches him. “Hello, good sir. We need access to the highest spire to bring back one of our dead friends.”

“What?”

“Yes, please,” she says firmly.

Daiki adds, “We want to experience how it is to fly high in the sky.”

The priest looks uncertain. “Can you fly?”

“No,” Ashira admits. “That’s why we need to get up.”

When asked what they’ll do up there, Ashira says, “Just experience life.”

The priest is shocked, and thinks Ash and Daiki want to jump off the tower. Daiki quickly tells the man that they do not intend to kill themselves. 

The priest is relieved and finally mentions that while most of the towers are inaccessible, one can be toured—for three silver. He points them to the entrance.

Outside, they find a long queue. While they wait, Daiki surveys the square outside—broad, open, full of pigeons. Hundreds of them. An idea sparks. “Ash, keep our spot,” he says, and slips away. He gathers the pigeons, and asks them to “help” clear the line. Soon, a storm of wings descends on the crowd, scattering them in shit. Ashira, completely covered (because she was still in the queue), simply walks forward through the mess. All the other waiting creatures fled the queue. 

At the front, they pay for their tickets and join a tour. The guide, a birdlike woman named Misa, leads them up the long spiraling staircase. Most of the group—humans, tieflings, a halfling couple in matching joke shirts—take it slow. Daiki tries to push ahead but is reminded Misa holds the key.

After a steady climb, they reach the top. The room is open on all sides, with a pointed roof and an enormous bell in the center, caged in iron. Misa explains one of the eight cathedral bells, perhaps this one, once protected the city from demons or devils, though only the high priests know which bell it really is..

Daiki takes in the sweeping view—Evermere’s sprawl below, the other towers, the Spiral Archive rising in the distance, fields, hills, and forests all around. The wind whips around them, though Misa notes it’s magically generated; walls of force shield the open arches.

While most of the group is absorbed in the view, Daiki discreetly strikes the bell with his staff. The deep sound rolls out over the city.

---

Meanwhile, Amber emerges from the Golden Halls after her training with Gron. She bows, thanks him several times, and decides not to join Daiki and Ashira’s “weird song” project. Instead, she heads to the Spiral Archive, hoping to find Masaki.

Inside, she asks the gnome at the desk if Masaki has been by. The gnome clerk thinks he’s either on the 13th or 42nd floor. Amber tries the 13th first, climbing the wide spiraling stairs past floors lined with books and study tables. No sign of Masaki there.

A tiefling woman shelving books tells her she hasn’t seen him. Amber sighs and continues the long climb toward the 42nd floor, muttering that her paladin trials were easier than this. Somewhere around the 28th floor, she hears a bell tolling from far above—loud, clear, and unlike anything she’s heard in the city before. 

Amber curses under her breath, halfway down the spire. “Oh, merde.” She spins on her heel and begins sliding down every set of stairs she can, alternating between sliding and running, her armor clanking loudly through the quiet of the library. Patrons shush her as she passes, but their whispers vanish beneath the metallic echo of her descent.

In less than ten minutes, she reaches the base of the tower. A woman stands at the door, peering outside. The bell that rang moments ago has already gone silent. Amber knows the sound came from the Dawnbringers Cathedral—and that protocol from Clovis Major dictates swift action. When such a bell rings, mage guards and red cloaks are deployed immediately to the city walls, all off-duty personnel called into service. It should have kept ringing. The fact that it stopped is… suspicious.

She weighs her options: go to the walls to check for danger and manage crowds, or head to the cathedral to investigate why the ringing ceased. Before she can choose, a tap on her shoulder startles her. She turns to find Masaki.

“Oh my god, where did you come from?” she asks.

He explains that he was on the 17th floor when the bell rang. “I think I’m going to report to the Mageguard Keep,” he says, reasoning that Amber should go to the Dawnbringers Cathedral to gather information. Splitting up, they set off in different directions.

Elsewhere, Daiki and Ashira stand in the aftermath of the bell’s ringing. Misa, a halfling guide, tries to calm the startled crowd. “Nothing to worry about—it must have been a false alarm,” she tells them, ushering people out. Ash studies Daiki closely, suspicion in her eyes.

“What are you doing?” she asks quietly on their way down.

“I was trying to bless you,” Daiki replies. “The bell keeps demons out, and you’ve got a contract with one, right?”

Ash frowns. “Why didn’t you just admit that?”

“I thought I could always try,” he mutters.

The two make their way outside where red cloaks and mage guards are gathering. They attempt to slip away, but are stopped by a pair of guards who begin asking questions.

“Did you see anyone near the bell?” one asks.

“No,” Ash says smoothly. “I was looking at the magnificent views up there.”

When pressed, both dance around the truth—until Daiki finally sighs. “Okay, I will tell them. It was my fault. I rang the bell because our tour guide said it kept demons away, and I just wanted to bless the city.”

A fine is issued: fifty gold pieces, payable immediately or within a week. Daiki seems uncertain about what “a fine” even means, but Ash assures him they can pay it later.

Amber arrives in time to catch the tail end of the conversation. She narrows her eyes. “Hey guys, what just happened?”

“It’s very loud up there,” Daiki replies vaguely.

Amber’s expression hardens. “It went off three times and then stopped. This is a major thing for the city. We need to evacuate people.”

“The tour guide said it was used for keeping demons away,” Daiki explains. “So I thought I could help with getting rid of the contract.”

“You rang the bell?” she demands.

“Just one little thing,” he admits.

Amber forces a calm smile. “Maybe don’t do that anymore.”

The discussion turns to the fine. Amber wants to know how Daiki is going to pay it. Ash explains that Wolfgang could make up for the money, when he’s back to life, it’ll just be part of the resurrection cost. Amber warns them not to rely on Wolfgang’s funds to pay it. “This is not your money to spend,” she says firmly.

Ash says, “Then,we might use the funds of the goblin hoard? I know it’s plenty to cover the fine. So it’s fine.”

Amber tilts her head. “Oui, of course. Okay, then—why don’t you pay that immediately?”

Ash waves it off. “Well, you better not. It’s nicer to spend money later. They didn’t charge us anything to pay it back later, so always go back and pay back later.”

“Maybe they forget about the fine,” Daiki says hopefully.

“Exactly,” Ash adds.

“I think no, no, no, they will not forget,” Amber replies firmly.

Amber’s tone sharpens. “They will not forget. Let me be very clear—I don’t like to be very strict, but I have to because I am also protecting you right now, and I will protect you. This is a fine. It has to be paid. They won’t forget it. Just pay it as soon as you can. This is my urgent advice to you.”

Ash assures him there’s plenty of time. “This is like the first ten-day. Then they’re just going to give you a little reminder, then charge extra—but it’s the actual reminder. We have plenty of time to pay this off.”

“I think I just follow Ash. She knows more about the city than I do,” Daiki says.

Amber isn’t letting it drop. “If you have the money—because you took a lot of the treasure while I was making sure I could take Wolfgang’s body—please just go to the Keep. Please don’t wait for reminders.”

Daiki nods. “Okay, okay.” He scans the street. “Is the red cloak still here?”

One remains nearby, directing people and calming the crowd. Daiki walks over, fine in hand. “Okay, I have enough money for this fine paper,” he tells them.

The red cloak looks surprised. “Oh, already? Why didn’t you pay before then?”

“Yes, I don’t know. You gave me this paper,” Daiki replies, opening his backpack. He digs through gold, silver, and copper. “So, fifty, right? That means fifty of this one—this is gold, right?”

“No, that’s copper,” the red cloak corrects.

Daiki frowns. “Oh, okay. Fifty of the yellow one.”

They count together, stacking coins in piles of five. Amber stands nearby, watching the street protectively. Eventually, Daiki counts fifty gold pieces. The red cloak finds one stack short, corrects it, and hands over a pouch. “You’re officially paid off. I’ll bring it to the Mageguard Keep.”

Daiki turns back to the group. “Everything is solved. Where is Masaki?”

Amber explains, “Masaki went to the Mage Guard Keep when the bell rang. Every red cloak, on duty or not, must respond.”

Daiki grins. “So what do we do now? Can we start writing our song?”

Ash suggests, “It would be nice to go to the Fishing Kingfisher, to really experience what it’s like to be Wolfgang.”

Daiki nods. “Yes. We have Amber with us now—maybe you have to pay her for friendship.”

Amber raises a brow when Ash mentions they spoke to Lord Wise and Mr. Talos. Her tone hardens when she realizes they told Wolfgang is dead. “Please refrain from talking to a lot of people about the death of our party member. Do not ring any bells. Just go sit in a park somewhere. For now, I have to go to Masaki.” She leaves toward the Keep.

Ash salutes. “Yes ma’am. We’ll be on our best behavior.”

---

Left alone, Daiki and Ash talk about fines and the way the city works—how anything is allowed if you can pay for it.

A carriage stops beside them. The driver is a scarred man with an eye patch and a large parrot. “Can I bring you somewhere?” he asks.

Daiki hesitates. The parrot squawks, “Not weird! I’m not weird!”

The man insists he has something they’ll like, he has a lot of exotic birds, but won’t say more unless they ride with him. Ash declines politely, but Daiki whispers that they should see the birds to check if they’re all right.

The man introduces himself as Blakeney, called One Tooth, and invites them inside. The moment they enter, the door locks with a click. Magical light reveals cages upon cages of birds, some exotic and unfamiliar. Daiki looks horrified.

He wants to speak with the birds, but before he can, the carriage stops. Blakeney steps inside. “So, you’ve seen the merchandise. Interested?”

Daiki asks, “How much for everything?”

“Six hundred,” Blakeney replies.

Ash warns Daiki they can’t afford it and freeing them would just mean they’d be caught again. Daiki insists, “How would you feel if you were caged up like that?”

Ash casts a spell, her voice calm but firm. “You should just release all the birds right now.”

Blakeney nods slowly and begins opening cages. Birds burst into the sky, Feathers the parrot on One Tooth’s shoulder squawking in alarm. Daiki urges, “You should go too, Feathers! Be free!” Eventually, every cage is empty.

“Thank you so much,” Ash says as they step out.

Blakeney seems dazed but lets them go, and greets them politely. Ash remarks, “See, Daiki? Most people are reasonable when you just ask nicely.”

Daiki laughs. “I was thinking about killing him, but thank you for just asking. I think Amber will like that.”

They turn toward the Fishing Kingfisher. Ash adds quietly, “Probably best to avoid him after the next eight hours—he may remember what happened, and he probably won’t be too thankful.”

Daiki suggests to Ash that she should change back into her Lord Ash persona in case they want to enter through the front entrance of the Fishing Kingfisher. He reminds her they were barred from the front last time. Ash agrees, and Daiki decides he’ll wait outside or perhaps in the garden.

---

Amber arrives at the Mage Guard Keep. At the entrance booth, a guard asks if he can help her. She explains she’s looking for a Red Cloak officer—Masaki. She’s been there before, so she proceeds to the private Quarters, knocks, and asks for him. She’s told he’ll be ready in about five minutes, finishing a spell. Amber waits outside.

When Masaki joins her, Amber explains that everything at the tower is fine—though their small green friend rang a bell to help a musical companion, which caused some trouble and a fine that she made sure was paid. As for the resurrection they’ve been planning, a priest told her they must perform it themselves, offering items meaningful to them. Masaki shares that his own reading confirmed this, and warns that using something meaningless could have negative effects.

Amber also mentions they must move Wolfgang’s body from the Obsidian Path to the Temple of Luck, and asks Masaki to escort her. He agrees, and they head off to retrieve the body.

---

Meanwhile, Ash arrives at the Fishing Kingfisher. She finds a bench across the street to sit and study the place, slipping into the mindset of Wolfgang—clothes shifting to a regal style, hair shorter, her features leaning toward a male aristocratic look. She enters the establishment with confidence, orders whiskey and tea, and takes a seat in a corner with a good view of the wealthy patrons. She observes them closely, picking up on mannerisms and social cues.

Out back, Daiki tends to the plants he’d grown there before, reflecting on the day. When Ash emerges, now fully embodying her role, Daiki remarks on how she looks like a blend of herself and Wolfgang. Ash says it feels strange, but believes she now has a clearer picture of Wolfgang’s world. They decide to head toward the temple together.

By coincidence, they arrive at the Temple of Luck at the same time as Amber and Masaki, who have brought Wolfgang’s body. Amber, at first not recognizing Ash, expresses her surprise. Ash politely requests to be addressed simply as Ash, though Amber refuses to use that name. With little ceremony, Amber heads inside to speak with Huliavar about storing the body, the others following her.

---

The group greets each other as sound issues resolve. Huliavar’s voice comes through clearly now, his tone light. “Welcome, welcome back to the Gilded Dice… the temple where your odds may ever be in your favor.”

“I think we have not met,” Huliavar says, “my name is child Huliavar.”

“We have met,” Ash replies, “but it was in a different… mode of thought, if you will. Again, you can refer to me as Ash—I would prefer so.”

“Whatever pleases you,” Huliavar says, already moving through the temple in an absent-minded way. They pass the central altar of chance—a white marble altar with a gigantic ceremonial golden die set into it. He spins it idly as they walk past the mural of fortune, then leads them into a familiar altar chamber where they had once discussed the late Count Wolfgang.

He continues into another room—a forty-foot chamber shaped as a six-sided star, with alcoves in each point. In the center stands a white marble tomb. He invites Amber to lay Wolfgang’s body upon it, then gestures to the statues. “You already know the four protectors of the Lady of Luck: the Merchant, the Gambler, the Believer, and the Vagabond—symbols of wealth, chance, faith, and risk. But two others, not for the ordinary faithful, are also present here: the Judge, and the Child of Chance.”

He points them out—the Judge holds golden scales; the Child of Chance is a young figure tossing a coin mid-air with a smile. “They stand for balance… and the blank slate.”

Daiki steps toward the Child of Chance. “I have no idea what’s happening here, but blank slate… I think that’s me.”

Amber considers, then nods. “I think I will go to the Believer.” She just swore her oath to Auctur, so that seems VERY logical to her.

Ash tilts her head. “I’ll go for the Vagabond.”

That leaves Masaki, who after a moment says, “I think I would go for the Merchant. Honest trade—that’s something I believe in. Risk didn’t work out well for me last time with the hag I must admit.” He is thinking about what to offer, and waits a bit with making an offer. He observes all others first. 

Once they stand before their chosen statues, Huliavar closes the temple doors with a phrase in a strange tongue. An ivory key drifts from his body into the lock, and another lock clicks from the other side. “Please,” he says, “before we start the ritual, present your tribute to the Lady of Luck to remember Count Wolfgang Rüppelshammer.”

Daiki steps forward without hesitation. He lays down a bundle of acorns. “I was told to bring something valuable. These acorns hold the future of forests. Forests are more important to this world than many think… they symbolize new life, and perhaps a good future and tranquility.”

“Thank you, Daiki,” Huliavar says.

Amber moves next. She unrolls a parchment—the contract between herself and Wolfgang—its seal broken. She places it gently upon his chest. “This contract bound us, and is the reason I swore an oath. This oath will stay in my heart—I no longer need this contract. It will live inside me. That is why I offer it now, as part of this resurrection.” Her composure remains steady, but those sensitive to it feel her determination and her mourning.

Huliavar accepts it quietly, as if recognizing her choice yet holding his own thoughts.

Ash steps forward last. “I’m going to channel everything I’ve built up in the character of Wolfgang—what he is, what he would be—into a song.” The song swells into a massive moment, then suddenly breaks into silence, leaving the suspense of whether it will continue. As she plays, her appearance shifts, shedding traces of the Lord’s masquerade and returning to herself.

Huliavar approaches the marble tomb. From his pocket, he takes a small, smooth lapis lazuli gemstone. “We have never met,” he says softly to the still form, “but I have seen you in your dreams. You have great deeds ahead. Your soul is strong. We would like you back. You are an important member of your family.”

He produces a carefully painted Rüppelshammer family crest on parchment—the design subtly different from Wolfgang’s own personal emblem—and places it beside the stone as his own offering.