Chapter 107: Chapter 107 – A Gift, and the Anchor Dock

"So I have my own personal radar blocker?” Astrid let go of the strong, bandaged hand.

The strength Bellona held in her hand without even trying was staggering. Astrid wouldn’t be surprised if she was approaching Rob’s level soon, which was baffling to think.

“That’s the idea,” Freya said, “although she’s capable of far more than that.”

“Where did you two meet?” Astrid asked. “I don’t remember seeing you two together for, well, as long as I can recall.”

“That’s a long story,” Freya stretched her neck. “It was a few years ago. I had the habit of scouring through all of the adventurers that wandered into Rebirth. I would look for their potential, build up reports on their skills from word of mouth. The flavour of gold helped there.” Freya smirked.

“Then I laid my eyes on Bellona,” Freya said. “Although her anti-magic capabilities were pitiful at that point–”

“Hey.” Bellona interrupted.

“They couldn’t even be called anti-magic at her current level back then.” Freya nudged her nose in Bellona’s direction. “But I discreetly approached her with an offer to join me, although it was a massive gamble on my part as I didn’t know the full extent of her potential and abilities.”

“It paid off, didn’t it?” Bellona added.

“Thankfully,” Freya rolled her eyes. “After thousands of gold coins, it did pay off and she awakened to anti-magic.”

“What would you have done if it didn’t?” Astrid wondered.

“My heart says cry,” Freya joked. “But I was ready for such a situation regardless. I always have a plan B.”

“And C.” Bellona sat down in between them, nudging them to the side.

“What is that smell?” Astrid pinched her nose. “You reek of spawn guts.”

“It’s that bad?” Bellona pinched her shirt and took a sniff. She winced. “Shit, Freya, when were you going to tell me?”

“Honestly, I’m nose blind to it by now.” Freya shook her head.

Astrid scrambled to her feet and hauled out a t-shirt from her drawer.

“Take that old thing off,” Astrid threw the shirt at her. “You’re stinking up my room!”

“Oh, c’mon.” Bellona stripped off her shirt on the spot. “You didn’t even notice it until I was practically sitting on you.”

“You’re right.” Astrid couldn’t help but take a glance. “That just means it’s sunken into the skin, not the clothes. When was the last time you bathed?”

“Oh shit.” Bellona pulled the shirt over her head. “I’m not sure actually, good question. I’ve not long gotten back from an excursion you know.”

“And that’s an excuse?” Astrid asked.

“We’re getting side tracked aren’t we?” Freya clapped. “When you are going for a mission, place this flag at your window. My people will see it, and all of your movements will be masked."

“Thank you,” Astrid said.

“Don’t mention it,” Freya continued, “although from now on, I will buy any equipment you find.”

“Oh shit,” Astrid said. “I handed over all the equipment and rewards from my mission to Daniel. Maybe if we hurry we can–”

“I know.” Freya interrupted. “That’s why I said from now on.”

Astrid clenched her fist. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back next time with more loot than you know what to do with.”

“Knowing your track record of encountering anomalies, that doesn’t surprise me.”

“Yeah what’s your deal anyway?” Bellona continued. “Anywhere you go, dungeons pop up. Death lingers.”

Astrid was about to quickly respond, but she thought about it a bit more. Although what the tattooed woman said made sense. The more she thought about it, it just seemed like an overpowering coincidence.

For the dungeons to appear when she was arriving would mean that Pupil had something to do with it, which he didn’t. Maybe.

Not to mention Kaylan and his party had also discovered a dungeon. Her gut told her that the dungeons would be a regular occurrence from now on.

“Coincidence.” Astrd waved. “Freya, have you got any people down in the towns to discover the dungeons?”

“I don’t,” Freya answered. “My eyes are only on Rebirth, right now, I can’t afford to look elsewhere.”

“Hmm.” Astrid pinched her chin. “It would be best to target the dungeons that have the highest degree of suspicious activity. Things like stronger monsters, peculiar behaviour, or even the land changing somewhat.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Freya nodded. “But in the mean-time, have fun out there. I’ll keep the hawks off your back so that you can play to your heart's content.”

“Aren’t you the best cousin?” Astrid chuckled and wrapped her arms around Frey’s shoulders.

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“Okay, okay,” Freya wriggled free with a satisfied smile.

Astrid looked over Freya’s back as a Sinwen guard approached.

“Come in,” Astrid said before he could make himself known.

The guard entered with a letter in hand. It was crinkled and had obviously been prepared without a care for presentation.

“My lady.” the guard presented it with both hands as Astrid took it with her mind.

Astrid opened the letter and gazed at the handwriting, if it could be called that. Honestly, she had seen better while at the orphanage.

The text on the coarse paper made the kids' handwriting look like expert level calligraphy.

“Hey lassie, we got a mission ready, oh, and a boat! Your time of exploration is coming shortly–three hours from now–that is.. Please make your way to the Anchor Dock in the Middle District where your noble ocean steed is awaiting.

All aboard the severing, eyeball-pulling, burning, smashing express! Please be mindful of the step before you enter.

The one and only,
Brett”

Of course it’s Brett. Astrid giggled.

“It looks like I’m going on a mission sooner than expected.” Astrid clenched her hands in excitement.

“We,” Bellona corrected. “Where is it? I have a few things I need to prepare before then.”

Astrid told her the place and time. Bellona wasted no more words as she waltzed out of the room without a care of the surrounding guards.

They must know she is with us? Astrid thought.

It was all so confusing. Just how far did Freya’s influence reach? Astrid questioned herself. She had spent years looking down on her because of her lack of battle intent and martial-arts.

A new found respect was quickly growing within her.

“Well cousin.” Freya stood up. “I’ll take my leave. I’m rather busy after all. Take this, it will help mask your identity when outside. It cost a pretty penny, so make sure not to lose it, or in your case, damage it.”

Freya handed over a new cloak.

“Of course I won’t.” Astrid acted insulted and took hold of the cloak, “I’ll see you next time I get back.”

“You better.” Freya smirked and left the room.

The guard was also about to leave now that Astrid was all alone, but she called him back as she raised the flag that Freya had given her, onto the window ledge.

“There is a second year Wayfarer that was just recently released from duty,” Astrid continued. “Calum, I’m not sure of his second name. Find him and give him the details on this letter.”

She walked out of her room, past the guard and into the hallway. The loud thumping of her boots rang throughout the empty halls.

“Lady Sinwen!” The guard said. “What should I tell this Calum?”

“Tell him revenge is better tasted personally.” Astrid grinned, then stopped. Unless father gets to them first, then, uhh... well, we'll find someone else to defeat.

“Of course, my lady.” The Sinwen guard saluted. The individual parts of his heavy plate armour clanged at the movements.

The need for revenge… Astrid was excited just thinking about it.

She would judge it herself if they deserved death or not. If it was in fact Prince’s father that had ordered his son to scavenge, slaughter, and plunder their equipment, then she had no qualms stomping them out like shrimp in a fish-net.

Shit, I could have gazed into Prince’s memories. Astrid stomped at the thought.

It’s not your fault, Astrid. You were too busy fighting!

I know, but still… If I wasn’t so interested in seeing where my melee abilities lay, I could have defeated him much easier and scoured his brain. Astrid said within her mind.

Well whatever, it doesn’t matter. It would have just sped up the inevitable. It’s only a matter of time before father finds them. I just hope I get to join him in the attack. Astrid sighed, but she felt her shoulders tremble in excitement.

She couldn’t wait to find out if Prince’s father had the capabilities to survive her father’s onslaught. She had no doubt in her mind that the pirate king wouldn’t be given the chance to fight back, hence, he would only be able to run and try to survive.

Astrid had never seen her father properly fight before. It would be a treat to watch.

Astrid trailed her fingers along the hallway with a hop in her step as she skipped towards the manor’s entrance.

It was time to see her new boat. She put on her new cloak and tipped the hood over her head.

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