Chapter 17: Chapter 17 – Underbelly Subjugation: Complete

“Hello?” Astrid’s voice filled the void. Nothing but an echo returned. “Big breasted undead fish woman?” No response.

She couldn’t see anything but white. So Astrid decided to just close her eyes. She activated Psych Domain to the maximum. Illusion Detection, along with Mental Warfare, told her that this was all an illusion made from psychic energy. The specs of matter turned more detailed. It felt like forever that she was absorbed within this world, surrounded by the matter. There was nothing else to think about.

Her hand gently caressed the billions of dots around her. She could even sense Daniel and the others. She could feel them fighting, but it was like she was trapped in another dimension. Unable to break free. The matter sifted through her hands like a cloud.

She recalled the words of her tutor, Mr Edwards. He had once said that matter is everything that has volume or mass. It is everything in existence. People are made of matter, food is made of matter, the world and even the universe is made of matter.

Since I can control it, I can control anything. If I reached the apex, wouldn't that make me a goddess? Astrid’s mind connected to the billions of specs that created the mind prison. [Crash]. Her spell activated as an intense rumble filled her mind. Astrid could feel the mind’s walls shatter. I can do it! Without Astrid realising it, a black X covered her iris. Her psychic power flared as the air around Astrid distorted and fractured. A bloodcurdling scream left her mouth as the surrounding room shattered into glass fragments. Blood seeped from her face, covering her clothes. Astrid wiped the blood from her face, smearing it entirely red. A wide smile crept up onto her lips as she glared at the lich.

“Screw you.” Her battered mind then clasped onto the rusted anklet as her mind [Crashed] down onto the links. With an explosion, she tore the anklet asunder as it fell to the ground.

Then, the humanoid-horse that they were facing crumbled into dust, leaving the remnants on the floor. A wretched scream left the lich's mouth as her skin crumbled away and she vanished from existence.

Messages were going haywire within her mind, but she was in no condition to look at the wall of text right now.

Astrid grabbed hold of the potion on her waist and swallowed the blue contents within. The cooling sensation slid down her through. However, it was the pain in her mind that was steadily being relieved that made her groan. She opened her eyes. They reflected an image of her team looking back at her. Their eyes opened agape.

“Stop looking at me like that. It’s creepy.” Astrid said in a hoarse voice. Her legs stopped listening to her as she lost her footing. Something crawled up her stomach and breached her throat. Viscous green bile shot out of her mouth. The vile acidic taste made her eyes water.

“Woah there.” Daniel shot forward, grabbing hold of her. He took out a red potion and shoved the contents into her mouth. A warm fuzzy feeling surged around her insides like a cosy hug.

“Mind battle?” Daniel asked.

“Is that what it’s called?” Astrid writhed in pain. "It feels like someone bashed my brain in with a molten hammer."

“What the hell. How is it possible to beat a lich in a mind battle?” Brett raised his eyebrow. “Ain’t you like level 4 or something?”

“Guys, let her breathe, will you?” Lisa rushed forward, her arms gently lay around Astrid’s shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“Just weak and tired.” Astrid said.

“Alright Rachelle, finish looting and let's get out of here. I need a cold beer and a warm bath.” Daniel sniffed his armpit and recoiled. “Smells like our surprising MVP could do the same.”

They entered the cavern room as everyone looked at Astrid and her squad.

Kaylan’s eyebrow rose. “Charles, heal Astrid—now.”

“Don’t get your breeches in a twist. I was already on it darling.” Charles hurried over, his gentle eyes fell on the young woman. “Do I have your permission, my lady?”

Astrid nodded. Her mind was hazy and everything was currently a blur.

His hand rested upon her head as a gentle warmth swirled around her mind. She felt as if bricks were being formed, restoring the cracks within her mind. After only a minute, Astrid perked up. The man’s name appeared in her restored mind.

“Charles?” She said,

“Oh, thank the heavens! I was so worried you forgot about me back there.” Charles placed his hand against his chest. “Seeing you run after the lich with your newly formed team. Oh, it feels like only yesterday that I was watching you run about tormenting the other kids with your beastly personality–” He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “Oh, I mean, you were such a little gem.”

”You’re as annoying as ever, Charles.” Astrid sighed, but a small smile crept onto her face.

“Oh, your words are like an arrow to my heart.” Charles placed the back of his hand against his forehead. He smiled. “So, what happened back there?”

“I would also like to know that.” Kaylan walked forward. “You killed it?” His sharp eyes landed on Daniel.

“Not at all.” Daniel shrugged. “That honour belongs to the young missy.” He placed his hand on Astrid’s shoulder and jostled her around for a second.

Kaylan’s eyes pierced forward.

Daniel nervously chuckled as he placed his hand back at his side. Fidgeting with his blade's hilt. “You should have reminded me not to touch her. You’re meant to be my caretaker.” He glared at Lisa.

“Want me to wipe your ass for you too?” Lisa scowled.

Daniel’s eyes widened as his lips tugged upwards.

“No.” Lisa said as Daniel’s shoulders deflated.

Astrid couldn’t help but let out a puff of air from her cheeks.

“Well, it was a mind battle.” Daniel shuffled behind Lisa. “She won.”

“I can see that. She wouldn’t be standing in front of me if she didn’t.” Kaylan said in his usual impersonal voice. “How can you be so stupid, running after a lich?”

“I’m on the same mission as you!” Astrid said.

“It’s not the same, Astrid.” Kaylan crossed his arms. “You awakened to your System just last week. Mission or not, you should have stayed back with the primary group.”

“Then what would you have done? Sit back and do nothing?”

Kaylan’s brow twitched. “That’s not the same.”

“Don’t forget that I’m also a member of the Sinwen family.” Astrid said. “We have a dead team member to bring back. I’ll be leaving first.” Astrid headed towards the exit.

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“And you–” Kaylan’s voice appeared behind her.

“Ah, sorry, really got to go. Need to stay with the young lady. Make sure she doesn’t walk into a Spawn nest, I’m afraid.” Daniel said.

Daniel and the others rushed to catch up. The solid ice that covered the entrance disappeared. It was a long and agonising walk back as they picked up the young Seafarers body. Astrid was covered in sweat, dust, and blood. But her mind was in no mood to think of a bath.

Her mind replayed the scenes of her first mission. There were a few things that she could have done differently. Astrid wondered if she was just a little stronger Jonathan’s friend wouldn’t have died.

Shaking her head, she glanced at the members within her party as they all bickered amongst each other. Death is a regular occurrence to them, a normality–something I also need to get to grips with.

Astrid and her group, amongst other soldiers and those from the Wayfarer and Seafarer divisions, walked out of the Underbelly as a cacophony of cheers and claps tickled at her eardrums.

“You did it!”

“Thank you!”

“We are free from the Spawn attacks!”

A woman approached with dark bags under her eyes, they were matched with a puffy redness. Tears trickled down her cheek. She fell to her knees as her hands grasped around Astrid’s.

“D-did you find my boy?” The woman sobbed. “He was as tall as your hips, long scraggly hair—I t-tried to brush it but he-he always complained I was too rough, his name’s Peter. Please tell me you found him.”

Astrid bit her lip and shook her head. She glanced at Daniel and he nodded.

“You’ll need to wait for the rescue squad, but he's most likely dead.” Daniel stepped forward. The woman’s sobbing only increased at the words as she broke down.

The lady wasn’t the only one. Men, women, children, they were all looking around, crying. Lost.

They walked through the slums. “Why would you be so blunt?” Astrid said.

“Hope is a good thing.” Daniel said, his face was grim. “But sometimes you need to come to terms with the facts, so you can move on and grieve. In history, no kids have made it back after meeting the Spawn. They kill and eat without question, and without waiting.”

Rob and Losef left the body of the young Seafarer to the Humanity Corps. After filling in a few forms, they quickly left. They stopped at the elevator.

“This is where we part ways for now, missy.” Daniel smiled. “It’s been a pleasure working with you. Hurry and pass that Wayfarers exam. That is if you still want to enter this line of business after today.”

Astrid’s skin was taut around her knuckles. “I do. There’s an entire planet left to explore.” Saying the words, a passionate feeling bubbled forth inside her heart.

“Good. Once you pass, get your ass down here for a pint.” Brett slapped her shoulder. “It was a pleasure working with you, Astrid.”

“We’ll meet again soon!” Lisa wrapped her arms around Astrid.

“You’re going to smother me, woman!” Astrid huffed as she escaped the woman's cleavage.

With laughter, Rob grabbed hold of her in a bear hug.

"I-I can't breathe."

Letting her go with a nod and a smile, he turned and left.

I guess that's his way of saying he’s going to miss me? Astrid smiled.

“Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to debrief for the mission, especially what happened with the lich. I’ll be seeing you soon.” Losef said and Astrid nodded.

“It was nice working with you. May we find even more loot in the future.” Rachelle said and immediately turned around and walked away.

She watched as everyone walked away as an empty feeling suddenly struck her. They stopped and waved. Astrid was quick to wave back as she stepped foot into the elevator.

---

Astrid stood at the bottom of the Sinwen’s manor stairs. Ascending them, the sun had already vanished, replaced with a shining moon. The summer’s sky brought with it a lack of clouds, the stars sprawled across the entire sheet of space up above. Millions or billions. I wonder how many planets are out there, just like this one. How are the Migrators doing up there? If they’re even alive, that is. Astrid was awakened from her thoughts as she finally climbed the last step. Her mother and Leena were standing at the grand door’s entrance.

“I’m home, mother.” Astrid said, her eyes turning heavy.

“The bath water is hot. Just mind you don’t scald yourself, and don't fall asleep in the bath like last time, okay?” Eli said.

Astrid wrapped her arms around Eli. “I love you too, mum.”

“I love you too, sweetie.”

Astrid felt a warm peck on her head as she took a sniff of her mother’s gentle perfume.

"Me too!" Leena wrapped her arms around them both.

She was home.

---

Stripping off her clothes, she sunk straight into the hot and steamy bath. The dirt and grime from the day’s mission turned the crystal clear water into a muddy haze. Mixed with dust, dirt, and blood. Dunking her head for a minute before pulling it out. Being home feels good. But it feels like I'm missing something. Like I’m missing out on things. Let's think about… that…tom–morrow.

Astrid’s gentle breathing filled the steamy bathroom.