text: be you." You say, causing her to laugh a bit.
  "Well, this is why you'd make a good spymaster. You're a realist that doesn't have delusions of grandeur! You're right of course, I am the friendly dragon, but you at least wouldn't have to worry about the friendly dragon's minions because you'd indirectly be in charge of them, to a limited degree of course. Better to stand with the dragon than be under its talons."
  
  This is just so surreal to you right now. Never in your life did you ever think you'd get an offer like this. Then again never in your life did you ever think you would ever do this much fighting either, but you guess on that day when you took your first life and had to run your ass out of Teckleville, it's been a path of increasing bloodshed ever since. Why should Ludmilla's offer be any stranger?
  
  Sure it's shady and corrupt, but actually working for a government with a "real job" it's a scenario ALMOST what your parents always wanted and at this point, why not? Might make a nice change of pace.
  
  "Well... when you put it like that, I suppose how can I say no?"
  
  In the weeks to come, you settle into your new job without much difficulty. Your main task at first is helping in reinforcing order in the city after the invasion since there is a decrease in Holgard soldiers that can patrol the streets. Establishing spies and informants about the various goings on in the city is fairly easy since the few Nocturnal League folks that remained loyal (and were still alive) are practically begging you for a chance to join.
  
  While you still aren't sure what happened to Vera, you write a letter to her, informing her of the situation. Telling her that she's in charge of the Nocturnal League now or whatever she wants to call it as you have moved on. You also tell her you'd like to meet with her in person if possible since you believe you still need to hammer out some details.
  
  Eventually the ECS representative comes calling for their cut (with back interest), they find that the Nocturnal League is no more in the city and they can't do shit to you about it because you're practically the right hand of the baroness.
  
  You aren't sure what the repercussions though might be. You take it for granted that assassination might always be a possibility, but you're about as prepared for that as you're going to be. You're more of the mind that they may just start leaning on Vera directly.
  
  Within the next two months, you've ironically eliminated most of the random crime in the city thanks to your secret police system. It's probably the most orderly the city has ever been. Ludmilla certainly approves and gives you praise for being so efficient in your new position. You also finally get a response back from Vera though it's brief.
  
  She tells you that everything is fine, but she herself has been preoccupied lately with a power struggle from some upstarts trying to start a new organization and the Jicol law enforcement being more vigilant as of late.
  
  She also says that she will watch out for the ECS and will visit Holgard as soon as she is able and wishes you well in your new position. Nothing else is said. No personal thoughts on the new situation, just facts and explanations.
  
  You half wonder if it's even her, but the terrible handwriting is unmistakable. You chalk it up to her being perhaps very surprised by everything combined with being busy. In any case you know she's alive.
  
  In between your new job and your concerns about your past comrade. You've also been thinking a lot about your family.
  
  You can imagine that your parents wouldn't exactly be thrilled about your new position even if you did officially "go legit. While it would be easy to just forget about them, as you haven't seen them in nearly two decades now, you can't just dismiss them completely. After all, despite everything your mother probably still loves you and your father... well he DID bail you out of trouble for years.
  
  You decide to write a letter to them. You're going to keep it short and vague and you don't expect any attempt at contact back, but at least they'll know that you're alive and doing well. (Even if they're skeptical about how you explain things in your letter to them)
  
  You'd like to send a letter to your sister too, but who knows where she is, so you end the letter to your parents saying you send your love to your sister as well and to let her know if they ever see her.
  > time passes...
  Year 34
  
  Ever since the invasion last year, Heather's demeanor has changed considerably, though you imagine her premature aging and heavy task load don't help... 
  
  "No, I still haven't found a way to undo your curse I've been really fucking busy lately in case you haven't noticed." Heather says.
  "Okay! No need to snap at me. I just thought I'd ask since it's been awhile since we were in the same location." You say.
  "Yeah well I got other shit to do. Not only do I have the thankless AND hopeless task of training what pathetic remnants of what passes for wizards nowadays, but I also have a lot of tasks from the baroness who wants protection spells all over the walls of this fucking city."
  "Hm, Ludmilla is very big on defense nowadays. Understandable though given what happened."
  "I thought that's what she had you for. Sneaking about snatching dissidents and potential threats off the streets."
  "I can snatch malcontents off the streets all I want or even send assassins out, but it's never going to be enough for Ludmilla. She really wants to be safe and your magic spells greatly enhance that."
  "Safe. Pfft. I could fry her brain inside her skull with minimal effort and all her protection would be for naught."
  "Watch it there, treasonous words. Though any particular reason why you haven't?"
  "Because I went to so much damn effort to keep her in power and ally with her, it seems pretty counter productive to just kill her now."
  "Well you could take over."
  "Hah. Funny guy. I'd rather fry my own brain than have the even more thankless task of running a city. I have enough on my hands running a school."
  "Ludmilla seems to enjoy rulership of this city."
  "She would. Look, I'd love to stand around and just bullshit with you, but as I said, I'm fucking busy today and I'd like to get in a nap first."
  "Okay, fine. But you really haven't found ANY way to dispel my curse yet?"
  "No, unless you want to go through Flynn's ritual and go get yourself an unsuspecting girl to sacrifice."
  "(Sigh) I know it might seem really weird, but I'm just not THAT much of a bastard yet."
  "Suit yourself. Though if you ever change your mind and you really want to do me a favor, ask Gwen to help. She doesn't have any knowledge of what will happen and I'm almost certain that she'd jump at the chance to fuck you."
  "Sheesh, what did that poor girl do to you now?"
  "She's fucking annoying and that's enough. I curse the fact that she's so naturally talented, so I'm reluctant to do anything worse than just verbally abuse her."
  "But... you just offered to sacrifice her to cure me."
  "Yeah well, if Elder Flynn thought it was good enough for me, it's good enough for her."
  "Wow. Okay then. I'll leave you be."
  
  Heather doesn't even acknowledge your goodbye and just turns away to leave, walking a lot slower than she used to.
  
  She has truly become a very bitter woman. You're a little concerned about her talking so freely killing the baroness. Not really because you have some great love of serving the baroness, but more the fact that such talk and your knowledge of it without doing anything about it could potentially get you in trouble if it somehow got overheard by someone else. Not to mention her general more miserable attitude nowadays puts you on less comfortable footing with her. Nothing worse than a cranky wizard.
  
  Still, you guess she's fine for now.
  
  In any case you're looking forward to finally meeting up with Vera in another day or so. She's finally had time from her busy schedule of being a crime boss to come to Holgard. You're sort of interested in learning more about what's going on in Jicol since your new position has gotten a bit slow in Holgard, you've started sending out agents to various other places to keep apprised of the events going on there. So far you've only sent one to Klyton and a few to Delantium.
  
  You figured there was no immediate point in sending one to Jicol since in the few letters Vera sent back she's given you brief reports herself and says that everything has been going better there and she's suffered no visits from the ECS, which you're glad to hear since you were sure she would.
  
  Seeing as you have nothing else to do today you decide to go relax for a few hours at the Unwavering Unicorn which is the only known tavern in Holgard that has managed to survive every form of major strife that's occurred in this city. It wasn't actually called that though until after this latest attack though. You guess the owner decided a name modification was in order. Makes a change from picking the usual unwelcoming violent names like Bloodbath Inn though.
  
  You take a seat in the back with your drink and enjoy the musicians currently on the stage. In the old days you probably would have preferred to spend your off time at a brothel, but you're starting to get to a point where you're not even missing sex any more. Which is a bit worrying on a certain level. Maybe you need to seek out new help on this situation. Maybe give your agents a new side mission of contacting the magic schools. Delantium and Klyton both have one after all. While your feelings for Tanya have certainly diminished over time, she's certainly always going to be in your thoughts thanks to this curse.
  
  While you're thinking about that, a man dressed in a dark hooded cloak nearly sneaks up on you and you're just quick enough to pull your pistol out on him before he reaches your table.
  
  Given that you didn't see him until the last minute, you can only imagine that he's a shadow blade from the temple of Fel and most likely here on the orders of the ECS. You quickly look around.
  
  "Oh don't worry. It's just me and I'm not here to harm you. I doubt if I would be in any condition to do so anymore even with my magic now. Couldn't even sneak up on you." The man says.
  
  The chipper voice is familiar and now when you get a good look at the figure so is the face, even if it is partially disfigured now on one side. The man places a small box on the table with a hand that has two missing fingers.
  
  "Percy." You say, though you don't put your weapon away.
  "Glad you recognized me, even though I'm a little less than I originally was when we first met. But then I have you or more specifically your little wizard allies to thank for that don't I? Ugh, I'm sitting down, feel free to keep your weapon on me though if it makes you feel better. Fucking wooden leg... "
  
  Percy sits down and you're wondering what all this is about.
  
  "In that box you will find the noses of your agents you sent to Delantium. While the ECS recognizes that you are obviously a hard to kill man with powerful enough allies to cause more trouble than it's worth to keep fucking with you, they will NOT tolerate you spying on their territory. Do it again, and it won't matter who your friends in high places are. Consider this a respectful warning." Percy says shoving the box a little closer to you.
  "Well, that was certainly generous of them. Were they generous enough to keep my agents alive?" you say.
  "After they were done with them, I'd say they were generous enough to put them out their misery. Sometimes I wish they'd done the same to me, but I guess I was just too important. Lucky me."
  "At least you still have your nose."
  "The physical deformities you see and even the some you don't pale in comparison to the mental scars I have along with the ongoing headaches and nightmares thanks to you and your wizard bitch. The Ebony Claw leadership in conjunction with the Temple of Fel spent months probing and prodding my brain to learn what exactly happened to me during my first trip here. I wish every fucking day they had just killed me for incompetence. At least then I would have died in ignorance. But hey, I'm not bitter and it's all in the past."
  
  At this point Percy calls a waitress over and orders a drink.
  
  "So they knew." You say.
  "Of course they knew! Did you really think you got away with it?" Percy says.
  "Well I figured if they ever learned the truth they would waste no time in getting their revenge."
  "Oh the ECS is good at being patient when it wants to be. Revenge was planned, but they wanted to come up with something suitable. Now of course the standby for a less direct approach at revenge was doing something horrible to your family and loved ones... "
  
  You remain deadpan and show no expression when this is brought up, but a deep anxiety wells up inside you and you fear the worst.
  
  "However after asking around at that backwards little town you grew up in, it seemed that you left not on the best of terms anyway. Apparently you were a complete disappointment to your parents. Hell, from what I heard, not a single person spoke well of you, except for some trashy barmaid that claimed to be your girlfriend at one time."
  
  Huh. You guess your father DID manage to save Annah. You'd show more expression of being happy to hear that, but you know you can't right now.
  
  "In any case, killing your parents that you never seemed to give a shit about and some old ex that you fucked as a teenager hardly seemed like revenge at that point and certainly wouldn't have meant much to you. Now your sister on the other hand was a slightly different story. It would appear that you got along very well with her since most from Teckleville said as much. Partners in crime during your youth from what I heard."
  
  You don't know if you can keep up this stonewall face much longer... 
  
  "However, she was fortunate enough to have at one time save the life of someone currently in the top ECS leadership. He apparently has always been a little smitten with her too. So thanks to all that she was safe."
  
  You now relax a little. Your worst fears are now over though Percy still hasn't finished his story of revenge so you know SOMETHING bad must still be coming.
  
  "Other loved ones, friends or family of note were looked into, but the only other major one we ever learned about was a demonkin girl by the name of Tanya." Percy says as he takes his drink from the returning waitress.
  "Good luck with that one." You say barely able to contain a smile.
  "Hm, Indeed. You keep interesting allies. Also explains how you've survived so long. In any case, about this time a plain old assassination attempt was planned, but then that ongoing failure Peter Varsakken was slowly starting to gather enough forces to invade Holgard. In the past ECS had problems with him doing this, but at that time? Not so much, and it was looking like maybe an agreement could be reached. Peter was just happy we wouldn't be sabotaging him this time."
  
  You start nodding.
  
  "I knew those orcs were specifically targeting Nocturnal League businesses." You say.
  "Well tearing down everything you had built before you died was only part of it. The next part was supposed to be the stinger, but it wasn't anticipated that you'd actually STAY in this forsaken city and fight to the bitter end rather than run off to Jicol. And it certainly wasn't anticipated that you'd move up in status. After it was all said and done the ECS leadership decided everything evened out and they washed their hands of it. You were out of their hair as far as business competition anymore."
  "Okay, but the Nocturnal League still exists and if I had retreated to Jicol I would have just been running it there, unless you had assassins waiting for me on the way."
  
  At this point Percy takes a big drink from his mug and gives you a big smug smile.
  
  "Y'know it's probably too late at this point for it to matter and the Syndicate would probably prefer this to remain a secret just in case they want to use this person in the future, but given all the shit I had to go through because of you AND the Syndicate, I'm giving a big fuck you to both and telling you because at this point what is the worst either of you could do to me?"
  
  And here it comes... 
  
  "There was one other person that we found that you seemed to have a bit of affection for, though killing her wouldn't have really changed much. Sure you would have been pissed, maybe a little upset, but it wouldn't have devastated you. If anything you would have just tried to retaliate, wasting more of our time."
  "Vera." You say.
  "Yes, your once second in command and dare I say... friend? Maybe even a little more? In any case, we had an interesting discussion with her and it didn't even take much for her to agree to betray you when the time came. Guess once Ebony Claw, always Ebony Claw. She works with us now, indirectly of course, but we're making more profit from her than we ever were with you that's for sure."
  "Bullshit."
  "Is it? Think about it. Wasn't Peter's fleet just a little bigger than you planned despite all of Vera's promises that she was going to convince Hessla pirates otherwise?"
  "That doesn't prove anything."
  "Didn't she also try to convince you that siding with Peter would be a good idea and that you should go talk with him? That was actually the first bait, which you obviously didn't take. The original plan was to try to kill you while aboard the ship. Second plan was when you retreated to Jicol, she would have killed you there, but as usual you've got the luck of Yag constantly with you. I sometimes think maybe that's who I should have picked as a deity instead. I might not be all fucked up now."
  
  Considering you thought your family might be dead or in danger, this information isn't nearly as bad, but it's still pretty hard hitting and half of the problem is you don't know if Percy isn't just telling you this to fuck with you. The other half is you can't dismiss it either. In fact, his story is more plausible than you'd care to admit.
  
  Vera's letters to you since the invasion have always been a bit vague and come off less "close" than they did in the past and Peter's large fleet is something you always wondered about since you know Vera could be convincing when she wanted to be. It just might have been in the wrong way. Plus even the fact that she hasn't told you that she's been dealing with the ECS is suspect.
  
  While you're pondering all this, Percy finishes up his drink.
  
  "Well I can see you got a lot to think about. Whatever it is you decide to do isn't going to matter to the ECS. So kill her if you wish, there's probably someone even more pliable in the Nocturnal League that's more than willing to continue working with us. If I were you though? I'd do something worse than kill her because as you can see with me, there are worse things than dying."
  
  With those words Percy gets up, wincing in a bit of pain as he does.
  
  "Remember, no more of your people in Delantium."
  
  As Percy hobbles away, you briefly consider opening the small box he left, but don't bother, instead throwing it away. You also briefly consider shooting Percy, but given the pathetic state he's already in and potential problems it could bring, you decide against it. He's just the messenger anyway.
  
  It isn't until you get home that you allow yourself an emotional release. Within your explosive rage of breaking a few things and yelling, you eventually calm down.
  > confrontation
  Maybe it's paranoia and maybe you're feeling the emotional effects of possibly being betrayed, but as far as you're concerned, even if you find out that you're wrong and she gets pissed about you even accusing her and never speaks to you ever again, you're still going to feel better about all this. You're going to find out one way or another after she gets off that ship.
  
  You're a bundle of energy until the day Vera arrives. When she does its all smiles and hugs like you're both so happy to see each other. Maybe she's even being sincere, you don't know yet.
  
  "Glad to finally see you here. How are things in Jicol?" you ask.
  "Oh you know, it's the same old thing. Some good days, some bad, but can't complain. The Nocturnal League isn't the same without you though." Vera remarks.
  "I'll bet. So is there any place you wanted to go first?"
  "You a tour guide for Holgard now too? Well, I suppose after all the shit that happened during the invasion resulted in a lot of damage and rebuilding, so I'm almost betting my favorite tavern isn't even standing anymore."
  "The Blackheart? Nah. Totally destroyed. I think there's a new weapon shop there now."
  "Oh well. I suppose the old Nocturnal headquarters is gone now too?"
  "Not gone, but it's currently under construction. Trying to turn it into a proper place to train any future agents. Bunch of dwarves there right now, and they aren't fond of anyone getting in the way of their work. Warts suggested getting goblins since it would be much cheaper, but I figured the extra money would be worth sturdier construction."
  "Wow, really taking your new job seriously huh? Well in any case I don't have any preference on where to go, so whatever you decide, we can do that."
  "Well I was thinking of taking you back to my place."
  
  Vera looks at you with a smile.
  
  "Well that's very forward of you. You didn't even offer me dinner first." Vera remarks.
  "I didn't ask if you if you were currently with anyone either." You say.
  "Would it really matter to you if I was?"
  "Not really."
  "Well I guess let's go then."
  
  Vera takes your arm and the pair of you walk to your home.
  
  Along the way you and her talk about some of changes in the city. The discussion is fairly light and superficial, though Vera's demeanor is pretty affectionate. You went into this with a flirty approach since you wanted to see if there was a complete personality change with her.
  
  So far though, she's acting about how you've always known her to. You're getting the impression that she might not be faking all of it or if she is, she's doing a very good job.
  
  Whether she is or not though doesn't matter, you're still learning the facts today.
  
  When you get to your home, you show her around a bit makes a lot of comments about how nice the place is and that it's better than her own current dwelling.
  
  "Ah the bar, I'll just help myself if you don't mind." Vera says pouring herself a drink.
  "Go ahead." You answer.
  "Is that a real Daquala head on the wall?"
  "Yeah, Warts gave me that as a house warming gift. Didn't like the ugly thing at first, but eh, it's sort of grown on me now."
  "So how is the halfbreed anyway?"
  "He's fine. Runs some trading post with his family in Spiderfang territory. He exchanges information for coin with me from time to time."
  "Sheesh, Warts a family man with a regular job, you working for the government. So much has changed here and it all seems so odd."
  "In some ways I suppose it is, but then Holgard was never a beacon of justice. I mean I'm still involved in a lot of shady dealings. I just got legal permission to do it now."
  "Hah, I suppose that's true."
  "So how about you?"
  "How about me what?"
  "I've been going on and on about myself and you haven't told me about what's going on with you."
  "Oh, like I said, nothing much. Just dealing with smugglers and pirates, staying a step ahead of the law when I have to, trying to keep the organization together and keep turning a profit. You know the routine, you had to do it."
  "Mm, and you said you haven't had any trouble from the Ebony Claw Syndicate?"
  "Nope. Not a peep from them. Guess they just don't care about the League since it's so small and not really a threat to them."
  "I suppose not, but still I thought for sure they would pay you a visit after they found out, the League's only remaining holdings were in Jicol and under new management."
  "I dunno. Maybe they're preoccupied with other things... hey so since you work directly for Ludmilla now, have you been invited to any more of her fancy parties?"
  
  Okay. She was pretty quick to change the subject... 
  
  You entertain some more of Vera's questions and the pair of you also proceed to talk about the "old days. The pair of you laughs about various events that occurred while you two worked together.
  
  You're having such a good time reminiscing that you almost forget that you're probably talking to someone who betrayed you. However, it's always still in the back of your mind and you haven't forgotten. You suppose as much as you want to find out, you're trying to enjoy "what once was" while you still can.
  
  Meanwhile Vera's gotten a little tipsier and a whole lot flirtier.
  
  "So. We finally gonna fuck or what?" Vera asks, moving in a little closer on you.
  "Now who's being forward?" you say.
  "Well I mean you invited me over, you're showing off your big house and you're plying me with alcohol. You don't need to wait until I pass out, I'm more than willing right now."
  "Hm, I can tell. Though you actually started drinking without me giving it to you."
  "I suppose I did. I guess I always have taken the initiative in our relationship."
  "You always did have a thing for me didn't you?"
  "I'd tell you not to flatter yourself, but I think you know I have always found you quite attractive. Don't even know why exactly, considering the first time we met you threatened me with rape."
  "Oh come on, I told you a long time ago that I wasn't actually going to do that."
  "I know, but I'm fucked up enough to find that enticing in some weird way, but only if it was you of course."
  "Wow, that is fucked up. Maybe I should wait until you're passed out then."
  
  Vera laughs a bit.
  
  "No, I want to be fully awake for when you ravish me."
  "Sure I'm not going to be pissing off any pirate boyfriends of yours?"
  "None that matter. And if you meant Zamed, I'm pretty sure he's not going to object since I heard he died pissing off the Governor of Hessla months ago. Not like I'd seen him since we went with your idea to side with Ludmilla anyway. Seems like it was the right choice given the circumstances."
  
  Vera moves in to kiss you, and you slightly move away.
  
  "Funny you should bring that up since I heard an interesting story about all that recently." You say.
  "Oh?" Vera asks with a mild annoyance that you didn't kiss her back.
  "Yeah, a Syndicate member paid me a visit recently. Said you've been dealing with them. Said you've been dealing with them for awhile now."
  
  Vera sits back and you look at her face. It's like all the color has drained from it and it's at that moment you know, no matter what she tells you, she's betrayed you. You're just wondering if she's going to admit to it.
  
  "Well?"
  "Um... shit... I didn't want to tell you. I thought you'd be mad. But... " Vera exhales deeply and then continues. "I have had dealings with the ECS, but I sort of had to. I mean they still wanted a cut of the profits, what could I do? I know you would understand that part, but I'm guessing you're not too pleased to find out I was slave trading again."
  
  Your eyes briefly widen and go back to normal when she admits to that. You didn't actually know about the slave trading, though you suppose you aren't too surprised. It's what she did before she joined with you and you imagine that it's pretty lucrative what with all the pirate types she has to do business with. She probably was doing it the whole time she was sent to Jicol.
  
  Honestly you don't really give a shit though. What is more telling is she's admitting to it now meaning that she's trying to admit a "lesser" offense to distract from a greater one she's hiding. It's one of the oldest criminal tricks in the book.
  
  You look at Vera and it's very apparent she's hoping that you'll believe this partial truth and let it go. You won't though, and she probably knows that too.
  
  "Vera. Before we continue, I'm going to have to ask you to disarm. I know that... "
  
  Before you can get another word in, Vera suddenly throws the rest of her drink in your face and springs from your couch and tries to run for the front door. She doesn't get far though thanks to her balance not being the best due to her alcohol intake. She trips and slams hard on the floor and then promptly throws up as well.
  
  Meanwhile all you've done is stand up and drawn your pistol.
  
  You walk over to her, as she crawls away from the liquid mess she's left on the floor. She turns over and sits on the floor with her knees to her chest and her back against the wall. She looks at you and then starts to cry. You can hardly believe this is the same woman you once trusted with your life.
  
  "(Sob) You... you know (sob) don't you?" Vera says.
  "Well I know what the smug asshole ECS rep told me and you've pretty much confirmed it with your actions. In fact I sort of figured you'd outright deny everything or put up more of a fight. Didn't think it would be this easy. Guessing you must feel guilty about all this on some level. Again before we continue, I'm going to have to ask you disarm."
  
  Vera nods and slowly throws away her blades and her own flintlock far enough away that she wouldn't reach them in time. You thought you were going to be far angrier about all this, but now you're almost feeling pity, but maybe that'll change when you question her.
  
  "Okay, so here's the ultimate question. Why?" you ask.
  "I... don't know." Vera says.
  "You're REALLY going to have to do better than that Vera."
  "I don't know! I guess I was pissed at you okay?"
  "You were pissed at me? For what?! I thought we got along really well!"
  "Yeah as friends. You always KNEW I wanted to be more than that and instead of being direct, you just sent me away to a fucking island while you were fucking that wizard chick."
  "Vera... what the hell? This isn't even making any sense! I was direct with you multiple times if you recall. As I remember I never even lead you on in any way. And for the record I was not fucking Heather. In any case I hardly see how that's an excuse for you trying to have me killed!"
  "I didn't try to have you killed! I just wanted us to be close again! You were supposed to retreat back to Jicol, not stay here and be the fucking hero of Holgard!"
  "Okay, some of this still isn't making any sense. Actually a lot of it, but this is a much different version of what was going to happen to me when I got back to Jicol. I was told you were going to kill me."
  "I wasn't going to kill you! And I would have stood up to the ECS if they tried!"
  "That's not what I heard."
  "And you believe the ECS about everything? Don't you think that they might be lying about some of it just to fuck with you? To turn us against each other?"
  "Well, yeah I considered that, but considering some of their story has already been confirmed as true, I'm finding it a little easier to believe an organization that has made no pretenses of being pissed with me than a woman who is obviously more mentally unstable than I ever could have known. And they already turned us against each other when you agreed to deal with them! Either you're so delusional that you believed working with the ECS would somehow bring us together, and I'm really struggling to believe you're that stupid, or you're just lying about everything. At this point either one wouldn't surprise me."
  
  Vera makes one last outburst.
  
  "Why didn't you just let this go? (sob) There was no more danger to you any more and I certainly wasn't going to conspire against you again. I felt sick the first time I did it. Obviously I STILL feel sick about it. I felt this way ever since I realized how deep I was getting. I was just so... I don't know... . (sniffle) I would always think about that time we got to go to the baroness' party. I remember mentally believing myself to be a princess and you a prince. How I wished it were you and me that night instead of you and some random whore. I really think things could have been different between us. We could have been more than friends. Even now, I wish we could just forget everything and just live in this house together as husband and wife. I don't understand, I did everything for you. Why couldn't you just... love me? (Sob)"
  
  As Vera breaks down again into tears, you're almost at a loss for words at this point. Your relationship with women has always been "complicated" but this is a new one on you. You never realized just how damn deep Vera's feelings were for you and honestly it's still a bit of a mystery to you. Especially given that she betrayed you.
  
  And she did betray you. No matter what her twisted logic may dictate, you can't forget that.
  
  And you can't forgive it. Even if you are genuinely feeling sorry for Vera right now.
  
  The ECS may not have gotten the most hurtful revenge on you, but they didn't exactly fail. You can't even be mad at them. Maybe in some weird way this is finally all your good luck crapping out on you. You have done a lot of treacherous shit yourself after all.
  
  In any case, you also remember Percy's advice about doing something worse than killing her.
  
  You aren't sure if it'll make you feel any better about this, but you're fairly certain it isn't going to make you feel any worse.
  > mercy
  Whatever Vera has done to you, you're not going to torture her anymore. What's done is done and there is no need in drawing this out.
  
  You put away your pistol and crouch down besides Vera who is still upset and probably expecting you to kill her.
  
  "Vera... Vera... shhhhh... calm down... " you say.
  
  Vera still doesn't look in your direction still crying. You run your hand briefly over her hair and then move in closer to hug her.
  
  Vera immediately hugs you back, you feel her squeeze you as if her life depended on it.
  
  "Don't let go... don't let go... just hold me forever... " she says in between the tears.
  "I got you Vera." You say.
  "(sob) I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
  "I know."
  
  Vera mumbles more things about how she wishes you both could do everything all over. She then feels something against the side of her head.
  
  She moves her head back enough and looks at you with tears in her eyes.
  
  "I love you... " she says.
  
  You pull the trigger, blowing Vera's brains out the other side of her head onto the wall and also getting blood on you in the process.
  
  You sit with Vera's body for a moment saddened that this was necessary at all. You wipe your own eyes and eventually stand up and compose yourself.
  
  You get some of your people to dispose of Vera's body making some comment that she was an enemy to Holgard. (Not that they were going to question you anyway)
  
  And that's it. There's nothing more to it. You'd like to forget about this dark day as soon as possible, but you know that's going to take a bit of time.
  
  To get your mind off it, you focus on your other problem, which is the curse you're still dealing with. Honestly, if it hadn't been for that, things might have been different with Vera in the first place.
  
  Since Heather doesn't seem to be very helpful right now, you go back to wondering if you should seek help from other magic types which again makes you consider sending someone to ask around Klyton or the magic University in Delantium.
  
  You already got an agent that reports on Klyton so that's no problem. Delantium however is another story since Percy just said the ECS killed everyone you sent there. While you don't want to piss off the ECS severely, you also don't like being told where you can't go.
  
  You decide to hold off on sending anyone to Delantium until you get word back from your agent in Klyton. Based on his report, you can make your decision to risk sending some to Delantium or not.
  
  A month passes and eventually you get word from your agent in Klyton. She mentions that the Klyton magic school is barely better than the one in Holgard and the only main difference is they have a nicer looking school and tend to be more "scholarly" as opposed to "battle ready."
  
  Your agent says that they were interested in based on the sealed letter you had her deliver to them. However it would require you to take a trip to Klyton. A bit unusual for you considering you haven't left Holgard in... well since you got here nearly twenty years ago.
  
  You imagine you could get the time to leave though if you wanted.
  
  This brings you back to pondering if you should still send an agent to the Delantium magic university. Chances are, if they're interested they're going to just ask you to do what the robes in Klyton want you to do. Namely go there yourself and that's probably even going to be even more dangerous than just sending an agent there.
  > send an agent to Delantium
  You might as well explore all your options and you really don't feel like being intimidated. You'll just pick your most competent agent and tell him to be extremely careful and to not linger there anymore than he has to or he's going to suffer a horrible fate
  
  After sending your agenr off, once again you play the waiting game. During this time you're pretty paranoid, expecting ECS assassins to strike at any moment. You increase security and generally don't get much sleep.
  
  On the plus side, it's kept your mind off Vera completely.
  
  Eventually in a month your agent returns to you none the worse for wear. He explains he had no problems whatsoever. Also says that he delivered your message and explains to you that a wizard going by the name High Mage Teklis says he's interested in your situation and will meet with you in a week since he was supposed to visit the Holgard magic school anyway for a potential exchange of ideas.
  
  Your agent then gives you a sealed letter saying Teklis provided details for you within it.
  
  You open it up and it just explains that he'll be bringing various objects to detect and dispel any curses you might have brought on by infernal creatures. He goes on to assure you that he's studied infernals and has all the confidence that he can fix it. Of course he also gives you a price too for his time. It's actually a pretty high number, and you're sort of surprised that a wizard would be interested in such "mundane" rewards, but in any case, it's doable and certainly no object for getting rid of a curse.
  
  You spend the time before he arrives going about your regular business and squeezing a little extra money from the citizens under the guise of a mandatory "defense tax" so you don't lose most of your current savings paying the wizard.
  
  You have your people tell you when Teklis arrives in the city, though to your surprise when he finally does, he comes directly to your home escorted by one of your people.
  
  You see a very well dressed older man in a suit rather than wizard robes standing before you. He also carries a satchel with him. After he greets you, you return the greeting and dismiss your agent who escorted him.
  
  "You seem surprised to see me, you were expecting me correct?" Teklis says.
  "Yes, however I was also told that you were meeting with the head of the wizard school here and I figured that would be your first priority of your trip." You say.
  "I can already tell how that's going to go. A lot of attempts by the one in charge trying to convince me that they are an upstanding place of learning when it's probably going to consist of a group little more than organized hedge mages or a large coven."
  "Wow. Don't mince words do you?"
  "Just telling you what I'm expecting."
  "Far be it from me to get involved in your wizard standards, but the head of the school and her students did protect this city not too long ago."
  "Oh I don't mean to say they won't have talent at all, but I can imagine in a place like this that they won't be the most disciplined of magic users. It's really not their fault and at least they have practical experience rather than that dying school in Klyton where all they seemingly do is read old dusty books and argue about theory all day."
  
  Apparently the Delantium Kingdom wizards think very highly of themselves.
  
  "However, apologies if I have insulted your friend. My understanding is that you are friends with... Heather is it?"
  "Well nowadays I'd say that wouldn't exactly be the term I'd use, but yes we do have a working relationship. In any case, your views on her school are not my concern; you can take that up with her. I'm just glad that you agreed to meet me."
  "Yes, when your agent came to the university asking questions and I caught wind of it, I was intrigued and then when I found out a little bit more of your situation in the letter I was even more interested. So hence why I'm here to meet you first. We can actually get started right away as long we aren't going to be disturbed."
  "No I can't imagine we will be. Do we need to clear furniture for you to make a circle on the floor or something?"
  
  Teklis laughs as he puts his satchel on a table and pulling out objects.
  
  "Oh no. None of that. Well at least not yet since I don't know how back this curse you say is. Now I know you went over some of it your condition in your letter, but I get the impression you didn't tell me everything and I'm going to need to know everything if I'm going to properly help you."
  
  You begin to explain in the shortest detail possible about your relationship with Tanya and the after effects. While you're doing that, Teklis occasionally holds up some strange objects at you, some of which glow. He also says a few words and does a lot of hand motions in front of you, occasionally telling you to just continue your story and not to worry about what he's doing.
  
  Eventually you complete your tale and Teklis completes whatever it is he was doing.
  
  "Well?" you ask.
  "Well, I got good news and bad news." Teklis says.
  "Well, give me the good since I haven't had much of that lately."
  "Okay, well you aren't cursed."
  "What?"
  "You aren't cursed. I detect no curses on you. Infernal or otherwise."
  "Are you sure?"
  "Quite sure. I've studied infernals long enough to know that you haven't been cursed by one. Now I do detect traces of infernal presence on you, but given what you told me about your relationship with this Tanya girl, that's hardly surprising and that's always going to be there."
  "Well... maybe she gave me a disease? Like demon crotch rot or something?"
  
  Teklis laughs again.
  
  "Trust me m'boy if you had demon crotch rot, you would know immediately and we wouldn't be having this pleasant conversation. No, you don't have anything. I mean I can't explain why those women died after you had sex with them. Maybe it was just bad coincidence and you jumped to conclusions because somewhere in your mind you missed Tanya so much and it was easier for you not to pursue someone else. If you got a curse, it's just the one you made up in your mind."
  
  Well this is a bizarre outcome. You almost can't believe it.
  
  "I have to say, never met someone who had a relationship with a succubus and gone on to live a relatively normal life. Usually they're either killed by said succubus or less common, they commit suicide after an extended period time of separation. Of course I guess it helped you met her before she completely transformed. I imagine your short lived relationship with her was very special." Teklis says.
  "Yeah... it was. It's been years now and for the most part I do get on with my life, but there really isn't a day that goes by that an image of her doesn't briefly pop up in my mind. I don't necessarily always feel the loss, but she's there in my head you know?" you say.
  
  Teklis nods and puts away a couple of his magic objects.
  
  "So is that the bad news? That I'll always have a vague sense of loss that won't ever go away?" you ask.
  "No, the bad news is much worse than that." Teklis says.
  "Shit, what is it? Am I going to start feeling a greater sense of loss as time goes on? Am I going to die of a broken heart in a few years or something?"
  "Oh you're going to die, but not in a few years and certainly not of a broken heart."
  
  Suddenly Teklis waves his hand and everything seems to slow to a crawl and the room begins to darken. You instinctively go for your pistol, but every move you make is a snails pace compared to Teklis who is now directing his hands towards you.
  
  You are hit by a solid black beam of dark energy and feel your life force not just draining, but being ripped from you. Every part of you feels like its being eaten alive which might be somewhat true as your body begins to shrivel and you collapse to the floor, too weak to stand up any longer, let alone hold your weapon.
  
  "The Syndicate should have done this years ago." Teklis says.
  
  Those words are the last you hear before everything goes black forever.