Chương 78: Chapter 77 - Statue

Atzi had lots of ideas, but she was still tired. Dying takes a lot out of you, huh? She wanted to move with all the energy the gems had granted her, but could only struggle up and trudge her way to the inn, where she then slept the day away. === Come the next day, she spent the morning stealing the book out from under V's mansion. She considered giving it to Cory, but decided against it right away.

There were a bunch of other things she could try first, and if they didn't work out, she could still give Cory the book afterwards. Instead - after hiding the book in her room - she went to see a particular shapeshifting prophet. She just needed to adjust her approach. As 'Scabiel' passed by, Atzi said, "Hi, Prophet of the Shapeshifter." Again, they both entered the alley. The prophet transformed from Scabiel to his regular appearance. Fixing her with the gaze of a predator, he asked, "What do you want?"

"You're directly interfering with a daughter of the Serpent. If you want to go ahead with it, and have her look the other way, she needs compensation." He fell silent, scoping her up and down. Atzi felt more confident in lying, knowing what hadn't worked the last time. Finally, he said, "I see. And what sort of compensation is that?"

"Gems. We know the Shapeshifter has plenty, and keeping your prize mage is worth the payment." Atzi tried to sound important.

"Especially since the Serpent will be in a better position after the godscouncil." He paused. Then he said, angry, "Fine. The Serpent can have scraps. But only if you let me go now to finish my duty." Atzi crossed her arms.

"Okay. You'll meet back here tomorrow, same time, to deliver them. Otherwise, not only are you exposed, but the Serpent will know you went back on your word. And she holds grudges for a long, long time." Atzi smiled.

"As for how I found you? We're keeping that to ourselves for now." The prophet looked perturbed, then turned and stomped off. As soon as she was sure he was far enough gone, Atzi cackled like an idiot. Suck it! That's for killing me when I tried to just work with you! Feeling rather good about herself, Atzi decided she was off to the arena next. She was going to see that strange, statue-looking person she had seen fight, performing nearly impossible feats.

She'd heard of people with strange powers like their impossible speed before. It wasn't magic, or at least not actual spells. Just techniques that could be learned. Pomaria had their own version of it, the 'Pomarian martial art'. She even knew the absolute basics of it for self defense - how to use her claws and tail in a fight, if she had to. If she was better at fighting, maybe she could have saved Cory. Maybe she could stop more problems like the people who had tried to kill Hemm, before they ever started.

Plus, she had seen the statue running from the guards before, so they were a kindred spirit, in a sense. - The lizard bookie, who also doubled as the announcer, greeted her from behind his wooden stall.

"Placing bets?" Best way to see them is if I have enough money first.

"Yeah." She slapped down all the bronze she had on them winning. He counted her money. Then he tore a betting ticket, filled it out with a quill, and passed it over to her. She'd get nearly two gold when she won. After the fight where a ten foot tall man bullied a regular woman, it was then the one with the mysterious stranger. They came out exactly as Atzi remembered them, looking strangely more like a statue than a person, and wearing oddly bunched robes.

They ended the fight the same way as well, with the fighter from Nicomedia dead. Atzi hadn't bothered to close her eyes this time. As soon as the fight was over, Atzi leapt from her seat, and ran off to collect her winnings. She made sure she was the first in line, waving her ticket. The bookie showed up moments later, taking it from her and handing her the nearly two gold. Just five bronze short.

"Hey, where are the contestants? I wanna thank the guy who got me two gold."

"You want the tour and meet package? One gold." That's definitely a scam.

"Skip the tour, I got somewhere to be soon, just gimme the meet." She handed over the gold.

"Pleasure doing business." Atzi had to wait for him to resolve the rest of the bets. Once he was done, he put up a little sign that said 'Be back soon'. He had several tail pouches fat with coins, but Atzi didn't see a point in trying to steal them from him, even in another loop. She had better ways of making money, and there was no way he didn't have ways of protecting himself from angry betters. The bookie took her to a side door and unlocked it with a key, before leading her inside.

The underside of the arena was surprisingly sparse. And clean. The first sign she saw that the area was being used at all was as they passed a room without a door, hosting an empty bed. They went down a row of such rooms. Finally they stopped in front of yet another doorless room, stone arch welcoming them in even as the person inside did not. Closer, Atzi noticed their face was as chiseled as their body, like a statue come to life.

They sat cross-legged on a simple cot, staring at the floor, even as Atzi and her guide approached. The bookie nodded to her. Atzi coughed.

"Hi. I just won a few gold from your fight. You free to chat for a little bit?" The mysterious person looked up at her. Their expression was bored. They just killed someone, and they look bored? Spooky. Finally they said, "No." Their voice was more relaxed than she expected for a killer. Atzi fidgeted with her claws.

"... What if I had something interesting to say?" The bookie nodded.

"Hey, she paid good money to see ya."

"I doubt it," the statue-person said to Atzi, not even paying attention to the bookie.

"But speak."

"I've died. And came back to life," Atzi said.

"I've seen you fight before. I wanna learn how to fight like that." Atzi flexed her claws.

"I know a little, but only what they taught in Pomaria." Their stone-like face shifted, until it showed curiosity. They stood up, looming two heads taller than Atzi.

"How did you die?" Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Got 'em. Atzi grinned.

"You want a full list?" The bookie looked at her like she was crazy. The statue asked, "You've escaped death several times?" Atzi counted off on her claws.

"I've been stabbed, burned alive, eaten, drowned, disintegrated-" They put a hand on her shoulder. It was cold. They leaned over and stared at her face closely. Way too close. Enough to notice how their face lacked the small movements people usually had. It was like Regent, but all the stranger for their stone-like appearance. Atzi gulped.

"... Before you test it, uh, it works by sending me backwards in time. So I won't just spring back up if you chop my head off or something." Then she muttered to herself, "I really gotta explain this better..."

"You've beaten death, yet fear it." They looked almost insulted.

"Why?"

"E-eh? It hurts, that's why!" - Atzi blustered - "You ever died? It's terrifying!" They let go of her and patted at their own chest.

"Attack me."

"Eh?"

"Attack. Me." Atzi regarded them nervously. The bookie backed away. Atzi assumed a stance. She wasn't a good fighter, but she knew the Pomarian martial arts basics she'd been taught. Though it had actually been from a prostitute, a fellow lizard, that she had hired. She drew back a clawed hand. And struck. They batted her clawed hand away in a casual motion. Atzi's wrist stung, and it hadn't even looked like they'd tried.

"You're weak," they said.

"... Fine, yeah, I am. I know a few tricks but that's it."

"Don't fear pain. That is the path to become strong. To become someone interesting." Their eyes narrowed.

"If you take a single attack from me without trying to stop it, I will train you." Atzi was silent before taking a deep breath. What have I got to lose?

"Okay." The person pulled back their hand, exactly as Atzi had her claw. This is gonna hurt... They lashed out with their hand straight towards her heart. Having seen them fight, Atzi knew the strike would be lethal if it connected. Yet, they had taken it slow on purpose. Given her time to react. They're testing my resolve, she concluded. Right before the mysterious person's hand pierced through her chest. Atzi could feel her heart being ripped out. Heard it beating behind her, just before the bookie screamed.

"Ah," was all she managed to say. As life faded from her, far quicker than decapitation, she heard the mysterious person's final words.

"Next life, find me again. Keep trying until you live." - Atzi spent some time recovering from the pain of having her heart ripped out. She wasn't used to the pain of dying, and it still lingered in the void. After she rested for a bit, she sighed.

"Great. Completely insane."

"Why did you let them kill you?" the Saintess asked.

"Because... well…" Atzi felt embarrassed.

"I thought it might be a trick. I didn't think they'd actually kill me."

"How many people have killed you now?"

"Lemme think... Malus, that person, a bank guard, a regular guard, Terra... C-Cory..." Atzi took a deep breath.

"Six? Seven?"

"Skeletons," the Saintess added.

"Not counting the Serpent or skeletons."

"Whoever killed you in your sleep." Atzi snapped her clawed fingers.

"Right! That was probably the Shapeshifter's prophet. Urgh, I need to blackmail him again this time. Well, he has it coming for killing me."

"The person who killed you... they were strange." The Saintess looked confused.

"I can't quite describe it."

"Strange? How?" Atzi asked.

"They felt similar to the gods we've met. Not quite, though."

"Th-they were like a god?" Atzi's eyes grew wide.

"It'd explain how strong they are..." The Saintess shook her head.

"I don't know exactly how it works, but they might know more."

"Okay, I'll try asking them," Atzi said. Hopefully they don't kill me this time. The Saintess faded away. - Atzi wasn't quite as tired as last time - she had no idea how that worked. Were some deaths more exhausting than others? So she only slept until evening, before going out to steal the book, and then back to the inn to hide it and bathe. That meant the night was hers, to do with as she pleased. Thinking about it, she remembered the time she had met with that old drunk man, Braun.

And then they'd met with that other woman she suspected was part of Cory's crew. The black-haired woman who had tried to help Alana kill Atzi in another loop. So if I know roughly where she is, maybe I can find her again? And then figure out more about her. At least a name. Atzi dressed her best before heading out into the streets. She wandered up the main market street, right through a residential area, before turning onto the street with the jail.

Sure enough, hanging out against a wall, was the bored looking woman with dark hair covering half her face. She was being talked at by some guy. The man was obviously not with her, based on the way she was completely silent besides scoffing. Atzi hid nearby, waiting for him to leave. Finally, he seemed to get the hint that the woman wasn't interested, and left. Atzi watched relief pass over the bored woman's face. Atzi took that as her opportunity and wandered over, trying to appear casual.

"Uh... you bored here too?"

"Yeah," she agreed.

"It sucks here!"

"Yeah... oh, I'm Atzi, what's your name?" The girl levied her with a stare.

"Ah fuck, I shoulda known. Now even the lesbians won't leave me in peace."

"Wh-what?"

"Hit on me, hit on me, hit on me. It's all anyone does! It's annoying!" Atzi took a step back.

"Oh! Uh, I wasn't doing that. You just kinda reminded me of someone I knew, sorry." The woman snorted.

"Heard that one before."

"Fine, whatever, Cory's more fun than you, anyway..." Atzi turned around and began to walk away slowly, hoping her words would get a reaction.

"Hey! How the fuck do you know Cory?"

"Eh?" Atzi turned around. Got her.

"You know Cory? We hung out all the time years ago!" The woman crossed her arms.

"Don't fucking play with me. You obviously knew I knew her. How?" How did she know?

"How would I know that?"

"Please. I wasn't born yesterday. You have an agenda. I thought it was hitting on me but you're here for something else. What?" Atzi walked back towards her.

"What's your name?"

"Fine, you want my name? It's Daisy."

"Alright. You're here with Cory, aren't you, Daisy? Alana, too." Daisy glared at her.

"Yeah."

"... Where's Cory?"

"At our place."

"I don't know where your place is. I know what she's here for, though." Atzi wasn't sure about saying more, but she needed an in. More information. That way she could figure out what Cory was up to.

"I can... help her get it. Where's your place?" A look of realization overcame Daisy's face.

"Oh, I get it. You want to join up."

"... Yeah." Atzi had no clue what she was joining up with.

"... You have a thing for Cory, don't you?" Atzi looked to the side.

"I just.... I mean..."

"Yep," the bored woman confirmed. Atzi tried to explain, "We worked together before and..."

"Look, I get it," the woman shrugged.

"F-fine! How couldn't I? Have you seen her?"

"Calm your tail." Atzi's tail, rapidly swishing, stilled.

"S-so where's your place, then?"

"You know what? Sure." Daisy pulled out a blindfold.

"Blindfold yourself and I'll take you there."

"Why a blindfold?" Atzi asked, suspicious. I don't want this to end up with me dead.

"Because I said so." Atzi groaned. This is gonna make it a lot harder to get there again in future. She took the blindfold and tied it around her head.

"Blindfolded?" She heard Daisy move behind her, then felt her pull it tighter.

"Good. Hold my hand." Then she grabbed hold of Atzi's clawed hand. Daisy led her… somewhere. Atzi tried to keep track of where they were going, but after the fourth turn she was already lost. She had the thought to use the Saintess to track where the turns were, but it was already too late. Next time. The only thing she knew for sure was that it smelled. Finally, after what felt like at least an hour of walking, Daisy stopped.

"Stay still," Daisy said, and let go. Atzi heard clinking, and then the squeaking of a heavy metal door. Soon I'll figure out what Cory is up to. And then I'll finally figure out how to get her on my side!