~~~

  It took about two weeks for the eruptions and earthquakes to stop. It took one more week for the ash to finally stop.

  When the barrier finally came down, the ash had piled up enough to bury the burnt husks of the trees almost completely.

  The usually stoic General Maximus was nearly hysterical when Bixxy had walked into the fort from outside as a gnome of all things! He got to hear what happened from her perspective after they had checked her for any serious injuries. She was a bit bruised, but overall just fine. Both Bixxy and the General were relieved when she reverted to being a bright yellow geckokin after about a week.

  Fishyscales was quite happy to have her mostly to himself again once the fey stopped watching him closely. He’d been under especially careful watch after nearly drowning himself on his first day as a pixie.

  The fey watching the ‘fey younglings’ weren’t enthused when the little ones they’d been looking after and stubbornly keeping away from the beastkin for a week transformed into an array of various species of dragon. Though Princess Fluffy got a good laugh out of it.

  She stopped laughing when she got word that some of the fey were whispering about taking the hatchlings with them anyway. When one of the higher ups had actually dared to come to her spouting the necessity for ‘compensation’ she very angrily pointed out the fey were the ones who had attacked the beastkin without even declaring war.

  After a long debate on seemingly pointless semantics, she was able to make them admit they were at fault, yet they still somehow managed to slip out of the room before she could get out a contract for them to give her kingdom compensation. Typical.

  Smith and all the mages were completely exhausted from the constant mana usage and depletion of their own mana. They ended up being bedridden for a month after that. A few had even outright died of mana overexpenditure during the crisis. A sad case where a mage is so focused on keeping a spell going that they don’t notice when they run out of mana and use up their life force instead.

  Everyone who had lived through the emergency quest got a title and skill out of it.

  Title Awarded:

  Survivor: Awarded to those who have managed to live through devastation.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Skill Awarded:

  Survivor: reduces necessity for food and water.

  The key figures, however, received extra rewards.

  Extra Title Awarded:

  Crisis Commander: Awarded to those who did not panic and took charge during a desperate crisis.

  Extra Skill Awarded:

  Trustworthy Command: Your voice shall be the first to be heard and the most trustworthy when commanding others.

  However, it was only Smith that received one title in particular.

  Special Title Awarded:

  Player in a Bigger Game: This was not an accident. Something is coming. Follow the clues, find allies, and beat Its game.

  This regulation would cause Smith to be stuck retelling his side of the events to many bureaucrats and councils for months afterwards.

  The Princess ended up being forced to stay in the capital for years upon her return. The king’s worries for his daughter would not be denied.

  ~~~

  Elsewhere, a meeting was taking place.

  “?? I can’t believe you’d be so boorish as to start your trial so close to mine! You messed everything up for me! ??” A feminine sing song voice complained.

  “Yeah, well I had plans there way before you started your scheming! So obviously I’m not at fault!” A deep voice crackled and boomed.

  “Those two are fighting again? What happened this time?” A gentlemanly voice asked.

  Exasperation. They’ve stepped on each other's toes once again… Humor. Not that any of us actually have toes. A voice seemed to drip into the surrounding entities' minds.

  Quiet.

  When this word suddenly appeared in front of everyone present they quickly stopped talking.

  How are the preparations going?

  “Everything is going as planned so far.”

  Well done. Have you each chosen your champions?

  “?? Most of us have, indeed. ??”

  Assurance. Those that haven’t are out there doing so as we speak.

  Let them know they have time. It’ll be a while yet before our mutual friend draws close to this world.

  “And the promise?”

  Yes. The prize remains the same. If your champion is part of whatever party that wins, you can have a wish granted.

  Everyone looked between each other. Some exchanged looks of greed, others looks of measured considerment.

  Then one of them seemed to remember something and looked at an inconspicuous bucket sitting in a corner of the room.

  “You aren’t inconspicuous. It makes no sense for someone to leave a bucket in here.”

  Oh.

  “Stop writing about our meeting and go watch your pet project. Actually, why were you even at my trial?”

  Welp, gotta go! See you guys next time!

  ~~~

  will return!