Chapter 4.

Honestly, though most people did not want to have anything to do with articles of death or couldn't really make use of it even if they did. There was something like ten people over sixty, of which none dared come close to tables filled with dangerous matters, by fear or whatever. Young adults, adults and middle-aged people cautiously touched the weapons as if they were going to hurt themselves through sheer contact. A tendency appeared, where older men would be more interested than their female counterparts, while the younger people were equivalent. Nick took note of this proof of something he didn't know anymore but felt pride about.

Soon enough, the crowd around the tables began discussing matters of clothes, armours and weapons very naturally, temporarily shooing away concerns and worries and fear. As it appeared to anyone observing, they were quite willing to do anything for the slightest solace. "Relieve me of my mind, my conscience, as it is heavy !", thought Nick in a theatrical way that made him worried, as humour also looked like avoidance of reality to him.

As silently as a chainmail-wearing man can be, Nick grabbed his backpack and went for the other tables, looking for something he might have a need for. Some of them offered surprising objects, going from alembics to glass vials, from a pile of compasses to many books. He took a small compass but didn't touch the books, as it was mostly comprised of cookbooks or novels. Definitely not the right moment for that.

However, as he was finishing his tour of the tables and came back to the weapons one, he noticed something peculiar. Books again ! Well, more like booklets really, a few dozen pages each with leather covers. The four were piled onto each other on a corner of the table previously hidden by a large and heavy wooden shield that a tall and tanned woman just took for herself. They were tinted in solid colours except the first one, which was as brown as leather can be, while the rest were red, yellow, and green. What made them peculiar was first the place : why would someone put small books on the weapons table while another table already featured many of such articles. And next, the fact that they seemed purposefully hidden behind that shield. Nick's curiosity was piqued, so he took the first booklet and went on his way.

He did not see though, that the tall woman with tanned skin had also spotted those, and she also took one while following him with her dark brown eyes. She seemed for a second about to go after him but was interrupted by the voice of Muscle trying to appeal to everyone in the group.

- Please people, it would really be a good idea to sit for a bit and think about our situation. Look, let me introduce myself : I'm Kassander, and that's the only thing I know. What about you ?

Some started to congregate around the man, for his strong build and appeasing words were quite effective on their weakened minds. "What does he really want ?", thought the woman with a bit of mistrust in her mind. She wasn't aware of a lot of things, apart from her name, Enora, and her feeling about the situation : "It sucks.". However, contrary to what one would expect, she did not feel lost or afraid. Confused, absolutely, but she felt at ease in this environment, or, more precisely, used to unknown places.

To her, all those elements meant something about herself. That she had been in similar situations, where she had to explore a new place surrounded by strangers. From the moment she woke up wearing loose underpants and a thin t-shirt, she felt no fear, no shame, no foreboding. Only an impression of being where she belonged, a control over herself that she enjoyed a lot. Finding clothes, weapons and armours were a surprise, but a welcomed one, as defending herself was a top priority in her mind. So, when Kassander asked to sit and think, she did not like it. "It is better to do something, even if one's not sure about the outcome. I wouldn't say I like Fatty either. Too aggressive for no reason. I'm not gonna wait around here until we all dry like mummies … mummies ?".

She positioned herself at the back of the crowd, nonchalantly listening while lightly chewing a bit of dried meat. The debate around Kassander was not going anywhere. He was flailing about, trying to find ideas on how to proceed without reaching a consensus. He was incapable of making a decision himself. "Pathetic.", she thought. Not in an insulting way, as she empathised with the man : he was simply doing his best in an impossible situation, and she respected the effort. However, he failed.

- Just let go, dude, we're not doing any of that., interrupted Fatty. Look people, I need as many strong arms as I can, 'cause I'm not gonna be standing around here touching myself. I'm going in the big tunnel over there, and when I go, I hope you lot …

- Didn't you say you wanted to wait for rescue ?, angrily interrupted Kassander.

He did not get near though, as Fatty was quite equipped himself. He, however, could not find a chainmail his size, so he chose a large brigandine tightened around his belly to the point where Enora had to wonder how the thing did not just explode. At his waist hanged the sabre, he was looking at earlier, and he was also holding a short spear and a medium-sized shield. Under those some plain shirt, complete chausses and basic leather shoes. He did not really bother himself with looks, going for simple stuff to be done with it.

- Yeah, I said that, and now I'm saying something else. Seeing all this shit here made me think that maybe, just maybe, we could be in danger !, he growled.

The beginning of a smile appeared on his face when he saw the effect of such a comment on the flock. It was a total assumption with only the beginning of a gut feeling backing it, which was not much, and yet he still said it out loud, creating some panicked looks all around. Enora noticed the smile but did not need to see it to guess how much Fatty enjoyed the show. He was a troublemaker, but also the only person willing to do something instead of sitting around talking for who knew how long without anything to show for it. "The lesser of two evils in a way …", she thought while sighing in her mind.

- So, I'm arming myself and offering those interested in surviving to follow me. My name is Arsenio, and I leave in thirty minutes.