Chapter 70.

As Nick, Enora and Rose were going back to their room for a well-deserved sleep, something odd caught their attention. It was first the looks from Cusmo and Simmis, the guards they crossed path with on their way. They had this strange mix of surprise and uneasiness to them. Their behaviours were different from before, that was for sure. The trio did not pay much mind to these, as they were too tired to, but when it was the other's turn … Those same looks were cast to them from the regular customers at the inn.

(Enora) Okay, what's going on ? Did we piss on everyone's grandparent's graves by mistake on the way here ?

(Nick) How would you even manage that ? You know what ? Nevermind.

(Rose) It looks like they have changed their views of us for some reason. Why does everything seem to escape our control recently ? It's unnerving.

Once at the counter, Ischyra appeared from the back of the place, probably busy in the kitchen or something. Seeing them, the Palisci stopped, stared, and quickly nodded at them. She then came close and whispered something in Nick's ear that was naturally shared with the other two. She told them to wait in their room as she would soon visit. There was apparently important stuff to discuss. That did not prevent Enora from asking for water to be brought to said room in the meantime, as nothing would ever be serious enough to make her miss her bath time. Of course, Rose nodded in agreement and, if Ischyra was startled by this, it did not show.

Ten minutes later, while the trio was relaxing in hot liquid, each in turn, someone knocked at the door. The two who had not bathed yet, Nick and Rose, swiftly covered themselves with towels while Enora did not even attempt to move from the wooden bathtub. Once the door opened, the barmaid and owner of the inn entered, pausing for half a second at this sight before slowly sitting on one of the chairs. She observed them for a bit, visibly conflicted about something. Without raising her head or opening her eyes, Enora reacted.

(Enora) If even a nine hundred years old non-human Master of fire magic feels hesitant about something, it must be important. Right ?

(Nick) True.

With this assumption in mind, Rose started the conversation in a curious tone :

- What is this all about ? Almost everybody we have encountered since coming back in town has acted in a peculiar manner.

- Well …, began Ischyra while raising an eyebrow. First, are you fine with presenting yourself to me in like that ?

The obvious was so much more complicated when living all day every day in the Nexus of Minds. In general, the three humans were quite wary of anyone that was not part of their mental circle, on guard for any and all possible threats. But a few exceptions could appear. For example, if one of them felt comfortable or began trusting someone, then they all would feel this change and be affected in a way. That was the case here. Since Nick and, to some extent, Rose, were quite accepting of the barmaid, none of them had anything to say about sharing this kind of intimacy. And, contrary to previous events of the same sort, this time they did not feel ashamed or surprised. They had come to understand the magical link better and accept its peculiar ways more easily. Also, Enora's complete lack of body awareness had eventually affected the other two.

- Does it matter ?, asked Nick in response.

- … No., the non-human said, ending this tangent on the spot. Something happened while you were away. Otherworlders came out of the Trial.

The astonishment was great. Even Enora needed to sit up in response, displaying her bare body from head to waist without a care in the worlds. The red-skinned woman looked unfazed, without reaction at first glance, but her darting predatory eyes said everything. Disturbing. Finally, she continued.

- It was yesterday. A guard came back from the Trial's entrance with six people. They were ragged, with torn clothes, broken weaponry, weak bodies from lack of food and most likely illness. Honestly, the contrast between you and them is the most surprising thing about this whole matter.

After thinking for a while, Rose restored her composure first.

(Rose) Is it that surprising now that we think of it ? I mean, they were not that far behind us, and we cleared the dangerous threats on the way out. The most impressive thing really is how long it took them to actually join us.

(Enora) Weaklings. Mortals are disappointing. Me not impressed !

(Nick) Can't say I was expecting much from the bunch, to be honest. If we decided to bet back then, I would have said Arsenio and company would die in there.

(Rose) That's all fine and well, but why the sudden change in atmosphere from everyone ? These Earthlings are not the only sick and weak people in Sephayis. I fail to see the relationship between the two.

Expressing this thought out loud, an answer was given to the trio.

- The reason for that is because those new Otherworlders have been loudly claiming that you are bad people. Murderers for a start, but also cowards and all that. People did not mind it at first, but one of them seems particularly vehement about it. Is it true ?

- Yes., instantly answered Enora while sitting back down. I killed two of these people before escaping with Rose.

- Oh ! You misunderstood me. I did not mean the murder part, but the coward one. Who cares about killing ? Even if not much is widely known about Trials to the general public, I am personally aware that, in there, it's kill or die.

That was yet another shock. Murder was fine ? Apparently, sentient life only had the worth given to it by the powerful leaders of the Conjunction. Considering the sheer number of people living in there, it was evident that a few lives had absolutely no weight in the moral balance. Ischyra did not go as far as treating other living beings as unimportant altogether as that would be a genuinely sociopathic view of the worlds. But who had the mental fortitude to worry about so many ? To bear that responsibility ? A healthy dose of relativism was necessary to have a normal life in the Conjunction.