Krysis opens his eyes and sees a figure before him, he blinks a couple of times and sees Samantha's visage. He reaches his hand out to hold her cheek and whispers "My sweet Samantha." A hand rests on top of his as the visage smiles back at him. The visage starts to speak. "Who is Samantha?" Confused Krysis blinks a few more times, and realizes his hand is resting on Zander's cheek.
"Welcome back buddy." Zander says, smiling at Krysis.
"Yes, good to be back I suppose." Krysis said bluntly. "I have many wrongs to right, and apologies to make." Krysis continues "I've not been fully honest with any of you or anyone in Octarvia for that matter." Krysis goes on to fill his party in on everything, including his dream and visit from Anamarum.
"That's quite the story Krysis." Roxie says.
The party takes a moment to absorb Krysis story before Felix speaks up. "Well, no point dwelling on the past now, and we're too committed to you as a teammate to abandon you now. Although it is nice to acknowledge you as another commonfolk like the rest of us." Felix says, laughing.
"Speak for yourself." Roxie proclaims. "I am of a higher station among the Elven." Roxie continues, smugly.
The rest of the party laugh off Roxie's remarks before packing up and allowing Krysis the rest of the day to continue resting. They meet Tobias outside the Merchant's Guild, ready for the journey back home. Tobias lets them know, they can't depart until this evening, and that they should spend the rest of the day enjoying themselves while they wait.
Felix, Zander, and Krysis head out to shop for equipment and supplies, Roxie pulls Dabi aside and suggests they go clothes shopping together, confused, Dabi agrees. After getting plenty of separation from the others Roxie breaks the silence.
"Looks like we're all bearing secrets." Roxie says, bluntly.
"What do you mean Elf, what's this all about?" Dabi replies.
"Last night, when your makeup washed off, I recognized your face." Roxie says, smugly. "Or should I call you, Dabidon Vulreel." Roxie continues.
Dabi froze in his tracks. "I was afraid it would come to this, I should have known better traveling with an Elf." Dabi says, sorrowfully. "Now you must die." Dabi continues, bluntly.
"Why would knowing you used to be an entertainer from Tolledo warrant my death?" Roxie inquires. Tolledo is the capital province of the Elvan kingdom, where almost every Elf is from. "You used to have a partner." Roxie continued before being cut short by the drawing of Dabi's dagger, pressed against her throat.
"Never mention her to me again." Dabi said, in a more serious tone than Roxie had ever heard him speak before.
Realizing Dabi wasn't joking with her, Roxie agreed to drop the subject. "Must have been a gnarly break up." Roxie said, under her breath. Dabi resheaths his dagger, and continues walking towards the shopping district.
Meanwhile Felix upgrades his swords and gets some armour, Krysis stocks up on his artificer supplies, and Zander bought some iron knuckle gloves and shin guards to increase the destructiveness of his blows. They meet back up with Dabi and Roxie, who just finished buying new clothes. "For you Dabi." Felix says, before handing Dabi a short sword.
"I don't use those." Dabi said, frustrated.
"You might use this one." Felix says, grinning. "It's imbued with poison magic." Felix continued.
"Fair enough." Dabi said, trying not to smile. "Thank you." Dabi said under his breath.
"So y'all had a little girl's day?" Felix jested towards Dabi and Roxie.
"Something like that." Dabi and Roxie said in unison.
The party made their way back in time for the carriage ride home. They finish loading up and depart for Ashborne. They make their way a little past the bridge entrance before nightfall fully envelops the landscape. The group decided to set up camp for the night, while Dabi has had the same bad feeling since exiting the bridge and getting back onto land.
The moment Dabi is woken up, he feels the gaze of a predator upon him. Not one for games, Dabi presses the attacker by walking out, and verbally challenging the mysterious figure who's haunted him since they began this job.
"I'M RIGHT HERE, WHY ARE YOU HIDING!" Dabi exclaimed to the night sky.
Just then the same arrow that ignited the wagon on their way in, grazed Dabi's cheek before landing in a nearby tree and igniting, setting the tree ablaze. "I SEE YOUR AIM IS IMPROVING!" Dabi continued to yell, before banging his new sword against his chest. Just then an unknown figure lunged from the shadows blade pressed against Dabi's as they went to the ground. A thunderstorm rolls in, rain fills the scene, and fire from the tree illuminates the makeshift battle field. Dabi realizes it's the same mysterious figure who had the familiar aura the day he met his party members.
"You." Dabi said, bluntly "So, you've been hunting me down?" Dabi inquired. "Who sent you? How did I wrong you? Am I really worth the trouble?" Dabi continued, sarcastically.
All of the sudden a gust of wind from the storm blew the hood off the figure, and in the light of the fire, Dabi saw Rowana and suddenly became powerless. Body limp, heart stopped, eyes petrified, Dabi just stares for what feels like hours to him. Rowana takes the opportunity to make an attempt at Dabi's throat, before he snaps out of it and rolls out from underneath Rowana.
"How are you alive?" Dabi questioned, knelt over on all fours.
Rowana doesn't respond, but makes another attempt at slashing. Rowana stood just short of Dabi, also a Dark Gnome, with long grey hair and piercing green eyes, she was the most beautiful thing Dabi had ever seen. Dabi again rolled out of the way, back on his back, rain falling on his face.
"How are you alive?" Dabi once again asks, but this time silently to himself, as he stares up at the rain filled night sky.
"I held you in my arms, I watched your life slip away, I GRIEVED YOU!" Dabi said, increasing in volume with each line as tears rolled down his face. "THEY CALLED ME A MURDERER, THEY RAN ME OUT OF TOWN, THEY DID THIS TO ME!" Dabi continued to shout, as he gestured his harlequin makeup and outfit with his sword.
"This was not who I was, this is not who I am, I played the part of the role I was given." Dabi said, as his voice began to come down. "They gave me no choice, but for what, here you are, my life ruined for what?" Dabi continued, questioning his choices.
The wagon tapestry flew open as the rest of the party ran out to help, but before they could make it to Dabi, Rowana made eye contact with them, before fleeing back into the night. Without hesitation, a blur of light sped past everyone, they soon realized was Zander. Although almost 500lbs, they bore witness to his incredible speed, at full stride, he was faster than any mount they had ever seen.
It didn't take long for Zander to lose Rowana's trail though, as she blended in with the darkness. He returned to the party shortly after, with a disappointed look on his face. He found them sitting around a campfire, comforting Dabi.
"Can we talk about it now?" Roxie asked Dabi.
"A long time ago, I was a performer in the Silver kingdom. I had a partner, her name was Rowana Ezreer. We were fairly popular, hence why the Elf over there recognized me when my make up wore off. We performed together for many years, then one day we're attacked on a road outside Marlton. There was no rhyme or reason to the attack, they didn't take anything, they didn't ask for anything, just senseless bloodshed. Nobody believed me though. Rowana died in my arms, I watched Anamarum take the life from her eyes, and I was labeled a murderer, The Killer Clown. I still remember the figures who did it. I remember the symbol on their cloaks. I will never forget." Dabi explained to the party.
"So why is she alive?" Dabi questioned, turning his head towards the direction she fled into.