“Right; you want to hear the plan,” Jayden said before resting his chin in the palm of his hand. “I’ll tell you when the overgrown turkey wakes up since I’m not repeating it.”
"So be it," snarled Vandal, his stomach growling. He looked at his armaments then looked at Jayden. "Can I have my long gun and the pistol back?" Jayden regarded him coolly; Van twisted his mouth in response. "I'm going to look for food," Van said.
The tentacles whipped, tossing his weapons back at him. It was not like he was a threat to the blonde; his speed was wicked and he would meet his end at the ends of a blackened spike. Ignatius and Talon were close as well. Ultimately, there was no reason to go for him.
He did not know when Ig would wake up, but he did not plan to be gone too long.
The shift had shuffled the structures even more, creating a sort of mosaic city designed by a mad architect. The red sky painted the streets and buildings with blood. Vandal looked for a structure that resembled a shop. Above him, shadows fell upon him. Three black wyverns soared ahead of him, screeching. Van hid in an alley and waited for them to pass. I have to be careful, he thought to himself, I doubt I'll be rescued. When the dark beasts were gone, Van crossed the street. He swept his eyes left and right in case anything came charging at him.
After several blocks, he found the toy store where he and Talon met Ravage. The shift had divided it in half, marrying it to a grocery store. Van remembered seeing it before. It was named Ophelia's, but now it just said -elia's.
Though the store was dead quiet and seemingly empty, Van still kept his long gun loaded and in hand. To the west was the toy store, its colors awkward sitting so close to the market's own sober tones. He headed east. In this realm, Van knew, foods were sealed and flimsy packaging. Using the burning gem set in one of the dogs of the long gun, he examined what he was getting.
At the end of his urban foraging, he looked into the old but sturdy handbasket. He took note of what he had. An energy drink, two cans of beer, one fat can of baked beans, two packets of beef jerky, and one big bag of potato chips deemed family-sized. There was nothing fresh; all the meat and vegetables were spoiled and had been partially eaten by insects. Van still took the opportunity to produce banfrow. Because of his injury, he found himself tiring as he did his work. He snapped open the energy drink and downed it to stimulate him.
Before he left, he looked back at the lonely aisles. He imagined it being lit and the shelves stocked with products. This bizarre city amazed him, though he only saw its corpse. The people that lived here, constructed it … what a paradise it must have been.
On his way back, he mulled over Jayden and his plan. There was no sense arguing with him. The game was his, and he dealt the cards. The living shouldn’t interfere with the dead. The blonde's words echoed in his head.
The only worry he had was if Nu's safety would be secured. If the game did not play in his favor, would he fight fate? In Virtera, folk, great and small, when faced with doom would always say it was up to the stars. But here, the gods and great beings have made themselves known here. Such presence now made Vandal feel small and weak.
Turning around one corner, he saw Talon up ahead; he was easy to spot, given his spiky hair. Ig still slept. Talon took his pick, and Vandal his. He thought about Moryuu, the corruption that had taken over Nu, and Jayden's plan. This game has several players, Van thought sullenly as he bit a piece of beef jerky, who will I need to kneel before to save us?
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