Boy Meets Ai

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

The winding dirt path through the village Koboldtz was sparsely lit by hanging lanterns. Shadows were dark and long in the moonless night. Seiko traveled alone on the road, Apollo, on his back, wrapped in black cloth to hide its glow. A multitude of crickets and frogs created a symphony of nighttime sounds in the surrounding wooded area. All the shops in town were closed for the night. It was eerily still as the ranger moved quietly, sticking to the shadows when he could. Seiko was probably a little too paranoid, but it was better safe than sorry. He was headed back to his guild's hall and couldn't risk being followed. Satisfied with one final search for pursuers, he cut into the forest, breaking into a full sprint. After a minute or so, the hideout came into view. It was built into the side of a large hill. The front entrance was heavily obscured with branches and vines. They had used this hall for the past 9 months as their main base of operations. It also served as a place to hide in case a hit ever went wrong, and they needed to lay low for a while.

Seiko took a roundabout path to the front door to avoid the multitude of traps laid out for intruders. Inside, he was greeted by his friends waiting for him in the main foyer. Hendricks and Shinobu sat at the bar. As he walked up to them, he could see through the adjoining doorway, Oaklee and Marquis were conversing in the war room. His companion was automatically aware of his presence as his Ai. She looked up at him cheerfully. He nodded with a smile before saddling up next to the others.

"Mighty fine shooting there tex." Shinobu tipped an imaginary hat in his direction.

"Much obliged... pilgrim." He responded in a southern accent.

"It's a shame we didn't stick around. There was a really cute girl there and she was totally giving me 'the look'" Hendricks raised his eyebrows deviously. "She must have been wooed by my skill and grace."

Shinobu snorted loudly. "I'm sure that's what it was."

The team had grown to enjoy their hard earned home dug into the earth. It was quiet, secluded and safe. Branching off from the main entrance area was the foyer and war room but also a potion/crafting room where they could make all manner of alchemical boons. Additionally, there was a general supply room for helpful miscellaneous items. Rope, caltrops, nets, shackles, poison, fuses for explosives, etc. Oaklee collected all manner of junk to add to the room always saying

"Could come in handy. You never know."

Her last additions were a broken grandfather clock and multiple copies of a smutty book called "Shades of Etherium".

Seiko pulled his mug from its hook and watched it magically fill with a frosty cold, dark liquid. He sipped contently on the beverage as Shinobu and Hendricks argued about who got more kills on Gearhardt's groupies.

"You were late coming out from under the stage! I got way more than you!" Shinobu exclaimed.

"I was not late. I was holding out for dramatic effect and even then... I still took out more than half of those guys!"

"Are glasses an item in this game? Cuz you clearly need some since you missed me demolishing their whole squad! Theres nooo way you got half!"

Seiko was caught off guard as the samurai girl turned to him for support.

"Seiko ok, you weren't there but come on, does it make sense that the bard would be able to out dps me?" Shinobu scooted closer to her ranger friend as she lobbied for his vote of confidence.

He placed a finger on his chin thoughtfully. "Hendricks does have a couple of levels on you-"

"Thank you!" The bard patted him on the back.