Luther's Adventure Log

Monica's Trials

"LUTHER!!!" I screamed, sitting bolt upright and reaching my hands out. Nothing. He was gone. I was alone, washed up on the beach of Cassardis. I was numb at first. I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. Luther, my Master, my friend, my beloved, gone? Why had he done what he'd done? Why had he plunged the Godsbane into his heart? How had it turned into a dagger when it had been a full-sized broadsword beforehand? It hit me all at once, and I started sobbing uncontrollably. How could he have done this to me? "Luther... you selfish prick." I whispered to myself. I took the staff that held a piece of his heart off my back and held it close, like so many times before, waiting for the comforting sensation of his pulse to set my mind at ease. It never came.

"Why are you talking to yourself?" A familiar voice asked. I looked up. Selene. "Why are you crying?"

"Oh, Selene...!" I sobbed, hugging the little girl tight. "Luther, he's..." I couldn't finish. I couldn't say the word.

"Monica, what's wrong with Luther?" Selene asked, patting my back. "Has something happened?"

"Selene, I..." I tried to talk, but I just couldn't. "He's...!" Just then, the staff pulsed gently. I gasped, grabbing it and holding it tight to make sure I hadn't imagined it. It throbbed again, stronger this time. "Alive! He's alive!"

"...So why were you crying?" Selene asked blandly, squinting at me.

"Where is he? I don't see him anywhere!"

A group of villagers who'd heard the commotion came down to the beach, waving and shouting cheerfully. Herman was among them, wearing a toga for some reason. "Hey, Monica! This place is great! I've had sex with everybody eight times already!"

"Herman! What are you doing here?" I asked, standing up, using the staff as support. There was still a pulse, weak as it was.

"All the sex! Why else?"

"I suppose I should have guessed as much. That's not important, though! Have you seen my Master anywhere?"

"No, but I was supposed to give you this!" Herman produced a crisp, clean envelope from inside his toga. I didn't ask questions; I just ripped it open and read it right away. Herman and Selene crowded around me to look.

"It's a map of Gransys. What is this supposed to do for me?" I asked, furrowing my brow. "Wait... what's this blue circle?"

"It's an island." Selene said flatly. "Don't you know what an island looks like?"

"Bitterblack Island, to be specific." Herman said. "Some chick in a hooded black robe told me to invite you there. Said she'd be waiting for you on the island, and to come to the pier at night and ask the blonde woman in black to take you there. She told me she'd explain everything once we'd arrived."

"Do you think she knows what's happened to Luther?" I asked, honestly not caring about the suspicious circumstances right now.

"I mean, maybe? It's not like you have any better leads."

"Right... Okay, Herman! Let's go!"

"Do we need to go right now? There's an orgy going on right now, and I'd hate to miss it."

"Now, Herman!"

"We can't even leave until it gets dark, though!"

I gritted my teeth, glaring at the sun. "Ugh! Fine! I'll wait in my Master's home. But the instant it gets dark, we're leaving!"

"I'll meet you there! Promise!" Without another word, he ran back to the crowd. "Alright, everybody, calm down! There's always enough Herman to go around!"