The TV sprang to life, displaying an intro to a news show, Beauty and the Beast. After the quick introduction, the camera zoomed onto the anchor desk where a male brutish tusked gray troll sat on the left, and a beautiful pink skin, blue-haired fairy woman sat on the right
In unison, the pair spoke in voices curated for news: " Welcome to the beauty and the beast."
" I am your host, Hank Tombstone," the troll said in a booming voice
" I am Abby Waterview; tonight, we conclude our three-day broadcasts of the dungeon drop; the last two days, we covered the nameless officer that defeated the wizard and government plans for repairs and now."
The fairy paused for dramatic effect." We start tonight with a message from the leader of the adventurers guild."
The troll let out a snort. "Finally!"
The channel cut to a broadcast of a forest green orc in a midnight blue suit and tie at a podium with almost a dozen mics attached to the top. The camera captured the domed classical building behind the orc before zooming in
" Three days ago, our guild and our city were molested by the Cimmerian archmage, and local collaborators caused a terrorist attack, putting the reputation of our guild at risk."
Dozens of camera shutters drowned out part of his speech
"As we tackle our dungeon that this occasion has twisted, we thank the police for their focus in helping us contain the spill out of mobs, and we will restore the balance; thank you."
Reporters crowded the edge of the stage where the podium was asking for questions and comments only to be ignored. The broadcast cut back to zoom up on Hank's furious
" THAT'S ALL! Your spoiled brat club, scuse me, adventure guild incompetence caused this, and you spend a few seconds talking about how the guild will recover? pathetic"
" Well Hank-" hanks fist hammered hard against the anchor desk
" collaborators? in our nation?! Can blood drinkers, the backwater sword and shield 'empire' still operating in a dark age, handle a network? Listen to my fellow people, and take my words seriously; we will overco-"
The TV snapped to black Alvis, groggy from days of an intense fever dream sleep and missing an arm did not want to be subjected to one of Hanks's fueled rampages, especially one filled with slurs that hit home
Though the chanting protests replaced the TV noise, and wailing coming from outside off of alvis balcony, the streets were crowded with mourners, outraged people, and city workers
The city was wounded, its people hurt, and their blood pouring from the wounds; every race and every creature in the sea of bodies wore the country colors of blue and bright gold, marching through the streets condemning the attack
The noise that cut through to Alvis was an elven rock band under his balcony playing traditional wood elf funeral songs to comfort the people, lighting a vigil across the street
Alvis was seated in a compact guest room at the edge of his bed. He laid down on his back, pressing his feet to the floor, taking in the energy of the world, feeling responsible for the grief
The guest room door swung open to a human male with a black beard and smith apron holding a black with two shot glasses and a single bottle of liquor
" You are awake. Good, I thought the gods figured out how to move your body."
" I awakened from the realms of gods into the violent embrace of mortals."
Alvis said while snatching the bottle with his only arm, using his mouth to try to chew off the bottle cap before handing it to the man Shinji in defeat
" such a poet, "Shinji deadpanned, pouring a shot for his guest. He waited a moment while Alvis killed the shot, then reloaded the elve glass once more before pouring his own
" Who was I talking to ?" Shinji slowly gulped down the drink before answering the elf
" talking through you, it was two separate entities bickering. I believe one was Zeus, but the conversations were chaotic, though they would trail off in detail about how the war with Chronos was going, and then either genderless voice would reel in the topic to talk about you."
Alvis killed his second shot, swishing the liquor he had identified as vodka in his mouth
"What did they want with me? I was Comtesse for two days. or more?"
" Three Zeus seemed furious that whatever spell cast on you wasn't meant for you and that it was too dangerous for someone like you to be cursed with that a mortal like Solomon could not command such power."
Shinji poured the elf a third shot
" but the second voice argued that your tantrum needed to end and you need to finish the cycle even if you are kicking and screaming."
As if the two read each other's minds, Shinji took the shot glass out of Alvis's hand and replaced it with the bottle, which Alvis started to chug
"hate me now. I contacted Duckworth about it," Alvis choked at the news
" Shinji, why would that gnome help me? We may have linked up in the past, but i burnt all bridges bending the knee. "
"Well, she said she would look into it. Seemed to have an idea what it is you can call her when you get dressed," Shinji said with a groan, pushing himself off the bed to stand up
Alvis looked down at his almost nude body, only in a pair of boxers. He wanted to crack a joke that he would dungeon dive in loincloths, yet his words were trapped in his throat
"Shinji," Alvis whispered, stopping Shinji at the door entrance
"I need my real arm."
" i am not refunding the police order as long as that stands. I'll prep the real one." Shinji did not even wait for a response before walking away out of sight into the mess of a workshop beyond the guest room door
Alvis started taking swigs from the bottle
Solomon's words stuck with Alvis. He was unprepared, cozy in a life of the simple street beat, not sharp enough to kill anyone from his past.
This changes now. Every muscle will be tight, every weapon the correct killing grade, yet he will walk the streets in covered plain clothes enchanted to be more challenging than a tank.
If fate will thrust him on a journey and treat him like an angry toddler, he would act like one. Whoever threatens his life, god, mortal, past or present, will either die by his hand or walk away with care and fear of Alvis
Police Sergeant Alvis would still survive, but as a mask under this mask, the mage warrior S rank adventure Alvis Winterson awaits to strike