After a much-needed rest, Ereshar resumed his relentless campaign to push me into checking on Veshira.
The flickering bursts of bright light in my face were particularly grating, as if subtlety was entirely beyond his comprehension. For a moment, I wondered if he could be repurposed as a light source—at least then his glowing interruptions would serve some practical purpose.
In the wake of the humanoid cavecrawler's appearance, the guards had been reassigned to patrol the perimeter. The absence of their usual watchful eyes inside the settlement was conspicuous, though their replacements soon became apparent: reinforcements from settlements further up toward the surface.
The air was thick with tension and urgency as I made my way toward the refugee quarters.
There, the reality of the situation hit me. Lines of injured people sprawled on mats or leaned against makeshift supports, their faces etched with pain. Many clutched patches of blue goo pressed against their wounds—a resource as miraculous as it was limited.
The area was a patchwork of improvised tents, their frames fashioned from scavenged materials and the hides of local beasts. Inside, refugees lay on uneven bedding, groaning softly as nurses and doctors moved between them, administering aid.
Despite the blue goo's reputation for incredible healing properties, it was no cure-all and people still died.
I made my way to the area where my brood was staying, scanning the gathered faces, but there was no sign of Veshira anywhere.
Before I could look further, Zeera sauntered up to me, her usual smirk in place.
"Where've you been, slacker?" she teased, her tone laced with playful mockery.
"Not slacking, that's for sure," I replied, already annoyed. "And could you stop calling me that?"
"Nope," she said breezily. "Slacker."
I sighed, pushing past her antics. "Have you seen Veshira?"
Her expression shifted ever so slightly, though her tone remained casual. "Haven't seen her since we got here. Why?"
"She was attacked by a humanoid cavecrawler," I said, my voice heavy with concern. "I'm worried about her.
Zeera's brows lifted in feigned surprise. "Really? I hope she's okay."
But something in her tone was off, her eyes darted away for a fraction of a second.
She's lying.
"Well, how about I help you find her?"
"That's certainly would be of help. I am still unfarmilair with the layout of Glowhaven."
"Then let's go."
Zeera grabbed my arm and pulled me along as we searched every nook and cranny of the settlement, scouring shadowed alleys, crowded tents, and forgotten corners in our hunt for Veshira.
Despite the tension hanging over the settlement, the market buzzed with activity. Vendors called out, peddling their wares, and people moved about, haggling for supplies. But the dining areas were the most crowded. Miners and transporters, their usual work disrupted, sat idle, their conversations subdued.
After our unsuccessful hunt for Veshira, we decided to visit the diner to satisfy our hunger.
Food, it seemed, was being provided by those in charge. Zeera and I found a spot at a stone table and sat down with our portions.
I held my share and inspected it closely. Fine grains of sand clung to the food, along with other unidentifiable debris. It was clear that resources were strained; the influx of people had pushed the settlement's supplies to the brink.
I glanced at Zeera, then down at the food again. You could settle for this. Or you could hunt for your own. Another options was to pay someone to hunt for you.
As I sat picking at the meager meal, a conversation from the next table caught my attention.
"Did you hear? Elies is missing."
"Seriously? That explains why the food's been terrible lately."
"Without her around, Jorrik and his men are free to do whatever they want."
"Who's this Elies everyone keeps talking about?"
"Elies? She used to be the captain of Division 10 of the Ground Force. Jorrik used to work under her. From what I've heard, she was demoted for some reason and sent to oversee young settlements. Meanwhile, Jorrik climbed the ladder and is now the head manager of Glowhaven."
"Gosh, this place is becoming more and more..., I wish I have enough money to move up to the upper settlements."
"I heard some of the upper settlements get to eat synthesized beef."
The conversation lingered in my mind. Just then, the screen Ereshar used flickered to life, its glow pulsing faintly beside me.
**[ELDER ELIES AND VESHIRA ARE MISSING.]**
I frowned, glancing at Zeera. "Do you know anything about this?"
"Do you know anything about it?" I asked Veera.
"No, not really."
As we ate, I poked at the gritty stew on my plate, trying to ignore the crunch of sand between my teeth.
Around us, the din of the dining area continued, a mix of subdued chatter and the clatter of makeshift utensils against stone plates.
"Zeera," I began, keeping my voice low, "do you know any places around here that sell weapons?"
She glanced up from her meal, a brow raised. "Weapons? Why are you asking? I didn't see anything like that in the market."
"Exactly," I said, gesturing subtly toward the market stalls. "Nothing there looks even remotely useful. No blades, no bows, not even a decent club. Just food and scraps."
Zeera leaned back slightly, crossing her arms. "Why don't you just grab something from the headquarter's armory? It's not like they'll stop you."
I scoffed, shaking my head. "Because everything there is garbage. junk that might snap in half the moment I swing it. I need something reliable."
She tilted her head, eyeing me with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "What are you planning to do with a weapon anyway? Don't tell me you're thinking about going out there."
I didn't respond immediately, letting the question hang in the air as I took another bite of the stew. The truth was, I wasn't entirely sure what my next move would be. But if Elder Elies and Veshira were missing—and with humanoid cavecrawlers lurking beyond the settlement—I didn't want to be caught unarmed.
"Well?" Zeera pressed.
"Let's just say I want to be prepared," I said finally, keeping my tone neutral. "Better safe than sorry, right?"
Zeera narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't push further. "Fine. If you're really set on finding something decent, there might be an old workshop near the outskirts. It's half-buried, but I've heard some scavengers say it used to belong to a weaponsmith."
I perked up at that. "You think it's still got anything left?"
"No idea," she said with a shrug. "But if you're desperate enough, it might be worth a look. Just… don't do anything stupid, slacker."
"Noted."