Chapter 77: A Team, meet Sherry!

Drake took a moment to meditate now that the immediate threat was dealt with. Making sure to have Harley and Theodore keep a watchful eye on the treeline as he recovered his status.

What felt like the blink of an eye for Drake seemed to have been 30 minutes as he was finally broken from his meditation. Theodore lighting rousing him with a shake of his shoulder.

“Sire, they are gathering more catapults,” Theodore said, bending down to get within eye level of Drake.

“More? I thought we just broke like 20 of them,” Drake replied.

“Yes, it is unfortunate to say, but it is commendable that they have such resources to throw at just us. This one is concerned for the rest of the participants in the tutorial,” Theodore mentioned as he stood straight looking at the gathering of catapults.

Drake pursed his lips looking out at the gathering as well.

“Ehh, I wouldn’t be too worried, there is Bear at Shigure’s, not to mention Shigure himself, though I don’t really know his strength. I’m more worried about what is happening with the rest of the captives… Theo, could you get the people I gathered earlier? I want to get them to work right away. Especially that girl Claire, if she isn’t at the gathering go find her please,” Drake ordered.

“With all haste,” Theodore replied, running to the guard tower to make his way down the staircase to the floor.

Drake watched and considered for a moment that he should have made stairs to the rampart. Making sure Theodore had left his view, he snapped his fingers quickly dropping an earthen staircase behind him for later.

“Imbecile…” Natto laughed.

Drake didn’t reply. Only coughing briefly before sticking his tongue out.

“Mr. Shot, what are you doing?” Harley asked, her arms hugging her bow.

“Just um. Tasting the wind.. Bit salty I think,” he chuckled, earning him a mental kick from Natto.

“I think they're about to try again..” Tom said sheepishly.

“Then you best put that shield up. If anything happens to Harley, you won't be just dealing with me, but another mage that can go completely invisible,” Drake teased.

Tom began to sweat as he pushed the large tower shield closer to Harley.

“Stop teasing the poor boy. Can you not see he is about to have a heart attack,” Natto chided but couldn’t hide her light giggling.

It will be good for him, bit of bullying might get his ass into gear. Drake chuckled inwardly.

Drake quickly refocused as he saw the boulders fly into the air again, after the sounding of another Goblin Horn. Placing his mask back into place, he again snapped his fingers this time opting for burning red magic circles to save on his resources for his spell.

“Sagitta Magica,” he began again in a low voice, the circles flaring to life as fires pooled into balls in front of them, “Convergentia Ignis,” Drake continued changing the chant slightly, the fires turning to blue as they condensed, “Infinitus!” he shouted as the spells screeched into the air colliding with their earthen counterparts, then quickly outpacing the amount the catapults were able to fire.

“I love that I don’t actually know latin and can use that, Negi you really are one hell of a teacher!” Drake said jubilant.

“Is he not 10? How does that work?” Natto asked.

Not sure but you know, anime. Drake thought dismissively.

“Negi?” both Harley and Tom asked.

“Ah, it’s just from a show I know… Don’t worry about it,” Drake said, his ears turning a slight shade of red. Thankfully his mask covered up his reddening face for the most part.

Natto giggled. “Finally, I say again. People who do not understand your idiodic references.”

That’s harsh.. Anime is my lifeblood you know! Drake protested.

“Yes but that doesn’t change that you are cringe beyond belief!” Natto replied.

Drake sighed, not able to argue. Instead dropping down once again, beginning to meditate.

This time Drake wasn’t roused by Theodore, but instead the conversing of multiple people that slowly came into focus as he came out of his meditation.

“- is he going to wake up?”

“He’s just sitting there…”

“I can hear you, you know,” Drake said, cracking an eye open to see a few more people than he was expecting. Nine in total.

Looking at the group he could see Amir, Claire, Hudson, Theodore, Tom, Harley and the last of the people he had decided to bring in, Sherry.

Sherry was a special individual that Drake was looking forward to seeing grow. She stood at about 5 foot 2 and had a short side bob cut wearing glasses that were cracked on the left lens.

In addition to all of them, two more had appeared that he wasn’t expecting to see for some more time, but better now than never.

“Miss Chelsea and Miss Jacqueline… How wonderful of you to barge in and decide to join us..” Drake said sarcastically, stealing a glance at Theodore.

“This one apologizes my liege, but they insisted that they wished to make amends,” Theodore said, bowing.

“For what? Trying to entrap me? Trying to guilt trip me into helping them? Insulting my morals or insulting my intelligence?” Drake said, smiling at the two.

Both winced as they heard the list.

“We plead guilty to everything but the entrapment,” Chelsea said.

“Yeah, I didn’t even get to speak long enough to try to do that one,”  Jacqueline added, earning a glare from Chelsea, “My bad… guess I’m still shook up from the cannon fire earlier.”

Drake wanted to snap at them but couldn’t waste time.

“I’m very busy, what do you want? If it’s an apology I don’t want or need it. There are far too many things going on right now for me to care enough,” Drake said standing up.

Chelsea looked like she wanted to say something, but held herself back, taking a moment to think before speaking.

“I-We want to help. We’re willing to do anything we can to help,” Chelsea began, resulting in a raised eyebrow from Drake.

“And in exchange?” Drake probed.

Chelsea bit her lip, “Only when you think the Outpost is safe enough. Then I’ll ask.”

Drake put his arm to his chin and mulled over whether he should allow them in on his plan or not.

Natto, how much will two more people burden my experience? Drake asked.

“It is negligible with the amount you kill, also with the addition of Amir they should counteract each other even with a party of ten,” she explained.

“Hmm,” Drake hummed, “What about my arm?” Drake asked evenly, looking at Jacqueline.

She squirmed slightly under Drake’s gaze but turned to Chelsea before answering. But Drake didn’t miss the look. And after a seemingly quick exchange Jacqueline answered.

“I’m thankful for what you’ve done for us. All of us, yeah?” she said.

“But?” Drake added, beginning to become annoyed by the roundabout once again.

“But Chelsea and I. We had a previous group, and they are being held against their will, even some poor bastards not even knowing it’s happening right under their noses,” she continued, “And we want to help them before it’s too late. So even, yeah? You save them and I’ll heal your arm, square?”

Drake bit the inside of his lip, and then moved his mask to reveal his face.

Giving Jacqueline an even stare, he looked deeply into her eyes, “Are you sure that’s it. I have a sinking feeling there is more to that story that you are not telling me.”

Jacqueline gazed back at Drake for a few breaths before she turned to Chelsea, Drake’s eyes following.

“Well?” he asked again.

Chelsea shivered slightly under his eyes, her body remembering their last interaction by the gravesite.

“Th-there is more… but please let me explain it in more detail!” she pleaded.

Drake broke his gaze and looked back towards the forest, sure of the Goblins regrouping being imminent.

I’m going to go with it. Drake thought.

“It is not like I can stop you,” Natto sighed.

“Fine. Then all of you. Welcome to the A Team! First order of business,” Drake shouted his hand up in the air, then feeling awkward at not having two hands to emote snapped another earthen arm into existence, then continued, “Is for a little trust exercise! Let me introduce, Sherry!”

Drake moved next to the woman, placing a gentle pat on her shoulder as she gazed back at the group of people now looking at her, with little interest.

“I just want more food, bro,” Sherry said looking up to Drake.

Bringing his hand to his head Drake sighed, “God damn it I have another Natto…” he whispered, but received a mental jab from Natto.

“Yes, yes. I will prepare you some more food once the massive fucking armies are delt with ok?” Drake grumbled.

“Cool beans,” Sherry replied, giving a thumbs up.

“Isn’t she just a bundle of energy gov’” Jacqueline said, her hand going to her hip.

“Her lack of sunlight and B12 intake is of no concern. What matters here is Sherry’s class!” Drake said deflecting.

“Sire and what class wouldeth that be?” Theodore chimed in.

“Sherry,” Drake said giving the woman another pat, her glasses sliding down her nose, “Is a Pactmaker! And you're all going under magical contract!” Drake shouted, grinning.