No_Creative_Name
patreon
SoK Chapter 171
🕑 Added 2025-06-17 15:00:13 +0000 UTC***
a/n: I took Saturday and Sunday off SoK. It was glorious, mostly because this chapter flowed like butter. Like, less than an hour of writing. Having that break was really good for me. Even so, this chapter is a little short, but I feel like it was just the right length.
“TJ.” Raya greeted him without looking up from her clipboard.
“Raya.” He returned. “We’re leaving.”
“I’m well aware. You do not need to say goodbye as we do not have that kind of relationship.”
“I didn’t.” TJ agreed. “However, I’m here, and it’s not for pleasantries or goodbyes. You’ll have to forgive me for that lack of tenderness. No, I’m here to get back what one of my people had stolen from her. I’m told it ended up in your possession.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Raya replied, finally pulling her attention fully to TJ. “I would never steal from someone who was here. Perhaps if you inform me of who it is that took this person’s item from them? The description of the item, as well? I’ll be able to advise you of what has come of the disappearing valuables when next you return sometime after the next week.”
“That’s not gonna work.” TJ fought to maintain the same customer service and HR smile he’d used through his professional life. “It was a locket, a gift from her late husband. I can guarantee it was an item and equipment of great value. Gertrude assured me that the locket had been passed along to you, and, knowing you, you haven’t allowed the item to leave your care or vicinity since it was first given to you. Now. It’s time to return the stolen property, Raya.”
“Now I understand what you’re referencing.” Raya maintained a stoic, unconcerned face. “However, the item in question wasn’t stolen, it was bought! If there’s buyer’s or seller’s remorse, then that is something that can be discussed, but the item was never stolen! Gertrude’s party leader assured me that she had sold it to him for a reasonable price, and he then gifted it to me. So you don’t need to concern yourself with such paltry fears as erroneous loss of ownership. If Gertrude would like to attempt to buy back her item, she can do so when next she returns. Until then, I guarantee that I will keep it safe.”
TJ’s resolution to protect his people flared within him, and he abandoned every pretense. “I’ll shoot straight with you, Raya. You know as well as I do this isn’t the world we came from. I don’t give a damn about your twisting of words, technicalities, and attempts to bury the lede through passages of ownership and supposed purchases. I don’t care if you have a notarized, signed, verified invoice, receipt, and photo. Reality is that you stole the remnants of an old woman’s husband simply because they’re valuable and you were strong enough to take it.
“If you don’t give it back to me in the next 15 seconds, I swear on Kukulkan’s throne and memory I will kill you where you stand, consequences be damned.”
He didn’t need to count aloud, it was obvious he meant what he said as an ethereal representation of the god whose name he invoked appeared behind him. TJ felt his eyes change somehow as Raya’s face paled.
“You wouldn’t—no. You would. This will destroy all the goodwill you have built between yourselves and the New Republic!” She hissed.
“Nine. Eight.” A verbalization of TJ’s continuing countdown was all the response he gave. In the back of his mind, he noted that his connection to the people through his ritual was fading, but that didn’t matter right now. Instead, he continued to put the pressure on Raya.
After allowing her eyes to dart back and forth in panic, Raya took a step back, but TJ strode forward just as much, staying near her. She fumbled at her neck, unbuttoning the top of her blouse so she could access the clasp of a simple golden locket. Though her hands shook and she tried to get some space from TJ, he continued staying close enough that she couldn’t escape his immediate grasp. When his internal count reached two, she pulled the locket free and tossed it at him as if it was as dangerous to her life as he himself was.
By proxy, he supposed that was true.
He Appraised the necklace, still staying close to Raya.
Item: Necklace; Locket of the Lost (Silver (II)). This locket is the last remnant of a dearly beloved husband. This necklace was made by the giver’s own hand, forged of gold he himself panned. Within the locket remain tokens of his and the locket’s owner’s love. This locket has been passed to various family members but has found its way back to its original owner, and can only be equipped by the original owner of the locket, or the owner’s offspring. If any other than the original giver or the owner’s offspring attempt to take or wear this ring, they will benefit from only half of the benefits of this locket. This equipment grants the Memory of the Fallen (Silver (II)) Skill to its wearer. This equipment grants additional attribute points to its wearer. Points granted: +25 to all Attributes.
Glancing through the Skill description, TJ could see why Gertrude’s locket granted so many more Attributes than Mari’s ring did. It would ensure that Gertrude remembered the exact moment that she received the locket, as well as several of her favorite memories of Bob. A sweet Skill, one that TJ wouldn’t mind having a piece of his equipment give, but obviously much less impactful than his own Shield of the Devoted Skill. Satisfied, he nodded once and stopped actively menacing Raya. Her face twisted in relief and rage as death wasn’t quite so impending. While she tried to say something back to him, though, he spoke again.
“And let’s get this clear—” TJ said as he stepped away, “if this serves as the straw that broke the camel’s back in any hope for future relationship possibilities between my people and the New Republic, know that the ‘straw’ was our unwillingness to allow you to rob those you view as subordinates. Not my willingness to fight for my people’s rights, possessions, and lives.”
“You’ve threatened me in the center of our power!” She hissed, finally showing something beyond that damned carefully-schooled composure and hoity toity bullshit.
“I came and I demanded that you return my friend and subordinate’s stolen property.” He corrected. “If you want, I can pay for it. Even more than Gertrude was paid in the first place.”
At that, TJ pulled the scrap of javelina hide that remained of the boots he wore more as habit than necessity. He tossed it at Raya, who stepped out of the way and let it fall to the ground behind her. TJ grinned widely, definitely more predatorily than he’d ever done before.
“Now, scurry off and tell Sven what you want. If you wish to tell the truth, maybe we’ll see each other again, remembering that we’re equals, not your pawns to push around as you wish. If not, then I hope our paths never cross again, as I don’t want to be the reckoning that will come your way.”
TJ turned to walk away. There stood Farid, his face impassive, though he raised a hand in what must have been some sort of a ritualistic way.
“Samsara is continuous. It need not be physical death that comes for you and the New Republic. If you decide that it is death that must come, then I will be one of the weapons wielded to bring that end to allow new life.” He then turned to follow TJ. TJ grinned as he held the necklace in his fist while they walked away.
“I’m not going to say anything.” TJ whispered. “Not a single thing.”
“Perhaps you do not wish to—”
“Don’t you say anything either!” TJ hissed at Farid, who raised his hands in the hope of placating him. “Opening your damn mouth is a good way for everything to go—”
TJ felt Molly’s HP shift as she activated Divine Transformation. Then it began to fall.
“This is your fault.” He pointed at Farid in accusation as he turned to sprint in the direction of their allies.
[Sven POV]
“So. He took the most valuable item we have in the city. And you just… allowed him to?”
“It was that or let him kill me!” The hysterical woman shouted at him. “You said he wasn’t dangerous, that we could let him leave with the weakest, least impressive people around. Now, he’s gone with at least a dozen Coppers, many of which evolved right when the Tutorial ended! Where’s your brilliant plan now?”
Raya was upgraded in Sven’s mind from hysterical to stupid. He stiffened as he looked down at her, and he knew that she saw the look in his eyes and what it meant. Instead of continuing her rant, she bowed her head.
“I’m so sorry, you didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry Sven! Please forgive me!”
He didn’t need to say a word to remind her of her place. Perhaps she was merely emotional. Sven reduced his rage in that moment, though his true self demanded that he go on a rampage and show that idiot TJ what would happen when he challenged the true king of this land. Tyranny would be the least of the stupid snake’s concerns. He pushed the thought aside after a moment. No, not right now. Sven took a deep, calming breath, leaning down to take Raya’s face in one of his hands. She went still as he did so, though he saw the glint of terror in her eyes.
Good.
“Are there any sympathizers of his left in the Empire?”
“None more dedicated than those who mentioned they thought he might be a passable leader, none expressed any dissatisfaction with you or the New Republic as a whole. The few mentions made about an Empire, though, have not been well-received.”
Sven snarled. “It will take more time, then. They don’t understand their positions, the need to subjugate themselves completely for complete safety!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Sven smiled, allowing the flattery to settle over and calm him. Even though he knew it was flattery, he wasn’t immune to it. And as a Tyrant and a Zealot who’d sought and found power greater than the other Classes and Occupations could dream of, Sven would show them what the meaning of leadership was. What having a living god guiding you would bring. They didn’t understand, he wouldn’t take from them anything they wanted! They would understand what becoming a being truly capable of becoming a god and ascending to sit on the Divine Throne took. There was that feeling that swelled in his mind and made it clearer and clearer every day. Idealism be damned. The longer he ruled the more obvious it was that changes needed to be made. That level 30 Skill… yes, it would change everything.
“For now, give them space.” Sven dismissed Raya. “I need to better establish my hold over my soldiers before I send them on a crusade. When that time comes, though, I’ll lead their steps and I’ll guide our path. The upstart snake will fall at my hands. Whether he falls in line or falls to the underworld will be his choice to make.”
