[System reboot initiated] [Critical damage sustained] [Multiple organ failure] [Multiple bone fractures] [Internal bleeding detected] [Healing Reinstated] [Remaining scath units: 1] [Critical Life Threatening Damage Repaired] [Insufficient Power for Secondary damage]  Valkyrie opened her eyes as bright sunlight poured in through a high window. Her cheek was pressed against a cold metal slap, and her hands were bound with metal cuffs behind her back. Val licked her chapped lips. Her mouth felt like it was full of dry cotton. She tried to sit up, but her legs cramped and seized. She rolled off the metal bench in pain, trying to rub the cramp out, but not able to get a good angle with her wrists cuffed. Where am I? “Ah

Lilith grinned wickedly, “I didn’t survive for nearly 200 years by having weak bones. Your spark will have already begun but over the course of twelve such sessions, I will break your bones one by one, and infuse them with a compound of living metal.”“The grid work of metals will enhance your natural strength and still allow for bend and flex, but the bones will no longer break. It is a long process, but a needed one if you are to face what is to come.”The meadow pulsed with light.“Your time here is coming to an end. Collect Scath units. I will cue your spark so you know what you will need before your next visit to me. Don’t take too long. It sounds like your enemies are closing in.”Light shone through her eye lids and Val awoke to violent shaking“Val? Valkyrie Black!” someone slapped her face and she sat up, a dagger in hand ready to slash her attacker.“Val! It me!&rdqu

As early morning sunlight streamed through the window, Val saw up, feeling more refreshed than she had in days.[Systems at Optimal Operating Parameters][9 Spark units currently available][Trip costs: -75,678 Dret]Valkyrie groaned. She only hopped they could track down enough scath in the coming days to recoup such a loss. They had failed to get the statuette, but perhaps the kill confirmation on the traitorous agent would recoup some losses.As if in reply to her thoughts the messages began displaying again.[Bounty confirmed. One million Dret upon confirmation.]Well now, that would set them up nicely. It was the single largest bounty any of them had ever seen by a factor of ten! Val doubted anyone expected her to be the one to score that. Split three ways… no, four ways… Desmond had helped with that last bit.Val suddenly had a thought. Cade

“Account?” “You might have been a tad hasty in your rise to power, dear. The guild formally known as the Razor’s edge did not in fact live on such a sharp blade when it came to finances. In fact, the previous guild master maintained a sizeable deposit with us, and likely elsewhere. Naturally in our line of work, that balance defaults to you, Miss. Black. “How much?” Val breathed deeply. “Lets see,” Nyx pulled a ledger from a desk drawer and flipped through a few pages, before finding the one he wanted. He scanned down the page before replying, “Ah, yes. Seems we have on hand 500 gold Danake, 20,000 gold eagles, and 100,000 gold Zons. Excluding the Danake which should only be spent within the Crescent Order, this is approximately 10 million that we hold in reserve for the newly founded Reapers guild.” “Are there limitations for keeping such funds here?” Val asked, finding it difficult to comprehend that amount. “There is a small maintenance fee, but this is typically covered by the

“What do you want?” came the lilting voice of a bored Lilith Endorra. Val was taken aback. She had never been greeted with such indifference. “I came for the training you offered.” “Did I offer to train you? I must have been drunk to think you were worth my efforts.” Lilith lazily poked at a small camp fire that appeared in front of her. When Valkyrie didn’t leave, Lilith looked up at her, “I am not some five horned dragon, Girl. You don’t have to stare. What did you do? Piss off some lord?” “What?” Val didn’t know any lords that she could remember. Perhaps Asura might count, but outside him, she couldn’t think of any nobility. She briefly wondered if they had managed to reattach his hands. “Nobility, girl. Are you daft too? How on all the world’s did you manage to unlock my gate when you cannot even carry a simple conversation? Who did you piss off? You wouldn’t be disturbing me if you just wanted some basic skill.” “The whole cosmos are open to you if you look up. If you are