>>6188990>“Fine then. Bring her out. Let’s see what she’s made of.”“Ahh, here she comes now.” Eman says, smiling and looking at something behind you. Penelope! This way!”
Penelope? Where had you heard that name before? You turn around and spy the largest woman you’d ever seen strutting towards you. Wait a second, you knew this brute! This was the woman you’d met back at the oasis! The one whose axe you returned! She was a cultist? She had a Crest?! And wait, didn’t she owe you a favor for giving her that disgusting axe back in the first place!?
“Eman. Grigori.” Penelope says, bowing her head. “You called?”
“Joyous news, Penelope!” Eman claps the giant on the back. “A bearer of the Blessing has found their way to us from across the sea! Meet Tristain d’Rusalka! Would you be a dear and have a quick spar with him? And be sure to win, while you’re at it?”
Penelope stares at you blankly. “Hello. Don’t I kno-”
>“EMAN! GRIGORI!” You shout, interrupting Penelope before she could reveal that you two had actually met. “I tire of waiting! Ready the arena where this ‘Penelope’ and I shall duel! I hunger for a fight with my newfound sister of battle!”“R-right away!” Eman nearly jumps out of his robe upon your declaration, before running off. Grigori looks self-satisfied, before leaving to join him. Only you and Penelope remain.
“Thanks again for giving me my axe back.” She says, smiling.
You look over at the woman, who stares back with a blank expression on her face. Penelope was an oddity. There wasn’t much going on in that head of hers, that much was certain. But you could tell she was damn strong. If you fought her normally, you’d have to contend not just with that strength, but also with the mysterious nature of her Crest, as well as that freakish axe of hers. But, as pondered earlier, she did owe you a favor. And you might use that to your advantage to prevail today and save Hima. Maybe now was as good a time as any to call that favor in.
>A): Tell Penelope to throw the match with you.>B): Tell Penelope to reveal the ability of her Crest. >C): Fight Penelope fair and square.>D): Write-in 