"Who is she?...Where did she come from?...There's no record..."

  I opened my eyes to a crowd of people standing around me, gawking. I lay on my back in the grass, fighting a throbbing headache and a powerful burn in my right hand. The damaged teleporter lay beside me, powered down.

  I noticed the dwarf that had stayed by my side, lobbing those bombs while we evacuated the rest of the families. I noticed the elven caster that had put up such a fight, using all her mana and energy to provide a Force Shield when we needed it most.

  But I wasn't supposed to be here. This mission had been about laying low, sneaking into the Society, and getting out. And now look at me. I blew my one chance at the Crystal to save a few lives.

  I tried to scramble to my feet but my legs betrayed me. Assholes. I swayed and staggered as people rushed forward to help me out. "Easy, miss," The dwarf said. "You had a rough spill, there."

  "Get off me," I grumbled, swatting their hands away. "Let me go."

  I stumbled away, my whole body still aching with pain. I shoved a few herbs into my mouth, grimacing at the taste. I could never quite get used to it, but the buff in HP was worth it. My mana and stamina were still drained, so I couldn't move very fast. As blood began to flow back into my limbs, I became aware of the people following me.

  "Won't you stay?" The elven lady asked. "You saved us. It's the least we can do to offer you a bed for the night."

  I frowned. I wished I could, but knowing my luck, they'd try to get me to join the Society. And that wasn't happening. Besides the fact I didn't agree with their tenets at all, I was a solo Traveler. Always had been. It was better that way. I'd vanish just like I always did, and these people could get on with their lives.

  I ignored their requests and turned a sharp corner, ducking behind the ruined Pavilion. I heard footsteps, but they wouldn't be fast enough.

  I sighed, took one last look around me, and selected Yes as the light swirled around me.