messy | w3 curfew: we judge everyone for their location choices.

[Now it's Bradley's turn!

---

You and Nero are standing on the grounds of a castle covered in thorny, growing briars. Moving around alone causes enough trouble, but the monsters lurking the area are even more of a challenge. It's nothing you and Nero can't handle, of course, but it's just annoying to deal with.

There's a conversation going on between you two and the Sage, who is projecting their voice from a nearby window. It's all logistics, but that's long talk and won't be in this memory. Rather, the conversation cuts in at this one specific point:

"Sage," Nero says, "We’ll move into position right above the courtyard. I can’t get a clear view of what’s happening below the briars, but......If there’s anything shiny to use as a target, Brad can aim and shoot at it from above."

"Even against the Minotaur?" the Sage calls back.

You scoff at that. "Who do you think you’re talking to?" A pause, and then you continue. "—That’s what I wanna say, but I’ve never gone up against that beast before. I can’t guarantee that I can take it down with one shot. But I’ll load it with bullets until it goes down. That Central tiny’s magic tool is a lantern, right?"

"You mean Riquet. Yes, his magic tool is a lantern," the Sage says.

"Get him to shine it above that damn bull’s head," you say.

"Got it! I’ll let him know."

The two of you rush through the briar-filled paths, collecting other Sage's wizards along the way. Eventually you reach a point where you can see over an open area in the maze of briars. You take a strong stance and ready your gun. Searching...searching...you need that light to shoot the beast, but you have to keep your mind calm. Worrying about the kids won't help. 'I'll save them,' you tell yourself. When there is no room for failure, you know you will succeed.

"I see it," Murr calls out, pointing towards a flickering light.

Nero responds in the affirmative as well. "It’s Riquet’s lantern! Brad!"

"Got it! Leave it to me!"

You can see the flickering light now, illuminating the beast that threatens to kill the young wizards. "There’s no wind ....... We kept you waiting, Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern, and Central tinies. Bradley the Great will take down that damn bull."

"IS there a Northern tiny?" Murr asks.

"I don’t think the Western one is there either," Shylock says, "but....... Please take care of them, Bradley."

"We’re counting on you, Brad. Those kids’ lives are on the line." Nero sounds serious, and maybe a bit desperate. He doesn't show it as easily, but he's just as attached to these kids as you are.

You grin. "Don’t worry. I’ve got this."

You lift your rifle. "Here we go! << Adnopo— >>"

But something tickles in your nose, and you're unable to finish your words. "......hh, A...... Ah......."

Everyone around you suddenly looks very worried.

"ACHOO!"

You open your eyes again once your sneeze passes, and you find yourself in the middle of a bog in a dense forest somewhere.

"Tch!"

This again. Why now, you don't have time for this!

You shove your hand into one of your pockets and pull out your trusty pepper shaker. You hold it up and dump pepper onto your face, instantly making your eyes water.

"ACHOO!"

Now you're in the middle of some fancy town in Eastern Country. Everyone around you looks at you in a mix of shock and fear.

"ACHOO!"

Now you're on top of a snowy mountain in the Northern Country. You actually know exactly where you are now, but it would take you two days to fly back. You don't have enough time for that.

"ACHOO!"

Now you're in someone's living room. You don't even stop to see what country this is before you're throwing pepper in your face again.

"ACHOO! ACHOO! ACHOO!"

A warm field, the deck of a ship, and then a dark cave.

"FUCKING DAMNIT!!!"

You can barely see but you throw pepper one more time, sneeze, and then end up somewhere in the tangle of briars. It's not exactly where you were, but close enough.

You pinch your nose to suppress another sneeze as you run through the briar-lined path, looking for the light of a lantern.