Another planet, far away
Alred Remington snarled at the holographic wall of pictures, articles, notes and red string, clutching a mug of coffee in one hand. In the center of the board were two photographs: one of a college-aged woman with curly brown hair and green eyes, with glasses and freckles. Her looks were average enough to go unnoticed in a crowd, no matter who she was juxtaposed against.
As for the other, it was a set of mug shots of a garishly colored striped dragon -- the one known as Krogor. After advancing through the ranks of the Celestial Guard, Alred had discovered a hidden report detailing the destruction of planet pyT-01-65-10-3 and its star, pyT-01-65-10 "Fross," and how this dragon was responsible for it. Ever since then, Alred had been determined to get revenge on the beast.
The destruction of Elantris had been the key.
Poring over archived recordings of livestreams during various attacks, including the attack on Faxton that had started it all, he'd spotted that impossible-to-mistake coloration for the first time.
Orange, blue, green, purple and yellow stripes, with bright pink and blue wing membranes.
"That hateful swine," Alred hissed, fists clenching.
He'd never forgive that beast for destroying the planet on which his late wife had been.
Never.
Of course, his plans to get to Krogor via Alesha Williams, assumed to be a spy for Toltura's Army, had long since gone awry.
She'd never returned after vanishing from the interrogation room.
The very thing that had made the Celestial Guard certain of her identity as a spy had left them unable to question her further and helpless to track her down.
All they could do was wait for her to return of her own volition -- and many of Alred's colleagues were certain she wouldn't do something so stupid. If she hadn't returned already, they reasoned that she wouldn't do so at all.
"Curse it all," he mumbled, turning off the holographic display and sinking deep into an uncomfortable metal chair.
He sipped his lemon-flavored coffee, staring into empty space with a mad look in his eyes.
"Just you wait," he whispered, "I'll find you, Alesha Jane Williams, and when I do? Ohhh-hohohoho, you're going to wish you'd never been born."
He leaned backwards, draining his coffee and tossing it to one side, where the mug shattered against one wall. Splatters of the dark liquid started to dribble downwards, pulled by gravity's inescapable grip.
"Gravity's pull is inevitable, and so is my revenge…"
----
Alesha was astonished at how much prey Rogork had been able to find. After catching over a dozen mice and a rabbit, Rogork had spotted a small family of deer and, in a rush of strategic moves she hadn't expected, slaughtered them all before reverting to dragon form and beginning to feast.
Deer meat was more savory than she expected, rich and lean with a taste that could only be described as "natural." The berries, twigs and other forest greens they subsisted on had inevitably seeped into the meat. She had indeed expected them to be good, but not that good.
By the way, Alesha began, a question on her mind. What was that thing you did with the deer? You went right through that big rock like it was nothing, but I don't have an ability like that.
[Actually, you do,] Rogork corrected. [How dumb can you get? Seriously, you could've made use of this during the Gladiator Story if you'd ever bothered to check after you left the dark magic world.]
Seriously, what in Elantris's third hell are you talking about?
"Fine, I guess I'll spell it out for you," Rogork said around a mouthful of venison.
Continuing mentally, the System explained, [Do you remember those two doses of Korak you downed while attempting to escape Flynn before he assaulted you?]
Alesha would have flinched if she could have. Seriously? Mentioning that out of the blue?
No, she snapped, I don't.
…
Actually, yes, I do.
To be honest, she'd only denied it because she hated recalling that night's events.
Who wouldn't hate remembering the magical equivalent of drugged and tricked into giving up their virginity? Something so traumatic was bound to leave scars.
But Rogork's brutal lack of sympathy was merely par for the course.
[Good. Well, one of the effects was what allowed me to do that. For up to 3 hours each day, you can turn insubstantial, allowing you to pass through physical objects at half speed. That's why I could sneak up on those deer from a direction they weren't on guard against. I'm amazing, aren't I?]
Sure, she replied. SO~ clever.
[Ugh, you're just a bundle of joy, aren't you?] Rogork griped. [Please just play along for once and praise me!]
What, you're asking nicely now? After bringing up something like that?! Alesha shot back. Wasn't calling you clever enough??
[But you didn't- ugh, never mind.]
What's this? Rogork is feeling flustered? Wow! This is a first!! I wish I could record this moment!
[Shut up!]
Awww, poor wittle baby Wogork, bullied by the big bad Alesha!
[I mean it!]
Hmm, but I really can't let this opportunity slide! Rogork's actually feeling sensitive right now!
[Fine! You win! Just leave me alone!]
*****
[Ding! New Quest Available!]
[Quest: Peace and Quiet
Goal: Let Rogork have some peace and quiet
Quest Conditions: Leave Rogork alone for the rest of the Quest Penalty's duration
Reward: The answers you wanted earlier, ???
Penalty: Previous Quest Penalty extended by 24 hours
Failure Condition(s): Tease Rogork again or upset Rogork intentionally before the Quest Penalty ends]
*****
Alesha was genuinely surprised by the quest's contents. This is the first time in quite a while she's been given such an easy quest, and what was with the ??? reward? Was it something special?
She bit back a remark she'd been about to make about the unknown reward, realizing it might count against the quest's conditions. As much as she was tempted, she simultaneously wanted to avoid the quest's penalty and get the answers she'd wanted earlier.
She could hold back for a few hours.
And so, Rogork got what it had (suddenly and rather unexpectedly) wanted: some peace and quiet.