[You are out of contact with the Celestial World]

'What is this?' Jamie thought to himself, staring at the shimmering notification that hovered before his eyes. 'Is it just me?'

Beside him, Jay gazed at the same message. The cat's face mirrored Jamie's confusion, whiskers twitching in uncertainty.

"I've never seen anything like this," Jay commented, his tone thoughtful yet tinged with concern. "If I'm here and you're inhabiting my body, theoretically, divine powers should still function. But it seems they're not operating fully."

Jamie watched him intently, waiting as Jay pondered.

"Perhaps... perhaps the scenario has worsened," Jay mused after a moment.

"What do you mean, worsened?" Jamie asked, his brow furrowing deeper.

Jay flicked his tail thoughtfully, avoiding Jamie's gaze. "Maybe the gods underestimated the repercussions of losing one of the major deities. Perhaps they didn't anticipate how much it would affect even themselves," he explained. "It's just a theory. We can't know for sure."

Jamie ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in the set of his jaw. "So... no one can commune with the gods? What about those who need their Class or experience points?" For once, he voiced his thoughts aloud instead of keeping them in his mind.

"Only the high clergy might have answers," Jay responded with a shrug, leaping gracefully onto Jamie's shoulder before climbing atop his head. "They're more attuned to the divine."

"Damn it," Jamie muttered, taking a few steps toward the door.

As he descended the narrow staircase, slowly The Golden Fiddle Inn unfolded below. At this time, however, the common room was filled not with the usual sounds of travelers and locals but with his companions.

Julie, Bertram, and Eliza, who had remained at the tavern, seemed untouched and unharmed by the Monster Rush. Julie laughed, tossing a makeshift ball crafted from straw and cloth back and forth with Bertram across the room.

Behind the bar, Eliza moved with practiced ease, her auburn hair neatly pinned as she organized the items.

As Jamie stepped off the final stair, the worn floorboard groaned softly under his weight, signaling his arrival. Bertram and Eliza looked up simultaneously, their faces lighting up with relief and warmth upon seeing him.

"Finally! I didn't know how much longer you'd remain unconscious," Eliza exclaimed, relief evident in her warm smile as she approached Jamie.

"Boss! How are you?" Bertram shouted, sprinting toward him and letting the makeshift ball they'd been playing with tumble to the floor.

Jamie smiled at Bertram's enthusiasm. "I'm alright, I'm alright," he assured them.

Julie stood a little ways off, her fingers clutching the edge of her simple dress. She had seen Jamie working alongside Thomas and remembered how he had helped save her, but her innate shyness held her back from approaching. Her doe-like eyes watched him cautiously, gratitude mingled with timidity.

Eliza wiped her hands on her apron, a habit born of endless hours tending to the inn. "It's good to see you up and about," she said.

Jamie nodded appreciatively. "Where are the others?" he inquired, his gaze sweeping the room.

"Thomas is with Knall overseeing the reconstruction efforts," Eliza explained. "Knall is helping repair the wall, and Thomas is working on rebuilding the houses."

Bertram's expression grew serious. "Aldwin and Camille are patrolling the streets. With so many homes destroyed, there's been looting happening all the time. They're trying to keep the peace."

"I see," Jamie replied, a weight settling on his shoulders. "And what about the new recruits?"

Bertram shifted uncomfortably. "Since you were still unconscious, we decided to release them for today," he said. "At least until you can oversee their final assessment."

Jamie considered this, then gave a curt nod. "Understood."

He moved toward one of the broad windows lining the front of the inn. Pulling back the faded curtain, he gazed out at the city beyond. The streets of Hafenstadt, usually teeming with life, were eerily quiet.

From his vantage point, he could see the extent of the devastation. Near the Golden Fiddle, several buildings had been reduced to rubble. Scorched timbers jutted out at odd angles, and piles of stone and debris cluttered the narrow streets. A few distant figures moved among the wreckage, scavenging what they could.

"How bad is it?" Jamie asked, still staring out.

Eliza joined him at the window, her expression grim. "The southern wall is completely breached," she said softly. "If there's another rush, we'll have to fight in the streets."

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"Many houses were destroyed," Bertram added, his youthful face reflecting uncharacteristic solemnity. "But the worst is the village outside the city. There's nothing left of it. So many people have nowhere to go. They're sleeping on the streets or risking the forests at night."

Jamie exhaled slowly, his breath fogging the glass. "Fuck," he muttered under his breath. Not only were countless lives upended, but the economic strain would be severe. 'Who will have the coin to spend at the tavern when they can't even rebuild their homes?' he thought, a flicker of worry crossing his mind.

"Has the governor announced anything?" he asked, turning back to face Eliza and Bertram. His thoughts drifted to Maria. 'She might have returned along with me, but her guardian might have some plan.'

Bertram shook his head, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. "We're not getting any reinforcements from the Empire," he said. "The Monster Rush is intensifying everywhere. The Empire's troops are spread too thin."

"However," Eliza interjected, trying to offer a glimmer of hope, "a group of Templars is expected to arrive in the city within the next few days."

Jamie's brow furrowed. "Templars?" he echoed. "Any issues I should be aware of?"

Eliza hesitated, glancing away briefly before meeting his gaze. "Several," she admitted. "I'm not sure how much you know about them. They don't usually come this far north."

She continued, her voice tinged with unease. "They're not like the city guards or the regular army. They're zealots, fanatics devoted to the gods. They answer to a higher calling, which makes them unpredictable."

Jamie crossed his arms, considering her words. "That sounds more like trouble than a solution," he remarked, the edge of concern sharpening his tone.

Eliza nodded. "They could be exactly what we need to bolster our defenses, or they could be the end of us all. It's hard to say."

"Any good news?" he asked, his voice tinged with a faint hope he scarcely felt.

Bertram glanced up at Jamie with a slight grimace. The young boy's face seemed to convey that he had nothing of significance to share. With a resigned shrug, Bertram turned his gaze back to Julie. She stood by the far wall, the handmade ball of straw and cloth clutched in her hands, waiting patiently for their game to resume.

"I have some... strange news. Will that do?" Eliza offered return to the bar and wiping her hands on a clean rag.

"Better than bad news," Jamie replied, his curiosity piqued despite himself. He made his way toward the bar.

Bertram seized the opportunity to rejoin Julie. The two began tossing the ball back and forth, the soft thud of it landing in their hands providing a gentle rhythm in the otherwise quiet room.

Eliza waited as Jamie approached to gesture to a leather-bound ledger lying open on the counter. "Here's our current situation," she began. "We have a significant amount of gold just sitting idle. There's no point in brewing more beer, we can't sell what we have. No one has come in these past two days. People aren't in the mood to celebrate or even restock their supplies."

Jamie nodded, casting a quick glance at the ledger's neatly penned figures. "Everyone is focused on rebuilding," he acknowledged. Through the window behind the bar, he could see the silhouettes of townsfolk moving about with tools and lumber, the distant sounds of hammers and saws breaking the evening stillness.

"Exactly," Eliza continued, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the ledger. "So, I was considering what to do with our resources. Normally, I'd wait for your approval, but given the circumstances, it was a matter of timing. It wouldn't negatively impact our operations, so I made an executive decision."

A hint of intrigue sparked in Jamie's eyes. "And what decision was that?" he inquired, leaning against the bar as he scrutinized the last entries of expenses and income.

+----------------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+

| Description | Income (🪙) | Expense (🪙) | Balance (🪙)|

+----------------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+

| Sales | 0 | | 90 |

| [Loans] | | 20 | 70 |

| Bread purchase | | 10 | 60 |

+----------------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+

| CASH ON HAND | | | 60 |

+----------------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+

Eliza straightened slightly, a touch of pride in her voice. "I lent out twenty gold coins in total to aid in the reconstruction of the Lower Quarter. Mostly to local merchants, people we know and trust. I set the interest rate at twenty-five percent per annum."

Jamie raised an eyebrow, impressed. "I see. That's quite astute," he remarked. "It makes a lot of sense. Better to have the gold working for us than gathering dust." He was genuinely surprised by her initiative and financial acumen. It wasn't their usual line of work, but in these challenging times, adaptability was key.

'And if they don't pay we have the muscle to figure that out.' Jamie thought for a moment.

A pleased smile spread across Eliza's face, her eyes brightening at his commendation. "I'm glad you agree," she said softly.

"But what's strange about it?" Jamie asked, sensing there was more she wished to convey.

Eliza's expression grew puzzled. "Well, I thought it was a smart and somewhat risky move, so I expected to gain some experience from the decision. But... I didn't receive any."

Jamie considered this, his gaze distant for a moment. 'Is it because of the disrupted connection with the Celestial World?' he pondered silently.

"Maybe you just need to wait a bit longer," he suggested aloud. "The gods might be waiting to see the outcome of your investment before granting any experience."

Eliza tapped a finger against her chin thoughtfully. "Ah! Like when we only receive experience after completing the first sale of Beer," she exclaimed, a light blush coloring her cheeks as she realized the oversight. She gave a self-deprecating chuckle, lightly slapping her forehead. "Of course, that makes sense."

"Exactly," Jamie agreed, though a subtle unease lingered in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it.

"There's something else," Eliza added, reaching beneath the counter to retrieve an elegant envelope sealed with crimson wax. The seal bore the intricate emblem of the Vice-Governor's office. "This letter arrived from our dear Maria von Hafenstadt."

"Again?" Jamie remarked, accepting the envelope. The parchment was of fine quality, and the script on the front was meticulously crafted.

"What the hell?" he mused aloud as he read the title.

[Invitation: Tea Party]

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