《Heavy Is The Crown》 It Had To Be A Dragon The dragon''s red eyes glowed with malice, its mighty wings sending gusts of wind rushing over the village with every beat. Even from my place behind a scorched wall, the heat from its fire singed the hair on my arms. Nowhere to run. And if the attack continued, there''d soon be nowhere to hide. A small hand tugged at my tunic, and I turned to meet Daedra''s wide, blue eyes. Her hair was a tangled mess, dark stands thrown about from our desperate dash away from the dragon, but she was blessedly unharmed. For now. But the night was young, and if I wanted to keep her safe, I needed a plan-fast. ¡°Frederick, we need to get the others. The dragon hasn''t attacked that side of town yet. Maybe they''re still-.¡± Her words broke off into a sob, and I instinctively pulled her into my side. She was only ten. She shouldn''t have to suffer like this. None of us should. Had it really only been a few hours ago that all five of us sat around the hearth, trading stories and food? It felt like a lifetime, or some kind of dream. I swallowed the hard knot in my throat and shoved the thought aside. It would do me no good now. I couldn''t afford to break down in front of Daedra. As the eldest, I had to keep it together. Dragon or no dragon. Putting aside the panic clawing at me like a desperate animal caught in a trap, I smiled with all the confidence I didn''t feel. ¡°They''ll be okay. You know how resourceful Collin can be. Just you wait, we''ll get back home and they''ll all be fine.¡± Spirits above and below, please let them be fine. Thankfully, Daedra didn''t see through my mask of bravado. Her lips twitched into a tentative smile, until she glanced at the dragon still circling overhead. ¡°Why isn''t it going anywhere?¡± she whispered. ¡°It was flying all over the place earlier¡­¡± I hadn''t noticed before-panic tends to blind you to details-but now that she pointed it out, it was strange. The giant furnace with wings flew in lazy circles above us, those beady eyes seeming to scan the area. Dragons were intelligent beasts. Was this one looking for someone specific? But who in Dawncrest had pissed off a dragon?! Daedra whimpered as her bare foot stepped on the sharp rubble and wood littering the ground. Right, she hadn''t brought her shoes when we''d left for our walk earlier. I hadn''t fought her on it since she''d been on my shoulders most of the time. Now, I regretted that choice. Kneeling, I tore the arm off my tunic and wrapped her foot, repeating the process with her other one. The coverings were rudimentary at best, but they''d do for now. I ruffled her hair, hoping to distract her from the pain, even if only for a moment. ¡°You''re being very brave, Daedra, and I''m proud of you. I need you to keep it up until we meet up with the others, alright?¡± She nodded, and I took the chance to analyze her condition. A bar flashed above her head and, once I focused on it, the information unfolded. Daedra Level 1 Hit Points: 9/10 Mana: 0/0 Status: Healthy Relief prickled along my skin, and I sighed. Good, the injury was minor enough it didn''t even show on a status report. We still had to get away from the scaly lizard in the sky, but so far, we were doing okay. I bent low and gestured toward my back. ¡°Hop on. Our fiery friend doesn''t seem to be leaving anytime soon, so we''ll take our chances running.¡± If we stayed here, it was only a matter of time before that thing found us. Dardra climbed on without complaint, her arms locking tightly around my neck as she cuddled closer. The rapid pound of her heartbeat was a balm to my frazzled nerves, and after one last glance up at the dragon, I ran from our shelter. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Smoke clogged the air, rising from the burning rubble around us in plumes. I took shallow breaths, thankful I''d removed my armor before the attack. Running through the streets in full plate mail would have been hell, even without the sweltering heat pressing down on me. I''d happily sacrifice some defense for extra stealth right now. People ran around us, their screams shrill and ringing in my ears, but I paid them no mind. I had one objective: find the rest of my siblings. Once I''d accomplished that, we could figure out the rest of the plan. Just as our home came into sight- blessedly intact and free of fire damage- the dreaded screech of the dragon cut through the air. One of the guards drew back his arrow and let it fly into the burning red sky with a shout. ¡°It''s moving again! Get as many civilians out of the buildings as possible. Evacuate!¡± The arrows did nothing against the dragon. I narrowly dodged a burst of fire that careened into a nearby house, the sheer force of it sending me sprawling on the cobbled path. Daedra¡¯s hold broke, and she tumbled to the side with a soft cry. The sound drove a knife into my chest, protective instincts honed from years of being the eldest screaming to the surface. I scrambled up, legs bunched to grab her and run, but something slammed down onto my back, ripping the air from my lungs. Ash and dirt filled my mouth as I tried to look around. Whatever was pinning me kept my head pressed into the stone path, and I hissed at the heat burning my cheek. Sounds blurred into a single mass of buzzing, and my vision went fuzzy. The weight between my shoulders increased, and my bones creaked in warning. It was only when molten hot air brushed the back of my neck that the truth dawned on me. The dragon had landed. Its claws dug in, pain burning through my spine. I sucked in a breath to scream, only for the smoke to reduce it to a coughing fit instead. Above me, the dragon laughed. ¡°Puny mortal, so ripe for the picking. If I hadn''t enjoyed this errand so much, I''d be offended at doing such a meager task.¡± It''s voice was low and loud enough to reverberate through my chest. I forced my eyes open. Red scales glinted from the nearby flames, and white teeth hovered barely a yard away. Its breath stung against my cheeks, and I shuddered, reaching desperately for the resolve not to piss myself. I could just see Daedra from the corner of my eye, her expression slack with horror as tears carved twin paths down her cheeks. She''d already been through too much thanks to her worthless parents. She shouldn''t have to witness me getting eaten, too. A blade of frustration and helplessness buried into my chest, but I didn''t react outwardly. The dragon¡¯s focus was on me for now, but one wrong move could change that. I couldn''t risk it turning on her. Keeping my eyes on it, I flicked my fingers toward the house and hoped she got the message. Then, I pulled in a low breath and glared at the dragon. ¡°Why would someone send you here? Dawncrest is a small village, one of the furthest from the capital. Hardly anyone bothers to stop here.¡± I just needed to keep it talking a little longer. Long enough for the others to get away. My fate was sealed the second the dragon landed on me, but theirs didn''t have to be. I was going to die, but I''d do so ensuring they escaped. Ice-cold determination buried my fear, offering the courage I needed to keep glaring at the dragon as it puffed a plume of smoke into my face. I coughed, fighting for air as tears stung my eyes. Everything was a blur of red, orange and gray, but I could clearly see the dragon¡¯s outline as it scoffed. ¡°Yes, such a dreadful errand I''ve been sent on. Hardly worthy of my time, but I made a deal, and that must be honored.¡± It''s head dipped until teeth the size of swords rested inches from my face. Scarlet blood decorated them, and I braced for the inevitable. I hadn''t bought much time, but hopefully, it would be enough. Instead of tearing me apart, though, the dragon snarled. ¡°Such a pathetic morsel, cowering and braced for death under my claws. To think, you share blood with him. I was correct that he had nothing to worry about from you. Truly a waste of my evening.¡± Displeasure oozed off the words and I scowled. ¡°What nonsense are you on about? I''m a bastard child, and my parents are long dead.¡± The pressure on my back increased, and I grit my teeth as bones cracked loudly. A new wave of pain followed, but before darkness could take me-the edges of my vision already dancing with it-the dragon eased up with a low chortle. When I could breathe again, I dragged an eye open and hissed at it. ¡°What''s so funny, you overgrown fire gecko?¡± I may be going out, but I''d do it my way. The laughter stopped short, its nostrils flared, and red eyes narrowed with anger. ¡°Watch your tongue, human peasant. You speak to one of the last full-blooded dragons in the realm. Act like it.¡± I didn''t say anything further. After a tense beat of silence, the dragon continued, its tone laced with cruel amusement. ¡°You are certainly a bastard, but your father is far from dead.¡± The beast shifted, its claws hooking under my chest, rolling me over until its monstrous face hovered above mine, leaving me no choice but to look straight at it. Its foot repositioned, a claw tip now pressed dangerously over my heart. Then, its voice rumbled, deep and thunderous. ¡°Listen and know this before you perish, mortal. Your father is Lazuris, Nexus''s rightful king, and you are nothing but a loose end that needs tying up.¡± The world seemed to freeze around us as those words sank in. The Mad King who''d plagued Nexus for decades¡­was my father? Frederick, HE Is Your Father Disgust and disbelief cut deep, just as the dragon''s claws did. I shook my head, refusing to accept it. ¡°Impossible. I was born and raised here, not in the capital.¡± The words felt weak, even to my own ears, and the dragon laughed, a guttural sound that sent chills down my spine. ¡°Your father traveled often and far in his youth. This was one of his stops.¡± It didn''t make sense though! ¡°Even if I were his spawn, how would he know after all these years?!¡± I choked out, struggling to breathe through the smoke and the emotions clogging my throat. The dragon glared down at me with its red, malevolent eyes, unimpressed. ¡°A prophecy, of course. Apparently you didn''t inherit his intelligence or his might. But it doesn''t matter. Soon, you won''t need either.¡± Then, as suddenly as it started speaking, it stopped. Its maw opened, bearing its teeth fully now. The coppery scent of fresh blood filled the air, making my stomach churn. I braced myself, my head spinning with the weight of the new information and the looming threat of death. But through the fear and uncertainty, a tiny flicker of relief sparked. If the dragon was here for me, it would leave once its objective was completed. My siblings would be safe. I clung to that thought as the beast inched closer, readying itself to strike. But instead of the agonizing pain I expected, there was¡­nothing. The familiar brush of magic swept across my stomach, and I snapped my eyes open in shock. I knew that magic, but it couldn''t be possible. He wasn''t supposed to be here! A glowing shield pressed securely between the dragon''s teeth and my chest. When the sight fully registered, dread squeezed my heart. Collin''s magic pulsed, cracks already spreading as the shield''s durability rapidly diminished. I couldn''t see anything but smoke and fire from my position under the dragon, but Collin''s voice rang out like a clarion call in the sudden silence. ¡°Let go of him, you fire-breathing pest!¡± Spirits above and below, he was taunting it! The dragon reared back, snarling, orange flames already glowing at the back of its throat. ¡°You won''t live to regret that.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. A hail of small stones bounced harmlessly off its scales, and three new voices that shouldn''t be here cried out next. ¡°Frederick!¡± ¡°Hold on, we''ll get it off of you!¡± ¡°Why did it have to be a dragon?¡± Samson, James and Beatrice. Damn it all, why hadn''t those fools run?! None of us stood a chance against a dragon. All they were doing was guaranteeing their deaths along with mine. The orange glow brightened, and fire built at the back of the dragon''s throat. Its snout shifted toward them, and desperation surged, threatening to drown me. Daedra was barely ten, and the others weren''t much older. They shouldn''t have to die to a dragon that was after me! It couldn''t end like this. I couldn''t let it end like this! Staring into the dragon''s mouth, I did something I hadn''t done in years. I prayed. Spirits of war, death, fire or battle. Whoever will listen! Please, help me save them. Take whatever you want from me. My life is yours, but please, save them! The dragon reared back one final time, fire licking up its throat. But just as it went to unleash its deadly breath, a brilliant white light flashed. Spots danced behind my eyes, and when I blinked them away, a figure floated next to the dragon''s head. They were the source of the light, glowing so brightly that their form was almost unrecognizable. When their head tilted toward me, I stopped breathing altogether. They didn''t have eyes, but their gaze bore into my soul, laying every corner of it bare. After what felt like both an eternity and a mere instant, the being floated closer. A tendril of light branched off to hover between my eyes, and then, a voice spoke. ¡°Brave little human, so willing to die to defend your family. Tell me, what will you do to save them? What will you sacrifice?¡± The voice echoed, reverberating in my skull until it almost hurt to listen, but hope drowned out the pain. ¡°You can save them?¡± I asked, and the being nodded, repeating its question. ¡°What will you sacrifice?¡± I didn''t need to think about it. The words surged out of me like water purging from my lungs. ¡°Myself.¡± There was no outward change in the being, but a sense of approval brushed my consciousness, and the voice hummed again, quiet as the icy ocean¡­and just as deadly. ¡°So it shall be. Go forth, my Chosen. Right the wrongs and restore balance to Nexus.¡± The tendril pressed against my forehead, and warmth flowed through me. It entwined with something deep inside my chest, tugging at the edges and molding it. I didn''t resist. Instinct warned me to lay still as the light sank into my soul and altered it. There was no pain, just an uncomfortable stretch, as if room was being made for something new. Then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. The light faded to a pulsing spark, and the leftover glow sank into my skin. The dragon came back into view, clearer now. When the last of the light disappeared, time resumed its normal pace. The dragon tossed its head, blinded by the flash, as a spiral of flame shot into the sky. The foot pinning me down lifted as it reared, and I seized the opportunity the spirit had offered. One of the town guards lay slumped against a half-melted building nearby, his iron war hammer glinting in the firelight. I didn''t stop to think. Grabbing the shaft, I heaved it over my shoulder and swung at the dragon¡¯s throat with all the strength I could muster. Light flared again, trailing along the metal from my palms until the hammer glowed. It crashed into the dragon''s scale-covered neck, and I felt more than heard the beast¡¯s scream. The sound reverberated down the hammer, and I staggered from the force, my arms going numb almost to the point of losing my grip. Almost. I held fast through the tremors shaking my frame and heaved the hammer up again, despite my screaming muscles. The power packed into that one hit was immense. For the backlash of a single strike to affect me like this¡­ I shook off the thought and focused on the present. My family was behind me. One wrong move could spell our deaths. I would not falter. Out Of The Frying Pan... The second strike didn''t land solidly, the dragon jerking back to turn what would have been a devastating blow into a mere graze. With some breathing room now, I adjusted my grip on the hammer and analyzed the dragon. Fire Dragon Hit Points: 155/200 Status: Defense Broken, Vulnerable A wide smile spread across my face as I readied for a third strike. The scales at its throat where I''d hit were cracked. I would have preferred to crush the thing¡¯s neck entirely, but I could work with this. I didn''t get a chance to leap forward before the dragon screeched, throwing its head to the sky in fury. ¡°Pathetic, puny peasant! The energy of an Old One burns within your worthless flesh. Who did you pact with?!¡± Its wings beat furiously, stirring up loose debris, but I didn''t flinch. Instead, I grinned up at it and braced myself for another swing. ¡°Hell if I know, but damn do they pack a punch!¡± The dragon eyed my still-glowing hammer warily before hissing out a breath of smoke. ¡°This is far from over.¡± Then its wings surged, lifting its bulk into the air. I swung at it one last time, despite knowing it wouldn''t land, and bellowed after the retreating form. ¡°Cowardly lizard!¡± It didn''t pay me any mind, and when the last of its massive bulk disappeared in the distance, I finally let the hammer drop. The light faded from it immediately, leaving dull and twisted metal in its wake. Considering the sheer force behind that hit, it was surprising the weapon had held up at all. Hells below, I had barely held up to that power. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Everything from my shoulders down ached, but the thrill of victory buried it under a wave of elation so potent I felt ungrounded, as if I could float away. I hadn''t won, but I''d saved my family and sent that lizard running. Seeing it''s scaly behind fleeing was well worth the bruises I''d doubtlessly sport tomorrow. Whoever you are, Spirit, you have my eternal gratitude. Nothing followed the prayer, but before I could dwell on that, Daedra slammed into my waist with enough force to knock us both to the ground. Pain radiated from the impact, but I ignored it, my earlier elation melting into relief. Sobs wracked her small frame, and I pulled her closer, tucking her head into my shoulder to muffle the cries. After the hell we''d been through today, she''d well earned the right to break down. ¡°It''s alright now, just let it all out.¡± I murmured, my voice soft as I traced soothing circles on her back. Her sobs grew louder in response. I didn''t mind. I was content to hold her tight for as long as she needed. As I did, I let my gaze sweep over the rest of my siblings. Collin stood a few paces away, slack-jawed, his brown hair disheveled and his wide gray eyes fixed on me in stunned disbelief. Samson, James and Beatrice weren''t any better. Their faces were streaked with ash, and their black hair hung in tangled clumps, but they were alive. I had never seen a more beautiful sight. They didn''t seem injured, but just to be sure, I analyzed them. Collin Level 2 Hit Points: 25/30 Mana: 10/30 Status: Healthy Samson Level 1 Hit Points: 9/10 Mana: 0/0 Status: Healthy James Level 1 Hit Points: 8/10 Mana: 0/0 Status: Healthy Beatrice Level 1 Hit Points: 10/10 Mana: 0/0 Status: Healthy Seeing their stats confirmed what I''d hoped. A sigh of relief slipped out of me. ¡°Well, that was¡­bracing.¡± I said, blowing a long strand of silver hair out of my face before letting out a breathless laugh. ¡°I''m too relieved for words that you''re all okay.¡± That broke the spell holding them in place. In a mass charge, they were on me, all four of them tackling me back into the dirt. Pain flared through my already aching body, and I winced, trying to shield Daedra from getting crushed in the chaotic pile. ¡°Easy, guys! My everything has been tenderized, and we don''t want to squish Daedra flat.¡± I groaned, though there was no real heat in my words. They quickly pulled back, giving us some space. But before they could start asking the dozen or so questions I could see burning in their eyes, the local blacksmith emerged from the rubble nearby. His once-black hair was now streaked with ash, and blood dripped down one side of his face from a gash above his left eyebrow. He clutched a hand to his chest as he approached, his face pale and drawn. There was fear in his eyes as he raised a trembling hand to point at me and choked out one, damning sentence. ¡°You need to leave, immediately.¡± Into The Fire ¡°You need to leave, immediately.¡± My heart dropped, and I tensed, tightening my hold on Daedra. ¡°Harold, I-.¡± I started, not sure what I could say to soothe him, but the need to do so drove me to speak. He cut a hand through the air and shook his head, sweaty hair clinging to his forehead as he took a shaky step toward us. ¡°No. I heard what that beast said. You, you''re the spawn of the Mad King, Lazuris. You have his tainted blood running through your veins.¡± The adrenaline and battle frenzy had made me forget that-until now. It felt impossible, like some twisted nightmare brought on by a fever. How could the tyrant king himself be my father? He never left the capital and, when he used to travel, he''d been widely feared. What kind of woman would have slept with him? Probably a woman who had no say in the matter, a poisonous voice hissed. Given how ruthlessly the man ordered hundreds of peasants to be executed when they couldn''t afford his ridiculous ¡®tributes¡¯, it wasn''t a far leap to think he''d commit such a heinous crime. The idea of a woman-my mother-being forced into such a thing, only to later learn she''d been left with a permanent reminder of the atrocity¡­ It almost made me forgive her for leaving me here all those years ago. The old twist of hurt dug into my chest, but I shoved it aside. Now wasn''t the time to sink into memories of her. I had more pressing things to deal with. Harold hovered nearby, his eyes wide and tinged with fear-fueled hysteria. He clutched a hammer, and his knuckles were white as bone on its handle. He glanced around us, taking in my siblings with calculated terror, and alarm screeched in my ears when he landed on Daedra. His fear was thick enough to taste in the air, and when I bothered to look around us, dread locked a cold hand around my heart. Dozens of wary eyes were watching us. People who I''d grown up with, done favors for, and helped too many times to count, now stared as if they expected me to change into some kind of monster. A seed of unease sprouted in my gut, and I returned my focus to Harold. His eyes bulged with fear, fingers twitching dangerously as if to attack, and I instinctively pressed Daedra back, just in case. Pain echoed through my arms, but I ignored it in favor of slowly standing with both my palms in plain sight as I inched further in front of my siblings. ¡°Easy, friend. You know me, remember? You watched me grow up here, in Dawncrest. I would never harm anyone, and neither would they.¡± Conflict warred over his features, and a few others hesitated, exchanging glances among themselves. They weren''t relaxing though, and the cloud of unease grew ever thicker as Harold shook his head. ¡°You say that now, but what if you inherit your bastard father¡¯s special ability? He''s already traipsing about, stealing powers left, right, and center. How much worse would the world be if you turned into a second him?¡± Collin stiffened, outrage twisting his features as he snarled. ¡°You can see for yourself that none of us have special abilities, you ass! There''s no such thing as one coming in later so, even if Frederick wanted to be like that sack of shit, he couldn''t be.¡± Harold flinched, his grip on the hammer slipping just a bit. Now he eyed Collin and I both with equal wariness. ¡°Even if that''s true, the dragon will come back for you! The Mad King won''t allow a threat to his reign to live. You need to leave, or the entire town of Dawncrest will fall to dragon fire!¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. This time it was Samson who bristled, his arms crossed as a firm scowl carved across his lips. ¡°Who''s to say the dragon won''t do that even if he does leave? He''s the only one who managed to take even a portion of its health, but you''re trying to send him off to die?!¡± Beatrice slowly eased closer and took Daedra, to my relief, and I stepped forward with my arms still raised. ¡°I know you''re scared, and you have a right to be, but I can''t help who my parents may or may not be. As for leaving, I already planned to.¡± At that, Collin and Samson spun to stare in slack-jawed disbelief, though the former broke out of it to sputter. ¡°Tell me you''re not going after that dragon.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Alright, I''m not going after that dragon.¡± Collin¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he frowned, resignation clear. ¡°You''re lying, aren''t you?¡± Defeat lingered in his tone, and I nodded. ¡°I am, but there''s no other choice. If I were to stay here, that thing could come again. For all I know, the tyrant has a way to track me. He knew I was here, despite never meeting me before. It isn''t out of the question.¡± James clasped my shoulder with a sigh. ¡°It isn''t, but what could you possibly do against that man and a dragon? Not to mention the forces he controls as King.¡± That¡­was an excellent question. Unfortunately it wasn''t one I had an answer to. Before I could cobble something together, a different voice cut through the tense air. ¡°That power he used took quite a chunk off the dragon¡¯s hit points. If he learned to wield it, he may just stand a chance.¡± All heads turned to the mayor, Clyde. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back with sweat as he rubbed his chin in thought. ¡°That being said, it destroyed the hammer and your arms¡­¡± He trailed off, looking at my arms worriedly. I did too and only now did I notice the dark, thick cloud of bruises appearing all the way up them. Apparently, the power I''d used damaged more than the hammer. Another lance of pain ripped through the sore muscles, and I grimaced. ¡°They aren''t broken, but they burn like the hottest blaze.¡± Out of morbid curiosity, I nudged Collin. ¡°What does my status say?¡± There were no mirrors or reflective surfaces for me to check it myself. He squinted, the familiar flash brightening his eyes briefly, before they widened with a hiss. ¡°By the Hells below, your hit points dropped by half with that stunt!¡± Which, to be fair, wasn''t all that much considering we had the same amount of thirty. Still, it would be a liability if I couldn''t use the power without nearly breaking myself. Clyde nodded. ¡°Until now, you haven''t needed to focus on leveling. Dawncrest doesn''t see too many monsters, even for a guard like yourself. If you''re truly planning on challenging the King, you''ll need to improve significantly. Your hit points will increase as you level.¡± He glanced at the ruined hammer at my feet. ¡°And you''ll need to acquire a weapon that can withstand that kind of power.¡± Its previously sturdy head was dented nearly to the point of being unrecognizable, so I''d say he was onto something. But that still left several problems that needed answering. I turned to Harold and eyed his tense form uneasily. ¡°Can you make such a thing?¡± He laughed, the sound nothing more than a choked wheeze. ¡°Can I-? No! And why aren''t we banishing him, mayor? Every minute he''s here is another that disaster could strike, in the form of a dragon.¡± Beatrice and the others tensed, ready for another round of arguments, but Clyde stepped in before they could so much as pull in a breath to speak. ¡°Harold, put that hammer down before you do something you''ll regret later. As for your ¡®suggestion,¡¯¡± he said with a contempt-filled sneer, ¡°that won''t be happening. Frederick has been here since he was barely five winters old. Whoever his father is, that doesn''t change who he is and how much good he''s done for Dawncrest.¡± A few grumbles rose to that, and Clyde glared, eyes narrowed dangerously on the loudest of them, which belonged to Vanessa Valdez, the town¡¯s widowed seamstress. Her long white hair was up in a bun, and displeasure was permanently etched into the lines of her wrinkled cheeks. When she didn''t settle, he scowled. ¡°Have you forgotten who carried you to the healers when you fell and broke your hip last summer? Without any kind of reward, might I add?¡± Her lips thinned into a line, and she pointedly looked away without speaking. Clyde shook his head and faced the others. ¡°Frederick has been nothing but helpful, often doing small jobs around Dawncrest without any payment, and I''m disappointed that so many of you would willingly throw him out over fear.¡± Heat crawled up my cheeks at the blatant praise, and shame quickly painted most of the crowd¡¯s features. They wouldn''t meet my eyes, choosing instead to glance at the dirt or smoke-filled sky. Clyde nodded, his point made. ¡°I''ll hear no more nonsense about banishing him. We have more important things to focus on, such as making preparations. We''ll need aid from the nearby towns to begin repairs. Tonight, we''ll tend to the wounded, but tomorrow we will send someone to spread word of our need and the dragon. Branch out and check for survivors. Bring the injured to town hall.¡± The crowd dispersed to do as they were told, and Collin finally relaxed, the others following his example with sighs of relief. ¡°That could have gotten ugly. Thanks, Clyde,¡± he said, and Clyde waved him off. ¡°I spoke the truth, nothing more. I won''t have our town doing the King''s dirty work for him.¡± Then he looked at me and smiled with something I hadn''t seen in years-hope. ¡°Besides, if that dragon was right, then you''re the blessing that not just Dawncrest has been desperately praying for, but Nexus as a whole. It''d be foolish to throw that aside when things are as dire as they are.¡± So it was up to me to take down not only a dragon, but the Mad King himself. Failure wasn''t an option. Well, no pressure¡­ No Pressure Unease tightened into a ball in my chest, and I forced it down with a dry swallow. Right, better not to think like that. ¡°How exactly would I even start on that?¡± I asked. Beatrice shook her head with a scoff. ¡°It isn''t possible. Even if he has the bloodline to succeed the throne, the Mad King has dozens of powers stored, just waiting to be used. That isn''t even touching the dragon!¡± Clyde nodded. ¡°It won''t be an easy task, but Frederick is the only one who can do this. That power of his took nearly a quarter of the dragon¡¯s hit points in one go.¡± He faced me now, mouth set in a determined line. ¡°You''ll need to level up fast. Raise your hit points, endurance, and strength. As you are now, you won''t last against the dragon or the King.¡± Then he glanced out at the town and sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, we don''t have anyone to send with you for a party. You and Gregory are our strongest, and he hasn''t returned yet. It would be prudent to gather allies as you search for a weapon and train.¡± With the Mad King milking Nexus-and the many cities within it-dry of gold, it wouldn''t be difficult to find others willing to end his tyranny. As long as the dragon hadn''t killed all the warriors by the time I made it to the next town¡­ Putting that aside, I offered my best attempt at a smile. ¡°It''s fine. I''ll leave for Starkfell tomorrow and deliver word of what happened here. If they''re willing to help, they''ll need time to prepare the resources, and I''m sure they would want to know about the dragon too.¡± Clyde grimaced, ¡°I appreciate your eagerness, but I doubt Starkfell will treat you kindly. They have no love for humans.¡± I shrugged, ignoring the flash of soreness that followed. ¡°They don''t need to like me. Besides, even if they refuse to aid Dawncrest, I can travel until one of the other towns agree.¡± He tipped his head, uncertainty clear. ¡°So it shall be, but what will you do after that?¡± An excellent question, but not one I had an answer to. ¡°From there I''ll¡­figure the rest out.¡± I felt, more than saw, the unimpressed looks nearly all my siblings shot my way, but I ignored them. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. There wasn''t a magical guide for taking down corrupt kings or their pet dragons. I''d have to figure it out as I went and pray for a good group of allies to help. Clyde gripped my shoulder carefully and nodded. ¡°May the spirits of Nexus watch over you.¡± Once he hobbled off toward town hall, Daedra broke away from Beatrice to clamp onto my leg. Wide, teary eyes locked on mine, and she sniffed. ¡°You''re going away?¡± Betrayal oozed off the words, and my heart twisted painfully in response. ¡°Dae, I have to. That dragon might try to hurt you again, and I can''t let it.¡± No, I''d sooner spend the rest of my life battling it than let it take a single one of my siblings. The tears spilled over, and she shook her head. ¡°You promised you wouldn''t leave like they did!¡± I knelt to her level and pulled her close, hating the anguish twisting across her face even as I knew it was necessary. ¡°I''m not like your Mam or Da. I know it feels like there''s no difference, but there is. I''m not abandoning you. I''m going to fight tooth and nail to come back to you all.¡± She burrowed into my shoulder and cried louder. ¡°I don''t want you to go!¡± I patted her back and let her cry it out. Nothing I said would make this okay. Better to just be a silent comfort. Looking up to the others, I caught Collin¡¯s eyes and smiled. ¡°I''ll leave all of them to you while I''m gone. Ask the mayor for help if you need anything.¡± A shiny sheen coated his eyes, and he blinked it away with a scowl. ¡°I still don''t agree with this.¡± Beatrice, Samson and James all wore matching expressions of displeasure, and I nodded. ¡°I know, it isn''t to my liking either, but there''s no helping this. Even if I don''t turn out to be the heir to the throne, there''s no other choice. The Mad King has been stretching his forces out further and further lately. It was only a matter of time before it threatened us. I don''t care about power, money or influence, but I refuse to sit back while he hurts any of you.¡± That being said, thanks to my heritage, I really didn''t have any other options. He was going to hunt me down until either I, the dragon, or the Mad King himself was dead. I''d train myself into the ground to ensure it was me who''d walk away at the end of it all. I hadn''t fought this hard to keep my family safe and together, only to die now and leave them to his nonexistent mercy. I would survive this¡­somehow. Beatrice reluctantly nodded and moved to take Daedra back. Her grip around my neck didn''t budge, and after a few minutes of useless tugging, I waved her off. ¡°It''s fine. Let her stay there.¡± Collin glanced at my bruised arms pointedly. ¡°You''re going to make those worse.¡± I shuffled her onto my back and stood with a grin. ¡°Not if I carry her like this.¡± James scoffed, but started toward our house, one of the few buildings relatively unscathed from the attack. The others followed, and I brought up the rear, Daedra¡¯s steady heartbeat against my back helping to ground me through the maelstrom of fear, dread and uncertainty whipping around in my chest. Spirits above and below, what all was I signing up for here? A long journey and grueling training, at the very least. Sneaking a glance up at the smoke-filled sky, I breathed in the crisp air and settled my nerves. Tomorrow would be the first step on my journey. The next? I sincerely wished I knew. First Step ¡°Are you sure you can''t stay, at least until your arms are healed?¡± Beatrice hovered beside me, her hand hesitating over my shoulder as her eyes traced the dark purple bruises covering my skin. The night had done little to heal me, and with so many injured still waiting for treatment, asking for one of the town''s few health potions felt selfish. Besides, the damage wasn''t lasting; I could endure the pain until my body mended naturally. I focused on Beatrice and nodded. ¡°I can''t afford to waste time, and Harold was right-that the dragon might come for me again. I won''t risk all of you.¡± Daedra, who had been curled up in Collin''s arms, launched herself at me, clutching my waist with a desperate whine. ¡°But we don''t want to risk you!¡± The others exchanged resigned glances, a silent agreement that brought a smile to my face. I had never expected my habit of adopting people to result in this ragtag family, but I wouldn''t trade it for anything. ¡°I know that, but I can''t stay.¡± I smoothed Daedra''s hair and turned to Collin. ¡°You''re in charge while I''m gone. Make sure they eat and bathe on time-especially Samson. He''ll wait until his stench could fell a dragon before finally washing.¡± Samson huffed, puffing out his cheeks in indignation. ¡°Excuse you, I smell like a fistful of honey blossoms. Always.¡± He tossed his head for emphasis, and Beatrice rolled her eyes. ¡°My nose begs to differ, but I could make some flower-scented soap if you''d like. I dare say it''d be an improvement over,¡± she gestured to him, ¡°all of this.¡± He let out a noise of protest, crossing his arms. ¡°What, is this ¡®pick on Samson¡¯ day? Focus on Frederick-he''s the one leaving.¡± The light hearted atmosphere evaporated at the reminder, and Daedra clung tighter, as if her grip alone could change my mind. If it weren''t for the threat looming over us, it probably would have. I ran a hand through her hair and extended my other arm in an unspoken offer. The others didn''t hesitate, crowding in until we were a tangled mass of limbs. Thankfully it was early enough that most of the town was either asleep or going about their business, leaving us alone without prying eyes or whispered judgements. There was only us, and right now, that was exactly what I needed. I stretched my arm to fit around them all and squeezed, savoring the familiar crush of bodies surrounding me from all sides. Only the spirits knew how long it would be until I felt this again. I had to soak it up while I could. Beatrice buried her face in my shoulder, the fabric beneath her damp with tears I''d never call attention to. On either side of her, Samson and James wrapped their arms around my torso. Deadra clung to my thigh, and Collin completed the group hug with an arm tightly notched around my neck. For a moment, I could almost pretend this was a normal day. No quests, no dragons to slay. For a moment, I was just plain old Frederick of Dawncrest¡¯s town guard, and everything was okay. Then, the moment ended. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Collin was the first to pull away, his eyes glossy with unshed tears he held back through sheer willpower. He tugged pointedly at Samson and James when they lingered until they reluctantly stepped back as well. Beatrice tightened her grip, her voice cracking as she spoke. ¡°You''d better come back to us, you hear me, Frederick? We''re not done being your family yet. You don''t get to die to a dragon, The Mad King, or anyone else.¡± Her voice wavered on ¡®die¡¯, but I didn''t comment on it. Ignoring the burning in my eyes, I managed a wobbly smile and laughed. ¡°I''ll be sure to pass that message along to anyone who tries to kill me. ¡®My sister told me I''m not allowed to die¡¯- I''m sure that''ll go over well.¡± Her laugh was more of a sob, but she finally let go and wiped her tears. ¡°You''d better! I''ll march into the hells themselves to drag you back otherwise.¡± She gave my shoulder a gentle push. ¡°And bring back a girlfriend while you''re at it. Someone with fire who''ll keep you on your toes in my absence.¡± Heat crawled up my neck, and I sputtered. ¡°I''m going to kill a dragon-where am I supposed to find a lover in that mess?!¡± Then, realizing what else she''s said, I snorted. ¡°Bold of you to assume I''d be interested in someone like you. You''re a brat, at best.¡± This time, her laugh was full and warm, with only a trace of the earlier grief. ¡°Of course, you''ll wind up with someone like me-I''m amazing. As for where you''ll find her, it''s inevitable. People are just¡­drawn to you. You''re too nice not to find someone on this journey. You¡¯d better bring her back to meet us, though! Do you hear me, Frederick?¡± Recognizing a losing argument when I saw one, I raised my hands in surrender. ¡°Loud and clear. Any hypothetical sweetheart I have will be brought back for introductions at the earliest convenience.¡± She nodded sharply. ¡°Good.¡± Then, she slumped slightly, her eyes taking on a pleading look I hadn''t seen since the day I''d saved her from her drunk father. ¡°Please, Frederick. Please be careful and come back to us.¡± A fist clenched around my heart at the fear in her eyes. She was right to be scared-this wasn''t just a trip to a nearby town. This could end badly. I might never see them again¡­ A knife twisted in my chest at the thought, and I sucked in a breath to push it down. Offering my best attempt at a smile, I nodded. ¡°Of course. There''s nowhere else I''d rather be, and once this dragon mess is handled, I''ll come straight home.¡± I kissed her head, and when she stepped back into Collin''s waiting arms, I turned to Daedra. Her face was pressed tightly against my stomach, and when she realized she was the last one holding me in place, her eyes widened. Fresh tears welled up and she sobbed. ¡°I''m not letting you go.¡± Her words lacked conviction, heavy with tired resignation. I hugged her tighter. ¡°I''ll be back before you know it, Dae, and the sooner I leave, the quicker I can return.¡± A low whine escaped her, and I kissed her head. ¡°You need to let me go, but this isn''t goodbye. It''s just¡­until I see you again.¡± She finally loosened her grip, but didn''t pull away until she cuddled into my throat one last time. ¡°I love you, Frederick. Please come home soon.¡± My heart cracked, but I kept my voice steady. ¡°I will. Take care of the others while I''m gone, alright? You know they''d be a mess without you.¡± That at least earned a watery giggle, and I knelt to her height for one final, tight embrace. ¡°I love you too, Daedra.¡± I carefully pulled away and nudged her toward Collin, though she didn''t need much encouragement. She launched herself at his waist, burying her face in his side. He rubbed her back and nodded at me. ¡°We''ll be fine. Just focus on getting stronger and killing that lizard. We''ll be waiting here for you.¡± James rubbed his cheeks and nodded. ¡°I''ll start training too. By the time you get back, I''ll be captain of the town guard!¡± ¡°Dawncrest could use more faithful defenders, and I know there aren''t many who would be better suited for the role.¡± I said, and James straightened as tall as his willowy frame would allow. I looked at all of them, committing every detail to memory before forcing myself to turn. If I didn''t leave soon, I''d find a reason to stay, and that couldn''t happen. Not with the dragon on the loose and the Mad King himself after my head. That thought, and the looming threat to my family, gave me the strength to walk away despite the cries that tore at my heart with every step. When I could no longer hear them and Dawncrest was barely a speck in the distance, a new emptiness gnawed at my chest. I blinked back the tears. There was no use crying. My time was better spent training, so I could hurry up and return to them. Determination hardened within me, and I faced Starkfell. Clyde mentioned the people wouldn''t be friendly, but with any luck, it wouldn''t be too bad. While I could ask other towns for help, Starkfell was the closest and could lend aid the fastest. It was still a few days¡¯ walk, which left me plenty of time to think. Just what I wanted¡­ On The Road My first day on the road was, thankfully, uneventful. As the sky began to turn purple, I knew it was time to make camp. Monsters weren''t common around these parts, but I wasn''t about to risk it. Luckily for me, they hated light in any form. Once I had a campfire going, I''d be set for the night. Then it''d be back to walking the seemingly endless stretch of road to Starkfell, with nothing around but the rolling green hills for company. I had promised Daedra-what felt like years ago now-I''d take her to the nearby town. I hadn''t planned on going for any other reason, and walking this path alone felt¡­wrong. It sat like a weight on my chest that I couldn''t shake off, no matter how hard I tried. Hopefully, after all this mess, I''d get the chance to fulfill that promise. Melancholy threatened to sink in, and I gave myself a hard shake before it could take hold. There was no use in thinking like that. I had entirely too many things to do that required my attention. Like finding somewhere safe to camp, setting up a fire, and then going over which stats I needed to increase the most. With my new list in mind, I scanned the area. The road was nestled between two sets of hills with not a tree in sight. On the bright side, that meant there was nowhere for monsters to hide if they did sense me. On the downside, I couldn''t just camp on the road-that was a surefire way to get killed by bandits or a passing wagon. I glanced up at the rapidly darkening sky and sighed. Alright, I''d make a torch first and then worry about setting up camp. Thankfully, Clyde caught me on the way out of town with a bag of supplies. I hadn''t had a chance to go through them yet, but I''d be surprised if there wasn''t at least some flint and steel in there. Keeping an eye on my surroundings, I dug into the bag until I felt the familiar items and pulled them out. Certain survival skills had been taught to the town guard, so within minutes, I had a torch clasped in hand and a small bubble of light surrounding me. With that done, I started walking again, keeping an eye out for a suitable place to camp. Unfortunately, most of the area was plains, so there was no tree coverage or even leaves to pad the ground for sleeping. Normally, I would have had a mat, but with all the injured in Dawncrest, the town needed every scrap of bedding it could gather. A hard night on the ground wouldn''t kill me, and I''d sleep better knowing someone wounded or elderly was using my mat. After a few more minutes of walking, I found the perfect spot. The ground evened out into a smooth, flat area to the side of the road, with steep inclines surrounding it. It would take time to scale it, making it perfect for defense. Setting up camp was nearly second nature, and in moments, a campfire blazed. Not a moment too soon either. The sky lost the last of its red hue, settling fully into the inky darkness of night as stars winked to life across the ebony expanse. I leaned back on my elbows and took it in. Ever since I''d adopted Beatrice into our little family, we made a habit of watching the stars at night. We''d noticed their various patterns and made it a game to create new ones. Maybe they were doing that now¡­ A twinge of longing twisted in my chest, followed by comfort. No matter how far I went, at least we were under the same sky. That would have to be enough for now. I soaked in the peace for a few more moments before reaching for the small mirror Clyde had left. Before I started training, I needed to know what skills would need the most attention. The mirror would come in handy anytime there were no reflective surfaces or rivers nearby to check my stats, like now. My dirty silver-haired reflection stared back at me with tired eyes, and I focused past that until the status menu popped into view. Frederick Level 2 Hit Points: 20/30 Mana: 30/30 Status: Bone Contusions, Minor Exhaustion Well¡­at least I''d recovered five hit points since yesterday. At that rate I''d be fully healed before I reached Starkfell, as long as I didn''t run into any monsters. They wouldn''t attack during the day, so I should be safe on that front. Despite that, I glanced around the clearing, just to be safe. When nothing out of the ordinary revealed itself, I focused back on my status. On the far right sat a second list. Quests Reputation Skills If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Spells Stats I focused on Quests first. Only two appeared, as I expected. Kill The Mad King and His Dragon Convince Nearby Towns To Offer Aid To Dawncrest I could probably ask the residents of Starkfell about any Dwarven blacksmiths in the area while I was there. As for convincing them to help¡­I''d figure that out once I got there. Shutting that menu, I opened Stats instead. Strength: 13 Stamina: 11 Intelligence: 10 Agility: 9 Charisma: 16 Wisdom: 12 Endurance: 9 Perception: 12 Eesh, no wonder that strike nearly broke my arms. Since Dawncrest was such a small town, it had been redundant to raise my level or stats higher, but now¡­Well, now was different. Endurance would need to increase at least five points for me to stand a chance at withstanding the power from yesterday. My Hit Points and Mana would rise by twenty with every level I gained, so I could start taking down low level monsters to work on that. If only the other stats raised the same way. As it stood, I''d have to do things that specifically built each individual stat I needed. Even the thought made me groan. For Endurance, I''d probably need to get hit more often. My body needed to be able to withstand taking damage until the muscles and bones were harder to break. That wasn''t exactly possible without someone to spar with though¡­ Maybe I could focus on increasing my Strength instead, at least until I gathered a few party members. Strength was easy to level, after all. If I threw a good amount of stones in my pack I''d probably get at least one stat increase by the time I reached Starkfell. As an added bonus, that would also increase my Stamina, especially if I jogged part of the day. Endurance would just have to wait until I found someone to spar with. Briefly, I glanced over the ¡®Spells¡¯ option and frowned. That¡­hadn''t been there a week ago. The full menu opened with barely a thought and where before there''d been nothing, now sat one spell. Retribution. It almost had to be the one I used on the dragon, and curiosity prodded at the back of my mind until finally, I gave in. Focusing on the spell, I analyzed it. Retribution, Level Ten Spell Strikes foe with a celestial-infused weapon attack, does massive damage but when cast at lower levels it harms the caster. Charges per day depend on wielder level. I''m sorry, I cast a what level spell?! That was eight levels above me; even attempting that should have killed me on the spot! At the very least, I should have passed out from Mana overuse. Actually, how much Mana did it cost to cast? I hadn''t seen that in the description¡­ I looked again and frowned. It wasn''t there. The spot it was supposed to be in was blank, and that only added to my confusion. Did a spell of that caliber really not cost any magic to use? What did it use instead? Then I reread the last line. Charges per day depend on wielder level. I guess that made sense. As it stood, I couldn''t even hold up to one of those attacks. Maybe once I increased a few levels and boosted my stats, I''d be able to do them one after the other. Considering how much power went into the strike-enough to crack a dragon¡¯s scales-having something like that in my arsenal would be a boon in the long run. With my plan set for now, I closed the menu and dropped back onto the dirt. My arms pulsed in displeasure, but I ignored that and stretched out. The sword Clyde gave me leaned next to my pack and I traced the edge absentmindedly. It was dull and desperately in need of sharpening. Usually I would have asked Harold to do that before I left, but with his outburst¡­ It was better to not push my luck. Starkfell would have a blacksmith; I''d just have to make do until then. Before I could consider that more, my stomach let out a long, low growl that echoed through the night. Right, I hadn''t eaten much this morning thanks to nerves, and Clyde couldn''t spare any food. It was to be expected, and I knew how to hunt for my own dinner. Better to leave those rations for someone who wasn¡¯t self-sufficient. Besides, I should have considered that on my walk today, but I''d been too wrapped up in my own head to think about hunting. A rookie mistake, and one I''d pay for by going without dinner. Monsters often hunted in packs and there was no way I''d leave the safety of the light because I was a bit hungry. As if in response to the thought, something thudded onto the ground nearby. I tensed but didn''t get up. Better to let whatever it was think I was asleep. If it tried to inch closer, I could spring an attack with the element of surprise. Sliding my hand closer to the sword resting nearby, I opened my eye a sliver and peered at what made the noise. A tan, furry body sat hunched a yard away, its head bowed to display a full rack of antlers, with long, floppy ears nearly touching the ground. I didn''t recognize it, but that wasn''t surprising. I''d never gone far from Dawncrest. Definitely not far enough to encounter monsters. The hunters in town handled that. The guards were taught to hunt, but we didn''t use the skill. Out of curiosity, I analyzed it. Jackalope Level 1 Hit Points: 5/5 Mana: 0/0 Status: Healthy So it was a breed of hare. Interesting. For a moment, I considered killing it. The meat would hold me over until tomorrow at least. But Daedra''s devastated expression flashed behind my eyes, and my stomach churned. She adored all kinds of small, fluffy creatures. Killing one when it wasn''t hostile would surely bring her to tears. There''d be wolves and other animals to hunt tomorrow. Just as I was about to settle down again, its long foot beat the ground in warning. It tossed its head, and I barely had a second to react before it charged. Using its paddle-like feet, it launched forward with its head still bowed, antlers aimed like blades. I didn''t hesitate. The sword came down in a clean arc, halting the Jackalope in its tracks as I cleaved through its neck. Its Hit Points dropped to zero, and it slumped over. I sighed and set the blade aside. Sorry, Dae. I tried. Still, there was no reason to waste good meat. Stoking the fire higher-the previous blaze having dulled to embers, allowing the monster to get close-I dredged up the old memory of how to prepare it. The task was harder than it should have been thanks to the dull edge on the sword, but after a good while of struggling-and many curses-the Jackalope was skewered over the fire. Its pelt was a mess, far from my cleanest cut, and I wrapped it tightly before shoving it into my bag. The pelt and antlers could be worth something in trade once I reached Starkfell. Since I had no coin and still needed plenty of supplies, it was better to keep all possible resources. With that settled, I removed the meat from the fire and dug in. Immediately, I grimaced. Ugh, it was so bland. Which was to be expected, considering I hadn''t gathered any herbs on my walk. Something I¡¯d need to rectify tomorrow. Tonight, though, I''d just have to suffer through the taste. Once I finished the last bite, I lay back down and yawned, my sword now resting on the dirt next to me. Hopefully nothing else would attack tonight. I desperately needed some sleep if I wanted to make progress with all that training I planned earlier. The Training Begins Day two on the road was far more productive than its predecessor. My pack was now filled with rocks of various sizes and weights, their constant shifting throwing off my balance every so often. Thankfully, I''d removed the flint and steel beforehand, along with anything else that could be damaged. At some point, I''d need to invest in a magical bag with separate compartments and extra space, but for now, this setup was perfect. My back and shoulders twinged painfully, but I ignored them, focusing entirely on my pacing. It had been a while since I''d done any extensive training, so I couldn''t overdo it. I started with a light jog when I set out this morning, adjusting until I found the perfect balance¨C¨Cstrenuous but not so much that it would worsen the bruises on my arms. They were only now losing the dark purple hue. If possible, I''d like to avoid aggravating the injury further. So far, they''d been fine. Sore, but fine. With another night¡¯s sleep, I''d be fully healed and ready to push my boundaries. My pack shifted again, and I adjusted accordingly, swiping the sweat away before it could drip into my eyes. There was still at least one more day of travel before I reached Starkfell, but at least I was using the time wisely. If my strength stat leveled up by the end of today, I''d increase the number of stones and repeat the process tomorrow. The urge to check my stats, just to see if they had changed, itched under my skin, but I suppressed it. It was a bad habit, and I knew that. The stats would still be there at the end of the night, and I couldn''t afford to constantly stop to look in the mirror. No, I would keep jogging, enjoy the non-existent scenery around me, and stay vigilant. With my luck, bandits would jump on me the second I got distracted. Paranoia slid up my neck like ice, and I scanned the area around me. Nothing yet, just rolling hills, blue sky, and the path under my feet. Hopefully, it would stay that uneventful for the rest of my trip¡­ The ocean shone in the distance, barely a line on the horizon and getting smaller as I walked away from Dawncrest. It¡¯s crystal-clear water glittering like jewels thanks to the sun shining brightly overhead. I could go for a dip, right about now. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t to be. Starkfell was further inland and there were few rivers or lakes around this portion of Nexus. No, most of those were over the mountain pass. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. A flash of those jagged, treacherous peaks painted behind my lids and I shuddered. At least I didn¡¯t have to go over those beasts. Every year, countless people lost their lives to landslides, monsters, and even falling rocks along the Spine of the World. I would happily never set foot there¡­ Though Daedra would end up dragging me if she had her way. That insatiable curiosity of hers was going to get both of us into trouble. Putting that aside, I looked away from the ocean. The road stretched seemingly without end before me, the hills of green grass and wildflowers framing the dirt path. At least it was a nice day for a cross-country jog. The next few hours passed in content silence, the steady thump of my boots on the dirt almost meditative as I plodded along. When the sun rose high overhead, I slowed for lunch. There was no more Jackelope from last night''s dinner, but I had passed a few huddles of Rock Snakes during my run. Thankfully, they weren''t actually made of rock, and, thanks to Daedra''s fear of all things snake-like, I wouldn''t feel guilty killing them. Maybe their pelts would sell in Starkfell too. In Dawncrest, snake skins of all kinds were considered a luxury item. Setting my pack aside, I rolled my shoulders to rid them of tension and moved a bit off the road. The hills had evened out a while back, leaving nothing but wide expanses of dirt and stone. Perfect for what I planned. The Rock Snakes wouldn''t attack on the main road, thanks to how populated it was throughout the day. If I went a few yards away, though, they''d start appearing. I grabbed my sword and walked several paces out, keeping my pack in sight. It didn¡¯t take long before a rumble started under my feet. It wasn''t big, so it wasn''t a whole pack of Rock Snakes--¨C¨Cprobably just one or two. Sure enough, when the vibrations surged up out of the ground, I dodged backward, and a singular snake lunged after me. Its frame was a few feet long, with gray scales covering it from head to tip. When I looked closer, I noted the distinct lack of eyes with interest. I guess it made sense, since they lived underground. Still, it was mildly disconcerting to see up close. Shaking off that thought, I analyzed it. Rock Snake Level 1 Hit Points: 5/5 Mana: 0/0 Status: Healthy It looked like most basic creatures had five hit points¨C¨Cthat was good to know. I''d killed the Jackelope in one hit, so maybe if I aimed for its neck, I could do the same here. I brought the sword down just as it coiled to lunge again, and, like last night, it cut through. The Rock Snake dropped, it''s head landing next to my foot as its body rolled a fit further. I waited, feeling the ground for any new vibrations. When none came, I stooped to gather the snake. It would take time away from training, but I should stock up on provisions while I could. I''d want enough for lunch and dinner, at the very least, if not for tomorrow''s meals as well. Now if only I could find some kind of herb to season the meat¡­ Putting the useless gripe aside, I set the snake next to my pack and got to work. Too Close For Comfort As time slid by and each snake tried to lunge at me, I noticed they seemed to be getting¡­slower. By the time I''d killed the last one and set up a fire to cook them, dodging their strikes was laughably easy. Even when I missed my swing to kill them cleanly, getting out of their attack range took barely any effort. The urge to check my stats rose again, and this time I gave in¨C¨Cthe curiosity was too much to ignore. When I opened the menu, I nearly choked on my bite of snake. Strength: 13 Stamina: 12 Intelligence: 10 Agility: 11 Charisma: 16 Wisdom: 12 Endurance: 9 Perception: 12 I''d expected my Agility to raise, but not by two points! On the one hand, it had been nine, so it didn''t take much to level, but on the other¡­two whole points! When I glanced upward and saw what else had increased, triumph surged through me. One more point to Stamina, too. Apparently, jogging for hours with a pack full of stones had been a good idea after all, though my Strength stat was still the same. Whatever, there was no use crying over it. As my second highest stat, it was sure to take longer to level. I''d keep up the training and work on my other stats while my Strength built slowly. Besides, being able to dodge attacks was just as important as having power behind my hits. You couldn¡¯t pick up a sword or maul if you were dead. I finished off two of the snakes, yet again while ignoring the taste, before wrapping the rest. Unfortunately for me, there had been no sign of herbs or any real foliage since I''d left Dawncrest. Even after nearly a full day of jogging, only hills and plains sprawled out around me. Usually, I¡¯d prefer that, since it was easy terrain to run through. At this rate, I''d have to pray Starkfell sold spices; otherwise, this was going to be a very long, tasteless journey. Shaking off the pang of disappointment the thought brought, I shouldered my pack, put out the fire, and started jogging again. Who knows, maybe I¡¯d get lucky and some plant based monsters would have herbs growing off them. I¡¯d heard a few adventurers talking about snails that grew garlic and onion bulbs along their shells. My stomach growled at the thought and I clutched it, willing it to settle. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Finding those snails would be a worthwhile side quest, if I could figure out where they lived¡­ Maybe, I¡¯d even keep one of each as a pet. Thoughts of onion and garlic kept me company for the next hour, only for a crack of thunder overhead to snap me back to the present. Dark gray clouds floated across the sky now, a warning for poor weather to come. I¡¯d barely been running for two hours and this would doubtlessly put me further behind. I¡¯d reach Starkfell the day after tomorrow, if I was lucky. Then again, if the rain cleared quickly, I could be on my way within the hour. As if in response, another crack ripped through the air and this time, a torrent of rain came down with it. The cold drops bit into my skin, mocking my previous positivity, and I heaved a sigh. I might as well make camp since this was clearly not going to clear up anytime soon. A bolt of lightning broke across the gray expanse, briefly bathing everything in iridescent white, and I eyed where it struck. It was far enough away to not be a threat¡­for now. But there was no guarantee that would stay true for long. Plains were the last place you wanted to be when a storm like this was brewing. Well, unless you wanted to get struck by lightning. I doubted I could survive a direct hit, even if I were at a higher level. Without some kind of charm or relic to grant me lightning resistance, I¡¯d be fried crispy on the spot. At least I wasn¡¯t my highly conductive metal plate armor. Something told me, my odds of becoming a human lightning rod were noticeably higher at that point. Shaking off the morbid thought, I scanned the area through the downpour. Seeing anything past a few feet was difficult, but after a minute of surveying my surroundings, I spotted it. Just off the road was a cave tucked into one of the hills, the entrance barely visible from this distance. It didn''t look all that big¨C¨Chardly enough space for me to slide in and turn around if my estimate was accurate¨C¨Cbut it would do until the rain cleared. With my new course set, I made for the opening at a jog. Another crash shook me straight down to my bones, and I picked up the pace to a full run. The hair on my arms prickled and static built in the air. I knew those signs; I¡¯d warned Daedra and the others what they meant more times than I could count. There were no trees or structures around to take that bolt, which meant I needed to get in that cave now. My arms pulsed in protest, but I ignored them, adrenaline rising to muffle any soreness as the wind picked up around me. The hair on the back of my neck seemed to sizzle sharply, a final warning. The cave¡¯s entrance loomed a handful of yards away and I lunged inside. Just as I cleared the stone overhang, a bolt of lightning struck down in a blinding flash. It slammed into the dirt I¡¯d just stood on and my teeth ached from the residual electricity that pulsed through the air. The grass didn''t catch fire, but the scorched spot left behind was more than enough to send a chill up my spine. Good thing I''d hustled. That was entirely too close for comfort. Heaving a sigh of relief, I dropped my pack and slumped against the jagged wall. The scent of musty dirt and moss wafted through the cave, and I breathed it in with relish. I¡¯d have to wait until the storm passed before I could continue, lest I get fried crispy via a stray lightning bolt, but at least it was a nice, safe spot to rest. Plucking at my shirt, I grimaced when it slapped back onto my chest with a loud smack. Maybe I¡¯d have enough time to dry my clothes before heading out again¡­ I grabbed the hem and started to pull it over my head. Only for a throat to clear from close behind me. ¡°Much as I''d enjoy the free show, I believe now is a good time to inform you that you''re not alone.¡± My heart surged into my throat, beating against my ribs like a blacksmith¡¯s hammer, and I spun around to face the other occupant of the cave. The Flirty Cleric ¡°Much as I''d enjoy the free show, I believe now is a good time to inform you that you''re not alone.¡± My heart shot up to lodge in my throat as I spun to face deeper into the cave. Apparently, my previous estimate of its size was wrong. There was enough space for two people¨C¨Cand the person I shared it with? She was grinning like the cat that got the canary. Steel-gray eyes crinkled with good-natured teasing to match the impish smile curving across her lips. A mace sat snugly in her palm, ready if necessary, but other than that, she was unarmed. Long, honey-golden hair pooled around her waist where she sat, leaning against the cave wall. When another flash of lightning lit up the symbol stitched into her long brown travel cloak, I groaned. A cleric. I''d almost stripped in front of a cleric, and a complete stranger on top of that. I could already hear Beatrice now¡­ ¡°I said to get a girlfriend, not disrobe in front of the first woman you meet!¡± Heat surged through my face, and I bowed, hoping the shadows would hide the vibrant blush making its way to my ears. ¡°I am so sorry, I didn''t see you there. I would never¨C¨C¡± She laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls of the cave as she waved my stuttered apology aside. ¡°Like I said, I would''ve enjoyed the free show, but I had you pegged as someone who''d be embarrassed about that kind of thing. If the vibrant red your face is turning is any indication, I''d say I was right on that front.¡± I nodded and straightened, rubbing a hand over my face in hopes of wiping away the flush. ¡°You would be very correct¡­ Is it really that noticeable?¡± She shot me a pitying smile. ¡°You look like you''re trying to impersonate a Pepper Crab with how red you are. You''re doing a good job of it, if that''s any consolation.¡± Her tone remained teasing, and the longer she stared, eyes taking in every detail of my soaked frame, the more it felt like she could see through me. Appreciation painted her features and, despite the embarrassment still writhing in my chest, pride sparked to life. I wasn''t the best to look at, but if her stare was anything to go by, she liked what she saw. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡­Why did I have to meet her in the most embarrassing way possible though? Almost stripping? She had to think I was some kind of heathen or pervert. Then again, she was the one who''d been staring the entire time we talked. My hair was all but plastered to my skin, a stray drop of water trailing down my neck before stopping against the soaked fabric of my shirt. Her eyes followed it and trekked lower. Heat followed her gaze, like a physical caress, and I tugged at my shirt, trying and failing to make it stick less. It snapped with a wet noise and I flushed. ¡°Why are you staring?¡± I asked, fighting the urge to keep tugging at my soaked shirt. It wouldn''t do any good. Spirits above and below, why hadn''t I worn my under armor, if not my full plate mail? It would have felt awful on my still-healing arms, but at least then I''d have another layer against that piercing gaze. Though, I hadn''t exactly planned to meet a woman in a cave when I''d chosen my clothing today¡­ She tipped her head slightly to the left, drawing me back to the present. ¡°Because it''s not every day a man stumbles into my temporary camp, nearly strips, then turns every shade of red before apologizing as if he''ll be struck down instantly if he doesn''t.¡± She shrugged. ¡°You''ve made quite the impression.¡± That didn''t help the blush still warming everything north of my shoulders. Neither did the continued weight of her stare. She wasn''t staring at my chest now, but somehow this look was more intense. It took me apart piece by piece, as if I were a fascinating puzzle she needed to work out. When the feeling of being stripped bare became too much, I cleared my throat. ¡°It''s definitely not my best, as far as first impressions go. Can we start over and pretend that never happened?¡± Please, spare me some of my dignity. She must have read the thought from my face, because she sighed. ¡°I suppose, though I''d like it noted that I''m agreeing reluctantly. You seem like the type who''s fun to tease.¡± Then, under her breath, she added, ¡°Stopping you from stripping had better count as my good act of the year, though. What a waste.¡± Her eyes flicked pointedly over the dips and grooves of my chest where the soaked shirt clung, the slightest hints of appreciation warming her eyes. I tugged at my collar and pretended not to hear the last bit. Under other circumstances, having a beautiful woman staring at me like that would be a nice change. The women in Dawncrest were either taken already, not interested in a man with five siblings to take care of, or taken but looking for someone to cheat on their husbands with. To say I wasn''t interested was the understatement of the century. She wouldn''t be staring if she knew I have five siblings to take care of. The warm glow her attention brought doused under a wave of disappointment, before I shoved it all aside. It didn''t matter. I was on a quest and we¡¯d likely be parting ways once the storm settled down again. I could hardly abandon my new quest to pursue a woman, even if she was interested once she learned about the others. I straightened, ignoring the spiky ball of feelings sitting heavy in my chest. It would go away if I ignored it long enough. It always did. In the meantime, I had other things to focus on. Like the pouting woman not two yards away from me. I''d have time to sulk in private later. New Quest Acquired Focusing on her again, I nodded. ¡°I appreciate your restraint. I''m Frederick, and you are?¡± Her smile finally lost its teasing note and eased into something more neutral. ¡°Clover. It''s very nice to meet you, Darling.¡± The nickname rolled off her tongue like a cat''s purr, squeezing something in my chest. I looked away and swallowed. ¡°What brings you out into the storm?¡± She shot me a knowing look at my clear subject shift but mercifully went with it without complaint, her stare losing the intense edge from before. ¡°I''m searching for a rare herb that only grows in caves. Its healing power is unprecedented, but I should have known it wouldn''t be in as shallow a cave as this.¡± She sighed, a frown replacing her smile as she stared out into the downpour. ¡°I couldn''t just sit by and do nothing, though¨C¨Cnot while so many are suffering.¡± I slid to sit against the wall across from her, my pack between my knees, and considered Clover. Thanks to the overall panic of our first meeting, I hadn''t noticed just how run-down she looked. Dark bags shadowed the skin under her eyes, and a cloud of exhaustion lingered around her, potent to the point I could almost feel it in the air between us. Even her shoulders curled inward as if she carried a weight no one could possibly understand. I''d set out with a quest to do, and logic insisted that I shouldn''t get distracted from it. Not even for pretty women who looked like they needed a helping hand. But the longer I took her in, the less I cared about what was ¡®logical¡¯. I wasn''t going to face off with the Mad King or his dragon anytime soon. I''d only just started leveling my stats, and I still didn''t have a weapon that could withstand the power I''d used in Dawncrest. Was there really any harm in helping people on my way? If Beatrice had been in Clover¡¯s place, exhausted and almost hopeless, I would want someone to help her. That proved to be the final nudge I needed. Straightening, I spoke, cutting through the stifling silence. ¡°Do you know of any deeper caves nearby the herb could be found?¡± She jerked, as if she''d forgotten I was there at all, before recovering quickly with a nod. ¡°There''s only one that I know of, but it has four levels, not including the boss fight on the bottom floor. Five in total, and while I know some attack magic, it¡¯s not my specialty.¡± She eyed me with something new¨C¨Ca cautious hope. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± I''d seen that same expression on dozens of others over the years. People who were used to life beating them down to the point that any kind offer, no matter how well-intended, was treated with suspicion. I didn''t know what had cause her to be that cautious, but she''d soon find out that, as my siblings loved to point out, I couldn''t help but offer assistance when I could. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Keeping eye contact, I answered with a shrug. ¡°Because if you''re looking this desperately for a healing herb, that means someone is sick and probably doesn''t have much time. I wouldn''t want you to go into a dungeon and get hurt when I could have helped prevent it.¡± Then I rubbed the back of my head and grimaced. ¡°Though I''m only level two, to be fully honest. I''m more than happy to help, but we''ll need to hunt quite a bit of provisions first and take each floor slowly.¡± Her stare intensified until I could practically feel it cutting through me like a spear. I held still, waiting patiently for her to decide whether to take my offer or not. Time seemed to drag forever, until finally, she nodded. This time, the smile that curled her lips was small, and unlike the others, it was genuine. Cautious hope grew behind her eyes as she offered her hand with a nod. ¡°Then I believe we''re in agreement. As for your level, it won''t be a problem since I''m only one higher than you. Also, there are creatures in the caves that provide food, just so you''re aware, but it never hurts to be prepared.¡± I shook her hand, but before I could speak, her grip tightened to nearly painful levels, and she dragged me closer until our noses hovered inches apart. Her stare turned intense again, and something dangerous flashed in her tone, lethal as a knife coated in poison. ¡°Let''s get one thing clear, though. I''m not anyone''s pocket healer. I''ll use my magic when and how I please. If you try to order me around, I will leave you to suffer with whatever injuries you gain. Got it?¡± I swallowed around my suddenly dry throat and nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± Did people demand she heal them a lot? The thought was ludicrous, but it must be the case if she felt the need to make a point of saying that up front. Shaking the thought aside, I focused back on her. There was a hard glint to her eyes now and, without a doubt, she wasn''t bluffing. I had no intention of trying to tell her what to do with her magic and if that look was any indication, that was a good thing for my health. She stared hard for another minute, her hold on loosening in the slightest as she weighed something. Whatever she had been searching for, she must have found it though. After a painfully long minute of silence, she let me go and leaned back against the wall, her friendly demeanor firmly in place again as she smiled. ¡°Good. We''ll get along famously then! After the storm passes, we''ll gather whatever supplies you deem necessary and set out for the cave the next day.¡± I didn''t mention the sudden personality shift, instead choosing to hum my agreement and stare out at the rain. I''d never had a woman be so forward before, other than Beatrice, and Clover was a different kind of forward. She had stared with open appreciation, flirted like we''d known one another for years, and then threatened me, before jumping right back to the friendly demeanor without missing a beat. All within an hour, too! ¡­ What did it say about me that I liked it? Heat built along my nose and I grimaced, rubbing it absentmindedly. Something told me this journey of mine just got quite a bit more interesting¡­ Preparation And Planning ¡°Are you sure we need this many Rock Snakes?¡± Clover asked, eyeing the steadily growing pile next to her. She sat primly, both hands neatly folded in her lap, on the main road. Sharp eyes watched my every move, her mace resting inches from her side in case she needed it. She''d offered to help catch the Rock Snakes with me, but I enjoyed the mini training sessions for my Agility. Maybe I''d try it in my armor for an additional challenge¡­ Shaking that thought aside, I focused on the dry, flat ground and replied, ¡°We have no idea what level the creatures in the dungeon will be. It''s better to be cautious and bring plenty of food, just in case.¡± The last thing we needed was to run out at the final level and have to scramble to get more. It had been years since I''d felt the gnawing pain of hunger and I was in no rush to feel it again. Even if it would only be for a few nights. A tiny vibration traveled up my legs, jolting me to the present. I braced myself as it slowly inched closer. When it was directly underneath me and still, I jumped back. Just like the others, the Rock Snake lunged out at me, its head surfacing with its mouth wide open. Only to twist when its attack met nothing but air. I didn''t give it time to recover. With a swing of my sword, it''s head fell to the side, and I nodded with satisfaction. ¡°This should be enough, at least for now.¡± I deposited the body neatly with the others and sheathed my sword. ¡°That''s gotten a lot easier.¡± It wasn''t necessarily hard at the start, but I''d dealt with enough Rock Snakes by now that hunting them was almost instinctive. Their scales were nearly impossible to cut through with my dull sword, but the junction of their body and head was scale free. Clover examined one of the bodies and hummed. ¡°You should check your level again. There are quite a few here, and while they don''t give much experience, at level two, you don''t need much.¡± I hadn''t thought of that. Pulling out the mirror from my pack, I analyzed myself. Frederick Level 3 Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Hit Points: 50/50 Mana: 50/50 Status: Healthy Triumph surged through me, and I closed the menu with a grin. ¡°Looks like you''re right. Now we''re both level three!¡± It wasn''t a massive step, but I''d take every improvement I could get. Besides, it would be harder to progress the further I went. I should enjoy the rush while it came somewhat easily. Clover nodded, her hands busy preparing the snakes. ¡°That should make fighting through the dungeon a bit easier. If we do run out of provisions, there are several monsters in the area that can be eaten as well.¡± I plopped next to her and grabbed a snake to help. ¡°Which ones are they?¡± I''d already encountered the Jackalope and Rock Snakes, but there were bound to be more creatures, especially once we started going deeper into the dungeon. And they wouldn''t be as easy to defeat. She hummed in thought. ¡°There''s Giant Spiders and Glowcaps. Technically, Deep Rats are also edible, but they have a chance of carrying diseases, so they''re a last resort and nothing else.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I''ve only ever scouted the top level, so there''s probably more than that as well.¡± At least that gave us somewhere to start. I''d never been a fan of mushrooms, but anything was better than being hungry. Though¡­ ¡°For the sake of my stomach, I hope we don''t have to eat spiders,¡± I muttered, a shudder trailing down my back at the thought. Clover raised a brow and smiled, the teasing glint from our first meeting back again. ¡°Not a fan of the creepy crawlies?¡± I grimaced and shook my head. ¡°Not at all. If it has more than four legs or eyes, I don''t like it.¡± Too many passing adventurers had come through Dawncrest mangled by those monsters for me to feel anything but vivid disgust. And that wasn''t getting into the time one cornered Beatrice¡­ A chill worked down my spine and I shoved the thoughts aside. Not the time. She reached over to pat my knee with a smile, pulling me back to the present as her eyes brimmed with amusement. ¡°Don''t worry, we''ll probably have enough food from these snakes. And if not, we''ll hunt the Glowcaps. They''re living mushrooms, and the smaller ones that spawn on their heads are edible too.¡± That was a relief. I forced the thought of spiders aside and nodded. ¡°I''d appreciate that. Are there any materials we should collect from them?¡± She paused at that. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, to be honest. I know the Deep Rat Fur is sold at a decent price because it''s dark and used in quite a bit of fashion. Their teeth are commonly used for traps too. The sticky web the Giant Spiders spin is another common trap ingredient, though it''s also great for binding everyday things together. I''m sure there are more uses for spores and skin, but we would need an alchemist with us to know for sure.¡± I nodded, making a mental note. I''d never been interested in alchemy, so I didn''t know where to even begin on that front. Clover finished the last of the Rock Snakes, setting the meat and scales aside, before facing me again. ¡°I do know of an inventor who could help with that, but he''s checking a different cave closer to Starkfell. We can pile the monsters off to the side and come back if there are any ingredients he deems important enough.¡± With that, she dusted her hands off and stood. ¡°With that out of the way, I believe it''s time we got this little adventure started, don''t you?¡± Excitement jittered through me in a wave of tingles. It was time. Compliments And Teasing I put everything away and nodded, following her lead while suppressing the giddy excitement. ¡°Where is this dungeon anyway?¡± I''d never looked into the geography of Nexus. Dawncrest was in the far corner of the continent, surrounded on nearly all sides by the ocean. That''s as far as my knowledge went on the matter. She turned, flicking a hand over her shoulder for me to follow as she spoke. ¡°It''s not far. Truthfully, I considered going there when I noticed the storm approaching, but I didn''t want to risk getting trapped inside when that one was guaranteed to have stronger monsters.¡± I hummed, keeping stride with her as we left the main road, moving through knee-high grass. ¡°That was probably for the best. I didn''t even realize there was another cave nearby. Though, considering how close I came to getting cooked by lighting, maybe it''s a good thing I hadn''t known.¡± She laughed and nodded, throwing a long look over me as she did. ¡°Yes, that would have been quite the waste.¡± Heat crawled up my neck at the clear double meaning behind her words, and I looked away before she could notice. ¡°Anyway, how far is the cave?¡± My attempt to change the topic didn''t work this time¨C¨Cif anything, it only amused her more. Her lips curled up at the edges, and she raised a brow. ¡°You don''t take compliments well, do you?¡± I shrugged, wishing desperately for the ground to open up and swallow me. ¡°Not really. My sisters tease me about it a lot.¡± Collin, Samson and James would too if they didn''t have the same problem. Clover tipped her head back and laughed. ¡°Something tells me I would get along just fine with them.¡± I considered that for a moment, then immediately shuddered. ¡°You and Beatrice would conquer the world by dinnertime. No one would see it coming.¡± She turned to walk backwards through the grass and flowers, her teasing smile firmly in place. ¡°Well, now I have to meet her. You said sisters, as in plural though?¡± I nodded, more than happy to talk about them instead of my inability to handle compliments or any other decidedly more embarrassing topic. Stolen story; please report. ¡°Yeah, Beatrice is sixteen winters old, and Daedra is just over ten. Convincing her to unlatch from my waist so I could leave Dawncrest was not an easy task.¡± I pressed an arm around my waist, where the echo of her grip lingered. It''d only been a few days, yet I already itched to run home to them¡­ Clover''s eyes softened and she tipped her head. ¡°Sounds like she adores you.¡± There was an unspoken question beneath her words, and I answered it easily. ¡°She loves all of us, but she tends to cling to me especially. It isn''t all that surprising, though, given that I''m the one who adopted her after her parents abandoned her in Dawncrest.¡± Clover''s steps faltered, and white-hot anger flashed behind her eyes like a bolt of lightning. ¡°They left her?¡± Something lethal bubbled in her tone, and I nodded, happy to vent about those wastes of human space. ¡°Yeah, I found Daedra wandering alone in town, crying her little eyes out. After I got the story out of her, I left her with my siblings and tracked her parents.¡± It didn''t matter how much time passed¨C¨Cthe old rage burst to the surface with the same force it had back then. ¡°They tried to say there wasn''t another choice, but I knew better. Daedra can be¡­a handful sometimes. She''s curious and loves learning about everything, but she gets herself into trouble because of that. Her parents didn''t want to deal with it anymore and left her.¡± Clover hissed under her breath. ¡°They''d better be happy it was you that found them and not me.¡± I couldn''t help it; I snorted. ¡°Oh, I''m not too sure about that. They didn''t walk away from that unscathed.¡± She raised a brow and stopped walking. ¡°What exactly did you do to them?¡± I lifted a shoulder in a half shrug and smiled. ¡°Something that would probably give me a hefty bounty and definitely nothing I''ll be sharing.¡± She grinned with vicious satisfaction. ¡°Well, look at you, handing out justice for the weak and innocent. I underestimated you, and for that, you have my humble apologies.¡± Then she got serious again. ¡°All joking aside, I hope whatever you did hurt. No child should ever be left alone like that.¡± There was an undercurrent of empathy to her words that only came from someone who lived that same pain. Looking at Clover now, I couldn''t help but wonder¡­ Had anyone helped her as I''d done for Daedra? A sinking feeling in my gut would have me believe not. Shaking aside thoughts of a much younger Clover running lost and scared through strange streets, I nodded. ¡°They shouldn''t. That''s actually why I''ve adopted all five of my siblings. In one way or another, we were all abandoned. Why not band together?¡± Beatrice always got a kick out of my ¡®see a kid, adopt a kid¡¯ philosophy. I''d never bothered disputing it because, honestly, she wasn''t wrong. I couldn''t see someone suffering and not help¨C¨Cespecially a child. Clover¡¯s whistle pulled me back to the present. ¡°You adopted five siblings? That''s impressive. Most people can barely handle one kid, let alone five.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Aside from Daedra, they''re not all that young. Plus, we all take care of each other. It''s not a hardship.¡± She smiled, nodded as if she understood. ¡°Sounds like paradise.¡± There was a longing in her voice that made me pause, but before I could dwell on it, she smiled again, pushing whatever sadness she had felt aside. ¡°Anyway, we''re just about there now. See?¡± She pointed ahead, drawing my attention to the opening carved into a nearby hill. Twin metal doors stood tall, their presence imposing. As we stopped in front of them, a wave of nerves washed over me. This was it¨C¨Cmy first dungeon. Paladins First Dungeon I shoved my nerves aside and pressed a palm to the door. The metal was etched with dips and grooves, coming together to form the shape of a bird at the center. I tapped it, humming to myself. ¡°Do you think this is a hint about the boss at the bottom?¡± Clover eyed the symbol, grimacing. ¡°I hope not. You don''t have a long-ranged weapon, and I have very few spells that could hit an aerial target.¡± The dread in her voice mirrored the knot forming in my gut, twisting into a painful lump that sat heavy as stone. I pushed it down with considerable effort and tried to stay positive. ¡°We don¡¯t have any reason reason to believe that¡¯s the boss. For all we know, the person who made these doors worshiped the spirit of birds.¡± Clover¡¯s tense shoulders relaxed a bit, and she nodded. ¡°Right, we shouldn''t go in expecting the worst. That being said, be ready for a fight. The first floor usually doesn''t have monsters, but it looks like this dungeon has been untouched for years. Better safe than sorry.¡± I gripped the hilt of my sword in acknowledgement, using my free hand to push the door open. Stale air rushed past us, making me cough through the dry, warm wave. When it passed, I opened the door wider and took in the scene. The room was massive, easily big enough to fit several wagons side by side. Unlit torches lined the walls, and inky shadows cloaked every corner. I eyed them warily. ¡°Do you have a spell that can detect monsters?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Clover shook her head, squinting into the darkness. ¡°I sincerely wish I did; it would¡¯ve saved me quite a bit of trouble. I can cast a light spell, but it will reveal our location to anything within sight.¡± We couldn''t stumble around in the dark¨C¨Cthat was just asking for an ambush. But if we were going to be noticed either way though¡­ I set my pack down and rummaged through it until my hand brushed against heavy plate metal. Pulling it out, I spoke. ¡°Then we''ll forgo stealth entirely. I haven''t worn this due to some recovering injuries on my arms, but I think it should be alright now.¡± Before I could put it on, Clover raised an incredulous brow. ¡°You were injured and didn''t think to tell the healer?¡± I shrugged. ¡°You already said I shouldn''t assume you''ll heal me. Besides, my arms have mostly recovered¨C¨Cno more bone contusions at least.¡± Her eyebrow inched higher. ¡°What did you do to give yourself bone contusions?¡± Morbid curiosity painted her tone, as if she didn''t really want the answer. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. I huffed, pulling on my boots. ¡°I used a level ten spell to wound a dragon that was attacking my town.¡± Clover froze, her mouth slightly agape as the information sank in. After a few minutes of stunned silence, during which I finished donning the rest of my armor, she snapped out of it with a sputter. ¡°You fought a dragon and lived?¡± I nodded, absentmindedly rolling my shoulders to test the weight of the armor. ¡°There weren''t a lot of options. Either I attacked or laid down and let it kill me.¡± Something told me it was better to keep the whole ¡®I''m the son of the Mad King¡¯ bit to myself. Dawncrest had nearly turned against me when they found out, and I''d been raised with them. Clover seemed nice enough, but I couldn''t risk the quest going south because I trusted someone I shouldn''t have. She shook her head, looking me over appraisingly. ¡°You have a point, but I never would¡¯ve guessed it by looking at you.¡± Then she frowned. ¡°I never asked, but where were you going when that storm hit?¡± It couldn''t hurt to tell her that much, right? After all, anyone would look to other towns for help when theirs was attacked¡­ ¡°The mayor sent me to ask for aid from nearby towns. Starkfell is the closest, so that''s the first on my list.¡± And after that, assuming I''m successful, I need to find a weapon sturdy enough to withstand Retribution''s power¡­ That wasn''t even getting into taking down the Mad King or his pet dragon. Clover''s expression shuttered. ¡°I''m sorry, but you probably won''t get much help from Starkfell.¡± I waved it off, already knowing that. ¡°Clyde mentioned they wouldn''t be friendly. That''s fine, I''ll prove I''m trustworthy and work from there.¡± She shook her head, that guarded mask not slipping. ¡°You don''t understand. Starkfell doesn''t have resources to spare. A settlement of beastfolk was attacked by ogres, and all the refugees took shelter in Starkfell. Between the extra mouths to feed and the houses that still need to be built, there won¡¯t be any supplies left.¡± I hadn''t considered that. ¡°Oh¡­Well, that does complicate things.¡± I grimaced, rubbing the back of my neck. ¡°After we get the herb, I''ll escort you back to Starkfell, then head out to another town to seek aid.¡± It wasn''t ideal, but Dawncrest would survive either way. Rushing was pointless and would get me killed. Clover stared at me, her mask finally cracking to show traces of surprise. ¡°Wait, you''re not going to leave now?¡± What kind of people did she deal with to make her think I''d abandon her so easily? Crossing my arms, I shook my head and scowled. ¡°I said I would help you get the herb, and I will. Dawncrest isn''t in lethal danger, and by the sound of it, the people who need that herb are. I''m going to escort you back to Starkfell, restock my supplies, and then head to the next town. That''s my plan, unless you have any objections?¡± She blinked slowly, processing everything, before shaking her head. ¡°No, that''s¡­honestly more than I''d hoped for.¡± Then she snorted, ¡°Though I''d like to point out that I''m fully capable of making it safely to Starkfell without any help.¡± I nodded. ¡°I''m sure you are, but I''ll have to go stock up after this anyway, so why not travel together?¡± This time she agreed without hesitation, a small smile curling her lips. ¡°Agreed. Now then, are you ready? The initial light will blind anything around us, so if there are monsters, you''ll have a few seconds of advantage.¡± I wordlessly drew my sword, muscles tensing in case I needed to lunge. Clover waited a beat before finally raising her mace, light already starting to build around her as she spoke. ¡°Guiding Light.¡± A brilliant flash cut through the darkness, and I half-turned away to avoid being blinded. When the light dimmed, I scanned the room. We''d been right to be wary. First Battle, Success! Or...Not. Several Deep Rats were scrubbing their faces into the floor in the farthest corner, and in the center of the room were a pair of Giant Spiders. Disgust swept through me at the sight of their hairy limbs and beady eyes, but I jumped on them first. Thankfully, they only reached my waist¨C¨Cnot the ogre-sized monstrosities I''d heard passing adventurers describe¡­ I would probably burn the place down before facing off with those. Focusing on the two Giant Spiders in front of me, I swung my sword at the first one''s head and analyzed them. Giant Spider Level 3 Hit Points: 5/20 Mana: 0/0 Status: Near Death, Severe Head Wound Giant Spider Level 3 Hit Points: 20/20 Mana: 0/0 Status: Healthy Dang it, I''d hoped to kill the first spider in one hit and move onto the next. Those Deep Rats wouldn''t stay stunned for long, and I wouldn''t last if everything swarmed me. I ripped my blade out of the spider and struck again, watching as it fell lifelessly to the ground. Unfortunately, that gave the second spider enough time to recover. As the first spider collapsed, the second one reared up, slamming two massive legs onto my chest and knocking me to the ground. My armor clanged off the stone floor, loud enough to make my ears ring, but when the Giant Spider opened its maw, baring tiny jagged teeth dripping with purplish goo, my hearing was the least of my worries. I barely managed to bring my arm up in time to stop those teeth from sinking into my face. Instead, they gnawed harmlessly at my armor, the purple goo sizzling lightly against the metal. Poison, of course. Now I was even happier I''d stopped it from biting me¡­ If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Not giving myself time to think, I tried to force my sword between us and into its abdomen. The Giant Spider hissed and jumped back just as I thrust the blade forward. I hit, but not by much. A slow drip of blood oozed onto the dungeon floor, but I didn''t need to analyze it to know the damage was minimal. Their skin was thicker than that of an average spider, which explained why my first strike hadn''t killed the other one. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Deep Rats shaking off their daze. Perfect. Now we had to deal with those pests on top of the spider. Grinding my teeth in frustration, I called out. ¡°Can you handle the rats?¡± Clover¡¯s response was immediate. ¡°Not without hurting you too. Drag that spider against the wall, and I''ll deal with the rats!¡± Easier said than done, but I''d figure it out. I readjusted my grip and took a slow step to the side. The spider followed, its eight eyes locked on me as it stalked forward. I made it halfway to the wall before it tensed, its legs bunching low in preparation to attack. ¡°This is as far as we''re getting!¡± I shouted over my shoulder, bracing as the spider leaped. I couldn''t dodge in this armor, but it more than made up for its lack of agility with sheer defense. The spider¡¯s poison-dripping maw clamped to my arm, and I staggered under its weight. Its legs fell on either side of me as it bore down, trying to force us both to the ground. Alarm surged through me, instincts screaming that I could not let the spider succeed. It was hard enough to fight while standing, but pressed flat against the stone floor? Nearly impossible. I used my arm to keep the spider''s face away and planted my foot into its chest. There wasn''t enough room for me to swing my sword, but maybe I didn''t need to. The Deep Rats were a few paces away, their furry heads swiveling between Clover and me as they decided who to go attack. Depending on how large her spell¡¯s area of effect was, we might just finish this encounter without a scratch. Magic pulsed in the air, radiating from Clover. As it reached its peak, and she sucked in a breath to recite the spell, I kicked the spider with all my strength. It staggered back into the rats, momentarily distracting them, and then I heard Clover speak. ¡°Illuminating Lance!¡± I watched in satisfaction as a long golden lance formed in her palm, lighting the entire room as it shot forward. It seared a path through the Deep Rats and Giant Spider, fizzling out just before it hit the far wall. When the dust settled, four piles of ash sat in the center of the room, along with one intact spider corpse. Grinning, I gave her a thumbs up. ¡°First battle, success!¡± She shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes as the ball of light she''d summoned earlier bounced as if in laughter. ¡°You are such a dork.¡± Heat crawled up my neck, and I shrugged. ¡°Nothing wrong with being happy we survived, and without a scratch too.¡± She tipped her head, mouth opening to say something witty. Whatever it was, I never found out. Her gaze flicked behind me and widened, the smile dropping into an alarm frown as she shouted, ¡°Frederick, behind-!¡± Something large and heavy slammed against my back, forcing me onto the jagged stone floor. When I could finally breathe past the shock, I looked over my shoulder to face our new adversary. Massive, hairy legs and too many eyes greeted me, along with a much larger mouth that oozed strings of poison down onto my neck. The skin burned on contact, and I hissed, barely managing to assess what we were up against. Adult Giant Spider Level 4 Hit Points: 30/30 Mana: 0/0 Status: Enraged Even pinned against the floor, I could see it was roughly the size of an ogre, just as the traveling adventurers had described. The ones we killed before must have been the babies. And if that was true, this was Mama. And she was livid. By The Spirits Hairy Ball Sacks... Clover ground out a curse under her breath, her mace half-raised as if ready to cast a spell, even though we both knew I was too close for her to do so safely. Her brows furrowed with worry, and when she glanced at the venom still leaking onto my neck, she hissed another, fouler curse. ¡°By the spirits¡¯ hairy ball sacks, how did we miss that?!¡± A snort escaped me at her¡­creative choice of words. The clerics back home would be scandalized. Beatrice would probably bust a lung laughing. They would make a lethal combo if they ever met. If I survived this, I''d have to introduce them, just to see what happened. Putting those thoughts aside, a hysterical laugh bubbled up from my chest and I choked out. ¡°Such foul language from a cleric. What would your spirit say?¡± She shot me an exasperated glance. ¡°Really? A Giant Spider is merrily camping on your back, and now¡¯s the time to critique my language?¡± Another string of venom oozed onto my neck, and I flinched, fighting to ignore the renewed pain as it burned through my skin. ¡°I can multitask.¡± The words came out strained, and she scowled, her fiery eyes once again locked on the spider. It hadn''t moved since it dropped down onto my back. If I hadn''t seen its status, I might have thought it was non-hostile. But we both knew better. It all but pulsed with rage, the hair along its legs and body standing to attention. The faintest tremor shook it, traveling down to where it pressed me into the floor. No, it was far from calm¡­ but why wasn¡¯t it attacking then? Clover twirled the mace, and the spider¡¯s many eyes followed it. She then stopped with the top pointed at us and spoke in a voice that throbbed with the promise of death. ¡°Here''s how this is going to go, you giant eight-legged freak. You¡¯re going to let my paladin go, and I won''t incinerate you from the inside out. If you don''t,¡± she paused as magic built into another lance in her palm, ¡°this shiny magic bolt is going directly up your cloaca.¡± That was definitely an interesting threat¨C¨Cone I would love to see become a reality, if I were being honest. But part of what she said caught my attention, and I raised a brow, though I knew she couldn''t see it from that angle. ¡°Your paladin? And here I thought you didn''t like me.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. I could feel the unamused glare she leveled at me more potently than the spider''s venom. ¡°...Shut up, or I''ll leave you to be spider kibble.¡± I nodded, fully believing the threat. ¡°Shutting up now.¡± Stealing a glance at the spider still eyeing Clover, I cleared my throat and asked, ¡°Not to critique you, but what''s the plan if she gets off me? I like the sound of the spider dying by bolt.¡± Right about now, the idea of every last eight-legged creature dying from light magic sounded downright amazing. I''d accept fire magic too, so long as the spiders were dead. She didn''t look away from the creature, her focus sharp and ready at the slightest move of that maw toward my throat. ¡°If it gets off you, you''ll kill it, obviously.¡± I nodded into the stone floor and hummed. ¡°Solid plan. But why isn''t the Enraged spider attacking?¡± I''d seen people become Enraged before¨C¨Chell, Berserkers made it part of their fighting style¨C¨Cbut this creature was eerily calm. It ate at my nerves. The one that attacked Beatrice had been calm and it had acted more feral than this one. Clover grimaced and considered us for a long moment. Then her eyes flashed, the subtle sign of analysis, and she froze. ¡°It is attacking. Its poison is ripping through your Hit Points at an alarming rate. It''s smart enough to know that if it waits, you''ll die without it biting you.¡± Well, wasn''t that an awesome realization. I''d been trying to ignore the steady sting, but now my focus shifted to it. With each new string of venom, it was spreading to coat more of my skin. Clover was right--¨C¨Cthis was going to turn deadly if we didn''t act soon. Forcing down the sick wave of unease that followed the thought, I consider our options¨C¨Cor the lack thereof. She hadn''t attacked yet, which meant the only spells she had would probably injure me too. I wasn''t in a hurry to be a pile of ash today, so that was off the table. I tried to shift, testing how far I could move, but the spider chattered angrily and pressed me harder into the stone. The sheer weight of it made my bones creak in warning, and I grit my teeth. ¡°It isn''t going to let me move more than an inch. Any suggestions?¡± I asked, keeping one eye firmly on the spider now. It''s gaze flicked between Clover and me, tracking both our movements. I twitched my fingers experimentally, and it hissed in warning. Clover noticed too and grimaced. ¡°Do you have any spells that would hurt it? I have one called Spiritual Armor¨C¨Canything that touches me takes damage.¡± I shook my head, only to hiss when the venom slid to coat new skin. ¡°The only spell I have is Retribution and even if I felt like breaking my arms today, I couldn''t reach the spider from here.¡± She ground out another curse, and this time I didn''t tease her. Silence stretched as the standoff between the spider and Clover continued until finally she spoke. ¡°Pray to your spirit and ask for another spell. It''s odd that the only attack you have is one you can''t reliably use. In a worst-case scenario, I can throw the lance and aim high. You still might get injured, but it''s better than being spider food.¡± Yeah, no kidding. With that supremely uplifting thought, I did as she suggested, uncertain if it would do any good but officially desperate enough to try anything. The few times I''d tried to contact the spirit since our initial meeting, I''d been met with nothing but silence. Hopefully now wouldn''t be the same. A Little Help, Please? The spider''s weight pressed down like a boulder on my back, it''s poison burning my neck with every passing second we wasted. It hadn''t dug deep enough to cause lasting damage yet, but it would if this stretched much longer. My spirit hadn''t answered me since the day we made the pact in Dawncrest, but there were no other options. Focusing inward, I prayed. Hello, Spirit, who I still don''t know the name of. I''m sorry for bothering you so soon after you helped me before, but I could desperately use a spell that doesn''t break my bones. Would it be possible for you to teach me one? It felt hilariously informal, and half of me wanted to apologize, even as the other half was too frantic over the venom to care. If they wanted me alive, they''d have to help me out. I wasn''t good to anyone if I was spider chow. Silence passed for several beats, and disappointment welled as it stretched longer. Just as I thought they wouldn''t respond at all, the voice from Dawncrest returned, echoing inside my head. I offered you Retribution because nothing else would suffice against the scale of a dragon. As you progress, more spells will become available to you. There is one that will aid you, but you will need to rest after casting it. It is several levels higher than yourself, though not so lofty as Retribution. Oh, thank all the spirits above and below. I did not want to break my bones again. Setting that aside, I responded. I would greatly appreciate any help you see fit to offer. What level is this spell, and how do I cast it? A wave of warmth filled me, but unlike last time, there was no flash of light. Instead, I felt the gentle but firm pressure of a hand between my shoulders as the spirit spoke again. Wrap yourself in my energy, envision it coating you like a second skin or thin, but unbreakable armor. This spell is level five and named, Radiant Bastian. Now go forth; that will keep you safe from even the child of Life¡¯s lance. Child of Life; was that what the spirits referred to healers as? The presence faded away before I could ask, and I shook the curiosity aside. We had bigger problems than names right now. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Focusing on the present, I took a breath to steady my nerves. ¡°Clover, I''ve got a new spell, but I''m not sure how long it''ll last. When I activate it, I need you to throw that lance.¡± She stared, her expression caught between wariness and incredulous disbelief. ¡°Did you not see the piles of ash it reduced the monsters to?¡± Oh, I definitely did, and if there were other options, I''d take them in a heartbeat. Unfortunately for me, we had to work with what we had. Grinding out the words, I said, ¡°The spirit seemed fairly certain it wouldn''t hurt me, and we''re running out of time.¡± A war waged on her face before she finally settled on reluctant agreement. ¡°Fine, but you''d better survive this. I''m starting to like you, and if you die by my hand, I''ll bring you back just to slap some sense into you.¡± If anyone could master Death magic, it would be someone as spirited as Clover. A painful chuckle dragged out of me, and I nodded. ¡°Sounds fair. Now then¡­¡± Focusing inward again, I did as the spirit told me. Their power felt warm, like eating hot soup on a cold day. I pictured it, only this time I spread it over me like an armor made of energy. The warmth followed, molding around me easily. When I felt the spell click into place¨C¨Cthe spider''s venom no longer dripping onto my neck¨C¨CI spoke. ¡°Radiant Bastion.¡± Light flashed outward, coating the walls in a golden hue, as the magic armor slid into place over my plate mail. The spider recoiled, blinded and surprised. It recovered quickly, though, and drove its fangs into my neck ¡­or tried to. The armor stopped it. Feeling the drain it was already taking on me, I called out, ¡°Clover, throw it!¡± There was no hesitation. A second lance of light spiraled through the air, slamming full force into the spider''s abdomen. The creature screeched, its shrill screams bouncing off the walls and echoing back until I thought my ears might bleed from the sound. Its legs dug into the armor, a final attempt at taking vengeance for its offspring, before it finally disintegrated like the others. Relief hit me like a wave, only for exhaustion to bury me in the next second as the armor faded away. Every ounce of energy I had was ripped away in an instant, and my vision fogged at the edges. Distantly, I heard Clover running toward me, her hands glowing with another spell. Aw, was she going to heal me after all? That¡¯s nice of her¡­ She pulled me onto something soft and warm, her hands gently pressing over the burn on my neck. I flinched at first, the skin tender and raw. Then cool relief replaced the pain and a low groan rumbled through me. When her magic faded away, leaving healed skin in its place, I managed a tired smile. ¡°You''re a goddess.¡± She snorted, the sound distant as I teetered on the edge of sleep. ¡°First time I''ve heard that one. I''ll make sure to tease you about it later¨C¨Cwhen you''re not half-delirious.¡± Honestly, if she let me stay here while she did, I''d take whatever teasing she wanted to dish out. Her fingers threaded through my hair, adding to the hazy bliss of the moment, and she sighed. ¡°Get some rest, you dork. You''ve earned it.¡± She didn''t have to tell me twice. I surrendered to sleep, but just before it fully claimed me though, I heard her murmur. ¡°I''ll keep you safe. I swear it.¡± There was a quiet intensity in her voice that made me smile as I let go. Clover could huff and puff all she wanted, but I knew her secret. She was a softy. Clover Is A Softy Exhaustion was the first thing that greeted me when the world came back into focus. Every part of me, from my arms to my toes, felt as if it were encased in stone¨C¨Cmoving was a herculean task, and trying seemed futile. My head rested on something soft and warm, the contrast almost enough to put me back into unconsciousness. But through the suffocating urge to drift off again, a niggling memory forced its way to the surface. The spider. It had been dead when I''d passed out, but had any other monsters appeared since? Clover could handle herself, but that didn''t mean I should heap all the responsibility onto her. Forcing one eye open, I took in my surroundings. Only to freeze when I met Clover''s amused gaze. At some point, she had pulled my head onto her thigh¨C¨Cthe warmth more than welcome in the chilly dungeon¨C¨Cbut in my tired stupor, I''d taken it upon myself to roll over¡­and wrap both arms around her. Thankfully, my hands weren''t anywhere inappropriate, but I had still used her as a human-sized, heated stuffed animal for who knows how long. Heat crawled up my neck, and I groaned. ¡°Sorry about this. I tend to gravitate toward warmth in my sleep. My siblings love it because they get infinite cuddles during winter.¡± It often ended with a pile of limbs, usually with Daedra happily curled on my chest where no one else could fit. Clover laughed and waved off the apology. ¡°I don''t mind. In fact, it''s kind of cute¨C¨Cthe big bad paladin knight who has a built-in detector for warmth.¡± My blush deepened, nearly singeing my cheeks, and I turned into her to hide it. ¡°You thrive on teasing me, don''t you?¡± She poked my cheek until I looked at her again and nodded. ¡°I do enjoy messing with you, but if it bothers you, I''ll stop.¡± The amusement from before had faded, replaced by sincerity. If I asked her to stop, she would. While I appreciated that, did I really want this back-and-forth to end? I still wasn''t sure how to respond when she flirted, but that didn''t mean I wasn''t enjoying it. The only women around my age in Dawncrest were in relationships and those who weren¡¯t had made it clear they didn''t want a man with five siblings as part of the package. The other men were welcome to them. Any woman who would ask me to abandon my family wasn''t someone I wanted. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. She tapped my head and raised a brow. ¡°Do you really have to think that hard about whether or not it bothers you?¡± Ah, I''d been quiet too long. Refocusing on her, I shook my head and smiled. ¡°No, it doesn''t. I¡­actually kind of enjoy it. I just tend to get lost in thought.¡± The brief concern in her eyes faded into teasing again, and she grinned. ¡°You enjoy it?¡± The words practically dripped with amusement, and in that second, I knew she''d never let me live this down. Still, there was no point in lying now. ¡°Yeah, I do. What are you going to do about it?¡± I challenged, and her smile stretched even wider. ¡°Tease you even more, of course. You can''t give me blanket permission like that and expect me not to.¡± I shrugged, fighting back a yawn. ¡°Just try not to during battle. With my luck, I''ll trip and land on my sword.¡± She hummed in agreement and leaned back on her palms. ¡°I happen to like you not bleeding or injured, so I''ll keep that in mind.¡± Then she glanced at my arms. ¡°Not that I mind, but do you plan on staying there all day? My thigh fell asleep a while ago, and we should probably keep moving.¡± I reluctantly unwound myself from her and moved to sit up, only to regret it immediately when the exhaustion from before hit me like a tidal wave. Every muscle ached in protest, and I grimaced, steadying myself with a hand on the ragged floor. ¡°I don''t think it¡¯s a good idea for me to try fighting like this.¡± She analyzed me and winced. ¡°Yeah, I take it back. We''re definitely not moving for a few more hours. Your status is ¡®Heavily Exhausted¡¯ and, to be fair, I''m not far behind. I used quite a lot of mana in that fight, and I''ll need at least a night¡¯s rest to recover.¡± Her mace sat within easy reach, and she eyed it with a grimace. ¡°I knew this dungeon would be rough, but I didn''t think it''d be this much of a challenge with the two of us.¡± Before I could try to reassure her, she gave me a weak smile and lightly nudged my armor. ¡°Are you sure you want to keep going? Starkfell can''t reward you, even if we get the herb. No one will judge you for walking away.¡± Her body language betrayed her more than that sad excuse for a smile. Her shoulders held a subtle slump, as if she''d already accepted that she''d be doing this alone, and bone-deep exhaustion burned behind her eyes. But the stubborn set to her jaw told me everything she wasn''t saying. If I left, she''d try to force her way through the dungeon in search of that herb. I''d sooner feed myself to one of those spiders than leave her to face it alone. Still, we''d need a new approach if we wanted to be finished with the dungeon this week. I patted her arm and smiled. ¡°You''re not getting rid of me that easily. After all, you can''t tease me if I''m not here, right?¡± Surprise flickered through her exhaustion, only to melt into gratitude and something warmer that I couldn¡¯t quite name. Before I could try to figure it out, her smile stretched into a genuine one, and all thoughts of odd expressions fled. She hooked an arm around my neck and, before I realized what was happening, she pulled me into a one-armed hug. Oh, this was new. Hugs And History Lessons I froze, processing the sudden shift. The lightest floral scent drifted from her hair and warmth seeped out in waves from where we pressed together. It had been years since someone outside of my family got this close, and I almost didn''t react in time. Shaking off the surprise, I returned the hug, mindful of my armor and its hard edges. The angle was awkward, and I couldn''t feel anything through my plate mail, but despite that, warmth shot through my veins. Something told me Clover wasn''t usually the huggy type, so this was a big deal. She lingered for a second before pulling back with a shake of her head. ¡°I tell you that you could die for no payment, and you respond by staying so I can tease you more¡­You''re something else, Frederick, and I mean that in the best way possible.¡± Then she eyed the staircase leading down to the next level with a huff. ¡°I appreciate that, but we need a strategy to clear rooms before we continue. I underestimated the monsters, and we can''t afford to do that again. The sick who need that herb have maybe two weeks left. If possible, I''d like to finish this dungeon in one.¡± I nodded and straightened. ¡°I was thinking the same thing. There are four levels below us, and we can''t spend too long recovering between each one. We''ll both need to conserve as much energy as possible through the battles ahead.¡± Glancing at the light orb she¡¯d summoned, I asked, ¡°Does that cost a lot of mana to uphold?¡± She made a so-so motion. ¡°It can if I make it too bright or keep it going it for hours.¡± Which meant it''d be better if we could use something else for light. Glancing around the empty chamber, I paused at the torches on the wall and smiled. ¡°Then we''ll take one of those torches instead. They won''t offer much light, but it won¡¯t use your mana and will make us less noticeable. It''s a trade-off.¡± She nodded, pleased. ¡°Perfect. I''ll go light one so I can dispel the orb.¡± Instinctively, I moved to do it, but another wave of exhaustion nearly knocked me flat on my back. Clover caught my arm, preventing a painful collision with the floor, and snorted. ¡°I''m glad you''re not the type to let me do everything, but I don''t want you collapsing on me either. We can go over a fair division of camp duties once we''re rested, but do me a favor and don''t try to get up until then. Your armor looks heavy, and I''m not sure I could move you if you did collapse.¡± I reluctantly settled again and nodded, only to flush when she teased over her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯d probably have to strip you. I wouldn¡¯t necessarily mind such a thing, but something tells me you would.¡± She turned and winked, before refocusing on the torches. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Good thing too, my cheeks were on fire. Pressing both palms to them, I scrubbed until the skin burned faintly. This woman was something else¡­ Forcing the thought aside, I watched as she snagged one of the torches and lit it with the flint and steel from her pack. Once that was done and she sat across from me again, I brought us back to our previous discussion. ¡°If we scope out each room as we go, we can probably ambush monsters and clear the levels quicker. Creatures who thrive in the dark either have night vision, which means we can blind them with light, or no vision at all. We can use that to our advantage.¡± She nodded, idly tapping the torch against the floor. ¡°That will work, and I can use mostly melee attacks to conserve mana. The deeper down we go, the more likely I''ll need my energy for healing. I can bless my weapon to do extra damage, and it lasts all day.¡± I eyed my sword. ¡°I don''t suppose you could do that to mine too?¡¯ She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Since you''re pacted to a spirit, you should be able to do that yourself.¡± Then she analyzed me again. ¡°You weren''t kidding about only having one, now two, spells. Usually, a paladin learns from tomes left behind by their spirit specifically for that purpose. Who did you pact with?¡± I rubbed the back of my head with a laugh. ¡°That¡¯s a great question¨C¨Cunfortunately, I don¡¯t have an answer.¡± She froze, her mouth falling open in disbelief as she processed that. It didn''t take her long to recover, though, and she snorted. ¡°You made a pact with an unknown spirit?¡± I shrugged and nodded. ¡°Yeah. Remember I told you the dragon attacked? It was going to kill my family, so I prayed for one of the spirits to help. One answered, but they didn''t really introduce themselves.¡± Clover hummed thoughtfully. ¡°I guess that makes sense, but it''s surprising they didn''t give you any lower spells. They did teach you Radiant Bastian, but that was only after you directly asked for it.¡± I''d never paid much attention to paladins or how they got their powers, since I never planned on becoming one, but it looked like I was in for a crash course now. Leaning forward with my elbows on my knees, I asked, ¡°How do most paladins get their spells and abilities?¡± She jerked slightly, as if she''d momentarily forgotten I was there, before refocusing on me. ¡°Traditionally, paladins train within their spirit¡¯s order, and when they come of age, a ceremony is held where the spirit chooses whether or not to accept them. If they''re accepted, they become a paladin and study tomes that describe the spells and abilities they can learn.¡± She shook her head. ¡°But without knowing which spirit you''re tied to, you won''t be able to take that route.¡± I sighed. ¡°I guess nothing worthwhile is easy, right?¡± She shot me a loaded look. ¡°No, not usually. But it''s odd that your spirit is directly teaching you abilities only as you need them. You might want to try meditating and talking to them at length¨C¨Cat least to figure out who you''re serving.¡± It definitely couldn''t hurt, and if I could learn some powers that didn¡¯t break my arms or leave me drained, that would be perfect. She must¡¯ve seen the agreement in my expression, because she grabbed my pack and pulled out the wrapped rock snakes. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try that while I get dinner ready? With any luck, you''ll wake up with some reasonable spells or abilities.¡± Knowing better than to argue, I worked off my armor¨C¨Cignoring the whistle Clover let out from the sidelines¨C¨Cand laid down. Without the excess weight and hard edges, it was easier to relax. Sleep hovered just at the edge of my consciousness, but I shoved it away. Meditate now, sleep later. Focusing inward, I reached for the warmth from earlier. It responded, rising up until it wrapped around me like a blanket. When I could almost sense the spirit standing in front of me, I opened my eyes. And nearly jumped out of my skin at the pitch-black expanse that stretched around us. My Head Really IS Empty... Darkness stretched as far as I could see in every direction. The only light came from the spirit, blinding just like back in Dawncrest. I raised a hand to shield my eyes and waved with the other. ¡°...Hi?¡± The spirit didn''t move, but the air itself seemed to lighten, amusement brushing against my mind. After a moment, they spoke. ¡°Hello, my Chosen.¡± Was it just me, or did that sound almost¡­fond? The voice held a touch of warmth, tickling at the back of my mind, towards memories I''d nearly forgotten. I''d been high on adrenaline and focused on surviving the last two times we''d talked, but now, with a clear head, I took in the spirit again. They hadn''t changed at all since before, but that voice¡­ why was it so familiar? There was no hint of gender in their tone, the echoing quality drowning out any details. I''d never heard anyone with this voice¨CI would have remembered¨Cbut then, why did it feel so familiar? Setting that aside for now, I cleared my throat and gestured around us. ¡°I wanted to talk to you, but before we get into that, where exactly are we?¡± The spirit considered me for a long moment before gesturing toward the endless darkness. ¡°This is your mindscape. From now on, this is where we will meet.¡± I looked around at the sheer nothingness and snorted. ¡°Beatrice was right; it is empty inside my head.¡± Another wave of amusement passed over me before the spirit spoke. ¡°As it''s your mindscape, you can shape it into whatever you please.¡± If that was the case¡­ I imagined home¨C¨CDawncrest, untouched by dragon fire. Immediately, the darkness vanished, and colors burst to life around us. We stood on the main road cutting through town, houses lining either side. There were no people besides us, but even being here helped alleviate some of the homesickness. Focusing back on the spirit, I nodded. ¡°Thanks for telling me. This is a lot more comfortable.¡± They dipped their head but said nothing, probably waiting for me to get to why I''d called them here¡­ Swallowing past the nerves in my throat, I cut to the chase. ¡°Who exactly are you? Clover explained that most paladins learn their abilities from tomes passed down through spiritual orders. If you tell me where to go, I''ll find and read them.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The spirit observed me in silence, their gaze invisible but no less piercing. I held still, fighting the urge to squirm under it, until finally, they answered. ¡°That won''t be possible, as no such tomes exist. I have no order to pass them through, and few paladins have ever marched under my sigil.¡± Disappointment cut through me like a knife. ¡°So how am I supposed to learn the abilities and spells I''ll need on this quest? I can''t keep fumbling across them mid-battle. It''ll get me killed.¡± A fierce and almost feral emotion raked over my consciousness, building like a storm of fury so potent I could hardly breathe, only to evaporate in my next heartbeat. The spirit showed no reaction, their tone steady and certain. ¡°I would never allow such harm to come to you, my Chosen.¡± Okay, they wanted to keep me alive; that was good! The storm of emotions they''d just thrown down definitely backed up their words, but why did they care so much? I sucked in a breath to ask just that before thinking better of it. There were more important things to focus on, like my current predicament. As long as the spirit¡¯s protectiveness worked in my favor, I wouldn''t question it. Instead, I asked, ¡°I appreciate that, but is there truly no way I can learn other than trial by fire?¡± They stared me down, considering that for a beat, before finally nodding. ¡°I have no tomes or orders for you to learn from; thus, I will teach you. When you gain each new level, call out to me, and I will bestow a new skill or spell.¡± Relief washed away my earlier disappointment, and I bowed, despite the action feeling stiff and foreign. ¡°Thank you. I''ll do my best to be worthy of your power.¡± The spirit tipped their head sideways, and a flash of profound sadness sank into my chest. It was gone in a blink, leaving only echoes of the cold behind. ¡°There is no proving ground or gauntlet for you to run. I pacted with you because you are already worthy. With my aid, you will bring down Lazuris and his dragon.¡± I nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± A weight I hadn''t even noticed lifted at their words. At least I wouldn''t have to worry about losing their favor¡­ Putting that aside, I asked my next question. ¡°I''m only level three right now, but are there any spells you can teach me? Maybe one like Clover has that blesses my weapon?¡± They nodded. ¡°When you wake, check your spells. There will be a choice few, and as you become stronger, I will add more. Your companion is attempting to wake you. If there''s nothing else you''d like to discuss, I would advise you return before she worries.¡± Now that they mentioned it, I could faintly hear Clover, though the exact words were impossible to make out. Focusing back on the present, I shook my head and bowed again. ¡°I think that''s all for now, and thank you for this. I won''t let you down.¡± I was behind other paladins in spells and abilities, not to mention the actual knowledge of what I was doing, but I would work past that. They wouldn''t regret choosing me. The spirit nodded and waved, as I had earlier. ¡°Until we speak again, my Chosen.¡± I barely had a chance to wave back before Dawncrest and the spirit disappeared, the dungeon replacing them in a blink. Im Sorry, My Spirit Is A WHAT?! Clover hovered over me, her eyes dark with worry. Behind her, a fire crackled, bathing the room in orange light and stretching our shadows along the walls. She¡¯d laid out her bedroll and set both our packs aside, leaving the center circle around the fire clear. A burnt scent lingered in the air, likely from whatever she''d used to start the fire. More pressing was the deep furrow between her brows and the worry lines etched into her forehead. The fire cast an almost ethereal light around her, highlighting every dip and hollow of her features. I must have been out of it for a while for her to be that concerned. An ember of warmth ignited in my chest, and I smiled to reassure her. ¡°Sorry if I was out of it for long.¡± She waved off the apology and settled next to me, curiosity replacing her concern. ¡°It''s fine; you probably had a lot to discuss with your spirit. Which brings me to my next question: who are they?¡± She leaned forward, attentive and eager, almost squirming in place. It was endearing, though I''d never say so out loud. She was fierce, and the last thing I wanted was to offend her off by calling her ¡®cute¡¯. I might not wake up tomorrow if she took offense. I rubbed the back of my head and sighed. ¡°They didn''t tell me, but it wouldn''t matter if they had. They said they don''t have tomes or orders for me to learn from.¡± Instead of groaning or finding a way around it as I expected, Clover paled. The curiosity iced over, replaced by a dawning realization. ¡°Frederick, describe this spirit in as much detail as possible.¡± Her tone was deadly serious, each word enunciated clearly as if it were vital I understood. A chill ran down my spine at the shift. This wasn''t like her. Since we''d met, she had been light hearted, teasing, even flirtatious. What could she suspect that would put her so on edge? Ignoring the unease welling in my chest, I answered. ¡°They''ve always appeared as a being made entirely of light. I can''t see any defining features through it. Their voice is basically the same.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. She stared for a long second, the silence raking against my nerves like a dagger. After what felt like an eternity, she tipped her head back and laughed. It¡­wasn''t her usual one. This was sharper, almost hysterical. She laughed until her sides hurt, arms pressing against them, and tears trailed down her cheeks. The entire time, I waited for some kind of answer as to what was so funny. For the usually composed woman to fall into laughter like this¡­Something wasn''t right here. When she didn''t pull herself together after a second, I nudged her shoulder warily. ¡°Care to tell me what''s so funny?¡± She took a deep breath and steadied herself, flicking away the tears before shaking her head with sheer disbelief. ¡°You, a man who''s been tucked away from most of the world since birth, managed to not only contact but make a pact with one of the Old Ones. The primordial spirits that predate Nexus itself. The very ones who were there when the old gods died out and the world, no, probably the entire universe, was created.¡± She gestured around the room. ¡°Do you know when was the last time any of these spirits were heard from? A millennium. It''s been a whole fucking millennium! And you contacted one¨Cwithout meaning to, might I add!¨Cand made a pact with them. I''m well within my rights to laugh at the sheer impossibility of such a thing.¡± As if to prove her point, a shuddering laugh¨Ca ghost of the one she''d let out before¨Cescaped her, and she shook her head again, as if trying to make sense of it all. As she came to terms with it, so did I. Her words echoed in my mind. I''d¡­made a pact with a being older than the entire universe. The floor dropped out from under me as the thought sank in. I''d waved at one of the original spirits of Nexus, who had been missing for longer than most countries had existed. No wonder the spirit didn''t have any orders or tomes. They were older than Nexus itself. Tomes and such were probably new to them! For all I knew, I could be the first paladin they ever had! No¡­they''d mentioned ¡®few¡¯ marching under their sigil, but not none. I wasn''t the first, but it could very well have been centuries since anyone had been in my place. It was mind-boggling to think that a being who had remained relatively removed from mortals this long would suddenly take a paladin¨Cand me, at that! But they had chosen me. They answered my call for help when the hundreds of other spirits hadn¡¯t. Nexus was filled with entities beyond my understanding, hundreds of spirits and who knows what else. But this spirit, this ancient being who was there when the gods fell, had answered. Yes, they wanted me to take down King Lazuris in exchange for using their power, but the facts remained the same. They''d chosen a nobody town guard, and suddenly, Clover¡¯s hysterical laughter made perfect sense. Right about now, I wanted to join her in it. New Spells...And What Even IS That? Silence enveloped the dungeon as Clover and I absorbed the weight of the new information. Part of me wanted to dismiss it, to continue as if nothing had changed. After all, whoever the spirit was, they had been the only one to answer my call. If they hadn''t, my family and I would have died at the claws of the dragon. They needed me to take the throne and ¡®restore balance,¡¯ but they didn''t have to save us. That had to count for something, right? Nerves knotted in my stomach, and I ran a hand through my hair. ¡°I''m not sure what to do with this information. It''s important, I know it is, but trying to figure out why a spirit who''s been missing for so long would suddenly reappear to take a paladin¡­it''s giving me a headache.¡± Clover nodded, absentmindedly twisting her mace. ¡°You''re right, it''s important. My only guess is that the Mad King finally wreaked enough havoc to draw the attention of the Old Ones. The other spirits are powerful in their own rights, but nothing compares to the Primordials.¡± That made sense. ¡°It was only a matter of time before one of them got involved, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. Let''s just¡­tuck this away for now. There''s nothing we can do about it. You''re pacted to an Old One, that''s just a fact. We''ll move on and continue what we came here to do.¡± She offered a smile that was only partially forced. ¡°Let''s focus on your new spells and abilities instead.¡± Desperate for a change in topic, I nodded and grabbed the mirror from my pack. Staring at my dirty and tired reflection, I focused until the menu popped up. Quests Reputation Skills Spells Stats I slid down the list to Spells, and a much larger list appeared. Bolster. Level Two Spell Casts a shield over you or a target of your choosing. The barrier holds until the spell is released or a significant amount of damage is done. Mana Cost: 5 Chosen''s Blessing. Level Three SpellUnauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Cloaks a weapon or object in the power of your pacted spirit. Lasts until the spell is released. Mana Cost: 10 Radiant Bastian. Level Five Spell Surround yourself in an impenetrable shield that can take significant amounts of damage. The upgraded version of Bolster. The spell releases once you move after casting. Mana Cost: 70 Retribution, Level Ten Spell Strikes foe with a celestial-infused weapon attack, does massive damage, but when cast at lower levels, it harms the caster. Charges per day depend on wielder level When I read how much mana Radiant Bastian required, I nearly choked. ¡°No wonder I feel awful. I threw myself into mana exhaustion!¡± I''d never had any spells before, so it hadn''t crossed my mind as a possibility. Clover snorted. ¡°Yeah, try looking at your status. You''ll see why I decided to make camp for tonight.¡± A kernel of wariness dropped into my stomach. I hadn''t even looked at my status. What could it possibly say to warrant her reaction? One way to find out. I closed the Spells menu and backed out to my status. Frederick Level 3 Hit Points: 50/50 Mana: -20/50 Status: Heavily Exhausted, Mana Exhaustion, Fatigue Ouch. It was definitely better to rest until those went away. Having one type of Exhaustion guaranteed slower movements and reaction times, but two types? I''d be useless on a battlefield. On the bright side, unlike Hit Points, Mana recovered instantly overnight. I hated holding us up, but Clover needed to rest too. I focused back on her and nodded. ¡°I appreciate it. Hopefully, the Exhaustion will go away by tomorrow. We can''t afford for me to be out of it longer than that.¡± Right now, I felt like I could sleep for days without even trying. I''d been Exhausted in the past, but never to this degree. Before, it went away overnight. There was no guarantee this would be the same. To further back up my unease, Clover grimaced. ¡°I''ve dealt with Mana Exhaustion and from experience, I can say it takes a bit to recover. The lingering effects are why I''m so cautious about avoiding it.¡± Dread doubled down in my stomach. ¡°So I''m definitely going to put us behind?¡± It couldn''t be helped, I knew that. Neither of us noticed the last spider until it was too late. That didn''t mean I had to like the fallout. Clover patted my arm. ¡°Don''t beat yourself up over this, alright? We both underestimated the monsters, and if that thing had landed on me, I''d be in your shoes now. Besides,¡± she dug into her pack and offered a glowing purple potion, ¡°you won''t be slowing us down once you drink this.¡± I took it gingerly, turning the smooth and cool-to-the-touch vial slowly. ¡°What is it?¡± She took it long enough to uncork it, then handed it back. ¡°A Rejuvenation Potion. Drink it down, and by tomorrow, you''ll be fully recovered.¡± I hesitated, watching the swirling purple liquid. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Dawncrest didn''t have an Apothecary, so potions were rare and thus, expensive. She nodded and pressed it into my chest. ¡°With our new plan, I won''t be expending as much Mana, so I shouldn''t need it. It''s more important that you''re back to fighting fit.¡± Taking the hint, I downed it in one go. The taste was¡­honestly not as bad as I''d expected. There was a light mint to it and maybe some kind of berry, nothing like the bitterness I''d thought it would have. I handed back the vial, and she put it away with a nod. ¡°Alright, now we should be set for tomorrow. Which reminds me, let''s eat!¡± I''d been so distracted by the whole ¡®I made a pact with an Old One¡¯ that I''d completely forgotten she''d been cooking dinner. My stomach growled loudly enough to echo ominously along the dungeon walls, and Clover laughed. ¡°I''m glad you''re hungry, because I made plenty.¡± Then she pressed a charred Rock Snake on a stick into my hands, and dread replaced my hunger. This¡­was a complication. Note To Self: Never Let Clover Cook She was teasing me again, right? She had to be. The outer layer was entirely burnt, with occasional flecks falling off. If I didn''t know what monster it was before, I''d never be able to guess. If someone handed me this without explanation, I''d have assumed it was charcoal for art! ¡°Umm¡­¡± I hesitated, searching for a nice way to ask if she knew how to cook. She seemed used to traveling alone, so surely this was some kind of fluke, right? Or maybe a prank. She hadn''t shied away from teasing me so far, so perhaps she had the real food hidden? When I glanced at her, still trying to find the right words, her smile faltered, and she tipped her head. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Her tone wasn''t teasing or mischievous¡­which meant she was serious. Was she so used to overcooking things that this was what she thought food was supposed to look like?! I swallowed hard and forced a smile. ¡°It seems a bit¡­overcooked?¡± It came out more like a question than I intended, but she nodded, her smile returning. ¡°I used to heal dozens of people from food poisoning because they didn''t cook their meat long enough. That won''t be a problem here.¡± No, it definitely wouldn''t. She looked so proud of it though... I couldn''t tell her this was potentially just as inedible. Looking back at what used to be a Rock Snake, I braced myself. Maybe it was only burnt on the outside? Years of experience cooking¨Cand suffering through my siblings¡¯ attempts at it¨Ctold me that was definitely not the case. But Clover looked so¡­excited. Her eyes were warm with anticipation, her frame leaned forward, and it was so painfully similar to Daedra that a knife twisted through my chest. It didn''t matter how burnt the Rock Snake was, I was going to eat it. Crushing that excitement was not an option. Ignoring the sharp scent clogging my nose, I lifted the meat closer and bit into it. And immediately regretted it. It was burnt nearly all the way through, and the pungent taste of charcoal overrode the bland flavor I''d begun to grow accustomed to. I''d never complain about bland food again after this. It sat on my tongue, seeping in as if branding the awful flavor into my memory. Only her expectant gaze kept me from spitting it out like my body desperately wanted to.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Her eyes were wide, reminiscent of Daedra''s when I first started teaching her how to cook. It would hurt her feelings if I spat it out¡­ Better her feelings than your stomach, fool! My stomach churned uneasily, a warning of what would come if I swallowed my mouthful. After another look at Clover¡¯s face, I ignored the voice of reason and my stomach¡¯s protest. I''d survived worse than a failed attempt at cooking. I couldn''t remember what exactly was worse than this flavor, but there had to be something. I would swallow this bite and then politely offer to cook dinner from now on. With that in mind, I shoved aside every instinct to spit it out and swallowed the bite with difficulty. It was painfully dry and nearly got stuck in my throat, but once I finally managed to get it down, I breathed a sigh of relief. There, that wasn''t so bad. It was over, I hadn''t hurt Clover¡¯s feelings, and I didn''t have to taste it anymore. It was a win-win. My stomach twisted in disagreement, but Clover leaned in, her smile inching wider. ¡°So, how was it?¡± It was worth it for that smile alone, and I went to tell her it was fine¨Cthe lie on the tip of my tongue¨Cbut a lance of pain twisted into my stomach. Another, decidedly more ill, noise rumbled from my stomach, and I clutched it with a grimace. That wasn''t good. Sure enough, the feeling branched out, dousing my appetite. I carefully set the meat aside to focus on breathing. My stomach soured and rolled, threatening to regurgitate the one bite I''d eaten. Only force of will kept me from doing just that. Clover''s hand settled on my back, and her voice broke through the new waves of pain. ¡°I made sure it was safe to eat. How did it poison you?! Fuck, it even damaged your Hit Points!¡± Ah, so that''s why I felt so awful. She''d accidentally poisoned me. I''d laugh if it wouldn''t result in spraying vomit. Spirits above and below, even Daedra could cook better than this¡­ I''d heard passing adventurers mention taking damage from poisoned food before, but I never thought it was possible by accident! And it was an accident, no doubt about it. Clover¡¯s smile was long gone, replaced with pinched worry as she hovered over me. Just like earlier, genuine concern painted her features, and I tried to smile. If the grimace she offered back was any indication, I''d failed miserably. A wave of warmth spread outward from her hand as it rubbed along the length of my back. It was almost enough of a distraction to negate the nausea tearing through me. Almost. The sharp pain continued and she cursed again. ¡°Your Hit Points are still dropping.¡± Considering it felt like my stomach was turning inside out, that wasn''t surprising. After a minute, she muttered a healing spell and the pain ebbed. My stomach didn''t settle though; the sick twisting stubbornly refused to abate. That would probably linger until tomorrow, unfortunately. From the corner of my eye, Clover picked up the meat I''d discarded with her free hand and bit into it. I braced to comfort her and gently offer to teach her how to cook, only she didn''t react negatively. Her face didn''t twist in disgust or disappointment as I''d expected. Instead, she chewed thoughtfully before swallowing with a shrug. ¡°Doesn''t seem to be anything wrong with it.¡± She squinted, analyzing the meat. With her focus on it, I didn''t have to worry about her spotting the horrified look most likely decorating my features. She¡­was a monster. Traps And Glowing Mushrooms ¡°I still don''t understand why it made you sick. It¡¯s exactly how I always cook it, and it doesn''t bother me!¡± Clover said, packing up the last of our supplies. A confused pout pulled at the corners of her lips. She''d been grumbling about it all night, and I''d given up on explaining the problem. The next time we stopped for a meal, I''d cook. Maybe seeing non-burnt food would help her realize the issue. If nothing else, she might like the flavor more. Putting that aside, I shouldered my pack and nearly sighed in relief. Thanks to the potion she''d given me last night, I was energized and ready to go. I didn''t want to imagine trying this otherwise¡­ The stairwell loomed against the far wall, leading down into the next area. Thankfully, no monsters had joined us overnight, but now it was time to bring the fight to them. If the rest of the dungeon had spiders like the last one, it was going to be a miserable week for me. Why did it always have to be spiders? The thought vanished as Clover brushed past me, finally snapping out of the funk she''d been in since she poisoned me. ¡°Alright, our goal is to finish at least the second level today. If we make it past that, even better.¡± I nodded and went to follow, but as we reached the doorway, she shot out an arm to press against my chestplate. I stopped and raised a brow. ¡°Did we forget something?¡± She shook her head and pointed at our feet, where one stone looked just slightly different than the others. ¡°No, but we almost triggered a trap. We''ll have to be careful of those as we go.¡± She stepped over the hidden pressure plate. I copied her, eyeing it warily. I''d have to remember that on the way out. Unfortunately, we didn''t have anyone capable of disarming it with us. ¡°Thanks, I''d prefer not to see what happens if it gets triggered,¡± I muttered. She waved off the thanks. ¡°I have a high perception, so I''ll keep an eye out for them.¡± She glanced at my side before continuing. ¡°Why haven''t you used the spell to bless your sword yet?¡± I gripped the hilt instinctively. ¡°To be honest, I forgot I could do that now. I''ve always been a melee fighter, so spells aren''t¡­¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°...what you''re used to?¡± She finished with an amused smile. I nodded. ¡°I''ll work on that while we''re down here.¡± Focusing on the familiar warmth I associated with the spirit, I imagined it coating my weapon and spoke. ¡°Chosen''s Blessing.¡± A flash lit the stairwell, and once it died down, I unsheathed my now faintly glowing blade with a nod. ¡°Alright, now I''m ready when you are,¡± I said. Clover hummed and led the way, her mace glowing as she muttered her spell. Between the two of us, the torch almost wasn''t necessary. The hallway stretched before us, cobwebs and the occasional bone decorating its length. Soft blue light glowed from the opening ahead of us, and Clover slowed, her grip tightening on her mace. ¡°That''s probably some kind of monster, so be ready.¡± I loosened my shoulders and looked ahead, waiting for our first glimpse at what else this dungeon would throw our way. We crept through the opening and hesitated, taking it in. This room was much smaller than the previous one. Unlike the top layer, it had a door in the back right corner that would lead us to the next. I guess it was too much to hope that each level would have only one room. It would have made things easier, but dungeons tended to be the opposite of easy. Clover gestured toward the opposite corner and nudged my arm, bringing me back to the present. ¡°Looks like we''re dealing with Glowcaps.¡± I turned toward the source of the light and considered the monsters. They were giant brown mushrooms with vibrant green moss collecting on their heads. Smaller, glowing blue mushrooms grew from the moss, lighting up the entire chamber. There wasn''t anything in here other than them and the door, which meant I was safe to analyze them without worrying about an ambush. Glowcap Level 3 Hit Points: 15/15 Mana: 5/5 Status: Healthy The second was the same, and they hadn''t noticed us yet. Their glowing blue eyes were locked on a decomposing corpse leaned against the wall and¡­was that drool leaking from their mouths? My stomach rolled, and after a nod from Clover, I jumped in before they could feast. My sword drove through the first one with ease, but¡­it didn''t bleed or flinch. It stared at the tip of my blade, now poking out of its chest, with an almost curious air. The second turned to me, and I jumped back, eyeing them warily. ¡°Any advice, Clover?¡± I called over my shoulder, only to freeze as a blur of honey-gold hair lunged past me. Her mace collided with the one I''d stabbed. This time, instead of staring curiously, it recoiled with a warbled sound. The second one copied it, tensing and lowering its head to attack. I spun and brought the sword down its middle. This time, it cut easily, the monster falling into two pieces. No blood or organs spilled out. In their place was¡­more mushroom. Apparently these monsters were truly just giant, mutated fungus. Maybe I could even make soup from them¡­ I shook the thoughts aside and turned to check on Clover. I barely made it two steps before the Glowcap collapsed in two halves, and when its body touched the floor, everything around me exploded in a cloud of glowing, pulsing spores. Please Dont Run Into A Wall... Instinctively, I raised my arm to shield my face. The spores clung to every inch of exposed skin, a thick, noxious cloud rolling out with them. I held my breath and jumped back, eyeing the glowing particles now attached to my skin. Hopefully, they weren''t poisonous¡­ The cloud lingered, despite the light breeze from the doorway. I carefully maneuvered around it to assess the situation. Clover raised her mace high and brought it down on the center of the Glowcap¡¯s head. It fell, but before I could warn her about the spores, a second wave burst outward, engulfing her in an instant. I heard her muffled curse through the bluish fog. ¡°Are you alright?¡± I called out, squinting through the haze. She was only a few feet away, but I couldn''t see her. Thankfully, she stumbled out a moment later, coughing and covering her mouth with her hand. Glowing blue spores smeared her eyes, as if she''d rubbed her face with a contaminated hand. She walked forward blindly, irritation radiating from her as she futilely tried to clear her vision. ¡°I forgot those suckers did that. I''ll use a cleansing spell, and we can continue,¡± she said, raising a hand to cast the spell. But before she could, her foot caught on a loose rock, sending her tumbling forward¡­directly towards the wall. I lurched and caught her around the waist, her nose inches away from the stone. ¡°Careful!¡± She tensed for a moment before relaxing with a snort. ¡°There''s no need to be that worried. A little fall won''t kill me.¡± She patted my arm, but didn¡¯t step away. I left it, just in case. ¡°True, but colliding head-first with a wall and possibly landing on your mace might. If nothing else, it sounds painful.¡± I huffed. She reached out and touched the wall, laughing. ¡°Fair point. I thought I''d followed your voice well enough, but apparently not. Thanks for the save.¡± I shrugged despite her not being able to see it. ¡°It was nothing.¡± She slapped my chestplate with a huff. ¡°My unbruised face and pride would say otherwise. Take the gratitude graciously, would you?¡± Heat crept up my cheeks, and I sighed. ¡°You''re very welcome. Now please use that spell. I don''t trust you not to run into a wall otherwise.¡± She raised a brow and prodded my hand. ¡°Is that why you''re still holding me? And here I thought you were feeling amorous after this morning¡¯s cuddle session.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. My face burned hotter, and I groaned. ¡°I''m sorry, I told you I gravitate toward warmth.¡± I thought she''d been asleep, but apparently not. Though¡­ why hadn''t she woken me if she awake? A teasing grin spread across her lips. I cut her off before she could say anything further. ¡°Then again, you weren''t protesting, so maybe you were feeling particularly cuddly today. All you had to do was ask.¡± My words came out rushed, and when they sank in, I cursed myself. ¡°I mean¨C¨C¡± She snapped her fingers, clearing the spores in a heartbeat. Her skin was clean as she opened her eyes, amusement lighting them. She squeezed my hand with a wink. ¡°Don''t backtrack now. You''re finally starting to tease back. That''s practically cause for celebration! Fun though it is to mess with you is, it''s even more so if you do it back.¡± She let my hand go, and I let it fall to my side, the skin oddly cool now. Pushing aside the weird squirming in my chest, I gestured to her face. ¡°What was that anyway? The spores and the cloud?¡± She waved at the fog and grimaced. ¡°Glowcaps aren''t very strong, but their spores cause temporary blindness. They can throw them while alive, but the explosion when they die is much more likely to get people, as you saw.¡± She gave the cloud a wide berth, grumbling. ¡°That''s not the first time they''ve gotten me, but I always forget.¡± I almost teased her, but the light pink dusting her cheeks and the subtle slump of her shoulders made me reconsider. Instead, I pointed to the door. ¡°Shall we continue? We can probably avoid fighting Glowcaps entirely if we''re careful.¡± She nodded, her eyes already scanning for traps. ¡°That would be best. Cleanse spells aren''t overly taxing, but I need to save my mana.¡± After a minute, she carefully eased the door open and frowned. Her brows pinched with wariness. She didn''t say anything, lost in thought. I peered over her shoulder, curious about her expression. The room was empty except for another door on the left wall and monster corpses scattered across the ground. No enemies. ¡°That''s¡­odd. Do you think whatever was in here got beaten by the Glowcaps?¡± She shook her head, gesturing to an Adolescent Giant Spider''s body. ¡°No, there are no Glowcap spores, and they would have started feeding immediately. Besides, there are weird puncture holes in that spider''s abdomen¡­¡± She stepped into the room, a lead ball of unease settled in my gut. Something was wrong. Why were the monsters dead but untouched? I analyzed a Deep Rat sprawled amongst several others. Deep Rat Level 3 Hit Points: 0/15 Mana: 0/0 Status: Deceased, Multiple Puncture Wounds The sense of wrongness intensified. I nudged the rat bodies aside, searching for clues. At first, nothing seemed amiss¡­until I looked closer. Amidst the corpses was a hole. No¨C¨Cseveral holes. The shadows of the cobblestone floor hid them well, but now, in the light of my weapon, I could see them, barely the size of a coin. Comparing them to the wounds on the rats, sick understanding dawned. Adrenaline surged, and I jumped back toward the door, careful to only step where I had before. ¡°Clover, it''s a spike trap! Get out of there!¡± As the words left my lips, the distinct click of a trap being sprung echoed. Clover jerked back, but not quickly enough. Time seemed to slow as mechanical clicks sounded beneath the floor. The scrape of metal on stone followed, and when I saw the holes directly under Clover''s feet, my heart dropped. She couldn''t dodge in time; they covered most of the floor! Vivid images of razor-sharp spikes lurching out of the ground to impale her flashed through my mind. Before I could think, I was moving. Please, don''t let me be too late. Close Call Adrenaline surged through my veins, a desperate prayer still echoing in my mind as I fought to reach Clover. A soft click sounded, and my heart sank. I wasn''t going to make it! Just as the thought finished, the air shifted. An unfamiliar presence enveloped me, not comforting or safe like my own spirit, but not malevolent either. I pushed aside the odd sensation, focusing on Clover. Miraculously, the trap hadn''t sprung yet. I was almost there¡­ Reaching her, I grabbed the back of her cloak and pulled her against me, shielding her with my body. ¡°Bolster!¡± I shouted, and the spikes shot up, harmlessly scraping my now-shielded armor. I staggered back, Clover still clamped to my front. Adrenaline ebbed and flowed, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I navigated around the holes, dragging us toward the door we hadn''t yet gone through. We were almost across the room; we might as well continue forward. Out of the trap''s range, I released Clover and let out a shuddering sigh. ¡°I hate traps.¡± She nodded numbly, her face chalk white, knuckles tight around her mace. ¡°Trust me, I do too.¡± She blew out a shaky breath and patted my scratched chestplate with a laugh. ¡°Nice save. I didn''t think you had it in you to move like that, especially in armor. One second you were across the room, then boom, you were dragging me out of the trap.¡± Now that the danger had passed, I frowned. ¡°I don''t think it was just me. There was a¡­presence here, and I think it increased my speed or something.¡± There was no other explanation. It was impossible to cross the room that quickly, even for someone not in heavy armor. Clover eyed the floor warily and nodded. ¡°Apparently, the Old One wants us both alive. That''s comforting.¡± I leaned back against the wall, the last of the adrenaline draining, leaving me faintly exhausted. ¡°I don''t think it was them. This felt different. My spirit feels like safety; this one was¡­lighter. I''m sorry, this isn''t making sense.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. To my surprise, Clover''s eyes lit with understanding. ¡°No, it makes perfect sense. That¨C¨C¡± She stopped, her expression closing. A hint of pain flitted through the mask, and she swallowed. ¡°That was the Lady of Light, my spirit. Her main focus is healing, but she can also buff certain physical attributes.¡± I''d never given much thought to the spirit of Light before, but now I bowed my head in gratitude. Thank you, for helping me save her. The presence brushed against my back again before fading away. Clover stared at the floor between our feet, earlier pain still evident. She''d seemed happier when she thought it was my spirit helping us¡­ Setting a hand on her shoulder, I asked. ¡°What''s wrong? Isn''t it a good thing that we have two spirits watching out for us?¡± After a long silence, she finally nodded, though conflict continued to war across her features. ¡°It is, but I haven''t heard from the Lady of Light in almost a year. I assumed she''d cast me out.¡± In the short time I''d known Clover, I¡¯d never seen her so lost. It twisted something in my chest to see that look on her now. I squeezed her shoulder. ¡°Maybe it''s a misunderstanding. She clearly helped me save you, so she can''t be too mad. Why would she be anyway? You''re trying to save a town by hunting down a magical herb. That''s hardly a bad thing.¡± Her free arm curled around her waist, gripping tightly. ¡°I made a mistake nearly a year ago. A stupid, naive mistake, and it cost¡­so many lives. She has every right to never talk to me again. I just don''t understand why she answered you.¡± I lifted my hand to give her space, only to pause when she leaned in, keeping the contact. She didn''t react outwardly, her eyes still locked to the floor, so it was probably an instinctual action. I relaxed my hand again and offered my usual clumsy brand of comfort. ¡°Maybe she''s not as angry as you think. Sometimes my siblings do things they don''t mean to, but the consequences still make me mad. That doesn''t mean I wouldn''t step in to save them if the need arose.¡± She froze, turning the words over slowly before nodding, the pain giving way to the tiniest spark of hope. ¡°Yeah, maybe that''s it¡­¡± Straightening, she shook off the uncertainty, a light pink flush working over her cheeks as she laughed. ¡°I''m sorry you had to deal with that. You probably don''t care about a stranger¡¯s sob story.¡± She turned to continue through the door, but I caught her arm. Shame and embarrassment clung to her like the spore cloud from earlier. It felt wrong on her. Clover was many things, and confident was one of the biggest ones. She shouldn''t feel bad that this news rattled her. It would bother anyone in her place. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of here. I said gently. ¡°And if I can help it, I''ll make sure you see that. Comfort And Secrets She froze, eyes widening before she looked away. I followed her, not letting her hide. When she finally met my gaze, a mix of resignation and hope shone in her eyes, and I smiled. ¡°I mean it. This isn''t something to be embarrassed about. Sometimes we just need to talk out whatever is bothering us.¡± The tension eased from her shoulders. Encouraged, I pressed on, aiming to dispel last traces of embarrassment. ¡°Besides, you already know that I made a pact with an unknown spirit. That could have ended horribly for me. I also have a habit of adopting stray children and stepping in to help, even when it could potentially hurt me.¡± I shrugged. ¡°People would say those are all questionable choices on my part, but you haven''t judged me for them. Whatever happened in the past, you clearly regret it, so I''m not going to judge you either.¡± Her demeanor darkened, potent guilt shadowing her face. Seeing that, only a fool would think she''d willingly caused harm. She''d tell me when she was ready, but it wouldn''t change anything. She shook off the melancholy and stared, caught between surprise and tentative happiness. ¡°You''re not going to demand more information? I just told you people died because of me.¡± Technically, the dragon only attacked Dawncrest because I was there, so, if we''re using that logic, I would be to blame for all the deaths it caused. My stomach soured at the thought, but I shoved it away. Dwelling on it wouldn''t help anyone, and if I could show her that, all the better. Now, the hard part: convincing her. ¡°Clover, did you purposefully set out to kill people?¡± I asked, holding her gaze. She shook her head, grimacing. ¡°No, of course not, but¨C¨C¡± I cut her off. ¡°Nope, no buts! Sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes they have awful consequences. I set us back a day of progress because I underestimated the monsters and got ambushed by a Giant Spider. I didn''t mean to do that, though, so you forgave me despite the fact you drained your mana in that fight.¡± Not to mention, she gave me the restoration potion so we could continue on schedule. Those didn''t come cheap, and I cringed to think how much it cost her. I squeezed her shoulder and smiled. ¡°I don''t know what happened, but you clearly didn''t want anyone to get hurt. That''s all that matters to me.¡± Her wary look lingered for a moment before she sighed, her expression shifting to reluctant acceptance. ¡°Fine, fine. Have it your way.¡± Then she frowned and prodded one last time. ¡°Are you sure you''re fine with not knowing what happened?¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± If she did, I''d set up camp right here, damn our time limit. This looked like something that had been bothering her for a while, and if she wanted to get it off her chest, I''d listen. Time could be made up, but sometimes you only had one chance to listen. It didn''t surprise me when she shook her head and snorted. We were basically strangers. ¡°Not even a little. It''s just¡­people don''t react well to it.¡± Ah, that made sense. She thought I''d turn on her if I eventually found out. Well, that was easy enough to soothe. Stepping back to give her space, I offered a thumbs-up and a grin. ¡°I think we''ve covered that I''m not most people. Whatever it is, it won''t matter. That being said, don''t tell me until you want to, alright?¡± She stared for a minute before shaking her head and smiling. It was another small, genuine one, a perfect match for the one she''d given me back in the cave. Hopefully, I''d get to see it more often. She nudged my arm playfully, pulling me back to the present. ¡°Well, I''ll keep that in mind. Now come on, we still have the rest of this floor to get through.¡± I followed dutifully, only for her to turn and wink, that teasing grin back in full force. ¡°Oh, and try not to stare at my butt too much. I need you focused in case of an ambush, and while I¡¯d take it as a compliment, now isn''t exactly the time for such things.¡± I tripped, nearly colliding with the wall as heat burned up my cheeks. How did she casually say things like that?! Her laughter echoed off the tunnel leading to the next room, and I sighed, easily stepping back in line behind her. My gaze slid to her behind, and I allowed it after a beat of hesitation. She''d offered, so it was okay. Right? It wasn''t often I had the chance to openly appreciate a woman like this, and if she was alright with it, then there was no reason to abstain. Of course, she glanced over her shoulder right that second, and when she saw where I''d been looking, she grinned. ¡°Nice view back there?¡± Heat built in my cheeks and I sighed. ¡°You''re a menace, Clover.¡± The affection in my tone softened the words, and she turned back around to lead the way, even adding an exaggerated sway to her hips as she did. ¡°And you like it!¡± Yeah, I kind of did¡­ Her lighthearted teasing was a breath of fresh air after years of living in Dawncrest. There were no poorly hidden whispers behind a hand or backhand compliments with Clover. She said what she meant and didn''t hold back anything. She would get along like a house on fire with Beatrice. Maybe I''d see if she wanted to go home with me to meet the others. They were¡­a lot, but so was Clover. Realizing just what I was thinking, I slammed the thought down before it could grow. Clover was teasing me, like a friend would. Asking her to meet my family, purely for the sake of knowing them, was something saved for more than friends. She wasn''t serious when she flirted, we''d only known each other for a few days, so of course she was messing around! Even thinking of bringing her back to Dawncrest was out of the question and I wouldn''t allow myself to entertain the thought, lest I get attached to it. No, we were friends and I wasn''t about to mess that up. Not when I hadn''t felt this light in years. With her, I was just Frederick, and after years of being ¡®Big Brother¡¯, I was going to enjoy it as long as I could. It would be a nice reprieve before I had to continue on my quest. Getting To Know You--28 Once we reached the next room, Clover slowed and held out a hand to stop me. ¡°Looks like there are only Deep Rats, but there are five of them. Be careful; they can carry diseases, and while I can heal that, we''re trying not to use too much mana.¡± I nodded, gripping my sword tighter, ready for action. We carefully entered the room. The Deep Rats, oblivious to our presence, scurried around. Three huddled in a corner not far from us, while the other two were near the door to the next area. I gestured to the three in the corner, silently claiming them. Clover nodded, holding up three fingers before slowly dropping one¨C¨Cher countdown. I focused on the Deep Rats, waiting. When the last finger fell, we lunged into the fight. My armor clanked against the stone floor, and the rats turned towards me, eyes widening in surprise. I seized the moment their shock gave me, twisting slightly and swinging my sword in a wide horizontal arch. It struck two of the three, their squeaks echoing off the walls like nails on a chalkboard. The third dodged back as its companions slumped to the floor, lifeless. Its beady eyes fixed on me, filled with rage. It leaped at me, sharp teeth bared. I raised an arm just in time, my armor absorbing the impact as it latched on. Without giving it time to switch targets to something easier to chew¨C¨Clike my face¨C¨CI spun and slammed the rat against the ground with all my strength. It let go and staggered, allowing me to heft my sword overhead and cleave its head from its shoulders. With all my enemies handled, I turned toward Clover. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a smile curling her lips. The Deep Rats she''d been fighting were in a heap on the floor, and when I caught her eye, she winked. ¡°I could watch that all day.¡± Heat inched up my neck, and I rubbed it with a cough. ¡°Is that what you like¨C¨Cmonster guts and beheadings?¡± Considering the first attack had splattered blood across my armor, I probably looked like something out of a nightmare. Despite that, she tipped her head, smile widening. ¡°I could do without both of those, but there''s something to be said about watching a man cleave through his enemies with the grace you did.¡± She sauntered closer, tapping my chestplate with her nail, her smile turning impish. ¡°Competence and confidence are exceedingly attractive looks on you, Darling. Has no one from that town of yours told you that?¡± I relaxed my sword arm and grimaced. ¡°No, they haven''t. But to be fair, the women in Dawncrest aren''t¡­my type.¡± She raised an eyebrow and waved me on. ¡°Well, don''t leave a lady waiting. What exactly is ¡®your type¡¯?¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Some of the teasing left her voice, replaced by genuine curiosity. I knelt next to the Deep Rats, prepping them to be skinned for a distraction as I spoke. ¡°It''s not that I have a type I like, so much as I have one I don''t. Dawncrest is small with very few men, none my age, at least. I''ve had offers for courtships before, but¡­¡± Old anger flared as I bled the Deep Rats, turning them upside down to speed up the process. I avoided Clover¡¯s gaze as I continued. ¡°I told you, I adopt people. It''s a habit I picked up young and I have no desire to break it. As of now, I have five siblings, and the women in Dawncrest weren''t interested in ¡®prestarted¡¯ families.¡± I shrugged, as if their flippant disregard for my siblings didn¡¯t still burn me up inside. ¡°They wanted me to leave the kids behind to start a family with them instead. I not-so-politely told them I wasn''t interested.¡± Clover hissed under her breath, the smile gone, replaced by a scowl. ¡°As you should have! The gall they had, to ask you to leave children behind, and for what? So they could start their own family with you?¡± Steam all but poured out of her ears. ¡°That''s disgusting behavior, and you damn well deserve better than that. So do your siblings.¡± Some of my anger ebbed as I took in the indignation on her face. I''d felt that same anger more times than I could count over the years, but this was the first time someone shared it with me. A tiny flutter twisted through my stomach before I shoved it aside. Friends, Frederick. Don''t forget yourself now. Looking over my shoulder at Clover, I nodded. ¡°That''s how I viewed it. Poor Daedra though. When a woman tried that garbage most recently, she started sobbing on the spot, thinking I was going to leave them. She''s my youngest sister and the most recent adoption. She has issues with abandonment and that did not help. It took me hours to convince her that I wasn''t going anywhere.¡± Hours of soft reassurances, rocking in a corner of our modest house while all the others watched in concern. It''d taken several pinky promises before Daedra had stopped, falling asleep on me. She''d been clingier after that and I couldn''t bring myself to mind. The vultures in town tended to leave me alone when I had a young one on my hip. Clover¡¯s expression softened in sympathy, and her grip on the mace tightened. ¡°Poor dear. I''m glad you''re the one who found her, though. I''ve met many who would have accepted the women¡¯s offers. Disgusting as that is.¡± I grimaced. ¡°I can''t imagine it, but maybe that''s a good thing. Those idiots you met better hope I never see them doing such a thing. I¡­make no promises for their continued survival.¡± Approval warmed Clover''s eyes. She nodded. ¡°I definitely won''t be holding you back. If anyone asks, you were with me across town when the brutal murder took place.¡± A laugh bubbled out of my chest. ¡°Shouldn''t you be trying to convince me not to murder people, as a cleric?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Common misconception about clerics. We aren''t here to play babysitter or nanny. We make a pact, like you paladins, to get power. Ours is just¡­magic-focused instead of physical abilities. And if my patron spirit has a problem with you offing the scum of Nexus? Well, I need a new patron then, because that isn''t one I''d willingly serve.¡± She popped one hip out pointedly, an almost feral grin tugging at her lips as she raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you''ve got an alibi, should the need arise. Sounds good?¡± I hummed and looked away, not wanting the warm, fuzzy feeling working through my chest to show on my face¡­Or for the far more indecent stirrings southward to make themselves known. Forcing the surprising flash of arousal down, I nodded. ¡°Sounds perfect. Also, the Deep Rats should be ready for skinning now.¡± Why Is It Always Spiders?--29 Thankfully, she didn''t notice my subject change. Instead, she eyed the Deep Rat corpses warily, her earlier smile fading into a concerned frown. ¡°We still have food. I sincerely wouldn''t advise using that meat unless it''s a last resort.¡± I nodded, continuing to skin them. ¡°I have no intention of using the meat. The pelts, however, are another story.¡± Once I finished with the last one, I admired the onyx fur. It shone under the light from our weapons, and when I ran my fingers through it, a surprising softness greeted me. Apparently, the rats kept themselves well-groomed. Facing Clover, I held up the pelt. ¡°Do you think I could make this into a teddy bear or something? The fur is really soft, and I think Daedra would like it.¡± She had few toys and, as much as I''d like to spoil her, it just wasn''t feasible to buy more. Some months, we barely had enough coin to scrape by. Six mouths were a lot to feed, even with Collin and Beatrice doing odd jobs around Dawncrest to help pay for things. Toys and the like were rare and I''d been meaning to make Daedra a stuffed animal for a good while now. There''d be no softer material than this. I''d have to find some kind of stuffing though. Feathers were preferred, but if we couldn''t find a bird monster, they''d be too expensive to use. Straw was common, but the scratchy stuff always gave Daedra a rash. Knowing her, she''d cuddle it anyway. Maybe the pelt would be thick enough that it wouldn''t be an issue? I tugged at the pelt, testing its strength. Not bad. It had potential, if nothing else. Clover tipped her head and considered it as well. Bringing a hand up, she traced the pelt for a minute before nodding. ¡°You''ll need to wash it extremely well beforehand, but it should work. I''ll cast Cleanse on it too, just to make sure any pests are gone before you give it to her.¡± I beamed and tucked the pelts into my pack. ¡°That''d be much appreciated. Would you like something made from them too?¡± We''d probably be facing quite a few more rats by the time we were finished here, so there''d be plenty of hide to go around. She raised an eyebrow and laughed again. ¡°Are you offering to make me a stuffed animal?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Or a fur trim for your cloak. Whichever you''d prefer.¡± She fingered the edge of her cloak thoughtfully before nodding. ¡°That would be nice, but let''s focus on finishing out this level for now. It''s hard to tell time here, so we need to keep moving.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. I pulled my pack into place and nodded. ¡°Of course, lead the way.¡± Instead of leading, she tapped her chin and smiled with that impish grin I was coming to expect from her. ¡°Maybe I should have you lead this time. After all, you¡¯ve been staring at my behind the entire time we''ve been in here. I should get a turn, shouldn''t I?¡± Her directness was going to take some getting used to, though I''d be lying if I said it wasn''t endearing. Lightness swept through me, and the urge to tease her back jittered under my skin. She''d been flirting this entire time so there was no harm in doing it back, right? I''d never tried before, but if there was ever a time to learn, now was it. With my decision made, heat crawled up my neck, and I cleared my throat. Alright, Frederick. Don''t mess this up. I stepped in front of her, a smile curving my lips. ¡°You won''t get much of a show thanks to my armor, but far be it from me to rob you of the view. Especially since you''ve offered quite the nice one so far.¡± Delight flushed over her cheeks, and she beamed. ¡°Compliments and a show? You do know how to spoil a lady. Lead the way, my dear Paladin. And feel free to continue with the praise, I certainly won''t complain.¡± The flutters took off into a frenzy in my chest, and I dipped my head to hide the¨Cmost likely goofy¨Cgrin stretched across my cheeks. ¡°Of course, my lady.¡± The term slipped out by accident, and she missed a step, catching herself before she could tumble. Her flush darkened, and she grinned, unfazed. ¡°You''re going to be downright lethal with flirting, once you get the hang of it, aren''t you?¡± Focusing forward, I shrugged. ¡°Maybe. Only time will tell.¡± As we approached the door, something felt off. The jovial mood disappeared in a snap and I held up a hand for silence. Clover nodded, turning serious as I listened. I could have sworn I heard scratching or chattering noises. The silence stretched, but then the sound came again, clearer this time. Many legs skuttling along the stone floor. Spiders. My skin crawled, and I grimaced. ¡°There''s at least one spider in the next room. I can hear it shuffling around.¡± Clover eyed the door warily. ¡°If it''s an adult, we might have found the last room of this level. Giant Spiders usually travel in pairs.¡± I shuddered, disgusted. ¡°We''re about to walk into a nightmare of egg sacks, aren''t we?¡± Spirits above and below, I hated spiders! Clover patted my arm soothingly. ¡°Probably, but it''s okay, I''ll protect you.¡± I laughed and squeezed her hand. ¡°That''s much appreciated. I''ll appreciate a Cleansing spell even more after we''re done, though.¡± She hummed and nudged my arm playfully. ¡°Use your manners, Darling.¡± The nickname sent a shiver down my spine, and I swallowed hard. ¡°Will you please use a Cleansing spell on me once I''m done wading through spider guts?¡± The words came out in a low, rough tone, my unease clear, but Clover didn¡¯t tease like I expected her to. Her eyes softened with understanding and she patted my chest with a nod. ¡°Of course, anything for you, Darling.¡± Another shiver raced down my back as I faced forward, determined not to get sidetracked. Spiders, Frederick. Deal with the spiders. Taking a deep breath, I gripped my sword tighter and opened the door slowly, minimizing the noise. When I peeked inside, my soul ejected from my body. ¡°Clover,¡± I whispered, my mouth dry as I took in the room covered in egg sacks, ¡°I hate this place.¡± Sticky, White and Disgusting--30 White, sticky, disgusting egg sacs lined every surface¨C¨Cthe floor, the walls, even the ceiling. It was a metaphorical ocean of eggs. My stomach heaved at the sight, and my skin crawled. Thankfully, they hadn''t hatched yet, or we''d be swimming in eight-legged monsters. Some of the sacs twitched, suggesting they were close to hatching. I shuddered. ¡°Nope.¡± I shut the door and turned to Clover. My face must have been bone-white, matching the hand still clamped to my sword. I didn''t care. ¡°There are too many spiders. I''m not going in there. One wrong move, and those eggs will wake up. Then we''ll be dealing with the parent, wherever it is, and any spiderlings that hatch.¡± Clover grimaced, exasperation sharpening her tone. ¡°Frederick, we have to get through there. I know you hate spiders, but it can''t be that bad.¡± She hadn''t seen past me into the room. Wordlessly, I stepped aside and gestured to the door. ¡°Look in there, take a long look, and then tell me I''m overreacting.¡± Even without my hatred of spiders, walking in there as we were would guarantee our deaths. There was no safe corner to stand in, and once those things started waking up, we''d be surrounded. We''d already underestimated the monsters once, and I, for one, didn''t feel like getting pinned by their father. Their mother had been more than enough to give me nightmares. Clover brushed past me and opened the door, her lips pulled into a scowl. When she looked inside, the scowl faded into a blank stare. Silence stretched for a beat before she shut the door and faced me, her skin taking on an ill tint. ¡°Right. First of all, I''m sorry for doubting you. That¡­would be a long and painful death.¡± She eyed the door, her gaze narrowed as she considered our lack of options. ¡°But we can''t turn back now. The people need that herb, and I don''t know how long they''ll hold out.¡± I knew that, but how could we get through that mess? We couldn''t get the herb if we were dead. Her grip on the still-glowing mace caught my attention, and an idea sparked. ¡°What if you throw a lance in and slam the door?¡± I offered, my mind weaving the plan as I spoke. ¡°The area it affects is nearly the entirety of that room. If you throw the lance, it should kill most of them, right?¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. She nodded slowly, her gaze sliding to the closed door again. ¡°That might work, but it looked like some of the eggs were stacked in layers. It should get rid of most of them, but a few might still hatch and chase us. Illuminating Lance is exhausting, and I need time to recover between each throw.¡± She lowered her voice. ¡°There''s also a potential Adolescent Giant Spider waiting for us after that. I didn''t see it when I glanced around, but it could be sleeping under all the eggs.¡± Which meant she should save her mana in case she needed another lance. There had to be something we could do to kill the stragglers. Something that didn''t require mana¡­ I glanced back the way we came, looking for anything useful, and when I caught sight of the trapped room, I grinned. ¡°What if we lead the survivors into the spike trap? We know where the pressure plate is now. I can step on it while shielded and skewer them!¡± Clover followed my gaze to the trapped room and snorted, ¡°And here I was, telling myself I wouldn¡¯t set foot in there until we left. At least this time, it''ll work in our favor.¡± She shook her head, determination blooming. ¡°Alright, we''ll do that. I''ll throw the lance and leave the door open. The leftover spiders will be hot on our heels, so you should go ahead and get ready in the other room. I''ll join you in a second.¡± I raised an eyebrow and looked at the door pointedly. ¡°You really think I''m going to leave you here alone, with that many spiders chasing you? Not a chance. We¡¯ll both run once the lance hits, and when you''re safely out of range, I''ll trigger the spikes.¡± She''d be tired after the first lance, and I refused to risk her getting hurt or worse while I could prevent it. Those spiders would be dazed, but not for long. If something happened or one got too close to her, I''d be here to ensure she was safe. She opened her mouth to argue, but I glared and used my best my way or no way voice. ¡°No, I won''t hear any more about it. It''s this, or we leave to get something flammable to light the web on fire.¡± Unfortunately, flint and steel weren¡¯t enough, or I would''ve already suggested it. Her mouth clicked shut, and after another glance at the door, she blew out a breath and shook her head. ¡°Fine, but I''d like to remind you that I can handle myself. I''m only agreeing so we can stop wasting time arguing.¡± I nodded. ¡°That''s fine. I don''t care why you go along with it. And for the record, this isn''t me saying you can''t handle it. That''s a lot of spiders, and anyone could be overwhelmed in your place. We''re too squishy and mortal to be throwing ourselves into that mess, and I refuse to put you at risk when it''s not necessary.¡± I grimaced. ¡°Well, more at risk, since this entire plan is dicey.¡± The tense line of her shoulders eased, and the irritation left her face. Something warm took its place, and she sighed. ¡°I''ll be fine, but¡­ thank you for being concerned.¡± Then she shook herself and faced the door. ¡°Now get ready. The spell will dissipate when I break line of sight, so once it''s hit as many of them as possible, we''ll run.¡± I nodded, bracing for whatever waited ahead as she slowly opened the door. Again, a shudder of disgust slid down my spine, but I forced it aside to really look at the room. I couldn''t make out the Adult Giant Spider, so she was probably right about it sleeping under the eggs. Hopefully, it would be unable to follow us, but if it could¡­we''d deal with that when it became a problem. For now, we had a plan to see through and a few hundred egg sacs to destroy. Ohh, Somebodys In Trouble... --31 Gripping my sword tighter, I watched as Clover lifted her hand, magic thickening the air around us. Light stretched into a lance, and once the spell finished preparing, she yanked open the door and hurled it with a shout. ¡°Illuminating Lance!¡± The burning light spiraled into the room, tearing through everything in its path. Webs and sacs just outside its range caught fire, bathing the space in a yellow-orange glow. The lance collided with the far wall, leaving a nearly perfect cylinder where it had cleaved through the web. Fire quickly spread, consuming the remaining webs and sacs like a ravenous beast. I ran the second the lance dissipated, heeding Clover¡¯s warning. The monsters left alive would be Enraged, and I didn''t want to face their retaliation. I stopped in the trapped room, breath ragged from the sprint, and noticed the distinct lack of footsteps behind me. I spun, heart lurching. Clover hadn''t followed. Tearing back through the archway, I caught sight of her. She leaned against the door, unable to hold herself up. Even from across the room, her skin looked pale in the firelight, sweat shining on her forehead. Her mace pointed at the floor, her arms trembling as it almost slipped from her grasp. She couldn''t move if she tried. Anger tore through me like a rabid beast. Had she seriously thought she could run away in that condition?! I sprinted back to her, ignoring the fear-fueled wrath burning through my veins at her recklessness. Once we were safely away from the spider den, I''d give her a lecture that''d leave her ears ringing for days, but now wasn''t the time. I slid next to her, eyeing the room warily as the silence stretched. Nothing moved, not even the untouched sacs nestled underneath the first layer. Every hair on my body stood up as if electrocuted, and instinct screamed that we needed to move now. The eerie pause wouldn''t last long. The Adult Giant Spider had to be close by, and I didn''t want to be here when it announced itself. Then, as if in response to my thought, all hell broke loose. A pile of scorched and flaming sacs shuddered, the Adult Giant Spider throwing them off with an ear-splitting shriek. Its armor-like skin was unaffected by the flames, and long, hairy legs splayed to cover nearly the entire room.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. It spun around, taking in the carnage, before finally, before spotting us. Beady eyes burned with rage, and it shrieked again. The remaining sacs broke open, and my heart dropped as spiders poured out. A dozen had survived the lance. When they raced for us in unison¨C¨Ca wave of scrambling legs and red eyes¨C¨CI picked up Clover and ran. The scrape of their feet thundered behind me, but I didn''t look, focusing entirely on reaching the spike room. They were closer now, the gap between us shrinking. Just as one brushed my neck, I cleared the threshold of the spike room and raced for the pressure plate. The spiders poured through the doorway en masse. When the last one trickled in, all twelve of them surrounding us with clicking teeth, I pressed Clover behind me and slammed my foot onto the correct stone. ¡°Bolster!¡± I cast, throwing the spell over both of us as adrenaline surged. The click from earlier echoed in the room, and just as the first spider lunged, the spikes shot up, forming a sharp, metal wall. A wave of blood splattered the floor as shrieks rang out, echoing off the walls. The sound was piercing, driving nails into my ears, but I ignored it, watching the skewered bodies twitch. When they stopped moving, hanging limply from the spikes, I eased off the pressure plate. The spikes sank back into the ground, leaving a new layer of corpses. None of the spiders moved, and I shuddered, riding high on adrenaline and relief. Clover eased out from behind me, thankfully unscathed, and ran a trembling hand through her hair. ¡°Well, that could have ended badly,¡± she said, her tone flippant, as if her recklessness hadn¡¯t nearly gotten her killed. Her casualness sent a bolt of white-hot anger through me. She had almost died. If I''d stayed back like she wanted, I wouldn''t have made it in time. I hadn''t known her long, but the thought of those spiders tearing into her, for that honey-gold hair to turn red, made my stomach heave. And she didn''t seem concerned at all. The leftover adrenaline surged, demanding release. When it filled my lungs to the point I felt like I was drowning, I snapped. I spun and slammed a fist into the wall. Pain blossomed from my knuckles as the wall cracked under the force, but I barely noticed it. All my focus was on the reckless woman now staring at me with wide, surprised eyes. She shook off her surprise quickly, scowling and planting a hand on her hip. ¡°What the hell''s wrong with you?¡± I laughed, the sound rattling in my chest, harsh and jagged like shattered glass. ¡°What''s wrong with me? You could have died, Clover! If I''d stayed back here like you wanted, I wouldn''t have made it in time. I barely did as it was!¡± I itched to pace, to move, but we were still in the trapped room, and the last thing we needed was for me to accidentally trigger another pressure plate. The holes were covered by spider corpses now, and I refused to risk hurting one or both of us just to vent my frustration. Instead, I stormed past her, cutting around the edge of the room, back toward the way we''d come. The Adult Giant Spider hadn''t followed us, so we were probably safe to talk here. Even if we weren''t, I''d promised her a lecture, and by all the spirits of Nexus, she was going to get one she''d never forget. A Stern Talking To--32 Once we were safely out of the trapped room, I spun around, crossing my arms tightly, and fixed Clover with a stern glare. Her expression was a mix of confusion and uncertainty, a small frown tugging at her lips as she lingered a few paces away, as if gauging my mood. I wasn¡¯t about to give her a chance to speak. Not while anger still pulsed hotly under my skin. ¡°What part of ¡®we are mortal and squishy¡¯ did you ignore? If I''d stayed back with the pressure plate, you¡¯d be dead by now, and I can''t heal.¡± The images of the Giant Spiders¨C¨Cthose monstrous things capable of ripping grown adults apart¨Cflashed through my mind. Even young ones were deadly, and given how many had swarmed us, Clover wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance. My stomach churned as fresh waves of grotesque mental pictures surged through my mind, each more harrowing than the last. Any of those scenarios could have played out if I hadn''t been fast enough. Clover¡¯s wariness slowly eased, her eyes softening with understanding as she bit her lip. ¡°You''re¡­really rattled by that, aren''t you?¡± There was still a hint of lightness in her tone, but at least she wasn¡¯t as flippant as before. I threw my hands up in frustration. ¡°Why aren''t you rattled? You''re the one who almost died, but you don''t seem to care!¡± She''d been more shaken when the spike trap nearly killed her. Did being eaten alive by Giant Spiders not warrant the same level of fear? The latter sounded far worse to me¡­ Clover studied me for a moment, her gaze sharp, as if searching for something. Whatever it was, she seemed to find it because her demeanor softened, and the tension slipped from her shoulders. ¡°When I realized I couldn''t move, that the spell took more out of me than I''d planned, you were already there, carrying me to safety. You had the situation handled before I even had a chance to be worried.¡± I¡­didn''t know how to feel about that. It made sense, in a way. There''d been no time to register the threat before I removed her from it. But one part of her explanation caught my attention. ¡°Why would the spell take more mana than usual?¡± I asked, still tense. Clover grimaced, glancing toward the door. ¡°I wasn''t sure a normal lance would be enough to clear most of the spiders, so¡­I asked the Lady of Light to help me. She did, clearly, but I underestimated how much it would take out of me.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. She hesitated, her voice lowering. ¡°That was the first time she''s answered me since my mistake. I didn''t expect her to hear me.¡± A mix of relief, uncertainty, and confusion flickered across her features, tugging at something in my chest. The anger began to ebb away like sand between my fingers. She hadn''t overexerted herself on purpose, and the troubled look on her face suggested she needed comfort, not more reprimands. I reached out, gently squeezing her arm. ¡°Maybe the Lady of Light isn''t as angry as you thought.¡± Staring down at her mace, hope lit her eyes, and a tiny smile curled her lips. ¡°Yeah, you might be right.¡± The hard lines of stress and worry began to smooth out, and she lifted her gaze to mine. The softness lingered, warming her eyes as she lightly poked my arm. ¡°I didn''t think I''d ever see you shout and punch a wall, though. Looks like you do have a temper somewhere under that ¡®good guy¡¯ persona. And it came out of frothing worry over me.¡± She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and gave a theatrical, dreamy sigh. ¡°How romantic. I think I might swoon.¡± I snorted, shaking my head. ¡°Sorry about that. I was still fighting off the adrenaline and thought¡­well.¡± I let the sentence drop, but she picked it up with an amused tilt of her head. ¡°That I had recklessly put myself in danger to prove I could handle myself without needing help?¡± Yeah, that about summed it up. She laughed and patted my arm. ¡°You''ll find that I''m not stupid, Darling. If I¡¯d known how much it would take out of me, I would have asked you to carry me from the start. Much less risky that way and I¡¯ll never turn down the opportunity to be in your arms.¡± She winked, her typical impish grin back in force. The last of the tension drained from me, and I nodded, ignoring the heat burning through my cheeks at her flirtations. ¡°Good, because that scared decades off my life. If it''s all the same to you, I never want to repeat it.¡± My hands were still shaking, and Clover noticed, her smile faltering. She took one of them, squeezing it as she whispered a healing spell that soothed the remaining nerves and the lingering sting. ¡°There. We can''t go off and kill the Adult Giant Spider with your hand messed up, now can we?¡± Her smile returned, and something fluttered in my stomach before I squashed it. Not the time. I gently reclaimed my hand, a chill following the loss of her touch. ¡°Right, thanks for that. Let''s finish off the spider and make camp for the night.¡± A flash of the room filled with egg sacs cleaved through my mind, and I shuddered. ¡°Not in that room, though.¡± She snorted, patting my arm. ¡°Don''t worry, I''d never ask you to sleep in that mess with your fear of spiders. We''ll camp here, once we''re done.¡± Technically, I wasn''t afraid of spiders, I just¡­had a deep-rooted disgust toward them that I''d never been able to quell. If a spider got near me, it died. End of story. She started for the door before I could correct her, and I let it go. It wasn''t worth the trouble. She''d probably just tease me about being in denial and we had other things to focus on. Like the Adult Giant Spider that waited on the other side of the door. As much as I''d like to walk away, the herb was necessary for who knows how many peoples¡¯ survival. We had no choice but to press forward. Teasing And Realizations--33 * Setting my unease aside, I moved with Clover to the door and cautiously peered inside. A flash of movement from the corner of my eye was the only warning I had before the spider attacked. I barely managed to drag Clover back before a massive black, hairy limb thrust through the opening. It slammed into the floor, missing her by inches, and the stone beneath it cracked from the impact. Just how strong was that thing? Clover, uncaring of the danger, grinned. This wasn''t the genuine smile she''d flashed me earlier; it was sharp with bloodlust¡ªsomething I never expected to see on a cleric. She bounced her mace in her palm. ¡°Feisty fucker, aren''t you? Good, so am I.¡± Hefting her weapon high, she brought it down onto the spider¡¯s leg. A sickening crunch echoed off the walls, and the spider shrieked, reeling back from the blow. I took the opportunity to analyze it before the leg disappeared into the shadows. Adult Giant Spider Level 4 Hit Points: 35/40 Mana: 0/0 Status: Broken Leg, Enraged About what I expected. The spider towered over us, but Clover didn''t flinch. ¡°Your mate was smarter; she took my paladin hostage.¡± She grinned and raised her mace for another strike, but the spider jumped aside. Instead of retreating, as I anticipated, it lunged forward, its maw open wide, venom dripping in fat, glistening globs. Only then did I notice how Clover had edged past the doorway, likely when she broke its leg. It couldn''t fit through the door, but now there was enough room for it to bite. I shoved the thought aside and slid in front of her, swinging my sword in a wide arc. The blade cut through the spider¡¯s mouth, spraying blood and venom as it screamed. It stumbled back, hampered by the broken limb, and I pressed onward, aware of Clover following closely behind. I steadied my sword and thrust forward, driving the point deep into its body. The spider¡¯s natural armor slowed the strike, but once I broke through, the blade sank in. It tried to retreat, its legs scrambling for purchase, but Clover slammed her mace into its head. The spider jolted, stunned, and I seized the opening. Planting my feet, I pushed all my strength into the sword and began to cleave the spider in two.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Every inch was a battle, the creature¡¯s sturdy hide holding strong, but even that had its limits. Pouring more mana into my sword, I doubled down on Chosen''s Blessing until it glowed from within the spider¡¯s body. Not giving it a chance to recover or flee, I ripped my sword the rest of the way through its form. Its Hit Points flashed to zero, and with a final, piercing shriek, the spider slumped to the floor. I paused, scanning the web-covered walls. Were there more lurking in the shadows, or was the fight truly over? Clover relaxed, lowering her mace. ¡°That should be the last one. The shriek it let out earlier was a call to battle for all its offspring. The only things left are the egg sacs, and we can burn those tomorrow. For now, though, I vote we make camp in the other room. We can shut the door, so even if some hatch tonight, they can''t get to us.¡± I nodded and followed her back to where we''d come from. When the door shut behind us, I finally allowed myself to relax. We were safe, at least for now. ¡°Hand me your supplies and I''ll start on dinner,¡± Clover offered, reaching for my pack. Instinctively, I stepped back, memories of charcoal-flavored Rock Snake assaulting me. Maybe I wasn¡¯t quite safe yet. Carefully moving the supplies out of her reach, I shook my head and smiled, hoping it didn''t show any of the dread working through me. ¡°It''s alright, you made dinner last night, so now it''s my turn. You can set up your bedroll if you want.¡± She shrugged and did so. ¡°Have it your way.¡± The easy compliance shot relief through me, and I sighed. Crisis averted, for tonight at least. I''d have to come up with an excuse for why she couldn''t cook tomorrow, but that was an issue for Tomorrow-Frederick, not Today-Frederick. Today-Frederck had dinner to cook, after all. Before I could get started, a glob of spider guts slipped off my arm onto the floor with a wet smack. Clover paused in pulling out her bedroll and snorted. ¡°Let''s get you cleaned up before you handle anyone¡¯s food.¡± I nodded, relieved at the prospect of being free of spider gunk. I hadn''t had time to think about it before, but with the fighting over and the adrenaline fading, that numbness was wearing off. Sticky blood worked its way under my armor, and my stomach rolled when a wave of its stench slapped me across the face. I didn''t expect monster guts to smell pleasant, but rancid ogre farts were not what I had in mind. Clover wrinkled her nose, catching the same scent. ¡°I''d insist on this even if you weren''t cooking, for that smell alone.¡± She waved a hand, magic flowing out to slide against my skin and armor. The gunk and guts disappeared in a blink, the smell leaving with it, and I sighed. ¡°Thank you.¡± She repeated the spell on herself and shrugged. ¡°Of course, Darling. After all, you asked nicely. With that voice of yours, I dare say you could be dangerous with the word ¡®please¡¯.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°How could that be dangerous?¡± A wide smile stretched her lips, and when a flirtatious spark warmed her eyes, I knew I was in trouble. Sure enough, she sauntered closer and trailed a hand down my chest with a hum. ¡°I have a weakness for attractive, kind men who stand their ground. Then you add in your voice, which can drop into a downright sinful rumble whenever you wish?¡± She leaned in, breath brushing my cheek. ¡°You could get away with a lot with certain words, said in the right tone.¡± Her proximity and the lingering floral scent around her scattered logic to the wind. A knot wedged into my throat and I swallowed hard, hoping the molten heat stirring low in my gut would remain unnoticed. Clover''s eyes swam with promise and slowly, I realized something. ¡°You''re not just teasing anymore¡­¡± Flirting And Something More--34 She raised a brow. ¡°Darling, while I''ll admit some of our flirting has been for the sake of seeing you flush, it wasn''t all for that purpose.¡± I must have looked as dumbstruck as I felt, because she chuckled. ¡°Do you think I flirt this much with everyone I meet?¡± I shrugged, choosing my words carefully. ¡°We''ve only known each other a few days, and I haven''t seen you interact with anyone else.¡± She hummed thoughtfully. ¡°That''s fair, I suppose. I''ll let you in on a little secret, though.¡± Her fingers twined into my hair, brushing my throat and sending waves of tingling awareness through me. ¡°I only flirt with people I''m genuinely interested in. It helps avoid awkward misunderstandings.¡± Well, that changed things. My heart tripped over itself as I tried to breathe through the sudden rush of hormones. Clover was interested in me. It felt bizarre, incomprehensible, and before I could stop to think, I asked. ¡°What all does ¡®interested¡¯ encompass?¡± She flicked a long look over my frame. ¡°As much or as little as you''d like it to, Darling.¡± Hunger burned low in her gaze, but alongside that, something else glowed. Something I didn''t have a name for. It was an offer for something I hadn''t dared even consider in Dawncrest. I''d never believed she was serious; that''s why flirting had been easy. I didn''t have to worry about where it might lead or the ¡®after¡¯. Swallowing around the knot in my throat, I untied my tongue enough to speak. ¡°We''re basically strangers. Doesn''t that bother you?¡± She didn''t move away. Instead, she leaned closer and whispered in my ear, ¡°I''ve known people for years and felt less safe with them than I do you.¡± She eased back, leaving my front ice-cold. I sucked in a breath and watched as she returned to her bedroll, a knowing smile on her lips. ¡°You cut quite the figure out of that armor, as I saw in the cave, and even without that, you''re¡­different from most men. I''ve known no one who¡¯d go gallivanting off to find an herb for people they''ve never met. You also seem to have a habit of adopting children in need of homes, something I wholeheartedly support. You''re unlike anyone I''ve met in my travels, and I like it.¡± Settling on her bedroll, she finished with a smile. ¡°I''m not shy about my attraction. I never have been. To be blunt, my personality usually chases men off. They can''t handle a woman who knows what she wants and has the drive to go after it. You''re the first to respond in kind, without judgment or ill intent.¡± She shrugged. ¡°So, no. It doesn''t bother me that we met recently. I could spend tonight entwined with you without a single regret tomorrow.¡± Her smile faded into a frown, showing hesitance for the first time since she''d started this conversation. ¡°Is that not something you would be interested in?¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. I barked a laugh, and she jerked back as if I''d slapped her. When her face twisted with hurt, I waved my hands, desperate to explain before she jumped to her own conclusion. ¡°Sorry, sorry! I''m not laughing at the thought of sleeping with you. I promise.¡± She relaxed, but not by much. Her previous ease was gone, replaced with wary tension, and I mourned the loss. Right, time to fix that. Immediately. Rubbing the back of my head, I spoke slowly, picking each word with the utmost care. ¡°You''re gorgeous, funny and fiercely protective. The idea that I wouldn''t be interested in¡­more is hysterical.¡± The last of the hurt faded from her features, and a knot loosened in my gut. Catastrophe averted. Now, to get through the rest of this conversation without saying something stupid. She didn''t interrupt, so I continued. ¡°After dealing with the women of Dawncrest, I haven''t thought about intimacy like that. It seemed impossible, so there was no reason to dwell on what I couldn''t have. Now you''re here, offering that, and it''s a lot to take in. Make no mistake, I''m interested. I just need to wrap my head around this.¡± There was so much I didn''t know. We were in a dungeon, so clearly nothing would happen now, but what about later? Would it just be a one-and-done situation? The thought of having that with Clover, only to watch her share it with someone else later, tore through my stomach like acid. Was that even what she had in mind? What all was she offering? Some of my turmoil must have shown on my face because she reached over and took my hand. ¡°Let''s come back to this after we''re out of here and the people of Starkfell are healed. The offer isn¡¯t going to disappear if we don''t act on it now. The important information is out there now; we''re both open to more. The details will have to wait.¡± Relief washed over me, and I nodded, squeezing her hand. ¡°Right, we have a mission to do¡­¡± A thought occurred to me, and I frowned, meeting her gaze again. ¡°Does that mean we can''t flirt until we''re finished?¡¯ The back-and-forth with Clover was the most fun I''d had in years. I didn''t want to give that up. She laughed and shook her head. ¡°Oh, trust me, nothing will stop that. Especially now that I know you''re interested. If you thought I was bad before, you''ve got another thing coming.¡± She pulled her hand back and retrieved a book from her pack. ¡°But I should leave you to cook. I''ll be here if you need anything.¡± Just like that, the subject was dropped. It was surreal how calmly she sat and read, as if we hadn''t just been discussing sleeping together. Shaking that aside, I muttered an affirmative and started setting up the fire, moving on autopilot. It did no good to get caught up in my head right now. She was right; we were still on a quest, and the people of Starkfell needed us to focus. There was no guarantee we''d succeed or even survive this quest. To top it off, I was the bastard son of the Mad King himself. My stomach rolled uneasily and I snuck a glance toward Clover. She was fully engrossed in her book, eyes intent on the page. The firelight bathed her in an ethereal glow and I quickly looked away, before she felt my stare. There were dozens of ways telling her could go, and most of them were not positive. Dawncrest had nearly turned against me, and I''d been with them for as long as I could remember. Clover was nice, but would she still be if she found out the truth? I wanted to believe she¡¯d handle it well, but where would that leave me if she didn''t? She could reveal who I was to others, and I''d be met with distrust or even hatred. If we wanted to venture into more intimate things, not telling her wasn''t an option. A secret like that would eventually come out, and then she''d be hurt that I didn''t tell her. If I wanted to explore this new avenue, I would have to come clean¡­and pray she reacted well. Interesting Predicaments--35 Hard stone dug into my back, the cold ground leeching away all warmth and sending a pulse of pain through me. Each throb ricocheted through yesterday''s bruises, making every muscle pulse in time with my heartbeat. There was no hope of getting back to sleep now, but considering how fitfully I''d rested, it wouldn''t make much difference anyway. Awareness stirred southward, and I bit back a groan. Of course, after the dreams that had taunted me all night, I wouldn''t escape the physical effects. Thankfully, my under-armor, shirt, and pants made it less obvious. Not ready to open my eyes, I scrubbed a hand over my face and sighed. It had been years since I dealt with dreams like that, and now there was no privacy to handle it. It would fade once I started my morning routine, but even the idea of moving was repugnant. Warmth pressed to my side and chest, chasing off the cold seeping into my back. If I got up, I''d be at the mercy of the dungeon''s chilly air. Then, through the lingering haze of sleep, I felt it. The warmth was moving. A steady rise and fall that synced with soft breaths against my chest. Only years of experience being my siblings'' pillow stopped me from jolting upright as realization hit. Clover was wrapped snugly around me. The heat radiating from her hadn''t registered in my sleepy stupor, but now my attention swiveled to it. Her arm stretched across my chest, holding my right one hostage, with her cheek pressed to my shoulder. Stray strands of hair hung down, and one drifted to tickle her nose. It wrinkled cutely, and I bit back a smile. She was nothing short of a force of nature while awake, but no one would guess from seeing her like this. Relaxed, without any worry or strain¡­ After the stress of the last day, she''d earned some peace. With that in mind, I brushed the hair aside. She settled again, a little sigh of contentment leaving her lips as she cuddled closer. Warmth squeezed in my chest, and I abandoned all plans to get up anytime soon. We should get a move on, but a few more minutes couldn''t hurt, right? Unfortunately, the universe disagreed. Her nose wrinkled again, and before I could react, a sneeze ripped through her. The sound echoed off the walls, and one of her eyes opened. She took in our positions with sleepy contentment before snorting. ¡°Looks like it was my turn to play heat detector in my sleep,¡± she said, cuddling closer with a hum. ¡°You make a good portable furnace. Nice and toasty.¡± She patted my chest, still half-asleep, and settled back down. I would have done the same¡­if she wasn''t wiggling against my front. In an attempt to get more comfortable, she''d thrown her leg over mine. It brought her closer to the stiffness that had only just started to settle. Now, feeling the warm touch so unbearably close, it stirred again.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. I bit back a frustrated groan. Why couldn''t those dreams have waited until she wasn''t pressed against me? It''s like my own mind wanted me to die of mortification. Cursing the dreams again, I subtly shifted away, angling my lower half as far from her as possible. She, of course, followed me with a grumble. ¡°Quit moving. You''re letting the cold air in.¡± I stilled, and she resumed her position. Knowing there was no way out of this, I gave in and explained, at least partly. ¡°Much as I''m enjoying this, I need to get up.¡± My nerves stretched tight, and she huffed, turning her face upward to glare at me. ¡°You''ve gotten to cuddle me several times so far. Unless your bladder is about to explode, deal with it.¡± She pouted, and I bit back a laugh at the downright petulant expression. She couldn''t look more vexed if she tried. But she also probably wouldn''t take well to me laughing at her, so I swallowed the urge. Honesty was probably my best bet right now, lest she think I was a letcher when the real reason for my discomfort prodded her. ¡°If it were that, I wouldn''t think twice about falling asleep again. It''s a bit more¡­complicated.¡± She frowned, confusion knitting her brows. ¡°What are you¨C¡± Her leg shifted, grazing me, and she froze. I bit back a groan as a shiver ripped through me, and I gripped her leg to stop her from doing it again. ¡°That,¡± my voice came out ragged, ¡°would be why.¡± Her eyes flashed with understanding, and silence stretched. Neither of us broke it for several long minutes, and heat crawled up my neck the longer she stared at me. Just as I was going to apologize and make my escape, she shrugged and slumped back onto my chest. ¡°I don''t care. Now go back to sleep. It''s too early and cold to be awake yet. Besides, you look like death warmed over.¡± Considering how many times I''d woken up last night with graphic images all but dancing behind my lids, I believed her. Still, I couldn''t help but ask, ¡°You''re really alright with this?¡± She grunted, burrowing deeper into my throat. ¡°It''s a natural bodily function. If we weren''t in a dungeon, I would be tearing off your under-armor to solve it. I''m tempted as is, but the last thing we need is to get ambushed.¡± Her finger tapped over my heart. ¡°Do you have a problem with this?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Not really. I just¡­don''t want to be indecent.¡± A smile twitched at the corner of her lips, and she chuckled. ¡°Appreciated. Now hush. This is the most comfortable I''ve been all year, and I''m not ready to relinquish it yet.¡± I hummed in agreement, my hold on her leg loosening and sliding upward to rest on her waist. She still had my right arm trapped, but it could stay there for all I cared. Getting comfortable again, as much as I could on hard stone, I let my eyes slide shut. Exhaustion barreled back, dragging me into the abyss of sleep. Clover shuffled closer, her steady breaths brushing the crook of my throat. Contentment swelled outward in my chest, and I sank into it with relish. I could get used to this. Leaning my cheek against her head, I let her soothing warmth and the thrum of her heartbeat against mine lull me back into sleep''s embrace. Youre Staring, Frederick...--36 When I woke again, the problem from earlier had thankfully resolved itself, and Clover was packing up our makeshift camp. Ignoring the soreness in my spine, I stood and waved. ¡°Need any help?¡± She shook her head, tucking her unused bedroll into her pack. ¡°It''s mostly done now. Are you awake enough to keep going, or do you need a minute?¡± My stomach growled in response, and she raised a brow. ¡°Or would you like to make breakfast before we head out? I had some leftover Rock Snake, but given what happened last time you ate that¡­¡± I winced at the memory of sharp pain in my gut. ¡°I''ll cook my own.¡± Sitting by the fire, I dragged my pack closer and took out a few Rock Snakes to clean. Clover''s gaze followed my every move, and I snuck a glance at her. She watched intently, without the teasing I had expected given last night''s events. It was nice, though surprising. Even without our impromptu cuddle, I thought she''d distance herself after what she''d said yesterday. Her words echoed in my mind, and doubt rose like a wave, drowning the warmth from last night. There were so many obstacles and potential pitfalls. My heritage alone could cause massive upset, not to mention the quest ahead and the downright feral possessiveness I felt when I thought of her sleeping with someone else after me. I might not have much experience, but even a fool knew a reaction like that wasn''t suited for casual flings. I wanted her¨Call of her¨Cand if we started this, I wasn''t going to share. If that wasn''t what she had in mind, I''d have to refuse. For both our sakes. Disappointment twisted in my chest at the thought, despite it being the most logical option. Don''t get ahead of yourself, Frederick. She hasn''t even fully explained what she wants. For all I knew, all this worrying was for nothing. Until we talked it out, I couldn''t make any assumptions. ¡°Frederick, fire!¡± Clover''s shout jolted me back to the present. A stray ember from the fire had caught on my pants, smoke rising in a plume. Alarm snapped through me. I slapped my hand over it, smothering the ember just as it started glowing brighter. Pain licked over my palm, but I ignored it, sighing in relief when the ember died out. That had been close. I focused back on the Rock Snake, thankfully it wasn''t burnt in my daze. Clover caught my injured hand, examining it with a frown. ¡°At least it didn''t fully catch on your pants.¡± I gently took my hand back and shook my head. ¡°Serves me right for being distracted while cooking. I tell the others not to do that at least once a week.¡± Something flashed over her features before she sighed. ¡°You''re thinking about what I said yesterday, aren''t you?¡± I jerked, heat climbing up my neck. ¡°I-.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. What was I supposed to say to that? Thankfully, she didn''t make me come up with something. After a minute of silence, she continued. ¡°I understand how distracting it is, trust me, but we have to set that aside while we''re here.¡± Her eyes softened and she patted my arm. ¡°I need you in the present, not in your head, alright?¡± I nodded, pushing aside the sinking doubts. There would be time for those later. I couldn''t afford to be distracted with monsters like Giant Spiders around. Hopefully, we wouldn''t run into any more, but I couldn''t rule it out. I squeezed her hand on my arm. ¡°You''re right, I''ll try to stay focused. I''m just¡­ excited, I guess? Sorry if that sounds childish.¡± Excited was one way to put it. Filled to the brim with nerves was another, decidedly more accurate, option too. She took her hand back and laughed. ¡°I wouldn''t call it childish, since I''m feeling the same way.¡± I hesitated, caught off guard. ¡°You are?¡± She leaned back and hummed. ¡°Of course. If we weren''t in a dungeon, I already would have had my wicked way with you, with your express and enthusiastic consent, of course.¡± Her impish grin faded into a softer, curious look. ¡°Why is that surprising? You already know I''m interested in you.¡± I shrugged, avoiding her gaze as heat trailed up my neck. ¡°You seem more experienced with these things, so I figured it wasn''t a big deal to you.¡± She tipped her head. ¡°I have slept with other people, but it''s not like I''m out every week looking for my next conquest. Even if that were the case, I don''t think it would change anything. I want you, specifically, and that''s not going to just go away. If you weren''t interested, it would fade with time, but knowing you are just hikes the suspense higher until we can actually do something about it.¡± She grinned, sweeping a heated glance over me. ¡°Besides, by the sound of it, I''m going to be the only woman to have you like that. It''s a tantalizing thought. You''ll soon find that I''m quite possessive.¡± Well, she didn''t sound like this was going to be a one-and-done. See, you''re worrying over nothing. Quit overthinking, focus on the quest, and then talk to her, as planned. I let my shoulders relax a bit and asked, happy to leave the doubts behind for now. ¡°And it doesn''t bother you that I''m not going to know what I''m doing?¡± I understood the mechanics, of course, but I''d overheard conversations between women in Dawncrest. The amount of times they spoke of their husbands being unsatisfying were staggering. I''d be going in blind and, while the thought hadn''t occurred before, it did now, and my stomach twisted into knots. Before I could spiral, Clover cut in with a raised brow. ¡°Darling, there are men out there who''ve slept with dozens of women and can''t satisfy a single one of them. I''ve had the misfortune of meeting a few myself and, without a doubt, you won''t have that problem.¡± At least one of us was confident in that¡­ ¡°How do you know?¡± What could possibly tell her that? She snorted. ¡°Because you listen when I tell you to do something. If I tell you what I like, you''ll use that and make sure we both enjoy it.¡± That sank in slowly, and I shook my head. ¡°That''s not normal?¡± Under my breath, I added, ¡°No wonder the married women back home seemed miserable all the time.¡± Clover barked a laugh. ¡°So they have those kinds of partners? No wonder they were all panting after you. If any of them had a lick of sense, they would''ve jumped on their chance before you left.¡± She grinned and swept another heated glance over me. ¡°Not that I''m complaining. Their loss is my gain.¡± I fought the urge to squirm in place. Having someone stare so openly and with such visceral heat was new but not unwelcome. By the sound of things, I''d be experiencing it a lot more often from now on. I couldn''t bring myself to mind the thought. New Friend!--37 I ate, savoring the thankfully unburnt Rock Snake. Though still bland, it was a vast improvement over the charcoal Clover had tried to feed me. Halfway through my meal, Clover cleared her throat, peering over her book at the Rock Snake warily. ¡°Are you sure that''s cooked all the way through?¡± I nodded, holding up a piece as an example. ¡°Yes, as long as I keep turning it, It cooks evenly. Want to try?¡± She grimaced. ¡°Thanks, but no. I''m¡­particular about how my food is cooked. No offense, but I don''t trust that.¡± I shrugged and happily continued eating. ¡°That''s fine. I''ll cook yours extra to make sure you''re comfortable.¡± I''d agree to almost anything to avoid getting poisoned again. Time blurred as I finished the first Rock Snake and began cooking the second, keeping a close eye on the fire. When the second snake was done, I ate it while examining the room around us. Between the trap scare, Clover almost getting eaten by spiders, and the spirits-forsaken room with the Adult Giant Spider, I hadn''t had a chance to assess our surroundings. The room was plain, unlit torches lining the walls every few yards. We probably should have been lighting those as we finished each room, to prevent monsters from coming in from the surface¡­ Oh well, too late now. Glancing over the corner I''d left the Deep Rat entrails in, I did a double take. They were gone. They''d been tucked out of the way against the wall, but now, that spot was clear. We hadn''t left anything alive to eat them¡­had we? As if in response, something rustled in the shadows. Clover and I tensed, weapons in hand, but when I saw what had joined us, I sighed in relief. ¡°It''s fine, just a snail.¡± It watched us, eye stalks swaying lightly, and a trail of slime marked a path behind it. Clover set her mace down, eyeing the snail curiously. ¡°It''s nearly as tall as my knee¡­and what are those bulbs on its back?¡± I looked closer, squinting against the dark cloaking the snail. Plant-like bulbs dotted its shell, tugging at a distant memory. The snail moved leisurely, unbothered by our presence, and when it slid closer, firelight bathing the bulbs, realization dawned. Excitement followed on its heels and I stood, approaching slowly. ¡°Clover, we''ve been blessed to find one of the most useful creatures I''ve ever learned about.¡± She frowned. ¡°Why is it so useful? Their smell is so bad that no monsters want to deal with them.¡± Indeed, a distinct garlic scent wafted through the air. My stomach growled. ¡°It''s a Bulbsnail, and the smell comes from the cloves along its back. There are dozens of different variants around Nexus. The fact we found this one is nothing short of miraculous! I''ve been dying for some flavoring on my food since I left Dawncrest.¡± Shocked silence passed for a beat. Then her laugh echoed off the walls. ¡°Only you would make such a big deal about food seasoning.¡± Amused fondness colored her tone and I shrugged, carefully plucking a bulb from the snail''s shell.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Mock all you want; this will make dinner taste worlds better.¡± The snail watched lazily as I took half the garlic and stepped back, nodding. I wouldn''t risk taking more. If that''s what kept monsters from attacking it, I didn''t want to leave it defenseless, especially since it had done me a great favor. Once I had my haul, I patted its shell and returned to the fire. ¡°Do you think we can keep it, once we''re finished here? It ate the Deep Rat entrails, so feeding it would be easy.¡± Clover raised a brow. ¡°It''s a snail that eats meat¡­and you want to bring it along to use for cooking ingredients?¡± I nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡± She shook her head, chuckling. ¡°Sure, Darling. We can bring it along after we clear the dungeon.¡± Beaming, I focused on the fire with renewed optimism. This was going to taste so much better! The room settled into companionable silence, interrupted only by my appreciative hums. Garlic exploded across my tongue, transforming the flavor from palatable to delicious. If I could just find some pepper, it would be perfect. Maybe Starkfell would have a spice merchant¡­ With my meal done, I extinguished the fire, stowed the excess garlic, and offered the stick to the snail. ¡°Dunno if you like cooked food, but there''s still some leftover if you want it.¡± The snail considered the stick before sliding over it. Taking that as acceptance, I turned back to Clover, who watched in amused silence. I shrugged, donning my armor and pack. ¡°There''s no reason to waste food if it''ll eat the leftovers.¡± She just shook her head, smile not fading. Letting the subject drop, I faced the door. ¡°I''m ready when you are.¡± She stowed her book. ¡°Perfect. This will be floor three of five. Be prepared; the deeper we go, the harder the monsters will get.¡± We cast our weapon enhancement spells and breezed through the blessedly empty spider room. A few burnt egg sacs lined the walls and I turned to Clover. ¡°Did you torch those while I slept?¡± She nodded, pushing through the corpses toward the staircase. ¡°You''re not a fan of creepy crawlies, and I don''t mind them. Figured I''d spare you.¡± Relief and appreciation warmed me. ¡°Thanks. I''ll return the favor if there are any monsters you hate.¡± She shuddered. ¡°If we run into giant snakes or centipedes, I''ll take you up on that.¡± Under her breath, she added, ¡°No legs or entirely too many¨Ceither way, it makes my skin crawl to consider.¡± I noted that for later, pausing when I set foot on the third floor. The air felt heavier, almost suffocating. ¡°Clover, wait. Something¡­isn''t right here.¡± She went silent, expression hard as we took in the room. Four walls, two doors, and several long-dead spiders against the far wall. The metal door on the right was torn off its hinges, the frame dented with deep claw marks gouged into one side. A chill worked down my spine. The sheer amount of strength such a feat would take¡­ My grip on my sword tightened as I eyed the other door. The barricaded door. A stone wall stretched nearly over the entirety of the opening and it was covered in deep gouges and scorch marks. Clover examined it with a frown. ¡°It''s a spell. Whoever cast it trapped themselves in this room.¡± Dread tightened into a hard ball in my stomach. ¡°That''s basically suicide in a dungeon¡­ What could they have faced that made that preferable?¡± Before she could respond, a thunderous explosion sounded from the next room. I jolted, sword at the ready, and Clover spun to face the racket as well. ¡°Brace yourself; something tells me we''re about to find out.¡± If the scorch marks on the walls were any indication, we were in for one hell of a fight. Spirit, please watch over us through¡­ whatever we''re about to face. A hum of power slid over my skin, offering comfort and relief. It tempered the unease in my gut and I took a breath, readying myself for the coming fight. We weren''t alone. No matter what came around that corner, we would make it out alive. Even if I had to use Retribution again, this wouldn''t be the end. Just What I Always Wanted...--38 The thunderous bangs stopped just outside the destroyed door, and we waited, breath held. Time crawled, my nerves stretching tauter with every long minute of silence. Neither of us relaxed, our eyes locked on the door. Every hair on my neck stood on end, instinct screaming that whatever made that racket was far from friendly. Clover eyed the now-quiet doorway and began gathering magic in her palm, just in case. ¡°I don''t like this¡­¡± I couldn''t agree more. Just as the last word left her lips, chaos erupted. A hulking form slammed into the destroyed doorframe, struggling to fit its massive bulk through the narrow opening. Vibrant flashes of red shell flickered in the dim light. Dark red legs poked through the doorway, skittering for purchase before vanishing again. A stinger lashed through the opening, striking the floor and cracking it under the lethal tip. My stomach sank. ¡°It''s a scorpion,¡± I said. Clover grimaced. ¡°Fabulous. Be careful, Darling. Something about its shell makes my skin crawl. I''ve never seen such a vibrant, glowing pattern before.¡± Taking a second look, I noticed what she meant. Pulsing orange lines ran like veins across its red shell. A low hum of wariness pressed against the back of my mind, the familiar presence offering both comfort and dread. ¡°Whatever it is, my spirit doesn''t like it,¡± I muttered. Clover nodded. ¡°I''m right there with them. I know we planned on not using mana, but I really don''t like the look of that thing.¡± I didn''t argue. She condensed the magic floating around her hand into a lance. Once the blinding light sat snugly in her palm, she reeled back and let it fly. ¡°Illuminating Lance!¡± The shout echoed off the walls as the spiral of light tore through the room and slammed into the scorpion''s body. Only¡­it did nothing. The giant bug didn''t even flinch. A pit of dread formed in my gut, and I analyzed it, confirming my suspicion. Combustion Crystal Scorpion Level 5 Hit Points: 95/100 Mana: 0/0 Status: StarvingThis story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Resistances: Fire Magic It was resistant to magic?! Clover must have noticed the same thing because she cursed. ¡°What a waste of a spell.¡± I sucked in a breath to agree, or to come up with a different plan, but the scorpion had other ideas. The lance had widened the doorway, and the scorpion, seeing its opportunity, contorted its frame through. Standing to its full height, stinger swaying above its head like a snake ready to strike, I got my first good look at it. The pulsing veins connected to dark orange crystals scattered over its body. Whenever the veins pulsed, the crystals glowed like fire. Its beady eyes watched us, saliva drooling from its mouth to puddle on the floor. Thankfully, the stone didn''t sizzle or burn¨Cit probably wasn''t poison or acid. I''d take what we could get. The scorpion tensed, done waiting. I lunged between it and Clover just in time to stop its stinger from reaching her. It scraped harmlessly off my armor, leaving a brief trail of heat before the metal cooled. I raised my sword, waiting for its next strike. ¡°Careful, I have protection against this, but you don''t.¡± I said over my shoulder. Clover sighed. ¡°With its magic resistance I''m basically useless from a distance.¡± The scorpion lunged again, cutting off anything I would have said. I met it halfway, the collision sliding me back a foot. The stinger clanged off my armor, loud tings echoing as it tried to find a crack to slip through. It would succeed eventually. We needed a plan before then. I took the hits and considered the stinger. The veins spiraled into it, the tip glowing with the same power coursing through its frame. Thinking back to its name, realization hit with dread right on its tail. ¡°Clover, I''m going to test something. If I''m right¡­I might need you to heal me.¡± Her head whipped around. ¡°What in the hells are you thinking?!¡± The scorpion attacked again, its stinger striking dangerously close to one of my armor''s openings. I knocked it aside and spoke. ¡°I¡¯m going to cast Bolster and throw it into the wall. I have a bad feeling about those crystals, and this is the only way I can safely test it. But if it explodes like I think it might, the blast radius is unknown.¡± She ground out a curse. ¡°You''re going to throw yourself into an explosion? And you thought I was being reckless with the spiders!¡± She shook her head. ¡°No, we won''t be doing that. For all we know, Bolster doesn''t protect you from heat and the explosion will cook you in your armor.¡± A valid point, one I hadn''t considered. A chill slid down my spine. ¡°Alright, what''s our plan then? Because it''s smart enough to look for gaps in my armor, and I, for one, don''t like that.¡± Even now, it had backed off, its red eyes assessing me for weaknesses. Clover considered it before tugging her pack off. ¡°We can test it with this.¡± She pulled out a plain slingshot, no runes marking it as an enchanted item. Bending, she grabbed some loose stones. ¡°Use your Bolster on both of us. A boost to defense for you and a strength buff for me would be invaluable right now.¡± She loaded the slingshot, glaring pointedly. ¡°But do not try your plan. If you get injured by being stupid, I won''t heal you.¡± I nodded. ¡°Fair enough.¡± While the scorpion was still distracted, I pulled magic around us. ¡°Bolster.¡± The magic sank into my skin, fortifying my defense and strength. When the glow faded, I rolled my shoulders and braced. ¡°Ready.¡± Clover readied the slingshot. ¡°Good, because if this works, it''ll probably be pissed and heading right for us.¡± Just what I wanted to hear¡­ Ive Got A Plan!--39 My spirit¡¯s caution intensified, the heavy feeling nearly crushing down on my shoulders. When it didn¡¯t abate after our plan was set, I sent a prayer inward, hoping they heard it. There¡¯s no other option. Even if we tried to run, we¡¯d end up like the ones who barricaded themselves. This isn¡¯t optimal, but we¡¯ll make it work. Please, help where you can. The pressure eased slightly, the closest I''d get to the spirit¡¯s approval. I refocused as Clover let the first stone fly. It struck one of the largest crystals on the scorpion¡¯s leg, shattering it on impact. The scorpion shrieked, an explosion of fire rolling outward, scorching the walls and floor. I stood firm between it and Clover, braced for its next attack. Thankfully, the fire stayed within a five-foot radius of the scorpion. Clover, already loading another stone, hummed. ¡°The blast doesn¡¯t cover much ground, but it''s hot enough to scorch stone. I¡¯ll start taking out all the crystals.¡± She glanced at me, worried. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to destroy them when you¡¯re out of range, but be careful. It might be able to detonate them at will. And I don¡¯t like how its stinger is glowing either¡­¡± I hefted my sword. ¡°I noticed. Thank you for your concern, but I¡¯ll be fine. Just focus on destroying those crystals.¡± Her concern lingered before fading into determination. ¡°Right.¡± She aimed, waiting for the fire to die down enough to see the scorpion again. Smoke curled off the walls and floor, its armor glowing an angry orange as it tensed, ready to charge. Clover launched the second stone, and I watched it strike another crystal. It shattered, and this time, the scorpion wasn¡¯t content to stay still. Fire twined around his body, following the veins covering its shell. Power from the shattered crystal built around it, adding to the twining fire, and once it was too bright to look at, the scorpion lunged at me. ¡°Frederick!¡± Clover¡¯s call echoed through the dungeon, nearly inaudible over the roaring flames. I couldn¡¯t afford even a minute of distraction. Focusing on the charging scorpion, I jumped away from Clover and waited. Power built in the stinger, its tip pulsing with ribbons of fire. Not even my armor would hold against that. I needed it to hit something else¡­and get out of the blast range afterward.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The scorpion cleared the room in a single bound, towering over me. Crazed red eyes were feet away, boring into me. When its stinger struck, I spun on my heel, dodging at the last second. Heat scorched through my armor where its limb brushed me, but no pain followed. The sharp point dug deeply into the stone, its glow intensifying. I ran, aiming for Clover. She stood on the side, hand raised with magic built in her palm and her expression twisted with worry. The scorpion was smart enough to look for cracks in my armor; I couldn¡¯t risk leaving her undefended. I was halfway there when the explosion went off, the sheer power launching me forward. Blinding light bathed the room in a reddish-orange glow, but I paid it no mind. The pain ripping through my back took priority. Heat scalded through my armor, the heavy metal working against me as blisters formed wherever it touched. The burst knocked me to my knees yards away from Clover, but she quickly closed the distance. ¡°By the spirit¡¯s hairy ball sacs, no wonder the party barricaded themselves. This thing is a monster.¡± She kept one eye on the slowly dimming scorpion while she moved to help me up. Before she could touch my armor, I caught her wrist with a strained hiss. ¡°Careful, the metal is scalding.¡± She hovered her palm over it, flinching. ¡°Your back must be a mess. My healing won¡¯t be as effective through the armor, but it¡¯ll have to do until you can take it off for me.¡± Through the pain, a bubble of hysterical amusement surfaced. ¡°I thought we agreed not to do such things until we got the herb?¡± Clover snorted. ¡°Why does your humor only show itself when you¡¯re injured? Is this some kind of thing for you?¡± Magic seeped from her hand into my back, easing the fiery burning bit by bit. I rolled my shoulders, testing the tender skin, and nodded. ¡°Better to laugh than cry. I couldn¡¯t tell you how many times Samson set my hair on fire when he was first learning magic. If I¡¯d broken down, all five of them would have dropped into hysterics.¡± I glanced at the scorpion. The fire was nearly gone, which meant we didn¡¯t have long. Ignoring the lingering pain, I straightened. ¡°We need to deal with that stinger immediately. It absorbed the blast from the crystal and concentrated it into a single strike. That isn¡¯t survivable.¡± Clover considered the scorpion. ¡°I won¡¯t break another crystal until the stinger is handled; it¡¯s too risky. If you lure it over here, we might be able to break its tail off, but we need to be careful. I don¡¯t like being in close quarters with it.¡± The fire finally cleared from around the scorpion. When I saw the chunk of missing wall where the stinger had been embedded, an idea formed. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I have a plan.¡± Close Call--40 Clover raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is it better than trying to get yourself blown up to test the explosion radius?¡± Heat flushed my cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re never going to let me live that down, are you?¡± A cheery smile curled her lips. ¡°Nope!¡± I shook my head, refocusing on the scorpion that was almost fully recovered. ¡°Its stinger got stuck in the wall earlier. If we lure it into striking the stone hard enough to get wedged again, we can slice off its tail with minimal risk.¡± Clover smiled approvingly. ¡°See? Much better plan. I like it, let¡¯s do that.¡± I snorted and faced the scorpion, setting aside thoughts of Clover''s teasing. The beast lunged forward, its stinger glowing anew, though not as brightly as before. It didn¡¯t wait this time, its massive frame bearing down on me. The stinger tensed and sprung, aimed directly at me. I dodged sideways just as it struck, the heat slicing through my armor like butter. The tip embedded into the wall where my head had been, and the scorpion jerked, unable to move. Triumph surged through me. I raised my sword, Clover mirroring me from the corner of my gaze. Before the scorpion could react, we brought our weapons down. Its pained shriek echoed off the walls as its tail fell to the floor, green blood pouring out in waves. It staggered back, the veins along its body pulsing ominously with the crystals following suit. Alarm ripped through me. We didn¡¯t have enough time to get out of range! In a desperate attempt to save us, I kicked the scorpion with all my strength. It flew across the room, colliding with the wall. The explosion went off the second it hit, fire billowing out in a wide dome. Clover heaved a shaky sigh. ¡°That was too close.¡± I nodded, already moving towards the scorpion. ¡°It was, but it¡¯s not over yet. Once the fire dies down, it¡¯ll be temporarily stunned. I¡¯ll strike then¡­¡± I paused, considering for a moment before shooting her a smile. ¡°If it explodes after I kill it and I get injured, does that fall under your ¡®won¡¯t heal stupid¡¯ rule?¡± She barked a laugh and shook her head. ¡°Considering we have no damaging ranged options, you get a pass this time. One of us has to be close to deal the final blow, and I can heal you afterward.¡± She flourished a hand toward the scorpion as the last of the fire disappeared around it. ¡°After you, good sir.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. I didn¡¯t need to be told twice. Not giving the scorpion a chance to react, I plunged my sword into its head, cleaving through the shell until it was split all the way back to where the tail used to be. It writhed, more green blood coating the floor and my sword. I waited for the telling glow, but after a tense moment of silence, the scorpion slumped and the orange glow to its veins disappeared. When no explosion followed, I finally relaxed. ¡°Well, that was¡­bracing.¡± Turning back to Clover, I gave her a thumbs up and a smile. ¡°While my back would say that could have gone better, I¡¯m just glad we both made it out relatively unscathed.¡± She raised an incredulous eyebrow. ¡°Your back was probably a mess of burns and blisters before I healed it. Considering my healing isn¡¯t as effective through armor, it probably still is. And you call that unscathed?¡± I shrugged and immediately regretted it as pain shot through me. ¡°I said ¡®relatively¡¯ unscathed. Besides, some blisters are a cheap price to pay, all things considered. If it had hit me with that stinger, they would have looked like scrapes in comparison.¡± She tipped her head in agreement. ¡°True. Now that we¡¯re not fighting an entirely too fucking big scorpion that explodes though, I¡¯m free to heal you properly.¡± She pointed a finger at my chest and ordered, ¡°Strip.¡± Despite the lingering pain in my back, interest stirred southward. I smothered it with practiced ease and raised a brow. ¡°Demanding, aren¡¯t you?¡± I started undoing the clasps on my armor, letting the plate slide to the floor with a soft thump. Clover pressed a hand lightly to my back, careful of the tender skin as she muttered a healing spell. When the last of the pain faded, she nodded and responded to my previous tease, her usual grin in place. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen anything yet, Darling.¡± She patted my back and turned to the barricaded door, the light atmosphere evaporating in a heartbeat. ¡°We should check for survivors. I don¡¯t think that wall is new, but we can¡¯t risk leaving someone behind.¡± I nodded, eyeing the stone barricade with a frown. ¡°I agree, but how do we break this? It held up against the scorpion, so it won¡¯t be easy.¡± Glancing back to the now-dead scorpion, realization dawned and confusion followed. ¡°Wait, that thing was too big to get through the door. The scorch marks on the stone wall were definitely from one of those though¡­¡± Clover hummed, examining the wall. ¡°It could have been another scorpion, but if my guess is right, the big one ate it¡­and potentially anything else on this level. It was starving, remember?¡± I hadn¡¯t paid much attention to its status at the time, still reeling from its resistance to magic, but that made sense. Giving the scorpion one last look, I faced the wall and grimaced. ¡°I hope it ate all the others of its kind because I never want to deal with this again.¡± An exploding scorpion that could stockpile power into its stinger wasn¡¯t what I expected when leaving Dawncrest. If the spirits were at all kind, I wouldn¡¯t have to deal with one ever again. Grief And Loss --41 Clover stepped back from the wall and nodded. ¡°An Illuminating Lance should take this down without too much trouble. It¡¯s already weakened from the scorpion¡¯s attacks. Stand back.¡± I complied, watching from a safe distance as she gathered magic in her hand. Light particles swirled, coalescing into the familiar shape of a lance. Once it solidified in her palm, she hurled it at the wall. ¡°Illuminating Lance!¡± The lance struck, and the wall crumbled instantly. Clover nodded in satisfaction. I moved to her side, waving away the dust cloud her spell had stirred up. As the air cleared, I stepped into the room, only to freeze at the sight before us. The putrid stench of rot hit me like a physical blow, and I fought back a gag, covering my nose. Bodies were strewn across the small room, a long-dead fire in their midst. Clover grimaced as she joined me, also covering her nose. ¡°I suspected this, but we had to be sure,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°If we had more time, I¡¯d give them a proper burial. We can return after we get the herb.¡± I nodded, pushing deeper into the room, ignoring the sickening twist in my stomach. The bodies were in advanced stages of decomposition, their skin half gone. One body, in particular, caught my attention. Dented and worn armor covered most of it, but what stood out was the thick chain wrapping around it, anchoring it to the wall. I knelt next to it, frowning. ¡°Why were you chained?¡± I muttered to myself. A helmet obscured the corpse''s face, and I made no move to remove it. Considering the state of the others, it was probably a mess of maggots and I would puke if I saw that. Clover rummaged through the camp behind me. ¡°See if you can find any supplies that are still useful. They won¡¯t be needing them.¡± I acknowledged her with a hum but remained focused on the chained corpse. Something felt off¨Cominous. My finger trailed along the armor until it stopped at the chest plate. A symbol, half coated in grime. Tentacle-like tendrils branched out from under the dirt and, when I cleared it away, realization dawned. That was Dawncrest¡¯s sigil. My stomach turned to ice, then lead, dropping to slam into the stone floor as the pieces started falling into place. Ignoring my previous revulsion, I reached for the helmet. I needed to know. I could still be wrong. I had to be wrong. Dawncrest didn¡¯t have many knights, even less who traveled away from the town, but there were still a handful. This might not be Gregory. I held onto that desperate hope, fighting against the tiny whisper at the back of my mind that hissed that it was a false one. Through the fog clouding my thoughts, I vaguely heard Clover speaking, her tone concerned.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. I didn¡¯t respond, too focused on the armored figure. When I slid the helmet off, I met the hollow, rotted eyes of my longtime friend. Gregory''s usually clean blond hair was matted with grime. The sight tore at my chest. He would have hated that, knowing how much he despised dirt. It had been a constant teasing point between us. The air seemed thinner now, harder to breathe as I sank to my knees, waves of grief threatening to drown me. Clover¡¯s hand landed on my back, pulling me from the daze. I flinched and turned to her concerned gaze. ¡°Hey, are you alright? You¡¯re shaking and paler than¡­¡± She stopped herself, but I knew the comparison she refrained from making¨Cpaler than a corpse. The image of Gregory¡¯s decayed features hit me with the force of a war hammer. I shuddered. ¡°No, I¡¯m not alright. Not at all.¡± Her concern deepened as she glanced at Gregory''s corpse. When she saw Dawncrest¡¯s symbol, she hissed. ¡°You know him, don¡¯t you?¡± I nodded, swallowing back bile. ¡°We were friends since before I could remember. He and his sister¨C¡± Wait, where was Sara? I lurched upright, ignoring how Clover lurched back in surprise. I¡¯d apologize later. Right now, I needed to find Sara. She was Gregory¡¯s entire world. He would have wanted me to focus on her. I¡¯d want the same in his place. Shoving the grief aside, I scanned the bodies for any sign of her familiar blonde hair. Hope flickered to life when I didn''t find it, and I turned to Clover. She watched me warily, like I was a feral animal she couldn¡¯t trust. It twisted something in my stomach, but I shoved that aside. Sara could still be alive, that¡¯s what I needed to focus on. ¡°There¡¯s one missing¨Chis sister. Sara never went anywhere without Gregory. If she isn¡¯t here, then maybe she got away, maybe she survived!¡± Clover¡¯s wariness melted into pity. ¡°Frederick, they barricaded themselves in here. If she wasn¡¯t with them¡­¡± She didn¡¯t finish, but she didn¡¯t need to. Logically, I knew the odds of Sara being alive when Gregory wasn¡¯t were slim, but I couldn¡¯t listen to logic right now. This was my only hope, and I had to see it through. Turning away from Clover, I reexamined the bodies. Maybe Sara had waited outside the dungeon or gone to Starkfell. Her absence here at least meant she had a chance. ¡­But why was Gregory chained? A low dread built in my gut as a journal caught my eye. It lay next to the corpse of a woman, her robes marking her as a town cleric. I picked it up, hoping it held answers. Flipping it open, I found the first and only passage. We weren¡¯t prepared for what waited on the third floor. There was no warning. One second Sara was laughing with Gregory, and the next that thing appeared. I¡¯ve never seen a scorpion like it. It struck Sara before we could react, its stinger channeling an explosion. There was nothing to heal by the time we could do anything. Gregory though¡­ Spirits above, we shouldn¡¯t have dragged him in here. We should never have left her body out there with that thing. We¡¯ll die in here just as surely as we would out there. At least if we¡¯d stayed and fought, it would have been quick. Even now, Gregory is struggling to break his chains, to go back. He knows she¡¯s gone¨Cit¡¯s plain in the hollow grief in his eyes¨Cbut he doesn¡¯t care. He belongs with his sister. He¡¯s refusing to eat, claiming he has no appetite. I can¡¯t blame him. It doesn¡¯t matter. Soon, we¡¯ll all be joining her. Clover was right. Sara was gone. Injustice and Rage --42 The journal page blurred, and it wasn''t until a tear splattered down that I realized I was crying. My hands trembled so violently that I could barely read the words. When the crushing weight in my chest grew to the point I couldn¡¯t breathe, I whirled and threw the book with all my strength. Clover flinched as the journal slammed into the wall, pages scattering like fallen leaves. She turned back to me, eyes wide and wary. ¡°What the hell, Frederick?¡± She snarled, but then she paused, taking in my disheveled state. Slowly, she raised her hands, palms out. ¡°You need to calm down¡­¡± A broken laugh wrenched out of me. I shook my head, gesturing towards Gregory. ¡°That''s my oldest childhood friend. They chained him here because his sister died in the next room over. Sara, who I helped raise, died to that fucking scorpion, and they dragged him away. He refused to eat and I can¡¯t blame him. I would too in his position!¡± Unholy rage welled up inside me at the situation and the world as a whole. Gregory had been a good man, and Sara, a sweetheart. They hadn¡¯t deserved this. No one deserved this! To see your sibling die and then be forced to stay in the room next to her corpse was a punishment fit for the worst fiends in Nexus. Not Gregory. Never Gregory. The unfairness of it all, the injustice, burned like fire in my chest, turning everything to ash. The room dimmed around me as I let the fury blaze. What would I have done in his position? Images of Daedra or Beatrice impaled by the scorpion¡¯s tail, dead before I could react, flashed through my mind, and I shuddered. ¡°I would have destroyed every last person in my way to get to my sisters.¡± Friend or foe, it didn¡¯t matter. Nothing would have stopped me from going back for my family. Grief and rage merged into a twisted mess. This never should have happened, not to them. ¡°Frederick, stop! You¡¯re channeling your spirit¡¯s power!¡± Clover¡¯s shout dragged me back to the present. Light now radiated from my skin, painting the walls gold. This had never happened before, not even when I used Retribution, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to care.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The power, fed by my emotions, drowned the pain. I needed that. It wrapped me into a protective shield, away from the world and its unfairness, but just as I was about to sink fully into it, a shout pierced through my head. This time, it wasn''t Clover. ¡°Frederick, you must stop! The power you¡¯re harnessing now will kill you! You¡¯re not strong enough yet to survive holding this much of my power. It will break you!¡± The spirit¡¯s presence warmed the air, heavy with concern¨Cand fear. It helped anchor me. I shook my head, shutting my eyes against the overwhelming grief and rage. Nothing about this was fair or okay, but I had to pretend it was?! As if my friend wasn¡¯t dead a few paces away, and his sister hadn¡¯t met a grizzly end she didn¡¯t deserve. The spirit¡¯s voice came again, lower now. It¡¯s echo eased into a hum that slid into my soul, a blanket of comfort. ¡°Life isn¡¯t fair; that is a fact. Good people die or suffer horrific things. You can¡¯t save them all; no one can. But you can¡¯t allow this to stop you. Your goal hasn¡¯t changed. By killing the Mad King and his dragon, you will save thousands¨Cbut not if you die here. Breathe, my Chosen, and listen to your cleric.¡± My cleric? Like the first breath of air after nearly drowning, I heard her. Clover. ¡°Frederick, you need to listen to me. Whatever power you¡¯re harnessing, it¡¯s breaking the floor underneath you. I can see your Hit Points dropping from here. The one who killed that girl is dead. It doesn¡¯t fix anything, but you avenged her. Now you need to stop before it¡¯s too late.¡± Through the haze, I felt her arms encircle me, holding tight as if to keep all the broken pieces together. ¡°Your friend wouldn¡¯t have wanted you to die and I don¡¯t either. So you need to breathe.¡± The spirit¡¯s presence slipped away, and I opened my eyes, taking in Clover''s honey hair now tucked against my chest. The ground beneath us had partially shattered, just like she said, but despite that, she still chose to hug me. The armor must have been uncomfortable, but Clover didn¡¯t comment, nor did her grip loosen. She held on tight, and finally, the suffocating rage eased. She was right. Gregory would have smacked me for losing control like this. The thing that killed Sara was dead, either by our hand or the scorpion we¡¯d killed. I couldn¡¯t bring either of them back, but we had avenged their deaths. It didn¡¯t feel like enough, but it would have to be. The gold glow faded, and I curled around Clover, soaking in the comfort she offered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± I choked out, the words thick with grief. She slipped a hand into one of the gaps in my armor and rubbed my back. ¡°This isn¡¯t something to apologize for, Darling. Just¡­breathe for now. I¡¯ll be here to help you put the pieces back together afterward.¡± Every breath burned my lungs, cutting into them like glass, but I did as told. She was right¨CI wasn¡¯t alone. And right now, I could only be grateful for that fact. Soldiering On --43 We stayed like that for what felt like hours before I finally pulled back. My chest still burned, and tears stung my eyes like acid, but I pushed it all down, focusing on each breath. When I felt as steady as I could manage, I released Clover and looked away. Under other circumstances, I¡¯d feel embarrassed by my breakdown. But today was no ordinary day. Exhaustion clawed at me, a hollow ache sinking into my chest, and an unshakeable fatigue settled over me like a lead blanket. I didn''t have the spare energy to care that she''d seen me like that. I''d already abred my rage and nearly died to a Giant Spider¨Cwhat was a little grief between friends? Clover shifted, leaning sideways until she caught my line of sight. When I still wouldn''t meet her eyes, she sighed and tucked a finger under my chin. Knowing a losing battle when I saw one, I let her tilt my face towards her. Her gaze softened, worry shadowing her features, and whatever she saw in my eyes only deepened her concern. She took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. ¡°Frederick, this isn''t something to be ashamed of. Grief is ugly, and it hurts. I''d never judge you for a few tears. Spirits above, I''d do worse in your place.¡± Her eyes warmed, and a wry smile curled her lips. ¡°And if anyone gives you grief about it, send them to me. They''ll walk away with fewer limbs and a fresh appreciation for minding their own business.¡± A rough laugh slipped out, and I managed a nod. ¡°I''ll remember that.¡± I took a deep breath and straightened, shoving my emotions down to deal with later. We had a dungeon to clear and an herb to find. Grief would have to wait. Feeling somewhat steadier, I let go of her hand and glanced toward Gregory''s body. ¡°We need to keep moving. After we bring the herb to Starkfell, I''ll come back and lay him to rest properly. He doesn''t deserve to rot in this pit.¡± Clover nodded, giving my arm a light nudge. ¡°If you want, I''ll help you. It''ll be a big task, even for a ¡®big, tough paladin knight.¡¯¡± She winked, coaxing a faint, but genuine smile from me. ¡°I''d like that.¡± Then, forcing myself not to look back at the bodies, I led us out. Clover stayed by my side, a steady presence anchoring me through the turmoil. I made a mental note to thank her for the silent support later. As we passed the scorpion''s corpse, the sight felt different. Before, it had been just another monster to kill; now, with Sara''s fate in mind, it was something darker.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Hate soldered in my gut, flaring like coals I dared not feel. I turned away before the rage could consume me again. Clover stepped closer, drawing my focus as she gestured to the next room. ¡°Stay sharp. That scorpion probably ate all the other monsters on this level, but we shouldn''t drop our guard just yet.¡± I nodded, forcing myself back into the moment as we entered the next chamber. There were no threats, not even a stray Deep Rat. After scanning the area for traps, Clover moved forward, circling the room in silent assessment before finally nodding. ¡°All clear. I can see the staircase leading down, too¨C¡± She froze, eyes locked on something in the corner. I followed her gaze, and my stomach knotted. There, among scraps of fabric and a skull, lay a pendant glinting in the light from our weapons¨CDawncrest''s emblem. Sara''s pendant. In a daze, I walked over and picked it up, the small metal sun familiar in my hand. Gregory had given it to her when she''d first become a cleric. Grief struck fresh, venom seeping through my veins with every heartbeat. I forced myself to breathe through the sting. ¡°I''ll be right back,¡± I said, my voice hollow as I turned toward the way we''d come. Clover kept pace with me, one eyebrow raised. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, her words as laced with concern as her eyes. I looked straight ahead, ignoring the scorpion''s corpse, and made my way back to where Gregory lay. ¡°He died trying to get to her. There''s no body to bring him, so this is the next best thing.¡± She didn''t argue. Once we stood before him, I knelt and gently placed the pendant in his palm. ¡°Wherever you two are, I hope you''re together again.¡± They both deserved a peaceful rest. Leaving Sara''s pendant felt like such a small gesture, but until I could come back to bury them, it was all I could do. I let the silence linger before standing. ¡°I''m ready whenever you are,¡± I said, my voice rougher than I intended. Clover didn''t mention it, just followed me to the next floor. When we reached the staircase, one foot poised to descend, I hesitated, glancing back at her. ¡°I know we usually sleep on the level we cleared, but I¡­¡± I don''t want to sleep here. Images of Gregory chained and Sara¡¯s screams were already etched into my mind. They would haunt me no matter where we camped, but I needed distance from this place. Clover didn''t need me to explain. She nodded with an understanding spark behind her gaze. ¡°We can head back to the previous floor. Normally, I''d say we could push on, but we''ve both burned a lot of mana. Without knowing what''s waiting on floor four, it wouldn''t be wise to skip sleeping.¡± As long as we didn''t sleep here, I didn''t care. Relief swept through me, and I turned back the way we''d come. ¡°Thank you. I''ll cook. Could use something to do with my hands anyway.¡± At least for now, I wouldn''t have to worry about trying to sleep. That was a problem for Future Frederick. Rough Nights--44 Silence pressed down, oppressive and heavy, broken only by the fire¡¯s steady crackle and Clover¡¯s soft breaths. Fatigue clung to me like chains, my eyelids drooping against my will. Each time they closed and I began to drift to sleep, the images began. Gregory, chained and desperately struggling to reach Sara, while his party¨Chis friends¨Cforced him to stay in that hell. And Sara¡­ A fist squeezed around my lungs. Images of bright eyes and wide, gap-toothed smiles dug into my chest like a dagger. Beatrice would take it the worst when I got back to Dawncrest to deliver the news. She and Sara, closest in age, were always causing trouble for Gregory and I to dig them out of. I pressed my palms hard into my eyes, as if that would force the memories away. We had two more floors to clear and no idea what awaited us. The last thing Clover needed was me falling apart from grief. Yes, because going into battle sleep-deprived is so much better. I hated that scathing inner voice, but never more so than when it was right. But what solution was there? I¡¯d drifted to sleep a half dozen times, staring into the fire¡¯s dancing light, only to jolt awake, heart pounding and stomach rolling from the images that assaulted me. A headache built behind my eyes from the constant adrenaline, and the day¡¯s exertions were catching up in the form of sore muscles. I¡¯d be nothing but a liability in a fight if I couldn¡¯t rest. Hopelessness welled up and I stomped it down, fighting the frustration that followed. That would only make sleep harder, and I already had enough hurdles to cross. The monsters were getting harder, and the boss would doubtlessly be a brutal fight. Clover would need me, and I wasn¡¯t about to let her down. Even if it meant forcing myself out of nightmare-soaked dreams a dozen more times tonight. Leaning back against my pack, I shut my eyes and tried to sleep. Exhaustion came easily, darkness following as my senses dulled¡­ Only for imagined screams and Gregory¡¯s body to paint vivid pictures behind my eyelids seconds later. The noise echoed, reverberating through my skull like a sick bell. Snapping my eyes open, I fisted a hand in my hair and tugged hard, using the sharp pain to center myself in the present. This time, the screams didn¡¯t abate. Instead of fading, the picture of Gregory¡¯s corpse sharpened, drawing forward more details. I tugged at my hair again, raking fingers through it and pulling out strands.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I needed to get it together, I¨C. A hand, small and warm, gently caught mine. I jolted, swallowing down the urge to lurch away as Clover settled next to me, her face a mask of sympathy. She didn¡¯t say anything and her stare boring through me until I looked away. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be awake. I wouldn¡¯t be if I had a say in it,¡± I said, each word coming out rough and gravely thanks to how painfully tight my throat felt. From the corner of my eye, she shook her head and gently pulled my hand into her lap. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep knowing you¡¯re struggling. If I¡¯m going to lay there awake anyway, I might as well be up and keeping you company.¡± She wiggled her fingers and twined them with mine, her thumb drawing circles over the back of my hand. The touch was steady and sure, offering an anchor through the storm. I sank into it, reveling in the brief respite even as I tried to argue. ¡°I appreciate it, but we can¡¯t afford for both of us to be exhausted tomorrow. We both used a lot of energy today, and it won¡¯t be easier going forward.¡± She tipped her head, acknowledging that. ¡°That¡¯s true, but going deeper when you¡¯re not running at one hundred percent is asking for trouble anyway. I set out to have the herb within the week and we¡¯re still ahead of schedule for that. If it¡¯s necessary, we can rest another day.¡± Frustration tore through the previous peace and I took my hand back with a grimace. ¡°There¡¯s no guarantee I¡¯ll sleep then either. Anytime I close my eyes, all I can see is them.¡± A lump tightened at the back of my throat and I breathed through it. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to wait until I¡¯ve dealt with this.¡± Clover slid to sit in front of me, bending forward to force me to meet her gaze again. ¡°Grief isn¡¯t something you can force your way through, Darling. You¡¯ll destroy yourself trying.¡± This time when she took my hand, I let her keep it. The comfort it brought was like a balm to a fresh burn, and I didn¡¯t have the will power to push it away twice. Meeting her eyes, the clear blue orbs intent on me and dark with concern, I asked, ¡°Then how do I get to sleep?¡± If she had some kind of spell or potion, I would take it in a heartbeat. She considered me for a long moment before finally straightening. ¡°Well, a distraction isn¡¯t a bad idea. What do you usually do back in Dawncrest when you can¡¯t sleep?¡± Images of Daedra and Beatrice¡¯s pleading eyes hit, dragging a tired laugh from my lungs. ¡°I don¡¯t often have problems sleeping, but I have been woken up at late hours to braid the girls¡¯ hair when they couldn¡¯t sleep.¡± Her lips quirked, warmth flooding her expression. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t it surprise me that you know how to braid hair? Let me guess, you learned for them?¡± My good mood soured slightly, memories of hair the same moonlit white as my own forcing their way to the surface. ¡°No, I learned from my mother.¡± The words slipped out without my permission, and old pain rose, seeping through the cracks to burn through my veins anew. No matter how long that passed, how many years marched on, thinking of her still stung like needles shoved under my skin. Clover hesitated, uncertainty clear. ¡°Is she¡­¡± I scoffed and shook my head. ¡°Dead? Possibly, but who knows? Certainly not me.¡± No, I¡¯d seen neither hide nor hair of her since I was five winters old. When she¡¯d left our shabby little house, head held high and jaw firm, without sparing a single glance back despite my pleas for her to explain. Clover frowned. ¡°That¡¯s a sensitive topic, isn¡¯t it?¡± She had no idea¡­ This Isnt Proper...--45 I grimaced but nodded, eager to drop the subject. ¡°She left, and I¡¯d prefer to leave it at that.¡± Clover eyes flashed with protectiveness. ¡°Then she¡¯s a fool, and I¡¯m glad you don¡¯t take after her.¡± She nudged my side, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, you¡¯re a far better parent than she could ever hope to be. What¡¯s the youngest girl¡¯s name again? The one you¡¯re making the teddy bear for?¡± Grateful for the distraction, I let the past slip away. ¡°Daedra. If I don¡¯t sleep tonight, I might work on that.¡± It would beat staring at the fire and brooding over what I couldn¡¯t change. Clover smiled, shaking her head. ¡°Let¡¯s not give up on sleep just yet.¡± Her hand rose to run through her hair, but she grimaced at the tangles. ¡°Ugh, this happens everytime I go without a bath for several days. Blasted tangles are awful.¡± I didn¡¯t stop to think. ¡°I could braid it for you?¡± She paused, surprised. Heat crept up my neck at her stare. Coughing, I added, ¡°Only if you want me to, of course. I¡¯m just used to doing it for Daedra and Beatrice. They like the crown braid.¡± Before I could babble more, she smiled and nodded. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that, actually.¡± She turned, giving me easier access. Her hair hung in waves down her back, a mess of golden tangles. I hesitated only a second before starting to finger comb through the knots, working from the bottom up. Clover leaned into me, and I shifted to give her support. As I finished detangling, her head dipped from the corner of my eyes. I started the braid, humming softly. ¡°Are you falling asleep over there?¡± She jumped slightly, giving a small shake of her head. ¡°Of course not, Darling, and it¡¯s impolite to point it out even if I was.¡± I laughed under my breath, but let it slide. When I finished the braid, I nudged her gently. ¡°What do you think?¡± She yawned, covering it with her hand, and traced over my handiwork. A smile stretched her lips, and she nodded. ¡°Perfect, though I wish I had a mirror. I¡¯ve always liked this style but never managed to do it myself.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I fished out the mirror from my pack and handed it over. ¡°Here, the mayor gave me it to keep an eye on my progress.¡± She muttered her thanks and inspected the braid from different angles. After a moment, she handed it back and beamed. ¡°Just as good as I thought it would look. Thank you.¡± An idea sparked in her eyes, and she straightened. ¡°I might know how to help you sleep.¡± Curious, I raised a brow. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m all ears.¡± To my surprise, she moved my pack aside and slid behind me. Her palm stroked up my back until it rested in the hair at the nape of my neck, fingers digging into my scalp. Contentment washed over me, and I almost slumped against her. She chuckled softly. ¡°So you like having your hair played with. I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Words escaped me as she massaged with firm, but gentle pressure, the headache melting away. My eyes slid shut when she removed my hair tie and continued upward. Time blurred, and when talented fingers rubbed the last of the tension away, exhaustion nearly swallowed me whole. ¡°Careful, don¡¯t wanna crush you,¡± I muttered, barely conscious. She chuckled and eased back, never stopping her soothing motions. The soft sound of something being dragged across stone came from behind me and she hummed, tugging at my shirt. ¡°Thanks for the warning. Now lay back. I think we¡¯ll both sleep better this way.¡± She guided me back onto something soft. It took longer than it should have to realize it was her bedroll and I muttered a half-hearted protest through a yawn. ¡°This isn¡¯t proper.¡± Her laugh vibrated through me as she settled against my front. One arm was still tangled into my hair and the other slid to pillow her head. ¡°Frederick, I appreciate that you¡¯re trying to defend my long dead honor, but I¡¯ve imagined bedding you in enough detail that I would say that ship has sailed, crashed and sunk to the bottom of the ocean.¡± Through the exhaustion, I managed a sleepy hum. ¡°Good to know I¡¯m not the only one. Felt like a lecher after the dreams I had.¡± Heat flashed through my face as the words registered, growing outward until it brushed my ears and neck. Spirits above and below, why did I say that?! Through my almost closed eyelids, Clover''s eyebrow arched, a spark of interest in her gaze. ¡°Oh? Remind me to ask you about those dreams tomorrow. As for propriety¡­it can sit on a mace. I couldn''t care less what society deems normal. I like being in your arms, and if you¡¯re willing, I¡¯ll spend many more nights here. Now hush. We need sleep for tomorrow.¡± Embarrassment faded at her lighthearted response, and I hummed in agreement, muffling a yawn into the bedroll. ¡°As my lady says then.¡± The words were heavily slurred from sleep and Clover nestled closer, her head fitting into the gap of my shoulder and neck. ¡°And don¡¯t you forget it.¡± Sleep came easily, and this time, no images or screams followed. Just the steady breath against my throat and the rhythmic rise and fall of Clover pressed to my front. Any Ideas? No? Okay.--46 Clover¡¯s gaze followed me as I extinguished the fire and began packing up camp. She¡¯d been watching me since we woke up, her head nestled into my neck, my arms wrapped tight around her waist. Despite the grief trailing me like a shadow, a bubble of contentment pressed against my ribs. Everything was far from alright, but at least I wasn¡¯t alone. When Clover¡¯s stare lingered after I finished packing, my armor in place and sword strapped to my side, I faced her and offered a smile that was only partially forced. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about yesterday, and I appreciate it, but I got plenty of sleep, thanks to you. I''m not great, but in time, I''ll be fine.¡± The concern in her gaze lightened a bit as she took my hand, squeezing lightly. ¡°I¡¯m glad I could help. Let me know if you want to talk.¡± Talking was the last thing I wanted to do, but I nodded, not wanting to spurn her genuine offer. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± She let go and picked up her pack, winking playfully over her shoulder to lighten the mood. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but that was the best night¡¯s sleep I¡¯ve had in years. If you have no complaints, I¡¯ll be commandeering you as my personal portable furnace from now on.¡± This time, my smile was genuine. ¡°No complaints from me.¡± Sleep would probably continue to elude me, but if she was alright with our sleeping arrangements, I was more than happy to continue it. Resolutely, I ignored the scorpion and the side room as we passed back through the third floor. Clover hovered nearby, her presence an anchor as we stopped in front of the stairwell leading down. Oppressive, dry heat slapped me across the face, growing worse the further we descended. Sweat built under my armor, sticking my clothes to me like a second skin as I set foot on the fourth floor. I tugged at my chest plate, trying and failing to pull the rapidly warming metal away from my throat. ¡°I don''t like this,¡± I muttered, running a hand through my sticky hair with a grimace. The heat down here was something else. Clover rolled up the sleeves of her robes and nodded. ¡°Neither do I. I assumed the last level was warmer because of that scorpion, but this is a new degree of heat. Either we''re about to face more of those menaces, or there''s an exposed lava source somewhere down here.¡± My stomach rolled. ¡°For both our sakes, I''m hoping for the latter.¡± The memory of burns prickled along my back like needles, the sweltering heat of my armor reinforcing it. I shoved it aside to focus on Clover.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. She snorted. ¡°I''m right there with you. I don''t like monsters my magic is useless against, and those scorpions are something else.¡± She eyed my armor with a frown. ¡°If it gets much hotter, you won''t be able to wear that.¡± I''d been trying not to think about that¡­ I sighed. ¡°I know, but let''s hope it doesn''t come to that. I don''t relish the idea of fighting the dungeon boss without it.¡± Considering how tough fighting the scorpion was with my armor¡­ it wouldn''t be a fun time for me. Before the thought could spiral, I forced my focus to the present and strode forward, taking in the new level as we went. Just like the last one, there were no enemies, and the hair on my neck stood to attention the further we went. Dungeons were dark and usually undisturbed, prime spots for monsters to spawn. Up until now, every floor had them. The lack of even the Deep Rats made my skin crawl. The scorpion wouldn''t have fit through the staircase to get down here, so what killed all the monsters? Each room was much the same; Giant Spiders lined the walls, flipped on their back and curled inward. The stale scent of rot clogged my lungs, gaining strength the further we walked. When we wandered through the fourth empty room, I stopped short and frowned. ¡°Am I the only one with a bad feeling about this?¡± Clover shook her head, ¡°No, it isn¡¯t just you. Something had to have killed all these Spiders, but they don¡¯t have the markings a scorpion would leave.¡± Which meant we were up against something new. My knowledge of dungeon-dwelling monsters was nearly nil, and if Clover''s furrowed brows were any indication, she was in the same boat. That wasn¡¯t comforting, given the kind of things we¡¯d dealt with so far. Enemies always got stronger the deeper into a dungeon you went, but what could possibly be worse than that scorpion? It would have to be flame-resistant to live down here, unless this temperature came from the creature itself. We didn¡¯t have any information on this, but I knew a certain spirit who might. Turning inward while Clover examined the walls for traps, I reached for the invisible presence. Spirit? The responding hum was immediate. Yes? It didn¡¯t have the same urgency or dread as when we¡¯d faced the scorpion. Hopefully, that was a good sign¡­ Do you have any ideas for what we¡¯re about to face? This time their response took longer. The scorpion you fought is native to the Incendiary Dunes, in the Inbetween. It is rare for such things to move to Nexus without some kind of inciting factor. Be wary. I do not sense the presence of any creatures not born of Nexus, but they could be cloaking their presence. Most monsters weren¡¯t capable of that kind of spell, and the thought that we may be facing off with one who was didn¡¯t help my unease. Right¡­thanks. Worse Before It Gets Better--47 Tugging at my armor, I knelt beside one of the Giant Spiders, examining it closely. It hadn¡¯t died long ago, but something about it was¡­off. The tiny hairs that covered its body were notably absent around its chest, and as I traced a hand over it, I found three long slashes. An itch at the back of my mind suggested familiarity, but the memory eluded me. ¡°Clover,¡± I called. She was by my side in an instant, sharp eyes scanning the spider corpses with a scowl. ¡°That''s definitely not the work of a scorpion. I''m glad to not deal with that again, but¡­ I don''t like not knowing what we''re up against.¡± She glanced at the other bodies, her frown deepening. ¡°This isn¡¯t the only one with burns, either. We¡¯re likely dealing with another fire-type creature. Whatever killed them may be the reason this place is so sweltering.¡± She traced the slashes. ¡°But these are odd. They¡¯re deep, definitely not from teeth. Maybe some kind of knife or talon¡­¡± A monster that controlled fire, with talons, in a dungeon whose entrance had a bird carved into it. Dread settled in my gut as the pieces clicked together. Swallowing around my suddenly dry throat, I choked out, ¡°Clover, we need to leave.¡± She spun toward me, raising an incredulous brow. ¡°I''m sorry, what? This heat must be frying my brain because I thought you just said we needed to leave, when we''re finally almost to the bottom floor.¡± The urge to scoop her up and run screamed through my veins, but I forced it down, scanning our surroundings with renewed paranoia. ¡°That won¡¯t matter if we¡¯re dead.¡± Clover jerked, surprise and wariness coloring her features. She glanced around, the furrow between her brows deepening when nothing seemed out of the ordinary. ¡°Frederick, you¡¯re going to need to throw me a bone here because I¡¯m lost. What do you think we¡¯re facing that¡¯s so bad we have no chance of surviving against it?¡± Adrenaline hammered through me with every heartbeat as I waited for the sound of crackling flame¡­ or beating wings. I tugged at Clover¡¯s arm, trying to guide her back the way we¡¯d come. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this, we need to¨C.¡± She smacked my chest plate, the harsh clang bouncing off the walls until my ears rang with it. It snapped my focus to her. I hissed, ¡°Careful, it''ll hear us!¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Clover squared her shoulders with a scowl, though her voice was a whisper when she responded. ¡°Frederick, I''m giving you the benefit of the doubt because you''ve had a truly shitty week and until now you''ve seemed like a smart man, but if you want me to leave here, you''re going to need to give me a damn good reason.¡± She crossed her arms and waited. I stopped trying to pull her, frustration breaking over me as I gritted my teeth. If I was right about what rested here, we needed to leave before it found us, but I couldn¡¯t leave her, and she wouldn¡¯t move until I explained. We probably had long enough for me to clue her in, and if we didn''t¡­ may the spirits watch over us. Forcing the wild panic down before it could fully cloud my judgment, I whispered, ¡°Clover, what was the image carved into the door of this dungeon?¡± She frowned, thinking back. I saw the moment understanding dawned over her features, quickly followed by dread. ¡°You think we''re dealing with a Phoenix.¡± It wasn''t a question, but I nodded, noting the way color drained from her face. ¡°Yes, and we are woefully under-leveled for something like that. Even disregarding the fact we don''t have aerial attack capability, my armor will be more of a hindrance than a help thanks to the fire. I''d have to dodge razor-sharp talons in plain clothing, which is also very flammable, and you already said you don''t have spells that will work against a flying enemy.¡± That wasn''t even getting into the difference in experience or the fact that phoenixes came back to life unless killed with a special kind of iron. Clover nodded, looping an arm around mine and walking us back toward floor three. ¡°Right, we''ll go to the dungeon closer to Starkfell and look there. I hate that we wasted so much time for nothing, but you''re right. We won''t be of any help to those people if we die.¡± I kept pace with her, relieved to be putting distance between us and the firebird. With any luck, we¡¯d sneak out without it being any wiser and¨C. Clover slammed headfirst into a shimmering wall of magic, the force sending her backwards into me. I caught her on instinct, my relief doused under unease as I took in the barrier. ¡°I thought only boss rooms locked you in?¡± She steadied herself, examining the wall, her shoulders in a hard line. ¡°Any monster can do this; bosses are just the most common because of their casting capabilities. More importantly, there''s no point in running. Whatever cast this knows we''re here now.¡± The hair on my neck stood to attention as an ear-splitting shriek cut through the air. We spun toward the sound, and my heart dropped. The firebird flew overhead, its beady eyes alight with fury as it tensed for a dive, talons glinting like daggers in the firelight. I wrenched Clover behind me, barely raising an arm in time to shield against the bird¡¯s talons. They latched on, their points digging into my armor and sending molten heat into the skin underneath. Pain tore through me as blisters formed, and I bit back a curse, bracing for the worst. Unless we came up with some kind of miracle, we were screwed. An Idiot, But HER Idiot--48 Clover cursed sharply from over my shoulder, the soothing balm of her healing magic following a heartbeat later. ¡°We need a plan!¡± she said, retreating to give me space. I swapped my sword to my off hand and swung, cringing at the wobbly arc. The miss wasn¡¯t surprising¨Cmy weak hand was all but useless in a fight¨Cbut it was enough to make the bird release me. Its powerful wings beat the air as it retreated several yards, nearly knocking me back. Switching the sword back to my dominant hand, I kept my eyes locked on the creature. ¡°I¡¯m all ears!¡± Retribution wasn¡¯t reliable enough in this situation, and none of my other abilities would work either. Clover¡¯s Illuminating Lance wasn¡¯t an option either. Her frustrated hiss told me she¡¯d reached the same conclusion. ¡°I¡¯m asking my Lady for help. If nothing else, she might have information. Hold it off for a few minutes.¡± Easier said than done. I nodded and braced as the bird dove at me again. Sweat slid down my back as I twisted out of the way, its dagger-like talons grazing my ear, leaving a sizzling trail of pain. With a piercing shriek, it veered sideways and aimed for Clover. I intercepted, biting back a cry as its talons latched onto my shoulder. Burning pain seared outward to my neck as the bird surged forward, slamming me into the magical wall behind me. Clover shouted, but I didn¡¯t turn. My focus stayed locked on the bird as it reared back, its beak poised to strike. The attack never came. A brilliant flash of light filled the room, forcing me to shut my eyes. Spots danced behind my eyelids, and the bird¡¯s agonized shriek echoed around us as its talons wrenched free. Clover¡¯s hand fumbled at my side until it found mine, her touch grounding me. Blinking past the lingering spots, I saw it. No¨Cher. The figure from Dawncrest¨Cthe very spirit who saved me before¨Chovered between us and the bird. Where once she had been an indistinct shape, I could now make out the curve of her hips and the subtle line of her shoulders. Her hair and face were still masked by light, but her voice rang with fury, its echo reverberating through the air and making my skin prickle. ¡°You dare raise a talon to my Chosen? Your kind is revered by the spirits, but make no mistake¨Cattack him again, and I will end you.¡± The promise of violence was unmistakable, and Clover exhaled a shaky, ¡°Holy shit.¡± I nodded, my heart lodged in my throat. ¡°Right there with you.¡± The room crackled with the raw power radiating off her, distorting the air like heatwaves. The firebird, wary now, retreated another few feet before landing. It stood tall, nearly a yard above me, its sharp gaze locked on my spirit. Then, it spoke, its voice deep and solemn. ¡°Apologies. I believed he was here to cause harm. The creature before him certainly did.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Phoenixes could talk?! Clover made a strangled noise of surprise, echoing my own thoughts, but the bird only glanced briefly our way. Its gaze¨Cheavy with the weight of centuries¨Clingered on me, narrowing in sudden realization before returning to the spirit. ¡°If he is truly your Chosen,¡± it said, ¡°then perhaps his arrival is a boon.¡± Clover choked out a hysterical laugh, shaking her head as she tried to edge toward the door, her hand still clutching mine. ¡°You almost cooked him in his armor, and now you want a favor?¡± The spirit didn¡¯t move, but the air grew colder, her fury palpable through our bond. Her voice was a dagger. ¡°Make your case¨Cand make it good.¡± The phoenix dipped its head. ¡°A creature came here less than a week ago. One I have never seen. It bore the form of a serpent and devoured my eggs.¡± Its beak lowered, grief flickering in its glowing eyes. ¡°I attacked, but it wielded an unusual power. It grounded me, forcing me to land, and escaped before I could strike again.¡± The spirit tipped her head, tone sharp. ¡°And so, in your blind rage, you attacked my Chosen.¡± The phoenix didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°This is correct. The creature delved deeper, collapsing the entrance to my nest. I cannot enter and have been trapped here since.¡± It turned its piercing gaze to me. ¡°But you could help.¡± Clover¡¯s grip on my hand tightened as she tugged insistently. ¡°We¡¯re here to collect an herb, not bargain with a bird that just tried to kill us¨Cand very much still can.¡± But the phoenix didn¡¯t look at her. Its ebony eyes, raw with desperation, stayed locked on me. It tugged at my sympathy, but Clover was right. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t see how we would be of any help if it already ate your eggs.¡± I wasn¡¯t about to throw myself into danger for vengeance, for the sake of vengeance. Not when those refugees'' lives were still on the line. I could forgive it for attacking me¨CI¡¯d been prepared to destroy everything when I found Gregory, I knew the grief it was struggling with¨Cbut there was nothing to be done. The eggs were gone. It shook its head, wings fluttering in agitation. ¡°My eggs are not gone. I can feel them. They live within the beast¡¯s stomach. If you kill it, they may yet survive.¡± The logical part of me wanted to refuse. We had a mission, and this wasn¡¯t part of it. But the fire in the phoenix¡¯s gaze gave me pause. This bird wasn¡¯t just a mindless beast¨Cit was fighting to save its children. Children who had been forcibly taken from it. People abandoned their kids in Dawncrest too often, and for a wide variety of reasons. Poverty, neglect, outright abuse¡­the list went on. And yet, this phoenix hadn¡¯t. The fire in its eyes burned like a torch, vengeful and hot. It couldn¡¯t reach the snake, but if it could, it would do its best to slaughter the beast for daring to touch its children. That would always resonate with me. Clover shook her head, alarm sharpening her features. ¡°Frederick, tell me you¡¯re not considering this.¡± I met her eyes, taking in the pale set of her face and the tension in her shoulders. She was afraid, her usual confidence shaken. It twisted something deep in my chest, but I couldn¡¯t turn away from this. Not yet. That didn¡¯t mean I had to drag Clover along for the ride though. She hated snakes, and this one was bound to be massive. I smiled, squeezing her hand. ¡°I am. But it''s okay. You don¡¯t have to come with me. You hate snakes, right? Wait here while I clear the blockage. Once our fiery friend can get through, it shouldn¡¯t take long.¡± Her glare hardened, disbelief mingling with irritation. ¡°You think I¡¯m scared of the snake?¡± I hesitated, glancing at her taut posture. ¡°Yes?¡± A long silence stretched between us, her expression warring with itself, until finally, she grabbed my armor and dragged us nose to nose. ¡°You¡¯re an idiot,¡± she muttered, exasperation dripping from every syllable. I didn¡¯t have a chance to respond. Because she kissed me. Nicknames And Turnabout--49 Time seemed to freeze as Clover¡¯s warm lips brushed against mine. Her hand slid from my armor to tangle in my hair, tugging gently, and when the initial shock wore off, I melted into the kiss. The moment was fleeting¨Cfar too brief¨Cand when she pulled back after what felt like a single heartbeat, I instinctively leaned forward, unwilling to let it end. Two sets of eyes bored into us, but I didn¡¯t care. Let them stare. I was getting kissed by a gorgeous woman. The bird¡¯s issues could wait. Her laugh hummed against my lips as she kissed me again. I grinned despite the situation, our watchful audience, and the fact she¡¯d called me an idiot just minutes ago. Giddy excitement coursed through me, and when she finally pulled back, her sigh was warm and fond. ¡°You¡¯re my idiot.¡± I shrugged, the grin still plastered on my face. ¡°No complaints here, but do I get to know why I¡¯m an idiot?¡± Her exasperated look was equal parts affection and frustration. ¡°Darling, I don¡¯t care about the snake. I care that you¡¯ve almost been cooked alive in your armor several times today. And the closer you get to the last floor, the worse it¡¯s going to get. I can only heal so much. If we fight, you''ll be covered in blisters before the snake is finished.¡± She tapped my cheek with a soft huff. ¡°I care about you.¡± Oh. Warmth swept through me in waves, tugging at something deep in my chest. I smiled. ¡°I appreciate it.¡± Reluctantly, I tore my attention away from her to face our audience. My spirit hadn¡¯t turned, but I could feel the weight of her scrutiny, drilling into me. Ignoring it for now, I focused on the phoenix. Desperation still shone in its gaze, and I squared my shoulders. ¡°She¡¯s right. My armor is a huge disadvantage. I doubt the last level is any cooler, and I, for one, really don¡¯t want to fight with blisters on top of blisters. Clover¡¯s grip on my hand tightened, and I caught the flicker of relief on her face from the corner of my eye. I couldn¡¯t blame her. I¡¯d been terrified when she¡¯d nearly been eaten by those spiders, and while this wasn¡¯t quite the same, it was still a fight where the odds weren¡¯t in my favor. I¡¯d be just as worried in her place. My spirit¡¯s voice cut through my thoughts, her attention shifting to the phoenix. ¡°Phoenixes have the power to bestow their blessings, as all spirits do. If you grant him your blessing, he will be as immune to flame as you.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Now that could come in handy against the dragon! The phoenix dipped its head. ¡°If you agree, I will bestow my blessing. Heat and flame will do you no harm.¡± I turned to Clover. ¡°What do you think? I know we¡¯re on a tight schedule with the herb, but if we can, I¡¯d like to help.¡± She sighed, resigned affection softening her features. ¡°You really can¡¯t help yourself, can you? You see someone in trouble, and you have to do something. Whether it''s helping a stranger save refugees or stepping in to reunite a phoenix with her eggs.¡± She didn¡¯t give me a chance to speak, pressing on. ¡°You¡¯re a good man, and I¡¯m not about to let you die for it.¡± She turned to the phoenix, her eyes flashing with steel. ¡°Make us both fireproof. We¡¯ll clear the way and deal with the snake, but you¡¯d better back us up. We¡¯re not risking our lives without some kind of help from you.¡± The phoenix spread its wings and launched into the air, nodding. ¡°On my life, you will have my blessing and my aid. Is this acceptable, spirit?¡± The last question was directed to my spirit, who inclined her head. ¡°My threat still stands: no harm shall come to my Chosen by your talons.¡± She paused, her gaze flicking to Clover. ¡°Or his companion.¡± Clover chuckled. ¡°Good to know I¡¯m included.¡± Neither the phoenix nor my spirit responded, and with a final flash of light, the latter vanished. I will be watching. Be careful, my Chosen, my spirit murmured through our bond, her voice a soothing presence as familiar power hummed in my veins. I will. And thank you¨Cfor everything. We wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance without her intervention. And now I¡¯d even be fireproof when it came time to fight the dragon. That was a gift I¡¯d gladly accept. The light faded from the room, leaving the phoenix looming overhead, anticipation radiating from it like heat. ¡°Are you ready?¡± it asked. I glanced at Clover, offering her my hand. ¡°I am. What about you, Sweetheart?¡± A soft flush bloomed across her cheeks, and she took my hand with a huff. ¡°Sickly sweet nicknames already? You¡¯re lucky I like you.¡± Her tone lacked any real bite, and I raised an eyebrow, grinning. ¡°You¡¯ve been calling me ¡®Darling¡¯ since we met. Turnabout¡¯s fair play. Besides, we kissed¨Cthat means I get to call you sickly sweet nicknames. It¡¯s a rule.¡± I wiggled my eyebrows, earning a laugh that chased the pink from her cheeks. Linking her arm with mine, she followed the phoenix toward the last floor. ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ll have to ask about these rules once we get the herb to Starkfell.¡± She leaned in close, her voice a teasing whisper. ¡°One of them had better be, ¡®Clover gets to chase off suitors,¡¯ or I¡¯ll be very displeased.¡± I snorted. ¡°You¡¯ll probably only have to worry about that in Dawncrest. But sure, go ahead. They¡¯ve been bolder lately, and I¡¯m always reluctant to literally throw them out. Something tells me you¡¯ll show no such hesitance.¡± Her grin turned wicked as we reached the staircase. ¡°Oh, trust me, Darling. By the time I¡¯m done, they won¡¯t dare lay a finger on you.¡± Snake. Of Course, It Had To Be A Snake--50 The lighthearted air vanished when the staircase to the final floor came into view. A dozen boulders blocked the way, completely sealing off the descent. The phoenix landed beside the obstruction, its gaze fixed on me with a mix of caution and something unreadable. ¡°Remove the blockage, and I will bestow my blessing,¡± it said, its tone firm and eyes unwavering. I brushed off the strange look and moved toward the boulders. The sooner they were cleared, the faster we could move on. Clover¡¯s hand on my arm stopped me short. I turned to her, watching as she raised an eyebrow at the bird. ¡°Why wait to give the blessing? Wouldn¡¯t it make sense for us to have it now? That way, if the snake attacks immediately, we¡¯ll be ready,¡± she reasoned. Straightening from my crouch, I looked expectantly at the phoenix. Its expression didn¡¯t change, but its wings twitched, puffing up in irritation. ¡°You¡¯ll have my blessing once the blockage is removed,¡± it repeated, its tone sharper. ¡°Not a moment sooner.¡± Clover¡¯s scowl deepened, suspicion clear as she crossed her arms. ¡°Not until you explain why this is so important.¡± The air grew tense, and I braced myself, eyeing the phoenix warily. Clover¡¯s perception was sharper than mine¨Cproven earlier when she spotted the traps¨Cand if she thought there was something off here, more than likely, there was. The phoenix¡¯s wings beat once, its eyes narrowing. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this¨C¡± ¡°Then explain,¡± I cut in, my tone firm. ¡°We want to help, but I won¡¯t risk our lives if you¡¯re hiding something.¡± Clover nodded beside me, her expression set in steely stubbornness. The phoenix glanced between us,then hissed out a reluctant sigh. ¡°I have known many of your kind,¡± it said finally. ¡°Most take their boon and leave, agreement or no. Once you have my blessing, my fire will be useless against you. Nothing would stop you from leaving without fulfilling your end of the bargain.¡± Understanding dawned, and my wariness eased. Clover still didn¡¯t look convinced, but I squeezed her hand. When she met my gaze, I shook my head gently. ¡°They¡¯re not wrong to be cautious,¡± I said. ¡°And we don¡¯t have anything to lose by helping.¡± Her lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°What if it attacks us after we clear the stones? We¡¯re not immune to its fire yet.¡± She had a point, but that left us at an impasse. Before I could think of a compromise, my spirit¡¯s voice echoed in my mind. Assure your cleric that all is well. I will personally end the phoenix if it breaks its word.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. The voice faded, and I turned to Clover, keeping the increasingly irritated bird in my peripheral vision. ¡°My spirit said she¡¯ll deal with the phoenix if it tries anything. I may not trust the bird, but I do trust her.¡± Clover¡¯s shoulders relaxed slightly, and she nodded, albeit reluctantly. ¡°The phoenix did promise not to harm us... Fine, let¡¯s do this.¡± Rolling up her sleeves, she stepped toward the boulders. ¡°You don¡¯t need to help,¡± I began, confused. ¡°It should only take me half an hour¨C¡± She pressed a finger to my lips. ¡°And it¡¯ll take half that between the two of us. Now hush and get to work.¡± Her eyes softened with affection, but the flash of challenge to her tone warned me not to argue. I nodded, turning to the task. Together, we made quick work of the boulders. When the last one was cleared, I stepped back to admire the now-visible staircase. The phoenix launched into the air, its tone laced with relief. ¡°I will bestow my blessing. Then, we shall slay the beast.¡± Clover wiped sweat from her brow, moving to my side as the phoenix closed its eyes. The air charged with power, a current so strong it raised the hairs on my arms. As pure mana saturated the room, the bird¡¯s eyes glowed brilliant white, illuminating every corner. The phoenix descended and touched its beak to my forehead. I froze, not daring to breathe as the foreign mana in the air surged into me. Warmth coursed through my body, leaving every inch humming with energy. Then, as abruptly as it began, the sensation faded, though the lingering warmth remained. The phoenix¡¯s eyes returned to normal. ¡°My end of the bargain is upheld. Now, let us continue,¡± it said, diving down the staircase. Clover linked her arm with mine, muttering, ¡°Well, looks like we¡¯re off to skin a snake.¡± She shuddered in disgust. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Pulling her closer, I promised, ¡°It won¡¯t get within striking distance of you, trust me.¡± This wasn¡¯t about protecting just anyone¨CI was protecting her. We still had things to discuss, especially after that kiss, but for now, I pushed those thoughts aside. Her expression softened, and she leaned into me. ¡°I do trust you¨Ca mind-boggling amount, given how short a time we¡¯ve known each other.¡± She laughed lightly, pinching my cheek. ¡°It¡¯s your face. You wear your heart¨Cand thoughts¨Con your sleeve. It makes you laughably easy to read.¡± I shrugged, ignoring the warmth creeping up my neck. ¡°There are worse things to be than painfully transparent.¡± A distant shriek from the phoenix pulled me back to the present. ¡°But we can talk about this later. We have a job to do.¡± My focus sharpened as we descended into the final floor. Clover gripped my arm tighter as we crossed the threshold. The phoenix circled above, using the high ceilings to its advantage as it spun and dipped away from the snake below. The beast¡¯s jaw snapped at one of the fire bird¡¯s wings, missing by mere inches as it dodged. I caught the phoenix¡¯s gaze. ¡°Keep it still,¡± the bird shouted. ¡°I blinded its left side, but be wary. It can cross this room in seconds.¡± I hadn¡¯t noticed the red streaks against the snake¡¯s black scales before, but now they stood out, shining faintly under the light. Its left eye was gone, blood running in rivers down its face. Long gauges tore through the area around it as well, courtesy of the phoenix¡¯s fury. Fury radiated from the creature as its remaining eye flicked between the bird and me. If it weren¡¯t trying to kill me, I might have called it beautiful. The flecks of light in its ebony eye mirrored the stars, and its scales blended seamlessly into the shadows. Shaking off my awe, I drew my sword. ¡°Let¡¯s get this show on the road.¡± Silence--51 I wasted no time analyzing the snake. Bane Basilisk Level 4 Hit Points: 180/200 Mana: 100/100 Status: Partially Blinded, Enraged The same amount of hit points as the dragon. Unease flickered through me before I shoved it aside. No use getting psyched out now. We had the phoenix on our side, and I could always use Retribution if it came to that. My resolve hardened as a plan began to take shape. Shutting the menu, I turned to Clover. ¡°It¡¯s not going to hold still for you to use your lance, so I¡¯ll help the phoenix keep it in place. Stay back here.¡± She snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have no intention of getting close to that thing.¡± With a determined waved, she added, ¡°Go on. I¡¯m ready if you need healing in the meantime.¡± I grinned at her before focusing on the battle. The phoenix darted in a series of dives, its talons flashing as it kept the basilisk¡¯s attention fixed on the air. It seemed to be targeting the snake¡¯s remaining eye, but the beast writhed and twisted, refusing to stay still for more than a second. Moving into its blind spot, I dodged its sweeping tail as I closed the distance. The phoenix¡¯s strength was breathtaking, far beyond what I¡¯d anticipated. Watching as it spun out of another graceful dive, I huffed. If it kept up like this, I wouldn¡¯t need to do anything at all. Spirits hold these beings in high esteem for countless reasons. Their raw power is but one of them, my spirit said, her voice calm. I nodded, awed by the firebird¡¯s precision and ferocity. But as the battle dragged on, a nagging doubt crept into my mind. The phoenix had mentioned being forcibly grounded by the basilisk before¨Cso why wasn¡¯t it using the same power now? Some abilities can only be used once in a certain timeframe, my spirit mused. It is entirely possible that this is one such instance¡­or it is a spell and the beast must remain still to use it. If that were true, the basilisk would need to make its move soon, giving the phoenix its chance to strike. Glancing at the one-sided battle ahead, I shoved my unease aside. It had probably caught the fire bird off guard the first time and now it had no such advantage. Despite that reassurance, dread weighed heavy at the back of my mind, hissing that something was wrong.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Thanks, I said inwardly, focusing back on the fight. The basilisk¡¯s movements grew more erratic with each passing moment, its rage mounting. In contrast, the phoenix seemed fueled by an ever-increasing fury. It dove again, its talons raking a yard-long gash through the serpent¡¯s scales. With a hiss, the snake reared back, its lone eye blazing with hatred. Then, before I could react, it spun and lunged toward a hole in the wall. ¡°You will not escape!¡± the phoenix shrieked, chasing after it in a blur of flame and feathers. Realization hit like a thunderclap as the basilisk¡¯s eye shimmered with magic and my dread rose to scream in my ears. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± I yelled, but it was too late. The air thickened with mana, and in the span of a heartbeat, a shimmering cloud of darkness enveloped the phoenix. It fell to the ground with a piercing cry, bound by the basilisk¡¯s spell. The snake turned, its jaws opening wide to reveal dagger-like fangs dripping with black venom. The phoenix struggled against its magical restraints, but it was futile. My heart sank¨Cthe basilisk was poised for a killing strike, and they were across the room. I wouldn¡¯t make it in time. ¡°Illuminating Lance!¡± Clover¡¯s voice rang out, and I spun to see a brilliant spiral of light streak through the air. The lance struck the basilisk¡¯s head with a thunderous impact, sending it skidding back into the wall. From the corner of my eye, I saw Clover grin triumphantly, sweat glistening on her brow as she readied another lance. She caught my gaze and winked. ¡°You can stare adoringly later, Darling!¡± I laughed, shaking off the tension, and refocused on the basilisk. A crater marked the spot where it had crashed, the edges barely visible through the dust cloud surrounding it. Sword at the ready, I moved forward cautiously. Before I could close the distance, something lashed out and slammed into my middle, the force hurling me into the wall. The impact echoed like a gong, and pain exploded through my body. ¡°Frederick!¡± Clover¡¯s voice pierced the fog in my mind as I fought the nausea rising in my throat. My lower back burned fiercely, and when I forced my eyes open, the world blurred and swam. Blinking rapidly, I managed to make out Clover running toward me, her face twisted in worry. Behind her though, was the basilisk. The phoenix was still trapped in the dark spell, struggling to no avail. The basilisk¡¯s gaze was fixed on Clover¡¯s unguarded back, its body coiled and ready to strike. My earlier promise rang in my head. I won¡¯t let it get within striking distance of you, trust me. The distance between them was nothing for a creature that size. I had to move. I had to get up! Ignoring the pain, I pushed myself to my feet. My sword was out of reach, but that didn¡¯t matter. The basilisk lunged, its venom-coated fangs bared. Clover was a yard away, her hand raised as the familiar glow of healing magic surrounded it. Something in my expression must have warned her, because she glanced over her shoulder and paled. Fear froze her features, sharp and unrelenting. It dug a blade into my gut and twisted, feeding the fire in my chest. That expression didn¡¯t belong on her face. Nothing was allowed to terrify her like that. The fire in my chest roared to life, drowning out the pain. Power surged through my veins, and I launched myself forward, closing the gap in a single, adrenaline-fueled motion. Just as the basilisk¡¯s massive jaws snapped shut, I threw myself between them. And Screams--52 Silence stretched, broken only by the faint whisper of dust billowing outward. The sudden stillness was deafening, the absence of noise ringing in my ears. Adrenaline thundered through me, each heartbeat a hammer against the quiet. Slowly, my senses began to return. Pain came first. It started in my shoulder, branching outward like fire spreading through dry grass. Each breath was a battle against the inferno in my veins. A distant, detached part of me identified the cause: poison. Blinking against the haze of dust, I focused on the basilisk¡¯s glowing eye. Its jaws were clamped around my shoulder, a massive fang piercing my armor as if it were paper. My free hand braced against its upper jaw, holding it open by sheer willpower. I sucked in a ragged breath, agony pulsing with every beat of my heart, and analyzed it again. Bane Basilisk Level 4 Hit Points: 80/200 Mana: 50/100 Status: Partially Blinded, Enraged Under that, I caught the rows of information I hadn¡¯t seen before. Resistances: Magic No wonder Clover¡¯s lance hadn¡¯t worked. A scrambling sound reached me, cutting through the haze. Clover¡¯s voice followed, sharp with worry. ¡°Frederick?!¡± Her tone mirrored the panic bubbling through my veins. The basilisk¡¯s jaws clenched tighter, sending fresh waves of pain cascading through me. My grip faltered, and darkness crept into my vision, the poison draining more life by the second. Time was slipping away. We needed a plan¨Cand fast. The basilisk jerked, drawing my focus to its throat. Its squishy, vulnerable throat¡­ A fragment of an idea began to form and I asked inwardly, Does magical resistance work throughout the body or only on the exterior?Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. My spirit¡¯s reply came instantly, tinged with the same frantic urgency I¡¯d heard when we¡¯d found Gregory¡¯s body. Exterior. But you are in no condition to use Retribution! She was right. With both hands occupied, using the ability wasn¡¯t an option. But that hadn¡¯t been my plan. Last time, Retribution had drained half my hit points in an instant. Judging by the darkness crowding my vision, using it now would kill me. Forcing a deep breath through the pain, I gritted out. ¡°Clover, get ready to fire another lance.¡± Her reply was a choked noise, the light of her magic flaring at my back, unable to reach the wound. ¡°Are you insane?! It¡¯s resistant!¡± ¡°Only on the outside,¡± I rasped, my grip slipping as the basilisk thrashed. If I faltered, it would end me before the poison could. Gritting my teeth, I pressed my arm upward, forcing its jaws open wider. The fang embedded in my shoulder twisted, white-hot agony igniting anew. I didn¡¯t stop. Dragging my foot forward, I slammed it onto the snake¡¯s lower jaw with all the strength I could muster. A sickening crack echoed through the room. The basilisk writhed, its struggles jerking the fang deeper, but I followed its movements, refusing to let go. Summoning my mana, I cast: ¡°Radiant Bastian!¡± The golden shield enveloped me, dulling the worst of the pain. I shouted, every fiber of my being straining to keep the creature¡¯s mouth open. ¡°Do it!¡± Behind me, mana surged, thick and electric in the air. Light built in a dazzling wave, casting jagged shadows across the room. Clover stepped forward, the glow of her lance illuminating the dust-choked battlefield. With a determined cry, she drove the lance upward into the basilisk¡¯s mouth. ¡°Illuminating Lance!¡± Heat warmed my side, but I didn''t flinch. The spell pierced the roof of the basilisk¡¯s mouth, golden light spreading like cracks in shattered glass. Its skin split, mana pouring from every fissure. The light intensified, enveloping the creature¡¯s head entirely. A heartbeat later, its body slumped, lifeless. Its head¨Ceverything from the neck forward¨Cwas gone. I staggered back, my hand instinctively clutching my shoulder. From the corner of my eye, I saw the dark cloud surrounding the phoenix dissipate. A surge of victory flared briefly before exhaustion crushed it. The room spun, colors bleeding together in a nauseating whirl. My legs gave out, and I collapsed, the ground meeting me with pitless force. Pain roared anew, drowning out everything else. The fire in my veins burned brighter, a cruel reminder of the poison coursing through me. I tried to speak, to warn Clover, but liquid filled my throat, choking me. The sharp tang of iron overwhelmed my senses. ¡°Frederick!¡± Her voice was raw, drenched in naked terror. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but I forced them open. Clover knelt beside me, her face pale and streaked with tears. Gold healing light glowed in one hand, the other cradling my head in her lap. Her lips moved rapidly, words tumbling out, but I couldn¡¯t hear them. The icy chill of the poison spread, wrapping me in a suffocating embrace. I focused on her face¨Cthe tears dripping onto my cheek, instead of the coldness wrapping around me like a tomb. That wasn¡¯t right. She shouldn''t be crying. We¡¯d won¡­hadn¡¯t we? With effort, I reached up, brushing her tears away. A streak of red marred her skin when I pulled away. ¡°S¡¯rry¡­¡± I slurred, the word thick and heavy on my tongue. My head buzzed with disconnected thoughts, but something hissed at the back of my mind. Clover shouldn''t be covered in blood. Her head shook violently, her glowing hand pressing harder against my wound. Her free hand gripped mine, desperation written in every line of her face. Her lips moved, but her voice never reached me. The darkness surged, consuming the edges of my vision. The last thing I saw was Clover¡¯s eyes widening, her mouth open in a silent scream. Then¨Cnothing. You Die When I SAY You Die--53 ¡°Frederick!¡± My shout echoed uselessly off the walls as his eyes lost focus and slid shut. Mana surged through me, fueled by raw panic and terror coursing in my veins, but the spell. Wasn¡¯t. Latching. It flickered like a fragile flame in the wind, sputtering in and out of existence. I poured more power into it, willing the bite wound to close, the poison to vanish¨Cbut nothing happened. Tears blurred my vision, turning everything into a crimson haze, the stark white of his hair cutting through it like a cruel beacon. I swiped them away, smearing the still-warm streak of his blood across my cheek. The sensation burned like molten metal. ¡°S¡¯rry¡­¡± Sorry? What the hell was he sorry for? I was the idiot who¡¯d run in like a fool, right into the basilisk¡¯s range while it was clearly still alive. Frederick would¡¯ve been fine if I¡¯d just taken the long way around, stayed out of reach. Maybe we wouldn¡¯t be in this mess. The memory of the snake¡¯s fangs descending on me replayed in my mind, as vivid as the moment it happened, the lethal points inching ever closer. Only for Frederick¨Cprotective, sweet, stupidly kind Frederick¨Cto appear before it could reach me. Its massive jaws snapped shut in slow motion, piercing his armor as if it were paper. Even now, it was all I could see. And the blood¡­ Spirits above and below, so much blood. My focus faltered, and the spell sputtered. I cursed and forced it back into place, but the wound refused to close. It stared back at me through the jagged edges of his armor like a taunt: See? You¡¯re still the useless girl from Highgate, always reaching for something you¡¯ll never grasp. The words were old, the voice cruel and familiar. A wave of self-loathing crashed over me. One thing, I just wanted to do this one thing right! Was that too much to ask? Frederick was too damn good to die here! The phoenix screeched nearby, circling the basilisk¡¯s corpse. Its talons dug into the thick hide, before it pulled back. ¡°Human, you must help! If I try to reach my eggs, I could harm them!¡± Anger flared white-hot, and I snapped, ¡°Fuck your eggs! That¡¯s the whole reason we¡¯re in this mess! I have someone dying here!¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. I should¡¯ve trusted my gut and dragged Frederick out the moment that damn bird got involved. But those stupid, kind, understanding eyes of his had convinced me otherwise. Another tear slipped free, catching in the corner of my mouth. I wasn¡¯t going to see those eyes again. They wouldn¡¯t light up with excitement over garlic snails or soften when he spoke about his family. I wouldn¡¯t get to kiss him again. The unfairness of it all crushed me. Finally, finally I¡¯d found someone¨Ca kind man who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to stand his ground, who backed me off when I was over the line¨Cand I couldn¡¯t fucking save him. The universe had a cruel way of giving me hope just to tear it away. I stared down at his face, pain twisting his features, sweat lining his brow. Determination surged through me, sharp as a blade. No. I wouldn¡¯t let the world take him from me. He was mine. Since the moment we met, I¡¯d felt it in my marrow. He was mine, and I wasn¡¯t letting him go. Reaching deep into the bond I¡¯d all but avoided for over a year, I called out to my Lady. I know I messed up. I trusted the wrong person, and thousands paid the price. I know, but please, I need your help now. Save him. You can go back to ignoring me afterward¨Clet that be my punishment¨Cbut don¡¯t let him die. Please. The silence stretched endlessly. Grief crept in, threatening to drown me again, when her voice¨Cquiet yet familiar¨Cbroke through. I never punished you, Darling. Our weakened bond was your doing. Everything screeched to a halt. It was¡­me? You made a mistake, one that cost many their lives, but you were a pawn in a greater plot. I would never punish you for such a thing. But you were consumed by grief. I couldn¡¯t reach you through it. My mana wavered, dragging my focus back to Frederick¡¯s unmoving form. I shoved the revelation aside. We can come back to this later. Can you heal him? I¡¯m trying, but it¡¯s not working. I hadn¡¯t had this much trouble healing someone since I was a novice, and of course it had to happen now, when it mattered most. Calm yourself, my lady said. The poison nullifies magic, just as the basilisk¡¯s scales do. Your spells can¡¯t take hold until it¡¯s cleared from his body. Her calm explanation only fanned the flames of my desperation. He¡¯s dying in my arms and I¡¯m completely useless. What part of that is supposed to calm me?! She didn¡¯t flinch at my outburst, her tone steady. The part where the phoenix nearby can neutralize any poison on Nexus. Once the venom is gone, you can heal your lover. Hope struck like a lightning bolt, evaporating the terror and frustration. I could save him. I could save him! Shifting Frederick¡¯s head off my lap, I rose on trembling legs. It burned to step away from him, but my magic wasn¡¯t helping. Not yet. The bird was his only chance. I wouldn¡¯t let the world take him from me. A Deal To Keep--54 Stomping over to where the phoenix circled the basilisk¡¯s corpse, I pointed up at it, channeling every ounce of fury I possessed. ¡°You and your damn eggs are the reason we¡¯re in this mess!¡± And Frederick¡¯s bleeding heart, but I¡¯d agonize over that¨Cand all the future trouble he was bound to drag me into¨Clater. ¡°You want me to save them? Fine! But you¡¯re going to help me, too.¡± The phoenix eyed me warily, tilting its head. ¡°What do you propose?¡± I jabbed my finger toward Frederick. ¡°He¡¯s dying because of that blasted snake¡¯s venom. I can¡¯t heal him until it¡¯s cleared, and my cure doesn¡¯t work on venoms this potent.¡± I¡¯d be grinding that spell to perfection after this to avoid a repeat, but that was a concern for another day. ¡°You clear the venom, and after I heal Frederick, I¡¯ll cut open the snake and get your eggs.¡± Under any other circumstances, the thought of digging through a snake¡¯s guts would make me lose my lunch. Now? With Frederick clinging to life barely five yards away? I¡¯d damn well gut, skin, and butcher whatever monster it took. As long as he was safe. The phoenix¡¯s sharp gaze pinned me, heavy with suspicion. ¡°And why will you not retrieve my eggs first? The stomach acid weakens them by the minute.¡± Yeah and our arguing was draining away what little time Frederick had left. Fear clawed at my chest, but I forced it down, my expression hardening. ¡°Because I don¡¯t trust you.¡± My voice was sharp, unwavering. ¡°Frederick¡¯s spirit isn¡¯t here to enforce any deal, and I¡¯ve been burned before. There¡¯s nothing stopping you from going back on your word once you have what you want.¡± I¡¯d been naive once, and thousands had paid for it with their lives. Since then, I¡¯d seen enough false smiles and whispered betrayals to know better. People were shifty, untrustworthy, and always looked out for themselves first. Except for Frederick. He wasn¡¯t like them. He wasn¡¯t like anyone. He was the man who loved his siblings more than his own life, who raged at anyone who dared suggest he leave them. The man who stopped to help a stranger find an herb with the promise of no reward. Frederick was good in ways I couldn¡¯t fully fathom, and I wasn¡¯t about to lose him because I foolishly trusted a bird¡¯s promise. The phoenix studied me for a long moment before it finally nodded. ¡°I will remove the venom from your mate¡¯s veins, and in return, you will retrieve my eggs. Swear on it.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Relief flooded through me, but I didn¡¯t let my guard down. I drew on my mana, speaking the words aloud. ¡°I, Clover, will retrieve your eggs once you remove the venom from Frederick¡­and I heal him.¡± Every moment mattered now, and healing Frederick couldn¡¯t wait. Dissecting the snake would happen after, or not at all. The phoenix inclined its head, accepting my stipulation. ¡°So it is spoken. So it shall be.¡± Mana surged as the oath anchored itself deep in my core. The phoenix landed beside Frederick, towering over his prone form. My instincts screamed to shield him, but I forced them down and moved closer. The phoenix dipped its head, its beak hovering over the wound. A single tear fell, striking the bite. I held my breath as its eyes glowed, power building in a crescendo before bursting in a brilliant flash of light. When it faded, the phoenix¡¯s eyes returned to normal. ¡°It is done. Heal him quickly, then fulfill your promise.¡± I didn¡¯t waste a second. Dropping to my knees, I ignored the blood soaking into my cloak and pressed both palms to Frederick¡¯s wound. He was pale, frighteningly so. The sight twisted a knot of unease deep in my gut, but before it could overwhelm me, my Lady¡¯s voice whispered in my mind. You are not alone, Clover. You never have been. Focus on the spell, you will have my aid, as you always have. Her reassurance washed over me, soothing my fear. Drawing on my determination, I channeled mana into the wound. He¡¯ll be fine. He has to be fine. I wouldn¡¯t let there be any other outcome. This time, the spell worked. Relief swelled in my chest as the wound knit itself together, raw edges smoothing into healed skin. When it was fully gone, I analyzed him. Frederick Level 4 Hit Points: 10/70 Mana: -10/70 Status: Exhausted, Mana Exhaustion I exhaled a choked laugh, pressing my forehead to his. He was alright. The world wasn¡¯t taking now¨Cnot today. A poisonous voice whispered at the back of my mind: He¡¯ll leave when you tell him what happened a year ago. I shoved it away, refusing to let it sink its claws in me. That fear would haunt me later, especially now that I realized how deeply I was falling for him. But not now. Now was for relief. And for dissecting a snake. I rose on trembling legs, the leftover adrenaline leaving me weak. Frederick shivered, his body wracked from blood loss. Shrugging off my cloak, I draped it over him, bending to press a kiss to his head. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, Darling,¡± He shouldn¡¯t have been able to hear me, unconscious as he was, but he relaxed with a soft sigh. The sight tugged at something in my chest¨Csomething familiar, yet frighteningly new. I shook it off, grabbing his sword and keeping him in my periphery, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. The lingering jitters in my veins told me he wouldn¡¯t leave my sight for weeks, maybe months. Oh well. It was a perfect excuse to share his bedroll from now on. Though something told me he wouldn¡¯t need much convincing. I turned to the snake, forcing all thoughts of what came next¨Cgood or bad¨Cto the back of my mind. There¡¯d be time for them later. For now, I had a deal to keep. Think Before You Act--55 Darkness embraced me, pressing in from all sides. A faint sense of familiarity nagged at the edges of my mind, but I brushed it aside, too content to care. There was no pain, no exhaustion¨Cjust peace. A short nap wouldn¡¯t hurt, right? I shut my eyes, letting myself drift in the tranquil void. But the calm didn¡¯t last. My spirit¡¯s voice echoed in my head, clear and chiding. ¡°What you did was reckless, my Chosen.¡± I startled, my eyes snapping open. My spirit floated a few feet away, her form still cloaked in radiant light. The echo that had once masked her voice had eased, but displeasure buzzed in every syllable. I winced as my feet settled onto an invisible surface, grounding me in the nothingness. Facing her, I forced out a question. ¡°What happened? Everything¡¯s¡­fuzzy.¡± I tried to piece together my fragmented memories. The firebird flashed in my mind, and something about eggs. Clover kissing me¨Cthere was no forgetting that. But afterward? Nothing. My spirit¡¯s luminous form seemed to intensify, her gaze heavy. ¡°You faced the basilisk and underestimated it. The beast struck at the child of¨C¡± Like a detonation, the images slammed into me: Clover, turning to see the monster looming behind her; the terror draining the color from her face. My chest tightened as the memory surged forward. I cut my spirit off. ¡°Is she alright?!¡± Her tone softened, though the disappointment remained. ¡°She is safe and healthy, though shaken by your scrape with death.¡± Her words pressed on me like a weight. ¡°You should have activated Radiant Bastion before leaping into the basilisk¡¯s path.¡± Heat rose to my face as shame pooled in my gut. I dropped my gaze. ¡°You¡¯re right. That would¡¯ve been smarter. I just¡­didn¡¯t have time to think.¡± The truth stung. I¡¯d been so caught up in protecting Clover that I¡¯d acted without thought, assuming the beast was finished after her lance struck¨Ca dangerous oversight. I¡¯d survived patrols back home, but this quest was on another level. The stakes were higher. My mistakes could get me killed¨Cor worse, cost someone else their life. Memories of Daedra¡¯s tear-filled eyes hit me like a hammer, stealing the breath from my lungs. I almost died, leaving them without support or even a letter, all because of my own recklessness. I¡¯d promised to come back to them. I couldn¡¯t keep that promise if I wasn¡¯t careful. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°I¡¯ll do better,¡± I said, my voice low but resolute. My spirit¡¯s presence eased, her light gentler now. ¡°Good. When you return, discuss leveling your Perception and Wisdom with the cleric. These stats are essential for battle strategy. Increasing them will prevent mistakes like today.¡± I nodded, the promise solidifying in my mind. ¡°I¡¯ll do that. And¡­thank you for saving me.¡± But she shook her head. ¡°I am no healer. Your cleric deserves your gratitude.¡± A pang of guilt tightened in my chest. She¡¯d saved my hide again. I swallowed hard, vividly remembering her anger. I was in for an earful when I got back, wasn¡¯t I? My spirit confirmed it with a nod. ¡°You are indeed. She was distraught at your mortal wound and her initial inability to heal it.¡± I frowned. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t she heal it?¡± The bite had been severe, but it wasn¡¯t near my heart. The poison had been the real threat, though Clover should¡¯ve been able to counter it with Cure. Right? My spirit¡¯s glow dimmed slightly. ¡°The basilisk¡¯s poison, like its scales, resists magic. Your cleric struck a deal with the phoenix to neutralize it. In exchange, she removed the eggs from the basilisk.¡± The weight of her words settled on me like a lead cloak. Guilt sharpened its edge¨CClover hated snakes. And yet, she¡¯d done that for me. ¡°I owe her, big time,¡± I murmured. ¡°You do,¡± my spirit said, her tone firm. ¡°Remember this when you face similar situations. Until you acquire strategic skills, focus on raising your Wisdom and Perception.¡± I nodded again, a plan forming. That¡¯d be the first thing I did once I woke up¡­after apologizing profusely to Clover for inadvertently making her gut a snake. The darkness around us began to dissolve, light breaking through. My spirit¡¯s voice grew softer, almost kind. ¡°It is time to wake. Remember this talk and be careful with your life, my Chosen. You have only one, and a phoenix will not always be there to save it.¡± Before I could respond, the void vanished, and the weight of reality crashed down on me. Exhaustion rippled through my body, every muscle aching as if reminding me¨Cyet again¨Cthat I was mortal and that I should act like it. I groaned softly, swallowing the sound as I forced my focus outward. Clover had set up camp in the basilisk¡¯s chamber. The snake¡¯s massive corpse lay far on the other side, its presence a grim reminder of our fight. A small fire crackled nearby, two rock snakes skewered above it. The faint smell of charred meat wafted through the air, twisting my stomach as memories of poison and pain clawed at the edge of my mind. Shoving the unease aside, I frowned. Where was Clover? An old, familiar insecurity whispered in my ear: She¡¯s gone. She left you. Memories of white hair and proud shoulders walking away turned to gold locks and a slighter frame. I shoved that down too. Clover wasn¡¯t like my mother. She wouldn¡¯t abandon me, especially not while I was injured. She¡¯d given me no reason to believe she would and my insecurities could take a hike. She¡¯d kissed me. And even I¨Cin all my dense wonder¨Cknew that meant something. Secrets, Truths and Confessions --56 Steeling myself, I scanned the room again and spotted her. She sat across the fire, her back to me, fiddling with something in her hands. Relief swept over me like a wave, and I called out softly. ¡°Clover?¡± She jumped, spinning around. In her hands, she clutched the deep rat hide. The hide was noticeably cleaner now, and as Clover caught my gaze, a light pink flush crept over her cheeks before she quickly looked away. ¡°I said I¡¯d cast Cleanse on it,¡± she said, her tone carefully neutral. ¡°No better time than now. We¡¯re not moving until you¡¯ve had a chance to rest.¡± Something about her demeanor set off warning bells. I¡¯d expected her to be furious when I woke up¨Cnot¡­whatever this was. She avoided my eyes, and the uncharacteristic behavior made my skin crawl. Ignoring the thrumming ache in my body, I forced myself to sit up. ¡°Thank you¨Cfor that and the snake. My spirit filled me in. She also told me to use my head next time and cast Radiant Bastion before jumping in.¡± I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly. ¡°Clearly, I need to level my Wisdom and Perception stats.¡± Clover studied me for a long moment before huffing a half-hearted laugh. She moved to sit beside me, her shoulder brushing mine. ¡°I can¡¯t claim to be any better. I¡¯m the one who ran into battle, right into that beast¡¯s range, in a blind panic. You were just banged up a bit before¡­¡± Her voice faltered, guilt bleeding into her words. And suddenly, the pieces fell into place¨Cshe blamed herself for my injury. Well, that wouldn¡¯t do. Determination tightened in my chest, and I reached over to take her hand. ¡°We both could have done things better. I underestimated the basilisk from the start, which was reckless. We¡¯re not spirits or gods, Clover. We¡¯re mortals. We make mistakes.¡± My spirit¡¯s voice drifted through my mind, distant and almost¡­regretful. Spirits are not faultless, Frederick. We make mistakes, just as you mortals do. Some have consequences that echo through generations. I didn¡¯t have time to dig into the grief tinging her tone, so I pushed back with a thought. But we mortals have less time to learn from them. My spirit didn¡¯t reply, leaving me to focus on Clover. She still wore a guilt-ridden expression, but at least she was looking at me now. Her mouth, however, remained set in a hard frown. ¡°You almost died, Frederick,¡± she said, her voice low. ¡°That isn¡¯t an acceptable risk for a mistake.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I nodded, acknowledging her point. ¡°You¡¯re right. But there¡¯s no use beating ourselves up over it now. Let¡¯s just focus on doing better from here, alright?¡± She sighed, reluctant but willing to let it go. ¡°Fine, fine. Stubborn man.¡± Affection softened the exasperation in her tone, though something else lingered beneath it¨Csomething I couldn¡¯t quite name. She stared at our joined hands, her eyes distant and thoughtful. The silence stretched as I watched her, waiting. When she still didn¡¯t speak, I decided to prompt her. ¡°Gold piece for your thoughts?¡± Her gaze snapped back to me, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. ¡°Gold? That¡¯s a generous offer. You must really want to know.¡± I shrugged, refusing to let her deflect. ¡°They¡¯re worth it. In all seriousness¨Care you alright?¡± She bit her lip, her eyes locking with mine as if searching for something. After a moment, she must have found it, because her grip on my hand tightened slightly. ¡°I kissed you.¡± Her answer floored me. ¡°Yes?¡± I said, confusion doubling down. ¡°I enjoyed it a great deal. You seemed to as well¡­¡± Doubt crept in, but it faded as her lips quirked into a wry half-smile. ¡°I did. More than I should admit.¡± Relief rushed through me, washing away the lingering uncertainty, though the confusion remained. ¡°Then what¡¯s wrong?¡± She grimaced, looking away. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have done it. Not yet.¡± Twining our fingers, I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. ¡°I know you wanted to wait until we reached Starkfell and delivered the herb to talk about¡­this.¡± I gestured between us. ¡°But is it so bad that we¡¯ve jumped ahead a bit?¡± Sleeping beside her, kissing her¨Cit all felt right. I wasn¡¯t the sort to care what others thought, and Clover had always struck me as someone who trusted her instincts too. So why now? Her shoulders tensed as she turned back to me, her expression guarded. ¡°Frederick, there are things you don¡¯t know about me. Things that people I trusted have tried to kill me for. Friends¡­even a lover.¡± Ice flooded my veins, and suddenly, her trust issues made horrifying sense. For so many trusted people to betray her? It was unthinkable. They had better pick a spirit to pray to that I never got a hold of them. Rage bubbled beneath the surface, but I forced it down. There¡¯d be time for that later. For now, I shifted closer, pressing my side against hers and tucking her under my arm. She stiffened briefly, then melted into the embrace with a soft sigh that tugged at my heart. I twined our fingers again, grounding her¨Cand myself. ¡°Then they¡¯re disloyal fools,¡± I growled. ¡°If I ever find them, I¡¯ll bring them to you in pieces. Especially the lover. Him, I¡¯ll take great pleasure in dismantling.¡± Hopefully that wouldn¡¯t violate my oath, but if it did¡­well, I¡¯d burn that bridge when I got to it. Clover laughed, the sound more genuine this time, and rested her head against my shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s a sight I¡¯d pay to see. But don¡¯t distract me. I didn¡¯t mean to kiss you¨Cnot yet.¡± I nodded, refocusing. ¡°What¡¯s so important about waiting until Starkfell?¡± Her fingers toyed with mine as she stared into the distance, her thoughts clearly spinning. I gave her the space she needed, waiting until she came to a decision. Finally, she turned to face me. ¡°Because¡­that way, if you left, the people would already have the herb.¡± Oh. That¨Cyeah, that made sense. Im Not Going Anywhere--57 Clover wouldn¡¯t meet my eyes, and that only added fuel to the rage simmering under my skin. What kind of useless sacks of flesh had she dealt with to make her expect so little from people? No, wait. I didn¡¯t want to know the answer to that¨CI¡¯d hunt them down, and that was a distraction we couldn¡¯t afford right now. ¡°Clover¡­¡± I started, but she cut me off, words spilling out like a flood she couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°I¡¯m not strong enough to get it alone. I need your help. And if you left¡­if you left before the people were healed, I couldn¡¯t let that happen. I know this sounds awful. I¡¯m using you, and¨C¡± Her voice sped up, guilt and self-loathing dripping from every word. When it became clear she couldn¡¯t stop herself, I pulled her into my lap and wrapped her in a firm hug. She froze mid-sentence, chest heaving, and I softened my tone. ¡°Clover. Breathe. I¡¯m not angry.¡± Her head snapped up, and she met my gaze cautiously. ¡°You¡¯re¡­not?¡± I shook my head, keeping my voice steady. ¡°No. You¡¯re doing your best to look out for sick people. How could I fault you for that? While I''d like you to believe I¡¯m not going anywhere, I understand it¡¯s hard to trust someone you¡¯ve only known for a short time. But, Clover¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The hope in her eyes nearly broke my heart. Smiling, I kissed her hair, hoping to ease the tension gripping her. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. Even in the impossible scenario where I left because of something from your past, I¡¯d never abandon you to face this quest alone. One way or another, we¡¯re doing this together.¡± Her breath hitched, and the desperate desire to believe warred with her lingering doubt. The battle played out in her eyes until finally, she whispered, ¡°Do you swear it?¡± If that¡¯s what it took. Straightening, I summoned my mana, wrapping my words in its essence. ¡°On my life, I will not leave you until our quest is complete, and the people of Starkfell are healed.¡± The vow sank into my skin, humming like distant thunder before fading. Clover huffed a disbelieving laugh. ¡°Spirits above, you actually did it.¡± I nodded firmly. ¡°Of course. I have no intention of leaving. Whatever happened before, I. Am. Not. Leaving. You. Tell me or don''t, that''s up to you, but you''re stuck with me either way.¡± I wasn¡¯t about to force the answer out of her, but she needed to understand that I wasn¡¯t like the idiots she¡¯d dealt with before. I¡¯d die before I betrayed her. Her lips trembled, and her grip on my hand tightened. Determination flashed through her, breaking apart the remnants of doubt. ¡°A year ago, I made a mistake. I trusted the wrong person, and it ended with thousands of people dead.¡± She swallowed hard, her knuckles turning bone white on mine as her voice dropped to a near whisper. ¡°I healed Lazarus, the Mad King himself.¡± I blinked, caught off guard. Okay, I hadn¡¯t seen that one coming¡­but it didn¡¯t matter. Her pale skin and trembling hands told me enough. She was terrified of my reaction. Given that she¡¯d been betrayed by those she trusted¨Ca lover, even¨CI couldn¡¯t blame her. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. First and foremost, I needed to make her see that we were still okay. Without thinking, I said the first thing that popped into my head. ¡°Thank the spirits, I thought you were about to tell me you slept with him.¡± I grimaced, quickly adding. ¡°It wouldn''t have changed anything, to be clear, but it definitely would¡¯ve been¡­daunting.¡± She sputtered, caught somewhere between disbelief and hysterical amusement. ¡°No! I definitely didn¡¯t do that.¡± The amusement faded quickly, though, and she pressed. ¡°You¡¯re truly okay with this? I healed the tyrant king who killed thousands¨Cand still does.¡± I scoffed. ¡°Did you know it was him when you healed him?¡± She hesitated, then shook her head. ¡°No, but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that if I hadn¡¯t, so many lives would¡¯ve been saved.¡± At least I had an easy argument for that one. Stroking her knuckles, I spoke. ¡°A dragon attacked Dawncrest looking for me. Does that mean the lives lost are my fault?¡± Her eyes narrowed in anger. ¡°No! Of course not! Did someone say that?¡± Mutinous plotting burned behind her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll damn well neuter them.¡± Her protective fury warmed me. ¡°Not directly, but they weren¡¯t thrilled at first. It almost became an angry mob before the mayor intervened. My point is, you aren¡¯t to blame for what happened, just like I¡¯m not responsible for the dragon.¡± I lifted our joined hands and kissed the back of hers. ¡°And look¨CI¡¯m still here. Just like I promised.¡± Her anger melted, replaced by a softness that made my chest ache. ¡°Yeah, you are.¡± The tension between us shifted, the air warm and electric. Clover leaned in, her nose brushing mine. My pulse quickened. ¡°Do I get another kiss? One that doesn¡¯t send you into a worry spiral afterward?¡± She rolled her eyes but smiled. ¡°You never need to ask. The answer will always be yes.¡± The kiss was long and tender, her hand resting on my chest before sliding up to brush my neck. I deepened it, my fingers tangling into her hair. Just as her tongue flicked against mine, a deliberate throat-clearing interrupted us. The phoenix watched us, amusement heavy in the air. ¡°I feel now is a good time to remind you that I am here.¡± Its eggs sat nearby, splattered with basilisk blood but otherwise untouched. Under other circumstances, I¡¯d be ecstatic, but right now, I glared. ¡°I don¡¯t care. You¡¯re probably older than most cities, and you¡¯ve seen far worse than some innocent kissing. Interrupting is rude.¡± Clover laughed, patting my chest. ¡°Easy, Darling. There¡¯ll be plenty of time for that later. The phoenix has a point. I, for one, don¡¯t want to snog while being intensely stared at.¡± Grumbling, I relented, content to let her rest her head in the crook of my neck. Peace washed over me, her warmth a balm to my nerves. But then, she asked, ¡°So why exactly was a dragon targeting you to begin with?¡± Dread sank into my gut. I¡¯d forgotten something important. Clearing my throat, I winced. ¡°Ah, looks like it''s my turn to reveal a secret¡­¡± Her head lifted, blue eyes locking onto mine with unwavering focus. ¡°Whatever it is, it won¡¯t matter. I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Spirits above, I hoped so. I took a deep breath, forcing the nerves down. ¡°I believe you. Clover, I¡¯m¨C¡± A deafening bang cut me off, and frustration boiled over. ¡°You have got to be kidding me!¡± So close. I¡¯d been so damn close. Clover shot to her feet, mace in hand, eyes sharp and ready. ¡°Tell me later, darling. For now, we have pests to deal with.¡± Evidently. Alright, Now You Can Bicker--58 The phoenix hovered overhead as the approaching bangs grew louder. The hairs on my arms stood on end. I grabbed my sword, grimacing at the exhaustion clawing through me. Clover shot me a look laden with concern and steely resolve. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be fighting,¡± she said, firmly. ¡°That sounds like one of those scorpions, and you¡¯re in no condition for battle.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I admitted, wobbling slightly as I stood and ignoring the gaping hole in my armor. ¡°But you¡¯re going to need backup.¡± Her worry deepened, and I squeezed her hand, recalling our earlier conversation. ¡°I¡¯ve got fire resistance this time. It shouldn¡¯t be as bad.¡± Her lips pressed into a displeased line, but she sighed in reluctant agreement. ¡°Fine. But you¡¯re resting after this, even if I have to strap you to a bed to make sure of it.¡± I raised an eyebrow, her teasing rubbing off on me. ¡°I should¡¯ve known you¡¯d be into that. Go ahead, I won¡¯t complain.¡± Interest flickered behind her eyes before she shook herself and turned toward the door. The sounds were nearly upon us now. ¡°I¡¯ll revisit that later, but focus. We¡¯ve got a beast to kill.¡± The phoenix flapped closer to the doorway, keeping its eggs in sight. ¡°I despise these pests. They do not belong in my dungeon. Lately, they have been forcing their way here from the Inbetween.¡± It is rare for such creatures to invade Nexus without provocation. My patron¡¯s words echoed back to me, dread coiling in my gut. What could possibly be driving them into Nexus? I shoved the thought aside to consider later. For now, we had a more immediate problem. The scorpion came into view, its deep red shell gleaming menacingly. This one was blessedly smaller than the last, but the crystals along its body glowed with heat. I analyzed it. Combustion Crystal Scorpion Level 1 Hit Points: 20/20 Mana: 0/0 Status: Healthy Thank the spirits, it was only level one. Clover pulled a slingshot from her pack. ¡°Same strategy as before?¡± she asked, her gaze lingering on the damage to my armor. ¡°Because I wouldn¡¯t recommend it until we get you a new chestplate.¡± The phoenix answered before I could. ¡°I will help distract the beast. I assume you will handle the crystals?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Clover replied, though she didn¡¯t relax. ¡°Frederick¨C¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I know, be careful and stay out of range,¡± I finished for her, rolling my stiff shoulders. She sighed. ¡°I was going to say sit this one out, but I doubt you¡¯ll do that.¡± I grinned. ¡°You know me so well.¡± My smile fell and I turned serious. ¡°Let¡¯s just handle this quickly so we can move onto the next dungeon.¡± We still had an herb to find, after all. The scorpion¡¯s glowing eyes flicked between us and the phoenix, its tail swaying in warning. It lunged, and I braced, stepping in front of Clover with my sword raised¨C Only for a figure to burst from the shadows. Moving in a blur of white, they struck at the crystals faster than I could track. Two shattered instantly, their orange glow snuffed out. Magic coiled ominously around the scorpion¡¯s tail and it tensed. The figure didn¡¯t stop, instead darting to the other side, targeting more crystals. Alarm surged and I grit my teeth. That thing¡¯s attack was going to be devastating, even at level one! ¡°Watch its tail!¡± I shouted. ¡°Destroying the crystals powers it up, and it releases that energy in an explosion!¡± The figure hesitated for a heartbeat but pressed on, shattering another crystal. ¡°Are you fucking stupid?!¡± Clover yelled, abandoning her slingshot for her mace. She shot me a glare hot enough to blister. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about helping. I am not losing you because some reckless idiot decided to play hero. I¡¯ll heal them if they need it, but they are handling the blast.¡± Her glare promised fire and fury. I swallowed hard, lowering my sword. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± She nodded in approval, turning to watch as the figure dipped sideways, the stinger sailing past their shoulder. The scorpion hissed, striking with its tail in a flurry. The figure dodged each attack, rolling and weaving with precision. ¡°Get its tail stuck in the wall!¡± I called. This time, they listened. Luring the scorpion toward a nearby wall, they ducked at the last second. The stinger slammed into the stone and lodged itself, glowing dangerously. I caught a brief glimpse of the figure¨Cwhite hair, broad shoulders¨Cbefore the tail exploded in a ball of fire. Smoke and heat filled the air, and I choked back a hiss. Clover crossed her arms, unimpressed. ¡°We told him it would explode, and he still stood there like an idiot. I hope you know I¡¯m only healing him enough to save his life. He can live with the burns as a reminder of his stupidity.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± I muttered, watching the smoke clear. To my surprise, the figure emerged unscathed. Short white hair framed two blood-red horns arching out from his head. Dirt smudged his tan skin, and he clutched a short staff in one hand. Lightweight robes hung loosely on his frame. He looked at us and crossed his arms. ¡°I¡¯m immune to fire,¡± he said casually, his voice tinged with amusement. ¡°The explosion¡¯s hardly a threat, though I appreciate the warning about its tail Immunity or no, that attack would have killed me.¡± He faced Clover, unimpressed. ¡°You¡¯ll find that I¡¯m not stupid.¡± Clover rolled her eyes. ¡°You charged in without a plan, made it unsafe for anyone to help, and destroyed the crystals without considering what they¡¯d do. Stupid is the nicest word I¡¯ve got for you right now.¡± ¡°Enough,¡± I cut in, stepping between them as the scorpion stirred. ¡°Argue once it''s dead, you two. Focus now.¡± They both scowled but obeyed. The man stepped forward, raising his staff, and brought it down with a sickening crunch. Two more blows, and the scorpion collapsed. No explosion followed¨Cthe crystals all destroyed from his earlier barrage¨Cand I relaxed, analyzing it just to be sure. Combustion Crystal Scorpion Level 1 Hit Points: 0/20 Mana: 0/0 Status: Deceased I exhaled, relief washing over me. ¡°Alright, you can continue now.¡± Enter: Azurith--59 The man cast me an amused look before crossing his arms and focusing on Clover again. ¡°A healer who only deigns to heal mortal wounds? Sounds like a poor excuse for one.¡± Clover bristled, her tone sharp. ¡°I don¡¯t heal injuries caused by stupidity. If I did, the idiots would keep throwing themselves into danger without thinking first. They can live with the pain from their own actions.¡± He tipped his head, a thoughtful hum escaping him. ¡°An interesting perspective. Twisted, but it has its merits.¡± Tucking his staff into his robes, he dipped his head. ¡°I am Azurith. And you are?¡± ¡°Frederick,¡± I answered. ¡°But what are you doing here?¡± This dungeon was out of the way, hidden in the hills. I wouldn¡¯t have even noticed it without Clover leading us to its doors. Azurith¡¯s gaze swept the room, lingering warily on the phoenix. ¡°I heard of Starkfell¡¯s troubles and their need for the herb, Veridanis. It only grows in deep dungeons, and this was the one people pointed me toward.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Imagine my surprise when most of the floors had already been cleared.¡± He gestured toward the fallen scorpion. ¡°This one spawned just as I was preparing to descend to the fourth level. Instead of chasing me, it raced here. I assumed there would be other adventurers, and I was correct.¡± Clover huffed, crossing her arms. ¡°We could¡¯ve used your help when we fought a level five one yesterday.¡± Azurith¡¯s lips twitched, amusement flashing in his icy blue eyes. ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t here then. My deepest apologies for not being omniscient.¡± Clover¡¯s irritation softened into mild exasperation as she waved him off. ¡°As you should be. But enough of this. I¡¯m Clover, and we¡¯re here for the same reason you are.¡± Turning to the phoenix, she asked, ¡°Speaking of which, have you seen any Veridanis? It glows green and gives off mana particles.¡± The phoenix tilted its head, considering. After a moment, it nodded. ¡°There is one such herb.¡± With a powerful beat of its wings, it flew to the far corner of the room. A hole sat mostly hidden in the wall and when I looked closer, a faint green glow emanated from it. ¡°You may take it,¡± the phoenix said. ¡°Though that blasted basilisk damaged it.¡± Clover carefully uprooted the herb and secured it in her pack. ¡°It¡¯ll have to do. Thank you.¡± With the herb safely stowed, she turned to me, her face lighting up with a beaming smile. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re heading to Starkfell.¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. A weight seemed to lift from her shoulders, and I gave her a thumbs-up. ¡°First dungeon, cleared!¡± Azurith raised an eyebrow. ¡°This was your first dungeon? And you didn¡¯t pick a smaller one?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Clover needed help getting the herb.¡± She nodded and started for the exit. ¡°And now we have it. Let¡¯s get moving.¡± She paused, glancing back at me. ¡°Can you handle walking, or should we rest first?¡± Her worried gaze swept over me, lingering on the hole in my armor. A haunted glint flickered in her eyes. I smiled to reassure her. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I can move¡ªjust a little slow and stiff.¡± Her lips thinned. ¡°I wish we weren¡¯t on such a tight schedule. You need to rest, or that ¡®Exhausted¡¯ status will turn into ¡®Heavily Exhausted¡¯.¡± I took her hand, squeezing gently. ¡°There¡¯s no helping it. Let¡¯s get to Starkfell. I¡¯ll rest once we¡¯re there.¡± The worry eased into a smile, and she leaned into my side as we walked. ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that, darling. Now let¡¯s go. The sooner we get there, the sooner you rest.¡± Turning to Azurith, she asked, ¡°Will you be joining us?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m on a separate quest for our king. I only deviated because so many lives were at risk, and I knew he would approve. You¡¯ve handled that, so I need to get back to my mission.¡± His gaze shifted to the phoenix. ¡°Are you really going to let us leave so easily? I thought you were the final floor¡¯s boss.¡± The phoenix nodded. ¡°Many adventurers have assumed as much. I always tell them the same: this is not an ordinary dungeon. It was built as my home. When monsters began appearing, adventurers followed. They are often disappointed when they fail to defeat me.¡± Frustration laced its tone. I glanced at Clover. ¡°Can we spread the word that this isn¡¯t a dungeon?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Even if we did, people would still come to kill the phoenix. And leaving the monsters unchecked would mean they¡¯d eventually threaten the nearby towns.¡± The phoenix hummed. ¡°That is why I allow intruders to roam the lower levels. When they reach me, I give them one chance to leave. If they refuse...¡± It trailed off ominously. I nodded. ¡°Then their deaths are on them. Do you know why creatures from the Inbetween are breaking through?¡± The phoenix shook its head. ¡°No. Perhaps your spirit does.¡± I focused inward. Do you know? Her reply was immediate. I do not. It is possible a rift has opened between this place and the spirit plane. Death¡¯s chosen usually deals with those, but perhaps he is unaware of it. I will inform Death at once. Focusing on the phoenix again, I relayed the message. ¡°She says there might be a rift, and she¡¯ll notify Death to handle it.¡± ¡°Good,¡± it said, its feathers ruffling. ¡°Hopefully it will be mended before another basilisk appears.¡± Grumbling to itself, it flew back to its eggs. ¡°If your business here is complete, I ask that you leave. All this excitement is draining.¡± I nodded, picking up my pack without protest. ¡°Thanks for your help,¡± I said, remembering the fire resistance that would come in very handy later. It hummed in response, its sharp gaze following us as we exited the room. Once we reached the third floor and were well out of earshot, Azurith shook his head. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d face a phoenix¡ªor that it would let me go so easily.¡± Exhaustion weighed on me like a stone, but I managed a grunt. ¡°Trust me, when it attacked us at first sight, I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d survive.¡± Few would have. And we wouldn¡¯t have either, if not for my spirit¡¯s intervention. Hell Hath No Fury Like A Cleric In A Rage--60 As we reached the second floor, movement flickered in the corner of my eye, stopping me short. Azurith tensed, his hand darting toward his staff, but I raised a hand to stop him. ¡°Relax. This little guy¡¯s a friend.¡± I knelt beside the garlic snail, holding out a hand. ¡°He¡¯ll be joining us from now on.¡± The snail hesitated for a moment before sliding up my arm. I stood just in time to catch Clover¡¯s fondly amused expression and Azurith¡¯s bewildered one. ¡°I should¡¯ve known you wouldn¡¯t forget about that,¡± Clover said with a soft laugh. I grinned. ¡°Of course not. Dinner¡¯s going to taste so much better now.¡± Azurith frowned, eyeing the snail with clear wariness. ¡°Those creatures eat meat. And you¡¯re... bringing it with you?¡± Clover waved dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t bother arguing. Trust me, it won¡¯t work. He¡¯s set on adopting it, and it seems to like him. As long as it doesn¡¯t harm anyone, I¡¯m letting it be.¡± Azurith shook his head but dropped the subject. The rest of the trip back to the surface passed in silence until we finally stepped through the dungeon¡¯s doors. I took a deep breath of fresh air. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize how nice the air smelled until now,¡± I said. Clover nodded. ¡°The deeper dungeons are worse. More rotting corpses¡ª¡± She broke off, wincing as I flinched. Flashes of Gregory pierced my thoughts, grief threading its way under my skin. ¡°Sorry,¡± she murmured, gripping my hand. ¡°That was insensitive.¡± I forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll come back and... handle that later. The herb is more important right now.¡± She gave my hand a squeeze before pulling out the herb. ¡°The phoenix was right¡ªit¡¯s in bad shape. But hopefully, it¡¯s enough to heal the others.¡± ¡°Are there any other dungeons nearby we can check if it¡¯s not?¡± I asked. She nodded. ¡°There¡¯s one, but it¡¯s more dangerous.¡± She glanced back at the dungeon door, snorting softly. ¡°Then again, it probably doesn¡¯t have a phoenix, a basilisk, or a rift between planes, so maybe it¡¯d actually be easier.¡± Yeah, this dungeon had been a nightmare. Azurith tensed, and before I could ask what was wrong, he slammed into Clover and me. ¡°Get down!¡± His shout rang in my ears as a series of thuds followed, something hitting my armor and bouncing off. I pulled us behind a nearby boulder. ¡°What was that?¡± I asked, pulling Clover close as we crouched. Azurith scowled. ¡°Bandits. It¡¯s common for them to ambush tired parties outside dungeons and steal their loot.¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Of course they had to target us. Of course. Because nothing could ever just be simple. Clover peeked over the rock, her eyes narrowing in irritation. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here forever. My lance can take them out¡ªif I can see where to aim.¡± Azurith tilted his head, listening intently. ¡°There are four of them,¡± he said, pointing to the right. ¡°That way, a good distance back. One¡¯s coming closer.¡± Clover grinned, the toothy smile a touch feral. ¡°They¡¯re in for a nasty surprise if they think we¡¯re easy pickings. Frederick, you ready?¡± I nodded, setting the snail down and positioning myself as a human shield. Our weapons glowed brighter as we braced for Azurith¡¯s signal. The crunch of footsteps grew closer. Azurith nodded, and Clover lunged, her mace connecting with a sickening crack. I followed, the volley of arrows bouncing harmlessly off my armor. The first bandit slumped to the ground, and we retreated behind the rock. ¡°Good work,¡± Azurith said with a nod toward the unconscious bandit. ¡°Three more to go.¡± ¡°Of course¡ª¡± Clover began, but her words cut off with a muffled scream as a flash of brown leapt from the grass onto her. I grabbed the weasel and yanked it off, holding it at arm¡¯s length as it clawed at my hand. In its tiny paws was the herb. ¡°You thieving little rat!¡± Clover snarled, her tone dark and dangerous. ¡°I¡¯ll skin you and wear you as a belt!¡± The weasel shuddered as though it understood her, then began to glow. Azurith cursed. ¡°It¡¯s a self-destruct spell!¡± He snatched the weasel from my grasp and hurled it as far as he could. I threw myself over Clover and Azurith just as the explosion hit. Heat washed over me, but thanks to the phoenix¡¯s blessing, it didn¡¯t burn as badly as it could have. I silently thanked the bird and sat up, glaring at the blackened patch of ground. ¡°Rude,¡± I muttered. Clover snorted. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re an adult. You can curse.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Old habits. After raising five siblings, it just kind of stuck.¡± I glanced around. ¡°But let¡¯s focus¡ªwhere¡¯s the herb?¡± She scanned the area, only to freeze a second later. Her eyes locked on the blackened ground. Silence stretched as she stared, her expression drained of all emotion. Then, she muttered. ¡°The rat had it.¡± I groaned. ¡°After everything we went through, some stupid bandits after a cheap win screwed us over?¡± Azurith¡¯s eyes narrowed, fury flashing. ¡°They¡¯ll regret that dearly.¡± He moved to stand, but Clover was already ahead of him, her hair shadowing her face. The air around us shifted, charged with mana. My skin prickled and the hair along my neck stood to attention. When she finally spoke, her voice was low and ice-cold. ¡°No. They¡¯re mine.¡± She lifted her head, and the sheer fury in her eyes sent a chill down my spine. The air crackled, sparking with raw energy as she stormed forward. I followed without hesitation, stepping into place behind her. She shot me a warning look, but I didn¡¯t budge. ¡°You can beat them bloody,¡± I said, meeting her gaze, ¡°I won¡¯t step in to save their lousy hides, but they have arrows. I¡¯ll be your shield.¡± I¡¯d recovered some of my mana during my nap and I cast Bolster, ignoring the flare of exhaustion that followed as the protective spell settled over me. ¡°Fine,¡± she relented. ¡°But if they so much as touch you, I¡¯ll make you puke with what I do to them.¡± Was it bad that I found that incredibly attractive? Shaking the thought away, I focused on the fight ahead. I could question my weird preferences later. Clover would charge in with or without me, and I wasn¡¯t about to risk losing her to some low-life bandits. Besides, they had no idea what kind of beast they¡¯d just woken. You Want What Theyre Having?--61 Azurith frowned, his stance tense, ready to intervene despite Clover¡¯s clear warning. ¡°She¡¯s a cleric. Are you seriously going to let her dive into the thick of the fight?¡± I snorted. ¡°You say that like anyone¨Cor anything¨Con this planet could stop her. Besides, she¡¯s not going alone.¡± I stepped between Clover and the enemies, motioning for her to move into position. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°Always.¡± She shot Azurith one last warning look. ¡°And don¡¯t you dare step foot in this fight.¡± He raised an eyebrow but dutifully stepped back. ¡°I¡¯ll be here if you need help.¡± His tone clearly said he thought it would be less of ¡®if¡¯ and more like ¡®when¡¯. Clover caught it and scoffed, already moving forward. ¡°We won''t.¡± She charged ahead, her focus locked on the enemies. I followed close behind, Bolster thrumming in my veins as arrows rained down again. They pinged harmlessly off my armor while we advanced, the bandits now fully visible. The three figures were cloaked in dark hoods, their tension palpable even from a distance. One notched an arrow and released it, the projectile flying straight for my face¨Conly to stop abruptly, deflected by an invisible barrier like the others before it. The archer froze, his mouth gaping, and Clover seized the moment. With a snarl, she lunged at him, her mace glowing faintly as it slammed into his knee. ¡°I despise the likes of you. You¡¯re cowardly.¡± He crumpled, howling in pain and clutching his leg, but Clover didn¡¯t let up. She clubbed him over the head with a brutal efficiency. ¡°You¡®re too cowardly to handle dungeons. So instead of leveling up like the rest of us, you prey on others.¡± The archer slumped, unconscious, and Clover turned her focus to the remaining two bandits. One was fumbling to nock another arrow, his hands trembling, while the other unsheathed a pair of daggers. That wasn¡¯t going to fly. I surged forward, grabbing the archer¡¯s bow and crushing it. Bolster surged, and with another squeeze, the weapon splintered under my fingers. The bandit staggered back, his eyes wide with shock, but I didn¡¯t give him a chance to flee. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not getting away that easily.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. I grabbed his cloak and hurled him toward Clover. She was on him in a blink, her mace swinging in a wide arch. He lurched to the side, but the blow caught his shoulder with a sickening crunch. The final bandit shuddered, taking a hesitant step back¨Cbut he didn¡¯t get far. Clover whipped out her slingshot, loaded it with something small and shiny, and fired. As the projectile hit, a cloud of red smoke erupted, engulfing the bandit. She yanked us back just before the fumes reached us. Even from a safe distance, my nose burned, and I swallowed back a cough. The bandit stumbled out of the cloud seconds later, his daggers dangling limply as he scrubbed at his watering eyes. His breathing was ragged, interrupted by harsh coughs. I didn¡¯t wait. Slamming into him, I knocked him back into the cloud, sending his weapon scattering into the dirt. When he crawled out again, hands raised, his voice was hoarse. ¡°Mercy!¡± Clover scoffed, striding forward like a force of nature. ¡°You¡¯ve got some balls on you, demanding mercy after robbing adventurers for a living. Did any of them get mercy?¡± She hauled him to his feet and switched her mace to her off hand, punching him square in the jaw. His head snapped back, and his knees buckled. ¡°The herb your rat destroyed was meant to heal dozens of people,¡± she hissed, her voice trembling with fury, ¡°Now we¡¯ll have to hunt down another.¡± Another punch sent something flying from his mouth, and he swung wildly at the air, his swollen eyes barely open. His clumsy attempts were laughable, and Clover dodged effortlessly. Unfortunately for him, she wasn¡¯t done. She slammed her mace into his arm, eliciting a blood-curdling scream, before shoving him to the ground. Her boot pressed into his chest, keeping him pinned. ¡°My paladin damn near died for that herb. And now it¡¯s gone because you low-life thieves thought we were easy prey.¡± Stepping back, she reeled her leg and kicked him hard in the groin. ¡°Well, do you still think that, piece of shit?!¡± The bandit curled in on himself, groaning in pain, but Clover showed no signs of stopping. She continued her assault, ignoring his pitiful attempts to shield himself. The bandit closest to me stirred and I planted a boot on his back, putting just enough pressure to keep him down. Azurith sidled up next to me, watching Clover with a mix of awe and unease. ¡°I underestimated her. Though, to be fair, I never expected that kind of rage from a cleric.¡± I shrugged, unable¨Cor unwilling¨Cto hide the grin tugging at my lips as she let loose. ¡°Clover¡¯s one of a kind. Try to put her in a neat little box, and she¡¯ll chew her way out of it¨Cthen slap you for trying.¡± Azurith hummed. ¡°Noted.¡± Another kick landed, and the bandit let out a strangled yelp. Azurith winced. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we step in? She¡¯s made her point.¡± I barked a laugh. ¡°If you want to try, then be my guest. I¡¯m staying out of it. If she wants to beat him bloody, then I¡¯m going to stand here, look pretty, and when she¡¯s done, I¡¯ll tell her how the rage accents her eyes.¡± And wow, did it. The fiery light behind her gaze made her practically glow. Azurith stared at me, torn between disbelief and amusement. ¡°You¡­ are a very strange human.¡± Oh, he had no idea. People Are People, Nothing To Be Done About It--62 I snorted. ¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t know. Besides, you''re not exactly in a position to talk.¡± Azurith raised a brow. ¡°Excuse me?¡± I shot him a pointed look. ¡°You charged in, destroyed all the crystals on that scorpion, and flatly ignored my warning about it exploding. What if you hadn¡¯t been immune to the blast? You were standing directly in the middle of it. You could¡¯ve been cooked. And for what? Dramatic effect? To make a point?¡± He tilted his head, conceding the argument with a faint nod. ¡°I was operating under the correct impression that I was immune to that damage type. But¡­ you¡¯re right. If I¡¯d been wrong, it would have killed me all the same.¡± His gaze flicked to Clover, and he shook his head. ¡°That said, I¡¯ve never met a paladin so¡­ willing to allow such carnage.¡± A pitiful groan drew my attention to the bandit beneath Clover. She had apparently decided his arm looked better bent in the wrong direction. My stomach churned, and I quickly looked away. ¡°These bandits were shooting to kill,¡± I said, my voice firm. ¡°I¡¯m sure plenty of newbie adventurers have already fallen to them. They won¡¯t get sympathy from me just because consequences¨Cin the form of Clover¨Cfinally caught up to them.¡± Clover straightened, turning to us with a huff. ¡°I can hear you two.¡± Azurith stiffened, but I merely smiled. ¡°I figured. We weren¡¯t exactly whispering.¡± She studied us for a moment before striding over, her mace resting casually at her side. She raised an eyebrow at Azurith. ¡°Got something to say?¡± He immediately shook his head. ¡°No. Though, I am reminded of a phrase: ¡®Nothing burns hotter than a woman¡¯s wrath.¡¯ My Aman used to say that, and after this, I finally understand what she meant.¡± Clover nodded approvingly. ¡°Smart woman.¡± Then she turned to me, planting a fist on her hip. ¡°I take it you have no complaints?¡± I grinned, dipping my head. ¡°None at all¨Cso long as that wrath isn¡¯t directed at me. You look stunning, my lady. Rage really brings out the color in your eyes.¡± Her lips twitched upward, and she relaxed. ¡°Good. You¡¯ll see it often enough, so it¡¯s fortunate you find it attractive.¡± She cupped my cheek, pulling me into a kiss. I sank into it, letting the world fall away, ignoring Azurith¡¯s awkward shifting. When the bandit under my boot stirred again, threatening to pull us back to reality, I slammed him into the ground without breaking the kiss. Clover pulled back, amusement lighting her gaze as I shrugged. ¡°I wasn¡¯t about to stop for the likes of him.¡± Approval flashed in her expression before she patted my chest. ¡°Smart man. But we can finish this later.¡± She gestured toward the remaining bandits. ¡°We need to tie them up and head to Starkfell. There¡¯s another cave to check, but I¡¯ll need to restock in town first¨Cand check on those refugees.¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. I nodded. ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡± Turning to Azurith, I added, ¡°You mentioned a quest. I¡¯m guessing you won¡¯t be joining us?¡± He shook his head, though reluctance was evident. ¡°I¡¯d like to, but I¡¯ve delayed too long. I need to report to the king. Perhaps afterward, I¡¯ll make my way back to Starkfell. There¡¯s something¡­troubling I need to investigate.¡± Clover straightened, her attention sharpening. ¡°Troubling how?¡± Azurith grimaced. ¡°I haven¡¯t confirmed anything yet, but the tavern owner in Starkfell seem to have trouble keeping waitresses. They all disappear after a few weeks¨Cwithout a trace.¡± Clover hissed, her expression darkening. ¡°I knew that prick was bad news! He made my skin crawl anytime I was near him.¡± A chill ran down my spine as my imagination filled the gaps, painting a morbid picture. Innocent girls¨Cmaybe as young as Daedra¨Csuffering under that man¡¯s hand. Monsters like that were the worst kind, and if Azurith¡¯s information was true, I¡¯d relish the chance to snuff the light from his eyes. ¡°You think he¡¯s killing them?¡± I asked, stepping forward. Azurith shook his head. ¡°No. That wouldn¡¯t profit him.¡± He stared at me, then Clover for a long moment. The silence stretched for what felt like an age, before finally he continued. ¡°He hires exclusively beastfolk women, typically from disadvantaged backgrounds. Women no one would miss.¡± His grim expression weighed heavily as he met my gaze. ¡°If you get there before me, put that information to good use.¡± Something old and painful crept into his expression. ¡°No mortal deserves to suffer what those women might be enduring.¡± Ice crawled up my neck, and Clover¡¯s eyes flashed with lethal intent. ¡°How do you know this? What¡¯s your source?¡± Azurith studied her, weighing something I couldn¡¯t see, before replying. ¡°My source is one of the very women who escaped such a fate. I found her on the road, being chased by hooded figures. I dealt with them, and she told me dark things surround that tavern owner¨Cthe one who moved to Starkfell with the refugees.¡± Clover¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°If anything like that is happening, we¡¯ll put a stop to it. But how could he manage such a thing without anyone noticing? I know the mayor. Nikoli would never allow it, not after he fought to keep the beastfolk safe in the raids decades ago.¡± Azurith tipped his head. ¡°Perhaps not, but the mayor is one man, overwhelmed trying to feed and house dozens of refugees. Their resources are dwindling by the day. The town is in chaos. Hiding something like this wouldn¡¯t be difficult. After all, what¡¯s one less beastfolk to the people of Starkfell? One less person to use precious resources.¡± Venom dripped from his words, and I bristled. ¡°You think the original villagers are turning a blind eye on purpose?¡± If that was true, there¡¯d be hell to pay. Azurith sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I hope not. But tensions are high. They resent the strain on their food stocks.¡± His eyes flashed. ¡°And people rarely handle ¡®different¡¯ well¨Cespecially when it disrupts their lives.¡± The ruby horns curling from his white hair caught the light, his hard gaze betraying too much personal experience with prejudice. I grimaced, ¡°I hail from Dawncrest, and I hate to admit it, but you¡¯re right. I¡¯ve broken up too many brawls between travelers and villagers with imagined slights.¡± I¡¯d learned early on who of Dawncrest were the less pleasant sorts and avoided them, only interacting when someone needed me to step in. I wished it didn¡¯t happen as often as it did¡­ If Anyone Tries Something, Theyll Answer To ME--63 Clover folded her arms, scowling. ¡°The more I hear about Dawncrest, the more I despise it. And to think that was the first city of Nexus. What a disgrace.¡± I shrugged, not bothering to argue. ¡°There¡¯s a reason it never became a tourist attraction like Latica or Highgate. The town¡¯s attitude is well known, and few want to travel to a place where they¡¯ll be scorned. The only reason they tolerated my siblings and me was because we¡¯re human. I don¡¯t like it, but minds like that don¡¯t change easily. The mayor has been trying to fix things, but it''s¡­slow going.¡± Scrubbing a hand over my face, I sighed. ¡°Every rule he puts in place to prevent unjust actions against beastfolk, elves, dragonkin or other races is met with immediate resistance. Honestly, I¡¯ve been thinking about moving my siblings away for years, but we never had the money.¡± Clover¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, and she rolled her shoulders. ¡°Well, after we finish this, we¡¯ll just have to fix that. Clearing dungeons of monsters yields excellent rewards, and slaying beasts for their hides and resources also pays well. We¡¯ll get Starkfell the herb it needs, and then we¡¯ll see about getting your siblings out of that pit.¡± The fierce protectiveness in her tone gripped my heart tight. ¡°You¡¯d do that?¡± We hadn¡¯t discussed what would happen after we got the herb. Until now, I hadn¡¯t dared to think about it. Her willingness to stay with me, to help bring my siblings somewhere safer, was touching. But there was a problem she didn¡¯t know about yet. My heritage. My mission. The dragon needed slaying, and the king did too. Would she follow me, if I asked? Doubts clawed at me, but Clover brushed them aside by cupping my cheek, her expression both fond and exasperated. ¡°Darling, when I took an interest in you, I did so knowing you have a large family to care for. From what you¡¯ve said about your struggles to feed them and the town¡¯s hostility, I understood this might be necessary. Those sweetlings won¡¯t suffer in that hole any longer than they have to, not if you and I can help it.¡± She was making it extremely hard not to kiss her. A lump rose in my throat, and I leaned into her hand with a small smile. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m not used to anyone else worrying about them, but it¡¯s¡­ nice.¡± Nice didn¡¯t feel like a strong enough word, but Clover seemed to understand. She returned my smile, letting her hand fall. ¡°It¡¯s not something you need to thank me for.¡± Then her frown returned as she looked toward Starkfell. ¡°But first, we need to leave. There¡¯s still another herb to find¨Cand now, that tavern owner to investigate.¡± Her earlier lethal tone crept back into her voice, and I squeezed her hand. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Do we have time for both? I despise the thought of leaving those women to suffer, but if the sick can¡¯t hold on long¡­¡± Clover exhaled heavily and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about that. We won¡¯t have the luxury of time to deal with the tavern first. When we get to Starkfell, I¡¯ll ask some of the refugees I know to keep an eye out. There are also two people who might help us: a berserker and a Chosen of Inspiration. Clearing the dungeon will be easier with their help.¡± Azurith inclined his head. ¡°That gives your sources time to gather information while you heal the sick. Smart.¡± He glanced at me. ¡°But be warned: they won¡¯t like you. Your cleric has earned their trust, but you haven¡¯t. Prepare for suspicion¨Cor hostility.¡± Clover stiffened, crossing her arms ¡°I¡¯ll make it clear he¡¯s nothing like the others they¡¯ve dealt with. If anyone tries anything, they¡¯ll answer to me.¡± Azurith smiled faintly. ¡°You are certainly formidable. I pity anyone who attempts to cross you.¡± Amusement laced his words before he straightened, his tone growing serious. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave, then. Perhaps I¡¯ll see you in Starkfell¨Cor perhaps not. May your travels be safe and your steps silent.¡± With that, he turned and strode off, his movements swift and graceful. Once he was gone, I moved toward the unconscious bandits. ¡°Let¡¯s tie these guys up and get going. I don¡¯t want to waste any time, especially since we don¡¯t know if we¡¯ll have help clearing that dungeon or not.¡± Clover nodded, pulling rope from her pack as she fell in step beside me. ¡°The berserker might stay behind to hunt for resources. It¡¯s not his usual preference¨Che likes more challenging prey¨Cbut the town needs supplies.¡± Under her breath, she added. ¡°And if something is going on with the tavern owner, he¡¯ll crush the man¡¯s skull into the dirt before the fool could say ¡®oops¡¯.¡± Sounds like I¡¯d get along famously with him. I hummed, already considering the distance left to Starkfell. ¡°If we hustle, we should be there by tomorrow. But we¡¯ll need to leave immediately after this.¡± A yawn crept up on me, and I covered it with a wince. I¡¯d nearly forgotten about my Exhausted status. Clover caught the movement and sighed. ¡°You¡¯re going to be an absolute menace to make rest, aren¡¯t you?¡± I shrugged but didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°If there are people nearby who need help? Without a doubt.¡± Her sigh deepened. ¡°I thought as much. You probably won¡¯t rest once we reach Starkfell either, so we¡¯re setting up camp after this.¡± I opened my mouth to argue, but her glare shut me down. ¡°No. You still have the Exhausted status, and while it¡¯s admirable how determined you are to help others, I won¡¯t let you grind yourself into the ground. We¡¯ll rest tonight. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll help Starkfell.¡± The urge to leave¨Cto not waste a single minute¨Cburned in me, but I knew a losing battle when I saw one. I gave in with a nod. ¡°Alright. But I don¡¯t know how well I¡¯ll sleep,¡± Gregory and Sara¡¯s fates were still fresh and new, like an open wound. My thoughts fought to drift to them now that things were winding down. If that continued, sleep would be tricky. She smiled and shot me a playful wink, banishing the dark thoughts threatening to take hold. ¡°If earlier is any indication, you¡¯ll sleep just fine once we¡¯re sharing a bedroll. Which works for me, as I was planning on continuing that anyway. Now hush and focus on the task at hand. Cuddling comes later.¡± I chuckled softly, dreading and looking forward to the night ahead in equal measure. About That...--64 We set up camp quickly, and the scent of cooked Rock Snake¨Cflavored with garlic, courtesy of our snail friend¨Cwafted through the air. I chewed slowly, trying to focus on the taste rather than the bedroll just a few feet behind us. We¡¯d shared it before. It shouldn¡¯t have been a big deal now, but this felt¡­ different. Last time, I¡¯d been too wrecked to think or feel much. The grief was still there, gnawing at my insides, but at least I could breathe around it now. Maybe it was being away from the dungeon where the corpses still sat. Or maybe it was Clover¨Cher presence alone a balm. Whatever the reason, my nerves were a jumbled mess beneath my skin, ricocheting between anticipation, uncertainty, and unease. The night was long and nightmares hovered just out of reach, waiting for their chance to leap. What if I lashed out in my sleep? I¡¯d never done it before, but I could. My gaze drifted downward, and a different worry took hold. What if I had one of those dreams? With Clover wrapped around me like before, it would be¡­ awkward. To say the least. ¡°Frederick.¡± Clover¡¯s voice broke my spiraling thoughts. I glanced up, meeting her concerned eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve hardly touched your food, and I can practically hear you overthinking from here.¡± She flicked a glance toward the bedroll, then back to me. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to do this, we don¡¯t have to.¡± Her tone wasn¡¯t hurt or offended, thankfully, but I shook my head, panic flaring through the mess of emotions. ¡°That¡¯s not it!¡± The words rushed out before I could stop them. ¡°I¡¯m just worried. What if I have a nightmare and lash out? Or one of the other dreams¨C¡± I bit my lip hard, the metallic taste of blood grounding me. Damn it, Frederick, stop blurting everything when you¡¯re tired and nervous. Clover¡¯s concern softened into understanding, and then, to my horror, amusement. She stood, setting her book aside, and crossed the fire. Sitting beside me, she traced her fingers lightly down my arm. The warmth of her touch met skin instead of armor, and for once, I was glad I¡¯d set it aside. Anticipation surged, feeding off her touch, but I shoved it down. Now was not the time. When her hand reached mine, she gently pried the half-finished Rock Snake from my grip and set it aside. Twining our fingers, she gave them a reassuring squeeze. ¡°Darling, if you have a nightmare and lash out, we¡¯ll handle it then. I¡¯m not made of glass¨Cyou won¡¯t break me with an accidental swipe.¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I winced and turned away. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you at all.¡± Spousal abuse was rare in Dawncrest, but the few times it cropped up, I¡¯d been swift¨Cand merciless¨Cin rooting it out. I¡¯d seen the bruises, the burns, the welts. The thought of leaving even a single mark on Clover filled me with revulsion. Looking down at our joined hands, I tried to explain. ¡°I know, you¡¯re strong, but I can¡¯t hurt you. I¡¯ve seen too many of those kinds of people, and I won¡¯t be one of them.¡± I can¡¯t be like Lazuris, not in any way, but especially not this one. Logically, I knew it wasn¡¯t the same. I wouldn¡¯t do it intentionally, but that didn¡¯t make the thought sit any easier. From the recesses of my mind, my spirit¡¯s voice rose, firm with conviction. You could not be him if you tried. Your revulsion at the mere thought proves it. He is an evil man, and you, my Chosen, are not. Her confidence erased some of my unease. She must¡¯ve seen thousands of people over her time, so if she believed in me, maybe I could write this off as my own overthinking. Clover leaned against my side, pulling our entwined hands into her lap with a chuckle. ¡°Frederick, I say this with all my love, but you¡¯re being a ninny.¡± I blinked. ¡°I¨C what?¡± She shook her head, smirking. ¡°You.¡± She poked my chest with her free hand, accentuating each word. ¡°Are. Being. A. Ninny.¡± Before I could protest, she tugged my collar and pulled me down for a kiss. It was brief¨Cjust a peck¨Cbut before I could deepen it, she pulled back. ¡°You¡¯re not that kind of man, and you never will be. I¡¯ve seen enough of them in Highgate to know the signs.¡± Her smile faltered, darkening into a grimace. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve never met anyone like you. So honest and upfront with their intentions. After living in that political snake pit, you¡¯re a breath of fresh air.¡± I¡¯d never thought much about what the capital might be like, but if her description was any indication, I wouldn¡¯t fare well there. And if things went the way they needed to, I¡¯d take the throne one day. That meant dealing with all those snakes and their deceitful smiles. My skin crawled at the thought, and I tucked her closer, pressing my lips to her hair to hide the new unease rolling through me. ¡°I already hate it.¡± She laughed, shifting until she lounged fully against my chest. My arms wrapped around her instinctively. ¡°Anyone with sense would. It¡¯s awful there. The social elite consider those ¡®beneath¡¯ them as pawns in a game. Their suffering and grief are nothing but entertainment.¡± Her gaze drifted, unfocused. ¡°The day my Lady chose me, I left that pit and I will not be going back.¡± The vehemence in her voice hit like a punch to the gut, and dread hollowed me out. I¡¯d hoped she¡¯d follow me once I told her about my heritage, but if she hated the capital that much¡­ I should tell her. Rip off the bandage and deal with the fallout.. The thoughts sent my dread spiraling into feverish anxiety. Before I could speak, though, she snuggled closer, wiping away the worry with a smile. ¡°Good thing I don¡¯t have to go back. I found myself a strapping paladin, after all, and once we¡¯re finished here, we¡¯ll see about moving your darling sweetlings out of Dawncrest.¡± She wrinkled her nose at the name, as if even saying it left a bad taste. A weak chuckle escaped me, and I hugged her tighter. A new worry pushed all the others aside. I needed to tell her¡­ How Far Would I Go?--65 I drew in a steadying breath, uncertain of what to say but knowing I had to get it out. If Clover was adamant about never setting foot in Highgate, she needed to know what lay ahead of us. What we had was fragile and painfully new. I couldn¡¯t risk losing it over a hurt that might come later because I hadn¡¯t been honest now. Before I could speak, she sighed. ¡°Here I am, rambling about the future when we¡¯ve got a mountain of things to do first. Retrieving the Veridanis won¡¯t be easy, even if Timbur and Haltir agree to help.¡± Her voice dipped with a rare note of uncertainty. I tilted my head, curiosity piqued. ¡°You seemed confident they¡¯d help before. What changed?¡± She stared into the fire, her fingers playing idly with mine as she searched for the right words. ¡°Timbur¨Cthe berserker¨Cwon¡¯t be an issue. He might insist on coming, even though I¡¯d prefer he stay to keep Starkfell secure. Haltir, though¡­ he¡¯ll be harder to convince.¡± Silence stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts. When she didn¡¯t elaborate, I gently squeezed her hand. ¡°Why? Starkfell¡¯s people are suffering. What reason could he have for not helping if he¡¯s nearby?¡± Her grimace deepened, but her tone held no judgement. ¡°He¡¯s not staying nearby; he¡¯s an adventurer passing through. He has no connection to these people.¡± She hesitated, then added. ¡°He¡¯s searching for someone¨Ca woman from his past. He believes she was taken against her will. He only came to Starkfell because of a lead on her whereabouts.¡± Sympathy flared, sharp and immediate. ¡°I can¡¯t fault him for that. If something happened to my siblings¨Cor you¨CI¡¯d tear the country apart to find you.¡± Her tension lingered, though, and when it refused to fade, I pressed. ¡°But there¡¯s more to this, isn¡¯t there? Did he do something while in town?¡± She bit her lip, turning into my chest, her eyes clouded with wariness. ¡°He hasn¡¯t done anything yet, but his eyes make me wary.¡± She met my gaze, something cagey in her stare. ¡°I¡¯ve seen those eyes before, in Highgate. That is a man who will tear through anyone or anything for his goal. He¡¯ll manipulate, bribe, threaten, or kill¨Cwhatever it takes. Even if it means the world will burn.¡± Her wariness made sense now. I should have felt the same, but instead, painful understanding welled up. ¡°I can¡¯t judge,¡± I murmured, half to myself. ¡°I don¡¯t know how far I¡¯d go if someone I cared for was threatened. I might do the same.¡± I grimaced. ¡°I might do worse.¡± I¡¯d already made a reckless pact to protect my family. If it came down to it, how far would I go? The memory of Beatrice¡¯s tear-streaked face hit me like a blow, her would-be captors¡¯ smug expressions¨Ctwisted with lust and greed¨Cburned into my mind. I curled Clover closer and shook my head. ¡°Scratch that. I know exactly how far I¡¯d go, and it¡¯s not pretty.¡± Clover raised an eyebrow, her expression open and without fear despite my ominous words. ¡°You sound like you know that for a fact. Have something you¡¯d like to tell me, Darling?¡± Her voice was teasing, but curiosity shone through. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. I shrugged, answering honestly. ¡°I¡¯ve done less-than-moral things to protect my siblings. Years ago, I found Beatrice¨Cmy other sister, aside from Daedra¨Cfleeing Starkfell.¡± The memories rose easily. ¡°She was being chased by her would-be betrothed and his thugs. Her parents sold her into marriage when she was just twelve winters old.¡± Anger clawed at my nerves, and I gritted my teeth. ¡°They didn¡¯t care that she refused, that her intended was triple her age, or that she hadn¡¯t even gotten her first cycle yet.¡± Beatrice¡¯s tear-streaked face was seared into my memory, the ghost sensation of nails digging crescents into my arm following shortly behind. ¡°She looked at me like I was her last hope. And, looking back, I was. If I¡¯d handed her over, she wouldn¡¯t have escaped again. She would have been at the non-existent mercy of those disgusting sacks of skin.¡± My blood boiled, and I took a steadying breath. ¡°Of course, I did no such thing.¡± Clover¡¯s expression hardened, her voice sharp with conviction. ¡°Whatever you did, they deserved it and more.¡± I smiled faintly, some of the old anger easing. ¡°I sent her to Dawncrest, told her to find my house and tell my brothers I sent her. Then, I¡­dealt with her pursuers. They swore they wouldn¡¯t rest until they had her.¡± I shrugged. ¡°So, I threw them to the wolves outside Dawncrest. They were aristocrats, too soft to survive. They didn¡¯t stand a chance. I left them there and, when people came knocking to ask about them, and later Beatrice, I lied. Only the mayor knows the truth. And now you.¡± I looked to the twin moons hanging in the sky. ¡°I won¡¯t judge Haltir for doing what he thinks is necessary, because if it came down to it, I would have marched to Starkfell myself to rake her parents over the coals for what they tried to do.¡± I¡¯d been tempted to do it anyway, over the years, but everyone assumed Beatrice was dead and she preferred it that way. I wouldn¡¯t rip that away from her to sate my anger. ¡°As long as Haltir¡¯s focusing that mentality on people who deserve it, I couldn¡¯t care less. But if he ever turns it on an innocent¡­¡± I let the thought stand, my tone darkening. Clover nodded after a long pause. ¡°You have a point. Maybe I¡¯m just jumpy because the other people who have those eyes don¡¯t focus on saving people. Their goals are more¡­corrupt.¡± She shook herself and relaxed against me, reaching for the Rock Snake again. Offering it to my free hand¨Cher fingers not so much as twitching to release their hold on my captive one¨Cshe continued. ¡°We¡¯ll see if Haltir will help or not. There¡¯s no use worrying about it now.¡± I took a bite of the cold meat and nearly choked when she added with a sly smile, ¡°As for your other ¡®dream¡¯ worries¡­¡± Her finger trailed down my chest, stopping a scarce few inches above my waist. ¡°We¡¯ll handle that if and when it happens. I would prefer to wait for such things until we have an inn, but I could be convinced otherwise with the right words from you.¡± Heat coiled low in my stomach, and I groaned. Dropping my head onto her shoulder, I ignored the heat climbing my cheeks with sheer force of will. ¡°You sound like you¡¯re hoping I¡¯ll have those dreams.¡± She shrugged, smile firmly in place as she cuddled into my chest pointedly. ¡°Maybe, maybe not. Now finish your food so we can go to bed.¡± She yawned, shivering as she snaked an arm under my shirt. ¡°It¡¯s getting colder by the minute and I, for one, want to be tucked into our bedroll before the chill sets in.¡± Our bedroll. That would take some getting used to. She won¡¯t want to be near you once she knows the truth, so you may as well enjoy it now. The insidious voice of doubt coiled around my thoughts. I shoved it aside, focusing on her warmth and the lingering taste of garlic instead. I''d tell her once we got to Starkfell and the herb was handled. If it went badly¡­ Well, that was a problem for Future-Frederick. Suspicions and Medicine Lessons--66 Clover smiled, a teasing glint flashing briefly before her curiosity took over. ¡°So, how did you sleep?¡± I shrugged, adjusting my pack as I started down the path toward Starkfell. ¡°Better than I expected, but not well.¡± She frowned, tilting her head thoughtfully. ¡°I wonder why it worked better the night before.¡± Rubbing my jaw, I bit back a yawn. ¡°Probably because I was completely wiped out after discovering Gregory. That, or the power I drew on was too draining to stay awake.¡± The first night, falling asleep had been easy, though the nightmares constantly woke me. Last night, in contrast, had been peaceful¡ªif brief. Clover drifted closer, her thumb brushing the bags under my eyes. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll have to find ways to wear you out before we camp. This isn¡¯t healthy.¡± Concern shadowed her expression, though under different circumstances, she might¡¯ve turned the comment into a flirt. I took her hand, squeezing lightly. ¡°I know, but for now, this is the best I¡¯ll get.¡± I pulled out the stuffed bear I¡¯d worked on through the night. ¡°At least I had enough time to finish this.¡± I¡¯d had to fill it with dried grass after all, but thankfully, the hide was thick enough that none pushed through. The bear itself¡­ Well, I was no master craftsman and it showed. It was crudely stitched, but sturdy enough to last. Some button eyes would truly complete it, but that was a concern for later. Its soft black fur caught the morning light as Clover shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s not make a habit of midnight crafting, shall we?¡± she said, though her smile softened. ¡°There are teas that help with deeper sleep. Once we reach Starkfell, I¡¯ll ask the herbalist about them. I need to speak with her about the Veridanis anyway.¡± Her gaze flicked to mine. ¡°Just a heads-up¡ªStarkfell is full of beastfolk. Not all of them are refugees. The herbalist and the captain of the guard are both locals.¡± She hummed. ¡°Thistle¡ªthe herbalist¡ªwill probably be friendly. Warwick, though¡­¡± Her face darkened. ¡°He¡¯s seen too many raids on beastfolk tribes to trust outsiders. Don¡¯t be surprised if he¡¯s wary of you.¡± I shrugged. ¡°After living in Dawncrest, I¡¯m used to suspicion. At least his has a reason.¡± Clover tipped her head, ¡°There is that.¡± Under her breath, she added. ¡°Can¡¯t wait to get you and the sweetlings away from that pit. First thing I¡¯ll do when this is over.¡± Warmth curled through my gut, followed shortly by unease. There was still a conversation on the horizon¡­ I pushed aside the looming conversation and nodded. ¡°We should tell Warwick about the tavern owner right away. He sounds like the type to keep an eye on things.¡± If luck was on our side, he might handle the problem while we retrieved the Veridanis. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I¡¯d never been particularly lucky, but there was a first time for everything, right? Clover¡¯s thoughtful hum broke the silence. ¡°Warwick and the mayor are usually nearby. We can discuss it with both of them, then see Thistle and the merchant.¡± She sighed, rubbing her neck. ¡°After that, I¡¯ll check on the refugees. I¡¯d prefer to give you a day to rest, but if that¡¯s not possible, we¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± Exhaustion lined her face and I squeezed her hand. ¡°Let me know if I can help.¡± Surprise flickered across her face. ¡°You have medicinal knowledge?¡± ¡°Just the basics,¡± I admitted. ¡°But I¡¯m a fast learner. If I can take some of the burden off you, all the better.¡± Besides, I¡¯d need to do something while she was working. If the people were as wary as she expected them to be, having a random human wandering around would put them on edge. The beastfolk might distrust a wandering human, but a human helping the sick? That was far less threatening. Clover considered me for a moment, then smiled, her gaze softening with affection.¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that later. For now, some patients are uneasy around humans. They make an exception for me, but I don¡¯t want to cause unnecessary stress.¡± She kissed my cheek. ¡°I appreciate the offer, though. Want to start learning about herbs on the way to Starkfell? I need to gauge how much you know.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Honestly, I only know basic first aid, thanks largely to my siblings. After one of them got hurt, I learned to stitch wounds. I meant to learn about salves, but I¡­ never got around to it.¡± Her brow arched. ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯re omitting something there?¡± Heat rose to my face and I looked away with a grimace. ¡°Dawncrest¡¯s only herbalist is Janice, an elderly woman. She¡¯s friendly enough, but her daughter is a little too friendly.¡± Remembering our last ¡®chat¡¯, I scowled. ¡°She¡¯s one of the people who thought I should leave my siblings behind.¡± Clover¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°Great. I hate her already.¡± I focused on the road, shaking off the sour memories. ¡°She¡¯s nothing compared to the seamstress.¡± A shiver ran down my spine. ¡°She¡¯s married, but she disguises her groping as taking ¡®measurements.¡¯ Nothing is more uncomfortable than that.¡± Her husband had almost challenged me to a duel over his wife¡¯s honor after one session. Only Clyde¡¯s intervention stopped that from getting ugly. Clover¡¯s eyes flashed dangerously. ¡°Is that why your regular clothes are in tatters?¡± Embarrassment surged again as I nodded. ¡°Yeah. After the last time, I decided to mend them myself.¡± I winced. ¡°You can see how bad I am at it, but better to deal with my poor patch job than her pawing at me.¡± Clover took a deep breath, her gaze hardening. ¡°You¡¯ll never have to deal with that again, my personal guarantee.¡± Her eyes darkened with old memories. ¡°In Highgate, I saw too many people¨Cmen and women alike¨Cbe taken advantage of like that because they couldn¡¯t speak out. Not without risking their job or life. I refuse to allow those harlots to put you in that situation.¡± Before I could respond, she looped her arm through mine, her grin sharp and vengeful. ¡°I¡¯m going to enjoy dealing with every last one of Dawncrest¡¯s harlots.¡± A chuckle escaped me. ¡°Far be it from me to trample your fun. Just remember to leave them breathing. We don¡¯t need you getting a bounty.¡± It would be nice not worrying about Mariam¡¯s wandering hands the next time I needed a seamstress. Clover kissed my cheek again, her tone playful. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, I¡¯ve yet to do anything so heinous as to incur a bounty¡­ though it¡¯s truly only a matter of time.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Those are thoughts for later. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on your first lesson in medicinal knowledge. We¡¯ve got a long trek ahead.¡± I nodded, letting her voice wash over me. She was right, there would be time for the rest later. Unwarranted Hostility--67 The rest of the walk passed with Clover idly quizzing me on herbs and medicinal knowledge. To my surprise, I did better than expected. After hours of back-and-forth questions, she nodded in satisfaction. ¡°You weren¡¯t giving yourself enough credit before, Darling. You know all the common herbs, their uses, and where to find them. That¡¯s more than some herbalists start with.¡± Warmth rolled through me at her praise. ¡°I still have a long way to go if I want to be any real help to you.¡± She shrugged. ¡°True, but I¡¯ve been doing this for years. Give me a few months, and you¡¯ll be up to snuff in no time.¡± Her gaze shifted to the road ahead, and she straightened. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re finally here.¡± I followed her line of sight, taking in Starkfell. It wasn¡¯t all that different from Dawncrest. The structure of the homes and roads were nearly identical. The only real difference was that Starkfell was bigger. As we got closer, I noticed the activity¡ªpeople working in the fields, carrying goods, and bustling about, the buzz offering a bit of life to the town. And all of it stopped the second we crossed the town''s threshold. Dozens of eyes turned our way, suspicion thickening the air. Curious stares and outright hostile glares bore into me, their weight pressing down on my shoulders. My skin crawled under the scrutiny. ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding about them hating outsiders,¡± I muttered. Clover¡¯s face hardened into a determined mask. ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t. Don¡¯t worry, though¡ªI won¡¯t let any of them lay a finger on you.¡± Raising her voice, she addressed the onlookers. ¡°Only fools or ungrateful idiots would attack the man who¡¯s risking his life to find Veridanis without any promise of reward.¡± She grabbed my hand, glaring right back at them as if daring anyone to try something. Slowly, the tension ebbed. Most of the glares lightened, though they didn¡¯t disappear entirely. At least now I could breathe through it. ¡°Thanks,¡± I murmured. She leaned into my side. ¡°Nothing to thank me for, Darling. Let¡¯s find the mayor and captain.¡± We continued down the main road, and I did my best to ignore the lingering stares. Though now more curious than hostile, they still prickled at the back of my neck. I¡¯d take what I could get. A large noticeboard caught my attention. Dozens of papers were nailed to its surface, all bearing different requests. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. One detail stuck out¡ªthey didn¡¯t list any rewards. Clover sighed beside me. ¡°Thanks to the influx of refugees, there¡¯s not enough resources to go around, and no one can afford to pay for help. Usually, people would pitch in without payment, but¡­¡± Azurith¡¯s warning rang in my head. They resent the strain on their food stocks. And people rarely handle ¡®different¡¯ well¨Cespecially when it disrupts their lives. I clenched my fists, determination surging as I scanned the board again. Most of the jobs were for essentials¡ªhides for blankets, meat for food, even toys for children. Without a second thought, I pulled half the papers from the board. ¡°There is someone willing to help: me.¡± Turning to Clover, I pushed down the flicker of anger and smiled. ¡°I was already looking for something to do while you tend to the sick. Rock Snakes are easy enough to hunt, and as for hides¡­¡± I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll see what tries to kill me first.¡± She eyed the damaged armor I wore. ¡°I appreciate that you want to help, but that hole in your chestplate is going to be an issue.¡± I traced the rim of the puncture. ¡°I know. But I doubt Starkfell¡¯s blacksmith¡ªif they have one¡ªwill sell me new armor. I¡¯ll hunt, sell whatever I don¡¯t use, and see if it¡¯s enough to afford repairs.¡± She didn¡¯t look entirely convinced, but after a moment, she nodded. ¡°Alright. But be careful. I have plans for you that require you¡¯re in one piece, Darling.¡± Before we could resume our path, a faint movement behind Clover caught my eye. I shifted sideways to get a better view and found a boy, no taller than Clover¡¯s hip, peeking out from her shadow. His brown hair stuck out in every direction, and his thin frame made my chest ache with a sudden urge to feed him. Wariness radiated off him, but past that, curiosity gleamed in his wide eyes as he stared at me. Clover followed my gaze, her features softening. ¡°Ah, I was wondering when you¡¯d show up. Your Adan is still sick, sweetling, but this nice man and I are going to fetch the herb he needs.¡± The boy glanced at her, nodded, then returned his focus to me, his curiosity undimmed. I shifted under his gaze, acutely aware of the villagers¡¯ eyes sharpening on me again. Taking a cautious step back, I tried to convey that I meant no harm. ¡°He¡¯s probably fascinated with how shiny your armor is.¡± She knelt to his height and gently shooed him. ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you to wander alone. Go back inside with the others.¡± The boy pouted but obeyed, giving me one last lingering look before vanishing into a nearby building. Once he was gone, the tension eased again. I rolled my shoulders, working out the stiffness. ¡°I hope the hostility dies down soon. I¡¯ll be stiffer than a board if this keeps up.¡± Clover looped her arm through mine and began walking again. ¡°It should. But if anyone gives you trouble, let me know. I¡¯ll straighten them out.¡± Her tone brimmed with protective promise. I kissed the top of her head. ¡°Will do.¡± When we reached the town¡¯s largest building, the town hall, Clover led me inside. My jaw nearly dropped at the sight before me. A human man greeted us with a tired smile. His disheveled black hair streaked with grey and weary eyes made him seem much older than he probably was. But he wasn¡¯t what caught my attention. No, the beastfolk man next to him that captured all my focus. I¡¯d seen dozens of his race pass through Dawncrest, but none had ever been whatever breed of beast he was. He was powerful, dangerous¡­ and huge. Introducing Warwick--68 Who I could only assume was Warwick¨Che glared like he hated me on sight, so with Clover¡¯s explanation it seemed likely¨Ctowered over me. His upper half was humanoid, long blond hair cascading down his shoulders like a golden waterfall. Atop his head sat a full rack of antlers, their intricate branches twisting like living vines. His lower half though? Decidedly not human. The powerful body of a golden elk supported his frame, complete with a short, fluffy tail that matched his shimmering coat. The air around him crackled faintly, the sensation making the hair on my arms stand on end. His glare didn¡¯t waver as I smiled and waved awkwardly. ¡°Ah, you¡¯d be Warwick, then?¡± He raised a sharp eyebrow, his scowl unmoving. ¡°What is it to you, human?¡± he spat, his tone laced with suspicion. The venom in human grated on my nerves, and my forced smile faltered. I¡¯d endured more than my share of hostility back in Dawncrest as a child¡ªusually for merely existing¡ªand I wasn¡¯t about to put up with it now. Straightening my back, I kept my tone neutral but firm. ¡°Clover mentioned you¡¯d hate me on sight, and would you look at that¡ªshe was right. I haven¡¯t been glared at like this since I was five winters old in Dawncrest.¡± Clover raised an eyebrow. ¡°It went back that far?¡± I shrugged. ¡°I was a boy, too young to contribute much to the town. They saw me as a burden until I was old enough to pitch in. Of course, once I started adopting people, some of their hospitality turned strained.¡± Clover¡¯s eyes darkened briefly, a fire flashing behind them before she nodded. ¡°Good to know I can add that to the list of reasons I despise that town. But back to the present¡ªWarwick isn¡¯t like them.¡± She turned and fixed Warwick with a pointed glare, daring him to argue. ¡°Frederick here promised to help me without expecting anything in return. He¡¯s nearly died more than once as my front-line support while we searched for the Veridanis herb. Surely you¡¯re not like those fools in Dawncrest, Warwick, taking out your prejudices on an innocent man.¡± Warwick¡¯s gaze flicked to the hole in my armor, and some of the tension in his frame eased. His crossed arms relaxed, and with a heavy sigh, he muttered, ¡°My apologies. Things have been... strained lately. The last handful of humans to pass through were less than stellar examples of your race. It¡¯s put me in a sour and distrustful mood.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I exhaled, letting go of my irritation. ¡°That¡¯s fair, and I accept your apology. I know it probably doesn¡¯t mean much, but I am here to help.¡± He eyed the crumpled job papers still clutched in my hand and hummed. ¡°Evidently.¡± The human, Nikoli most likely, pressed forward, a painful hope in his eyes. ¡°Were you successful? Some of the refugees are fading fast.¡± Clover sighed, running a hand through her hair. ¡°Long story short? We had the Veridanis. But bandits were waiting outside the dungeon, and one of them destroyed it in their carelessness. We¡¯ll be heading to the next dungeon as soon as I check on the refugees.¡± Warwick grimaced, his shoulders slumping. ¡°I¡¯d offer my aid, but the monsters have been more frantic than ever lately. If it weren¡¯t for Timbur patrolling as well, I would never know rest.¡± Clover¡¯s lips curled with faint amusement. ¡°And here I was hoping to steal the berserker away for help in the next dungeon. Oh well, I¡¯ll ask Haltir instead.¡± Her smile dimmed into a grimace. ¡°Though I doubt he¡¯ll help without some kind of incentive.¡± Warwick hummed, shaking his head. ¡°I would have assumed the same, if he hadn¡¯t left the day after you did to raid the dungeon to the north.¡± Clover froze, her eyes widening. ¡°He went alone? I asked him to help the refugees, not throw himself at a dungeon on a suicide mission!¡± Warwick shrugged. ¡°He believed his skills were better suited for clearing the dungeon and finding the herb. He wasn¡¯t necessarily wrong.¡± She scoffed, running a hand down her face. ¡°Sure, but he¡¯s no help to anyone if he gets himself killed. Ugh. I¡¯m going to start smacking the stupid out of people.¡± I snorted, remembering how she handled the bandits. ¡°You¡¯re already doing that.¡± She raised a playful eyebrow, some of the tension lifting. ¡°And my methods work, don¡¯t they?¡± I shook my head, a grin tugging at my lips. ¡°Yup. Bonus points for looking gorgeous while doing it.¡± Her expression softened into a full smile as she preened slightly under the compliment. ¡°Glad you think so, because when we catch up to Haltir, I¡¯ll look downright stunning in my fury.¡± ¡°You already are.¡± The words slipped out, and heat crawled up my neck as the room went silent. Nikoli¡¯s gaze was heavy with amusement, while Warwick watched with something like envy before his neutral expression fell over him again like a mask. Most importantly, Clover¡¯s eyes softened further. ¡°A woman can never hear too many compliments. But let¡¯s stay on task.¡± She faced the others and spoke. ¡°I need to see to the refugees, Frederick here will be helping with a few jobs while I do and¨C¡± The soft thud of hooves on wood flooring echoed down the hall just before a blur of red burst open the doors. A young beastfolk¡ªa fawn with curly red hair, nubby antlers, and a gleeful grin¡ªbolted into the room. When she spotted Warwick, her face split into a grin and she launched at him with a cry. ¡°Warwick! Aman and I are here to visit you!¡± The sheer volume stunned me and Clover shook her head, amused. Apparently this was normal of them¡­ And Things Were Going So Well Too--69 A woman entered behind the fawn, her auburn curls cascading down her back in waves. Unlike the girl, her antlers were fully grown, twisting elegantly into a pseudo crown atop her head. She placed one hand on her hip and huffed. ¡°Holly, what did we say about running inside?¡± The girl caught herself, visibly attempting to slow down¡ªonly to barrel headfirst into Warwick¡¯s legs. She tumbled with a thud, landing on her back, her four hooves kicking wildly in the air. A startled yelp echoed through the room as Holly flailed helplessly, trying and failing to put herself back on her feet. The woman¡ªlikely her Aman¡ªgroaned and pressed a hand to her forehead. ¡°Holly, stop! You''re going to hurt Warwick kicking like that.¡± One of Holly¡¯s hooves flailed dangerously close to Warwick¡¯s leg, but he calmly caught it in his hand before kneeling. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said, his gruff voice softening as his entire demeanor shifted. His hard features melted into something warm and kind. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with much worse in my time than a glancing kick from a foal.¡± With a practiced gentleness, he tucked a hand under the sniffling fawn and rolled her onto her side. ¡°There. Better?¡± he asked. Holly nodded miserably, leaning back against his legs as she continued sniffling. The woman sighed. ¡°Holly¡­¡± Warwick straightened, unbothered and making no move to dislodge the child. ¡°It''s alright, I''m plenty sturdy enough to handle her weight¡­ if you don''t mind her being there.¡± The woman waved a dismissive hand, snorting. ¡°Of course I don¡¯t mind. She adores you, and there are few I¡¯d trust more with her than you.¡± Warwick shifted almost imperceptibly, standing taller under her words, though his expression remained unreadable. She continued with a playful roll of her eyes. ¡°But most people aren¡¯t built like you. I, for one, already struggle to handle her weight when she leans on me. She¡¯d topple almost anyone else.¡± Her gaze flicked toward us, her expression brightening as her eyes landed on Clover. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Clover stepped forward with open arms, and the woman bent halfway down to hug her. Pulling back, Clover wasted no time. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, Thistle. I was actually going to find you next, but since you¡¯re here...¡± She quickly explained the situation, and Thistle turned to me with a warm smile, gratitude clear in her eyes. ¡°Thank you for helping. Many wouldn¡¯t in your place.¡± I shrugged, embarrassed at the attention. ¡°I was just doing the right thing.¡± Not wanting to linger on the topic, I shifted gears, addressing Nikoli. ¡°Do you have a blacksmith I can barter with? I need someone who can repair my armor¡ªand possibly craft a weapon sturdy enough to channel high-level spells without breaking.¡± The room¡¯s attention swung to me as the mayor stroked his chin in thought. ¡°I doubt our smith is capable of that level of craftsmanship,¡± he admitted, ¡°but I¡¯ll ask around. Your armor, however, should be a relatively simple matter.¡± He grimaced. ¡°Though you might want to build rapport with the town before attempting to buy or sell anything.¡± Thistle grinned, nudging Clover playfully. ¡°Something tells me he won¡¯t have much trouble winning hearts once he starts talking and working. He¡¯s a handsome one. You got yourself a good catch. You¡¯ll have to beat people off with a stick once they trust him.¡± Heat surged across my face, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Warwick tense. Before I could dwell on it, Clover grinned, her gaze sweeping over me with shameless appreciation. ¡°Oh, trust me, I¡¯m well-prepared to remind people that he¡¯s taken. He¡¯s mine, and they¡¯ll just have to find someone else.¡± She poked Thistle with a playful smirk. ¡°For that matter, you can¡¯t have him either. I don¡¯t share, not even with friends.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Thistle laughed, flashing a smile in my direction. ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem. No offense. You seem nice enough, but you¡¯ve got too few legs for my taste.¡± Clover flicked a sly glance toward Warwick. ¡°You also have a thing for tall guys.¡± Warwick hesitated, uncertainty flickering across his face. I half-expected Thistle to blush or grow flustered. She did no such thing. Instead, she hummed, openly eyeing Warwick. ¡°Yes, well¡­ there haven¡¯t been any offers on that front.¡± Tension crackled through the air as her gaze lingered, charged and unspoken. It mirrored the way Clover had looked at me in the cave. The moment stretched before Thistle sighed and broke the stare. ¡°But we should head out. I still have dozens of patients to see. I¡¯ll bring you up to speed when you stop by my shop later. Holly?¡± Holly hefted herself up and hopped to her Aman. The two left after a wave¡ªand one final lingering glance at Warwick. Clover inhaled, clearly ready to say something, but Warwick cut her off with a grunt. ¡°Not a word from you.¡± She ignored him, as expected. ¡°You can¡¯t silence me that easily, and you know it. You¡¯re missing out, you know. It¡¯s painfully obvious you two like each other, and she hasn¡¯t been shy about stating her interest.¡± He grimaced. looking away. ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡± Clover rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s only as complicated as you make it. If it¡¯s about the size difference, she clearly doesn¡¯t care.¡± Her lips curled into a mischievous smile. ¡°That actually works in your favor.¡± A flush crept up Warwick¡¯s cheeks, and he scowled. ¡°Clover...¡± His tone held a warning, but she raised her hands in mock surrender. ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯m dropping it. But I still think you¡¯re being dumb. Happiness isn¡¯t promised, especially in times like this. Why not take it when it appears?¡± Warwick frowned, contemplative but silent. Clover nodded, her point made, but before she could make for the door, I remembered something else we were supposed to discuss with them. ¡°Have either of you noticed anything¡­strange about the tavern owner?¡± Clover tensed from the corner of my eye, but I stayed focused on the others. They exchanged a look before Warwick shook his head. ¡°Nothing substantial, though he puts me ill at ease whenever I have to be in the establishment.¡± Clover grimaced. ¡°Good to know it''s not just me. We don''t have much information, only rumors that we can''t confirm, but keep an eye on the waitresses. They might be in danger.¡± Nikoli scowled at that. ¡°You think the owner may be hurting them?¡± She looked away with a sigh. ¡°We don''t know. A monk told us he ran into one of those waitresses and she was being chased. We were hoping you''d check on that while we went looking for the herb.¡± Warwick nodded. ¡°I''ll personally look into that. It doesn''t feel like a coincidence that all his workers are beastfolk women¡­¡± Nikoli sighed. ¡°I''d like to think anyone who saw something suspicious would come forward with the information but with things as they are lately¡­¡± There was no guarantee. ¡°If it turns out to be the worst case scenario, we''ll help handle it when we return.¡± I said and the others relaxed, if only slightly. Satisfied, Clover turned toward the door. ¡°Since that''s handled, Frederick, let¡¯s head to the trader. After that, you can help with the quests.¡± She stopped me just beside the door, pinning me with a pointed glare. ¡°But don¡¯t overdo it. I appreciate your determination to help others, but don¡¯t break yourself in the process.¡± Nikoli chuckled. ¡°He¡¯s a self-sacrificing one?¡± Clover sighed dramatically. ¡°You have no idea. It¡¯s just how he is.¡± I huffed. ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound like that. I¡¯m not reckless.¡± She raised a brow, crossing her arms. ¡°Darling, you jumped into the open mouth of a gravity-controlling basilisk on our way here.¡± Nikoli and Warwick tensed in surprise, but I ignored them. ¡°To save you,¡± I countered. ¡°And I¡¯d do it again.¡± Her mock exasperation melted into warm fondness as she kissed my cheek. ¡°Yes, and I appreciate it¡­ but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that you have no regard for your life. Remember your ¡®plan¡¯ with the scorpion?¡± I opened my mouth to argue, only to falter. ¡°That! ¡­You know what, that¡¯s fair. I¡¯m going to wait outside before you can tease me any further.¡± She laughed softly and gestured for me to lead the way. ¡°Be safe, Darling.¡± Grumbling under my breath, I stepped outside. ¡°I¡¯m not going to get into trouble just by walking around town¡ª¡± The hair on my neck stood on end. Instinct took over, and I ducked just in time to avoid a massive battle axe that cleaved the air where my chest had been moments before. Rolling sideways away from Clover, I bit back a groan. Oh I¡¯m never hearing the end of this. Introducing, Timbur--70 Clover hissed behind me, but I didn¡¯t turn. My focus was locked on the axe-wielding psychopath stalking closer. He towered over me, long auburn hair styled in¡ªof all things¡ªa mullet. His tattered clothing barely counted as fabric anymore, but he didn¡¯t seem to care about his near nudity. His muscles coiled, ready to strike again. I snapped. ¡°Are you insane?! We¡¯re in town!¡± His manic grin didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Don¡¯t care. Let¡¯s fight!¡± He lunged. I barely dodged, the axe slicing through the air so close I felt the wind between my eyes. Staggering back, I kept an eye on the gathering crowd, trying to steer the fight away from them. ¡°I don¡¯t even know you! Why are you attacking me?¡± A nagging suspicion clawed at my mind. Was he an agent of the king? There¡¯d been no word of the dragon¡¯s whereabouts, but Lazuris had plenty of other resources to pull from. He shook his head, grip tightening on the massive dual-sided axe. ¡°You look tough, and I¡¯ve been itching for a good brawl. Now quit yapping¡ªraise your sword!¡± So he was just an idiot then¡­ He swung again, this time embedding his axe into one of the wooden posts lining the street. Mutters of outrage rippled through the growing crowd. I grimaced, waving them back. ¡°Move! Get away!¡± They didn¡¯t listen. Instead, they glared at the brute like he was some common drunkard causing a ruckus. He studied his stuck axe for a second, then slammed a foot against the post, wrenching it free with raw strength. His eyes lit with glee as he faced me again. Then, without warning, he blurred forward, swinging in a wide arc¡ªtoo wide. He didn¡¯t see the child. The same boy who had clung to my leg earlier stood frozen in the shadows. The axe¡¯s blade whistled toward him, so close he had no time to run. His eyes went wide¡ª I moved faster. Bolster surged through me as I launched forward, my sword flashing in the light. The brute¡¯s face flickered with surprise as I slid between him and the boy, my blade clashing against his axe and shoving it aside. A frightened whimper rose behind me. I didn¡¯t look back. He wanted a fight so badly he was willing to endanger an innocent¨Ca child? Fine. I¡¯d give him one he wouldn¡¯t forget. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Something in my face must have changed, because his grin widened. He lifted his axe. ¡°Ha! Now you¡¯re taking this seriously¡ª¡± I slammed the hilt of my sword between his eyes. His head snapped back, his weapon flailing as he staggered. Adrenaline and fury surged through me, shoving aside the exhaustion still clawing at my limbs. Before he could recover, I seized his face, stepped forward, and drove him into the stone street with everything I had. The impact sent his axe skittering across the ground, well out of reach. I planted a knee into his diaphragm, pressing down hard. He wheezed, dazed, as I snarled: ¡°I told you to stop. You almost killed a child over your stupid brawl.¡± Blinking through the haze, the battle-lust in his eyes dulled. Like a switch had flipped, his grin faded into a frown. ¡°A¡­ kid?¡± His crystal-blue eyes darted past me. The soft, uneven sniffles confirmed what he saw. ¡°Oh.¡± All the energy bled from him. Slowly, I eased back, releasing his face but staying ready. If he so much as twitched toward the boy, I¡¯d drive his skull into the street until he learned some common sense. He sat up, expression crumpling into something between regret and shame. He started to stand¡ª The boy flinched. The man froze. His brows furrowed, pinching together before he sank back into a crouch. ¡°My bad.¡± His voice was quieter now, rough with remorse. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hurt a tike. Not on purpose.¡± He extended a hand toward the boy¡ª The kid squeaked and bolted behind me, latching onto my leg in a trembling grip. The man deflated completely. I rested a hand on the boy¡¯s back, rubbing slow, calming circles. ¡°It¡¯s okay, buddy. I¡¯ve got you.¡± The words were meant for the child, but my gaze stayed locked on the man. His eyes darted away in shame. ¡°I only wanted to fight you,¡± he muttered. No anger, no excuses¡ªjust regret. I sighed. ¡°My armor¡¯s already messed up. I can¡¯t afford to wreck it more, especially since I¡¯ll be heading out soon to get supplies for the refugees. If you want a friendly spar, wait until things are settled.¡± I eyed the damaged post where his axe had lodged earlier. ¡°And be careful where you pick fights. Towns are cramped. Even if you don¡¯t hurt someone, you can still wreck their home.¡± His gaze followed mine, and he winced. ¡°I¡¯ll help fix it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± I stepped back, letting him stand. The boy sniffled again, still clinging to my leg. I ruffled his hair. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go play or rest? You¡¯ve had a long day.¡± I half-expected him to argue, but he just nodded. Rubbing his tear-streaked face, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, which immediately closed around him. Once he was gone, I faced the man again. ¡°Now then¡ª¡± The town hall doors slammed open. Clover stormed out, eyes blazing with fury. Before I could react, she raised her staff and brought it crashing down over the man¡¯s skull. ¡°Damn right you¡¯ll help fix it, you oaf!¡± ¡­I really should have seen that coming. Gentle Giants And Ducklings--71 I tensed, ready to step in at a moment¡¯s notice, but instead of getting irritated or defensive, the man only shrank further into himself, rubbing his head with a whine. ¡°Aw, why are you hitting me now? I already said I¡¯d fix it¡­¡± Clover scowled, crossing her arms, frustration rolling off her in waves. ¡°If the boy hadn¡¯t been here, I would have done it immediately! What were you thinking, Timbur?! Starting a fight in town?! Intelligence isn¡¯t your main stat, but it damn well should be higher than that!¡± He ducked his head lower as she continued, waving at me. ¡°And you¡¯d better be grateful my darling knows how to fight. If you put a single scratch on him, I¡¯d have a lance with your ass¡¯s name on it!¡± Timbur perked up, curiosity wiping away some of the shame. ¡°He¡¯s your darling? Like the mushy shit?¡± She rolled her eyes but nodded. ¡°Yes, Timbur. Like the ¡®mushy shit.¡¯ Though most prefer a more romantic term, like lover or partner.¡± He wrinkled his nose and stood, towering over the crowd. ¡°Bleh, doesn¡¯t matter. He¡¯s yours, though. That means, as your ornery¡ª¡± She snorted. ¡°Honorary.¡± ¡°Yeah, that. As your ornery big brother, I get to threaten him.¡± He turned to me then, his eyes flashing with that same battle-lust from before. It might¡¯ve been intimidating if I didn¡¯t already know the reason for it. As it stood, I laughed. ¡°Bold of you to assume she wouldn¡¯t have me in more pieces than you could manage.¡± Timbur frowned, head tilting slightly. ¡°Huh?¡± Clover grunted. ¡°Use small words, darling. It¡¯s necessary with him.¡± The corner of my lips twitched, but I reworded it¡ªthough not necessarily with simpler words. ¡°I¡¯ve seen her in action. If I ever did something beat-down-worthy, she¡¯d have me buried before you could lift a finger.¡± Clover¡¯s expression softened, approval clear in her smile as she moved to my side. ¡°You would never give me a reason, but you¡¯re absolutely right.¡± She grabbed the collar of my armor and pulled me down to kiss my cheek. ¡°Take notes, Timbur. This is how you woo a lady.¡± I sank into the short but warm contact, reluctantly pulling away when she broke it. Timbur wrinkled his nose again, sticking his tongue out for good measure. ¡°I ain¡¯t interested in wooing.¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Given how you discuss breasts, I find that hard to believe.¡± He shrugged. ¡°I can enjoy a view without touching. Once you get close, women nag.¡± Clover¡¯s eye twitched, and sensing the long¡ªand time-consuming¡ªrant ahead, I linked our arms and gently started pulling her away. ¡°Depends on the woman. That said, we were headed to the merchant, right?¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She huffed but twined her hand with mine, grumbling under her breath. ¡°That we were.¡± We barely made it two steps before Timbur called after us. ¡°Hey, wait! You got a lot of jobs from the board.¡± The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. ¡°Yes?¡± A wide grin stretched across his face. ¡°It¡¯s boring here. I¡¯ma go with you!¡± It took a second for the words to sink in, and when they did, I shook my head. ¡°I didn¡¯t agree to this¡ª¡± Clover sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Don¡¯t bother, darling. It¡¯s useless to argue. Though¡­Timbur?¡± He nodded, curiosity plain on his face. ¡°Yeah?¡± She turned, leveling a glare at him that promised consequences if he didn¡¯t listen. ¡°If Frederick returns with a single scratch from your axes, I will put you six feet under. Understood?¡± His grin widened as he bent to pick up his axe. ¡°Yup! I¡¯ll find you after you finish shopping.¡± Then he ran off. Watching his retreating form until it disappeared in the distance, I ran a hand through my hair and snorted. ¡°Well¡­ does anyone else feel like they just got hit by a hurricane?¡± An auburn-haired, axe-wielding hurricane¡­ with a mullet. Clover nodded, leading the way toward the merchant. ¡°That¡¯s a common impression of Timbur, though he doesn¡¯t usually attack people so readily.¡± Her expression darkened. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to corner him later to make sure it doesn¡¯t happen again.¡± Warmth bloomed in my chest, and I bent to kiss her hair. ¡°Much appreciated.¡± She flicked a glance over my shoulder, then did a double take. Whatever she saw made a smile curl across her lips, her head shaking with fond amusement. ¡°You appear to have a duckling.¡± A what? I turned, understanding dawning when I caught sight of the boy from earlier jumping behind a pole to hide. It wasn¡¯t very effective¡ªhis arms stuck out on either side¡ªbut the effort was there. Turning back, I pretended not to notice. ¡°Apparently, he didn¡¯t listen when I told him to go play. I don¡¯t mind him following me, but I¡¯ll have to make sure he doesn¡¯t do it when I leave. Some of the quests involve monster hunting, and while they aren¡¯t too dangerous, I don¡¯t want to risk him getting hurt.¡± Clover hummed in agreement, leaning into my side and resting her head against my shoulder. The armor couldn¡¯t have been comfortable, but she didn¡¯t complain. ¡°You¡¯re going to make quite the father.¡± I shrugged, careful not to disturb her. ¡°I pretty much already am one, with my siblings.¡± Thinking back to the many scornful reactions from women over the years, I bit my lip before asking, ¡°That¡­ doesn¡¯t bother you?¡± She stopped outside what I assumed was the merchant¡¯s shop¡ªthe sign overhead showed a mix of vegetables, potions, and even a backpack. Turning to face me, she trailed her fingers up my chest before cupping my cheek with a thoughtful hum. ¡°No, I find it quite attractive, actually. But come, I can swoon over you later. We have work to do, darling.¡± A spark of mischief flared through me, and I bent in a half-bow. ¡°Of course¡­ my lady.¡± A shiver trailed down her back, her gaze flicking over my chest with a heat that sent a pleasant thrill through me. Under her breath, she muttered, ¡°Behave. We have too many things on our to-do list for me to drag you to the nearest inn.¡± Then she grabbed my armor and pulled me into a kiss¡ªfervent, consuming, and entirely too short. When she pulled away, I was grinning like a fool. ¡°If you want me to behave, rewarding me for not doing so isn¡¯t the way to go about it.¡± She laughed, sashaying into the shop and tossing a last remark over her shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to behave forever, darling. Just for now. I have plans that require you not behaving later down the line.¡± And spirits help me, I would need every bit of energy I could muster to keep up with her then.