Owin sat as soon as he walked into the lobby. He slumped onto the ground and had no plans to move anytime soon.

Indulf cleared his throat. "That is not a seat."

"They tried to kill me," Owin said.

Indulf whispered something to Basolia, then walked slowly around the desk. The quiet man squatted in front of Owin and held out a health potion.

Owin splashed it on his face.

An inner door flew off the hinges. It spun through the room and lodged itself into the wall like the door had been a blade. Althowin marched in, not even fully out of her workshop gear. Goggles hung from one of her fox ears, her lab coat was only on one arm, and her heels had clearly broken from her running to the front.

"Tell me what happened." Her voice was like a growl as she ripped the goggles off her head and tossed them aside. She tore the lab coat in two and dropped it on the ground.

Indulf quickly ran to the other side of the desk.

"Nikoletta was waiting for me."

Summon the Withered Shade

Althowin caught Shade's skull as he formed and crushed it, turning him back to dust. "Who is Nikoletta?"

"A Void Nexus mender. She tried to kill me in the Great Forest."

Althowin's eyebrows lowered. "And?"

"Ma'am," Indulf said.

Althowin looked up with furious eyes.

"Katalin sent you a message containing that name. Nikoletta Olah was the hero who threw Owin overboard the ferry in Minolitana Prima." Indulf held a tablet over the edge of the desk.

"She's tried to kill you twice?" Althowin asked.

"Three times now."

"You clearly won."

The lobby door creaked open slowly.

"What now?" Althowin asked angrily.

Sofia took a step in, closed the door behind her, and sat. She immediately cradled her face in her hands.

"You're alive," Owin said.

"Summon your skeleton," Althowin said.

Summon the Withered Shade

"No bullshit. No exaggeration. Tell me what happened."

Shade swiveled his head, then nodded. He also sat, still nodding. "We went to the old Nimble Hog building. Nikoletta attacked Miya in the basement. She had a cathkabel summon with her. They tried to kill us, so we killed them. When the fight was over, Veph and Sofia were waiting for us. Veph was going to kill us, so Sofia attacked her. Fifty or more Void Nexus heroes were waiting in the plaza when we tried to escape. I killed some."

"Sofia?" Althowin asked.

Sofia nodded her head without taking her hands from her face.

Althowin rubbed her face. "Indulf, get to Atrevaar. Find out what's happening. If anyone touches you—"

"I know, ma'am." He walked around the desk, nodded to Owin, and walked right out the door.

"Sofia," Althowin said. "I believe I owe you now."

Sofia slowly lifted her head. Tears streamed down her cheeks, bunching up in the gray hair on her face. "Why?"

"It sounds like I misjudged Veph. She said she would test him." Althowin glanced at Owin. "Not try to kill him. If you weren't there, he'd be dead."

"I used Ethereal Ignition Wave," Sofia said bluntly.

Althowin's eyes widened.

Sofia buried her head again.

"Owin, go find Chorsay and Zezog. Take a break. I'll find you later." Althowin gestured to a hallway on the left.

"What about everyone else?"

"They'll be here in a few days. They took a detour. Lera didn't make it." Althowin sat beside Sofia and gestured for Owin to head out.

As soon as he was in the hallway away from Althowin he looked up at Shade. "Is that a spell?"

The skeleton just nodded slowly. He put his bare skeletal hand on Owin's shoulder and guided him up some stairs. "Ethereal Ignition Wave is a Power 7, so it requires a human sacrifice to cast."

"Sofia killed someone to cast it?"

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"And many more after it was cast. Using Power 7 outside of a dungeon has been illegal since before my time. Every Power 7 spell has the ability to kill an entire battlefield. I don't know if I've ever seen one used, but maybe." Shade shrugged. He opened the door to a kitchen where Chorsay and Zezog sat with a pot of coffee between them.

Chorsay's eyes lit up. "You're back."

Owin just stopped moving.

Shade hugged Chorsay as he approached.

To Owin's surprise, Chorsay took a moment to embrace the skeleton before kneeling and bending to Owin's level.

"Miya is back safe with Sanem and Raif. Althowin's specter was helping." Chrosay grabbed Owin's shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"I killed her."

Zezog watched from his chair. He just nodded once toward Owin.

"You did what you had to," Chorsay said. "That doesn't reflect who you are."

"Veph—" Owin cut himself off as a frown formed on Chorsay's face. "Veph tried to kill me."

Shade sat in Chorsay's chair and tried to drink the coffee, which dripped through his skeleton and onto the tile floor.

"Sofia saved me."

Chorsay pulled Owin into a hug and sighed deeply. "I will have to thank her for that." He stood and grabbed two more chairs, pulling them up to the table. "Let's sit and talk. This can wait. Your story, your victory in the Fortress comes first."

Owin climbed into the chair opposite Chorsay, who sat in the new chair without protest. Shade tried to brush some of the coffee from the chair he sat on, but he only made a bigger mess until Zezog handed him a towel.

***

Myrsvai didn't enjoy watching the carnage. There was something thrilling about it all, and something satisfying in the movements, but after so many years sitting idly by, he now hated being a spectator. His role as a summoner already put him in a more passive role in combat anyway.

Suta followed and encouraged Thalgodin, who had been tearing through the mobs with renewed vigor. The little familiar was cheering, throwing out suggestions, and sometimes tripping elves and goblins that got too close.

As Diphinadra had promised, Thalgodin was leveling quickly. The mobs varied in level, sometimes right before their eyes as if the god was actively manipulating the creatures.

They had worked through three layers of walls and barracks, clearing gatehouses and every little piece of the outer fort. Each layer had gotten more difficult and reinforced, meaning the inner fort was by far the most secure.

The metal gate and portcullis were strong enough to withstand a full powered attack from the neural demon. Thalgodin hit it a few more times, before extending his wings.

"I will just fly to the top." He looked back as if asking for permission.

"Do as you wish," Myrsvai said.

"I can open," Suta said.

Thalgodin seemed to consider it for a moment, before dismissing the little familiar. "I will clear it myself. Thank you, Suta." He crouched, flared his wings, then jumped with one powerful beat of his wings that sent a flurry of wind through the area.

The demon launched himself above the gatehouse and landed with a crash. A hobgoblin flew over the side, splatting beside Suta. When the mob twitched, Suta kicked it in the ribs, sending the hobgoblin screaming and tumbling away.

Abyssal fire swirled on top of the gatehouse as mob blood spurted into the air. Before long, Thalgodin stood on the parapet, looking down with a grin. "I have conquered another."

"We still have the actual fort," Myrsvai said.

The metal gate creaked open.

"Then join me." The demon stepped off the top of the gatehouse and landed heavily on the opposite side of the gate. "We will be ready soon."

Myrsvai and Suta flanked the demon as he parried attacks and slaughtered the fort's defenders. Soon, they would all be one and stronger than ever.

***

Kikuno stopped at the edge of the portal circle. An odd man stood just before her. An odd man that even the portal guards shied away from.

He didn't look particularly threatening and she didn't recognize his name. So, why was everyone so wary?

"Indulf Cynan," she said.

Indulf nodded. "Kikuno Itou."

She tried to step around, but Indulf matched her set. "Do you need something?"

"I am Althowin Alegarra's right hand. You intend to pay her a visit."

"I do."

"How many lives were lost?" Indulf asked.

Kikuno's face hardened. Was it a surprise that someone referred to as Althowin's Right Hand would know more than he should?

"Estimated at three hundred."

Indulf narrowed his eyes, then nodded. "Understood. You intend to discuss this with Althowin?"

"No, actually."

"Sofia Halaby." Indulf nodded again and walked past. "She could use comfort." Without another word, the odd man walked through the portal to Atrevaar.

Kikuno watched for another minute before setting off through the city. After the quiet discomfort of Atrevaar, the bustling city of Vraxridge felt surreal. The city was alive and moving as if nothing had happened, and of course, nobody here knew. Even if they did, they had the 7 Shard Hero protecting them.

Kikuno ignored the hopeful heroes gathered outside the compound and approached the door, which looked like it was coated in shadows. Before she could even knock, the door opened and let her through.

Althowin sat upon the front desk with a cup of coffee in her hands. She cradled it like she was at risk of dropping it, like she wasn't the most dextrous person in the world. After a loud sip, she lowered the mug, reached to her side, picked a different one up, and extended it to Kikuno.

"Thank you," Kikuno said, taking the drink.

She specifically didn't enjoy coffee. The bitterness was barely palatable, and the oils sat uneasily in her stomach. But who refused Althowin?

"You don't have to pretend you like it." Althowin gestured to the chair behind the desk. "Take a seat."

Kikuno did as she was told. She had had multiple other interactions with Althowin, but it had always been business. Her helmet and spear were both modified by the 7 Shard Hero, but that didn't make them friends.

"Is this Indulf's chair?" Kikuno asked, settling herself into the cushioned chair.

"It is. So, what's the bounty?"

"Forty," Kikuno said.

"Admirable." Althowin sipped coffee again. "Are you here to collect her?"

"Nothing of the sort." Kikuno sipped her own coffee. "I consider her a friend."

"Do you?" Althowin's eyebrow went up. "Is she aware?"

"Social relationships have never been easy for me," Kikuno said. "Is she unharmed?"

"Physically, yes. I have enough health potions here to drown the world. If you make any move to take her or harm her—"

Kikuno held up a hand. "I know your rules, ma'am. I am not here in an official capacity. I will resume my contracted duties upon arriving back in Atrevaar. For now, I wish to see my friend."

Althowin hopped off the desk, landing deftly without spilling a drop. "When you return to Atrevaar, be sure to mention Sofia Halaby is under my protection." She walked away without another word or even the slightest glance. Her composure and confidence was unmatched, and for good reason.

Kikuno looked around the lobby. She didn't have the slightest idea of where to go. The other times she had been at the compound, she had always been guided by Althowin. Maybe she was meant to follow?

The black specter appeared on the ground. "I will escort you to Sofia Halaby."

"Thank you. What's your name?"

"Basolia. I am not alive. You do not need to treat me with courtesy." The specter melted into the ground and formed a black line, leading down the hallway and around the corner.

Kikuno followed silently. Her spider legs were on edge, warning her against danger.

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