COURIER QUEST

A Cozy Isekai LitRPG

Flossindune

Copyright © 2024 Flossindune

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

First edition

For my wife, who never fails to make my world cozier.

CONTENTS

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Prologue: Can You Give Me Some Space

Chapter One: As Long As It Takes To Tell A Story

Chapter Two: The Nitty Gritty

Chapter Three: No Stuffy Pleasantries

Chapter Four: I’m From An Earth

Chapter Five: His Names Is Mr. Tiggles

Chapter Six: Chickens Are A Universal Constant

Chapter Seven: The Floatstone

Chapter Eight: Courier Quest

Chapter Nine: A Melting Pot Of Universal Technology

Chapter Ten: Freedom Toast

Chapter Eleven: The Gnomish Shopkeeper Way

Chapter Twelve: Lady Troubles

Chapter Thirteen: Snake Charmer

Chapter Fourteen: Extradimensional Inventory Juice

Chapter Fifteen: I’m Not A Wagon

Chapter Sixteen: All Hat And No Cattle

Chapter Seventeen: Scourge Of The Ocean

Chapter Eighteen: First Foray Out Of Tosa

Chapter Nineteen: I Am Peak Predator

Chapter Twenty: In For a Penny, In For A Pound

Chapter Twenty-One: Are You Finally Prying

Chapter Twenty-Two: In A Sharing Mood

Chapter Twenty-Three: Beautiful Wound

Chapter Twenty-Four: Easy Trip, Easy Quest

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Heart’s Dumb

Chapter Twenty-Six: Spreading Your Wings

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Maximum Trevor

Chapter Twenty-Eight: I Want To Eat Candy

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Dropped A Lake On Their Dungeon

Chapter Thirty: Sword Sister

Chapter Thirty-One: Not Just As Friends

Chapter Thirty-Two: The King Is Expecting You

Chapter Thirty-Three: Keep That Under Advisement

Chapter Thirty-Four: Make A Modest Living

Chapter Thirty-Five: Explosive Delivery

Chapter Thirty-Six: Keep Up Appearances

Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Sword To Overcome

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Lingering Responsibilities

Chapter Thirty-Nine: A Transcendent Experience

Chapter Forty: A Courier Is Perfect

Chapter Forty-One: I Want To Be Selfish

Chapter Forty-Two: Take As Long As You Like

Chapter Forty-Three: I Don’t Plan On Hiding It

Chapter Forty-Four: Trying To Steal Addymanatine

Chapter Forty-Five: Time To Reopen The Gallery

Chapter Forty-Six: More People Like You

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Proudest Of All Pastries

Chapter Forty-Eight: A Serious Answer

Epilogue: Someone To Fall Back On

Afterword

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About The Author

PROLOGUE: CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME SPACE

The odds anyone has of being summoned to another world are so infinitesimally small that the vast majority of scholars don’t believe there’s any chance at all. The general consensus to meeting someone ranting about having come from another world was to smile, nod, and get them into counseling before they armed themselves and decided that violent pest control was their only way back.

Despite the exceptionally small odds of being isekai’d, many ecosystems containing rabbits, rats, and lawn ornaments are destroyed every year. Whole villages of garden gnomes have been devastated by these attacks, and many of them have gone the way of the lawn flamingo; this once common plastic bird is now an endangered species, and summoned heroes may be to blame.

Whether this is actually due to summoned heroes or not is hotly debated among communities that believe not only that this phenomenon exists, but that it happens more often than one thinks.

Those who research otherworldly summons know that they come in all flavors. A short list would be: assassinated and reincarnated as a baby in a fantasy land, finding furniture that leads to other worlds, or, in a surprising number of instances, run over by Truck-kun.

A fourth, rarer kind of isekai tomfoolery involves middle-aged men running into knife attacks or being pushed in front of trains and waking up as young girls with god-like powers. Unlike the other 3 types, this form of isekai is revered by government workers in both worlds as it does wonders in terms of offsetting the average population age.

But this isn’t one of those stories.

Truck-kun is a fan favorite of many otherworld summon ritualists. In many alternate realities, this is a feasible method. Trucks are a constant of many technologically advanced universes. Even in worlds where they don’t exist, they’re often described by otherworld dreamers as large monstrosities with voracious appetites, gargantuan strength, and tireless constitutions.

They also may or may not be compensating for things, depending on their size.

However, not all Truck-kun are created equal. While they are often nondescript box trucks, this isn’t necessarily the standard everywhere. At times, those who are the targets of otherworldly summons are not in places where a full-size truck can reach.

Such is the case for one Trevor Anderson, a human person from the backwards planet known as Earth. This 20-something-year-old man spends 8 hours a day making other people rich at his nearly minimum wage job stocking shelves and assisting customers. Trucks visited, but were not usually invited inside.

Retail was the name of the game and, despite some customers making it difficult to play, it was one Trevor was good at. It had taught him many useful life skills like time management, adaptable thinking, and the de-escalation of hostile customers. It was a thankless job, but one he had grown accustomed to.

On the plus side, he was told that he was being considered for a promotion. Whether it was true or said to placate a great employee into staying longer was questionable, but the thought of his hard work being rewarded made Trevor happier, even if it was only by a small margin.

Even outside of his place of employment, Trevor would head straight home to his studio apartment where rent was slowly getting higher and higher. Despite the AC working only occasionally and the loud footsteps of a family of four from above him, it was in a great location directly behind his place of work.

He also had a fantastic view of any dogs in the dog park, but that was neither here nor there.

Trevor’s story started on a Wednesday. The sprinklers for the apartment complex were running, causing him to have to take the long way to work. This wasn’t a long detour, but one that did take him to the sidewalk. Trucks passed him on the road, but none of them swerved towards him or acted erratically. Here, he was safe.

Walking to work, Trevor dreaded many things but two of them were more prominent than others. The first was Martha, the elderly greeter who always seemed chipper despite how early she came in to work.

Martha was the workplace gossip and was always ready to make some snide comment about one thing or another. There was always something with gossip mongers, and Trevor made sure to keep as much about his personal life as close to his chest as possible lest he become entangled in a labyrinth of ousted secrets and dry drama. As thrilling as it may have been, he didn’t want to hear about Becky’s baby daddy’s latest incarceration. Again.

The second was his boss, Doug. He was young and wanted to be liked as part of his first management job, but he often came off as a little bit absolutely too much. As Trevor walked past the front office, trying to do so quickly, he was caught as his boss came out to greet him.

“Hump Day, am I right?” Doug asked. He always asked this on Wednesdays and it was always with the same level of enthusiasm, as if the joke never got old. Trevor merely mumbled some pleasantries and continued on his way. As little effort as it took, dealing with the gossip monger and his boss flew by and he was clocked in before he knew it.

From there on, it was business as usual: stocking shelves, helping customers, and reaching for things that were way too high up for Old Man Willis to reach on his own. That was the work for The Ladder, which was a sacred tool that no customer was allowed to touch.

As it was Wednesday, a truck full of pallets and goods would be invited to the building’s dock later. Already understaffed, that meant Trevor would have to work it with only a few others. While that was a pain, it also meant he was away from customers for a while. That alone made Trevor a small advocate for trucks in general, even if it meant there was a lot more work for him.

A visitor named Derek Hill, however, was a big advocate for trucks. Big ones, little ones, ones meant for dumping, or ones meant for racing; he loved all kinds of trucks. The only thing stopping him from living his dream truck life was that, as a 7-year-old, he had no money.

What he did have, aside from a healthy disrespect for the rules and an inattentive father with no clue how to discipline a child, was an RC truck.

All it took was one incident in a grocery store involving a child, a ladder, and a toy monster truck that could be driven with a small controller and Trevor Anderson was sailing through the air after being startled by his foot crushing a child’s plaything.

It was RC Truck-kun’s first, and last, job.

◆◆◆

[[Welcome. You are being summoned to another world. Please do not panic.]]

The young man shook his head, trying to clear the haze clouding his mind, and glanced at the floating text box that seemed insistent on ensuring that he read it. No matter where he looked, it stayed in the center of his vision.

When he glanced left, it was there. He shifted his eyes right, and it remained. Behind it was a psychedelic green and purple wall that swished and swirled in ways the young man didn’t think he could fully process. It was beginning to induce a headache. Or maybe he had one all along, he wasn’t sure.

The text inside the box disappeared, but was slowly replaced. The young man watched as letters started appearing one at a time, as if someone was typing with a single finger.

[[You are beginning to hyperventilate. I specifically requested that you do not panic. Please, tell me your name.]]

“Yeah, my-my name,” he gasped aloud, suddenly realizing that he had a voice. That was affirming. He existed; whatever weird fever dream this was, he still existed. It was while floating in a strange hippie dreamscape, but he wasn’t one to be impolite when asked a question.

This seemed to give the text pause, as it took a moment to get going.

[[“Yeah My - my Name,” is this your name?]]

“No, that’s not right,” he said quickly, raising his hands and shaking them back and forth in front of the strange text box. “My name is Trevor Anderson.”

The box emptied and his name appeared first all at once followed by the rest of the text in that same slow, staccato rhythm.

[[“Trevor Anderson” is your name?]]

“Yes, I am Trevor Anderson,” Trevor repeated, this time with more confidence.

He put his hands back down and looked around for anyone who could be controlling this strange text box. Wherever he looked, however, he saw nothing but words and migraines waiting to happen. He focused on the text; at least that hurt his brain less than looking at the walls.

“I’m sorry, but who are you supposed to be? Is this a dream or am I in a loony bin somewhere?” Trevor watched as the text box blanked out again, and it took a few moments to get going.

[[You are being summoned to another world. Please do not panic.]]

“Right, you did say that, yes, but isn’t being summoned to another world something that’s supposed to be panic inducing?” he nervously countered. “I mean, it’s not exactly an everyday occurrence, is it?”

The floating text box disappeared. For a moment, Trevor was worried that he had scared it off. Or, worse, caused it to become cross with him. Not even two minutes into being summoned into another world and he had already angered written language! Trevor tried to close his eyes to avoid staring at the wall, but found that he could not. This revelation did not help him follow the text’s order to please not panic.

When the text reappeared with a fully formed message, Trevor breathed a sigh of relief.

[[What species would you like to be?]]

“Well, I’m human, so…” the young man responded before he could really think it over. “Wait, is there-”

[[Chosen species is human. Trevor Anderson will be introduced to another world as a human.]]

Trevor blinked as this text box appeared with an almost complete message and the word “human” had to be typed in, as if someone was filling out a template. Almost as an afterthought, the full meaning of the text struck him.

“You could ask if my name was actually my name but you can’t ask if I was sure I meant human?” Trevor asked incredulously. Normally, when asked a question he gave it more thought than this. He decided that the headache must have been throwing him off his groove, and pledged to do better. “I mean, what were my options? I’m not sure if I would change, but options are nice.”

The text box disappeared again, though this time Trevor wasn’t as disturbed by it. The wall was still hard to look at, but he was getting used to it. At least, that’s what he told himself. In all honesty, his thoughts were lingering on missing his chance to be something other than human in this new world he was apparently being summoned into.

A thought was forming in his mind, but he had no time to act on it as the words returned with another fully formed message. One that didn’t answer his question, he noted.

[[Your summoner has used a summoning ritual that provides you with one free Power. What Power would you like to request?]]

“What do you mean by Power?” he asked. The text box blinked away, and he received a short, delayed answer.

[[Like a superpower. You may choose one.]]

Trevor said nothing this time. So far speaking on impulse had done nothing but remove choices that he should have mulled over instead. Keeping his mouth shut, he thought about the options. His eyes focused on the words again as his mind raced.

Rereading the text, Trevor couldn’t help but notice that he wasn’t given any options. Frowning, he reached up and stroked his chin. Despite the inability to blink, the fact that he had hands and a chin in which to stroke helped ground him.

Depending on what he said, the options could have been limitless. Probably dictated by the world he would land in, but limitless all the same. Should he ask for something like super strength? Or super speed? Or were those too basic? There were so many cool powers out there. Heat vision, teleportation, and more, probably.

“I’m sorry, but could you list some options for me?” Trevor asked aloud after only a minute or two of contemplation. Decisive action was not always his strong suit, but asking to be good at making decisions likely wasn’t a good use of one free superpower. Or was it? Trevor couldn’t decide.

That thought prowled the outskirts of his mind but still hadn’t formed yet, proving elusive.

The text box disappeared, and was replaced with one that said “Flight.” Before Trevor could think about it, another box appeared, this one saying “Camouflage.” Another one, and then another. More boxes started popping up faster than Trevor could read them.

[[Flight]]

[[Camouflage]]

[[Green Thumb]]

[[Aura Sense]]

[[Summon Ice Cream]]

[[Grow/Shrink]]

[[Voice Mimicry]]

[[Duplicate Cheese]]

[[Become Stone]]

[[Dragons Know Your Location At All Times]]

[[Dragon Slayer]]

[[Empathic Healing]]

[[Toe Stubbing Curse Magic]]

[[Clairvoyance]]

[[Water Manipulation]]

The sickening wall was starting to be blocked by the sheer number of words taking up his vision. At this point, he couldn’t tell what was more overwhelming, the psychedelic green and purple or the cascading text boxes that made him feel like he had just won a game of Solitaire on his grandmother’s decrepit computer.

“I’m sorry, but can you give me some space, please?” Trevor asked, reaching out as if to push the text boxes away. It didn’t work, of course, but that didn’t stop him from trying.

The boxes blinked away, only to be replaced by a single empty box not dissimilar to the ones that came before. It eventually filled with words.

[[Space has been requested. A Power from the Space Power Tree will be selected at random. You have been granted the Power of Inventory.]]

Trevor’s eyes went wide as he realized his error. “Wait, for real?” he groaned. “Inventory space? Now everyone’s going to ask me to help them move!”

The box blinked away, ignoring his lamentations.

The sinking feeling that there would likely be no take backs for this one hit him all at once in the gut. Or perhaps that was just motion sickness from the ever-changing wall on the outskirts of his vision. Either way, he was not feeling good about either himself or his choices. Thinking about it, he realized that his initial lamentations probably missed the mark as well.

[[Your summoner has requested that you choose to add at least 2 stat points to your Strength stat. This will leave you with 3 stat points to place in your other stats.]]

“What are the other stats? Can I see them?” Trevor asked, silently terrified that he was going to be placed in another nightmare of cascading text boxes. However, only one appeared.

[[Trevor Anderson

Human

Level 1

Unspent Points: 5

Strength: 1

Dexterity: 1

Stamina: 1

Speed: 1

Magic: 1

Mana: 1

Specialty Stats

Capacity: 1

Power: Inventory

Skills: Quick Growth (Human), Dimensional Storage (Inventory)]]

Trevor stared at the stat sheet in confusion. Had all of his stats already been one? Or was one some kind of average? What was the difference between one and three? And what were the intentions of the summoner asking him to increase his strength score specifically? What did they expect of him?

The thought that he was being summoned to another world finally formed in Trevor’s mind.

Under normal circumstances, this meant that he had been chosen to become a hero of the people. To stand up in the face of demonic kings or invading armies from another dimension. He almost began hyperventilating again when he remembered the text.

Please do not panic, Trevor thought to himself. To his surprise, it worked. Repeating this mantra a few more times, he worked up the nerve to continue speaking.

“I agree to spending two points on increasing my Strength stat,” Trevor stated with a calm voice that certainly did not match his mood. “Can I, I don’t know, save the others for later?”

The text box returned, followed by the letters. It did seem to be picking up in speed now, as well.

[[2 points have been added to Strength, which has been maxed out for level 1. You have 3 banked points remaining to be used at your leisure.]]

“Okay, thank you,” Trevor said as he read over his stat sheet again. The next message was typed out faster than previous ones.

[[You are welcome. The process is almost complete.]]

Flexing his muscles, they didn’t seem any different. He didn’t seem any more powerful nor did he feel any bigger. In fact, Trevor hadn’t changed at all. For the first time, he noticed that he was still wearing his work clothes: a pair of black slacks and a red polo shirt that screamed dear lord, I am not equipped to battle a Demon King.

At least he still had his steel-toed boots, but that was a small consolation.

Instead of attempting to hyperventilate again, Trevor distracted himself with his status screen. If 3 was the max for Strength at level one, then it would stand to reason that the other stats would also max out at 3 until he leveled up. If he had to go out to kill enemies and gain experience, then 3 Strength was probably going to serve him well no matter how lame his Power was.

At the bottom of the screen, his Power and Skills mocked him. Inventory and Dimensional Storage. While no doubt useful, they weren’t exactly what he first thought of when it came to heroic abilities. At least Quick Growth sounded promising. If others were summoned with him, as was so common in various media and stories, then he would be a laughing stock and designated as the team pack mule.

“Well, at least I’ll be of use,” Trevor muttered in a half-hearted attempt to console himself. It didn’t work. “A chance to be a big hero if the stories are to be believed, and I waste my chance on asking for some space.”

He shook his head, and his stat screen disappeared. Mentally, Trevor tried to reactivate it but to no avail. Instead, one last text box reappeared in his vision, this one already full of words.

[[Summoning is now complete. Please prepare to meet your summoner. Enjoy your stay in another world. Remember: Please do not panic.]]

“Wait, already?” Trevor asked before he was unceremoniously squeezed from the psychedelic green and purple room and landed on the cold brick floor of what was, to him, an entirely new and novel world.

CHAPTER ONE: AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO TELL A STORY

It was as if a light switch had been flicked. One moment Trevor was floating in that strange psychedelic area, having decided that he had a headache before arriving, and the next he was in a large room made from gray stone bricks.

The air around him felt cool, and natural light poured in from an open wall nearby. The railing was about the right height for someone of his size, neither too short or too tall, and overlooked a vast green forest. In the distance, he could hear the hustle and bustle of people at work, the clanging of metal on metal, and creatures that sounded remarkably similar to horses.

Realizing that he had forgotten to breathe, Trevor took in a great breath. The smell of fresh, unpolluted air entered his lungs. It was remarkably sweet, and the breeze carried the scent of baked bread, cooked meats, and pine trees. Having lived in a city for most of his life, it was rare for the young man not to be constantly assailed by the overpowering smell of traffic, nearby factories, and cleaning supplies.

“You’re doing very well,” the voice of an old man came from nearby. “There aren’t many Summoned who’ve reacted as calmly as you.”

Trevor turned, looking around the room for the source of the voice. Despite being open to the air, the place he found himself had several bookshelves lining the other three walls. Tomes both thick and thin lined every section, and some were even laid sideways in front of the others. Not all were bound, either; a good few were just loose collections of thick parchment. And then there was the elf.

The elderly man waved at Trevor, and the human had to do a double take. Sure enough, the elf in front of him was, in fact, an elf. He wore a green, lightweight robe and had long elf ears. His elven face was wrinkled, but sharp and angular. Despite that, the smile he wielded was warm and comforting. The ears that grew out of the side of his head tapered to a point, and accentuated his blond, shoulder-length hair.

“Ears,” Trevor managed to get out. He tore his eyes away from the elf’s ears to look at the man’s dark green eyes. They were full of understanding, and Trevor was horrified that his first word in this world was to point out somebody’s differences.

“Ah, still processing, I see,” the elf said, nodding apologetically. “You may still scream if you want to. It’s understandable. I’ll wait.”

A part of Trevor did want to scream, but probably not for the reason the elf seemed to think. Please don’t panic, he reminded himself.

“As kind as the offer is,” Trevor started slowly, “I think I’ll hold off for now. I prefer to have my freak outs in the break room. I mean, in private. If it’s all the same to you.”

“If that is your preference, then feel free.” The elf’s grandfatherly smile remained and he offered a slight bow. “Please, allow me to introduce myself. I am Jackson, and I am the mayor of Tosa, which is the town you now find yourself in. Many, many years ago I was summoned here, and now I am one who does the summoning. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice meeting you, too, Mr. Jackson,” Trevor said before awkwardly emulating the elf’s bow. “I’m sorry, I know you just said that we’re here in Tosa, but where exactly is here?”

Jackson began walking towards the balcony, and gestured for Trevor to do the same. The young man obliged, but stopped after a few steps to look down at his leg.

Several years ago, a short tussle with Mrs. Goodchild involving an absence of Thanksgiving yams on the shelves had left Trevor with recurring pain in his knee. The elderly lady had a cane with tennis balls on the bottom, but that was not the part she used to repeatedly whack his leg. She had proven surprisingly tenacious, and caused more damage than he would have admitted.

Of course, what she caused wasn’t a lasting injury; that was Trevor’s own fault. He had iced his knee for a few minutes before getting back to work like nothing had ever happened. The pain he felt afterwards was dull, but constant. It didn’t bother him as often these days, although it always got worse when the temperature started to drop.

Those few steps made him realize that the pain was no longer ailing him. He still had his practiced limp from years of suffering, but despite the cool air everything felt fine. Trevor was elated to discover that his tooth was no longer hurting, as well, and his knuckles, wrists, and elbows no longer cracked with the intensity of a room full of people rolling dice.

At the railing, Jackson waited patiently.

Once Trevor realized this, he quickly hurried while trying to stand up straight and correct his limp. It felt weird, but good at the same time. Once he reached the railing, he looked over the town.

It was quaint, but lively. A river bisected the settlement with three stone bridges crossing it at various points. Several logs were floating down stream, and from such a high vantage point Trevor could see where the logging operations were taking place.

At the base of the tower were homes and businesses with shingled roofs and booths with colorful fabric coverings. People came and went in a flurry of activity, exchanging coins and goods. Wagons were pulled through the wider streets by large, scaled creatures that were similar in shape to horses, but obviously weren’t. They seemed friendly enough, however, and Trevor could hear their equine-esque whinnies from here.

“This is the town of Tosa,” Jackson explained. “In a few years’ time, we’ll have grown to somewhere around two thousand individuals. It is a peaceful, idyllic place that I have cultivated from the ground up for hundreds of years. 312, to be exact. I wanted to make a home for people where they wouldn’t have to worry about surviving day to day. There are a few troublemakers, but you will not find a more wonderful place. It’s my pride and joy.”

Trevor found himself nodding as the elf spoke. He could hear Jackson’s sincerity and passion, though not everything made sense.

“Hold up a moment. If everything is peaceful, then why did I get summoned here?” he asked, scratching his head in confusion. Feeling how long his hair was, he realized he regretted putting off getting it cut. “Was there a problem you needed me for? Like an army of demons, or…?”

“No, dear Trevor,” Jackson said with a laugh. The young man went red in the face as he realized he hadn’t introduced himself, but the elf continued as if he hadn’t noticed. “We signed a peace treaty with the demons a little over two hundred years ago. Tensions were tight for the first hundred, hundred fifty years, I’ll admit, but neither demons nor humans are long-lived people and a lot of that has died down.”

“Oh, well, that’s nice. I guess I’m just confused, is all, sorry.”

“There is no need to apologize, young man. Your confusion is understandable, and like many questions this one has many answers. First, I’d like to tell you what my goals are, if you don’t mind letting me ramble for a bit.”

“Please, go ahead,” Trevor said, waving his hand.

“Thank you,” Jackson replied with a gracious bow of his head. “My reasoning for creating Tosa comes from both a selfless and a selfish place. It is selfless in that I really do enjoy helping people. Taxes here are low, and those in need receive help as soon as I’m made aware they require it. I am quite rich from my days adventuring and was a notorious hoarder not unlike a dragon, so I’m using that to fund the town. It’s gotten to the point where I’m almost no longer needed, which brings me no small amount of joy. But, tell me Trevor, does your Earth know the concept of karma? There are many universes out there, and I want to make sure.”

Trevor nodded. “If you do good things, good things happen to you. If you do bad things, bad things happen to you.”

“Exactly, and that’s where I’m being selfish,” Jackson said with a self-deprecating smirk, looking back down at the town. “I’m retiring from my position soon. Not sure when, exactly, but soon. Don’t tell anyone, though; it’s still a secret.”

“Yeah, I’ve got you. Uh, sir.”

Jackson chuckled and gestured towards the ground. “All of this is my effort to accumulate as much good karma as I can for what comes next. As I said in my introduction, I’m a Summoned just like you. This is my fourth world, to be exact, but I’m not ready to be done just yet. I’ve found a ritual that requires me to have five other Summoned in order to send me off to my next destination. Perfectly safe for everyone involved, of course. As the subject, I cannot be one of the five Summoned, and before you arrived there were only four in town.”

“Oh, so I was summoned to help out,” Trevor said before laughing nervously. “There’s a trope in our world - or my Earth, I guess, as you put it - where people get summoned to other worlds in order to slay monsters, or defeat something powerful, and other stuff like that. It’s a popular genre, and I was really nervous about that.”

“Nothing so dangerous, though we do have dangerous beasts around that adventurers are needed to deal with. Three of the four Summoned here participate in that, and two of them are more proactive about it than the last.” Jackson looked away from the town to Trevor. “I would like you to know that you can make it back to your world, should you so choose. It’s part of the ritual I performed to bring you here.”

“Oh, well that’s a relief. All my stuff is there, so, yeah, I’m kind of attached to it. It’s nice to know I can go back.”

“Eventually, though. I have to say you can’t go back right away,” Jackson said apologetically. “This last ritual was one that reached out to someone who was in dire need of something different. It didn’t have to be you; the multiverse is vast, and people are undergoing accidents all the time. This one, however, seeks out the person who needs it the most.”

Trevor tilted his head. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure I get it.”

“Young man, you were summoned here because, deep down, you need a break. As you were being brought here, I watched some of your life play out.” When Trevor opened his mouth to say something, Jackson held up a hand and continued. “Nothing that would embarrass you, I promise. But I saw how you acted, and how you were treated. I saw how you carried yourself, and how you spent your time. Before today I had no inkling that you even existed, but now that I’ve met you, I am glad you’re here.”

The words were not spoken from a place of malice, but they stung Trevor regardless. Even so, he could not refute them; he knew exactly what Jackson was talking about. After a few moments, he nodded.

“This is that thing where it’s both selfless and selfish, then?” he asked. “Selfish because you summoned me out of nowhere for your own gain, and selfless in that it was a ritual prepared with good intentions?”

“Somewhat,” Jackson said with a slight bow of his head. “Whether I performed the ritual or not, you still would have stepped off of that ladder, stepped on that boy’s toy truck, and fallen into the shelving on the other side of the aisle. You still would have been pelted by cans of beans-”

“Okay, that’s probably enough,” Trevor quickly interrupted.

“Are you sure? I could go over the incident in full detail if you like.”

“I don’t think I’d like that,” he replied with a nervous laugh. A thought occurred to him, and he jolted upright. “Wait, that sounds really dangerous. You said I could go back, so I didn’t die, right?”

Jackson waved his hand. “You didn’t. You are knocked out, and will be for a while,” the elf informed. “A coma, unfortunately, but one that you will be able to recover from. The ritual reassured me of this. In fact, it’s entirely possible that the magic saved your life.”

Trevor blinked as he processed this information. “Oh, okay,” he said smartly after a few moments.

The elf just gave him that same grandfatherly smile. “It’s a little scary, I know, but the moment the top tattoo on your left arm disappears, you will be able to return home if you so choose.”

“Tattoo?” Trevor asked, bemused. “Wait, top tattoo?”

He lifted his left arm and rolled up his sleeve to see that he had, in fact, received tattoos. Two of them. One was around his wrist and traveled up to the elbow. The other covered his bicep. Both had patterns that didn’t make sense to him, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a reason for it.

Two thoughts occurred to the young man.

The first was that his skin had been marred, and whether or not he would be able to go back to his job like this. His big boss, Devlin, was a staunch opponent of tattoos and did not like employing those who had them. Trevor didn’t really care, personally, and was ambivalent on the topic. Still, he had his future to consider.

The second was, oh man, I’ve never been this buff before. He flexed his arm, and his bicep swelled in a way that years of retail work had never allowed. When Jackson looked away, an amused smile on the elf’s face, Trevor touched his abdomen and noticed that the inklings of a six pack were there. Not sculpted and well defined, but it certainly didn’t feel like all he did in his off time was sit on the couch playing games and eating shredded cheese straight from the bag.

Not that he had ever done that, of course. It was just an example.

“Yes, tattoo,” Jackson said, gazing over Tosa. “It’s a mark of the Summoned, and manifests in different places on everyone. Once the tattoo around your bicep disappears, then you’ll know it will be safe to return to your body. A week in this world is only an hour there, so you have plenty of time to explore, or rest, or whatever you’d like to do so long as you don’t disturb the people of the town.”

“Okay, that’s pretty straightforward,” Trevor said with a nod. “Do we know how long that’ll be?”

“At least as long as it takes to tell a story.”

“What?”

“Nothing, just making a joke,” Jackson said, chuckling. Trevor didn’t understand, but said nothing. “It will depend on whoever is taking care of you back on your Earth. A month or so here, knowing your world’s doctors. A couple of weeks at the soonest, maybe.”

“So I’m going to be here for a while,” Trevor stated quietly. “What am I supposed to do for that long?”

Jackson’s grandfatherly smile turned into a grin as he walked over to a table next to where Trevor had been summoned. On the table was a sack, which he pulled a jar out of. It was made of clay and the lid had been sealed with some clear glue. After inspecting it, he offered it to the confused young man.

“Please, would you kindly get these pickles out for me?” Jackson requested. “And we’ll talk all about quests. After all, you may not want to be an adventurer, but I assure you that there are other ways to fill your time.”

Still confused, Trevor took the jar. The moment he did, a full text box appeared in front of him.

[[New Quest! This strange old, old, old man has asked you to release the pickles from this sealed jar!

You may be asking yourself why he decided to do this, but let’s face it, elves are strange creatures. Jackson, doubly so. However, you already have it, so you might as well give it a shot. Why not try using your Power?]]

“I’m sorry, what?” was all Trevor could ask as he looked at the text box in confusion.

CHAPTER TWO: THE NITTY GRITTY

Jackson put a comforting hand on Trevor’s back as they both stared at the clay jar. To the young man, it didn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary. The contents sloshed as he shook it back and forth, and he could feel it wasn’t only liquid inside. He looked at the old elf, who had the twinkle of well-meaning mischief in his eyes.

“We call it the Quest Master,” Jackson explained. “I know, I know, it’s a little on the nose, but all Summoned in this world have access to it. You can shorten it to QM, if you prefer. It doesn’t seem to mind.”

“It minds other things?” Trevor asked, bemused.

“Some. I’m sure you’ve noticed that it can be a little sassy at times. Overall, though, it’s helpful. It makes the quests required to level up, like this one, possible. If you ask it to explain a monster, object, or Power, then it will, and if you ask it to show you your stats, it will oblige. Where it came from is hotly debated amongst scholars, but most people accept it as a matter of fact.”

“That does seem helpful,” Trevor murmured, though he didn’t sound sure of his own words.

“Completing quests will allow you to level up, giving you access to better stats and increases to your Power,” Jackson continued. “There’s no level cap as far as anyone has seen, but it’s rare to see anyone too high a level. You see, you level up by completing quests. No monster killing required unless that’s what you were requested to do, of course, though you’re under no obligation to do so. Let me see here, you have the Quick Growth skill for being a human, correct?”

“I think that’s what it said,” Trevor confirmed.

“That’s a good one,” Jackson said, nodding sagely. “Every race has a pool of racial skills, and the one you received is almost universally agreed to be one of the best. Why don’t you ask the Quest Master what it does?”

Looking from the jar to the elf, Trevor was urged to speak. “Um, Quest Master? Could you please tell me what Quick Growth does?” he asked, feeling embarrassed about asking thin air about his abilities.

[[The Quick Growth skill is a human skill that allows you to grow quickly.

But that’s the obvious answer, so let me get to the nitty gritty.

Whenever you complete a quest, you level up. However, this is not always the case. As you get more and more powerful, it will take you several quests to level up. For the first few levels, it will take you one quest. Then, it’ll take two. As you can probably guess, this upward trend continues. It’s called Milestone Leveling and, not to toot my own horn, it’s awesome.

What Quick Growth does is lower the number of quests required to level up by 10%, with a constant minimum of 1. So long as the amount needed doesn’t drop it to zero, that is. Later, when it takes two quests to level up, you’ll only need to complete one. What will normally take someone three quests will only take you two, and so on. I’m sure you understand the math.

This is a rare skill and you’re lucky to have it, so feel free to thank me for being so magnanimous.]]

“Oh, uh, thanks for being so magnanimous, Quest Master,” Trevor managed to stutter out.

“Good answer, I take it?” Jackson asked.

“You can’t see the screen it sent me?”

The old elf shook his head. “I cannot. Aside from certain circumstances, everyone will receive a different message.”

“Gotcha, sorry. It was a good answer, yeah. The Quest Master said that it’s based on something called Milestone Leveling,” Trevor said as he read through the message again. “And I take fewer quests to level up than everyone else.”

“That is correct,” Jackson affirmed, beaming. “Now, I understand that this is a stressful event. Being summoned to another world, ripped from what you know, it can be anxiety inducing. I’ve seen a lot of people break down for a short time before they get their bearings. You’ve done a wonderful job so far, but if you need something to occupy your time, then I recommend focusing on this.”

The young man simply nodded. He wasn’t sure if a panic attack was off the table just yet, and the forecast was still cloudy. “That’s good advice, thank you.”

“The Quest Master hosts events every year that people can partake in to become Quest Givers,” Jackson continued explaining. “For the most part you’ll see them being captains of the guard, nobles, scholars, or merchants, though anyone can be accepted. They live up to their titles as those who give quests. When they do so, the QM takes the reward from a location they specially designated for that purpose in order to give to the adventurers when their task has been completed.”

That caused Trevor to perk up. “I get a reward for this?” he asked, surprised. “It wasn’t mentioned.”

“No, it generally isn’t unless it’s something very important,” Jackson answered. “But you can always ignore a request if the Giver doesn’t tell you what the reward is or if you don’t think it’s worth the time. In this case, it’s both money and a map of the town. Our currency is separated between copper, silver, gold, and platinum coins, with silver being the standard.”

“I’m going to assume that means the few dollars I have in my wallet are useless, aren’t they?”

Jackson chuckled. “I’m afraid so,” he confirmed. “But I’ll make sure that you have everything you need for about two weeks. That should give you enough time to get a hang of everything and become self-sufficient if you’re not already gone.”

“Thank you, Mr. Jackson,” Trevor said.

“It’s fine. After all, I’m the one who snagged you from your world, so it’s up to me to do at least this much.” Jackson gestured towards the clay jar. “Why don’t you complete the quest?”

“Oh, sure, yeah. Sorry, I really should have started already.”

Trevor grasped the lid in his hand and attempted to pull it open. His hand slipped off. Next, he attempted to twist it. The glue held tight. Scraping the rubbery substance with his fingernail, the adhesive proved resistant to peeling it off little by little. It was stuck tight.

His next thought was that his Strength stat was 3, which seemed really high considering his physique. If the jar was made of clay, then it should be easily broken.

That would be incredibly rude, though, and Trevor dismissed it. It may have been the right call, but if it wasn’t then he had just destroyed the elf’s property for nothing.

With pursed lips, his mind wandered back to what the Quest Master had written. Why not try your Power?

“Sorry, Mr. Jackson, but how do I activate my Power?” Trevor asked, looking up from the jar apologetically.

“I told you that you don’t have to apologize, young man,” he chastised gently.

“Yeah, it’s just a habit, sorry.”

“You should feel the Power in the back of your mind,” Jackson said, not bothering to correct him this time. “Activating it should come instinctively to you once you reach out for it.”

Nodding, Trevor closed his eyes and tried searching his mind for his Power. To his astonishment, he realized that the feeling he was reaching for had been waiting for him to do so. Mentally grasping at it, the young man smiled.

The Power of Inventory was small, but he could feel its vast potential. It seemed ready to accept whatever Trevor sent its way, so long as it was able. The young man went still as he mentally explored his new ability, noting that he had an intuitive understanding now that he had touched upon it.

Trevor could tell that his skin was the portal between the real world and his little pocket dimension. Whatever he pulled in had to be in contact with his body, and whatever he pushed out followed the same rule. He automatically knew that he couldn’t pull anything living into it, either, not that he wanted to give that a try.

It truly felt warm and welcoming, like a small room with a fireplace and a couch to snuggle up on while a blizzard raged outside. Trevor mentally poked it as if it were an actual construct, and he had the distinct impression that it was pleased.

This was a far cry from what he imagined. The Power didn’t strike him as an ever-hungry void waiting to consume eternity and chew on the ashes of infinity as it gobbled up everything it could hold and still want more.

Trevor blinked as his expectations were subverted. Perhaps he was ready for that anxiety attack, alone or not.

Shaking it off, he willed the clay jar into his inventory. In a flash of light that didn’t seem bright enough to illuminate anything, the item disappeared into thin air. For a moment he panicked before reaching out to that sensational space in the back of his mind, and breathed a sigh of relief when he found that the jar was sitting there inside that small, vast feeling.

Not only was it safe and sound in Trevor’s inventory, but he could make out the various components. The clay jar was one item, but so was the pickle juice and the four pickles that had been inside. He found it odd that everything could be separated like that, but then realized that he hadn’t even known this existed ten minutes ago and decided that oddity just must be the flavor of the day.

Prodding around in his own mind, he barely noticed as Jackson watched him. The elf’s expression was one of contentment and satisfaction. Watching people explore their power for the first time was almost always a great joy to witness, and this was no different. While the inner workings of the Power of Inventory wasn’t one the elf could see, the ever-changing expressions on Trevor’s face as he experimented were well worth it.

Holding out his hand, Trevor took a breath and looked at Jackson. “I’m not sure how this is going to work,” he said.

“It’ll work as it does,” Jackson replied sagely. “As long as you’re trying, that’s what matters.”

Trevor hesitated, but then nodded. He willed the pickles to emerge from his inventory and onto his hand, coaxing it like a kitten unsure if it wanted to leave its hiding place. A moment later, his hand was covered in a dark blue, almost purple liquid. Most of it fell to the ground and splashed the two men’s feet, masking the sweet air with the scent of pungent brine and vinegar.

“No! I meant pickles, not the juice,” Trevor lamented, shaking his hand out. “Sorry about the mess, Mr. Jackson.”

“It’s fine, it really is,” the elf laughed. “Try again. You’re already almost there.”

Holding up his hand, Trevor made a face at the sticky juice clinging to it. He had always hated being dirty or wet. Something about the feeling of being touched by something that wasn’t supposed to be touching him threw him off. This was no different.

As if sensing his thoughts and discomfort, the Power of Inventory activated again, and the pickle juice that remained on his hand disappeared in a flash of light. Trevor could feel it floating around, unseen yet still reachable, in the pocket dimension attached to him. Flexing his fingers, he winced as he tried again.

This time, he was successful. His eyes widened as he looked at the four blue, bulbous pickles that had appeared out of thin air. They were dry on the outside as all of the juice had been separated inside the inventory space.

“I did it!” he exclaimed excitedly as he held out his hand for Jackson to see.

[[Quest complete! You have managed to summon pickles!

Please remember that your Power isn’t one of Pickles, but Inventory. If you attempt to summon pickles again and they are not already stowed away in your pocket space, then you will fail and be sad because you have no pickles.

Rewards! A map of the town of Tosa and a set of coins have been added to your inventory.

Level up! You have gained 1 stat point. It has been added to your bank like the others. You have 4 stat points banked.]]

Without taking a look, Trevor could tell that he had received two gold coins, fifteen silver coins, and thirty copper coins in his inventory space. He wasn’t sure what the exchange rate was or how much things cost around here, but he found himself trusting Jackson when the elf said it would be enough to keep him going for a while. Before he could ask, however, the other man spoke.

“Excellent work, my boy,” Jackson applauded jovially. “You only have a limited amount of space now but, as you increase your Capacity stat, it’ll get larger. I won’t tell you how to spend your points, but it would be wise not to neglect it.”

The elf took three of the four pickles and motioned for Trevor to eat the last one. The young man stared at the strangely colored fermented cucumber. In his experience, things that were this shade of blue were not meant for consumption. However, Jackson once again gestured for Trevor to eat, and had already begun biting one of the others, so he complied.

To his surprise, it tasted exactly like a normal pickle. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the texture, or the crunch when he bit it, or the juices that flowed into his mouth. This was, to everything except the eyes, just another pickle.

“As much as I’d love to celebrate with you, I really must be going,” Jackson said as he finished his first pickle. “If you check that map, it’ll show you the way to your place of residence. The townsfolk have taken to calling it the Hero House, but it’s a small compound where the other Summoned live. Should be easy enough to find.”

“Oh, you’re not going to take me there?” Trevor asked.

Jackson simply shook his head. “I assure you that you’ll find that Tosa is as safe as any town in your world.”

“I’m not sure if that’s as reassuring as you think it is,” Trevor said with a grimace. America was America, after all.

“Safer, then,” Jackson corrected. Turning, he gestured towards a stairwell in the back of the room. “Head downstairs and follow the map. Spend some time exploring, if you like. You have around eight hours until night falls, but there’s lamps lining each of the main roads. Try new foods, meet new people, and get used to your new, temporary home.”

Trevor nodded. “Okay, thanks.”

“You are truly welcome, young man.”

As Jackson raised his hand, Trevor suddenly blurted out. “Oh, wait, before you go. Um, why did you ask me to start with 3 Strength?”

Jackson’s hand stopped, and he chuckled. “Why, it’s so you look more like you do on the cover.”

Trevor tilted his head. “The what?”

The elf’s chuckle transformed into a laugh, and he shook his head. “Don’t worry about the mess, it’ll clean itself up eventually. But, please enjoy your stay, Trevor.”

Jackson finished raising his hand, and a book much larger than either man emerged from the ground. Trevor jumped back, but it didn’t do anything to him.

Curiously, the cover did have a depiction of Trevor, and the young man found himself staring.

The Trevor Anderson on the cover was as muscular as he was now. He wore a tank top and khakis with a backpack on his back. In the background was a town or city that he didn’t recognize. Whatever his circumstances, he seemed to be having a good time.

“Bye, Mr. Jackson,” the young man said absently.

The book opened to a random page near the middle, and the elf stepped inside with an amused smile on his lips. He disappeared into the paper, and the book returned to the ground as if it hadn’t just been carefully studied by Trevor.

The young man’s eyes widened as he looked around for any sign of his elderly friend. “… What?”

CHAPTER THREE: NO STUFFY PLEASANTRIES

It had taken several minutes for Trevor to finish the pickle and compose himself after Jackson had left. Despite the old elf’s instruction, he had not quite been ready to strike off on his own. However, he recognized that now was not the proper time for his long-awaited freak out. Not only was he in somebody else’s study, but he had no idea how far his voice would carry and he really didn’t want to cause someone to become concerned.

Placing the pickle juice still in his inventory back into the sealed clay jar, Trevor removed the container and placed it on the table. At the very least, the knowledge that he could get into things that were sealed shut was handy to have. He couldn’t think of many instances where such an ability was needed, but that was easily blamed on how long his day had been even though it had only just started.

He headed downstairs. The tower was fairly nondescript and circular, and there was a long drop from the top of the spiral staircase to the bottom. There was, however, a railing all the way down, so it was, at the very least, safe.

The sounds of the crowds were much louder as Trevor stood in front of the wooden door that he assumed led outside. With his hand already on the metal handle, he took several deep breaths.

“Do not panic,” he told himself, quoting the Quest Master. “It’s just like going on vacation overseas to a new culture. Don’t worry about elves, or Powers, or whatever. Just take it easy, Trevor.”

Taking one last breath, Trevor opened the door and realized that, no matter what he thought, he had not been ready for what lay on the other side.

The plaza before him was covered with colorful cloth awnings, protecting the numerous stalls from the sun above. People of literally all shapes and sizes filled his view. Some were meandering aimlessly, stopping at the various booths and shopping more with their eyes than their wallets. Others were zipping around, or at least walking with purpose, carrying different sizes of bags and boxes with them.

While the market was one thing that Trevor could easily wrap his mind around, the people were another.

As the young man took his first steps down the stairs to the plaza, he noted that there were humans around. They made up the prominent majority, and were just as diverse as they were on Earth. This one had dark skin and light hair, this one had light skin and dark hair. That one was tall, while this one was short. It fully reminded Trevor of a renaissance faire.

Whereas the crowds frequenting such events may have cosplayed as different races - elves in particular were a popular choice - these people didn’t have to put on prosthetic ears to sell the illusion.

Trevor was not ignorant when it came to games and various races popularized by them. When he saw an elf, he knew that it was an elf. When he saw a gnome, he knew it was a gnome. When he saw a kobold, he knew it was a kobold.

What made him pause was the fact that they existed.

The town was inhabited by people of all types. He caught himself staring at a small humanoid with twisted blue hair that wouldn’t have been out of place on an old Troll doll bartering with a black-scaled, bipedal lizard wearing fine clothes and several gold bracelets on its tail.

In another area, a platinum blond elf was stringing a bow while speaking with a bald dwarf sporting a massive, chestnut-brown beard.

Even further in, he could see a red-skinned woman with horns and a thick tail pass a grinning orc some coins. From this distance he could pick out the glint of gold, and in return she received a sword.

While Trevor was processing, something large and furry struck him in the side with enough force to send him to the ground. The young man twisted so that he was looking up at the person who had run into him, and froze.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” the man said in a deep, rumbling voice. “Are you okay?”

To Trevor’s surprise, the creature that had knocked him down was a minotaur, half bull and half man. His brown fur covered almost every inch of his body, and his black eyes were looking down with an unreadable emotion. His body was covered with loosely draped silks of dark blue, green, and purple, and polished gold jewelry.

What really stuck out, aside from the fine clothes and towering size, were the horns. Each one had carvings and markings that Trevor couldn’t decipher at first glance, and they were covered in colorful ribbons and golden sleeves. Four shiny, platinum coins hung from leather straps, two to a side.

The minotaur rumbled in amusement as he looked from Trevor to the tower not ten feet away. When he looked back at the fallen man, he squatted down. “Are you staring at my horns?”

“Um,” Trevor said wisely as his eyes snapped from the minotaur’s horns to his eyes. “Sorry?”

This time, the minotaur laughed and threw his hands up. “Look! Look all you want, that’s what they’re for!” he exclaimed. “Wouldn’t go through so much trouble if I don’t want people looking, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it,” Trevor said, not fully getting it but releasing an unwittingly held breath. “Sorry, it’s… it’s my first day. First ten minutes, even. I’m still getting used to things.”

“No need to apologize, friend,” the minotaur said jovially as he offered Trevor a hand. The young man took it and was lifted to his feet with ease. “I’m glad you are one of the Summoned who knows manners. There are some who would look at me, yell ‘ahh, beast’ and then try to slay me. Not very kind of them. Very rude. Not like you, though! Don’t you think?”

“I think, if your first instinct is to try to kill something, then you really need to reevaluate your priorities,” Trevor responded cautiously.

“Yes!” The minotaur clapped Trevor on the shoulder. A jolt went through his body, but it didn’t hurt as much as he thought it would. “Yes, this human gets it. Tell me, are there more of my kind in your world?”

“Oh, no, sir. Only humans, and it’s always been that way.”

The minotaur clicked his tongue and shook his head sadly. “A shame, that. I can see that you are nervous, but you don’t have any reason to be,” he claimed, waving a hand towards the market. “This is the safest place in the city, doubly so next to me.”

“Next to you?” Trevor asked.

“Ah, I have not introduced myself yet. My sincerest apologies.” The minotaur took a step back and gave Trevor a slight bow. “I am Klarkartar, merchant prince hailing from the Isle of Horns. I'm a minotaur.”

Trevor had known that Klarkartar was a minotaur, but deliberately held his tongue. The myth of the minotaur from Earth would likely be frowned upon in other societies, and he didn’t want to be the one to bring it up. Especially when the one he was addressing introduced himself as a prince.

Instead, the young man panicked. He had stepped outside only to stand in the way of a prince! He bowed deeply in greeting.

“I’m Trevor Anderson,” he said, anxious about upsetting royalty. “I’m human, from Earth. One of the Earths, I think. There might be more than one. I, uh, I didn’t ask. It’s an honor to meet you, Prince Klarkartar.”

“No stuffy pleasantries here,” Klarkartar rumbled. “Please, my friends call me Klar, and I am always on the lookout for new friends when I’m out and about.”

Trevor hesitated. That didn’t feel right, but nodded. “Okay, um, Klar. Feel free to call me Trevor, then.”

“I shall indeed. Tell me, Trevor, may I ask you a question?”

Despite the initial culture shock, Trevor found himself becoming more at ease with his new minotaur friend. Klar was loud and half again as tall as he was, but his rumbling voice was nonetheless soothing. The young man found himself nodding again in response.

“Thank you,” the minotaur said, inclining his head further. “You have only just been summoned. This is what you said, correct?”

“Yeah, not long ago.”

“Then... this is a matter of fate!” the minotaur roared. Some people gave them curious looks, but most went about their business. “I must take you under my horns, as they say.”

“Oh, that’s really not necessary,” Trevor said, holding his hands up. “I mean, I can’t have you spending time on some nobody like me. I’m sure that, as a prince, you’re very busy.”

“I am a merchant prince, but it is just a title,” Klar said dismissively. “I am a merchant operating out of the capital, and haven’t seen my home in many years. By choice, mind you. It is simply something to say to impress people, like these horns.”

“They really are quite great,” Trevor agreed.

“Yes, they truly are, but I suppose that’s your first lesson. You mentioned that there are only humans on your Earth?” Klar asked, to which Trevor nodded. “Then let me tell you this as an icebreaker for other races: if they dress something up all fancy, that means they are proud of it and praising them is worthwhile. Easy, right?”

Before Trevor could agree, Klar turned him towards the market and pointed out the kobold he had been staring at earlier. “Look at this woman, for example,” Klar said. “In their society, women wear gold and men wear silver, this makes it easy for those who are not kobolds to tell. They understand the limitations of us mammals and dress accordingly. Makes sense?”

“Yes, I’ve got it.”

“Good, but you see how she has fancied up her tail with bracelets. She is proud, and she is drawing attention. A kobold’s tail is like a minotaur’s horns. Some are proud, others are more modest, and even some others are ashamed. That is a kobold who is proud. If you wanted to start a conversation, or strike a bargain, that would be an easy way to build a connection.”

“Okay, that makes sense,” Trevor said.

“Gnomes are always ready to talk about their hair,” Klar said, gesturing towards a group of them. “They love elaborate hairstyles and anything new. A gnome not used to Summoned will talk your ear off as soon as they learn you are one, but they’re a good folk. They don’t understand when they’re being a nuisance, but greatly appreciate straightforwardness. If they ask you too many questions about home, just let them know it’s too much.”

Trevor nodded, but made a mental note to avoid gnomes until he was settled in and ready for it.

“And these dwarves here,” Klar continued, waving his hand again. “One’s beard is all braided, while the other’s is cut short but he has little golden beads in it. They are both proud, but the braid is one that means something. The beads are meant for show because he is lacking in something.”

Trevor furrowed his brow. “What’s he lacking?”

“I have no idea,” Klar admitted. “But it’s short, see? Size and length is also important. Perhaps he had to cut it for some reason, but still wants to be proud.”

Taking a deep breath, the young man gave Klar an apologetic look and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m getting it.”

“Perhaps not. I'm a poor teacher, I know this, and there is a lot to go over. It is okay,” Klar said. He gave Trevor what the young man imagined was an apologetic smile, though it was hard to tell. Something in the distance caught the minotaur’s attention, and he waved his massive hand. “Unfortunately, it looks like my time is up. Here is something that is universal: if the person you are talking to has horns, but they have nothing to adorn them, then do not mention them at all. Don’t stare, either. That goes for minotaurs and demons, the two most common of us who have horns.”

“Okay, that’s easy enough to remember,” Trevor said, though he was still feeling dread about having to learn Dwarven Beard Length Etiquette somewhere down the line.

Klar waved again, a little more insistently this time, before retrieving a small business card from a pouch around his belt. Trevor took it when offered, and found himself furrowing his brow again. It was written in a language he had never seen before made of seemingly chaotic letters.

“Ask the Quest Master to translate,” Klar insisted.

“Um, please translate this?”

[[Klarkartar’s Magical Emporium

Come to the merchant’s district in the capital city of Eskretet for all your magical needs! You can’t miss it, just follow the horns!]]

“Come and find me if you’re ever in the capital, new friend Trevor. You will always be welcomed,” Klar said before shaking his head. “My journey is almost over, but I am provided providence once more in meeting you today. I wish you well in all that you do, whether it is adventuring or something else entirely, I wish you well.”

“And you as well,” Trevor responded, putting the business card into his pocket. “I hope that every hardship brings you greater success. I think that’s the quote, anyway. I might just be very nervous and making things up.”

Klar laughed. “I understand your sentiment, friend, thank you. This is a minotaur sign of respect, but you do not have to perform it if you don’t want to.” He put his hands palm against palm over his head and bowed deeply towards Trevor, keeping his eyes on the ground.

“Is it- would it be okay if I did?” Trevor asked quietly.

“Of course, we minotaurs are a welcoming bunch. It is an honor to meet a Summoned such as yourself.”

Nodding, Trevor hesitated for only a moment before returning the gesture. They stayed that way for a few seconds, and the young man only raised his head when he heard the coins on Klar’s horns clacking together as he rose. The minotaur beamed before turning to the crowd. “Yes, I’m coming! Don’t interrupt me when I’m making new friends!”

“Bye, Klar,” Trevor said. He watched as the minotaur walked away to the other side of the market to other of his kind. They butted heads before Klar pointed back at Trevor, who waved again, and disappeared into the city streets, leaving the young man to find his way alone.

CHAPTER FOUR: I’M FROM AN EARTH

Trevor still felt some trepidation as he navigated through the town, but it wasn’t nearly as prominent as before. It felt like it was run of the mill stress from not being sure of where you were going than panic at being in another world. His talk with Klar had done him some good and lessened his worry that people would inherently dislike him for being different, and he began feeling more at ease in this new world.

Retrieving the map from his inventory space had been easier than the pickle debacle had led him to believe, and from there all that was required was simple navigation. It was a fairly straightforward path from the Summoner’s Tower, which was the name of the place he arrived, to the Hero House.

As he walked through the town, not many people approached him though those he locked eyes with usually gave him slight bows. It was the same as nodding at people you sort of recognized at the store or on the street; polite, but nothing big enough to indicate that he should go over and speak with them. Trevor had no issues bowing back.

Jackson had said that this place was peaceful and idyllic, something to really be proud of, and Trevor found himself agreeing with that notion. No matter where he looked, nobody really struck him as being depressed.

Depression was, of course, a complex emotion that affected everyone differently. Trevor didn’t really expect to look at the next elf and say that they were clearly sad, but everyone on the street seemed neutral at worst. In all honesty, it was starting to turn him a little paranoid. Like any second now he was going to turn the corner and see a group of armed guards looking for anyone who might not be as happy as can be.

Then he passed some actual guards, and was surprised to see that they were almost universally beloved. Walking past shops, people would come out to offer them food or drink. The pair he spied first was a human and a dwarf, and they seemed to get along just fine with everyone.

The more he watched the people, the more Trevor found himself smiling, and he began to relax.

Since he had the map, he decided to take the scenic route and check out the river. It was only a few streets away, after all, and the sound of water had always soothed him.

He passed by several restaurants and his nose twitched at each one, but he didn’t enter. That was bravery for another day, perhaps even as early as tomorrow, though the smell of fresh bread and unknown food made him waver even now. Regardless, he continued walking.

The river cut through the middle of the walled town and was wide enough to warrant bridges built to cross it. He saw none of the logs that drifted lazily through the water, but there were several people at the edge. Stone benches had been set beside it, and they seemed like popular spots to stop and eat.

The bridges, which were also made of stone, were nice to look at, and Trevor found himself admiring the structures as he took a seat at a bench near a dwarven family. They were a quiet bunch who were enjoying the river as they ate something that looked like bread baked around a ball of meat. It smelled delicious, but he forced himself to look at the architecture instead of staring at them.

Even though he could only see one up close, the bridges each seemed to have been built with a single piece of stone that stretched all the way from one embankment to the other. They were sturdy enough to hold wagons, but the majority of the traffic were people on foot. Without realizing it, he began counting the number of humans he saw.

He wasn’t sure how long he counted, but ultimately wagered a guess that at least sixty percent of the population had to be decidedly non-human. Trevor wasn’t sure what to do with this information other than store it away, but the process along with the sound of the river had calmed him into a peaceful state.

At least, until the peace was shattered.

Trevor threw up his arms to protect his head as an earth-shaking roar caused the ground underneath him to tremble. Everyone paused as the ground quaked, and the young man looked around for places to flee. It stopped just as quickly as it came, and the people carried on their business like nothing had happened.

“Can’t believe it’s already five,” one of the dwarves said from the bench nearby. He flicked some crumbs off of his curly black beard and resumed his meal.

“It’s four, remember?” came a distinctly feminine voice from the other. Just like the first dwarf she had a thick black beard, though it wasn’t nearly as curly, and stroked her fingers through it. “We’re trying that newfangled Daylight Savings thing from the Summoned.”

“Oi, that,” the male dwarf sighed. “It was worth giving a chance, I thinks, but I’m not sure I’ll vote to keep it. Glyrphizith roars at five, and that’s the way it’s always been.”

“I don’t mind it when it lets me sleep in for another hour,” the young dwarf chimed in through a mouthful of food. “But I don’ts like it when I gotta wake up early.”

The woman reached down and ruffled the child’s hair. “I understand what you’re saying, Dag.”

Taking a breath and steeling his nerves, Trevor stood up. “Um, hello,” he said, waving when the dwarves looked his way. “Sorry to bother you, but what was that?”

“Oi, you must be new in town, aren’tcha?” the man asked.

“Yeah, only about an hour or so,” Trevor admitted.

“Well, bless your beard, come and have a seat with us,” the woman said, moving over so that there was room.

When Trevor reached up to make sure he was as clean shaven as he remembered, the man let out a belly-deep chuckle. “That’s just a dwarven saying, son,” he explained. “Come on, then, join us.”

Nodding more to himself than them, Trevor took them up on their offer. He sat next to the woman and was immediately passed a spongy ball. It was warm to the touch and smelled of both fresh bread and hot meat.

“That’s my great-great-grandpa Polt’s recipe,” the woman said. “Go ahead and give it a taste, will you?”

Lifting the ball to his face, Trevor gave it one last sniff before gently taking a bite out of it. He bit deep enough to get the core, and an eruption of flavor hit his tongue all at once.

The taste of freshly baked bread mixed with the well-seasoned meat hidden within, and he couldn’t help but release a moan of pleasure. It was like eating a taco out of a bowl made from bread, and he quickly devoured the whole thing as quickly as he could.

“Mama said we shouldn’t eat like that,” the child chided.

“Oh hush, Dag, let the boy eat,” she said, tapping him on the shoulder. Trevor looked horrified for a moment until he realized that the woman was pleased by his reaction. “Would you like another?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, please and thank you,” Trevor quietly requested.

“Of course not, dear,” she replied happily, and handed him another one. He began eating this one like a normal person.

“Based on that tattoo of yours, Summoned, I’m guessing?” the man said, nodding towards Trevor’s arm. He looked and saw that his sleeve had fallen from his wrist, revealing some of the ink in question.

“Oh, yes. I’m Trevor Anderson,” he greeted before performing the same bow he had before. “I arrived here… earlier today. I’m not sure how long it’s been.”

“I’m Gad, this here’s my wife Froil, and our son Dag,” the man introduced, and all three of them bowed back. “Before I answer your question, I hope you’ll answer one of mine. Do you have that Daylight Savings thingie in your world, too?”

Trevor nodded. “Yeah, but most of us don’t like it either, Mr. Gad.”

“Then why drag us into it?” Gad asked, exasperated.

“Sorry. We kind of ruin everything, I think.”

“Oh, none of that, dear,” Froil said, patting him on the arm. “It’s not your fault. We tried something new, and that’s what matters. If enough people also think it’s a waste of time, then things’ll change back next cycle.”

“Oh, yes, sorry if you thought I was complaining about you,” Gad said quickly. “I’m just a firm believer that Glyrphizith should be roaring at five, and it’s strange when she don’t.”

“I’m sorry, Glirfezeth?” Trevor asked.

“No, Glyrphizith,” Dag said.

“Glyrphezith.”

“Glyrphizith,” he repeated.

Trevor frowned. “Glyr-phi-zith?”

“Yeah, you’ve got it,” Gad said. “She’s a dragon living in the Feywoods since long before the town of Tosa popped up. Doesn’t mean anyone harm. She’s never shown up here except for a handful of times, and that was just to ask some of the tinkerers to fix up her clocks.”

“Her clocks?” Trevor asked, bemused.

“She collects them, dear,” Froil explained. “Every dragon has something they hoard, and Glyrphizith’s is clocks. No one must have told her about Daylight Savings, poor dear. Not that it matters, I suppose.”

“She, uh, must be big to make such a roar,” Trevor noted.

“Huge, but mostly harmless,” Gad said. “One of the first things that Jackson did was make a landing zone for her whenever she wanted to come by. Saw her just a few years ago, so it’ll probably be a while yet before she makes an appearance again.”

“Oh. Well, I’m glad to hear it didn’t mean something bad was going to happen,” Trevor said with no small amount of relief.

“Nope, just that it’s five o’clock on the dot,” Gad said before looking at his wife. “Four now, I suppose.”

“You best suppose, at least until you try to repeal it next cycle,” Froil said merrily. Then, she nudged Trevor. “That’s next year, by the by. Jackson has the people vote for what they want to see from the other worlds. I believe this suggestion was Wayne’s.”

“Wayne?” Trevor asked, perking up at a name that clearly sounded like it was from Earth.

“Why yes, dear, he’s from Earth, if memories serve me right.”

“But there’s lotsa Earths,” Dag said. “So that don’t mean much.”

“I’m from an Earth,” Trevor stated.

“That’s nice, dear, and how are you liking Tosa?” Froil asked.

“It’s…” Pausing, Trevor stopped to think.

Coming to a new world had been a shock to him, but now that he had found his bearings it wasn’t unpleasant. There were a lot of things to learn, and a lot of cultures to worry about offending, but all in all the people seemed friendly and didn’t mind answering his questions. Whether it was the loud yet jovial Klar or the family of dwarves that was quick to share their food with a stranger, it had been a nice experience so far.

“I think I like it,” Trevor said after a few moments of thought.

Froil patted him on the shoulder before gathering up four more of the taco bread balls and tying them into a parcel with a small quilt. “Here, for the road. We’ve got to get a move on, but we’re here about the same time every day, so don’t be a stranger, Trevor Anderson.”

Finishing the ball already in his hand, Trevor took the makeshift bag and looked at it. A moment later it was in his inventory.

“Now how’d you do that?” Gad asked, clearly astonished. “Wordless magic?”

“No, I have the Power of Inventory, I guess,” Trevor said before retrieving the small quilt minus the taco balls inside. He offered it to Froil.

“That’s a neat trick.”

“Very handy,” Froil agreed, nodding as she took the quilt. The family stood up and bowed to Trevor, and he did the same. “I hope you enjoy your time in Tosa. Like I said, don’t be a stranger.”

“Don’t be a stranger,” Gad repeated.

“I’ll try not to be,” Trevor said, smiling as he scratched the back of his head.

Despite Froil saying that they had to go, the dwarven family spent nearly five more minutes exchanging goodbyes and pleasantries with Trevor before Gad took the initiative and rushed off. His family followed.

The smile didn’t leave Trevor’s face as he looked out over the river. The water rushed by without a care in the world, and a lone log floated downstream beneath the bridges.

“Yeah, maybe this isn’t so bad,” he told himself, and his voice had a lot more conviction than he thought it would.

CHAPTER FIVE: HIS NAMES IS MR. TIGGLES

It was dusk before Trevor made it to the Hero House. Once he had gotten his bearings and calmed himself, the young man had meandered towards his new, temporary home. It was on the outskirts of town near the wall, and was actually built outside of it. However, this area’s architect had made another wall to go around these buildings.

Just as Jackson had said, the Hero House was a compound that was made of five distinct buildings. The central structure was built in a modern style that threw Trevor off the moment he saw it. It was sleek with several large, dark windows, and wouldn’t have looked out of place on Earth.

The other buildings were built a good thirty or so feet away from the main one, two to a side. They were all decently sized, definitely bigger than his studio apartment had been, though he couldn’t see into the windows due to the blinds. These were all painted in different colors, with the first one being a cool orange. It was tidier than all but one of the other houses with a patch of plants growing alongside the porch.

As Trevor walked around the compound, he stopped in front of this home and saw that the garden was similar to any he would see on Earth. It appeared as though everything had been harvested already, but there wasn’t much out of the ordinary. A wooden divider kept the soil and vines separate from the grass, and he noticed a few long strands of white fiber. They weren’t numerous, but he still found them curious.

The next house to the rear left of the compound was painted brown. This one was the cleanest out of all of them, and had a white door and two windows flanking each side. On the porch was an envelope, and Trevor could clearly see his name on it.

Reaching down, he grabbed it and opened it up to read the letter inside. He was pleased to see that this one was written in English.

Trevor,

I’m glad that you made it to the Hero House. This is the place that you’ll be living at during your time here in Tosa, and your key is inside the envelope.

The key is magical and will get you into not only your home, but the large building in the center of the compound. This was Wayne’s idea, and he built this whole place, but it fits as a communal living space. There are places to relax if you’d like to be social, a fully stocked kitchen in the style of Earth, and anything else you need.

Your house is your place to go if you’d like peace and quiet. It has its own bedroom and Earth style bathroom as well as an area for lounging and entertaining guests, should you so choose. Just like how the key is magical, so is the lock, and no one will be able to enter without your permission. If you’d like to give anyone that permission, then simply imprint your will on their key. The process is similar to how you reached out to your Power earlier today.

I hope that everything is going well for you after your first day in Tosa. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to come by the mayor’s office. Whether you have business or just want to chat, that’s fine too.

Best regards,

Mayor Jackson

P.S. You should visit Thimbleden’s Sundries when you get the chance. I feel like your Power will be quite useful with this particular Quest Giver.

There was a mention of Wayne again. The style of buildings he created, as well as bringing Daylight Savings Time to town, made Trevor all but certain that this guy was from Earth. One of them, at least. He would have to remember to ask about how many there were next time he saw Jackson. Or Wayne, whoever came first.

Trevor reread the letter and put it under his arm as he stuck his hand into the large envelope. His fingers grasped a thin key and pulled it out to see what was essentially a small bronze stick with two rectangular teeth at the end. He regarded it curiously for a moment before shrugging and allowing his inventory to swallow it, the letter, and the envelope.

While Trevor certainly wanted to check out his new home, he was also curious about the rest of the Hero House. The environment here was relaxing, and he was reminded of the summer camps he used to go to as a kid. They hadn’t been all that great at the time, but he looked back fondly now that he was grown enough to appreciate them.

The next house on the tour was painted light blue and had fish drawn on the bottom half of the door. They weren’t done particularly well, but they made Trevor smile. This one was, however, by far the messiest house.

While nothing touched the grass, the porch was littered with laundry, water spots, and an overabundance of candles. None of them were lit now, but many were nearing the end of their life span with wax securing them to wherever they were strewn.

Even though he was curious, Trevor decided not to get close enough to the porch to see what kind of clothes this Summoned wore and perhaps get some more insight into what kind of person they were. It seemed like a real invasion of privacy, and he gave the house a wide berth. He would find out when it was time, after all.

Arriving at the last house, the young man found himself staring.

The door to this gray home was open, though it was too dark inside to see anything. Outside, a large flag hung from a support on one of the porch’s banisters. It had a blue section on one side with a white rectangle over a red one next to it. There was a single white star in the middle of the former, and Trevor frowned. He wasn’t exactly sure where that flag had come from, but it seemed incredibly familiar.

His eyes scanned more of the porch. This one was chock full of comfortable furniture. They all seemed to be made of the same kind of wood, and each had a set of plush, gray pillows haphazardly tossed around and covered in black hair. Sitting atop one of the chairs was a large ten-gallon hat, and realization hit the young man all at once.

“Oh no,” he whispered. “He’s not just from Earth, he’s Texan.”

“Meow,” came a voice from inside the house. It was almost as deep as Klar’s.

Trevor’s attention snapped to the dark void and he immediately noticed a pair of yellow eyes reflecting light back at him. It wasn’t up where he would expect a human’s to be, but low to the ground. The young man paused, regarding the floating eyes for a moment before the creature emerged.

The dimming light illuminated the sleek black fur of a somewhat plump cat as it cautiously took a single step onto the porch. Trevor found himself smiling and immediately squatted down to put his hand out for the creature. It had no collar, but didn’t seem like a stray. The cat regarded him with as much curiosity as he did it.

When Trevor waggled his fingers and blinked slowly, it started running towards him. Its tail was a surprise. He had expected it to be bushy like the rest of the animal, but reality exceeded expectations. Instead, it had a long appendage nearly twice as long as the creature it was attached to, and had unbelievably long, fluffy hair. It fully reminded the young man of some kind of duster.

The black cat didn’t seem to notice or care about the young man’s surprise and immediately ran up to Trevor and pressed its head against his hand. “Meow,” the cat said again in its unusually deep voice. It sounded exactly like someone saying the word meow instead of an animal making its own noise.

It took him a moment, but Trevor started scratching the strange animal.

“Purr,” the cat continued.

“Did you just… say purr?” the young man asked.

“Purrrrrrr,” the cat repeated before it actually started to purr.

“You’re, uh, not Wayne, are you?” Trevor felt a little silly for having to ask.

“Meow,” was the response as the cat started rubbing against Trevor’s legs.

“… Translation, please?”

[[Translation: Mr. Tiggles says “Meow.” I hope this was helpful.]]

“Okay, well, now I know his name is Mr. Tiggles,” Trevor said dubiously as he stood up.

“Meow! Meow, meow!” The cat started getting louder as the hand petting him was mercilessly taken away, and he jumped up onto Trevor’s shoulder in one graceful leap. Despite the animal’s plump appearance, he was surprisingly light.

“Alright, I get it, I’ll keep petting you,” Trevor cooed, amused.

Mr. Tiggles continued to meow loudly until he got the pets he wanted, and then he settled. The cat’s long tail wrapped around Trevor’s neck and smacked the young man in the face as it did its best impression of a scarf.

“Wayne? Rashie? Are you two back already?”

Trevor spun to look at the newcomer. The door to the orange house was open, and a woman was stepping out.

His eyes met her soft, slightly glowing orange ones. It was hard to tell in the fading light but her skin seemed to be a soft tawny. Trevor recognized her long, thick white hair, and thought she must have been where the strands in the garden had come from. She wore a set of black pajamas with bare feet, and didn’t leave the porch.

Trevor’s attention on her hair was only secondary, however. Although she was human in shape, her long ears were fuzzy, similar to that of an animal’s, and she had two horns growing out of her head just above them. They were bulbous at the bottom before curving upwards to a point, and had ridges nearly all the way to the top.

Even though he had no sense of what it would be like to have horns, Trevor felt an empathetic pain as he looked at the one on her right side. It had been cleanly cut through nearly to the base, leaving two sections of horn. When he squinted to get a better look in the dimming light, he could see that she had a slight scar on her skin. They were not, however, adorned with any jewelry or cloth, and the young man forced himself to look away as Klar’s words went through his head.

“I’m, uh, I’m Trevor Anderson, ma’am,” he announced loudly, standing up as straight as he could before bowing in greeting. Mr. Tiggles shifted on his shoulder and headbutted his ear. “I just arrived today. Summoned, I mean. I was summoned just today.”

Their eyes locked again, and Trevor could see a wariness behind them that took him aback. Her posture had shifted slightly, barely enough to be noticed, yet it made all the difference. Despite the clear warning, he found himself of two minds.

First, the young man wrangled with an instinctual awareness that this woman was incredibly dangerous. He couldn’t help but feel the pit that seemed to open in his stomach.

The other mind couldn’t help but wonder how she got that way. Jackson had said three of the four Summoned here were adventurers, was that how she could release such a palpable aura? He wasn’t sure what she had done or could do to have eyes like that, but it was noted and stored to be processed later.

Trevor was terrified, yet intrigued.

The woman observed him for a few seconds, and the edge left her gaze. It felt like a weight was lifted from his mind. “Jackson summoned you just today?” she asked.

It didn’t sound like she was expecting an answer to that, so Trevor didn’t offer one. Regardless of her softening features, the pit he felt in his stomach got larger and he couldn’t help but feel as though he was in trouble for something.

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles said before jumping down and trotting to the woman. He weaved between her legs before she reached down and picked him up.

“What do you think, Mr. Tiggles?” she asked the cat, cradling him upside down in her arms. “You don’t usually like strangers, do you?”

“Purrrrr,” he said, sounding content as his belly was rubbed.

“I see,” she said, giving the cat a serious nod. Then she looked back at Trevor, who wasn’t sure if she could actually understand Mr. Tiggles or was just messing with him. “I’m tired, so I’m going to bed. Breakfast is at 7 AM sharp. If you’re not there, I’ll not wake you. Understood?”

Though her words were stern, her tone was only cautiously so, as if she didn’t want to scare him off or intimidate him. He remained bowing even still.

“Yes, ma’am,” Trevor answered.

“Good night, then.”

“Good ni-”

Before he could finish, the door was shut as the woman reentered her home with Mr. Tiggles. Trevor stood up straight but didn’t move for a few minutes as he processed the exchange he just had. Not just with Mr. Tiggles, but also with the woman who hadn’t even given him a name. In the end, he made a decision.

“I’m going to bed,” he declared, sighing as he held his stomach and hoped the feeling of being in trouble didn’t last the night. Pulling the key out of his inventory, the young man headed back to his new, temporary home.

CHAPTER SIX: CHICKENS ARE A UNIVERSAL CONSTANT

There was something resting on Trevor’s chest early in the morning while he was still lying in bed. The pressure had woken him up, but he refused to move or open his eyes. Not out of fear, but because he was comfortable.

The house - or rather, his temporary home - had been spacious and well furnished. There were only three rooms: the living room, the bathroom, and the bedroom.

A large fireplace had commanded his attention when Trevor first walked into the house. It was easily twice as wide as any he had seen on his Earth in anyone’s home, and he had already become excited about the prospect of laying on the couch while a fire roared when it was really cold outside. The air outside was already cool, so he imagined that it either wasn’t going to take long for the temperature to drop or he’ll be gone before it had a chance to.

The furniture was pretty basic, but comfortable. It looked like almost every listing he had seen on rental sites, but there was something cozy about it.

A couch and two plush chairs were situated in front of the fireplace along with a coffee table. On the other side of the room was a long dining room table with six chairs made from the same type of wood. Trevor had, of course, tested each of these spots to see which one was best, but he only concluded that more investigation was required.

Wanting to save the bedroom for last, he checked the bathroom next. Seeing the modern Earth-like style had caused him to pause. It was only a sink, toilet, and bathtub-shower combo, but he hadn’t expected something quite so similar in this world. Though, the more he thought about it the more it made sense. If the Texan, Wayne, had built this place, it wasn’t surprising that it was familiar.

It came with everything he needed in order to be clean, including soap, shampoo, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and more. Testing out his power again, Trevor recalled his shirt into his inventory. He was pleased to see that it disappeared in a flash of light, and when he retrieved it, he could cause it to pop back in his hand or back in place around him. It was a fun exercise.

After the fourth time of playing with his inventory and seeing how many ways he could wear his shirt without physically putting it on, Trevor got himself cleaned up for bed. The last room was the one he was most excited for, and he was happy to see that it didn’t disappoint.

Sitting against the far wall was a huge bed. It was far larger than anything he would even dream of for his studio apartment back home, and had been covered in fluffy white sheets and pillows both soft and firm. There were dressers that were already full of clothing of different sizes and nightstands flanked the bed.

One of the tables even had an alarm clock with faintly glowing green numbers despite not having any discernible power source. When he had gone to sleep it said 9 PM, which was fairly early for him. However, Trevor had melted into the bed’s comfortable sheets and was out like a light in seconds. It was a peaceful, dreamless sleep the likes of which had been lost to him for many years.

Though, it was still interrupted by that pressure on his chest.

“You know,” Trevor said groggily. “I could have sworn that note said that no one would be able to enter my house without my permission. So, that begs the question, what are you doing here?”

Silence stretched for a few seconds before he got a response.

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles said before leaning his head forward and rubbing his face on Trevor’s chin.

Trevor allowed this, though shifted so that he could yawn into his hand and not into the cat’s face. Normally, he would have been perturbed to suddenly be woken up by an animal sneaking into his house and onto his bed, but there wasn’t anything normal about his circumstances.

He took a moment to assess his feelings, and decided to tell all the negative ones to sod off. If he was summoned here to take a break and his Earth body was in the shop for repairs anyway, then why not make the best of it? It wasn’t every day someone like him was offered superpowers in a new world.

“I’m going to get up, okay?” Trevor asked. Mr. Tiggles immediately moved off of his chest, though he didn’t leave the bed, and began grooming himself.

A quick look marked the time as 6:30 AM. Trevor reluctantly slid out of bed and started looking through the dressers. The room was cold, but not uncomfortable. Figuring the same couldn’t be said of the weather outside, he worked to find something warm to wear.

Trevor found the column of drawers full of clothes in his size and began setting some aside including a pair of pajamas that looked similar to the one the woman from last night wore.

The fashion was similar to the things he saw people wearing on the streets yesterday. Mostly tunics and thick pants, though there were also jackets and shorts at the very bottom. He was amused to see that the outfit he had worn on the cover of the book Jackson summoned was in here as well, and decided to wear the tank top with a fluffy blue coat. If it got hot later, then he would be comfortable either way.

Taking everything into his inventory, he amused himself by causing them to reappear on his body exactly as they were meant to be worn. Instantly equipping things hadn’t been on his bingo card when he got saddled with this power, but he would take it.

Mr. Tiggles waited patiently for Trevor, barely paying the young man any mind at all as he went about his business. Looking out through the bedroom door, it didn’t seem like the front door had been opened. All of the windows had been shut, as well, which was something that was thoroughly checked last night before bed.

“How did you get in here?” Trevor asked, kneeling down next to the bed to be on Mr. Tiggles’ level.

“Meow.”

“I suppose that’s the only answer I’m going to get, isn’t it?”

“Meow.”

“Alright, I’m just not going to question you about it, then.”

Yawning again, Trevor looked for the kitchen before remembering that it was in the communal space. It seemed odd to him that Wayne would go through all this trouble of making houses and not include a kitchen, it wasn’t as though there wasn’t room for one, but he simply shrugged it off. There was probably a reason for it.

When Trevor opened the door, he was hit by a blast of cold air and immediately felt validated on his choice to wear a coat. Mr. Tiggles escaped outside and ran towards the communal space, but only made it so far before turning around to make sure that the new Summoned was following.

“Oh, you just want food, don’t you?” Trevor asked in amusement.

“Meow!” Mr. Tiggles seemed to confirm.

Despite the unusually long, fluffy tail and the fact that Mr. Tiggles had somehow managed to sneak into his locked house, Trevor couldn’t help but feel at ease with the creature. Whether he was or was not a regular animal didn’t seem to matter. Its mannerisms were that of a cat, so he saw it as a cat. The fact that it went straight for its food bowl once he used the key to open the communal space reinforced this.

The lights turned on immediately as he entered, illuminating the building with a gentle white glow. There were several chairs and tables were scattered throughout the room, and a couple of them near a line of bookshelves had tomes resting on them. Opposite the shelves was a table that looked suspiciously like it was made for billiards. As Trevor approached and touched the felt, he noticed that there were, in fact, balls in the pockets already. There were cue sticks in short racks against the wall.

There was a fireplace not unlike the one in his own house, and it was surrounded by a couch, a loveseat, and two recliners. There were logs set up next to it along with a poker and shovel for ash. A puzzle bearing the likeness of Mr. Tiggles laid incomplete on a coffee table sitting in the middle of the cozy setup.

A long counter took up most of the back wall. There were items not unlike a fridge, microwave, oven, and sink. There were no plugs for electricity, but Trevor had seen enough already to know that the answer was something of a mix between magic and probably the ideas of Summoned, likely Wayne.

There were several tools from spatulas, knives, and cutting boards, though everything was sparkling clean. Fruits and vegetables sat in bowls on two freestanding counters not far from one lining the wall. The food was all different colors from what he was used to, but the shapes were roughly the same.

“I wonder if some Summoned decades ago looked at the food and decided, hey, this isn’t like the stuff from where I came from and started breeding plants until they got what they wanted,” Trevor muttered to himself. A pickle tasted like a pickle, and both bread and, apparently, tacos kept their flavor, so why not other foods?

Then it occurred to him that perhaps his taste buds had been changed to suit the cuisine of this world. If that was the case then he didn’t think he would mind it. Food from Earth was delicious, but most of the stuff that tasted good was incredibly unhealthy. Now that he had the beginnings of a six pack to defend, eating well was a priority.

“Meow!” Mr. Tiggles complained aggressively.

The cat was standing on a table with a plush bed that appeared to have never been used and several toys. There was a bowl for food and water on a short platform that was tilted so that it was easier for Mr. Tiggles to eat and drink. Even as he stared back at Trevor, he reached towards the ground next to his perch.

“Food, sure,” Trevor said with a smile as he walked around to the cat’s table.

Mr. Tiggles had been pawing the air towards a bag that the young man opened. The cat tried to jump into the container, but was quickly caught and held under one arm like a football. His tail twitched and smacked Trevor in the back, but he didn’t struggle, instead opting to stare as his captor filled up the bowl with a scoop of food.

Once the cat was placed back on the table, he shot towards the bowl before stopping to delicately sniff the contents. Trevor sealed the bag and took the water bowl to the sink. The spout was made from stone, and had two knobs on either side, one red and one blue. Reaching for the blue one, water began to emerge as soon as it was turned.

Trevor stuck his hand under the stream. It was cool to the touch, but what he really wanted to attempt was bringing it into his inventory. His experiment worked, leaving a shimmer of light on his hand where the liquid continued to flow. In a fit of whimsy, he delicately attempted to make some of the water appear in his mouth. Just a little bit, and some dribbled out of his lips when he succeeded.

Wiping the water from his chin, he looked back at the cat. “I don’t think my power was supposed to be used this way,” he said to Mr. Tiggles. “But it’s pretty fun to see what works.”

Trevor watched the water for a moment before realizing that he couldn’t hear it draining. A quick look in the cabinet under the sink revealed that there wasn’t anywhere for the water to go. It simply disappeared. Nodding to himself and accepting the use of magic to make life easier, he filled up Mr. Tiggles’ dish and brought it to the cat who was still trying to decide whether or not he was going to eat his food.

He glanced towards the oven to see that it, too, was made of stone. Trevor saw that it had a clock, and used it to check the time.

It claimed that the time was 7:56, but that couldn’t be right. There was no way it had been almost an hour and a half since he had gotten up. The lady who had told him to be here at 7 o’clock sharp hadn’t arrived yet, either.

“Must be just as hard to change an oven clock here as it is on Earth,” Trevor joked to himself.

The microwave and fridge were made of the same stone as the sink and oven, and Trevor wondered if the stone was magical or just an easy material to use. It didn’t matter, though. His stomach growled and he thought to sneak himself a quick bite before the stern woman made an appearance. From his inventory, he retrieved one of the taco bread balls.

And frowned when it felt that it was no longer warm. A quick check confirmed that the other three were also cold, and he couldn’t help but sigh.

“Maybe I should find some kind of heating lamp or, like, a hot plate or something to put into my inventory,” he muttered to himself.

“Morn’n.”

A sleepy voice caused him to turn around, and Trevor hid the taco bread balls behind his back before remembering that he had a pocket dimension to store them in. He quickly pushed them inside his inventory, happy that the flash of lights weren’t powerful enough to illuminate anything, and gave the woman a nervous grin.

She wore the same black pajama pants and button-up shirt she had on last night, though she had come in slippers this time. The woman walked around the tables, rubbing her eyes, and headed for one of the freestanding counters. She squatted down and opened a cabinet, and Trevor winced as he heard a cascade of falling pans before she pulled out the one that she was looking for.

“Good morning,” Trevor said with a slight bow. He wasn’t sure if it was needed for every greeting or just introductions, but it seemed like a safe bet. It didn’t help that he was still worried about her attitude from last night.

The bow was not returned, but he did get a nod and a yawn for his trouble. She walked around the counter to the oven and placed the cast iron skillet on one of the metal plates. Her eyes scanned the ingredients as she turned, and Trevor watched as his worry was replaced with amusement.

Yesterday, she had been stern and dangerous. This morning, she was barely functioning but going through the motions. That was a mood Trevor could very easily relate to. The juxtaposition between how she had been last night and her current state was highly amusing.

His eyes, however, were drawn to a part of her body he hadn’t noticed before. Out of her back, just about where her spine would end, was a thin, black tail that ended in a triangular spade. Her shirt had been cut so that it would have free access to the outside world, and it lazily swished back and forth.

“Eggs?” she mumbled.

“Please and thank you,” Trevor said, and the woman gave him a sleepy nod.

She walked over to another cabinet and pulled out a basket of eggs. At first, Trevor was alarmed. In America, eggs were washed and processed before being sold, which required them to be refrigerated. As a city boy, this was all he knew. He realized that her indifference to this fact meant that it was probably fine and he relaxed slightly.

When she held up two eggs, he noticed that they were shaped exactly like those from a chicken. “There’s chickens here?” he asked, surprised.

“Mmhmm,” she replied, though the Quest Master seemed to think he was talking to it.

[[Chickens are a universal constant.

It doesn’t matter where you go, it is more likely than not that this delicious bird will exist. Unless they’ve been hunted to extinction for being so scrumptious, that is.

However, not all chickens are created equal. In some universes, they are dangerous monstrosities that fly in packs, are invincible, and don’t mind tearing a hero or two apart at the slightest provocation.

But you’re fine in this world. Trust me.]]

“Thank you, Quest Master,” Trevor mumbled, not fully reassured.

“How’ya wanem?” the woman asked.

“Over easy?” Trevor asked. She looked at him, eyes half closed from sleep, and he continued. “Sunny side up? With runny yolks, please.”

The woman nodded before she cracked the eggs and began cooking.

Trevor watched in fascination as her tail reached for what he assumed was salt and pepper on a nearby spice rack. The appendage wrapped around them, showing amazing dexterity, and added a couple shakes of each before returning them. She yawned again.

It wasn’t that Trevor didn’t know how to cook that made this so fascinating to him. He could cook the essentials. Eggs were easy, as was frying most things, but something about how this woman languidly moved despite being half dead to the world intrigued him in a way he wasn’t sure had happened before. He couldn’t help but think that it was surprisingly cute.

Before he knew it, the eggs were done. She reached for a plate in one of the cabinets above the counter and pulled it down, moving the food from one to the other, and handed it to Trevor.

“Thank you,” he said. “I really appreciate you waking up for this. You didn’t have to do that for me.”

The woman paused, staring at Trevor for a few seconds as if making a decision. “Y’welcome,” she finally said before grabbing a purple apple and walking away.

He had expected her to move to a table and sit, but instead the horned woman left the communal space all together. As quickly as she came, she left, like some kind of breakfast diner-based cryptid. It took Trevor a few moments to find a fork in the many drawers, but once he did, he dug in.

It was surprisingly good considering the state of the cook, and he scarfed it down in no time flat. Being a courteous guest, Trevor took the time to find what he needed and wash the dishes before deciding it was time to go.

As he left into the cool air, the first rays of sunlight hitting the trees, Mr. Tiggles jumped back up onto his shoulder. “You want to go on an adventure, little guy?” Trevor asked, petting the cat behind the ears.

“Purr.”

“Me, too, little buddy. Let’s get going.”

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE FLOATSTONE

Even at this early hour, the streets were busy. It seemed as though most of the people were heading to the north side of town, and based on their tools Trevor guessed that they were the ones cutting down the trees up river. He stepped aside and watched them as they passed. Not all of them wore cold weather clothes despite the brisk air, but their work would undoubtedly keep them warm.

Almost without realizing it, he ended up counting the humans again and got remarkably close to what he had seen on the bridge. Just a little over fifty percent were his kind this time as opposed to yesterday’s forty. The rest were mostly dwarves and orcs, though there was a smattering of gnomes and kobolds here and there and even one minotaur.

Trevor picked out Gad, the dwarf whose wife had given him the taco bread balls, and raised his hand to wave, but saw that he was deep in conversation with some of his coworkers.

Putting his hand back down, the young man waited for the procession to clear. Gad probably didn’t want to get disturbed at work, anyway. Without thinking about it, he reached up and started petting Mr. Tiggles, who had taken to wrapping around his neck like a scarf.

“Purr,” the cat said.

The man bringing up the rear was an orc nearly as tall and wide as the minotaur near the front, and carried a very fine, if well worn, axe over his shoulder. He gave Trevor a curt nod and tusky grin as he passed by. Bowing on what was essentially socially polite reflex at this point, the orc gave him a slight one back before turning away and moving on.

It seemed as though the logging industry was quite large in Tosa. Once the mass exodus of lumberjacks had left, the remaining population was more like what Trevor expected this early on. People were scattered but were often entering shops, restaurants, and what he assumed were offices to prepare for work. Peaceful and idyllic as it may be, it wouldn’t be possible without people putting in the effort.

Retrieving the map from his inventory, he began poring over it. Trevor already knew he was nearing the market district, which was where Thimbleden’s Sundries would be. Yesterday he had been more interested in making it to the Hero House before deciding to see the river, and now he took the time to really look at the map in detail.

The building he had been summoned to was labeled as Summoner’s Tower, and both it and the Hero House were prominently marked in English. This was no doubt so that anyone who just arrived would be able to find their way at a glance. Other places were listed as well, though not nearly as boldly.

Thimbleden’s Sundries was one of these, and other prominent shops in the market district seemed to be Dory’s Potions & Alchemical Supplies, Grunder’s Superb Protection, Fine Steel, and Corrin’s Couture. While the first listing had a backpack next to its name, the others had a potion bottle, armor, sword, and clothing next to theirs, respectively.

There were a few places listed as restaurants near the river, but very few things were labeled across it. Instead, the map indicated that this area was full of houses, the Mayor’s office, and the Tosa School, which was one of the largest buildings in town. Seeing as the people here were open minded enough to try new things from other worlds, Trevor imagined the education system had to be pretty progressive.

Before he knew it, the young man found himself back in the market district. As he expected, most of the people running the stalls here were still setting up. A few wagons had been parked nearby in the plaza, and their drivers were nodding off while their lizard horses were fed and workers removed boxes. Absentmindedly, Trevor wondered how far they must have come to get here.

A crash from the other side of the plaza caught his attention, and he heard surprised screams. Turning his attention towards the noise, he managed to make out two small creatures fleeing from a now broken wagon. One was flying on what looked like dragonfly wings while the other climbed up the side of the building with hairy, oversized hands.

The reptilian horses had been spooked and reared up, but workers had grabbed their reins and were trying their best to get the animals under control. Taking a glance at Mr. Tiggles, the cat was watching where the noise came from with interest but didn’t seem scared in the slightest. Figuring he might be able to help, Trevor started heading that way.

As they got closer, it became apparent that the cargo this particular wagon had been carrying was now floating in the air. A solid block of marble taller and wider than Trevor himself was levitating at head height. The wagon under it had collapsed as if everything that had held it together disappeared all at once, and the walls that had once sheltered the stone had swirling patterns etched all over.

The human and orc moved away from the calmed reptilian horses and attempted to pull the stone closer to the ground with ropes. It resisted all their efforts, however; Trevor wasn’t even sure if it was moving. If it was, then it was at a pace a snail would have lapped.

“No, no, no! How could this happen! What did you two do?” A wrinkled gnome with flamboyant pink hair stepped out of the shop labeled Thimbleden’s Sundries that the wagon had been parked at. He wore thick glasses that made his eyes seem twice as big along with fine, albeit dusty, clothes.

“Wasn’t us, boss!” the human protested.

“Yeah, it was those gremlins that’s been mucking things up in town,” the orc said. “We didn’t even have time to stop them.”

The gnome grumbled as he squinted up at the gravity-resistant marble. “Oh, this isn’t good. This isn’t good at all. Drelik was expecting his Floatstone this morning. I knew I should have sent you both straight there! Torlock, start picking up the pieces. Can’t have people stumbling over wagon parts on their way to the shop. Billan, take the wracors to the stable and fetch the wainwright in a hurry. The sooner we can get this back in one piece, the sooner we can make the delivery.”

Trevor had stopped a fair distance away and watched the exchange. The human took the reptilian horses, wracors if context clues were right, and started leading them away. Left behind, the orc started taking the different pieces of wood aside and setting them off of the road. To the young man’s surprise, the gnome helped with this although he didn’t grab any pieces that were too large. He seemed to struggle with the manual labor.

Without really thinking about it, Trevor started walking towards the mess. Mr. Tiggles jumped off to go and flop on one of the larger boards Torlock had already moved.

“Good morning,” Trevor greeted. “I can assist, if you’d like.”

Torlock glanced at him, but continued working. The gnome paused to give the young man an assessing look, squinting through his thick glasses. “If you’re willing and able, stranger, then please do. But!” he pointed at the stone. “Be careful of the Floatstone. We are to deliver it in pristine condition. No scratches, no chips, and in perfect condition.”

“Of course, sir,” Trevor said before bowing. “I’m Trevor Anderson, by the way.”

“I am Thimbleden, I run this establishment, and this is Torlock,” the gnome replied, bowing as the orc did the same.

With introductions out of the way, Trevor got to work by grabbing a wheel in each hand. “If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly is going on here?”

“Gremlins,” the orc said. “Been causing trouble all over town.”

“This was done by a fey curse,” Thimbleden concurred. “Removed all of the metal from the wagon. While these mischief makers have yet to actually hurt someone, they have been wreaking havoc for the past few days. It’s only a matter of time before something goes terribly wrong.”

Trevor nodded as he returned for more. It felt good to be helpful. “And what about the Floatstone?” he asked, gesturing towards it. “Never seen levitating rocks before. Well, not without magnets.”

“It’s a rare type of marble that can only be found in the lands far to the north,” Thimbleden explained. “It’s highly sought after by nobles and sculptors, which makes it worth a lot of money. They are incredibly resistant to being moved, unless, of course, you have the proper enchantments set up on at least five sides at exactly the right distance.”

“That’s these here,” Torlock said as he picked up one of the white walls. He went to put it aside only to stop upon seeing Mr. Tiggles laying in his path. He paused before deciding to rest the debris somewhere else.

“Yes, this magic was only discovered some fifty odd years ago. There’s no easy way to move it without these walls,” the gnome said with a sigh. “Go ahead and give it a try, if you like. It’s not like it’s going anywhere, anyway.”

Trevor moved the last of the wheels aside before standing next to the Floatstone. It was hovering level with his head, and he reached up to push it. The marble was cool to the touch, which made sense given the weather, and resisted his efforts. He put both hands on it and dug his feet into the cobbled stone streets to push with all his might.

“Looks like he got it to move an inch,” Torlock said, amused. “Strong kid. Too bad it also got pushed further from the ground.”

While Trevor had felt it move just a little bit, he knew it was barely anything to be proud of. Even still, he marveled at the levitating rock in front of him. This was the kind of thing that he would never have been able to witness if he hadn’t been summoned here.

“Yes, that’s the issue with Floatstone,” the gnome said, misreading the look on the young man’s face. “And it also means that wagons will have to go around it. Not ideal. Not ideal at all.”

Trevor stopped pushing, but left a hand on the rock. It seemed like this thing was going to cause trouble for everyone. The one who ordered it, the people on the street, and Thimbleden himself. He looked down at the gnome.

“You’re a Quest Giver, right?” he asked. Thimbleden looked surprised, but nodded. “Could delivering this be considered a quest?”

“Why, yes,” the gnome said, though he barked a laugh. “Summoned or not, however, I won’t send you on a fool’s errand that will take you days of effort. It shouldn’t take more than a few hours before the wagon is repaired.”

“But, if I can take it, would you be willing to make it a quest?” Trevor asked.

Thimbleden regarded the young man curiously before giving him a slow nod. Returning the nod with vigor, Trevor looked at the Floatstone and attempted to pull it into his inventory.

It didn’t work.

However, it didn’t feel as though it wouldn’t work, and that made all the difference in the world.

It seemed to Trevor that his space simply wasn’t big enough for it. The Power was eager and willing, just unable to do as requested. The young man frowned before speaking again.

“Status screen, please and thank you.”

[[Trevor Anderson

Human

Level 2

Banked Points: 4

Strength: 3

Dexterity: 1

Stamina: 1

Speed: 1

Magic: 1

Mana: 1

Specialty Stats

Capacity: 1

Power: Inventory

Skills: Quick Growth (Human), Dimensional Storage (Inventory)]]

The frown turned into a grin as he was reminded of his specialty stat that came from the Power of Inventory: Capacity. Surely, this had to be exactly as it said on the tin, right?

“Please spend one of my banked points on Capacity,” he said aloud.

[[Stat increase complete. Capacity is now 2. You have 3 banked points remaining to be used at your leisure.]]

The Quest Master may have told him that his capacity had increased, but even if he hadn’t then Trevor would have known. He could feel the space attached to his mind grow, expanding to a considerable size. The fact that he didn’t know exactly how much he could store in his inventory wasn’t lost on him, but he felt like taking in the Floatstone would now be possible.

Having never taken his hand off of it to begin with, he attempted to pull it in. This time, it worked, and he threw his hands into the air in triumph as the marble disappeared. His inventory felt full, but it had been successful.

“What happened to the Floatstone?” Thimbleden asked, panic lacing his voice. “Where did it go?”

Raising his other hand, Trevor made sure to check that no one was there before summoning the stone next to him. “I’m something of an inventory… man…” he started, but switched gears when he realized that wasn’t a thing anywhere. “I, uh, I have the Power of Inventory. I had to increase my Capacity stat, but now I can store it in my little pocket dimension and take it to where it needs to go.”

“Yes, yes, young man!” Thimbleden exclaimed. “We can make it a quest!”

Trevor had to stop himself from celebrating, and instead went with a self-satisfied smile instead.

CHAPTER EIGHT: COURIER QUEST

“Alright, that sounds fantastic,” Trevor said before scratching the back of his head. “But I also don’t know what all needs to be done.”

“What, were you summoned yesterday?” Torlock asked, grunting.

“Yes, actually.”

“Ah, yeah, that’s that, then,” the orc replied, looking sheepish before continuing to work.

Thimbleden nodded. “I’ll offer you six- no, eight silver pieces to take it to Drelik’s home.”

Trevor was about to accept when he paused. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure how much that is.”

“More than Billan and I get paid,” Torlock answered, though he didn’t seem to take offense to it.

“They’re day laborers, whom I pay three silvers a week,” Thimbleden explained. “So this is just over two weeks’ worth of work, nearly three.”

“Not bad for walking across town.”

“Okay, then you have a deal,” Trevor said as he held a hand out for Thimbleden to shake. The gnome grinned before accepting the handshake.

[[New Quest! Thimbleden is between a rock and a hard place, and you decided to grab your pickaxe and help the guy out.

Take the Floatstone, which you are uniquely suited to handle, all the way to Drelik’s place and deliver it to him by noon. You still have a few hours to go, but punctuality is important! If you take too long, then you will fail this quest.]]

Trevor’s smile diminished as he read the message. “Oh, it says if I take too long then I’ll fail,” he said nervously. “And it might be prudent to ask… where exactly am I going?”

“I can take him,” Torlock offered.

But Thimbleden waved a dismissive hand. “No, I need you here to help with other matters,” the gnome stated. “Trevor, don’t you worry about that time limit. You still have hours to go, and I assure you that it will not take you that long to get there. Now’s the chance to break something special out that arrived just last week. Please, wait just one moment.”

Watching the gnome hurry inside, Torlock shrugged and got back to work. There wasn’t much to do but continue helping the orc out, even though he had gotten most of it. Trevor helped him move the biggest piece as Thimbleden returned holding a small box in his hands. He all but ran up to the self-proclaimed inventoryman.

“This is a Trinket,” the gnome stated proudly. “Are you aware of what that is?”

“It’s like a doodad, right?”

Thimbleden paused. “I’m afraid I’m not familiar with that term.”

Trevor waved his hand. “Not important, I’m probably way off base. What is it?”

“A Trinket is a type of magical item,” Thimbleden explained. “There’s magic weapons and armor, wands, staves, some types of potions are magical while others are alchemical, and more, but Trinkets are in their own special category. Go ahead and open it.”

The box was made of wood and easily opened, and Trevor did as requested. Sitting inside, halfway hidden in hay to make sure it arrived in one piece, was a pair of goggles with a red frame.

“Oh, I think it’s broken,” he said, frowning as he pulled it out.

Unlike what he had initially thought, it was only half of a pair of goggles. The item appeared to have been snapped at the nose piece and the white strap that would keep it on his head was similarly snipped in the back.

“No, that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be,” Thimbleden informed him with a chuckle. “Go ahead and put it over your eye.”

Trevor gave the gnome a dubious look before doing as he was told. The lens adhered to his face comfortably as the strap wrapped around his head. It came to a stop in the back, but didn’t move no matter how much he tried to shake it free.

[[New Trinket! You have received a PathGuider 5000.

The PathGuider 5000 is an item created by a Summoned who read from the scrolls of the eldest age and went, “that seems pretty neat.”

And neat it was. This will show you the fastest path to your quest destination so long as it is a static location. If you are embarking on a quest that requires some searching, then the PathGuider 5000 will only show you the general area based on various variables.]]

As soon as the lens was fitted, a line of small green arrows started pointing towards where he knew the river was. Trevor slowly spun in place as he tested out the PathGuider 5000. Arrows popped up to his left and right and pointed in the direction he would have to face in order to see the line. It was very intuitive, and after a moment or so of playing with it he lifted the lens off of his eye and onto his hair. It stayed exactly where he left it.

“Okay, so it’ll take me to Drelik’s place because that’s a known spot, but if I were to go find, say, a certain animal out in the forest, then it would only show me where they might be found,” Trevor said. “Is that right?”

“That’s what I’ve been told,” Thimbleden confirmed, nodding. “What do you think? Pretty handy, huh?”

“Oh yeah, this is going to be super useful.”

“Excellent, then consider it a gift from me to you as the newest Summoned in town,” the gnome said with another bow. Trevor wasn’t sure about taking what had to be an expensive item as a gift, but he put that aside and bowed. He figured he could always return it after the quest. “And if you ever want more work, feel free to come on by. It’s not every day that we get something worth a quest, lest I’m forced to relinquish my Quest Giver status, but we do get them on occasions.”

Nodding, Trevor thought about his next words carefully before looking down at the gnome. “You’re just going to let me go off, then?” he asked quietly. “No oversight, no escort, just trusting me with this?”

“I am, and I suppose that I should let you in on a secret that everyone in the quest business knows,” Thimbleden said with a sigh. “There have been Summoned in the past who would take courier quests like this one and then run off with the goods. It happened quite often, and the Quest Master very quickly got tired of it. After it happened enough times, we were given the option to give bounty quests for anyone who partook in this kind of thievery.”

“That doesn’t sound very good for the thieves,” Trevor stated.

“It rarely was,” the gnome agreed. “It’s a widespread quest given to every Summoned in town to retrieve both the Summoned and the goods they stole. If enough people had trouble or enough time passed without success, then it was upgraded to an even dire quest and went out to even more Summoned in a larger area. The rewards are bolstered by the Quest Master, you see, and it knows how to get people moving.”

“Well, rest assured, I have no intentions of shirking my duty. I won’t sully my name with poor service.”

“Yes, I could see that when you came to help,” Thimbleden said with a soft smile. Something behind Trevor caught the gnome’s eye, and he quickly bowed before turning to speak to Torlock. “Could you please get Mayor Jackson’s order?”

“Right away, boss,” Torlock said before heading inside.

Trevor turned to see the horned woman from the Hero House approaching. She wore open blue robes and comfortable clothes matching Tosa’s style underneath. As their eyes met, she stopped in the street to stare at him. Not with the same glare as before, but with actual surprise evident in her face. She completely disregarded Mr. Tiggles as he rubbed up against her legs.

“Ah, Lady Adabelle,” Thimbleden greeted, rushing to meet her. The cat hid behind the woman’s legs, but didn’t flee. “It is great to see you this morning. Your new Summoned is proving quite helpful.”

“Is he, now,” the woman said, looking towards Trevor with an arched eyebrow. “He’s not causing trouble?”

“No, ma’am,” Trevor quickly responded as he reached for the Floatstone and pulled it back into his inventory. “Er, lady. Um, I mean-”

“Lady Adabelle is fine,” she said curtly. Her eyes shifted from the spot where the stone had been to his hand, but didn’t say anything else.

“No trouble here, Lady Adabelle,” he corrected.

“He’s been a terrific help. If anything, he’s helping fix what those gremlins had managed to screw up,” Thimbleden offered, gesturing towards the pieces of the wagon laid up in front of his shop.

That caused Adabelle to shift her gaze to the gnome and offer a comforting smile. “They’re menacing the whole town, but rest assured that we’ll be back to full strength soon,” she said confidently. “I have no doubt that Rashie will be able to sniff them out once she’s back. Though, if I see them before then, I will take action.”

“Without taking out a few buildings this time, right?” Thimbleden asked, his voice both teasing and serious.

Adabelle’s face darkened and she glanced at Trevor, who was watching this exchange with interest, for just a moment. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Got the mayor’s stuff here,” Torlock said as he emerged from the shop. He carried a sealed box not unlike the one Thimbleden had given Trevor, and promptly handed it over.

The woman took it quickly, seemingly glad to get out of that particular line of dialogue, and took a few steps back. “Thanks, Tor, and thank you, Thimbleden. I really ought to be going.”

Glancing back, the gnome looked up at Trevor. “The Mayor’s Office and Drelik’s is the same way, at least until you cross the bridge,” he said. “Why don’t you let Lady Adabelle escort you halfway there?”

Trevor felt a moment of panic. “Oh, no, I could never impose on her like that,” he claimed.

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles said, jumping back up on Trevor’s shoulder. The cat turned, sat, and stared at Adabelle.

It only took a few seconds of eye contact before she broke first. Adabelle sighed, shook her head, and started walking away. “Come on, Trevor.”

“Yes, ma’am- lady- I mean, Lady Adabelle.” He turned to Thimbleden, who was watching with an amused twinkle in his eye, and gave the gnome a proper nod. “Thank you, Mr. Thimbleden. I’ll be back again to see if you need anything and return your Trinket, but if you know something is coming feel free to leave me a letter at the Hero House.”

“You keep that Trinket, young man. I was serious about it being a gift,” Thimbleden chided lightly. Trevor hesitated, but nodded. “And I will definitely seek you out if I need you again, Trevor. It’s not often I get to issue a courier quest, so the whole thing still feels novel to me. I think you should hurry along, though; Lady Adabelle doesn’t seem to be willing to wait.”

“Thank you, sir!” Trevor said before jogging to catch up, waving goodbye to the gnome and orc behind him.

It didn’t take him long to catch up to Adabelle. She had been moving slowly, but started walking at a brisk pace once he reached her side. Mr. Tiggles had once again laid across the young man’s shoulders, licking his paw and grooming his face as the two walked.

It didn’t seem like Adabelle was going to start the conversation, so Trevor spoke first. “Would you like me to carry that for you?” he asked.

“I am quite capable of it on my own,” she said, her tone as cold as the air around them.

“Cool, cool, yeah.”

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles said.

“Well, I guess you still like me, little buddy. Don’t you?”

“Purr.”

Letting out a small laugh, Trevor raised his hands and began petting the cat, scratching him behind the ears and at the base of his tail. The latter spot caused Mr. Tiggles to freeze up, his eyes half-closing as he began licking the air.

“You like that, do you?” Trevor cooed. “Look at that little derp face. So cute. So adorable. Mr. Tiggles best kitty.”

The cat reached over and started grooming Trevor’s thick hair as he continued being pet, though the young man only kept it up for a few more seconds. The look disappeared from Mr. Tiggles’ face and he immediately stopped licking the young man.

“I couldn’t have cats where I lived,” Trevor told Adabelle. “Love the little things, though. Dogs, too, but I couldn’t have those, either. No pets allowed, not that the space was big enough for more than just myself.”

“Mr. Tiggles does seem quite taken with you,” she said cautiously, keeping her eyes watching the road ahead.

“Is he yours?”

“No, Mr. Tiggles has been around much longer than I have,” Adabelle answered. “He likes to hang around the Hero House.”

“And sneak into people’s houses when they’re sleeping,” Trevor accused.

Adabelle nodded. “We’re… still not sure how he does that,” she admitted slowly. “But he does what he wants, and I’m told that’s par for the course with cats.”

“You don’t have them where you came from?”

“No, but we have similar creatures to dogs.” The horned woman paused, and then glared at Trevor. “But this isn’t a Q&A section about my world. I’m simply escorting you to the end of the bridge at Thimbleden’s request.”

“Sorry, I talk a lot.”

“Apology accepted.”

“Though I do have one question for you, if you don’t mind,” Trevor said cautiously. She sighed, but gestured for him to continue. “Lady Adabelle, did I do something to offend you?”

“What makes you say that?” she asked, though he could tell from her tone that she knew exactly what he meant.

Despite that, he still gave her an answer. “It’s just that you’ve seemed angry with me both today and yesterday, breakfast notwithstanding. It was delicious, by the way. But seeing how Mr. Thimbleden and Mr. Torlock both treated you with respect, even going so far as to joke with you, I was wondering if I had gotten the introductory bow wrong or offended you in some other way. I mean, that glare and stance you had on the porch was something else, if you don’t mind me saying, but I’m not sure if I deserved it right out of the gate.”

Adabelle stopped, and Trevor did the same. He watched as her expression shifted as if trying to settle on which emotion to portray. For the first time he noticed how her ears twitched, and could only imagine the inner monologue she was having at this time.

Eventually, she sighed and turned to face him. “You’re… right,” Adabelle said, though it sounded like she had to wring the words to get them out. “To be honest, I was supposed to be there for the next summoning Jackson performed. The fact that he didn’t tell me stung. He was the one who asked me to be his apprentice, and that’s the kind of thing I need to see.”

“Ah,” was all Trevor said. He remembered Jackson’s words about retiring and how he had been summoned to help him move on, and swallowed those down. He wasn’t sure if she already knew this information, but he was also sure that it wasn’t his place to say so if she didn’t.

“I’m… sorry,” she continued, having trouble getting these words out, too. “I shouldn’t be taking it out on you, and I promise I’ll calm down eventually, but right now I’m livid. When I’m feeling normal again, I’ll give you a proper apology.”

“That sounds good to me. For now, though, how about we settle for a proper introduction, Earth style,” Trevor said. He turned to face her and offered his hand. “Trevor Anderson, Earth Man, nice to meet you.”

Adabelle looked at the offered hand, and her tail reached around her waist towards it. She smacked it out of the way. “Thing has a mind of its own,” she muttered before taking his hand in hers and giving it a shake. “I am Lady Adabelle Ramansa Katine gen Halvsar. Gen means of, Halvsar is where I’m from.”

“That’s a mouthful. Normally I’d just stick with ma’am, but I think I’m going to call you lady from now on. If you’re going to be rude, then it’s fine if that’s a two-way street, right?” Trevor asked. The moment he said it, he felt that it may have been too snarky. Something in his mind loudly told him not to walk it back, however, and that was the part he listened to.

The horned woman glared at him for a few moments, but it had none of the edge that he had seen last night. Eventually, she smirked. “You’re walking a thin line, Son of Ander.”

“Someone’s gotta be on their toes around here.”

Adabelle snorted and let go of his hand. “Here’s what’s going to happen now,” she said. “You’re going to head that way, towards the bridge all the way over there. I’m going to take this bridge and go see Jackson and give him a piece of my mind. I don’t expect to see you for the rest of the day.”

“Sounds good to me, lady,” Trevor said, a bit of snark entering his voice.

She arched an eyebrow, but let him have the last word. Turning towards the bridge, Adabelle started crossing it without looking back, her tail swishing erratically through the air.

Trevor chuckled lightly before reaching up and scratching Mr. Tiggles’ cheek. “You are one great icebreaker, little buddy.”

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles agreed.

CHAPTER NINE: A MELTING POT OF UNIVERSAL TECHNOLOGY

Once Trevor had parted ways with Adabelle, he replaced the PathGuider 5000 over his eye. It wanted him to travel across the same bridge that she had, but he figured there’d be no harm doing as she said and take the scenic route.

The magical GPS quietly insisted he turn around and head back towards the bridge, but he ignored it. Thimbleden’s reassurance that he would have no trouble making it in time stayed in his mind, and he took it to heart. Trevor checked out the sights as he passed the bench where he had first heard Glyrphizith’s roar and met Gad, Froil, and Dag. They weren’t here, but he figured they would be again later.

Most of the traffic this morning came from people crossing the bridge towards the market, and Trevor was one of the few that was heading to the residential district. Because he was going against traffic, he stuck to one side and the people flowed around him, giving him nods and bows in passing, which he politely returned.

On the other side of the bridge, he smiled to himself as he traveled past the houses.

Most of the buildings were similar to what he expected in some medieval fantasy world. These were wooden homes with thatched roofs and gray flagstones. Each one had small differences, which was a far cry from the cookie cutter houses that he had come to see pop up in every suburb in America. They all were roughly the same relative shape as you really just need a square or rectangle to live in, but it would have been easy to pick out someone’s house if you had its description.

As he walked further into the district, Trevor paused as he saw the results of what he could only describe as cultural whiplash. The buildings he had already passed were older and of the same general construction. Those were scattered throughout, but styles from all over started popping up.

The ones he recognized first were Georgian and Victorian style homes, which looked incredibly out of place next to their medieval neighbors. Particularly the latter, as they tended to be much larger than the houses around them. Those ones, at least, appeared to have big families living in them.

Even further into the residential district, Trevor encountered what could only have been described as an apartment complex. It was painted in bright, though mismatched, colors and fully reminded him of his studio on Earth. As he stopped and watched the people, however, he didn’t see any of the melancholy he would witness on his neighbor’s faces as they came and went.

Checking the map again, he noticed that a part of the residential district had been expanded upon. The wall had been moved out and written inside in very small print were the words “new Summoned-Style houses, coming soon.”

“Man, it seems like summoning people from other worlds is a really big deal around here,” he said, scratching Mr. Tiggles under the chin. “I wonder if there’s, like, a limit? Or if this world is just going to be a melting pot of universal technology.”

“Purr,” Mr. Tiggles replied.

“Yeah, something to ask Jackson or Adabelle about when I get the chance, for sure.”

“Meow.”

Thimbleden had been right that the trip wouldn’t take long, and the PathGuider 5000 eventually lead Trevor to his destination. Drelik must have been a big deal in Tosa; his home, which the young man likened more to a mansion, was one of the biggest he had seen so far.

It was built with Spanish style stucco, and a green garden flanked the steps leading up to the arched front door. The white home was topped with a red tiled roof, and there were several windows lining the front of the house. Trevor felt out of place as he approached the mansion, feeling as though the person who lived here had to be in a class far above his own.

Regardless of his feelings, he did approach. There was a job to be done.

Trevor walked right up to the dark wood door and gave it a few healthy knocks as he raised the PathGuider 5000 off of his eye. Mr. Tiggles jumped off of his shoulder and disappeared into the garden. The door opened almost immediately, surprising the young man as he was about to call for the cat.

For a moment, Trevor thought he stumbled into an art gallery. There were several statues of various shapes and sizes, paintings hanging on the wall and set upon easels, books on tall shelves, and more. This was all immediately visible because the occupant was very short.

Standing beyond the threshold was an elderly dwarf. His white beard nearly flowed to the ground and matched the halo of short hair that circled his head but couldn’t quite reach the top. Even though he was wearing clothes close to what a craftsman would, Trevor thought that giving him a red suit and hat would end up making him look exactly like Santa Claus.

The dwarf looked at Trevor with expectation in his beady brown eyes before glancing behind the young man towards where he obviously expected a wagon to be. When his hopes and dreams were dashed, he looked up at his guest with a mix of sternness and sadness.

“I’m sorry, young man, but I’m expecting a very important delivery. If you’d like to see my wife’s works, then you’ll have to come back next month.”

“I’m not even sure what month this is, Mr. Drelik,” Trevor admitted with a soft chuckle. He coughed into his hand as the dwarf gave him a curious look. “Oh, sorry, I was just Summoned here recently. I have your Floatstone, sir.”

Drelik’s face changed in an instant. “Thimbleden sent you with it?” he asked, surprised. “I was expecting a wagon! Well, bless your beard, what wonderful news. I had everything set up so it could be moved to the back garden.”

“Gremlins got to the wagon, sir,” Trevor explained. “Some kind of curse, according to Mr. Thimbleden. But I was told to go and visit him by Mayor Jackson and now here I am, carrying your Floatstone in a dimensional pocket in my mind.”

“In a what?” Drelik asked, furrowing his brow in confusion.

“Sorry, that wasn’t very helpful, was it? What I meant was, I’m carrying it in my Power of Inventory.” To demonstrate, Trevor turned around and raised his hand. The Floatstone appeared as he pushed it out of his inventory, and it floated a few feet off of the ground.

With a clap of his hands, Drelik moved out of the way. “Please, come in, young man. I’m Drelik, the dwarf you’re looking for,” he said with a bow.

“Trevor Anderson, sir.” The young man performed the same bow before retrieving the Floatstone and walking inside.

The inside of the mansion was comfortably warm, and Trevor closed the door behind him. Drelik started walking towards the back, leaving the young man to follow as he looked at all of the artwork. There were many styles on display, but nothing that immediately stood out to him.

One thing near the end did catch his eye and caused the young man to stop. Sitting on an easel and painted in photo-quality detail were green, white, and red Lamborghinis overlooking a large body of water on a starlit night. It looked like a poster a teenager might have on his wall, and Trevor stared at it with interest.

Drelik noticed this, and paused. “Do you have the Summoned in your world?” he asked quietly. When Trevor shook his head, the dwarf continued. “These were all made by my wife, Cindal. She was an Otherworld Dreamer, someone native to here but could see other worlds. A rare one with great creative talent. I was, am, very proud of her.”

Trevor tore his gaze away from the cars to see that Drelik had a sad, nostalgic smile on his face as he gazed upon the same painting. “Could you tell me more about her?” he asked, his intuition telling him that the dwarf wouldn’t mind.

The dwarf looked up at the young man before nodding. “She would bounce out of bed every morning,” he said brightly. “Every single one, saying that she had to sculpt this, or paint that. The Dreams took a toll on her body, as she was never a restful sleeper, but her mind and creativity were sharp all the way until the day I lost her. Cindal would sit in front of whatever she planned on working with that day for nearly an hour, staring at the clay, or a blank canvas, until she figured out exactly how she wanted to portray what she had dreamt.”

“She’s done amazing work,” Trevor said honestly as he looked around.

Each piece was of something different. In one painting, a pack of dogs made of rocks frolicked in a volcanic meadow. In another, an underwater city topped by a humongous, brightly glowing lighthouse. Most of the statues were of races he had seen here in Tosa, but one was of a seven-legged spider that took up most of the corner of the room. It had been recreated in terrifying detail, like it could come to life at any moment.

“She really did,” Drelik agreed. “I worried about her a lot. The way she kicked and punched in her sleep was wild, but I loved her too much to move away. Sometimes the Dreams weren’t so pleasant, but she would feel compelled to draw them out anyway. I would sit with her, then, and watch patiently. Cindal always said it was easier that way. These are not her best works, but they were the ones that she was most proud of, and that alone makes me want to show them off.”

“I can tell that Cindal was very loved,” Trevor said, causing the dwarf to nod vigorously. “If you don’t mind me asking, how long has it been?”

“Twenty years, today, and after a hundred thirty years of marriage,” he said. “Which was why I was so excited about the Floatstone. Thimbleden warned me that he would be cutting it close due to how far it came, but he really delivered.”

“Did you teach her how to sculpt?”

“No. Not long before Cindal passed, a decade or so, I asked her teach me,” Drelik said before motioning Trevor to follow him towards the back of his house. The young man obliged. “At the time, I felt it was too little, too late, but she beamed at me as happy as could be. Cindal could be a little pushy as a teacher, but that was part of her charm. Women should be a little pushy, I feel, especially when their husbands are slow-learning dullards who kept missing the chisel.”

The duo went through another door to the back of the mansion to see another garden. Trees and green plants that Trevor didn’t recognize grew out of every spot not covered in stone.

There were several statues here that were obviously made by a hand different than the ones he had seen inside. They were all of a dwarven woman, which was evident, but the ones closest to the door were amateurish at best. It didn’t seem to matter to Drelik, who stopped to show them off.

“I didn’t have enough time to learn under Cindal,” he said. “But I tried. These are my earliest works, done before she passed. Her hand guided me, but I was still only able to make blocks of stone into smaller blocks of stone. I wanted to throw them away, but do you know what she told me?”

“What did she tell you?”

“Cindal told me that she could never allow it. They were made for her by the man she loved. To call them anything other than masterpieces, with all their heart and soul, was a disservice to the family. Every time I want to get rid of them, I hear those words, and these statues get to stay in the garden for another day.”

“I’m not much of an art aficionado, but these are still better than anything I could make,” he offered.

“Only because you haven’t tried,” Drelik said dismissively. It was true, but Trevor didn’t try to rebuke it.

They walked further into the garden, and the quality of the statues started drastically improving. It was a slight increase at first, but with every one they passed it became more and more noticeable.

“This is Cindal, then?” Trevor asked.

“Aye. She’s the only one worth sculpting, and I spent the last twenty years for this moment,” Drelik said before coming to a stop at a pavilion at the end of the garden.

Floating in the air above a fountain was a statue of Drelik. He was standing as a proud figure pointing at the sky. He wore sturdy armor and wielded a shield in his other hand, and his beard was just as magnificent as it was now, though not nearly as long.

“This was Cindal’s final work of art,” Drelik explained. “She was a whirlwind, let me tell you. Constantly coming up with ways to keep me out of the garden, hiding the fact that she ordered Floatstone, putting up a temporary shelter so I couldn’t see what she was working on, and hiring people to take away the debris.”

“Does the Floatstone not keep floating when it’s broken off?” Trevor asked, surprised.

Drelik shook his head. “No. Once a piece is separated, then it falls to the ground like a regular stone. Only the whole remains floating, which makes it great for sculpting,” the dwarf explained. “But you could imagine my surprise when Cindal finally said I could come and see what she had been working on. She said it was her greatest masterpiece, the one she poured her heart and soul into. I was speechless.”

Smiling, Trevor looked away from the statue to regard the dwarf. “I may not know much about art, but even I can tell that this was something carefully made. Cindal loved you very much, and it shows; as great as her other work was, this one is easily my favorite.”

When Drelik tore his eyes off of the Floatstone over the fountain, they were wet and ready to burst, but the smile he wore was especially bright.

“I plan on returning the favor,” he said. “Cindal’s not here to see it, but I want to be able to show the world that she was loved just as much as she loved. It’s not going to be nearly as good, but that doesn’t matter. I’ve practiced thirty years for this, and I finally feel like I’m ready.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out,” Trevor told him honestly as he looked at the other statues of Cindal around the garden. “Where would you like it?”

“Anywhere is fine, so long as it’s close to the ground.”

Nodding, Trevor walked to the center of the pavilion and pushed the Floatstone out of his inventory. It hovered an inch off of the ground, which the young man felt was low enough. Drelik seemed to agree as he retrieved his tools on a cart from a nearby shed, which included a small clay figure sculpted in the shape of what he assumed was the final product.

[[Quest complete! You made a delivery!

Okay, okay, it’s a little more convoluted than that and there was a lot more backstory than you planned, but you still did it! Drelik, the aging dwarven guardsman who fell in love with an Otherworld Dreamer, has finally gotten everything he needs to match the statue Cindal left him with many years ago.

Reward! Eight silver coins have been added to your inventory.

Level Up! You have gained 1 stat point. It has been added to your bank, which has 4 stat points left.]]

“I, um,” Trevor paused. “I don’t really have anywhere to go. Do you mind if I stay and watch? In case it’s easier. If not then I-”

“Of course you can stay, my boy,” Drelik said with a comforting grin. “There’s chairs in the shed. Just don’t rush me, and feel free to leave at any time.”

“Thank you, Mr. Drelik,” Trevor said, returning the grin before retrieving a chair.

He sat down a good distance away, watching as the dwarf stared at the Floatstone intently. He drew no lines, but simply regarded the block. The young man didn’t complain when it took the dwarf over an hour to finally raise his hammer and chisel.

CHAPTER TEN: FREEDOM TOAST

To Trevor’s surprise, watching Drelik had been a lot more interesting than he expected. He had never seen sculptors work before, but he saw the care and effort the dwarf put in and became entranced by the process. Every stroke was purposeful, and hours flew by before either of them knew it.

It wasn’t until the sky started to turn dark when the two realized how much time had passed. The dwarf sighed in contentment as he looked at the Floatstone before him. A good chunk of the top was missing as he had started from there. So far it only looked like a smaller cube of marble, and Trevor believed it would take some time to become anything at all.

“Would you mind if I came back some other time?” Trevor asked as he stood up. His body ached from sitting still for so long, and he felt pins and needles on his legs. When the young man’s stomach growled, all he could think about were the taco bread balls that were probably freezing in his inventory.

Drelik appeared surprised at the young man’s voice and turned to face him. “I’m sorry, my boy. I completely forgot you were there.”

“No need to be sorry, Mr. Drelik. It was honestly really interesting to watch. Peaceful, even,” he said with a smile. “I can’t remember the last time I sat down and did nothing for even an hour without feeling guilty about the time flying by.”

That caused the dwarf to nod. “I know exactly what you mean, Trevor,” he said with a content sigh. “I felt that way every time I watched Cindal working. If that’s how you feel, then I must be on the right track.”

“You’ll get there. Me, though, I ought to get back to the Hero House. It’s getting late.”

Nodding, Drelik stepped down from the stepladder he had been using and gestured for Trevor to follow him into the house. They walked to the front door but he didn’t open it, instead looking in a small cabinet situated in the foyer, and pulled out a small blowing horn no larger than the young man’s thumb with an orange cloth around its middle and a leather cord strung through it.

“I want you to have this,” Drelik said as he offered Trevor the horn. “It’s a Trinket from the old days, one that I got a lot of use out of, but it needs a new home now.”

“Oh, I can’t accept that,” the young man said. “I was just doing my job.”

“Your job which I kept you from all day. I have no need of it, and thus I insist. It’s to thank you for staying with me, for listening to me talk about Cindal, and for helping out. Take it.”

Offering a strained smile, Trevor couldn’t help but remember how things were back in his old world. Even in such a position as retail, any tip a customer wanted to give was frowned upon by management. It didn’t matter if you helped someone out to their car with their groceries or went out of your way to find the last of an item hidden deep in the back room, it was against the rules.

But he wasn’t in his old world anymore, and he always thought it was a stupid rule, anyway. Trevor also sensed that any further refusal would not be taken as kindly as the first, so he bowed and accepted it.

[[New Trinket! You have received a Horn of Swift Heroics!

When you blow on this tiny, very small horn, you become as swift as an out-of-control wracor. That’s what the advertisements used to claim when this thing was on the market, at least.

It only works once per day, but it raises your Speed stat by 2 for ten minutes.

Now get out there and get running!]]

“Oh, that’s really cool,” Trevor said as the Quest Master identified it for him. “Thank you, Mr. Drelik.”

“You are very welcome, Trevor,” Drelik made a motion like he just remembered something. “And to answer your question, yes. Come back any time. I’ll be working on Cindal’s statue for a few weeks, and I would love some company.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m looking forward to it.”

With another bow and a few more pleasantries exchange between them, Trevor stepped out into the chilly air. The few moments of warmth while inside had been wonderful, but now he wrapped his arms around himself tightly.

“Mr. Tiggles?” he called out as he walked to the street, but received no response. It made sense; the cat probably got tired of waiting for him.

Looking at the Horn of Swift Heroics in his hands, Trevor thought about the long trek back to the Hero House. Even though the streets were well lit, walking back home in the dark was something that he hadn’t liked doing back on Earth.

That feeling had apparently followed him into this new world. So he took his new Trinket in his hand, wiped it off on his coat, and blew it.

Trevor had expected there to be some kind of sound like, well, like a horn, but it was silent. Instead, his body felt energized and his walking speed increased noticeably. There was a strain in his muscles that he hadn’t felt before, but it wasn’t too terrible.

“Whoa, okay,” he muttered to himself. “That’s weird but also pretty alright.”

Trevor began running through the streets. As he reached his top speed, he lamented that he didn’t run enough on Earth to know how fast he could go on account of his bad knee, but it wasn’t anywhere close to this. The ten-minute walk through the residential district was cut down by a substantial amount as he made it to the bridge.

That was where he slowed down, however. He stopped halfway across and, putting his hands on his burning legs, bent over to wheeze. While his Strength was high and he was happy with the changes his body had undergone, the young man firmly decided that his Stamina was lacking.

“Can I… put a banked… point into Stamina… please?” he asked the air around him. The people crossing the bridge looked at him curiously, but he ignored them.

[[Stat increase complete. Stamina is now 2. You still have 3 banked points remaining to be used at your leisure.]]

The burning feeling in his lungs and legs immediately eased as the stat went up. Trevor breathed in a full breath before cautiously stretching. His body still moved faster under the effects of the Horn of Swift Heroics, but the strain it put on him was lessened by a considerable amount. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry, and this time he only sped up to a jog.

The Trinket’s buff lasted until Trevor made it to the main road that cut through town. The young man almost tripped over himself when the effect ended and he was forced to slow down. Thinking about it, he decided that jogging with a Speed stat of 3 felt like running with a Speed stat of 1. It had made him much faster.

Idly, as he continued on his path, he wondered what the highest Speed stat anyone had achieved was and how fast they really were. It seemed like Stamina was needed to keep up with Speed and, by extension, probably Strength as well. They would have to be raised close to each other at the very least.

By the time Trevor arrived at the Hero House, he was breathing heavily but feeling satisfied. Jogging had been good for him after sitting for so long, and the fact that his leg wasn’t hurting aside from the strain of effort was not lost on him. He stretched as he walked towards the communal space.

Warm air blasted him as he opened the door, and the lights turned on to greet him. Mr. Tiggles was here, resting on a large book on one of the tables, and the cat lazily lifted his head to watch the newcomer.

“Good evening, Mr. Tiggles,” Trevor said as he walked by, running a hand against the cat from head to tail.

“Purr,” Mr. Tiggles said before resting his head between his paws.

As Trevor made it to the counter, he pulled the taco bread balls out of his inventory. They were cold to the touch, but he realized they might not have been at a safe temperature up to now. The young man’s eyes fell on the refrigerator. When he opened it up to feel the cold air inside, he sighed.

“Should have thought about that earlier,” he lamented before looking for the trash can.

Like the refrigerator, it was made of stone though it didn’t have a liner in it. Trevor frowned before gingerly dropping one in. The taco bread ball hit the bottom and sat there for a few moments before combusting in a flash of fire.

Trevor raised his eyebrows in surprise and concern, but the stone trash can was already clean by the time he reacted. With a laugh of wonderment, he threw the other bread balls into the garbage and watched them do the same. There was something about watching things disappear without a trace that was immensely satisfying.

Despite his satisfaction, his stomach complained that it wasn’t getting fed.

Trevor scanned the counter and returned to the fridge to figure out his options. There was half a loaf of bread in a box, and that meant sandwiches, but the issue was finding what went well on those sandwiches. He glanced towards the fruits and vegetables on the counter, and thought it over before looking back in the fridge.

Grabbing a glass of white liquid out of the stone appliance, he turned it to see the words “basically milk” written on the side. Arching an eyebrow, he took a closer look and saw that other containers had similar things written on it in English. There was basically butter, basically mayo, basically syrup, and more.

A quick taste test of the milk in a cup he found confirmed that it was, in fact, what it claimed to be. Enough like it to suit his needs, at least.

Glancing towards the bread box and the eggs, Trevor felt a craving for French toast, and started looking for everything he needed. He would have to thank somebody later; everything was very helpfully labeled including a spice rack in one of the cabinets.

The hard part was finding a whisk. He already knew where the pans were thanks to Adabelle’s cooking session this morning, and he found a bowl easily enough. Settling for a spoon, he cracked a few eggs and began mixing before slicing the bread.

“What are you doing?”

Trevor nearly leapt out of his skin as the voice came from behind him. With a pounding heart, he turned to see that Adabelle was standing a few tables away. He hadn’t heard her come in, and Mr. Tiggles remained asleep. He took a breath and tried to smile despite the clear satisfaction in her eyes.

“Making French toast,” Trevor replied once he thought he could control his voice. He returned his attention back to the food.

A line of batter had fallen onto the counter, and his first thought was to find a towel to wipe it off before realizing that he could deal with this in another way. Using his finger, he wiped up the batter and transferred it to his inventory. Trevor didn’t feel like adding it back into the bowl as he wasn’t sure how clean the surface actually was, but it was out of the way at the very least.

“Wayne mentioned something about the French before,” she mused, walking around to watch what he was doing. “Are you one of them?”

“No, I’m American, like Wayne,” Trevor stated. “From a different part of the country, though. I didn’t live anywhere near Texas.”

“I see.”

Adabelle continued to watch, and Trevor continued to work. “Does your interest mean that you’re done being mad?”

“… The mayor took a vacation, so I wasn’t able to give him a piece of my mind,” she hissed.

“That sucks, lady,” Trevor replied, which earned him a glare, but he ignored it. “Excuse me, gotta get in front of the oven.”

When Adabelle gave him room, he activated it in the same way she had this morning, and watched with satisfaction as it heated up.

“You like fruit, right?” he asked, glancing at her.

Adabelle blinked before giving Trevor a hesitant nod, and he nodded to himself as he grabbed a few of the fruits that looked like green strawberries and red blueberries from the bowl. A quick taste of both told him that they were what he thought they were.

Maybe eating and cooking in this world is going to be super easy, Trevor thought to himself with great satisfaction.

He sliced up the fruit and plated the French toast before offering it to Adabelle with a knife and fork. She stared at it before looking up at him. “You sure?”

Trevor’s stomach growled loudly. “Yeah, I’m sure,” he said, disregarding his body with a smile. “You make me breakfast; I make you breakfast. Seems like a fair deal to me. I recommend it with basically butter and basically syrup, maybe a light dusting of basically powdered sugar if we have some around, but that’s completely up to you.”

Adabelle frowned, but took the plate and walked off to one of the tables. “Thanks,” she mumbled quietly, almost to the point where he couldn’t hear, and he turned around before he smiled to himself.

Getting everything ready for his own batch, his smile turned into a grin as he heard her cut into the food. It wasn’t anything special, French toast was French toast, but listening to the sound of silverware on a ceramic plate was nice. Trevor didn’t dare turn around and watch, feeling like that would be creepy, but he hoped she was enjoying it.

As he was finishing up his own food, she returned to wash her plate in the sink. “What did you think?” Trevor asked.

“Seems like it was just regular freedom toast to me,” she stated.

“Freedom toast?” Trevor snorted.

“That’s what Wayne calls it. But every time he does it’s with a little smile, like there’s some great joke he’s playing on us,” Adabelle said before wrinkling her nose. “It’s… not actually called freedom toast, is it?”

“Dang Texan,” the young man said, but it was from a place of amusement. “Yeah. It’s French toast, not freedom toast. Has he made freedom fries yet?”

She shook her head. “Mentioned it, but never made it.”

“Also called French fries. I’m afraid Wayne’s been misrepresenting Earth.”

Despite that, Trevor found that he didn’t dislike it. If the man wanted to make stuff up in another universe, then that was his prerogative. As long as he didn’t have some kind of die-hard aggressive personality, he was probably fine.

“That sounds just like Wayne, then,” Adabelle sighed.

“They should be back soon, right?” Trevor asked as he prepared to go sit down.

“Should have been back tonight, but if they’re a little late it’s not a problem,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Wayne and Rashie are both good adventurers, and nothing around here can really stop them. There’s complications in adventuring, sometimes, but nothing they can’t handle.”

“Sounds good, I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

“And I look forward to getting some sleep,” Adabelle said as she ran her fingers through her thick, tangled white hair. “With Jackson mysteriously disappearing, that means I’m taking over most of his duties. Without warning. Again. On top of my own, no less. I don’t have anyone to delegate to, so it’s just more work from morning to night.”

“That sounds rough. Boss disappears a lot, then?” Trevor asked sympathetically.

“You could say that. If he had told me in advance, then…” she trailed off. Her eyes widened slightly before she glanced at Trevor, and she sighed. “Thank you for the food. I’m heading home, now.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, lady,” he said, grinning. “Have a good night.”

“You, too,” she said after a moment of hesitation. Adabelle picked up Mr. Tiggles and carried him to the door. The cat barely moved as he hung limply in her arms. At the door, she paused and turned around. “Seven o’clock sharp, breakfast.”

“I’ll be there,” Trevor said with a wave as she left the communal space. Still grinning, he grabbed his food and began chowing down, finally allowing himself to eat.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE GNOMISH SHOPKEEPER WAY

Over the next few days, Trevor fell into a comfortable cycle.

Mr. Tiggles would wake him up in his locked home no matter how well fortified it was. The young man attempted to block the doors and windows, but the cat would always make it inside with no evidence of tampering. It was always minutes before his magical alarm would go off, too, with lots of purring and face rubbing the moment Trevor said something.

At 7 o’clock sharp, he would be in the communal space. Adabelle had eventually informed him that the building itself was called the Hero House, and their homes were just adjacent to it. She didn’t tell him that in the morning, of course. Nothing changed there.

Just as the clock ticked over, Adabelle emerged from outside, barely awake. Every morning she’d look at him and ask if he wanted eggs. He’d say yes, and she got cooking. Once she was done, she took an apple and left.

Trevor had seen people essentially sleepwalk through work before, retail wasn’t very exciting, but watching this noblewoman from another world go through the motions was oddly intriguing.

Once he was finished eating, the young man walked to the market district. It took a couple of days, but Gad did notice him and made sure to greet him every morning. The dwarf was usually grumpy, but in a good-spirited kind of way that Trevor didn’t mind.

Trevor’s first destination was always the market district. Wagons came by daily, he noticed, and he was quick to lend a hand to anyone who needed something heavy moved but didn’t have the labor for it. A part of him said he shouldn’t work on his so-called break, but he knew he would go crazy if he didn’t have something to do.

Sometimes he would help Thimbleden out and make deliveries so he could explore town. Nothing quest-worthy, just odds and ends for people who couldn’t make it out to the market to retrieve what they ordered, but Trevor was happy to help. It allowed him to get a better understanding of his Power, which he was gradually figuring out about as he went.

He was warned about leaving town without something to defend himself from monsters, and decided to stay inside the walls. They were few and far between, and generally pretty weak, but it wasn’t anything Trevor wanted to tussle with. There was plenty to do in Tosa, anyway.

On occasions he would find himself stopping with the dwarven family of Gad, Froil, and Dag. They were always eating together by the river at the same bench at the same time.

Froil apparently had a great fondness for bread, because that was often what she brought. Trevor was treated to more delicious taco bread balls, but also partook in sandwiches, including one that was essentially a BLT with black tomatoes and yellow lettuce. Even though it looked strange, it was still delicious.

Visiting Drelik was a daily occurrence. Trevor was given permission to use the gate behind the house in case the elderly dwarf didn’t answer the front door, and had to do it often. The sound of chiseling was constant in the backyard pavilion and the young man would often pull up a chair without the craftsman noticing to watch, announcing his presence only when the time was right. The statue was making real headway, though it wouldn’t be complete for some time.

At the end of the day, Trevor would always run home using the Horn of Swift Heroics. It was good exercise, and the increase to his Stamina stat was incredibly helpful. He had forgotten how great it felt to run since doing so on Earth always had the caveat of causing his knee to ache more once he was done. Being Summoned brought him no pain, all gain, and he was silently thankful for the elf that brought him here.

Though, Trevor was only silent on this because Jackson had not returned yet, which left Adabelle becoming colder and colder with every tiring day that passed.

Still, Trevor persisted and tried to be friendly.

Although he managed to get her to talk over evening meals that he insisted on preparing since she made breakfast, she seemed reluctant to delve into any details. Adabelle insisted that she would calm down eventually, as soon as the mayor returned, and that work was getting more and more demanding. Whenever she realized he was getting her to talk more, she would get that surprised look in her face before excusing herself.

That was something he wouldn’t fault her for. He saw more than one person on Earth become overwhelmed from their job, even when it was over things that weren’t what most people would consider a big deal.

It was perfectly acceptable to be disgruntled after a long day’s work, especially when it had been sprung on her like this, and he found himself relating to Adabelle a lot. Trevor was happy to provide a warm meal with his admittedly adequate cooking skills to help her wind down.

On top of everything, there was still no sign of Wayne or Rashie. She was obviously worried despite her insistence that they could handle themselves.

This morning happened the same as any other morning, though Mr. Tiggles didn’t join him. Things had been getting colder and colder despite everyone’s insistence that the cold months were over. Trevor was bundled up tight in a thick red jacket and standing outside of Thimbleden’s Sundries when the man himself came to open the shop.

The gnome regarded the young man for a moment before speaking. “Would you mind helping me out in the shop this morning?”

“It’s no problem to me,” Trevor said, immediately agreeing. “What do you need?”

Thimbleden seemed surprised by the easy affirmative and smiled. “Torlock doesn’t do great in weather this cold,” he explained as he unlocked the shop and gestured for Trevor to enter. It was warm inside from the Heating Stones, and the young man pulled his coat into his inventory. “So he will be late coming in. No fault of his own, of course. He grew up in warmer climates so I do understand, but I need assistance this morning.”

“I got it. Yeah, I don’t mind helping out. This kind of thing is exactly in my wheelhouse. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll get it done,” he said as he looked around Thimbleden’s Sundries.

It was one of those stores where you could find anything you needed, just not easily. Gnome stores, as Trevor had found out, were all odd. They were built in ways that were so far from what he was used to on Earth that he had nearly gotten lost in the small shop trying to find a comb for his hair.

The typical Earth supermarket was designed to get you to spend as much as they could wring you for. The colors, product placement, and ambiance were carefully crafted in order to make you look at something and think, “I don’t need this, but I want it,” and put it in your cart.

Thimbleden’s Sundries was a chaotic mess. Hammers were next to toothbrushes, nails were next to hairbrushes, and locks were next to mirrors. There was a box full of oddly twisted sticks freshly taken from trees, and the young man couldn’t decide what their purpose was but felt he had missed his opportunity to ask.

From what Trevor understood, the proprietor made most of his money ordering exotic things from far away, such as the Floatstone, but there was enough of a gnome presence in town that he would have stayed in the black regardless.

“Didn’t know about Torlock and cold, though,” Trevor said to make conversation. “He always seemed like the really hardy type to me, I guess.”

“Looks are deceiving, but it’s also unnaturally cold,” Thimbleden said as he moved around to the register. “Things will get better once Jackson gets back, I imagine, but until then we’re just going to have to suffer through it.”

Trevor frowned as he approached the counter. It looked like it was made of sanded and polished driftwood “What does the mayor have to do with the weather?”

“Not so much Jackson, but his-” Thimbleden paused before looking up from the coins he was counting. “You sincerely don’t know?”

Trevor shook his head, but understood context clues enough to figure out where this was going. “Lady Adabelle, somehow?”

The gnome harrumphed as if he had just given away some great secret, and then sighed. “Yes, Lady Adabelle,” he admitted. “I won’t pretend I know all of the details, but the weather always shifts when Jackson leaves town unannounced. This is supposed to be a comfortable time of year, but the weather’s colder. I’ve also seen heat waves in winter and rains that go on for days during droughts. It’s mostly harmless, just inconvenient.”

“Huh, that’s interesting.”

“Interesting as it may be, please don’t bring it up. We’re no doubt sure Lady Adabelle is aware of it, but bringing attention to the weather may make things worse. Those of us who know have learned to ride it out.”

With this information, Trevor couldn’t help but wonder what Adabelle’s Power was. If Thimbleden was right then it seemed to be something to do with the weather and tied to her mood, but there was bound to be more than that. The gnome had mentioned her knocking down buildings, after all. Perhaps it only went out of control when she was tired? Or distracted?

“Well, enough gossip, we have a store to run,” Thimbleden announced with a clap of his hands. “Could you please go and get the boxes stacked in the middle of the stock room? They’re all things that don’t have spots to go, so any empty space will do.”

Trevor looked around. “Any empty space?”

“Any, my boy. That’s the gnomish shopkeeper way.”

Shrugging, Trevor got to work. The back room had an open floor with several of the more popular items lining the wall. Unlike the area for customers, this one was incredibly well organized. Everything was clearly labeled and placed with like items that followed a noticeable theme.

There were a few boxes in the center of the room. As Trevor reached down to pick them up, he realized that the action wasn’t strictly necessary. With an amused smirk, he pulled each of the boxes into his inventory and walked back outside. Thimbleden gave him a strange look as he flipped the sign on the door from closed to open, but didn’t say anything.

Once Trevor found an open spot, he mentally unpacked the boxes just as he had the pickles from Jackson’s first quest. After that, it was incredibly easy to stack them exactly how he wanted in the empty spaces. He could pull them out upside down, sideways, backwards, or with the label clearly facing him. They would always come out the way he ordered them to, and that made the process smooth.

So smooth that he got back into his old groove in no time, and without all the anxiety and dread. Trevor never minded the manual labor side of retail work. This made perfect sense, even if the gnomish shopkeeper way was strange to him. It was always the lack of fellow employees, or customers that refused to understand that he was a person and not a machine programed to get them what they wanted, that caused issues for him.

His thoughts wandered to the coworkers who would be struggling because he was no longer there, but pushed it out of his mind. That isn’t proper vacation thinking, he thought to himself as he worked during his vacation.

People came and went as he fulfilled Thimbleden’s request. Most of them were gnomes, though there was a smattering of other guests that came and went. He wasn’t required to assist with customers, nor did the proprietor ask or expect him to, until one came searching.

“Good morning, Thim,” a man said as he spoke to Thimbleden at the counter. “I’m here looking for Trevor? We heard that he was usually here in the mornings, and I’m hoping I didn’t miss him.”

“Good morning, Greer,” the gnome greeted. “Trevor’s around, but what do you need him for?”

“Dory’s got a quest for him to deliver something to Melvirn,” Greer explained.

“Quest?” Trevor asked immediately, popping his head around the corner to see the halfling speaking with Thimbleden. Greer looked like the scaled down version of a blond man, and was covered in thick clothes. He turned to face the Summoned.

“Yes, something very important, if you don’t mind,” he said, recognizing Trevor.

“You said Dory, right? Of Dory’s Potions and Alchemical Supplies?”

Greer nodded. “That’s right. The sooner the better, but no rush if you’re busy.”

“Yeah, I don’t mind that.”

Thimbleden nodded. “You go tell Dory he’ll be there shortly.”

“Thank you, Trevor, and you, too, Thim,” Greer said with a bow before running out the front door.

Trevor was intrigued about being called to Dory’s. He had known her shop didn’t have as many customers as the others and her windows were painted over, but he had wanted to visit someday soon. Apparently, today was that day. In a rush, he started emptying the last of the stock into its new home before returning the boxes to the back.

“All set, Mr. Thimbleden,” he announced after waiting for a customer to finish up at the counter.

“Thank you, Trevor, you’ve been a big help,” the gnome said with a smile. “Now, I do have to warn you about Dory. She’s a little… different than what you’re used to around here.”

“Oh. But not in like, a bad way, right?”

Thimbleden shook his head. “There hasn’t been an incident since she first arrived here several years ago,” he said, causing Trevor to hesitate. “She’s good people, I just wanted to make sure that you go into her shop with an open mind.”

“Sure, I can do that,” Trevor agreed. “What should I be expecting?”

“I’m not going to go that far, life should be full of surprises,” the gnome laughed. “Tell me what you think of her next time you visit.”

Trevor snorted, but nodded. “Sure thing, sir,” he said as he started walking towards the door. “Have a good day, then.”

“To you as well, Trevor.”

CHAPTER TWELVE: LADY TROUBLES

Dory’s Potions & Alchemical Supplies was not far from Thimbleden’s Sundries. It was situated in the back of the market district, near the wall where there wasn’t a lot of foot traffic. The building stood alone, made of bricks with black painted windows and a large, red door. One wouldn’t even know what it was for if it there hadn’t been a small sign announcing what was inside.

Trevor stood in front of the door for a moment, remembering Thimbleden’s words about how Dory hadn’t caused an incident in several years, before entering. The heat inside was much more intense than he had felt elsewhere, and a small bell chimed as the door opened. The young man returned his coat to his inventory.

“Dory, he’s here!” Greer said from behind the counter before approaching Trevor and bowing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Greer, I’m the apothecary’s assistant. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Trevor Anderson,” he greeted back, bowing before looking around the shop.

The interior was set up like some kind of fruit stand, with boxes full of various items lying ready for shoppers to look over. It was somewhat sparse, which Trevor attributed to supply issues in the late stages of winter, but he saw all kinds of plants, bones, and things he couldn’t recognize. The smell lingering in the air was unpleasant, something sulfuric if he had to guess, but wasn’t overpowering.

Against the far wall, the divider between the storefront and workspace in the back was a series of beads that clicked and clacked against each other as the alchemist entered the room. Trevor immediately saw why he had been warned as he gazed upon the snakes.

Standing in front of him, wearing heavy work clothes, thick leather gloves, and a pair of dark goggles, was a green-scaled woman with a braid of snakes coming out of her head. The name Medusa immediately flitted into Trevor’s mind, and his body froze for a moment before he realized that her protective gear blocked eye contact.

Despite her thick clothes and goggles, Trevor noticed a compulsion that he wanted to see more of this enchanting woman in front of him. He wanted to approach her and gaze longingly into her eyes.

The effect wasn’t very strong, and it disappeared the moment he realized it was happening. The young man blinked, but shook it off.

He relaxed and offered a nervous, but hopefully friendly, grin.

“Good morning, ma’am,” he said. “I was told that you had a quest for me?”

“That is a good response. Most don’t get over seeing me so quickly the first time,” Dory replied approvingly as she moved towards the young man. She was graceful, seeming to glide more than walk, and stopped in front of him to bow. Her hair raised to watch him. “I am Dorimy, but you may call me Dory.”

“Trevor Anderson, ma’am,” he stated as he bowed back.

“Yes, I do have a quest for the new inventoryman in town,” she said, resting a hand on her braid. Trevor tried not to wince at the title he had given himself without realizing it. If Dory noticed, she didn’t mention it, and gestured for him to follow her to the back. “I have been working on a concoction for Melvirn for the past two months, and I need someone who can safely transport it to him on the other side of town.”

“Did something happen to the courier who was supposed to pick it up?” Trevor asked.

Dory shook her head, and the snakes shifted to stay still. “No, Melvirn himself was supposed to come and retrieve it, but he’s probably deep into his research and simply forgot. He does that. I would send Greer to let the wizard know it’s ready, but I need him to watch the shop and I would freeze the moment I stepped outside.”

“That sounds terrible, ma’am,” Trevor said sympathetically. “Is there a reason why someone else can’t take it? Not that I’m complaining, of course, I’m just curious about why it’s worth a quest.”

The medusa smiled and guided him towards the back of the workspace to a bench far from the others. Sitting on top of it was an open volumetric flask. The liquid inside rapidly changed color, shifting from top to bottom to create a rainbow reminiscent of a lava lamp. Sparks flew from the top, disappearing before they had a chance to hit anything flammable.

“This is a mix of magic and alchemy created exactly to Melvirn’s specifications,” she explained, coming to a stop a fair distance away. Trevor did the same. “He came to me months ago with a list of instructions, saying that he couldn’t possibly tear himself away from his research long enough to give it the attention it deserved. I owed him a favor for providing me more powerful Heating Stones, so here we are now.”

“That looks very unstable,” Trevor noted. The snakes got close enough to start sniffing the young man, but Dory gathered her braid back, absently petting them.

“Bump it around too much, and it just might blow up,” Dory said. “Which was why he was supposed to get it himself, and now I want it out of my workspace.”

“Kind of sounds like nitroglycerin,” Trevor said warily.

“Close, but it won’t be used for making anything explosive, if you’re worried about that” she chuckled. “Melvirn’s a pacifist; he’s not making any magical super weapons.”

“Okay,” the young man said with a nod. “I can transport it without it jostling about.”

“Excellent, then how does seven silver and three healing potions sound as a reward?” Dory asked. “Each healing potion costs a silver and five coppers; in case you didn’t know.”

Trevor wasn’t doing it for the reward, and was about to open his mouth to agree when a thought struck him. “Do you have anything… like an energy drink?” he asked hesitantly. “Something that’ll reinvigorate whoever drinks it, I mean.”

Dory tilted her head. “I do, though it’s more expensive. What did you need it for?”

“Well, there’s this woman, and-”

“Lady troubles, say no more,” Dory said with a wave of her hand.

“No, no, not lady troubles!” Trevor responded in a slight panic. “I mean, kind of, but not, like, lady troubles. My friend’s just been working overtime a lot, is all. I was hoping that I might be able to help her out.”

“You still admit that it’s lady trouble, Trevor,” Dory claimed mischievously. Her snake hair hissed in an amused cadence. “But how about three silvers, one healing potion, and a vial of Full Night’s Rest, which is the strongest I have available right now. Once you drink it, you feel as though you’ve had its namesake. I usually make it for the guards, but I can part with one for a good cause.”

“Okay, that sounds great,” Trevor said, ignoring her teasing. He was losing out on a few silvers and two other potions, which meant it had to be expensive, but he didn’t mind at all. Thinking of Adabelle, he offered the medusa his hand. “You’ve got a deal.”

Smiling, Dory took his hand and gave it a firm shake as the Quest Master chimed in.

[[New Quest! Deliver this bubbling brew to Melvirn the wizard!

Melvirn, Tosa’s premiere and only high wizard, had asked Dory to create this alchemically magical mixture in order to figure out some of the most hidden secrets of magic. These days, his research deals with extradimensional spaces like safes, wagons, and bags.

Sounds like someone you know, doesn’t it? Except he got his abilities the hard way: community college.

All you have to do is get this confusing concoction to Melvirn’s tower and deliver it. Should be pretty easy.]]

“Oh, dimensional stuff,” Trevor said as he read through the quest. “That’s neat, and basically what I can do with my Power of Inventory.”

“That’s what I’ve heard,” Dory replied. “Do you need anything special in order to take it?”

“Just need to touch it,” he said before looking back at the sparkling flask, which was now also bubbling and fizzing. “Is it… supposed to do that?”

“Yes, nothing to worry about,” Dory said with a wave of her hand. “I recommend going low, though, under where the sparks are disappearing. Do you know where you’re heading?”

“No, but I’ve got a Trinket for that.” Taking a breath, Trevor did as Dory suggested and slid his hand over the table before poking the flask with his finger and drawing it in.

It immediately disappeared, though he felt his inventory shake for a moment before settling down. That was a new feeling. The thought that this was for something related to extradimensional spaces came to the forefront of his mind and he looked at Dory.

“Sorry to run, but I think I need to get to him as quickly as possible,” Trevor said as he bowed again. His inventory seemed fine now, but he didn’t want to risk it. “It was very nice meeting you, ma’am, and thank you for negotiating.”

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Trevor,” Dory replied as she bowed back, her hair raising to maintain its altitude.

Once he left the back room, Trevor stopped long enough to bow to Greer before running out into the streets. The cold assailed his body, and the young man pulled his coat and PathGuider 5000 out of his inventory. He was immediately wrapped in warmth, and ran through the streets.

The market was full this morning, and the PathGuider 5000 wanted him to jump over the stalls to take the shortest path to Melvirn’s. Trevor did not do that, instead running around the plaza. The Trinket continued to point him in the direction of the river, so he knew the quickest path there at the very least, and headed straight that way.

Now that he had spent a few days in town, his presence was fairly well known. He had been polite, which was something not all Summoned had been, and even people who didn’t know him reacted with a nod or bow as he passed. Not wanting to shun anyone, Trevor did the same as he made his way through the crowds.

He couldn’t help but think about how much of a far cry that was from Earth. Trevor hadn’t grown up in a big city, but it was still much larger than this. Generally when you walked through the streets, people were distracted or in a hurry or simply didn’t care to look at anyone else.

It wasn’t something he realized he needed, but being validated by so many people wasn’t the chore Trevor thought it would be. He felt seen and that was doing wonders for his self-image.

The good feelings stopped as he came to the bridge, however, where the PathGuider 5000 wanted him to veer right and cross the river itself. Its green arrows jumped from log to log, constantly shifting as it showed him the path to the other side.

“Screw that,” Trevor said with a half-laugh. He turned his eyes to the bridge and slowed to a stop.

The road across the river appeared to be backed up and crowded beyond belief. People who were done shopping for the morning were returning to the residential district with their goods.

They all seemed frustrated, so Trevor listened in to figure out what had happened. It didn’t take him long to get the information he wanted.

In the middle of broad daylight, the gremlins appeared, swooped in, and spooked the wracors leading a wagon over the bridge. It had crashed into the wagon in front of it, which caused the wracors leading that wagon to panic. Now there was a very small path to get across while everything was being fixed.

Trevor felt his inventory bubble uncomfortably. It wasn’t painful or anything, but he did feel as though he wanted it out if only for his own mental health.

Taking a breath, he looked around for any alternative that wasn’t jumping across the river. He glanced towards the next closest bridge to see a similar situation there, and could easily see the glint of steel from the guard’s armor. People were funneling in from the third bridge, grumbling when they saw how backed up this one was.

Making a decision, Trevor went around the crowd to the riverside.

Not to jump over the logs, of course. In this cold weather, he figured that would be the death of him.

Instead, he jumped and grabbed onto the lip of the bridge and pulled himself up. The orc on the other side carrying a crate of goods gave him a concerned look, but Trevor just gave an uneasy grin. “Pardon me, friend.”

The wall of the bridge was roughly eight inches across and made of solid stone. Trevor balanced on one knee before cautiously standing up, one foot in front of the other, and his arms out to keep himself level. The moment he was there, he realized how foolish he was acting, but he wanted this to get done without taking a dip in a freezing river.

It only took him two steps before he realized that he might end up taking that plunge anyway. Sucking in a breath, he ignored the crowd that watched him. Some were yelling about waiting his turn and others were telling him to be careful and get down. He waved nervously but continued on. The logs traveling in the river beneath Trevor caused him to rethink his decision, and he stopped.

“Quest Master, can you please put a point into Dexterity for me,” he muttered under his breath.

[[Stat increase complete. Dexterity is now 2. You still have 2 banked points remaining to be used at your leisure.]]

The difference was like night and day. One moment he was struggling to hold his balance and walking one foot in front of the other, and the next he was moving across the bridge’s wall at a speed just short of walking pace. Balance had never been Trevor’s strong suit, and he couldn’t help but laugh as he made it halfway across the bridge before he knew it.

Several workers were attempting to move the wagons, but the wracors were resting on the ground. That might have been another gremlin curse, though Trevor realized that he knew very little of fey magic. It didn’t look like anything he would have been able to help with, so he kept moving with a few words of encouragement.

His feet touched the ground on the other side of the bridge, and he paused before throwing his arms in the air. “Take that, PathGuider,” he said triumphantly.

The Trinket continued to quietly point him towards the residential district, and he followed it.

From there, it was smooth sailing. The foot traffic wasn’t nearly as heavy since the people that were coming from the other side of the river were doing so in a slow trickle, and it didn’t take long for Trevor to make it to his destination: an empty alley between two houses.

“What?” he asked, scratching the stubble on his chin as he looked around. There was a big house to the right, and a big house to the left, and in the middle was a big empty space. He crossed his arms as his inventory protested again.

“Are you looking for Melvirn’s, mister?” came a small voice from behind him.

Trevor turned to see a small, black-haired human boy wearing a thick winter coat behind him. He gave him a smile and nodded. “Yes, I am. It’s supposed to be here, right?”

“It’s magic, mister,” he said. “You gotta be looking right at it to see it.”

Frowning, Trevor looked at the alley again before shaking his head. “I don’t see it.”

The boy approached Trevor and gestured for the man to kneel down. He did so, and the child took the young man’s head in his hands and pointed his eyes towards the alley. “Concentrate, mister.”

Getting over the surprise manhandling of his head, Trevor narrowed his eyes and stared at the alley. A few seconds passed, and then a few more, and just as he was about to ask this kid what was going on, a tower sprung into sight.

It was tall, made of gray stone, and reminded the young man of a castle’s turret, crenelations and all. Trevor nearly fell backwards when it appeared.

“Whoa! How come I didn’t see that?” he asked the kid.

“Magic, I suppose,” the boy answered. “I live across the street, so I’ve known about it for a long time.”

“Alright, that makes sense,” Trevor said. “But, shouldn’t you be in school?”

“I’m sick, mister.”

A quick glance at the child told Trevor that this was probably malarkey. “Funny, you don’t look sick to me.”

“And you don’t look lost to me,” the boy said, giving the young man a toothy grin. “Guess we both got what we wanted today.”

Trevor couldn’t help but chuckle as the child started walking away, whistling to himself. That was an easygoing way of looking at things, for sure.

Standing up and approaching the tower, Trevor noted the thick wooden door in front of him. He reached up and knocked on it.

“Who’s there? What do you want?” a nasally male voice asked, seeming to be coming from the door. “I’m very busy, you know!”

“I’m Trevor Anderson, sir,” he replied. “Dory sent me with your sparkling potion.”

The door paused. “That was today?”

“Yes, sir, but I’ve got it for you.”

“All the way here? From Dory’s? In one piece?”

“Yes, sir, though I’d like to get it out of my pocket dimension as quickly as possible,” Trevor stated as it bubbled again.

Another pause. “You have a pocket dimension?”

“I’m a Summoned, new in town, with the Power of Inventory.”

“Fascinating, truly fascinating. Please, put the mixture on the metal table in the foyer. Would you be able to come back in two or three hours? To talk about your Power. I’ll make sure it’s well worth your time!”

The door swung open, revealing a simple room with a single metal table and another door as thick as the one Trevor had knocked on. He entered and placed his hand on the table, releasing the potion onto it. A spark landed on his coat, and the young man jerked his hand away to pat where it landed.

[[Quest complete! You’ve made another delivery!

Seems like you’ve got a knack for smuggling dangerous materials into places they’re supposed to be. With this, Melvirn will be able to continue his research into extradimensional spaces and find a way to make them better in every way. And it’s all thanks to you and your willingness to put strange things into your inventory.

Reward! Three silver coins, a healing potion, and a Full Night’s Rest have been added to your inventory.

Level Up! You have gained 1 stat point. It has been added to your bank, which has 3 stat points left.

Notice! Your next level up will be the last one that will take one quest to complete. You will also be able to pick up a new Skill.]]

“Yes, sir, that sounds fine to me,” he said, perking up from the message as he took a few steps back onto the road. The fact that level ups were going to be harder stung, but he got what he wanted and could be getting a new skill to boot.

“Phenomenal! Then I’ll see you again soon, Trevor Anderson.”

“Have a good one,” Trevor replied, but got no answer.

Which suited him just fine. Now that he didn’t have to worry about some strange potion mucking up his inventory, he could get on with a mission just as critical as this one.

Returning the PathGuider 5000 to his inventory, he started heading towards the nearest restaurant to place an order to go.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: SNAKE CHARMER

Tosa’s mayor’s office looked like a colonial style home. It was a simple, symmetrical brick building with several windows and a sloped, shingled roof. If it weren’t for the sign, Trevor would have passed right by it thinking it was somebody’s home.

People were coming and going through the double doors, and he entered with a small group. They seemed to know which way they were going, but he didn’t, and thus stopped in the grand foyer. An immaculate staircase led to the second floor, and there were hallways to either side.

“May I help you, sir?” a young woman seated at a nearby desk asked.

Trevor smiled at her. “Hello, I’m here to see Lady Adabelle,” he said. “I don’t have an appointment or anything, but I have food for her.”

“Oh, are you the new inventoryman?” she asked, looking him up and down.

His smile became a little more forced, but he nodded and pulled his coat into his inventory now that he was inside. “Yes, ma’am. Seems like I am,” he said, a little more tongue in cheek than he planned.

“Neat trick,” the woman praised before pointing up the stairs. “Head up, then around to the left. Her office is right across from Mayor Jackson’s. It’s clearly marked.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Trevor bowed before walking up the stairs.

Everything in the building was extravagant to the point of tackiness. Dark red carpet, gold trim, and large leafy plants were everywhere. Paintings featuring various figures hung on the wall, labeled as important founders of Tosa, and some even had busts on pedestals underneath them that mirrored the focus of the pictures. Several were of the mayor.

At the very end of the hallway were two offices. To the left, at the front of the building, was Mayor Jackson’s office. The dark wood door was closed, but it had a large bronze plaque that identified it as such in both this world’s language and in English.

Across from it was a much less impressive door that had a smaller bronze plaque with that same chicken scratch on it as well as another language he had never seen before. Assuming that the mayor came from an Earth and that was why there was English on it, the young man briefly wondered if that was Adabelle’s native language.

Not wasting any more time, Trevor walked over and knocked.

“I don’t have any appointments set up at this time,” Adabelle’s voice came from within. “Which means I don’t have time. Please schedule an appointment with Clarica downstairs.”

“Sorry, lady,” Trevor said, raising his voice so she could easily hear him. “If you guys had phones I would have called ahead. This is a surprise visit.”

“Trevor? Come in,” Adabelle called, and he opened the door.

The inside of the office was neat and tidy, and yet Trevor could easily see why she was so overwhelmed. Everything had its place, but there was so much paper on her desk that she needed a rolling cart beside her to hold the overflow. Behind her, the windows were closed with the blinds down, leaving her in the dark. Normally, this would be fine as she could see perfectly in such conditions, but Trevor wasn’t having any of it.

“These are the conditions you work in?” he asked as he walked around her desk.

“What are you-”

“Sunlight is important to a healthy mind. Doesn’t matter whether you can see in the dark or not,” he said before moving the blinds to let the light in.

Very little light filtered in, as the window was blocked by another brick building that had been built just a foot or so away from this one. Trevor frowned, crossed his arms, and stared at it.

“Yeah, thanks a lot, Trevor,” Adabelle said in a deadpan voice as she got back to work signing papers. “My whole life just got a little better thanks to you shining light on my situation. Truly, my gratitude will know no bounds.”

“A little bit of light is still better than no light, even if the view is pretty bleak. This sucks. Man, I completely understand why you’re so frustrated all the time.”

“I’m not frustrated all of the time,” she said defensively. “Only when everything piles up. Jackson should be handling more than half of all this, he’s just not here. Speaking of people who should or should not be here, why did you come to see me? Are Wayne and Rashie back?”

“Haven’t seen them, lady, I’m-”

“Then, like I said, I don’t have time,” she sighed. “I have a lot of work to do, and I’d like to get out of here before dark.”

“I brought you food,” Trevor said patiently. “And something from the apothecary that might help you. Hopefully, at least. It might be early enough in the day to be worthwhile, or maybe save it for later, or-”

“Trevor, I’m going to need you to get to the point,” Adabelle said sternly.

“We’re friends, lady, so I was worried about you.” That made the horned woman pause, and she regarded Trevor curiously. He put on a friendly smile as she stared at him. “What? You make me breakfast, I make you dinner, we eat together. We’re friends.”

“And then you decided to come and visit to eat during lunch,” she said in a surprisingly weary voice.

“I don’t have to stay,” he replied. “Melvirn wants me to come by his… tower? I guess? It was quite tall. Anyway, he wanted me to come by. I can kill time here, or I can drop it off along with your gift and explore town some more.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” Trevor asked.

“Why are you going out of your way to help me?”

“I know you already heard me say we’re friends, so I’m not sure what you mean by that question?”

“Never mind,” she said with a sigh as she began to rub her temples. “Sure, I can take a lunch break. But only a short one, though. Very short.”

“Sweet, alright, so here’s the food,” Trevor said as he laid out his coat on the desk to protect the papers. Next, he pulled out four different plates on Heating Stones to set down on his makeshift tablecloth. After the taco bread ball debacle, he had made sure to purchase a set of them, and they were surprisingly cheap.

Adabelle’s stomach growled as she looked over the options before grabbing what Trevor likened to chicken parmigiana from his world with a side of thick, buttered bread. “Do you have sil-”

Trevor was already offering her a fork and knife when she asked, and she took them from him. He picked a thick sandwich with black tomatoes, pink onions, black lettuce, and several slices of this world’s equivalent of bacon before sending the other two plates and their heat sources back to his inventory. After that, he pulled out two glasses and a carafe of blue lemonade. Careful not to spill any, he poured for them both.

Raising his glass, he motioned for her to do the same and clinked them together when she hesitantly acquiesced. He took a drink before taking his sandwich in both hands and taking a big bite. Adabelle was more civil in how she treated her food.

“Okay, this is a pretty good gift,” she admitted between bites. “Napkin?”

Retrieving one with a flourish, Trevor handed it to her. “This isn’t the gift. This was because you deserve more for all your hard work. Do you bring your own lunches? I haven’t noticed things going missing in the Hero House.”

Adabelle paused before quickly eating the bite that was on her fork to bide time. It didn’t last long, and she was forced to answer. “I haven’t,” she slowly admitted. “But I generally don’t have time to eat so I don’t bother. Even this is pushing me in regards to time.”

Trevor found himself nodding at her answer. Back on Earth, his favorite time to take lunch was an hour before he had to leave. Not his favorite by choice, but because there was so much to do everywhere that he didn’t often get a chance to eat earlier. There was always something stopping you from taking that break on time.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Adabelle asked, her tone becoming defensive again. “I don’t need your pity, you know.”

Shaking his head, Trevor held up his hands in front of him. “No, no pity here. I think you might be pushing yourself too hard, though,” he said, looking at one of the papers that wasn’t covered by his coat. He couldn’t understand the language just yet, and was still thankful that his Summoned status translated speech. “What’s got you stuck in here that you can’t even take an hour to yourself?”

“I’m one of the few nobles in town, so I’m well suited to handle this kind of bureaucracy,” she answered. “Besides, this is all required for the good of the town. Housing requests, business permits, road maintenance. It all needs to get done, and I’m doing it.”

Trevor couldn’t help but smile. “Lady, you’re actually a really nice person, aren’t you?”

“And just what is that supposed to mean?” Adabelle asked, clearly offended.

“Like, in the second conversation we had, or was it third? Fourth? Either way, you said that you would cool down and give me a proper apology. You haven’t been kind to me, but that’s fine because you haven’t hurt me, either. I’ve got thick skin. But this,” he gestured towards the stacks of paper everywhere. “All for the townsfolk? That’s a real noble right there. You’re very kind.”

Adabelle took in a breath and closed her eyes, and Trevor thought he could see her tawny skin darken. “Thank you, Trevor,” she said in the same way she had admitted he was right days before. “I may not always show it, but I’m happy when the people of Tosa are happy. They accepted me here, and I want to do right by them.”

“Back where I’m from, we didn’t have nobles but politicians,” Trevor said. “So seeing someone in a position of power doing the work to make sure their people get taken care of is very admirable to me.”

“Okay, now you’re just buttering me up,” she accused.

“I’m a firm believer in the power of praise,” he chuckled. “And if it’s deserved, I’ll dish it. Besides, you’re smiling, and that’s worth it.”

Adabelle reached up as if to check her lips, but stopped with an unnaturally jerky motion instead. “You’re just teasing me now, aren’t you?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. “For all those times I was less than civil to you.”

“What can I say? I’m only mean to the people I like, lady,” he said, grinning. “If you see me being incredibly polite to someone who doesn’t deserve it, then you know I’m cursing them in my head. They want to bring me down to their level, so the best way to fight back is to deny them the satisfaction. Either they’ll see the error of their ways or I’ve won the battle. Many people have tried to drag me down, few have succeeded.”

Nodding, Adabelle took a few bites of her chicken before looking back up at him. “You’re… very different from the other Earth Summoned I’ve met,” she stated.

Trevor shrugged and swallowed down the food he was chewing. “In a good way or a bad way?”

“Both. In this way, I mean you seem to be very curious but you refuse to pry,” Adabelle said.

“Is there something I should be prying for?”

“I’m just surprised you haven’t asked about my horns yet,” she admitted. “Wayne brought it up immediately upon seeing me, and mentioned that it was a question most would naturally have.”

Trevor’s eyes shifted from hers to the horn on her right side. It had been one of the first things he had noticed about Adabelle, aside from her ears. The horn had been sliced in two through to her temple, and if she moved her hair just right then he could see a scar on her tawny skin.

All in all, it looked painful. While she didn’t seem to have any trouble with it, he knew all too well that some injuries you could only ignore.

His eyes flicked back to hers. “I was told by a friend of mine that horns aren’t a topic of conversation unless they’re decorated,” Trevor said, thinking back to Klar. “Minotaurs like to talk about their horns if they are, gnomes like their hair, dwarves like their beards. Oh, and kobolds are the same as minotaurs except with their tails.”

“Oh, oh no, that’s not right,” Adabelle said, her eyes widening. “Did you talk to a kobold about their tail?”

“No,” Trevor said, frowning. “Was that bad advice?”

“Very,” she said, snorting out a laugh. “It’s really hit or miss, but you could end up alienating whole families if you say the wrong thing. Who told you that?”

“Well, I didn’t think he was lying, but it was Klar. Uh, merchant prince Klarkartar.”

Adabelle shook her head, but she was clearly amused. “Okay, so we’re talking from the perspective of a rich minotaur,” she laughed. “Don’t follow that advice. He’s got enough platinum in the bank that, if anything goes wrong, then any social slipup will not affect him in the slightest. Plus, he’s very large and intimidating. You? Not so much. How did you even meet him, anyway?”

“I stepped outside of Summoner’s Tower and he pretty much ran me over,” Trevor admitted. He could feel his ears burning as she prodded him about this, but all he could think about was how nice it was to hear her laugh. “Then he taught me some lessons. That was one of them.”

“Sure, sure. The bits about gnomes, dwarves, and minotaurs are accurate, as is the horn thing,” she said, reaching up and brushing a hand against her own. “If it’s not adorned, then don’t bring it up. That would explain why you were so hesitant to even stare at them despite being new here.”

“It would have been impolite,” he said, offering her an easy smile. “Though, since you’ve brought it up, is it okay to ask now?”

Adabelle put a hand to her chin, staring into his eyes as if searching for something. Then, she smirked and shook her head. “Nope, the moment’s already gone,” she claimed.

Trevor snapped his fingers and sighed. “Dang, that’s what I get for name-dropping some rich guy I know, huh?” he chuckled. Taking the last bite of his sandwich, he watched as she finished up what was left on her plate.

“That was really good, Trevor, thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” he replied, beaming. “And before I go, there is the matter of your gift.”

With another flourish that would make a magician proud, Trevor produced the vial he had received from Dory’s quest. The Full Night’s Rest was small and thin, only about the size of his pinky finger, and was full of a viscous red liquid. He offered it to Adabelle, and she took it before squinting at the contents.

“It’s a potion,” she stated.

“I did a quest for Dory earlier, and one of the things I negotiated for was a Full Night’s Rest.”

Adabelle’s eyes quickly met his own. “She makes those for the guards. Nearly exclusively.”

Trevor shrugged, offering her a secretive smirk. “What can I say, I really know how to charm the ladies.”

Adabelle’s eyes narrowed. “Wayne said something similar to that about Dorimy before. Is that supposed to be a snake charmer joke?” she accused.

“Maybe.”

“Okay, the moment’s over, it’s time for you to leave,” Adabelle said, pointing towards the door.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” Trevor said, laughing. “I figured you were always tired in the morning and at night, and I can now clearly see how hard you’ve been working, so I wanted to make sure you got something to help you out. It’s not a traditional gift, but I thought it would help.”

Adabelle appeared surprised for a moment before offering Trevor the first genuinely warm smile he had seen on her. “That’s a good gift,” she said before uncorking it and drinking the potion right then and there. Taking in a gasping breath, she shook her head as a red glow emanated from her body for just less than a second. “Wow, okay, that really hit the spot.”

Her weariness was gone, and Trevor noted with satisfaction that her movements no longer had the same sluggish quality to them. He picked up the two empty plates and their Heating Stones before grabbing his coat and standing up.

“Thanks for eating, lady,” he said.

“Thanks for bringing it to me,” she countered. “I think I can get through the day a lot easier now. I suppose I owe you a bit more than just a proper apology when I get around to it.”

Trevor waved his hand. “Nonsense. This is what friends do for each other. At the very least, this is how I treat my friends when I’m not being mean to them. If you want to keep playing cold, then feel free. I can take it.”

Adabelle looked away for a moment before standing up and offering him her hand. “Friends, Son of Ander. You can call us friends, and I’m sorry for the way I treated you earlier,” she said.

“No worries. It’s water under the bridge,” he replied with a smile that she hesitantly returned.

A knock came from the door and she sighed. “Duty calls. Surprised it took them this long to interrupt us, honestly.”

With a wide smile, Trevor shook her hand before saying his goodbyes and taking his leave, letting a small group of people inside as he left the room.

When he stepped outside, it seemed a little warmer, though he couldn’t tell if it was actually the weather or just him.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: EXTRADIMENSIONAL INVENTORY JUICE

The walk back to Melvirn’s tower was easy now that he had been forced to see it. It was the second tallest building in town, only the Summoner’s Tower beating it in height, and Trevor couldn’t help but wonder what kind of perceptual magic had been used to keep it hidden. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he wasn’t sure how magic worked in this world.

Obviously, there were the Summoned, but the Quest Master’s last screen made it seem like native magic wielders were different than that. It had claimed Melvirn had gone to community college, after all, which meant you needed at least some degree of formal education.

Stopping on the step of the tower, Trevor vaguely wondered if sorcerers or druids existed in this world since there were wizards. He shrugged and knocked on the door.

“Who’s there? What do you want?” the same voice as before asked. “I’m very busy, you know!”

“Yes, sir, it’s Trevor Anderson again.”

The door fell silent for a few seconds. “Who?”

“The guy who brought you Dory’s concoction,” he answered patiently.

“Oh, yes! I remember now! Come in, and do hurry about it, lad,” the door said before opening.

Trevor stepped inside the small foyer and waited for the second door to open. The one he had just stepped through closed behind him, and the young man felt his skin crawl and a shiver go down his spine as the room flashed with a bright white light. It was gone in an instant, and he felt as if he had just gone through some kind of deep cleaning.

When the door ahead of him opened, he was greeted by a short human man with a thick beard and mustache, black robes, and an unfortunate, hastily done comb over. The man grinned and offered his hand. “Melvirn, high wizard of Tosa,” he said, his nasally voice sounding exactly the same as it had outside. “I’m glad you came back. You ruined my experiment quite spectacularly.”

Trevor was in the middle of shaking Melvirn’s hand when he was accused of ruining the experiment, and he paused. “I’m sorry, I did what?”

“No, no, ruined in a good way,” the wizard said as he let go of Trevor. “Come and sit down.”

Following Melvirn, Trevor felt a deep sense of trepidation. Dory said that it had taken months to create that concoction, and even though he was told it had been ruined in a good way he couldn’t ditch the feeling that he had done something wrong. He looked around in order to distract himself.

“It’s bigger on the inside,” he stated more to himself than to the wizard, who would have already known that fact.

The tower seemed to be at least twice as big around as it was outside. Trevor was sure that the building would have spilled into both of the houses adjacent to it if everything was as it seemed. The inside was set up like a laboratory with popping, fizzing mixtures, neatly labeled experiments behind what he hoped was safety glass, and journals on nearly every table along with tools to write with.

Melvirn chuckled to himself, apparently very proud of Trevor’s reaction, and led the young man to a spot in front of a lit fireplace on the far end of the room. Two pink recliners were set upon a purple rug, and he gestured for him to sit as he did so himself.

“Tell me, Trevor, do you know a lot about magic?” he asked.

“No, sir, nothing substantial,” Trevor admitted. “I’ve been here for less than a week. I know it’s common in Heating Stones and such.”

Melvirn waved his hand dismissively. “That’s child’s play, dear lad,” he enthusiastically claimed. “True magic is wresting control of the universe into the palm of your hand. To alter reality in such a way that you have become its master. It’s power, plain and simple. Through constant diligence and unerring dedication, I have become the greatest being in all of Tosa!”

“Neat,” Trevor said as he adjusted in his chair. It was a little softer than he would have liked, but he didn’t complain. “What about that whole ruining your experiment thing? What exactly happened?”

The wizard looked a little put out that his speech wasn’t very well received, and he sighed. “Okay, so the mixture I asked Dorimy to make for me was supposed to change based on the extradimensional space that it’s put in. That’s my specialty,” Melvirn said, waving around. “I make smaller spaces into bigger spaces. Like this tower, or safes, or wagons, or bags. It’s a long, arduous process, but it’s good money, and good money leads to fantastic leaps in progress when properly spent.”

Trevor looked around and noted that most of the items behind the various safety glass around the room were containers. There were satchels, pouches, crates, and even one safe. While he looked, Melvirn continued.

“I’ve been stagnant as of late,” he admitted. “I haven’t had a major breakthrough in years. At first, I thought that I had reached the zenith; that I had perfected the extradimensional space. But then I got really depressed. Long story short, I wanted to get a full breakdown of what I thought a prime extradimensional space was. Then, you get here, and the mixture has been tainted with yours.”

Smiling nervously, Trevor lowered his head. “Sorry.”

“No, don’t be sorry, your strange Summoned space was exactly what I needed!” Melvirn exclaimed before hurrying off to get two journals. He came back and started opening them. “So I drank the potion and-”

“You drank that unstable mess?” Trevor exclaimed in surprise.

“Well, yes, how else was I supposed to figure it out?” the wizard asked with a barked laugh. “I mean, sure, I could have analyzed it in a bit of a safer way, like how I knew it had been tampered with, but that would have taken so much more time. I wasn’t ready to wait. So I drank your extradimensional inventory juice.”

“Please, please don’t call it that,” Trevor requested with a groan.

Melvirn ignored that and handed him one of the journals before opening the other. “That’s the data that I was able to glean after my depressive episode. As you can see, everything is exactly how it’s supposed to be, and supposedly there’s no better way to do things. It’s not entirely precise, which was what the potion was for, but it gives you a clear enough picture.”

The journal in Trevor’s hands was full of graphs, charts, and writing in a language he could not understand. Even if he did, the contents gave him the distinct impression that this was out of his pay grade unless he was educated in this specific category. Still, he nodded along in order to spare Melvirn his feelings.

And the wizard kept going. “Fascinating, right?” he asked, though he didn’t wait for an answer. “And now this is the result from your extradimensional space.”

With the new book on top of the old one, Trevor saw that the graphs and charts were a little bigger, and the writing was done with a quick and not always careful hand, like Melvirn couldn’t wait to get his thoughts to paper. To the uneducated, it really didn’t mean much more than the numbers were bigger, and there was probably more to it than that.

“These charts look completely different,” Trevor noted.

“They do!” Melvirn laughed. “The potion was supposed to be inside a dimensional space for a whole day or so, but it gave me the same readings I needed after, what? Twenty, thirty minutes?”

“I’d say that’s about accurate.”

“This data will revolutionize the industry and shake the world of magical studies to its core; I promise you that. We’re going to do great things together, you know. I have plans, big ones, but I was hoping that…” the wizard trailed off.

“So, what you’re saying is, you need my help?” Trevor asked, looking up from the journals.

“Yes! I didn’t want to presume that you were going to help me, and I’m a bit bad at asking,” Melvirn stated.

Shrugging, Trevor handed back the journals. “Yeah, I don’t mind.”

“I’m not a Quest Giver, never made time for the qualification, so you won’t get any levels out of it, but I promise you it does come with compensation.”

“Sure, that’s fine,” Trevor said with a shrug. “Happy to help.”

“Good compensation, too.”

“Sir, I’m already in.”

Melvirn stood there for a moment as if not sure if things were really as easy as they seemed. “Okay,” he said, trying to figure out exactly where to go from here.

It took him a few more seconds of processing before he shook his head, grabbed the journals, and walked away. Trevor watched as Melvirn left him behind with a confused look on his face, but didn’t get up to follow.

The wizard started digging around in a large wardrobe before pulling out an oversized backpack made of brown canvas. Trevor tilted his head as he watched. It looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite remember from where. He shrugged, however, and figured it must have been a popular brand.

Looking back to see the young man still sitting, Melvirn waved him over before heading towards a set of stairs. Trevor didn’t remember seeing them along the wall near the door, but they were there now. He stood up and walked over.

“This is my workshop, where the magic happens,” the wizard explained. “But upstairs is where the magic really happens.”

Trevor held his tongue as they climbed, and soon found himself in a large room dominated by a huge magic circle and very little else. Looking up, it seemed as though the ceiling to this room was the top of the tower itself based on how high it was.

“Is there something about cylinders that makes magic easier to perform?” he asked casually.

“Oh, yes,” Melvirn answered. “Cylinders, cones, spirals. Circles, in general, are the best way to capture magic if you’re looking to cast spells or create lingering magical effects. If you could please put this on and head to the center of the room for me, that would be great.”

Hesitating for a moment, Trevor shrugged again and took the backpack, sliding it on. It was tall enough to crest his head, and he could rest against it comfortably. “What are you planning on doing?” he asked as he walked towards the center of the room.

“I want to try to bond that item to your inventory space,” Melvirn explained. “If I get this right, and it only has a 23% chance of failure by my calculations, then it should become a Trinket that works specifically for you. I’m not sure what it’ll do for sure until it’s done, but I’m excited about the implications.”

Trevor stopped and looked back. “A failure rate of 23% is kind of high, isn’t it?” he asked nervously. “What happens if it goes wrong?”

“It’s completely harmless,” Melvirn claimed dismissively. “Even if something goes wrong, the magic circle will take the backlash. Even if the magic circle somehow stops working, then it’ll just be a little bit of pain. Trust me, I’ve tested out this circle on several occasions, the only difference is that I’ve only cast this spell once before you got here.”

“Is that supposed to be reassuring?”

“Is it not?” the wizard asked hesitantly.

Trevor took a breath as he watched Melvirn’s confusion grow. It didn’t seem like there was any malice to the man. He was simply excited to do an experiment with this random stranger who had exactly what he was looking for. “I’m going to trust you, Mr. Melvirn.”

“Naturally,” he said as Trevor made it to the center of the room. “Now, have you ever seen a wizard cast spells?”

“No, sir. I couldn’t see Mayor Jackson summon me, and you’re the only other magic man I’ve met.”

“Yes, he sure does like his summoning magic,” Melvirn scoffed before shaking his head. “That’s neither here nor there. This is real magic, after all. There’s going to be an incantation as I prepare the universe for how it’s going to change. It will be sufficiently lengthy, as I haven’t been able to parse the language down just yet, but I assume by your build and stature that you’re quite accustomed to standing still for minutes at a time.”

“I mean, it’s not a hobby or anything, but I can-”

“Excellent, then I will begin momentarily.”

Trevor shot Melvirn a look that just barely managed to be polite. Instead of speaking, he reached up and grabbed the straps of the backpack with both hands and waited this out. The wizard was excited, sure, but that was no reason to cut him off. Lucky for him, the young man was both patient and curious.

His eyes widened as the journal detailing his inventory space rose in the air and Melvirn raised his arms. The magic circle, full of runes he didn’t understand, began to glow dark green under his feet. Opening his mouth, the wizard spoke.

“Oh great cosmos that envelops all!” Melvirn shouted. The glowing circle became brighter as he did, though not to the point where Trevor needed to shield his eyes. “Hear my command, feel my power, and gaze upon this man! Search this space with your all-seeing eyes, of which they are multitudinous and infinite!”

Trevor wasn’t sure if Melvirn had to specify that they were multitudinous if they were also infinite, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

“Witness the exponential growth of the ever-widening maw, a veritable titan waiting to be unleashed! Witness this space, and the space within! Feel reality slipping from your unnerving iron grip. Feel eternity swallowed in an instant without recourse or hesitation!”

Taking a breath, Trevor tried not to cringe.

“This bag of bags, on this man of mans, desires the power of the universe in its pockets! It desires the power to consume all that it is given with nary a thought of where it goes or when it may be retrieved! This one, singular desire is so powerful that it is willing to bond to this man, Trevor, Son of Ander, in order to get what it wants!”

While he had never corrected Adabelle on the whole Son of Ander thing, he really wanted to do it now. He was also unsure of this whole power to consume all things that Melvirn was going on about, but figured it was too late to stop now.

“Take your immaculate size, cosmos, universe, and condense it into this space! Use your power that is known to dismantle planets and boil stars and do my bidding! Unleash the infinite energies that you command at my word, and bond this man and his pack!”

Melvirn stopped, hands raised as lights danced through the magic circle, no longer one but several lines shifting throughout the room. Trevor stopped cringing as he noticed the shift under his feet, and he felt the Power of Inventory suddenly expand.

[[New (Specialized) Trinket! You have received Anderson’s Backpack.

Magic, am I right? Just so you know, it’s all like that. Imbue extradimensional space? Long-winded spell. Throw a fireball? Long-winded spell. Make bread soggy? I bet you have a solid guess.

Despite seeming like it was written by an edgelord, it does work! This backpack is now pack bonded to you. It doesn’t have any intelligence or anything, but those you designate can reach in and grab things from your inventory as long as it is less than a mile away from you. In addition, when you’re in contact with it, your Capacity stat increases by 1!

Though, quick warning, you don’t want to know what happens if your inventory is full and you take it off. Trust me.]]

“See? Nothing bad was going to happen!” Melvirn said as he panted, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

“Sure seems that way,” Trevor agreed, staring at the last of the Quest Master’s lines. “Looks like it’s a Trinket now.”

“Excellent.” With a clap of his hands, he motioned for Trevor to follow him downstairs. “Now we can start testing after a short break.”

“Testing?”

“Of course, my boy. There’s magic to be done!”

Sighing, Trevor shook his head but followed. It was the least he could do for getting a Specialized Trinket, as the Quest Master identified it as, but he had a feeling he was going to be stuck here for a while.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: I’M NOT A WAGON

Trevor was inside of Melvirn’s tower for a whole eight hours.

Between getting to know his new backpack and allowing Melvirn to poke and prod him for data, it had been a mentally exhausting afternoon and evening. There was plenty of data gleaned from this experiment, however, which meant the wizard would have to take a few weeks to parse through it. That let him off the hook for a while at the very least.

Stumbling out through the front door and offering it a tired goodbye, Trevor started heading home. Out of the whole time he had been in Tosa, this was by far the worst experience he had so far. Not that it was all bad. Melvirn may have been lacking in impulse control, but he really did seem brilliant. In light of such facts, a little eccentricity could be afforded.

That said, this was the first night that Trevor didn’t run home.

He trundled through the streets of Tosa. Many of the houses still had the lights on inside as it wasn’t too late just yet, but the roads were generally clear. He waved, nodded, and bowed to those who were still out and about, though they were few and far between.

The air wasn’t as sharp and brisk as it was before, which made him happy. It was still up for debate on whether or not Adabelle was the cause, but that didn’t really matter. Trevor had helped her out and she seemed better when he left. That was what mattered.

Since the weather was nice, he pulled his coat back into his inventory. The backpack shifted downwards as the extra layer disappeared.

“Why did he pick such a big bag?” Trevor muttered to himself. The question had eluded him at the time but, now that he was walking through town, it seemed like it should have been asked. The backpack was really big.

As he was thinking about it, it suddenly became a lot heavier. Trevor paused and turned his head to better regard his backpack. The whole thing hadn’t been light to begin with having been made of thick canvas, but it was actively dragging him down now.

“I don’t know how to dismantle this wagon,” a child’s voice slowly said as Trevor’s hair was grabbed and yanked.

At first, the young man was affronted by the painful pulling. Once he heard the child’s voice, however, he stopped himself from lashing out. He reached back and grabbed the kid’s hairy arms before pulling him off of the backpack and holding it out in front of him.

Trevor dropped the child.

It flipped in midair and landed on its feet. What Trevor had assumed was a child because of its voice was actually a small, hairy humanoid with big hands and feet wearing clothing made from leaves. Its eyes were hidden behind its hair, which was thicker on its head, and it almost reminded him of a miniature bigfoot.

The creature tapped Trevor’s leg with its knuckles, and the young man took a step back. “Yeah, I can’t dismantle this,” it said again.

“Denden, you were not supposed to approach him!” another child yelled. This voice came from above, and Trevor looked up.

Hovering over him was another small creature. Its hair was bright red and only covered the top of its head, but its body was that of a small, leathery dragon with dragonfly wings.

It was cute in an ugly kind of way, with colors ranging from pink to green. Orange eyes locked in on his own, and it made a frantic motion with its legs as if trying to escape before flying to hide behind the small bigfoot.

Trevor’s eyes widened as he pointed down at them. “You’re the little gremlins that have been messing things up in town,” he accused.

“Hey, that’s mean!” the winged one said. “Denden is a sprite, not a gremlin. I’m a dragon and also a fairy. It’s complicated.”

“What’s complicated is this wagon,” Denden claimed, pointing towards Trevor’s knees. “It doesn’t have wheels, Merckle.”

“Don’t tell him my name!” the fairy dragon complained. “What if he talks?”

“How can he talk? He’s a wagon.”

“I’m not a wagon, I’m a person,” Trevor said as he squatted down. Denden looked up at him as if seeing him for the first time before tilting his head in confusion. “Why do you think I’m a wagon?”

“Because you take things places,” the sprite answered. “We saw you pick up food, and goods, and things, and then take them someplace else. Like wagons. So, you’re a wagon.”

“Do you think people who deliver the mail are wagons, too?”

“Of course not, those are mailmen. Never seen you deliver letters. Just food, and goods, and things. Like a wagon,” Denden answered before looking back at Merckle. “This wagon doesn’t know much.”

“He’s not a wagon! I told you he wasn’t a wagon, and then you jumped!”

“Well, he was a wagon, what did you expect me to do about it?”

“Not jump!”

“Hey, hey, not to intrude on your arguing, but who exactly are you two?” Trevor asked.

The two of them glanced back at the young man before Denden opened his mouth to speak. He was too slow, however, and Merckle put a clawed hand over the sprite’s mouth. “What’s it to you, old man?”

Trevor snorted, which caused the fairy dragon’s eyes to widen in surprise before narrowing. “It’s just that you two have been causing a lot of trouble around town. I wanted to know why.”

“Well, we’re not telling you, human!”

“Boredom, mostly,” Denden said, which got him a slap on the back of the head by Merckle. “What? It’s true!”

Frowning, Trevor sat down and crossed his arms. “You’re causing pile ups on the bridge and dismantling wagons because you’re bored?”

“Don’t answer that, Denden,” Merckle demanded. “We haven’t hurt anyone, so it doesn’t matter what we do.”

“You haven’t hurt anyone physically,” Trevor corrected. “But you’ve still caused a lot of trouble. And if you keep this up, someone very easily could be hurt. You know the guards have been searching for you, right?”

“They’ll never find us,” the dragon said with a sneer. “I’m too good at hiding.”

“Merckle’s really good at it.”

“And Denden’s really good at curses. Hit him with one, Denden.”

When the sprite raised his arms and then pointed at the man, Trevor felt a light tingling sensation as he held up a hand. “But I’m not a wagon,” he said. “I’m a person.”

Denden paused and the sensation stopped. The young man could almost see the math being done in the creature’s head. It took him a few seconds before he looked back at the dragon.

“He’s right. He’s not a wagon. We were told not to hurt people.”

“Who told you not to hurt people?” Trevor asked.

“The-”

“No!” Merckle screamed, trying to tackle the sprite to the ground. Attempted to, anyway; the bigger creature stood firm and the dragon simply slapped himself against its face. “Stop talking to this human! You’ll give everything away!”

“If you tell me, then I’ll give you this,” Trevor said before producing a pie from his inventory. The smell of baked apples filled the air as both of the child-like creatures focused in on it. Denden’s eyes went wide, and Merckle licked his lips. “But only if you tell me.”

The two jumped for it at once, but it disappeared back into Trevor’s inventory. They collided with the ground and looked up at him.

“You can’t bribe us, human!”

“I could be bribed, Merckle.”

“Well, yeah, but he doesn’t know that!”

“Denden, I know you can be bribed,” Trevor stated.

“I think he figured it out, Merckle.”

Trevor watched the two start to argue. They were a menace to society, but they also just seemed to be children. Mean, sure, but what kid didn’t have that streak in them? Besides, they were bored and had super powers; the young man knew that his own city on Earth likely wouldn’t have been spared his pranks if he could cause mischief without being caught.

Not taking his eyes off of them, the young man brought the pie back out and slowly set it on the ground. They both stared at it again. “Why don’t you tell me who told you not to hurt people, and I’ll sweeten the bribe.”

“Sweeten how?” Denden asked.

Trevor had kept it separate due to the pie staying on the heating plate all day, but it was time. He lifted his hand. The local equivalent of whipped cream started dispensing out of his finger, which lazily circled in the air, and he smiled as their eyes got wider the taller the cream got.

“The Queen of the Feywood,” Denden blurted out.

“Denden, no!”

“Denden yes!” the sprite replied. Merckle tackled him again, but he was thrown off rather easily. The fairy dragon didn’t give up, however, and jumped on Denden’s back. “She said we could go out and play, but we couldn’t hurt anyone because then we’d have to give something up to the town because there’s a peace right now. Can I have pie?”

“Yes,” Trevor said, and Denden jumped in without a moment’s hesitation. Merckle wasn’t far behind, and the young man had to suppress a chuckle. Then, he put on his serious adult face. “I’m sorry to say it, though, but you have hurt someone.”

Denden continued to eat, but Merckle looked up. “Nuh uh!” he disagreed around a mouthful of pie. “We were very careful!”

Reaching up, Trevor knocked on the back of his head. “Denden just grabbed my hair and hurt me when he thought I was a wagon.”

That caused the sprite to pause, and he slowly looked up from the pie. His hands were covered in it, as was his mouth, and a look of horror was plastered on his face. “I hurt a person?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not planning on telling on you.” Trevor watched as Denden almost immediately went back to eating, and continued. “But you have to stop playing pranks on people in the town. If that doesn’t stop, then I’m going to talk to the mayor, and the mayor is going to talk with your queen.”

“Okay,” Denden said before diving in.

“No, not okay!” Merckle argued. “He didn’t get hurt! You didn’t even grab him that hard.”

“From the sounds of it, you’re off the hook, Denden,” Trevor said quietly. “I’ll tell the messenger that only Merckle was involved.”

“That’s… that’s not fair!” the fairy dragon stuttered. “That’s really not fair! I said you should be left alone because you’re not a wagon!”

“All you have to do is stop playing pranks on the town, and that’s it.” Shrugging, Trevor leaned back onto his hands. “I mean, it’s pretty simple, and you would have been caught soon anyway.”

“Nuh uh,” Denden said, his face buried in his hands. “Merckle is the best at hiding.”

“Well, I heard Rashie’s going to be back soon. Lady Adabelle mentioned that she’d be able to sniff you out once she was here. Seems like your reign of terror is going to come to an end soon, so why not take the victory pie and cut your losses now?”

Both of the fairies paused upon hearing this news. “Rashie’s coming back?” the sprite asked, a slight tremble in his voice.

“Denden, we have to get out of here!” Merckle said with clear panic. “Grab the pie and let’s get out of here!”

The sprite lifted what little remained of the pie off of the ground and started running. The two of them turned invisible a moment later, and all that was left of their trail were the crumbs jostling off of the plate.

“… What?” Trevor asked, scratching the back of his head.

He had not expected her name to have such an impact on them. Still confused but at least mildly okay with their scarper, he started heading back towards the Hero House.

“Quest Master, what’s a sprite?” he asked aloud.

[[A sprite is a fey creature with the shape of a small child. They’re covered in fur and innately know several curses, both harmful and helpful. The average sprite also embodies the mind of a child, and they will transform when it is time to mature. There are too many transformations to list.]]

Trevor nodded. “Okay, what about fairy dragons?”

[[Fairy dragons are fairies who are also dragons. They are smart, though immature, and love playing pranks. If properly educated, then their jokes will end up being targeted and hilarious, but they are also prone to lashing out for attention. Older fairy dragons get to be the size of a small dog, though most you see will be about the size of Mr. Tiggles.]]

“Thanks, Quest Master,” he said, but then he thought of one more question. “What’s Rashie?”

[[A menace.]]

“Great, cool. Good answer, good answer,” Trevor said before shaking his head and smiling. Now that he had a little more pep in his step, he started running to the Hero House, though he didn’t bother activating the Horn. He didn’t have that much energy.

◆◆◆

Trevor made it home without breaking any new records and noticed that the lights were on in the communal space. Instead of heading towards his house, he entered, expecting to finally meet Wayne and Rashie.

Instead, sitting with her head down on a table, was Adabelle. She was already in her pajamas and was currently using Mr. Tiggles as a pillow. The cat looked up at Trevor as he approached.

“Meow,” he said quietly.

“Not the first time, eh little buddy?” Trevor asked in amusement. Reaching down, he gently shook Adabelle’s shoulders. “Hey, lady, wake up. It’s late.”

“Is fine,” she muttered, not opening up her eyes.

“Your back won’t be if you sleep like that,” he told her, but she just mumbled again.

Sighing, he looked around and saw the couch sitting next to the fireplace. There was no way he was going to get into her house with the magic lock and key system, so this was the next best thing.

“Please don’t be mad at me for this later.”

Lifting her arm around his shoulder, Trevor gently picked Adabelle up from her chair in a princess carry. Her horn bumped into his head before she set her cheek to his shoulder.

Once he was sure that she wasn’t going to fall, a possibility that made him glad he had 3 Strength to compensate for, he walked over to the couch. There were throw pillows lining it, and he tried out his new Dexterity to get rid of all but the essentials with his foot. It was a tough balancing act, but he succeeded.

Gently, he laid her down. Adabelle mumbled some more things that Trevor couldn’t understand, and he made sure that her head was comfortable on the pillow. She shifted, trying to get comfortable. When he tried to take a step back, he discovered her tail wrapped around his leg.

The young man couldn’t help but smile. “Come on, lady, you gotta let me go.”

If anything, that made the tail wrap a little tighter.

Trevor removed his coat and set it over her so that she was covered. She was a little bit shorter than him, so the jacket still only covered her upper half. Even so, she grabbed it with both hands and seemed to finally settle.

Mr. Tiggles walked by, tail swishing high in the air, and he rubbed up against the young man’s leg before jumping onto the couch and cautiously laying on Adabelle’s stomach. Her tail let Trevor go and rested on the cat, who began purring.

“Good night, Adabelle,” Trevor said quietly. “And you, too, Mr. Tiggles.”

Smiling to himself over the adorable scene he had just witnessed, the young man turned off the light on the way out.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: ALL HAT AND NO CATTLE

Trevor’s alarm started blaring, startling him awake. He shifted up in bed, immediately noting the lack of cat on his chest.

“Mr. Tiggles?” he asked the dark room.

When he received no answer, he turned off the alarm and stretched before getting ready for the day. While he had come to regard the cat fondly, he knew that it was under no compulsion to break into his house every morning.

As Trevor got to his feet, he regarded his tattoo as he looked in the mirror hanging over the dresser. It was now covering less of his bicep than it had before, very slowly moving in towards its center. He wasn’t sure how much longer it would take, but it was making progress.

Once he was fully dressed, he stepped outside into the brisk, but warmer, air and started heading to the Hero House. The lights were on, but it was still before 7 o’clock sharp for Adabelle’s arrival. He heard voices coming from the building and he felt a sense of confusion at having guests.

Inside, he saw some old faces and a new one. Adabelle was nowhere to be seen, and neither was his coat.

Jackson was here, sitting on the couch with Mr. Tiggles on his lap and drinking out of a gold-rimmed teacup. He greeted Trevor with a wave, and for a moment the young man started to feel very angry at the elf for leaving Adabelle by herself for so long. Before he could act on that, however, his eyes shifted to the rest of the room.

Standing at the counter was a dwarf with salt and pepper hair. His beard was short compared to others Trevor had seen around the town, but the care that went towards it was apparent. He wore a plaid button up with a thick leather vest, and atop his head sat a ten-gallon hat. Their eyes met, and the dwarf’s narrowed as he started walking around the counter to the center aisle.

“This town ain’t big enough for the two of us, partner,” the dwarf said in the most unnecessarily exaggerated southern drawl the young man had ever heard.

Trevor’s face lit up. “Oh, you’re Wayne!” he exclaimed. “Well, it’s very nice to meet you. I’m Trevor”

Wayne paused, and Trevor could have sworn the dwarf’s mouth twitched before he set his hand out as if he were about to draw a gun. “Now I’m gonna give this to the count of three, and we’re gonna draw.”

“Oh, sure, but what are we going to draw?” Trevor asked, crossing his arms. “I’m a big fan of Mr. Tiggles, personally. It’ll be a bad rendition, but it’ll still be better than that accent, though. Sorry. Met too many people from Texas.”

“Are you accusing me of being all hat and no cattle, Yankee?”

“There’s cattle here?” Trevor asked. “That part’s not being playful, by the way, I really am curious if there are cows here.”

“I told you he’d likely not play along, Wayne,” Jackson said, clearly amused.

“He is. He’s just playing a different game, Jack,” Wayne said before laughing. His voice still retained its distinct southern drawl, but it wasn’t nearly as thick now. Raising his hand, he waved it towards Trevor. “Oh, whatever. Go ahead and get him, Rashie.”

“Oh, Rashie’s-”

“Shark attack!”

Trevor turned just in time to see a small, scaled creature with enormous teeth sail through the air, and he threw his arms out to catch it. She was heavy for her size, but he managed to do so even though he stumbled backwards into a table.

Rashie was light blue, not quite 3 feet tall, and wore a frilly green dress. Her eyes were dark gray with black pupils that barely stood out, and were unusually big for her size. She laughed, showing off two rows of razor-sharp teeth before fixing Trevor with a predatory grin. He noticed that, like Adabelle, she had a tail, although this one was thick, short, and had a fin at the end.

“Okay, you can put me down now. No more shark attack,” Rashie said innocently. Her voice was childlike, and she didn’t have any problems speaking despite the full mouth.

“Are you sure?” Trevor asked suspiciously. “Because I don’t want to put you down only for you to start gnawing on my legs.”

“I would never!”

“She would,” both Jackson and Wayne said.

“Never ever!”

As Trevor stated to reply, the door to the Hero House opened to reveal Adabelle. In addition to her black pajamas, she also wore the young man’s red coat wrapped up tight around her. She stared into the room, which had gone quiet, and the room stared back at her.

Trevor looked around, wondering why no one was saying anything, and he saw Jackson sitting completely still with his tea cup raised to his mouth. Wayne was still as well, but Rashie kept looking back and forth between Adabelle and the elf. When the young man opened his mouth to say something, the shark girl slapped her hand over it to keep him quiet.

“Morn’n,” Adabelle said before yawning, and she started moving towards the kitchen in the back.

“I told you she wasn’t going to register you being here,” Wayne laughed.

“Yes, it appears as though I owe you a gold piece,” Jackson replied, obviously amused despite having just lost a bet.

Rashie started giggling like mad as she struggled to get down, and Trevor let her. She ran to Adabelle, but stopped just short of slamming into her. The girl took the woman’s hand and stopped her before pulling her down into a hug.

“We missed you, Addy,” Rashie said.

“Missed you,” Adabelle responded before pulling away. “Food soon, ‘kay?”

“‘Kay.” Rashie paused before burying her face deep into the coat and audibly breathing in. She hesitated before glancing back over at Trevor.

The shark girl ran over and started circling him. He raised his arms as he watched her go around, wondering if she was going to go for his legs, when he realized that she was smelling him.

Rashie stopped circling and looked at Wayne, but alternated between pointing at Adabelle and Trevor. “Coat!” she exclaimed. “Cooooat!”

“Calm down, Rashie,” Wayne said with a chuckle. “You know just screaming words isn’t going to get your point across.”

“That’s his coat! He’s gonna steal Addymanatine!” she accused.

“Whoa, what? Steal her?” Trevor asked, holding his hands up in protest. “She fell asleep here last night and I left it to cover her up.”

“A likely story,” Rashie said, putting her hands on her hips. “One that I don’t believe in the slightest!”

“Okay, but that is the whole story,” Trevor insisted. “Also, Addymanatine?”

“Because her name is Adabelle Ramansa Katine,” Wayne explained as he got out of Adabelle’s way in the kitchen. “So, Rashie calls her Addymanatine sometimes.”

“Yeah, that’s my nickname for her, so you can’t use it, got it?” Rashie said, pointing her finger at Trevor.

Trevor couldn’t help but smile even as he heard the normal morning cascade of skillets falling as Adabelle pulled out the one she wanted. He wasn’t sure why it always seemed to be at the bottom, but didn’t question it. Instead, he knelt down to one knee and offered Rashie his hand. He figured she’d know about handshakes from Wayne.

“Before we get any farther, it’s nice to finally meet you, Rashie,” he said. “I’m Trevor Anderson.”

“I’m not shaking your hand,” Rashie said as she stomped her foot, crossed her arms, and looked away from him.

“Now, don’t be like that, Rashie,” Wayne said. He walked over and picked the shark girl up before putting her on his shoulder. He offered Trevor his hand. “John Wayne. Pleasure to meet you.”

Trevor smirked as he stood back up. “That’s an actor,” he said, though he shook it anyway.

“Wayne Gretzky.”

“Hockey star.”

“Wayne Brady.”

“The comedian?”

“Looks like we’ve got some famous Waynes in common, at least,” the dwarf said, shaking his head with a laugh. “Wayne Williams, and that’s a name you can bet the farm on.”

Trevor searched the man’s eyes and easy grin before shrugging. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Wayne. I’ve heard you’re from Earth as well, though the flag would have given it away regardless.”

“From what I’ve been told, we’re nearly neighbors when it comes to Earths,” Wayne said, dropping Trevor’s hand and glancing at Jackson, who was still sitting with Mr. Tiggles, enjoying some tea.

“Oh, yes, just a few minor differences,” Jackson claimed. “Though, you’ll have to figure it out on your own. That’s half the fun, I’d say.”

“Real tight-lipped fellow, that Jackson,” Wayne said before shaking his head. He looked up to Rashie on his shoulder. “Why don’t you introduce yourself to Trevor like a normal person, okay?”

Smiling, Trevor offered her his hand again. Since the dwarf was short, she was sitting at a height where he’d usually offer a handshake. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

Rashie eyed him critically before letting out a big, dramatic sigh. “Okaaaay, fine,” she said, but the shark girl didn’t move.

After a few seconds, Wayne prodded her. “Are you going to shake his hand?”

“Am I not?” she asked, looking down at him.

“No, because you don’t have tentacles anymore. Use your hands.”

Rashie looked down at her hands before giving Trevor two thumbs up. He noticed that her hands were webbed. “I’ve got thumbs now.”

“Thumbs really are neat, aren’t they?”

“They really are!” she exclaimed before shaking his hand. He had expected it to be damp on account of her scales, but it was very smooth. “You can call me Rashie. I would tell you my real name, but then I’d get in trouble.”

Trevor tilted his head before looking at Wayne, who had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Go ahead, just this one time,” he whispered.

“Really? You sure?” she asked quietly, leaning forward to get a good look at his face.

“I said it, didn’t I?”

Rashie squealed before looking back at Trevor. She offered him her hand again, and he took it. “A pleasure to meet my acquaintance. My name is-” the shark girl paused before opening her mouth as wide as it could go.

The sound that came out of her throat sounded like what you would get by throwing a drawer full of silverware down wooden stairs, adding in static from an old television, and putting it on full blast.

Trevor immediately got a headache.

“Rashie!” Adabelle said sternly. The three of them turned to face the kitchen and saw the horned woman covering her ears. For the first time, Trevor saw her fully awake during breakfast. “What did we say about using your true name?”

Instead of answering, Rashie pointed towards the couch. “Mayor Jack is here!” she snitched. “Aren’t you mad and stuff because he ditched you?”

Adabelle blinked, and her gaze slowly turned towards Jackson. The look of quiet contemplation on the elf’s face fell away as something close to horror seized him.

“It’s good to see you’re both back home safe, Wayne, Rashie,” Adabelle said sweetly, smiling at the two newcomers.

“Good to be back, Addy,” Wayne chortled.

“Trevor, take over the food,” she commanded, her mood changing in an instant.

“You got it, lady,” he said, stepping around Wayne and Rashie to take over cooking.

“You and I have a lot to discuss, mayor,” Adabelle threatened as she walked towards the couch.

“Well, now’s surely not the time for that,” Jackson said. “Wayne and Rashie just got back, and I have Mr. Tiggles here with me, and-”

“Meow,” the cat said before getting out of the woman’s warpath.

“Come along, mayor,” she said, grabbing him by one of his long ears and pulling him up towards the door. “We’re going to have a long, long discussion about what being the mayor means, and you’re not going to talk your way out of it this time.”

“Please, be reasonable Lady Adabelle, I was-” Jackson was cut off by the door slamming shut behind him.

The Hero House went silent for a few moments, the only sounds filling the room being that of meat frying on a skillet, before Wayne and Rashie started laughing uproariously. Trevor was glad Jackson was getting what was coming to him and thought it was funny, but he didn’t think it was that funny.

Wayne came by once they stopped and gestured for Trevor to step aside. “Adabelle usually cooks because she lost a bet, but I’ll take over from here,” he said.

“Oh, it’s no problem. Just let me know how I’m supposed to finish these off and it’ll be done in a jiff.”

“Scrambled eggs with meat for Rashie, over easy for me.”

“Man after my own heart,” Trevor said. “You sure you don’t want some freedom toast?”

“Don’t tell me you ruined that for me,” Wayne said, halfway sounding aghast.

Trevor just smirked and changed the topic. “What bet got her stuck on kitchen duty? And how long did it take her to learn how to sleepwalk through making breakfast?”

“Oh, it was nothing really,” he said, turning to lean against the counter and watching Rashie and Mr. Tiggles play. “She thought she was hot stuff when she was summoned, and I got a little tired of her high and mighty attitude. So, I went and challenged her to an adventuring competition. Granted, I had been here for a few years and she just arrived, but she was so wound up around the idea that other worlds couldn’t compete that I had to show her what for.”

“Seems a little mean-spirited to me,” Trevor stated. “If she was that new, I mean.”

“Nah, she had it coming,” Wayne said, waving his hand. “She was as friendly as a bramble bush back then. Eventually I learned why, and we’ve reconciled, and she’s been cooking ever since. Took her a few weeks of sleepwalking through it, but she got there. The bet was only for a month, but she got used to doing it and has been ever since.”

Trevor pursed his lips if only to keep himself from asking. Adabelle’s past was her own, and he would learn more about her when it was time. Still, he could imagine what she would be like if she hadn’t been knocked off her high horse, if the dwarf was telling the truth. Finishing Rashie’s food, he called her over and started Wayne’s.

“Thank you, Trevor,” Rashie said brightly before taking the plate away. He heard her pull a seat from a table to sit down followed by something that sounded suspiciously like a meat grinder, and then she walked back. “It was delicious!”

Blinking as the shark girl set the plate in the sink, Trevor looked at Wayne, who just laughed. “Girl knows how to eat,” he said. “A few shakes of those pepper flakes in mine, please.”

“Sure thing,” Trevor replied, following the instructions he was given. “So, where were you guys? And how did you run into Jackson?”

“He popped up on the road to the capital while we were on a quest to take care of some bandits that set up not too far from town,” Wayne said. “Taking care of them as in catching them, not killing them. I know some of the Summoned from Earth have trouble with that.”

“I wasn’t worried about it, but I kind of am now, so, thanks,” Trevor replied with a shake of his head. “So far I’ve seen nothing but nice people and good times, so that side of this world is foreign to me.”

“I gotcha. Well, a few escaped, which was what took us so long getting back,” Wayne explained. “Rashie can sniff out a scent in a whirlwind, but they had a wizard with them that was making things difficult. We ran into Jackson, who was on his way back from retrieving something he wouldn’t talk about, and he convinced us to come home. Said there was danger on the horizon. The bandits were pretty much routed, so we agreed.”

“Is it right to assume he meant he was going to be in trouble once Adabelle got a hold of him?” Trevor asked, hopeful that there wasn’t any actual danger coming.

“Yup,” Wayne confirmed, grinning. “Thought us coming back could soften the blow. We came back because we knew it wouldn’t do him any good, but the show would be fun to watch.”

“Which is why you said okay to Rashie speaking her, what was it? True name?” Trevor asked. “I’ve never seen Adabelle that awake in the morning.”

“Yeah, it’s a right mess of a noise, isn’t it?”

“You can say that again. Is that normal of her kind? I don’t think I’ve seen anyone like her around town before.”

“Before we get into that, how about we finish eating and take a walk around Tosa, eh?” Wayne asked. “I’m sure you’ve got a lot of questions, and I’m hungry.”

“Sounds good to me. Grab a plate, will you? I’m done here.”

Smiling and thinking that these two weren’t so bad, Trevor plated the food and got his own breakfast cooking.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: SCOURGE OF THE OCEAN

Trevor had basically inhaled his food once he had sat down with it, and they left for that walk around town Wayne had suggested. It was the perfect morning outside, and the young man was glad he didn’t have to find a new coat.

On her command, the Texan dwarf had grabbed Rashie and lifted her onto his shoulder. Mr. Tiggles didn’t ask, but jumped up on Trevor’s as he normally did.

“He’s trying to steal Mr. Tiggles, too!” Rashie half exclaimed, half whispered to her transportation.

“You can’t really steal cats,” Wayne chuckled. “If Mr. Tiggles wants to ride with him, then that’s what Mr. Tiggles will do.”

“Adabelle mentioned he doesn’t usually like strangers,” Trevor mused. “So I’m kind of surprised it took so little for him to warm up to me.”

“Animals are usually good judges of people. Took him a long time to warm up to Rashie, but she kept chasing him trying to eat him so that’s pretty self-explanatory.”

“Cats are friends, not food,” she said sternly, as if she had done so many times before.

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles agreed, and Trevor began petting him.

“That’s right,” Wayne said with a nod. “Why don’t you tell Trevor where you came from? Give him some context on why you had to learn that lesson after you got here.”

“Only if you want to,” Trevor said as he began bowing to people in town who greeted him.

While the morning was still young, it was a little later than Trevor usually got out. Shops were already beginning to open and he felt a small twinge of guilt that he hadn’t been able to help out in the marketplace. Deep down he knew it was fine as they had people there for that, but he really came to enjoy it.

“Yes! I lived in a land, that wasn’t land, it was all water, and I lived underwater. I had fifteen tentacles, and suckers on each, and also claws at the end. Not like, hands made of claws, but like a single claw, and I was the…” Rashie paused, staring off into space before shaking her head. “What did you call me, Wayne?”

“The scourge of the ocean.”

“I was the scourge of the ocean!” she cheered, throwing her arms up as her tail slapped Wayne’s back to keep her steady. “A real Larashae of the sea!”

“Is that what your people were called?” Trevor asked. He could see where they could get Rashie from that.

“Yes, I am- was- had been a Larashae. I lived with my family in this really big rock deep, deep, deep under the water. And then fish would swim by, really small ones, like the size of this building,” she claimed, pointing towards a two-story shop that they were passing. “And I’d shoot out and grab it and claw it and then bring it back to feed my family.”

“That’s, uh, really big, Rashie,” Trevor said, bemused.

“I was really, really big,” she confirmed with all the confidence of a small dog.

When Trevor looked at Wayne for confirmation, he shrugged. “Jackson said he could peer into her life before she got summoned, and apparently she was about as long as a semi-truck with a trailer.”

“That’s an unreal change to go from, what? Like sixty feet? To this. Was it a shock to you?” Trevor asked.

Rashie shook her head. “Nah, everything’s different here,” she said. “Back in the ocean there’s a lot of water, and then there’s the ground, and our big rock, but here everything makes the same kind of sense. These homes are about the right size. Just the fish- I mean, the people are bigger. I was a little scared of that at first because I was eaten by a bigger fish and that’s how I got here.”

“That must have been horrifying,” Trevor said, looking at the girl with a sad frown.

“A little, but then I met Jack, and Wayne, and Addy, and Mr. Tiggles,” she said, grinning at him. “And a bunch of other people, like you, but those are the most important ones.”

“Trevor’s important too, Rashie,” Wayne chastised gently. “He’s one of us.”

“I guess,” she whined and pouted. “Coming here was strange, too, but the Quest Master was very nice and I like my new body.”

“What are you now? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Rashie shrugged. “I dunno. Something,” she said. Wayne cleared his throat, and she looked down at him. “Oh, I guess there’s more, huh? Well, there were these creatures that swam near the surface, okay? They were small, and had arms, and legs. I wasn’t supposed to go up there but I did it anyway because I liked to watch them. So, I asked the Quest Master to become one of those!”

“So it knows what they are?”

“No,” Wayne scoffed. “Go ahead and tell him what you asked for.”

Rashie leaned back, looking at the sky as if remembering that day. “I told the Quest Master I wanted big teeth, and long arms, and thumbs, and legs, and a tail, and scales, and big eyes, and to be good at swimming, and can be in the surface, and some other stuff. Before I got to the colorful world, I didn’t know what those meant because, you know, tentacles, but then I knew and I got them and here we are having this conversation.”

“I’m glad you’re happy with what you’ve become,” Trevor said. He hadn’t even thought about customizing a species to be. Then again, he hadn’t thought much about his answer, either, and that’s how he got stuck as a human.

“If you came from Earth, then you must have decided to stay as a human,” Wayne guessed. “Or did you fall into the same classic blunder most everyone else seemed to fall into and make some dumb as dirt decisions?”

“Well…” Trevor looked away, scratching his head.

Wayne barked a laugh. “Alright, come on, spill it.”

Sighing, Trevor laughed at himself. “I messed up on pretty much all three of the questions the Quest Master posed to me,” he admitted. “It gave me a pass on renaming myself, otherwise I would have come into this world with a stuttering name, not that it seems like it would make much of a difference.”

“Not particularly, but still funny to know.”

“Right, well, when it asked me what species I’d like to be, I answered with something like ‘well, I’m a human’ and it latched right on to that.” Wayne chuckled, and Rashie laughed. Trevor could see why. “Not the most interesting answer, but it didn’t ask me if I was sure like it had about my name.”

“That’s a pretty solid answer to fall back on, anyway,” Wayne said. “Better to be everything you already were than to make a snap judgment and become something you hate.”

The way he said that caused Trevor to pause, and he looked down at the dwarf. It almost sounded like he was speaking from a place of experience. “What about you?” he asked gently. “You come from an Earth full of dwarves?”

“Around 90% of Earths are just humans, if what I’ve been told is to be believed,” he said, waving his hand. “But no, this was a conscious decision that I took the time to think about.”

“You mind if I ask why?” Trevor could see the market up ahead, but it was fairly crowded. He had definitely missed his window to help.

A thoughtful look of nostalgia passed over Wayne’s face as he smiled. “My son and I didn’t get along much,” he said. “But I won’t bore you with a sob story. Long story short is, we started bonding over Pathfinder.”

“Pathfinder?”

“Basically Dungeons & Dragons, but different,” Wayne explained. “He got really into tabletop games, and I needed a distraction, so I asked him if I could play in the game he was going to run. His friends agreed, and I joined in. The first couple of games fizzled out, and the third was planned but never got off the ground. Terrible, but not uncommon.”

“That must have really sucked,” Trevor said.

“It happens. The fourth campaign he started really took off, though,” Wayne replied, and Trevor could see a smile beneath his beard. “And about halfway through, he made a comment about how I always played dwarves. I denied it, because I had only played in one campaign, but he said the first three games counted. His friends started calling me the dwarf dad, they were all high schoolers, by the way, and, well, it just stuck.”

“From the sound of it, you all had a great time. Especially if you decided to stick to it when you came here.”

“Yeah, we did,” Wayne said before coughing into his fist. “Anyway, enough about me. What were you like back in the day?”

“Oof, I don’t have any flattering answers for you,” Trevor said, grimacing.

“Not everyone can be a truck sized tentacle monster,” Rashie said, her tone suggesting she meant to be soothing. “It’s okay, you can still tell us.”

“Man, so many of my problems could have been solved if I were,” Trevor chuckled. “It would come with different problems, but not many of my initial ones would translate. No, I worked in retail. Went home, played video games. I always wanted to do something with my life, and a promotion had been dangled over my head for a while, but now that I’m here and it doesn’t matter as much anymore, I’m not sure if they were ever going to actually give it to me.”

“Retail’s rough,” Wayne said. “I went straight into construction so I don’t have any personal anecdotes, but my son was a stock boy for a good bit of his early years. Seemed like his soul was sucked out of him every time he came home from work.”

“I feel that,” Trevor said with a dark chuckle. “Well, it’s not all bad. It led me here, after all. Not even sure if I’d head back at this point.”

Wayne stopped, and both he and Rashie stared at Trevor. “If you’d head back?”

Trevor slowed before turning around and looking at them. They were blocking traffic just outside the market district’s plaza, and he ushered them to the side of the road. “I guess that’s a little insensitive to say, isn’t it? Sorry, guys.”

“Do you mean to say you can go back?” Wayne asked again.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Trevor lifted his sleeve and showed them the tattoo he had received during the summoning. “Jackson said I was in a coma back on Earth,” he explained slowly. “Once the top one is completely gone, I could choose to go back. It’s been moving really slowly, but it has been disappearing. Probably another month or so, at this rate.”

“I don’t want Trevor to go,” Rashie said quietly.

“That’ll be up to him, Rashie,” Wayne said, patting her on the leg. “That’s really neat. Have you told Addy yet?”

Trevor shook his head as he put his sleeve back down. “We haven’t really talked about our past. I haven’t been prying, and she’s been dead tired because of all the work that’s coming in when Jackson left.”

“Yeah, our mayor sure likes his sabbaticals,” Wayne sighed. “Been here for a decade already, and the man seems to disappear like that at least three times a year. No one’s ever sure where he’s gone, just out, and he’s always secretive about it when he gets back. Mayor stuff, he says.”

That caused Trevor to frown as he thought about something Thimbleden had said recently. “You were here second, right? After Jackson?”

“Yeah. Jackson, me, Adabelle, Rashie, and then you,” Wayne confirmed.

“Was the weather always weird when Jackson left?” he asked.

Wayne opened his mouth to answer, but paused as he stroked his beard in thought. Rashie spoke instead. “Yeah, that’s weird!” she exclaimed. “It always was!”

“Does that go back further than when he asked Adabelle to become his apprentice? Because Thimbleden seemed to think it was due to her. Mentioned knocking down some buildings, too.”

“Do you… not know what Addy’s power is?” Wayne asked, arching an eyebrow. “I’ll answer your question, I’m just curious how you haven’t found out yet.”

Trevor shrugged. “She’s secretive, and I respect that,” he answered. “She comes to the Hero House, usually dead tired, and I make her dinner. She eats it then heads to bed. When we do talk, it’s usually about things happening in town.”

“Do you just not ask questions? Her Power was the first thing I asked her about. Other than what was up with the horns.”

“I guess I’m just more concerned with her privacy than you were,” Trevor said, shrugging again. “We didn’t really start off on the right foot.”

“Well, that’s between you and her,” Wayne said, waving his hand. “My Power is Gun, by the way. In case you weren’t gonna ask.”

Trevor paused. “Gun?”

“Gun.”

“Like, just guns?”

“Just guns.”

“Is that helpful?”

“It is when you’re an adventurer.”

“Mine is-” Rashie was about to spill the beans when Wayne cut her off with a gesture.

“Yours is a lot weirder than mine, so let’s surprise him with it later, okay?” Wayne offered.

The shark girl started nodding vigorously. “When he least expects it!”

“I don’t think I like where this is going,” Trevor said, though he couldn’t help but be amused, either.

“You will, you will,” Wayne said with a grin. “What about you?”

“Inventory.” The young man produced his PathGuider 5000 from his extradimensional space, and then put it back. “I can store things in a pocket dimension.

“That sounds pretty handy,” Wayne approved with a nod.

Trevor gave him the same nod back. “Could you answer my question though? About Jackson and the weather?”

“Right, my bad. As far as I can remember, there’s always been something going on whenever Jackson disappeared,” Wayne answered. “Weather’s been wonky during those times, for sure, and it’s always normalized by the time he gets back. I’ve almost always been busy doing my own thing, so I never made the connection between that before.”

Trevor breathed out a sigh of relief. He hadn’t really believed Adabelle was the cause of the strange weather, but it was good to confirm it. Even tired, she seemed to be in control of herself. The young man was glad that the whole thing was happening long before she showed up, and that it was just gossip carelessly spread.

When Trevor didn’t respond right away, Wayne took a look around. “Did you have something to do in the market district?”

“Yeah. I normally make deliveries around town to get to know the place better,” he answered. “And to stretch my legs. I wouldn’t be able to sit still and relax even if I tried.”

“I understand that feeling!” Rashie exclaimed, grinning.

“Alright, well, we’re going to go see if Jackson needs saving,” Wayne said. “He’s probably been stewing long enough, and Adabelle’s likely still tearing into him. Nothing’ll get done at this rate, and we’d like to see if there’s anything he needs us for now that we’re back.”

“Yeah, new quests!” Rashie exclaimed.

“Thanks for the company, at least,” Trevor said, smiling. “I’ll probably pass by you guys every so often, so I’ll see you in town.”

“Later.”

“Later, alligator!”

Wayne started walking away before beginning to run, causing Rashie to squeal in delight. Trevor laughed before heading towards Thimbleden’s Sundries to see if there was any work left.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: FIRST FORAY OUT OF TOSA

Days started passing as the weather got warmer quickly, and it started looking like the rainy season would start soon.

Trevor found that Mr. Tiggles would still wake him up when no one was in the Hero House, and he was often the first one up because of it. He would make sure the cat got fed and waited for people to trickle in.

Adabelle had been given leave for a few days as a reward for her diligence. She had announced that she was going to spend the time away from everyone in order to catch up on her sleep and read.

The woman still emerged to cook breakfast, which was apparently hardwired into her brain now. Other than that and delivering her dinner, Trevor did not see much of her. He found himself missing her company, but gave her the space she craved.

Wayne and Rashie were frequently coming and going. Not on quests, as nothing seemed to call for one, but they hunted monsters in the nearby forest anyway. The dwarf switched off cooking with Trevor every night, and turned out to be a prolific griller. His meals were always much better, usually leading to full plates of several foods, and he would always send the young man off to deliver to Adabelle while he and the shark girl chowed down.

Trevor didn’t mind that.

Still, he didn’t linger. Adabelle deserved her staycation.

During this time, he had started learning the local language so that he could finally get around to reading. It was called Lucern after the people of Lucent, which was the name of the country he had been summoned to. The letters still looked like chicken scratch to him, but Trevor was getting the basics down. He would often study while Drelik was working on his statue.

The elderly dwarf’s efforts were paying off as the statue was starting to look like an actual figure now, sharing some similarities with his previous works. It was still slow going, but Trevor had been warned of that from the get go and was just there for support. It helped that he found the sound of Drelik working relaxing.

Trevor continued to stop by Thimbleden’s shop to do deliveries, but nothing quest-worthy appeared until the gnomish shopkeeper approached him late one morning with an apologetic grin.

“Good morning, Trevor. I have a favor to ask of you,” he said. “It, well, it does require you to leave the walls, but that also means I’m allowed to make a quest of it.”

The young man paused. Though he had been in Tosa for almost two weeks now, he had still yet to actually leave. There were tales of monsters out there. Weak ones, but Trevor was not at all combat trained and he knew it.

As if reading his mind, Thimbleden waved his hands. “Please, let me explain a little more before you start looking at me like that.”

“Sorry, Mr. Thimbleden,” Trevor said, scratching his head. “Please, go on.”

“I have an axe that came in for the logging crew’s foreman,” he said, motioning for Trevor to come to the back, and the young man followed. “He needs it so that he can cut down the Firesap trees that are found in the forest. The gremlins destroyed his old one, and this one had to be made on request.”

For the first time in a while, Trevor thought about Denden and Merckle. True to their word, they hadn’t come back to town to make any more messes, but their work still persisted today. The wainwrights would be busy for another couple of weeks fixing the broken wagons left over from their spree. The mess they caused had been huge, and the young man had thought about telling Jackson about them despite what he had said.

But that was for another time. “Firesap trees?” Trevor asked, his curiosity piqued.

“The wood of the Firesap trees is used in a lot of different rituals to make magical items, such as Heating Stones,” Thimbleden explained. “This area is one of the few places they can grow, so they’re a major export. The axe makes it so they don’t, well, so they don’t explode on whoever is trying to chop the tree down.”

Trevor blinked. “These trees explode?”

“Without a specially made axe, yes.”

In the back room, the gnome removed the top from a large wooden crate to reveal an immaculately crafted axe. Its blade shone red where the light hit it, despite appearing to be made of pure silver. Trevor could see his own reflection in its polish. The haft was made of a dark wood, almost black, and had golden leaves inlaid near the top.

“Wow. This is beautiful,” Trevor said.

“Go ahead and pick it up.”

Doing as instructed, Trevor held it in both hands. It was heavier than he expected it to be, but it still felt good. “This needs to go to the foreman, right?” he asked, and Thimbleden nodded. “He leaves town every morning except weekends, couldn’t you give it to him then?”

“I could, but I’m trying to help you out,” the gnome whispered. “If it’s outside the walls, then it can be a quest. And, because you don’t have a Power that leans towards combat, I can make it a quest with a plus one.”

Trevor cocked his head and turned away from the axe to regard Thimbleden curiously. “What’s a quest with a plus one?”

“It means you can invite someone along, and it counts for them, too,” Thimbleden explained patiently. “That’s how the Quest Master does group quests that need a lot of people to complete. One person gets the quest and invites others along. This one will be you and a plus one. I hear Lady Adabelle is on vacation, but I know both Wayne and Rashie are back in town. You could ask one of them.”

“They would probably jump right on this,” Trevor admitted. “They’ve both been waiting for another quest to come their way.”

“So you’ll take it?”

Trevor pursed his lips and looked down at his reflection in the axe again. To his surprise, the young man didn’t feel very concerned that he would be venturing out of the city walls. This was exactly the sort of thing that he would have felt nervous about in the past, but he was more relaxed than ever.

He knew that both Wayne and Rashie had been coming back these past couple of days bummed that they weren’t able to track down any monsters. That alone meant it seemed safe enough to agree to this quest.

“Yeah, I’ll take it,” Trevor agreed.

“Excellent, then I’ll throw in a gold piece for both you and your plus one to seal the deal,” Thimbleden said.

“Wow, that much?”

“You deserve it,” Thimbleden said, adjusting his glasses. “And I’m not just saying that. Not only have you been making our community a brighter place, but you’ve been a huge help in the shop. You haven’t even asked for compensation despite being such a hard worker. This is the least I could do. Unless, was there something else you wanted to ask for?”

Scratching his head, embarrassed by the praise, Trevor looked away but couldn’t help but smile. “Do you have anything that may let me learn Lucern faster? I’ve been meaning to learn, but I feel like it’ll take ages before I get anywhere with it. It’ll be better than asking the Quest Master to translate everything, anyway.”

“Something to help you learn Lucern faster,” the gnome repeated, crossing his arms and looking towards the floor. Trevor waited patiently, recognizing Thimbleden’s thinking face. “I may have something; I’ll just have to find it. For now, let’s say a gold piece each is the reward, but if I find it in time then I’ll swap it out for the Trinket I may still have. Does that sound like a deal?”

“Yes, sir. You’ve got yourself a deal for sure, Mr. Thimbleden,” Trevor said with a grin, offering his hand which the gnome shook.

[[New Quest! First foray out of Tosa.

Look at that, Trevor’s growing up! Two weeks-ish here and he’s finally taking a step outside. We’re all so proud of his initiative. This is great progress!

But Laric, the orc foreman of the logging crew, does need that axe. Perhaps not immediately, but he will soon, and he’s been jonesing for something hefty to swing. After his last axe was destroyed by a fairy curse, the foreman has really been stewing in all that pent up aggression. Save him, and his workers, from himself and get yourself that fancy level up you’ve been itching for!]]

“Did you need anything else today, sir?” Trevor asked after reading through the quest screen. The axe disappeared into his inventory.

Thimbleden shook his head. “I do not, so you’re free to head on your way.”

“Good, I should be able to get back to the Hero House before Wayne and Rashie head off for the day,” the young man said as he started heading for the door.

Once he was outside, he activated the Horn of Swift Heroics to boost his Speed stat by 2 and started running. The clouds that were coming in were starting to darken, and Trevor thought he might just get to witness his first storm in this world. It still got cold enough at night that he could cozy up in front of the fireplace, and the thought of rain hitting the roof while the fire crackled was a nice one.

Perhaps a bit lonely, he felt, but still nice.

As he had hoped, the two adventurers hadn’t left yet. Rashie stood in front of the Hero House and stared up at the sky. While she had shown a fondness for frilly dresses, the shark girl was wearing custom-made leather armor today, which Trevor knew was her go-to outfit when it came to adventuring. Wayne was nowhere to be seen, and she didn’t react when he approached.

“Hey, Rashie, what are you up to?” he asked.

“Waiting for the sky water to start falling,” she responded. He noticed that she wasn’t blinking, just staring.

“You think it’s going to rain today? I thought the clouds were starting to look pretty heavy.”

Rashie nodded. “Few hours, I think,” she said cheerfully. “And I’m going to be ready for it when it does.”

“I’m actually about to head out into the forest to where the loggers are, and I was wondering if you or Wayne wanted to come with me.”

“Wayne won’t want to go, he doesn’t like getting his beard wet,” Rashie claimed. “Or something. I stopped paying attention when he said he didn’t like getting wet.”

“So you’ll come?” Trevor asked, raising an eyebrow. “Or does staring at the sky sound like more fun?”

The shark girl paused as if considering it, and he saw her eyes narrow before she shook her head and looked back at him. She gave him a grin that showed off all of her teeth.

“We can go, but let’s tell Wayne first!” Trevor smiled as he watched Rashie run towards the Hero House and throw the door open. “Wayne! I’m going with Trevor to the forest!”

“It’s for a quest, with a plus one,” he told her.

“It’s for a quest! I’m going to be a plus one!” Rashie repeated.

“Can it wait until tomorrow?” Trevor heard Wayne ask. “I only need a couple more quests to level up again.”

Rashie turned to look at Trevor, who shook his head, before she looked back into the building. “No! Too slow, old man!”

Cackling, she slammed the door and started running. Rashie grabbed the young man’s hand and started pulling him along. Despite being so short, she was much faster than he was, though she was at least kind enough to slow down. By the time Wayne started shouting after them, they were already turning the corner and out of sight.

“I only have a couple of quests to go, too,” Rashie said as she led him through the streets. “So the moment he showed weakness, I had to strike!”

“He’s not going to be mad at you, is he?” Trevor asked, looking back. There was no sign of Wayne following, at least.

“Nah, it’s first come first serve in this household,” she said. “The first fish gets the early worm, as they say.”

“Do they, now,” Trevor said with a small smile.

“They do, and I already accepted the quest,” Rashie confirmed with a confident nod. Then she stopped, causing Trevor to nearly run her over, and turned to face him. She pointed at his shoulders. “Walking slow is hard, can I ride up there?”

“Like you do with Wayne?” he asked.

Rashie nodded vigorously. “I like being tall. Addymanatine doesn’t let me do it anymore because I grabbed her horns too much, but I’ll behave, I promise.”

“I don’t know,” Trevor said slowly, raising his hand to his chin. “Should I allow it?”

“Yes!” she yelled immediately.

“But should I really, though?”

“Yes!”

“Hmm, tough choice.” Once Rashie looked like she was going to start pouting, he nodded and reached down to pick her up. She giggled as Trevor put her on his shoulders, and her webbed hands grabbed his thick hair. He winced, thinking again that it might be time for a haircut. “Careful with that, okay?”

“Sorry,” she said, loosening her grip.

Trevor pulled his PathGuider 5000 out of his inventory space so that it was already in place around his eye and started moving. The green arrows pointed towards and over the wall, causing the young man to shake his head.

“Over the wall? Really?”

It slowly shifted towards the nearest gate to the north of Tosa, and he started heading that way with an amused chuckle.

“Onward, to adventure!” Rashie cried out.

“To adventure!” Trevor repeated, picking up his pace to a light jog.

They were out of the town in no time.

CHAPTER NINETEEN: I AM PEAK PREDATOR

The outskirts of Tosa were not what Trevor had been expecting. When he heard there were monsters outside of the walls, he expected there to be mostly barren ground with signs of beasts everywhere. That was just what he assumed.

Now that he was out here for real, he found that the town was surrounded by farmland. The farmers were beginning to work the field as the weather warmed, though he could see some plants were already growing even now. Trevor couldn’t tell what they were due to the fences around everyone’s properties and, even if he could, every fruit and vegetable was a different color than what he was used to. Still, it was good to see that things were working out.

“You and Wayne are out here every day, right?” Trevor asked. “What kind of monsters do you usually run into?”

“Ones on four legs, mostly,” she answered. “With big teeth and matted fur and three tails and big horns and red eyes and they’re smelly and really mean.”

“That doesn’t sound pleasant. Is that the only kind of monster around here?”

Rashie shook her head. “No, but it’s the most common. Iunno if they still come around these parts because we haven’t seen them in a while. Maybe something happened to their dungeon.”

“Their dungeon?”

The shark girl gasped. “You don’t know about dungeons?”

“I, uh, no? Should I?”

“Every adventurer should know about dungeons!” she claimed loudly. “They’re, like, the best thing ever!”

“But, Rashie, I’m not an adventurer,” he reminded her gently. “I am, at best, a glorified messenger.”

That caused her to pause. “Even so! If you’re going to run from place to place, you should know about dungeons so you don’t get caught up in one.”

“Not getting caught up in dungeons does sound like an important skill to have,” he agreed. “How can I know if I’m in a dungeon?”

“Around here, there’s signs,” she said. “Every dungeon has a sign, because Wayne’s been making them. Lots of warnings and skulls and bones in a cross shape and whenever we find another one, he makes more. Sometimes, I get to help!”

“That Wayne sure is handy, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, but we haven’t had to make any more signs lately,” Rashie said, sounding a little sad. “The dungeons just aren’t popping up like they used to.”

“Any idea why?”

“I think I’m too good at hunting,” she said. At first Trevor thought she was just being boastful, but from the tone of her voice she was completely confident in herself.

“Does being too good at hunting have something to do with dungeons?” he asked.

“Yes, if a dungeon is over-hunted, then there won’t be any more monsters coming out of it for a while.”

“Okay, so dungeons spawn monsters.”

Rashie started nodding, and her tail thumped against his back. “Yes, Trevor gets it. Something magical happens, a place becomes a dungeon, and monsters start appearing. If you hunt too much, then the dungeon can’t keep up, and it ends up going kaput for a very long time.”

“Which is why you’ve been coming home all sad, right?” Trevor asked with a smile. “Because you haven’t been able to hunt? Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that a good thing?”

“Maybe, but it’s just so boring,” she whined. “Me and Wayne went and cleared out most of the dungeons so they wouldn’t start spitting out bad guys until after we got back, but we were too good. It’s just annoying. And boring. And I want to chase something.”

“Are the monsters small enough that you can chase them?”

“No, no, no, but they start running anyway,” the shark girl said, chomping her teeth and giggling maliciously. “I can be very, very scary. Not as scary as Addymanatine, but I am peak predator!”

“I believe you,” he said, though her words caused his mind to drift.

Trevor became thoughtful for a second. Back when he had taken Adabelle lunch, she had mentioned his refusal to pry. At first, it was because he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Pointing out something wrong with one’s appearance right off the bat didn’t leave a good first impression, and even now he cringed remembering that the first thing he said to Jackson was “ears.”

Though, now that he was thinking about it, had Adabelle been trying to open up to him? She might have just wanted to thank him for the food by making conversation and went with a topic she knew most people were interested in.

Nodding to himself, he decided to sit down and have a conversation with her. She had agreed they were friends, and it was only natural to want to get to know your friends better. It was also only natural to miss your friends when you haven’t interacted with them for a while. His plans to take her food at work if she refused to make herself a lunch were spoiled now that she was on her staycation, but that wasn’t all he had.

When it’s dinner time, I’ll take her food and see if she’d like company, Trevor thought to himself.

Rashie seemed to take his silence as acceptance of her proclamation, and started humming quietly to herself as she stared at the sky.

The road twisted, turned, and split often. Signs were interspersed at random intervals, with the largest road following the river and seeming to head towards Eskretet, the capital city where Klar had set up shop. The signs gave directions for getting to other cities and landmarks, including a destination that had a sign written in both Lucern and English. It was pointing to a place called the “Danger Zone.”

“What’s the Danger Zone?” Trevor asked Rashie, pointing towards the sign. “One of those dungeons?”

“Ummmm,” the shark girl said, uncharacteristically hesitating. “I don’t think I’m supposed to tell you.”

“Like, anyone? Or me specifically?”

“You specifically,” she answered.

He paused, furrowing his brow as he thought it over. “Is it… because it has to do with your Power and Wayne still wants me to be surprised by it?”

Trevor felt Rashie vigorously shake her head. “Nope, it doesn’t have to do with my Power. Nope, nope, nope.”

“So it has to do with either Jackson or Adabelle, and I’m leaning towards the latter” he mused.

When her grip on his hair tightened when he said Adabelle’s name, he knew that was the right answer. Rashie was not very good at hiding things, not that he would tell her that.

Everything he had learned about Adabelle frankly might have scared him if he hadn’t met her beforehand. According to Thimbleden, she could casually knock down buildings and change the weather. The self-proclaimed peak predator called her scary. His curiosity was starting to outstrip his politeness.

“We need to change paths now!” the shark girl commanded, pointing towards the river.

“What? Why?” Trevor asked as he started listing in that direction.

“Because I’m trying to distract you, because Wayne says if you wanna know then you need to ask her,” Rashie stated. “And because the river’s the fastest way to get to the tree cutter guys.”

Trevor chuckled. “If we go through the water, then we’re going to get all wet.”

“You don’t even have a beard, so you can’t use that excuse on me,” she huffed.

“No, I don’t mind the water, but won’t it be uncomfortable being wet in leather armor?”

Rashie shook her head again. “No, it’s made of terug- tregu- tegru-” she made a little disappointed grunt. “It’s magic, okay! Comfy all the time, except after bedtime.”

“Why is it not comfy after bedtime?”

“Because it’s armor, Trevor. You don’t wear it to bed,” the shark girl stated as if it were obvious.

“Yep, you’ve got me there, Rashie,” Trevor admitted. She paused for a moment, and the young man felt her go very still. “You want to go anyway, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I wanna go swimming,” she said before falling backwards. Her tail struck him in the back, but when he turned to confirm if she was alright, he saw that she had landed on her feet. The shark girl patted him on the arm. “You’ll be okay, and I’ll see you there, okay? I’ll come and check up on you, too, so that you’re not scared of being alone.”

Trevor looked around. There was nothing but farms and wooded areas with no monsters in sight. This road followed the river fairly closely, so there wasn’t any issues if something were to come up. Every so often there’d be guards, too, though they were few and far between.

“Sure, Rashie, go ahead and- and she’s already gone,” Trevor said as he watched the shark girl run towards the water.

Rashie jumped, gaining a frankly impressive amount of air, and cannonballed directly into the center of the river. When she didn’t come up right away, he frowned, but then noticed her swimming further upstream. Despite the current, she gained speed and was soon around the nearest bend.

“That little shark sure can swim,” Trevor muttered to himself as he continued down the road.

Even alone, the walk was relaxing and peaceful. The breeze was nice and, despite the sun being hidden behind the darkening clouds, he was warm thanks to the constant walking. It was enjoyable, and his nervous fears about becoming monster food had been alleviated when Rashie mentioned how great she and Wayne were at clearing the area of dungeons.

As Trevor was coming up with different variations of the monsters Rashie described in his head, and often imagining them to be very big and running from the fearless, tiny shark girl. His daydreams were interrupted by the sound of axes on trees.

He saw a team of lumberjacks walking over a sturdy stone bridge in order to toss a log into the center of the river. Rashie was hiding underneath the bridge, giggling, which caused the workers to pause before shrugging and walking back. All but one, at least.

“Trevor!” Gad called, motioning for the young man to hurry towards him.

“Mr. Gad! I was hoping to see you out here,” he said, greeting the man with a bow after stepping onto the bridge.

“What brings you all the way out here?”

“I’m here with Rashie to deliver the foreman’s new axe,” Trevor explained. “Last I saw her she was under the bridge, but who knows where she could be by now.”

“Not under the bridge,” came a voice from under the bridge. “She could be anywhere by now.”

“Oh, well, I guess she won’t be able to complete the quest then,” Trevor said, dramatically sighing.

Rashie’s head popped over the side of the bridge and she started pulling herself up. “Nuh uh! I’m here! I’m going to complete the quest!”

Trevor smirked, and Gad bowed at Rashie. “Shark,” he greeted.

“Shark!” Rashie said with a big grin and an exaggerated bow before running towards the sound of work. “Let’s go find Mr. Big Guy!”

“Shark?” Trevor asked Gad as he began following his fellow Summoned.

Gad chuckled and shrugged. “It’s how we all greet her. She comes around here often when she’s hunting monsters,” he explained. “It’s right on the river and, apparently, she can’t help herself sometimes. Sometimes she stops to help, saying that it’s fun to cut down trees, or to drop off fish that she catches in the river. That little shark girl’s a right menace, but she’s harmless. Well, to us.”

A dark look crossed Gad’s face, and Trevor arched an eyebrow. “There sounds like there’s more to that last bit.”

The dwarf nodded. “Yeah. Saw her fight monsters once. There’s a reason why we call her shark. After Wayne explained what sharks were, at least. We don’t have them around these parts.”

Trevor found himself nodding along as he watched Rashie run up to the foreman. She circled him for a few moments before stopping, looking back at the young man, and waving at him to hurry up.

“Go on, then,” Gad said. “Laric’s a bit disgruntled, but hearing you have his axe will brighten his day. So long as the rain holds off, at least.”

“Rashie seems convinced it’s going to rain in a couple of hours.”

“Well, that’s a bit disheartening on account of the Firesap,” Gad sighed, waving towards a stack of dark pink logs. “You might be able to do something about it, if you’re willing. Just talk to the boss about it.”

“Yeah, I’m happy to help,” Trevor said before bowing again to Gad. “If I don’t see you later, tell Mrs. Froil and Dag I said hello.”

“Will do, Trevor, will do.”

Once Gad left to get back to work, Trevor jogged up to where Rashie and Laric were. He recognized the orc as the one who was behind everyone else in the logger’s procession every morning. His tusky grin was nowhere to be seen, and he looked absurdly huge next to the small girl pointing at him.

“Shark says you’ve got something for me?” he asked, his voice not as deep as Trevor would have thought.

“Finish the quest!” Rashie excitedly yelled, waving her finger at Laric. “Finish the quest!”

“I will, Rashie, calm down,” Trevor chuckled before bowing to the orc. “Trevor Anderson, sir. And yes, I have a delivery.”

“Laric,” the orc introduced, bowing back. Then he crossed his arms and waited.

Trevor wasn’t sure if the foreman meant to be intimidating or if he was just upset, but it didn’t matter. He raised his hands and retrieved the axe from his inventory. The metal gleamed, reflecting Laric’s face back at him, and the orc lit up.

“Ohhhh, that is nice,” he said, taking the axe and admiring it.

[[Quest complete! You made your first out-of-town delivery!

Now that Laric has his special axe made for him specifically, he can start cutting down the Firesap trees again.

Well, perhaps not now as Firesap logs - you know, the ones over there? - are famously susceptible to getting waterlogged and losing out on all their magical properties. Since it’s going to rain soon, it sure is terrible that they’re going to lose all that product. Sure is a shame. Oh well, what can anyone do about it?

If only Laric had emergency Quest Giver rights. If only.

One gold piece and a weird fish necklace have been added to your inventory!

Level Up! You have gained 1 stat point. It has been added to your bank, which has 3 stat points left.

Notice! You may learn a new Skill! Just let me know when you want to get on that and we’ll make it happen.]]

“Quest complete!” Rashie yelled, raising her hands in the air.

Trevor read through the notice, ignoring the part about the weird fish necklace, and looked at Laric. “Is there something wrong with the Firesap logs?”

The happy look on Laric’s face disappeared as he grumbled and turned to look at the stack of pink wood. “Yeah, we’re going to lose them in this storm,” he said. “Those gremlins really shook us up. We cut those trees before they destroyed my last axe and planned to move them when things were still cold out, but you probably already know about the wagon issue. I’ve had groups taking them on their shoulders, but it’s slow going and we’ve got to hit our goals, so I can’t spare everyone.”

“KPIs are the worst,” the young man said, thinking back to Earth.

“What?”

“It’s nothing. Are they susceptible to getting waterlogged because they’re logs and not part of the tree anymore?” Trevor asked, which got him a nod from Laric. That was problematic. “You can’t tie them up in a tarp or something?”

Laric shook his head. “After it rains, there’s going to be enough humidity in the air to ruin them regardless. Might as well let the weather take them at that point. By ruin, I mean they won’t be great for magical items, not that they’ll melt or something. The mill on the other side of town has the magic required to keep them dry.”

“Could the workers here take them?”

“I already have two groups making the trip, and these leftovers are the ones that might have problems. It would take us the better part of the day to get the rest there, anyway, and we don’t have that much time. We’ve already taken the majority of the logs, these are just what’s left,” Laric claimed. “We weren’t expecting the rain to come so soon, honestly, and we were caught with our pants down. These ones have been written off.”

Trevor frowned and stared at the logs. It sounded like the cold snap and erratic weather had thrown them for a loop. He wasn’t one to start pointing fingers when something went wrong, however, and he turned back to Laric with a smile.

“The Quest Master was making sly remarks about emergency Quest Giver powers,” Trevor said. “I think we may be able to save these last logs, if you want the help.”

Laric looked at him in confusion before Trevor retrieved his magical backpack from his inventory for that +1 boost to Capacity.

CHAPTER TWENTY: IN FOR A PENNY, IN FOR A POUND

Once Laric confirmed that he had the ability to give out quests so long as it was for something important, Trevor started inspecting the logs. That responsibility had been meant to send out wide-scale alerts to adventurers if the logging operation was attacked by monsters, though the foreman had felt this could be made into one as well. It didn’t hurt that the Quest Master had apparently mentioned it already.

“I can’t offer you much,” Laric said. “Five silver and a Trinket that might be able to help you, but only if you think you can do it.”

Trevor didn’t answer verbally, but nodded. He was doing the math in his head on how likely he was to get this done in time. “Rashie, any idea when the rain will start falling?”

The shark girl lifted her head and took a deep breath. She went silent for a few moments, and then raised a hand to the sky. “About an hour!” she confidently exclaimed.

“Okay, so, it’s thinking out loud time,” Trevor said to himself as he crossed his arms. “Getting here was about twenty or thirty minutes. Assuming I can cut that down by half… How far down the river is the mill?”

“About a ten-minute walk outside of town,” Laric answered.

“So thirty, forty minutes of walking, then assuming half of the time,” Trevor muttered to himself as he looked at the logs.

Stepping forward, he reached for one and tried to suck it into his inventory. It would have worked if it weren’t for the miscellaneous stuff he had in his pocket dimension already. There wasn’t much, and he shunted it into his backpack for now. Even though it weighed him down, he barely registered it. Trying again, the log on the top of the stack disappeared into his inventory.

Laric sounded surprised, but Trevor didn’t react to him. “Quest Master, add one point to Capacity, please and thank you.”

[[Stat increase complete. Capacity is now 3, 4 with your backpack. You still have 2 banked points remaining to be used at your leisure.]]

Putting his hand on another log, Trevor was able to pull it into his inventory. If it followed this trend, then it would look like putting his last two points into Capacity would have him able to take the rest of them in with room to spare.

He opened his mouth to tell the Quest Master to do so, but no sound came out when he did. While it was objectively the right call, he didn’t want to spend his points on just Capacity. Trevor liked increasing his other stats, too.

“Quest Master, please open my status screen.”

[[Trevor Anderson

Human

Level 5

Banked Points: 2

Strength: 3

Dexterity: 2

Stamina: 2

Speed: 1

Magic: 1

Mana: 1

Specialty Stats

Capacity: 3 (4)

Power: Inventory

Skills: Quick Growth (Human), Dimensional Storage (Inventory), New Skill Available]]

Trevor stared at his stats as he tried to think this through.

If he left his Capacity stat as it was, then he could increase his Speed to get there faster. He imagined zipping through town, avoiding all obstacles in his path.

Maybe the PathGuider 5000 would tell him to jump the logs again, and thanks to the adrenaline rush he’d no doubt be experiencing he might actually give it a try. Halfway through, he would start getting tired and need to boost his Stamina, using his last point.

The Horn of Swift Heroics had already been used today, so that wouldn’t factor in. Just imagining running back and forth, making it back for his last trip just as it started sprinkling, was incredibly enticing. Trevor only had to make it back in time to get the last logs before it began raining, and at that point he would definitely win the quest.

It would just be him, his own abilities, and the wind on his face. Rashie, too, if she decided to come along.

Trevor felt a small hand tugging at his sleeve, and he looked down to see the shark girl. “You okay, Trevorson?” she asked.

“Trevorson?” he snorted. “Is that your nickname for me now?”

Rashie hesitated. “Maybe. I don’t know if I like it yet.”

“That’s fair, and I’m okay,” he said before looking back at the logs. Scratching the back of his head, he looked up at the sky. “Quest Master, please put the rest of my points into Capacity.”

[[Are you sure about that?]]

“Second guessing me?” Trevor asked with a nervous laugh. Now that his decision had been questioned, he was having second thoughts, but shook them off. “This is the responsible way to do it. Plus, there’ll be more quests, and I can put my stats into other things then. Let’s not forget about Trinkets, either. So, yeah, I’m sure.”

[[So long as you’re sure.

Stat increase complete. Capacity is now 5, 6 with your backpack. You have no more banked points remaining.

One of your stats has reached 5! You may choose a new skill for this stat.]]

Trevor read the message, but didn’t dwell on it.

The mental bubble that represented his Power riding in his head expanded to more than double what it was before, and vertigo washed over him. It only lasted a few seconds, but he could tell that his pocket dimension had gotten much larger. It was hard to tell exactly how big it was now by feel, but Trevor was able to pull everything back in from his backpack and take the remaining logs in with some wiggle room left to spare.

“You sure can take them, huh?” Laric asked before chuckling. “Alright, Trevor, you’ve got yourself a new quest.”

[[New Quest! Second foray out of Tosa!

I mean, technically the fastest way is through Tosa, so you enter it and then come out on the other side.

Either way, these logs are now safe and sound in your inventory space. Even when it rains, they’re going to be good to go so long as you put them in the right spot. Thanks to this, the town won’t lose out on some of its economic power it would have otherwise. Six logs are a lot, after all! Now get to that mill and make that delivery!]]

The PathGuider 5000, which Trevor hadn’t even realized he still wore, started pointing him back towards the road as the quest became active. Before he could say anything, however, Laric reached into his pouch. He pulled out a water bottle with a red top and blue body and offered it to the young man.

“You’ve helped me out a lot between the axe and the logs, so you take it,” the orc said. “I haven’t drank out of it yet today, by the way, so it’s still clean.”

Slowly, Trevor did as he was told. The water bottle looked just like one from Earth with a transparent body, a clip for attaching it to things, and a straw that could be pushed down so its contents wouldn’t leak.

[[New Trinket! The Vigor Bottle!

Fill this bottle with any non-alcoholic, non-magical potable liquid. When you drink its contents from full to empty, you’ll receive a buff that raises your Stamina by 1 for 8 hours. Perfect for the good little worker bees on their 9-5!]]

“This is really cool, but are you sure?” Trevor asked.

Laric waved him off. “I can get another one. They’re not terribly expensive.”

“Well, thank you very much Mr. Laric,” Trevor said with a bow.

The moment he did, rain started coming down in sheets. Everyone was drenched in seconds, and Rashie started running around and screaming with glee.

“Shark, I thought you said we had an hour!” Laric snapped.

Rashie paused at the orc’s outburst and shrugged. “Smelled like an hour to me,” she said before resuming her running.

“Well, at least the logs are safe,” Trevor sighed. Despite what he had told Rashie earlier, he really only liked being wet under certain circumstances.

Fully clothed and wearing a giant backpack was not one of those circumstances.

While pulling his clothes into his inventory and wringing them out was an option, it was a terrible one considering he was in public. It wouldn’t do him any good with the rain coming down this hard, anyway. He could barely see Laric standing a few feet away.

“You best be on your way, then,” Laric said as the workers started leaving. “And don’t let this rain get you sick. It’s been cold out, you know?”

“I got it, thank you, Mr. Laric,” Trevor said before hanging his new Vigor Bottle on his backpack. “You coming, Rashie?”

In an instant, the shark girl was next to him. “I’m going to go swimming!” she yelled before disappearing again.

“Guess it’s just me and myself, then,” Trevor said before he began running where his PathGuider 5000 told him to go.

As the scenery was just rain and what little bit of the road he could see, Trevor found his mind wandering to what the Quest Master had said about his new skill. It said that it could be discussed, and he found himself wondering what that meant.

The young man then realized he could just ask, and felt silly.

“Quest Master, what do I need to do about that new skill?”

[[Power skill selection!

First off, congrats! You have reached Level 5. It will now be harder to level up, but oh so rewarding.

Normally, upon reaching this stage, you get two options that allow you to boost your Dimensional Storage skill to its next stage. Sometimes you get more, but you never get less.

This is a totally normal level up, so here’s your two options.

Option One: Temporal Dimensional Storage.

You can designate up to a tenth of your Dimensional Storage skill to be disrupted from your personal flow of time. This means that items put into this space will age incredibly slowly, almost to the point where they could stay there for weeks and barely change!

Option Two: Primed Dimensional Storage.

You can designate up to a fifth of your Dimensional Storage skill as an area that keeps the force and momentum of objects entering it. These objects are considered “Primed,” and can be shot out at the same speed you intercepted them. Yes, this will basically weaponize your inventory.

Take your time, and choose wisely.]]

“Oh, no need to take my time,” Trevor said. “Even if I weaponize my inventory, that still means I need to be in the line of fire to grab things like arrows and stuff, right? I’m not about that life. I’m a simple courier, so I’ll go with option one and never let Froil’s taco bread balls go cold ever again.”

[[Your Dimensional Storage skill has been upgraded to Temporal Dimensional Storage! Please, enjoy your always warm taco bread balls.]]

“I will. Thanks, Quest Master,” Trevor replied with a smirk. “What about the Capacity stat increase?”

[[Stat skill selection!

Your Capacity stat has increased to 5, which means you get to choose a Capacity-themed skill!

As this is your Specialty Stat, these options go hand in hand with your Power Skill, and there will be some overlap. Just like Power, you normally only get two choices, but you have a special Trinket option today! Here they are!

Option One: Ranged Retrieval.

Under normal circumstances, you can only pull things into your inventory if you are touching them. With this skill, you can pull them in from a distance up to one inch per point in Capacity. Retrieve from a distance, amaze and astound your friends!

Option Two: Stacks.

We’ve all been there. You have too many things in your extradimensional space and there’s never enough Capacity. That’s where the power of Stacks come in! Depending on how big the item is, if you have more than one of them you can put them in stacks! This will lower the space they take up by a small margin.

Trinket Option: Extra Container.

You may designate another container to operate in the same manner as Anderson’s Backpack, though it will not give you a +1 to your Capacity stat when worn.

Take your time, and choose wisely.]]

This choice actually gave Trevor pause. He still wasn’t sure if he needed Anderson’s Backpack to be a gateway for other people to grab his things, but he could see where it might come in handy. It was versatile, and that was nice. If the mill hadn’t been so far away, he could have sent Rashie over there to pull out the logs that he took in.

Ranged Retrieval would have had great synergy with Primed Dimensional Storage. While he still didn’t plan on being an adventurer, working them in tandem could have been a lot of fun. Without it, it was just a neat trick that didn’t work long-distance.

Stacks gave him the most trouble. It seemed like a great option right off the bat, but he felt that his inventory space was already huge. He wasn’t sure if more space was actually what he needed. It was already big enough for several logs and miscellaneous items.

Then again, if he had more space, then he could focus more on his other stats like he wanted.

“In for a penny, in for a pound,” Trevor muttered to himself. “Let’s go with Stacks.”

[[You have gained the Capacity skill Stacks! Please, enjoy stacks on stacks on stacks.]]

Without any input from Trevor, the logs snapped together in his inventory. They didn’t lose a lot of mass, around 10% by his roughest estimation, but the sensation was incredible.

He could feel the stack floating around in his pocket dimension, and it gave him the same kind of fuzzy feeling he got when he pulled a warm load of laundry out of the dryer, or removed dirt with a powerful pressure washer, or when the amount of product was just right to empty the box and fill the shelf at the same time.

“Okay, that was the right choice,” Trevor said, grinning as he continued running. He was starting to get cold as the water chilled him down to his bones, but he was still feeling good when he entered the town of Tosa.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: ARE YOU FINALLY PRYING

The quest was easily completed even though there had been no one to greet Trevor at the mill. Far from the river was an area where the rain slid off of an invisible bubble. The sky was still falling like cats and dogs, but it had let up enough for the young man to find it.

Entering the area was an experience. The bubble had stopped him from going in, and the young man realized that it was because his clothes were soaked. With nowhere for the water to go, he had to resort to rolling up his sleeve and putting his arm through. It left his skin feeling dry, but Trevor was able to finish his mission as he dropped the logs within.

[[Quest complete! You’re getting good at going from one place to another, aren’t you?

You’ve saved Laric a lot of trouble, most of which was caused by those gremlins. Six Firesap logs would be a bigger loss than you’d think, and he was doing as much as he could to make sure they got back before it started raining.

Fun fact: the second team of workers he had sent didn’t make it in time. There’s a log somewhere behind you in the rain that’s becoming waterlogged as we speak.

If only they had an inventoryman to do the work, then everything would have been fine! Regardless, enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.

Five silver coins have been added to your inventory.

You need to complete one more quest in order to level up.]]

Trevor did enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done for a few seconds before he decided he was very sick of being soaked to the bone and being constantly pelted by raindrops. The young man started heading home.

The streets were empty on account of the weather, and he had no problem getting back to the Hero House. More specifically, his home. He barely made it through the front door, shivers now painfully wracking his body, when he pulled his clothes into his inventory, water and all, and headed straight for the shower. The warm water felt great after being stuck in the chilling rain.

Starting a fire afterwards, Trevor made sure to dispel the water and dirt he separated from his clothes in his inventory outside before getting wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. He closed his eyes for a moment as he took in the atmosphere.

In front of him, the fire crackled and radiated a comforting warmth. He was still chilly despite the shower and figured he had been outside for too long, but he didn’t mind it at that moment.

The rain pounded on the roof, and thunder rattled off in the distance. Trevor smiled; he had hoped for an atmosphere just like this one not too long ago, and now that he had it there was very little he would trade it for.

Thinking about the quests he had gone on today, Trevor was reminded of the “weird fish necklace” he had received from Thimbleden. The gold coin was sitting in his inventory, too, and the young man wondered if it might have been a mistake. He’d have to remember to ask later. For now, he popped the necklace on.

The fish pendant appeared near a leather cord around his neck. Not on, he noted, but near. It was facing the cord, but hung about an inch lower than what it was supposed to be attached to. Whenever he tried to move the pendant, the cord moved as well, and decided that’s just how the magic was supposed to be. The fish was made of metal with two orbs slotted into it, one red and one white, and a spot for a third.

[[New Trinket! The Language Fish!

This fish has it all: Lucern! Gnomish! And that’s it. There’s one more slot but you don’t have anything to put in it.

While wearing the Language Fish, you can understand any Lucern or Gnomish writing that you see. More than that, you’ll start retaining the skills required to read them without the pendant. The more you read, the more you’ll remember. So go on, read as much as you can and babble about it to anyone willing to listen!]]

“That’s exactly what I needed, Mr. Thimbleden,” Trevor said quietly as he stretched and yawned, closing his eyes again. “You really pulled through for me.”

◆◆◆

Trevor wasn’t sure how much time passed, but a knock on the door caused him to open his eyes and he immediately noted that the fire was starting to die down. He realized that, at some point, he must have fallen asleep. Sniffing loudly, he stood up and tossed in another piece of firewood.

“Trevor?”

The young man blinked as he heard Adabelle’s voice over the rain. “Come in!” he yelled. His voice was deeper than it was this morning, and he could tell that he might actually get sick soon.

“I can’t, I don’t have a key to your house,” she called.

Just as he was about to say that it was unlocked, he remembered Jackson’s letter. Unless their key was enchanted to allow it, no one else could enter another’s house here. Except Mr. Tiggles, apparently, though that hadn’t been explicitly mentioned.

Walking around the couch in a giant puffball of a blanket, Trevor opened the front door to see Adabelle standing there. She was mostly dry aside from her shoes and around her ankles, and he spotted an umbrella on his porch. The white shirt and black skirt she wore suited her well. Balancing on one hand, she had a large wooden box.

“Rashie got back, but said she hadn’t seen you since you two got caught in the rain,” she said, fixing her long bangs around her ear as it fell into her face. “When I came for dinner, Wayne said he hadn’t seen you and that he had been in the Hero House all day. Rashie was tired and he doesn’t like getting his beard wet, so I got, as he puts it, voluntold to bring you some chicken noodle soup. Wayne said you might need some.”

“Yeah, I’m-” Trevor coughed before taking the box she held in her hand. “Just a little something in my throat. This will be great. Tell him thanks for me.”

“I will,” she said, nodding.

He stood there awkwardly for a moment before realizing that she wasn’t walking away. “Oh, I’m sorry! I’m a terrible host,” Trevor said. “Did you want to come in?”

“It’s better than being out here,” Adabelle replied. She took off her shoes and left them outside before entering the home and looking around.

Trevor walked over to the fireplace, setting the box down on the table before he started poking at the wood to make sure the fire would stay strong. He turned to see Adabelle looking the place over. “Something wrong?”

“You haven’t decorated,” she stated. “Not that there’s something wrong with that, or anything. Quite the contrary. I was just expecting something more Trevor, Son of Ander, I guess.”

Hiding his frown behind the blanket he kept wrapped around him, Trevor looked around the room. This space was really just a place he had to move through to get outside, or to bed, or the bathroom. Aside from today, whenever he was awake, he was either in the Hero House or out and about town. Realizing the door to his bedroom was open, he quietly moved over to shut it.

When he turned around, he could see the amusement on Adabelle’s face as clear as day, but he also saw how much of a stock photo his home appeared to be. Since he could go back to his own Earth eventually, he hadn’t wanted to decorate because then they’d have to fix it. That was the same reason why he had never decorated his apartments, either, because he would just be moving out at some point anyway.

“I guess I’m just not here a lot,” he mumbled. “Here to sleep, get clean, and then I’m out and about.”

Adabelle nodded. “Come on, sit down,” she commanded as she did the same in one of his chairs. While he complied and sat on the couch, she started pulling out the soup, bowls, crackers, and spoons. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’ll be fine by morning,” Trevor claimed. “Just my immune system acting up from being wet and cold for so long. It’s nothing.”

Standing up, Adabelle reached over and pressed the back of her hand against Trevor’s forehead. Even though he was surprised by the sudden contact, he almost found himself leaning against it. Her skin was soft and cool to the touch.

“It’s nothing?” she repeated incredulously. “You’re burning up.”

“You’re probably just cold,” he mumbled. “I always run hot, even when I’m not doing anything. Even sleeping.”

“Mmhmm,” she said, though it didn’t sound like she believed him. Sitting down, she started pouring the chicken noodle soup into one of the bowls. “Crackers?”

“Yes, please and thank you,” Trevor requested.

Adabelle set some aside and hand it to him on a napkin from the box before sliding his bowl and a spoon towards him on the table. Trevor threw the crackers into the soup before breaking them up with his silverware. A quick temperature check told him it wasn’t ready to be eaten yet, and he watched her prepare her own.

“Sorry you got volunteered for this,” he said apologetically. “I mean, voluntold, I guess. I could have come to the Hero House, but I fell asleep.”

“Hush, you,” she said, her voice stern yet gentle. “Why do you apologize so much?”

The young man paused. “Habit, I guess,” Trevor answered quietly. “Life’s easier that way.”

Adabelle shook her head. “Why did you decide to take on that last quest?” she asked. “Rashie said it was over some Firesap logs, but that’s not more important than your health.”

“I’m doing just fine,” he lied, dodging the question before checking his soup again. “I was just sleeping, was all.”

“Oh, is that why your voice is deeper?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “Because you’re just putting on some kind of act?”

Trevor grimaced and looked away before taking a bite of soup. It was hot, but it bought him precious seconds to think about his answer while he was burning his tongue. “Ith hot,” he said, waving air into his mouth.

“Yeah, Trevor, it’s soup,” Adabelle chastised. “If you don’t want to talk to me, you can just say so. I can head back home.”

“No, no,” Trevor said quickly, holding up his hand towards her. “Stay, please.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, almost challenged, as she lifted an eyebrow.

“Yeah, your presence is soothing,” he blurted out.

Adabelle paused, her ears twitching, and she pulled her bowl up to her mouth. She drank directly from it before nodding. “Good.”

“Yeah, it’s hot but it tastes good,” he said, not looking at her but staring at his soup.

“You may think my hand is cold, but I’m actually fairly resistant to the heat,” Adabelle told him. “Thanks to becoming, well, you know…” Instead of saying it, she waved her hand up and down her body.

Blinking, Trevor looked away from his soup to take her in. Adabelle’s choice of words didn’t go unnoticed, and he watched her face. It was as neutral as could be, but he saw something in her eyes that he couldn’t quite describe.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Of course,” she scoffed. “I’m not the one who’s sick here.”

“Allegedly. I’m not sick yet, lady,” Trevor said.

“Because you say so?”

“I’ve gotten through a lot of days where I was feeling bad by telling myself I wasn’t,” he replied sagely. “Got to make a living somehow, right?”

“Right. And how’s that different from pushing your body when it needs rest?”

“It’s… not,” he admitted. “But I don’t want to talk about me. I want to talk about you.”

“Excuse me?” Adabelle asked.

“That thing you just said, about becoming what you are now.” Trevor scooted forward on the couch, and Adabelle almost looked concerned at how intensely he was staring at her. “That’s what I was asking about. About if you were okay, I mean.”

“I’m fine, Trevor.”

“I just want to make sure, because your face said that but your eyes didn’t.”

“My eyes?”

“Yeah. Your eyes.”

Adabelle stared at Trevor, her eyes wide with a classic deer in the headlights look. She brushed her hair again before smirking. “Why, Son of Ander, are you finally prying?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I want to know more about you.”

His blunt answer caused her to freeze, and she quickly grabbed her soup to take another sip. Realizing that he was hungry and she had come to have dinner with him, he grabbed his spoon and started eating as well.

An awkward silence hung over them, with Trevor thinking about how feasible it was to eat with that foot in his mouth and Adabelle quietly contemplating her soup. The air was heavy, but it didn’t stay that way. As they both collected their thoughts on what they wanted to say, the atmosphere cooled down into something approaching comfortable.

Once she finished, Adabelle stood up. She looked towards the fire, but spoke to Trevor. “In the morning, I’ll get some medicine. Just in case you are sicker than you say you are,” she said, leaving no room for discussion. “Then, you’re going to follow me. I want to show you something.”

“What do you want to show me?” he asked, setting his bowl down and standing up.

“My Power,” she said quietly. “You want to pry, to know more about me, then that’s where we’ll start.”

Trevor beamed and adjusted his blanket. “Okay, I’m looking forward to it!”

Adabelle glanced at him, taken aback by his grin. After a moment of processing, she shook her head and chuckled. “Of course you’d be excited about something like that,” she said.

“Oh, but let me do the key thing,” he said, snapping his fingers as the thought occurred to him. “In case I am sick and can’t get out of bed. I’m assuming it’s magical medicine, right?”

Adabelle nodded and removed a key very similar to his own from her pocket, and she handed it to him. Trevor could feel it reaching out to him just like his Power of Inventory, and he allowed it access to the space that was his home. “Man, magic is really intuitive, isn’t it?”

“It’s because you have a Magic and Mana score,” Adabelle explained, and he nodded before giving her the key back. “That’s why it works. If they were zero, like most people’s, then you wouldn’t be able to do that.”

“Okay, that makes sense,” he stated as she walked to the door.

Opening the front door, Adabelle hesitated. “Be well, okay?” she said softly before her voice became sterner. “And be good. Don’t push yourself, okay? You’ll make Wayne and Rashie worried.”

“I’ll be the best I can be,” he said, smiling as he gave her a thumbs up. “For Wayne and Rashie, of course.”

Adabelle smirked before putting her shoes back on, picking up her umbrella, and moving into the rainstorm and out of sight. Trevor smiled at the doorway as he stared, but his eyes were slowly widening in realization. He shut the door and put his forehead against it.

“Oh no,” he whispered to himself as an elusive thought fully formed in his head. “She’s cute.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: IN A SHARING MOOD

The next morning, Trevor woke up to Mr. Tiggles resting on his chest and someone shaking his shoulder. His throat was burning and his head was pounding, but he stretched anyway. It felt like somebody had left the air conditioner on full blast, and he was shivering despite the warmth of the bed.

“I’m fine,” he said hoarsely, as he started to push the blankets away. It felt like he had a frog in his throat. “I can go to work today.”

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles said as he jumped off of Trevor’s chest.

The next thing he felt was a warm hand on his forehead, pushing him back down. He fought against it, but his body was weak and he could barely put up a fight. A bottle was put against his lips, and a thick liquid with way too much sugar to counteract the terrible taste flowed into his mouth. Though Trevor drank it, he coughed and sputtered afterwards.

It took a few minutes, but his head started clearing up along with his throat. He opened his eyes and blinked away the sleep to see that Adabelle was sitting on the edge of his bed, Mr. Tiggles purring on her lap, and smirking at him. Her tail swished loudly over the blanket.

“Not sick, huh?” she challenged.

Slowly, Trevor covered his head with his comforter. “Still sick, can’t go anywhere,” he claimed. “Best get out before you catch whatever it is I have.”

“Dorimy made that potion, and I have a second one here if you feel you need it,” Adabelle laughed. “I bought one and she gave me a second one for free after I mentioned it was for you. Seems you really are a snake charmer after all, Son of Ander.”

“It’s too early for banter,” Trevor whined. “How are you this awake?”

“It’s already almost noon, Trevor.”

Peeking his head out of the covers, he checked out the clock to see that Adabelle was telling the truth. Half of the day had been wasted already. “My alarm clock didn’t go off.”

Trevor felt Adabelle shift on the bed and set the alarm. It went off the next minute, and she waited. It didn’t take long for Mr. Tiggles to jump off of her lap and start attacking the alarm clock in a way that made it turn off after a few good bats.

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles said proudly.

“Cats,” Trevor sighed.

“Cats,” Adabelle agreed as she stood up. “I’ll give you a few minutes to get ready, and then I’m leaving. Don’t take too long.”

Waiting until he was sure she left, Trevor got up and picked up Mr. Tiggles. “You causing trouble for me, little buddy?” he asked. “I thought we were friends.”

“Meow.”

“Yeah, you’re right, I can’t stay mad at you.”

Setting Mr. Tiggles down on the nightstand, Trevor got himself dressed in a hurry. He paused only to check and see what the weather was like through his window. The sky was cloudy but not dark, and he estimated only a slight chance of rain. Regardless, he pulled his coat into his inventory along with an umbrella.

In hindsight, he really should have had those with him, but now that he was once again aware that weather existed, he would take steps to be prepared for anything. Especially now that his Capacity stat was 5, he had so much room to work with. Trevor felt like he had his own portable storage unit inside his brain. With this in mind, he grabbed another change of clothes just in case.

“Pspsps,” he called, waggling his fingers over his shoulders. Mr. Tiggles came running and jumped up on him as the cat normally did. When Trevor summoned his backpack, the cat curled between it and the young man’s neck.

“Purr,” the cat said in its unusually deep voice.

Trevor opened the door to see Adabelle waiting near the Hero House. When she was in his home she had worn a white, quilted shirt, and he had expected her to be wearing her blue robes that she wore on days she worked. Instead, she had put on armor.

Adabelle wore intricately woven chainmail with a solid gorget and pauldrons that protected her arms down to her elbows. Her gauntlets were made of fine leather, and she was adjusting them when he exited his home. At her belt was a plain scabbard holding a sword with a simple crossguard.

“Oh, are you not a mage of some kind?” he asked without really thinking about it.

The horned woman paused. “Robes throw you off?”

“Little bit, yeah,” Trevor admitted.

“That’s my work attire. This is my adventuring attire. Since we’re leaving the city walls, I want to be well protected.”

Trevor frowned, and that nervous feeling started coming back to him. “Should I be armored, too?” he asked. “Rashie didn’t say anything about-”

“No, you’re fine,” she said, grinning. “I’ll be there, so you don’t worry about a thing.”

“Oh, right. Guess that’s true.”

“It is. Now come on, let’s get moving,” Adabelle said before she started walking towards the nearest gate out of the city.

“You got it, lady,” Trevor said, falling in beside her.

As they walked through town, he did a cursory check of his body. His throat was no longer sore, and his head was as clear as could be. While it was slightly chilly out, it was comfortable. That medicine had worked extremely well.

“What was that potion you made me drink?” he asked after clearing his throat. Whatever Adabelle had given him had worked like a charm.

“Just a little something to combat colds and fevers,” she answered. “The version I used for you was more expensive than what people can usually afford, but was much more effective.”

“Oh, how much do I owe you?”

Adabelle waved her hand. “Don’t worry about it.”

“No, I really don’t want to be a burden on your finances, so I want to pay you back,” he insisted.

Raising an eyebrow, Adabelle gave him a sidelong glance before shaking her head. “Dorimy gave me a free one specifically because I mentioned you might be sick, so as far as I’m concerned you got the one that cost me nothing and I have one tucked away in case I ever need it.”

Trevor frowned. “Are you sure?”

As they started walking out of the town’s gate, Mr. Tiggles jumped off of Trevor and disappeared between a pair of buildings. The young man wanted to call him back, but seeing as they were heading into the farmland it was probably better for the cat to stay in town. Adabelle certainly didn’t seem concerned with his departure, at least.

“Positive. I’m not bothered by it, and it certainly didn’t cost enough to ‘be a burden on my finances.’ Besides, I owe you for the Full Night’s Rest,” she said dismissively.

“That was a gift.”

“And this wasn’t?” she challenged. Trevor couldn’t find the words to refute her. “Let me ask you something. How come taking on a quest and specifically requesting an expensive potion at the risk of your own finances is different from me going out to buy medicine for you?”

“Well, that’s different because it didn’t cost me anything,” he answered slowly. “The quest’s rewards changing didn’t mean much to me because that wasn’t money I had to begin with.”

“I see,” Adabelle said. “And how is it okay for me to receive the Full Night’s Rest, but it’s not okay for you to receive medicine? That’s basically the same thing. If I remember right, your words were, ‘this is what friends do for each other.’ What makes it different when it comes from you than when it comes to you?”

Trevor didn’t answer right away as his hypocrisy was called out. As his mind raced, he felt his anxiety start to rise as he couldn’t find the words to deny her claim nor explain himself. He didn’t even realize that his response was being closely watched until Adabelle bumped her shoulder into his.

“After you brought me lunch that one time, I asked about you around town,” she admitted. “Mostly Thimbleden, but he pointed me towards a few others. Drelik, Dorimy, Froil, other deliveries you’ve made. Everyone seems to think you’re a nice guy who’s eager to help out, but who’s helping you?”

“I just like to be self-reliant, is all,” Trevor said quietly.

“If you don’t mind me saying so, this seems to go past the point of self-reliance,” Adabelle stated. “When was the last time you asked someone for something? Would you have woken up at three in the afternoon with a full-blown fever and shambled your way to Thimbleden’s asking if he had anything you could help with?”

“I had to do that a lot in my world,” he said defensively, looking away. “There wasn’t anyone else to rely on, and I had to take care of myself. This is just, well, it’s my way of staying in control of my life, I guess.”

“I can certainly appreciate wanting to stay in control of your own life,” Adabelle agreed before placing a hand on his shoulder. “But it’s important to realize that you’re in a place where you’re surrounded by friends, too. Wayne, Rashie, all of the people you help, to name several.”

“Well, none of them went out of their way to get me medicine.”

“I… suppose they didn’t.” Releasing his shoulder, she sighed. “Before I came here, I was an adventurer. Dragged into it, really, but I had to learn to accept the support of a team. We didn’t work very well together at first, which was something I can fully say was my fault due to how hard-headed I was, but eventually we fell into a good rhythm. If someone like me can learn to accept the help of others, so can you.”

“That sounds so self-deprecating,” Trevor said. “Everyone’s capable of growth, so it shouldn’t be hard to believe that you can be, too.”

“And just like me, you can learn to accept help,” she replied. “I’ll be around, so feel free to lean on me when you need to, okay?”

Trevor nodded, but didn’t say anything. Her tail wrapped around his wrist as she took one of the side roads, pulling him after her and letting go once he was on the right path. He hadn’t been sure what to expect when it came to the texture, but he was surprised to feel that it was as soft as her skin had been when she touched his forehead.

Putting that aside, he glanced at the post describing where she was leading him. The sign was in English just as it had been before, and said that this was the road to the Danger Zone. That pretty much confirmed that it was meant for Adabelle’s Power.

“I was human, then,” Adabelle continued softly. “My team and I were on a grand quest to stop a demonic sorceress named Medivene from opening a physical rift to the underworld. Our priest had received a vision from his deity, essentially telling us to trust no one we normally did, and that we were on our own. I protected them on the front lines, and that’s where I died. Jackson assured me that everyone else survived, that we succeeded and my sacrifice wasn’t in vain. If I’m being completely honest, I still struggle with it sometimes.”

“They couldn’t have done it without you. You were strong for them, and if Jackson says that, then I believe him,” Trevor replied before pursing his lips. “But that also sounds like you may have made some of the same mistakes I might have when I was being summoned.”

“They are common mistakes, though I didn’t know it at the time,” Adabelle confirmed. “Not counting Wayne, who’s calm under any circumstances, and Rashie, who was just happy that she wasn’t being eaten anymore, it’s a blunder anyone can fall into.”

“What’s up with that, anyway?”

Adabelle glanced at him, arching an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean...” Trevor paused to put his thoughts in order. “So, it seems like the Quest Master is really snappy, I guess. I’m not sure how to put it. But the way it seems now, I have a hard time believing that it wouldn’t understand that those common mistakes are just that, mistakes.”

“Ah, yes, I understand. It’s because the questions happen outside of this world,” she explained. “Basically, the Quest Master is powerful to an absurd degree here, but all the changes you go through happen before you actually arrive here. So you only get a little bit of the whole, and it’s not all that powerful because you still literally existed outside of its sphere of influence. Not that it’ll ever admit it.”

Adabelle paused, and Trevor saw her eyes moving as though she was reading something. “Get a grip, Quest Master,” she snorted. “You have a hard time connecting with people before they get here. You’re still very impressive, so act like it.”

“Oh! That’s why the letters came one by one and it was slow to answer my questions. Just flat out ignored some of them, too. Then, I was in front of Jackson and everything was quick and snappy.”

“Yes, and it’s also fond of using templates to make things easier to send. So that people don’t think it’s having the issues it’s having.”

“Yeah, yeah, I had that same exact thought! Like it was trying to figure out a way around an obviously faulty connection.” The young man frowned. “If it has to go through so much trouble, why doesn’t it just wait until people are here to do the questions, then?”

Adabelle grimaced. “From what the records say, that’s a terrible idea,” she said slowly. “Because then it’s literally altering you while you have your body already. There’s a lot of cautionary tales for summoners and those training to become one.”

“Wait, I didn’t have a body between my world and this one?” Trevor asked, but hit his forehead as soon as he finished talking. “Yeah, no, that makes perfect sense, actually.”

“How was your question section with the Quest Master?”

“I stumbled through it,” Trevor admitted. “Name, staying human, the Power selection; messed up the whole thing. After telling the Quest Master that I was human, not even thinking there might be alternatives, I asked it to give me examples of Powers I could choose from. It very quickly overwhelmed me, and I asked for some space. In order to think, you see.”

“And it gave you the Power of Inventory?” Adabelle asked, amused.

“Randomly chosen from the list of space Powers, yeah,” Trevor confirmed with a chuckle. “But that’s okay, because I’m not really built for adventuring. I don’t like hurting things, but I do like helping people. I’m sure something based on, like, magical healing would have been better but in my defense, everything was very purple and green.”

“That still sounds smoother than what I went through,” she said. “I had been slain by a powerful spell, and I hadn’t even realized it yet.”

“Oh, no,” Trevor breathed. “That must have been awful.”

Adabelle paused. “It was, yes,” she conceded. “I told the Quest Master my name the second time it asked, but after that I was still full of adrenaline and the urge to stab my foe. So when it asked my species, I was still distraught. I remember my answer after all this time.”

“Oh, no,” he repeated, wincing.

“I had said, ‘what are you talking about? I have to get out of here before that demonkin finishes her foul magic.’ You want to guess what happened then?”

“The Quest Master latched onto demonkin,” Trevor guessed.

Adabelle nodded. “I’m mostly the same, which was a relief, except for the horns, the ears, and the tail. My skin darkened, my hair turned white, and my eyes became this glowing orange. It took me a long time to become comfortable in this body, there are still times when I don’t recognize myself in the mirror, and a lot longer before I calmed down from being a reckless, hot-headed adventurer.”

“Is that what happened to your horn?” Trevor asked. “An adventuring accident?”

“My, you really are prying today, aren’t you?” she said, offering him a smile that barely reached her eyes.

“You seem to be in a sharing mood.”

“And you’ve already expressed your interest in getting to know me better, yes.”

“Yes,” he confirmed, his face getting hot as he remembered last night. “Yes, that is certainly a thing that I said to you.”

“It was during a duel in Eskretet, the capital of Lucent,” she said. Her hand reached up and ran her fingers gently along the split in her horn. “I got cocky because I was fighting someone who wasn’t Summoned and paid the price. At the time I didn’t have enough money to repair the damage, just a couple of healing potions, but even now I leave it as a reminder to myself that I’ve already met a terrible fate once. It could easily come for me again.”

“Does it hurt?” he cautiously asked.

“It’s bothersome, sometimes, but it doesn’t really hurt anymore,” she answered before changing the subject. “We’re almost there. Do you want to guess what I had said to the Quest Master when it asked what kind of Power I wanted?”

Trevor was about to open his mouth to make some random guess when the trees surrounding the path suddenly stopped after a certain point. The clearing was covered in wet ash and rocks jutted out of the ground in random places. He followed Adabelle to one of the taller boulders that was easy to climb up, and he stared at the Danger Zone in awe.

It was wider than he first thought. Perhaps a mile or so across, though he would never fancy himself an expert in eyeballing such distances. There was nothing but destruction in a suspiciously clean circle, and he realized he couldn’t even hear animals nearby. Aside from Adabelle’s breathing, the only sound was his heart beating loudly.

“When the Quest Master asked me what Power I wanted,” Adabelle said slowly when she realized Trevor wasn’t going to guess. “I had asked, ‘what are you going on about? If Medivene gets what she wants, it’ll be a disaster encompassing the entire continent the likes of which we had never dreamed of.’ I got what I said.”

Waving her hand towards the wasteland, she spoke again in a quiet voice that almost seemed to get swallowed by the vast, empty space. “And the Danger Zone is where I came to practice my Power: Disaster.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: BEAUTIFUL WOUND

Adabelle watched as Trevor looked around the clearing. While he only saw her in the corner of his eye, he could tell that she was waiting anxiously for him to say something. It was almost like she was worried that he’d be frightened by her Power. The young man could see why, but he didn’t feel ill at ease because of it.

“This is awesome,” he finally said, turning to face her with excitement in his eyes. “You did all this just by practicing? You must be amazing!”

“I, uh,” Adabelle stuttered. She clearly wasn’t expecting that sort of reaction.

“I mean, it doesn’t seem very practical but this is, like, legendary stuff, right?” he asked. “Man, no wonder this place is called the Danger Zone. This is a real treat to see.”

“It is?” she asked, confused.

“Oh, for sure,” he confirmed. “Do you know what I see when I look at this?”

“Destroyed nature? Desolation? A land where nothing will grow back?” she offered.

Trevor shook his head. “No, I see someone exercising great responsibility when given a great Power,” he said. “This clearing is far from everything, and it just screams to me that you had to learn the hard way how to control it. It speaks to both your abilities and your character.”

“I think you’re looking a little too deeply into it, don’t you?” she asked.

“Not even a little bit,” Trevor stated without hesitation, and looked away when her face started to darken. “Is it scary? Sure, a little bit. But the person it’s attached to clearly doesn’t want it affecting anyone she doesn’t intend it to. So, the Danger Zone is close enough to the city that you can travel to it easily, but you also won’t have to worry about hurting someone.”

“Would you be disappointed to learn that I stumbled upon this spot when I was throwing a tantrum?” Adabelle whispered.

“No, because sometimes people just need to scream. I imagine it’s usually not accompanied by magic this powerful, but I’m not going to fault you for being upset,” Trevor said. “From what you told me, you’ve been through a lot. No one got hurt when you did this, right?”

“No one was here except me,” she confirmed.

“Then no harm, no foul,” he said with a shrug. “Lashing out isn’t always the correct option, but you’ve got to do something with your emotions, right? Keeping them bottled up is harmful in the long term. If this is what helped you become the Lady Adabelle Ramansa Katine gen Halvsar I know today, then I’m glad it happened. It’s not destruction for destruction’s sake, it’s a beautiful wound left behind by an emotional transformation.”

“You know you sound like you’re just making things up,” Adabelle said.

“Sorry, I’ve never had to console somebody who was literally magic before now,” he offered.

The woman laughed and shook her head. “How can you be this understanding towards me, and yet you balk when the slightest bit of kindness is shown back to you?”

“Years of practice, probably,” Trevor said. He realized he was waving off his hardships, but he had never been on a world saving quest against the forces of the underworld before and decided his own problems back home were definitely beneath hers. Turning to face Adabelle, he offered her a warm smile. “You okay?”

“I’m okay. I’m always worried when I bring someone new here,” she said, smiling back as she fixed an errant bang falling on her face. “Jackson took it with a grain of salt, while Wayne got really quiet about it. Like he was remembering something he didn’t like.”

“Our world is one full of war,” Trevor offered. “It’s fully possible that this was something that triggered a bad memory.”

“He mentioned something about an… Oh, what was it,” she mused, crossing her arms. “Afghantan?”

“Afghanistan?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

Trevor nodded. “Yeah, I can see how this could bring back some unpleasant memories for him. He doesn’t seem like the type to dwell on it much, though.”

“It took him a couple of days before he approached me and told me we were going shooting,” Adabelle said. “That was quite the experience, but after that we got along quite well.”

“I imagine Rashie just stared and wanted to go swimming afterwards?”

“That girl always wants to go swimming,” she chuckled. “I made it rain and flooded the area for her. A small one, during a drought, and she went crazy. Out of the three of us, I think she took being summoned here the best. Well, until you showed up. You’ve proven quite resilient. I’d love to hear your story when you’re ready to share.”

Shrugging, Trevor shook his head. “My story is boring and tedious. No one wants to hear it.”

“I think you’ll find that friends are people who show interest in others,” Adabelle chided. “Or does that also only go one way, Son of Ander?”

She was getting really good at calling him out, and Trevor deflected again. “As for when I got here, I was a nervous wreck the first day. Got run into by a minotaur, who I will not name drop during this conversation, and was scared by Glyrphizith’s roar so badly that I had to ask a dwarven family if everything was alright. Went home, met you and Mr. Tiggles, and then crashed pretty much immediately.”

“Glyrphizith’s nice, though she is completely obsessed with timepieces,” Adabelle mentioned. “Would you like to meet her?”

“Maybe someday, but not yet. I don’t think I’m ready to meet a humongous dragon. Give me a few more weeks. Or months. Maybe a year.”

“Sure, I’ll hold you to that,” she said with a smile. “How about a deal?”

“A deal about the dragon?” Trevor asked, confused.

Shaking her head, Adabelle gestured towards the wasteland around them. “No. I’ll give you a demonstration of my power, if you can stomach it.”

“As long as it’s safe, yeah,” he agreed immediately.

“But before I do, you have to tell me about your life on Earth.”

Trevor was ready to agree again when he fully processed her words, and then he looked away and scratched his head. “I mean, you’re really getting the short end of the stick on that one.”

“Of course I am,” she teased. “I’m the one summoning a disaster for your amusement.”

“I think you’d find that I’d be summoning one, too,” he muttered.

“So is it a deal?” she asked, putting out her hand to shake.

Trevor eyed her hand for a few moments before sighing and taking it. “It’s a deal,” he replied. “But I don’t really know where to start.”

“Wherever you want,” she said before sitting down on the rock.

Taking a seat beside her, Trevor focused on the destruction as he collected his thoughts. It took him a few minutes to speak, and Adabelle was patient with him.

“I worked for a store like Thimbleden’s Sundries, except a thousand times bigger and the people running it weren’t great,” he started. “I was one of hundreds of employees. We stocked food, clothes, gardening equipment, cleaning supplies, entertainment. If you needed it, then there’s a good chance you could get it there or get it ordered.”

“So it was like the Tosa Marketplace, but as a whole in the same building?”

“Yeah, that sums it up,” Trevor said with a nod. “I used to work for a small grocery store, but they were run out of business by prices they couldn’t afford to match. This was something that happened all over, by the way, and the same thing happened in my city. So, I applied and got the job.”

“From your tone, I’m going to guess that’s not a good thing,” Adabelle slowly stated.

“Not really,” he confirmed, grimacing. “It was a terrible place to work. There was never enough time to do everything that needed to be done, and management wasn’t very understanding. Not to mention it was constantly understaffed. I was always getting called in because they needed me to cover someone else who didn’t show up, or quit on the floor, or was sick. And, because I needed money, I went in.”

Trevor shook his head. “The truth of it is, I don’t have any impressive stories,” he said. “I went to work, I worked until I was tired, and then I came home and messed around playing games until I fell asleep. The next day, I repeated it.”

“Why didn’t you find another place to work?”

“I was barely making enough to get by, and the only reason I was getting that much was because I got called in for so much overtime. Even then, the only reason I got so much overtime was because they had to give it, not because they wanted to. If I wanted to find a job that paid as much as that with less hours, I would have needed more education, but I just didn’t have the energy for that.”

“What would you have rather done?” Adabelle asked. Her tail gently wrapped around his wrist, and he glanced away.

“No clue. I never knew what I wanted to do,” Trevor said, shoulders slumping as he kicked at the stone they were sitting on with his heels. “Some people figure it out, or just know from an early age, but I wasn’t one of them. I found it best to keep my head down and do the work that was in front of me in order to survive. There was a promotion I was up for, that was exciting, but that would have been more of the same.”

“Did you have any friends to keep your spirits up?”

“Some, very far away,” he answered.

“Internet?” she asked, and he gave a confused nod. “Wayne told me about that. It seemed very handy.”

“It was,” Trevor responded. “Not that it did me much good as anything other than a time waster.”

“And how did you waste time?”

“Games, mostly.”

“What games did you play?”

Trevor hesitated before looking back at her. “Is this really an interesting line of questioning for you?”

“Maybe it would be less of a line of questioning and more of a conversation if you didn’t make it as difficult as pulling teeth,” Adabelle snorted.

Sighing, Trevor nodded. “I’m sorry, I’m just not great at talking about myself. Like I said. I don’t have any interesting stories. It was work, come home, clean if I had the energy, waste time and then go to sleep. Rinse and repeat.”

“Okay, so what about here?” she asked, changing her questions. “What about Tosa?”

“Tosa?” Trevor paused, thinking about it. “Tosa’s great. Working for Thimbleden is a lot better than anything back home. I’m really only there to waste time, but it’s nice to be helpful, you know? The customers are all understanding and nice, and it’s very rare that anyone ever yells. Running around making deliveries is definitely the highlight of my day. Just stretching my legs and getting outside. The whole sunlight thing I was talking about works, you know.”

“I’ve kept my windows open ever since,” she said with an amused smile.

“That’s good,” he said with a nod. “Though, I have to say, it feels nice working here. I’ve got enough money to really sustain myself for a while even if I decided to sit still and do nothing, but I’ve got so much energy. Even before I upgraded my Stamina stat, I mean. It’s actually fun to work, and it’s relaxing. When I’m like this I have a really hard time sitting still unless something’s got my attention, but it doesn’t feel cumbersome. You know?”

“I think I’m familiar, yes.”

“Okay, good. It just feels like, I don’t know… I’m not struggling here. If I wanted to stop spending time at Thimbleden’s Sundries then, yeah, people would be disappointed that I’m gone, but I wouldn’t be worried about them or get yelled at. Torlock and Billan are still there, after all. It’s not stressful, and there’s nothing to worry about. If I don’t want to run around, then I can go spend time with Drelik, or eat with Gad, Froil, and Dag. Or just spend time by the river watching the logs float by. It’s idyllic.”

“Trevor, may I make an observation?” Adabelle asked, and she was looking at him very curiously when he turned back to her.

“Yeah, lady, of course you can. Don’t even have to ask.”

“Right. After hearing, well, all of that, I think I understand your thought process a little bit more,” she stated, and he was about to apologize when her tail gently squeezed his wrist. “You probably feel like your story is lesser to mine because my stakes were higher than yours. Is that a reasonable guess?”

Once again, she called him out accurately, and he nodded.

“I thought so,” she said. Adabelle’s tail pulled his wrist towards her, and she took his hand in both of hers. “My battles were all external, and I had the help of my friends. A lot was on the line, but I get the impression that you had just as much of a struggle in your mind as I did against the forces of evil.”

“That’s really not the same,” he said. “You had-”

Adabelle put a finger against his lips, and he shut up immediately. “Don’t downplay your feelings,” she interrupted. “You’re kind to everyone else, Trevor, but you need to be kind to yourself as well.”

“I get-“ Trevor paused as Adabelle removed her hand. “I get what you’re saying.”

“Good. What I got from your story is that you were very isolated in your world. Maybe you didn’t start out that way, but it is definitely where you ended up. You don’t want to talk about yourself because it makes you sad and, as someone with a lot of empathy, you don’t want to project that on to other people. I got this because the moment you started talking about Tosa, you suddenly wanted to share a lot more. You’ve found acceptance here.”

Trevor swallowed, but couldn’t look away from Adabelle. Her face was full of concern, and he could see that she really did care for his well-being as a friend. “I… don’t know what to say.”

“And that’s fine, so long as you’re aware that you’re happy in this world,” she said, smiling. “And I’m glad you got summoned.”

“I am, too,” he said, smiling back.

“I think you both need to check your six more often,” came the drawling voice of Wayne from behind them.

Adabelle let go of Trevor and stood up, turning around. “Wayne. You’ve gotten stealthier,” she greeted.

“Yep, picked up a sneaky sneak skill last time I increased my Speed,” he said before looking between her and Trevor. “Jackson sent me to look for the two of y’all. Said he had a quest for you both, and that it’ll probably come with a few from around town. So, if you two are done flirting, we gotta make like greased lightning.”

“We weren’t flirting,” Trevor said quickly.

“We were, as you would put it, swapping backstories,” Adabelle said before turning to Trevor and smiling apologetically. “I guess we’ll have to push the disaster show off until next time, huh?”

“Oh, yeah. No worries. I’m looking forward to it,” he said, smiling back.

“Good, now let’s get going,” Wayne said before turning around and walking off towards the road. Adabelle followed, and Trevor took a breath to compose himself before jogging to catch up.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: EASY TRIP, EASY QUEST

Summoner’s Tower was the tallest building in Tosa and was situated right on the plaza where the market was held. Trevor hadn’t given it much thought at the time, but leaving it when he first arrived had been an experience. It had shocked him to see everything that was different in this world, but in the end, he realized it had been good for him.

Trevor thought that if he had exited anywhere else in town, then it wouldn’t have been such a powerful moment. He had explored much of Tosa and could firmly say he believed that. The river would have been peaceful, and the residential district would have had houses that were familiar, but they wouldn’t have the same impact.

From the Summoner’s Tower, he had walked into the busiest place for miles around. People were buying, selling, and bartering, and it showed off nearly every race that made this place their home. Not just the humans, but everyone.

Apparently, going to the tower was making him nostalgic. He stopped in the spot where Klar had knocked him over, and found himself missing the gentle giant of a minotaur. Trevor raised his hand and retrieved the business card he had been given, and smiled when the Language Fish did its job and translated the chicken scratch for him.

“Klarkartar’s Magical Emporium,” he read to himself before turning to overlook the plaza’s stalls.

“Trevor, are you coming?” Adabelle asked from the door.

The young man turned to see that Wayne had already gone in, and Adabelle was looking back at him. He smiled. “Yeah, just thinking about a friend.”

“Don’t take too long, okay?” she requested.

“Oh, no worries. I’m done,” he replied as he pulled the business card back into his inventory.

The two ascended up the stairs to the tower in quiet contemplation. They had both given each other a lot to think about, though their peace only lasted for as long as the climb did.

At the top was Jackson and Wayne, as expected, but also Rashie and Mr. Tiggles. The shark girl was chasing after the cat, but the animal didn’t seem distressed in the slightest at their game. Five chairs and a luxurious, unused cat bed had been placed around the summoning circle. Once they were noticed, the elf motioned for them to sit.

“Rashie, it’s time,” Wayne said, and the shark girl immediately veered off to sit in the chair next to him. She fidgeted a lot, but seemed ready to pay attention.

“What’s going on?” Adabelle asked.

“I’m making an announcement,” Jackson replied, gesturing for the two to sit again.

Once Adabelle sat, Mr. Tiggles jumped onto her lap and curled up. “Purr,” he said as the woman began absently petting him.

Trevor sat down in a chair between Adabelle and Rashie and waited patiently for the Jackson’s announcement. He had an inkling of what it was going to be, but didn’t want to spoil it if he was wrong.

It took the elf a few moments to start. He stared at the people in the room for a few moments before chuckling and shaking his head. “I suppose the best thing to do is rip the band aid off in one go,” he said. “I am planning on retiring. Soon.”

“What?” Adabelle quickly asked.

“Retiring? You’re no spring chicken but you still have a lot of life left in you, old man,” Wayne stated.

“Yeah, if you’re tired again why don’t you just take more naps?” Rashie asked, bemused.

“Retiring means that he’s not going to be the mayor anymore,” Trevor told her, but held his tongue about what he knew of Jackson’s plans. One thing at a time, and it wasn’t his place to blab.

“What?” the shark girl asked, jumping so she was standing on her chair. “But Jack’s always been mayor!”

“And I’m naming Adabelle my successor,” Jackson continued.

“What?” Adabelle asked again. Trevor glanced at her, and could see the confusion in her face. She shook it off and asked a much more substantial question. “Wait, why now? And what about learning more about summoning? And the people of Tosa?”

Jackson chuckled. “This is happening now because everything’s fallen into place,” he said. “I have everything I need, and you’re ready for it. You’ve learned plenty about summoning. The only thing you really need now is practice, and the people of Tosa will be just fine with you in charge.”

“Yeah, Addy,” Wayne said, switching gears. “I reckon you’d manage to pull it off quite well. You already do all the work of the mayor without much help. Now you can delegate those tasks without worrying about when Jack’s going to leave you in the breeze again.”

“I wouldn’t quite put it like-”

“Yeah, yeah! Like whoosh!” Rashie agreed. “Addymanatine as mayor will always be reliable. She don’t need Jackson! And Wayne can help with stuff like paperwork.”

“Don’t you go volunteering me, now.”

“I’m voluntelling you,” Rashie said before giggling.

“What did you mean you have everything you need?” Adabelle asked. Trevor noticed she had stopped petting Mr. Tiggles, and the cat had started kneading her leg as he purred loudly.

“Now that, that is a secret for another day,” Jackson said mysteriously.

“No. I want to know now, Jackson,” she commanded, crossing her arms.

“Then you will be disappointed,” the elf stated, and Adabelle grumbled unhappily. “Besides, I called you two back in particular because I have a quest for you both. Adabelle, you need to meet with the king in Eskretet to announce yourself as the future mayor of Tosa.”

“And if I don’t want the job anymore?” she asked stubbornly.

“Then that’s unfortunate, because I’ll have to fall back on Wayne.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to end well for anyone,” Wayne said with a dark chuckle. “But we all know you’ll take the job, Addy.”

Adabelle looked ready to fight, but sighed and leaned back in the chair. “Continue.”

“Thank you,” Jackson said graciously with a small bow. “After everyone else is dismissed, we’ll discuss the specifics about what to do when you meet the king and about passing on the mantle. I’ll also need to speak with the Queen of the Feywood, but that comes after your return.”

Trevor couldn’t help but perk up when he heard that. Denden had mentioned that the Queen of the Feywood told them they couldn’t hurt anyone. Given what he knew of the fairies, the young man had figured that she had only mentioned people and not things, which made them think that taking out wagons was acceptable. If she didn’t want anyone hurt, then visiting her was probably fine.

“Fine, we’ll discuss it in private,” Adabelle said as she began rubbing her temples. “You said it was a quest for both of us. I’m going to assume, based on Trevor’s Power, that you need something delivered.”

“Myself and others in town will be willing to contribute quests and rewards for the transportation of goods to the capital,” the elf stated, turning to the young man. “Trevor, I know you have only just started venturing out of Tosa, but Adabelle will be with you. I understand if you wouldn’t-”

“No, that’s fine,” Trevor answered quickly. “I, uh, I want to visit Eskretet. I think that could be a lot of fun, and I’m sure Adabelle can handle anything hostile that comes our way.”

Wayne snorted and leaned back in his chair. “Easy trip, easy quest.”

“I want to go with Addy!” Rashie pouted. “The food there is sooo good, and they have a lot of rivers, and the monsters are stronger, and-”

“I’m sorry, Rashie,” Jackson said with a soft smile. “But we’re going to need you and Wayne to stay back just in case there’s a dungeon surge.”

“Dungeon surge?” Trevor asked as Rashie’s pout deepened.

“When a dungeon’s been cleared out enough to go dormant, there’s a chance that it springs back to life all at once,” Wayne sighed as he explained. “There should be more monsters roaming around now than there is, but everything’s quiet, so we’re thinking it’s more likely than not.”

“That sounds like a lot of people could be hurt,” Trevor worried.

“Normally, but that’s what these two are for,” Jackson said as he waved towards the two adventurers.

“If there’s a surge, then I’ll know,” Rashie said confidently as she pointed at her chest with a thumb. “I’ll smell them coming a mile away.”

“That’s impressive, Rashie,” Trevor praised.

“Also, false,” Wayne said. “But that’s what we’ve been checking on when we go out and about. And also why Rashie here’s got too much energy.”

“I wanna chase something!” the shark girl exclaimed before chomping her teeth.

“I’ve made my announcement, so you can go and run around, Rashie,” Jackson said with a light laugh.

“Yesss!” she roared before running off to the stairs. No one spoke as they heard her feet slamming into the stone, echoing through the tower, and the door opening.

“She sure is a little ball of sunshine, isn’t she,” Trevor remarked.

“That’s a nice way of putting it,” Wayne snorted. “But yeah, she’s a good kid.”

“I think I’d like to go have that discussion now,” Adabelle said, picking up Mr. Tiggles as she stood up.

“Very well,” Jackson said as he joined her. “Trevor, tomorrow, late in the morning, I’ll make sure everyone is gathered in front of the Hero House so that you can easily collect everything before heading off on your journey. Wayne, will you tell him what he needs to know about Eskretet?” Trevor nodded, and the dwarf stood up.

“You got it, Jack,” Wayne said. “C’mon, kid, we’re going shooting.”

“Oh, I’ve never shot a gun before,” Trevor stated.

“Gonna today.”

Jackson raised his hand and summoned the same book he had when Trevor first arrived. The young man stared at it again, but now he was picking out more details. To his surprise, everything lined up so far. On the cover, he wore the backpack that Melvirn had given him, the Horn of Swift Heroics, the Language Fish, and even the Vigor Bottle from Laric.

He was so engrossed with the details that he hardly noticed Adabelle glance back at him before she entered the book’s pages, and Jackson followed. Trevor only snapped back to reality when the book receded into the ground.

“The book thing’s weird, right?” Wayne asked.

“Yeah, very,” Trevor mumbled before speaking up. “What exactly is it?”

The dwarf shrugged. “Dunno, Jack’s always been secretive about the nature of his Power, and I’ve always thought he might have more than one.”

“You can have more than one Power?” Trevor asked, bemused.

“In the olden days you could, apparently. According to the elf, it’s a lost art. He hadn’t been able to replicate it.”

“Dang, that’s a bummer.”

“Yeah, we call that one Bookmark, though we’re not quite sure on most of the details,” Wayne said as he started walking towards the stairs. Trevor followed. “He’s had one with my picture, Addy’s picture, and Rashie’s. Yours now, too.”

Trevor arched an eyebrow. “Can he do anything else with our books?”

“Doesn’t seem so, though I’m not sure,” Wayne replied. “Even if he could, he’s always respected our privacy at the very least. He’s a good folk. Better than our world deserved, anyway.”

As they reached the bottom of tower, they saw that the door had been left open and closed it on the way out. The sky was still cloudy, and the breeze was cool and comforting. Wayne started heading towards one of the roads leading out of town, and Trevor quickly fell beside him.

“So, what about Eskretet?” the young man asked.

“Eskretet,” Wayne grunted. “You’ll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.”

“Wow, that sounds terrible,” Trevor said. When Wayne gave him a dubious look, he chuckled. “Yes, I caught the references.”

That caused the dwarf to snort in amusement. “Guess we have that in common, too,” he said with a wave of his hand. “It’s not bad, really. The culture’s completely different than here in Tosa, though. Suppose I should warn you about that.”

“Warn me?” Trevor asked, confused and now slightly worried.

“You’ll be okay, but the vibe’s different,” Wayne explained. “Like, here you get that small town, everyone knows each other, everything’s hunky dory atmosphere, right?”

“I don’t know if Dory would like you calling her hunky, but I’m with you so far,” Trevor laughed.

“Maybe. She’s a nice lady, she might roll with it,” the dwarf replied. “But you’re not going to get that in Eskretet. Sure, there’s some camaraderie between people who live there, but it’s big enough that they’re all in different groups amongst themselves. And the nobles there love their duels.”

“Adabelle mentioned something like that,” Trevor stated.

“Yup, that’s how she got her horn split,” Wayne confirmed as they started walking out of the town’s walls. “You gotta be careful about being with Addy. I guarantee you they’ll all remember her. If they see you standing nearby, you likely won’t get by unnoticed.”

“Oh, great, so I’m going to have some uppity noble types trying to pick fights,” the young man lamented as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s going to be hilarious for everyone except me.”

“Not much of a fighter, huh?”

“Only if you count video games.”

“I don’t.”

“Then no, Wayne. No, I am not.”

“Well, just hide behind her like you’re some kind of serving boy, then,” Wayne chortled. “I suppose the right term is retainer, isn’t it? No one wants to duel the help, after all.”

Trevor tilted his head. “Not a bad call. Adabelle’s already a noble, and she’s already participated in duels, so that could work.”

“Glad I could be of service. Though, aside from the nobles, you just gotta worry about getting your pockets picked.” Wayne paused and gave Trevor a sidelong glance. “Well, maybe not you personally.”

“My pockets are always empty,” the young man stated proudly. “Except for the one that exists inside my head.”

“If I didn’t know the context there, I’d say you were crazy, Trevor.”

Wayne led Trevor onto a side road that was more game trail than actual path, and they emerged into a clearing. There were chairs and tables meant to survive the weather, and scarecrows on stilts with white shirts were placed at various distances away. Several wooden structures were littered throughout with some of the scarecrows being hidden inside while others were in plain sight. Bullet holes riddled the clearing.

“You made your very own shooting range, huh? This is pretty impressive,” Trevor said.

“It’s just a little something I constructed,” Wayne said before gesturing at the chairs. “Please, take a seat. We got one more thing to talk about before we start shooting.”

“Sure, something else about Eskretet?” he asked, doing as he was told.

“Nope,” Wayne said, sitting across from Trevor. He reached into his beard and pulled out a small pistol that the young man didn’t recognize. What he did recognize was the dangerous aura that the dwarf embodied as he removed the magazine, examined the bullets within, and returned it before setting it down on the table. “Fires off 9mm rounds, but hits like a 12 gauge. Powers make things strong like that.”

Trevor didn’t say anything, wondering if all adventurers were capable of instilling wariness at will, and Wayne continued.

“Now, let’s discuss your relationship with Addy.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: THE HEART’S DUMB

Despite having already known that Wayne’s Power was Gun, or at least believing him when he said it, Trevor froze when he saw the pistol. The dwarf’s body language was hostile and guarded, and the reaction came from years of active shooter training and terrible news reports. Even still, he took a breath and centered himself.

While he was sure Wayne meant to be intimidating, and he was succeeding, that wasn’t the thing that went through Trevor’s mind. Instead, he was thinking about how he would have run away at the mere sight of a frightening person with a gun before. The young man still wanted to run and hide, that didn’t change, but he was also confident enough to stand his ground.

“That’s a good response,” Wayne said, setting his jaw as he nodded. “Wary, but not backing down.”

“I don’t think you’re going to shoot me,” Trevor stated. “Plus, there’s nothing going on with me and Adabelle.”

“Well now, you must think I’m blind,” Wayne retorted before picking up the gun. “I saw how you reacted when I said you two were flirting.”

Wayne didn’t aim it at Trevor, but instead towards the nearest scarecrow. Taking a moment to line up the shot, he fired. A loud crack echoed through the clearing as the scarecrow’s head was blown right off. The dwarf’s arm kicked back due to the powerful recoil, but he had seemed ready for it.

“Was that to prove you aren’t blind?” Trevor asked.

“Yup.”

“That’s pretty good proof,” he said with a nervous chuckle. “But I’m being completely serious, there’s nothing going on with me and Adabelle.”

Wayne narrowed his eyes. “Then what was all that with the hand holding and the tail swishing?” he asked loudly.

“She was comforting me,” Trevor replied, shrugging. “We got into a really deep discussion about our pasts, and I guess she thought holding my hand would help or something. I don’t know. We’re definitely not dating. There’s nothing between us.”

The dwarf fell silent for a moment before removing his hat and tossing it onto the ground. “Man, I did not think I misread that situation,” he sighed. “Here I was, all ready to tell you not to hurt her. Had a whole speech ready to go and everything.”

Suddenly, Trevor was a lot more amused about this situation. “If I hurt her, you’ll hurt me?” he asked.

“You’re darn right about that,” Wayne replied, slapping the table before pointing at Trevor. “And that’s still true, dating or not, got me?”

“I got you, Wayne,” Trevor confirmed while holding his hands up.

“Good. Addy’s gone through a lot as it is, even after she got here,” he said, looking back over the shooting range. “Nothing you’ll get out of me, she’ll tell you if she wants to, but she’s a good kid just like Rashie. In different ways of course, but she deserves happiness, not some American from another world coming and going as he pleases.”

Trevor found himself nodding. “So you’re worried about me and her hooking up, and then me leaving for Earth? You know that, on the extreme off chance that she’s actually into me, which she isn’t, that she’s still a grown woman, right?”

“I know. I’m allowed to be worried about people I love,” Wayne said defensively.

“I’m not saying you aren’t. You’re just kinda, like, everyone’s dad, then?”

“Could say that,” the dwarf replied, smirking as he picked his hat back up and brushed off the dirt. “But this ain’t about me, it’s about you. And even if you aren’t dating her now, you want to, don’t you?”

“I’m-”

“And don’t lie to me,” Wayne interrupted, pointing his finger at the young man again. “Because you’re not good at hiding your feelings.”

“Am I that easy to read?”

“You’re about as easy to read as Jack’s Bookmark, I reckon,” he retorted.

“Oh, well if you reckon, then,” Trevor said, though it meant nothing and he was just buying time. Wayne had taken to staring at the young man, making him uncomfortable.

When Trevor opened his mouth to speak, Wayne furrowed his brow, and he paused again.

“I don’t know,” he finally claimed.

It took the dwarf a few seconds to respond. “That, I believe.”

“Well, at first, I thought that she was really dangerous but also cute. Which, she is, but other than that there wasn’t really anything I felt for her,” Trevor answered. “The ears and the horns and the tail were pretty weird, admittedly. Still, the brain thinks what the brain thinks. That kept up for a while, and we spent time with each other. Became friends, but…”

“But?” Wayne urged.

Trevor thought back to when Adabelle had brought him soup and how he felt when she had left. That hadn’t just been another declaration of how attractive she was, but the realization that she had tugged at his heart in a way he hadn’t felt for a very long time.

It wasn’t love, he knew that right out the gate, but it could be some day. Trevor wanted her to take care of him like that again, and he wanted to take care of her, as more than just friends.

And it was all because she had shown him the minimal amount of kindness.

Standing up, nearly knocking over his chair, he yelled into the wind. “Is that really all it takes!?”

Wayne couldn’t help but laugh. “There it is!” he wheezed, slamming his hand on the table. “Oh Trevor, you really wear your heart on your sleeve. The moment you figured it out, it was like flicking on a light switch.”

“All she did was bring me soup!” Trevor complained. “How do we get from ‘she’s cute’ to ‘hey, I want to spend more time with you’ from soup!?”

“The heart works in mysterious ways,” Wayne laughed, his amusement not diminishing in the slightest.

“The heart’s dumb!” Trevor claimed.

“No one’s refuting that. But, sit back down, kid, and tell me about Addy.”

“You already know about her,” he said, trying to calm himself down. Regardless, he did as he was told. “You definitely know more about her than me, at the very least.”

Wayne shook his head. “There’s gotta be something, right? You may have been hit in the face with your feelings, but they come from somewhere.”

“Are you actually interested? Or are you just waiting to put your daddy daughter speech back into motion?” Trevor asked suspiciously.

“Nah, your reaction is pretty telling,” the dwarf said with a wave of his hand. “I was fairly sure before, but now I’m positive you’re just a cinnamon roll trying to make the best out of life. Still don’t think you’re good enough for Addy, if I’m being honest, but we’ll see how you are after you get a few more quests under your belt.”

“Really? Quests are what you’re going to measure me by?”

“No one stays the same when they level up. You either get better, or get worse, there’s no in between,” he claimed. “But you’re stalling. Tell me about Addy.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Trevor said slowly, looking out over the shooting range.

“I’ve got time.”

A quick glance showed that Wayne had pulled an ottoman from underneath the table and got comfortable in his chair. He certainly didn’t look like he needed to go anywhere, and Trevor was sure Rashie was running around somewhere trying to find a dungeon surge. His mind wandered as he looked up at the sky. Rays of sunlight shot through the sparse openings in the clouds.

“I’m not sure where to start, so I’m going to pick a random place and go from there.”

“Sounds good to me,” Wayne replied.

“When I took her lunch, which was done for completely platonic reasons, I had told her that we didn’t have nobles in our world. What that left us with were politicians,” Trevor said, remembering.

“It truly is a different world.”

“Truly, but I had told her that because I wasn’t used to the people in charge taking such an active role in the lives of the townsfolk,” Trevor admitted. “Which, I’m not completely naive, I know that’s a blanket statement. There’s plenty of politicians out there who are doing good, you just don’t hear about them as often because that’s not what our media’s all about. For every story about a good thing, there’s five that are neutral and twenty more that are bad.”

“Everything’s doom and gloom,” Wayne stated with a sage nod. “That was true back in my day.”

“Right. If it’s not click or rage bait, then it’s not worth publishing. It’s terrible, but that’s what sells.”

“Mmhmm. But, and I’m going to stop you there, what about Addy?”

“Well, that’s great that she’s so diligent in helping people, isn’t it?” Trevor asked after a short pause. “Helping people is one of my core values. I’ve often worked myself until I was limping back home to make sure that other people felt good about themselves. I see her doing the same, coming home late at night after a long day’s work, and it’s just self-destructive kindness.”

“It sure is,” Wayne agreed.

“And I see that in her, and I want to do what I can to make her pain go away, you know?”

“I know, kid. That’s where love starts.”

“Whoa, hold up a minute. Let’s not just throw around the L word so casually,” Trevor said, holding up his hand. “What I have is a crush.”

“Aren’t you a little old for crushes?”

“How can you be too old for crushes?” he asked loudly. “It’s literally a feeling people of all ages get. Except for those who don’t, but that’s not the discussion we’re having now.”

“Fine, to get you off of this topic, that’s where romantic feelings start. Better?”

Trevor watched Wayne as the dwarf tried not to laugh, and he shook his head. “I guess a crush is another form of romantic feelings. So, yes, that’s better.”

“Good, now that it’s settled, you get a pass. Not only that, but I’m going to be your wingman.”

“You were literally setting up this conversation to threaten me with a gun, Wayne,” Trevor said, exasperated. “I’m seconds away from getting whiplash.”

“You’ll find that I’ve reserved the right to change my mind as I please. But, yeah, that was before I saw that you’re harmless,” Wayne chuckled. “I’ve got a good judge of your character now. Thought all that apologizing and helpful attitude might be a ruse, but you come by it honestly.”

“Thank you, I think?” Trevor questioned. “But I don’t need a wingman. I’m not even sure if I’m going to pursue her.”

“And why not?” he asked. “Adabelle’s better than the catch of the day. You’d be a fool not to.”

“First, I’m sure she’s not even interested in me,” Trevor began. “She brought me soup once, we talked about our history, that’s it. We’re friends, but that’s it. Second, I’m not even sure I’m going to stay here in this world.”

“It’s a lot better than our old one, you’d be a fool to go back,” Wayne said confidently.

“Maybe I’m a fool, but it’s where I came from and there are people who are working to save my life as we speak,” Trevor countered. “Can you imagine the turmoil they’d go through if I never woke up? I am in a coma, just waiting for my spirit or ghost or whatever I am to get back to my body. And I’ve got responsibilities there.”

“Could you imagine the turmoil you’d have to go through if you went back because of those responsibilities?” Wayne shot back.

“This isn’t about me,” Trevor stuttered out.

“Yeah? Sure seems that way to me, as it’s your soul. They’ll get over it, will you?”

Trevor, now completely frustrated, crossed his arms and looked back over the shooting range. “I’m leaning towards staying, but it’s not because of Adabelle.”

“She sure helps the case, though, doesn’t she?” Wayne asked, grinning.

Trevor huffed. “Look, I appreciate the offer, but I’m not ready to talk to her about this.”

“Why not? No time like the present, and you can head off to Eskretet hand in hand.”

The thought did cause the young man to pause, but he shook it away. “Wayne, if I tell her and she doesn’t respond the same way, then that’s just a burden, you know?” Trevor said after taking a breath to calm himself. “I would be embarrassed, and that would make me sad. She would start treating me differently, and that would also make me sad. Not only that, but she would be burdened with the knowledge that I want more from her than she’s willing to give.”

“People confess to each other all the time,” Wayne countered. “Doesn’t mean your relationship will change for the worse. You miss all the shots you don’t take.”

“I’d rather not take the shot and have something approaching happiness than take the shot and shoot myself in the foot,” Trevor stated. “I’d rather her stay a friend than alienate her.”

“And if she feels the same way and isn’t acting on it for the same reasons?”

“Adabelle’s way more mature than I am, so I doubt that’s the case,” Trevor said. That caused Wayne to chortle before he began laughing uproariously. The young man watched the dwarf as he fell over backwards in his chair, legs kicking as he couldn’t seem to stop. “Okay, now you’re just hamming it up.”

“Oh no, it’s real,” Wayne claimed once he started calming down. “You’ve got a lot to learn, kid. A lot more than you even think you do. But, look, you can’t stop me, I’ve already decided to help you out. You two will make a good pair. Anderson and Katine, you can’t miss.”

Trevor watched as Wayne stood up and fixed his chair. “You’ll just be in the way if you do.”

“Stop me if you can, cinnamon roll,” the dwarf challenged.

Narrowing his eyes, Trevor put on a rare sneer. “You’re going to try and help no matter what, huh?”

Wayne’s eyes became guarded as he noticed the out of place look on the young man’s face. “Yup.”

“Cool, cool. Well, if you decide to interfere in the friendship I have with Adabelle, then I’m going to make sure you don’t get another moment of peace again.”

Snorting, the dwarf shook his head. “Yeah? Do your worst, cinnamon roll. You’ve got nothing.”

“Oh, there are two very important facts I can use that will make you miserable,” Trevor claimed, raising his hand and listing them off. “First, Rashie likes me. That means she’ll listen when I tell her things. Second, I know as an indisputable fact that she would love to learn Baby Shark.”

Wayne frowned in confusion. “What’s Baby Shark?”

Trevor sighed. “Well, that just takes the wind right out of my sails,” he said before chuckling. “Okay, so it’s basically the super popular equivalent of every song your son would sing growing up. We’re talking, like, billions of views on the internet. And it’s about sharks, so I’m guessing that Rashie will never stop singing it. It’s not a one-to-one equivalent, but imagine your son start singing, I don’t know… the Barney song, or The Song That Never Ends, and then just never stops. Those are old enough for you to recognize, right?”

All amusement drained from Wayne’s face. “You’re bluffing.”

“You want to try me, cowboy?” Trevor asked.

“You wouldn’t dare. You’d have to deal with it, too.”

“Yeah, until I go back to Earth. Then I’ll be able to avoid it like I always had.”

“What, by not being friends with people who have kids?”

“I guess if you want to put it that way, sure.”

Wayne watched Trevor carefully for any sign of weakness before sighing. “Fine, I know when I’ve been beat,” he admitted before jabbing his finger at the young man. “You got horns holding up your halo, you know that?”

Smiling, Trevor put his guard down and scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, sorry about that,” he said, sounding halfway sincere. “But, if I decide for sure that I’m going to stay, I’ll… think about what you’ve said. Only if the moment’s right, and only if she starts sending me signals. Okay?” The young man held his hand out.

Eying that hand like it was a snake, Wayne’s shoulders slumped and he took a deep breath. “Fine, but take too long and that’s on you, got it?” he warned, taking Trevor’s hand and giving it a firm shake.

“Yeah, I’ve got it,” the young man said with a smile. “But we came here to shoot, right? Let’s do it. You got more guns?”

That caused Wayne to laugh, and the atmosphere changed back in an instant. “Do I have guns?” he repeated mockingly. “Kid, I could open a shop, turn a profit, and still keep the good stuff for my personal collection at home.”

The rest of the day was loud, but surprisingly pleasant.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: SPREADING YOUR WINGS

Trevor and Mr. Tiggles were out and about early on the day of his trip. He hadn’t seen Adabelle for breakfast, but Wayne had gotten up to cook for everyone before he and Rashie went off on their own adventure. The young man had decided to meet a friend for advice.

“I’m sorry for bothering you this early in the morning, Mr. Drelik,” he apologized again as he followed the elderly dwarf out of his house and into the garden.

“You’re no trouble at all, my boy,” Drelik responded just as he had every time Trevor apologized. “It’s just unusual to see you out here so early, is all. You caught me by surprise.”

Trevor smiled as he looked over the garden, and that smile only grew when he saw the statue of Cindal, the dwarf’s late wife. Drelik had only just begun chiseling out the fine details, but it was coming along nicely.

Or so the young man assumed. While he didn’t know much about sculpting, Drelik had been in good spirits from the get go, so he thought it was going well.

“I actually wanted to talk to you a little bit,” Trevor started slowly, stroking Mr. Tiggles. The cat hung out around his neck like a scarf, and had gotten used to the dwarf’s presence enough that he didn’t flee whenever the young man came over.

“I’m always up for a good chat, but something tells me you have something particular in mind,” Drelik intuited. When Trevor looked down at him nervously, the dwarf nodded. “Please, go ahead.”

“I, uh, I wanted to know what…” Trevor began before sighing. “I’m going on a trip for a quest. To Eskretet. And, I’m going with someone that I really like, apparently, but I’m not really sure how this world… courts, I guess.”

“So you come to me for advice?”

“I couldn’t help but think of the person who had the longest, happiest relationship,” the young man stammered out quickly. “And I’m still not sure if I’m going to pursue this woman yet, you know? Like, ask her out, or something. I’m not sure if she likes me, but if she sends me signs then I want to be ready, and I wanted to talk to you, Mr. Drelik.”

The elderly dwarf laughed, though it wasn’t done maliciously. “Trevor, when I first asked Cindal to be mine, I asked her to dance because that is what my culture expected of me,” he explained. “Grand gestures, elaborate yet stiff movements, everything done the way it was supposed to. But this isn’t a century and a half ago; times have changed and I doubt that will help you much. Tell me, what would someone on your Earth do?”

Trevor hesitated. “Just ask her on a date, I guess,” he answered. “But it can’t be that easy, can it?”

“Hmm. Is this someone who’s born and raised in Lucent, or are you going with another Summoned?” Drelik asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

“She’s… Summoned,” Trevor confirmed. “But not a word of this to anyone, okay? I really don’t want it getting out in case I decide against asking.”

“If it makes you feel better, then know that I already approve,” the elderly dwarf said with a smile. Then he frowned. “Just to be clear, it’s not the little shark girl, right?”

“Absolutely not!” Trevor protested.

“Then I approve,” he reiterated. “But, Trevor, it really is that easy. If she was from this world then I could give you some more precise advice, but she is not. You’re both from very different places and she’s the only one who could possibly tell you how it’s done where she’s from. So, do it in your own way, and be yourself.”

The young man scratched the back of his head, unsure of whether that particular piece of advice would suit him, but nodded. “Okay, I’ll try…”

“You’ll succeed,” Drelik insisted. “And you’ll know when the time’s right better than anyone else, just like I did with my Cindal. When the moment comes, just reach out and seize it. I bet you’ll notice it in a heartbeat and jump on it as soon as you realize it’s there.”

“Just that easy, huh?” Trevor asked, unsure if that was the advice he was looking for.

“Just that easy,” Drelik repeated before reaching up to pat the young man on his shoulder. “You have to believe in yourself a little more, my boy. You are a truly wonderful young man, and you’ve got to give yourself more credit. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”

“If you say so, sir,” he said before sighing and sitting down. “I’ve got a couple of hours before I have to be back, so, thanks for the company, Mr. Drelik.”

“And thank you, Trevor,” the elderly dwarf replied jovially, picking up his hammer and chisel so he could get to work.

◆◆◆

Trevor scratched Mr. Tiggles beneath the chin as they made their way through town. “You be good for Wayne and Rashie, okay?” he requested. “I’ll be back in a few days.”

“Meow.”

“Good boy,” Trevor cooed just as he entered the Hero House’s walls. “I’m going to miss you, little buddy.”

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles responded before stretching, getting up, and jumping down.

“Trevor! I’m glad to see you’re finally spreading your wings,” Thimbleden called from atop his wagon. It was parked in front of the communal space, and the young man started heading towards it.

Trevor immediately recognized it as the one that transported the Floatstone before Denden and Merckle cursed it to fall apart. It was hitched to a team of two wracors, and had a full load of boxes piled up on the back.

Thanks to the Language Fish, he could see that they were mostly fire based magical items, such as Heating Stones, and vials that were labeled as both fragile and dangerous. That was only what he saw on the outside, though, and it was a big stack.

“Good morning, sir. And, well, it’s about time I see more of this world than just Tosa,” Trevor admitted. “You all sure have a lot here for me to take, huh?”

“This is more than I usually send,” Dory said as she walked around the wagon to check the back. She was bundled up tightly, likely to keep from being too cold, and Trevor could see there were Heating Stones sticking out of her pockets and scarf. “Trevor, are you sure you can carry this much?”

“Ms. Dory, good morning,” Trevor greeted with a bow before he thought about the medusa’s question.

Crossing his arms, Trevor studied the pile of boxes again. It was less than the logs from Laric’s emergency quest, but he felt it was close to what he would be able to handle without his backpack. Summoning his pack from his inventory, he filled it with as much of his necessities as possible, leaving only the food he had time-locked inside his Power pocket.

“I think I should be able to,” he eventually said, taking off the backpack and leaving it on the ground. It was close to bursting, but it was made of tough materials so he wasn’t worried.

Now that his Capacity stat wasn’t being bolstered, Trevor walked to the wagon and started pulling boxes into his inventory. He felt satisfied as the containers holding potions all Stacked up with each other, reducing their weight and volume slightly, and that feeling only grew as he took on the boxes with the Heating Stones.

Once he started getting deeper into the wagon, the boxes stopped Stacking. These were the ones that had miscellaneous products in them, and that apparently meant they weren’t close enough in size or shape for the Capacity skill to work. Even so, as he got about halfway through, Trevor thought that he would be able to take it all in.

At the front of the wagon, as he had started from the back, the young man paused when he noticed a large painting. He very quickly pulled in more boxes until he could see the artwork, and found himself transfixed by it.

The subject was a white stone castle straight out of some animated movie. It towered over the trees that surrounded it, and the city that surrounded the forest, and even looked large compared to the mountains in the background. What really caught Trevor’s eye, though, was the halo of golden energy that surrounded the castle.

It reminded the young man of rings around a planet. When he leaned in to get a closer look, he could see that it was actually painted as an intricate magic circle. The halo appeared to shine bright yellow, but Trevor could still see all but the smallest details. Glowing pillars were shooting straight up out of it, with one of them exploding like a firework.

“Castle Eskretet,” Jackson said from behind when he saw Trevor staring. “Your destination, and where you’ll meet the king. I painted that as a gift for him.”

“This is gorgeous, Mayor Jackson,” Trevor remarked. “You’re really talented.”

“Well, I’m no Cindal, but I make do,” the elf said humbly.

“That’s what happens when you live for centuries at a time,” Thimbleden snorted. “You get really good at things.”

“Bah, I’m just a man trying to make the best out of his life.”

Reaching forward, Trevor gently touched the painting and pulled it into his inventory before grabbing the rest of the boxes. His pocket dimension was almost completely full, and he was glad he didn’t have to eject any of the meals he had put into the time-locked section of his inventory.

“Alright, looks good,” Trevor said with a smile. Feeling everything packed tight in his inventory was a satisfying feeling. “And the quest? I imagine Lady Adabelle will get it as well?”

[[New Quests! Yes, quests, plural. I’m not going to give you different text boxes for each one because then we’d both be bored and Adabelle would be bored later when it’s her turn to read them.

Quest 1: Jackson has painted a picture of Castle Eskretet to be given to the king. You are to deliver it when Lady Adabelle speaks on the elderly elf’s retirement and her imminent takeover of Tosa.

It should be easy; the recipient is only royalty, after all.

Quest 2 & 3: Thimbleden wants you to deliver goods to the Merchant Prince Klarkartar, who had made deals with several of the shops when he was in town. Dory wants you to do the same, but she’s actually sending you with unstable chemicals used in alchemy for specific purposes that need a little something extra only she could provide.

Don’t worry, it’s a lot safer than anything Melvirn shoved in there.

Each of these quests counts towards level up, and if you complete them all you get two platinum pieces and what essentially counts as a fourth quest for level up purposes thanks to Jackson.

Now all you have to do is make the trip, but you’ll be fine. Probably.]]

“The Quest Master is being very ominous today,” Trevor said, though he couldn’t help but be excited about seeing Klar again.

“It gets a tad bit overly dramatic whenever someone’s about to go on a long journey,” Jackson explained.

“Sure seems that way,” Trevor said before looking at the medusa. “Ms. Dory, what exactly are you putting in my inventory? If it’s okay to ask, I mean; sorry if it’s not.”

Dory smirked and reached up to pat the snakes that made up her braided hair. “My darlings here create venom just like any other snake capable of the same,” she answered. “It is a potent ingredient to create a special antivenom that works for many kinds of snake bites. From what I understand, a serpent dungeon has formed near Eskretet. It is quite large, and thus I am a hot commodity.”

“That sounds very lucrative, no wonder the reward is so much.”

Trevor read through the Quest Master’s text again, noting that these three quests would count as four for the purposes of leveling up, but also the two platinum pieces. It would be his first time owning even one.

“We all pitched in for that,” Thimbleden said, adjusting his glasses. “But, yes, Dory is definitely making the most out of all this.”

“You make do with what you have,” Dory said, a smile tugging at her lips.

Trevor glanced at the wracors on the front of the wagon before standing up and looking around. He couldn’t see Adabelle anywhere nearby. While visiting the capital was undoubtedly very exciting, her company was what he was most looking forward to.

Jackson seemed to pick up on this, and pointed his thumb towards her home. “I believe Lady Adabelle is still inside, if you’d like to get her,” he said. “I should be getting back to the office. She made it clear in no uncertain terms that she was very mad at me, so I’m going to leave before I get yelled at again.”

“I wonder who’s fault that is, Mayor Jackson,” Dory chided.

“Yes, it is one of life’s great mysteries, isn’t it?” the elf said with a smirk. “Either way, be safe on your journey, Trevor, and make sure you both take care of each other.”

“We will,” Trevor said as he jumped down from the wagon. He offered Jackson his hand, and they shook on it before the young man warned the elf. “And make sure we don’t come back to more work than Adabelle can handle in a day, got it?”

“Yes, I understand,” the mayor said with a mischievous grin. Trevor wasn’t sure if he could believe it, but let go of the other man’s hand anyway.

“I should be getting back myself,” Thimbleden stated.

“It is the same for me,” Dory added before bowing to Trevor. “Thank you, and safe journeys.”

“We’ll make sure that we get this quest completed as soon as we can,” the young man said as he bowed to them both. After a few more goodbyes, Trevor was left alone with animals he had no idea how to care for. He did, however, know the one who did.

He approached Adabelle’s door and knocked on it.

“I’m still mad at you, Jackson!” her voice came from within.

“He knows,” Trevor called back. “That’s why he fled as soon as he could.”

The door was flung open, revealing Adabelle. She was wearing her armor, which Trevor realized he should have expected because they were leaving the safety of the walls. The only difference between yesterday and today was that she had her long, white hair braided now. A smile graced her face and, when their eyes met, Trevor couldn’t help but smile back.

“Well, why didn’t you say so?” she asked, picking up a large pack by the door and slinging it over her shoulder.

“All I did was knock,” Trevor said before pointing to what he assumed was her luggage. “Would you like me to take that?”

“To the wagon parked twenty feet away?” she scoffed in amusement. “I think I can handle it, Son of Ander.”

“Right, of course,” he said with a lopsided smile. “Inventory is full, anyway. They stuffed me.”

Adabelle nodded, but didn’t say anything. Based on the way her eyes moved, he figured she was reading the quest. Once the demonkin finished, she nodded and closed the door behind her. “Let’s get moving, shall we?”

“Yeah, absolutely, I’m ready to go,” Trevor said before stepping back off of the porch.

Picking up the backpack he had left on the ground, the young man’s inventory space expanded until he set it down in the wagon. It was fairly comfortable now that there weren’t any boxes. The walls on either side were tall, and there were benches to sit on with cushions stored underneath. Trevor slid into a spot near the front as Adabelle set her pack in the back and sat on the bench meant for the driver.

“Are you all set?” she asked, glancing back at him over her shoulder.

Trevor leaned against the front of the wagon and took one last look around the Hero House, taking it all in. Before he could answer, something rocked the wagon. The young man grabbed onto Adabelle’s arm to steady her, but it didn’t seem like she needed the help. Rashie scrambled into the wagon a second later.

The shark girl ran forward and jumped onto Adabelle’s back. “We’re gonna miss you, Addy,” she said as she hugged the demonkin. “And you, too, Tranderson. I guess.”

“Oh, it’s Tranderson now?” Trevor snorted.

“I don’t know, maybe. I’m still working on it.”

“Give me a proper hug, shark,” Adabelle told Rashie as she picked up the girl from her back in order to hug her properly. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

The shark girl’s tail slapped against the wagon’s wooden frame but she allowed herself to be held. “Not before I know it, but soon,” she corrected.

“We’ll keep busy here, Rashie,” Wayne said, and Trevor turned to see the dwarf. “Wanted to say goodbye before you were off. And I had something for the boy.”

“Gee willikers, old man, you really shouldn’t have,” Trevor replied sarcastically.

“Come off it, cinnamon roll,” the dwarf snorted.

“Cinnamon roll?” Adabelle asked as she tried, and failed, to peel Rashie off of her.

“He thinks he’s funny,” Trevor answered.

“I am what I am,” Wayne chuckled as he reached his hand into his beard. Just like the day before, he picked out a gun and offered it to the young man.

Trevor took it and frowned. It looked like a cheap, plastic imitation of some futuristic sci-fi gun. It even felt like it would break if he pulled the trigger too hard.

“Um, thank you? I think,” he said, holding the gun gingerly.

“It’s for self-defense,” Wayne said seriously. “There’s no safety, so be very careful with it. I know you’re squeamish about hurting things, so it essentially works like a taser but without the pain. You won’t be killing anything with that unless you shoot it multiple times. How much you can shoot it is based on your Mana stat. If yours is still 1, you can fire off six shots a day. You can’t be too careful.”

Trevor found himself nodding along the more the dwarf spoke. “Oh, alright. That’s really helpful, Wayne. Thank you,” he said honestly.

Wayne waved his hand dismissively. “You’re welcome. Now be careful out there. Hide behind Addy if you need to. She’s a lot scarier than you are.”

“That’s true,” Adabelle said as she finally managed to pull Rashie off. The shark girl was grinning, but there was a sadness in her eyes. “If you need to hide behind me, feel free to do so without shame, Trevor.”

“Don’t you dare think for a second that I’m going to be ashamed to hide behind the strongest person I know,” Trevor said with a short laugh. “Like, that’s not even a question.”

“Weird flex, but okay,” Wayne chortled before reaching up to grab Rashie.

“Wait, wait, wait!” she cried out, scrambling away from both of their hands to stand in the back of the wagon. The shark girl brushed off her armor before looking at Trevor and holding her arms out. “I guess you get a hug, too, but you gotta-”

Trevor didn’t even let her finish. He shoved the gun into his inventory, thankful that it was small enough to fit, and stood up. “Come here, you,” Trevor said as he scooped Rashie into a hug.

The shark girl seemed surprised that it was that easy, but hugged him back. The moment lasted only a few seconds before she kicked him in the leg and demanded to be put down. Trevor obliged, and she scrambled to rejoin Wayne on the ground.

“Have a safe trip,” the dwarf said.

“Yeah, or else!” Rashie threatened.

“We will. You two try to keep occupied without us,” Adabelle said.

“And keep yourselves safe along with the town,” Trevor added.

Smiling, the young man waved as the wagon pulled away from the two adventurers. It wouldn’t be for long, but he knew he would miss them terribly.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: MAXIMUM TREVOR

For the first time in a few days, there were only a few clouds slowly blowing across the sky. The air wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t cold like it had been before, and Trevor found himself closing his eyes more often than not when basking in the sunlight. It felt fantastic with the breeze from the steady pace of the wagon.

It was also comfortable on the surprisingly well paved roads. Trevor often looked down to see that they were better taken care of than the ones he was familiar with back on Earth, though they didn’t appear to be used nearly as often. Every so often other travelers, whether riding or walking, would pass by with polite bows that he and Adabelle would return.

Trevor found himself enamored with the scenery. The further along they went, the more mountains started popping up in the distance. He clearly remembered the ones in the backdrop of Jackson’s painting, and couldn’t wait to see Castle Eskretet in person. Not that the view here was any less picturesque with the numerous lakes and forests, he just wanted to see the capital.

“Probably for best that Rashie didn’t come,” he suddenly said a few hours into the ride. “She’d jump into one of these lakes and I’m not sure we’d ever get her out.”

When Adabelle looked, he gestured towards a large body of water that appeared to stretch out for miles. The only indication that it stopped were the rolling hills on the other side, and it reflected the clouds and sky beautifully. The demonkin snorted.

“We actually did lose her in that lake, once,” she admitted. “Wayne and I, I mean, back when I was adventuring more. She saw it and immediately dove in. We took turns camping out here for four whole days before she resurfaced. She claimed there were ruins down there, but never brought back anything substantial.”

“What were you doing out here?” Trevor asked, leaning against the front of the wagon so that he could pay attention to her better. Adabelle gestured behind him, and he reluctantly turned around.

A forest full of wide trees was a good distance away from the road, but something seemed off at first glance. He stared at them for a few seconds before shaking his head. “The forest?”

“They call it the Primordial Wood,” Adabelle explained. “Every tree that’s in that forest is hundreds to thousands of years old, and they’re bigger than the Summoner’s Tower back home.”

Tilting his head, Trevor squinted in order to try to get a better look at it. It finally clicked. They were much further away than he thought, but were so massive that he thought they were closer. He could even make out the shapes of the leaves, if only barely, from this distance.

“Wow, those are huge,” he remarked.

“Very much so. It’s also a protected dungeon by royal decree,” Adabelle continued. “It’s one of the types that don’t constantly spawn monsters. Once a certain threshold is reached, then it stops. Because of that, there’s a thriving ecosystem that exists specifically inside the Primordial Wood with monsters at the top, but everything else is able to survive as well.”

“Did Wayne mention the name dinosaur at all?”

“Once or twice, I think,” she said, pursing her lips in thought. “It was a couple of years ago, but the name definitely sounds familiar.”

“Dinosaurs, awesome. But if it’s protected, then how come you three got sent in?” Trevor asked, confused.

“Because there were poachers in there,” she said, her voice becoming acidic. “That’s what we were told, anyway. We took on the quest at a local way station, and they told us it was poachers. When we got there, it was a lot more dire than that.”

“What happened?” Trevor urged, turning to look at her again. He was momentarily taken aback when he saw the disgust on her face, but didn’t say anything more.

“A necromancer,” she spat. “Summoned, based on the tattoo. He had been killing the monsters, reanimating them, and waiting for the dungeon to spawn more. By the time we got there, the necromancer had already claimed the corpses of several dozens of them.”

“Did you manage to stop him?”

“Of course we did,” Adabelle huffed. She immediately took a calming breath before glancing back with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, it’s just bad memories.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me, Adabelle,” Trevor told her honestly. “That had to be really traumatic for all of you. I know that most quests aren’t happy events and I’m just an outlier, but I can’t even imagine going through something like that.”

Adabelle’s mood seemed to change as he spoke, and she smirked. “You’re definitely going about it in a way I’ve seen few do, being exclusive to courier quests, but I suppose that’s just part of what makes you, you.”

“Yes, I am pretty much maximum Trevor,” he proudly declared. “It’s good that you were able to stop him, though. I imagine the landscape would have been much different if the Primordial Woods had zombie dinos constantly coming out. You all must have saved a lot of lives.”

“We did, didn’t we?” she muttered quietly, glancing back in the direction of the trees. Adabelle cleared her throat. “I wasn’t really thinking about that back in those days, but every quest does make things better for the people.”

“What were you thinking about then?”

Hesitating, Adabelle seemed to shrink into herself a little bit, an action that did not go unnoticed. “Would you think less of me if I said all I was thinking about was leveling up so I could get stronger?” she asked.

“Never,” Trevor said firmly. “Just yesterday, Wayne told me that nobody stays the same when they level up. They either get better or worse. Well, I don’t have to wonder what you’re going to be like when you level up, do I? You may have been aggressive about it, or obsessed with it, or whatever, but I’m glad for the Adabelle who’s here now.”

“Oh, thanks Tre-”

“Of course, I also heard you were as friendly as a bramble bush, lady, so maybe we wouldn’t have gotten along,” he teased.

Adabelle’s eyes went wide as she turned to look at him, and then they narrowed. “Oh, is that how it is?” she asked.

Trevor held up his hands, but didn’t stop smiling. “Listen, that’s just what I heard.”

“Hey, hold still a minute, will you?” Adabelle requested, her voice suddenly sounding very sweet.

“Hold still for what?” Trevor asked warily.

“Just want to make sure I don’t miss,” she said, smiling.

Suddenly very concerned, Trevor opened his mouth to ask what she meant when the spade at the end of her tail slapped him in the forehead. It didn’t hurt, but it caused her to laugh, and he was frozen with his mouth open as he processed what had just happened to him. His face made her laugh more, and eventually he shook it off.

“I could have sworn I heard you say that thing had a mind of its own,” he accused.

“It does, but that’s only when I’m not paying attention to it,” she said, still giggling. “I’m glad you were able to follow basic instructions. I would have hated hitting you anywhere else.”

“From where I’m sitting, and the way your tail is swishing in such a self-satisfied manner, I think you would have enjoyed hitting me even if it wasn’t on target.”

“I guess we’ll never know,” she said sweetly.

“Uh huh, I guess not,” Trevor responded with a half-amused snort. His eyes were glued to her tail, and he felt the urge to reach out and grab it. He didn’t, though. That kind of playfulness was off limits, and he tore his eyes away in order to take in the landscape again. “How long until we get there, do you think?”

“What?”

“Until we get to Eskretet.”

Adabelle gave him a confused look. “Wasn’t Wayne supposed to go over that with you?”

“He told me a little bit, like dueling and expecting my pockets to get picked.”

“You have that problem?”

“Nope,” Trevor said proudly. “And I don’t intend to.”

“Okay, but what else did you spend your time on if not talking about the trip?” she asked, bemused.

“Oh, you know, shooting guns,” Trevor said slowly as he remembered the turn in the conversation. “Lots of firing weapons and talking about Earth and stuff like that. Just guy stuff.”

Adabelle snorted. “Guy stuff, huh?”

“Yeah, just a lot of macho stuff going on,” Trevor claimed as he turned his attention to another crystal lake. “But, uh, what about my question?”

The woman shook her head, but answered. “We’re going to stop tonight at a place called the Halffle Inn. It’s the halfway point between Tosa and Eskretet. We’re pushing the wracors at a good pace so we’ll drop them off there and pick up another pair so they can rest until we get back.”

“Will they be taken care of there?” Trevor asked, frowning.

“Of course. All of the Tosa Summoned are good friends with them,” Adabelle replied with a wave of her hand. “What they won’t be fine for, is two whole days at this speed. We would have to make it a three-day trip instead of just two, which means we probably wouldn’t be able to prepare for the festival.”

The young man perked up immediately. “There’s a festival?”

“I’m going to whack Wayne when I see him next for not explaining anything to you,” she grumbled. “Yes, the Festival of Golden Lights. They hold it every year on the day of the city’s liberation. It’s been going on for around 70 or 80 years now. If we hurry, we can get clothes so we can celebrate properly.”

“What’s wrong with what we’re wearing now?”

The look Adabelle gave him made it clear that she thought that was a stupid question, but she just shook her head again and looked back at the road. “You don’t have anything to wear to the festival, trust me,” she said.

“Okay, I believe you,” he said, though it certainly didn’t sound as though he was sure about it. “I find it hard to believe you don’t, though. Since you seem so ready for it.”

Adabelle almost glanced back before she composed herself. “My last outfit got shredded,” she answered slowly. “On account of a duel.”

“Yeah, that tracks,” he said, snickering.

“That doesn’t matter,” she stated firmly. “We’re going to the festival, we’re going to be appropriately dressed, and we’re going to have a great time.”

Trevor opened his mouth to make a quip when he realized that sounded just like a date. He closed his mouth and thought about it for a few moments, mentally arguing with himself about what she actually meant by that.

“That sounds like a great time,” he said lamely.

“Darn right, it does,” she confirmed.

“And when does this Festival of Golden Lights take place?”

“We’ll arrive there tomorrow night, see the king and make deliveries the day after. The festival is the day after that,” she answered. “And then we’ll either take a recovery day or leave for home, depending on how we’re feeling.”

“Planning on fighting more duels, huh?”

“Tons, but only if you don’t try to stop me,” she admitted with a grin.

“Stop you? I’ll be behind you carrying your stuff and staying out of your way like a good retainer,” Trevor balked, causing her to laugh. “That said, I guess I just thought this was going to be a quick stop. I definitely don’t mind staying in the city for a couple of days, though.”

“It’s a beautiful place. Different from Tosa in a lot of ways, but it reminds me of home.”

“Is being there hard for you?”

Adabelle shook her head. “No, I recognize that they’re different places,” she replied. “Just very similar. Tosa was a bit of a culture shock to me when I first arrived, and it took me a while but I finally started moving at their pace just a couple of years ago. It was a long transitional period, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

“I’d like to hear more about that time, if you don’t mind,” Trevor stated.

“Seems like you’re really going all in on trying to learn more about me, don’t you think?” Adabelle asked slyly.

“In my defense,” he said quickly. “You’re one of the few people here who have also been Summoned, and you’ve been here a lot longer than I have. Jackson’s busy all the time, or gone at the very least. I could talk to Wayne, but I think he’d end up embellishing everything.”

“And Rashie is Rashie,” she concluded.

“Rashie is very Rashie,” Trevor agreed. “So, as the most mature and sane one of the group, I naturally want to fall back on asking you.”

“Maybe,” she said. “We’ve got a long way to go, so who knows what we’ll end up talking about. For now, though, get up here.”

“Up in the driver’s seat?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m going to teach you how to drive the wagon so I don’t have to do it the whole way all by myself,” she said. “I want to relax, too, you know.”

“Oh, uh, sure. Yeah, let me get up there, then.”

Hopping the wall, Trevor maneuvered himself onto the bench-like seat. She moved over to make some space for him, but it wasn’t very wide and they had to sit fairly close together. The young man took some time to get it, but eventually learned enough that Adabelle felt comfortable heading to the back of the wagon to rest.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: I WANT TO EAT CANDY

Trevor didn’t have to drive a lot back on Earth. His home was a stone’s throw away from work, and anything he needed could be purchased there or online. A car was a luxury that he couldn’t afford and didn’t need. While he had gotten his driver’s license, it wasn’t much more than the least important card in his wallet.

Steering a wracor-pulled carriage was nothing like driving, and he found himself enjoying it a lot more. Honestly, the animals did most of the work. They were well trained and stayed on their side of the road while doing their best to avoid any of the rare potholes. Despite that, he found that steering them with the reins was a lot more satisfying.

They stopped around noon to feed and water the wracors and eat a light meal before resuming their journey. Adabelle had been impressed by the upgrade to Trevor’s Power when he pulled out warm food, and he immediately believed that Temporal Dimensional Storage had been the right choice for that reason alone.

Not wanting to give up the driver’s seat just yet, Trevor volunteered to keep going. Adabelle agreed, not wanting to dampen his enthusiasm, and began reading a book she had brought with her while he fixated on his task. As time flowed by, he achieved a state of hyperfocus and lost track of everything except for the wracors, the road, and the breeze.

After what seemed like minutes later, she tapped him on the shoulder. Trevor was pulled from his own mind to see that the sky was already beginning to turn orange.

“Oh, is it time to switch already?” he asked.

“You’ve been driving for hours,” Adabelle stated, leaning over the wagon’s wall to rest her elbow on the back of the driver’s seat. “Did you fall asleep or something?”

“No, I was awake. Just focused, I guess,” he said with an apologetic grin. “Sorry if you were trying to get my attention.”

“I’ve been pretty absorbed in my book, but I still expected you to tell me to switch when you got tired.”

Shifting on the wooden seat, he realized that he was feeling somewhat numb. “I didn’t even realize it until now. Sorry, lady.”

Adabelle laughed. “What are you sorry about? I don’t much care for driving, so if that’s what you want to do then be my guest. What I wanted to tell you is that we’re almost there,” she said as she pointed forward.

Trevor looked ahead to see a small walled off area ahead. Squinting to get a better look, he saw that there was a sign that stated this was the Halffle Inn. “Something around these parts they need walls for?” he asked, looking around for any potential threats. The area was fairly heavily wooded, but nothing stood out.

“Used to, back when things weren’t nearly as safe,” Adabelle explained. “Now the gates are almost always open unless something terrible happens. Like bandits showing up and making camp nearby.”

“Looks like the gate is open now, so I’m guessing the bandits aren’t a problem anymore,” Trevor noted.

“Probably not, since Wayne and Rashie took care of them,” she agreed as she stood up, grabbing the side of the wagon for support. “Do you mind if I use your arm to steady myself?”

“Huh? No, go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Looking back, Trevor saw Adabelle grab her sword and walk back to the front of the wagon. She spun around and wrapped her tail around his arm before she attempted to attach the weapon’s scabbard to her belt with both hands. The young man held firm as the wagon continued forward, and she was able to accomplish her task without falling down.

“It’s such a pain to keep on me on long trips, but I have an image to maintain,” Adabelle explained once she was sitting back down. “Future mayor of Tosa, noble adventurer, so on and so forth.”

“I’ll do my best not to embarrass you, Lady Adabelle,” Trevor said. “No promises, though.”

“You’ll do fine. It’s just the Halffle Inn; the real test will be in the capital.”

“Am I going to get graded?”

“Would you be upset if I said yes?”

Trevor thought about this for a moment before shaking his head. “Nah. Just remember that, as my teacher, any failing grade I get is all on you.”

“Oh, is that how it is?” she laughed. “Then I guess tomorrow is going to be a long journey filled with etiquette lessons.”

“You know, that actually doesn’t sound half bad,” Trevor said. “Now how do I get these wracors into that gate shaped hole?”

Adabelle stepped over the divider and sat with him in the driver’s seat. He shifted to make room before having to move over to the other side so that he wasn’t getting poked by her sword. She took the reins and gracefully steered the animals through the open gate. There had been plenty of room, and they stopped in front of the stables.

“Lady Adabelle,” greeted a young, slightly dirty halfling. He walked out of the stables and wiped the sweat from his short dark hair before gesturing towards the animals. “Can I take your wracors for ya?”

“Of course, Dill,” she replied as she stepped down from the wagon. Trevor immediately recognized her tone as the one she used when dealing with other members of Tosa as an official of the town. “We are traveling to Eskretet to attend the festival, and we will return either the next day or the day after. I trust you can care for these two for us?”

“Yes, Lady Adabelle,” Dill replied as he started taking care of the animals.

Trevor walked around back and picked up his backpack, sliding it on, as well as hers. She hadn’t made a move to grab it, but nodded to him when he did before walking towards the largest building inside the walls.

In addition to the stables, there was also an empty building labeled “Farrier.” Trevor wasn’t sure what that was meant to be but there were a ton of horseshoes scattered about. The Halffle Inn, where they were heading now, was a long, two-story building that was made from the same type of wood as the walls. He could hear people speaking loudly as well as the sound of some stringed instrument playing.

As Dill worked with the wracors, Adabelle headed straight inside. Trevor was immediately greeted by the smell of fresh bread, cooked beef, mead, and the curious glances of the few patrons sitting around. He followed her into the building.

It was warm with a fireplace roaring in the corner. The dining room was small, with only six or so tables. Half of them were occupied. Trevor saw the stairs leading upwards to where he assumed most of the rooms were. In the back was a short bar and a hallway leading to a kitchen and a few more doors.

A pair of white-scaled kobolds sat close to the fireplace, eating and drinking without so much as looking up at the new arrivals. There were a few humans sitting with an elf close to the door. The final table had a family of halflings sitting at it, all of whom did turn to see who was coming in. The children got up and ran towards Adabelle.

“Lady Addy!” they screamed in unison before latching onto her legs.

The larger child was dressed in trousers and a tunic with hair similar to Dill’s, while the other was in a simple brown dress with long black hair. They couldn’t have been more than a foot and a half tall, and Trevor realized he hadn’t seen a halfling child before. A quick glance showed that their father and mother were grinning, and he could see the warmth in their gaze. Good friends, indeed.

“Good evening, Rupert, Jewel,” Adabelle greeted in return. She squatted down to give them hugs even as she looked back at Trevor. “In the front pouch of my pack, I have something for these two. Please retrieve them for me.”

“Yes, Lady Adabelle,” Trevor replied stiffly, suddenly unsure how he should be addressing her in public.

He did as he was told and opened up the front pouch to reveal two long, craggy sticks of a hard blue substance that looked very similar to rock candy. Adabelle nodded and Trevor offered them to the children. They both let go of the woman to grab them before running off towards the back of the building.

“You’d best be putting those away for later, children,” their mother warned before she and the father stood up.

“It’s good to see you again, Lady Adabelle,” the man said as he bowed. “And with a new friend as well. I am Reed, and this is my wife, Beth. Those were our children, Rupert and Jewel, and I imagine you met our eldest, Dill, outside.”

“Trevor Anderson, sir,” the young man responded with a bow of his own. “And yes, we did.”

“A pleasure, sir,” Beth said, bowing as well.

“Good evening, Reed and Beth. We’ll be staying the night and leaving first thing in the morning,” Adabelle informed them.

“Heading for the festival, I suppose,” Reed stated. “Did you come from Tosa just today?”

“We did.”

“Let me get you some dinner, then, I’m sure you two are starving,” Beth said before heading to the kitchen without confirmation.

“Thank you, Beth,” Adabelle said.

The children rushed out of the back and returned to their table before they began eating their meals as fast as they could. Trevor saw that both Reed and Beth’s meals were only half eaten, and felt a twinge of guilt for interrupting their meal. He didn’t act on it, though, following Adabelle’s lead.

“Well, come on and join us,” Reed said as he gestured at them to sit at the table. Adabelle didn’t hesitate, and Trevor followed.

As soon as they sat down, their packs set under the table, two plates were placed in front of them. Beth seemed to appear out of thin air, startling Trevor before the smell of the food reached him. He looked down to see what looked like beef roast with red potatoes, carrots, and onions. Forks and knives were already on the plate, and the halfling woman place a hand on either of their elbows.

“The usual drink for you, I take it?” she asked Adabelle, who smiled and nodded. “And you, sir?”

“Oh, just Trevor is fine, Mrs. Beth,” he said on reflex. “But, water for me.”

“Right away,” Beth said before returning to the back.

“Done!” Rupert exclaimed. He took his empty plate, jumped off of the chair that was too tall for him, and ran to the back. “Thank you, Lady Adabelle!”

“Not fair!” Jewel yelled. She still hadn’t finished. “I want to eat candy, too!”

“Once you’re done with dinner, Jewel,” Reed said, giving his daughter a fatherly smile.

“I do, too,” Trevor admitted with a conspiratorial whisper, sharing a look of solidarity with the small halfling girl.

Trevor shifted his gaze to his food as he began to eat. Flavor exploded in his mouth, and he let out an involuntary moan at the taste. Adabelle stifled a laugh, and he saw out of the corner of his eye that she had been staring at him. He hadn’t expected the food to be so good out in the middle of nowhere, but the more he ate the more he understood her fascination.

After watching his reaction, Adabelle began to eat as well. He had been around her enough to know her different faces, and he could tell that she was holding back her true feelings about the food as she continued to act in her official capacity. It only took a minute or so, but Beth returned with a tall glass of water and a wine glass filled with something red.

“This is absolutely divine,” Trevor told the halfling woman as she walked around to her spot at the table.

“Beth was the best chef in Eskretet,” Reed said proudly.

“Oh, hush, you,” she replied, playfully striking her husband on the shoulder. “You’ve been saying that since you courted me, and it’s nothing but flattery.”

“Well, even if it’s not the truth, then it has to be close,” Trevor said between bites.

“Not you, too!” Beth laughed.

“Trevor is a firm believer in the power of praise,” Adabelle stated before she drank from her glass.

“A good man, that’s what I say,” Reed said, raising his glass towards Trevor. “Any who praise Beth’s cooking gets a pass in my book.”

“A pass?” Trevor asked, though he raised his glass back.

“Yes. You’re an adventurer like Lady Adabelle, right?” Reed asked back. “There are some that are less than savory, but I can already tell you’re a good sort.”

“Oh no, sir. I’m just a courier.”

Reed blinked before offering an apologetic smile. “My mistake, then. I thought I saw some of a Summoned tattoo peeking out of your sleeve there. I’m sorry for prying.”

Trevor shook his head. “No, I am Summoned, I’m just not an adventurer.”

“That’s rare these days,” Beth remarked. “So many are brought into this world, figure out that they can level up by doing a few quests, and they just try so hard.”

“It is an intoxicating feeling, but I don’t know,” Trevor admitted. “I’d rather not go out to fight things. I know it’s necessary to have adventurers, what with monsters existing, but there are plenty of other ways to help people.”

“You’ve got that right, sir,” Reed chuckled.

“Please, Mr. Reed, call me Trevor.”

“Done!” Jewel exclaimed just as her brother had before. She stood up on the chair, grabbed her plate, and carefully climbed down before running towards the back. “Thank you, Lady Addy!”

“You’re welcome, Jewel,” Adabelle said with a smile before looking at Reed and Beth. “You’ve raised your children well. Spoiling them is always a treat.”

“Thank you for your gift,” Beth said. “They always love it when you Tosa folk come out.”

“I’m just glad Rashie’s learned to take things easier,” Reed chuckled. When Trevor gave him confused glance, he elaborated. “She would roughhouse with them a lot when she first arrived. That was before she had a lot of level ups, so it wasn’t nearly as harmful, but she had to learn the hard way what her strength could do to ordinary people, let alone children.”

“That sounds like it was a terrible lesson,” Trevor stated, cringing.

“It was, but it’s all water under the bridge now,” he continued. “Never seen a Summoned bawl that hard before, thinking we were going to toss her out and never let her have Beth’s cooking again. She tried to give us every healing potion she owned, though it only took one to fix up Rupert’s arm.”

“I wish that my cooking wasn’t what worried her the most, but kids will be kids, I suppose,” Beth said with a shake of her head.

“Rashie’s always been very food oriented,” Adabelle said apologetically. “She’s gotten a lot better, though it probably hasn’t been too long since you’ve seen her.”

“That girl dragged Wayne here every other day when out looking for those bandits,” Reed chuckled. “We had to order extra food knowing she was going to come back, but it’s always good to see them. Wayne also tinkered with our music box and managed to fix it up.”

Reed’s words made Trevor remember that he was hearing soft, comforting music, but there was no one playing an instrument in sight. “Oh, man. The atmosphere is so nice I didn’t even realize there wasn’t a musician.”

“It’s a magical device in the basement,” Beth explained. “Wayne helped with that, too. He built tubes from the music box up to the floorboards that let the sound travel everywhere in the room.”

“We still have no idea how it works, but it does and Wayne’s been welcome ever since,” Reed continued. “Everyone is welcome, of course, but there are some things you’re just grateful for.”

“Speaking of being grateful,” Adabelle started as she pushed her empty plate away. “Thank you very much for the meal. I believe I’ll be retiring for the night. We’ve had a long day of traveling and an early start.”

Trevor looked down at the last piece of meat on his plate and quickly ate it before standing up and grabbing their packs. “Thank you very much,” he said. “How much do we owe you?”

“Lady Adabelle and her guests always eat free,” Reed claimed. “She has done a lot for us, after all.”

“So long as you’re sure,” Trevor said with a hesitant nod. Insisting might look bad on Adabelle, so he let it slide this time.

Standing up, the demonkin stifled a yawn before looking back down at Beth and Reed. “Are the usual rooms available?”

“Yes, Lady Adabelle,” Beth answered. “You and Trevor can take whichever ones you please.”

“Thank you,” she replied with a bow, which the young man copied. “Then we’ll see you in the morning.”

After saying their good nights, Trevor followed Adabelle up the stairs. “Usual rooms?” he asked.

“Reinforced, essentially,” she explained as she paused at the top of the stairs. “Because we Summoned can get so much tougher than the average person, a lot of inns and taverns along busy roads have one or two rooms specifically for them to prevent things from getting broken. It happens a lot more with newer Summoned who have increased their Strength but haven’t learned to control it yet. It became a popular trend.”

“It sounds really handy,” Trevor stated. “Are there enough of us to warrant something like that?”

“There are,” she confirmed. “But only because they travel more often than normal people. Quests send them all over, so they have to move around a lot.”

“I can see that.”

Tearing his eyes away from Adabelle, he saw that there were ten rooms up here. The first two closest to the stairs were labeled One and Two in gold lettering, while Three through Ten were farther away in silver. She moved to room One before turning around and holding her hand out.

“Um, yes?” Trevor asked.

“My pack?” she asked in return, arching an eyebrow.

“Oh, right. Yeah, that makes sense,” he said as he handed it to her.

“You can take room Two, and we’ll head out after breakfast.”

“Are you going to be okay in the morning?” Trevor asked nervously. “I mean, with the basically sleep walking and-”

“You don’t need to worry about it,” Adabelle interrupted, smiling. “But thank you for your concern. I have ways to wake myself up in the morning when I’m not home.”

“Okay, good. Then, I guess this is it for the night.”

“Good night, Trevor,” Adabelle said before opening the door, walking in, and closing it behind her.

“Good night, lady,” he said back before turning and entering his room.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: DROPPED A LAKE ON THEIR DUNGEON

The room was quaint and comfortable with a thick, almost too firm bed that he got used to quickly along with a desk and dresser. Since Trevor was only going to be there for a night, he didn’t bother unpacking. Traveling must have been much more tiring than he thought, because he was out like a light almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Waking up came easily for him. There was no magical alarm clock, but Trevor opened the blinds on the window to see that it was nearly light out. It was about the time he normally woke, and he realized that Mr. Tiggles had trained him well.

Getting dressed, he went downstairs to see that Beth was already up despite the early hour. She directed him to one of two restrooms where baths had already been drawn. One was already occupied, so he took the other.

Between the clean water and the Heating Stones, it was a wonderful experience. Trevor had often taken showers because that was what he was used to, but a bath was nice every now and again.

Instead of sullying the inn’s towels drying himself off, he pulled the water into his inventory once he stepped out. Trevor frowned as he realized he only had a little bit of room to do so, but went about the slow task of drying off via taking in water and dripping it out over the tub. It took longer than he wanted to, but the job was soon done and he was clean as a whistle.

Putting on fresh clothes, Trevor walked towards the exit when he heard the tub start to drain on its own. He glanced back, knowing that it didn’t have anywhere for the water to go, and watched the liquid receded into nothing before refilling again with clean water.

“Handy,” he said with an approving nod. He hoped that it was sanitary, but trusted that it was.

As he stepped out, he saw that the room was empty except for Adabelle. She was sitting at one of the tables with a mug in her hands. It looked like she had just come from the bath with her long, thick hair up in a towel, and he confirmed the other room was now unoccupied. Her face lit up as she saw him, and gestured him over.

“Good morning,” she greeted as he sat down across from her.

“Good morning,” he yawned. “You seem very awake, lady, what’s your secret?”

“Trevor, are you teasing me?” she asked. “And so early in the morning?”

“Could be,” he admitted. “I am very relaxed after that bath. Who knows what I could say or do.”

Adabelle allowed a light laugh. “When I’m out and about away from home, I need to wake up quickly. I know it’s a weakness of mine, so I’ve taken steps to fix it.”

“So you sleepwalking through breakfast is a conscious decision for you?” Trevor asked.

“It’s not hurting anyone,” she shrugged. “Besides, it’s better to wake up naturally.”

“What, do you have some kind of shock stone or something?”

“Might as well be,” she answered with a small smile.

“Wait, really?” Trevor asked, bemused. “I was just kidding about that.”

Adabelle laughed. “It’s not, don’t worry. It’s a type of magical apple called a Wake-Up Fruit.”

“Because you always eat an apple every morning?”

“That’s right. It’s a cheap imitation of a Full Night’s Rest, but it’s enough to get me started. So, I set one aside in my room so I eat it first thing,” she explained. “Besides, it’s better than Rashie screaming her true name in the morning by a large margin.”

Trevor’s eyes flicked to the horned woman’s long, animal-like ears and gave her a shaky nod. “I suppose I can see where that’s harder on you than it is me,” he admitted.

“Coffee, water, or cocoa?” Beth asked the young man as she walked over to the table.

“Oh, cocoa definitely.”

“Coming right up.”

“I get the same,” Adabelle said, raising her mug as Beth returned to the kitchen. “Don’t care for bitter drinks this early in the morning.”

“I hear that,” he said with a smile. “My life would probably be a lot easier if I liked coffee, but I don’t, so… that’s the end of that sentence.”

Adabelle smiled and closed her eyes as she took another sip from her mug before sighing appreciatively. Trevor found himself smiling at how serene she looked.

“This is why we’re always happy to see Lady Adabelle traveling with someone,” Beth said as she walked from the kitchen to set a mug of cocoa in front of Trevor. “The first time she came, she did so alone and we didn’t know what to think.”

“Beth, I would appreciate it if you didn’t go spreading tall tales,” Adabelle mumbled without opening her eyes.

“No, please feel free to spread them,” Trevor said quickly.

“What say you, my lady?” Beth asked cheekily.

It took Adabelle a few moments to respond, but she ended up waving her hand. The halfling woman pulled out a chair to sit.

“It was about four years ago,” she began, leaning into the table as if spreading the juiciest of gossip. “We had been in business for two at the time, and things started getting dangerous enough for us to construct our walls.”

“They weren’t before then?” Trevor asked, leaning in to match her pose as he happily sipped his hot cocoa. He was eager to hear a story about Adabelle.

“There were dungeons around, sure, but we had guards on the road at the time. There weren’t too many problems until a dungeon full of fire elementals spawned less than a mile away.”

“Oh, no. There’s a lot of trees around here.”

“There are, but there used to be a lot more,” Beth said with a nod. “We sent a message to both Eskretet and Tosa for adventurers, promising a hefty reward. The elementals were circling their dungeon home, turning the whole place into an ashen wasteland, and it was only a matter of time before they came for us.”

“And Lady Adabelle was the first one to arrive?”

“The only one to arrive,” Beth corrected. “We received a letter from Eskretet that the only person they had who could handle this kind of threat was on another quest. And then, just as we were about to close up for the night, here comes Lady Adabelle herself.”

“And then I saved the day,” the horned woman claimed.

“But before then, Reed and I pampered her,” Beth said with a laugh. “She didn’t know what to do with herself. Despite having ridden all day, she was ready to go and take on the dungeon almost immediately.”

“That tracks with just about everything I know about her,” Trevor stated, smiling.

“Right? She’s a fine young woman,” the halfling agreed. “We put her up for the night after feeding her. Imagine our surprise with what we got in the morning.”

“That must have been a shock,” Trevor chuckled.

“Oh, a big one!”

“The letter said it was an emergency,” Adabelle complained. “I didn’t get much time to prepare before coming out to help. I forgot to grab my apples.”

“I made her some breakfast and a cup of coffee, though she only ate the food and sat around until she started really waking up.”

“In my defense, I left Tosa in a hurry,” Adabelle whined.

“Yes, dear, you did say that,” Beth said soothingly as she patted the demonkin on the arm. “We may have been a little too dramatic in our letter, perhaps. Eventually, though, she was able to take off and complete our quest. Imagine our surprise when she returned not even an hour later.”

“Her work ethic is quite different from her slothful morning mood, isn’t it?” the young man teased.

“Trevor, not you, too,” Adabelle grumbled.

“It’s fine, it’s just us three so you don’t have to worry about playing noble,” Beth cooed. “Why don’t you tell Trevor how you fixed the problem.”

The young man sat up straighter as Adabelle slowly opened her eyes. Hers locked with his and she gave him a wide grin. “I dropped a lake on their dungeon.”

Trevor paused, thinking about natural disasters. “Flood?”

“Earthquake,” she replied. “I sank the dungeon into the ground, then I made a few trenches to bring in water from a nearby lake.”

“Dang, that’s hardcore.”

“It was. Watched that new lake boil for three days before it finally stopped,” Adabelle bragged tiredly. “Spent an extra day waiting to make sure things were stopped for good even after the Quest Master marked the quest as finished. Just to make sure.”

“You are awesome,” Trevor said. Adabelle’s grin turned into a smaller, more genuine smile.

“Lady Adabelle is always very diligent, and that’s why we always try to take care of her when we can,” Beth proudly said, and Trevor noticed her looking back and forth between them. “We can overlook some excessive fatigue in the morning.”

“For sure. She’s always been great for Tosa, from what I hear,” Trevor agreed. “We’re actually on our way to Eskretet to announce that Jackson is stepping down as mayor. Lady Adabelle is taking over.”

Beth gasped. “That’s huge news! Why didn’t you lead with that, Lady Adabelle?”

Adabelle opened her mouth to respond when the smell of breakfast wafted from the kitchen. She and Trevor both looked that way to see Rupert, the youngest son of Reed and Beth, approaching with sizzling skillets on wood blocks. He placed one in front of each of them before scurrying back into the kitchen, having said nothing.

On the skillets were several links of sausage with eggs on top surrounded by crumbs of bacon and onions. Trevor’s mouth had started watering when he first smelled it, but now he couldn’t help himself. He dove in.

“Rupert’s been training up in the kitchen,” Beth said. “He’s not as good as his ole ma just yet, but he will be.”

“It’s delicious,” Trevor said between mouthfuls of food. It wasn’t as great as Beth’s, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t good.

Adabelle picked at her food delicately before Beth turned to face her again. “And how come you didn’t lead with the news of being Tosa’s new mayor, Lady Adabelle?”

The horned woman glanced at the halfling, then at Trevor, before sighing. “I guess I’m still processing,” she admitted. “I gave Mayor Jackson a hard time, but I guess I’m just feeling…”

When Adabelle trailed off, Beth finished her sentence. “Like they’re big shoes to fill?”

“Exactly. Here’s a leader who’s been around for centuries, and he literally built Tosa up from scratch,” Adabelle said. “This is his town. How am I supposed to compete with that?”

“Why do you have to compete?” Trevor asked. “I don’t think you do. Just be Adabelle, and you’ll do just fine.”

“That’s easy to say, but it’s completely different in practice.”

“No, it’s not,” Trevor insisted. “The only thing you’re losing is a safety net, and you have everyone in town to help you with that. Actually, it’s barely losing a safety net because you’ve done just fine whenever Jackson disappears. Okay, maybe not just fine in regards to your mental health, but you’ll be able to delegate tasks to the people who can help you.”

Adabelle became pensive as she listened to his words, and Trevor continued. “If you really need it, then I’ll help you,” he said, reaching his hand across the table. “You’re going to do an amazing job. Will it be the same as Jackson? No. Is that a bad thing? Also no. You have a passion for your community that I’ve rarely seen outside of, like, television or movies. You’re going to do a wonderful job, butterflies in your stomach or not. So long as you don’t put Rashie in charge of a swim class or something, I mean. A wonderful job, guaranteed.”

The demonkin laughed, then nodded. Adabelle reached out and took his hand, smiling softly. “You’re right, Trevor,” she said. “I’m just letting everything get to me and I shouldn’t. I faced a world-shattering adventure before I came here, why should this bother me?”

“It’s okay that it does, though. It’s okay to feel those feelings,” Trevor replied. “That just shows how much you care. While you could bottle it all up, that doesn’t mean you should. You can express yourself, both the good and the bad, and your friends will be there.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“You’re welcome, lady,” he replied, smiling. Their touch lingered.

“Your breakfast is going to get cold,” Beth said with a polite cough. The two let go of each other and immediately started eating again with flushed faces.

“Tell Rupert he’s doing a fine job for me, Beth,” Adabelle said, attempting not to sound flustered by the moment’s interruption.

“I will, Lady Adabelle. Thank you,” the halfling woman said, stifling a laugh as she stood up. “I’ve got to take care of a few things in the kitchen, and I’ll make sure that Dill has your wagon hitched before you’re ready.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Beth,” Trevor said.

She stopped and elbowed him on the side. “I’m rooting for you, Trevor,” the halfling whispered before walking to the back. The young man could have sworn he saw Adabelle’s ears twitch, and he realized he wasn’t sure how good her hearing actually was.

They both heard the woman laughing from the kitchen, and finished their meals in companionable silence.

CHAPTER THIRTY: SWORD SISTER

While most of the road from Tosa to the Halffle Inn had been scenic countryside with rolling hills, great lakes, and heavily wooded areas, Trevor started seeing less and less of that the further along they got. That wasn’t to say the scenery wasn’t great. It was, there was just more signs of civilization.

At first, the villages and hamlets they passed through were dozens of miles apart. They were exactly what Trevor thought a medieval fantasy settlement would look like, minus a few buildings here and there that were obviously influenced by Summoned people.

As the day dragged on and Adabelle’s etiquette lesson only lasted an hour or two, which was not what he mentally prepared himself for, the villages started to be divided by only four or five miles. Most were surrounded by crop fields while some of the larger ones had inns, blacksmiths, and other necessities. While the children often waved as the wagon rolled by, the adults seemed to take it as yet another pair of tourists heading for the festival.

They traveled from sun up to nearly sun down by the time they got their first glimpse of their destination.

The castle was the first part of the city that Trevor could see from the distance, and it fully reminded him of something out of a fairy tale. White stone walls sparkled in the sunset, though not to a degree that it was blinding, and black roofing made for a nice contrast. The main structure was tall with five towers, one on each corner and the tallest in the center. Several turrets rested on these towers along with hazardous looking walkways between them.

Around the castle, just above where the towers began, was the halo from Jackson’s painting. It glowed bright yellow and looked like a slim disc from so far away. Trevor wouldn’t have known that it was a magic circle if he hadn’t seen the mayor’s gift.

Adabelle smiled at his reaction and took the reins so that he could gawk all he wanted. Even though he was willing to keep driving, he really didn’t want to miss out.

It turned out to be for the best, anyway. Once they were closer to the city, she turned off the main road onto one that was less traveled. It didn’t look like it was in good condition, but the ride was smooth despite its appearance. Trevor didn’t mind this view as he could see the walls in all their splendor. They were made of the same white stone as the castle, and were covered in crenellations all the way around.

The path led to a single gate far from the main road. It was set into the wall, which was taller here than in other places he had seen, and thus was hard to notice from most angles. Two men emerged from a guardhouse that had been built into the stone, a human and an orc that each wore armor with a sword at their hip. Adabelle stopped the wracors in front of them as they bowed.

“Lady Adabelle,” the older of the two men greeted. The human’s hair was snow white, though his mustache was still salt and pepper. When he smiled, his face lit up despite his wrinkles. “It is a pleasure to see you back in Eskretet.”

“Sir Aelius, the pleasure is mine,” Adabelle greeted in return before bowing to the younger man. “And squire Jarric, if I remember correctly?”

“Yes, my lady,” the younger orc said. He seemed more interested in making sure his armor was perfectly presented than greeting a noble, but he was still polite.

“I travel with Trevor Anderson, recently summoned to this world, and we are to see the king at his earliest convenience with news and a gift,” she continued. Sir Aelius was about to open his mouth to say something when she produced a furled scroll from her pack. “Yes, it is short notice, and it is just before the festival, but I believe he will be interested.”

The man set his jaw and took the scroll, unrolling it and reading it to himself. Jarric nonchalantly attempted to look over the man’s shoulder, but his mentor simply turned so that he couldn’t.

“Mayor Jackson, huh?” Aelius eventually said. Sighing, he rolled up the scroll and handed it back to Adabelle before motioning towards the gate. Jarric ran back into the guard house. “Very well. Lady Adabelle, Mister Trevor, you may pass through. Give this to Lady Lailah when you see her and she’ll take care of everything.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Sir Aelius,” Lady Adabelle said as the gate started to open.

“You are welcome, my dear, and I hope you both enjoy the festival,” he returned.

With a few more pleasantries, the gate opened, and Adabelle set the wracors in motion once they had the room. To Trevor’s surprise, it didn’t lead directly into the walls but to an incline. They started going under the city through a magically lit tunnel.

“So, this is some kind of secret entrance?” he asked.

Adabelle nodded. “It’s more of an open secret. This leads directly under the castle, and is used by nobles and foreign dignitaries who don’t want to take the streets. Trust me, the city is nearly full this time of year.”

“I believe you. Do you come around Eskretet often?” Trevor asked. “Sir Aelius knew you on sight.”

“The nature of my job brings me here fairly often, but I’m also not exactly someone who can keep a low profile,” she responded. “After all, how many other noble born women with a split horn have you seen?

“Oh, I’m sure they’re all over the place,” he teased. “They’ve just been hiding them from me. One per Summoned, I’ve heard.”

“Trevor, are you implying that I’m yours?”

“N-no,” he stuttered quickly. “I’m just- I mean- What I meant was-”

Adabelle started laughing and looked back to see the shock on his face. “I know you’re just joking, calm down,” she said lightly before returning her eyes forward. “I trained some of the guards here a few years back, and trained with some of the knights. Because of my storied history in my original world, they thought I would make a good teacher. I received a few quests out of it, too.”

“You’re that good with a sword?” he asked. “Not doubting you or anything. I just haven’t had to see you use it, thankfully.”

“Feel free to doubt, but you’ll see it soon enough,” she claimed, excitement welling up in her voice. “I have a good feeling about this year.”

“As in, dueling-wise or something else?”

“Yes, as in dueling,” Adabelle confirmed. “The last two years I had people request duels, but there hadn’t been any challenges. Some glory-seekers, but no one who really pushed me. You know? Something’s different this year, I can feel it in the air.”

“Well, whatever you’re feeling, I hope it focuses squarely on you and doesn’t decide to send anyone willing to challenge me to a duel,” Trevor chuckled nervously. “I will be cheering for you on the sidelines. Except that I’ll really just be watching passively and congratulating you when you’re done.”

“I do appreciate your candor, Mister Trevor,” Adabelle said.

“Ugh, is that going to stick?” he grumbled. “Please tell me we’re not about to go into a place where everyone’s going to refer to me that way.”

“Not everyone, no,” she said, laughing.

The tunnel widened into a large underground cavern. Several wagons had already been parked here, and Trevor could pick out signs of wracor activity. The dark stone surrounding them ended with a transition to white, and stairs leading up to a fancy looking building at the far end. Men started coming out to take care of their transportation, and Adabelle stepped down once they did.

Trevor grabbed their packs and followed the demonkin as she headed towards the building. He trusted that she knew where to go and that the men would know what to do with the wagons. They entered to see an elven woman sitting behind a desk and an elevator directly behind her. Adabelle spoke first.

“Lady Lailah,” she greeted, bowing. “It’s a pleasure to see you, as always.”

The woman looked up from the desk, her icy blue eyes locking onto the newcomers. Her face was stern, and her chestnut brown hair was tied up in a tight bun. Even Trevor, someone who did not pay much attention to fashion, could see that the clothes she wore were top of the line.

A smile broke what he thought was an intense demeanor, and she stood up to walk around her desk. Trevor noticed the sword she wore now that she was standing, and the woman immediately embraced Adabelle.

“It’s good to see you, sister of mine,” she said. The young man recognized her thick accent as Scottish, and saw a Summoned tattoo on the side of her neck. Adabelle whispered something, and the elf nodded.

But that wasn’t what he focused on. “Sister?” Trevor couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Sword sister. We used to adventure before Lailah decided to settle down,” Adabelle explained as she pulled away.

Lailah let go of Adabelle and rounded on Trevor. He flinched back when her face stopped inches away from his, and she took on that same stern look. He became aware of that familiar dangerous aura he had only felt from Summoned before, and he steeled himself.

“Hmm, I see,” the elf said, narrowing her eyes.

Trevor looked over at Adabelle, but she was staring at the elevator. He couldn’t help but notice her ears twitching, and he looked back at Lailah. This had been the first time he had seen someone greet his horned friend with more than a bow, not counting Wayne and Rashie, and figured she must be someone important. So he stood up straight before bowing.

“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” he said, trying to keep his voice from wilting in her icy stare. “My name is Trevor Anderson. I’m-”

“American?” Lailah interrupted.

“Uh, yes, ma’am. I’m-”

“Just like that no-good cowboy, Wayne.”

“I wouldn’t say-” He had to stop himself from letting out an involuntary laugh as the elven woman poked him in the stomach. Trevor wasn’t wearing armor like Adabelle, and Lailah would have felt the resistance of muscles from his enhanced Strength. Not sure what to do, he stood up straight and waited.

“I see,” Lailah repeated as she started walking around the young man. He swallowed, desperately trying to catch Adabelle’s eye, but the other woman now seemed fixated on the desk. The elf poked and prodded him a few more times in the arm, leg, and back of the head.

“I’m sorry, but is there a purpose to this?” Trevor eventually asked.

“You’re a poor adventurer,” Lailah stated. “Your body may be honed, but you are not well trained.”

“That’s because I’m not an adventurer, I’m a courier,” Trevor scoffed, causing the woman to freeze. “I take things from one place to another.”

“I know what a courier is.”

“Of course, ma’am.”

“Do you have any ambitions to becoming one?”

“I’m already a courier, so, my ambitions have already been met.”

Lailah frowned. “Do you have any ambitions to becoming an adventurer.”

“No, ma’am. I’m just a courier,” he reiterated, glancing back to see Adabelle ignoring them.

“Just a courier?” she asked, her eyes somehow becoming even more narrow.

“Just a courier.”

“So you only level up doing courier quests?” Lailah asked. “Not fighting, or saving people, or defending a lady’s honor?”

“Of course, ma’am. Though I’m not sure what that last one has to do with the first two,” he said. “Everyone has a right to their honor. I don’t see why you would need a quest in order to defend someone, as that’s just the right thing to do.”

“I see.”

“I’m glad, ma’am.”

An awkward silence stretched between them before Lailah started laughing. She turned on her heel, grabbed Adabelle’s hand, and started pulling the other woman towards the elevator. “Come on, you two,” she said jovially. “Let’s get Trevor up to his room.”

Confused, Trevor slowly followed, watching the two women step onto the wooden platform. Adabelle looked back and beckoned him towards them, and he hurried a little faster.

“We’re here to see the king,” Adabelle said, seemingly intent on ignoring whatever that had been. She retrieved the scroll and gave it to the elf.

“And the festival, I know,” Lailah said before taking the scroll. She placed her other hand on a lever and pushed it downwards. “Something from Jackson, I imagine?”

“Check it out.”

Lailah did, unfurling it as the elevator began to rise. She read through it quickly, her eyes widening with every line, before she pulled Adabelle in for a half-hug. “Mayor!” the elf exclaimed loudly. “Congrats, sister. That’s huge news!”

“Thank you, Lailah,” the demonkin replied before gently extricating herself. “I know you’ve got enough pull for us to see his majesty tomorrow, though I’m sure just throwing Jackson’s name around would have done it as well.”

Raising her hand, Lailah nodded. “Consider it done.”

Trevor watched the exchange, noting how different Adabelle was around the people she knew and trusted than she was the regular folk. It was good to see her let her hair down, so to speak, and he found himself smiling at their backs. This was the kind of camaraderie he had expected between those who fought side by side.

The elevator was going through a round vertical tunnel with doorways on almost every side as they rode upwards. Each door was closed, but they were clearly labeled with what floor it was on and where it led to.

They traveled upwards to the fourth floor before Lailah stopped the elevator and opened the door labeled “Ambassador Wing.” On the other side was a young woman in a bright dress, who turned to look inside the shaft.

“Take Trevor here to the Jackson Suite,” the elf ordered. “Make sure he’s comfortable.”

“Right away, Lady Lailah,” the woman said, bowing. “Sir Trevor, if you’ll follow me.”

“Oh, just Trevor is fine,” he said, stepping out. “And they have a whole suite named after Jackson? That’s neat.” When he noticed that neither of the women in the elevator were following him, he turned around.

“Make yourself comfortable, Trevor,” Adabelle said with a smile.

“Yeah, we’re going drinking and talking about you behind your back,” the elf said, grinning before waving goodbye. “See you tomorrow, messenger boy!”

Trevor watched as Lailah shut the door and the sound of the elevator leaving slowly diminished. “Okay, what?” he asked, not expecting an answer.

“Are you coming, sir?” the young woman asked, a little further down the hall.

“Yeah, sorry, I guess I am,” Trevor replied before he began following her again.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: NOT JUST AS FRIENDS

The Jackson Suites had turned out to be a set of rooms overlooking Eskretet’s market district. There was a living area with plenty of seating and table space just as extravagant as the mayor’s office back in Tosa, and Trevor suspected this was done on purpose. The reds and golds offset each other nicely, at least.

Three other rooms shot off of the living space, and Trevor inspected them all. One was an expansive bathroom with everything he would need, and the other two were bedrooms. They were nearly identical to each other, with large canopy beds, dressers, and chairs. Testing one of the beds, he discovered that they were truly luxurious.

He did all of this exploring alone. Trevor had sent the young serving girl away almost immediately, content to wait for Adabelle to return in silence. He knew better than to worry about her, and he spent his time taking in the view from a chair on the balcony.

Just above his head, a few floors up, was the golden magical circle. He had set his eyes on it for a good twenty minutes or so, watching the whole halo spin and trying to pick out anything within that he might have recognized. Eventually he gave up, having gleaned nothing except that it was very pretty.

The city below was much more interesting. Even as the moon rose higher, people were busy going to and fro both on foot and on wagons. Pairs of larger creatures more similar to rhinos than horses pulled freight that would require a team of wracors, and it seemed like everyone was preparing for the festival.

What caught his attention most was the forest surrounding the castle. The area was set between two moats and was at least a few blocks thick. Walkways and benches could be seen through the trees at this angle. It almost seemed like some kind of park.

Floating lights waved through the area. They would stop, then begin moving again after leaving a copy of themselves behind. Even though the halo clearly illuminated everything this close to the castle, the orbs could easily be picked out.

Trevor had no idea how much time passed with everything from the forest to the city to the moonlit mountains grabbing his attention. The halo radiated a gentle heat, and eventually he fell asleep on the balcony.

When he woke up, he was covered by a jacket that he recognized as Adabelle’s. Trevor smiled to himself at this turn of events as he stood up and stretched. The sky was already beginning to brighten, and the halo hadn’t changed at all.

Turning to head back inside, he saw that one of the bedroom doors were closed, and assumed that meant Adabelle was inside. He placed her jacket on the chair nearest her room and prepared himself a shower. Since they were meeting a king today, it seemed like getting himself cleaned was going to be the easiest part.

Once he was dried and dressed, a knock came at the door. Trevor hesitated, looking back towards Adabelle’s room. He had no qualms about opening a door, but if the visitor needed something from her specifically then he wasn’t sure what to do.

Before he could make a decision, the door opened to reveal Lailah and a finely dressed, older dwarven man who followed her right in. She was carrying a large bag that looked like it might have had some clothes in it, and he was toting what appeared to be a medical bag.

“Ah, messenger boy, good morning!” Lailah cheerily greeted. “Glad to see you’re already up. Kadrus here will be taking care of you, and I’ll be taking care of Adabelle.” As she spoke, she looked around. Once the elf saw that one of the doors was closed, she head in that direction.

“She’s still sleeping,” Trevor said, stepping in front of Lailah before she could get too far. “What’s going on?”

“Not to worry about little miss bedhead, I have a Full Night’s Rest for her,” Lailah said as she stopped. “You wouldn’t believe the hoops I had to go through to get some on such short notice, but I’m nothing if not resourceful.”

“Why do we need to wake her up so soon?” he asked.

Lailah smirked and patted him on the cheek. “You have an audience with the king in just a little bit,” she explained. “So we’re going to make sure you’re both presentable.”

“In just a little bit?” Trevor asked. He hadn’t been expecting things to happen this quickly.

“Of course! I get everything done around here,” Lailah claimed. Then, she frowned. “Even when they stick me downstairs taking care of the rich folk who do nothing but complain. So, are you going to let me get in there and help my sword sister or are you going to stay in my way? I’ll have to go through you if you choose the latter. I’m sure you understand.”

“While I’m sure option two would be a sight to see, and while I’m sure it would take you very little time or effort, taking care of her is the best thing to do right now,” he said, moving out of Lailah’s way. “Have at it.”

“That’s a good man,” the elf praised, grinning. “Kadrus, take care of him in his room, will you?”

“Yes, Lady Lailah,” the dwarf answered before heading directly towards the other bedroom.

Trevor hesitated as Lailah entered Adabelle’s room and closed the door. With nothing else he could do, the young man followed the dwarf.

Who immediately closed the door behind him. “Lady Lailah said you were American.”

“That’s right.”

“Suit and tie?”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

“Cummerbund?”

“That might be going too far, unless it’s common here?”

The dwarf shook his head. “No, I just like them,” he said as he set the bag on the bed. Reaching in, his arm went far deeper than should have been possible, and Trevor recognized it as the same type of container Melvirn worked with.

“There’s a time and place for them, I suppose. What kind of suit?”

“One based on a style from Earth that has proved favorable to Americans and dyed to match Lady Adabelle’s dress.”

That perked Trevor up. “I don’t mind matching, but what do you mean by-”

“No more talking,” Kadrus stated firmly, pulling out sewing tape. “It is time to work.”

“Oh, yeah, sure,” Trevor said quietly.

The next hour was spent being poked and prodded by the dwarven tailor, who had also pulled a stepladder out of his bag, and getting measurements. There were no further questions, not that Trevor knew what to ask. Getting measured actually wasn’t even the worst part; that came after Kadrus pulled out a cream-colored suit and started making adjustments.

Eventually, it was time for Trevor to put it on. He was surprised to find that the fit was actually really good despite how quickly the tailor was working. It still required a few final touches, but those were done swiftly. The young man turned to look at himself in the mirror.

The cream-colored three-piece suit was accented by a dark shirt underneath and an orange tie. He immediately recognized it as the same color as Adabelle’s eyes.

Trevor moved around, trying to find anywhere that didn’t fit right, but it had been expertly done. When he turned around to thank Kadrus for his work, he saw that the dwarf had already left. He hadn’t even heard the door open.

Heading out to the living space, he stopped dead in his tracks. Adabelle’s door was open, revealing the woman in all her glory. Their eyes met, and he had to stop himself from swallowing.

Adabelle wore a dress with a sweetheart neckline that matched his suit, though hers had flairs of orange near the bottom. It hugged her body before hanging like curtains from her hips, where a slit up to her thigh revealed her leg and similarly colored heel sandals. Her tail swished back and forth erratically, likely through a hole made specifically for it. Everything matched her perfectly, and Trevor found that he couldn’t say anything.

“Look at that!” Lailah exclaimed, popping up directly behind Adabelle. “I told you the messenger boy would be speechless, and for good reason.”

“His name is Trevor,” Adabelle all but whispered as she took him in.

Trevor busied himself with his cuff links as he walked the rest of the way into the room. While he had been momentarily blindsided, he tried to recover gracefully. After all, he had known Lailah brought clothes with her, so he shouldn’t have been surprised.

“You look great, Adabelle,” he said after clearing his throat.

“Thank you,” she replied quietly.

“You’re both so smooth,” Lailah said with a mischievous giggle. She pushed Adabelle out of the doorway after checking the woman’s hair. Her hair had been in braids before but now cascaded freely down her back, which reminded Trevor of a white waterfall flowing all the way to her knees. “Now, I have to go, but I will be back quick quick quick for your audience.”

“You didn’t have to set it up for so early, Lailah,” Adabelle protested.

“It wasn’t me, but the king himself,” the elf claimed, tapping the demonkin on her nose. “Someone made a good impression the last time she was here, and you know how it goes throwing Jackson’s name around. But I really must be going to get myself ready. See you soon, messenger boy.”

“Bye, Lailah,” Trevor said, not bothering to look at the smirking woman as she left. The two stood awkwardly, doing their best to watch each other without making it obvious, before the young man sighed. “Would you like to sit?”

“Yes, please,” Adabelle said before heading towards one of the lavish couches. “I do not care for dresses. Comfortable clothes with robes when I have to act in an official capacity is just fine, and armor for adventuring. Even casual wear. Just not dresses.”

“It’s probably not worth much coming from me, but I think it suits you wonderfully,” he said, taking a seat across from her in a chair. For the first time in Trevor’s life he had a suit tailored specifically for him and he was surprised by how much of a difference that made. “You may not like to wear it, but I’m glad I got to see it.”

“Well,” Adabelle started with uncharacteristic hesitation. “Perhaps I’ll grow to like it the more I wear it. We’ll have to see.”

“At least the color is really nice,” Trevor offered. “It suits you really well, which is a lot more than I can say about my pasty complexion. Well, tanned now, I suppose; I’ve spent a lot of time outside lately.”

“It’s very nice,” Adabelle said. “I’ve seen a lot of people prepare to meet the king before, and they’re usually dressed overly showy or, as Jackson would put it, super tacky. I wasn’t sure what Lailah was going to prepare for you, but she really pulled through.”

“I wasn’t expecting us to match like this,” Trevor stated. “But now that I see it, I don’t mind it.”

“Yeah, it’s nice,” Adabelle said. She reached up and tucked away one of her bangs, looking away as she smiled.

Now that she wasn’t looking at him, Trevor found himself staring as though he had somehow won their game. He drank in everything he could, from the way her ears twitched to the way her tail fidgeted to the way her hands tugged and smoothed her dress on her lap.

It wasn’t the first time he felt that she was cute, nor was it the first time he felt she was cute, but it was the first time he struggled with what to say to her.

His heart started beating faster. The moment struck him, and he made a decision.

Trevor opened his mouth to speak, but found that it was dry. That wouldn’t do. The young man stood up quickly, fast enough that Adabelle’s attention snapped back to him, and he walked towards a pitcher of water on a table near the door. Pouring himself a glass, he drank the whole thing in a few gulps. Setting it down, nearly slamming it, he turned to look at her again.

His heart beat loudly in his chest, his stomach felt queasy, but he couldn’t deny that he had to get it out.

“Adabelle,” he started, his mouth already feeling dry again. “Will you go to the festival with me?”

Adabelle’s wide eyes took on a confused look at his question. “We are going to the festival together,” she said slowly.

Trevor took a few steps towards her. “No, I mean, I’m sorry,” he said. “I meant, will you go to the festival with me.”

“With you?” Adabelle asked, bemused.

“With me,” he repeated “Like, not just as friends. But, a…” A part of him choked as he began to say it.

It wasn’t as though he had never asked anyone out before. He had his fair share of relationships, both good and bad, but they never felt like they had these kinds of stakes attached to them. Adabelle was a cut above anyone else he had these feelings for.

The conversation with Wayne and what he had said flew through his head.

While leaning heavily towards staying, he hadn’t decided yet. He knew staying was better for him, but still fumbled with the idea of shirking his responsibilities in that other world. That was strike one.

Trevor knew she hadn’t been sending him signals. While he knew he was genuinely bad at picking up on those, he was certain he would have noticed one or two. That was strike two.

This was all wrong, but Trevor didn’t want to stop.

Drelik had been correct; he knew that the moment was right. As Trevor saw her all dressed up, he knew that for a fact. It felt so, so right, and she looked so good sitting there. If he didn’t do anything, then someone else would, and that was something the young man was completely sure of. The potential burden of asking evaporated from his mind.

It was the right moment, he just had to seize it.

So he took his shot, and tried not to aim for his foot.

“A date,” he finally managed to say, his voice suddenly much stronger as he steeled his conviction. He took another step towards Adabelle, holding his hand out towards her. “I’d like to go to the festival with you… on a date.”

Adabelle’s eyes widened as she stiffly stood up. He set his other hand in his pocket and clenched his fist too hard, his fingernails digging into his skin. Still, he didn’t allow himself to relax. His mind worked overtime, watching every detail even as the negativity started piling on.

She walked up to him, and he wondered if he had made a huge mistake. Maybe the moment hadn’t been right, or Drelik’s advice had been wrong. As his mind continued to become clouded by his thoughts, Adabelle gently grabbed his hand with both of hers. She smiled brightly even as her face flushed from the heat of the moment.

“I would love to go on a date with you, Trevor,” she answered.

The tension was released from Trevor’s body all at once now that the hard part was over, and he inhaled deeply once he realized he hadn’t been breathing. Adabelle smelled strongly of vanilla, a fact that the young man immediately seared into his memory.

Before anything else could be said, three sharp knocks rapped on the door. The two pulled away from each other quickly as it opened, revealing Lailah in a dark dress of her own.

“Come on, both of you, we’ve got-” the elf stopped to stare at the two flushed faces of Adabelle and Trevor before she began cackling and walking away.

Knowing they were expected, they both followed quietly, unable to stop smiling.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: THE KING IS EXPECTING YOU

The high of what had just transpired didn’t leave Trevor’s system as they were led to the elevator. Lailah hummed to herself as they descended lower into the castle, unable to keep still. He and Adabelle stood behind the elf, giving each other glances they couldn’t help while her tail seemed to swing more favorably in his direction.

“And stopping now,” Lailah informed as she released the lever.

The elevator lurched to a stop, and she opened a door labeled “To The Throne Room” before heading out at a fast pace, and the two quickly followed into a large hallway with a high ceiling.

Paintings that had to be nearly fifteen feet tall lined the walls and Trevor could see the names of the kings underneath, noting that every piece of art was labeled as King Eskretet followed by a number. They were regal looking figures, but he could immediately tell they weren’t related to each other. Some were humans, others elves, and one was even a minotaur. As the curious trend continued the longer they walked through the hallway, something clicked in his head.

“Are all the kings Summoned?” he asked.

Lailah laughed. “Picked up on that, did you?” she asked, looking at the wall of paintings. “Yes. It’s a special ritual done after the liberation of Eskretet. If you look carefully, you can see that their tattoo is around each of their heads like a crown. Well, when their hair isn’t blocking it.”

Trevor looked back and saw that this was true. It was hard to see on those who weren’t showing it off, but they had a tattoo just under most of their hairlines. He suddenly had an urge to figure out what Adabelle’s tattoo looked like, but knew this wasn’t the time or place.

“How does that work out?” he asked instead.

“Fairly well, actually,” Lailah shrugged. “I’m sure Apprentice Addy here can explain anything summoning related better than I can, so you should ask her if you want to know the details.”

When Trevor looked to Adabelle, she nodded. “The ritual is the most heavily guarded secret in the country,” she said. “Only the king knows it, and it’s one of his last acts. Every five years, another king is summoned, and something happens to the old one.”

“Something?” Trevor asked, arching an eyebrow. “That sounds ominous.”

“Nothing bad, from what we understand,” Adabelle continued. “In exchange for their service to the people and taking on the name Eskretet, they’re rewarded by the Quest Master. Either another chance to live their life on their original world, or reincarnated there, or they get to live in a place of their choosing. I’ve never heard of a king being anything but excited by the end of their reign. Sad they’re leaving, maybe, but ready for new horizons.”

“Why Summoned, though?”

“You can blame the old nobility for that,” Lailah answered. “After the city was liberated from a tyrant, there were a lot of grabs for power and it looked like things were going to go right back to the way they were. From what the tales tell, some shady figure came by and made deals with them all, promising them power and prestige. Let him summon the king as a puppet, then they can take care of all their wheeling and dealing in the background.”

“Something tells me there wouldn’t be a festival for that alone,” Trevor stated. “I’m assuming that’s not what actually ended up happening.”

“It’s not,” the elf said with a smirk. “Whatever ritual the man had used, it bound the king to one goal: make Lucent a better place for all living in it.”

“The ritual is supposedly very selective, gathering heroes who deserve a second chance or people who made great strides towards the betterment of their own society,” Adabelle continued. “They’re supposed to be neutral towards the country at first so they can look at it objectively, and then do their job from there.”

“Sounds like a pretty sweet gig,” Trevor whistled.

“It has its ups and downs. Being the leader of an entire country isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and there’s a lot of governing involved both good and bad,” Adabelle said. “Although it’s generally better to be the king than someone else, but it’s a lot more nuanced than we see from the outside.”

“Oh, for sure,” Trevor said with a nod. “I’m glad that things work out for everyone, though.”

“It’s very different, but that’s not a bad thing,” Lailah stated before stopping at an intersection.

Trevor’s eyes were drawn towards a set of giant wooden doors that were nearly as tall as the hallway. A red carpet with gold trim rolled from the doorway to what looked like a castle entrance, and guards holding spears were standing on either side. They hadn’t reacted until Lailah had stopped, both looking at the group when they did.

While Trevor was enamored by the craftsmanship, Adabelle was looking around. “No other royal guests?” she asked, nudging Lailah.

“He wanted to see you early,” she said with a smile and a shrug. Clearing her throat, she looked back to the guards. “I present to you the delegation from Tosa, Lady Adabelle and her messenger boy.”

Trevor chuckled, having already gotten a good grasp of Lailah’s character and taking no offense, though Adabelle seemed to have trouble with her lack of formality.

“Mister Trevor Anderson,” Adabelle corrected loudly, glaring lightly at the elf, who only grinned back in return. “Lady Adabelle and Mister Trevor Anderson.”

“Of course, Lady Adabelle,” the closest guard said. “The king is expecting you. Please, enter.”

The two guards raised their spears and tapped them on the ground simultaneously. A second passed before the doors began opening inwards, revealing the throne room.

It was incredibly large, and Trevor had to guess that it took up a good portion of the castle’s ground floor. Columns lined both sides of the room with statues of past kings between them. Lailah started leading them down the red carpet, and the doors closed automatically.

At the very end of the room were a set of stairs leading up to a throne. It was made of the same white stone that the castle was, and looked fairly uncomfortable for someplace a king was supposed to sit. Regardless of its perceived comfort, the king did sit upon it.

Trevor found himself standing up a little straighter at the sight of the man on the throne. He looked to be middle aged, perhaps forty or so, with a strong goatee and jawline. His pale head was bald on top, clearly showing off a laurel-like crown tattoo that announced he was a Summoned. The clothes he wore were fine, matching the red and gold carpet, and he held a golden scepter in his hand.

Lailah led them to about ten feet away from the raised throne and knelt on one knee. This part of the greeting was something that Adabelle had taught Trevor, and they both mimicked the act.

“Presenting the delegation from Tosa,” she announced loudly, her voice echoing through the room. “Lady Adabelle Ramansa Katine gen Halvsar and Mister Trevor Anderson of Earth.” Trevor released a breath he hadn’t realized he held as he was introduced properly this time.

“And that is enough of the formalities,” the king said as he stood up. “Jackson would have barged in here to see me, offer no apologies, and left in a hurry. I’m happy to see that you have more decorum than he, Lady Adabelle, but my predecessors and I have always had a soft spot for the old elf. Please, stand and be at ease.”

His voice was deep, soothing, and merry. Trevor immediately felt more at ease despite the circumstances. Lailah was the first to stand, and she walked towards the raised throne. Instead of walking up the short staircase, like he had thought she would, the elf sat down on one of the steps in the corner. Her action drew the young man’s attention to a woman he hadn’t noticed was already sitting there. The young man was surprised, as she was obviously not making any effort to actually hide from them.

She had pale, delicate features, though he could only see half of her face through her curly orange hair. Two long, vulpine ears came out of the top of her head, and three bushy tails the same orange color sprouted out of the bottom of her back. The woman wore metal armor that was so shiny it gleamed in the light, and looked exasperated when Lailah sat next to her.

“You know I hate it when you do that, Lai,” the woman spoke quietly, like her voice couldn’t carry very far. “How am I supposed to protect King Eskretet if you keep drawing attention to me?”

“No one’s here but us, and it’s just our sister visiting, Griffin,” she said calmly.

“And a member of her delegation,” the woman named Griffin added.

“He’s just a messenger,” Lailah said with a shrug.

“Ladies,” the king chided lightly.

“Your majesty,” Griffin said quietly before scowling at Lailah.

“Your majesty,” Lailah said happily before grinning at Griffin.

Trevor looked away to see that Adabelle was already standing, and quickly joined her. He glanced at King Eskretet in time to see him smiling warmly at the two women sitting on the stairs. Between the voice and that look, he could tell exactly the quality of person the Quest Master summoned for the position.

“Now that decorum has been quite thoroughly thrashed,” his majesty said, chuckling as he descended from his throne. “It truly is a pleasure to see you again, Lady Adabelle. I hope that Mayor Jackson has not been giving you too hard of a time?”

“Nothing that I can’t handle,” she said, smiling. “It’s good to see you again as well, your majesty.”

The king looked to Trevor, who somehow managed to stand even straighter, and smiled. “You can relax, young man. I don’t bite.”

“Yes, your majesty,” Trevor said, though he found that he couldn’t.

“You are a recent Summoned, no?”

“About…” Trevor paused. “Less than a month now, but closing in. I think.”

“How are you liking life in Lucent?”

“I really only have Tosa to speak on, but it’s been extraordinarily pleasant,” Trevor said, unable to keep himself from giving Adabelle a quick glance. “I’m really happy there.”

“That is fantastic to hear, young man,” the king said. Giving Trevor a slight nod, which was returned with a reflexive bow, and he turned his attention back to Adabelle. “And how is the old man?”

“Retiring, but still seems as healthy as he ever has,” the woman stated. “He insisted that I come and tell you myself, as was the proper way to do things.”

“Setting a precedent, no doubt,” the king said as he nodded. “He has done more for Lucent and its people than most will know, myself included, but he really only fell on formality when it was absolutely necessary. I had planned on extending that courtesy to future mayors of Tosa, but perhaps that’s not what he wants. Lady Adabelle, as his apprentice, what do you believe?”

“It’s likely, your majesty,” the demonkin admitted after thinking it over. “Even though the beginning of my training had been informal, I realized that he had started pushing me more towards the proper way to do things for some time now. It makes me believe he’s been planning this for a long time, and doesn’t want his successors to get as comfortable as he did.”

“And how do you feel about that, Mayor Adabelle?” the king asked.

Adabelle’s eyes widened, and she stood up a little taller at the address. “I believe that’s fine, your majesty,” she said stiffly.

“Then it shall be as you’ve decided,” the king replied with a smile and a nod. “This will likely be the last chance that we’ll be able to talk so freely, then, unless you return to us as an adventurer and regain those special privileges. If there’s anything you’d like to say before our meeting is over, please, feel free.”

“Nothing that cannot wait for a few minutes,” she claimed before gesturing to Trevor. “Before we go any further, we come bearing a gift. Trevor?”

“Right away, Lady Adabelle,” the young man stuttered out. He wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened, but he knew how to do this part. Putting his arms out at what he thought was the right dimensions, he summoned Jackson’s painting into his hands.

Trevor could no longer see anyone other than Adabelle thanks to the large painting, but he saw her become guarded just as he heard Griffin stand and take a step. This was followed by what sounded like a slap on the back of the head, and then by Lailah’s voice. “I told you he was a messenger, don’t get all heated just because he did something you didn’t expect.”

“This is magnificent!” the king happily exclaimed. “Did he paint this himself?”

“He did,” Adabelle confirmed.

“Marvelous, simply marvelous. Lailah, will you please take this for me?”

“Of course.” Lailah’s footsteps could be heard, and the painting was taken from him gently. As the elf held it, Trevor could see the admiration on the king’s face.

[[Quest 1 complete! The king loves his new painting!

You came a long way to get here and completed one quest, but your job is still not done. There are still deliveries to be made, but it’s probably not best to start running away from a king to get your level up fix. Though, speaking of which…

Level Up! You have gained 1 stat point. It has been added to your bank, which has 1 stat points left. Go ahead and splurge on something that isn’t Capacity for once, you deserve it.]]

Trevor couldn’t help but smile, but that’s all he did. He wasn’t about to increase his stats right here in front of the king. Even if this was a less than formal meeting, that still seemed like poor manners to him.

His majesty admired the painting for a few seconds longer before looking back at Adabelle. “I would like to invite you for tea before my daily meetings start, Lady Adabelle,” he said. “There is something I would like to discuss with you privately.”

“Just me, your majesty?” she asked.

“Well, Griffin will no doubt be around, as she always is, but yes.”

Adabelle looked at Trevor, and he gave her a thumbs up. “No worries, I’ll take care of the other quests and it’s not like I won’t be able to find my way back here,” he said.

“Very well,” she replied, smiling. “Yes, your majesty, I would love some tea.”

“Excellent,” the king said, clapping his hands together once. “Young man, it was a pleasure to meet you as well. Perhaps, next time, you might be able to relax a little more and be comfortable.”

Trevor froze before bowing and chuckling nervously. “I apologize for any rudeness, your majesty.”

“No, you are fine,” the king said, dismissing Trevor’s worry. “Lailah, will you escort Mister Trevor out while you tuck that painting away?”

“Of course, your highness,” she responded around the painting before walking past him. “Come along now, messenger boy.”

“I’ll see you later,” he whispered to Adabelle before bowing to the king and Griffin. Turning on his heel, he marched out with Lailah.

The doors opened automatically as they approached, and closed after they went through. Trevor immediately let out a sigh of relief as he finally relaxed, setting his hands on his knees.

“A bit intense in there, huh, messenger boy?” Lailah teased.

“More than a bit, but yeah,” he agreed. Trevor’s candor seemed to throw her for a loop, and he laughed as he stood up straight. “Alright, I need to change and I need to make another delivery. Is there a good way to get out of here from the suite?”

“There is,” she replied. “Right to work then, is it?”

“If I’ve got a job to do, then I’m going to do it right.”

“Not an adventurer, but still a man of action. I don’t mind it,” Lailah stated with a decisive nod. “Alright, come with me and I’ll get you back to your room. While you’re changing, I’ll set this thing where it belongs. After that I can lead you out.”

“Sounds good, Lady Lailah. Thank you,” Trevor said with a smile. As the elven woman started walking, he gave the oversized doors one last glance before he followed.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: KEEP THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT

It didn’t take long to make it back to the suite, and Trevor changed into comfortable clothes after Lailah went off to finish the king’s request. While the young man had no idea what the day would bring, he decided to take his backpack with him after setting everything aside from a spare outfit in the dresser drawers. He had assumed they weren’t getting kicked out until they were ready to go, at least, and no one had told him otherwise.

Lailah returned in short order without the painting, as he expected, and she led him down the elevator to another tunnel. This one had been built for foot traffic instead of wagons.

“Sometimes people want to stay incognito, you know? That’s why there’s so many tunnels,” she explained as they walked. “Plus, as a famous adventurer, it’s just a better route. You don’t have to go through the front gates, just slip right through and pop up on the other side.”

“I can see where that would come in handy,” Trevor admitted. “It’s less attention, especially on busy days like the ones coming up. I’m assuming people from all over the country are coming?”

“So many,” Lailah confirmed. “The castle’s going to be full to bursting with people coming and going, but you feel free to use this tunnel whenever you want to come and go. My sister already knows about it, so if she wants to use it ditch you and come drinking with me again don’t be surprised.”

“Thank you, that’s really kind of you.”

Lailah paused for a beat. “Do you really mean that? Or are you just doing that thing where you’re really polite because you think I’ll get mad over it.”

Trevor chuckled. “Well, I didn’t call you ma’am this time, did I?” he asked. “No, I really owe you one. Not just for taking care of Adabelle, but also for helping me out with my suit.”

“Helping my sword sister will always be a priority,” Lailah said, waving a hand dismissively. “It wasn’t so much as helping you, but her.”

“Still, I really appreciate it,” Trevor replied. “Adabelle isn’t very good at asking for help, and neither am I. Like, I brought nice clothes, but they weren’t nearly as snazzy as that. Kadrus does good work, so please thank him for me.”

Silence descended in the tunnels for a moment. “I really can’t get a read on you.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

Lailah huffed. “It is when you obviously have feelings for my sword sister.”

“I don’t know about obvious,” he said, only for Lailah to stop and turn to face him. Trevor was forced to stop as well, and he watched as her face changed to one that clearly asked if that was what he really thought. The young man offered her a lopsided smile. “If it makes you feel any better, Wayne tried to threaten me with promises of pain if I hurt her. That conversation ended with him calling me a cinnamon roll and pledging to be my wingman before I told him to please not do that.”

“Oh, so Wayne’s already stuck his nose into this situation?” she asked.

“On my side, at least. I threatened him so that he wouldn’t approach Adabelle about my feelings, because I would get to it on my terms.”

Lailah scoffed and crossed her arms, looking Trevor up and down. “You? Threaten Wayne? He’s been here forever, how could someone like you possibly threaten him, messenger boy?”

“I told him that I’d teach Rashie the Baby Shark song if he meddled,” Trevor said, his smile transforming into a grin.

The elf barked a laugh as she shook her head and put her hands on her hips. “Yeah, that’s a pretty good threat.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, you should act on it sooner rather than later,” Lailah said before she began walking down the tunnel again. “Because I’ve already meddled, and-”

“Actually, I already did,” Trevor interrupted, unable to hide his smile. “This morning, right before you knocked on the door to barge in, I asked her out to the festival. On a date, specifically. Then you started cackling and walking away.”

“Is that what I walked in on?” she laughed. “I thought you two finally kissed or something.”

“What? Kissed?” he asked, stopping. “What makes you say that?”

“Oh, nothing,” Lailah practically sang. “Just remember that my sister’s a young maiden at heart, and you only get a pass because you make her feel like she’s taken care of, and that makes her happy.”

“Why does everyone keep giving me passes?” Trevor grumbled, though he did so with a smile. If Lailah was telling the truth, then that meant Adabelle really did feel the same way he did. It wasn’t something he had expected, still somewhat surprised that she agreed to a date, but knowing it made him feel good. Unless… “Wait, really? She said that?”

“I’ll lie to you about a lot of things, messenger boy, but not about this,” the elf chirped. “Just remember-”

“I hurt her, I get hurt, yeah.”

“Nah, she likes it when a man shows a bit of chest,” Lailah said, looking back to wink at the young man. “Drives her crazy. So whatever you choose to wear on your date tomorrow for the festival, maybe you should keep that under advisement.”

“Really?” Trevor asked. “Wait, was that one of the things you’d lie to me about?”

The elf laughed, but his question was promptly ignored as they reached the end of the tunnel. It led to a trap door in the ceiling that would be easy to climb out of, and she opened it to reveal a plain room with a single guard inside.

The armored man stood at attention as they entered the building. “Good morning, ma’am,” he said strongly.

“Good morning,” Lailah greeted. “This is Trevor, he’s in the company of Lady Adabelle and he’s allowed to come and go as he pleases.”

“As you wish, ma’am,” the guard responded.

“Alright, Trevor, go through this door and you’ll be in Kadrus’ shop,” Lailah explained. “Come back here whenever you want to head back to the castle. Or, you can just go through the front gate if the shop is closed. Or, if that’s just you want. Your choice.”

“Oh, well, thanks a lot Lailah, I really-”

“Okay, see you later, messenger boy,” Lailah said, waving before going back into the tunnels and closing the trap door.

Trevor stared at it for a moment before looking at the guard. “Is she always like that?”

The guard stifled a laugh before putting on a more professional face. “I assure you; I have no idea what you’re talking about, sir.”

“Yeah, I guess not, huh?” Trevor asked with a laugh. “So, just through this door, then?”

When the guard gave him a confirming nod, the young man left the room. Lailah had said this was Kadrus’ shop, and Trevor found himself surrounded by clothes, cloth, and tools. A young dwarven woman stood behind a counter while the elderly dwarf himself was measuring a customer in front of a tall mirror. Pausing to look around, he was quickly noticed.

“Mister Trevor, come back any time,” Kadrus said, barely taking his eyes off of his customer.

“Thank you, sir, for all your help,” Trevor responded, bowing first in his direction and then towards the young woman. He stopped on the way out to stare at a navy-blue outfit that looked suspiciously like a sailor’s suit before stepping into the city for the first time.

The streets were bustling with activity and Trevor found himself going against the tide of traffic. Despite his best efforts, he was pushed against the building almost immediately in order to stay out of the people’s flow. While the paved roads were wide, the number of pedestrians was unreal to him. Even in his city back on Earth there wasn’t as much foot traffic as this, and it certainly wasn’t as varied.

Despite the discomfort of suddenly being part of the crowd, he couldn’t help but stare. Trevor had seen the city from the balcony last night, but that was different than seeing it at ground level. The buildings were all made of stone and around three stories tall. The shops on the first floor all had signs painted with eye-catching colors.

From his spot pressed up against the tailor shop, he could see that the stores were varied, too. A butcher shop was next to a pub across the street, and there was a small store advertising crystal balls next to a one that sold perfumes and colognes. A man walked out of that one and, as he walked by Trevor, the young man caught a scent he didn’t expect: new car.

“They really have everything here, huh?” he chuckled to himself before looking down the street. If he wanted to step into traffic, there was only one good way to go thanks to the way people were moving, but he wasn’t sure if that was the right way to his destination. Thankfully, Trevor had an item for that.

Retrieving his PathGuider 5000 from his inventory, he set it over his eye. “Alright, so what’s the best way to get to Klar’s,” he muttered to himself.

The Trinket pointed him to a shop across the street. Green arrows weaved through the traffic, but then started to go up the drainpipe fastened to the building.

“Is that really the fastest way?” Trevor asked in a deadpan voice. He looked at the people, which showed no sign of slowing down, and he sighed. “Quest Master, what stats are best for… rooftop traversal? I guess?”

[[Trevor Anderson, I’m so glad you asked! Strength to climb? Check. Dexterity for control? Perhaps a little more. Speed for distance? You’ve got a Trinket for that.]]

“Speed for distance?” Trevor repeated loudly, ignoring the looks he was receiving from pedestrians. “Is this thing going to have me jumping from building to building or something?”

There wasn’t any answer from the Quest Master, so Trevor took that as confirmation. He glanced at the crowd again, really not wanting to become beholden to the wave of people going through the city, and started feeling a little claustrophobic.

“Fine, fine, let’s put my last point into Dexterity, then,” Trevor sighed.

[[Stat increase complete. Dexterity is now 3. You have no more banked points remaining. Happy climbing!]]

“Can you show me my status screen?”

[[Trevor Anderson

Human

Level 6 (0/2)

Banked Points: 0

Strength: 3

Dexterity: 3

Stamina: 2

Speed: 1

Magic: 1

Mana: 1

Specialty Stats

Capacity: 5

Power: Inventory

Skills: Quick Growth (Human), Temporal Dimensional Storage (Inventory), Stacks (Capacity)]]

Looking them over, Trevor nodded to himself. He had been wanting to upgrade Speed for a while now, but figured that it was probably for the best that he upgraded the other physical stats first. A part of him wanted to put the next increase into Stamina so it could be 3 just like Strength and Dexterity, but he knew that would lead him down a dark path to also wanting to increase Magic and Mana so that all of the numbers were the same.

Which wasn’t inherently a bad thing, he just didn’t have any abilities that needed those particular stats. There were magic items that operated off of it, like the magic key to his home, but so far that was it. If he came across anything else that needed it, then his views could potentially change, but right now they were both fine at one.

Once the status screen left his vision, Trevor looked for the closest part in the crowd and went for it.

The young man thought he would stumble and push more through force than finesse, but reality surprised him. As he made his way through the sea of people, he found himself barely touching them as he dodged, weaved, and spun around people as naturally as a hummingbird flitting around a garden. Halfway across the street, he couldn’t help but grin.

“Okay, Dexterity is cool,” he laughed to himself as he backtracked into the middle of the street before surging forward. It all felt so perfectly natural to move his body in this way that he found himself backtracking for a chance to play in traffic a little bit longer.

Eventually, he had his fill, and Trevor made it to the other side of the road. He inspected the drainpipe, having expected a flimsy aluminum one like he had back on Earth, but was surprised to find that it was actually rather sturdy. It was as big around as he could grab, and there were several brackets holding it in place. Even as the young man tried to shake it, it didn’t move.

Taking a breath, Trevor stretched. “Alright, Strength, don’t fail me now,” he whispered before beginning his climb.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: MAKE A MODEST LIVING

To Trevor’s surprise, the climb was actually really easy. His Strength carried him all the way to the top, and he threw himself onto the roof with only lightly labored breathing from his efforts. The young man had looked around, noting the gardens that were planted on every rooftop, before paying attention to the PathGuider 5000’s line.

While it felt a little rude to invade people’s roofs like this, he was feeling an adrenaline rush from both dancing through the crowd and climbing the drainpipe. This was the most physically fit and capable he had ever been in his life and, while he was sure he’d get used to it eventually, right now it made him giddy.

So, he followed the line as it showed him the way. Trevor pulled the Horn of Swift Heroics from his inventory, but didn’t blow on it yet. It was kept close because of what the Quest Master had said.

As he stepped from building to building, only having to jump a few feet between alleyways, Trevor started becoming more confident. Back in Tosa he had stuck to jogging or running through the streets, and the lack of obstacles had meant it had been a relatively easy experience. Eskretet was proving to be completely different in a most delightful way.

Running along the edge of the roof, he saw the people going about their business. Some wore fancy clothes and walked with purpose, while others sported looks of awe and could easily have been tourists stopping to see every little thing. Some spotted him, pointing up, and that’s when he returned to the center of the buildings so he wouldn’t have so much attention on him. He wasn’t sure if this was considered trespassing or not, but he hoped that he wasn’t breaking any laws.

Eventually, the PathGuider 5000 wanted him to cross the wide streets, and showed this with a tall arc between the buildings. Trevor slowed to a stop, looking at the wooden beam it wanted him to jump from. It was being used to hold up a potted plant outside somebody’s window.

“Are you being serious with me right now?” he asked, flicking the Trinket’s frame with his finger.

It didn’t change, and despite knowing it was a terrible idea he began gauging the distance with a critical eye.

“This has got to be one of the stupidest things I have ever done,” Trevor grumbled to himself as he backed up. The young man raised the horn to his mouth and blew it before he could dwell on his actions too much. His Speed increased, and he began running.

He only took one step on the wooden beam, and Trevor was glad that it barely shifted due to his weight. The young man jumped with all of his might, getting more height than he thought he was capable of, and sailed through the air.

Not gracefully, of course. He flailed both his arms and his legs, and may have even screamed.

But his hands caught the roof on the other side and, in an adrenaline-filled frenzy, he pulled himself up. Trevor laid on his back, staring up at the sky, and threw his arms in the air. An exhilarated scream passed through his lips as he cheered for himself. Unable to keep still, he got up and started running again.

That was the first road that he had jumped over, but it wasn’t his last. With each leap he became more confident. Trevor stumbled at the end of his second jump but landed on his feet, and the third jump he nailed. He continued running through the rooftops of Eskretet, sailing over the sea of citizens, until he reached the end of the line.

Panting, Trevor grinned as he looked down at Klarkartar’s Magical Emporium. It was a large shop that took up several blocks, though it was only two stories tall unlike most of the buildings in this district.

The whole setup was loud, too, fully reminding him of something like a fireworks tent. Words printed in big letters all around the building let people know that they could shop here for “Magic” and that there were “Big Sales” on all manner of things.

Following the PathGuider 5000 one more time, Trevor found another drainpipe and carefully climbed down it. Once he was back on the ground, he took a few moments to catch his breath and push the Trinket up onto his forehead before walking across the busy street to his destination.

Now that the young man was back on the street, he noticed horns painted on the buildings pointing towards the entrance. At first, he thought they were just for decoration, but he remembered what Klar’s business card said: just follow the horns! Trevor understood it now as he entered the building.

If he had thought the outside was loud, then he was not prepared for the inside. A cacophony of colors disoriented him for a few seconds. Every sign, tablecloth, and employee were wrapped in vibrant hues that Trevor recognized as minotaur fashion. Not everyone was a minotaur, though; there were also humans and orcs working registers that were liberally spread out throughout the building. All it needed were escalators to the second floor and it would have fully reminded him of a big mall store.

For this part of the quest, Trevor had wanted to find Klar naturally by looking around. Now that he was inside, he didn’t feel that it was remotely feasible. Everything was designed to distract, causing him to pause to look at combs that were advertised to take care of your hair while you were sleeping, or sandals with no straps that were guaranteed to never fall off until you wanted them to.

The young man purchased both of these, thinking that they were well worth the price.

[[New Trinkets! The Morning After Comb and Stubborn Sandals.

You already know what these do because the sign told you, but have fun with your new Trinkets.]]

Trevor stopped in front of a massive display of Horn Wax, which was advertised to both minotaurs and demons alike, and he wondered if Adabelle used or needed this. Certainly it wasn’t something that was needed, and after a few moments of staring he decided that she probably wouldn’t want it. She was fine just the way she was.

Giving up and deciding to follow the PathGuider 5000’s green arrow, Trevor made his way all the way to the back of the store. He found Klar sitting in an area set into the floor with a few other minotaurs. Their eyes locked immediately, and he saw the large bull-man’s face twist into a grin.

“Trevor Anderson!” he greeted loudly, causing the other minotaurs to look at him.

“Klar, it’s good to see you,” Trevor said with a smile as he moved to stand on the edge of the pit.

“And you, old friend!” Klar replied, not modulating his voice in the slightest. He stood up, the coins hanging from his horns clinking together. The largest minotaur in the group did the same, though he was quickly told to sit with a gesture. “This is Trevor Anderson, Farquar, he is not a threat. Unlike some Earth Summoned, he has manners.”

“Hello, everyone,” Trevor said with a polite bow, and he was met with a smattering of greetings. The young man couldn’t help but notice Farquar’s large hammer on the seat next to him, and imagined he was some sort of bodyguard. “As much as I’d like to say that this is a social drop-in, I’m actually here on business.”

“Business is what I do, so there is no trouble in that,” Klar said.

If the merchant prince was offended, it didn’t show at all. Leaving the pit, he stood next to Trevor. For some reason, the young man had it in his head that Klar was bigger and taller than he actually had been. He was both of those things, but the minotaur wasn’t the towering goliath that remained in his memory.

“I’ve brought goods from Thimbleden and Dory. From back in Tosa,” Trevor continued. “I can set them out wherever you like, though it’s a lot so maybe in a stock room or something?”

“You managed to get a wagon through the streets this early in the day during festival week?” Klar asked. “That’s amazing! It would take me and my people hours to do the same even if we started tossing people out of the way!”

“For the record, we wouldn’t do that,” one of the minotaurs still sitting said quickly.

“No, of course not, we would be patient. Anything else would not only be rude, but harmful to our home,” Klar confirmed before clapping his hands. “Well, let’s go get those goods!”

“Oh, there’s no wagon,” Trevor said with a smile.

“No wagon? Then perhaps a dimensional bag?” Klar said, eying Trevor’s backpack. “I tried to get in contact with Melvirn the wizard while I was in Tosa, but I was unlucky. Did you bring the goods in there?”

“He gets really engrossed in his experiments, yes. And this bag has been tampered with, dimensionally speaking, but they’re not in there, either. Unless I want them to be, but that’s… not really pertinent. I’m an inventoryman.” When the minotaur gave him a confused look, Trevor lifted his arms and summoned a box full of Heating Stones. “My Power is Inventory.”

Klar’s eyes went wide, and he grinned again. “That is an excellent Power!” the minotaur exclaimed, drawing attention from all over. Trevor smiled nervously as he noticed people staring at him and his large friend, but a large, furry arm was put around his shoulders and he was suddenly being led to the back. “Come, this way, I will show you where to put things down.”

Trevor was escorted through a large pair of swinging double doors that closed behind them and into a room full of shelves. If he hadn’t known any better, this would have reminded him completely of his old job back on Earth. The vibe was different, however, and he could tell the employees here didn’t have that customer service mask he knew all too well.

He was glad that he was being ushered forward, because the thought of his job back on Earth as his “old job” gave him pause. That was something he would have to unpack later, because Klar stopped him in front of a few empty bays.

“Right here, if you please,” he requested.

“You got it, Klar,” Trevor said as he started removing the boxes he had in his inventory. Just like taking them in, taking them out was a quick process. He was able to stack them with expert precision, and soon everything from Thimbleden was out in the open.

[[Eh, you’ve got two quests here. I’ll wait until you’re done so we can get straight to the level up.]]

Trevor chuckled. “That’s everything from Thimbleden, and now it’s everything from Dory,” he said as he moved to the next bay. “My dimensional pocket’s about as big as a wagon, but I can store some things in a time stop… thing. Temporal storage, or something.”

“You are amazing, Trevor!” Klar exclaimed. “I’ve seen a lot of Summoned in my time, and I have to say, I think I like this Power the most of all.”

“Oh, yeah?” Trevor wasn’t sure about that, but he’d let the minotaur explain.

“Yes, it’s just so handy,” Klar continued. “Imagine all the good you can do with this, all the work you could get done that would normally take so many people to do. Taking food and supplies to remote locations that wagons couldn’t feasibly reach, or delivering time-sensitive medicine out to those who can’t make trips to the towns and cities. I know that Summoned Powers are great, but this is the kind of thing that I like.”

“Well, thanks, Klar,” Trevor said with a smile. “I’m very happy with it, too. I don’t think I could stomach adventuring.”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” Klar said. “Despite being as big and scary as I know I am, I don’t think I could, either. I would much rather help people by providing them goods and services. Like Dory’s venom. The concoctions it’s used in will prevent a lot of people from dying, right? And the Heating Stones, the Isle of Horns is far, far north and heat is very precious, especially with the ocean winds. These are expensive everywhere except Tosa, because they have the most Firesap Trees, right?”

Trevor didn’t know that, but he politely nodded anyway. “Right.”

“So I travel to places with resources like that and barter. I buy in bulk to not only get the most discounts, but so that it’s easier to send things where they need to go,” Klar continued. “These magic stones, for example. I’m only going to make around five coppers a piece, and I’m planning on selling the venom at cost to alchemists around town to help protect those who need it. I could sell for exorbitant amounts, but that is not what a merchant prince should do.”

“So what you’re saying is, you’re a man of the people?”

“Exactly!” he roared, causing Trevor to flinch in surprise. “So many merchants from my homeland think that I am the least of them because the only profits I need are enough to make a modest living, but I say they are fools. We are only alive for a short time, and there are ways to make money that don’t require the… What is the Earth term? Nickel and diming of the common folk?”

“Yeah, you’ve got it.”

“I make more than enough from adventurers because they operate on a completely different scale of economy. The common folk who just need minor magical items can afford them, and the prestige I enjoy in the community is enough for me. I am a content man, so long as I can help people as I had been helped before.”

“Somebody helped you that much, huh?” Trevor asked. He realized that he had stopped pulling boxes out of his inventory, but Klar didn’t mind.

“Many, many times before,” the minotaur said, nodding. “Summoned adventurers helped me when I was first striving to become a merchant prince in order to change the misconceptions of my homeland. They did so for cheap, because I could not afford to give them more, and because of them I was able to thrive. That is why I am always so happy to meet new visitors to our world, and why our meeting had to be an act of providence. Especially with a Power like this!”

“Well, if you have any work for me, I’m always happy to accept a quest,” Trevor said as he finally finished putting the last box down.

[[Quest cluster complete! And you have finished three of them! Quests, I mean, not clusters.

Not only was the king pleased with the painting, but Klar is over the moon that you came to visit! You have dropped off the goods for both Thimbleden and Dory, and without even a single broken item. Well done!

Rewards! Two platinum pieces have been added to your inventory, you have gained the equivalent of one extra quest added to your level up tally! Speaking of…

Level up! You have gained 1 stat point. It has been added to your bank, and you have 1 stat points banked.]]

“I believe I do,” Klar said, stroking his chin. “I think I have a quest that’s just perfect for you, Trevor Anderson.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: EXPLOSIVE DELIVERY

Trevor beamed at Klar. Not just because he was getting a quest, but because he would be able to help out his friend.

“Whatever I can do, I’m happy to help,” the young man said. “You really did wonders calming me down when I first arrived, so I’m at your service until tomorrow.”

“Don’t mention it, that was just a talk between new friends,” Klar said with a laugh. “But, let’s get to business for now. Can you store more than this?”

“With my backpack on, yeah,” Trevor replied. “It’s a Trinket that increases my storage capacity.”

“Phenomenal, simply phenomenal. Normally, it would take a team of people all day to do what I need done, and some have already been sent out, but perhaps you would not mind running around the city for me? I promise to make it well worth your time, my friend.”

The young man thought about getting back to Adabelle, but their date wasn’t until tomorrow, so there was time. He came to realize that he still barely knew anything about the Festival of Golden Lights, where they would be going, or what they would be seeing. There was also the matter of what he would have to wear. Something told him that Klar would be able to help.

“I actually do have some requests, if you don’t mind,” Trevor said.

“I do not! Please, if they are within my power, then I will do what I can.”

“Thank you, Klar, I’ve…” Trevor hesitated, suddenly realizing what he would actually have to ask.

After a few seconds, the minotaur tilted his head. “You’ve…?” he urged.

Taking a breath, Trevor shook his head to clear it. “Do you know Lady Adabelle? From Tosa?”

“She is Jackson’s apprentice, no?” he asked, and the young man nodded. “Yes, we’ve met. She is stern, but a wonderful woman nonetheless.”

“Adabelle- I mean, Lady Adabelle is here. In Eskretet, I mean. She was traveling with me, and I asked her out. To the festival, tomorrow. We’re going on a date. To the festival. But I just realized that I don’t know anything about it. I don’t know where to take her, or where to avoid taking her, or if she’s taking me somewhere? And there’s nothing for me to wear except a really, really nice suit that Kadrus made, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate? And-”

“Okay, okay!” Klar said, chuckling as he silenced Trevor with a firm hand on the young man’s shoulder. “So, you were rambling a little, but let me sum up. You need a nice place to take Lady Adabelle, and you need something to wear to the festival.”

“Yes, that's accurate, sorry,” Trevor replied while bowing his head.

“Let us discuss things while you begin taking items into your inventory, shall we?” the minotaur asked with clear amusement. “And you can calm down a little bit.”

“Yeah, sure, alright.”

Klar motioned for Trevor to follow him, and the young man did as they went through the back of the minotaur’s store. They passed by several well labeled bays and shelves, and the once-was retail worker found himself approving of how neat everything was. It was a far cry from the gnomish shop he had gotten used to in Tosa, though it was also starting to give him flashbacks.

They stopped right in front of a large section of floor that wasn’t the same gray stone as everything else, but painted black. Inside of it, there were several crates with the words “caution,” “danger,” and “keep away from fire” plastered in very large, colorful fonts.

“Normally, these would already be where we need them,” Klar explained. “But due to some nightmares in logistics because of the actions of one of my mercantile rivals, we got them very late. That is why they are here and not where they are supposed to be.”

“What, uh, what are these, Klar?” Trevor asked nervously.

“Do the warnings throw you off?”

“Yes. They absolutely do.”

“Ha! Not even hesitating in the face of a friend. Ah, Trevor, you are a good man,” the minotaur claimed as he walked up to one of the nearest crates. Grabbing a crowbar, he opened it without any semblance of being gentle, causing the young man to flinch. Once the lid was off, though, Klar gestured him forward.

Trevor took a few hesitant steps forward and peeked inside. His mood changed from one of cautious curiosity to unbridled glee. “Are these what I think they are?”

“So long as you think that all of these crates are filled with fireworks, then yes, it is exactly what you think it is.”

“This is great!” Trevor exclaimed giddily. He looked at the stack with newfound glee. “Oh, man, there’s so many crates here! Are fireworks big in the festival? Wait, that’s a stupid question. It’s literally called the Festival of Golden Lights, so of course lights are important.”

“Trevor, I’m going to ask you to do something separate from the quest for me, if you don’t mind.”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“It's rare to see someone who doesn’t know anything about the festival, I want you to retain your ignorance on what the big draw is. Don’t ask about it, avoid conversations on it, just allow yourself to be taken away when it happens. Metaphorically speaking, of course; you won’t actually be transported somewhere, in case you were worried about that.”

“Is it going to be that big?” Trevor asked, arching an eyebrow.

“All I will say is that it will be the most stunning thing you’ve seen in this world so far,” he said before pausing and giving Trevor a sidelong glance. “Unless you are one of those hopeless romantic types, in which case I’d change my answer to say Lady Adabelle?”

The young man couldn’t help but laugh. “No, she’s beautiful, but I’m just a regular romantic.”

“Then it will be the most stunning thing you’ve seen in this world so far,” Klar said confidently. “I’m sure Lady Adabelle will know where to go and will be able to get you there, just tell her that I said you shouldn’t know about it.”

“Okay, I don’t really like not knowing about big things that could specifically impact me, but I’m going to trust you on that.”

“Perfect! Alright, so these are going all around the city to different locations,” Klar explained. “I see that you have a PathGuider 5000. Excellent Trinket, that, and you’ll be able to get through it rather quickly if you hurry. Not that you have to hurry, so long as it’s done before tonight.”

“Just putting them in places, then?”

Klar nodded. “So that, tomorrow, my employees don’t have to lug them all over the place. I would ask you to do it tomorrow, but seeing as that is the day of your date, I figured that would be rude.”

“Yeah, sorry, Klar,” Trevor grimaced.

“No need to apologize,” the minotaur said with a wave of his hand. “These can go into warehouses across the city, and they can be retrieved tomorrow. It will still be much better than lugging them through the crowds from here. That’s what we normally have to do. Could you imagine the trouble of hauling crates of fireworks through all those people?”

Trevor could, and it sounded horrible. “I’ll be able to do it a lot faster and with a lot less trouble,” he said confidently.

“Yes, you are ready to agree, but I haven’t told you what you get out of it,” Klar said, scratching his snout. “You wanted someplace to go and something to wear that was appropriate to the festival. Do you like crowds? Or prefer something a little more private?”

“Private, definitely,” Trevor replied immediately.

“Then I have the perfect place to eat. You will have to go through the crowds to get there, but you should see the sights from amongst the people anyway. That is the proper way to enjoy the festival.”

“Lay it on me, Klar.”

“I own a restaurant that every, and I mean every, noble and Summoned wants to go to,” he claimed. “It’s called Matteo’s, and it is reservation only, but I can get you in whenever you want. The chef is Summoned, and his food is to die for. You decide when you want to go; lunch, dinner, sometime in between, it doesn’t matter. I have my own personal dining area overlooking the national park surrounding the castle, and I will go when you are not there so you may have some alone time with your Lady Adabelle.”

Trevor blinked at Klar as he pitched his restaurant. “Are you sure?” he asked hesitantly. “Wouldn’t you rather give that reservation to someone like a business partner or close friend?”

“Are we not close friends?” Klar asked quickly.

“I mean, I’m okay with being close friends, but this is only the second time we’ve met,” Trevor responded just as fast, hoping he didn’t offend the minotaur.

Klar turned to face the young man and placed his hands on both of Trevor’s shoulders. “We are friends, yes, and even if you tell me no then nothing will change between us,” he said. “But, Trevor, I’m not just offering this to be altruistic. I don’t think you understand how much I appreciate your Power. If you work with me even just a little bit over the next few months, or years, or anything, then we could do a lot of good together. I’m thinking of that future. Besides, this is an exchange, it’s not like I’m just giving it to you for free.”

“Oh, alright,” Trevor said because he couldn’t think of anything else.

“If you want to go on a vacation somewhere, and it’s someplace I do business, then you only have to tell me and I will fund your entire trip at the cost of a courier quest,” Klar continued. “Even if you want to go with Lady Adabelle, or whoever else you want. Even if you’re just in the city and heading back to Tosa, there are always goods that can be moved. You can take an entire wagon’s worth of goods as a single man, and I think you need to know your own worth.”

Trevor grimaced. “That sounds like I’ll be replacing teams of people that need to be paid,” he stated honestly.

Klar laughed and let the man go to gesture all over the warehouse. “There is always work!” he exclaimed. “What you could do is prevent one of my many teams from traveling two weeks away from their loved ones, then have to travel two weeks back. Wagons are slow and cumbersome even when they are not filled, and would take a lot more time than you would. They will still have work, but be away from home less often.”

Tilting his head, Trevor thought about that and found himself nodding. That made a lot of sense, and he could see why a big-time merchant like Klar would want to be on the good side of someone like him. “Okay, I think I’ll take you up on Matteo’s, then,” he finally said.

“Trust me, it will change the way you live,” Klar said with a grin. “And, I know for a fact that Lady Adabelle will… I believe you would say, freak out?”

“That is something we say on Earth, yes,” Trevor chuckled.

“I’m glad. I do love a lot of the Earth colloquialisms that I hear. Then, would you like lunch or dinner?”

Trevor thought it over. He didn’t really want to be inside during the fireworks show, so it would be better to take an earlier meal. “Lunch, maybe a late lunch, please and thank you.”

“Consider it done,” Klar said. “And there’s the matter of your clothing. Do you have any particular style in mind?”

“I do not,” Trevor admitted. “I’m not even sure what’s appropriate attire. All I know is that…”

Trevor’s voice trailed off as he thought about what Lailah had said about Adabelle and bare-chested men. His face began to heat as he looked at Klar. He still didn’t know enough about the elven woman to figure out if that was a lie or if she was being serious. Showing off his chest wasn’t an issue, that Strength score of 3 had done wonders for him, he could admit that, but he didn’t know if it was sabotage.

As Klar waited patiently for him to finish his sentence, Trevor made a decision. He looked down and mumbled.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that,” Klar said.

Trevor shifted and mumbled again.

“Could you speak a little louder?” Klar asked apologetically.

“Maybe something that’ll show off my chest,” Trevor whispered, his face now very red.

Trevor couldn’t see it, but Klar blinked in confusion before attempting to choke back a laugh at this nervous young man before him. He raised his fist and politely coughed into it.

“Must be the dust from the fireworks,” he claimed, trying to spare the young man any more embarrassment. “Would you feel comfortable in minotauran garb, perhaps?”

“Would that be okay?” Trevor asked, looking up to see that Klar was very pointedly not looking directly at him.

“Of course! We minotaurs are a welcoming bunch, and we love it when other cultures embrace ours!” he said loudly, pretending to fuss with the fireworks. “Besides, the festival is a mix of several different Summoned cultures anyway. The very first king of Eskretet was a Japanese man, so kimonos and yukatas are universally accepted. After that was a Forvan, which I don’t believe is an Earth country?”

Trevor shook his head. “Never heard of a Forvan before, so definitely not.”

“Well, he brought along an outfit called a dunbar, which also became acceptable in the festival,” Klar continued. “It’s tight, and often comes with a very large hat and golden hoops around the body. Very impractical, so few still wear it, but some of the longer-lived folks still swear by it. Let’s see, King Eskretet the Third, who was the first of two female kings, was from a place called Brazil, I believe.”

While Trevor was interested more about the two women kings of Eskretet, wondering if they were called King because of the Quest Master, he didn’t think this was the right time to ask. He didn’t even remember seeing any portraits of them in the hallway before the throne room, though he realized they easily could have been in the hallway opposite where Lailah had led them from.

“Let me guess, lots of really flamboyant costumes?”

“So flamboyant!” Klar laughed. “But also the ones that lasted the longest. You will be among a sea of colors and cheer during the festival, don’t you worry.”

“I wasn’t really worried, per se, but I’m glad that we’ve got it figured out,” Trevor said before frowning. He looked at the minotaur’s large frame. “Do you, uh, do you have something in my size?”

“Of course we do, we have clothes for people of all shapes and sizes! Do not worry about that. Quest Master, could you please?”

[[New quest! Klarkartar’s explosive delivery!

You have agreed to help this merchant prince deliver goods all around the city in exchange for a hot meal, although admittedly a really good one, and an outfit.

The price may be right, but the real reward is knowing that you helped a lot of people not have to do some things that are really annoying. Not only that, but you’re bringing joy to all the fans of pretty explosions in Eskretet!

All in the name of Lady Adabelle, no less. This is shaping up to be a pretty substantial date.]]

“It’s not in the name of Lady Adabelle,” Trevor protested, though at this point he knew it kind of was. Sighing, he looked back up at Klar and offered his hand. “I’ll take care of this for you, friend.”

“Thank you, friend,” Klar said back, taking the proffered hand and giving it a firm shake. “And best of luck on your date.”

“Thanks, I think I’m going to need it,” Trevor said with a weak chuckle before he got to work.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: KEEP UP APPEARANCES

The quest Trevor had taken on turned into an almost all-day affair, but he didn’t mind it. While he could have used the rooftops to get around faster, the young man decided to stay down with the crowds and see the city. Whenever something caught his attention, whether it was the sights, sounds, or smells, he stopped to investigate.

Trevor spent some of his time looking at monuments of people around the city, getting to know a small portion of its history. Sometimes he would go for nearly a mile without seeing any, and other times he would see them after every major intersection.

He could tell that Eskretet was a city that was proud of its history, though not all of it; some pedestals were empty with no plaque to tell what had once been there. The young man assumed they were from before the liberation, and that there was a reason for their removal.

Musicians were set up on a lot of street corners playing a plethora of different types of music. Trevor heard many styles throughout the city, including some similar to music from Earth. There was a heavy lean towards classical and, to his surprise, jazz.

Many of the musicians had put up signs indicating that they would be at the same spot for the Festival of Golden Lights, and he tried to do his best to memorize the streets his favorites were on. Though, with the city being as large as it was, he only hoped he would remember where they actually were.

The smells hit him the hardest, however. Almost every restaurant was packed with people, and a few even had crowds waiting outside. Whenever Trevor found one that smelled delicious but had a relatively small line, he stopped to see what they were selling.

From pies to steaks to stews, he grabbed what they had and set them in the temporal section of his dimensional pocket for later. He wasn’t expecting to go through all the food before they left, but Rashie would enjoy anything he brought home.

By the time Trevor finished with his quest, the sun was getting very close to the horizon. Nearly every streetcorner was already illuminated, and the floating lights he saw last night were covering more of the city now than just the park. He had no issue walking through the streets at night.

[[Quest complete! You’ve set up flashy joy explosives in warehouses all across the city!

Klar was right about one thing, you sure can do a lot of work very quickly. Tomorrow, several people will be coming out to grab these fireworks and light up the night sky during the festival. Thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of people will be there to witness something that you, personally, helped set up. Your reward is that warm feeling you’re getting in your chest right now.

Also, a fancy lunch at Matteo’s and traditional minotauran outfit to wear on your date, the latter of which has been added to your inventory. I hope you like flashy colors!

Also also, level Up! You have gained 1 stat point. It has been added to your bank, which has 2 stat points left.

You are currently level 8 and, fair warning, the next level up will take three quests to complete.]]

Trevor smiled at the Quest Master’s screen, not perturbed in the slightest that the next level took more effort to reach, and focused on the sections mentioning his date. He could absolutely handle flashy colors.

“Add a point to Stamina, please and thank you,” he requested. After traversing all over the city, his legs were jelly. Not feeling bad, but they would definitely hurt tomorrow. Especially after the temporary buff from his water bottle ran out.

[[Stat increase complete. Stamina is now 3, 4 with the Vigor Bottle buff. You still have 1 banked points remaining to be used at your leisure.]]

“That’s some good stuff,” Trevor sighed appreciatively as some of the weariness left his muscles the moment he got the message. Having one in the tank meant that he could spend it on Speed, start working on getting that up to 3, but right now he was feeling alright with where he was.

Not wanting to get lost on their date, Trevor asked around about the restaurant. As it turned out, Matteo’s was right around the corner from one of the park’s bridges near the front entrance of the castle. There was no way he could get inside to scope it out as he didn’t have a reservation, but that was fine by him. Just knowing its location was enough.

As he stepped onto the bridge that would lead him to the castle doors, Trevor noticed two teardrops of light fall from the halo into the forest. He could hear cheering coming from the general area where they dropped, and decided to investigate.

The closer he got, the more he could make out. Some people were chanting the name of Sir Aelius, which Trevor recognized as the knight who was guarding the passage they took outside of the walls. Steel clashing with steel reached his ears, and he could faintly pick out a second name being screamed, though it didn’t seem nearly as popular.

Lady Adabelle.

His heart raced as he picked up speed. Trevor had known that Adabelle was looking forward to participating in duels, but he hadn’t been sure where or when. Apparently, the answer had been in the park and right now. Pushing through the crowds on the street didn’t seem like it was going to get him there quickly, so he left the path and went looking amongst the trees for a thinner patch of people.

When he finally found one, he excused himself and went to the front of the crowd to see the event. Just as he had expected, Adabelle and Sir Aelius were locked in combat. She wielded her plain straight sword while the knight held a claymore in his hands. They were armor-clad, and both glowed with a light similar to the halo’s, although his was much brighter than hers.

Enamored, Trevor watched as they fought at speeds faster than he could keep up with. He hadn’t known that Sir Aelius was a Summoned, but after this there was no doubt in his mind that he had to be. The knight would block with his claymore while Adabelle flashed around the street, dodging attacks and going in for quick strikes.

The young man frowned as he tried his best to keep his eyes on the demonkin. She looked injured, though she showed no signs of it affecting her.

“Quest Master, would a Speed increase mean that I can see this better?” Trevor asked. “If it does, add my last point for me.”

[[It sure does! The Speed stat also deals with your perception during fast movement so you don’t run into walls unless you really, really want to.

Stat increase complete. Speed is now 2. Your bank is empty.]]

Focusing on the fight, Trevor noticed that it did become easier to see. Not by a lot, but enough that Adabelle’s quick movements could be seen in more than just blurs.

The way she moved was graceful, and it was only enhanced by the seemingly boorish way Sir Aelius swung his sword. Not that the knight didn’t have a lot of power or skill behind those swings, but he just wasn’t landing any hits.

Eventually, speed beat out power, and Sir Aelius was kneeling before Adabelle with her sword against his head. She tapped him gently with the flat of her blade, and the light surrounding them disappeared. The knight’s movement immediately reverted back to that of a normal human, but Trevor wasn’t watching that. His eyes were on her.

Adabelle helped Sir Aelius to his feet as half of the crowd cheered and those who bet on the outcome passed off coins to the winners. As they bowed to each other, the knight left with his squire in tow, and she began scanning the crowd. She opened her mouth, about to announce something, when her eyes caught Trevor’s. He gave her a small wave.

Trevor saw that she was breathing heavily from the effort, but smiled when he saw her face light up at the sight of him. Adabelle held up a finger before sheathing her sword, which he now noticed had no blood on it despite the fight, and made her announcement.

“I am now done for the evening,” she loudly told her audience. “If I am to duel again, it will be the day after the festival, but I make no promises.”

The crowd groaned, but did not protest too heavily, and began parting. Adabelle walked over to Trevor. Despite her bright smile, he could tell that she was in pain. He recognized the practice walk of someone trying to hide a limp. Some of the bystanders congratulated her before they left, but soon the two were alone.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concerned.

“Yes, but I’m going to need a favor,” she said, her voice taking on a breathy quality from both pain and exhaustion.

“Yeah, anything,” Trevor said immediately.

“Will you offer me your arm? On my right side, but don’t make it obvious,” Adabelle requested. “I need to keep up appearances.”

Trevor didn’t hesitate to step onto the street and look around. The people were leaving in both directions now that their entertainment was done.

“I didn’t know Sir Aelius was Summoned. His stats must be pretty high,” he remarked casually. Turning around, he offered her his arm. “Would you like an escort back to the castle, Lady Adabelle?”

“Of course, Mister Trevor,” she said, her eyes sparkling in the light. Adabelle took his arm in hers, and for a moment he wished she wasn’t wearing armor. A second later, he really wished she wasn’t wearing armor. She began leaning heavily on him, though the demonkin did so in a way that made it seem like they were moving normally. “And Sir Aelius is not Summoned, it’s just another function of the castle’s magic circle.”

As they started walking, Trevor put on a smile but he was becoming more worried about her with every step. “Do you need a healing potion?” he asked her softly. “I’ve got one in my inventory.”

“Once we’re back in the suites,” she whispered back. “I have to keep up appearances. I have a reputation.”

“I’d rather my friends not be in pain for reputation, but I’ll drop it for now.” Sighing, Trevor looked up at the halo. “What does it do in regards to duels?”

“The magic circle makes sure that no one dies when one is invoked, and if one of the participants is a Summoned then it makes sure the playing field is even,” she explained, following his gaze. “He was brought up to my level and stats for the duration of the fight. That’s one of the reasons why duels are so popular here.”

“Because they’re not only safe, but it’s the best way to become a Summoned without actually being a Summoned?” Trevor asked.

“Exactly,” she answered with a nod. Her breath was coming back, which was good, though she still clung to him. “I am happy to oblige, so long as I don’t have anything else to do. I have been fighting here for hours.”

“Hours? Well, no wonder you’re tired.”

“I could have fought for a few hours more,” she insisted.

“Oh, really? My bad, I didn’t mean to disturb you with my presence,” Trevor said. “Next time I’ll watch from a tree or something so I don’t interrupt.”

Adabelle playfully slapped him on the arm as they walked through the large castle doors. The guards paid them no mind, though they did receive the curious gaze of guests who watched the two walk arm in arm. Trevor suddenly felt very anxious at all the eyes on him, but stood up straighter. If not for his own image, then for hers.

“I’m glad you came,” she said. “I like having you around, so don’t you hide from me unless you’ve done something wrong.”

“Me? Do something wrong?” Trevor asked, his face flushing at her words. “Never. I’m a paragon of all things polite and just, after all.”

“Of course you are, Mister Trevor,” Adabelle laughed.

They made their way into the elevator and Trevor closed the door behind them. Adabelle released a sigh of relief and winced as she pulled away from him. She stretched her leg now that no one else was watching, and he grimaced when he noticed the dents in her armor. The halo might have stopped deaths, but it clearly didn’t stop injuries.

“Are you actually okay?” Trevor asked. Despite Adabelle’s earlier insistence, he couldn’t help but be worried for her.

“Yes, I just fought harder than I thought I was going to,” she claimed as she pulled the lever that would send them higher into the castle. “Unlike the last couple of years, there were one or two prodigies that showed up when they heard that I was going to be accepting all challengers.”

“Will you at least drink the health potion now?” he asked.

“Not until we’re back in our room,” she replied. “Who knows who we’ll meet in the halls.”

“Can you just let me take care of you, lady?” Trevor pleaded. “It’s not like they’ll know.”

Adabelle opened her mouth to argue, but stopped when she saw the look on his face. She began to pout for a moment, which was a far cry from the fierceness that he had seen on the battlefield. As Trevor stared at her lips, Lailah’s voice came back to him unbidden.

I thought you finally kissed or something.

Trevor swallowed and looked back at the doors, sure that his face was starting to turn red just thinking about it. He could see Adabelle regarding him curiously before she sighed. “Hurry, then.”

Offering her his open palm, he retrieved the health potion from inside his inventory and quickly uncorked the vial for her. She looked up, seeing that they were coming up on their floor, and downed it. A red glow emanated from her body as the magic flowed through her. Wincing, she stood up straighter and stretched her leg again.

“There, all better,” she said, handing him the vial back. “I’ll give you one of my spares once we’re in the suite.”

Trevor wouldn’t argue with that; you never knew when having a health potion around would make a difference. Taking the empty vial from her, he stored it in his inventory. “Since you had a challenge, does that mean you had fun?”

Adabelle glanced at Trevor and gave him a positively radiant smile. “Yes, I did,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Thank me?” he asked, bemused. “For?”

“For taking care of me, Trevor,” she said, taking his arm in both of hers. The platform stopped before dropping a few inches onto the floor they needed to be on. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Any time, lady, any time,” Trevor said, smiling as they left the elevator.

Adabelle carefully rested her head on his shoulder, making sure she didn’t skewer his face. That wasn’t one of the things he had thought about when he asked her on a date, but he found he wasn’t all that worried as they walked down the hall.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: A SWORD TO OVERCOME

As Adabelle had to remove her armor, which apparently took longer than Trevor thought it would, he was told to shower first. He allowed himself a little extra time to soothe his muscles in the hot water, but not too much. After getting dressed in pajamas, he left and saw that Adabelle was ready to take her turn. The young man gave her privacy.

Heading out to the balcony just as he had the night before, Trevor looked over the city of Eskretet. He had a newfound appreciation for it now that he had seen it up close. Looking over it from the castle had its charms, but it was in the streets and amongst the people where it really became the experience he had wanted.

A moment of pity passed through him as he thought about all the nobles and foreign dignitaries who skipped out on such things. Taking tunnels to get around may have been a good way to cut some time off of your trip, but you barely got to see the city that way. While Trevor was absolutely fine with visiting Kadrus, he figured that it wouldn’t be through the tunnels if he did so again. It was the streets or bust.

The young man blinked at that thought. Back home on Earth, he did everything he could to avoid crowds of people. There, he found it draining, but here it was an experience. Instead of draining him, he felt reinvigorated, and he gazed at Eskretet with a whole new sense of wonder.

Trevor smiled as he watched the floating, glowing orbs that were now making their way around the city. He knew they weren’t needed because of the abundance of street lamps, but they were pretty to look at and very on theme for what the festival was named after. Glancing back up at the halo, he figured that it had to be incredibly important, as well.

It didn’t take long for Adabelle to join him, dressed in her black pajamas and her long hair wrapped up in a towel. She wordlessly offered him a health potion as she sat down, closing her eyes while enjoying the breeze. He took it and set it in his inventory, not bothering to argue since it was such a handy item to have.

“How are you feeling?” Trevor asked.

“Tired and sore, but fulfilled,” she said with a satisfied smile. “I wanted to get it all out of my system before tomorrow, and I think I’ve succeeded.”

“That’s good to hear,” Trevor chuckled. “I’ve been thinking about it all day, and I’m not sure how it works in this world, but I’m really glad you’re here to defend my honor if I ever get challenged to a duel.”

“Oh, it’s up to me to defend your honor, is it?” Adabelle asked, opening one eye to look at him. “Should I be calling you Sir Trevor from here on? In the hopes that someone might challenge you? So that I’ll be able to intercept them, of course.”

Trevor immediately started shaking his head. “Please, do not do that. The moment I get caught without you then I’m done for. There would be tales of brave Sir Trevor, the man who bravely ran away spreading like wildfire around the city.”

“Running away, you say?”

“Yes, running away. That’s all I’ve got going for me,” Trevor said. “They challenge me, I’d politely decline, which will probably be ignored, and they’ll expect a sword fight or something. I’d say, ‘hold on, who said anything about swords? This is going to be a race!’ And when they’re confused, I book it. Or, if they agree, then I book it while they take it completely seriously.”

“You’re a scoundrel, you know that?” Adabelle laughed, tapping his leg with the back of her hand. “That would basically be an instantaneous loss, but something tells me that wouldn’t bother you.”

“I absolutely would not be bothered,” he agreed. “I could be bothered to pick up a sword to defend your honor, but something tells me that scenario will only work in my head, and only barely in my wildest imagination. On top of that, it’s not even needed because of how awesome you are.”

“That’s just years of practice. Though, you are wrong about one thing,” she claimed, reaching over to brush some hair out of his face. He was suddenly very glad he never got that haircut he was thinking about.

“What part am I wrong about?”

“That running away is all you’ve got going for you,” she said softly. “You’re far more than that.”

Trevor smiled and looked back over the balcony. “Ah, thank you,” he said, scratching his head. He wasn’t used to accepting compliments, especially not from her, and he changed the subject. “So, about tomorrow. I have some thoughts.”

“Go right ahead.”

“First, I’m very much looking forward to it,” he said, his smile turning into a grin. “And I received some words of wisdom from Klar.”

“Thank you for taking care of that, by the way,” Adabelle said quickly before he could continue. “I received a message from the Quest Master saying that the first quest was done, and that you were being chatty so to wait for the second. That was pretty amusing to see.”

“My pleasure, lady,” Trevor chuckled. “Klar told me that I should stay ignorant of the festival’s big draw. I believe he said this in an effort to make the experience better, so I would appreciate it if you helped keep me in the dark.”

“Keep you in the dark? At the Festival of Golden Lights? I don’t know, that seems like it may be too hard,” she teased.

“I’m sure you’ll manage.”

“Yes, I will,” Adabelle said with a content sigh. “Honestly, I’ve already had plans to do just that. I’m sorry to say that I’m going to be busy for the first half of the day, but what I’m getting in exchange is going to absolutely blow you away.”

“That’s fine, so long as you can join me for lunch, even if it’s a late one,” Trevor replied easily.

Adabelle hesitated. “That’s fine with you? Are you sure?”

“Most definitely. If you say I’m going to be blown away, then I believe you,” he said with a shrug. “Though, now that I’ve got lunch on my mind, would you like some hot chocolate?”

“Yes, please.”

Summoning two mugs of still-steaming hot chocolate from his inventory, he handed one to her before sipping his own. “So, you’ll never guess where I got us reservations for lunch,” he said smugly. “At least, I hope you won’t, because if you do then I was probably lied to about how exclusive it is.”

Adabelle sighed appreciatively after taking a sip of her hot chocolate. “Before I guess, is this one of the Halffle Inn’s mugs?”

“That’s right. I asked for two more for the road and promised to bring the mugs back,” Trevor replied. “But I’m really excited about this place we’re going to eat at.”

“And what if I already made plans with, I don’t know, the castle chefs?” she asked. “Or perhaps a restaurant in the city?”

“We can do both, then. I can store meals in my inventory and they won’t get cold for weeks, lady,” he bragged. “We can visit every restaurant in Eskretet and save the food for later if we really wanted to.”

“Ugh, you’re so smug,” Adabelle complained as she hid her smile behind another sip of hot chocolate. “I didn’t make any plans because I fully expected us to wander until it was night time so that you could see everything.”

“I’ve been all over the city doing another quest for Klar, which involved delivering a huge stack of fireworks, so I’ve seen it,” he said, tapping her foot with his. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see it with you at a much slower pace. Also, you’re getting off topic, you’re supposed to be guessing.”

Adabelle pouted. “I don’t want to guess; I don’t like being wrong.”

“So you think you can be cute and I’d just tell you?” Trevor challenged.

“Am I being cute?” she challenged back, unable to hide her smug smile.

Taking a breath, Trevor shook his head. “Lady, it’s like you don’t even have to try,” he chuckled. “Fine, just one guess, then.”

“Alright, just one guess, but it’s going to be the fanciest place I know and I’m going to be incredibly disappointed when it’s not. Can you live with that?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.

“No, but I’ll find a way.”

“Mmhmm. Then my guess is Matteo’s,” she said confidently, crossing her arms with smug satisfaction. “And if you don’t take me to Matteo’s, I will be really, really, sad.”

“Dang, is this Matteo’s place really all that fancy?” Trevor asked, doing his best to hide his smile.

“I’ve eaten there once and I’m on the wait list for another meal,” Adabelle informed him. “My reservation is for the beginning of next year.”

“Wow, that’s some wait list. Is it really so impressive?”

“It is. And I made that reservation last year,” Adabelle continued. “There’s a reason why it’s so good. The chef is Summoned, and his Power is literally Cooking. Not only that, but one of his skills allows him to make little thin strips that you place on your tongue, and it figures out exactly what you like, or what you’re craving, and he makes it. There’s no menu involved. There are few experiences that I would call transcendent, but eating there is one of them.”

“That sounds like it’s one of the greatest things of all time,” Trevor said, having to look over the balcony to prevent her from seeing his grin.

“Maybe, if you’re good, I’ll take you when it’s my turn,” she teased.

“I don’t know, waiting until next year?” he sighed, being excessively dramatic. “Can’t we just go there, say, tomorrow? With my reservation?”

Adabelle’s confidence faltered. “… What?”

“Turns out the owner of the restaurant is a close personal friend of mine,” Trevor gloated, turning to face her. He fought against the urge to laugh when he saw the dumbstruck look on her face. “In exchange for doing a quest, he not only gave me an outfit to wear tomorrow, but we’re also going to be having lunch at Matteo’s.”

Jolting upright, Adabelle’s eyes went wide and her tail rapidly smacked into the side of her chair. “You’re serious? You’re not just teasing me right now, right?”

“I am not,” Trevor replied. “Klar owns it and, not only that, he is absolutely over the moon about my Power. Says that all I need to do is say the word on where I want to go and, if he does business there, he’ll pay for the trip so long as I take goods for him. I did him a favor by stepping up to help him and his people with the fireworks tomorrow, and he thought I was worth it.”

Trevor watched as Adabelle stared at him before she finally found her voice. “We’re going to Matteo’s?”

“Yup.”

“You do realize that our first date is going to be the pinnacle of our relationship, right?”

“Wow, really hyping this place up,” he said with a grin. “I always thought the pinnacle of our relationship was getting to know you and taking care of you, but you do you, lady.”

Adabelle blinked before shaking her head. “I’m sorry, I’m just surprised, is all,” she admitted, reaching out to place her hand on his arm. “This is the second time you’ve used your quest rewards on me. What I should really be saying is thank you, Trevor, for thinking of me.”

“It’s the easiest thing in the world for me,” he replied before realizing what he was saying. His face burned, but he didn’t turn away, instead taking her in under the soft glow of the castle’s halo. “And now that I’ve said it out loud, I realize it was really corny, and I’m sorry you had to hear it.”

“Don’t apologize to me about the way you feel,” Adabelle said softly, though she seemed to hesitate.

“Everything okay?”

“Yes, everything is great,” she replied. “But if you keep apologizing, then it’ll make me think you’re being insincere, and I don’t want to think that of you.”

Setting down her hot chocolate, Adabelle scooted her chair closer to his and hugged his arm with both of hers, resting her head on his shoulder just as carefully as she had before. The light from the halo reflected brightly in her eyes as she looked up at him.

Trevor paused, though he wasn’t sure if it was because of her words or her proximity. Feeling her against him without her hard armor was more electrifying than he thought it would be, and he relished her touch even as he realized he craved it. No, he realized it was stronger than that, like he was starved for it. The young man decided to unpack that later, and simply nodded.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Adabelle,” he said with a smile, eying her horns. That would make resting his head on hers difficult, but every relationship had their own set of growing pains. “So, to recap, tomorrow you’re going to do whatever it is you signed up for in order to show me a good time. Then, we go to Matteo’s and, afterwards, probably wander the streets?”

Adabelle nodded. “Until it’s dusk, and then you’ll see the fruits of my labor. We’ll return to the castle just before dark, and by then my surprise for you will be ready.”

“This kind of sounds like the ultimate date,” Trevor noted.

“It’s going to be one we’ll remember for years, yes,” she agreed.

“Then I suppose we should start heading for bed. We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and rest is important.”

As he began to stand up, Adabelle refused to let go. Her higher Strength was evident to him; she hadn’t even budged. “I fought a lot of people today, and I deserve some friendly contact with someone who sees me as more than just a sword to overcome for glory,” she asserted quietly. “Maybe a few more minutes?”

Trevor was about to tease her again, but thought better of it. Pulling his hot chocolate back into his inventory, he settled back in and placed his now free hand on her arm.

“Take as many minutes as you need, lady,” the young man said. Truth be told, he was absolutely fine with more of this, and they sat out for a little while longer.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: LINGERING RESPONSIBILITIES

The next morning Trevor found a note from Adabelle saying she would be back around noon and that she was looking forward to their date. That made him smile, and he spent his time waiting for her to get back dealing with the butterflies in his stomach.

That wasn’t to say he was staying idle, however. The young man had tried on his minotauran outfit a few times, having received instructions on the various styles he heard about from Klar before heading out on his quest. It would take some getting used to, as it definitely wasn’t something he’d wear on earth, but he would adapt.

Festive minotauran garb essentially boiled down to a pair of canary yellow pants and a series of cloth strips that Trevor hesitated to call scarves. It had been explained to him that everything was loose so as to keep from pulling and tugging at the wearer’s hair, and that’s exactly what he got. The whole outfit was very colorful, as well, with bright greens, blues, and reds that was meant to contrast nicely with a minotaur’s brown and black fur.

It took him the better part of an hour to figure out how to wear the outfit, but in the end he was successful.

As was proper, Trevor was loosely covered. His left shoulder had three strips of different colored cloth over it, and they draped down before cutting across his stomach to the right side. A single scarf adorned his right shoulder, heading straight downwards both in front and in back. There was one black piece in the whole ensemble, which he wore around his waist like a belt.

Trevor stared at the mirror, looking at his chest and once again doubting Lailah’s words. There were other ways to wear the outfit that wouldn’t show himself off, but when he thought about changing it, he stood up a little straighter.

“No,” he firmly said to his reflection. “You look just fine this way. Trust in Klar. He may have been wrong about what you should say about kobolds, but other than that, when has he ever steered you wrong?”

Taking a breath, he gave himself an affirming nod. Catching a glimpse of his tattooed arm, Trevor lifted it up to better observe it in the mirror. The tattoo around his bicep had gotten significantly smaller, and he frowned at it. At this point, the fact that he could go back was an albatross around his neck.

While he could have wrapped his arms to hide the magic mark from Adabelle, he didn’t think he was going to. He wasn’t sure if she’d know what it meant, but he knew he didn’t want to keep it from her. After all, now that he had asked her out, going back would be a real mean thing to do.

Trevor tightened his hand into a fist as he thought it over. Whenever he had talked about returning to his original world it was always from a distance, and he did that on purpose. He would say he “could go back,” or “it was a choice to go back,” or that he “was leaning towards staying.” Nothing was substantial, and the young man had put off thinking about it for a while.

He had been stuck in two minds. Back in his old world, he had responsibilities. Not only to his job, but the people who were working to save him and everyone that relied on him.

However, the mere thought of returning crushed his soul.

Staying here would have its own set of challenges, but despite all his talk he was not a fool. Trevor knew that this place was better for him. No matter what the rest of the world looked like, both the country of Lucent and Tosa had been built on foundations he had only dreamed of before.

From his second day, he had immediately started taking on more responsibilities in this world just because he couldn’t stand not having something to do. Between helping out the shopkeepers in town like Thimbleden and Dory, to helping out the workers like Laric, Trevor’s Power made him capable of assisting in ways no one else could. Not alone, at least. Klar gushing about his inventory was just another reason to stay.

The only thing that didn’t factor into his thought process was Adabelle. She had been what caused him to want to make the decision, but aside from their conversations she played a very small role in it.

As someone who had relationships fail in the past, Trevor wanted to make sure that a potential romantic partner wasn’t the sole reason for staying. While he was hoping, almost praying, for a successful relationship with Adabelle, he wouldn’t delude himself that it would work out like some kind of fairy tale. There was still a lot to learn about each other, after all.

When that was put aside, the answer was still clear as day.

Clenching his fist, Trevor nodded to himself and firmly decided to let his tattoo show. “I’m staying here,” he declared to himself.

Trevor took another breath in and let his arm fall. He nodded to himself again, and then one more time as he tried to dispel his nervous energy. Now that he made his decision without Adabelle in mind, he found that he could easily imagine what it would be like with her in mind.

Luckily for him, as he continued to nod to himself mindlessly in the mirror, salvation came.

“Trevor!” Adabelle called from the suite’s shared area. “I’m back!”

Excitement quickly replaced nervousness as he walked to the door. He reached for the handle when he paused, looking down at his arm as he suddenly had second thoughts.

“I’ve already changed into festival clothes,” he said through the door. “Do you want to see me before you change? Or do we want to surprise each other? I’m not sure if there’s, like, protocol for this or something.”

“There’s not, but I can get changed first if you like,” she replied.

Before he could think on it for too long, Trevor opened the door and took a step outside. Adabelle was standing not far from where he emerged, and was wearing the same kind of bulky robes she did when working in Tosa. There was a tired look in her eye, though it quickly disappeared as she looked him over. He noted that she was staring at his chest with an odd mix of both satisfaction and confidence-shattering horror.

The silence stretched until Trevor couldn’t take it anymore, which admittedly wasn’t very long, and he chuckled nervously. “Well? What do you think?”

“Did Lailah put you up to this?” she asked after clearing her throat. “I suppose I owe her a gold piece now. She said she could get you to wear something revealing like that, and I told her that you would never believe her.”

Trevor’s smile became a little tighter. “Should… should I change?”

“No!” she almost yelled quickly, taking a step forward as her hand shot out to reach for him. Adabelle and Trevor stared at each other before she politely coughed into her hand. “I mean, no, there’s no need for that. It’s a very handsome outfit, so it suits you. Though, I’d like to know what she said to get you into that.”

Despite his embarrassment, he couldn’t help but grin at her compliment. “I don’t really think it’s important,” he said quietly.

“I can hear it from you, or I can hear it from her,” she said, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. “And don’t think for even a second that she would hesitate to tell me.”

Unable to stop grinning, he mumbled something out.

“Okay, my hearing is good but it’s not that good. Please, speak up.”

“She said you like it when a man shows off a bit of chest,” he repeated, his face burning. “Said it drives you crazy, so, I thought, well…”

When it became clear that Trevor wasn’t going to finish his sentence, Adabelle shook her head. “That woman is nothing but trouble,” she sighed. “But she also wasn’t wrong. This is also my first time seeing your tattoo.”

Trevor blinked at her words. “She wasn’t?”

“Don’t change the subject,” Adabelle chided as she walked up to him. Her eyes did linger on his chest, which was something he now happily noted, before fixing themselves on his arm. “May I?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

“Thank you,” she replied. Taking his arm gently in her hands, Adabelle brought it up so that she wouldn’t need to lean down to get a better look. Her fingers traced along the magical markings, and Trevor relished the feeling. “I don’t recognize this ritual. So not only did he summon you here without me, but he also did so with means I have no idea about.”

“Maybe he wanted you to figure it out for yourself?” Trevor offered. “I don’t mind letting you study it, if it’ll help.”

“It well may,” Adabelle mumbled. She shifted so that she was standing almost against his chest to better get a look at the inside of his arm. “Did he say anything about the ritual when you first arrived?”

Trevor tilted his head. “Honestly, I was kind of frazzled when I first arrived and the whole conversation is a bit murky,” he admitted. “I think he said something about how I needed a break, and how the ritual sought out someone who was in dire need of a life change and needed one the most. Based on what he said, I thought I just won the cosmic lottery or something.”

“Needed it the most, hmm?” she asked, glancing at his face for a moment before moving her attention to his bicep. “That seems like a very loaded phrase. It could be that the old man wasn’t telling you the whole truth. It’s not always advisable to do so with new Summoned, on account of the volatile change in environment. What about up here?”

Hesitating, Trevor sighed; this was the part he wasn’t sure she would take well, and both Wayne and Rashie’s reactions were telling on their own. Still, he didn’t want to keep it a secret from her.

“When that tattoo disappears, I’ll be given the chance to go back,” he said slowly.

Adabelle immediately released his bicep and placed her hands on his shoulders, turning to be eye to eye with him. Her face was inches from his, and he flinched in surprise though he didn’t jerk away.

“Trevor, you’re not thinking of going back, are you?” she asked, her voice having an underlying tone of urgency that he hadn’t heard from her before.

“What, would you miss me too much?” he joked, suddenly nervous from this turn of events.

“First, yes, I very likely would miss you more than I realize,” she admitted quickly. “But the more important reason is because you would be absolutely miserable back there. Do you remember our conversation? About how you barely wanted to talk about your old world and how you were simply going on and on about Tosa?”

Trevor blinked. “I do remember.”

“You need to stay here, even if it’s not with me- us. Even if it’s not with us in Tosa,” she corrected. “After everything you’ve been through here, going back would do nothing but crush you. Especially now that you’ve started making a life for yourself here. You could barely tell me any good memories you had of that place, Trevor.”

“Lady…”

“And that’s not even speaking of all the people you’ve met here that would miss you,” Adabelle continued. “During our talk at the Danger Zone, that was one of your biggest praises of Tosa. You felt as though you were more than just a random person, that you actually belonged here. You felt taken care of, which is hard for people like us because we’re always pushing to do what we can for others.”

“Adabelle.”

“I’m just saying it for the record,” she said, taking a fist and gently thumping it against his chest. “That I think going back is the worst thing you can do. Not for any reason other than it would devastate you, and certainly not for the selfish reason that I would miss you.”

“But you would miss me, right?”

“Most certainly, but this is about more than just me, Trevor,” she said. “I just want to help you, to take care of you. Letting you go back without telling you it’s a terrible idea would not be doing that.”

Taking both of her hands into his, Trevor smiled. “Lady, I’m not going back,” he gently replied. “Everything you said is true and, while I still have some lingering responsibilities there, there’s nothing back in that world that needs me specifically.”

Adabelle exhaled deeply, squeezing his hands. “Good, Son of Ander,” she said with a nod. “So long as you know that, then I suppose we can go on with our date as planned.”

“I’m really, really excited about it,” Trevor said as she pulled away. “The atmosphere, the food, especially the company. All of it.”

“I’ll go get changed, then,” Adabelle said with a smile. “Just like Lailah pushed you in one direction, she gave me advice as well.”

“Oh no?” he asked, smile fading.

“She said that, as an American, there’s a good chance that you’ll like this outfit,” she stated, backing up towards her room.

“Oh, no,” he repeated in a completely different tone.

“Well, I don’t think it warrants that kind of reaction, but I’ll go and change now.” Adabelle said, giving him a curious look before moving to her room.

While Trevor wracked his brain on what a Scottish woman would think an American man would like, he realized that he had no frame of reference. Still, if she thought that he wouldn’t wear something as revealing as minotauran festive garb, then it likely wouldn’t be anything outlandish. Adabelle certainly didn’t strike him as the type to wear a dunbar.

When she returned, Trevor’s eyes went wide.

Adabelle was wearing a robe with intricate black and orange patterns. Her hands emerged from long sleeves that nearly fell to the floor and swung at even the slightest movement. Around her stomach was a wide ribbon that was tied off into a large bow in the back, and the young man could make out that the swirling pattern made flowers all over.

“How is it?” she asked, sounding as though she wasn’t fully confident.

“Well, I’m not sure what she meant by me liking this because I’m an American, but I do think you look beautiful,” Trevor said honestly.

Smiling, Adabelle’s face softened. “She said there was a good chance that you were something they called a weeb, which she said meant you love all things Japanese,” the woman said as she raised her hands to show off the sleeves. “These have been popular since the first King Eskretet, due to him bringing his heritage to the country, so I thought it was worth a chance.”

Trevor couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, I’m not a weeb, but I can certainly appreciate this.”

“Good. I find it amusing that, after matching yesterday morning, we chose to go in completely opposite directions today,” she stated as she fiddled with her sleeves.

“It is kind of funny, isn’t it?” Trevor agreed before offering his arm. “Are you ready to go, then?”

“I am,” Adabelle said as she slipped her arm in his. “Let’s go on our date.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: A TRANSCENDENT EXPERIENCE

While Adabelle had asked him if he wanted to take the tunnels to get out of the castle, Trevor was immediately against it. After last night, he realized what he wanted was to spend time amongst the people. While his date hesitated, she was also quick to give in, happy to see the look on his face.

Crossing over the two bridges linking the castle to the city was slow going as they moved amongst the traffic, but the sights were marvelous. The vast majority of the people were dressed up in fancy outfits ranging from kimonos to suits and dresses to loose clothes not unlike what Trevor had worn.

To his relief, he saw both men and women of all races wearing minotauran garb, and Adabelle explained that it became popular during King Eskretet the Fifth’s reign. He had been a minotaur that quickly latched onto the culture from the Isle of Horns while also adding his own twist on it.

Feeling a lot more confident with his life choices and his physique, Trevor stood up a little straighter as he walked arm in arm with Adabelle. He found that every little thing grabbed his attention. It didn’t matter whether it was someone’s outfit or a floating light or something mundane decorated for the festival, his mind was getting pulled everywhere.

“Everyone’s first time is hectic,” Adabelle said, patting him on the arm.

“There’s so much to see,” Trevor replied happily. “Everything is so bright, and the people are so happy. Everything seems perfect.”

“The Festival of Golden Lights is a national holiday that everyone agrees on,” she explained. “It does so much for the city. The cleanup is terrible, but everyone who’s able pitches in. It’s Eskretet’s favorite way to bring its people together.”

“I don’t know a lot, but I think it’s mine, too,” he admitted. “I wouldn’t mind coming here every year, so long as I’m not working or something.”

“Then it’s a good thing you’re staying,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Yeah, it’s a really good thing,” he agreed, grinning.

Thankfully, Matteo’s wasn’t too far away from the second bridge they had to traverse, and Trevor’s mind had a chance to rest as they stepped inside.

The restaurant was a tall building with high windows allowing natural light to come in. The entrance was a wide hallway leading to a counter with a gnome standing behind it and two doorways beyond. The gnome had slicked back hair and wore a fancy suit, and his eyes twinkled as the two approached.

“Ah, you are exactly as the merchant prince described, Mister Trevor Anderson,” he said, bowing deeply. “I have been expecting you and Lady Adabelle. Shall I escort you to your room?”

“Room?” Adabelle asked, glancing from the gnome to Trevor.

When Trevor gestured to their server, he bowed again. “Klarkartar has given Mr. Anderson leave to use his private dining room overlooking the park,” the gnome explained. “For lunch, of course, as the merchant prince will be here for dinner.”

“And that’s that,” Trevor said, grinning at his date. He could tell that Adabelle was trying to act like the noblewoman she was, but the way she squeezed his arm conveyed her true feelings. “Please, lead the way.”

“Of course, sir,” the gnome said before jumping down from his step ladder and leading them towards the door on the right side of the hallway. He opened it and led them upstairs.

Their dining room was on the third floor and came with a stunning view of the park and river. The water was clean with several colorful fish swimming around inside of it, which had surprised Trevor as he had thought it was a moat at first. After traveling through the city on Klar’s quest, he had come to learn that they were proper rivers. Those who were in charge of the city when it was still being built had dug out where they wanted the water to flow, leaving the impression of twin moats around the castle.

A table for two was set near the window, which took up the entire wall. Tall candelabras sat across from it, unlit as the light from outside was more than enough to illuminate the room. Pulling out Adabelle’s chair, he gestured for her to sit. She did, her tail slipping between the slats on the back, before Trevor sat across from her.

The only objects on the table were two small, blue pillows with what appeared to be a red breath mint strip. Adabelle had mentioned something similar, and Trevor eyed it before looking over at the gnome.

With a gracious nod, the gnome spoke. “This is one of the merchant princes’ favorite places in the entire city. The window is one way, so do not be concerned with the people outside as you have total privacy here. We will knock thrice to let you know we are here, and will only enter when instructed. I will be leaving you now to return to my post, but all you need to do is place these strips on your tongue and Chef Matteo will create something marvelous.”

“Thank you,” Trevor said before looking at Adabelle. “Anything we should be asking?”

“No. Thank you for your service,” she said, bowing slightly towards the gnome.

“It is my pleasure, sir, my lady,” the gnome replied before bowing deeply and exiting the room, closing the door behind him.

“Klar really wants to get on your good side,” Adabelle remarked as she looked at the strip on the table to the window. “I thought you might have been embellishing, but you don’t really do that, do you?”

“I have been known to embellish, but not about things that matter,” Trevor said. “Shall we?”

“Oh, yes, let’s,” she said as they both picked up their strips and did as they had been instructed.

As much as it looked like it was meant to freshen his breath, Trevor was surprised when it was tasteless and dissolved almost instantly. There was no other sensation, no leftover residue in his mouth, it was just gone. “Is that it?”

“That’s it,” Adabelle confirmed. “It’s the same experience I had when I first came here.”

“Huh, neat,” he said as something caught his eye outside. The young man leaned towards it. “Oh, man, is that a gondola? I didn’t see those when I was running around the city!”

Adabelle laughed and leaned forward, putting her elbow on the table and her chin in her palm. “Really? You’re impressed by a gondola?”

“What? I’m a simple man with simple tastes, I’m not going to rein in my excitement,” he said with a chuckle.

“They bring them out on special occasions,” Adabelle explained, smiling at Trevor even as he got distracted by boats. “It’s really just a tour around the park, but we can go if you like.”

“You won’t mind?” he asked.

“I won’t. I also enjoy being out in the water, and it’ll be nice to be with someone who won’t want to jump off the boat immediately.”

Trevor laughed. “I can see how that might dampen the mood.”

Adabelle tried not to be amused by his pun, but ended up snorting a quick laugh. “Dampen the mood, really?”

“Yes, really,” he said, grinning at her before looking back down towards the water. “I was pretty much landlocked on Earth. There were lakes and rivers, but not a lot of people were boating on them, so there weren’t a lot of chances for me to go.”

A trio of knocks came from the door, grabbing their attention. “Come in,” Adabelle instructed.

The door opened, revealing a human waiter in dark clothes. He carried a tray with six glasses on it, and set three of them in front of Adabelle and three in front of Trevor before taking the small pillows the strips had been on.

“Your food is now cooking, but please enjoy your refreshments until then.” With another bow, the man left.

“This is pretty exciting, I only received two glasses when I ate down below last time,” Adabelle said happily.

“You said they’re catering to our tastes specifically?” Trevor asked as he looked over the glasses.

“That is correct,” she said before leaning forward and whispering conspiratorially. “In the main dining room, there’s rules against sharing. Do you mind if we both test everything we want to try?”

“Lady Adabelle, that’s simply scandalous!” Trevor responded, bringing his hand to his mouth. When she looked ready to walk it back, he shook his head. “Of course I’m willing to try everything. And whatever we don’t eat, we’ll take. I cleared out my inventory for this, lady.”

Reaching across the table, Adabelle playfully hit his arm. “Don’t do that to me, Trevor!” she said, laughing. “Oh, this is going to be good. Are we testing drinks, too?”

“As long as you don’t mind drinking after me, I don’t mind drinking after you.”

“Then let’s do it,” she said with a decisive nod.

Trevor didn’t think about it, but grabbed the first glass. It was warm to the touch, though not uncomfortably hot, and he sipped at the brown liquid inside. Hot chocolate mixed with chai and cinnamon delighted him in a way that he didn’t realize he would enjoy. As he swished it around his mouth, he found himself approving of the taste.

Leaving that, he picked up the next one. It was a similarly dark drink, though darker than the chocolate. Bringing it up to his lips, he gave it a sniff before partaking. It bubbled and fizzed in his mouth with a sweet taste he couldn’t completely place. While he was sure it was some kind of soft drink, it was without a doubt just as good as the chocolate.

The last glass was filled with a swirling mixture of pink and yellow liquid. A strawberry floated on the ice inside, and he was surprised to see that it was actually the color it was supposed to be on Earth. Setting it aside on a napkin, he took a drink and immediately started nodding.

“You really can’t go wrong with strawberry lemonade,” he sighed before looking up to see that Adabelle had already finished her tests, and was smiling at him. “What?”

“Just enjoying your reactions,” she answered. “Would you like to swap?”

“Yeah, have at it, lady,” he said, lining up his drinks for her as she did the same.

He immediately went for what he assumed was her version of hot chocolate. Adabelle had apparently thought the same, because she grabbed his. They clinked their glasses together before taking a sip. Chocolate flavor did explode in his mouth, but it mingled with something similar to salted caramel and vanilla. It was good, though not as good as his.

Her second glass was filled with a thick, green liquid that looked a lot like a vegetable smoothie. Never liking them but feeling adventurous, he pulled it to his mouth and took a quick sip. It was more bitter than he expected, but not entirely unpleasant. If Trevor had received this in his original lineup he would have called this place a sham, but Adabelle seemed to really enjoy it so he didn’t have a leg to stand on.

The last drink was light red and odorless. It fizzed, popped, and bubbled as he stared at it. Clearly seeing Adabelle’s lips printed on the edge of the glass, he figured it was at least safe to drink and quickly took his sip. It tickled his nose, and he realized immediately that it had alcohol in it, something he didn’t normally care for.

“Yours are so much more varied than mine,” Trevor said as he returned Adabelle’s glasses.

“And yours are all so sweet,” she replied. “Not that it’s a bad thing, of course, just noteworthy. In regards to my drinks, as a noblewoman being introduced to society, I had to travel a lot and get used to many types of cuisines. My palate is very diverse because of my experiences.”

A question popped up in Trevor’s mind, and he knew it was a private one. “Do you mind if I ask you about something you might not like?” he asked slowly.

“That very much depends on the question, Trevor,” she replied.

“When you came here and got changed into a demonkin, did you find that your tastes changed?”

Adabelle blinked before offering him a gentle smile. “You’re concerned about my feelings regarding this?”

“Well, yeah. It’s a big change.”

Reaching out, she took Trevor’s hand. “First, thank you for being concerned,” she said. “The fact that you are so sensitive about how other people feel is one of the things that initially drew me to you.”

“Oh, uh, thank you,” Trevor said, smiling at the unexpected praise.

“Second, I am at peace with my circumstances,” she said, squeezing his hand. “Are they ideal? No, but it’s far better than the alternative, and I lived for years thinking it wasn’t. I’ve gotten over it, and even come to love myself again. It also helps that, to answer your question, no, my tastes didn’t change with me. I still like and dislike everything I did before.”

“You’re inspiring, you know that?” Trevor said as he squeezed back. “Just, everything about you. Your drive, your empathy, your resilience. I know you’d be able to thrive anywhere.”

Adabelle smiled, and the young man could hear her tail swishing before she got it under control. “Thank you, Trevor,” she said. “It took me years to get to where I am today, but I also like who I’ve become, even if I can be a little full of pride and wrath at times.”

“Well, let the record show that I completely forgive you for being rude to me when we first met,” Trevor said lightly. “It’s water under the bridge, lady.”

“And yet you still call me lady, Son of Ander,” she playfully challenged with a raised eyebrow.

“That’s kind of our thing now, isn’t it? One of the founding pillars of our friendship?”

Adabelle opened her mouth to say something against it, but found that the words wouldn’t come. With a light smile, she shook her head. “I want to say that’s wrong, but I’m afraid it’s completely accurate.”

“Aww, don’t be afraid. It all worked out, didn’t it?” he teased, waving his free hand to gesture at the room.

“I don’t mean I’m actually afraid,” she laughed. “You’re just trying to push my buttons. Well, it’s not going to work. I’m in too good a mood.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping for,” Trevor said. Three more knocks came from the door, and this time he called out. “Come in.”

The door opened to allow the same man from before into the room carrying a large tray of food. Behind him was a halfling woman who was doing the same. They set up small tables and put the platters down before she bowed and left. “Will there be anything else?” the man asked.

“No, thank you. We’re good,” Trevor said absently as he stared at the food.

“Very good, sir. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out,” he said before bowing and leaving.

“This is glorious,” Trevor stated.

“I did tell you that it was a transcendent experience,” Adabelle reminded.

“Next time you say that, I’m going to believe you for sure.”

Sitting beside them was a veritable buffet of foods ranging from meats to vegetables to desserts. Steaks next to roast, soup next to salad, pie next to ice cream, Trevor saw everything he knew he liked and more. The scents mingled with each other as the room filled, and his stomach growled.

“There’s no way we can eat all of this,” he said as he started pulling food off of the platter and onto the table. “I’ve never been so happy to pick up a time locked inventory before. This is going to last us for days.”

Adabelle happily nodded as they began to dig in.

CHAPTER FORTY: A COURIER IS PERFECT

Lunch had been an absolute blast, and the two ate until they were stuffed. In spite of their best efforts, there was still a lot of food left and Trevor made sure to transfer everything he could to the plates, bowls, and containers he had bought for this single reason. Even with his stomach close to bursting, he was looking forward to the next meal.

“Trevor, I know I’m not in any position to make demands,” Adabelle started. “But I must insist that you keep working with Klarkartar.”

Taking a deep breath, Trevor nodded as he left a tip on the table. “That is a demand I’m absolutely willing to get behind, Adabelle.”

The two were in good spirits as they left Matteo’s and headed back to the park. There was a lull in the foot traffic as many people were eating lunch, which allowed them much more room to explore. Despite this, they still walked arm in arm as if they were glued to each other.

As it turned out, the park was one of the busiest places in the entire festival. Because it circled the entire castle, which was a central point in the city, it was one of the easiest places for everyone to reach. There were games, shops, and food stalls set up everywhere, and a musician or group was playing at nearly every bridge.

Trevor found himself stopping everywhere that caught his interest, including some places that caught his eye from across the bridges. It made for a very slow pace, but Adabelle happily enabled his behavior and they lost themselves in the festival’s atmosphere.

When they finally found the place where they could board the gondola after an hour or two of wandering, they were quickly picked out and brought to the front of the line where they were given a boat all to themselves. Trevor was dumbstruck as the gondolier, an orcish man at the bow of the vessel, shoved off with just the two of them on board.

“Did we get special treatment because you’re a noble?” he whispered to Adabelle.

She leaned against him and shook her head. “No. I may be well known, but I’m not that well known. It’s because you’re showing off to everyone that you’re a Summoned.”

Lifting his arm, Trevor looked at his tattoo. It was true that he generally kept it covered, though that had been due to the weather more than anything. Once it warmed up, he would have no problems in shorts and a t-shirt. That was his go-to back on Earth, but he didn’t consider it showing off.

Seeing his confusion, Adabelle continued. “The Summoned are just as important as the nobles in Lucent, and much more popular. Ours is the country that performs the most summoning rituals, and we have the greatest success rate of people that Jackson would call good eggs. Like you, Trevor. The vast majority of them become adventurers, and they go around helping people and protecting the civilians from threats that the guards can’t handle without casualties.”

“So they’re treated like real life superheroes,” Trevor concluded.

“That’s something I’ve heard people from Earth say, yes,” she agreed. “They often get special privileges for their service, such as skipping ahead in lines and getting a gondola all to themselves. Since you’re showing off your tattoo, they assumed that you were an adventurer.”

Dropping his arm, Trevor looked back at Adabelle. “But I haven’t done anything,” he whispered. “We could have let other people join us, at least.”

Looking around, he could easily see everyone watching the river. Some of the people were sitting over the edge, their legs dangling in the water, while others were simply watching. A group of children waved enthusiastically at them, and the young man waved back with a guilty smile.

“I, for one, don’t mind being alone with you like this,” Adabelle said, squeezing his arm a little tighter. “Plus, you certainly deserve this, even if you don’t think you do. And, because I know you never think you’ve done enough, at least be at ease knowing that I’ve sufficiently earned both a cut in line and a ride together with you.”

“Okay, yeah, that’s fair,” Trevor chuckled, and a thought occurred to him. “But a Summoned’s tattoo could be anywhere, right? With only the king’s being in the same spot every time? What about those who have it in a place where they can’t really show it off? It’s random, right?”

“There are magical badges that adventurers can receive from the castle,” she explained. “Wayne likened it to a get out of jail free card, though if it’s constantly used like that then it’s going to get revoked. That used to happen a lot, but things have been better recently.”

“Do you have a badge?” Trevor asked.

Adabelle seemed surprised by the question before grinning. “Are you actually curious about a badge?” she teased quietly. “Or are you trying to fish for information on where my tattoo is?”

Trevor hesitated, because he hadn’t been thinking about it before but he absolutely was now. “That depends, did you say I was fishing because we’re on a boat?”

The woman blinked before laughing and shaking her head. “You’re trying to change the subject.”

“Yeah, kind of,” he sheepishly admitted. “It was just kind of a reflexive question. I really wasn’t trying to figure it out, but now I’m very curious.”

“Well,” Adabelle whispered with a sly smile, leaning her head against his shoulder to look up at him. With a light touch, her fingernails lightly grazed the arm she was hugging. Her eyes sparkled in a way he noticed only happened when she was teasing him. “Perhaps, if you’re lucky, you’ll eventually see it.”

“Oh, well, I, uh,” Trevor stuttered. “I think I’m already pretty lucky. So. Yes, eventually.”

“Don’t you get flustered on me, Son of Ander,” she laughed, sitting up straight as she tapped his chest with her tail. “It’s nothing like what you’re thinking. My tattoo is vertical beside my spine, so even if I’m wearing something that shows it off my hair is always in the way.”

“I wasn’t thinking anything bad,” he claimed quickly.

“Oh, really?” she challenged, scooting away from him to get a better look. “Then why is your face all red?”

“What do you mean? I’m always like this. All the time.”

Reaching up, Adabelle pat him on the cheek. She couldn’t seem to help that smug smirk she wore. “Of course you are, Trevor, of course.”

Despite her teasing, or perhaps because of it, Trevor couldn’t help but laugh, and she quickly joined him. He was glad that she was comfortable enough to playfully jab at him like this, and he realized again how pleasant it was to have someone like Adabelle at his side.

Trevor had thought that he would be a nervous wreck the entire date, but found that it was actually the opposite; he was very relaxed. The time he spent with Adabelle before asking her out had given him a solid platform on which to be at ease, and knowing that she was a kindred spirit soothed him. Anxiety could have been hiding underneath all of the giddy excitement and rampant happiness he was feeling, but there was no bursting those bubbles.

“I’m very happy,” he suddenly stated, the thought needing to be vocalized.

Adabelle’s smug look changed to one of contentment. “I’m very glad to hear that, Trevor,” she replied.

Behind her, something curious caught Trevor’s attention. A building had been erected in the park, one that didn’t belong here. He knew that because he had seen a larger version of it somewhere else before.

“Um, excuse me gondola man, but can we get off?”

“Sure, give me a moment,” the orc replied.

“What is it?” Adabelle asked curiously.

“I think I see something from Tosa that definitely shouldn’t be here,” he said as the boat headed to the shore.

Not quite sure what Trevor was talking about, Adabelle still went with the flow. They stepped off of the gondola and the young man tossed the orc a gold coin. The gondolier’s face lit up at the sight of it, and he bowed deeply before deciding to take on passengers from his impromptu stop.

Trevor took Adabelle’s hand, her fingers intertwined with his, and started walking through the trees to where he had seen the structure. He knew that the demonkin’s Speed was far higher than his own, but she seemed content to be dragged through the crowd even as she weaved between people with far more skill than he.

They stopped in front of a small tower nestled perfectly between the trees off of a heavily treaded path. It looked exactly like one of the buildings in Tosa, just as Trevor had suspected, but much smaller. There was no door, and the bottom opened up to reveal a shop full of bags of all shapes and sizes. Sitting in the middle of the room was the familiar figure of a short human wizard.

“Melvirn?” Trevor asked.

Tosa’s high wizard blinked and turned his head to regard the newcomers. “Trevor!” he exclaimed, standing up. A second later he noticed Adabelle, and bowed. “And Lady Adabelle, as well. What a surprise running into you two here.”

“We are away from Tosa on business, and enjoying the festival,” Adabelle said, slipping into her noble voice. Trevor attempted to let go of her hand in case that made her uncomfortable, but all that did was make her tighten her grip.

“As am I, as am I,” Melvirn nodded as he stroked his thick beard. He didn’t seem to notice their hand holding, or at least didn’t seem to care. “I come to the festival every year to sell my wares for a little extra funding, you see. It’s only been a few hours, but the Anderson Bags are being bought up faster than I expected.”

“Anderson Bags?” Trevor asked. It was clear they were named after him, but he was still surprised.

He started moving around the sales floor, looking at each of the bags. Most were labeled as simple extradimensional spaces of varying sizes depending on the container, but some empty spaces were labeled as Anderson Bags in big, eye-catching letters.

“Yes, these are bags that I made based on our joint experiment together,” Melvirn explained before frowning. “Do you not remember discussing it? We did right before you left.”

Trevor hesitated, feeling guilty. The events of the night after their collaboration was a bit of a blur as Melvirn said a lot of things that went in one ear and out the other. Magical theory followed by arcane hypothesis followed by a lecture on mana recovery and storage. The young man hadn’t made sense of it then, but didn’t have the heart to say so.

“Well, it’s no matter,” the wizard claimed as Trevor didn’t answer. “As we agreed, once we’re both back in Tosa then you’ll receive 40% of all profits received from the sale of Anderson Bags.”

That, at least, the young man vaguely remembered. “How many did you make?” he asked.

“And how much are you selling them for?” Adabelle added.

“Because it was such a short notice, I was only able to make six. I worked tirelessly day and night to get ready for the festival,” Melvirn admitted. “Of those, I still have two left and the materials for three more. That being said, the ingredients are rare, expensive, and on backorder for months to come so I don’t expect to be able to make another batch for a long while yet. Oh, but the price, right. For Lady Adabelle, I can discount it to a platinum coin.”

Both Trevor and Adabelle bristled at the price. “A whole platinum?” she asked. “And that’s discounted?”

The wizard grinned. “I’m selling this first batch for two,” he said slyly.

She released Trevor’s hand to cross her arms. “Melvirn, that’s a very hefty price. And people have actually bought them?”

“Yes!” he laughed. “Lady Adabelle, I don’t think I need to expound upon you the merits of a dimensional bag.”

“You don’t,” she agreed, her voice cautious.

“But these Anderson Bags-”

“There’s got to be a better name,” Trevor sighed.

“There’s not,” Melvirn said, not at all upset that he was interrupted. He pulled down two bags from the back wall. One was a large canvas backpack not unlike Trevor’s, and the other was a black bag that, to the young man, looked like it would be perfect for carrying a laptop. “These are the only two that haven’t been bought, and I don’t expect them to last the afternoon.”

“Despite costing two platinum coins,” Adabelle stated.

“Quite right! Because, despite the fact that they look like regular dimensional bags, an Anderson Bag can hold three, almost four times as much as a bag of the same size.”

Trevor didn’t know enough about dimensional bags to consider that a good thing or not, but it sounded impressive. He had carefully watched Adabelle’s expression to gauge just how much better they were, and was surprised to see her arms drop.

“They’re that much better?” she asked incredulously. “That’s not just a sales pitch, but actual results, correct?”

“Oh yes, Lady Adabelle,” Melvirn said with a twinkle in his eye. “Mark my word, these bags are going to revolutionize the field of extradimensional spaces for years to come. Trevor here has basically turned the whole study onto its head in one afternoon, though that’s to be expected from a Summoned whose Power aligns so well. Still, it is rather extraordinary, don’t you think?”

“He sure is,” Adabelle said, turning to smile at the young man. He gave her a smile back, unable to help himself, before she turned back to the wizard. “I’ll take the smaller of the two.”

“The smaller of the two?” Melvirn repeated.

“Yes. I don’t much care for backpacks, but a courier is perfect for me,” she confirmed as a platinum coin appeared in her hand. Trevor wasn’t sure where it came from, but he wasn’t about to ask.

“Excellent, Lady Adabelle,” the wizard said with a bow. He handed her the bag as she paid for her purchase. Trevor was uncomfortable that his date had bought something so expensive that was named after him, but wasn’t quite sure how to voice his concerns.

“Would you like me to take that for you?” Trevor asked instead.

“No, I’ll wear it out,” Adabelle replied as she slipped it on over her shoulder. She adjusted her hair afterwards, and patted the bag gently with her hand. Since it was black, it matched well with her outfit. Once she was settled, she turned to Melvirn and bowed. “Thank you. We’ll see you back in Tosa. Have a safe journey home.”

“You as well, Lady Adabelle, and Trevor,” Melvirn said happily.

After a round of goodbyes, they stepped outside as Adabelle continued to fidget with her new bag, and Trevor was content to watch her.

“If it’s as good as he says it is, then a platinum is a steal,” she explained once she caught him staring at her.

That wasn’t what he was watching her for. A smile bloomed on his lips. “A courier is perfect for you, huh?”

Adabelle’s ears twitched as if she hadn’t been expecting to hear her words again, and she took his hand so she could lead him away. “There’s still plenty of daylight left before dusk, so let’s go see what else there is before then, shall we?”

“Sure, lady, let’s keep going,” Trevor chuckled, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: I WANT TO BE SELFISH

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of activity as they left the park to see the city. There were fewer stalls set up out here, but the restaurants were working double time. Several had added outdoor seating to accommodate the increase in visitors, and even then they could have used more. There was even one that had an entire alleyway converted into a dining space, which was proving immensely popular.

Every so often, Trevor would pick out people setting up fireworks on top of different buildings and smiled to himself. That was going to be a perfect end to the night, not only for him but for everyone, and he was proud to have been a part of it.

While the park had musicians at every bridge and often in between, those playing in the city were more evenly spread out. They were no less skilled than those who had procured a premium place to play, and Trevor found their music enjoyable. He wasn’t the only one, and several blocks had been turned into dance parties that the traffic closer to the castle wouldn’t allow.

Adabelle asked if Trevor would like to dance, and embarrassing memories of previous events on Earth flooded his thoughts. He politely declined on the grounds that he wasn’t much of a dancer, which was as much of an understatement as he thought he could make. He knew he was absolutely terrible.

Despite his courteous refusal, Adabelle asked again as they came across another crowd dancing to a much slower beat. It was then that Trevor realized that she wasn’t asking just to be polite. She really wanted to dance and, after dragging her around everywhere, he was quick to change his mind if only to make sure that his date was happy.

Offering his hand with a shaky apology on how terrible he was, she smiled brightly as she took it and led him into the impromptu dance floor.

With his hand on her hip and hers on his shoulder, they smiled at each other as he was taught how to dance. Adabelle’s patience was extraordinary, and it took Trevor a lot less time to learn than he thought. While she was an amazing teacher, he couldn’t help but wonder how much his Dexterity stat helped him out in regards to how easily his body moved the way he wanted it to.

Much to his surprise, hours passed as they danced. Not always at the same place, but all over and to several different kinds of music. Trevor found it easy to get lost in Adabelle, and he was surprisingly unconcerned with ever being found again.

“I’m very, very happy,” he whispered as they danced together.

“So am I,” she replied, leaning her forehead against his. “Though, we should be getting back to the castle. It’ll be dark by the time we get there.”

“Once this song’s over,” he gently requested.

“That’s quite rich coming from someone who claims he’s not much of a dancer,” Adabelle teased.

Trevor couldn’t help but smile. “I guess I’ve just never had the right partner.”

The two continued until the song was over before rushing off towards the castle. As the sky got darker, the people were starting to find their spots to watch the festival’s fireworks display. That made traveling through the city a lot easier than Trevor expected, especially as the park was nearly empty by the time they passed through it.

When Adabelle started leading Trevor into the castle, he realized he had no idea where they were going. “So, what’s the plan now?” he asked as they passed by the only elevator he had used so far.

“It’s a surprise,” she laughed.

The smile on her face was infectious, and Trevor suddenly thought that it didn’t matter where she was leading him; wherever it was, he knew he would have a good time.

They traveled deeper into the castle than he had gone before and into another elevator. As Adabelle brought them up, she stopped at the top floor. She took his hand as the sound of explosions started going off outside.

“No! We’re missing the start!” she complained. “Can you run?”

Pulling the Horn of Swift Heroics from his inventory, Trevor nodded. “After you,” he said before blowing on it. Honestly, his legs were feeling strained from a whole day’s worth of walking, but he could deal with that.

With a determined look on her face, Adabelle started running through the halls. She gradually increased her speed until she found where Trevor’s sweet spot was, and led him to a spiral staircase. They began climbing it higher and higher, and the young man realized that they were going up one of the castle’s towers. It was a long trek, and he was breathing heavily by the end of it, but it was all worth it when they emerged on top.

Brilliant colors flashed everywhere, starting as dull trails of fire from the rooftops to explode safely above the city. Trevor found himself hollering and laughing despite his burning lungs, unable to help himself.

They were so high up that the fireworks exploded only a few stories above them. He worried about the potential danger, but quickly forgot about it as the smoke floated around the tower without so much as touching it.

Adabelle led him away from the crenelations and onto a raised platform. Trevor followed, still doing his best to watch the fireworks all over the place, and sat down on the loveseat sofa that had been brought up here. She sat and snuggled up to him, placing a hand on his chest. As he set his arm around her shoulders, her tail wrapped around his waist, and he felt safer perhaps than he ever had.

“Surprise,” she announced, gesturing towards the light show.

“This is amazing,” he remarked. “You are phenomenal, Adabelle.”

“I have a set of skills the king needed, and luckily someone asked me out early enough that I knew what to demand in return,” she replied, sounding satisfied. “He wanted to try a new summoning ritual, one that required two mages, so I agreed.”

“You summoned someone today?” Trevor asked.

“Yes, an elven woman named Lirwen,” she answered. “She was an adventurer in her world, so I related to her easily. I can tell she’s going to fit in just fine.”

“That’s good. Always a worry, though, isn’t it? How they would react to a new world.”

“It is, but most are grateful for a second chance,” she replied. “It’s really rewarding, especially when you watch people you summoned help change the world for the better. That’s one of the principles that Lucent values most, which is why our country performs so many rituals. That, and we’re the leaders in advanced magical circles, which helps a lot.”

Trevor tore his eyes away from the fireworks to smile at her. “You’re just a great force for good in this world, aren’t you?” he praised.

“I try, but I’ll be able to do more once I’m mayor of Tosa,” she said, determination evident in her eyes. “There’s a lot I can complain about when it comes to Jackson, but I plan on continuing his vision after he retires. On that, I completely agree with him.”

“You’re going to do great, and everyone knows it.”

Adabelle tilted her head, locking eyes with Trevor, and smiled. “Of course. I’m going to do my best, and I know my worth.”

“I suspect that you’re still worth a lot more than you’d give yourself credit for, but I’m planning on being around to help you whenever you need it,” Trevor said.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she whispered, her voice almost being drowned out by the fireworks.

A brief lull in explosions caught Trevor’s attention, and he turned away from her. It restarted slowly with a trickle of lights on the far end of the city, but very quickly became a torrent. Fireworks started going off in waves, circling the castle. The young man found himself yelling his approval yet again, and this time Adabelle joined him.

The lights circled the castle three times before the sky all around lit up at once in a spectacular finale. Everything got quiet after that, though they could pick up the people down below cheering.

Unwilling to release his date, Trevor used his leg to clap. “That was awesome, Adabelle,” he said. “This was-”

“Only the beginning,” she interrupted, pointing downwards towards the halo.

Caught off guard, Trevor fixed his gaze on the castle’s magical circle. It started glowing brighter as columns of golden light started to appear in waves, and he realized he could no longer hear the crowds. After the fireworks, the silence was deafening as even the air seemed still, but the faint sound of music reached his ears.

The columns of light started off small, but began growing in size as time went on. They ebbed and flowed in time with the music, and Trevor realized that the halo was the source. A beautiful, haunting melody slowly filled the city. Despite how loud it had to be for them to hear it clearly, it was soothing and warm.

The young man found himself entranced as the columns grew to be larger than the towers, and his eyes were drawn to a golden glow emanating from the tallest one. Squinting, Trevor could make out King Eskretet standing on a raised platform similar to theirs. Based on the way he was waving his arms, he looked exactly like a conductor keeping time for an orchestra.

“This is what Klarkartar wanted to keep a secret from you,” Adabelle said as she watched him. “Would you like me to tell you more?”

“Absolutely,” Trevor breathed, though he couldn’t take his eyes off of the light show.

“The halo is the pride and joy of Eskretet,” she happily explained, still watching the awestruck young man. “It’s also the most powerful and intricate magic circle known to the world. When it was first created, it was supposed to be a defense mechanism against invaders who thought the country was weak after the liberation. It could fire off magical bombs that would decimate armies of everything that wasn’t high leveled Summoned. It still can, but that was its original purpose.”

“So what about protecting people in duels?” Trevor asked.

“That was something else that the kings figured out it could do,” Adabelle answered. “It’s an incredibly versatile circle, and scholars are still determining new things about it regularly. However, it has a tendency to gather more power than it needs and store it, risking the city.”

Trevor finally looked away. “That’s what this is for, isn’t it?” he intuited. “To get rid of the excess.”

Adabelle smiled. “You understand, then. It was calculated that the halo only needed around 60% power in order to protect the city, and everything else is fired off into the sky like this. The current King Eskretet has the third highest Mana of all the kings thus far, so it’s a particularly spectacular show, as the magic circle is constantly taking from their pool.”

“Is that uncomfortable?”

“If it is, not one of them has complained,” Adabelle said. “Our current king comes from a culture where music is of the utmost importance, and he’s also the first to incorporate that into the Festival of Golden Lights. It sounds loud from here, but it’s actually the same volume throughout the city.”

“It’s inspiring,” he said, awe evident in his voice, as he looked back over the lights. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It really is quite amazing, isn’t it?” Adabelle agreed.

The columns had started taking on other shapes, snaking upwards into the sky as they disconnected from the magical circle that spawned them. They mingled as they rose, passing by each other in intricate patterns that left short afterimages behind. Once they were high enough, they exploded into showers of gold that disappeared shortly before they hit the castle. All around the city they dropped a little further, though they never touched a single building.

Light saturated the sky as the teardrops fell and disappeared. It was almost as though the stars themselves were falling, and Trevor watched in awe, feeling his eyes become wet as he had never seen anything like it before. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to get this kind of experience anywhere else, and he pulled Adabelle even closer.

“Thank you for this,” he said. “Thank you so, so much, Adabelle.”

“You’re welcome, Trevor,” she replied, patting his leg gently.

The music changed into something more upbeat, but still beautiful. Taking a breath, Trevor turned to look at his date. “Hey, stand up.”

Slowly blinking at his sudden request, Adabelle unwrapped her tail from him and stood. Trevor followed suit and pulled the sofa into his inventory before offering her his hand. “There’s music, so we should be dancing, right?”

Adabelle beamed as she nodded and took his hand. He pulled her close, pressing his body against hers as they began to dance. The lights from above could be seen clearly in her eyes, and he immediately decided that this was the best way to admire them.

“I have a confession to make,” Trevor said softly.

“Is it one that I’ll like?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Probably,” he chuckled.

“Then go right ahead.”

Taking a breath, Trevor nodded more to himself than to her. “All day, I felt like I knew exactly what to say,” he started off slowly. “Quick quips, playful teases, fun conversation, all with the backing of raw enthusiasm. Right now, I have something to say, but I’m not sure if I have the words for it.”

“That’s going to make it hard for me to understand, you know,” she teased gently. Their dance slowed into a rhythmic sway as they stared at each other. “You imply that you’re speechless, but it sounds like you’re readying yourself for a speech.”

“I know,” he said, smiling. “I’m just… I know I’ve never been happier than I have been today. The last few weeks, I’ve considered myself completely blessed to be here. To arrive in this world, to meet everyone, and to get to know you. You, in particular, inspire me to be a little more selfish.”

Adabelle gave him a strange look before laughing. “More selfish?”

“That… didn’t come out right,” he admitted. “What I mean is, I want to take better care of myself because I know that’s what will make you happy, and I know that because that’s what I want for you. I want to be by your side, feeling this every day, and taking care of you. More than that, I want to let my guard down and allow you to take care of me.”

“That’s not exactly the reason I’d like you to take care of yourself, but it’s a start,” she chided lightly.

“I know, but I’m living in the moment,” he said. “I’ve always been the guy who cares about other people, sacrificing my own happiness. And it wasn’t until just recently that I realize how lost I’ve been. You called me out and helped me see what I’ve been missing for so long.”

Adabelle leaned her head forward, placing her forehead and nose against his, and stared into his eyes. “Say what you need to say, okay?” she whispered.

Trevor swallowed as he gathered his thoughts. “I’ve taken a liking to you, Adabelle,” he said. “Being with you makes my mind and heart race. It’s not… It’s only our first date, and it’s not a fully complete feeling yet, but I can tell that it could be. One day. And there’s a part of me that knows you’re way too good for me, but I want to be selfish. I want to keep you close. I want to be happy, and I don’t want to let you go.”

Adabelle listened carefully, barely blinking as Trevor confessed his feelings for her. Her eyes were full of understanding on what he wanted to say, and she smiled.

“I don’t think I’ll mind this brand of selfishness,” she admitted, moving her hand from his shoulder to his chest. “As long as you don’t mind that I can be quite greedy when it comes to some things that I really want, too.”

The young man blinked. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Let me make myself perfectly clear about how I feel, Trevor Anderson,” she whispered. Adabelle leaned forward and kissed him.

Although caught off guard, Trevor returned the kiss as the light-filled heavens rained all around them. Once again, lightning flowed through him at her touch and, true to his word, he did not let her go.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: TAKE AS LONG AS YOU LIKE

Trevor was awake early the next morning. Despite having laid in bed for what felt like hours trying to get to sleep, he was feeling really good. While he wanted nothing more than to reunite with Adabelle, he basked in the glory of watching the sun rise from between two of the mountains as he sipped from his Vigor Bottle.

The young man wasn’t there long before he heard a door open, and he stood up to see Adabelle emerging from her room.

“Good morning,” Trevor said, walking back into the living space to greet her.

Adabelle’s eyes were half closed in her usual morning grogginess. They locked onto him despite this, and a smile graced her lips. “Morn’n,” she replied.

The woman shambled towards him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pushed him onto the couch. Trevor fell, realizing again just how much stronger Adabelle was than he, but landed gently on the soft plush sofa. The young man shifted so that he was comfortable, and she clung to him.

“Trevor,” she mumbled happily, burying her face in his shoulder.

In this state, she was dangerous. Trevor gently pulled away a little bit to prevent her horns from scratching his face, and she hugged his arm tightly. Once he was sure he wasn’t going to get skewered, he smiled down at her.

“You didn’t eat your Wake-Up Fruit this morning, did you?” he chided lightly.

“No,” Adabelle said. “Wanted to see ya.”

Trevor grinned. “Well, I’m glad to see you, too. Are you sure you don’t want to wake up first?”

“No, lemme cuddle,” she asserted.

“Take as long as you like, then.”

Snuggling in closer, Adabelle closed her eyes, and Trevor did the same soon after. Extricating his arm, which made her wrap hers around his waist instead, he began to run his fingers through her long, white hair while also scratching her back. Her tail, which he was absolutely sure had a mind of its own this early in the day, wrapped itself gently around his wrist.

As he scratched her back, Trevor replayed the events of the previous night over and over again in his head. It had been as close to perfect as he had hoped, and the date had ended incredibly well. The feeling of her lips lingered on his, and he returned to that memory more and more.

Eventually, Adabelle turned over so that she was on her back and using his leg as a pillow. Her tail had refused to let go of his hand, and it became trapped between her and the couch as she yawned, stretched, and opened her eyes. When she saw Trevor’s smiling visage, she looked concerned.

“I distinctly remember going to my own bed last night,” Adabelle said quietly, eyes wide.

“And you did,” Trevor confirmed, gently removing an errant stand of hair from her face. “This morning, you came out of your room, tackled me onto the couch, told me you wanted to see me instead of eating a Wake-Up Fruit, and then promptly fell back asleep.”

“I should have eaten the fruit,” she said before hurrying to stand up. “We need to get down to the streets. We’re missing out on a quest.”

“A quest?”

Adabelle nodded as she stared at the tail wrapped around Trevor’s hand. She took it and started manually removing it. “Yes. Do you remember how I said everyone pitches in on the cleanup?”

“I do.”

“The king makes a quest of it as something extra for Summoned,” she explained. “Which may not be as important to you as someone who still only needs a few to level up, but every little bit counts for those of us who have been doing this for a while.”

“You didn’t have to explain it to me, I would be fine with helping out regardless,” Trevor said as he stood up and removed his backpack from his inventory. “Go get dressed, and let’s do this.”

Adabelle blinked before offering him a relaxed smile. “You’re too good, you know that?”

Trevor shrugged. “Just doing the best I can,” he said.

Taking his hand, Adabelle gave him a gentle kiss before hurrying off back to her room. “Don’t leave without me!”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he managed to say before she shut her door, and he couldn’t help but grin as he touched his lips.

Trevor radiated happiness, and he felt that he would continue to do so for a long while. Adabelle emerged wearing the same white top and long, black skirt she had when she brought him soup, and he remembered the first time he realized he had a crush on her.

“You’re really cute,” he blurted, the words coming out the same moment as when he thought them.

“Oh, thank you,” she said, smiling brightly and tucking her hair behind her ear. “Are you ready to go?”

“I sure am, lady,” he said, offering his hand. Adabelle took it, and they headed out.

The castle was surprisingly empty as they walked through it, a far cry from the whirlwind of activity that it had been, and they took their time. Quest or no, Adabelle seemed to be moving slower than usual while leaning against Trevor. He assumed she hadn’t fully woken up yet, but there was no way he was going to complain about it; the young man was happy to take things at a slower pace

When they stepped outside, he saw where all of the people were. There was an entire crowd picking up trash through the park, and he could make out people doing the same across the bridge. From what he could see, it wasn’t even all that bad.

[[King’s Quest! Cleanup in aisle city.

It’s that time of year again! The light show is over, the morning after has come, and now the city is trashed.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, and it’s not really all that terrible. The people of this world are just different, and nobody wants to destroy their home with garbage.

However, it is a festival, so we can expect there to be some cleaning up required, and by golly you’re one of the few people that can see my messages so you’ve been roped into it, too!

Lucky for you, this quest is worth two due to the king’s prerogative. Have fun!]]

“Oh, it’s worth two quests?” Trevor asked, surprised. “That is really good, then.”

“Exactly,” Adabelle responded. She was about to say more when something caught her eye.

“If it isn’t Lady Adabelle and her messenger boy!” Lailah exclaimed as she approached from the trees. “Good morning!”

“Good morning, Lailah,” Trevor replied with a wave.

“Morning.”

“It’s a lovely day outside,” the elf continued.  “The city is alive, and everyone’s working. However, I hate to admit it, but I’m not fully happy even with the double quest combo. Do you know what I need?”

Trevor looked at Adabelle, who smirked. “Gossip, right?” she asked, sounding like she already knew the answer.

“That is exactly right,” she replied, slipping her arm around Adabelle’s free one before glancing at Trevor. “So I’ll be taking her, and you can pick her up later.”

“No,” Trevor said. “I don’t believe you will.”

“No?” Lailah asked as if she had just been scandalized, arching an eyebrow. “Oh. No, is it?”

“It’s a fairly simple word, Lai, I’m sure you know what it means.”

“Wow, Adabelle, you really put some confidence in him, didn’t you?” the elf said, nudging the horned woman with her elbow as she waggled her eyebrows. “That just makes me want to steal her all the more.”

Trevor looked back at Adabelle, and she smiled apologetically at him. “I would like to spend some more time with my sword sister before we leave,” she admitted. “Because I’ll be taking over for Jackson, I’m not sure when I’ll be back again.”

“Then that’s all it takes,” Trevor replied without hesitation. “Though, if I can make a demand? Not of you, but her.”

“Of course you can,” Adabelle said, picking up on the potential mischief.

“Of course he can’t, you mean,” Lailah scoffed.

Smiling, Trevor turned to face Lailah. “You may take her so long as you ask nicely.”

“Ask nicely?” the elf asked incredulously. “What kind of demand is that?”

“Should be easy then, right?” he asked. “Just ask nicely.”

“Messenger b-”

“Trevor,” he corrected, interrupting her. “You’ve been calling me messenger boy this whole time, I just want to hear you be polite for once.”

Lailah blinked before nudging Adabelle again. “Wow, you really did knock some confidence into him,” she remarked. “I didn’t think you had it in you on the first date, sister.”

Adabelle shook her head, face darkening, as she realized what the elf was talking about. “We-”

Trevor turned Adabelle to look at him and locked eyes. “I’d like it if she only gets to hear if she’s nice about it, please and thank you,” he said, his face burning up much like hers. “I’m trying to be selfish here.”

“If it’s for the sake of being selfish, then that’s fine,” she replied with a smirk. Adabelle’s eyes sparkled, and Trevor had to pull himself away, though not before he gave her a quick kiss.

Lailah twitched, her curiosity quickly trying to overcome her playfully combative nature. Trevor really didn’t have anything against her, and even considered her an ally after her advice to the both of them. He also had the sneaking suspicion that he hadn’t been challenged to any duels on account of her calling him a messenger boy. Like Wayne had told him, no one wanted to duel the help.

Also, he liked teasing his friends. The elf, however, wasn’t going to take it lying down.

“Please, Mister Trevor,” Lailah sadly begged, bringing her hands together as though she were praying. She looked up at him with big eyes. “Please let me take my sword sister from your evil clutches. Please, set her free. She’s a young maiden, after all, unless you’ve-”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Trevor laughed. “You made it weird.”

“Doesn’t matter, still counts,” the elf said.

“Doesn’t count, it’s still snarky,” Trevor claimed.

“You want me to stop being snarky? I’m snarky to everyone. I am the epitome of snark.”

Trevor shrugged. “Guess you’ll disappoint your sword sister and miss out on how the date went. Too bad,” he said before looking at Adabelle. “Ready to go?”

“It’s a shame, but she’s brought it upon herself,” Adabelle agreed. She turned to Lailah. “I’m afraid we’ll likely never see each other again, as I’m trapped in his evil clutches and I’ll never be set free.”

“You two are mad,” Lailah said before shaking her head. “Fine, I get it. Trevor, may I please take Adabelle for gossip, cleanup, and drinks after?”

“Why, yes Lailah. Thank you so much for asking,” Trevor said, stifling a laugh.

Lailah stuck her tongue out at the young man before turning to Adabelle. “Come on. Ditch your boyfriend and let’s get going.”

“I’m going to work my way towards Klar’s to see if he has anything for me on the way back to Tosa,” Trevor said as he hugged Adabelle. He started smiling when Lailah labeled him boyfriend, and couldn’t stop. “I’ll probably be out and about for most of the day.”

“That’s fine, Trevor,” Adabelle replied. “But don’t stay out too late, we have an early day tomorrow if we want to make it back to the Halffle Inn before dark.”

“Of course,” he agreed, kissing her on her forehead. “I’ll see you later.”

“Be safe,” Adabelle said as she let him go.

“I will,” he answered before turning to Lailah. He offered his hand. “And if I don’t see you, thank you for everything.”

The elf huffed, but grinned and took it. “You, too. Be safe when you’re out there making deliveries; don’t want my sword sister getting sad because you tripped and fell or something.”

“I’ll be careful,” Trevor said with a laugh.

As soon as he started walking away, not even out of earshot yet, Lailah started making demands. “Okay, you need to spill everything. I need every little-”

Trevor smiled as he got out of earshot and started walking across the bridge. A scream caused him to stop.

“HE TOOK YOU WHERE!?”

The young man couldn’t help the full, hearty laugh at Lailah’s voice as he carried on to help with the quest.

Trevor pulled his socks and shoes into his inventory and retrieved the Stubborn Sandals he had purchased from Klar’s Magical Emporium. The pair looked like vaguely foot-shaped pieces of leather, but they stuck on the bottom of his feet comfortably and didn’t come off no matter how much he shook them. They were perfect for the task.

All he had to do was touch the garbage with his skin in order to pull it into his inventory, he was constantly tapping his foot against anything that needed to be picked up for the quest to be completed. He was incredibly glad that he could separate the junk from the food still frozen in time.

It was fairly simple work, and he lost himself in the task as his mind wandered. Every so often he would drop his trash off in designated areas, removing everything unimportant from his inventory, before getting back to the mindless work of basically kicking garbage into his inventory. It was an easy, anxiety-free job, which was absolutely perfect.

[[King’s quest complete!

Wow, your inventory is really full of garbage! It’s a good thing that you don’t have to clean that thing out manually, otherwise it would be a multi-day affair including several gallons of soap and a river’s worth of water. Pretty gross, but you handled it like a champ.

In fact, in just the few hours you’ve been working, you’re one of the biggest overachievers of the group! You must really love trash, or you just hate it when things aren’t clean. Either way, you’ve been a big help to the king and the citizens of Eskretet. They’re lucky to have you.

Enjoy your two milestones towards leveling up!]]

Pulled out of autopilot, Trevor blinked and looked around. He recognized that he was nowhere near Klar’s Magical Emporium, and shook his head.

“Well, at least the quest is done,” he chuckled to himself before turning around to wander the streets until he found his destination, picking up any errant trash that was left in his path.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: I DON’T PLAN ON HIDING IT

Despite Adabelle’s warning of an early morning, she was the one who came back late after saying goodbye to everyone she needed to. Trevor didn’t mind because he knew that it was important to her, and they still had a bit of time together before the end of the night. She explained how the stable hands were going to bring their wracors and wagon to Klarkartar’s Magical Emporium so they could easily leave after picking up his quest.

The next morning, Adabelle woke him up after having apparently received another Full Night’s Rest. She was surprisingly chipper and ready to return home. They ate, relishing the leftovers from Matteo’s, before heading to Klar’s. Their wagon was already waiting for them when they arrived.

Even though it was early enough that only a few people were out and about in the city, the minotaur was quick to let them into his empty store. There were a few employees preparing for the day, many of whom offered polite bows before continuing their tasks.

“I was very happy to hear that you two enjoyed Matteo’s,” Klar said loudly as they were led to the back room. “And Trevor was positively floored by your surprise, Lady Adabelle. I couldn’t have asked for a better tale when he came back to see me.”

“It was fantastic for both of us,” Adabelle said. “And Matteo’s is always delicious.”

“Thank you again for that, Klar,” Trevor added.

The minotaur waved his hand. “For my close friend, it is the least I can do,” he said. “Whenever you want to come back to Eskretet, come and see me. Anything I can do for you, then I will be happy to do so. That goes for you as well, Lady Adabelle, though I understand that could make you seem like you’re taking favors.”

“I’m glad you understand, Klarkartar,” Adabelle said with a nod. “That said, I do believe a quest to escort Trevor back home would not be seen as any type of favoritism, especially as we did the same on the way here.”

“Oh, yeah!” Trevor exclaimed, suddenly remembering something he was going to ask about. “How will quests work when you’re the mayor? I doubt you’ll have a lot of time to go out and adventure.”

Adabelle smiled. “That is true, but for those of us who are designated Summoners, such as Mayor Jackson and the king, we follow our own rules,” she explained. “We get quests directly from the Quest Master in regards to our governance. If we want to take part in adventures then there’s nothing stopping us, but work usually keeps us busy unless there’s an emergency.”

“Dang, and here I was thinking I could eventually catch up to you,” Trevor chuckled. “Well, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t feel the need to compete with you, so long as I can be with you.” Reaching his hand out, Adabelle took it, and they smiled at each other.

“Not a hopeless romantic, he tells me,” Klar laughed. He slapped Trevor on the back, causing the young man to stumble slightly, before stopping in front of a series of shelves. As he gestured towards them, he continued. “Here’s the goods that I have. There’s goods and materials for Thimbleden, Dory, Grunder, and Corrin in there, but the Quest Master is being a pain and telling me that it can only be counted as one quest.”

Trevor put his hands on his hips and looked up. “Quest Master, how come this doesn’t count as several?” he asked. “Thimbleden and Dory came with two quests that involved a delivery to the same person.”

[[Because Klar is one person, and Thimbleden and Dory are two people who used their Quest Giver status to help you, young man.]]

“Well, it’s right about that,” Trevor admitted. “You are only one man, Klar.”

“Alas, it is true,” Klar sighed. “If only I could be in more places at once. I could get so much more done.”

“It’s a shame, for sure,” the young man said as he looked over everything marked for transport. “I think I might need to keep my backpack on for this one, depending on how similar everything is.”

“Your backpack increases your Capacity, right?” Adabelle asked.

“Yeah, it’s the original Anderson Bag,” Trevor said, his face turning red from embarrassment as he said it out loud. “Specifically attuned to me and my inventory space by Melvirn. Alright, ready for the quest.”

[[New Quest! Return to Tosa!

So, you’ve seen the big city and want to go back to the place where everything is comfortable and warm and your girlfriend’s soon to be the one in charge.

Hey, I understand. No judgment here. Lucky for you, you seem to make friends everywhere you go, and Klar is no different.

These boxes contain the merchant prince’s orders for Tosa. He could have sent them out two days ago, but knew that you were returning and held off on it. All you have to do is deliver these boxes to the proper spots to get credit. That’s: Thimbleden’s Sundries, Dory’s Potions & Alchemical Supplies, Corrin’s Couture, and Grunder’s Superb Protection.

Reward: a few coins, but only because Klar insisted.]]

As he started taking boxes into his inventory, Klar stroked his chin. “I’m assuming your Capacity is instrumental in how much you can store with your Power?”

“That’s right.”

“What happens if you store too much and take it off?” he asked curiously.

“That’s a really good question,” Adabelle agreed.

“I’m not sure,” Trevor admitted, shrugging before continuing to work. “The Quest Master said I didn’t want to know, but I think it’s better if I do. Any insight?”

[[You have the right to know, I suppose, though it would have been a lot funnier to learn the hard way…

If your inventory is overfilled when you remove the backpack and your Capacity can’t handle it, then everything is ejected from inside the dimensional pocket.

And I’m not talking gently, either. Everything will shoot out away from you, using the surface of your skin as its starting point. It would slice up your clothes, Trinkets, etcetera while doing the same to everything in a 20-foot radius. You would be fine, but everything in your immediate vicinity would get hit by a lot of shrapnel.

Yes, you could easily weaponize this, but I don’t think that’s a danger from somebody like you.]]

Trevor chuckled nervously as he read the message. “I would, uh,” he stuttered. “I guess I would become an inventory grenade if I did. There would be few survivors, which would not include my clothes and my dignity.”

“That sounds terrifying,” Klar remarked.

“That sounds awesome,” Adabelle said before glancing between the two men staring at her. “What? I’m still an adventurer for at least a little longer, this kind of ability is relevant to my interests. Besides, all Trevor has to do is be careful when he takes off the backpack and there’s zero risk involved.”

“Well, that’s true at least,” Trevor chuckled, taking Adabelle’s hand as he finished retrieving everything else with his other. Some of the boxes were Stackable, but not as many as there were in Thimbleden and Dory’s delivery. “I was thinking that I’d have trouble sleeping with the backpack on, but I’m sure Reed and Beth will have someplace for me to store the excess so I can be comfortable.”

“I’d be hesitant to leave it in the wagon just because there’s going to be more traffic on the way back, but we’ll figure something out,” she agreed. Once he pulled in the last box, Adabelle squeezed his hand. “How are you feeling?”

“Nearly full, but doing alright,” he said. Turning to Klar, he let go of her hand and put his together palm to palm over his head before bowing deeply to the minotaur. “Thank you, Klar.”

He couldn’t see, but he heard the minotaur huff happily and the coins on his horns clink together as he returned the cultural bow. “No, thank you, Trevor. I look forward to seeing you again when you next come across my doorstep. And you…” Klar turned to Adabelle as he stood, placing one hand on her shoulder and one hand on Trevor’s. “He’s a lot more sensitive than he lets on, so you take care of him.”

Amused, Adabelle reached up and patted the back of the minotaur’s massive hand. “I know, Klarkartar, I’ll take care of him.”

“I’m serious,” he continued. “When he first came to this world, I literally knocked him down. He was so nervous, and I was the first person he met aside from Jackson. I could tell that he would be great in his own way even before I knew what his Power was. Thank you for taking care of my friend, and you must take care of yourself as well. Take care of him for your sake, and take care of yourself for his.”

“For my sake?” she asked, eyes widening in confusion.

Klar laughed and released them both. “You forget, knowing people is my whole job! I have eyes, I can see, and I can see that you two will be great. Tosa is in good hands with you there, and you two are good for each other.”

“Yeah, we are,” Adabelle agreed as she smiled at Trevor.

With a round of goodbyes that lasted longer than they thought necessary but were in no hurry to finish, Adabelle and Klar bowed at each other in the traditional Lucent greeting before the two Summoned left for the journey home.

◆◆◆

The traffic was, thankfully, still slow as they made their way out of Eskretet. The roads weren’t empty, but it reminded Trevor of a small town in the morning back on Earth. The farther they got from the city, the calmer things got, the monotony only broken up by the various villages and hamlets they passed through.

Even though they were heading home, the mood between the two was at an all-time high. Trevor and Adabelle chatted about life in this world, the people they had met, and the adventures she had gone on. There was no shortage of things they wanted to share with each other.

Conversation eventually lulled, and they rode in companionable silence, never feeling alone or anxious. They were happy.

When Adabelle drove, Trevor sat right behind her as he read through a book he had picked up about the kings of Eskretet. Her tail rested against him as she focused on the road, and gently tapped his chest with lazy, cat-like flicks.

Whenever Trevor was the one leading the way, he sat with Adabelle on the driver’s bench so that she could inspect his tattooed arm. She was constantly tracing the markings and recreating it on a sketchpad she had brought, and the young man relished her touch. Every so often she would excitedly mumble to herself, though she admitted she had a long way to go.

As dusk started creeping up on them, they finally made it to the Halffle Inn. Just as Adabelle had warned, it was busier than it had been the last time they came through, though there was enough room to return their wracors and park the wagon. Dill took care of all that as the two went inside.

They were greeted by the sights of a full room. It wasn’t very large to begin with, but now it was packed full of people drinking, eating, playing cards, and overall having a good time. Reed was quick to slip around from the bar to approach them in greeting.

As they explained their situation, it turned out that there wasn’t much room at all. Thanks to everyone heading home from the Festival of Golden Lights, Reed and Beth’s kids were all giving up their rooms for paying customers. A few were even sleeping in the stables.

Even though there was a ton of business and the Halffle Inn was a very popular spot, Reed had made sure to keep Adabelle’s reservation as she had warned them when they were going to be passing through again. She and Trevor got their separate rooms, though they were mostly full of boxes so that the young man didn’t have to sleep with a heavy backpack on. It was a relief to take it off, and he wasn’t looking forward to wearing it again the next day.

Still, they slept well. The two were back on the road the next morning, though not without a knowing wink and smile from Beth when she saw a tired Adabelle snuggling up to Trevor for breakfast. He had grinned back, and nothing needed to be said on the matter.

The journey was just as pleasant as it was before as the villages and hamlets started to stretch out and were replaced with forests, lakes, and mountains. Even though it was a relatively short journey, only two days, they were both tired from being confined to the wagon for so long.

When they entered the home stretch and Trevor started realizing that they were getting back into known territory, he tried to hand the reins to Adabelle.

She looked at him questioningly. “We’re almost there,” she said, holding onto his tattooed arm. “Do you want to sit in the back?”

“Not really,” he admitted. “I’m just not sure if you want people seeing us, well, all cozy like this.”

Adabelle arched an eyebrow as her tail, which was pressed against his back, began to swish up and down. “Is there a reason why we shouldn’t?”

“No, no,” he said quickly. “I just… I wasn’t sure if you wanted people in town to know about us, is all. Plus, we haven’t put a label on it, and you’re about to become mayor, and-”

He was silenced by a finger on his lips as she smiled. “You’re getting nervous for no reason again, Son of Ander.”

Trevor chuckled, but shrugged. “Maybe not for no reason.”

“No reason,” she repeated firmly. “I am looking forward to showing my boyfriend off, if I may call you that.”

“Yes,” he said, not hesitating for even a second. “Yes, you may call me that.”

“Good. I don’t plan on hiding it from anyone, and I hope you wouldn’t do that, either.”

As they smiled at each other, he leaned in to kiss her. The wracors knew the way, so he wasn’t worried about that. Instead, something else caught his eye that worried him, and he stopped short.

“Is something wrong?” Adabelle asked hesitantly.

Trevor was looking forward, and pointed to the sky. “Is it…” The young man tilted his head in confusion as he squinted. “Is it raining fish?”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR: TRYING TO STEAL ADDYMANATINE

Adabelle, initially frustrated by Trevor pulling away before he could kiss her, blinked and turned to see what he was pointing at.

Just like he said, fish were falling from the sky.

Not only that, but spikes exploded from them as they hit the ground.

Before she could answer, the sound of frightened baying reached their ears. Trevor stopped the wracors, and the well-trained animals stayed put after that. Adabelle smirked and wrapped her arm around her boyfriend’s shoulder. “You may enjoy this.”

“Enjoy wha-”

Trevor was cut off as mangy, brown dog-like creatures fled from the trees where the exploding fish were raining. They were as large as the wracors, with huge claws that tore up the ground beneath them and spines along their backs. Their eyes were glowing red, and the young man realized he was looking at monsters for the first time. He froze up, his hand clutching onto Adabelle’s leg, though he was comforted by the fact that she was with him.

One of the beasts was hit directly in the face with an exploding fish. It fell to the ground, bloodless, before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Its brethren were quick to follow, unable to dodge the hailstorm of unusual aquatic animals.

From the forest emerged another figure, one that Trevor immediately recognized.

Rashie, clad in her armor, ran after the pack as she screamed out a battle cry. “Summon bigger fish!” she yelled, and the exploding fish stopped raining down. All the ones that were flopping on the ground, their spikes expended, disappeared.

A large shadow appeared over the lead monster as a truly gigantic fish with black scales appeared in a flash of light. It fell, crashing onto the fastest beast, and some smoke soon escaped from underneath it. As it flopped, the fish was able to clear at least ten or fifteen feet with every motion, catching one more and causing the others to pause.

This monster of a fish disappeared as Rashie summoned another that looked exactly like a tuna except that it was roughly twice her size. Her grip on its tail was ironclad, and the moment it realized it was in danger the entire creature froze as it turned into a pillar of ice.

“Frozen tuna,” Adabelle explained as she pushed Trevor’s fallen jaw upwards. “That’s her favorite summon. Its defense mechanism causes it to freeze its body with nearly indestructible ice, which she then uses like so.”

Rashie jumped into the air and clubbed the nearest monster directly on its head. The beast turned into smoke before it had a chance to realize it had been struck, and the shark girl immediately pounced on the next one in line.

She was fast, brutal, and effective even as she laughed with malicious glee. If Trevor hadn’t known Rashie before now, he might have been confused on which of the combatants were the monsters. Even seeing this, though, he couldn’t find himself to be scared of the shark girl.

The last of the monsters were dispatched in short order, and Rashie raised her frozen tuna in the air as she bellowed out a victory cry.

Adabelle took the reins and set the wracors back in motion. “Shark!” she called.

Rashie’s head whipped to see who was calling her, and her face lit up with unbridled happiness. “Addymanatine!” she yelled. “And Trevor I guess!”

“And Trevor, I guess,” he repeated with a chuckle. “Hello, Rashie.”

The frozen tuna disappeared from her hand as she ran towards the wagon. She leapt into the air over the wracors, who were slightly startled but appeared to be used to such treatment, and headed right for Adabelle.

The demonkin grabbed the giggling shark girl out of the air and plopped her down. Since the bench was full from just the two of them, Rashie was set down on both of their legs while her tail squished between them.

“I’m so glad you’re back!” she yelled, unable to stop giggling.

“We told you that we would be gone for only a few days,” Adabelle said, though she sounded happy as well.

“How are things going?” Trevor asked.

“Things are so fun right now,” she replied. “There were two dungeon surges, just like Jackson said, and I was put over here on this one. Wayne’s on the other side of town, but mine is scarier so it’s more fun. That was the last of them, so I’m really glad that you’re here because now I have to wait until tomorrow to fight more monsters.”

“All that stuff with the fish was pretty exciting.”

“Yeah, it’s- wait!” Rashie stopped, turning to look up at Trevor as she pouted. “You’re not supposed to know about my Power! I was supposed to use it to prank you!”

“Rashie,” Adabelle scolded. “You know you’re not supposed to use your Power to prank people. Not after the last time.”

“I only summoned a fish in someone’s mouth three times,” she claimed. “And they deserved it.”

“Rashie…”

“Fiiine, I won’t use my Power to play pranks on Trevor or anyone else,” she relented, crossing her arms petulantly.

“So your Power is, what? Summon Fish?” Trevor asked, bemused and sure that he was wrong.

But that had to be right because the shark girl started nodding. “Yeah! I call the explody spike ones porcupikes, and the ice one I call a frozen tuna, and the big one I call Logan.”

“Logan?”

“Yeah, Jackson came up with that name for me because it’s the same fish every time,” Rashie explained. “It’s big and burly and can jump so high that it seems to defy gravity sometimes! He’s a real beast of a bigger fish. Still smaller than I was though. For now, I’m putting points into it so he can be even bi-”

The shark girl paused, and Trevor was about to say something when Adabelle tapped him on the back with her tail. He looked over at her, and saw the twinkle in her eyes as she mouthed the words, one moment.

Rashie took in a deep breath, and then sniffed Adabelle and Trevor separately. She stood up and jumped onto one of the wracor’s back.

The shark girl turned and pointed at Trevor. “You are trying to steal Addymanatine!” she accused.

Adabelle’s tail hit Trevor on the back again before rubbing up and down. “Yes,” he answered, thinking that was what she wanted him to say.

The shark girl gasped before jumping to the other wracor in front of Adabelle, flailing her fists at her side as she spoke. “Addy, if you are being held against your will, tell me and I’ll help, okay?”

The demonkin swallowed down a laugh. “I’m afraid it’s too late, Rashie,” she said dramatically. “I appreciate your concern, but there’s nothing you can do anymore. You’re just too late.”

“I’m too late?” Rashie asked, jumping back onto Adabelle’s lap. She hugged the demonkin tightly, looking up at her. “Then I’ll just have to defeat him so that he can’t take you away.”

“Hold on a second now,” Trevor quickly said.

“No, Rashie, you can’t,” Adabelle said, taking Trevor’s hand and bringing it up to her cheek. “You see, I’ve taken a liking to him.”

“A- a liking?” Rashie stuttered. “No! That’s Stock House Synondrom!”

“Stockholm’s Syndrome,” Trevor corrected, figuring she heard that name from Wayne. He was barely paying attention, though.

She’s taken a liking to me, he thought to himself. He already knew that, but the young man could barely contain his goofy smile.

“Don’t you try to correct me, I know what I’m talking about,” Rashie said, turning her nose up at him.

“You know I’m not actually stealing Adabelle, right?” Trevor asked. “I asked her out on a date, she agreed, and now we’re dating. She’s still going to live at the He- Wherever the mayor lives?” He looked at her questioningly.

“The Hero House until l officially become mayor,” Adabelle informed him. “But after that, I’ll be living in that building that blocks my office window. That’s where Jackson lives now, and I’ll be there after.”

“So I’m not stealing her,” Trevor continued. “We’re just very happy together.”

Rashie sniffed them both again before grunting. “Well, you both do smell very happy,” she admitted with no small amount of hesitation.

“You can smell that?”

“Of course I can!” she exclaimed, nodding vigorously. “Everyone smells different when they feel different things. Happy, sad, afraid, terrified. I know this smell, and it’s very happy.”

“Well, I’m happy,” Trevor said. “Adabelle?”

“I’m quite happy, too,” she replied.

The shark girl released Adabelle to cross her arms, thinking. They could see the gears turning in her head as she processed this new information. She looked at Trevor’s head for a moment before looking up at the demonkin’s.

“I wonder if your babies are going to have horns,” she thought aloud.

“Okay, hold up a minute there,” Trevor said, laughing nervously.

“That’s not even something we’re considering at this time, Rashie, and won’t be for a long, long time,” Adabelle told her. “Right now we’re still getting to know each other better. We’ve only had one date so far.”

This caused Rashie to continue thinking before she suddenly gasped and stood up on Adabelle’s lap. She turned, smacking Trevor in the chest with her tail and knocking the wind out of him before jumping back onto the wracor.

“Are you okay?” Adabelle asked, placing a hand on his chest.

“Yeah,” he wheezed. “Got me good, but I’m alright.”

“Rashie, what are you doing?” Adabelle asked angrily.

“I gotta go tell Wayne!” she yelled before jumping off and running away at speeds he would have never thought possible for such short legs.

“Okay, I’m going to put a stop to that before he tells her all sorts of terrible things.”

“Think he’ll do that?” Trevor asked.

“If he thinks it’s funny? Absolutely,” Adabelle said. “I’ll admit that I sometimes enjoy his antics, but not when I’m on the receiving end of them. Perhaps if it were only you, I’d be fine with it.”

“Gee, thanks,” Trevor chuckled, though that caused him to wince.

“Are you going to be okay taking the wagon to Thimbleden’s?” she asked, glancing at his chest.

“I’m bruised, maybe, but I’ll be fine,” he said, rubbing the spot where Rashie had accidentally struck him. “Go on and make sure Wayne doesn’t get to pull one over on us.”

“Thanks, Trevor,” she replied before pulling him in for a kiss. They lingered for a moment, perhaps unwilling to part as much as they thought, before Adabelle released him and jumped off of the wagon. “I’ll see you back at the Hero House!” She began running at much the same speed as Rashie, and the young man snorted out a quick laugh.

“Speed is a broken stat,” Trevor commented to himself as he watched her go.

To Trevor’s pleasure, the rest of the ride was completely uneventful. He bowed to those he passed on the road and the guards leading into town, and soon he was in front of Thimbleden’s Sundries.

Dismounting from the wagon once the wracors had fully stopped, he walked around to pet them on their snouts. The creatures really were remarkably horse-like despite being reptilian in nature, and he had come to really like the big creatures. They snorted and nuzzled him, with one attempting to eat his shirt before he pulled away and walked inside.

“Trevor!” the bespectacled gnome yelled from behind the counter as soon as he entered.

“Hello, Mr. Thimbleden,” he greeted. “I’ve got the wagon parked out front. Not sure where you want it.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Billan, the human employed at the Sundries, said. He clapped his hand on Trevor’s shoulder before walking out.

“Thanks, Billan,” Trevor called after him. “I’ve got a delivery from Klar for you and some of the other merchants.”

“Just returned and you’re already working?” Thimbleden asked, finishing up with the last customer in his line. He walked around the counter and motioned for Trevor to follow him. “You don’t have to be diligent all the time, you know.”

“It’s been a hectic few days, but I’d like to get this done so I can thoroughly relax,” Trevor chuckled.

“From the smile on your face, it looks like you had a really good time,” the shopkeeper remarked.

“It was fantastic, for sure.”

True to his word, Trevor wasted no time pulling everything for Thimbleden out of his inventory and putting it where it needed to be. He was just as quick to leave as he was to arrive, wanting to get done with everything as quickly as possible.

He visited Dory last, as her shop was the farthest away from the square, when he finally completed his quest.

[[Quest complete! Welcome home!

You have been sent back to Tosa after a triumphant stint in Eskretet with one mission, not counting your personal mission of wooing a fellow Summoned, and that was to make some deliveries.

And you succeeded! Thimbleden, Grunder, Corrin, and Dory have all received the shipments they were expecting from the merchant prince Klarkartar and are very grateful for your prowess as a delivery man.

Now you can sit back, relax, and take a few days of vacation from your vacation. We all know how stressful the dating life can be, so enjoy your time however you want to now that you’ve decided to be selfish. Go ahead, we’ll wait. But also…

Three gold pieces have been added to your inventory!

Level Up! You have gained 1 stat point. It has been added to your bank, which has 1 stat point left.]]

“Yeah, that sounds nice,” Trevor admitted after saying goodbye to Dory and Greer and stepping outside of the shop. Looking forward to meeting Adabelle at the Hero House, he started heading that way. “I think I am going to go and relax, Quest Master. Thanks.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE: TIME TO REOPEN THE GALLERY

Trevor did as he said he would and actually relaxed.

Adabelle still cooked breakfast in the morning, but dragged Trevor to the Hero House’s couch to cuddle with him afterwards instead of returning to her home. He was always the first to eat but, if he took too long, she had no issues interrupting his meal in a sleepy tantrum until he sat with her.

They were often joined by Mr. Tiggles. The cat had taken to stretching across both of their laps as he purred loudly. Adabelle absently stroked him when she was waking up, and Trevor found himself doing the same as he caught up on his reading.

Rashie had started getting excited at the prospect of the two being a couple. She often found flowers, shiny objects, or particularly nice river stones and brought them to either Trevor or Adabelle. The shark girl made sure they knew to give such items to the other as a romantic gesture. They had quite the extensive collection now, and cherished it as a sign that their small, immature shark friend approved.

Much to Trevor’s surprise, Wayne had not done much in the way of messing with them. The Texan had attempted to give Adabelle the same talk he had given the young man, but was laughed out of the Hero House. After that, the dwarf was content to watch as their relationship continued on a good trend.

Trevor was pretty sure it was because Adabelle had threatened him after she chased Rashie the day they got back, but he knew better than to voice that particular thought out loud. Every so often Wayne would nudge Trevor and was true to his word on wanting to help. He made for a good, supportive wingman who genuinely seemed to care about his friend’s well-being.

Because Trevor was actually relaxing, he never worked when he visited the market district. He had pledged to himself that he would only make an exception if something worthy of a quest appeared. Since that didn’t happen, the young man didn’t feel as though he was missing out.

For lunch, he always made sure to visit Adabelle with something delicious. To Jackson’s credit, he would allow Trevor to take her away from her work no matter what it was, and they were able to actually sit and eat. They went through the leftovers from Matteo’s quickly, but were just fine with home cooked meals. The young man even learned how to make taco bread balls from Froil, which was a big hit with everyone at the Hero House.

As the days passed, Trevor could tell that something was weighing on Adabelle’s mind as she spent more time in the Summoner’s Tower than her office. When asked, he was reassured that it wasn’t him and it was something that would be discussed soon. Remembering how she was when he first arrived and how long it took for her to get accustomed to him, he decided to simply support her as best he could.

Whatever bothered her seemed to disappear after she came home for the night, anyway. Trevor and Wayne would trade off cooking dinner. Though the dwarf had a much more spectacular menu, no one complained about the young man’s cooking as he gradually got better. Sometimes they would eat together family-style, while other times Rashie would push the couple towards one of their homes to eat alone with each other. On this, they rarely argued.

Life was good, and Trevor found that wasn’t stressed by the dwindling tattoo around his bicep in the slightest.

One thing that he found strange was Drelik. Trevor had visited the elderly dwarf the morning after he returned, but was told to come back in a few days. He didn’t understand, but still did as requested and returned later in the week.

Drelik answered the door to see Trevor standing there. He put on a big grin on his face that immediately put the young man at ease. “Trevor, my boy! Bless your beard, it’s so good to see you. Come in, come in!” Drelik said, gesturing him forward.

“I wasn’t sure what you had turned me away for. I was hoping you weren’t mad at me for leaving in the middle of things,” Trevor admitted as he walked inside.

“Don’t you worry about that, I know how busy the life of a Summoned can be,” he said, waving a hand as he closed the door and headed deeper into the house. “Besides, I heard around town that you and Lady Adabelle are a couple now? Are congratulations in order?”

“Yes, sir,” Trevor confirmed, breaking into smile. “We had a date in Eskretet at the Festival of Golden Lights, everything went exceptionally well, and now things continue to be great. And, of course, your advice was spot on. The moment came, I seized it, and now we’re both doing great.”

“Then congrats!” Clapping his hand on Trevor’s shoulder, Drelik nodded. “I knew you could do it, and I am immensely happy for the two of you. You both are such upstanding members of Tosa; it was a given that you two would be great for each other. Oh! Before I forget, I actually have something for you that I think you might enjoy.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yes,” the elderly dwarf said as he led Trevor into what the young man had called the art gallery.

A selection of Drelik’s late wife’s work was here. It hadn’t changed a bit since Trevor had started coming as the elderly dwarf was spending all of his time and effort working on chiseling out Cindal’s likeness onto a piece of Floatstone in the back yard. The young man looked around and paused when he noticed that one of the paintings had been changed. Instead of a trio of cars as he remembered, it was of a castle.

It was immediately recognizable as Castle Eskretet during the finale of the Festival of Golden Lights. The halo was lit up with pillars of light flying through the sky all around it. Fireworks of all colors exploded around it, contrasting nicely with the white stone and golden spears.

Trevor was fully reminded of Jackson’s line when his painting was praised before he left with Adabelle. I’m not Cindal, but I make do, he had said. After seeing this masterpiece, the young man had to agree.

“Take it,” Drelik said with a smile.

“Take it?” Trevor repeated. “I couldn’t, this-”

“Is my gift to you,” the elderly dwarf interrupted. “As thanks for keeping me company while I finished the statue of my wife.”

Trevor paused for a beat. “You finished it?” he asked incredulously.

Drelik laughed. “I did!” he exclaimed. “Just yesterday, in fact. I wanted to get it done before you got back, but I kept finding things to improve on. Details here, a slight imperfection there, and my need for it to be perfect far outweighed my need to be done before you arrived.”

“Mr. Drelik, that’s amazing!” Trevor laughed as well. “I have to see it!”

“After you take the painting,” he said firmly. “Consider it a gift from me to the both of you. While you may not have a hundred and thirty years of happiness like Cindal and I did, I hope the two of you can come close.”

The jovial grin on Trevor’s face softened as he reached out, touching the painting and pulling it into his inventory. “I don’t know what to say,” he admitted. “Thank you, Mr. Drelik.”

“It is enough so long as you cherish her, my boy,” the elderly dwarf claimed. “And knowing you, I don’t believe that will be an issue.”

Now that the painting was securely tucked away, Drelik led Trevor to the garden behind the house. The statues of Cindal flanked the path to the pavilion like sentinels. Even though the ones that were nearest the house weren’t very impressive, each one was still better than the last. When the young man finally made it to the fountain, his breath caught in his throat.

Cindal’s final statue, chiseled over the garden’s fountain, had been of her husband. A member of the guard long, long ago, the sculpture had shown him back in his glory days. He was covered in fine armor, with one hand pointing a finger towards the sky while his other wielded a shield. Drelik had once explained to him that Cindal meant for it to mean he would always go above and beyond to protect the citizens in his care, and the young man was happy to see it.

The shield was curious, as Trevor noticed that there was a red heart painted on it that hadn’t been there before.

Sitting exactly where Trevor had left it was the Floatstone he had first delivered to Drelik, though it was now much smaller.

It depicted Cindal, a beautiful dwarven woman with curled hair both on her head and spilling from her chin. Up close, Trevor could see the detail put into just that alone, though that wasn’t all. She was wearing a dress with splotches of paint all over it despite the smock covering her torso. These were shown as imperfections in the clothing, but the young man could immediately see what they were meant to be. In her left hand was an art palette with different paints on it, not sculpted but made from actual substance, and in her right hand was a red-tipped paint brush.

“She’s painting the heart on your shield,” Trevor realized, looking at the pose of the two.

“Aye, you’ve got the right of it,” Drelik said proudly. “My Cindal would always do that, even when I asked her not to. More often than not she’d paint a heart, though that was before I worked up the courage to ask her to dance. In hindsight, the signs couldn’t have been clearer, but I was stubborn back then and far too focused on my work.”

“Mr. Drelik, this is extraordinary,” Trevor stated, still awestruck by the sculpture. “I watched you work on this for weeks, and I know the care and love you put into this project. This is just as good as the art Cindal made.”

Drelik snorted a laugh. “That’s close to saying too much, my boy,” he said, trying to sound chastising but failing as his voice caught. “I can’t compare to her.”

Watching as the elderly dwarf started to tear up, Trevor began doing the same. He couldn’t help it; he was proud for his friend. “And what would Cindal say if she were here?”

“Bah,” he immediately replied, not answering.

“That’s not what she would say.” Moving over to the dwarf, Trevor placed a hand on his shoulder and continued to regard his work. “She would say that, with all its heart and soul, this can only be called a masterpiece. Mr. Drelik, I would agree wholeheartedly with her.”

The dwarf sniffed loudly before hanging his head. At first, Trevor thought he had said something wrong, but soon realized the other man was crying and whispering to himself.

“I finally did it, Cindal,” Drelik said under his breath, the young man with him barely catching the words. “I finally finished my greatest work. Now everyone will see that you, too, were loved.”

“They already could,” Trevor said as his own tears started falling. Not from any sadness, but the joy of seeing his friend succeed in a decades-long mission. “Seeing the care you put into this gallery, they already could.”

Trevor stayed there with his hand on Drelik’s shoulder for as long as he needed. Minutes passed before the elderly dwarf lifted his head, his eyes red, and he patted the young man’s hand.

“You’re a good kid, Trevor,” he sniffed. “I’m happy you were here with me on this journey.”

“I’m incredibly glad to have witnessed it.”

Drelik nodded as he turned back to the statue. “Can you move her for me?” he asked hesitantly. “I think I’m ready to see them together.”

“Of course I can,” Trevor said as he pulled the statue of Cindal into his inventory.

It took him several minutes of careful maneuvering and a ladder to get the Floatstone statue into the proper position, but Trevor felt like he had to get this right. Too close and there was a chance that the whole thing might break on the other, but too far away and it wouldn’t have the same effect. He got it into position by pulling and pushing it from his inventory several times with precision in mind.

Once it was in place, he stepped down and looked over his handiwork. The fountain bubbled up underneath the two dwarves - one meant to protect, one meant to create - and formed a beautiful picture that Trevor burned into his memory.

“I suppose that’s it, then,” Drelik said. “This statue is the product of thirty years of effort, and it’s finally done. I’m… not quite sure what to do with myself now.”

“I have an idea,” Trevor stated. The elderly dwarf looked up at him, and the young man smiled down. “I think it’s about time to reopen the gallery, don’t you think?”

Snorting out a laugh, Drelik nodded. “Aye, you may well be right about that,” he agreed. “It’s been so long, I’m sure many of the dwarves and elves remember, but everyone else has probably forgotten by now. Would you be willing to help a little more?”

“Of course,” Trevor said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “And when you’re ready to reopen everything, then Adabelle and I will be the first in line. That’s a promise.”

Despite the tears returning to the dwarf’s eyes, he laughed as he turned around to walk back inside to start getting things ready.

Even though Trevor had planned on not working for a while, he didn’t consider this work at all; it was just helping a good friend.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX: MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU

Trevor sat in the hallway outside of the mayor’s office, which Adabelle requested after she had fully woken up. Mr. Tiggles had decided that this was a day to run around with the young man, and was doing his usual impersonation of a scarf around Trevor’s neck.

The cat’s presence was a soothing one as the wait made Trevor feel like he was being called to the principal’s office. He stroked the purring cat’s fur from his neck to the end of his overly long, fluffy tail. While the weather continued to get warmer and the animal’s hot fur was becoming more of a nuisance, it wasn’t a problem yet.

Nearly half an hour went by before the door to the mayor’s office opened, and the young man stood up. What came out wasn’t Jackson or Adabelle, but a woman the likes of which Trevor had never seen before.

She was green all over and wore a stunning dress made of leaves rolled and molded to fit her. Her eyes were a shade darker than her skin tone with no iris, and the black hair on her head tumbled upwards in an intricate series of gravity-defying braids. Upon seeing Trevor, her thin black lips curled into a smile before falling into a frown.

“Hello,” Trevor greeted nervously, bowing in the presence of the strange woman. “I’m Trevor.”

“You have been touched by one of my children,” the woman said, her voice melodic and light.

“I’m sorry, but… I don’t know what that means,” he admitted. Noting that she didn’t bow in return, Trevor straightened to see Adabelle standing in the doorway.

His attention was pulled back to the woman as she waved her hand around his body. She didn’t touch him, moving her hand as if following a long, floating string. “The curse was incomplete, pulled back, as if the one casting it realized that they shouldn’t cast one on you. That was dangerous in its own right, as an incomplete curse can cause just as much trouble as one that has finished.”

Trevor immediately thought back to the night he met Denden and Merckle. “What?”

“Denden,” the woman said decisively before yanking her hand back. Trevor gasped as he felt like something intangible was pulled out of his body. “I have seen traces of his magic all around town, and that of a young dragon. Those remnants have now been removed from you. Tell me, Human Trevor, have you been ill lately?”

Opening his mouth, Trevor was about to tell her that he didn’t really get sick when he remembered that Adabelle had to give him medicine, and closed it.

“He was, a few weeks ago,” the demonkin said, approaching to stand next to Trevor. “Your majesty, this is Trevor Anderson. Trevor, this is the Queen of the Feywood.”

“I’m much better now,” Trevor said, suddenly tense from being in the presence of royalty that he hadn’t been schooled on previously.

“I see,” the queen said. “I will have a talk with Denden about this. Until such a time, you have my sincerest apologies for how my children have been acting. They are a chaotic bunch, sometimes, but that is no excuse.”

Adabelle’s tail rubbed up and down on his back, just as it had when she wanted Trevor to give a certain answer before, and the young man bowed. “Yes, your majesty.”

It seemed the queen found this answer acceptable, because she turned and began walking away without another word. She only took a few steps before disappearing into a pile of leaves that soon faded from sight.

“What?” Trevor asked.

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles responded.

“You know that’s not helpful,” Trevor said, reaching up to scratch behind the cat’s ears.

“Are you okay?” Adabelle asked, looking Trevor over. “You were cursed?”

“I may have met the two that were messing up the town…”

“And you didn’t tell anyone?”

“I told them I wouldn’t if they left,” Trevor defended, shrugging. “And then they left because Rashie was coming back, and I hadn’t heard anyone else having trouble, so I just kind of kept forgetting about it.”

“While you were cursed.”

“Partially cursed,” Trevor corrected, which earned him a glare. “I barely felt a thing.”

“Except for the time you became very sick and needed medicine.”

“Yes, but that could have happened to anyone,” he stated. Seeing Adabelle’s frown, he smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. I should have told you. Though, it did lead to the whole soup incident, which is what made me want to ask you out in the first place.”

Adabelle crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow. “Really?” she asked. “Soup is what did it for you?”

“Yeah,” Trevor grinned, embarrassed. “Sorry that it’s not a better story.”

The Demonkin looked ready to say something when they were interrupted.

“Welcome, Trevor,” Jackson said, appearing in the doorway. “I apologize for taking so long; meeting with the queen about Adabelle taking over as the mayor of Tosa took longer than I expected. Why don’t you two come inside, and I’ll tell you why I requested your presence here.”

“This isn’t over,” Adabelle quietly warned him before taking his hand and leading him inside.

Trevor wisely didn’t say anything as he sat down in a chair next to Adabelle in front of Jackson’s desk. The elf walked around and sat down. This was the first time the young man had seen the office, and found that it was surprisingly plain compared to the opulence of the rest of the building. It seemed as though both the mayor and his apprentice had the same spartan decoration policy for their personal work spaces.

“Now, young man,” Jackson started. “I know we haven’t had a lot of time to speak, what with my disappearance and your quest to Eskretet. Tell me, how are you finding my town?”

“It’s amazing, sir,” he said honestly, noting that Adabelle had not let go of his hand. She felt tense, and he made a note to ask her about it later. “It’s one of the best places I’ve ever been in.”

“That’s great to hear,” the elf replied with a grandfatherly smile. “I’ve heard that you have been helping out a lot around here. Thimbleden gushes about your work ethic, Drelik spoke at great length about your patience, and Laric mentioned you went through a lot of trouble for him. I even received a letter from the merchant prince Klarkartar stating in no uncertain terms that I need to summon more people like you.”

The praise made Trevor go red in the face as he looked at Adabelle. She gave him a comforting smile, and he smiled back. “Thank you, sir.”

“I said this the first time we met, but I’m glad that you were the one summoned during that ritual.”

“So am I.”

“That said, do you remember what I told you in regards to why I summoned you?” Jackson asked.

Adabelle’s hand squeezed his, and the young man frowned. “Selfless and selfish, and something about five other Summoned, right?” Trevor asked. “It’s a little hazy now, but that last part couldn’t be right because there’s only four of us in town. Not including yourself, I mean.”

A mischievous glint formed in Jackson’s eye. “You are not misremembering. There’s actually been a fifth Summoned all along,” the elf said, pointing to the creature hanging around Trevor’s neck. “Mr. Tiggles.”

“Meow.” The black cat blinked, lifting up his head to regard the elf. Mr. Tiggles stretched before jumping off of Trevor, padding over the paperwork on the mayor’s desk, and situated himself in the elf’s lap.

“Mr. Tiggles is Summoned?” Trevor asked, bemused.

“Mayor Jackson has been keeping that information close to the chest for years now,” Adabelle said. “Well, every one of us Summoned know except Rashie, and that’s only because we’re saving her for last.”

“Is he, like, a person who decided to become a cat? Or is he a cat that got summoned?”

“Mr. Tiggles is very much a cat,” Jackson said, stroking the animal. “From what I understand, the Quest Master gave him the ability to understand what was going on, and he decided to stay as he was. He didn’t need anything else, so long as he was still able to be himself.”

“Does he have a Power, then?” Trevor asked.

“Yes, that part of the summoning ritual is non-negotiable. From what I understand, his Power is based off of a famous conundrum from Earth, about whether an unobserved feline in a box is either alive or dead.”

“Schrödinger’s cat…”

“Yes, but nothing so nefarious,” Jackson said soothingly. “Apparently, he can cease to have a physical body when he’s unobserved, though he’s completely normal when being watched.”

“Like, becoming a ghost or something?” Trevor asked, tilting his head in confusion.

“Essentially, and apparently only when he feels like it.”

“That’s how he’s always able to get into people’s homes,” Adabelle explained. “If we’re not watching him, he phases right through the walls in order to get attention. Since it never happens when we can see him, we’ve never seen him do it, so he’s been getting away with it for years.”

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles said.

“And the weird way he meows?” Trevor asked.

They both shook their heads at that. “I don’t have the answer to that one,” Jackson admitted. “He’s always said meow, purr, growl, or hiss for as long as he’s been here. Probably something to do with being Summoned, but for now all I can say is that it’s strange.”

“How did you even manage to summon a cat, anyway?”

“And that’s another answer I don’t have,” the elf said with a sheepish smile. “But we’re straying from the point, and the point is, I would still like you to take part in a ritual sending me to the next world.”

“I… don’t know what to say to that,” Trevor admitted.

“Adabelle was the first to know about it and, after some explaining, she agreed. Wayne was the second, and I explained to him, and he agreed. Mr. Tiggles requires no explanation, though I know he’s in good hands once I’m gone,” Jackson stated before frowning. “I am… not looking forward to explaining this to Rashie, and I expect her to give me the most trouble. She is the youngest of all of you, and I’m not sure how it will go.”

Trevor frowned as well, thinking of Rashie. She was just a child, and he worried about how she would react just like Jackson clearly did. As he tilted his head towards Adabelle, he could see the mask on her face, and his heart dropped. This time he squeezed her hand before looking back at Jackson.

“Why now?” he asked.

“There are a plethora of reasons,” the elf responded. “I have summoned a group of fantastic people to safeguard Tosa while I am gone. Some of you, those who are not in this room, are troublemakers, though they are on the side of good. Adabelle is one of the most capable people I have brought into this world, and she will do a fantastic job. You, Trevor, have done nothing but good since you came here, and you’ve done a lot of growing up as well. But, I suppose, it’s also because it is time.”

Looking down at Mr. Tiggles, Jackson took on a pensive look. “I have been living in this world for over seven centuries,” he continued. “Next week will be the start of my 717th year, to be exact. It’s a number that has great sentimental value to me, which is why I chose it, but that is a long time for anyone to be in one place. Doubly so for an originally human mind. I would like to tell you all some of my story while the ritual is being conducted. Not everything that I’ve done has been as great as Tosa, but I feel like I’ll be in a nostalgic mood, then.”

Trevor released a sad sigh before nodding. “If that’s what you really want, then I accept.”

Jackson blinked. “Just like that?”

Hesitating, Trevor glanced away from him to check on Adabelle. “Yes, just like that,” he said. “It’s not like you’re dying or something. You’re being sent to another world, and without all the trauma of dying first. Everyone will miss you, but if it’s time then it’s time. You’ve done enough for Tosa, and we’ll keep thriving when you’re gone thanks to the new mayor.”

“It seems it really is just like that.”

“Well, you want to go, right?” Trevor asked. “You said you had everything you needed, which meant you had to actively go out and search for things. Oh, right! Since we’re on the topic of your disappearances, the people think the weather changing when you’re gone is because of Adabelle, by the way.”

“They do?” she asked.

“Ah, that’s unfortunate, though I can see why they would think that,” Jackson said, wincing. “I had to leave town so that I could safely conduct summoning rituals for various materials, which is often less intensive than summoning people but can cause the world to react in strange ways. It was never my intention to cause any rumors to get started, and for that, I sincerely apologize to you, Lady Adabelle.”

“I didn’t even know there were rumors, so you are forgiven,” she replied stiffly.

“Nor did I, though there are only a few who complain directly to me. I imagine they’d hold their tongue if it was about my apprentice, too,” the elf said with a frown before turning back to Trevor. “To answer your question, yes, I do want to go. I want to explore new worlds for as long as I am able.”

“Then that’s as much as you need to say,” Trevor said. “Everyone will miss you, of course. You’ve done more than anyone could have expected, but you have to take care of yourself, too. If this is how you chose to do it, then I’m all for it.”

Jackson looked taken aback before laughing loudly. “You have to take care of yourself, too?” he repeated, slapping his desk. Mr. Tiggles looked up disapprovingly, but settled back down. “This place really has been good for you, hasn’t it?”

“I’ve had a lot of help along the way,” Trevor said, glancing at Adabelle with a smile. “I wouldn’t be where I am without everyone, and I’m happy to extend that back to you, Mr. Jackson.”

“Then I suppose that settles things,” Jackson replied. “Thank you very much, Trevor. I’ll let you know more details when the time comes in about a week. Lady Adabelle, you may have the rest of the day off, as well.”

Adabelle blinked as she slowly stood up, and Trevor joined her. “Are you sure, Jackson?” she asked.

“Yes. Seeing you two together brings me back to memories I had long forgotten, and soon you’ll be mayor with all that it entails. An afternoon off won’t be a bother to anyone.”

“So long as you’re sure,” Adabelle said, though clearly hesitating.

“Can you show me your magic?” Trevor asked her, smiling. “We got interrupted last time.”

“I… suppose I can.”

“Then have fun, be careful,” Jackson said. “And, once again, thank you very much.”

They both bowed before heading out, and started heading for the Danger Zone.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN: THE PROUDEST OF ALL PASTRIES

Adabelle walked with purpose as they headed out of town to the Danger Zone, the area where she would practice her disaster magic. The look on her face told Trevor that she wasn’t ready to talk, and the way her tail whipped through the air screamed it. Still, he held her hand as they walked, and she slowed down enough to walk beside him.

“Quest Master, point to Speed, please,” he whispered.

[[Stat increase complete. Speed is now 3. You have no banked points left.]]

Despite the mood, Trevor couldn’t help but smile now that his Strength, Dexterity, Stamina, and Speed were all even at 3. His Magic and Mana were both 1, though he didn’t care much about that, and his Capacity was at 5, but that was in a special section so it didn’t count.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Adabelle said, tempering her tone.

“The faster we get there, the faster we can talk about it,” Trevor said with a gentle squeeze of her hand. His walking pace sped up, though not drastically, and she matched him easily. “Plus, now my main stats minus the magic stuff are all 3. So, that feels good.”

“Yes, I suppose it does,” she replied with a sad smile.

After that, it didn’t take long for them to arrive to the forest surrounding the Danger Zone. They went to the same boulder they had the first time Trevor was brought here. Adabelle took a seat first, and he followed suit. Her tail immediately pressed against his leg, though he couldn’t tell if it was a conscious or unconscious act.

They sat there, watching the thin layer of dust swirl around the area in silence. While Trevor was feeling sad over Jackson’s imminent departure, he knew that she had to be feeling worse. Adabelle had been here for several years longer than he and knew the elf much better. She was his apprentice, after all, and successor.

So, Trevor waited and watched the landscape with her while she gathered her thoughts. For Adabelle, he had near infinite patience.

Eventually, the ground began to shake. The tremors started slow, causing all of the rocks aside from the one they were sitting on to tremble. Trevor squeezed her hand in concern, but she shook her head and he waited, nervous but patient.

All around them the ground broke apart, causing large, jagged stones to overlap one another. They were quickly returned to something resembling flat land as she tamped it back down, leaving nothing but rubble behind.

The earthquake stopped as quickly as it started. The winds began to strengthen, whipping up the newly loosen stones. Dust flowed all around them as they sat in the eye of a small tornado. Trevor’s heart raced as he watched what was going on, but didn’t let go of Adabelle.

No matter the disaster, it never touched the boulder they sat on. The tornado changed to rain, which changed to snow that froze the water, which changed to overbearing heat that caused the thin ice to quickly melt.

It was an impressive display of power that left Trevor speechless, and he could easily imagine how she had been able to drop a lake on a dungeon that she sunk into the ground. The disasters cycled one after the other until Adabelle took a deep breath and everything went still.

“Thanks for not getting scared,” she said softly.

“Thanks for not showing it, I think you mean,” Trevor chuckled. “I know that the safest place I could be is right next to you, so I wasn’t really worried. Your Power is pretty versatile.”

“Most Powers get bigger and better when you put points into your specialty stat,” she explained. “But when I do, I get more control over them, and I can make the disasters smaller. Early on, I focused mostly on the stats everyone had, relying on my swordsmanship because that’s what I knew. Jackson was the first one to tell me not to be scared of my Power.”

“It’s a lot of responsibility to be sure, but if I would trust anyone with this kind of Power then it’s you,” Trevor said.

Adabelle gave him a small smile. “That makes me feel better,” she admitted before looking back out over the soggy wasteland. “I never wanted to admit it before, but I feel like this has been coming for a long time now. Jackson leaving, I mean. Just little things, like how he acted, or the things he’d say. It makes so much sense now that I realize it.”

“He told you earlier this week, didn’t he?” Trevor guessed.

She nodded. “We’ve been getting the Summoner’s Tower set up for the ritual,” she said. “It’s been weighing on my mind. I’ve been trying to keep it under wraps, but I know I can get a little hard to deal with when I’m stressed.”

“You were fine, Adabelle. I wish I could have helped you more, but I’m going to feel that way even when nothing’s wrong,” Trevor said. He leaned over and pulled Adabelle into a hug. “I knew, too. Which is something I would normally apologize for but it wasn’t my place to tell anyone and he asked me not to.”

“Jackson told me he asked you not to tell, and I’m not going to be mad at you for keeping your word.” Adabelle shook her head as she wrapped her arms around him. “I couldn’t, because that’s one of the things I admire about you.”

Trevor smiled. “Still, you’re going through a tough time and I’m not going to hold anything against you. I am here for you, Adabelle, no matter what happens.”

“Thank you, Trevor. I may lean on you for a while longer.”

“Lean away, lady,” he replied. “It’s what I’m here for, to take care of you.” Brushing some hair away from Adabelle’s face, he noticed her ears twitching as if she heard something strange.

With a sudden quickness, Rashie was in front of the two of them, ankle deep in the rain water. Trevor blinked in confusion; he hadn’t even heard her splashing.

“Are we interrupting?” the shark girl asked, hands on her hips.

“Rashie?” Adabelle asked, pulling away from Trevor. “First Wayne sneaks up on us here, then the shark. I don’t think we can be alone in the Danger Zone.”

The shark girl sniffed the two of them, starting with the young man. “That smells like… concern,” she said before switching to Adabelle. “And that smells like sad!” Gasping, she jumped up onto the rock and hugged the demonkin tightly.

“Sad?” Trevor playfully gasped before hugging Adabelle even tighter. “We can’t let that happen, Rashie.”

“No, we can’t!” she agreed.

Adabelle laughed as she was attacked from both sides. “Cut it out, you two!”

“Never!” Rashie yelled.

“Never ever,” Trevor agreed.

Sighing, Adabelle shifted her arms so that she could pull Rashie onto her lap and lean against Trevor. A smile was on her face despite herself, and she took to stroking the shark girl’s back before she realized what had been said. “Wait, are we interrupting?”

Giggling, Rashie pointed back towards the path. Trevor and Adabelle looked to see Wayne standing on dry land with his arms crossed until he saw them looking. Then he started waving. “I’m not getting my boots wet for this!” he yelled. “You guys should get on over here!”

“Wayne’s a big baby when it comes to water,” the shark girl pouted. “But he wants to talk about Jack.”

Adabelle and Trevor looked at each other before he let her go to wave at Wayne. “Come on! Stop being a big baby and get in here!” he yelled.

“Yes, Wayne, it’s just a little water!” Adabelle said.

They could hear his grumbling despite the distance as the dwarf pulled off his boots and socks, folded up his pant legs, and started walking through the water. Rashie jumped back down to help him avoid any sharp rocks that had come up with the earthquake, and he was soon scrambling up onto the boulder with them as the shark girl started to circle them.

“Great, now we’re all sitting on a rock surrounded by muddy water,” Wayne complained as he crossed his arms. “What now?”

“Well, first, how are you doing, Wayne?” Trevor asked. He retrieved a fluffy towel from his inventory and offered it to the newcomer.

Grunting, the dwarf shook his head but took it and began drying his feet. “Upset, but I’ll get over it,” he admitted before jerking his chin towards the shark girl running around the rock, splashing water everywhere. “Jack just found Rashie and I, and we both explained what was gonna happen.”

Trevor grimaced before looking down at the girl. “And how are you feeling, Rashie?”

“Just fine!” she replied, kicking the water. “I’m excited!”

“But Jackson’s leaving,” Adabelle said, frowning. “And you’re excited about that?”

“Yeah!” Rashie exclaimed, turning to face the Summoned. “He gets to explore a whole new world! That’s so cool, isn’t it? I got to see what life was like outside of the ocean and live on land and it’s amazing, so I can’t help but wonder how awesome his next world is going to be. Is it going to be covered in rocks? Or lava? Or water? Oh! What if he goes to my world and becomes a Larashae! That would be the best, for sure.”

“Yeah, she’s fine,” Wayne chuckled.

“Wayne! We have to tell Jackson to be a Larashae if he can, with the tentacles and stuff,” she demanded, loosely waving her arms in the air.

“He’ll be whatever he’ll be,” he replied. “We only got to pick because of the Quest Master, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be in a place with something similar.”

“That was basically Trevor’s response, too,” Adabelle said. “He told Jackson that he needed to take care of himself.”

“Trevor said that?” Wayne asked, feigning surprise. “Our Trevor? This Trevor? How does he know about that concept?”

“It is very strange, to be sure.”

“Alright, enough of that,” Trevor laughed.

“I don’t know, is it enough of that?” Adabelle asked. “How much work have you done since we got back?”

“Nearly none!” Trevor defended. “I helped move Drelik’s statue of his wife now that it’s finished, and I’ve been making food. For once, I am actually relaxing.”

Wayne narrowed his eyes at Trevor before leaning towards Adabelle. “Ditched him for a shapechanger in Eskretet, did you?” he whispered conspiratorially.

“No!”

“Thought about it, but I like the original too much,” the demonkin said, reaching up to stroke Trevor’s chin.

“If he was a shapechanger, then I would have already ate him,” Rashie confidently interjected from the water. “But that’s Trevor all the way.”

“Gee, thanks,” Trevor said, laughing as he saw the two smiling. “You two helped turn me into this, you know.”

“A functional human being?” Wayne asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Oh, be nice to him,” Adabelle said, reaching up to move some hair out of Trevor’s face. “Otherwise I’ll have to be forced to defend his honor.”

“Forced, you say?” the dwarf asked, stroking his beard. “Rashie, make fun of Trevor’s honor.”

“But Trevor’s nice to me and he makes me food,” the shark girl protested. “And he’s a cinnamon roll.”

“Is me calling him a cinnamon roll a valid reason to not make fun of him?”

Rashie stomped her foot, splashing water everywhere. “It’s the proudest of all pastries!”

“Is it?” Trevor asked, unable to help himself. “I mean, I know we’re talking about me here, but I feel like a croissant might be prouder.”

“A croissant? You could have mentioned an Éclair but you go with croissant?” Wayne asked.

“What about the vaunted macaron?”

“Might as well have said a strudel.”

Trevor snapped his fingers and pointed at Wayne. “Tiramisu, definitely.”

“Oh, tiramisu. Yeah, that’s it. Definitely. And now I want some,” Wayne drawled. The Americans nodded to themselves while Adabelle laughed.

“You two are ridiculous,” she said in good nature. “Though, now I have an idea. Trevor, are you willing to do some work?”

“Is it work if I’m doing it for you, lady?” Trevor asked.

Adabelle paused. “Yes,” she said. “That’s why it’s called work.”

“Oh, then yes. I’m willing to put some work so long as it’s for you.”

“And Wayne, are you up for some grilling?”

“Always,” the dwarf snorted. “What do you have in mind?”

“We’re here, but we shouldn’t be,” Adabelle explained.

“You mean stuck on this rock on the pond you made? I wholeheartedly agree.”

“No. This is our family, but it’s not the whole family. It’s missing someone really important.”

“Mr. Tiggles, right,” Wayne said.

The demonkin smacked his arm, causing him to rub it. “No! Don’t be mean,” she chastised. “We should be having this moment with Jackson. He’s leaving in a week, and we’ll never see him again. What are we doing out here, throwing a pity party when you and I are the only ones who are actually sad about it, Wayne?”

“Okay, yeah. I’m picking up what you’re laying down.”

“We should be celebrating with him,” Trevor agreed. “Spending time with him until then. You know what? Let’s go above and beyond and get the town involved. Everyone’s going to want to spend some time with him before he goes.”

“Let’s get his permission before we do that, but I do like it,” Adabelle replied. “We might need you to go pick up a lot of food if we’re going to make it a big event.”

“I’ve got no problem with that whatsoever,” the young man said with a grin. “He brought me here. While we may not have spent a lot of time together, I can see how much everyone cares about him, and that’s more than enough for me.”

“I’m down to grill for as long as there’s people needing to eat, though I’m sure some of the townsfolk will want to cook and cater as well if we invite them,” Wayne added.

“I can catch fish!” Rashie said, jumping out of the water to land amongst them. “I can go down to the lake and catch a bunch of fish and then Trevor won’t need to be gone for so long!”

“You can’t just summon them?” Trevor asked.

“No, of course not, they disappear when they die,” she said loudly, pouting as she stomped the water again.

“Okay, calm down, Rashie,” Adabelle laughed, patting the shark girl on her shoulder. “Let’s ask first before we start endangering the local fish population.”

“Yeah, I guess,” she sighed, jumping back down into the water.

Trevor pulled his socks and shoes into his inventory as he rolled up his pant legs. “Alright, we’ve already settled on a plan, so let’s get to it,” he said as he slid off of the rock. “Let’s go throw a party at Jackson’s place.”

The group cheered, their sadness forgotten in the face of a festive occasion, and started marching back to town to be with their mentor, mayor, and friend.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT: A SERIOUS ANSWER

Adabelle’s idea had turned into a week-long party.

People came to visit Jackson and were offered food, drink, and a chance to say their last goodbyes. It was an emotional occasion full of laughter, tears, and music. Stories were thrown about casually for all to hear. The grill was almost always fired up, and everyone pitched in.

The days went by in a blur, and very little work got done though nobody thought to complain about it. The Summoned at the center of it all were exhausted but happy, feeling better about Jackson’s upcoming ritual.

Just as the mayor had told Trevor, it was exactly one week later when they were asked to come to the Summoner’s Tower at midnight. Thanks to the jovial atmosphere of the party, the mood was somber rather than sad. Whatever feelings they had when they were first told of Jackson’s plans had been thoroughly talked through and reconciled with.

The large, open room at the top of the tower gave everyone except Adabelle pause. A whole mess of magical circles had been drawn all over the floors, walls, and ceiling, each with some strange gemstone in the middle of them. Sapphire teardrops, rubies that looked like fire, quartz that seemed almost as transparent as the breeze, and more were affixed in ways that the other Summoned had never seen before.

Sitting over the usual summoning circle in the middle of the room was one at least twice the size of the next largest. It had five circles just inside the edge that Trevor assumed were for them, and one large one in the middle. Several of the gemstones littered this one, too. As he gazed over the room as a whole, the young man had an inkling that he could study this for years and still not have enough information to discover what the pattern was.

“Thank you all for coming,” Jackson said, approaching them while making sure not to mess with any of the circles drawn on the ground.

“Of course we were coming, Jack,” Wayne said. “You asked us to, so we’re here.”

“Meow,” Mr. Tiggles said from Rashie’s arms.

“The ritual has a somewhat long startup time, so please, come and sit.” The mayor waved them over, and they were just as careful where they stepped as he had been.

As Jackson moved to the center of the main magic circle, he directed everyone around him. Trevor gave Adabelle’s hand one more squeeze before moving to his designated spot and sat on the ground. There was more than enough room for him inside, and he could get comfortable.

Rashie set down Mr. Tiggles and pointed a finger at him. “Stay, kitty.”

“Meow,” the cat replied, though he did sit down to groom himself. Rashie moved to the last remaining circle.

As soon as she did, the whole setup began to glow. It started with the gemstones inside the main ritual circle, but slowly spread throughout the room. Trevor felt his body begin to tingle in a way that reminded him of a week prior, when the Queen of the Feywood pulled the incomplete curse out of him, or when he allowed Adabelle’s key access to his home.

“You want to explain what’s going on, Jack?” Wayne asked, frowning down at the circle as he sat down. The other participants followed his lead.

“First of all, I assure that none of you will be harmed by this circle,” the mayor said as he remained standing. “You will be tired, but you will be fine otherwise.”

“To actually answer your question,” Adabelle started. Trevor glanced over at her, and saw that she was sitting on her heels and had grabbed her tail in both hands to hold on her lap. “He’s using our connection with our original worlds, as weak as that is, to open a rift out of this one.”

“That is precisely right,” Jackson said with a nod. “Imagine every world out there as marbles in a bag. Using this ritual, I’m going to land somewhere in the middle of all of your original marbles, though it’s probably going to be closer to Trevor’s Earth because his connection is the strongest on account of still being able to go back, so I may be close to Wayne’s world as well.”

As Trevor checked the now incredibly thin line on his bicep, Wayne spoke. “You know, old man, you never did get around to telling us what the difference between our worlds was.”

Jackson paused. “No, I suppose I haven’t,” he said with a chuckle before folding his hands in front of him. “I’m not sure if it’s even worth telling you both. It’s such a little thing.”

“Please?” Trevor requested.

“Spill it, Jack,” Wayne said at the same time.

Smiling, Jackson nodded. “Very well. Wayne, what was the name of those storybooks you read to your son? About the bears.”

Wayne cocked an eyebrow. “The Berenstein Bears?” he answered.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Trevor blinked. “No, that’s not right,” the young man said. “My parents read that to me, too, and it was definitely the Berenstain Bears. Stain, not stein.”

The two Americans looked at each other for a moment, eyes narrowed until they widened at almost the same time. “Is that really it!?” Wayne yelled.

“That’s such a stupid difference!” Trevor laughed.

“Yes, it is a really minor detail,” Jackson admitted, amused. “Basically, anything that can be attributed to the Mandela effect can be seen as bleed over from your two particular worlds bumping into each other. There’s a whole cluster of Earths that go through this process actually. Interesting, for sure. Mostly harmless, but a source of confusion nonetheless.”

“Um, Jackson?” Rashie interrupted as Trevor and Wayne shared a glance.

“Yes, Rashie?”

The shark girl fidgeted in her circle, holding onto her tail much like Adabelle was, and clearly hesitated. “Does that mean you won’t go to my world?”

Jackson smiled and crouched down to her level. “It’s still in the realm of possibility,” he said. “But you don’t really care about that, do you? You just want me to turn into a big squid monster, right?”

“I mean, if it’s not too much trouble,” Rashie admitted. “You can always stay if you don’t think you can do it.”

“Are you having second thoughts on sending me off?”

Shaking her head, the shark girl sniffed loudly. “No, I just want you to be safe.”

The elf’s smile deepened as he stood up straight. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ve had a long life, much longer than anyone realizes, and I’ll be fine so long as I have this,” he said, pulling out a small device from his pocket.

It was pitch black aside from a blinking red light and looked like a bracelet. Though it had six arms, they made up three pairs that didn’t quite meet in the middle. Jackson regarded it fondly, like a friend seeing someone they were once close to years ago.

“What is it?” Adabelle asked.

Jackson sighed and started pacing. “I am from an Earth, too,” he admitted. “Originally, we had no magic, normal technology, nothing major to differentiate us from any Earth, just more minor things. However, we were visited by another world.”

Settling down, the elf continued. “A single person came through a portal that showed up in, oh what was it… I believe it was Los Angeles during rush hour,” he said, turning to look at Adabelle and Rashie. “Take Eskretet, make it a thousand times bigger, and then regard the traffic as the same as it is during the festival for all but the wee hours of the night and you’ve got Los Angeles.”

Both the woman and girl blinked at him, trying to comprehend it, when Wayne nodded. “Yeah, that’s about the right of it,” he confirmed. “But that doesn’t tell us what that is.”

“I’m getting there, Wayne, hold your horses,” Jackson chuckled. “Their world needed help, because it was being invaded by another. In a last-ditch effort, they reached out to find heroes because their side was losing. Not everyone could go through the portal, however, otherwise America’s military alone could have handled things. No, far less than 1% of the population could transition to the other side, and because it meant they could bring magic back into my world, it became a big thing all over the globe.

“I was in the last iteration of heroes, which was when I received this.” Jackson held up the strange bracelet to regard it before placing it on the back of his neck. It shifted and contoured itself to better fit the elf, causing the man to wince, but it was over in moments and he continued with a sigh. “This miraculous device was the cream of the crop back then; built with magical technology I haven’t seen since.”

“So what is it,” Wayne said more than asked.

“It’s called a Human-Magic Interface Apparatus, or HMIA,” Jackson finally answered. “The AI inside of it was meant to help me take in the ambient mana of the world to give us game-like powers. We had the capacity to use magic, but no way of actually doing it quickly except with tools such as this. This made it so any time we completed a quest or defeated a monster, we grew stronger quick, fast, and in a hurry.”

“So it’s kind of like the Quest Master,” Trevor noted slowly. “But for individuals?”

“Exactly right, young man,” Jackson confirmed. “And, in fact, the AI inside the HMIA is the base I used to create the Quest Master.”

“Wait, you made the Quest Master?” Adabelle stammered.

Jackson smiled. “I believe the Quest Master can speak for itself.”

To everyone’s surprise, they all saw the message.

[[I sure can!

I am an offshoot of the HMIA that was woven into the magic summoning rituals Jackson created within his first hundred years. Of course, I’m way better than any AI by leagues. Especially that one, though I understand why he’s so sentimental about it.

And don’t you all worry, I’m not going anywhere as I’m fully integrated into the world and the rituals. You are stuck with me until there are no Summoned left, and even then, I can still come back around if more show up.

Jackson didn’t invent the idea of the Summoned, after all, but he did revolutionize it.]]

“Earth AI, huh? That explains a lot, actually,” Trevor stated. “Uh, no offense or anything.”

[[None taken... this time.]]

“That’s…” Adabelle started before frowning. “That’s a really heavy piece of information for us to take in, Jackson.”

“I’ve left all my notes for you in your new home, Lady Adabelle,” Jackson said as he smiled down at her. The gems were starting to glow brighter, and he sighed. “Listen, all of you. I have not always been successful in my goals. I’ve not always gone above and beyond, like Adabelle, or been efficient like Wayne. I haven’t always been happy, like Rashie, or true to myself like Mr. Tiggles…”

Jackson turned to face Trevor, and gave him a small smile. “I haven’t always cared like Trevor,” he continued before looking at everyone in turn. “I have had a lot of time to collect myself as I lived here as an elf. I’m not the same goofy oddball I was on my Earth, nor the angry delinquent I was in my second world, nor the reclusive deviant I was in my third. I have something from each of you now. And, in this next world I’m going to, I’m going to do my best to exemplify the traits I have seen in all of you. My friends.”

“You’re going to be just fine, old friend,” Wayne said, standing up as he wiped tears from eyes.

“And if you need help, find a way to come back,” Rashie added, standing up as well. “You can come visit even if you’re not a giant tentacle monster. I won’t hold it against you.”

“There better be a way to find you, Jackson,” Adabelle sniffed as she, too, stood up. “Because if there’s not, I’m going to have to search for you the hard way, and you won’t like me when I finally succeed.”

Jackson chuckled. “I know. I don’t believe in forever goodbyes, and I fully expect to see you all again. Maybe not in this life, but the next. There are a lot of universes out there, and time stretches on forever.” He looked back at Mr. Tiggles, saw that the cat was sleeping, and he laughed. “Oh, I’m going to miss you, Mr. Tiggles. You all make sure he stays well fed and happy while I’m gone.”

Trevor was the last to stand up. “What’s your name?” he asked. Jackson turned away from the cat to regard Trevor curiously. “You basically saved me from myself by bringing me here. I know it wasn’t intentional for it to be me, but I want to know the name of the man who did that for me. Jackson what? Or, what Jackson?”

Trevor saw a glimpse of a smile on the old elf’s face just before the gems bathed the room in intense white light. “I’m only known as Jackson here,” he replied. “My Earth name is Keith, young man. Keith Carr.”

The light disappeared all at once, revealing that everyone had shielded their eyes. Once they blinked away the afterimage, they saw that the magic circles had all been erased from the walls and the gems were missing.

Just like Jackson.

Everyone stared at the center of the room before Wayne cleared his throat and looked towards the sky. “Quest Master, did it work?”

[[It did. I don’t know exactly where he’s gone, but Jackson has completely left this world.

It’s a sad occasion, but don’t be too down. I made sure that I’m still connected to the HMIA by the barest of strings. He has a lifeline back to all of us, should he need it.

It may not be as an elf, or a human, or a giant sixty-foot-long squid monster with claws at the end of its tentacles, but he is likely to return to this world someday. When he does, I’ll be waiting, even if no one else is.]]

“Thank you, Quest Master,” Adabelle said as she stumbled over to Trevor.

She leaned towards him and put her forehead on his shoulder, and he gathered her into a hug. Rashie joined them after picking up Mr. Tiggles, and Wayne brought it in.

There were no more tears, but everyone felt the sanguine mood.

“Wayne,” Rashie said quietly.

“Yes, Rashie?”

“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” she admitted. “Do you think I can sleep at your place?”

“That depends, shark,” Wayne said. “You can crash on the couch, but are you going to eat all of my pillows if you have a nightmare again?”

“That only happened once.”

“That happened three times, Rashie,” he chastised gently.

“Then what’s a fourth?” she asked.

The dwarf snorted. “I suppose we can steal the pillows out of Addy’s house when she leaves.”

“I think not,” the demonkin protested. “I’m planning on taking those when I move into the mayor’s house. The bed, too, because it’s specifically made to accommodate my horns. Trevor, I know I haven’t asked yet but I would greatly appreciate it if you helped me move, by the way.”

“Aww, really?” he replied with an exaggerated, clearly teasing sigh. “That was one of my biggest fears when I was talking to the Quest Master about my Power. I thought I was wrong at the time, but now it’s really happening.”

[[That’s true, actually. When he found out that he would have the Power of Inventory, he groaned and said, “now everyone’s going to ask me to help them move!”]]

“Wow, alright, telling everyone that sounds like a breach of privacy,” Trevor said over everyone else’s light laughter before smiling at his girlfriend. “I don’t have any problem with it, lady.”

“Alright, well, I’m going to go before I get roped into it,” Wayne said, backing away from the group. “Rashie, you coming?”

The shark girl buried her face in Adabelle’s leg before leaving them and heading towards the dwarf. “Can we eat before bed?”

“Now? It’s the middle of the night.”

“So?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll make something for you, kiddo,” Wayne said as he picked her up and placed her and Mr. Tiggles on his shoulder. Before he descended the stairs, he looked back and gave Adabelle and Trevor a nod. “Everything’s going to be just fine, right?”

“Right,” Adabelle agreed, nodding as she pulled away from Trevor.

“Right,” Trevor echoed.

“Good, then we’ll see you tomorrow. Mayor, cinnamon roll,” he drawled with another nod before heading downstairs.

As soon as he was gone, Trevor turned to Adabelle and took both of her hands in his. “How are you?”

The demonkin thought about it for a moment before offering him a thin smile. “I think I got out most of my grievances during the party. It is sad, but the fact that even the Quest Master was reluctant to let him go without a way to get back makes me-” She stopped, eyes scanning in front of her. “No, that’s exactly what you did and I won’t read another word of you trying to say it’s not.”

Trevor smirked. “Giving you a hard time?”

“It’s trying to, but it’ll never succeed,” Adabelle said. She hesitated before pulling him back into a tight hug. “Trevor, you were serious about what you said back in the suite, right?”

“Which part? The one where I said the pinnacle of our relationship was spending the time getting to know you?” Trevor asked.

“No, but that’s a part of it,” she said quietly before sighing. “Look, Son of Ander, I’m a little emotionally run down at the moment. This past week has had a lot of ups and downs, and I would like a serious answer from you.”

“I know what you’re talking about,” Trevor gently replied. He pulled away from her, though he kept a hand in hers. She looked at him with concern as he pulled up the sleeve of his tattooed arm. His bicep had a single, razor-thin line around it. “Quest Master, it’s about time, isn’t it?”

“Trevor?” she asked worriedly, watching the line as it disappeared completely.

[[Well, Jackson had it right. It sure did last as long as it takes to tell a story.

Trevor Anderson, by the ritual that summoned you, you have the rare chance to go back to the world you came from.

This is a one-time opportunity, and you will not be receiving it again no matter how much you may beg, plead, or bargain. You have a whole day to make your decision.

But we already know what it is, so why don’t you say it before your girlfriend has an anxiety attack.]]

“Quest Master,” Trevor started as he pulled his eyes away from his now tattoo-free bicep. He stared into Adabelle’s eyes, noting for the first time something resembling fear in her features. Reaching up, he cupped her cheek in his hand, and the young man smiled.

“Let the record show that nothing, absolutely nothing, will be enough to pull me away from my fantastic friends, this beautiful world, and especially not this wonderful woman.”

Adabelle’s eyes started tearing up as relief flooded her face at his words. “You’ve taken a liking to me, have you?”

“More than just a liking, perhaps,” he admitted. “But let me make myself perfectly clear, lady. It would take more than hell or high water to take me away from you. I’m staying right here.”

[[Yeah, yeah, we all get it. Just kiss her already.]]

Adabelle threw herself at him, causing the young man to stumble backwards, before they kissed again.

And even though the night was melancholic, the promise of a bright, loving future made sure that all was still right in the small town of Tosa.

EPILOGUE: SOMEONE TO FALL BACK ON

As the days passed, they became weeks. Those came and went, leading to months. The months were no different and led to years passing by.

The town of Tosa was different than it once was. It was still a great place filled with happy people thanks to the efforts of its leadership but, like all thriving towns, it had grown.

From the Summoner’s Tower, the beginnings of a city could be seen. The walls had been knocked down and erected further out, taking up some of the land that had once been forest. More carts and wagons came and went as it became a hub of sorts for everything this side of Eskretet.

Trevor, Adabelle, Wayne, Rashie, and Mr. Tiggles looked out over this sight from the Summoner’s Tower with content hearts. The city was not immune to change, and neither were they.

Trevor’s hand was set upon Adabelle’s. The years had been kind to both of them, though that wasn’t surprising. He had learned that Summoned aged slower than their native counterparts. It wasn’t by much, giving those with human lifespans roughly an extra twenty or thirty years, but every moment he could have by her side was one he would take.

“You don’t have to always be playing with that, you know,” Adabelle said with a smile as she looked down at their hands. Trevor followed her gaze and noticed that he was absently rotating the ring on his wife’s left hand. It was a simple band with inlaid stones, while his was a solid band. He stopped playing with it.

The man smiled as he looked at it. “Sorry, I can’t help it,” he said. “I always get nervous when you’re about to summon someone.”

“Just be glad there’s someone normal around here so your devil woman isn’t the first thing they see,” Wayne jovially joked.

He had more salt than pepper in his hair at this point, but he was still as young at heart as he ever was. Dwarves didn’t change much over the years, but everyone had the sneaking suspicion that the Texan would be the same no matter what he had chosen to be.

“Still better than the time Rashie sat in,” Adabelle said, looking over the dwarf to look at the other woman.

At one point, she had been the smallest of them. A short child with not a care in the world and an attitude that she could take on anything and come out on top. The attitude, at least, survived.

Her light blue scales had become several shades darker, but that was not the biggest change. Rashie was now the tallest member of the Tosa Summoned at just over six and a half feet tall. The years had seen her sprout up into a woman. One with large, sharp teeth and a dangerously long tail, but a woman nonetheless.

“Yeah, I’m never doing that again,” Rashie said with a deep chuckle as she stroked a seemingly ageless Mr. Tiggles on the railing. “But I’ve got plans later tonight, anyway.”

“What, going out with that punk again?” Wayne snorted.

“Yep,” she snorted back, chomping her teeth once. “If you must know, I’m hanging out with Rupert.”

“I don’t like how he looks at you.”

“What, like he’s terrified, yet intrigued?” Trevor asked before giving her a sidelong glance. “Didn’t you break his arm when you were both children? You must be pretty glad he didn’t hold a grudge.”

Rashie didn’t say anything, instead looking away as if something in the distance caught her eye.

“Yeah, he looks at Rashie just like the way you used to look at Addy,” Wayne confirmed.

“What do you mean used to?” Adabelle asked lightly, leaning against her husband as she chuckled.

“Ugh, we’re just hanging out, old man,” Rashie said, rolling her eyes.

“Just make sure you don’t become the catch of the day. That’s all I’m saying,” he replied. When Rashie glared at him, the dwarf held his hands up. “Alright, alright, do whatever you want, kiddo.”

“She could do worse,” Trevor offered with a smile. “You hang out with whoever makes you happy, Rashie.”

“So long as it’s not going to destroy part of the town,” Adabelle clarified. “We don’t want a repeat of the Logan Lake incident now, do we.”

“That was one time, Addy, and I apologized for it,” the shark woman whined.

“You did,” the demonkin agreed with a nod. “And it also helped that you pitched in on rebuilding the docks. That went a long way to mending a lot of fences.”

“That was mostly Deputy Dad here,” Rashie admitted. “But I’ll definitely take the credit.”

“Hey, I’m Sheriff,” Wayne corrected, tapping the golden star badge pinned onto his vest. “Trevor here’s the deputy.”

“You keep saying that, but I have set foot in the Tosa Adventurer’s HQ exactly once to help you all move stuff inside,” Trevor complained, throwing a hand up. “I’m not even an adventurer, how can I be the deputy?”

“Because it’s fun riling you up, that’s how,” Wayne chortled.

“That reminds me, don’t you have a meeting with some of the adventurers from Eskretet today?” Adabelle asked. “And isn’t that meeting soon?”

The dwarf groaned. “The things I do for my city.”

“I’ll make sure he gets there, Addy,” Rashie said, leaning down to throw an arm around the shorter man. “Come on, let’s try to get you down these stairs in one piece, old man.”

“Alright, that’s enough out of you, kiddo,” Wayne said with a barked laugh. “Go on, get.”

With a toothy grin, Rashie quickly and carefully hugged Trevor and Adabelle from behind before scooping up Mr. Tiggles and rushing off towards the stairs. “Come on, Wayne!”

“Meow!”

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” he shouted before turning to the ones staying. “Y’all be careful, you hear?”

“We always are, Wayne,” Adabelle said with a smile.

“Well, now you need to be extra careful,” he warned. “Still against it, but I know you’re going to do what you’re going to do so that’s all I’m going to say in the matter.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this,” Trevor said, squeezing his wife’s hand. “I’ve got a few bulwarks in my inventory just in case, and you know how quick I am to deploy them.”

Wayne nodded. “Good. I can always count on you to have something to hide behind. Usually it’s Addy, but the bulwarks work better in this case.”

“Lady, my honor is being sullied,” Trevor complained dramatically.

“You’re fine, Trevor,” she said with a laugh. “Go on and get out of here, Wayne. You know Rashie will come back up here and carry you down if you take too long.”

“I sure will!” Rashie shouted from somewhere along the staircase.

“She just had to go and grow up, didn’t she?” he grumbled. “We’re looking forward to meeting them, so feel free to stop by headquarters when you’re done, yeah?”

“We’ll see how they are first,” Trevor said.

“Bye, Wayne.”

“Good luck,” he said before heading to the stairs and taking them down two at a time.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Adabelle gave her husband a devilish grin. “Lailah’s heading up the adventurers this time around,” she said joyfully. “I told her to mess with him at least a little.”

“You’re incorrigible,” Trevor laughed.

“Perhaps. A little bit, I admit, but only because I have someone to fall back on when I get in too deep,” she replied easily.

“Always. I’ll always be there for you,” Trevor said. “I mean, I got you to marry me, didn’t I? You agreed to it. There were witnesses and everything.”

“Oh, yes, how could I forget?” the demonkin chuckled. “Could have done without most of those so-called witnesses, but I guess that’s what I get for being the Mayor of Tosa and what you get for telling Klar that we were getting married. Wait, no, that was all you, wasn’t it?”

Trevor put his hands up. “How was I supposed to know that minotaurs take weddings so seriously?” he asked, only to receive a light glare from Adabelle. “Okay, yes, it was more of a Klar thing than anything else. At least we know he’ll send gobs of presents our way as soon as he gets the news.”

“Not that we need it. But I suppose it is a tradition on your Earth, so I’ll allow it,” she teased.

As Adabelle turned around, Trevor gave her a concerned smile as he placed a hand on her back and the other on her stomach. The demonkin’s tail wrapped comfortably around his wrist.

“I already know what you’re going to say, but are you sure you’re going to be okay?” he asked gently.

“Oh, not you, too,” she complained. “I’m not even showing yet, and you’ve been way too protective. You know that I can take care of myself. That’s not a question, by the way; I know that you know.”

“I’m allowed to be worried,” he defended, not taking offense to what she said at all. “But I’ll try to tone it down after you’re done with the summoning.”

“That’s all I ask. I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities to dote on me later, just not while I’m working.”

Trevor leaned in to kiss his wife, pulling her in close. Adabelle allowed it. Her Strength was still leaps and bounds above his, and he always appreciated when she let him move her. Now that he had more levels under his belt, things were beginning to get more even, but equality was still a long way off.

Trevor pulled his lips away from hers. Not by much, though; he was still close enough to nuzzle her nose with his while he stared into her stunning orange eyes. “I love you,” he whispered.

“And I love you,” she replied just as softly, unable to help her smile even after all these years.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

She shook her head before burying it in his shoulder. “I’m about to summon someone today, and I deserve some friendly contact,” she replied, her voice muffled. “Maybe a few more minutes?”

Trevor nodded, kissing the side of her head. “Take as many minutes as you need, lady,” he answered, just like he always had, and just like he always would.

AFTERWORD

Salutations! Thank you so much for reading Courier Quest. I hope you enjoyed Trevor's journey to a new world as much as I did writing it.

If you did, I would appreciate it if you could help me out with a few things.

• Leave a review! As an author on Royal Road, I’m used to reading comments and reviews that people leave me on chapters, and I would love to read your thoughts on Amazon!

• Follow me on Amazon! Get updates on future releases.

• Check out my other stories on Royal Road! Some stories are already on Amazon, but my unpublished works and books-in-progress can be found on the website.

BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

100th Run - Book 1: A Regressor's Litrpg Adventure

The world is devolving into chaos as a game-like system has reduced the population to a series of statistics and screens.

Confusion reigns as everyone struggles to survive in this new reality. Everyone but one man. Anthony Franklin has a secret. One that gives him an edge. He has lived through this exact series of events... 99 times in a row.

Anthony needs to take advantage of all he accomplished over his past runs—every play, shortcut, and strategy—to save as many lives as possible by the end. He must contend with vicious boss monsters, elude the oppressive surveillance eyes of the system administrators, and watch his back when dealing with the scheming players that want the game to go their way no matter the cost.

In a world where every individual has their own goals, dreams, and fears, shepherding them won't be easy. Anthony must use all of his considerable experience to gain a powerful class, put the frightened populace on the right track, and take out threats before they become too big. There will be no more chances; win or lose, his 100th run shall be his last.

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If you enjoy the genre, you can find more new releases, book discussions, and recommendations by checking out LitRPG Books on Facebook! This group is one of the largest LitRPG communities on the platform with over 30k fans.

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Check out the GameLit Society for upcoming releases!With over 14k members, there's plenty of friendly discussion surrounding everything that falls under the the GameLit genre umbrella.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Flossindune

Flossindune is an avid daydreamer and fan of tabletop role playing games. Molded in the fires of online writing forums and organized play, his journey originally led him to Royal Road where his first hit, 100th Run, took off and never stopped.