“Thank you for not killing the boy, Lios. His father would have turned up quite the fuss in the capitol, though I would have backed you so it is unlikely you would have come to legal trouble.” Helen said as we found our seats. Somehow Luka found his way to her lap, having sniffed out the best spot to potentially get a treat from. She didn't disappoint him as she tore a small chunk off from the naan bread, dipped it into the bowl, and fed it to him. Sky perked up then turned to Eva with wide eyes.

  “I’d rather not have the blood of someone who is too dumb to gauge the strength of their opponent on my hands.” I shrugged nonchalantly while bringing a spoon of now cold food to my mouth.

  “I will likely heal him, as is within my purview. I don’t much like seeing the injured without doing something about it.” She told me confidently.

  “Speakin of! Lios, Aunt Helen is one of the few healers that can reconstitute a lost limb. Consider it a thanks from the kingdom for helping the people of Linden.” Adrien said through a mouthful, losing any decorum that came with being royalty.

  “Adrien I fear the life of adventure has robbed you of any politeness. Where are your manners!” The saintess scolded the prince. “I do apologize for my nephew's behavior, young ladies!”

  “It's no matter, Miss Saintess. But wait, I thought you were the sister of... the king...? Does that make him?” Rose stammered over her words as she started to realize the implications.

  “The second prince? Yes, yes it does make him so.” Helen waved her hand uncaringly. “Also call me Aunt Helen. Saintess is far too stuffy. Any friend of little Ada here is a friend of mine.”

  Under her breath beside me but loud enough for almost everyone at the table to hear, Rose elbowed me and said, “Why didn’t you tell me you were friends with the fucking prince? I’ve been treating them like regular adventurer’s!”

  I guess the cat is out of the bag. Definitely not as big of a secret as I thought.

  Elric laughed at this, pointed his spoon at her and spoke with a full mouth as well. “We are regular venturer’s! Adrien’s just a rich one!”

  “Hey now, you all are pretty rich too. They're all the kiddos of pretty powerful folk as well. Liana is an emissary from Arwin, for example,” the prince laughed at Eva and Rose’s shock at this information.

  “Why would the second prince even want to be an adventurer?” Leshal asked but before Adrien could answer he took another bite of food and turned to me. “By the way Lios, where did you learn of Terraans flavors? This reminds me of home, though it is a different dish altogether from what I’m used to.”

  “Oh, my father was an adventurer and made this for me once. I’ve wanted it again ever since.” Feeling I had successfully dodged the question I turned to Adrien, “Now, why would the prince become an adventurer? I mean I know the official reason but is there more to it?”

  “Bah, fine, it's because I felt imprisoned in the palace. Never able to go anywhere without people watching my every move. Always following other peoples schedules. That’s why when my father suggested we send knights through the kingdom disguised as adventurer’s I volunteered. He was against it at first, saying that it was too risky, but within the borders of Jorial there are hardly monsters above level one eighty so I managed to convince him when I reached one fifty.” He shook his head at the memory. “Twas a fight for several moons with my pa and ma, but Elric here was able to help me convince them. Then Amelia and Liana heard of it and volunteered to be my companions.”

  “That's right. I know it sounds weird to say, but those palaces get incredibly lonely. There's so many people there but half of them would cut your throat if it gained them political advantage, and the other half are too terrified to be friendly with you.” Liana shuddered, looking happily at her three companions. “And what of you Dragonkin? Why did you turn to a life of adventure?”

  Leshal looked at her in surprise at the question but finished chewing what was in his mouth with a nod. “Well, my clan was never a wealthy one, but we were happy. Fairly powerless but happy. I grew up on a farm run by a lord in the eastern provinces. Specifically in the small nation of Findor. Anyway, a war broke out. Civil war. The lord was... he wasn’t a good man, and so my people revolted. We weren’t strong enough so the lord was able to put a lot of my people to the blade or to the chains, turning half of my family into slaves. I wish to become strong enough to free them someday, but I fear it will be too late by the time I’m ready to return.”

  The air turned a fair bit somber, people were unsure what to say. It was always difficult, but Leshal didn’t look like he needed comfort. No, he was resolute and had accepted the fate of his peoples. That didn’t stop Eva, of all people, from reaching over and gripping his hand in a comforting way, looking up at his eyes with a similar look of conviction.

  “My story is similar. I grew up in the Deepbloom, within a tribe of dark elves as mortals call us, or Moontouched elves as we call ourselves. My tribe was called Parik-ma, the wardens of the border. Nomadic were we. We were masters of the barrier and we lived on the edge of the Bloom and the Wastes, maintaining them so that the corruption within the wastes could not spread further. Several years ago we found that the barrier was beginning to break and so we began the journey to repair the runes. After repairing a majority of them along the edge of the Bloom we settled down for winter.

  “It was then that someone from within our clan broke the wards protecting us. Not the ones for the Wastes but the ones for our camp. They led monsters from the wastes into our home and slaughtered my people. Over half of my clanfolk were killed in the attack. Several others went missing afterward. Most of my tribe regrouped with a sister tribe who has taken over the border watch. I fear the ones who attacked us will attack them too. I’m trying to get strong enough to hunt down the folk who did this, but I have hardly any leads.”

  A few moments of silence reigned over the group, nobody wanting to break it first. Then, astoundingly, Rose was the one to break it with a heavy sigh. “Maaannnn. You all have such real reasons to go. I just want to see the sights and make songs about it. Golly I feel lame.”

  The sudden confession broke the tension a little bit and I saw Eva reluctantly pull her hand from Leshals. Briefly I wondered if that was a thing. Then I shook my head and banished the images that formed in my mind. Everyone chuckled softly at Rose’s self deprecation.

  “And what about you Alexilios? What are your motivations?” Leshal turned to me, his head tilting with a focus that he hadn’t given the others. I noticed that Harkan who had been silent till now watched me with curiosity as well, and so did Aunt Helen. How much has Adrien told them I wonder.

  “Me? Nothing too crazy. I just want the power to be free. I want to see all that this world has to offer and maybe what the next world has too. I want to grow strong enough to spar with the gods, to laugh alongside kings as peers, and most importantly perhaps, to live out my fantasy of slaying legendary powerful creatures!” There was truth to my words, but the biggest thing was that I didn’t want to experience boredom like I had in my past life again. I didn’t want to stop growing, to grow complacent. My last life I had been a couch potato, happy and content, but I wanted more now. I needed more.

  “He forgot to mention the pretty women in his arms and the songs of the bards in his ears!” Elric chimed in with a hearty laugh. As we had spoken some of the barmaids had taken away our empty bowls and plates and returned with more mead, ale, wine or whatever folks were drinking. “A toast to revenge, freedom, friendship and our companions!”

  He raised his tankard and I raised mine, gently tapping them together to avoid spilling the drink. The others raised their cups too and repeated the toast.

  “So, Lios, what say you to a spar on the morrow?” Harkan called out from across the table as we settled down. I tilted my head and looked him up and down before nodding.

  “A spar with little old me? Now why would someone at your level want to fight me?” I teased him a little bit, grinning at having caught the attention of someone much stronger than me.

  “Why would I not? You’ve trounced one of the highest level adventurer’s within your rank two times now. One who has boasted on multiple occasions having a rare class.” Harkan eyed me curiously, his eyes flicking to my lost arm. “Alas, we should wait until the Saintess has healed you.”

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  “I’ll gladly take you up on the challenge. Though, your level and mine face a rather vast disparity don’t they? How about a fight where you cannot use skills and the only spell I’m allowed is an enhancement spell? This way I can match your stats and we can have a fight with only technique?”

  “Deal. Don’t whimper when I still beat you despite my handicap.”

  “To be fair, Lios is suggesting handicapping himself as well.” a voice stated as a hand clasped down on my shoulder. “Ethan lives, Saintess if we might ask for your services? The boy is in a fair amount of pain.”

  I looked behind me to find Perry, the guildmaster, had approached us. Giving him a smile I nodded, “Yes, please help him. I’m afraid my temper ran away from me during that fight.”

  “Of course Guildmaster. Lead the way.” Aunt Helen rose to her feet and followed Perry as the man led her back toward the training facility.

  Things were quiet for a few moments as we attempted to pick up the conversation where it left off. After a few moments it was Elric who broke the silence. “So, Lios, your techniques seemed to have smoothed out quite a bit. Which trainer did you wind up selecting from the training dungeon? I myself trained with Gyrud, the greatsword master, when I first came to Ironfell.”

  “What do you mean which one I selected? I thought there was only the one?” I furrowed my brow in confusion which caused both Adrien and Harkan to exchange a glance.

  “Did you not have four doors to choose from? There should have been Gyrud, Zander, Liliana, and Akana. Greatsword, rapier, longsword and shortsword trainers respectively.”

  I thought back to when I entered the door, how I had appeared in a plains with the protector of this city and I shook my head. “No. I was given no options. Are you sure there isn’t a fifth trainer?”

  Harkan’s voice held a chuckle and his head tilted. “A fifth trainer? Interesting. I have heard nothing of a fifth trainer, each weapon is granted four at most due to the amount of energy it takes to maintain each subspace. But you have been training with one that Elric did not mention.”

  “Evidently. As an aside, the dungeons are subspaces? Do you know anyone who created them? I would love to ask them about which runes they used to create the subspace.” I tried to divert the conversation, unsure if there was a reason for a secret fifth trainer. Information was treated highly on Ravos, and I wasn’t one to divulge it so freely. Well, not always. And not if it wasn’t mine to give

  “Hmm. I do know of one dungeon maker, he is even within the city. I tell you what, you tell me about this fifth trainer and I’ll set up a meeting with him.” Harkans eyes followed me with an intensity I had yet to see from the lackadaisical man.

  I considered the offer for a little while, the conversation shifting as I did, the others talking amongst themselves. I wanted to ask Perry about Rhosha before I divulged the information about her, given she was such an important figure in Ironfell it seemed I should ask the powers that be before spilling all of the beans, so to speak. After around fifteen more minutes I caught Helen and Perry walking back up the stairs, chatting with a familiarity that felt rare for the guildmaster. He was friendly with everyone but this was different, like old friends meeting again for the first time in many years.

  As the pair reached our table I flicked a glance to Harkan before turning to Perry. “Excuse me, Guildmaster. Could I possibly steal a moment with you?” I shot an apologetic smile his way, knowing I was interrupting a conversation with my request.

  “Of course Lios, anytime. You know this. Follow me.” He didn’t hesitate to answer, immediately turning to a hall I had yet to go down, likely leading to his office.

  As I followed him, receiving a few curious stares at my back one of which belonged to the older adventurer who set this in motion, I noticed Ethan being carried up the stairs with a missing leg and arm, though his burns seemed to have been healed. His armor was seared and charred, several of the plates broken and filled with cracks. He flinched at seeing me before him. Now that my temper had cooled I sought the third mana type I had felt before, but did not notice anything. As soon as my eyes met his I turned away and continued to follow Perry.

  Soon I entered his office. It was a cluttered room, papers and books and maps filling every visible surface. One chair across from the desk was clear of debris, the other two had stacks of boxes or books on them. A veritable wealth of information filled the large office.

  The walls were adorned with shelves filled with more tomes. Each with a unique title and each appearing to have been untouched for a time if the dust lining the shelves meant anything. A few spots were cleared of dust, indicating books having been recently removed and replaced, but otherwise the majority looked to have been neglected for years.

  “So, Lios, what can I do for you?” Perry asked with a gentle voice, idly sitting in his padded chair that rose higher off the ground than the others, in order to allow the staunch dwarf to see the top of his desk.

  “Right. Well, during supper today I had an interesting conversation with Harkan. He and Elric asked me about which trainer I’d been learning from in the training dungeon.” I started slowly as I sat in the one empty chair and leaned forward. “I need to know if there’s a reason my particular trainer is not among the choices they mentioned.”

  The dwarf, sitting casually, stiffened at my words. His gaze took mine with an intensity that I had yet to see from him, but I knew he had in him. He was the guildmaster for one of the largest branches of the guild, after all. Only a shark could wade these waters and make it out safe, even if said shark seemed like a goldfish on most days.

  “Your trainer? What do you mean he isn’t one of the choices?” He attempted to smooth out the fierceness of his expression but I had already noticed it.

  “I think you know whom I speak of. But in the event you don’t I’d rather not divulge such sensitive information that even the guildmaster is unaware of.”

  The dwarf before me let out a cackle, his beard and mustache shifting as he laughed heartily. “Is that so? Fine. You speak of Rhosha then?”

  I nodded slightly, staying silent.

  “Simple swordsman class, huh? Did she tell you the requirements needed to take her as a trainer?” He chuckled a bit, and I remembered our first conversation with the man.

  “She did not.” A grin started to play on my lips too. “There were requirements then? Intriguing.”

  “There were. The king ordered it himself, as well as set the rules of what she was allowed to teach.” Perry pulled a bottle from under his desk and two glasses, and began to pour it. The bottle was opaque but the liquid within was a deep red brown, a beautiful shade to be sure. He passed one glass over to me while taking a sip of his own.

  “The first rule was that she could only train someone with a particular skill, class, or someone with a particular ring. I was not made aware of the particular skill that was required but my impression is that it is quite rare. Especially for someone at your level.” Perry’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me, chewing the inside of his cheek and causing his beard and mustache to twitch comically. “Say, what skill was it, do you think?”

  “Ah, Perry, if you don’t already know I don’t think I’m the one who should tell you.” I smirked at him. “What were these other rules?”

  “So that’s how it’ll be, aye? Fine then. The other rules were that She could only train swordsmanship and meditation. Anything else she was unable to directly help with.”

  “That explains quite a bit really.” I nodded as I thought about all the times she gave me homework but didn’t provide any technical help, just direction.

  “Aye. I’m sure it does. The third and final requirement was that Rhosha, or rather the effigy, had to determine her trainees' morality to some extent to ensure they wouldn’t be a threat to the kingdom. Should they flag as a threat myself, the real Rhosha, and the king would be informed immediately. Seems you passed whatever test she gave you though.”

  I was quiet for a few minutes, trying to think of what this test could be. For a few moments I couldn’t think of anything but finally remembered that one of the crux’s to this class was my relationship with mana. I started to laugh slightly, wondering if the test she devised was simply communicating with the mana around me. If so, I wondered how I did. I couldn’t help but hope that I had aced it, when even a passing grade would have sufficed.

  “Okay. I have one, maybe two questions left for you then Guildmaster. Can I tell Harkan about this fifth trainer? And if not, do you know of any dungeon creators I could speak to to pick their brains about runes?”

  “Short answer, no, you cannot tell Harkan. Second question... I can arrange a meeting between you and a dungeon engineer. Give me a few days, I’ll come find you at the forge when he’s ready. Seems you spend a fair amount of time there.”

  “Perfect. That's all I wanted to discuss, if you’d like to get back down to the party?” I stood from my chair and smiled at the gruff dwarf, though he seemed to be less gruff with me than with others at the guild.

  “Aye, let’s rejoin our friends. I have an old party member to catch up with.” He had to push himself off of the chair upon which he sat, a soft thud marking his landing. With that the two of us returned to the guildhall where folk were being served warm food and cold drink once again, the excitement from the brat in blue on several adventurers' lips. Some clapped me on the shoulder, others said I went too far against someone who had already lost. Before long Perry and I sat amongst my friends and a plan was set for Helen to heal my arm in the morning, followed by training, then finally a spar with the overly enthusiastic Harkan.