The next morning, the city of Aartal lay beneath a gentle haze, the rising sun casting a warm glow over the rooftops. Dungeon Master 09 and I were seated on a patio overlooking half the city, the inn's peaceful ambiance a sharp contrast to the rough journey we had endured. I leaned back in my chair, savoring the comfort, and said, "No monsters, no horses to grind down your tailbone, just comfort, and no worries."

  Dungeon Master 09, sitting across from me, gave a shy smile and replied softly, "It's not bad at all."

  I couldn't help but chuckle, sensing his reluctance. "You know me, Damian. No need to hold back with me; I'm not Grandpa Vittorio."

  Spending time with Dungeon Master 07 had made it clear just how different we had all become since our days in Fiendfell. We might share the same essence, but our personalities have diverged. I was still... Well, myself, while Dungeon Master 07 had grown into someone strict, disciplined, almost the model of a law-abiding citizen, if not for his commitment to our shared goal. If he weren't so dedicated to our mission to unseal the goddess, one might think he'd lost sight of who he truly was. And Dungeon Master 09? I couldn't picture him any other way than how he was now. That realization was what led me to step back from his training, a decision that had proven wise.

  Dungeon Master 09 seemed to relax a little more, nodding as he settled into his chair. "So," I started as I took a sip of my tea and asked, "what do you think of our training thus far?"

  He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, fidgeting with the hem of his tunic. "I’m thankful for it… really. But, it’s a little scary."

  I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Scary?"

  "Dungeon Master 07’s training is… different," he admitted, his voice quieter now.

  I nodded thoughtfully. His sentiment was understandable. Dungeon Master 07’s approach was intense, almost brutal in its nonchalance. But it was rooted in confidence, confidence that Dungeon Master 09 would grow stronger through adversity, and that any damage inflicted would be reversible with his healing skills, so long as it wasn’t fatal.

  Dungeon Master 09 took a deep breath, as if summoning the courage to continue. "I know it sounds absurd, but… I’m scared of dying again. I know I shouldn’t be, but—"

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Setting down my cup, I cut him off. "It’s alright. There’s nothing absurd about self-preservation."

  After all, wasn’t self-preservation the opposite of madness? So long as it didn’t conflict with our goal to unseal the goddess, caring for one’s life was simply being sane. The previous wielder of Greed and Resurgence had lost that sense of self-preservation, and it drove him mad. The bastard knew that death wouldn’t be the end for him, so he threw himself into it repeatedly, recklessly, until we had to put a stop to it.

  "Us caring about our lives," I continued, "that’s just us being sane."

  Dungeon Master 09 looked at me with those wide, uncertain eyes of his, and I could see that he was starting to understand. We were all in this together, but each of us had our own way of coping, yes coping with the long journey ahead. And that was okay.

  Dungeon Master 09 nodded, a weight seeming to lift from his shoulders.

  "Well," I said, changing the subject with a smile, "I plan on finding someone to fix my wand today. How about you? Got anywhere you want to go?"

  Dungeon Master 09 shook his head. "Nowhere in particular."

  "Alright then, let’s head to the market first, see what they have locally. After that, we’ll visit the local Handlers’ headquarters. We can gather some info about the routes further south and east, and maybe find someone to fix my wand."

  He agreed with a nod, and we finished our breakfast in companionable silence.

  Once we were done, we immediately got on the move. Just as we made it out of the inn, or perhaps it was more accurate to call it a hotel, we saw a fancy white carriage pull up on the "driveway". The scene was almost surreal. The carriage was an opulent thing, with intricate gold detailing that gleamed in the early morning light. Four pristine white horses were hitched to it, their manes carefully groomed and adorned with silver ribbons. The escort, a pair of guards dressed in elaborate uniforms with a moon emblem on their chests, stood at attention, their posture rigid and disciplined.

  As the carriage came to a stop, the door swung open, and out stepped a familiar face, Dungeon Master 07, dressed in his usual white church uniform, the brooch pinned to his chest catching the light. At the sight of us, he heaved a sigh of relief and approached.

  "Good thing I caught you two in time before you went out," he said, his tone betraying a hint of urgency.

  I narrowed my eyes slightly, sensing something was amiss. "Did something happen?"

  He nodded, casting a glance at his escort before speaking. "Yes… something happened ---something that is highly likely to be related to an authority," he explained in a low voice. "I can’t give you all the details here, but I will. However, for now we should get going."

  The simple mention of an authority made me no longer hesitate. "Where to?"

  "Southward, to the southern part of the Kingdom of Waldow."