“I’m grateful to you all and to you especially, Ethan. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for you. But after seeing how things are going, I don’t think I’m cut out for what’s to come. I’d prefer to make myself useful to those who can’t defend themselves. Or to those young people over there. But I don’t think I’ve got what it takes to push ahead like you do. So I’m taking a step back. I hope you’ll all…forgive me.”

  Gerald stood straight, chin held up, and as Ethan eyed the others, thinking he’d see some shock or surprise, there didn’t seem to be any.

  Liz was staring at him, waiting to see his reaction, while Audrey nodded appreciatively. Amelie, on the other hand, seemed to be in deep thoughts. She glanced at Ethan and at the napping Ember for a second before she turned her attention back at the high schoolers, then around at the still smoking and charred carcasses of water monitors.

  As for Ethan, he shrugged and smiled. “There’s nothing to forgive. You’re free to do what you need to do.” He reached forward for a handshake as he dismissed the claw, and Gerald shook it. “You take care,” said Ethan, and Gerald’s shoulders seemed to relax.

  Ethan didn’t mind going back to the solo-adventure. Not at all. But now that the first crack had showed up, he wasn’t sure if the others would stay, or, if he was honest, if he wanted them to stay. Gerald might not have been pivotal to the team, but he helped alleviate the load on Audrey and gave Amelie and Liz space to shoot their spells. With him gone, Ethan would have to step in and be closer to them, which he didn’t feel would be in his or their interests, especially now that he had his wings and the [Mana Heart] to keep pushing while others needed to rest.

  Now that Gerald is out, it’ll be different.

  Ethan hadn’t minded helping and feeding them some kills so they’d grow stronger and be more self-reliant, but with one member down and with the heightened numbers and levels of the monsters, they’d be a bit out of their depth. If it wasn’t for him and Ember taking on the bulk of the monsters, they would have already been overrun.

  As Ethan tried to figure out a way to voice his concerns, there was a sigh, and every head turned to Liz who froze like a deer in the headlight. She raised both hands, a nervous smile on her face, then after a quick clear of the throat, she spoke. “Well-um. I guess this is as good a time as any to say I’m thinking of the same thing.” She looked at Ethan. “This is what I meant when I said we should talk, and basically… This is becoming too dangerous for me. For us. And I think we’re holding you back.”

  Audrey nodded as she stretched her leg, and her eyes swivelled to Liz. “I think we should have talked about this a bit more, as a team, but I don’t disagree,” she said, giving Gerald and Liz a mildly stern look for a second before the corner of her lips curved up. She turned to Ethan. “I think we worked well as a team, but now that we’re losing at least a person, then it might be time to disband. And not to get too mushy, but yeah. Thanks. To you and to Ember. We owe you.”

  She stepped forward, and Ethan shook her hand as well. For some reason, he expected her to apply some extra force to the handshake, but she didn’t. It was just a normal, firm handshake. Next, she stopped in front of Ember and reached down tentatively. Ember flicked her ears at the tall woman, narrowed her eyes, and then got up and let the outstretched fingers stroke the fur atop of her head.

  The cat was surprisingly soft sometimes.

  “[Watch your thoughts,]” Ember said, glaring up at him as Audrey stepped away.

  “[Whatever you say, softie.]”

  Ember tilted her ears back and gave him a narrow-eyed glare, then got up and moved a few yards away only for Amelie to snatch her off the ground.

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  The cat gave a couple of barely audible protesting growls, but in the end she still let the healer pick her up. Amelie buried her face in the fur, held the cat high and looked at her, then she put her back on the ground. She sighed, then shoved her hands in her pockets. “I guess it’s for the best. This way I can work on the basics and get better by myself. I can’t catch up if you’re constantly shielding us from the worst of it. So you just wait…”

  Her eyes seemed to shine at the thought, but not as much as the blue gem in her forehead. Or the one between her clavicles.

  Ethan frowned. Since when did she have those?

  The young woman brushed her white-dyed locks back, and gave him a sharp grin. “Like what you see? I got the Enhancement form. But I won’t say what they do. You’ll have to figure it out next time we meet. Just make sure you survive ‘til then, alright?”

  Ethan chuckled and nodded, then gave the four companions an appreciative look. They were already leveling once more, and they were getting their forms. He really hoped they’d survive and make it through this, but with himself being free to move as he liked, he could go around and ensure there’d be more survivors. By pulling others out of the fire or by taking the fight to the monsters and even though his stint with these four had been short, it had been beneficial for him.

  Ethan shoved a hand into the little pouch he’d hung around his thigh, and pulled out a handful of glowing beads as he gave the four one last tip. “Your prime wand should soon support a spell, which should allow you to use spell-form, and I have some spares. Are any of you interested in a tier-1 [Scales]?”

  Ethan had plenty and if these could help them survive, then he didn’t want to hoard them for himself. In any case, he’d get more and at this point, he had five of the things, and two tier-2 [Breath Glands]. He hadn’t gotten any more primagems since the last haul, but he had high hopes for a few new ones, especially now that some new creatures were showing up.

  The four stood still for a moment, and it was interesting seeing how hesitation and embarrassment showed up in their features.

  Audrey and Amelie seemed struck for a moment, and they both shared a look while Liz was quick to smile and step forward, awkwardly thanking him as she picked up one of the spells and assimilated it. Gerald was surprised, but seemed genuinely grateful as he did the same and finally, both Amelie and Audrey picked theirs. They thanked him, and promised him they’d pay him back, which Ethan shrugged at.

  That wasn’t the point for him. He liked them and wanted them to survive, and these were defensive spellforms. The two girls insisted, and he agreed, though he didn’t see what the fuss was about.

  With that done, Ethan exchanged a few more pleasantries with them, wished them luck and after saying goodby, he stepped back into the humid air of the second layer.

  ***

  Ethan walked past the first few mushroom trees and breathed in the fresh air as he made his way deeper into the agitated cavern ahead. He felt… free. Less worried about the others, now that they retreated above. They might be in danger, but it was their choice and maybe, with the increased amounts of monsters, they’d be able to quickly finish up awakening their wands and be able to hold their own better. But for now, Ethan would just dive head first into the fray. As a vanguard. And he would get all the Essence and fragments he needed to reach the next tier of power.

  “[Carry me.]”

  Ethan drew his lips in a line and without moving his head or stopping, he looked down at the flaming cat walking beside him. Ember had been keeping pace ahead, but more and more burrs were catching on her fur and now, she was looking up at him as they walked, meowing and making a ruckus. “[I want to sit on the horns while we travel. This is dirtying my fur.]”

  “I don’t want your dirty fur on my head. These things aren’t a seat,” he said, pointing up at the jutting horns.

  The cat took a few fast steps ahead then sat on her haunches right in front of him, raising a barely dirtied-paw. “[Please?]” she meowed, then fell on her side. “[I’m tired. From saving your friends while you starve me to death. I’ve been nothing but helpful. Am I asking for too much? Please—]”

  Ethan stepped over the cat and kept walking.

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