I crouched along the shore of the mirror-still lake, staring at the water. A stranger gazed back. I blinked, hardly able to believe my eyes, quite literally. The face staring back at me seemed harder, more angular than I remembered. Alien. And the eyes… They were something else entirely. Vertical pupils were framed by striking silver irises that almost seemed to glow in the dim light of the cavern. I pulled an eyelid down, crouching further to get a better look. The veins that ran through my eye were darker as well, nearly black, though they were nearly unnoticeable.

  I sat back, staring quietly. I didn’t look human anymore. And a small part of me mourned that, mourned that my green eyes that my mother had so loved, were gone. But I refused to dwell on it. If this was the price I paid, just looking a bit strange, I welcomed it.

  I had certainly gotten the better end of the deal. I stood, bouncing on the balls of my bare feet, sand whispering beneath my feet. I turned and jogged back toward the mouth of the tunnel, reveling in the strength running through me. I leapt, sailing through the air with ease, slamming into the rocky soil that rose from the shore heavily, dirt spraying from the impact. I grinned, stopping to grab my discarded boots. When I’d reached the shore initially, I had quickly discovered several new holes in my boots as sand trickled in. Apparently I hadn’t just gotten claws on my fingers, and my boots had suffered for it.

  Vera was resting against the wall, sharpening the small knife she kept for cooking. We’d managed to carve some of the tough meat off the strange land shark monster, and paired it with some of the smaller mushrooms we were confident weren’t poisonous. The results had been… mixed. The monster meat had cooked down to an edible texture, but the taste was metallic even when well done. Even though it hadn’t exactly been our finest cooking, the mushrooms turned out quite good.

  I sat down heavily next to her, letting out a loud breath. She raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. I hesitated a moment, then voiced my thoughts. “I’m certainly going to stand out more, now. I’m not sure how I feel about it, to be honest.”

  To her credit, she didn’t answer immediately, instead pausing her sharpening to peer out at the cerulean water for a long moment. When she did speak, it was quietly, in a softer voice than I was used to from her. “I’ve been with the Guild, adventuring like this for a long time. 14 years this summer. And never once, not for an instant, have I ever blended in.” I cringed in sympathy. Of course she hadn’t. My issues would seem tiny in comparison. In Brazian lands, she would be a curiosity, maybe even shunned for being so different from the common folk who populated them. Before I could figure out how to apologize, she continued. “It’s not easy, and you have to be ready to stand up to idiots and jack-assed bigots who only see what’s different. That’s not to say it’s all bad. Easy way to make a name for yourself, when everyone recognizes you on sight.” She turned amber eyes on me, filled with the drive that had doubtless cowed. “Fame isn’t always enough, though. Sometimes assholes are assholes, even if you just saved them from a monster’s stomach. You can either ignore it, rise above the hate… Or you can be the monster they fear. Sometimes you have to be both. But I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine. It's a lot easier to stand that way.”

  I stared back at her, touched. I nodded, then reached over to clasp her hand. “I do have your back, Vera. You’re a good friend, and you’re right. It doesn’t matter what anyone says. We’re badass adventurers.”

  Her head snapped back with an echoing laugh. “Hell yeah we are. Now, you ready to start heading back? I’m pretty close to all patched up, and I’ll be fine by the time we get to the entrance.”

  I nodded, glancing at the ragged cut running across the iron flesh of her hip. It was nearly entirely closed now, with just a raised section of iron running along the wound, looking like a line of mountains in miniature. “That is… really awesome how that heals. But yes, I’m ready.”

  Vera laughed again, and we got ready to head back. I retrieved the sensor spike from where I’d left it in the remains of the fire, dusting off the ashen remains that had burned off, leaving unblemished blue tinted metal beneath. It had certainly come in handy in that fight, and having a nearly unbreakable backup weapon seemed like a good idea. Collecting the broken remains of my hammer, we left the partially butchered corpse behind. The miners would clean it up, or the mushrooms would take care of it one way or another.

  The walk back was quiet, but comfortable. The uncertainty of a hunt in the dark no longer hanging over us, we made quick progress. Winching back up the mine shaft took some time, but we were back at the massive stone doors quickly enough. Vera’s iron fist rapped hard on the stone, and nary a moment passed before the doors began to grind open. The golden rays of dawn streaming through were a balm, though I had to blink the brightness away at first.

  As the doors fully opened, a harried looking Ismo trotted up, pulling a dark vest closed over the wrinkled shirt he’d clearly been sleeping in. We stepped out of the doors, letting them close behind us with a muffled boom as he caught his breath. “Well? Have ye killed the beast?” he asked, anxiety forcing his eyes wide as they darted between us.

  Vera nodded, sharp and professional, and the thought suddenly occurred to me that I had never asked where she’d been trained. “We did. It’s dead, for certain. We saw no other threats down there, and our fight wasn’t quiet.”

  Ismo sagged, leaning against a tentpole. “Good, good.” He let out a pent up breath, running a hand through his beard. “And did ye… did ye find any sign, of-”

  I cut him off, not wanting to make him struggle through what was clearly the most painful part. “We did. I’ve marked it on the map you provided. A crew will need to retrieve the remains.”

  Ismo nodded, tight lipped. “Thank ye. Thank ye, and may yer days be marked blessed by the Stone Mother. Come then, let’s get yer pay.” The stocky foreman led us to a plain, unmarked tent. Stepping within, he shuffled about for a few moments before returning carrying two heavy purses, one of which he handed to both of us. I held it, surprised at the weight. Vera frowned as well, but the dwarf headed off any questions. “Aye, there’s a bit more in there. Blood price, fer finding the bodies. The families… wouldn’t want any debt between ye.”

  I raised my eyebrows, but wisely kept my mouth shut. This was clearly a custom for them, and I wouldn’t turn up my nose at payment freely given. He shook both of our hands, pausing for a moment as he met my gaze. He opened his mouth to say something, but seemed to think better of it, instead murmuring a quiet “Thank you”.

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  I gave a small smile in return, and said “By the way, I’d like you to give a message to Morsten.” I pulled the adamantite spike from my hip, rolling it in my hand. “This saved us. And it’s what put the monster down for good.”

  Ismo nodded, blowing out a sigh that ruffled his beard. “Aye, I’ll tell him. Thank ye, fer that.”

  “It’s what we do.”

  We left the camp quietly, the only noise so early in the morning the sound that of our feet on the gravel path leading out of the hills. We were both similarly quiet, though for different reasons. Vera had little more to say about the job, but I think she was content with the good we had done. I, however, was more concerned with looking at everything around us.

  In the dark, relatively uniform environment of the caves, I hadn’t realized just how much more I could see, feel, hear now. Everything seemed to jump out to my eyes, more vivid and sharply detailed than I could have ever imagined. I could see the tiny tufts of pollen gathered up on the legs of the fat little bees buzzing around the wildflowers from 20 paces off, hear the soft breeze tickling the grass above the fieldmouse chewing on a seed just off the road.

  It was nearly overwhelming, the symphony of life around us. Yet somehow soothing. It felt… right, I suppose. I struggled to define it even to myself, yet I basked in it. We were nearly to the city when I finally broke my reverie to look over at Vera, to ask what she’d like to do once we returned. Even she looked far more vivid and real, and her tired smile warmed me through.

  “So, what’s next? I was thinking a meal, maybe an ale?”

  She chuckled, shaking her head. “I was thinking of a warm bed, but sure, let's grab some food. Toast to our success, aye?” I clapped her on the shoulder, grinning. This is what adventurers did, wasn’t it? Celebrate successes when they came.

  Aio’s sphere had just passed noon by the time we reached the city, a humid warmth building in warning of summer yet to arrive. The Daisy was packed full as we entered, and we laughed as we jostled to the bar. “Who knew we’d have to fight just to get a bite, eh?” Vera said over the boisterous chatter filling the tavern.

  I nodded, looking around the crowded confines. Many of the occupants stood out clearly as travelers. In the far corner a group gathered, wearing the long robes so common in the lands east of the Triumvirate. And at another table with some conspicuously large men watching the crowd surrounding it, sat some very well-heeled ladies, who seemed less than pleased with the tavern fare. I tried to take it all in as we found a small standing table to wait for our food at. Luckily, no such waiting was required for the ale, and we both took long draughts from our tankards as we relaxed, letting the sounds of conversation and the lilting songs of the bard wash over us.

  I glanced over, noting the way Vera’s gaze had settled on the now slightly blushing bard. I grinned, and she must have noticed as she rolled her eyes at me, taking another long drink to cover the slight darkening of her cheeks. I was still chuckling when I felt a presence behind me, hair standing to attention down my spine.

  I turned, eyes narrowing. Sauntering up through a gap in the crowd, Varen’s grin showed entirely too many teeth as he reached us. His voice carried over the conversation theatrically. “Why, if it isn’t Bram and his new special friend! Finally returned to show your faces, eh?”

  My lips thinned to a line as I donned the mask once more. Vera simply raised an eyebrow as she took another sip. Varen continued, reaching our table and leaning an armored elbow against it across from the two of us. He glanced between us, cocky grin slipping a bit as he noticed my changed eyes. “Well well well, and it even looks like you’ve managed to find a way to stand out! Tell me, were you cursed by the kobolds, or is that just a nasty infection in your eyes?”

  I ignored the jab, and smiled thinly. I was wary of Tyrion, and by extension his father, but Varen was just another guilder, and a shit one at that. “Out without your master, Varen? I’d think Tyrion would have a tight leash on you right now, after he burned down the guild.”

  My retort must have surprised him, as he paused blankly a moment before replying with bared teeth. “You and that barbarian caused the guild to burn. The Viscount has graciously funded the repairs as an act of generosity to the city,” he added loudly.

  My brow lowered, and warmth spread through me as anger boiled up. Vera just chuckled, resting her muscled arms across her chest as her eyes bored into Varen. “Uh huh, I’m sure he paid for it because he’s just so kind. And yet, his brave son isn’t out here with you? I thought sniveling wretches like you always traveled in packs. But, I do see you’re nice and protected from the big scary tavern under all that armor, must be why you’ve got the guts to approach us.” Without standing, she reached out and flicked the steel of Varen’s breastplate, the sound tinny and hollow above the noise of the tavern.

  Varen’s face had been growing redder the longer Vera spoke, and spittle flew from his mouth as he replied. “Do not touch me you… you barbaric whore! This armor is worth more than your life, unlike your disgusting leather harness that you insist on flaunting around town. Though I suppose you wouldn’t even understand, I’m sure you all walk around barebacked like the savages you are back on your mountains.” Vera rolled her eyes, blowing a loud raspberry.

  My eyes went wide, and I stood. “You goat-fucking son of a bitch,” I managed to growl out. “You’re going to apologize, then leave. Or we’re going to have a serious problem.”

  Vera gave a flinty grin from where she still lounged in her chair, unconcerned. “Little man, I don’t wear this for you, but I will peel you out of that armor and beat your ass naked if I need to make my point. So get fucking lost, you weavil-dicked pissant.”

  Varen’s face went purple and he took a threatening step forward, but I placed myself in front of him. “Enough. Unless you want to find out just how protective your precious armor is, I suggest you leave Varen,” I ground out.

  He narrowed his eyes, flicking them between us before seeming to come to a decision, swiveling to face me with narrowed eyes. After a pause he mastered himself, plastering on a fake smile once more. “Certainly, I’m sure there is work waiting for me, as a real guilder. Hopefully your new friend can teach you how to run away at least, so you don’t piss yourself like a dog the next time you face a kobold.” He reached out a hand, adding “I am sure master Duchene and I will see you again very soon.”

  I grasped the outstretched hand, matching the bastard’s grip as I forcibly stopped my claws from extending. My voice was low as I leaned in, the stink of his oiled armor mixing with the cheap perfume he wore filling my nose. I’m not sure what possessed me to say the following: “I can’t wait. Make sure to give the blonde bitch my regards until then.”

  Varen’s gaze went wide and he squeezed far harder, trying to crush my hand in a pathetic showing of dominance. I simply grinned as the metal of his gauntlet began to crumple beneath my grip. He let out a soft “Oh” as I felt something snap. I dropped his hand, his face cringing as bloodshot eyes met my silver gaze.

  “This isn’t over, coward,” he hissed, cradling his hand as he turned and stalked away.

  “It certainly looks like you’re the coward, running with his tail between his legs, Varen!” I called after him. He shoved an older man out of the way as he reached the door, but the crowded bar gradually refilled with chatter as everyone returned to their own business.

  I turned back to the table, taking a long drink as Vera watched me, brows arched. “What in the hells was that?”

  I smiled thinly, plonking my empty mug back on the table. “Just sending a message. I’m not taking their shit any more.”

  Vera’s smile was slow and vicious. “Fuck yeah,” she said, just as the barmaid arrived with our food. “And perfect fucking timing, too,” she laughed. We tucked in enthusiastically, Vera into a thick soup full of meat and tubers while I dove into a plate piled high exclusively with meat. It had cost me triple the normal fair, but as I devoured every morsel, I knew it had been the right decision.

  It wasn’t long after that we parted for the day. We were both tired and badly in need of a bath. Vera retired upstairs in the tavern and I made my way home, unclasping my armor as I went. It was beginning to chafe, and was feeling more restrictive as the day wore on.

  After a cold washing in the alley, and hanging my armor in the open window to let it air out, I retired to my room. The quiet was only interrupted by the occasional loud conversation of passers-by walking the streets, and I grinned to myself as I counted out the coins from the mine. The gold and silver glinted in the afternoon sun, and I relaxed, laying back on my bed. Adventuring with Vera was becoming very profitable indeed.