By the time we got back to the girls, we found them both still sitting against the tunnel wall and resting. Tristan was sound asleep on her cousin's shoulder, while Na-Ya looked like she was deep in thought. Or was she meditating.

No, she was comforting Tristan. Her slender fingers were woven through her cousin's, and she was singing a pretty, soft song whose lyrics sounded elven.

I took a snapshot of the sight. It was beautiful.

However, when one of our boots scuffed the ground, she looked up and asked, "How'd it go?"

"Good!" Ro said as he began walking toward his partner, chest of potions in hand. "You two alright?"

"Yeah, we're fi—" She gagged. "Oh... oh no..." Na-Ya's sapphire eyes went wide as we approached. With another full-body gag, she plugged her nose and shouted, "You all smell foul!"

"What... what is it?!" Tristan lurched awake. Almost instantly, her nose crinkled, and her eyes went wide. "Goddess! That smell! It's horrible!"

Looking down at Vral, I saw that she was absolutely covered in filth. Ro wasn't much better. In comparison to them, I'd barely touched anything in the rat king's lair... mostly on account of all the vomiting.

"Hey, Ro, come back and hand me the chest. I'll give them the potions."

He looked back at me, then down at his nasty gear, and nodded. "Sure." Walking back, he handed me the chest.

Opening it up, I pulled out two of the three vials Faye had stashed for us and handed him back the box. "Let's split the third vial. The casters can have the other two."

"Sounds like a plan." He set the chest down, pulled out the last vial, and uncorked it. "Here, you first, Vral."

"Okie," She said as she snatched it from him and threw it back. With a loud gulp, she swallowed, then groaned. "Awful. Just awful."

As Ro took it back from her, I walked to the girls. With every step, their eyes got wider and wider.

"Nah, uh." Na-Ya pointed back the way we came. "Don't come any closer."

Tristan shuddered. "Please?"

"He didn't really do much digging in the den. As such, he smells far better than the other two. Don't worry." Faye was leaning against the wall beside them, arms crossed and looking like she didn't have a care in the world.

The girls both looked me over before nodding to one another. "Fine," Na-Ya said. "But if you reek, I'm having Vral kick your ass."

"I'm game," The goblin said behind me. "Anytime, anywhere, for any reason."

Shaking my head, I got within five feet of them and asked, "May I approach?"

Tristan sniffed the air. "Yeah, but don't get too close."

I shrugged, took the last two steps to them, and handed each one of the sparkling purple potions. "We didn't find much else, but these potions are supposed to be rare and powerful. We got real lucky finding them."

"Damn, those are expensive!" Na-Ya uncorked hers and drank heartily. Instantly, the color returned to her face, and she looked like she'd rested for days.

"What is it?" Tristan looked hers over. "It's pretty."

"An elixir. Rare one, too." Faye put her hands behind her head. "It'll fix you right up."

"Huh. I've never seen a potion like this." Tristan uncorked hers and drank deeply.

Just like Na-Ya, her entire pallor and demeanor changed, despite her being far more pale and sickly looking. In seconds, she seemed as radiant as I'd ever seen her.

She noticed me looking at her and blushed. "What?"

"Oh, I was just thinking how beautiful you are."

"Charmer..." She smiled shyly. "Thanks. You know how to make me feel pretty."

"How could I not?"

Laughing, Faye said, "You lovers are too sweet. It makes me sick."

"Jelly much?" I stuck my tongue out at her.

"Hardly." She rolled her eyes.

Giving Tristan my best smile before turning, I walked back to Ro, who handed me the vial. Slightly less than a third of the liquid was left. A quick sniff revealed a smell that was some cross between petrichor, tarragon, and pennies. With a shrug, I threw the stuff back.

The instant it hit my tongue, my ears began buzzing, and a fire ignited in my chest. For a good ten seconds, I felt like I was injected with the strongest stimulant known to mankind before the sensation faded.

"Damn..."

"Yeah, I wasn't ready for that either." Ro laughed. "Quite the potion."

"Maybe when we find that alchemist guy, he can make us more of those?" Vral looked practically manic. "I could definitely get used to those."

"Careful. Drink too many potions, even the good ones, and you'll get sick."

"Worth it."

Having nothing left to add, I pulled out the map and the bronze hilt of the black blade. Placing the hilt on the map, the lines on the map began to warp and bend. The word "Copperhold" disappeared from the top of the page. In its place, the words "Southeastern Calvareth (Underground)" appeared, and bold lines appeared on the far left of the page. Those represented the parts of the dungeon we'd explored so far.

Far to the northeast, a thin dotted line appeared, snaked across the page, and ended in a thick black dot that was close. Really close.

"Hey, Ro, check this out."

Ro walked up and looked over my shoulder. While stroking his chin, he asked, "What does it mean?"

I shook my head. "Last time I put this hilt on the map, the dot hadn't moved in a while. It was also near Khozad'thar, just past the Bowels. But now..."

"Now, it's come to us." He thumbed the hilt of his sword. "You said you got another quest when we arrived here, right?"

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"Yeah."

"You think it could be connected?"

"No idea, but I feel like it's gotta be." Putting the skitterslink hat I'd kept on the map too, I watched as lines appeared all over the dungeon... Everywhere except for the eastern half. I pointed to the white space. "My gut's telling me that's where we need to go." And if the hilt was indeed connected to Dorit, I assumed that was where we'd find her.

He nodded. "Agreed. But how did she cross the gap so quickly? The Depths aren't easy to navigate."

"The dwarves in Tinker Town said Dorit knows the Depths better than anyone."

"Still, that's a two-day trip as the crow flies, and she did it in, what, six hours? We haven't been here that long, have we?"

"Time and space aren't exactly fixed down in the Depths." Faye was looking over my other shoulder. "If she's been tainted, it's possible the Depths aided her. I've seen one of the Shadowspawn travel a month's distance in a single day that way. They call it shadowwalking."

"I've heard of that." Ro ran a hand through his hair. "It's shocking to think monsters can move below us so quickly. It's a wonder the seven races have survived."

"It's in no small part due to the efforts of Templars like you," Faye responded.

"Does that work in reverse? Do the Depths make it harder for people like us to travel?" I had a feeling that it was.

"Yeah. It's always hard to gauge how long it'll take to get places when you travel down there." She scratched at the ground with the her sandaled foot. "Also, the more people you travel with, the longer it takes to get anywhere. It's one of the reasons why smaller adventuring groups are generally preferred over larger ones. Monsters, the Depths, dungeons—basically everything related to the shadow gets more difficult the more people you have around. Five people is the sweet spot. Past that, and things get harder fast."

That made sense. I'd always wondered why most groups had three to five members and not more. "Got it." I rolled up my map and pulled my pack off.

"Hey, want to learn something neat?"

I looked up to see Faye grinning. "What's that?"

"I thought it was the best thing I'd ever seen when I first learn. I think you'll like it." She began extending her hand out in front of her. When she'd extended halfway, her fingers disappeared into thin air, followed by half her forearm. "Neat, huh?"

"What... what are you doing?"

"Can't you tell?" She pulled her arm back until her fingers reappeared. In them, she was holding a metallic circlet studded with a large emerald.

"Did you... did you just pull that out of thin air?"

"Sure did!" She placed the circlet on her forehead. It fit perfectly. "Your turn."

"Uh... I can't do that."

"Sure, you can. You're a chosen now. You can do everything I can do. Probably. Maybe." She reached out and grabbed my hand, the one holding the map. Pulling me upright and standing so that she was shoulder to shoulder with me, she extended her arm, taking mine with hers. "Now, close your eyes and visualize a large, empty space in your mind. It's yours and only yours, and it's as familiar to you as your hands."

I did as she said and did my best to visualize what she was talking about. "Okay."

"Good. Now, imagine placing this map in that space. It should feel no different than putting a shirt in a drawer. You're just reaching out and putting the map away."

I cracked an eye, hoping to find my arm half-disappeared, but all I found was the Hero holding my arm half-outstretched. I had to look like an idiot.

"No peeking. Close 'em. And focus on the box."

Closing my eyes tightly again, I focused my entire mind on the imaginary box. Its shape. Square. Its size. Larger than my room back at the temple. Even its texture. Metallic. Smooth. Hard.

"Good." She pulled my arm until it was fully outstretched. "Now, put the map in your box."

"But—"

"No buts. Just put the map in the box."

I loosened my grip... felt the map slip from my fingers... waited for it to strike the ground... but it never did.

Cracking one eye, I found half of my arm was missing. "Holy shit!"

Before I could say anything else, words appeared in my mind:

You have unlocked the talent [Inventory]

"Good job!" Faye let go of my hand and clapped. "You did well! Without a teacher, that took me a while to figure out."

"Well, I have a good teacher." Withdrawing my hand, the air shimmered as my fingers reappeared.

"I guess you do." The Hero put her hands on her hips and looked smug. "A damn good one at that."

"Wow, great job, Alex!" Tristan was smiling broadly at me. "I remember my dad showing me that when I was a girl. You looked just like him!"

"Can everyone learn how to do this?!" I could open up a pocket dimension with my mind!

"Nope, just us!"

"Crazy." I reached out and stuck my hand through the shimmering portal again just for funsies.

"That's fucking wild." Vral was looking all around the spot where my hand had disappeared. "Can you do that again?"

I shrugged. "I can try." Picking up the bronze hilt, I closed my eyes and visualized the box again. Reaching out, I let go. Like before, there was no clang of metal on stone. I opened my eyes to find the hilt, too, had disappeared into the metaphysical box I'd created.

"Damn!" Vral shouted. "I'll never need to carry anything ever again!"

Faye chuckled. "Don't go overloading him too much, now. While it makes it easy to carry your things, he's still carrying your stuff, if that makes sense."

I thought I got it. "So, it's like having an invisible pack, then?"

"Yeah, kind of."

"Huh." I picked up my pack, closed my eyes, and put it into my inventory. Just like she'd said, I could feel the extra weight in my legs, but it didn't feel like it was on my back. It just felt like there was a little extra weight on my body. "That's useful as hell."

"Right? Unlike a pack, it distributes the weight more evenly, and you get the extra benefit of it being impossible to have your belongings stolen." It also helps when you want to plant goodies for your allies without getting caught.

I laughed. Noted.

Working her shoulders, Tristan walked up to me and handed me her pack. "Would you do mine, too? My shoulders are killing me."

"Of course." Just like mine, I put her pack into my inventory. I didn't even need to close my eyes to do it this time. And, with as strong as I'd gotten these past two years, I barely felt the extra weight. "Got you, girl."

"Thanks!" She leaned forward to kiss me, but before our lips met, her nose crinkled, and she backed off.

Damn, rejected. I needed a bath.

Faye continued speaking. "The only problem is that, if you die, your stuff dies with you. So keep that in mind when you choose to stash things. If you want to leave things behind, don't keep them in your stash."

At Faye's words, Tristan frowned.

"Got it." I squeezed Tristan's hand, channeling some comfort to her through the touch.

"I love you," She whispered.

"I love you back." I squeezed her hand again.

"Oh, and here, take this." Faye reached out again, her hand disappearing in thin air. For a moment, she looked like she was deep in thought. She seemed to make a decision, and a second later, she pulled out a wooden shield. Tying the strap to the handle, she slung it over my shoulders and said, "Sorry, it's not as nice as the one you lost fighting the rat king. But it's something."

I let go of Tristan's hand so that I could adjust the strap. "Thank you, Faye."

"Think nothing of it. I've been meaning to get rid of that old thing for years. Happy it could go to someone I respect."

The Hero respected me. Me! And, if I didn't know any better, she seemed lighter than when we'd first met, back when I'd seen her through Greta's crystal ball. Back then, she seemed... flat. Bored. Unfulfilled. But down here, with us, I got the impression that she was having a great time. It was a little sad she couldn't stay with us. Or... Why don't you travel with us?

Her green eyes found mine. Wish I could, but I can't. Once this is done, I'll have to go back to Deneir and meet with the Council of Saern. Then, Kasimir and I are checking all of the lesser seals, and after that, the three of us need to return to Evron before the Cleft of Tears unleashes hell on the people there.

No rest for the wicked, huh?

Not even a little. And get used to it, friend. It's our lot in life. She sighed. But this has been a great vacation. I appreciate you letting me tag along. Greta said you all were fun to be around. I get it now.

Let's do it again, then.

I'd like that.

Breathing deeply, I cleared my head and said, "Well, now that we got that out of the way, anyone want to go find out what the black dot on the lower floor is?" Bending over, I picked up the little chest Faye had planted and stashed it in my inventory.

Na-Ya shook her head. "Not a chance." She pointed at me, Vral, and Ro. "Faye, do you have any water in that inventory thing of yours?"

"Yeah, I do actually." Faye reached out and withdrew a plump waterskin, then followed it with an entire barrel made of stone. And she did it with one hand. She didn't even strain in the slightest while doing so.

Just how strong was she?

Hands on her hips, Na-Ya looked at each of us and said, "Clean yourselves up. Then, we can head out."

A grin split Faye's face. "I've missed having a party. Kasimir's a bore, and Greta's flaky. It's so dull doing it all alone." She uncorked the waterskin and began filling the barrel. Despite the waterskin being no larger than a large water bottle, the water never stopped flowing. After about a minute, when the barrel was filled with crystal clear water that sparkled in the glowstone light, she tilted the waterskin upright and corked it again.

"Alright, who's first?"

Without hesitation, I snatched Vral by the collar.

"Wait!" Vral shrieked.

"Nope!" I heaved and threw her into the water.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.