"They've told us everything they could, I believe." Count Michford seemed almost resentful at needing to announce the fact, and he shook his head in clear disappointment.

They were all gathered in the Count's manor house, in one of the larger parlors. The whole group of them had been waiting, restless, for the Count to complete his interrogation of the prisoners and surrender them back to the custody of the Guild. After all, the bandits had committed crimes on his lands, and he was well within his rights to execute the lot of them, Rogues and [Commoners] alike.

He hadn't, so far, which Clay felt a flicker of gratitude for. The [Commoners] had already been sentenced to years of hard labor and sent off to face the King's judgement. From Charles' estimation, they would be sent to hard labor, banished, compelled to serve in the King's armies on a distant border town, or thrown in the worst dungeon King John had available. Opinions were mixed as to which fate Clay's friends preferred.

Only the Rogues had been left, who had been withholding their knowledge of the plots against Michford in hopes of striking a deal. The back and forth had lasted for days, unfortunately, but it looked as if it had finally been resolved.

Fortunately, Clay had put the intervening time to good use. He and the others had continued to patrol the surrounding area, searching for any signs of new threats. He'd been relatively sure that there had only been one band of criminals in the area, but it had been good to make sure that there weren't any of Rembark's supposed allies waiting in other camps. There had been no sign of the [Mystic] that had escaped them as well, which had been… disappointing. Clay was sure that she would have had all sorts of interesting information to share.

The others had been busy as well. Olivia had practically holed up in a room in the manor to study the old book she'd recovered, occasionally peeking out to train or check on him. Ned had launched a campaign just one step shy of harassment to figure out what [Chant] Clay had used to knock over the wall; when Clay finally gave in and taught the [Dark Knight], he'd immediately used the thing to blast an old tree to splinters. Maribel had eventually managed to coax him into sharing the Melody of Frost as well, though most of the others couldn't manage the other [Chants] quite yet. It wasn't for lack of trying; it felt like he'd spent almost as much time watching the others try out new [Chants] as he did searching for signs of trouble.

Now, however, he folded his arms and watched as Count Michford sighed. "It turns out to be more or less as we expected."

Charles stirred slightly. "He was exiled?"

"And disinherited." Michford nodded. "Apparently, he committed some crimes in Terrasen that the King there refused to ignore. Once he was outlawed, he gathered a small group around him and turned to banditry. He'd actually been at work inside of Terrasen for a few years before now."

The Count paused and looked at Clay. His eyes grew uneasy. "Then he met someone who offered him more. A chance to ascend beyond the status of an outlaw, and allies to help him."

"The [Mystic]. Semmard." Clay's eyes narrowed, and Olivia winced. She'd already been feeling guilty for allowing the woman to escape, and now she'd probably be even more unhappy over it. "Do they know anything about these other allies?"

Michford shook his head. "Only that they were searching for adventurers to work with. They gathered Rembark and the other Rogues together, convinced them to act as a group, and then began guiding them to fight monsters in various Lairs."

Ned frowned. "They were fighting Lairs?"

Clay nodded slowly. "That's how they were so high level compared to normal Rogues, right?"

The [Noble] nodded. "Some of the Rogues died, but the ones who didn't joined Rembark's group. He decided to go back to banditry for a time since his sponsors were preoccupied with something else, and the other Rogues went with him."

"And their allies were already calling them back, then." Clay looked at Olivia, who nodded at him. "Did they have any idea where they were going?"

Michford looked from Clay to Olivia and back. "They were supposed to follow the [Mystic] to their next location. Other than that…" He shook his head.

As Clay grimaced again, Charles spoke up. "So, Lord Michford, are they ready for judgement now?"

The [Noble] nodded. "They are, Sir Charles. I render them into your custody."

George grunted. "So they're our problem now."

"They're the Council's problem now." Charles gave the [Dragoon] a half-smile. "All we need to do is escort them back to Crownsguard. Then we can wash our hands of them."

Enessa stirred, her expression unhappy. "What do you think the Council will decide?"

"Could be executed, could be Peacebound, could even be sworn into the Guild, I'd imagine." Maribel raised an eyebrow at the reaction to that last option. "You know it as well as I do. The Council isn't going to ignore someone that could help them fight Lairs. Even if they do deserve the axe."

Olivia's eyes had hardened. The [Student] and the [Mage] exchanged a look of rare, mutual understanding, and nodded to each other. Before either could say anything else, Ned spoke up. "Then maybe they could have a little bit of an accident on the way?" He shrugged as they all looked at him. "I wasn't the only one thinking it."

"Just the only one dumb enough to say it, maybe." Enessa grimaced. "As bad as it feels, keeping them alive might save some lives. Maybe they'll make up for the harm they've done."

Clay shook his head. "If we wanted to kill them, we could have done it already during the battle. If we do it now, it's nothing less than murder."

Charles glanced at Enessa before he nodded. "I agree. We'll ensure that they reach Crownsguard safely, Count Michford. You have my word."

The Count nodded. "I never expected otherwise, Sir Charles." Then he paused. "There was one promise I made, however. When the prisoners confessed, they expressed an… unusual desire to avoid being under some of your custody."

His eyes slid towards Olivia, who looked rather satisfied for a woman with half her face concealed. Clay cleared his throat. "That will be fine, Count Michford. Both Syr Olivia and I will be going to help with another matter."

Michford grinned slightly. "I'm sure that will reassure our prisoners considerably."

George rolled his eyes. "Anything to get out of the boring jobs, eh, Clay?"

Clay spread his arms wide, trying not to grin too widely. "I'm sure you'll have plenty of interesting things waiting for you at the Guild, George. Maybe they'll even give you back Sir Frensfeld."

Maribel muttered something that Clay couldn't quite catch. Charles gave her a patient look. "It would be good to have him back, though I hope I haven't been too bad of a leader."

Enessa gave him a nudge that nearly knocked him over. "You've been fine, Charles. Don't get too oversensitive." She gave Maribel a pointed look that made the [Mage] shift uncomfortably. Then she looked back at Clay. "So where are you headed off to? Another band of Rogues to hunt down?"

Clay grinned. "We're headed out to meet some people at Rettmore. There's a Lair there that we are going to destroy." Count Michford blinked, and he looked around at the adventurers as if he expected them to laugh at a joke. When they didn't, his eyes started to grow wide.

For her part, Enessa just shook her head and sighed, mild exasperation on her face. "You're going to be at an even higher level than us, then. How are we supposed to catch up?"

There was a hint of honest resentment in the joke, but Clay just shrugged. "You could always ask the Council to send you out against more Lairs. Either that, or you could head home to Pellsglade. The Council would probably give you some leave at this point."

She paused, and Ned broke into a laugh. "Why not? After all, it would be good to see the place after everything you've done to it. The place must be a sight to see now!"

Count Michford interrupted at this point, his expression alarmed. "Might I ask what Sir Clay has done? I hadn't heard anything about that."

The adventurers exchanged a look, but Olivia spoke before anyone else could respond. "Just some changes supported by Baron Pellsglade, my lord. You do not need to concern yourself."

Michford studied her for a moment, long enough for the others to compose their expressions to one of careful neutrality. When he looked back, he found no other clues to draw on. He nodded slowly. "Of course. Again, you all have my thanks for everything you've done here."

Charles answered for them, his voice smooth. "It was our honor to serve, Count Michford. May your lands remain untroubled for a long, long time."

They all decided to leave on the next day, in order to have one last bit of rest before they set out on the trail. It wasn't that Clay wasn't eager to go, but the weather was rapidly turning colder, and every chance to enjoy a warm fire and a soft bed couldn't be ignored that easily. The Count used it as an excuse to offer them gifts, though Clay and his friends mostly turned them down. He'd seemed to want to know more about the rumors from Pellsglade, and Clay had an uncomfortable sense that he'd be sending messengers and perhaps even spies in that direction sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, Olivia had made a quiet visit to the local Shrine, carrying something suspiciously like a book. Clay had simply sighed and wondered how long the local Rectors would wait before magic began to filter through the population here, just as it had elsewhere.

Fortunately, he didn't particularly need to worry about that yet. Instead, he focused on the chance that he had to have one last conversation with his old friends before he set out once more. For all he knew, it would be their last exchange of words in a very, very long time. It would have been foolish to ignore it.

He spent some time trading jokes and stories with George, Charles, and Ned, reminiscing with them about the 'good old days' back in Pellsglade, when a badger or a wolf might be the most dangerous thing that they would encounter. It was good to remember those times, even if they had been in trouble more than they'd been out of it. Part of him hoped that some of the people they'd saved would get to enjoy more of those memories, now that they didn't have bandits to fear or monsters to avoid.

Maribel studiously ignored him, aside from the occasional passing conversation. She always seemed to be looking around for Olivia each time he showed up, which wouldn't have worried him so much if the other [Commoner] didn't just happen to be walking by half the time. They still didn't seem to like one another, but at the very least, they were coldly formal instead of silently hostile to each other. It was a small amount of progress, but each step was something to celebrate sometimes.

Clay found time to speak with all of them, but in the end, it was Enessa who sought him out alone. He was packing his supplies and equipment away, getting everything ready for another long walk across the Kingdom. Rettmore was a good four days away, if the maps were right, and with the weather getting chillier, he didn't want to be halfway there and discover that he'd misplaced something.

When she knocked on his doorframe, Clay thought he could hear the wood crack a little. He grinned to himself and looked up. "Hey. I was wondering when you were going to drop by."

The [Fighter] grinned back at him. He could still see a hint of insecurity in her eyes as she walked into the room, but it was well buried beneath her usual confidence. "Sorry. I just didn't want to get swept up into your story-trading session with the others." Her grin widened. "Besides, I wanted to make sure that you weren't being led down a bad path. Since when are you involved in some kind of torrid romance, Clay Evergreen?"

Clay blinked. He felt his cheeks heat, and he looked away. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "A torrid romance, huh? Is that what it is?"

"That's right." She sidled over and nudged him playfully. "Unless I've totally misread the looks you've been giving each other."

He shrugged as he continued to settle his equipment in place. "You haven't, actually." Clay heard her give an exaggerated gasp and rolled his eyes. His attempt to play things off as normal was undercut by the amount of heat in his cheeks. "She's… good for me, Enessa. I never thought it would happen this way, but…"

"But I doubt any of us would have expected any of this. I hear you." She chuckled for a moment and then leaned back against the wall, folding her arms. "Still, I was a little surprised. I mean, last time I saw her, she was quite a bit different. Quiet and mild, rather than scowling at everybody."

Clay snorted. "Let's just say that she has her reasons." He closed another pocket and looked up at her. "Is that why you're worried? Just a little too scary for you?"

Enessa grinned. "I suppose. I guess I just always expected to know who you were involved with a little more. Feel like I missed out on a few details." Her grin widened. "So? Does she kiss you with that mask on? Cause that might be a little weird."

Despite himself, Clay chuckled. "Expecting me to kiss and tell is a little funny, coming from you." She waggled her eyebrows at him and leaned in like she was expecting him to whisper a secret. He gave her an exasperated glare. "You know, you're asking a lot of questions, but I have a few of my own."

She straightened up, her expression still satisfied and amused. "What, do you want advice?"

"Maybe." He let her smug expression last for another heartbeat or so. "What intentions do you have on my friend, Syr Enessa?"

Surprise wiped away her satisfaction. A blush suddenly bloomed on her cheeks. "I… what are you talking about?"

Clay let his own smile grow, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm talking about you making cow eyes at Charles lately. What's going on there?"

Enessa was struck speechless for a moment. She looked away, as if searching for an answer. "I… wish I knew." When she looked back at him, her expression looked a little lost.

Clay took pity on her. He walked over and leaned against the wall next to her. She glanced at him and looked away again. With a gentle nudge on the shoulder, he asked his question again in a different way. "Well, what do you want to happen?"

She grimaced. "I… it's stupid, right?" Enessa shook her head. "We've known each other forever. It's not like he is some stranger."

Enessa paused, pushing herself up and away from the wall. She took a few steps into the room, her arms still wrapped around herself. "I just wish… I want him to notice me. To see me as more than just plain old Enessa Moors, the kid who threw him in the stream that one time. Maybe someone that could…"

Her words trailed off, and she looked back at him, her expression rueful. "It sounds stupid when I say it out loud. Doesn't it? Still…"

Clay shook his head. He smiled. "No. It doesn't sound stupid at all." His mind went back to the scene in the clearing, the way they had looked at each other. "You should tell him."

Enessa shook her head violently, her hair swaying with the motion. "No. He'd laugh at me."

He snorted. "You know he wouldn't."

The words didn't seem to stem the stubborn panic on her face. "Clay, he's the son of a [Noble]. Even though he's a [Paladin], he'll probably retire to rule over that place when his time in the Guild is done." She shook her head. "I'm just some farmgirl that managed to luck my way into this. He's important. I'm… just me."

"And that's enough." Clay pushed himself off the wall and put a hand on her shoulder. "Look, like you said, he knows you. And you know him. He's not going to push you away, and even if he did, is Charles Pellsglade really the type of man who would laugh at your feelings?" Enessa looked away and shook her head. "Then tell him. Nothing's going to happen until you do."

She looked up at him, her expression obstinate. "If he isn't going to laugh at me, then why hasn't he said anything?"

Clay bit his lip for a moment, before he shook her slightly and let go. "Like I said, you know him. Which means you know why he hasn't done a thing yet." He straightened up, impersonating their mutual friend. "He just feels it wouldn't be right. He'd be imposing on you with his feelings, which would be a betrayal of your friendship. A real Pellsglade would never do such a thing."

Enessa stared at him for a long moment. Then she brought her hands up to cover her mouth as she started to giggle. "You mean he's an idiot."

"You both are. I taught you well." Clay grunted as Enessa slugged him, but he could tell she hadn't used even half her [Might]. If she had, he'd have likely broken something. "Look, if you can't trust him, it wouldn't work out anyway. If you can, then you aren't going to break anything by having a conversation. And for what it's worth…"

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

He paused, thinking over the times he'd already shared with Olivia. The arguments, the quiet times, the kisses… Clay smiled. "It's worth the risk, Enessa, and you deserve to be happy. Someone I respect once told me not to wait until some day in the future to find joy. I don't think you should, either."

She grew a bit more somber, her giggles fading away. Enessa let her hands fall back to her sides, before clasping them behind her back. A heartbeat later, a familiar spark of mischief entered her eyes, and she grinned. "Well. Our Commoner Hero has become a master of romance. That I definitely wouldn't have expected."

Clay groaned, rolling his eyes and pushing past her to get to his gear. "Oh, don't even start."

"Just tell me, what monster do I have to kill to gain whatever [Achievement] you've found to help figure out the human heart?" She poked him in the side, still grinning. He grunted and shook his head, fighting off a chuckle of his own. "Was it some fairy with a bow and arrow, or maybe you found some treasure hidden in a Lair? Tell me, oh great hero, so that I may learn as well."

"Enessa." He put all the warning he could into the name, and she started to chuckle to herself.

She turned away, shaking her head. Then she paused and looked back at him, her façade falling away for a moment. "Clay… thanks."

He looked back at her and nodded. "Don't mention it." She held up a hand, and he shook it, before breaking out into a grin. "Of course, I'll expect the first one to be named after me."

Enessa went beet red again. "You little…!" She threw her hands in the air and stalked away, muttering the kinds of things her parents might have been shocked to hear. He turned back to his own task with a smile. It lasted even when a small rock bounced off his head a moment later, just hard enough to make him roll his eyes.

Sometimes it was good to catch up with friends, after all.

Charles met Clay and Olivia as they were leaving the next morning. The [Paladin] looked like he had risen early in the day, obviously wanting to get things settled before they headed out with the prisoners. Count Michford had bid them farewell the night before; apparently, he had a meeting with the local [Commoners] that he needed to attend, and he didn't want to delay them further.

It was a polite way of inviting them to leave quietly, and Clay appreciated it, in his own way. After all, the less fanfare, the less obvious it would be that he wasn't exactly taking a direct route to the Dungeon where Syr Katherine was supposedly waiting.

Charles smiled at them as they entered the foyer of the manor house, his armor already gleaming. He nodded seriously to Olivia and then extended a hand to Clay. "I wish we were traveling together, Clay, but I guess I should just be grateful you were here for us when we needed you."

Clay grinned and shook his friend's hand. "Happy to help, as always, Charles." He glanced at Olivia, who nodded and continued on through the doorway. "It was good to see you. I'd missed fighting alongside you."

"And I, you, Clay." Charles shook his head, his expression amused. "Of course, by the time we see you next, you'll probably be halfway to your own seat on the Council. Wouldn't that be a sight to see?"

He snorted. "Yeah, I'm not sure they'll ever let that happen." Charles raised an eyebrow, and Clay felt the need to explain. "I think that their goals and mine might differ a bit too much."

Charles hesitated. Then he nodded. "Well, there's no helping that sometimes." He gave Clay another look. "So, any suggestions for me, Commoner Hero? After all, you've escorted a few people already, from what I've heard."

Clay grunted, thinking of the time he'd wasted chasing Peacebound all over the forest. "Don't let them out of your sight. Keep a watch at all times." Then he paused. "Don't let the Council keep you idle. I think it might be a good idea to visit home. Just to see your father, and see how things have changed."

The [Paladin] studied him a bit, nodding slowly. His eyes drifted to Clay's spear, as if noting the way it had been constructed. "I see. Anything else?"

He paused, debating whether he'd do more harm than good. Then he looked at where Olivia was waiting for him, standing in the sun of a beautiful fall morning. Clay shrugged. "Sometimes, happiness is not a selfish thing. It's okay to want something and have it without feeling guilty."

His friend blinked, an expression of guarded surprise stealing over his features. He glanced at the interior of the manor, as if expecting someone else to be standing there and eavesdropping. "Why would you say that?"

Clay grinned. He patted the man on the shoulder. "Because I know you, Charles. Just… don't screw it up, okay? I'm rooting for you."

Wearing an utterly mystified expression, Charles nodded. They gave each other another handshake, and then Clay stepped out into the sunlight. He walked up to Olivia, who was consulting a map. She looked over at him, her eyebrow arched. "Ready?"

He nodded and slung an arm around her shoulders. She grumbled a bit in surprise and then leaned into him as they started to walk. It was a good start to their journey.

Olivia looked down at the book in her hands and then up at the campfire burning merrily away in front of her. She sighed and tossed it into the flames. "This is useless."

Clay blinked as the flames suddenly billowed up, a shower of sparks cascading up into the air. He reached out to try to fish the book back out of the fire, only to pause as the worn, ancient pages seemed to catch ablaze immediately. It didn't seem like the [Chant] of the Vanishing Ember would even be fast enough to save it.

He looked at Olivia and sighed. "You couldn't translate it after all?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "No. I got it." Then she shook her head in frustration again. "It's just so much garbage. Nothing really of use. Just a lot of ranting and such."

It was something that he'd been suspecting at this point. She hadn't emerged from any of her studies excited about a new discovery, and no new [Chants] had entered her arsenal either. He looked back from her to the steadily burning book. With a bit of effort, he tried to sound encouraging. "Maybe the next Lair will have something you can use."

Olivia snorted and stared morosely at the fire. "Maybe. Unless all the Lairs with material that would have mentioned the Eternal Seal turned into Dungeons long before we got there."

"If they did, then I guess we'll just have to go in there after them." She gave him a skeptical look, and Clay shrugged. "We're not going to give up on this, Olivia. I'm going to stick with this until we find it, and so are you. As long as it takes, whatever it takes, we're going to find the way to beat these things."

She leaned against him and sighed, still watching the fire consume the book. "It's frustrating because it feels like everything I find gets me so close, only for it to slip out of my grasp." Olivia gestured to the book. "For example, they did mention the Eternal Seal, but they didn't give me any clues as to how it worked or where we could find it."

Clay blinked. He nearly dove into the fire to grab what was left of the pages. "What did they say?"

Olivia looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "I took notes, Clay. We aren't losing anything." As he relaxed, she continued in an even voice. "They talked about the fact that they were wielders of the Eternal Seal, being oppressed by those who were demanding its use. They made it seem like they were the only ones who could use it, too, which makes even less sense. Why would a group of people willing to use Lairs as weapons be the only ones with the spell to break Dungeons?"

He frowned, thinking the problem over. "Maybe because they could destroy Dungeons, Lairs didn't seem like as much of a problem? Like if you know how to extinguish a fire, a bit of arson doesn't seem as threatening."

She shook her head. "I'd agree, but they specifically mention how unjust it is for them to be forced to fight monsters, especially in Lairs or Dungeons. They acted like it was a kind of slavery to be involved in the fight against those enemies, so why would they try to make the problem worse? It just seems odd to be so angry and then treat the Lairs so casually."

Clay looked into the fire. He grimaced as another thought occurred to him. "Maybe they didn't take it casually, but they felt everyone else was." She looked at him, and he gestured at the fire. "If they felt like they were being taken advantage of, they might try to inflict the misery they were feeling on other people. Either to make them understand, or to make sure they were appreciated."

Olivia paused. Her lips twisted as she digested the words, and she eventually nodded, her reluctance still plain on her face. "That… could be it. I could see some of that in their words. The way they talked about the people they were fighting, the way they referred to them." Then she shuddered. "Still, they almost seemed like they were angry with everything in the world. They almost seemed like they would declare war on the gods themselves."

He blinked. Then he snorted. "I'm not sure how well that would go for them." Clay picked up a stick and stirred the coals a little, releasing another burst of embers. Parts of the book fragmented and broke away, disintegrating further. "While I have my own problems with them, it isn't like there's a lot of other, friendlier things out there waiting for us. It feels like we'd be stabbing our own protectors in the back, and then getting surprised by the consequences."

She shivered for a moment. "Maybe that's what ended up happening to them. After all, that Lair was formed when someone was reading their book. The entire War of Heroes could have been caused by that kind of hatred. Everyone with the knowledge of the Eternal Seal might have been killed in the fighting, or as a result of their own actions."

Clay nodded. "And now, here we are, just trying to piece it all back together." He nudged her a little. "Maybe we'll just have to find it by experimenting. You know, create it from first principles. How does that sound?"

Olivia snorted and nudged him back. "It might be easier to just jump in a monster's mouth, actually. For all we know, we could end up using a [Chant] that stops our own heart, or makes our eyeballs explode." She shook her head. "The spells are just too dangerous. Even misusing the ones we have might be a disaster."

"Tell me about it." Clay chuckled a little. "Though I guess I managed to mess up the Orison during that last fight with the Guardians, and I didn't explode. That's something, I guess."

She drew back, looking at him with an intensity he hadn't expected. "You… messed it up? How?"

He shrugged and poked at the fire again. "I was in the middle of using the [Chant] and got hit by that sound wave. I must have done something different, because the [Chant] didn't act the same way."

Olivia frowned. She tilted her head, studying him. "Maybe it was something about your level, or your [Stats]. Has it done it since then?"

Clay shook his head. "No. When I used it on the bandits, it was normal."

She stood up and stepped around to the other side of the fire. "Use it on me. Let's see."

He watched her for a moment. Then he shrugged and started it. The words flowed easily, without the pressure of combat or imminent violence to motivate him. It finished a few moments later, and he felt the tug of the spell's activation.

[Olivia Newfeld]

[Class: Commoner] {Level 15} All Stats have a maximum of 30.)

[Subclass: Student (Gain 10% bonus to skills when studying.)]

[Stats] {Might: 28} {Fortitude: 28} {Insight: 29} {Memory: 30} {Valor: 29} {Will: 28}

[Monsters Slain: 2579]

He considered the information for a moment longer. Then he shrugged. "Looks the same as it ever did."

Olivia nodded. "Did you notice anything else about how it felt? Anything different about how the spell affected you?"

Clay paused, thinking over his memories of the moment. He frowned. "There was something about it. Like it… pulled at my ethereal senses a little. I don't remember it doing that before."

"Say the [Chant] again, and pay attention to your senses when you do." Olivia's emerald eyes were intense as she watched him. Then she broke into a smile. "By the way, do you know how unfair those things are? I've never managed to unlock that [Experience], and neither has anyone else I've met."

He spread his arms. "I guess I'm just special then."

Then he started the Refrain, only for her to stop him. "No. Do the actual [Chant]. I want to test something."

Clay sighed and began again. He focused on his ethereal senses, which were comfortingly quiet at the moment. No monsters around to raise an alarm, something which had been reassuring until he'd seen the bodies at the destroyed caravan. Maybe he'd been using them a bit too much when he—

His thoughts broke off as he reached a portion of the [Chant], one that he recited easily. As he'd gone over that portion, his ethereal senses had twitched somehow, like they'd reacted to the words he'd used.

He didn't pause long enough to break the [Chant], however. Instead, he finished it, and once again got the same result. Olivia was watching him patiently, and as he fell silent, she gestured for him to speak.

"There's a part that seems to interact with my senses, yeah. I hadn't noticed it before." He winced. "Probably because most of the time I'm using it against monsters that are already taking most of my attention."

"Or adventurers who are almost just as bad." Olivia nodded. "When you think back to the Guardians, were you at that part of the [Chant] when you were hit?"

Clay thought for a moment before he gave up the effort. "I can't remember. Everything around that moment in time is a little blurry." It was actually a little disconcerting to see a hole in his own memory, and there was a slight scrabbling feeling of panic in the back of his mind as he considered it. He shook his head to clear it. "I might have been there, though. It is partway through the spell."

She started to pace back and forth. "So if you were at that point, it's possible that you might have been hit hard enough to forget what you'd just been doing. You could have maybe started the part over again, just in the wrong spot. Does that sound right?"

He watched her, still struggling with that uneasy feeling. "I… guess so. Why?"

Olivia looked at him, her eyes bright. "What if you accidentally repeated the part you are talking about? The one where it touches your senses?"

Clay looked back at her, feeling a little baffled. "Wouldn't that have ruined the [Chant]? It seems like it would have just failed."

"Not if the version of the [Chant] that we have is incomplete." She came around the fire and crouched in front of him, looking him straight in the eyes. "What if the Orison is meant to be more like another type of [Chant]? Like the Stanza of Steam or the Anthem of Thunder? One where you can scale it up or down as much as you need to?"

He stared at her for a moment. Some part of him wanted to object, but if anyone could be right about this sort of thing, it would be Olivia. She'd been steeped in the translations and the spells for longer than she'd actually been a [Commoner]. If she thought it was possible…

Clay took a deep breath. Then he started the Orison of Soul again, measuring his words as he spoke. Olivia stepped back slightly; she started her own [Chant]. He recognized it as the Discord, the [Chant] that broke other [Chants], and he mentally nodded to himself. If something went wrong, she'd be able to stop him from completing whatever it was. Of course, that would depend on both of them still being alive, but at least if things went really wrong, they had no one to hurt but themselves.

As he reached the portion that had affected his ethereal senses before, Clay braced himself and repeated it, the same way he would have for the repeated sections of the Anthem or the Stanza. Every part of him was tense as he then continued the spell, expecting some malfunctioning piece of magic to rip through the world around him. He saw that same worry in Olivia's eyes as she watched him, ready to bring the whole thing to an end.

Yet nothing happened. Clay reached the end of the modified Orison, and felt a sudden, familiar pull on his senses.

[Olivia Newfeld]

[Class: Commoner] {Level 15} All Stats have a maximum of 30.)

[Subclass: Student (Gain 10% bonus to skills when studying.)]

[Stats] {Might: 28} {Fortitude: 28} {Insight: 29} {Memory: 29} {Valor: 29} {Will: 28}

[Soul: 250/1500]

[Experiences]

{Translator: Gain 20% bonus to Literary activities. Gain Translation, Transcription, and Recording skills.}

{Survivor: Gain 10% resistance to fatigue. Wounds heal 10% faster.}

{Slayer: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when hunting monsters.}

{Smallmage II: Can chant minor Chants 20% faster. Gain 40% effectiveness for minor Chants.}

{Warsinger: Gain Lyricist Skill. Can complete all Chants 20% faster.}

{Follower: Gain 20% bonus when being led by a higher-level hero.}

{Defiant: Gain 20% bonus to all skills when facing an opponent of a higher level.}

{Challenger: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when fighting in the open. Gain Menace Skill.}

{Hiker: Gain 5% bonus to all skills inside of a hilly area. Gain extra 15% bonus to the Tracking skill in a hilly area.}

{Whisperer: Gain 10% bonus to minor Chants. Gain 10% bonus to the speed and effectiveness of all Chants.}

{Determined: Fatigue lessened by 10%. Wounds heal 5% faster. Gain 10% bonus to repetitive or familiar activities.}

{Valiant: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when facing multiple opponents.}

{Scythe Expert: Gain 10% to damage when wielding a scythe.}

{Brave: Gain 20% damage when fighting in the open.}

{Undaunted: Gain 10% to all skills when fighting in the open. Gain 5% damage when fighting in the open.}

{Studious: Gain 10% bonus to all mental abilities. Gain 5% bonus to all magic strength.}

{Killer: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when hunting humans.}

{Banisher: Gain permanent access to the Chant of Garden's Peace. Gain 10% speed and effectiveness for all Chants.}

{Exterminator: Gain double the bonus from all Bane Achievements.}

{Duelist: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when facing an enemy one on one.}

{Forrester: Gain 5% bonus to all skills inside of a forested area. Gain extra 15% bonus to the Tracking skill in a forested area.}

{Hunter: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when hunting wildlife. Gain Trapping and Tracking skills.}

{Watcher: Gain Analysis Skill. Gain 10% bonus to Tracking skill}

{Slaughterer: Gain 20% damage resistance versus monsters affected by Bane Achievements.}

{Swamp Rat: Gain 5% bonus to all skills inside of a swampy area. Gain extra 15% bonus to the Tracking skill in a swampy area.}

{Weathered: Gain 10% resistance to disease, heat, and cold.}

{Relentless: Fatigue lessened by 15%. Gain 15% bonus to repetitive or familiar activities.}

{Scout: Gain 20% to Tracking and Analysis Skills. Gain 10% to all skills when alone.}

{Stubborn: Fatigue lessened by 20%. Wounds heal 10% faster.}

{Champion: Gain 20% bonus to all skills and damage when facing a Guardian.}

[Achievements]

{Swinebane: 45% increase to all skills and damage against swinefolk. Bonus increases to 90% versus Flesh Eaters, Feral Squealers, Wild Smashers, Land Eaters, Feral Shriekers, Wild Crushers, Soul Eaters, Feral Screechers, and Wild Shakers.}

{Corpsebane: 45% increase to all skills and damage against Undead. Bonus increases to 90% versus Rotted Levies, Wretched Corporals, Weary Horses, Skeletal Riders, Corpse Hounds, Condemned Foragers, Corpse Birds, Condemned Hunters, Skeletal Scouts, Wretched Sergeants, Wretched Marshals, Condemned Marksmen, and Skeletal Lancers}

{Frogsbane: 45% increase to all skills and damage against frogs. Bonus increases to 90% versus Mud Croaker Spawn, Dart Croaker Spawn, Decay Croaker Spawn, Decay Croaker Adults, Mud Croaker Adults, Dart Croaker Adults, Decay Croaker Elders, Mud Croaker Elders, and Dart Croaker Elders.}

{Paragon: All skills gain 20% effectiveness around fellow heroes.}

{Warrior Poet: Gain 40% bonus to Lyricist Skill. Gain 10% bonus to the speed of all Chants.}

{Fearless: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when fighting in the open. Gain 40% bonus to Menace skill.}

{Combat Generalist: Gain Tactician Skill. Gain 10% bonus to all damage in combat.}

{Reaper: Gain 30% damage against any monster, wildlife, or human.}

{Traveler: Gain 10% faster movement speed. Gain additional 15% movement speed in forests, hills, and swamps.}

{Unyielding Spirit: Fatigue lessens by 5%. Wounds heal 10% faster. Gain 10% damage resistance.}

Clay blinked in astonishment as the information unfolded in front of him. He stayed quiet as he looked through the lines of text. Olivia made a questioning gesture, something from one of Andrew's hand signs that asked his status. His answering hand sign reassured her, at least until he finally broke the [Chant] with a sigh. As he did, another line of text appeared.

{Insight increased by 1! Memory increased by 1!}

"Well? What happened?"

He gave her a crooked grin. "I think you were right." Her expression started to glow, and he continued in an even voice. "The Orison didn't just give me a summary this time. It showed me your entire [Gift]."

Her jaw dropped. "It what?" She seemed absolutely stunned, though she also looked a little impressed at the same time. "How is that even possible?"

Clay shrugged. "I'm guessing it's just related to either my senses or the [Chant] itself. Either way, I have a pretty good picture of your abilities now." He gave her a frank look. "Which, by the way, has told me why you were so interested in hunting while we were back in Pellsglade. Is that where [Reaper] came from?"

She flinched. "Ah, yes." Olivia shook her head. "I'd heard about it from some of the adventuring texts, and I figured that since I had [Killer] already anyway…"

He shifted a little on his seat. "Yeah, that makes sense." The immense amount of damage increase seemed like an incredible find, but it would require him killing somebody, the way she'd been forced to. Theoretically, that was fine. Realistically, though, he couldn't picture himself being willing to make that particular sacrifice.

Instead of dwelling on it, however, he continued. "Also, I'm starting to understand why you keep scaring people. Menace seems like it's been boosted by quite a bit."

Olivia looked mildly scandalized at this point, as if she'd caught him peeping at her. She crossed her arms and glared. "It's been useful. A lot, actually."

Clay raised his hands and grinned. "Sorry, sorry. It's not fair." Then he frowned. "Though you do seem to be gathering [Achievements] a lot faster than I did. That doesn't seem right."

"Then maybe you should try harder." She gave him a raised eyebrow. Then she broke into a grin. "So, I was right. I wonder if that means we can do the same for the rest of the [Chants]."

He thought it over for a moment and then shook his head. "Better to take it a bit slower for now, at least until we know more. We wouldn't want the explosion thing to happen after all."

She sighed. "True. Besides, I still need to work on getting access to the second batch of combat [Chants], and you probably need to figure out if you have access to any new ones as well, right?" With a second, put-upon sigh, she walked over and sat down next to him again. "Maybe we can do that before we reach Rettmore."

Clay grinned a little. "I guess we'll see." He poked the fire again and put an arm around her. "For now, let's get some rest. The [Chants] will be there in the morning."

She nodded, already seeming a little tired, and Clay kissed the top of her head. They sat together, both staring into the fire as the remnants of the book that had nearly killed Glanwood burned away.

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