Justin went downstairs to find his employees already wrapping up breakfast and getting ready to start the day, all without him. Maybe it was a sign the business was moving on just fine.

In all the excitement of his level-up, he had missed his notification regarding his Jester's Roulette cane.

He pulled up his status screen to review the changes. He immediately found the notification.

[Jester's Roulette: +6 to Intellect.]

[Jester's Gamble: Mad Dash: Increase your movement speed by 100% for 5 seconds. When Mad Dash ends, inflict a random mental status effect on Self for 5 seconds.]

Justin blinked. A mobility skill. Always useful to have, but the debuff was extremely punishing; his new armor wouldn't protect him from every mental status effect this world had to throw at him.

A risky gambit, to be sure, and likely not one he would touch unless he desperately needed it. 100% increased speed was certainly much higher than anything he had seen so far.

It was time to get down to business. He caught Lila's eye and gestured toward the office. "We need to talk."

Lila followed him in, closing the door behind her. "That sounds ominous."

"The Templars are probably going to send us after Valdrik soon," Justin said. "Could be weeks. Could be months. And the business—"

"Will fall apart," Lila finished. She leaned against the desk, her expression thoughtful rather than worried. "I've been thinking about that."

Before Justin could respond, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Lila called.

Ilsa entered, her usual unflappable expression in place. "I'm here to discuss the future of Summon & Supply, given yesterday's events."

Justin almost laughed. Of course she'd anticipated this. "Yes. Let's figure it out together. But before I forget..."

He produced the Scholar's Core from his pocket, setting it on the desk between them. It gave off a resplendent blue light, and deep within its whorls, Justin could just make out the icon of a book—a fitting emblem for the class.

"Ilsa, this is yours. It's long past time you got it, but it comes with a condition."

Ilsa's eyebrow arched. "And what's that?"

"A promotion," Justin said. "General manager. We'll need someone to hold down the fort while Lila and I are gone."

Ilsa's expression didn't change, but something flickered in her eyes. "That's well and good, Mr. Talemaker, but practically all of our revenue comes from Lila's specialized potions. How are we supposed to stay in business and pay everyone if she's gone? We have over a hundred memberships now, and most of them want access to her special brews—brews that rely on her unique Bardic skills." She paused. "What am I supposed to tell people if she leaves? This would ruin our reputation."

Justin felt the words hit harder than they should have. She wasn't worried about losing him—she was worried about losing Lila.

And honestly, she was right.

He'd been so focused on the logistics—finding a manager and keeping things running—that he hadn't considered the most obvious problem. The business didn't just need management; it needed Lila's potions.

His employees were as invested in this business as he was, if not more so. Its success was tied to their livelihoods and futures. Meanwhile, by this point, he was independently wealthy and didn't need it.

His original plan had been to use Lila's unique potions to gain market share and establish Summon & Supply's reputation, then scale into more common items once they had customer loyalty. But if Lila weren't here, that became impossible. The business might survive, but only as an ordinary potions distributor. They'd lose one of their two key competitive edges, the other being the summoning charm system.

"She's right," Lila said quietly. "The specialized potions are what set us apart. Without them..." She met Justin's eyes. "Justin, this is hard to say, so I just need to say it. I'm staying."

Justin felt his stomach drop. "What?"

The word came out more sharply than he intended.

"This is my dream. It always has been. A successful business, something that's mine, a place where I belong." She gestured around the office. "We built this together. And now it needs one of us to stay and see it through."

"But I need you," Justin protested. "Your singing, your potions—I would have been dead a dozen times over. How am I supposed to manage without you?"

She smiled. "You didn't need me yesterday. You literally just banished a Level 50 Lich. Yeah, I gave you a buff at the right moment. But you would have found a way regardless."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"My point is, you're strong. You have a powerful class this world has likely never seen. And it'll only get stronger." She stepped closer. "The adventuring life is in my blood now. I'll run Vaults with you when I can to keep my skills sharp. But I don't want that to be my entire life." Her expression softened. "I'm a Songbrewer now. Yes, my potions are useful for adventuring, but the core of the class is mercantile. I've been turning this over in my head for a while now. Do you know how hard it is to find a good idea and execute it? To be there at just the right time to be part of something great? You had a crazy good idea with the charm system. And I have my potions. I would never forgive myself for not seeing this through, or at least giving it a solid try. I'd ask you to do the same... but I know it can't be the same anymore."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Justin considered this. "What about the Templars? Technically, you're still their employee. Is Alistair okay with this?"

"I've already spoken to him. The Templars need eyes here in Belmora anyway. I'll continue my duties, just in a more limited role. And Alistair thinks they might have use for some of my potions—that's good for business, too." She met his eyes. "I can't develop my skills if I'm on the road. I'm not Eldrin; I can't just brew potions in the wild."

Justin wondered briefly if Eldrin was going his own way, too. He'd fulfilled his original purpose. He hadn't exactly delivered Justin to Mont Elea, as promised, but Justin had found his way there anyway. After tying up loose ends with the Thornwood succession, after lending his aid following Justin's message, what was left to keep him here? That was probably a conversation they still needed to have.

He looked between them. Lila's determined expression, Ilsa's patient practicality. They'd already worked this out between themselves, he realized. They'd anticipated this conversation and come prepared.

He wasn't sure if he should feel betrayed. But strangely, it felt... right.

Ilsa cleared her throat. "Of course, you'll remain co-owner with Lila. Your profit share will continue quarterly."

"But we wouldn't pay you a wage," Lila added. "Unless you decided to stay and help out. Which you're welcome to, though I think it's clear—especially with your class change—that you have other ideas."

Yes, he had other ideas. But those ideas had been predicated on Lila being there to back him up. In his heart, he knew she was right. He could make it fine without her, though it would certainly be tougher.

The road ahead would also be a lot lonelier. Lila brought such warmth and humor to everyday situations that the thought of going without that was almost unbearable. He'd have Alistair's duty-bound seriousness and Eldrin's pragmatic wisdom.

Both good men. Both valuable companions. But neither of them would make him laugh when he needed it most.

"I'm going to miss the heck out of you," Justin said, pulling her into a hug.

She hugged him back, squeezing tight. When they pulled apart, her green eyes were bright. "I'll always be here if you need me. The world's smaller than you think. But day-to-day? Week-to-week? I need to be here. At least for now."

At least for now. That could mean months. Could mean years.

"What about what the Queen said?" Justin asked. "You're a knight now. You'll receive a title and land in the Northwood."

"The Northwood is far from Belmora," Lila said, "and I hate the cold. I'll probably just sell the land and put the money back into the business."

Justin nodded. "Smart. I'll probably keep mine. Never had much of a home in this world anyway—this place was the closest. Maybe a cabin in the woods would be nice. Take up hunting."

Lila's expression softened. "You always have a home here, Justin. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know," Justin said.

"But I can't promise you'll have your old bed," Lila added with a smile. "You'll have a safe place to stay all the same. Just... don't stay away too long."

"Ah, I see now," Justin said. "All this is a ploy to get your own room."

Lila grinned. "Was it that obvious?"

Something occurred to Justin then. Ilsa was right in that his first employees owed their lives to him. But there could be more to it than that. Given their backgrounds, they might actually be the best source of intelligence on Count Aurelian's activities, assuming there was a connection. He'd have to mention it to Alistair, if the Paladin hadn't thought of it already.

"You're absolutely sure?" he asked. "I feel like a broken record."

"I don't know what that is, but yes. It's what I want. Summon & Supply might not be your path anymore, Justin. But it's mine. For now."

Ilsa cleared her throat. "If that's settled, we should discuss transition plans. I'll need training on certain procedures, and perhaps a Scholar mentor to help me interface with the ledger book..."

"Ilsa." Justin held up a hand. "Absorb the Scholar Core first. Then we'll talk about the rest."

She picked up the core, turning it over in her hands. For just a moment, her unflappable facade cracked completely. Her eyes glistened, and her voice caught. "Thank you, Mr. Talemaker. I won't let you down."

"I know you won't. You never have."

She blinked rapidly, composure sliding back into place. "I'd rather do this in private, I think." She looked at Lila. "We'll talk soon."

As Ilsa left to bind the core, Justin and Lila sat in somewhat awkward silence.

All the practical matters were settled. The emotional ones... those would take time.

He managed a smile. "Well, goodbyes are always hard."

"You're not leaving immediately, Justin."

"Today, almost certainly." He did his best to make his tone take on Alistair's cadence. "I'm afraid evil never rests." He puffed out his chest. "And it takes a true hero to..."

Lila gave him a playful punch on the arm. "Make sure Alistair doesn't get you killed with his sense of duty and honor. And Eldrin's too serious. With me gone, you'll need to fill your 'fun person' slot. Myrelle, maybe?"

Justin sighed. "She's none too happy with me, I think. Women tend not to like it when you lie to them."

"Well, as a woman, I'll say we're capable of forgiving a lot. Too much, sometimes." She met his eyes. "You're a good man, Justin. She understands why you lied, even if she doesn't like it."

"She has her duties as a fancy noble," Justin said. "I'm not sure she's ready to leave all that behind."

"She's proud, as might be expected," Lila said. "But she's smart, capable, and unlike you, she was born to the Socialite class. Her name will open doors where even the Hero of Belmora might not."

"That's my newest Legendary Title, actually," Justin said. "Got it this morning. Plus my next level."

"Same here. It should help with my brewing speed."

"Sounds like something you'll need."

A light knock sounded at the door as Alistair and Eldrin entered, each clad in their new Mythic armor sets. Alistair's was white and gold, with his new golden war hammer inscribed with phoenix feathers slung across his back. Eldrin, dressed in forest green and brown armor threaded with platinum, carried his new Poisonfall Blade in a dark leather scabbard. The blade seemed to drink light, creating a subtle shadow aura around him. When he stood still, his armor nearly blended with the wall behind him—some kind of camouflage enchantment far more advanced than his original Ranger armor.

"Delivered the news?" the Paladin asked.

"Everyone but me knew about this?" Justin said.

"Unfortunately," Eldrin replied. "But it's actually a compliment to Lila. She wanted to make sure the news landed as softly as possible."

"Like being punched by a pillow," Justin muttered.

"Well, no goodbyes just yet," Alistair said. "Tiffany's here with orders. And she mentioned something about the Queen wanting to properly recognize and reward us."

"New Hope ceremony scene incoming," Justin said. "Atlas can be Metal Chewie!"

All three looked at him as if he'd grown a second head.

"Valdrik would get it," he grumbled.

"Let's go," Lila said, standing.

"Give me just a minute," Justin said.

As they filed out, Justin stood alone for a moment, processing everything. Lila was staying. Ilsa would be manager. The business would continue without him.

It was the right decision. The smart decision. The only decision that made sense.

It just... sucked.

But Lila was right. This world wasn't exactly small. It was probably similar in size to Earth, if not larger.

And assuming he could get High Priest Kaive's blessing to use the Waygates freely... for purely Templar business, of course... then returning to Belmora wouldn't be too much of a chore.

He gave himself a stretch, straightened his new coat, and adjusted his top hat.

He headed for the front. Time to see what Tiffany had in store.

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