Eldrin immediately came out on the porch, arrow nocked. In one fluid motion, he pulled the string to his ear, sighed his quarry, and let loose. To Justin’s utter amazement, the arrow landed true, and the beast spiraled to the ground, crashing into a snow pile.

Mira was just behind him, her eyes wide with shock. “What was that about?”

Eldrin lowered his bow. “Nothing of consequence. I’ll be back inside shortly.”

She looked as if she wanted to speak, but then nodded. “Okay.”

When she went back inside, Justin looked at Eldrin. “Is there something I’m missing? That bat was big and scary, but I don’t think it meant any harm. Probably after the warmth of that lantern there.”

“On the contrary,” Eldrin said. “If it had reported to its master, we’d find all our gains erased.”

“Erased? You mean, that thing was working for Gareth?”

“Working for someone in his party, certainly. Agents of Morvath like to use Blood Bats, carrion birds, and sometimes even rats to do their spying and run messages. If allowed to live, we’d have no hope of eluding our pursuers.”

“Why didn’t Gareth send this bat to follow us from the very beginning?”

Eldrin smiled grimly. “Shadowflight is more than capable of taking care of overly inquisitive animals. A bat like this wouldn’t dare show itself unless it was certain Shadowflight was far. Which he is, at the moment, to keep track of Gareth’s movements.”

“I see,” Justin said. “Well, it’s a good thing you were quick.”

“Ranger’s Intuition,” he said. “We should be safe to sleep through the night.”

“What if they have another bat like this?”

“It’s almost certain they have at least a few. Agents of Death are not shy about expending lives in pursuance of a goal, but all the same, creatures like these don’t grow on trees. They must be trained for months, even years. When this one doesn’t report back, they’ll likely know Windfall is our goal. But it’ll be a few days before that information becomes obvious. There’s still time. We just have to be on our toes.”

Justin swallowed. “I’m glad you’re with us, Eldrin.”

“Go get some rest, lad. Probably best to stay inside the rest of the evening.”

Justin went inside, heading upstairs to his room. When he knocked, Lila was quick to answer.

“Took you long enough,” she said, her brown hair wet. Seeing his face, she looked at him with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Justin related the news. Lila listened, her expression grave.

“Damn. Just when I thought things were getting easy.”

Justin nodded. Once again, he was struck by the horrible truth that this just might be the rest of his life. What was supposed to be a relaxing evening was turning out to be the opposite.

“Take a bath,” Lila said. “You’ll feel better for it.”

“I’m not really up for it. I’ll just use my ring.”

Justin didn’t have time to bathe, anyway. There was a knock at the door, which Justin answered to several young men came to take the water away. In the process of its removal, they spilled not a single drop with practiced efficiency.

Justin set his thoughts on the Ring of Hygiene, and within seconds was completely clean, every trace of dirt, dust, sweat, and grime completely removed from his person and clothing. He went to the mirror and was shocked to see his reflection.

In the few days since Highcliff, he’d lost at least another twenty pounds, and his features were even more pronounced. It was like looking at another person, someone he didn’t even recognize. He was down at least fifty pounds since his first day on Eyrth, if not more.

He touched his face. “It doesn’t seem possible.”

“I think it’s a property of your class,” Lila said, standing beside him and looking at his reflection. “Just don’t let it go to your head.”

Why would Lila say that? The only conclusion was that there was a reason it might go to his head. It reminded him of something Alistair had said on the day they met, something about Socialites “looking pretty and being useless.” The transformation was certain to continue as he leveled up even more. If this was Level 7, what would he be like at Level 11, or even Level 15?

Assuming he got that far, of course. It was nice to lose all the weight and become better looking; it would make things go easier in this world. It was a certain, brutal fact of life that looks mattered in getting favors from people, and was part of one’s overall “Charisma.” Plus, there was the practical consideration of it being was far easier to hike hundreds of miles and fight more effectively when there was less of him to carry around.

“Time to sleep,” he finally said, feeling his exhaustion. He was probably thin enough to not to overcrowd the bed too much, which was a startling fact on its own.

He drew the curtains closed, taking a glance out into the snowy darkness before doing so. Nothing moved in the streets aside from the falling snow. With luck, it would stay that way.

Lila had already settled into bed. She blew out the candle, leaving only the red embers of the iron stove supplying warmth. Justin wasn’t sure of the etiquette for sharing a bed with a woman he wasn’t romantically involved with, but had feelings for. Either way, he decided it was better than sleeping on the cold floor, and Lila seemed to expect it. Despite their earlier bet, she had chosen the spot by the window, farthest from the stove.

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Of course, as he slipped under the quilts, it was impossible for his mind not to go to certain places. Sharing a bed with someone you were attracted to had implications, at least where he was from.

Whatever those implications were, Lila didn’t seem too concerned about them. Her leg was already touching his, and she was doing nothing to move it away.

He closed his eyes, resolving to fall asleep, and such was his exhaustion that he almost did so, until he heard her voice, soft in the darkness.

“You know, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re here. I know this isn’t your world, and you’d probably would go back if you had the chance.”

Such sentiments expressed openly were rare for Lila. He wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t even know if he would go back at this point. Yes, this world was dangerous, but what did he have to go back to? His mother’s basement and his video games?

“It’s been a strange journey,” he finally said. “It’s hard to imagine going through all this without you.”

“Remember what I said back in the stairwell? About things being complicated?”

“Of course.”

“Well, maybe it doesn’t have to be so complicated. Maybe we just take things one day at a time and see where it goes.”

Justin thought it over. Of course, a large part of him wanted to say yes. It seemed they got on well together. And there was his obvious attraction to her.

And yet, there were certain realities getting in the way. Being chased by someone wanting him dead, for example. Someone who wanted either his soul or his Prismatic Core, and perhaps even both.

If they got together, that meant the relationship would escalate physically. As much as he would enjoy that, he wasn’t sure he was truly ready for it, given the circumstances.

“If Eldrin had been just a few seconds slower, that bat would have gotten away,” he finally said. “With my life on the line…is it really worth the pain?”

It was quiet for a while. Uncomfortably so. It wasn’t a rejection per se, but a question.

At last, she answered. “I guess we’d just have to have faith that things could one day go back to normal one day.”

“Do you have faith?”

“I’m…not sure. I could have left a long time ago. I thought about it, but it felt wrong.”

“You don’t have to stay for my sake. What made you follow me to begin with, anyway?”

It was a question he should have asked a long time ago, but such was the nature of their journey that it never came up.

She considered. “To be honest, I don’t know what possessed me to follow you back in Mistwatch. You were an anomaly, a stranger like I was. And when you were rejected by the Mercenary Guild, I guess I sensed an opportunity. At Silverton, I thought we might go as far as Belmora before parting ways. But somewhere out there, those thugs are still after me. I’m like you in that way; there’s probably no place safe enough for me to settle down. Maybe it’s not as dangerous as your situation, but I can never stay in one place for too long.”

Justin remembered her tale, what seemed so long ago in the Moonlit Alehouse. He wondered why he’d never made the connection, but it made him even more drawn to her.

“Well, if these Vaults keep popping up, you’ll be able to pay off your debts in no time,” he said.

She snickered. “Yeah, right. I have three crowns and a few silvers to my name. Better than no crowns, of course, but with the interest, I probably owe close to seventy by now.”

“Well, after Mont Elea, maybe we can revisit this.”

Lila was quiet. “Mont Elea is a long way away. It might never happen.”

Justin knew she had a point, but it seemed nothing more than a fantasy right now. That Lila was even having these thoughts meant she wasn’t just into him. She really did like him and was just waiting for him to make a move.

The expectation was a bit terrifying, and Justin didn’t know what to do with it. All his life, he’d told himself that he wasn’t good enough for anyone. It was hard to overcome those mental blocks in a single night.

“I’ve said too much,” she said.

Justin’s mind raced, his emotions swirling in the dark. He wished he knew how to answer her. He took a deep breath. He knew he had to respond, but the right words were elusive.

Finally, he spoke, his voice soft and sincere. “You didn’t say too much. I’m glad you shared all that with me. I guess I’m just not used to having someone care about me. I’m grateful. I feel the same way about you, for the record. I’m just afraid of getting emotionally involved when so much is on the line.”

“Are you not already?”

She had him there. “Well, more emotionally involved.”

“I get that.”

“I don’t know what the future holds. This world is unpredictable. There are so many dangers we still have to face. Having you by my side makes everything better. Maybe we can take it one day at a time, like you said. But maybe we can wait until things are safer before getting more serious.” Justin took her hand to show his sincerity. “I really do like you, Lila. That’s not even a question.” Then, remembering Eldrin’s words, he added, “The best things take time.”

She hesitated a moment before answering. “I know. You’re right.”

“There’s…still something I need to tell you. Last night, I talked to Eldrin while you and Kargan were asleep.”

“Oh?”

“I wanted to know what the Baron sees in me. Why he’s going through all this effort.”

Justin shared what he had learned, and Lila listened quietly. If she was going to be following him, she deserved to know the truth.

She was quiet for a while, absorbing the information. “That’s terrifying. I’ve heard of Ascendant Classes before, but it’s more like a legend to most people. Nothing real.”

“It’s all possible if he catches me,” Justin said. “And just hearing that…it made me feel completely hopeless.”

She squeezed his hand. “It’s not hopeless. Maybe it feels like that, but the fact we’ve gotten this far is a blessing of the gods themselves. Maybe Alistair was right.”

“About what?”

“They’re watching over you. That’s what the cores are. People say they are a connection between us, the gods, and even the Creator. The classes are their gifts to us, and you carry a Prismatic Core, the best kind there is. Some people say that it doesn’t just give you any class you want. It gives you the blessing of the Creator himself.”

“That’s what Eldrin said, too. I’m not sure if I believe him.”

“I mean, think of everything that’s happened since you’ve found it. Alistair walking on the road, just in time to save you from goblins. An offer of help from me, when you were laughed out of the Mercenary Guild. Finding Eldrin in that inn, having his skills to keep us ahead of our enemies. Alistair getting you out of Silverton just in time. And finding not one, but three Vaults, all of which gave resources we needed. I could go on.” She paused, letting it sink in. “It doesn’t make you invincible, of course, but it gives you an edge.”

Justin wondered if she had a point. Eldrin had said much the same thing. “There were a lot of unlucky things to happen, too. I picked up a parcel that was addressed to a creep. The Death Mark. Alistair dying…”

“Maybe,” Lila said. “But wouldn’t you rather believe you were lucky?”

It was a nice idea. Hopefully, it was true. Either way, Justin mentally noted to learn more about it when he had the chance. He had to admit it would explain a lot of the fortunate “coincidences” that have happened. Lila was right about Alistair. The Paladin had even mentioned he’d never seen so many Vaults spring from the Ether. Did that have something to do with his Prismatic Core, too?

“You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

“It’s too soon to give up and feel hopeless. In a couple of days, we’ll be in Windfall and our options will open up. You’ll see.”

The exhaustion of the day was now hitting him in full force. “Thanks, Lila. Let’s get some rest.”

“All right. Good night.”

Justin soon fell sleep.