Gareth led the party through the cavern’s winding passages. The walls narrowed and widened at random intervals. Frosted stalagmites rose from the ground, while jagged columns extended from floor to ceiling. At times, the path opened into wider chambers. Branching passages stretched off into the shadows.

After about half an hour, they reached the end of the main passage, where a shimmering blue barrier blocked their way out. As Wolfram had mentioned, its plane was filled with luminous, shifting runes. The runes were angular and elegant, appearing almost fluid as they wove together in complex, glowing patterns. Beyond it, Justin could see a tunnel of bluish ice, which had to lead into the heart of the glacier outside.

Valdrik stepped forward, scrutinizing the intricate markings with narrowed eyes. From his frown, Justin could tell this barrier wasn’t something the Baron could easily dispel.

After a tense silence, Valdrik turned back to the group. “This won’t go down with anything but a key crystal. Attempting to bypass it without it would be…disastrous. I had hoped we could expedite our progress here, but it appears we’ll need to investigate the Vault further.”

“What’s a key crystal?” Kargan asked.

“Just what it sounds like. It’s an ether crystal that’s been enchanted to control barriers like this. It’s also possible it’s not a key crystal, but something magical that’s attuned to the ward. If we can bring it here, it will go away.” He looked at Gareth. “You mentioned two other paths out of the main cavern?”

“Yes,” Gareth replied. “One appears to be an ancient city frozen in the ice. The other leads to a series of descending tunnels that smell strongly of brimstone.”

“We’ll start with this city,” Valdrik decided. “However, I’ve never heard of any city on Nithral Island. Not even during Serenthel’s Golden Age two millennia ago.”

“Perhaps the city is a conjuration of the Vault,” Rothian suggested.

“Maybe,” Valdrik replied, his expression thoughtful. “We’ll have to discover that on our own. Let’s move out—and stay alert.”

They retraced their steps, heading back through the cavern. The Baron’s light barely pushed back the surrounding darkness.

As they walked, Valdrik called out. “Mr. Talemaker. A word, if you please.”

Justin considered ignoring the invitation, but he knew he had as much to gain from this exchange as the Baron. He gave Lila a quick nod to show he’d be all right, then stepped up beside Valdrik. He was careful to keep his distance.

They walked in tense silence, the Baron content with the quiet, while Justin felt a prickling awareness of every echoing footfall.

“So, Justin,” the Baron began with a slight, ironic smile. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Does it look like it?”

Valdrik chuckled. “It’s always important to enjoy the game you’re playing, don’t you think?”

“This isn’t a game. To call it one is disingenuous at best.”

The Baron smirked. “I noticed you selected the Gentleman Focus. It’s not a poor choice. It adds a bit of survivability, offers a little of everything. Still, I find it lacks the scaling potential of other Focuses.”

“How so?”

“A Seducer, for example, can become a master manipulator, gaining passive bonuses for every character they can Fascinate.” Justin noted the term ‘Fascinate’—a clear System mechanic, by the sound of it. “The more lands and vassals a Noble commands, the greater their advantages. And even the Duelist, who might seem too narrowly specialized at first, unlocks a powerful boon called Victor’s Aura, usually around Level 15. It grants a temporary boost to all their Attributes each time a worthy opponent falls. Sometimes, this Attribute boost can become permanent.” He gave a small shrug. “Gentleman, on the other hand? The evasion boost is useful, but Attribute Points are so rare that its scaling potential pales compared to everything I just mentioned.”

Justin realized the Baron didn’t know about his Amulet of Equilibrium, which would allow him to accrue Attribute Points far more quickly. And he could never learn about it. “I didn’t know all that. But I feel fine about my choice.”

“It’s all in how you use it. A word of advice: you should really take it upon yourself to find a library and learn more about your class. In the end, it’s not the strength of your arm that will save you, but the depth of your understanding.”

“Hard to do some reading when you’re being chased by a power-mad fool.”

Valdrik chuckled. “Fair point. How many Focus choices did the System present to you?”

“Eight, if I recall correctly,” Justin said.

Both of Valdrik’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Eight? Impressive. I was given three.”

“And you chose…?”

“The Noble Focus. Quite fitting, don’t you think?”

“I thought you chose Necromancer.”

“Ah, yes. Noble was my first Focus, one that I was fortunate enough to keep the benefits of when I took on Necromancer. Normally, you can’t switch Focuses, but sometimes, the System makes exceptions.”

“I imagine Necromancer scales very well.”

“Very well indeed. I get ten percent of the experience any of my thralls get. It may not seem like much, but it can really add up.”

“So that’s how you’re Level 36.”

“Yes,” the Baron said. “It’s painfully difficult to level up this high. I need almost two million experience just to get to Level 37. And over twice that to get to 40. Necromancy is my shortcut. But I won’t get there in any amount of time unless I gain more thralls.”

“And you want to get to Level 40…why? For the sake of power itself?”

“Power is a means to an end. At Level 40, most places in the world will be open to me. But there are places that even I can’t go to unless I find others who are as strong as me. The secrets of reality lie buried in the most dangerous places. And these secrets might be the key to escaping this place once and for all.”

“Maybe you should check out the Vault of Draegor.”

Valdrik chuckled. “I’d be quite the hero, wouldn’t I? But I wouldn’t dare try unless I had at least seven others just like me, and if I were Level 40 myself. Level 40s are rarer than phoenix feathers dipped in dragon blood.”

“That’s…a grisly image. But why stop at Level 40? With a Prismatic Core, you can gain an Ascendant Class. If only you knew somebody who had one.”

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“You are incisive. But a Prismatic Core wouldn’t do me good. Not right now. In the best conditions, I won’t reach Level 40 for another five years or more, and I can’t even absorb a Prismatic Core until Level 40 is unlocked. My two other slots are already filled.”

“That doesn’t mean you couldn’t just store it with your little Cant of Repository. I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish with this conversation. You’ve already shown your hand, Valdrik.”

“You’re right, of course. It’s a shame, isn’t it? Had you never stumbled upon that core, what a friendship we might have had.”

Justin had his doubts, but he saw Valdrik’s point.

Valdrik continued. “You’ve proven more capable than I’d expected. You’re Level 11. You should have been dead long ago. But from what I gathered, you and Kargan handled a Level 15 Vault back in Drakendir.”

“Did Kargan tell you about that?”

Valdrik shook his head. “No. It was the goblin queen, Grizshara. I sought information, and she provided it freely. When she saw the danger I posed, she was quite insistent on recounting your exploits rather than risking her soldiers. She told me all I needed to know—and then some. As I understand it, you unraveled quite a mystery. And won a couple of important items to boot.”

Justin felt a surge of anger but pushed it down. He supposed he shouldn’t feel surprised at being betrayed by the Queen, but after saving her daughter, he had expected a bit more. “So, what are you saying, Valdrik?”

“That maybe we can…rethink things. I can’t even use the Prismatic Core until I’m Level 40. That’s quite some time away. Until then, we work together. I could teach you a lot. Surviving on luck will only get you so far, especially if you’re set on going to Mont Elea. Facing the Templars would be the height of foolishness. After everything I’ve warned you about them, you should know better.”

Justin chose his words carefully. Of course, he had no plans to go to Mont Elea, but the Baron didn’t know that. And the less he knew, the better. “Someone has to know what you’re really after, Valdrik. Alistair’s death is proof enough that you can’t be trusted. You say you’re doing everything you can to find a way out, but how am I supposed to know that’s the truth? The point is, I have something you want. A Prismatic Core only shows up four times a year, and I imagine most go unclaimed. If you’re ever going to get one, I’m your only shot. Whether it’s right after this Vault, or five years ago, you’re going to have to kill me. There’s no way around that.”

Justin watched for a reaction from the Baron’s men, but there was none. As he had suspected, the Baron was warding their conversation.

The Baron’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a cold, calculating gleam in his eyes. “You’re a bold one, Justin. But even I can’t predict how this will turn out. Sometimes, I think I should just kill you and be done with it. And yet I see your potential, along with a certain amount of kinship, given your origins.” He paused. “How you conduct yourself will be how you tip the scales.”

Justin felt a shift in the air. He somehow knew it meant they were no longer being warded. It was a signal that the conversation was over.

He slipped back to the rear of the party, where Lila, Eldrin, and Kargan were walking well behind. They looked at him questioningly. As Justin suspected, they had caught none of the conversation.

“Well?” Lila asked.

“He said I’m a stand-up guy and he’d like to work with me. What do you think?”

Lila blew a raspberry. “Yeah, right. And I’m sure he’s offering free lessons in necromancy on the side.”

“I wouldn’t be shocked at this point.”

“Just remember what he’s after,” Eldrin said. “For all his words of friendship, he only wants one thing.”

“I’ll never forget it,” Justin said.

Kargan and Ryak remained silent. Justin noted Kargan in particular. He wondered if he should speak to him about Valdrik’s machinations, but something in the orc’s manner told him now wasn’t the time. He had to trust Kargan had a good head on his shoulders and wouldn’t be taken in by the Baron’s lies.

Besides, if Justin said anything now, Valdrik would likely overhear it and counter it effectively down the line.

Justin found his gaze wandering off as they turned down a new passage, which he assumed to be the one leading to the ruins. He wondered when, or if, they would be challenged. Perhaps all those elemental wraiths had been guarding this area, and that was why it was empty.

But that was when he saw it. The same flame as by the cave entrance, except this time, it wasn’t going away. It wasn’t just a flame, but something like a spear floating in the darkness.

Justin continued to watch, a spectral form materializing next to the spear, clad in radiant armor. Its face was human, a young man with flaming red hair.

The spirit held a long, bony finger to its lips, as if its presence should be kept secret. It made no move to attack.

Justin watched Lila for a reaction. Her eyes widened. She made to call out a warning, but then her eyes became hooded, as if under a spell.

Justin, with a rising alarm, attempted to give the same warning. That was when he felt a mental push, which was quickly rebuffed.

[Mind Control attempt resisted by the Top Hat of Mental Clarity!]

Recovering, Justin shouted. “There’s a ghost over there! It’s mind-controlling Lila!”

Already, Lila was stepping off the trail, heading toward the ghost.

Justin tried to hold her back, but she threw his arm away with surprising strength, continuing to navigate her way down the side toward her doom.

“Lila!” Justin called. “Lila, turn around!”

“It’s no good,” Wolfram growled. “She’s completely bewitched. Weak-minded fool.”

The Baron was quick to cast spells over every member of the party, a silvery aura settling around everyone’s head. Justin could only assume it was some sort of mind resistance ward.

Justin was the only one who didn’t get one. From Harrington’s party, Valdrik already knew Justin had mind-control immunity.

The ghost still wasn’t attacking; instead, it was content to hypnotize Lila, who was now at the edge of the light.

“Come on!” he said. “We need to go after her.”

But just as he stepped off the trail, a shimmering barrier was raised, blocking his path and knocking him back a step.

Justin whirled on the source of the magic: Valdrik.

“Valdrik, let me go!”

“She’s as good as dead, Justin. I will not risk the entire party for one lost sheep.”

“Lost sheep? Dispel the magic! Or better yet, kill that spirit!”

Already, Lila was lost to the darkness. Justin wanted to scream in frustration.

“That’s not as simple as you would believe,” Valdrik said. “We’re moving on. Stay here if you must, but just know it will end in your death.”

And if Justin died, he would leave something behind for the Baron to pick up. Something he couldn’t be allowed to have.

“This is no time for games, Valdrik,” Eldrin said. “We must at least attempt to save her!”

“I have a boon that allows me to see the levels of all monsters and characters,” he said. “That spirit over there is Level 40. It’s far too great a risk, even working together.”

“Level 40?” Eldrin said, his face paling. “How is that possible in a Level 35 Vault?”

Valdrik shrugged. “I don’t know. And I don’t care to find out.”

Justin opened his mouth to argue, but a prickling sensation ran down his spine. His eyes darted around the cave, catching the faint glimmer of shifting figures just beyond the reach of the Baron’s light. Shadows coalesced into forms, each shimmering with an eerie, elemental glow.

And closest to Justin, an icy wraith drifted forward, its body cloaked in whirling frost that radiated an intense chill.

Before he could think, Justin switched Affinities.

[Affinity activated: Vorthak’s Flame.]

A sudden heat blazed to life around him, casting flames along his body and even extending down his cane. The wraith’s frost met his flames with a hiss, its advance stalled by Justin’s fiery aura. He seized the moment, driving forward with two swift strikes to push it back. The flames spread along its incorporeal form. The wraith let out a pained shriek.

Eldrin and Kargan were fighting a few paces behind Justin, teaming up against a water wraith. As their battle drifted further from him, a sharp, crystalline sound erupted from the ice wraith. A jagged icicle formed at its core, aimed directly at Justin’s chest. He activated Gentleman’s Sidestep just in the nick of time, and in one seamless movement, shifted aside. The icicle shot past him, missing by mere inches before being obliterated by one of Rothian’s fireballs.

Justin stepped closer to the wraith, his flame-wreathed cane striking directly into the wraith’s icy core. The magical flames seemed to cling to the creature, burning into its form with an otherworldly intensity. The wraith’s screeches echoed, its body writhing under the magic that ate through it with increasing ferocity. Justin continued wailing on it until piece by piece, it dissolved. A fine, silvery dust floated to the ground.

Justin knew that without Vorthak’s Flame, he would have been dead. The mystical fire had allowed him to punch far above his weight.

He scanned the area. The others were deep in their own battles, each tangled with one or two wraiths. A dozen elementals filled the cave, casting flickering shadows across the icy walls. Valdrik fought furiously, locked in combat with two wraiths that swirled around him like wolves circling prey. Eldrin, Kargan, and Ryak were still fighting the water wraith. Gareth, Wolfram, and Rothian were fighting next to Valdrik.

Which left Justin alone with a terrifying choice, the only one in a position to even save Lila. Peering deeper into the darkness, he saw no trace of her. But the barrier Valdrik had created was gone. The fiery spirit, spear in hand, still glowed in the distance, flickering like a distant beacon. Every instinct told him it was a trap. But Lila was out there, and Justin knew he couldn’t leave her behind.

He made his decision, moving off into the darkness.

“Justin!” Eldrin shouted over the clamor.

“Stay back!” Justin called, already moving. “Watch out for Kargan.”

He didn’t wait for a response. He sprinted away from the battle, determined to save Lila or die trying.