Justin, Lila, and Eldrin descended the ancient stairway into the mushroom forest. The towering caps stretched overhead like the canopies of an alien rainforest, their delicate edges emitting a soft luminescence. Tiny spores floated in the air, shimmering like fireflies.

Eldrin took the lead, the Wayfinder’s Compass in hand. The enchanted needle occasionally shifted, pointing them off the main path for reasons that weren’t always clear. Each time, the group followed without question.

The forest remained still—no sounds of wildlife, no signs of patrols or traps. Just the soft glow of the mushrooms and the echoing tap of their footsteps on the stone path, along with a strange hum that seemed just out of Justin’s hearing range.

At one point, Eldrin kneeled by a large mushroom, its cap glowing a faint indigo. He scraped off a small sample of its flesh and tucked it into a pouch on his belt, all without slowing the party’s pace. Justin raised an eyebrow, impressed by his efficiency. The Ranger did this several more times without a word. Justin was sure this place was a treasure trove of rare ingredients.

After about an hour of weaving through the towering fungi, the forest thinned. The path led them into what could only be described as an outlying settlement of the city. A ring of small houses emerged from the shadows, carved directly into the stone. The architecture was curious—slightly smaller than what would be comfortable for a human, yet still too large for a two- or three-foot-tall gnome.

Justin studied the peculiar scale of the structures. Maybe the gnomes weren’t just building for themselves. If this city was a crossroads because of the gate, it made sense that the buildings would be large enough to accommodate other races.

Lila’s gaze flicked between the empty houses. “It’s so…empty. Creepy.”

Justin would take “creepily empty,” over “hellish Fyrspawn demons,” any day.

They peered into the distance, where the downward slope revealed more buildings, along with the tall tower in the far distance.

Eldrin’s eyes remained fixed on the compass, the golden needle still pointing in that direction. He then scanned the surrounding houses, taking in the narrow alleyways that wound deeper into the settlement. “We need to find somewhere to rest for the night. We can’t push straight into the city. If the gate’s anywhere near that tower—and all those Fyrspawn—it’s better if we go in fresh. We also need to process our level-ups.”

“Sounds good to me,” Lila said. Her voice was light, but Justin could hear the strain beneath it. It had been a long day for all of them.

Over the next few minutes, the group explored the town, poking their heads into a few of the narrow doorways. Inside, they found only silence and decay. What little furniture remained was broken, the wood rotted through, and everything else had been picked clean by looters over the centuries. No threats presented themselves.

At last, Eldrin stopped at an alleyway that wound deeper than the others. At the very end stood a single door, still intact. He tried the handle and found it unlocked. With a cautious push, he opened it, revealing a short hallway. The air inside was stale but not unpleasant.

The next couple of minutes were spent securing the place. Justin and Lila checked the sparse rooms. The scale and general shape of those rooms reminded Justin of a Hobbit hole, at least as depicted on the silver screen. Nothing seemed to stir within, and no signs of a recent disturbance could be found.

“You two set up,” Eldrin said, already turning back toward the alley. “I’ll make sure our tracks are covered, just to be safe.”

Justin nodded. “Be careful out there.”

Eldrin gave him a brief nod and slipped out, leaving Justin and Lila alone in what might have once been a living room. A cold hearth was the room’s central feature, surrounded by crumbled stonework and faint traces of soot. They set down their packs and got out their rations for the evening.

The silence was heavier now, almost oppressive. Justin glanced around, trying to imagine the lives that had been lived here before it all fell apart. He let out a long sigh, the silence making Kargan’s and Ryak’s absence even more pronounced. He hoped the orc and his iceborne guide were okay.

Justin stared at the empty hearth. “Did I do the right thing?”

Lila took a moment to consider before answering. “I think you did. It’s easy to doubt yourself, but the truth is, you can’t control other people.”

Justin huffed a bitter laugh. “I’m a Charisma class. Controlling other people with my words is my forte.” He laughed faintly, trying to lighten the mood, but Lila didn’t smile.

She met his gaze seriously. “Friends don’t do that to friends, Justin.”

He blinked, taken aback. Slowly, he shook his head, pulling off his top hat and setting it on his knee. “I know, half-kidding. It’s just… frustrating, you know? It's hard to imagine how we’re going to make it without them. What if the Baron catches up to them?”

Lila’s expression softened. “Justin, you did everything you could. You gave them a chance to stay, and you didn’t push them when they chose not to. That’s what matters. You can’t protect everyone, no matter how hard you try. And honestly, you shouldn’t try to carry that weight alone.”

He looked down at his hat, his fingers fidgeting with the brim. “I know. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

“No, it doesn’t. But that’s why we’re still here. You’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out—one step at a time.”

Her words, simple as they were, settled something inside him. He gave her a small nod, then straightened his hat back onto his head.

It was at that moment Eldrin returned. Justin hadn’t even heard the door close behind him.

“Coast is clear,” Eldrin said, his voice low.

Justin nodded, a wave of relief washing over him. “Good. Dinner’s ready. Yet more waybread and salted fish. Dig in.”

Eldrin joined them at the small hearth. Justin couldn’t wait until they were back in civilization, eating a proper meal. But given the way things were going, he wasn’t sure if that was a realistic dream anymore.

He bit into the dry bread and tough fish, hardly even tasting it. Food was food, and right now, it was fuel for the road ahead. Justin still kept the Star well-hidden, wrapped in an old shirt. It was shining brilliantly now, and he didn’t want to risk its light spilling down the hallway and perhaps escaping out a window. So, it was just his cane’s dim light; without it, they would have been in complete darkness. Justin felt his eyelids grow heavier as the silence stretched on.

But then Eldrin spoke, cutting through the quiet. “So, Justin,” he said, “I think it’s time you explained what is going on.”

Justin froze, the bite of fish halfway to his mouth. He swallowed hard, suddenly more awake than before.

Justin sighed. “You’re right. It’s time.”

He glanced at Lila, who gave him an encouraging nod.

“Let’s hear it, then,” Eldrin said. He leaned back slightly, but his posture remained alert. Justin could tell he wasn’t going to miss a single word.

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Justin gathered his thoughts. “All right. I never really told you everything the Baron said at that party. It potentially changes things.”

At last, Justin finally laid everything out for Eldrin—everything he had already confided in Lila. Of course, the Ranger had asked basic questions here and there while crossing the tundra, but Justin had kept back a couple of crucial details, perhaps the most important ones: the revelation that the Templars hunted Earthers like him, and that Valdrik believed this world to be an illusion. Eldrin asked questions that forced Justin to dig deep into his thoughts so that he had the full picture.

“That’s everything,” Justin said. “For now, I’m not going anywhere near Mont Elea or the Templars. Not as long as there’s a chance they’ll figure out what I am.” He paused. “If you feel it’s your duty to share news about Valdrik or anything we’ve learned, that's fine—I won’t stop you. That’s what Lila and I talked about that night in the Everwood. We haven’t discussed it since, but we thought about going our own way when the opportunity presented itself.”

Eldrin listened silently, his expression unreadable. The light from the cane cast a shadow across his face, accentuating the furrow in his brow and the hard set of his jaw.

Eldrin leaned back slightly, his arms crossed over his chest, and let out a long breath. “That’s…quite a lot to take in,” he said finally. “I knew you were holding something back, but I thought you would tell me in your own time.”

Justin nodded, feeling a bit guilty. “I know. Believe me, I’ve been wrestling with it for weeks. I wanted to tell you, but I kept putting it off. Drakendir was chaos. After that, I kept waiting for the perfect time that never came. And here we are.”

Eldrin’s gaze didn’t waver. “Do you trust what Valdrik said?”

Justin hesitated. “Not entirely. But some of what he said has the ring of truth. I don’t trust him, but I believe the Templars are a real threat. I don’t believe Alistair knew about my origins, even if I did mention where I was originally from.”

“He didn’t,” Eldrin confirmed. “At least from the way he spoke to me, he didn’t. He was going to ask you about that.”

“I know,” Justin said. “I remember overhearing that at the inn. If there’s even a chance that what Valdrik is saying is true, I need to stay as far from them as I can.”

Eldrin didn’t respond immediately. He stared at the floor, lost in thought. Whatever he was processing, Justin could only hope it wouldn’t fracture the trust they had built.

Finally, Eldrin straightened. “You’ve given me a lot to think about. I won’t pretend I have all the answers. But have you considered Valdrik told you that so that you would be afraid to go to Mont Elea?”

Justin nodded. “Yes, I’ve had that thought. More than once.”

“It won’t be easy,” Eldrin went on. “But if I were to go alone—which I will, if I must—the Templars will want the full story. If they don’t get it, they’re less likely to take Valdrik’s threat seriously. And if I mention you two, they'll definitely want to meet you both, and will question why you didn't come with me. My opinion is that it's better if we all go, perhaps holding back the part about your Earth origins. That way, we can be sure to drive the nail in his coffin. He will be done once and for all.”

Justin nodded, a tendril of fear snaking in his stomach. “I see your point. But then they’ll want to know why Valdrik is after me, why he’s going through all the trouble.”

“You’ll have to tell them about your core,” Lila said.

Justin nodded. “Yes. And who can say what will happen then? That’s a risk I can’t afford.”

Eldrin produced a ring from his pocket. “Maybe you won't have to.”

Justin watched the ring curiously. He remembered seeing it on Alistair’s finger. It was the one he had elected to keep on rather than replacing it with the one he’d won at the first Vault. That seemed ages ago.

“Is that Alistair’s ring?” Lila asked.

Eldrin nodded. “He gave this to me on that fateful day outside the catacombs.”

Justin frowned. “I completely missed that.”

“You were focused on other things, lad. Anyhow, I knew then what he planned, and he knew I’d need to prove we were together.”

“Why didn’t you say anything about it before?”

Eldrin shrugged. “I was going to. But like you, I suppose, the longer I waited, the less important it seemed. The ring isn’t necessary to prove our words, but it helps.”

“Why isn’t it enough on its own?” Justin asked. “Why do Lila and I both need to go?”

“Because I can’t lie to the High Priest of Arion and expect to escape his scrutiny. Which means I will at least talk about you in passing. Your absence, I believe, would be stranger to him than your presence. He has no reason to ask about your origins.”

“What if he does, out of simple curiosity?”

“Then you say you are from the Aranthian Hinterlands, somewhere outside Mistwatch. That’s where you met Alistair. It’s best if you don’t change any details you don’t have to. He won’t be any the wiser.”

Justin frowned in thought. Eldrin was far more confident of this than he was.

“Either way, none of this matters right now,” Lila said. “There’s still time to decide.”

Eldrin nodded. “That’s right. Mont Elea, as ever, is a long way off.” He looked at Justin. “That said, I understand your previous reservation. I did indeed make a vow to Alistair to get you safely there. With the Mark of Death removed, that’s no longer necessary. But given the Baron’s danger to Aranthia, and perhaps the wider world, I believe it’s our duty to report him, along with returning Alistair’s ring.”

“Duty,” Lila said with a smile. “You're sounding like a proper Paladin, Eldrin.”

He gave a rueful grin. “It’s said that the dead leave their marks on us. This journey has changed us all, wouldn’t you say?” He turned back to Justin. “The Baron may have been telling the truth about the Templars. But my first instinct is to believe the opposite of whatever comes out of his mouth.”

Justin nodded slowly. “I understand that he’s manipulative. I also don’t want to put you in a position where you have to choose between me and your promise to Alistair. If I go to Mont Elea and things go south…well, what’s the plan then?”

For a long moment, no one spoke. Eldrin’s expression remained unreadable, his eyes locked on Justin. Then, finally, he nodded. “I don’t know about that. The only way he could know for sure is if you told him. Mind magic is not really condoned by the Church of Light, but it’s possible a few Templars there might be versed in it. That’s where your top hat comes into play. And it would be strange for them to force it off you if you're not under suspicion in the first place. Just keep your lips sealed and let your words—or lack thereof—do the communicating. Charisma isn't just about drawing a spotlight to you. It's also about pointing it away when it matters.”

It made sense, but it seemed like something of a copout answer. The safest thing, of course, was not to go there at all. Would the Templars care enough to track him down to get his side of the story regarding Alistair? Probably not. But Justin also didn’t want to be on any sort of “suspicious list,” if such a thing existed. And of all the places he had been, Aranthia was the country he was most familiar with. Assuming Valdrik was taken care of, someday, it would be the natural place to settle and plan for the future. That might be difficult if the Templars were interested in him.

“Let’s focus on the task ahead,” Eldrin said. “We’ll deal with Mont Elea—and the Templars—when we get there.”

“At least we’re all on the same page now,” Lila said. “Or at least, almost on the same page.” She paused, studying Justin. “I just want to say—I know today hasn’t been easy, but just remember, I’ve got your back.”

Eldrin nodded in agreement. “Same here. We lost two people today, but gods willing, they’ll be okay. Tomorrow’s a big day. I’ll do whatever I can to help us make it to that gate. If it’s not meant to be…” He trailed off. “Well, there are always options.”

“Thanks,” Justin said. “Both of you.”

Lila offered him a small, reassuring smile. “We’re a team. That’s not changing anytime soon.”

Justin smiled, but beneath that smile, doubts gnawed at him. What if this gate led them to an impossibly hostile world, one they weren’t equipped to handle? He thought back to the planets of his own solar system—places with unbreathable atmospheres, or no atmospheres at all. A single misstep, and they could find themselves in an environment where survival was simply impossible.

But this wasn’t his universe. This was a fantastical reality, one where it was implied that these other planets were livable. Still, that offered little comfort. The possibility of stepping through the gate into something unknowable made his chest tighten.

There was also Lila’s theory—that the gate might already be in use by the Fyrspawn. If that were true, it could mean a hellish land on the other side, something out of a nightmare. Perhaps a realm of volcanoes or an environment so hostile that survival would be measured in seconds, not minutes. Either way, it was a fool’s hope. But what other choice did they have?

Ryak had been confident that this wasn’t a World Gate at all, but a Waygate instead. That would be ideal because at least they would be on the same planet, coming out some place where they could easily get their bearings.

All they could do now was trust the compass, the Star, and the fragile thread of luck that had kept them alive this far.

There was a small consolation: the experience he had banked was enough for him to level up when he woke up tomorrow. He couldn’t believe he was about to hit Level 16.

Faster than he would have believed possible, Level 20 was coming.

Assuming he survived that long, it was time to think of what direction his class might go. He wasn’t even sure of his options as far as advanced classes, but hopefully, he'd be able to learn more before he got to that point. His class of Socialite felt natural to him now. He didn't want things to change too much. So the natural thing to do was to look for an advanced class that made use of his social abilities, and to a lesser extent, his combat finesse.

Whatever the case, tomorrow would bring an upgrade to his cane proficiency, something that would definitely help him survive the coming trials. And the others would get their own upgrades, too.

One by one, the group settled in for the night. Eldrin volunteered to take the first watch, Justin the second, and Lila the third.

As soon as Justin’s head hit the bedroll, his body sunk into the weight of exhaustion. His eyes closed, and sleep claimed him almost instantly.