The group emerged from the piping hot cave before the Fur Fellows did. Sun was just setting and none of the others had returned to camp either. Emilie drooped her shoulders and arms. “This was the most boring day.”

Brice scribbled down something in a notebook. “We encountered 4 monsters, 26 traps, and searched 20 mostly book filled rooms that appear to have belonged to skeletal mages. We found 2 other banks of rooms but didn’t get to them. Anyone else have something for my notes?”

Serena noted. “Make sure to take note of the weak hallway floor at the entrance of the 15 th floor.”

Victor asked curious. “Do people always take notes on their dungeon delving?”

Brice looked up from his notes. “Only the ones that want to live. Not everyone needs to take notes but someone needs to take notes.”

Victor noted he got the normal daily achievements excluding the run or jog for 5 hours achievement. “I don’t have 5 hours to finish exercising.” Victor frowned.

Serena chuckled. “Well yeah. Adventuring and artifact hunting are jobs! You can sometimes get away with it but not every day. I’m going to go hunting feel free to come with me if you want.”

Victor shook his head. “I wanted to talk to Swordie about something.”

Brice asked Victor. “May I accompany you sir? I had hoped to speak with the angel.”

Emilie and Jenora looked at each other. “We should go get wood.” The two of them wandered toward the edges of the camp and began gathering tinder and logs.

Brice and Victor walked to their camps and the rocks they had pulled up to make seats. Victor turned to him pulling out Swordie. “What did you want to ask?”

Brice leaned forward. “Have you ever met the Green Goddess Swordie?”

Swordie noted. “I’ve seen her but only once. Unfortunately I am prohibited from speaking on the matter.”

Brice frowned. “I did have another question. What do you know about Yggdrasil?”

Swordie explained. “While I’ve never been able to view the majestic tree I know of its existence and I know some things about it. It is monumental in size. It was planted long ago on the remnants of the Isle of Endings which is now known as the Isle of Yggdrasil tended to by the Yggdrasil elves. It grants elves most of their advanced racial bonuses including natural immortality. Did you have something more specific to ask?”

“What would I need to do to receive fruit from Yggdrasil?” He asked.

Victor paused. “That is a good question better asked to the Yggdrasil elves who guard it. The simple answer to your question is, journey to the isle climb to the top of the tree and pick the fruit. That is all there is to it.”

Brice sighed and plopped his head in his hands. “That’ll never happen. Thank you for the information though Swordie.”

Victor turned to him. “Why do you want fruit from the world tree?”

He rolled up his sleeve. “If I have fruit from the world tree by elven law I must be forgiven elven for this. The world tree will wilt it’s fruit if you take it unjustly, and the elves guarding it would never let an unworthy elf reach it. The fruit also miraculously never goes bad so if I ever had it I’d be able to return home one day.”

Victor put his hand on Brice’s shoulder. “If we ever get the chance to stop at the Isle of Yggdrasil I will do whatever I can to see to it you get your chance.”

Brice chuckled. “I highly doubt we’ll ever make it there. It’s surrounded by sea monsters as the Boisterous Blue God once proudly proclaimed his love for the Green Goddess and vowed to protect her.”

Swordie chuckled. “It is a shame he still hasn’t won her affection. They would be an adorable couple.”

Brice dropped his jaw. “With everything he’s done for her she still doesn’t love him?”

“He is her best friend.” Swordie noted.

At that moment the massive man in a loin cloth emerged from the cave. “Still alive I see! Did you find anything cool?” Shortly behind him the other three members of the Fur Fellows followed.

Victor hung his head. “No.”

Jim cheerfully laughed. “Well if you had your elf might have killed you for it so I guess that’s good.”

Brice turned to them. “I’m right here. I’m not going to hurt anyone.”

Clarissa angrily pointed at him. “You’re just a ticking time bomb like all of your kind. Today, tomorrow, a century from now eventually you’re going to be a monster.” She scoffed and stomped off to their tent. Stan followed.

Teresa sighed and walked up to them. Brice bristled goosebumps on his arm and neck rising. “Listen elves are generally shitty. You’re the first elf I’ve ever met who I’ve not felt a menacing aura of malice, greed, or apathy emanating from them. Why is that?”

Brice turned as Jim started walking up behind her. “I don’t know. Is it some skill you’re using?”

“It’s just a feeling I get when I look at you. Not a skill.” Teresa looked him up and down. “Could you stand all the way up? I just wanted a better look at you.”

Brice looked to Victor who shrugged before standing up straight. Brice towered over her standing taller than Jim and he was even taller than Victor. “I hunch down because half elves are shorter and people don’t seem to care about them all that much.”

Teresa nodded. “Well half elves live a long time, but it’s not forever. You’re young right?” Brice waffled shuffling his feet a bit before nodding yes. “Whatever you do over your very long life don’t forget him.” She pointed to Victor. “I get the feeling if you do maybe you’ll turn out a little better than most elves.”

Victor chuckled. “I’d hope so. You’ve got to make people you interact with better or you’re probably making things worse.”

Teresa shifted toward Victor. “I don’t know if you can feel the same thing about him but your choice in group is impeccable. I wanted to ask you. Are all angelic knights like that or just you?”

Swordie spoke up. “Angels wouldn’t risk the title on someone who was undeserving, it’s not that all angelic knights are like this, but rather people like him are worthy of the title.”

Teresa smirked. “Would I be worthy?”

Swordie sharply answered. “No.”

She laughed as did Jim. “Well that’s that. Clearly not angelic knight material.”

Victor turned a bit red. “Swordie you don’t need to be mean to her.”

“Honesty is a value you share Victor.” Swordie noted.

“There are nicer ways to be honest!” Victor protested.

“There are also meaner ways!” Swordie noted cheerfully.

Teresa kept cracking up. “He’s nicer than his own angel!”

Brice tried not to spit holding back laughter. Jim on the other hand enjoyed their banter. “I’m loving this book.”

Swordie added. “I bet you never thought you’d use that line in your life.”

Jim continued laughing as Teresa smiled putting her hand in front of her mouth. “Sorry we almost attacked you earlier today. That’s the only reason I came over here but you’re a lot more enjoyable person than I expected. Both of you.”

Jim slowly stopped laughing. “Well I am sorry about earlier. I talked about it with the group and because of Clarissa we’ll avoid walking down with you and will depart first ahead of you. I was trying to protect you from a traitor in your midst but at least for now he seems like a good elf.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“That is a line you certainly never thought you’d utter!” Swordie cut in.

Jim chuckled as Emilie and Jenora walked up to them irritated. “What’s this meathead doing here?”

Jim graciously held out his hand. “Apologies young lady. I was wrong about your elf.”

She scoffed at him. “You were ready to kill us and you think an apology is sufficient? Pathetic. Victor tolerates this because he’s naïve. I won’t.”

Jenora firmly interposed herself between the two of them. “She’d like you to leave.”

“You’re damn right Jenora!” She shouted.

Jim backed away. “I’ll leave your party alone then. Just know I’m sorry for what I did earlier. I was acting on Clarissa’s fear and it wasn’t right. At least today you seem like a fine guy Brice.” Jim smashed his fist into his chest. “Just keep it up and you’ll be fine.”

Brice hunched back over after they walked away relieved. “I’ve never had anything like that happen to me before.”

“Like what.” He asked.

“A non-elf that wanted to kill me this morning just laughed and spoke with me with no violence or hatred.” Brice looked to the ground almost blissfully disconnecting from reality.

Victor wrapped his arm around Brice. “Get used to it. Once you’re a hero you’ll be known far and wide.”

Brice looked him straight in the eyes. “As a half elf.”

Victor paused deflated. “Oh. Do you not want to be known as an elf?”

“It’s not worth it. I’m just trying to live my long life.” Brice put his hand up.

Emilie sighed. “After today Brice I can’t disagree more.”

Brice tilted his head confused. “I thought you and Serena hated me.”

Emilie clarified. “I didn’t hate you! I hated elves in general.”

“I am an elf.” He reiterated clearly.

“That’s not important. You’re a good elf.” She insisted.

Brice sadly acknowledged her. “Most people would kill me if they could get away with it. How good or bad I am doesn’t matter. They’ll view me as just another elf from my appearance.”

“That’s why I think you should let people know you’re an elf.” Emilie crossed her arms defiantly. “If good elves don’t show themselves people will never get used to having them around.”

Jenora turned to look at Emilie. “Really? Do you think revealing an identity like that is a good idea? What if people find out and no one will work with him?”

Emilie smashed her thumb into her chest turning around to Jenora. “I’d work with him! So would Victor. That’s good enough. I bet you’d work with him too.”

Jenora continued. “Even though that is true, it’d be hard to take jobs or get information on some artifacts with an elf right?”

Emilie gasped and slapped both hands to her face making the most shocked expression anyone had ever seen in their life. “Wait Jenora! Are you an elf?”

Jenora blinked twice. “Uh no. No I’m not an elf.”

“Oh my Goddess you are!” Emilie ran over and hugged her. “It’s ok if you’re an elf in disguise I’d love you no matter what.”

“I love you too Emilie.” She hugged back. “I’m not an elf dear.”

Emilie insisted. “If you want to tell me about your past you can do it any time.”

Jenora shook her head. “I’m fine Emilie. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Emilie snapped her fingers. “Rats, I was sure I had it this time.”

Victor looked to her. “Jenora I don’t care if you’re an elf or not. You’re you and you’re welcome in the Stars of Verdan. If for any reason you feel you wouldn’t be welcome I assure you I’d protect you.”

Serena appeared behind them silently with three rabbits in hand. “Uh huh. Well he’d try to. That’s for sure.”

“Hi Serena.” He turned around with the same dumb smile on his face.

“You are all loud.” Serena blinked slowly at Victor.

“Thanks!” He proclaimed.

“MY MAGE IS THE LOUDEST MAGE IN ALL OF VERDAN!” Cawthorn proclaimed.

“You need to be quieter while camping to avoid drawing attention.” She kissed him and started cooking over the fire.

Victor quieted down and Jenora spoke up. “I don’t need protection. I just don’t want to discuss my past, and I’m not an elf.”

Serena grimaced. “Oh Goddess she’s an elf isn’t she. Well at least 2 elves are no worse than 1.”

She started blushing red. “I’m not an elf!”

Serena pointedly asked. “Then what are you?” She said nothing clearly hurt by the question. “I tolerate Brice because he seems, at least for now, like he’s immature and Victor wants me to. You’re not. I don’t know what horrible dark secret your past contains but unlike Brice you’ve still not been honest. It’s possible it’s something benign like you murdered someone in cold blood and it has haunted you ever since. It’s also possible you’re something or someone far, far worse.”

Victor put his hands up. “Whoa hold up there. Murdering people isn’t alright. If she killed someone I’m sure it was in self defense.” Serena didn’t say a word just looking down to the ground.

Emilie shrugged. “If she killed someone I bet he was an asshole.”

Serena continued. “If I thought she was a problem I wouldn’t have tried to recruit you two. That said, you’ve slept with her for more than a year and she won’t even tell you. Brice told us why he’s out here in no uncertain terms. He might turn on us but the elf he is today isn’t evil. You, I can’t get a read on. Emilie trusts you so that’s fine but I want to know because it might be important later on.”

Victor stood up for them. “I know you’re worried about my safety but lay off her. She doesn’t want to talk about it.”

Brice sighed deeply. “Jenora telling them your past will make you feel a lot better.”

She looked to the ground. “I highly doubt that.”

Brice insisted. “How bad could it possibly be? Are you secretly a Void Lord or a cultist or something? That might be the only thing I can see someone like Victor rejecting you over.”

Serena gave Victor a death stare completely silent until Swordie spoke up. “Yes an angelic knight could never possibly associate with a Void Lord cultist!”

Cawthorn looked directly at Victor who immediately started petting him. Brice added. “Yeah but that’s because being a cultist is a choice right. Everyone who makes that choice has to be evil it’s not like just living longer than other people. They made a choice to be evil.”

Serena’s look might have killed Victor had he not dodged it turning away and picking up his water skin. “Yes well everyone makes mistakes.”

Swordie cheerfully added. “Some more than others!”

Jenora sighed and turned to them. “I don’t want to take that risk. Sorry.”

Emilie groaned and hugged her. “It’s alright Jenora I love you. One day you’ll trust me enough to tell me.” She squeezed tighter.

“I love you too. Maybe one day I’ll feel safe telling you it.” Jenora looked down to her big beautiful eyes.

Serena shrugged. “That’s adorable but until you do I trust you as far as I trust Brice. You’re fine for now just make sure you stay that way.”

Jenora agreed. “I’ll do anything I can to help Emilie and this group. I know we don’t know each other that well but spending time with you two feels like home.”

Cawthorn proclaimed. “THE STARS OF VERDAN IS THE MOST TRUSTING PARTY OF ALL TIME!”

Serena burst out laughing. “Yeah, it’s great until we die.”

Swordie noted. “Life is great until death. That is true.”

“Food’s ready.” The group began eating.

Brice started eating and asked Victor. “Is this kind of turmoil normal?”

Victor nodded. “Well there is some strife in every group isn’t there.”

Serena agreed forcefully. “When I was a slave even to the two who owned me last they’d argue about everything. In general this group is rather unified. I’m not trying to rock the boat or kick her out but not acknowledging she’s hiding something or that Brice is a ticking time bomb. If I don’t keep Victor safe he’ll… Lets just say make poor choices despite his good heart.”

Victor protested. “Come on my choices aren’t… that… alright.” Getting lower with each word as he thought about what he was saying while she glared deathly at him.

She wrapped an arm around him. “Aw cheer up. I’m not saying all your choices are bad you just trust everyone implicitly. You expect people to be as good as you are and they just aren’t. People who are betrayed or betray are always on the lookout for betrayal. Thieves are always worried about being stolen from. Someone has to be worried on your behalf because you won’t.”

Swordie interjected. “Don’t worry! I’ll keep both eyes on him!”

Cawthorn proclaimed. “YOU HAVE NO EYES!”

“Precisely. I will do so just as soon as they reform when you reach a high enough level.” Swordie proclaimed. After a bit of cheerful reveling the conversation died down and the group turned in for the night. The next morning they let the Fur Fellows depart about 30 minutes before them.