The Gorgon Sisters’ lair started collapsing within seconds of the final sister’s beheading, marking the death of their domain too. Alexander had made a point of leaving marks on the walls so they could easily find their way out. His squirrels also waited at strategic points, waiting to guide them. However, they sprinted to the treasure rooms first.

Otis sucked up all the heavy gold articles until only a quarter of his spatial storage was left empty. While the party grabbed any half-decent-looking relics, pieces of weapon and armor. They did the same in the winged gorgon’s section of the dungeon before finally leaving. Brianna’s tattoos and Caitlin’s strength-enhancing elemental armor made carrying the load easier. Everyone exited the crumbling structure carrying something in their arms, on their back, or both. The army of scurrying squirrels carrying coins, daggers, helmets, and similar articles was amusing too.

When they reached the Greywing, Brianna declared, “We’re rich!” Everyone but her and Caitlin collapsed on its deck, panting. “Assuming the city doesn’t confiscate half of it.”

“You’re due to make enough money to fund the rest of your education, regardless,” Nox said. He grinned. “As for the confiscation. The Galleria has its own appraiser. So, it's up to us whether we declare anything to the council or hand it over.”

“What would you do if we find something cursed? Sell it in the black market?”

Nox shook his head. “No. I, more specifically, my aunt, will buy it off the party. She’ll get the most out of it before safely disposing of or storing the item. Knowing Sapna, I wouldn’t be surprised if she reproduces a non-cursed version for us and also to sell in her shop.”

“Don’t tell Aria,” Caitlin said. “Little Miss Lawful won’t be happy about it.”

“I don’t lie to my wife-to-be, Miss Woodson,” Nox replied. “However, given the Oakheart visit, new galleria openings, wedding planning, and all our dissertations, I might forget.”

“What she doesn’t know won’t piss her off.” Joey shrugged.

Alexander chuckled at the statement while Brianna looked between the party members blankly. It would take a while before she got used to their internal banter. They unloaded and safely stowed everything they had grabbed, and the sloop’s empty cargo level filled swiftly.

The cargo weight was just under the vessel’s capacity, and the Greywing was much slower flying away from the floating island than it was during its approach. It wouldn’t be long before the place of power drifted into the Imperium. They wouldn’t be pleased to find the dungeon’s remains. The recent collapse would tell them that someone destroyed it recently, robbing them of a chance to farm the resources or even ally with the lords. Whispers claimed they liked creating symbiotic relationships with dungeons to profit off the naturally occurring materials within. Nox was sure they’d somehow find some way to trap the islands and manipulate their power.

The party returned to the vessel late in the evening. After the delve, everybody was keen to go to bed. They ate dinner, and Brianna retired, leaving the four alone. The party talked about the delve and how they got separated. Alexander sheepishly admitted that it was his fault. Too busy playing with his new stone Shaping and commanding a new squirrel variant for scouting, he had accidentally triggered a trap. It made a wall fall on the party, forcing them to scatter. Anti-magic interfered with their ability to destroy or remove the barrier, and then an army of gorgons and serpents attacked, forcing them to flee somewhere for cover.

Nox guessed the mesmerizing gorgons were lying in wait. He roughly remembered entering the structure, but not much after.

“So, what’s everyone’s opinion on Brianna?” Nox asked, glancing at the door. They sat in the captain’s cabin, and Nox had placed silence wards on the walls. It was mostly because of Aria’s self-consciousness regarding her volume during their amorous activities. “Permanent party invitation or not?”

“I like her,” Alexander said. “She’s good company and helped Joey and me turn the tides back here. I don’t think I should have a stay, though. This might be my last delve with you for at least a couple of years. My thoughts on the matter shouldn’t matter. You need someone to hold my place.”

“I was almost out of mana and starting to get worried,” Joey added, his arm hung in a sling. None of them had the magic to heal broken bones, and Nox’s pills only fixed soft tissue. After training with Professor Frances Lorenzo for the past one and a half years, Joey had become an expert in defensive magic, creating flame walls and ice barriers. However, he wasn’t perfect. A gorgon elite got past Brianna and his defense during the final battle and struck him with a hammer. The injury had him reconsidering picking a healing cantrip to combine with Djinn Fire and turn into a personal or party healing spell. “If she didn’t save my butt back there, I doubt a broken arm would be all I suffered. She’s amazing, and I’m for it, but the decision isn’t mine.”

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“What do you mean not yours?” Nox asked. “We’re a party. All of us get an equal say.”

“I think he means that you spent the most time with her during the delve,” Caitlin answered. “We only saw her for a handful of minutes while you spent a few hours with her. The pair of you killed an adept boss together.” Caitlin snorted. “Boss doesn’t feel like a good enough descriptor for the sisters, does it? We need something new for entities that share the duties of boss and lord. Either way. You need to make the final decision here. Do you trust her?”

“I do.” Nox didn’t hesitate. “Otis and I might’ve made it past the regular gorgons together. Medusa was an entirely different story. Brianna is inexperienced as a delver, but she follows instructions well and knows how to work in a team. I think we should invite her to be a full party member. And I don’t mean just as a placeholder. She’s good company. Let's let her in for as long as she wants to stay, but keep her on an information diet until we know her better.”

“It's a unanimous decision then,” Caitlin said. “I doubt Brianna is well suited for stealth, but an aether warrior gives us a lot more staying power.”

“I bet it will reduce your load of standing in the frontlines too,” Alexander said. “You’ll still need a scout of future delves. Information is power.”

“I know it won’t be as effective as your army of squirrels, but Otis should fill the role for now. He’s good at getting around unnoticed and can act as our little bomb too. The little trickster is getting more intelligent too, and working with essences has improved his ability to detect and identify magic. I bet I can teach him to recognize traps too.”

“You just don’t want Kurosaki Hinata in the party, do you?” Joey asked. “Was she that big a flirt?”

Nox laughed. “It’s not that. The flirting annoyed me, but it wasn’t the worst thing. There’s something about her that just rubs me the wrong way, and I’m not sure what it is.”

“Are you worried the Cabal or one of your enemies might’ve sent her?” Caitlin asked. She was the only one in the party who didn’t dismiss his concerns as paranoia.

Nox nodded. “Cabal. The Singhs. I also worry Kris’ old enemies might target me. My involvement in taking down the Cult of the All-Father and the Smythes was never a secret. Several powerful houses were affected by the incident. Hinata might be from Nihon, but that might be an intentional move to throw me off. I can’t tell whether her aggressive approach is just her desperation to find a group or someone sent her to get close to me. She concerns me more than weird Liesel Wyrd.”

“Okay. That’s just paranoia.” Joey rolled his eyes. “She’s been a great teacher, and I like her. Nar doesn’t seem to mind her, either. Liesel Wyrd is an excellent teacher and a brilliant investigator. Her insights helped me close in on a copycat killer the week before last.”

“Did she invite you to join her cult hunters?” Nox asked.

Joey nodded. “I told her that now isn’t the right time, but I’d be willing to consider it in the future. I’m not keen to break up the party, but solving crimes, catching bastards that hurt or exploit innocents gives me a satisfaction that delving doesn’t.” He sighed. “At the same time, I too, have a vendetta against Sundarshahar. Giving it up would break my heart. It's a big decision, you know. Give up on a lifelong dream or pursue something new that brings me contentment, unlike anything I’ve experienced before.”

“Do what makes you happy,” Nox said, smiling at his party member and friend. “It will be a shame to lose you, but I understand if you need to pursue something else.” His eyes wandered over the rest of his companions. “That goes out to all of you. We all have dreams and aspirations, and who we are as people change with every passing day and experience. Please don’t let my thoughts or ambitions affect your individual dreams.”

“Sappy bastard,” Caitlin grumbled. “With or without Alexander, I’m with you on this journey, Nox.”

“Thank you.” He leaned across the gap between the armchair and the couch where she sat with Joey. Nox took her hand and squeezed it. “I appreciate the sentiment, Caitlin. The truth is, though, I’m no longer sure if I want to dedicate my life to Sundarshahar’s destruction anymore.”

“Don’t tell me Lady Edelweiss changed your mind,” Alexander said, looking and sounding surprised.

“She’s only part of it,” Nox said. “She wants children, and I think I do too. Perhaps in a few years, when we hit the Expert rank, we might have a chance at success. However, most who embark on this quest likely won’t make it back alive. I don’t want my children growing up without a father like I did. A step-parent might try to steal their inheritance or make their lives difficult. I know many good ones are out there too, but money changes people. Perhaps my time with the Gedges has just left me jaded.” Nox sighed, leaning back in his seat. “Leaving behind the Galleria and everything I’ve built will also be a challenge.”

“You’ve changed,” Caitlin stated. “It’s not the worst thing.” She smiled. “You’ve grown as a person and it’s nice to see. However, the Cabal and the likes of Sundarshahar have ended several Woodson lives and those of people close to us. So, if you ever embark on a quest, I’m with you.”

“What do you want to do?” Nox asked her. “We’re all considering a future besides delving. Do you have something of the sort?”

Caitlin’s smile turned sad. She looked at her brother. “I didn’t think of much of a future besides looking out for you. Now that grandmother has set you on a path of power, you don’t need me anymore. It will take me some time, but I’ll find something of my own. Until then, I’m content helping the people close to me achieve their individual goals.”

“I love you, Caitlin,” Alexander said. “No matter where druidism leads me, I’ll always need you. Protection is not your only purpose.”

“Thank you,” Caitlin said.

The party didn’t sit around drinking and lazing much longer. Everyone retired for the night, feeling proud of all they had accomplished.