Kraetius didn't know why he was waiting for the fool. He'd seen the terrible power of that thing - the best anyone could hope for was that Kai managed to survive and get back without permanent injury. Maybe it was just sentimentality. After so long training alone in the mines, being with all the workers had softened him up more than he wanted to admit.

It was hard to know what to think about all of them. When he'd been thrown into the mines, decades ago, he had been disgusted by everything about them. Their rags, their oily hair, their stupid names. Even though he'd never really become friends with any of them, as his training failed year after year, he'd begrudgingly come to realize that they weren't as lazy and shiftless as everyone else claimed.

Still, he couldn't imagine any of them actually ruling Krysal. They'd do just as bad a job as if the laziest crystalliers relying on their wealth took over. While training them, Kraetius had to admit that they had some good qualities, but were they leaders?

This Kai boy, on the other hand... there was something about him. Not just the way he was inexplicably stronger than he should have been, but the strategic way he moved through everything. When he tried to help the workers he'd actually accomplished something.

Which was why it was such a shame that he'd thrown his life away.

Just when Kraetius was about to leave his post, he saw a claw reach up over the side of the pit. He flinched, preparing himself for some new monster, then realized that his eyes had played tricks on him. Kai hauled himself over the side, covered in blood but grinning like he'd just come out of the bedroom instead of a monster's lair.

"I can't believe..." Kraetius stared at the other man as he rose to his full height. "Did you just defeat the strongest monster in the mine on your own?"

"I don't know, is there a stronger one?" Kai flexed the fingers of one hand and winced. "I might look okay, but that thing put me through my paces. I definitely need a rest after that."

"But after that..." Kraetius swallowed. "You really plan to change things, don't you?"

"Haven't I said as much?"

Of course he had. But now, for the first time, Kraetius found himself wondering if he might actually do it.

.

..

.

Nirka sat on his sturdy thighs, resting against his chest as the sweat cooled on her back. Kai was always so kind and gentle, it was easy to forget just how strong he was. When he had come back from the monster hunt victorious, she had practically leapt on him and been shocked by how easily he took charge. Something had given his desire a new intensity, whether it was risking his life or finishing the hunt.

Or maybe he was just as aware as she was that this was their last night together.

She didn't think that he had told anyone else, since he didn't want to attract too much attention. In fact, she thought that their night together was probably the only time anyone celebrated with him. But she had always known that he was going to leave as soon as he was ready, and as much as she hoped she'd see him again, she knew nothing was certain.

"I'm going to miss this," she said quietly. Once she would have flushed at the implication, but there was a casual intimacy between them now. "I mean being able to rest with someone. Not being afraid or having to do anything. Just existing."

"So will I." His hands came to rest at the small of her waist. "Keep yourself safe. I know you can, but I'll still worry."

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"Then come back soon. I'll be waiting."

It was a lovely moment, and Nirka's eyes began to slide closed. Before they could, she felt him stir against her leg. When his hands began creeping down her hips, her eyes popped back open.

"Again?" she asked. "Don't you need to sleep?"

"Just want to get it all out of my system before leaving you." He bent down to kiss her neck and his stubble tickled her. Nirka leaned into him even though she was already exhausted.

For all that she had pretended to be experienced, and so seriously told him that they "had to take pleasure where they can," her experiences had been limited. One time that had been pleasant and two that had ended embarrassingly for her partner. She didn't think men were supposed to be insatiable like this and wondered if this could have anything to do with Physique. No doubt he'd love to talk about it.

"Kai, I'm tired." She pulled away but then planted a kiss on his lips to take the sting off. "And you don't have to act like we're married. I know this isn't forever. You can be with other people while you're gone."

"You're right. I'm sure there will be plenty of attractive young crystalliers to-"

"You wouldn't dare!" Nirka playfully swatted at his chest.

"Well, I don't think I'm going to find another worker as lovely as you, so I guess I'm stuck." Kai kissed her forehead fondly and then wrapped her in his arms.

As much as she wanted to sink into that embrace, she knew that he didn't want to talk about it. Maybe he was right and there really was some future for them. For now, she was happy to sink into the warm fantasy and not think for a while.

.

..

.

Maggle wasn't sure how he felt about the sky. Sure, it could be real pretty. But having all that blue just looming up there, nothing holding it up, he couldn't escape the feeling that it would fall down on him at any second. And the way it changed color, always when you weren't looking, made it seem like it couldn't be trusted.

The air, though... well, he'd smelled a lot worse.

Just as he was enjoying himself, Kai motherfucking Clanless showed up from the crevice. He'd known it would happen sooner or later, just hadn't really expected sooner. Maggle waved a hand from his position.

"Hey there. You look like a fox leaving the henhouse, at least I think you do. I'm pretty unclear on what foxes are and why they care about henhouses, so maybe you'd better tell me."

"I'll miss you, Maggle." Kai chuckled as he walked by. "Keep everyone from getting into trouble, you hear?"

"Oh, sure thing. We need everybody to get into trouble later, not now." Maggle chewed on the side of his mouth for a while, trying to decide whether it was better to leave things unasked. "And what happens later? You come back here, dunk us all in acid or whatever, then we have an army... what then?"

"I'm not sure. Do you know the history of uprisings in Krysal?"

"Can't say that I do. Probably couldn't give you the history of scratching my own ass."

"I don't know either." Kai stared off as if he could see all the soldiers around the mine. "I think I need to find out more about the true shape of the nation."

That was the rough thing with Kai, you could never tell what was going on in his head. Maggle liked to think he was pretty good at that sort of thing, generally. But with Kai, he could be staring off into the distance and there was no telling what he was thinking. Maybe he was plotting the overthrow of the army, maybe he was thinking about training, maybe he was just thinking he'd like a nice piece of steak.

Maybe he was thinking that somebody might make a nice piece of steak. Sometimes there was a glint in his eyes that Maggle kept quiet about.

"Just wanted to know you're thinking of it," Maggle said, then belched. "You know I don't have a thought in my head beyond what I'm gonna eat next. If it was up to me, we'd all try to go into a city, pretending to be long lost cousins. I don't think it'd work very well."

"Yeah, I'd imagine it wouldn't. There will be losers in society no matter what."

So he was thinking about it. Better than not thinking, hopefully. "Well, good luck," Maggle said. "Don't go getting yourself killed out there."

"I'll do my best." Kai turned away and soon he was gone, lost under that damn sky.

.

..

.

Now that Kai had said farewell to everyone, he headed back into the above-ground Krysal with more than he'd left it. Decent clothes scrounged from all the prisoners, food from Nanny Troggup, and some leads about where he needed to go next.

And he had more power than when he'd entered, by any standard.

<

Name: Kai Clanless

Total Power: 238

Cultivation: Body Refinement 4% (101)

Physique Level: E-7 (101)

Soul Level: 6 (36)

Monstrous Hunger - VIII (theta)

Behemoth's Heart - IV (delta)

Direboar's Strength - VI (zeta)

Isulfr's Bite - V (epsilon)

Tyrant's Claw - IV (delta)

Infernotoad's Burst - IV (delta)

-

Wallcrawler's Feet - I (alpha)

Beastbat's Wing - I (alpha)

Crystal Slime - I (alpha)

Void Witness (???)

>

It was time for another trip into Krysal, this time with his eyes wide open. They'd all asked him questions and he wasn't sure he had the answers, just yet.

But first, it was time to find Zae Zin Nim.