Chapter 21 A new adventure – Cassis

Cassis watched as Arianna slid off the bed, the warmth of her presence slipping away like sand through his fingers. Every instinct in him wanted to reach out, to hold onto her, to pull her back into his arms. It took every ounce of willpower he had to resist. He had never wanted someone this much before—at least, not in a way that went beyond fleeting desire.

He forced himself to look away, tilting his head back against the wall and closing his eyes. It was easier to speak that way, without watching her walk away.

"I think I'll go downstairs," Arianna said, stretching slightly. "One or both of your parents should be awake, judging by that door slamming. I've always found it strange that older people seem to lose the ability to close doors quietly."

Her voice had lightened, already laced with humour. It amazed him how quickly she could recover—how she could smile and tease, as if she hadn't just broken down in his arms, as if they hadn't just shared something so raw and intimate.

His lips twitched at her observation, but he kept his expression neutral. "Yeah, you should eat something," he said. "But maybe stop by the bathroom first. Your eyes are still red."

Arianna paused, then let out a soft laugh. "Oh, right. Almost forgot. Thanks."

She hesitated for a moment, and he thought—hoped—she might say something more. But then she simply added, "I'll see you in a bit," and left the room.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Cassis let out a long breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He kept his eyes closed, but in the darkness behind his lids, all he could see was her—her flushed cheeks, the way her red-rimmed eyes had locked onto his, the heat in her gaze as she moved against him. He had been so close to kissing her. So close to giving in.

He exhaled sharply. It was for the best.

And if he kept repeating that to himself, maybe he’d believe it.

Cassis had known the pull of near-death before. The need to feel something—anything—to prove he was still alive. He had given in to that urge in the past, seeking fleeting connections in the apocalypse. Sometimes, it had been a brief comfort, a way to forget the loneliness for a night. He had been with women, men, non-binary people—it hadn't mattered who, as long as they were human and willing to share a moment of warmth in an otherwise cold world.

But it had always been shallow. The next morning, they went their separate ways, nothing but strangers again.

He hadn’t wanted that with Arianna.

Yet, as always, his words had failed him. He had hurt her first before managing to explain himself properly. She had accepted it, but he knew the sting had been there. He didn’t know how to fix it. How could he? He was the reason she was here in the first place.

Arianna didn’t belong in this hell. She should have been safe in her own world, living her life. But she was here, and selfishly, a part of him was relieved. She had no family left behind to mourn her, no loved ones she was desperate to return to. That thought had briefly comforted him—until the guilt set in like a weight on his chest.

Her parents were dead. Her father had died while they were still connected as patron and awakener, and she had never once told him. She had kept her grief to herself, while all the while, he had leaned on her support during his own struggles.

Had he really been that selfish?

She had always been there for him, but he had never truly been there for her. She had been his patron—nothing more. He had never thought of her as a person with her own pain, her own burdens. He had believed patrons were untouchable, distant figures who simply watched from another world, unaffected by the horrors he faced.

He had been wrong.

And still, she had forgiven him. Just like she always did.

Cassis ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. He couldn't keep being like this. He needed to do better.

With those unsettling thoughts swirling in his mind, his earlier arousal had faded completely. He stood, stretched, and forced himself to get dressed in some shirt and jeans combo. When he stepped out of his room, the sound of quiet conversation drifted up from downstairs—Arianna and his father, already talking.

As he turned toward the bathroom, his mother appeared at the top of the stairs. She took one look at him, raised an eyebrow, and then smirked.

"Just a friend, is she?"

Cassis scowled, refusing to dignify that with a response. He brushed past her, stepping into the bathroom and shutting the door behind him.

From the other side, he heard her soft, knowing laughter as she walked away.

Breakfast was a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the past day. The conversation remained lighthearted—small jokes, quiet laughter, and mundane talk about food and daily routines. Even if the world outside was falling apart, they all clung to this fragile normalcy.

Liam arrived midway through, returning from Nadine and Violet’s home. His expression was troubled but steady.

“No sign of him?” Cassis’ mother asked gently.

Liam shook his head. “Not yet. Nadine and Violet are holding up as best as they can, but they’re scared.” He exhaled. “Her husband still hasn’t come back. We don’t know if he’s still fighting out there… or if he’s already gone.”

A heavy silence settled over them. Hope was a dangerous thing in the apocalypse—it could keep people going, or it could break them completely. Liam clearly felt for them, but there was nothing any of them could do.

Or so he thought.

Arianna set her spoon down and turned to Liam. “Where was he last?”

Liam glanced at her, not expecting the question. “City hall. He works as a clerk there.”

“How far is that from here?”

“By car? About 15 minutes.”

Cassis didn’t need to look at her to know what she was thinking. He knew that gleam in her eyes, the way her mind worked. He tried to resist, but in the end, he glanced up—and there it was. That stubborn determination.

“Arianna,” he warned.

She met his gaze with certainty. “Cassis, we need to find him. The apocalypse will last until this afternoon. He could still be alive.”

He clenched his jaw. There it was again—that relentless optimism, that instinct to throw herself into danger. Why did she insist on this? They were safe here. Why seek out another fight?

Before he could argue, his father spoke up. “It could be dangerous, but we’re rested. Most F-rank monsters aren’t much of a threat to us anymore.” He rubbed his chin, already considering the logistics. “We’d have to be careful of E-ranks, but if we go together as a team, it could work.”

Cassis turned to his father, baffled. His father—the man who had lost an arm because he had tried to protect someone else—was suggesting they leave safety to rescue someone they barely knew, again? Hadn’t he learned anything from his ordeal?

But then, understanding dawned.

It wasn’t just about Nadine’s husband.

Nadine had been their companion through life and death since the apocalypse started, a trusted friend in this new hellscape. This wasn’t just about a clerk trapped in city hall—it was about looking out for a close companion, a bond forged in hardship.

Cassis remained silent, grappling with the realization. He had never truly felt that kind of companionship in the other future. He had been too detached, too scared to lose someone important again. He had allies, sure, but most of them had been temporary—people who had come and gone, people he couldn’t afford to grow attached to.

He had never been in a position to save anyone in the other timeline. He had only been able to watch as people died. So maybe… maybe this was an opportunity to do something different.

His father was right—F-rank monsters weren’t much of a challenge anymore, not unless they encountered overwhelming numbers. And E-ranks… well, if they were careful, they could avoid them.

His grip on his spoon tightened. Changing himself wasn’t easy. The instincts he had honed in the other timeline told him to stay put, to protect what he had and not take unnecessary risks.

But maybe it was time to do something his past self never would have.

He tried to remember if he knew anyone he would want to save in that direction. Because if they were going there, they should do as much as they could, shouldn’t they? Who did he know back then? Any friends? No. Any colleagues? Maybe. Then the thought hit him. His workplace – his high school – was near city hall. As it had been late afternoon on a Friday when the apocalypse began his colleagues or students shouldn’t have been there anymore. But most lived close by.

He had been a high school teacher in his life before. The loss of his family had destroyed him and when he saw just how little of his students remained, he just closed off. He couldn’t deal with it and banished all the thought and feelings associated with them in the deepest part of his mind. But now he could maybe help them. He might be strong enough to make a difference this time, especially with Arianna and his family by his side.

Cassis leaned back in his chair, staring at his half-empty plate. He had never been one for reflection—self-pity and regret had no place in the apocalypse. But now, with the chance to do things differently, he found himself questioning everything he had once accepted as unchangeable.

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In the last timeline, survival had been his only priority. He had hardened himself against hope, against attachments, against the foolishness of trying to save people. It had been the only way to stay alive.

But what if that had been a mistake?

He had failed. The world had pretty much been at the end when he had made his wish that brought him back. He had fought and fought, only to watch everything be consumed by darkness. What if saving people—changing his choices—was the key to preventing that future?

The old Cassis would have told Arianna no. He would have refused to risk anything for a stranger, for someone who was probably already dead.

But he wasn’t that man anymore.

He opened their private party chat—a remnant from the large one he had dissolved. He had kept only the two of them in it, a link between them that was now more personal than ever.

“Can you buy any more gear? You need a proper weapon. Maybe a mace or a staff? And we need more protective equipment.”

Arianna’s response came almost instantly. “I have over 1200 CP. I'll look. Just a sec.”

He exhaled, waiting. He didn’t know how she navigated the system so fast, but before he could even take another bite of his food, she was back. Maybe the patron shop worked with the same time stop as the class selection?

“I found a great mace for 200 CP and a basic protective set—pants and a long-sleeve shirt—for 200 CP total. So, I can buy the mace and five sets.”

Cassis stilled. Five sets. Enough for both of them… and his parents and Liam.

Fate, he thought bitterly. He didn’t believe in destiny, but sometimes it was hard to ignore the eerie coincidences. It was as if the universe was pushing them toward this path, telling them that this was what they were supposed to do.

He sighed. This time he spoke out loudly: “Alright. Before we go, Sapphire has some presents for us. After that, we should get Nadine and Violet to the Morrisons. We don’t know if the monsters will keep staying away.”

Right now, they were in the suburbs of Hallowford—a relatively quiet town on the outskirts of Vallendale City. The nearest city hall branch was just under ten kilometers away. A reasonable distance, but with the apocalypse raging, distance wasn’t measured in kilometers—it was measured in survival odds.

If they traveled on foot, it would take them at least two hours, assuming no interruptions. But that was a bad assumption. The closer they got to the city, the worse it would get.

They might be able to take the car at least part of the way. Their town was mostly suburban, with small streets and fewer abandoned vehicles clogging the roads. Most people here walked or biked. The monsters they encountered would be manageable.

But the city…

The city was a different beast entirely.

The number of monsters correlated with human presence. More humans had lived there. More powerful fighters had tried to resist the apocalypse. And, as they had theorized, the stronger the fighting force in an area, the more powerful the monsters that spawned there. Additionally, their guns, explosives and heavy artillery didn’t work anymore.

That was why the military had suffered such devastating losses. The apocalypse had targeted the strongest first. Having to fight stronger and more numerous monsters in addition to their weapons not working saw the military at a serious disadvantage.

For their trip it meant going towards danger and by the time they reached the outskirts of Vallendale, the streets would be littered with wrecked vehicles and overrun with creatures. The car wouldn’t be an option once they got too close.

Cassis rubbed his forehead. They needed to be smart about this. Get as close as possible with the car, then switch to moving on foot. That way, they’d minimize their time in the danger zone.

It wasn’t a perfect plan, but it was their best shot.

And for the first time in a long while, Cassis was willing to take that shot.

Cassis spoke to everyone gathered at the breakfast table.

“We’ll take the car,” he said. “It seats five, so we can all fit. We’ll drive as far as we can toward city hall before the roads become too blocked. From there, we’ll continue on foot.”

His parents exchanged a look and nodded in agreement.

“It’s a solid plan,” his father said. “Using the car will save time and energy. We’ll need both when we get closer to Vallendale.”

“But while we’re there,” Cassis continued, glancing between them, “I want to check on my school and its surrounding area.”

His mother straightened. “You think anyone survived?”

“There might be students or teachers near city hall,” Cassis said. “If they’re still alive, I want to help.”

His parents didn’t hesitate. His father gave him a firm nod, and his mother’s eyes softened with something like pride.

“That’s the right thing to do,” she said. “We’ll be careful, but if we can save people, we should.”

Arianna, however, was staring at him like he’d just grown another head.

She didn’t say anything at first, then asked him privately. “You’re a teacher?”

He blinked at her reaction. “Yeah. High school. A history teacher.”

She kept looking at him, something unreadable in her expression. He had no idea what was going through her mind. Then, just as suddenly, she shrugged and smiled at him.

He wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.

“Arianna, what about your family? Do they also live in that direction? Maybe we can check on them, too.” His mother asked.

Arianna was silent for a second, then gave his mother a small smile. “Thanks for asking Danielle. But that’s impossible. Both my parents died before this happened. I don’t have any siblings, and my parents were orphans themselves. So, there’s nobody left to check up on.”

The mood on the table took a sombre turn. “Oh, no. That’s terrible. I’m so sorry, my dear.” His mother had tears in her eyes, probably because she had also lost her parents a few years ago. Cassis could still remember warm Grandma Annabelle and funny Grandpa William. Grandpa William had died due to a heart attack. Then Granma Annabelle had wasted away, not wanting to live without the man she had shared her whole life with. She had died within a year of Grandpa’s passing.

His aunts and uncles from his mother’s side were living in different cities so they had no way to know anything about them. But he knew they died in the first wave.

Then he looked to his father who was probably thinking of his own parents judging by the shadows on his face. He was an only child, but his parents lived in a different country. There was no way to get to them. And they were already over 80 years old. In the other timeline they hadn’t survived.

Arianna acknowledged Danielle’s condolences but soon changed the topic back to how they could help other people. It seemed she didn’t like being in the spotlight, or maybe the topic was too difficult for her. He wanted to hug her to give her comfort.

Arianna then pulled out the protective sets from her inventory—dark gray pants and long-sleeved shirts, simple but sturdy. She handed them out with a small grin.

“From Sapphire,” she said.

Cassis took his set, examining the material. It wasn’t heavy, but when he ran his fingers over it, he could feel the slight resistance of protective enchantments woven into the fabric. It wasn’t full armor, but it would give them some defense.

Then his gaze landed on Arianna’s new mace.

It was a brutal-looking weapon—long and thick with a reinforced metal shaft wrapped in black leather for grip. The head was spiked on one side, with a flanged, almost axe-like curve on the other, allowing for both bludgeoning and slicing damage.

A good weapon. A deadly one.

Everyone dispersed to change, disappearing into rooms and the bathroom. The clothes moulded to their bodies upon wearing them, eliminating the need for different sizes.

His mother and Liam left to inform Nadine and Violet of their plan and escort them to the Morrisons for safety. Cassis, in the meantime, turned to his father.

“Dad, can you get the car ready?” he asked. “We need as much space as possible, so please throw out anything that isn’t necessary for this trip.”

His father nodded and left.

That just left him and Arianna.

“Now,” he said, turning to her, “let me show you how to use your inventory to store some food and water.”

Arianna perked up at that, eyes bright with curiosity. “Oh, right! I completely forgot I unlocked that at level 10.”

He walked her through the basics—how to store and retrieve items with a thought, how to organize them, how much weight it could hold. She caught on quickly, nodding along as she tested it for herself.

Then, after a moment, she hesitated.

“Should we pick our advanced classes?” she asked. “I haven’t even looked at mine yet. Too much has happened.”

Silence stretched between them as they looked at each other.

Cassis knew exactly what she was referring to.

The nightmare. Holding her while she cried. Waking up with her. The heat between them, the almost-kiss, the way she had moved against him before they were interrupted.

His mind flashed through it all in an instant.

He shoved the thoughts away.

“Not yet,” he said. “Our skill levels aren’t high enough to unlock the best advanced classes. If we pick too early, we could end up with something subpar and regret it later.”

Arianna seemed to consider that.

“We should use the fights ahead to hone our skills,” he continued. “Maybe think up new spells, get more titles. Our basic classes will be enough to handle the outskirts of Vallendale for a few hours.”

She exhaled, then nodded. “Makes sense. Alright. No advanced classes yet.”

It was a small relief. They had enough to worry about already.

He glanced toward the window, toward the distant cityscape on the horizon. Soon, they would be heading straight into danger.

And this time, he would make sure it wasn’t all for nothing.

Cassis and Arianna stepped outside, finding his father near the car, doing a last check. The older man glanced up as they approached.

“We’ve got a way to carry more supplies,” Cassis said. “Arianna and I unlocked an inventory when we hit level 10. You’ll get one too once you level up.”

His father looked genuinely surprised. “A personal inventory? That’s incredible.”

“Yeah,” Arianna said. “It’s super useful. We can store food, water, extra weapons—anything that fits, really.”

His father let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. “I’m only level seven, and your mother’s level eight. It won’t be long before we get that feature too.”

“Exactly,” Cassis said. “And when you do, I’d recommend waiting before picking an advanced class. Skill levels, spell mastery, and even titles can affect class choices. The stronger your foundation, the better your options.”

His father absorbed the information with a thoughtful nod. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll tell your mother and Liam, too. The knowledge Sapphire gives you is really useful.” Cassis and Arianna smiled at not even having to tell anyone how they knew stuff.

They had a little time before Liam and Cassis’ mother returned, so they settled into easy conversation.

Or rather, Arianna and his father did.

As it turned out, they were both accountants. “I can’t believe it,” Arianna said, grinning. “I never thought I’d meet someone else who actually enjoys accounting.”

His father chuckled. “It’s a good profession. Logical, stable. Though it has its fair share of headaches.”

“Oh, absolutely,” Arianna agreed. “I once had a client who tried to claim his dog as a dependent.”

His father laughed. “I had one who insisted his ‘business expenses’ included a new gaming console. He got real mad when I told him no.”

They traded stories about difficult clients and bizarre financial situations, their conversation flowing easily.

Cassis, on the other hand, remained mostly silent. He hadn't seen his father in fourteen years. Fourteen years of memories, of growing into a hardened survivor, of losing everything over and over again. And now, here they were, making small talk like none of that had happened.

What was he supposed to say?

He felt like a stranger. Arianna must have noticed his discomfort because, without missing a beat, she turned to him with a teasing glint in her eyes.

“So, Cassis,” she said, dragging out his name playfully. “You’ve been awfully quiet. What’s the matter? Are we boring you? Or are you just lost because accounting is obviously a more sophisticated profession than teaching?”

He blinked at her, then scoffed.

“Oh, please,” he shot back. “Teaching is just as demanding. Probably more.”

Arianna raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Enlighten me, professor.”

He crossed his arms. “For one, teachers have to manage a room full of hormonal teenagers while actually getting them to learn something. It’s not just numbers and spreadsheets—it’s dealing with people, emotions, their home lives, their struggles. And don’t even get me started on grading.”

Arianna gasped dramatically. “Oh no! Not grading!”

“It’s a nightmare,” he deadpanned. “You try reading thirty essays on the same historical event and not losing your mind. Especially the handwritten ones, those are not letters their hieroglyphs!”

She snickered. “Alright, alright. I’ll give you that one. But at least teachers don’t have to deal with the government breathing down their necks every tax season.”

“You’d be surprised,” Cassis said. “School boards, curriculum regulations, budget cuts—plenty of bureaucratic nightmares to go around.”

They fell into a playful back-and-forth, mock-arguing with exaggerated expressions and exaggerated grievances. Cassis found himself smiling more than he had in a long time.

His father, watching them, chuckled.

That was the moment Liam and Cassis’ mother finally returned.

His mother raised an eyebrow at the three of them. “You all look far too amused for people about to walk into danger.”

Arianna shot her a wink. “Gotta keep morale up somehow.”

His mother shook her head with a small smile, then turned to Cassis’ father. “Nadine and Violet are at the Morrisons. They’ll be safe there. She wanted us to know just how much this means to her and Violet. But she also said not to get into too much danger just for them”

His father nodded. “She’s good people. We need to help each other in these times.”

Cassis exhaled, letting himself focus on the task ahead.

They had a plan. They had supplies. And they were as ready as they were going to be.

It was time to go.