"Do what you will. Even if you tear yourself apart, most people will continue doing the same things."

― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

A portal opened, formed with a swirl of runes. Ven fell, head-first into a river of shit. He surfaced in a desperate lunge, aura in overdrive as it vaporized the offensive mess.

"Screw you, Cain!"

He bellowed his rage at the vanished portal. It had taken a year of playing dead to get the old monster to let him free for a few days.

"Screw you, Ven!"

The shape of a halfling flashed past, finger raised as he faded into the shadows.

"Rafe?"

"GWAARR!"

A rush of sewage lashed Ven forward, a herald for an angry worm. Much smaller than the others he'd seen, the beast still stood taller than an elephant, even laid flat on the ground.

"You tricky imp!"

Ven's lips twitched, the trace of a smile. Rafe was incorrigible, but his humor was close to Ven's. If it continued like this, they'd be stuck in an endless exchange.

Stylus in hand, Ven faced the infant beast. A casual flick traced out a string of runes, an entrapment that snared his target.

"Now, what should I do with you?"

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"I'm so bored," Huan kicked her heels against Jun's ribs. "This game isn't fun anymore!"

"It was never fun for me..."

Jun knelt and let his sister down from her perch. The last two days were a nightmare. With her 'Husband' gone, Huan had spent her time with him.

"Oh shut up, the horse can't complain, you know that!"

Huan swatted at him, but he slid aside. Suprise dawned on her face, replaced by a wide smile.

"You dodged something!"

Jun reeled back as she jumped into his arms, pressed in a hug.

"I guess I did..."

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He'd never managed to avoid her before, even if they had the same cultivation. His time in the labyrinth had changed him, though he wasn't sure it was for the better.

"That's great, Jun," Huan squeezed. "You're becoming a warrior at last!"

"I'm not s..."

A rumble shook the palace. Chairs skittered over the floor as the hanging lights bucked and swayed.

"What the heck is that!"

Jun set his sister down and sprinted from the room, toward the source of the ungodly vibration.

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"There you go, big guy," Ven patted the side of his new, stony pet. "I told you, this stuff tastes the best out of any rock I've eaten!"

"GWAARR!"

Stony rumbled his agreement. The worm tore another section from the castle walls, delight shown as it wriggled with pleasure.

"This stuff will help you grow big and strong," Ven nodded sagely. "It's packed with nutrients."

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!"

A dragon descended from the apex of the castle, a froth of rage around its lips. The King crashed into the ground and shoved Stony aside, away from his home's foundations.

"THIS STUFF ISN'T FODDER FOR YOUR ANIMAL COMPANIONS!"

The Dragon King sprayed a blast of silver fire into the skies. His eyes were red, locked on Ven with hideous purpose.

"I'll KILL you!"

"Husband!"

Huan's head poked from the wide hole in the castle walls. Jun waved from beside her, eyes on the massive worm.

"Is this an apology gift for me?"

"Apology... sure!"

A wicked grin crawled onto Ven's face as he waved to Huan. Time to use his ace in the hole.

"I caught this worm to say sorry for not coming to see you sooner," Ven patted Stony's tough hide. "When he gets big enough, we can use him as a mobile home!"

"He's so cute! Can we keep him Daddy? PLEASE!"

Huan pressed herself to the King's draconic leg. She gazed up with tear-filled eyes, ready to burst.

"I.. well... this is really... FINE!"

The King deflated into a man, shoulders slumped in defeat. He squinted at Stony, who took another bite of the castle walls.

"But this behemoth needs to be kept away from my castle," The King covered his eyes with both palms. "Find a nice cave or mountain out of the city and build him a home."

"YAAAAY! Thank you, Daddy!"

"Yeah, thanks, Dragon King."

"Don't you thank me," The King rounded on Ven. "How are you going to fix this!"

Ven glanced at the castle. The hole was large, but it wouldn't effect the structure.

"Just toss a tarp over it?"

"A TARP," The King exploded. "THIS IS THE ROYAL PALACE!"

"Fine, fine..."

Ven drew his stylus and traced a few runes in the air. They coiled and spun, a light flashed. The broken wall was repaired, though a bit less luminous than it was before.

"There, good as new! Plus it's not as tasty anymore, so no one will eat this section again."

"NO ONE SHOULD EAT ANY OF IT!"

"Then you shouldn't make it so tasty..."

Stony nodded at Ven's words, maw opened for another bite.

"If you damage one more stone, I'll grind you into protein powder and drink you..."

Stony recoiled from the King's threat, a mountain hidden behind Huan's skirt.

"You've scared him, Daddy," She stomped her foot. "Apologize, NOW!"

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"Ah hahaha!"

The ground next to Hewl town erupted. The wave of soil and stone exposed a vast tunnel, filled with organized insects and one overzealous wolf-kin.

"We did it!" Lyra held Speaker's antennae and led him in a dance. "We've finished the first long-distance rail to another town!"

"The rail isn't finished..."

"Fine, but the tunnel is connected, we've made HISTORY!"

"Let her have her moment," Fen grumbled. "She's really into the idea of a rail network."

"Shut up, Fenrir!"

"Well, it's true... you want to be able to visit home, but magic transport is too expensive."

"Where is your home," Speaker tilted his head. "I thought your colony was this city?"

"It is," Lyra smiled, eyes sad. "But I was born far from here, at the edge of the kingdom's territories."

"Humanoids are strange," Speaker shivered. "Our home and hearts go with the colony, not the land that houses it."

"Wise, for a brainless insect..."

"Be nice, Fen," Lyra patted Speaker Ant's head. "My heart is here, but I've always wanted to see my first home, one last time."