“Isaac!” Piped an adorable little voice.

Ivan crouched down to greet Tila as she ran to him at the door. The happy little girl had her most recent favorite book and a paper sheet in one hand. Ivan caught her up in his arms as Myrn and the others filed into the Inn behind him.

The girl squealed and held tight to her book and her work. Ivan happily put her over one hip and made his way through the common room to their usual table. It was late afternoon and those who hadn't gotten their dinner yet would be looking for it. They were lucky enough to get in before the crowd.

“I read the story you bought me yesterday!” Tila announced, clinging to him tightly.

“Oh?” Ivan asked, voice open and amused. “Can you tell me what it was about?”

“It's a love story silly!” Tila exclaimed through her own embarrassed flush. “There's a prince who gives up his throne and title Job because they won't make him as happy as being with the woman he loves!”

Ivan considered the little girl as he sat down in the booth. She blushed a little more, her infatuation with him obvious to anyone with a basic Insight Skill to boost the attribute. Ivan smiled at her.

“Is that why you wanted this book so badly?” Ivan asked.

The girl nodded, shielding herself from his gaze with the leather-backed book.

Ivan gave her a little hug and smiled at Myrn as she sat beside the two of them. The girl grinned at her cousin and dove into her lap instead.

“You'll spoil her babying her like that you two!” Layla said, her voice a well humored hiss as she came to their table. “Lots of smiles on you all today though and you're even back a little early this time so I suppose I'll let it pass. How'd it go?”

Myrn grinned proudly.

“We cleared a dozen patrols or more again and took down the Maze Owl-Knight.”

“You beat an Owl Knight already?” Tila gasped, “Aren't they super strong?”

“Not strong enough to fight the whole team.” Andy said, grinning ear to ear.

He reached down and ruffled Tila's hair.

“Hey!” She squealed, trying all she could to wiggle out from under Andy's hand.

Ivan cast his shroud over her, and Tila crowded in under the soft leather cloak. Her little pale face stuck out from the supple folds of leather a moment later and she stuck her tongue out at Andy.

Marvin laughed as he followed behind the big man, shoving him gently and making him almost stumble into the table.

“Sit down you great ox.” Marvin chided, ushering Andy forward even more.

Andy put up a little play of being tossed and shoved by Marvin's harmless prodding making Tila giggle. He made pouting faces and sneered at Marvin who rolled his eyes and kept pushing the big man forward. When Andy was finally sat down Marvin took his sword from his back and sat, the sword resting on his shoulder when he sat down with them.

“Do you like your big sword Marvin?” Tila asked.

She was small, all skinny limbs, knees, and elbows, but having the young girl sit close reminded Ivan nothing more than of sweet little Jen when she was tired or feeling lonely. Jen had been growing out of the habit, but once had liked to sit closely and read with Ivan.

Jen was such a brave and strong girl. She would have been an excellent Knight and Paladin.

“Oh yeah Tila. When you get bigger I'll have to teach you how to use a weapon like it I think.”

Before he could bury himself in his memories, Myrn bumped Ivan's arm.

“You okay?” Myrn asked, a gentle smile on her face.

Ivan nodded, shifting his hand to rest on Tila's little shoulder. She immediately reached up to hold tight to one of his fingers. She laughed at Marvin's earlier suggestion.

“That sword is twice as big as I am, and probably heavier!” She complained, but giggled all the same.

She drew herself up, bringing her knees and skirt up into the Shroud and closing it around her. She smiled at Marvin across the table from within the dark embrace of the potent magic item.

To Ivan's Insight Tila felt safest within the Shroud. It was probably why she almost instinctively wrapped it about herself. Ivan wouldn't have it any other way. The sweet girl liked to read, took teasing well, and saw Myrn as an older sister more than the cousin she was. It was always like that with everyone in the Parish.

“Your world has been taught to fear the dark Ivan, but there is as much safety and comfort in the dark as there is peril. Remove Theadus and make the world one where children are no longer afraid of the dark. We will do it together.” Penelope whispered to him.

Tila sighed and leaned against Ivan's side. Ivan let his hand fall down from her shoulder to her arm and gave her a little hug. Tila made a happy little noise and yawned.

“I'm hungry.” Tila piped, “We're going to order aren't we?”

Andy and Myrn chuckled. Myrn leaned over and poked Tila's nose.

“I think you're supposed to take our order.” She teased.

Tila pulled up the Shroud to cover more of herself, and she shook her head with all but her eyes hidden in the cloak.

“Nope. I'm on break!” Tila said, snickering to herself as she hid in the depths of the Shroud.

Myrn's eyes widened and she flared her nostrils making a face at the girl which made her laugh. Then she raised a hand to another passing serving girl, a nervous, but detail oriented blonde half elf girl whose parents lived down the street.

The girl wore full attire, serving gown, apron, and had her own notepad for orders. It was impressive to see any child less than ten years old with a standard job, even if it was just Maid. It gave her extra stamina, intellect, and perception as well as a number of useful minor magic skills and abilities. Being a bright girl already Ivan was sure she would manage Scribe within the year. She was always reading and writing whenever the store wasn't busy. Ivan would have to learn her name soon and see how her studies were going. Scribe was the learning job most focused on individual learning, but a little guidance could really help a bright young mind like hers go a long way.

He felt a little thread reach out from his mind and tie to her as she came to take their orders.

“Do you need menu's?” She asked, somewhat sheepishly, as she came to the table.

Aside from being acquainted with them already, the girl probably had enough Insight and Perception to feel out their combat jobs, if not by nature, she would at least sense their potency. Ivan gave her his best welcoming smile, which was only helped by Tila peaking out playfully and smiling at her co-worker.

“No we're fine sweetheart. I'll take Meeda's Special Steak and Egg dinner please.” Marvin said, doffing his usual stiff manner to speak softly to the girl.

She blushed and wrote down his order.

“There's lamb tonight isn't there Marie?” Andy asked.

The girl, Marie, nodded while hiding her smile behind the notepad. Marvin might have charmed her some little with words, but girl seemed to like Andy. Another innocent little crush perhaps, but it was a somewhat natural effect of his aura. The skill improved morale and made those who had it easier to trust, but both effects were especially potent coming from Andy. Maybe he had a secondary skill boosting the effect.

“Oooh I want some of that and an order of potatoes and gravy.” Andy said, carrying on with his order.

“I'll take some lamb and whatever Layla has around for a salad tonight.” Myrn said next.

“Fish and Potatoes for me please Marie.” Ivan told the girl.

The little maid took her notes carefully and then looked to Tila.

“Fish and Cheese Sandwich!” The younger girl piped.

Marie laughed.

“That's what you always get Tila. Why not try something else?” Marie asked, suddenly a little bolder than she had been before.

“Fine~!” Tila complained. “Fish and Cheese Sandwich, but Mom can add all the fixings to it.”

Marie rolled her eyes, but wrote down the order.

The team chuckled at the interaction. Tila flashed a big grin up at Ivan as he shook his head at her antics. Ivan watched Marie give a very well executed curtsy and then start on her way to the kitchen.

“You want to hear about our latest fight don't you Tila?” Andy asked.

The gazes of older men suddenly gained focus in Ivan’s vision, and their eyes upon the blonde serving girl heading toward made him want to growl. Most were innocent enough gazes weighing her favorably as Ivan himself had, but Ivan's new rising instincts made him possessive of the innocent creature. Kindly or not, all Ivan could see of a sudden was the same gaze of that bastard who had killed Jen and it made him momentarily furious.

“Yeah!”

Tila tugged his arm down and hugged his hand. She seemed hardly aware of it, simply doing as she desired in the moment, but the sensation of it brought him back from his frightening memories and imaginings. She was sitting up straight now, nervous, excited, and curious about Andy's story.

“Well it all started with Isaac. He got the things attention, or sort of. We were trying to lure it out by sending Ivan after the first maze chest. He got it, but the moment he opened it-- WHOOSH!” Andy described, mocking out the Owl-Knight's first strike.

Tila gasped and clutched at Ivan's arm.

Ivan made wide eyes at her, doing his best to dismiss his intrusive thoughts, and raised two fingers of his free hand. He swished them through the air near his throat, moving himself out of the way while making a frightened expression.

Tila gasped again.

“He almost got you?” Tila asked, shrinking into the Shroud.

Ivan gave her a confident smile.

“I was ready for him.”

Tila beamed up at him, and clutched his arm tight to her chest. Ivan squeezed her affectionately, making her laugh and giggle against his side.

“The battle was epic. Marvin and I were side by side, your big sister Myrn was firing arrows into it from the fog of the maze, every arrow finding gaps in its armor with every shot. Isaac and Davian got in behind it then, and it was all over from there. All it took was Marvin and I making sure that if it looked away from us that we'd have its head.” Andy explained.

“Wow! Just like Papa's and Uncle Terci's Team then!” The little girl's eyes shone with delight as she spoke, and she bounced in her seat.

“We did get it's head actually.” Marvin said, hefting his new sword a little.

Tila's eyes couldn't grow any larger.

“Did you get all covered in gross bird blood?” Tila asked.

Marvin took in a very patient breath and nodded.

“It was pretty terrible.” He admitted.

The little girl laughed as Marvin mocked out wiping his face of something thick and sticky.

“It went up in misty smoke though, right?” Tila asked.

Marvin nodded and put down his act to smile at the girl.

Ivan brushed her hair into a semblance of order as she talked with the team. She finally put her book and report on the table then for Ivan to check. He checked her notes, and her summary of the characters, their jobs, and what skills they used during the story. Ivan had also tasked her to list what skills she thought the characters might have had even if they weren't listed directly in the story.

Math and reading were easy ones to point out, but Tila had correctly guessed one character, the true antagonist of the story, to have the Spy job. Ivan read it over and smiled as he did. Myrn leaned in to read too, and praised little Tila with a few head pats.

“You are paying attention then?” Myrn asked.

Tila nodded absently, her eyes on a passing plate of food meant for another table.

Myrn sighed at her, but was smiling. The whole group was.

So Ivan thought it as good of a time as any to put a massive rectangular coin on the table.

Tila grabbed it immediately, hefting it with her little fingers, and looking over its design. The others leaned in, Marvin, Myrn, and Andy having seen the like before, but the design and shape of the Dungeon Gold was new to Davian and Ivan.

One face of the huge coin held the moon and stars in a dazzling design. The other held a Sunburst the likes of which would make any follower of Theadus ashamed of his religious symbols. Each was made perfectly, always centered and balanced, and never did any of these coins come out of the Dungeon misshapen or off center. They each had a hole in the center leading to the thought that the Owl-Kin would display their wealth upon a string. Tila looked the piece over with an expert eye.

“Looks pretty good. How many did you get?” Tila asked, in a very business as usual sort of tone.

She was used to her uncle and aunt's team coming in after going into the dungeon and had probably handled a great deal of the large coins.

“I'm not sure.” Ivan said, laughing.

“Six hundred and forty seven including that piece there Master.” Azalea informed him.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Ivan blinked and almost failed to keep himself from gaping. Within the Shroud he noticed Azalea sitting down like a Merchant without a street stall. Arranged around her in neat rows were the coin he had collected, various treasures, trinkets, and other looted items.

“Could I see that Tila? I've never held one before.” Davian asked.

“Sure. They're all this pretty. I've never seen one that takes a bad stamp or is crooked or anything like that.” Tila piped and sat up at the table to hand the strange coin to Davian.

Davian stared, turning the coin over and over. It was solid gold, and their abundance in the Dungeon provided the Goldsmiths of Dentennek no end of supply. Whether that meant coins or trinkets, rings, and the like it didn't matter. Many Dungeons gave enchanted coins that were better for ritual magic and empowering enchantments than just melting down for their material, but these weren't that kind. However…

Ivan slipped his hand into the Shroud once again and slipped the large white gem he had looted from the chest into Tila's lap. He placed it on the skirt of her dress and she gasped as she looked down. She took it up in both hands immediately.

Ivan hid her for a moment behind the Shroud. In the deep folds of the soft leather Tila looked up at him from under his arm, her eyes alight with mischievous glee. Her expression broke into more smiles as Ivan stuck his tongue out from the corner of his mouth as he looked down at her, both their faces illuminated by the softly glowing white gem.

Ivan lifted his arm and without missing a beat Tila stood in the booth seating beside him raising the gem high.

“Magic Gem! Magic Gem!” Tila cheered.

Mryn poked her in the belly.

“Sit down.” Mryn instructed her, laughing all the while.

Tila plopped back down, but grinned with her hands clasped greedily around the massive stone.

“What's that for Tila? Selling?” Davain asked, looking up from the coin.

“No, you don't sell them silly!” Tila laughed, a big warm, and somehow very sober smile took over her expression.

Tila looked at them all, and up at Ivan, her cheeks filled with color, and her eyes sparkling.

“You get as many as you can. All sorts of colors and shapes and sizes. Then as you go through the Dungeon you work together to find a Magic Design! They can be little things like rings, or big things like huge swords and spears and shields and stuff—But then—But then! Then you take all your gems and all your friends and make something super special and new different from all the other Dungeon loot! Papa has a sword like this that Uncle Terci made with him and all their friends.” Tila said, her eyes still sparkling as she held the gem.

“Even though Papa doesn't go into the Dungeon any more they still wanted him to have it. He used to fight right up in front of the monsters like Marvin and Andy do for you guys. But Mama got pregnant and Papa didn't want to fight the monsters after that. But they still made it for him.” Tila's expression filled with pride as she looked down at the gem, but there was sadness in her eyes as she looked over at Myrn. The girl suddenly seemed a little too old to be as small and cute as she was.

“It's Papa's most precious treasure. That big sword they gave him.” She went, her tone faltering. “I miss Uncle Terci though. And I think Mama and Papa do too.”

Ivan pulled the little girl into his lap, wrapping her in a soft hug. Myrn leaned in and kissed her forehead too for that matter. Tila put up a girlish bashful display under the affection of her beloved cousin and Ivan. It took Davian only a moment to see that Ivan had moved the girl into his lap to also provide the Bard a proper seat, and he moved in as Marie came across the common room floor with a huge platter of food balanced on her shoulder.

It was a bit of a squeeze, but they all had a seat in the booth. Marie flawlessly performed her job, and passed out plates from the platter as another girl hurried from the kitchen with their drinks. Somber little Tilal was taken up in her food then, eagerly pulling her plate to her plate beside Ivan's and settling in on his lap happily enough. The gem she set on the table and let Davian see before she wrestled her sandwich over to her mouth.

Myrn smiled at Ivan as he held a cloth napkin under Tila's attempts to ravage the sandwich. Ivan smiled back at her distractedly, because of the sauce dripping down Tila's chin, and the memories flooding through his mind. Names, and smiling faces barraged him. The ghostly feel of little hands desperate to get his attention, and the haunting calls of 'Big Brother' and 'Sir Ivan' echoed in his mind. He could remember all their names and faces easily, but he didn’t think he’d forget finding them dead or seeing them being chased by hard-faced militia men with blades drawn.

He began to sweat. His breathing picked up and he struggled to keep himself out of the nightmare contained within his mind. Emotions rolled over him in a wave, as fresh and hot and angry as when he had first gazed upon those horrible sights and heard those horrible sounds. Hot blood running through his fingers....the magic and warmth of Istania's grace gone from his mind…

He shuddered slightly and clutched the delicate little girl in his lap. She smiled up at him, cheeks filled with fresh bites of her sandwich. Ivan wiped her chin of the dripping sauce feeling a strange and subtle calm come over him. He smiled at her before coming aware of his team's eyes on him. He tried to relax, and managed all but his arms held a possessive grip on the young girl.

A tiny voice in his mind kept repeating almost nonsense phrases all approximating 'this time I'll keep them safe. This time the power is mine. This time. This time.' Ivan calmly pushed that thought voice down deep into the dark of his mind, and focused on enjoying the present. The innocent girl in his lap was a treat and had a bright mind that he could help grow into a brilliant one. He pushed away all sensations, but that of the precious girl and his friends at the table.

Smiling now he ate and talked with the girl, making idle talk about her dislike of the 'extra fixings' her mother had put on the sandwich. In the way of children she told him all about it with extraordinary enthusiasm.

He ate while she talked, and paused at times to remind her to eat before she carried on. The memories of his slaughter family still remained somewhere just outside of his thoughts, but did his best to avoid them until everyone finished eating.

Then once the table was cleared away he was able to start pulling out loot. Andy blinked at the stacks of ten rectangular coins that were coming out of Ivan's cloak. Marvin took up a pair of bronze trimmed steel bracers, the same depictions of sun and moon as the coins on its left and right hands respectively. He was hardly able to speak. Andy seemed excited right up until Ivan had Davian stand for a moment, and help him pull the shield he had looted from the cloak. It was a heavy tower shield, and Andy almost upset the table when he stood to check it out.

Ivan meanwhile winced, touching his head. Taking so much out of the Shroud at once was really draining on his mana. He drank a little, but ultimately needed to down one of the crude mana tonics he had managed. It had a thick and slightly vile minty taste, but its effects were immediate.

“Mana headache?” Tila asked, her big eyes turned up to him from her position on his lap.

Ivan nodded.

Tila sat up, drawing her legs up, and turning sideways to hug him and give him a shy little peck on the cheek.

“How about now?” Tila asked, with a shy giggle that burst into laughter as Myrn leaned in behind her to wrap her in a hug from behind.

“Much better now.” Ivan laughed.

The effect was minor, but any pleasant interaction like that really did have an effect on a person's mana. Just conversation of sufficient value could do that, but hugs and other actions of moral support could be used to restore the mind. He had been reading on ritual embraces of a much darker nature, but the practice carried over. That the girl knew her affection would help his mana regeneration rate told Ivan that her parents weren't idle teachers either.

There were all sorts of little things, familiarity, standing in a known formation, and even wearing the same uniform that gave little buffs like that. Bright little Tila knew about all of that already, and would be working to pick out those synergies to her benefit.

“How about we let Ivan get the rest of the loot?” Myrn asked Tila, “You can sit with me until he's got it all out and ready for us to check.”

“Okay.” Tila said, falling back into Myrn's arms. The girl laughed and hugged Myrn's arms about her.

Ivan got back to retrieving the loot as his mana recovered. He hadn't realized how much it helped to have his mana draining effects during combat. Even with the foe fallen dead to the floor the body still had life and spirit to linger on and be drained. That was how Ivan scooped all of this into the Shroud so fast, but he hadn't realized the effect had been strong enough to compare with one of his magically fortified herbal tonics.

Unlike traditional mana potions which instantly provided a large amount of mana the tonic only provided enhanced mana regeneration, but made with the right ingredients and Ivan's Jade Mortar and Pestle his tonics were potent enough. So that put into perspective how much mana his wounding effect drained from his victims. The effects of that alone made him bane to all caster type battlefield combatants who relied upon their large mana pools and moderated use of their spells and various powers to remain effective. Which was good, many melee focused and ranged focused combat jobs benefited from using mana as well, like Myrn, and very soon Marvin with that Ember of his.

“Zon's breath....” Marvin cursed as he finished putting the gauntlets on.

Ivan frowned at him.

“Give me a moment before you slap on anything more. I can inspect everything to make sure it's safe to wear.” Ivan chided him.

Marvin shook his head.

“I don't think I need you to. I...I understand these gloves.” Marvin muttered.

“Gauntlets!” Tila corrected.

“Gauntlets yes, yes, but still I know what they do and they're incredible!”

Ivan had a suspicion that they would be good, of the other looted items beyond the shield those gloves had been the most potent item. The scale-mail was close behind, and would probably go to Marvin too, but as far as Ivan could tell it was little better in value than the custom gear he wore already.

“So what they do oh great Warrior-Smith?” Andy jibbed.

“Like the Sun and Moon they run hot and cold depending on the time of day. There's a mana cost to them, but it's a low channeled cost. During the day they will set my sword ablaze, and at night the blade will shine with chilly moonlit ice, freezing the wounds of those who taste its edge.” Marvin said, turning the gloves about in hand.

Ivan leaned over the table and poked the gauntlets.

“Inspect Item.” He chanted dryly.

Inspect Object: Inspection Successful;

Steel Gauntlets of the Bronze Temple Guardian, Grade Three Enchanted Armor

The Conditional Weapon effect upon this armor piece changes upon time of day and exposure to the sky. It will be less useful indoors, but still effective. This enchantment is known to be a favorite of the Owl-Kin creatures found in the Old Oak Dungeon, and across the Sea in the Temple of Bronze Dungeon. The art of recreating the enchantment has been lost, but the set pieces that bolster the Gauntlets' effects are commonly found and sold near these two dungeons.

Ivan blinked and reconsidered the armor still in the Shroud. He reached in and pulled that out onto the table. This disrupted the neat gold stacks and shook the table significantly. He winced under the significant mana cost, but only paused a moment before inspecting the armor now laid out over the table.

Inspect Object: Inspection Successful;

Steel Scale Armor of the Bronze Temple Guardian, Grade Three Enchanted Armor

This armor boasts resistances to fire and ice magic, and you'll look sharp in its shining bronze trim. Part of the Bronze Temple Guardian set of Armor to be found in the Old Oak Dungeon and across the Sea in the Temple of Bronze Dungeon.

The others read the descriptions floating over each of the items as Ivan rubbed his temples.

“That's perfect!” Marvin cheered.

Andy seemed to agree.

“Too perfect.” Penelope grumbled. “Still they are common pieces to this dungeon.”

Ivan took another long drink of ale, and gave it another moment before reaching his hand out toward Andy and the new shield in his hands.

“You sure you're not out of mana?” Andy asked.

“Just low dingus. Gimme the shield already.” Ivan grumbled.

Andy relented and offered up the shield to Ivan's reach.

“Inspect Item.”

Inspect Object: Inspection Successful;

Shield of the Bronze Temple Guardian, Grade Three Enchanted Shield

This shield boasts resistances to fire and ice magic, and its sturdy weight will help you turn away spells and heavy blows alike! This is part of the Bronze Temple Guardian set to be found in the Old Oak Dungeon and across the Sea in the Temple of Bronze Dungeon.

“Well I'm not going to use the shield, but it looks solid and says it can block spells. I would keep that well in hand Andy.” Marvin commented.

Andy nodded.

“I don't like the heavy tower shield style as much, but after fighting that big guy I won't knock it. Bet I'll flatten those Owl-Kin Watchmen when I slam them with this thing too.” Andy mused.

Then he laughed.

“What a haul!”

Ivan nodded, pulling a trinket from the Shroud.

Inspect Object: Inspection Successful;

Moonfeather Pendant, Grade Two Trinket

The darkened moon feather of a female Owl-kin given as a gift of interest. It resonates with deeds and magic best done unseen in the dark. This trinket boosts Shadow, Lunar, and Dark Magic and reduces your sensed presence while acting in stealth.

It was a silvery downy soft single feather about as long as his hand. It's bronze chain, and clasp about its base made it fit with the other items they had looted. Ivan slipped the chain twice about his wrist. It was loose about his bare arm, but worked into the strapping of his gauntlets it would sit fine.

“Another trinket?” Marvin asked.

Ivan nodded.

“You like those shadowy trinkets don't you Isaac?” Davian asked, a small smile on his face.

Ivan didn't know how to respond exactly as dark memories surfaced in threatening bubbles in the depths of his mind again. All he would have to do was turn his attention to them a little bit, and the bubbles would pop.

“I have the Dark Spark, remember? It's the hand I've been dealt.” Ivan finally commented.

“That's okay. Papa and Mama both say all Sparks are good. They still give you magic no matter what you do with them. So it's good to have any at all.” Tila piped up before suddenly yawning.

“That's right Tila. The simple fact is that a person with a spark will have more mana than one without. That helps in all sorts of jobs, and jobs usually change to better include that spark, but if you try hard you'll get a mix of what you like with what you were meant to do.” Myrn told her little cousin.

Tila smiled up at her and at the table, but then frowned.

“I don't know if I want to fight, but maybe I want to get a job that helps. Maid looks fun and gets all sorts of little spells all wrapped up in single skills. But I think Chef might be best. Papa's chef Job is almost Advanced Class now after cooking for everyone. Its name is qulin—qulin-ary?” Tila said, trying her best to pronounce the difficult word with adorable results.

“Culinary Expert. He will have to step up his meals and materials to advance, and then he'll have to be choosy about which road he wants to go down. Thankfully his Fire Spark bonded to his Cook Job early. It was a disappointment for their adventuring team right up until they tasted his next meal. Dad still laughs about that sometimes.” Myrn told them, a soft laugh hidden in her voice.

Tila smiled and nodded.

Myrn hugged Tila to her chest and cuddled her gently, making the girl giggle softly as she returned the affection.

“They had you not very long after that. I was away, but dad tells me all about those times. I can't imagine that he was as excited when I was born, but it sort of fits with what I remember.” Myrn told her.

“Was it scary seeing your Papa go into the Dungeon? I don't know how I would feel if Papa went in. It's scary just to watch you go Myrn. I know you're strong, but I get scared.” Tila asked.

“We got her back Tila, well she has ours really, but the saying remains the same.” Andy answered right away.

He was inspecting the armor with Marvin; the two of them had been talking quietly over the benefits of Marvin's current armor and having this set fitted to him appropriately. It sounded like as much as Marvin liked his current gear the gauntlets boosted effect from the armor and the defense of the new armor was winning out. Both gave focused mentions to the powerful martial skills of the Owl-Knight they had faced, and liked the idea of their armor being able to turn away such attacks.

“We always go together and we're very careful. We stick to the safe paths, and get back out before too long. Once Isaac has more healing ability maybe we can take more chances, but for right now we're focusing on doing what we can. The more gear and money we get the better we'll do too.”

“Besides you haven't seen Isaac move for real yet. He's fast, and strong as me or Andy.” Marvin put in, leaning down on the table full of loot to look the girl in the eye.

Tila sat up straight, meeting his gaze with interest.

“He can vanish into shadows the moment you're not looking at him.” Marvin said darkly, waving his hand about in the air. “His weapons appear in his hands, and then bam, he's got the monster in the back!”

Tila gasped in an animated fashion.

Marvin and Andy both nodded sagely.

Ivan rolled his eyes at them.

“He's a sneaky stabby rogue after all I suppose.” Tila said, putting her mind to the task.

“But he's not a bad guy like in the stories. I know it. He's too nice.” She went on, her smile turning to Ivan before she crawled from Myrn's lap and back into his own.

She laughed as the Shroud moved over her with a life of its own. Ivan even cast the hood over himself with a small effort of will as the girl laughed, hidden inside the floating folds of leather for a moment before her head popped out again.

Ivan put his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. Tila smiled, but yawned. She was warm coming from Myrn's arms, but sought out more of the Shroud and pulled her legs up to sit sideways on Ivan's lap. Ivan indulged her as she laid her head against his chest and yawned again.

“Is this everything then?” Marvin asked looking over the table.

“There's more coin, but I'll just win that back in our next card game anyway.” Ivan replied idly.

Marvin gave a snort of laughter, and Davian sighed explosively. Andy just laughed.

“I'll use it to buy potions and materials.” Ivan offered, realizing he had made a decision just then. “If your uncle can spare me a little room in the garden shed maybe I can try my hands at some real alchemy. It will take a few days to gather books and Scholar up what I need to know, but well I...” Ivan trailed off.

“Alchemy then?” Marvin mused.

Davian sat a little straighter and looked Ivan in the eye.

“I thought you were going to try for a magic based healer.”

“I was...I had...I...” Ivan trailed off again, the bright little child in his lap yawning and leaning into him and his Shroud for comfort and warmth. She was dozing, full from the meal, and tired after working and studying all day.

The dark little bubbles of memory in his mind seemed to have surfaced against and popped on their way out. Hopeless despair and pitiless doubts entered his mind like termites out of the foundation of his mind.

“You're handy with your medicine spells, but we've seen the way you fight. Maybe keeping your mana for dancing through shadows and sticking with material based healing is the way.” Marvin mused.

“Even just those tonics do a hell of a lot for me and Marvin in a fight so I won't scoff at having better, or at least better tasting versions of the same!” Andy said, taking up Marvin's point.

They both seemed to catch Ivan's desperately low mood then, and concerned confusion struck both of their faces. Davian beside Ivan nudged him with an elbow. Myrn on the other side did the same.

“We're here Isaac. All of us have a bit of trouble of our own wrapped up in this recent business. The only way any of us can do more than we are now is to grow stronger. We'll help you do that whatever way you think is best.” Davian told him.

Ivan eyed the earnest Bard. Ivan could feel the threads of trust between all of his friends. It made him think two things, almost at the same moment. On one hand he thought of how nice it might feel to let the truth out, have them accept him, and his decisions, but that was foolish. On the other he thought of how easily he could manipulate them now. They didn't even really know who he was.

The urge to tell them all right then rose in his mind, and up somewhere near his belly. He closed his eyes and adjusted his arms around the dozing girl. Once he and the girl were more comfortable he looked down at her, and her relaxed sleeping face.

“I'm lying...” Ivan whispered.

Davian and the others heard him over the din and clamor of the common room. Their Perception attributes were all high enough to sort out the sound.

“What do you mean?” Davian asked.

Myrn squeezed his arm, and he spared her a warm glance.

“Be careful Ivan.” Penelope warned, but he knew more or less what he was doing.

“I'm lying about my name. I haven't told you guys a lot of things.” Ivan clarified, keeping his voice to a shaky whisper, “I'm sorry.”

The other took several moments to soak that in, but at least they didn't get up or leave or something like that. Ivan sort of knew it was a calculated risk, many people didn't take being lied to well, but he thought if he waited any longer they might not believe he trusted them. He did trust them, and wanted them to know it as much as he could get away with.

Penelope looked through his senses, and turned her head as if taking in each of his friends' reactions. A slow and warm little smile crept over her features and she nodded as if in understanding. After that she strode over near Azalea and sat beside her. The other demon was focused on her study, but leaned into the embrace Penelope's wing over her.

“What about your family? The story from the other day?” Davian asked softly.

Marvin and Andy glanced at each, but nodded in shared interest in the question.

“Not blood related, but my family all the same. Orphans...all of us.” Ivan whispered.

Marvin sat back, his eyes intent on Ivan, his thoughts a furious storm of activity behind his eyes. Andy took the new information in and nodded. His hand went to the talisman hidden under his shirt and he bowed his head as if in prayer. Ivan risked meeting his eyes as he looked up, and saw in Andy the same fury that burned within himself. Andy, so kind and gentle on the outside, was absolutely furious at the slaughter that had been done in Theadus's name.

Marvin looked at Ivan directly once more, and slow recognition dawned on him. Ivan met his eyes for a long moment, but looked away and cradled the sleeping girl. Being himself...was somehow more painful than pretending to be someone else. It made him feel broken and alone.

“Gram's Breath...” Marvin cursed, “-You're...” He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “You're her champion, the one they all said would be her Hero someday!” Marvin hissed in a whisper.

“How could I have missed it with the way you fight? I've seen you fight in tournaments dozens of times! It all makes sense. I just couldn't see it without the pieces I was missing.”

Mryn put her hand on the table and urged Marvin to silence.

Ivan cradled little Tila in his arms, showing his hurt, and none of his anger or pride. Andy put one of his great big hands on the table with Myrn's, his eyes never looking away from Ivan's. The big man's seriousness was suddenly obvious to everyone at the table.

Marvin met his friend's gaze and something complex passed between the two friends. Finally Marvin nodded, looked at Andy's and Myrn's hand, and then, with a little smile, put his own hand out atop theirs. Davian gave a weak chuckle and shook his head.

“I'm obviously not in on this secret, but I won't be left behind now.” Davian muttered.

He put his hand into the growing pile of hands, set atop loot, coins, and the armor on the table. Ivan stared at them, and hadn't really dared hope that it would actually go this well. Part of him wanted to grin, but a larger part of him was just glad to not have to lie to them.

He bumped Davian's arm gently so as to not disturb Tila, and drew out his other arm to put on the table.

“My real name is Ivan. Adopted Son and Favored Paladin of Istania. -Just keep it to yourself okay Dav?” Ivan whispered to him, and bowed his head to look down at Tila's sleeping face.

“I'm drawing enough attention just being with you guys. I don't...I don't need to...” Ivan couldn't say the words.

“You don't need any more trouble on your head.” Davian finished for him and nodded.

“Thank you.” Ivan muttered weakly, their hands together on the table.

“No, thank you.” Both Marvin and Davian said at once.

Ivan glanced at them both and couldn't stop the small smile that appeared on his face.