A few hours before sunset, Sophia and Nick came across a sandy basin running between a trio of short hillocks. Defensible terrain that was drier than anywhere else he had seen on the bog.

The slopes would contain the light from their campfire, reducing the attention they drew from the denizens of the marsh that dwelled in the dark. Not to mention predators of their own kind. They had set down their packs ten minutes earlier, then went to work making camp for the night.

At the moment, Sophia was surveying the surrounding terrain, making sure that nothing unfriendly was laired nearby, while Nick took care of dinner. After digging out a pit in the sandy soil, he built up a fire using dried marsh grass for kindling, then broke enough branches off a dead tree to last them through the night.

When he was done piling the wood beside the firepit, he reached into his belt pouch, pulled out his flint, and struck it with the steel. He lit the fire with a bright spark then blew on it until the kindling caught.

Humming to himself, Nick dug into his pack and retrieved a pair of spits he had fashioned a few nights prior, then pulled out a couple of fish Sophia had caught earlier in the day. They were tiny compared to the amethyst monster she had reeled in atop the broken bridge, but there was enough meat to make a single meal.

He used his dagger to gut the carcasses and skewered the fillets, eager to get on with the grilling. He had a surprise in store when she got back, having found an edible herb a few hours prior that smelled like onions mixed with black pepper. He rubbed the leaves into the meat and then set the fish over the fire.

Soon the soothing crackle of fat sizzling in the firepit filled the air, as rich drops of grease dripped down from the spits. It was a savory aroma that set Nick’s mouth watering. While the fillets browned, his thoughts turned to Sophia, the woman who had become his partner, at least for this stage of the quest.

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Sophia was an excellent traveling companion, and Nick hoped that they would form a lasting friendship. She had a powerful personality and a great sense of humor, and was practical, bold, and direct. She possessed sharp instincts and quick reflexes, which complemented his tendency to extensively plan and analyze.

The woman was kind and considerate as well, although her heart was guarded, surrounded by a moat of pain. But Sophia was far from naive. Her level-headed compassion was a strength rather than a liability in this new System-governed reality.

Sophia held no illusions regarding the darker side of human nature, and she was willing to face the grim truths of their changing circumstances head on. While Nick hoped that he was contributing equally to their partnership, he suspected that she was both a better fighter and a better judge of character than he was right now.

Nick was an excellent strategist, but she was a superior tactician. He was happy that she seemed impressed by his ingenuity and the toolkit he had been developing over time. He thought that there might be a spark of mutual attraction between them as well, but that wasn’t something he would be able to explore until they had won their planet back from the Mad God.

All in all, Sophia was a fantastic partner. While Nick had no idea if they would remain together after the quest to climb the tower was complete, he was more than happy to have her at his side here and now.

After all, none of them knew what tomorrow would bring. What ordeals the System and the Mad God had in store for the survivors of Earth over the days to come.

He still had a lot of questions about her past, but he trusted her to reveal her secrets in time, and didn’t mind if she kept some parts of her story completely to herself. Nick had some skeletons in his own closet that weren’t ready to see the light of day. His contemplations were interrupted when their subject returned.

Just as the steaming skewers were ready to pull from the flames, Sophia’s form emerged from behind the closest ridge. “You’re just in time, dinner is almost ready. Did you find anything out there that we need to worry about?” Nick raised a hand in greeting.

“Lots of marshland animals. Some looked dangerous, but nothing seemed overtly hostile or bestial. Most of them should go to ground before the sun sets, although I have no idea what nocturnal species live around here.”