The heads were still a ways off, leaving countless vents and tubeworms between where Owin currently stood and what appeared to be the floor boss. They could rush down and fight, but there was nothing to gain over that. It would just mean he would be off on his own again sooner.

Not actually on his own, but Shade didn’t really count.

The skeleton had asked Thalgodin how the demon liked his vest at least ten times since leaving the wandering boss’s corpse, and Thalgodin, surprisingly, liked it.

“You do?” Shade asked again, even already knowing the answer.

“Yes,” the big demon said.

Thalgodin took turns with Myrsvai and Suta whenever they came across clusters of tubeworms. It was easy to get surprised on the seventh floor with all the dark smoke. Owin never felt overwhelmed, but he tried imagining what it would be like to be a normal hero with levels and experience. How strong would he be?

The tubeworms were tough opponents because of their durability and fast, ranged molten rock attack. But when Myrsvai buffed Suta, and Suta buffed himself, they easily killed every tubeworm they fought.

“We’re going to fight the boss alone,” Myrsvai said.

Owin nodded. He had expected Myrsvai to do something similar. “I’ll be ready to help.”

“If we can’t handle the boss on our own, we’ll leave. I can’t rely on your power any longer.” Myrsvai smiled. “Thalgodin will also watch.”

“The drain on your mana,” Thalgodin said as he dove forward, slashing through a cluster of tubeworms with his neural swords. He spun and chopped through a cluster with his axe. “If you don’t wish for my assistance, you can send me to the Abyss.”

“No. I want your help on the next floor. The mana drain only gets severe with a third summon. This is part of the training. Critique the battle. Both of you. What can I do to improve? What can Suta do?”

The familiar nodded.

“I don’t think I know enough about this to tell you what to do,” Owin said.

Myrsvai tapped him with the butt of his staff. “Your strength rivals Chorsay’s now, Owin. You saved me from the wandering boss. You fought alongside Artivan, one of the best mid-level knights I’ve ever seen. You know how to fight.”

He knew how to jump, slash, and stab. That wasn’t necessarily fighting, especially for a magus, but Mrysvai wasn’t going to budge.

“Can I critique too?” Shade asked.

“Of course.”

“I think you could do with a haircut.”

Suta punched Shade in the knee, causing the skeleton to wail and fall to the ground.

“Critique the fight, Shade.”

The skeleton stayed on the ground and grabbed a piece of tubeworm. “Oh, sure. Like you’ll take that criticism any better. Some people are just soft. Not me. All bone.”

Thalgodin grunted and continued walking down the hill.

“Get up,” Owin muttered. He grabbed Shade’s gloved hand and yanked him upright.

Shade continued talking about anything that came to his mind, so Owin directed him toward Thalgodin, who was just curious enough to be a good listener. Suta had yet to leave Myrsvai’s side, and Owin assumed that wouldn’t change anytime soon.

After the chaos of the fifth floor and the timer of the sixth, the seventh floor did feel like a calm break.

“Do you know anything about the tenth floor?” Owin asked.

“The boss arena?” Myrsvai made a noise. “I know the name Chaudius. I can tell you the names of all seven tower bosses, but little to nothing about them. I don’t know if the gods interfere with that knowledge or if Shard Heroes choose to be secretive. Or, perhaps both. Chaudius is a melee fighter, likely a girhuma or cetanthro, though I don’t know which.”

“Do you think Shade knows?”

They listened to Shade lecture Thalgodin on good oiling practices for his swords, which all looked to be in flawless condition. The demon listened closely and nodded along.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Is any of that true?” Owin asked quietly.

“I don’t have enough experience with swords to know, but . . . it sounds true.”

After a few more minutes of Shade talking, even while Thalgodin fought tubeworms, the skeleton noticed Owin and the others watching him.

“Good advice, isn’t it?”

“I have no idea,” Owin said.

Shade’s eye sockets narrowed. “You can tell I’m making it up?”

“What?” Thalgodin said, his voice suddenly more serious. “You’re lying to me?”

Shade put his hand on one of the demon’s many arms. “I lie to everyone. Don’t take it personally. I am a talented storyteller, as long as that story isn’t true. A true story is a little more intimidating, you know. I don’t know a lot of things, but if you talk fast enough and confidently, people will believe just about anything you say.”

Thalgodin glared at the skeleton.

“Shade, what do you know about the tenth floor of the Ocean?” Owin pulled Shade away from the demon before Thalgodin crushed him.

“Sloswen will answer a single question, and there are some pretty designs on the ceiling.” He placed both of his hands on top of his skull. “Other than that . . . uh, there’s a boss.”

“I know that.”

“Then we know the same things.”

Owin waited for Shade to say something else, but as he had first expected, the skeleton didn’t know anything. Shade just stared back at him with empty eye sockets and also waited for some type of response.

Before long, Myrsvai grew impatient and ushered them all along. “Let’s get moving. There’s nothing else for us here.”

“Other than the secret,” Owin said.

“Which we can hope to find it, though I don’t know where to begin looking.”

“I would recommend somewhere on this floor.” Shade put his arm over Myrsvai’s shoulder and tapped his cheek. “Am I right?”

“Do you want me to kill him?” Thalgodin asked.

Myrsvai sighed. “Not yet.”

***

Nikoletta had been unconscious for days. But something was wrong.

Siora didn’t spend all her time in the medical wing. What kind of freak would do that? She wasn’t sentimental enough about the mender to really care if she lived or not, but out of general respect, she had visited a few times.

Outside the Ocean, with Vondaire’s help, Nikoletta had woken up enough to stop herself from dying, drained her mana, then fell unconscious. Getting her back to Atrevaar would have been difficult but with Avani and Codhyses, it was an easy enough endeavor.

At this point, there was no reason for her to still be unconscious. Her injuries were healed, her mana had recharged, and she had rested for plenty of time.

The Void Nexus medical team gave up. They didn’t know.

Veph and Sylmare stood just inside the doorway to the private room Veph had assigned for Nikoletta. The leader of Void Nexus had her crystal sword sheathed at her side. She tapped metal fingers on its pommel as she watched Nikoletta flash.

“How many times is that now?” Veph asked.

“Five,” Siora said quickly.

The air hummed as a shard lifted from Veph’s shoulder. The wizard slowly walked across the room as two other shards lifted and hummed. The presence of the silver gems thundered in Siora’s chest. It was hard to breathe.

Veph’s index was in front of her eyes as she touched Nikoletta’s neck. She made a noise and sat on a chair beside the bed. “A boon from Sloswen was hidden in there.” The air calmed as the shards dropped back into her shoulders. “The gods are interfering.”

Siora sat forward. There was no reason to try to act calm or casual. This was only unusual. “What does it mean?”

“Sloswen apparently decided he wants her stronger.” Veph flicked her gaze to Sylmare. “What level can a mender summon cathkabel?”

“Sixty,” Sylmare said immediately.

Nikoletta had just hit fifty nine.

“Is it going to take her all the way?”

Veph nodded. “She’s poisoned from the boon. It's running through her blood, ticking her health down constantly. Her constitution is rising rapidly because of this. She’ll develop a poison resistance too. Maybe an immunity if it’s serious enough.” Veph kicked her feet up onto the bed. “This type of training has been done before. It’s generally outlawed now. At least frowned upon. Most people who try it simply die.”

“How is she healing?”

“Her own spells have been extended,” Sylmare said. Her index was open as well, but Siora doubted the umbra could see anything hidden.

“Right,” Veph said. “Her healing spells last for days because they work as slowly as the poison. This is entirely intentional from Sloswen. By tomorrow, she’ll be able to start summoning cathkabel. Did she ever make a familiar?”

“No. She got the ability in the dungeon and wanted to wait until we were out so it formed properly.”

Veph nodded. “She is smart. Nice job recruiting her. You’ve brought me two good ones now.”

Siora nodded. Avani had readily joined after they brought Nikoletta all the way back. She was off training with Codhyses and some other newer recruits.

“Well, time to go.” Veph stood and pointed to the doorway.

Siora looked between the two women in front of her. “What?”

“Grab your things. We’re going to the Subterranean,” Sylmare said.

“We?” Siora asked quietly.

“You’re getting your first shard. Here’s your party member,” Veph said as she casually gestured to Sylmare. “Get your things and meet me in my office in ten minutes.” She stepped out the door. “Actually, five minutes,” she called back, her voice already growing distant.

“What?”

Sylmare remained in the doorway. “Althowin Alegarra told Veph to get her fourth shard. We’re expected to get one too.” She checked out the door. “You might want to hurry with gathering your things.”

Siora quickly stood up, knocking over her chair in the corner. “It’s just us?”

“Do you think we need anyone else?”

“Well, no. I . . . Okay.” Siora hurried past Sylmare and sprinted for her quarters. Five minutes was not enough time.