The guard captain, Jarn, came to collect us from the training arena just as the first scraps of light were leaking over the treetops on the hill beyond Riverwell’s walls. He paused when he saw me, clad in my helmet and the robe he’d given me yesterday, which was now burnt, frozen, torn and stained black with wriggling shadows in areas. My skin was also shot through with prominent purple veins that bulged and pulsed like worms, thanks to Circa’s lifeweaver magic. At least my common plate bracers had made it through the training somewhat unscathed, save for one large dent.

He looked me up and down, eyebrows furrowed.

“A little light training,” I said. I coughed abruptly, winching as I clutched my side. Even Circa’s magic hadn’t completely stopped the abuse from piling up. I wasn’t sure if that was intentional or just a limitation of her abilities. The former seemed more likely.

Jarn looked warily at Circa. “Circa,” he said, standing a little straighter. “I heard rumors you were in Riverwell. I had hoped my sources were mistaken.”

“I’m hurt,” Circa said flatly.

“I mean no offense,” Jarn said. “But your reputation preceeds you. They say you’re chasing some sort of monster.”

“They are correct,” Circa said.

I raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound good.

Jarn swallowed. “Something you can handle, I assume?” he asked.

“Only a fool speaks in certainties,” Circa said. “I assume you’re still planning to clear the infestation, whether I accompany your party or not, correct?”

“Correct,” Jarn said, jaw ticking with annoyance.

“Then all you need to know is you’ll have my assistance.”

“The others know the stories about you,” he said. “They’ll assume it means there’s something far worse than the usual down there.”

“Then let them assume. And let them be glad I’m joining your group.”

The guard captain didn’t look pleased. “We leave within the hour,” he said.

“How large is the party?” Circa asked.

“Thirty,” Jarn said. “Fifteen of my guards and fifteen from the guild. Irons and Woods.”

“Very well. But I would like this one to remain here. He’s not ready for such a risk yet,” she said, indicating me.

“I’m coming,” I said. “I already gave my word to Jarn.”

Circa turned to face me, voice going quiet. “The risk could be great. People die on this kind of expedition. Often. I suspect we’ll be lucky to return with half our number.”

“All the more reason to come,” I said. “I’ll find a way to help. If I stay here, I’ll wonder how many people I could’ve saved by coming.”

The woman gave me a long, searching look, then sighed. “As you wish. Lyria, you’ll keep a close eye on him.”

“If it’s what my capain wants,” Lyria said pointedly.

Jarn gave a weary nod. “Yes. Keep the boy safe. You’ll help him remove what bodies we can salvage for the crafters. And try your best to keep him in one piece.” The usually stony-faced captain smiled a little at me. “You honor yourself with your words, boy. There might be some worth in you, yet.”

I gave a smile of thanks to Jarn, but my focus was on Circa. She was hiding something, and I couldn’t put my finger on what it was, exactly.

Jarn turned and looked back toward the road. “I suspect I’ll need to drag some of the adventurers out of the inn. There’s a damn tomte who calls himself Bloody Steve. The man has been trouble since he arrived. If only he weren’t an Iron. Be at the town gates within the hour. And good luck in there.”

I watched Jarn walk off as his dented armor clattered and rattled.

“Okay…” I said once Jarn was gone. “What were you not telling him?”

“Nothing he didn’t guess already,” Circa said. “I believe there’s a Forsaken in these ruins. I’ve been tracking it for two years. I hope to finally put it down this time.”

“What’s a Forsaken?” I asked.

“People and creatures gather mana throughout their lives. Just as tethered items die with an individual, the mana within doesn’t completely survive death. It is fractured and broken, but volatile and powerful. It seeps out like air. With time, small amounts of it can be restored and used again. But if enough death occurs in one place, it can create an infestation. The fractured mana is too dense to disappate. It creates a regenerating scar of corruption on the world. Creatures and people can feed on this energy.”

“And that’s what a Forsaken does?” I guessed.

“Yes. A Forsaken is a person who learns to feed on corrupted mana. In small doses, the signs are easy to miss. Some toe the line between sanity and madness, drinking in just enough to bolster their powers without pushing themselves over the edge. But corrupted mana causes a kind of hunger none can avoid for long. They always want more, and once they’ve taken enough in, their corestone will become corrupted and bound to their soul. Their powers become fearsome and their classes grow and evolve into dark variants of normal classes. But they lose themselves in the exchange, becoming little more than hungry beasts, compelled to keep feeding at the cost of everything.”

“Why would anyone do that?” I asked.

“Why does anyone seek power?” Circa countered. “And why do some always think they’ll be the exception to the rule? They seek power, and they believe they alone will resist the fall to madness. But it takes them all. And that is the creature I seek within these ruins. The last time it was seen, the Forsaken was Iron level. It will not be easy, but I should be capable of putting it down.”

“I see,” I said softly. Frankly, the idea of this thing in the infestation was terrifying. But I still didn’t plan to go back on my word. Maybe I hardly knew these people, but I wanted to help. I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I walked away and left them all to their fates.

“So now you see why you must stay behind?” Circa asked.

“No, sorry,” I said. “I’m still coming. I don’t know what kind of god I was,” I said, whispering so no passing townspeople would hear. “But if I’m seeking that kind of power, I won’t throw my morals aside to get it. If I reach the top again, I’ll do it as the kind of person who deserves that amount of power.”

Lyria gave me a look that was dangerously close to approving.

Circa only let out a heavy breath. “While it’s a noble sentiment, and I believe you should seek to challenge yourself, there is also a line between reckless and bold.”

“And which side of that line got you to Silver?” I asked.

The woman smiled. “I’ll admit your decision is the one I would make in your position. And decisions like it are a large part of how I advanced so quickly.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“See? It’s settled. I’m making the right choice.”

“And I could have died numerous times on my journey to this point.”

“I could die from sneezing too hard on the toilet,” I said. “If I’m going to die, I’d rather do it trying to do something worthwhile. And if I’m going to reach the ranks I need to reach, I have to take every opportunity I can.”

Lyria shook her head. “Just so you know, most people never even leave Wood. All this talk about advancing quickly isn’t what you’ll hear from normal people. I get it,” she added, holding up her hands at the look Circa gave her. “Destiny and important missions and all that. I’m just saying… It might be worth it for him to have a little perspective on what you’re telling him. Normal people are celebrated for generations in their families just for reaching Iron. It’s enough to set you up for a comfortable, happy life with more money than you’d need.”

I didn’t want to live a comfortable life here, though. I felt too much responsibility. I knew I’d never be able to quietly sit somewhere, wondering what was going to happen because I hadn’t tried harder. No. I was going to maximize every opportunity I had. I’d grow as fast as I could safely grow, even if it meant sometimes taking risks to advance.

Because I wanted this. The version of myself right here and now wanted more. I wanted to get stronger and see this new world. And most of all, I trusted that I had sent myself back here for a greater purpose.

“Alright,” I said, “let’s get moving.”

Circa gave the slightest bow of acknowledgment. At first, I hadn’t picked up on it, but she’d been waiting to see what I’d do. Waiting to see if I was going to turn away from the whole project I’d left myself, maybe.

“Hah!” Circa said suddenly. “If it isn’t an old friend.”

Eyebrows raised, I turned, curious to see who Circa was talking to.

#

Circa bent low to hug the three-foot-tall tomte.

Compared to the ones I’d seen, this tomte looked thicker, less crazy, and more muscular. The cursed tomte had looked like forest gnomes. This one was more like a roided-up, gym-junkie gnome.

I took an involuntary step back when I saw him. The last time I saw these things, they’d either tried to kill me, steal my helmet, or collect my “goo.” And those ones hadn’t looked anywhere near as powerful.

I inspected him as he hugged Circa back and gave her a few hard slaps on the back.

[Tomte, Level 44 (Iron)] “Tomte originated from an isolated cave system for most of their history. The discovery of their race is a relatively recent development. The earliest beings to contact tomte wrote of a race as trusting as children who were easy to take advantage of. After the Slave Wars, tomte resorted to using cursed tomte as advisors to protect themselves from mistreatment at the hands of outsiders.”

The tomte and Circa approached us. Circa gestured to the little man. “This is Rock. He’s a Shield. We’ve worked together on several missions. Frankly, I’m beginning to think he’s following me.”

Rock had a gray, tangled beard and wore a brown robe with a hood. Plates of metal were sewn into the robe at various points. A plated headband held back more wild silver hair beneath the hood. There was a metal-reinforced quarterstaff on his back.

“Hi, Rock,” I said, holding out a hand.

Rock eyed my hand from beneath a bushy gray eyebrow, then stepped back, thumbs hooked in the metal plates around his belly. He spat on the ground and started walking toward the town’s exit.

“Rock doesn’t make friends,” he said. “Friends earn Rock.”

I awkwardly lowered my hand, pretending not to notice Lyria snickering at me.

“He’s charming,” Lyria said.

The four of us began walking toward the town gates. A small group of adventurers ahead of us was going in the same direction. I noticed two blonde-haired brothers in the group who looked like archers. One of them was chattering happily, and the other looked serious.

“Back there,” I said to Lyria as Rock and Circa spoke quietly about something ahead of us. “You made it sound like you’d be happy to hit Iron and call it quits. Is that true?” I couldn’t wrap my head around a mindset like that, even if I didn’t want to make her feel bad by saying so. Even the idea of power for power’s sake had an allure of its own. If nothing else, it would mean seeing and discovering more of what Eros had to offer, and I still felt like I’d just scratched the surface.

I expected her to answer lightly, but she looked suddenly serious. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I thought that’s what I wanted. I don’t know anymore, though.” We passed through the front gates of town then, stepping over some of the ongoing construction to repair whatever had broken the portion of wall I’d seen when I first arrived. There was already a flurry of activity as townspeople hammered and delivered supplies.

“Are you hoping to be a guard captain?” I asked once it was clear she didn’t plan to elaborate.

“Something like that,” she said. Her tone told me I had touched a nerve, though I couldn’t say how or why. Lyria picked up her pace and left me at the back of our group.

The area in front of the gate was bustling with activity. Townspeople were handing out food. The town guard was being checked over by husbands and wives, who were strapping on armor, sharpening blades, or stuffing packs of supplies into their hands. The adventurers mostly checked on each other. There was an air of grim determination to it all. A few people laughed or made light conversation, but they looked like a group ready to head to war.

I felt a wave of jittering excitement mingled with fear from my throat to my belly. I let out a slow breath. Lyria spotted me and then gave my arm a soft punch. “Relax. Even if she’s right about… the thing in there. We should be fine. This is a standard size raiding party for an infestation of this level. Won’t be many levels to gain with such a big group, but it’s still something. And we’ll keep to the back of the fighting. Seriously, you’re pretty unlikely to die.”

“That’s really reassuring, Lyria. Thank you.”

She grinned, then went over to talk to a group of guards. With them, she seemed lighter and less tense. I was watching her show another side of herself with curiosity when Circa and Rock approached.

“Ready up!” Jarn shouted, cutting off the clatter of metal armor and the creak of tightening leather. “Guards, with me. Adventurers, behind us. Circa, you guard the rear. It’s not a long march. We’ll be at the ruins within a few hours.”

He punctuated his words with a gauntlet to his breastplate, then turned and started off into the grassy hills beyond Riverwell.

I took another deep breath, waiting as the group spread out in a long line of pairs. The adventurers left a small buffer between themselves and the guards. Lyria drifted back and joined me, Circa, and Rock as we followed a ways behind the adventurers.

We headed across the grassy plains away from the trees and deeper into the foothills. Tall mountains stood in the distance, with one peak dwarfing the rest. It was capped with snow and rose so high it disappeared behind the clouds. I was no expert, but it had to be bigger than anything back on Earth by a long stretch.

I was tempted to ask about it, but Circa had kept her distance since I told her to stop treating me like her master. Rock would probably spit on me if I asked him a question. Lyria was probably the most likely to answer, which wasn’t saying much. Either way, I tried to put useless questions from my mind for now.

There was a dull, ominous throb at the back of my head. It was something in the body language. We were heading into a life-or-death situation. That much was painfully obvious.

Without much else to do as we walked, I studied the large group of guards and adventurers ahead.

There was a bald tomte with two hammers and a bare chest, the wizard I’d seen with a golem in his hands on my first day in Riverwell, a giant of a woman in full plate with a massive sword, three girls who looked like sisters and all carried two-handed hammers. There was also a woman who looked like a priest in white robes with red trim, the two archers with blonde hair, and a dark-haired man wearing loose-fitting clothes who carried no weapon.

I scanned my perception over the group. If I included Rock, there were five Irons among the adventurers. Jarn was the only Iron within the Riverwell guard contingent. All totaled, that meant we were a group of 33. One Silver, six Irons, and 26 Woods.

I dragged my attention away from the group ahead. Circa seemed to be intentionally letting us lag behind them.

I decided to use the time walking to see if I could get my Elemental Projection spell to work for the first time. With an Alchemist’s Kit full of poison in hand, I ran back through the things I already tried in the arena.

Without Lyria about to crush me, my thoughts felt more clear. I methodically went through idea after idea. It more or less felt about as fruitful as trying to use magic on Earth would’ve felt. There was no tingle of getting closer. There was no sense of power. There was nothing.

Eventually, I thought back on what I could recall of Circa and Lyria’s descriptions of mana. They made it sound like it existed in my body and the air. I shifted my focus to searching for some kind of connection or feeling while picturing mana all around me. I nearly tripped on rocks embedded in the grass a few times because I was so inwardly focused. Lyria gave me a few disdainful looks over her shoulder, but I didn’t let it bother me. I reminded myself that some version of me had figured this out before. Not only had I figured it out, I’d probably kicked ass at it.

Thanks to my prestige path, I even supposedly had a small fragment of my original power in manipulating mana. I also had increased experience gain and “greatly” increased corestone growth speed. In other words, if I could get this first step figured out, I should start progressing rapidly. At least, compared to an average Erosian.

I could do this.

I let out a slow breath and began methodically working through every technique I could possibly imagine to make my ability work.

After several minutes, I finally felt an odd, tingling sensation running through my whole body, almost like a thousand threads slowly pressing themselves out of my skin and seeking something in the air.

I raised my palm, sweat pouring down my forehead, and I felt the first tingle of actual fucking magic rising through my body.

Holy shit. I was doing it.