I walked through the dungeon, Lawrence dogging my heels. His eyebrows were risen together, his lips thin and his shoulders taut.

“The first floor of this dungeon is already cleared! We don’t need to fight the boss monster,” Lawrence pleaded for the thousandth time.

I ignored him, gaze focused on the sands beneath me. They were hard to walk in, my feet slipping every time I tried taking a step up a hill. The top of the dungeon seemed to be the facsimile of a sky, the soft cyan colors twisting together with gentle yellows and gentle pinks. It was sunrise, in the dungeon. We’d been walking for quite a long time toward the pyramid at the way end.

The monsters had been scorpions and snakes, the US Military having driven tanks into the large dungeon to deal with the threats. All around us in the sandy deserts was the remnants of that war, molten slag and broken pieces of weaponry laid around.

The pyramid slowly grew closer.

Lawrence made a strangled noise in the back of his throat, “Why do you even want to do this?! We did it! We saved the world! People will now delve into these dungeons regularly to prevent them from breaking—we can go home, now.”

I shrugged, “Feel free to go home. Like I said, I’m diving because I’m looking for a specific item, now.”

“And what is that?! I can’t help you find it if you don’t tell me what it is!” Lawrence cried out, frustrated.

“Something this Sphinx might have as loot,” I said, determined.

Lawrence was just a delving partner, so I didn’t see the need to explain anything to him. While I would like to think of him as a friend, his recent actions have shown me otherwise. He didn’t care about me. So I shouldn’t care about his nervousness—I don’t know when I started thinking his anxiety was worry for me. He’s always been anxious about everything, he didn’t actually care.

I needed to make that distinction within my mind before I ended up hurt. I repeated the thought again and again as I walked and Lawrence complained. He was just anxious, he didn’t actually care. He was just anxious, he didn’t actually care.

Before I could reach the pyramid—the pyramid still a sizable distance away, the ground shifted. I staggered to the side, looking to the side. My entire body flinched as a sandy-colored scorpion stood up. Oh, god, I’d stepped on that?

Shivers ran all throughout my body as I danced away, whimpering as I pulled out my bat. It screeched, looking at Lawrence, and I ran forward. I grabbed its tail just before it could stab Lawrence with it, the man blanching as he leapt back. His feet flew over the ground, and he landed well over ten feet away.

That was so useful. When would I Awaken? It would make my search easier. Recent events have shown me now more than ever that I wouldn’t be able to live a good life without a cure. My mind was too used to tormenting itself, I was already far beyond being saved.

I grunted as the Scorpion shrieked, twisting and kicking at the base of the tail. Soon, I tore it off with a well-placed stomp, my entire body twisting to the side. I fell to the ground with the tail, struggling to get up.

“BLOOD!” Lawrence called out.

I spun to face the scorpion, bat swinging out. It shrieked, it’s claw batted away as I walked back. The scorpion didn’t let me get any room to recover, though, continuing to try and claw and tear at me with its pincers. It’s eyes glistened in the light, and I shivered, throat closing. My staggering backwards didn’t end well, with the scorpion’s claw tearing on my arm.

I cried out, foot slamming forward. The scorpion’s other claw bashed into my knee.

“Aw, fuck!” I cried out as I reached out for my bat. I slammed it as hard as I could into the scorpions’ eyes. It shrieked, the noise vibrating through me as it released me. I dived forward, pain twisting up my leg. My leg gave out, but it didn’t matter, my bat shoving further against the scorpions’ eyes. I pulled the bat back slightly as the scorpion dragged me across the sands, slamming it down with all my might.

The scorpion cried out again. I grimaced, baring my teeth, eyes focused as I quickly pulled my bat back and slammed the base into the eyes once more. One of the eyes popped, my baseball bat sliding in. The scorpion’s shriek grew louder as it cried out, fear and desperation audible in its tone. It’s claws and teeth bit into me and my torso. I was almost snapped in two before I used my good arm—my left arm—to fully slam the bat up to the round base into the scorpion.

The claws that had been tightening around me loosened, and I quickly shifted out of them as the scorpion tried running again. I pulled my bat out of its eyes, letting it go, stumbling back. The scorpion turned and ran, but as it did, it slowed down. After a few minutes, me gasping and staring after it, my arm limp at my side, the scorpion turned to dust.

To my great misfortune, it didn’t drop a healing potion. I huffed out, chuckling as I turned. My eyes focused on the pyramid once more, walking toward it. I could only see my end-goal. I was looking for a cure-all anyway.

I limped forward.

“Y-you’re still trying to get to the boss monster?!” Lawrence cried out, incredulous as he ran in front of me, preventing me from continuing forward, “No, stop, we need to go back and get you a healing potion!”

I shook my head, turning to walk around him. Lawrence stuttered, begged, and pleaded with me every step of the way. I stared up at the boss monster—a giant two-story cat thing with a human’s face. Before I could walk into the boss room, though, arms wrapped around me, preventing my continued path forward.

My lungs lost all their air as Lawrence held me tightly, my injuries all screaming out at his actions.

“Please,” Lawrence begged, his head resting against my uninjured shoulder.

I struggled against him, but his arms didn’t even shift at my struggles. My knee slammed into him, and I grunted at the pain as my bat swung up. Nothing injured him, though.

“Let go,” I hissed out, furious at my own incompetence, “If you’re too scared to fucking follow me then leave, you asshole!”

The arms around me tightened, and the breath was squeezed from my lungs. I wheezed, gasping for air.

“Is that really why you think I’m trying to stop you?” Lawrence asked, his voice tinted with disbelief, his eyes wide and his eyebrows scrunched together as he stared at me with a pale face, “Blood, please, I care about you! I don’t want to see you die!”

I scoffed, struggling harder, “I don’t care. I’m either finding what I need or I’ll die trying! I don’t need you if you’re going to try and stop me from finding it.”

Lawrence swallowed, his shoulders shaking as he chuckled, the chuckle sounding wet. He held me tightly, and soon I ran out of breath, gasping for air.

“L-let go,” I managed.

Lawrence didn’t, his arms remaining wrapped around me, “I don’t accept that,” He said quietly, his voice vibrating in my ear and his breath a warm gust against the skin of my neck, “I care about you, and I know you care about me, too. I’m confident you do—so why are you suddenly trying to throw your life away?”

I grit my teeth at his words, annoyed and hurt, “Because I have one reason for living, and that’s the item that Sphinx might have!”

Lawrence’s grip tightened, voice growing harsh, “I’m not going to let you kill yourself!” He snapped.

I took a deep breath, sighing it out and relaxing. If I couldn’t win physically, there were always other options.

“Fine, fine,” I acquiesced, voice calming down and relaxing, one of my arms wrapping around the man, the other still hanging limply at my side, “If I agree, will you let me go?”

Lawrence was silent a moment before he sighed, holding me tighter. He ignored my pained groan at his actions. The silence stretched for a long time, my heart beating heavily in my chest.

“Yes, if you agree to be more careful in the future—and if you promise that once you find whatever you’re looking for you’ll, you’ll relax and do whatever I say for… for however long it takes you to search for whatever you’re searching for! Okay?” Lawrence insisted.

“Fine, fine. I promise I’ll be more careful, and I promise I’ll be your slave after I find what I’m looking for, for however long it takes me to find it. Timer starting whenever I upload this video, so we can keep track,” I agreed, voice placating.

Blood was soaking my clothes and dripping from my form. My right arm was hanging loosely, only barely remaining attached to my shoulder with a few strands of flesh, even the bone between obliterated.

That didn’t matter to me, though, and the moment Lawrence released me I sprinted forward.

“BLOOD! NO!” Lawrence cried out.

I glared at the Sphinx, and she leaped down from the raised platform she’d been resting on. She was truly massive, around five times as long as she was tall—and she was two stories tall, somewhere around twenty-five feet tall. Her expression was remorseful as she stood tall. After I started sprinting toward her, she crouched, eyes focused as her tail flicked from side to side, her back half risen. Like a cat about to pounce, she prepared herself.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Lawrence wouldn’t understand—I needed that cure. This boss monster, the Sphinx, was all about logic and bringing things to a balance. Surely she would have what I was looking for?

Before I could reach her, she sat up, tail curling around her paws. I was confused before I was bodily tackled, “Ooph,” All the air left my lungs as I was taken down.

I slammed my bat into Lawrence as hard as I could, but it escaped my hand, skittering away. Lawrence was unharmed, my actions not even leaving a bruise. The man’s arms wrapped tightly around me as he sat up, keeping me in his grasp.

“Blood,” Lawrence said softly as he held me to him.

I reached up with my free hand, pulling at his hair. My hand came away with many cuts, his silky and fluffy brown strands of hair like wire to my skin. My nose scrunched in distaste as my left hand gained the injury.

That didn’t stop me from struggling, though, my hand pushing and shoving at him as I struggled against him. Lawrence tucked his head between my shoulder and my helmet, his nose brushing against my neck. He breathed out a heavy—if silent—sigh, the feeling of the gust of air crawling against my skin. I shivered at the feeling.

The sight of blue engulfed my vision. I clenched my jaw, gritting my teeth as tears formed in my eyes. The large Sphinx laid down, resting her chin on her paws as she stared down at us with large green eyes the color of emeralds.

“Let go,” I demanded, “If anything would have what I’m looking for, it’s this boss.“

Lawrence chuckled quietly, miserably, at my words, “You’ve said that for every boss we’ve faced since you returned. I’m not going to watch you kill yourself for something you don’t even know exists.”

“It does!” I yelled out, whimpering as Lawrence’s grip tightened painfully, “It, it has to,” I continued, voice losing its heat, “It’s the only reason I’m still going, Lawrence. You can’t take this from me.”

Lawrence made a low noise, and I found myself shoved back as he stood up, eyes full of venom and heat as he glowered down at me, “I’m the only reason you’re still going! I’m the only reason you’re alive right now!” Lawrence gestured to the side, at the giant sphinx, “Look at her! If you walked forward she would have killed you, because you just keep going! You refuse to stop!”

I glowered up at him, struggling to sit up, “I will get what I’m looking for or I will die trying,” I insisted.

Lawrence kicked my bad shoulder, sending me back to the ground. I whimpered, good hand reaching up and holding my shoulder, gasping for air.

“It’s already killing you!” Lawrence yelled out, “It took you two days just to gather the will to tell Nadia that you planned to attack and kill her! It’s been a week since you decided to kill her! You’re just going to die, even if you do try, because you’re going to hesitate at the killing blow, like you always do!”

Those words cut deep into my heart, and I couldn’t help but flinch, the tears in my eyes falling as I gasped for air. I swallowed thickly, glaring up at Lawrence as I tried sitting up again. I cried out as he kicked me back down again.

“Th-they aren’t real,” I snapped, voice wet and strained, “They’re just magical constructs created by the Dungeon! Once I find what I’m looking for, I can pay back the rest of the dungeons a thousandfold—not that it matters, since these dungeons are an invasion!”

The sphinx, Nadia, hummed, shifting to rest her cheek against her paws. She didn’t speak to oppose my words, though, just staring at us with a forlorn expression.

“If you even find what you’re looking for,” Lawrence spat bitterly.

“I WILL!” I promised hotly, sitting up to glare at Lawrence.

He gave me a disgusted, derisive look, “Fine,” He turned, his voice wet as he hid his eyes, “Just… just promise me that once you find what you’re looking for you’ll actually stop, okay?”

Lawrence turned back to me, and I saw that his eyes were glassy. My glare lightened, and my jaw stopped clenching so hard. I sighed, shoulders slumping and head hanging. I shook my head, looking up, “That’s weird. You actually want me to be your slave for, what, three months plus?” I asked.

Lawrence just stared at me, his teary gaze growing determined. I huffed, shaking my head.

“If I agree, will you let me go?” I asked, tired with this conversation.

“Yes,” Lawrence agreed.

I scoffed, annoyed and bitter, speaking as I slowly stood up, “Then fine. I promise that once I get what I’m looking for, I’m yours. For all I care you can have me for eternity, so long as I get what I’m looking for.”

Grunting with the effort, I finally made it onto my feet, staring at Lawrence. He stepped to the side, looking miserable as he let me pass, eyes on the ground. I hesitated, guilty. Chances were that I would die here, today.

I didn’t want his last memory of me being this conversation. I stepped forward, wrapping my good arm around the man. The man instantly wrapped his arms around me.

Our hug was long and silent, leaving a lot of time for thoughts. What if I did survive the fight with Nadia, though? What if I was the victor?

What if I never did find the cure-all? What if Lawrence was right, and it didn’t exist?

…

“If… If I don’t get it,” I said quietly, thinking aloud, “You can’t keep clinging onto me like this. If I’m going to promise to stay and become your slave if I get it, then you have to promise to let me go off and die if I don’t.”

“I’m not going to let you get yourself killed. I don’t care if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you’re my friend. I’m going to protect you,” Lawrence rejected instantly, shifting closer, tightening the hug as his chest pressed against mine.

As we hugged, his magic reached out, slowly, carefully healing me.

“Then promise you’ll leave me alone in general,” I muttered as Lawrence and I hugged each other, “I’m not going to be okay, if I don’t get what I’m looking for. I’m likely going to fall into a downward spiral—promise that if I don’t get it, you’ll not interfere in that.”

I couldn’t imagine me surviving and living a good life without the cure that will stop my thoughts from torturing me. That will heal me from all my traumas and make me into a better person—or at least heal me enough that getting to that point is possible.

“W-what?” Lawrence asked, concern lacing his tone, “What does that mean?! What are you looking for that’s so important? Just tell me, please, Blood.”

I sighed, shaking my head. I took time to gather my thoughts for a moment before speaking, having come up with a reasonable way to side-step the question, “If I don’t get what I’m looking for, then all of my efforts would be useless, wouldn’t they? All the pain we’ve gone through, all the killing we’ve done—all the killing I’ve forced you to do… I couldn’t bear it if it was all for nothing. Promise me, Lawrence.”

It’s quiet a moment, Lawrence holding me.

“No,” He hummed out, pulling away and giving me a harsh look, his voice starting calm but slowly raising as he spoke, “No, what are you trying to get me to promise? I just said I wouldn’t let you die!”

I scoffed, annoyed as I slapped his arms away, taking a step back as I glared at him, “If I don’t find what I’m looking for I might as well already be dead!” I yelled, gesturing at myself, “If this doesn’t work out, I have nothing left, Lawrence! You’ll either promise me you’ll let me fucking wither away into nothingness if I don’t find it or this will be our last delve together!”

“You’ll have nothing left? You have me!” Lawrence yelled back, his expression outraged.

“You’ll leave!” I yelled back, just as outraged, “You’ll move on! You can’t be with me 24/7 365 no matter how hard you try, Lawrence! Eventually someone else will come along and you’ll be busy with other shit, and then I won’t have you! So stop lying, you stupid asshole!”

Lawrence’s eyes filled with tears, growing glassy as he stood straight and tall, looking down at me. His lips were in a frown, trembling as he looked at me, a crease between his eyebrows.

He looked hurt and angry, and when he spoke, his voice was strained with raw emotion, “You’re asking me to let you go on a path of self-destruction and death if you don’t get what you want?”

I sighed, hand raising and resting on my helmet, just above my visor, “I’m asking you to let me die in peace, Lawrence,” I corrected quietly, voice sounding tired, “I’m asking you to go out and find others to love. Find others to be with, others to delve with if you still want to do that. Find yourself an amazing wife, a partner for life, everything you could ever want! Just… pretend none of this ever happened. Pretend for me, so I don’t have to suffer even more knowing I dragged you down with me. Please. Promise me that, if I can’t find what I’m looking for. Please, Lawrence,” I begged, stepping forward and holding his hands in mine as I gave him an imploring, pleading look.

Lawrence shuddered, chest jerking as his tears fell down his face, quivering lips twitching up in an attempt at mirth, and failing horribly, “No.”

I swallowed as I stared up at him. Then I slumped, looking at the ground. Looking at the sandstone beneath us, his blue suit covered in the dust of sand.

After a long moment, I nodded, turning, “Then I guess this is it. I… I love you, Lawrence. I’m sorry our dungeon experience together has to end here.”

I shook my head, turning to go to the Sphinx. I didn’t even have my bat, and I sprinted toward her. Nadia, looking heartbroken, her eyes full of tears, swiped out with one large paw. Her claws—each about half my size and sharp enough to cut through steel—were extended from her sandy coat of fur.

“NO, WAIT!” Lawrence yelled out, a weak blue shield flickering in place. It was a pale blue. Lawrence tackled me to the ground, crying out. I hit the cold, hard sandstone, helmet bouncing off the ground. I groaned, looking up.

“Wait, please! She won’t kill you, I promise! Don’t kill her! We surrender! We’ll leave you alone! Please!”

Lawrence’s back was turned to me, one of his hands propping him up as the other was flat and facing the sphinx, fingers trembling. My head was under his, his back practically flush with my stomach. I watched as blood dripped from his face. My eyes widened. He’d gotten hurt? I sat up quickly, turning him to face me. He looked down at me, swallowing.

A deep, jagged cut was torn through his face, his lip split on my right as blood dripped from the wound down his chin. The cut went from the lower left corner of his lip, slanting to his jaw.

“You’re hurt,” I said softly, stunned, eyes wide, my fingers reaching up and brushing against his jaw as I met his warm brown gaze. He was looking down at me through lidded eyes, tears still dripping down his face, “What are you doing? Heal yourself.”

Silence stretched, Lawrence ignoring me and turning to face Nadia again, his cold gaze filled with determination. Nadia, hesitating, turned, leaping back to where she’d been perching before we arrived, slumping down in her spot, one paw curling over the edge of the giant stone cliff.

She was out of reach of me, the stone platform Nadia was on being three or more stories tall and many, many more wide.

Lawrence’s attention returned to me, his gaze strong and his determination still burning bright enough to be visible. When he spoke, his voice was ragged and rough, his throat sounding shredded. Despite that, his tone was stronger than I’d ever heard it, “No. This scar will be my promise that I’ll always be there for you no matter what, Blood.”

Lawrence swallowed, setting his hands on my shoulders, eyes focused intently on mine.

“This scar is a promise that I will never leave you.”

Lawrence chuckled, his lips tugging up into a lopsided grin, his brown eyes loving and warm as they focused on me.

“You’re stuck with me. Now and forever.”