We started moving again.
I saw restaurants, shopping centers, and supply stores, then the buildings turned into residential ones. The condition of the buildings started getting worse the more we drove.
“Where are we going?” I looked out at the broken-down buildings.
“Publian Clinic.”
“There’s a clinic out here?” All the clinics I knew of wouldn’t open their doors anywhere near neighborhoods like this.
“They primarily cater to the Mundane.” Trent took another turn. “Pro Bono.”
“How do they pay for..?” I shook my head. "There is no way that they can run a business like that.”
“Oh, they don’t.” Trent smiled. "Hye Publian goes with Paul into the Dungeon a few times a year to get enough money to pay the bills.”
I thought about the level sixteen crystal in my pocket. "Paul seems like a pretty good guy.”
“He is.” Trent shook his head. "His grandfather had a Swordcrafting Business that rivaled the Rene’s, but he died in the dungeon and they fell on hard times. Paul’s father sold the business assets to the Reaces, and now they’re a noble house only in name.”
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“Couldn’t Paul and his wife push deeper into the dungeon and make a better life for themselves?” I couldn’t understand why they were letting their Noble status atrophy.
“They could, but they chose to spend time with their kids and have security and safety instead.”
“And wouldn’t have it any other way.” Paul had come behind me at some point. “You can park around the back.”
“Sorry." I jumped in my seat. "I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“I get it.” Paul clapped me on the shoulder. "When I was your age, I asked the same thing to many people.” He shrugged. "But I got married, which was great. We pushed in the dungeon until Dacine got pregnant.” He smiled, thinking back on a memory. "I only farmed until Oscar was born, then we decided that we weren’t going to push the dungeon anymore.” He looked back at my team members, or maybe it was Justia. "We could live a better life, but we’re content where we are and for the most part, I got to be there to watch my children grow.”
He turned back to me. "Find where you’re at peace and stick with it.” He smiled. "Whether that’s exploring the Dungeon or slumming with the Mundane or anything in between. Try to make things better and find some way to be at peace.”
The RV stopped and Paul opened the door. "I’ll go tell everyone you’re here!”
We watched the Adventurer run into what was by far the best building within a quarter mile at least.
“Justia, everyone.” Trent looked at each of us as he closed the door. "I know that this is your family, but I can’t stress how much it doesn’t matter who they are, watch what you say around them. Because even if they won’t report Atlas, just having this knowledge could be dangerous to them.” He looked at each of us again. "So remember to be mindful of what you say.”
We each nodded.
“Got it!” Aelin looked nervously at Justia. "You’ve barely been gone a week, I’m sure everything is almost exactly like it was when you left.
Justia took a deep breath. "That’s what I’m afraid of.”