The large woman was quite a sight. Not just her size, of course, but more so her glowing clothes.

“It’s a simple job, really. Especially for a RiftBorn,” she said.

“If it was simple, Momma of the Lake, then you’d not be paying me so much… now would you?”

My comment got her to laugh a little, and the way her whole body joined in with her jubilant laugh made me smile. “Indeed! Would you like to see it first, before deciding?” she asked with a hearty smile. Seemed her body and laugh weren’t the only things that were large.

“If you’re all right with it,” I said with a nod.

“This way. It’s downstairs,” she said with a wave.

I stayed still for a moment to allow the large woman to head down the hallway first. Not just out of respect, but need. The hallway wasn’t large enough for me to walk beside her. At least, not without causing problems.

The hallway, like every room and building here in Rift-Lake, was lit up by the glowing lake beneath us. But only moderately. The glass floor was… stained, by many years of being submerged in the lake. Instead it was the woman’s clothing that truly lit up the hallway. It was almost comical to look at her, and I silently hoped that such a fashion didn’t become the trend.

It made one look… out of place.

People weren’t meant to glow like the moon. It just wasn’t natural.

Though, such a fashion wasn’t something that could truly trend. After all, how many women could afford such clothing? Even in the Lands of Powers, clothes made entirely out of magical silk were… rare. Very rare.

Here in the Lands of Man, she very likely was the only one with such a full set. Especially in her size.

“I’m glad I could get you, Krift. My only other option right now would have been the Singing Sisters. And we don’t get along too much, I fear,” she said as walked.

“Few do,” was all I said about that.

There was no need to speak on the why, since all it would do was embarrass her. And I’d rather have the job, than get chased out of town.

“So I’m told! Though I hear you’ve made some new enemies recently. Not that I’ll complain or chastise you. They’re my own as well!” she happily said as we rounded a corner.

I didn’t know who she spoke of, since I couldn’t remember making any new enemies recently… but I knew better than to ask. “The only people who don’t have enemies are fools who fail to realize they do,” I said.

She nodded, pleased with my words, but didn’t delve further into the topic as we neared a room with guards. A pair of armored soldiers stood at attention as their mistress approached, both of them diligently avoiding my eyes. They wouldn’t even look at me.

It was comical to see their eyes swivel as they glanced to me, then the floor. Their helmets hid everything but their eyes, so it made it rather obvious. I knew the Momma of the Lake noticed too.

Once close enough, the two men opened the large door they had been guarding. Once they did, I realized that this door… and every other I’ve passed through since entering, were large. Far larger than normal doors.

Watching her pass through the large door, I kept my smile even and natural as I followed her. Didn’t need the guards seeing me amused over it.

The doors didn’t open to another room, or hallway, but rather to a set of stairs. Stairs that descended.

Unlike the floor of the hallway that led here, the stairs weren’t made of glass. Neither were the walls or ceiling. But I knew we were about to descend even deeper into the Lake.

A lake tainted by the Rift.

Not the wisest thing to do… But I followed the Momma of the Lake down the stairs nonetheless.

I knew many buildings here in RiftLake had entire floors beneath the surface of the water… but I also knew they weren’t completely inhabited. The contaminated lake wasn’t kind to the buildings. They always ended up leaking and rotting, eventually.

Usually they were used as storage, or quick access to boats, or secret paths to other buildings nearby.

Here it seemed it was used to protect something precious.

Listening to the steps behind me, I focused on how quickly the guards descended behind me. They didn’t hurry, which was a good sign. I didn’t hear or feel any… anxious steps. Following out of duty, not a plan.

I wasn’t worried over an ambush. Especially when the Momma of the Lake herself was directly in front of me. But I couldn’t control instinct.

After all, I was a RiftBorn. Killing me was as natural as picking up a gold coin found in the mud.

“You should have seen my accountant’s face when he saw this. I’ll never forget it,” Momma of the Lake said with one of her large laughs as we continued down the stairwell.

As we descended I began to feel the tickle of magic in the air. It was reminiscent of nearing the Rift, it felt like walking through cobwebs.

Cobwebs that stung.

“Must be big,” I said as… a familiar light came into view. It was similar to the light her clothes were giving off.

The Momma of the Lake only giggled as we neared the end of the stairwell.

Thanks to her size, and the angle of the stairs, it took a small moment for me to scan the room. Usually I checked all the corners, and the ceiling, upon entering a room… but I was only able to take in two of the corners before my eyes were dragged to the center.

Pausing at the bottom of the stairwell, causing the guards to come to a stop behind me, I barely noticed the Momma of the Lake giving me a gleeful look.

“Oh, what a sight! No one will ever believe I got to see such a face upon you, Krift!” Momma of the Lake was most pleased with my reaction, and I quickly tried to control myself.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“I bet,” I said as I stepped deeper into the room. As I did I took a deep breath, and noticed how the taste of magic in the air overpowered even the moss and dampness of the room.

With a dry tongue I finished looking around the room; just to be sure I was safe. It didn’t take long, the room wasn’t that large… but I now noticed something I should have before being stunned.

There was a good inch or so of water throughout the room. I couldn’t see the leak, but there was definitely a bad one.

Behind me the metal boots of the guards splashed as they too entered the room, and took positions in front of the stairwell.

Yes. This room really should stink of moss and contaminated water. Instead all I could smell was magic…

Not only smell it either.

In the center of the room, glowing even brighter than the Momma of the Lake’s dress was a massive stone. Countless strains of magic danced in the air, stemming from the block of energy. It wasn’t often one could visibly see the threads of magic, especially outside the Rift. Their appearance matched the look of thick cobwebs, which explained why I felt covered in them.

They flowed and swayed in the air as if the whole room was underwater.

Momma of the Lake turned a little, more than happy to give me a moment to appreciate the sight before me.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” she asked as I went to stand next to her.

No wonder she was able to wear such a dress. She may not even have purchased it, but had it sewn herself.

“One of the largest I’ve seen,” I admitted.

“Is it? Even for a RiftBorn? That’s great news,” she said, a deep tone of pride filling her voice.

“Congratulations,” I told her as I sized up the thing. It actually wasn’t, but there was no doubt it was the biggest I’d ever seen outside the Rift. The damn thing was so big it’d take four or five men to lift it.

“You can approach it,” she permitted, and seemed more than happy to let me. Maybe she was hoping I’d give her a proper assessment of her newfound wealth.

With a small shrug, I decided I might as well. She was going to pay me well, may as well properly earn my keep.

Taking the few steps up to the stone, I stared down at the bright rock. It reached a little higher than my waist, but it was twice as wide. If it had been a normal stone, and not one of magic, I’d have questioned its shape. It was too… sharp. The edges too straight. As if cut to a particular shape on purpose.

But this wasn’t made of earth or metals. It was magic.

It had formed like this. And would continue changing shape over time, as it lost its purity.

“It’s pure,” I said, and wasn’t too happy at how pure it really were. Something this pure was nearly impossible to find even inside the Rift.

Not because they were very rare, but rather because they were usually guarded by things not even I wanted to piss off.

Just where had she found it? And how had the ones who had found it been willing to part with it?

Either they hadn’t comprehended how valuable this was… or she had some crazily loyal followers.

To think I always thought that Powers were the more loyal species. If the humans kept proving me wrong like this, I’m eventually going to have to concede that fact.

“Is it really the biggest?” she asked, drawing closer. Her splashes had been loud, and not because of her weight. She sounded excited, like a kid who was proud of her new toy.

She had a right to be proud though. Every right.

After all, she was now one of the wealthiest people to exist.

At least on this side of the Rift.

My price is going to have to go up…

“May I touch it?” I asked.

“Of course.”

Reaching out, I took a small breath before I allowed my fingers to come into contact with the stone. A small shock ran through my body upon its touch, but I didn’t feel any pain or strange tugs of emotions.

No burning.

No whispers, in the back of my mind.

“Not a hint of corruption, either. Congratulations, Miss Everlist. You have the find of the century,” I said.

The Momma of the Lake had most likely already known such a thing, but my words only cemented this fact. She bounced in joy as she clapped me on the arm. “Great! Thank you Krift!” she shouted, with as much joy as if I had been the one to hand it to her. She didn’t even get upset I had used her name, and not her title.

I nodded as I stepped away from both the magical stone and the boisterous woman. It wasn’t too dangerous to be near the stone, since it wasn’t corrupted… but I wasn’t going to overstep my bounds.

The Momma of the Lake wasn’t going to let her happiness overlook a threat, after all.

Many have made such a mistake before. Most were far beneath my feet, or still floating as they decomposed. I wondered if the ones who had found this stone were among them.

“Well… I am glad I saw it before agreeing to the job. Thank you for allowing that kindness,” I said.

Although a fascinating sight… it was also now the most dangerous object, bar the Rift, to be near right now. And I was about to be stuck alone with it for some time.

“Indeed. I may be ruthless, Krift, but I like to think of myself as honest. So? Still willing to accept?” she asked, her bouncy joy long gone.

For a long moment I stared at the rock, and debated my answer. I could probably say no and walk out of here alive… Even though she’d not be too happy, I haven’t done anything rude. It helped that she’d know I’d not try to steal it, as well. Since after all, if I really wanted something like it I could go find one myself.

She knew it too. Was half the reason she, and people like her, hired me for such tasks.

It was my reputation, to be such a man, after all.

But…

Glancing to her, and her expectant eyes that bore into me, I knew it was foolish to even consider.

My life wasn’t the reason I couldn’t say no.

It was her.

She was now wealthy beyond reason.

And the Momma of the Lake was not someone to simply retire to the country side just because she gained wealth.

Everlist was anything but placid. She’d use this stone to conquer half the Rift Wall. Maybe even more of it, if she could survive the venture.

If I did this job, and did it well, then she’d continue to hire me. And pay… very, very well.

“I’ll do it. Though I do need to ask, if you’re willing to answer… Why send it to the south? Surely you can protect it well enough here.”

She smiled, nodding as if pleased I had the courage to propose such a question. “I’m moving to the south. And yes, though I could take it with me… I am not confident I can get it there and myself in one piece. You on the other hand, could do it alone, and I know it’ll arrive. I have many things I need to oversee, and ensure stay safe during the trip. There will be far too many traveling with me south, too many eyes and too much greed,” she said.

Ignoring her attempt to talk around my question, I gestured to the murky water all around us. “There’re no large lakes in the south,” I said.

A new laugh emerged from her, one that was more of a snicker than not. “Indeed! The Momma of the Lake is no more! I’m to go to the Cliffs,” she said.

The cliffs…?

Her answer had not been expected, but it made sense. That’d be a good place to both protect this rock, and to profit off it. “Good choice,” I said after a few moments of consideration.

Talk about a fortress. I had wondered how long it’d take for someone to truly abuse those giant canyons.

Their natural formations alone could stop an army from invading.

“Hm. So, you think you can get it there?” she asked, her laugh gone.

Giving her a small smile, I nodded. “Yeah. I can get it there. Without anyone knowing, too,” I said. I didn’t need to go into detail as why no one would know. She knew. Everyone knew.

Although she had been smiling and laughing this whole time, I finally got to see the true grin of Momma of the Lake as she stepped forward, holding out her hand. It was the smile she was known for. Her reputation had been built on that grin.

It was as stained as this lake.

“Exactly what I wanted to hear,” she said as we shook hands.