“Where did you get this?” Sophie asked as she circled around the now visible form of Alfred.

“I found it during the invasion of Iron Mountain Plateau,” replied Deacon leaving out some key information.

“A dungeon is a very dangerous thing. How do you know it won’t kill you in your sleep? Typhus you can’t be okay with this?” Sophie asked.

“Alfred has been nothing but helpful, Vice-Guild Master. I dare say he’s been quite the comforting refuge during all these hard times. It’s my opinion that Deacon has found a way to stave off the hunger for lives that plague so many dungeons. I’ll let him explain it,” answered Typhus.

“Well originally Alfred asked for a passive soul collector. It would draw in ambient souls to both feed and power the dungeon. I seem to have bypassed that requirement when I gave him a Shard of Divinity. It’s highly concentrated soul energy. Think of coals in a hearth but the coals don’t burn out for years. At least that’s how I understand it. Alfred, care to elaborate?” Deacon asked the spirit.

“Master Deacon is correct. Even with my evolved form consuming forty percent of the shards potency, I see no discernable drops in power for years. It was an…interesting solution to my request,” explained Alfred.

“But what about when you eventually run out? What if something happens to Deacon? I’m very concerned about this—Philo’s Wandering Maze! Did you find this in the maze?!” Sophie gasped after the realization hit her.

“Oh this is going to be good,” said Ralph while lounging on one of the nearby couches.

“So those goblins having dragon fly wings was crazy right?” Deacon asked hoping to quickly change the subject.

“Answer me,” Sophie said putting herself right in front of Deacon obscuring his pleading glances over to Typhus and the rest.

“Yes, it’s a masterwork of Philo’s. It was too valuable to leave there, and he’s helped us at every turn. I hope you will give him a chance. I promise you this is the safest place I’ve ever slept since coming to this crazy world,” Deacon assured her.

“He’s right. There hasn’t been a single incident. Even after we gave him mystical sand to make golems out of and a long dead gnomes burning gun powder recipe,” Amanda added plopping down next to Ralph.

“What? Show me the golems Alfred,” Sophie insisted.

“Wait, just wait. Alfred, can you make a practice yard? Something like I’m envisioning in my mind right now?” Deacon asked.

“Certainly, sir,” said Alfred as a new set of double doors opened to reveal a set of stairs leading down to a flattened out area with about one hundred yards long with lines marking every ten yards. The grounds were comprised of some tough green substance that was slightly springy. At either end of the field were two forked poles reaching into the sky.

“Yea, I don’t think we’ll need the field goals. Thanks though,” Deacon said nodding to Alfred. The poles were suddenly drawn down into the ground before disappearing. They all went down the stairs and onto the field. Ralph stopped to say something to Deacon while the others passed them by.

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“Is this because I got on you about training?” Ralph asked.

“Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back,” said Deacon before stepping onto the field.

“This looks nice and all, but I don’t see any golems,” Sophie complained.

“I’ve been thinking about this for awhile but there was so much going on I couldn’t stop to actually do it. It’s no mystery that I need to train with my unusual gifts in a safe environment. Alfred if you would create four sand golems?” Deacon asked.

“Certainly, sir,” replied Alfred before four humanoid shapes made of sand burbled up from the field. These were not like the original prototypes Alfred started with, whereas they loosely resembled a humanoid with sand constantly sloughing off of them, these had a well defined head and four limbs. Two of them grew a sword and scabbard made of sand from their hips.

“Oh yes, now we are talking,” said Ralph as he drew his weapon and squared off with one of the golems.

“I call it, the training grounds,” Deacon said with a little too much pride.

“You come up with that all by yourself or did your mommy help you?” Amanda scoffed before attacking the other sword wielding sand man.

“Not much of a threat to you though. You can pass right through them,” Sophie commented focusing on the possibilities this may have for the guild.

“That is where you are wrong. They are made of mystically enhanced sand from a Wode prison. They can actually hurt me. The stakes have been raised,” said Deacon happy to see her focus was no longer on the potential dangers.

“Deacon, we need to talk,” Typhus said grabbing Deacon by the elbow and leading him back up to the mansion. The others were so engrossed in the new activity that Alfred provided they didn’t notice them slip away. Typhus even thought he heard Sophie casting some magic as the doors closed behind them.

“Several things are troubling me. First, how did she get to the capital and why is she still with us? Then we need to figure out why the damn jester is coming to the Shattered Sky. Third, I haven’t been able to reach Daskus and he left to come this way days before us. Like I said that fortification in the pass is new. Like a couple of days new. Is there anything in your specialization that might be able to help or is it al scary ghost stuff still?” Typhus asked.

“I don’t… have my specialization yet,” Deacon said curiously looking at Typhus.

“What? How? You’re level twenty three. You can’t level past twenty without getting a specialization. Not possible,” Typhus said scowling at Deacon.

“Well I received a class specialization quest. I don’t think I’ll get mine until after I complete it. The quest says it’ll be a legendary specialization. That’s good right?” Deacon asked.

“You’re supposed to get quests like that at level ten. Are you telling me you just got it? How are you supposed to complete it before you are stunted at level twenty? But you aren’t. You can level past the specialization,” pondered Typhus as he began pacing back and forth.

“I don’t understand. What does specialization grant you that regular classes don’t?” Deacon asked.

“Well for starters you are granted base attribute points every level after you specialize, applied to a specific attribute. Sometimes that may vary depending on the class. My specialization gives me a point to speed and agility every level in addition to the standard level up point. You may have just missed out on three levels worth of specialization attribute points,” Typhus answered.

“No wonder that gladiator in the arena could take a hit. He must have been pumped with specialization attribute points to strength. Holy crap. Is that why I was so outclassed against the guy from the Crimson Summit?” Deacon asked out loud.

“I didn’t see the fight but if you were on your back foot, he probably had more training and bonus attribute points where it counted. Ok that leaves us in this small town with a blocked passage east. I’ll send my shadow self out to scout it thoroughly this time. Maybe I can get a better count. If we can’t fight through them with the wagons in tow, we may need to find an alternative route to get there. I’ve already informed Armand of our status and asked him to let the crown know,” finished Typhus as he plopped down into a chair.

“Sir, Tantus is walking up and down the hallway. He must not know what room we are in. Shall I fetch him?” Alfred asked from all around them.

“Yes please, thank you,” Deacon responded.

“What are you going to do about Sophie?” Typhus asked.

“She’s been hesitant to tell me what happened, but I think we’ll have to drag it out of her,” Deacon replied.