Ike sat back, patting his stomach. The chicken stew warmed him from within. An herbal flavor floated on his tongue, perfectly balancing the gaminess of the rooster. Whatever Ket had done, it had improved the total amount of mana in the stew. The rooster had already been rich, but the herbs accentuated that richness and made it easier for him to absorb the mana. The unspeakable thing that built inside of him grew stronger, too, and he couldn’t be sure, but he thought the herbs strengthened that as well. He stretched and yawned. Making his excuses, he staggered off to bed.

That night, he had a strange dream. He floated in a space, watching a pale-colored light stream by. The light looped around a bright star. Other loops of multicolored light swirled around that star, each flow distinct.

Ike lifted a hand and ran it through the flow of light. The light slipped around his fingers like water down a stream. Warmth tingled against his palm. The light flowed on, paying no mind to him. Removing his hand, Ike turned and watched it flow. Serenity filled him, a sureness that he would be safe here, that the light would flow on forever.

A shadow flickered in the heart of the star. Ike turned, peering into it. A structure stood inside it, still unfinished. He flew closer. Five pillars stood in the center of the star. Another one stood beside them, barely starting its growth. A tiny nub stood beside it, so small he missed it at first. Seven pillars.

The light streamed to the pillars, and the two small pillars grew, almost imperceptibly.

This is it. The structure I couldn’t give a name to. The thing that’s growing inside my core. The light feeds the pillars. The light…mana. I add mana, and the mana forms the pillars. The pillars grow, and then… and then…

When all seven pillars grow, will I grow to Rank 2?

A weight settled on his chest. It grew heavier and heavier. Ike sunk down in the light, dropping further and further toward the star. He spun his arms, struggling to stay upright in the air, but he could do nothing to prevent his fall. He dropped into the ball of light and—

Ike jolted awake. He sat up sharply, dislodging Loup from his chest. She sat up with a questioning mrrr?

He heaved a breath. Turning, he looked at Loup and shook his head. “You almost stifled me to death!”

Loup crawled closer to him, grinning wide. She licked his face over and over again.

“Oh—okay—thanks—Loup!” Ike pushed her down and drew a breath.

Loup looked up at him from his lap, smiling. She tilted her head.

“Stifle me in my sleep, then lick me to death when I wake up. I see through your evil plans,” Ike joked. He scruffed her head, making her ears wobble.

He shifted his legs, and Loup hopped to the ground. Ike climbed out after her. He felt unusually refreshed and light. He stretched and yawned, closing his eyes to lean into it.

I can’t even remember the last time I slept on a real bed. Reminds me why people do it!

Stolen story; please report.

Loup stretched, too, leaning back to get a big, long stretch on her whole body. She leaned forward, stretching her hips, then stepped forward and looked up at Ike.

“Let’s go say good morning to Tana and Ket,” Ike suggested.

Loup flicked her ears forward. She strode to the door and turned back, waiting for Ike to open it.

Ike obliged. Loup ran down the hallway, but he knelt, examining a small pile left by the door. A shirt, a leather vest, and a pair of matching leather trousers waited for him. A note was left on top, in a straightforward and simple hand that struck Ike as belonging to Ket.

Had these lying around. Oughta fit you. Give it a try.

Ike paused for a moment, then grabbed the clothes and vanished back into his room. He emerged from the room in the clothes Ket had left for him. The clothes were a bit too big for him. If not for his handy belt, the pants wouldn’t have fit at all. But, he figured, better too big than too small. He still had years of growing ahead of him.

A faint magical sheen appeared on the clothes for a moment, then vanished. He patted them. They felt exactly the same as ordinary clothes, just a little more high-class. I’ll have to ask Ket what spell is imbued in these.

Loup walked up to him and spun around, then walked a step forward, spun again, then walked another step forward. Ike snorted under his breath. “Yeah, yeah, I get it, girl. Sorry for making you wait.” Giving her a pat, he headed downstairs at last. Loup ran ahead of him, thump-thump-thumping down the stairs. At the bottom, she turned back expectantly. The second he arrived, she ran to the back door.

Ike let her out, and she sprinted out into the yard. He watched her go, then shrugged to himself. Guess she really had to pee.

“Ike.”

He turned. Tana stood there. She wore a dress, again. This time, it was ornate. Forest-green silk clad her curves closely, accentuated with cream ribbons at the shoulders and down the arms. Gold thread twisted about the hems, drawing delicate flowers and leaves. Her hair, too, was done up with a gold flower-shaped brooch, and pearls dotted her locks.

He smiled. “Good morning, Tana. You’re looking nice this morning.”

“Ah…yes.” She looked down at herself, blushing just a hair. “I have to appeal to Lord Grelund, today, so I’m wearing my courtly attire.”

“Oh,” Ike said, not really understanding. I guess you have to dress up to go see the Lord, after all. That’s usually how it works, right? “Well, it looks good on you.”

“Thank you.” Recovering, she curtseyed.

Ike bowed instinctively, not sure how else to respond to a curtsey. “Uh, what are you going to court for?”

“To report on our failure,” she said, her head lowering slightly. She grimaced.

Ike looked at her for a moment, then tilted his head. “Lord Grelund doesn’t like you, does he?”

“Well… why would he? When some consider me the rightful heir…I’m a threat to his rule. He probably wanted me dead from the start,” Tana grumbled under her breath.

I don’t think it’s Lord Grelund who wanted you dead…but then, Ket said no one outside the room should know what we spoke of, so I’ll keep that to myself. Ike nodded. “Be careful, okay?”

“Of course. I’ll have Ket with me, so I should be fine,” Tana said. From the tone of her voice, she was reassuring herself as much as him. She managed a smile.

Ike nodded. “I’ll head out into the forest today. Don’t worry if I’m not back by nightfall.”

“Sounds good to me. Take care, alright, kid?”

Ike whirled. He hadn’t heard a breath or a footstep, not even with Sensory Enhancement, but Ket stood behind him.

The man grinned and tossed a wink his direction, taking another bite of his apple. “Flirting with the princess, hmm…?”

“He wasn’t flirting!” Tana said, blushing more fiercely than before.

“Yeah, we were just having a conversation,” Ike said, rolling his eyes.

Loup trotted over to Ike’s side. She looked up at him.

Reaching into his pocket, Ket tossed Ike an apple. “And if you hunt any big monsters, bring some home for us. I’ll match the quality of your meat with my herbs.”

He caught the apple out of the air. Remembering the delicious stew, Ike nodded. “That’s a deal.”

He set off into the back yard, Loup at his side. For a second, Ket and Tana stood framed in the doorway, Ket looming tall over Tana, and then the door shut, and they left. Each to their own tasks. Each to their own battles.