After I finished my detailed story and answered general questions, Ged Ogion raised his hand and asked:

"I'm not quite clear about the local institution of sheriffs. Yes, I get that it's akin to elected law servants of the Wild West, but what happens if the sheriff identifies a violation and the criminal is of a higher rank or stronger?"

"With regional law enforcers, it's simple," I explain. "In such a case, the sheriff seeks help from the authorities. In the case of Guild sheriffs," I tap the Sign with the symbol of Ishid on it, "if faced with such a situation, I would simply post a corresponding notice on the Task Board at the nearest Tunnellers' Guild branch. Moreover, the Guild would take on the payment for fulfilling this order. Sometimes regional sheriffs also resort to hiring mercenaries and bounty hunters, paying the reward from taxes or local levies." I add, raising a finger. "So, if you commit a crime and run away, it doesn't mean you got away with it. Sometimes, retribution catches up with criminals after many years. Of course, this is rare, but it does happen. Besides, it's worth noting that Task Boards are not exclusive to the Tunnellers' Guild. Many rulers and large organizations have adopted this idea and have their own Task Boards."

I answered a few more general questions from the guys and noticed that Isabelle was mainly silent and listening. And when our conversation paused, she shook her head and quietly said:

"I still don't understand."

"Don't understand what?" I inquired. "Ask, and I will answer because I believe that we earthlings should exchange information and help each other as much as possible."

"I don't understand how you're already Wootz," she twirled her fingers. "It doesn't add up for me. Even if you constantly cleared new dungeons, by my calculations, you would still be halfway from Steel to Wootz. And your skills... Arman trained in fencing on Earth for about a year," the guy she mentioned nodded in agreement, "and you handled him like a rookie without a single chance."

"As I said, Achievements can be earned not only from dungeon clearing. And not just trivial or junk ones, but those that bring a lot of Core growth energy. For instance, at the very first Trial, in the dilapidated skyscraper, I gained an Adamantium rank Achievement."

"What?" Ged Ogion perked up. "Adamantium?"

"Yes, it's higher than mithril," I nod.

"But how?" Kleber shook his head as if in disbelief.

"I killed the monster that dwelled there," I shrugged as if it was a minor detail.

"Impossible…" Arman drawled, looking at me like a hero from some movie. "I saw it! It's like defeating the Alien Queen from the eponymous film with bare hands!"

"I provoked the monster to attack, standing near the window, and managed to tie myself with a fire hose. At the moment of the creature's attack, I jumped out the window as it lunged at me. As a result, the monster flew out the window and was destroyed by the mist outside, while I was able to climb back in using the fire hose."

"Oh!" Isabelle covered her mouth with her hand.

"And believe me, it wasn't intentional; on the contrary, I made a blunder, caused a commotion, and cornered myself. I had to improvise." I clicked my tongue and added, "As they say, when you really want to live, you'll find a way. And generally, I've often been lucky. For example, at the Stela of Choice during the second group trial, I intuitively chose Rune magic and gained the ability to understand Des, the Rune of Destruction." I stood up, approached an old stump, and shattered it into splinters with a single touch. "Very powerful magic that consumes almost no energy," I explained, returning to the fire.

My demonstration sparked a new wave of questions, this time about Rune magic, which the group of earthlings had never heard of. That was exactly what I wanted. I was happy to talk about this branch of magical art. Especially since, while talking, Kleber mentioned that he had three Stars in Runes, but until this conversation, he considered this talent useless. I had to explain that I couldn't teach him, or anyone else, the Runes. To learn a Rune, one needs to find a Living Symbol and Understand it.

"As far as I've understood, Rune magic is largely forgotten by the locals, and only rare priests, mainly those worshipping Ishid or Aerad, know how to read the divine script. Why this is so, I don't know."

I kept my guesses to myself because, firstly, I wasn't sure if they were correct, and secondly, I couldn't explain to the group of earthlings how I learned such knowledge. Ged Ogion, who had two and a half Stars in this Talent, also showed interest in Runes. I spent about fifteen minutes on more detailed explanations and demonstrations.

"Doesn't add up," the mage muttered, frowning after I performed another demonstration. "First, you say that Runes, once activated, are powered by the world itself, and then you show how an object with the Ors Rune becomes stronger when infused with the Aura of Strengthening. So does the world power the Runes, or does the person?"

"Firstly, each Rune's effect is individual. Secondly, there's something known as a multiplicative effect. The Ors Rune, when inscribed on an object and 'awakened,' so to speak, in passive mode, will strengthen it by drawing energy from the world. An object with an inscribed Rune becomes about a third stronger than its original value. But if you pass the Aura of Strengthening through an object enhanced by a Rune, the two bonuses don't just add up; the effect is more akin to multiplication."

My somewhat disjointed but detailed explanation satisfied the mage. Despite my warnings, both Kleber and Ged asked to draw the Runes on the ground and attempted to Understand them. Of course, they couldn't do it, despite my explanations of what each Rune means and demonstrations of different styles of writing them.

"You can know the meaning of a Rune, memorizing all possible variations of its inscriptions," I explained again with a heavy sigh, watching their futile attempts. "But knowing is not enough; to use a Rune, you have to Understand it. It's hard to explain in words, but when you get it right the first time, you'll comprehend what I'm talking about."

Nevertheless, despite hearing me, the earthlings kept trying to "memorize" the Runes I had written on the ground for a while longer. Sadly, as I had said, mere rote learning of the Rune variations didn't help this persistent pair.

"Alas. Living Runes, those that can be Understood and then used independently, are quite rare on Ain," I said, rubbing my chin, and added offhandedly, "It's said that on the lower floors of the Inverted Towers of Pentapolis, Living Runes are quite common. But I don't know if that's correct or not, as there are many legends about the Inverted Towers in Ain, and it's hard to tell what's true and what's a fairytale having nothing to do with reality."

Approaching Kleber, who was literally ablaze with the idea of learning Runes, impressed by my demonstrative use of Des, I once again drew several symbols on the ground. Then I turned to Isabelle, who started bombarding me with questions about how I came to know so much.

"Unlike most earthlings transported to Ain by questers, I was, you could say, well-prepared for the local challenges, thanks to the experience of my past life," I deliberately used such a vague formulation, "I studied martial arts and was interested in history. I spent several years engaged in the reconstruction and study of medieval fencing from original treatises that have survived to our time. Perhaps it was the habit of delving into ancient texts that spurred my choice of Rune Magic at the Stela. I attended classes with other enthusiasts. I became so engrossed in cold weapons and martial arts that I spent a couple of years in China, in one of the minor Shaolin monasteries." Noticing Arman's skeptical look, I clarify, "I was not in the monastery that tourists visit, but where they actually teach. I also lived in Japan for more than a year, studying kendo…" Lying came easily to me. I've rehearsed this story so many times to myself that I almost believe it myself. "Europe, Asia, South Africa, Latin America – I traveled half the world." The last part, by the way, is true. "Moreover, I was very lucky, even after I ended up here in Ain. Our group somehow caught the local sheriff's eye, and he took us under his wing. He explained, told stories, and taught us. Much of what I told you today, I learned from him. I don't know how my fate would have unfolded had I not met such a person on my very first day. He was able to convey to us very clearly and distinctly, even harshly, how fierce and merciless this world is to any signs of weakness. My example is a case of a snowball situation. Of course, my path was not such smooth sailing. Several times, I walked right on the edge, sometimes surviving by sheer luck."

During my story, even Kleber and Ogion stopped their attempts to Understand the runes and listened to me, mouths agape. Tossing a couple of branches into the fire, I smiled and continued:

"Don't think that I'm some kind of unique case. Throughout my journey, I've met many extraordinary people. For example, Ronin, who, like me, studied historical fencing on Earth and even founded his own fencing school. When we met, he almost beat me despite me being a whole rank higher than him at the time. Or the girl named Scully. She seems to be Australian and was a born hunter. Here on Ain, she tracks and hunts monsters above her rank, and she might have surpassed me in ascending the Spiral. By the way, I advise against crossing her path; she's got a complex and tough character. She'll lodge an arrow into your heart first and ask questions later. Or there's Arien Marchal, whom I met recently in the town of Katiyer, several hundred kilometers east of here. The locals call her nothing less than the Brilliant Arien." Continuing the story, I listed Arien's achievements, astonishing the group of earthlings even more than my own story. "And these are just the ones I've met personally. I've also heard of an unmatched warrior and brilliant tactician named Nate, who solo clears the most challenging dungeons. He's probably Wootz, like me, by now. Or rumors of a unique blacksmith named Kei, who creates such things that make the locals' jaws drop. And many other earthlings I've met can hardly be called mediocrities." I swept my gaze over those sitting by the fire and continued. "I'm sure you are not as simple as you might even think of yourselves. I get the impression that everyone questers have transported to Ain is unique in their own way."

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"Well, yes... Especially us," Arman chuckled sarcastically. "Someone's already at Wootz," he nodded in my direction, "while we, no matter how hard we try, are just Bronze."

"Just Bronze?" I laughed softly. "Sure, because it's so easy to pass three Spiral Ranks in less than two months. Tell that to the locals who spend years, some even decades, just to accumulate enough for one Elevation. Your 'just' is the pace of development of heroes from local legends and tales, an unimaginable speed of Ascension for any local resident."

"We thought so too until we met you," Isabelle replied, head bowed. "We were proud of ourselves..."

"Indeed, taking pride might be a bit much," I said with a warm, understanding smile, "but you shouldn't belittle yourselves either. Perhaps you simply didn't have the lucky starting conditions I had. Unlike me, there was no wise mentor by your side in those first days, or you lacked that initial preparation I had. The main thing is, you survived, you didn't give up, you didn't drop your hands, you didn't succumb to despair! And as for the ranks, I'm sure you'll catch up. Especially since, by your own admission, you're already close to Steel."

"Two, maybe three dungeons, yes," nods Kleber. "Only, these dungeons still need to be found, and we have to negotiate with the locals to take us with them."

"First, you will negotiate successfully," I say confidently, "as you've probably done more than once already. Especially since you've joined the Tunnellers' Guild, and if you adhere to the guild's regulations, the locals won't refuse you. Secondly, you're heading west, aren't you?"

"Yes," Isabel answers for everyone.

"Then you've chosen the right direction. Within a day or two's journey westwards begins the Rur region, famous not only for its blacksmiths but also for its multitude of dungeons from Bronze to Wootz."

"We've heard about that," nodded Arman. "That's why we chose this direction."

"So, I'm sure I won't be wrong if I say that in a week, at most ten days, you will reach Steel."

"You said we were unlucky not to meet a mentor..." Isabel lowered her eyes and spoke very softly. "Maybe you could be that mentor for us?"

"And a teacher!" asserted Arman more firmly. "I've long realized that sports fencing is not very suitable for local realities. Especially in fighting the monsters that inhabit dungeons. We need a more versatile combat school, one less focused on confrontation with humans."

"I would be happy to…" I spread my hands. "But I'm severely limited."

"Limited?" Ged Ogion didn't understand me.

"Questers," I explained. "I have a task from them, and I need to hurry to complete it."

"Damn freaks," Kleber scowled, spitting out, and his unambiguous gesture found understanding among the other earthlings. "It feels like they're mocking us, and those bastards enjoy it. Because of them, because of their screwed-up tasks, we lost Flex." Noticing my confusion, he explained. "The fifth member of our initial group, a healer."

"Well, to tell the truth, Flex was to blame himself," Kleber shrugged, spinning his finger by his temple as if to imply Flex was a little "off."

"Flex was a fatalist," Isabel clarified. "To fulfill a quest on Affinity, he performed a literal harakiri at the altar of Elai. He believed that the deity would enhance his healing magic and allow him to heal himself. His sacrificial spirit and faith in a miracle would grant him Affinity with Life."

"As I understand, Elai's Echo was deaf to his prayers," I commented.

"Yes. He just bled out, his guts spilling out. And those damn priests didn't let us help him, just stood there, watching him die," Isabel said angrily. "If they weren't going to help, they could have let us do it, but instead, they threw us out of the temple. Bastards."

"No," I shook my head. "Not bastards. From their perspective, the priests did everything right. Your friend gambled his life, turning to the deity. It was his choice. But a god is not obliged to answer every prayer. And your attempt to save your companion, to heal him, was perceived by the locals, not just the priests, as an attempt to go against the divine will." I raised my hand. "But this doesn't mean Elai is a heartless creature. She's still the deity of Life. I think your Flex was largely to blame himself. Either he got the prayer wrong, or he thought the deity was obliged to save him. And this might have been his biggest mistake... Assuming that a god owes you something, even in exchange for an offering, a prayer, or a sacrifice, is, to put it mildly, presumptuous. So, thinking badly of the priests of Elai or Ishii, based on our earthly morality, is not right. It's the followers of Elai who heal the most hopeless patients. Yes, they charge for their services. But sometimes, their healing is free, and they help even those who have nothing but dirty rags. Can such people be called bastards? I don't think so."

"Flex deliberately left us all his potions so that if something went wrong, we could help him," Isabel lamented.

"He deliberately left you potions?" I asked for confirmation and, receiving a nod, shook my head. "Idiot. Your Flex was a fool. To think he'd come up with such a plan! To turn to a god for healing, supposedly as a last hope for salvation, while setting up a fallback plan just in case something went wrong. From the priests' perspective, his prayer was not only insincere but directly offensive to their deity!"

"We didn't look at it from that angle," Arman scratched his head, exchanging glances with his companions.

"Well, you should have," I said with metallic undertones in my voice. "Ain is not Earth. This is a different world, living by its own laws and rules. And violating these rules, in my opinion, is the fastest way to the grave."

"Yes, we understand that with our mind," responded Kleber to my words. "But understanding is one thing, and accepting it is quite another. To me, it still feels like all of this is a dream or some sophisticated simulation, not reality. Like I'll wake up any moment, or someone will wake me up."

"Even if it is a simulation, but we see no difference, then what does it matter?" Arman immediately picked up, and I sensed that this debate had been ongoing for a while.

"Perhaps you're right about the priests of Elai; maybe for them, Flex's behavior was indeed blasphemy," said Isabel Boudicca after some thought. "But it doesn't change the fact that if it weren't for the questers and their tasks, Flex would still be alive! They are the true heartless creatures! Always coming up with something to make our lives harder." She was genuinely angry.

"At first, I thought the same," I said, finding it difficult to express this thought. "But the longer I'm on Ain, the more I feel that all these tasks, all the seemingly mocking demands of the questers, are not without reason. It's as if we're being prepared for something."

I felt I was treading on thin ice, careful to choose my words so as not to violate the prohibition imposed by the questers about revealing "memories of the future."

"I have no proof of these thoughts," I continued, my hand tracing a semicircle in the air, "just a feeling. It seems to me that our transfer to Ain is about more than just entertaining a handful of unknown entities. And all these tasks: they not only weed out those who aren't ready to grow quickly but also... there's a reason why we get rewarded for completing quests and not just being left alive."

"Preparation?" Kleber scratched his head in doubt. "Maybe that's the case. At least, if you look at it from that angle, many things make sense and fit into a certain picture. I just don't like this picture at all."

"If you view everything from this perspective," Ged Ogion picked up his thought, "you can even understand all those initial trials that seemed more like mockery or breaking down one's personality."

"And in the first group trial," Isabel added softly, "they weeded out those who aren't ready to compromise their moral principles for survival."

"And in the second group trial, they eliminated those who aren't ready to kill. Even if it was killing non-humans," agreed Arman.

The mention of these trials momentarily halted the conversation, as it was clear that the memories brought no joy to anyone around the fire.

"If all these trials are just preparation for something," Kleber spoke after a long pause thoughtfully, "I don't even want to imagine what awaits us in the future."

"As if your denial will change anything," Isabel responded with a hollow and joyless chuckle. "As the ancients said, we must prepare for the worst."

"Stop, stop!" I waved my hands. "I only expressed a hypothesis."

"Yes, we understand…" the mage sighed heavily. "But this hypothesis really does explain the specificity of the tasks given to us by the questers." Noting the puzzled looks of the other earthlings, Ged Ogion elaborated his point. "At first, their assignments seem impossible, but if you think and exert effort, really go all out, each one is actually achievable. Remember how we thought it was impossible for each of us to gain an Affinity with one of the Powers! And what in the end? In the end, we all got it, one way or another."

"Except for Flex…" the girl corrected him.

"He is to blame himself. Even if Raven's blasphemy theory is wrong, sticking a sword into your stomach hoping for the favor of some higher powers still seems to me far from the best idea," the mage dismissed, seemingly less impressed by that whole story than Isabel.

"So, you won't help us?" the girl looked at me, somewhat confused.

"What do you mean I won't help? What am I doing right now?" I smiled in response, taking a sip from the jug of berry drink passed to me by Arman. "We're exchanging knowledge about a new world for each of us. You're helping me, and I'm helping you."

"I meant something else. Training, more in-depth explanations. You, unlike all of us, clearly have seen and know more since you didn't just sit in one area but crossed half the world."

"If I had walked those half of the world on foot and not passed through the Sundbad's Portal, only then you would be right. But I agree that, apparently, I have indeed seen more."

"And does your new questers' assignment also lead you to the Rur area?" the girl asked.

"No, I think that to accomplish it, I need to reach Pentapolis. If everything I heard about that place is true, it will be easier for me to find what I'm looking for there," I answered honestly, without a hint of deception. "But because of the Metal Destruction spell, I lost my chainmail, and as I was told, in the cities of Rur, one can buy good armor much cheaper than in many other places. So yes, I am indeed heading to Rur. And, of course, it wouldn't be extra to clear a few Wootz dungeons."

"So maybe we can go together?" the girl suggested, seemingly shy, having glanced at her companions beforehand. "We won't hold you back!"

In fact, I myself wanted to propose something similar. Yes, a Bronze group will slow me down, but it's not that critical. At most, I'll lose one "extra" day compared to continuing my journey alone. Meanwhile, every word I say, every "instruction," can help not only this foursome but also other earthlings they meet on their way to survive and make fewer mistakes if they share the knowledge I manage to convey to them.

And studying the Cleave from Ged Ogion's arsenal of spells wouldn't be superfluous for me, either.