Creating the air pockets was far easier than Cass had expected, but far less interesting than she’d hoped. It was also just far more time-consuming.

She had made four of the ten to fifteen that Salos had estimated Alyx would need before she started running low on Focus. It was time to head back to Alyx to rest and recover for a bit.

Cass pulled herself out of the fountain to the sound of conflict. Spiders screeched their unnatural arachnid screams. They filled the room, twelve or so of the things, each the size of a large dog. All far smaller than the one Cass had fought earlier but still far, far larger than spiders had any right to be.

Alyx stood with her back to the fountain a couple of yards to Cass’s right, her short sword beating down on a spider as she roared her own battle cry.

She bisected the spider, then slashed again taking out two more. Spider number four leapt at her exposed side.

Alyx shouted something and a gold aura erupted from her body, knocking the spiders back and disorienting several more.

Grotto Spider (lvl 11)

Grotto Spider (lvl 12)

Grotto Spider (lvl 11)

Grotto Spider (lvl 11)

Grotto Spider (lvl 12)

Grotto Spider (lvl 12)

Grotto Spider (lvl 13)

Grotto Spider (lvl 11)

Grotto Spider (lvl 14)

Cass hesitated at the fountain’s edge. They were all weaker than the spider she’d killed earlier, but most were her level or higher.

She also was running low on the Focus she needed to use her preferred ranged attacks. That had been the entire reason she’d come back after all. If she was going to help it would be at melee with Staff Mastery and not a lot else.

Alyx stabbed through Spider Number Five, one of the ones her aura-light-pulse thing had knocked back.

It squealed and contracted on itself.

Spider Six leapt from her right, fangs bared.

Alyx yanked at her blade, but it stuck. She cursed, released the sword’s hilt, and pivoted, punching the leaping spider in the eyes and knocking it into the far wall with a splat.

Cass had to make a decision. She had two options.

She could slip away, disappear deeper into the labyrinth and leave Alyx behind to deal with the spiders alone. Alyx didn’t know she was back. She’d never know that Cass had intentionally abandoned her. And Cass would be safe.

Or, Cass could race out now and come to Alyx’s aid. They could fight the spiders together. They could live or die together. It was foolish. The spiders were too strong for her. She didn’t owe Alyx anything.

You should leave, Salos whispered.

Am I outmatched here? A disappointment rolled in her stomach. Why? She didn’t want to fight. She wanted an excuse to run.

It is close. Very close. Alone, I would say you definitely need to run. With Alyx here? I still would not risk it. Not when there is a safer route behind you.

Spiders Seven and Eight skittered up behind Alyx. Spider Four (the one Alyx had knocked back with her gold aura attack) approached again from her front. Spiders Nine through Twelve hung back, forming an inescapable ring. Alyx’s sword was still stuck in spider number Five’s corpse.

She was surrounded and outnumbered.

Cass’s hands clenched around her staff. There wasn’t time for this. She hadn’t rescued Alyx to back down now.

Cass burst from the fountain, racing toward the nearest spider, Number Seven.

Her staff landed heavily on its thorax. It crunched under her strike, fractures running across its carapace.

To her horror, it turned to face her instead of crumpling to the floor.

Four and Six continued toward Alyx, skittering over the stone without slowing in the slightest.

Alyx sidestepped. Four flew past. In the same movement, she kicked Six sending it skidding back and into another spider.

Cass didn’t have time to watch anymore. The spider she’d attacked was focused on her now. It was the level 13, two levels higher than her own.

It lunged, jaws quivering in anticipation. Cass knocked it aside with her staff and her skill’s help. A sharp leg scraped at her as it passed.

She activated Wind Blade again, feeling her Focus straining and her vision spinning. There was barely enough Focus for using this skill even in melee. Gritting her teeth she swung down, slicing a spindly leg off her attacker. It shrieked but charged her again.

Cass swung again and again. Her vision spun. Wind Blade begged to be released. She had to hold it. She wouldn’t have the Focus to resummon it if she let it go now.

Spider Eight had joined in on attacking her. Dodge and Staff Mastery had her weaving between them, slashing at exposed sides and legs where she could.

Her head pounded.

She heard more squealing as another spider was cleaved in half behind her. Alyx must have reclaimed her sword then.

Cass’s Wind Bladed glaive tore off another leg. A jaw. Cut deep in a thorax.

A leg skewered Cass’s, Dodge unable to get Cass’s tiring body out of the way of Spider Number Nine’s surprise assault. An arachnid jaw clamped down on her shin, as one of the other two took advantage of Cass’s surprise.

Cass slammed the butt of her staff down on the offending monster’s head. It squelched, unable to dodge while also biting her.

It hurt. Her veins burned as the spider’s venom coursed through her. Burned and numbed.

She teetered on her feet as she spun, swinging through the exposed side of another spider, she’d lost track of which one. Its body crunched under the blunt end of her staff. She must have lost concentration on the blade when she’d been hurt.

She swung again, and again, Staff Mastery singing in her ears.

This was how you fight, it whispered. This is how you hold the staff. How you strike down. How you thrust, creating distance. How you cut across. How you punish mistakes. How you move to make the most of your body.

How you leave a trail of carnage in your wake.

Cass did as she was told. If she’d had the Focus to think, she might have resisted the control of the skill. She might have wondered at the ease at which it turned her into a weapon of destruction.

Instead, it was all she could do to push through the numbing venom still working its way up her leg.

Poison Resistance has increased to level 2

Staff Mastery has increased to level 8

At some point, the instructions of Staff Mastery faded into silence. Cass stood in the dark room, breathing heavily, her Stamina as low as her Focus. She teetered on her feet, barely upright. Blearily, she looked around the room for the next spider. The next opponent.

There was none. Just Alyx and countless corpses.

Cass exhaled in relief, feeling all strength drain from her legs. They’d survived. She slumped to the ground, ignoring the spider guts around her.

Alyx trudged over to Cass’s side. She said something.

She comments you are back, Salos supplied.

Cass nodded, too tired to say anything else. She closed her eyes, willing her breathing to steady. Willing the venom in her leg to stop its advance.

Alyx said something.

She asks if you were bit.

Cass nodded again.

The woman cursed but held a hand out to Cass.

She’s asking if you’ll be alright.

Cass nodded again, taking Alyx’s hand and hauling herself back up. She leaned heavily on her staff as the two of them staggered to the fountain’s edge and the still-burning fire.

Cass sat on the lip, sighing in relief as she took the weight off of her injured leg.

Alyx bent down in front of her, inspecting Cass’s leg, frowning and muttering the whole time.

What’s she saying? Cass asked Salos.

Mostly just insulting your carelessness, he said. Saying she doesn’t have anything left to help with this. Something about if only she still had her supplies. He snorted. It is easy to bemoan the lack of supplies, but I guarantee she would not be offering them to you if she had them.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Why? Cass asked.

Would you waste valuable medicine on a stranger? Only a fool would. He paused and sighed. Actually, you have already done that, haven’t you, fool that you are?

Cass bit her lip. He might have a point. It would be more logical to save it for an emergency than to use it on someone she didn’t know. The smart thing to do would be to hold onto it.

Alyx shook her head and leaned against the fountain beside Cass. She said something.

Salos translated it as: You’re going to have to ride out the poison. Nothing I can do about it now.

Cass nodded. That was what she’d expected.

And we lose even more time now, Salos grumbled.

Cass opened her stats. There was a new status effect listed beneath her range boost:

- Grotto Spider Paralytic Poison: Reduced Stamina Recovery. Reduced Health Recovery. Reduced Healing.

It doesn’t affect my Focus, Cass said. It shouldn’t stop me from making the next air pocket when that’s recovered some. I bet this will be cleared up by the time I’m done with the path. We won’t lose anything. It’ll be fine.

She could feel Salos preparing to argue further when Alyx spoke.

What’d she say? Cass asked.

That you should rest and she’ll keep watch.

Cass nodded and slid off the fountain ledge to the floor, leaning up against the cold stone and closing her eyes.

“Thank you,” Cass said in Alyx’s language.

She says to be quiet and rest, Salos translated her curt reply.

Easier said than done, but Cass shifted and settled into the floor. She wasn’t comfortable. She wasn’t warm. She wasn’t even dry.

Where was the silver lining?

Are we going to be attacked by anything else? Cass asked.

Unlikely. Patrols are uncommon in the labyrinth.

But they do happen, Cass pointed out.

Just rest.

Cass shifted again. Her new position wasn’t any more comfortable than the last. She cracked an eye open and looked up at Alyx.

The other woman studiously watched the entrances to the room, her eyes flicking between the dark halls with steady regularity.

You think she’s going to keep keeping watch? Cass asked.

Why won’t you rest? Salos sighed.

I am resting, Cass said, snapping her eye shut and shifting again. See. Look at me. Eyes closed. Not moving. Breathing regularly. Trying not to think about all my near-death experiences today.

Salos would have rolled his eyes had he had eyes to roll. Yes, I imagine she will continue keeping watch. I imagine that’s what she’s been doing this entire time you’ve been making your air pockets.

I suppose that makes sense. But, that meant Alyx had been vigilant like that without a real break for hours now. Would continue to do so for hours more. Doesn’t she need to rest too?

When exactly would she do that? Salos asked. She’s alone when you’re working on the tunnel and you’re exhausted when you are back.

What would she do if I wasn’t here? Cass asked. Just not sleep? She needs to rest at some point.

People don’t travel to places like this on their own. She had a team before the spiders ate them all. People traveling on their own don’t last long for good reason.

You want me on my own though.

You aren’t alone, are you? Salos said smugly.

Do you count? Cass asked.

Don’t I count? He scoffed. Don’t I count? How many times have you been ambushed since we’ve been together?

I’ve been sleeping in a Safe Zone, Cass pointed out.

He bristled, his necklace suddenly chaffing around her neck uncomfortably, though she was certain it had not moved. I’ll have you know I’ve been keeping watch for you while you rested since we left the Safe Zone.

Oh. How?

How? He muttered. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Look, just because you’re unconscious doesn’t mean I am too. I have a few skills I can still use even in this state.

Really? Cass asked. She’d just assumed he was a passive passenger in her head. A chatty passenger.

My passive perception skills are still active. So sleep. Nothing is sneaking up on us.

Then, couldn’t Alyx rest too while you keep watch?

She could feel him glowering from the necklace.

What? You are doing it anyway, right? Wouldn’t it be better for us for her to be well-rested for the fight with the Lord? Or if she needs to protect us from any more spiders?

Sure, I suppose, he said. Cass could hear the reluctance in his voice.

Why not?

She’s a much higher level than you, he said finally.

And?

She could murder you without breaking a sweat, he said.

Why would she? Cass asked.

Any number of reasons! Experience. Disagreement on loot distribution. Personal grudges. No reason at all?

Would someone really murder for that?

Yes! he shouted, the exasperation in his voice overflowing.

And you think her being tired and cranky will make her less likely to murder me?

Not how I would describe it. Rather if she can’t rest properly she won’t have the energy to use her more dangerous skills against you when you aren’t ready.

Salos, Cass sighed. That’s nonsense. You’re being paranoid. Help me tell her that she doesn’t need to keep watch.

No.

Salos!

No, he repeated.

It doesn’t cost us anything and she’s protecting us. Why shouldn’t we make sure our protector is in good shape?

We don’t need her and she isn’t your protector, much less ‘our’ protector.

You think I could have killed all those spiders just now? Cass scoffed. We need her.

We would have been long gone if you did not insist on taking her with us. You could have just left her behind here. You do not need her.

It would have been something else, if not this.

You do not need her, he repeated.

Why are you so against her?

Because she is soaking up all your experience! He shouted.

Cass frowned. What?

Quieter, he grumbled. You are still under-leveled. You’ll never survive the way you are. You’re too soft. Someone is going to sweep you up and kill you. Which means I’ll die too, or something equally unpleasant.

Isn’t that all the more reason to stick to someone strong? Cass asked.

Only if you can trust them completely. Really, truly trust them. People like that don’t exist. Everyone is out for themselves. Even I’m just here for me. Don’t get confused. The only person whose strength you can depend on is your own. Never put yourself in someone else’s power.

Cass’s frown only deepened. Is that really how this world works?

Did your world not work on the same principles? The powerful didn’t just amass more and more for themselves? Didn’t walk comfortably on the corpses of the weak? The ruthless and cruel didn’t grab all that they could, never mind the consequences?

There was some similarity, she supposed. But, there are good people too, Salos. People that will go out of their way to help others. People who want to see the world improved. Who want to see the world better.

And they are dreamers or fools, he said. And I won’t let you kill us because you are one.

Salos! Help me translate.

No, he said again.

Why are you being obstinate?

Why are you? he shot back.

You keeping watch for us isn’t going to get me killed.

Please, just drop it, he whispered.

No. She was tired of arguing.

She was sick of being told what she could and could not say.

This was her decision, not his.

There was a sharp spark in her chest as she spoke. It empowered the command, made it louder and more forceful than her previous thoughts to Salos had been.

Tell me how, Salos.

He squirmed in the necklace. Shifted and writhed, before finally—his voice strained—said, this is how you would tell her that you have access to a skill to keep watch while you sleep.

Cass repeated after him, though her concern had shifted from Alyx to Salos. She didn’t even stop to check if Alyx had understood her before focusing back on her demon.

What was that? Cass asked.

That, he spat, his necklace cold and heavy on her neck, was a Command. You just Commanded me to do what you wanted. Like the slave I am.

What? Cass asked, her blood cold.

I suppose you didn’t know? He sneered. I told you originally, didn’t I? I’m your vicious little guard dog. You say heel, I don’t have a choice?

Why did that trigger now? Cass asked. I didn’t do anything.

You ordered me to do something. I assume you refused to take no for an answer. His words dripped with venom as he spoke, each one more bitter and biting than the one before. I suppose I should be grateful that you didn’t do it on purpose? That you don’t intend on using it again? That you would rather we be friends?

Yes! Cass yelled back. I didn’t mean to!

She hadn’t known that was possible. Not really.

And that makes it better? He snorted. Do you expect me to find comfort in that? That you might accidentally override my will as it pleases you? That you might accidentally compel me to act against my wishes?

Cass bit her lip. She wanted to say she would never. That she knew it was possible now. That she’d be careful.

She didn’t want this power. Not over him. Not over anyone.

Just go to sleep. You and your new friend will need all the rest you can get, I’m sure.

His words burned.

There had to be something else she could say. Something which would make this better.

She hadn’t—

She didn’t—

She was—

I’m sorry. Her words floated across their bond soft and weak.

If he heard her, he didn’t acknowledge it.

She curled her knees up to her chest. Her wet clothes stuck to her, cold and clammy. A puddle was forming beneath her, the water dripping off her onto the stone floor an insistent and regular plop in the otherwise silent room.

She’d only wanted to make things easier for Alyx.

She’d only wanted things to be better.

Alyx dropped down beside Cass, leaning up against the fountain on her right. Cass shifted again, more alone now than ever.