“Enjoying your ice-cream?”

“Mhm”

“Well try not to eat it too fast, you’ll get brain freeze”

"But I don't want it to melt"

"It's not going to melt"

"But what if it does?!"

"It's not going to"

"Wait, I can just eat it in one go. No melting or brain freeze!"

"Don't do that"

"Why?!"

"Caleb, you can do it, we just won't get ice cream anymore"

“Ok! Sorry mommy. Are we going to the comic shop now?”

“No, you have to finish you ice cream first. But you don’t have to rush, we’ve got all day”

“But I want to get there quick”

“Well we can talk about comics before we go. Let’s see… uh whose your favourite superhero?”

“Uh… who’s yours?”

“I asked first Caleb”

“But I want to say the right one”

“I don’t mind which superhero you prefer”

“Mhm, but can you just tell me? Please”

“Ok, I’ll give you three guesses, then ’ll tell you”

“Hmm… Spider-Man?”

“Nope”

“But you have all those Spider-Man posters”

“You were close but. He’s my second favourite”

“Uh… Batman?”

“Hehe. That's quite funny actually”

“Then.. Flash? Wonder Woman?! Silver surfer?!”

“Wrong, wrong, and wrong.”

“Then what is it? What is it?!”

“I’m surprised you couldn’t guess, it's pretty obvious”

“Tell me! Tell me!”

“Superman”

“I said Superman”

“No, you didn’t, silly. Now who’s your favourite superhero”

“Superman!”

“Oh, really now?”

"Of course, of course. He's all tall and green and I like his cool ring and all the stuff he makes. He could make ice cream!"

"Ha! That's green lantern silly"

"N-no it's not!"

Caleb opened his eyes slowly, the sleeping memories fading quickly into a half-remembered dream. It took them a second to adjust to the light as he sat up. He looked around, and found himself in a strange cobble stone, room.

It was decently sized, and similar in style to the library of Nessaiea and the Reverends, just without the bookshelves, the tinted windows that let light flow into the space near the very top. There wasn’t any door however, instead only a set of steps that led up to a balcony.

He lay in some sort of metal basin, filled with black sand. The sand was warm, He’d been stripped down to his underwear, and now had the strange symbols marking all over his body. He felt their magical weight in his mind, the presence stronger than even both the sleeves combined. It made him feel different. Stronger somehow. Less… weak.

He pulled the rest of his body from the sand, looking over more of the markings, all over his skin. They were faint for the most part, but still somehow very clear to him. It felt like a strange optical illusion.

He tried to make sense of it but his brain refused to correspond, and he quickly gave up shifting his attention. There was a strange wrapping on his hand and on his leg, like a cast, but slightly more flexible. He wiggled his toes, then became aware of the complete lack of pain, the idea somewhat disturbing.

He stepped out of the basin, testing his foot against the ground, without pain. Just to be safe he balanced on one foot before steadily leaning a comfortable amount of weight on his injured one. It felt fine as always.

Quickly, he started dusting the last pieces of black sand off himself before he pulled on the clothes that’d been left for him. They were darker robes, slightly tighter fitting than the ones he’d had before. As he did his mind drifted back to the battle.

Kana’s screams echoed within his head, and the sight of her raised above the ground by a broken arm was etched into his brain. He closed his eyes and shook his head

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

She’s fine. She has to be, he thought.

He opened his eyes and looked around again. The place was definitely some kind of hospital. If they’d fixed him up in here, they’d probably taken Kana and the others somewhere similar. The question was how long had he been here?

“Tutorial check” he said, pulling on the shoes left for him.

[Tutorial objective: Survive]

[Time left: 9 hrs 37 mins 46 secs]

“Well…” he mumbled. It felt both good and bad, knowing this chaos was almost over, but also fearing what was to come. And there was the possibility he might have to face another enemy. If they were going of the same strength difference between the orc and the goblins, then they might not even stand a chance.

[Ah, you’re awake I see] a voice said from above. He looked up to see that someone stood on the balcony above him. Lady Avanessa.

“Y-yeah” Caleb mumbled in response, taking her in. She wore knew clothes, in the same style and material but in a richer golden colour. A patch of the same wrapping was around her head, her carapace crown still worn over it.

[Do you feel ok?]

“Uh… yeah I feel fine. Which is kind of surprising” he mumbled.

[Good. We spared no expense with the higher ritual] she said.

“Ritual?”

[Yes. You bathed in the burnt sands and were covered in the arbiter’s runes. It strengthens the body, improves vitality and inner strength]

He frowned, looking over himself, then tested his foot against the ground again, and flexed his fingers. Still no pain, not even lingering pain. He really did feel good. Even his breaths felt clearer, less forced.

“Thank you” he said, looking back up at her. She nodded, choosing not to respond as she looked to him with a sad smile. “A-are my friends ok?”

[Yes. We had to have another – the girl with the broken arm -go through the lower ritual, but she’s fine. Still sleeping]

“Lower ritual?” Caleb frowned.

[Yes. Injuries that simply require repair can be done with only the lower ritual]

His frown deepened confused, then his eyes widened.

“The ritual treats my cancer?!” he said eyes wide.

[You knew of it?] the Lady said, starting down the set of steps from the balcony that led into the chamber.

“Yeah”

[Why didn’t you say?]

He shrugged as she stepped, and her gaze saddened.

[Cancer?] she muttered [Is that what your people call the affliction?]

“Yes”

[It’s an odd word. Interesting but odd. We call it the Rot]

The rot. Didn’t someone already mention that? Nessaiea maybe?

“So… I’m cured?” he said, the note of hope in his voice surprising him.

[N-no. Given its level of advancement within you, it’ll only temporarily slow the spread. I apologise for not being clearer.]

He wilted slightly at the words but nodded as he looked to the floor.

“That’s… it’s fine” he said, before raising an eyebrow. “But, if magic can slow it, could it cure it maybe?”

[I’m not sure. Maybe people with better magic could. But…] she trailed off and shook her head.

He nodded, looking to the floor once again as he fiddled with his fingers deep in thought. After a few seconds he looked back to the Lady. He watched her, her demeanour uncharacteristically uncertain.

He looked to her face, the sadness clear and as he met her eyes, they sparkled with wetness. She noticed his gaze and looked away almost immediately, turning from him.

“A-are you ok?”

[Yes] she said, solemn. [I…simply reminded of my father]

Oh right, he thought. Nessaiea said her father died of it.

He felt slightly guilty for his question now.

[It’s a nasty affliction the rot] she said, turning to him suddenly. The sadness was gone now, replaced by the cold determination he’d seen in her before. [Hopefully, you can find a cure with your powers before you succumb to it]

“Thanks”

[Now come. I take it you’d like to see your friends?]

“Yeah. I’d like that a lot”

She nodded warmly, then turned and started up the steps Caleb following slowly behind.

They walked up the stairs and onto the enclosed balcony, making their way to a set of doors. Either side of them were shelves, to his left they were filled with books, and to his right, various jars filled with different coloured transparent liquids, some even housing plants.

They exited quickly, stepping into a large but empty corridor before turning left.

They walked slowly, neither of the two speaking. The silence was soothing to Caleb, and he took the time to look around him, appreciating the foreign decoration and architecture.

They made their way through a few more corridors and down a set of stairs, before finally slowing as they reached a golden door, decorated beautifully with the same markings he’d recognised over his skin.

[Your friends are in here] Avanessa said, looking to him.

“Thanks” he said, moving to open the door.

[No. Thank you]

“Hm?”

[You and your friends saved my life.] she said. [I understand your nature a bit more now. It was cruel of me to send you into battle, even if you are chosen. You especially. I apologise]

“It’s ok, really. You don’t have to thank me. I mean we definitely wouldn’t have been able to beat it without you”

She smiled politely and nodded, before turning to leave.

[If a new threat comes, I won’t expect you to fight]

“Really?”

[Yes. Goodbye young one. I wish you luck and good health] she said with a wave. He watched her disappear around the corner, then turned back to the door opening it slowly.

He entered a larger, lavish room, Ryan and Sierra sitting in the centre at a table of marble playing a different board game. They both looked up from it, and turned to him, their faces shifting in surprise. They both jumped up and rushed forward, all smiles.

“Caleb! You’re ok!?” Sierra said.

“Yeah”

“Holy shit” Ryan said. “You passed out and got all cold and- I’m just glad your ok. What’s with all the markings?”

“Uh, their healing ritual thingy. Not exactly sure how it works but I’m all better now” he said.

“Good, good. And Kana?” Sierra asked.

“Lady Avanessa said she was fine. Still sleeping”

“Can we go see her?” Sierra asked.

“I… don’t know” he said,

“Well… ok. Ok“ Sierra said, hints of

“She’ll be fine right?” Ryan said.

“Yeah” Caleb reassured them. “I mean Lady Avaness had no reason to lie. They’ll probably bring her here soon”

“Ok” Sierra said nodding. There was a lapse of silence then Ryan spoke again, starting back to the table.

“Well, come on, come on. Sit down with us. Help yourself to the food whilst we wait. They brought us a new game. I think it’s for kids but it’s easy to understand and the more players the merrier”

He sat down as they ushered him to the table, then handed him a plate of strange fruit, then picked out a piece for him for the board game.

“Where did the food come from?” Caleb asked.

“I- that’s a good question. But don’t worry about it, you can ask later. They’re treating us enjoy it” Ryan said.

Caleb looked between the two of them, surprised by how suddenly carefree their attitude was.

“Are, uh… are you guys ok?”

“Yeah” Ryan mumbled, his voice cracking a little. “I’m fine. Well as fine as I can be”

“Just… trying not to think about it” Sierra added.

Caleb looked between the two of them, noticing the shakiness hidden behind their smiles. The last few hours for them had probably been horrible, waiting, uncertain if he and Kana were ok.

He hadn’t really had a chance to completely process what he’d seen when the orc had been attacking the soldiers, and even he was struggling to keep it together. They probably didn’t want to think about it all again.

“Ok. That’s fine. Now, about this game, you’ve got to take it slow when you teach me how to play. I’ve only ever played connect four before”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. I’m gonna suck”

Suddenly the door behind them creaked on it’s hinges and swung open. One of the soldier guards stepped inside, smiling at them before ushering a familiar face into the room.

“Kana!”

Her arm was wrapped with the strange cast-like bandages, and hung in a sling over her shoulder. But she still wore a bright smile.

[Hey guys]