“For starters.” Konohora said and then lightly glared at me and Tyler. “We now rent a property in Prinsk. It will cost us thirty silver a month. Even with our funds, it is a significant sum. We do not currently have an income.”

“But our money will last quite a while right?” I said, brows furrowed.

“Yes but money is almost always needed for progress. Maintenance on weapons, training, new gear, and even more beyond that. Although we have traveled via caravan, it will be unreasonable in the future. Paying a teleportation mage is extremely expensive however.”

“Still… once we go into the B-Rank dungeon and start selling the monsters we kill, I feel like our funds will explode right?”

Konohora hesitated but nodded once. “It should. But B-Rank trainers will want B-Rank prices.”

“Do we need trainers?” Tyler asked.

It was a fair question. Apparently Tyler, Konohora, and Riary had been trained by Royal Knights and Mages. Literally Rank A and maybe even S Rank people, though they weren’t sure about that. I definitely needed it, there was no doubt about that, but they already had a good foundation.

“We do.” Riary said, decisively. “We’ve gotten a lot stronger recently and gained a lot more experience. Even if it’s just fighting B-Rank adventurers, it’ll help improve our abilities many times over.”

“So what do we start with?” I asked. “There’s apparently a dungeon in town, we could head right there and begin fighting from what you’ve told me. Or we could spend our money to go get training first. Which one is the better option?”

“Training.” Riary and Konohora immediately said together, leaving me and Tyler confused.

“Derek…” Konohora started. “People know you’re here. And at least a few most likely will try to kill you.”

A cold shiver went up my spine. After all… I could feel many people that could kill me right now. An angry B-Ranker catching us alone in the dungeon… yeah, this city is a lot more dangerous than I initially thought. In fact, it might be more dangerous than the jungle ever was.

“Right. Training it is. We should have enough. And the people available for that sort of thing probably have posts or something up in the guild hall right?”

Konohora nodded.

“Then, Konohora. You should probably change outfits and go there.”

Konohora looked down at her clothes.

“Why?”

“Because according to Tyler people already know who he’s traveling with. Demon, mage, priestess. Your robes practically scream ‘holy church’ so if you change it’ll lessen the chance some idiot tries to duel you.”

She nodded once, with a frown on her face, and headed into a room. Her room I guess, leaving the three of us.

“What should we do in the mean time?” Tyler asked.

“Well…” Huh. “I wanted to explore the town but… I want to die in the streets a lot less. I doubt I can survive half those B-Rankers out there long enough for guards to come, if they come.”

“I don’t like it.” Riary said, a scowl on her face. “Trapped in a house like this.”

“Well let’s just try to lay low for a while.” I said, talking a bit careful. Riary, innately, hated me, at least at first. I knew very well that racism, especially racism from a horrific tragedy, didn’t just disappear. It had to rankle fiercely that we were stuck inside and someone had tried to kill Tyler because I was on her team.

Still, she had kept it under control. I knew that was a facade though. There was no earthly way the Riary I knew wasn’t planning on trying to kill those wind mages somehow. I’d be glad to help given the chance. Despite their reasons, they hadn’t targeted me, but Tyler. That was un-fucking-acceptable. Still, I could already tell we’d probably not leave this town without a body count in the dozens. What happens in that dungeon… might stay in that dungeon.

I don’t know if I was mentally prepared for that.

Tyler seemed blissfully unaware.

“It’ll be nice to just relax for a while.” Tyler said, before reaching out to grab Riary’s hand and smile at her. Seeing Riary blush was pretty amusing. I was struck by my own reality for a second. Despite everything, I was now in a home. A real home. Not an inn, with no idea what to do, startled and confused. Not feeling rushed and trying to relieve stress somehow.

I knew exactly what I wanted, and I knew roughly exactly how to get it. After I was B-Rank, strong enough to survive the unmitigated attention of assholes, I could do a lot more thorough searching. The library, alchemists, information gathering, and more. Hell, I could put my own post up in the guild hall asking for info, under an alias. All to lead me towards my goal. A body changing potion.

This city might be a bust… but we’d leave here richer, stronger, and better prepared for the next one and the next one. While my teammates looked into the gems, I’d look into my own affairs. Eventually, I’d find something. I just needed time.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Just time.

I breathed out a sigh of relief, when I turned my head as Konohora walked out a door. Gone were her classic white robes, she now wore a shirt and pants, seeming in the style of elves. Wait a minute….

“Did our closets come fully stocked?”

“No.” Konohora said simply.

How long was I out? How did you have time to get an extra outfit? Did you bring those clothes all along with you since we first met?!

Konohora waved at us and left and I decided that was good a time as any to head back to my room. Well, the one I’d claimed by passing out in it, at least.

Laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, I was struck by the oddity. For the very first time, in what felt like months, I had nothing to do. No relaxing from killing a baron, no horrible suffering travel, no jungle nonsense, no bumpy and boring caravan ride. I was truly just… here. I had absolutely nothing to do.

Wow. Even on the caravan ride, I talked to everyone or sparred with Tyler. I now had my own room, a bed, my own privacy. My heart hurt for a moment. It was like I had gone back in time before I was summoned, reading my book.

Maybe I should get a few books…

****

Konohora returned a few hours later. I’d spent most of my time just meditating. I’d heard of it before and I’d read enough fantasy books where it had actual effects that I decided to try it out. Mostly though, it just felt nice not to think about anything and let my mind drift. I hadn’t been lazy even for a moment in a very, very long time. The closest was the last town we stayed at but that wasn’t really that relaxing. More stress induced relaxation. It wasn’t the same thing.

“I found someone.” Konohora said without preamble. “We’ll be meeting her later tonight.”

“Cool. What is she going to train us in?” I asked. After all, trainers were just people. It’s not like I could use a mage trainer or Riary could use a greatsword trainer.

“All around. She’s a team manager with experience. We’re not the first C-Rank team coming here and hoping to reach B or get guidance from those stronger than them.”

I nodded. Sounded good to me. I still needed a few more days for my senses to really adjust but I wasn’t going to just not train while that was happening. I wouldn’t want to get into a life or death fight but I could handle working my body a little.

A trainer huh? I honestly couldn’t wait. I had a giant black sword on my back, that only recently I’d gotten used to sitting with without having to readjust half a dozen times. I’d thankfully gotten pretty good at pulling it out for a fight quickly. That was one of the key things I’d worked on while traveling with Tyler. He’d been a bit grumpy at how quick I’d gotten good at it, which was amusing.

Its weight on my back always felt comforting. Surprisingly, even more so since we fought those bandits. I hadn’t had any god damn weapon besides my body while in that jungle, and knowing I had a weapon of destruction, that could cleave men in half, filled me with ease. Now if only I knew how to use it besides swish swish stab.

I settled in to wait, relaxing on our couch this time. It felt good to stretch out on something soft. Though my wings reared their head and made getting comfortable annoying. Riary was actually meditating, focusing on her magic as she sat cross legged with her eyes closed on a comfy chair. Tyler was busy polishing and cleaning his blade and shield. Konohora-

“Derek? Can I talk to you in the other room?” She asked me.

“Oh sure.” I glanced at Riary and Tyler who also perked up at me being singled out. Still, it was Konohora. If they asked, of course she’d say what it was about, but even more than… it was Konohora. Anything she expressly didn’t tell others she had a damn good reason for it. That said, I followed her into the next room, where she began to get changed out of her clothes and back into her robe. Seeing her body half naked again stirred some feelings inside me. But this wasn’t the jungle and the situation had changed.

She did catch my eyes looking though as she finished getting dressed.

“How would you…” She paused and frowned for a moment, thinking. “Would you like to continue having sex now that we’re no longer in the previous situation?”

“Damn, hold on, what the hell, that’s a hell of a question. I’m gonna need a minute here.”

I closed my eyes and thought. I felt like I just got smacked in the face by words. But Konohora needed a good, truthful, answer to that. And I needed it too, because I didn’t know the answer. Our situation had been unique and we’d found comfort in each other but… now things were different. I needed to think here.

“I… don’t plan on dating any time soon. Relationships, I don’t want to right now. I… haven’t met the ‘one’ for me or even someone I’d be fine going steady for a while. My life and situation has changed too much, far too rapidly. And it’s going to keep doing that. Hell, we’re not even a full day into the city and there’s already been a murder attempt on Tyler’s life because of me. I’m sure we’ll have to kill at least a few dozen people before we’re out of here and we can only hope that it’s only done in self-defense and don’t end up arrested for it. Not to mention my desires for a body changing potion. Anyway, that’s how I feel. As for sex… I consider us friends, maybe even close friends after what we’ve been through, so if the fancy strikes either of us… I’m willing. But I want to be clear… I only see you as a friend.”

She nodded to that, a relieved smile on her face, which both set me at ease and made me annoyed. Well, that couldn’t be helped. No one wanted to know that someone also didn’t want you like that. It always felt annoying, despite the logical fallacy that if they were disappointed or upset at being rejected, it would be worse. Silly emotions.

“I feel a similar way, to some of that. I would also be willing, if the ‘fancy strikes’ as you put it.” she chuckled.

“So, was that all you wanted to talk about?”

Her smile immediately became a frown.

“No. Not at all.”

Oh.

“Derek… you have many secrets. I believe I know them. And that is an important difference. I firmly believe I should not know Tyler’s and that the Mauv King was a fool to tell me. I merely wish to put your mind at ease, that unless absolutely necessary, you should never confirm them to me. Ever. I believe they may be… even more devastating than Tyler’s.”

I frowned, staring at her hard. I knew she knew that I had a Gem but this sounded like… something else.

“I will neither confirm nor deny any such secrets but… what do you think you know?”

“Turn around so I don’t see your face.”

I did so and immediately understood, as her next words were like the ground had opened up and swallowed me whole.

“I believe you don’t come from Hell. I think you come from Earth.”