As I slowly woke, I could feel the sun's light on my face. Groaning, I reach for my pillow to cover my face. But before I could grab it, a body landed on me, holding me tight.

"Nalle, your awake. Don't you ever do that again," said Amy with her head pressed deeply into my chest. I could feel dampness spreading on my nightshirt. Confused, I think back to the last thing I remember. Amy had blown up Mr. Bark. And that's it: I woke up here in my bed. "What's going on," I ask as I look around at all the exhausted faces around me.

Strangely I swear I Can hear thunder in the distance, but looking out the window, all I see is blue skies. "Is there a storm coming?"

"Stupid. I know you like to sleep but isn't a month-long nap pushing it too far." Amy said, hiccuping once before catching her breath and sitting up, still holding me.

I take a moment to comprehend what she said. "A month!" I say in confusion, turning to Mother, who is also crying onto Aunt Listandra's shoulder. The Queen gives me a sad smile while patting Mother's back before nodding confirmation.

With a quick look around my room, "where are Stacy and Charlotte?"

"All first ascension and higher are fighting in defense of the city," Amy replies with a look of guilt. "I should be there too, but Auntie said you would wake up this morning, and I wanted to be here. Luckily my commanding officer is Father, so he permitted me," she says with a wry grin.

I turned back to the window, worried. "Is that what that sound is?"

"Yes, Dear," said Listandra quietly, "and Amy, return to the wall. I know you're not a soldier, but discipline amongst the militia is important. As the daughter of a commander, it goes double for you. You need to set an example for the rest of the recruits."

Amy let go of me and stood, wiping her eyes and cheeks. "Okay," she said, walking into our closet, followed by Yuri. A couple of minutes later, she returned to the room dressed in her plate armor. A blue tabard with a large embroidered letter K in the center, worn over it all. Her purple mantle wrapped in place. She looked so cool, with her shield hanging on her back and her signature braid down the left side of her face.

Opening the door to our bedroom, she hesitates, then turns to me with a grin says. "Don't laze around too long, or I will win this war before you even see the battle." With that, she turned around and hurried down the hall, followed by two of the Queen's guards after a nod from her.

"Awkwardly, I turn to Yuri. Can I get something to eat? I'm starving?" As if in agreement, my stomach made an audible growl, getting a relieved laugh from everyone in the room.

As Yuri rushed from the room, Mother and Auntie rushed forwards, fussing over me, straightening pillows and blankets, talking about nonsensical random things, ignoring my attempts at asking what is happening outside. Behind them, old Martha fixed Amy's bed and put all the chairs back in order.

Soon I could hear talking outside my door. It sounded like Yuri and one of the kitchen staff. "No, you can't carry the tray. Your hands are still shaking. Open the door for me; that would be a great help."

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When the door opened, I perked up, smelling my favorite apple cinnamon oatmeal. I could also see toast and a bowl of mixed fruit with a glass of milk on the side.

As soon as the maid set the tray down over my lap. I grinned and thanked them before shoving a spoonful in my mouth and picking up a slice of buttered toast.

While I scarfed my meal down in record speed, everyone stared in amazement. Well, except Martha, who was giving me a disapproving look, eventually shaking her head and turning around. Sticking my tongue at her, I continued.

Stuffing the last piece of fruit in my mouth and chugging the last of my milk, I flopped back, rubbing my exposed belly. "That was beautiful," I say with a contented smile.

However, when the maid took the tray back, I jumped up. I need a bath. Taking a step forward, I almost fell because of my shaking legs. But Mother grabbed my arm to steady me just in time.

Smiling at her worried expression, "I am fine, Mom, see" I jump and start skipping side to side. "Just a momentary shakiness from living in bed too long."

Mother still insisted on leading me into the bathing room, holding my arm. Walking inside, I see an already drawn bath and Martha standing to the side holding a towel.

Clapping my hands, I ran up to Martha and gave her a hug "you're the best, and sorry for sticking my tongue at you earlier." She gave me a warm smile and helped me get undressed.

Sometime later, I was curled up on the couch in the library, staring at my updated status screen. "Hey Mom, how come you at two-star spell blade but Haven't reached your second ascension?"

"Well, not everyone is as overpowered as your little team and can bludgeon your way through floor after floor in the dungeon. Like your father and I, some of us had already ranked up our classes through decades of hard work long before we reached level 100. I have even known some to reach three stars before they ascend."

Nodding at her explanation. "Why are every 100 levels called ascending then?"

"My instructors told me every time you reach ascension. It is a step on the ladder to something greater. What that is, I don't know, and as far as I know, Tristen is the closest to finding out, at level 998. Followed by Berger at level 984."

"Oh, I wonder what their status numbers look like?"

Chuckling Mother replied, "they probably would be interested in that as well; however, the further you go, the less the system helps you. Tristen told us that at the fifth ascension, the system stops awarding points entirely; however, they can still feel their strength increases with every level. Where he is now, the system only shows his name, class, level, and star ratings. Beyond the seventh ascension, the world starts to push you away. He figures that at level 1000, he will be cast from the world entirely."

We chatted idly for hours until exhausted; I fell asleep with my head in Mother's lap. While she hummed an old Elven lullaby, no one remembers the words anymore.

I woke to the room shaking and books falling from shelves, Mother and I laying side by side on the couch wrapped in a thin blanket probably brought by Martha.

In the distance, a horn sounded, making Mother sigh. "Alright, hun, reserves are being called time for us to join everyone on the walls."