Securing a ride to Fayne was easier than I expected. A traveling merchant named Gareth was just about to head back to the city. Gareth was an older man with short-cut auburn hair and a clean-shaven face. He had bushy eyebrows and clear green eyes.

He owned a large covered wagon hooked up to two of those giant lizards I had seen before. Leo explained that the reptiles are called thauks and are commonly used as beasts of burden in the desert. The wagon had a bench on the front, presumably for the driver to steer the lizards. It had six wheels and was probably the size of a minivan. The inside lacked any seating but did have large wooden chests on both sides that we could sit on, and there was plenty of room to lie down.

"How much do we owe you for a ride?" I asked the merchant.

"Well, normally, I'd charge 2 Gold per head, but lately, the routes have been more dangerous. Bandits and monster attacks are becoming more frequent. If you all agree to defend me and my belongings, I could do it for 1 Gold each," he answered.

We agreed to the terms, loaded our gear into his wagon, and hopped aboard. There was plenty of space in the back for all four of us, including our gear and the water and food we purchased for the trip. I was grateful that the wagon was covered as it kept the relentless sun off us. Gareth even had a magical crystal in the wagon that kept the temperature low. He told us he used it to keep his alchemical supplies at safe temperatures, but he was kind enough to let us use it for ourselves as long as we replenished the mana required. I had to ask Leo what that meant, and he explained the many magical crystals had to be charged with mana to function. It was simple. All you needed to do was physically touch the crystal and "pour" your mana into it.

"There's an outpost at the halfway point that we can stop at and rest. It's about a day or so from here," Gareth explained from the front of the wagon. He held the reins of the two lizards pulling us, although it seemed they just followed the dirt road without guidance.

I thanked the merchant and settled into my seat. I had tried to let Teos follow along with us, but his presence thoroughly unsettled the pair of thauks. I had him run ahead of us as a scout. While he couldn't tell us what was along our route, he could convey his general feelings to me. So if he began to feel threatened or anxious, I'd know something was ahead of us. I mentally instructed him to return to the cart if he spotted any signs of danger or a potential ambush. It was incredible how much we were able to communicate with the mental link. Leo told me the power would grow even more potent as we spent time together.

Tel and Leo were quietly conversing about what his fourth rune would likely be, and Cass was enjoying the cool air generated by the crystal. I laid back and just enjoyed the peacefulness around me. Hours passed, and I even dozed off for a while. The ride was surprisingly smooth, making me wonder if the wagon was enchanted or had some form of suspension. I was about to ask Gareth when a wave of anger from Teos hit me. I shot upright and warned the others there was possible danger ahead. I mentally ordered the lion to stay out of sight and return to me. He arrived quickly, meaning that whatever awaited us was not far off.

I sat up front with the merchant on the driver's bench while the others remained hidden inside. Teos tailed us, staying low and remaining silent. Eventually, I saw shapes on the road ahead. It was too far to make out at first, but as we drew closer, I could see an overturned stagecoach with a man and woman waving at us urgently.

"It's an ambush," Gareth said confidently.

"What, how do you know that?" I questioned.

"The road is flat and straight here, no injured thauks or other animals to explain why a coach would roll. All four wheels are intact also." he stated confidently.

Once we were close enough, I inspected the couple.

[Level 8 Bandit]

[Level 11 Whisperblade]

I whispered this information to the others as we pulled up.

"Please, can ya help us?" the woman said a little too dramatically.

"Ahhh fuck it. They know," the man ranted.

The stagecoach vanished and was replaced by four more men. Three were labeled as Level 8 Bandits, but the fourth was a Level 10 Illusionist. I immediately called out what I saw to my group. Surprisingly, everyone was quiet until I heard Telovir speak up.

"Get out there and fight them off. Just because we're on the road doesn't mean your training stops!" he shouted. We couldn't count on him destroying the group for us.

I hopped off the bench and equipped my gear. The new armor appeared instantly, and my spear and shield were raised and ready.

Two of the bandits shared a look of worry, but the woman ordered the attack anyway.

They all drew their weapons. The Whisperblade wielded a pair of double-edged daggers while the bandits had axes or swords. The Illusionist was a mage judging by his wand and attire. Cass and Leo were beside me in an instant.

I bellowed a War Cry, bolstering us, and stepped towards the would-be thieves. The Whisperblade vanished from sight as the four bandits charged me. The Illusionist was casting a spell in the background, and I mentally ordered Teos to search for the invisible woman.

I braced as the four men reached me while Cass rushed after the mage. I blocked the first axe that swung at me and managed to deflect a sword with my spear, but the last two men swung right at my chest. Both of their attacks bounced harmlessly off my new armor with an audible ping. To the bandits' credit, they switched immediately to assaulting my less-armored areas. Mostly my face, arms, and legs. I'd have to correct that once I made some more money. I let out a War Stomp causing the four men to stagger and slow. I slammed my shield into the closest one knocking him off his feet, and immediately thrust my spear downward. It stabbed clean through his leather chest armor and punctured his heart.

I turned to another of the bandits and prepared to attack, but Teos came flying through the air at me. I sidestepped, and he crashed into something I couldn’t see. The woman immediately lost her cloaking ability as my familiar landed atop her. He bit down, burning heat radiating from his body, and tore the woman’s throat out in one swift motion. He probably just saved my life. That woman was right behind me and could have stabbed her dagger right into my neck before I knew what had happened. A notification appeared in my vision:

[Your Familiar has reached Level 10. An evolution is available.]

I mentally minimized the window to remain focused on the three bandits. Leo had drawn the attention of one by bombarding him with wind and lightning attacks, so I had my familiar aid him. That left two bandits for me. I activated Frenzied Strikes, raised my shield, and set my spear into the notch. I jabbed at the men relentlessly, landing minor cuts here and there while blocking any counterattacks with either my plate armor or shield. While fighting like this, I felt like a veritable fortress, although I could not land any decisive blows. Once Frenzied Strikes reached max stacks, I used my shield as a fulcrum and swung my spear at one of the bandits’ necks. The combination made my weapon nearly impossible to see; it moved so fast. The man crumpled to the ground, his head nearly decapitated by my attack. The second man turned and fled. I couldn’t risk letting him escape. If Liana had sent the attackers, he would surely relay our position to her. I cocked my spear back and let it fly toward him. The weapon whistled through the air and impaled the running bandit between his shoulder blades. He slumped and then fell to the ground in a heap. I had practiced throwing the spear before, and it came naturally to me. I assumed it was due to the spear expertise talent. I just rarely did it because, well, I'd literally be throwing my weapon away.

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Cass, Leo, and Teos had already finished their targets by the time I retrieved my weapon. Cass and Leo had both gained a level from the skirmish, and Leo finally received his final Rune Tattoo. I looted the bodies and went through the gear. The bandits had only dropped 20 Silver each, but the woman and the mage each dropped a weapon.

[Dagger of the Viper]

Uncommon Weapon - Dagger

115 Attack

+20 Dexterity

+10 Vigor

+20 Endurance

Equip: Attacks made with this weapon have a chance to poison the target.

[Wand of Shifting Illusions]

Uncommon Weapon - Wand

20 Attack

+15 Intelligence

+12 Vigor

+10 Regeneration

+10% Spell Damage

Equip: Illusions cast while wielding this last 40% longer.

No one in our group had much use of either, so I decided to sell them at the next shop we visited. We all began walking back to the wagon.

"All clear, Gareth!" I yelled as we approached.

"Thank you! Thank you! I knew ambushes were becoming more common, but I never expected we'd ever run into one!" Gareth said from his hiding spot in the back of the covered cart. He climbed down and was happy to see his thauks were both unharmed.

I wanted to see what the evolution prompt was about. So I asked Telovir, who had lounged in the back with Gareth throughout the entire altercation.

"Focus on him, and the rest should become clear. I don't have much experience with familiars," Tel explained.

I approached the lion and patted him on the head. "Ready for your first evolution, big guy?" I asked him.

He couldn't answer, obviously, but I felt a wave of excitement from him through our mental link. It seems Teos was looking forward to it as well. I focused on him, and a prompt appeared.

[Teos - Level 10 Firemane Lion - eligible for evolution. Proceed?]

I mentally affirmed it, and Teos began changing before my eyes. I felt mana draining from myself and pouring into him. He grew noticeably larger and more muscular. His two canine teeth elongated, reminding me of images I had seen of saber-toothed tigers. The new razor-sharp teeth gave him an even more menacing visage. His fire-red mane grew slightly also and now included a ridge along his back leading to his tail.

[Congratulations! Your familiar has evolved into a Firemane Saberfang!]

I was impressed but also a little nervous. I was a match for the big cat before, but now he might be able to take me out. Teos must have sensed my hesitation and nuzzled up to me in a display of affection. Previously, his head reached just above my waist, but now it was at chest level. I let out a laugh and patted his head.

"Whoa! That's a rare subspecies of Firemane Lion! I remember being obsessed with them when I was younger!" Cass exclaimed while approaching. Teos remained calm while she looked over him like an excited child, then turned and licked the woman's face.

"That's his way of saying he likes you," I chuckled.

The two thauks had become even more skittish around my familiar, so I asked him to resume his scouting duties. He prodded my chest with his head and sent a wave of mental happiness toward me, then ran off ahead of us. We all climbed back into the wagon and resumed our journey. I was happy to ride inside the wagon again, as the mana required to evolve Teos had exhausted me. Leo immediately began talking to Telovir about his new rune.

"Hey Leo, do you mind if I inspect your rune abilities?" I asked the mage.

"Sure thing, although if you want, I can just give you my book," he replied.

"Your book?" I asked, confused.

"Oh yeah, you've never seen it. It's like how your interface system works. Mine is a tome that contains all the information I need," he said as the book materialized in his hand. He passed it to me, and I opened it.

[Leo Senger]

Level 9

Health: 97%

Mana: 159/350

Stamina: 88%

Prime Rune: Tree of Life

* Mending Touch - Heal your target for 15% of their maximum health. Cast time: 1.5 Seconds. Cost: 20 Mana. Cooldown: None

* Cure - Removes any poison, disease, or necrotic effects on your target. Cast time: Instant. Cost: 30 Mana. Cooldown: 8 seconds.

* Rejuvenate - Heal your target for 45% of their maximum health. Cast time: 3 Seconds. Cost: 30 Mana. Cooldown: 15 Seconds.

* Nature's Influence - (Passive) There's a chance for any spell you cast to cost no mana and be instant cast.

Augment Rune 1: Thunder

* Lightning Bolt - Send a powerful bolt of lightning at your target. Cast time: 1 Second. Cost: 15 Mana. Cooldown: 3 Seconds.

* Storm Shield - Create a magical barrier around yourself that absorbs damage. Cast time: Instant. Cost: 50 Mana. Cooldown: 30 Seconds.

* Thunder Wave - Shock and paralyze your target for 4 seconds. Cast time: Instant. Cost: 40 Mana. Cooldown: 10 Seconds.

* Stormbringer - (Passive) Increases your maximum mana by 25%.

Augment Rune 2: Hurricane:

* Wind Slash - Send a powerful blade of wind at your target. This causes physical damage. Cast time: 1 Second. Cost: 20 Mana. Cooldown: None.

* Tornado - Create a tornado at the target location, damaging and slowing any enemies caught inside it. Cast time: 2 Seconds. Cost: 50 Mana. Cooldown: 20 Seconds.

* Repel - Use a blast of wind to send any enemies within 4 yards hurtling away. Cast Time: Instant. Cost: 35 Mana. Cooldown: 10 Seconds.

* Vacuum Sphere - Create an area of wind magic that drains the stamina of everything inside it. Radius: 3 yards. Cost: 30 Mana. Cooldown: 60 Seconds.

Augment Rune 3: Stonebinder:

* Boulder Throw - Summon rocks and hurl them at up to three targets. This causes physical damage. Cast Time: 2 Seconds. Cost: 40 Mana. Cooldown: 5 Seconds.

* Rockwall - Summon a wall of stone in front of you to impede enemies. Cast Time: Instant. Cost: 25 Mana. Cooldown: 10 Seconds.

* Stoneskin - Increases the target's magical and physical resistance by 10% for 1 hour. Can only be cast on allies or self. Cast Time: Instant. Cost: 20 Mana. Cooldown: None

* Earthbinder - Increases your base regeneration rates by 15%. Also increases all healing done by 10%.

I passed the book back to Leo and congratulated him. That last rune really rounded out his kit as our healer and support damage dealer. He turned and spoke to Telovir at length about possible classes and what his thoughts were.

I wanted to meditate but was too tired from the fight and the evolution process. I had a quick meal of dried jerky and fruit we brought with us, then laid down. Despite my exhaustion, I found myself unable to sleep. I had just killed four people, then went and ate dinner as if nothing had happened. What was I becoming? I kept telling myself that it was self-defense, that they had attacked us, and that my actions were justified. It was easy to forget when you saw someone as a 'Level 8 Bandit' that they were a living, breathing person. I felt Teos send a wave of reassurance my way. It was incredible how much more complex thoughts and feelings we could share after the evolution. I silently thanked him and sat up.

"Cass, how do you do it? How do you cope with the killing?" I asked the stoic woman.

She frowned, looking at me. I think she could sense how upset I was because she didn't make any wisecracks. She moved closer to me.

"I struggled for a long while. It weighs on you, each one you kill, and truthfully it never becomes easy. Necessary things are not always easy, Alex. That doesn't make them any less necessary. I had never even seen death before the arena. I struggled, too. The truth is that you had to choose between life and death for yourself. You chose life. You saved Gareth today. You've saved my life before and Leo's too. Focus on that feeling over the lives you had to take to do so," she told me.

"Thank you, Cass," was all I could manage in response. To my surprise, Cass gripped me in a tight hug. I squeezed her back, just enjoying the embrace. I forgot how good a simple hug could make you feel.

"You got Tel, Leo, and me out of that hellhole, too. Never forget that. You are a good person, Alex," she reassured me as the embrace ended.

I gave her a genuine smile. Her words had managed to lift some of the weight off my shoulders. I was thankful I had made such amazing friends here.

"I'd be lost without you," I told her.

"No shit!" she responded in her usual tone. Although she was back to her normal self, Cass smiled and squeezed my shoulder as she said it. It was a simple gesture, but one I understood. If I ever needed to talk, she'd be there.

I laid back down and found falling asleep much easier than before.