In an instant the cool room underneath the adventurers guild disappeared and hot, dry desert air welcomed Serin. They were now a continent away from Gilcrest. A journey to the south that would have taken nearly a year in the best of conditions travelling on ground or sea. The sun was already high in the clear sky beaming down on her.

It was in this moment warmed by the sun that the infant cradled in Quillis' arms woke. The baby awakened happy. Her little arms reached out to her father as she cooed. Quillis gently grasped her tiny hands with his free hand. Serin watched as the baby giggled with bubbly joy.

"Dalene needs to eat soon," Quillis said as he looked to Serin.

"There will be restaurants in the city," Serin replied.

They were standing on a similar stone formation that they just left. Serin looked off to a short distance. She found a rocky area that jutted out from the surrounding dunes of sand.

Feeling better with her mana recovering Serin unlinked her arm with Quillis and started walking towards the rocks. Quillis followed her without question.

"Dalene is a delicate name for a monster," Serin commented after a moment. Which went ignored as Quillis continued to play with his daughter.

As they reached the rocky area a intricate carving on one of the large stones came into view. The impression of a doorway had been carved into the reddish stone. Intricate writing lined the borders and the right side it bore an imprint of a hand.

"What is this?" Quillis asked.

"The entrance to the once great dungeon city Tzekal. Its a portal. Uppity folk that thought only a certain class of people should be allowed in." Serin replied.

Serin placed her hand into the imprint and allowed her mana to flow into the warm stone. A precise amount was taken which spoke of the level of ability of the crafter. The amount though was significant for most mid level mages let alone for any other classes that didn't invest points into intelligence. Which was a clear statement of their prejudice.

Not that it bothered Serin all that much. In fact, she grinned as she remembered all the adventurers grimacing as they paid her to open the portal.

The air cracked and the same abysmal void that had brought them here filled the carved doorway. Serin directed her son to enter first and she shortly followed through.

Gone was the scorching air of the surface and now cool humid air graced Serin's skin. Before her was the familiar sight of Tzekal. A massive underground city built from the very same red sandstone it was carved out of. In an inverted dome shape the city was sprawled all around them and rose up to the sides of the caverns walls. All lit brilliantly by sunlight that was funneled down from the surface somehow.

Though when she was last here nearly fifty years ago it was crowded with adventurers and merchants. Now the central hub they were portaled to was essentially empty. A few people hurried about doing their business, but only served to highlight how desolate this place felt. With the dungeon cleared this city was dying.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Serin thought about where it would be best to eat. Initially, she wanted to go visit a restaurant she frequented when she stayed here. Serin was certain that even after all these years not only would the owner not have left this declining city, but would still be hanging on to life stubbornly. Although, it would be rude to bring their trail of trouble near. As such she decided to just walk until a quiet place presented itself.

It was a short walk when they found a suitable café. Entering there was only a lone beastman nursing some kind steaming beverage. Serin chose a table against the wall with good sight of the entrance.

Serin watched as her son put Dalene into his lap. The baby was still happy as could be. It was strange to see him as a father.

The cook interrupted her thoughts. He was a gruff older human with a large scruffy beard that Serin hoped wouldn't touch their food. He took their order and left. When the cook returned the food thankfully was hair free, but was bland bordering on inedible. However, it was hearty and Serin made herself finish it. She watched as Dalene seemed to enjoy her mashed food. The infant ate half and wore the other half.

When they were all finished eating and Quillis had cleaned the girl, they went to search for an inn. The both of them needed to rest before they continued their journey. Serin found a modest inn and rented a single room with two beds.

In her bed Serin was staring at the ceiling once again considering their next move when Quillis broke the silence.

"I'm sorry for brining you into this, mother."

"I owe you at least this much," she said. A statement she truly believed. She didn't regret putting her dreams over her own child. It was a choice she made, so she could recognize that she failed him.

"Its not that. Its just..." Serin could hear him sigh. "I don't know what I'm thinking. But growing up it was like you were this mighty figure always getting stronger. It felt like if I just got to you everything would be fixed. I was so sure that you would be a part of the legends already. An immortal max level adventurer travelling around the world wherever there's dungeons that needed to be conquered. But instead you're just an old woman I don't even recognize."

It hurt Serin. She wanted to say that tried her hardest to level. She wanted nothing more than to have reached that goal. She didn't even get close though and that silenced whatever she wanted to say to defend herself. Serin laid in the silence for a moment feeling the weight of both failures. She wasn't the mother she needed to be nor the adventurer she wanted to be. "Do you resent me?" she asked.

"Yes. Part of me hates myself too. It feels like you would have got there if it wasn't for me. Then I get angrier at you for making me feel like that over your dream. All I wanted was a normal life and a normal mom."

She heard his bed creak as turned. Serin couldn't see him in the darkness, but she was sure he was looking in her direction. She could feel the heaviness of her son's stare.

"It's like you cursed my daughter. I can see the look in your eyes when you look at Dalene. Her potential excites you. You couldn't make it, I didn't want to, and now my daughter is going to be forced to reach that height just to be able to live safely."

"You're right," Serin admitted. Serin felt her resolve hardening as she thought more of it. "When I look at her I can feel how bright her future can be. I could not be a legend. But at the very least I will be a part her legend. I may be an old woman nearing the end, but I still have enough life in me to ensure that. If there is anything you want to count on me for as her grandmother. It is that until my dying breath I will be dedicating everything to giving her a path to touch the stars."

"That isn't what I want to hear. I know it's probably the best for Dalene though. This is all out of my control now anyways."

Serin heard the bed creak again as he turned away from her. She wanted to to say one more thing. Yet it felt like it wouldn't come true if she said it aloud and it remained stuck on her tongue.

Instead she made the vow to herself. I promise, I will be a better grandmother than I was a mother. I will be there for Dalene in all the ways I was not there for Quillis.