Standing before us is a perfect mix of tree, skeleton, and dryad. Roxi looks more human than Bones while looking more like death. If it weren't for the livery of the tree vines clothing the skeleton dryad in a vibrant green dress, she would be a walking corpse. As it is, Roxi looks like she's having a bad day.

Prominent bony aesthetics are added to her shoulders and legs. Golden mana flows through her, covering her bones in a thin layer of light bronze bark. It doesn't look like natural skin, but it's close and helps the dryad look more alive than dead. Red moss-like hair grows on her head, its length reaches the ground then tangles together, creating a thick curly hair bun.

Sharp teeth are now prominently displayed when Roxi smiles, and her high laugh sounds hollow and dead — an upgrade nobody asked for, but we're all grateful to have. Eventually, Roxi's laughter simmers.

All things considered, Roxi's fast acceptance of her new life is the most shocking to me. That, and the drama played out in Gene's shadow and the somewhat peaceful resolution. And to think, it's not even morning yet. This is going to be a long day.

Gene eyes the new companion of Bones wearily. The bags in her eyes have nearly doubled. "I…" she hesitates. "I'm going back to bed." Her back is turned, and she takes three steps before turning back. "For what it is worth, Rottixis, I'm sorry for the pain I caused you." Gene turns back to the academy and disappears through the door.

"I do not understand any of this." Cru breaks the silence. Both Bones and Roxi are too captivated by the dryad's new form to speak. I'm the only one who looks toward the goblin.

"What do you mean?"

"Who are you people?" Cru scratches his head. His eyes are sharp, switching quickly from one focus to the next. "Why are you so ready to accept your enemies as your friend?"

"We are not friends," says Roxi.

"Best friends, actually," says Bones. "It's part of the warlock contract. I think it's under the fifth clause — 'Relations between bonded and bonder.'" Bones tries to rattle off more about the section and establish rules on the fly. He doesn't get far.

"She tried to kill or enslave all of you. She was even going to destroy your home…. My people are actively trying to destroy you. My mission was to kill and find the core that is the essence of your people. I'm still not sure I don't want to claim the core for myself. And you all are going to accept us into your home? When those people you so willingly invited into your home learn about your secrets that you are openly discussing with them sometime today, are you not afraid they will turn on you?"

I look carefully at Cru, who's breathing heavily. He's grown much since I first met him in my old cave home. He has an inner confidence that supports him through the heavy tasks he shoulders. One of which is being a voice of reason amongst friends and strangers. I try to answer his question only to find I don't have an answer.

"Do you really want to take the core?" I find myself asking.

"Who would be foolish enough to turn down all that power?" His breathing has calmed, but Cru is still struggling with some inner turmoil.

"And what do you do with all that power? Do you keep it for yourself? Do you share it with others? Do you hoard it and keep it hidden because it's unsafe if others know about it?"

"You use it. Power is the way of the world."

"What happens when someone stronger than you comes for the power you claimed for yourself? Can you guarantee you will always be strong enough to keep yourself safe? Who do you turn to when you are alone, and your world is burning because the strong take what they want?" I get a little carried away trying to drive home the point.

"But trusting your enemies?" Cru's question is sharp and hangs in the air.

"What makes you think we are enemies?"

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"All the things I mentioned before."

"Our goals are not in alignment with the horde. But it doesn't always have to be that way. You and Roxi will be proof people can change. I'm not saying we will change the horde's goals or have a chance to try. I'm just saying, while everyone focuses on power and betrayal, why don't we focus on people and trust."

"Shit," says Roxi. "I joined a cult."

"Damn right!" Says Bones.

"It will not work," says Cru. The goblin is torn between doubt and belief. Common sense, the world says this can't work, yet he's watching it happen before him. People are setting aside their ambitions for the greater good.

"Nothing really ever works in the end. We'll try anyway. Besides, life is too precious to hide and hoard away. It's meant to be shared and experienced together."

"The horde will not stop coming for you. And I am still bound to the Eternal Darkness. If they find that I am in league with you all, they will find a way to exploit me. I might be the very crack in your foundation that leads you to lose all of this." Cru's hand motions for the academy.

His posture now contrasts with the confident stance he was upholding moments ago. His tense shoulders soften. His frame looks fragile. His fierce gaze is not that of a forest warrior but that of a small, broken person trying to hold it together.

"Now you're speaking nonsense," Bones cuts in, having finished all his admiring. "It's already been determined that Jim is the number one crack here. If we fall, it's because of him. So, if we already have one walking liability, what's wrong with taking on another or several others? Hell, I can already feel Roxi trying to find a way to exploit our warlock bond so that she can have all the power."

The skeleton looks like a bear clad in his dragon-scale armor. Dull gray energy humanizes the undead, giving him a neat gray beard, short hair, a functioning mouth, and expressive eyes. Hungry, powerful mana swells deep within him, creating a void that demands to be filled. At the height of his power, he stands insignificantly before the responsibilities of the dungeon. No matter how much he grows in power, he might never be enough for his job.

"Had to give it a try." Next to my companion is the newly formed Roxi, grinning deviously. The undead treemaster still maintains her intimidating good looks. Like Bones, she has reached the sage level of cultivation. Her domain of earth has been amplified with her soul bond to the Golden Mana Tree.

Further increasing her power is her warlock bond with Bones. For a few restrictions, she has gained near immortality. Power and life, however, will never fill her need to be loved, and all the rejection she faced before cemented her insecurities that she never will be.

Cru finally feels like he has a place where he will be accepted. Where he is not only needed but wanted as well. But the fear of losing it or worse, being the reason for it to be destroyed claws at his heart. Fear and guilt hound him, telling him to run away to keep his dream safe.

My eyes now rest inside the academy. Inside, the people are no better than us. Children without families, families without homes, the uncertainty of the future, a queen aching for people she has lost, and a spider aching for people who don't want her.

I cut my thoughts short before they target me and feel my mind mana relax. I've faced enough demons tonight. We are all broken here. Maybe no one is whole, and we only fight, hoping that power can fix us. I take a deep breath and accept I have no answer for why other than what is right in front of us.

"The truth is, Cru, we have a heavy responsibility with the children here. All we want is for them to have a decent shot at life. We can't do it on our own and need help. That means we have to trust more than we are comfortable with- or at least expose ourselves more than we like. If it works, it'll be a miracle. If it doesn't… Well, we'll keep trying 'til it does."

Slow hand claps from Roxi interrupt the conversation. "So inspiring." Her sarcasm is thick. "I have joined a cult with lofty ideals, hoping to get by on the power of friendship." She looks around before settling on the academy door. "Where are the Synth Sisters? I need to ensure they know they were foolish to switch sides."

"I should probably keep an eye on her for now," Bones says moments after the undead dryad leaves and follows after her. Now it's just Cru and me, and we linger in silence. There is no more Golden Mana Tree that the druid can use as a distraction, leaving our eyes to wander.

"You've got a place with us, Cru. Whether it turns out to be a mistake or not is irrelevant for now. If you feel too uncomfortable being here, we can figure something else out. Though you are not alone in your discomfort, nor are you alone in your worries that you will be the downfall of the dungeon."

"I do want to be here. Maybe one day, I will be able to fit in. If you are willing to take a chance on me, I will also take that chance."

"I'm glad to hear that. I think you already fit in better than you know. Hopefully, you'll be able to see that soon. Now, I suggest you get some sleep. It's going to be a long day." Cru hesitates before heading into the academy.

Alone in the dying light, I pick up the dirty sheets I dropped during the fight with Roxi and head to the lake. I'm relieved Cru has chosen to stay, even if that means more problems later. At this point, another problem seems like another drop in a vast bucket.