The Lost Troubadours — Bones' party name — hike through the highlands. Jim takes point, cutting through the tall stalks and vegetation, clearing a path. Then he doubles back, and using his healing powers, he regrows the greenery, hiding their tracks and returning the land to its original state.

Lana attempts to help. She could effortlessly heal the plants once they've been cut, but Jim wants to gain experience with his new skill. He's fast enough that their pace isn't slowed by him taking on both tasks — well, it isn't slowed down too much. When Jim moves to the back, she takes on the role of bushwhacker.

Light's Edge is a fine blade. Crafted by the hands of master weaponsmiths from metal mined from the heart of Mount Leathyne and laced with runes written by the hands of her very own mother, Light's Edge is light, durable, and can cut through the very metal used to forge it. The blade sings in her hands. For years, she has trained with it. By anyone's standard, she is a blade master and can easily rank in the top five in the Cult of the Sword. Lana can not understand how Jim cuts through bamboo so quickly. Drifter clears yards with ease while she cuts feet. It is not just his range, either. The swordsman has incredible precision.

Skill with the blade is perhaps the strangest development in her old friend. Kip was never good with a sword, even though he tried so hard. Blades just didn't suit him. Sure, he could win some fights with the sword, and he had enough training to hold his ground in most fights, but he was never an elite sword fighter. Now, it is as if he trained with The Silvers for a century.

Sword skills and an old soul… a warped soul — so warped that his mana was death and not water — are the only differences between Jim and Kip. Sure, Jim is easier to talk to. Lana figures the lack of memories helps him in his social endeavors. Most likely, Jim has convinced himself that his lost memories are safe-guarded secrets. Her old friend always joked that mystery was key to confidence. Lana failed to convince him otherwise.

So, there are differences between the two. Not enough for her to think it isn't Kip. Most telling is the feeling she has around him. Around Jim, she is content. Maybe content isn't the right word. Safe… relaxed… comfortable… fulfilled?

Of course, the impending doom of everyone she loves is often on her mind, but much less now since she's found a coping mechanism, for lack of better words. That and the whole dungeon core has eased her mind incredibly. Still, she is the most peaceful when she is next to her old friend. Death teases her thoughts a lot less around him.

Selfishly, she aches to tell him everything. The scenario plays through her mind more than her visions of death. Jim, I am your friend. I know you. I have been looking for you! I found you. She wouldn't even tell him they were a couple; she would be happy just establishing their old friendship. You were a member of my party. Flint is here, too. I have so much I want to tell you. From there, she would jump into her wild adventures over the past five years. How much her life has changed. She would tell him about his past life, job, passions... and those left behind...

Though she thought the world of Kip, he was quite the loner. The fact that he now worried about those left behind pained her. Truth be told, Kip didn't have many people in his life. That reason alone is almost enough to convince her that keeping his history secret is for the best. Who wants to know that they were loners? Luckily, Kip wasn't completely alone. He had her and her party. But was she enough? Who knows what kind of fantasy of family and friends he has built in his mind?

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After her talk with Nette, the decision to reveal what she knows to Jim was left up to her. Nette strongly discouraged it. For whatever reason, she thinks Jim still needs some time without his memories. Lana can see merit in that thought. Jim, as he is, is free from most worries and care. Though it's not like he had much to worry about in his past life. Sure, his map shop and tour guide business failed, but Kip never cared about money. He was essentially the same as he is now, a drifter. Except that was by choice then and not a class.

What worried Lana the most about revealing her knowledge to Jim is what she doesn't know. The last time she saw him, he had the weight of everything on his shoulder. He begged her and the rest of the party to flee, and Jim… Kip essentially vanished — for five years. What happened? Is he now hiding or recovering? And from what… his memories?

Lana wants to share her knowledge and plans to, just not for a while. Truthfully, Wolvsden and its people kind of need Jim as he is. The thought is not one she has ever imagined being attached to Kip — people needing and depending on him. And yet, he is in the thick of town building and connecting people to a common cause. It's not easy to see, but Jim significantly influences Wolvsden.

For one, because of him, there is Wolvsden. Lana has no doubt that if it were not for Jim and Gene driving out the horde when they did, the island would be in control of the horde. As strong as her people are, they do not have the strength to contend against the power of one horde nation, let alone three.

Then, there is the matter of the dungeon. Jim was essential in giving her people a new life. Anvil was many things, a place of growth and cultivation was not among those things. Fighting junkies retired to Anvil once they hit their wall in progression for the reliable monster waves. It was a chance to put their skills to use and make easy coins. And there was always a chance a rare core would drop from the monsters, allowing the cultivator a new chance at progression. Now that the Anvileers are a part of a dungeon, they all have a sure path to growth.

The surge of cults is evidence of the fire lit in the people. They want to get better. They have a chance to get better and are devoted to it. Cult of the Sword, the Brunch Cult, and the Cult of Cru… body, mind, and soul. Sure, Fury and Silva drive the competition around the sword. Jim is the one who started the training, though, that spurred the fights. Cru and his popularity are the heart of the two other cults. Jim is the one who brought Cru into the fold. Jim also established a court and assigned party mongers to a position of authority. Creating the breeding grounds for rumors, secrets, and fun.

It is silly, but Jim and his shenanigans are essential to Wolvsden's growth. And Lana, like Nette, is sure he will continue to help their new home take shape, though she has no idea how. Jim probably doesn't, either.

Under that light, possibly pulling Jim out of the life he has by returning his memories, in a sense, is selfish. Maybe if Jim was more active in seeking them out… Lana let out a sigh. She's come to this same crossroad several times.

Jim flashes her a smile as he moves to the back once again. She barely pulls back from her thoughts in time to smile back. Now, at the front, Lana cuts through the forest before her. She clears her mind, focusing on her task. Lana should be much better at this by the right of repetition. Perhaps she is. The last swing might have cleared the thick bush five to six feet ahead. The light cleric advances with Light's Edge in hand and swings again. Again. And Again.

The path clears, and the realm opens up. No longer crowded by bamboo, Lana sees Mithland for the first time. Her breath is pulled from her chest. Memories of home reminisce as she admires the beauty of this mountain kingdom. This is nothing like she expected from a kingdom of bugbears. This is civilized. This is cultivation at its finest.