Public Release: March 6th, 2019 - 5:00 pm EST

A new day dawned and, like so many before, I woke with the rising sun. The heavens over Gransus were a deep orange and fluffy clouds cast thousand-yard shadows across the skies.

The sun rose over the Forgotten Lands to the East. I wondered if, to James, it had been up longer.

[Solution: James is currently in the Nine Star Marsh. Sunrise was an hour ago for him, but he cannot see it through the canopy.]

Lily was back in her castle, resting in her own bed, and she didn’t need any maids to help her into or out of it again. I looked down at my hands and felt the strange sparks of healing power run through them. I never knew it could feel so right to use magic. So deserved.

I could feel my soul and the soul of the Fae Argyle continue to fuse. His memories were becoming my memories. I watched distant stars be born through his eyes. I saw the birth and death of thousands. I watched him enslave entire worlds on a whim.

And I watched him perform profound kindnesses too. I watched him cry when the Eighth Fae died.

I watched Nox cry over that, too.

It didn’t feel real. It was like I was watching a bad movie.

Argyle wasn’t always a total dick. He reached level 1000 the right way, through reincarnation after reincarnation. It was the events afterwards, the timeline of the Fae, that twisted him into the abomination of a man I battled through The Pass.

Through him I gained and lost many things.

I looked back up to the sky as it turned blue again. The sun stood over the far off Forgotten Lands.

I stood up too, and I stretched my back. I looked down along the castle roof with its slopes, curves, and valleys. In the half-light of that morning, with a tall shadow behind me, I left towards the academy.

It was time to start leveling my army.

It was time to corrupt and hurt my friends.

With my understanding of Fae techniques evolving by the day, I could foresee the true way forward. My newest skill, [Path Correction], provided insights I never had before.

-

Barbory still weighed heavy on my mind, but I couldn’t afford to think much on it. I already planned a trip, before the leveling began in earnest, but I was leery and unsure.

I made my resolve to go ‘hunting’ before, but now I was hesitating. Did that make me a coward? I never claimed not to be a coward, I guess.

With Sal using his skill [Map] we could pick out only the most deserved, the most awful and gruesome offenders…

[Solution: I recommend we at least disable all of their magic communication devices. Unlike Gransus, Barbory has rival countries on its borders that have viable ways to attack or invade. If we make them too busy to worry about you…]

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Sal always came up with the strangest ideas, plans, and explanations for things. I was reminded of the time he made me claim to be an abandoned child to James and his dad way back at Eastrock Village.

[Solution: I did not make you do anything. You wanted help and…]

Yeah, yeah~

I smiled. All I ever wanted, since I came to this world, was to learn more about it. I wanted to find my calling and follow my passions. I wanted an education, I guess.

In pursuit of education, I found many friends and adventures instead.

I realized that maybe that was what education should be.

-

I had two names on my mind as I moved: Sell and Mel. Of the people I knew, they were two of the best options for me. The key here was that I liked both of them. I wouldn’t mind taking them with me alongside Lily and James.

Which reminded me, what was James’s level at the moment?

[Solution: James is currently level 48.]

What? How did he level up so much on his own? I couldn’t think straight for a moment. I knew James was a tough guy and a stubborn bastard, but for him to get as strong as his Dad in such a short amount of time, all without any help? That was astounding.

[Solution: Lily is currently level 20.]

[Solution: Sell is currently level 28.]

[Solution: Mel is currently level 27.]

James was pulling ahead by quite a bit. That wouldn’t last, of course, because the higher leveled he got the harder it would be for him to level up…

[Solution: Not necessarily. If he levels up he can fight stronger enemies to get more EXP. He’ll probably keep a constant speed.]

Once more, RED decided to slap me with the truth of the matter. From now on I’m not gonna call him Sal, because with Sell traveling along that could get confusing. Their names were too similar.

[Solution: Rename Sell instead.]

So RED and I are going to make a few plans. I know the layout of a few dungeons in The Forgotten Lands, but I don’t know enough. With [Map] we can make a tight training schedule alongside other things.

-

I found Sell and Mel fairly quickly. They were eating together at a local restaurant. The food smelled divine, but I didn’t have a lot of time to eat. I needed to get their confirmation, their ‘okay’ to be power leveled. I felt a bit like a devil with the deal I’d offer them…

[Solution from SAL: You are a Demon.]

‘Don’t be like that, RED,’ I thought with a grin.

To their credit, Sell and Mel didn’t flinch when I appeared at their table. Mel didn’t even look up from her plate when she said, “Oh hi, Calliope.”

I wanted to grumble. What was with those lame reactions?

“Did you want something?” asked Sell.

“Yes,” I said as I organized my thoughts. “I’m going to take Lily to The Forgotten Lands to level her up. We leave tomorrow and I wanted to know if…”

“If we want to come!?” asked Sell as she shot to her feet, her eyes aglow with excitement. Mel ignored everything and continued to eat.

“I can’t leave the Pet Shop,” said Mel. I winced. I had forgotten she even ran one, to be honest. It hadn’t even been all that long since I went to it.

“Can’t you get someone to watch it for you?” I asked.

“Yeah, Mel, you can’t ignore this! It’s an opportunity to become REALLY strong!” said Sell.

“Not. Happening.” Mel took another bite of her food then stood up herself. “Now I have a job to do. Sell, have fun on your adventure, but I’m not going.”

Sell looked a bit hurt.

“Are you two fighting?” I asked as Mel left the building.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because she just stiffed you with the bill, and I know your family doesn’t have a lot of money…”

Sell looked down at the table and her eyes bugged out. She almost fainted. Her bowler-hat spun three times over her head as she screeched.

“I…” I hesitated for a moment. “Let me cover this, Sell. Just be ready to leave at Dawn tomorrow. Meet Lily and me at the castle gate.”

“Thank you, Calliope,” said Sell with tears in her eyes. “You’re a real hero! A true friend!”

I left the money for their food on the table and walked out. I was confused and never received a straight answer. Why were Mel and Sell fighting, anyways?

[Sal’s Solution: Mel may have a crush on Sell, but Sell doesn’t know.]

That’s no reason to get angry, though…

[Salution: Sell may have complimented another girl’s appearance before you arrived…]

Who would she possibly compliment, RED?

[CallmeSalorIswearonmemum: She may or may not have said something like, ‘Calliope is kind of cute.’]

…

[Solution: …]

…

[Solution: Call me Sal.]

Call me Ishmael.