Magic was amazing.

The 3D model of Netherfane and the mock wireframe over the top before me was beyond anything that the technology on Earth could ever do. I walked around the model looking at both the semi-impractical design of the fort, with its large interconnected towers, its external defensive wall, and the artificial harbour bordered by those defensive wings.

To me it seemed that Netherfane had been built, or altered, just to build this fort in the middle of the sea. Which brought me back to realising just how amazing magic really was. It also made me realise just how much knowledge had been lost since the construction of this island and dungeon and the modern world.

What was even more impressive was that as I was walking around the model, suggestions were being given to me inside my head. I made a few minor alterations, like putting gardens on top of the towers and making the towers more defensive. My biggest change was the paranoid change to only allow a single entrance into the tower complex. This change led to shifting the entrance halls for the other ten towers to their top, rather than the bottom. This was an option that the long gone designers had allowed for.

One thing which I had seen in a number of places was the crossed key motif similar to the one on the surcoat which Celameth had given me.

I left these alone.

After going through all the surface level suggestions, I was given the opportunity to go deeper into the design. I took a step back and looked at everything. Though I could quite easily spend the next few days on this model I knew I couldn’t because Alis would get fed up.

She was already looking grumpy, with her arms crossed, staring at me with annoyance.

‘Accept proposed changes, proceed to construction.’ I said.

A series of deep mana vibrations echoed through the chamber and through myself. It was so intense black spots danced though my vision and I struggled to breath. I had no idea how long this situation lasted as time became meaningless.

Suddenly the mana vibrations ceased.

Released from the pressure of the vibrations, I gasped a wonderfully sweet breath, half expecting to choke from the dry, gritty dust in the air. But the air was comfortably warm and moist.

I looked for Alis and found her laying senselessly on the seemless grey ground, covered in bruises and bleeding cuts. Ignoring everything else, I rushed over to her, holding the river stone divine key in one hand and Alis in the other arm. I allowed the blessing from the divine tool to engulf us. As the feeling of being drowned in divinity washed over me, I spent the time wishing that the divine blessings would hurry up and engulf us and transport us to our divine cabin.

When finally I entered the large porch, I picked Alis up carefully and rushed through the cabin towards the six doors along the wall. For a moment, a brief dull ache came over me when I saw that second door, knowing that it would never open again. As I wasn’t sure which of the rooms belonged to Alis, I rushed her into my room.

It had changed since I last entered. Previously, the room was empty of everything but the solid, warm oak stained draws, bed side units, and wardrobe and a large bed, which dominated the rest of the room. Crowding the top of the drawers were a series of expensive looking gold and silver statues. Resting against the nearside bedside units was a familiar-looking sword hilt in an unfamiliar ornate scabbard.

The strange changes could wait. The unresponsive figure of Alis couldn’t. I laid her gently on the bed and carefully removed the sword and the belt from around her waist. Now I paid attention, I realised that the hilt of this sword was different than that of her old sword. I leaned it next to her other sword.

As she was breathing well, and not bleeding from any major cuts, I decided not to invade her privacy by undressing her. Still, I could do something about the dried blood on her face and in her hair. I rushed out of the bedroom and to the bathroom. Not seeing a flannel on any of the shelves, I opened the under the sink cupboard doors. The cupboard was almost bare, but there was a pile of flannels.

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I took a couple and wet them with warm water and rushed back to my bedroom where Alis was laying. When I got back, Alis was standing up and stiffly taking off her armour. She saw me come back in and stopped taking off any more layers.

‘I got flannels to wash yourself with.’ I said.

‘Put them down there,’ she pointed to the bedside unit.

I did and waited for her to continue so I could help her, as she had helped me in the past. But she just stood there waiting for something.

‘What is it?’ I asked.

‘I’m waiting for you to go.’

‘Why? All I want to do is to help you if you need help.’

She looked away from me, ‘I don’t need your help. I’ve been fine these past five months when I had been all alone. All the while you were shagging that… That…’

‘It was one damned night,’ I shouted. ‘One too short damned night.’

I marched over to her and forced her to look at me. But she refused to look at me in the eye.

‘Alis, look at me.’ I commanded, but she wouldn’t look at me. So in a calmer tone I tried again, ‘Alis…’

She finally looked up at me. Fury raging on her face. ‘Don’t you tell me what I should do, you fool. You spent the night in the arms of a woman moments after I collapsed in the bath. You did not look after me, care for me, or do anything for me. You just abandoned me.’

‘Me, abandoned you,’ I laughed bitterly.

‘I spent three days sitting by your side, holding your hand before I trusted Aggard enough to let you go. Three damned days. Three days I could’ve spent with Aggard before she died.

‘You are alive. She is dead. Okay. Dead. Why the hell are you so jealous over a dead woman, one whom I can never see again, not even in the next life?

‘It was you, okay, you. Yes, you, you ungrateful woman who gave me the strength to struggle and fight to come back to you. At any moment I could’ve given up and be swallowed in the same void that swallowed Aggard. But no, I came back to you full of regrets, heartache, and a deep pain which I hope one day may fade into something manageable.

‘One of the three women I loved died in my arms. Died because of me. Died because I was selfish and wanted a single night with her. Died because wanted to be with her and because I wanted to see her smile and to be at peace just once.

‘Yes five months is a long time, Alis, and I am sorry I was not there for you during that time.’

Having run out of energy, I collapsed down on the bed, resting my head in my hands.

‘She’s gone and it’s all my fault.’

The mattress dipped slightly as Alis sat next to me, forcing me closer to her. Closer to her comforting warmth.

‘I didn’t know.’ She said, wrapping an arm around me. ‘It wasn’t just you who was selfish. She wanted it, you know. And I was selfish too. I wanted to have you to myself. When I couldn’t have that I… I… I’m sorry, Klarric, I’m still jealous that you had what you had with her and not with me.’

Alis was looking at me.

‘Well, there’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Shall we go into the bathroom?’

‘Something, like?’

‘Something I’ve never done before and always wanted to do with a woman who loves me. So, shall we go?’

Alis smiled in a slight robotic manner. Maybe she was putting on her bashful look. Still, I was heartened to hear her response. ‘Yes, let’s go.’