“Really?” Victor’s eyes widened as he looked down at Lam’s sleeping form. “You think I did that?”

Dar nodded, his blazing eyes staring intently into Victor’s. “Aye. You and she. You fed her a near-constant stream of spirit Energy, but she was the one who embraced it, turning it to her purpose of pushing forward. I saw what you were doing and contemplated stopping you, but I was intrigued; I’ve done this ritual a dozen times over the years, and never has a subject made such use of the Energy I provided. I think—no, I know it has to do with your existing bond. She trusts you on an innate level. Despite the memory haze woven by the crucible, she recognized your spirit. Yes, this was quite an interesting turn of events, one upon which I’ll need to meditate.”

Victor stared at Lam, and though her body shouldn’t have changed at all, he couldn’t help but think she looked younger. Perhaps it was just that she was sleeping; all the worry lines she usually carried were gone, her face serene. “What level will she be?”

“Close to base, but perhaps still first tier. I tried to calculate the crucible to bring her just beneath her first Class selection, but it’s a tricky thing. Your aid may have also reduced the cost of her own Energy.”

“Can you see her Core? Her affinities?”

“Aye, lad. I see a blazing, red-gold Core of courage-attuned Energy. Did you feed her mostly rage and inspiration?”

“Yeah. Glory, too, but the others come more naturally to me; I’ve had them longer.”

“She took what you offered and ran with it. She must have had some latent affinity for courage, in any case. Yes, I believe that’s what happened. I wonder what else we might help her unlock as she progresses.” Dar stood and gestured down at Lam’s sleeping form. “Carry her. We’ll put her to bed; then you should also turn in. Your day with Lo’ro begins in seven hours.”

“Shit! The whole day is gone?”

“Yes. She fought long and hard and will sleep a long while.”

Victor nodded, stooping to lift Lam. He followed Dar out of the natural caves beneath his cellar and then up the steps into his kitchens. When they stood in the open sitting area bordered by the big glass windows that provided a clear view of the deck and lake, Dar turned to him. “I have much to contemplate, and I think I’d like some time alone. Lo’ro will fetch you in the morning, sometime after dawn. Be sure to show him the proper respect and learn well the lesson he will teach. When you return, I’ll be here.”

“What about Lam?” Victor shifted the sleeping woman in his arms. “She’s going to be confused about her Core, don’t you think? Will I have time to speak to her in the morning?”

Dar scowled, his eyes flaring slightly, but he paused momentarily before responding, and Victor wondered if he’d been about to snap at him. Was the master tired? Irritable? “You heard my words, yes? Lo’ro will come sometime after dawn. Don’t sleep in, and you’ll have time to speak with your friend.” Without another word, he strode out the open door to the deck, and Victor watched as his flying spirit mount appeared out of a cloud of bright, sparkling Energy. It was probably thirty feet long and coiled around Dar like a great serpent until the giant straddled its luminescent back just behind its broad head. Then he streaked away, flying out over the lake on wisps of golden Energy.

“All right.” Victor shook his head and walked toward the bedrooms. He deposited Lam on her bed, pulled off her boots, threw a soft, quilted blanket over her, and then left, crossing the hall to his own room. Lifedrinker was where he’d left her, leaning against the wall beside the bed’s headboard. He lifted and rested her on his lap. “Hey, chica. Tomorrow, we have to spend time with a Death Caster and go into some freaky places. Are you ready?”

“Always!” the axe sang into his mind. “Every moment I don’t dwell on my memories, I’m praying to enter battle in your hands!”

“Heh,” he chuckled, “I love how eager you are.” Victor kicked off his boots, shrugged off his shirt, and then lay down atop his blankets; the air was warm, and he liked the night breeze drifting in through his window. He cradled his axe and, as he tried to sleep, murmured, “Tell me about one of your memories. Tell me about the wolves that used to play in the vale where you grew.”

“I have another memory I’d share! You know about the tree where my living wood was born, but have I told you of the time when I wandered the dark, deep depths, a being of fire and hunger?”

“What? No—”

“These memories are newly awakened! When I feasted on your recent foes, my increased Energy helped me to dig them from the depths of my dormant mind. Before I was a spirit, set loose to wander and find a home in the metal you now cradle, I was a primal being living deep beneath the surface of the world, content to gather the violent, primitive Energies from which worlds and stars are birthed. My existence was simple, and I knew but two things: hunger and a need for growth. I had kin, but we weren’t close. Something happened to me, but it’s not clear to me. Something released my spirit from my physical form, and somehow, I clung to the silver vein from which my blade was forged.”

“Was it just silver before you joined with it? Is that what made it Heart Silver?”

“I know not. With each answer, I find three new questions. The more I unravel my past, the more I realize I’m not a simple being born from a tree or a vein of metal. I’m both and more. You awakened me, Victor. Your Energy and spirit impacted mine. As you help me feast upon the Energy of your foes, my being solidifies, and I become more and, at the same time, less like I once was. It confuses me. Am I still me?”

“We all change, chica. I’m not the same person I once was, and it’s my connections to you, Valla, and all the others I spend time with that make me different. I know I’m oversimplifying things, but, well, as you remember more about yourself and change, do you want something different?”

“No! My heart yearns for battle and always to be in your hand.”

“Good, ‘cause that’s what I want. If something changes, just talk to me. We can work it out.”

“Before you sleep, will you share your spirit with me?” When Victor had been ejected from the challenge dungeon, the System had canceled his spells, including his Imbue Spirit, which he, more often than not, cast on Lifedrinker.

“Yeah,” he yawned, “of course I will.” He concentrated and sent a fragment of his spirit, imbued with inspiration-attuned Energy, into the axe. As she hummed softly, clearly pleased, Victor closed his eyes and drifted into sleep. He had wild dreams about wolves and magma flows, fiery volcanos, and fleeing game. When he woke, it was to a gentle tap at his door, and he sprang up with unnatural alertness, Lifedrinker already lifted high in his right fist.

The tap sounded again, and a soft, faint voice called, “Sir, your companion, Lady Lam, requests your presence.”

“Coming,” Victor grunted, sliding to the edge of the bed and pulling on his boots. He quickly emptied his bladder in the attached bathroom, then hurried into the hallway where one of Dar’s servants waited. The demure, green-skinned woman ducked her head and hurried toward the sitting room adjoining the outside deck. Victor could see the sun had barely risen, which he hoped meant he had some time before Lo’ro came calling. Lam sat at one of the couches sipping a large glass of peach-colored juice, and when she saw Victor, her eyes brightened.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Victor!”

“How do you feel?” he asked, hurrying over.

Before she could reply, the servant hastily asked, “Can I bring you some fresh juice and breakfast?”

“Bring him the same as I ordered.” Lam gestured to her glass, and Victor smiled, seeing some of her old aura of command asserting itself.

“As you say.” The woman bowed and shuffled toward the kitchen. Victor still had many questions about Dar’s strange household staff, but he never seemed to think to ask when the moment was right.

“To answer your question, Victor, I’m well, but very, very, Roots-be-damned confused.”

“I take it you noticed your Core has changed?”

“Hah! What an understatement! I woke to about twenty-five System messages. Most of my spells have been wiped from my mind! ‘Incompatible with your current affinity,’ the System said!”

Victor chuckled, well aware of the limitations of Spirit-attuned Energy. “You wanted a fresh start, right? Don’t worry, you’re going to learn new, badass abilities.”

“Am I? Courage—it sounds wonderful, but Victor, all my life, I’ve learned to look down on Spirit Casters!”

“That’s because of Ridonne propaganda. Do you think I’m weak?”

“Roots, no!” she cried. “I don’t remember what I went through, not every detail, but I feel such deep gratitude to you, Victor. I know you were in here,” she laid her palm over her heart, “helping me. So, will you help me choose my first Class?”

“You’re level ten?”

“Yes! I think I was brought down to something like twelve, but then the System removed my Leaf Warden Class, saying it wasn’t ‘compatible with . . .”

“Your current affinities,” Victor laughed. “So, it dumped you down to ten? I bet it loved stealing that Energy away.”

“I get the feeling the System isn’t exactly approving of the ritual Dar performed. Or, I don’t know; maybe that’s just my bias.”

“No, I think you’re right.” Victor sat beside her. “The System wants us to be stronger so we can harvest more Energy, and it can siphon off its percentage. You dropped all those levels, bleeding that Energy off into the universe. That’s, well, that’s kind of a gamble. If you don’t regain the levels, you’re a smaller, weaker Energy battery in the System’s eyes.”

Lam narrowed her eyes, slowly nodding. “I see what you’re getting at. When I go fight tier-one monsters, the System’s going to get a lot smaller cut than if I went into a tier-six dungeon with Valla and Lesh.”

“Right.” Victor looked Lam over, smiling as he did so. “You look good. The ritual didn’t mess you up, at least.”

“Mess me up?”

“I mean your head. You seem upbeat.”

“I told you; it’s all a blur. I think that’s by design, yes?” When Victor nodded, though he was just guessing, she continued, “I’m a little disturbed about the loss of my Core and its levels, but it was just a pearl-class Core, and those are so basic—I had no affinities. All of my spells were cast with pure, unattuned Energy. It was easy to level, and I’d learned some strong abilities, but I’m trying to keep an open mind, hoping this new spirit-class Core will have greater potential.”

“I’m sure that’s the case!” Victor nodded, taking a tall glass of juice as the servant returned and handed it to him.

“Your food will be out shortly,” she said, ducking away.

“Hey, hang on a sec.” Victor looked at the woman, at her pointy ears, yellow eyes, and smooth, green skin. “Are you all related? You and the other staff?”

“Indeed, sir. Lord Dar liberated our world, and now he offers employment to my people. It’s a great honor to work in one of his homes.”

“He liberated your world?” Lam asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, ma’am. A great demon conquered Wanxue many centuries ago. My people were slaves, bred for service and entertainment. Lord Dar visited our world in his travels and helped us to rise up, throwing off the yoke of our suppressor.”

“How long ago was that?” Victor asked, curious to hear little of Dar’s side-history.

“We celebrated the two hundredth anniversary of our liberation just a few years ago.” She bowed low and took a step back. “May I please be excused? My shift ends, and my daughter awaits.”

“Oh, of course!” Lam eyed Victor with wide eyes. As the servant shuffled out, she said, “Imagine that! How old is your master?”

“Not my master!” Victor growled, then shrugged. “Yeah, thousands of years old, I think. He hints at it sometimes. When he takes a ‘vacation,’ it lasts ten years. He acts like that’s the blink of an eye. Speaking of Dar, he was excited about your Core, I think.”

“Truly?”

“Yeah. You know, I don’t have a courage affinity. He thinks I helped you form your Core because I sent a lot of rage and inspiration into you; those two can be woven into courage.”

“There are spirit affinity weaves?” Lam grabbed his wrist in excitement.

“Oh yeah. Also, you probably have more affinities; we just need to help you find them.”

“Find them? I can add more?” Lam’s voice had grown shrill with excitement.

“Yes!” Victor laughed. “When I first came to the mine, my only affinity was rage, but my Core was broken. I figured out how to rebuild it with a second affinity—inspiration. You know what?” Victor’s eyes widened, and he returned Lam’s grip, squeezing her much more slender fingers.

“What?”

“You were a big part of that! You inspired me so much when you first flew into the mine and beat the shit out of those little beetle monsters. I focused on that feeling, and that’s how I figured out I had an affinity for inspiration!”

Lam sighed happily and leaned back on the couch, throwing her arms behind her head and smiling broadly. “Imagine that! It seems lifetimes ago! Young, skinny Victor, fighting bravely against a horde of beetles!” She laughed, shaking her head. “Well, I won’t be flying to your rescue anytime soon.”

“Hah. Well, you can rescue Edeya and Darren instead.”

“Speaking of which!” She leaned forward again. “Help me choose my Class, though I think I’ve already made up my mind.”

“Okay. What are the options?” Victor could smell their breakfast by then, and his stomach gurgled in anticipation.

“I won’t bore you with the basic ones, but here are the two I’m struggling with: Ironheart Sentinel and Valor Striker. They’re both advanced!”

“Oh shit! Now you’re making me jealous! I can see they’re both based on your courage affinity, but how are they different?”

“Ironheart Sentinel gives will, vitality, and unassigned attribute points at every level, and it says members of that Class ‘emphasize endurance and resilience, drawing on their unyielding hearts to withstand enemy assaults and defend their comrades.’ The other one sounds more offensive. It gives strength, agility, and dexterity and says, ‘These warriors specialize in bold attacks, often turning the tide of battle with their fearless assaults.’ What do you think?”

“I mean, they both sound great. Personally, I’m partial to will as an attribute, and the Ironheart Sentinel also gives you some unassigned points. That would make up my mind. It sounds a lot more defensive, but you could pump those unassigned points into strength and agility. Who knows what you’ll get at twenty?”

Lam’s smile had grown broader as Victor spoke, and she nodded along with him. “I’m in agreement!” She got quiet, and her eyes unfocused, so Victor sat back and waited while she went through the process.

Two members of Dar’s staff brought steaming platters of food, some plates, silverware, and a basket of fresh buttered bread. He began tucking into the food and was chewing a large mouthful of eggs when Lam turned to him and grinned. “I’m a level ten Ironheart Sentinel! I gained a spell called Daunting Roar. It ‘boldens the hearts of my allies and strikes fear into those of my foes.’ Hah!”

“Badass!” Victor covered his mouth so she didn’t see his half-chewed eggs. “Hey! I need to teach you how to cultivate. It’s different from normal Energy.”

“Oh?” She unfocused her eyes for a moment, then, in an alarmed tone, added, “Oh! I don’t have a cultivation drill!”

Victor chuckled, shaking his head. “Relax, I’ll teach you. I bet we can bug Dar for some pointers, too. I mean, I’m not sure how involved he’ll be with you, but anything he teaches me, I’ll pass on. I have a feeling, though . . .” Victor trailed off, remembering how distracted Dar had been after Lam’s spirit had made its way home. “I think he’s pretty interested in you.”

“Really?” Lam leaned back again, contemplating, and Victor reloaded his plate from the platter.

“Better eat something before I get it all,” he said around a bite of fresh, soft, buttery bread.

“Hey! I’m only level ten now. I need this food! You’re just a pig!” Lam commenced to load her plate, but before she started eating, she grew serious and gave him a look. “Victor, what are we going to do about our lands back home?”

While he chewed, Victor thought it over. Not a lot had changed for him in that regard. Yes, he owed Dar some service as an apprentice, but he’d never intended to live full-time on Fanwath. Lam’s entire world and her future plans had been upended by, first, Edeya’s situation and then her own decision to “resurrect.” He swallowed and shrugged. “You’re going to have to find an outstanding governor. You can visit as much as you like, or, I guess, as much as you can afford to, but I think, just like Edeya, you’re better off in Sojourn for now.”

Lam folded a piece of bacon into her mouth, licking the grease from her fingers, and nodded. “I suppose that’s right. I just have to face the facts; my priorities have changed. Speaking of Edeya . . .” She summoned a Farscribe book from her ring and began leafing through it. “Roots!”

“What?”

“They’re out of the dungeon! Edeya got to ten and wants our help choosing her Class. They want to know where we are.”

At that moment, one of Dar’s servants stepped into the room. “Victor, sir?”

“Yes?”

“Master Lo’ro calls. His coachman awaits at the front door.”