Three months later Jen and Charles were finishing a delve when Jen brought up an important topic for their time on the path.

  “Hey, have you given any thought to using masks when we leave the playpen?”

  “Do you think we need it?” Charles asked between slashing at badgers, “Aren't those to protect the identity of exceptional pathers, I'm not sure we fit.”

  “I mean that is what they are for, but we are pretty great. Besides, its easier to use them and not need them than need them and not have them, we might become top pathers!” She said.

  “Wouldn't we need cool names? Like the pathers Knight and Rogue?”

  “Who?” Jen asked, distractedly firing [Solar Flare]s at a horde of badgers.

  “They won the team's competition at the last tier ten tournament, remember? Rogue had the battle dress you liked.”

  “Oh, yeah. You are right, we would need cover names, nothing fancy.”

  “Well we would need to pick good ones, I'm not being called ‘Sparkles’ for the next hundred and eighty years.” Charles said. “Do you have any ideas?”

  “They will need to reflect our styles… I'm just not sure we have that nailed down yet.” Jen admitted.

  “Why the sudden interest in masking our identities?”

  “I have a few reasons for thinking on it now, firstly we only have 3 months left on the island, so if we are going to use masks the time to plan is now. Secondly If they don't know it's me, we can dodge my parents who I am sure are waiting in Valley Harbor to chew me out.”

  “Why are we dodging your parents? I know you don't want to talk about them, but that seems a bit far.”

  “They didn't know my aunt was sponsoring me for the path, and I've been ignoring their messages.” Jen said sheepishly.

  “So… they will be pissed, understood.” Charles said. “If I say, ‘Be the bigger person’ and talk it out, are you going to lecture me on the futility of convincing high people tiers that they are wrong?”

  “No, you are my partner, and I value your advice, even when it is wrong. Besides, they will just track us down anyway.”

  “Do they have the kind of resources to track us down off world?”

  “Yeah, probably.” Jen admitted.

  “I thought you said your mom ran a bakery and your dad worked for the empire, how are they going to track us?”

  “Firstly, she owns a bakery, and a few other things.” Jen said the last part under her breath.

  “I'm tier three, I can hear really good.” Charles said, “What kind of other things are we talking about?”

  “A planet.” Jen said in a small voice like a child caught with stolen candy.

  “Like… a whole planet? Like they own the whole thing!?”

  “Yes, they own the barony of a planet.”

  “I'm scared to ask, but is it this one? Are you secretly baron Arron Cormic’s Kid?” Charles asked, He was clearly shook and took a seat on the hard dirt ground of the rift.

  “No, Just one of the new worlds in Ascender Wraith’s territory.” Jen said in a calm voice, trying to convey that it's not a big deal.

  “I have so many questions! Most importantly will we be in trouble?” Charles asked.

  “Trouble for what?” Jen asked confused, “I mean they will be pissed I ran off to the path.”

  “I mean, we are in a relationship, and I'm not a noble, they won't try to split us up because im ‘of lesser birth’ will they?” He asked.

  “What? Of course not, they will probably be ecstatic that I’m dating. They always said I needed to leave my antisocial cocoon.” Jen said, plopping down next to him and giving him a comforting half hug.

  “Their real issue is wanting me to be safe, and I wanted to be a delver.”

  “Ok… ok, now… Am I a noble’s consort?” Charles said while trying to lighten the mood.

  “Oh yeah, I'm just keeping you around to produce an heir.” she teased back.

  “Of course my lady!” He said, standing and performing a deep bow.

  “Call me that again and I’ll set your pants on fire in public.” She added after a moment, “At random times, when you aren't expecting it!”

  “Yes my lady, of course my lady!” Charles said, slowly backing away towards the rift exit.

  He quickly snatched the reward from the distortion and bolted for the exit, Jen hot on his heels.

  —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  “That's it.” Charles said “Our last delve on the playpen.”

  Jen dispelled the reward distortion and said “Anti climatic reward, seven mana stones, dead average.”

  “I guess that's it.” Charles said, stepping to the exit.

  Ki, the playpen’s second in command, was waiting outside for them.

  “Sorry kids, its time to kick you out of the nest and let you soar.”

  “Here to give us the royal boot?” Charles asked, falling in line behind Ki as she led them to a waiting boat.

  “Oh yeah, I could punt you across, but you don't have the landing skill yet, that's tier 14.” Ki joked, miming a kick.

  “Jenna, are you okay, you are real quiet?” Ki asked, turning to look at the younger woman with concern.

  “Yeah, I just got a message from my parents that they are waiting. I'm not sure how I feel about it.” Jen said, keeping eye contact with her boots.

  The remainder of the ride back to the mainland was spent in a companionable silence broken only when they arrived at the dock.

  “Allright, get lost!” Key said, waving them off. “And good luck! You two are probably my favorite couple that I've seen form on my island. I wish you both well.” with that she pulled the boat back out towards the island.

  There was a small gust of wind on the dock behind them and they turned to see three figures there waiting. Instantly Charles recognized Arron Cormic, the local baron, the other two he had never seen before, but the woman looked like an older version of Jen.

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  “Baron.” Charles said, bowing slightly. While he had never interacted with nobles before, but one of the classes he had taken on the playpen called “Interacting with Nobles” had given him all the instruction he would need.

  “Baron.” Jen echoed, also bowing.

  Immediately the woman Charles had pegged as Jen’s mother stepped forward, moving to embrace her daughter. “Jenna, you've grown!”

  The other man, who Charles guessed was her father, moved over her as well, whilst addressing baron Cormic. “Thank you for hosting us while we waited, it's been good to reminisce about our army days.”

  “Anything for a squad mate, I hear my wife calling, so I should be off, please visit our world any time.” The baron said, waving his hand he opened a portal and stepped into it.

  All eyes were on Jen, and she momentarily wilted under the gazes of her family.

  “Well, nothing to say? You scared us half to death, running off to the path like that.” Her mother chided.

  “How could you leave you own dear dad like that, and you never responded to a single message!” Her father exclaimed.

  “I should introduce you to my boyfriend!” Jen shamelessly shifted the topic, and it worked as the two turned to look at him and exclaimed “Boyfriend?!”

  Instantly her dad moved in front of Charles, reaching out to shake his hand. “My name is John Price, but please call me dad, I cant believe our little girl is dating!”

  “Dad!” Jen exclaimed, instantly regretting the manor of her escape from the previous conversation.

  “A future son in law!” Her mother said, pulling Jen over to Charles, so she could inspect him without Jen escaping.

  “Mom please stop! This is why I never tell you things!” Jen said, clear resignation in her tone.

  “Well muppet, we have to punish you somehow.” John said to his daughter.

  “Mmm, He certainly is a strapping young man.” Jen’s mom said.

  “So, this is my mom, her name is Carol, and apparently she has NO manners.” Jen said, her face red.

  “Its nice to meet you both. Your daughter has been an invaluable delve partner and friend.” Charles said, trying to resist the urge to join the goofy couple in teasing Jenna.

  “Well, we are certainly glad she is making friends, our little girl has never been much for social interaction, so we are glad you two made a connection.” John said.

  This experience was new to Charles, he never imagined casually chatting with barons, or that meeting a girlfriend’s parents would be anything other than a strict talking to, involving much “What are your intentions with our daughter” and “If you break her heart we will break you”s , but John and Carol were incredibly easy going, and it was clear where Jen had gotten her aggressive style of teasing from.

  “So, Mom and Dad, can we treat you to lunch?” Charles asked.

  Jen groaned in the background.

  “Why thank you son, we would love that.” John said, “There is a seafood shop right down the pier, and it smells delicious.”

  Jen sent Charles an AI message as they walked. “I’ll get you for this.”

  He just responded with a heart emoji.

  Once they made their way to the restaurant and had their food the conversation picked back up.

  “So, what are you two planning to do now that you are off the island, and walking the path proper?” Carol asked.

  “We were considering heading into Shadow’s duchy and working on the subjugation of the tier 6 world there, but its nearing the three year mark for that, so the well may be dry when we get there.” Jen said around a mouth full of salmon.

  “Once we reach tier four we can get rift slots in an aura rift and start making some good delve profits there, for now however we need to find tier three rifts.” Charles added.

  “Both solid Ideas, When I was on the path and left the playpen, I hit a serious rut.” John said. “Unfortunately there is not much you can do at this tier accept delve, once you reach tier five or so the world really opens up for you, there are pather tournaments and even the rare pather war, usually those are between the vasal kingdoms, but dukes occasionally host them as a way to settle arguments or bets with each other. Vasal wars like the one Titan, Legion, and Wraith participated in are usually tied to a real conflict, but the ducal ones are purely contests, same rules, but lower stakes.”

  “As you are on the path, we cant pull any strings to get you into a special program like a training planet, but i can recommend that you keep your ears open, sometimes there are events for the low tiers on the path.” Carol added.

  “That's good advice, and we will keep a look out for any special opportunities.” Charles said.

  “Oh, a slot opened up one town over! Jen said, checking her [AI]. “Its on the cheep too, a golem rift, well known for being a tough one, but it has lots of resources to harvest, and decent rewards.”

  “Snag it” Charles said, half choking on his food.

  “Done! Once every 4 days at 11am.” Jen said proudly.

  “Nicely done, that will be a hard counter for you Jenna, so play it safe.” Carol said. She had finished her food and was not stealing off Jen’s plate, who was in turn taking bites of her father’s steak.

  “Well we have been around long enough, I'm sure the paperwork has piled up while we are gone, and I have no intention of being Lady Aster’s next ice cubed baron.” John said, standing from his chair.

  “Keep an eye on Jenna for us please.” Carol added, standing and joining her husband.

  In a gust they vanished.

  “That went well.” Jen said, turning to look at Charles.

  “Yeah, they were not nearly as mad as you thought.”

  “I think you calmed them down a lot, knowing I have a partner should have them at least a little calmer.”

  After finishing their meal and paying, the duo headed for the train station, and their next rift.