—— ? ——

  Simon kneeled on the floor, the various sounds of the lab hitting him differently then they ever had.

  He looked at the peaceful face of Kaelalin.

  “Fuck.” Simon muttered. “Guess this is goodbye.”

  Tears refused to accompany his sadness, his body tired of shedding them. Only a deep ache in his heart as he looked at the Frost-kin one last time.

  He was the only one left in the lab, Zerathis having left to give him space some thirty minutes ago.

  Physically, Simon was feeling better than he had for hours.

  Emotionally?

  Ha.

  He shook his head, as he rose to his feet.

  “This is the part where you would tell me to get my ass off the floor and get moving.”

  He sighed.

  “Which would be correct. But it still sucks.”

  Simon’s eyes drifted around the room. He remembered drinking that weird blue tea here. Shit, it had only been a week, yet felt like a lifetime.

  More memories flooded in, but Simon caged them.

  He could get all sentimental when he was far away from this damn valley.

  A glint in the room caught his eye.

  The damned soul metal.

  Shitty little thing.

  Just looking at it reminded him of everything that had gone wrong. The choices he made, and their consequences.

  True, he hadn’t been in complete control… but god damnit, he could have done something, anything else.

  Simon pulled his gaze off the metal, and strolled towards the door.

  “So long, Kaelalin.”

  He would have to remember all of this. The price that this world could collect.

  His focus returned as that thought took hold.

  Simon paused at the door.

  He needed to never forget.

  —— ? ——

  “Hello, Simon.” Kurda's deep voice was soft. Outside the crowd had dispersed. The only people left were a few Frost-kin guards–of course–Jorik and…

  Simon’s tired eyes snapped to a shadow across the street. He felt like there was something there.

  “Damn, you’re getting better.” Dravlen spoke as he appeared from the shadows.

  “Hiya, Dravlen. Missed you at the gate!” Simon said cheerily, then turned to Kurda. “Hey, Kurda.”

  The big man nodded to him, his eyes still locked on the other people in the crowd.

  “So, what's next?” Simon asked.

  “You’re leaving.” Jorik stated. “And we will be ensuring you do.”

  “Yer’ head tossin’ antics caused quite a stir.” Kurda chimed in. “Everyone who wer’ arguing that yer’ wer’ lying felt real stupid real quick.” The Thurgen chuckled.

  Simon beamed. “Great! Did anything get on Marden?”

  A slick chuckle came from Simon’s side. “That tar blood splattered all over his pants. Great throw.” Dravlen said.

  Simon frowned at the grinning Yoreboon. “Yeah, yeah, you’re mister dark and mysterious. Congrats.”

  The four moved from the airlock, but were cut off by the Frost-kin.

  “For pete's sake. Really guys?” Simon groaned. “Are we doing this shit again?”

  That’s when the Frost-kin did something unexpected.

  They bowed their heads.

  “Thank you, Simon Starfall, for returning Kaelalin Zarvenna to us.”

  Simon was floored.

  Really?!

  “Go thank Brian.” Simon let out an annoyed breath. “He’s the one that agreed to–”

  “We have. But we also extend the thanks of our king. We… were wrong.”

  The man lifted his head, his remorseful blue eyes meeting Simon’s.

  “You have said nothing but the truth regarding her, and we did not believe you. We were in error. Returning the body of an honored Frost-kin at such peril to yourself is not a deed we take lightly.”

  They all bowed again.

  Simon blinked. “Uhh… Ok. That’s cool. But you were all colossal dicks about it. So… fuck off?” He glanced at the four around him. “Want to get me out of this crazy town?”

  “With pleasure.” Dravlen chuckled, then started walking “Although, life is going to get so much more boring without you around causing trouble.”

  “Sounds like you will get more time to act all ‘mysterious’ and ‘dangerous.’” Simon replied, falling in step with him.

  On instinct, Simon pulled his head back. A snow ball whirled past his head, barely grazing his nose. He turned to the Yoreboon and gave him a wink.

  “On second thought, you will probably need all that time to get better at throwing those. That was so damn slow.”

  The face Dravlen made in reply was definitely a highlight of tonight.

  —— ? ——

  Simon looked out into the dark wilderness past the gate. He turned to Kurda and gave him a small smile.

  “Well big guy, looks like this is where our paths split.” He held out a hand. “Thanks for all the lessons. I will definitely have to come find you if I feel the stone moving life calling.”

  Kurda sniffed, then stepped past his offered hand. He lifted Simon into a bone crushing hug.

  “Ooof, ow! Damnit, Kurda!” Simon wheezed out.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Yer’ take care of yer’ self Simon.” Kurda said, then realized what he was doing. He put the Simon down, blushing a tiny bit. “Er’ my bad. Forgot yer’ a walking pile of bruises and injuries.”

  “Yeah…” Simon took grateful lungs of air. “And don’t worry I will.”

  “Yer’ ever need things made of stone, yer’ come look me up yer’ hear?” Kurda continued. “Just find the town with der’ biggest stone structures, and I'll probably be der’.” The big man bowed his head. “May yer’ find yer’ pattern amongst the sky and earth below.”

  Simon rubbed his neck awkwardly, not exactly sure how to respond. He thought back to their conversations.

  “You too Kurda, I hope you find that beautiful sky from your home world. If you do, you should send me a message or something. I really want to see it.”

  Kurda’s eyes were wet, and he nodded. “One er’ the most amazing thing yer’ will ever see.”

  “No doubt.”

  Simon turned to Jorik and extended his hand. “Thanks for everything, Jorik. Tell Rellin, his ideas of profiting off me have come to an end.”

  Jorik smiled, then grasped Simon’s wrist and shook it firmly. “I’ll be sure to tell him.”

  Finally, Simon turned to Dravlen.

  “I’m not shaking your hand.” The Yoreboon raised an eyebrow. “But you be careful out there kid.”

  Simon rolled his eyes. “Figured. But, can you walk me out? I have something to tell you.”

  Both eyebrows rose on the man’s face, but then he nodded. “Can’t wait to hear this.”

  “Not worried I’m going to suck your soul out?” Simon asked.

  “As if you could.” Dravlen scoffed.

  Simon waved to the others, then started walking into the dark, Dravlen stepping beside him.

  They were silent as they crossed into the shadows and Varnholt’s light faded. They kept walking.

  “This far enough?” Dravlen asked, his voice bouncing around Simon.

  “Can anyone else hear us?”

  There was a pause. “Unlikely. Forty more paces should make it impossible.”

  They kept walking until Dravlen’s voice sounded out “Here.”

  Simon looked around, trying to pinpoint the man. With only the pale moonlight, it was as if the Yoreboon had turned to vapor. Simon caught glimpses of movement.

  “Dravlen.” Simon said, holding a breath. “I’m really hoping you aren’t in on this, but if you are… well, guess this was stupid.” He let out the breath, and decided to just go with it. “I wanted to let you know, someone in Varnholt is using some type of mind magic. I have a skill that helps me shrug it off, and my armour helped too.”

  Only the sound of the wind could be heard.

  “I just wanted to let you know. Figured you deserved that much.”

  The short and stocky Yoreboon appeared in front of him, the shadows around him fading.

  “You’re sure of this?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Dravlen seemed deep in thought, then he nodded to Simon.

  “Thank you for telling me.” Dravlen held out a hand. “You’re right though, that was a dumb move.”

  Simon’s eyebrows raised. “Thought you weren’t going to shake my hand?”

  “Ha!” Dravlen laughed. “I was always going to appear out of the shadows to offer one.”

  Simon grinned. That made sense. He took the man’s stocky muscular hand and shook it.

  “Be careful. I like you kid, I think you have what it takes to survive in this new world.” Dravlen’s teeth glinted in the moonlight. “Assuming you stop trusting strange people in the dark.”

  “I will make a note of that.” Simon replied, releasing his hand. “Do you have an–”

  But Dravlen was gone.

  “Of Course.” Simon turned back towards the gate, his eyes searching. After a minute or two, he spotted a slinking figure approach the lights of Varnholt. “Why did I expect anything else.”

  Simon looked around, plotting his path. He had a copy of the map from Brian, but didn’t think that would be helpful here.

  He needed to make his way around toward the North side of town. Find a place to spend the night somewhere up on a mountain, then….

  Watch a funeral.

  He started walking deeper into the snow

  *whizzzz* *Splat!*

  Simon stumbled forward from the hit, snow exploding out from his head.

  He whirled around and looked back towards Varnholt.

  Up there, smiling like an idiot, was one short asshole waving at him.

  “Dick.”

  Simon muttered and flipped the Yoreboon off. Not like the man could see him, but it soothed Simon’s injured pride.

  “Maybe taunting the dangerous, mysterious guy goes on the list of ‘don’t be a dumbass Simon’”

  He muttered to himself as he walked into the darkness.

  It was going to be a long hike to get to a good vantage point.

  “Could have let me leave out the north gate.” he grumbled, as his feet crunched in the snow.

  —— ? ——

  Hours later, Simon's lungs were heaving as he pulled himself up the steep incline. The hike around Varnholt had taken far longer than he thought.

  He had never realized just how big a ‘town’ was on foot.

  After skirting the outskirts, he had found the semblance of a path up the tunnel mountain. It was far enough away that he was sure he wouldn’t trigger another ‘attack’ on Varnholt.

  Well, he hoped.

  The hike up the mountain had been grueling. Simon’s feet sunk at different spots, his eyes behind the goggles unable to pick out the difference in the snow. It seemed like there were depressions purposefully dug just to fuck with him.

  Wouldn’t put it past the universe. He grumbled internally.

  After what felt like days, he had found himself on a flat area far above the town below. Simon knelt as he moved toward the edge, able to see down below. He was up and to the left of where the tunnel was.

  Below the valley stretched out. From his vantage he could see the faint outlines of the mountains that barricaded in the valley.

  He could also see the lights of the town that had banished him.

  Simon had chosen this flat area because of the large rocks near the mountain. They created a depression in the mountain that blocked the whipping wind that had only grown as he ascended.

  It wasn’t a cave, but it wasn’t nothing.

  This would work for tonight.

  Simon moved back into the makeshift shelter and pulled a canvas like roll of material Brian had set out for him.

  He laid it out and then sat back, taking in the dimming stars.

  This whole day sucked.

  Fucking Tuesdays.

  Simon thought back to the events that had occurred this last week. This world had truly, and utterly fucked him over.

  …

  But that wasn’t the only problem.

  Simon took a deep breath as a thought slowly surfaced. He took in deep breaths as he calmed his indignation towards the world as a whole.

  Yes, the world had screwed him over. But there was more here.

  More…

  That’s what he needed to be.

  Simon needed to be more. Stronger, smarter…. Faster…

  His memories snapped back to the sinking despair as the stalker outpaced him. His mind recoiled as the image of Kaelalin getting stabbed replayed in his memories.

  Simon hadn’t been fast enough.

  He needed to be, and he hadn’t.

  Why had he taken it easy when he had gotten out of the Realm of the Forger? Pursued mining with Kurda?

  That brought back his memories with the Thurgen. That was the part he was missing.

  The man had drilled into him that he needed to use his body. What if he had started doing that earlier?

  He remembered how he had the thought ‘oh screw martial skills, i’ll just focus on my body!’

  It had felt like revelation from the heavens themselves.

  The heavens that hated his guts.

  Simon shook his head at himself. He thought he had some grand epiphany… but it had just been another way for him to try and have a ‘martial’ path.

  He needed to come to terms with the fact he was cursed. It sucked. The world sucked.

  And he just needed to deal with that truth.

  His eyes hardened as he looked up towards the heavens.

  “Fuck you guys.” Simon whispered. “From now on, I’m going to take every scrap I can get. Every advantage, every method. I’m taking it. I won’t stop.”

  He sat up, his eyes burning in the night.

  “I’m done taking shit.” Simon said, his words lingering in the air. “You either beat the world. Or the world beats you.”

  If the world wasn’t going to give him an easy path, Simon would claw out his own. One painful step at a time.

  He wouldn’t feel the regret he had.

  He was done acting impulsively, just barreling forward with no plan.

  This brought a feeling of guilt, as he remembered what those actions had resulted in.

  Shit.

  But he wouldn’t bury that feeling. He wouldn’t avoid it any longer. Simon would embrace it and move forward. One clawing step at a time.

  He searched through his pouches and found some leather strips, then reached into a pocket on his outfit.

  The shining soul metal glinted in the moonlight. His last impulsive, thoughtless choice.

  He would use it to remember. To never forget. He wouldn’t forget what Kaelalin had told him. He would never lose hope.

  “What would I..” he repeated her last words, then his eyes lit up as he remembered a phrase from earth. One he decided would work just fine. A mantra to remind him to think.

  He laced the leather around the soul metal, and strapped it to his arm.

  “What would Kaelalin do?” he whispered.

  It was dumb.

  But it worked.

  Simon gazed out to the stars. He would grow stronger, he would never rest. He would take back everything this world took from him.

  Then he remembered.

  “Oh right! I had notices to look through.”

  —— ? ——

  Kaelalin spun and dodged in her corner, fending off tendril after tendril.

  Her body was trembling.

  Fatigue was definitely an issue.

  But the main issue?

  Some sentimental jack-ass had left the fucking lab, paused, turned around, and scooped her up.

  Si-Fucking-Mon.

  Moron supreme, gazing at the stars, his face filled with a look of resolve and inspiration.

  And he had the AUDACITY to say.

  “What would Kaelalin do?”

  “GOD.” Kaelalin screamed. “DAMNIT.”

  That slight pause let a tendril catch her, its oozing appendage latching onto her neck.

  Kaelalin growled, her tone almost feral.

  “NOW what the FUCK am I supposed to do?!”

  Her eyes snapped up towards the ceiling where she could still make out that dumbasses face.

  Another tendril lashed to her.

  Kaelalin’s eyes glowed, and she twisted her hands.

  She needed her magic. Runes. Anything.

  Her fingers played across the air as her vision shifted to the ever growing sludge pile of an abomination.

  Magic.

  She needed.

  Magic.

  She would have.

  Magic.

  Kaelalin would create spells from nothing, beat this asshole, then burst out of this prison.

  And kick the everliving shit out of a certain, dumb, mother fucker.

  Rage roiled through her as her fingers traced imaginary runes.

  Then.

  She dragged a finger across the tendril next her neck and screamed into the dark.

  Her finger slashed across it.

  And the tendril separated, as a glowing after image traced the path her finger had taken.

  “HELL YEAH!”

  She screamed as the hungering abomination recoiled. Her hand snatched out and grabbed the drifting tendril she had sliced off.

  It pulsed in her hand and pulled back towards its main body.

  Kaelalin’s grin was feral as she stared into the dark.

  “You want to consume me?” She jeered. “I can do that too.”

  She shoved it into her mouth, and the whispering energy vanished.

  Kaelalin felt a pulse of energy, tiny, but it was real. She was sure of it.

  “Round two, asshole” she hissed, as a single fingernail glowed bright blue and gold.

  “Let’s go!”

  —— ? ——

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