Despite her iions, Alicia still woke with the sun the following m. Thankfully, it was easy to get back to sleep, as she was both tired and sore from st night’s excursion. Another few hours passed, and soon enough her arm started bring from ihe house.

  It was a strange sensation, waking to an arm for the first time in years. Her body responded sly to sunlight that, when the ge hit, her entire sleep schedule had been altered in mere days. However, after braving the entrance of a dungeon, and almost losing half her health to a motack, she’d been eager for the extra sleep.

  Now awake, she drifted through her Heart Tree towards her bedroom, then stepped out slowly. Her body felt stiff, and a quick check of her status revealed she wasn’t at max health yet. A full night’s sleep had definitely helped, as had Katrina’s Inspiration, but she would likely need another day or two to fully recover.

  She stumbled to her desk, not to turn on her puter, but to check her phone. She’d mao find it st night and had plugged it in to be ready for today’s adventure. Despite letting it sit abandoned in a drawer for the st several years, she was thankful she kept her pn active in case of emergencies. It was finally fully charged, and she was able to power it up and begi arip down memory he first thing she did en her tacts and create ary for Katrina; the st thing she wao do was lose the Vampire’s number.

  “Oh, and, for what it’s worth… you’re really pretty, too.”

  Had Katrina really said that? Even now, less than twelve hours ter, she could barely believe what she’d heard. Those words had endlessly repeated themselves in Alicia’s head st night, up until the moment she had fallen asleep. It was like being at a movie premiere, and watg her favorite actress pull her in front of the cameras and insist she was a star. She couldn’t pare to Katrina, a… she’d called her pretty. Did it mean anything? Was she just being polite?

  Those questions, and nothing else, ed Alicia’s thoughts for the rest of the day. They repeated themselves to every pnt she watered, she asked her refle in the river wheook her m drink. She was so distracted that she was even te for work, though thankfully ORC had incredibly flexible attendance requirements.

  After a full day of frustrating phone calls, it was finally time to prepare for her journey into the city. She grabbed her phoug it into a makeshift pocket she grew in the foliage around her waist, then paused.

  I need more than a phone, right?

  Another p through her bedroom eventually yielded her old purse, and inside she found her wallet. Her ID teically hadn’t expired yet, but she’d never updated it after the ge. Still, it was better than nothing.

  She couldn’t think of anything else she might need, and finally decided to head out. The walk to the train station was incredibly familiar, if only because she had the entire neighborhood memorized after years of ndsg. She teo avoid the inside of the station, though she’d visited a few times when she’d o order items online. As she walked up the steps, she could feel the cold, lifeless crete beh her feet, and it made her shudder.

  Her phone indicated she still had a few minutes left for the rain to e through, and she spent the time preparing. The revamped train system had an ied app, through which she could buy tickets and check schedules, but it also had additional information about which train cars had different Racial aodations.

  The ground started rumbling, and Alicia heard a small screech as brakes began to engage, and soon enough she was staring at the doors of the train. With a deep breath, she nervously stepped aboard.

  She’d previously thought the crete of the train station had been cold and distant, but that feeling paled in parison to the metal underh her feet now. The crete, if nothing else, still touched the ground, but the train did no such thing. The cold steel of the flave way to nothing, just a colle of wheels meant to ferry her to the stop.

  The isotion pressive, and her breathing grew tense as soon as the doors closed behihis far away from the city, the train was fairly empty, so it was easy to find a seat close to the doors. The ease of access didn’t stop her from almost falling over as the train pulled away from the station, but she mao catch herself as she colpsed into a seat. She sent a quick text to Katrina, firming that she’d boarded the train, then started to wait.

  Her body tried desperately to look for its Heart Tree, its source of life, but there was nothing to be found. She could feel sweat building on her forehead, pooling in some of the leaves on her body and hair, as she nervously watched her home vanish in the distance.

  Did I drink enough today? Am I supposed to be sweating? Is this eve? Oh God, I didn’t think this through, I should’ve found, like, a Dryad forum and asked if anyone else has ever travelled this far from their Heart Tree…

  The few stops passed painfully slowly. The only soce to be found was the text she received from Katrina, firming that she was ready to board at her stop. Alicia occasionally got strange looks from other passengers, but she assumed they simply weren’t used to seeing a Dryad on a train.

  When she finally saw Katrina board, it felt like she had been thrown a lifelier being stra sea. The Vampire moved clrabbing the seat o her.

  “Hey, how are you holding up?”

  Without saying anything, Alicia grabbed Katrina’s arm aight. Her breathing, though still erratic, mao calm down slightly before she found her words. “I ’t feel my tree, it’s like I’m suffog…”

  Katrina’s hands ed around hers, squeezing softly. “You’re halfway there already, you do this.”

  They stayed quiet for the rest of the train ride. More and more people filled the car, and Alicia felt Katrina’s grip tighten as the train filled up, but the girls mao make it to their stop without any is. They were the first off the traihe doors opened, Alicia running to return to solid ground. She foueps to be uneven, however, and she was struggling to even hold herself up at times. Surprisingly, she felt Katrina’s hands grab her waist, supp her as they moved. Before long, the Vampire had guided her to a gap in the crete, a tiny patch of nd with a tree growing from it, and Alicia colpsed against its bark.

  “Alicia! Hey, stay with me, what’s your Status at?” Katrina asked.

  “S…status…” Alicia whispered, with just enough force to will the s ien her mind. She was greeted with dire news; she was already at 44% Stamina. Had the train really drained her that much? She’d fotten to check her stats before she left, so she couldn’t say for sure. Thankfully, as she settled against the f embrace of aree, she could feel her own roots digging deep. They intermingled with the roots of the tree, piggybag off its energy to establish a e with her ow Tree. It was a shadow of her normal link, but it was better than nothing, and she could already feel herself stabilizing.

  She stayed still, doing her best to recover her strength as best she could, eventually managing to open her eyes and look for Katrina. “I think… the worst is past. The train ride took half of my stamina, but it’s already ing back, bit by bit.”

  “Dang it, I didn’t bring my guitar. I never bring it with me to the city, but I didn’t even think that I might be able to help you.”

  “Hey,” Alicia started, “this isn’t on you. I o be here, I chose this. I think, if you help me walk around, I should have enough SP to make it to the camp. No idea if I’ll be able to take the train home, but it’s a start, right?”

  The girls locked eyes, Katrina’s red pupils glowing strongly, before she spoke. “Deal. I’ll get you there safely, I promise.”

  The Vampire grabbed Alicia’s wrist, then pulled to help her up. “Oh, wait a sed,” Alicia said. “I rooted, let me shake those loose.” After a few seds, she mao disect her roots, and soon she’d found her way to her feet.

  “Alright, I just o…” Katrina’s hand found its way to her waist, but immediately repositioo hold Alicia’s arm instead. When Alicia looked up, she saw Katrina averting her eyes and blushing heavily.

  “Katrina? What’s wrong?” Alicia asked.

  “Oh, I just… I’m not gonna lie, I thought you were going to put on some clothes for this.”

  “Clothes?” She paused, then immediately realized why everyone had been givirange looks orain. “Oh gosh, I didn’t even think of that! I haven’t been around people in so long, gimme a sec.”

  Closing her eyes, Alicia willed the foliage surrounding her body to grow ahen, trying to give herself some modesty. Various overpping fronds, vines, and flowers bio form something resembling a sundress, and she added some additional bark around her chest to hold everything in pce.

  “Wow, that’s a rick. I wish I could just create any clothes I wanted.” Katrina said, gng down at her own casual fit.

  “Actual clothes are a bit much, and during the daytime I need as muyself exposed as possible so I photosynthesize. This is still a bit restrictive, holy, but… I think it’ll grow on me.”

  The girls locked eyes, and Alicia watched as Katrina put together her terrible pun. They both smirked, their smiles widening until they broke into ughter. Alicia let herself lean against her new friend, holding her arm tight, as she let Katrina begin to lead the way to the dungeon camp.

  With her Stamina no longer in jeopardy, and the grouh her feet, Alicia finally had time to look around. Crowds of people bustled to and fro, people of every shape and size. Many of them were human, but she also saw a fair colle of Races. Birdfolk raced by overhead, flying through the skies wearing something akin to bat armor. She saw a street vendor with a cart of food, currently in the process of selling what looked like a frozen geode te Earth Elemental. Dozens of storefronts all peted for her attention, and her gaze came to rest on the shop they were walking in front of. Large windows tained posters of geous models, making Alicia think it was a talent agency, but further iion revealed it to be a brothel. The door opened, and both girls had to swerve to avoid the Minotaur that walked out, a huge smile pstered on his face.

  As they started moving dowreet, she eagerly looked through the windows of every shop they passed. There were stores selling potions, ons, and armor, as well as stores the services of low-level diviners and various other non-bat csses. Ohat particurly caught her eye was a tattoo parlor boasting that its lead artist was an enter who worked through her ink, and Alicia loved the art she saw on dispy.

  “Katrina, are we he camp? A lot of these businesses look like they’re run by higher leveled people.”

  “We’re very close. The camp itself is meant for more immediate services, but also has lots of room for the different Guilds to establish small outposts. The surrounding streets, where we are now, are normally where you find all the shops and whatnot. Quite a few delvers work here when they’re not in the Dungeon, and many of these shops are actually sponsored by Guilds. It be extremely helpful to have an Enter or an Alchemist on your payroll.”

  Alicia wanted desperately to explore the area, to walk around in all the different shops and see what they had for sale, but she khey were here with a purpose. She could also feel Katrina’s grip on her arm tensing occasionally, and she tried to remind herself that the crowds were likely tempting her hunger. Looking up, she saw Katrina’s face was cold and tense. She was breathing through her mouth, leaving her fangs on dispy, and her eyes were glowing bright.

  The Vampire realized she was being watched, and the girls locked eyes before she spoke. “Everything okay, Alicia?”

  “Y-yeah, I’m fine, but what about you?” Alicia asked.

  “I’m… I’ll maill, the quicker we do this, the better.”

  The Dryad frowned, wishing there were something she could do to make this easier, but she couldn’t think of anything. She tio rack her brain, recalling hundreds of hours of ORC training, to think of anything she might be able to do to help.

  I don’t have any blood to give her, but maybe I distract her somehow? Something to keep her mind occupied?

  “So, Katrina, ells are you gonna learn when you hit Level Three? Do Bards like, choose from a list or something?”

  “Bards actually get a lot of say over which spells they get. Once I have Spellcasting avaible, I kind of make whatever I want, within reason. Ideally, I’d love to focus on utility, and be a bit of a Jane-Of-All-Trades. Message spells, ss, distras, things like that. Still, part of the fun would be w together with other Delvers, coordinating your builds, and without a delving group that part’s not there.”

  “But you’ll finally get a ht? We might not be in a Guild, but we’re gonna be delving soon!”

  Katrina blushed slightly, trying to hide a smile. “I… yes. I know it’s wrong to be excited about this, there’s so many ways it could g for you, but I—”

  “Hey, you stop that.” Alicia interrupted. “Both things be true at once. Just because this is a little scary for me, and there’s admittedly a lot on the line, doesn’t mean we ’t also try to enjoy ourselves a little. I mean, look at where we are! All these shops! All these people, all w together! I uand why you get excited about this stuff.”

  “Actually,” Katrina started, “I meant to ask. You’re a Bulwark, but when you summon barriers, they look like they’re made of pnts and trees. Aren’t they supposed to be simple, clear sheets of energy?”

  “As far as I tell, it’s a quirk of my Race. I’ve never really looked into it, though.” Alicia readjusted her grip on Katrina’s arm, then realized they were near another small tree. A few flowers had been pnted around the base, and she knew she could use another break. “Hey, we take another quick stop?”

  Katrina nodded, and the girls both took a seat. Alicia leaned against the tree, avoiding the flowers, ahe back of her makeshift dress split open. Roots emerged from her body again, digging deep into the earth. It felt as if the soil were hugging her, and she bined her strength with the roots of the tree as she tried to ect with her Heart Tree again. The e was still incredibly distant, but it was better than nothing. Unfortunately, when she checked her status, she saw she was at 35%.

  “Stamina’s still dropping, Katrina. I think… we might o figure out a creative way to get me home after this. we, like, buy a stamina potion or something?”

  “We certainly look. You might have an easier time in the camp, though, it’s mostly grass and dirt, and there are a few bigger trees.”

  “Really?” Alicia asked excitedly.

  “I mean, did you ever go to Millennium Park before the ge? That’s where the camp is. They’ve added a few temporary buildings, further away from the entrance, but any perma structures are a bad idea. You never know what might happen around a dungeon, so flexibility is key. We’re actually extremely close, think you’re ready?”

  Aliodded, shaking loose her roots before letting Katrina help her up. After taking a mio get fy, her hands held tight around the Vampire’s arm, they set off again.

  True to Katrina’s word, they were only walking for a few minutes before they turhe st er. The buildings had already been shrinking in size for the st block or two, but as Alicia looked down this reet, she saw them vanish entirely. In front of her stood a rge stone archway that marked the entrance of the Dungeon Camp. The sidewalk stopped entirely just past the entrance, and a multitude of well-worn dirt paths snaked away from the entrahe girls looked at each other, nervous determination filling their eyes, and they stepped over the threshold.

  —

  It's finally time to visit the Chip! We've beey focused on Alicia's neighborhood, and I'm excited to move the camera to somewhere a bit busier. Of course, I doubt Katrina's very happy about that.

  "You're right about that, I'm not thrilled."

  Well, it has to happen, so my hands are tied.

  "Did Alicia really fet all my notes about the st song?"

  Hey, I'm staying out of this. You talk to her about it.

  "Ugh... by the way, I'm... sorry for threatening you. I'll try to be a bit more civil moving forward. I introduce my song for this Chapter?"

  Be my guest! And apology accepted.

  "Today's song is 'Tucututa' by Victor Vildangos! It's a shorter piece, but it has a lot of excitement in it. At times, it sounds pretty optimistic, but there are hints of u smuggled in around the edges. Pay close attention to the use of harmonics, they add a delicious bit of dissoo the main riff. There's also a percussive element, with the guitarist using the body to add extra texture to the piece, and it's so much fun to py. Overall, the song has a beautiful sense of motion, almost like someone's starting an adventure, wouldn't you say?"

  Thanks! I'll see you around, Kat.

  "Hey, only my friends call me Kat."

  Alright, I thought I'd try my luck.

  Until ime! Nyx <3