As Grimstrom walked Sania and me to the mysterious sounding Glaeg, I regaled them with both the excitement and natural trepidation over what Darkness had told me. They both listened eagerly.

“So, you’re an ally now, then?” Grimstrom asked once I’d finished.

“It certainly looks that way,” I said, feeling a little more hopeful about the future. “Well, I’m glad to hear it, lad. You might be weak at the moment, but I’ve a good nose for these things and if we all last long enough I think it won’t be long before you get a real powerhouse, like me.”

“I certainly wouldn’t complain about reaching level 79,” I agreed. “And I think I understand why you’ve remained below ground for now. It does make a certain amount of sense. We’ll be happy to take as many neutral refugees as we’re able to at Far Reach, as well.”

“That’s a load off. It’s hard to watch so many people displaced. We just can’t risk an assault just yet. If we fight Destruction and Justice at the borders now, we’ll be stretched way too thin and forced into a long, costly war we might not even win. Better to let them meet each other and let them have it out. Then we can come up and give them both such a good kicking, that they won’t want to come near Kalabri again. On account of them all being dead.”

“And you think you can fight a strong force of Destruction and Justice even if they’re fighting each other?”

“I never said it was gonna be easy, lad. But we’ve got warriors of all races in strong numbers in the Nideland. I think we can dish out some real surprises. The main problem with the plan is that all of the neutrals are dying. Most of them aren’t suited to underground living, so being able to send them to a safe haven south of the Forsaken Land is going to be a huge boost.”

“We haven’t really set up much of a haven,” Sania snorted. “More of a half destroyed wooden barrier. And our builder is leaving.”

“We’ll be helping with the building side of things, don’t you worry,” Grimstrom said firmly. “You’ll be as safe you can be. On the surface any way.”

“Won’t you be targeted by Destruction and Justice on the surface?” Sania asked.

“This close to our tunnels, with the guard we’ll have on standby? We won’t need to worry too much. We can be back underground in a heartbeat along with you lot if it comes to it. Hopefully you can fortify and expand enough to protect the settlement before that happens.”

“Expand?” I asked.

“Sure. How many neutrals do you think are still in Kalabri? This is probably going to be one of the fastest growing settlements in the history of Falritas,” Grimstrom said as he brought us to a halt outside an eye-catching building. Its dramatic construction was carved half in seamless pearly white stone and half in blue Sapphire blocks.

“The Glaeg,” he announced proudly.

In my opinion, it easily rivalled the palace in beauty, if not in scale. “Your new home for a couple of days at least. Just see the receptionist as you go in. They’ll know where to send you. As for me, I’ll be off now, to make some preparations and see to some serious Head Guardian of Nuinaer business.”

“You’re going to get drunk aren’t you?” I asked smirking.

“You better believe I’m going to get drunk,” he chuckled. “Do you know how stressful today has been for me?”

I laughed at his wincing expression, no doubt thinking of Darkness’s voice. “I can well imagine. Thanks for all of your help, Grimstrom and I hope Darkness continues to keep his voice down when he talks to you.”

“So it was you!” Grimstrom chuckled, as he wander back down the street. I watched him go for a minute, reflecting on how much Darkness and his followers were easily the coolest and most fun I’d met so far. You couldn’t fake the kind of relaxed atmosphere we’d seen since Stilbraker and Fakasta had first shown up.

“Shall we go in now, or would you like to continue to stare blankly at nothing for a little longer?” Sania asked, linking my arm.

“Yeah, sure. Let’s go tell Joel the good news then, hey?”

“I think it’s better news for us. The support of Nuinaer is an enormous boost to our safety at Far reach, even if it’s just supplying materials and goods.”

“Yeah, it’s a bit frazzling how fast everything keeps moving. I can barely keep track. I feel like I’m juggling twenty balls and I don’t even know how to juggle.”

“Nor me, but we will juggle the balls together. My mother and Rilaz will help, too. Grigor, despite everything seems to be reliable enough and very capable.”

“I’d like to agree, but your mother and Grigor are two of the balls in the air.”

She laughed and patted me on the shoulder as we came to the reception desk. “Yes. I can see how that would be the case.”

There was a female dwarf behind the counter. She was around the five-foot mark, with brown hair tied up in two swirling buns on either side of her head. She looked to be around mid-twenties, but it was very hard to tell in Falritas. Her identifier read:

Gildria, Level 28 Dwarf.

“Ah, hello there, honored guests. Here’s the token to your Suite. You are in room 105 on the 100th floor. The penthouse suite, no less. It’s a shared suite and your friends are already up there. Please make yourself comfortable and if there’s anything you need, just ring the bell by the door and someone will be right with you. Now, if you just make your way to the tenth door over there. Inside you will find a room with ten more doors. They’re all numbered except for the 100th which will be signed as penthouse. The token you have, will automatically give you access.”

“Pretty cool set up. So no stairs?”

“Oh, there are stares. These damn portals are always on the blink.”

I looked at her horrified. “When you say on the blink, what exactly do you mean?”

She chuckled at my expression. “Don’t worry, they just turn off. You’re not going to be chopped in half or transported to the abyssal planes.

Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No Gildria, you’ve been very helpful,” I answered.

She offered a bow, and we went off to door number 10. Inside as foretold, were ten more doors with numbers 91 to 99 and penthouse.

“This is fucking insane, right?”

“It is clever,” Sania replied. “And it saves on the confusion of having one hundred doors to choose from in the foyer. I wonder where we are.”

I looked around when she mentioned it. The room was windowless, and I became suddenly uncomfortable wondering where we might be and hurried to our door.

It opened straight away to reveal a wide lavish lounge area, that was just as luxurious as the rooms in Faray, but with a less gaudy feel. It may have been a case of rose-tinted glasses, but I vastly preferred it.

There was only so much I could take in as Joel came rushing over to us. Grigor wasn’t too far behind.

“What happened?” Joel asked eagerly, with Grigor standing just behind in a more reserved manner.

“We got you a portal home, Joel. Should be ready tomorrow.”

“Seriously? How the fuck did you manage that?”

“I asked Darkness and he said yes,”

“That’s awesome Clive. Thank you so much. I can hardly believe it. Are you sure you won’t come back with me?”

“Not to stay dude, look at me.”

“What do you mean, not to stay?” he asked puzzled.

“I’m gonna grab some clothes, so I’m really sorry dude, but you’re going to be getting dropped off at my old place. My cars there, though. You can just take it.”

“Take the car?”

“Sure man. I won’t need it anymore. Apart from what I take with me this time, take it all.”

Joel fell into a contemplative silence before replying. “Thanks man. I can’t wait to get back.”

“I know dude.” I looked over to Grigor. “You alright?”

“I feel like I am in a prison. Everything is too confined here. The sooner we leave this place the better.”

“Couple of days, that’s all. You should have brought one of your mates.”

“I only have one, and I would not bring her into danger.”

“Fair point,” I conceded. Then did my best to ignore Grigor the miserable from my mind as I sat on the couch with Sania.

“Come on then,” Joel said. “You just met a God. What was he like?”

“He was kinda cool. I liked him. The way he talked actually reminded me a lot of Hakan. Though I should probably call him Creation now. Anyway, you certainly wouldn’t want to cross him, but he was pretty chilled at the same time.”

“So what did you have to do to get the portal?” Joel pressed.

“Nothing much. I basically allied myself with him.”

I felt Grigor bristle. Joel looked concerned.

“Does this mean we must fight his wars for him?” Grigor asked.

“The opposite, actually. He doesn’t want us involved in the fight for Kalabri. Not yet, at least. He mainly wants us to take in all of the neutral refugees as they’re pushed out by Destruction and Justice.”

Grigor laughed. “And what will we do with so many? We already have too many mouths to feed and our attempts at safety lie in ruins. Not to mention our builder is deserting us.” He cast a sour look at Joel.

“Don’t worry Grigor. The dwarves are going to provide craftsmen to help us build. I reckon they have a few good ones if this place is anything to go by.”

Joel was clearly upset with my words. His feelings radiated off him as much as if he had been bonded to me. Probably that I dare get another builder so soon after he left. The truth was that I would have vastly preferred him to stay and either build everything himself, or work with the dwarves and learn from them. But I held my tongue. He only got annoyed when I tried to convince him to stay.

“It seems we will be owing the dwarves a great deal when all of this is said and done,” Grigor sighed.

“No. I’ll be owing the dwarves, and what they want is about me, not any of you. So don’t sweat it.”

“I am stuck to you now, Clive. So I will have to share in whatever price they’ve exacted from you. Sania, too! Is whatever price you’ve agreed worth her life?” The atmosphere of the room suddenly became very tense.

“Are you kidding me right now Grigor?” I snapped. “You remember how when we first met, you fucking killed me, right? And how, when I first met the dwarves of Nuinaer they saved my motherfucking life from a level 93 paladin of Justice and killed what was left of the demon army? Oh yeah , then introduced me to their God, put us in sweet accommodation, offered to build us a fucking fortified settlement in stone, and trade with us, and send all of the neutral peoples of Kalabri to us, and grant my best friend his one goddamn wish of going back to our world. And all they’ve asked is that I try to make Far Reach and myself as strong as possible. So when the world goes to total shit, I’m in a position to lend a hand. Remember?”

Grigor nodded. “When looked at from that perspective, I can see where your anger may be coming from. But even so. Why? They do not ask me to build Far Reach. Even Sania, for that matter. We are both the true leaders of our respective packs. Even Joel, who has clear and invaluable skills for the future of such endeavours. Instead they ask an unnerving, ungainly, half demon, hybrid who seems to be utterly lost most of the time.”

I stared at him in disbelief, unable to articulate a comeback. Thankfully as always, Sania had my back.

“Are you talking about the same human, demon hybrid who died and came back to life to unite our packs and then beat your two strongest generals in combat one after the other?” Sania asked with more than a hint of sarcasm.

Grigor waved her defense off. “We brought him back to life, Sania. He died! It was our strength that returned him both yours and my own.”

“You are a fool, Grigor.” Sania snapped back. I could feel through the bond she was genuinely incensed by Grigor’s words. “Out of the three of us only one received experience for what happened. Was it you?”

“No!” he shouted. “But it should have been me. I sacrificed a full level of experience for the life of this abomination.”

Sania lunged at him as quick as a flash, leading with a back hand. She caught him, rocking his head back, but he returned the blow as it came in only he used an open hand, claws out, drawing four streaks of blood across her face.

I could have stopped it through the bond. But I just lost it at the sight of her blood.

With a double handed push to his shoulders, nightclub style, to unbalance him, I unleashed a straight left, right combo. He was fast, and managed to return the blows. Though his claws didn’t cause any real damage to me, he paid dearly for the attack as the bond exacted its punishment for striking me. He fell to the floor gasping and writing and clutching at his abdomen.

I moved closer, fists clenched, but halted when he held up a hand to yield. Most likely realizing how stupid he’d been. I took a deep, calming breath and stepped back, dropping my hands to my side. Yet despite my best efforts at cooling of, an insistent, niggling, image wormed its way through my defensive wall of calm. That of Sania being stuck and the sight of her blood, at this fuckers hands. Again.

“We do not need to be fighting like this,” I said though gritted teeth. We all want the same things, Grigor. I know you must be reeling from the bonding, losing Niko and everything else that’s happened. So I’m willing to let it drop. I couldn’t give a flying fuck what you think about me, either. But if you ever hit Sania again, I’ll just end you like you tried to do to me not so long ago”

You could cut the tension with a knife in the silence that followed my words. The giant Woltar alpha was still on his knees, staring holes in the floor. I could sense through the bond that he wasn’t happy with my words. I looked over to Sania and Joel, both of whom looked concerned, but still no one spoke.

“Can you hear me?” I said again as calmly as I could.

“She attacked me. This is the way,” he said, slowly raising his defiant yellow eyes to meet mine.

“Dude she’s fucking ten levels lower than you! She attacked with a backhand after you called her Soul Mate an abomination. You intentionally slashed her face.”

“In a pack, there must be order. This mess we find ourselves in makes no sense to me. To be spoken to, and attacked by a subordinate in such a way. To be told I must not defend myself. If you hadn’t intervened, I would have done far worse for her lack of respect, and I would do so again. If this is going to work, then she needs to know her place.”

I punched him without a second thought. Which considering our differing levels would probably do little more than tickle him under normal circumstances. Except, somehow, my fist had become coated with black energy. It must have happened from what Darkness had taught me. It certainly hadn’t been intentional.

Grigor’s head caved in from the blow and to my horror, he fell to the floor twitching. I stood open mouthed, gaping at the destruction I’d just caused. It looked like only his head had been hit by a truck. The light visibly faded from his remaining intact eye.

Warning: You have damaged a Soul Bonded Servant. Do you wish to:

Extinguish Bonded Restore Bonded

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “B goddamn it!” I shouted. “Fuck! I didn’t mean to kill him,” I said turning to the others.

I felt a mild pull at my core, as energy left along Grigor’s bond. Those around me took a step back as his face began to rebuild. I found I was rooted to the spot. Within less than a minute, he was fully restored. Both Joel and Sania were looking from me to Grigor and back again.

“Grigor. I didn’t mean to charge my fist up like that. I was just pissed, and it happened of its own accord.”

“It was incredible,” Sania said. “And how did you heal him?”

“I received a notification with options for bonded servants. Extinguish or restore. I obviously chose to restore. I genuinely never meant to do that.”

“I believe you Clive,” Sania said, resting her hand on my arm to lend me support, as she so often did. It was the smallest gesture, but I always felt empowered by it.

Grigor sat there looking stunned and holding his head. “What…? I don’t understand. What happened?”

“You were being impossible. So Clive killed you. Then for some reason he brought you back to life,” Sania snapped. I was pretty sure, she was only joking about the, for some reason part.

Grigor shook his head as if to clear a haze. “I shouldn’t have said what I said. I know you're not an abomination Clive. I’m just angry. Every second of every day. I was this way before I met you and it’s grown even worse now. It’s just all getting too much.

Niko’s death at the hands of the Dwarf didn’t help how I already felt about them after they abandoned us on the surface. His original pack will probably be causing trouble now, and I need to be there. Yet I am stuck here, useless, doing nothing. I don’t even know why we are here. Why they are interested in you. Why you even exist.”

“He’s the son of Creation.” Sania said simply. Grigor’s eyes widened.

“What nonsense is this? What does that even mean?”

I shrugged. “It’s kinda true. Hakan, aka Creation wasn’t my actual dad. But he did put some of his essence into me or something. We don’t actually know what he did, but it seems a number of the Gods are very interested in controlling me.”

“Including Darkness?” Grigor asked suspiciously.

“So far, he’s offered the deal I like best. Destruction offered death and curses. Justice offered spit and fireballs. Devotion offered Natom Fucking Hilgresh. And Natom Fucking Hilgresh offered three out of four limb removal.

“Three out of Five,” Sania countered.

“Five?” I asked puzzled.

She eyed the area I used to wear boxer shorts when I owned them, and my mind clicked into gear.

“Seriously?” I half laughed, half flushed with embarrassment.

Grigor nodded, still completely serious. “I sense your honesty in the bond. Thank you for telling me your true identity, Creator. I humbly apologize for my earlier insults, and I will make this up to you.”

“Fucking hell, Grigor. I’m definitely not the Creator. Except maybe of culinary classics. We’re all just on this journey together. All I really ask is that you never hit Sania again. I can deal with a lot, but I can’t deal with that.”

“Do not fear. The pieces are beginning to fit together. I even see the meaning of your form now. It makes perfect sense. He stood, eyes glistening and bowed. I will dedicate myself to your continued empowerment my lord.”

“Please stop Grigor. You're killing me inside here.” He looked horrified by my words.

“Not literally. I meant I’m dying of embarrassment. I didn’t ask for any of this just like you guys didn’t. We’re stuck together though fate or whatever, and we just need to do our best. Let’s just focus on building a fortified settlement that can house thousands of refugees, and make sure that if any of them can fight, we bring them into our little army. Because I get the feeling that we’re going to need them.”