There were only so many hours in a day, and they were starting to get shorter. It was already noticeable because they had been doing so ever since a couple of weeks before the Festival.

Yet, it did not hinder us. We had recovered from the previous night’s unrest, and the eastern face of the Wide Peaks was a blessing for our eyes.

We had never seen such lushness in all our lives. And, judging from the Half-Elf's face, even though her mother was an Elf, neither had she.

“This place is amazing,” said Alistar, gawking at the forest, “Why the fuck don’t we move the village here?”

“It’s because of the creature’s average level here. Logan says that out here, given the abundance of life and its freedom, Flowborns and Shadeling can easily reach level forty and get much higher than that.”

“So, the average creatures’ level is much higher,” replied Roana.

“Yeah, I still think that with the right preparation, it would be doable. But I get that not all of us were born with a warrior’s blood in our veins. Like my fiery blood!” Alistar roared.

I chuckled, “Well, fiery lizard, get ready because we’ve got company.”

A group of what looked like Wood-monkeys were coming at us. They had abandoned the trees on our left and climbed over the trail of rocks toward us.

I Traced one just to be sure.

Jungle Monkey, Level 34 (1547/340.000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 89%

Agility: 24

Constitution: 29

Strength: 41

Focus: 29

Perception: 19

Willpower: 13

Strength: Physical Power, Agility, Aggressive

Weaknesses; Scare easily, Willpower

Abilities: Bite, Raze, Throw

These monkeys rarely see sapients, but when they do, they attack them because of their valuable tools. They have learned to use some human tools, and it’s not unusual to find a specialized Monkey among them. It is advisable to watch out for ranged or thrown weapons.

Crystal weight: 0.251kg

A Flowborn indeed, nothing had changed on that side. Apart from the red text now showing its most powerful Attributes, probably its most dangerous one.

Maybe it was that sort of sixth sense that Trace Passive Perk triggered every once in a while working together with Trace to warn me about danger?

"These monkeys are well-rounded, but I bet Roana could kill them all; however, if you could leave at least one for Loki to hunt down, I'd be obliged."

Loki turned to look at me, frightened, as the Monkeys reached up to us and started coming toward us on the navigable trail of pebbles on which we were moving about.

“I’ll make sure to bind one for you. However, I don’t have that many Stones left; only three or four,” she said.

“I’ll give you some of mine later, but for now, you could make them fight among themselves,” I suggested.

In the meanwhile, Alistar beat his spear on his shield to psyche himself up.

Six monkeys were coming at us. And I wanted my companions to level up as fast as they could.

Aisha had sat down, impassive. She had not spoken a word ever since we entered the tunnel.

I sat on a rock near her as I nocked an arrow that I knew I would not have to release.

The fight commenced with Alistar managing to taunt all the monkeys with his immovable stance; he slipped into Duress II as they started pummeling him with hits. Then he suddenly used his new Skill, and I could see the creatures receiving gashes on their bodies even while he wasn't directly attacking them; although Alistar swung at only one monkey at a time, each one received a wound at the same time.

It was then Roana’s turn to grab one of her, since now long-attuned Stones, and say to one of the creatures, “Fight friends.”

The creature understood and immediately started lashing out at its companions.

The monkeys' surprised expression resembled those of humans so closely that it was a little disconcerting. I hadn’t fought many monkeys until then, and not even Gnolls were that expressive. However, the damage the surprise attack inflicted on them was simply incredible.

The Commanded monkey outright killed one of its friends and damaged another before being violently ostracized and brutalized. But that reaction opened the ground for Alistar to attack again.

Brandish Spear after Brandish Spear, Alistar brought the creatures to the ground, then Roana joined the fray with her new staff. It had a blade, and it was a rather small blade, but with its shape, the staff looked like something I knew was called a halberd.

Although a relatively small one, its edge likely being a fortunate addendum instead of the main focus of the weapon, dealt sufficient damage on the monkeys that, being creatures of speed, did not have an armored skin nor a tougher than average hide. Slashing their throats was sufficient to end their lives.

I Traced the halberd then and knew right away that it would be a weapon that would grow on her.

T-3rd Spearhead Staff of Might

Durability: 98%

Bonus: Strength + 20, Agility + 15

Shade Capacity: 50%

Strengths: Good Strength bonus for a staff

Weaknesses: None

This Staff has been found on the second level of the Tower by Rebecca Williams. Its current owner is Roana Dowson.

Although the body of the staff is made of Bloomingwood, there is a MoonSteel core at its center, the same material the spare head is made from.

A staff with a core of MoonSteel, would not easily break. That was indeed a good weapon. Better than mine.

I wondered how powerful Roana could become with a versatile build that emphasized Agility and Focus.

She was likely the most dangerous among us now, and although my mobility not only made me slippery but also allowed me to unleash powerful, unexpected attacks; I doubted I would have any chance of facing a Roana at close range and come out unscathed, her Form of the Lifeline as well had long since reached Apprentice, only I was the one that was still stuck at Novice. And to top it off, Ro had yet to Class up.

Looking at Alistar and taking Faruq into consideration as well, I could say that I had really found powerful companions to fight by my side.

Roana’s voice broke my train of thought when she called me.

“Are you ready? This one will stay immobile, but I still don’t know how long Command works, so move it!” she said, pointing at a monkey that was trying to shake itself free of her Command.

It was trembling like a leaf but staying immobile.

“Alright,” I sat up, “Loki, go and savage it. You need to attack the throat, go now, or it will be too late.”

The cub started shaking as well; he had no idea what he needed to do; he had never done it before.

So I repeated the message, but this time I embedded in his mind as many images I could muster of the command I had imparted to him, and the result was slow, but as I fixed my gaze into his, and seconds slowly passed, my order became stronger.

It was slowly overriding his fear until Loki roared with its small cute roar and launched himself at the monkey.

The Netherlion whelp, attached to the monkey’s throat like a Howl-bat, and slowly but surely it started gnawing through its flesh. After roughly a minute and a sudden renewed Command from Roana’s part, to stabilize the creature that was shaking mightily to try and remove the cub from its throat, the monkey died, and I felt the whispers.

Loki (Cub Golden Netherlion) (Titan) has earned 2121 Soul fractions. Soul fractions to level 2 1000/1000.

Loki has leveled up to 2.

Agility + 1, Focus +1, Willpower + 1.

Loki (Cub Golden Netherlion) (Titan) has earned 1121 Soul fractions. Soul fractions to level 3 1121/2000.

You’ve earned 2121 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next Tamer level: 3146/28000.

I Traced my puppy then.

Loki (Cub Golden Netherlion) (Titan), Level 2 (1121/2000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 97%

Agility: 2

Constitution: 3

Strength: 2

Focus: 2

Perception: 2

Willpower: 2

Strength: Phantasmic State

Weaknesses: None

Abilities: Phase

So Phase was shown as a Confluence ability. Indeed I had to look into what the confluence was.

However, leveling Loki up would not take that much time; he had yet to go through an Evolution. He was doing fine, and I felt that he would become very powerful, for sure the strongest pet I had ever tamed or maybe even seen. I could feel it in my bones.

“We need to take these Crystals; I’ll get on with it. It won’t take long,” I said as I prepared Spectre’s Dignity to cut open the creatures’ chests. Yes, maybe it was not the most dignifying way to use the knife, but at least it would not be wasted.

However, when I took out the knife, we could all hear Aisha gasp.

“What are you doing with a Spectre’s knife!?” She said.

I could not understand that question.

“Why do you ask? Didn’t the Inquisition know? The nun I fought managed to create a lot of commotion for this. Did she not report it?” I said, juggling the knife in the air.

There was no response on her side.

“I… guess she didn’t,” I realized, surprised.

But looking at her expression, I saw something, something that spelled mistrust.

“You didn’t know, did you? But it’s unlikely that the nun did not say. It's more likely that they did not tell you. Because no one wants to mess with the Spectres, and why would a nobody nineteen years old highly-placed girl like you have to know about it, right?”

“If what you are trying to show us is a look of hatred, then you have a long way to go, Mustafa,” said Alistar as he took out his own knife to free the dead monkeys from their Crystals.

“This is not a look of hatred but of pity. You don’t really know what you are talking about, and yet you keep spouting nonsense. What Sundoor is trying to-”

Roana closed in on her as she spoke and slapped her right in the face.

“If I hear once again the word pity from your mouth, I’m going to hurt you... Badly, so badly that you wish you were dead,” after saying that, Roana did not wait for any answer; she turned her head and proceeded forward.

But before she left, I managed to see her eyes shine with hardly veiled tears.

“Do not anger our mage, mage... you’ve seen what she’s capable of,” said Alistar.

However, Aisha did not utter any more words. Even as I studied her, and she looked back at me, she did not say anything, anything at all.

It was when we departed again and slowly delved through the mountainous trail of easily sliding pebbly road that Aisha spoke again.

I was leading her with a cord that I had tied around her waist and held it with my clock-arm, the strongest arm. She would not be able to try and escape even if she had double her Strength.

“What did they do to her; the slave traders, I mean,” she whispered to me after a while.

I scoffed, yet I could hear Roana, who walked much ahead in front of me, paying attention as well. She reacted to that question with a barely slight jerking of her head, yet she did not turn toward us.

“Stupid question for such an intelligent-”

“Oh, stop that bullshit, and answer my question!” she said, “Please…”

I couldn’t help but be happily surprised by that.

“I’ll let you imagine,” I said, “I’ll let you imagine what happened to her in her stay. When we freed her, she had been sequestered for more than a month. It doesn’t take a genius to understand why she had yet to be sold. Oh, and before you add anything, know that her Perception is as high as mine, and I’m a Hunter.”

Aisha Mustafa stood in silence for a while, at least until we stopped by a cave, from which I heard something I did not like.

“Guys, slowly back off,” I whispered.

Roana sent the message to a surprised Alistar; he had been too far ahead to hear my whisper.

When they joined back with me, they asked what was going on.

“I could smell the breath coming out of that vast cave. Synesthesia is acting up," I didn't want to scare them too much saying that it had shown me a creature whose breath exploded as violently as thunder. It felt as powerful as a Blow arrow.

I cut it short, "We need to stay clear of that place.”

The cavern in question was just a few dozen meters up the path. And now that it got my attention, I could see deep scratches on the ground and the mountain walls near the cave.

“I have no idea what kind of creature is capable of making those damn gashes in the rock, but I definitely do not intend to find out.”

Roana nodded, “Let’s go through the jungle; we’ll pass under the trail, then climb back up, again.

I peeked down toward the much too tall jungle's canopy, then up at the sky, “We need to go fast, pass the place, and find somewhere to eat and sleep. We can’t go on without eating, and it’s almost twilight now.”

Indeed, we had started moving with the idea of finding something to eat, but we did not have the chance to; we were too close to the jungle and not enough behind cover for our fire to attract unwanted attention.

The night was dawning on us, and we had to find a cover before it got too late.

“Listen, I don’t want to interrupt, but I’m… kind of in need to… relieve myself,” said Aisha, as she rubbed her thighs together.

“Solid or liquid?” I asked.

I couldn’t help but be amused at her scandalized expression, “I will not answer that…”

“Then I guess you don’t really have to go,” I said, shrugging; to my side, Ro couldn't hold in her giggling.

“No, I really have to!” she answered, raising her voice a little more than she should have.

I shushed, “Are you fucking crazy! You’ll be the first to die if whatever is hiding inside there hears us!”

“I’m sorry, but please… let me go pi-” she said before interrupting herself.

“Oh, it’s liquid then,” said Alistar.

“Now I have to know, what difference does it make,” she said with a haughty scowl.

“Really?” Ro asked, shifting her gaze from Aisha to mine.

I shrugged, “City’s girl; they don’t know how to behave.”

“Guess what attracts the most attention here, in the jungle? The amount of time you will have to be exposed, and the preparation for it."

She took a few seconds to go through that, “I think I understand now.”

“How do you even do so in Dungeons?”

“Dungeons? Well, there are toilets there, although infested with monsters. Going with a lookout is the way we do it.”

We shared a look of surprise, “Toilets? In Dungeons?”

It was her turn to shrug now, “Our Golden Tower has them…” she said, then, somehow weirdly feeling guilty for that.

“Damn incredible,” said a mystified Alistar.

We knew what toilets were only because the clock-engineer had built one in his hill-house; we only knew of latrines at the village where we came from, while Roana definitely did it the most natural way.

“Come on, let’s go."

“Excuse me? Can’t Miss Roana accompany me?” Aisha asked.

“No, I’m sorry, but I can act faster than her and pin an attacking creature on the ground if it wants to attack us, or you if you try to escape,” Roana would have to waste a Stone with her Command to stop you from escaping. A Command that, with your basic thirty points of Willpower, you might as well resist.”

I savored the surprised look on her face when I said precisely her Willpower level.

“Yeah, that’s right, so don’t make me waste arrows.”

“I wouldn’t have tried anything…”

“Yeah, let’s go,” I tugged on her leash. “Guys, let’s all get down; we have to pass through here nonetheless, and I sincerely doubt she’s the only one that has to go, right?”

“Yeah,” said Roana.

“The big one,” said Alistar.

“Damn, cover it really well; we don’t want the whole forest upon us, Kob."

He grinned back.

“So, that eye as well is the Sunguard’s fault?” Asked Aisha as she did her things behind a tree.

“Are you shitting?” I asked.

There were a few moments of silence before she answered, “Yes…”

“Then why don’t you focus instead of talking to me? And did you dig a hole as I told you?”

“Yes…”

“Then shut it and push,” I added.

“I can’t shut up; I’m not used to…”

“You are used to speaking as you poop? What kind of fetish is that?”

“It’s how we do it in the Tower, to make sure the outlook or the busy people have not fallen in danger,” she explained.

“Oh, that’s smart,” I conceded.

“So, will you answer my question?” She continued undeterred.

“Yes, but it’s not that he did anything to me. Like Alistar said, except for the arm, I did this to myself.”

I could hear her focus as she asked, so I decided to help her up, “Also my knee, three ribs, two vertebrae, and two fingers. It was not the best day of my life, but I freed my friend and found another in the process, so I guess I came out on top nonetheless.”

“Well, thank you for what you’ve done,” she said, “the man you’ve killed was not only corrupted to the bones, he was one of those leading the effort in trying to tear my father’s work apart.”

“Oh, it was my pleasure, believe me. That man and I went long back," a flash of memory made me recall the first time I had seen him, "He… watched while another couple of kids from my village and I were trampled by Rhinodusters years ago, and he did nothing. No, wait, he did indeed do something, he laughed.”

Aisha didn’t answer, but I was sure she was listening to me intently.

“I’m done,” she said after a while, then we got back to the others.

It was time we found ourselves something to eat, but we had to do so together because there were already monsters sniffing for us, and they would soon be upon us.

If we really intended to hide here until the cold of the Shade Season started really descending. We would have to play our cards well.