A whole month went by since my encounter with the Nun.

Talking had… it had been good.

My restlessness had been placated, roughly, but I still kept asking myself how much of all that I was going through had been for my own choosing, and how much of it was for the will of the Sun... or Flow, whatever.

The Nun hadn’t been able to answer me about what really was the connection between them.

The Sun-Flow had said they, Shade and Flow, were one and only, connected but never together; one was the hidden face of the other. However, I had no idea what it meant; the question about my higher connection with Shade instead of the Flow kept bugging me.

Why wasn’t it the other way around?

That was only one of the many questions, but in the end, it could wait.

Right now, all I wanted to do was relax...

So, I was there on the Hillhouse's rooftop. The chilly wind of the Shade Season reddening my cheeks and nose.

The morning's Blessed Hour was the best time of the day to get a little refreshing air and clear my thoughts up a bit.

In the meanwhile, I took a look at mine and Loki's Tracing results.

Loke Nightfold, TechnoHunter Level 44 (347,016/440,000), Red Tamer Level 39 (265,880/390,000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 199%

Agility: 15

Constitution: 16

Strength: 17

Focus: 20

Perception: 27

Willpower: 36

Strengths: Mind, Aim, Willpower

Weaknesses: Clock-arm

Class Skills: Trick Shot III (Agility), Technomantic Body (Constitution), Hunting Tactics (Focus), Trace III (Perception)

Sub-Class Skills: Frenzy (Strength), Return to Nature (Focus), Animal Instincts II (Perception), Together we are One (Willpower)

Race: Human

Sex: Male

Height: 177 cm

Weight: 67 kg

Age: 17

Origins: Unknown, Murkstall

Family: Eleanor Nightfold, Faris Nightfold, Nova Nightfold

While the others had frequently delved the past month, I had almost refrained from doing so, training instead my arrow making with Logan’s occasional advice, and resting, thinking about how to address my situation.

I had put the lonely Attribute point I had gained from TechnoHunter into Constitution, while my Focus and Willpower had increased by one through Red Tamer.

And it was clear that the diminishing return was becoming heavier and heavier. I hadn’t even stopped holding back for my friends’ benefit; the few times I followed them, and still, I got so little in return.

However, even if for now Loki had been less affected by the diminishing return, it would slowly creep upon him too. But for the moment, he had shown tremendous growth.

Loki (Adult Golden Netherlion), (Titan), Level 39 (128,257/390,000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 85%

Agility: 70

Constitution: 80

Strength: 82

Focus: 47

Perception: 50

Willpower: 49

Strength: Bite, Claws, Dash, Phantasmic State, Senses

Weaknesses: None

Abilities: Fading Dash, Ghastly Senses, Phase

His battle prowess was starting to become formidable.

Focusing on the battling tech creatures was drastically increasing his battle power; I just wished his Willpower didn't slog so much behind. Maybe being too close to me was weakening it, but I could not allow that; he needed to be able to defend against effects that would induce states of fear, mental attacks, and Classes that could effectively take control of him.

I would probably have to let him wander freely for some time. Battle in the wild with nobody to help him or order him about would indeed refine his Perception and Focus as well.

Meanwhile, I was still blaming myself, and with good reasons, about the fact that my actions and nobody would convince me otherwise had led to Alistar having to leave Murkstall.

It had also been… almost a month since Roana, and I last spoke.

And I had really tried. Instead, I had kept seeing strange accidents... with her, she had started acting weird, and the better she became at using her new powers, the more she estranged herself.

Weirdly enough, I had found myself growing even closer to Harlow these past few weeks.

I didn't really know how to relate with Alistar right now, given that he was going away.

I thought I had really cleared things up, but I hadn't. Still, he wasn't giving me too many chances to speak to him since all he did was train and train and train.

However, after a couple of weeks of delving or farming –as Noland had called it– Harlow had retired to work on upgrades for her armor, Alistar had barely skipped a day of delving, he was the only one always up for it, and the rest of us had taken the time to rest.

If I had gone with Star, I might have had a chance at speaking with him, but I didn't.

Still, in the last few weeks, we had found just one Dark Crystal and one Shiny Stone, and we were seven. Seven of us fought against dungeon creatures, at times escaping death by a hair's-breadth and that had been all we had found.

Harlow had found the Dark Crystal; she had the least amount among us, excluding Nova, who had finished them, but once again, Nova had been the one finding the Shiny Stone, and she had no intentions to give it to anyone else but me.

I had no intention of not using it myself either.

I still had no idea which Skill I would promote with it, but at least I had it at my disposal.

My musing about the current situation was interrupted when I saw a small light in the sky, flickering thanks to the rising Sun.

Thinking it was an arrow, I stood immediately up, sending my Perception forward and alerting Loki with my sudden actions.

It was no arrow.

The flying messenger, which was not a tech sparrow but a clock-tech eagle, stopped itself in mid-air, flapping its wing yet not moving an inch for his current position as if it had locked itself in the air.

I did not have my bow with me, but I could take it down with my trusted knife.

Yet something told me I didn't have to when the clock beast started screeching mightily.

The situation was funny, and it became even more so when I descended the rooftop and could see Aisha, shaking in the cold, jumping at the edges of the house, her feet stomping on the partially snow-covered grass of the hill.

"Here, I'm here," she shouted, "Aisha Mustafa! Get down! I said I’m here!"

Yet the clock-creature wanted her to come closer, given that it wasn't descending, but Aisha didn't seem to have any intentions of really leaving the heat coming from the house.

Drawing closer to it, I noticed a sack tied to the beast's legs, but as I closed in on it, it started getting higher in the air, likely some kind of defense protocol for its carry.

"What are you waiting for?" I asked Aisha, chuckling.

"It's cold!" she said, "That dumb beast is supposed to come toward me, but it's stuck there, like an imbecile!"

"It's just a few steps, come on," said Faruq from the inside of the house.

"Yeah, bring me my fur coat then!" Aisha said.

Yet the eagle kept on screeching, making the situation even more laughable.

In the end, it was Logan, the one intervening. "Oh, for the love of the Sun!" He said, then I saw a boot flying out of the door like a missile and hitting the eagle in the head.

The eagle waved in the air, seemingly dumbed down by the attack, but then it went toward Aisha.

"How did you do that!?" Aisha asked.

Logan scoffed, "Secrets of the trade."

"So? What is it?" Nova asked as we all closed in on Aisha, who had brought the sack and the envelopes she had received from the eagle on the dining table.

"It should be a message for me about the results of your trial. Yet this," she said, pointing at the sack, "I don't know what it is."

"Well, it's nothing lethal," Logan said, "or it wouldn't have made it in."

"Riiiight…" Roana said, weirded out. How would Logan have prevented it? I had no idea either.

There were two envelopes. One was for her, which she speedily read and sighed. The other was, weirdly, for me.

"This is for you, Loke."

"You've received a letter from the City, Loke! From the City!" Nova said, jumping about.

My heart started pumping faster, incredibly so. I looked for Harlow's face; she was there, smiling for me.

So, with trembling hands, I opened up the envelope, on the back it said...

"For Loke Nightfold and family's eyes only."

There was a series of drawings of a stylized little Sand-Wyrm, which at first seemed to rage, then slowly died, and in the end, was displayed as cut apart.

It was so damn weird that it managed to make me laugh despite the shaking.

The handwriting on it was decidedly feminine as if a young girl had written it.

Dear Loke Nightfold

It's with shame and sadness that I have to inform you that my request for your persona's invitation has been denied by the High Council.

However, know that I will not stop my case for the recognition of your Sundoorian citizenship hereditary rights.

Still, your sister's entry has been authorized. If you were to donate a fee of a single Dark Crystal, then your sister would be given entry.

Recent events have disaffected the High Council wellness toward the other denizens of the Wasteland. Otherwise, my case would have been approved. Yet, fear not, for I hear Cyrus Mustafa also has nice words for you; his words are worth more than mine.

In the meanwhile, hoping it helps your situation, I've taken the freedom of sending you my share of the Titan's loot.

I hope they will help you along the way.

Sincerely looking forward to taking you in as my protege,

Terence McLamar, High-Inquisitor of Sundoor. Hail The Sun Emperor.

P.S. Here's a candy.

P.P.S. This letter has been drawn by Caitlin Dawn; I hope you enjoyed the candy.

It took me a while to understand that the candy had been drawn on the paper; it looked so perfect that it almost seemed real, yet for some reason, both the candy and the denial, they...

They brought a smile to my face.

However, it did not apply to Aisha, that seeing even her intermission not bringing the results she looked for, felt dejected.

"I'm sorry, Loke," she said, sighing heavily.

"Well, it's okay. I… did not have high hopes for myself, however…" I said, looking toward Nova.

Yet Nova, reading my face, got scared out of her wits, "Are you crazy!? I'm not going there alone!"

"Nova… This might as well be a one-of-a-time occasion for you. If what's in this sack is what I think it is… we will have you sitting comfortably in the City's riches for the rest of your life."

"I don't care! I'm not going to go to the City without you! Whether it's with you or not, I'm staying right here!" She said, sitting down.

Logan chuckled, "Let's first see what's in the bag, shall we?"

I opened the burlap sack, and what I found left me speechless.

There were ten Dark Crystals, and...

Evercrystal

Flow Capacity: 100%

Evercrystals are primarily used to Promote Advanced Classes to Ultimate Classes and to Promote Skills past level five.

They can also be used to power heavy clock-machinery, as components for the creation of powerful equipment, and used as the basic component of massive Flow spells.

Crystal Weight: 10kg

I couldn’t believe he had sent me all that.

It was… incredible.

And it came from a Citizen which I had met only once…

Had I been wrong in my judgment all this time?

Still, the room fell silent until Logan broke it.

“I do not know this man, Terence, but I can tell you that this is no common occurrence,” Logan said, taking a seat at his table.

“A man such as a High-Inquisitor doesn’t just send all those crowns to someone he barely met once before. He must have taken a rather strong liking to you, Loke. If I were you… I would be joining his side, at least until I consolidated my strength, or… found out its dark secrets.”

He turned toward Nova, “The same goes for you, monkey. You can’t be throwing this occasion around. Aisha is a nice girl, and I’ve known Cyrus for a long time. You would not face hardship with them; on the contrary, you would be forging your own path toward a great life. It’s not something to throw away, or at least, you still don’t have the power to, no matter your talent.”

Nova looked at him, opening her mouth but then closing it again, “May I… may I go to my- to Harlow’s room, please…” she asked.

“I’m not your father; you can do whatever you want,” Logan answered.

After Nova left, Harlow and Roana went with her, and I sat down heavily.

“I… Should I go to speak to her?” I stupidly asked.

“Maybe it’s better if you leave her alone for a bit. Besides, the girls are with her,” said Logan, “also…” he added, looking at Aisha but not saying anything.

I turned to Aisha as she nodded, “Yeah. It’s about time I got back.”

“Well,” Faruq added, “I guess it’s about time I went back as well. I haven’t seen my father for more than a month. Would you give me a lift to Murk mountains?”

“Sure… why not, ” Aisha answered.

That was how, after an intense time where we had practically tired ourselves out, the group started returning to their abode for rest or… other things.

***

I was saluting Aisha and Faruq from the top of the hill when Nova and Roana showed up.

“We’re coming with,” Roana said.

“I need to… see the village, to clear my head up a bit,” added Nova, still red-eyed.

She looked at me but didn’t say anything. I held my gaze up but didn’t answer.

It was a difficult situation, but I could trust Aisha; I could give her at least that Nova would be… okay, with her by her side.

In the end, only the true proprietor of the Hillhouse and I had not left for somewhere.

Loki sat near me, then emitted a low growl looking at me confused, “It’s only me and you, little guy.”

And this… I thought, getting out the Shiny Stone I was carrying with me in the Stones satchel.

I had still four Dark Crystals from our adventure in Gnoll’s territory; with the ten Terence had sent me, I had fourteen plus an Evercrystal to top it off. Yet I would not touch those; my four Dark Crystals were enough for me. The rest I would leave to Logan for safekeeping; one day, Nova would need them, surely one not-so-distant day.

I turned toward Loki, “Wanna play catch?”

It would be a first, but Ronda liked it; why wouldn’t he? Only because he was a lion? Doubt it made any difference.

But our games were short-lived because not even half an hour of me throwing things around at him was soon interrupted by a dangerous event that this year had yet to happen, manifested itself.

When slowly the day’s light started diminishing, and a sudden influx of Shade made a sudden appearance in the world –presenting itself like a rushing wave of pleasant chilliness to my senses– I realized that it was that time of the year, the most dangerous time of the year… a Solar Eclipse was unfolding.

And as much as it would be beautiful, it had come in the worst possible time... when we were all apart.

“No… not now!”