Kieran was deflated.

It had been two days since he and his family had taken shelter in the mountain dungeon behind the Academy. The first and only time he had been officially allowed out of the house. Now, back in his room and confined to the family home, Kieran was testing the limits of his skill when he saw the green-haired beauty who had almost died standing motionless outside his window.

It wasn't just the woman who had come to a stop as the entire street had ceased moving. Every single person was motionless, even a young boy caught mid-leap in the air went unnoticed as Kieran gazed affectionately at the woman who had captured his heart in her moment of rage. The one who scared the moon and earth - or Tironia, as he now knew.

Unfortunately, Kieran was still grounded and he watched as time corrected itself and sped up to the correct setting. He hadn't even done anything to deserve the grounding. Well, nothing that his parents knew about anyway.

Today was the day his father was off work. The Time Mage's masculine role model had joined the city guard like many of the other migrants from Gorn had and Kieran respected his commitment to work. Their table was always full and their son wanted nothing. Other than freedom that was. Even in the orphanage as Bruce Gold, Kieran had more freedom than he did now. Granted his belly wasn't always as full, but that was a state he'd learned to live with.

His mother was out shopping, looking to see what ingredients she could find for tonight's dinner. This was a stroke of luck for the young, but old, reincarnator. His father didn't check in on the young rarity as often as his female caregiver did, so Kieran took his shot.

With as much poise and determination as a teenager could muster, Kieran grabbed hold of the strings of time and dashed out the family home. He ran down the street to see the motionless figure of the woman he had followed before he released his magic.

His control had gotten better in the last two days and Kieran was now strong enough to hold his spell for almost twenty seconds. Nearly double the amount of time to when he had used it in the forest during the war.

The woman of his dreams was with three girls. The girls who Kieran could have sworn had died. This world had magic though and was as close to fantasy as it could be. 'Of course people can come back to life,' he thought. Little did he know that if anyone else would have died, anywhere else in the world for that matter, their soul would be sent to the reincarnation cycle as his was not too long ago.

A purple-haired child was sitting on top of a large bear without a care in the world. Next to them was a blonde that wouldn't stop talking and beside her was a redhead, her belly rumbled the moment time commenced. The woman with green hair laughed, her smile sending flutters through Kieran's heart.

He followed the group to a restaurant. The name on the building said Ali's. Kieran didn't enter as he had no money. Instead, he opted to - as stealthily as a teenage boy could - peep through the window and observe from afar.

However, the inexperienced Time Mage was far from a master Assassin - the sad truth of the matter was that he was still level 1 - and it didn't take long for his existence to be finally noticed by the woman who fought the King.

Kieran was caught up in the beauty of her eyes before he even realised they were fixed in his direction.

Before he could react, she had disappeared from her seat and a hand had landed on his shoulder. Kieran's body turtle up as he had done so many times as Bruce. He was expecting a fist to arrive shortly and was bracing for impact.

"Who are you and why are you following us?" Instead, she asked him a question. Her voice was the sweetest whisper, the most pleasant sound Kieran had ever heard. He even missed the slight edge she left hanging at the end as he could see her eyes perfectly from so close up. Lime green with an array of speckled colours dotted around. They were entrancing.

"I-I'm B-Bruce G... I mean, I'm Kieran. K-Kieran Ely. I s-saw you and... and... I don't know, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have followed you. I'm not even allowed out. I was just... you're so.... I... I... I'm sorry." With that the red-faced Time Mage flared his magic to the max in embarrassment and fled as fast as he could.

First impressions were important and Kieran had just blown his. Instead of the doting admirer, he was now the crazy stalker. Why was fate so kind yet in many other ways so cruel? He didn't know.

Kieran ran home, stopping time every chance he could to make sure he wasn't followed. Through the door. Up the stairs. Under the blanket. And then the tears came as he sobbed into his pillow, the feathers scratching his face.

His sound hadn't been completely muffled, however, as his father entered the room shortly after.

"Hey, son. You ok? Is this about the going out thing again?" He asked, genuine concern showing on his face.

"I don't ever want to go out again," Kieran shouted back through taxed breath and salty tears to his father's surprise. All his son had ever asked for was to be allowed out. To mingle and join in activities with the others. Mark Ely hated himself for not being able to allow it. Having to hide his son's power was hard on all of them.

Mark had plans though.

Big plans.

Kieran Ely Time Mage

Dungeon Stories Volume 4

My speech had ended and it wasn't all that to be honest. I had gotten my point across, but ended up rambling on about improvements and new trade routes before I was shut down by a booing Me.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I don't even know how I ended up talking about roads and way stations, but the thought of it will help Hana and Mira keep the guards busy and leveling. There's only so much forest they're allowed to patrol so they don't curb the adventurers leveling and more and more guards end up patrolling the streets than what should be the naturally-dangerous wilderness. Roads and waystations would make travel much safer and easier for the human merchants, but still it's not where I should have ended.

Pumping myself up, I try to finish strong.

"Everyone here contributes their fair share and I couldn't be more grateful for that. Because of you, we are where we are today and it wouldn't have been possible without all of your help. From the Taskmaster," Talia's name solicited some cheers, "to the Ringmaster," while the second earned a few light-hearted boos and chuckles, "you all contribute. You all put in the effort and work hard."

Now that I'm at this point, I feel kind of bad. If anything I'm the person who slacks the most. Even the humans keep themselves more occupied than I do. Even with my new routine.

"You fought off a demon invasion for Core's sake. You guys rock and I'm not just talking about you, Barry." Colin licks the midnight-black surface of Barry's mythril frame and Noir slaps the Golem on the back laughing heartily at the joke he caught. That was surprising on its own as puns and sarcasm usually go straight over Noir's head.

"Marie, what would we do without you?" The Space Mage is surrounded by the Categorisers and they all congratulate her again. Everyone has been constantly congratulating each other for the last few days but more praise and recognition is due. Unfortunately, there are too many people to name at our little get together and if I tried it would last a lot longer than I told them it would.

"I'm so proud of everyone and I honestly couldn't ask for a better family. Special in your own ways and unique in many more. I love every single one of you. Even you, Me." I throw him a quick wink at which he flushes red and looks anywhere but in my direction. "With that said, let's eat. It would appear that Amber and a couple of others have already started so you don't want to be left behind. I only have so much DP and that Dragon can eat so enjoy it while you can."

When I said that talking to my family had become easier for me now, I might have been talking myself up. That was still awkward as hell, especially with how many of them there are. Using my will is much more convenient.

Maybe I'm just not a public speaker.

Either way, I gave the speech and it wasn't a complete failure. Go me.

Now it's time to mingle.

Going table to table, I try my best to remember the names of the people I have met once or twice since their summoning. In fact, quite a lot of these guys weren't even named by me and that fell to their employers instead. While engaging in the third conversation since making my speech, I call Blondie over as I'm already in over my head.

"Hey, Danny, Trish, Marsh and Manda. I hope you're all doing ok. This food's the best, right? Anyway, sorry to interrupt, but I really gotta borrow Abi for a second. Thanks, guys. You're the best." Blondie saves me from making an ass of myself. I let her know there's a treat in store for her later if she can help me navigate the tables. It's not so that I can remember their names because I probably won't, but I just want to praise them more. They really do deserve it.

The only thing I can actually take credit for around here is spending points. Every other accomplishment is theirs.

At the next table, Sophie is talking about Gordon and his adventuring party. Apparently, they're the closest of the humans to be nearing the second advancement. All being over level 35 and Gordon pushing 39. The pregnant woman doesn't guide their party anymore as they have since passed her in level. That doesn't mean she hasn't been keeping an eye on them whenever she can though. Which is harder than usual these days as she spends most of her time in Orad with Light.

A few Assassins don't seem convinced that reaching the second stage is such a big deal. That's mainly because most of them are over level 80, but humans have to be more careful than these carefree idiots.

Looking in Light's direction, why am I not surprised to see a mug in his hand and a silly expression on his face? Also, why does it feel like my Master Assassin's tolerance to alcohol is getting weaker rather than stronger? He never used to get drunk.

Or was he?

Now that I think of it, the only thing he ever managed was to not spill his ale. As I watched him goofing around, Noir appeared beside Light and slapped him merrily on the shoulder. Light smiled mischievously and returned the friendly gesture on Noir's back ever so slightly harder than he himself had received.

I could only shake my head as less than three slaps later a fight broke out. I don't know what overcomes these two sometimes, but there's never a dull moment around here. Even out in the countryside they can find a reason to kick the living shit out of each other and yet, I still love them unconditionally.

It really is like I'm their parent sometimes. Watching my kids squabble over petty things. It's actually pretty fucking amazing when you consider that they're actually dungeon-summoned beings. Not your average dungeon monsters, but sentient people with thoughts of their own.

Before I have to intervene, the dastardly duo's respective partners turn up and out a stop to it for me. A quick slap round the back of Noir's head from Carrie and the redhead looks ashamed.

Damn she's got him well trained.

Alternatively, Dropper didn't think a slap would suffice for Light and instead she slugger punched him straight in the face. The Master Assassin flew backwards, destroying a table in the process - he cost me a fortune in tables, but to his credit, he still didn't spill a single drop of ale.

In fact, the only liquid covering the wreckage and ground beneath him is his own blood. Gushing from his nose at a truly scary pace, I wonder how Light managed to become a Master before Dropper did. I mean, clearly she has the drop on him.

"Erm, Tilly. Can we borrow you for a minute?"