For the second time this cycle, he was utterly astounded. A Divinity-Damned dragon? This was yet another thing of myth from the works he’d read offered by the Church. Suddenly he felt his education had been awful, nearly useless. There was clearly so much he didn’t know.

“What about this.. dragon, would bring you here?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer to this question.

Wersa answered immediately, “Just the confirmation of where a dragon might be is worth enough gold to never have to work again for most adventurers. A single scale, or even some dragon shit would be enough.”

He wasn’t really surprised, though why dragon’s should be so sought after, he didn’t know.

Wersa continued, “We were also here to train Dice. She was going to be Karmis' Class Disciple.”

His mouth gaped open, “Dice, a woman who could barely talk, was to be Karmis’ Class Disciple and inherit her Class? What was Karmis’ Class?”

“She was a Temptress, but she had made a lot of modifications to her own Class. She was a Class Master.”

A Class Master? Usually Class Masters were far more powerful than Karmis. At least Caius had described combat Class Masters as virtually unbeatable, except to sheer overwhelming numbers or another Class Master. Why was Karmis so weak?

He left Wersa waiting a moment for his next question while the thought through the series of circumstances that allowed him to defeat a Divinity-Damned Class Master. Karmis was clearly weakened, due to age. She was not a combat Class Masters. She burnt through her reservoir of power, and needed him to advance her Path. Most of all, she had been arrogant. A Karmis in her prime would probably have beat him, or worse, had been able to charm him and make him her slave. There was a lesson in all of this for him. Stay away from Class Masters? Arrogance will kill you? Never assume a woman’s age?

He moved on to an obvious question, “Why Dice? How could she become a Temptress?”

He didn’t really know what a Temptress was exactly, but he could guess. It had to be a Class built around sexual charm, probably for the purpose of collecting information, assassination, or just plain control. Who would have such a Class? People who sold their bodies clearly, but who else? Spies? Mistresses? Courtesans? Were there gigolos with a similar Class? A Temptor? Was it anything like his own Class? His mind spun with questions as Wersa began to speak.

“Dice was a very good killer. The modifications Karmis made to her Class required someone to be merciless first, before they learned anything else from the Class. Karmis believed that all the other skills could be taught over time. She once told me that she was from the very same place that we found Dice. She told me she had been just like Dice, but not a killer. She only picked up killing later in life. Karmis wanted her Class Disciple to be a killer first, to save the disciple the grief that Karmis experienced until she found the will to kill. Dice wasn’t her first attempt though, there have been other women, but none were as merciless that Dice was.”

She was creating her own version of an Assassin? She was trying to create a better version of herself? One without the flaw of mercy? This sent a chill down his spine. What would animate such a woman to live so long, just to pass on a more merciless version of their original Class? He had never asked Dice about where she was from, and he wouldn’t get to now.

“Should I even ask about the other women? They are dead aren’t they?” His voice was grim.

Wersa only nodded.

He changed the topic again, “What was the necklace you were wearing?”

“Karmis gave it to me. It was meant to prevent being charmed or controlled so that I could never be turned against her.”

“Is that a common thing? Are spells that control minds often used?”

This question was purely for himself of course. Perhaps Classes like his weren’t so rare? If there were many Classes like his, he would have to be a lot more careful about how he used his spells. What if there was detection built into the entrance of the Tower or the Church? What if there were counter-measures in place?

“No, mental control is very rare. Classes like Illusionist, Mesmerist, and Karmis’ Temptress are the closest you would find normally. Class Masters will often steal the spells, and even the grimoires, of other Class Masters with similar Classes. Karmis was afraid of other Class Masters with charm spells trying to take her modified spells. I would be a possible weakness for Karmis if I could be controlled..” Her voice trailed off at that last statement, but she didn’t look at him.

“So I was incredibly unlucky to work for Karmis, was I?” His question was more to himself than to Wersa.

“Most people are, Lord.”

He sighed.

***

He wanted some time to digest what Wersa had told him, and to figure out his next steps. He had ordered Wersa to dig a deeper firepit where they could cremate what was left of Dice. He spent a moment checking on Karmis. Her illusion spell was imperfect, they would have to cover most of her body, but her body transformation spell was fully active again. Wersa had said, because the body transformation spell literally kept Karmis alive, at least in part, most of the spell was built into a number of spell trinkets sewn into her body. He had never heard of such a thing, but it made sense. As long as the person refilled the spells in the trinkets, they wouldn’t have to actively maintain the complex series of life-giving passive spells.

He began to walk slow circles around the campsite, at first surveying the damage, but eventually, his mind wandered to his feelings.

Something about that spell he used at the end, he didn’t even want to say its name, was a burden, though he didn’t know exactly why. The usage of the spell had weakened him in some fundamental way. He felt a weight now, at the very center of his being. Would the grimoire have answers for him? It was something of a contradiction because he had felt his Path advance and he was, at least momentarily, out of danger. He should be feeling good right now. The danger he experienced and the strength of his Class had been a real boon to his Path. He might very well be just as strong now in this new Path as he had ever been in his previous Path, despite how he felt.

He wondered if he could finally use one of the tower’s devices to measure his Path? He didn’t even know what the devices were called, just that they existed. Could he do that without revealing his Class? He could also register as a formal adventurer of the guild now. The backing of another member was perhaps the biggest hurdle for someone like him. Joining the Adventurer’s Tower required connections, beyond the significant fee they charged. Wersa would sponsor him, at least.

What was he going to do with Wersa and Karmis? He hated them, of course, but they were his responsibility now, and if he mismanaged the situation he could easily draw attention to himself. For all the strength of his Class, he was personally still very weak. If anything, he sensed danger far more distinctly now, after finding the grimoire, than he had before. Thankfully, it seemed like the most immediate danger was over. He could figure a few things out now, maybe. Spend some time with Ina.. and with Greer?

It was such a complex situation, he needed something simple to take his mind off what was going through it. He sent Ina very short and to the point message over their bond.

Ina jumped down from above, lightly landing in front of him.

He sent over their bond, “How are you feeling Ina? Are you still sore?” He caught her eyes with his own.

Ina spoke, her voice a little curious, “I am healed, Dem, are you well?”

He leaned toward her, taking a step closer to her, “I am fine Ina, so what do you think of my little proposition?” His eyebrow raised, as he spoke.

“Mmm, We can Dem, it has been too long. Right here?” Her voice took on the same husky tone as his own, though he could her a slight growl in her voice.

He gave a quick command to Wersa, “Wersa, go sit over there and turn around.”

He doubted Ina would care Wersa was looking but he did. Karmis was laid out in her tent, so wasn’t concerned with her.

His arms moved forward to encircle Ina’s shoulders. She tickled him with her tails, though she did not use the tails that were still healing. They would be sensitive for a number of cycles.

“This time it's my turn Ina.” His embrace growing stronger, as he started to buff himself with spells.

He buried his face into the nape of her of neck, softly nipping the soft flesh he found there. He could hear her softly growl over their bond.

To him, her growl had sounded a lot like, “We will see about that.”