The rest of Colin’s time in Rosengard that evening was spent telling Eldrin what had happened during his infiltration of Harvey’s stolen apartment building. On the fourth retelling of the story, he got annoyed at the amount of time that was being spent doing this pointless task. He understood the necessity, hell; he had done this in the past.

That didn’t remove how annoying it was to be on this end, however.

Inside the High Guard’s interrogation room, Colin stood up from his seat and glared at Eldrin. “We have been at this for the last hour, Captain Eldrin,” Colin stated, using Eldrin’s title to help punctuate his annoyance. “I have told you everything that happened, including the part when Vivian hit me over the head. I am tired, hungry, and want to see my wife. Can I go now?”

The High Guard Captain’s eyes flew open at the end of Colin’s shortlist. “You’re married? You never told me, DevilWalker.”

Colin only shrugged, “You never asked, and it never came up. Like how you’ve never mentioned similar details about yourself.”

“True true,” he said, nodding along. “Anyway. I contacted my superiors before we entered this room, and pending a little deliberation; we will discover whether or not you will be allowed into the ruins tomorrow morning. Is there anything else you need tonight?”

“Actually, yes. That woman, Vivian, is part of a quest I need to finish. I would like her to put into my care so that I may complete it.” Colin explained.

“I cannot foresee that being a problem if she agrees to go with you, that is. No one will be released from my custody until tomorrow morning so they can be properly fed and debriefed. Except you, of course, DevilWalker. You may speak to her tomorrow morning,” Eldrin finished.

“I can deal with that,” Colin confirmed.

“DevilWalker,” Eldrin started, emotion leaking into his voice. “This outcome truly goes beyond what I was hoping. Not only did you somehow succeed in getting the bastard and the stolen item, but you also rescued the survivors. I want to offer something else as a reward, but I will admit that I don’t know what to give you.”

Smiling at the well-intentioned Captain, Colin said the first thing that came into his mind. “I wouldn’t worry about repaying me, Eldrin. Just get me into those ruins, and we’re good.”

Eldrin nodded once. “We will have to wait and see. Not even I can guarantee that. I’ve already done all I can until I hear the word.”

“Then please tell me when I return to see Vivian in the morning. I want to finish some quests first thing tomorrow and then hopefully head right in.” Colin told him, simply outlining the plan. “By your leave?”

“Have a wonderful evening, DevilWalker.” Eldrin reciprocated, extending his hand to shake Colins.

Colin took it and started toward the door. The Captain called out to Colin as his hand touched the door handle. “I hope you realize what you are getting yourself into, DevilWalker. I will do my utmost to uphold my end of our bargain, but if you die down there…” Eldrin said, training off menacingly.

“It will not be your fault, and I will not be getting a second chance. I understand, Eldrin. You’ve made the mistake of underestimating me once. I doubt you’ll do so again,” Colin told him, smiling wickedly.

As he stepped out of the room, Eldrin looked at Colin with a bemused smile upon his face. “No, I will not.”

Colin walked out of the building and looked at the out of game time. Wincing, he decided to call it for the night. It had been several hours since he’d left the game, and he was overdue for a restroom break. He did not want to wake from the game one day to find the Mckenna had somehow maneuvered him into a diaper as a joke.

It would not surprise him if he found this one day soon. He felt that it would be better to avoid McKenna’s weird jokes and just step out of the game every once in a while.

Logging out, Colin found himself a little disoriented for a moment while his consciousness came back to him. It felt like a tiny headache that radiated all over his head that subsided only seconds after he’d noticed it. He let out a small groan but pulled the bulky thing off seconds later and just laid there for a few seconds. He let the feel of the cold room hit his skin, the sound of traffic and water boiling in another room wash over his ears, and he could smell frying beef in tomato sauce hit his nose and… Wait a second.

“McKenna?” he called.

“At last, you grace me with your presence.” She called back. “Though I cannot blame you for being in-game for so long, that Captain seems to be a stickler for thoroughness, I wish you’d have found a way to pop out and see me after I get home.”

Guilt hit him like an arrow, he knew what that felt like too, and it isn’t pleasant. “Sorry, Mckenna. I will do better tomorrow,” Colin said, standing up and finally feeling how full his bladder felt. Relieving himself only took a moment then he joined McKenna in their moderately sized kitchen.

“How was work?” Colin asked, stepping next to her. He always marveled at how her presence ever made him both calm and nervous. As if she were both glue and brick to his fragile form.

She shrugged, pausing from her sauce mixing long enough to look at him properly for a moment. “A bit on the boring side today. All I really did was paperwork for the firm, and that gave me time to watch you work. Very well done today, DevilWalker,” She said, giving him a coyish peck on the lips.

“Honey, you know I don’t like you calling me that,” he said, looking at her intensely.

“Fair enough,” she said, going to the meatballs she was frying and turning them all over. “So tell me, Colin, how do you feel after today’s murder spree?” she asked, smiling.

“Not bad. I wish I could have fought Harvey Regic to the death, but,” he sighed. “Oh well, it is what it is.”

“You did very well, though. I thought the vampire was about to have you for lunch, but then that Jotun came running in, and I must admit, that was well thought out.” McKenna complimented, bumping him with her hip to emphasize her words. “Especially without this mysterious class.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to wonder if it’s worth it to get that first. Won’t it be better to get a class first and then go into the ruins to get the class? That way, I should have abilities that will help me complete it, right?” Colin mused.

“Maybe, but there’s a couple of flaws in that plan. First, you cannot get a subclass until level ten. That’s why Monty’s party was able to overpower you so easily. They all said they had a subclass, which means they are all at least that level. Second, there is a reason why they are called classes and subclasses. The class choice denotes the way your character will grow its skills. Warrior gets a bonus for most weapons and armor types, the rogue for knives and stealth, and so on. The subclass, however, specializes your character further. The bonuses you get to your skills that it grants are a little smaller, and you get limited choices for your true class later in your character’s career.” McKenna said, letting loose a small monologue that she must have gotten from one of the few wikis the game allows.

“Like what?” Colin asked.

“Like, uhm,” She hedged while thinking. “Ah! A rogue and warrior character could become many things like a scout, sniper, or even something called a sword jester depending on skills that they’ve leveled. But a warrior and rogue mix could get the pirate, vigilante, or even the Musketeer class. I’ve heard of rogue/ warriors becoming pirates, I’m pretty sure the skill requirements are higher,” She said with a shrug.

“Makes sense, sort of,” Colin hedged with a nod. “Please continue, I assume there’s at least one more reason I should try the ruins first?”

“Yes, there is. The third and most important reason you should do this first is rather simple. I am expecting another slow day tomorrow, and I could use the entertainment. If you get a class, it would be smart to practice its abilities for a few hours before doing anything crazy. This means if you wait, I might miss the fun of seeing you attack this dungeon and the attaining of your hidden class,” she said, now glaring at him with the new information floating about in Colin’s head. “You wouldn’t do that to me, would you?”

Quickly shaking his head, he spewed out what she wanted to hear. “Of course not. After I turn in the quests that I finished from Harvey’s capture, I plan to head straight in,” he told her, unsure if she was watching him explain this to Eldrin.

“Good. I hope you’ll text me in-game when you start heading to the dungeon, not just before entering it.” She raised the utensil in her hand and pointed the sauce covered wooden spoon at him. “Right?” Her eyes were squinting with eyebrows knitted together, and lips pressed together, all in a mockery of a threat.

“Yes, dear. I will do as you say,” Colin said, leaning forward and licking the saucy spoon. “I think it needs more garlic.”

McKenna dropped the play and did as Colin did. “Agreed,” she said and added some more powdered garlic to the mix.

“Do you need any help?” Colin asked, looking at the main dish that seemed mostly finished.

“We have a salad in the fridge, and I already have the rolls in the oven. If you could put together the salad, that would be great,” McKenna said, all grateful smile and no annoyance whatsoever.

“No problem,” he said, doing as she requested.

The next morning, he finished his run, breakfast, and bathroom stops a little earlier than the day before, and Colin thought about what he needed to do before he got back to the game.

He continued to think about it until a thump from another part in the house reminded him about one of the husband’s duties that he rather enjoyed that wasn’t sex.

Seconds later, McKenna emerged from the hall in one of her work outfits and hustled to the front door. She was wearing a semi-casual pantsuit that lent well to the office worker that she was. While the black pants and closed jacket with a white tee-shirt underneath were very modest in how much of her it showed, the jacket hugged her stomach to help emphasize her thin stature and womanly curves.

“Colin?” she said, somehow surprised to see him. “I thought you said you were going into the game early today.”

Nodding, he replied, “I wanted to see you off.”

She actually coo’d adorably at his words. “Awww, Colin. That’s so sweet, I’m glad.” She said, now beaming. They kissed for a moment, just lips at first, then as it dragged on into the double digits, Colin’s arms started to wrap around her. While she did let out a small, breathy gasp at his movements, McKenna broke the kiss with a chuckle. “I’ll miss you too, but I have to go,” she said, eyes wandering up and down Colin. She lingered for a moment on his crotch before looking back at his face.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” Colin said, smiling at his beautiful wife.

“No, I can’t,” she said, taking another step back and closer to the door. “I’ll be back later tonight,” she said, grabbing her purse from the small end table near the door. She grabbed the door handle and looked at Colin with a wicked gleam in her eye, “I just got an idea.”

“Oh, no. Why do I feel like you’re about to be mean to little old me,” Colin said, smiling even wider at McKenna.

“You might,” she told him, releasing the door handle. Looking at him, back straight and eyes on his. “If you manage to impress or entertain me in-game today, I will make sure you enjoy yourself tonight. In our room.” She stated ambiguously. “How does that sound?”

“Like motivation to get working,” Colin told her simply. “What happens if I don’t entertain you?” He asked, nervous about the answer.

“I guess I will leave it to your imagination about how sideways I can make your punishment,” she said, rushing out the door before Colin could protest.

An image of her putting him in a diaper rushed through his mind, and he stopped staring at the door. That particular idea was unlikely but worked as an excellent motivation to get moving. Without delay, Colin slipped on the helmet and logged into the game.

He woke into the game and immediately recognized his location as, yet again, the High Guard Barracks.

Convenient. Colin was close to where Vivian and the other hostages were being held overnight for questioning. Standing from the bed, Colin spared a quick thought for how he was now used to the idea of waking up, in-game, with shoes on. It was still a little weird intellectually but ignorable, so he just got up and started towards the building he’d left only the night before.

It was easy enough to find since he was getting used to the area and stepped inside only to be greeted immediately by a Jotun that was happy to see him.

“DevilWalker! It is good to see you again, Swordmate.” Rothar exclaimed cheerfully, his joy loud enough to shake the dust from the ceiling.

Colin winced at the giant gray-skinned humanoid that stood only a few feet away from him, smiling toothily at him. His happiness had made him loud, and everyone else that was in the room had looks of annoyance and actual pain cross over their faces as they covered their ears.

“Its good to see you, Rothar. But could you please be a little quieter? It’s early in the morning, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be rude to everyone in here, would you?” Colin asked, gesturing towards a woman with a hawkish nose, pale complexion, and now a grateful smile. She was wearing clothing that looked like a dress uniform for the High Guard, or at least it looked formal and was in the High Guard’s colors.

Rothar shook his head, “No, I wouldn’t.” He told Colin, voice now more subdued.

“Great,” Colin said, then looked at the Jotun with concern. “What’s going to happen to you now, Rothar?”

“The Captain has given me a choice. I can either leave the city since nobody likes or trusts Jotuns here,” he said, sadness creeping into his voice.

“Or what?” Colin asked, now worried for the Jotun.

“Or I can join the Captain’s brute squad. He told me that there is always room for useful people,” Rothar explained, teeth bared at Colin in something like a smile. “The Captain said that Jotun’s had been known to exhibit actions that others might call violent,” he told Colin. “And that would come in handy.”

“I bet,” Colin said, finding himself smiling at the fierce Jotun. “You’ll probably fit in well there.”

Rothar shrugged, “at least until I go back home. I was only planning on being in Willows Cross for a couple more weeks.”

“Going home is a good thing, right?” Colin asked curiously.

“Yes, as long as I come back stronger than I left. I am,” he confirmed before Colin could ask.

“I’m happy for you,” Colin told him truthfully.

“I am as well. Now I can earn enough money to make the trip home easier,” Rothar informed him. “What about you?”

“I am here to see the Captain,” Colin answered. “Is he here?”

Rothar nodded, “I’d talk to her. She should be able to help you,” he answered helpfully.

“Thanks,” Colin said, turning to face the lady that he was fairly certain was the Receptionist. Forcing a smile, he took a step closer and spoke carefully to avoid annoying the woman, “I would like to see the Captain, please?”

“DevilWalker, I presume?” the woman asked pleasantly, a smile spreading across her aged features.

“Yes, that’s me,” Colin chirped.

“The Captain was expecting you. He said to inform him when you got here.” The smile she gave almost looked like it was about to shift into a cackle. “Please, follow me.”

Shrugging at her non-use of a courier or magic item to inform Eldrin, Colin merely followed the Receptionist as she led him out of the foyer and down the hall. They rounded a corner and promptly stopped in front of a wooden door.

Without any warning, she stepped inside and grinned wickedly at the Captain in front of her. The Captain had his head down onto his folded arms as if he were playing a game of heads up, seven up. Only, instead of being quiet like the game would generally require, the Captain was snoring unabashedly like a woodchipper.

“Would you like to see something funny?” she whispered.

Now Colin was smiling. He nodded once in acknowledgment.

Closing the distance between herself and the Captain’s desk, the Receptionist watched the Captain for a few seconds as if she were timing something. Then the Captian drew in a particularly long breath between snores. “Sir! Goblin wave approaching behind you!” she announced, slamming a fist on his desk.

Jumping to his feet, the Captain now suddenly in a blind rage, he spun around and aimed his hand towards the wall behind him. “Stay behind m-” he started as the spell flew from his contorted fingers.

Bright orange light flew from his hand and into the wall with a loud and solid crash as a section of stone brick wall shattered. The smoke cleared, and Colin stared at the display of magical power with curious awe. A four-foot hole was blasted clear through the wall, making it possible to see the custodian’s closet behind the wall.

The Receptionist looked a little disappointed as she turned to look at Colin, “that’s disappointing. I was hoping to see him use ice. Seeing everyone get chilly is hysterical.”

The Captain stiffened. His head turned slowly to look at the Receptionist with eyes now full of annoyance. Something in the room changed, like if the temperature in the room suddenly raised ten degrees, and light started to play around the man’s hands. Then he turned and pointed at the woman, the light vanishing from his hand and appearing around her. Then she was gone with no light, sound, or effect to make her disappearance as if she’d never existed at all.

“That woman never does as I tell her,” the Captain said, a satisfied smile now playing across his face. “Maybe now she’ll learn to do as instructed instead of always working to amuse herself.”

“What.” Colin stopped talking, swallowed, and tried again. “How? You just killed her for playing a lame joke,” Colin stated, carefully watching for the man’s reaction. “Was it really-”

“Relax, DevilWalker, I didn’t kill her. I just teleported her about a kilometer away from here,” he stated before Colin could keep thinking otherwise. “Hopefully, on the walk back will help her reflect on her life choices.” The Captain rubbed his face absently for a moment, looking down at his desk for a few seconds while taking in several long breathes.

When he finished, he looked up at Colin, more aware than he had been mere moments ago. With shadows under his eyes and a smile on his face, he addressed Colin. “Welcome back, DevilWalker. I assume you had a pleasant evening?”

Colin nodded, “I did.”

“That’s good because mine has been a very long and annoying one thanks to you,” he said with a growl in his voice, the smile faltering a little.

“Why? What did I do?” Colin asked, playing along with Eldrin’s explanation. He took one of the seats across from the Captain’s desk and leaned back a little, getting comfortable for the man’s complaints.

“Oh, where to start,” he exclaimed to the room. “Let’s start with your reward to enter the ruins. That was approved, by the way, after my superiors spent some time making me count as a character witness for your entry. That lost me around an hour and a half of time last night.

Then there was the Jotun that was living in that apartment building. Fortunately, it had its paperwork to say that it’s here legally so I can make use of him,” The Captain paused to take a breath from his rant.

The Captain then smiled, “at least that is one less thing to worry about.” But then his demeanor shifted right back to annoyed. “But that leads me back to the main reason I’m annoyed. I had to spend all night interviewing all the hostages AND the few people you left alive, including Harvey. I only got to sleep an hour ago,” Eldrin finished, a little whine outlining the end of his statement.

“I’m sorry to hear that me defeating a known criminal gang leader, freeing his hostages, and getting you the ring he stole back would be such trouble. If I had known that doing such noble things would cause you trouble, then I might not have done so,” Colin told the Captain, sarcasm tracing his every word.

“Yeah, sure,” Eldrin grumbled. “Look. Here’s the deal. My men will not be going into the ruins today; today is all yours. After you finish your business, you are to report to the barracks where one of my men will meet you. From there, Sergeant Prior will escort you to the ruins entrance. You will go in, and the door will be sealed behind you. The Sergeant will walk you through the knocking procedure necessary for the doors to open to you. Otherwise, you will be stuck there until you die or find another way out. Understood?”

Colin nodded. “What about me taking Vivian Wattier off your hands, Eldrin?”

“She has consented to go with you,” Eldrin said flatly. “On the condition, you explain why you wanted her. She said you told her something about her relative but neglected to tell her more.”

“I think so, yeah," Colin said, rubbing the spot on his head where she'd hit him with a chair leg. Eldrin raised an eyebrow, and Colin answered his unspoken question, "I was concussed at the time. May I see her now?” Colin asked.

Nodding, Eldrin called out, “whoever is on guard! Please come in here.”

Seconds later, a young man in the same armor as all the others walked in. “Yes, Captain?”

Eldrin gestured across his desk to Colin. “Please escort DevilWalker here to one of the people we have in holding. A Miss Vivian Wattier. Please bear witness to him explaining why he wants her and the young Miss’s acceptance to go with him. I don’t want to get in trouble later if she complains that DevilWalker here did something.”

“Yes sir,” The Guard saluted and stood still. Content with just waiting patiently for Colin to move to leave.

Colin stood and looked back at Eldrin with a small smile, “Thank you for everything. I don’t think I could have defeated Harvey without you there to capture him at the bottom of the building.”

Eldrin cracked a small smile, “just go, DevilWalker. Come back here once you get an Info Tablet. I want to add you to mine,” The man said, turning away from Colin to look at the hole he’d made in the wall.

Sensing that Eldrin had effectively ended their conversation, Colin took the hint and faced the guard. The young man nodded and left the room with Colin following a step behind. The guard paused to close the door behind them but otherwise led the way.

“I’m sorry to ask you this,” Colin started as they walked casually. “But the Captain seemed just tired enough that I didn’t feel that it was safe to ask with how tired he was.”

The guard simply nodded in acknowledgment.

“He told me to come back when I get an Info Tablet. What is that?” Colin asked.

Pausing his stride, the guard looked at Colin with a confused look on his face. “You don’t know what that is? Wow. You don’t find too many like you.” The man shrugged dismissively. Starting his stride back up, he explained, “An Info Tablet is several small magic devices all in one. It is a communicator primarily that is bound to the user and synergizes with their abilities. Like if you have the Minimap ability, it will show on the Info Tablet so you can show others. It is a must for any adventurers who want to make the most of their abilities. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah,” Colin said, thinking through the implications of what this device could do. “Oh, thank you.”

Nodding, The young Guardsman led him through a part of the building he recognized and stopped in front of a nondescript steel door. “She’s in here.”

Nodding once, Colin opened the door and stepped inside. The room was about twenty feet wide by twenty feet long, with wooden tables and chairs being the only furnishing. A half dozen people that he recognized from the apartment that he’d liberated sat about either eating and drinking contentedly. Only one of the group stood from her seat and smiled at Colin’s entrance.

Luckily for him, it was Vivian.

“DevilWalker! I’m happy to see you,” she chirped.

Smiling back at her, he responded simply with a, “I can tell.”

“Are you here to take me now?” she asked, the smile faltering in its intensity.

“Not if you don’t want to,” Colin said truthfully. “I’ll just tell the person who contracted me what happened, and he’ll understand.”

“Who contracted you?” she asked.

So Colin spent a few minutes telling the woman what happened when he met Dante and why he took the quest. Her face showed every emotion quickly and gasped at the telling of her predicted death. At the mention of her brother, however, she looked pensive and a little troubled. At the end of his story, she turned around and started muttering quietly to herself. Colin only managed to catch a few words like; Mother, half-breed, and low muttered fuck.

A few seconds later, Vivian turned around, her glittering amethyst eyes looking at Colin with determination. “Alright. I will go with you, DevilWalker. Please escort me to this man, Dante,” She said with a slight bow of her head. “Please.”

Remembering an old movie that he hadn’t seen since he was a kid, Colin responded with an even-toned and sincere, “As you wish.” Carey Elwis, eat your heart out.

Together, the two left the room with none of the other ex-hostages, even looking in their general direction. Colin didn’t understand it. Maybe they were tired, given that the Captain had been up almost all night, it was plausible that they had been too.

The guard escorted Colin to the Reception Room, where Rothar was waiting, humming a tune that sounded vaguely like elevator music. Did this world even have elevators? Dismissing that thought, Colin waved at Rothar as they left the building.

“Nicely done, DevilWalker. I’m impressed that you could pull off this rescue,” Came a familiar voice off to his side. It hadn’t even been a minute since they’d left the High Guards holding facility, and Dante had already appeared.

“What can I say,” Colin said without inflection. “I’m just that good.”

“Indeed,” he said, not hiding his interest. “I cannot wait to see what you do in the future, but for the moment, I believe I am right on TIME to take Miss Wattier off your hands.” He said, waggling his eyebrows at Colin. Catching the joke, Colin rolled his eyes and groaned at the Chronmancer’s words.

Then Dante turned to face the young woman, all playfulness gone, and only the usual confident smile was remaining. “I have informed your brother of your state of living and requires to see you. He extends a hand of safe passage and indispensable protection service for your ride to the Feylands.”

“What service?” she asked.

“Me, of course,” he said, smiling wickedly. “I will get you there safely, I guarantee it,” he said, a vicious look crossing his face.

“But that does not tell me why he wants to see me or even why he cared whether or not I was dead. Why does he require me back?” Vivian asked Dante.

“I do not currently know the specifics, Miss Wattier. The only thing I know is that it has to do with your inheritance from your Grandmother. Your brother told me to bring back the only true evidence of your death that could exist, your two rings.” Dante said, looking pointedly at Colin.

Vivian looked away from Dante, ashamed at her loss. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what happened to them. They were taken by some of the men who held us. I’m sure they’re probably in the pocket of one of the men.”

“Actually,” Colin said, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing the two silver rings. “Are these the rings you’re looking for?”

She looked, and suddenly her eyes went wide at what Colin was holding in his palm. “How?” was all she managed after a few seconds passed.

Baring his teeth in a wolfish smile, Colin said, “I got them back. Isn’t that all that matters?” he asked, not wanting to show her his happiness at the death of the two men. He wasn’t sure he could hold back, telling her that they had been planning to force themselves on her.

Nodding slowly, Vivian slowly reached out and took the pair of rings from Colin’s open palm. Immediately, the pair of rings started to do their impression of The One Ring with red-white light that burned the surface of the rings. Seconds passed, and the light focused, dimmed, and changed to lines of pale blue-black light. The lines flowed across the surface of the rings forming lines of runes that Colin thought he recognized from Earth.

“What is that?” Colin vocalized.

“Its the old language of my Grandmother’s home. Its called Elder Futhark,” she said, in awe at the black light that still emanated from the pair of rings in her palm.

“Any idea what it means?” Colin asked.

“I don’t know,” Vivian said, poking one of the bands with her finger to no visible effect. “They’ve never done this before.”

Colin then looked at Dante, who had been silent since the rings had been drawn. “What about you? Any ideas?”

Dante shrugged noncommittally.

“Dante?” Colin pressed.

His smile was now a knowing one as he simply said, “sorry. No spoilers allowed.”

Confused but not wanting to test his luck against the Chronomancer, especially since he’d already spectacularly failed, Colin dropped his question. Instead, he looked at the rings again and sighed as he suddenly wished that he didn’t have to give them up. They were quite beautiful as they sat in Vivian’s palm.

Closing her fist, Vivian looked up at Colin. Her eyes welled with tears as she held the closed palm to her chest. “Thank you. Thank you for getting all of us out of the horrid apartment. You even got me back my family’s rings. It was the one keepsake I was allowed to leave my home a few years ago. These meant the world to me since my brother told me not to come back.”

She took in a single long breath, “but that was then. Now my brother wants me back home. I probably wouldn’t be alive to see it if it weren’t for you. I am forever in your debt.”

Vivian Wattier, a mature half-fey woman, has proclaimed a life debt that she owes you. To the fey, words and promises are more than mere sounds, and even magic holds them under less sway. Vivan will remember your kindness until the day she dies. New Dialogue will be available when you see her again.

“Miss Wattier,” Dante said, getting her attention away from Colin. He gestured to his wrist, which had an actual silver analog watch ticking away. “It’s time to go.”

Nodding, the woman gave Colin a brave smile as she took a few steps towards Dante.

He extended a hand, palm up, and asked, “ready?”

Silent, she took his hand, and a copper aura sprang up around the pair. Everyone on the street stopped to watch the commotion as the light got brighter and started to swirl like bands of light around them. The spinning got faster and faster with additional bands of light appearing and spinning in opposition to the rest. The two blurred into the light that engulfed them, until a burst of white light and concussive sound, they were gone—no trace to give any indication what Dante had done.

Moments passed, and the crowd started to shuffle away now that the oddity had passed on. Colin stayed put for a moment or two longer to contemplate Dante but only came up with a mental shrug. He knew the highlights of his personality but knew nothing of the man’s real motives or what his class allowed him to do. Sure, Colin could assume, but that would lead towards way too many presumptions with little evidence to back it up.

Well, one task down, one to go.

First, he headed for the apartment complex where he’d met Yaric to get his bearings. His directions to Grena’s Bar were relatively simple from there. Head east for a block and a half, and there should be a sign above the door. With the assistance of a pedestrian and a city block, Colin had found the establishment.

He was standing on the side of a one-way street looking at a stained redwood door. The sign above it had faded over the years, but it did indeed confirm that it was Grena’s Bar. A few people walking by gave him side-long looks.

Colin walked through the door and took in the place with a smile. It looked like any dive-bar he’d spent time in combined with the hole in the wall restaurants that he enjoyed. The smell of frying meats and potatoes hovered through the air pleasantly followed quickly by the aroma of halfway decent liquor. Patron’s to the establishment sat in their seats, enjoying the food and drink.

One particular patron stood out from the rest because he was the only one that Colin recognized.

Immediately upon closing the door, Yaric turned to see who entered and smiled upon seeing who it was. “DevilWalker!” he announced happily, “you made it! You look good for the beating I heard you took.”

Colin shrugged, “nothing a good healer couldn’t fix.”

Yaric laughed, “I suppose that’s true. Am I correct in my guess that since you’re here that you completed my quest?”

“With some help,” He said casually. “But yeah, he was killed. Turned out to be a vampire.”

Yaric’s eyes widened, “A Vampire? Hmmm, that would explain what happened,” he said, muttering to himself quietly.

“What was your interest in seeing him dead?” Colin queried. “Why did it matter to you?”

Yaric looked at Colin, and his gaze seemed to be scanning Colin for something. Ulterior motives, maybe? Whatever he was looking for, he didn’t share with Colin, but he did decide to start talking.

“Are you aware of the events that happened after Harvey took over that apartment building?” he asked, then continued before Colin could even nod. “One of the residents was my son, Coric. He was an Adventurer by trade and lived in the building between hunts. Coric was a warrior class and hadn’t leveled up enough to get his subclass yet.”

The man before Colin smiled a little for a moment, “he always said that he was going to take the mage as his subclass. He worked so hard for it,” Yaric said, seconds before his voice turned angry. “Then Harvey’s Gang took over the building, and my son must have tried to be a hero. I was contacted a few days after they found his corpse at the foot of the building. His body was drained of all fluids and was almost naught but dust. That creature was the only unknown of Harvey’s Gang of miscreants and was the only reasonable suspect. I admit that I didn’t know it was a Vampire,” he looked a little sheepish at that fact. “Sorry about that.”

“How could you have known. Besides, It's dead, and that’s all that matters. Right?” Colin said, trying to appease the man.

A smile appeared on his face, “Indeed. Thank you for your work. Would you like your reward now? I have it here,” he said, patting a satchel that Colin wouldn’t admit that he missed seeing upon arrival.

“I’ll take it now,” Colin said, then quickly added, “if you please.”

Yaric grinned, “sure. Here you go,” he said, withdrawing the jacket from the satchel.

It was a black leather jacket that looked like it belonged with a motorcycle biker riding cross country with a full beard and a take no shit attitude. It was a little worn, but that just seemed to give it character. The weird thing was that it looked like it was sized perfectly to fit him. He slipped it on and yep, it fits like a tailored suit.

A prompt appeared upon sliding the jacket on.

You have put on the Enchanted Leather Jacket. Due to the inherent toughness of treated leather, this item grants a +3 to your Armor Rating. The enchantment on the jacket makes itself known to you upon donning it for the first time. Mage Armor, Tier one. You gain an additional +3 to your Armor Rating in the areas covered by the jacket. 20% chance to turn a slashing or piercing attack into bludgeoning.

Cool, Colin had no idea what to make of all that new information but still, Cool.

“Looks good on you,” Yaric said, looking Colin over approvingly. “I do hope it’s helpful.”

“I think it will be,” Colin said, approving his new look.

“You look like you have places to be, DevilWalker. Would you like a drink for the road?” Yaric gestured to the drink in front of him.

“No, I better not. Thank you anyway,” Colin said, appreciatively. “You are right; I have somewhere to be. See you around?”

Yaric raised his mug to Colin, “You most certainly will.” The man said with a joyous laugh. “Next time, you will join me for a drink.”

Smiling to the man, Colin nodded, “Of course.”

Walking out, Colin considered going to see Clyde about the quest for his brother. He wanted to put it off since it wouldn't be any use in the dungeon, and he wasn't told to bring him the news as soon as possible. After a moment of walking towards the High Guard Complexes, Colin decided to take care of it now. He simply would want someone to give him the news if it was his brother.

Pulling out his map, Colin found his location after seeing a landmark and followed it to Clyde's shop.

Only once he got there, he found it locked with a note on the door that simply read; Out for personal business. Back this afternoon.

Shrugging, Colin withdrew the hammer from his back and hefted it once or twice. It had had some weight despite being a medium-sized ball-peen hammer. If he had tried, he might have been able to brain one of Harvey's gang with it.

Since there was no helping it for the moment, Colin put the hammer back in his pack and left the shop behind him. He would return later to complete the quest. For now, he had a dungeon to enter.