<>(Zack)<>

"Zack?" Nik's voice gently wakes me, his hand resting on my shoulder. "Zack?"

"Five more minutes?"

"You've slept through more than a day, Zack," he says softly, and I turn over to face him.

"Huh?"

"When I returned to here," he tells me after I do. "After telling you to come here and calm down, I looked for you to find out if you wanted dinner, and you were asleep. That was two days ago. You slept from then until now."

"Five more minutes?"

"It's time for breakfast, Zack."

"I want five more minutes of sleep."

"You need food," he tells me. "Get changed and come down to the dining hall."

Nik leaves the room, and I turn back over, pulling the blanket over my head and attempt to sleep some more. It doesn't work, though, because Nik's cruel and woke me, so I eventually get out of bed and get changed.

When I enter the dining hall, I notice Gold sitting at the table, devouring sausage links and pancakes like there's no tomorrow. He's still without a Class, though.

"Nik?" I say, and he looks at me from where he's sitting across from Gold. "How is Gold in here? I thought only Dark Knights could enter the Dark Temples."

"I asked Big Flame for an exception," Nik tells me. "For Gold to stay here while you recovered. I was a bit concerned about how he'd be treated without one of us to keep an eye on things."

"Have they gone back?" I ask, and he sighs. "What?"

"You're still on this," he says.

"Saying that they're training deeper within," I say. "When they would get more battles and experience out here is just a cowardly way of saying that they're too unwilling to do real battle. They're training in safety, where it will take them longer to gain Levels for their Classes and Skills, rather than fighting where it's needed."

"Zack-"

"How many," I say. "Would have died had you guys had enough people in that party, when you went up against the Demonic Kobold King, Nik? Had more people been training out here, how many would have been of a strong enough Level when going in there? How many more people would have been here for that battle, been in your party?"

Nik doesn't have a response to that. He knows I'm right.

Had people been training here, in the valley, been training in Talorn, Praevar, and the mines, there would be a lot more Adventurers who are stronger. Sure, they need strong Adventurers back in the deeper territory, to help keep peace from stronger Monsters, but there are too few here and too many back there.

If more people were willing to train in the dangerous area, not only would that horde not have amassed, but they likely would have had enough powerful Adventurers to take on the Demonic Kobold King and deal with the Fallen Adventurers they came across.

In fact, it's possible they would have reclaimed the mines before I had ever arrived.

"That's what I thought," I say after almost half a minute of silence. "I'm thirteen, Nik, and I could see this. You can't tell me you hadn't seen it before, too. If they don't want to be serious about this, then they need to fuck off back into deeper territory. The forest is mine. The Monsters within it are mine. I need them to push through Dark Knight as quickly as possible, because I am serious. I want to be a Dark One before the year ends, and I can't do that with trash stealing my Experience and my rewards. If they're not going to make themselves useful in the mines, then they need to get out."

Nik sighs. I kept my tone a lot calmer this time, having collected myself a little, but I'm still annoyed, especially by the coward who tried to steal part of my reward when he realized I could actually kill the thing when he couldn't. That wasn't cool.

"So," I decide to change subjects. "I noticed Gold has a new outfit. Did you buy that?"

"I did," Nik nods. "He refused shoes and a jacket, though, even though he seemed a little cold."

I don't think he feels comfortable wearing that much, even if we can get him to wear this much. He's been treated like an animal his entire life, and wasn't allowed clothes before. He's probably uncomfortable wearing this much, but is because we've asked him to. Because I asked him to.

Oh, right. I have something that could possibly help with him feeling cold.

"Gold," I say, and the Beastborn looks at me. "Are you cold, when you're outside?"

He starts to shake his head, to give the 'right' answer, but then slowly nods, casting his gaze down, his cheeks reddening.

"Here," I pull out the pendant I looted and hold it out to him. "This will help you."

"That thing is pretty expensive," Nik tells me. "Him wearing it will cause problems."

"I've already removed one hand," I remind him. "It won't matter to me who it is, I'll remove any number of them, if people want to steal from me and mine."

Nik sighs, and something else comes to mind. I pull out a Spook Treat.

"Want one?" I ask Nik, and he stares at it.

"You do realize how much money you're just offering to me, right?" He asks.

"I heard they're a delicacy," I tell him. "And you know full-well how I can store things longer than others, since I know word got back to you on that. I'm sure I could sell it for a lot more now, right?"

"Probably," he sighs.

"Do you want it?" I ask. "I know you probably didn't get one, and I hear they're delicious."

"You haven't tried one?"

"I'll do it when I'm alone," I shrug.

"Are you sure you want to just give one up?"

"I have eighteen more," I say, and he laughs. "So?"

Nik takes the treat, thanks me, then sends it into his Inventory. Oh, right. It's not night, is it? He'll have to wait until then to eat it.

We finish our breakfast, then Gold and Kulkul clean up the dishes. I look at Nik, who mouths 'in a minute' to me. Once the dishes are cleared completely from the table and the Beastborn and demon are in the kitchen, Nik looks at me.

"Gold gets along with Kulkul pretty well," he tells me. "Even without speaking a word. Kulkul does get annoyed by his attempts to cuddle and play and wrestle, but is somewhat understanding of the Beastborn."

"You don't seem to treat him the way others do," I say. "They treat him with disgust and hate."

"Maybe so," he says. "But we are Dark Knights. I summon and control a demon, I use blood and rage to fuel my powers, I sacrifice parts of my fallen enemies to my patron and to empower my demon. What rights do I have to judge him for something he didn't have a choice in? He seems to enjoy being able to help without punishments, and has shown no hatred for me. And yet he knows what I do and what I am, and am of the same people who treated him wrong. You will find that few and far between are the Dark Knights who have a Beastborn as a slave. Those that do treat them more as companions than slaves."

Good.

"Have you calmed?" Nik asks.

"A bit," I nod. "Sorry… sorry for snapping at you earlier. Yesterday. Um… two days ago. It was two days ago."

"You're strong," he tells me. "But you're still a child. It's to be expected that you'd act this way in these circumstances, especially given your personality. Are you ready to resume your training?"

"I am."

"Very well," he says. "I ask that you do not leave the City until tomorrow."

"But-"

"Please, Zack," he says. "You may train here, at home, or elsewhere in the City, but do not leave to fight Monsters until tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," I stare at the table.

"Once Gold and Kulkul finish," Nik says. "We are going to meet with someone. He wanted to meet with you, once you woke. I told him that if you didn't wake by this morning, I would wake you myself."

Who? And why?

It takes another ten minutes for the Beastborn and the demon to finish the dishes, then Nik banishes Kulkul and we leave.

Nik leads us into the more expensive part of town, though it still looks somewhat abandoned, just like the rest of the City. Nature is reclaiming the areas untraveled, and this is no exception. He leads me to a large, three-story building with ivy creeping up the walls, though it looks like someone recently went through and cleared the path in the yard of the grass and flowers that grow everywhere.

Some noble wants to meet with me? Are they going to be a pompous ass again?

Good thing I have my armor and sword equipped. I might need to remove a hand or two.

We reach the doors, and Nik knocks. A moment later, the door is opened by a woman in her thirties, a rapier on her hip. I can see her stats. Her name is Isabel.

"We're expected," Nik says.

"Indeed, Lord Nik," she gives a small bow. "This way, please."

We enter, and she closes the door before leading us through the recently-cleaned building until we reach a room. She knocks on the door.

"Lord Nik and Dark Knight Zack are here," she says in a clear voice, then bows and walks away.

As she does, a familiar knight opens the door. This is one of the ones that was with…

The prince. Prince Joseph is here?

I might not need my sword. Or I might. I'm not sure, yet.

The knight allows us in, and I look around the room. It has sparse furniture, with just two couches facing each other, a low table between the two. Prince Joseph sits on the table opposite us, his back to the window looking into the courtyard.

"Hello, Nik," he greets us. "Zack."

"Your Highness," Nik says. "He's woken."

"Have a seat," Prince Wyatt gestures for us, and we sit on the couch.

Now I feel awkward. Does he want me to move to deeper territory? Is he going to order me to?

"Zack," Prince Joseph says. "I am glad to see you have finally woken from your death-sleep. You are the first person to ever survive the Blood Scar."

"I cannot explain how I did it," I inform him. "Not in a way that made sense. Sorry."

"It's alright," he smiles. "Nik has told me that even your patron wouldn't explain how you were able to survive for so long, or how you were able to fight against it. Would you mind telling me anyway?"

I do my best to think of a wording that would make sense, explaining about the Sacred Crystals within us, and how I can sense my own and those around me with a lot of focus. Then how it seems the Blood Scar affects the Sacred Crystals themselves, and how I somehow managed to cauterize the wounds inflicted by the Avatar of the Shadow of Life.

The prince listens intently as I does, nodding when I finish.

"Thank you, Zack," he says, and I shift in my seat. "I have heard that you have requested," he puts emphasis on that word. "That the Adventurers clearing out the forest of Monsters be removed from the area or sent to hunt in the mines instead. Would you mind explaining why?'

I do mind, very much. You're a prince, even if your authority doesn't do much out here. I don't acknowledge your power and authority over me, as I serve the Crystals, not men, yet you can create a lot of problems for me.

But he asks, so I tell him as honestly as possible, doing my best to contain my anger.

When I finish, he asks why I haven't used my Static Experience boosts yet from the Holiday Boss kills. I explain to him about wanting to save it for when I really need it, such as pushing through Classes I don't want to bother spending the time gaining the Experience for normally, outside of what's needed for the Skills to go up.

"I see," he says. "And your goal is to be a Dark One by the end of the year?"

"Yes."

"By the time the new year rolls around," he says. "There will be, at minimum, two more Special and Holiday Bosses. There is the Santa Boss, as well as the Snow Chief. The latter is an ordinary Special Boss, but it still yields the high bonuses for its kill, due to the difficulty. That should allow you to reach another twenty Levels, should you manage to kill those two by yourself.

"Judging by your growth rate," he says. "That should be more than enough when coupled with the Experience acquired gaining the Skill Levels necessary. Let's make a deal, Zack. If you can reach Dark One by the end of the year, then I will allow you to remain out here, unhindered. If you fail, I will request that you move deeper into the Boundary, as well as order Adventurers to begin clearing the valley again."

"Is that reaching Dark One," I ask. "Or reaching Level 41 of Dark Knight and Blood Priest, which is the requirement for it? I plan on Mastering a Class before moving on to the next."

"Reaching Dark One itself," he answers. "If it takes longer because you're Mastering before moving on, that's on you."

"Okay," I say, then register what he said. "Wait – order them to begin again?"

"Yes," he stands, and Nik does, so I do. "I am ordering the halting of the clearing from other Adventurers, as you will need the Experience. In addition it is unlikely that the Shadow of Life would be able to create such a horde within it again, despite its expanse, with you now aware of it and capable of handling stronger Monsters. Any who wish to remain will be sent to the mines. Those are a priority. If we cannot gain access to the lower Levels, then we will be unable to prepare better weapons for when the war comes. Do we have a deal?"

I will definitely reach Dark One by the end of the year.

"Yes," I say. "We do."

Looks like I won't be needing my sword, here.