After Franco had recovered enough to move, we went back the way we came. It didn’t take much to leave the dungeon, and fifteen minutes later we stood before the white slope of detritus that would lead us out of its premises. The curious color of the mound was owed in part to their origin. The rocks were, in fact, the ruins of Piazza Mazzini’s fountain’s basin. Years ago, the structure caved in, giving access to the network of caves which comprised the Orc’s Lair.

We ascended the small mountain without difficulty—years of people walking upon them had compacted the rocks to a solid and cohesive whole—and emerged in the Piazza. Two people, a man and a woman, hurried our way from different directions as soon as we did so.

Natalia was the first to arrive of the two. She waved my way, and I waved back at her.

“Who is she?” Franco whispered to me, looking at the cute brunette walking towards us like she had been a succulent cut of meat and he a hungry wolf.

“Why?” I asked back.

“Do you think you could introduce me?”

Before I could answer him, Natalia joined us.

“Hey, Marco,” she said in greeting. “I know you just got out, but Giacomo and Alessandro want you to the guild as soon as possible. They said it was important.”

“Thanks. I will go there immediately.”

“Also,” she hurried to add. “Can we make that drink some other time? I know I was the one to ask, but I can’t make it tonight. My friend just broke up with her boyfriend, and I don’t think she would take kindly to me leaving her alone to go out with someone else.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. He was an ass. It’s better this way. She only needs to realize that.”

“Right…” I drawled, sending a furtive glance to Franco, who looked as if someone had fed him an insect. “Anyways, don’t worry. Text when you can. This is Franco, by the way,” I added with some schadenfreude. “He is a friend of mine.”

“Franco! Come here!” The second person coming towards us yelled once he was sure Franco was in earshot, cutting him off from whatever he was going to say. “Ms. Pirelli and Mr. Porto want you to the guild.”

Franco heaved a sigh. “It was nice meeting you, Natalia,” he said, glaring at me.

“Now!” the man shouted.

“See you tomorrow, Marco,” Franco said, hurrying to the man.

“Did you two have a fight or something?” Natalia—who hadn’t missed Franco’s dirty look—asked once he was far enough away.

I laughed.

After leaving Natalia to her duties, I made my way to the private bus that would take me to the Stylus. It was the property of the guilds owning the dungeon, and its purpose was that of carrying the Awakened who were stationed for patrol, like Natalia was, to and from the Orc’s Lair from and to their respective guilds. The well-paid job was as tedious as it sounded but also necessary since whoever owned a dungeon also had to ensure no monsters left its premises.

Aboard the vehicle were very few people, of whom none I recognized. Seated alone and by a window, I waited for the bus to depart, which thankfully was not five minutes later. Traffic in the afternoons was not as severe as it was in the mornings and evenings, and a quarter of an hour later I already prepared to vacate the vehicle.

The guild’s lobby was the same as always, with no one being inside except for Bianca, who sat comfortably with magazine-in-hand at the reception desk. After saluting her, and receiving a grunt in response, I made for the elevator. Instead of going to the eighth floor directly—where Giacomo and the others were probably already waiting—I went to the fourth—the floor housing the locker rooms and the armory.

A shower later and in more comfortable clothing, I left my gear to the employee in charge of the repository, where it would be cleaned and repaired, and made my way to the top floor of the building.

—|—|—

“The scout team sent to investigate the Great Forest has returned. They confirmed there are fewer monsters in the dungeon. Those they have killed have also all condensed a core,” Alfredo said, standing before my working desk.

“It is as I feared,” I told him, sinking in the backrest of my chair. “The Great Forest is undergoing Resurgence. Have you already told Alessandro?”

“No Sir. I came to you as soon as I received the news.”

“Don’t bother then. I will. Call the others, though. We need to plan a raid.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Also,” I added after a brief pause. “Did you look into what I asked?”

“Yes, Sir,” Alfredo said, handing me the brown portfolio he kept under his arm. “Most of the information I retrieved is hearsay, however.”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t need anything concrete,” I assured him.

“If I may Sir,” Alfredo started before I could open the folder. “Why are you looking into Heretics?”

“Curiosity,” I answered with an easy smile. “I find the subject fascinating. Doesn’t it intrigue you too, Alfredo? These are people capable of wielding both mana and anathema at will. People whom authorities all over the world apprehend only because they exist. People who, without exception, go missing.”

“No Sir. The idea of any man or woman, wielding such power, driven mad by the conflict between mana and anathema terrifies me.”

I chuckled. “I guess it would,” I acquiesced. “The things they are capable of once their mind snap are atrocious.”

Alfredo and I lapsed into silence then.

“Is there something I can do for you?” I asked, seeing as he wasn’t taking his leave and wanting to change the subject.

“Sir,” he started, looking conflicted. “I was wondering if you could exclude my—”

“I know how dangerous a dungeon going through Resurgence is,” I said, interrupting him. “I can’t remove her from the raid, however. All delvers will need to participate. But I assure you, she will be placed at the very back—where it is most safe.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Alfredo said, visibly relaxing.

“Don’t mention it. You should stop protecting her, though. She needs to grow.”

“I know Sir. But she is all I have left. I can’t lose her too.”

I nodded. I could sympathize with Alfredo. We all wanted to protect those we loved after all.