“I don’t understand the name,” the Crypt Keeper said when Gunnar sent her a notification to join the Cryptids faction as well.

“It’s just a play on words,” Gunnar said. “You know, since we’ll be living in a crypt.”

“The inhabitants of a crypt are called souls,” she said, scowling.

“The Souls just doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it?”

“Well, at least souls are real. Is cryptid even a real word?”

“Yeah,” Gunnar said. “Cryptids are creatures that aren’t real.”

“So you’re saying that you’re not real?”

“Damn, this is getting a little too meta,” Em said, shaking her head.

“Well, I think the name is stupid,” the Crypt Keeper said. “But I accept your request to join.”

“And serve on the council?” Gunnar asked.

The Crypt Keeper glanced around the chamber with glowering eyes. “Who else is serving? You and the fox girl?”

“Yeah, and probably Cork, maybe Hank the Kobold too.”

“Then, I emphatically accept,” the Crypt Keeper said. “You certainly need more brains amongst that sort of leadership. And more estrogen too.”

Em grinned. “I like her.”

The Crypt Keeper looked dead serious. “Now, that that’s sorted, we should discuss the details of this arrangement. I want my crypt kept in tip-top shape, understood?”

Gunnar nodded. “We’ll get started first thing tomorrow.”

“We’ll need to be more organized about who comes and goes, when and where and so forth. Though I expect you are the one who will be the most sought after.”

“I expect so,” Gunnar said. “Most of these guys could be anyone in the city.”

“And the women?” the Crypt Keeper asked.

Gunnar chuckled. “Same with them.”

“Even so, we should proceed cautiously. I don’t want new groups of unidentified urchins arriving without proper protocols.”

“Understood.”

“Very well,” the Crypt Keeper said. “Now, come, I am not the only one who wishes to convey their gratitude for what you’ve done.”

She motioned toward the Soul Room entrance. “The fox girl too.”

Em glanced at the Crypt Keeper. “Are you sure? This isn’t my home.”

“You’ve defended it twice now,” the Crypt Keeper said. “And apparently we serve on the same council. You might as well know the soul of what binds us together.”

Gunnar grinned. “You see? You do get puns.”

The Crypt Keeper offered the vindictive glare of an English professor after a student named Twilight their favorite novel.

Em turned to Gunnar. “You don’t have to show me, you know.”

Gunnar shook his head. “She’s right. You’ve proven your loyalties, Em. I was the one being an idiot about it before.”

Em squeezed his hand briefly then pulled away. “Well, about time you realized it, I should say.”

He smiled, and they followed the Crypt Keeper into the glowing blue chamber.

Em’s eyes went wide as she took in all the soul gems lining the walls. But when the First One shifted on the dais, she nearly leapt back.

“Holy shit, is that a…”

Gunnar nodded and dropped to one knee.

“Your friend, Gunnar, thinks me a mere corpse,” Silas the First One bellowed. The skeleton’s massive soul gem flashed a brilliant light from within its ribcage, then dimmed.

“I was a dumb island boy,” Gunnar muttered.

“An ignoramus!” Silas said. “A buffoon!”

Em smirked. “I like him too.”

Gunnar shook his head. “You take too much pleasure at my misfortune.”

“Misfortune?” Em asked. “Angus had no idea what kind of treasure he had down here. That’s the biggest soul gem I’ve ever seen by a mile.”

The enormous skeleton’s mouth gaped with a huge grin—if that was possible for a creature made of bone. “You know what they say about souls with big gems?”

The Crypt Keeper rolled her eyes. “Spare us, Silas.”

“I jest, I jest,” Silas said with a cackle. “Mostly jest—I am just so relieved that my crypt is safe!”

“We’re glad we could help,” Em said.

“Silas may not give off the first impression of being particularly knowledgeable,” the Crypt Keeper said, “but you’ve garnered his favor. A First One’s power is not in strength or sorcery, but in the fact that they have lived such a long time. And as they say, knowledge is power.”

“Knowledge,” Gunnar said. “We can ask you anything?”

“Anything,” Silas said.

“Anytime? Or just once?”

“Aha!” Silas said. “Don’t get greedy now.”

“First Ones are haughty and noble creatures,” the Crypt Keeper said. “They are also very transactional. He may offer future information if and when he wants, but this is a special offer. Choose your question wisely.”

Gunnar and Em glanced at one another excitedly.

“Might I suggest avoiding closed-ended questions,” Silas added. “Yes or no is very limited information, and I will not feel obligated to expand unnecessarily.”

Gunnar had been thinking a lot about how he needed to begin focusing on the potential for magic in this world. His latest quest prompts had suggested this path as well, for whatever that was worth. Mostly, that mage of Kohli’s had been badass, and he wanted to be able to trade blows if he meet another one.

“What must I do to successfully set out on the path of a dark mage?” Gunnar asked.

“Hmm,” Silas murmured. “Good thinking including the metric for success. There are many answers for how you could see out. Few would make you a dark mage.”

“Not bad for a bumpkin, ey?”

Silas’ red eyes flashed and his mouth gaped with the approximation of a smile again. Warmth spread over him, and Gunnar realized the creature was Scanning him.

“Dark magic is forbidden across the empire, so that makes this a perilous class. But Thailen is on the outskirts and there are rumors that the imperial grip is tenuous at best. You are also already a wanted criminal, so being labeled an enemy of the empire is clearly not a concern for you.”

“That’s a fair assessment.”

“You’re already an Initiate-level Rogue, though. It is not impossible to abandon this class, but you are also well-suited to it.”

“So, you’re saying I’ve gotta wait, then.”

“You can dabble in low-level spells like anyone else, but a secondary class is only available once you reach Level 20 in Glory. To unlock a mage class, you need to be accepted for tutelage by a master of the dark arts. Needless to say, they are hard to find in Thailen. Not impossible, though your best chance for success is likely found in civilizations unfriendly to the empire.”

“Okay, so I need to find a master to actually go down that path, but what can I do in the mean time?”

Silas waved his scepter in the air. “That sounds like a follow-up question.”

“I’d argue it still falls within the parameters of: how can I set out on this path successfully?”

“Hmm… all right, you’ll want to find someone who can teach you some basic spells. It will help your case, should you find a master, to have some knowledge of dark magic specifically, but that is your call.”

“Fair enough,” Gunnar said. “Thanks, I think I know what to do next.”

Silas nodded and turned to Em.

She furrowed her brow. “How can I maximize my potential as a chimera?”

The First One thought for a moment, Scanning her as well.

“Hmm, I sense some dissatisfaction in your aspect as a fox,” Silas said.

“I didn’t have a choice,” Em said. “It was dictated by my affinities.”

“Indeed. Your spirit is that of a fox, and so you can become one. It follows your path as a Rogue, but it is also dependent on how you use it. Most chimera don’t take full advantage of their animal counterpart early on—when all you have is claws or some such—and it slows their progression. You’ve experienced a taste of the full potential of your fox abilities, and so you have an idea of what is possible.”

“It’s cool enough. But it’s pretty limited, even at full capacity.”

“You are too limited in your thinking. Chimera are shapeshifters. The important thing to realize is that the power and potential of the chimera extends beyond one counterpart. And so, your own secondary class will be an important choice. But so will your attributes and developmental ratings.”

“Is that as maximal as you can get?”

Silas chortled. “You’re a cunning fox, but I suspect there is some feline ferocity in you as well.”

Em nodded. “Thank you.”

“I do not deal in gratitude,” Silas said. “A debt was owed, and I have paid it.” The giant skeleton nodded to them, then turned his back and settled into a statuesque stance once again.

Gunnar and Em glanced over at the Crypt Keeper.

“Not one for goodbyes, is he?”

“The manners of the First Ones are a bit archaic,” she said.

“I’m right here,” Silas growled.

“But yes, that was his way of saying thank you and goodbye.”

“Now what?” Em asked.

“Now, we bury our dead and form a faction,” Gunnar said.