Baron Andersil and Victoria are genuflecting on one knee. The Marduk bows at the waist. Dawn and I look at each other and quickly drop to a single knee as well.

[Rise.]

We obey her command, Dawn and I looking around not knowing what else to do. The voice is as rich as honey and full of authority. We position ourselves in a half circle before the deity.

[Marduk. Please inform me as to why I have been called to send a portion of my attention to this plane.]

"Your Grace," the Marduk says right away, bowing again slightly, "Before I am allowed to pass judgement on this Traveler, I must verify some information. He is attempting to justify considerable harm to several citizens of this world under the reasons of mental malady. There are none on this plane who can verify his claim."

"Mental malady?" I ask with rising indignation. "Is this because of that stupid candle?"

The helmet doesn't move but I can feel her attention falling on me. Once again, I feel the heat tingling my skin, and then the heat pushes past the skin. It sinks deep through muscle and bone. My head, too, and every sensory system in it. The ghosts of memories fly past the back of my head as I stand there dumbstruck.

"I'm sorry, I- I don't know what's come over me." I'm half a heartbeat from taking a step back in fear, when I'm overcome with the feeling to stay.

I whip my head around to make sure I'm not going crazy, but I can't see the arms wrapping themselves around me. I can feel them, however, two people embracing me. A tight hug, that I haven't felt for ages…

The memory of receiving a hug from my parents is fleeting, but it's enough to drive me to my knees. Vic and Dawn move to catch me. The Marduk thrusts out a hand to stop them. I'm staring into the faceless helmet of Sekhmena's Projection. I raise a hand to my face.

With the tip of my middle finger, I warily dip at the side where the cheekbone would be. I feel the wetness and I still can't believe it. I don't think anyone can.

[This purge is not a cure for your afflictions, Traveler Ardacen, and there are a few. The visions from the Ritual Candle can never be fully removed.]

I slump my shoulders and drop my hand. Everyone has been kind of skirting around the issue, but her words bring back several of the horrid memories. The elemental torture, the angry faces, the--

[But I can restrain them to your sleep. It is the best we can do for you now. This projection is a mere fraction of a fraction of my power, but your mind's health is not something that even I can simply modify at will.]

"Th-Thank you. Thank you very much." I hope she can hear how sincere I am. I very much want to grovel right now, but I don't think she'd actually appreciate me doing something like that.

[It is strange for a Traveler to be afflicted so, don't you think Marduk?]

"Indeed, your Grace." The Marduk is staring off into a corner, stroking their chin and tapping a foot. "Do you happen to possess the leftover candle?" She reaches over and pulls it out of my storage bracelet. "Ah, here we go."

The act doesn't bother me as much as it does Dawn, since I've seen Miss Delvina do it so many times. I figure it must be a Skill or a Feat.

"I'll have to consult with a few minor gods for this. Looks like you're off the hook for now, Mister Winters. I do apologise for this and hope that I can deliver good news the next time I see you." The Marduk extends their hand and we shake with firm grips. And then, in a puff of grey mist, the Marduk disappears.

"Well that's good enough for me," Baron Andersil nods his head contentedly. "I knew Lady Victoria wouldn't have associated herself with the kind of people they were accusing him to be." He slaps the back of her shoulders with a heavy hand, causing her to grunt.

"Oof, thanks." She looks back at him with displeasure.

[There is another malady. Not as severe, but I cannot help you with it either. There is a restlessness within you. An impulse. Do take care with it.]

I think I know what she means and I look over at Dawn and Vic. It's the reason I don't lead and I totally understand. Still, it's pretty funny to be diagnosed with PTSD and ADD by the goddess of health, mental health included I see, and healing. I wonder if I'm going to be the same after this. And then I think about how the show might be streaming my torture, if they can do it at all.

[My time, and Cleric Agromida's power, is waning and I have done all I can to help. I am aware that you two are healers in your own rights. I thank you for using your power for the sake of others, especially those of Arc.]

[You received: 1*Blessing of Sekhmena]

[Goodbye]

Agromida let's out a long held breath and the vision of Sekhmena bursts into a shower of golden lights and pearls. Her face is dripping with sweat, but there is a deeply satisfied smile on her face as she puts her book away.

"I believe that places me as the current record holder of longest Projection, Baron?" Her breathing is deep and fast, but she is anything but tired.

Baron Andersil lets out a light laugh, "I guess it does. Will you need someone to see you back to the convent? Nevermind, I'll have one of my personal guards escort you and I'll be by later to tithe. You have been most helpful, my dear."

I can't thank her enough and within moments we join the Baron in his personal coach as we head to his manor. I have so many notifications waiting for my attention, but the compact social confines made the idea of going through them right now unappealing. I am a little disappointed that someone with so much money has chosen to spend it on opulence rather than magical elements. Instead of something like the vardo, with a lofty extradimensional space, we're sitting in an eight person carriage made from the finest and rarest of materials. Granted, there are a few luxuries in the form of Wonderous Items, items that aren't forms of equipment or accessories but still possess enchantments or enhancements that make them special.

Our weird door thing, for one, is a Wonderous Item as is the vardo, which is also classified as transportation. Currently, Baron Andersil is using an item called the Bottomless Decanter to pour himself a generous amount of a light brown alcohol. He offers us a glass, to which only Victoria accepts.

"To justice and good health." He doesn't wait for a response, clinks his glass against hers, and drinks half in one go. Vic drinks hers as well.

"Ah, so, little cousin, how goes the adventure? I've heard from Lady Anne of your fascinating time so far." He seems genuinely interested, but Vic simply rolls her eyes and takes another sip.

"Maybe if you'd go on one you would know." She smirks and playfully jabs at him with her glass hand. She's sitting between me and Dawn and directly across from him. There's still enough space between the opposing benches for someone to lay down comfortably.

"Oh, you know that the wilderness is no place for someone like me," he grins holding a delicate hand to his chest in mock hurt. "Besides, where would I even keep my essentials? I would need to keep several wagons for my clothes alone!"

We laugh, the thought of a caravan full of the Baron's laundry is pretty funny. Vic tries to offer some advice, "You know Annie can craft some pretty spacious-"

"Oh, don't start with that." He flourishes his free hand, waving away the thoughts, and turns up his nose. "You know I don't trust those things. Not after Truffles."

"Truffles was his pet cat. She got into an unstable wagon, like the Nightshade, but it sent her to another plane," Vic explains to us while the Baron dramatically pulls himself together.

"Oh, enough about that, then. Ardacen, your head, curse or some sort of equipement? I couldn't really tell." He leans his face in closer to get a better look. I'm actually taken aback by how quickly the topic shifted.

"R-race. Actually. Ifrixian." His Citrine eyes are wide and boring deep into mine, but his smile is wide and he nods his head as if prodding me to go on with more details.

"From the village of Ifrix?" I shrug, turning to Vic who's grinning from ear to ear and Dawn who's giggling behind a hand. Speaking of hand, the Baron's free hand seems to have found its way in my flames/hair and is running through it.

"Fascinating…" Vic slaps his hand and looks at him wryly. "Ah, you bitch! Leave it to you to lay claim to such a rare and handsome creature before I can." He sits back in his chair, unperturbed by the strike, "She's always had a thing for danger, always got us in trouble growing up."

"Maybe half the time. The other half… Do you stay in contact with Eddie?" Her question hangs in the air for a bit, her cousin swirling the remainder of the drink in his hand.

He sighs, downs the little bit left, and pours himself another glass, "Too far away now. He was apportioned land so far to the north east that the only way we could possibly communicate is with deep, deep magic and you know how he is."

"Herexa feels bad about that." She empties her drink as well and I pour her a generous second. She places a hand on mine. So far, Dawn has been a rapt listener and for the first time she speaks up.

"Are all of the royals related? Did you all grow up together? Go to school together? Can I call you The Baron or would you prefer Lord?" I glance at her and she is in bubbling fangirl mode. Hands clasped, eyes wide, and practically drooling she stares at the Baron.

I look back at the Baron who has yet to respond, as if frozen in place. Vic turns in her seat to reprimand Dawn, but suddenly he fills the cabin with raucous laughter.

"My gods! I like this one. Dawn, was it? Lady Victoria's fearless leader. We shall have a feast tonight in your honor. I heard through the vine that you were the one to take care of the problem in the sewers?"

"What? Oh. Oh yeah," she shakes herself out of her daze. "Sorry, yeah. It was an Alra-une." The strain on her face as she tries to pronounce it is priceless and I have to stifle a laugh. "It was some sort of mutated species, though. I can show you something we found."

Curiosity peaked, he accepts a dusty old book with much enthusiasm. "Its a log book of her time in some sort of lab. Her name was Archmage Gramatoma Grimvine, I think."

He looks back at her in horror and then back at the book, flipping through its contents, "The Academy. We were afraid this is what happened to her. Thank you. I'll have this transcribed and returned to you. It may contain information that would interest any Alchemists you know.

"Your Contract Quest is worth many times more than what the Adventure Guild must have given you. Name your price."

It seems like less than an in game month ago we were scrambling for coppers and now not one, but two city officials are attempting to bury us in money. Her only response is an elongated "uh" sound before Victoria interjects.

"You have helped us enough with the Marduk and Sekhmet's blessings, cousin. By far this is the least we can do." Dawn and I nod with vigor, but it still doesn't seem to appease his need for generosity.

"Well, if you think of something, anything, please let me know." He salutes us with his glass and takes a big drink.

With everything that happened in just a single day, most of our group are napping in the vardo, not feeling safe in the hotel anymore. With little regard to our reservations, the Baron, or Gaveston as he insists we address him in private, gave us free reign of his manor and its many, many rooms and many comfortable beds. He jabbed Vic in the arm when he mentioned a secret, jungle room, but she responded by slapping the back of his head and saying something along the lines of, "I'm not going in any room where your bare ass has been."

His reply? With a wicked grin, "Then you might as well go back to your wagon."

I shudder.

Still, soon after her head hit the pillow, Vic fell asleep in full battle dress. I dress down to my tunic and pants and climb in beside her. I kiss her on the forehead and throw the blanket over her before sitting up against the headboard to go through the notifications. Not only is now a good time to check them out, but I'm not ashamed to admit to myself how afraid I am of going to sleep.

A lot of the notifications are actually damage notices, given and taken or had something to do with my affliction at the time.

[Open Minor Quest: Demonic Threat

[Reward: 100XP, 1452XP, 132*Silver

[Bonus: For subjugating the perpatrator of the Demonic Threat, you receive: 300XP, 1*Earring of Viper Speed]

[You received 528XP, 40*Styrge Elite Hide, 17*Styrge Elite Claw, 1*Black Ember Quartz]

[Adaptibility Activated: You learned a Spell!]

[+Corrosive Spray (25MP) 10feet/Deal Arcane Total poison damage to all targets within range. Add PoisonLevel, dealing caster's level poison damage per 2seconds for 8seconds.]

I bring up the description screen for the earring as I equip it to my empty left ear slot. It's a little odd since I don't visibly show any ears. I can feel it hanging there, but when I look into the bedside mirror I don't see the little coiled serpent at all, just the same, old blue flames and charred skull.

[Earring of Viper Speed. Enchanted Apprentice Accessory. Ear

[+3Dexterity, +5Agility]

In it's simplicity, it would appear to be the weakest piece of equipment on me. But, the passive boosts to stats, especially to Dexterity which also effects Agility and, depending on the weapon, melee damage, are nice in the fact that I don't have to think about them. They can sit in the background, working for me. That brings my claws up to 93 and my Agility up to 97.

One of the initial builds I was planning on making for the game involved stacking mostly passive upgrades so I can focus on maybe one or two Abilities like Critical Stab or Fireball or something. Then, I would minmax my stats to power through Arc like a good little murder hobo. But, since it was a brand new world and no one had any idea about how to navigate it, I decided to play cautious and flexible.

I bring up my character sheet, looking over all of the equipment. I remember there being a bunch of stuff in storage, but the core group pretty much decided that we would leave them to the soldiers and reserves to bolster their power before we took them ourselves. These items were mainly loot from players, NPC's, or other circumstances like from Dawn's Quest in the tunnels. Of course, any items we specifically earned as rewards or by opening Chessts were ours to keep and do with as we please.

I unequip my old necklace. With Trinity Stream and now Corrosive Spray I don't really need a once every eight hours breath Spell. That, and I really want to equip the gift that Dawn and I both received.

[Blessing of Sekhmena. Legendary Accessory. Necklace

[For every 10HP the wearer heals other targets for, the necklace will heal the wearer by 1HP.]

Simple. Elegent. It gives healers incentive to heal. I look down at the coin sized emblem of Sekhmet with the lion, sword, and staff being held by a thin string of gold. I tuck it inside my tunic. As I think of other changes I might want to make.

With a couple extra storage devices and the Pocket Dimension, I might have to retire my beloved custom pants. Or, I can wait to see what comes along. I know the Eldritch Soldier set is missing one more item to be complete and I have no idea what it could be. Hell, if it's a hat I might even pass the whole thing off to Richter. I hate having conflicting sets and I rather like the Corsair set, especially with its boost to Blink Step's distance.

"Oh shit!" Next to the drop down button for the Spells screen is a slowly blinking plus sign, signifying that I have a point to spend. A TrigeStat Point to be specific. I laugh to myself. I almost forgot about why I bothered to go through the whole candle ordeal in the first place. The words of Sekhmet ring through my head again regarding my lack of focus or something and I laugh to mysef again.

"Alright, let's see what I can… whoa."

Because it's my first run through this list of Spells, I have the full buffet layed out before me. However, a lot of them are also MP gluttons and some are oddly grayed out, which I come to understand means I don't meet certain requirements such as a necessary Feat, an Arcane minimum, or prerequisite Spell already in my repertoire. I filter all of the greys away and I'm still left with over twenty Spells to choose from. Even with my list reduced this way, my head is spinning with each description I read. I'm not sure I can even do just a top five and resign myself to the idea that all of these Spells have boatloads of potential.

To be fair, some of the Spells are just lower level Spells on steroids, either creating more of or larger versions of said Spells.

[Arcane Storm (70MP+5sec) 100feet/ 20foot radius. Create a magic circle above a target and rain down 10 bolts of Arcane energy. Bolts deal Arcane Total arcane damage to random hostiles.]

Or maybe something offensively defensive?

[Formation of Flames (100MP + Red Runestick/130MP per additional minute) 200feet/ Using the Red Runestick, the caster draws a 40foot line that bursts into 8foot tall flames. The flames deal Arcane Total fire damage per second of contact. The line may be drawn on a flat surface or in the air, but any obstructions will disrupt the line and that segment will not ignite. Flames last for 1minute/dismissed]

Crazy. Ooo, what about this one?

[Ray of Ash (180MP) 50feet/ Shoot a thin beam of magic, dealing 4.5*Arcane Total shadow damage to all targets within range. Any target that dies this way is reduced to ash and doesn't drop any loot.]

So OP. It does deal damage to everyone in line and I don't like the no loot part. Still, it's a great corridor clearer and heavy damage dealer. And then there's this beauty that would actually work with my ring.

[Colossal Arcane Bolt I (17MP + 1Second) 50feet/ Shoots a 3foot radius bolt of Arcane energy. Deals Arcane Total arcane damage to all hostiles until maximum/target distance is reached. Pushes each target damaged this way 5feet in the direction the bolt is traveling.]

Yeah, imagine two of those bad boys flying at you in the shape of fists or yellow duckies. Sure, it doesn't do any more damage than the regular size ones, but it does bull through all hostiles, very important, in its way. Plus, I can't help but wonder what the effects would be with the Bolt Master's Ring.

Oh. Oh wait. This one. Yeah, I might not even wait for anyone else's input. This one is great. Extremely versatile. Mass targeting. Grows as I grow. I feel the urge to wake Vic up and show her the description, but when I turn to her she's already looking over my shoulder, fully out of her battle dress and wearing just the blanket and a grin.

"Holy… Vic? When did you wake up?" I nearly jump out of the bed and force myself to stay seated. She crawls over my lap to get a closer look at the Spell.

She practically purrs as she reads the description before asking me to bring up my list of Spells. I nod and make an impressed noise. Honestly, I didn't even think to check which ones would be affected. As she cross checks both screens I lean forward, kissing her shoulders and grabbing a handful of butt. I don't know how, but she outmanuevers me, pinning my wrists to the headboard with one arm and sitting on my lap. She has a smug look on her face and she flips her hair out of her eyes.

"Are you going to take it?" She asks with a growl.

Shit, I'll take it. I'll take it for the rest of the day if you let me you beautiful, sexy, warrior…

"The Spell? I don't see why not. You probably saw the other ones too?" I know what she meant but I try to play coy. I start to rethink that plan when she starts grinding her hips.

"I've seen the others. But I like THIS one best." She emphasizes the word 'this' with an extra hard thrust and I let out a moan.

"Yeah? Well, this one just thought of a new trick…"

She arches an eyebrow at me as I sign a single word that she can read. Her eyes widen with realization and she bites her lip in anticipation. A glowing yellow orb swirls into being beside the bed and pulses an invigorating energy through us. It's only got a five minute timer, but I am willing to recast it again and again and again.

The last thing I see before every last ounce of my attention is consumed by Vic is the description of my new Spell.

[Spell Division (100MP) Self/ Target up to 4 willing participants. Cast a self targeting Spell with casting cost less than 50MP. That Spell also effects the 4 targets.]