February 2, 2019, 10:59 am.

Even as my spell completes, the final turrets of my castle tinkling into place with soft chimes, I get a notification.

"Hidden Reward claimed: Spell: Annella's Solitude. No other Extreme complexity Spells will receive guidance."

There aren't any other rewards for learning the spell, but that's okay.

I slip down the tower to the grand entrance, twin staircases spiralling up on either side. In the centre, there's a fountain that sprays near freezing water into the air, causing snowflakes to drift down instead. My castle is lacking in Smoulder decorations because... that would be kind of wrong.

And she doesn't seem to mind their absence, leaping from Rufka's shoulder to mine as Rufka joins me in the entrance. She places a hand on the fountain, tracing a hand along it before turning to me. "It really does let you access all the Nexus functions. Mum's gonna love this."

"I'm kinda loving it myself," I admit. Which has nothing to do with the Nexus access that's tied to the fountain. That's nice, but it's secondary compared to the castle. Which... I probably won't use much, since it's so freaking huge. Pretty sure it's bigger than a stadium, and that's just its footprint. It's at least as tall as it is wide.

Turning away from the fountain, I inspect the rest of the grand entrance. It's spacious, but if I'm going to summon it with any regularity, I'm going to need to fill in some of the blank spaces on the walls. Creating mental copies of monsters from tabletop games as art counts as fair use, right?

Hmm. Maybe I could decorate with some of the ship designs that are rattling around inside my skull.

Shifting my attention away from my castle, I realize it's time to head for the final portal. Well, almost. We agreed we'd have one last meeting first. Ensure everyone's ready before we step through the big shiny portals.

Which leads to me spending another couple hours with Kellica. She's still struggling to finish the final steps of the Metal Snake spell. Working together and breaking it down in a series of hastily formed metal sculptures, we decipher a sneaky set of runes hidden inside a box that basically powers the spell. The box is super reinforced. And if we're reading it right, that's cause if the internals are damaged, the spell is disrupted.

Once we have that figured out, the System magic practically takes over as Kellica suddenly transforms into a heavy metal cat ninja.

Literally.

Even though she's now formed entirely of... I'm not sure what metals she's using. It's dark and has a matte finish. It's also spiky. It reminds me slightly of Josh's thorn-armor, but more... Metal. Figuratively.

"So, how customizable is it?" I ask, running my finger along one of the jagged spikes, several points of health disappearing while my finger remains undamaged.

"Very," Kellica responds, then the spike next to me retracts to a more delicate point. One that almost looks thin enough to snap off in a breeze. "I… it's designed to be adaptive during a fight."

"No bow?" Josh asks as he and Rose stop practicing their own spells. "I thought you'd want a bow, as the Arrow That Pierces The Night."

He says it with a straight face. I'm mostly sure he's being serious. At least, I'm not able to pick up any hint he's mocking her.

"I… well, I am the arrow. So it'd need to be a big bow," Kellica turns away at this, as if to hide her reaction. Which is amusing, since we can't see her ears or her face through the metal suit she's wearing.

Josh claps her metal shoulder as he says, "Right. That makes sense. Guess you'll be an even better arrow now."

Kellica nods, slowly, as if waiting for something more. But Josh is finished, turning back to Rose as they sit to the side.

With Kellica's spell unlocked, we're finally ready to step through the portals. It only takes us a minute to exchange quick farewells. And half of that was me and Rufka.

Then I'm walking across the bridge towards the fire portal. It's similar in structure to the only other portal I've seen, the one from Uthica's memories, leading to another world. Instead of the silver of the world portal, this one is rimmed in bands of twisting orange and red, specks of dusky Twilight floating amongst the otherwise featureless black surface. With a deep breath, I push my hand through. There's a distinct warmth, and I get a sense of excitement from Smoulder as my shoulder passes through, but otherwise, it's rather uneventful. Kind of like walking through a wave of smoke.

It takes me a dozen steps through featureless smoke before I emerge into what is a castle that bears a passing resemblance to my own, except writ in fire instead of ice. And if mine was a toy model inspired by a real-world monument. It's impossible to tell how big it is from where Smoulder and I stand at the edge, but it's clear that wandering through the castle would take a long time. So, I float up, looking for any points of interest. Or anything looking to fight me.

I'm able to ascend all of three meters before bumping into an invisible ceiling that domes in the entrance courtyard.

Which isn't a total shock. I'd be more surprised if I was allowed to fly everywhere. But between the closed in ceiling and the lack of notifications, it means Smoulder and I need to figure out our purpose here the hard way. I can't keep myself from trailing my hand on the hard flame of the railing as I ascend the grand staircase at the far side of the courtyard. Despite its warmth, it doesn't feel like it would be hot enough to burn me, even before I raised my health. And it's solid. As solid as if it had been made of ice.

Part of me is kind of jealous. Ice castle. Definitely cool.

But a castle wrought out of flame? That's next level hell yeah. Maybe I could modify the ice-castle spell?

I continue pondering even as I continue wandering. Despite the apparent size of the hall, there aren't any choices. Taking the corridor at the far end, I arrive at the next point of interest, a cozy courtyard with four crimson trees stationed around a low table. Sitting on the far side of the table is the fire-cat, Ineesis. Who I know didn't step through the portal with me.

Yet him being here doesn't surprise me. If the dungeon wasn't locked down, I could easily have accomplished the same thing. And he's the one in control. At least, I think so.

Ineesis flicks his tail back and forth twice before laying a paw on the table. A small tea set appears on the right with swirling flame stretching up the side. A gameboard with a matching flame motif pops into existence on the left, its arrival heralded by a notification informing me I've started the first task of the final trial. Even as I'm inspecting the flaming pieces, the cat nods his head in my direction.

With no reason to refuse, I accept his quiet offer, sitting across from him as the gameboard slides into place between us. Then a cup of warm tea floats into my hand. A quick analyze confirms it isn't poisoned. Nor does it have any cool magic properties. It's just tea.

Hmm. Peach flavoured. Glad it's not mango. I don't think I could trust anyone who likes mango flavoured tea. No matter how much they may like mangos.

Watching the fire-cat lap at its own tea as the boardgame sets itself up, I stifle a chuckle as some of the tea drips down its glowing cheek. When I turn my attention back to the game, I realize I don't recognize it. The game is played on a series of hexes, but none of the pieces are familiar. Ineesis doesn't give me time to figure out what they're for. Or what the rules are. He simply moves the first piece, then looks at me.

Since I have no idea what I'm doing here, I do the only thing I can. I ask, "Don't suppose you could give me a copy of the rules?"

The fire-cat tilts its head at me before returning its gaze to the board. Sighing, I Focus on the piece that moved forward under its obviously magical gaze.

"Object analyzed. Ineesis's Flagrant Overflow Tower."

"This board-piece is bound by spell runes, granting increased mana-flow to all adjacent pieces of the spell-crafter. If disrupted by the counter-speller, this piece reduces the strength of the surrounding pieces instead."

[Wyonna] "These are pieces from an old System-based game called Undu. Grumpy old wizards used it for teaching counter-spelling. Like, really old. It was out of fashion before Akilo was integrated. Still, it's more in style than fedoras."

Hmm. After reading through the analysis, I look more closely at the pieces. There are runes worked into the bottom of each of the pieces. They're not all familiar, but a lot of them were used in the spells we learned in the trial. And it doesn't take me long to piece together most of their basic functions.

Even as I'm considering, the fire-cat moves another piece.

"Hey!" I protest, even as Wyonna sends me another message.

"Turns are timed. You snooze, you lose."

"Yeah. I got that," I reply as I take a piece and move it into place mostly on instinct. It doesn't seem to do anything, and before I can miss out on yet another turn, I pause time to inspect the rest of the pieces. It takes me two full pauses to read through everything, and even once I'm done, I'm not certain how I'm going to win.

Several moves later, and I've accumulated my first loss. But there's no notification for failure, and the board resets. And the fire-cat starts again, using a different piece.

I end up playing nine games against Ineesis before I'm able to win the last. But not through proper understanding of the game. Instead, I win by following the flow of mana.

Upon my victory, a notification informs me that winning five times is the first of four tasks Ineesis has set for me. Even as I start the next game, I can't help but wonder why I'm playing a boardgame instead of something more... Well, just more.

"So... magic chess, huh?" I ask while considering my opening move.

Ineesis doesn't deign to respond, flicking his tail back and forth while his piece moves into place.

I keep asking inane questions as I learn the game, Ineesis ignoring my banter as I learn the rules through prodigious abuse of Pause. Fifteen moves and two games later, I figure out that he's following pre-established patterns. After that little discovery, it only takes me another two games to get my next win. And then four more to get the rest.

As I place my last piece, earning my final victory, Ineesis gives me a small nod, before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Grinning at his dramatic disappearance, I stand up as a wall morphs into a new doorway on the far side of the courtyard.

Deciding not to dwell on the fact that he can teleport, and I can't, I move on. I don't use flame manipulation to make crude drawings of him with a butt-face in the walls. Cause I'm mature.

However, I don't pretend to hide my snicker as Smoulder picks up on my thoughts then does exactly what I was thinking, leaving a rather unflattering picture of Ineesis engraved in the wall. It doesn't match the surrounding decor, but that's part of its charm.

We move up an exposed spiraling staircase that gives a magnificent view of the castle until we arrive at the top of a tower, a wraparound balcony with several sets of flaming shoes waiting for us, different hues and patterns of flame. There’re even several sets sized perfectly for Smoulder. Ineesis stands beside the shoes, flicking his tail as he waits.

Smoulder and I spend longer experimenting with the shoes than it takes us to complete the challenge. Once we've finished modeling for each other, Ineesis takes off, leaving smoke trails behind. Dancing across barely visible lines of smoke in my new electric blue flame shoes, Smoulder and I reach the far tower with a shared sense of amusement. Ineesis is waiting on the far tower. When we arrive, he gives us another nod and poof combo. As the new staircase appears, I turn to Smoulder. "This guy doesn't have much to say, does he?"

Tilting her head, Smoulder sends a feeling of indifference over the bond before hopping to the top of the staircase.

With a shake of my own, I follow.

Ineesis is sitting just inside the tower, which immediately sets me on edge. We're only a few paces down when the next challenge starts, the steps flickering in different hues of intensity. The step I'm on shifts to a blue that's hot enough to make my Health tick down by several points. When I move to the next step, I realize it's not that dangerous, not even being warm enough to do damage. Testing the next few, I'm gaining confidence when Ineesis decides to rub up against my leg as I'm stepping.

I fall forward several steps, barely catching myself before the next blue, giving him my best withering glare. He continues rubbing up against my leg, but now that I'm on guard for it, it's not that dangerous. Neither are the stairs, once I realize I can use Fire Manipulation to shape a safe passage through the more extreme steps.

We're six steps down when the steps start rotating through cycles. Each colour has its own pattern, and instead of solving them, I just blast through to the bottom. Ineesis leaps up on the rotating fire-sculpture that dominates the centre of the new courtyard we find ourselves in. Squinting at it, I wonder what he's perched on. The burning nature makes it tough to discern what it's supposed to be. An octopus, maybe?

Once more, with his nod and poof routine, he moves on to the next, and what should be my final task. When I step forward to find our path, the sculpture he was sitting on starts moving, its limbs twisting inward.

Smoulder and I spread out, ready to stomp this thing. Is it weird that I'm relieved that at least one part of this trial is combat?

But instead of the fight I'm expecting, the fire-octopus continues folding inwards before contorting into an entranceway of a great spiral staircase, leading a long ways down, far beneath the fire-castle. Standing at the top, looking down, I'm surprised to see what looks like dark stone, etched with runes. Runes so complex, they make the Siege-Inferno and Ice-Castle spells look as simple as the basic arrow rune I used in my first spell.

Despite having no idea what any of them do, I take copious notes while searching for any sign of a trap. They pulse faintly, their lines filled with fire mana as I send probing magic down the well. After a few minutes of them not exploding, we descend, Smoulder hopping along the floor and sniffing at the runes.

Waiting for us beyond the dark staircase is a small room, cluttered with what appears to be broken toy cats. Upon closer inspection, I discover that several of them are just scuffed. But that doesn't take away from how worn in the room feels. How very… plain it is, compared to the castle above. It's not just the toys. There's a bed in the corner, with simple, well-worn sheets and a table nearby with a clean but dull bowl atop it. And next to the bowl is Ineesis. His eyes track us as we enter the room.

As I glance around the room, I can't help but wonder what comes next. Are we going to use fire to power some of these toys? Maybe we'll need to repair them? Or-

My thoughts are cut off as a notification appears.

"Zone Quest Object-"

Before I can even read it, the notification is disrupted by another, though this one has a strange intangibility to it.

"Quest update override. Dungeon Administrator privileges: User: Ineesis."

I'm barely able to catch this one before it's replaced once more.

"Zone Quest Objective Updated: The Final Challenge. Description: Complete the Citadel of Fire. Requirements: 3/4 tasks complete."

"Zone Quest Objective: Pet Ineesis for an hour."

I'm sorry...

Seriously? My final task in the dungeon is going to be petting a fire-elemental for an hour?

Even as I'm staring at the notification, Ineesis hops from the table to his bed. Shaking my head, I take a step towards him. I might as well get it over with.

Before I make it to the bed though, Smoulder has placed herself between us, glaring at Ineesis.

I'm not sure how she knows, but I can feel Smoulder's displeasure radiating through our link.

Maybe this won't be as easy as I thought.

Smoulder keeps glaring at Ineesis until he shifts slightly. As if this is some invisible signal, Smoulder hops forward to join him. And my quest updates again.

Now I need to pet both of them for an hour.

Squinting at the text log for a second, I shrug before moving to sit on the bed next to them. Then, instead of petting them where the little stinkers are laying together, I scoop them up and deposit them in my lap. They both turn to glare at me, but I ignore it. If I'm going to be sitting here petting them for an entire hour, I'm going to be comfortable while I do it.

Though my Health Edge does prevent the worst side-effects of sitting in place.

It's a strangely peaceful hour as Smoulder and Ineesis remain in my lap while I continue petting them. It's long enough that despite my now-hefty Stamina edge, I lose a few fractions of a point near the end.

Even as my Stamina starts ticking down, the quest completes.

"Zone Quest Objective Completed: The Final Challenge. Requirements: 4/4 tasks complete. Rewards: 10 Iron-Rank Integration Points. 30 Iron-Rank Pet-Only Integration Points. 3 Pet-Only Ability Points. 1 Armor Upgrade."

"Zone Quest Hidden Objective Completed: Complete All Hidden Zone Quests. Rewards: Additional Training Dungeon Progress Toward Class Advancement. 1 Copper Grade Mana Essence. 1 Elementalist Peak Unique Armor."

"Please return to your closest available Nexus to retrieve your items."

Huh. Wonder if I'll be able to claim those at my castle. It counts as a Nexus, right?

Not that I can summon it here.

With my rewards claimed, and a new portal forming at the far side of the room, I gently push Ineesis off my lap while transferring Smoulder to my head. He takes it with typical cat aplomb, mewling at me before settling back into place and watching me approach the exit. No more poofing. At least from him.

I step through the dark portal, back into the world.