The next morning Rum woke up to the uncomfortable experience of sleeping on a hard surface. On the vertically opposite side of his head, was the top end of Veish’s head. The 2 agreed the night before to share the one pillow, and sleeping at a 180 degree angle from each other so as not to risk Rum rolling onto her in his sleep. Rum lifted his head from the pillow, Veish still snoozing. He smiled a little at the witch, so peaceful in her breathing. “Sleep well.”

Navigating out of the stuffed closet entrance, Rum stepped out into a comparatively lit room, the sun throwing its warm rays of sunlight via multiple cracks in the backdoor’s frame. My body feels like it has just woken up from one of the nights on my journey, the recently homeless wizard complained internally. But, with a bit of “Become Clean”, “Renew Clothes” and a little tap at his head with “Clear Mind”, Rum, The Great Mage, was ready to face the day! Or at least after I’ve gotten some water first. I’m so dry. The man mage walked out and into the back alley, lining up for the well along with the rest of the street’s occupants. After a long wait for person after person to bring up buckets of water, it was finally his time, and he filled a public well-bucket just a little, before using a saucer to drink. Hydrated, he got back inside to find himself a bucket with a dirty old cloth, subsequently lining up outside the common outhouse. After several minutes of productive outhousing, he got back into the bedroom, putting the bucket in a corner, before striding over to Amez’ workshop, to wish and greet my little brother a good morning.

As he opened the door into the workshop though, Rum was greeted by 4 familiar faces, standing around Amez, who himself was, as usual, hunched over a customer. It was Rum’s instinct to first focus his on eyes on the customer. It was a mecha-gnome, or at least so Rum guessed as his eyes took in the little man. He wasn’t wearing the common mecha-gnome cape, and Rum couldn’t see a cape anywhere nearby, instead the gnome wore some plain dark green pants and was otherwise barechested, Amez appearing to be tattooing his little hairy chest with some triangle shape.

“Rum” said the voice of Elrith Heart-Piercer, and Rum looked up from the gnome splayed on the wooden board. “There you are. We came to visit you this morning, but your brother couldn’t find you. We hoped you would show up.” The woman gave him a smile.

Rum didn’t respond immediately, and instead, to all the 4 people’s surprise, stepped back into the bedroom and closed the door. Then he speed-walked over to the closet, and hurried inside and over to the sleeping Veish. He shook her body awake.

“Eeeeuhm?” the sleepy witched mumbled.

“Veish, I have visitors. You have to stay inside the closet, hide out here, possibly for a while. Go back to sleep if you want, just don’t come out! Okay?”

“Mmmm-kay...” the witch replied, eyes half open, before head fell down on the pillow again. Rum hurried out of the closet, closed the door and then speed-walked back to the workshop door. He opened it, smiled, and then closed the door again.

“I just remembered something. I took care of it now. So. Everyone came. That’s... interesting. You wanted something with me?”

“Yes” Elrith replied, leaning on her Martin.

“We” Rulli replied, leaning on his battleaxe, “wanted to ask of you to join us again. Another expedition, to Jorteg’s Dungeon.”

“We want” Gilda took over, “to try and break through the iron door beyond the great wooden door. We think there may be much treasure inside there.”

“And I think we’ve all rested enough” Elrith concluded, “it’s been weeks, it’s time for another dungeon dive.”

“And you want me?” Rum asked the obvious.

“Yes” Elrith replied.

“Yes” Rulli said, and then “Yes” and “Yes” from both Gilda and Darmon. Darmon as always clad in his tip to toe armor.

A pause entered the room. Everyone looked at Rum, even the gnome splayed on the table looked up at the mage, curious for his reply. The only one not focused on Rum was Amez, his little brother having just briefly turned around to give his big brother a swift nod before the body enchanter was back to work.

“Well, the thing is” the wizard started, “I didn’t take a break. Actually–” almost as if embarrassed, Rum put a hand behind his head to rub gently, “–I went to Jorteg’s Dungeon with another dungeon party. In fact, I recently came back from there.”

The room went dead silent. None of the 4 people smiled now. In fact, they all looked either mildly worried or shocked, all mouths open, and only closing slowly after a while.

“How recent?” Elrith eventually asked, a little cautious in her voice and expression.

“Eh, 7 – no, 8 nights ago, I think. Yeah.”

More silence, and an even more awkward moment this time.

“So you’re probably still tired from that, huh.” Gilda said, trying to be normal and conversational.

“Yeah” Rum sighed. “Well. I’m not that tired” and at least of couple of their faces seemed to suddenly lit up, just a little, with hope, “but” he continued, and they all took a small breath, “I have this obligation.” He splayed his hands in a sort-of sorry gesture. “I can’t really go anywhere before in roughly 2 weeks time, or...” the wizard appeared to hestitate, “maybe I could move it forward by 1 week? Anyways. You guys look ready to leave now. But sorry, I can’t leave with you now. I have this woman I need to take care of.”

“Woman?” Amez suddenly interjected, and turned around to face his big brother. “When did you get a woman, Rum?”

“SKE–” Rum suddenly realized the customer in the room, “–WHITE ROSE, I MEAN! I have to take care of White Rose, and I’ve struck a deal with the elves that they will take care of ze for me.”

“Calling ze a woman...” Elrith mumbled and rolled her eyes. Rum could practically see what she thought he was thinking, and thought to himself: Hopefully I won’t get burried in this lie of mine. People already think I’m weird. I should try not to make them think I’m treating White Rose as girlfriend for real or something! If I’m going to be seen as weird, at least let it be for the right reasons.

“Okay” Elrith sighed slightly, “you can’t right now. But, if we come back in 2 weeks?”

“I don’t know.” Rum rubbed at his head. “Maybe. I really can’t tell, but I can try and make that happen.”

“Okay” Elrith said again. “I guess we’ll come back here in 2 weeks then and see if you’re available.”

“I don’t have to come along though” Rum offered, “I mean, if you want to go now: go now.”

Gilda stepped forward a bit. “Without you Rum, the risk of running Jorteg’s dungeon, especially now that Jorteg has become so much more aggressive and dangerous; that risk is too great. We need you. Your magic is too useful, and we have no magic ourselves, except for a few enchanted tattoos and weapons.”

Rulli looked down at his axe, his glance highlighting to Rum the large blood-red runic scripts engraved on the blade, an enchantment as-of-yet unidentified by the wizard. Rum also gave Elrith a glance, recalling the powerful body enchantment Amez had made for her.

“I understand. Well, I’ll try to make myself available in 2 weeks.”

Elrith nodded, and the party slowly shuffled their feet towards the door. Though before the first of them managed to walk out, Elrith turned. “Just curious. Could you tell us who the other party is? Did you perhaps meet someone else at HQ?”

“Actually” Rum spoke with an enthusiasm that pierced insecurity into the hearts of his first party, “it’s not The Mecha-Gnomes’ Revenge. I’ve actually started a good relationship with some elves in The City Forest.”

“What?” Darmon of all people exclaimed with surprise.

“You’ve changed to another guild?” Elrith followed up, equally surprised.

“No-no-no.” Rum waved more no-s with his hands. “It’s more like, they’ve started a new guild, or well, sort-of a new guild. It’s the Sub-Committee for Dungeon Exploration of The Committee of The Spruce. We are, I guess, sort-of a team now. I’m still in The Mecha-Gnomes’ Revenge, but, I’m also with them. They are independent of all other guilds.”

The party of humans and dwarves looked at each other.

“Aren’t all parties supposed to be guild sanctioned?” Darmon asked the party.

“But if they’re a new guild...” Gilda mumbled.

“Not a guild, well... I’m not sure. But they sort-of play the role of a guild, I suppose?” the wizard asked himself.

Upon noticing the eyes of her fellow party members slowly converging on her, Elrith shrugged, communicating her equal dumbfoundedness. “I don’t know” she replied the stares.

“2 guilds...” Gilda mumbled again, all eyes now moving over to Rum.

“Unprecedented” mumbled Rulli.

“But we are your main party, right?” Elrith asked, a little worry in her face.

“Eeeh.” Rum let out hesitating. “I suppose. In some sense.”

“In some sense?” Elrith pressed.

“Well. You were my first, and I’m not sure how much dungeon exploration the elves want to do.” Rum touched his head self-caressingly. “So, I guess you’re my first. And, of course, if you ask me first, I’ll go with you first. But, if they ask me to join a trip first, then I’ll go with them instead. So. You’re both kind of my main party. But... you asked me now, and the elves haven’t asked me for another trip, so now you are my main party. And the elves, they don’t need me now, so they’re not my main party... at this moment.”

“Ah” Elrith said, her tone hesitatingly pleased, but also showing annoyance at Rum’s dynamic sense of belonging. “So, we’ll see you then.”

The group turned to leave once more, but were stopped when one new voice reminded everyone of his presence. “Can I join?” Amez asked, looking over at and into Elrith’s eyes as she turned back.

“What?” she automatically raised an eyebrow.

“Can I join you? The party I mean. Rum makes it seem so exciting, and I wanted to know if I could join you all for your next dungeon run?”

Elrith didn’t respond for a long moment, perhaps finding it difficult to get the right words. So Rulli stepped up beside her and asked the big question most of them probably were wondering: “That’s a very dangerous dungeon we’re going to, craftsman. Only fit for proper warriors” he glanced over at Rum, “and some eccentric mages.” He looked back. “Would it not be too dangerous for you to come along. Do you think you can even survive a run with us?”

“I do!” Amez said, a little too eager. “I’ve thought about it, and I want to fight in a dungeon. And you guys seem like a good party. My brother sure makes it sound like you are.” The party members glanced over at Rum with expressions that were somewhere between mild surprise and a mild blushing.

“But what combat experience do you have?” Darmon demanded.

“I’ve trained. I’ve had a very good trainer. I know how to fight.”

“But you’ve never actually been in a life-and-death fight, have you?” Rulli interrogated.

“I’ve...” Amez bit his lip, appearing unsure how to respond. “I’ve been in some bloody fights, and sometimes life and death were, or could at least have been, on the line. I’ve fought plenty, if you worry about that.”

“Bar fights.” Rum commented in a low remark.

“Hey, brother! Have you ever had a glass bottle hurled at you? I’ve dodged plenty of dangerous objects, and successfully thrown plenty of my own!”

Rulli smiled, and chuckled a little. “Heh, bar fights. Well. I’m not against having you along. With Rum’s magic we should hopefully at least be able to keep you alive.”

“That’s right!” Rum joined the discussion. “I also have this new powerful healing spell which, I believe, none of you have seen before.” Rum looked at his first party, all their eyes widening a little at his statement. “I mean. I don’t want you to expose yourself to danger, little brother, but you won’t die while I’m nearby and breathing.” Rum smiled at Amez.

The party members began looking at each other. “Well, I’m not against it either.” Gilda said.

“His funeral.” Darmon shrugged.

“Okay.” Elrith said and nodded at the discussion in general. “2 weeks from now then. Rum, and his little brother Amez. Be sure you’re prepared this time, okay? I recall you forgot your backpack last time.”

“Of course.” Rum replied, smiling some more. The party finally left the building.

Rum’s smile vanished as he quickly turned, and rushed passed both Amez and customer. Closing the workshop door behind him, the wizard hastened over to the bedroom and into the closet, where, to his calm, he found Veish still sleeping, wrapped inside her magic blanket.