“I am a Queen Jumper.”

Tlik revealed her class as though it weren’t anything important, but it surprised Mash. A Queen class was like a king, so it shouldn’t be something Tlik could get. Especially not within a few weeks of being born. He focused on Tlik, trying to examine her power with his domain. She noticed and her body twitched stiffly.

“What level are you?”

Lisa stepped up beside Mash, her voice easily carrying across the hole he had made. Tlik jumped at the question, answering it quickly.

“I am level 18! The highest among my hive.”

Tlik spoke as if she were afraid of something, and Mash belatedly realized that was probably his fault. He drew back his focus, lessening the effect of his domain on the insectoid girl. Tlik visibly relaxed. Well, to Mash’s domain, it was visible. Everyone else probably couldn’t notice the subtle shifting of her arms.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. But what does your class do? Did you get a throne or an aspect?”

Mash was curious to know what would happen if someone got such an advanced class so early. Did they just get to bypass the normal level limitations? He wondered what that would even mean for the other classes in general.

“Yes, I have a throne. It is named the Minor Throne of Teleportation. It is the very basis of my class and is one of three skills I possess. Another improves my body and senses. And the final let's me communicate with my people.”

Tlik’s openness was a little surprising. But as Mash considered her situation, he realized that she was probably terrified of him. Although, his domain showed him it was more than that. Tlik’s fear and admiration mixed into something akin to worship. It made him feel a little sick.

“You don’t need to answer if you don’t want to.”

He tried to sound as genuine as he could, but Tlik just gazed around at the crater that he made for an answer. Not able to think of a good explanation for that, he just let the matter drop and hoped she would understand.

He considered what she had said. Her class had fewer skills than he expected, but the ones she did sounded incredibly useful. Not to mention that the class and skills didn’t sound like they were meant to be violent. He hoped that was a sign that classes in this world were more personal and less combat oriented. It was the thing Luke and Valeria wanted too.

[Tell Luke about the classes.]

As he thought of the others, he figured that anything about this world would interest them. Especially, other sentient races that had classes. In that case, Tlik would want that information too.

“Also, there are other people here. That can level and the like. Do your people have someone that can meet them? I want to at least give you the opportunity to talk to them, since this your world too.”

Tlik looked excited and eager when he mentioned other people. She had known about them but obviously hadn’t considered actually interacting with them. Although, as he kept talking, her mood seemed to dip, and her shoulders sagged.

“Am I not suitable?”

Tlik’s clicks were somehow slower and deeper, and Mash got the feeling that she was disappointed. Mash quickly cleared up the misunderstanding.

“No, I mean you are fine. I just wasn’t sure if you could just leave whenever you wanted to?”

Tlik was just as quick to change her tune, her clicks becoming fast and excited.

“Yes, I am the most suitable for this.”

Mash had to restrain a chuckle, as he saw how erratic and open, they were. He had rarely ever encountered someone with such strong emotions. To his domain, it was almost like they had Red’s aura. What would make a creature develop like this? Keeping his interest in humanoid insect development to himself, Mash just glanced at the others. His siblings had been getting a translation of the conversation from Lisa. When Luna caught his glance, she walked up to him.

“Mash, can you not do this?”

Luna didn’t bother trying to be quiet since it wasn’t like Tlik wouldn’t be able to understand either way. He didn’t understand why she would ask that though.

“Why?”

“You need to take a break Mash, and a long one at that.”

“Isn’t that what I’m doing now?”

“No, Mash, trying to create world peace, is not taking a break.”

He rolled his eyes in response. That was an extreme exaggeration of what he was trying to do, but he did get her point.

“I can’t just leave them alone.”

“Yes, that is exactly something you can do. Don’t you have like a ton of other people who can do it?”

Mash shook his head, but Luna grabbed the sides of his head and held it in place.

“No, don’t say that you don’t. I bet you that Red or Valeria could do a better job than you. Priscilla too.”

Luna's eyes were clear, and Mash saw the certainty in them. He smiled a little, and gently pushed her hands away.

“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry so much.”

His sister was frowning now, and her forehead creased as she suddenly began shouting.

“Don’t say you're fine! Mash, from what you said, you’re basically level 200. I’m not even 60 yet, and I’m older than you. Nobody levels like you do and remains fine.”

Mash didn’t respond. How could he say anything in the face of a sibling that cared? She wasn’t afraid of him, nor did she think he was getting too powerful. Luna was just concerned, and worried for him. He could see that in her face and felt it through his domain. Against such genuine concern, he couldn’t bring himself to say something even remotely untrue.

“Okay, you’re probably right, but what can I do? I have things I need to do, and it's not like I can stop. Things just happen around me.”

Only after speaking did he realize just how childish that must have sounded.

“Do you have to do them right now? I know you got that meeting thing in a few weeks but that’s it, right? Why don’t you leave everything else to someone else? Luke and Valeria seem happy enough to handle things.”

“I get it. I get it. But still, what am I supposed to do if something finds me?”

Mash was fairly confident that his friends could handle most things, and they could always get him. No, in truth, he was more worried about himself. He tended to attract trouble even if he didn’t want to. Luna knew that and seemed to have an answer prepared.

“Then run away. Tell me honestly, is there anything that could stop you if you just ran.”

Luna wasn’t shouting anymore; her voice filled with the condescension of being right.

“Probably not, but won’t that seem cowardly?”

He could’ve said that he didn’t know what everyone could do, and that someone might be able to trap him, but knew that it would be a lie. If he seriously just tried to run, he wasn’t sure what could stop him.

“And you care about appearing cowardly? The Chimera of the End and the Beginning is worried about seeming like a coward now?”

Mash couldn’t stifle the embarrassment he felt at those comments. Behind his sister, he could see Lisa and Arthur both wince at the remark.

“No, I don’t, and never did.”

That was the truth, and as he said it, he felt sure of it. Luna’s suggestion wasn’t ridiculous, and it had always been an option. He just never took it. That was probably the major reason why he grew as quickly as he did. Any other person might’ve fled rather than try and pass that snake he had received his first mark from. That was only one of many things he had chosen to face, where most would choose to flee.

He didn’t regret those decisions either. They made him what he was now, and without them, he would still be powerless. That didn’t mean he couldn’t do what Luna suggested now though.

“And I can at least try to take a break. But what should I do?”

Mash raised his voice so that the others would know that they could answer if they wanted. His idea of a break involved going to some of the dungeons on the list Arthur had given him, but he decided that probably wouldn’t constitute a break.

“You could travel, either of the two worlds you have open access to. An entirely new one if you really want. Just don’t try to start something.”

Her suggestion was a good one, though he still thought it might just lead to more trouble. That was probably as good a plan as any though.

“Yeah, that sounds fun.”

He tried to mean the words as he said them, but he didn’t really feel them. Whatever he told himself, he knew that he was a battle junkie, or maybe just a thrill seeker. He liked the danger and thrill of fighting and getting caught in unexpected situations. Luna noticed the fakeness in his response.

“Just try it for a little bit.”

“I guess, I can.”

As stubborn as Mash could be, he would give her suggestion a shot.

“Um, may I join you, Mash? I would love the chance to explore any world.”

Lisa stepped beside Luna, she spoke sheepishly, her voice was barely above a whisper.

“Sure, and we should check with the others too. At least tell them and see if they want to join.”

Luna was quick to say that she would do it.

“Let me do it!”

The way she jumped at that was a little suspicious, but he didn’t think it would be anything harmful and let it go. A couple of clicks from lower in the pit drew his attention back to Tlik.

“May I also join? Other worlds sound fascinating.”

Mash shook his head quickly. She was not strong enough to join, and she had to be here to talk to Valeria and any others they could get in contact with.

“No, sorry, maybe when you’re older and stronger.”

Tlik’s shoulders slumped a little, but the bug person still seemed very excited. Luna chuckled from his side as he said that.

“You sound like father when you say it like that.”

His sister smirked at him, enjoying the way that made him feel uncomfortable. Mash groaned. She was right, he did sound like a dad. His skin crawled like at the horrible realization, and he glared at his sister.

“Did you have to point that out? You know that I don’t want to be like him.”

“I know, I know. Speaking of them though, maybe you should try and talk to them once. They reached out to me and…”

Her voice slowly died, as Mash let her see the emptiness. He didn’t value his parents anymore and felt like she should already know that.

“You know what never mind, just focus on relaxing. But let’s spend the rest of the day together at least.”

Luna put on a fake smile and gestured for them to move on. Mash glanced at Tlik and told Priscilla to have Jill come get the insectoid.

“Uh, Tlik, wait here. One of my friends will come pick you up, she can teleport like you.”

Mash warned Tlik about Jill’s abilities. He didn’t want to scare the insect people more than he already had. He looked at the crater he had made a moment ago and thought that he might actually need a break.