Once I check the area I let myself fall asleep, but it doesn't last for long. I am woken up by a sound similar to a large bell ringing right beside my head. I quickly send out my mana, only to find another scorpotiger at the edge of the camp.

Lin follows me as I get up, rush out of the tent, and drop my shapeshift. As soon as I am in normal form I charge at the beast and it charges at me as well. At the last second it tries to go around me and go after Lin, but I am ready this time.

As it is passing me I manage to grab ahold of its tail and yank it into the air. Another tug has it flying towards me and I grab its head with my other paw. Lin is casting a spell but before she can finish it I twist its head with all my strength.

1 Rank 4 Scorpotiger defeated! 40,000 Exp gained!

As expected, the experience is much better when it isn't split between everyone. Hearing the loud crack of its neck, Lin stops her spell and just looks at me. It is only now that Brightfire and Nala come out of their tent, but they just turn around and go back to bed.

Lin says "Brightfire wasn't kidding when she said you were holding back."

"True, but I couldn't have done that if it went wider around me. It also helps that this time I knew how fast it was and could anticipate its movements."

Lin says "Whatever. Let me recast the ward and we can go back to bed."

"Actually, can you teach me about wards?"

Lin says "I'm too tired. Ask me in the morning."

"Okay."

She casts the ward and I pay attention to see the spell as it is being cast. Then I shapeshift back to human form and obediently follow her back to bed. Albion is still sound asleep, even the ward going off and the fight didn't wake him up.

Lin falls back to sleep as soon as her head hits the pillow and I am very careful not to disturb her. She doesn't seem to be someone who deals with being woken up well, which is good to know. Although, now that I think about it, it might also be because I ended the fight before she could help.

I didn't even think of that, I just wanted to kill the beast before it reached her. Come to think of it, I know she has levels, but I never asked what level she is. For all I know, she is higher level than me and doesn't need me to protect her.

I will have to ask her in the morning and apologize for assuming that I needed to protect her. I also don't know how old she is, but there is no way I am going to ask her that. Women have strange reactions when their age is mentioned and I would rather avoid that.

These thoughts fade as I fall back asleep and this time I get to sleep until morning. Luckily, it is Albion getting up that wakes Lin and not me, but even so she seems to be in a better mood. We wake Brightfire and Nala, then everyone has breakfast together.

Only after everyone is done eating do I ask Lin about wards and this time she teaches me. The spell itself is simple, but the trigger for the spell is the complex part. It is similar to what I did for the wands I made, just more complicated, but I still learn it fairly easily.

Brightfire says "So, what's the plan now? Are we going to be digging all day?"

"Well, I am. I was thinking the four of you could explore. As long as you work together you should be able to handle it."

Lin says "It might be difficult without you to physically restrain the beasts."

Brightfire says "I agree. I am better as an archer than as a fighter."

"Hm, give me a minute."

I grab my communication amulet. "Bones?"

Bones says "Yes, master?"

"How are you doing?"

Bones says "I am having some problems."

"Oh? What's going on?"

Bones says "I have killed a lot of undead, but lately something weird has been happening."

"Weird? What is it?"

Bones says "Lately I have been hearing whispering all the time. It keeps telling me to do things."

"Is it a female voice?"

Bones says "Yes, master."

"Then it is probably the maker. You have absorbed too much of her energy. I am going to summon you here. Distance should help and there is some fighting for you to do."

Bones says "Okay, master."

'Unsummon Bones! Summon Bones!'

Bones appears and everyone jumps away thinking he is an enemy, but I quickly explain. Then I introduce him to everyone and explain that he will be their physical attacker. This way they can go exploring while I am working on the tunnel instead of just sitting around.

"Bones, is the voice gone?"

Bones says "Not quite, but it is much quieter."

"Hm, I will see about finding you some normal undead to kill later. That should reduce the effects of her energy."

Lin says "What's going on?"

Since she asked, I tell Lin all about the maker and how her energy works. I am honest about things and tell her that I am the one who freed the maker. I also admit to setting her loose on the elven island to keep the humans busy.

Lin says "I really hope they are able to keep her from reaching the continent."

"They should be able to. Bones and I have killed a lot of her undead and stolen a lot of energy from her. Besides, they have an avatar there. If they are losing the gods should get involved."

Lin says "I wouldn't bet on that. In all the history I have studied, the gods have never gotten involved directly. Except for fighting each other of course."

"This is different. Not only can the maker kill all of their followers, but she has a good chance to become a goddess if they don't stop her. They will act because it is in their own self interest to do so."

Lin says "That could be true. I still don't think it was worth the risk."

Brightfire says "Yes, it was one of Ash's crazier ideas."

"Hey, it worked. I was able to finish the ship without the humans attacking the elves."

Lin says "Yes, but at what cost?"

"That remains to be seen, but it will be paid by the humans."

Lin says "Don't forget that I am a human."

"I haven't forgotten. You are not the only human I care about. However, I don't care about the majority of humans."

Lin says "I am sad to hear that, but I don't really blame you. Not all humans are bad, but those that are make us all look bad."

Brightfire says "To be honest, I have a hard time not hating all humans. I wasn't enslaved, but a lot of my friends were. Others were just killed because they wouldn't be worth enough as slaves."