"You! Why are you here?" Romona stuttered. Tyrian glared at Romona as his armor shifted.

  "Just in time, Tyrian." Victor complimented. "I was wondering when you would reveal yourself. You're still not quiet enough."

  "Shut up, Victor. It isn't the time for assessing my skills." Tyrian brushed Victor off. He lowered his shield and looked at Niya and then Romona.

  "Grand Magus, it's been awhile." Tyrian gave a bow. Romona's face was stuck between shocked and slightly annoyed. She couldn't believe a Templar would be here. "I assume this is her? Niya Belladonna?"

  Niya cowered behind her master. She tugged at Romona, snapping Romona out. Romona cleared her throat. "Templar Crowley, what is the meaning of this?" Romona asked loudly. "You stop me from executing an Exiled of your Temple? He holds a Dark Spawn!"

  "Grand Magus, I will explain everything." Tyrian raised his arms in a gesture of trying to calm her.

  "I don't want to hear your explanations? I will go straight to the Order themselves and tell them what you did!"

  "Go ahead, Wells." Gwendolyn's voice appeared from behind them. Niya and Romona turned, noticing Gwendolyn sitting on a tree branch. She was staring at the leaf in her hand.

  "Tell the Order what has transpired. They'll tell you what I'm telling you. 'The boy is a Shade of the forgotten god Nura.'"

  "W-what? What god is that? I have never heard of this forgotten god." Romona stuttered. Gwendolyn let go of the leaf and jumped off the branch. She landed with a loud thump and made eye contact with Niya. The blonde girl shook as Gwendolyn smiled at her.

  "Do not be afraid, child. We aren't here to hurt you or your master. We're here to resolve the incident between Sir Victor and Grand Magus Wells." Gwendolyn told her. She had a way with words. Niya slowly nodded as Gwendolyn continued to smile as she stood up.

  "What do you mean by what you've said? You're here to stop me from killing a Dark Spawn who's supposedly a Shade? For a god lost to the ages of time? Do you want me to truly accept that answer, Templar Farr?" Romona asked.

  "It's the answer the Fathers will give you. I'm just telling you. You can't mess with him and kill the boy or any variation you're thinking of in that big head of yours, Grand Magus." Gwendolyn pointed at Romona's large head. Romona immediately took offense to this and covered her forehead.

  "H-how dare–"

  "Is that really why you're here?" Victor asked.

  "Yes. I thought you had class?" Tyrian asked, turning to face Victor.

  "I felt Romona's presence and came to watch Xylus just in case. Romona doesn't hide well. A babe could spot her out by the amount of magic oozing out of her." Victor explained.

  "You buffoon!" Romona stepped forward, ready to continue the fight. Tyrian raised his hand and Romona stopped.

  "Enough, Grand Magus. We would've dealt a harder punishment if it weren't for the fact you're handling a special charge. Even your ex-status couldn't hold you from the Justice of the gods." Tyrian told her plainly.

  "Where's Xylus?" Gwendolyn asked moving past Romona and Niya.

  "He ran off that way." Victor pointed. Gwendolyn and Tyrian noticed blood near Victor's arm.

  "You're bleeding, sir." Tyrian pointed.

  "Oh this?" Victor looked. "Nothing too hard to handle. I got a potion I can use."

  "Let me deal with it." Tyrian lifted his hand and white energy poured into Victor. The blood and wound immediately disappeared.

  "He went that way? Isn't the cavern system that way?" Gwendolyn asked.

  "Mmm. Knowing him, he probably did what he was told not to do." Victor shook his head.

  "Oh Grand Magus." Gwendolyn turned. "You and the young one cannot talk about the boy's true nature to anyone. If anyone finds out, they'll riot in the streets and claim the boy to burn at the stake."

  "Why should I keep that secret?" Romona asked. "Last I checked, Dark Spawns are evil to our society. They're the corruption our society needs to get rid of!"

  "He's a Shade. He passed the Hand, too. The whole thing went black." Tyrian told her. Romona's mouth opened widely.

  "You lie."

  "Why would I lie, Grand Magus? Don't you know I'm bound to my Oath? I cannot lie when it comes to the degree of the gods."

  "Are you gonna find him?" Victor asked. "I should come with you just in case."

  "You should go to the Academy." Tyrian motioned. "I will search for him while Gwen directs the Grand Magus and the girl back home."

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "Always giving me odd jobs." Gwendolyn muttered.

  "You want to navigate the dark caverns?" Tyrian raised his eyebrows. Gwendolyn gulped and shook her head.

  "I swear, Farr. If anyone else knew of your weakness, they'd laugh."

  "Shut up, Tyrian. I will guide the Grand Magus and her charge home. Victor, I assume you can find your way easily?" Gwendolyn went from Tyrian to Victor.

  "Don't worry about me." Victor moved over and grabbed Xylus' bow. "Take care of the kid for me. May the gods be watching over him."

  "Mmm. May the gods watch over him and you." Tyrian bowed. Victor gave a small bow before glaring at Romona and turning to sprint away.

  - - -

  Xylus wandered deeper into the cavern. He carefully followed the stream which eventually led to a large underground pool of water. The sounds of water dripping from stalactites as water trickled into the pool from the stream.

  "It smells damp like moss." Xylus rubbed his nose. His nostrils flared as he took in his surroundings. There was a tunnel continuing forward.

  A single rock path cutting through the body of water. He would have to pass through and make sure not to lose his footing, too. He started to cross it when the sounds of movement in the water alerted him.

  He had gained [Heightened Senses Lvl.1] through constant practice and work on the forest. Victor had told him his senses needed to be sharp in order to survive. He eventually got his first passive skill, a month into training in the forest. It was a small boost but it wasn't anything too different.

  The sounds of something large moving towards him made him stop in his spot. He looked to his left, not noticing anything. He looked right and noticed nothing.

  'I wasn't hearing things, right?' Xylus thought. He slowly continued forward. The water continued. He gulped and moved faster. Whatever was coming, he didn't want to wait around for it to pounce.

  Xylus quickly cleared the bridge and whatever was in the water stopped. Xylus let out a sigh of relief as he turned his attention to the tunnel.

  'Shadowbane.' Xylus thought. The large daggers appeared in his hands. He slowly moved through the tunnel, sounds of something in the distance bouncing across the walls. 'What is that…?'

  A light flickered in the distance. Sounds of yelling and pounding grew louder as he quietly moved forward. Goblins danced around the fire. They were all about Xylus' height, maybe a little taller.

  'Goblins.' Xylus recognized them. He had seen some in the forest and Victor had killed them with one shot of an arrow. He reached for his bow but realized it wasn't on him anymore. 'Right, she made me drop it. I guess I'll have to do this the hard way…'

  He stopped near one of the rocks that had a perfect view of the goblins. They were all cheering and dancing as something cooked over the fire.

  Xylus' stomach growled. A couple of goblins looked up and Xylus clutched his stomach.

  'Really? Now?' Xylus freaked out as some goblins looked around.

  They looked at each other, talking, in what sounded like gibberish to Xylus, to each other. Xylus hoped they would take it as one of them was hungry. A goblin spoke and decided they would move over towards Xylus. Xylus gulped.

  'Can I do this? I haven't killed a goblin before. I always avoided them as best as I could. Victor said to not underestimate their numbers so I always watched from afar. Can I do it?'

  [HP: 60/70

  MP: 90/95]

  The System had flashed his current HP and MP. He wasn't in the best of shape so he would have to be careful.

  'Snuff them out in one hit.' Xylus thought. The goblin slowly moved over towards him. It would make it past him in a couple seconds. 'Screw it. Darkness Slash.' The dagger coated themselves in darkness. Xylus readied himself for the goblin. He had watched Victor do execution techniques and would attempt to mimic him. The goblin stepped past the rock, straight into his view. He quickly stabbed the goblin in the stomach. He quickly wrapped his other arm and pierced the back, aiming for the heart. He pulled the goblin in and watched as the light in it's eyes started to fade.

  It tried to claw at him as he pulled from the stomach and stabbed in the chest.

  'Shut up.'

  The goblin let out a gurgle which alerted a couple more goblins.

  'Ah crap.' Xylus thought as the quest screen popped up.

  [Slay 5 beasts/monsters. 2/5]

  [Darkness Slash was used twice.

  MP: 86/95]