“She seemed nice,” Sanik said to Edan as they walked back down the forest trail.

  Edan could hear the sound of rushing water ahead and assumed they were getting close to the stream. He looked over his shoulder to make sure the cubs hadn’t fallen too far behind. They hadn’t. Regal was chasing after a dragonfly while the female cub snuffled around.

  “Really shy.” Edan noted. “But I can't blame her. Image having our group turn up on your doorstep. I'd be a stuttering mess, or not know what to do and just stare at Tali with my mouth open.”

  “I," Sanik proclaimed grandly, holding up a finger in emphasis. "Being a man of keen intellect and otherworldly instincts, know exactly what I would do. I’d shut the door.” Sanik flashed a smile, his teeth bright in the dark.

  Gem and Reema, along with the Titan and Guild Head, had stayed back at the Spilt Drop after their short talk with Tish. Gem and Reema had stayed because they wanted to gather more information from the mayor, and both could be persuasive when they needed to be. Tali had stayed because she needed to keep an eye on Marcus, and Marcus stayed because he wanted a drink.

  That about summed up the group's priorities right there.

  It had fallen to Edan and Sanik to head back to the ship and provide Lem and the crew with an update. Edan didn’t mind, it gave the cubs a chance to stretch their legs…paws? And in all honesty, he didn’t mind being away from the oppressive atmosphere of the village.

  “What do you think she meant by the Adept working or being dead?”

  Sanik looked over at his son and shrugged. “No idea. But I’m betting it’s pretty common for those obsessed with their profession. It's like cultivating, you're always busy, and the only time you aren’t is when you’re dead. Whichever it is, I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”

  “I’m surprised she agreed to show us the route Adept Tarik had planned to take.”

  “Your mother has a way with kids.” Sanik laughed before nudging Edan.

  Edan could only agree with that.

  Moonlight fell through a gap in the trees, turning the winding path of the stream into a river of silver. Overhead, the hoot of an owl cut through the constant buzz of insects.

  Making it to the ship in short order, light spilled from the portholes in the captain's cabin. A few string lights had also been set up along the upper deck and amongst the rigging.

  Calling out, Sanik grabbed Edan’s shoulder and used [Flutter Step] to appear on the deck. Miz was lazying about in the crow's nest and called out to them, pointing to the captain's cabin and saying something about Lem.

  Shouting came from below and if Edan missed his guess it sounded a lot like Viagara. He couldn’t hear who the man was fighting with, but a look at Sanik showed they were both of the same mind.

  Ignoring the sounds, they moved over to the Captain's Cabin, at the back of the vessel, and knocked.

  Lem opened the door and seeing the two of them motioned them in.

  The conversation that followed was quick. Lem seemed content with the update and simply nodded, taking the delay in stride. Edan figured not much phased the quiet man.

  The door to the cabin burst open, revealing a red in the face, Viagara. The blue doublet of the city watch was unbuttoned and flared open dramatically as he glared at Lem. It took him a second to notice Edan and Sanik, but when he did, a smile blossomed on his face.

  “Ahhh, excellent. How soon shall the ship be repaired? We need to get back to Stratta.” he said, approaching Sanik with a manic desperation.

  “There’s been a delay,” Sanik admitted, standing up. Edan rose with him, as did Lem.

  “Wait! What do you mean there's been a delay? What sort of delay?” Viagara tried to block the doorway, but Sanik brushed him aside gently. Edan guessed the difference in their levels was rather substantial.

  “And where are you going? Where is the bad-tempered Captain and your wife?”

  “Everything is very fluid at the moment, but I’m sure Gem will be by tomorrow with an update.” Sanik shook hands with Lem, ignoring Viagara for the moment.

  “If anything changes, we’ll let you know.” Edan added, clasping wrists with Lem and waving up at Miz.

  “Please take me with you!” Viagara begged, almost dropping to his knees. “They have some sort of crustacean Animer below, and it keeps trying to nip me with its claws.”

  Sanik paused, looking over at Lem with a cocked eyebrow.

  “That would be Scoops,” Lem said to Sanik, before turning to Viagara. “And if she nips you, it means she likes you.”

  “She tried to nip my…” Viagara seemed to think better of what he was going to say and finished lamely. “Tenders.”

  “Like I said, it means she likes you. You could do worse than scoops.”

  Viagara looked horrified at the suggestions and turned beseeching eyes on Sanik. “Please.” He whispered.

  “You can bunk with Edan.” Sanik smiled evilly at his son before grabbing Viagara and disappearing over the side.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Jokes on them, I’m sharing with Tali,” Edan flashed Lem a sadistic smile. “He’ll be sharing with Marcus.”

  Hopping over the side, Edan joined his father and the City Watch Captain. They all paused to watch the bear cubs face off with a crab twice their size.

  [Stone Backed Crab - lvl 21]

  The cubs worked well together and in short order they had the crab on its back, its legs jabbing uselessly at the air, as they tore it apart.

  “Damn, they’re going to be vicious when they’re older,” Sanik muttered.

  Edan could only beam with pride.

  The trip back to Bondar Village was quick. There was a tense moment when the man on watch panicked and nearly shot Sanik. Luckily, no arrows were released and no Sanik's impaled. After the fourth round of apologies, the man sent them on their way as he turned back to watch the jungle from on top of the barrier.

  Edan’s words to Lem proved correct. Viagara would be bunking with Marcus. It was hard to tell who was more displeased.

  It was very easy to tell who was pleased, though. Gem had a massive smile on her face the entire night.

  The group took up an entire bench to themselves, and the crowd that filtered in as the day wore on avoided them.

  The stew cooked by Marlin's yet-to-be-seen wife was hearty and savory, and Edan gobbled it down. They talked, though the conversation was rather stilted at times.

  They hadn’t known each other long, other than Gem and Reema, and it had only been the constant stress and momentum of the day that had kept the unfamiliarity at bay. Sitting down to some peace and quiet finally, the strangeness became apparent.

  By the time Reema and Sanik turned in, the Spilt Drop was bustling with villagers. Conversations, mixed and overlapped, become one long drone of background noise. Edan found the atmosphere suffocating.

  The couple's departure prompted a massive exodus as Edan decided it was time for bed as well. His increasing level and stats may have meant he didn’t need to sleep as often, but it had been a long two days. First the fight at the port and the restless night, and then the Sea Serpent.

  Tali followed him up to his room. There were two beds, pressed up against opposite walls. A dresser, under the small window that overlooked the alley behind the inn, was placed between the beds. A single candle rested in a dish on the dresser.

  Edan looked at the beds and then at Tali, there was no way she would fit. Solving the problem herself, the Titan sat down on the bed, scooching back until she pressed up against the wall, essentially turning the bed into a Tali sized chair.

  It groaned under her weight, and for a second Edan feared the frame would snap.

  The bear cubs snooped around the room before hopping up onto Edan’s bed and curling up together. Three seconds later, Regal began to snore loudly.

  Snuffing the candle, Edan slid onto his own bed and got ready to sleep, but Tali stopped him.

  “Bwaka, tell me of your fight.” She said, her formal address rather than the use of ‘Emge’ told Edan this was a mentor talk, not a friend talk.

  Edan mirrored Tali, folding his legs beneath him. It was the same posture he took when meditating, and Edan felt his mind settle.

  She didn’t need to explain what she meant. Edan knew what she was referring to. Speaking slowly, Edan explained the fight, going over his actions and moves as well as the skills he had activated. He explained why he used a certain skill at a certain time and how he may have used it differently. He would pause occasionally as he reviewed the scene in his mind, his Intelligence and Wisdom stats allowing him to remember the series of events with greater clarity.

  Tali would ask questions, but for the most part, she listened in silence. It was only once Edan had gotten to the part about boarding the ship that she stopped him.

  “You did not dance.” She said.

  “No,” Edan admitted, ashamed. “I didn’t think about it. With the monkeys, I was so overwhelmed. It was just instinct. With Lorien and Kumi and Yaw, it was…I…I don’t know.”

  Tali breathed deeply, her amber eyes glowing in the dark.

  “You allowed emotion to hinder you. Shock slowed your reaction. Reluctance dulled your moves. Thought interfered with your instincts.”

  Edan knew she was right, but he still felt the need to point out, “There were three of them, all more skilled than me, and I still beat them.”

  “Bwaka, your skill has never been your limiting factor, it was your stats. Do not forget, that I watched you fight your classmates that first day. You think Aser Na’Doma is more skilled than you? No, he was simply the one with the greatest stats in your class, and what stats couldn’t do, bullying and fear did. That is the way the sect holds power over their equals.” Tali leaned forward. “They were weaker than you, in stats and skill. You should have had no trouble with them, and yet you almost died to the large ones staff, and the female's trident.”

  “I didn’t want to hurt them,” Edan admitted. He heard the sound of the blade puncturing Kumi’s throat and shivered.

  Tali’s eyes turned soft, but her voice remained firm.

  “You are wrong. Those that seek to kill, must be prepared to die. Do not hesitate again. Never hesitate. If you must give mercy, make it the mercy of a quick death. If you must kill, strike true, and if you cannot kill, run.”

  Edan nodded. He knew she was right, but it still stung.

  “It is worse when you know them,” Tali admitted, her own gaze turning distant before she shook her head slowly. Edan caught the white of her teeth in the dark as she smiled. “So I will accept your failure as a lesson taught. You have a big heart, Bwaka, steel it, lest the warmth be stolen from it.”

  Edan didn’t know what to say, so remained quiet. Now that they’d brought it up, his mind kept going over and over the fight. He saw Yaw, a hole in his body as Kumi looked on empty-eyed. He saw Kumi with a dagger in his throat, his eyes gazing at nothing.

  “Tonight, you do not sleep,” Tali told him. “Meditate. Find your balance. Will you continue walking this path to the top, or does it demand too much?”

  “I’ll keep walking,” Edan said, remembering the talk with Harvey.

  “Meditate tonight.” Tali insisted, her voice firm. “I will accept your answer tomorrow morning. If you wish to continue, we will begin your training without reservation. If you do not, I will accept this too.”

  “I thought you needed me for something? Something important?” Edan thought back to the day in the rain. “You said you were here for me.”

  “I am, Emge, but I will not take you down a path you do not wish to walk. Perhaps the story for us ends here, and I am wrong.”

  Edan looked at Tali. Really looked at her. She was capable of so much violence. He’d seen her laugh as she was covered in the blood of her enemies, but at the same time, she showed so much care towards him, always ensuring she wasn’t pushing him to do something he didn’t want to.

  What did she want from him? Why was he so important?

  Edan sighed. Those were questions he wouldn’t have answered tonight.

  Is this what it’s like having a big sister? Edan wondered.

  Apparently out loud, as the voice of Kiba rang out a short while later.

  Or she knows if she influences your path, you may not turn into the person she needs.

  That…actually makes sense. Edan admitted.

  Obviously! I’m very intelligent.

  Edan rolled his eyes at the Primordial's ego inflation. Settling in, he prepared to meditate when Tali spoke once more.

  “You killed your friends. Tonight, you remember that.”