It’s nighttime when we emerge back through the portal and back into the surface world. It’s chilly outside, but compared with the stale air in the recesses of the dungeon, it feels absolutely delightful. There’s a faint scent of fresh grass carried by the refreshing early spring breeze, and the shroud of more dense Ether outside the dungeon is revitalizing my body and mind in equal measure.

  Chloe’s house isn’t too far away. Her mother hasn’t outright declared us personae non gratae in a personal capacity, even if she and I are one in the city more broadly. With all of us reeking and our clothes stinking of blood and piss and more compounds than I’d prefer to think about, we decide to chance it, rather than enduring the stink all the way back to the base on the far side of town.

  Chloe calls her mother before we set out, but she gets no response. The journey is quick, and within five minutes, we arrive. We knock on the front door, out of courtesy as much as the fact that we might be unwelcome guests. But when no one comes to the door either to shoo us away or to welcome us, Chloe unlocks it and lets us in anyway. I’m not sure if I could have unlocked it myself with the glyph, but this is faster and I don’t want to earn even more of Mrs. Jacobs’s exasperation and ire.

  Lindsey agrees to wait, allowing Chloe and I to take the first pair of showers. I don’t rush, but what I wouldn’t give to have a nice, long, extra relaxing soak session in some steaming-hot water right about now. Sadly, Lindsey does still need to freshen up as well, and perhaps the three of us can find a restaurant still open at this hour. Except, probably not, what with the curfew and martial law still being in effect to the best of my knowledge.

  I still take about eight minutes to enjoy the steaming water dripping down my hair and legs, sighing as dried-up entrails slide off, giving way to smooth clean skin underneath. For the first time all day, I’m able to truly relax, confident in my ability to emerge even from a surprise attack coming in through the front door. Not that Lindsey would let either of us come to harm in the first place.

  Once I’m clean enough and dried off, I change into my spare clothes that I keep in my bag and sit back on the couch. Lindsey continues to survey the room, taking care not to spread more dirt and stench around than necessary. If I didn’t know any better, I’d guess she has some [Ranger] class skill that allows her to hide her scent. That, and she didn’t get covered in nearly as much gunk as I did.

  Chloe comes downstairs a minute after I do. She grabs the both of us a glass of water before joining me on the couch. Once Lindsey has made her way to the bathroom and the water faucet turns on, Chloe sighs and leans her head on my shoulder.

  “You did well out there today,” I say. “I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you.”

  Chloe smiles. “I decided after our trip with Lindsey and the others that I needed to get stronger as well.” She nuzzles into my upper arm a bit more. “I know you said you’d protect me, but I learned that I’ve also gotta be able to protect you.”

  “You’re doing a great job, Chloe. There’s no way I would have survived without your help. I’d’ve gotten killed half a dozen times against everything we went up against today and… Well, I appreciate your company through all of this.”

  “I’m glad. It’s a weight off my shoulders hearing you say that.”

  “There’s something I want to ask you, if you don’t mind.”

  Chloe looks up and nods, and I continue.

  “This is maybe going to make things awkward between us, but it kinda seems as though you were hitting on me while we were in the dungeon earlier.” I pause. “Kinda seems that way right now, the way you’re latched onto my arm like that.”

  “I’m–”

  She doesn’t respond right away.

  “I’m not upset or anything, but… I’m not really ready for the sort of commitment that a relationship would entail.”

  “I’m– I’m not sure I want a relationship right now either.” Chloe hesitates, taking a long drink of water. “Especially because I’ve never been attracted to anyone but guys. It’s scary. I’ve always thought of myself as straight, and yet, the more we do all this dungeon exploring and learning about your past, I… I find myself wanting to learn more about the world, about everything that’s happened and everything that’s going to happen. And I want to do it all by your side.”

  “Chloe. You can do all that and more without having to feel like you have to be in a relationship with me. Because I fully plan to continue to move forward and explore the cosmos one day, with you at my side, no matter what else the future may hold.”

  “So you’re not interested.” Chloe turns away, but doesn’t let go of my arm.

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  “I’m sorry if it’s even crueler to say ‘not right now’ instead of just ‘no’. But right now, I’m still trying to figure myself out. Both with the whole ‘past life’ thing, as well as figuring out if I like guys or girls or both or neither or whatever else.”

  “I guess I’ve forgotten that you’ve never been in a relationship before, have you?”

  “Nope. And also, ouch, the way you say that! Always been busy with work and school and homework and all that other stuff that just doesn’t seem important at all anymore.” I chuckle.

  “You know, this is the first time I’ve asked someone out. And the first time that I’ve been rejected. I guess I gotta give Mike and Aiden an apology for being insensitive about how hard it is for guys to ask girls out.”

  “It’s probably even harder for them!”

  That gets Chloe to laugh. “Yeah, then, I definitely should apologize at some point.”

  “Just please don’t tell me that you want me to apologize to the Dungeon’s Resident Asshole now. Because that’s beyond the pale, even for me.”

  “That asshole? Yeah, absolutely not. No way I’d ask you to do anything like that. I’d never be able to call you my friend again!”

  The two of us laugh together. Just as we calm down, the faucet shuts off, and the sound of the garage door opening echoes from the far side of the room. I take a deep breath to steel myself for the conversation bound to be far more difficult than any of the challenges we’ve faced so far today.

  Both Lindsey and Mrs. Jacobs emerge through their respective doorways at the same moment. Mrs. Jacobs is completely distraught, about to start screaming murder, but Chloe’s presence manages to calm her down at least enough for Lindsey to interject and take control of the situation.

  “Lindsey Reed,” she says, extending a hand toward Mrs. Jacobs. “Former Army Ranger, now working under Alexey Ivankov and his unit to patrol the wilderness around the city. It’s a privilege to finally meet you, Mrs. Jacobs.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom,” Chloe says. “I tried to call you a little bit ago and let you know that we were going to stop by and freshen up before we head back to base, but your phone went straight to voicemail.”

  “I see…” Mrs. Jacobs trails off.

  “On behalf of the entire unit, I’d like to commend the both of them for their service over these past eight days or so. Sera’s a brave and intelligent fighter. She reminds me of myself when I started out in the Rangers almost a decade ago. And Chloe is the entire squad’s best friend for her ability to patch us up from the brink of death. Whatever circumstances might have led to their joining our team, I’ll say that I’m happy to have worked alongside the both of them and look forward to continuing to do so.”

  “I trust that the three of you haven’t brought any trouble with you.”

  “No, ma’am,” Lindsey says. “As Chloe said, we were just planning to freshen up and maybe I’d treat them to dinner after our evening in the dungeon.”

  “You three went back to the dungeon?” Mrs. Jacobs looks about half a step from fainting on the nearby staircase.

  “Just the two of them for most of it,” Lindsey says. “When they didn’t come back, I went in and together, we went down and defeated the dungeon boss and completed it. Got the System notification and everything.”

  Mrs. Jacobs takes another deep breath, all but sucking air down her windpipe to keep herself from hyperventilating. “Ms. Reed, I must beg your pardon, but for the sake of my sanity, I must ask that you keep any further details to yourself.”

  “I understand. And I apologize for the sudden intrusion upon your home. We will take our leave.”

  Chloe and I head toward the front door. “Thank you for everything, once again, Mrs. Jacobs,” I say. “I will continue to do all I can to keep Chloe safe while we’re away.”

  “And I’ll do all I can to keep Sera safe and healthy as well,” Chloe says. “We’ll try to come by again in a few weeks, once things have settled down a bit more.” She pauses. “And we’ll try to give you some more warning next time.”

  Mrs. Jacobs pulls Chloe into a hug, motioning for me to join in, which I do. “I’m glad to see you safe, and happy to know that you two are both doing well out there. And yes, I would love to hear more about everything you two have done once everything goes back to some sort of new normal.”

  I don’t say a word, but Lindsey and I share a look. We both know that whatever the new normal is, almost certainly won’t be anything like the old normal that Mrs. Jacobs envisions. But we both know that Mrs. Jacobs especially needs that bit of hope, even if it is a dim hope indeed.

  “We’ll take care of ourselves, Mom,” Chloe says.

  “Damn right these two can,” Lindsey interjects. “I’ll see them escorted back safe and sound.”

  Mrs. Jacobs nods and walks back toward the master suite. Neither Chloe nor her mother want to acknowledge how difficult the separation is for both of them, and so we leave Chloe’s house without exchanging further goodbyes. Chloe stops for a few seconds, giving her house a long look over, but then we’re off at a quick jog, all our gear in tow.

  The moon is a sliver over halfway illuminated, waxing toward fullness over the next several days. The wind is calm and the skies clear, but with the power restored to the city, the stars are few and faint, and the galactic glow completely drowned out over the lights above the streets and in front of houses in neighborhoods on either side of us.

  Above all else within the city, looming high above the downtown skyline, is the Tower Gauntlet. Its boss— whatever it is— watches us all from its perch high above the city. And from what little intelligence we have, the three of us, empowered as we are by clearing that first dungeon, are woefully unprepared for the challenge which awaits. A challenge that, like those before, we must rise up to meet.

  We make it back to base shortly before 10:00 PM. I don’t bother changing into pajamas, nor taking a bath, nor even having another meal, hungry though I was before. The second my body flops onto my bed, my eyelids grow heavy. I doubt even a minute passes before sleep takes hold of me.