(Dyn)

  Nathan thahe waiter and headed for the door where Dyn was waiting.

  “Does everyone accept credits?” Dyn asked as Nathan approached.

  The bell chimed as Nathan pulled open the door. “Most people do.” He held it open for Dyn.

  “Why use gems then?” Dyn slipped past.

  “Everyone’s got their own reasons.” Nathan joined him on the sidewalk outside. He gnced quickly down both sides of the street before crossing. “The astral merts prefer them over credits because the gems are worth much more off-world.” He moved at a brisk pad crossed quickly. “And some people just want a backup in case the League pulls out of our world.”

  Dyn jogged to keep up. “Has the League ever dohat?”

  Nathan nodded, keeping his eyes ahead. “A few decades ago, actually. The local goverried to manipute the League into joining their war. They got exactly what they asked for. Didn’t end well for them; they lost the war and access to the League. After the League left, most of the popution followed. The League quickly found a pce for everyone using simir refugee tracts to the one you have.”

  Dyn had about a dozeions he wao ask about an intergactic group of super wizards abandoning a p, but he wouldn’t let ADHD win this time. That sidequest could wait until his current one was done. He simply nodded and asked. “So, how do the gems work?”

  “Gemstones are muhey don’t actually do anything. They’re just gems.”

  Dyn frowned. ‘I walked into that one,’ he thought. “Sorry, I meant what’s each gem worth?”

  “Oh,” Nathan stopped mid-stride and turned, fishing into his gem pouch. He pulled out three differently sized gems ahem out in his palm. “The littlest ones are basic gems.” He he tiny oh his index finger. “The size up is a small gem, which is equal to ten basic gems.” Nathan picked up the small gem and pced it into Dyn’s hand.

  Dyn surveyed them. They looked like high-eones from a jewelry store, the kind that would cost thousands of dolrs. It surprised him how casually Nathan hahem.

  Nathan tinued. “The size up from small is a medium gem, also equal to ten small gems.” He pced all three gems into Dyn’s hand, letting him pare the sizes.

  “Okay, so it’s a base ten system.” Dyn grinned, reizing the system from games he used to py. This would be easy to remember.

  “Yes,” Nathan said with a slight smile as he watched Dyn’s iion. “And there are two more sizes. Large gems, which I don’t carry on me—far too much wealth to keep on you without a ste ability. And the st are huge gems. I’ve never actually seen one of those.”

  Dyn pushed the gems around with a finger. “And what about the colors?”

  “Yes, gems e in many colors,” Nathan said.

  “I got that part… I meant which colors are more valuable?” Dyn picked up the basic yellow gem and held it up to the light. The sunlight caught the gem, making it sparkle with a sharp brilliail it blinded him, f him to fumble the gem with a wince.

  Nathan reached out, calmly catg it mid-air with ease. “All gems of the same size have equal value.”

  Dyn hahe other two gems back while rubbing his sore eyes. “Right, but which color has the most value?”

  Nathan pursed his lips, clearly searg for the right words. “Value isn’t based on color.” He slipped the gems bato the pouch. “They’re all equal.”

  Dyn chewed on that thought for a sed.

  “Why?” Nathan asked, cog his head. “Is that different on Dirt?”

  “That’s a loaded question.” Dyn shook his head, refusing to eborate. He began walking again, no clue how to find Charles from here.

  Nathan gave a slight shrug and caught up, resuming the lead. They weaved their way through Dartmouth toward Merts’ Circle, where they found a treehouse occupying Charles’ usual spot. Nathan stepped up and knocked firmly on the door. They waited a minute, but Charles didn’t answer.

  “Charles, you in there?” Dyn called, leaning toward the door.

  “Maybe he ’t hear us?” Nathan suggested.

  “Oh, he hear us. You hear everything in there. It’s like it gets amplified or something.” Dyn stepped back just as the door swung open, nearly hitting him.

  Charles stood there, shirtless and half-asleep, rubbing his eyes. “Apologies, I must have nodded off. I’ve had little sleep this week.”

  “Holy crap, even he’s got a-pack.” Dyn gawked openly at Charles.

  A discerting number of scars crisscrossed Charles’ torso, though he seemed unfazed by them. Dyn made a mental t it up until Charles did.

  “Just like Abs…” Dyn’s voice trailed off in awe.

  “Who’s Abs?” Nathan raised an eyebrow.

  Dyn waved a hand. “Just an elf I met back at Ebonscale.” He poio Charles’ midse. “Is that ahing or…?”

  Nathan gave a casual shrug. “That’s the standard elven physique.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. You all look like this?” Dyn asked, tinuing to point at Charles’ well-defiomach.

  Nathan nodded.

  “I don’t believe you,” Dyn said, pnting his hands on his hips. “Show me.” He motioned with his toward the prismatic elf.

  “What?” Nathan bliaken aback.

  “You’ve already seen mine. Now lift up your shirt and show me yours.” Dyn tapped his foot, arms crossed impatiently.

  With a sigh, Nathan rolled his eyes, grabbed his shirt, and lifted it. Dyn ted at least six abs before Nathan’s shirt came back down and interrupted him.

  “Is everyone ripped on this p?” Dyn asked. “I’ve nded on the p of himbos and bimbos.” He looked down at his paunch. “It’s not fair.”

  “I’m fairly certain you also have abdominal muscles,” Nathan said.

  “But not the runway model levels of body fat. This is going to be my life, isn’t it? I’m always going to be the ugly one.”

  Nathan chuckled. “I’m sure half of Dartmouth would disagree.”

  Dyn gave him a fused looked before shielding his eyes from Charles. “Could you put a shirt on at least? Jesus, that’s terribly distrag.”

  Charles sighed areated into the treehouse. Moments ter, he returned in a loose-fitting shirt. “Better?”

  The shirt had a low v-cut, revealing the rugged elf’s sculpted pecs. “It’ll have to do,” he grumbled.

  “Now, what I get you?” Charles asked, gng between them.

  Dyn turo Nathan and grinned. “Yes, Nathan, what he get me?”

  Nathan sidered for a moment before rattling off the list. “We should start with seves of outfits. Double that for undergarments. Dress boots, town boots, and two pairs of traveling boots. Two vests, two jackets—one light, one heavy.” He turo Dyn. “Do you like hats?”

  Dyn shook his head quickly. “No, not really.”

  “Alright then, that should be the order,” Nathan firmed.

  “Do you still have my cloak and the dagger?” Dyn ed his neck, peering through the open door down the dimly lit hallway of the treehouse.

  “Yes, your room is as you left it,” Charles said. “Minus the dles.”

  Dyn wi that st part. He hopped inside, relief washing over him. The fire hadn’t burned everything to a crisp as he’d feared. He grabbed the e cloak and pink crystal dagger, eyeing the room o time before stepping out.

  “That order will take some time,” Charles said, rubbing his thoughtfully. “Would you like me to drop it off when I’m done?”

  Nathan shook his head. “I’d like to wait if you don’t mind, court order and all that.”

  “Suit yourself,” Charles shrugged casually. He called over his shoulder, “Dyn, bring out the two stools and the table.”

  “Okay.” Dy over, bang the stools and the table awkwardly in his arms. He carefully maneuvered his way outside, managing not to trip or drop anything. Once he had the furniture set up, he stepped back, pleased with himself.

  Charles gave a slight nod of approval before asking, “Tea, anyone?”

  “No!” Dyn said, his voice harsher thaended. “I mean, no. None for me.”

  “I’m just not thirsty,” Dyn lied, shifting unfortably as he avoided Charles’ gaze.

  Nathan shot him a questioning look, and Dyn, not liking the scrutiny, quickly redirected the versation. “Why seves of clothes?”

  Nathan sat up straight in his seat, arms crossed. “I figured you wouldn’t want to do undry more than once a week. Why? Do you want more?”

  “If he does, it’ll have to wait until tomorrow,” Charles cut in, pulling open a chest arieving several tiny pairs of pants. “After this, I’m taking a very long nap.”

  “Fair enough. Do you take credits? I’m not sure I have enough gems on me for all this.” Nathan poioward the growing pile of tiny clothes.

  Charles nodded. “Credits are fine. How are you getting all this back to Nightshade?”

  “I’ll rent a grav-sb for the day,” Nathan answered, gesturing toward the stables where the long, floating stone sbs hovered i rows.

  Charles resumed his work aired four pairs of boots . The hinge creaked as he closed it agaiook out a needle. Charles took out a needle, the thread moving quickly through the supple leather as he resized the boots in just a few seds.

  Dyn watched with i. “I thought you said boots take a while to resize?”

  Charles paused, then gnced over his shoulder. “These are different.”

  Nathan, eyes narrowing slightly, observed Charles with a suspicious gaze.

  Sensing it, Charles straightened and asked, “So, what are the steps for Dyn’s refugee tract?”

  Nathan rexed a bit, shifting gears. “Once we’ve got his basieeds sorted, we’ll focus on helping him feel secure. That means physical training, self-defense, aually, finding a job so he start earning his own money. Ohat’s established, we’ll draft a finan so he save up aually buy his own property.”

  Nathan watched as Charles tinued resizing the garments to Dy proportions. “Just three major steps after that and then the tract will be plete.”

  “Any idea what you want to do for a job?” Charles asked, still focused on his work.

  Dyated, then asked. “Does joining a guild t as a job?”

  “Yes, but you don’t have to do that.” Charles said. “You have other options.”

  “Like what?” Dyn shot back before his attention shifted abruptly. “Hey, Nathan, you should totally get a pair of pants while we’re here!”

  “Maybe tomorrow,” Nathan said. “Charles already mentioned he’s tired, and it looks like he could really use the rest.”

  Charles gave a casual shrug. “Ara pair won’t kill me.”

  Nathan g Charles, then back at Dyn. “He’s been singing praises about the quality of your work,” he admitted. “Alright, I’ll take a pair, but I’ll pay with gems.”

  He stood up, moving toward Charles, who was busy with another pair of pants. Nathaated, unsure what to do .

  Without turning around, Charles asked, “What are you doing?”

  “I assumed you’d o take measurements,” Nathan replied, sounding slightly fused.

  Charles finally turned; a pair of pants draped over his arm. “I already took them.”

  Nathan blinked, staring at the pants as he accepted them. He returo his seat, shaking his head in disbelief.

  Dyn leaned over, whispering loudly, “He’s got magic powers,” before adding a pyful wink.

  Once Charles fihey stacked the ly folded clothes high on a grav-sb, the stone humming softly beh them. Nathan paid for the order and his new pants.

  “I’ll be by the guild tomorrow,” Charles called out to them before disappearing into the treehouse, shutting the door behind him.

  After their goodbyes, they began making their way back through town. Dyn walked beside the rge floating stoe and picked up a pair of pants.

  “These are all a bit… bnd,” Dyn remarked, holding up one of the pants.

  “They’re all the same color. I don’t think Charles carries anything else,” Nathan said with a shrug. “Is that a problem?”

  Dyn’s eyes lit up as he spotted a shop ahead. ‘The atic Crypt, Dyeing to Meet You and Your Needs.’

  “Not one we ’t fix,” he said, pointing to the store. “ we stop there?”

  “Sure, but—” Nathan tried to warn him.

  But Dyn was already rushing to the door. He pushed it open, and the bell jingled as he stepped inte, mostly empty room.

  “Greetings!” a voice called out from behind the door.

  Dyn smiled, but it quickly vanished when the door closed to reveal a bone-white, naked skeleton stepping toward him.

  Dyn screamed.

  The skeleton screamed.

  Then they both screamed.