(Dyn)

  Dream 2 - Late

  Dyn sprinted down the hallway, his breath ing in ragged gasps, his legs burning with every step. The bell had already rung. He was te. So te. He’d barely started running, but it felt like he had been at it for hours. His bag thudded heavily against his back, each impact renewing his ay.

  The was just ahead—or it should have been. But as he turhe er, the hall stretched endlessly, the door he needed disappearing from sight. No matter how hard he pushed, he couldn’t close the distance.

  His lungs burned, and sweat dripped down his forehead. The clock’s tig grew louder, each sed hammering in his ears like a tdown. He wasn’t going to make it. The exam was about to start, and he wasn’t even in the room yet.

  “Just a few more steps…” he panted, pushing harder. But the hallway seemed to go on forever. Doors zipped past, taunting him, but none were right. None of them were for his .

  “Wait! I’m almost there!” Dyn shouted.

  The clock’s tig grew faster, eg in his ears like a rag heartbeat. His feet smmed against the ground, but it was as if he were running in pce, uo close the gap. The pressure in his chest tightened.

  Finally, he saw it—the door to his css. But it was already closing.

  The teacher started calling out names for attendance. He was so close.

  They finally reached his name. “Dyn?” the teacher called.

  “Present!” Dyn gasped, just outside the door. He pushed forward, urging his legs to respond. He lunged, reag out, but the door clicked shut just as his fingers brushed against the handle.

  “Dyn…” the teacher called again, the voice distant and muffled.

  He banged on the door. “I’m here! I’m here!” But no one heard him. He was too te.

  “Dyn!” The voice grew more urgent as the pounding tinued.

  Dyn shot up, crashing out of bed. “I’m right here!” he yelled, his heart rag as he blinked in fusion, realizing it wasn’t him knog.

  A quick succession of knocks thumped on his door, and Nathan’s voice came through. “Dyn! We o talk. What did you do? Why is your name on the list for the trials tomorrow?” His knog tinued relentlessly.

  “By the Mother, I’m beginning to wish Dorian was here right now,” Nathan muttered. “Wake up and open the door.”

  ‘Oh shit,’ Dyn thought. Wing, he said, “I nning on telling you.”

  “When? After you got back from the trials?”

  Dyn got to his feet, putting his hands out. “Let’s just… calm down and talk about this.”

  “What’s going on?” Charles’ voice asked from behind the door.

  Natha out a frustrated sigh, crossing his arms. “Dy against medical advid signed up for the guild trials tomorrow.”

  Dyn ged. He could feel Charles’ silent disappoihrough the door. The rugged elf had always been clear about his stan guilds.

  “Charles, why are you here?” Dyantly walked over to the locked door, debating whether that would be enough to stop the rugged elf. It probably wasn’t.

  “I…” Charles’ voice trailed off. “Never mind. It seems you’ve made your decision.”

  “Dyn, open the door,” Nathan said.

  “I don’t en the door,” Dyn said, his voice tinged with fear.

  “Open the door,” Charles said. “I won’t ask twice.”

  Dyn unlocked the runelock door. After it fis sequence, he pulled it open, wearing a guilty expression. Two disappointed-looking elves waited for him oher side. A bck duffle bag sat on the floor beside Charles.

  Nathan stood there, gng between Dyn and Charles. “Why’d you open the door for him?”

  Dyn motiooward Charles. “He scarier.”

  Nathan studied Charles for a moment, and the rugged elf shrugged nontly.

  Dyn picked at his nails. “Hey, could I borrow fifteen loaves of fk?”

  “Borrow?” Charles and Nathan asked in unison.

  “Fair point,” Dyn ceded. “May I please have fifteen loaves of fk?”

  “That’s the sed purpose of my visit,” Charles said, bending down to pick up the duffle bag. “I have to leave for the local Ebonscale Chapter today to make arras for Vera.”

  Dyn blinked. “Who’s Vera again?”

  “She’s my retly liberated panion from Ebonscale,” Charles said.

  Dyn scratched his , frowning. “So, why are ying her back to Ebonscale?”

  “It’s plicated,” Charles said. “She’s been court ordered to three months of rehabilitation at Ebonscale. But don’t worry, I won’t let them keep her. I have to head out there now, but I wao make sure you have enough fk until I get back. I pn ourning right away. Still, that will take almost a week.”

  Nathan, crossing his arms, frowned. “Dyn, I think you should resider the Prune Juice.”

  Dyn shook his head. “Not this again… Old people drink prune juice, and I’m not old.”

  Nathan shot him a ft look, crossing his arms tighter. “Meekan drinks Prune Juice.”

  Dyn narrowed his eyes, already itted to his decision. “Alright, so attractive women and old men drink prune juice. Do I look like either of those to you?” He held up his hand. “Wait, don’t ahat. My pride ’t ha this m.”

  Charles ignored Dyn’s antid turo Nathan. “ ye for a kit to be avaible with the ingredients on this list for when I get back?”

  Nathan took the list and reviewed it, nodding as he sed the items. He gnced up. “Certainly. How long should I reserve it for?”

  “At least a day.”

  Natha his gaze. “You’ll have everything you need in a week, and the kit will be yours for three days.”

  “Acceptable.” Charles gave him a curt nod.

  “And how much for your services?”

  Charles waved a dismissive hand, turning slightly. “Just provide the materials and I’ll take care of the rest.”

  “But you’re making fk. You may be the only person on this world with the knowledge to do so. Surely, your time and expertise deserve pensation,” Nathan insisted.

  Charles exhaled briefly. “Fk is my family’s recipe, and it’s priceless to me. Provide the kit and ingredients, and I’ll make sure Dyn has enough to eat until my visit.”

  Nathan bowed his head in gratitude. “Thank you.”

  It made sehat the mert would o move on to tinue his trade, but it hadn’t been a reality until noang of realization hit Dyn that the rugged elf wouldn’t be here wheurned. “When will you be back?”

  Charles’ expression remaioic. “My route brings me to Dartmouth three times a year. I had hoped to vince you to choose something other than joining a guild. But sihat’s no longer an option, I’ve little reason to stay after the fk is done. I won’t be here when you return from your trials. Fare well on them. Goodbye, Dyn. It’s been an iing experience.”

  Dyn’s throat tightened, and his vision blurred with uears. He opened his arms and walked up to an unfortable-looking Charles. The rugged elf stood there, arms stiff at his sides, fag forward as he tolerated the chubby man’s hug.

  “Thanks, Charles,” Dyn said, stepping bad hastily wiping away a tear with the back of his hand.

  Nathan appeared puzzled, like he was w out a problem, before asking, “How did you know where to find us?”

  “I ran into Meekan at the entrance as I was arriving. She told me where to find you two. And t fifteen loaves of fk.” Charles walked over to Dyn’s bed. He opehe fp and dumped fifteen loaves onto the bed.

  Dyn was going to hug Charles again but thought better of it when he caught the rugged elf’s gre.

  “Do you have to leave now?” Dyn asked. “Couldn’t you wait until after breakfast?”

  “Breakfast was an ho,” Nathan said.

  “Shit, the armory!” Dyn excimed as he took off running down the hall.

  “Where are you going?” Nathan called after him.

  “I o get to the armory.” Dyn halted, only to realize he didn’t know where it was. He spun back around, his face flushed with embarrassment. “Could you show me where it is?”

  Nathaated for a moment but saw how important this was to Dyn. “Alright.” He gave Charles a quiod, closed the runelock door, and led Dyn toward the armory. They met Wedge halfway across the back fields, where he greeted them with a raised brow.

  “Greetings, Nathan and Dyn,” Wedge said, his deep voice resonating. “I hope your day has been less eventful than mine.”

  Dyn exhaled in relief. ‘He doesn’t seem mad that I’m te.’

  “Wedge.” Nathan gave the architect a respectful nod.

  “I overslept,” Dyn said, a weak smile. “ we still go to the armory?”

  “This reflects poorly on your judgment. Do not make promises you ot keep,” Wedge said sternly. He turned and began walking toward the armory. “Your as have sequenot just for yourself, but for others, too. For the rest of my day, I will be running te, causing others to do so as well.”

  ‘Shit, he’s worse than mad—he’s disappointed,’ Dyn thought, a knot f in his stomach. He sighed. “I’m sorry. Now I feel bad.”

  “I do not accept your apology, and your feelings are irrelevant. Instead, take advantage of this opportunity; use this experieo gain knowledge and learn to do better,” Wedge said.

  ‘It’s like Mr. Miyagi and the B queen had a baby,’ Dyn thought.

  “Dyn, I still think you should resider and wait until the rial. You’re just not ready,” Nathan said.

  Wedge stopped abruptly, turning back toward them. Nathan and Dyn almost ran into his broad frame.

  Wedge’s eyes narrowed on Dyn. “I thought you said Nathan supported you in joining the guild?”

  “Teically, he wants me to join the guild,” Dyn said, shifting unfortably under Wedge’s gaze. Nathan wi the implications of lying to Wedge.

  “Half-truths, just like Meekan. I am already training osune. I do not want another.” Wedge poi Dyn. “You will speak pinly from now on, or you will not speak at all.”

  “Dyn’s right.” Nathan raised his hands slightly, trying to defuse the tension. “I want him to join Nightshade. He has a ind. It’s his body I’m ed about.”

  Wedge turo the prismatic elf. “Dyn has chosen his path, and we have three options: stand beside him, stand aside, or stand in his way. I choose to help, as he will . What will you do?”

  Nathan sighed. “I’ll stop pig option three.”

  “Good.” Wedge resumed his march toward the armory.

  “I o find someoo fix your hand before the trial. I’ll catch up with you ter,” Nathan said.

  Nathan took off, jogging back to the dorms. Dyn’s breath quied as he hurried to keep up with the power walking architect.

  “Do you have any magic abilities?” Wedge asked as they reached the armory doors. They were a double set of runelock doors, but rger. He waited for Dyn’s reply while he opehem.

  Dyn had learned his lesson with Charles. “Just one, but I’d rather keep it to myself.”

  “Hide your strengths. Good, you are learning.” Wedge nodded, seeming pleased with the answer. “Does your ability repce your need for armor or a on?”

  He still couldn’t believe how easy it was to just not answer people about his abilities. ‘Maybe haviricted magic wouldn’t be so bad after all?’

  “No, but I’ve got this dagger.” He uhed the pink crystal dagger from inside his cloak, the bde catg the light as he held it up.

  Wedge took it from him, testing the bance. He flipped it by the pommel and caught it after a rotation. Dyn watched in awe as Wedge hahe bde with ease. “Are you profit with this on?”

  “No,” Dyn admitted, wishing he could brandish the bde like the big guy.

  “Do you know how to wield any ons?” Wedge spun the dagger, holding it out pommel-first toward Dyn.

  Dyn took back his dagger, adjusting his cloak as he slid it into pce. “Do you have any guns?”

  Wedge raised a stony eyebrow. “You have experieh firearms?”

  Dyn nodded. “My dad taught me. Used to take me shooting when I was younger.”

  Without another word, Wedge started down the hallway, his footsteps eg in the quiet. Dyn followed, w where the big guy was taking them.

  Wedge stopped at a random, unmarked runelock door. “This is the room. Choose anything that you are familiar with.” He pced his rge hand oone sb beside the door. Each door had ohe lock clicked open, and Wedge pulled it open for Dyn.

  Dyn stepped into a doomsday prepper’s wet dream. On his left were simple ranged ons and handguns. The middle of the room had rifles and shotguns, while the right side tained firearms that would have been way too heavy for him to carry. The faint smell of oil lingered in the air, and the ons gleamed uhe dim lighting.

  “Do they use magic bullets?” Dyn picked up the closest thing in the room to a 12-gauge pump-a shotgun.

  “Everything you have access to is mu would have been preferable for you to have been mundane as well. It is usually how I establish a reliable baseline for each guild member. I will make do, however.”

  The shotgun had a fabric sleeve along the stock with enough slots to hold five shells. It smelled faintly of oil, and there wasn’t a spot of rust on it. He pressed the a release and pulled the pump back, firming the chamber was empty and the gun wasn’t loaded. Overall, it was far too light, weighing about half as much as it should have.

  “Must be the alloys,” Dyn muttered. “I’d love to know how you make these.”

  “Then you should speak with Ni’ot,” Wedge said. “Follow me. You should also carry something for close-quarters bat.” He escorted Dyn out of the room, log the runelock door behind them.

  Dyn held up the shotgun. “Have you seen one of these things in a? Le or cle, it doesn’t matter, a shotgun will stop anything.”

  Wedge gave a rumbling chuckle. “Maybe on Dirt…”

  Wedge unlocked the door in the same fashion as the first, revealing another room filled with blunt melee ons. He didn’t step aside for Dyn this time. Instead, he went in himself aurned with a simple mace.

  “Here.” Wedge ha to him.

  “I’ve never used a mace before,” Dyn said, turning it over in his hands.

  “It is not plicated. You simply swing it,” Wedge said. “And there are no edges to hurt yourself on.”

  Dyn leahe shotgun up against the hallway wall. The mace made a soft whoosh, whoosh as he swung it bad forth. Simir to the shotgun, it was banced and light.

  “This maever needs a reload, never runs out of ammunition, never jams, and will work even if it gets wet. Your firearm is powerful, but it does not hurt to have a backup.”