(Dyn)

  Dyn wondered, ‘How long until—’ Suddenly, the deck shifted under his feet as the airship asded. Thrown off bance, he quickly ed his arms around the sturdiest thing he could find—Wedge.

  “Sorry,” he said, looking up to offer a weak smile.

  Wedge peered down at him. “Introduce yourselves. We will meet with Tome & Key shortly.” He stepped back, giving Dyn and the others a moment to get acquainted.

  W’itapped Hay’len with the back of their hand, nodding toward Dyn. “He’s cute, and he’s funny.”

  ‘Not this again…’ Dyn briefly closed his eyes, gathering his thoughts before opening them agaiermined not to be awkward again.

  Hay’len’s eyes g him for a moment before darting away while W’itney’s gaze lingered.

  The older twin sauntered right up to Dyn, leaning into the railing beside him. “Hi, I’m W’itney.” They gave him a devious smile, ced with iions.

  “Hi.” Dyn took a page from Charles, responding with a curt nod. He’d focused on keeping Auto-manners, and his arms in chebsp;‘That’s flirting, right? I think they’re flirting with me…’ he thought, wishing he had someoo ask.

  W’itney reached over and pulled a relut Hay’len over by the arm. “And this is my geous sibling, Hay’len.”

  Hay’len pulled their arm free, straightening their vest with a quiet sigh. They appeared as unfortable as Dyn with being pced in the spotlight. They gave Dyn another quice before dropping their gaze to the floor.

  After an aause, W’itney gave Hay’len a pointed gnce. “Don’t be rude. Why don’t you say hello?”

  Hay’len looked up for a moment and, with a voice as quiet as their presence, said, “Hi, I’m Hay’len.” They fshed a quick smile and gave a small nod.

  W’itney slid down the railing, ing towards Dyn until their arms touched. They leaned in toward him and asked, “And who might you be?”

  “I’m Dyn.” He took a step back. ‘Does no one uand personal space here?’ he wondered.

  “So, Dyn,” W’itney said, trying the . “Are you from around here?”

  Dyn shook his head, not wanting to expin further.

  “I thought so. I’ve never seen such a well-proportioned elf before—”

  “He’s not an elf,” Eury cut in. She sat further down the railing, arms crossed, watg the exge.

  Hay’len cocked their head. “Not an elf?” Their eyes narrowed as they began scrutinizing Dyn, trying to figure him out.

  Dyn shifted unfortably on his feet, unsure if being a sce project was aer than a hunk of meat.

  W’ituroward Eury. “How’s he not?” They gestured toward Dyn. “He’s elf-shaped.”

  Eury scoffed. “That,” she lifted a fi Dyn, “is not elf-shaped…”

  ‘Elf-shaped? What does that even mean?’ he wondered, unsure whether it was a pliment as he gnced between them.

  W’ituro Dyn. “You’re elven, right?”

  Dyn sighed, knowily where this was going. “Nope.”

  W’itney shook their head. “I don’t believe you.” They held out their cwed hand. “Prove it.”

  Dyn stared at the open hand, unsure how to prove that he was, in faot an elf.

  Hay’len rolled their eyes, lowered their sibling’s hand with a small sigh, and took out their own League card. “Here,” they said, handing it to him. “Do you have a League card like this?”

  Dyn took the card and read it.

  Name: Hay’len

  in: Xel’oria

  Race: Drai

  Gender: Unchosen

  Rank: Mundane

  Status: Citizen

  Titles: N/A

  Dyn frowned, clig his tongue and sighing loudly. Mother ons trao Xel’oria, and the in on this League card stated it correctly. Begrudgingly, he took out his own for parison, still sore that they had gotteh wrong.

  Name: Dyn

  in: Dirt

  Race: Human

  Gender: Male

  Rank: Unranked

  Status: Refugee

  Titles: N/A

  Eury appeared out of o swipe his card before anyone else could react, her lips moving silently as she read it to herself.

  Dyn jumped. ‘How are elves so quiet?!’ he wondered, gng back to where she was just a moment ago.

  ‘And why do they all look like supermodels?’ Minus the Spock ears, most of the elves he’d met were exceptionally attractive—if you were into fit, symmetrically proportioned, well-defined figures. But there was something different about Eury, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

  “Dirt,” Eury said ftly.

  ‘I k.’ He closed his eyes, letting out a defeated sigh.

  Until now, he hadn’t let anyone see his League card, ging to o sliver of hope that Dirt was just a clerical error they hadn’t actually printed. But the ventionally attractive elf had just stolen that from him.

  “Dyn of Dirt,” she said, adding insult to injury. “Odd name for a world.” She lowered the card to appraise him.

  W’itood by their sibling and said, “The good ole, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours…” They elbowed Hay’len pyfully. “Didn’t know you had it in you.” They gave an approving nod and winked. “Good job.”

  Hay’len started. “That’s not—”

  W’itney ighem, reag to snag the League card from Eury. “Let me see.” A momehey gnced up from the card in surprise. “You’re unranked?” They gasped, turning back to Hay’len. “Oh no, he’s cute, funny, and he’s got abilities.” W’itney bit their lip. “I’m in trouble…”

  Hay’len took the card from their twin, reviewing it for themselves, and added, “He’s alsee.”

  Dyn stood there, absently pig at his nails, feeling as if he were a collectible card being passed around.

  W’itook out their League card, handing it to him. Dyn wondered what it meant that their gender was unchosen, but before he could ask—

  The twins bombarded him with questions, their words overpping as they tinued before he could answer. “What orbs do you have?” “Are you single?” “Where’s your caseworker?” “Did you arrive by astral ship?” “Are you rich?” “Are all humans cute?” “Did you run away?” “Do you have a twin?” “Why did you run away?” “Do you prefer males or females?” “What’s Dirt like?”

  Eury cut in, holding up a hand and steppiweehree of them. “Let him breathe for Mother’s sake.”

  Hay’leemeed. “Sorry, Princess.” They lowered their head. “We’ve never met an off-worlder before.” They gnced up, rubbing their thumb into the palm of their hand.

  Dyn noticed Eury’s jaw g when Hay’len addressed her; he didn’t think she appreciated the niame.

  “Yes, this is all terribly exg for us.” W’itney remained unfazed by Eury’s admonishment. “We’re from Dartmouth.”

  Dyn had just as many questions for the twins. Unsure which to ask first, he chose the first that came to mind. “Are drai twins on?”

  Hay’len shook their head. “No, not at all. It’s a rare phenomenon, involving spontaneous inate separation. Normally, a soul resides in one body, but in our case, our soul inhabits both of us.”

  “Wait.” Dyn lifted a fi them both. “So, you’re the same person?”

  Hay’len shook their head again, but W’itook over the versation. “No, we’re individuals…” A lecherous grin formed on their face. “What do you know about the drai reproductive cycle?”

  Dyn blinked, but before he could send ao Horny Jail, Eury took care of it.

  “Oh no!” She frowned, waving both of her hands. “We are absolutely not having that discussion.”

  “Tailblock…” W’itney muttered, gring at Eury.

  Dyn tried to redirect the versation. “And where are you from, Eury?”

  “Not Dartmouth…” was all she offered.

  W’itney leaned back against the railing again, crossing their arms with a smirk. “Now Princess, it’s only fair to show him your League card. You’ve seen his.”

  Eury’s nostrils fred. “Stop callihat.” She turo face Dyn. “And life isn’t fair. He’s a big boy. I’m sure he’ll survive without seeing it.”

  Dyn thought twice before saying something about unwanted niames. ‘She doesn’t need me to step in,’ he realized. ‘She handle herself.’

  The twins were just as curious as he was, and they took turns asking him questions. Dyn told them as little as possible about his magic ability—not that he knew muyway. Dodging so many questions wasn’t easy, but he mao summarize the past week of his life.

  Eury seemed tent to let the twins ask all the questions, still being from just listening. She reminded Dyn of his rugged friend, quietly gathering information befiving a measured respohe twins knew a lot about her, even though they had only retly met. Dyn noticed that direct questions about her were met with either vague answers or ht silence.

  Wedge returned an hour ter to collect them, leading the initiates into the Captain’s Quarters. Inside, a rge table held a regional map—the first glimpse Dyn would have of the world outside Dartmouth.

  His eyes widened as he took in the sight, not knowing what to expect or how to read the map—he wasn’t a cartographer. It looked like all the fantasy maps he’d seen in video games. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he remembered pying NeverQuest, Rune-escape, World of Peacecraft, First Fantasy XIV, and Build Wars 2.

  Dartmouth sat in the middle of a rge ti. He didn’t have enough time to study the map before Wedge stepped forward, motioning toward eaitiate as he introduced them. “W’itney and Hay’len are locals from Dartmouth.” He motioo the twin drai before pointing at Dyn. “This is Dyn of Dirt. And finally, rincess Eury.” He gave her a courteous nod.

  Eury cleared her throat. “Just… Eury, please.” She stood straighter, shaking off her flushed cheeks.

  Dyn’s brows shot up. “Wait—she’s an actual princess?” When no one answered, he turo her, whispering, “You’re an actual princess?”

  “Initiates should only speak when asked a direct question,” Ru said from the head of the table. Both Dyn and Eury tried to apologize, but she ighem and introduced her team.

  “I am Ru, mender and team leader of Tome & Key.” She poio the elf rexing beside her. “Quinten is our summoner.” He wore a carefree smile, hands locked behind his head, rog his chair ba two legs.

  She stared at the overly fident drai posing in the ter of the room. “P’reslen is our corruptor.” Dyhe green-scaled man, standing with feet shoulder-width apart, chest puffed, and hands on his hips in a heroic pose.

  Then she poio an elf with intense eyes. “Ostello is our striker.” He leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest.

  “And joining us for this quest will be Athrax.” She o the old okamijin, who stood at attention, both hands behind his back. “He’ll be our brawler.”

  She looked around the room, making eye tact with each of them. “It’ll take us four days to reach our destination and four days to return. That only leaves us with six days to find and collect our objective.”

  Dyn tried to raise his hand, but his mouth was too fast. “Why are we spending more than half of our time traveling?” He winced, shutting his eyes. “Sorry.”

  Ru turned her attention to him. “Because we only have a two-week charter for the Everafter. So, unless you’ve got a transport ability to carry us across the ti… please hold your questions until after.”

  She took a breath. “Our target is a skill book.” She paused, giving them time to process. A wave of whispers filled the room with unasked questions. Athrax was the first to voice his thoughts out loud.

  “A skill book?! For a quest? Is the League aware of this?” He wasn’t alone in his . The rest of Tome & Key obviously took issue, but none were so vocal.

  W’itney gasped, their eyes growing rge while Hay’len’s mouth hung open. Eury’s eyes narrowed as she ched her jaw. Even Wedge appeared surprised to hear this information.

  Dyn gnced around the room, fused at their reas, feeling the thiing tensiouro Wedge and asked, “What’s so bad about a skill book?”

  Athrax leaned forward like he didn’t hear Dyn correctly. The twins exged wide-eyed, disbelieving gnces, and Eury blinked, her gaze snapping to him as though he’d just said something unbelievable. Even Wedge met Dyn’s eyes with an almost sympathetic, sad expression.

  Ru ighem all and said, “If you find the book, don’t open it, and for Mother’s sake, don’t read the infernal thing.” She ehey were listening before tinuing, “While the initiates are off training, proving themselves, and hauling ear, Tome & Key will scour the designated area for the target.” The room was silent, the shock of the quest still settling in on both teams.

  She turoward Athrax. “I’ll remind you, Guildmaster K’hab himself entrusted us with this task, and I trust he has good reasons this is a quest and not a tract.”

  The old soldier took a deep breath, and his rigid stance eased slightly.

  “Now, are there questions?” She gnced around the room.

  Dyn raised his hand but didn’t wait to be called on. “Why is this a quest and not a tract?”

  Ru’s jaw tightened. “Are there questions about the mission?” She resumed looking around the room.

  “Do skill books disappear after you use them?” Dyn’s questions never seemed to end.

  She let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her temple. “Wedge, we make sure Dy get the infernal book?” Wedge gave her a nod before his eyes drifted toward Dyn.

  Ru took a deep breath. “Any… other questions?” Before Dyn could tempt fate, she added, “Other than Dyn’s.”

  Unfortunately, he was the only oh more questions. He frowned, l his hand when she didn’t call on him again.

  In three words, the meeting was over. “You’re all dismissed.”

  Ru turo Wedge and said, “You’ve got four days to train him—push him until he breaks. See me when he does, and I’ll mend him back together. You start after you’ve had something to eat.”

  Without waiting for his response, she walked out of the room with her team.

  Dyn gnced between Wedge and the other initiates. “Why’s she mad at me? What did I do?”

  Wedge stood motionless for a moment, measuring his response. “Ru does not have patience for weakness norance, and you represent both.”

  Dyn winced. “That’s really hurtful, Wedge, but I know it’s ing from a good pce, so I won’t take it personally.”

  Wedge turned and walked toward the door. “You ask more questions after we improve your fitness. I will return after lunch.”

  Dyn pursed his lips. “That’s not ominous at all…”

  “Before you go—” he raised a finger, hurrying after the big guy, “what’s the deal with skill books?” Wedge ignored his question a.

  Dyn crossed his arms. “Why is everyone so ky?”

  Eury narrowed her eyes and tilted her head slightly, assessing him. “Do you really not know about skill books?”

  Dyn shook his head slowly. “I got here a week ago, and magic does on my p.”

  She tilted her head. “That’s… hard to believe.” Her eyes drifted to the side, thinking of the implications. “And even more troubling, if it’s true.”

  Dyn scratched his head. “So… you’re a real princess?”

  Eury sighed, rolling her eyes. “Yes, but I won’t answer any of your questions if you use my title.” She looked at him ftly, hands on her hips.

  “Got it.” He ted off the list of no’s on one hand. “No spelling, no abbreviating, and apparently no princess-iher.” He scratched his arm. “It just keeps getting longer.”

  Eury peered around Dyn, waiting for the twins to leave for lunch. Even after they were the only two remaining in the room, she lowered her voice. “Skill books are dreadful things.”

  “But do they give you magical abilities?” He matched her tone. “Because it sounds like they give you magical abilities.”

  “Yes.” She sighed, noddiantly. “They’re a way to gain more magical abilities past the limit.”

  “Hold up.” He leaned in closer to Eury. This was the first he’d heard of any limits—Charles must’ve left that part out. “What do you mean? There’s a limit on how much magic I have?”

  “Of course there’s a limit.” She looked at him like he had two heads. “Why do you want to bee an adventurer if you don’t even know the basics?”

  Dyn gave a tight-lipped smile. “Let me refer back to the part where I’ve only had access to magic for a week now.”

  She gave him a ft look. “Yet somehow, you’ve already absorbed at least one orb?”

  He pointed a finger. “Don’t ge the subject. And I know some stuff. I’ve been studying the categories and types of magic.” He gave a weak shrug, gng away. “I just haven’t found a book about adventurers yet.”

  Eury inhaled, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “Alright.” After a moment, she gave him a quick rundown on how it worked.

  “Adventurers have up to five orbs,” she expined. “Each orb installs a framework that hold up to four abilities.” He he st part lined up with what Charles told him.

  “The framework activates the first ability when it’s installed. You also get one passive ability with each orb. Both are up to ce if it’s good, bad, or indifferent.” She shrugged. “That’s twenty magic abilities and five passives, in case Dirt doesn’t have math either.”

  Dyn frowned. “We have math. I’m actually pretty good at it. So, skill books let you unlock even more magic abilities?”

  Eury clicked her tongue. “Yes.”

  He didn’t see the problem. “Then why are skill books bad? Are they expensive or—”

  She leaned in closer. “They’re priceless…”

  Now only a few inches from the poised elf, he caught a faint st of spearmint. He squi her and took a gamble. “Like Time orb priceless?”

  She distanced herself with a half step. “You should be more careful. You talk about restricted items and magic so casually.”

  “Sorry, I just don’t uand—why are they restricted?” He saw the relu her eyes give way to pity.

  With a deep breath, she checked the room again before she said, “Skill books are made from the souls of adventurers.”

  He recoiled, grimag. “You make books out of dead adventurers?”

  “No…” she whispered, shaking her head. “Not dead.” Her gaze darkened as she spoke slowly. “Skill books… are adventurers.

  Dyn’s mind reeled. ‘What the fuck?’