(Nathan)

  Nathan sat in the dining hall, lost in thought. ‘Dyn will be fine,’ he told himself. ‘He’s got Wedge looking out for him, and Ru is one of the best menders in the guild.’ Still, he couldn’t help but worry that he hadn’t done enough to prepare Dyn.

  Ni’ot sat down across from him and asked, “Are you going to eat that?”

  “Hmm?” Nathan gnced up from his thoughts.

  Ni’ot angled her crystal fork toward the nickelback crab legs still sitting on his pte. He’d already eaten the suct meat, and the carapace wasn’t easy for elves to digest.

  “Help yourself.” Nathan slid the pte across the table toward her.

  She took one of the empty legs and tossed it in her mouth, g down oal with a half-dozen sharp bites before swallowing the shell whole. Her stomach would melt and absorb everything effortlessly.

  The digestive system and energy ste capacity of the drai always fasated him. Their bodies stored metal and minerals as raw energy, using it as sustenand to power their racial alteration ability. He’d allowed himself to get sidetracked with physiology again.

  It was a momentary distra from repying the memory of Ru tearing him down—withard to his feelings or cares. He sighed. The worst part was, she was right.

  He’d been so preoccupied with his Uh framework that he’d left the rest of his abilities to stagnate. Since yesterday, all he could think about was how selfish he’d been tely. And what a foolish vehat was—Uh was already a part of him, and there was nothing he could do to ge that.

  Ni’ot was the first to notice the unstoppable elf. Befetting up, she cleared her throat to get Nathan’s attention, her eyes fshing from him to someone approag. She quickly scooped up both of their dishes before heading for the tubs o the door.

  The bench protested with a sharp creak as Dorian plopped down beside him. Nathan couldn’t help but notice that Dorian wasn’t wearing his armor, just a casual outfit, and wondered how long it’d been since his brother had gone a day without it.

  “Hey, big brother.” Dorian ed his arm around Nathan’s shoulders, embrag him in a side hug.

  It was tight and f, but Nathan wouldn’t allow himself to fall for it again. “You’re… still here?” He eyed Dorian with suspi, waiting for him to reveal his true iions. It wouldn’t take long; Dorian wasn’t known for his patience—or subtlety.

  “Yeah, I decided to take some time off.” Dorian tightened his hug briefly. “And spend it with you.” The Nathan go. “So listen, I don’t want to say you’re dereli your duties, but—”

  “You’re too te,” Nathan said, his guilt grinding him anew. “Ru already gave me an earful of what a worthless mender I am.”

  Dorian tilted his head with a slight frown. “Don’t let her get to you. She just sees your potential, like I do.” He gave Nathan’s arm a gentle, reassuring pat.

  ‘That was… oddly mature,’ Nathan thought.

  “Besides,” Dorian said, “I was talking about your duties as my only living family member…”

  ‘Kinship,’ Nathan thought with a sigh. That was the real reason Dorian was here.

  “Are you even looking for someoo introduce me to?” Dorian asked as he got up from the bench. He took the most direct route, stepping over the table to take Ni’ot’s former pce. The room quieted for a moment as the oversized elf made a spectacle of himself.

  “Aren’t you too busy with adventuring?” Nathan said as he watched Dorian do Dorian things.

  “I’d make time for a partner, just like I’m doing with you now.” Dorialed himself on his side of the table.

  “You’re only here because you didn’t want to get stu a ship with Wedge for two weeks.”

  “I’m capable of doing both; it’s called multitasking. Also, why haven’t you ever introduced Meekan to me?”

  “Meekan?” Nathan raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think she’s your type.”

  “She’s hot and hot is definitely my type.” Dorian nodded.

  “I don’t really meet new people that often.”

  “I know. It’s rather b. I think that’s why you’re struggling to find somebody for me.”

  “Is there anyone you’re ied in?” Nathan asked and then quickly added, “Besides Meekan.”

  “The whole point is for you to find someone for me.” Dorian poio Nathan and then to himself. “Not for me to find someone for you to find for me. That’s just fusing. I don’t know how all the other races do it.”

  Nathan raised his hands up. “I don’t know how anyone does it. Retionships are hard, but it would help to know what you’re looking for. Do you have a type?”

  “I’m not picky. Although, I like them with.” Dorian looked down and cupped both hands in front of his chest. “You know.”

  Nathan pihe bridge of his nose, pausing as he tried to take a steadying breath and fet the gesture his younger brother just made. “So no drai then?”

  Dorian raised his hand. “Let’s not rule a. You never know where true love lurks. Besides,” he said, tapping a fio his thoughtfully, “just because drai don’t usually have ‘em doesn’t mean they ’t make a with their alteration ability.” A devious smile crept across his face. “I wonder how flexible their tails are?” He nodded, wagging a fi Nathan. “You might be onto something.”

  “A bountiful bosom is your only requirement?” Nathan tried to keep his brother on task.

  “I mean, everyone’s got to eat, right? Might as well find someone who prepare a det meal.” Dorian adjusted his seat on the bench.

  “You could learn to cook. I’ve heard that makes you more attractive as a partner.” Nathan found it ridiculous that his brother refused to learn how to cook for himself.

  “See, you get me. I’m just looking for a pretty dy who knows how to cook. With, you know…” Dorian made the gesture again.

  Nathan held up a finger and said, “That’s ly what I meant.”

  Dorian exhaled deeply. “I feel we should’ve had this talk a long time ago, you know?” He reached across the table and gave Nathan’s arm a hearty smaathan flinched, knowing from experiehat the stinging would go away, eventually.

  “Oh, and what about you?” Dorian motiooward Nathan and said, “You’ve never been ied in any of the dies I’ve introduced to you. I thought they were all pretty. What didn’t you like?”

  “We’ve been brothers for over 40 years, and you’re just catg on now that I’m not ied?”

  Dorian leaned in and asked, “Wait, you aren’t ied in women?”

  Nathan shook his head. “Not really.”

  Dorian tilted his head. “So you like guys?” He didn’t wait for a response. “I know tons of guys! All my buddies are guys!”

  Nathan held up his hand. “Stop, please stop before you embarrass us both. I’m not really ied in men or women right now.”

  “Really?” Dorian sounded disced.

  Nathan nodded slowly. “Actually, I’ve decided to focus on preparing for my Adventuring exam for now.”

  Dorian’s face lit up with a grin. “Brother!” He reached across the table, pulling Nathan into an enormous hug. Nathan gave up breathing as Dorian’s massive arms squeezed him tightly, the pressure sending a cascade of cracks down his back. He wasirely sure whether that was a good thing.

  “That’s such good news!” Dorian yelled into Nathan’s ears. “I ’t tell you hoy this makes me.” His squeeze tinued.

  Nathan gasped for air as Dorian released him. The rge elf sat back down with a grin still pstered across his face, beaming at him.

  “You’re finally going to bee an Adventurer with me.” Dorian swelled, threatening an. Instead, he said, “I mean, we’ve already got a mender for Tome & Key, and she’s teically the team leader, so it would be really awkward to have you repce her. But I’m sure you’ll find your own team. Every team needs a mender.”

  Dorian sat ba his seat, spreading his arms wide. “Just think of all the pces yoing to go. All the new people you’ll meet.” His eyes gleamed mischievously as he added, “I’m sure loads of them will be pretty dies with big—” He made the familiar gesture, grinning. “You’ll be introdug them to me in no time.” He tapped Nathan on the chest with the back of his hand.

  “I don’t think that’s a good reason to bee an adventurer.” Nathan frowned.

  “Don’t worry.” Dorian waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll show you how to multitask. You’ll be able to help everyone, including me. I ’t wait.” He leaned in eagerly. “What do you need? Mlyphs?”

  Nathan nodded. “You were right the other day. I’ve got a couple stashed away that I pn on using today.”

  Dorian cpped his hands together loud enough to silehe din of the dining hall. All eyes turo him, but he carried on as if he hadn’t noticed.

  “Oh, this is so exg.” Dorian got to his feet and shadowboxed to release some energy. He stopped. “Almost as exg as when I unlocked my own abilities.” He turned and leaned oable. “How many more do you need for your powerset?”

  Nathan had to think for a moment. “I’ve got nine abilities unlocked and two glyphs saved up.”

  “That means you’ll need nine additional glyphs. e on, I’ve got an idea.” Dorian motioned for Nathan to get up.

  Nathan narrowed his eyes at Dorian. “Your ideas usually involve getting yelled at.”

  “Do you want mlyphs or not?” Dorian didn’t wait for him to respond, and took off toward the exit.

  Nathan had little gems or credits. Nightshade had helped him get started with his Physi orb when he agreed to pick the mender archetype. What he earned by w at the hospital went toward his remaining orbs: Lawful, Prismatid Rahe two glyphs he had were lucky pulls from lootboxes while w at the hospital.

  He might have enough to pick up one of the cheaper glyphs, but he really wanted more of the Life types. Those were more expensive, but they were also his best shot at getting mending abilities he could use in bat.

  Nightshade had taught that it didn’t matter which glyph you used, because the archetype system made sure you had the bare minimum abilities required to perform your role. He’d used flyphs in total sinlog all of his orbs.

  Not ting the dreadful Uh ability, he only had two mending abilities. One was a bo piece he had nothing to bo with. The other ability was a ritual, only usable out of bat. It created ables—something anyone could use ohey were made.

  Against his better judgment, Nathaated, then took off after his younger brother. Doriahem outside to the front field, where the airship had picked up Tome & Key, Dyn, and the rest of the initiates earlier. They’d left a couple of ho, and a familiar w Nathan: Dyn might get hurt, or worse, fail, because he wasn’t prepared.

  That wouldn’t happen again. When Dyn got baathan would have more abilities ater equipped to help him. Nothing would stop him from helping people, even if it cost him his soul.

  Dorian stood with a wide stance, his hands pnted on his hips as he surveyed the area from his advantageous height. It reminded Nathan of Dorian’s teammate P’reslen, who strove to be the Lo’kai—the big hero.

  It made Nathan curious and a bit worried. ‘He’s actually looking for trouble,’ he thought, shaking his head.

  He took a risk and asked, “What are you looking for?”

  “A big rock,” Dorian said.

  “A… rock?”

  Dorian tio peer out over the fields. “The biggest rock you find. Help me look.” He reached out, palming Nathan’s head like a sports ball—elfhandling him as he swiveled Nathan’s head to look.

  Nathan swatted at the unstoppable elf’s hand, freeing himself. He frowned, gring at his brother before relutly helping him look for a rock.

  ‘It’s just a rock,’ Nathan thought. ‘How bad could it be?’ He shrugged.

  Immediately, he felt Destiny turn its ba him. Most of the stone in the area had beeo struct the Nightshade stronghold. He wasn’t sure there would be any rocks left on the surface.

  “There’s some.” Dorian pointed.

  Nathan followed his brother’s pointed finger, his gaze nding on a spot suspiciously close to the rge rock wall. He watched, a sinking feeling growing as the unstoppable elf headed toward it without a sed thought.

  “What are you doing, Dorian?” Nathan demanded.

  Dorian stopped abruptly and spun around. Nathan skidded to a halt, nearly colliding with his brother.

  “I’m going to show you one of my secrets,” Dorian said. He looked down, grinned, and without another word turned and took off again in the same dire.

  Nathan’s worry deepened as they tio approach the stronghold’s border. He kly how close they were to the border, because the rge rock wall demarcated the line. Dorian halted o the wall, bending over with an i look as he began a closer iion.