Chloe rushes off into the nearby forest, her eyes glistening with the tears streaming down her face. Were we in a safer location, I would leave her be, to give her the chance to process things on her own until she’s ready to talk with everyone. However, considering the circumstances and the potential for ambush encounters, I make the unpleasant decision of following after her, giving only a brief pause to alert Lindsey. She gives me a nod as she starts talking with the others, leaving me to make up with my hopefully-still best friend.

  It’s muggy and oppressive here shortly after noon in the wilds not far from the capital. The ooze’s remnant stench still hangs in the air, mixing with the smell of the reddish clay dirt endemic to the region. The westerly winds provide small comfort from the hot late spring rays, as does the bountiful shade, but these don’t change the fact that the landscape is far from hospitable.

  Nothing on the same level as the ooze and its former master, but I do encounter a few large insects, spiders, and more than a few mice and rats all scurrying about. None over level 10, none worth even a single point of Experience as I smack them away. Once again, though I understand why it’s the case, damn this oppressive Experience curve and how it deprives us of the opportunities for safe levels!

  I don’t approach Chloe, but neither do I keep her out of sight. Instead I wait at a distance of about thirty yards, only averting my gaze from her long enough to keep an eye on my surroundings. Nothing, nothing… A bit of movement to my left, rattling in a branch overhead. ‘Just a squirrel,’ I tell myself, while also reminding myself that the squirrel has a System and stats of its own. It could be dangerous, as unlikely as that would be.

  Chloe is pacing around in a small clearing. I no longer hear the sound of her sniffling, though her eyes are still red and puffy and she’s a bit jittery. She takes several deep breaths and mutters something under her breath before sitting down on a nearby patch of ground. I decide I should go ahead and join her.

  She makes no effort to stop me. I sit about a yard away from her, not saying a word. In times like these, I’m not sure there’s anything that I can do to make things better for her. The least I can do is not make them any worse.

  We sit in silence for five minutes, the two of us occasionally stealing glances at one another. I flicker on my [Ethersight] when I see her eyes turning toward me again. She’s always liked seeing the glow of my eyes when I use the Skill, and I figure it might help ease the tension, at least a little bit.

  When she does look at me again, I don’t look away. Instead, I look down slightly, trying to convey as much contrition and humility as I know how. Let her know that I screwed up, that we’re still friends, that our promises are still intact, and that I’m here whenever she’s ready to forgive me for everything I did earlier. And if she’s not willing to forgive me, to inflict whatever penance she sees fit.

  Instead, she just looks at me with those caramel-colored eyes and asks me a single question. “Why?”

  That could be taken a lot of different ways. Why did Lindsey have to kill that summoner? Why did I stop her from rushing out and healing the people? Why are we fighting? Why are people fighting like this, going so far as to kill one another with these ‘gifts’ we’ve been given? Why do people have to die like this? None of these questions have easy answers.

  “I don’t know, Chloe. It sickens me, just as I know it sickens you. That’s part of the reason why I’m so… So obsessed, almost, with trying to get stronger.”

  “Almost?” Chloe rolls her eyes at me.

  The bit of levity is more relief than I’ve felt all day. “In the end, some people are decent. Maybe even most people. But there are assholes all around us, and they’ve been given access to the same font of power that we have. I’d rather not be helpless. I guess I’m trying to be the change I want to see in this world. Because I don’t want us to ever have to be in a position of having to decide on which lives to save, or be helpless like we were earlier.”

  “I still don’t like it. In fact, I hate it.” Chloe looks away. “Hate it more than I can express it in words. Why do people have to go to such lengths? Fighting each other, even killing each other. All for what? Levels? Power?”

  I don’t say anything. I let her vent. I let her anger seep out and dissipate in the ground around us. She leans her head back after a couple minutes and sighs.

  “Is it all really that important?” she asks.

  “I’m supposed to be a guardian and a protector. But we saw today that we aren’t able to save everyone, even though we both wanted to. It’s not wrong and selfish necessarily to seek power, especially..." I trail off for a moment. "It’s only a bad thing when that power is obtained on the backs of other people. Or used to oppress and restrict the freedoms of the same. At least, that’s what I think.”

  “How selfless and noble of you to think that way, Sera.” She gives me The Look again, not quite believing me. But it’s softened by the obvious affection radiating off of her. "But I– I wish that you hadn't stopped me back then. I get why you did it and how we might have saved more lives by sticking to the plan but... Seeing that fighting and those people hurt. I hate it. I hate seeing it and I hate living it and I hate knowing that maybe I could have saved someone if you hadn't stopped me."

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "I know. I was too busy thinking about the long-term and I screwed up and didn't properly consider your feelings. I'm sorry."

  "Thanks. Let's have a longer talk about this later."

  I nod. I wrap an arm around her, which she doesn't protest. And we sit like this for a few more moments, neither making a sound, just enjoying one another's company.

  I end up breaking the silence. “About what you said earlier. I don’t know if I’d say I’m selfless. I have my goals of getting stronger, building Ethertech, and unraveling the mysteries of the System. Right now, I think the best way to do that is to work with Lindsey and everyone else, even if I don't like all that that entails.”

  “I don’t think you’re as selfish as you think you are, Sera.” Chloe pokes my side. “You’re not the type to go do what that summoner asshole did. You wouldn’t stab me or Lindsey or any of the others in the back just to gain a few levels.”

  “Kinda proving my point. I never would have made it this far if not for all of you. I mean, haven’t we established that if you hadn’t been with me every step of the way, that I’d be face down in the dirt eleven ways to next Sunday?” I pause for a moment. “I need you, Chloe. I can’t do the things I need to do without you by my side.”

  “Oh?” Chloe’s eyes light up as she sidles up even closer to me, close enough that our hips are nestled against one another. She slides inside my mechanical arm and wraps her own arm around my waist. “Thanks, Sera.”

  The two of us look into one another’s eyes. I’m left speechless. Chloe has always been a beautiful girl, now a beautiful woman. But seeing her eyes now, seeing the combination of affection, patience, care and consideration. Seeing her iron will combined with her quiet strength and the unwavering spirit of her conviction makes me weak. Malleable. Her eyes close as she leans in toward me.

  I… I feel like I shouldn’t. That I’m being asked to give her something that I don’t know if I can. That if we proceed down this path, there won’t be any turning back.

  My heart starts to palpitate as she leans closer. I… I didn’t realize just how beautiful Chloe is and, all this affection is melting my defenses, my common sense, my… Oh goodness, I–

  “Chloe, Sera!” Lindsey shouts. “Are you two there?”

  Chloe pulls away from me, bonking her forehead upon my nose in the process as she stands up. She brushes the grass and dirt off her pants with face stained red with embarrassment before huffing off toward the others.

  I follow after her at a more measured pace, not sure whether to be grateful to Lindsey or upset with her. I ultimately settle on a relief that I’ve been given a bit more time to properly process my feelings and make sure that I’m fully ready to commit to what Chloe wants me to give her. More than anything, though, the experience has demonstrated that some part of me really did want it. Really wanted to take the next step with Chloe, to venture out into those depths and explore what lies beyond.

  I make my way back to Lindsey, who’s standing with what appears to be the leader of the group from before, the one who launched the final charge to destroy the ooze’s core.

  He’s probably in his mid thirties, carrying an air of authority about his grizzled, scarred form. He’s a full head taller than I am, built like a brick shithouse, with a solid eight-pack rippling in the sunlight. He has a buzzcut and a tiny bit of scruffy five-o’clock shadow on his face. He carries a saber as long as my leg and as thick as my arm, and I’ve no doubt that he has the levels, [Strength], and other stats to back up his imposing stature.

  “Chloe, Sera, this is Stefan, the leader of the Red Pack Adventurer Company. Stefan, these are my comrades, Chloe and Sera.”

  He extends his hand out to me. “Miss Reed has told me quite a lot about the two of you.”

  I shake his hand. “I hope nothing bad.”

  He chuckles. “None at all. Anyway, I want to formally welcome you to Red Clay City.”

  I smile. So that’s what they’re calling it now. Makes as much sense as the last rename.

  Chloe wanders off to heal the folks still injured, leaving me and Lindsey to speak with Stefan. He glances over at my mechanical arm a few times.

  “Battle injury,” I say. “Ant hordes up north. I prefer to think of the end result as a blessing in disguise rather than a curse.”

  “If you say so,” he says.

  I doubt he believes my words, but I just don’t care. My left arm feels as much a part of me as my right arm at this point.

  “So what’s going to happen now?” I ask. “I doubt we’ll find the red carpet rolled out with a hero’s welcome just for helping with this, and I’m sure there’s no shortage of issues going on here as well.”

  “I’m afraid you’re right,” Stefan says. “The government, police, and military have their hands tied up just maintaining basic civil order and protecting the city proper from the monster hordes. But that leaves hundreds of thousands of people in the suburbs and outskirts undefended, which is where we and other hunter-adventurers come in.”

  “Basically a citizen militia of the willing?” I ask.

  “More or less. I would, on behalf of myself and the others here, like to invite all three of you back to our headquarters. We might have a ton of fancy amenities, but we have good food, an air-conditioned lodge, clean water, and access to the basic comforts of pre-System life.”

  In other words, access to baths and clean toilets. Not that I am ever going to complain about that. In either case, I’d like to hear them out. A good source of information on the ground, both about the city as a whole as well as dungeons, Towers, and other sources of the sort of treasure I need to continue my study into Ethertech and its myriad applications.

  I imagine Chloe feels the same way. A bit of a head-shake escapes me as I see Chloe tending to the wounded once more like it’s her life’s purpose made manifest. No, I don’t need to ask her to know that she definitely wants to come along. If there are people braving the wilds and fighting against monsters, there’ll be people injured and needing the healing touch of her magic. For her, that’s all there is.

  I turn to Lindsey and give her a nod of approval. And without further ado, we’re on our way.