"We're almost home." Tristan reached out and squeezed my hand. "I never would have thought I'd miss it this much." Her voice was bright and bubbly. She'd been in an incredible mood since our talk, humming tunes and smiling often as we walked. As we began to climb a gentle hill, she said, "This hill is the last one before the temple."

  "Really? I am so ready to get there," Vral grumbled. Despite her miraculous healing at the hands of the guardian, she remained worn out. Her skin had regained much of its color, but her eyes were still sunken, and she didn't have that fire that she normally exuded.

  I empathized with her. My months of healing had been brutally draining as well. "Don't worry, Vral. You'll be able to rest soon. The temple is kind of the best place for that." I patted her back.

  She smiled up at me. "Good, because I'm gonna sleep for a week." Her smile grew, and a mischievous glint entered her eyes. An instant later, she doubled over and grabbed her ankle. "Ow, ow, ow!" When I kept walking, she said in the most pitiful tone she could muster, "Alex... my ankle hurts again..."

  It took everything in me not to roll my eyes. We'd been playing this game for a couple of days. She rolled her ankle stepping over a root a day after our divine encounter and had been milking it ever since. "Really?"

  "Please?" She batted her eyes at me.

  With a sigh, I walked back to her and hoisted her onto my shoulders. She let out a contented sigh and relaxed. Luckily, I'd gotten substantially stronger over the past weeks and didn't mind the extra weight. At all, really. I was stronger now than I'd ever been back on Earth, and I was no slouch.

  "My hero." She patted my head.

  Tristan looked back us and rolled her eyes. "You're really taking advantage of that rolled ankle, huh Vral?"

  "For everything it's worth."

  "Do you really need attention that badly?"

  "Yes. I used to be a big deal. People bowed down. Now I'm stuck with you losers, so it's the least you can do."

  "You're humble too."

  "Hey, don't you judge me! You get bedtime snuggles, so I get to ride the stallion during the daytime."

  "Phrasing, Vral." The goblin had gotten far more raunchy since she'd caught us under the covers. I'd been trying to rein it in, to no avail.

  "I know what I said," the goblin sassed back.

  Tristan's eyes bulged. "Look, you can say that stuff out here, but you need to be on your best behavior when we get to the temple. Renard and Varga will skin you alive if you're gross while we're there."

  "I can take 'em," Vral responded with all the confidence in the world.

  "Be good." Tristan's tone was iron.

  "Okay, damn! But until then, I get to be pampered. With you two being so gross now, I'm sure I won't see you once we get there, so I'm gonna soak it up now."

  "Deal," I answered, and she finally settled down.

  To be fair to the little goblin, she wasn't exactly wrong. Ever since Tristan and I had our heart-to-heart, we'd been glued to one another. Our lips found one another regularly, and we touched often. It felt like we had broken through some invisible barrier, and ever since, the floodgates were ripped off the hinges.

  In all honesty, it felt nice to just be free with someone who cared about me as much as she did, and I was sure she felt the same way. However, I was confident it was pretty gross from the outside, and for some reason, Vral had gotten three times more needy. I figured the reality of her situation was finally hitting her, so I did my best to be there for her.

  Just as we were about to crest the hill, Farvad harumphed behind us. "With you three playing grab ass all day, I'll be happy to reach this legendary temple." He paused to drink some water. "We still a ways away?"

  "Just at the bottom of this hill," Tristan told him. "Once we hit the river, we'll cross a small bridge, and we'll basically be there."

  "I won't lie—I'm eager to lay on something not made of dirt for a night or ten." His tone was dry.

  I looked him over as he drank. Ever since our encounter, he'd been more lucid than before. Whatever the guardian had done to Vral also seemed to have helped him. He still had his moments, but they were fewer and further between.

  "It'll be worth the trek, trust me," Tristan said before winking at me. My entire heart swelled in response. I didn't know what that meant, but I knew it was good. Either way, I was in deep, but damn if I wasn't enjoying it.

  After a quick rest, we headed down the hill. Luckily, the rest of our trip down the hill was pleasant, and before long, we were at the small stone bridge that marked the temple's boundary. In the distance, I could just make out the eight-pointed star that topped the temple. It was just barely poking out from behind the massive trees that circled the temple grounds.

  "Here it is. We're home." Tristan wove her arm in mine as we crossed over the small river. She smiled up at me and bumped my hip with hers. Our lips met, and then we walked together, arm in arm. When we rounded a bend in the trail and the trees opened, a huge clearing appeared in front of us. Standing tall and proud before us was the massive temple.

  My heart caught. This was the first place I ever called home in Reial. It actually did feel like home. Far off to the right, I could make out a small group of trainees going through their forms. To the left, blissful sheep dotted the pasture. Behind them, priests tended the fields, and children played through the corn. The temple was exactly how we'd left it.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  We were home.

  As we took it in, a familiar voice called out to us. Looking forward, I saw a woman rushing toward us from the large wooden front doors of the temple. She had her brown robes hiked up and was running at a full sprint.

  It was Na-Ya.

  Without a moment's hesitation, Tristan let go of my arm and ran to her cousin. "Na-Ya!" Tristan shouted as she ran. Neither slowed as they got near one another. With full force, they collided with one another and embraced in the most heartfelt hug I'd ever seen. Na-Ya held Tristan for a long time, pulled away, kissed her cheeks, and brought her back in for a second massive hug. By the time I reached them, Tristan was squirming to get out of her cousin's arms, but there was no hope of that happening.

  When she'd finally had her fill, Na-Ya opened her blue eyes, which drifted to me. Before I could react, she rushed me, throwing her arms around my chest and squeezing me tightly. "You brought her back to me!" The girl sniffed between sobs. "Thank you, Alex." She smelled like incense and love.

  "Of course, Na-Ya," I said, squeezing the girl back.

  She sniffed, wiped her nose with her sleeve, and took a deep breath to compose herself. Rubbing the tears away from her face, she bowed. "Welcome to Light's Hope Temple. I am Na-Ya, priestess of the Goddess. You are welcome here, travelers."

  Farvad walked up beside me. Taking her hand in his, he bowed. "Farvad Biddlebeder IV. It's lovely to meet you." Standing from his bow, he scratched his ear and added, "You wouldn't happen to have a workshop I could use, would you?"

  Her brows knitted. "Workshop?

  "Yeah! The kids told me you'd have one for me. Where might I find it?"

  Na-Ya looked at me and Tristan. Her eyes asked the question.

  "He's an alchemist. We found all kinds of herbs out in the forest, and he's eager to work with them," I explained.

  "I promised we'd ask when we arrived," Tristan added. "I just thought he'd give me a little first."

  The gnome shrunk into himself.

  "I'm sure we can figure something out." Na-Ya's eyes turned to Vral. "And you are?"

  Vral leaped from my shoulders, landed on the ground in a roll, and popped back up in an overly dramatic bow. "Vral Tuvigh." Standing upright, she took Na-Ya's hand in hers and shook it vigorously. "Your cousin is quite the woman. Kicked my ass. You should be proud."

  "Ah—thank you. I am quite proud." She answered awkwardly.

  "As you should be. Strong women like us keep the world moving."

  Na-Ya regarded Vral curiously for a long minute, clearly thinking about what to do with the goblin.

  Tristan took my arm in hers, and our fingers met. Na-Ya cocked an eyebrow in response. Tristan nodded her head. The smaller elf's face practically split in half as she smiled. She clapped her hands and squealed as she rushed over and wrapped both of us in yet another embrace. She planted kisses all over Tristan's cheeks, making the quarter-elf giggle and squirm under the barrage.

  "When? How did he do it? What was it like?" Na-Ya ripped Tristan from my arms and began pulling her toward the temple. "You have to tell me everything!"

  Tristan looked back at me and gave me a long-suffering glance. I waved her on, and she allowed herself to be dragged away. I couldn't help but smile. I loved seeing her so happy and carefree. After everything we'd been through over the past month, it finally felt like things were looking up.

  "Well, she seems nice." Farvad stepped up to my side.

  "Very," I assured him. "She's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet."

  "How long have you known her?" Vral asked.

  "She was the first person I met in Reial. Saved my life, actually. Without her, I wouldn't be here. I owe her my life."

  Before I could say more, a gruff voice called out to me. "Boy!"

  Turning to the sound, I spotted Renard rushing toward me. On instinct, I bowed deeply to the man.

  When the burly man reached me, he slapped me on the back so hard I stumbled forward. I might be stronger, but I was still nowhere near as strong as him. "You're back. How did your first quest go?"

  "Well, I think. We've escorted Farvad here to the temple for healing and rest."

  Renard turned to Farvad and took the gnome's hand in his. "Please, head to the temple and rest. You are safe here, my friend."

  The dwarf's tone took me aback. He'd never sounded so sincere with me.

  "I will, thank you. We've been marching for days. I need some food and rest."

  Renard held an arm out toward the temple. "Within, you will find Lady Varga. She will guide you."

  With a nod, Farvad began walking to the temple. Vral went to follow, but the dwarf cut her off.

  "Hey!" Vral hissed.

  Renard completely ignored her. Instead, his dark eyes studied me. "You look bigger," he noted, grabbing my biceps in his meaty hands. "And you gained muscle."

  "I feel stronger," I confirmed.

  "You're much stronger." He nodded approvingly. "You're not the useless sack of shite you once were, boy."

  "Good to see you too, Renard." I held out my hand to the dwarf, who took it in his own meaty apendage. I immediately regretted the gesture. His hand was like a vice, and a single shake of his arm nearly tore my shoulder out of its socket. How was he so strong?

  Renard let go. "What class did you unlock?"

  "Guardian."

  His eyes grew brighter. "Interesting..." He eyed me over more intently. "What was your catalyst?"

  "Tristan was in danger. I protected her."

  A small smile played on his lips. "Good man. As your teacher, I'm proud."

  My heart stopped. That was the first compliment he'd ever given me.

  Renard turned to Vral. "Friend of yours?"

  "Yes, sir." I gestured to the goblin. "This is Vral Tuvigh."

  "Vral the Slasher?" The dwarf eyed Vral with interest.

  Vral shuffled under his gaze. His raw power was evident. I could tell she was rethinking her earlier confidence. "Some people may have called me that. Once. A long time ago. Maybe." Her hands fumbled with one another. She looked like she was going to bolt.

  The burly dwarf's eyes narrowed. "And how did you come to join up with our young friend here and the junior priestess?"

  Vral's face sank. She started shifting from foot to foot. "Well... it's kind of a long story..."

  "Indulge me." The dwarf's tone gave no room for dissent.

  "See, the thing is..."

  "We met a couple weeks ago at Farvad's shop. Then, a few days later, she rescued me. I'd faced off against some thugs so Tristan and Farvad could escape, and just before things got dicey, she jumped in and saved me. Then, she saved us multiple times after. Ever since, Tristan and I have called her our friend." A little lie by omission never hurt anyone.

  "Is that so?" The dwarf stared at her, judging her every movement.

  "Yeah! That's what happened. Hand to heart."

  The dwarf nodded. "Very well." He waved a massive hand dismissively. "If Alex trusts you, then I will too. Don't make me regret it."

  "Sir, yes, sir!" Vral gave a salute. Oh Goddess, she was shaken.

  Satisfied, he turned back to me. "What did you learn on your first quest?"

  I thought for a moment. What had I learned? A lot. "I've learned how little I know. I learned to be less impulsive. And I learned to trust in my allies. I can't do it all."

  The man nodded. "A good start. Are you ready to train?"

  It wasn't a question. "I'm ready to accept any training you're willing to provide."

  He nodded. "Good answer." He gestured toward the training grounds. "Come. We will train until sundown."

  I began to follow, but Vral grabbed my arm. "Don't you think you should rest first? We've been on the road for days."

  I shrugged. "I need to get stronger, and there's no time like the present."

  She looked like she wanted to say more, but before she could, Renard's burly voice called back to us. "Slasher. You'll be coming too."

  "But..."

  "Move!" Renard's voice echoed off the trees.

  Vral squeaked and let go of my hand.

  "You heard the man. Better move."

  She still looked hesitant, so I added, "Don't worry. He might seem mean, but he's not so bad when you get to know him. Plus, you'll learn a lot."

  "You two have five seconds before you'll be running laps!"

  Without hesitation, I sprinted toward the training area. Behind me, I heard Vral's footsteps as she scrambled after me.

  Whatever the dwarf was planning, I was ready. No matter what pain or hardships came next, I needed to get stronger. There were people out there hunting us, and I wasn't about to let them hurt anyone I cared about.