Morning came without much fanfare. A quick probe into the mental link found Galarion drifting off in his own version of post-food hibernation. Apparently the familiar had eaten good off my dreams. What little I could gleam from the fragmented surface thoughts involved a lot of fire and jagged metal.

  Sitting up, I ran my hands through my hair and stopped along my ears. It had been a few weeks, but the length of my hair was the same. It wasn’t unexpected, but evolutions could lock one’s physical features in a sort of stasis or slow them down. After evolving and changing other parts of my body, the unaging aspect of ascending into immortality reared its head.

  I pulled a mirror from my inventory and examined my face. My eyes continued to glow through the maelstrom of colors while my horns caught the morning light peeking through the blinds. It was exactly the same.

  How long do I get to live now? One-fifty? Four-hundred?

  It was crazy to think that my new life could be summed up in less than a year’s worth of time. It felt like an decade since I was sent to the void and dropped into a forest filled with blue leaves.

  What reality-shattering craziness would I pack under my belt in the coming years? How many new friends and faces would I call to memory? One said face surfaced along with a gentle wince across my mind. Before it could settle, Galarion stretched a tentacle and sucked it away, leaving me blank.

  I chuckled and rolled to my feet, letting my tail stretch free from the confines of silk sheets. My back popped with a satisfying crack, and I leaned forward into the sunlight.

  The warm rays danced across my cheeks, and I closed my eyes.

  “Galarion? I’m sending you back now.”

  “Mmmmngh… Lots of tasty emotions,” he mumbled.

  I could only shake my head as he rolled around and started to spill out of my ear and onto my shoulder. Scooping him up, I lowered my head to his and snorted as he embraced me with feathered appendages. His skin was currently red speckled with orange stars sprouting billowy feathers resembling Zharia’s in color. They were surprisingly soft, and more than one attempted to enter my nose.

  “Alright. Enjoy the meal, buddy.”

  “Yes… Master…”

  With a gentle squeeze, he sank into my chest, and his weight settled into my soul.

  I stared at the mirror and noticed the deep gashes along the neckline of my shirt. It was just a random undershirt and not one of my magically enchanted clothes that repaired itself.

  “Right. Take a piss, relax in the shower, and then we face the day and try not to kill someone,” I said. My eyes lingered on one of the marks that ran down to the left side of my chest underneath the armpit. “Heh. Sounds doable. And maybe we visit Noira after. Maybe some magical pajamas will cheer me up.”

  I turned away from the mirror and headed into the bathroom. Within moments, I stood underneath the burning water and welcomed its embrace.

  ***

  As I reached the foot of the stairs, I felt the mana signature before I saw the man. I turned and nodded as he retracted his skill.

  “Morning. Any chance of you forgetting what you’re about to say and we eat some creepy human shaped pancakes and go about the day?” I asked with false cheer. Teddy shook his head, and I sighed. “Had to ask.”

  “You didn’t. But if you truly desire not to speak, we won’t. I won’t force you, Cyrus,” Teddy said.

  I held up my hand to stop him. “No. We do; I’m just being an idiot. We talking here or...”

  He tossed me an object, and I reflexively caught it with my tail. I winced and brought it forward. Seeing that the bracelet was undamaged, I relaxed and slid it onto my wrist.

  Running my mana into the dull silver chain revealed the enchantment engraved into the metal charm dangling off its links. It was a complex web of jagged lines and rounded squiggles packed together to create a labyrinth-like runic engraving packed together.

  I whistled softly and moved it closer to inspect it. “This is hefty. Dungeon-made?”

  “Rift.”

  “Wait. From the armory? Is this something your parents looted?”

  “No,” he said, sliding on a similar bracelet onto his right wrist. “It’s from my grandfather. Sparse information; he wasn’t the kind to document his findings, but we know he was rewarded it after completing a scenario rift.”

  “What tier?”

  “Two. He was given a box of five; these are the remaining bracelets.”

  I frowned and sent my mana through the bracelet with a fine thread that scoured the lines. While I may have been neglecting my skill and the learning of runes, I knew enough to recognize patterns. What I found made my frown deepen, and I began to slide the bracelet off only to have Teddy gently grab my wrist.

  “The enchantments are fraying. These are limited; I can’t use this, Teddy,” I said.

  He met my eyes with an even gentler smile. “I asked my father about using them. He gift wrapped it in pink paper and tied four ribbons over the box. I blinked, and he was gone with a card that said ‘dusty trinkets help nobody.’ So do not worry about using these items. If we hadn't, they’d remain lost in the back of a chest underneath a pile of treasure.”

  “They’ve helped enough.”

  “Maybe, but that’s for them to decide. Not you. Now come, I already informed the others to meet us at the arena.”

  He released me and headed for the front of the house. For a moment, I debated running to the kitchen and ignoring the upcoming talk, but I wouldn’t do that to Teddy.

  He’s patient enough with me as is. You don’t want to be a dick and a depressive asshole, Cyrus.

  When I caught up to him, Walter waited with the door open and two small parcels on a silver platter. Teddy grabbed them and stored them in his dimensional storage before thanking the man and walking out.

  The loveable jerk never looked back, not doubting for a second that I’d follow him.

  “Enjoy your day, sir. May you crush your enemies with style,” Walter said, bowing.

  “Hah,” I laughed. “Not you too. I’ll do my best. See you at dinner, Walter.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  Teddy waited by the gate, and when I reached him, his mana engulfed us both and covered us in a warm light that hardened around us in a shell.

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  “The enchantments mask your scent, sound, and mana signature. I’ll make sure people can’t see us, so feel free to keep your mask off,” he said.

  He activated the bracelet’s enchantment, and I activated my own. It was jarring as the masking enchantment took hold. Despite knowing Teddy’s mana surrounded us in an illusion, I couldn’t sense it. It created a hole in my senses that jarred my brain like an itch that wouldn’t disappear.

  As more mana flowed through the metal, the bracelet took on a bright sheen that cumulated in gold light spilling from the central rune. The glaring hole started to mend itself and replace the void of missing mana with ambient mana that matched the surrounding street.

  “This is insane. How much would something like this cost?” I asked.

  Teddy started walking, sticking to the sides of the road to avoid running into the people going about their morning. “The price is unknown, though I suspect it would go for a few thousand gold pieces.”

  I stopped, but Teddy patted my shoulder and led us down a side street away from the early morning bustle.

  “Teddy.”

  “Enough. I told you it was fine. If you want, you can store the bracelet and pawn it in the upcoming auction. It's on its last usages, but the duration should still sell for at least a thousand coins.”

  “Aaagh. Fine, but where we going?”

  “You’ll see.”

  I glared at him, but he waved me off and had us take a couple of lefts till we arrived at a small building sitting alone along a bricked circular pathway away from the other houses around it. A string of glow orbs hung from a wooden sign no taller than my chest.

  “Happy Hearth and Warm Stomachs? Is this a restaurant? Café? Its tiny.”

  The wooden hut—and it was a hut considering the other buildings around it were two stories at most and easily dwarfed the tiny abode—reminded me of a witch’s cottage. Out of place sign, separated from the rest of the city, a remote location out of sight, and to top it all off, the place radiated mana.

  While the bracelet’s enchantments helped mimic the area where I probed the air outside Teddy’s illusion, it distorted and rippled. The mimicked mana tried to mesh together but failed and created a haze of red mist barely visible in the morning light.

  “Are we… Waiting for something?” I asked, looking to Teddy.

  He smirked, and the door swung open, revealing absolutely nothing behind its doors. The wall of oppressive black reminded me of the sea of shadows or the void, but it lacked the mental mind gouging that usually accompanied such a sight.

  Teddy summoned a token made of bone and tossed it inside, followed by a small sack that clinked in his hand. It entered the wall of nothingness, creating a flowing ripple that bounced at the edges of the door.

  A loud pop rang out and the shadows disappeared, replaced by a wall of pink light.

  “Teddy… Where the fuck are we? This is some fairy, toadstool ring sort of stuff.”

  “Toadstools? Mushrooms? Why would it be in a ring?”

  “I… Forget about the ring; I mean, where are we and why all the weirdness?”

  “Don’t worry, nothing will harm you here,” he said, moving toward the door.

  I followed a half-step behind and observed the area, looking for secret enchantments or something to explain the strange door. But either my skill decided to stop working, or there were none, or at least none that I could detect.

  Teddy’s aura retracted and he pushed through the wall of light, creating another ripple. The wall stayed firm, not revealing anything behind it.

  An examination of the edges of the doorframe revealed nothing. Tired of acting like a scared child, I placed my hand on the wall of light and watched it sink up to my wrist. It tingled, the mana dancing across my skin with erratic prickling.

  Exhaling, I leaned forward and entered the magical doorway.

  There was a bubbling pressure around my body that popped with a fizzing sound that persisted long after my vision started to return. I blinked the spots out of my eyes and saw Teddy sitting at a lone table in the center of the room.

  The room was even smaller than I imagined. The walls were barren and made of wood, with the floor similar except being made of stone. There was a counter near the back leading into a curtained hallway.

  I sat down and inspected the table, finding it nothing special. The chair was equally uninteresting, yet I couldn’t misplace the slight unease in my gut.

  “I’m starting to have deja vu,” I grumbled.

  “Oh?”

  “I’d show you, but I’d rather not risk destroying your mind. Just know that the last time I was in a place like this, I dined with a spaghetti god who called himself Macaroni.”

  Teddy raised an eyebrow, but I shook my head.

  “Relax. I promised your safety. The food will arrive in a minute. Is there anything in particular you’d like to drink?”

  “A bucket of lava.”

  “Anything edible and can be acquired here,” Teddy groaned.

  “Can I request a cocktail?”

  “Yes.”

  “One part sicca juice, one part grebble, and a generous splash of princo,” I said outloud.

  Sicca was the Inoria equivalent of an orange, with grebble being an apple and princo the closest thing I found to pineapple juice. It wasn’t exactly the same, but the cube-like fruit had a similar enough sweetness to fulfill my needs.

  “I’ll have the same but less princo and more grebble,” Teddy added.

  I waited, probing the air, but nothing happened. Again.

  Teddy sat back in his chair and relaxed his shoulders. “I hope you enjoy your food warm.”

  “Usually hot, but warm works too... Why did you say it so weirdly?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, not bothering to hide his smile.

  “Teddy…”

  He raised his hand and stood up. I watched his movements like a hawk, but he merely walked to the counter and rapped his knuckles on the wood. A gloved arm stretched from the curtain wearing a purple sleeve made of silk that covered the wrist. It deposited two platters with silver cloches that Teddy grabbed and brought to the table. He removed the lids, revealing two bowls of soup and some loaves of bread.

  "Okay,” I said. I sniffed the bowl in front of me and found it odorless. “This is getting weirder and weirder.”

  Teddy ignored me and ripped a chunk off the loaf and dipped it into the viscous brown soup. He took a bite and seemingly melted into his chair with a contented smile stretching across his face.

  That good? Jeez.

  I copied his actions, making sure to thoroughly soak the spongey bread. Teddy watched with me a knowing look and shrugged.

  My eyes narrowed, and I brought the still odorless food to my lips.

  Ooooh.

  The flavor touched my tongue and brought it to Nirvana. It tasted… It was almost impossible to describe; the mere attempt had me mentally drooling. On second thought, I was drooling. A poor attempt to wipe the spit from the corner of my mouth splashed some of the soup onto the table. I nearly cried at the waste!

  Teddy smirked. "Good, isn’t it?”

  “It taste… It’s amazing, and it tastes like..." I said, struggling to find the words.

  “Like warm?”

  “Exactly!”

  Not that I had a frame of reference, the indescribable taste started to meld into something describleable. It was warm, like a gentle hug and a soft blanket embracing your mouth. The warmth continued to spread downward and throughout my limbs, encouraging me to turn to puddy in its embrace. It was sweet and spicy. Umami came and faded in surges that lingered just long enough for more flavors to reinforce the next bite.

  “What the hell is this?”

  “Eat and relax. Savor it, too. You’re only allowed one visit a year, but its well worth it,” Teddy cautioned with a chuckle. “When you’re done, we’ll head to the arena.”

  I desperately wanted to slurp the bowl but restrained myself. Instead, I started tearing off well-portioned chunks of the bread and set them aside.

  “This is amazing, and I appreciate it. Don’t get me wrong. But weren’t we going to talk?”

  He shook his head. “Not at all. We’re here to enjoy a meal, and then I’ll be with the others watching you kick ass.”

  “But-”

  “Cyrus,” Teddy said sternly, cutting me off. “Isaac tells me everything. I know what he made you promise, and I trust in you to keep your word. With the others wanting answers and Isaac's...forceful nature. You don’t need another voice adding to the crowd. You’ll talk when you’re ready, and I’d be a poor friend if I tried to drag it out of you.”

  My mouth shut. I didn’t know what to say. Eventually, I dunked another bite and savored the simple yet marvelous food with slow chews.

  I finished half the bread and paused. “Thank you.”

  “Of course. That’s what friends are for,” he said dismissively.

  “I mean it.”

  “As do I.”

  I huffed, but the mirth in his eyes settled me down. “So where are we?”

  “Inside the exclusive restaurant of a tier three chef. Not much is known, but they are rumored to have spent the last two hundred years practicing their craft. Their skills combined with numerous perks from special rifts supposedly create this.”

  “Bread and soup.”

  “Food that warms your soul,” he corrected.

  “Dare I ask how much this cost?”

  He tapped his chin and idly licked a crumb off his lips. “As knowledgeable as I am, I couldn’t tell you. I’d wager its priceless. I know from my mother that Uncle Alleron has offered one of the treasure vaults to work as his personal cook but was denied. As you can imagine the price of such services."

  I nodded. I could, I really could.

  Teddy reached across the table and squeezed my arm. “Enjoy the meal. It was my hope to help ease the burden straining your mind.”

  “You definitely did. Although I might cry now that I tasted perfection.”

  He laughed and returned to finishing his meal. We ate in silence until both our bowls were empty and the table licked clean. Teddy returned the coverings to the plates and deposited the empty dishware onto the counter before bowing.

  I copied his thanks to the mysterious chef, and we headed for the door. Teddy kept silent, but there wasn’t anything that needed to be said. The pep in my step and the utter ease of my muscles filled with an endless warmth were enough.

  Damn. I have some amazing friends. Way too good to me.

  We returned to the morning sky, and I inhaled the chill air. The sun—higher now—exposed the city to more light, and I heard the chirp of birds as well as the lively crowd of civilization.

  Well. No room to disappoint today. Let’s kick some ass.