"This is how you speak to your sponsor? After all the kindness I’ve shown you humans, you respond with nothing but vitriol—"

  "I was just hoping I’d never run into you again. Or, at the very least, that if I did, it would be because I was desperate enough to use that pearl."

  Thalassa’s left eye twitched. "You’ve got a lot of nerve."

  "Yeah, I think we’ve already established that."

  For a moment, the two stared at each other in silence. Thalassa, with her wavy blue hair and an irritated scowl, and Nathan, his gaze icy and his posture tense.

  "So, why did you bring me here?" Nathan asked. "And how are you even doing this? In the past, you could only manage it occasionally. How are you pulling it off again so soon?"

  Thalassa snapped her fingers, and a beach chair materialized behind her. She dropped into it, leaning back.

  "A few reasons. First, you’ve got a bit of my essence in your pocket—even if you can’t see it. That pearl gives me an opening. Second, your little class upgrade has increased your affinity with me."

  "Any tips, by the way? I can’t seem to use these new abilities properly."

  Thalassa crossed her arms and let out a dismissive snort.

  “You have the audacity to ask for my help?" She glared at him. "Make up your mind. If you hate me, don’t talk with me at all. If you want my help, then use the gift I’ve given you."

  Nathan shrugged. "No need to get so worked up. I was just asking."

  He studied her, a thought forming in his mind. Maybe he didn’t have to commit fully…

  “What if we make a deal?" Nathan said. "A sign of trust."

  She glanced at him. "I’m listening."

  "I need answers. You need a champion. So here’s the deal: you answer three of my questions… and I’ll guarantee I keep talking with you. I won’t ignore you, and I’ll stay open to the idea of potentially listening to you."

  "That’s a terrible deal."

  "Yeah, it is," Nathan admitted. "But if you don’t take it, you can guarantee I’ll never become your champion. Simple as that."

  "You’re an impetuous little brat, you know that?" Thalassa rolled her eyes. "Fine. Three questions."

  Nathan paused, his mind racing. What did he need to know most of all?

  "My sister," he blurted out before he could stop himself. "Where is she?"

  "I don’t have access to that information. I’ve told you before, I’m not all-knowing. And when it comes to another dimension entirely? I’m almost as blind as you are. Maybe I see a little more—but not enough to give you a clear answer."

  Nathan’s shoulders slumped. "Then that one doesn’t count—"

  "I can tell you she’s alive, though."

  Nathan jolted. "What?"

  "She’s alive and well. I know this because, like you, she has a connection to the sea—though, of course, it doesn’t compare to yours."

  She’s alive. She’s alive and well. Nathan felt a wave of relief wash over him.

  "Thank you," he said stiffly.

  A wry grin spread across Thalassa’s face. “No problem.”

  Suddenly, the dream began to flicker. The sky trembled, and bits of dust fell from the distant blue expanse.

  Thalassa looked up and rolled her eyes. "How ridiculous."

  "What was that?" Nathan started, then quickly covered his mouth. "Wait, that doesn’t count—"

  "Yes, it does~!" Thalassa sang. "For your information, that was the parasite attached to your shoulder. She’s a rather testy one. Very attached to you—both literally and figuratively. If you could figure out how to get rid of her, I’d appreciate it."

  Nathan’s jaw tightened. He wanted to ask for more details, but did he want to waste his final question on that? No. No, he didn’t.

  He licked his lips, his mind racing. What was the most important thing he needed to know?

  "What’s behind the system? What’s the thing I need your help to fight?"

  Thalassa’s expression turned ice-cold.

  "If you have another question, I’d prefer you ask that instead."

  “…no, I’ll stick with this one."

  Thalassa didn’t move for several seconds. She closed her eyes and sighed. "I can’t tell you what you want to know. Not without putting you in danger."

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  "I’m already in danger. What’s the problem?"

  Thalassa clicked her tongue.

  "This connection—it’s not secure. If we discuss the wrong topic… it could attract attention. And if that happens, this whole game is over."

  Her expression was a clear warning: Stay away from this topic.

  Nathan sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, I don’t think you answered all three questions successfully."

  "I answered them to the best of my ability."

  "But you still failed."

  “It was a stupid deal to begin with. You were never going to rule me out entirely. I know you well enough by now to say that with certainty."

  "Says who? How are you so sure—?"

  "Because people are relying on you. An entire city—a kingdom—rests on your shoulders. They’ve put their trust in you to lead them out of the Nine Circles. As long as there’s a chance the challenges ahead are too great for you to face alone, you’ll keep that pearl. And eventually… you’ll use it. The only question is when, not if."

  Nathan clicked his tongue.

  "Who’s the brat now?"

  A mischievous grin spread across her face. "What can I say? I’m a hypocrite."

  The dream began to fade, and Nathan could hear the distant crackle of a campfire.

  "Good luck, Nathan. You’re going to need it."

  As Nathan blinked awake, he stretched his arms out to the sides and froze.

  Presences. All around him.

  "Is he awake?"

  "I don’t know. Looks like it."

  Their voices didn’t sound outright malicious, but they sent a chill through him, slowing his breath.

  Then, he burst into action. Pushing himself backward, he leapt to his feet and grabbed his harpoon in one swift motion. His eyes snapped open, and he pointed the weapon at the figures surrounding him.

  He blinked slowly, taking in the scene.

  It was a group of elderly people, widows, mothers, and others. They stood in a loose circle, their eyes fixed on him with unmistakable disdain.

  "You were spotted running around like a maniac just before the Tree Wrath hit," one of them said sharply. "We want an explanation."

  Anand slowly awoke.

  No. No. No. No. No!

  He had died…? To a brick!? That was such a stupid way to go out! If he was going to die, it should have been on a mission, trying to assassinate Nathan. Not… after getting hit in the head by a brick!

  Anand’s breathing quickened. He couldn’t see anything, couldn’t hear anything. It was like he was floating in an infinite void. He flexed his fingers. He was going to kill Nathan. He would figure out a way to come back from the dead and kill Nathan. It would be a brutal death—lots of blood and viscera.

  As soon as… as soon as he got out of here.

  Oh, if I’m really dead that’s going to be kind of tricky.

  He blinked his eyes open slowly. The rafters of a small household greeted him.

  Huh, the afterlife looks a little different than I was expecting.

  He tried to push himself up, but a pair of white hands gently pressed him back down. They had a faint, earthy, plant-like smell.

  "Easy there. You took a bad hit to the head," a voice said.

  "Injuries transfer?" Anand muttered. Was this some kind of angel?

  "Of course they do. Just because you’ve passed through doesn’t mean you’ll automatically heal. That’s not how it works."

  Anand chuckled breathlessly. "Of course not." He clenched his fists. "Hey, is there any chance I could go back?"

  "Back? I mean, it’s possible, but you’ll have to take it up with the boss."

  God? I might be able to chat with God? Maybe I can convince Him of the righteousness of the Harrowed Hand’s cause.

  "How long until He arrives?"

  "I don’t know. He kind of comes and goes as he pleases."

  Anand chuckled again and slowly turned to look at the face of the angel who had been taking care of him.

  When he saw what—or who—had been speaking, his jaw dropped.

  Why did the angel look like a mushroom man with a builder’s hat and a toolbelt?

  The mushroom man raised a hand in greeting. "Hey. Name’s Bricks."

  Anand screamed at the top of his lungs.

  The mushroom man raised an eyebrow. Anand jumped out of the bed and bolted toward the door.

  I’ll open the door, and it’ll lead to a tropical beach. I know how lucid dreams work!

  Anand flung the door open… only to find a cafeteria filled with mushroom men dressed identically to the one he’d just seen. A few werewolves were mixed in, too.

  Anand stared at them, his vision starting to blur at the edges.

  Oh, come on…

  "Hey, you okay?" someone called out. "You look a little shaky."

  Anand opened his mouth to reply, but his consciousness slipped away, and he collapsed onto the floor like a sack of grain.

  "I don't know what happened to the guy!" a voice said. "He just saw Barry and then conked out!"

  A long-suffering sigh came from the other speaker. "Whatever. I guess we might need to talk to Zayen about finding him a temporary place with the other desert people?"

  Anand started awake. He pushed himself up and looked around. He was surrounded by three mushroom men. Bricks noticed him and smiled.

  "Finally back to the land of the living," Bricks said. "I hope you don’t plan on getting knocked out again."

  Anand stumbled to a sitting position.

  "Trust me, that wasn’t intentional," Anand replied, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Can one of you explain to me what’s going on?"

  "Do you remember when that brick hit you square in the forehead?"

  "Much to my displeasure, yes."

  "Well, obviously, everybody was freaking out. But some nice people grabbed you and carried you the rest of the way. After you got some medical attention, though, they couldn’t find any of your kinsfolk to take care of you. That’s why we ended up volunteering—"

  "Wait, journey to where?"

  "Nathan’s soulbound town!"

  Anand felt his soul shrivel up and die in his chest. A sudden wave of despair washed over him, and he hung his head.

  "You’re telling me… that I’m currently trapped in the soulbound town of Nathan Lee?"

  "I wouldn’t say trapped… I mean, we’ve got some pretty nice amenities."

  "And I’m gonna take a wild guess and say that all of you are absolutely loyal to Nathan Lee, right?"

  Bricks shrugged. "More or less. Some more than others, but he’s taken care of us pretty well thus far. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who really hates the guy."

  Anand gave Bricks a shaky smile. "Great! Just wanted to check on that."

  Bricks nodded, that vacant smile still on his face.

  "Anyway," Bricks said, "I’ll let you rest for the next couple of days, but once you’re well enough to move, you’re going to have to help out. I promise I won’t push you too hard, but we can’t just let you be a lazy layabout."

  “Yeah!” Anand said through gritted teeth. "Great to hear it!"

  "We’ll leave you to it. Get well quick!" Bricks said.

  "Will do!"

  The three mushroom men left, and Anand was alone again. He lay back in his bed and stared at the ceiling.

  A sudden flare of anger coursed through him, and his heart began to beat faster.

  No. He wouldn’t let things end like this. He would escape this town and get the necessary information back to his masters.

  But for now, he had to play the game. Collect information and blend in. If he was lucky—he’d find a lead on someone who might know a way out of here. Hitching a ride off Nathan wouldn’t work. He’d had seen Anand! The risk of discovery and interrogation was too high.

  Anand breathed out slowly. Just as the High Assassin always said: A panicked mind is useless. Anand had to stay relaxed, stay focused.

  And if he was lucky, he might just find a way out of this mess.