Jern woke with a start.
“What was that?” he mumbled sleepily.
It’s me.
“Who’s me?” he wondered as he rubbed at his eyes.
Anthony.
“Who’s Anthony? Can I go back to sleep, Anthony?”
You were asleep? Sorry about that. I don’t sleep much.
“So… can I?”
No. Well… you can in a second, I just need your attention for a minute. Two minutes. Look, I’ll be honest with you, five minutes probably, then you can go back to sleep.
“I’m really tired, Anthony. Can this wait until the morning?”
I mean… it could? But I’ve already woken you up, so we may as well do this now. Can you go and get your friend?
“Wha… what? Which friend?”
The other golden glowy person. The girl.
“Alis?”
Sure.
“You don’t know?”
Well, I haven’t spoken to her yet, I figured I’d just talk to one of you and then you could get the other.
“She’s… she’s in the girls’ dorm. I can’t go in there.”
Dammit. Look. Just put some pants on or whatever and I’ll get her to meet you outside. I want you to be able to talk to each other while I figure this out.
Jern blinked a few times and rubbed at his eyes again. The fuss over the new Class he and Alis had unlocked had gone on for ages, and frankly, he was exhausted. He didn’t need this right now. He looked down.
“I’m already wearing pants.”
Oh! If you see Beyn, do NOT mention that I’m talking
That was odd.
are you a bad person? Does Beyn hate
wish. No, he doesn’t hate
“He loves you?”
we did not use that
I’m getting dressed, I’ll stand
Thanks, I appreciate it.
a coat on as quietly as he could so as not to wake
something he was still getting used to. Outside, the light from the Dungeon veins was the same as always. Patrols of humans and ants were constant, and several gave him odd looks as he ducked low under
poked her in the arm and she glared up at him, a little fire returning
at the same time….
but Alis
“I’m tired,” she snapped.
He agreed.
woke you up! Sheesh! You’ve only got yourselves to blame, showing up all shiny
and
perhaps just explain to us who you are? And how are you talking to us?
Then he thought about it. Then he nodded. “It doesn’t,”
name. Which you’ve probably never heard. The Eldest? The… ugh… ‘Great
One?” Alis
me Anthony.
Jern frowned.
or something?” he
you
He shrugged. Why not?
They couldn’t possibly talk
couldn’t. And I AM on the fourth stratum. As for why… that’s what I want to know! You guys have a Class change
you know where we are?” Alis hissed, eyes
prefer we get through this without me having to talk to Beyn. Between
nodded. That
good fiery sermon,
find it hard to enjoy
can understand that,”
it. How about you, girl? No? You seem to just be
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