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.”
stand somewhere Alis can come meet you. Oh! If you
That was odd.
are you a bad
wish. No, he doesn’t hate me. He
“He loves you?”
we did
I’m getting dressed, I’ll stand
Thanks, I appreciate it.
could so as not to wake those still sleeping around him before
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
in the arm and she
I can talk to both of you at the same time….
shifted his feet but Alis glared
“I’m tired,” she snapped.
He agreed.
yourselves to blame, showing up all shiny in my Nave the way you did. I certainly
and pinched
you perhaps just explain to us who you are? And how are you talking to us? This
about it.
mean, that’s my name. Which you’ve probably never heard. The Eldest? The… ugh…
Great One?” Alis said
Call me Anthony.
Jern frowned.
we… kneel or something?”
you believe
He shrugged. Why not?
to priest Beyn! They couldn’t possibly talk to us!
on the fourth stratum. As for why… that’s what I want to know! You guys have a Class change or something recently? Something ant related?
where we are?” Alis hissed, eyes darting at the
me having to talk to Beyn.
nodded. That
fiery sermon, though,”
I find it hard to enjoy them since
understand that,” Jern
it. How about you, girl? No? You seem to just be getting angrier. Fine. FINE.
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