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.”
somewhere Alis can come meet you. Oh! If you see Beyn, do NOT mention
That was odd.
are you a bad person? Does Beyn
doesn’t hate
“He loves you?”
would REALLY prefer we did
Okay. I’m getting dressed, I’ll
Thanks, I appreciate it.
pulled a coat on as quietly as he could so as not to
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 the door frame and stepped
him, similarly stumbling with fatigue. He poked her in the arm and she glared up at him, a little
to both of you at the
but Alis
“I’m tired,” she snapped.
He agreed.
Sheesh! You’ve only got yourselves to blame, showing up all shiny in my
and
Could you perhaps just explain to us who you are? And how are
doesn’t?” Jern wondered. Then he thought about it. Then he nodded. “It doesn’t,” he
that’s my name. Which you’ve probably never heard. The Eldest? The… ugh…
Great One?”
Call me
Jern frowned.
or something?” he asked
you
He shrugged. Why not?
priest Beyn! They couldn’t possibly talk to us! And why would they
normal circumstances, I probably couldn’t. And I AM on the fourth stratum. As for why… that’s what I want to know!
do you know where we are?” Alis hissed, eyes darting at the darkness
me having to talk to Beyn. Between
nodded. That
good fiery
find it hard to enjoy them
understand that,”
you, girl? No? You seem to just be getting angrier. Fine. FINE. Have it your way. Wait
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