Chrysalis

[You really thought you were strong enough to beat a mythic monster on your own?]

[I figured you were just an ant! How was I supposed to know?]

[I’m a tier seven, mythic ant! Probably the first one in the history of the darn Dungeon. Pay a little respect, man.]

Thankfully, my opponent wounded nothing but his pride in our confrontation. I think, for a moment, the crowd were considering rushing down and attempting to subdue the ‘wild monster’, which would have been a rather difficult scenario to navigate, but thankfully they relaxed when I sat down and didn’t follow up on my strike. I mean… whose first instinct is to rush at the huge monster? The Folk are crazy, I’m telling you.

He rubs a hand over his furry head, disgruntled.

[If we’d known you were this strong, we would have gotten some higher ranked swordsman to guard you.]

[There’s no way the brathians lied to you about my tier, right?]

He shrugs helplessly.

[They probably assumed the same thing I did. Tier seven, but an ant, so it’s fine. As a result, you only got me and my apprentice as guards, and I hate to say it, but we aren’t up to the job.]

[Oh, the rabbit girl is your apprentice?]

[What do you mean, rabbit?]

[I don’t know… I was just getting rabbit vibes from her.]

[And what are you getting from me?]

[Dog or wolf, depending on your mood.]

I figure honesty is the best policy. If I’m being unspeakably rude, hopefully someone will tell me.

[That’s unspeakably rude,] he says, placing a hand to the bridge of his muzzle.

Dang it.

[Hey, I didn’t know! I apologise if I’ve caused offence. You guys don’t like being discussed in relation to the animal you resemble?]

We prefer to focus on the things that unite us rather than the things

around. A lot of the crowd has dispersed, but there

clear out, there’ll be another fight soon, so we

So these fighting pits get

That wolfish grin again.

[Around the clock.]

been illicitly taken; should you find

or anything, I just find a relatively empty part of

a

course not! I’m of the fifth sword, not

So…

to

of rank, yes. My student is of the

on you

but after being

by the way? It’s getting

thinking ‘that dog guy’, weren’t

Yes. Yes I

and I realise it was an instinct, a dog raising its hackles. Although I make sure to think

mutters. [My

don’t

of the fighting pit and back on the road, heading towards the field the Colony

each other, she makes fun of him, at least, I think so, and then we’re back to

going to get new guards?

Barker grimaces.

help people feel safe if you can

didn’t even use my middle grade stuff… let alone the best

in a

[I don’t.]

get

I look around, wondering what

Barker points a finger.

[What is that?]