Chrysalis

[So… you guard my sanctum? What the heck does that mean?]

[We don’t know,] Alis replies, [that’s just what the description says.]

She seems to be finding her equilibrium again, though she oscillates between being unwilling to look at me, and a feisty stare.

The only sanctum I can think of involves a great deal of torpor, willing and unwilling. Given the appearance of these two within the Nave, I’m guessing that qualifies as the sanctum named in their Class description, but how the heck do they defend it? Defend it from what?!

The mere fact that the Class describes them as ‘defenders’ means the Nave can be attacked in some way, right? The implication is pretty clear. It’s kind of worrying that the possibility exists and I have no idea how it’s done, but at least I have some measure of protection. Hopefully.

[From my perspective, I can see a possible ‘sanctum’, but I have no idea how you protect it. Do you two have any clues?]

Jern and Alis look at each other briefly before Jern rolls his shoulders and turns back to me.

[No clue,] he says simply.

He’s direct, this guy. I like him, even if he’s way too stubborn.

[I can say this…] he begins slowly, [I think I feel stronger while I’m around you.]

[You what? You feel stronger?]

He nods, and Alis hesitantly agrees.

[Being close to you is empowering us in some way.]

Dammit. I know what’s coming next.

“We should keep these two around, Eldest,” Protectant whispers to me from the Shadows. “They could help defend you.”

“I’m not increasing the number of babysitters! I already have you twenty and that’s pushing the limits.”

impossible to tell we’re even

“I can tell. Easily.”

have gotten close, but there’s nothing they can do about it, even

just going to have to level you up, and any other of the ‘templars’

out there. Two more showed up a while back, so currently I have four silent golden statues keeping

she hears my plans to

to

Royal Road. If you read it on

the back of

don’t like fighting that much,] he admits. [I’ll do it when I have

a crusade? Maybe he feels like he was

if there’s one thing we aren’t short of here in the Dungeon, it's monsters that need whacking. It shouldn’t be that hard to pump the two of you up at least a few levels so we

training in order to fully realise the capabilities of their Classes and the affiliated Skills. Not like a monster, who evolves and that’s pretty much it. I mean, it takes time

someone who has expertise in Classes and other System gobbledygook. Someone with

Hmmm…

anyone else? I need to

Hmmm…

let there be somebody

the matter, all roads

[And Enid as well. Heck,

deflect or minimise some of his insanity if I surround him with more sane humans. Wait… if I want sane humans… should I

ease, as if he were standing in a field watching the crops grow rather than a metal warehouse with

do you think of the Silver City?] I

He looks around vaguely.

[It’s nice,] he replies.

have to wait long for Alis to return with our most wanted.

Yes, I did shout that instruction at you, but I

[I’M HONOURED, GREAT ONE!]