We walked Raster back to the Masterson property after the incident. Turned out the trees were all he wanted me to see.

  Runica voiced concerns, thinking he might get jumped after threatening the Smiths—pretty sure if anyone jumped him, he'd just detonate and make them regret it… The bombs were real too. There was no lie shared.

  Anyway, I was happy to see the Mastersons again.

  Blaster and Laster waved when they saw me. Castor stopped what he was doing and hollered his thanks for walking with Raster for the day. I didn’t need the thanks, but it warmed my heart. Raster’s mother handed me a skewer of roasted beetroot and tough meat, which I took with a thankful nod. I didn’t even ask what it was. Tasted good either way.

  At Raster’s tower, I found Runica’s parents leaning over a spread of maps with Kolm and Ruth, taking measurements like battlefield generals. As we found out, Kolm and Ruth had walked in, and now thought they were helping Raster with a survey he was doing. Raster had a history of doing surveys, so this was normal to them.

  I leaned in and got a look. Couldn’t really tell what they were doing, but they said they were making progress. They were almost certain that the “oldest” house had been knocked down with something else built over it.

  Kolson greeted me with a clap on the back that nearly knocked the beetroot out of my hands. “Glad you’re still sticking with Runica,” he said. “Raster’s a lot.”

  “Yeah, you’re telling me,” I replied.

  Runica, Raster and I had agreed we wouldn’t say anything about the Smiths, and I was determined to honor that agreement. I didn’t want any further trouble.

  I asked Raster for bombs after that. Just casually. No fanfare. Raster immediately handed me three little bundles wrapped in mushroom leather like he’d been hoping I’d ask. One of them even had a doodle on it—probably of a bird, but it looked suspiciously like a mushroom with wings.

  “Let me know when you want the ones that scream,” he said, completely serious.

  “Uhh.”

  “Oh, those are horrid!” Ruth and Tess declared.

  I told him I’d think about it.

  Eventually, after a bit of talking and walking around the property, the Runica and I parted ways with Raster.

  Raster wandered off humming, probably heading back to his tower to read his new books or build a landmine out of a shroom or two.

  Runica and me? We started walking back to my place. Runica was going to be joining me and Selma for dinner, carrying a basket of goods that Ruth had prepared. She also insisted she would be my bodyguard. Three arms were better than one, after all.

  The village was quiet, but not tense. It was the kind of quiet you only get underground, where there’s no wind, just the soft shuffle of feet and the occasional creak of wooden beams settling in. I kind of missed it.

  Runica stuck close, not saying much at first. She had her arms crossed, her head tilted down, probably thinking way too hard.

  Me? I was thinking about bombs. Those would pulverize a Shadow Beast’s stomach…

  Also… I occasionally thought about how nice it was, just walking with Runica. I wouldn’t tell her though—she’d get too cocky.

  ***

  The old shack home wasn’t much, but it felt homier than usual tonight.

  Cool light flickered from the mushroom growing in the nooks of the wooden beams. The table had been cleared of scrolls, sharpened sticks, and half-crushed berries—Selma was back to keeping the house in order, using her body for any and every task.

  Selma, her silver-streaked hair tied back in a messy knot, wheeled herself closer to the table with a practiced push of her muscular arms.

  “Smells amazing,” Runica said as she settled down beside me, her eyes going wide as the scent hit her. “Wait. Is that—”

  “Smoked fowl with root spice rub,” Selma said, placing the dish down and removing the shroom-top lid. “Slaughtered this morning. And yes, it’s the spicy one, Set. You’ll live.”

  Selma laughed as she wheeled herself away to collect more items.

  I groaned and rested my head on my fist. “Hey, how much did you have to exchange for this?”

  Selma mimicked my groan. “Don’t be such a tightwad. It’s a special occasion.”

  “My return?”

  “No. You being the man that Runica wanted. Dolt.”

  Runica chuckled. “Dinners are always so lively here.”

  “Only lively because I’ve got to keep telling this boy how to behave,” Selma said, putting down mugs and pouring out some mushroom beer.

  “If I don’t know how to behave, Selma, it’s because you raised me,” I snapped back.

  “Oh? Giving that backbone some exercise?” she shot back, an angry glint in her eye. “Maybe if you listened to me more!”

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Runica sipped her beer. “You were always a bit of a bad listener.”

  Selma cackled, thumping the table hard enough to make the bowls jump. “Cavern knows I like her.” She pointed the bottle at Runica. “You’re staying, right?”

  That question woke me up. “Come on, Selma. Don’t tease her. I’m walking her home–”

  “Actually, I’ll be staying tonight,” Runica said, looking at her hands. “My parents know. And Selma knows… But if you don’t want me here, Set…”

  “Yeah, Set,” Selma said with a smirk. “Do you want to kick this poor woman out?”

  I put on a hollow smile. “No, not at all.” Then I turned to Runica and showed her a genuine smile. “You can stay if you want. My home is your home.”

  Selma chuckled. “Sorry that it’s not as big as yours.”

  “Oh it’s okay; I’ll be fine.”

  Selma let out a laugh. “I bet. You’ll have the best excuse to cuddle up with your boy there.”

  Runica went red, but I just scowled. “Why is she a woman, and why am I a boy?”

  Selma leaned closer, wearing the face of a thug. “You really got to ask that?”

  “Yeah,” I replied, leaning over the table. “What’s your problem, you hag?”

  “My problem is it sure took you a long time to get your ass going!”

  My eyes narrowed. “You know, I lost an arm, but I could take you.”

  “Idiot. I could knock you out with my stump. But you know what? I’ll welcome the attempt. Try, and I’ll call you a man.”

  Runica clapped her hands and pulled me back by my ear. “Enough! I came for dinner! Stop being weird! Fighting at the table is weird! Especially when you’re both happy to be here!”

  Selma quickly looked at the food and ripped a piece of the chicken for herself. “Yeah, food’s going to get cold.”

  I chuckled and nodded. “Thanks for the food. I’m going to go hunting tomorrow.”

  “Yeah?” Selma replied. “You can take it easy, you know? You’re special now. You don’t need to work hard.”

  “That’s not very manly.”

  “It’s never stopped you before,” she said with a snicker.

  I smirked. “Jerk…”

  Selma shifted with a groan, and then she put a pouch on the table.

  I raised a brow. “What’s that?”

  “You mentioned it this morning—a dried Strobe Berry’s in there.”

  My mouth dropped. Runica poked me when my silence went on for too long.

  “Set? You wanted a Strobe Berry?” Runica asked.

  I carefully took the pouch. “Yeah… I think I mentioned it this morning before I left…”

  Selma scoffed. “Don’t stare at it like it's premium meat. It’s just a berry.”

  Runica rubbed my back as a smile spread across my face. It was truly an unexpected gift.

  “I’m definitely going hunting tomorrow.”

  Selma swung her head up. “Oh, just take a few days, you moron!”

  “I don’t wanna! I gotta help my mom—ack.”

  Selma’s eyes went wide as her mouth dropped. We just stared at each other for a little.

  Runica, smiling, urged me on. “Set, tell her properly. I think you can do it now.”

  I looked away from Selma. “What? I’m done bullshitting about it. You’re obviously my mom, Selma… Sorry if you don’t want to be called that–”

  “Shut up,” she said, refusing to have this stolen from her. “You can call me whatever you want.” Selma went back to her food, angrily chewing on it. “Thank you.”

  Thing about Selma that both Runica and I knew was that she was a woman who looked very angry whenever she was close to shedding some tears.

  We weren’t going to push her any further.

  ***

  Dim Phase was in full swing. We helped clean up and then, Runica and I retired to my bedroom. And well, we were young people—people who had liked each other for a very long time, and had finally been honest with each other.

  We both had expectations about how the first night together could go. If there was something I was thankful for, it was that I had the memories of my Earth life helping me.

  The cot was narrow, meant for one and a half at best. We didn’t let it stop us.

  Fumbling hands. Hushed laughter. The creak of old wood under shifting weight. Runica’s mouth was warm, her calloused fingers tracing the scars like she was reminding herself of all the mishaps she had seen.

  Our bare bodies pressed together, our kisses became deeper, our legs tangled beneath the thin blankets.

  Many jokes were had at my expense, mostly centered on me being so slow, but hey, she was just as guilty at me.

  By the end of it, we were close together, with smiles on our faces.

  “This is probably the best dim phase of my life so far.”

  Runica giggled. “Boy, if you told me it was below any of the nights you spent in the caverns, I’d go crying to Selma.”

  “Oh no, please don’t. She’ll kill me.”

  Runica giggled and cuddled closer, her thumb brushing over the knotted flesh of my shoulder. “Does it hurt?” she whispered.

  “No,” I said, staring at the ceiling. “It hurt for a little after the healing. But now? It’s fine.”

  Runica exhaled, her grip tightening. “Good. I’d hate to think you’re in pain.”

  “Hey, how many kids do you want?”

  I felt her heat up. She did her best not to stammer. “I don’t know. Maybe two or three. But not five. That’s too much.”

  “Okay… I could live with two.”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “You might get pregnant if we’re not lucky.”

  “Oh.” A giggle escaped her. “That wouldn’t be so unlucky… As far as I was concerned, I was going to end up with you, one way or the other.”

  “Oh? Bold to say that.”

  “I wasn’t wrong. You liked me.” She let out a yawn. “You were just slow and quiet.”

  “Not my fault… I was just terrified by everything.”

  “Yeah… Me too.” Her chest pressed against my side. “But I can be a bit braver if you’re here.”

  I grinned. “I’m not leaving you.”

  Runica nestled her head and closed her eyes. Sleep was coming for me too. With eyes closed, I studied my Checklist. The Strobe Berry–if I ate it, I would jump to Level 10… What an exciting thought.

  My eyes sprang open. The thought of a Level Up was waking me up. I laughed at myself and then turned onto my side as I started feeling around the floor for the bag I carried around today. I placed the berry pouch in there.

  “Set?” Runica sleepily asked.

  “It’s okay, Runica. Just checking for something.”

  My hand found the pack. I opened it, feeling around for the pouch with my finger–

  ***

  Lobby filled.

  Trial commencing.

  Teleport in 3 seconds

  ***

  What? The alert was so sudden and so surprising. The Trial?!

  Oh god, the Trial! Now?! Wait–

  The next thing I knew, I was standing in a chamber of worked gray stone tiles, naked, and surrounded by more than a dozen strangers…

  I hoped this was just a bad dream.