Without having to worry about Mirror, sprinting through the forest was a lot easier, and this time I was pushing myself as fast as I could go. My lungs burned, but I was covering ground. Wren, Gigi, and Jye were giving us updates as Axel and I made our way back. The “catboys” that Jye had mentioned were more like your typical anime beastkin; very human-looking creatures with fur, tufted ears, and twitchy tails, armed with slightly more sophisticated weaponry than the lizardfolk—bows on their backs and daggers in thigh slings—and leather armor.

  After Gigi had blinded them with [Light Barrier], Jye had let loose a barrage of arrows courtesy of Wren’s [Displaced Volley]. The upgraded ability let Wren reposition the origin spawn point of the duplicated weapon. And so, rather than coming from one spot, a cloud of arrows had descended from several different directions, all from the branches above them. Since the beastkin had rushed in at the now visible shield hut, and were blinded from [Light Barrier], several stumbled onto the [Ensnares] Wren had laid earlier, the arrows sinking into their furred flesh, a handful of them locked to the traps.

  Of course, this had created an issue of friendly fire, some of Mirror’s [Shield Walls] (which had remained even after its dismissal) taking the brunt of the multiple origin hit. But, Gigi explained, it was easy for xem to resummon them when they shattered.

  As the three updated us on the situation further, I calculated how much longer it’d take to arrive. Probably a couple of minutes. By the time I got there, the fight could be over. It was a pretty defensible position, and based on their reports, they didn’t seem to be in any trouble, so I wasn’t worried about their combat with the beastkin. The thing I was concerned about, however, was whatever that creature had been at the lizardfolk village. That and the high pitch squalling of the harpies at my back.

  I hoped Axel was much closer with his [Swift Footed] trait. It was impossible to know where he was. I sincerely regretted not tagging him with [Track].

  Hold on, we’re nearly there.

  Apparently, the beastkin, stronger than they looked, had taken several arrows each, and the ones that hadn’t been snagged by the [Ensnares] had withdrawn behind trees. Jye couldn’t get an angle on the ones who’d fled, but they continued to fire down at the ones vulnerable and locked down by Wren’s [Ensnares], and Wren redirected the additional barrage using [Displaced Volley], aiming to keep the others at a distance. In retaliation, the beastkin had started firing back at Jye, but Gigi triggered [Focus] and all their attacks redirected to xem and xir shields.

  How many were there? I asked, before shifting my attention. And, Tam, do you have eyes on?

  The cutthroat did not answer, but Jye supplied a catb— beastkin count. About thirty, ignoring the ones indisposed. Alongside the growing sphere of Wren’s dot, Tam’s tag was increasing in size too but at a faster rate. It seemed as though she was returning to the hut as I’d requested, but she’d gone radio silent. Had the large creature eating the lizardfolk scared her witless? Or could it interrupt telepathic communications?

  The latter was more likely. I didn’t think I’d ever seen fear on Tam’s face.

  Still… she could be in trouble.

  She trusted me now. Well, just a little bit. I couldn’t repay that by throwing her to the proverbial, and possibly literal, wolves.

  Swallowing back my concern, I ran harder.

  The trees blurred beside me as I sprinted, the terrain beneath me shifting with the maze of roots, and I kept my gaze flicking to the floor, searching for the optimal path where I wouldn’t need to jump or dodge to proceed. With Mirror this had been exceptionally difficult, but now I could focus better.

  I would not be tripping on any differences in ground elevation, that was for sure. I’d learned my lesson from Gigi’s [Ensnare] trapment in Bia’s Dungeon. Getting locked down to one spot was tantamount to being out of the battle entirely. I needed to watch my feet.

  So intent on the outstretching forest floor, I had no time to react to the limb that punched out in front of me from behind a tree. My throat slammed directly into it, a sharp strangling pain, and my feet, still travelling forward as though they hadn’t gotten the message, flew out from under me. I hit the ground with a loud thwack, [Cloak] dropped from my concentration slip, air driven from my lungs. I sucked in a tight, stinging breath, world spinning.

  Had I just been utterly fucking coat-hangered?

  Eyes watering, unable to speak since the attack had crushed my voice box, I stared up at my assailant, trying to gain my bearings. My gaze sought everything I’d been seeing and hearing, as I evaluated. Wings? No. Tufted ears? None. Scales? Skin. Goat eyes? A piercing brown.

  Human.

  I didn’t know whether to be relieved or not. Standing above me, the person who’d attacked was dark-skinned with a vibrant green sari draped over their left shoulder, but it was splattered with some sort of black goo. Their lithe build spoke of elegance and refinery, but their fist was clenched, bracelets around their wrist jangling as it shook, anger in their eyes.

  “Are you all stupid?” they asked, a simmering of rage under each syllable.

  I’m gonna be a little longer, I said to the others.

  “Not stupid but ignorant,” another voice sounded. This one was deep and calm.

  Groaning, I activated [Locate], and as the ability rippled over the forest around me, it revealed a few more human silhouettes of varying sizes. I was surrounded. Fuck me.

  Thoughts reeling, I tried to figure out what I should do. I could engage these people in battle. I knew nothing about them, but I was fairly confident I could escape, at least. Especially since over their shoulders, I could see the increasing size of the orange tracker. The harpies were still after me. In the chaos of their approach, I could break away.

  But something about the group made me pause. If they had been fully antagonistic, they could’ve done much worse than knocking me off my feet. Granted, there would’ve been nicer ways of getting my attention… Still, I would not let this be a repeat of Adrien. No one would be taking advantage of my optimism again.

  Their apparent leader, the one who’d attacked me, squatted by my side, conjuring a shimmering impossible blade in their hand.

  No hiss; no Axel. I was on my own.

  They growled, “You’ve messed up everything. We nearly had the clear!”

  I frowned, trying to pad the conversation to buy myself thinking time. My voice came out strangled, still recovering from the hit. “The clear?”

  The deep voice sighed. “Ah, Inaya, you knocked the sense out of him.”

  What to do? Wren, Jye, and Gigi were in their own battle. Tam was likely running for her life. Only Axel was unaccounted for. But almost certainly if the man were around, he’d rush in, sword swinging, not waiting for any answers. Nor would he ask any questions either. In fact, that he wasn’t here was a surprise to me. He had a sixth sense for when I got caught up in trouble. Had he thought for once I could handle this myself?

  On our private link, despite the fact he would likely not listen to me, I said, Axel, keep going.

  “Um, I’m sorry?” I offered to the party before me, croaking out the words.

  “He’s sorry, he says,” Inaya muttered, lip curling. “We’ve been in here for days, and he’s sorry. You think destroying all our efforts would be forgiven that easily?” Froth formed from their mouth, and they pressed the magical blade to my throat. It rested on the resistance of [Plated Bark], and I could only feel a slight pressure. The ability had also significantly lessened damage I’d taken from my tumble earlier. Even then, with the boost of LVL 5, my health was pipping up in the back of my head.

  A large round form stepped up beside Inaya, hand resting on their shoulder. “Take a breath, dear.”

  Inaya’s eyes clenched shut, and they inhaled deeply. The blade disappeared as they exhaled.

  “You are very lucky my husband is here.”

  I made a move to sit up, but their sandaled foot sank into my chest, pushing me back down. Okay, that was fair.

  Clearing my throat, I tried to find my voice again. “I’m really very sorry, honest. My party is… free-spirited.”

  That was certainly one word for them.

  “Ved, is he telling the truth?” Inaya asked, turning to face one of the other people in their team. I followed the direction of their gaze and was startled to see a young kid, probably no more than seven. They looked something of a combination of Inaya and their husband; sharing Inaya’s thick lashes and hooded eyes but the same square nose and wide jaw of Inaya’s partner. It had to be their kid. No, it wasn’t just one of them. As I glanced around at the two other silhouettes that [Locate] had revealed, it was clear Inaya’s other party members all shared similar characteristics, and all five of them had the same black substance dotted over their clothes and skin.

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  They’d brought their three children into the Dungeon.

  The youngest one nodded in response to Inaya’s question. “He is, ma.”

  “Will you harm us?” Inaya asked, eyes cold.

  I paused. If their youngest child had a lie detecting ability, I could only be honest here.

  “Not unless you give me reason to,” I replied.

  “Not stupid, as you said, love,” Inaya finally sighed out.

  The orange track marker had grown into a fist, and I could hear the harpies’ cries closing in.

  “On that note, I was being chased.”

  At that, her head slowly turned in the direction I’d been running from. Then, after a moment’s thought, she clapped her hands together, the movement practiced, refined. A resounding and deafening boom exploded forth upon their impact, echoing through the forest. It travelled through the dense trees, their trunks trembling, tearing leaves free and dragging them into a flurrying spiral of wind and energy. My ears felt as though they might bleed. Some sort of sonic blast? It must’ve reached the harpies because my orange track dot sank to the floor and didn’t move again.

  Satisfied, Inaya brushed a loose lock of her hair behind an ear and removed her foot from me as her husband reached down a large calloused hand.

  “You will not have reason,” he said. He glared at me, the look in his brown eyes contrasting hard against his more level tone. It was a threat as much as a promise, the show of his wife’s strength enough to dissuade me from attempting anything. It wasn’t as though I’d planned anything, anyway.

  Thanking him, I accepted his hand and stood, then took my time brushing myself off, thinking as fast as my brain would allow me. What was the right thing to do here? I could tell this family didn’t have malicious intentions, not like Adrien had, not like Damian had, but we needed the clear if we wanted to keep Jye alive. Explaining it all as concisely as I could, I relayed the information through [Mindlink] back to the group. Followed by: You guys doing all right?

  They’ve kinda stopped attacking, Jye replied, and I sensed a hint of disappointment in their tone.

  Anyone hurt?

  I’m fine! The fight was actually very easy, Wren said.

  They did not even manage to dent the [Shield Wall] hut.

  Tam? I inquired.

  Nothing. Goddamn it. I switched to my private connection.

  Axel?

  Silence.

  Free-spirited was right.

  I asked those present and accounted for what I should do.

  Why not see if they can help? Wren asked.

  It seems they know what the clear conditions are. Perhaps we would be best served working alongside them for now.

  Yeah, like, gain their trust, and then when they least expect it, we—

  Jye, I said, admonishment heavy in my thoughts.

  Dude, you’re no fun. Tam would do it.

  Again, I called for her, but she didn’t respond.

  Still no Axel either. What was he doing? Was he continuing on like I’d requested? Whilst I held this silent conversation with the team, the family introduced themselves to me: Inaya Rani, her husband Vikram, their daughter Anjali, and their two sons, Krish and Ved. The oldest, a tween, seemed quite shy and wouldn’t meet my gaze, but Krish and Ved waved. I wondered if Wren would get along with Anjali. They had to be of the same age. But with Makris in her head, who knew how that’d mess up her socialisation skills.

  “I’m Lee, by the way.” My brow furrowed, irritated and concerned with half my party’s absence. “Actually, can I just— If a very pretty, overly cocky blond man threatens you in any way, that’ll be my b— That’s Axel. Just don’t worry about him.” The five of them stared at me. “He’s not bad news or anything, but also don’t let him get near you?”

  My ears are burning.

  I despised how relieved I was to hear his voice. What are you doing?!

  Following orders for once. I’m nearly back at the hut. You good?

  Why didn’t you reply?

  I got sidetracked.

  Fighting a frown, I asked, By what?

  He didn’t answer, to my utter frustration, and my focus was stolen by Inaya leaning toward Vikram, whispering something in his ear. My hackles raised in suspicion. I didn’t like secret conversations. The larger man nodded in understanding, his jowls folding under the movement.

  “Would you be willing to work together?” Vikram asked.

  My jaw clenched, the knee-jerk reaction to reject the offer nearly spewing forth from my mouth before my thoughts could catch up. I took a stilling breath. In the corner of my eye, I saw Ved staring at me, no doubt still using his lie detecting ability.

  “The last time I agreed to work with another party, it was under serious duress, and it did not end well for them,” I explained. There was an iciness underneath my words I didn’t realise I was capable of. The rage I felt toward Adrien was something I was working on, but being reminded of him and what he’d done to my and Axel’s parents was like prodding a very fresh but healing wound.

  Inaya’s eyes narrowed, and Vikram’s expression darkened. The two of them were oddly well-matched; balancing each other out. It was clear they’d been together for a long time, since I could tell in the following silence they continued to have a conversation with their eyes. A dull sadness glowered in me, the shared look reminding me of my own parents.

  Vikram said, “Of the four Dungeons we’ve entered, we’ve cleared two. Our first one… we were betrayed. We can understand your hesitation.” His round face was etched with pain.

  Ah. I didn’t need him to explain further. I recognised that look. I’d seen it in the mirror recently. They’d lost someone in their first Dungeon, someone important. Ved, Krish and Anjali huddled closer together, eyes downcast, and I realised there was a larger age gap between Anjali and Krish than between the two brothers.

  For a moment, the unsaid sat in the air between us.

  I guess sooner or later this loss would be more common than not.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, and it wasn’t an empty platitude. “This whole thing… It just brings out the worst in people.”

  And speaking of… Any word on Tam yet? I asked, her dot still closing in on Wren’s. It was getting to the point where the others should probably be able to hear her, especially if the monster that’d eaten the lizardfolk was pursuing her.

  Nothing. Oh, but, like, we’ve got some of the catboys under lock and key, Jye supplied. Wren’s healing them.

  Okay… Make sure they don’t surprise you or anything.

  Oh. Holy. Fucking. Fuck. Wow.

  Trying not to show the panic on my face, I replied, What is it?

  I think it’s a dragon? Wren said, her voice so quiet it was almost inaudible.

  A dragon?! I exclaimed, the words feeling unreal as I said them. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been. We’d fought a Minotaur and the mordexi, we’d met gods and been through black holes. Was a dragon really that much of a stretch? The yellow goat eyes flashed through my mind.

  My apologies, Lee, we will be unable to respond for some time. We may require some help.

  I let my gaze drift over the Rani family, considering my options. There was no more time for pleasantries.

  “I need to help my party.”

  Vikram and Inaya exchanged a glance.

  “Let us assist you,” Vikram said.

  My heart said to put faith in them, but my recent loss bucked at the thought. All things considered, they probably were good people. Inaya’s takedown of me could’ve been much worse. She could’ve used that sonic boom ability instead. She hadn’t. They could’ve tied me up with their numbers advantage. They hadn’t. But I wouldn’t be putting myself into any position that gave them leverage over the people I cared about, if I could help it. I would never let what Adrien had done to my parents happen to my party.

  Request received.

  Eliminate party Ranis. Reward: Escape Rope. Failure: Death. Accept | Reject

  Well, the good news was we were being watched by Deities. More audience, more belief, more assistance, at least in theory. The bad news was this particular Deity was bloodthirsty. Still, an Escape Rope… like in Pokemon? Would it let us leave Dungeons without two-way Gates? Fuck, it was a tempting reward. I could definitely see the appeal for others. But despite what we’d been through, I was not going to kill people unless there was no other option.

  However, if I was receiving this request, the Ranis probably had received a similar one too.

  I stared as they waited for my answer.

  It was obvious the family weren’t Adrien. And yet, the risk wasn’t worth it, especially with this new request. What if they betrayed us once we’d shown our vulnerable backs to them? At best, we’d have lost precious time and clout with the Deities, at worst, our lives. Jye's future was hanging on these clears. Everyone's was.

  No.

  I’d once promised myself I’d get smarter, make better decisions. It was time to start following through. I wanted to believe in the best of people, but the world wasn't like that. The only people I had left could get hurt.

  “Trust must be earned. Please, stay here. I will be back. And then all of us will talk about the clear we ruined,” I said.

  Inaya’s stare weighed on me, sizing me up. In them, I could tell she was doing the same mental math, the same moral gymnastics to believe what I was saying wouldn’t hurt her family. Probably considering her request too. Both our groups had been through enough to make us turn our backs on each other. She could launch a five versus one on me, if she wanted.

  Vikram’s hand sunk into Inaya’s, and her eyes softened.

  She nodded, then echoed back, “Trust must be earned. Kill the dragon, and then we will talk.”

  I hadn’t said anything about the dragon. My jaw clenched, working through the implications of her offer. The words were a warning: We will know if you are not good for your word. Inaya reminded me a little too much of Auntie Li, if I were being honest. Sharp and to the point when she wanted to be.

  Dropping the orange [Track] tag from the downed harpy, I flung it onto her and watched as it settled into her chest, the basketball of color shimmering under her green sari. Then, after the smallest moment of hesitation, unable to fight my mounting suspicions, I channeled Wren’s [Wiretap], forming an invisible listening sphere that fizzled against my skin, leaving it near the Ranis.

  “I’ll find you when we’re done.”

  And then I ran.