Despite magic and enhanced stats, recovery proved to be a rather lengthy process for Nikolai—at least as far as this new fantastical world he now called home was concerned.

  Strange, that. He wasn’t sure when it had happened, but he did see it as home now—at the very least, a second home. He had changed a lot in a rather short amount of time and already felt a certain estrangement from his old life. It almost seemed like a dream sometimes, something he might have imagined.

  Weeks went by as he little by little regained his strength—no, it was more than that. As the pain lessened day by day, it became apparent that he was gradually changing. His movement had already become more agile and smooth before, but now he was becoming more graceful, subtle… dared he say even feline?

  He was still coming to grips with everything, but as his condition improved, he began feeling trapped inside the hospitarium. His presence was being kept secret from most people, even the other residents. He wanted to no one to be able to link him to the events that took place.

  He had been moved to a room near Lazgrim’s quarters, and no one but the highest-ranked members and the most trusted servants were allowed access. Lazgrim had a small staff who had worked for him for many years, and they were the ones entrusted with Nikolai’s care.

  A small garden served as his training ground during this period. He would spend hours there every day, going through exercises and drills. Sevrin spent hours upon hours teaching him, helping him relearn how to move properly in his new body. The method resembled what Nikolai could only describe as tai chi.

  Slow, controlled movements. Circular patterns. A focus on absolute balance between mind and body.

  Sevrin was a master—Nikolai realized that quickly. His range of motion would put any tai chi master back on Earth to shame. Once Nikolai was strong enough, they began incorporating practice weapons, weaving forms into smooth, continuous patterns.

  It wasn’t exactly fighting—Sevrin made that very clear.

  Fancy movement with whirls and jumps wasn’t practical in a real fight. These forms were meant to teach him balance in any circumstance. As Sevrin put it, a good fight was one where you put your enemy down with ruthless efficiency. It didn’t need to be pretty. Efficiency was all that mattered. It was a very fae way of thinking.

  Nikolai remembered watching videos of kung fu masters getting humiliated by MMA fighters and had to agree with the sentiment. Graceful stances and pretty movements were all well and good—but they didn’t mean much when facing someone ruthlessly pounding your head into the ground, from a straddling position.

  Every day, Kaelith and Sevrin reported back to him about events outside. More rioting had broken out, and the government had locked down sections of the city. Graffiti was rampant—slogans, imagery, and all too often Nocturne’s name painted boldly on walls.

  Their so-called supporters had even gone so far as to create a logo for Nocturne—a nightingale encircled by thorns. Nikolai kind of liked that, though he was uneasy at how quickly things were escalating.

  Creating Nocturne had been a spur-of-the-moment decision really. He had wanted to craft a shadowy entity to draw attention from the guild and the nobles—but it was rapidly becoming a full-blown civil movement.

  It reminded him of the old V for Vendetta film, where the masses donned masks and rose against a corrupt regime.

  He wasn’t sure he was quite ready for that.

  And did he even have to be?

  He could simply leave. Never use the name again. Become an adventurer.

  Kaelith, of course, loved the spectacle. She would grin from ear to ear when describing the chaos, practically basking in it. As much as he liked the necromancer, she could be pretty scary sometimes.

  She was pretty, caring, kind to him.

  But he had also heard of her actions during the raids.

  That painted a very different picture.

  She was absolutely ruthless when she wanted to be, unapologetically so.

  Then there was Moulin. She came by after the second week of recovery and delivered a thorough, hour-long tongue-lashing. Afterward, she served him cookies as if nothing had happened and promised to return soon.

  She would bring Simi and Vitzer next time.

  Nikolai wasn’t sure he liked that at all. Not only had he promised to tell Vitzer everything if the fey bargain proved acceptable, but Simi had been there that night. She knew more than he was comfortable with already.

  When the day finally came, it wasn’t what he had expected.

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  For the first time ever, Vitzer greeted Nikolai with a huge, sharp-toothed smile. The Gravling seemed almost like a different person. Simi, on the other hand, was quiet. Her eyes never leaving him for more than her need to blink.

  Nikolai offered them the same deal he had offered Moulin—silence in exchange for information.

  They were obviously skeptical, but Moulin helped smooth the process.

  Nikolai explained everything—what had happened to him, the choices he had made, the changes within himself. Vitzer asked a few questions but mostly just listened, a strange gleam in his eyes.

  When Nikolai finished, silence lingered.

  Simi seemed lost within herself. After all, her team had played a significant role in what happened to Nikolai in the dungeon.

  Finally, Vitzer grinned.

  “Boy, I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  Nikolai blinked. “What?”

  “When I first saw that soft face of yours appear in my summoning circle, I saw nothing but a na?ve child who wouldn’t last long, well a demon at first, but after that! Though I hate to admit it, you’ve grown a lot in a short while, and as your mentor…” He hesitated, the familiar grumpy old bastard surfacing again. “As your mentor, I am proud of you.” He puckered his mouth, as if tasting something foul.

  Nikolai burst out laughing. “Bloody hell, that must have been hard for you!”

  Moulin slapped the back of his head so quickly he barely saw the movement.

  “Language dear!”

  Nikolai rubbed the sore spot but grinned anyway.

  Vitzer sighed. “I would like to take you back to the house, keep you there for a few years to train—but I suspect you have other plans?”

  Nikolai nodded. “Yeah. Kaelith and I are leaving the city in the next few weeks. I probably won’t come back. Not anytime soon, at least.”

  Vitzer nodded slowly. “Suspected as much. Despite your growth, don’t overestimate yourself. I still think you’re nothing but a pup. But forcing you to stay would be counterproductive. Here—take this.”

  Nikolai accepted the item. It was a small disc etched with intricate inscriptions. His Discerning Eye activated, but it did little to clarify its purpose. He sensed magic within it, and it felt connected to Vitzer, but beyond that it remained opaque.

  “What is this?” he asked.

  Vitzer narrowed his eyes. “What is this, mentor?”

  Nikolai rolled his eyes. “What is this, mentor?”

  Vitzer huffed and took a bite of his cookie—clearly enjoying it.

  “It’s a communication token. Channel a bit of magic into it, and I will feel it. Through it we can communicate. And as long as you hold it, I can even summon you to me—with some effort.”

  Nikolai carefully set the disc down and raised an eyebrow.

  “I’m not sure I want anything to do with summoning from you, mentor.”

  Vitzer growled. “That was an anomaly! One I am still investigating, by the way. This is different. A perfectly safe ritual. I have used it many times.”

  Nikolai eyed the disc dubiously. “Right… I’ll hold onto it, but…”

  Moulin set down her teacup.

  “He cannot summon you without your consent, dear. You would have to accept the summoning.”

  Nikolai still didn’t fully trust the Gravling couple—but he nodded slowly.

  “Fine. I’ll keep it.”

  He glanced at Simi.

  “You’ve been quiet. No barbs for me?”

  Her eyes flashed briefly with anger before she forcibly suppressed it.

  “I don’t like you. I know none of what happened was your fault. I know my team dug their own grave. But I can’t help blaming you anyways. The sooner you are far away, the better.”

  “That’s fine,” Nikolai replied calmly. “You can hate me all you want. For the record, I don’t hate you. Maybe we’ll find common ground someday. I have a feeling we’ll meet again.”

  He subtly flared Courtborne Guise, ensuring she felt the sincerity of his words.

  Her eyes softened ever so slightly.

  She said nothing—only nodded after a few seconds.

  They spoke a little longer before the trio departed, leaving Nikolai alone.

  That was that.

  He was free of them—at least for now. Perhaps that was na?ve; they certainly had their own agendas. But for the moment, he could and would choose his own path.

  That was enough for now.

  It was time to explore this world properly. To see this vast empire that spanned most of the continent.

  The thought of adventuring in a world filled with magic and monsters made him smile.

  It was about damn time.

  A few weeks later, Nikolai had mostly recovered. Kaelith and Sevrin had stocked up supplies for months on the road. Sevrin’s ability to store everything within Nikolai’s in-between mansion was an incredible advantage.

  Though Nikolai still hadn’t gone there himself yet.

  Something to look forward to he supposed.

  It was a cold morning on the day of departure. The sun had not yet risen, and only Lazgrim was there to see them off.

  Nikolai hugged the old dwarf tightly, emotion swelling unexpectedly in his chest.

  Lazgrim had taken him in. Taught him. Saved his life.

  Been there.

  It was strange, but Lazgrim had become something like a surrogate family to him.

  Lazgrim wiped a tear from his cheek and nodded.

  “Be well, lad. Try not to get yourself killed, eh?”

  Nikolai grinned. “I’ll do my absolute best. I promise. I’ll write you. This won’t be our last meeting.”

  Lazgrim clapped him on the lower back—a blow that would have sent him sprawling months ago.

  “You better. Dwarves live long lives. And with what you’re becoming… well, got to stay alive to live forever, eh? Be safe, lad.”

  They clasped forearms.

  Then Nikolai turned to Kaelith.

  Her mask was back in place, her face hidden from the world, but through their bond he felt her excitement.

  He could practically see the grin beneath it.

  “Let’s go, Kaelith.”

  She bowed lightly, hand over her chest.

  “Of course, master.”

  Nikolai groaned.

  “Not that again…”

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