He left Beatrice in a confusion, her bafflement lingering behind him like a ribbon of smoke as he wandered out of the town hall and drifted along the streets of Mystic Beau. Lux moved on automatic, steps carrying him through bursts of sharp sunshine and pockets of cool shadow, until the world seemed to rearrange itself and he found he was standing near the temporary apartment.

  The worry that had detonated in his chest over the extension visas had started to settle now, falling back down in slow, heavy fragments, and for the first time Lux could look at his time in Mystic Beau without the haze of panic crowding out the details.It hadn’t gone at all as he’d planned. Half the time he felt like he was in over his head, treading water and barely keeping up, but if he was honest with himself, he was having a great time.

  There was never a dull day. New towns, dozens of faces, projects and plans piling up one after another, it was a far cry from monotony.

  Longing for home was slipping, replaced by a new worry, he might actually miss this place, these people, when it was time to go.That realisation hit him square in the chest. He stopped and let it sink deep. “Ah shit! I really like it here!” He ruffled his hair with both hands, grinning despite himself as the sounds of the worksite washed over him. Laughter, the steady knock of hammers, warm shouts and the scrape of heavy timber.

  Here, even the smallest bustle felt alive, his earlier irritation melted away, replaced by something lighter. Yes, he’d run into another obstacle, but he didn’t have to handle it alone. His brain lurched from panic to problem-solving. Who knew about extension visas? He needed information, and he needed it fast. Fortunately, he already had someone in mind.

  He swept his gaze across the site and spotted Novgar instantly, the man was impossible to miss, a green mountain hoisting four thick beams like they were nothing but twigs. Lux hurried over, noting as he went that most of the workers had gathered around the emerging bathhouse.

  Smooth basins lined with clay ringed the site. Ruby stood at one sizzling hole, fire dancing from her palms. Lux kept half an eye on her, but Novgar had already moved to the skeletal frame of a building that was rapidly taking shape.

  Lux’s worry faded. Even without money, there was plenty to do, the construction hadn’t slowed, and he wanted to see the whole complex completed before his time was up. He felt that urge more sharply than before.

  Novgar spotted him. “Lucky Charm! Novgar has good news!” The massive man strode over, grinning wide, his booming voice cutting clean through the worksite’s din. “Silver sent word, he will return in two days. Then we go to collect your snails!”

  “That’s great news!” Lux nearly bounced. The thought of seeing the hot springs up and running filled him with anticipation, though the idea of facing monsters still made his stomach twist. He tried to focus on the excitement, but there was no ignoring the familiar knot of fear tightening in his gut.

  Monsters meant danger…real danger, and he’d never quite gotten used to the idea, no matter how many times Novgar promised to keep him safe.

  “Novgar is glad Lucky Charm is finally excited to go to battle! We’ll bring back plenty of spoils!” Novgar thumped his chest, voice rising even higher.

  “Wait! Why am I going? It’s not like I need to collect monster cores…” The protest escaped Lux’s lips, but a familiar dread knotted in his stomach. He tried not to let it show, but his mind was already conjuring every worst-case scenario, from being squished by some giant snail to getting eaten by something with too many teeth.

  Novgar was practically grinning out loud. “No, I still have plenty of time to finish that thing…” whined Lux.

  “Lucky Charm, can’t leave it till the last moment. What if there’s something else you need to do besides collecting the monster cores? Silver and Novgar have never used one of those things before, it’s best to be cautious.” Novgar even dropped his voice, which was odd enough to make Lux pay attention.

  Lux groaned inwardly, Novgar was making sense. “Alright, I get it. I’ll come.” Like he’d ever had a real choice! Lux wrinkled his nose at the idea, but there it was, just moments ago he had been thinking he liked the excitement in Mystic Beau, but this was a bit much.

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  Monsters, dungeons, and risk lurking around every corner, that part he could do without. He tried to play it cool, but his heart was already thumping louder.Novgar seemed to read his mind. “Don’t worry, fragile Lux, Novgar will keep you safe from all Wild Dungeon dangers!” He hammered his chest again, green muscles bulging.

  “What! When did getting the snails turn into going into the Wild Dungeons?” Lux had assumed they’d just pick up the monster cores as they travelled, not a full-blown dungeon excursion.

  “Novgar thought Lucky Charm knew. Silver’s been gathering info on Wild Dungeons and verifying the evidence. That’s why he hasn’t been in Silver City. Silver believes, because the object reacted to the Wild Dungeons, they’re important for activating it.”

  Novgar’s logic was sound, and Lux had no retort.

  Lux pinched the bridge of his nose, defeated. he knew there was no way he was getting out of things now. “I get it.” Lux pouted for a few minutes then got himself together. He had other pressing concerns at the forefront of his mind.

  Now that his fate was sealed, he remembered the real reason he’d come to find Novgar. “Hey, can you tell me how to get extension visas?”

  “Lucky Charm!” Novgar slapped his chest with a hand. “Novgar is so happy! You’re staying longer! Novgar will get you as many extension visas as you want!” Without warning, Novgar spun around and bellowed, “Twiggs! Lux just asked for an extension visa!”

  A blur of green hair zipped towards them. “Lux! You’re staying longer! This is fantastic! We won’t have to enact the plan we came up with!”

  “Plan? What plan?” Lux eyed the pair, suspicion growing. Had they plotted to trap him here?

  Twiggs laughed, a little too quickly. “Forget you heard that.” A frantic hand signal flew at Novgar, who looked ready to blurt something else out. “I’m just glad you chose to stay. Everyone likes having you here.” Twiggs’s face was radiant, beaming pure joy.

  Lux didn’t want to ruin it, but he couldn’t let the misunderstanding drag out. “The extension visa isn’t for me.” Better to rip the bandage off. “Beatrice just told me we’d need them for the workers after the Labour Guild’s probation ends. So, I need to know how to get them.” He watched both faces fall.

  “Look, I wish I could stay, but if I don’t go back on time, my friends and family will worry. But if there’s a way to come back, I promise I’ll try.”

  It was an empty promise for now, but he let it hang. The thought of leaving everyone after another month stung, but he pushed it away. One problem at a time.

  “Oh, I see.” Twiggs turned aside, hiding his face. Novgar just pouted like a scolded child. “Lucky Charm, Novgar is most unhappy!”

  “I’m not leaving just yet, so don’t panic. There’s still time for us to hang out together.” Lux coaxed them for a while longer, waiting for the gloom to pass. “So…how do I get the extension visas?”

  “Novgar can tell you! Extension visas only come from dungeons. They drop when you kill a monster. The extension varies… a day, a week, a month. Stronger monster, longer extension.” That revelation made Lux rethink the place dungeons held in this world.

  He’d figured dungeons were just a convenient source of monster cores, but if they were also the only source of extension visas…no wonder Silver was out chasing Wild Dungeons instead of overseeing construction. It made perfect sense!

  But a new problem appeared, “How do we get them in bulk? What do other cities do?”

  Twiggs answered this time, voice brisk. “Cities have a few methods. Some buy them from dungeon patrons, like monster cores. Others use auctions, if one place has extra, they sell to others.”

  “But the main source is the city guards. Entering the dungeons to collect resources is part of their job. Guards get a commission for whatever materials they bring back.” Twiggs finished, and Lux groaned, a whole new task had landed in his lap. It looked like guards were more important than just defending a town.

  He mentally added it to his growing list, then let his focus fall back onto the busy construction. “Can I help with anything?” No way he’d sit idle now, not with another dungeon trip looming. He needed distraction, muscle ache, anything to push the worry aside.

  There was no shortage of tasks. For two days Lux worked alongside the crew, smoothing clay and hauling lumber, sweat rolling down his back and fear pushed to the edges of his mind.

  By the second evening, the bathhouse was nearly ready. Twiggs had rushed the growth of divider-plants, Ruby’s flames baked clay smooth, and Novgar had dragged every last timber beam over himself. Only the roof, a fence, and the snails were left. The shower’s water pump would have to wait for new funds.

  Lux felt every muscle as he trudged back to his room. There, a silver glint drew his attention. Silver, waiting by his door gave him a wave. Lux stopped short, surprised, but then a grin split his face.

  Silver was at the point where he greeted him now! Lux realised, with a blush, that he was reacting almost like a fan meeting a celebrity. But maybe Silver deserved some admiration.

  He invited the silver-haired man inside, updated him on everything that had happened. By the time Silver left, Lux’s throat was parched. He drained his water skin and collapsed onto his bed. “I need sleep,” he muttered. And with good reason, Silver had told him they’d leave at first light. Lux tried to squash his nerves, but sleep was restless and filled with strange dreams.

  Morning came far too soon. He crawled out with bags under his eyes, only to be greeted by Novgar’s booming roar, “Lucky Charm! Time to bathe in blood!” The shout rattled the rafters.