We walked toward the roasting chicken while Sparks hovered just behind my shoulder.

  I took the time to read her description, narrowing my eyes and focusing on her tiny frame.

  Battle Fairy — Level 25 [Companion]

  In my menu, I saw a 3D-generated image of Sparks and her stats.

  All 50s, just like mine.

  This surprised me because Cashius didn’t have an image, which was cause for concern.

  Letting that thought dissipate, I noticed Sparks buzzing and thought of a barbershop. Thinking of barbers, I ran a hand over my face and realized hair was growing where there hadn’t been any before.

  My once smooth face was now covered in a thick beard. How it grew in a day was beyond me, but the more I thought about it, the more I figured leveling up might’ve caused it.

  I mean, it was possible.

  After all, I had grown a few inches taller, and I definitely felt the difference since reaching level 25.

  I grabbed my biceps, feeling the added bulk, and took a moment to consider all the other changes my boosted stats had made to my body and mind.

  By the time I took my seat, Sparks had landed on my shoulder and began swinging her legs, her tiny boots tapping against me. Humming the nicest melody I’d heard since I’d been here, I nodded my head to it, amazed by the wonder of it.

  My own fairy.

  Cashius chuckled, reached over to the chicken, tore off a big piece, and tossed it into his mouth, chewing without a care for manners.

  I grabbed a leg, took a bite, savoring the familiar flavor, and moaned in delight at how good it tasted.

  At that moment, I missed home more than a little bit—especially the food. It’s not that the food was bad, but ever since we left the city, the quality had dropped significantly.

  A moment later, I felt something stir in the center of my mind. A hesitant sensation that felt like hunger, but not mine.

  I froze, turned my head, and stared at her tiny body. Dressed in a deep green military vest, she gave me a small nod.

  I felt the sensation again and realized what it meant.

  I tore off the smallest piece of chicken I could manage and held it out to her.

  Her tiny hand brushed against my finger as she took it.

  A moment later, a new feeling washed over me. Something that felt like a warm breeze drifting through my chest.

  I scooped her into my hand, amazed that I was even doing this. She paid me no mind and kept tearing into the chicken, dropping bits of it onto her vest.

  When she was finished, she cleaned herself off and buzzed back into the air.

  Cashius tossed me a well-roasted sonti, biting into the one in his hand.

  “Battle fairies are unique creatures, Lamont. If you treat her well, she will reward you and reveal things your own eyes can’t see. From now on, do right by her, and don’t take her for granted.”

  After a brief pause, I checked my stats, added my five additional points, and chose my two new abilities.

  Level 25

  HP: 7,500

  MP: 1,300

  Strength: 71.5 (+19.5)

  Vitality: 51

  Magic: 52

  Defense: 69.5 (+19.5)

  Perception: 50

  Speed: 50

  Wisdom: 50

  Knowledge: 50

  The rest remained around 50.

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  With this much power, I felt fully capable of handling whatever came my way—whether the game’s difficulty increased or not.

  For my abilities, I chose passive ones. Eyes of TruthSure Aim

  Ten minutes later, we were back on the hunt for our legendary steed, satisfied from the delicious chicken, and I was feeling like an action hero.

  Both of us fell into a quiet mood, stepping over leaves and maneuvering around trees. The calmness of the forest, mixed with the monsters lurking in the shadows, created an odd blend of emotions. Since I had already had a busy morning, I dodged every fight I could. The ones I couldn’t avoid, I handled quickly and kept moving.

  The health and mana regeneration came in handy too, keeping my HP full when I didn’t take damage.

  What motivated me was seeing Sparks' body glow brightly and fight for the first time, which was absolutely amazing.

  When a beast approached, I’d feel a humming vibration, and she’d snap to attention, launching bite-sized missiles of light that exploded on impact.

  Watching her face shift into a serious expression and seeing her tiny arms flex as she hurled them impressed me every time.

  The power behind those hits was no joke either.

  They moved with incredible speed, leaving behind a sound like a skyrocket. The kind you’d stick in the ground that screeches into the air before exploding.

  Against the Zbios and Gulags, she Staggered

  She giggled after every battle and returned to my shoulder. Sometimes buzzing around, or like now, sitting with her eyes scanning our surroundings.

  That’s how I avoided so many fights. Her alerts gave me time to maneuver around them.

  Honestly, the only reason I was willing to skip so many fights was that my MP was running low, even with the regeneration. To take down these types of monsters, I needed to use MP constantly, and with how long it took to refill the meter, it would take forever to get it back to full.

  I had about 32,000 gold at the moment and was excited to go into a town and stocking up on supplies.

  The first thing I’d buy? MP-replenishing potions, some new pants, a set of pots and pans to cook more of the wild chicken I’d slain a few yards back, and whatever else caught my eye.

  Cashius told me we could use the cabin kit over and over, and it would remain the same after each use. So that messy bed I forgot to make this morning? It would greet me again when I set it up. Same with the dirty dishes we left behind last night, which was a bummer, if you ask me.

  If it were magic, why didn’t it magically clean up after us?

  Oh well.

  My parents didn’t raise a slob, and I’d clean if I had to. But that got me thinking about storing some of the items I no longer used in the cabin, or just putting things away in general.

  Since the cabin stayed exactly how we left it, I could stash my things there, and they’d be waiting when we returned.

  The trek stretched on longer than I cared to remember until we reached the area where Cashius said we’d find an Atarax.

  I checked the map. More of the region had filled in. We were still within the Reezus zone, but the next one, Lapzul, was just up ahead.

  That was when I heard a crackle, and the air around me turned electric. A low rumble followed, making me stare into the sky.

  I didn’t notice it at first, but a deep quiet settled over the forest. Calm and peaceful, as everything came to a full stop.

  No animals flying overhead.

  No bugs crawling across leaves.

  No monsters threatening to attack.

  The only things still moving were Cashius and me.

  I scanned my surroundings.

  Nothing.

  Cashius paused and shrugged, unconcerned.

  Sparks, however, darted inside my cloak and nestled into my shirt pocket. A wave of emotion rolled off her, and I drew Havoc Maker, swaying side to side in a low, steady stance.

  A Gulag burst from the bushes and rushed toward me. I tightened my grip, bracing for impact. As it closed the distance, my pulse shot into overdrive.

  , I thought.

  I raised my weapon, but the animal did not attack. It sprinted past me in a flurry of clops and flying leaves, then vanished deeper into the forest.

  One minute, the sun was shining through the canopy. The next, big fat raindrops splattered against my face.

  My guide turned up his collar and continued his search as if nothing was happening, intent on finding a herd of Atarax.

  Cashius broke into a jog. “Hurry,” he said. “We're sure to find a couple of the beasts now.”

  I followed, jumping over puddles that had just formed from the torrential rainfall.

  Inside my pocket, I could feel Sparks bouncing around, her body warm against my chest. Her small voice let out a series of foreign curses I couldn’t understand.

  I huffed and puffed behind him as he led me down a chaotic path. The temperature had dropped low enough to leave clouds every time I opened my mouth.

  Up ahead, Cashius charged forward, gripping trees and pivoting around obstacles like a contestant on American Ninja. Watching him made me realize that he could move for an old man.

  Above, grumbling thunder shook the landscape. It felt like all light had been swallowed by the storm. Late afternoon had transformed into twilight.

  To my right, a flash of electric blue lit up the sudden darkness, then vanished just as quickly. In my pocket, Sparks clenched the fabric tighter. Around me, enormous trees bowed to the fierce wind that howled through the forest.

  Each time lightning struck, I saw more creatures scrambling for safety. Some slid across the wet ground, while others hovered, fleeing from nature’s fury.

  In the middle of it all, Cashius wore a devilish grin, as if the storm thrilled him. I’d go as far as to say that he welcomed it like an old friend.

  Closing his coat tighter, he shouted at me, “Boy, keep up!” He ducked under the drooping leaves of a massive tree. “The Atarax should be over this ridge.”

  I did more than keep up. I matched his every move, running beside him, letting the energy take me, digging my feet into the forest floor, feeling the pulse of the storm.

  Eyebrows narrowed, lungs open, freer than I’d felt in a long time.

  Cashius glanced at me, and for a brief second, I saw him as he must have been in his younger days, back when he first came here. A young man not so different from me. But the gleam in his eyes showed he was more dangerous, more lethal in his approach.

  A savage.

  A warrior.

  A former champion.

  In that moment, he was more than a guide. He was Cashius the barbarian, killer of unjust men and slayer of monsters.

  Not someone I only respected, but someone I honored.

  The thunderstorm still roared overhead, yet in that rainy forest I made a quiet promise to live up to his expectations and go beyond them.

  Not as a barbarian who kills without thought, but as a man who chooses his own path with conviction and purpose.

  When we finally stopped, my lungs burned. My chest rose and fell like I had just finished a marathon, and my legs twitched with leftover momentum.

  Above us, the raging storm faded to a soft drizzle, and the world seemed to slowly settle back into itself.

  Bent over with my hands on my knees, I panted, “Cashius, are we there yet?”

  “My boy, take a gander around you,” he said.

  I lifted my head and scanned the area. Cashius stood with his hands on his hips, breathing just as hard as I was. I took in the view.

  A vast valley stretched out below us, filled with creatures wandering in the distance.

  Anticipation hit, sharp and electric.

  Sparks darted out of my pocket and perched on my shoulder. Her tiny weight brought a strange calm over me. I glanced at her, and a warm emotion drifted through my mind like sunlight breaking through clouds.

  Above us, the dark gray sky peeled back, revealing streaks of blue and the hint of tomorrow.

  Cashius pointed ahead, a smile growing across his face.

  And that is when I saw it.

  My first herd of Atarax.