Even the name carried weight.

  "According to our oldest records, when the first member of House Vizgrad came to Tidemark from the far north three hundred years ago, he forged a trident from the bones of a sea leviathan and blessed it with ancient magic. The family didn’t rise to power for almost two hundred years after coming to shore, but the head of the house had always held the Trident during their life."

  "Where is it now?" I asked, though I suspected I already knew the answer.

  "Lost. More than a hundred years ago, when my great-great grandfather had claimed the Seastone Throne, the Trident was sealed away, after a time of unrest. My grandfather knew where, but died before revealing its location, and the knowledge was thought lost." Vizgrad's eyes gleamed. "But my researchers discovered the truth. The Trident rests in a hidden chamber beneath Tidemark itself. A vault built by the city's founders."

  He spread another document across the table. This one was an architectural drawing of underground passages.

  "The vault can only be opened with a specific key, but the key was broken into two pieces for security. Each piece was hidden in a different location within the county, protected by wards and guardians."

  Calian pointed to two marked locations on a county map. "The first piece is located in a burial chamber in Twinfire." He sighed. “And the second one is under Ravenmere, in an ancient catacomb.”

  "I've sent knights to both locations," the Count continued, his frustration evident. "Some of my best men. But they cannot enter. The doors remain sealed to them, unresponsive to any attempt to open them."

  "Let me guess," Kara said. "Only adventurers can enter."

  "That’s what my mages told me, yes." Vizgrad looked at each of us in turn. "These places were built before the Veil descended. And yet, somehow the gates recognize adventurers, just like the Prophecy that brought the Veil on us. They turn away all others.”

  Dungeons. He was describing dungeons, content specifically designed for players.

  “But how did the keys get inside these places, if only adventurers are able to enter?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure,” the Count said. “But our theory is that the crypt and the catacombs were only sealed from us when the Veil emerged. See, the Veil didn’t only affect the No Man’s Land. It had caused plenty of magical phenomena throughout the Kingdoms as well.”

  "You want us to retrieve the key pieces," Athos said.

  "I need you to retrieve them." The Count's voice carried desperate urgency now. "In seven days, I must stand before my people and prove my legitimacy. If I can hold the Tidemark Trident during the Recoronation Ceremony, every doubt will be erased. Darius's claims will crumble to nothing."

  He placed both hands on the table and leaned forward.

  "I know I can not ask this from you easily, even if you are immortal beings,” he said, and his words sounded genuine. “But as frustrating as it is, I can not do anything out of my own strength here.”

  "If you succeed, you will have saved Tidemark from civil war,” Calian added. “And you will have our eternal gratitude, the recognition of every noble family in the county, and rewards befitting heroes of the realm."

  Count Vizgrad straightened, his expression resolute.

  "I am asking you, as the finest adventurers Tidemark has produced, to help me. Will you retrieve the pieces of the key and restore the Tidemark Trident to its rightful place?"

  "We accept," I said, and the others nodded in agreement. There wasn’t much to think about.

  Count Vizgrad's relief was visible. "Thank you. Truly." He placed a hand over his heart in a formal gesture. "Tidemark will not forget this service."

  "We won't let you down, my lord," Athos said, clearly confident.

  He had every right to be. He was strong, and he knew what I was capable of as well. And from the way it looked, we teamed up with two players relative to us.

  Even Lothras managed a respectful nod, though his expression suggested he was already calculating the rewards.

  The Count turned to Calian. "My dear friend, please share the details with them and make sure they have everything they need for the road ahead."

  "Of course, my lord."

  Vizgrad looked at each of us one more time. "I must prepare for the county tour. It begins in two hours, and there's much to arrange. But know that you have my complete trust and the full resources of Tidemark at your disposal."

  We bowed.

  Once the Count was gone, Calian gestured toward the door. "Come. We'll return to the Knight's Tower where I can brief you properly. Cathe, if you would join us?"

  The woman with the ledger nodded and hurried next to Calian as we left the hall.

  The streets of Tidemark were busier now.

  Crowds were filling the Market Plaza as we descended through the districts. Merchants called out their wares, the smell of fresh bread was oozing from bakeries, and somewhere nearby a street performer played a lively tune on a lute. For a brief moment, Kara joined him with her flute as we walked, and the musician bowed deeply.

  "This is bigger than I expected," Athos said quietly, when he got beside me. "Two dungeons, ancient magic, preventing a civil war..."

  "Yeah," I agreed. "When Calian approached me in Carpa, I thought it might be something similar to the public quest, escort duty or something. This is way more interesting."

  "The locations worry me, though" he continued. "Twinfire and Ravenmere. Never been there. Do you know anything about them?"

  I thought back to my brief glimpse of the villages during the boat ride to Tidemark. "Twinfire has those volcanic hot springs. Lots of steam, volcanic rock. Cyrus said it was good for alchemists? And Ravenmere..." I paused. "I don't know much. Never stopped there."

  "Ravenmere's on the south," Kara said from behind us, joining the conversation with easy familiarity. "Around the hills next to Oakenlight. Supposedly haunted, if you believe the local superstitions."

  "Haunted?" I glanced back at her.

  She smiled, and something about the curve of her lips made my pulse quicken.

  “That’s right.” Her blue eyes met mine. "I suppose we'll find out if there's any truth to it when we explore those catacombs together."

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The way she said "together" carried just enough emphasis to feel intentional.

  I looked forward again, suddenly very interested in the architecture we were passing.

  "What about your team?" Athos asked her. "You're from Shadowreach, right? Did you play solo until now?"

  "Oh, no. You know my party well." Kara's tone remained light and conversational. "Kaelith and Seraphina. We've been running together since day one."

  I nearly stopped walking.

  Kaelith and Seraphina?

  If those two were her teammates, and the Count had still chosen her for this mission...

  "That's an impressive group," Athos said with genuine respect.

  "We do alright," Kara replied modestly.

  "Alright?" I said, finding my voice again. “Those two are beasts.”

  “I can’t disagree with that,” she smiled. “But I bet the Count values versatility just as much as combat prowess.”

  She stepped up beside me. "Or maybe he just appreciates good company."

  Maybe he did.

  “And you have quite the reputation as well, Black Ranger,” she teased.

  Ahead of us, Lothras made a dismissive sound. "Reputation means nothing if you can't back it up in real combat."

  "You mean like… a tournament?" Athos asked mildly.

  "Tournaments are games," Lothras said without looking back.

  I decided not to engage.

  We reached the Knight's Tower, and the guards opened the doors without question. Calian led us back through the corridors to the strategy chamber, where he immediately began spreading maps across the table.

  "Right," he said, all business now. "Let's discuss the specifics."

  Cathe produced a leather satchel and began pulling out additional documents; scout reports, architectural drawings, historical texts. Whether it was just flavor and lore or actually useful information, I couldn’t tell at first glance.

  Calian tapped two locations on the county map. "The first key piece is located in a burial chamber beneath Twinfire, as the Count said. The chamber predates the village by at least a century, possibly more. Our scouts report that the entrance is accessible, but sealed by a magical barrier that only parts for adventurers."

  "What's inside?" I asked.

  "Unknown. The scouts couldn't enter, and scrying spells are blocked by the gate.”

  Lothras frowned. I was starting to really dislike the guy.

  "The second piece," Calian continued, clearly uninterested in the Paladin’s drama, "is inside ancient catacombs beneath the village of Ravenmere. Similar magical seals, similar lack of information about what guards it. However..."

  He paused, choosing his words carefully.

  "Our court mages examined both locations. They report that the catacombs in Ravenmere feel significantly more dangerous compared to the other location."

  "So we should tackle Twinfire first," Athos said. "Get the easier piece, level up, then face Ravenmere with experience under our belts."

  "That would be my recommendation, as well," I agreed.

  Calian gestured to Cathe, who began distributing four identical leather bags, each one marked with the Count's seal.

  "Supplies," she explained. "Health potions, mana potions, antidotes for common poisons, torches, preserved food and water. Enough for several days if needed."

  I opened mine and inventoried the contents.

  Ten medium health potions, five medium mana potions, three more antidotes, a bundle of torches, dried meat and hardtack, and two waterskins.

  This is the first time I see medium potions.

  The health pots restored my HP by 30% of my max health instead of the 20% I could heal with the small ones, and the mana potions did the same with my MP.

  "There's also this," Cathe said, handing each of us a small medallion on a chain.

  It showed Count Vizgrad’s sigil.

  "The Count's Insignia. It grants you access to any official building in the county and identifies you as acting on the Count's direct authority. Don't lose them."

  I decided not to put it on as it would have replaced the Windstrider necklace and I didn’t want to lose the stats from it. I put it in my inventory instead. I’ll change them when I need to.

  Speaking of stats, I thought. I really had to go and do my status redistribution as soon as possible.

  "How long do we have?" Kara asked.

  "Seven days until the Recoronation Ceremony," Calian said. "But travel time between locations needs to be considered. I would urge you to depart as soon as possible. Every hour counts."

  The four of us exchanged glances.

  "Twinfire then," I said. "We can catch a boat from the harbor. Should take... what, two hours? Three?"

  "Then we should leave now," Athos said. "No point in delaying."

  Lothras straightened, his armor clinking. "Agreed. And since I'm the most experienced tank in this group, I'll take point as party leader. Athos, you'll cover flanks. Orion, do whatever ranged DPS you can. And the Bard..." He looked at Kara with barely concealed disdain. "Try not to get in the way."

  The room went very quiet.

  Kara's expression didn't change, but something shifted in her eyes, suggesting that the girl had enough of the Paladin’s attitude.

  "Let me make something clear," she said, her voice still melodic, but also sharp as a blade. "This isn't a power fantasy where you get to play hero while the rest of us watch. We're a team, whether you like it or not."

  "I'm just being realistic about—"

  "About what? Your superiority?" Kara stepped closer to him, and despite being way shorter, she somehow seemed to loom over him.

  "You have good gear. Congratulations. So does everyone in this room. But gear doesn't make you a leader, and arrogance doesn't make you competent."

  Lothras's face reddened. "I've soloed elites that would—"

  "You want to compare credentials, we can do that all day" she cut him off. "But all of us have been chosen for a reason. You’re not the special one here."

  She held his gaze without blinking.

  "If you can't put your ego aside for one quest, then maybe you should sit this out and let the Count find someone more... team-oriented."

  For a long moment, nobody moved.

  Then Lothras exhaled sharply through his nose and looked away. "Fine. Team effort. Whatever."

  "Good," Kara said brightly, her demeanor shifting back to pleasant so quickly it was impressive. "Then let's get to that boat, shall we?"

  As we moved out of the strategy chamber, I found myself reconsidering Kara entirely. Beautiful, yes, but also clever and confident, and she wasn’t afraid to use her confidence to her advantage.

  We made our way back down through the tower and into the city streets, heading toward the harbor district.

  The thought occurred to me as we walked: was Lothras the player Rebecca had mentioned? He said something about soloing elites.

  The timing would be right. And it would explain his arrogance.

  Someone who could pull off killing that Troll at such a low level would have good reason for confidence.

  Still didn't make him less of a dick.

  "So," Kara said, falling into step beside me again as we descended toward the docks. "First dungeon together. Are you nervous?"

  "Should I be?"

  "Depends." Her smile was back, playful and dangerous. "Are you good under pressure?"

  There was definitely innuendo in that question.

  "I manage," I said, keeping my voice level.

  "I bet you do." She glanced at me sideways. "You know, I watched the VODs of you versus Athos. Very impressive. All that footwork, the way you moved..." She didn’t finish.

  My brain short-circuited for half a second.

  "Uh. Thanks?"

  "I mean, to keep going that long in such heat." Her expression was perfectly innocent. "The sun was brutal, wasn't it?"

  "Yeah. Brutal."

  Athos was definitely trying to hold back his laugh ahead of us. Bastard.

  We reached the harbor and found a vessel heading back to Oakenlight, stopping by Twinfire in the process.

  As we boarded, Lothras immediately claimed a spot at the bow and proceeded to ignore everyone, while we grouped up around one of the free tables.

  Let’s go and prevent a civil war.

  Two dungeons filled with ancient guardians, and a party that included an arrogant Paladin, a former tournament rival, and a Bard who seemed determined to fluster me at every opportunity.

  This was going to be interesting.