After a few hours of grinding through preparations for tomorrow with Mei and her team, my mind felt dulled by fatigue from all that had happened today. I ate a quick meal with Tucker and Balt, said goodnight to the others, and trudged upstairs. Tucker padded silently behind me, his presence quiet and seemingly subdued.

  Opening my room door, I shut it after Tucker made it in and I walked toward the bathroom about to shrug off my robes, already thinking of a hot shower before heading to Master Matts. But then it hit me, like a stone dropped into still water... Tucker had lost his mother today. He’d followed me into streets and buildings that must have felt overwhelming and alien to him, and he hadn’t spoken a word to me the entire time.

  His appearance as man's best friend must have made me subconsciously forget that he was intelligent and could communicate if he chose to. I’d been so focused on logistics, on plans, once I had seen the state of the Inn that I hadn’t considered him for hours. Guilt pressed down harder than the day’s exhaustion ever could.

  I sat on the edge of the bed and motioned him over. He obeyed, hesitant, his eyes downcast. I reached up and unclasped his collar, letting his form shift back. His golden eyes met mine, luminous in the dim mage light. I placed a hand gently on his head, feeling the warmth and softness of his fur.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice rough with emotion. More of my time should have been given to you tonight. I know today has been harder than words can express, but I am here for you if you want to talk?”

  The silence stretched. I knew Tucker was still a child, and I wasn’t sure how much he could even express in actual language. But the only way to know was to ask him and to wait.

  So we sat together on the bed, the room hushed except for the faint crackle of the mage flame. I stroked his head slowly, steady pats meant to calm him, to remind him he wasn’t alone. I was here for him. Minutes passed, heavy but not uncomfortable.

  Then, a whisper breaking through the quiet entered my mind. “My heart hurts so much." I just sat there giving him time. Then what he had been holding back began to tumble out, raw and unguarded, " I feel like so many things are happening around me that I don’t know how to act or what to do. And I am so scared that you are going to leave me.”

  The confession hit me hard. His fear wasn’t just about the chaos going on around him, but about me. About whether I would stay with him.

  I wrapped my arm around Tucker and pulled him close. At first, he trembled, but slowly the shaking eased, his body settling against me. I held him like that for a long while until I finally released him and saw the fur around his eyes was damp again.

  “I’m not from this world, Tucker,” I said softly. “But I hope telling you about who I was on my world helps ease your mind somewhat. Where I come from, I was what's called a Ranger. Part of who we are, part of the creed I swore to, is to never leave a man behind.” I rested my hand gently on his head, meeting those golden eyes. “I will never leave a comrade behind. I will never leave you behind. Your mom may have thrown us together in her desperation but once I agreed to take you with me, we became comrades. We became pack. I know you feel all alone right now, but I am here when you need me."

  He lowered his head into my lap, closing his eyes. I whispered into the quiet, “We’ll take care of one another. Me, you, and Balt. Because that’s what comrades do.”

  A minute went by of him not responding and I could tell from his breathing he was drifting toward sleep when I looked him over. He had dried blood and dirt on his fur; I didn't want him to go to sleep like that. I moved my body, and he blinked up at me. “Let’s get you into the shower. I find after a hot shower I feel a little better, and perhaps it will help you sleep better.”

  His eyes roamed the room. “What’s a shower?”

  I led him into the bathroom and turned the knob to start the water. Hot water spilled out immediately, steam curling upward. Tucker hesitated to enter, so I placed my hand beneath the stream to show him it wouldn’t hurt him.

  The shower was impressive even by Earth standards. Treated wood lined the walls, polished and warm, while clear water flowed from a dragon’s mouth carved into the showerhead, a touch of artistry I couldn’t help but admire. Tucker tested the spray with a paw, then, satisfied, stepped inside.

  I checked my inventory and pulled out a bar of the Warlords fragrant soap. He backed away immediately, nose wrinkling. “That smells funny. I don’t like it.”

  “It’s called soap,” I explained. “It helps clean your fur.”

  Before I could explain further the benefits of soap, I caught a sharp scent and heard a stream that wasn’t coming from the showerhead. Tucker was pissing, eyes locked on mine as he lifted his nose toward the soap in my hand. “That smells better than whatever that is.”

  I blinked, caught off guard, then let out a small chuckle. At least the little guy knew what he liked. Clearly, he wasn’t a fan of the warlord’s taste in soap. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him. Nothing should smell like lavender that much, not even lavender. “Alright,” I said, shaking my head. “No soap tonight. But we’ll find one that works for your fur and your nose tomorrow, deal?”

  A leg lifting high into the air and another stream was all the answer I received.

  When he finished, I toweled him off, and he padded back to the bed, curling up with a satisfied sigh. I smiled seeing him relax. "See, I told you, you would feel better."

  I took my own advice and took my turn in the shower, changed into clean clothes, and mentally added finding a tailor to my growing checklist. I just needed to get some clothes in general. For myself and for Alice and the baby. I let out a worried breath thinking of them but tried to push it to the back of my mind. I had to concentrate on what was in front of me, or I would fail them. I needed to train to unlock this next Talent; every advantage would be needed in the fight to come. I stared at my ring, thinking of the training session I was about to endure, and then I looked at Tucker, already asleep on the bed, and smiled. Alice and Liz were going to love the little guy.

  Finally, I laid down ready to turn my mind off for a moment and sleep when several questions and concerns came to my mind unbidden. I sat up quickly, whispering into the dark, “Lawson… you there?”

  A chair shimmered into existence beside the bed, and the Overseer sat cross-legged upon it as if he’d been waiting there all along. “I’m here. What’s up, Riven?”

  I studied him, noting the casual way he regarded Tucker curled on the bed. “Judging from your nonchalant attitude at seeing a wolf bear, I’m guessing you already know what went down today?”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Lawson uncrossed his legs, leaning forward with that ever-present calm. “I saw. But you already knew that I am always watching. So, what’s your real question?”

  I took a breath, ordering my thoughts before speaking. “I told Tucker I wouldn’t leave him. But I’ve had bad nights before, waking up, tossing and turning, haunted by things I can’t control. I don’t want him to wake up and find me gone. Can you make it so he can come with me?”

  A band of polished metal appeared suddenly in my hands, shaped to pin neatly to Tucker’s collar. Before I could react, a new voice filled my mind, Master Matts. “There you go, kid. Bring him along if you want. I don’t mind. But get both your asses here, I’m ready to get started.”

  Relief washed over me. “Thank you, Master. We’ll be there soon.”

  I looked back at Lawson. He sat with a smirk tugging at his lips. “Well, there’s your answer. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

  “Actually…I do have a few more questions, if you’ll allow it.”

  Lawson raised an eyebrow but said nothing. I took the silence as permission to go ahead and ask. “When I use the ring, is my body transported to Master Matts dojo, or is it more like a spiritual projection or something? And why do I have to be asleep for it activate?”

  He tilted his head, amused. “Do you want the short answer or the long one?”

  I smiled faintly. “Medium.”

  His smirk widened. “Medium it is. Your body is physically transported. If someone entered this room after you fell asleep, they’d find you gone. For now, until you grow stronger, until your soul and mind mature, the System enforces a safeguard. It prefers travelers to slip into the process through unconsciousness. Less strain. Less risk.”

  He pointed at me, his tone sharpening. “The System has marked you as its champion. That comes with restrictions. Knowledge of how the ring works is limited for a reason. Some Outliers in the past tried to use rings like yours to escape the worlds they were meant to save. Needless to say, the System corrected that flaw quickly.”

  I stared down at the band on Tucker’s collar, then at the ring on my hand. Interstellar travel contained within a simple band of metal. “Crazy.”

  I inclined my head. “Thank you for answering my questions.”

  Lawson waved me off, already fading. “Train hard. The Talent Master Matt is trying to awaken in you is powerful. Don’t waste the effort he is putting into you.”

  With those final words, he was gone, leaving only the faint shimmer of mana in the air and the weight of his warning lingering in my chest.

  Tucker and I arrived at the dojo, and after a heartfelt apology from me for not warning him about the whole interstellar travel situation, he finally calmed down. He took a long look around the space, sniffing the air, before his eyes landed on Master Matt.

  Master Matt stood in the center of the room, a bokken resting loosely in his hands. I walked over and gave a respectful bow. Tucker dipped his head as well, mimicking me. A moment later his voice echoed in my mind.

  “Is this who teaches you how to fight?”

  “Yes,” I replied. “He’s, my Master. His name is Matt.”

  “Will he teach me how to be strong like you?” Tucker asked.

  Another presence brushed against my thoughts, Matt’s voice entering both our minds. Tucker flinched but didn’t back away.

  “I will teach you what I can, young one,” Master Matt said. “But what you truly need is an instructor who specializes in whatever class you receive. Once Riven brings you into the party and you begin leveling, your class will manifest. When that happens, I’ll make sure you get the proper guidance. After all, I am a teacher at heart, and what kind of Master would I be if I didn’t help someone as pure of heart as you?”

  Tucker’s fluffy tail wagged, and it brought a smile to my face.

  Master Matt faced me, “Okay, Riven, let’s get started.”

  I lifted my hand to receive the blindfold, but to my surprise, it never came. Instead, a curious look appeared on the Master’s face. “What are you doing, disciple?”

  I felt blood rush to my face. “I… I thought you were about to blindfold me.”

  Master Matt looked nonplussed as he said, “Why in the world would I do that when I need you to watch the demonstration of a technique, you will be learning today.

  He shook his head in disappointment, that I couldn’t tell whether it was feigned or real. “Okay, now that you’re done assuming how I will conduct my training, both of you pay close attention to me. Tucker's eyes never left the master after he said that. “I am going to do this slow the first time, then show you what it will look like at battle speed.”

  A training dummy appeared on the opposite side of the room, and I focused all my senses on the Master.

  A gentle Aura slowly encased him. It looked effortless as he slowly transferred his mana and aura into the bokken edge. Then he lifted the blade and slashed it down. The energy that had gathered at the edge of the blade flew out in a slash of power. Hitting the dummy and cutting it in two.”

  Master Matt let the bokken rest lightly on his shoulder, his gaze sweeping over us with calm authority.

  “That Talent has a dozen names, Mana Slash, Aura Cutter, Force Crescent…” He flicked his hand in a dismissive, rolling gesture. “But no matter the title, its essence is the same: aura and mana control, harnessed to unleash a strike at a distance. For a swordsman, that is invaluable.”

  I raised my hand, summoning a blazing Searing Sphere.

  “You mean like this?” I hurled it at the training dummy.

  The dojo shook with the boom of fire, smoke curling upward from the charred remains. I turned back to Matt, expecting approval. Instead, his stare was flat, unreadable.

  “Look, kid.” His tone was firm, but not unkind. “That sphere is a truly top-tier defensive talent. It doesn’t need guidance from you, and it shields you well. Offensively, sure, it packs a punch, but you can only summon one at a time. The moment you launch it; you leave yourself open to ranged attacks. The Talent I showed you lets you send slashes of similar power while keeping your defenses intact. That’s the difference.”

  The logic struck deep. I bowed my head. “I apologize, Master. I should have considered the implications.”

  Matt waved the apology away. “Now that you understand, let me show you how deadly this slash can be at battle speed.”

  Five dummies shimmered into existence, their forms solidifying in the dojo’s dim light.

  Master Matt straightened, aura flaring faintly around him. His bokken blurred, five swings so fast my eyes barely caught the motion. Five crescent slashes tore through the air, shimmering arcs of energy that ripped into the dummies. In an instant, they collapsed, cut cleanly apart.

  He turned back to me, his presence heavy, commanding. “You ready to try?”

  I summoned Ember, my blade glowing faintly, and barked, “YES, SIR!”

  Matt’s lips curled into a smile. “Well, you don’t look ready.”

  Confused, I glanced down at myself. “What do you mean, Master?”

  “You’re missing part of your training gear.” His grin widened as he produced the familiar blindfold, dangling it like a taunt. “How can you be ready without your best friend here?”

  A sigh escaped me before I could stop it. “I thought I was assuming and was wrong for doing so, but you were just screwing with me the entire time.”

  “Oh, I was not screwing with, you were wrong to assume.” His voice carried the weight of a lesson. “The fact that you guessed right this time doesn’t make assuming the right answer. Don’t ever assume, disciple.”

  I swallowed my comeback knowing it wouldn't matter anyway, took the blindfold, and tied it tight across my eyes. Darkness fell, and the world sharpened in other ways.

  Matt’s voice echoed in the silence, resonant and commanding. "Good. You’ve put aura into your blade before to strengthen your strike, so you should be familiar with the first part. Now, I need you to…

  The next hours blurred into footwork, aura drills, and swing after swing until sweat soaked through my robes. When Matt finally dismissed us, Tucker and I slipped back through the ring’s glow, and moments later I was back on my bed and instead of getting up I closed my eyes for some much need actual sleep.