I felt the stone steps as I sat overlooking the chaos below—sticky residue from the morning's adventure still clinging to my clothes despite my best efforts. The citadel loomed behind me as the clouds cast a shadow over the Courtyard, but the real show was down at the harbor, where Maris's behemoth of a boat had turned the street into a war zone.

  Dozens of Hunters swarmed the vessel like ants on a dropped sandwich, their frustrated shouts echoing off the surrounding buildings as they struggled with ropes thick enough to hang a giant. The boat itself was a monument to overkill—sleek black metal that seemed to swallow light, easily the size of several city blocks and was wedged into the street.

  Winchester pulsed in my soul-space, a warm weight I was still getting used to. The staff felt different now—alive, somehow. Every time I focused on it, I half-expected Ted to run commentary.

  Red sprawled across the step above me, his furry frame soaking up the afternoon sun. I reached back to scratch behind his ears, and he made that rumbling sound that was half-purr, half-growl. "At least one of us is having a good day," I muttered.

  Today had been insane. Binding my Seal felt like I'd cracked open Pandora's box and invited all the crazy inside for tea. My mana pathways were doing this weird expansion thing that made me feel like I was being slowly inflated from the inside. Not painful, exactly, but about as comfortable as wearing a sweater made of static electricity.

  Footsteps echoed on the stone behind me, pausing just far enough away to be polite. My newly enhanced aura picked up Chas's presence before I even turned around—whiskey, leather, and something that reminded me of ozone after a lightning strike.

  "Well damn," he said, and I could hear the grin in his voice. "That feels different. Something ironic about your aura promising to protect me."

  I craned my neck back, catching the uncharacteristically serious expression on his face. The usual devil-may-care smirk was there, but underneath lurked something that looked almost like... pride?

  "Heard you went to see Arryava and formed your Seal like you were just grabbing breakfast." His grin widened. "What else you got hiding up your sleeve?"

  Without thinking, I shifted Winchester into my physical hand and held it up. The orb caught the afternoon light, turning it into liquid fire before I stored it away again.

  “Show off much, Ben?”

  "Fuck me sideways," Chas breathed, staring at the empty air where the staff had been. "I was being sarcastic about the overachiever thing." He paused, then shook his head. "That's the one from the spirit realm, right? How the fuck did you—actually, no. Don't tell me. It's just nice to have been right about you for once."

  The soft sound of a cork popping reached my ears, followed by the familiar glug of liquid being poured. When I reached back, Chas placed his flask in my hand without a word. The metal was cool, like it had been stored in a fridge.

  I took a sip, letting the whiskey burn away some of the tension that had been building in my shoulders all day. The Hunters below were making progress—the boat had shifted maybe an inch. At this rate, they'd have it moved by Christmas.

  "Today was..." I paused, searching for words that wouldn't make me sound completely insane. "Weird doesn't even cover it. I haven't really stopped to breathe since I got here. And now with Maris's little ultimatum hanging over my head..."

  "You mean the Tournament?" Chas took the flask back, waiting for a group of chattering Hunters to pass before continuing. I reached for another sip, but instead of the flask, he handed me a wash-kit. Honestly, after the morning I'd had, I was happier to see it than the alcohol.

  "You don't really forget the day you form your Seal," he said, his voice taking on an oddly genuine tone. "It's weird for everyone. Welcome to the club, kid. Population: everyone trying not to die while getting stronger."

  I purged the last of the sticky nectar from my clothes, the familiar ritual oddly comforting. "I'm thinking there's something seriously wrong with me. This entire week has been one person after another telling me how weird I am."

  "You're not as weird as you think." Chas took another swig, his eyes distant. "I've been to a lot of other worlds at this point. Seen some incredible shit. Flying machines that don't need runes, music so loud you can feel it in your bones, entire civilizations where kids bind Seals before they lose their baby teeth." He gestured at the struggling Hunters. "Point is, Runebinding is different everywhere. Even here, the Empire has completely different methods than we do. Back there, even someone like Katie might be a Seeker. Hell, most of those poor bastards down there are Seekers, struggling their way up to Adept."

  The information hit me like a freight train. "That's... a lot to process. I just want to stay here, you know? Build a life, maybe figure out what the hell I'm supposed to do with all this power." I touched the Emberseed through my shirt. "Pretty sure I haven’t wrapped my head around what happened when Maris showed up."

  "I get it. And we've got time to train you properly." Chas stood, stretching like a cat before fixing the Hunters with a look of pure disgust. "If you can form a Seal in less than a day, I'll bet you can place well in some backwater Tournament. But first—" He cracked his knuckles. "Look at these fucking amateurs."

  The Hunters had moved the boat maybe three inches.

  "Want to go show them how it's done?" Chas pulled off his vest, revealing arms that looked like they'd been carved from dark wood and covered in strategic scars. "Consider it a learning opportunity."

  I stared at the massive vessel, then at Chas, then back at the vessel. "You think I can actually help move that thing? It's massive."

  "Perfect chance to test your new advancements." Chas's grin turned predatory. "I heard you got your hands on some Titan's Root tea, which is fantastic for pathway expansion but also means you're in for a long, painful journey. Best way to speed that up? Burn through a shit-ton of mana."

  I couldn't help but grin as I stood, Red immediately bouncing to his feet beside me. "But not a fuck-ton of mana, right? That sounds dangerous."

  Chas slapped my back hard enough to rattle my teeth. "Exactly. That'd be far too much—you'd explode."

  Red's tail went into overdrive as Chas awkwardly patted his massive head, and we made our way down toward the beached leviathan. Up close, the thing was even more impressive—and intimidating. The metal hull rose above us like a black cliff face, seamless and cold to the touch.

  "Master Blackwood!" A red-skinned Carmintree man jogged over, sweat gleaming on his brow like he'd been wrestling the boat personally. "Damn thing's stuck tighter than a tick. Any chance you could lend a hand?"

  "Get your people on the ropes," Chas said, rolling his shoulders. "The newly Sealed Breaker and I are going to give it a proper shove."

  The man's eyes went wide as they fixed on me. "Already? But you just—" He caught himself, then broke into a huge grin. "Fantastic! This is why I love working with you people." He spun on his heel, barking orders that had the other Hunters scrambling into position.

  As we approached the front of the vessel, Chas ran his hand along the hull with something approaching reverence. "Lighter than it looks, believe it or not. The whole damn thing's made of Nocturnium—stronger than steel, weighs about as much as aluminum, and makes it impossible for people like us to sense what's inside." He tapped the metal with his knuckle, producing a deep, resonant sound. "That's how she got past Sylvarus's detection. You could buy a kingdom with what it cost to build this idiotic boat."

  "That's why it's the grand prize?" The pieces clicked together. "Must have really pissed Maris off to lose something that expensive."

  "Oh, she's probably already planning to buy it back from whoever wins." Chas positioned himself against the hull, planting his feet wide. "You take that side. And Ben?" He caught my eye. "Don't hold back."

  I stared at the massive vessel, then at my hands, then back at the vessel. "How am I supposed to help move this thing? I mean, I'm stronger than I was, but this is a goddamn ship."

  "Kid." Chas's voice carried the patience of someone explaining basic math to a toddler. "There are eighty Hunters out there ready to pull this beast. If Valor works anything like Rebellion—and trust me, it does—then your Seal is building a bridge between your body and soul. Makes enhanced strength more or less your default state now."

  He paused, studying my face. "And when you hit Adept, you'll be able to burn mana like I do for even more power. Though it wouldn’t surprise if you figured it out sooner."

  "I think I can already do that," I interrupted. "It's how I got Winchester in the first place. I just... I don't fully understand what happened. Never mind."

  Chas raised an eyebrow. "If you can mana burn already, that'll give you a huge edge in the Tournament. But without the capacity and expanded pathways that come with reaching Adept, you need to be careful as shit." His expression turned deadly serious. "Running out of mana while using Valor as a spell might fuck up your pathways. Running out while mana burning?" He fixed me with a stare that could have melted steel. "That can fuck up your soul. And trust me, you don't want that."

  I exhaled slowly, remembering Arryava's similar warning. The tub full of liquid mana had been a safety net I no longer had. "Got it. Don't melt my soul. Simple enough."

  Chas laughed, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Make sure you pump as much mana into your legs and feet as into your arms. You're pushing against the ground just as much as the boat. And if you're feeling brave, try a quick mana burn. Just don't go full throttle—I'd hate to scrape you off the pavement."

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  He motioned to the Hunter coordinator, who raised his hand and shouted down the line. "Ready on the ropes! On my mark—pull!"

  I poured mana into my pathways, feeling Valor respond like a beacon in my mind. The world sharpened around me, colors becoming more vivid, sounds more distinct. My muscles felt like they'd been replaced with steel cables, and when I pushed against the hull, the stone cracked under my feet.

  The boat didn't budge.

  I closed my eyes, trying to picture my soul-space, but everything felt hazy, undefined.

  "Oh, for crying out loud,Just shove mana into the Seal and let me handle the rest. This is embarrassing.

  I turned my attention inward, following the newly expanded pathways toward Valor's brilliant glow. Getting there was like navigating a maze in the dark, but when I finally connected, lightning shot through my veins.

  Blue energy erupted from my body in all directions, turning the air around me into a shimmering aurora. The ground beneath my feet didn't just crack—it spider-webbed in all directions, chunks of stone flying as I drove forward with everything I had.

  The massive boat moved.

  It slid backward a full three feet, metal groaning against stone as the combined force of my push and eighty Hunters pulling finally overcame inertia. The vessel picked up speed, acceleration building as it carved a path back through the street toward the harbor.

  I tried to pull back from Valor, but the connection felt like grabbing a live wire. With a strained effort that left me seeing stars, I finally cut the flow. The energy around me dimmed and faded, leaving me to collapse backward onto the cracked stone.

  My mana reserves were almost gone. Five seconds, maybe less, and I'd burned through nearly everything.

  Red bounded over and started licking my face, his sandpaper tongue making me laugh despite feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. "Okay, okay, I'm alive," I gasped, trying to fend him off with weak arms.

  "That was fucking incredible," I panted as Chas loomed over me, his expression unreadable. "Though I don't think I could have done it without your help."

  Chas helped me sit up, his grip steady and sure. "Not sure what you mean, kid. I wasn't ready."

  "What?" The word came out as more of a wheeze.

  "I wanted to see what you could do solo. And you just moved a ship that weighs about as much as a city block." His grin was equal parts impressed and terrifying. "That's seriously impressive for someone who just formed their Seal."

  "There's no way I did that alone." I forced myself to my feet, legs shaky but functional.

  "You didn't. You had an army of Hunters helping pull. But you made the difference." Chas gestured toward the celebration erupting around the harbor as the boat hit the water with a geyser that soaked half the dock. "And that's kind of the whole point of the Hunters—we're strong, but together we're stronger."

  "Right. United we stand, divided we fall. Cass gave me the whole history lesson about the three factions joining up to take down Gaius Valerian." I paused as cheers echoed across the water. "Kind of sad how the Valerians went from leading the Hunters to crashing boats into cities."

  "Eh, there’s an old saying about dying a hero, or surviving to become a villain," Chas said with a chuckle.

  Before I could respond, a parade of Hunters walked past, each one delivering the traditional arm punch. At least now I could reinforce my shoulder with what little mana I had left, turning potential bruises into dull aches.

  "That's a big fucking hole in the city," I observed, staring at the boat-shaped canyon carved through the street. It went down deep, revealing layers of solid gray stone underneath, like La-Roc was built on a foundation of concrete.

  "Yeah, the city's been through some serious shit lately." Chas motioned for me to follow him toward Doreen's. "There's definitely something weird going on with the monster situation. That Arbortrux you took down? Those things never leave the northern mountains. No reason for one to be near Rainhaven. Same with the Brine Tyrant—those are deep-sea creatures."

  We walked in comfortable silence for a moment, Red trotting alongside us with his tongue lolling out happily. The afternoon sun painted everything in shades of gold and amber, making even the destruction look almost beautiful.

  "It's not just here," Chas continued. "Virexus—that's the capital city in the Greatwood—has been under siege for months. Nothing but Class-D monsters showing up, with the occasional Class-C just to keep things interesting. Don't even get me started on how many spirit realms we've been finding." He gestured to me. "Case in point."

  "So things are going to hell right as I arrive. Fantastic timing on my part."

  "Things have been going to hell for years," Chas said as we rounded the corner. "You just showed up in the middle of it."

  Doreen's came into view, and something was definitely off. The place was too quiet, too empty for the middle of the afternoon. A few displaced families sat at tables, but the usual bustle was missing.

  Jeremy perched on Doreen's high-backed chair like a tiny king, and when he saw us, he practically shouted, "Oh good, you're here! Please, have a seat anywhere you'd like!"

  I looked at Chas, who was shaking his head with the expression of someone watching a train wreck in slow motion. Red's nose twitched, picking up scents that made his tail wag faster.

  "Jeremy, what the hell are you—" I started, then stopped as understanding dawned. "Oh. OH."

  They came out of the kitchen and back rooms like they'd been waiting for a cue. Erik led the charge, his face locked in its usual stoic mask, but I caught the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. Cass and Katie followed, along with a handful of other Hunters I recognized from around the city. Malcolm pushed through the crowd with an awkward wave, and even Elizabeth and Jake had made the trip from Rainhaven.

  "Surprise?" Chas said weakly, like the whole thing had been ruined, but I couldn't stop grinning.

  Katie broke from the group and threw her arms around me, her steel grip nearly cracking my ribs. "We wanted to do something special," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "So that no matter what happens in the Tournament, you know how much we appreciate everything you've done."

  After the insanity of the past week, the gesture hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. These people—these incredible, dangerous, wonderful people—actually gave a damn about me. Not because I was some prophesied hero or chosen one, but because I'd just tried to help when they needed it.

  I was still trying to find words when Chas spoke up. "Good news is, he's got a much better shot now that he's bound his Seal."

  The room went dead silent. Then Cass literally bowled over two other Hunters in her rush to get to me. "Are you fucking with us right now?"

  Chas shook his head, his own grin widening.

  "Well then," Diana's voice came from the doorway, "it's a damn good thing I brought beer."

  She stood there like a conquering hero, flanked by a dozen full-sized barrels that looked like they'd been liberated from a brewery. The wood was dark and rich, with brass bands that caught the light.

  "Say what you want about Maris," Diana continued, "but her people know how to trade for the good stuff."

  The room erupted. Cheers, arm punches, and at least three people started crying. Doreen appeared from behind the bar with a grin that could have split her face in half.

  "Shit, Di, I take back most of what I've said about you." She motioned to the crowd. "What are you all standing around for? Get off your asses and help me get these barrels inside!"

  Stanley chose that moment to make his grand entrance, swooping through the door in a streak of golden feathers before landing on my shoulder. Instead of his usual tiny hat, he wore a miniature vest that made him look like a tiny bartender.

  "I fucking knew you'd do it

  "Language, Stanley," I said, giving him a gentle finger-scratch on the head.

  He squawked indignantly. "Oh, like you're one to talk, asshole.

  I learned three things quickly that night: Monster Hunters could drink like fish; they had an endless supply of ridiculous drinking games; and they treated casual violence like entertainment.

  Doreen's had transformed into something that would make a college fraternity jealous. Pewter cups of surprisingly potent ale made their rounds while the Hunters—after surrendering their weapons to a locked cabinet—dove into the festivities with the enthusiasm of people who might not live to see another party.

  The drinking games were legendary. My favorite involved dropping blue mana coins into beer cups—you had to absorb the mana while chugging, then slam your empty cup upside down without a single coin hitting the table. The winner got bragging rights and the right to choose the next game. It took me six tries to master the art of mana absorption while drinking, but the cheers when I finally nailed it were worth the embarrassment.

  Later, I found myself at a corner table with Chas and Diana, who seemed oddly serene despite the chaos erupting around us. An impromptu arm-wrestling tournament had broken out at the bar, complete with betting and trash talk that would make sailors blush.

  "So what happened to your mana sanctum?" Diana asked, taking a sip of beer that was probably stronger than anything I'd ever tasted on Earth.

  "Oh, that? It broke." I tried to sound casual, like breaking supposedly indestructible magical items was normal.

  Diana's relaxed expression vanished so fast it was like watching a door slam shut. "How the fuck did you break a mana sanctum? That's supposed to be impossible!"

  The alcohol had definitely loosened my tongue, because I laughed and said, "Winchester! And I guess Ted helped."

  "What?" Diana's voice climbed an octave.

  Maybe it was the beer, maybe it was the warm atmosphere, or maybe I was just tired of keeping secrets. Whatever the reason, I did something I knew I'd regret in the morning—I pulled Winchester from my soul-space.

  The staff materialized in my hand already blazing with blue energy, and Ted's voice boomed across the suddenly silent room: "Finally! Everyone can start partyin’ properly—Ted's here!"

  The entire bar went dead quiet. Every conversation stopped, every cup paused halfway to lips, every eye in the place locked onto the elfish figure now standing on our table in his ragged robes.

  "Whoa, hey!" Ted looked around at the sea of staring faces. "I said start partyin’, not whatever this awkward shit is."

  Doreen vaulted onto the table with surprising grace, landing face-to-face with Ted. They were exactly the same height, which somehow made the confrontation even more surreal.

  "Who the fuck are you?" she demanded, hands on her hips.

  "Damn, does anybody just say hello anymore?" Ted grinned and booped her nose with one finger. "I'm Ted! And you are the cutest goddamn thing I've ever seen."

  Doreen's eyes went wide. Then she grabbed Ted's arm, flipped him effortlessly into the air, and delivered a kick that would have made a professional fighter proud. Ted exploded into sparkles of light, and I felt a noticeable drain on my mana reserves.

  He reappeared behind her a split second later, already holding a cup of beer that he drained in one gulp. "Not bad! You've got some real potential, sweetheart."

  Doreen whirled around with murder in her eyes, but Ted was already talking.

  "I'm Ben's new spirit guardian," he announced to the room. "And that fancy stick he's carrying around is his... uh..." He looked at me helplessly. "What was that word again?"

  "Vajra," I sighed, already regretting every decision that had led to this moment.

  "Right! His Vajra. And I live in it, sort of. The bug lady made it sound like that was a pretty big fucking deal."

  Doreen growled—actually growled—while Diana shot me a look that could have melted steel. The cat wasn't just out of the bag; it had shredded the bag, eaten it, and then set the remains on fire.

  "Wait, that's the staff you had in the Spirit Realm!" Cass flopped down beside me, cheerfully oblivious to the tension crackling through the air. The beer had clearly gotten to her. "How does the little guy fit inside it? Is it like a tiny apartment?"

  Chas and Diana settled back into their seats, watching Ted wander around the table helping himself to drinks while Doreen's glare followed his every move like a targeting system.

  "I think it hitched a ride on my soul somehow," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "I knew I hadn't really let go of it when I got stuck in the portal. Guess I just needed to bind my Seal to pull it back out."

  Something flickered in Chas's eyes—recognition, maybe, or understanding. Diana just looked like someone had told her the laws of physics were more like gentle suggestions.

  "You know what? I've learned my lesson," she said, taking a long pull from her cup. "I thought there was no fucking way you could pull more surprises out of your ass. But clearly, there's a lot more room up there than I anticipated."

  Cass burst into laughter, slapping my shoulder hard enough to hurt. "That's our Curtain-guy! Ass full of surprises!"

  Diana sighed, the sound of someone whose worldview had been thoroughly scrambled. "Fine. I'll have some replacement gear brought to your room in the Tower since you managed to destroy a supposedly indestructible earring."

  "Actually," I said, "could you have it delivered to my new place? The Sentarians are... making me a house."

  Chas choked on his drink, staring at me. "They're what?"

  I shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "I told you it was a weird day."