Ultimate Level 1

“And then, Tom took me to a beginner dungeon and walked me through it!” exclaimed Stacy, her voice rising with each beat of the story she was obviously anxious to share. “This dungeon doesn’t have teams! Everything is level one, and there are guards and people like Tom who simply come in and give advice! I hit level three already! Three!”

Max smiled, watching his sister’s face almost radiate light from the joy she now appeared to have. Next to her was Callie, fast asleep in a tiny carrier.

Both of his parents looked like different people as they lounged on the couch in the suite Everett had given them.

Each had new clothes and a haircut, and his father sported a clean-shaven face. Smiles never left their lips, and those shadows that had almost consumed their eyes were gone, no longer looking like life was over.

“I tell you, these three abilities are incredible! I’ve had multiple people coming to watch me and Tom. The only thing making this worse is when they find out I’m your sister and want to offer me a place in their Faction.”

Chuckling, Max winked at his sister and ran his thumb along the top of Tanila’s hand. He could sense her smile as her head rested against his shoulder as they lounged on one of the other small couches in the room.

“The price of fame is being desired,” he replied. “Just take it slow. Trust Tom. I wish I had the chance to study under him more. He really knows what to do.”

Sighing, Stacy nodded and snuggled down in the chair. Glancing at her daughter, she reached out and almost touched the sleeping child’s head but stopped at the last moment.

“Part of me feels guilty for being so excited about this. I mean… she spent the whole day with the sitter Everett hired for us. Am I a bad mother for wanting to do this?”

“I’m not able to answer that, but I think if you want to be an adventurer, you know that staying home will only make you feel like you did when Caleb didn’t return. You might even resent her being born.”

He felt a pinch to his leg but ignored Tanila’s action.

A slight scowl appeared on his sister’s face, and even his parents stiffened at his old friend’s name.

“That’s not fair,” she protested, glaring at him.

“Is it? Tell me you wouldn’t eventually feel that way, knowing the skills you have, feeling trapped and unable to use them to become what you believe you can be. Would you eventually blame Callie for forcing you to stay home? Would you hold that against her and potentially drive a wedge in your relationship because she reminded you of him and what you once again felt was taken from you?”

“Max, you can’t say those things,” his father argued. “I’ve never blamed you for what happened to our family. Why would your sister do—”

“He’s right, dear.”

The almost quiet voice of his mother silenced his dad. Max watched as he turned to see a few tears rolling down the cheeks of the woman who had given birth to him, her chest heaving a few times.

“I… I blamed Max so many times for what we experienced. It made me angry. Then I felt worse, blaming him for something he couldn’t control. I… I needed to know why he was unskilled! Surely he worked hard enough to get the baking skill at least! Then I blamed the gods before I blamed him again. Until that day he showed up… there was a lot of resentment in my heart.”

His dad’s mouth moved, but no words came. Instead, he simply pulled his wife close and began to hold her, kissing her head as she cried silently for a moment.

Letting them have that, Max turned to see his sister’s expression had changed. Her eyes were drawn tight, and a grimace had replaced the scowl.

“The truth hurts, doesn’t it?”

She nodded, looking again at her sleeping daughter.

“I… how… how could you know?”

Laughter escaped his lips, and Max quickly clamped down on them, seeing Callie stir slightly from how loud he had been.

“This last year was hard. Many times I wanted to blame everyone, gods included, for what had happened to me. And then I realized the truth after meeting Tanila and telling her how I felt.”

He turned slightly, taking the hand of the elf he loved and kissing it.

“I finally realized that if I had stayed home and been just a Baker, I would have never met her. Everything I once thought I knew about love was nothing compared to how I felt about her. I know regret, I know anger, and I know remorse. That is why I could see it all over Mom the moment she saw me. Joy mixed with pain and covered in the truth that all those moments she blamed me were potentially valid.

“Even now I see it on you, just beginning to take root. You feel guilty and yet can’t wait to go adventuring. That is because you haven’t learned how to be both a mother and an adventurer. Give it time. Take it slow. Be safe, and do what Tom tells you to. That way, you can come home and be the amazing mother I know you’ll be.”

Stacy slowly nodded, her pained expression beginning to melt away.

“When did you get to be so smart?” she asked.

Laughing, Max tapped his head.

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“I have more intelligence than most warriors.”

Tanila gasped for air after, laughing so hard it woke up Callie, but no one seemed to care as everyone had joined in the laughter.

***

“You’re very fortunate, you know that,” Tanila said as she ran her finger along his chiseled abs.

“Are we talking about what I just experienced or?”

Poking him, she groaned and rolled onto her back, freeing herself from the arm he tried to pull her back with.

“Don’t get cocky. While that was nice, I’m talking about your family. Growing up in what I had… I know a family that loves each other and can see it all over each of you. Their personalities and actions have drastically changed since I first met them. You have done what you always do. Bring life to those who have lost it. Just like you did with me.”

Max was on his side, watching her as she spoke, and before she finished talking, Tanila had turned her head and reached up, stroking his cheek with her fingers.

“I’m certain you were alive when I ran into you. The three of you had a great thing going before I arrived.”

A groan escaped her lips, and she gave his chin a gentle shove.

“Our definition of a good thing is different. Only because we were at the lower dungeons, and the three of us were clearly beyond those things we faced did most of the fights work out. Still, we needed you just as much as you needed us. Your family needed you even more. Just the spark of life you provided brought them back from the life many wouldn’t even call really living.”

“So what’s your thoughts on my sister then? Am I wrong for pushing her to be an adventurer?”

His question caused her to reach out with her hand and gently rub her bare stomach.

“I’m not certain I can answer that… you know her better. Besides, everything you told me about her pointed to one dream. She wanted to be the warrior you are. To give that up… or to be forced to do so…” Tanila paused and grimaced slightly. “It’s like you losing the dream of being a Baker. All your life you wanted something, and when it was taken away, you had to find a new way to live. Was it easy? Obviously not, but as you said before, you wouldn’t trade the life you have now for the life you once thought you might have.”

Blowing a raspberry at her, Max leaned forward and kissed her for a few seconds.

“How did I ever get so lucky to find you?”

She shook her head and winked.

“No, the real question is what did I do so wrong to get stuck with you.”

By the time they settled down and fell asleep, Max was grateful the walls of their room blocked all sounds.

***

“So how can a section of a mountain be like that?” Fowl asked. “I mean, based on the three maps you showed us, the section that all the men marked is shown to be nothing but worthless trees and rocks. Can it be that big that no map has details on it?”

Frowning, Everett nodded and then pointed at the hand-sketched one he had shown last.

“I cannot express to you the problems getting that map caused. I even had to drop Seth’s name as to why I was even searching that area. Whatever is out there has evaded the notice of a few I casually asked and the ones I came right out and inquired from. Only one person was willing to direct me to the area where I could find some information.”

“Who was that person?” Max asked.

“Macy… she almost didn’t manage to get it out. Every time she tried to talk about it, her throat started to constrict. Finally she was able to direct me to the room where I found the map I copied. I did convince her that you were going to come and ask in person if she knew something and didn’t share.”

Their healer let out a huff, and Cordellia mimicked her, both women frowning.

“I still can’t believe your queens allow you to control them like that. Then again, I guess they both realize that you won’t go away anymore.”

Max grinned at their ranger as he finished his sketch of the map Everett had made.

“Neither of them liked that I knew they had ordered my death,” he stated as he rolled up the parchment and stored it. “Still, I would rather have them in power and not have to worry about someone else taking that position. I’ve already got enough problems to worry about in one world that I’m not at and wondering what could be going on there. Eventually…”

His eyes found Tanila’s watching him as he stopped talking for a moment.

“I’m going to have to return there. You four are going to come with me, and—”

“Can I come?!” Everett exclaimed, jumping up out of his chair. “I mean… I would love a chance to travel to a new world.”

He is stronger than your friends in different ways. While you still would ultimately have to protect him, the truth is he would be a distraction. At the very least he would be someone else that might die before your friends.

That’s not the best reason to bring him, Bob. Still… you’re right. He is strong, and his knowledge would be useful. Besides, I’m certain he might be able to help acquire some things that would benefit the Faction. His knowledge alone would be helpful in choosing what to bring back.

“I’ve given it a little thought, and I would be fine with you coming, provided you agree to do whatever I say, whenever I say it. Is that a problem?”

“He’s like a kid in a candy store with a gold coin,” Tom said as he shook his head emphatically.

“I’ll gladly do whatever you ask! Even if it’s giving Fowl a bath,” their Faction leader exclaimed.

“What?!”

Their dwarven warrior’s outburst caused the room to erupt in laughter as his face turned red, shocked at the statement that had caught him off guard.

“It’s a dirty job, and I’m tired of doing it,” Batrire said between breaths.

Max couldn’t help but smile, glad to see that everyone was able to enjoy a moment like this, knowing that whatever they found in the coming weeks could cause problems none of them were able to comprehend yet.

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