The energy in the camp exploded, and suddenly every single perso was staring at Katrina and Alicia. Within seds, a crowd began to swarm around them, every single pers to ask their owions.

  “Where was it?!”

  “Do you have the Key yet?”

  “Are you with a Guild? Are you going to sell yhts?”

  “What was the ao the riddle?”

  A wall of smell collided with Katrina, and without thinking, she grabbed Alicia tight to pull her close. She could hear the blood pumping through the crowd’s veins, their excitement more than palpable. Everyone’s blood vessels were thrumming at different intervals, the sounds colliding with each other as Katrina fought to hold herself together. She shut her eyes as hard as she could, openiatus again in hopes of a distra. Under her breath, she begaiatus s to herself, a st-ditch effort to keep herself from attag someone.

  She felt Alicia turn towards her, ing her arms around the panicked Vampire, when a strange smell filled her senses. It was intensely floral, and she actually felt soft petals brushing against her nose as Alicia pulled her close. The strong st of this flainst all odds, helped to block out the smell of the crowd, and Katri a sembnce of trol return to her.

  “Hey now! How ‘bout we give these dies some space, ya hear? This how you greet newers where yer from?” A powerful voied over the crowd, and Katrina grew faintly aware of a rge Owlkin attempting to interpose himself between them and the crowds.

  Between Keviing some distance, and the powerful smell ing from Alicia’s flower, Katrina mao calm down slightly. The crowd grumbled slightly, but most of them seemed to respect Kevin enough to follow his instrus without pint. Once order had beeored, the Owlkin begaing individual people ask questions, and Alicia stepped up to ahem as best she could.

  Katrina heard the Dryad expihing she could, to the best of her ability. She shared that they didn’t have the Key yet, but weren’t selling their rights, and weren’t intending to partner with aing Guilds. She was adamant that she wouldn’t share the location of the Key, which led a few onlookers to start doubting that they’d even found it. When the questions dried up, Alicia collected a few business cards from various Guild representatives, and at long st, the girls were left to their own devices again.

  “Hey,” Alicia said, “are you alright? How are you holding up?”

  “I didn’t attayohat’s the most important thing,” Katrina whispered. Her voice was tense as she tinued fighting against the st remnants of her murderous instincts. “What was that flower? I could barely think straight with everyone around me, but that smell was s.” As Katrina looked at Alicia, she now saw a small bouquet of white flowers had grown from the Dryad’s chest.

  “Oh, these are tuberoses. Their aroma is incredibly potent, and I was hoping they might help distract you…”

  Katrina moved closer and hugged Alicia tight. “Thanks, Alicia. You really stepped up there.”

  The rge Owlkin standio them cleared his throat, and both girls looked over to him. “You didn’t say anything ‘bout finding the Key Dungeon, I would’ve stuck with you if I’d known!”

  “Well, it’s our first time in Camp, we’re a little overwhelmed. Still, reciate you ing to our rescue like that.” Alicia said, reag out to shake Kevin’s hand.

  “Oh, it’s nothin’. Like I said, I got a soft spot for newbies.” Kevin looked past the girls, log eyes with the panther Beastkin. “And you! Maybe che with people before y that darn bell, alright? These pirls don’t do well in crowds.”

  “People have been hunting for that Key for weeks! I guess I got a little excited… sorry about that, girls,” the panther said. “How about we take care of all the paperwork, that’s definitely something I help with.”

  Kevin nodded in agreement before saying his goodbyes aurning to his shop. Alicia and Katrina shifted their attention to the services ter, where Alicia shared the details of where they’d found the Dungeon. The Beastkin expihat, while they had exclusive rights for the first three weeks, the address would go public after that. He also provided them with all the paperwork they ister as Delvers, including a small pamphlet desigo help people prepare for the written exam.

  Ohey’d finished with all the busy work, Katrina spoke up. “Thanks for helping with all this, and sorry I… caused a bit of a se.”

  “Nah, that’s on me. I should’ve knower,” the panther said. “Name’s Samir, by the way. It’s a pleasure meeting you both.”

  “Actually, Samir, before we leave, I’ve got a bit of an odd question. If I remember correctly, this pce keeps a record of all registered delvers, is that correct?”

  “Sure do! You want to take a look?”

  “Are we allowed to?” Alicia asked.

  “Of course!” Samir quickly ran to the back of the stall, theurned with a rge, leather-bound tome. “Acc to the City, Delvers qualify as something like public servants. Many actually hire themselves out for various odd jobs, especially if the Dungeon is proving a touch too difficult.”

  Katrina opehe book and started reading through names, while Alicia tialking. “Why use a book? Wouldn’t this be easier with a digital database?”

  “Oh, we’ve got one of them too, but you remember what the ge was like. It’s hard to justify not keeping physical copies of our records. Plus, this close to the Dungeon? Sometimes the Thaumiergy messes with puters and wireless signals.”

  “It’s remarkably well kept,” Katrina said. “I’m just looking for ahat’s registered as a Delver, but isn’t associated with a Guild.”

  “Oof, good luck with that. Guilds tend to dislike freencers,” Samir said.

  Katrina pulled out her phone and started taking notes as she read through the tome. She was able to find a couple of delvers that weren’t with the Guilds, but the list was small. She didn’t bother to make notes if the delver was a Bard or a Bulwark, and that made the list even smaller. What she wanted most were csses that could deal some damage, or provide stronger healing.

  “Oh, wow! Alicia, check it out, this one’s a Mage Knight!” Katrina said, her voice full of excitement.

  Samir, still listening in, began chug to himself. “Good luck with that one, she’s turned down every Guild iy at least a dozen times. ’t remember why she registered, but I promise you she ain’t ied in delving.”

  “Are Mage Knights strong?” Alicia asked.

  “They’re not just strong, they’re top tier. Depending on who you ask, they’re often sidered the best damage css in the whole system! We’ve got to at least try.” Katrina said.

  “Suit yourself, just don’t get your hopes up.” Samir shrugged, the back t his new Bean shard over in his paws.

  In the end, Katrina had a list of six names. It wasn’t a very promising start, but it was better than nothing. Samir’s warning about the Mage Knight didn’t particurly fill her with fidehough; they needed a heavy hitter, and having such a powerful css would be moal. Apart from the Mage Knight, her list had three other damage csses, and two potential healers.

  “Well, that’s everything,” Katrina said. “Think you’re ready to brave the train again?”

  “I’ve got my Stamina potion, so I think I’ll survive. Walking around the Camp helped, there’s a lot of pnt life here.”

  “ any pnts help you recover? I thought it had to be your Heart Tree?”

  “It does, but there’s a bit of flexibility on how I form that e. The stro e is, obviously, just merging with my tree, but we’ve got powerful roots that extend really far. After the ge, I was able to ect with any pnt life, not just my Heart Tree, and I learhat they all form like, a work of sorts. Their roots dig deep into the ground, intermingling and unig with other pnts in the area. I’m able to tap into that work and ect with my tree, almost like usiowers to make a phone call.”

  Both girls were walking towards the Camp exit, doing their best to avoid crowds as Alicia tialking. “There are limits, though. Anything that interrupts that e be potentially harmful. I’ve spent years destroying streets and upending blocks of crete around my house, which is likely the only reason I’m able to go this deep into the city. Walking on sidewalks is like… breathing through a tiny straw. It’s doable, but only barely, and at least it’s ected to the ground. The trai have that e, and it feels like being dumped at the bottom of the o; it’s only a matter of time before I drown.”

  Aliervously stepped onto the sidewalk outside Camp, breathing heavily as she started leaning on Katrina again. Their pace slowed, and ohey’d established a rhythm, Katrina spoke up. “Well, hopefully this is the st time we have to make this trip. If it’s not, I’ll make sure t my guitar.”

  “I’d like that,” Alicia said. They were at an interse, waiting for the light treen, when she uedly leaned closer aed her head on Katrina’s shoulder. She’d already been holding onto Katrina’s arm for support, and the Vampire had no idea if this was ann of fatigue, or possibly something else. After a moment, the light turned, and Katrina shifted her elbow to get Alicia’s attention.

  After another block, they came face to face with the stairs leading to the train station. Katrina could feel the Dryad’s grip tightening, and once agaited that she had nothing she could do to help. “When do you want to take the potion?”

  “I think… when we’re orain. If the taste is as bad as I’ve heard, maybe it’ll help distract me.” Alicia said, f a smile. The girls headed up the stairs, and before long, had taken their seats.

  By some diviroke of luck, the train was slightly emptier at this time. Katrina didn’t have to spend the eime fighting against her instincts, and was instead able to try and support Alicia. The Dryad was fading fast, and Katrina could see the flowers and pnt matter c her begin to lose their luster. After the first two stops, Alicia pulled her Stamina potion out from some invisible pocket in her shirt. Her hands were shaking, and Katrina reached over to open it for her.

  “Thanks, Katrina,” Alicia muttered. “Could you, um… help me with it?”

  With a silent nod, Katrina moved the potion to Alicia’s mouth. The liquid left the small vial, entering the Dryad’s mouth, and her eyes immediately tried to burst from her head. It seemed like she was fighting to keep the liquid down, and her body wretched a few times in protest. Still, as she forced the liquid down, Katrina saw the leaves and flowers of her shirt start thten.

  “Oh, wow, that’s… horrible. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemies, ugh.” Alicia said.

  “It seems like it worked, though. What’s your SP at?” Katrina asked.

  After a quick Status check, Alicia sighed in relief. “Definitely enough to make it home, thank goodness.”

  The girls smiled at each other, and the rest of the train ride was retively quiet. Katrina’s stop came a, and Alicia didn’t seem to notice that the Vampire had opted to keep riding. By the time they arrived in Alicia’s neighborhood, she finally realized what had happened.

  “Wait, you missed your stop because of me!”

  Katrina ughed, helping Alicia stand up and walk off the train. “No, this was my choice. I want to make sure you get home safely, then I fly back. It’s still early m for me, remember?”

  “Well, I… but that’s…” Trying to think of a response seemed to tire Alicia out, and she finally leaned against Katrina again i. “Oh, alright. Still, you didn’t have to do this.”

  “Alicia, if you pass out orain, you might never wake up. What if someoried to take you to a hospital? ces are they’d be taking you further from your Heart Tree, which would only make things worse.”

  Alicia stepped off the train, sighing in relief as her feet nded oform. Katrina watched her and smiled, the Dyrad's steps soon quiing as they he ground outside. The Dryad raced doweps, jumped onto a patch of grass, and started ughing. Katrina couldn’t help but smile as she watched Alicia light up, her skin and clothes literally growing brighter as strength returo her body.

  “Katrina, we made it!”

  Katrina, surprising even herself, began ughing with Alicia. “I’m gd you’re feelier! Now , it’s ast your bedtime, and you o get some rest.”

  “Ugh, fine, whatever. Are you going to tuck me in, too?” Alicia asked, prodding Katrina in the ribs.

  “How would I even do that? You sleep by returning to your Heart Tree, would I just… a b around the trunk?”

  “Blech, please don’t. I feel itchy even thinking about it.”

  The walk to Alicia’s house was incredibly peaceful. Katrina no longer had to fight her instincts, and Alicia was ecstatic to be home again. The differen her demeanor ractically night and day, a phrasing that made Katrina chuckle as soon as she thought about it. She kept finding her gaze wandering back to Alicia, appreciating the way the moonlight dahrough her hair, highlighting the white flowers on her chest as well as her iious smile.

  As they rouhe st er, and Alicia’s house finally came into focus, she abandoned all pretense of formality and took off running. With one final jump, Katrina watched as Alicia merged with her Heart Tree, and she swore she saw a fresh b of cherry blossom petals fall in appreciation of the reunion.

  When Alicia re-emerged, her face beaming with joy, she rao Katrina, who had just finished closing the distance. “I’m home! Thank you so much for staying with me, Katrina!” Alicia threw her arms around Katrina’s shoulders, huggiight.

  Katrina, caught off guard, instinctually grabbed Alicia’s waist to steady herself, when she realized that the Dryad had shed the outfit she’d previously grown for herself. Katrina’s hands were resting on bare skin, and when Alicia pulled back from her hug, the girls were now face to face, with barely a couple inches between them.

  “Alicia, I…” Katrina muttered. She wasn’t sure what to say, she was so focused on staring into Alicia’s eyes. She could feel herself blushing as she fought to form words. “Um… my friends call me Kat.”

  Alicia’s eyes darted down, just for a moment, thearted blushing herself. She awkwardly cleared her throat, pulling back from Katrina. “Sorry, I got a little excited… Kat.”

  A smile grew on Katrina’s face. She hadn’t heard aher than Derrick call her Kat sihe ge, and she was caught by surprise at how much she missed it. “N-no it’s fi’s... kinda cute, actually.”

  The Dryad’s eyes moved to the ground, and she nervously started pying with a cherry blossom petal growing from her hair. “Are you ing baorrow? I’m not sure what’s , or when we should get started on, y’know, actually beating the dungeon. If nothing else, I could use a study buddy.”

  “We definitely ’t start until we have some more people with us, so I’m going to reach out to everyone on my list and see if I vihem to help. In the meantime, we o certify as Delvers, so I’d reend looking through that pamphlet Samir gave you. We also o set time aside to practice… how about I just text you? I’ve got a lot to figure out.”

  “I’ll keep my phone ready! And I’ll try to look into some delving stuff while you’re busy!”

  Looking back towards the city, Katrina khat she couldn’t stay, but she was having trouble ving herself to leave. “Well… you should probably get some sleep, right?”

  “Y-yeah… I suppose I should.” Alicia took a couple steps backward, seemingly nervous about something. “Um, Kat, I…”

  Katrina perked up, looking at Alicia expetly. “Yeah?”

  Alicia blushed, took a deep breath, then paused slightly. “I… um, get home safe, okay?”

  “Right… yeah, I do that,” Katrina said. After another moment of hesitation, she flew up into the air, drifting backwards as she watched Alicia walk into the base of her Heart Tree again. The Vampire finally decided to leave, slowly riding the wind as she made her way home.

  Had she wao ask me something? Or, more importantly, was there something I was hoping to hear? If she’d invited me to spend the night, it’s not like anything would’ve happened… She o get to sleep, right?

  When she finally made it bae, she booted up her puter and started messaging the delvers she’d made notes of earlier. It was hard to focus, she kept daydreaming about being in camp, about Alicia leaning on her shoulder, huggiight when the crowd surrouhem. When night began to fade, and Katrio ge into her pajamas, she found one of Alicia’s flowers from camp had gotten lodged iank top. She lightly pced it on her pillow, and happily went to sleep with the smell of tuberose filling her dreams.

  —

  At long st, irls finally get some sleep after their harrowing trip downtown. They've even got some names! Hopefully they'll be able to find some allies for their harrowing dive into the Key Dungeon.

  "Nyx! Did you see? I almost made a move!"

  You got so close! Maybe you should... actually say something?

  "No, but... I... it's not that easy!"

  For what it's worth, she did apologize to me, so your opinion clearly matters to her.

  "Wow, really? Oh! She has another song for this chapter! Where'd I put that note... ah, here it is. Okay, today's song is "Capriccio Diabolico by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco". Um, did I pronouhat right?"

  Sounds good to me!

  "Great! So, Katrina says 'This is a longer piece, and it's pretty busy. Many of the ses are very high strung, evoking a feeling of stress and ahat felt very appropriate for our first journey into the main Dungeon Camp'. Oof, tell me about it. That train ride was awful! Still, with how difficult this song is, I'm kinda thinking that she's definitely showing off a little."

  Maybe there's a reason she'd want to do that?

  "Hmm... none I think of..."

  Sigh.

  Until ime! Nyx <3