“How are we gonna get them out of there?” Rosalynn asked.


    “Oh yeah I guess we should go into logistics…” I responded, turning towards Reid and Aureus. “Ah, let me ask them if they’re still in the area first.”


    Opening up the social tab in the system I sent a message to Caroline.


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: Hey.]


    I waited a few moments, there wasn’t a response.


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: Hey Carolineeee.]


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: Caro?]


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: Are you there?]


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: I just need to know if you’re still down there at the door. Please respond.]


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: Caro, did you fall asleep? Is it time for sleep?]


    I waited a couple more minutes and nearly decided to call her directly when I got a message back.


    [“Call of the Void”: Jeez Mia, you really gotta spam me like that?]


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: Yea, I need to know. You didn’t want us to come down and get you?]


    [“Call of the Void”: No.. I was wrong. Come get me, I’m so hungry.]


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: I dunno, I don’t think you really want help…]


    [“Call of the Void”: oh shut up and just come gimme.]


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: Fine, so you’re still there?]


    [“Call of the Void”: duh. dumby.]


    [“Witch of the Wellspring”: Alright, this dumby is gonna get you up here asap. No worries :)]


    I realized I was smiling from our exchange as I looked at Aureus to ask for his help yet again.


    Would you rather go down and bring them up one at a time yourself or make a way for them to come up on their own?


    I don’t really want to touch them…


    What? Why? Oh… oh yeah, they were pretty gross last we saw them. I forgot. Okay well then if you can figure out where they are then go ahead and build a way for them to get back up here. However you wanna do it is fine.


    Understood.


    “You sending him down for them?” Reid asked as Aureus dove down the hole in front of us.


    “Yeah, kinda. He’s going to build them a way to get up here.”


    “Huh… Cool, how does that work?” Rosalynn asked, I had been trying to ignore her curious gazes until that point.


    “Which part?” I asked.


    “Just the whole thing, I mean I’ve been avoiding asking about how you got a literal dragon, but really the more I watch the more interested I am. I really want to know how all of this happened.”


    Theo opened his mouth, but closed it again without saying anything. It was a wise decision. Ignoring him I answered, “Well, he is a part of my class and we speak telepathically. He has elemental abilities, and I will also in a couple levels. I don’t really want to go into more details other than that.”


    “That’s fair, either way it is a really interesting class even though I don’t know what it is. I wish I had a little pet too.”


    “He’s not my pet, he’s... Just, he’s different.” I frowned as I responded, I wasn’t sure how to explain it. The thought of him being considered a pet upset me. He was more than that, he was… He was him. He was probably the most important thing to me at that point. My partner in crime… literally. My familiar. My family.


    “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it…” Rosalynn awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck as she responded dejectedly.


    “Ah… No it’s fine, I mean, don’t worry about it…” I cringed as the atmosphere became awkward.


    “How long do you think it’ll take him to make the way up?” Reid asked, either ignoring our exchange or oblivious to it as he peered down the pit Aureus disappeared into.


    “Oh… Uh… Let me ask.”


    Hey, how long is that going to take you?


    I’m not sure, I was trying to figure out the best way for humans to climb up. I’m not very familiar with this, since I just fly.


    Why don’t you just make a ladder?


    Fine. Dumb humans with no wings. Annoying stinky humans.


    Hey!


    Master should get wings, but you at least aren’t annoying or stinky. You’re the best.


    The best human or the best?


    …The best.


    Hmmm… I squinted my eyes as I questioned his intentions. This teenage rebellion period was entertaining but also hurtful.


    “Okay well he’s making a ladder, so that shouldn’t take too long? He didn’t really give me an eta.”


    “Oh okay. Well, a ladder probably won’t take much time. Sounds simple enough.” Reid responded, but Rosalynn and Theo looked unconvinced. I didn’t bother to assure them of it.


    I glanced down at his shoes, they were getting pretty raggedy. His sneakers were coming apart at the seams and stains coated most of their fabric, but they matched his poorly crafted leather clothes well. “Should we ask Caro to make you some new shoes?”


    “I was also thinking about that! It would be really nice to get out of these, they’re getting really sticky.” He grinned as he talked about it, I wondered if he was more excited for new shoes or seeing his sister.


    “Oh, is Caro good at making things?” Theo asked.


    “You can call her Caroline. She wouldn’t be happy to know you’re calling her by her nickname.” Reid snipped, he never answered his question. Our awkward silence returned again.


    Aureus popped back into view, his fat head was the only thing we could see for a moment. I grinned, he was looking around us in different directions, and then quickly flew up to the top of the towers he created beside the hole. I neglected to ask why, I just assumed that he wanted to take a nap. We had been up and fighting for nearly 40 hours, and I also wanted to lay down and sleep for 20.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    “Is he done?” Rosalynn asked.


    “Yeah probably, I didn’t ask since I know we are both pretty tired. Since it’s only a matter of time until they climb up I’m going to take a shower and then a nap. Everyone can come in except Theo, but only one person at a time. Also give me time to take my shower first.” I gave a lazy salute as I disappeared into my camper for a well deserved hot shower, but popped back out to add, “Oh yeah, and let Caro know she can come in and cook if she wants to. I’ll deploy the kitchenette.”


    The heat from the shower seeped into my bones and rather than rejuvenating me like I had hoped it only made me feel even more exhausted. I leaned on the shower wall and nearly dozed off, or I did. I wasn’t completely sure. I groaned as I scrubbed at my skin and hair, removing gunk and grime was hard without soap. I made a mental note to request soap from Caroline as soon as humanly possible. Maybe I should’ve asked the gods, they might’ve given me another quest for it.


    Oh shit, the Punish the Heretic quest. I had completely forgotten. I pondered ways to get that apology out of the heretic in question. I didn’t really want him to apologize on principle, hell I probably said more ‘blasphemous’ things than he had, but I wanted to complete that quest. It was great that Reid was the target for the quest since he was likely the easiest person to get to cave. I had an epiphany and decided on my main method of torture for him. It wouldn’t be long until I had candy again. A sweet sweet comfort in this hellish life.


    I forced myself out of the shower, got dressed in just my silk dress, and opened up the front door, surprisingly I was greeted by Caroline. She leapt towards me and wrapped me up in a tight hug.


    “Ugh god! Caro! I JUST showered! Let go!” I whined, but returned the hug.


    “Jeez, you didn’t miss me?”


    “Not enough for this! I just got rid of all the blood and guts!”


    “It’s not really on you though! I’m dry!”


    “Stillllll!” I smiled despite my complaints as I looked over her shoulder at Noel who was basically bouncing up and down in front of Rosalynn as if he just met a celebrity. I pondered for a moment if she was a celebrity in a sense now, then I considered whether or not any pre-existing celebrities had survived this long. Reid stood behind him and seemed to be attempting to calm him down.


    “Oh yeah, Noel.” I said as Caro released me, he didn’t even glance in my direction, “Oh well… I was going to give you shower privileges just this once, but I guess you don’t want them…”


    “What?! NO! I want them!” He pivoted towards me and disappeared before appearing again, much too close for my liking. I hated this habit of his, using his abilities to pop up a few inches from my nose with his sparkling eyes looking into my soul. I shivered as I pushed him away from myself, for some reason he felt slightly… creepy?


    “Fine, fine, I was going to give it to you since the two of you are so… well, in desperate need of one. Oh yeah also Reid, I’m revoking yours.”


    “What?! Why?!” Reid was shocked and looked as if I had just betrayed him and stolen his dog.


    “Because you have yet to apologize to the gods. It’s important to me.” I said nonchalantly.


    “What? Apologize? About what?” he raised a good point, I didn’t even remember why he should apologize.


    “Uh, for your blasphemous words… Obviously.” I replied, it wasn’t very convincing, I knew that, but I couldn’t back down. I wanted the candy.


    “I thought I did apologize that time though?”


    “Not genuinely.”


    “What? I just… Are you serious?”


    “Completely.”


    “Uh… ok… fine I guess… Uh, excuse me gods, I am very sincerely sorry that I have upset you. I said something unnecessarily harmful and needed to reflect on myself. I truly apologize.” Business Reid’s brother Customer Service Reid made a rare appearance. Or were they the same person? I wasn’t sure but it was very convincing. Honestly he should have been an actor, he was quite skilled. I smiled and looked towards the GGC. I thought that was enough and if they didn’t accept it then I’d have to give up on the candies.


    [“Seeker of Magic and Knowledge” states he is forgiven.]


    [“Traveling Spring Painter” agrees smiling and says that he is such a good boy.]


    [“Playful Cat Hates Yarn” grins and forgives the cheeky mortal.]


    [“Abandoned Bloodied Sword” laughs and says that “Playful Cat Hates Yarn” already forgave him ages ago because he’s just their type.]


    [“Playful Cat Hates Yarn” glares at “Abandoned Bloodied Sword” and states that they don’t know what she’s referring to.]


    [“Whispering Playwright behind a Mask” pretends to consider it and says that they aren’t sure.]


    [“Traveling Spring Painter” glares at them and argues that they should just approve the successful completion of the quest.]


    [“Whispering Playwright behind a Mask” groans and calls “Traveling Spring Painter” a party pooper.]


    [“Traveling Spring Painter” calls them mean and states that the reward for the quest is barely worth the effort you put in.]


    [ Congratulations, you’ve completed Punish the Heretic. ]


    “Yes! Thank you, I will let you sleep on the couch three times in return for your genuine apology.” I replied to Reid with a huge grin.


    Caroline flashed me a knowing grin, I glanced up at him and watched in real time as the realization dawned on him. Before he could protest I disappeared back into my camper with Caro. I devolved into giggles quickly after along with Caro.


    “So what’d you get for his performance?”


    “Oh one sec!”


    I claimed the rewards for the quest.


    ~~*~~


    Strawberry Candies


    Description: A jar of strawberry flavored hard candies.


    ~~*~~


    I pulled them from my inventory with a huge grin, Caroline’s eyes lit up when she saw them. Instinctually I pulled them back when she reached towards them. If she wanted some she should ask her patron goddess, I earned these all on my own.


    “Woooww, so greedy. You should share, you used my brother for these.”


    “Hey, he’s our brother, and if anything I should share them with him, not you. You didn’t earn them.”


    “Yeah, but I’m actually related to him, and as blood relations tend to do we should share the good stuff and pretend not to notice the bad.”


    “Oh so now I’m not family huh? Then I’ll agree, blood relations should share the good stuff. I guess neither of you get any of it since we’re not family as you so obviously just said.” I replied with a huff and pretended to be hurt by her words.


    “Ah… shot myself in the foot on that one… Oh well.” she shot back a smile and a small shrug.


    “Yup. No candy for you!”


    “Oh yeah…” She paused for a moment considering how to continue before asking, “So Theo huh?”


    I rolled my eyes and flopped casually on the couch, “Ugh, don’t even get me started. I’m so pissed about that.”


    “So how did it go? Did he try to lie or fix anything or?” Caro asked from a squat in front of the couch where I sat. I was always thankful for her sense of awareness.


    “Barely! He really didn’t even apologize, he just offered a bunch of excuses and kind of blamed Nicole. Which I mean, I also kind of blame her, but that doesn’t reduce his blame at all.”


    “Absolutely, as it shouldn''t. He didn’t apologize though? That’s wild.”


    “Yeah, he mostly just said that he did something dumb and I agreed, but I didn’t really say anything significant. I mostly just waited for him to say his piece which took all of two seconds and didn’t include the word ‘sorry’ at all. Also he was like, ‘so you forgive me?’ And I was like ‘No?’ And he responded all ‘But you said okay?’ and I was explaining that I acknowledged what he said but that didn’t mean I forgave him.”


    “Jeez… Honestly what did he think was going to happen if he said it that way?”


    “He just wanted to make sure I didn’t hate him according to him.”


    “Oh, so do you?”


    “I’m not sure, and I told him as much. But I did tell him to fuck off basically.”


    “As you should. Cheating bastard can’t even apologize properly.”


    “Yeah, I also told him he’d be on Noel level of privileges if he’s following us.”


    “Oh! That is an excellent idea.”


    “Yeah, you should have seen Reid’s response to him being there though, honestly it seems like of the two of us he hates Theo more.”


    “I don’t know, I think I might hate him more than Reid.”


    “Don’t worry about me, I''ve had enough time to come to terms with it, I still don’t like him, but I am over him and her and well… all of that.” I said that casually, but truthfully I wasn’t sure if I was really over everything. I kind of felt like any energy spent on him wasn’t worth it, but at the same time I wanted to make him miserable. Seriously, who cheats on someone not long after their mom dies?


    “I’m still gonna give him hell though.”


    “That’s fine” I laughed as I gave her yet another hug. It was great to see her again, and so nice to let loose again. I could feel the stress from the last few days just melting away.


    “I’m off to shower. Take a nap, you look like hell.” She replied brutally as she pulled away from our hug and headed towards the shower.


    “Ah jeez, thanks.” I whined, but I took her advice. I needed to sleep. It’d been a really hard few days. I unceremoniously flopped back on the couch, not bothering to pull out the blanket to cover up. I muttered to myself, “I should ask for a toothbrush and toothpaste. I’ve been feeling gross without one, but adding candy…” I couldn’t finish my thought as I slipped away into a long dream filled sleep.