The energy in the camp exploded, and suddenly every single person present was staring at Katrina and Alicia. Within seconds, a crowd began to swarm around them, every single person trying to ask their own questions.
“Where was it?!”
“Do you have the Key yet?”
“Are you with a Guild? Are you going to sell your rights?”
“What was the answer to 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, opening her Status again in hopes of a distraction. Under her breath, she began reciting her Status screen to herself, a last-ditch effort to keep herself from attacking someone.
She felt Alicia turn towards her, wrapping 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 scent of this flower, against all odds, helped to block out the smell of the crowd, and Katrina felt a semblance of control return to her.
“Hey now! How ‘bout we give these ladies some space, ya hear? This how you greet newcomers where yer from?” A powerful voice boomed over the crowd, and Katrina grew faintly aware of a large Owlkin attempting to interpose himself between them and the crowds.
Between Kevin creating some distance, and the powerful smell coming from Alicia’s flower, Katrina managed to calm down slightly. The crowd grumbled slightly, but most of them seemed to respect Kevin enough to follow his instructions without complaint. Once order had been restored, the Owlkin began letting individual people ask questions, and Alicia stepped up to answer them as best she could.
Katrina heard the Dryad explain everything 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 any existing 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 last, the girls were left to their own devices again.
“Hey,” Alicia said, “are you alright? How are you holding up?”
“I didn’t attack anyone, that’s the most important thing,” Katrina whispered. Her voice was tense as she continued fighting against the last remnants of her murderous instincts. “What was that flower? I could barely think straight with everyone around me, but that smell was so strong.” 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 large Owlkin standing next to 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, we appreciate you coming to our rescue like that.” Alicia said, reaching 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, locking eyes with the panther Beastkin. “And you! Maybe check in with people before you ring that darn bell, alright? These poor girls 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 can help with.”
Kevin nodded in agreement before saying his goodbyes and returning to his shop. Alicia and Katrina shifted their attention to the services counter, where Alicia shared the details of where they’d found the Dungeon. The Beastkin explained that, 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 needed to register as Delvers, including a small pamphlet designed to help people prepare for the written exam.
Once they’d finished with all the busy work, Katrina spoke up. “Thanks for helping with all this, and sorry I… caused a bit of a scene.”
“Nah, that’s on me. I should’ve known better,” 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 place 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, then returned with a large, leather-bound tome. “According 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 opened the book and started reading through names, while Alicia continued talking. “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 Change was like. It’s hard to justify not keeping physical copies of our records. Plus, this close to the Dungeon? Sometimes the Thaumic energy messes with computers and wireless signals.”
“It’s remarkably well kept,” Katrina said. “I’m just looking for anyone that’s registered as a Delver, but isn’t associated with a Guild.”
“Oof, good luck with that. Guilds tend to dislike freelancers,” 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 classes 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 chuckling to himself. “Good luck with that one, she’s turned down every Guild in the city at least a dozen times. Can’t remember why she registered, but I promise you she ain’t interested 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 considered the best damage class in the whole system! We’ve got to at least try.” Katrina said.
“Suit yourself, just don’t get your hopes up.” Samir shrugged, then went back to turning his new Bean shard over in his paws.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
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 particularly fill her with confidence, though; they needed a heavy hitter, and having such a powerful class would be monumental. Apart from the Mage Knight, her list had three other damage classes, 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 plant life here.”
“Can any plants help you recover? I thought it had to be your Heart Tree?”
“It does, but there’s a bit of flexibility on how I can form that connection. The strongest connection is, obviously, just merging with my tree, but we’ve got powerful roots that extend really far. After the Change, I was able to connect with any plant life, not just my Heart Tree, and I learned that they all form like, a network of sorts. Their roots dig deep into the ground, intermingling and communicating with other plants in the area. I’m able to tap into that network and connect with my tree, almost like using cell towers to make a phone call.”
Both girls were walking towards the Camp exit, doing their best to avoid crowds as Alicia continued talking. “There are limits, though. Anything that interrupts that connection can be potentially harmful. I’ve spent years destroying streets and upending blocks of concrete 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 connected to the ground. The train doesn’t have that connection, and it feels like being dumped at the bottom of the ocean; it’s only a matter of time before I drown.”
Alicia nervously stepped onto the sidewalk outside Camp, breathing heavily as she started leaning on Katrina again. Their pace slowed, and once they’d established a rhythm, Katrina spoke up. “Well, hopefully this is the last time we have to make this trip. If it’s not, I’ll make sure to bring my guitar.”
“I’d like that,” Alicia said. They were at an intersection, waiting for the light to turn green, when she unexpectedly leaned closer and rested 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 another sign 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 again regretted that she had nothing she could do to help. “When do you want to take the potion?”
“I think… when we’re on the train. If the taste is as bad as I’ve heard, maybe it’ll help distract me.” Alicia said, forcing a smile. The girls headed up the stairs, and before long, had taken their seats.
By some divine stroke of luck, the train was slightly emptier at this time. Katrina didn’t have to spend the entire time 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 plant matter covering 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 to brighten.
“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 relatively quiet. Katrina’s stop came and went, 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 laughed, 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 can fly back. It’s still early morning 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 in defeat. “Oh, alright. Still, you didn’t have to do this.”
“Alicia, if you pass out on the train, you might never wake up. What if someone tried to take you to a hospital? Chances 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 landed on the platform. Katrina watched her and smiled, the Dyrad''s steps soon quickening as they neared the ground outside. The Dryad raced down the steps, jumped onto a patch of grass, and started laughing. Katrina couldn’t help but smile as she watched Alicia light up, her skin and clothes literally growing brighter as strength returned to her body.
“Katrina, we made it!”
Katrina, surprising even herself, began laughing with Alicia. “I’m glad you’re feeling better! Now c’mon, it’s way past your bedtime, and you need to 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… wrap a blanket 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 difference in her demeanor was practically 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 danced through her hair, highlighting the white flowers on her chest as well as her infectious smile.
As they rounded the last corner, 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 blanket of cherry blossom petals fall in appreciation of the reunion.
When Alicia re-emerged, her face beaming with joy, she ran over to 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, hugging her tight.
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, then she started 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 anyone other than Derrick call her Kat since the Change, and she was caught by surprise at how much she missed it. “N-no it’s fine! It’s... kinda cute, actually.”
The Dryad’s eyes moved to the ground, and she nervously started playing with a cherry blossom petal growing from her hair. “Are you coming back tomorrow? I’m not sure what’s next, or when we should get started on, y’know, actually beating the dungeon. If nothing else, I could use a study buddy.”
“We definitely can’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 can convince them to help. In the meantime, we need to certify as Delvers, so I’d recommend looking through that pamphlet Samir gave you. We also need to 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 knew that she couldn’t stay, but she was having trouble convincing 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 expectantly. “Yeah?”
Alicia blushed, took a deep breath, then paused slightly. “I… um, get home safe, okay?”
“Right… yeah, I can 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 wanted to 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 needed to get to sleep, right?
When she finally made it back home, she booted up her computer 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, hugging her tight when the crowd surrounded them. When night began to fade, and Katrina went to change into her pajamas, she found one of Alicia’s flowers from camp had gotten lodged in her tank top. She lightly placed it on her pillow, and happily went to sleep with the smell of tuberose filling her dreams.