Author's Preface
Six months before the towers fell, Ryan continued clearing gates, handling quests from nobles, and any other odd job Nyx threw his way.
One evening, Ryan walked into the guild hall and stood in line, waiting to sell everything from the dungeon he had just cleared. Six months of dungeons had changed him. His once clean clothes had become tattered, his body underneath more defined. His eyes seemed hollow. He hadn't taken a break at all. Vesha's warning forced him to push harder every day. The guild hall was full of tales and rumors that had spread about him.
"There's Kade. I bet he's ugly under that mask."
"No way, look at his muscles and how slim he is. I bet he's a fallen noble."
"He could be a noble. He went from E-rank to C-rank in six months."
"Bullshit, no one climbs that fast."
"I hear he clears dungeons solo and refuses to join a team."
"I heard he just cleared a B-rank dungeon in 5 hours by himself."
"No, you're wrong, it was 3 hours."
Under his mask, Ryan chuckled. "It took me 8 hours, you bastards!" Still, a smile crept across his face. He was becoming a sort of legend, someone the low-rank adventurers aspired to be like.
Ryan approached the counter. "Oh, Mr. Kade. Perfect timing. The guildmaster just said to keep an eye out for you. He would like to speak with you."
Ryan nodded. "I know the way."
He walked through the side door and up the ten flights of stairs as he'd done countless times over the last six months. Each time he dreaded it, each time Nyx was entirely too friendly and relaxed for his liking. Ryan walked into the office, plopped down on the couch, and kicked his feet up on the table. He leaned back with his arms behind his head.
"You seem comfortable." Nyx smiled.
"I am actually."
"I'm surprised to see that."
That made Ryan pause for a moment. He tilted his head a little bit. "What makes you say that?"
"8 hours."
Ryan put his feet on the floor and sat forward. "How the hell did you know how long it took me?"
"I am the Guildmaster, Kade."
"That doesn't fucking answer my question... Nyx."
"So, how was the B-rank dungeon?" Nyx leaned forward and poured a cup of tea, eager to hear the story of this dungeon.
"It was okay. Bubba got hurt. But the others filled in the gaps and we cleared it without much trouble."
"Oh, tell me more."
"Fine, since you asked nicely."
The dungeon was full of minotaurs. Two-legged beasts that resembled bulls back on Earth. Ryan stood next to the boss door with Bubba. Fido, his shadow assassin wolf. Meatloaf, his 4-star Orc Heavy Knight. Thimble, a small fairy that rested on top of Ryan's head who was a healer. And the newest addition to his team, a dark elf named Veyra, who acted as the ranged DPS.
Ryan looked at his team. "Okay, everyone, what do we do at all costs?"
"Protect Thimble!" everyone said out loud.
"That's correct, we protect the doc. If anything from this boss lands anywhere near her, you have my permission to go absolute ape shit on them."
Ryan took a step forward and put his hands on the door to the boss. He felt a tug on his hair. Near his ear, Thimble floated as her little wings fluttered fast. "I CAN HANDLE MYSELF, MR."
Ryan swatted at her like a fly until she landed back on his head. "We know, Thimble, we know. It's just a precaution."
Ryan pushed the door open and the team stepped in. Inside, a 12-foot behemoth of a minotaur stood staring at the team. With each breath it took, smoke poured from its nostrils.
Bubba moved first alongside Meatloaf. Both of them rushed the Minotaur. The boss jumped into the air as Bubba and Meatloaf crashed, their heads thumped together. The Minotaur landed on Bubba's leg and snapped it in half. Meatloaf knelt, holding the Minotaur's other foot up with his shield. He pushed with everything he had and flung the boss back ten feet.
Ryan screamed, "Bubba!" as arrows filled the room, flying past Ryan's head toward the Minotaur.
Ryan recalled Bubba behind him. Bubba looked up at Ryan. "I can go on, master."
Ryan bent down and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know you can, but you don't need to. I can't afford to lose you."
Ryan unsummoned him and Bubba disappeared into Ryan's shadow. Unsummoning Bubba wouldn't heal the damage. It would only keep the injury from getting worse.
"You ready, Thimble?"
"Yes, sir."
Thimble instantly cast a spell on Meatloaf, Fido, and Veyra, giving them all buffs that enhanced their physical stats. Fido leaped first from behind Ryan and sprinted on all fours toward the Minotaur. Meatloaf was already there, blocking the Minotaur's axe as it swung over and over again, trying to break the shield. Fido jumped on Meatloaf and used him as a springboard and leaped into the air. His jaws opened wide as his teeth sank into the Minotaur's neck. The Minotaur grabbed Fido with one arm and tried to shake him loose violently. Fido's fangs weren't letting go that easy.
Behind Ryan, he felt it, shadow magic being pulled into Veyra's arrow. Ryan turned to watch it unfold. Magic gathered at the tip of the arrow. Veyra let the arrow loose. A small aftershock exploded from the bow, the arrow flew faster than Ryan could track straight toward the Minotaur's chest. Fido let go as the arrow collided with the boss. Meatloaf jumped and caught Fido as the arrow imploded in the Minotaur, leaving a gaping hole where his shoulder and arm once were.
Ryan stepped forward and summoned a ball of shadow magic from his hand. He lifted it into the air, the ball formed into a spear as Ryan flicked his wrist. The spear hit the Minotaur directly in the forehead. A moment later, the boss fell.
As Ryan and the team collected the loot, he summoned Bubba. Thimble got to work immediately, restoring his leg, while the others collected ore and treasures and put them in the vortex bag.
"Magnificent, truly wonderful, Kade. Have you made peace with your decision to use Veyra as a shadow?"
Ryan leaned forward on the couch. "I suppose I have. I'd feel worse now if I just released her. It definitely took me a minute, but seeing her lay there dead in that dungeon last month." Ryan clenched his fists. "Knowing her fucking cowardly teammates sacrificed her and left her to die pissed me off. I felt bad for her." Ryan looked up at Nyx. "Honestly, I thought you'd be more opposed."
"You turned a terrible situation into an okay one. She was already dead, and you've given her life. Even if it is under your servitude. But she has retained her personality and attitude. So there is that."
"True, maybe one day I'll grow a pair and ask her myself how she feels about it. Or if she wants revenge on her team."
"You should leave that for after the next task I have for you."
"You just gave me a B-rank dungeon, and you already have another one ready for me? Is there some secret hole that spawns fucking dungeons I don't know about, because I'd gladly go there and shut it down so I can get a fucking break."
Nyx laughed and placed an envelope on the table. Ryan picked it up and opened it. "This is an invitation to the summit in Aldemere. Why are you giving it to me? I don't represent any country, and I sure as hell ain't about to go there to represent you."
Nyx chuckled. "With your mouth, I wouldn't dream of sending you there to speak on anyone's behalf. You are to escort the third prince Samuel. He will be attending as Elyndor's representative."
Ryan sighed and leaned back. "So I have to babysit a brat, is what you're saying. No offense, but he doesn't much act like a prince."
"Sometimes, Kade, I wonder if you are really 15 and not 150." Nyx took a sip of tea. "Regardless, that's exactly why I assigned you to escort him. He needs friends, and I think you two could rub off on each other in a good way."
"Ugh, fine. Anything else?"
"Just protect him, Kade, and don't be afraid to get close to him. He is a good kid with a big heart. Plus, you'll be with him for almost an entire month."
Ryan leaned forward. "A month? You're joking."
"Have you ever known me to joke around? You leave in the morning. I will have Thirty-Seven deliver new clothes and proper attire for you to your room before you leave."
Ryan stood and grabbed a piece of bread off the table and took a bite. "You're a pain in my ass, Nyx."
Ryan turned, put his mask back on, and walked out of the office.