by C E Keene
“Avoiding me,” Arheis supplied.
Her expression turned annoyed, though her lips quirked upward into the smallest of smiles. “Avoiding you. Yes.” That smile faded and she turned away from him, running a hand through her dark hair. “I…” She sighed and stepped over to the window, her fingers curling over the sill. “I didn’t expect this, you know? I didn’t expect to have feelings for someone—even the inkling of feelings. Not after what happened to Eva.”
Arheis’ heart clenched. She’d told him about her former lover; about her death at the hands of a careless Hunter who wore the same amulet as him. It’d been obvious then that the wound was still fresh, and it seemed no less so now. He couldn’t imagine losing someone like that. He doubted he’d ever truly recover from it.
“Turns out it was easier than I thought.” He could only see the side of her face, but her cheek bore the slightest indentation of a rueful smirk before the expression eased. “So easy that it scared me, truth be told. I kissed you, and somehow the world kept turning.”
“I don’t know if I should feel insulted by that…” Arheis quipped.
Mira expelled a soft huff of air in response, and he could see that smirk again. “You know what I mean. Or, well… maybe you don’t.”
He wasn’t sure he did, as much as he tried to understand. She’d been afraid. That much he got. Maybe she feared kissing him would change things…? It seemed best not to speculate, especially when Mira was being more forthcoming than usual.
“Part of me thought it would change things so much and turn so disastrous that I’d have no choice but to end it before it even began,” she confessed, finally turning back to him. “But it didn’t, and I… had no idea what to do with that.”
If he’d been someone else, Arheis might have come up with something charming to say in response; some way to set her at ease without exposing his own vulnerabilities. But he couldn’t even guess at what that would be, and he didn’t want to ruin this moment. She was being open with him in a way she hadn’t been for weeks. He wasn’t about to mess it up.
Especially when her expression slid into something so stricken with pain that it nearly broke him.
“And then… you died.”
Arheis stayed silent, suppressing the urge to clarify. Now wasn’t the time to point out that he’d come back. It might have been the only thing Zindar was willing to focus on, but it seemed to be the one thing Mira couldn’t focus on.
And he was beginning to understand why.
“I wasn’t watching when it happened to Eva. I don’t know if that’s better or worse, but I… I saw every moment this time. And I’ve never felt so helpless in my life, Arheis. Yes, rationally I knew you would come back. But that didn’t change how I felt in the moment. It was… horrifying.” Her voice shook, but she didn’t look away from him. “I can’t even begin to describe it.”
The gravity of her words settled on his heart, pressing down like a lead weight. He’d made the decision in a split second, and some part of him was still convinced it’d been the right call. But he hadn’t thought about the way it might affect his friends, because why would he? Every time he’d died in Apex before, he’d just respawned moments later, NPCs and party members being none the wiser.
“And then you were back, and you were so cavalier about the whole thing, and—”
Arheis opened his mouth to apologize, but she held up a hand to cut him off.
“No, I don’t need you to tell me you’re sorry. I know that. I do. I just… need you to understand that this isn’t me being unreasonable or punishing you because you didn’t bother to let me in on the plan—though I’m not exactly thrilled about that, either,” she admitted, giving him a look. “This was real to me, Arheis. It felt real, and that made it real enough. I need you to understand that.”
He was quiet for a long moment, letting her words settle in his mind. Instinctively he knew this wasn’t something he could give some quick, half-hearted answer to. If he said he understood, then he needed to make sure he did. He needed to consider his friends’ feelings in the future, and only take those actions as an absolute last resort.
“I do,” he finally said, and he meant it, even if it felt hollow to say.
It took him a moment, but Arheis eventually understood why. There was more he wanted to say. More he needed to say, and none of it easy to communicate. How was he supposed to tell her he’d been following game logic, and that he didn’t think it would affect her because she was “just an NPC?” Even if she was like no NPC he’d ever encountered before, she only existed in this world. He’d sound like a raving lunatic if he started talking about all the other games he’d played and how many times he’d died without it affecting NPCs.
He couldn’t tell her who he was—what he was—and that stung more than he thought it would.
“I’m glad,” Mira said, offering him a small smile. She wiped at her eyes and sniffed, then turned to leave. “I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than watch me cry about things that didn’t really happen, so…”
He couldn’t tell her the truth. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t offer some comfort. Even if he wasn’t the most charming person to ever grace the earth, Arheis knew enough to not let her go just yet. Crossing the room, he caught her hand in his. When she turned to face him, her brown eyes shimmering with tears, he pulled her into an embrace.
It was a simple gesture, and one that didn’t take a lot of thought on his part, but it seemed to have an effect just the same. She relaxed against him, her arms sliding beneath his, her hands resting on his shoulders. He rubbed her back in slow, soothing circles, trying to impart what comfort he could offer. It felt lacking somehow, but when her shoulders began to shake and Arheis started to feel the wetness of tears against his shirt, he knew he was at least doing something.
He didn’t say anything, didn’t try to tighten the embrace or change it somehow. He just kept rubbing her back in rhythmic circles, imagining a warmth spreading through her body as he did so. Gradually the shaking lessened, her grip on his shoulders eased, and when she looked up at him, there was gratitude in her eyes.
And something else, too. Something soft and fragile that Arheis was almost afraid to coax out, for fear of it disappearing. It called to him, though, pulling him closer. It whispered of something they both needed—a promise that hadn’t been fulfilled. When her mouth met his, he began to understand what that promise entailed.
The kiss was soft and sweet and soothing in ways he hadn’t expected. Arheis wouldn’t have called his life lacking despite not being completely content with his job, and he hadn’t thought of himself as someone who needed to be soothed. But the touch of her lips, the feeling of her body warm and soft against his was more comforting than he expected. It could have just been the mechanics of their bond, but something slid into place in that moment of tenderness.
She must have felt it too, because she didn’t break away from him like last time. This wasn’t just a quick, uncertain brush of lips and then a stammered excuse. She stayed there in his arms, pressed closer to him, and the kiss slowly transformed. What had been a brief but necessary reassurance became an entirely new way of communicating as her lips melded to his, her head tilting to deepen the kiss.
He hadn’t been sure where they stood before this moment. He probably wouldn’t be sure after it. But right now, it was clear there was something here. He could feel the thrum of a heartbeat—hers or his, he wasn’t sure—racing a thousand beats a minute, it seemed like, and his mind was awash with the giddy feelings of discovery he hadn’t experienced since he was a teenager.
He might have pulled back. Ended the kiss like a gentleman. But the way her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, the way the curves of her body nestled against his didn’t make him feel very gentlemanly. His tongue traced the seam of her lips and slid easily past when they parted. His hand found its way into her hair and she let out a soft sound in the back of her throat that had a flush spreading like wi
ldfire over his skin.
And then a knock sounded at the door, louder than it had any right to be. Arheis jumped, and they disentangled from one another immediately. A blush colored Mira’s dark skin, her bottom lip was snagged between her teeth, and she couldn’t quite seem to look him in the eye.
“Who is it?” he asked, his voice embarrassingly strained.
“The courier, sir. I have word from the captain.”
Arheis let out a long breath and ruffled a hand through his hair. When he looked at Mira, she finally met his gaze. The sadness was gone from her expression, and her eyes danced with merriment.
“At some point I might stop acting like my mother is going to burst through the door at any moment and threaten to fit me for a chastity belt,” she said with a smirk.
Arheis’ brows rose and he felt a blush overtake his own cheeks. Which was stupid. They were both adults. He didn’t need to get himself tied in knots over the fact that he apparently felt more than the most chaste affection for this woman.
“Would she?”
Mira considered this for a moment. “If she’d known what I was thinking just then? Probably.” Mischief glinted in her eyes. “She never much cared for Hunters.”
All he could do was let out a choked laugh at that. A laugh that was accompanied by an even deeper blush as he realized the courier was still there, hearing all of this.
“…Sir? Should I come back, or…?”
“I was just leaving,” Mira announced, smoothing down her shirt with her hands.
She opened the door, revealing a wide-eyed young man who watched her as she left, his gaze straying a little too low for Arheis’ tastes.
“Eyes to yourself,” he growled, and the courier snapped to attention.
“Sorry, sir.” He pulled a letter from his bag and pressed it into Arheis’ hand. “From the captain.”
The parchment was crumpled and not nearly as neatly creased as the letter Galen had received. Arheis did his best to smooth it out, even going so far as to press it against the nearby table to read.
The Lady Katherine is eager to set sail and is at your service, my boy. I’ll need to ready my crew, but I see no reason why we can’t raise the anchors by sundown tomorrow. I’ve got two cabins with your name on them. Just let the lad know if you’ll need anything else and I’ll see what I can do.
Treyous
Two cabins. Not exactly what he needed to hear, especially after the last few moments. But no matter what had happened tonight, he wasn’t going to make that suggestion. He could share a cabin with Zindar and Galen. He’d listened to the Pruvari snore before. Now he’d just have company in doing so.
“Tell him that’ll be perfect,” Arheis said, fishing out a coin to pay the boy. “We’ll meet him at the ship tomorrow afternoon.”
6
The next morning, Arheis sent word to Mira, Zindar, and Galen.
He needed to check in at the smithy and buy some provisions, and the others likely had their own needs to tend to before they set sail. It was short notice, true, but everyone seemed resolute. This was the next step, and it was a hell of a lot better than sitting in the middle of the jungle, waiting for something to happen.
Gathering his things from the inn room, Arheis didn’t bother asking for the remainder of his payment. There was a chance he’d be back before the month was up, and it hadn’t been that many credits to rent the room for that long. He did leave word with the innkeeper that it could be rented out in the meantime, though, and was given a fresh scone by the innkeeper’s wife as a thank you.
He munched on the warm, flaky pastry as he made his way to the smith. Already the humidity was making everything muggy, and he’d be grateful to go someplace that hopefully wasn’t as miserable in the climate department. For all Arheis knew Iskaral was surrounded by an endless desert or a frozen tundra. Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea to buy some weather-appropriate clothing today, too.
Something that would keep him from being snapped in half by the first beast to look at him sideways was his first priority, though. Arheis used the side entrance to the forge, avoiding Brahm for the moment. The more time the older smith had to work on the augment, the happier he’d likely be.
“Ah, you’re just in time,” Siv said. He sat on a bench, a leather chestpiece braced against his knee. The scent of oil filled the forge as the smith wiped the piece down with a rag. “I’m oiling the last of it. You can see what’s been finished on that stand over there.”
Swallowing the last of the scone—and realizing he probably should have brought a couple more with him—Arheis turned his attention to the stand. A nearly complete set of leather armor was draped across the metal rods. Already he could tell it was a higher quality than his old set. The leather was smoother, closer to suede but with a strength to it he could see at a glance. Studs and ribbing helped reinforce it, and the various beast parts he’d provided had been worked throughout the design. Nepondus fronds fanned out from the shoulders, making his neck a far less enticing target. Hollow bones were sewn into the leggings, giving them a better range of movement when Arheis handled them. Claws bracketed into each bracer, forming a row of spikes that would extend down his forearm.
It looked badass, honestly, and the chestpiece Siv was oiling capped the whole thing off nicely by incorporating the other design features—fronds, bones, and claws—in a stylish leather vest. He couldn’t wait to try it on, and he hadn’t even taken a look at the stats yet.
> Modified Pathfinder Set:
Modified Pathfinder Helm
Slot: Head
Armor Type: Medium
Protection: 12
Modified Pathfinder Vest
Slot: Chest
Armor Type: Medium
Protection: 14
Modified Pathfinder Bracers
Slot: Arms
Armor Type: Medium
Protection: 8
Modified Pathfinder Gloves
Slot: Hands
Armor Type: Medium
Protection: 6
Modified Pathfinder Leggings
Slot: Legs
Armor Type: Medium
Protection: 12
Modified Pathfinder Boots
Slot: Feet
Armor Type: Medium
Protection: 10
Set Bonus: Trailblazer
“Whoa, this turned out amazing,” Arheis said, reaching for the leggings first.
“The modifications worked out just fine,” Siv said, a note of pride in his voice. “It’s probably one of the better sets I’ve made. It’ll be nice to see it put to good use.”
“I’m almost afraid to wear it,” he admitted, already loosening the straps to put the leggings on.
Siv snorted, bringing over the vest. He helped Arheis get into the set, tightening the straps, securing the buckles, tying off the laces. Every piece fit perfectly over his clothing, and already he felt more protected. His fingers flexed in the gloves, the softness of the leather allowing him plenty of movement.
> You have learned Trailblazer. Cut a path through unexplored wilds, making it easier to navigate areas you’ve yet to map out.
That seemed like a very useful skill to have where he was going. He didn’t know the terrain, after all, and given his luck it seemed almost certain he’d get lost in the wilds at some point.
When he turned to look at himself in the mirror Siv kept in the corner of the forge, his brows rose in appreciation.
“You actually made me look halfway competent,” he joked.
“Aye,” Siv agreed with a grin, “the miracles of good craftsmanship.”
Examining the set further, he saw details worked into the vest that he hadn’t noticed when Siv was passing the rag over it. Just above the chest, below the neckline, the smith had embossed an image of the Nepondus Queen, the fronds sewn into the vest stopping just above it.
“This is amazing,” he said, genuinely in awe. “I feel like I underpaid.”
“Well if it’s eating
at your conscience, I wouldn’t say no to some extra coin.”
The words had humor behind them, but Arheis was serious. He pulled an extra roll of 500 credits out of his pouch and set it down in front of Siv. “You’ve earned it.”
The smith didn’t argue with him. He smiled, dipped his head in thanks, and scooped the roll of credits into his large palm. Those went into the lockbox with the rest, and Arheis gave himself one more look-over in the mirror before steeling his nerve to talk to Brahm.
He found the man out back, behind the forge. The older smith was sitting on a half-wall, and the sweet smell of tobacco gave away the pipe before Arheis ever saw it. Brahm’s eyes were closed, the wrinkles that marked his age somewhat eased, and he actually looked… content. It felt wrong to interrupt him, and Arheis knew he was going to make himself even more of an annoyance in the man’s eyes, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Don’t think you’re fooling anyone,” Brahm said before Arheis could even open his mouth, “I heard you tromping around in the forge.”
“Sorry,” Arheis said, though a bit of irritation crept through him at feeling the need to apologize in the first place. “I didn’t know you were taking a break. I have some other things to buy. I can come back a little later if—”
“No. I’ll be working later.”
So saying, Brahm slid off the half-wall, his weathered lips still gripping the long stem of the pipe. More smoke escaped from the corner of his mouth than the pipe itself, and Arheis caught a hint of cherry in the mix, bringing back a memory of playing video games with his cousins while his grandpa smoked from a cherrywood pipe.
Brahm, unfortunately, was nothing like his grandpa.
“That tusk was a damn pain to work with,” he groused, making his way back to his station. “Solid all the way through, and it took me hours to shave off the enamel.”
Arheis stopped himself from apologizing this time. It wasn’t his fault the Nepondus Queen had exceptionally strong tusks. Besides, all Brahm had to do was fashion them into a weapon. It took more skill than Arheis had, of course, but it was a far cry from being gored by one of the things.