“You’re back sooner than I expected,” Paul said as he closed the door to his study behind Phoenix after she entered, “I thought it would have taken longer to clear that route of monsters.”

  The party hadn’t run into any more bandits along the southeastern road and had made it to their st fort delivery without too many monster encounters to slow them down. Once the delivery was complete, she portaled them all back, each of them looking forward to a hot shower and their own bed.

  She had tried to convince their party leader to let her portal them back every morning to sleep despite Paul wanting her out of the city. However, Dazien had argued that they needed to get comfortable with camping out if they ever pnned to explore beyond the tundra. Plus, it allowed for more time to get to know one another.

  Phoenix sat in the same chair she occupied the st time she was here and said, “Well, we did it in a month. The route wasn’t too bad, and the weather stayed pretty clear. Took out quite a few monsters…” she hesitated then added, “And a group of bandits that had ambushed us on the road. It took us a little extra time to burn the bodies so they wouldn’t rot in the open.”

  Paul’s eyes narrowed as he sat in his own seat, “Bandits? I hadn’t heard reports, but it’s not uncommon, even during a blood moon. There must not have been many if your party alone managed to handle them.”

  She watched him carefully, but he seemed unfazed by the knowledge that they had killed other people, “There were eighteen of them. Only three Crystal Casters… Uriel’s powers are most impressive against groups,” she expounded, then decided to ask him bluntly, “You’re not upset at all that we killed actual people?”

  He raised an eyebrow, then gave a small sigh as he seemed to realize the issue and now was resigning himself to have ‘the talk’ with her, “It is an inevitability. As an Adventurer or a noble, in my case, it is our duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. No matter if that’s from monsters or people. We don’t have the luxury of mercy for those who would prey on the innocent.”

  “Doesn’t that just make us monsters in turn?” she asked, still unconvinced.

  “We’re not cruel, Phoenix. We don’t enjoy hurting or killing others. We only do what must be done to keep people safe. You’ll understand this eventually. Don’t feel guilty about any lives you might have taken in self-defense or the defense of others.”

  Phoenix looked away with shame as she admitted, “I didn’t… I froze. I couldn’t justify killing someone…”

  Her voice became soft as she said, “I don’t want to become like Murinah.”

  “You are nothing like her. Those bandits were. Intent matters, Phoenix,” her mentor firmly stated. His expression softened as he added, “A day will come when you have to choose between saving an innocent person or letting a cruel person cause harm. On that day, remember not what might be right or wrong but the person you want to be. Do you want to be the person who didn’t kill a monster in the form of a person? Or do you want to be the person who protected someone from that monster?”

  “Do you practice these speeches beforehand?” Phoenix sarcastically asked.

  “I hate that I find myself sounding more and more like my parents when I talk with you,” he grumbled, shifting some papers on his desk, “But the point is valid. Some people –whether they meant to or not– become monsters.”

  “You make it sound so simple,” she scoffed.

  “In that moment, it is,” he said, leaning forward to get her focused attention, “It is those moments that show us the type of person we truly are, Phoenix. Whether we can become heroes or not.”

  She fell silent, mulling over his words.

  Paul let her think for a few moments as he leaned back in his seat, then informed her, “As far as Murinah Ruwena is concerned, you won’t have to worry yourself with her anymore.”

  His words reminded Phoenix about the reason she had come straight here after returning from their mission instead of going to her own dorm, “Murinah wants to repce me. Rayna talked with her apparently before the Sirens attacked.”

  Paul frowned but said, “It doesn’t matter. She’s been taken care of.”

  Phoenix shook her head, “No, she’s trying to become the party Supporter. I’m sure she’ll come after me again to empty the position, even if she’s in jail or something. She hired an assassin before, so what’s going to stop her from doing so behind bars?”

  “She’s dead.”

  Phoenix froze and just blinked at him, processing the news, before confirming that she had heard him correctly, “Murinah’s dead?”

  “Yes, since two weeks ago,” he reaffirmed, then added, “But her father suspects that my House was involved. If he starts looking into ways to hurt me, he’s going to find out you’re alive, and he already knows you’re my Protégé. It seems not even Pati could keep that under wraps after I let it slip to Lord Teras.”

  “Pati?”

  “My sister,” Paul answered with another grimace, “She’s been asking non-stop to meet you, but I didn’t want you feeling overwhelmed by her particur brand of… caring.”

  “So, you think if Murinah’s dad finds out about me still being alive, he’ll pick up where she left off?”

  “I do,” her mentor said with a nod and tapped idly on his desk as he ordered, “Don’t go anywhere without someone with you. You don’t have to worry about going out into the city anymore since there’s no secret to hide now that he knows you’re alive, but you shouldn’t be alone.”

  She nodded, figuring he would come to that kind of conclusion. He surprised her, however, when he added, “You should probably move here, too.”

  “What? You’re joking, right?” Phoenix asked incredulously. When she saw his completely serious face, she shook her head, “No, Paul, please. I know you’re worried, but I want my own space. You know I don’t feel comfortable here.”

  “Better uncomfortable than dead,” he retorted and pointed out, “Your ability doesn’t make you completely invulnerable, Phoenix.”

  “I know but… I don’t want the others worrying. What will they think of me suddenly moving in with you when I’ve been on my own this whole time?”

  He nodded in acknowledgment, “That you’re either in danger or more involved with me than is considered appropriate between a Mentor and Protégé.”

  Her eyes widened at that st implication. She hadn’t even thought about that point of view. They were so drastically different in age, and he was basically her teacher. Then she realized that those factors probably weren’t as limiting in this world with people living much longer. Even in her world, those types of retionships weren’t completely unheard of.

  “Then definitely not,” she said adamantly, “That is not the kind of retionship we have.”

  He gave a small smirk, “I know. It is safer here, however, and it’s not uncommon for Protégés to live with their Mentors.”

  Phoenix crossed her arms in a silent show of defiance. Paul huffed in annoyance and said, “At least set your [Waypoint] location here.”

  She contempted that for a moment. It would be smarter to move it to a safer location, and then Paul would immediately know if something happened to her again –not to mention he would offer better protection during her most vulnerable moments.

  Phoenix reluctantly nodded in acquiescence.

  “Thank you. So, were your missions lucrative?” Paul prompted.

  She smiled when she realized what he wanted and conjured her book for him to see as she showed off her test haul.

  Item: Drifter’s Umbrel

  Drifting on the wind. Shaded from the fire. Protected from the water. Dragging along the earth. Singing a traveling song.

  Caste: Crystal.

  Avaibility: Rare.

  Type: Trinket, umbrel.

  Effects:

  For a small mana cost, slow your descent through the air.Protects from extreme heat and sunburn from Mundane sources.Mundane water cannot pass between this item and the ground.Can be used to draw magical diagrams on the ground.Slightly enhances the effects of Song Boons.

  “That’s an interesting utility item,” he murmured, “Are you pnning to use it?”

  “Maybe? The slow fall ability is nice, but I don’t think I could really use it in combat that much. It actually seems better for simply traveling along the road. There’s no requirement, so it might be better to just sell it to a Mundane that would benefit more from it than I would.

  “By the way, why is it called ‘Song’ magic instead of ‘Sound’? I’ve been wondering that since seeing some of the twins’ abilities,” she asked, derailing the conversation.

  “Well, legend has it that back when the first Caster began categorizing the different kinds of elements, he was first introduced to that type of magic from a cantrip a small cn of Sundance voxen would sing every morning to greet the rising sun. The Lightfoot cn specifically only has a few members still around, but the Caster beled the magic as Song in honor of his voxen friend, and it just kinda stuck.”

  “That’s a neat story,” she said, then read the description of her newest item once more and sighed in frustration. “While loot is always considered a positive, I really wish it had been another Spirit Gem. I still need to unlock two of my Css abilities.”

  “I’ve told you before that I would help you buy some,” Paul reminded her.

  Phoenix shook her head. “No, I told you I’d feel weird if you spent that much money on me, and I like getting them from my book.”

  “The book that you constantly compin about trying to kill you?” he asked with a ft look.

  She chuckled, “Yes, that book. It helped me find you, so it’s not all bad.”

  That seemed to mollify Paul slightly.

  Phoenix sighed and admitted, “You know, I probably wouldn’t be so against buying a gem if I knew what I should get to compliment my powerset, but it doesn’t seem like it’s made up its mind about what to actually be. Am I a scout? Am I a Striker? Am I a Mage? Am I a Healer? I can’t be all of those things.”

  “Why not?” he asked with an amused smirk.

  “‘Cause I’ll just suck at all of them rather than being awesome at one,” she said in annoyance, “I’m like one of those jack-of-all-trade characters that nobody likes to py in video games…” She got a look of horror as a thought occurred to her, “I’m like the crappy iteration of the druid in WoW. Never the best DPS, never the best Tank, never the best Healer. Always second pce.”

  Paul chuckled, “Versatility can be a more useful benefit at times.”

  She rolled her eyes at him, “I’m an addendum. A nice-to-have to fill a hole that might show up.”

  “You’ll never find yourself with nothing to do and can adapt to any situation. Adaptability can be the difference between victory and defeat for most parties.”

  “That’s what all the druids said,” she grumbled.

  Her mentor gave a rare, full ugh. As it died down, she decided to ask the question that had been floating in the back of her mind, and she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted the answer to, “How did Murinah die?”

  Paul’s eyes locked on her as he seemed to analyze her again, something he hadn’t done for a while, and he answered evenly, “Killed by monsters on a solo scouting mission.”

  Despite her better judgment, she questioned, “What kind of monsters?”

  He pursed his lips for only a moment before saying, “Miserlings.”

  Phoenix fell silent at that mental fshback, then braced herself as she reiterated, “You said that her dad suspected House Waynd’s involvement.”

  Her mentor only nodded solemnly, and she inquired, “Were you?”

  Paul knew what was coming. Despite the limited information he tried giving her without lying, she wouldn’t seem to skirt around or drop the issue as Phoenix asked the question directly, “Were you?”

  “Waynd should tell Little Miss the truth,” Orebe prodded him, “It will only get harder ter. Remember what Waynd was told about deception in the name of protection?”

  He mentally rolled his eyes, “That the one being protected won’t thank me for being kept ignorant. This is different, though.”

  “Waynd says that every time,” the monotone voice replied, and Paul could swear there was snark despite the ck of verbal inflections, “If Waynd is serious about being Little Miss’ Mentor, then teach the truth.”

  Paul sighed and finally answered his Protégé, “Yes.”

  She gave him a disapproving frown and almost whined at him as she buried her face in her hands, “Paauul… I specifically said not to kill them.”

  “It wasn’t your order to give,” he replied ftly. He didn’t need to justify his actions to a child, but his new patron had given the quest. Even if he had wanted to respect that wish, he couldn’t without forfeiting his life in return.

  “But it’s like it’s my fault she’s dead now! If I hadn’t told you then–”

  “Then she would still be dead because I would have done the same thing I did in order to find and kill her with the same purpose as before,” he interjected.

  “What are you talking about?” Phoenix asked in confusion as she looked back up at him.

  Paul gave another huff of annoyance, then stood from his chair and moved around his desk so Phoenix could fully take in his appearance. He then conjured his armor around himself in a flurry of magical bck feathers that quickly vanished to reveal how it had changed.

  Passive Ability: Rage Regalia

  Type: Utility (construct, magical, arcane)

  Current Caste: Emerald 10

  Crystal Effect: Construct a suit of armor that increases physical and Magical resistances.

  Sapphire Effect: Constructed armor also increases Elemental resistance and any Construct weapons inflict additional physical damage.

  Emerald Effect: Constructed armor grants the wearer the [Thorned] boon.

  Thorned (boon, magical, retribution): Attacks against you inflict retributive damage back to the attacker.

  He mentally dismissed the ethereal scrap of paper that only he could see, having spent the st few weeks becoming more accustomed to the little notes popping up, and made a mental note to not show that particur one anymore.

  Phoenix stared at him with wide eyes and a sck jaw before asking, “It changed? Why?”

  “Because I became a Padin again. I swore allegiance to another god, and was raised to my old position and blessed. Part of my blessing made it more obvious whose will I serve now,” he expined, watching her closely for any negative reaction.

  “And… which dark god has a raven as its symbol? The god of murdering?” she asked, staring at the sigil in the center of his chest.

  “It’s a crow,” he corrected.

  “A murder of crows,” she pointed out.

  Paul couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head, “Crows are known to hold grudges,” he expounded, “I am a Padin of the Avenger now.”

  “What does that mean? You’re some kind of superhero viginte now?” she questioned, her brow knit in confusion.

  “It means that when I kill someone, it’s because they did the same to someone else. If I hurt someone, it’s because my god knows they hurt another. I deal in retribution now, Phoenix, those who find themselves in the path of my god are not innocent,” Paul stated firmly and dismissed the armor.

  Kneeling down beside her to look eye to eye, he pced a hand on hers, “I may not be able to always protect you, but I’ll make sure that people will pay for hurting you. Knowing that I’m standing by your side can offer you protection in itself. Those who might target you will know what awaits them.”

  “So people will fear you now?!” she cried in obvious concern for him.

  He gave her a soft smile, “Better to fear me than harm you, my young one.”