From Real to Realm

Dinner continued after that, though the weight of Val’s news hung in the air. The others tried steering the conversation elsewhere, and for the most part, they succeeded. Amarisse had blown up at first, but eventually calmed down. Mina never allowed the news to dampen her energy. Cera quietly added her thoughts whenever she could, but still stayed in her usual shell even around the party. Lucia soaked up every story she was given. It was obvious she missed delving with everyone, but was more than happy to hear the stories. Still, every so often, Val caught one of them looking at her for just a second longer than normal. The news still bothered them, but they refused to let it ruin the night.

“That was fun,” Val said, smiling to herself.

“It was. We don’t get together for dinner like that often enough,” Lynesia agreed, cuddling into Val’s side.

The heat of alcohol running through her system was a nice contrast to the cool sheets.

“So,” Lynesia started, looking up into Val’s eyes. “What’s the plan for me?”

Val looked down, confused. “What do you mean?”

Lynesia sat up on one elbow. “You’re banned from the dungeon. Now you’re training with Aleksander instead of being with us.”

“Right.”

“So, I want to stay back with you,” she said, taking Val’s hand in hers. “I don’t want you alone while going through this.”

Val smiled, reaching up to cup her cheek. “Nothing says no one can visit.”

Lynesia shook her head. “It’s different visiting you during your training compared to being there the entire time. We don’t even know if we can trust Aleksander completely.”

“I doubt Theoden would risk my safety with someone he doesn’t trust.”

“But he’s such an asshole.”

Val chuckled. “Definitely.”

Lynesia pressed her forehead to Val’s chest. “I don’t like being away from you.”

Val pulled Lynesia closer. “I know, but I need you to get stronger, too.”

Lynesia didn’t say anything; her hands gripped Val’s shirt tighter.

“I love you, Lynesia. I don’t know what’s going to happen from all of this, and I need you to be stronger. Nothing would make me happier than to be your protector forever, but the dungeon is unpredictable. As much as I want to think I’ll always be able to step in between you and danger, I can’t.”

Lynesia mumbled something into Val’s chest.

“What?”

She looked up. “Then why are you sending me in there with Stormveil?”

Her words hurt, but Val needed to stay level-headed.

“Stormveil has been doing this longer than either of us has been alive. Their entire thing is planning. If there’s one chapter I trust, it’s them.”

“What if I don’t want to delve with them?”

Val sighed softly, brushing a few stray hairs from Lynesia’s face. “You’ll be with everyone else in the party. You won’t be alone, and you can visit me any time you have free time.”

“Do you think Aleksander will let me visit whenever I want?”

“If he wants me at the top of my game, then he’ll have no choice. Seeing you is the only thing that could possibly help me keep going.”

Lynesia tried fighting away the smile that crept onto her face, though the worry didn’t fully leave her eyes. “You’re too smooth sometimes.”

Val chuckled, then kissed her softly. “I try to be, just for you.”

Even after being unconscious from her collapse, Val found it easy to fall asleep with Lynesia in her arms. The only thing she regretted was having to open her eyes in the morning.

Today’s the day…

As slowly as she could, she slipped from the bed, doing her best not to disturb Lynesia. The cold floor greeted her bare feet like usual. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees as she thought about what could possibly be awaiting her.

Theoden was pretty pissed. I hope he’s calmed down since then.

She glanced over at her armor on its stand. Being banned from the dungeon meant she wouldn’t need to wear it for its intended purpose.

Fuck that.

After changing her clothes, she grabbed the chestplate. The rough leather was beginning to show wear and tear after all the fights she’d been through. Still, she refused to stop wearing it. As soon as the chestplate was on, she heard the bed creak. 

“You know you aren’t going into the dungeon.”

Val sighed, looking over her shoulder. “I know.”

“Then why the armor?”

Val pulled a strap tight. “Because I need to remember what I’m trying to get back to.”

Lynesia chuckled. “Here, let me help.”

Within seconds, Lynesia was helping Val put each piece on. She helped adjust the tightness of each strap.

“How soon should we leave?”

Val froze at the question. “I was thinking of going on my own.”

Lynesia sighed. “So that’s why you didn’t wake me.”

“I want you there,” Val said, hand gliding over hers.

“Then why are you telling me to stay behind?”

Val stayed silent, trying to think of how best to say it.

“I’m not saying I need to face my own problems alone.”

Lynesia gently turned Val around to face her. “Then what are you saying?”

Val looked into her eyes. “That I need to learn to do things without someone else holding my hand. Maybe then I’ll be even better when I do have you beside me.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I know. It’s all happening so fast. So much is changing.”

“You’ll come home every day, right?”

Val pressed her forehead to Lynesia’s. “I’ll come home as often as possible, I promise.”

The walk to the Guild Hall alone was harder than Val thought it would be. She couldn’t remember the last time she made the walk without someone else. Sometimes she’d catch herself glancing to the side, expecting Mina to be bouncing around. Maybe Amarisse would be rolling her eyes at the bundle of energy Mina could be. Cera would be quiet, but still struggling to hold back a smile. Then there was Lynesia. Val’s hands felt so empty without hers intertwined.

“This fucking sucks.”

She wasted no time heading through the main gate to the courtyard just as the sun was beginning to crest over the horizon. Theoden was expecting her bright and early, and she wasn’t about to piss him off.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Val took a deep, calming breath, then pushed the door open.

Theoden was sitting behind his desk, reading a paper. “I’m surprised by your punctuality.”

“I didn’t think pissing you off would be smart,” Val said, walking up to his desk. “You told me to be here in the morning. So here I am.”

A few seconds later, more knocks on the door.

“Come in.”

Val turned as the door opened. Just as she expected, Aleksander was walking into the room. He raised an eyebrow as soon as he saw her. For what reason, she had a guess.

“We’re both here; now what?”

Theoden set whatever he was reading on the desk. “I am nothing more than a mediator at the moment.” He walked around his desk to the front, sitting on the edge. “Valnarei requires your tutelage. Your interest has been piqued by her magic, so you’ve offered to do what is required to help her.”

Val crossed her arms. “I have a question.”

Aleksander and Theoden turned to her.

“What does this training entail? What should I expect?”

Theoden didn’t answer, instead nodding toward Aleksander.

He crossed his arms as well. “It won’t be easy. The first goal is to adapt your body to the overflowing nature of your magic. It doesn’t matter how much you have if you collapse after a few spells. It would be the same as your halberd having a sharp blade but a weak haft.”

“What happens after that?”

He scratched at his beard. “Refining. You learn to refine and hone your magic to increase the power and ideally reduce the drain on your reserves.”

Theoden nodded. “You will learn many spells while working with Aleksander. He is quite knowledgeable and will be capable of teaching you much.”

Val uncrossed her arms. “My party is going to continue delving with Stormveil. They’ll be getting stronger while I train.” She looked down, clenching her fists. “I’m going to get left behind. I couldn’t let them sit idle while I learned how to control this.”

Aleksander exhaled. “Listen, kid. What you’re doing is the right thing.” He grinned. “But if you think for a second you aren’t going to come back just as strong, then you’re wrong.”

“How?”

He tilted his head side to side. “They might be ahead of you in levels, but you’ll bridge the gap with technique and abilities. If everything goes to plan, by the time you rejoin them, you’ll have more abilities under your belt compared to their gained levels.”

Val looked between the two of them. “Alright, then I’m on board. What’s first?”

“First,” Theoden said, standing from the desk. “Hand over your badge.”

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