Adventurous behaviors.

John was really enjoying his new Parkour skill: the way it showed him where to step and how to move to achieve the expected result was really reminding him of a video game. Using it to achieve a perfect dive during a swimming lesson wasn't its intended purpose, but John used whatever tools he had at his disposal.

Flexing in preparation, John sprung and pierced the surface of the water nearly perfectly. The angle was a good one, he didn't even splash went hitting the water...

Well, he would probably have, if not for the time spent watching documentaries and Myth Busters episodes when he was younger. He was using an invisible spectral hand to hit water in front of him, breaking the surface tension and making him slide into the water more easily.

The students were lining up, waiting their turn in front of the six diving blocks and the diving board. Anna wasn't lined up, as she was staying on the side, getting closer to their substitute lifeguard.

"Hi, Miss Summers. That's really nice of you to volunteer as a lifeguard for us today. Everyone was happy to see you here; you take such good care of your students," said Anna.

"Thanks, Anna. It is nice of you to say that. Of course it isn't a big sacrifice: I don't teach any classes on these periods and I love swimming. I'm glad to see you so happy and comfortable in a swimsuit, since you used to be so withdrawn and self-conscious."

"Guess all it took was someone to get into my thick head that he loved what's under my clothes to convince me that most of it was in my head, not my body."

"I don't think that he loves you only for your body, you know? The way he looks at you is a lot more than lust."

"Oh, I know that, but the thing is... He doesn't love me despite the way I look, he loves me in part because of it. And for me that is a lot... Oh, look at him going at it again... He does really look nice in these swimming shorts..." Both of them were now looking at John, climbing to the diving board.

"Yeah, they made quite a fuss when the swim team insisted on using them. A performance thing, and since it works, they are now standard for everyone. I shouldn't comment on students, but... Yes, he does really looks nice in those."

"Out of them too..." added the mischievous blonde, poking fun at her teacher.

"Oh... I mean, you would know that of course..." replied her teacher, a bit embarrassed about the timing of events on the last weekend.

"John is so nice, smart, honest... He's really gifted... In many ways actually. And I know that I have to personally thank you for mentoring him. I was the one reaping the rewards for those long, hard lessons that you gave him." June didn't know where to put herself, Anna knew about her and John!

"He... Did he tell you? Damn... I'm really sorry; I didn't know that he was going out with you when I invited him. I don't want to steal him from you; I would never do anything like that..." she started to apologize, trying to find something to say in such an awkward situation.

"Shush, you have it all wrong! First, we weren't together when you invited him, so nothing wrong there. Then it was him who decided to go anyway, and I forgave him for that; after all, he had very convincing arguments that I could understand. What I'm trying to say is that I'm really thankful to you for teaching him a few things."

"Wait? You really don't mind? That we... While you were together?"

"Your invitation was beyond what he could have dreamed of, so he would have ended up hating me and hating himself if he had skipped it because of our relationship. He didn't tell me before it happened, but he came clean soon afterwards; he really wanted to be honest with me. Don't you think that is nice? He knew that it risked hurting me, but that finding about it later would destroy my trust in him. So he took the risk for the sake of doing the right thing."

"John is special, and he found a very special girl to be with. Not many girls would be so accepting of things like that, and I'm truly glad that you won't hold it against me..."

"Not at all, the opposite in fact. You see, we discussed it with each other, and we were wondering if you would accept to help us. I think we could do with some group study to see some advanced topics that he wouldn't have had time to study with you the first time. Is it something that you would be interested in?"

June was astonished, who was this girl? And what happened to the timid, modest girl who was there during the first part of the school year?

"Are you sure? I mean, do you really want to..."

"I said that I understood the reasons for John not wanting to miss your invitation. That's because I share them. Alright, think about it, and then tell us what you think. We will both be really happy to have you. Now I need to go splash horribly in the water; I wouldn't want to have a bad grade for not participating." On this she left her teacher and walked to one of the short queues in front of the diving blocks. She indeed wasn't as gracious as John was when diving, but far from being as bad as she pretended.

June thought about how John had changed from what she knew of him, and now Anna? Maybe John had that influence on her? Or something similar had happened to them? Was it only a love story between the two of them, or more? She couldn't shake the doubts that she had: there was something special about him, something more... Every single social norm said that she should refuse the invitation. It wasn't her place to intrude in the young couple's life in that way. Inviting a student had been a mistake, anyway. She should really not do it again... Of course she remembered John's reaction when she had told him about the mystery in her youth. He looked more surprised at the change than at what could have caused it, and while he hadn't lied to her face, he had been very evasive. Was it his way of telling her? Anna talked about how honest he was, how he had wanted to come clean with her. Was it this? Did he want to reveal something to her? Or was it just a horny teenager who managed to convince his girlfriend and his sexy teacher to sleep with him at the same time? She had really enjoyed her afternoon with John, and she was beginning to think that, if she was going to be in trouble for it, a second times wouldn't change much.

Then there was Anna. She had half confessed that she felt towards her the same way John did. It was a bit strange for a girl who just got her first boyfriend to say something like that. June's college years, after Mariana had done whatever she did and vanished, had been pretty wild. June was no stranger to having another girl in her bed, with or without a man. Maybe it was a chance? A chance to help Anna with this aspect of her sexuality, to learn a few things like she said. The list of pros was getting longer, while the drawbacks were merely things that already were an issue because of last Saturday.

June's desire to know, her desire to spend more time with John, her desire to discover this new, happy Anna, all were getting the best of her. She had become a teacher to help her students mature and exploit their potential, and it was only another aspect of it...

The rest of the lesson went without any incidents: the students mostly having fun in the water, Coach Conroy screaming instructions which were mostly ignored, June keeping an eye out for anyone drowning and doing a few demonstrations. The students were more likely to have asked for those due to their desire to see her swimsuit get wet than their interest in her talents as a swimmer, and that despite her excellent expertise in this discipline.

The class being dismissed, everyone went back to the locker rooms to change. John wasn't bothered by anyone this time, and he left in record time. He had better things to do than to engage in any more school drama today. Once outside, he took his phone out of his pocket while waiting for Anna. He had to call his mother to tell her that he wouldn't be home before dinner.

"Hi, mom. I'm out of school, and I'll spend some time with Anna. Don't expect me home before dinner."

"Oh, John. Alright, but don't let that distract you from working at school or doing your homework."

"Don't worry, mom, we'll do most of it together. Her dad would kill me if her grades were going down because of me."

"You know what? Why don't you bring her over for dinner tonight? It's time I get to spend some time with this wonderful girl who ravished my baby boy."

"Sure, mom. I'm certain that she will be glad to come. Dinner around 20:30?"

"Excellent, that leaves me some time to cook something good. I know she's used to high grade food at home."

"Mom, your food is delicious. Nothing to be ashamed about. See you tonight. Love you."

He hung up a few seconds before Anna got out. John cast Clean a few times on his girlfriend. She kissed him as a thank you. Getting the Chlorine smell out of her long hair wasn't easy, even after a shower.

"So, what's the plan?" she asked him.

"The plan got a bit complicated. You are invited to dinner at my place tonight. And my mom thinks that you will be with me, which means you can't go home or things won't match."

"What do we do then?"

"Let me think... I have to be at the junkyard and go back home for dinner with you. You can't be at your place if I'm not there. Our parents know each other, and if our stories don't hold up, they will know something isn't right. We really need a new ring soon, or to unlock upgrades for these portals. The only solution is to split up. You go towards my house and go to Arcadia once there. I go towards the junkyard and join you in Arcadia. Once together, we finish preparing, the girls and I raid the place, and after that, the two of us use your waypoint to go to my house."

"This leaves us with little time together, but I don't see any better way. What did it say you needed for this Arcane Sanctum? The building to upgrade the portals."

"That's the weirdest part, it doesn't show up in the interface. It's listed, but nothing is described about what I need to build it. I'm a bit afraid about who I could ask for advice about this..."

"You don't think about going to see Her!!! Not after last time? She's dangerous!"

"I know that. But I think I understand her reasoning. She's old, so she had time to realize how useless it was to constantly hold grudges. She helped me before, and yes, when I went against her, she made me fix it. But she could have simply killed me once it was done, or from the start. I could just try asking if she would be willing to share that information and what it would cost. Then we will be able to decide if it is worth it. I really don't think that she will harm me for asking that. What do you think about it?"

"I hate it. I know that it is the best solution, but I don't like it. It's dangerous, and I don't want to lose you. But you are right: if we want to live like that, we absolutely need to upgrade this. One extra ring will fix a few things, but not much, especially if it goes to someone who doesn't reside in the kingdom full-time."

"Don't you think you went pretty far when you invited June?"

"Pff, you know nothing about women. I have to pique her interest, lure her with mystery. It will work, don't worry. I don't see anyone getting fun with your royal scepter and not coming back for more."

After a last kiss they went on their way, Anna taking a bus in the direction of John's house and John of the junkyard. Being able to chat was a relief, and John thanked everything out there once again for the modifier on his boxers, because if it wasn't for them he would have been riding the tram with a hole in his pants. The video from the locker room, with every girl getting in their swimsuits, was as good as Anna had said, especially with the addition of June.

When John arrived near the junkyard, he found a nice hidden spot and returned to Arcadia. The girls were all gathered here.

Sylvia, her staff in hand, wearing some armor that Anna and he had crafted from lizard skin and ironwood.

Cali looked fearsome: she had her bow and quivers of arrows, her sword and a tomahawk; was wearing a lighter version of the armor; and had painted the sigil of Arcadia with white paste on her forehead. It reminded John of the paintings that he had seen on the elves of her village.

Vesta was also wearing some armor over her slime suit and had John's Dragon Fang dagger on her belt. She was holding a spear at the moment.

John had restocked projectiles of all types, even adding some made from his new Venom skill to the list. Cali had some poisoned arrows in another quiver thanks to him.

The equipment was low grade: John had discovered that he couldn't add more than one enchantment on each armor. He had opted for one which gave some additional protection he had picked because it added armor even to the uncovered parts.

"I know that I can't join you, but it's not easy to let you go do that without being with you. I really want to find a way to be useful in these situations, so promise me to help me do that and to come back in one piece this time!" Anna urged him.

"I promise. I was alone and unprepared the last time things went south. This time, I have a huntress, a healer and a pyromancer at my side, and I'm better prepared as well as equipped, so we will be able to handle it. We'll be able to gather some materials at the real junkyard and then more interesting things in the dungeon. I'll be back; I have someone that I love and who loves me back to return to!"

He gave her a passionate kiss, their intertwined bodies **** to let go of each other. It was only with deep regret that John let go of her. The call of adventure was tempered by what he was leaving behind. He hoped that actually having such shared feelings for someone out there would make him think a little more before acting and be more careful. Despite his really ingenious ways to get out of horrible situations, he had realized that he kept finding himself in such horrible situations in the first place.

Every member of the party received a lunchbox from Anna. She had started having fun with her Craft skill and had made them out of some remaining metal from the kingdom's storage chest. John had given each girl a belt to store their weapons or tools. They also had pouches that offered inventory slots, the perfect place to keep the lunch box and find it full of warm food when needed.

John had even checked the gun that he had picked up in Chicago before going, thinking that it could be a good thing to have. Sadly, firing it inside the jamming field had destroyed the primer of each bullet, and he did not have any other ammo. Guns also had the issue of being very loud, and with his usual way of fighting, it might not be the best solution.

The adventurers took John's waypoint to arrive next to the fence of the large junkyard. John had already made a hole in it for everyone to slip in.

The smell was as putrid as last time, John had noticed it when he arrived the first time, so he was really glad to be wearing his gas mask now.

This was a good farming spot, both in the real world with its mountains of refuse and junk metal and in the Abyss with the junk rats. The junk rat bones that they all dropped had very good properties for tools, armors and weapons. John hoped that there would be more of them than last time, as it would be easier to counter their hit and run ambushes with four pairs of eyes.