Kagha's Glow Up

The morning light crept through the canopy, soft and golden, washing the Grove in calm stillness. The air smelled of damp moss and wildflowers—and something sweeter still, esters, like overripe fruit. Across the trees, birds tested their voices en masse, a chorus of warbles and trills as they filled the air with bright, lyrical mating calls. The loud melodies of the birds played in tune with distant bass from the Grove.

I woke to the weight of something warm and solid on my chest. For a split second, I thought it was a dream—a gentle one, for once. Then the weight shifted, scales brushing against my skin, and a flickering tongue kissed the air inches from my face.

I froze.

A viper stared back at me, coiled neatly across my sternum, its eyes unblinking and gold as molten amber. The creature’s tongue flicked again, tasting the air—and my fear. My breath caught somewhere in my throat. The thing wasn’t hissing, wasn’t attacking, just... watching.

I didn’t move. Not until I glanced to my side and realized why my bedroll felt so cramped. Kagha lay next to me, one arm tucked under her head, her hair a tangle of red strands, breath rising and falling softly. Peaceful.

“Kagha,” I whispered loudly. “Wake up.”

She stirred, a soft sound escaping her lips—half sigh, half complaint. The viper shifted, then uncoiled from my chest, slithering gracefully over to her. It wrapped itself around her arm in one smooth motion, like it had always belonged there.

Kagha blinked awake, eyes unfocused for a moment before finding mine. Her lips curved into a faint, amused smile. “Ah,” she murmured, voice still drowsy. “Seems Teela likes you.”

I exhaled sharply. “I’d rather she didn’t.”

That earned me a light, melodic laugh—warmer than I’d ever heard from her. She sat up slowly, sunlight catching in her newly youthful hair. She stretched with a yawn, then looked toward the grove. “It’s a tranquil morning,” she said softly. “The kind that comes before something big.”

Then Kagha blinked, realization dawning in her eyes. “Usually,” she said after a moment, “when I wake, I feel the pulse of the wild. The heartbeat of every root and leaf.” Her voice faltered slightly. “Now it’s gone. Just... silence. Except the birds—half the forest seemed to be in chorus.”

She turned back to me and tried to smile, but it came out wistful. “Your making, most likely”

Another quiet moment passed. Then she said, “You know, I probably can’t do much in the fight today. Without my druid powers, I’m just a woman with a snake and bad luck. Would you even want me along? Your party looks crowded enough.”

I recognized the dialogue option, even though she would likely be detrimental to the fight, now was a good as time as any to see if my patron had been true to his word.

I met her gaze. “Actually,” I said, “I think there’s room for one more.”

Kagha’s brows drew together. “Room? But there are—”

Her words cut off when the air shimmered with golden light, and then a familiar chime rang in the air. She gasped as the light enveloped her, falling to her knees. Energy rippled through her form. I opened my UI to see her name flashing at the side of the screen, climbing rapidly through levels until it matched mine.

[Party Member Added: Kagha] [Level Up]

How convenient, Auto-level to the party leader. Exactly as in the game.

Kagha looked down at her hands as if she’d never seen them before. “You—you’ve given me back everything I lost,” she whispered. “And so much more.”

“Technically,” I began, “that’s just—”

“Thank you,” she interrupted, her voice trembling. She was crying now, tears bright in the sunlight. “Thank you, Tav. Thank you,”

Her lower lip quivered, and despite the tears, she looked... radiant. I hadn’t done anything extraordinary—just triggered a basic mechanic—but to her, it was salvation.

I cleared my throat and pulled up her stat sheet. Level four, but... still a druid. Just a blank space where her to nature spell tree used to be. When I reached the end of her stats there was a new feat, Magic Initiate (Warlock), undoubtedly a present from Graz’zt. She went over her spell list—“Eldritch Bolt” and “Charm”, of course. The kind of magic that hummed with hunger rather than nature.

I frowned. “We don’t need a druid with novice warlock spells,” I said before I could stop myself.

Kagha blinked at me, startled, then laughed softly. “No, I suppose you don’t.”

I sighed. “Let’s fix that. We can choose another path for you..”

“Whatever you need me to be, I will be,” she said softly, her tone warm and unwavering.

I thought for a moment, running through builds in my head. “We’ve already got strength from Karlach and Lae’zel, support from Shadowheart, and charisma—well, obviously me. We could use some dexterity. A lot actually, at least if we weren't planning on brute forcing every locked chest we find. Someone who can move unseen would also be nice.”

Her lips quirked upward. “A rogue, then?”

“Or a ranger,” I countered. “Given your whole… nature vibe.”

Kagha chuckled. “I suppose that fits. At least that way I will still be close to nature.”

“Ranger, it is.” I said. “Gloom Stalker subclass. It suits you—strikes first, sneaks around, thrives in darkness. Oh, and pick fire resistance.” I gave her a smirk. “Trust me.”

Kagha tilted her head, eyes unfocusing slightly as she adjusted her skills. Her aura shimmered briefly. The faint glow faded, replaced by a new tension in her posture—alert, predatory, alive.

When she looked up, her smile had changed slightly. There was warmth there still, but undercut by a sharp, dangerous pride. “I feel... different,” she murmured. “Stronger. Lighter.”

“Good,” I said. “It suits you.”

She purred.

I reached into my pack and drew out the Sanguine Blade. Its thin metal shimmered faintly in the morning light, veins of shadow pulsing beneath the surface. “One more thing,” I said, handing it to her. “A gift. From my patron.”

Her breath caught. “For me?”

“Don’t get used to it, he's not usually so generous”

She took the weapon reverently, her fingers tracing its edge. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

“Dangerous as well.”

Teela slithered higher up her arm, tongue flicking along the blade before coiling back around Kagha’s shoulder. Kagha rose, testing a few practice strikes. Her movements were clean and deliberate—each thrust quick and deadly, every maneuver planned. Not raw power like Karlach, not calculated brutality like Lae’zel. Something quieter, more precise.

She giggled then—wickedly, beautifully.

The sound of her brought motion from the tents. Lae’zel was first, hastily armored and awake in seconds. Her eyes scanned the scene before landing on Kagha and her new unfamiliar sword.

Her expression shifted—approval, sharp and unmistakable. She turned to me with the same look “As I expected, your choice was right,”

[Lae'zel Approval: +3]

Kagha met her with a smile, followed by a polite nod. Which Lae'zel returned in kind.

Shadowheart emerged next, high slit armor glued to her curves. Her gaze flicked from the new deadlier Kagha to me, one eyebrow arching. “Well,” she said dryly. “That’s new.”

Before I could reply, laughter drifted across the camp. Wyll and Karlach appeared, deep in conversation. Karlach’s smile faltered the instant she saw Kagha; Wyll waved cheerfully. “Good morning! Kagha, you seem... different this morning”

Kagha straightened proudly. “Tav invited me to the party,” she said. “I have my strength back.”

Wyll stopped midstride. “What?” His eyes flicked to me. “Who did you replace?”

“No one,” I said simply.

The silence that followed was almost comical.

“Wait,” Shadowheart said, frowning. “You can do that?”

“Apparently,” I said, spreading my hands nonchalantly.

Wyll looked scandalized. “All this time, we could’ve brought five?”

“No.”

I continued “But congratulations—you’re still on camp duty.”

His face fell. “Oh, come on—”

“Sorry,” I said. “It's out of my hands.”

He sighed dramatically. “Very well. I’ll watch the camp. As always.” He wiped an imaginary tear. “Truly, the unsung hero’s burden.”

Karlach crossed her arms, glaring at me. “You’re really taking her?” she asked, jerking her chin toward Kagha. “I know I said I’d give her a chance, but staying in camp and taking her adventuring is whole different thing, mate.”

[Karlach: Approval -2]

Kagha didn’t even blink, serene smile unwavering. Teela’s head rose slightly, tongue tasting the air.

Wyll quickly broke the silence. “Karlach,” he said gently, “remember what we talked about. She’s lost everything. This is her second chance.”

Karlach looked at him, exhaled slowly, then nodded. “You’re right. It's the right thing to do.”

[Karlach: Corruption -2]

The faint notification blinked at the edge of my vision. I stared at it, incredulous.

That’s not how this is supposed to go.

I shot Wyll a look.

He smiled obliviously. “Happy to help.”

Gods help me.

I turned back to the group, squaring my shoulders. “We move. Now.”

Lae’zel’s Leotard-armor snapped into place with a metallic click. Shadowheart made a tiny prayer, Karlach rolled her neck, and Kagha, blade at her hip, gave a soft nod.

The sun was rising fully now, painting the Grove in gold and crimson. Birds scattered as we set out, the dirt beneath crunched at our steps.

Five silhouettes walked from camp toward the Grove’s heart—ready for battle, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that somewhere far behind us, Graz’zt was smiling.