-Hermann Hesse

"The Lady is with you and takes your pain away, that you may feel her love always."

Heal: +50 HP!
HP: 90 / 90

"There, I'm fine now. Can we get going?" John asked, a little annoyed. He had enough mana to heal himself, but he'd wanted to save it in the hopes of nuking the boss down, so that way they could all get out of there sooner. If he'd had the mana for it and knew he could take the others with him, he would've gladly torn them all out of the dungeon immediately, leveling be damned. He was worried about the others getting ambushed, and he still wanted to talk to Seras as soon as possible, before she tried getting herself killed again.

"Your judgement is too rash, and your decisions are not as level as they usually are. You let yourself get too emotional over those… over them," Moira said, eyeing John with annoyance as she noted his bristling as she prepared to call them "summons" or "things" again.

"Well, I'm the fucking moron who set up a dungeon that nearly killed his friends," John muttered. "Let's go, it can't be far."

Warning: Party Members have exited effective grouping area. EXP will not be shared, spells affecting party members will not affect them, and any shared passive effects will no longer work, unless a longer range is specified by the ability or a Raid group is formed.

"It's been a while since we separated… that's a lot of range. I wonder how far it extends?"

John had no way of knowing without being sure of how fast the others had moved, but he could guess assuming they travelled at the same speed as when he'd watched them walk away. At least a half-mile, probably more, since his estimates of speed were by no means practiced.

A shriek broke John's thoughts as they marched, the dungeon's dramatic performance impeccable as ever when the forest around them began to darken. The sound that filled the air around them was rather less like a bird and more like a hurricane, some of the trees actually bending and shaking from what must have been an impressive gale.

Instead of descending between the branches, the harpy that John saw at last descended through them, its body so large and wings so forceful that it snapped several smaller branches entirely as it crashed through. Once it righted itself under the distant canopy, it focused entirely on them, going into a dive. Despite its size, it seemed almost as fast as the other harpies and no doubt far stronger.

"How… how does something that large even fly? How does it even live in this forest, it's too large for the trees!"

"It's a Barrier, John. These creatures don’t need to make sense to pose a threat!" Moira called out, raising her hammer.

"The Lady strikes those who defile her children and wipes them from this earth!"

A bolt of light identical to the one Moira had fired at the smaller harpies appeared, but this creature wasn't affected in nearly the same way. It staggered mid-air and then continued onward, only moderately deterred.

"Shit, this thing's tougher," John murmured, raising a hand with a Fire Orb already forming.

"My holy magic is not the most effective for offense at this range," Moira acknowledged, raising her shield, "but it has no hope in close combat!"

The harpy may have stood no chance against Moira directly, but monstrous size did seem to have intrinsic value other than inordinate exsanguination, for while one of her claws struck the Warden's shield true, the other one was reaching around her form, scratching wildly at Moira's side and John himself only a few feet behind. It couldn't quite reach John, but its claws did rake Moira's sides several times.

Party Member: -20 HP!
Party Member: -32 HP!

"Thank god she's such a tank," John thought to himself as he stood back, preparing his blade. Even the few scrapes Moira was taking easily with no noticeable effects on her combat ability would've tanked John's health, but he refused to let himself be nothing more than an observer in this.

"Moira, I'm gonna throw an orb," John cried out, launching his arm forward. Thankfully, with the orb's aim being at least partially mental, he avoided accidentally igniting Moira's backside. The orb collided with the claw as it was in mid-swing toward Moira's exposed side, and the bird's entire left drumstick ignited. Moira herself was showered with a few sparks but did not ignite fully, only grimacing as she raised up her hammer.

Rather than cast a spell, she simply swung out at the beast, but it had already started to retreat when John cast his spell on its outstretched limb. Instead of a resounding strike, she only managed a glancing blow, reflected in the pop-up John received alongside his own.

26 DMG!
Party Member: Glancing Blow! 39 DMG

The harpy flapped its wings with such **** that it blew the fire on its legs out, an impressive feat considering the size of the blaze. It soared to just below the treetops, outside of the range of Moira's hammer and far enough that John didn't want to risk missing and setting the forest ablaze as he'd nearly done earlier.

"Stay close, John, it's targeting you."

"How can you tell?!" John asked, looking up. The harpy was circling in the air, but it didn't seem to be focusing on either one of them at the moment. By the time Moira had opened her mouth to respond, it was diving, and true to Moira's word, it was headed straight for John.

Moira was always stronger than John, but with his decreased level he didn't even see the redhead travel. She actually leapt above John, her shield raised as she intercepted the incoming talons only a foot or two above John's head, his eyes wide and his mouth gaping as the unarmored girl fell atop him, her shield already glowing as she shouted out to the sky.

"The Lady holds you in contempt, feel the weight of her judgement!"

Golden strands of light shot from Moira's shield and solidified, binding the harpy and crashing it to the ground, its wings unable to move properly to keep it aloft. Its legs were still mostly free, upper thighs bound toward its chest but clawed lower legs still reaching for them. Moira was readying something, but John saw an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

"For what your shitty kids did to my friends!" John shouted, lifting up his hands. Taking advantage of the fact that his spell had no cooldown, he lobbed Fire Orb after Fire Orb into the downed bird. As each one impacted, the damage notifications piled up; although the creature's health pool must have been massive, it was in no position to defend against or avoid the attacks, and by the time John's mana pool was emptied, it was a mass of flames, filled with the scent of burning flesh and feathers. It was the most satisfyingly putrid smell that John had ever caught wind of, though the harpy's flailing was sending balls of molten fur and feather scattering around, igniting small blazes around them.

"Impressive, John," Moira called out over the vicious shrieks, "but I would suggest you learn something with a bit less environmental damage for future encounters."

"Duly noted," John said dryly. "Can you finish it?"

"The lady strikes those who defile her children and wipes them from this earth!"

Repeating her earlier incantation, Moira called a bolt of light from the treetops and struck the bird on the chest, actually piercing it this time either due to an increased casting strength from the Warden or due to its weakened and **** state. The harpy shrieked one final time and was silent, collapsing to the ground. John suspected for a moment that it was not yet finished but didn't had the mana to cast Observe on it. Thankfully, a notification came up just a moment later to confirm it.

Mini-Boss defeated, Dungeon complete [Level 8]!
+1,250 EXP (1000 + 25% Randomized Bonus) [+25 EXP from Perks]
+$2,500 ($2,000 + 25% Randomized Bonus)
+6 Minor Wind Essence (5 + 25% Randomized Bonus)
+25 lbs. Chicken Wings (20 + 25% Randomized Bonus)
Randomized Dungeon Bonus: 1 Harpy Egg

NOTICE: 3 Party Members outside EXP range. Only 50% completion EXP will be granted to those outside the area.

That notification was followed by several more, as John had realized was quite normal.

Skills have leveled up!

Fire Orb - Level 2: Can now form two Fire Orbs at once, and can control their trajectory up to 10 feet away. Damage increased to [15-20 + .35x Intelligence].

Level Up!
John has reached levels 2, 3, 4, and 5!
+5 to all Stats!

Party Members Leveled Up!

Maera has reached Level 5!
+2 to all Stats!
+2 Growth Point!

Seras has reached level 6!
+2 to all Stats!
+2 Growth Points!

Moira has reached level 21!
+5 to all Stats!

"John, what was that?" Moira asked, glancing at her hammer and shield.

"What was what?"

"When we killed that creature, just as it died, your mana surged! You feel almost back to normal, and I felt something too - like a burst of energy, a blessing from the Lady, or something else empowering me."

"Seems like I’m not the only one who can level up; if you're in the party, you get all the benefits," John murmured, staring at his own hand. He was now sitting a bit closer to where he'd once been in terms of strength, at level 5 with 15 / 1000 Experience toward the next level. Considering it had taken him almost a full week to progress just seven levels before, that was a fantastic step, even if these levels were easily obtained and far less impactful.

"These abilities of yours are like nothing I've ever seen. Altering the very fabric of reality… truly a wonder," Moira whispered, glancing over John with a newfound respect and just a tinge of awe.

"I'm just glad you don't want to kill me for it anymore," John said, grinning.

Around them, the world began to break apart, shattering in moments until they were standing in John's world rather than the twisted version of it that the Dungeon Barrier had created. Really, the only difference was the positioning of the trees switching up and the absence of a harpy corpse covered in flames, but it was a welcome change. Especially when John glanced at his party HUD and saw that all three of his party members were safe and sound, with Maera and Mithra both sitting comfortably at almost full health while Seras had managed to regenerate a point or two herself.

"Well, let us return to camp then. This was… enlightening, John, but I would suggest that when I am not here, you do not attempt any further randomizations of these dungeons."

"Agreed… fully agreed."

---

Their return to camp was as uneventful as their departure, sudden and without much in the way of fanfare. Mithra and Maera were napping in the sunlight, no doubt worn out from their enthusiastic combat session. Lunaya was still at the fire, and though she gave a gentle wave and a smile, she made no movement to rise for them. Then there was Seras.

The vampiress was seated not far from Lunaya but only glanced up when she noticed them approaching. She said nothing and refused to look either John or Moira in the eye. When John saw her reaction, the last few moments of their time together replayed themselves in his mind, reminding him of what he had to do.

"Moira, I'm going to head back to the forest for a few moments. I'll return shortly." John checked his menus for confirmation before he continued. "In less than six hours we can return to my house. Until then, I agree with the Nekos that we've all earned a rest. But first, Seras…"

The blonde woman winced visibly at her name, as if she thought that John were about to strike her when he said it. John frowned, not at her displeasure but at the reaction. Keeping his voice firm but softening it as best as he could, he pointed toward the forest.

"We need to talk. Now."

Seras stood without a word, nodding dutifully as she fell in line behind John. None of the others said anything. Maera lifted a single eyelid and returned to her slumber instantly. That silence followed them, wrapping around the pair like a cloak as they slowly marched inexorably toward the forest. A walk that only took a handful of minutes seemed to last half an hour as John poured over everything in his head, trying to figure out what to say, what to ask, and what the answers to his questions might be.

When they were at the edge of the forest, with just enough trees between them and the open plains around the lake to feel isolated and secure, John let the silence hang for a moment or two longer before speaking. Seras was still avoiding his eyes, but he could see pain and sorrow in her eyes, something that put a deep frown on his face and a furrow in his brow.

"Seras, before I say anything… why do you think we are here?"

"I wasn't… I’m not strong enough. I can't help you," Seras began, head falling sorrowfully as she cupped her hands together and pressed her clenched thumbs into her face. "I'm sorry! I tried my best, but they were too fast an' I just wanted to protect you!"

John blankly stared for a moment, caught off guard. Was that the impression he'd given her? Was that why-

"I won't let it happen again, I can be of use to you, Master! Please, just give me another chance, I won't fail! I know you don’t really want me here, but I can do somethin' for you! I'll fight, I'll work, I'll do anythin' - just please don't send me away, I don't want to be alone any-"

Party Member: -1 HP (Minimal ****, Subdual Damage)!

The sound echoed through the forest, a bolt of thunder in a silent night. John hadn't realized he was moving until his hands were already wrapped around Seras' collar, her body already slamming into the tree behind her. Both of their eyes widened, the two equally shocked at the sudden movement by John and the impact of the shove itself. The difference was that while Seras was stunned into silence, John couldn't help the words that began to pour out of his mouth.

"When have I ever said anything about not wanting you here?!"

John didn't mean to sound so aggressive, he didn't mean to be so forceful. But at the accusation of indifference toward her, at the thought of dismissing Seras in this cold, unfamiliar world… John was filled with a strange mixture of righteous indignation and the desire to pull Seras to his chest and hold her there through the night. Torn between the two, all he could do was shout.

"Seras Victoria, I have been thrust into this strange new world of creations and Purifying with no idea what I'm doing, but what impression have I given you in my incompetence that you would say I don't want you? How could you even think that?"

"I'm just- I'm just somethin' you made, a creation, a thing. The others… you said it yourself, you made them out of nothing. They're things you wanted, things you imagined up. I'm just some picture you saw brought to life… what meanin' is there in that?! Nothin' I know is real, everythin's just a story some person in another world made up. But I don't wanna be nothin'! So let me help anyway I can, anythin' you want. You're all I've got in this world, and I had nothin’ in mine. I don't wanna lose you."

John held himself back, worried for a moment about letting another outburst hurt the girl by accident. He let those words sink in, let their full weight hit him.

"I'm… I'm so sorry."

"M-mas-"

"Don't!" John said, gritting his teeth. Now he was the one whose gaze fell away, his eyes shifting themselves to the grass at their feet as he struggled to find some way to meet the beautiful woman's true feelings with equally true reassurances.

"Don't call me master. Not right now. I don't deserve it - I haven't been what you need, what you deserve. I saw that you were hurting and upset over what you learned, but I was so caught up in everything I never even asked. You're strong, Seras, but I treated you like you were invincible. No one is. It's okay to be broken, okay to feel weak, but it’s not okay for me to leave you like that. I should have been there for you. So I'm sorry."

John looked up to see Seras' brilliant blue eyes glistening with ruby tears. His own must have mirrored them, for he felt one break free at that moment, sliding down his cheek and leaving a burning trail of sorrow.

"I don't know why I have these abilities; I don’t even always understand what I'm doing with them. But what I can tell you is that your appearance here, your creation if that's what it was, did not happen because I wanted someone expendable or because you are nothing. If anything, it's because you are something - you're an amazing person who stood out in my mind. You were born from a bat, and there are hundreds of vampires that could have appeared instead, but it was you. I truly believe it's because you stood out in my mind so much, because you were so incredible."

"But- but I'm not real, I'm somethin' out of a story… a story I don't even know the endin' to. What's the point? I'm a bunch of ink pulled off a page; I never should have even existed…"

Seras looked so downfallen and heartbroken that John could do nothing but stare for a moment. He was a social outcast most of his life and an awkward loner the rest. He didn't know how to face such raw emotions, but it touched something in him that had lain dormant for countless years. John Newman reacted in the only way he knew how.

He leaned forward and firmly but gently placed his lips on hers.

Seras jerked in shock, but her lips never left John's. She didn't press in eagerly, nor did she pull away. She sat there for a moment in frozen awe before gently, ever so softly, pressing against him as awkwardly as if she had only just discovered her own body. John let the moment linger for a second before pulling away, no tongue, no lust, only a moment of honesty passed physically between two people, and perhaps something more in the haze of confused emotions.

"Did that… did that feel real?" John asked, gazing into Seras' eyes. She looked a bit like a fish, her mouth hanging open and twitching randomly while her eyes were wide and unblinking. She managed to recover some semblance of function after the third or fourth wordless gape, blushing furiously as she seemed to finally process everything.

"Y-y-yes!"

"Good."

John pulled back, finally releasing Seras' shirt as he looked back toward the camp. His own cheeks were overheating as he did so, mind finally recovering from its purely emotional reaction to Seras' confessions.

"I can't give you meaning, Seras. I can't tell you what the point of your life is - even if I did create you, that’s not my place. It's up to you to determine your path, to find meaning in your time in this world. But whatever you find in that, I can tell you that your life has as much meaning as anyone else's - mine, Moira's, the Nekos', anyone’s. You're not a lifeless clump of ink and paper, Seras. The only story here is the one that you write, nothing else matters. So please, never act like that again. Your life has meaning, Seras, to you and to me. I want you here. And if you promise to never throw your life away, to never risk yourself like you did today, I promise that I will never leave you alone."

"I- I-I…"

Seras trailed off. Red streaks trailed from her eyes all the way to her chin, making John just a little less self-conscious as his own tears streamed freely.

"M-Master!"

Seras sobbed openly as she pulled forward. Their arms fell around each other, clutching tightly as each of them found a kindred spirit in the other. Two souls tossed together in a new world they did not fully understand, left without purpose as all that they had ever known was revealed as a farce. Only able to fully express themselves to each other, only able to understand each other.

Only needing each other.