I entered the training room, and young Mord tackled me in a hug. It felt as real as hugging a best friend for the last time.

  “Do we fight?” I asked.

  “We do not. You challenge me too much. With five others going is too much. Not offer worthy challenge.”

  “It’s ok, my fri….brother,” my voice was laced with the loss I was feeling. Mord smiled at that.

  “Want see me beat cat and fox?” he asked, bringing a pair of TV-like screens up.

  “Absolutely.” I didn’t hesitate in the slightest. I knew the betrayal was coming, and a fight was likely. Seeing their failures would be very valuable. Mord could fight above my D Tier if he wanted. He was a B-tier dungeon after all, which meant that he spent a significant amount of time as a C-tier dungeon and thus could wipe the floor with me if he wanted. Something must have pissed him off. Something I missed. He wasn’t training in the images he was showing. He was punishing.

  The cat was a good archer, but she made the mistake of fighting a monk with her new, untested bow. It looked like it produced arrows out of no where and fired them with power. Still, they were no match for Mord’s speed. After dodging the first half dozen, taking a step forward with each shot. After that, he started swatting them out of the air, stepping ever closer. The cat seems oblivious that she was outclassed by a quarry that was getting ever closer. In the end he caught one of her arrows and just handed it to her, pointing to the door.

  The Fox was even more comedic. If she was Ascendant, she hardly showed it. Mord chased her around the room without her putting up any bit of a fight. I did watch her heal her wounds a few times. The reprieve that Mord gave her to do so was beyond obvious. Eventually, he just bled her of mana and showed her the door.

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  That was my cue to leave. Mord’s hand indicated that as well, pointing to the door.

  “That was amazing. I’m gonna let them betray me though. It’s more fun that way. Wish we had some beers for that shit show though. Goodbye, my friend,” I added as I moved for the door.

  “Aris! Wait!” I sensed the urgency in his voice and turned around.

  Mord had his hands behind his back. He was hiding something.

  “Promise no tell scholar-self? He asked. I nodded my head in agreement.

  The beautiful bastard pulled two foamy mugs of what I assumed was beer from behind his back. He handed me one. It smelled amazing.

  “Quick, before he sees.”

  You didn't need to tell me twice. I tapped his mug with mine and slammed it like I was about to do something stupid, which I was, but you get the picture. It was glorious.

  I returned the mug and grabbed the handle.

  I entered the vending room, but had nothing left I wished to spend. I walked through with a bittersweet smile. I would be back one day. This was my last moment I had here as my true self. Ink and my blades both felt it and responded.

  I could see myself in my aura. White shirt with dark black slacks and a matching vest. My blades out to my sides at a forty-five, flats out for effect. My cape looked tattered, but it rippled under no wind; it left my face in the light. Ink even added the nonsense runes under my eyes. I looked every part the badass. I looked like a novel cover.

  In a flash of the deepest black, it was gone, replaced with the rough homespun of a mortal. Ink trilled in anger at having to hide. I tried to ease him with my words.

  “Of course they are going to betray us, bud, but it’s not like they can really hurt us. This way we get to see the underbelly of the world. Plus, if we just kill them, they don’t get a chance to do the right thing. Think of how much fun it will be to hunt them down when they do it. It’s more fun when the prey runs, trust me.” He trilled as I cackled and grabbed the door handle.