With emotional issues resolved for now, we all get moderately plastered. As is proper in these situations. Elisa and Rak'Na return from their own talk to find four people that definitely look like they've been crying.

After a few hours of reducing Elisa's carefully curated collection, the reunion slash party slash therapy session starts winding down. I excuse myself and let the remaining participants continue badmouthing me in peace.

I warp in front of a door and knock.

A preoccupied voice distractedly beckons me to enter, "Yeah, come on in."

I open the door and do just so. "Excuse me, young man, I'm looking for the master of this fine Hall. Is he around?"

A boisterous laugh shakes the room. The giant of a man appears before me in a blur and pulls me into a hug. With the door clicking closed behind me, a faint pulse of mana hits my body. I feel Ren slacken, having to nearly support him, or risk my friend collapsing on top of me.

He tries to keep his voice down. Emphasis on tries. "Took your sweet time, kiddo, but I knew no dungeon could hold you for long."

"Piece of cake."

Another bout of laughter shakes my body too. Ren steadies and lets me go. "When did you get back?"

"Yesterday. Sorry for not contacting you sooner. I wanted to do this properly, and I had something to take care of first."

I receive a knowing grin and a gentle slap to the shoulder. Then the grin falters. "Why didn't—" He interrupts himself with a frantic waving of his arms. "Sit and tell me what happened."

I take a seat. "As Elisa very eloquently put it, I didn't speak with you because I am a dummy."

Ren crashes down on the couch across from me, fiddling with his hands. "You had your reasons. I can even guess some of them."

I call for his attention, "Ren." His eyes lift to meet mine. "Don't think of your concern for me as meddling. It's okay to be angry with me for what I did."

He shakes his head, starting to smile again. "I'd have been angry if the Maw opened up without you stepping out."

"Well, that dungeon's not going to be doing anything anymore. It was a... transformative experience."

Ren chuckles. "I bet. What was in it?"

"Devourers."

"Fucking devourers."

"Oh, you have no idea. But that can wait for now. How's the rejuvenation? Any complaints?"

A bicep flexes and stretches the fabric of his shirt to its maximum. "None. Haven't felt this good... probably ever. How many more surprises are you hiding, you little shit?"

"Don't be rude, young man." I try to say something else serious, but we both start laughing. When we settle down, I ask, "And how's the zero amount of paperwork been treating you?"

"Barely compensates for you being absent. I've got a thick stack— a long list of dungeons for you."

I make a mock wince. "Might need a few weeks to recover, though..."

He immediately nods. "Okay. Take your time."

"Now hold on. I was just joking."

"Too late."

"Don't make me beg, Ren..."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

He places a hand next to his ear and adopts an expression full of expectation. "What was that?"

"...Please let me delve."

Ren tries to answer but we both start laughing again.

"We've been saving the new dungeons for you," Ren says. "Happy to see that our optimistic predictions paid off. Elisa, and the ones in the know, speculate that it's going to be a variant related to you and Earth. Technology?"

"Possibly."

"Good thing we waited, then. Who knows what's going to be in there. It's also not a coincidence that the emergence was so close to your own."

"The Meta Universe Theory—Trademarked—really is impressive. One of my finest works. But it might also be golem related. Or... the most likely scenario—a combination of both."

He gives me a sly grin. "When are you going?"

"Soon. I'll outfit Erysis and Nexen and go explore."

"Armor?"

It's my turn to give him a sly grin back. "Amongst other things, yes." I can practically see him start vibrating in his seat.

"Show me the dungeon?"

"Sure. But I'll have to warn you, it's not for the faint of heart."

Ren slams his fist against his chest. "Good thing mine's better than new."

A projection springs to life.

***

Ren's steady eyes do not move, not even when the projection is fully gone.

After a long moment, he finally trains them on my own. "As Hall Master of the Harthes Guild Hall, I congratulate you, Lucius, on joining a rank very few people have achieved. Great people. May your aiding spirit never diminish, Adventurer." I incline my head in thanks. An adventurer's card appears in Ren's hand. "Got this ready the day I learned you challenged the Empty Maw."

He presents the card to me. I take it and study the small rectangle of thin enchanted metal.

A small smile brushes past my lips. "Your trust in me is appreciated."

"My trust in you is absolute, kiddo."

"Wanna punch the crap out of each other?"

A dangerous smile forms on my friend's face. "Thought you'd never ask."

***

Two tired messes are laying down on my favorite desert planet.

Ren, looking at the quite different sky, says, "We are doing this again after you upgrade me."

"Don't expect too much. I'm not a miracle worker."

"Says the guy that shaved twenty years off my top. And all the subsequent."

"You'll be surprised at how easy that actually was. The harder part was neural saturation. But by studying the brain anatomy of fae, dragons, and monsters..."

I continue explaining the broader strokes of Project Transcendence, with Ren enjoying the novel influx of information. Or most likely just humoring me. But after he asks a very insightful question, I disregard that thought.

With my shortened explanation done, we start talking about whatever, catching up.

But soon, it's time for us to go back, or Ren's absence might raise some eyebrows a bit earlier than I'd like.

When we bid our goodbyes, I receive another obligatory—and sorely missed—shoulder clap.

A warp brings me back to Elisa's house.

"Did you have fun?" the elf asks, grinning at my, frankly, disheveled appearance. As I enthusiastically affirm, she waves a hand, removing the accumulated dust and grime away from my body and clothes.

"Thank you. Ready?"

Elisa huffs, displaying an array of emotions. "No idea."

"Me too."

She shrugs and moves close. "I'll send you a message if I want to escape."

"I have three hundred and six excuses and manufactured emergencies prepared to be deployed at a moment's notice."

Elisa smiles and leans in, tenderly planting a kiss on my lips. Alert. Computational capabilities reduced by eighty-seven percent.

She bonks her forehead against mine. "Why did I get a fake alert?"

A dazed voice answers, "Who says it's fake."

Her reddening face indicates that we might share the same affliction. "You dummy..."

***

Elisa and I warp inside the entrance area of Alcia and Ulorn's home.

The elf calls out to her parents, "Mom, Dad, I'm here."

Two sets of footsteps can be heard swiftly approaching. Two elves freeze when they see their daughter has brought company.

Ulorn blinks next to us and embraces me. Alcia is a few seconds behind but soon joins in on the hug. And so does Elisa. Who would have thought crying could feel so cathartic?

Once we've calmed down and moved to the living room, we sit. I am sandwiched between Alcia and Ulorn, both refusing to let me out of their sight. In case I try to do anything else inadvised.

I offer a somewhat summarized explanation of what I've been through in the Maw, without any redactions. As my story progresses, I find myself in another embrace, one that is much more persistent than the last. Elisa is sitting across from us, the complicated expression on her face unchanging.

When I'm finished, she takes over. "Mother, Father, I have something I'd like to share with you, that we'd both like to share." The two older—only temporally now—elves turn to her. "Lucius and I have started a relationship."

Alcia cocks her head to the side, a questioning look regarding the younger elf. "You weren't in one already?" Elisa spectacularly fails to suppress a very spectacular groan. I also receive the retreat message. Alcia chuckles playfully. "Merely a jest, pumpkin. Merely a jest."

Ulorn nods approvingly. "It truly was only a matter of time, dear. Just as you said." He then addresses his daughter, tightening his grasp on me protectively, "You better take good care of our Lucius, Elisa." I receive the retreat message once more. "And you better not leave her again."

"I won't," I reply. "I never will."

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