Chapter 32 #3
“Very,” said Vic, then laughed nervously. “I clearly signed up with the wrong demon.”
Sam’s lips were pursed, but to Harald’s surprise her look wasn’t one of condemnation or horror. Instead, she nodded grimly. “That’s what it’s going to take to win though,” she said at last. “It’s not the weapon that matters. It’s who’s using it.”
“Correct,” said Harald, immensely relieved. “That’s exactly right.”
“Well.” Nessa shook out her newly healed arm. “Definitely turned the tide, there. It was just… startling. I… yeah. Thanks.”
Harald forced a smile. Perhaps if he didn’t act so comfortable with his own powers, they wouldn’t be so discomfited by his Abilities. Maybe he should have just hung back and let the Well consume the lizard dragon from a distance.
But he’d wanted to draw close.
He’d wanted to watch the monster succumb to his power.
Had been fascinated by seeing such a terrible foe brought low.
And… perhaps on some level, had enjoyed his mastery over the lizard dragon. Wanted to drink deep of his utter domination of his foe.
Huh. He considered that revelation, and then dismissed it.
Two Zenith Tides had appeared over the fallen foe. A small constellation of Aurora Veils had appeared around the base of the skull hill, and more over the demolished snakes.
“Well!” Vic clapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. “This is good news. Harry-boy’s going to turn raiding into a cake walk. I say, well all right! We walk behind him and collect the scales as he goes. We’re going to be rich!”
“Hmm,” said Kársek, tucking his thumbs into his belt. “Your powers have grown more potent, haven’t they?”
“They have,” allowed Harald.
“And that’s due to your resetting to Level One?”
Harald nodded.
Kársek tongued the inside of his cheek. “Which was made possible by Eclavistra’s Artifact. Which is now an Endowment in your Cosmos?”
Again Harald nodded.
“When is that bill going to come due?” Kársek’s stare was piercing. “She has elevated your Abilities, but why? What is her plan? When will she reveal her hand?”
“I’m not sure,” said Harald. “But that’s the wager I’m making.
That I can outpace and overperform to the point where she’ll be overwhelmed and then defeated when she tries to collect on her loan.
Her base is only three levels away. By the time we reach her?
I’ll have become too powerful for her to control. ”
“Oh, Harry,” said Vic in a pitying tone. “You’re starting to sound like I did before ascending to Flutic.”
“You were alone, though.” Sam stepped up to stand alongside Harald, her jaw set. “Harald isn’t. We’ll be by his side. Together, we’ll figure this out.”
Her tone was strange. Forthright, yes, but on some level… brittle?
“Guess we don’t have a choice,” said Nessa. “But Sam’s right. Harald’s been there for us when we needed him. We’ll be there for him right until the end. If there’s a way to defeat Eclavistra, we’ll find it. Together.”
Harald felt his brows rising of their own accord. He’d begun to accept on some level that his friends would pull away, judge him, abandon him, leave him to face his responsibilities alone. This was… this was unexpected.
And more welcome than he could even admit.
“Agreed,” sighed Kársek. “I have some ideas involving my latest rune. We shall see what comes, but we shall see it through together.”
Vic nodded absentmindedly, looked away, then startled.
“Oh! Is this where I say something heartfelt and throbbing with loyalty? Right, right—for the Kitty Kat Club! For the honor of every fallen damsel who was forced, much to her chagrin, to turn to me in her hour of need. And… sure. For Harald, too. Throne Hunters!”
Harald snorted. “Thanks, Vic. And thank you, all of you. This… I’m…” He cut himself off, tried to start fresh, emotion welling up within him. “I’m going to see this through. Your faith in me isn’t misplaced. I promise you that.”
“We know,” said Sam softly, and put her hand on his arm. “Don’t lose sight of that, either. We’re in this together. Even if at times we grow a little…”
“Terrified?” prompted Vic.
“Nervous,” corrected Sam, glaring at the Rapier Regent. “What matters is that we see this through together.”
“Together,” agreed Nessa, moving up to put her hand on his shoulder.
“Together,” said Kársek with a firm nod.
“Yeah, all right,” said Vic. “Together.”
Harald laughed shakily under his breath, and drank in the moment. “Thank you, all of you. So, Delve Captain, what’s next?”
Nessa smiled. “What’s next? Level 39. Let’s get to it.”
“First the scales!” Vic took off at a run. “Will just be a moment.”
Harald grinned, and turned to Sam, who smiled right back. And while he thought he could still see a shadow at the back of her eyes, he decided to ignore that and instead embrace the moment.
Eclavistra was doomed.
That was his oath.
And they’d see it through together.
Even if his friends sounded like they had decided to trust him, instead of actually doing so.
Even if their fear of him hadn’t really disappeared, but been purposefully put aside.
He’d take what he could get.