Ultimate Level 1

“A god? As in like Phaius and Ockrim?”

Shaking his head, Bob chuckled and frowned.

I was never like them. Wekime… that is a name I know. There are others like him, old ones, ancient ones who came after me and my siblings. A time before something I cannot remember. So much is missing, and yet I can recall a few threads.

His fingers snapped, and the boom that came from them would have deafened someone had it been real.

Gone was the world that had been spinning; instead, the entire place they had been reclining in was replaced with countless galaxies and systems, spinning around them in the darkness of space.

There was a time that these places were mine. Somewhere out there is a world I call home… or, I called home. If it still stands, I do not know, but what I can tell you is that perhaps if we can overcome the other two skills, I can search for it and see what remains.

Max’s eyes moved constantly, trying to take in everywhere around him, turning on his seat and looking over his shoulder and behind.

“How many? I mean… how strong… or—”

Not questions for now, but know there was a time when only two others were equal in power, and now the three of us are bound by a single thread, destined to fight for some reason over and over. Why? I have no idea. That is what bothers me the most.

Bob’s fingers snapped again, and the room returned to an empty room of only their two chairs.

I know you will do what you want, but trust me when I say, I am here to help. You have somehow broken something I cannot recall ever being broken. Perhaps there was another like you, not overcome with the desire to make themself stronger. You have allowed me to evolve from the murder hobo as you call it to something with a mind that sees the value in what you do.

So go protect your family. If everything goes as you hope, enjoy a few days with them. Take those two dwarves and let them get married, but then return to the tower. You cannot stay out of it too long. There is too much to do, and you need strength. Your friends need to get stronger if they are going to survive what is coming for you.

A frown appeared on Max’s face, and Bob shook his head, waving his hands at that expression.

“What do you mean what is coming for me?”

Yawning, his skill shrugged and motioned to the ceiling. The stone bricks disappeared, and sunlight started streaming through the open space, washing them in the light.

Many are looking for you, all for different reasons. That dragon was wise to mark you and form the pact. Others will want to control you, some foolish enough to threaten you or your allies.

Bob held up his hand and stopped Max, who was about to reply.

As I mentioned, fools. Still, some will offer the carrot as you call it, seeking to make you an ally through gifts. When they come, we will discuss those options and try to find the best path for you and your friends. Just know, from here on out, no more pacts unless we both agree on it. The potential for limiting yourself and what you can do is great. A mistake can be costly, especially if the system deems you to break such a thing. That is why the gold dragon was very careful about the wording of the pact. Both of you can go against the other if either of you or your children and loved ones are in danger. How that is interpreted… well that is the tricky part.

Wincing, Max rubbed his temple.

“But… no… never mind. Thank you for coming back. I missed you.”

Bob’s head cocked sideways for a moment, and then his reflection began to slowly nod.

Max Hoste… if I am honest, a part of me missed you. I believe what you are implying is a friend… something more than an ally, and I… I cannot remember having a friend. There was a time I am certain I must have had one.

“Well, you have one now,” Max replied, standing up from his chair and moving toward Bob with his hand out. “Together, we’ll keep my family safe, and I’ll do what I can to help you figure out what happened to you.”

A grin appeared upon his skill’s face, one that didn’t convey any evil or a hint of malice as some had, but instead joy.

There in a small stone room, the two shook hands, smiling at each other.

Wake up, Max. Tanila is waiting on you.

***

“It’s time, Max. Get up!”

Groaning, he blinked, seeing Tanila sitting on his chest, her red hair spilling out over her chest as she shook his head slightly.

“Well, that’s one way to get me up,” Max replied, reaching up and pulling her close.

After he released her from the kiss, she smiled and studied him.

“You look different… almost as if… Bob! Bob is back?!”

Laughing, he nodded and saw the look on her face.

“It’s okay. He’s not some bloodthirsty murder hobo anymore. He said that because of me, he doesn’t have the same hunger he once had.”

“You’re calling your skill a person. Is that what you think it is?”

Shrugging, Max started to sit up, easily lifting her as he scooted up on the bed.

“I do. Just know he will help me protect you all. But unless you want to lie naked in bed all day with me, we need to get dressed and prepare to leave. Something tells me that we need to head out, and I have just a few last stops before I do.”

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Rolling her eyes, Tanila poked him in the chest before sliding off his legs.

“For someone who said he had no friends, you sure have a lot of people to check in with at every town we visit.”

“What can I say? I’m a likable guy.”

***

“Last stop, I promise,” Max said as they approached the enchanting shop.

“He promised,” Fowl joked. “For a moment, I wondered if he was checking in on all the women in a harem.”

Batrire laughed, and Tanila let out another groan like she had the last time their warrior had joked about it.

“He’s right,” Cordellia said. “That poor dwarf girl was almost in tears when she saw you hanging on his arm. I’m still not certain Max understands how much that adventurer woman must have liked him. What was her name?”

“Greta,” Tanila said loudly, smiling when Max sighed.

“Yes, Greta. And what about that blacksmith… the arms on her,” their ranger continued, changing her voice to mimic their resident bald womanizer. “I’ve come to give you a load of ore for all your help back then. Hopefully, you’ll be able to use all of this.”

Fowl began to cough, nodding.

“That girl… she almost fainted. I mean a dwarf would have fainted. Most dwarven fathers would have made him marry their daughter for giving them a load that big.”

Batrire started to choke, unable to control herself at her man’s comment.

“You four stop, or I’m sending you back to the cart,” Max stated. “I promise you, I didn’t sleep with any of these women or promise them anything. I’m just repaying a few small debts like I did to Gerald, the armor merchant. He was a guy!”

“I’m not saying anything about who you sleep with, guy or girl,” Cordellia replied. “I’m just saying, I’d bet a gold coin that whoever we’re about to see is probably some attractive woman he made a promise to.”

Max’s foot missed the step up the stairs, and it took every bit of his agility to keep from falling on his face.

“She’s right!” Fowl howled, starting to laugh. “A woman’s in there!”

“Max… do you need to tell me something?” Tanila asked with a wink. “Is this woman going to swoon over you like the others did?”

His whole head was red, and the group of four all burst out in laughter, each seeing how embarrassed he really was.

“Listen, she inspected my spear… I mean weapon!”

It was too late. His words had already hit home, and Fowl was starting to cough, tears running like rivers as the dwarf turned beet red. Next to him, their ranger was gasping for air, holding her sides and obviously having caught the unintended word play.

“Your spear, huh?”

Holding both hands out, Max waved off Tanila, who was playing it up, glaring at him and causing Batrire to wipe her cheeks from the wetness that covered them.

“Is everything alright?”

Max winced, knowing who was standing behind him at the shop’s entrance. He sensed her approach and how she was dressed.

Each of his party members went deathly silent, their howls of laughter cut off as they gazed upon the woman who owned the shop.

He had forgotten that even though the woman was old enough to be his mother, she was attractive. Her hair was done up, and now his Sonar skill left no doubt about the figure that her dress displayed.

Each of the four glanced once more at the woman and then at Max, and all four of them gave in, laughing again, not concerned about how the people on the street or the enchantress were staring at them.

“Forgive them, please, Winnifred. I’ve come to keep my promise.”

When Max turned and smiled at her, the woman’s green eyes went wide, and her mouth opened up slightly. Her dress was almost the same shade of green as the first one he saw her in, and with a slight bow he moved up the last few steps.

“Seth? The same Seth I helped flee our town? The Seth who helped our town yesterday? The Seth—”

“I’m that guy,” he replied, cutting off her line of questions everyone in town always seemed to have. “I made a promise, and so here it is.”

Without waiting and a bit of flair, Max held out the bracers she had identified for him almost a year ago. Their black color was just as dark, and the three gold stars still stood out, looking just as new as the day he had laid them on her counter.

“You’re serious? I mean… I never expected you to return and keep that promise… or even remember my name.”

“Fear not,” Tanila called out, her voice a little higher than usual as she spoke. “He never forgets a beautiful face.”

Winnifred’s face cracked, and the woman smiled upon seeing Max’s cheeks go red.

“It would appear not. Still, this is far too great of a gift. I cannot accept these.”

“If you don’t, I’ll drop them here, and then anyone who picks them up can have them,” Max replied. “I would have brought that spear, but it isn’t around anymore. Still, I owe you for helping me survive and get out of town safely. For that, this gift is the least I can offer.”

The enchantress tapped her lip, smiling and shaking her head slowly as she studied him and then the four who were all still enjoying the event playing out before them.

“Your party?”

“My family.”

A wide smile appeared, and she nodded, reaching out and taking the bracers from him.

“Then it appears you were worth saving, Seth Pendal. I am grateful for your gift, and our town appreciates what you five did yesterday. Part of me wonders why it happened when you appeared, but then again it seemed wherever you went, something crazy always took place.”

“Gods, she knows him too well,” Fowl called out.

Smacking his lips, Max turned and glared at his friend before returning his attention to Winnifred.

“We need to go, but I wanted to say thank you again. If you ever need…” He paused and held out a blank, black card to her. “Identify that, and you’ll find the name of someone to contact. They’ll help you if you ever decide to move to the capital.”

Winnifred’s eyes widened a little as she took the card. She realized it was a thin piece of metal and began to grin as soon as she recognized it.

“You better run, Seth, or that woman behind you with the red hair might hurt you. From how she looks at you, I can see that you’re hers, and I doubt I would want to fight her for you.”

“No, you don’t,” Tanila replied. “Thank you again for what you did, but if we don’t get him out of here, I’m certain we’ll never leave this town.”

With a last wave, Max made his way down the steps and to the carriage waiting on them, knowing that his time in Windsor Wheel was finally over for now.

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