I accepted the hot coco from Walter and sank into the wooden chair. It tasted perfectly sweet with a hint of added peppermint. He even managed to replicate marshmallows and cut them into tiny rounds shaped like a bear's head. One sip sent relaxing sugary warmth into my soul and I melted into the chair.

"Thanks, Walter. I needed this. So you figured out how to make marshmallows after all," I said after a second sip.

"My pleasure sir. The peppermint is truly the missing ingridient, I have already found a few suitable plant substitutes to start growing in the garden. As for the marsh-mallows, as you call them, the process was easy with the ingredient list being so small. Sir Arturous has especially taking a liking to the honey-flavored ones," Walter replied.

He spooned another ladle of delicious nectar to Anastasia and then swiftly bowed and left the room.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the smell, staving off Teddy's parent patiently waiting for me to speak.

"I never asked, but does Solunaria have winter time? Or is it almost always sunny and warm."

Anastasia smiled at a plump mallow before toasting it between her fingers with a brief flash of light and plopping it back into her drink. "We do but only in the corners of the region to the east. We have summers where the heat gets truly unbearable for some but we are the kingdom in the sun for a reason, the land tends to stay at the current temperature year round. If one wants winter they'll have to head towards the mountains far out or go to a different continent even further."

"Mmm. I guess that makes sense. Back where I'm from, the we had four seasons. Summer, autumn, winter, spring. Autumn was always my favorite, the color of the trees changing to bright reds, yellows and oranges while the air turns crisp without the snow impeding the roads." I raised my mug and watched the steam lift into the air. "Perfect time of the year for hot coco."

She placed her mug down and folded her hands in her lap. "We once entered a rift like that. Of course the winter turning into a thirteen-hour blizzard that tried to turn us into popsicles followed by the eight hours of springtime flora constantly trying to devour us tainted the experience a little. But! The colors were pretty. Trees that turned shades by the cycle and showed you a world you don't normally get to see were almost worth it. I am almost disappointed that it was a wild rift. The experience traumatized us for a couple of years but I think I'd like to see it again, if only for a day or two."

"How long ago was that?"

"Well it was the second rift we've ever done, so give or take… over forty years ago? It's hard to be exact with all the time we spent in rifts and dungeons. But it was only our third year of adventuring back before Brelten became boring and actually explored the world. We were in over our heads but Brelten got us through it. Probably when I fell in love with Nathan. There's only a few outcomes one can expect when your forced to preserve body heat after all," she said with a tittering laugh.

As my eyes widened, Nathaniel walked in.

"I'll have you know, I was very gentlemanly. Even if I wanted to, Winnie would have murdered me in my sleep if I tried making the first move," he said.

He stopped behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. With a quick peck, he lifted a finger and a swirl of hot chocolate rose from the mug and into a floating marble above his hand. He sniffed deep and pressed his lips to the ball, taking a sip.

"I swear, when you eventually leave with the others and continue your adventure, the world will become a tad grayer. Such a delicious flavor," Nathan sighed. He playfully snatched the marshmallow Anastasia tossed at him and slipped it into the coco ball. "Name your price young man, and I'll raid the kingdom's treasury for that marvelous pouch of yours."

I chuckled at the display and leaned back with my own drink below my nose. "I guess that depends on if I need to survive a disaster or not."

Nathan's sighed dramatically and rested his chin atop Anastasia's head. "Unfortunately, he's telling the truth. Three different truth skills as well as two special items enchanted to detect if mana manipulation is being used in any way have all confirmed Zogrul's words. The kingdom has been notified as well as the king himself."

Suddenly, the chocolate didn't taste nearly as sweet. I set the mug down and dropped my head.

"I figured that's what you would say. I hoped you'd tell me he was lying, but I guess not."

"Sorry, Cyrus. Life is rarely so convenient," Anastasia offered.

"I know," I said bitterly.

"If it's any consolation, the kingdom is prepared for disaster. Beyond the numerous failsafes in place as well as the recall of important people, there isn't much else for you to do," Nathan said. I looked up and he winked. "You've done your duty and helped protect the kingdom by delivering the information. What happens next isn't on you, so don't worry. All those ancient bag-of-bones clutching onto their boring lives will pay they dues if the needs arise."

There was heat to his voice, something usually absent from the jolly man. Anastasia reached up and patted his arm.

"You know one day we'll be considered the ancient crypt keepers," she chuckled.

Nathan's beard flared like a lizard and he swooped Anastasia into his arms chair and all. "Never my love. Unlike them we'll ascend and break these mortal shackles. Let them rot while we remain young and pliable for forever!"

I'm not sure pliable is the right word there.

They spent the next minute spinning around the room, dancing to a magical tune that came from everywhere and yet nowhere at once. I didn't even detect a mana signature or an enchantment yet the music kept playing; a soft a humming tune that reminded me of a music box.

Eventually they settled and shared a giant mug of hot chocolate after Walter popped into the room carrying a small black cauldron the side of my head and left. They engaged in whipping marshmallows at each other before finally relaxing into separate chairs and turning my way.

Their looks brought a sharp sting that Galarion devoured before it could settle. His tentacles pulsed around my head and caressed my kneck.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Thanks, buddy," I said.

He blurbled a reply and snuggled in to devour while he slumbered.

"Oh, Cyrus. I'm sorry, I completely forgot. My darling wife distracted me, so you can blame her," Nathan said. He caught the squishy projectile with a beard tendril made of water and returned fire. "Zogrul is still in the living room waiting to speak with you. If you desire Walter can send him away."

I groaned into my drink. "He didn't go with you guys to verify what he knows?"

"There was no need this time. Once the official arrived to take his statement and verify his words, they left. While the kingdom is thankful for the warning, meddling affairs of gods and their chosen are an alchemy bomb they have no desire to mess with. Especially, gods from outside the kingdom's pantheon."

"Speaking of gods. Would they not step in? Especially if something big and dangerous is happening inside the capital?"

The two stared at me funny. They shared a glance and Nathan nodded to Anastasia.

"Only the scions and maybe not even them know the rules governing gods. It usually takes a lot for a god or goddess to step in and intervene. A tragedy may be well tragic, but that doesn't meant it'd be something big enough for a divine to send an avatar into our plane. If we did receive help, it'd be from a scion or two. Maybe they'd finally pull the one stationed on the eastern boarder from his eternal vigil. As for why the gods themselves don't come… The easiest guess would be that the divine energy they used would be astronomical, maybe too much for them," Anastasia explained.

"Sounds like dragonshit," I scoffed.

"Agreed," Nathan laughed. "Although, we are neither chosen nor divine ourselves so I won't judge them too harshly yet. Of course if we ascend and find that our divine patrons are sitting on their asses when they could have helped, we'll have a few butts to kick."

I raised my eyebrow at the statement. That was as close to blasphemy I've managed to hear since coming tot this world. I never pressed when it came to theology and divine worship–mostly due to me wanting nothing to do with them.

Yet somehow, the confident smirk on both of Teddy's parent's faces fit. Knowing their personality, the two seemed like the kind to ruffle divine feathers and do it with a smile.

"I'm surprised. I figured most citizens of Solunaria were devout. Especially with the gods having a temple in the city."

Nathan shrugged. "They have done nothing to help us. Whatever we earned, we did through nepotism, blood, sweat, and many hours spent wading through monster viscera."

"If they want our praise they'll have to do something impressive," Anastasia added. "Like giving us legacy marks and lots of perks?"

The pair looked to the ceiling expectantly, with Nathan holding out his wrist. A beat passed and the two made a disgusted face and returned to smiling at me.

I shook my head at the display and drained the cup.

"I might as well see what the brute wants. Better to get it over with." As I stood up, I headed for the door but paused before opening it. I licked my fangs and turned back to the pair. "I acquired a perk recently. Its one that levels with me? I already shared it with Broken Tower, and they suggested I consider sharing it with you as well. It's something that gives you more mana regeneration. I don't know if that's all it'll give in the future but its what the others have now."

"And here we are looking to the divines for power when in fact it's right in front of us!" Nathan sighed dramatically.

Anastasia rubbed her husband's shoulder. "If its free power then we'll not say no, but is there a catch?"

Rather than trying to explain things, I pulled up my status and willed the perk's description over. Easier to have them read and decide for themselves then for me to bumble about.

After willing the prompt over, I paused and stared at my status. It had hardly been a couple of weeks since my evolution but sometimes I remembered flying through the ranks of tier zero like it was nothing.

That didn't seem to be the case anymore.

STATUS

Name: Cyrus

Race: Reborn (Felkin)

Age: ??

Tier: 1 Rank: 2

Active Skills:

(T:1 R:2) Summon Familiar: Verdant Healer: (Áine)

(T:1 R:2) Summon Familiar: Resplendent Inferno: (Zharia)

(T:1 R:2) Racial Skill: Dimensional Storage: (Chomperz)

(T:1 R:2) Spirit Lord's Invocation

(T:1 R:2) Summon Familiar: The Dead Will Provide (Erebus)

(T:1 R:2) Summon Familiar: Reflective Coat of the Mirror Beast (Magnus)

(T:1 R:2) Summon Familiar: Storm King's Tempest (Sturmrorex)

(T:1 R:2) Summon Familiar: Shroud of the Astral Archon (Galarion)

(T:1 R:2) Roar of the Spirit Lord

(T:1 R:2) Absolute Authority

(T:1 R:2) Summon Familiar: Felblood Sanguinarch (Zagreus)

Passive Skills:

(T:1 R:2) Etherious Blood

(T:1 R:2) Sovereign-Threaded Soul

(T:1 R:3) Chaotic Resonance

(T:1 R:2) Spirit's Lord's Echo

(T:1 R:2) Split-Mind Cultivation

Perks:

Legacy of the Obsidian Crown

Scion of Calstrax

Demonic Blood

Child of Mana

Dread Guardian's Apology

Crystal Synthesis

Devourer of the Deep

Whisper of the Tempest

False Dungeon Core

Unleashed Soul

Astral Lotion

Blood Pact (Stage One)

I'm almost disappointed. I half expected things to be at rank three by now. I know I haven't actually cultivated in awhile but my skill takes care of that for me. They weren't kidding about how slow it gets once you tier up. Explains why it took a few years inside a rift for Broken Tower.

While I studied my status one last time, a polite cough from my side drew my attention. I jumped and swung my tail forward attempting to stab the looming faces above me. Nathan casually caught my tail with two fingers and brushed it aside before leaning closer.

"We-" he started.

"Accept!" Anastasia finished.

"Uh, oh. Are you two sure? It'll give me a connection between us and that means I can track you guys through-"

Anastasia grabbed my shoulders and brought me in for a hug. Nathan's arms wrapped around hers and the two started to spin, carrying me around the room as if I weighed nothing more than a stuffed toy.

"Some tracking?" he started.

"A solemn ritual to bind us together?" she added.

"Forever!?" they exclaimed.

In a flurry of light and a sprinkle of frothy misty, I landed in by the door into Walter's waiting arms. He caught me and cushioned the throw. I looked up and he nodded once before releasing me and stepping to the side.

A gentle tug turned me around and I was once more underneath the looming faces of Teddy's parents.

Walter cleared his throat and the two backed off. They kept their grins but at least pretended to straighten themselves out.

"Right, yes. Thank you Walter," Anastasia sniffed.

"Of course, madam," Walter replied. He spun and thrusted a large mug into my hand. "If you don't mind sir Cyrus. It would be most polite of you to offer sir Zogrul a cup. Can I ask you for this favor? I am unfortunately too busy as you can see."

"Uh… Yeah sure," I said.

With a slight bow, Walter slipped behind the pair and disappeared from sight.

"Ah, sorry. Our excitement got the better of us!" Nathan said.

"Yes, we apologize. And to cut the protests short, we agree. A chance for a boost to our regeneration? A means of gaining power outside of rifts and cultivation? We'd be fools to say no!"

"But-" I started.

Nathan held up a finger. "Our son trusts you. His closest friends and companions trust you. So we'll trust you as well. That's all there is to say,"

I started laughing and cradled the mug closer to my chest. Galarion slithered around my head, pulling at something before it settled in. I ignored the sleeping spirit and nodded to Teddy's parents.

"Alright. We can do it tonight if you want." The two looked ready to protest but I jerked a thumb to the door. "Let me handle our guest first."

They pouted but before I could mollify them further a hand slipped around me and yanked the door open. A smaller but firm hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around, pushing me through the doorway.

A slam of wood behind me brushed my hair forward and I blinked at a confused orucan trying to peer behind me.

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