Owin deactivated his shards before reaching Nagyati. He only slowed down because his stats dropped with the loss of the shards. There was some panic and commotion, but Owin continued through with enough speed to ignore most of the protests. He followed the river and skidded to a stop near the portal circle.

It looked like some military was present with construction happening near the portal circle, but Owin couldn't be bothered to ask. If he got involved, he assumed he would be questioned or arrested.

"Nagyati's fees have gone to six gold, sir," the portal guard said.

"Okay." Owin reached a hand into the bottom of his bag and dug around. He grabbed a handful of loose coins and placed them in the portal guard's hand.

"This is more than six, sir," the guard said.

"I know. I'm in a hurry." He tried scooting by, but the guard counted out the six pieces and dropped the remainder into Owin's bag.

"Have a nice day."

Owin nodded and ran past. It took him a moment of looking at portals before he found the one leading to Vraxridge. He sprinted straight into it, and upon leaving the other side, immediately cast his summoning spell.

Summon the Withered Shade

"Ah! A city!"

People all over the portal circle turned with fear as Shade shouted.

"Shut up," Owin said. He grabbed the skeleton's hand and dragged him away from the portal circle. "What's wrong with you?"

"Physically, emotionally, or spiritually?"

"What?" Owin started dragging Shade toward Althowin's compound before he could keep drawing extra attention. There were many eyes on them as they walked through the main street of Vraxridge. He just had to ignore it, even as some citizens called out his name.

There were plenty of people gathered at Althowin's compound. Before anyone could notice him or call out, a black shadow formed over the main door. As soon as Owin neared, the door opened. It closed perfectly behind Shade and latched shut.

Indulf sat behind the front desk with his back to Owin. He leaned on a small table against the window and talked to the people in line, writing down details about who they were, their class, and what they wanted to speak to Althowin about. Owin expected to see most of the names get thrown in the trash, but Indulf carefully filed each one.

Basolia formed on the desk as a little specter. "Congratulations, Owin."

"And Shade," Shade said.

"Apologies. Withered Shade, your contributions are appreciated."

Shade crouched. "I don't buy it."

"Shh." Owin gently pushed the skeleton away. "Where's everyone?"

"I am gathering them. Your stories will need to wait. Althowin has a request." Basolia melted into the desk, then quickly reformed at the mouth of a hallway on the left. "If you will follow me." The little specter bobbed as it floated down the hallway.

Owin and Shade looked at one another.

"Why not?" Shade finally said. He started after Basolia, swinging his arms and humming loudly.

Owin followed behind and looked through his index. It looked like Shade was currently an umbra, but looking at all the different spells was confusing. He couldn't quite tell which ones he had seen and which ones he hadn't. Potilia probably knew most spells and abilities by name, so he'd need to ask if she could help him learn a little.

Basolia led them to a sitting room, which Owin had expected to be filled with everyone. Instead, it was just Althowin, Miya, and Chorsay.

Still, the smile couldn't stay off his face.

Chorsay was immediately on his feet and he crouched to embrace Owin. After Shade also hugged him, Chorsay adjusted to wrap his massive arms around them both.

"You made it," he said in a deep, warm voice.

"We did. Myrsvai and Suta stayed back to train."

Chorsay let go and looked into Owin's eyes. The old man's fingers touched the scarred and misshapen parts of Owin's face. "You took some damage, did you?"

"Shade was a little quick with his mender spells."

"If my choices are watching Owin be pummeled into goop by a vampire or stick the pieces together with glue, I think I'll go with the glue," Shade said.

"What?" Althowin walked over and tapped the skeleton on the head. "You need to listen to yourself."

"I haven't before and I have no intention of doing it anytime soon."

Althowin just raised an eyebrow at that, then let it go. "Glad you're back, Owin, but I have a quick job for you."

Chorsay narrowed his eyes slightly, then looked up at Althowin. "Already? He just got here."

"It'll be fast." Althowin used her thumb to point over her shoulder at Miya. "She has some things from her old lab she wanted to grab. After everything that's happened, I didn't want to send her alone."

"I could go," Chorsay said, standing tall.

"No, it's fine. You actually stand out more than the goblin." Althowin held her hand up high. "Hard to miss a giant."

Chorsay was quiet for a long moment. He finally folded his arms across his chest. "I suppose Owin is as strong as I am now."

"Stronger," Owin said with a smile.

Chorsay smiled warmly. "Be careful."

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Miya walked over awkwardly. "I really don't know if anything is still there. It could've all been stolen."

"Just go and check," Althowin said. "It should be perfectly fine."

Chorsay gave Owin a single nod.

"Where'd the Maimed Magus go?" Althowin asked.

"North of the Fortress to a fort." Owin gave a half shrug as he said it. He had no map and didn't really know the layout of the area that well. If Nagyati wasn't so obvious on the horizon, he probably would've missed the city during his run.

"I'll get some supplies sent over to help them. Potions and food and all that."

Basolia confirmed, then melted away.

"We appreciate it," Chorsay said.

Althowin waved dismissively. "Anything you need before you leave?"

Owin took off his bag, which made Althowin frown.

"How is that thing still holding together?" She crouched. "May I?"

"Sure."

Her frown deepened as she picked it up. "This is beyond ragged, Owin."

"I brought you supplies. Could we build something?"

"Like a bag? One that is actually helpful has some pretty specific requirements."

Owin and Shade worked together to get the specter skin, the specter monarch brain, and every other little thing they had looted through the Fortress.

Althowin looked at the pile with wide eyes. "Well, I can certainly do something with all of that."

"I was going to offer a trade," Owin said confidently. "Ingredients for buffs."

Althowin tapped a finger on her chin as she looked through the assembled items. "I think . . ." She snapped her metal fingers. "Bass."

Basolia formed at her side.

"Calculate the value of the assembled materials."

The specter's shadow fell over the pile. About a minute later, Basolia reformed. "Exceeding ten million dungeon gold."

"And a bag?" Althowin asked.

"Approximately—" The specter cut itself off. "Priceless. Individual components far exceed normal calculations. Given value was an estimate if sold to wealthiest individuals."

"Huh." Althowin held the specter monarch brain. "I think we have a deal. I'll make you a better bag and some buffs."

"Really?" Owin asked.

"If you get moving." Althowin gestured to the hallway. "Basolia, if you will."

The specter created a black line, leading down the hallway. "Follow me," it said.

"Are you ready?" Miya asked. "I have something to show you too!" She fit her goggles over her eyes and hurried down the hall.

"Be safe," Chorsay said. He gave Althowin another uncertain look, but the 7 Shard Hero was already in the process of moving all the materials.

"I will be."

Owin caught up to Miya, who had been talking as if he had been right at her side.

"—and I had some free time so I built this." She held up her hand.

"A hand?" Owin asked.

"That is a hand," Shade said.

"No. Watch this." Her hand combusted. Basolia opened the door to the compound for them, making it easy to pass into Vraxridge.

"You lit your hand on fire?" Owin asked. He watched it closely without worry. Her skin was obviously not being harmed.

"I made an invisible, combustible glove," Miya said with pride.

"But why?" Shade leaned close as they walked. "What's the purpose?"

Miya brought her hand closer to her face. The flames shone on her goggles. "To heat things up."

"Don't alchemists have a spell for that?" Owin asked.

"Uh, well . . ." Miya turned off the glove and lifted her goggles. "I think that's not the point."

"Were you bored?" Owin asked.

"So incredibly bored. Althowin was keeping me busy, but for the last few days she hasn't had me do anything. Apparently, there was too much going on." Miya paid for all three of them at the portal circle and gestured to the portal leading to Atrevaar. "After you."

"Who?" Shade asked.

"Get in the portal, skeleton." She shoved Shade through. "I'm supposed to be mean to him, right?"

"Yes," Owin said quickly.

Before long, he emerged in a familiar portal circle. It felt like ages since he had last been in Atrevaar. It was difficult to miss the destroyed front of the Nimble Hog headquarters. Everything else in the city was still in good shape, but the building itself had no front and most of the lobby floor was gone.

He had heard the fight between Chorsay and Andres Orben had been brutal, but he hadn't expected that level of wreckage.

"You haven't seen it, have you?" Miya asked.

"No. It's . . ."

"It's not a big deal!" Miya took his hand and guided him out of the portal circle. "I don't really get why we're here. Althowin wanted me to retrieve some flasks and a couple plants I told her I was growing, but I think they're probably dead after not getting water or artificial sunlight for all this time."

"She doesn't have those things?" Shade asked. "I thought she had everything."

Miya shrugged. She stepped over the destroyed front wall and carefully tested the planks of the lobby floor. Even the slightest bit of weight made it creak.

Owin hopped right to the ground and held his arms up. "I can catch you."

Shade fell over the edge, landing face first on the stone basement floor beside Owin.

"Like you caught him?" Miya asked.

"No. He'll manage."

Shade sat upright. "That's what I meant to do."

"Sure," Owin said.

Miya muttered something, then hopped over the side. Owin caught her in both arms, making it as gentle of a landing as possible.

"I'm impressed." Miya patted him on the head. "Thanks."

"I didn't realize it was this damaged." Owin noticed the splash of old blood on the wall near the stairs. "It's difficult to imagine Chorsay fighting."

"Once you see him, it's difficult to imagine him being such a calm, gentle elderly man. He's a terrifying soldier." Miya wiped some dust off the doorframe. "I can't imagine any of this is usable still."

"Did she say what she needed?" Shade asked. He picked up a piece of rock. "Was it this?"

"That's a rock," Miya said.

Shade held it closer to her face.

"That's not what she needs." Miya walked away from the skeleton and into the actual work space beyond. "It's sad seeing it like this, but Althowin's thirtieth lab that she forgot about is nicer than anything I ever had."

"I miss this place too," Owin said.

Miya turned, smiling. "We've all got some good memories."

Shade couldn't stop himself from touching most things he came across. He picked up flasks, stuck his head in the oven, and searched every surface for something interesting. Meanwhile, Owin stood in the center, uncomfortable, remembering all the nights he had spent with Miya in the same lab.

"I'll see if it's back here, then we can go," Miya said as she headed into the back.

"This is an odd place," Shade said. An old, scratched gem fell from his mouth.

"I forgot you never came here before." Owin hopped on the counter. "Miya usually worked at night when everyone else slept, so I was always in here."

"Just like we were with her at Althowin's."

"Oh, right."

Bright light flashed in the back room. Owin and Shade turned immediately.

"Was that—"

"Luminous," Shade said.

Owin drew the Darkblade. "Miya?"

The alchemist was sent tumbling backward through the door. She slid over the stone and would've crashed into the oven if Shade hadn't dropped to the ground to catch her. Owin just looked over at Shade.

"She's alive." Shade stood.

Nikoletta stood in the doorway. She looked like she had been through the Abyss. Scars covered most of her face. Owin recognized a few he had given her. But she had changed since their last encounter.

"Why are you here?" Owin asked.

Her eyes shone gold. "To kill you."

"No cooldown," Shade said.

Both shards emerged from Owin's shoulder.

Summon the Withered Shade

Shade collapsed into dust.

"Hiding the skeleton won't help you." Nikoletta's mace glowed with the same horrible golden light.

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