Xandell Towin sat at his desk, his mind still on the meeting he’d just had. As the Guild Master of Kunora’s Adventurers’ Guild branch, he was used to being the most important person in almost any room he walked into. Despite the fact that the meeting that just took place had been in his own office, he hadn’t felt anywhere close to the most important person in the room.

  Xandell had met Orneta O’Leon many times in the ten years he’d spent as Guild Master of her city, and he had nothing but respect for the clan matriarch. He knew her character. He knew the character of her family. And it wasn’t just their character that demanded respect; it was also their power.

  He hadn’t heard of anyone who actually knew what tier Orneta had reached. She wasn’t constantly traveling the Realms anymore, but Xandell knew she still occasionally left Dintarnum to continue progressing, as even this realm’s strongest manifestations and temporary realm entrances weren’t strong enough for her. When she did leave, she always let him know when, since that meant the city would be left without its most powerful defender.

  Despite her now slowed progression, Xandell would never underestimate her power. The elders of the Kunora clan, including his great-grandfather, selected her as clan matriarch 30 years ago for a reason.

  She alone was enough of a reason for the O’Leon house to be considered the most powerful house in the clan. However, Orneta wasn’t the only member of her family. Cinder and Pheobe O’Leon were over ten years younger than Xandell, but they had already surpassed him. His progression speed was well above average, but theirs was on a whole different level. Until two years ago, their team constantly faced challenges and entered realms he wouldn’t dream of taking on himself without the best of the clan’s adventurers behind him.

  Then there was Cinder's older sister, Trinity. She hadn’t been seen in Kunora for almost five years but was known for bringing in some of the rarest and most potent magical materials whenever she returned. Xandell’s own casting staff had been made from a rare, tier eight wood that Trinity brought back the last time she returned. He’d paid almost 1,000 tier eight realm coins for the wood alone. It was worth every coin.

  Now, the latest generation of the O’Leon family was starting their adventure, and one of them had been adopted by the matriarch herself. Xandell felt something in his gut begin to churn. They would either be amazing adventurers or make his life extremely difficult. Most likely both.

  ***

  “Well, that was interesting,” Duncan said as he and his friends descended the final step, once again on the first floor of Kunora City’s Adventurers’ Guild Hall. It was just as busy as before, with adventurers crowded around the mission boards and a long line at the reception desk.

  “Look, there’s Lucan.” Phevona pointed to the front of the line, where a human receptionist looked to be registering Lucan and five others. “Looks like he’s registering with a team.”

  Duncan recalled the monster hunt they spent with Master Boetin’s grandson. The winy-elven boy had done nothing but complain and blame everyone else for anything that went wrong. “Did you hear if he ended up passing the Subject Trial?” Duncan asked as they walked out of the giant doors leading into Kunora’s busy streets.

  “Yeah, he did,” Phevona confirmed. “He’s actually not a bad mage. Just needs to grow up a little.”

  The moment they exited the Guild building, DJ padded up to them from the front lawn where he’d been waiting. No beasts in the Guild Hall, apparently. Now fully grown, the tier one midnight wolf was as big as a horse.

  “A little?” Sonny scoffed as he reached up to scratch DJ behind the ears. “I can’t believe he found five other people willing to team up with him.”

  “You know everyone in that group, Sonny,” Phevona said, shaking her head. “Did you even look to see who they were?”

  “Uhhh. No?” Sonny half asked, half stated. “After you pointed Lucan out, I just wanted to get as far away as possible.”

  “We went on monster hunts with most of them. Chester Jenzen. The Solt twins. Jenny Deek. I think the last one was Scarlett Bolten. Weren’t you friends growing up?”

  Sonny groaned. “She was a family friend. We played together a lot as kids, but then I grew a brain. That girl could convince herself she deserved to be Queen of Kuno if she put her mind to it. Then she’d make sure everyone she met knew about her rightful place as their leader.”

  “Entitled?” Duncan asked. He got flashbacks of how many nobles on Earth acted at the Academy.

  “Very,” Sonny confirmed, nodding his head emphatically. “Her great-something grandfather was the clan patriarch before Neta. He left Dintarnum 30 years ago to continue progressing and hasn’t been seen in the city since. Let’s just say Scarlett found out about all that when we were seven, and ever since, she’s thought of herself as the clan princess. She hates Phevona because she actually is the clan princess.”

  “Don’t make me [Leach Trap] you,” Phevona threatened, eyes shining with annoyance and a hint of mischievousness. “I don’t care if we’re in the middle of the city. I’m the clan princess. I can get away with it.”

  The mention of Phevona’s newest Ability reminded Duncan of something the Guild Master had mentioned after registering them as a permanent team. “What was that Xandell was saying about a Team Interface before we left?”

  “It’s similar to the Subject Interface, just for the entire team. It lets Realm-registered teams see each other’s statuses and Abilities,” Phevona said as she sent one more warning glare at Sonny before she continued to navigate through the busy city streets. Wagons pulled by horses and other, more exotic beasts of burden traveled with passengers from place to place. The arena, which Duncan hadn’t visited since the Choosing two years prior, was visible just over the surrounding rooftops.

  Duncan took Phevona’s words to heart and tried to access the Team Interface just as he would his Subject interface. What greeted him was something new.

  He mentally focused on Phevona’s name, which brought up her status window.

  Another thought later, and he saw her Ability list.

  “MOTHER OF NATURE. It suits you.” Duncan complimented Phevona on her choice of Subject.

  Phevona smiled at Duncan’s words. “I thought so, too. I focused my intent on plants and their various uses when I created it. [Nature’s Elixir], my Fusion Ability, is what I’m most excited about, though. Being able to use my alchemy to supplement any combat Ability is going to add so much flexibility. I can’t stop wondering how much better any healing Abilities I get are going to be when I supplement them with a healing potion.”

  Duncan was nodding his head at Phevona’s excitement as he returned his attention to the Team Interface, this time going through the same process with Sonny’s status and Ability page.

  Duncan already knew Sonny used a tier one Ability slip of ‘Companionship’ to unlock his first Combat Ability, [Beast Bond]. It had always been his intention, seeing as that particular Ability Slip was likely to give him a skill to bond with DJ.

  “I can’t wait to get into a temporary realm and see what we can do.” Sonny’s excited voice told Duncan that he, too, had been looking through the Team Interface.

  “Well, we’ll have our chance soon. We have those missions from Guild Master Xandell,” Duncan replied as Phevona led them into a beautiful courtyard attached to an elegant restaurant. The O’Leon family and Sonny’s mom, Jen, were waiting for them at the only table in the courtyard. Despite the cold and a slight flurry of snow that had started to fall, enchantments built into the courtyard and buildings around them kept the snow away and the temperature just right for an outdoor meal.

  “Finally, I’m starving,” Jen yelled, rubbing her hands together. Cinder grunted his agreement from across the table. The three new adventurers took their seats next to each other, with DJ lying down directly behind them with a heavy sigh.

  “Did registration go well?” Pheobe asked from her place between Cinder and Neta.

  “Yup!” Phevona finally let some of her enthusiasm through now that they had a bit more privacy. “The Guild Master actually registered us himself after they figured out who I was.”

  “Clan princess,” Sonny leaned over and whispered to Duncan. Considering the ground didn’t erupt into a tangle of vines and roots under Sonny’s feet, Phevona either didn’t hear or chose to ignore the wolfkin’s teasing. Duncan was betting on the latter, considering all three of the new tier ones now had enhanced perception.

  “Xandell always did like to make a good impression,” Cinder sighed. “He’s probably up in his office throwing a fit of worry right about now.”

  Their conversation was interrupted as an army of waiting staff entered the courtyard laden with food. Meats of all kinds, breads, fruits and vegetables Duncan had never seen, and more crowded the table as tray after tray was delivered. After half a minute, the line of wait staff finally came to an end.

  “Ahhh. Matriarch. It’s been too long since you’ve visited.” A deep, hearty voice filled the courtyard. Duncan looked around to see the largest man he’d ever seen exit the equally large door leading into the restaurant. If Duncan hadn’t missed his guess, the man was a titan. They were the largest non-monster race in the Realms, at least according to Phevona. They were also supposed to be extremely rare outside their home realms.

  Neta rose from her seat at the table, smiling up at the titan, who didn’t hesitate to envelop the clan matriarch in a hug that would have crushed a polar bear on Earth. “Zak! I’m sorry I haven’t visited recently. I’ve had my hands full these past few years.”

  “I have heard. You and Brother Cinder have a new apprentice, yes?” The titan looked around at the rest of the table until his gaze fell on Duncan. “There he is. You must have great promise for my master’s wife and grandson to have chosen you.”

  Duncan didn’t really know what to say. He just looked up at the boisterous titan with what he hoped was a not-so-awkward smile. “They have done their best to teach me, so I try to give my best in return.”

  “Ha,” Cinder’s laugh brought Zak’s attention away from Duncan. “His best would have put mine to shame at his age, without a doubt.” Cinder stood, followed by Pheobe, to hug the titan as Neta had.

  Phevona followed her parents, and soon, she was laughing and twirling through the air, yelling for ‘Uncle Zak to put her down.’

  Neta, having returned to her seat, smiled at the scene. “Jen and Sonny, you’ve met Zak before. Duncan, this is Zakeebin Toorow, or Zak as he prefers. My husband, Dwin, gave him some training years ago in cooking. He’s been the owner and head chef of the best restaurant in Kunora ever since.”

  “You flatter me, matriarch. None of that today, if you please. Today, you eat enough to last until the next time you visit, yes?”

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” Sonny said, not hesitating to shovel food onto a plate twice the size of Duncan’s buckler.

  “The wolfkin knows what is best, it seems,” Zak yelled in praise. “And don’t think I didn’t notice the pup waiting behind you. I have something special for that one.”

  A moment later, a mound of steaming meat on a giant wooden plate landed beside DJ, who instantly began wagging his tail and licking Zak’s outstretched hand.

  Smelling the rich aromas and seeing the various dishes, Duncan almost wanted to join DJ in licking the titan’s hand in thanks. He wasn’t a wolf, though, so he’d settle for licking his own fingers after he was done eating.