I woke to the irritating sensation of someone repeatedly poking my shoulder. I groaned, hoping it wasn't a sign of yet another existential crisis for the group—honestly, three of those per week seemed more than enough in my book. Although my body was in peak physical condition, my mind was quite exhausted -- probably due to the insane crafting spree I embarked upon yesterday.

  In fact, after my conversation with Shadowheart, realizing that untested regeneration was a dead end for now, I'd settled upon a more mechanical solution for Karlach. To that end, I spent the better part of last night figuring out how to properly enchant and tune Karlach's new infernal heart replacement. Unfortunately, that particular project had taken me a longer than anticipated… I was indeed a supernaturally good enchanter and blacksmith, but, even my unnatural advantages had limits when it came to crafting something entirely unfamiliar – like an artificial heart. After thoroughly mapping out Karlach’s existing “hardware” with Clairvoyance, then going back into the “zone between moments” (I shall call it the ZBM!) after entering the smithing menu, it took me several subjective

  of non-stop work to finally make a product I was completely happy with. I’ve only finished and finally gotten to bed about an hour before dawn… and now, one could imagine my irritation at my “beauty sleep” getting so rudely interrupted.

  And yet, the incessant continued. Finally cracking open an eye, I found Gale peering down at me with a puzzled -- yet intrigued -- expression on his face, while Karlach hovered just behind him, barely restraining laughter.

  "Harald, my good man! I must say," Gale began slowly, clearing his throat, "your way with new company is… unconventional."

  Karlach snickered, nudging Gale aside. "Rise and shine, lover-boy! Had a fun night seducing the local wildlife, huh?"

  Confused, I rubbed sleep from my eyes. "Karlach, Gale, what are you talking abou--" I froze mid-sentence as my brain finally registered the beside me.

  Ever so slowly, dreading what I might find, I turned my head to look beside me.

  …

  …

  …

  It was worse than I thought.

  Sylvie—previously a tiny, mischievous pixie—was tiny no longer. Instead, the figure that now lay curled up beside me was a larger and more naked version of our fey guide.

  And she. Was. Breathtaking.

  Her silvery hair flowed like molten moonlight, cascading in shimmering waves over her delicate shoulders and pooling around her like a silken sea. Soft, impossibly smooth, slender limbs stretched gracefully beneath the sheets, highlighting curves that were certainly not present in her previous, pixie-sized form. Her ethereal skin glowed gently, as though touched by starlight itself, and her long lashes fluttered softly with each peaceful breath. Her perfectly symmetrical features seemed sculpted by a master artisan, each subtle line and curve crafted to the kind of impossible perfection no human could ever achieve. The sheets barely covered her modesty, draped loosely over her figure and accentuating, rather than obscuring, her newfound form. Her dragonfly-like, gossamer wings were nowhere to be seen at the moment – although, whether that was because they were merely hidden away or no longer existed, I couldn’t begin to guess. She was scrunching her nose cutely in her sleep, occasionally twitching, perhaps dreaming of flight.

  Karlach chuckled warmly, giving Gale a wink. "Soooo…. Harald. Care to explain to us how a nude fairy ended up your bed? Or do you always seduce the local pixie population?"

  I raised my hands, mortified. "Karlach, I swear, I have what happened."

  She smirked, patting my shoulder sympathetically. "Oh, of not, Soldier! You just seduced a pixie, turned her human-sized, then slept with her overnight. Really, it could happen to anyone!"

  Before I could find words—or even coherent thoughts—Sylvie herself stirred softly. She stretched her arms overhead, yawning cutely, before slowly opening her eyes. Vivid, glowing blue irises – the same shade as my own -- sparkled with sleepy confusion as she met my gaze, blinking slowly.

  Sylvie mumbled in her melodic voice, a sound reminding me of being home and jingling bells on Christmas morning, before her gaze suddenly sharpened, eyes widening dramatically as she realized

  was profoundly off. She sat up suddenly, looking down at herself in astonishment, her eyes wide and curious. Slowly, she examined her hand, flexing her fingers, before her eyes drifted… lower. A radiant smile broke across her face.

  "I'm... I'm ! big! Harald, look at me—this is !"

  Without a second thought for modesty, she tossed aside the sheet and launched herself forward, wrapping her arms enthusiastically around my neck, completely oblivious to her exposed form.

  I froze instantly, face burning crimson. Gale politely turned away with an awkward cough, studiously examining the nearest tree root. Karlach, meanwhile, doubled over into a roaring laughter.

  "By Mystra's grace," Gale muttered quietly, "I never thought I would witness a fae evolution firsthand – truly remarkable! Although…perhaps conjuring some attire might be prudent, Harald?"

  "Oh! Clothes!" Sylvie finally seemed to realize her predicament but remained entirely unapologetic, simply tightening her embrace around me even further. "I suppose clothing might be useful, eventually." She pulled back slightly, beaming up at me warmly. "Harald, I… ! This is !"

  "You're… welcome?" I replied weakly, feeling my face burn hotter as I awkwardly patted her shoulder.

  Karlach interjected, grinning mischievously. "You should make some clothing soon -- can't have the poor girl freezing. Or are you enjoying the view too much, Harald?"

  I rubbed my temples, sighing heavily. "Why do I feel like I'm never going to live this down?"

  Karlach grinned wickedly. "Because you won't!"

  ***

  It didn’t take long for the group to gather at breakfast, though I was admittedly slower than usual to join them, still reeling from the shocking start to my morning. Sylvie had refused to let go of my arm, practically glued to my side as we moved to sit at the dining table, her silvery hair now neatly cascading down her back and shoulders, a new robe draped casually around her slender figure. Despite – or, perhaps, because of -- her new-found circumstances, Sylvie seemed far more interested in nestling closer to me than doing anything else.

  Karlach immediately noticed our arrival and burst into hearty laughter, nearly choking on her drink. "Gods above, Harald, did you need to conjure glue remover too?"

  I rolled my eyes, face warming slightly as Sylvie merely snuggled closer, sticking her tongue out at Karlach -- utterly unashamed. Gale suppressed a smile, trying—and failing—to hide his own amusement.

  Shadowheart and Lae'zel, seated roughly across from us, shared an oddly synchronized scowl—one clearly meant to appear indifferent, yet edged with something suspiciously resembling envy. Shadowheart pretended to be deeply interested in her food, stabbing her breakfast as if it had personally offended her, while Lae'zel seemed intent on staring at the waterfall just past my head, jaw rigid, expression steely. Still, they occasionally cast pointed glances in our direction. Suddenly noticing each-other’s reactions after a minute of this byplay, Shadowheart and Lae'zel exchanged sharp glances and simultaneously turned away, cheeks faintly tinged.

  I noticed Astarion sitting quietly at the far end of the table, visibly uncomfortable as he pushed food around his plate without eating. Smiling knowingly, I discretely summoned a carafe filled with fresh human blood from my inventory and telekinetically slid it toward him with a wink.

  Astarion's eyes widened in momentary shock, his typically composed demeanor slipping as he stared first at the carafe, then at me, as if questioning how I had possibly known his secret. After a tense moment, he regained control, offered a cautious nod of gratitude, and poured himself a small, elegant glass, sipping on his breakfast thoughtfully.

  Then, Gale pointedly cleared his throat. "If I might offer some clarity…. As I explained to Karlach already before we woke Harald this morning, it appears that Sylvie here has undergone an extraordinary evolution overnight."

  "Evolution?" Sylvie asked, intrigued, briefly distracted from cuddling my arm.

  Gale nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. Among the fae, hierarchy and power are fluid concepts. Pixies are minor fae, typically spending their days being playful and harmless. But as they age—or, more significantly, as they slowly accumulate magic through time and advantageous bargains—they can grow in power significantly, thus ascending the fae hierarchy. Nymphs, sidhe, even fey nobles and archfey—not all of them come into being as they are; some grew into their stations from lesser forms, with each potential evolution signifying ever greater status and magical prowess."

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Fey ," Shadowheart echoed skeptically, clearly displeased with this development. "You’re suggesting she's become something powerful?"

  "Precisely," Gale said calmly, unfazed by the quiet tension at the table. " fae are exceedingly rare and attain their ranks through either centuries of absorbing ambient magic or by making particularly potent bargains. It seems Sylvie here, quite remarkably, managed to accomplish one or both of those things in a single day."

  "So, Harald’s cooking was good enough to bump a pixie up the fae hierarchy? That's one of a sugar high, Soldier!" Karlach joked.

  I sighed heavily, feeling the blush return with full force. Sylvie giggled softly, leaning even closer, apparently enjoying both the attention and my discomfort.

  "Regardless of how it happened," Sylvie declared cheerfully, "You should know that I'm

  happy. And," she added, shooting a playful glance and a wink at Shadowheart and Lae'zel, "I plan to enjoy every moment of my new form."

  Karlach laughed outright, delighted at the increasingly frustrated expressions across from us. "Oh, this is going to be fun! Pass the sweetrolls, Gale!”

  ***

  After breakfast concluded, I finally managed to gently extricate myself from Sylvie's affectionate grasp, though she pouted adorably as I did so. Her newfound size and deceptive strength made escaping her embrace a notably challenging—but, admittedly, enjoyable—experience.

  "Sylvie," I suggested with a soft, reassuring smile, "maybe you could scout the Revel for us? Check out the local atmosphere, see what kind of competition we might expect come nightfall?"

  The fairy’s eyes brightened instantly, excitement replacing her playful pout. "Of course, Harald! I'll scout every shadow and corner. You'll know there is to know before the sun sets." With a final lingering glance and a cheerful wave, she promptly turned into a burst of rainbow colors, quickly vanishing into the sunlight.

  As she disappeared, I turned my attention back to Karlach, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Karlach, can we talk privately for a moment?"

  The red-skinned barbarian looked up at me, a brief flicker of curiosity crossing her expressive face before nodding. "Of course, Harald. Lead the way."

  Together, we stepped away from the others and walked in companionable silence toward a scenic overlook by the nearby waterfall. The rhythmic crashing of water echoed gently around us, a calming backdrop to the importance of our conversation. The soothing water noises stirred recent memories in me. I vividly recalled how Karlach and I had swum together in the ocean, the cool water rapidly turning to steam against her heated skin, creating clouds of mist that enveloped us both. I remembered holding her tightly amidst that swirling haze, feeling her warmth against me as the waves lapped gently around us. The memory lingered vividly, and, for a few seconds, I allowed myself the quiet daydream that, someday soon, we'd swim together again—this time without the fear or consequence of her fiery curse.

  Stopping at the edge of the overlook, I carefully retrieved the enchanted heart I'd crafted from my inventory, revealing it to her with gentle reverence. The heart was an intricate masterpiece of dark, polished Daedric ore, glowing faintly with a mesmerizing crimson pulse. Each carefully etched rune gleamed softly, carrying the weight of meticulous enchantment designed to – among other things -- perfectly regulate heat and manage blood flow. It took me several subjective

  of nonstop work in ZBM space to finally craft it – and, by Akatosh, I was proud of what I’d accomplished.

  Karlach’s breath caught softly, her eyes widening in awe and disbelief as she stared at the artifact. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached out, brushing against its smooth, engraved surface as though afraid it might vanish if she pressed too hard.

  "Harald," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, "is this… what I think it is? I… don't know what to say."

  I offered her a reassuring smile. "There’s good news and bad news. Which would you like first?”

  She looked at me like I’d grown a second head. “The news, !’

  I nodded in acquiescence. “The good news is, once installed, this enchanted heart will completely eliminate your danger of overheating. You'll be , Karlach.”

  Her eyes shone brightly, relief washing over her features like a wave. A deep, unspoken yearning filled her gaze—a yearning that revealed just how much she'd silently endured. For over a decade, Karlach had lived in a state of near constant stress, her body painfully aflame with each strong emotion she experienced. Joy, excitement, fear, anger—any and every intense feeling had been shadowed by a helping of searing internal pain, a cruel punishment inflicted by the experimental, and unstable, infernal engine prototype that kept her alive, yet constantly on the brink of destruction.

  To finally have the possibility of without an accompanying rush of punishing heat, of experiencing simple joys like laughter and excitement without risking getting cooked from within, was more than she'd dared to dream. The hope of touching someone without fear of scorching them or causing harm, to hold someone close, to embrace or be embraced—it was an overwhelming and exhilarating promise of a life she'd long believed impossible for her.

  The realization that, not only did she manage to escape Avernus, but she could very well live free – truly free, even of the damned Infernal Engine – was overwhelming for Karlach. Her expressive face softened deeply, and tears welled up in her eyes. She hugged me then; it was the hot, sizzling, desperate hug of a prisoner who had finally reunited with a loved one after receiving clemency from death row. I held her gently, rubbing her back as she slowly cried into my shoulder, allowing her to fully release the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Finally pulling away after several minutes, Karlach swallowed visibly, her voice reduced to a gentle whisper, soft and vulnerable, “And… the bad news?”

  “I haven’t yet found a safe method of regenerating your original heart,” I admitted gently, seeing the disappointment flicker across her face. “It will take more time and research.”

  Karlach exhaled softly, her shoulders dipping slightly in quiet acceptance. “No getting my old heart back, huh?”

  “Eventually – but not yet," I corrected gently, “don’t you worry, though -- this replacement is actually

  superior in some ways. For instance, it oxygenates your blood, meaning you’ll no longer need to breathe. You won’t have to worry about drowning or choking ever again.”

  She tilted her head, confusion mixing with fascination in her fiery gaze. “-what-now?”

  I chuckled softly. “It keeps your blood fresh and healthy without needing air. Think of it like… magic breathing.”

  Karlach laughed, the tension visibly easing from her shoulders. “Magic breathing—I like the sound of that!”

  Her smile faded slightly as a hint of worry returned. “But swapping out my old engine… won’t I bleed out immediately when we disconnect it?”

  “I’ve planned for that,” I assured her firmly, projecting as much confidence as I could muster. “I have a… certain spell I can use to move swiftly, and my restoration magic can replenish your blood far faster than you’ll lose it. And we have plenty of healing potions as backup, too. You’ll be safe—I promise.”

  She took a deep, steadying breath, her gaze locked onto mine as trust blossomed openly across her features.

  “You know what, Harald? I believe you. Completely. If anyone could manage such an impossible-sounding thing, it’s definitely you. How soon can we do it?”

  Karlach’s heartfelt trust warmed me, and I gently squeezed her shoulder. “Any time you like – even right now. I just give me a couple minutes to make sure my… speed spell… works correctly.”

  She nodded decisively, strength and determination flooding back into her expression.

  “Alright, then, Soldier. Let’s do this thing!”

  ***

  There was one preparatory step left to do before the surgery. After my conversation with Karlach, I found a tranquil area right next to the waterfall, intent on mastering an important element of my upcoming plan—the “Time Slow” dragon shout. After all, while I am an amazing smith, a transcendent Archmage, and a sublime enchanter, I wouldn’t – exactly – call myself a heart surgeon. Even after thoroughly studying Karlach’s engine with , while I felt confident that I could her existing device without issue, installing the new engine – while she was alive and bleeding out – would prove a challenge. Without precise control, the delicate procedure to replace Karlach's heart risked turning… unpleasant, to say the least.

  I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes as I centered the inner light of my soul, summoning the ancient draconic words from within. Each syllable resonated deeply, reverberating through my bones,

  

  As before, the words hung in the air in a time between time, as if the Universe didn’t know what to make of them. Until…

  Instantly, reality around me stretched and slowed, transforming into an elegant tableau frozen in time. Nearby, the liquid droplets from the waterfall ceased their downward plunge, hanging motionless in mid-air, tiny globes of liquid crystal illuminated brilliantly by sunlight. Each droplet refracted the golden rays, creating breathtaking arcs of vibrant rainbow colors.

  Taking an experimental step forward, I marveled at how effortlessly I moved through this timeless realm. The air felt luxurious, thick and rich as velvet, caressing my skin in slow-motion waves. My enhanced senses could vividly perceive every detail of this singular frozen moment—dust particles suspended serenely, the flying butterflies caught in their mating dances, the intricate textures of the suspended droplets, even minute ripples frozen upon the water's surface—all of it stood out in hyper-real clarity, sharp and perfectly preserved.

  Fascination consumed me as the world began to blur gently around the edges. The colors blended into ribbons of liquid light, each hue trailing into the next like watercolor paints swirling gracefully through clear water. It was breathtakingly beautiful and strangely peaceful.

  Then, an oppressive silence descended, absolute and profound. It was only then I realized that I must have far surpassed the speed of sound. In awe, I waved my hand experimentally, noticing with astonishment subtle ripples of compressed air radiating from my movements. Each gesture created faintly visible waves of air pressure, shimmering briefly before dissipating into nothingness. I marveled momentarily at these ghostly echoes of my motion, tangible evidence of my newfound relative velocity.

  Then apprehension gripped me – followed closely by panic.

  “Oh ,” I breathed soundlessly, dread tightening in my chest. “It's not stopping!”

  And indeed, it seemed that I was continuing to accelerate even further relative to the world. My surroundings grew increasingly dim. Colors slowly drained away, the vibrant hues fading into muted greys and blues. A strange blue luminescence flickered along my skin, a ghostly glow I quickly identified as Cherenkov radiation—confirmation that I was now moving faster than could propagate through the air around me. The air, once silky and luxurious, became thick and viscous, pulling at my limbs with every movement as though the universe itself protested my intrusion into realms forbidden by natural law.

  “No. Stop!” I shouted inwardly, mentally clawing at the runaway power of the Shout. “, damn you!”

  With a monumental effort of will, I exerted all of my mental strength, pressing fiercely against the relentless and unforgiving momentum currently gripping my physical form. My Shout momentarily resisted – before, mercifully, relenting.

  Mundane reality returned with a gut-wrenching jolt. Colors surged back first, then sound returned in a deafening rush, and I stumbled forward, gasping, nearly losing my footing as the sudden resurgence of sensory input threatened to overwhelm me.

  What.

  The.

  .

  Was.

  That?

  For a long, breathless moment, I stood trembling with adrenaline, bathed in reassuring sunlight and soothed by the familiar roar of the waterfall. Each sensation was now precious, grounding me firmly in a reality I’d nearly lost.

  Taking a shaky breath, I swallowed hard, casting wary eyes around me. My heartbeat gradually slowed. That was… a fairly terrifying experience.

  And yet…

  And yet, I’ve proven that I could control the Shout’s power. With practice, I may yet achieve finesse! But, for now, perhaps a partial Shout would do?

  Squaring my shoulders and mustering my will, I half-whispered:

  

  And the world around me slowed once again -- but far gentler this time.

  I couldn’t help but smile. Today, Karlach would be getting a new heart at last.