Chapter 118: The Great Pruning
The rest of the date went well. Really well according to Necia. Tulland hadn’t realized it, but somewhere deep in the recesses of his mind, he was imagining that he’d be in trouble once he got out of the training zone. That he’d have transgressed some kind of hidden code having to do with the appropriate allotment of time between surviving a suicide run in a dungeon and taking care of his first boy-girl relationship. The feeling had gotten stronger and stronger as the time in the hidden arch zone had stretched on.
Synced back up with Necia’s time, he was having a hard time not trying too hard to make up for the imaginary mistake.
“A river. That would be nice. If we could find a river to sit by.” Tulland looked around desperately for any bit of romance the terrain had to offer. It was mostly just grass, unimpressive trees, and shrubs. “Or a tall hill. Or something.”
“Or, Tulland, you could just walk with me and calm down. I’m having a good time. I promise.” Necia grabbed Tulland’s hand and squeezed. “Think about it. Do you need anything special besides me being here?”
“Not being attacked by monsters,” Tulland offered.
“Point taken, but we already have that. I’m fine, really.”
Necia’s stomach chose that moment to rumble. Without her armor to blunt the sound, Tulland heard it loud and clear, and his stomach echoed the sound.
“Didn’t they feed you in there? Don’t tell me you got to feast while I was out here starving,” Necia said.
“You didn’t have time to,” Tulland pointed out.