Poisoned Rationality

After all five of us completed our tests, we met up again to discuss.

Nat, Ariana, and Sarya had all gotten to Bronze rank, while both Tyler and I were now Iron rank.

“How’d that happen?” Nat wondered.

“I think it depends on how good we do in our tests,” Tyler said. “Mine went on for a while.”

“So did mine,” I added.

“It’s kinda like that,” Ariana told us. “The people who test you are really high level, and keep their strength low when you first start the test. Then, the longer it goes on, the more strength they show.”

“So, when does that signify a change in how high you rank up?” Sarya asked.

“After three jumps in strength,” Ariana answered. “Once you reach that, you automatically will go up the ranks twice. If you don’t manage that, then you just have to not do horribly to go up once.”

“What about support-focused classes?” I wondered..

“I’m not sure, actually,” Ariana hummed. “I can ask my mom, I guess.”

After a bit more chatting, we discussed our plans for leaving for another town. After a little bit of planning the date and time, we headed to the library to find a map of the nearby dungeons.

“We should take off our armor and weapons and stuff first,” Nat told us. “Especially you, Tyler.”

“Yeah, I know it’s loud,” He grumbled. “It’s steel plate armor, what did you expect?”

We all went back to our homes and took off our gear before meeting back up in the library and heading inside.

Nat went in and asked a librarian where the maps were before walking back to us with instructions.

“It’s this way,” She said, leading us through the large building. We walked through the tall shelves, taking a winding path.

Eventually, though, we found the map section.

Spread out on several of the tables were large maps, with one of them being a three-dimensional map of the entire world. There was also a two-dimensional map of our country and another of the area around our town.

Upon reaching the place, Nat began scanning the shelves, looking for the maps with dungeons marked on them.

After a couple of seconds, she grabbed one and walked over to a table, setting the large hardcover book down and flipping it open.

“Here,” She said, taking a page and unfolding it, making a map larger than the page’s size would normally allow.

We all examined the map, searching for our town.

“Here’s Cala,” Tyler said, pointing toward the bottom left of the map.

“There are a couple of towns nearby that have dungeons,” Nat told us, indicating a few. “This one here is on the way to the capital, so we could head that way if we wanted.” I looked at the town, labeled Osiris.

“How far away is it?” Ariana asked.

“The trip takes a little over a week on foot,” Nat answered. “On horseback, it would take two days, and in a caravan, which is the best option for us, it’ll take four or five days.”

“That sounds good,” I said. “Let’s do that.”

“I’ve been to Osiris before,” Sarya murmured. “It’s a nice place.”

“Oh, you have?” Tyler asked. “How big is it?”

“It’s smaller than here,” Sarya replied. “They have a lot of focus on the dungeon and being an adventurer destination and less on being a town.”

“Huh,” I said.

“There are inns, though, right?” Ariana asked.

“Yes,” Sarya nodded. “I’ve stayed at a few. We’ll be fine there.”

“Alright, so we know where we’re going?” I asked. Everyone nodded. “Great. Let’s go back to the Guild, and we can find a caravan to join.”

Nat folded the map up and closed the book before putting it back on the shelves. Then the five of us left, heading back to the Guild.

Once there, we asked one of the receptionists about a caravan heading in the right direction. She gave us the information about the two soonest ones, and we discussed it before agreeing on the sooner one, which would leave in two days from now, at nine o’clock in the morning.

After letting her know we planned to be there, she thanked us before taking back the information.

Then the five of us split up again, heading back to our respective homes, except I went with Ariana back to her place.

“Didn’t your sister get back?” I asked.

“Yeah, she did,” She replied. “The day before your birthday, actually.” She blushed and mumbled, “She helped me pick out the outfit I wore.”

I laughed softly, smiling.

“I loved it,” I told her, and she blushed further.

We reached her home and went inside.

“I’m back!” She called into the house. Walking into the living room, she flopped onto the couch, pulling me with her.

I curled into her side and we cuddled. A few minutes later, Ariana’s sister, Coraline, peeked around the corner.

“Hello,” She said, waving. “When did you get home?” She asked her sister, walking into the living room.

“A couple of minutes ago,” Ariana replied. “I said I was back. You just didn’t hear.” As she was talking, another person poked their head around the corner.

“She’s one of my party members,” Coraline explained at my questioning expression. “This is Flint.”

“Hello!” The woman sang, coming around the corner. She was a harpy, with light bronze skin and tan feathers. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” I said. “I’m Nyx.”

“So what’s up with you two?” Coraline asked, grinning. “All cuddled up on the couch, acting all cute?”

Ariana and I both blushed, and she spoke up.

“We’re dating now,” She told her sister, pouting slightly. I smiled and patted her head.

“That’s great!” Coraline exclaimed, rushing over to pull Ariana into a hug. “You two look so cute together!”

We both blushed at that.

“You are cute together,” Ria agreed. I blushed even redder as Ariana pulled out of her sister’s arms and pulled me into her own hug.

“What’s going on?” Another voice asked. I looked up to see a fair-skinned woman with scales covering her body. They were red at her extremities, but smoothly transitioned to a light lavender as they got closer to her body.

She had blonde hair streaked with the two colors of her scales, dark purple horns curving back from her head, and a thin tail that was also covered in scales.

“This is Ariana’s girlfriend,” Coraline explained to the newcomer. “Nyx, this is Harley. She’s my other party member.”

“All three of us are also engaged,” Flint added.

“Are you a dragon?” I asked Harley.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I’m half.”

My eyes widened.

Half dragons were incredibly rare. True dragons rarely had a child with another race, and most never survived to adulthood.

The biggest thing about half dragons was that, once they got past childhood, they became immensely strong. They gained the toughness and strength of dragons, while also keeping any stand-out traits of their other half.

“Yeah, please don’t tell anyone,” Ariana said.

“I won’t,” I promised. “I’ll keep it a secret.”

“Thanks,” Coraline grinned.

“The three of us are planning on heading out soon,” Flint said. “You want to come with?” She asked.

Ariana looked at me, and I shook my head. “No thanks,” She replied. “We’re going to stay here.”

“Alright, just don’t do anything naughty while we’re gone,” Coraline said. Ariana turned bright red.

“Cora!” She exclaimed, blushing profusely. Her older sister laughed in response. My girlfriend pouted before taking my hand and leading me to her room.

We went inside and lay down on Ariana’s bed. She curled up next to me, and I put my arms around her.

“I love you a lot,” She murmured softly. I looked down at her to see her cheeks still bright red.

“I love you a lot too,” I whispered into her ear. She turned even further red and nuzzled against me.

There was a sudden surge of energy that rushed through me. I startled, looking around the room. Ariana did the same.

“Did you feel that?” She asked.

“Yeah,” I replied in a quiet voice. “What was that?”

<That was nothing bad,> Stella said suddenly, making me startle again. <The two of you were recognized as Fated Ones.>

My eyes widened as I took in Stella’s words. Fated Ones with Arianna?

“What happened?” The girl in question asked nervously.

“Stella told me that we were recognized as Fated Ones,” I explained. She smiled widely and launched herself at me, tackling me into a hug. I hugged her back, my tails curling around both of us.

“I’m happy,” Ariana mumbled into my shoulder.

“Me too,” I said. “Me too.”