Chapter 53
Chapter 53
“I think it’s a bad decision,” Batrire said, speaking out first. “We barely passed the fiftieth dungeon, and that was with Max being beyond broken.”
“But we’re just as strong,” Vraxion argued, refusing to back down. “We’ve defeated every boss we’ve faced, as well as the practices you put us through. How is it a bad decision?”
Sog cleared his throat and shook his head. “You can speak freely, but remember who she is. Respect her and listen to not just what they’re saying but why they are saying it.”
The group’s warrior sighed and bowed slightly, stepping back to join the rest of his party. “Forgive me for speaking to you in such a tone… I am just… frustrated.”
“I get it, and we all understand,” Batrire replied, motioning to the other six gods standing with her. “You want to do this, but we’re telling you why you need to possibly wait.”
Max could feel the frustration of the five champions they had picked as the group stood before them. Each one was outfitted in armor and weapons that proved they had made it through the past five years with meticulous precision. Every piece of their body was outfitted with trophies of the bosses they slew as they cleared dungeons in all the kingdoms.
“We’ve done what you asked,” Vaelithrea said, her eyes fixed upon Cordellia. “Our roots are strong and deep. We’re ready for this storm.”
Their archer shrugged and raised her hands. “I can’t argue that you aren’t. I’m just telling you what I know. I never attempted those two dungeons because the risk was so significant. All I can tell you is be willing to die for this.” “I am,” Miranna said immediately. “We’ve trained for this moment. We all know what might lie in those dungeons.”
“No, you don’t,” Tanila argued. “None of us do.” She held up a hand, cutting off their daughter’s reply. “Listen… I could be wrong. I might be right. None of us knows if those portals will take you to the same kind of dungeon or even to gods like ours. With that promise that was made by the one… we’re not certain what could lie behind the portal.”
Max let his sonar study the five champions before them, knowing it was better at picking up small things compared to his vision. None seemed to be scared or put off by the warnings they were being given again. Each of them stood there, not backing down against the gods who had chosen them to be the face of unity on this world.
It’s ironic, isn’t it? Five different races, all determined as one to enter a place they know might be their last dungeon.
It’s their choice. Hate me for saying it, but would you have listened to Everett? No, you wouldn’t have. Miranna has lived in Tanila’s and your shadows her whole life. This is their moment to prove they are worthy of being the champions of this world.
And yet only Shale Spark has a spark. I find that almost funny.
Perhaps, but no matter what you say, unless you take those five and throw them into the tower, I would expect them to sneak out and attempt it. Your options are limited. I can sense your desire for them to complete these two dungeons. The boons granted for defeating these two dungeons are one of the reasons your party survived the tower. Would you deny your daughter and them the same opportunity?
Max sighed and realized he had done so, louder than he had intended.
“Dad?”
He smiled and turned to his daughter, nodding. “Give me a minute. I need to talk with the others in private, but I want you five to know that my answer isn’t no right now.”
A few grunts came from his allies, as smiles appeared on the party before them.
“I knew—” Miranna began.
Max held up his hand, cutting her off. “I’m not saying yes. I’m saying let me share something Bob and I discussed.”
“Who’s Bob?” Thergar whispered.
A few chuckles came from those who knew as Max motioned for the group of champions to go. “Sit over there. We need a moment.”
“Maaaax,” Tanila said, drawing out the vowel after Miranna and her party had moved away. “I thought we agreed this was a bad idea.”
“It is a bad idea, but it’s also not something we can stop.”
“I told you,” Fowl whispered, elbowing Batrire.
“Quiet!” their healer snapped. “Are you telling me you want to let them go in there? Even after how close we came to dying? After what Death did to her and you?”
Max shook his head and pointed at the five who were huddled up in a tight circle on the other side of the courtyard. “We can’t stop them, and Bob is right. If we try, they might just go in on their own.”
“I don’t suppose you’d seal off the dungeons,” Cordellia said.
Shaking his head, Max shrugged. “If we tell them no and don’t allow it, what are we telling every other adventuring group that comes after? If the ones we chose to set the path aren’t permitted, are we then telling everyone who comes behind that we will determine if they are worthy of going further?”
“But they’re…” Tanila paused, wincing before taking a deep breath. “She’s our star.”
Max knew what she was going to say before the words left her lips. It had been the biggest hurdle for him as well.
“They’re all our stars,” Batrire added.
“Gods, we’re not going to cry are we?” Fowl asked, getting an elbow for an answer from Batrire.
“You all are interesting people,” Sog declared. “One moment I’m certain of the decision you all are going to take, the next half of you are crying. I would like to remind everyone that I thought it was a great idea.”
Max nodded and shrugged. “It’s because we care. You want them to go because you care and think they need the boons. Rakonath isn’t here because he doesn’t care. A dragon does what a dragon wants . Those were his words. The longer I think about it, and the more Bob talks about it, he’s right. They’re adults. Each of them has been gifted by the system, and they carry the items that prove they have defeated the bosses that led to this moment. All we can do now is let them decide their fate. We shared our opinion and, unfortunately, tried to drown out their voice.”
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“When you put it that way, we sound like the bad guys,” Cordellia said.
“If we’re behaving like someone who only cares about how this affects us and not them, then yeah, that’s what we are,” Max replied. “We’re selfish, and as much as it hurts to admit, my daughter… is grown up. The day I knew would one day come is here, and I would rather stand beside her, cheering her on than push her away because I didn’t let her fly.”
Fowl sniffed a few times, rubbing his eyes. “Did you practice that? It was really good.”
“Sometimes I hate you,” Tanila said, glaring at him for a moment. “Now I feel bad about being some evil mother who only wants what I want. But you’re right… It’s time for our… all of our stars to set their own path in the sky.”
Max moved to his wife and opened his arms, wrapping them around her when she drew close. He could feel her heart beating quickly. Behind him his sonar told him that Fowl was comforting Batrire, who was taking this far harder than he had expected.
“Uh… do you need me to hug you?” Sog asked.
“Nooo,” Cordellia groaned. “But I’ll take it.”
They all chuckled through the sniffing and wiping of tears, the hardest moment of parenting finally hitting.
“Come on. With our decision made, it’s time.”
***
Max turned and smiled, stopping in the middle of a hallway between the kitchen he often baked in and the sleeping quarters he never used.
“Uh, why are we stopping?” Miranna asked as her party almost bumped into her.
Down the hallway the door to the kitchen swung open, and Rakonath appeared, a red-headed woman in a red dress, only a head shorter than him, following behind.
Max smiled as he saw the young woman grinning from ear to ear.
“Is that—”
“Holy dragon tits, it’s Shale Spark!” Vraxion shouted.
Max and the others pressed against the stone walls as the four rushed toward their friend who was running toward them. Laughter and more came from the group as they watched their dragon friend spin around a few times, her red dress twirling with her.
“You’re a good dad, you know that?” Tanila whispered, squeezing his arm as she stood beside him. “Rakonath was here pretty quick once you told him our decision.”
“That’s because he’s been waiting to give her that ring. I might have spent some DP on it.”
“Of course you did,” Fowl teased. “Always here to make the rest of us look like cheapskates.”
When the din of the celebration died down, Max’s dragon urged the five back to the spot where everyone else waited.
“Dad, did you—”
“I did, now wait,” he said, holding up a hand.
“I… I owe…” Shale Spark stuttered.
Max shook his head. “You don’t owe anything, but if you all won’t stop talking we can’t do this next part.”
“Next—” Thergar got out before Vaelithrea elbowed him.
Smiling, Max pointed at the wall behind him. “Take a step back.”
Bob began moving the stones that lined the wall, pulling each one out, storing them until a long hallway appeared. With a snap of Max’s finger, lightstone illuminated the tunnel.
“When did—” Miranna said.
“Just wait, let your dad show off a little,” Tanila said.
They followed behind Max, five adventurers and six gods, whispers coming from the party who had no idea where they were headed.
A hundred yards turned into a set of stairs cut from the stone in the floor and descended downward.
“Almost there,” Max said as he moved down the steps, motioning for them to follow. Minutes passed and soon they came to a giant stone door, magical glyphs set on it.
Tanila pushed her way past the party and stood next to Max. “My turn,” she whispered, putting both hands on the door. Orange light radiated around her hands, and the runes brightened, illuminating the area they stood in like the sun at its peak. Then the runes vanished.
Max moved the door with a single push of his finger and revealed a large room that had five different tables, each with a single chest on it.
“You five will find your names written on the table,” Max said. “Inside the chest is a gift. That gift is far more than most should ever hope for or see, and I hadn’t planned on giving them to you until you reached a certain stage in the tower, but…” He paused and motioned inside. “You get to decide if you want to use what is inside for this moment. We won’t stand in your way. All we can do is tell you to follow your heart and proceed as a group.”
He turned and smiled at his daughter. “You’re grown up. It’s time to shine on your own. So, if you’d like, take this gift we have for you and use it. Blaze a trail through those dungeons, collect the boons they offer, and then enter the tower. Whatever you choose to do, we support you.”
Max watched as the five adventurers shifted, a few sniffles and then a few tears came as the group cleared throats.
Miranna flew toward Tanila and him, wrapping her arms around both of them. “I love you! More than you’ll ever know!”
Both of them chuckled.
“Oh we know and even more than that,” Tanila whispered. “Now, go, Star. Shine bright.”
Their daughter kissed each of their cheeks before letting out a squeal and rushing inside. A stampede came after as the other four followed her, the group yelling out names as they found them on the tables.
“I feel bad about how I give gifts,” Fowl stated. “I just gave a gift. I don’t make people walk for ten minutes before putting on a light show and then giving a speech.”
“Maybe you should try sometime,” Batrire said.
“Nah, I’m good.”
Laughter filled the area as the seven gods stood by, watching five champions let out shrieks of excitement and joy, their outfits switching as they tried out new armor and equipment.
A pain filled Max’s chest, and he smiled.
I felt that.
I didn’t say anything when you felt that.
True, but it means a lot to me to know you care about her.
A silence that felt longer than it was hovered there as Max waited, knowing Bob was trying to say something and seemed unable to.
I… I forgot what it feels like…
You forgot what feels like?
Love.