After listening to Isaiah’s story, Miri and Anne took a moment to process it all.

  “Man, that was quite the story,” Miri said, scratching her head. “But hey, at least we now know of someone who has the key rune to open the ritual room door, right? That’s something, at least.”

  “Miri! Be considerate,” Anne reprimanded with a furrowed brow.

  “Right, right, sorry. My bad,” Miri apologized.

  “Actually, I don’t have the key rune on me,” Isaiah informed. “It’s with my father, who’s been taken by the chimeragon to Goddess knows where.”

  “Aww, man! Why can’t it ever be simple?” Miri complained with an annoyed sigh. “Alright, so all we need to do now is to find your father so we can get the key rune from him—assuming he isn’t already dead, that is.”

  “Miri!” Anne reprimanded.

  “What? I’m just being realistic here,” Miri argued. “We’d barely gotten away from the chimeragon alive ourselves so the chances of Daddy Victorstein surviving that same ordeal isn’t looking too hot right now. Just saying.”

  “Actually, I’m pretty sure he’s still very much alive,” Isaiah said, taking out a palm-sized rune with a series of glowing symbols that seemed to project slightly outward and rotate around the stone like a set of holograms. “Before we came here, we had equipped ourselves with these soultracker runes. These allow us to locate each other no matter where we are in case we get separated. Plus, it’ll also indicate whether the person is alive or dead. Judging from the readings on this rune, my father is most definitely alive. When we got separated, he must have survived the chimeragon’s attack somehow.”

  “Well, in that case, let’s all go find him together,” Anne suggested. “With the two of us by your side, it’ll be much easier to accomplish, don’t you think?”

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  “Really? You’ll help me find my father?” Isaiah asked, feeling hopeful.

  “Woah, woah, woah, hang on there,” Miri said, interjecting the conversation with the holding up of a hand. “Before we dive headfirst into rescuing anyone, how about we discuss how we’re gonna split up the treasure once we find it.”

  “Miri!” Anne admonished, pulling the mage to a corner of the room so they could have a private conversation far enough away from Isaiah’s eavesdropping, one that was spoken with hushed tones. “I don’t think now is the right time to be discussing this.”

  “On the contrary, I think now is the perfect time to be discussing this,” Miri countered. “Look, I don’t want to be the person who constantly has to worry about the money side of things, but, in case you haven’t noticed, we are financially in the red here. And since you’re way too pure-hearted to keep tabs on these sorts of things, I have to be the one to fill in that role.”

  “Oh, you think I’m pure-hearted. Why, thank you,” Anne said with a slight blush.

  “That wasn’t supposed to be a compliment,” Miri said.

  “It’s not?”

  “Well, it is but…anyway, the point I’m trying to make here is that we now have two groups striving to get these runes: us and them. And so far, we have managed to save one of their guys. So, wouldn't it at least be fair and reasonable for us to get a portion of the loot when all is said and done?”

  “Yeah, except for the fact that they are the ones in possession of the key rune, which we’ll need to get through the door.”

  “That still doesn’t mean we’re just gonna let them take all of the treasure. That would just defeat the whole purpose of this trip in the first place.” Miri tried to argue her point, but all Anne did in response was to give her a stern look that signified the insistence on wanting to defer this argument to a later time. And no matter how steadfast Miri may be, she could never resist that look of sternness. “Alright, fine. We’ll discuss this later, after we rescue the father. But I’m adamant in taking at least half of the treasure. Nothing less.” Miri turned back to Isaiah with a much warmer smile. “So, it seems like we’re gonna be travel buddies now, at least until we find your dad. Oh, I’m Miri, by the way.” She offered him a handshake, which he took graciously.

  “And I’m Anne,” Anne introduced, also offering a handshake.

  “Nice to meet you two,” Isaiah said with a gentle smile. “And I really do appreciate you saving me.”