Gene sat at a fire with a corporate smile pasted on his face. He gave small waves to the passing adventurers who were still congratulating him for the mission, knowing they would soon forget they ever met him. From across the campgrounds, he watched Kyra play with Amara and smiled genuinely. Kyra had taken to the little faster than any other in the group and it felt good to Gene to see Amara being taken care of.

  He still couldn’t believe what he’d done. He hadn’t had time to dwell on the messages from both of the systems, but looking across the fire at Amara, his stomach churned. She was in danger just for existing and it was his fault. He had resolved to her back in the Forsaken mind that had been her prison but in that moment, he had hoped she would be freed to live a normal life.

  Now it seemed that would never be an option for her. He thought about her new existence and then the tortured one she had just barely escaped. Thinking about the Forsaken soured his stomach and his smile faded. He looked into the fire, becoming lost in the thought.

  Weeks ago, he had been proud of his actions in saving Silvayn. 20 Forsaken slain to save his new friends, it had been a badge of pride he wore proudly into his next mission to raid the Spire and kill another 30 Forsaken. It had all been pointless. Those had all been regular people, twisted by the power of the Dark Lord, Demetrios.

  Gene’s heart sank and he felt himself retreating into his own mind. He wanted to cry, to scream, to rend the Dark Lord’s mind asunder in vengeance. Countless innocents had died in a centuries long conflict and he just wanted to know why.

  Amara’s laughter pulled him out of his mind and he looked up to see her waving at him. She sat in front of Kyra as the holy woman braided her blue hair. It brightened his mood, seeing her adjusting to her new life so quickly but the whole situation gave him pause. He heard the footsteps of Kyrie and Eonis before a drink was placed into his open hand by the latter.

  “Copper for your thoughts?” asked Kyrie as he sat beside Gene.

  Eonis plopped down on the ground next to them and said, “But please, use your words this time like a normal person.”

  Gene snorted and rolled his eyes before saying, “I don’t know, really. Today’s just been a lot.”

  Eonis raised a brow and said, “You know, for someone who can project what they’re thinking, you rarely say what you’re actually thinking. Like all of this. How do you feel about the fact that after you do your big whammy tomorrow, all of these people will probably be hunting you down for sport?”

  Kyrie kicked Eonis’s arm, making him spill some of his drink. The elf just shrugged. Gene ruminated on his question and his chest tightened. In truth, he had already thrown up an emotional shield between him and the other adventurers the second they left Liris’s tent. He knew she was right to ask him to wipe their memories, even if his heart was telling him it was wrong. He sighed and sipped his drink. This beverage was icy blue and it cooled him to the core, making the perfect compliment to the heat of the fire before them.

  “I don’t think my feelings matter. It’s cold and logical but necessary. At least I have all of you to keep me company while on the run,” said Gene with a half-hearted chuckle.

  Kyrie placed a hand on his knee and squeezed in sympathy. He thanked him, placing a hand over his to return the sentiment. For a while, they sat drinking in silence and people watching before Gene had a thought and laughed to himself.

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  “I can’t believe I just became a single father,” he said, glancing over at Amara.

  A beat of silence went by and Gene felt an awkward tension building before Kyrie asked, “Hmm…single, huh?”

  Eonis choked on his drink with laughter and Gene shot straight up, realizing what he said.

  “Wait, that came out wrong,” he blurted out.

  Eonis chugged the rest of his drink and scurried away, claiming he needed to refill his glass.

  Gene’s face was flush and his neck was hot as he stumbled over his words, saying, “Well, what I meant to say was, with everything going on and you and me and now Amara and–”

  Kyrie burst into laughter, cutting off Gene’s rambling.

  He wiped a tear from his eyes before saying, “I’m sorry. I just said that to mess with you. I like seeing you squirm.”

  Gene’s mouth was agape. Kyrie reached up to close it gently, looked into his eyes, and said, “I understand if this thing between us is just physical. There are no hard feelings if that’s the case and I will still fight by your side.”

  “It’s more than that,” blurted out Gene when Kyrie finished speaking. They locked eyes and Gene said, “I don’t know if I believe in love at first sight but when our eyes met, something clicked into place for me. I felt it when our hands touched the first time in that tent and I definitely felt it that night in my room in Taos. I mean, you’ve got me considering raising my Might score for god's sake.”

  Kyrie burst into laughter but Gene continued, saying, “I want to be with you in whatever way you’ll have.”

  Kyrie’s laughter subsided but a relaxed smile remained on his face. He looked into the fire for a moment in thought before he said, “In Old Venturis there was a word, Paramus. It’s used to describe lovers whose threads have been tied together on the loom of reality.”

  He looked up at Gene and they clasped hands.

  “Paramus, then,” said Gene with a wide smile.

  Their moment was broken by Amara’s laughter. They looked up to see her approaching with Kyra in tow.

  “Gene, Kyrie, look! She braided my hair!” exclaimed Amara as she showed off the two blue braids down her back.

  Both men gave exaggerated reactions to the delight of Amara. She beamed brightly, her iridescent skin shining brighter. They clapped for Kyra and she gave a small bow before setting her eyes on Gene.

  “You guys mind if I steal Gene away for a moment? I wanted to get some supplies ready for our trip tomorrow,” said Kyra to the shock of both men.

  Gene looked at Kyrie just before he smacked him on the back and said, “Be my guest. I’m tired of him anyway.”

  Gene scoffed in reply and Kyrie said, “Go! Go! I need to teach Amara some swear words anyway.”

  Kyra and Gene snorted with laughter and Amara asked, “What are swear words? Are they like spells?”

  Kyrie grinned wide and said, “Yes, in a way they are.”

  He shooed them away as he kept Amara entertained. Gene and Kyra departed the camp together. They walked into the woods for a few paces until they were a good distance away from the campground. Gene watched her back as they walked in silence and he felt tension radiating from Kyra. She gripped her staff tight, making Gene question just what was about to happen.

  “I think this is far enough,” she said, stopping and turning to face him.

  Gene nearly stumbled at the suddenness of her action and the harsh crack in her voice.

  “Kyra…what’s going on?” he asked as her tension spilled over into his thoughts.

  She took a deep breath, fighting to muster the strength to speak.

  “Gene…I’m sorry,” said Kyra, her shoulders slumping as the words left her mouth. She looked into his eyes and he started to step back before she said, “The night we met, the gods of our world spoke to me. I was given a holy revelation to tamp down your power and keep you in check. They warned me that you could be a dangerous factor in this world.”