Blood & Chlorophyll Ch. 10

The “Becoming Monsters” LitRPG setting was originally created by AiLoves, and is now managed by OtterlyMindblowing.

—

“—and, with the rations, I was finally able to settle down. Each day was no longer a battle to survive, but after a year and a half of hunting, I had no idea who I was anymore.”

Both girls were sitting on the couch, holding each other’s hands. Alicia had her legs pulled up underneath her, and had quietly listened as Katrina shared what her Change had been like. She’d wanted so badly to speak up, to try and offer comfort, but she could tell how hard it was for Katrina to recount everything that had happened. In the end, Alicia had opted to stay silent, to let Katrina speak until she’d shared everything.

“Even with the rations, it was still incredibly difficult. I get enough to survive, but never enough to feel sated. I’m constantly battling my hunger, suppressing the urge to sink my teeth into everyone I see.” Katrina paused again, wiping a tear from her face. “Every year, without fail, on the anniversary of the change… I stay up until morning, and I sit in the stairwell on my roof. I stare at the sunlight, wondering if this time I’ll actually do it. I always want to, more than anything, but… obviously it’s never happened.”

“Hey,” Alicia said, cupping Katrina’s face, encouraging her to look up. “I’m happy you’re here, Kat. You’ve made my life so much better, so much brighter, and you’ve given me a chance to fight for myself.”

Katrina leaned forward, the girls touching foreheads as they held each other. After a few minutes of silence, she spoke up again. “I’ve never told this to anyone. I never thought I would find someone that I trusted enough.”

“Not even Sera?” Alicia asked.

“No. I was still hunting when we were together, and I couldn’t bear the thought of ruining what we had, which… ended up happening anyways.”

“Do you know what happened to her?”

Katrina shook her head. “No idea. She was so angry, so hurt by what had happened… I couldn’t bear the thought of facing her again. Does that make me a coward?”

“Kat… I don’t think that’s something I can decide for you.” Alicia brushed a tear off Katrina’s cheek before continuing. “All I know is that, right now, you’re trying to be better. You haven’t attacked anyone in more than two years, and I think that’s amazing.”

Alicia pulled Katrina closer, hugging her tight before kissing her forehead. She felt Katrina’s arms squeeze her tight, and she buried her face into Alicia’s shoulder. Her body started shaking, tears running down her cheeks as she began to cry. Alicia held her, brushing her hair out of the way and she did everything she could to comfort the Vampire.

After nearly half an hour, Katrina’s breathing calmed, and she stopped crying. Without saying anything, Alicia leaned back, lying down on the couch and pulling Katrina with her. Neither had anything more to say, and eventually they both fell asleep.

—

As usual, Alicia woke at the crack of dawn. Though initially confused, as she hadn’t fallen asleep in her tree, she couldn’t help but smile when she found Katrina still in her arms. She was surprised the Vampire had actually stayed asleep, and wondered if the stress of sharing her past had simply drained her.

After a few minutes of appreciating how Katrina’s body felt against hers, Alicia saw rays of sunlight start to filter into her house. Panic set in, and she removed herself from the couch as quickly as she could. Miraculously, Katrina managed to stay asleep the whole time, and Alicia gently placed a blanket over the Vampire as she got to work.

Walking outside, Alicia expanded her senses, reaching into the ground just in front of her house. Vines sprouted, creeping up the large bay window until they’d reached the second story. As they grew, heavy leaves began to emerge as well, working together to form a heavy blanket of greenery that covered the window. With that finished, Alicia let herself take a few minutes to nitpick over details; she added a few flowers, some smaller vines with cute blossoms, just minor details to keep her inner botanist happy.

A quick trip inside revealed that her plan had worked perfectly. The living room, while not pitch black, was easily dark enough for Katrina to sleep safely.

The matter at hand resolved, Alicia took a seat on the floor. She was in no rush to start her day, and this was her first chance to start unpacking everything that had happened last night. A fancy date, a new delver, and her first kiss with Katrina. She could still feel herself blushing when she thought back to that moment, it had been such a surprise.

Of course, then Katrina had finally opened up about her past. On the one hand, Alicia was ecstatic that Katrina trusted her enough to share everything, but on the other, it was hard to deny that Katrina’s history had been significantly more harrowing than she’d expected.

Much like Katrina, Alicia wasn’t entirely sure who she was, and what the rules of this new world were. She always knew the Change had been chaotic, she repeated the stats often enough at work, and her own neighborhood had been trashed the night of the Change, but it was hard to escape the nagging feeling that she’d been extraordinarily lucky. The carnage hadn’t hurt her, or her Heart Tree, and her Race was an incredibly peaceful one. She had no violent urges, and she had access to free food so long as the sun continued shining.

How many demons had hurt people during the Change? Most of the carnage Alicia had seen that night had been the result of a huge Rage Demon picking a fight with a Dragon. Their fight had been terrifying, and it had only gotten worse as people around the neighborhood started discovering their powers, using them to try and protect themselves.

Alicia had been terrified, but the danger had evaded her. The fighting had stayed away from her tree, and the more dangerous individuals had quickly left the neighborhood afterwards. It had been easy to feel secure in isolation, to welcome the loneliness with open arms if it meant an escape from the horrors of that night. Thinking back on it, most of her first month after the Change had been spent hiding in her tree, jumping nervously at any sign of life.

Shaking her head, Alicia realized she was now watching Katrina sleep. Not wanting to be a creep, she walked back outside and started her morning routine. Visiting plants, watering flowers, dipping her feet in the stream and enjoying the sunlight.

As her roots sank into the soft riverbed, and the warmth of the sun began to revitalize her, her thoughts continued racing. She recalled the first moment she met Katrina, when she’d realized she was a Vampire. There had been a tiny flash of fear, possibly a remnant of the human part of Alicia, but the moment had passed quickly.

She didn’t choose to become a Vampire. The System forced it on her, forced her into a situation where she had to hunt to survive. That could have easily been me, there’s no reason I didn’t turn into a Vampire, or a Demon, or any one of the hundreds of races that can so easily spread chaos in their wake.

The more she thought about it, the more she believed that Katrina was a good person. She wanted to be a part of her life, to see her grow and overcome this part of her. With her job at ORC, she even made decent money; maybe she’d be able to start purchasing blood on a reliable schedule. Katrina made her happy, and she was determined to return the favor.

An idea crossed Alicia’s mind, and she opened her eyes. It was still morning, but the sun was now high in the sky; Katrina would likely still be asleep for many more hours. Leaning forward, Alicia focused on the ground on the other side of the river. The sides of the river had been almost completely cleared of concrete, and a healthy patch of dirt stood waiting for her. With a deep breath, she connected with one of her Racial Features, Seeds of Life, and got to work.

Alicia had learned early on that this particular Feature allowed her to create almost any plant she desired, no seeds required. When used in combination with another Feature, One With Nature, she was able to grow and control the plant life around her to an incredible degree. At first, she’d tried to fill her lawn with every possible variety of unique, colorful flowers, but had quickly learned that her magic had limits. Sure, she could grow anything she wanted, but if she stopped concentrating, they would default to normal behavior. If they didn’t have water, or if there were any other of a million different problems, the plants would die. This had led her to mostly rely on mundane gardening, using her abilities only to start new growths. Alicia had always grown plants that she knew existed, as they were easy to research, but now she wondered if she could create something new.

On the other side of the river, something began to grow. She tried to be careful, to move slowly so she could understand exactly what she was doing. Small bulbs formed, and then a series of lush, vibrant green stems. They reached for the sky, small leaves forming, then hints of a flower. The buds stayed closed at first, but soon opened to reveal deep, crimson petals. Several large, stronger petals grew wide, and additional smaller petals grew underneath that canopy, almost resembling drops of blood.

When Alicia finished, this new plant had clearly been inspired by Blood Orchids, but had grown into something heartier. She shook her own roots free, crossing the river to inspect her work. She leaned close, breathing in the smell, and her senses were overcome with a dull, metallic scent; exactly what she’d wanted.

To finish her project, she grew a small collection of thick bark, formed it into a makeshift vase, and filled it with water. She took her new flower, carefully dislodged it, and set it inside the vase.

With a sigh of relief, she leaned back, stretching her arms high into the sky. When she opened her eyes to look around, she saw the sun had changed positions again. By her calculations, she had just spent roughly 4 hours growing this plant. Thankfully, there was still plenty of time left to deliver her present. She picked up her new flower and began walking back home.

Katrina was still asleep, though it looked like she’d turned onto her side at some point. With each breath, her chest would rise and fall, and Alicia had to stop herself from getting lost in the Vampire’s beauty. She instead left the flowers on the ground, in front of the guitar she’d bought Katrina, and left.

Alicia spent the rest of her day wandering her house. She barely spent any time inside, and decided she wanted to clean it up for Katrina. After all, there was a chance she might be spending more time here, and Alicia wanted to make a good impression. She did her best to wipe away all the dust, pack up all the clutter, and clean the heavy amount of dirt that she’d tracked in over the years. By the time the sun had started setting, the house was far from perfect, but Alicia was pleased with her results.

—

At first, Katrina thought she was still dreaming. A strange scent had filled her senses, one with a heavy metallic tinge, eerily similar to the iron that filled the blood of Humans. She didn’t recognize the bed she was currently sleeping on, and when she opened her eyes, she saw an unfamiliar room.

It only took a few seconds to come to her senses. She remembered meeting with Tabitha, convincing her to join, then walking Alicia home. Hearing Alicia talk about her high school prom, receiving definitive proof that, yes, she was into girls. Being surprised with a new guitar, one that could not have come cheap. Alicia growing upset, desperately wanting Katrina to accept the gift without fussing.

Finally giving in to her feelings, asking Alicia for a kiss.

Katrina blushed, emotions welling up as she remembered how wonderful their first kiss had been. She had wanted to stay there forever, wrapped up in Alicia’s arms, enjoying the feel of their bodies intertwined as they slowly kissed each other.

There had been fear, worry that Alicia might not feel the same if she knew what Katrina had done in the past. For the first time in her life, desperate for companionship, to truly connect with someone, Katrina had shared everything that happened after the Change, after she’d turned into a Vampire.

I must have cried myself to sleep, I don’t remember much after I finished sharing everything. But, Alicia’s not here. Did I scare her off? Is my past too much for her?

Katrina sat up, rubbing her eyes as she tried to shake the sleep from her body. When she felt more alert, she began looking around in earnest, and that’s when she saw the source of the strange smell. On the floor, next to the guitar Alicia had bought, was a wooden vase filled with a flower Katrina had never seen before. She moved closer, sinking to her knees, and breathed in the strange scent.

Somehow, through some miracle Katrina didn’t understand, the flowers smelled almost exactly like Human blood. There were subtle differences, much the same way that a store-bought perfume would differ from its source of inspiration, but beautiful nonetheless. In the petals of this flower sat a small, handwritten note.

“Morning sleepyhead! Come find me when you wake up <3 - Alicia”

Katrina read the note again, then a third time, then a dozen more. She almost couldn’t believe what this meant, but deep down, she knew it was something she’d always wanted.

She didn’t leave… I told her everything, and she still wants to stay with me.

The flower petals underneath Katrina began to twitch, bobbing slightly under the weight of the tears that fell on them. It took several more minutes for her to pull herself together, but once she did, she stood up and left the house.

Outside, the moon was bright. It covered the quiet neighborhood with its silvery glow, and Katrina was struck by how quiet it was out here. She’d gotten so used to sleeping at home, surrounded by the city, it almost reminded her of her childhood. She’d grown up in the suburbs, away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago, and had hated it for years. Now, though, as she looked around at Alicia’s home, something felt right.

A breeze traveled through the branches of Alicia’s Heart Tree, shaking loose another flurry of cherry blossom petals. When Katrina turned to look at the tree, and its impressive branches dancing in the wind, she finally saw Alicia.

Her dark green hair floated on the breeze, pink blossoms periodically growing like small hairpins. Her verdant eyes turned towards Katrina, and the girls looked at each other in silence. With a smile, Katrina floated off the ground and moved closer, wiping a tear off her cheek as she landed in Alicia’s arms.

“Alicia… you’re still here,” Katrina whispered.

“I would never leave you, Kat.” Alicia hugged her tight, their heads resting on each other’s shoulders. “You’re amazing, and what happened isn’t your fault. I want to see the person you become, to help you figure out who you want to be.”

Katrina pushed Alicia’s hair aside, leaning in to kiss her again. Her lips were incredibly soft, and Katrina’s hand slowly moved down her back as they pulled each other closer. Their lips danced back and forth; their breath heavy as they lost themselves to the moment. When they finally pulled themselves apart, Katrina spoke up again, her voice almost cracking with emotion.

“Thank you.”

They continued leaning against each other, the only noise a gentle breeze racing through the suburb. Eventually, Katrina’s breathing grew softer, and she felt more in control of herself. She opened her eyes, looking deep into Alicia’s vibrant green eyes, and smiled.

“Plus, leaving would be pretty awkward, since this is my house,” Alicia said quietly.

After a brief moment of surprise, Katrina burst out laughing. It was the perfect release, a way to shake loose all the anxiety of sharing her past with Alicia. Soon enough, both girls were laughing, their hands interlacing as they turned to the road and started walking.

When the laughter broke, Katrina wiped the tears of joy from her face and sighed with content. “Wow, I needed that. The flowers were incredible, by the way, I’ve never seen anything like that before. What are they?”

Alicia squeezed Katrina’s hand tightly. “They’re new! I just made them up today, while you were sleeping. The smell didn’t… trigger anything, did it?”

“I was a little confused when I woke up, but that was it. I think, on some level, my body knows it’s not real blood.”

“How did you sleep? I have no idea how comfy that couch is, I never use it anymore.”

“It was really nice, actually. My bed at home isn’t all that special, and I can get comfy almost anywhere. Though… it was certainly more comfortable with you in it.” Katrina felt herself blushing as she spoke, and she was pretty sure she saw Alicia do the same.

“Sorry I couldn’t stay… For better or worse, you’re nocturnal and I’m not. My body is always going to try and wake with the sun. Though, thankfully that let me block out the windows so you wouldn’t get hurt.”

“Thanks, Alicia. I don’t know how I got so lucky.” Katrina leaned closer, kissing the Dryad on the cheek as they kept walking.

They wandered the neighborhood for a few minutes, simply enjoying each other’s company, before Alicia spoke up again. “So… should we talk about us? About what we want this to be?”

Katrina paused for a moment, thinking over her words. “Well… I really like you. I want us to be partners, and I have a feeling you feel the same.”

Alicia nodded, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. “Yes! I would be honored to be your girlfriend!”

They both laughed, kissing again before Katrina continued. “I do think I’d like to wait a little bit before we, um… get physical, if that’s okay? I’m not sure how long, but… well, you heard. For a while, sex was something I used to hunt, but also as a way to self-harm, and I want our first time to be better than that.”

“Kat, I haven’t had sex in close to four and a half years, I think I can wait a little longer." Alicia paused for a moment, then added, “So long as I get to keep kissing you.”

Katrina laughed. “Whenever you want, Alicia.”

After yet another kiss, this one lingering for even longer, they resumed their walk. “Although… cards on the table, I did masturbate for the first time in years the other day…” Alicia said.

“Yeah? What inspired that?” Katrina asked. As soon as the question left her lips, Alicia gave a suspicious look in her direction, then quickly averted her eyes. “Wait, me?! Alicia! Did meeting me kickstart your libido after four years of chastity?”

“Well, maybe a little. You’re just so pretty! It wasn’t on purpose, I was just sitting on my river, and my mind started to wander… God, this is so embarrassing.”

“Alicia, of everything in the world that could possibly embarrass you, I think being attracted to your girlfriend is pretty low on the list.”

“But we weren’t dating yet! I didn’t want you to think I was like, a creep or whatever. Plus, I’ve heard people with high Charisma have a hard time being objectified all the time, and I really didn’t want to make you uncomfortable!”

“I promise it’s okay, Alicia.” Katrina pulled the Dryad close, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as they walked. “Besides, it’s not like I’m ace. I have an active libido, I like sex, I just want time to think about everything before I jump in. And when it comes to other people staring at me, I much prefer them staring at my tits than my fangs.”

After a brief pause, Alicia spoke up again. “So, it’s okay if I say you’re ridiculously hot? And that sometimes I have trouble talking to you because of how attractive you are?”

Katrina laughed; a huge smile plastered on her face. “You could have fooled me. I’ve been worked up this whole week trying to figure out if you were even into girls. I get looks from straight women and gay guys all the time, so it can be hard to figure out when people are actually interested and not just appreciating the view. When you told me about your Prom, I finally realized you were into women, and I think that’s a big reason I finally made a move.”

“That’s all it took?” Alicia, dramatically falling against Katrina’s arm. “Ugh, I’m so bad at reading people. Though, to be fair, I only mustered the strength to give you the guitar because of Tabitha.”

“What? Tabitha was in on this?” Katrina thought back to last night, when they’d left the restaurant. She distinctly remembered Tabitha pulling Alicia in for a hug to tell her something. “That’s right, she whispered something to you. What did she say?”

“She said ‘If you don’t make a move soon, I will’. I already had the guitar, I knew you would need it once we started delving, but I was so nervous that it would make things awkward, or you would think it was a romantic gesture but weren’t into me, something like that. Anyways, with Tabitha’s threat hanging over my head, and with how wonderful last night had been, I decided to take a chance. I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting to end up yelling at you, I’m sorry about that part.”

“Hey,” Katrina said, turning to Alicia, “that was adorable. Seeing you get so worked up, it was clear that you were passionate about seeing me happy. I can’t remember the last time anyone has cared about me like that.”

“Do you have any exes? What was your life like before the Change?”

“Honestly? Pretty uninspired. I was a scrawny little ginger girl, a little shy, but I had friends, and I dated a few people. I never got too serious with any of them, they felt like relationships I more fell into than chose.”

The girls had been talking for a while, and when Katrina looked up, she saw they had arrived back at Alicia’s house. “Hey, by the way, the night is still young. Did you have any plans?”

Alicia shook her head.

“Would you want to go get our delving licenses?” Katrina asked. “We’ll have to go eventually, and now that Tabitha’s on the team, we might end up tackling the dungeon soon.”

“Let’s do it! If we take the train, there’s a place only two stops down. Not quite to your place, and certainly much closer than the city.”

With an excited kiss, Katrina ran inside. “Great! I’ll get my guitar!”

“Should you at least try it out before we leave?” Alicia asked, following.

“Huh. Yeah, probably. Should definitely make sure it’s tuned, if nothing else.” As they arrived in the living room, Katrina moved the guitar case to the couch and opened it up. Inside, just like last night, sat a masterfully crafted instrument. Even had she not known it was enchanted, Katrina would have known it was special. Everything about the guitar felt right, and when she curiously tapped the body, the instrument showed how ready it was to sing.

She pulled it out of the case, set it in her lap, then checked the case for accessories. Thankfully, they had included a strap, no doubt also enchanted for durability. After securing the strap, and standing up to adjust the height, she put her thumbnail to the lowest string and plucked.

The sound was warm, rich, and filled with possibility. She could hear the other strings buzzing with anticipation, already in sync with the instrument, which was another testament to this guitar’s craftsmanship. Her thumb continued down the strings, slowly striking each in turn as she listened for any possible errors or abnormalities. Apart from a tiny adjustment to the highest string, she didn’t need to change anything, which was incredibly impressive. She suspected the enchantment also preserved intonation, though she didn’t bother asking Alicia.

Now finished with her diagnostic, she looked at her new girlfriend. “What do you want to hear?”

After a brief pause, during which Alicia moved to the couch and sat down, she spoke up. “Something happy.”

With a nod, Katrina began playing.

The song started with simple, repeated chords, sitting in a lower register. Soon, higher notes mixed in as well, leading to much more excited arpeggio that had Katrina’s fingers flying up and down the neck. She found it much easier to play these faster notes, and had to stop herself from getting carried away. Her Inspiration activated, and she felt the magic in her fingertips as she gave Alicia a Stamina Regen Buff.

With the arpeggio finished, Katrina smiled at how easy it had been, and then started the song proper. It was a slower melody, almost sounding like a bedtime lullaby. Soft, simple tones sang through the house, peppered with the occasional small flourish. Lost in the moment, she could no longer feel a separation between herself and the instrument. The melody slowly picked up speed, teasing a grand finale, with repeated bass notes paving the way for one last excited arpeggio. Her fingers crept higher and higher, landing on a high note before ending the song with one, final bass tag. She froze, letting the energy from the music hang in the air before finally letting out a small sigh.

Katrina looked up at Alicia, who was literally on the edge of her seat. She was leaning so far forward, Katrina thought she was about to fall off. When she spoke, it was if she were scared to replace the music that was still lingering in their minds. “Kat. That was incredible! How did it feel?”

With a smile, Katrina moved closer and started setting the guitar back in its case. “It’s amazing, Alicia. Normally instruments have minor quirks, personalities almost, that you have to learn and adapt to. Sometimes strings buzz a certain way, or certain spots on the neck have a tendency to pitch higher or lower, but not with this guitar. I don’t know what else to say other than it’s perfect; it’s like it was made for me.”

“And you’re okay bringing it to the testing site? You’ll be getting a lot of attention, both because you’re a bard but also, well, look at you.”

Moving closer, Katrina ran her fingers down Alicia’s cheek. “It’s more than worth it to keep my girlfriend safe and happy. Honestly, it’s pretty lucky than I’m a Regen Bard, that’s probably much more helpful for you than a Stat Buff would be.”

The two gathered everything they needed, mostly just paperwork and identification, then Alicia grew a different set of clothes and they headed out. It took Katrina a while to adjust to the new guitar on her back, she had left the case at Alicia’s. Her instinct was to protect it like a defenseless infant, but she kept reminding herself that it had been enchanted specifically to be brought into battle. She assumed it wouldn’t stand up to direct attacks, but an occasional bump against a wall likely wouldn’t do anything.

Without the case, it was much easier to start playing at a moment’s notice, which is what she needed. Their destination, like Alicia said, was thankfully only a few stops away. The instant the Dryad stepped on the train, Katrina saw a change in her expression. The train ride was incredibly difficult, but with the car fairly empty this far from the city, they found a space for themselves quickly.

Katrina wasted no time and started playing as soon as they’d taken their seat. She did her best to play quietly, hoping only Alicia would hear, but several other passengers clearly took notice.

“How’s that feel?” Katrina asked.

“It’s interesting. I still feel disconnected, but the music is absolutely making it less terrible. I’m still lost at sea, but at least I have a small raft now. It’s wonderful, Kat.”

After only two stops, it was time to get off again. Katrina slid the guitar around her body, letting it rest on her back, and grabbed Alicia’s hand to guide her off the train. This far from the main city, the buildings were still fairly small, but people clearly lived and worked here. Alicia, still leaning against Kat, helped with directions until they’d found the Delver’s Registration building.

It looked no different than the DMV, but shaped quite differently. Katrina wasn’t entirely sure how to describe it; it was definitely a larger building, but it also seemed somewhat small for its intended purpose. The main entrance was incredibly large, she guessed at least 15 feet tall, and led directly to a series of ropes and partitions meant to guide people to different counters. Much like other generic government buildings, a series of chairs filled the lobby, but the seats were incredibly varied. Some were huge, taking up the space of six human-sized seats, but the others were much smaller. Katrina also noticed specific pathways for various tiny Races, meant to elevate them above ground level for safety reasons.

Soon enough, Alicia and Katrina had checked in, received numbers, and began to wait. The seats weren’t comfortable in the slightest, but they served their purpose. If nothing else, there was enough space for Katrina to pull out her guitar and resume her private performance for Alicia.

Now that they were in a public building, she did her best to play quietly. Thankfully, this was something classical guitars were very well suited for. Nylon strings always had a softer tone to them, and Katrina’s repertoire was expansive enough that she had plenty of appropriately timid songs to pick from. As she played, she did briefly wonder if the staff would say something about using Class Abilities inside. Technically it wasn’t allowed, though the spirit of the law was normally directed at more disruptive abilities, like offensive or mind-altering Features.

Alicia needed the help, though, and Katrina was more than happy to take that risk.

She also noticed that having her guitar made it easier to ignore her own temptations. She’d observed something similar on their trip to the city; spending all her time helping Alicia get around had distracted her from her hunger. Now, with an instrument in her hands and a girlfriend relying on her, she found it easy to ignore the blood in the bodies surrounding her.

Katrina did eventually notice that people seemed to enjoy her music. This was hardly surprising, but it was a part of her Class she often forgot about. Bards certainly weren’t rare, but finding one was always a nice treat. She was even tempted to open up her Inspiration for the extra experience, but decided against it. She hadn’t asked, for one thing, but she also needed to keep her Mana usage in check for when they started delving. Eventually, after Katrina lost track of how long she’d been playing, their numbers were called.

The testing itself was relatively simple, and focused almost entirely on knowledge. Practical tests had been considered for a while, but with how expansive the System was, they’d decided against them.

In order to pass, you had to prove understanding of your own abilities, your Status, how monsters work, how Dungeons work, and often random other small details. Katrina found herself answering questions about common Status effects, Classes that more frequently delved, and even specific Monster types.

Katrina also had to demonstrate familiarity with Delving Laws. When it was okay to use Class Features outside of the Dungeon, what needed to be done in the event of Monsters escaping the Dungeon, things like that.

After nearly half an hour of testing, after getting her picture taken and signing her name a dozen times, Katrina was handed her very own Delving License.

She held it in her hands, turning it back and forth as she examined every inch of it. It looked no different than a driver’s license, though with unique colors and markings to set it apart. After years of following Dungeon news, of wishing she could join in, she was now a Registered Delver.

If I ever go downtown without Alicia, I can fly!

Katrina stared at her license for far longer than was necessary, and only stopped when Alicia returned from her own test. The Dryad seemed exhausted, like she had just finished a college preparatory exam, and buried her face in Katrina’s shoulder before sighing with relief.

“Ugh, that test took forever!” Alicia said.

“But you passed, right?”

With a tired nod, Alicia held up her own license, just as fresh and pristine as Katrina’s “I did! I’m just too tired to get excited about it…”

Katrina laughed, wrapping her arm around Alicia and leading her outside. “Well, it is pretty late for you. C’mon, let’s get you home. Would you prefer leaning on me, or Inspiration while we walk?”

“As much as I want to keep cuddling with you, I think the Regen is a bit more helpful,” Alicia said. She didn’t seem particularly happy to admit it.

With a smile, Katrina pulled her guitar back in front of her and started playing again. She could tell how tired Alicia was and kept the Inspiration going the entire journey home. The music seemed to keep the Dryad awake, if only barely, but it was enough to get her home safely.

They were standing in Alicia’s living room when she spoke up, fighting through a heavy yawn. “Kat, this has been amazing, but I’m so tired. It’s been a really long day, and I need to get to sleep.”

The girls hugged, Katrina squeezing her new girlfriend tight. “You should rest in your Heart Tree tonight. I don’t want to learn that cuddling with me too much had adverse effects.”

“Don’t say that! I mean, sure, I’ve never slept outside of my tree for more than a night, but I can’t stand the thought of not being able to cuddle up with you every night.” Alicia paused, thinking to herself for a moment. “This is going to be weird. I’ve never dated anyone that was nocturnal before. We’ll have to… I dunno, get planners or something.”

Alicia yawned again, and Katrina grabbed her shoulders to start guiding her to her tree. “You need your sleep, c’mon, in you go.”

With one last yawn, Alicia stepped inside her Heart Tree.

Katrina watched her disappear, wondering how quickly she fell asleep when she was inside. Could she see anything? Could she sense anything? Katrina made a note to ask about the details some other time, but for now, she was happy to see Alicia make it home safe.

—

Looks like we've made it though to the other side. Hope everyone did alright after that last chapter.

"Nyx, it was so sad!"

It had a happy ending, didn't it? In a way, everything that happened led her to you.

"That doesn't mean it's not sad! I was crying, like, the whole time!"

How about we think about the future, then. What song did Katrina play for you?

"Oh, yeah. She played Feuille d'album. Ad libitum by Giulio Regondi. I made sure to practice my pronunciation, I was so embarrassed last time! Anyways, I asked for a happy piece, and the melody that plays in the middle was so peaceful. It wasn't as light-hearted as I'd pictured, but the bittersweet nature of the music felt oddly appropriate after everything we'd talked about that night."

I'm glad she likes her new instrument. That was a really nice gift, Alicia.

"And we're delvers now! Like, officially! I almost don't want to think about it. We're going to have to, like, fight things, aren't we?"

At some point, yes. That's typically how delving works.

"You be careful, madam, I hear that sass creeping into your tone."

Until next time! Nyx <3