Slowly, Leo backed away from the vault door. Carefully, as to not alert the creature inside. Suddenly, a flood of notifications appeared before him.

Ellie has slain: Antling - Level 31

Experience increased for defeating a higher level enemy

+23 Store credits

…

Ellie has slain: Antling - Level 30

Experience gained

+20 Store credits

Ellie has reached Level 27

Stat points distributed

+3 Free points

Ellie’s gains from race:

+5 Free Points

There were five in total, all appearing at once.

“Ellie.” The words came out like a reaction before he clamped his hands over his mouth.

He turned towards the vault door, stunned like a deer in headlights. A low rumble started shaking the floor beneath his feet. A malefic shriek pierced the air. Leo took that as his cue to leave and booked it full speed.

~

“Is it much further, Ellie?” Ashley asked, walking beside the young dragon.

In response, Ellie sniffed the ground, then the air. A scent seemed to catch, causing the dragon to start running.

“Wait up!” Ashley yelled, chasing.

“Ashley! Do not run off!” Cecelia tried to scold, but in the end just shook her head.

“Come on. We need to keep up. Ron, try and get ahead.” Cecelia spoke quickly, already running.

The group followed along, swerving through a few streets until they stopped in front of an impressively grand building.

They stood in a group facing it. Ellie had stopped and was just looking up at the metal doors, atop a set of grand steps.

“I can certainly see why this would be a distraction,” Bjorn said seriously.

“Is Leo around here?” Ashley crouched next to the dragon as she asked. The answer was obvious, but she still thought to ask.

Ellie ran up the steps to the metal doors, stopping halfway as she signalled for them to follow.

They did as instructed, taking the steps up alongside her. When they got to the very top, Lena spoke, “Is he in there?” She reached out to touch the door, but a growl from Ellie and a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

Ellie then did something that could only be described as incredibly endearing. She stood up on her hind legs, wobbling slightly as she tried to balance upright. She took careful steps towards the door, then placed both her remaining feet on it.

She mimed pushing with all her might against the doors but then fell on the floor as her legs started flailing, growling and trying her best to make dangerous noises.

“I wish I had a camera…” Ashley muttered, getting shushed by Cecelia a moment later.

Ellie continued her dramatic performance by running down the steps until she suddenly stopped and was pretending to be dragged backwards, shuffling along the stone.

“I… think I understand,” Cecelia began. “Leo opened these doors and was attacked by something… then tried to run but was dragged inside.”

“You got all that?” Bjorn chuckled. “I wasn’t sure what she was doing.”

“Should we open the doors?” Ashley asked skeptically.

“No,” Ron said firmly, grabbing everyone's attention. “Whatever took him was strong enough to catch him while he ran, presumably full speed. We would end up in the same situation or worse.”

“So we just do nothing? That can’t be our only option here, surely,” Amy said, frustrated.

“There must be some sort of entrance that doesn’t involve being taken by whatever it is she mimed being attacked by.” Cecelia started walking down the large stairs, followed by everyone except Ron and Ellie, who stayed to investigate the door.

They split up to explore the surroundings of the building, checking for windows, doors, even secret passages connected from other buildings. Nothing.

The group reconvened at the base of the steps a few minutes later. Just as they did, Ron spoke out.

“I’ve found something.”

His words caused everyone to quickly convene at the door once again.

“What is it?” Ashley asked impatiently.

“A keyhole of some sort,” Ron said. “Touching it gave me a quest. It explains what happened to Leo.”

Thus, everyone took turns touching the keyhole, granting them all the same notification. Ashley looked at hers.

Quest Received:The Bank of Lurentis

The bank before you holds potentially lustrous treasures to boost your power or grant you wealth. Find the key in order to enter safely.

Reward: Dependent on Vault key.

Warning: Forced entry will anger the guardian within, triggering a response.

“He broke in, didn’t he?” Ashley said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Based on Ellie’s vivid description… yes, he did,” Cecelia said, her tone flat.

“I guess we go and find a key then?” Lena questioned. “Hopefully he’ll be okay. I don’t like the sounds of whatever ‘angering the guardian’ means.”

Cecelia nodded as she paced back and forth. “The key for this place could be anywhere. We can check the immediate area—all the buildings in a radius around us. That will take time—days, most likely.”

“What if the kid doesn’t have days? He could be struggling to survive.” Bjorn’s voice was solemn and downcast, filled with concern as he stared at the doors.

“I understand your feelings, but there isn’t much else we can do. This is our best—and safest—option.”

Bjorn sighed, conceding the point.

“We should get started then, we have to be back at camp before dark,” Cecelia said finally.

~

Leo was currently hiding behind the counters next to the security boxes. He’d run up the stairs into the main area, aiming for the doors. But before he could, the creature began rising from the middle of the room, forcing him to hide.

So now, here he was, stuck.

He barely dared to take a look. The noise alone coming from the beast was enough to chill him to his core. That thing was not to be messed with.

He moved in an impossibly slow manner, crawling his way towards the edge in order to expose the least amount of himself, while also taking a look towards the door.

The door was still there, completely unguarded, but so was the vault. Leo didn’t think for a second that he could get into the vault and escape with his life, but he did think he could perhaps make the Guardian think he was going for it. If only he had a cloning skill.

Leo’s plan involved a torchstone, a good aim, and an incredible amount of luck. Could he have just waited until the creature left and returned to the vault? Probably, but it didn’t seem inclined to do so.

Leo could feel it. It was hunting.

He waited until the shadows were as far from him as he could risk safely. An unlit torchstone silently appeared in his hand. Once he threw this, it would either mean he made it to the door, or it immediately found him and he’d end up in jail again. Or, more than likely, dead.

Why is it always life or death? Why can’t it be a choice of fruity beverage? Leo sighed.

He wanted to get back to Ellie. Being apart from her for this long had him worried, especially considering the number of notifications he’d gotten.

Alright. You can do this. Just distract the monstrosity and run for the door. Easy peasy.

Leo breathed in, throwing his stone out into the open, then exhaled, conducting the wind to change the direction of the stone in order for it to hit the staircase and—hopefully—tumble down them.

*Click* *Click* *Click*

The stone started rattling against the flooring as it descended. The creature let out an unholy shriek, slinking into the floor, becoming nothing more than a haze in the ground. It followed the stone. His plan had worked.

Now he needed to move.

Leo’s body was coated in lightning as a cloak manifested around him. His legs pumped as fast as his heart, taking him across the bank in a matter of seconds. It was the fastest he could go and he only needed a few seconds to make it.

He was about fifteen steps from the door when his Nerveflash told him to dodge—now.

His first Spark Dash was consumed, and then immediately he had to use another to dodge another spike of shadow. His boots’ dash dodged another. Only a few more steps and he’d make it.

He had no idea why the Guardian was aggressive after he was allowed access to the bank. All he could think about was fleeing.

Pain lanced through his body as a spike of shadow pierced his leg. Then another, this time in his stomach. One more step was all he needed, he could almost touch the handle. More spikes started cutting him apart. His health was dropping rapidly as his consciousness waned.

A final spike came for his head. With no strength left to dodge, Nerveflash triggered, forcing his body to move at a speed defying his current speed. Leo tried to direct it forward but his body was going where it needed to in order to survive.

Thankfully that meant the door. Just as his mind was about to scramble from the after effects of Nerveflash. Leo got the notification for the door again as his body impacted it and immediately accepted.

Instead of the doors opening and allowing him to tumble out in a mess of injuries, Leo was teleported. He suddenly appeared at the bottom of the stairs, collapsing to the ground on his back shortly after.

Blood covered his entire body, seeping from seemingly everywhere like a human sieve. A faint glance to his health showed him at less than ten percent and dropping. Another glance showed him that his foot was missing, sliced clean off at the ankle.

After popping all 14 Free Points into Vitality, he managed to summon the healing crystal he’d received at the end of the Tower and used one of the charges on it.

Instantly the healing energy started to course through his body. Intense power radiated through him. It was like being healed by Ashley or Amy but supercharged. His foot started visibly growing as he felt the vital energies be focused on closing his wounds.

A noise of approaching steps, lighter than a human filled his ears.

“Please. Can you just give me a break, you stupid city?”

He tilted his head towards the steps. Leo watched, expecting antlings. To his joyous surprise, a little dragon started sprinting towards him. Her face wrinkled in concern.

“Ellie! I told you not to ru—Leo!” Ashley followed shortly after.

The dragon pounced, landing on Leo’s still healing body. The pain lanced through him but he didn’t care. His hands wrapped around the baby who was currently sobbing into his chest. The sad yet happy whines were heartbreaking. The noises you’d hear a dog make after being separated from their owner for a long time, finally reunited.

“Shh. You’re okay Ells. I’m okay.” Leo coughed out the last words.

Ashley skidded next to him, immediately assessing his injuries.

“What happened? You look like hell!” She gasped. “Your foot!”

“Tried to rob a bank apparently. Security wasn’t pleased. Should have brought a crew.” Leo tried to laugh but all that came out were pained wheezes.

“Really? You’re really joking right now?” Ashley yelled.

Leo expected a full dressing down and scolding, prepared for it. Instead, while kneeling, her head sank onto his shoulder and pressed against it.

“I thought I'd lost you.” Her words were like a whisper.

Her head snapped up in realisation. “What am I doing? You need healing!” Her hands immediately started glowing, adding more healing to his already massive amount coursing through him. It actually felt like it was too much.

“Wait. Don’t heal me. I used a crystal and I'm healing to full over the next thirty minutes. It’s already a lot to handle.”

“The crystal from the Tower?” Ashley considered for a moment, then stopped healing. “Okay. I have one too. It should be enough.”

“Is it just you out here?” Leo asked. He already felt a bit better. His health had climbed to over fifteen percent.

Ashley shook her head. “It’s a bunch of us. The old gang, minus Jasper, of course. Ellie led us here after returning back to camp last night. She was chased by a lot of ants. It was like the blood moon all over again.”

Leo tilted his head to look at the dragon snuggling into him. He stroked her head gently, speaking softly. “You were so brave. I’m sorry I left you alone. I panicked and thought I was going to die when I couldn’t get away. I didn’t want you to die either.”

She lightly bit at his armour, a slight growl in her throat. Leo just laughed. “Fine. You win, next time we stick together. No matter what.”

That seemed to relieve her and she continued her snuggle onto his bloody torso.

“I’m surprised Ron isn’t here. He was with me just before Ellie ran off.”

“I am here.” The words caused Ashley to jump in fright. Ron was standing just off to the side in the shadows.

“Don't do that!” Ashley complained. “Also, stop lurking in the shadows like you’re a crime fighting bat. You should be happy to see Leo is alive. Or at least say something about it.”

“Glad you’re alive,” he said flatly, unmoving.

Leo laughed. A moment later, Ron moved out of the shadow. He drew his bow, nocked an arrow and pointed it skyward. An orange haze covered the head of the arrow, glowing brighter and brighter until he released it. It shot up, exploding when it reached its apex.

“A signal we decided on when we split up to look for a key,” Ashley explained.

“How did you know you needed a key?” Leo questioned.

“There was a keyhole.”

“...”

“You did see the keyhole… right? Then you decided to just force it to see what happened.”

“Uhh…” Leo felt embarrassed.

“You didn’t even check for a keyhole or any way to open the doors. You just forced them the instant they didn’t immediately open, huh?”

“Kinda.”

“You really are something.” Ashley shook her head.

Minutes passed as Leo remained prone. The healing energy was completely rejuvenating his body. His foot was more than half regrown and the crystal wasn’t even close to done.

Cecelia and the others appeared and promptly crowded around the bloody young man. Questions of wellbeing bombarded him, along with joy at his survival.

When Cecelia finally spoke, she did so with a wry smile. “When I said you could run wild. I didn’t expect this. A mistake on my part.”

Leo shrugged, which felt a bit strange lying down. “Took the instruction a bit too literally I guess.”

Cecelia placed a firm hand on his shoulder. “We will be having a serious talk after this and a re-think about letting you go off on your own.”

Her grip loosened into a gentle touch. “But I’m glad you’re alive.”