Astra followed Xander as they were led back into the village. She’d tried to be respectful of the people who lived there when she’d visited the first time by attuning to the Soul Stone and getting back out without looking at anyone or their stuff. She had known they were keeping an eye on her at the beach. She had also suspected that going back to Xander’s fire would have raised suspicions. Astra honestly didn’t know how first contact with lost tribes was supposed to go.

Xander seemed to be handling it well, though. He had calmly talked his way into getting to see their elder, and now they were on their way back to the central square.

An old Lycanth woman with mostly wolf features stood leaning on her staff, her greying fur covering her eyes. “It has been a long time since we have seen outsiders,” the old woman said. “I am Ruth.”

Tail flicking in curiosity, Astra almost asked her question but recalled that Xander was probably better at speaking to these people.

“We thank you for withholding judgment,” Xander said. “I am Xander, this is Astra Diane.”

“Your companion can speak to the Soul Stone,” the old woman said. “We cannot attack those chosen by the gods.”

Astra’s ears folded down. “So, you’ve seen people who cannot die before?” breaking her silence.

“In legends very old,” the ancient Lycanth woman said. “Stories passed down from when we first settled here.”

“Five hundred years ago,” Xander said.

The Lycanth laughed. “Far older, boy,” she said. “Come. Follow me.” She turned and started shuffling towards the mountain. “Ashguard is far older than anyone knows, ruins of long dead civilizations are littered across the lands and even the seas. The Great Cycle has wiped out every one of them before long, despite the gods protecting us with their very bodies. Since the disasters that befell our world came from outside this dimension, the gods chose to look outside our dimension for an answer... and found Nox.”

As she spoke, they reached a doorway built directly into the mountain. Entering when attendants opened the doors, Ruth gestured with her walking staff at the plaques of writing on every wall.

Astra’s ears flicked down, recognizing the plaques as crystal, much like that of the Soul Stones, but she could not read what they said.

Xander was practically vibrating and jogged forward to turn and look up at the plaques mounted above the door. “This is—the Holy Writ!” he whispered in awe. “But it is complete! The ones in Aesir, Vanaheim, and Nifelheim are partial and broken!”

She couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. It was... rather cute. On multiple occasions, she’d been chastised by other Players for taking an Elf as her Porter. Elves naturally had higher dexterity, stamina, and hearing, making them better suited to Warrior roles. She’d been told that she’d deprived a Player of a meat shield. Seeing him now, Astra decided, No. He likes being a scholar.

“When Vard was overrun by demons and monsters from the Convergence, we retreated here. Geist, our patron god, protected the sanctuary, but he could not withstand the onslaught and died. We were saved but cut off from the rest of the world.”

Xander shook his head in disbelief. “This is Vard? The Convergence that destroyed Vard was nearly two thousand years ago. How have you remained unfound for so long?”

“The monsters roaming the mountains and forests are more powerful than we can defeat by ourselves. Our numbers remain small due to that,” the Lycanth woman explained. She walked further into the large, empty, stone room; her cane clacking echoes on the floor. “I believe even you heroes had trouble reaching us.”

Astra flicked her ears down in shame. “Wouldn’t have been that hard if I wasn’t acting stupid,” she admitted.

“I had a hand in that,” Xander reminded.

She shot him a look, then decided to ignore him.

“It is fortunate that we have been rediscovered now,” Ruth said. “A Convergence is coming.”

“A—what?” Astra asked and turned to look at the woman. “What’s a Convergence?”

Xander’s gaze remained fixed on the plaques, mouth moving slightly as he read them. “She’s right,” he said and pointed. “The Star of Calamity has risen in the southern skies and the five Lights of the Damned...” He withdrew his finger and looked worried.

“Ashguard is just another world on the belt of stars,” Ruth said. “Another world, brushes against ours every so often, opening portals all over the lands, allowing powerful monsters through. Those that are not killed make Ashguard their home.”

Xander tore himself away from the plaques to look at Astra and Ruth. “We haven’t much time and we are sorely unprepared... although there are a little over a hundred Cursed Ones remaining many may not wish to join the fight.”

“Want to join?” Astra asked, hands going to her hips. “By the sounds of it, the fight’s going to come to them. They either fight or die.” Her ears perked, then folded again. “I don’t have any Weapon Skills,” she said.

“What Skills do you have?” the old woman asked.

“Healer Class mostly. A bunch of crafting... but I don’t have my Menu, so I can’t even make Scrolls.”

“Menu?”

“Yeah... it’s what I use to interact with the System,” Astra said.

“Perhaps another can be made?” the Lycanth asked.

Astra shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never heard of anyone losing their Menu before...”

“In the meantime,” Xander said, “Are there Skill Masters here?”

“Many. We did our best to perfect the Skills we had and preserve the knowledge,” Ruth said.

Astra stared at Xander, ears down. “What are you doing?”

“We came out here to level you up,” Xander said as he stood over her. “There are Skills here that you do not have and plenty of monsters upon which to practice them. I will continue to support you.”

“But I can’t make Scrolls...” Astra objected. Xander turned her shoulders and guided her out of the building.

“We will worry about that later. Perhaps there is a way to make a new Menu in one of the other cities. Or perhaps we will find yours in the lake. Either way, you cannot make a Scroll for a Skill you haven’t leveled up.”

Feeling cornered, Astra had little choice but to go where he pushed her, following the Lycanth elder.

* * *

Ruth led them up the road a short distance to another building. The houses in Vard were old but obviously rebuilt from the rubble of structures closer to the shore. They consisted of stone block foundations overlayed with wooden decking and a narrow porch along the front. The windows were merely shuttered holes in walls. The destination Ruth had in mind was another such house with a flat cobblestone yard in front. Three boys were practicing archery on targets set against the flat, windowless side of the building. One girl was working with a sword on a wooden dummy on the opposite side.

Astra pointed at one of the boys. “That’s the kid that stole your lunch,” she said to Xander.

“Then that was yours you left to burn?” Xander asked.

She shrugged at him. “I wasn’t going to eat either one of them,” she admitted. “I have standards.”

Admittedly so did he.

They passed through the courtyard; the Lycanth boy who had been pointed out looking at them nervously with his ears pinned down.

The old Human that sat on the porch watching the children lifted a brow as they approached. “Our mysterious visitors come to speak to me?” he asked.

The Lycanth elder smiled, her dulled teeth showing. “This one is an Immortal, come to receive your teaching.” She gestured at Astra.

With spryness that belied his age, the man jumped to his feet. “You jest! She looks like one of us!”

Astra’s tail flicked briefly. Xander wasn’t quite sure what her hesitation was for, so he spoke. “It is true, sir.”

“Come! Let me give you my Scroll!” the man hurried into the building. The children had given up pretending to do their practice and instead hurried to watch as Astra followed the man inside.

Xander chose to give Ruth a hand climbing the steps and arrived in time to see the Human man offer the ancient Scroll to Astra.

Bowing as she took it, Astra said, “Thank you for your knowledge.”

“I’m just happy to have it go to someone that can use its full potential.”

Unrolling the Scroll, it flashed, disappearing in her hands. For a moment, Astra stared at the air, gaze darting around as she read. “Huh,” she mused.

“I have several more from my forefathers,” the man said excitedly and started pulling them out of a drawer. The drawer was practically packed.

Astra’s ears folded back. “I don’t know if I’ve got time to level all of these...” she said in a small voice.

“Take them,” Xander said. “You only need to get them to fifty before you can hand out copies.”

“Right...” she mumbled and opened another Scroll. It flashed and disappeared.

By the time she got through them all, Astra looked exhausted.

“Is the Immortal here?” a woman called from the door.

“Yes, yes, she is right here,” the weapons master said excitedly. “Come in, Glen!”

The woman that entered was likely in her mid-forties, a mostly Human-looking Felis with tabby markings on her skin. Over her shoulder, she had a satchel full to the brim with Scrolls. Glen’s eyes strayed to Xander with the slightest of smiles.

Astra’s ears were flat to her skull, but she took the Scrolls she was handed. That was the first of five more Skill Masters that came to Astra with their offerings.

Ruth pulled Xander’s arm gently, drawing him away while Astra was busy.

“You are her apprentice, correct?” the old Lycanth asked.

“Ah... yes.” Xander decided to just go with that since the situation was complicated.

“She seems unwell.”

“The story is complicated,” Xander said. “I will take care of her.”

Ruth nodded but didn’t look entirely convinced. “You seem very mature for someone your age.”

Laughing softly, Xander shook his head. “I am over five hundred.”

Her ears perked from their constant droop, brows raising enough to lift the hair out of her eyes. “How is such a thing possible? Our oldest Elf was two hundred and thirty. You look barely older than a child.”

“A byproduct of being an Immortal’s apprentice,” Xander said.

“You said ‘Cursed Ones’ before,” Ruth prodded.

“It is... a long and less than pleasant story.” Xander really didn’t want to taint these people against Astra, but this woman was not going to take no for an answer. “There were immortals five hundred years ago. They took apprentices, passed on the Skills they had, then left again. However, those who had been bound to them remained unageing. Our Skills remain unlocked. However, any Skills we pass along are locked at fifty.”

Ruth straightened her curved spine to look up at him. “But the Soul Binding can only be performed once. How have you come to serve Lady Astra?”

“She was the one I apprenticed to five hundred years ago. She returned. Although I know not of any other Immortals,” Xander said.

“Ah. The ways of Immortals are not for us to know,” Ruth said.

Xander nodded, letting it go at that.

“You mentioned one of her Holy Items was lost in the lake? I’m afraid you’ll not recover it. The monsters within are too dangerous for us to attempt to help.”

“I’ll send Undead,” Astra said. She looked a little dazed. “I still have access to my combat Skills.”

“Ah,” Xander said. “They can scour the bottom of the lake while you work on other things. First, you must eat.”

On cue, her stomach growled.