n

n

nThe other teachers knowingly glanced between the two a few times but refrained from commenting. Geth gestured toward Jack to start cleaning up camp.

nHe walked back into his tent and leaned down beside the sleeping Sindri.

n

"Hey, Sindri, it's time to wake up.

" Geth carefully moved the hair out of her eyes and whispered.

nHer eyes slowly opened up, and she gazed at him. A sleepy smile soon shone on her face.

n

"I'm glad that you're okay.

"

nGeth raised one of his eyebrows, 'Was I ever not okay?'

n

"Umm, thanks... I think.

"

nShe giggled and sat up, causing the furs to fall off her barely covered body. Geth admired the view for a moment before turning his head.

n

"You should go ahead and get dressed. We're about to head out.

"

nThe girl giggled again as Geth headed walked out of the tent. He shook his head softly.

n'That's nothing but trouble,' He couldn't help but sigh at the missed opportunity. He was still a man, after all.

nHe saw Mags leaning against a nearby tree when he left the tent. Her smile still held a little embarrassment.

n

"So, what should I call you now?

" She asked.

n

"Geth. And you?

"

n

"Storm.

" She glanced back towards the tent behind him,

"Have your tastes moved toward the younger women?

"

nGeth scratched the back of his head,

"You've got the wrong idea. I'm married now.

"

nStorm smiled,

"And why would that stop someone like you?

"

n

"People change.

" Geth shrugged,

"Anyway, how are things going with the younger ones? I can't imagine it being easy.

"

nThe woman stopped her teasing and pouted.

n

"I guess you have changed. No, it isn't easy. The older ones aren't terrible, but the younger ones are different.

nThey keep wandering off at all hours of the night, trying to Level up or show off. Some of them never make it back.

"

nShe shook her head.

n

"There's really nothing we can do about it. Less than twenty of the teachers survived the wolves. With over four hundred students, it's hard to keep track.

"

nGeth took a deep breath,

"Only four hundred? Weren't there close to a thousand students?

"

n'I knew that things were bad, but... I didn't expect this.'

nTears started forming in the woman's eyes,

"We did everything that we could. There were just too many.

"

nGeth wiped away a tear that fell down her cheek,

"It's okay. We've all suffered losses. To save the lives that you have is nothing short of a miracle.

"

nGeth looked at the woman standing before him. She'd barely aged over the past ten years.

nA pair of intelligent dark-blue eyes looked at him as he observed her. Her long blonde hair was still dyed pink on the end as it had always been.

nShe had the same smooth skin as she had before. A green wizard's robe clung tightly to her hourglass figure.

nShe'd never been as well endowed as other women, but the shape of her body was near-perfect.

n

"Put those eyes of yours away, mister married man.

" She sniffled and wiped the rest of her tears.

n

"If you want to come with us, then that's fine. Before that, though, I need to know what it is that you're after.

nI've never known you to do anything outside of your own interests. What is it that you'll gain from this meeting?

"

nGeth chuckled and shook his head,

"You know me all too well.

"

n

"I ought to,

" She muttered quietly.

n

"I need more people to become citizens in my city. The more citizens we have, the safer the place will be, and the quicker upgrades will come.

nOn top of that, there are many children there already, and I want to set up an education system.

"

n

"Children?

" She asked,

"Are any of th-

"

n

"Yes, I have three children. The oldest was born not long after I graduated,

" Geth interrupted her.

nStorm went quiet for a minute. Geth waited patiently for her to make her decision.

n

"All right, but only because it's you. I don't know how you'll fair talking to the leader, though.

"

n

"Leader?

"

n

"Yes. We were struggling for a while. A man showed up a few months ago and helped us take over our second Dungeon.

nBefore that, we had to take shifts living in the one Dungeon we'd managed to take. Most of us just stayed outside the Dungeon and only entered to make contributions.

"

n

"How far are we from the place now?

"

nShe touched her thumb to her chin while she thought.

n

"I'd say that we're half a day from the meeting point. The first of the Dungeons would be another day beyond that.

"

nGeth nodded. Just then, Sindri came out of the tent and waved at the two of them.

n

"Miss Storm! I didn't know that you were here!

"

nThe young woman walked up and placed her arms around Geth's bicep.

n

"I see you've met our hero here! You wouldn't believe what he's capable of!

"

nStorm glanced between the two of them,

"A married man, huh?

"

nGeth slapped his palm against his forehead. There was no way this wouldn't come back to bite him in the ass.

nThe group finished packing up the camp and set out. Their traveling speed wasn't as quick as before.

nOn top of more people, they continued running into the other parties that had set off looking for monsters. Everyone seemed to be filled with disappointment from not finding anything to hunt in the area.

nAll of the returning parties cast doubtful looks towards him. Some were curious, some seemed resentful for having another person to care for.

nGeth couldn't blame them for their misgivings. If it wasn't for the city, he wouldn't want to recruit this many people.

nHe continued conversing with the teachers and the party he'd been traveling with. Much to the discontent of the newcomers.

nJust over half a day had passed when the group reached a large open clearing. A man with a thin sword on his back sat on a small boulder in the center.

nIt was someone that he hadn't thought he'd run into again.

n

"Blade.

"

n