After finishing breakfast, Niphru helped with ing the dishes before joining Dawn as she headed outside to meet with their group again. As they approached, the others all began asking if he was okay and what had happened.

  Niphru paused for a moment to get his thoughts in order before responding, “I am okay now, I think. Obviously, I am bigger now, which is hard to adjust to. And now I have three fmes instead of two,” he then o the side where he shifted them from illusions bato foxfire.

  As the group watched, he shifted one back to an illusion so he could tinue speaking, “I also feel like there is another link simir to the one Dawn and I share, which is weird. I have no idea what that is for, or how it happened. Additionally, my mana stone is almost a ball noartially transparent. Apparently, it also hold muana from what I felt.”

  After expressing their relief, the group turo Richard as he expined, “We haven’t really done much of anything besides tinuing our practid w on being stronger while you’ve been gone. Also, Dawn, Morris said something about needing both of your opinions oher Lisryn should be allowed to join roup while you were watg over Niphru. The rest of us are fih the idea, though a bit worried about her guard. We were told they would only act if she was in danger, which matches what you said, but it is still a bit frightening to be around someohat powerful.”

  “Don’t you normally have to prove yourself with the manipution skills before joining the advanced groups?” Dawn queried with a fused expression.

  In response, Richard ughed and remarked, “It seems she is incredibly talented but simply cked training. I wouldn’t be surprised if she advances beyond us in just a few months, given what I’ve heard of her sihe basic training you both attended.”

  Anticipating the question, Viera stepped forward and stated, “It seems all the roups around our level have refused to let her join.”

  Quickly having a versatioheir bond, Niphru nodded and said, “I think we trust her and her guard enough to be around them. I was a lot more worried before Dawn’s test enter where there was an act and nothing happened.”

  Dawn nodded as well, heading towards the stairs as she tinued after Niphru, “I feel the same as Niphru, so I’ll go a Morris know; I still remember where his room is from st time.”

  While she was away, Niphru spoke to the group, “It seems that when things happehe other day, I gained a third fme, right? But it also seems to have improved my magic, so I ended up overdoing it when trying to help make breakfast today. I’m excited to see what I do now, and am looking forward to the trip to the wilds. How about you? Do we know when it will be, anyway?”

  Chug at his enthusiasm, the group turo face Miana as she smiled and waved toward the stairs while replying, “Morris said it would be in a week three days ago, so a few days from now. We’re gd you woke up in time and are doing well. Your help was something we were ting on to help guide us.”

  Richard then excimed, “Since we are allowing Lisryn to join roup, we will have even more assistance, but other thaing her, I fear we won’t have much time to get used to each other. Perhaps we should take up ing duties in the sewers again?”

  Reying the question through their bond, Niphru responded as he got a reply, “Dawn and I both think that is a good idea, if it is reasonably possible.”

  Thomas responded, “Actually, it is. The spires have beeing creatures build up for exactly this kind of reason for the past week. I’m in agreement with the pn as well.”

  Looking to either side, Niphru saw the two women also nod in approval of the idea.

  Shortly afterward, both Dawn and Morris desded the stairs, splitting up as Morris tinued downstairs while Dawn rejoihe group. After a few minutes of chatting, they saw Morris return with Lisryn and her guardian following.

  Lisryn joihe group at the table they had chosen, bowing slightly before she sat down. Morris smiled upon seeing her being respectful, then turo return back upstairs.

  “Thank you for allowio join you; I was beginning to think no one would accept me. I was able to vince Morris to allow a minor reward in thanks. I heard Niphru was temporarily crippled a few days back, and that cides with a rather importa. I was told by my god that Magic broke their rules, and has directed a rge twisted beast to attack Arrival. Due to this, all the ods were allowed to make adjustments of their own,” Lisryn expined, nodding at Niphru as she mentioned him before returning her focus to the rest of the group.

  She then tinued, pointing at the walls of the spire, “Due to this, the spires will sooivated to defend the city, and Morris agreed to allow you to join him during the attack to see what happeer, as long as you each help charge the tower while you watch.”

  Fog ba Niphru, she expined, “flict expected me to join yroup, a me know that two gods were both involved in your ges, Niphru. Apparently, they are supposed to be able to speak with you soon, but they used up most of their energy blessing you with increased growth. Meanwhile, we managed some more ges to the church’s structure that should be noticeable in the few weeks.”

  Lisryn sat back to catch her breath, letting the others sider what she had said.

  The first to respond was Richard, exg, “Wele troup, and what an introductory speech that was!”

  Right afterward, Viera asked, “You said ‘you’ when you mentioned watg the spires; does that mean you won’t be there as well?”

  Lisryn smiled and nodded, “I am expected to help coordihe response of the Church of flibsp; You will likely see that as well, though it is uo be as impressive.”

  “I see. Thank you for letting us know,” Viera replied before tinuing. “We all agreed to help the sewers of mutated creatures in the few days with you, if you are willing to do so. We are hoping that will help us work together better.”

  Niphru was ed by the ck of one specific bit of information and inquired, “Did you already tell Morris about this so he could spread the word?”

  “The expected attack, right?” Lisryn queried, and upon receiving a nod, replied, “Yes, he took me to meet with the grand mages, after a mind mage verified I wasn’t making it up. The word should have spread to all the spires by now, so they will be prepared.”

  Fog ba Viera, she tinued, “I would really prefer not to trek through the sewers, but you have a good point about w on teamwork, so I agree with the idea.”

  Shard