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The best part was the size of the ragon. It was as large as a turkey and provided plenty of meat for everyone.

Zarian chewed on his portion while sitting against the lost knight’s leg. Naomi was doing sit-ups in front of him. Hannah remained close to the knight’s head, dungeon core in hand, still deep in study. She hadn’t stopped studying, which left Bianca with the job of feeding her ragon meat.

Gilbert sat on the other side of the campfire, looking into the flames. “You think they got some crazy fish here?”

Zarian slowly looked away from the merlot-colored sunset and examined the man across the wavering flames of the campfire. “Are you going to catch some if they do?”

“Me and the boys used to fish when our schedules aligned. We’d go out into the blue with coolers and have our fishing poles out while waiting around, getting drunk.” Gilbert chuckled. “I wonder if the fish here is so crazy you need to be superman to reel them up.”

“Maybe we’ll reel up a hydra,” Zarian said.

“If we get strong enough, then we can make a hydra look like a little fish,” Naomi said in between reps of sit-ups.

“Do you know what a hydra is?” Zarian asked.

Naomi paused her work out. She looked like a woman struggling to grasp for a hidden answer. Then, instead of admitting her ignorance, she went back to doing more sit-ups.

The men chuckled as they watched her exercise, then Gilbert said, “You gonna drive yourself crazy doing that all the time. Can’t say if you’ll do more harm than good since I got the Healing Force, but even a gym rat like me loves some rest time.”

“I want to get stronger,” Naomi replied.

“Atta girl,” Zarian praised.

Gilbert shook his head. “I’ll join you in the morning. Let me just enjoy the night and dream of small pleasures. Like beer. I can really use more beer. And an enchanted fishing rod. I can ask that of Hannah, right? When she’s not being a busy rune genius or whatever?”

“Depends on her busy schedule,” Bianca said, smirking. “I’ll try booking you for an appointment on a Monday morning.”

There was a round of chuckles from Bianca’s joke.

Relaxing further after the meal, Gilbert lay down on the grass near the campfire. Naomi kept working out, and Zarian studied from the pages of his grimoire. Every now and then, Zarian looked up, feeling happier as night chased away the day.

The stars looked marvelous. They actually shone like jewels in the Infinita Star System, while looking like the type of stars that children would think of when singing ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.’

Growing up in Miami, and spending his limited time in the military stationed stateside, Zarian hadn’t seen what the universe beyond the old world could look like when there was minimum light pollution.

Here in Corma, a world of super medieval high fantasy made real, there was no light pollution to block the view. Zarian saw more than he could ever imagine.

Three moons appeared spaced apart from each other, one pale white, one burning orange, and one deep blue.

Hannah’s astrophysical concerns were put to rest earlier when they’d spotted other moons during the day. It seemed like high tides wouldn’t be a massive issue in Corma if the number of moons around the world balanced each other out. Or maybe it was all magic and never a concern on the first place.

Now that it was night, Zarian felt comfortable enough to pull back his hood. The moonlight wasn’t too much of a bother. The stars were comfortable companions of the infinite dark.

The lack of true darkness compared to being underground wasn’t preferable, but it was way better than what Zarian would get from daytime hours.

Naomi paused her workout and asked, “Was your Straight Darkness in the beta skill section during the fight with the lost knight?”

“Yeah.”

“God dammit, sir.” Naomi flipped over and committed to push-ups.

Zarian chuckled. Now that he thought about it, he must’ve come across as unreasonably powerful to the others.

Even under daylight, with his main skill handicapped, he’d acted as a dominating force. He’d kept the stone knight distracted and damaged while the others scrambled around in the shadow of two titans.

Yeah, he was overpowered.

However, there was room for improvement.

“I should’ve asked Hannah to enchant a dark beam or two for more damage,” Zarian admitted. “She was there beside me. I could’ve kept up the suppressive attack while using her for extra oomph. That was a missed opportunity.”

Even with all the practice in the White Spider Dungeon, Zarian and his party members were still figuring out ways to layer their powers and expertise to achieve new ways of murder.

Granted, they had never faced such a tough enemy before.

The fight would’ve been easier if Straight Darkness +1 was in the alpha skill section, but I’ll probably grow the skill faster if it stays in the beta skill section.

Naomi sighed aloud. “I’ve been thinking we could’ve done that better. I should’ve asked for enchanted weapons, two maces, probably, when I realized my Mind Spike wouldn’t work. I didn’t even bother asking Gilbert for his Adrenaline Jolt.”

“It works best on the first person I apply it on during an encounter,” Gilbert mumbled, still lying down on the other side of the campfire. “I figured it’s the type of thing you save when you have an advantage.”

Gilbert’s abilities were everything Zarian could hope for from a supportive tank. The war healer’s Shield Mastery and Health Affinity traits along with his Healing Force, Adrenaline Jolt, and Tranquilizer Touch skills were so good together, Zarian could see Gilbert becoming a highly valued party member with time.

Gilbert’s major issue was managing all of his abilities for himself and for the group while serving as their lead tank.

“Sometimes you need that boost from the start to get the advantage,” Naomi argued. “You can’t just lazy-foot it early and think you can turn it on later. Or you’ll get killed first.”

“Of course you would think that, you freaking jar-head-ass, crayon-eating, Neanderthal-born Marine,” Gilbert grumbled, unafraid.

“At least I can shoot worth a damn.” Naomi shifted to one-arm push-ups and flipped a middle finger at Gilbert.

Zarian snickered while the two had their most friendly interaction with each other. It was nice to see Naomi wasn’t acting aggressively toward Gilbert anymore and that Gilbert was relaxed enough to exchange little insults.

Looking back at the night sky, Zarian noticed something unique that wasn’t twinkling stars and colorful moons. He saw large spherical ovals with tiny glints of light surrounding them. After some further observation, he couldn’t figure out what those lit up ovals were.

“It’s so pretty isn’t it?” Bianca asked from her seat on the lost knight’s chest.

“The night sky? Yeah, it is. The stars actually twinkle. The moons are big and magical looking. And there are those oval stuff in between all of that.”

“Planets,” Bianca said.

“What?”

“Those are other planets. The oval shape is the sunlight on one side of the nearest planets. I can tell based on the light shining on them, or that’s what my Light Affinity tells me.”

Zarian looked over at Bianca.

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The young Latina sat with legs crossed, arms in her lap, face upturned to the night sky. She didn’t seem so bothered by the loss of daylight, but then again, her whole schtick was about bringing together light of any kind.

She’d seemed fairly functional even while in the cave, although the lack of other light sources seemed to cost her more aura. The daylight hours would make her a beast once she could start snowballing in levels.

Now, she looked like a simple girl enjoying a campfire hangout under a magical starry night.

“Sometimes, in the mountains of Cuba, you can see many stars,” Bianca said. “But the stars here are closer. More intimate. They fill me with hope. What about you?”

Zarian took his time to answer. The moral rivalry between Bianca and him, good and evil, had settled down into a mundane routine now. Still, he could feel the moral tension between them rise again as Bianca prodded at him curiously.

“The stars look nice,” Zarian said. “I think I prefer the void overall, since I once heard stars are dead things reaching out with their last light. At least with the darkness, it’s a constant that’ll never go away or would outlast the shining of the light.”

“Hm, that’s bleak,” Bianca said. “You’re too bleak. Be merry, like me, evil-doer.”

She flicked tiny motes of light close to his head. Zarian drew on his leathery hood before they flashed at his face.

Growling, he threw a soft, oval-shaped blob of darkness that landed with the force of a thrown pillow. With some weight to it. Bianca took it to the face and fell on her side with a whine.

Thus, the war of light and darkness renewed. Zarian hurled lazy dark ovals at Bianca, and she returned fire with minor flashes of searing light. This went on until Hannah snapped at them both like a pissed-off mom.

“Can you at least tell us what you’re learning?” Zarian asked.

“In the morning, I will. Just let me concentrate.” Hannah said no more.

Zarian and Bianca exchanged glances before shrugging at each other.

Bianca bid him a goodnight and lay down in a curled position on top of the knight.

Zarian studied from his grimoire until Naomi finally finished her work out and spent the next half hour stretching in front of him.

“You can sleep, y’know?” Zarian said. “The skeletons and spiders will keep watch. Para, too.”

A tendril from the Parasite Cloak gave a friendly wave to Naomi. The battle psion waved back before looking up at the starry, planet-filled night.

“I’d never asked this when we first met, but what would you call your original neighborhood, Zarian?” Naomi asked. “I’m an Opa-Locka girl.”

“Little Haiti for me. The part that hasn’t been gentrified yet.”

Naomi smiled. “So, we’re both from the hood.”

“In one way or another.”

“I don’t think a girl like me is ever supposed to experience stuff like this.”

“I don’t see why. You adapted to it fast.”

“It’s either I adapt and become useful or be a complete pain in the ass.”

“I thought it was both.”

Naomi snorted and called him an idiot under her breath. Then she said, “I hope we find Ariana.”

Zarian nodded, not saying another word. After a long stretch of silence with the crackling flames filling the void, Naomi lay down and went to sleep.

Zarian turned his ear toward the knight’s head and heard two distinct sounds of slumbering breaths: Bianca and Hannah were asleep. Across the campfire, Gilbert was snoring like a rumbling engine, as usual.

“Loner, you’re in charge of the other skeletons and the spectral spiders,” Zarian said, before lying down for the night.

The skeletons were used to doing around-the-clock patrols. He should probably increase their numbers, but he wanted Loner and the current skeletons to advance first. He felt they were almost there.

It was a little weird not needing the grimoire out of his body while still able to keep a spell going. His ability to channel a power or two while asleep was something he could do that the others couldn’t.

Maybe what he’d done to his brain from the self-lobotomy incident could keep a portion of his consciousness active while the other part could rest. Whatever it was, Zarian and the others could sleep while Para, the skeletons, and the spectral spiders guarded them.

It didn’t take long for Zarian to drift off. But unlike past dreams that were filled with violent mayhem, ridiculous premises, or a few things that would be inappropriate in real life, Zarian found himself back at the mall with the koi fish pond in front of him.

Without knowing what he would find, he turned to his right and saw the one person he’d been looking for the most.

“Hello, Big Bro,” Ariana greeted.

She was still perpetually four years old while dressed in her Sunday best. She looked like a doll, while he still looked like a public menace, but many times worse.

Well, at least his face and hair were a little tidier now.

Before Zarian said anything, he remembered the last image of her before they separated. He recalled the crazy glee that glinted in her eyes, as if she was a creature of madness herself.

He still threw his arms around her, hugging her tight. Dream or not, he was glad he could see her and hold her.

Ariana didn’t reciprocate right away. She froze up, as if surprised by his brotherly affection, then she slowly hugged him back.

“You idiot!” Zarian scolded, breaking the hug before rubbing his knuckles into the top of Ariana’s head. He’d never gotten to do this before, so now was the time to do all the big brother things he owed Ariana. “You absolute idiot! What was that? The whole disappearance act? And being a mystery?”

Ariana looked surprised by his change in attitude. Did she not expect for him to scold her while giving her a noogie in a dream? What was wrong?

He pulled back his noogie to hear what she had to say.

Ariana smoothened her face faster than any four-year-old child should be able to. She spoke in a mature tone. “I’m sorry I haven’t been very forthcoming. You must have a lot of questions. I won’t be able to answer them all, but I can start by saying the obvious. Yes, it was me who orchestrated for you to be here in the Infinita Star System. I knew ahead about the inactive portal. I gave you the dreams. I wanted you here.”

Zarian had his suspicions, but now they were confirmed. Ariana was a little mastermind of a ghostly, dream-tampering little girl. That was very freaky to know, and upsetting.

In fact, Zarian even felt even angrier with her.

He bopped her on the head with the top of his knuckles. It was a light hit, nothing major.

Ariana looked gobsmacked, as if nobody had ever given her a proper scolding.

Zarian frowned down at her. “You could’ve told me straight up instead of playing me like a fiddle. What else? You’re not really four years old and not my real little sister? Are you a demon or devil? Am I a part of some evil, sinister plan?”

Ariana struggled to answer. “Would you believe all I want is for you to be here just to see what happens?”

Zarian looked long and hard at her. “So you’re just curious?”

“Among other things.”

“Why then the little sister act?”

“Because it’s enjoyable for me. And you’re a good Big Bro. There is no malice there. I enjoy being your little sister.”

“Are you really Ariana?”

“I am.”

Zarian squinted his eyes. “Are you really a Darkrun?”

She didn’t answer.

She could’ve easily said no. Now Zarian’s suspicions were thrown off. Why wouldn’t she say no?

Zarian tried to look back at the times Ariana had claimed to be a Darkrun like him. It had never felt like a lie.

It should’ve been an obvious lie. The name Darkrun had a sort of metaphysical weight to it that put a dense and gravitational shadow on everything.

He repeated himself. “Are you Ariana Darkrun?”

She looked away and into the koi pond. “I wanted to connect with you through this dream so you’ll know that I’m safe and well. You don’t have to worry about me, and you can have your adventures. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you, and I’ll understand if you want nothing to do with me. Just know I’ll be watching when I can, and that I’ll be cheering you on, as always.”

Zarian didn’t know what to say to that.

Ariana smiled, bright and childish. “Your adventures are so fun. And I’m glad you picked a class that suits you the best. Though, it’s surprising you aren’t going solo. I didn’t think you’d burden yourself with mundane weaklings when you can find more powerful, if not temporary allies.”

Zarian shifted his stance, hands on hips. “Why wouldn’t I want a party with other people I dragged in with me if they will do the work?”

“You can be so much stronger and grow way faster without them.”

Zarian laughed. “Of course I can! But where’s the fun in that?”

Ariana looked confused again. Zarian shook his head at his quote-unquote little sister. She was still clueless at times, so as her quote-unquote big brother, he humored her.

“Yes, I can go further, move faster, become stronger if I do things on my own. I can totally demolish them without trying if they ever try to fight me seriously. I can journey across the lands, gain more treasures for myself, and maybe have a princess or two fall in love with me, then fly off onto the next adventure nonstop.”

Ariana giggled at that before asking, “So why don’t you?”

Zarian crouched down, hands braced on his legs, getting closer to Ariana’s eye level. “Because the powerful can do whatever the fuck they want and still help others who are deserving.”

Ariana looked confused.

Zarian explained. “I can go fast or I can go slow. I can be single-minded or I can keep my horizons open. I can hunt down my goals like an emotionless machine or meander around a little while chatting up quirky locals. I can celebrate nothing but myself or I can celebrate with others even if it’s not all about me. I can do whatever the fuck I want because I’m powerful, and I choose to spend my power enjoying the fantasy highs of my new life while helping others figure out that they can be powerful, too.”

That was the true meaning of being an overpowered wizard. Zarian could do whatever he wanted, and what he wanted was growing at his own pace while helping others grow to their full potential.

He knew about the cliche of being the singular hero and having all the power focused on him. Then everyone and everything had no choice but to worship the ground he walked on or hate him because he held all the power.

He knew how addicting that could be. He’d read stories about that power-trip of a solo journey plenty of times. He’d imagined it plenty of times.

He also knew how lonely that could be if it played out realistically. He knew he could be one of those people who sacrificed the warmth of being around others for the cold and sharpened pleasure of absolute power and violent thrills.

He could be a solo asshole.

Or a sociopathic tyrant.

But Zarian figured those who were truly powerful – or even overpowered – could have their cake and eat it, because why the fuck not?

He could have the singular power.

And the power of friendship.

Without being an absolute asshole.

Without being a cold, joyless, and empty junkie of a narcissist.