Ultimate Level 1

“These are some of our best-selling cookies and our number-one muffins! Would you like to try a sample?”

Max nodded, waiting as Nancy deftly cut one of the muffins into pieces and handed him one on a small napkin.

Taking a bite, he could taste the fresh cream and blueberries that were almost magically combined inside the fluffy treat.

“Wow, I can see why these sell so well! Could I get a dozen of them?”

Whipping her head back and tossing one of the strands of red hair that had escaped her head cloth, Nancy smiled and bobbed her head.

“Of course! Anything else?”

Shaking his head, Max watched as she moved to where the boxes were pre-built and began loading them from the glass plate they were displayed on. Her hands moved deftly, and she had filled out, obviously eating a little more of her treats than usual.

You don’t feel a thing… it’s weird. The sensation inside you. Relief?

Sometimes, I forget how perceptive you are. You are correct, though. Part of me wanted this life, but now… I’m glad that I got you, even though I’ve had to deal with all the problems that came our way. Still, seeing her and knowing she is happy makes all this easier.

Yet you’re not willing to show yourself to her. Would you rather not see how she reacts to knowing you’re alive? Getting to see if she shows remorse for running away?

No… that wouldn’t be fair, and what she might have endured or experienced because of that day isn’t something I would wish upon anyone.

“Here you go!”

Max smiled and took the yellow box and noticed the green ribbon that had been tied around it to keep it sealed.

“Thank you. I’ll look forward to eating and sharing these with some friends.”

Taking a gold coin from his storage, he slid it across the wooden counter toward Nancy, whose green eyes began to grow.

“I… I don’t think I have change for that! Do you have anything smaller?”

“No change needed. Just keep baking and enjoying what you’re doing,” Max said as he stored the box and moved toward the door.

He caught his reflection in the window, the gray hair, weathered skin, and enough freckles to make any red-headed child feel unable to compare.

“Are you sure?!” she called out as he pushed the door open.

“I am! Thank you for the treats!”

Her reply was cut off as the door shut behind him and Max moved down the steps, spotting the one who had been following him for a few blocks.

“You’re a horrible spy,” Max said as he moved to where Cordellia was standing, pretending to inspect some clothing set outside a shop a few doors down.

“Excuse me? Do I know you?”

“Oh, forgive me… I thought you were some elven archer that couldn’t hit a dwarf standing five feet away instead of a blond-haired human.”

A snort came from his target, and she turned her full attention toward him.

“Sorry… I just wanted to make sure you wouldn’t do anything stupid.”

Max shrugged and motioned down the street away from the bakery.

“You’re fine. I know why you did it, and part of me can’t hate the reason. Tanila is important to you and to me. She’s lucky to have a friend like you. Though part of me wonders if you bet with Fowl how this visit might have gone.”

A scowl formed on the middle-aged face that Cordellia was hiding behind.

“That warrior is never going to let me live this down!” she exclaimed, waving her hands in the air. “He told me I was being stupid, and I didn’t believe him.”

Nudging her with an elbow, Max chuckled.

“Trust me, I’m only in love with one woman, and no one else will ever change that.”

***

“Do you remember this? You used to complain if someone else used it and didn’t clean it off enough.”

Max smiled as his mother went through their kitchen, pulling a few items out.

He had scouted out the house last night and saw that they had done a little bit of work to clean it up, but the filth from a year of doing nothing was still present. Dust, dirt, caked-on stains, and other trash was scattered through the house.

“How many times did I practice my baking skills with that?”

“Too many,” his mother replied, wiping it off again. “Do you want to take it with you?”

Shaking his head, Max smiled.

“While I can bake, and I even have the skill, it’s not the life for me now. Perhaps one day. Until then, you can hold on to it or decide if you want to leave it here. Either way, you have plenty of room in that chest.”

Sniffing, she nodded, flipping it over a few more times before moving to the dimensional storage chest he had given them that sat on the family kitchen table.

It had been ready to fall apart, but his Wood Mastery skill allowed him to fix it completely, turning it into a single piece of timber.

“Max, can I bother you?”

Hearing his sister calling from the back bedrooms, he left his mother there, dodging the trash as he moved, and went to his sister.

She sat on her bed, holding a sword that looked out of place in a bedroom with a crib and toys for a baby.

“What is that?”

“Just a basic sword I was given by you know who… I held on to it… always hoping he would come back and collect it or take me with him to go adventuring. Now… I just want to destroy it.”

“Or we could have some fun with it and leave it here in case Caleb ever does return.”

Cocking her head, Stacy studied her brother’s face.

“That smirk… why is it I’m keenly interested in what you have in mind?”

Laughing, Max motioned to the hallway he had just come from.

“Let’s go outside, and I’ll show ya.”

***

“A sword stuck in stone? I mean, can’t someone just lift this?”

Pointing at the rock he had created with his skill, Max grinned.

“Go tug on it. See if you can.”

Fowl whistled as Cordellia jumped onto the four-foot high stone stretching about nine feet in both directions.

Wrapping her hands around the hilt, she began to tug, grunting as nothing happened besides her face turning red.

After a second attempt, a curse word not meant for most to hear escaped her lips, and she frowned at Max.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Can anyone actually pull this free?”

“Maybe. Or they might break the sword first, but I could pull it out with a little trick. Still, I’m certain it will provide a lot of entertainment for anyone who comes.”

Stacy snorted and pointed at the writing he had put in the front of the stone.

A test of commitment. A promise to return.

One day, someone might pull this sword free.

Until then, remember never to give a woman a weapon.

She might use it to hurt you.

“I’m fairly certain his parents will get the meaning of this, but it’s funny as heck.”

Giving his sister a hug, Max nodded.

“Better than you stabbing him with it.”

“Maybe,” she replied.

***

“We’re ready, son.”

Motioning for his family to join him, his father gave one last glance at their property, moving to where the four men were all stacked upon each other again, Max straddling their legs once more.

“That looks so weird,” Fowl muttered. “I mean… never mind, you humans.”

Ignoring his friend, he turned to Tanila, who smiled, nodding as she came and put an arm through his.

“Everyone touching me?”

As they all called out that they were, Max looked at the baby he held in his other arm, seeing the blue eyes staring up at him.

“Let’s go see your new home, Callie,” he said with a grin.

***

“Seth’s back!”

Shouts began to ring out as others noticed the group moving toward the Faction house, a group of men in just undergarments with only their wrists bound in stone following behind.

“What are they building?” his father asked as they moved near another new building that was almost done.

“Lots of things. Rooms for Faction members, training areas, and crafting sections. Our Faction is growing faster than most, and the need to find places for people to live and train requires new buildings.”

“And they’ll have room for us?”

Smiling at his mother, he nodded.

“Oh, don’t worry, they have a special place for you. One that is reserved just for us and never in use unless we are here or I ask them to let you use it.”

She glanced at Tanila, who was smiling.

“Just how special are you?”

“Oh, gods, don’t ask that, or we’ll never get his head in through the double doors,” Fowl teased.

Laughter came from the other four of his party as his family tried to figure out what all they were missing and the legend of Max.

***

“A baby in the Faction house. How long has it been since such a thing like that has taken place?” Tom asked as he reclined in a chair.

“At least ten or fifteen years,” Everett replied. “Now then, how long till you leave us again? I have it on good authority that Batrire is anxious to return to her home and put a ring through Fowl’s nose.”

“Bah, no one’s putting a ring on my nose!” their dwarf exclaimed, spilling some ale from his cup.

“I’ll put a ring somewhere if you don’t pipe down and be quiet,” their healer said, elbowing him slightly.

“Three days,” Max said.

“Not a lot of time, but I understand. Tell me, are you really asking me to keep those four men detained?”

“If I could ask anyone else I would. I told the four of them they have one month to behave. Doing so will net them freedom. Not doing so means death, and there isn’t a place they can hide. I might have lied and told them I put a tracking spell on them and will use it to find them if they do attempt to run away.”

Tom began to howl, shaking his head as he closed his eyes.

“The legend continues to grow,” their trainer declared. “It’s bad enough I have people asking me if they think they will ever be like you. All I can do is promise them that if they train with me enough, perhaps they will be worthy to catch a glimpse of the shadow you cast from the top of the tower.”

Cordellia let out a groan.

“I never knew what I was getting into when you gave me this party.”

“Want out?” Max asked.

“Oh gods no, I’m just saying. I still can’t believe we’re about to try and find a hidden fortress, get some answers, and then stroll off and have a dwarven wedding.”

As everyone laughed and caught up, Max felt Tanila leaning toward him, her lips close to his ear.

“Promise me you won’t be stupid for three days.”

“I can’t lie to you,” he replied with a wink. “Still, if I do, I’ll make sure to let you know beforehand.”

Sighing, she nodded and yawned.

“I’m going to turn in. Some of us have been up most of the last two days. If you don’t mind, I’ll leave these three men to discuss something I’m sure none of us want to be part of.”

As their mage rose and moved toward the door, Cordellia quickly followed.

“That’s our cue, my love,” Fowl said as he pushed her toward the edge of the couch. “Time for the big boys to have adult conversations.”

“How about I take you upstairs and show you adult things?”

Faster than Max could recall, Fowl was racing toward the door, a single wave of his hand as he moved to get it open.

Once it shut and the three of them were left alone, he felt both men staring at him.

“Why do I feel like each of you has about a hundred questions?”

“I’ve got more than that,” Tom replied, sitting up in his chair. “Still, we found what you were looking for and know it’s important, so we’re leading with it.”

Everett stood up and moved to the small table, quickly storing the cups and plates that were on it, wiping it off with a towel and then laying down a map he summoned from storage.

“This is where you need to go” he said, pointing to a spot in some mountains far to the south. “It costs a lot to get actual intel I believe, but if you’re looking for a place with dragons, here is where you need to go.”

In his mind, Max saw the distance and frowned.

“That is a bit of a way away. How far is that?”

“For most people? A month?”

We can do it in three days, maybe four.

That’s just one way.

Still, you can wait on the other. Time is running out on this egg, and you do not want the responsibility to care for it. Even worse is if it hatches while in your storage. While it is a unique creature, it would die in there instantly. Only the shell protects it from the magic that would kill all other things.

“How your face just changed tells me you’re about to leave,” Everett stated. “Can you even make this trip?”

Cracking his neck and then letting out a yawn, Max nodded.

“It won’t be fun, but I can. I guess I better go tell Tanila I’m going to be stupid.”

Snorting, Tom stood and held out a hand.

“If I don’t see you again, know that you learned the ultimate lesson.”

“What’s that?”

“Never tell a woman you’re going to be stupid.”

Laughing, Max shook his trainer’s hand and moved toward the door.

“I’ll be back as quickly as possible. And thank you again for taking in my family.”

Everett simply waved and nodded as they watched him leave the room.

“We putting bets on how quickly he returns?” the Faction leader asked as he rolled up the map and stored it.

“No! Every time we do, I lose money!”

Laughing, Everett shrugged.

“Someday, you’ll actually get paid for working here instead of using it to cover all of those losses.”

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