Rufus went to bed, but he didn't go to sleep. Instead, he tossed and turned, both dreading and excited the travel ahead. It was almost a year ago that his obsession with music began.

It started with Chloe actually.

One Year Previous

“Rufus!” Chloe Watercress yelled at me from the doorway of my very comfortable dungeon office in the Black Fortress. The enchanted prison cells were partially underground, letting in the sunlight from the outside. The front half remained usable by the prisoners of the Dark Lord – if Keith ever bothered to have prisoners – while the back had been converted into a cozy living space for me after I’d decided to move down here.

“Yes, Chloe?” I didn’t look up from my book, knowing that would irritate the necromancer all the more. Also, The Duchess of North Berkshire was a very interesting read, and I didn’t want to stop mid-scene; Miss Hana had just been found poisoned, and her knight escort was missing... though I highly suspected the butler had something to do with that.

Chloe announced. “I just thought I’d let you know that I’m leaving.”

That got my attention.

“Where to?” I sat up quickly, taking my tiny sideless reading glasses off my mid-sized canine snout. I slotted them as a make-shift bookmark into my romance novel before placing both on the small table beside my reclined daybed. A tinge of worry about where our illustrious king would send her this time crept into my voice. “How many dead?”

It was Chloe’s job to Resurrect, Revive or Raise those who could be saved around the Dark Enchanted Forest. A flood? She went to fish out the non-survivors. A dungeon break? Cleaning up the mess. When the entire forest tended to shift around all the time, travelers never knew if they would wake up in the middle of dire-wolf infested woods or beside the beautiful shores of Lake Loria.

“I’m going to Servalt to enjoy their Annual Spell Script Collegium.”

I did a double take, raising one eyebrow. “But… why? You get the subscription scrolls every year.”

“I'm taking a vacation.”

I eyed the woman. Chloe flipped her long blonde curls over her shoulder dramatically as if nothing bothered her, and my opinion didn't actually matter. It must though, or else she wouldn't be here. In the dungeon. Telling me about it.

“Does Keith–”

“He approved my leave of absence.” She countered. “I’m going for three weeks. I’ve left two full crates of potions that should last until after I get back.”

“Alright.” I didn’t want to do this, but my notification tabs were going off in the corner of my eye and I decided I could use the help. I much preferred patience to hitting the problem with a hammer, but judging by the nervous energy and masked uncertainty radiating from my friend, she wasn’t likely to open up on her own.

Passive Skill: [Mediator] has been activated by your [Patient] Chloe Watercress. Primary emotion: Surprise: Startled. Subject may act irrationally. Threat Level: 1Passive Skill: [Patient] has been activated. A [Patient] within the area of your Skill is in need of counsel. Warning: [Patient] Chloe Watercress is under the influence of a [World Player]. Threat Level: 1