He chased after her. The young woman sprinted down the line of coffins. She ran, feeling her lungs ache, feeling her body protest the sudden movement.

“Miss Cara! Miss Cara—you will hurt yourself—”

The light of his ethereal body was the only thing in this darkness. She shouted, screamed for someone to end this madness. And then Cara ran into a coffin.

She hit the stone lid so hard it jerked. And her entire lower body was suddenly one big, bruised ball of pain. The young woman lay there, curled up with agony. She groaned.

And then felt a cold touch on her arm. Ser Dalius offered her a hand up. Cara O’Sullivan—the name she went by here, at least—glanced at him. Ser Dalius gazed down at her. And his voice was soft and tired.

“Cara O’Sullivan. You are not mad. Or if you are, I am as well. I do not know how you came here. Nor do I know how to return you. But if you will allow me—let me help you.”

She only now heard the eagerness. The lost, forlorn tone in his voice. The young woman stared up at the

[Knight]. Cara remembered how hungry he had been for her made-up tale about being a [Princess]. She studied him. And, slowly, reached up and took his hand. He withdrew it, realizing that the frost would hurt her.

Yet the gesture had been instinctual. Human. Cara lowered her hand, which had been outstretched to take his. The [Singer] and [Knight] blinked at each other.

Just for a moment. Then Cara stood, dusting herself off. Slowly, she nodded.

“Thanks.”

Ser Dalius bowed slightly. He smiled, ruefully. But he couldn’t help it.

——

They walked through the Tomb of Afiele, talking. That was where they were. Under the lands of Afiele, which was, apparently, a province in the Kingdom of Noelictus, the ‘Kingdom of Shade’ its unofficial nickname.

Ser Dalius had told Cara all that. And he was all too willing to talk about the rest of the world and explain—everything to Cara.

“There are five main continents. Izril, Terandria, Chandrar, Baleros, and Rhir—although that is a dead place.”

“Dead place?”

“Uninhabited. Monsters and worse roam there. We reside on Terandria, where the kingdoms of humanity rule. Noelictus, the Kingdom of Shade, is where we stand. You don’t know any of this?”

He turned to her again. She shook her head.

“Not any of it. Explain levels, next. Please.”

It was not in Cara’s nature to trust someone so fast upon meeting them. But there had been no one else in the tomb, and for all she’d tested his patience, Ser Dalius had been as honorable as could be. He was also a poor liar, which put her at ease. His confusion was obvious, for instance.

“You don’t know levels? Classes?”

It was as if she was unfamiliar with breathing. Cara made a face.