We made our way to the sandbar where the idol was sitting. We were scorched, bruised, and limping, but we were still alive. Aranya was giggling to herself, touching her wounds and then laughing as she was forced to remove her hands due to pain. Well, I guess you didn’t become queen of cannibalistic giant spiders by being squeamish about injury. Mug was breathing heavily and rubbing his forehead. Blood trickled down, but he didn’t seem to mind that much. I was dented and missing three quarters of my life, but I still had mana to spare. All in all, not bad.

  The black monolith in front of us pulsed with blue energy. Up close, I could feel it vibrating my steel. Unsurprisingly, I saw another seal I was familiar with etched onto the black stone—the tree with the hand holding the lightning bolt. Had Pauvert picked the two shadiest companies on purpose, or was this just a case of you get what you pay for?

  I wondered if the short exposure we had to it would come back to bite us in the base. Well, no use wondering now. This was the source of Pauvert’s spider problems as well as his current fiscal status. I wonder if he would deduct from my pay for breaking his toy soldier as well as his magic plant steroids. Well, only one way to find out.

  ‘Madame Aranya, can you do me a favor and place me on that thing? Opening side first, please.’ She was still laughing, talking to herself as she grabbed me and placed me upside down on the top of the idol.

  “I haven’t had that much fun in YEARS! Oh, when was the last time I felt pain like that? And when I was falling and it was aiming at me—oh, wow! What a thrill!” Well, despite her injuries she was in high spirits. She stepped back, not really paying attention to me or Mug. I activated my Devour and slowly began to descend down the idol as it disappeared inside me.

  ITEM ACQUIRED: IDOL OF HARMONIC GROWTH, CORRUPTED. EXPERIENCE VALUE: ??? DUE TO CORRUPTION, STANDARD PROCESSING IMPOSSIBLE. TRANSLATING MANA COSTS INTO ALTERNATIVE REWARDS. CONGRATULATIONS, YOU MAY NOW LEVEL EITHER THREE ABILITIES OR IMPROVE THREE STATS BY TWO. CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE GAINED A LEVEL EXTERNAL FROM EXPERIENCE GAIN. YOU ARE NOW A LEVEL 19 UNADORNED TRASHCAN WITH MODERATE ENCHANTMENT. STATS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

  Ok, that wasn’t so bad! Sure, I had hoped to get like, a cool new ability, but stats plus leveling my abilities was nothing to sneeze at. I chose Steam Shot, Heat Dispersal, and Polymorph to level up. In a world of pyromancers and dragons and firebolting automatons, Heat Dispersal seemed like a must have. Polymorph was needed for more options; fighting in the water had shown me how woefully outclassed my current body was. I’ll admit, Steam Shot was more of an investment in a future where I could melt steel like the fume wyrm had more than a real useful pick.

  My meal finished, I turned back to Mug and Aranya. Somehow, he had been encased in a silk cocoon and was currently being tossed up and down by Aranya like a big green baby. His face was one of pure bliss, and Aranya seemed happy herself.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “What a strong goblin you are! That headbutt didn’t even scramble your brains! And that last blow—amazing! You’re so impressive I could just eat! You! Up!” Somehow, I didn’t think she was joking.

  ‘Ahem… Madame Aranya, Mug. I think that we have finished what we came here to do. If you would please pass me my squire, uneaten if possible, we can be out of your hair.’ Aranya stopped tossing Mug in the air, then turned to face me.

  “Lugenhelm. I must admit, I am impressed. You did what you said you would do, and with style as well. Tell me, do you have many fights under your lid? You two seem very in sync.” I wanted to blush.

  ‘Ah, well… not really. Just got lucky, I guess.’ She gave a noise of disapproval, then freed Mug from his cocoon and sat him on the sand. Before his normal look of earnest politeness took over, he glared daggers at me. If I had eyes I would glare right back. Sorry I don’t want you eaten, Mug!

  “Well, in any case, you have been a great boon to myself and my brood. Please, allow me and my kin to act as your honor guard back to that shabby little man’s house. It is the least we can do.” She clicked her tongue and unseen spiders descended and grabbed me and Mug, taking us over the lake and through the woods. The color of the lake had already changed from electric blue to a slightly less neon marine. I had no idea how long it would take to filter the corruption out completely, but it was a start. Aranya clicked at a few other spiders who began to tear the pipes away, piece by piece.

  It didn’t take long to get to the clearing that marked Manor Pauvert. The spiders put us down then disappeared back into the forest. Only Aranya stayed, cradling her injured leg.

  ‘Is that going to be okay?’ I asked, pointing at her leg. She laughed at the question.

  “Oh, of course. I just need to have a meal or two. Some of those males were looking rather tender, if I do say so myself.”

  ‘Er… I’ll take your word for it. What about the lake and the willows? I know we broke the source, but I feel bad that I can't do anything more. Will things be alright here?' She just shrugged, turning her attention to webbing her hurt leg to her side to keep it from flopping limply.

  "Oh, don't worry for us, Lugenhelm. Nature is a woman, and thus resilient and powerful. A few rains, a few seasons, and I'm sure all will return to its proper form, in time. Mating season will be interesting though. Tell you the truth, I'd rather we skip the whole thing this year, but you know. Noblesse oblige, and all that.' I wasn't sure she was using that term properly, but then again, I didn't know how to use it properly either.

  'Well, I guess this is farewell, Madame Aranya. Thank you for all your assistance. I don’t think we could have done it without you.' I went to spider form and gave her a curtsy, which she returned.

  “I cannot go with you into the house due to the enchantments, but if you don’t mind, I would like to escort you two home when you leave. Truly, you have done us a great service, and I would like to repay that, as much as I can.” I was flattered. The queen of the spiders owed us a favor! I was fine settling for not being dissolved in acid or eaten, but that was nice too. I told her we planned to depart in the morning, and that we would meet on the main path. She gave me one final curtsy and Mug a giant hug (which he enjoyed entirely too much, in my opinion), then disappeared into the woods.

  Mug and I walked up the path to the manor. I had a bone to pick with Pauvert as well as demands to make and blame to spread. I had exploded, punched, pounded, and burned all in the last few hours due to his mistakes. I wanted to make him pay or at least scare him a bi