I felt a certain degree of despair hearing that I was eligible for an epic campaign. Such rewards were miracles, and my unique life enabled me to obtain them, but they came at a cost—namely, the deferral of rewards.

  I read it cautiously.

  Campaign: Nurture the Phenoms

  Description: In your quest to protect the forest, you have trained an army of fighters in the Fifth Ring, making them abnormally powerful. As a leader, their power is now your power—an extension of your strength—and their victories will be your triumphs. Continue this approach, building your forces to abnormal strength, and be rewarded for the glories they bring you.

  Requirements: Your team obtaining three combat-related diamond-grade rewards. The combat can come from fighting beasts, people, or achieving military victories, but the triumphs must be earned without your aid or intervention.

  Would you like to accept the epic campaign?

  Note: By accepting your team’s strength as your own, you will sacrifice all rewards that you can obtain from your own strength until you complete or end the campaign.

  I stared at the screen for thirty seconds, ignoring questions, before pulling up my rewards to take stock of what I had.

  Info Requests Remaining: 10

  Books: None

  Spells: 1 platinum, 2 diamond

  Skills: 1 platinum

  Recipes: 2 platinum, 2 diamond, 3 bronze, 1 silver, 2 gold

  Equipment: 1 diamond

  Tutorials: 2 platinum, 1 diamond, 3 bronze, 2 gold

  Free Requests

  Epic: 1

  Diamond: 3

  Platinum: 0

  Gold: 0

  Silver: 0

  Bronze: 0

  Rewards

  Books: 2 platinum, 3 gold

  Spells: 3 platinum, 3 gold

  Recipes: 3 platinum, 5 gold

  Blueprints: 2 gold

  Tutorials: 3 platinum, 3 gold

  Skills: 2 platinum, 1 gold

  Equipment: None

  Four free… I thought. And there’s no small ones…

  Free requests had been my lifeblood since I entered Areswood. They helped me obtain what I actually needed, since I had resources that made most of the other reward types unnecessary.

  I could spend the next thirty years practicing my current magic and not plateau, so there was no need for spells, and if there was something I needed, I had Reta, Brindle, Malo, and countless other people to teach me.

  The same was true of recipes. I had Elana and Felio.

  Equipment and blueprints were useless when I had some of the best engineers and artisans in the First Domain and beyond.

  There simply wasn’t a need for most of the things I had been offered. I needed the freedom to request specialized labor or equipment that would be delivered during times of war.

  But…

  “Is everything okay?” Weaden asked. He was my chosen aid, my “right hand,” of sorts, so I appreciated his question.

  “Yeah…” I said. “I’m just wondering if I can level up anymore…”

  He blinked a few times. “Excuse me?”

  “I haven’t got so much as a bronze reward this trip,” I revealed. “I’ve accomplished so much that it’s offering me a quest for training you rather than doing things myself. I think that’s great, but… it could take years for you all to meet the absurd requirements. Do you have advice?”

  He considered his words carefully. “I think… if you were in a different place, I’d reject such a quest. But right now, you’ve obtained an army of considerable strength and talent. Your people can provide for your needs, and their talent will surely satisfy your quest sooner than you think. At least here. Large battles and dangers are guaranteed.”

  Hearing those words from a renowned general and leader changed my perspective and really made my situation sink in.

  Now that I had talent, I didn’t have to be the best at everything. Felio had far more talent than me in alchemy, and her growth would only accelerate. The people running my cities and armies were vastly more skilled than myself. I was relatively weak—someone who only had the job of becoming the trump card and symbol of Wraithwood.

  That was it. My people could handle the day-to-day, and if I finished this campaign, I could obtain greater people and resources to bolster their power.

  My life and strength had evolved—and I had to accept that. So I nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll trust your judgment,” as I accepted it.

  I received the chime and pushed the notification aside as I looked at the others. “Let’s go home.”

  As if from a scene from Romeo and Juliet, Kline and the team drank powerful sleep elixirs. Once they fell unconscious, I propelled the boat into the water, ferrying us through the river silently until Dranta (whose poison resistance seemed to have increased) woke up. I clubbed his skull and nearly drowned him to keep him unconscious for the rest of the trip. It was a brutal ordeal, but soon, Rall’s Fort came into view, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

  My brother helped us onto dry land, then had guards escort my leaders to their bedrooms. Once we were free, he treated me to a tour of Rall’s Fort. I ended up staying another two days to spend time with my brother, but I couldn’t delay further. So I gathered my team on the city’s outskirts and debriefed them.

  “Good work on the trip,” I said. “You’re now more powerful—but you’re still weak in terms of relationships, so focus on that. By the time we meet next summer, I want you all to have made a name for yourselves. Not as past heroes and legends—but as respected Wraiths. Okay?”

  My people nodded and said their goodbyes. Then, I hugged my brother and walked to the river with Kline and Tyler.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “Seems you’re getting better at this,” Tyler noted as we walked.

  “I could say the same.” I summoned Sina and jumped onto her back, signalling for Aiden and Weaden to do the same for their mounts. Then, I turned back to Tyler. “Good work.”

  He nodded. “I’ll miss you, sis.”

  “Don’t. You’ll see me all winter.” His face cramped, but mine didn’t yield. “This is the last winter before the war. Let’s spend it as a family.”

  I took off, riding fast over the new bridge Tyler’s people had built over the Cable River, moving ever closer to Wraithwood—my home—where my parents and duties awaited.

  My “duties” referred to building the wyverns a new home and planting my new bramble. By next fall, trap plants I had just collected from the Fifth Ring would be in full bloom, making it impossible for specialists with knowledge of Areswood’s biota to move about freely. That was my project for the spring, but many seeds required cold stratification—the requirement to undergo winter conditions to sprout—so I had to do it before winter. Thus, I spent my first month back doing a survey of the area right outside the mouth of the Bramble, identifying ideal locations for the plants. Felio, Jaylin, and the farmers joined in, making it pleasurable work with good company.

  It was a satisfied toil for us plant girls—one we wanted to last. Unfortunately, we had barely planted the bare minimum when drifting white leaves of snow wove their ways around the pines and skeletal canopies surrounding us. It wouldn’t be long before the melted snow spread poisons, so we reluctantly packed up and returned home for the winter.

  Our grumbling didn’t last long, though.

  Winter was a special time of year—this time more than ever. This was the last winter before the war, and we were determined to enjoy Wraithwood—the homeland we built—and the family and friends we had developed.

  Tyler arrived two weeks after the first snow along with “Dutchess Hill” (a name Sarah hated but Tyler adored), and we had our first family dinner in a long time—Sarah, Kai, and Felio included. Felio was legally my adoptive sister, so we welcomed her and her fiance, Miko Raska, whom she announced she would marry that winter. I wish I could say that it was a shock that she was getting married. Instead, all I could feel was guilt knowing that my best friend had been dating someone for the last year, and I didn’t make time to ask about him or meet him. I aimed to change that during the winter, so I welcomed him in and played the guest, enjoying my family and the spouses.

  Later that night, Kai deftly led the spouses and fiances home, allowing the blood Hills to have some family time alone. For whatever good it was. Everyone was exhausted, to the point it was almost comical.

  “Damn, sis, your cooking’s getting hallucinogenic,” Tyler said, picking at a cupcake listlessly. “Look at Mom. Poor woman looks like she hit an opium pipe.”

  “Tyler…” Mom admonished—or at least she tried to. What was supposed to be a cracking chastisement came out as a tired groan. Tyler presented her with his hands to prove his point.

  “Tyler,” Dad chastised on her behalf. “Don’t tease your mother.”

  “I’m not teasing her,” Tyler said. “And are you just gonna ignore the cooking?”

  “She added salt and pepper,” Dad said dryly.

  “Exactly.” Tyler snapped his fingers and pointed at him. “That’s how she gets ya. The two weeks before she sees you, she starves you on ‘gourmet’ muggle food. Then, we show up, and she’s waiting with peak soul cooking. It’s a win by default. Sneaky, sneaky, sis.” He wagged his finger at me. “But you can’t fool me.”

  Kline materialized out of nowhere, smacking Tyler’s finger down with his paw. Then, his tiny body faded to nothing as Tyler cried out, chaos punctuated by Gatsby, who jumped to his feet and barked three times, wagging his tail.

  Tyler grabbed his wrist defensively, searching for Kline. “Are you serious?” he cried. “Where’d that little shit go?”

  I smirked and looked at Dad, who was trying hard to suppress a bellowing laugh.

  “Hey!” Tyler cried. “Don’t laugh with her. This is a crisis, not a bonding moment!”

  I snorted and covered my mouth.

  Tyler was also laughing, but he was still grumpy at our Dad’s silence. “What?” he demanded.

  Dad threw up his hands, but said nothing, responding instead with a mysterious smile.

  “Come on, Doug,” Mom said tiredly, eyes drifting languidly. “You at least have to pretend to take Tyler’s side every once in a while.”

  “Yeah, ‘once’ would be nice,” Tyler griped. “It’s been… God, I don’t even want to tell people my age anymore.”

  I laughed. “Tell me about it.”

  Tyler smirked, but lost his amusement when he saw Dad sneak Kline a thumbs up. Tyler turned and saw the cat lying on top of Gatsby, who had lain down again.

  “Don’t thumbs up him!” Tyler cried. “He’s using the family lab like a throne.”

  “Does Gatsby look aggrieved?” Dad asked.

  Gatsby rolled over onto his back, swiping his golden paws at Kline, who kept warding them away with his claws. Kline gave up, overwhelmed by Gatsby’s lovableness, and jumped off. Retrievers were just too positive for him, so he activated Active Camouflage and slunk off as we laughed.

  “Yeah, but that’s not the point,” Tyler countered. “He could’ve hurt my whittle finger.” He grabbed his finger with a dramatic pout.

  Dad chuckled, eyes drifting. “Sorry. I’m not thumbs upping him for swiping at you. I’m just… I’m glad that someone’s protecting Mira. You cannot obtain loyalty like Kline’s. It just… warms my heart.”

  Tyler nodded. “Yeah…” He threw up his thumb aimlessly, as if to test it out. Kline warp stepped to the location Tyler’s thumb was pointing, creating the image that Tyler, too, had his thumbs up for him. “Never mind!” Tyler declared. He added his middle finger to this thumb and rotated his wrist to flip Kline off as Dad roared with laughter.

  Dad slapped his legs. “Okay, I think it’s about time we get your mother home.”

  “Then let me do it,” Tyler said. “I know you two want your ‘us’ time.”

  Dad wanted to deny it, but he smiled sheepishly.

  “Got it.” Tyler grabbed our mother. “Come on, Mom. Let’s have some ‘us’ time, too.”

  Mom stood and opened her arms to me. I hugged her.

  “I’m so proud of who you’ve become,” she whispered.

  “Thanks, Mom,” I replied, squeezing her tight. Then, I let go and Tyler saluted, saying, “‘Til tomorrow,” and walked them through the door, leaving Dad and me alone.

  Dad then turned to me as if by ambush, a sign that Tyler’s kind gesture was planned.

  “What?” I asked nervously. “Is there something important?”

  “Is there?” he asked.

  “I don’t play this game.”

  He sat again. “Listen, Mira. You always look like you’re in control these days, and I appreciate that. But I know when something’s eating at my daughter.”

  “Oh, that…” I motioned to the table, pulling tea and cups from the counter with telekinesis. “It’s just… This is the life that I’ve always dreamed of. To build you a home in the woods—to live life on our own terms. I’ve accomplished that, but now… there’s a war, and I can’t help but think it’ll be worse than getting dicked around by the Oracle in Theovale.”

  “Ah, so that’s what you’re worried about,” he said, watching me fill the cups with spheres of boiling water. “Listen, Mira. Your mother and I aren’t as naive and defenseless as you think. You do know I help oversee Wraithwood’s finances, right?”

  I smiled dimly. I had made my father the assistant to Wraithwood’s treasurer, specifically under the trade department. I also had him on the finance board to ensure he knew everything of financial importance. If anyone knew about war preparations—it was him.

  “I’m saturated with this land’s politics,” he said. “I’m on all the boards. In all the meetings. So I’ve known, from day one, that we’ve been preparing for war. I also know the reasons why. So don’t worry… neither of us think you’re to blame for this. We see it as something that’s unavoidable, and we’re proud of how you’re handling it.”

  I tried to escape the emotional turmoil by focusing on my task. I skillfully strained the tea with Separate and floated Dad his cup.

  I sat afterward, unsure what to say.

  “You know,” Dad remarked, “most people hear stories about your life on Earth and go… What? How did this become that? Or rather, how did she become like this after that?” He laughed. “They never properly articulate it, but the sentiment’s always: What went wrong?”

  I laughed quietly.

  “But I don’t think there’s a contradiction,” Dad said. “You’ve always been like this. You were always out in the garden, convincing Caleb to come over and help you garden. You stood up to anyone who tried to convince you to be ‘normal,’ and always followed your dreams—impractical and uncertain they were. And throughout it all, you caused us trouble, God knew you did. Property damage—rashes… neighbor complaints. But… it’s always been such a joy, Mira. Every single second of it. This situation is no different in our eyes.”

  My eyes welled with tears when he stood, and I gratefully met my father halfway around the table with a deep hug. Those words were exactly what I needed to hear—words that would help push me forward. The more time passed, the more I wanted time to stand still; the more things changed, the more I wanted things to stay the same. I had built my dream life, and I was comfortable, so all the things I had spent almost a decade working toward felt toxic and destructive and dangerous. No, they were toxic and sure to destroy the peace I had fought for, but they needed to be done. There wasn’t a choice, but… knowing that my family understood and appreciated my actions gave me the strength to keep pushing on.

  This was my final winter, so I wanted to enjoy it. For soon the snow would melt, and the stratified seeds of war and auctions would bloom.

  Wraithwood is back! And it has a Patreon, just in time to get thrust into the war! Wraithwood will now update once a week on Mondays (that's all my brain will let me do. Slow trudge to finish strong!)

  Patreon:

  I’m also proud to announce my new story, “End World Tutorial,” my first-ever crunchy LitRPG. It's about a man who wakes up in a tutorial for the upcoming apocalypse. If you like wild magic and nonstop leveling, check it out!

  End World Tutorial: