Read advance chapters of all my works or want to support me.

https/www.p.a.t.r.e.on/Adamo_Amet

Join us on discord:

https://di..scord.gg/h3kDw7ma

••••••••••••••••••

Chapter 196 The Gift of the Present

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The golden light of the Homeward miracle flared and then dimmed, depositing Naruto and Oscar at the bonfire above Andre's workshop. The boy stumbled forward, dropping to one knee with a gasp, while Oscar sagged limp in his arms. The little crystal lizard was trembling, his body slack, his energy drained completely from forcing out that jutsu.

"That was way too close," Naruto muttered, stroking Oscar's back with gentle hands. The lizard gave a weak chirp, too tired even to lift his head. "You did great, buddy. You really saved us back there."

The sound of boots echoed on the stone steps, and Andre's eyes fell on the pair and narrowed with concern. "What happened to you two? You look like death warmed over."

Naruto lowered his head, still catching his breath. "We ran into the Great Grey Wolf, Sif." He exhaled slowly, remembering the massive blade and the speed with which it had nearly taken his head. "We just barely made it out. Thought it was safer to catch our breath here before looking for Princess Dusk again."

"By the gods… Sif. That is no ordinary beast. You crossed paths with a living legend, boy. The partner of Knight Artorias himself." The old blacksmith sat down heavily on a nearby stone, shaking his head as if he could hardly believe it. "There are those who say Artorias loved that wolf so much that when Lord Gwyn asked him to choose a symbol, he chose Sif. The wolf became his banner, his shadow, his pride."

Naruto blinked, his gaze dropping to the ring on his finger. The carved wolf insignia glinted faintly in the firelight, and he sighed, thinking back to the animal's stance. It had not been some wild monster's fury. It had been loyalty. A wolf imitating its master's form even in battle. "He really was a good boy… just protecting his master's grave." He gave Oscar a thoughtful look and chuckled softly. "Hey, do you think one day you'll mimic my fighting style too?"

Oscar gave a tired noise, very clearly a no.

Naruto's grin widened mischievously. "Come on. You've got all six arms in your ravenous crystal lizard form. Surely you could handle a greatsword. Imagine it, Oscar the Crystal Knight, wielding a zweihander bigger than your body." His eyes sparkled at the thought.

The lizard rolled his eyes, or at least made the noise equivalent, and finally gave a reluctant chirp of yes.

Naruto laughed aloud at the image, but the sound faded as quickly as it came. His thoughts turned back to the grave, and the loyal wolf standing guard over it. "Sif wasn't our enemy. He was just… keeping his promise. Protecting the one he loved." His voice softened, and he looked down at Oscar in his arms. "If I died… would you guard my grave too?"

Oscar's head tilted, his exhausted eyes fixing on Naruto with a look that needed no words. It was a stare that said more clearly than any speech: How can you even ask me that? Of course I would.

Naruto's heart warmed, and he pressed his forehead gently against the lizard's crystal snout. "Thanks, buddy." He kissed the top of Oscar's head and then straightened, determination lighting his eyes again. "Next time we meet Sif, we'll have to apologize. We'll make it right. But for now… let's focus on finding Dusk."

Oscar gave a faint chirp, as though agreeing despite his fatigue.

Naruto turned, giving Andre a little wave of farewell. "Thanks, old man. We'll be back." Then he planted his foot, invoked the Fist of Peregrine, and vanished in a burst of speed, his body flickering forward faster than the eye could follow. Oscar dangled from his arms like a flag whipping in the wind, chirping in protest but too tired to resist.

Andre stood there, watching the blur vanish into the garden paths, and shook his head with a rough chuckle. "Always something up with that boy."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Naruto flickered back into the forest near the grave of Artorias. He scanned the woods, wondering if any path might lead him toward Dusk, when something caught his eye. A glow, soft and azure, burned faintly in the distance.

He moved toward it, leaping from tree to tree, until he came upon a strange sight. Mushroom children clustered together, echoing odd noises, while the two giant mushroom parents stood guard. And there, in their midst, was Dusk, cradling an ornate bowl with an azure flame flickering within. She smiled at the little ones, bowing her head as though listening to their voices.

Naruto tilted his head. "Are they… talking?"

Oscar, slumped on his shoulder, let out a groaning noise that sounded like a dying animal.

"Don't be so dramatic," Naruto muttered, then dropped down without warning. "Yo, Princess. Sorry for being late."

At once one of the mushroom parents surged forward, its fist cutting the air in a blow that could have flattened a boulder. Naruto's instincts kicked in, muscles swelling with chakra as he moved to dodge and counter. But before the strike landed, the creature halted, tilting its massive head. It rumbled lowly, then turned away without another motion.

Naruto exhaled and eased his stance. "Well… thanks for the save."

Dusk shook her head gently, her voice soft and calm. "Nay, Sir Naruto. I did not intervene. The fae didst judge thy presence akin to that of a tree. And fae… ever do they gather in the hollow roots of the archtrees."

"My presence is like a tree?"

"Yes," she replied, her brow creasing faintly. "So they told me. I know not what deeper meaning lies within their words."

"Maybe they sensed my chakra or something," Naruto muttered, scratching the back of his head. "So… what are the fae, anyway?"

"The fae are the eldest beings of this forest. They dwelt here long before Oolacile was a kingdom. When the first of my people did find them, they sought no conquest, but peace. To aid the mushrooms, Oolacile birthed its first sorcery… Cast Light. A gentle magic to nurture rather than to harm. From this gift a bond was forged. The mushrooms gave sanctuary and strength, whilst Oolacile gave wisdom and light. Though the kingdom lies in ash, still the fae remember. Still they honor the pact."

She glanced down at the mushroom children, her voice trembling faintly. "As one of Oolacile's last heirs, they lend me their respect. Yet I think it more than lineage. I think they remember, even if they cannot give it voice."

Naruto's eyes dropped to the flame in her bowl. "And that is a blacksmith's ember?"

The princess extended the vessel toward him. "This is the Enchanted Ember. The fae safeguarded it for generations. Its azure light nurtured their children. When I revealed I still bore the sorcery of Cast Light, they deemed me worthy to carry it forth. I swore to leave behind a sustained light of mine own, that their children may yet flourish."

Naruto accepted the bowl carefully, feeling the warmth pulse through his palms. "Why give it to me?"

"Because thou art a knight, and knights must needs power above all else. The magic of Oolacile was never meant to slay. It is magic of change, of grace. The enchantments wrought by this ember may serve thee far better than destruction ever could. This is our legacy, and I would see it live on."

Naruto stared down at the azure flame, then smiled faintly. "That's really thoughtful of you, Princess. Thank you, dattebayo."

Oscar chirped weakly, as if to second the words.

[Item: Enchanted Ember]

[Description: Ember required for weapon ascension. This enchanted ember, a form of sorcery, is a vestige of the lost land of Oolacile. Ascends +5 magic wpn to enchanted weapon (enchanted weapon can be magic reinforced to +5). The sorcerer's enchanted weapon that inflicts magic damage and is boosted by intelligence.]

Naruto's eyes gleamed with thought. Rickert's gonna love this. Wonder what happens if I add chakra to an enchanted magic weapon? Would it hold or shatter under the strain like the magic weapon or something else?

"While I look forward to testing an enchanted weapon," Naruto said as he carefully placed the sleepy Oscar into Dusk's arms. She glanced down at the little lizard with worry, but Naruto continued with a small grin. "I think Oolacile's magic is going to help me even more."

"Oh, I am gladdened to hear that," Dusk replied, her lips curving into a gentle smile before her expression softened with guilt. "Also, I must beg thy pardon. I ought to have left thee a note, so that thou wouldst not worry when I went to meet my friend. And… congratulations, Sir Naruto, on ringing the Bells of Awakening. Alvina hath spoken much of how momentous a feat it is within this age."

Naruto hummed thoughtfully, tilting his head. "Can I meet this Alvina person?"

Dusk nodded and led them toward the edge of the forest, where the trees parted to reveal the ruins of an old stone structure. A stairway wound its way up along the side, curling toward a high-set doorway framed by broken stone arches. A narrow bridge of weathered rock connected the stairway to the entrance, and beyond the doorway, only fog stirred faintly, as though guarding the threshold.

"Thou wished to meet me, strange knight?" A voice purred from above.

Naruto raised his head. There, upon the window ledge of the ruin, sat a great grey cat.

"Sir Naruto," Dusk said with a small smile, lowering her head slightly in respect. "This is my friend, Alvina."

"Your friend is… a fat cat?"

Alvina's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. The air vibrated with a low sound that began as a chuckle and swelled into rolling laughter, a rumble so deep it made the very stones tremble as though the ruin itself laughed with her.

"A thousand pardons!" Naruto yelped, waving his arms frantically. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I take it back. You are the most beautiful, elegant, and amazing cat I have ever met!"

The trembling stilled. Silence fell. Alvina blinked once, slow and deliberate, then raised her chin with the dignity of a queen. "But of course. Such I am. And mark this well, boy. Never again speak to me with such impudence, lest thou regret it."

Naruto gulped and nodded so quickly he nearly lost his balance. He leaned toward Dusk and whispered, "What exactly… is she?"

"I am Alvina of the Darkroot," the cat declared, her voice ringing like a bell in the silence. "Guardian of these woods, white shadow of the fog. Mistress of the Forest Hunters, whose claws dost rend the defilers from their graves. All who profane this place shall fall to mine kin."

Oscar chirped in admiration and clapped his claws together. Naruto joined in with an awkward clap of his own.

Alvina licked her paw slowly, drawing it across her face with regal precision, as though their praise were beneath her notice, though her tail swished high with pride.

"Thou seemest to have many questions for me."

"Yeah, but first," Naruto said, grinning, "can you stop with the whole old-timey talk? I met a witch who fixed her speech in seconds. I'm sure a beautiful, highly intelligent cat like you can manage the same."

"Very well. Just for today, I will grant you that honor."

Dusk tilted her head curiously. "Should I, too, change my manner of speech?"

"We will work on it if you want, but," Naruto said, glancing at Dusk. "Princess, can you give this estus flask to Oscar and let him run around the forest a bit? I think he might be getting fat."

Oscar glared at him.

"Do you not know, boy," Alvina purred, her tail flicking lazily, "plumpness is the mark of wealth and fortune." She gave Oscar a sly wink.

The little lizard gave a nervous chuckle before patting Dusk's hand, urging her to move along.

"Then I shall leave you both to speak," Dusk said softly, bowing her head before retreating toward the mushroom children.

Once she was gone, Naruto folded his arms and looked back at the feline. "You know Oscar has a girlfriend… I think."

"Mind your tongue, boy."

"Sorry, sorry," Naruto said quickly, raising his hands in surrender. "It was just a joke." His expression sobered. "On a serious note, what exactly is your connection to the princess?"

Alvina licked her paw slowly, dragging her tongue across the soft fur before replying. "An acquaintance, if one must give it a name. I was a companion to Knight Artorias and the wolf Sif. When they came to stand against the Abyss that consumed Oolacile, I became familiar with Princess Dusk."

"I'm sure the princess has told you about me," Naruto said.

Alvina's whiskers twitched with amusement. "Of course she has. In truth, it was her godmother who bid me to watch over her should she walk this future age. Yet the princess would rather remain close to the knight who saved her."

Naruto flushed, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Well… I am learning Oolacile's magic from the princess."

Alvina's golden eyes gleamed, her tail curling in the air. She smirked in a way that only a cat could, as though she knew more than she would ever say aloud.

"Now, a question of mine," she said, her voice dipping into a low purr. "How comes it that you bear Artorias's ring?"

"I found it on a corpse in the Darkroot Garden. Did Artorias lose it or something?"

"No. It was stolen from him, when he lay gravely wounded in the battle against the Abyss."

Naruto hesitated, then pulled the wolf ring from his finger and held it out toward her. "Then take it. This ring belongs to Artorias. You're the closest to family he has left. Give it to Sif… and tell him I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wander near the grave, I wasn't going to harm it. I just didn't want to be killed. That's the truth."

He explained the encounter, how he had nearly been cut down, and how he had fled with Oscar at his side.

Alvina sniffed the ring, then sat back with a slow swish of her tail. "I will pass on your words to Sif," she said. Her gaze locked onto his, steady and piercing. "And I bid you keep the wolf ring. I knew Artorias well. He would have wanted his ring in the hands of an honest knight who bears both strength and truth, not buried in dust."

Naruto lowered his head respectfully. "Thank you."

The cat's whiskers twitched, and for just a moment, her golden eyes softened. "Oh, young knight… you are a strange one. Still, I find myself liking you. What do you say? Will you not join us? I think you'd fit in well."

"Join your covenant?"

"Yes," Alvina said smoothly. "Join the Forest Hunters, and you will have allies in the shadows, and the beasts of the woods at your side."

"Yeah, no thanks," Naruto replied with a sheepish grin. "Already part of the Warriors of Sunlight."

Alvina's tone cooled, but it wasn't harsh. "Then tell me, bold one… how do you intend to bear responsibility?"

"…Huh?"

"You wear the ring of Artorias. By that right, you walk where only a few dare. That carries weight. It is only fair you help guard the graves and secrets he left behind."

Naruto nodded slowly. "I'm down to help. I don't wanna join the Forest Hunters, but I won't turn away if you need me either."

"A wise compromise," Alvina said. "Then let it be known: you are not bound to the covenant, but you will be called upon when the forest has need."

A faint glimmer of light shimmered before her. A ring, pale as moonlight and smooth as pearl, hovered in the air.

[You have acquired: Cat Covenant Ring]

"If you wear that ring," Alvina said, "I will call on you when you're needed. If intruders defile this sacred ground, you will be summoned. Drive them out, brave knight. That is all I ask."

Naruto gave a firm nod, his voice serious. "Well, I'm always happy to help. Dattebayo."

Alvina paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "That tick at the end of your speech… curious."

"Something wrong with it?"

"Nay," Alvina replied, her tail flicking lazily. "It is not wrong. Only… familiar. I have heard something like it long ago, from shinobi who hailed from your village, Konoha."

Naruto's eyes went wide. He gasped and immediately pulled the Fourth's kunai from his inventory.

"Yes," Alvina said softly. "I remember that trinket. It belonged to a man swift as lightning, who once walked beside Knight Artorias. He was called a savior by some, a calamity by others. I remember him well enough."

Naruto's heart pounded. "You… you met the Fourth Hokage? Did he say anything? Did he leave behind anything?"

Alvina's gaze drifted, far away, as though she were recalling a memory blurred by centuries. "I apologize, boy. My meeting with them was brief, so brief I scarce knew them. Yet their power was undeniable. It was by their strength, together with Artorias, that the Abyss was beaten back. That much Elizabeth told me, for I was grievously injured and saw little with mine own eyes."

Naruto's shoulders slumped. It wasn't the answer he wanted, but it was something. Still, he pressed on. "Wait. Them? You said them. There were more shinobi?"

Alvina inclined her head. "Aye. A blonde man, and a red head. That is all I recall. They appeared as though from nothing, like spirits. And when the deed was done, they vanished just as suddenly. Many give Artorias alone the credit for vanquishing the darkness, but in truth… it was the work of many. Heroes forgotten, their names erased by time. I am sorry, child, if you hoped for more."

Naruto let out a slow breath, staring down at the kunai. "No, it's fine. I just… I'm confused. If they really were shinobi, then they were from my home. And if the Fourth Hokage came to Lordran, maybe he left behind a way for me to follow. But why? Why me? Was it for me? Was Lordran why he sealed the nine tails in me?"

"You will find your answers in time. All things are revealed when the hour demands it."

Naruto gave a quiet nod. "Thanks." He hesitated, then looked up with a grave expression. "Alvina, do you… do you know how Dusk dies?"

The cat's ears flattened slightly. "Nay. After Artorias drove back the Abyss, I departed Oolacile to carry word to the gods. What befell the princess after… I cannot say."

Naruto frowned deeply, then unburdened himself. He told Alvina everything: the mystery of Dusk's corpse, the confusion of seeing her alive while knowing her fate, the fear gnawing at him. By the end, he was slumped forward, as though the weight of his own words dragged him down.

For a long moment Alvina watched him, her tail curling about her paws. Then, with surprising gentleness, she said, "You are a good child."

"What?"

"You wish to save her."

"I mean…" Naruto looked away, cheeks heating. He sighed heavily. "Yeah. I don't want her to die. Not in this world, not in a place where people can linger forever, cursed or not. I don't like that I already know her fate. I don't like that her corpse is sitting in my inventory like some cursed reminder. I don't like not knowing if she died in peace… or in despair. Why did she die by that lake? What happened to her?"

Alvina rose from her perch, padding lightly down to him. With one soft paw, she brushed his head, almost like a mother soothing her kit. "Everything dies, Naruto. The everlasting dragons, the Age of Fire, the Undead. All things end. That is the nature of the world."

Naruto's lips parted, a protest forming, but no words came. He wanted to deny it, to argue, but the truth weighed too heavy.

"But listen well," Alvina continued. "Just because all things end does not mean you must hold yourself apart, as though love or friendship will shatter if you touch it. You need not bear the burden of saving everyone. What matters is not the end, but the time before it."

"Then… what do I do?"

"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present," Alvina said with a slow blink. "Cherish the time you have with her. If death must claim her, then let her go knowing she was glad to have lived, to have seen, to have known companionship. That is no small thing."

The boy's chest loosened, tension draining from his frame. "Thank you. That… actually helps."

"Good." Alvina gave a satisfied flick of her tail, then turned her back to him. "Now then. A knight should not wander while his princess waits. Go to her, boy. Let her see that loyalty burns brighter than despair. Carry on the legacy of Oolacile."

Naruto smiled faintly, then bowed his head in gratitude. "I will."

Naruto hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward and rubbed Alvina's head as though she were any ordinary cat.

The great feline froze, but instead of anger a deep, vibrating purr rolled out of her chest. Naruto grinned at the sound, scratching lightly behind her ears before pulling his hand away.

When he turned and walked off toward the forest, Alvina remained perched where she was, tail lashing once before curling neatly about her paws. She watched the boy's back retreat into the shadows, her whiskers twitching. What manner of creature art thou, young knight? she wondered. A dragon in spirit, yet kinder than any human I have known. Within him stirred a power beyond even gods.

"I look forward to seeing what thou shalt carve into this land, young dragon," she murmured to the silence.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Naruto emerged into the clearing where laughter rang faint and bright. Oscar was scrambling up a tree, claws scraping bark, while a gaggle of mushroom children below waved their stubby arms and let out chorus-like squeaks. Dusk stood nearby, her hands folded, giggling softly at the scene.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," Naruto said, shaking his head as Oscar leapt onto a high branch, tail flicking smugly at his pursuers. "My lizard's got a real habit of mocking people lately."

"Think not of it," Dusk said. "I trust thou hast resolved thy questions with Lady Alvina?"

"Yeah, more or less," Naruto answered, rubbing the back of his head. "Well… let's get to work on magic. I was thinking I should learn that invisibility spell. That one's perfect. I'm gonna prank the hell out of Sasuke with it." He laughed to himself, then forced his grin down into a more serious look. "But before that… just hand me all the spell scrolls you have. We don't know when time's gonna drag you back."

"Nay, Sir Naruto. Worry not. I was not pulled hither by a slip through time. I was sent forward in truth. Mine existence here is not so fragile as thou dost fear."

Naruto blinked blankly, his jaw opening as if a thousand questions suddenly wanted to pour out. He shut his mouth, groaned, then spread his hands in defeat. "Okay, fine. At this point, just tell me you aren't a cute princess but actually I don't know, a humanoid lizard or something ridiculous."

Dusk tilted her head, lips parting slightly. "Thou thinkest… I am cute?" she asked, her cheeks tinged faintly pink.

Naruto froze, eyes going wide, then threw his arms in the air like he was ready to strangle himself. "That's what you take from all this? Every mystery makes my brain hurt and you're over here worrying about being called cute?"

Oscar gave a low, wheezy chirp of laughter from his perch above, clearly enjoying his master's suffering.

"Just… just teach me how to turn invisible so I can cry where nobody in the world can see me."

Dusk brought her hand to her lips, stifling a small laugh of her own, then sighed. "Very well, Sir Naruto. If it is thy wish, I shall teach thee the sorcery of Invisibility. But I pray thee, do not use it only for mischief. For the magic of Oolacile was never meant to harm, but to enlighten."

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto said with a half-hearted wave. "I promise. Mostly."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

A few hours later, after finishing a long training session with Dusk, Naruto used the Homeward Miracle to come back to the camp in the Wave Country.

"Looks like we're late," Naruto muttered, yawning as he scratched the back of his neck. He was just about to go to sleep when he heard something odd.

Giggling.

His brow furrowed. Giggling wasn't a normal camp sound, especially not this early, and not out in the woods. Curiosity piqued, Naruto crept toward the sound, suppressing his chakra as he moved through the underbrush. And that's when he found the source.

Jiraiya, crouched in the bushes, notebook in hand, eyes gleaming with the sort of sleazy delight that made Naruto's stomach turn.

The young knight followed the old man's line of sight.

In the stream ahead, waist-deep in the glittering water, was Tsunami. Her dark hair was undone, cascading down her back in soaked waves. The morning light caught the droplets on her skin, outlining her form with a silver sheen. She reached up to wring her hair, her collarbones catching the sun, and the water lapped gently at her waist as she moved with a quiet grace, unaware of the eyes on her.

"So that's what you're doing, huh?"

Jiraiya didn't hear him, too busy scribbling notes, his tongue poking from the side of his mouth.

Naruto glanced at Oscar, who had already slinked up beside him. The crystal lizard gave a deep, guttural chirp, a sound Naruto now recognized as his I'm ready to commit a war crime noise.

"Yeah," Naruto said, his voice like steel. "I think we're gonna have to kill this guy."

Oscar chirped.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Author Note:

Why did I call the mushroom people fae? And is the lore about the Cast Light miracle correct?

So, here is the thing. Mushroom people in Dark Souls are one of those common enemies you run into that FromSoft never really gives a huge lore dump on. They just… exist. I spent hours digging for something official, or at least a strong fan theory, and came up pretty dry. There was one theory I stumbled across, but it felt way too out there. So I decided to add my own spin.

Why "fae"?

First, let's define the term.

In folklore, the fae are otherworldly beings tied to nature. They are not just the winged fairies you picture from cartoons. In older traditions, they are spirits of the land itself: stones, rivers, trees, and yes, mushrooms. They can be mischievous, dangerous, protective, or helpful. They live in liminal spaces where the natural and supernatural overlap.

Why does this work for Dark Souls? Because the mushroom people fit that bill almost perfectly.

In folklore, fae are tied to mushrooms through fairy rings. These are circular formations of mushrooms where fae were said to dance or gather. Step into one, and folklore says you might get whisked away into the fairy realm or cursed. Now look at Dark Souls: mushroom people live deep in Darkroot Garden, which is pretty much an enchanted, liminal forest. That is exactly the sort of place folklore would say fae live.

To put it another way: if you are a D&D player, the mushroom people are basically the fey of Lordran. They embody nature's magic, the weird beauty of growth and decay, and the idea that forests have spirits that defend them. The small mushroom children act like mischievous sprites, while the giant ones act like guardians or druids. Elizabeth, with her knowledge and calm voice, fills the archetype of the wise fae matron perfectly.

So yeah, it is not official lore, but it fits the vibe and makes the mushroom people more interesting than "big punching mushrooms."

As for Cast Light, I played with the idea that the spell itself could be a gift tied to the mushrooms, since in folklore fae and humans traded boons. It gave me a reason to connect Oolacile sorcery to the natural magic of the forest and the mushroom people.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Why is Jiraiya peeking at Tsunami?

This is probably a question no one asked, but I want to explain. A lot of fanfics scrub away Jiraiya's pervy side because they don't like that gag in Naruto. And fair enough, I get it. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of it either. But since my goal is for this story to stay canon adjacent, I am keeping that part of his character. The point is not to glorify it, but to show him eventually improve.

So yes, Jiraiya is still Jiraiya. But he is also someone who grows over time.

Now, let's talk about Naruto and Jiraiya's first meeting in this fic. Did it feel in-character to you? What are your expectations for their dynamic? And most importantly, what do you expect from Naruto vs. Jiraiya?

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

As always, thank you to everyone who reads, asks questions, and engages with the story in good faith. I appreciate it more than I can say. Drop your thoughts in the comments and I will be around to reply.

—Adam

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 91, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!