Kel smiled a little. Riven snorted softly and Mara shook her head with faint amusement.
None of them mocked Dominic's reaction. If anything, there was warmth in their expressions. What he had done was not shameless. It was honest, almost adorable.
They knew the signs well enough. His clothes were worn and old. His boots had been repaired instead of replaced. His posture carried the stiffness of someone used to physical work, not comfort.
Dominic was not from a wealthy family. He was a kid who earned his coins the hard way.
Just like they had.
So when his face had lit up at the mention of payment, none of them judged him for it. They understood that look too well.
Kel cleared his throat.
"If nothing shows up," he said, more lightly now, "then it won't be necessary."
Dominic nodded. He felt torn about it.
If another Labyrinth creature appeared and he managed to help again, he would get paid. That was tempting. Useful. Coins meant food, gear, and more options. It was always good to have more than less.
But if nothing happened, he would not be too disappointed either.
He really was not eager to face another Labyrinth creature so soon.
Still, a darker thought crept in despite himself. If another one did appear, maybe it would be his turn to shove Alaric into it again.
The sun finally rose.
Morning came properly, washing the camp in pale gold. Fires were rekindled and simple breakfasts like bread, dried meat, and thin broth were handed out.
The three Arcanists sat together near one of the wagons, speaking quietly. Their heads leaned close and their expressions serious. Whatever humor they had shown earlier was gone. They were already thinking about what they would do next.
Dominic sat alone a short distance away, eating in silence.
The memory of the night came again. The monster, and the almost-certainty that he was about to die.
It was not that he was no longer afraid. He had been terrified.
But this was the second time he had survived something that should have killed him. He knew luck had played a part in it. He would have been a fool to deny that even if he had these Signatures.
Still, he could not ignore the fact that he had reacted quickly. His mind had been clear enough despite the pain and fear.
He was halfway through his meal when a shadow fell across him.
Dominic looked up.
Alaric stood in front of him, flanked by the two other noble boys, Corvin and Lucen. All three were clean now, their clothes brushed and their posture stiff with forced confidence.
Dominic kept eating. His gaze was flat.
Alaric's lips curled slightly. Not quite a smile.
"I'm not here to apologize," he said.
Dominic did not respond.
Alaric continued anyway. "Just know this. If you ever try something funny. If you think you can lay a hand on me and hurt me." His eyes narrowed. "You will suffer consequences. I am a noble. Remember your place."
A thin and sharp smirk crept onto his face.
Dominic finally looked up properly, chewing slowly. He said nothing.
Alaric scoffed as if satisfied with himself, and turned away. The three of them walked off together, laughing a little too loudly.
As they left, Corvin glanced back and sneered.
"Good thing you put him in his place," he said to Alaric. "He was glaring like he was about to do something."
Their laughter faded into the noise of the camp.
Dominic lowered his gaze back to his food and kept eating. His expression did not change.
The caravan did not linger. By midmorning, orders were given and the wagons began to move again.
Wheels creaked over the dirt road, and the line slowly re-formed as if the night's terror had been nothing more than a bad dream.
Dominic climbed back into the wagon assigned to him.
The three noble boys were already inside.
They did not stop their low chatter when he entered. Snide remarks slipped between them, poorly disguised as jokes. They laughed and whispered loudly about him having the worst luck even among commoners.
Dominic still said nothing or even showed that he cared.
He sat with his back against the wooden frame, eyes lowered. His hands resting loosely in his lap. Silence was easier than engaging for now.
The wagon rolled on.
As it turned out, the peace did not last long. A sharp shout rang out from the front of the caravan, followed by the sudden pull of reins and the grinding halt of wheels.
Horses snorted in agitation. Alaric cursed loudly.
"Another attack!" Riven's voice carried down the line.
The reaction was immediate.
Alaric swore under his breath for the tenth time and jumped down from the wagon first. Lucen and Corvin followed close behind.
Dominic stepped down more slowly. The two commoners riding nearby joined him. Their faces tense as they moved toward the edge of the road.
Ahead of them, shapes burst from the brush.
It was wolves.
Too many to count at a glance. Their bodies were lean and powerful, but something was wrong. Their eyes tinted with sickly color. Blackened veins crept beneath their fur and patches of their hides looked warped by something unnatural.
They did not stalk. They just charged.
Snarls ripped through the air as the pack rushed forward in a wave of teeth and fury.
Dominic felt his stomach tighten.
He hurried toward Kel, who was already assessing the situation with grim focus.
"What's going on?" Dominic asked.
Kel's eyes never left the wolves.
"They're just normal wolves. Not monsters," he said. "But they're corrupted by Labyrinth ether."
Dominic stared at the charging pack. "That can happen too?"
Kel nodded. "The Labyrinth is full of things we don't fully understand. Anything on the surface that was exposed long enough to something from the Labyrinth could change, or be corrupted."
The wolves closed the distance.
He turned to Dominic and spoke in a serious tone. "You remember that you will lend a hand, right?"
Dominic sighed helplessly. "Yes, I remember."
—