AN: This chapter part is short, though within my 1500 word minimum range. However, I do plan to put out three more updates this week. So, there is that.

This story is slowly wobbling is way back into the regular update queue, now that some others are winding down and I am starting to settle into an update routine again with a few other tales.

Those of you who like to read Galactic Fist of Legend as well, may also recall that I recently brought that story to an arc involving a world-setting called 'Fear Rune - The Abandoned Realms.' I promised that the world setting would have an alternate story with an actual series involved, and so it finally got to the point where it can be posted up as well.

So, for the bored. Fear Rune - The Abadoned Realms is now a thing. One chapter up so far, but three more coming for the weekend. It's a weekend update, so Satudays and Sundays, as the schedule.

I'm trying to set a schedule for other stories, such as Blackthorne, now. It'll probably take another two or three weeks to settle in, but by then a few other stories will reach end of volume, so I'll have more time to devout to this story and maybe the Nocturne reboot. (Though the Nocturne reboot was always a side-project.)

Anyway, expect a few more updates this week. Sorry about the wait. :)

Those curious about Origin, and a few other stories, feel free to ask. I'll try to update a least one or two chapters of most things this week to get it all on track.

Enjoy.

Chapter 46.3: Love and Darkness

Life, in all its splendid glory, was rarely simple. Between the partially remembered dreams, and the oddity of his emotional state, it was frequently difficult for Scott to comprehend current events. He lived in a perpetual haze recently. When he was not training, focused specifically on one task, his mind would wander.

Currently, his mind wandered over the strange sentiments and the odd desire to comfort Shara whenever he heard her speak. He did not understand the drive to do so. While he did not hate her, and in fact did like her quite a bit, they were separated by an emotional gulf that was difficult to cross. Her method of entering into his life, and the eventualities of life in this brave new apocalyptic shithole, left him emotionally disarrayed.

Those differences faded rapidly whenever he saw her smiling, face, however. Instead of suspicion and a sense of guilt, he wanted to give her a hug. Once he nearly patted her on the head and called her a good girl. Honestly, it was beyond strange.

Scott glanced over to see Shara lightly styling Thessaly's snake hair. She had tied a few pink ribbons around the gorgon's snakes here and there. The young monster woman made huffing noises and stole glances at her new dark lord. It did not seem so much that she was enamored, as that she hoped not to displease him.

Shara grabbed Thessaly's breasts once more and laughed at the embarrassment on the girl's face. A soft smile broke out on Scott's lips. There was nothing sensual or erotic about that scene. Shara was clearly just having fun.

Scott laughed a little when the ninja goddess pulled Thessaly's hands to her chest and had the gorgon cop a feel. His laugh was not due to the mildly erotic image, but what Shara proclaimed. "Now we're bosom buddies!"

"Wait, or is that breast friends?" asked Shara, her eyes wide and innocent.

"I'm uncertain of what to say—" began Thessaly, only to have Shara interrupt. "Yes! We'll be breast friends! Come on, I'll introduce you to the others... we can all be breast friends together."

Shara waved warmly to Scott before dragging the blushing, and stammering, gorgon off to meet whichever of the dynamic duo she could find. Would Sonja be the first? Would Ashton be the newest breast friend? Such drama, such suspense...

He sighed softly then left the dungeon area. Many thoughts plagued his mind of late. When he was not making items, it was hard to think of anything but the current situation.

Recently, other than his oddly warm feelings toward Shara, his mind would often wander toward thoughts of his old summoned wisp. It was still a mystery as to what happened to her. One day things were perfectly normal. A moment later, she sang a weird song, and ever since then she refused his summoning. It was something that should theoretically be impossible, and yet that was the situation.

There had to be something strange going on. The problem was that he did not acquire his magical knowledge naturally. His information originally came through a mental download, and the only other help he'd had in that arena was through reading the book granted to him.

The most curious issues was that nothing he did seemed to reach her for long. The few times that he did manage to touch on something, all he received was a soft whimpering sound. It was like she was psychologically traumatized or too scared to answer. It made no sense. The only other thing he could come up with was that maybe something had imprisoned her, somehow.

Whatever the case, he would not be able to do anything about it without acquiring new knowledge. Even Shara had been little help in that regard, though. No, he needed to learn about the situations that could cause summoning interference, and that required him to actively seek out new sources.

The book he received from Shara's alter ego told him nothing. It was too basic. There had to be answers to his questions, however. Thoughts of questions and answers led him to one conclusion, "Shara's busy today... but that doesn't mean I can't explore."

Scott summoned Sonja to his side, and after the customary hug of greeting, he told her his plans. She understood his purpose but was curious about the details.

"How long do you think you'll be gone?"

He shook his head. "I'll use the transport nodes. If I can't find what I'm looking for in a major city, there's no point in searching the land far and wide right now."

"Do you want me to come with you?" she asked, a hopeful expression on her face.

"I appreciate it, but I'm just going to be running quickly. If I get into trouble, I'll call," said Scott.

"I understand. We'll hold down the fort while you're gone." She offered him a warm smile.

Scott returned that smile in kind then nodded. "See you soon. Oh, and if you see Shara with a gorgon, don't be alarmed."

"Gorgon? Oh, she made friends with the girl in the dungeon?" asked Sonja.

"She made breast friends with her," said Scott.

Sonja blinked then tilted her head to the side. "I... Do I want to know what that means?"

"You'll find out soon enough, I'm sure," said Scott.

"I'm sure I will." Sonja sighed lightly then chuckled. "She's always coming up with something odd."

"She's a good girl," said Scott, before he could think better of it.

"Oh? Is she now?" Sonja's smile returned.

Scott reached over and slapped her on the rear to change the subject. Her yelp was more out of a sense of duty than any actual pain. "Bad girl."

Sonja pouted at him gently, then leaned back a little. She enticed him thoughtfully with her own breast friends. "Am I truly so bad?"

"The worst," admitted Scott before laughing slightly and offering her a parting hug. He had business to attend to at the moment.

After parting with Sonja, Scott used the transport nodes to go to a place that he had meant to visit for quite a while now, the library. Rather, the library at the major port city they were linked to for trade purposes.

The city was massive compared to other towns in the dream world, but fairly small by the standards of Earth. After spending a few hours walking around town, and taking in the sights, he eventually found a city guard who did not mind answering questions.

The library was open to the public, but he would need to make a donation to enter. How it could be considered a donation when it was mandatory was beyond him, but he decided not to argue.

Inside, he located a librarian to help with his research. Said librarian, a fat balding man named Seamus, led him to the section that he wanted.

"You'll find a few books on magic and summoning here, but nothing too exciting. If you truly wish to discover the basics of that sort of thing, you might consider visiting the Arpeggio Archology. The mages who live there spend all of their time studying magic," said Seamus.

"I'll keep that in mind," said Scott. He parted ways with the helpful librarian after that, and then set about searching through magical tomes for insight.

The hours flew by while he leafed through dusty tomes, and reviewed artful drawings. Magic seemed to have as many possibilities and purposes, as it had headaches and hindrances. He did not expect to find an answer on the first day, but he hoped to make a little progress at least.

"So basic, I already know most of this and I'm practically a magically adept idiot," muttered Scott. Several of the books seemed to only provide the same information, but reworded to sound original. Even in a fantasy world, derivative authorship reared its ugly head.

"All theory, not even any spells to use for basic comprehension..." Scott frowned at the books. Every significant book on magic that the biggest library in the region had to offer to the public, was nothing more than armchair theory. It was the magical literary equivalent of sports casters talking about a football game, but only showing the same highlight reels over and over.

Near closing time for the library, Scott put the books back and considered the situation. He needed to give out the gifts that he made, and then head out to train with Shara. The current self-imposed questline would have to wait. He was stalled for the moment, anyway.

However, there was one lead that he might follow. Scott nodded his head then sought out Seamus. The Arpeggio Archology sounded like it might be his only hope for some sort of answer to his wisp summoning issue. Though, visiting a place full of mages could be tricky. The moment they discovered that he was a dragon, shit could get real. He would need to plan carefully, and discuss it with the group. The last thing that he wanted was to end up as item ingredients for some bearded magical asshat.