For Those I Love (Part 1)

A few hours after Grant had departed for the Chandler Regional Medical Center, Ally was sitting alone inside the room of the dungeon that had been turned into her and her kids' temporary living quarters.

On the table in front of her were the sword and tracksuit that Grant had left behind for her to wear when she went out to level up with her kids.

Ever since Grant had left and her kids had come to tell her about what they had been asked to do for her, Ally had been frustrated.

[How dare he tell my kids to willingly put their safety at risk to help me kill monsters!

Besides, their time is much more valuable helping people who are actually deserving of their help!

He didn't even bother to ask for my opinion either!

Stupid Grant!]

Those thoughts had been the basis for Ally's internal mental battle with herself.

Although she could tell that Grant was just looking out for her safety and her kids well being, the fact that he hadn't even asked for her opinion and decided it all on his own frustrated her to no end.

While she was lost in her own thoughts, a now familiar rhythmic tapping sound came from the direction of the larger area of the dungeon, progressively getting louder and louder.

Ally didn't even need to turn around to know what the source of the sound was.

"Hello Mr. Skit, what can I do for you?"

Although she posed the question without turning around, after a few more taps, eventually the sound came to a halt not too far behind her before she got her response.

"It is not what you can do for me, it is what can I do for you, Ally?"

After Skit responded, he took a few more steps before reaching the other side of the table and sitting in one of the empty chairs.

Confused, Ally simply looked at Skit for a few moments before the skeleton elaborated on what he had meant, "Based on the fact that you did not go with your kids when they left to hunt as well as the fact that the tracksuit and sword are still sitting in front of you, you must have some sort of issue, yes?"

"Of course I do! Why would Grant think that I want to go out and fight monsters?!"

It was Skit's turn to look confused this time, not that Ally had any way of knowing since he was nothing but bone.

"I am confused by your displeasure.

Do you not understand the state of the world that you live in now? Have you not been a part of the conversations where Grant has discussed the literal fate of your world?

How can you sit here, knowing all of that, and not do anything about it?"

Ally wanted to refute Skit's words, but she knew that he spoke nothing but the truth. She gradually started to feel ashamed of herself, but it still did not sway her enough to grab the sword and tracksuit.

In an attempt to defend herself Ally said, "I know what is at stake here. But I am just a normal woman. No more than a month ago I was saving lives and now I'm being asked to take them? It's too much!"

A few moments of silence dominated the room before Skit finally spoke again, "Let me ask you a question then, what do you think of Grant.

And I don't mean in a sentimental way, I mean as a leader and a fighter."

Ally couldn't help but recall all of the times that she had seen Grant fight or lead as well as the stories that her kids had told her about when they returned from hunting with Grant.

The sheer amount of unbelievable things that he had accomplished flashed through her mind before she answered, "He is strong, honorable in his own way, and decisive. He does what he thinks is best and does it wholeheartedly.

His strength reminds me of superheroes from movies and he never hesitates to wield that strength. Always looking so proud and sure of himself."

Skit simply nodded his head before he asked another question, "You said that no more than a month ago you were saving lives, right?

Well, what do you think Grant was doing a month ago? Surely, you can't believe that he was somehow fighting and killing even before The Path's emergence?"

Ally, with a look of pure shock and realization on her face, simply stared at Skit in silence while he continued to talk.

"The man you see before you now, is a far cry from the man he was at the outbreak of The Path.

You may or may not know this, but Grant and I actually spent a few weeks training together here in this very dungeon.

Although I never once asked, Grant would tell me many things about this world both before and after The Path's emergence.

He used to talk about his life before The Path, which if I have to admit, I'm actually jealous of the peace he was able to enjoy.

I have basically learned Grant's entire life story from the years prior to The Path's emergence and then seemingly every single moment since.

As he described the hardships he suffered and the lessons he has learned, I realized something about him.

Do you know what that is?"

Now listening to every word that Skit said with rapt attention, Ally simply shook her head side to side without saying a word.

"Grant is not strong because of what he has done, the stats he has acquired, or the skills he wields. He is strong because he fights for something more than just himself. Can you guess what it is?"

Ally, thinking she had the correct answer, quickly answered Skit's question.

"The survival of the human race!"

Unexpectedly though, rather than confirm her assumption, Skit simply began to laugh and continued to do so for a good thirty seconds before he finally calmed down.

Hearing Skit laugh at her, Ally couldn't help but to frown in annoyance at the skeleton across from her, to which Skit immediately raised his arms in surrender, "I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend you."

Ally didn't stop frowning however and just waited for Skit to explain himself.

"Do you really think that Grant is so noble?

Although yes, in a sense you are correct, his mindset is much more narrow than that though.

He fights for those he loves and wishes to protect as well as his own survival.

If he has to save the world to ensure that the people he loves are protected and he can live in relative peace, then that is why he strives for that goal.

He is not some noble hero or anything of the sort, he is simply a man who will do whatever it takes to protect what is his.

And I also realized what it is that Grant loves, other than himself of course, although the man himself may not have realized it yet.

Its you and your kids.

I mean, the number of times your name came up in conversation was almost unbearable!

Knocking him unconscious was all I could do to get him to stop talking about you three.."

It was Ally's turn to laugh, but unlike Skit, Ally was laughing because she was genuinely happy to hear the explanation.

"That sounds like Grant alright.. he does tend to talk a lot and is actually quite selfish.

Maybe because I only lost my husband such a short time ago though, it has been hard for me to understand what Grant has meant to me and my kids.

I knew that our interactions were not like what a normal middle aged woman and young mans would be like, and I guess I didn't want to admit to myself that maybe he could be something more...

But it makes me very happy to hear you say all that Skit.

I guess you may be right. I have taken for granted the freedom to make my own choices that has been provided by Grant and ignored the difficulties that he has faced himself.."

Without hesitating any longer, Ally reached forward and grabbed the sword and tracksuit in front of her with a determined look on her face.

"I will take a page out of Grant's book and fight for those I love and my own happiness. I can not wither away in safety while everyone else risks their lives.

I have been weak and I have been naive. It will not continue to be that way though.

Now, get out of here Skit because you are more likely to grow skin than to see me change!"

Skit simply stood up while laughing before he walked towards the direction of the dungeon core room where he had been spending a lot of his time lately.

As he walked, he quietly chuckled to himself before whispering under his breathe, "You owe me one Grant, again."