Here's Chapter 20.

Disclaimer: I have no ownership except over Lux, and his children.

[2nd Floor|Cavern Springs]

I looked upwards at the hole above us. I could faintly see the clouds all the way up there. Looking back down, I spotting several of my friends searching the springs for any hidden loot. I looked back up, and noticed a ledge, with a small trench. If I had a grapple I could create a way out... All I needed was a hook.

"Hey. Do any of you have a hook?" I asked. Several of the others stopped, and looked at each other confused. Finally after a minute, or so Laurent walked up carrying a two-pronged hook. I nodded my thanks, before taking out my [Rope]. I opened {Crafting}, making a scroll appear in smoke, and unravel itself. I placed the items in the floating scroll, and looked for the [Fuse] button. Instead of a button, there was black circle next to a line.

I gazed at the circle confused, before remembering something from Naruto. I tapped the circle with a finger, confirming that the circle was actually ink. I then drew a thick line on the line, and blinked when the scroll began glowing. Several moments passed before the glowing faded, leaving me holding a grapple.

[Grapple] A hook attached to a long rope. Used mainly for scaling walls, or getting to high places.

[Type] Tool

[Rarity] D+

[Value] S 3

I glanced down at the tool in my hand, before glancing at the others. Besides the Old Shepherds who were used to this, the New Shepherds, as in the children were looking at me in awe, specifically Laurent if his scribbling in his notebook meant anything.

I began swinging the grapple, aiming for the ledge, and threw. It missed, so I had to try again. It took four times, but I finally got the grapple onto the ledge. After pulling it a bit, and getting a satisfying resistance, I began climbing. I heard several grunts of questioning from the others, but relaxed when they saw what I was trying to do.

After pulling myself up to the ledge, I began searching around once more. Seeing as there were no more ledges, or rocks to climb upon, I decided to create some. I got ready to create several runes, and drew Лестница on the wall. I activated, and marveled at how several plank-like stone tiles sprouted from the wall, circling upwards. I whistled to the others, pointing up to the sky.

Everyone stared for a moment, before acting. Severa was the first one up, and I held a hand to pull her up. Once she got up, she proceeded to go up the stairs. I continued pulling up my friends, until only Chrom was left. I pulled with all my might, but I couldn't do it.

"...What did you eat Chrom?" I asked, staring down at him. He stared back lost in thought.

"... I ate a whole bear." He answered. I nodded, before letting go, leaving him hanging. I began climbing the stairs, ignoring Chrom's cries for help. Once I made it to the top, I heard several grunts underneath me, and gazed down to find Chrom making it up the ledge. Using [Wide Sweep] I collected the [Grapple], and looked back up, and around. The village where the cave was, was about a mile away. For some odd reason, the kids were all gazing at a stump in shock. I walked over curious, and found a very curious sight.

Carved into the stump was a arrow, pointing towards the village. I noticed the sun going down, and looked towards everyone.

"Alright. We're all out. Let's head back to the town." I said. Everyone voiced their agreements, as we began moving. As the sun lowered, the town began emitting a strange glow. We stopped several yards in front of the town, and watched in both shock, and amazement as it slowly began to disappear. Once the moon was shining down on us, the place the town was just a few moments before, was left barren.

"... Do you think this adventure was just part of our imagination?" Rob asked. The rest of the group moved to agree but...

"You Fool! If Our Imagination, Then What Is This?!" I yelled forcing my hand into Chrom's pants, making him yelp in surprise. Everyone stared as I tried to pull something out of his pants, with him trying to stop me. Finally I succeeded. Victoriously holding out the mirage scroll in my hand into the air, I struck a dramatic pose.

Chrom sulked away from the group clutching his crotch.

"...I've been violated." He muttered making everyone laugh. After a while of joking around, we returned to Southtown.

Once we had returned to the town, I had quickly separated from the others, heading to the local tailor. Entering the shop, I was greeted with an old couple.

"Ah, I welcome my lord to our humble shop." The old woman said. Her husband sat several feet away, holding a sewing needle, as he mended a tear in a tunic.

"How can we be of service?" The old woman asked. I blinked at the skill, as the old man nimbly fixed the tunic in several moments. Quickly averting my attention, I turned to the old woman who waited patiently.

"Yes. I was hoping that you could create clothing like this, and mass-produce it. Around four hundred." I said, pulling out a scroll. Unraveling it, I revealed the picture. It was a person wearing a simple white faceless mask, and wearing a black cloak, one that covered their body leaving only the hands visible. The old woman hummed for a minute, before snapping her fingers.

"We can do that. It will take a month, but we'll have it finished by then." She offered. I nodded, before moving to pull out some money. I held out a pair of [Gold Coin], and handed them to the couple, gaining appreciative smiles from them. I turned to leave, but froze when I remembered something.

"By the way, do you sell gloves?" I asked.

I soon arrived back at the manor, seven [Silver Coin] poorer, but several hundred pairs of [White Gloves] richer. Opening the door, I entered. The first thing I saw was Kellam on his back, trying to get up, but failing. Above him, Vaike was laughing victoriously. To the side, Robin, and Frederick watched. Walking over to them, I stood by their side, and watched with them.

"... So? What happened?" I asked.

"Vaike managed to get Kellam off balance." Robin answered instantly. She then shivered. I turned, and also shivered, when I noticed Tharja hiding behind one of the door frames... I turned away, and stared at the scene in front of me, hoping to rid myself of that terrifying image. Remembering something, I took out the scroll, that mirage had given us.

The scroll itself had a eastern design, with a ripple of blue occasionally traveling through the designs. Storing the scroll away, I decided to head to the kitchen. Opening the door, I was given witness with Chrom attempting to cook with Lucina helping. I stood at the doorway, watching the two fail at boiling water, making it catch fire somehow. Coughing, I quickly gained their attention.

"What're you doing?" I asked. Chrom just stared, while Lucina looked like a deer in the headlights. Chrom slowly placed the lid on the pot, before walking forward. Placing both hands n my shoulder, he gave me a serious look.

"You. Saw. Nothing." He said, before walking off. Lucina instantly blitzed towards the small opening left by Chrom, only to fail, as my hand clamped around her waist, stopping her in her place.

"And where do you think, your going?" I asked, as I dragged her over to the pot. She had a defeated look, as I opened the lid, revealing the burning water, as it raged. I turned to Lucina, who looked up with a look akin to a kicked puppy.

"You realize, that since your dad isn't here, your taking the full blame right?" I asked. Her look turned to immense sorrow, as I began a lecture, about the procedure to cooking with water.

[2 Hours later]

"Understand?" I asked left finger held up. Lucina sat in front of me, nodding attentively, as she wrote on a piece of parchment. Unlike her father, she was very scholarly, being more of a learner, than a fighter. When I mentioned this, she told me how during the rare free time she had, she would always catch up on reading, and anything related to learning. When she, and the others had come back through time, she had almost immediately gone to a library, only restraining herself to help her us when we were in the forest fighting Risen.

I heard a knock on the door, and I grunted. The door opened, and Stahl came in. He looked around the kitchen, before settling on me. Opening his mouth, he spoke.

"Lux! There's A Risen Wearing A Monocle In Your Basement!" He cried worried. While Lucina had a surprised, but battle-ready look, I held up a hand.

"Ah, Jeffery? Don't worry about him." I said calmly. The two gave me incredulous looks. I smiled, as I explained.

"I met the Risen, when he tried to bite my hand off. I beat him to the inch of his undead life, before stopping. After several more attempts, and a equal amounts of beating, I had successfully tamed the beast. I have learned a great amount of information from the guy. I also found out he likes raw goat." I said, scratching my chin thoughtfully.

"You learned about the Risen, from a Risen?" Stahl asked slowly, trying to come to terms with what I said. I nodded.

"Yep. When you get past the grunting, growls, and groans, Jeffery's not a bad guy. He's just constantly hungry, and has an eternal headache." I mentioned, as I pulled out a plate. I then pulled open the freezer, located in the ground, pulling out a raw goat leg.

"He's pretty docile when's he fed. It usually takes him a month to get through a goat leg, so I know what I'm doing. Speaking of which, could one of you feed him? Just place the leg in front of him, and he'll leave you be. He speaks like a gentleman while speaking." I said to them. They just stared.

"..." Stahl stared.

"..." Lucina stared.

"..." I stared.

"..." Stahl still stared.

"...Okay..." Lucina agreed.

"..." I gave her an appreciative smile.

"..." Stahl gave her a shocked stare. I clapped my hands together.

"Okay. Let's go feed my pet Risen then." I said, as I walked out the kitchen, followed by a determined Lucina, and a reluctant Stahl.

The moment I walked down the basement, I was given witness to Jeffery being threatened by dozens of weapons, and a handful of spells. Taking the plate from Lucina, I walked forward, waving away at the weapons, & spells.

"What's wrong with you guys?" I asked frowning. Frederick walked forward looking at me with a frown.

"Sir Lux. This foul thing will kill you, with your back turned." He said. I lifted an eyebrow, before placing the plate of raw goat in front of the Risen. Said Risen immediately pounced on the meat, nibbling on it. Rolling my eyes at the others stunned faces, I turned, and plopped myself down in front of the Risen.

"So? How was your month Jeffery?" I asked. The Risen stopped nibbling for a moment.

"...Well enough, I suppose." The Risen spoke, a deep tone resonating through the room. I heard several gasps behind me. I turned, and looked at everyone's gaped mouths.

"What? Never expected to see a talking Risen?" I asked.

Done.

Not as long as my others, but I hoped you enjoy.

Sorry for not updating for some time. Anyways I'll see you all next time.

Note: I hadn't updated because... School.

If you expected for some action, then well... Wait for several more chapters. I have a few more things to lay out before I get to the Valm Arc.

Anyways, meet the monocle-wearing Risen named Jeffery. He's not an actually character, he's just there for comedic purposes.