A group of people wake up in video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

Chapter 44 Revelation.

Changing back to the previous posting time so last chapter was 12ish hours ago in case you missed it and don’t want spoilers!

The question gnaws at me as I walk.

Where are the others?

Last I saw, Kaida was locked up in a cell, same as me. Hrothgar, Lorien, and Veyron were sneaking around, trying to avoid getting caught.

But did they succeed?

Did they escape?

I clench my jaw, my pace quickening. I have no way of knowing. No way of contacting them.

If they got caught…

I don’t even want to think about it.

I grip the sword tighter, my mind racing.

If they’re still in the city, I’ll find them. If they were captured and thrown into some mine like I was, then I’ll figure out a way to get them out.

I have to.

But first—I need to get back.

By the time I finally reach Aeloria, it’s the middle of the night.

The city is quiet, the usual hustle and movement replaced by dimly lit streets and the occasional patrolman making their rounds.

I step through the South Gate, my body aching from the endless walking, but my mind is too restless to stop.

Where do I even look?

The city is massive—dozens of streets, countless buildings. They could be anywhere.

The inns seem like the most logical place to start. If they managed to escape, they might have gone back to the same one we stayed at before.

I take a breath, adjusting the stolen sword at my side. Alright. First, I check the inns. If they’re not there… I’ll figure something out.

I move forward into the quiet streets of Aeloria, hoping—praying—that I’ll find them soon.

After a bit of walking, I finally reach the inn we’d been staying at before everything fell apart.

The building looks the same—dimly lit, the faint glow of candles flickering through the windows. A few patrons sit outside, hunched over drinks, murmuring quietly among themselves.

I pause just before the entrance, my heart pounding a little harder than it should.

What if they’re not here?

Or they were here, but they’ve already left?

I shake the thought away and push the door open.

The warm scent of ale and cooked meat washes over me, a stark contrast to the cold air outside. The common room isn’t crowded—just a handful of late-night drinkers and the innkeeper wiping down the counter.

I scan the room quickly, my eyes flicking from table to table, looking for any sign of them.

Nothing.

My stomach sinks slightly, but I force myself to stay calm. The rooms. They could be upstairs.

I make my way toward the innkeeper, my voice low and steady. “Hey… I’m looking for some people. A big guy, a rogue, a spear-wielder, and a mage. They were staying here before. Are they still?”

The innkeeper eyes me for a second, then nods toward the stairs. “They’re still staying here. Last three rooms at the end of the hall.”

Relief crashes over me so hard I almost stagger.

I don’t waste another second—I head straight for the stairs, taking them two at a time.

I found them.

I try the first door, but it’s locked.

I knock softly, waiting.

No answer.

Frowning, I move to the second door. Same thing—locked, no response.

A pit starts forming in my stomach as I reach the third door. I grip the handle, expecting resistance, but—

It turns.

The door creaks open, revealing a dimly lit room.

Empty.

My breath catches as I take a step inside.

So familiar…

The bed, the furniture, the arrangement of the space—it’s the same room me and Lorien were sharing.

For a moment, I just stand there, letting it sink in.

The stuffed animals from the festival still sit neatly against the wall, untouched.

The dress Kaida forced me into—still laying neatly.

Everything from that night is still here.

Like a memory frozen in place.

I swallow hard, stepping further inside.

They were here.

So where are they now?

Maybe they’re out looking for me.

If they’re still staying here, that means they haven’t given up right? They didn’t head to the nexus or leave the game. Maybe they’ve been searching for me.

Maybe they’re out right now, and any second, one of them is going to walk through that door.

I should just check their location.

I reach for the nightstand, fingers hovering over the smooth wood as I pull up the menu.

Come on…

I try to open the party menu, hoping—praying—to see their locations pop up, to know where they are.

But—

Nothing happens.

The menu doesn’t appear. Not even a flicker.

My stomach drops.

“Looks like your idea of the game no longer considering you a player was right.”

Shade’s voice is smooth, unreadable, but the weight of his words hits like a hammer.

I stare at my empty hand, trying again—forcing it—like maybe I just did it wrong.

Still nothing.

I can’t open the menu.

I can’t access the party system.

I can’t even see anything at all.

It’s like… I don’t exist in the game anymore.

“It seems that potion not only made you the original you,” Shade continues, “but Artemis was the player. Not you.”

The words echo in my head, hollow and final.

Artemis was the player. Not me.

That means Alex—me—is just something else?

I sink onto the bed, my hands gripping the edge as the realization sets in.

I’m not just lost. I’m not just separated from the others.

I’m not even a player in the game anymore.

The thought hits me like a brick.

Does that mean I can’t even leave?

Before, everything was about getting out. The keys, the maps, the cost we’d have to pay—but it was always about escaping.

But if Artemis was the player, and I’m just… me, then…

Would the game even recognize me as someone who can leave?

A cold feeling settles in my chest, heavier than anything I’ve felt before.

“That’s a good question,” Shade muses, his voice unreadable. “If you’re not a player, then what happens when the others try and leave?”

I swallow hard.

They’d go home.

And I…

I might be stuck here forever.

Alone.

I grip my hands into fists, my breathing coming faster.

No. No. That can’t be right.

I’m still me. I still remember who I am. I still have my memories, my thoughts—this can’t be...

There has to be a way.

There’s always a way.

I just have to find it.

I freeze.

Footsteps.

They’re faint but getting closer, moving down the hall toward the room.

My heart jolts in my chest.

Is it them?

I stand up so fast the bed creaks beneath me. My pulse is pounding now, a mix of hope and fear twisting together.

The steps slow, stopping just outside the door.

For a moment, everything feels suspended.

Then—

The handle turns.

The handle turns, and I tense, every muscle in my body locking up as the door slowly creaks open.

Light from the hallway spills into the dim room, and for a second, I can’t breathe—because standing there, eyes widening in shock, is Lorien.

He freezes in the doorway, his hand still gripping the handle, like his brain hasn’t fully processed what he’s seeing yet.

“…Alex?” His voice is quiet, uncertain, like he’s afraid to believe it.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. My chest is too tight, my mind too scrambled, caught between the relief of seeing him and the fear of what he’ll say—what he’ll think—now that I’m not Artemis.

Lorien steps forward, his brows furrowing as his eyes scan over me. His hands curl into fists at his sides, his whole body tense.

“I—” My voice finally works, but I don’t even know what to say.

I didn’t plan for this.

I didn’t think about what comes next.

And then, suddenly—

Lorien moves.

Before I can react, his arms slam around me, crushing me into his chest.

I freeze.

Not because it’s unwelcome—but because it is. It’s so familiar it physically hurts.

He’s warm. He smells the same—the scent is burned into my memory from every single night we spent together.

“Where the hell have you been?” His voice is shaking.

I feel his grip tighten, his whole body rigid with tension.

I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to explain this.

But for now, I don’t move.

Because for the first time in what feels like forever—

I’m not alone.

I sit down with the others, the familiar faces I thought I might never see again.

The room is quiet except for my voice as I explain everything.

The potion and how it changed me back. The castle catching us. The prison mine, the endless days of breaking rocks and watching people waste away. The explosion, the collapse.

The players I met—and how they were planning to break someone out, escaping the journey back here… And the game maybe not knowing what I am anymore.

Through it all, they just listen.

Kaida sits forward, arms crossed tightly, her expression shifting between horror and barely contained frustration. Veyron looks like he’s processing every word, tapping a dagger against the table absently. Hrothgar just watches, nodding slowly now and then.

And Lorien…

He hasn’t taken his eyes off me once.

When I finally finish, the silence is heavy. No one speaks for a long moment, like they don’t even know where to start.

Then—

“You were in hell this whole time,” Kaida says, her voice quiet but filled with something sharp.

Hrothgar sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “Damn. And here we were thinking we had a rough time.”

Veyron leans back, resting an arm on the back of his chair. “And those players,” he says, eyes narrowing slightly. “Think they’ll actually come through?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “But they’re the best shot we’ve got without ‘sacrificing’ something. If they can help get the word out in the real world…”

Lorien finally speaks, his voice steady but quiet. “Then maybe someone will look for us.”

I nod, meeting his gaze. “Exactly.”

“What happened with you guys after they took me away?” I ask, looking between them.

Kaida exhales sharply, shaking her head. “After they took you, the guys found me and broke the lock.”

“We tried to get to you,” Hrothgar adds, his expression grim, “but by the time we got outside, they’d already gotten away with you.”

Lorien leans forward, resting his arms on his knees. “We’ve been searching for where they took you since. Scouring the city, searching the woods nearby… anything that might give us a clue.”

“We checked the party menu,” Kaida says, frowning. “But it just shows question marks where your location should be.”

I freeze. “…What?”

She nods. “And… It still shows you as Artemis.”

A chill runs down my spine.

I don’t even know what to say to that. The game still thinks I’m her? Even though I…

I glance down at my hands—at my body.

What does that even mean?

Lorien watches me carefully, his expression unreadable. “We thought maybe you were in some kind of hidden area or dungeon—something blocking us from seeing where you were.”

“But no,” I mutter, my mind racing. “It’s because I’m not Artemis anymore.”

Kaida shifts in her seat, arms crossed. “Yeah, and that’s another thing we need to figure out. Because this whole mess? It’s getting way too weird.”

I nod slowly. “Yeah… no kidding.”

A silence stretches between us, thick with unanswered questions.

I was already afraid I wouldn’t be able to leave. But now?

Now I don’t even know if the game knows what I am anymore.

Kaida shifts a bit, rubbing the back of her neck. “Oh, we uh… went back and got your bow and clothes,” she says. “But I don’t think they’d look quite right anymore.”

I blink. “You—wait, you actually went back for them?”

She shrugs like it’s no big deal, but I can tell it was. “Yeah, well. Seemed wrong to just leave them there.”

Lorien nods. “We figured you’d want them back. Even if…” He glances at me, his expression careful. “Even if things are… different now.”

I exhale slowly. “Yeah. Different is one way to put it.” I shake my head. “The bow won’t do me much good either.”

Kaida frowns. “What do you mean?”

I run a hand through my hair. “When that potion made me me again, well… it took all the abilities the game gave me away. No more acrobatics. No more bow skills.”

Veyron raises an eyebrow. “So what, you’re just… normal now?”

“Pretty much,” I mutter. “Just a guy with no skills in a world full of people who do have them.”

Kaida winces. “Damn. That’s—”

“—why I’d probably still be rotting in that mine if Shade hadn’t stuck around,” I cut in. “If he got erased too, I never would’ve made it out.”

The room falls quiet for a moment.

Lorien watches me, something unreadable in his expression. “…So it’s just you and him now?”

“Yeah,” I say, meeting his gaze. “Just me and him.”

And honestly?

That’s terrifying.

“Thanks,” Shade says, his voice dripping with amusement.

I roll my eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that,” I think.

“No, no, I’m serious,” he continues, and I can practically feel him grinning. “Thank you. I love being terrifying.”

Haha.

Kaida leans forward, resting her elbows on the table. “So, what now? We just pretend like you being normal and us still being, y’know, game people isn’t a big deal?”

I sigh, leaning back against the chair. “I don’t know. But we need to figure something out. Because if I don’t have the game’s advantages anymore, then I need to find some other way to keep up.”

Lorien watches me carefully, his expression unreadable. “You still have some experience, right? Even if it’s not enhanced by the game?”

“I mean, technically,” I admit. “But I can’t fight like I used to.”

Hrothgar folds his arms. “That just means you’ll need to learn to fight. I mean, even if you’re not great, maybe a bit of practice will help. And of course…” He glances at me, a small smirk forming. “Shade can help pick up the slack.”

I huff a small laugh. “Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

Shade hums in amusement. “See? Someone around here gets it.”

I shake my head, but deep down, I know Hrothgar’s right. If I don’t have the game’s boosts anymore, then I have to make up for it in other ways.

And if that means learning how to fight without assistance?

Then so be it.

“Why don’t you three go order some dinner downstairs? We should celebrate,” Kaida says, clapping her hands together.

Veyron raises an eyebrow. “What about you two?”

Kaida waves him off. “I just want to talk to my friend alone for a minute.”

The others exchange glances before nodding. Lorien hesitates for a second, his gaze lingering on me longer than the rest, but eventually, he follows them out the door.

As the room falls silent, I turn to Kaida, crossing my arms. “Alright… what’s this about?”

I exhale slowly, leaning back against the wall. I should’ve known she’d bring this up.

“I know this has probably been hard,” Kaida says, her voice softer than usual. “But how are you really doing? Not just with where you were, but… who you were. And who you are right now.”

She hesitates, studying me carefully before continuing. “I mean, being a guy again is kind of a big deal.”

I don’t answer right away.

Because, honestly? I don’t know how to answer.

I glance down at my hands—Alex’s hands. The ones I’ve had for my entire life. The ones I should be comfortable in.

And yet…

“I don’t know,” I finally admit. “It’s weird. I thought I’d be relieved to be myself again, but…” I trail off, shaking my head.

“But?” she presses.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “But it doesn’t feel the way I thought it would. It’s not like I hate it, but after being Artemis for so long… I just—”

Kaida watches me, waiting.

“I don’t know,” I repeat, quieter this time. “I guess I got used to it. To her.”

Kaida nods slowly, like she’s letting my words sink in. “So… if you had the choice, would you stay like this? Or go back?”

I look at her, my throat suddenly dry. Would I?

I have no idea.

And that scares me more than anything.

“I… I honestly don’t know anymore,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “But when we leave, it’s not like I could choose, so… does it really matter?”

Kaida frowns, tilting her head. “I mean… yeah. A bit.”

I sigh, rubbing my face. “Why? It’s not like it changes anything. When we get out of here, I’ll just be Alex again—permanently. Artemis won’t even exist anymore.”

Kaida crosses her arms, watching me carefully. “Yeah, but you will. And if this is messing with you, don’t you think that’s kinda important?”

I open my mouth to argue, but… I can’t. Because she’s right.

It is important.

I just don’t know what to do with that.

Kaida’s expression softens, her voice gentle but direct. “Have you ever thought about being trans?”

I blink at her, caught completely off guard. “I mean… no.” The answer comes out almost automatically, but even as I say it, doubt creeps in.

“I was never unhappy being a guy,” I continue, frowning as I try to put my feelings into words. “I never once thought about changing anything before all this. But now, it’s just… weird feeling.”

Kaida nods, waiting for me to keep going.

I take a slow breath, running a hand through my hair. “Like, I look at myself, and I know this is me. This is how I’ve always looked, how I should look. But after being Artemis for so long, it’s like… like there’s a part of me missing. Or like I got used to something and now I don’t know how to go back.”

Kaida is quiet for a moment before she tilts her head. “So… do you miss it?”

I hesitate, my stomach twisting. “I… don’t know.”

And that’s the part that scares me the most.

Kaida watches me carefully before asking, “Do you think it might be because of Lorien?”

My stomach twists, and I shift uncomfortably. “I… I don’t know.”

She doesn’t push, but she doesn’t look convinced either. “Do you still feel the same about him? Like this?”

I swallow hard, my fingers tightening into fists. “I—” I stop, trying to actually process the question instead of just reacting to it.

Do I?

Lorien and I… what we had—it was real. I know it was real. But that was when I was Artemis. When I looked at him, I felt safe. I felt right.

But now…

I think about the way he looked at me earlier. The way his gaze lingered for just a second longer than the others.

I exhale shakily. “I still care about him. A lot. But… I don’t know if it’s the same.”

Kaida nods slowly. “And does that scare you?”

I hesitate, then nod. “…Yeah.”

Because if I don’t feel the same now…

Then what does that say about who I was before?

I narrow my eyes at her. “Okay… we’re gonna try something.”

I shift in my seat, already suspicious. “What?”

Kaida just gives me a small, knowing smile. “Just trust me. Close your eyes, and listen to me closely. Don’t talk. Don’t try to think. Just be in the moment.”

I hesitate, but eventually, I sigh and do as she says. “Alright… fine.”

“Good,” she says softly. “Now… you’re back in the real world. Out of the game. No magic, no quests, no danger. Just… home.”

I exhale slowly, trying to let myself picture it.

“You’re with Lorien,” Kaida continues. “Sitting with him in a restaurant. It’s peaceful. Simple. Just the two of you.”

The image forms easily in my mind. Lorien sitting across from me, calm as ever, the soft clinking of silverware, the distant hum of conversation in the background.

“Look down,” Kaida says.

And I do.

And I see—

It’s her.

Artemis.

I’m Artemis.

My breath catches, and my stomach twists into knots.

I open my eyes abruptly, my heart pounding.

Kaida is watching me, her expression unreadable. “…So?”

I stare at her, struggling to find the words. “I—”

But I don’t have an answer.

Because I don’t know what this means.

And I don’t know if I’m ready to find out.

I run a hand through my hair, my mind racing. What kind of crap is this?

I spent a month trapped like that, wishing—practically begging—to be me again. To be Alex again.

And now I am.

And now I’m sitting here, wishing I was Artemis?

My stomach twists, and I press my fingers against my temple. Is that what I want? Who I want to be?

The thought alone makes my chest feel tight.

I don’t know what’s worse—the fact that I can’t answer that, or the fact that a part of me already knows.

I swallow hard, my fingers gripping the edge of the table.

Kaida’s voice is calm, but firm. “Which you was there?”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Because I know the answer. I saw the answer.

It wasn’t Alex sitting there with Lorien. It wasn’t the face I’ve had my whole life.

It was her.

I was Artemis.

I exhale shakily, leaning back, feeling like the weight of that realization is pressing down on my chest. “I… I don’t know what that means.”

Kaida watches me for a long moment, then tilts her head slightly. “I think you do.”

I shake my head quickly. “No. No, it’s just… I was like that for a long time. It makes sense my brain would just default to—”

“Would it?” she interrupts, raising an eyebrow. “Or is that just what you want to believe?”

I don’t answer. I can’t.

Because I don’t know.

Or maybe I do… and I just don’t want to admit it yet.

I feel my stomach twist, a cold, sinking sensation settling in my chest.

“You were gone for two months,” Kaida says, her voice softer now, but no less certain. “And you’ve been Alex again for two months. If there’s anyone you’d default to, it’d be him. Not you. Not Artemis.”

I open my mouth to argue, to push back against it, but nothing comes out.

Because she’s right.

I swallow hard. My hands feel clammy. My head spins.

That’s what I really want, isn’t it?

To be a girl.

To be her.

I feel sick.

I don’t know why.

Is it fear? Guilt? The fact that I spent so long trying to get back to who I thought I was, only to realize I might have had it wrong the whole time?

I press my fingers against my temple, breathing slow, trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling.

Kaida doesn’t say anything else. She just watches me, waiting.

Waiting for me to admit it.

Kaida’s voice is steady, unwavering. “Artemis is who you really are.”

A chill runs through me. I want to push back, to deny it, to fight it—

But then Shade speaks.

“She’s right.”

My breath catches.

Is it true?

Is that right?

I…

I try to say something, but the words catch in my throat. My whole body feels like it’s locking up, my heart pounding so hard it’s almost painful.

Just say it.

Say who you really are.

I close my eyes, inhale sharply—

And when I exhale, the words finally come.

“…I’m Artemis.”

The second I say it, my whole body feels lighter. Like I can finally breathe.

I open my eyes, and Kaida is smiling—not smug, not teasing, just… proud.

And for the first time since becoming Alex again…

I don’t feel lost.

I can feel myself crying a bit, the tears slipping down my face before I even realize they’re there.

Kaida’s expression softens, and she chuckles lightly. “Listen, we don’t live in the Stone Age anymore. Or, y’know, actual medieval times.” She gestures vaguely around us, smirking. “There are ways to make yourself how you want. You could transition. You could be a girl in the real world.”

The words hit me like a freight train.

I could be a girl in the real world.

Not just here. Not just in the game.

A shaky breath escapes me, and my hands tremble as I wipe my eyes. “I… I never even thought about that before all this.” My voice is barely above a whisper.

Kaida just nods, like she expected that. “Yeah. But now you have.”

I swallow hard. It’s so much. Too much. My whole world is shifting under me, and I don’t know whether to feel relieved or terrified.

Because now that I’ve said it, I can’t take it back.

“It’s—” I hesitate, swallowing hard, my hands still trembling slightly. “It feels weird admitting this. That it’s what I actually want.”

Kaida nods, giving me space to breathe before she speaks. “Yeah. But that doesn’t make it any less true.”

I exhale shakily, still trying to process everything, before the question slips out. “How long did you know?”

“That you were trans?” she asks, tilting her head.

I nod.

She hums thoughtfully, leaning back in her chair. “Well… I figured it out a bit quicker than you did.” There’s a teasing edge to her voice, but it’s warm, not mocking. “But I wasn’t sure if it was just the game messing with your head or something deeper. Not until—” she gestures vaguely at me, “—well, until you were Alex again. And you still felt that way.”

I blink, staring at her. “So… you really knew before I did.”

Kaida grins. “Oh, absolutely. You should’ve seen yourself today anytime someone called you Artemis.”

I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Oh my god.”

She laughs. “Don’t worry, it was adorable.”

I shake my head, but for the first time in weeks—maybe months—I don’t feel lost anymore.

Scared? Yeah. Confused? Definitely.

But lost?

No.

“Well, that’s another thing to look forward to when we get out of here,” Kaida says, grinning. “And don’t worry, I’ll be with you the whole time, supporting you like the amazing friend I am.”

I let out a small laugh, wiping the last of the tears from my face. “Does insurance cover that?”

She smirks. “I’m pretty sure suing the game company will cover it, but insurance should as well.”

I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head. “Yeah, we should probably go before they start thinking we got arrested again.”

Kaida grins. “I mean, technically only you got arrested.”

I shoot her a look, but she just laughs, standing up and stretching. “Come on, let’s not keep them waiting. I don’t want to deal with Lorien getting all broody and overprotective again.”

I roll my eyes but follow her toward the door. My heart still feels like it’s racing, but it’s different now.

I’m actually going to do this.

But first—Lyra. The castle. Everything else.

One step at a time.

I pause just as I’m about to open the door, turning as Kaida holds something out to me.

The necklace.

The one from the date. The small charm glints faintly in the dim light, and for a moment, I just stare at it. I’d forgotten about it completely, left it behind with everything else when in the castle before I—

When I became Alex again.

I swallow hard and take it from her gently, running my fingers over the familiar shape.

“Thank you,” I say quietly, my voice thick with something I can’t quite name.

Kaida smiles, not her usual smug grin, but something softer. “I’m your best friend. It’s my job.”

I let out a breathy laugh, shaking my head as I slip the necklace over my head.

It settles against my chest, hidden beneath my shirt. But I know it’s there.

A reminder.

I hesitate for a second before speaking. “If you don’t mind… I’d prefer to tell Lorien myself.”

Kaida gives me a knowing look, crossing her arms. “You always want to wait.”

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s not that. It’s just—” I pause, trying to find the right words. “This is huge. I need to do it on my terms.”

Kaida watches me for a moment, then shrugs. “Fine, fine. But you better actually do it.” She smirks. “Or I will.”

I groan. “You are the worst.”

“You love me.” She grins before pushing open the door. “Come on, before they start thinking we’re plotting something.”

I shake my head, letting out a small laugh as I follow her out.

As we step downstairs, the others are already waiting at the table. Hrothgar sits calmly, arms crossed, while Lorien watches the stairs, his expression unreadable. Veyron, on the other hand, is tapping his fingers against the table, clearly impatient.

“Finally,” Veyron sighs, leaning back in his chair. “I was this close to sending a search party.”

Kaida smirks, sliding into a chair. “Aw, you do care.”

“I care about not wasting time,” he shoots back. “Are we eating or planning, because I’d rather not do both at the same time.”

Lorien’s eyes meet mine, and for a brief second, it’s like he’s searching for something. I force myself to stay steady, offering a small nod as I take a seat.

“All good?” Hrothgar asks, glancing between me and Kaida.

I exhale slowly, nodding. “Yeah. We’re good.”

“For now,” Kaida mutters under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear. I shoot her a look, but she only grins.

Lorien doesn’t say anything, but I can feel his attention lingering on me. Like he knows there’s something more I’m not saying yet.

But that’s a conversation for later. Right now, we have bigger things to deal with.

“So,” I say, leaning forward, “let’s talk about our next move.”

Veyron groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Ugh, we already ordered. Can’t we just eat first?”

Kaida rolls her eyes. “It’s not even here yet. What, are you dying of starvation?”

Veyron gestures dramatically at the table. “Yes. Absolutely. Any second now, I’m just gonna keel over and die from sheer hunger.”

Hrothgar chuckles. “Now that I’d like to see.”

Kaida smirks. “Same.”

Lorien leans back slightly, watching them bicker with a small smirk before his gaze flicks back to me. He’s still waiting.

I shift slightly in my seat, clearing my throat. “Fine. We’ll eat first. But the second that foods gone, we talk strategy.”

“Deal,” Veyron says immediately.

Kaida shrugs. “Fair enough.”

Lorien doesn’t say anything, just gives me a small nod.

I exhale, leaning back in my chair. Fine. One normal meal.

Then, back to business.

After we finish eating, the conversation lulls for a moment. Everyone seems full, relaxed—at least, as much as we can be given everything going on.

Then Hrothgar clears his throat, his voice hesitant in a way I’m not used to. “So… what are we supposed to call you now?”

The table goes quiet.

I blink, caught off guard. “Uh… Alex or Artemis. Whatever’s fine.”

Kaida gives me a sharp look but doesn’t say anything—yet.

Lorien studies me carefully, his expression unreadable, but I can tell he’s waiting to see if that’s really how I feel.

Hrothgar nods slowly, rubbing his jaw. “Alright. Just wanted to check.”

Veyron leans back in his chair, smirking. “Still going to be fearless leader for me.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, forcing a small smirk. “Glad to hear some things never change.”

Kaida still hasn’t looked away. I know she’s holding back, waiting for me to say more. But not now. Not in front of everyone.

Instead, I push forward. “Alright, now that we’re all here and fed, let’s figure out our next move.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You guys clearly have money since you’ve been staying here and eating. I’m guessing you were able to grab some gold from the castle?”

Veyron leans back in his chair, a wide grin spreading across his face. “I’d say more than some. More like over a thousand.”

Kaida groans, pinching the bridge of her nose. “He hasn’t shut up about it since.”

Hrothgar shakes his head, though there’s an amused look in his eyes. “It was a good haul. More than enough to restock on supplies.”

Lorien, still watching me closely, finally speaks. “We were able to get out with enough to cover everything we need for a while.” He pauses. “When we thought we’d be bringing you back with it.”

The weight behind his words isn’t lost on me.

I force a small smile. “Well, I’m back now. And we do need the gold if we’re going to push forward.”

Veyron winks. “See? My professional skills finally being appreciated.”

Kaida smirks. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “Alright. So we’re covered financially. That’s one problem down. Now, let’s figure out the real plan.”

I glance around the table. “Do we still want to get upgraded gear? New weapons, maybe armor?”

Hrothgar nods immediately. “Yeah. No offense, but you especially need something if you’re gonna be in fights again. You don’t have the game’s boosts anymore.”

I exhale, rubbing my temple. He’s not wrong.

Lorien tilts his head slightly. “We should all take advantage of the gold while we have it. Better weapons, better armor—it could make the difference when we finally reach Lyra.”

Veyron smirks. “I guess I could get something new. Not that I need it.”

Kaida elbows him. “Right, because you’ve never been hit before.”

I shake my head, hiding a small smirk. “Alright, so upgrades it is. We should head to the market district first thing in the morning, then.”

Hrothgar leans back, crossing his arms. “That just leaves one more thing to figure out.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Which is?”

His expression turns serious. “What’s our next move after that? The sorcerer mission? The Nexus?”

The table goes quiet again.

Because that’s the real question, isn’t it?

“If we got that much gold—” I start.

“We?” Veyron interrupts, raising an eyebrow.

I roll my eyes. “Fine. If Veyron got that much gold, and we’re actually able to get all the gear, potions, and food we need for the trip… we might as well go straight to the Nexus.”

The table falls silent for a second as the weight of my words settles over us.

“That was the whole point of the sorcerer mission—to get more gold,” I continue, glancing between them. “But now? If we already have what we need, why waste time?”

Kaida leans back, tapping her fingers against the table. “So you’re saying screw the sorcerer, and we just go?”

Lorien nods slightly. “It would save time. We don’t know how long it’ll take to find Lyra once we get there.”

Hrothgar strokes his beard, considering. “It does make sense. But the Nexus is going to be dangerous. We’ll need to be at our best.”

Veyron twirls a dagger between his fingers, smirking. “Fine by me. Less work for the same goal.”

I exhale, leaning forward. “Then we focus on one thing tomorrow—prepping for the Nexus. No distractions, no extra missions. We get in, stock up, and go.”

Kaida lets out a low whistle. “Damn. Feels like everything’s actually happening now.”

Yeah. It really does.

I glance at Veyron. “Alright, how much do we actually have left?”

Veyron smirks, leaning back in his chair as he tosses a gold coin in the air and catches it. “After the lavish accommodations and all the food we’ve been eating? A little over four thousand gold.”

Kaida nearly chokes on her drink. “Four thousand?!”

Hrothgar lets out a low whistle. “Way more than we’ve ever had before.”

Lorien raises an eyebrow at Veyron. “You didn’t mention it was that much…”

Veyron shrugs, his smirk widening. “I told you I was good at what I do.”

I run a hand through my hair, trying to process the sheer amount. We’ve never had to worry about money before because we’ve never had any. Now, we’ve got more than enough to buy anything we need.

“This changes everything,” I say slowly. “We can actually afford good gear. High-tier potions. Enchanted weapons. Whatever we need to make sure we’re ready for the Nexus.”

Kaida grins. “So… shopping spree?”

Hrothgar chuckles. “Call it preparation.”

Lorien nods. “Then tomorrow, we make sure we have everything. No excuses, no shortcuts. We do this right.”

I exhale, nodding. “Agreed. We prepare, and then we go.”

I feel exhausted after the day I’ve had… or I guess months at this point. My body is aching, my head is spinning, and my thoughts are still a mess from everything Kaida made me confront earlier.

“Okay, I think it’s time for bed,” I say, standing up.

Lorien nods. “You can take that room. I’ll get another.”

I freeze for half a second.

It’s stupid. I get why he’s saying it.

But it still… Hurts.

It had felt natural sleeping next to him. Waking up next to him. Even after everything changed, I had still… I don’t know.

Or maybe… maybe he doesn’t feel the same anymore.

I force a small nod, trying not to let the sting show. “Oh, yeah. Uh, sure.”

He gives me a small, unreadable look before heading toward the innkeeper.

I exhale quietly and turn toward the room. It’s fine. It makes sense. It’s just one night.

I try to believe that.

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck as I step into the room. I mean, I’m a guy again—at least for now. I can’t really blame him.

That doesn’t make it hurt any less.

The warmth we had before—the ease of being close—it’s suddenly gone. Like something delicate that shattered the moment I became Alex again.

“He doesn’t know how you feel either,” Shade says, his voice slipping into my thoughts. “If you still feel the same. Let alone your plans for after all this.”

I sit on the edge of the bed, exhaling slowly.

Yeah. That’s the part that stings the most.

He doesn’t know.

And I don’t know how to tell him.

I run a hand over my jaw, feeling the roughness of the beard I’ve grown over the past couple of months. It’s weird—I’d never had one before, and now it just feels wrong.

“Think they have shaving kits here?” I say, chuckling softly.

“You could use the sword,” Shade offers.

I snort. “Yeah, I’m sure I wouldn’t cut my face off doing that.”

“Would make for a dramatic look.”

“Not exactly what I’m going for.”

For now, I just want to sleep.

I sit down on the bed, my body aching from exhaustion, from everything. My head feels heavy, my thoughts still spinning, but there’s nothing I can do about any of it right now.

I glance to the side and see it—sitting right next to me on the bed.

The stuffed tiger from the festival.

I sigh, picking it up, running a hand over the soft fabric. It’s silly, but just seeing it makes my chest feel tight. Like a reminder of something warm, something safe—something I’m scared I might have already lost.

I grip it a little tighter, exhaling slowly.

It’s almost over.

One way or another.

End of chapter 44.