f people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

Chapter 28 recap

“Oh, Kaida, here’s your… sash,” I say awkwardly, holding out the torn fabric to her.

Kaida blinks, taking it gingerly. Her eyes dart between the sash and me, her brow furrowed in confusion. “What happened to it?”

I glance away, rubbing the back of my neck. “He, uh… he tied me up with it. And then… well, he cut it off.”

Kaida stares at me for a moment before sighing, shaking her head. “Of course he did. Great. This was my favorite thing, you know.”

“Sorry,” I mumble, feeling a bit guilty.

“It’s not your fault,” she says, waving it off. “Not like you asked him to do that.”

Veyron smirks from where he’s leaning against a tree. “Wow, Artemis, first you borrow her sash, then you get it ruined. Real considerate of you. On top of everything else…”

“Not the time, Veyron,” Kaida snaps, glaring at him. “Seriously, learn to shut your mouth for once.”

Hrothgar chuckles, stepping between us. “Enough bickering. We’ve got bigger things to focus on.”

“Yeah,” I say, gripping the map tightly. “Let’s just keep moving. I’ll make it up to you later, Kaida.”

Kaida glances at the torn sash, then back at me with a small smile. “You’re already alive. That’s more than enough.”

Chapter 29

“Let’s get as far as we can,” Hrothgar says, his tone serious as he glances back toward the mountain. “In case he comes to find us.”

“Yeah,” I agree, pulling the map out and holding it up. The glowing arrow on its surface shifts slightly, pointing us forward, away from the mountain’s base. “Let’s see where this thing is leading us.”

“How far do you think this Nexus is?” Kaida asks.

“No idea,” I admit. “But judging by how everything else in this world is, I doubt it’s going to be a short walk.”

“Wonderful,” Veyron mutters, his sarcasm cutting through the tension. “Nothing like a long, ominous jog to keep us on edge.”

“Stay alert,” Hrothgar says, his hand resting on the hilt of his axe. “If the knight doesn’t come after us, something else might.”

I clutch my bow tightly, my eyes scanning the shadows between the trees. “Let’s hope we don’t have to find out...”

We set off again, the terrain leveling out as we leave the mountain’s rocky path behind. The air is still cold, but without the snow and wind, it’s easier to breathe at least.

That wasn’t the worst reaction I could’ve gotten. They’re definitely a bit peeved, but they seem to understand why I kept it all to myself at least...

Still… Shade is quiet. Too quiet. And I can’t help but feel this gnawing worry building in the pit of my stomach.

“Shade? Are you there?” I think, the words echoing in my mind.

Nothing.

“Come on… I told them everything. I trusted them, like you wanted me to. You don’t have to keep ignoring me.”

Still, there’s no response, but his presence is there—like always.

I sigh softly, trying not to let my worry show on my face as the group trudges forward through the dense forest. Maybe he’s still recovering from whatever happened with those creatures. Or maybe…

“Shade, please… I need you to say something. Anything. Are you okay?”

Again, silence.

I grit my teeth, my hand tightening around my bow. For all the times I wanted him to shut up, this feels worse than I ever expected.

“So, the arrow’s pointing toward the city for now,” Kaida says, glancing over my shoulder at the glowing map.

I nod. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean the entrance is there. It could just be where the path shifts again.”

“Or maybe the entrance is in the city,” Kaida suggests. “Like, underneath it or something like before. This Nexus place seems like the kind of thing you’d have to dig deep to find, right?”

“Maybe,” I say, frowning. “Or it could just as easily change direction before we even get there.”

“For all we know, it could be on the complete opposite side of the world,” Veyron says, his voice tinged with frustration.

Kaida turns to him with a raised brow. “Why would you even say that?”

He shrugs, kicking a small rock out of the way. “You know when this world was revealed to everyone in the trailers or whatever? They said the map was almost the size of the planet.”

“Are you serious?” I ask, my stomach sinking a little at the thought.

Veyron nods, a bit more solemnly than I expected. “Yeah. It’s huge. The biggest virtual world ever made. I didn’t think that would be a bad thing before we got stuck here, but now?” He shakes his head. “It just means a lot more ground to cover.”

Kaida groans, throwing her hands up. “That’s just fantastic. So we might be running across an entire world chasing this arrow?”

Hrothgar speaks up, his calm voice grounding us all. “No use worrying about what we can’t control. If the map says head toward the city, that’s what we do. One step at a time.”

“Yeah,” I say, my grip tightening on the map.

But inside, my mind is racing. If the Nexus really is on the opposite side of the world… how long could this take? How far will we have to go?

“I think we should definitely stop for supplies at the city either way,” Lorien says. “The food from the castle kind of got ruined by snow in the crash, and we’re still out of potions.”

“Which means we need money,” Hrothgar adds, his tone heavy.

“We could always try gambling,” Veyron says with a smirk, his voice way too casual.

Kaida groans, glaring at him. “Oh, sure, because that’s the most reliable way to get what we need. What’s next? You’re gonna suggest pickpocketing people?”

Veyron’s grin widens. “Not a bad backup plan.”

“Don’t even joke about that,” I snap, giving him a sharp look. “We need to find a real way to earn some gold, not dig ourselves into more trouble.”

Lorien steps in, his voice steady. “We could take on a small mission in the city. Something quick and simple that pays enough to resupply.”

“Simple?” Kaida snorts. “In this world? Nothing’s simple.”

“It’s better than Veyron losing everything we have on some bet,” I say, shaking my head.

“Hey,” Veyron says, pretending to look offended. “I’ve got great luck. You’d be surprised how well I could do.”

“We’ll pass,” Hrothgar says firmly. “Let’s just figure it out when we get there. Maybe we’ll find something easy enough to handle.”

I sigh, looking down at the map as the glowing arrow continues to guide us toward the city. “Fine. Let’s just get there first, and we’ll figure out what to do about money then.”

“And no gambling,” Kaida adds, pointing at Veyron.

“Fine, fine,” he says, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “You guys are no fun.”

I smirk a little, just loud enough for him to hear. “Your girlfriend won’t let you gamble anymore, huh?”

Veyron freezes mid-step, his usual confidence faltering. “She’s not—what are you even talking about?”

Kaida turns bright red, whipping around to glare at me. “Artemis!”

“What?” I say innocently, though the grin tugging at my lips gives me away.

Veyron sputters, clearly at a loss for words, while Kaida buries her face in her hands. “I hate you,” she mutters, her voice muffled.

Hrothgar, ever the peacemaker, chuckles. “Come on now, we’ve got more important things to focus on than embarrassing each other.”

“Speak for yourself,” I say with a grin, but I let it drop after a moment.

Kaida groans but finally drops her hands, glaring at me. “You better watch it, Artemis. I will get you back for this.”

“Oh, I’m shaking,” I say, holding up my hands in mock fear.

Veyron, still looking flustered, mutters, “Can we just get moving already?”

“After all the complaints about Kaida teasing you,” Lorien whispers, a smirk tugging at his lips.

I glance at him, raising an eyebrow. “It’s karma for her outing that we… slept together,” I whisper back, my cheeks heating up slightly at the memory.

Lorien chuckles softly, his voice low. “Fair point. But you didn’t exactly deny it either.”

I roll my eyes, nudging him lightly with my elbow. “I didn’t exactly get the chance to, did I? She announced it to the whole group.”

“And you just had to retaliate by stirring the pot with Veyron,” he teases, a playful glint in his eyes.

“What can I say?” I reply, smirking. “I’m not above a little payback.”

Kaida shoots a glance back at us, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “What are you two whispering about back there?”

“Nothing,” I say quickly, trying to suppress my grin.

Kaida gives me a look but doesn’t push it, turning her attention back to the path ahead.

Lorien leans closer again, his voice barely audible. “You’re terrible.”

I bite back a laugh. “You like it.”

Kaida glances back at me, a mischievous smile spreading across her face as she grabs Veyron’s hand. “If Veyron’s up for it, we could always double date,” she says, her tone dripping with fake sweetness as she stares directly at me.

Veyron, caught completely off guard, nearly trips over his own feet. “W-what? Double date? Who said anything about dating?”

Kaida squeezes his hand, clearly enjoying his flustered state. “Oh, come on, Veyron,” she says, her voice teasing. “It’d be fun! You, me, Artemis, and Lorien. Just one big, happy outing.”

I narrow my eyes at her, trying not to laugh. “Kaida, you’re really pushing your luck today.”

“Oh, am I?” she says, tilting her head innocently. “I think it’d be nice to do something normal for once. You know, after all the life-threatening danger and shadow hitchhikers.”

Lorien chuckles beside me, leaning in to whisper, “Sounds like her payback is here already. Enjoy it.”

“Great,” I mutter under my breath. “Just great.”

Meanwhile, Veyron is still sputtering, clearly unsure how to respond. “I—what? I didn’t—this isn’t—”

Kaida grins, looking far too pleased with herself. “Don’t worry, Veyron. I’ll handle all the planning.”

Hrothgar shakes his head,

“Wait, you’re serious?” I ask, staring at Kaida like she’s lost her mind.

“Why not?” she says with a playful shrug, looking far too amused by my reaction.

I scramble for an excuse, glancing around before blurting out, “Wha—I mean, what about Hrothgar? He’d feel left out!”

Hrothgar lets out a deep laugh, shaking his head. “Oh no, don’t drag me into this. I’m perfectly fine taking a break from all your guys’ romantic drama.”

Kaida smirks, clearly delighted by how flustered I’m getting. “See? No objections. So, double date it is!”

“Kaida—” I start, but she cuts me off, still holding Veyron’s hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Oh, relax, Artemis,” she says. “It’s not like I’m asking you to go get married. It’s just a date.”

Veyron finally manages to find his voice, pulling his hand away awkwardly. “You’re awfully confident for someone who just decided for me.”

Kaida leans closer to him, batting her lashes dramatically. “Oh, come on. Don’t act like you’re not interested.”

He clears his throat, looking away, but there’s the faintest hint of pink on his cheeks. “I didn’t say that, but…”

“But?” Kaida presses, her grin widening.

“Can we not do this right now?” Veyron mutters, clearly overwhelmed.

Lorien chuckles softly beside me, leaning close to whisper, “I think Kaida’s just outplayed you this time.”

“Yeah,” I mutter back. “I’m never teasing her again.”

“So you just decided we’re dating?” Veyron says quietly, his voice uncharacteristically subdued.

Kaida doesn’t miss a beat, leaning closer with a sly grin. “Why not? We both like each other, don’t we?” she says, her tone soft but teasing. “And, you know, we did kinda have an amazing morning together in your room yesterday. Why wouldn’t we?”

Veyron freezes, his face turning bright red as he glances around, clearly hoping no one else heard her. “Could you not say that so loudly?” he hisses, rubbing the back of his neck.

I smirk a little, trying not to laugh. “Looks like you’ve been officially claimed, Veyron.”

“Not helping, Artemis,” he mutters, shooting me a glare.

Kaida giggles, clearly enjoying how flustered he is. “Oh, relax. I’m just being honest.”

“Well, maybe you could be a little less honest,” Veyron mumbles, his usual confidence completely gone.

Lorien leans over to me, his voice low. “I think Veyron’s finally met his match.”

“Looks like it,” I whisper back, grinning.

Kaida tugs lightly on Veyron’s sleeve, her smile softening. “Hey, I’m not trying to embarrass you. I just… I like you, okay?”

Veyron leans closer to Kaida, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know we both kinda got outed for liking each other, but… I mean, dating for real? Is that what you want?”

Kaida’s teasing demeanor softens as she looks at him, her expression more serious. “Yeah,” she says quietly. “It is. I like you, Veyron. And… well, after everything we’ve been through together, why not?”

He stares at her for a moment, his usual cocky smirk nowhere to be seen. “You’re serious?”

Kaida nods, a small smile playing at her lips. “Completely.”

Veyron hesitates, his hand brushing against hers like he’s still deciding. Finally, he lets out a breath and nods. “Alright,” he says softly. “Then, yeah. Let’s do it.”

Kaida’s smile brightens, and she squeezes his hand gently. “Good. Because I wasn’t planning on letting you chicken out anyway.”

“Chicken out?” he mutters, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”

“But you love it,” she says with a wink.

Lorien nudges me lightly, leaning in to whisper, “Looks like it’s official.”

I roll my eyes but smile. Good for them.

Kaida spins around, pointing a finger at me and Lorien with a triumphant grin. “I can hear you, you know,” she says, her voice loud enough to make me wince. “And just for that? We’re going to find the nicest, most romantic place for that double date.”

“Oh, come on!” I groan, throwing my head back dramatically. “Don’t drag us into this!”

Lorien chuckles beside me, clearly amused. “You did kind of started it, Artemis.”

“Don’t encourage her,” I mutter, glaring at him before turning back to Kaida. “Fine, whatever, but if this is going to happen, you’re planning it. I refuse to take any responsibility.”

Kaida smirks, crossing her arms triumphantly. “Gladly. It’s going to be perfect.”

Veyron groans, rubbing his temples. “You’re really leaning into this, huh?”

Kaida looks up at him with a sweet, teasing smile. “Oh, absolutely. What’s the point of dating if you don’t make it fun?”

Hrothgar shakes his head, laughing. “Well, this should be entertaining, at least. I almost feel bad for you two.”

“Almost,” I repeat, shooting him a look.

Kaida winks at me before turning back to Veyron, her tone light and mischievous. “Get ready, because I’m pulling out all the stops for this one.”

“Oh, I’m thrilled,” Veyron mutters, though the faint smile on his lips betrays him.

My first date with Lorien… my first date with a guy… my first date ever. And apparently, teasing Kaida is the worst idea I’ve ever had because the last two times, she’s completely outplayed me.

First, she outed me sleeping with him—which was easily the most awkward moment of my life—and now she’s roped me into this ridiculous double date.

I do not feel ready for this. At all. Somehow this is worse than the reaction to Shade which I’d been dreading forever…

“Artemis?” Lorien’s voice pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts.

“Hmm?” I glance up at him, realizing I’ve been staring at the ground too long.

“You okay?” he asks, his expression soft.

I force a small smile, though my stomach is doing flips. “Yeah, just… trying to figure out how I got myself into this.”

Lorien chuckles, his hand brushing lightly against mine. “It’ll be fine. Just… think of it as a chance to relax for once.”

“Relax?” I say, raising an eyebrow. “With Kaida trying to turn this into some overly romantic spectacle? Sure.”

“You’re overthinking it,” he says, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “It’s just us. You and me.”

I look at him, and for a moment, his calm reassurance starts to ease the tightness in my chest. Maybe he’s right. Maybe this doesn’t have to be as terrifying as I’m making it out to be.

“Okay,” I mumble, trying to convince myself. “Just us.”

Kaida, as if sensing my tiny moment of peace, turns back with a mischievous grin. “Don’t worry, Artemis. I’ll make sure it’s the most memorable first date of your life.”

I groan internally. That’s what I’m afraid of.

A romantic night with Lorien… I think I could maybe handle that.

Veyron and Kaida being there too? Absolutely not.

I glance at Lorien, who seems way too calm about this whole situation, and then at Kaida, who’s practically skipping as she chats with Veyron about what “amazing ideas” she has for this so-called double date.

I groan quietly, already feeling the secondhand embarrassment creeping in. “I don’t think I can survive this.”

“You’ll be fine,” Lorien says, smiling slightly as he nudges me. “Just focus on us. Ignore whatever chaos they bring to the table.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” I mutter, folding my arms. “You weren’t the one who got out played twice by her.”

Lorien chuckles softly. “True. Maybe not twice. But hey, at least you know she approves.”

“That’s supposed to be comforting?” I shoot him a look.

He just shrugs, his expression calm and reassuring as always. “It’s not about them. Just remember that.”

“Easier said than done,” I mumble, but I can’t help the tiny smile tugging at my lips. Maybe this won’t be a total disaster.

Maybe.

Or…

“There’s just one problem, Kaida,” I say, cutting into her overly enthusiastic planning session. “We don’t have any gold. Unless you’re actually planning on letting Veyron gamble away the twelve pieces we have left.”

Kaida pauses mid-step, glancing back at me with a sheepish smile. “Okay, fair point. But… there’s always a way! We’ll figure something out.”

“Uh-huh,” I mutter, crossing my arms. “Because ‘figuring it out’ has worked so well for us before.”

Veyron chimes in with a smirk, flipping one of the gold coins between his fingers. “Hey, you say that like I wouldn’t win. You know, I am pretty good at cards.”

Kaida glares at him, snatching the coin from his hand. “You’re not gambling. Period.”

“Then what’s your plan?” Lorien asks, his tone calm but curious.

Kaida tilts her head, thinking for a moment. “We could do a quick job in the city. Something simple like you guys have said. No life-threatening monsters—just easy gold.”

Kaida turns to me with a wide smile, completely ignoring my obvious skepticism. “We had to do one for supplies anyway, so we can just pick something very slightly harder. You know, something that pays better!”

I stare at her, raising an eyebrow. “Your definition of ‘very slightly harder’ terrifies me.”

“Oh, come on,” she says, nudging me playfully. “We’ve faced monsters, dungeons, and knights. How bad could a simple supply run be?”

“Kaida, every time you say something like that, things get worse,” Lorien says, his voice calm but pointed.

Hrothgar nods in agreement. “We should stick to something small, just enough to get what we need. Nothing more.”

“Fine, fine,” Kaida says, waving her hand dismissively. “We’ll keep it simple. I promise.”

Veyron snorts. “Your promises don’t exactly inspire confidence, you know.”

Kaida glares at him but quickly softens, giving me another hopeful smile. “So, what do you think, Artemis? One little job, and we’ll be all set for the date of your dreams.”

I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. “If this somehow turns into a disaster, I’m blaming you.”

“Blame all you want,” Kaida says cheerfully. “You’re going to thank me when we’re eating something better than cave bread.”

“I won’t lie, I’m starving and thirsty too,” I say, glancing at the others as my stomach growls audibly. “Do you guys have any water left, or did you drink it all this morning while I was hiking down a mountain, nearly freezing to death?”

Kaida looks sheepish, pulling out her nearly empty waterskin. “Uh… there’s a little left. I was saving it in case we didn’t find more soon.”

Hrothgar holds out his own waterskin, which thankfully looks fuller. “Here, take mine. You need it more right now.”

“Thanks,” I say, taking it gratefully and drinking deeply. The cold water is like heaven after everything, even if it’s not much.

“You didn’t say you were starving too,” Lorien says, his brow furrowed with concern. “Why didn’t you mention it earlier?”

I shrug, handing the waterskin back to Hrothgar. “I didn’t really think about it.”

“Well, we’ll definitely need to find food as soon as we hit the city,” Kaida says. “We’re down to scraps. Unless anyone wants to forage for possibly poison berries?”

“Nope,” Veyron says flatly. “I’ll take my chances with Kaida’s ‘very slightly harder’ job over eating random plants.”

Kaida smirks. “Good choice.”

I roll my eyes. “Let’s just hope we don’t have to fight anyone for a loaf of bread.”

I yawn as we walk looking at the sun slowly moving across the sky.

“Map check!” Kaida shouts suddenly, breaking the silence.

I groan, pulling the map out of my pack again. “I know, Kaida. How many times do I need to check? Can’t you just trust me and let it go for once?”

Kaida shrugs, her grin far too smug. “I’m just making sure. Besides, you always have to hold the map. Basically the one time you didn’t—” her voice drops into a mutter, “—Veyron lost it.”

“Hey!” Veyron snaps, glaring at her. “That’s not fair. I didn’t lose it—I just… temporarily misplaced it.”

Kaida smirks. “Oh, yeah, because it magically ended up on the tavern floor, right?”

“I was carrying someone unconscious through the city!” Veyron shoots back. “Forgive me for not being able to hold everything perfectly while dragging Artemis to safety.”

“Guys,” I interrupt, holding up the map. “Let’s not do this again.”

I glance at it briefly, nodding. “Same direction. Assuming we keep moving at this pace, we should reach the city by tomorrow night, give or take.”

Kaida rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t trying to start a fight. I’m just saying I’m not the one who lost the map.”

“You’re unbelievable,” Veyron mutters under his breath, trudging ahead of us into the woods.

Lorien glances at me, a faint smirk on his lips. “You’re going to miss this when it’s gone.”

I let out a short laugh. “Oh, I’m sure.”

“Admit it,” he says, leaning closer. “You’d be bored if they didn’t argue all the time.”

I snort, shaking my head as we continue walking. “Sure, Lorien. Let’s call it ‘entertainment.’”

“You guys make me feel so old,” Hrothgar says, shaking his head as he trudges behind us. “You don’t even act like adults. You act more like teenagers.”

Kaida spins around, walking backward just to shoot him a look. “Hey! That’s unfair. I act plenty mature!”

“Sure,” Veyron cuts in with a smirk. “You’re the picture of maturity when you’re teasing everyone and starting arguments.”

Kaida crosses her arms. “It’s not my fault you’re so easy to mess with.”

Hrothgar sighs, running a hand down his face. “You’re proving my point.”

“Hey, at least we’re not fighting all the time,” I say, glancing back at him with a small smile. “Well, not all of us anyway.”

Lorien chuckles quietly next to me. “He’s not wrong, necessarily. We definitely don’t act like a group of responsible adults.”

“Speak for yourself,” Veyron says with mock indignation. “I’m always responsible.”

Kaida snorts. “Oh, yeah. Super responsible, Mr. ‘Let me gamble our last twelve coins away.’”

“That was a suggestion,” he retorts, throwing his hands up in defense.

Hrothgar just groans again. “Yep, kids. Definitely kids.”

“You’re not that much older than us, Hrothgar,” I point out.

“Maybe,” he says with a smirk. “But I’m actually married, have a kid on the way, and I’m stuck babysitting you lot. That’s a whole other level of life experience.”

Kaida pouts, but Veyron rolls his eyes. “If you’re gonna lecture us, at least wait until we’ve had some rest.”

End of chapter 29.

Next few chapters will be a bit calmer one might say a calm before the storm.