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

The day everything goes wrong.

Chapter 38.

The next thing I remember, I’m waking up in the soft glow of morning, light filtering through the curtains, tangled in the sheets with Lorien beside me. My heart skips as I realize our clothes from last night are scattered across the floor.

I blink, my mind groggy as I try to piece everything together. His steady breathing next to me pulls me back to reality, and I glance over at him. He looks calm and peaceful, his hair slightly messy, the faintest trace of a smile on his face even in sleep.

I stare up at the ceiling, my mind groggy and swimming with half-formed memories. I can barely remember how the night ended, I think, the details blurring together. But one thing stands out with embarrassing clarity: Kaida was right about the, uh, undergarments.

I glance at the scattered clothes on the floor and feel my face heat. Of course she was. She’s always right about these things, and she’ll never let me live it down if she finds out.

Next to me, Lorien shifts slightly, his steady breathing drawing my attention. His calm presence pulls me back to the moment, and I glance over at him. He’s lying on his side, watching me with that same gentle gaze that’s equal parts soothing and unnerving.

“Morning,” he says softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“Morning,” I mumble, my cheeks still burning.

His smile grows as he studies me for a moment. “You look like you’re deep in thought.”

“Just… trying to piece together how we got here,” I admit, waving vaguely at the room.

Lorien chuckles, his voice low and warm. “I remember enough to know it was a good night.”

His words make my heart skip, and I force myself to focus on something—anything—else. “Yeah, well,” I mutter, fiddling with the sheet, “Kaida’s probably going to have a field day if she finds out about any of this.”

“Kaida always has a field day,” he says lightly, his tone making it clear he doesn’t mind.

“From what I remember,” I say softly, my cheeks heating as a small, teasing smile tugs at my lips, “you rocked my world.”

The words slip out before I can overthink them, and I glance at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

Lorien’s faint smile widens into something more genuine, his calm eyes sparkling with warmth. He doesn’t say anything at first, but the way he looks at me sends my heart racing all over again. Then, without a word, he leans in and kisses me.

It’s slow and deliberate, like last night’s moments of quiet connection, but with a deeper intensity that makes my chest tighten. His hand brushes gently against my cheek, grounding me even as my mind feels like it’s spinning.

When he finally pulls back, his gaze locks on mine, steady and full of that same quiet warmth that always leaves me speechless.

“You have a way of leaving me speechless,” he says softly, his voice low and sincere.

I laugh nervously, brushing my hair back. “Good to know it’s mutual.”

He smiles faintly, leaning his forehead against mine for a moment. “You’re amazing, Artemis,” he says simply, his voice so steady and sincere it makes my chest ache.

“Right back at you,” I manage, still blushing as I pull the sheet up slightly.

In bed with a guy, naked again—who’d have thought? I think, my cheeks burning as I glance at Lorien, his calm expression making it impossible to look away. At least Kaida isn’t walking in this time.

The thought of her bursting through the door, her usual energy and teasing grin on full display, makes me cringe internally. I can almost hear her voice: “Oh, don’t mind me, just checking in on my favorite couple!”

“I think we should just stay in here and sleep more,” I say, letting out a soft sigh as I sink back into the pillow. The warmth of the bed, the soft light filtering through the curtains, and Lorien right here beside me—it’s hard to imagine wanting to leave.

He chuckles softly, his calm voice wrapping around me. “I wouldn’t argue with that.”

I glance over at him, a teasing smile tugging at my lips. “And maybe when we wake up… you locked the door, right?”

His faint smile widens slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. “I did. Don’t worry—no Kaida this time.”

Relief washes over me, but I still narrow my eyes at him. “You’re sure? Because I don’t think I could handle her walking in again. Once was more than enough.”

He nods, his tone light but reassuring. “I’m sure. No surprises.”

“Good,” I mumble, letting my head fall back against the pillow. My cheeks still burn faintly at the memory of Kaida barging in unannounced, but I push it aside, focusing on the calm and warmth of the moment.

Lorien shifts closer, his hand finding mine under the sheets, his touch steady and grounding as always. “Go back to sleep, Artemis,” he says softly, his voice carrying that soothing calm that makes it so easy to listen to him.

I close my eyes, letting out a quiet sigh as I relax against him. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

If I could stay in this moment forever, I think I just might.

A while later, we’re lying tangled in the sheets, both of us panting softly as the warmth of the room settles around us.

Lorien turns his head slightly to look at me, his faint smile returning as he catches his breath. “We should probably go to the others,” he says, his voice low and calm but carrying a hint of amusement.

“Mmmm,” I mumble, sinking deeper into the bed as I stretch lazily. “Maybe we should, but… I don’t know if I can move right now.”

He chuckles softly, the sound sending a pleasant warmth through me. “I didn’t think I wore you out that much,” he teases lightly, his hand brushing against mine.

I swat at him half-heartedly, my face heating. “You’re lucky I’m too tired to come up with a comeback.”

“Lucky,” he repeats, his faint smile widening.

I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment and letting the peaceful stillness of the room settle over us. “Kaida’s going to come pounding on the door eventually if we don’t show up, isn’t she?”

“Probably,” he says lightly, though he doesn’t make any move to get up either.

For now, we just stay where we are, the world outside the room feeling distant and unimportant. Let her knock, I think to myself, my lips curving into a small smile. This is worth every second.

A bit later, we finally pull ourselves out of bed and get dressed in our usual clothes, the ones we’re more comfortable moving and fighting in. The dress from last night is neatly folded on the small table by the bed, but my eyes keep drifting to the pile of stuffed animals and trinkets we somehow accumulated over the course of the night.

“What are we gonna do with these?” I ask, gesturing toward the pile. “The clothes, the animals… all of it. We don’t exactly have storage, and we can’t carry all this on missions or when we go to the Nexus.”

Lorien glances at the pile, his calm expression not betraying much, though I catch the faintest flicker of thought in his eyes. “We could leave them at the inn for now,” he says. “It’s not like we’ll need them out there.”

I frown, folding my arms. “Yeah, but what if we don’t come back here? Or what if something happens to them?”

His faint smile returns. “You’re really attached to that tiger, aren’t you?”

My cheeks heat instantly, and I look away. “That’s not the point! It’s just… they’re part of the night. It feels wrong to just leave them behind.”

Lorien steps closer, resting a hand lightly on my shoulder. “We’ll figure something out. Maybe we can rent storage at the guild or find somewhere safe in the city to keep them until we need them.”

I glance back at the pile, still uncertain. “You think the guild has storage?”

“It’s worth asking,” he says, his voice steady and reassuring. “We’ll take what we need for now and make sure the rest is safe. No sense dragging it all with us.”

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. He’s right, but I hate the idea of leaving anything behind. “Alright. Let’s check with the others and see what they think. I think Kaida’s already named all her stuff and will refuse to part with any of it.”

Lorien chuckles softly. “She does seem pretty attached to that dog.”

I shake my head, grabbing the tiger and holding it close for a moment. “Fine. Let’s figure out a plan. And if the guild doesn’t have storage, we’re not leaving them in some random inn.”

“Deal,” Lorien says, his faint smile widening slightly as he picks up the folded dresses. “Let’s go before Kaida busts down the door wondering where we’ve been.”

As Lorien opens the door, my eyes catch on the necklace from last night, still sitting on the table. For some reason, I hesitate, the faint glimmer of the green gemstone drawing my attention.

I don’t know why, but something about it feels important—like I shouldn’t just leave it behind. Without really thinking, I reach for it, fastening it around my neck. The cool chain settles against my skin, and the teardrop-shaped gemstone rests in the middle of my chest, clearly visible through the “window” of my tunic.

Lorien notices immediately, his gaze flicking to the necklace before meeting my eyes. His faint smile softens even further, and he tilts his head slightly. “It really does suit you,” he says simply, his voice low and warm.

I glance down at the necklace, my fingers brushing against the gemstone briefly before shrugging. “I don’t know why I grabbed it. It just felt… right.”

“It does,” he replies, his tone calm and steady.

I try to ignore the way his words make my chest tighten, picking up the stuffed tiger again as I turn toward the door. “Alright. Let’s go before Kaida starts a search party.”

He chuckles, holding the door open for me. “That wouldn’t be the strangest thing she’s done.”

“True,” I mutter, stepping out into the hallway. As we head toward the common area, the faint weight of the necklace against my chest feels grounding—like it’s supposed to be there. Maybe it is.

As we walk through the hallway, the thought suddenly strikes me. I wonder if they told Hrothgar about last night’s festivities already.

The image of him raising an eyebrow, maybe cracking one of his calm, knowing jokes, immediately pops into my head. He’d probably just shake his head and call us kids… or say something annoyingly wise about enjoying life while we can.

I glance at Lorien, who’s walking beside me, his expression calm but attentive as always. “You think Kaida and Veyron filled Hrothgar in on last night’s… adventures?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

Lorien chuckles softly. “If Kaida hasn’t already, she’s probably saving the entire recap for dramatic effect when we all meet up.”

“Of course she is,” I mutter, shaking my head. “She probably added extra details for the sake of her ‘story.’”

“She does have a flair for the dramatic,” Lorien agrees, his faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I sigh, gripping the stuffed tiger a little tighter. “Great. Just what we need—Kaida’s embellished version of everything we did last night.”

He glances at me, his smile widening just slightly. “Don’t worry. Hrothgar knows her well enough to take it all with a grain of salt.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he won’t give us a hard time about it,” I say, though I can’t help but smile a little.

As we reach the end of the hallway, I brace myself for whatever chaos might be waiting for us. Hopefully, Kaida hasn’t gone too far with her ‘version’ of the night.

We step into the common area, the faint hum of morning chatter from other travelers blending with the warm crackle of a fire in the hearth. Sure enough, Kaida and Veyron are already seated at a table near the corner, Kaida animatedly talking with her hands while Veyron leans back in his chair, smirking.

And sitting across from them, listening with an amused but skeptical expression, is Hrothgar.

I sigh quietly, already bracing myself. Here we go.

Kaida notices us first, her face lighting up as she waves dramatically. “Well, well, look who decided to join the land of the living!”

Veyron chuckles, tipping his chair forward and crossing his arms. “Guess the lovebirds survived their late night.”

My face burns instantly, and I glare at him. “It wasn’t that late,” I mutter, clutching the stuffed tiger closer to my chest.

Kaida smirks, leaning her chin on her hand. “Oh, don’t worry. We didn’t tell Hrothgar everything. Yet.”

Hrothgar raises an eyebrow, glancing between Lorien and me before shaking his head with a small smile. “Kids these days. Always full of surprises.”

Lorien’s calm demeanor doesn’t falter as he pulls out a chair for me, sitting down beside me without missing a beat. “Good morning, Hrothgar,” he says, his tone polite and steady.

“Morning,” Hrothgar replies, still smiling faintly. “Sounds like you all had quite the night.”

Kaida jumps in before anyone else can speak. “Oh, you have no idea! There were lanterns, dancing, games—we absolutely crushed it at the games by the way—and then there was the food!”

“And the wine,” Veyron adds with a smirk, glancing at me pointedly.

I groan, rubbing my temples. “Please tell me you’re not planning to give a play-by-play of everything we did.”

Kaida grins mischievously. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it. Just the highlights.”

Hrothgar chuckles, his deep voice carrying a warm, almost fatherly tone. “Sounds like you all needed a good night. Not every day has to be life-or-death, you know.”

“See? Hrothgar gets it,” Kaida says, leaning back triumphantly.

“Do you think they have aspirin?” Kaida asks suddenly, glancing around the common room with a squint like she’s searching for a hidden stash of modern medicine.

I blink at her, caught off guard. “Kaida, this is a medieval world. Aspirin doesn’t exist here.”

She groans, slumping dramatically in her chair. “Ugh, of course it doesn’t. How do these people deal with hangovers?”

Veyron smirks, sipping from his mug. “They don’t drink an entire tavern’s worth of wine, for starters.”

Kaida glares at him, her stuffed dog still tucked under her arm like a shield. “Oh, please. You were drinking too, mister ‘I can handle my alcohol.’”

“Yeah,” Veyron says, leaning back lazily, “but I can handle it. Unlike you, apparently.”

Hrothgar chuckles, shaking his head as he reaches for a piece of bread. “You’re in a world with healing potions, Kaida. I’m sure one of those would help if it’s really that bad.”

Kaida perks up at that, snapping her fingers. “Oh, good idea! We should restock.”

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Kaida, we’re not wasting a healing potion on your self-inflicted misery.”

“But—”

“No,” I say firmly, though I can’t help but smile a little at her antics.

Kaida groans again, slumping even further into her chair. “Fine. But if I die of a medieval hangover, I’m haunting all of you.”

Somehow, despite the fuzziness of last night, there’s only a slight buzz in my head, I think, sitting back in my chair and letting the warm smells of the common room ground me. I figured I’d feel way worse after all that wine and everything else… but it’s manageable.

I glance over at Kaida, who’s still grumbling dramatically about her hangover, clutching her stuffed dog like it’s the only thing keeping her alive. She’s definitely not faring as well.

“You sure you don’t need a potion, Kaida?” I ask dryly, a teasing smile tugging at my lips.

Her head snaps up, and she glares at me with bleary eyes. “Oh, now you’re offering? Real nice, Artemis. Real nice.”

Lorien chuckles softly beside me, his calm presence keeping me grounded. “I think she’s just impressed you made it through the night without needing one.”

Kaida groans, resting her forehead on the table. “Of course she’s fine. Artemis is secretly invincible or something.”

“Hardly,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “Maybe I just know my limits.”

Veyron snickers, raising an eyebrow at me. “Says the girl who looked like she was ready to pass out when we left.”

I glare at him. “I was tired, not drunk.”

“Sure,” he says, smirking as he leans back in his chair.

Hrothgar, who’s been quietly enjoying his breakfast, finally chimes in with a warm chuckle. “Sounds like some of us held up better than others. But maybe next time, Kaida, you’ll take it a little easier.”

Kaida mumbles something unintelligible, waving him off as she buries her face in her arms.

I glance at Lorien, who’s watching the scene with his usual calm amusement. He catches my eye and gives me a faint smile.

“So,” I say, leaning forward slightly. “What’s the budget damage?”

Kaida shifts uncomfortably, her face still half-buried in her arms. “Ten gold…” she mumbles quietly.

Veyron raises an eyebrow, sitting up a bit. “Only ten gold for the whole night? That’s amazing. Pretty crazy for all the food, drinks, and festivities.”

Kaida groans, barely lifting her head. “Ten left…”

“Oh.”

The word hangs in the air for a moment, and I let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of my nose. “So we burned through almost everything last night.”

Kaida lifts a hand weakly, waving it dismissively. “It was worth it. Look at all the memories we made!”

“Memories don’t buy potions or food,” I mutter, glancing at Lorien. “We’re going to have to take another job today, aren’t we?”

“Probably,” he says calmly, though his faint smile suggests he’s not too bothered.

Veyron sighs, leaning back in his chair. “Well, at least we had rooms.”

Hrothgar, ever the calm presence, nods as he finishes his food. “A good night like that doesn’t come free. You’ll make the gold back soon enough.”

Kaida finally lifts her head, a sheepish grin tugging at her lips. “Okay, okay. I’ll admit, maybe I got a little carried away. But we can always grab an easy mission to fix it, right?”

“Worse comes to worse, we can always sell Kaida,” I say, leaning back in my chair and smirking faintly.

Kaida’s head snaps up, her eyes wide with mock outrage. “Excuse me?!”

Veyron immediately snickers, clearly loving this. “Honestly, not a bad idea. She’s small, easily portable, and can probably fetch a decent price with all her ‘charms.’”

Kaida glares at him, crossing her arms. “You would say that, rogue boy. But I’ll have you know I am priceless.”

“Pricelessly expensive, maybe,” I mutter, earning a chuckle from Lorien.

Kaida gasps, dramatically clutching at her chest like I’d just insulted her entire existence. “Artemis! I thought we were best friends!”

“We are,” I say, smirking. “But if it comes down to food or you, I’m choosing food.”

“You suck,” Kaida says, pouting as she slumps back in her chair.

Hrothgar chuckles deeply, shaking his head. “You wouldn’t last five minutes without her. You’d miss her chaos too much.”

I sigh, rolling my eyes. “Fine. I guess we’ll keep her… for now.”

Kaida perks up immediately, her grin returning. “That’s more like it! Besides, you’d all be boring without me.”

“Maybe a little,” Lorien says lightly, his faint smile growing.

“Let’s head to the guild tower and check what options we have,” Hrothgar says.

I nod, standing up from the table and brushing a few crumbs off my tunic. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s hope there’s something worth taking.”

Kaida groans as she slowly gets to her feet, still clutching her stuffed dog under one arm like it’s her lifeline. “Ugh, work already? Can’t we just, like, find gold somewhere?”

Veyron raises an eyebrow at her, smirking. “That’s called stealing, Kaida.”

“Well, you’d be good at it!” she retorts, narrowing her eyes at him.

Lorien stands beside me, his calm presence as grounding as always. “Better to earn it than deal with the consequences of stealing,” he says lightly, glancing at Veyron with a faint smile.

Veyron shrugs, still grinning. “Hey, I wasn’t suggesting it. But it’s faster.”

Hrothgar chuckles, his deep voice steady as always. “Let’s stick with earning it, Veyron. No need to bring the city guard down on us again.”

I roll my eyes, heading toward the door. “The last thing we need is another incident. Let’s just get to the guild and see what’s available.”

The others fall in behind me, Kaida still grumbling softly as we step out into the sunlight.

Soon enough the building is looming over us, its towering stone and glass exterior glinting in the sunlight. Glowing symbols cover the walls, shifting faintly like they’re alive, pulsing with quiet energy.

Inside, the place is bustling—way more crowded than the last time we were here. People, or at least what look like people, fill the hall. Some are gathered in groups, others are scanning boards or talking with the guild staff.

Are they players like us, or just NPCs? I wonder, my eyes drifting over the crowd. It’s impossible to tell. They all seem so real…

The glowing job board catches my eye, the swirling light drawing me forward. Missions begin appearing on the small screen as we approach, the text glowing faintly.

Five options pop up:
1. Escort a Merchant Caravan - 50 Gold
2. Investigate Strange Noises in the Woods - 150 Gold
3. Retrieve Stolen Cargo from Bandits - 200 Gold
4. Clear a Goblin Camp Near the Mines - 300 Gold
5. High-Priority: Hunt Down a Rogue Sorcerer - 500 Gold

Kaida immediately leans closer, her eyes going wide. “Five hundred gold? That’s gotta be the one!”

Veyron snorts, crossing his arms. “Sure, if we feel like dying. High-priority missions aren’t exactly a walk in the park.”

Hrothgar strokes his beard thoughtfully, his gaze steady on the board. “The goblin camp would be tough, but manageable. Three hundred’s not bad for a group like ours.”

“We really haven’t done many actual missions,” I say, frowning at the glowing board. “But none of the options have been worth this much before. Even the lower ones are offering more gold than the highest we’ve seen. Isn’t that a little… suspicious?”

Kaida tilts her head, her expression thoughtful for once. “Maybe they improved the payouts because of player feedback?”

Veyron scoffs. “Or maybe we’ve just been here long enough that we’re getting better options. You know, like a ranking system or something.”

Hrothgar folds his arms, his brow furrowing slightly. “It could be, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to assume. If something’s changed, we should figure out why. Higher rewards usually mean higher risks.”

“Or a trap,” Veyron mutters, his tone low but sharp.

I glance at Lorien, who’s watching the board with his usual calm expression. “What do you think?” I ask him, curious if he’s noticing the same things I am.

He meets my gaze, his voice steady. “It’s possible the rewards scale with how long we’ve been here or how much progress we’ve made. But... Something feels… off.”

I nod, turning back to the board as unease prickles at the back of my mind. It’s hard to shake the feeling that this isn’t just about player progression or balance adjustments. Why now?

Kaida sighs dramatically, breaking the tension. “Well, if we’re going to overthink every mission, we’re never going to pick one. I say we just go for it! Five hundred gold sounds amazing.”

“Yeah, until we find out what makes it worth five hundred gold,” I mutter, still staring at the mission descriptions. Something about this doesn’t add up.

It’s almost like the game is ushering us to move on to the Nexus… but why? I think, my eyes narrowing slightly at the glowing job board. Why would it care?

I take a deep breath, forcing the thought aside. For now, I need to just focus on the here and now.

My gaze lands on the “Hunt Down a Rogue Sorcerer” mission. The title alone sends a small shiver down my spine, but curiosity gnaws at me. A rogue sorcerer… What exactly would that be? An evil one, or just someone not doing what the people in charge want?

I glance at the others, hoping for some insight. “What do you guys think a rogue sorcerer would be like?”

Kaida shrugs, leaning against the counter with an exaggerated yawn. “Probably some guy who got tired of working for the king or whatever and decided to go all ‘lone wolf’ on everyone.”

“Or someone dangerous enough to have a five-hundred gold bounty,” Veyron adds, his voice low and serious.

Hrothgar strokes his beard, his tone thoughtful. “Could be either. In a place like this, ‘rogue’ could mean anything—an outcast, someone refusing to follow the rules, or a true threat to the people.”

“Which means we won’t know until we’re already in the thick of it,” Lorien says calmly, his voice steady as always.

“Great,” I mutter, crossing my arms as I look back at the board. It could be a massive risk… or a massive payday. Or both.

Kaida nudges me lightly, her grin returning. “Come on, Artemis. We’ve faced worse things than one sorcerer, right?”

I hesitate, my mind racing as I weigh the risks. This mission could set us up for a while, but it could also be way beyond our capabilities.

“I still think the goblin camp,” Hrothgar says, his voice calm but firm. “I mean, goblins are supposed to be small, right? We can handle that.”

Veyron nods in agreement, crossing his arms. “I’m with him. Goblins sound manageable, and three hundred gold’s still a good payout.”

Kaida groans dramatically, throwing her hands in the air. “Oh, come on! A rogue sorcerer is way cooler. Imagine the magic, the danger, the—”

“The dying,” Veyron cuts in dryly.

Kaida glares at him. “You’re no fun.”

“I think whatever we choose,” I say, cutting through the bickering, “it should be one of those two. Either way, we’d get a lot of gold.”

“How about a vote?” Kaida says quickly, turning to the others. “Obviously, I want the wizard or sorcerer or whatever mission. What about you guys?”

“Goblins,” Hrothgar says without hesitation.

“Agreed,” Veyron adds. “Better the devil you know than the one you don’t.”

“Sorcerer,” Lorien says, his voice calm but firm.

The group falls silent, and all eyes turn to me.

“Okay,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “Guess it’s on me to pick.”

In the back of my mind, Shade’s voice hums smoothly. “Don’t I get a vote?”

I sigh internally, glancing away from the glowing board. You’re not exactly impartial, Shade.

“Oh, but I am,” he says, his tone full of faux sincerity. “I just want to see you succeed. And maybe have a little fun while you’re at it.”

Right. I sigh out loud, shaking my head slightly. “Let me think.”

Everyone watches me expectantly, and I feel the weight of the decision settle on my shoulders. Goblins or a sorcerer? Either way, we’re in for a challenge.

“Sorcerer is just one person, right?” I say aloud, glancing at the mission description again. “How hard can it be when we have our very own?”

Kaida grins immediately, puffing out her chest. “Exactly! With my magic, we’ve got the edge. A sorcerer doesn’t stand a chance against us.”

Veyron raises an eyebrow, his smirk sharp. “You mean your magic? The same magic that nearly burned me last time because you ‘misjudged’ the fireball?”

Kaida narrows her eyes at him, folding her arms. “That was one time, and you were the one who jumped into the wrong spot!”

Hrothgar chuckles, shaking his head. “One person or not, a rogue sorcerer is probably no pushover. If they’re worth five hundred gold, there’s a reason for it.”

Lorien’s calm voice cuts in before anyone else can argue. “It’s a risk, but it could be worth it if we plan carefully.” He looks at me, his steady gaze grounding me. “We can handle this if we work together.”

I glance at him, then back at the board. One person versus a group of five does sound manageable, I think, though the unease still lingers.

“Alright,” I say finally, turning back to the group. “Let’s take the rogue sorcerer mission. But only if we stick to a plan and don’t go rushing in blind.”

Kaida cheers immediately, while Veyron groans under his breath.

“Great,” he mutters. “Guess I’d better start preparing for fireballs.”

Hrothgar nods, his expression thoughtful. “It’s risky, but if we play it smart, we might be able to pull it off...”

“But there is one issue,” Hrothgar says, his deep voice steady but serious. “We still have no potions, which means no healing.”

I groan quietly, already feeling the weight of the mission settling heavier on my shoulders. “I knew last night was too much money,” I mutter, shaking my head.

Kaida frowns, looking a bit sheepish. “We’ve got some gold left, right? Maybe we can buy a couple? Or, you know, something?”

“Potions aren’t cheap,” Veyron says, crossing his arms. “It might get us one. Maybe.”

“And we also have no food,” Lorien adds, his calm voice cutting through the conversation. “If this mission takes longer than a day, we’ll need supplies.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to think. Great. A high-priority mission, no healing potions, no food, and barely any gold. What else can go wrong?

“We can’t go into a fight without at least some backup,” Hrothgar says. “Even if we don’t have a full stash, we need something.”

“What if we just…” Kaida trails off, biting her lip. “Took a quick side job? Just something small to scrape together enough gold for food and a couple potions?”

“We might not have the opportunity to make this much again,” I say quietly, glancing back at the glowing mission on the board. The payout is so tempting it almost hurts, but Hrothgar’s right—we’re completely unprepared.

“Great,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. No potions, no food, and a group that can’t agree on anything. Perfect.

“We could borrow some gold,” Veyron suggests casually, his tone almost too smooth.

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Really? Borrow?”

He shrugs, leaning lazily against the counter. “You got a better idea, fearless leader?”

I narrow my eyes at him, crossing my arms. “And how exactly do you plan on ‘borrowing’ gold in a place like this?”

His smirk widens, and I immediately feel a headache coming on. “Relax. There are plenty of people in this city with more gold than they need.”

“Ask, or pickpocket?” Hrothgar says, his voice carrying a warning edge.

Veyron grins. “Whatever works.”

Kaida perks up, her curiosity clearly piqued. “Well, technically it’s not stealing if we pay it back later, right?”

“Kaida!” I snap, glaring at her.

“What?” she says, throwing up her hands defensively. “I’m just saying, it’s an option!”

I sigh, glancing at Lorien for backup. As usual, he’s calm and steady, watching the conversation unfold with that faint, thoughtful expression. “It’s risky,” he says finally, his tone measured. “And we don’t know how people here would react if we got caught. It could make things worse.”

“Exactly,” I say, gesturing toward him.

Hrothgar shifts slightly, crossing his arms. “I mean, we did borrow stuff before when we needed to. And they’re not real people. Is it really stealing?”

I whip my head toward him, my eyes wide. “You guys can’t seriously be considering this!”

There’s a tense silence before Lorien speaks again. “I mean… if we’re careful. And if we take it from people who really don’t need it…”

I stare at him, stunned. “You too?”

His gaze meets mine, steady but soft. “I’m just saying, we’ve done what we had to before. This might be one of those times.”

My jaw tightens, and I glance at the group, their expressions a mixture of ‘practicality’ and hesitation.

My mind flashes back to what the knight had said to me, his cold, piercing gaze burning into mine.

“You think you’re so different,” he had said, his voice low and unyielding.

“I’ve done what I had to. Just as you’ll do what you have to, eventually.”

The words still unsettle me…

“Would you do anything different?”

I close my eyes briefly, shaking the memory off, but it lingers, biting at the edges of my mind. He acted like this world would strip me down, force me to become like him—willing to do anything to leave. Like eventually, I’d end up hunting others, justifying my actions to survive.

But he’s wrong.

I clench my fists at my sides, a quiet resolve settling into my chest. I’m not like that. I’d rather be stuck in this world forever than turn into someone like him.

Lorien’s voice breaks through my thoughts, calm and steady but unsettling all the same.

“Listen, we could just take what we need, right? This isn’t like the real world. We can’t have the same morals as there.”

My gaze snaps to him, my chest tightening.

“We’d just be stealing from an NPC,” he adds, his tone measured. “Just like you would when playing a game.”

Not real, right? I think, the words bouncing around in my head like an echo. That’s where I can draw the line, right?

I glance at the others, their faces a mix of uncertainty and quiet resolve. Hrothgar looks thoughtful but doesn’t argue, while Kaida fidgets, clearly trying to justify it to herself.

“Fine,” I say quietly, my voice sharper than I intend. I exhale, forcing myself to look at the glowing mission board again. “Everyone else clearly has made up their minds, and I’m not going to be the one forcing us to try to make it without proper supplies.”

Kaida perks up slightly, though her expression is still hesitant. “Really?”

I nod stiffly, not trusting myself to speak further. It’s just a game, I remind myself. They’re not real. This doesn’t make me like him.

Lorien steps closer, his gaze calm but searching as he speaks quietly enough for only me to hear. “It’s the right choice. I promise.”

I hope so, I think, but I don’t respond, my chest heavy as the group starts planning their “borrowed” gold.

“If the goal is to take from someone who doesn’t need it, there’s a pretty obvious choice,” Veyron says, leaning casually against the wall, a smug smirk playing on his face.

I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re not serious.”

He raises an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “I mean, the castle is bound to have enough, right?”

Kaida blinks, her eyes widening slightly as she looks between us. “Wait… you’re talking about the castle? The one in the center of the city?”

“Yes,” Veyron says smoothly, crossing his arms.

I groan, dragging a hand down my face. “The castle. The one surrounded by guards, including one you knocked out last time we were anywhere near it? That castle?”

“Details,” he says with a shrug, as if this is all perfectly reasonable.

Hrothgar folds his arms, his expression darkening. “You’re asking for trouble, Veyron. That’s not just risky—it’s reckless.”

“Reckless pays off if you’re smart about it,” Veyron counters.

“Smart?” I snap, stepping closer to him. “Do you even hear yourself? If we get caught, we’ll end up locked in some dungeon—or worse.”

Kaida glances nervously between us. “I mean, it’s not like he’s wrong about the castle being full of gold…”

“Kaida!” I snap, glaring at her.

She throws her hands up defensively. “I’m not saying it’s a good idea, but it’s not the worst idea either!”

Lorien’s calm voice cuts through the brewing argument. “If we’re going to consider this, we’d need a solid plan. No risks we can’t control, no unnecessary fighting.”

I whirl on him, my chest tightening. “You’re not agreeing with this, are you?”

“I’m saying if it’s our only option, we need to do it carefully,” he replies, his steady gaze meeting mine.

“This isn’t an option!” I say firmly, my voice rising slightly. “We are not breaking into a castle surrounded by guards for a few gold coins!”

“Would you rather risk the sorcerer mission without food or healing?” Veyron asks, his tone calm but challenging.

My breath catches, the weight of the decision pressing harder against me. Dammit.

“I mean, who else would we take from?” Veyron says, his smirk growing as he leans lazily against the counter. “Plus, it’s the moral choice. We’d be like Robin Hood.”

I stare at him, absolutely dumbfounded. “Robin Hood?”

He shrugs casually, like this is the most obvious solution in the world. “Stealing from the rich, giving to the poor—that’s us. We’re the poor. Makes sense, doesn’t it?”

Kaida snickers, clearly entertained. “I mean, he’s got a point. Technically, it’s not like the castle needs all that gold.”

“Oh, for crying out loud,” I groan, dragging a hand down my face. “We’re not Robin Hood, Veyron. This isn’t some noble cause—it’s just reckless and stupid.”

“Is it, though?” he counters, raising an eyebrow. “If no one gets hurt and we walk away with what we need, who’s really losing? They’ve got more than enough to spare.”

Hrothgar sighs deeply, his arms crossed as he looks between us. “It’s not just about the gold, Veyron. Breaking into a castle isn’t like picking a pocket. The risk isn’t worth it.”

Veyron shrugs again, clearly unbothered. “Only if you don’t know what you’re doing. Lucky for you guys, I do know what I’m doing.”

I glare at him, my frustration bubbling over. “You’re acting like this is a game, but if we mess this up, it’s not just gold on the line—it’s us! Do you seriously think the guards will let us walk out of there if we’re caught?”

Lorien’s voice, calm as ever, cuts in before Veyron can respond. “It’s not about being reckless. If we’re going to do something like this, it needs to be calculated.”

“Lorien!” I snap, whipping around to face him. “You can’t seriously be okay with this!”

“I’m not saying I’m okay with it,” he replies, meeting my gaze evenly. “But if we’re talking about stealing, the castle is the best option. It’s well-funded, and no one’s truly going to suffer if we take a little gold. That’s better than taking from someone who actually needs it.”

“That’s not the point!” I say, my voice rising slightly. “There has to be another way.”

Veyron smirks again, crossing his arms. “You don’t have to like it, Artemis. But you can’t argue it’s the best option. Morals intact, and we get what we need.”

I stare at him, my chest tightening as my mind races. Dammit, why does this feel like a lose-lose situation?

I sigh, crossing my arms and glaring at the glowing mission board for a moment longer before finally speaking. “Fine,” I say, my tone sharp and reluctant. “Let’s accept the mission first, and then… I guess we’ll check out the castle.”

Veyron grins, clearly pleased with himself. “Knew you’d come around.”

Kaida pumps her fist in the air. “Alright! Operation Robin Hood is a go!”

Hrothgar still looks hesitant, his arms crossed as he glances at me. “Are you sure about this, Artemis? You don’t have to agree to something you’re not comfortable with.”

I shake my head, forcing myself to stand straighter. “I’m not comfortable with any of this, but we can’t afford to take the mission without food or healing. If this is what we have to do…” I trail off, unwilling to finish the sentence.

Lorien watches me carefully, his calm gaze steady as always. “We’ll do it carefully,” he says quietly, like it’s meant to reassure me.

Carefully, I think, my stomach twisting. As if there’s a way to rob a castle ’carefully.’

I glance at the others, my voice firm despite the doubt gnawing at me. “Alright. Let’s focus on the mission first. After that, we’ll figure out exactly how we’re doing this.”

Veyron smirks. “Easy enough. We scope it out, we find what we need, and we’re gone before anyone even notices. Trust me.”

As the glowing mission board hums softly behind us, I can’t help but feel like we’re walking into something we’re not ready for. But there’s no turning back now.

I take the glowing paper that appears after we accept the mission and stash it securely in my pouch as we step out of the guild tower. The bright sunlight outside feels at odds with the knot of tension twisting in my chest.

As we walk further into the bustling streets, my eyes drift toward the castle, its towering peaks rising above the city skyline. The spires, made of glass or crystal, gleam brilliantly in the sunlight, reflecting it like scattered shards of a rainbow. It looks almost too perfect, too pristine—like a place you’re not supposed to even think about touching.

Except that’s exactly what we’re about to do.

I clench my fists at my sides, the knot in my stomach tightening. I can’t believe we’re doing this.

Kaida, walking beside me, seems oblivious to my inner turmoil as she chatters away about her ‘brilliant’ plan. “So, we just need to figure out where they keep the vault or the treasury. I mean, castles always have treasuries, right? It’s practically a rule.”

“You’ve been reading too many fantasy books,” Veyron says, smirking as he surveys the streets.

Hrothgar grunts, his expression as grim as I feel. “We shouldn’t be reckless. If this goes wrong, it could get ugly fast.”

Lorien walks quietly beside me. I can feel his gaze flick toward me occasionally, but I keep my eyes on the castle. The sunlight gleaming off its spires almost makes it seem untouchable, a distant thing we have no business going near.

But we’re going near it anyway.

“We need to find a safe way in,” Lorien says finally, his voice cutting through Kaida and Veyron’s back-and-forth. “Minimal risk. No unnecessary risks.”

“Define ‘unnecessary,’” Veyron quips, earning a sharp glare from me.

“Unnecessary means don’t get us killed,” I snap, my voice harsher than I intended.

The group falls quiet for a moment as we make our way through the streets, the castle looming ever larger in the distance. This has to work. It has to.

As we walk through the bustling streets, Lorien moves closer, his shoulder brushing against mine. He leans in slightly, his voice quiet and low.

“Are you mad at me?”

I glance at him, surprised. “What? What do you mean?”

“For not, y’know, backing you up… and agreeing,” he says, his tone steady but just a bit hesitant.

I sigh softly, looking away for a moment as I gather my thoughts. “I mean… I won’t lie, I’m a little annoyed,” I admit, glancing back at him. “But I don’t want you to just agree with me because I’m your…” I hesitate, my voice catching briefly before I continue. “…because I’m your girlfriend. We can disagree, right?”

Lorien blinks, staring at me blankly for a second as if my words just hit him. Then, a faint smile tugs at his lips, and his eyes soften in that familiar, steady way of his.

“So,” he says quietly, his tone almost teasing, “you’re my girlfriend.”

My face immediately burns, and I look away again, flustered. “I mean—well—you know what I meant!” I stammer, my heart racing.

He chuckles softly, his voice warm and calm. “I do. I just wanted to hear you say it.”

I groan, covering my face briefly with one hand. “You’re impossible.”

“Listen I’m serious, Artemis,” he says, his voice lowering again. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m against you. I just… want to make sure we’re making the right choices.”

I glance at him, his faint smile still there but his tone sincere. “I know,” I say, my voice softening. “We’ll figure this out together, okay?”

He nods, his hand brushing lightly against mine for just a moment before pulling back. “Together,” he says.

I look back toward the castle in the distance, my heart still racing. Yeah. Together.

“And you know,” Lorien says, his voice quieter but with a teasing edge, “you can call me your boyfriend if you want.” He smirks, the faintest hint of mischief in his otherwise calm demeanor.

I sigh, giving him a side-eye glance. “That’d make you happy, huh?”

“A little,” he says, his smirk widening ever so slightly.

I roll my eyes, feeling my cheeks heat up despite myself. “Fine,” I mutter, looking away for a moment before turning back to him. “Ok. You’re my boyfriend.”

The smirk softens into a small, genuine smile, and he looks at me like I just made his day. “Glad we cleared that up,” he says, his tone calm but warm.

“Yeah, yeah,” I mumble, brushing a loose strand of hair back and focusing on the road ahead. “Now let’s just survive this castle thing, boyfriend, before I start regretting it.”

“Don’t worry,” he says smoothly, his faint smile never fading. “I’ll make sure you don’t.”

I groan softly, though a small smile sneaks its way onto my face as I walk beside him. Why is it so hard to stay mad at him?

“Look at you,” Shade hums in that smooth, amused tone of his, “all official with Lorien and about to break into a castle. What a day for milestones.”

“Shut up,” I mutter internally, my face already heating.

“I mean, it’s cute, really. ‘Boyfriend’—so bold, so daring. Almost as daring as your plan to rob literal royalty.”

“It’s not my plan,” I snap back. “It’s everyone else’s plan, and I’m just… going along with it.”

“Sure, sure,” Shade says, the grin in his voice impossible to miss. “Keep telling yourself that. But don’t worry, Artemis. If the guards catch you, at least you can say you went down with your boyfriend.”

I grit my teeth, doing my best to ignore him as Lorien glances over at me. “You okay?” he asks, his calm voice breaking through my internal war.

“Fine,” I say quickly, managing a tight smile.

“Oh, you’re fine alright,” Shade quips. “You’re glowing, even. Must be the boyfriend effect.”

I shake my head slightly, focusing on the castle’s looming spires. “I swear, if you don’t shut up…”

“You’ll what?” Shade teases, his laughter echoing faintly in my mind. “You need me, Artemis. But I’ll give you some peace. For now.”

I sigh, the weight of everything settling on me again as his voice fades into the background. Just focus on the task ahead, I tell myself. You can deal with Shade later.

Shade’s been relatively quiet lately, I think as we approach the castle, the towering spires catching the light like crystal. Only popping in to poke fun at me and then leaving me alone. It’s… odd. He usually has more to say…

End of chapter 38.