Friday mornings on campus had a strange kind of hush. It felt like a sort of anticipatory quiet of a student body collectively trying to get through until the weekend. A last final push before Friday night at the bars.

  Alex stepped out of the Registrar’s Office and let the glass door swing shut behind him. Students shuffled down the hall brushing past him – backpacks, coffees, headphones, the usual school day migrating herds – but the whole scene felt muted.

  Maybe it was just him. Actually, it probably was just him. He let out a long breath and headed across the student center and thought about the conversation he had just had with the registrar:

  “All of your degree courses are offered remotely this semester, and next semester as well. From our end, switching to online is no problem. You’d just need to fill out the forms.”

  They sent the link to his school email.

  Remote classes. He could do them from the Alpha Base tunnels on Earth-3. From the staff lounge. He hadn’t spent any time down there the previous weekend, too busy, but they had a computer lab that was connected to the net back here on Earth 1. He could do it all there. Finish his degree. Between training sessions, between meditation, between dungeons and fighting and… everything else that waited for him over there.

  It had only been one weekend but he already knew that his future was probably on Earth-3. It wasn’t even much of a comparison.

  Earth meant three or four more years of software development classes, portfolio projects and maybe, when it was all done, a job in a game studio. A stable life. Predictable. Sensible. It would pay well and he’d enjoy the work.

  Or he could choose a future on Earth-3. A world of Mana, magic and monsters. An entire new world to explore. A future as an actual Mage in a world crackling with the sort of opportunity he’d only dreamed of, only read about, only played in campaigns on Thursday nights.

  Him. A battlemage.

  He exhaled long and slow through his nose.

  Nothing on Earth compared to that. Nothing could. Nothing. It was the sort of opportunity that he had dreamt about as pure fantasy through most of his life. But it wasn’t fantasy anymore. How could he not put all his focus into that?

  But then… there were his friends. Ryan was already on his way to Earth-3 in a few weeks, but everyone else? Could he just abandon them, and their show? Side Quest Heroes had been his main focus, his hobby and his side hustle, for years.

  The show. Their campaigns. Their inside jokes. Their routine.

  He wasn’t ready to walk away from all that. How do you just leave old friends and not tell them why?

  He couldn’t go… but he couldn’t stay, either.

  He turned into the hallway leading to The Outpost, the campus pub, watching students walk down the broad walkway out the windows. He loved this campus. He had been dreaming of University for years, and he’d only been here for a couple of months.

  Life was so strange sometimes. You couldn’t predict anything. But he also didn’t like sudden changes to his routine.

  He was meeting Jay and Ryan for lunch, which at The Outpost usually meant a table of nachos drowning in cheese or a burger and fries.

  He needed to shake off his heavy thoughts before he got there. The last thing he wanted was to walk in looking like he’d been contemplating the meaning of existence. Jay would start cracking jokes and Ryan would join right in.

  He took another deep breath, straightened his shoulders, fixed a smiling mask on his face and walked inside.

  It was dark inside, but his eyes adjusted as he walked around the sunken dance floor. The room was cool and quiet. Too cool. Like they always had the AC cranked so it wouldn’t get too hot when the place filled up at night.

  As he passed the bar he saw Jay’s massive frame dominating a booth up against the wall. The man was built like a brick wall had decided to start weightlifting. Ryan, on the other hand, was ordinary in all the best ways – normal height, normal build, vibes of someone who would help you move but complain about it the whole time.

  Between them there was a table so full it looked like a challenge. Nachos, wings, fried pickles, potato skins, something that may have once been mozzarella but was now purely cheese-based fried architecture. And a large jug of beer sweating on a tray.

  Alex snorted. “Hungry?”

  “Always.” Jay and Ryan said at the same time, and then laughed.

  Jay and Ryan are basically the same person, he thought, just… one comes in extra-large.

  Ryan raised his glass. “So, where the hell were you all morning? We didn’t see you at breakfast again.”

  Alex slid into the booth. “Just… that new routine I’m trying out.”

  Jay grinned, thinking about everything they had to deal with back on Earth-3. “Understatement of the year I think.”

  Ryan just raised an eyebrow. “That’s still hard for me to wrap my head around. You and ‘exercise routine’ in the same sentence!”

  “Hey,” Alex said, laughing, “I can evolve.”

  Jay slapped his shoulder hard enough to jolt the table. “Damn right! Dude’s been killing it.”

  Ryan looked between them, confused and amused. “Wait, what? Are you training together?”

  Alex reached for a wing, shrugged. “Yeah. I mean, I do morning meditation and staff practice. Then Wing Chun drills. But after that Jay drags me to the gym.”

  “Correction,” Jay said around a mouthful of nachos. “He voluntarily comes with me to the gym.”

  “That’s… actually true,” Alex admitted. Then, seeing Ryan’s look he said, “I know!”

  Ryan just blinked for a few moments, like someone had flipped his on/off switch and he needed a moment to reboot. “Okay, wow, you weren’t kidding. That’s a whole lifestyle shift.”

  “Apparently that’s what happens when you start doing kung fu before breakfast,” Alex said laughing.

  Ryan snorted. “Wing Chun’s kung fu’s cousin, right? Or like… the artsy version?”

  Alex grinned. “It’s close-quarters defense. I wanted to learn more techniques that work if something gets too close.”

  Ryan’s brow furrowed. “Too close? For what? Dude, it’s Dungeon Inc., they’re not actually throwing you into forests full of monsters. Or is it to fight off all those future fans?”

  Alex and Jay both raised their beers and took a drink in unintended synchronization.

  “So, uh, Ryan, looking forward to your turn on the show?”

  “I can’t wait,” Ryan answered. Fortunately he hadn’t noticed the dodge. He was too busy prying fried mozza from the pile. Conversation deflected. Crisis avoided.

  Alex sipped his beer and let the moment breathe. Jay and Ryan chatting and poking fun at each other… This was his anchor. His Earth-1 ‘normal’. His baseline reality.

  But then the other baseline reality drifted back into his mind: the forest on Earth-3, the air filled with mana, the pulse of energy when he was able to reach out and touch that energy. The ANIP. The faint shimmer he sometimes saw around people now.

  And Reach’s training. Weapons and mystery and…

  Ryan leaned forward suddenly, eyes wide. “Oh! Speaking of Dungeon Inc., did you guys see the new Dungeon Desk episode?”

  Alex’s stomach tightened. “No… not yet.”

  “They talked about the Forest Challenge. Your challenge.” Ryan pointed at both of them. “Dude, they’re crazy about it. Jay, they called you ‘the next fan-favorite tank.’ They have you going head to head with Marcus from the Fangs. Sorry Alex, they talked more about that blonde sorcerer on the other team than you”

  Alex blinked. “Yeah, Emily. She’s sort of the producer’s Golden Child I think. Everyone was fawning over her last weekend.”

  Jay slapped the table. “Hell yeah! I mean, I love Marcus and the Fangs, but I’m pretty sure I could take him!” They all laughed.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Ryan was nearly bouncing in his chair. “You two are practically famous already. My cousin texted me screenshots. Said he’s rooting for your team.”

  Jay sat up straighter, preening. “See? I told you. We’re gonna be legends. Of course, you and Alex were basically famous already thanks to your show.”

  Alex laughed weakly, dizzy at the idea. “Well, there’s famous and there’s FAMOUS. We were ‘little f’ famous,” he said with a gesture that included himself and Ryan.

  “So,” Ryan asked. “What’s the plan for your Forest Challenge? They change it up every season, but it’s always some sort of capture the flag event. What can you tell me?”

  “Nothing,” Alex said, and when he saw the look on Ryan’s face he added, “No, really. They haven’t told us anything. It was 100% training last weekend. Maybe tomorrow when we get back.”

  Ryan nodded. “I guess. You’re actors now, so just show up and do what you're told I suppose.”

  Jay tore through another wing. “Pretty much. They just throw us into everything you know?” He finished off his wing and got an intense look in his eyes, twirling the bone around in the air. “Dude. Imagine the fan club. We could get free merch!”

  Ryan pointed at Alex. “It looks like our Side Quest Heroes audience has already followed you on Herobook. I think you have the most followers out of everyone in the new cohort, even better than that Emily.”

  Jay laughed. “I bet that chaps Connors ass!”

  Alex couldn’t help but to smile at that thought. This whole thing still felt crazy and ridiculous. Amazing… and maybe a little terrifying. It was another good argument for staying on Earth-3, a whole universe away from legions of crazy fans that he can deal with from behind a screen instead.

  Jay took a long drink and sighed contentedly. “Man, this is so perfect. 3 months ago I was looking down the barrel of 4 more years of school and part-time jobs. Now I feel like we’re on the verge of ‘living like kings’. So to speak anyway.”

  Ryan smirked. “You two and your secret gig. I still can’t believe you get paid to LARP professionally. I can’t believe I’ll be there in a few weeks too! Damn, I should have just said yes and started with you, I hate waiting for this!”

  Alex coughed into his glass. Jay choked on a fry.

  Ryan frowned. “What?”

  They both waved it off quickly. Jay answered, “It’s nothing. Just don’t say LARPing to the producers.”

  But Alex’s thoughts snagged on the moment like fabric on a loose nail.

  LARP.

  That’s what it looked like to his friends. What it had looked like to him before he stepped through that portal.

  He swallowed, throat dry despite all the beer. He looked at his friends. One old, and the other brand new although it didn’t feel like it at all.

  Jay and Ryan, represented two entirely different worlds.

  Ryan was Earth-1:

  – Thursday night campaigns

  – Cheap beer and nachos

  – Group chats with too many memes

  – Midterms and job prospects

  – Normalcy

  Jay was Earth-3:

  – Sparring

  – Training

  – Super powered ANIP abilities

  – Group chats around the training yard

  – Adventuring and his future job

  – Stepping into the unknown

  But both of them were kind, generous and wonderful friends. Alex thought it was like watching his past and future share a plate of wings.

  Ryan nudged him. “Hey. You good? You look zoned out.”

  Alex blinked. “Yeah. Sorry. Just thinking.”

  “About what?”

  Alex hesitated.

  What could he really say? I’m thinking about switching to remote learning so I can disappear to a magical world where goblins and crab monsters and who knows what are real and hey, I maybe even might become a mage.

  He laughed. What can you say? “Just about… choices, I guess.”

  Jay nodded solemnly. Alex looked at him for a moment wondering if Jay was actually thinking about the same things.

  Instead Jay said, “like whether or not to get more wings!”

  “Deep choices.” Ryan laughed. “Seriously though, you’re okay right? I thought we would be partying all week, but we’ve barely seen you.”

  Alex ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. I’ve just been thinking a lot about what I want. Like… long term.”

  Jay quieted.

  Ryan looked confused. “No way you’re changing majors, what else is there? You’re not thinking about leaving the show already are you?”

  “No! Of course not. I love it so far.” Alex shook his head slowly. “It’s just… My life looks different now compared to a few months ago. A lot’s changed.”

  “Good changes, though,” Ryan said. “You seem happier. Healthier,” he said and flexed a muscle to make his point. “And Marissa was never really good for you, so you’re better off now.”

  Alex’s chest tightened. Ryan was right on every count of course. But it was all about what he didn’t know. And he hated not being able to tell him. He had never really kept any sort of secret from Ryan before. They knew each other too well. And for too long.

  Alive. That’s what he felt. For the first time in his life he felt really, really alive. Present. But on Earth-3. Not here.

  Jay tilted his head. “What’re you really worried about?”

  Alex stared at him.

  Jay wasn’t stupid – far from it. He liked to lean into the stupid barbarian routine for laughs, but beneath the jokes, he saw things. Like Ryan.

  Alex opened his mouth. Then closed it again.

  He couldn’t say anything in front of Ryan. Not yet.

  “Just juggling stuff,” he said softly. “Trying to figure out where I’m supposed to be.”

  He raised a glass and smiled. “Who knows, maybe I’ll run away from everything and go full actor.”

  Ryan raised his glass, but behind it he gave Alex a long look. “Wherever it is, man, you’ll figure it out. And in a few weeks, I’ll get there too!”

  They ate. They joked. They argued about whether pineapple belonged on pizza (Ryan: yes, Jay: no, Alex: depends on other toppings). They talked about games, teachers they hated, clips from past Side Quest Heroes sessions. And for a while, Alex just let himself enjoy it.

  Because when it was over he would still have that internal tug-of-war to contend with.

  Earth-1 felt familiar. Safe. Comfortable.

  Earth-3 felt vast. Dangerous. Beautiful. Exhilarating.

  There was no wrong answer really. Both were fine. But he felt like he’d been living in grayscale for years without realizing it. And now he’d seen color.

  How can you go back?

  When the table finally emptied and the last few fries went cold, Ryan leaned back and stretched. “So. What time does the bus pick you up?”

  “Yeah, 4” Alex said looking at the clock on his phone. “I still have Math class this afternoon though.”

  “Math today, fame next week! Dude, I swear, the next Dungeon Desk episode is totally gonna feature you. I’m calling it now.”

  Jay puffed his chest. “Us. Feature us. Don’t leave me out, man.”

  Ryan smirked. “Fine. Team You-Freaks-Are-Built-Different.”

  Jay toasted to that.

  Alex laughed again.

  Ryan stood first. “I gotta run to class. Are you heading over?”

  Alex shook his head. “No, I’ve got to run back to my room to switch out my books.”

  Ryan slung on his backpack and clapped Alex’s shoulder on the way out. “Hey. Whatever choices you’re stressing about… just remember you’ve got people here who’ve got your back.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  “AND,” he said loudly, “when I get some of that TV money, I’ll buy the lunches!”

  “I’ll hold you to that,” Jay said laughing.

  They watched Ryan head out. The pub felt a little quieter. Jay stayed behind, nursing the last of his beer and watching Alex with that annoying perceptiveness again.

  “You’re thinking too hard,” Jay said finally.

  “Probably,” Alex admitted with a smile. “I usually overthink everything.”

  Jay leaned forward. “Look. I bet you’re thinking about where you want to spend your time right?”

  Alex knew he looked surprised. Apparently he didn’t have much of a poker face.

  “I get it. We’re going to make more in a year on Dungeon Inc. than I will in 5 years after university. And that’s 4 years away. Every single thing about,” Jay leaned in close and whispered, “Earth-3,” then leaned back and continued as normal, “is fundamentally cooler and bigger and, I don’t know. Better than this.” He waved a hand around encompassing the pub, the university and life on Earth.

  “Just remember man, you don’t have to decide everything today. Relax, have fun. Enjoy the ride.”

  Alex stared at the table.

  Jay continued, “The future’s a big place. You can walk toward it without sprinting and the choices you make now can always be changed later.”

  Alex smiled slowly. “I thought you were the barbarian, not the wise sage.”

  Jay grinned. “I watched a documentary once or twice, and I love self help audiobooks! Motivating stuff.”

  Alex laughed and they stood to leave. As Alex pulled on his jacket, he thought about all the students on campus walking by right now – laughing, hurrying, living their ordinary Friday lives.

  Tomorrow, he’d step back into a different world. Back into mana and monsters and training.

  Back into a world that felt like destiny.

  Two worlds. Two futures.

  He was pretty sure he knew which one he was going to choose, but wasn’t ready to pull the plug just yet.

  ***

  I loved Dungeon Inc..

  I loved that it was so funny, and crazy. Bright, loud, and impossible.

  Getting hired by the show felt like a dream come true. For about three days. Then you learn the truth.

  The blades are real. The monsters are real. The wounds and blood and fear… All real. Being here has recontextualized everything. How am I supposed to feel about all those moments I laughed at sitting in the comfort of my living room. Moments when real people almost died to strange creatures. It’s not funny at all when you learn how real it all was.

  Does that make me a bad person? What does it say about us that everyone loves watching people get hurt fighting monsters? On the screen the camera just cuts to the next thing, but I’ve seen parties come back into the village covered in blood. Whether it was from them or something else doesn’t really matter.

  Either way it makes you question how this is entertainment, and whether or not you were na?ve to ever enjoy it in the first place.

  I can’t look at any of this the same way. This is real life now. Monsters are real and if someone doesn’t do something about them there are real consequences for innocent people in the villages and towns of this world. It’s no longer about spectacle – it’s about choice. About the quiet courage it takes to step forward knowing there is no safety net, no retakes, no guarantee you’ll be the one who walks back through the gate. It’s now about the people we are protecting.

  Personal Journal

  Side Quest Heroes

  Jay Holt; Barbarian