The Free Company house had grown quiet by the time Kaiden and Naō returned. Candle-glow lanterns cast long shadows across the polished obsidian floor tiles, and the chiming sound of a distant wind harp filtered in through the open windows. It was in-game night, safe hours from the devastation of the monsters, but Kaiden still felt the aftereffects of something crawling under his skin.

  They passed two players in the lounge area. A pair of crafters arguing over potion recipes. One of them waved to them in greeting, having seen them the other day.

  “Yo, Nyte, right? Welcome back. Crow mentioned the tournament to you guys. You going to run?”

  Kaiden nodded, managing a smirk. “Yeah. Just resting up before we head out.”

  Naō offered a short nod, and the two players returned to their chatter, oblivious to what they had experienced. CrimsonCrow was waiting in the side chamber, relaxed with one leg propped on the table and a piece of jerky halfway to his mouth. He looked up as they entered.

  “Well, look who made it back from the depths. How’d it go, find something gross and glowy?”

  Kaiden dropped onto the couch beside him. “Close enough.”

  Naō did the same, arms spread out, exhausted.

  Crow tossed the rest of his snack aside. “You guys actually surprised me. You’ve come farther than most new players do in their first few weeks.”

  Kaiden scratched his neck. “This game doesn’t let up. But... thanks. We’ve been pushing.”

  “I can tell. You’re both getting sharp,” Crow said. Then, quieter, “I think... Alex would have been proud you toughed this out.”

  Kaiden looked up slowly. A mere silence stretched between them for a few seconds.

  Then Kaiden asked, “What happened to the rest of the group? The others who were in Alex’s group?”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Crow sat up straighter. “Some of them took time off. Others just drifted. I get it, dying like that? No one expected Alex to have any crippling disease.”

  Kaiden studied his face. From Crow’s glum expression and lidded eyes, he looked like he was going through some inner turmoil.

  “They’re good people,” Crow added. “They were as shaken up as anyone. You’d never expect your friend to just be there one second, and gone the next.”

  Kaiden nodded slowly. He didn’t really know what else to say.

  Later, Kaiden stepped into one of the spare rooms of the FC house. It was smaller than the others, with a cot, an equipment chest, and a wide view of the Cindralis’ skyline, the stars visible.

  He didn’t log out yet.

  Instead, he sat on the edge of the cot, HUD open before him. The Photosphere sat in its slot, but nothing happened. At least, not what he had expected or wanted.

  He exhaled and leaned back. Outside, the world clock ticked closer to morning.

  A private message from his real-world phone, synced via the external overlay, pinged:

  “Hi, baby. Hope everything’s good, all things considered. Your sister misses you. Let us know when you’re coming in so we can pick you up.”

  Love, Mom

  Kaiden stared at it for a second longer than he meant to, then closed the window. Visiting home would mean facing more of the real world: Alex’s mysterious death, his failing grades. He didn’t want to come to terms with either of that.

  For now, he wouldn’t.

  ???°?°???

  Kaiden logged in early. Naō was already equipped and outside the lounge, adjusting his satchel straps.

  CrimsonCrow greeted them as he stepped out from the upstairs loft. “You two ready to roll?”

  Naō nodded. “As ready as we’ll be.”

  Crow gestured them toward a central platform in the main hall. A tall pedestal carved with runic glyphs. “Tournament city’s not exactly next door. Lucky for you, I’ve unlocked fast travel between linked hubs.”

  Kaiden stepped onto the pad with them. “What’s the place called?”

  “Arclight Haven. Arena’s just around the corner from the main plaza.”

  He smirked. “Try not to get motion sick.”

  [Teleportation Initiated…]

  Bright blue light swirled around them, pulling them through a vortex of fast-moving colors that flickered on the screen. They reappeared just inside the outer gate of a new city, Arclight Haven. The architecture here was cleaner, sleeker, polished silver and sandstone. Towering crystal spires reflected morning light, and the ambient soundtrack shifted to a triumphant orchestral swell.

  Kaiden blinked away the brightness that made his vision blur and steadied himself as the system calibrated.

  [Location Discovered: Arclight Haven – main gate]

  CrimsonCrow turned toward them, smiling.

  “Welcome to the edge of glory, gentlemen. Let’s get you two suited up.”