Matt, Blaze, and I talked about what to expect during the call. Matt contacted a White House aide who was handling the call from their end. They double-checked the connection, sound, and video one last time.

  I snatched a notepad from the office and jotted a few notes in case she asked what I thought we should or shouldn’t be doing and stuck it in my belt under my cloak.

  When the Presidential Seal flashed on my flat-screen, followed by a crisp snippet of “Hail to the Chief,” I made sure I was ready. Hat, cape, cane, sword. The whole outfit, minus gloves, which stayed tucked into my belt. I’d even cleaned my glasses again.

  The lamplight warmed the living room as I stood there, cool spring air drifting through the slightly opened front window, carrying the scents of early evening from outside.

  A voice announced, “The President of the United States.” The screen cut to her seated behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, the gold drapes framing the window behind her, and the American and Presidential flags on either side. Family photos rested on a table behind and to her left.

  Her dark brown, shoulder-length hair framed a familiar oval face, one we’d seen rise from governor to congress, and finally to the presidency two years back. All I could see of her was her dark blue jacket over a lighter blue top, a gold chain necklace glinting as she moved.

  “Madam President, it is an honor,” I said, sweeping off my hat and dropping to one knee in my best Renaissance bow. I held the position, waiting.

  We stayed silent for a moment before she spoke. “Rise, William of Brinsford, First Mana Mage, as I understand you are called.” I stood, hat still off out of respect. “On behalf of the United States, I want to thank you for what you’ve done for your town, and indirectly, your country. I saw the video of your battle yesterday. I understand it was under your direction.”

  “Yes, ma’am. It was the best I could think of at the time.”

  “Your best seems constantly better than most people’s. You turned ordinary people into a capable fighting force in minutes, defeated heavily armed gang members, and rescued hostages, including their children.”

  “Not all of them, Madam President. They killed some we couldn’t save. We saved all the children they were holding, with no further loss of life.”

  “You told others to not do what you did. Why?”

  “Because it wouldn’t have worked. My shields were much stronger than anyone else’s there, and I could keep replacing them. Even if they were shielding in depth, they’d have eventually shot through. They did…repeatedly.” She nodded, glancing at her notes.

  “Some people are saying you wanted it televised to play the hero. They called you Warchief. Are you trying to start a war?”

  “No, ma’am. Gar-Kosh stuck me with that title. I never wanted it. Others thought it was funny and kept using it. I don’t call myself that. I want to prevent people from dying, not cause it.”

  This time, she smiled as she nodded. “That’s also what people have told me. You’ve caused quite the stir in Washington, especially with the FBI. They want to make you their pet project.”

  I glanced at Blaze, then Matt, catching Blaze’s blush before turning back. “I wonder why?” I said with a slight grin. “I’ve got a good working relationship with one of their agents who was in Eddington yesterday. She was the first to step up and ask how she could help when we had a minor problem. We handled it and kept moving.”

  “I saw that report, too. I won’t ask any more about how you apparently knew…the problem person.”

  “It’s probably for the best, ma’am. We all learned a lot. I understand the FBI is already working on turning situations like that into training and procedures for when it happens again. Military and law enforcement should compile their experience too…turn it into teachable content for everyone, not just their own.”

  I braced, waiting for the question I knew was coming. “She’s been polite so far. How can I phrase this?”

  “I’m not refusing to help, ma’am, but I won’t do it from Washington. If I go there, I’m…worried, let’s say, I’ll get hidden away, and people will do their best to forget I exist except when the media needs a sound byte. Bureaucracies love to promote problem people into harmless places. Sorry. I’ll pass.”

  She smiled. Really smiled this time, not a politician’s smile, but a warm, human one. “I’ve been in politics for thirty years. I know exactly what you mean. Someone else gets the credit for your work.” She leaned forward, clasping her hands. “Mr. Bannister, what can you, and will you do for your country? How can you help us? What do we need to do?”

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  Her last question sounded like it came from the heart. “If I were in her place, I’d be worried too.

  “I’ve thought about that. I guarantee a lot of people won’t like my answers.”

  “I expect they won’t. Go ahead.”

  Pulling out my notepad from under my cloak, and glancing at it, I said, “First, you do what works. Don’t do what doesn’t. I wasn’t in the military, but I’ve got friends who were, including some officers. Military, police, FBI…” I nodded toward Blaze and Matt. “They write after-action reports. What went right, what went wrong, what to do better next time. Or…that’s what they should do.”

  Pausing, letting it settle in, I continued. “A lot of those reports get filed and forgotten. Trainers need to gather that info and turn it into teachable content. Leave the Department of Education out of it. They don’t need to micromanage how to write manuals. The FBI’s already working on it and the military’s good at it too.” Matt gave me a thumbs up off-camera, and I grinned at him before turning back.

  “Next, fire anyone who wants a focus group to study the problem. We don’t have time for that. You need solutions yesterday, not next year. If they can’t get a report on your desk in three days or less, fire them.”

  “I wish I could. With civil service, it’s complicated. I’ll see what I can do. Thank you. Anything else?”

  “More than you probably want. I assume we’re being recorded.” She nodded, smiling again. “A few quick points. Don’t declare a national emergency unless people won’t move fast enough. Do everything online with hard copy backups. You can’t hold people with magic or psychic powers in jail. Sedate them until we have anti-magic wards, starting at Level 10. That’s what we’re doing here.”

  I let that hang for a breath. “Keep power, fuel, and food flowing. We may lose safe travel between cities, so food and energy need to be local. Bury everything that can go underground. Get the power lines underground. Use local wind and solar power. Build batteries for them.”

  I stopped a moment for breath, and because how I knew the next thing would go over. “Bring back gas, even coal power online that are available, if we need them short-term. We might have days…maybe a month or two before things get really bad.”

  “Next. The US is a gun country. Guns will help for a while, but eventually, magic and magically enhanced gunners will outpace store-bought rifles. We need more ammo for civilians who took Warrior with gun skills.”

  “The game’s medieval fantasy based. Swords in trained hands work, and they don’t run out of ammo. We’ve got martial arts clubs, SCA, HEMA, black powder reenactors…They can train them up. We’re already doing that in Eddington.”

  Blaze and Matt nodded their approval and to continue from the side.

  “We need gamers and game designers studying the System. Maybe straight academics too. Number crunchers to find the best builds for people who haven’t chosen yet, or did the bare minimum to dismiss the Character Creation Screen.”

  “Also, rely on people. On guilds, solo players…local defense is key. We aren’t far enough in for Washington to coordinate effectively. Let people make mistakes. We all will. I just had the levels to power through a few of mine.”

  “Why do you think this happened? Who’s behind it? Why now?” she asked.

  “I’ll give you the same answer any honest person will, ma’am. No clue whatsoever. Nothing we’ve found explains it. Theories range from we’re in a computer game…to some cosmic civilization connecting us to theirs…to it was always here, and the barrier keeping it away broke…or the universe is a simulation, and the simulation changed. Even we’re some god-level teenager’s science project.” I stopped there, leaving out the weirder ideas. Those were enough.

  “Thank you. I see now why people wanted you in Washington. You’ve given me more useful, actionable information in a few minutes than I’ve had all day. What can I do to convince you to take the position coordinating all this?”

  “You can’t. I won’t do it for anyone or anything. I need to be in the field, seeing what’s happening. Being First in class gives me enough levels to make mistakes and live through them. I need to learn the hard way.”

  “Speaking of which…you, and every congressman, senator, department head, military officer…you all need to get out there and fight these things. Even that congressman, or the Governor of Texas, who are in a wheelchair can do it. They can cast spells or heal.”

  “I don’t think most will go for it. Some are in their eighties, nineties…they’ll claim they can’t.”

  “Madam President, my next-door neighbors are in their mid-seventies. They fought three spawns today. And she baked chocolate chip cookies for everyone as well. Good ones too.”

  She laughed…genuine this time. I saw her shoulders loosen. “Come to Eddington, ma’am, and we’ll put you in a party with them. He’s a lightning mage, she’s a healer. Casting doesn’t work up a sweat…well, not from the casting.”

  “I don’t think the Secret Service would allow that. But I’ve wondered what it would be like.”

  “Ma’am, you’re the President. If you say do it, they’ll find a way. Yesterday you said you chose a class, but it was a state secret.” I stroked my beard, trying to look as thoughtful as I could, then grinned. “Madam President, I think we could have a party with two Healers.”

  She looked startled. “Why would you need two Healers?”

  “Because you’ve never healed on your own. Neither had my neighbor. She’s doing just fine now. You can solo if you want.”

  “What makes you think I took Healer?”

  “Simple. They wouldn’t let you take a melee class. Mage, maybe, but you ran on healing the country after the last few presidents. It fits.”

  “I’ll think about it. Mr. Brinsford, I’m starting to understand why people wanted you advising us. Will you advise me if I have more questions?”

  “Of course. You know where to find me,” I said, smiling. “In Eddington.”

  She nodded, and the call cut out from her end.

  I staggered over to my chair, pulling off my cloak and baldric, then dropping them to the floor before I sank down, boneless, into the seat.

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