“Oh my goodness LANCE, I watched your video, it was amazing. I have so much stuff for us to prepare and I don't know if you know of another Viewcuber named DorkBurgler. He put out a message on his bluezit forum asking for people to get in touch with you for a collab. He’s got millions of followers! You should take him up on that.” She quickly spoke rambling as she took out the slime crown from her small satchel obviously new and dark red like wine. She began to pull out gems and a few Gachas on the table. Then from the crown she grabbed out some goblin parts that were wrapped in goblin clothing. Conveniently it was just the ears and tongues. Lance chuckled.

  “What are you.. is all this from Level 2?” Lance said.

  “Oh well yeah I saved the parts you used before and I ended up spending a gem on this bag so if we ever needed to hide away the crown. These gems are from the second floor. I was hoping you could cook some stuff.”

  “Yeah, I'm just surprised you have six Gachas. How is that?”

  “Oh those I bought. Except two. I figured if we could get a leg up we should.”

  “Reilly why? These are shame tier.. This is garbage. And we will get drops. There is no point buying them.”

  “SEE exactly! That's what I thought too. Shame tier isn't the only thing that can be opened in these. Apparently you can open the next tier up with lower grade Gachas. It's just rare. You know when those numbers spin, apparently higher numbers have a chance.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “Well the RMT site that I bought these from, the player that joined my Legacy space told me. It was another gem for some cheap information but they apparently sell information as well just don’t advertise it.”

  Lance grabbed Reilly by the shoulders gently. “ Reilly, Do you trust in me?”

  Reilly blushed a little, “Yes…”

  “Then stop buying crap. I don't want it. You’re going to take the fun out of the game if you pay to make things easy for you. If you continue to buy from those sites I'm sure you’re gonna end up getting scammed or worse banned. You want to lose the chance at the prize for bottom of the barrel loot? We will get strong. Together. Okay. Now put that stuff up for sale and get your money back.”

  Reilly’s blush turned darker red. She tucked her head lower, a little sad. She began to put the items away, leaving only the goblin parts. A moment later Courage walked in.

  “YooooO! What's up! Wow nice place Lance.”

  Just after him, King stepped in. Wearing a Goblin jerkin sized for him. He also had a large goblin styled longsword for him on his hip, big enough that these items were likely drops. His large warhammer on his back was still the obviously preferred weapon. Courage turned to see the man as he heard him enter. King extended his hand “ King, and you are?”

  “Courage, nice to meet you. Thanks for saving Lance's butt.” He luaghed and turned back to look at Lance.

  King let out a quick laugh. The video cut the fighting short and it made it seem like King was the last to end the fight. If anything the video painted King in a better light than Lance, due to the circumstances surrounding the encounter. “ Right. And you must be Reilly. Well, we're all here.”

  He said pointing to Reilly who was pulling out a notepad similar to Lances he received from Wellyn.

  “Yes, Hello!” she said recovering from the talk Lance gave her.

  “Alright you guys, here's the plan. We find the route out, loot up and kill only what's necessary. I have a couple things I want to test so we will find a checkpoint and reset the dungeon at some point. And then when we have secured some understanding we will stop. And cook.” Lance said smiling. Lance looked over at Reilly and pulled out a Mana Crystal and a goblin cloak. “ This is for you, and Courage here the cloak.” He handed her the Mana crystal and tossed the cloak to Courage. Courage already had a cloak but it was made of a few goblin clothes tied together, mainly to hide his missing arm. He caught it and looped it over his shoulder then clasped it. It was dark black like coal with a hood, the dagger wielding goblin wore it, but it was purely cosmetic.

  Everyone nodded in agreement, Courage spoke up next. “Lance, I have a favor to ask you as well. Can you feed him? His name is Screech?” He said pulling out the small pet bat. “ My first tame.” He said proudly.

  “ I don't mind but it's going to have to come out of your gems. Are you sure you want that?”

  Courage nodded. King gave him a pat on the shoulder and a nod of distinct approval.

  “It's settled then. Let's get to it.” King said

  -- Elsewhere --

  Valora stood before the Legacy tree. Staring up at the plethora of fruits, the array of colors and textures, leaves of different shapes, sizes and beauty. Her hand hovered over the “Start” plank. She took another deep look at the surroundings of the far off castle. The forest before it, the spread of hills and greenery. It was truly very beautiful. She pressed the button. Fruit cascaded in front of her. Standing waist deep she looked around. She picked a fruit the size of a berry. It looked like a purple lemon with jeweled sections like that of a blackberry. She put it in her mouth and felt its hard exterior burst as she chewed. She knew whenever she opened her eyes she would see and smell the rot. She ate the Lackonberry slowly over a full minute. It tasted like sherbert, and had carbonation like a sparkling beverage that crackled on her tongue in the juice of the fruit. She opened her eyes and entered the tree's open maw. Falling to her butt. She stood up and chose hardmode. After signing she looked herself up and down, confident. She checked her menu and observed her class skills. She smirked and sighed then stepped into the Legacy space.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  She stepped into a courtyard of cobblestone. A large draw gate on the far side was open and vacant. Large iron barred openings to a stable on each side of the courtyard arched to the top where a walkway or overwatch lined the walls. Four tall spires stood on each corner of this lot surrounded the area like looming giants, spilling shadows across the stone. The pure silence was disturbed alerting her to the distant sounds of chopping. Valora rounded a corner looking into the under arch of a large vacant stable. Inside, a mid thirties looking man swung a dull sword at a straw dummy on a pedestal, swinging it around on its swivel. Ducking the wooden swords it swung out with its false arms. Valora got closer to watch. She held the Iron bars in her hands gawking as the man swung his sword over head and down through the dummy, prompting it to spin wildly. He quickly pulled the grip of his sword up high, parrying the dummy's sword as it swung around flailing in its spin, knocking a sword free. It flew to the side. He kept swinging for a couple more rounds before knocking the other sword free as well. He sheathed his sword panting. Sweat dripped off of him. Staring at the dummy eyeing the tears and marks in the dummy's clothes and hard wood.

  “ Well, bring the swords back.” He said as he looked over his shoulders right at Valora. She blushed and quickly went to pick up the wooden swords.

  He watched her bumble around. She quickly picked up the swords, she then stood straight and walked towards him.

  “ Good. So, you're my new Squire? I haven't had a girl before. No offense dear…Well you look stronger than the last at least. I'm Sir Bastion Growl. Address me as Sire or Sir Growl in company, but alone whatever you fancy. And you are?”

  “ Valora. Sir. Sire?”

  “ Valora… Well met. Either dear. Please at rest the blades darling. You may leave them there on the pedestal.”

  Valora stepped forward and brought the wooden swords to the dummy's stand. As she got within the last step of it leaning forward towards the base of its stand, the dummy spun backward quickly flailing its arms into her chest. With a loud thud she flew backwards a good five feet. Landing on her side gasping for air. Bastion stepped forward and grabbed the swords. He quickly leapt high and struck the dummy atop its head. A moment later it loosened its stature as if dead.

  “Oh, I'm terribly sorry it should have been deactivated. Please forgive me.” He said, stretching his arm to pull Valora from the floor. She sat up with difficult breaths, coughing. Bastion sighed and picked her up. He put his hand on her back.

  “Second wind”

  Valora felt her lungs fill with air and she immediately felt okay, her body grew restless for a second. But then Bastion removed his hand and the feeling vanished.

  “ You Jerk!” Valora looked at him. She felt it hard to believe he didn't know it was off. She pushed away his hands, stepping away from him.

  “ My apologies, I truly hadn't known. Listen I..”

  “ You what! Haven't used this situation to test my toughness? My ability to trust? Well I'll tell you SIRE, you've stepped on my initial giving of it and nearly ruined me within the first few seconds of arrival!” Valora yelled at Sir Bastion, if steam could come from her ears it would.

  Bastion stared, hands palm side up to her. He closed his agape mouth and put his hands together in a clasp pointing to her. He got down to his knees. He raised his hand palm side up to her and bowed his head.

  “My sincerest apologies, I didn't mean for this slight. It truly was an oversight on my behalf and I hope for your forgiveness.”

  Valora stood in front of him still mad but released a short sigh. “Fine. I believe you but, do better, or I might make up my own understanding as to why you have a new Squire.” Bastion looked up at her and nodded.

  “ ahem* Allow me to rise.” Bastion said.

  “ Your hand in mine.” He said, waving his fingers forward. Valora touched his hand but before she could pull away he grabbed it. She blushed as he stood. “ Good, well. Follow me to the armory.”

  Bastion then began to walk out of the stable. Crossing the courtyard towards a door at the base of one of the corners that led into a spire. Valora moved quickly after him.

  They entered the rook, and were met with a locked iron gate, beyond which suits of armor and blades could be seen. Bastion opened the gate and stepped in waving her to follow him.

  “ Alright first order of business. Begin to polish the blades and oil and joints among the suits, sweep, oh and dust beforehand or your work will be ruined. Afterwards come see me. I'll be in my quarters. Adjacent to this Spire.”

  Valora looked around the room. Her jaw went slack then her anger rose again.

  “ What?!” She yelled as Bastion picked up a broom handing it to her. “ You're joking.”

  “ Pardon? This is just a fraction of your duties and shouldn't take you more than an hour.”

  “ Firstly an hour is more than I have to play around with your tasking, Second! Are you kidding me?!” She said waving her hand at the room. At quick glance the room was full of at least 4 suits or armor and roughly 15 weapons. Many of which seemed to have collected wear, rust, or dust.

  Bastion stepped forward and put the broom in her hand. He then pointed to a desk and handed her a key. “ Your stations here, there should be oil and rags available, duster is well.. somewhere and this key is to lock up when you're done.” He went to walk towards the exit, Valora grabbed him on the arm. He stopped moving and looked down at her. His figure looming over her a good foot taller, standing a lean 6 ft 7. He looked down at her, shade hitting his brow, light from his eyes in the glare of the cracked door to outside. “ Valora. You need to mind your temper. As do I.”

  She felt the scorn in his glare. The battle behind his eyes. A hidden war within. His clean face and blonde swept hair on his brow, the handsome image, betrayed by the feeling of death in his deep green eyes. Valora let him go stepping backwards unknowingly. He walked outside. Valora looked around the room dimly lit by an oil lantern hanging from the corner above a desk. It's little flicker signaling it was close to extinguishing. She frowned and then proceeded to her tasks.