“Ah! More of them are on tonight,” Jannie remarked as she observed her friend-list. She and Angelfire were taking a break from an action-packed morning that had seen the construction of a fort while fending off a sudden wave of creatures that had burst from the caves they had been attempting to explore. Now, the two of them were relaxing in the shade of a great tree that was near the edge of a cliff on the western coasts, looking out across the grey-blue expanse with wonder.

  “Hm? Oh wow,” Angelfire said as she checked her own list. “That's nearly all of them for a change,” she noted.

  “Right?” the golden-haired girl smiled back. It had been a week since Lana and Ariana had been on; though for in-world time, it had been nearly a month. Angelfire sighed, gazing wistfully towards the horizon.

  “Still crushing on her?” Jannie asked softly, receiving a nod in reply.

  “And don't tell me you know how it is; you have Wildeye, after all...” the redhead said.

  “I wasn't even going to suggest it.” Jannie replied, putting an arm around her fellow guild-leader.

  “Hahh... it feels like one or two of them are crushing on her, also...”

  “You think so?”

  “Call it intuition,” Angelfire said with a fey smile.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “Hmm...” Jannie returned, patting her gently on the back.

  “It's so peaceful here... I'm glad you found this spot.” the other girl smiled a few moments later.

  “I am too,” Jannie told her. “It's about perfect for a picnic or something... maybe when the competition dies down we'll hold some festivities up here to celebrate!”

  “Ah! There's a good idea!” Angelfire smiled.

  “Oop! There's Myanihia,” Jannie then said as she noticed another name popping up. “That's... well, officially six out of eight... though it's more like seven out of nine lately,” she grinned.

  “True.” Angelfire nodded. “Who'd have thought that a few months ago...”

  “I know what you mean.” Jannie said with a soft grin. “Lana... she certainly has an effect on people... I wonder if she even realizes it sometimes,” she wondered as she switched off the list and returned her gaze to the scenery.

  “I bet not.” the other girl shrugged. “She's cute, and definitely fearless; but... sometimes, awkward.”

  “In a cute way, though.” her friend asserted.

  “Oh for sure. Like her guildmates always say--” Angelfire grinned, as did Jannie.

  “Adorkable!” they chimed together, laughing merrily.

  “Hmm?” Angelfire then heard the sound of her friend-list updating; someone else had come on. “Ahh--!” she exclaimed, looking excitedly.

  “What is it--ohh, I see,” Jannie said with a smirk. “Looks like things are about to get interesting again!” she said with a laugh as Angelfire nodded.

  Your friend, Lana Windstrider, has come online.