AN: There are 2-3 chapters left in this volume. I'll try to have it done by the middle of next week at the latest. However, as I mentioned a good long while back. I won't be updating this story on this site for about a month afterward. I'll still be writing it, however. When I start updating here again there will be a chapter per day for several days afterward.

This is to mostly allow me to focus on finishing up a few of my other stories here, while I work on cleaning up this volume and working out a few kinks in the fifth volume's concept. It's possible that around the time that I finish the clean-up and post this volume up on Amazon and Smashwords,, that I'll also post the first chapter of the next volume at that time to give everyone something other than a commercial status update. :)

Chapter 16: A Day Too Late

The return to ARS had elicited a strange sensation for Scott. On Earth he had finalized a few things and considered his course of action clearly. Once on ARS he could sense his mental state shifting. The more rational side of his mind seemed to recede a bit even as he began to feel things more keenly. The color of a plant, the way the people in the street sounded as they walked by, and even the smell of the place all seemed like they were more than they should be.

A startling difference, it took him a while to adjust. In some ways it was like his first day once more. However, unlike his first day in this world he did not awaken alone.

“I miss Earth, but it’s nice to be home.” said Ero. She fluttered over and sat down on Scott’s left shoulder before she demurely crossed one leg over the other like a proper lady. Albeit, a tiny naked lady.

They wandered out of the alcove they had awakened in, and headed to the center of the church. Scott had never died before, so he was uncertain of the protocol. Did they just leave? Did he tip a priest? He had no idea.

Luckily, Rhea waited for them in the main room of the city cathedral. “Hello.” she said with a warm smile and a cute little wave.

“Hello!” called back Scott and Ero in unison. They rushed over to the third leg of their love tripod, both eager to reunite with her.

“Gee, no one’s going to say hello to me?” asked an annoyed masculine voice.

Scott and the girls looked to the wolf-guy who had been both a major help, and a general nuisance during their latest endeavor. Scott said. “Hello.”

“Right. Hello. I’ve been stuck in this cathedral for days waiting for you, but sure let’s be cordial.” He said in a petulant tone.

“You’ll be free of us soon enough. Why were you stuck in here, though?” asked Scott.

The wolf sighed. “I’m your slave. I can’t go far from you unless you specifically ask me to do so. I died, but before I could respawn, you died and I was forced to respawn here instead of near your location.”

“Ah, sorry.”

“It’s fine, I spent a little time grinding some of my skills. Most of the non-targeted ones are mastered now.” said the wolf man.

“Well, still…” said Scott. This conversation was a bit odd. Why was this guy being reasonable?

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad to be able to get out of here.” said the wolf.

The four of them immediately left and went to retrieve the writ of meritorious service that had taken so long to obtain. Finally, their long side-quest was done. It was time to finish with the mermaids!

The retrieval of the writ had gone easily. They had reported their success and now they had what they needed to show the slave trader that they were trust worthy, among other things. They were in good spirits until they moved on to the trader’s tent and made a startling discovery.

“What do you mean, gone!?” asked Scott incredulously.

The slave trader shrugged his shoulder accompanied by hand gestures. “Sorry, but you took too long. The mermaid queen came in last night.”

“The hell…” said Scott. It was good that the mermaids had gone home with the queen, but it felt like they had wasted a lot of time. What good was the writ, now?

“No way.” said Ero.

Rhea sighed softly in response. This was just typical.

The only one who seemed happy was the wolf. “Serves you right! If you’d logged in a few days ago this wouldn’t have happened.”

Ero glanced at him then put her hands on her hips and gave him an annoyed look. The wolf snorted then looked away. He would not apologize. It was true.

While they had been on Earth, four days had passed on ARS. The entire affair had taken several weeks to conclude. Of course, the mermaid queen would come for her people if it took that long.

“Do you mind if I verify this?” asked Rhea.

“Go ahead. I won’t be offended.” said the slave trader.

She walked out of the room so that she could go AFK for a moment. While she attempted to contact the mermaid queen in the divine city, Scott turned to the second order of business.

“So, what about this guy.” He jerked his thumb at the wolf.

“What about me?” asked the wolf, not that anyone paid any attention to him.

“You sure you don’t want to just keep him?” asked the trader.

“We’re sure.” said Scott.

“Ah well, a deal’s a deal. I could not very well hold the mermaids for your return, but we can do this much.” replied the man with a smile reminiscent of a used car salesman turning a profit.

They discussed the details once more, and money changed hands. The wolf returned to the ownership of the slave trader and was then escorted back to his holding area until the next auction.

After he left, the trader asked, “How was he?”

“He was an overly aggressive douche with a useful skill.” replied Scott.

The trader laughed merrily then nodded. “I figured as much. His kind aren’t really that bad if they’re local, but the sort of people who tend to play as them take things too far most of the time.”

“How so?”

“Well, normally they are aggressive and want to be dominant in the local hierarchy. They respect strength and skill, however. If it is obvious that another male is stronger, they will accept that. The same happens among the female members of their race.”

“What’s so different about players then?” asked Scott

“Well, we don’t have any real ties to their true culture so we can only pretend to be like them. Like I said, most players exaggerate.”

Scott nodded to the man. It made sense. “Honestly, if not for the idiocy I would have liked having a dedicated tracker around.”

“I could arrange for you to purchase a local?” asked the trader without missing a beat.

“Ah, no.”

“Right, you have plans otherwise.”

“Yeah, we can go with that reason.” said Scott in a flat tone of voice.

The trader rubbed his chin for a moment then made another suggestion. “I also have a business on the classic server. If you change your mind, head down to Darby’s Quay. It’s near the Emerald Isles on the Eastern coast of Merrimonde.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” said Scott, though his tone of voice made it seem like he would not try too hard to remember that tidbit of information.

The trader granted him a shrewd smile. It was the sort of expression that made Scott want to punch him in the face, but so far he had not really done much to warrant it.

He did not like the slave trade concept, but from what he could see most of the products for sale were either former bandits and pirates, or players who wanted to be sold. He sincerely doubted that everyone else here wanted to be on sale, but that might just be his old prejudices and life experience talking. For all he knew people liked that sort of thing here, as hard as it would be to believe.

They chatted for a short time and spoke of many things. The slave trader, as usual, was a fairly affable man. If he was not in the business of selling sentient beings like cattle, Scott might even admit to liking the guy. As it was, the personality of the trader was the only thing that kept the blue-haired sorcerer from delivering on his desire to burn the sucker down, so to speak. Well, that and the well-trained and highly equipped guards.

Rhea returned after a little over two hours had passed. She wore an expression of bemusement as she walked back into the room.

“What’s the word?” asked Scott.

She sighed then nodded. “It’s true. She tried to give me an earful about my work ethic, but after we discussed the situation fully she calmed down.”

“Work ethic? You mean taking so long?” asked Ero. She fluttered toward Rhea and tilted her head to the side.

“Yes, she was of the impression that if it was going to take this long we should have just let her know.” said Rhea.

“Wasn’t she busy with the Shar-Shar and rescuing the other girls?” asked Scott.

“They finished up after a week, apparently.” she said, before shaking her head.

“So, does that mean all of the mermaids were rescued except for the ones here?” asked Scott.

“Yes, it seems so.”

“Ah, well then our business is concluded?” asked the trader with that car salesman smile once more.

“Almost.” said Rhea.

“Hmm?” asked the trader.

“What is it?” asked Scott.

Rhea walked over to the slave trader then placed her hands on her hips. She leaned forward and looked at him intensely. He gazed at her impassively, proving that he was not one to be easily cowed by an intense look. They stayed that way for a moment before Rhea’s expression shifted to a smile.

The blue haired elf nodded then said. “You’re a good brother, aren’t you?”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.” said the trader.

“While I chatted with your sister, we drifted away from the mermaids and somehow got onto the topic of her love-life.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” said the man flatly.

“I’m not. It was fascinating really. As it turns out the man she had been seeing suddenly abandoned ARS and decided to have nothing else to do with her. He’s currently starting up a monk character on another game world and plans to become a mountain hermit.” said Rhea.

“How nice for her.” replied the man with a slight smile.

Rhea shifted her head to the left and then to the right. “You’re not going to admit anything, are you?”

He laughed merrily then said, “What interesting news you bring me. I wish them both well on their new passions.”

“R-iiight. All of this just happened to occur right after she came to collect her people.” said Rhea.

The slave trader laughed once more then presented an overly friendly smile. “Funny how life works, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, funny.” said Rhea with a smile of her own.

“I’m a little lost.” said Ero. She hated to be left out of things and whatever had happened sounded fairy interesting.

Scott nodded. He had the gist of things, but he was definitely out of the loop as well. “She’ll probably tell us more later.”

Ero fluttered over to Scott then sat down prettily on his shoulder. “I hope so. Sisters aren’t allowed to have secrets.”

“Sisters, huh?”

“Well, yeah. Isn’t that OK?” asked Ero.

Scott reached up and rubbed the top of her head. “I’m just glad to see you two getting along so well.”

“Me too.” Ero reached down and lightly patted her belly. “I wonder if it will really be twins…”

He chuckled a little. It there weren’t twins, it wasn’t for lack of trying. “Maybe it’s a meatball you haven’t digested yet?”

Ero snorted. “Our possible baby is not a meatball.”

“Oh?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “So mean.”

“If I’m mean, then why are you smiling?” asked Scott.

Eros face turned slightly red. “How could you even tell when I’m sitting like this?”

“I can always tell, Ero. All I have to do is pay attention.”

Her eyes began to sparkle a little in the light. She leaned over and kissed him on the ear. “Thank you.”

Scott did not say anything to her, as Rhea had finished chatting with the trader, it was time to go. They needed to continue on with the next step of their exit strategy.

After they left the trader’s tent Scott reached down and took Rhea’s hand. The man, and his two lovers strolled off down the road. They had several things to do before they could leave this world behind. Sadly, many things they had earned here would not continue over. Yet, the most important things would remain always. The love they shared with each other and the experiences they had along the way were something that could not be taken away just by changing locations.