(Jamie)

"Okay," Nick sighs once I finish explaining everything. "I guess I understand. So long story short: some god named Vaefor, who's also a massive blue moon, decided to grab me on my eighteenth birthday and send me to a world of gay, and it has a game system-type thing in it, and now, I have to deal with that?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

He sighs.

"And I can't even understand anyone."

"Pretty sure he does that for his own amusement," I say, and he raises an eyebrow, then looks shocked. "Some Skills are easy to acquire. Anyway, it seems he likes to drop people off in areas where few or none understand their native tongues, probably as an added challenge. Die of Mystery."

"What's that?" Nick stares with wide eyes as the mysterious die that just appeared above my hand, then dropped into it. "Jamie? What's that?"

I want Nick to be able to communicate with those around us.

I roll the die.

The Die of Mystery has decided… Everyone around you with Common Language under Level 5 now has it at Level 5

"What the-?" Nick exclaims. "How-"

"The Die of Mystery is a powerful thing," I smile. "There is little outside of its power… if you're lucky enough."

He tries to sort that out in his head, then finally decides on something to say or ask.

"How come you don't seem surprise I'm gay?"

"You didn't always use an incognito window for your porn."

His face turns bright red.

"Wait!" He exclaims. "You said if you're lucky enough – what does that mean?"

"It means," I switch to Common. "That it can do a good roll or a bad roll. It can give and take. Let me try until I get a bad roll, to show you."

"Please don't," Cole whimpers. "I don't have much left."

"You didn't have much to start with, Cole," I roll the die.

The Die of Mystery has decided… That Paladin of Hope should gain a Level! +3 LCK!

What?

"What just happened?" Cole asks.

"It just raised Paladin of Hope up a Level," I say. "I guess it's designed to affect both itself and the Class that grants it. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the only way to Level those. Die of Mystery."

The Die of Mystery has decided… All Skills at Level 1 go up one Level!

Well… that's nice. Also not what I'm looking for. Give me something bad!

The Die of Mystery has decided… Your wealth doubles!

Seriously?

"That wasn't what you expected, was it?" Cole asks, and I slam my face into the table. "What?"

"So," I lift my head up, looking between my brother and my teammate. "When I wanted something bad to happen, I got a bad roll."

"Okay?" Nick asks. "What happened?"

"Think about that," I say. "A bad roll for a bad intent would be good. Cole – it restored the wealth it penalized me earlier."

Cole laughs. We're drawing stares at it is, and that's only making it worse, probably because of his nature. We still haven't gotten our food yet.

"One moment, boys," I say, then slide out of the boot and look around, spotting a server. "Hey! We ordered our food half an hour ago, and I've seen several groups larger than ours come in after us and already get served. If you're done being discriminatory, you'll get us our food now. And the people staring at my party as we chat will cease it now as well, or I'll roll the die you've been hearing about with bad intent towards you."

Many pairs of eyes instantly look away from my team, and I sit back down.

"Was that necessary?" Nick asks.

"Yes," I answer. "I've already told you how certain Species are treated, and people now know of a die that can add and remove Skills and wealth at will. Die of Mystery."

The Die of Mystery has decided… Everyone within ten yards of you is cleaned!

That's… probably a positive effect.

"Message?" I ask after noting the expressions around us.

"'The Die of Mystery has graciously cleaned your body'," Cole answers.

"Alright," I say. "Die of Mystery."

The Die of Mystery has decided… +2 INT!

I roll again.

The Die of Mystery has decided… To restore 25% of your missing Mana!

"Thanks," I say sarcastically. "Now I can cast you even more times to try to get a bad roll!"

"It restored your Mana?" Cole asks.

"Yeah."

"It costs Mana to use?" Nick asks.

"Yeah," I nod. "It costs 50 Mana for each use. I can cast it twenty times before running out of Mana, though with my regeneration rate, then I could, potentially, use it another time or two by the time I finish, if I stop to assess the results or chat with people between uses. Die of Mystery."

The Die of Mystery has decided… To restore 10% of your missing Mana!

I sigh, then roll the die again.

The Die of Mystery has decided… +1 VIT!

Thanks for that. I roll it again.

The Die of Mystery has decided… No one within 100 yards of you will be able to get it up for the next 24 hours!

Cole gasps while Nick laughs.

"Fina-fucking-ly!"

Cole starts laughing when I exclaim that.

"You got a bad roll!" He claps me on the back. "That's a good one! But, uh, I've had blue balls for a couple of days now, and if I can't get off, it'll be torture."

"Die of Mystery," I summon the die. "Those who do not view me, my brother, or my teammates in a negative way because of what they are should have something positive happen to them in regards to sex."

I roll the die.

The Die of Mystery has decided… Those who do not hate your team for being something other than the 'good' Enlightened and see them as people who were affected by the previous result can get it up again!

"Oh, hey, it worked!" Cole exclaims. "That was a good roll, right?"

"Yeah," I answer as our food is brought to our table. "Thanks for finally getting it here."

The server flinches, hurriedly leaving now that our food's on the table.

"They're not getting a tip, are they?" Nick asks.

"Nope."

"You're so cruel to waitstaff," he sighs.

"I'm nice to those that deserve it," I remind him. "You know this."

"Can you upgrade my food?" Cole begs. "Please?"

"Die of Mystery," I summon the die. "Cole's food changes."

The Die of Mystery has decided… To upgrade your target's food!

His steak and potatoes turn from being slightly-bland to looking pretty well-seasoned, the potatoes taking on a creamier appearance while his steak turns pinker, more raw. His salad even looks fresher, and if I'm not mistaken, has a few new ingredients to it.

"Sweet!" He exclaims, giving me a hug. "Thanks a lot, Jamie!"

"You know it could've rotted your food, right?" I ask.

"I know!" He exclaims, his tail smacking against the booth in his excitement. "Thanks a ton, Jamie! This is awesome!"

He digs into his food with gusto, and I shake my head, smiling, then get to work eating my own meal. After we finish, I pay for our meal, then lead my brother back to the inn Cole and I are staying at, asking if he has any more questions.

For the next hour, I answer all of his questions, telling him about my time here and my friends so far, including about my exploits with Max. He seems amazed by that, because he never thought of me as someone who'd have sex with someone. I'm too busy looking out for mine to bother with something like that.

I have to remind him that I'm in another world, so there's no use worrying over my brothers because I can't return to them, and my team is each doing their own thing, away from me, so I couldn't stop myself on their account.

He accepts that as an answer, then returns to asking his questions. When we finally finish, he asks if I can 'make him safe' with my die.

"What do you mean by that?" I ask.

"You're so much more powerful than me," he says. "And I don't want to be a burden for you. Us older boys had to really step up after you just vanished, and it's taught me a lot. I'd like to be able to take care of myself. If I'm here, people will recognize me as related to you, and I won't be able to do anything without you until I'm stronger, but that'd only hold you back in your training. If your Die of Mystery can make it so that I'm safe-"

"If it'll teleport you," I say, and he nods. "You want to know if it'll put you somewhere where you'll be safe, away from the influence of my reputation. I'm not sure. I can certainly try. But I'd rather not."

"Please, Jamie?" He asks. "I'm sure we'll see each other again, and if it's a good roll, then you know I'll be safe."

"And if it's a bad roll-"

"That's a risk I'm willing to take," he tells me. "I'd rather not be a burden for you, Jamie, and while I know you're going to worry about me, now that I'm here, I'd like to be able to build up a life on my own. Besides, you never know – maybe I find a way to bring us home."

I sigh. Now that he's here, I don't want to let him go. I want to keep him around and keep him safe, but he's right – it's best if he builds up a life on his own. With that in mind, I summon the Die of Mystery and pray to Trickster for a good roll, then toss the die onto the table.

The Die of Mystery has decided… To teleport your brother to Kamnar Village!

My brother vanishes, startling Cole.

"It really did teleport him," I sigh, then look at my teammate. "What do you know of a place called Kamnar?"

"Never heard of it."

Damn. And if I investigate, people might get suspicious and look into it, to see if that's where he went. If it's a safe place, it'd end up not being one later.

I sigh.

"You know what you need?" Cole asks, and I give him a questioning look. "Cuddles. You need cuddles."

I sigh, then slip out of my shoes and down to my underwear, then climb onto the bed. Cole joins me in the same stat of dress a moment later, cuddling up against me.

"Letting him go has to have been hard for you," he says. "I saw how much you fought, in your eyes. I could sense it, too. Your love for him, and how much you wanted to protect him.