It had been six months since the tournament, and six months since April had asked Emma out. Today wasn’t a real anniversary, but Emma was excited to meet up with April nonetheless. She’d spent the day watching the clock on the corner of her computer screen.

In what felt like an eon, it finally ticked over to 5.00 PM. Her bag was already packed, she was already wearing her coat, and it took about thirty seconds to exit the office.

A few minutes later she was barging through the front door of the bookstore.

“Hellooooo!” Emma paused her celebration. “Oh. June?”

“April’s in the dungeon.” June pointed to the staircase. “Good to see you too!”

Emma was a little embarrassed, “Same!”, and headed down to the basement.

“Helloooooo!” She couldn’t see April. “Hello?”

The basement wasn’t that well lit, and not very tidy. Emma was a little worried that one wrong move would bring down one of the many towering piles of books.

“Emma?” April was on the staircase. “Emma! I was just getting ready! Come up!”

The staircase was narrow and a little steep, so Emma had to wait a few more seconds for a hug.

“See you later Mom.” April didn’t want to get trapped in a conversation.

“Up to anything fun?” June asked. “Or just the usual.”

“The usual.” April explained. “They’re playing Anna’s match at the bar, too.”

“Oooh. Mind if I come with?” June didn’t want to crash her daughter’s date, but it sounded a bit more like a group outing.

“Well, Rachel is coming too.” Emma shrugged and looked at April. “I don’t mind.”

“Well, OK.” April pouted. “You’re buying the drinks.” She grabbed Emma’s hand. “You can catch us up.”

Outside the shop, Emma apologised for inviting June along and April just laughed. She was going to invite her mother along anyway, but figured this way she’d get a free drink out of it.

Rachel was already waiting at the bar, and had camped out at the table closest to the big screen. She was wearing a pair of devil horns, the same pair she’d worn at tournament, and had brought a few extras too.

“Really?” Emma pointed to the horns.

“Really.” Rachel folded her arms. “You’re not joining me without them.”

“Fine.” Emma had brought hers, but still felt a little silly wearing them.

“I’m game.” April grabbed one of the spares. “Three Arm-Breakers?”

Rachel and Emma nodded back.

“I’m here, I’m here!” June stood in front of the group, stopping to strike a pose. “I miss anything?”

“Just pre-game, Mom.” April waved at her to move out of the way. “You’re currently blocking the view.”

June turned around, “Oh! It’s Anna! Anna’s on the tv.”

“We’d know that if you weren’t in front of it, Mom.” April sighed. “Take a seat already, or better, fetch us some wine.”

“Whoops. Sorry.” June was giggling. “Wine? Wine? Wine?” She pointed at the three in turn. “Good.”

The pre-game commentary wasn’t the most interesting. A couple of replays from Anna’s earlier matches, some stuff about the other players, and the usual inane backseat driving.

It had been six months since the tournament, and Anna had made quite a name for herself.

“I thought Jessica would be joining us.” June returned with the drinks.

“She’s with her sister, and future brother in law.” April explained.

“Wait, did I miss something?” June asked. “Did Eric really…?”

“No. Of course Eric didn’t.” April laughed. “I just know it’s only a matter of time. Jessica told me she was gonna make it happen.”

“IT’S US!” Emma interrupted. “LOOK!” She rushed to take a video on her phone.

The pre-game commentary was showing some footage from the tournament, and for a whole ten seconds, Emma, Rachel, and Jessica were on the screen too.

“I think we should get a free drink out of it.” Rachel laughed. “Did you get it?”

“I did! Sorta.” Emma had caught a few frames, and panned over to the others. “It’s funny enough. Posting.”

“When does the match start?” June wasn’t really fussed, she just wanted to make sure she didn’t talk over the important bits.

“Soon?” Rachel explained. “Wait, look, there’s Eric and Jess!”

The stream was now showing live pictures from the tournament. Anna was sat at a computer, waiting to go. Jessica and Eric were standing behind her, casually chatting.

“He really looks different, you know.” June laughed. “Must be the costume.”

Anna had been pressured by her employers to really lean into the whole ‘Demon Queen’ image, and she’d given in with one condition. Eric had to dress up, too.

“Eric really has changed.” April sighed. “No longer the timid book boy hiding behind piles of boxes. A shame, if you ask me.”

Emma nudged her girlfriend. “I don’t think so.”

“Get a room.” Rachel just giggled. “Anyway, I think it’s cool. I saw them all before they shipped out. Even Jessica’s been doing exercise. It isn’t just Eric who’s changed.”

“What?” Emma was shocked. “Jessica? Exercise? The Goblin Queen herself?”

It was a running joke within the group that Jessica only worked from home to avoid having to move, or even shower, or get changed. It wasn’t far off the truth.

“Really!” Rachel began to explain. “I went over to drop some stuff off. Eric and Jessica were having a sparring match. With swords.”

“Jessica just went full mall-ninja.” Emma laughed. “That must be it.”

“Oooh! It’s starting.” Rachel hushed the group. “Just think, that could of been us, on stage, an esports pro!”

Emma just laughed. “Absolutely not. I mean, we’re not that bad, but….”

It wasn’t worth elaborating. Both Rachel and Emma knew they weren’t really on Anna’s level, or even Jessica’s.

“Wait? Is this a different game?” June was confused. It didn’t look like the tournament months prior. “Or am I just seeing things?”

April shrugged. She didn’t really know that much.

“Yeah. Different game. You see…” Emma was about to explain, but April nudged her before she went into detail. “Fine fine. Last game was team based, or usually is, this is much more individual, a strategy game, not a shooter.”

“Oh…” June nodded. “Anna’s in purple, right?”

“Yep.” Emma answered.

The match wasn’t that interesting to watch. Anna, predictably, crushed her opponent. It was a game that usually took an hour to play, if that short, and usually people built up grand armies before engaging in large scale battles across the game map.

Anna, on the other hand, tended to go all out from the beginning, slaughtering her opponents with the most basic of units, relying on speed and technique to win. It was a little unpopular with her opponents but the audience loved her for it.

“…. and the winner is, The Demon Queen herself, Anna Spellman!”

After the match, April and Emma made their excuses to leave, much to the amusement of June.

“Oh, I know what you’re up to. Just don’t leave the shop in a mess. Like last time!”

“Mom.” April rolled her eyes. “Well, Yes, I’m taking my lovely girlfriend home, and Yes, she’s staying the night.” She grabbed Emma’s hand. “I’ll see you all later!”

“See you later.”, Rachel tried not to giggle. “I guess it’s just us now, June.”

“Up for another drink?” June didn’t want to leave just yet.

“Sure.” Rachel sighed.

“Something up?” June began pouring Rachel another glass of wine. “You can tell me.”

Yes, June did care about Rachel, but she also wanted to hear the gossip.

“Nothing, nothing really.” Rachel sighed.

“Ok, now you have my attention.” June began filling her glass. “This sounds like we need another bottle of wine.”

Rachel nodded. Things weren’t that bad, but she also didn’t feel like going home sober.

“So, Rachel, what’s up?” June asked.

“Well… I guess it’s just… well… it used to be Jessica, Emma, and Me, friday drinks after work, playing games on the weekend. It was fun. Now… Emma’s always out on dates, Jessica’s training, and it feels like I never get to see my friends anymore.”

She sighed.

“I’m not unhappy for them… I’m not jealous, either. Emma’s so happy, it’s almost annoying! I’ve never seen Jessica so engaged or determined, it’s just… I just feel like I’m stuck, like everyone else is moving on without me.” Rachel downed the last of her wine. “Like I’m going to be left behind.”

“That’s not fun.” June sighed. “I know how you feel, too.”

“Oh?” Rachel smiled, “Go on, misery loves company and all.”

June sighed. “Well, April took over my shop, changed everything. Even Eric, good old reliable Eric, quit his job, and I have to fetch my own morning coffee now. I’m not sad, I just miss how things were, but I guess that’s part of getting older.”

“I guess.” Rachel nodded.

“Sometimes,” June began, “You aren’t stuck, you’re just waiting for the right moment to change. Emma’s moment happened. Eric’s moment happened. Yours will happen too! I know it!”

“Maybe.”

“Have you taken any holiday? Have you done anything for yourself?”

“No. Not really.” Rachel sighed. “Bleagh.”

“Well, it might not change much, but you do sound like you need a break.”

“I need another glass of wine.” Rachel laughed. “And a break, too!”

Another bottle of wine was quickly obtained and was demolished almost as quickly.

Rachel went on to moan about work. The endless meetings, the all consuming deadlines, email that never seemed to end. June had a little bit of a whine too, about the nightmares of running a small business, and the torment of retail work.

“How did you end up with a bookstore, anyway?”

“Old friend of the family made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.” June explained. “I always wondered if I made the right choice, can’t say it worked out great, but, it isn’t as soul crushing as working in an office.”

“That’s for sure.” Rachel laughed. “I didn’t realise you used to work in an office, I thought you’d always been a book seller. Well, that and the rumours.”

“Rumours?” June posed, “About me?! Do tell.”

“Well, just the one.” Rachel was giggling. “Are you really a vampire?”

“What?”

“Eric used to joke, he worked for a vampire. Didn’t like the daylight, never seemed to get a day older. Spoke dead languages.” Rachel laughed.

“Last time I checked, no.” June laughed back. “Not a vampire.”

“Ah well.”

“I was a witch though.” June cackled. “Don’t tell anyone. Hehe.”

“Uhuh.” Rachel replied deadpan. “Know any good spells for happiness?”

“Sure. Quit your job.” June waved her hands. “Voila!”

Emma was a little giddy, and thought it would be fun to tease April.

“Is it really Ok to leave Rachel alone with your mother?”

“Should be fine. Rachel can drink. June won’t misbehave.” April laughed. “Probably.”

“How reassuring.” Emma laughed. “Wait, never mind. Rachel just texted me… give me a minute. I need to make a phone call.”

April wasn’t sure what was being discussed, but Emma did not seem too happy. Her happy-go-lucky smile had been replaced with a scowl.

“Rachel? Really? I know… I guess… even so? What are you going to do? Uhuh. Uhuh. Well. Yeah I’ll cover for you, but, well… Yeah. See how you feel tomorrow? Don’t let drunk you decide things for sober you, ok?”

Emma hung up and sighed.

“That bad?” April could guess the answer.

“Rachel wants to quit her job.” Emma stared at April. “Said June gave her the idea.”

“Sounds like Mom.” April replied. “Sorry. Do you need to go handle things?”

“No. Rachel’s a grown up. A very drunk one who hates her job, but a grown up.”

“Do you want me to take your mind off work?” April didn’t want her night ruined.

“No….” Emma stopped. “Yes. Yes please.”

Meanwhile on the other side of the world, Anna, Jessica, and Eric were sitting in a hotel room, also getting drunk. The match had gone well, work had sent Anna a case of energy drinks as a congratulations gift, but that wasn’t why they were celebrating.

“I DID IT.” Jessica was doing a small victory dance, “I REALLY DID IT.”

Jessica had finally succeeded in casting a spell. Nothing too fancy, nothing too complicated, but a magic spell nonetheless. Unlike Eric, she didn’t have a fancy weapon to practice with, and it had proven far more difficult for her to get things started.

“Congratulations Jessica!” Eric was proud.

He did feel a little smug too, but not that smug. Anna had explained to him exactly why he’d found magic so easy. When she bit him all those months ago, to pick up his language skills, he’d ended up with some of her skills in return. That, and sleeping in the same bed every night meant he’d been exposed to a little more mana along the way.

“I also have good news.” Anna was smiling. “I found the right metal to make tools.”

Along with teaching the other two the rough basics of mana, she’d also been doing research to find out which metals, chemicals, and other things had the right temperament for building magical artefacts.

“You… wait?” Jessica had just one question, “Do I get a sword too!?”

Jessica had tried to hide her envy of Eric’s sword, but didn’t always manage it.

“Unlikely.” Anna sighed. “It’s still way too early for that. This is more stuff like measurement tooling, mana detection, training devices. Maybe.”

“Maybe?” Eric asked.

“Maybe.” Anna sighed. “I’m not a metalsmith. There’s no mana crystals here. I have nothing to calibrate it against…”

“You do!” Jessica replied. “You can measure a regular person, and yourself, and then us. It’s still enough to measure our progress, right?”

Anna nodded.

The thing was, she wanted to know if her own mana was dwindling. Something that would make leaving this world a lot harder, but that wasn’t the easiest topic of conversation.

“Well.” Eric shrugged. “It’s a first step, one of many. If we don’t have the right tools, we’ll just have to make them, and with the computer on our side maybe we’ll have a fighting chance.”

“Ooooh. That’s a point.” Jessica pulled up her laptop. “I’ve been working on the simulator and…”

That was the end of the celebratory drinks. It was time for another impromptu lecture on the mechanics of mana.