I awake at dawn, the glow of sunlight just beginning to warm my bedroll. Sleeping on the sandy beach isn’t bad at all. In fact, I’d wager it’s better than any sleep I’ve ever had before the invasion, all thanks to the coding in Libertas. A flock of white birds flap thunderously overhead as I ponder the old Earth days. Then, dread and guilt bubble up in my belly as I remember last night’s conversation with Rin.

With a groan, I clamber out of my bag, pick it up, and re-kindle the small fire pit between Rubble and I. Sitting right before it, I watch the flames and contemplate what to say to Rin. I get the feeling that I was too open with her and scared her away. Finding the right words to apologize and try to restore any gap I’ve created becomes the single focus of my mind. The big guy doesn’t stir me from my thoughtful staring for nearly an hour. When he’s finally up, we small talk for about five minutes, neither of us commenting on our missing companions, before we decide it’s time to get this show on the road again. I break the ice with a message:

Aiden Rockwell: Hey, guys. Ready to run this dungeon again? I figure we have five more play-throughs before we all reach level 20. We can get it done before noon if we start now.

A long and unsettling minute passes. I become a nervous wreck, my mind spiraling around thoughts about how Felix must know what I said to Rin last night and how it’s destroyed our party’s ability to work together.

Rin Akari: Sure. Logging in.

Felix Brandt: omw

I sigh in relief and mutter thanks to myself when I see those messages, which makes Rubble raise an eyebrow at me, curious.

I shake my head, and say, “Just thanking the entire universe…”

The big guy shrugs, and we wait while the others appear just a short distance from our little campsite. Felix approaches us first, his cassock robes flapping in the breeze, and quickly goes to fiddling around in his HUD. Rin, on the other hand, comes as graciously as princess. On light steps, the sand parts under feet. Her eyes are cast ahead, but she doesn’t even acknowledge me with a glance. I’m happy that she’s here, and I want to say something, but I’m afraid of making things worse. So I stick to game-related topics and ask her a question.

“What are you going to do with that seeing orb?”

Her head swivels down to me, casting her gaze my way for the first time. There’s a new kind of tenderness in her violet eyes that I’ve never seen before. She looks reserved, detached, maybe even somber. In a quieter voice than usual, she simply says, “I’m going to turn it in to Wilford when we hit level twenty. I’d rather take a smaller risk than a bigger one right now.” Rin looks away towards the ocean before I can even nod or add more to the conversation, making this the first time I can ever remember getting the cold shoulder.

Not much more is said between us for the next five minutes, the next hour, or the hours after that. The morning turns into an endless cycle of dungeon-clearing, boring and dreary. We go through the motions of clearing The Dead Bay again and again until we’re practically machines. The entire time we’re grinding, I just wish that Rin would say more than two words at a time. Her stubborn silence makes me pretty sure that what I said to her last night has upset her. I feel bad, and know that we need to talk about it more. In private, preferably, as I don’t think that anything but a face-to-face conversation can set things right. Until the time comes, I brood on what I’m going to say as we work on leveling up. We’re so practiced by our final run that we set up the cannons for Jelly-Joel without a single word and before anyone takes a single step onto the main deck.

When the big boss goes down, and that magic moment of hitting level twenty comes, I can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed about it. It feels good to reach another step closer to the end goal, but somehow things just don’t sit right with me.

Congratulations! You have reached level 20! 1 attribute point has been awarded!

Player Status Changed: Adept

You are now able to form your own Adventuring Guild.

Formation requirements:

1. Minimum of four players in party, all level twenty or higher.

2. One Cornerstone, constructed and placed on unoccupied territory, or captured from an existing settlement by eliminating all enemies in a siege.

Cornerstone: The foundational block of a settlement from which grand cities can be made. Claims ownership of nearby grounds and constructs a City Hall upon placement. Cost: 10,000 Food. 10,000 Lumber. 10,000 Stone. 10,000 Gold.

3. Have fun :)

That last line forces me to take a deep breath to put my head back into the right mindset. We are on the verge of reaching our goal, and there’s no sense in being glum right now. I know that changing how I think about things and growing stronger as a person is something that takes time, and I can’t hold myself in contempt for mistakes I’ve made in the past. Most recently, my conversation with Rin is feeling like a big mistake, and I will struggle with it. Today, tomorrow, and probably beyond. But it’s up to me to look at myself and recognize when I get too hard on myself and consciously change my thoughts. I will push on. I will become a better person and make things better between us. Most importantly, I will save the Shield.

Back on the beach, both Rin and Felix hit level 20, too, but Rubble is still sitting at 19 on account of the sacrifice he made for me at the Five Roses Keep. I run the math quickly, and discover that we don’t have to run The Dead Bay again thanks to the experience reward we will get for turning in our quests.

With a quick pace, it’s only a matter of time before we reach the outer walls of Gormsay. Today’s weather is sunny and warm. Tufts of white clouds carry on an easy breeze that lessens the heat that radiates from the massive red blocks of stone. As we pass through the gatehouse, I can’t help but notice that everyone seems a little happier than before. The repetitiveness of dungeon grinding probably had something to do with everyone’s melancholy mood, and I’m glad that chapter of our journey together, our mad dash to level twenty, is finally coming to an end.

Standing in the light that filters through the chapel’s stained glass, Rin hands Wilford her seeing orb. His wrinkled hands take the ball of swirling shadows with care and a slight look of revulsion. Smacking his lips a few times, he says, “By Rothgar’s holy flames, you’ve brought me something very dark. The source of the undead scourge beneath the waves. The anger, the misery, oh, I can sense it. The soul locked inside this orb is nothing but fury, taking control of those who died in the bay, fusing them with the living sea creatures and commanding them to attack the city it so hates. I could not say who resides inside it, but I may be able to nullify some of its power. Not enough to command it myself, but to make it easier for you to do so. Would you like that?”

Rin’s answer comes quickly, and Wilford hobbles off to the altar behind him. I take a seat on one of the pews and watch the old priest intently. With his back to us, he recites words in another language. I can’t understand the words, but by the cadence and tone I can tell it’s either a poem or a scripted prayer. The candles all around the dais burst into jets of flame several feet high. A deep thrumming seems to fill the air as bright light floods the room, pouring out from the orb. In moments, the candles’ fires shorten and things are back to normal.

The priest returns and holds out his hand. The apple-sized orb is vastly different than it was before. Half yellow and now only half swirling with darkness. “It is done,” Wilford says with a wheeze. “I’ve done what I can. Go forth and give this poor soul new purpose. In Rothgar’s name, of course.” The old man winks at Rin. She takes it in her hands and stares into its depths for a moment. Then, before I know it, messages fill our party chat.

Rin attempts a convergence!

Rin has overpowered the dark spirit of Sir Jaime the Pirate inside the seeing orb, who lay tormented in Gormsay’s bay for years.

(LV. 18) Sir Jaime’s Heart (Class D Sea-Witch Nether Orb) has been bound to Rin’s character.

(LV. 18) Sir Jaime’s Heart (Class D Sea-Witch Nether Orb)

+22 Damage

Special Feature: Unaspected basic attacks are now of the water affinity.

Magic Action: Sea-Witch Freeze: Flood a 10 by 10 area within thirty feet and freeze enemies in place for 2 seconds.

This summoner’s orb belonged to Coralia, a mermaid and sea-witch betrothed to Sir Jaime before she was hunted down and killed by King Daeve of Gormsay for her witchcraft.

“Huh,” I mutter aloud. “That explains why the Jaime’s soul was strong enough to control others, and sending the undead to attack the city. Revenge is a powerful motivation, I guess.”

Rin nods and stows the seeing orb away. That Artifact will be a helpful addition to our party, especially with the ability to freeze targets momentarily. The damage bonus almost makes me jealous, as it’s two more than the Rose Sabre, but I suppose it is eight levels higher. Thinking ahead, I hope that somewhere out there is another version of this exact same sword.

#

Choosing a tavern is a lot harder in Gormsay than it was in Birch Castle. Not because there’s less of them, but because there are far less reputable-looking establishments. Seedy harbor-side shacks overflowing with mustached swashbucklers seems to be the most common place to get a drink. By the time we settle down at a booth, in a place called The Tasty Whale, dusk is upon us and the fireplaces are roaring.

The smell of fish sautéing in garlic butter fills my nose as I scootch my rear closest to the wall. Rubble closes in and nearly crushes me into it as he takes up most of the seat. The ale is quickly served and all four of us let out long sighs and lean back in our seats, tired from a long day of grinding and walking and shopping. I’ve already outfitted myself with the best armor a level twenty warrior can wear, and the others have upgraded accordingly, too.

Felix is the first to bring up the thoughts I know we are all dwelling on. He says, “well, this is it. The beginning of the end. Which is also a beginning, I guess.”

I nod, and smile. “I think you mean to say that the end of this chapter is the beginning of a new one.”

“Right. So what are you going to call this new Guild of ours?”

“Me?” I ask, surprised. “I might be the one spurring this on, but you’re kinda the one that started all this. To get back at the River Raiders, that is.”

Felix shrugs. “The three of us kinda had a mutual understanding that it was time to leave that guild. I don’t think it was any one person’s idea, hence I’m open to suggestions.”

Rubble’s eyes seem to light up like a runway model about to step into the spotlight, completely overjoyed for a chance to be the center of attention. “I have a few ideas if no one else has any. They’re really good.”

Rin rolls her eyes. “You have ideas?” She weaves her fingers together and rested her chin on her. “Does the name of our new guild involve anything along the lines of farts or boogers?

Rubble’s bushy black brows crease into one uniform line that says ‘offense taken’. “No. I’m not a child, Rin.”

“Well, I’m already surprised. Tell me what they are then, big guy.”

Rubble lifts his chin and points a sausage finger into the air, and says in a distinguished tone, “The Castle Crashers.”

I gave a halfhearted nod.

“I kinda like it,” Felix says. “One problem. Wasn’t there a movie called that?”

Rubble snaps his fingers. “Oh, damn. That’s right. How about… uh… the… desert… saviors? The Desert Saviors!”

No one seems enthused at that one.

“Or the Dessert Savorers.”

Again, there is silence. But this time it’s accompanied by eye rolls.

“Come on! Everyone savors their dessert, right? Okay, okay. Neither of those names. Stop looking at me like you’re going to slap me, Rin. Well… We started down this rabbit hole to spite the River Raiders right? Let’s do something that’s the complete opposite of their name! The Land Farmers! The Beach Builders! The Coastline Cabaret-”

“Enough,” Rin says, laughing. “You really think we’d be down for any of those, Rubble?”

He shrugs. “…Maybe.”

Rin shakes her head, smiling. “We’re not. How about we just name the Guild after how we’re starting it, huh?”

“I don’t have any objections,” I say. “But how would that work?”

Rubble cross his arms, clearly frustrated that the spotlight has shifted. With a pouting lip, he says, “Yeah, Rin. Give me some examples, here, if you can even think of anything.”

By the way Rin glares at Rubble, I can tell she’s accepted his challenge to come up with a better name than his suggestions. She stalls by lifting her mug to her lips and slowly draining it of its contents with gradual sips. When empty, she slowly sets the empty flagon down, then further drag out the time by meticulously licking at the foam on her lips, dapping them against the sleeve of her arms a few times, and then once more for good measure. Just before Rubble’s head explodes like a furious volcano, Rin says, “How about… The Starlight Roses?”

All at once, Rubble relaxes. He scratches his scruff, repeats the name aloud for himself, analyzing the sound of it, and smirks. Even he can’t help but admit it’s a good name.

“Thank you,” Rin continues. “Starlight for the town we’re about to take—our first town—and Roses for the Warrior of the Five Roses Keep, without whom we never would have made it this far.”

I feel my cheeks get hot and shake my head. “I don’t want to be any part of the name. Even implied. It just seems a little weird to me.”

Felix interjects, “Maybe we should go with—” but Rin cuts him off with a finger.

“No, Aiden. You’re a big reason why we’re here. Who knows if we would have even found a fourth person that we liked enough to join us by now. We could still be level 15.” She takes another drink. “Besides, you’re a big reason we’re pushing for all of this. And the name sounds good, most importantly. The Starlight Roses.”

“I am not one to normally say this,” Rubble says, “but I concede in our duel of wits, Rin.” He folds one arm across his belly and bows his head in a formal gesture. “You are clearly the mastermind of this whole operation, and you’ve got a point. The name is catchy and it means something to us. I say we go with it.”

Felix raps his knuckles on the table lightly. “The Starlight Roses, huh… For Aiden’s rose sword and the village of Starlight… The only problem with that, and I was going to tell you this now, is that another guild has just taken control of Starlight as of this morning.”

I throw up my arms. “Who?”

“Who has all the power around here?”

My hands come slamming back down onto the table. “The River Raiders.”

“Those bastards!” Rin fumes, slamming her cup down. “How does this keep happening?”

He nods. “It’s simple, they are everywhere around here. I figured this might happen, but I suppose this means that it’ll make the formation of our guild that much sweeter when we rip their village from their hands. Not much is going to change from a plan of operations perspective. We’ll still attack Starlight mostly the same way, assuming they don’t change much. Unlike the rest of you, I’ve run all of the Alliance scenario quests. One of which, called “A Guild Has Many Arms”, allows me to hire NPC mercenaries.”

“You can do that?” I blurt. “I though you could only get NPC’s to fight for you if you already owned a town with the necessary buildings. Like barracks, or a seedy tavern for spies. And if we have to hire them, how much will that cost?”

Felix runs a hand through his black hair, smiling impishly. “Well, they are exceedingly expensive, and not nearly as good as an army made of players, so if you’d rather go recruiting I’m sure my wallet wouldn’t mind.”

I chuckle. “The words coming out of my mouth part is where you lost me. I don’t think I’d be a good recruiter.”

Felix shrugs. “No problem. It’s actually not that expensive, just depends on what kind of troop you want. Ten gold pieces an hour per peasant. Double that for a foot soldier, and again for an archer… You get the idea. Different troop configurations have different costs, and for a village the size of Starlight I’d say we could take it with fifty troops, comprised of about two parts foot soldiers, one part archers, and one part a mixture of wizards and summoners. Tricky part is that the troops have to come from the nearest unconquerable capitol, not a guild-owned town. Birch Castle, in our case.”

I pause to open my HUD’s calculator and run rough numbers based on the cost of soldiers and archers per hour and the amount of time the journey and siege could take. My jaw drops open when I see the final number. “18,000 gold?!? How can we afford that much? Figuring twenty five soldiers and twenty five archers, and I know wizards have to cost more than an archer, we’re looking at 1,500 an hour and we’re only assuming twelve hours of walking and sieging, here. We’ll probably have to rest before the fight, and—” With a groan, I run my hands over my face and eyes, stretching the skin and trying to rub the stress out. I ask, “If we’re looking at spending 18,000 gold, why don’t we just make a Cornerstone? That only costs 10,000 gold.”

“Well, because then theirs supplies to gather. The lumber and stone, that will take a while. Plus, it’ll only give us a town hall. Starlight already has a town hall that’s been leveled up a bit, a barracks, an inn, a forge, a well, and more. That’s time we don’t have to spend building. I’m not going to lie, it’s going to cost a lot, and I’m going to need some help for this, so whatever gold you guys can spare would help reduce how much it hurts. Considering how many River Raiders were in Bandit’s Pinch, I don’t think ten or twenty players would even be enough. We need some big numbers, just to be safe. But keep in mind that these are NPC’s, not players, and they’ll die like NPC’s, but it’s better than us running in there by ourselves.”

“He’s right,” Rin says. “If it’s just the four of us it’s guaranteed we won’t take Starlight.”

Felix nods, and his eyes turn suddenly serious as he turns his gaze back to me. I almost feel uncomfortable as he says, “So, you need to decide here. We’ve played along for almost two weeks now, rushing to hit level 20 and getting ready to create this guild and take this town, but if we fail and we all reset back to level one, are you ready to let this mutiny thing slide? Not all of us heard what you did, and I don’t know about Rubble and Rin, but I’m exhausted from all this. Look at how hard we worked in The Dead Bay today. It’s clear none of us were happy grinding that thing over and over again.”

Melancholy strikes me, and begrudgingly, I say, “I have to admit you’re right. That was a real drag.”

“So,” Felix continues, “If we fail, will you leave this notion of mutiny behind you? I only ask because If we can’t take this town I can’t say we will ever successfully get a town, especially in your time frame. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that we want to have fun in Libertas, not treat it like twelve hour shifts. You’ll have to find someone else to help you out if you want to go at a breakneck pace again.”

Turning my head to break eye contact and stare out across the dusty tavern, I think about how long it’s taken to get here and all the hard work these guys have put in for me. I understand that they don’t have the same vindication that I do. I’m the one who overheard the conversation in Cutter’s Cry and I don’t expect them to believe me one hundred percent. Shoot, we only just met, really. It’s only been a little over a week. All I can do is hope that we don’t die. Push on and try harder.

I sigh. “I can’t just drop it, even if we don’t take Starlight successfully. That’s like me not caring to lock my door at night when I know there’s thieves out there. So, I guess if we all die, I’ll continue on my own. So as your friend, let’s focus on taking Starlight and not letting that happen, please.”

“That’s what I thought you’d say,” Felix says with a smirk. He shrugs. “Hopefully we will at least get some revenge on those River Raiders.”