New notification. This one was internal as it was fixed to my vision, unlike the external messages that I had received inside Pook’s quest.

You have received rewards!

Okay, this is Pook speaking. You have successfully completed my quest. I am overjoyed! As a reward, I attempted to increase your level, however, I presume, I will have to conduct more quests before I can increase the levels of those who win. As an alternative reward, I have decided to give a body to your friend, Bono. Unfortunately I must give him a smaller body, owing to the simple nature of the quest. I can grant better rewards when the quests are more complex, which was primarily the reason I was trying to add layers to the quest.

Secondly, I have decided not to keep my stone inside Bono’s head. It’s an instruction from Fono. Would you be so kind as to pass this stone to players somehow? But I would also be delighted if you play more of my quests yourself. Just rub the stone and whisper ‘Quests’ —Wait, what? You want to call your son?

My son? What was Pook talking about? The message was erased, and new text replaced it:

All right, it seems that Fono wants to meet his son. Please join hands with Bono—

Just a blank white box remained. It would be mental to hold Bono’s hand before he had completely cooled. Pook sent a third message.

Upon some consideration I realize that you and Bono would not be able to hold hands until his body has stabilized. Fono would have to wait for some time to meet his son. Anyway, after Bono cools, hold him and speak ‘Let’s Meet’ to my stone.

Pook hadn’t kept his initial promise of unlimited loot as reward.

I told Bono he could meet his father later on, and he was very excited. Only one thing remained to be done–return to the palace. Kiara must be drowning in a Pacific Ocean of anxiety by now. I was not sure how long I had been in Pook’s quest.

I had entered the quest some time in the afternoon. The brisk morning sun was up in the sky now. Except I was not sure if this was the morning of the next day, or the day after the next day, or a week later–which would not be surprising in case time passed at a different speed in Pook’s unique realm.

Before leaving the location, I checked the bodies of the player and his female companion. I had to hold my breath as I approached the corpses. Ants were all over them. Thankfully, I found exactly what I was looking for in Killerguy’s pocket.

The health vial gave me new life. My shoulder pain fizzled out. Energy coursed through my body, chasing away all the previous aches.

There were a total of three health vials in Killerguy’s pocket. Two I kept for later use. Killerguy was less than a mediocre player. I pitied his ghoulish lifeless face and his cracked lips. He could have used the vials to save himself as well as Roxy if only he had acted quickly.

But at the end of the day, everything had worked out in my favor, and I had nothing to complain of. I couldn’t help but let out an optimistic chuckle.

Bono and I trekked in the direction of the palace at a leisurely gait.

When we arrived, Bui was sitting on the courtyard, and she peered curiously at the bobblehead that was Bono.

“Who is that?” she asked in a shivery tone, a frown on her stone forehead, pointing a finger at her lover.

“Who do you think it is?” I said to her with a smile. Tears welled in her eyes as realization struck her.

“B-but…”

“It is me, Bui,” Bono said, rushing for her. I watched as the two of them reunited.

“I thought you died,” Bui said, wiping her moist face.

“It’s a long story,” Bono said. He recounted his misfortune, and I helped with the details, especially the adventure with Fono and Pook. But by the end of it, Bono was hanging his head in remorse.

“Well, it happens that I am barely a stone giant anymore, and you better find somebody else,” he said to her, “I am sorry that I woke you from your sleep.”

“No! What are you saying?” Bui said, appalled. “I am hardly a stone giant myself. Stone giants have two arms, but I have just one.”

“It’s my fault, I woke you up, or else you would still have both your arms—” Bono abruptly froze. A sparkle was in his eyes. He looked down at his body of slowly cooling lava. “Wait,” he said. “Maybe… Maybe I can fix you!”

What transpired next left me in awe.

Bono fused with Bui. Just like the Skhite males and females fused with one another. I watched as Bono wrapped his arms around Bui’s stump. His lava body twisted and adjusted. The temperature increased resulting in a bright red glow. Even Bono’s head melted and changed shape, so did Bui’s stump.

Under the span of a few minutes, Bono had transformed into an arm. Bui’s arm. An arm with two eyes just above the knuckles and two holes for ears on the sides. His mouth was situated at the palm, surrounded by fingers.

Bono and Bui became inseparable for life.

***