Heather was quick to steal some cookies from the magic fridge and dash out of the kitchen before Quinny saw her. She hurried down the hall and back into her room, where Webster was snoring softly on the bed. She sat before the mirror and shoved a cookie in her mouth while running a brush through her hair. The morning had come, and Frank was waiting to take her on an adventure.

Frank believed he had found a location she would like. He thought it might be the perfect place to build their city, and she was anxious to see it. It had been three days of searching the hills north of the swamps, and most of it had been too rough. But the goblins had carved a road down a mountain pass, creating a safe passage to the hills on the other side. It would put the city a few miles north of the swamp, but that wasn't really a big deal. They would use one of the pairs of magic doors to shorten the journey and make it all accessible.

Heather pulled her cookie out to take a bite as she mused over the idea of building her own castle. She couldn't help but feel a Cinderella-like thrill as she imagined tall thin turrets capped by slender peaked roofs. It would all be in white stone with pink trims and bright yellow domes, shining in the hills like a gem. Of course, all of that was wishful thinking, and her building options were likely to be less glamorous. Still, Gwen's city was nice, and if Heather could copy that style, she would be happy.

She quickly dressed, donning a blue dress with white trims and matching gloves. She put on a darker blue sunhat with white ribbon to match and then turned to wake Webster up. The grumpy spider tried to ignore her prompting until she threatened to pull the blankets out from under him. He finally got up and stretched, yawning with a little squeak. She slung him under one arm and rushed out, heading down the stairs to the lower yard where her palanquin waited. Frank sat nearby, tapping his foot as Heather sauntered up and smiled wide.

“Don’t look so grumpy,” Heather protested. “I have had enough of that already from Webster.”

“You could just walk,” Frank said as Heather loaded Webster into the palanquin.

“Ahem,” Heather said and held up a white-gloved finger. “I am a princess and demand to be treated like one. Besides, I am also a necromancer, and I have servants to do the walking for me.” She snapped a finger, and six skeletons came running, taking up the poles and lifting the palanquin from the ground. Heather smiled and climbed in before waving for Frank to join her.

“You really enjoy this, don’t you?” Frank asked as he used the figurine in his pocket to change into a human form. He climbed in beside her as she snuggled into his arms to enjoy the ride.

“Why not enjoy it?” Heather asked. “I have the most wonderful life, with the most wonderful man. I want to share everything with you and use my powers to improve our life.”

“You’re not afraid to let people see you commanding skeletons?” Frank asked.,

“Lots of classes have skeletons,” Heather protested. “Don't forget I am a recluse. If I have to, I will say I took them from my tower. Besides, nobody has been out here yet.”

“Players have been in Quinny’s forest almost every day,” Frank pointed out.

“Oh, Frank,” Heather sighed and ran a hand up his chest. “If we need to, we can say the skeletons are yours. Now can we go? I am so excited to see this place you found.”

He nodded and ordered the skeletons to march, guiding them into the road and out of the graveyard. He took them up the path to Umtha's fortress but turned before using the bridge. Instead, they followed a twisting trail into the cliffs that took them to a wide pass between the mountains.

“That goblin village we heard about is up here,” Frank pointed out as they ascended the slope. “But it's off the road a bit, so we won't go through it.”

“We are going to have to make a law that forbids players to kill goblins,” Heather pointed out. “I might even have to make a lot of my NPC’s goblins just to get the point across.”

“I was thinking about that,” Frank replied and rubbed Heather’s arm. “I have a feeling we are going to have all the design options Umtha has.”

“You mean goblin architecture?” Heather asked.

“I am willing to bet we will,” Frank said. “We are the goblin king and queen, after all.”

“Oh, don't remind me,” Heather sighed. “I still don't know what to do about that. I suppose there is no harm in being the queen, but Umtha wants more.”

“She still believes you are Hathlisora, and she loved Hathlisora,” Frank pointed out.

“So does Viylah,” Heather replied. “Yet somehow those two don’t know each other. Was Hathlisora a little busy?”

“Ha, it’s funny to hear you talk like that,” Frank laughed. “You almost sound like Quinny.”

“She's rubbing off on me, literally,” Heather commented. “She has gotten all huggy now.”

“Well, you did reward her with a kiss for her haunted house,” Frank pointed out.

“I was being nice,” Heather said with a blush. “And she was a little too friendly long before that. She wears more of my clothes than I do.”

“She loves you,” Frank said. “They both do.”

“Everybody loves me,” Heather moaned. “And I have no idea what to do about it.”

“Well, why don’t we worry about the city first,” Frank suggested. “We can deal with the problems later.”

Heather turned her head and looked at Frank with a sudden appreciation. This was the first time he had suggested they could deal with her problems together. She felt closer to him as if he was truly a part of her being and her problems were important to him. She snuggled in tighter as his arm curled around her shoulder, making her feel as if nothing could ruin her day.

It took nearly an hour to cover the distance, but they eventually turned off the trail and headed into a rougher canyon. Frank explained how this could be the gate to their city, with the mountains the perfect walls for defense. Heather leaned out of the palanquin to get a better look at the towering walls of stone as they passed into a dark passage that led deeper into the unknown. A minute later, the walls dropped away, and Heather gasped as she knew this was where it would be.

They were up on a high mountain ledge wide enough to build houses. Frank explained how this area could be used for farming or just homes as the land was green with grass and wildflowers. The ledge ran along the mountain wall and slowly descended into a vast valley of gently rolling hills. There were sporadic trees and a few stony outcroppings but what really caught her attention was the lake. It spanned the valley from one end to the other, and Frank explained that this was the source of the waterfall in the swamp. He suggested they build the city across the lake on the far shore, where the land was relatively flat. Then they could look out over the lake and valley nestled in the mountain pass.

“Frank, it's beautiful,” Heather gasped and ordered the skeletons to stop so she could get out. She went to the ledge with Frank and stared out over the expanse. She realized they could build a city and a few small villages in this space and still have room to grow. The northern region was less mountainous and more hill, but it was still a well-defined barrier to the outside world. Heather could scarcely believe such a pocket of pristine land was so close to their home and yet unclaimed by anyone else.

“I thought you would like it,” Frank said as his arm went around her waist. “Now we just need a name for our city.”

“Quinny wants to call it Gravesburg,” Heather said with a roll of her eyes.

“Quinny thinks we’re building another undead zone,” Frank replied. “It needs to be something that holds more meaning.”

“It needs to capture the feel of paradise that this valley has,” Heather agreed.

“Why not call it that?” Frank asked.

“Call it what?” Heather replied as she looked at him funny.

“Call it paradise,” Frank suggested and swept his hand to draw Heather's attention to the valley. “Paradise city.”

“Isn't there a song about paradise city?” Heather asked.

“The grass is green, and the girls are pretty,” Frank said as Heather laughed.

“You goof,” Heather giggled and pushed him aside. “We can’t name it that.”

“Yes, we can,” Frank protested. “We can name it anything we want. I once saw a town in the north named Potato.”

“You have got to be kidding me?” Heather balked.

“Nope,” he said with all sincerity.

“Why would anybody name a town potato?” Heather asked.

“Because people think dumb names are funny,” Frank said. “But Paradise city is perfect. We can make it our way and put our rules in place.”

“No feeding the monster players after midnight,” Heather suggested.

“So you saw gremlins too?” he asked.

“I know I lived a sheltered life, but I was a child once, and I watched movies,” Heather insisted. She turned back to the valley and tried to see her city across the lake, shining in the sun. “Paradise city,” she said. “You know what, let's do it. I like the name.”

“Good,” Frank replied and wrapped him in a hug.

“Hmm, now that we have the city name out of the way, we should start thinking of names for our first child,” Heather teased.

Frank sputtered and stumbled back as Heather burst out laughing. She saw the stunned look on his face and nearly fell over as her sides threatened to split.

“That wasn't funny,” Frank said as Heather struggled to breathe.

“The look on your face,” Heather gasped and pointed at him. “You looked like you had seen a ghost.”

“And what would you do if you did get pregnant?” Frank asked.

Heather sobered up and took a moment to gather her senses. She explained that it couldn't happen and there was no point worrying about it. As magical as New Eden was, pregnancy was not a system the visitors included. Frank reminded her there were rumors that it was possible and that some people had actually done it.

“Then, if we decide we want a child, we will figure it out,” Heather said with a shrug. She was about to turn back to look at the valley when Frank swept her up in a powerful hug. “Hey, now!” Heather cried as she was squeezed. “Are you alright?”

“You would really have a baby with me?” Frank asked as his eyes went wet.

“Frank,” Heather cried and turned in his arms to see the joy in his eyes. She had no idea that little comment would hit him so hard. He was so overcome with happiness it radiated in his face. “Frank, do you want a baby?”

“I don't know,” Frank stammered. “It was just the way you said it. You were so confident that you would have one if we wanted it.”

“Oh, Frank,” Heather sighed and cupped his face. “Of course, I would. You would be a wonderful father, and I couldn't imagine anyone better to have a child with, but we both know it can't happen.”

“I know,” Frank replied as he pulled her in tight. “But knowing you would makes me happy.”

“You have really changed,” Heather said as she wrapped her arms around him. “I swear you have matured ten years in the last few weeks.”

“You make me want to be better,” Frank replied. “And you made me realize I wanted somebody to love me. I thought I wanted to be left alone, but you made me understand how lonely I was.”

“Well, you have a woman who loves you, three if my math is correct,” Heather replied.

“Why do you say it like that?” Frank asked.

“Because I am starting to wonder if Umtha likes you too,” Heather said. “She seems very comfortable around you. She could also have given me that crown at any time, but she waited until you and I were married. I suspect she wanted to make sure you became king.”

“Since you brought that up. I have been thinking about something. Have you considered how odd it is that the two crowns are designed to connect together?” Frank asked.

“Yes,” Heather said as she considered the two devices. “They were obviously made to work together, but I don't know why, and I doubt Umtha does either.”

“And now we all have an essence pool,” Frank said and scratched his head. “I wonder why.”

“Let’s not wonder,” Heather said and lay her head on his shoulder. “Let’s just enjoy the moment and plan our city.”

“Why don’t we go across the lake and look at the other side?” Frank suggested and explained they could cross at a narrow point to the side. Heather readily agreed, eager to see the land that would be their new city. She was excited by the prospect of being a ruler and having the power to create a safe region for monster players. They would build lairs and dungeons filled with things to explore, and players would come to earn proper experience. Goblins would be abundant and walk openly in the city, creating a strange mix of monster and hero economies.

Heather and Frank climbed back into the palanquin and ordered the skeletons to carry them down the ridge, eventually reaching the valley floor. Heather was delighted to discover it was abundant with a variety of giant flightless bird a little larger than an ostrich. Frank explained that these were low-level trash mobs and would be good for players to hunt. They saw black bears, a strange six-legged turtle, and even giant snakes as they traveled. The whole valley was teaming with things to hunt, and the southern hills would only have more. Only twice did they get close enough to anger one of the monsters, but they were no match for Heather’s magic.

The stream was a wide rocky brook that was ankle-deep in most places. It came out of the hills and flowed into the lake in a gentle rolling flow. The skeletons had no issue crossing and easily carried the palanquin to the other side. Here they began to traverse gently rolling hills of green grass and wildflowers. It all looked pastoral and wonderful as Frank suggested they build farms and a fishing village on the lakeshore. Heather noted there were huts on the lake shore, tiny things on stilts with funny little men running about. Frank took them closer so Heather could see the murrlings, a race of fish creatures that could survive on land or water. They were never far from the water's edge and built little villages like this one. He described how they, too, would be fun for the players to hunt, creating one more thing for people to do.

Up into the hills, they traveled, seeing more bears, a giant centipede, and even a few spiders slightly larger than Webster. She had to chase off a bear, but otherwise, the journey was uneventful, and eventually, they arrived at a rocky plain high above the lake and overlooking the valley.

“Right here,” Frank said as they stood and looked out over the expanse. “We can put our castle against the mountains and build the city in sections.”

“I love it,” Heather said as she surveyed the land and dreamed. She saw smoke rising from the chimneys of tiny villages and small fishing boats sailing the lake. There would be more trees to the south and maybe some mines in the hills. Farms would spread over the areas that weren't infested with monsters, and quest-giving NPCs would send players into the areas that were. It would be a hub of adventure, with some special locals added for fun.

“So when do you want to start building?” Frank asked as she put her arm around him.

“Not yet,” Heather said. “I want to see it as it was before we changed it. I want to be able to remember this valley while it was untouched.”

“Maybe we should have a painting of it made,” Frank suggested.

“Can we?” Heather asked with a raised brow. “I would love that. We can get the view from up on the ridge before we build the castle, then another a few years later after the city thrives.”

Frank went to agree when something growled to their left. They looked to see a hulking form approaching as its one black eye fixated on them. It looked like a three-meter-tall ape, with dirty gray hair and a single black horn on the crown of its head. Heather immediately recognized it as a rock troll, like the one from their odd pizza adventure. In that battle, they had run, fleeing over a gap in the ground to drop the beast into. This time there was no crack to use to their advantage, but Heather wasn't so sure they needed one.

“A rock troll,” Frank said as he reached into his pouch and wrapped his fingers around the magical statue. With a word of command, he was a towering ghoul with powerfully muscled arms and long hooked claws.

“We’re not running away this time?” Heather asked as Frank walked ahead to intercept the beast.

“I don’t think we need to,” Frank replied as the monster roared and raised its hands in the air. Before he could put them down, Heather had already fired two rotting bolts. They struck the monster and immediately began to wither his skin, opening up festering wounds. It roared and came rushing in, its clawed hands leading the way. Frank collided with the monster and stopped it in its tracks as the two began to trade powerful blows. Heather filled the area with diseased gas, then placed a rotting weakness on the beast to slow it down. She felt an odd sense of calm as the threat felt trivial. She even paused to watch Frank pummel the beast a bit until Webster jumped from the palanquin and chirped.

“What? Oh, I suppose I could help more,” Heather sighed and held out her hand. Black smoke spread, and in moments she was holding her scythe as she sized up the opponent. The troll was still larger than Frank, but not by much. She used her spinning toss, throwing the weapon like a saw blade to cut through its shoulder. She used dash to close the distance, calling the scythe back to her hand. It arrived in her grip just as she passed, allowing a swipe at the back of a leg.

The beast cried out and roared as Heather began to dance around it, using her weapon to cut serious wounds. Frank's claws were equally effective, and when the beast landed a blow on Frank, Heather quickly healed him. It was obvious right from the get-go who was going to win as the two tore the troll apart and finally sent it crashing to the ground.

Heather stood beside her ghoul husband and looked at the battered creature with a pleased smile.

“Do you remember when we ran from one of those?” Heather asked.

“We were much lower level,” Frank replied.

“Which reminds me. I want a stone beards pizza in the city,” Heather said.

“You want to open a pizza place?” Frank asked in surprise.

“No, I just want to eat there. I want somebody else to run it,” Heather explained.

“I am not sure people franchise in this world,” Frank explained as Heather folded her arms.

“Well, somebody better open a pizza place,” she insisted. “I am not traveling all that way every time I want a pizza.” Her thought was interrupted when the troll suddenly twitched, moving a broken arm. Frank stomped it and used his claws to tear the head free of the shoulders as the hand began to twitch again.

“It’s still alive?” Heather asked in surprise.

“Trolls don’t really die,” Frank explained. “They can heal even when slain. Their bodies always recover unless you burn them to ash.”

“I have a better idea,” Heather said and told him to throw the head on the body. She reached out and began to chant, cursing the troll with rot as she glowed blue to boost the effect. The body suddenly began to break down, turning into a green paste as hair fell away and bones crumbled to dust. Heather channeled the effect until the body was nothing but a stain on the hillside, leaving behind the black horn.

“There,” Heather said with a nod. “I can't have a troll running a muck in my kingdom.”

“That was impressive,” Frank commented. “You are getting the hang of tapping your essence.”

“I suppose I am,” Heather said as she thought about it. “Do me a favor, check your character sheet.”

“Why?” Frank asked as she willed the interface open.

“I have nine hundred and eighty-two essence left,” Heather said. “How much do you have?”

“The same,” Frank said in surprise. “But I didn’t use any of my essence,”

Heather nodded in understanding as it started to become clear. It wasn't that they each gained the essence stat; they were sharing the same pool. If any one of them spent essence, it affected them all, but only Heather could control it, thanks to the staff, but Frank and Umtha could not. It was one more mystery about her strange place in the world. Why did she have essence, and why did anyone who married her share it? She explained it to Frank, who said some spells and powers temporarily allowed people to share health or stamina pools. Somehow they were under the effect of something similar but it was permanent.

Heather wanted to ponder the mystery longer, but there were more important things to do. They had a site for their city, and she wanted to ask Gwen how to get a painting made so they could start building. She and Frank would make a kingdom where monster players were encouraged to build, and players punished for trying to reset them. It would be a land full of lairs, and dungeons crafted by skilled players to offer fun adventures. That would draw hero players desperate to level by their thousands and hopefully teach them the benefit of the monster ones.

“Should we go?” Frank asked as Heather took one last look around.

“Yes,” Heather sighed, “But we have more city business to deal with.”

“How so?” he pressed.

“We need to go to the goblin city,” Heather said. “Not acknowledging that we are king and queen is hurting Umtha. My mother is right. It's time we went and sat on our thrones and showed Umtha we intend to honor her gift.”

Frank nodded in agreement and griped his magic statue to return to a human state. They boarded the palanquin and rushed off, heading for the goblin city. They reached it just over an hour later and left the palanquin outside. Goblin guards snapped to attention, and doors were opened for them as they entered. Heather wasn't quite sure where to go but assumed there had to be a throne room someplace. She eventually stopped at a guard and asked him to show her where it was before following the little creature to her destination.

“Wow,” Frank said as they entered a cavernous space. It was a vast round chamber with magical lights across the arched ceiling. The walls were divided by spiraling pillars that went to arched domes decorated with metal reliefs of goblins working on machines. The walls were painted in red and silver with black borders. Spiked symbols adorning shields hung over black banners strung from the pillars. Metal braziers hung from chains burning with an unusually orange flame. The floor was made of black bricks of different shapes but laid out in patterns or rings. At the very back was a round platform that went up seven steps, and at the top of this were five thrones of black stone polished so smooth it appeared to be glass. They had high backs with red cushions woven with a black dragon's head on a gold triangle.

The central throne was the largest, with two smaller thrones on either side as if organized by place. But it wasn't the thrones, banners, or the odd symbols that bothered Heather. It was the banner that hung behind the thrones that did. It was a scene showing Frank in his ghoul form standing prominently in the center. Heather was in his right arm, holding her scythe with fire dancing on the blade. Webster was at her bare feet as she floated over what appeared to be flowers. In Frank's left arm was Umtha, holding a staff that ended in a blue crystal floating in a series of rings. Quinny was in the foreground between Frank and Umtha, while Breanne was in her banshee form, flying above their heads with her arms stretched wide. All of them were set over a backdrop of a gold triangle with a purple outline.

“Umm….” Frank began as they approached the thrones to get a better look at the banner.

“This is going,” Heather said, trying not to sound angry.

“I kind of like it,” Frank said as they reached the steps to the thrones. “It looks neat.”

“This isn't the kind of throne room I want,” Heather protested. “I want fountains and white marble with fresh flowers everywhere.”

“I don’t think goblins are very much into that,” Frank replied as they ascended the steps to stand before the thrones. “And I assume the big one is for me.”

“Why do you get to sit in the center?” Heather asked playfully. “Maybe it’s for me.”

“It's for my ghoul form,” Frank pointed out as he turned around and sat on the throne. “But to be honest, I don't know that I want this. All I ever wanted was to build my graveyard and have a few friends. Now I'm married with lots of friends, and not only am I the prince of one kingdom, but I am the king of another. I didn't want all this responsibility.”

“Oh, Frank,” Heather began as she sat on a throne beside him. “None of us wanted this. I am so sorry my life has dragged you into this mess, but I promise we will do as little of this as we can get away with. I don’t want to play political games or get involved in conflicts. I just want to read my books and lay in your arms while we look up at the sky and dream.”

“Speaking of dreams,” Frank said as he turned to look at Heather. “Do you remember when I told you about how I wanted to build a pyramid?”

“I do remember that,” Heather said as she heard a hint of that excited boy she once knew in his voice, but something was off.

Frank looked around the room and let out a tired sigh as he thought carefully about what he wanted to say.

“I still want to build it,” Frank said with a funny tone.

“What brought this up all of a sudden?” Heather asked as she looked at him Curiously.

Frank got up and pointed to the banner behind them, drawing Heather's attention to the shape. He said the triangle reminded him of the pyramid, and seeing this room brought back the dream. Heather remembered how fondly Frank spoke of the home he wanted to build. But he had wanted to build it in a desert or similar arid place. Frank went on to describe his dream again and then turned to Heather with a funny look.

“When Legeis, Umtha, and I scouted that valley earlier, we found a narrow canyon that goes into the mountains. It goes higher up to a barren area where nothing grows. I might just consider building it there.”

Heather nodded in support, but something was off. His voice sounded more pained than happy. His boyish dream could finally happen, so why was he upset? She was about to press the point when a woman entered the chamber and practically jumped for joy.

“You came!” Umtha cried and ran down the hall. “The goblins finally have a proper king and queen! Horns blared from someplace deep in the halls and goblin faces appeared in the doorways. Word would soon spread that they were sitting on their thrones, and the subjects would come to pay homage.

Heather took one look and Umtha as the horns blared again.

“And now it begins.”