Ejected from the Reminiscence after our second completion, I managed to keep my footing, but Windy is less fortunate, and collapses into a heap again, thanks to Jade bouncing off of her.

"Is it always like this?" Windy moans on the floor, rolling onto her back like a bronze turtle,"Ugh, tired."

"You get used to it after a while," I sigh, feeling the fatigue myself, "But that should be both of you caught up to Level 5, so we'll take a quick breather and start heading back to Meteo City."

"Do we have to..?" Jade whimpers.

"Yep. Can't stay here, the soldiers get annoyed if you try camping out," I rub my eyes, not too enthusiastic about the long walk back. Hopefully, we'll get there just as the gates are about to close.

Nudging the prone Windy with my foot, I walk to the entrance of the tunnel, "Come on, you don't want to be lying there when another group comes out."

Groaning in protest, she picks herself off the floor with a hand from Jade, "I ache all over. This is way worse than Gragg. Ow."

"I gotchu babe," Jade soothes her friend, "Come on, lean on me if you need to."

Blinking rapidly to adjust to the contrasting brightness of the soon-to-be-setting sun, I stretch out my aching Vessel's muscles, "Actually, on second look, no break. It's later than I thought it was."

The girls groan, unwilling.

"Yeah, I know, I'm not happy either, but trust me if we don't, we'll have to come back here to make up for the level we lose from abandoning our Vessel to it's doom in the nighttime wilds," I try to be as diplomatic as possible, knowing it's still a tall order, "Get your newest attribute points allocated, then we're going, no complaining."

"Yessir..." A thoroughly deflated Windy sighs, then walks to the edge of the barricade and enters meditation with me and Jade.

"""<Introspection>, <Improve>"""

Name: Silver Nosster

Title: Beloved Blade

Race: Silva

Level: 5

Class: Fighter

HP 370/370

Stamina 27/190

MP 60/60

Attributes

• Strength - 15(+2)
• Agility - 10
• Dexterity - 15
• Resilience - 10(+5)
• Imagination - 5
• Wisdom - 8
• Charisma - 25
• Perception - 10(+15)
• Willpower - 5

My stats are definitely not ideal for a Fighter thanks to my extreme investment into Charisma, but that's all I need for the time being, and it'll balance out in the end. For the next 5 levels, I'll be splitting my points between Strength, Agility and Dexterity in that order until they're all at a base of 30, which, conveniently is all 50 free attribute points. While I don't plan on keeping them in lockstep with each other forever, it's a bad idea to let one get too far ahead of the other. Any time I have extra points though, I'll be pushing them into Imagination, Perception and Willpower, since any magical effects I generate through skills and items will be affected by Imagination, Perception starts to become important as a companion to Agility and Dexterity in order to allow you to react to incoming attacks, and Willpower is just never bad to have in good supply to deal with mental interference of all kinds.

Depending on what 'gift' Jannis is preparing, my priorities might change, however. Which is why I'm hedging my bets and going for an even split.

I don't ask what the girls do with their level ups when they're done, since that would be more than a little intrusive. It'd be one thing if they were my direct subordinates, but I can only tentatively call them potential allies. Their teamwork is of a pretty high standard, to say nothing of their quite acceptable individual strengths.

Not sure how to broach the subject of continued cooperation, though. Recruitment was never my job back in Raid Knights, my old guild - I spent my time split between crafting, grinding and raiding as a regular member. I was never an officer, even if I know how to string along a PuG.

Gesturing for them to follow, I start the arduous journey back to Meteo City as I muse on how to improve my leadership abilities.

---

 

Gatehouse, Meteo City

The three of us huff and pant from the last-ditch sprint into the city, the large portcullis and siege-reinforced doors closing shut behind us. We cut it a little too close for comfort, but we, along with a few other stragglers, just barely made it through in time.

"Existence is torme-he-heent..." Windy complains, eliciting a half-hearted mumble of agreement from Jade, who's flopped on the floor with the grace of a starfish.

"Suck...it up..." I wheeze, "We still...have a little further to go...before we get...to log out...eugh..."

"w h y," is the soft-spoken response from the splayed out Panoplast.

Taking a gulp of saliva, I give a truncated explanation, "Logging out...leaves your Vessel...vacant and vulnerable. Need to find...a s-safe place for it first."

"Fuuuuck meeeee..." Windy groans, stomping closer, "If you tell me we're going back up the hill, aalll the way across the city, to the Cathedral...I might actually stab you."

Jade waves one of her last arrows, "Saaaame."

I wave in the negative, "Next street over from Stone Arsenal. I've been allowed to use an old safehouse in the basement of a bar for basically free until I finish a Quest I'm on. No rush, though."

Huffing, I feel breath returning to my body, then offer Jade a hand up.

"If we could afford mounts, we'd be using them, believe me."

"You owe me a fucking drink after we get out," Jade grumbles, taking it.

I quirk a brow, "We'll see if you still say that after exfiltration. Or did you forget about your hangover this morning?"

Jade's face assumes a look of disgusted horror, "Oh. Rrrright. Shitfuck."

Windy doesn't look too enthused by this reminder either, dipping her head back with her thumb massaging her forehead, regretting her life choices. Substance abuse and VR do not mix, kids.

I spread my arms helplessly, "Well, that's your problem to deal with. If you don't have any objections to logging off now, you can follow me. Or find your own place to leave your Vessel and log out in your own time."

The pair consider it.

Rubbing the back of her head, Windy lets the arm flop back to her side with a metallic chink, "I think I'm done. Jade?"

"I'm done if you are. Lead on, Tour Guide," Jade jabs me with her finger, waving me on.

I ignore her provocation, "By all means."

---

 

VR Capsule Room Hallway, Gaming Sanctuary

Sat cross-legged against the wall with my Pane, typing up some notes, editing plans and making additional ones, the silence is punctuated by the muffled, suffering groans of a pair of women deeply regretting their life choices from inside nearby rooms, accompanied by the mumbling assurances and advice of their co-workers.

First to emerge is Winfrey, looking pale and accompanied by the guy I saw with them the other day.

"Take it slow alright? Do you need some water?" He asks, concerned.

"Please, thank you," Her voice is a little hoarse.

"Alright, don't sit down just yet. I'll be back real quick, alright?" So saying, he jogs down the corridor and out of sight around the corner.

Jade leaves her room a moment later mumbling curses under her breath with another guy I only barely recognise, but one that left less of an impression. Likewise, he jets off down the corridor like he had the fear of God put into him.

"You both look terrible," I observe.

"Fuck off," Sherry snaps.

"Agreed. Sh'fuck up. F'ls like m'minds gone through juicer.." Winfrey mumbles, face in her palm.

Sighing, I rummage through my backpack and retrieve an unopened bottle of energy drink, "Recovery Potion, going once..."

Sherry snatches it out of my outstretched hand and hands it over to Winfrey after wringing off the sportscap, "You first."

She chugs a good half of it in seconds before handing it over to Sherry to finish off, exhaling slowly and smiling at me, "Thanks. Feels a little better."

I shrug, "It's no substitute for a meal and some sleep, but it'll tide you over."

"Phew," Sherry empties the bottle and crumples it in her hand, "Yeah, I'm starving. Wanna hit up a takeout, Win?"

She nods, "Mm. How 'bout you Alex?"

Putting my Pane away, I nod, "Yeah. Wanted to talk anyway, might as well. What's local?"

Jade pulls out her phone to check the time, "I think Anetti's is open?"

Winfrey chews her lip, looking off to the side, "Yep. Split the bill on an extra-large pepperoni?"

"Yeah. Don't go ordering more alcohol, though, you'll only make the headache worse," I remind them, standing up and shouldering my backpack.

The guy who ran off for water rounds the corner again with a large coffee mug with what I assume is water in, "Hey, Win!"

She takes it gratefully, gulping the whole thing down quickly, "Thanks, Henry. Appreciate it."

Henry smiles and shakes his head, "It's my job, Win. How was the dive?"

"Mmm. Text you in the morning when I've processed it?" Winfrey offers, "We're going to go eat a bigass pizza and it's all I can think about through the headache. It calls to me, Henry."

He tuts, "Don't taunt me with pizza. I'm running on two cans of Green Lightning and a microwave curry."

Sherry hums, "When's your shift end?"

Henry sighs, "Closing time. I'm helping Chase lock up."

She snorts derisively, "You mean you're locking up while Chase is getting high in the staff room."

He shrugs, "Pretty much. Dude only does it at closing, not like it matters much."

The conversation continues into further gossip from there, and I can practically feel my eyes glazing over when the audible grumble of Winfrey's empty stomach trigger's Sherry's protective instincts toward her best(?) friend.

"Oh, right. Sorry sorry sorry. Um, catch up tomorrow?" Sherry entreats Henry anxiously.

He smiles, "Go on."

The girls run off ahead, and I exchange a silent nod with the man before following after at my own piece, leaving Henry to presumably clean the Capsule rooms ready for the next clients.

---

 

Anetti's Late Night Pizzeria

"Oh, cool. The table is free," Winfrey remarks, looking in from the large display window to a shabby looking pizza place. With the contractually required half-there green and red lettering denoting the opening times and telephone order number emblazoned upon the glass, faded stock photos of pizza being lifted out of pans, trailing cheese behind taped along the bottom with a menu.

Exactly the right place to get pizza when you're experiencing a mega-hangover and don't want to splurge on price. Places like this are synonymous with those off-brand KFC takeouts. There's at least one in every city, and they're all functionally the same restaurant for low-effort dining on a budget.

Opening the door causes an electronic whine to emanate from somewhere in the kitchen beyond a door on the otherwise of the counter. A portly woman with grey, curly hair and a white apron with splotches of darkened red pushes her way out, "Ah, hello girls. He's new, Henry not with you today?"

Her accent is surprisingly American - I'm not well-versed in American accents, though it sounds like an old friend from California's - but less surprising is her familiarity with my new acquaintances. Students are very much in tune with any and all nearby takeout joints as a method of survival. Personally, I have to order delivery due to where I live, but I also get second dibs on some of the leftovers from Le Chevalier before I throw it out, so the extra cost balances out.

"Still working," Winfrey explains, "Extra-large pepperoni, please? We're splitting the bill - Oh, this is Alex by the way."

She gives me a wide, friendly smile, "A pleasure. One pepperoni, coming up."

The floorspace for the front area of the pizzeria is small and is only able to accommodate a single, four-person table with chairs. Taking a seat, one after another, I pull out my Pane once more and get to typing.

"That was a day," Winfrey deflates into the plastic deck chair.

Resting her arms and head on the table, Sherry yawns, "No kidding. Feel like I pulled an all-nighter before an exam with heavy metal cranked up."

I stifle a yawn of my own, "How'd you think it went?"

Clasping her hands together, and pressing her index fingers to her lips, Winfrey glances around in thought, only for Sherry to interject, "It suuucked. Hard."

Winfrey's head bobs sideways, conceding the point, "There's a lot to criticise. Control lag, wooden NPCs, overcrowded starting zone and some frankly arcane knowledge requirements if half the shit you mentioned needing to avoid is true."

"I'll give you that. The game expects you to interact with all the NPCs to find out a lot of the information I passed on, but they're so...shitty for the most part, that nobody bothers right now," I agree.

She nods, "I was about ready to not play it again after today, before I bumped into Gragg. He's a creepy pervert, but he had a depth of character I hadn't seen elsewhere. Gotta admit, if the game was more like that interaction, I'd be interested."

Sherry purses her lips, wanting to say something but deciding not to.

I rap my fingers on the table. Do I take a gamble?

Hm. Why not?

"Well," I place my Pane down for the moment, "What if it was?"

Sherry frowns, "More of that beta tester wisdom?"

Winfrey says nothing, but looks interested. Good sign.

"Not naming names, but I have somewhat reliable info that a large patch will be dropping in about a month, Real time that does exactly that and more?" I hedge, then address Sherry, "Such as throwing the crafting and gathering system in the garbage and making it skill-based and more open-ended?"

I can almost see her Vessel's fox ears perk up as I mention that, "You for real?"

I try to give a convincing smile, "Yeah."

Both of them stay quiet as they process this information until the owner comes out with our order a few minutes later - certainly fulfilling the description of extra-large at close to what must be twenty inches. Pulling a handheld card reader from the large pouch on the front of her apron, we each swipe our payment across it's surface.

"Enjoy!" She smiles again, and heads back into the kitchen.

We start on the meal in silence. After the first slice, Winfrey breaks it, "How reliable is this information, really?"

I glance at my notes on my Pane, "Tomorrow,  Illustrious Investments will announce that they're no longer confident in Hectic Works Ideaware, freeing up 29% in bought-back shares at a very heavy discount, as per their contract."

Taking a bite of pizza I scroll down, "Hectic Works will then leverage this new control to make a new deal with what investors remain. If the Update they're planning doesn't bring in enough customers, then all their assets will be seized and the CEO will pay out a heavy settlement. They're pretty desperate right now with the poor launch figures and reviews."

"So, if they don't announce anything tomorrow, we'll know whether or not you're full of shit. That what you're trying to say?" Sherry waves a pizza crust at me.

"More or less. I don't know exactly when they'll announce it or where, just that they're cutting their losses while they think they still can," I finish my slice.

Winfrey reaches for some more pizza of her own, then stops, "If - And that's if - you're right. Then, that sounds like a game I'd be interested in exploring."

Looking speculatively at her friend, Sherry wavers for a few seconds then nods, "I mean, if you're going to stick around then I will too, I guess."

Suppressing the rising grin with more pizza, I cross my heart, "I duly swear that my source is practically unimpeachable."

Successfully convinced, we spend the rest of the pizza chatting and getting to know each other a little better.