Layton swung his sword, taking the head off the last raider.

[Congratulations! You have defeated the first of three raids. The next raid will commence in one week.]

[Level up! Layton has allocated his +5 bonus points to Agility. Bonus stats assigned to Agility and Intelligence.]

[Hidden Objective Complete: No one in your party took any damage. Reward – 500 universal bronze coins.]

“Well, what did you think of that?” Layton turned and asked Mischief once the fight was over. “Personally, I felt like that was easier than the final dungeon. I don’t even think I needed my barrier. What about you?” Mischief just gives another shrug.

Layton starts looting the corpses, but pauses as Jared approaches, followed by the teenager with the large axe. Alex is the first to speak.

“That was the coolest thing I have ever seen in my entire life!” He barely takes a breath between words before Jared rests a hand on his shoulder and pulls him back.

Jared exhales sharply, dragging a hand down his face. His expression is unreadable—shock, disbelief, maybe something else.

“Alex, do you realize what just happened?” His voice is quiet.

Alex blinks. “Uh, yeah. Layton just wiped out a hundred of those things in like a minute! That was insane!”

“No,” Jared says, his tone hardening. He gestures to the massacre around them. “Layton, you told me you were a healer.” He levels a stare at me. “I—just—what the hell was that?”

He kicks the bloody body of one of the massive orcs “This is NOT the work of a healer. Not even close.”

Jared’s obvious anger floors me. My mouth starts working but I’m at a loss of words.

Thankfully Alex comes to my rescue. “Whoa, Jared hold on. Take it easy.”

Jared turns to Alex eyes burning. “Take it easy? Seriously? Alex don’t you get it?” He waves a hand at me. “Layton, without any help from his monster of a friend could kill you and me and every single one of us without breaking a sweat. And he’s already lied about what his chosen class is!”

The words hit me like a hammer. I step forward “I am not lying to you, my class is healer!”

Jared moves to stand in front of Alex placing his arm in front of him. “Layton, I need some answers. How are you so strong? What am I supposed to think?”

“Jared maybe we–”

Jared cuts Alex off “No. Here is everything we know about you. One” He holds up a finger. “You’ve told me that you killed Richard. You claim it was self defense, knowing Richard maybe that’s true maybe it’s not. But clearly you are ok killing more than just monsters.”

He raises another finger. ““Two. You’re more dangerous than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

The third finger raises. “Finally and maybe most importantly. We know you are willing to lie to get what you want.”

And there it is. I raise my hand ready to give Jared a piece of my mind. But stop. I ball my fist and turn with a soft grunt. “Jared, what exactly is it that you think I want? It’s not like I asked for any of you to come here. I was just minding my own business before you all showed up.”

Is this Richard all over again?

First, it was him. Now it’s Jared. Is everyone just going to see me as a threat? A challenge? A problem to solve?

I thought this was going to be like my games. Fight, level up, get stronger. It started that way. But every time I meet someone new, they make it complicated.

I exhale sharply. What the hell do they want from me?

But then I really look at Jared. He’s standing between Alex and myself offering his body as a shield. It almost makes me laugh. Alex is a good three inches taller built like a wall and carrying a menacing battle axe. Yet it's Jared, unarmed and no combat stats who’s trying to protect Alex– from ME–even after what he just saw.

I start to consider Jared for the first time. I’m a stranger that he just met. A stranger who already admitted to taking part in the killing of another member of his group.

To add insult to injury he expected a healer class from me and I look like anything but that. So he thinks I’m lying and dangerous. Even after all that, he still faced me and told me his concerns right to my face.

I unclench my fists and exhale. “Fine. You want proof?”

Jared tenses. Alex grips his axe. Moving deliberately, I draw my sword—not fast, not aggressive. Jared still stiffens.

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I press the blade against my wrist and drag it across my skin. A sharp sting. Blood wells up.

I extend my arm, making sure they both see the wound. Then, without a word, I cast Weak Heal.

Alex shifts uncomfortably. “Jared, come on. He just healed himself. That’s gotta count for something, right?”

Jared lets out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. His eyes flick between me, the bodies, and my arm. He doesn’t speak right away.

He exhales again, slower this time. When he finally meets my eyes, there’s still uncertainty there. But it’s not fear anymore.

“So you really are a healer, huh?”

“Before everything started, I was just a college kid trying to get by. I spent more time in video games than the classroom. When everything changed I was here. Alone. I barely had time to process everything before Mischief here.” I point to the massive murder cat. “Was already trying to eat me.”

Mischief cocks his head and blinks innocently. Jared opens his mouth about to speak but I barrel forward.

“I get it. Man I really get it. Part of me wishes I had just gone and helped my dad fix sprinklers instead of being out here alone.” I shake my head. “That’s not how it happened though. It’s just been the two of us from the start. I think I lost perspective… I guess what I am trying to say is…I don’t know.”

I sigh in frustration. “This isn’t coming out how I want. I’m not trying to scare you guys.”

Jared doesn’t move, not at first, but then his posture softens. “I worked construction, building houses. Just me and my two brothers.” For the first time it feels like he is actually seeing ME. Just the 19 year old kid in converse.

I look up and chuckle a little. “Oh yeah? My dad made me frame houses in high school in the summer. It sucked.”

Jareds defensive posture finally cracks, and he lets a grin slip. “That’s where it starts. You're lucky the world ended or you’d be a contractor in no time. Seeing it with my own eyes... a healer?” He says for the second time.

I can visibly see the tension melting. “Well… there is a bit more to it but I’m definitely a healer.”

“I believe you now. It’s just… you exhibit characteristics very different from Elise, the healer in our group. She hasn’t actually fought, she just stands back as a support.”

I tilt my head. “Wait… if she doesn’t fight… how is she gaining levels?”

Jared looks surprised. “She just uses her support magic. How did you think non-combat classes progressed?”

I hesitate not wanting to sound foolish. “Well to be fair I didn’t even know they existed until I met you. I’ve had to fight for everything since it’s just been Mischief and me. I never considered myself a ‘non-combat’ class.” I pause. “How does a non-combat class work, exactly?”

“Why don’t I explain while we loot? Alex has the looting ability. You can trust him not to pocket anything.” Jared glances at Alex, who nods enthusiastically.

I shrug. “Sounds good. I’d love to understand more about how non-combat classes work.”

As we walk and loot, Mischief uses his dimensional storage to pack away the items. Jared continues explaining.

“The first thing you should know is that non-combat classes still have stats, but they aren’t as pronounced as combat classes. Meaning, if you and I both have the same Strength stat, yours would be much stronger than mine—maybe as much as four times more effective. So even if we leveled at the same rate, you’d rapidly outpace me in physical capability.”

“That seems unfair.” Especially since this new world seems so hell bent on throwing people into fights.

“We thought the same at first. Until we realized that our stats influence our crafts instead. My profession is woodworking. When I craft something, like a bow, my stats and skills directly impact its quality. If you think of the bow like a living thing, my Strength might improve its draw weight and durability. The higher my stats, the better the final product. I suspect that even if you built the same bow, your stats wouldn’t contribute in the same way.”

The info makes my head spin. “So you’re saying my stats make me a better healer and fighter, and yours make you better at your craft?”

Jared scratches his head. “That’s the simple way to put it, yeah. It’s a bit more involved, but the takeaway is that combat and non-combat roles need each other to survive. Just like any community, everyone plays a part. Which brings me to why I really wanted to talk to you.”

I stop looting. “Okay, what is it?”

“My outburst earlier. The raid, what you did…I didn’t know how to react.” Jared stares at his feet.

“It’s water under the bridge. We are all just trying to figure things out together.” I wait for Jared to look up then I meet his gaze. “I don't want to live in a world where people are constantly on guard and worried for their lives. And I really don’t want to be the reason they feel that way.”

Jared meets my stare and then looks back at his feet as if mulling something over.

“You’ve been holding something back this whole time, Jared. Just say it.”

Jared finally speaks, still looking at his feet. “After how I acted…you're just a kid. Layton, Matt and I had ideas of building something special.” he raised his eyes looking toward his makeshift defenses. Towards his little group. “You know–before Richard–did what he did. We wanted to create a safe haven. I thought that dream died when he did. Maybe it’s not though?”

“Go on.”

“Most of our group are crafting classes or builders. We aren’t fighters like you. I know I came on a bit strong. I’m sorry. What if we stayed? Work together?” He shuffles uncomfortably as if he’s embarrassed to even ask.

“I already told you that you can stay. I haven’t changed my mind about that.”

The bodies are nearly all looted. Jared casts his gaze over the sweeping grass of the clearing letting his fingers brush against the blades.

“Here's the meat of it–Layton–your power scares me. So I can’t help but feel selfish for asking this. But with your strength protecting us, I think we can build something special here.”

I’m reminded of my first day out of the trial. Looking up at the mountain imagining a thriving city. It’s what I want also but his words are sobering.

“Thank you for being honest. I am not dangerous, and I think your vision aligns pretty well with my point of view. What exactly did you have in mind?”

Jared fixes me with a sideways glance. “For starters, we can build you an actual shelter,”

“But I already have a shelter. And it’s pretty good.” Gesturing toward my camp.

Jared laughs—then stops when he realizes I’m being serious. “Wait… you’re not joking?”

“What? It’s got a roof and everything.”

“Right… uh, why don’t I put something together, and then you can decide if you still feel that way?” Jared offers.

“If you think you can do better, be my guest.”

Jared barely contains another chuckle as he nods. “Deal.”