"Okay, say it again? Kwa kwa?"

Richter shakes his head laughing, "Nah, bro! Ikl, like tickle. And wa, like water. Iklwa. Its a type of spear designed by Shaka Zulu. It looks like an Escrima stick with a sword slapped on the end."

His grip on the reigns slackens and the clockwork horses slow down. He quickly regains control and we continue our adventure on the old dirt road. After scouting our route for potential ambushes and not finding any, I asked the girls if they just wanted to stay inside today since it looked like it was going to rain. Of course, they took me up on the offer.

I scratch my forehead, "Wait, back up. What's Escrima? You can't just describe something using more random words."

"Dude, don't you watch the Historical Channel?"

I uneasily reply, "The only TV I got to watch was in my mom's hospital room."

The Half-Elf puts an arm around my shoulder, "My bad, bro. I'm sorry to hear about that. How long has she been in, if you don't mind me asking?"

I look up at Richter, a sad little smile on my face, "A little over a year."

He nods slightly at me, "Is that the main reason you're playing? For the prize money?"

"Yeah," I concede, "But its not just that. I hate to admit it, but I really missed being a part of the gaming community?"

He releases me, grabbing control of the reigns, but looking back at me with a bit of confusion on his face, "What do you mean?"

I scroll through some of the materials that I grabbed before putting them in the communal inventory, "You didn't know? I was practically shunned by the gaming community. I couldn't get into a single tournament after Pangaea."

His face scrunches harder before exploding in a grin in bewilderment, "Bro, you are a legend! You practically collapsed an entire gaming company single handed!"

His guffaws are loud enough to echo down the road and it actually worries me that he might attract too much attention. "Dude, did you not go on any gaming forums?"

I admit that I didn't after the event. Before it, however, I would get a lot of hate mail and unproductive comments. People called me a cheater, that I didn't deserve any of my wins. I took them kind of hard. Eventually, I took my presence off of social media and avoided any kind of electronic messaging, focusing on work.

"So, dude, you bartend IRL? Get a lot of girls?" He chuckles, but its a legit question.

"I probably could've," I answer truthfully while I inspect one of the Nightmare hides, "But at the end of the day I was always too tired to do anything, you know? If I didn't go to my second job as a line cook during the day, I was at the hospital with my mom."

"Two jobs?" He looks at me incredulously, "You would think you would make enough money as a bartender."

I laugh in response, "I did! But, I needed extra money for my mom's bills. She seemed fine for a while after the accident."

I put the hide away, pausing for a moment before pulling out a piece of the obsidian and continuing, "It took me a while to notice her deteriorating health since I was wallowing in my own self pity."

I point the shiny bowling ball sized chunk of rock at him, "Which, by the way, it sounds like I really didn't have to."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, my man," He pats me a few times on the back, "We're the first in this world of fantasies come true. There are opportunities to make some extra cash while we play. And, soon enough we'll be famous when they stream us as a show!"

I stow the obsidian, "Honestly, I'm not really thrilled about that part. What if they show Victoria and I, you know…"

He stifles another big laugh, "Bro, I assure you, as someone who lived in Kes Rentas, anything you did is tame in comparison to the things I've heard."

I grimace, "Blech! What the hell did you do while in the city?"

He shoots a hand up defensively, shaking his head rapidly, "No, no, bro! Not me! The other players! Man. Some of them even spent the money they were saving for gear at this secret brothel. I even heard of a player who 'worked' in it actually getting rich pretty quickly. Can't remember her name though..."

I glance worridly at him, "Sounds pretty risky. Think they'll show her on TV? I mean, I know we're in a virtual game, but, I don't know, is that the kind of reputation you'd want? It's not like we're using fake names in game."

He shrugs, not knowing what else to say. Make a ton of Gold, get really good gear, power level, and get more money IRL. Someone out there is willing to go to those lengths. What about me? What am I willing to sacrifice for my mom?

I remember the time she called out from work to help me finish a big project for school that was due the next day. Dad did, too, even though he normally slept for a few hours in the evening before working his graveyard shift.

FIVR equipment wasn't cheap at the time and I promised them I would make sure school came first before I even thought about Diving. Dad worked two jobs, two and a third part-time at one point. Mom worked nights as a server in the restaurant where she later got me my job as a barback. I was finishing high school when I won my first FIVR competition.

My thoughts are interrupted by an intense hissing and growl. Blocking our path is a trio of grizzly bear sized Honey Badger type monsters, the larger leading Badger had two Harpies perched on its back. With my attention far away I didn't notice them on the radar. I quickly Analyze them.

Stolen novel; please report.

>Scan<[Badger Bear. Level 12. 215/215HP, 9MP/9MP, 65/65SP]

[These voracious hunters work in small packs of 3-5, eating just about anything they can find. They have been known to challange much larger and stronger creatures over their kills and then try to kill and eat the other creature.]

[Slash, Rend, Acid Breath, +Terrifying Roar, +Pack Tactics]

The larger one isn't a boss, just two levels and 55HP stronger. I'm not particularly worried about him, but seeing the Harpies hitching a ride to scavenge for a meal bring up bad memories of broken armor and I also remember Victoria's threat regarding the Brigandine she crafted for me.

I create a party, inviting Richter, "Come on. Think we can take them just you and me?"

He grins, accepting the invite and stopping the vardo. He withdraws his bow, "What's the plan, bro?"

"Ranged attacks first, pick off the Harpies, they're a real pain in the ass. Then focus on the smaller ones until they get close enough. Then I'll Taunt them and we pour it on until they die."

Unlike last time, my ranged attacker has arrows and with a few Arcane Bolts, we knock the buzzards out of the air. The Badger Bears quickly close the gap and as I dance around the furry food processors.

I bring up an earlier conversation, "So you seem to know a lot about weapons?"

Richter imbues an arrow with eletricity and fires it into the big boy, "After a documentary about Genghis Khan and the Mongols, I was hooked on old world warriors and weapons."

Through a combination of my claws and a few more arrows, one of the smaller ones succumbs to its wounds.

"IRL I have a pretty big collection of weapons, you gotta check it out sometime. Ger's seen it. His favorite is the Macuahuitl."

"Bless you."

"Very funny."

The big Badger Bear steps back, loosing a roar that sends a sharp chill up my spine and my legs tremble.

[You received the Debuff, Fear!

[You will be partially paralyzed until--]

Shit. A huge, claw-tipped paw swats me away from the vardo.

Shit!

[Badger Bear slashes you for 65 damage!]

[The ground bludgeons you for 10 damage!]

Ah, the ground. My arch nemesis.

I spot heads turning to Richter as he hits both creatures with arrows, unintentionally grabbing the Aggro. I scramble to my feet, checking my SP (40/80SP).

I teleport in between the vardo and the beasts, activating Critical Stab on the big one and Echo Strike on the smaller one, grabbing onto their attention once again.

"Be careful with the Aggro, dude. They're still a level or two above you."

"Sorry, bro. Thought they got you good with that last one."

It takes a moment, but we are able to overcome the remaining two creatures and scoop up the loot.

[War Party Leader bonus +30%]

[156XP will be divided among all party members]

[You received 78XP!]

[You received 22*Harpy Feathers, 3*Harpy Meat, 17*Badger Bear Meat, 11*Badger Bear Pelt, 1*Badger Bear Claw]

"So," I begin as we climb back into the driver's seat, "You and Rachel?"

He laughs, running a hand through his hair and looking away, "Yeah, maybe, bro. She's a sweet girl. We did get kinda close during our little spy mission in Kes Rentas. I think she and Dawn were talking about all of us hanging out during the break."

He grabs the reigns, "Mer-jay!"

"Yeah, that'd be cool."

"What do you think about Dawn, bro?"

"I don't know, man. I don't think she likes me like that. Besides, its kind of weird since she probably thinks I'm just hooking up with an NPC to get my rocks off or something."

Richter smirks, "It's not, bro, trust me. We know it's just a game. Just be your normal, charming self."

I roll my eyes though I'm smiling, "You think I'm charming too, huh?"

He laughs, "I'm not sleeping with you, bro, it's not gonna be that easy."

"We'll see after dinner and dancing."

We both laugh as we travel further down the barren road. Eventually, it meanders its way to a major road lined with gravel heading east and I spot a sign, "Higo, eighteen miles. Rentas Lake, twenty miles."

I turn to Richter, "City first?"

He nods, channeling his intentions through the reigns. "That'll be at least another day, maybe day and a half. Should we push it?"

"We can get someone else to drive at night or at least someone to keep me company while I drive. Maybe we can make some of those kickle sticks you were talking about after dinner."

We're not lucky enough to find another camping area this close to the main road, but we do find what looks to be the fantasy world equivalent of a rest area. It is essentially an overgrown tavern with stables, a modest inn, a general store, and plenty of parking for carriages and wagons. Of course, people didn't leave their vehicles unattended; guards and other mean looking individuals are posted at nearby picnic tables or directly by the loaded carriers.

Once inside our own vehicle and after explaining to everyone where we are, Conner and another soldier volunteer to stay behind with the vardo.

"Well," I say, finally fully seeing him face to face, "It's thanks to you we have this route. We can have someone else watch it while we take you in for a reward of some kind?"

The first time I saw him was the fight where I had to gain their respect and I thought he was wearing some sort of a full helmet and all kinds of armor to further protect himself from me. Another time he was flat on his face while I tried to over heal him. Even during the many battles we participated in it never really clicked. Conner is a Machina, as in ex machina, a "race" of robots made to look and act like humans.

"Thank you, sir," he extends his hand which I shake, "If its okay with you and the others, I would very much like to continue my conversation with Sonny. Would it be alright if Reiger helps me watch the vardo while Sonny and I sit on the luggage rack?"

I'm not sure how mistaken I am, but it sounds like this kid is asking my permission to date Sonny and I'm unable to hold back a few barking laughs. Even with the rough, robotic features on his face I could see disappointment.

"Wait! Wait. Sorry, Conner. It's not what you think. How old are you?"

"I was Mana Forged approximately five years ago, sir."

"Is Conner your full name?"

He stiffens, a little embarrassed, "It's… actually… Reconnaissance Machina Eleven G. My unit was wiped out and I kind of went AWOL, joining a circus. Once there, my boss just called me Conner for short. So, I've been going by that name ever since."

Although I'm pleased with his explantaion, it definitly raises a lot of questions. Questions that I'll get answers for much later. "Okay. I don't see a problem with the three of you staying behind. You guys take care of the vardo. If you need anything please have Sonny contact one of us."

He and Reiger, a battle scarred dwarf that was one of the few milita that had both arms, give me a salute and I return it. I empty my ring and bracelet of excess items and distribute an allowance of ten Gold, twenty Silver, and two hundred Copper between four of us: Dawn, Victoria, Richter, and myself. That still left a good amount of money in the Rucksacks just in case. We also had two Platinum pieces that are worth about one hundred Gold each.

Any villagers who wanted to stretch their legs or visit any of the areas were allowed as long as they did their best to stay out of trouble. Should they feel the need to purchase anything, they may use their own money, should they have any, or they could petition one of us to do it for them. We weren't looking to sell anything just yet, but if a situation were to come up, either Dawn or I would make the call to do so. Other than that, we would be spending the night here and continuing on to Higo.

"If anyone asks, we're just a bunch of people roaming the roads with no real destination. With spending, please try to give exact change, we don't want to look like we have money. Other than that, be safe out there everyone."

After Conner and that speech, I felt more like a parent on a field trip than a leader of a bunch of exiles and murder hobos.