"What? Where am I?" Lucy coughs a couple of times as she fights with the underbrush to free herself. "Palmer? Vryce? Leone?"

The brunette is met with silence, so she begins to crawl, and the brush gives way to briars which tear at her skin. It's almost dark and she can't see very well, but there is light above her, so she tries to crawl. She feels her way with her hands, trying to ignore the cuts, and suddenly her hand presses down on something soft. She focuses her vision and then immediately turns with a gag.

"Oh god!" Lucy grimaces as she realizes it's Hawthorne.

Lucy can tell the merchant is dead. Seeing him gives her the motivation she needs to push her way up the hill and through the underbrush until she's back on the road again.

There's blood everywhere. She can only assume there are more bodies in the underbrush, and while she worries her friends could be in there too, she can't bring herself to investigate. She staggers on the road and spots something on the ground that shimmers in the dirt. She bends over to pick it up and realizes it's one of the smaller healing potions. Nearby, she finds her sling, which doesn't seem to have been important enough for the bandits to take.

Wait, Lucy thinks. I leveled up. I saw my character sheet!

Lucy squints and presses down on the red spot on her wrist, which appeared after the initial fight with the bandits. Her character sheet appears immediately.

Lucy – Level 1

Character Class: Rogue

Race: Human

Hit Points: 8/40

Mana Points: 0

Power – 55

Speed – 75

Intelligence – 70

Affinity – 50

-Sling – Level 1

-Persuasion – Level 1

***

Equipment:

Makeshift sling

Silver chain with a full vial (Healing Potion)

Dull knife

Seeing her hit points brings back some foggy memories for Lucy. She remembers talking to Vryce, and then a sharp pain before everything went dark. She feels around on her back and finds a wound, but it seems to have already started to heal. She assumes Palmer must have healed her. Or possibly Vryce, although she isn't comfortable thinking about what he may have sacrificed in order to do it.

She surmises that they must not have gotten all of the bandits, and silently regrets sparing the girl's life.

Lucy walks over to the side of the road, where she notices remnants of the wagon, and a few regular healing potions that are broken on the ground. Lucy gathers them up carefully and drinks all that she can from the broken glass, hoping it'll be enough to restore some of her hit points. When she checks her character sheet again, she sees that her hit points are back up to twenty, so she wanders further into the forest, looking for more broken potions.

Come on, Lucy begs silently. I just need a few more.

Lucy finds a trail that she can follow, but it's hard to see, and it's getting darker. She continues forward, and after traveling so far she can no longer see the road, she spots the remnants of Hawthorne's wagon. She's inspired for a moment and runs over to it, but when she peers inside, she doesn't see much left.

The bandits weren't careful with anything. There are broken vials on the ground that appear to have once contained reagents. She climbs into the wagon, feels around, and finds another healing potion that is broken, but has a decent amount of liquid left. She immediately downs it, checking her character sheet once more, finding that she is now up to almost thirty hit points.

Good enough, she thinks. I'll save the other one in case one of my friends is injured.

In the real world, Lucy was barely nineteen, and never a serious gamer. She tried playing D&D a few times with some friends from school, but it always seemed like there were a lot of rules and less freedom than she imagined. Then one day, she wandered into the gaming store, and watched them play in Big Mike's world. It was an entirely different experience altogether, and they barely paid attention to the rules. They just had fun. Unfortunately, that game was almost over, and Big Mike decided he was taking a hiatus from gaming when it finally ended. Needless to say, when she heard Jenkins would be running a game, she was excited and begged for a spot at the table.

But the last thing she ever expected, was to actually be in the game.

Lucy contemplates her options. She could return to the road and try to find help. She could dig through the underbrush and see if her friends are there. The other alternative is that they've been taken prisoner by the bandits, and she does have a path she can travel. The bandits didn't go to much effort to conceal their tracks, and she can tell which direction they took.

But it's dark. She has no idea how far they've gone.

After contemplating her options, she decides to press onward. If her friends have been captured, then freeing them is the top priority. If they're already dead… Well, there's nothing she can do for them. She's also worried that if she returns to the road, she could run into something worse than the bandits.

Lucy thinks about her life back home as she moves along the trail. She wonders if she's simply vanished without a trace, along with her friends, or if the real world is simply paused while she ventures through Bryconia. She isn't sure which option is best. She's planned to take a gap year before college, and had contemplated joining the military, but she hadn't made a firm decision yet.

Would she ever get to make it, or had fate made it for her?

As it gets darker, Lucy finds herself having to getting close to the ground just to look for signs so she can follow the trail. A broken branch here, a scuff in the dirt there, but it's not as easy to locate them, and she finds herself wandering off the path she's trying to follow several times. Each time she doubles back, it gets harder to figure out which direction to take.

Finally, she reaches a point where she can't tell if she's wandered off the path, completely lost it, or if it's simply too dark.

Damn it, Lucy sighs. Now what do I do?

Lucy continues searching, doubling back, walking in circles, and eventually the frustration takes over. Not only is she unable to locate the path she was following, but she doesn't even know how to retrace the steps she's taken herself.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Lucy was never the religious type in the real world, but as she feels panic take over, she sinks down next to a tree and closes her eyes.

"I don't know who is out there, or if there's even a god listening," she whispers. "But I really need some help right now."

The brunette rogue still isn't sure if Palmer's god answered him when he prayed, but she's seen his healing work through prayer. She was inside Melinda's house when Palmer had his epiphany, and it certainly seemed like divine intervention. She's almost certain she saw his eyes flash as the realization came over him.

Lucy sits in silence next to the tree, and after a few moments, she opens her eyes, her prayer seemingly unanswered.

Oh well, she thinks. I doubt I'm worthy of an answer anyway.

As she rises to her feet, she sees something in the distance. A glow that she didn't notice before. She wonders if it could be the bandit camp, but the glow seems to be too pale to be a torch or a fire, and too faint to be an entire camp. She feels drawn to it, like a moth to a flame, and before she even realizes what she's doing, she is walking towards the light.

Each step she takes makes her feel calmer, more relaxed, and she feels a light surge go through her body. It's not as strong as the previous surges. More like a light buzz that feels pleasant, similar to how she felt after she had her first beer in the real world.

She finally gets close enough to see that there is a clearing ahead, and standing in the middle of the clearing, is an enormous white deer with spiraling antlers that are thicker than the underbrush Lucy woke up in. It takes Lucy a couple of seconds to even process what she sees, especially when she realizes the deer is the source of the glow.

The deer tilts it's head slightly, and then it speaks.

"Come closer, child," the deer says in soothing tone. "I will not harm you."

"You…" Lucy feels compelled to continue forward, still buzzing from the strange feeling. "You can talk?"

"You should be careful praying for any god to answer," the deer says, ignoring her question. "Some of us will not answer with kindness."

"I'm sorry," Lucy takes a step back. "Wait, you're a... You're a god?"

"Yes child. I have been known by many names, although very few speak to me these days. You may call me Rendaz, if you like. Or will you give me a new name?" The enormous white hart asks, moving closer to Lucy.

"Rendaz is fine," Lucy squeaks out, once again feeling a sense of panic. "I apologize, but I don't know the protocol here. Am I supposed to bow? Tithe? I either lost my gold or the bandits took it…"

"No, child," Rendaz says. "You have not sworn an oath to me, so you are under no obligation to bow or make an offering."

Lucy ponders the white hart in front of her, slowly coming to terms with the fact she's standing in front of a literal god, or at least something that claims to be.

"I hope I didn't disturb you," Lucy says with hesitation in her voice. "Where I'm from, prayers rarely seem to be answered."

"I can tell you're not from Bryconia, child. I've met other travelers such as yourself in the past, but it has been a long time." Rendaz replies. "In Bryconia, prayer can be powerful. It can also be dangerous. Now tell me, child. What help do you seek?"

"My friends…" Lucy winces. "We were ambushed on the road."

"I am aware." Rendaz downs his head slightly, as if he is nodding. "You and your friends fought well. You showed compassion, which is admirable, but it almost cost you your life."

"Yes," Lucy admits. "I've been trying to find my friends since I woke up, but I don't even know if they're alive or dead. Then I got lost…"

"You are no longer lost, child." Rendaz walks closer. "And your friends are alive, not far from here."

"They're alive." Lucy lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank go- Uh, thank goodness."

"I can take you to them, if that is what you wish." Rendaz moves closer, lowering his mighty frame to the ground. "Climb on my back, child."

Lucy slowly approaches Rendaz. She's unsure about riding a literal god, but the thought of it does seem somewhat exciting. She carefully places her hand on the white hart's back, then climbs up and onto it. Rendaz immediately rises to his feet.

Before Lucy has a chance to really prepare, Rendaz takes off in a sprint. He bursts through the clearing, smashes through the forest, and Lucy ducks several branches, but the ones that do hit her don't seem to do any damage. Rendaz moves through the forest so fast that Lucy is barely able to comprehend her surroundings, even though he illuminates them. She leans forward, holds on tight, and a few seconds later, Rendaz comes to a stop on a hill.

"Down there," Rendaz says.

Lucy looks down and sees the bandit encampment. Most of the bandits appear to be sleeping. A few lookouts are awake, but they do not appear to be paying close attention. Lucy scans the camp, finally spotting her friends. Palmer and Vryce are in cages. Leone is tied to a tree with what looks to be quite a lot of rope.

"Thank you," Lucy whispers to Rendaz. "I really hope I can save them."

"Nam Nim Do." Rendaz chants, and a white light pours from him, sweeping across the bandit camp, and the few that are standing suddenly fall to the ground.

"What did you do?" Lucy asks, her eyes growing wide.

"They are sleeping and will not wake up for quite some time. The spell will not be broken unless you try to harm them." Rendaz suddenly breaks out in a sprint, rushing down the hill and into the middle of the bandit camp.

"What the hell?" Vryce asks, moving to the front of his cage. "Lucy!?"

"Hey guys!" Lucy peeks around Rendaz's antlers and grins. "This is Rendaz. He's a god."

"What happened to the bandits?" Palmer looks around the camp.

"As long as we leave them alone, they will sleep." Lucy says. "If we hurt them, it'll break the spell."

"Well that's a shame." Vryce mutters.

"You are all free." Rendaz lowers his head, and the locks on the cages open, while the ropes that bind Leone fall away.

Leone stands up and stretches out. Vryce and Palmer do the same once they get out of their cages. The trio approaches the white hart cautiously, all of them amazed by the sight of their friend riding on Rendaz's back.

"Worshiper of Grath." Rendaz tilts his head to Palmer, seemingly as a sign of respect. "I fought alongside him long ago in the Dragon War."

"The Dragon War?" Palmer asks. "I'm not familiar with that."

"Long before your time, cleric." Rendaz says. "And you are not familiar with our history."

"Rendaz knows we're not from Bryconia," Lucy adds.

"Do you know how we can get home?" Vryce tilts his head inquisitively.

"No," Rendaz replies. "The magic that brought you here is not of this world, nor can we comprehend it."

"I thought you were a god?" Vryce scoffs.

"You have little regard for faith, yet you chose the path of darkness." Rendaz moves forward and his eyes begin to glow, to the point they are almost menacing. "One day you will learn that the two aren't very different at all."

Vryce seems to want to respond, but he bites his tongue and simply shrugs.

"You may join your friends, child." Rendaz lowers himself to the ground so Lucy can dismount.

"Thank you for everything, Rendaz." Lucy puts her hand on the white hart's neck.

"You may call on me again, child, if you wish." Rendaz nuzzles against Lucy's hand. "But the next time you do, I will ask for you oath in return."

"I understand." Lucy closes her eyes and nods.

"And you, silent elf." Rendaz turns to Leone. "May I speak with you alone?"

"Me?" Leone perks a brow, confused, even though he is the only one the god could be referencing.

"Yes," Rendaz confirms. "The rest of you should take what you need, but no more than a horse can carry. You must make your way towards the rising sun, and be swift about it. Do no linger or allow yourself to be distracted until you leave these woods."

"Thank you for your help." Palmer downs a nod to Rendaz, who does the same in return.

"Let's get our shit," Vryce says, turning towards the bandits. "And whatever else we can carry."

"We'll take what we need," Lucy says firmly.

"Yeah…" Vryce mutters. "And I need a lot."

Leone is led away from the group by Rendaz and they watch until he's out of sight. Then Vryce, Palmer, and Lucy begin walking around the camp, picking up what they can. They find the stash from the wagon in one of the tents, along with what they were carrying. They take the potions that survived the journey, some gold, and their weapons. Vryce gets the spell book and what few reagents are left.

"I really wish we could just kill all these bandits." Vryce sighs. "Think about all the XP we could get? I could definitely level up!"

"I don't think we should piss off a god," Lucy says, shaking her head. "Also, we should be careful with prayers."

"What do you mean?" Palmer perks a brow.

"I'll explain when we get out of these woods." Lucy motions to the horses. "At least we won't be riding in a rickety wagon the rest of the way."

The trio takes four horses and leads them away from the bandit camp. Something catches Vryce's eye, and he walks away for a moment, then returns with a rather large sword draped across his back.

"Look what I found!" Vryce chuckles and motions to the sword.

"Can you even wield that thing?" Lucy perks a brow.

"Yes," Vryce says, removing the sword and cutting through the air. "It's lighter than it looks, here…"

Vryce offers the sword to Lucy, but when she tries to take it, she almost falls over from the weight.

"What? You're not even that much stronger than me!" She looks confused, but pushes the blade back towards Vryce.

"Well I am proficient in it." Vryce shrugs and returns the sword to his back. "Do I look more intimidating now?"

"No," Lucy laughs at her friend. "But I just met a god, so a sword isn't going to dazzle me very much."

The trio tends to the horses and argue over what they actually need versus what they want to take. Since it seems like the conversation between Leone and Rendaz is still ongoing, they get Leone's horse ready, and gather all of his things.

Then they wait, anxious to put the bandit camp as far behind them as possible.