They walked back to her desk. Calawit waved her hand and four gemstones floated above the desk. “I have four gemstones that fit the criteria. These won’t be powerful gemstones, as they are the cheapest you can afford, but they will work to make your weapon magical.” She pointed to the light blue stone. “This is an aquamarine. It will grant you marginally better stealth while using it.”

“+1 in stealth,” Tyler whispered to Alejandra. “Not a huge leap, but we can’t afford the thousand gold piece gemstones that grant better abilities, let alone the five thousand gold for a diamond.”

Alejandra nodded.

Calawit pointed to the black sphere. “This is a lesser black pearl. The imperfections make it impossible to protect from even the slightest necromantic powers, but it still will give you a boost from some deity if they feel so inclined.”

“+1 in a religion check,” Tyler whispered.

Ezekiel’s brows furrowed. “What kind of deity?”

“It won’t attract Mavvius’s attention, if that’s what you’re concerned about,” Calawit said.

His brows loosened up. “It is who I was concerned about, thanks.”

Rafael almost asked who that was, but Sylvar answered for him. “God of necromancy.”

Tyler glanced at his character, who did not meet anyone’s gaze.

Rafael tried not to be too loud, but he hadn’t played this game in ages, and he wasn’t super familiar with the deities. He just wanted to ask Tyler, though, since Sylvar looked like someone told him his grandmother had died. Rafael cleared his throat, leaning close to Tyler. “What’s Mavvius’s story?”

Sylvar’s ears twitched. “Mavvius was a mortal who wished to become a god.”

Damnit, he’s an elf with really great hearing, Rafael thought.

Sylvar still looked dazed, but kept a grip on his staff. “When the deities judged his actions and deeds of his life, They deemed him too dangerous to become immortal.” Sylvar glanced at Rafael. “So, he figured out how to become immortal himself by discovering necromancy. Caused havoc through the historic records of the Shrouded Domain until he was contained.”

Rafael swallowed, then glanced at Tyler, who made no motion to correct him. “But certainly all necromancy isn’t evil.” Rafael said this to keep Sylvar’s spirits up.

“No, but everyone agrees lichdom is.” Sylvar glanced at his pale hands tinged with death. The ritual that went wrong. Did Sylvar have a connection with Mavvius now?

Calawit blinked, then pointed to the next gemstone to change the subject. “This one is a yellow topaz, able to take a little damage from fire.”

“You roll a d4 whenever an enemy deals fire damage,” Tyler whispered. “The sword will absorb whatever number on the dice before handing you the rest.”

Alejandra shrugged. “Not too bad.”

“Just a d4?” Rafael asked.

Tyler’s smile was small. “It’s a cheap gemstone.”

“And this is a peridot.” Calawit pointed to a light green gemstone. “It’ll make people like you a fraction more.”

Rafael and Alejandra glanced at Tyler, who nodded. “+1 on persuasion checks.”

“Great.” Alejandra glanced at her character sheet. “The roll would give me a +0 instead of a -1.”

Tyler chuckled. “Not only do the gemstones give a small ability, but it also makes the sword magical. Hraktar can hit things he couldn’t before.”

Alejandra nodded, watching Hraktar. “Alright, well, looks like Hraktar will pretend he’s making a hard choice when he’s already decided.”

Rafael smiled as Hraktar furrowed his brow, glancing between the four gemstones. The silence was a bit much for the fighter, though, and he pointed to the yellow topaz. “I’ll have that one.”

“Thought so, you tank.” Calawit waved her hands again. The other three gemstones disappeared, and the storekeeper caught the falling topaz. “I shall work on your sword tomorrow. Come back Saturday before you fight, and I’ll have it ready for you.”

“Oh, we’ll be here, because I’ll have to drop off Quetzal again,” Alejandra said.

Calawit turned, glancing at Alejandra, raising an eyebrow. “And how many more times will my babysitting services be needed?”

“Until he grows up,” Alejandra said.

“Grows up? Or reaches his juvenile stage?” Calawit asked.

“Grows up.” Alejandra’s eyes grew dangerous. “Because he shouldn’t be fighting in his juvenile stage.”

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Calawit cocked her head to the side, genuinely confused. “You’re in your juvenile stage, and yet you fight.”

“I… don’t. I don’t fight.”

Calawit placed her hands on her hips, and Rafael felt his heart pounding. Calawit never had an issue telling people straight to their face what she thought. But that was when everyone was playing their characters. Calawit never interacted with Alejandra as herself.

“He’s already growing stronger. By the end of December, he will reach his juvenile stage, or his teenage stage, if that’s what’s more familiar to you.”

“He isn’t strong enough,” Alejandra said.

“Not strong enough now, certainly. But he will by next month. Look at the poor creature. He’s eager.”

All eyes fell on Quetzal, who took the moment in the spotlight to stand on his hind legs and swipe at the air with his claws. He gave a small roar before swiping again, his claws gleaming in the glowing balls of light. He flashed Alejandra a smile, his teeth quite jagged and losing their cuteness factor.

Alejandra shot a glare at Calawit, who shrugged. Alejandra shook her head, turned on her heel, and left the tent. Rafael wasn’t sure what to expect. He was almost scared to follow her. Alejandra was closing herself off, and it was dangerous for everyone. And he felt like he’d already blown up a chance to mend things with her.

***

Nick had two goals for this session. One, freak his friends out with existential crisis so they’d all be on their toes. Two, avoid Alejandra.

Honestly, freaking out his friends would be so much easier.

As Nick buckled himself in, he watched as Alejandra and Rafael got into Rafael’s car. He wanted to drop the existential bomb with everyone, but maybe it would be better if Alejandra wasn’t glaring at him the whole way to Calawit’s tent. Ezekiel, Sylvar, and Clarissa joined in Rafael’s car so there was more room in the van. Grizzizzik sat in the back, once again refusing to wear his seatbelt. Nick wondered if that rogue would ever wear it. His character enjoyed breaking rules when he wanted to.

They started driving, heading toward Calawit’s tent. There was silence as Derek focused on the road. Evelyn and Tyler were both on their phone. Evelyn scrolled aimlessly, and Tyler was texting someone. Probably his girlfriend. Milo glanced out the window, looking as though he was still processing Pippa being here and alive. Hraktar was folding his arms next to Grizzizzik, giving him distrustful looks that Grizzizzik ignored. There was no better time than the present.

“Neal warned us that if anyone died before the year was up, we’d forget about them.” With Nick’s words, he felt everyone give him half of their attention, so he continued. “Do you ever wonder if we had a sixth friend in the group that died in the past month or so, and we all just forgot?”

There was silence for three seconds before Tyler dropped his phone in his lap and covered his face. “I will now. Thanks Nick.”

Derek’s eyes grew wider by the second. “Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.”

Evelyn’s brows furrowed, then glanced at Nick. “What’s wrong with you?”

Nick shrugged. “Just a thought. How powerful do you think it would be? Would we get glimpses of them before forgetting again? Would something feel off? Or would we go about our lives as normal? And with that thought, are there any lesser things that might happen? Phrases things that don’t make sense as our brains force ourselves to live on as normal?”

“God, Nick! Please stop!” Derek shouted. Nick didn’t think Derek’s eyes could get any wider, yet they did.

Tyler groaned, rocking back and forth in his seat. Evelyn stopped scrolling, staring at nothing. Nick glanced behind him and met Grizzizzik’s dangerous glare before facing forward again.

“It makes you wonder, though, doesn’t it?” Nick asked.

“No! We’re fine! Everyone survived!” Derek said in a panic.

“There was that time. It was just Akshi’s spell, though. Making us unaware that he’d been talking to Evelyn,” Tyler said.

“Okay, but… but we’d know, right?” Derek asked.

“I… I…” Tyler had his hands in his hair, looking moments away from pulling it out. “It’s… I don’t…”

Nick smirked. Evelyn was even more confused. “Why are you smiling?”

“I’m hoping everyone thinks about the phrases they hear from each other with a bit more care, that’s all. I personally think there’s an intriguing mystery here.”

“Are you having dreams of dead friends?” Derek asked in a panic.

“Um, no. Are you?” Nick asked.

“I will now!” Derek’s voice was in panic mode, a few octaves higher than normal.

Tyler kept groaning, rocking back and forth. Evelyn shook her head, trying to return to her phone, but her eyes held a far-off gaze.

Nick felt Grizzizzik’s eyes burning a hole in his neck, but he didn’t care.

“So, Grizzizzik, are you excited to level up?” Nick asked. Grizzizzik’s eyes narrowed, but said nothing. “I mean, I’d be quite surprised if you didn’t. You’ve been obsessed with leveling up lately. It would be super odd if you suddenly didn’t feel this same drive after, oh, I don’t know, level six or something.”

Grizzizzik’s teeth poked out, sharp and deadly. Nick smiled at him. His character was nervous, and more importantly, Grizzizzik realized Nick knew his teeth reacted like this when he was nervous.

Evelyn glanced between Nick and Grizzizzik. Nick couldn’t be certain Evelyn heard what he said, but the confusion was clear on her face, and he clung to the hope that she heard his cryptic message. “Seriously, Nick. Are you alright?”

“It’s all a mystery, isn’t it?” Nick struggled to keep a straight face.

Evelyn kept staring at him, her nose scrunching up. “I am… so confused.”

“Odd, isn’t it?” Nick asked.

Derek pulled over near Calawit’s and Grizzizzik leapt toward the door, purposefully knocking into Nick as he opened it. “Come on. Let’s go.”

They got out of the car, and Nick kept watching his little sister as she tried to keep his gaze. He would make a breakthrough with her. He knew it. How long it would take, he wasn’t sure, but hopefully before Grizzizzik got the sword. Hopefully soon. He couldn’t keep doing this. Grizzizzik couldn’t keep ruining his reputation.

Evelyn got out of the car and headed toward the tent. Grizzizzik grabbed Nick’s shoulder and forced him out of the van. “Idiot.”

“I thought it was genius. Look how paranoid Derek is now.”

They glanced at Derek, who stumbled out of the driver’s seat. He shut the door, then leaned his head against the door, staring at nothing. Grizzizzik shook his head, moving away from everyone else. “We’ll fight this group of monsters here, level up, then we’ll have to make sure Chaos accepts the leveling. Tonight. I’m thinking some vandalism.”

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you. Could you speak louder?” Nick asked.

Grizzizzik took a breath to say it again, but froze. His eyes darkened. “Idiot.”

“Not smart, insulting the guy who created you,” Nick said.

Grizzizzik pushed past Nick, heading for the tent. “Just be ready tonight.”

Nick remained where he was, watching his friends heading toward the tent. Rafael pulled up behind Derek’s van. They got out too, and Nick dropped his gaze, waiting for Alejandra to move past him. He didn’t even notice if she was looking at him. Rafael’s heads up about his sister’s anger toward him was appreciated, but he didn’t know what else he could do. His very existence irked her, even as he wanted to make sure she wouldn’t get hurt.

Because the probability of Akshi targeting her was one hundred percent at this point. She had to know that.