Evelyn was playing with her hair. If she was five years younger, she would have already started chewing on it, but she’d thankfully convinced herself out of such a disgusting habit long ago. They were at Roy’s Burgers, the restaurant next to the school. Two hours before a football game, this was the best they could do on short notice, and even then, a lot of the group wasn’t there. Rafael and Ezekiel weren’t there, as usual. Nick was at work, and they all agreed that it would be better if Nick broke the news to Grizzizzik gently. Evelyn, Alejandra, and Derek were outside at a table under a large umbrella, with their characters at the table next to them.
It was hot, but everyone else was having a milkshake. Tyler’s was untouched and melting. Evelyn refused to get one. She was way too nervous, both about what was going on and the whole situation with Akshi and the upcoming football game. Clarissa, Hraktar, and Milo were there, but Evelyn was even nervous about that. She wondered if they should have gotten somewhere inside, just to hide their characters. Mr. Stower was going to attend the football game, and it would be ridiculous to think Akshi wouldn’t be there too. If Akshi wanted, he could take binoculars and peer over to see them.
They had all finished taking turns assuring Tyler that they were fine. No one had seen Akshi since yesterday. It was a relief, but the level of danger they were now in was causing Tyler to ignore his milkshake as he held his head in his hands.
“Good news is Mr. Anderson let Milo borrow his lab,” Derek said. “Milo’s already planning on using disguise self to enter school as a student on Tuesday, then just work… as quietly as possible in the lab.”
Tyler lifted his head and gave Derek a look.
“You’re sending the guy who blew everyone up into a lab and asking him to be quiet?” Clarissa asked.
Derek sighed. “It’s a work in progress.”
Milo was twiddling his thumbs, glancing at Clarissa. “We have no other choice. Akshi is here, and he is way more powerful than any of us. If we’re going to survive, we’ve got to level up, and I’ve got to have a lab to make my gadgets.”
Tyler went back to holding his head in his hands, but his words were clear. “What about Rafael? Does he see Akshi?”
Everyone but Tyler turned to look at Alejandra. She met no one’s eyes. “Yeah. He saw him. Briefly. It seemed to push him away even further.”
“Do you have any idea how this happened?” Derek asked Tyler.
Tyler let out a breath. “Just… give me a minute.”
There was silence. Evelyn let Tyler have his silence. He kept his head cradled in his hands. Alejandra was drinking her milkshake with a far off look on her face. Derek took a spoonful of his before handing it over to Milo. The mana fusor took it, curious, before sniffing it. He took a bite, looking surprised, before passing it over to Clarissa. The druid took a sip, then Hraktar took the cup, trying not to squish it as he tried it out.
Evelyn’s phone buzzed. It was from Hazel.
Hey, are you coming soon? We’ve got some warmups to do.
Evelyn glanced at Tyler, who was still motionless, his milkshake turning into a puddle. Milo picked it up, drinking it.
Evelyn texted back quickly.
Just finishing up here.
Tyler lifted his head, looking like he’d aged about ten years. He didn’t even notice his milkshake was missing. “Stupid dramatics. Stupid stakes. Stupid everything. The GM gets one character that doesn’t have to listen to the rules of the game in order to create dramatic effect. The MED must be made a threat. And we have no other choice but to keep leveling up while hiding from Akshi. All for dramatic effect. For the sake of the overall story arch.”
Derek stared at Tyler. “That is the shittiest reason I’ve ever heard.”
“I know. It sucks. But the fact is, Akshi is now in the bubble, and getting used to this new way of life like the rest of you.” Tyler glanced at Clarissa, Hraktar, and Milo, and only then noticed that Milo had his milkshake. By the look on his face, he didn’t care.
Alejandra passed her milkshake over to Hraktar. “But what do we do?”
“We…” Tyler made a gesture. “Keep doing what we’re doing. Take it a day at a time. We’ve got to level up. Got to get stronger. We’ve…” Tyler groaned, covering his face. “Goddammit. We don’t have a wizard or a sorcerer.”
Evelyn and Alejandra exchanged glances. Derek furrowed his brow, then horror trickled over his face as he covered his mouth, eyes wide.
“Um… does someone want to explain?” Alejandra said.
Tyler bowed his head, his hands curling into fists. “Akshi is a powerful magic wielder. One of the strongest. He learned some secrets of immortality.” Tyler raised his head, a look of defeat in his eyes that terrified Evelyn. “If we kill Akshi, his body will flake away, but then regenerate in… in a few days decided by a die roll, fully healed, fully powerful. Which means the only way he can be killed is the level nine spell Wish. A spell so powerful it can rewrite the foundation of reality.”
Derek looked horrified, his voice quiet and numb. “Something only a wizard or a sorcerer can get once they reach level seventeen.”
Clarissa and Milo glanced at each other. Hraktar folded his arms, looking troubled. Evelyn stared at Tyler, ignoring the vibration of her phone. “What kind of OP MED is that?” she asked, trying not to sound terrified.
“One with thankfully a smaller amount of hit points. But Akshi packs a punch in the time he has,” Tyler said.
Clarissa sat down in the booth next to Tyler, trying to look regal, but there was a far off look in her eye as well. “There has to be another way to defeat him.”
“You knew we didn’t have a sorcerer or a wizard in our group. How were you going to let us defeat Akshi when you were the GM?” Alejandra asked.
Tyler still looked pained, but he brought out his phone. He typed something in, a worry line appearing between his eyebrows.
“It would be its own kind of quest. There are some items I was going to have you guys look for. The Wish ring. The Wish blade. Those would have worked. It’s just… those items probably didn’t travel to our world in the explosion,” Tyler said. “We’ll have to ask Calawit if she can sense any other arcane items.”
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Derek was on his phone, too. “What domain is Ezekiel?”
Evelyn glanced at Alejandra, and she frowned. “Um… life domain, I think.”
“Shit,” Derek said.
“Even if we had a wizard or a sorcerer, we can’t wait until we all hit level seventeen to kill Akshi. Then we’d be going up against Torraq, too,” Evelyn said.
Tyler’s already fallen face fell into the depths. “We can never let those two meet up. Akshi’s already figured out how to charm someone. If Torraq got here too, they would figure out how to destroy earth.”
Her phone once again vibrated, and she once again ignored it. “How high of a level do you suggest our characters be in order to face off against Akshi?”
“Minimum?”
“Minimum in order to survive,” Evelyn said.
Tyler was again looking at his phone, the worry line deepening. “Level six? Level seven is a better hope of everyone walking away from it. Level nine would be ideal. But… but I have a bad feeling that if everyone was at level nine, there is a dangerously good chance Torraq could enter the bubble.”
“Has he entered yet?” Alejandra asked.
Tyler tapped some things on his phone. “No.”
“Are… you sure?”
“This time I’m damn sure.” Instead of tapping, he started to scroll. “He only gets one guy in at the beginning, and he chose Akshi.”
Evelyn’s eyebrows drew together as she thought about Tyler’s words. “Who’s he?”
Tyler glanced up. “Sorry, what?”
“You said he. That he only gets one guy. Who’s he?”
Tyler stared at Evelyn, then tried to remember what he was talking about. His brows furrowed before he dug his knuckles into them to straighten them out. “I have… no idea. I’m sorry. It’s… it’s he. He’s doing this.” He shook his head, then returned to his phone. “Either way, she fought hard for Akshi not to appear so early but relented in order to get a favor in return.”
“Who’s she?” Alejandra asked.
Tyler glanced up. “Huh?”
“Who. Is. She?” Alejandra repeated.
Tyler stared at Alejandra as though she sprouted another nose. He blinked, then glanced at the ceiling. “I guess… the GM is two people. One of chaos, one of order. And… they’re fighting for balance. Here in Elmwood.”
Evelyn stared at Tyler, then tore her gaze to meet Alejandra’s. Her jaw had dropped.
Evelyn’s phone started to ring. Hazel had given up texting and was now calling. She cleared her throat, pulling it out of her pocket and swiping to answer.
“Hey, Hazel. I’m… really sorry. I’m coming.”
“Do not feel rushed at all, girl. You just haven’t been replying to my texts, and I was worried. Is everything alright?”
No. Nothing was alright, but there was no way she could say this to Hazel.
“I lost track of time, that’s all. I’m coming.” She gave Tyler an apologetic look, but he nodded, giving her a wave. Everyone else waved too, and she gathered her things. “I will be there in five minutes.”
She headed out of the outside seating area of the burger joint. She spared one last glance at her friends. Saw Tyler scrolling through his phone with a hand in his hair as he talked with Derek and Alejandra, both looking grim.
Evelyn waved to Clarissa, who Derek promised to take home safely. She walked out of the burger joint as a new set of nerves compounded themselves into her stomach. They had a football game to go to. Then they had homecoming to prepare for. And the entire week of activities Akshi would attend.
***
Nick got home and let out a huge breath of relief. True, the mystery of Akshi was still there, but at least he wasn’t at school. And he was done at work for the day.
Then again, Akshi could be traveling around Elmwood to figure out what was happening. Nick wasn’t necessarily safe, but he was at least away from Mr. Stower. For now, his house was safe. As long as Phantom didn’t double cross them. Knowing his track record, it was more than likely.
Grizzizzik was outside again, making more arrows from hell hound teeth under the lights of their porch. It was eight-thirty. Evelyn wouldn’t be back from the football game for a while.
Nick dropped his bag off in his room before going out again. He waited by the back door, watching Grizzizzik as he worked, knowing this information would be as life altering for him as it was for everyone else. The longer he put this off, the worse it would be. He should have told him yesterday, but he couldn’t do it. He needed one night’s sleep where he wouldn’t be concerned about if Grizzizzik was sneaking off. It didn’t help. Even without telling Grizzizzik, he still tossed and turned.
Nick opened the door and stepped out onto the back porch. With the sun gone, it was still over ninety degrees outside. Grizzizzik was sitting there, hunched over, focusing on making sure the feathers were held in place as the glue dried.
“Hey, Grizzizzik. I want to talk to you about something.” He blurted it out before he lost his courage again.
“Mmm,” the rogue grunted, focused on the arrow.
Nick did little else but settle into the chair opposite. Grizzizzik’s focus was on the arrow, making sure the feather was straight. Nick rubbed his jaw, knowing he needed to say this now. “We’re going to Derek’s house tomorrow morning for another session.”
“Looking forward to it.” Grizzizzik’s voice was mechanical.
“There’s… something you need to know before we meet up with the rest of the group.”
“Mmm,” Grizzizzik said again.
“Akshi is…” The moment he said Akshi’s name, Grizzizzik’s laser focus changed from the arrow to Nick’s eyes. The rogue was daring him to continue whatever he was about to say. Nick swallowed. “Akshi is here.”
Grizzizzik frowned, his focus trickling back to the arrow. “Yes. We’ve established that. He’s in this realm.”
“No, I mean… here, here. He’s… in Elmwood. Inside Clarissa’s bubble. He’s…” Nick was too afraid to look away. Too afraid not to analyze every emotion on Grizzizzik’s face. “He’s charmed my vice principal, and he’ll be at my school all next week.”
The rogue’s eyes snapped back to Nick, letting this information tumble into the list of information he needed to know. Watched as the gears in his rogue’s head turned.
“I need to emphasize that you are squarely at level two.” Nick again looked at Grizzizzik’s character sheet. 600/900 XP. “If you go after Akshi now, he will snuff you out like a candle.”
The gears still turned. Nick watched, waiting. He eased himself into his roleplaying mind, imagining exactly what Grizzizzik might do if he found out his father was in the same town. Grizzizzik was reeling from this information but scrambling to look like he was in control. The calm, collected, street wise individual who was taught that showing fear was a weakness.
Grizzizzik’s hand holding the arrow was perfectly still. The rogue returned his focus back to the arrow, but he was far less present. He needed to get stronger. Nick realized his character didn’t want to rely on the others to help him.
“Grizzizzik, don’t,” Nick said.
The rogue’s eyes never wavered from the arrow. “I’ve got to slice his throat. It’s got to be me. The others are in danger. There’s no point risking them.”
“This isn’t just your problem. This is everyone’s problem. Akshi is threatening my world, and we need to get rid of him,” Nick said.
“It’s safer to do this on my own,” Grizzizzik said.
“We never want to try that. Understand? It’s far too dangerous. You can’t level up without the others, or they’ll be the ones in danger,” Nick said.
Grizzizzik remained silent, locked in his own head. Nick didn’t like it, but at least he had access to his head.
The rogue set down the arrow, then glanced up at the night sky, thinking some things through. Mostly acknowledging Nick was right. He couldn’t go solo leveling to take out Akshi. It would put the rest of the team at a disadvantage. But Grizzizzik was terrified of the possibility that if the rest of the team came with him, someone else would be the one to slit Akshi’s throat. Or someone could die. He was surprised to learn both unsettled him.
Nick dropped his hand, giving Grizzizzik a look. The rogue needed to be the one to get revenge on his father. Nick was almost more worried about what would happen if someone else killed Akshi than the idea of what would happen next week with Mr. Stower.
With a mental control Nick could never have, Grizzizzik placed the arrow down with the others, all spread out. He then stood up, brushing himself off.
“Good night.”
“Night,” Nick said.
The rogue walked into the house, closing the door behind him. Nick closed his eyes, sensing Grizzizzik enter his room. In the solitude he thought he had, the rogue started a plan. A dangerous plan full of faulty ideas. Nick covered his mouth, the heat of the evening coming back to him as he felt his sweat turn icy. It was as he feared. Grizzizzik was turning in on himself, which meant turning away from Nick, too. For the moment, he knew Grizzizzik wouldn’t try sneaking out. Nick had a sinking feeling that the higher the level, the more reckless his rogue would get.