Brittany woke up in the middle of the night and immediately went outside. She sat on a large rock and gazed up at the stars.

"Good evening, Leader Brittany." a voice said next to her.

She turned around and smiled.

"Hello, Serena." she said. "What are you doing here?"

Serena sat on another rock nearby.

"I came to see how you were feeling." she replied. "Congratulations on becoming the new leader of the Coven."

Brittany turned around again and gazed at the night sky.

"Thank you." she said. "I didn't expect to become the new Leader. I suppose it's time for me to step up."

Serena nodded.

"Of course. It's about time a woman took charge." she stated. "I just wish things could have worked out differently. But the Coven Code is what it is."

"Yeah." Brittany agreed. "I guess it is."

They both sat in silence for some time, gazing at the stars.

"How are you coping?" Serena asked after a few minutes.

Brittany sighed.

"I'm fine," she answered. "I mean, I just got here. I never expected to become a leader!”

Serena nodded.

"I understand. It's almost like navigating through uncharted waters." she said. "It's not easy becoming the new leader. Everyone has expectations, and those expectations are often unrealistic. They require a lot of work and sacrifice. Not everyone can handle the responsibility. A good leader knows when to delegate tasks. That's why I always trusted Davion to carry out his duties. He was a good man, and he knew when to let me take the lead."

"I guess that's part of being a leader." Brittany said. "To know when to give orders and when to let others take the lead."

"Exactly." Serena agreed. "Sometimes you have to put your trust in someone else."

"Can I trust you?” Brittany questioned.

Serena paused and gazed at her.

"Of course." she responded. "Why wouldn't you?"

"I just don’t know who to trust. What if some other higher level Shadow Mage shows up? Will I have to fight them to the death too?”

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"That is the Code, yes. But I'll help you stay away from any threats." Serena assured her. "I will protect you, Brittany. You can count on it."

"Thank you, Serena." she whispered. "I appreciate it."

She laid her head on her arm and gazed at the sky, trying to relax.

"Do you ever miss Earth?" Serena asked. "I mean, it's your home planet, right?”

Brittany looked at her with a confused expression, “I miss being able to log out, if that’s what you mean. I really want a shower. And a pizza.”

Serena chuckled, “You still don’t know, do you?”

She hesitated. “Know what?”

“That you're not on Earth anymore. This is the planet Zion.” Serena explained. "You're no longer human. You’re a Shadow Mage. Just like me.”

Brittany rolled her eyes, “I’ve seen plenty of the in-game videos.”

"I know this is all very confusing, especially since we haven't had much time to explain things. We're so busy now, and we don't have the luxury of taking time to explain everything.”

Brittany frowned.

Clearly Serena is an NPC.

"You're the new Coven Leader." Serena continued. "But do you realize what that means?"

Brittany turned to face her.

"What does it mean?"

"You have to set the standard for the Shadow Walkers. You have to inspire them to follow your lead."

"I…don't know what to say."

"Just think about it." Serena urged. "You have to be the example. If they see you as weak, they won't follow you. That's why you have to be strong."

Brittany nodded.

"I'll try to remember that." she said. "Thanks for talking with me."

"No problem." Serena replied, smiling. "Always glad to help."

Brittany returned to the camp. She couldn't sleep, and she decided to sit outside until sunrise. She felt restless, and she wanted to be alone to think.

The sun rose, and Brittany found herself gazing at the horizon. She wondered if she would ever be able to log out again.

What ever happened to Doug? He was supposed to figure out a way for me to log out. He promised to.

She turned around and noticed that Raul was sitting next to her.

"Good morning, Leader Brittany." he greeted. "Are you ready to begin your new life?"

Brittany nodded.

"I think so." she responded. "I'm afraid of being overwhelmed, though. I don't know what to expect. I feel like I should be able to handle anything, but I'm not sure I can."

"That's normal." Raul reassured her. "You're going to experience a lot of change. It's natural to fear it. But remember, you can always trust Serena. She's here to help."

Brittany gazed at him, surprised.

"You two are friends?" she inquired. "I didn't know you could befriend NPCs. I thought they were just background characters. Like NPCs you only interact with if you want to do something in-character."

He looked confused, “What’s an NPC?”

Great. He’s an NPC too.

"Never mind." she muttered. "I meant Serena."

Raul sighed.

"Well, Serena and I are both here to serve the Coven. Which means we are here to serve you as you fulfill the will of our great Master, the Leviathan.”

“But how will I know what he wants?” Brittany sounded worried.

“You will hear his voice in your mind.” Raul explained, “Don’t fear it. Embrace it, and follow his every command.”

"Okay." Brittany said. "That makes sense."

She looked up at him.

"So, what do I do now?" she asked.

Raul smiled.

"First things first. You must make a speech. It's your first official act as the new Leader of the Coven."

"A speech?"

Raul nodded.

"Yes, a public address. This is your chance to show the Shadow Walkers your strength and leadership abilities."

"I don't know what to say." Brittany admitted.

"You don't need to prepare a speech." Raul assured her. "Your words will flow naturally, as you demonstrate your connection to the Leviathan. Do you think you can do that?"

She nodded.

"I'll try."

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