Chapter 4

“I'm sorry you had to see me like that… I'm fine now, gonna end call and I’ll see you both in game, can meet up at the guild or something… bye” Before we can get a word in she disconnects, I close my eyes and sigh, the sobbing and screaming still fresh in my mind as I hold Zelia as close as possible to stop the spiraling, needing her warmth to light a path for me. Can we be that for her? Gods why are we all so fucked up hah…

A wet kiss is felt upon my cheek as Zel’s head snuggles into my neck, “It's gonna be okay love… She is fragile but strong, and we will be here for her whatever she needs, she just had a bit of a shock today. I just hope she remembers the good of the last few days rather than that being the big thing wan.” I start to say something before I hear coughing, one obviously to get our attention. Right, right we are in a bar.

“Sorry sorry just needed somewhere to sit down! We will be out of the way now!” I pull Zelia up and out of her chair, still snuggled against me, her arms tight around my neck. She’s already got one mess of a girlfriend to deal with. I've got to be strong and supportive with Kiera the best I can, she needs people in her life and we are going to be those people, that I will promise her.

Besides… I feel she would do the same for me.

…

The guild is busy as usual, it's already afternoon by the time we arrive, the guards eyeing us warily as we wait outside, I don't want to miss Keeks as she arrives, I would feel bad if she wandered in and missed us in the kerfuffle of people going back and forth, a not-friendly face appears in the crowd and Zel instantly starts blushing, Mershi in her shark form swims over, her pool of swirling water splashing people as she passes by, I note the fear rather than annoyance on their faces. Yeah you dont fuck with the laser shark woman, thats for sure. I nudge Zel as she approaches and she coughs to hide her embarrassment.

“Hey you kids, ready to tackle that dungeon?” She looks nervous, even in her shark form I can tell, she's fidgeting with her hands and running her tongue constantly up and down her teeth… I can understand at least, the woman she loves is in there and she isn't allowed to throw herself in to save her.

“Yeah, we will save her Mershi, don't you worry, we will get her back safe moo!” She nods slowly before looking around.

“Where's your pet snack?” I snort at her accurate description, looking at her mouth, maybe we have different thoughts on what a snack entails though.

“She should be here soon, just ran into some trouble at hom-oh there she is wan!” Off in the distance where the transporter obelisk stands tall, a tiny figure is waving their arms over their head, yelling and making a ruckus as she runs.

“I’m here I’m here don't go without mmmnnnnyyeeee!!!” She huffs and she puffs and she… falls at my feet, eyes open, enjoying the sight of what's under my viking skirt. “Damn… you… still… wearing… cow… patterned… underwear… nice nye!” She gives me a thumbs up before dragging herself up by my legs, enjoying the feeling of my leg fur against her face every inch of the way.

“Annnd now we are ready… oh wait we should get some potions and things before we leave.”

“Yeah make sure you’re properly prepared, every time you fail the dungeon it will suck out some of her essence, so try and do it in one shot… fucking rules though… you fail once and then I’m in, tear that fucking dungeon to the ground.” Mershi crosses her arms in anger, at the situation, us or the guild rules I’m not sure.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Surely the fact that someone's life is at stake should be more important… but I guess a game is a game? It's not something I want to think about, maybe they have some stupid reason for it, for everything WAR has seemed pretty accurate to its whys and hows. I sure as hell wouldn't want some videogame explainist telling the world about how bad my lore is being thrown together. The first person that comes to mind is Zelia, getting angry that certain things just don't make sense, but she seems to not be fully here, basically drooling at Mershi’s mouth, probably imagining how it feels to get chomped.

“Oh Oh! I wanna get more speed potions nye!” yeah we might be a bit, shit.

“We can meet you at the Orphanage moo?” She nods and punches me lightly on the chest, frustration and unwillingness on her face as she leaves. Yeah I get it… if it was me I wouldn't let rules hold me back, different people I guess.

“Oh we looked at the cost of a ship, Keeks, it's not pretty, 50k for a two mast ship and that doesn't include a crew moo” She sighs against my stomach, still holding onto me with one hand. With our size difference, if she wasnt caressing my ass people might think we are mother and child, despite my wanting to protest such treatment of my body. Just for today, you’ve got this Lil, considering the things she’s been going through, and definitely not because it feels nice.

“M-maybe we can earn enough money from the dungeon to afford one nye?...” She pouts and looks up at me with such pitiful eyes.

“Y-yeah maybe, we will get you a ship so we can all be pirates yeah, until then up you get, we need to go shopping moo!” Keeks squeaks and clambers up my body, whips her legs around my neck and holds on tight to my horns.

“Next stop! The markets, wherever that is! Yarrnyee!” I can't help but giggle and glance over at Zelia, the biggest sappiest smile plastered on her face looking up at me.

“What love moo?” She shakes her head and grins.

“Just love seeing you happy, my minotaur woman.” She takes my hand and kisses it, putting it on her cheek and nuzzling into it, tears fall from my eyes as I gaze upon the love of my life. I am no longer in the labyrinth, I’m free to be happy, as happy as I want to be.

“First mate ZelAwoo, guide us to the promised land of snacks and potions nye!” She pulls me forward as the ship LilMoo wades through the crowd of people in silver city, destinations known. My best friends by my side, feeling unstoppable, fear of the future still in my chest. I won't lose them, I will keep everyone safe, no matter what cost. I repeat it as a mantra in my head, again and again, before I know it we are in front of the Orphanage, all sitting together and talking.

“Hey… Lil love are you okay wan?” I nod quickly upon realising where I am, right, we were shopping and then… we were here, I must have zoned out a little bit, fuck.

“Yeah I'm fine, what were you saying love moo?” She looks at me with concern before speaking up again.

“I was saying we should make sure we have everything sorted before we go in, do you have anything you need to do, make sure you've put all your points in, wan?” I pull up my interface, realizing something with all my status points in place, rifling through my bag I pull it out. The fucking growth crystal. I… right… 2 fucking points! Ugh so damn close.

Status Interface

Name: LilMoo

Level: 14

Race: Minotaur

Gender: Female, She/Her

Max Health: 255

Max Mana: 194

Max Stamina: 224

Points remaining: 0

Strength: 16 (20)

Dexterity: 6 (14)

Constitution: 18 (23)

Intelligence: 10 (13)

Wisdom: 20 (25)

Charisma: 1 (4)

Luck: 50 (53)

“I wanna use my growth crystal! Mmnn maybe we will level up when we get inside moo?” I look at the Orphanage, all the kids milling about the entrance, looking at us as we get everything ready, I see Cali and she waves to me, I wave back but the kids are shepherded back inside, the helpers not wanting to get in our way. The entrance to the chapel lies open before us, only one more thing to do now.

We have a nightmare to kill.