Gray rubbed his eyes and looked at the time on his phone. He titled his head back and sighed. 4:55 PM. These last five minutes were long. Really long. He took the digital pen that he used to write on his tablet for notes and balanced it on his fingers.

He briefly remembered how his father used to be able to do a cool trick where he would hold his ink pen between his index and thumb. Then he would spin the pen and have it land perfectly in the same spot. An idle gesture. One that he did while looking at papers on Sundays.

Gray attempted to do the trick again, but he spun the pen with too much force, and it fell on the ground. He picked it up and checked his phone.

4:56 PM.

How long has been since he called his father? Gray tried to remember, but all he could see in his mind was a dark holiday. That Christmas where he was staring at the city skyline in a bedroom lit by a burning screen in the corner. His old man breathed too close to the phone. The call only lasted 20 seconds. A quick and late merry Christmas to start the night.

Gray felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and found Harry in the entrance of his cubicle.

“Hey,” Harry leaned against the entrance of his cubicle. Gray was now in this weird spot where his mind would flip a coin on whether the guy in front of him was Harry or Jericho.

“Friday night, huh?” Harry nodded his head and smiled. “Going home to play Elrin?”

“Kinda. The plan was actually to prep dinner first. Then play Elrin. I know that Melody wanted to do some mob grinding,” Gray explained. “You got something going on tonight?”

“I raid in about four hours,” Harry checked his phone. “Before that, we’re going to the bar.”

“Hmm? Oh, you invited someone from work?”

***

Gray blinked at the name of the bar. It was called Crescent’s light. It had a fun drawing of a crescent moon on the front. In fact, it reminded him of almost a fantasy tavern. Inside he could see wooden tables and furniture that gave the place a rustic vibe. He crossed his arms.

“What?” Harry pulled up his digital ID on his phone.

“Is this really gonna be fun?”

“Come on, man. We’re two guys in our mid-twenties. Going around bars is what we do. It’s our calling. Our Destiny. Especially on a Friday night. We’re getting ran into the dirt at work,” Harry put his arm around Gray and pumped up his fist. “We need to live like the young men that we are. Filled with passion and-“

“Sure,” Gray got his own ID ready. It wasn’t going to be long away. The bouncer at the front was some huge guy with a goatee that barely looked at their identification.

The music was louder than he expected. A pop song that was older than 40 years was blasting from speakers wedged into the ceiling’s corners. Gray recognized everything about the song, but its name. There was a weighted murmur of the crowd that made it hard to make out the lyrics. Gray had to strain his ear when Harry mentioned getting a table.

They found one with a pair of high stools. Gray sat down and looked out the window. Outside, he saw the nightlife in full force as people navigated their way to their favorite bars and clubs. He could have been prepping a dinner that would cost just as much as a round of whatever Harry was ordering.

Gray shook his head.

Let’s try to have some fun.

Harry brough over a pair of beers for the two of them. The typical golden hue with a thin layer of white foam at the top.

“I ordered us some wings that we can share,” Harry asked. “Regretting coming with?”

“Not really it just feels a little weird. “I haven’t been to a bar since college.”

“Hmm. Not that long ago, so it’s been like fours year?”

“I guess. Maybe three in half?”

Gray was surprised to see just how many people had ended their shift and rolled right into drinking. As expected, the people were chatty. The collective noise melded into a warm and joyful atmosphere. There was a lady in the back of the bar that was lightning paper candles, a group of four guys in their forties playing pool, and a young man with black eyeliner playing darts with his entourage of large boot wearing goths.

“So, what how’s raiding going along?” Gray asked.

“You want to talk about Elrin at a bar?”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Rather that than work. I don’t really know what else you’re into. Besides, that’s exactly what we’re gonna be doing once we go home.”

“Nuh uh,” Harry shifted his eyes to the side. “I got laundry and shit. I only play as much as I do because of my guild.”

“Yeah, it always seems like your guild leader is getting you to do some raid prep or practice groups.”

“Prog.”

“What?”

“Prog groups. Groups that are practicing a raid are called prog groups,” Harry corrected. The wings arrived and both men took a piece for themselves. The sauce was a vicious orange. Gray took a bite, and a dull heat was layered over his tongue. It wasn’t the spiciest wings that he had, but it was a nice kick. For a minute, Gray wondered how they made sauce. Garlic powder and some hot sauce made from cayenne peppers were common, but Gray wondered if he could make a hotter sauce or one with more flavorful.

“You look like you’re trying to do calculus in your head,” Harry chuckled. “Don’t tell me bar food turns you into a genius.”

“Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”

“You made that same face during the world boss yesterday,” Harry waved a wing at him. A little bit of the sauce dripped on the table. Harry wiped it up with a napkin.

“Yeah, that fight was pretty fun. “

“World bosses are low stakes, so their good for low levels like you and the rest of the guild.”

“It’s a shame we can’t play more due to your raiding schedule,” Gray threw a bone back on to the platter and took a fresh wing.

“Yeah,” Harry rubbed the back of his neck. “Had to play until 2 AM to make sure that everyone was properly geared up.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Yeah, the guild leader is one that comes up with the hours. Since the guild has members in different time zones, we kinda have to sacrifice some days to make sure that everyone can prep. Half of us are groaning through the grind, but oh well.”

“Can’t you guys wait till the weekend for those types of sessions?"

“That’s just want it means to be hardcore raiders. Some people use the term loosely, but that’s the type of commitment needed. I have this Ninja that we call Light. That guy is always late for some reason or another. There’s also Sharko, he has a pretty bad temper. Goes off whenever someone forgets a mechanic.”

“Sounds like an interesting bunch, I guess…”

“My raid leader insane. That guy just screams all the time when we’re doing stuff. Suboptimal this and that.”

“I don’t know man. Don’t you think that it’s unhealthy?”

“What the hours?” Harry asked.

“The hours maybe, but I also got the burns awhile back. It’s not really the hours. I’m mostly talking about the attitude. It sounds like you guys don’t actually like raiding that much with how you’re describing some of your raid members.”

“That’s just how it is man,” Harry said. By this point, they were halfway done with their wings, and both drank their beers. “When you get good at something; you start to hate it.”

“What about your art?”

“What do you mean my art? You mean the illustration and designs that I do for work? That’s all….It’s just work, man. I mean work work. You know?”

“Still, it feels miserable to just think that getting good at something means you hate it, and the hours for raiding seem kinda crazy.”

“Raiding all night and then coming to work in the morning isn’t ideal, but it’s the only way that we’ll clear. That’s why our guild leader gets on my ass all the time about getting everyone ready for the content.”

Gray looked over to the goth group and noticed that one of the guys within the group was glancing at him. Harry stood up at the same time.

“I’m going to the bathroom and get another round of beer. Maybe a second plate of wings,” Harry walked off to go on his little side quest.

“We haven’t even finished the first plate!” Gray still had a piece of chicken in his hands. He needed to try and grab a few more before Harry came over with the second batch. He didn’t feel like wasting food. Gray finished three wings before he looked up and saw the young man that was playing darts. He was staring at him.

It was his cousin Daniel. Both seemed to confirm their suspicions with a nod and Daniel approached the table wearing some spiked boots that made him look taller. He still wore the same style that Gray remembered. His cousin leaned against the table with right arm and kept his Gin and Tonic close with the left hand.

“Where the hell have you been, man?” Daniel asked. “Look at you. At a bar and shit.”

“It’s been a while, Daniel,” Gray said.

“I guess. It’s been a year. Well maybe like what 15 months,” Daniel coughed. “September, I guess.”

“You look…” Gray wanted to say that Daniel looked good, but he didn’t. He was pale and it wasn’t some kind of makeup. It was a complexion gained by a disease called lifestyle. The bloodshot eyes and how he chewed his fingernails until a little bit of blood came out. The only thing about him that looked presentable was his hair. It was unkempt, but that type of unkempt exuded a sense of confident casualness. “…like you have some good friends. How’s Auntie Chelsea.”

“Good, good,” Daniel answered quickly and set his drink on the table. His left hand was covered in silver rings that had edges sharp enough to scratch the table when he moved his fingers. “You still play video games?”

“Uh, yeah. I play that MMO, Elrin Online.”

“Really? I was thinking of getting into it because I never played an MMO before. Do you have like a guild or that sort of thing. You always hear about that stuff.

“Yeah, I started a guild called Daybreak. It’s only about three of us so far,” Gray said.

“Daybreak. I’m guessing you came up with the name.”

“What made you guess?” Gry asked.

“I don’t know. It’s just,” Daniel poked Gray. “It’s just very you, Gray.

“Hey guys!” Harry came over with the second plate of wings. Gray parted his mouth to say something, but he just shook his head. Harry slammed the plate down. Harry turned to Daniel. “Want to join us?”

“Nah, my friends are planning on leaving in a sec,” Daniel jerked his thumb back at the small group that he hung out around. “Just wanted to say hi. I’ll talk to you later, Gray.”

Gray watched Daniel rejoin his group of friends. The four of them twisted and sped past some people that were trying to enter and disappeared into the street. Off to another place. Off to a darker den if Aunt Chelsea didn’t exaggerate. Had it really been since September? Gray felt like the last year was a ripped-out chunk of his life.

“He’s my cousin and I guess the newest member of the Daybreak Guild,” Gray took a swig of his beer. He had more responsibilities on this fresh start than just caring for himself. A year. A year was too long.

“Looks like your guild is getting a little rowdy,” Harry smiled. “Every week you’ll be having a new member.”

“More importantly. Are these wings going to be your dinner?” Gray raised the old plate of wings. There were still five pieces of chicken that were unaccounted for, and Harry was diving into the fresh batch.

“Maybe…” Harry replied while he ripped out a piece of meat with a bite.