“What happened to Grom?” I asked, our glasses clinking together, echoing in the inn. Lurin sat beside me, nursing a beer in each hand. Across from me sat Gloria, an enigmatic presence as always.

“I don’t know. The powerful suggestion spell erases any memory of the experience," Lurin replied, taking a swig that would impress a thirsty elephant.

"Good, I'd hate to have him show up at my door looking to give my family jewels a good kicking," I quipped. My laughter felt forced, the mental image of that painful scenario all too real.

“Ha! Then you would be useless for me!” Gloria said before she stopped, Her eyes widened, and her yellow skin went insta-sunburned. She stood up so fast that the chair fell over. “I, uh, I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Looks like someone's got a crush!” Lurin cackled, polishing off his fifth beer in record time. My gaze followed Gloria as she zigzagged toward the restroom. She was a lightweight when it came to alcohol, no doubt. But the bigger question loomed: was she into me?

“Ah, almost slipped my mind, Tim! Your quest, it's done. Catch!” Lurin chucked a scroll onto our beer-splattered table.

Snatching it before it became a soggy mess, I unfurled the parchment.

Congratulations! You've completed your quest. Your reward: the rare Girdle of Melody.

I blinked at the words, then shifted my gaze to a buzzed Lurin. “This is it?”

“That's a killer belt, man!” Lurin bellowed, flagging down the bartender for another round. Gloria reappeared from the restroom. We exchanged smiles, but her eyes skittered away almost instantly.

Tucking the scroll into my pocket, I sighed. No level bump. Stuck at level seven. I'd sell my soul for an XP bar right about now. “So, what's next on the agenda?”

Lurin, words slurring like a mudslide, said, “Reinforcements are on the way.”

"Reinforcements?"

“Yes. We are dealing with fire elementals, and need all the help we can get.” And, on cue, as everything in this scripted world seems to be, the door to the inn opened wide, and an old man wearing a pointy hat appeared in the hole where the door had been.

“Merlin!” I yelped, the pitch of my voice reaching a level best described as 'teenage enthusiasm.'

“Mr. Tim, uh.. Tim, my friend Lurin, and the ever so beautiful Glorimrinelyn. So nice to see you all again.” Merlin said as he came over to us and sat down at the table.

“You can call me Mr. Tim,” I said, dropping my voice to what I hoped was a manly baritone to (over)compensate for my earlier squeal. "What brings you here?"

“Lurin called for me. So, friends, what can I do for you?”

"We're taking down Volcanic," Lurin blurted, louder than intended. The chatter that had been mere background noise ceased entirely. Saying that name out loud had a way of throwing a wet blanket over any Highland conversation.

“So… My apprentice has finally grown up to become a tough hero, right?” Merlin said and punched my shoulder so hard that I almost fell off the stool. He was insanely strong for a flimsy dude, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact I was buzzed.

“Not that tough,” Gloria said, almost as if a thought had slipped past her lips. Lurin and Merlin started to laugh. Gloria looked at me, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Listen up!” Merlin said and leaned in towards the center of the table. We leaned in as he continued in a low voice. “There are ears everywhere. Ears that work for Volcanic, so we need to be careful.” Merlin looked around, I did the same. It didn’t seem like anyone cared about us, except for the Innkeeper who was looking in our direction, but I had started to trust that stubborn geezer.

“To battle Volcanic while he's near the gate is suicidal,” Merlin continued, his voice tinged with urgency. “He gains his power from the force there. You'd need an army of Duckville's finest just to tickle him.”

I couldn't resist. “What's 'the force'? Is it like...?” I waved my hand, mimicking a Jedi mind trick. The ale really was doing a number on my decision-making.

“It's the lifeblood of Purgatory, connecting all realms,” Gloria explained.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Merlin, eyes alight, jumped back in. “Exactly. The force emanates from the very core of this world. Gates made of this force connect realms, and gatekeepers who stay near them become exponentially stronger. That's why each realm has its own gatekeeper. Highland's went rogue, and frankly, we never stood a chance against him from the start.”

I sat up straighter, my worlds spinning. “Wait, Volcanic was Highland's gatekeeper?”

“He was, until ambition got the better of him. Now he's a rogue elemental still tethered to the force, but not officially a gatekeeper.”

“So, why not send another gatekeeper to squash him like a bug?”

Merlin sighed. “Highland isn't a top priority. Gatekeepers can't abandon their posts. Other realms have power players who can challenge rogue gatekeepers. Here, we're somewhat... understaffed. There's Lurin, Gloria, yours truly, and now—”

“—A noob hero,” I cut in, not needing to hear the rest.

Merlin nodded.

“So, how do we lure him from the gate?”

“He has two Achilles heels: Fønix and Pyrola,” Merlin said.

All eyes at the table met. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Lurin jumped in.

“We're ahead of you there. We know where Fønix is. We'd planned a little day trip to the Charred Forest to introduce ourselves.”

Merlin looked shocked. “I must say, that is impressive. I don’t even know his location. I only know that he is an apparition of Volcanic, and together with his sister Pyrola, they are his, well, in a way children. But they also control the charred forest. They make sure everything is taken care of so Volcanic doesn’t have to disconnect from the force.

“How far away from the gate do we have to lure him?” I asked

“I’m not sure. My best guess is to get him out of eyesight to the gate.” Merlin continued: “But you can’t go against Fønix and Pyrola as you are. They are very powerful, and even if all of you fought together, I don’t think you would have a chance.”

Merlin stopped and paused for a long time before he continued. “OK, listen carefully. The problem with Voclanics apparitions is that they are pure elementals. But this is also their weakness. They only belong to one magic school – Fire. Their fire magic is stronger than anyone with multiple schools, like me.”

Images of Kliobl's fireball chasing my tail flashed through my mind.

Water counters fire," Merlin continued, reclaiming his showman tone. "And I've got a spell that might just level the playing field. But you need to get me something first."

Of course, it’s never that easy…

“What?” growled Gloria.

“Ten ice crystals. The kind that never melts. You'll find 'em atop Mt. High, snug in caves,” Merlin clarified, his voice as casual as if he'd asked for a pint of milk.

Another cave. I sighed. “And I guess there’s a catch?”

“A catch?” Merlin asked.

“Yes, as in what nightmarish critter is guarding these magical ice cubes?”

“Ah, yes, the caves are the yetis' domain. Yetis are fierce creatures, and don’t get tricked by their nice and fluffy exterior.”

I was starting to get a good handle on the fine print of this place.

“Where is this Mt. High?” I asked, and decided, again, that the creator of this world needed a better name generator.

“It’s not far. But the climb is dangerous. And the weather is rough up there.” Gloria said. “We need to prepare for cold weather and heavy winds.” She stood up and walked towards the door before she stopped and looked over her shoulder at me. “What are you waiting for?”

As I began to rise, Merlin's palm planted itself on my shoulder, grounding me back into the seat. His gaze carried a weight I hadn't seen before. “Keep an eye on Glorimrinelyn. When it comes to facing her family's killer, she's got a fuse shorter than a goblin.”

“Wait, her family's killer?”

“Yes, when Volcanic took the gate, he scorched a huge part of the surrounding area. Her husband and kids were sleeping in the cabin when it happened. She was outside hunting.”

It was like someone flipped the switch on a mental lightbulb. No wonder her temper ran hotter than a dragon's breath.

“We will,” Lurin said,” and he almost sounded sober. “But first we need to rest. Thank you, Merlin. I will contact you again when we have the crystals. Tim: Rest up and meet at The Round at sunrise.”

“OK!”

“And remember to bring some warm clothes.”

“Um... this is all I've got,” I gestured to the ensemble I'd been sporting since my time here—well, except for that unfortunate stint in Martha's cellar.

“OK. I’ll bring you something. See you tomorrow.” Lurin said and walked.

“So, my dear apprentice. Are you ready for this?” Merlin said as the door shut behind Lurin.

“I'm as ready as I'll ever be, which is to say—not very. But I've got to step up, don't I?”

Merlin gave a solemn nod.

“Yes, I believe this is your destiny, Mr. Tim. It certainly feels that way. Continue honing your skills—your swordsmanship, your mastery of Doss, and your cantrips. They'll all come in handy.”

I nodded, feeling reassured by Merlin's presence.

“Now, I've got something for you that might give you an edge.” Merlin rummaged through his coat pocket before producing a peculiar bracelet. It shimmered yellow and featured a circle etched into its surface.

“I had intended to give this to you once you reached level ten, but circumstances call for a change in plans. You can activate it twice a day—it resets at sunrise and sunset.”

“How does it work?”

“Touch the circle three times and it will shoot magic into your bloodstream, making you much stronger. This is best used in conjunction with your physical abilities.”

Finally, something that made me a big mean beating machine. I wanted to try it at once.

“But exercise caution when using it, Mr. Tim. It's potent magic that drains your body's energy, leaving you fatigued once the effects wear off.”

Naturally, there was a caveat. “Understood.”

“I must be off, Mr. Tim. Take good care, and I look forward to our next meeting.”

Without waiting for my reply, Merlin swept out of the inn. It seemed like an appropriately dramatic exit for a wizard named Merlin.

I felt a mix of emotions: excitement about the quest ahead and my new magical accessory, but also a sense of sorrow for Gloria. Anger swelled within me, fueling my determination to undertake this mission, especially for her sake. As I made to leave, the innkeeper approached me.

“Will that be all?” he inquired.

“Yes, thank you,” I said, patting him on the shoulder.

“Very well. That'll be 25 Peng.”

I glanced towards the door—those tightwads.