Rin must have eventually dozed off because next he knew, the smell of bacon and eggs was rousing him awake.

Bacon? We haven’t had bacon since last summer!

He tossed his tattered patchwork quilt aside, leaped from his humble straw mattress, and made haste for the kitchen.

“Mornin’ sleepy head,” said his mother, Lisa, already heaping food onto his plate. Rin swept into his usual spot at the handcrafted table and started wolfing down food as if his life depended on it.

“Slow down!”

A stout smack struck the back of his head. “Hey! That hurt!” Rin rubbed the spot and looked up with pouty lips and egg on his chin.

His mother glared at him in response. A wooden ladle in her hand pointed straight at his face. “Yer not even tasting it. I didn’t fry up our only bacon for you to scarf it down without even tasting it.”

Our only bacon?

“What about Father? Isn’t he having some?”

“You can have mine,” said Garrett, striding in fully dressed and tousling Rin’s hair as he walked by. Lisa turned from the hot stove and greeted him with a peck on the lips before he settled opposite his son. “Well, birthday boy?” His smile reached his ears and his eyes twinkled. “Did you get it?”

Rin’s chewing ground to a halt, his mouth practically overflowing. “I ‘ave qwestshuns.”

“Course you do! We’re gonna plan out all your options. You won’t get your class until you get to the beginner dungeon, but we can still plan—”

“Who’s Cartwright?” Rin choked on another bite. “Our last name … ahem … sorry. Is that part of why we’re in hiding? Did we have to change our name to ‘Rowan’ to escape?”

His father’s face fell and his mother froze, still facing the stove with her ladle mid-stir in a pan full of eggs.

“Ah.” Garrett lowered his gaze, staring at his favorite whorl on the wooden table before glancing at his wife’s back. “I take it the Game of the Gods mentioned your true name then.” He coughed awkwardly into a fist, still not meeting Rin’s eyes. “Best get this over with.”

Lisa spooned eggs onto two more plates and joined them at the table. “Perhaps the best way is to show him, dear.”

Garrett nodded. “Try identifying your mother’s level first. I want you to look at her and focus. Concentrate, and use your intent. Like she’s a puzzle you’re trying to figure out or … like you’re studying a rabbit’s trail several days old. That should trigger your Identify ability.”

Rin gave a playful huff as if the idea was slightly ridiculous, but he obeyed nonetheless. When a powerful mental impression of glowing words appeared in his mind, he almost fell off his chair.

Lisa Rowan

Level 43 Battle Maiden

Elite Champion of the Battle of the High Snows

Gods above, my mother’s a battle maiden!?

“Your level’s so high!” he blurted. “I thought you’d be in the twenties. I never see you spar with Father. How can you be so strong!?”

Lisa visibly preened at Rin’s gawking. Garrett gave him a few seconds to let the messages soak in, then drew his attention back to the table.

“Now listen carefully, son, this is important. Those first two lines are public. We have no control over what is displayed there. But the third line is your mother’s title. One of several, I might add. She chose to display it to you for the sake of our demonstration, but she also has the option to keep it hidden—which she typically does. The point is: She can hide her title, but she cannot hide her name, level, or class. This is a universal truth of anyone in the Game of the Gods. You’ll see why this is important when you identify me. I’m also choosing to display a title that will answer some of your questions and lead to others.”

Rin repeated the same exercise, focusing intently.

Garrett Rowan

Level 38 Elite Guard

Personal Envoy & Bodyguard for Lord Steven Cartwright

It took a few seconds to comprehend that his father was five levels weaker than his mother. Only then did his mind reach the third line where it struggled to parse the meaning of his title. His mind sputtered and cycled, looping over the words, realizing they were important but not grasping their significance.

Garrett mistook his son’s silence for dismay and held up his palms in a placating gesture.

“Let me explain. Although you are our son by both the law of the land and the law of the heart, technically, by the law of kinship, you are not. I'm talking about by blood. That honor belongs to my previous employer, Lord Steven Cartwright.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Rin’s mouth was hanging ajar.

“I know what you’re thinking,” said Lisa. “We’re still your parents. We’ve raised you with blood, sweat, and tears since the day you were born. “And legally speaking, we are your guardians. It’s just that … well, I didn’t give birth to you, that’s all.”

The boy was stunned silent. He was more confused than upset.

Garrett, on the other hand, was kneading his hands with sweat beading on his forehead. “It’s like this, see. Steven Cartwright, your biological father, charged us to take care of you. Then his wife, Mallenda—your stepmother—well, she found out about Steven and your, erm, birth mother. So she had them both poisoned before sending assassins after both of us.” Garrett jerked his chin in Lisa’s direction. “We barely escaped with our lives.” He gestured wide with his hand. “That’s why we’ve hidden here for all these years.”

Rin didn’t seem to be listening, his eyes glazed as he stared into the distance.

The silence dragged on for several seconds before Garrett couldn’t stand it any longer. His voice broke as he hammered the facts home. “Rin, you’re a bastard. Born out of wedlock to a mere scullery maid. Don’t you understand?”

It took several false starts for the boy to respond, his mind still reeling.

“What was her name? My … mother.”

Lisa’s concerned expression softened, and she reached out and patted Rin’s hand. “Sarah, dear, her name was Sarah. She lived a harsh life, from what I heard, never more than a step away from being outright destitute. But she seemed a kind and considerate soul.” Lisa shook her head. “I'm sorry to say it, Rin, but she was a simple plaything to Lord Cartwright. She enjoyed a passing moment of his affections before he discarded her. Just like all the rest.”

The mist in the boy’s eyes abruptly cleared, and he shook the fog from his head. A more pressing thought came barreling to the forefront of his mind. “So that’s it then. I’m never leaving this place. Whether I participate in the Game of the Gods or not, I’m stuck here in this hamlet with you, hiding from assassins forever.”

The boy’s hands were clenched in white-knuckled fists. The air in the kitchen suddenly felt stifling and close, smothering his breath along with his future prospects. The thought of being stuck here for another month, let alone forever, filled him with despair. He’d been so excited to get out into the wide world and do some real exploring. Now, like some cruel trick, it had all been snatched away.

“Not at all,” said Lisa, smiling weakly as she held his hand. “Your name isn’t in the assassin’s contract. You can go anywhere you want. But for the gods’ sake, stay away from Lady Cartwright. Honestly, the less you interact with that cursed family, the better.”

“Aye,” said Garrett. “Now go on and get your things together. I can explain more on the road, but we’ll miss my contact in Craggton if we delay too long. We’ve got to get you to the beginner dungeon at Bastion so you can get your class.”

Rin rose, swaying slightly with a head full of new knowledge he didn’t know what to do with. He mechanically turned from the table, slipped his dirty plate into the sink, and retreated to his room.

His mother and father shared a look.

“Either he’s taking this extremely well, or he hasn’t heard a word we’ve said,” said Garrett.

“You know how he processes things. It’ll all come out in the wash. Give him a week or two.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. Right about the time he figures it out, we’ll be miles away without a clue. It could put him in danger.”

The man stared at the dark hallway, saying a quick prayer under his breath. “To all the gods above, please grant him a strong class when he gets to that dungeon.”

Hidden within his room, Rin slumped onto his straw mattress. The ramifications of the conversation were pounding in his brain, blurring his eyes with unbidden tears.

My parents aren’t who I thought they were.

When the thought entered his mind, he instinctively rejected the prospect. It simply wasn’t true. He knew his parents. He knew they loved him.

They were considerate, humble, selfless, and deeply committed to him. Although they had hidden a secret from him for a very long time, they were only trying to protect him, as best they knew how. No matter the circumstances of his birth, they were his true parents as far as he was concerned.

Admittedly, he would have liked to meet his birth mother. But he could read between the lines. Her life sounded like one hanging on by a thread. And his biological father sounded like a total dick. Rin felt no remorse whatsoever at the man’s death. After all, an hour ago Rin hadn’t known he’d existed.

It was a peculiar feeling. His brain knew his birth parents were dead, but his heart hadn’t caught up yet. He felt strangely detached as if it’d happened to someone else entirely.

The boy sighed.

In the end, it didn’t matter. He wanted to see the world, to be an adventurer, and travel the continent. He wanted to sail the sea and plumb its depths, to discover ancient ruins, and delve into mysterious lost dungeons.

His father, Garrett, wanted him to be strong so he’d be safe. Rin supposed that was good and all, but more than anything, he wanted to explore. To finally get off this mountain and on with his life.

He couldn’t wait to get started.

Thirty minutes later, his melancholy mood had melted away, and Rin was geared up and itching to go. The waxed cloak slung around his neck was dyed to match the greens and browns of the forest, a handy hunting aid when he needed to blend in. Underneath, he’d eschewed something woolen and scratchy that would be against his chest, opting instead for a cream cotton-spun shirt that traded warmth for comfort. It was tucked into his favorite brown breeches that boasted a wide array of snags and homemade patches. They were unsightly but practical, and in his judgment, perfect for traveling. Sturdy ankle-high boots, a leather shoulder-slung knapsack, and a tall walking staff of shaven pine completed his ensemble.

He was as ready as he’d ever be.

Rin leaned into a fierce hug with his mother. They stayed there for several moments, each of them loath to release the other. His mother, in particular, was never very good at goodbyes. He knew how she hated them.

The boy was the first to pull away from the embrace, but she halted his retreat by grabbing his arms. With visible effort, she gathered her emotions and reached up to wipe the boy’s welling tears away, smearing the wetness into his flushed cheeks.

“Don’t grow up too fast. And don't go chasing girls too soon. There’ll be plenty of time for that when you’re older. I’ll see you again before you know it.”

Rin silently bobbed his head to her, fearing his voice would crack if he said a word. He ducked away, sparing her from dragging out the agonizing moment too long, and sprang into a brisk walk to join his father. His efforts faltered at their hamlet’s exit as he waved one final goodbye.

When will I see you again, Mother?

He didn’t know the answer, but of one thing, he was certain. Whenever it was, he would be strong.

Just like Father.