The next morning, Andy awoke to the sounds of birds chirping right outside his window. Emerald-tinted sunlight poured in the room, bathing him in warmth as he rose out of bed. The lodge really was magnificent, an isolated, quiet retreat that felt luxurious even in its modest wooden simplicity.

Andy got dressed, and gathered his things before heading down the tangle of staircases and rope bridges that led back to the ground. One by one, each of the companions emerged from their rooms and down at the central patio where Verin was waiting with coffee, fruit, and semi-sweet breads.

"I trust you all slept well," Verin said. "The silk sheets they keep here… I'll tell you what. More comfortable than the linens at any other estate I've been to."

"I slept well indeed," said Andy, eyeing the sweet bread.

"Please," Verin said, noticing Andy's gaze. "Help yourself."

As Andy began selecting his sugary breakfast bread, Morwen emerged from the treeline, presumably from deep in the surrounding woods. She was already sweaty and her chest was heaving with exertion.

Probably just finished training, Andy thought. I should get back to that soon.

Morwen greeted them silently with a nod before walking past them, up to her room to wash up.

"Morning," Arlene said with a smile, approaching Andy.

"Morning," he said.

She leaned on the table next to him, looking out at the woods while picking up a piece of fruit.

"I feel like we haven't really been able to talk much lately," she said.

"Yeah," said Andy between bites. "It's been a busy few days…"

Andy had finished off the slice of sweet bread, its regenerative euphoria still coursing through his body. He reached for a piece of fruit… it looked like cantaloupe.

"What's funny is we haven't been here that long," said Arlene. "But it feels like I've always lived here. I can remember my life back on earth like some kind of dream… but it doesn't feel real. Not as real as this."

Andy paused. She was right. He hadn't thought about his previous life much at all since arriving. And the Infinite Plane, this simulation did have a kind of hyper-reality to it. It felt realer than real.

"Why do you think that is?" Andy asked. "Is it the technology?"

"I have no idea," Arlene said. "I just think it's interesting. To be honest with you, I love it. I love this game, whatever it is. I've never had so much power, so much… I don't know… purpose?"

Andy continued chewing his food, her words resonating with him.

"Like, I can set my mind to something, and I can just… do it," she continued. "There's a clear path to becoming who I want to be, to unlocking new abilities… I don't know, real life never had any rules, and I found that frustrating. I always felt like everyone else understood how to live and I just, I don't know, I didn't."

Andy took a big bite of cantaloupe and nodded. "I understand completely," he said.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I was supposed to go to art school," he said. "But I didn't pass my AP exam. And so I had basically no purpose. I always thought I was on the brink of finding it, finding the thing that would make me happy, that I'd excel at. But nope."

"Do you think you can find it here?"

"Huh? Wait, find what?" Andy said.

"Purpose, dummy."

"Oh! Yeah. Yes, I think so," he said.

Andy was speaking before he really thought about it, but he realized that what he was saying was true. He felt more at home here on the Infinite Plane than he had during his earthly life. And the more powerful he got, the more he could find and fulfill his purpose.

He didn't know exactly how to express it, he didn't have any sort of code or motto to live by, but he knew that, like the Order of the Behemoth, he felt the need to defend those who couldn't defend themselves. He felt the need to stop tyrants, people abusing their power.

"I hope I can too," she said. "For right now, helping Kermit is enough. I sure hope we can find his brother."

Andy nodded, taking another piece of fruit and pouring himself coffee. "We will," he said. "I know it."

"Kermit was so upset when I first met him," Arlene said. "He was a complete bundle of nerves. But ever since we've gotten into the game, he's really opened up."

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"He's a bright kid," Andy said. "And really kind-hearted."

"I think he looks up to you," said Arlene.

Andy felt a flush of embarrassment come over him.

"I don't think —"

"Trust me," said Arlene. "I think you are the coolest person in the world in his eyes."

"Why?"

"I can tell," said Arlene. "And I'm saying it because I think you're pretty cool too. And we both appreciate everything you've done for us so far. And I just thought you should know that."

"Well… gosh," Andy said, looking for the words. "Shucks," he said, instantly wincing in embarrassment.

"Ok, Goofy," said Arlene with a chuckle.

***

After breakfast, Verin shared a quick recap of the job. They would walk from the hunting lodge to a small wilderness outpost where the noble had connections, and then they would complete their journey the following day, arriving at the cliffs of Siren's Bay, where Verin would commence his sixth hunt for the Chimera.

Sven readied PL, attaching his harness and feeding him some slop that Verin had graciously provided.

Verin brought out a cart loaded with gear, which he attached to the pig.

"This," said Verin, "is my arsenal. It is what we will use to finally hunt and kill the chimera!"

"What's in it?" Arlene asked.

"Well, let me show you," said Verin, clearly eager to show off his toys. He held up a crossbow, plated in gold, with a faint blue glow radiating off of it. "This is a crossbow crafted not only to fire bolts that continually seek their target, but it also delivers a paralyzing magical shock."

"Fancy," said Morwen, unimpressed.

Verin gestured at a few other items, but Andy wasn't really listening. Magical items were cool and all, but he was still thinking about what Arlene had said. Had he really made that much of a difference to Kermit? Did the boy really look up to him like that? Andy felt a bit embarrassed because he didn't consider himself worthy of such admiration. But he also felt touched. He wasn't used to being recognized, and now that he was, he felt almost overwhelmed.

After more of Verin's show and tell, the group finally departed.

As they traveled through the forest, they hit patches of thick brush and tranquil, open clearings; clover patches and rock fields; variations of several terrains and landscapes.

Morwen and Verin walked in tandem in the lead. Andy and Arlene followed behind, and, as usual, Sven, PL, and Kermit took the rear.

Andy could hear snippets of conversation from the front, though he couldn't quite discern all the details.

"What do you mean?" Morwen said in sudden surprise.

"I mean retiring, turning in, throwing in the towel," Verin replied.

What could they be talking about?

Morwen stopped in her tracks, and the rest of the caravan followed her lead.

"What's going on?" Andy asked.

Morwen had a distant look in her eye. "Just processing some new information," she said.

"What information? What's going on?" Arlene asked.

"I was just informing Morwen that, well, rumor has it the duke is stepping down sometime soon."

"Stepping down?" Andy asked. "Who will replace him?"

"That's the problem," said Morwen. "The heir apparent is his son, Sethor. As much as I don't like the duke, his son is so much worse."

Andy gave Morwen a confused look. She was talking so openly and negatively about the nobility... in front of a noble!

"Don't mind me," said Verin, as if reading Andy's mind. "I'm not one to tattle. I don't like the duke much myself. Speak freely. All I want is to hunt."

Ok so Verin is a potential ally...

"So the duke is going to hand power over to his son?" Arlene asked.

Andy remembered the duke's son, Sethor, the young dark-haired man who sat on the silver throne in the Noble Court. He had been indignant that the group insisted on taking PL with them. He had insisted that they slaughter the pig in keeping with the city's customs. And he hadn't been happy when the duke took their side against him.

"What does that mean for us?" Andy asked.

"I'm not sure yet," said Morwen. She continued to walk forward, striding slowly.

"Well, whatever the case, I'm sure it won't happen overnight," said Verin. "Morwen informs me that you have a job lined up with the duke next. I'm sure you'll have a chance to complete that before he abdicates power."

Andy nodded.

"What did you say you were doing for him?" Verin said.

"Specifics are unclear," said Morwen, "but likely something to do with his mercantile business."

"Ah, of course. The Duke of Cresthaven, ever the trader."

"There are worse things," Morwen said.

"Indeed," said Verin. "Like his son, the warlock!"

"Yes," Morwen said.

"Wait, Sethor is a warlock?" Andy asked.

Andy had become entangled with the warlock guild by taking the Drain feat, but he found the hatefulness that it inspired disturbing, and he found Antoine, the warlock guildmaster, to be a thoroughly creepy and repulsive man.

"Yes," said Morwen. "He studies under Antoine."

"You took some warlock, didn't you?" Arlene said.

"Just the level zero feat," Andy said sheepishly. "I really don't like it."

"The warlocks have a very… distasteful brand of magic," said Morwen. "Unfortunately, it looks like the warlock's guild may be able to have even more influence here soon if the rumors are true."

"What would they try to do?" Andy asked.

"I don't know, but nothing good," said Morwen. "They consort with the charlatans and enchanters most often, with very little respect for ethical norms. And if they got too out of hand, the Order of the Behemoth would no doubt have something to say about it."

"Oh dear," Verin said, unpacking the implications of what Morwen was saying. "You're describing a guild war."

"That's exactly what I'm describing," said Morwen. "Let's pray that the duke stays on the throne for a while longer."