image [https://cdn.midjourney.com/b875fa3e-ee96-4169-8bef-773311b507aa/0_1.png]

During the evening, Irene’s attitude had changed for the better, from slightly angry to just a little annoyed. Maybe because Vincent had been there for her during the service and the ensuing ceremonies. All had been compacted in a few hours.

For the night, they had just cuddled. The tragedy was too fresh to be able to concentrate on those matters. In the morning, they woke simultaneously, laying in each other arms, smiling.

“I’m sorry I took a decision without consulting you,” he caressed her cheek. “I was afraid to lose you…”

“It’s OK…” Irene sighed. “But the next time there’s a fight or a hard decision, I want to be by your side…”

“You’re more courageous than I am,” Vincent smiled. “I always ran away when there was management stuff to do… and will keep running.”

“I’m sorry I was so angry yesterday,” Irene said.

“It’s my fault… I basically kidnaped you—’

“I’m afraid, Vincent. I was cranky because I was afraid about us… I want it to work, Vincent… I really want it to work…”

“Me too…” he whispered. “Every day, I think: any minute, she’ll realize she’s too smart for me.”

“Don’t be stupid,” she frowned. “That’s the last thing you should consider,” she frowned. “My mother was a top model in her youth—”

“You have her looks,” Vincent said.

“Not really, but thanks. And papa, well, is rich… But they fell in love, and because of that, they decided to go to couples counseling. She was obsessed that Karl was smart and would notice she was not, and he feared the obvious… her marrying him for his money… They’d been happily married for twenty-five years now.”

“My sister’s boyfriend is a shrink… We could do some therapy with him when I call… Oh, my God, I forgot to tell you. I have a way to call home… We can call back tomorrow.”

Irene took a long breath in and out but refrained from making a scene. “If you want to bring the dog up, you can. I let Cupcake with Lila for the week.”

“I dunno... Vorrak is really big…”

“It’s OK. I slept in the stable’s attic a few times with White Roar and his family… Talk about crowded.”

“How’s he?”

“He’s level twenty-eight now… Did some pest control together, but in general, he avoids fights. Did you know he was a circus tiger?”

“I had no idea.”

“Yeah, I paid his owner to release him… We have to go if we want to eat before the meeting.”

“I’ll shower first, I’m fast.”

The bathroom was tiny but well organized. The toilet was in a separate nook, and there was a shower. Vincent was used to having only a small personal space, from living in an apartment with his parents to his army time. However, he wondered how Irene coped with it… she used to live in a castle after all. After showering, Vincent let his toothpaste and brush on the shelf… a gesture he felt he belonged there, but also for better inventory management. Half of it was cluttered with personal items and clothes.

Before going downstairs, Irene knocked on Lila’s door. “Sorry… I need to check on my baaaaaaby!” she said to the half-asleep dancer, rushing in to hug and kiss Cupcake. “I missed you… OK, let’s face the crowd,” she told Vincent a minute later.

In the cantina, the vibe was morose, but the cleanness impeccable. Someone had moved the tables around for better access and installed a new buffet with inox appliances. A mercenary was there, helping people serve themselves with food to speed up the process.

Bee was not there, which was understandable. When Irene and Vincent sat at their table, with a few pancakes as food, Dragon approached them.

“It’s my fault,” the colonel told them. “I should have maintained discipline instead of allowing the guys a night off… It’s on me…”

“It’s on me,” Titan raised his voice from another table. “I insisted on launching the satellite early without properly checking what’s above…”

“It was my fault,” Bee said. When he did appear in the room, Vincent didn’t notice. “I’m not a tech guy… Jorge would have detected that asteroid… I was greedy and wanted to play with toys... and my mom died… because… of me…” he started sobbing. Irene rushed to hug and console him.

“There is only one person at fault,” Vincent pushed back his chair, looking around. About two-thirds of the Guild and the mercenaries were present. “That’s me. A good leader is responsible and calculated. I took on the job in a moment when it was the only way, but now… there are better people around… Dragon, Irene… Bee… Core, I’m officially resigning from my position. Please organize elections as soon as possible. Do a plecsi… pelcsi…”

Stolen novel; please report.

[Gia to Vincent]: Pebliscite?

“Yeah, a plescibite to elect a better leader. Give everyone a vote, junior members and visitors included.”

[Prodigia Guildchy Core to Guild]: A plebiscite will be organized to decide the Guild’s future. The voting will start after the meeting.

“A leader doesn’t give up at the first challenge,” Dragon threw Vincent a stern look.

“That’s the point,” Vincent said. “I’m not fit to be one. I’ll vote for you. I’ll vote for Dragon,” he repeated aloud so the rest could hear before sitting back.

“I’m a hundred percent behind you,” Irene fondled his hand. “If you decide to return to Earth, I’ll follow you,” she whispered. “Magic powers don’t matter much if you’re not with me.”

“I was just thinking that if you’d insist on staying, I’ll stay,” Vincent replied, swallowing a lump, his eyes watery. “But I don’t want to go back yet… If I say to people I want to get back, many would want to come… Visitors should be encouraged to leave as soon they reach level ten, but if our guys want to leave too, they should make up their minds when their heads are cooler…”

“This feels like the first days we came here,” she said. “Can you believe it was only a few months ago?”

“No… it feels much longer…”

“OK, folks, let’s do it,” Thomas yelled, entering the room.

Slowly, the guild members put their cups or cutlery down, sipping the last of their drinks and eating, or leaving the remaining pieces of food behind and moved out of the room in an irregular file. Irene and Vincent followed last.

The theater room was full, and they remained standing, leaning on the back wall. A heavy wood table had been set on the stage. Thomas took the center, and to his left and right were more notabilities, many of whom Vincent had never seen. Councilpersons, most likely. The priest sat apart, standing behind a larger ceremonial chair on which stood the King of Beauhemia, Karel, and another priest, with a more ornate vestment, sat on another simpler chair beside the king.

What’s he doing here? Vincent asked, realizing at the same time the news of an alien attack was big.

“Your majesties,” Thomas bowed in a vague direction, half-turning toward the king.

So that guy is a prince of the church, huh? An archbishop or something?

“Due to the gravity of the situation, we are skipping the usual welcoming ceremonies and starting the audit directly,” Thomas continued. “Does any of your graces want to open with a statement?”

The king shook his head in negation, but the supposed archbishop stood up and came to the center of the stage. “Kingdomzens,” the man spoke with a deep bass voice. “We are but imperfect tools of the Almighty, but so are those with more power than us. The System and its Archetypes are only creations made by other creations. Have we not all sinned, blasphemed even, by trusting them too much at times? This is a good occasion to reflect upon our sins. There is somebody who wants to address you.

A thick beam of light appeared next to the priest, akin to the CGI effects Vincent had seen in movies, and a man materialized on the scene. He had gray-blond hair and sturdy travel clothes that looked well cared for. In his right hand was a book, and in the left a traveling staff that reached his chest in height. The most shocking thing was his presence. It felt like a giant hand was pushing Vincent against the wall, and he couldn’t move. When he spoke, Vincent could swear his ears were bleeding. The voice was thunderous, oppressive.

“Greetings, travelers and people of the Human Realm. I am Grand Archetype Elkandaros, the Boundless Voyager, the Seventh in rank among the Grand Archetypes. The Grand Archetypes’ Council had investigated the matter concerning the attack of a Calamity upon your town and discovered the following facts.

“Yesterday, at the minor Archetypes Hubris and Thorrak's instigation, a pilot from the Dwarven Comradery of Balangastan towed the trapped Calamity toward the sun. Disregarding the safety protocols, the pilot shortened the route and passed near the Realm to use the sling-by acceleration. As a result, the Calamity was freed and attacked your town.

“Fortunately, the beast that once destroyed a planet was killed by your Guild Master in less than an hour. This feat attracted our attention.

“The Minor Archetypes Raven and Thorrak, as well as the pilot, have been found guilty of recklessness and criminal negligence.

“A fitting punishment has been levied against the guilty. The Comradery will pay the Guildchy one million gold coins to atone for their irresponsible behavior.

“From now on, I am the protector and patron of the Prodigia Guildchy and the Kingdom of Beauhemia. Minor Archetype Kiara has been relieved of other duties and will be my assistant. Grand Archetype Elkandaros, the Boundless Voyager, the Seventh in rank among the Grand Archetypes, has spoken.”

The column of light traveled upward, and the man vanished.

“The fuck?” Vincent heaved. Irene’s hand searched for his, trembling. The Grand Archetype’s afterimage was still in his eyes.

Your previous penalties have been rescinded. The maximum safe amount of XP has been retroactively granted. You are now level 70. +5 to all stats granted on top of your previous gains. Grand Archetype Elkandaros will grant you a personal training session. You will be notified of the timing.

“Silence, silence!” Thomas roared over the noise of the crowd crowd. “I will now recite the victims' names, and we’ll pay them a moment of recollection. Vice Seargeant Iwyld. Although I ordered him to retreat, he led his group of twenty men directly into the beast's jaws. Durrasculum Valer…”

The list continued. It was a strange ‘recollection’ because, after every name, the blame for the death was put on the victim, like it was done on purpose to make Vincent feel better about himself. There were twenty-one soldiers, two mercenaries, Bee’s mother, the mayor, and his out-of-wedlock romance, and eight senior citizens who had been too slow to move, asleep, or stubborn.

It didn’t make Vincent feel better, though. There was a big relief that no kids had been hurt, but he felt sorry for each one of the ones lost. In the end, a heated debate started about what to do with the money. To Vincent, it sounded like a fabulous amount of cash. It meant about three hundred million US dollars in Earth money. However, plans were to expand the Guildchy, the town, and the country, which looked expensive.

To calm the spirits, the king rose and waved his hand to demand silence. “We must remember that our country, and this guildchy in particular, can become great tourist attractions. Krivoburg’s heal springs have been cleansed, and I strongly suggest you start a trophy museum. Many would pay to see the Calamity or living monsters like the white tiger or the warg.”

“Hi, Karel,” a hand erupted from the crowd, wagging to attract attention. “I took a look at that carcass… it’s mostly intact… I could build a super drone out of it.”

Who’s talking with the king by the first name? Vincent wondered. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t point at the owner.

“Then make a drone, which can be parked in the New Main Square when unused. It’s still a good exhibit. That’s all, Jorge?”

It’s Jorge; Vincent smiled. Then, realization struck. If Jorge was back, so was Raya.