Three tomorrows had come and gone, and Matt was worried about Kurtis. He hadn’t been the same since their abduction. That’s what Manuele kept calling it, ‘abduction.’ Matt couldn’t help picturing flying saucers and cows, but he went along with it. He was gathered with his group outside of the tent on the last morning before the Megabowl. Matt was nearing Level 18, but that was secondary. Sharkie and Manuele were still 16—but getting close.

“So where to?” Val asked with a smile.

“Wu-wu-wu.” Wiggles ran into the trees, sunshine streaming through the lightly foggy forest.

“You guys been south of the Parthenon?” Sharkie asked.

Matt opened his Map to compare explored areas. He remembered first seeing the blank expanse and thinking the zone was huge. It still was, but he was impressed by how much they’d uncovered. They’d revealed the far northeast when they got ex-caliper, discovered winding mountain passes to the south with Hazel and Leroy. The Leaning Tower took them almost to the shore—Sharkie said they weren’t missing much beyond there. And, in the middle, they’d found the abbey, the park, and the huge desert.

Over the last Earth week, they’d revealed north of the Parthenon: granny’s cottage in the woods, a lighthouse on the shore. Little Red had been good to them but she was out of quests, and they couldn’t travel too far. A message had been scrolling for the last two days, directing them to proceed to the Megafestival Grounds this evening.

“Perhaps the forest east of the festival grounds?” Fallyn said.

“Done already,” said Sharkie.

Manuele spread his hands. “Yeah, after her class quest, us and—”

Sharkie cut him off with a glare.

“Done already,” said Manuele.

“We’ll have to hoof it,” Sharkie said. “But give Manuele and me five. We have to do a thing.”

“I still can’t come with you?” Val frowned.

“Trust me,” Sharkie said. “It’s better this way.”

Manuele nodded, making big eyes.

The two of them disappeared into the trees and Matt scanned through his menus. He didn’t have any points to spend and he found himself absently scrolling through his Inventory. There was so much junk in there but nothing had said he was running out of space. He felt like a hoarder on one of those TV shows. Does this Wicked Claw spark joy?

When he got to the M’s, the moonstone from Murl caught his eye. It still lacked description apart from the triple question marks, but, there was something odd about it. It felt different. It was that disconcerting sense that told him whether items were equippable or had some sort of use like the Tower Key. He pulled the smooth white rock to his hand and closed the menu. The moonstone glowed.

“Why hello traveler, travelers,” said Murl, suddenly standing before them.

“Murl!” Val cheered.

Fallyn narrowed her eyes at Matt’s glowing palm. Kurtis turned but remained silent, holding his tail, while Val poked at Murl’s sleeve sending ripples through the 3D image.

“Right.” Murl stroked his white beard as the distortion moved through his face. “Down to business, I suppose. I need you to see the ex-caliper to safety. A powerful object like that shouldn’t be out in the world too long.”

Sharkie and Manuele emerged from the trees. Manuele’s eyes seemed a slightly brighter shade of red.

“Who’s this?” Sharkie said.

“Hello, traveler! I am the great and powerful Murl!” Murl grinned.

“So, who’s this?” Sharkie whispered.

“I take it you’re in a party with these four?” Murl asked.

“Yes we are!” said Manuele.

“Then you can take ex-caliper to safety also. You must see it to one of the lake guardians. I believe you’ve met one already, but any will do. Orbi says hi!” Murl’s image disappeared, leaving white text, ‘Deliver ex-caliper: 0/1,’ in his place.

“Let’s roll,” said Sharkie.

“Seems like a sure bet,” said Matt.

It took them an hour to reach the closest lake guardian, picking through the forest north of the tent. By the time they reached the sandy shore, the morning fog had cleared. Sunshine sparkled across the narrow finger lake, lined by steep cliffs. It extended north into the mountains under a clear blue sky. If it weren’t for the quest, they wouldn’t have known anything was here.

“Hello-o!” Val called. “Mr. Guardian! Man of the Lake!”

Large bubbles broke the surface, ten feet ahead.

“Wu.” Wiggles hid behind Val’s legs.

The bubbles came faster and soon the water was churning in a two-meter area. A head emerged and then another. Two men rose from the depths, inexplicably dry. The left one wore a gray suit, the right a hoodie and jeans. They conversed in hushed tones, standing atop the calm surface as if it were solid. Then they turned towards Matt’s group.

“Oh, right. Hi, I’m a man,” the hoodie said.

“I’m a man too,” the suit said.

“Uh, hi?” Matt said.

“Nice to meet ya,” the hoodie said. “I’m Mac and this is Polly.”

Polly sneezed as white text, ‘Mac’ and ‘Politically Correct’ appeared above their heads.

“Gazuntite,” Mac said.

“Thanks.” Polly held up a hand.

“We have a thingy for you.” Val waggled ex-caliper in their direction, glinting brightly. “Murl said you’re supposed to keep it safe.”

Polly sneezed again.

“He did, did he?” Mac said.

“Its power was essential to halting the gravemist,” Fallyn said.

“Oh boy.” Polly looked at Mac. “Should we take it?”

“I mean, I don’t know.” Mac scratched his head.

“It’s a priceless treasure,” Sharkie tried. “Yours for the low low price of free.”

“Yeah, about that,” Mac said. “We don’t really just accept anyone’s objects. A guardian’s gotta have standards.”

“What do you want in exchange?” Matt asked. He knew where this was going.

“I, I mean,” Mac said. Then he turned to his companion. “What do we want?”

Polly frowned and shrugged.

“How about a riddle.”

Polly shook his head.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Too complicated? Trivia then?”

Polly frowned and shrugged again.

“Trivia it is! You answer my five questions correctly, and we’ll take on your object. You may have two wrong attempts.”

“Let’s do it,” Sharkie said.

“Okay, question number one.” Mac made a show of thinking, hand on chin, eyes to the sky. “The game is exotic creatures. What noise does a cow make?”

“That’s it?” Matt said.

“Incorrect!” Mac held up a finger. “You now have one wrong attempt remaining.”

Shit, Matt thought.

“Mooooooo,” Val said.

Wiggles stared up at Val, wide-eyed, as she held the note.

“Correct!” Mac grinned. “Next question: What noise does a frog make?”

“Ribbit, ribbit,” said Matt, rolling his eyes.

“Correct again!” Mac declared.

“They really are quite good at this,” said Polly.

“I’m having fun,” said Mac.

Polly nodded.

“The third exotic beast I would like to know about is…” Mac stroked his chin. “The robot!”

Matt turned to his friends. They faced away from the lake, in a huddle, whispering.

Then Kurtis said, “Beep-beep bop boo,” in his best R2-D2 impression.

Mac conferred with Polly for a minute, and then announced, “Acceptable!”

“Can I ask the next one?” Polly said.

“Go for it, man.”

“I would like to know what sound a walrus makes,” Polly said.

The group turned around again.

“Does it grunt?” Matt whispered.

“I’m not positive,” Fallyn said.

“Don’t look at me.” Manuele shrugged.

Their huddle went silent. They had one wrong attempt remaining.

Then Kurtis sighed. “Sophisticated Animal Lovers. Val, what did your magazine say?”

“Oh!” Val grinned. “Well, they had really nice outfits. Um… I think it said a lot of sounds?”

“Try to remember?” said Matt.

“I…” Val scrunched her face. “I think it said they can whistle?”

“You think or you know?” Fallyn said.

“I think I know?” Val grimaced. “It was in the part where they were kinda comparing to humans. A whistle like people?”

“Do it,” Matt said.

“Um, I can’t whistle.” Val frowned.

“A single tone or changing pitch?” Fallyn asked.

“My guess is single.” Sharkie shrugged.

“Alright, I’ll do it,” Fallyn said.

The huddle broke and Fallyn stared up at the men. She whistled a low clear note. It carried out across bright water, echoing faintly off the cliffs.

Polly frowned, then said, “Acceptable.”

“Okay, last one!” Mac rubbed his hands together. “What sound does a fox make?”

“I got this,” Sharkie said.

“Incorrect!” said Mac.

Sharkie rolled her eyes, then yelled, “Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!”

“Correct!” Mac grinned. “We will accept guardianship over your ex-caliper. Present the object.”

Val held it out and it floated from her hands to the men on the lake. They held it, together, each with a hand on one side of the gleaming teardrop. Mac gave a quick two-fingered salute and Politically Correct waved, as they descended into the now bubbling water. Once the lake was still, ‘1,653,000 XP’ floated up to the clear blue sky.

Sharkie turned and grinned. “Guess what guys…” She started to glow.

“Berserker power-up!” Manuele one-two punched.

###

Matt’s group entered the Megafestival grounds with mid-afternoon sun, pale fireworks bursting soundlessly above. They followed the crowd through a twenty-foot corridor, lined with strings of fluttering triangle flags, holding back a sea of tents. The octagonal structures stretched out on both sides, a rainbow of colors and patterns instead of the usual white.

“On your left!” a checkered stilt-walker called down.

“On your right!” yelled her striped companion.

“Hi, stilt people!” Val called.

Kurtis frowned.

“Coulda been for our quest.” Val shrugged.

“Not at the map-marker yet,” Kurtis said.

“Okay…” Matt said. “So, find our quest turn-in, and Sharkie and Manuele a group?”

“Yep,” Sharkie said.

She had been adamant on the hike over, saying it wasn’t the time to be polite, and shutting down all of their objections. She and Manuele had decided that Matt, Fallyn, Kurtis, and Val were the party. She seemed confident they’d figure it out, but Matt wasn’t sure. He was glad to see all the people at the festival grounds; someone else had to need a group.

Matt scanned the crowd for faces he might recognize as they traveled deeper into the camp. Eventually, the corridor opened to a central area, perhaps a hundred feet in diameter. The crowd poured into it and clustered around a familiar man.

Elevated a few feet above the crowd, Septimus Flower spread his arms wide, showing off a multicolored robe. “Welcome travelers! Welcome to the Megabowl!”

Val smiled and ran forward. The group followed her to the edge of the crowd.

“I’m here for the quest, Septimus,” Matt yelled.

Septimus leaned down and the crowd became a blur. “Good to see you again, specialist. Like my outfit? I hear it’s tasteful and the ultimate in good design.” He raised his perfect eyebrows, then grinned. “You are thanked for attending and encouraged to participate on the morrow. I will also have a selection of festive quests available, should you need. For now, get yourself squared away in a tent—or should I say octagoned?” He winked and straightened as the blur receded.

‘1,346,400 XP’ floated into the sky streaked with fireworks. They didn’t seem right without the smoke or noise and they just kept going. Matt’s chest tightened. A tingling pressure built in his core.

No way, Matt thought, watching the movement of his XP bar.

The energy released, spreading to his extremities. Matt glowed with the light of Level 18.

“Hey guys!” He turned, smiling as more white text floated up. He didn’t get a Skill Point but he’d take the Stat Points.

“Hey, buddy.” Brett shot a finger-gun and clicked his tongue. “What level’s that now?”

Matt tensed and gritted out, “Level 18.”

“Nice,” Brett said all too smoothly.

Matt searched the crowd for his friends, spotting them a few feet to the right. Ignoring Brett, Matt closed the distance. “Hey, you guys had me worried for a sec.”

“Worried, not Matt here.” Brett squeezed Matt’s shoulder.

What the fuck was he doing? “What the fuck are you doing?” Matt said, shrugging off the hand.

“Alright. Alright.” Brett held up his hands innocently. “I just thought some big Level 18s might be interested in making a super-group. My bad.”

“The size limit for the Megabowl is four,” Fallyn said. “Don’t you already have four?”

“Where is your group?” Val said.

“Around here somewhere.” Brett shrugged.

“Look,” Matt said, “I don’t know how much difference it’ll make at this point but you should know FRC is probably setting us up. We think they’re encouraging PvP and who knows what else to screw us all over.”

Brett chuckled. “It’s just a little PvP.”

“It’s bigger than that. More important than that,” Matt said. “We think it might be used to justify confining us here.”

“Okay, Matty-boy.”

“It’s true!” Val said.

“I’m not Matty-boy. Just think.” Matt drew himself up tall in front of Brett. He remembered there being more of a height difference. Brett didn’t seem so large. He was just an asshole wearing too much hair product.

“If companies were stealing our data back home, what do you think’s going on here?” Matt said. “Everything’s digital and the people in charge can fucking blow up planets. Do you really think they couldn’t be watching? They’re probably deciding what to do with humanity right now. Do we really want to show them our bad side?”

“What’s this?” George approached.

“Matty-boy’s being paranoid.” Brett rolled his eyes.

“Oh yeah, we know not to trust anything he says.” George crossed his arms.

“Where is this coming from?” Matt said.

“Brett told me what you did.”

What the fuck does that mean? Holy shit, did I just say all that to Brett? I just said all that to Brett. Matt’s heart was racing.

Manuele leaped forward, “Maria! Oh my God, Maria! I’ve missed you. Thank God you’re alright! Maria come here.”

She stood behind Brett in her red Snuggie and wouldn’t meet Manuele’s eyes.

“Maria, what’s wrong?” He held out his arms. “Maria, why won’t you come to me? Maria?”

“Give it up, bro,” said Brett. He didn’t look as tall as Matt remembered.

“What do you mean?” Manuele said. “Maria, what does he mean?”

“She’s moved on.” Brett brushed invisible dirt from his shoulder.

“What the fuck are you talking about, man?” Matt said. “You’re married.”

“End of the word.” Brett shrugged. “So, we doin’ this?”

“Doing what?” Matt said.

“Like I said, making a super-group. You guys are all Level 18, right? What can you do?”

Matt stared in disbelief. Did Brett really think he was going to poach from his group? Suddenly, their history seemed so insignificant. Brett and George—the whole thing—didn’t matter anymore. We should just leave.

“Don’t give me that,” Brett crooned. “George is 16, so we’ve got a slot. And I’d be open to further trades if they’re the right ones.”

Maria narrowed her eyes.

“Only one party can win.” Brett shrugged. “I’m going to be in it.”

“Manuele and I are a package deal,” Sharkie said.

“You don’t want to do that,” Matt whispered.

“I’m a rogue and he’s a berserker.” Sharkie crossed her arms.

“It’s fucking Brett the ganker,” Matt whispered.

Sharkie ignored him. “We also each have a second power set from the gravemist. From what we know, they’re unique skills and give us significant advantages.” She leaned forward to emphasize her eyes. “I have more resistance and other stats, and a Dragon Breath attack. With Manuele’s Leap and Blur, we’re a deadly combo.”

“Hm.” Brett’s head swayed from side to side, black hair moving as a solid block. “You make an interesting case.”

Maria elbowed him.

“What? That sounds good. And they’re eighteen.” He twisted to search the crowd behind him. “Cathleen was around here somewhere. She has party lead. Unless you two want to do the gentlemanly thing and leave.” He raised his eyebrows at Maria and George.

Maria gaped.

“Sorry babe, you’re not a healer. And really, George? You knew this was coming.”

“Why not just leave, yourself, and we can invite you?” Sharkie said. “We can add Cathleen after.”

Brett glanced over his shoulder again. “Alright. Leave party.”

“Are you serious right now?” Maria said. “Guy, what are you doing?”

Brett shrugged and extended a hand to Sharkie.

Maria huffed. “Fine. Let’s go, George.” She didn’t meet anyone’s eyes as she stalked away, dragging George by the hand.

“Gonna invite me or what?” Brett shook his outstretched arm.

Sharkie stared at the hand and smiled wickedly. “Oh, I said we can invite you. I didn’t say we would. Good luck tomorrow.”

Then Sharkie turned to her left, marching off towards a bright green tent. Matt followed.

Did she really just say that? Did I say that? Holy fucking barbecue batman.

“Matt,” Sharkie said, slowing in front of the green canvas a few moments later, “this is Miles and Chels.”

Miles tipped the brim of his navy baseball hat and a blonde smiled from ear to ear.

“Manuele and I need a group for tomorrow. What do ya say? Old times sake?”