“And that’s a wrap, everyone.” Syron announced while rather pleased with himself. Though the five people in front of him had no idea what wrapping had to do with ending the game, they thought maybe that was just a random phrase he was trying out and hoping to start a trend. The same group had come back to play again a few days after their first meeting at the restaurant. Syron eyed his five new ‘friends’, evaluating their playstyles and choices throughout the game.

While their first game had been pretty pointlessly bloody, the second game only seemed like it was going to start that way. Namely, the game was shaping to be a gratuitous murderfest until the hidden roll for Jones’s forgery came back to bite them. It was a legitimate critical failure that Syron had made at the time the Lord was reading the letter he had supposedly wrote. Seeing the result, instead of sharing its results, he covered it with a cup and left it off to the side so the players knew it was the same roll when he revealed it later. The difficulty of the forgery would have been pretty high to begin with, seeing as Jones’s avatar lacked the Lord’s seal to prove authenticity, as well as the fact that the Lord commanded significant respect within the community for his philanthropic deeds. Most importantly, the Lord himself knew he hadn’t committed the crime.

The party joined the manhunt for the ‘perpetrators’, only to be led into a final confrontation with the Lord and an ambush by his guards. The avatars didn’t make it. Fortunately, the players themselves loved the outcome. They bragged to each other that their illusion death was ‘way more brutal’ than everyone else’s and got into a petty squabble over who should be blamed for the party wipe. A few minutes later, they were starting fresh with new characters. They were the same class of their previous characters except they had changed their assigned skills, personalities and histories to be a little less ‘my actions have no consequences’.

Jones Teil played Gegen, a Spy specializing in information gathering through investigation, lethal surprise strikes against soft humanoid targets if he has an understanding of their anatomy, and has a once-a-day congenital magic ability to instantly and forcibly swap places with another target of similar size, weight, and shape within twenty yards, so long as the similarities are within ten percent of his own values. The avatar itself was tall, slim, and dashingly handsome with a strong pronounced jaw and always seemed to look amused. Jones, on the other hand, was short, pudgy, and had a voice that constantly broke. This juxtaposition was repeatedly brought up by his childhood friend Kloe Flor.

Kloe played Saku, an Alchemist specializing in gathering raw resources anywhere and everywhere, and then turning them into items. Her main method of fighting was through her items, and had the most versatility of any other character while attacking. She was physically weak and had low health points, however, and could only create items by throwing her resources into a humongous magic cauldron and stirring them with an oar for hours on end. Saku was petite like Cloe, but wore a pink flowery dress with a translucent skirt and shorts underneath. Though she pulled vials and grenades out constantly, she didn’t visibly have any pockets or bandoleers.

This apparent lack of gear was opposite for the Sniper Midori, Verd Jackman’s avatar. She specialized in, as one might infer from the class name, dancing. She could shoot a long bow with decent results, as well as fumble her way around some ruins. Verd, however, demanded that his darling Midori could dance at the expense of everything else if necessary. Midori was, much to the exaggerated eye rolls of the tablemates, a buxom woman. She was decked out with belts, knives, a longbow, ropes, a collapsible ladder, a lantern, a hiking backpack with a tent and bedroll included… and a harp. It all covered her body like ornaments on an upside-down tree, but Verd was quite satisfied with the appearance. His own appearance was quite similar to Syron’s, as he was apparently a second cousin. However, where Syron was fairly tall for a soon to be thirteen-year-old, Verd was a gargantuan fourteen-year-old. He was trained from a young age to be a Warden like the rest of his immediate family and candidly announced his aptitude for body enhancement. As such, he was humongous like a professional wrestler turned linebacker turned statue over Rhodes.

The fourth player made Syron a little uncomfortable, but he didn’t want to deny someone a chance at his table just because of family issues. Nemis Quoro, a first cousin to Beyeth, was awkward and quiet. He got along well with Verd, however, and had a reputation for doing extremely well in classes. He never caused people problems and mostly stayed to himself. His avatar, the Mimic named Feind, specialized in transforming into an animal similar to a dog that all the players at the table considered widely common. Syron had no idea what they were supposed to look like and subtly never showed the transformed version until after he had a chance to see one himself. While transformed, Feind had a deeply ingrained aversion to human blood and would refuse to attack targets in a way that would open a bleeding wound.

Finally, Aleala Gamete. She was still wearing that ridiculous hat, and insisted her Witch wore it too. Even if she hadn’t insisted, Syron would have likely given the avatar the hat anyway, being a Witch and all. The Witch, named Genetik, specialized in magical status ailments and damage over time spells that could stack. Given several turns to wail on the same single enemy without magic resistance, Genetik was without a doubt the hardest hitter in the party. Unfortunately, due to her upbringing within a small coven, she lacked common sense and social skills. Furthermore, anything unrelated to the few spells she knew was deemed unimportant for most of her life so she had huge knowledge gaps as well. Aleala… she also made Syron uncomfortable, though certainly not for the same reason Nemis did.

Ignoring social protocol, she secretly divulged her aptitude to Syron with a playful wink and a gentle pat on his hand. He was also informed that since he now knew her secret, he had to take responsibility, though he didn’t know what that meant.

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Now that the game is over for the day… he knew.

“Syroooon! Let’s get dinner! I made a reservation that we can still make, despite your game going over time.”

“There is no such thing as a table top role-playing-game that ends when it is supposed to. This is clearly your fault, not mine. At any rate, I’m having dinner at my estate tonight. We’re having a bread party to celebrate not eating anymore bread for a month once our supply is finished.”

“Aww… you’re having a party without inviting me?”

“Yes, Aleala. I’m having a party without inviting you. I know we’ve spent the day together, but we barely know one another. To invite a Young Miss like you to my home, I’d have to send a formal letter requesting your presence to your House. Besides, the servants and I are literally just celebrating not having to eat anymore… nevermind. Marigold is glaring at me because I’ve already said the taboo ‘b’ word twice. I shan’t risk it thrice.”

Aleala looked at Syron like everything he had just said was idiotic, then turned to look at his personal maid. Marigold’s expression was uncomfortably stiff.

“She’s not…” Aleala started, but Syron cut her off.

“Yes, she is. She’s so mad she could stab me right now with her very practical and easily accessible, hidden garter knife. I inflicted this crisis on my House, and she’s ready to punish me for it. Look into her eyes at your own peril, for what you see inside is not her soul… anyway, having finished my dorky monologuing, allow me to formally decline your kind invitation.” Syron said cheerfully as he slung his bag over his shoulder. He heard a slight tutting noise and smirked.

“Thank you, Renee.” Syron said as he ruefully handed the shouldered bag over to the expectant Knight. She chuckled softly and returned to the window to watch the alleyway across the street.

“Come on… you really won’t come? I made a reservation!” Aleala insisted. Syron just sighed at her and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Ah… you’re trying too hard considering I’m willing to be your friend normally. Tell you what, I won’t have dinner with you, but I’m willing to escort you there if it is close by.”

“It’s only an hour by carriage!” Aleala claimed excitedly.

“Have a nice day, Miss Gamete.” Syron said swiftly as he walked out of the room. Aleala went to follow but was stopped by Marigold and Renee cutting in front of her and exiting first. By time she made it down the stairs of the restaurant, Syron was halfway to the door. She rushed forward and grabbed at his shoulder, but nearly fell on her face when her hand passed through his vapor-like body. The illusion pointed out of the door to the restaurant and Aleala watched Syron climb into his own carriage. He winked at her once and allowed Renee to shut the door. Aleala turned and stared at the Renee and Marigold behind her that she had rushed past after they had gotten in her way. They winked too, vanishing into mist.

“Don’t look at me! I didn’t do nothin’!” A drunk patron yelled at her while covering his eyes with his arm like that would stop her from vaporizing him. Aleala just sighed and stared at the carriage rolling away down the street.

“Syron Forrester… just you wait. I’ve already won this game you are playing with me, you just have to acknowledge my victory.” She told him quietly with a confident smirk. Of course, there was no way he could hear her all the way in his carriage.

* * * * *

“Alright, tell me about the Gamete family. She’s getting forceful enough that I need to prepare for her.” Syron said to the ever-stoic Marigold. She looked up and made a strong connection with his eyes. Holding it for nearly ten seconds, she blinked and looked at Renee.

“Knight Renee, please inform the Young Master about the Gamete House.”

Renee shrugged and said, half mumbling, “I dunno. Kasumi?”

“They are not one of the major Houses.” Kasumi added helpfully. Syron frowned.

“And…?”

“And… they have a Young Miss around your age attending the Academy.”

“Oh for… forget it. Marigold, call my mother, would you?” Syron asked Marigold. She pursed her face slightly as she fought back a grin and pulled out the red gemstone. Patricia answered almost immediately.

“Hey Sweetie! How has your day been?” Lady Forrester’s cheerful voice and aura burst from the gem.

“Hi Mom. I played all afternoon and now I’m going to a party. When I put it that way, I sound like a really useless individual, don’t I?” Kasumi looked aghast but Renee just coughed behind her hand while smiling.

“I was hoping you could tell me about the Gamete House? I’ve befriended a Young Miss named Aleala and wanted to know more about her family without asking her personally.”

“Eh!? That bast… ahem, Lord Gamete had a daughter your age? I was not aware of that. Of course, we have not spoken since he refused to attend my wedding. How nostalgic, hearing that name after all these years…”

Landmine. Abort. Abort.

“AH! Sorry mother! It seems I’m nearly out of magic so quickly today! I’ll have to hang up in a moment!”

“That is unfortunate… but I am glad you contacted me anyway. I love you my sweet boy. Be safe out in the capital, and call again later when your magic comes back.” Patricia allowed Syron to escape, though not without some parting words.

“Oh, the Gametes are not a noble House. They own and operate the Adventurer’s guild within the Kingdom of Gaigaks, as well as regulate the Labyrinths within Pecunia. They would make powerful friends and you are likely to be quite safe within their presence. Do not forget to call!” The light from the gem went dim as the magic dissipated.

* * * * *

Oh, he thinks he can make another attempt at the Forrester name, does he? We will see about that. It was one thing, trying to take me… but my son? There will be hell to pay.

With a dangerous glint in her eyes, Patricia pulled the large bloody splinter from her hand. She quickly healed it and stood from her desk, ignoring the huge hand print that had been crushed into the thick, magically reinforced wood. Pulling a gem from a shelf, she activated it and waited for a response.

“Vangrief, reporting to The Warden!”

“Update on your mission, Warden.”

“We successfully infiltrated the Adventurer’s guild and have earned combat qualifications to enter the local Labyrinths. Our first dive is tomorrow morning.”

“Good work. In addition, the guild is looking into my son. Find out why.”

“Your son, Lord Forrester?” The man on the line sounded confused at the new order.

“Yes. Report to me immediately when you figure anything out.”