I woke up instantly, as if snapped out of a trance, the familiar sensation of hypersleep giving way to the real world of VERTEX. I found myself back in the inn, lying on the bed with the book on dragons beside me. The soft morning light filtered through the wooden shutters, casting a warm glow over the room.

I stretched and groaned, my body adjusting to the sudden return to VERTEX. Swinging my legs off the bed, I headed to the bathroom. A basin of fresh water sat on a sturdy wooden table. I splashed some on my face, the coolness waking me up completely. The reflection in the mirror caught my eye, and I took a moment to inspect myself.

I ran my hand over my abdomen, almost feeling the ridges of my muscles. “Not too fat, Theo,” I muttered, a hint of defiance in my voice. “Hasn’t he ever heard of body positivity?”

I used a sponge to clean myself up, then pulled on my clothes from the previous day. They smelled clean and felt fresh against my skin. "Score," I muttered, feeling a small sense of victory over Theo's snide comments. Heading downstairs, I found Maya waiting for me at a table.

“Hello, how was the gate?” she asked, her smile bright and expectant.

I blinked at her, confusion settling in. “How did you know about the gate?”

“Uh, figured as much,” she replied with a casual shrug. “Why else would it take so long? How about a beer with breakfast?” Her grin was mischievous, almost daring me to accept.

“Gross, no thank you,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “I’m not a college student, I’m a college professor.”

“Excuse me,” she said, feigning offense. “He’ll take an elven brandy then.” She pointed dramatically at the bartender, who looked ready to comply.

“No way, fork that,” I interrupted quickly. “I gotta get to Elyria. Speaking of which, how do I find her?”

“Ugh, her again?” Maya's tone turned cold, her smile fading. “Let’s lose that skinny B.”

“No way,” I said firmly. “She’s my partner. I wouldn’t ditch her for anything.” And I found that I truly meant it. Elyria had become more than just an ally; she was a friend, someone I trusted.

Maya rolled her eyes, then sighed with resignation. “Okay, okay. Make my breakfast to go.”

A few minutes later, we were heading out the door, Maya munching on a loaf of bread. I was still full from the ship’s meal, the taste of sustenance shakes lingering unpleasantly. “So, where are we heading?” I asked, glancing around the bustling street.

Maya held up a hand while she chewed, then finally spoke, her words muffled by the food. “She’s in Templeton, the religious capital of Braenor. As far as I know, she might have left you.”

I shot her a sharp look. “She wouldn’t do that. I told you, she’s my friend and partner. She’ll be there. How far is it?”

“A day by horse, three by foot,” she said, finishing her bread and dusting off her hands.

“Three days,” I muttered, considering the distance. “Can we get some horses?”

“Do you have any money?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “You already stiffed that innkeeper.”

“What do you mean, stiffed?” I asked, a sinking feeling in my stomach.

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

“You said you’d do him a favor,” she said matter-of-factly, crossing her arms.

“Oh frack,” I groaned. “I can’t believe I forgot. I need to get to Elyria. What should we do?”

Maya shrugged, a hopeful gleam in her eyes. “I guess you could come back with her?”

“Okay, that sounds fine. He won’t mind, I’m sure. He said it wasn’t urgent.” I tried to sound reassuring, though I felt a pang of guilt. I hoped Garvin hadn’t been counting on my help sooner rather than later.

“Maybe,” she said, a note of doubt creeping into her voice. “I hope he wasn’t trying to play it cool.”

“Uh, me too,” I replied, the guilt growing.

“Is there like a merchant caravan looking for guards or something?” I asked, desperately searching for a solution.

Maya shook her head. “Nope. Nothing like that. We’ll have to walk.”

We spent the next three hours trudging along a stream that snaked its way toward Templeton. The water bubbled and gurgled, a soothing backdrop to Maya’s constant chatter. For the first half-hour, she tried to convince me to turn back to town for a drink, her tone laced with playful desperation.

“We could be at the bar by now, you know. A cold pint in hand,” she suggested, her voice hopeful.

“No way, Maya. We need to get to Templeton,” I replied, keeping my eyes on the path ahead.

When it became clear I wasn’t budging, she switched tactics, wanting to investigate every random noise she heard along the way. Each rustle of leaves or snap of a twig was, in her mind, the start of an epic adventure.

“It could be a hidden treasure,” she said, eyes gleaming. “Or maybe a secret passage.”

“More likely just a squirrel,” I countered, shaking my head with a grin.

Then, right after a noise that I swore sounded like a dinosaur—a deep, resonant growl—we heard what seemed like hooves and wheels approaching. Within a minute, a few wagons and several horses came into view, kicking up dust as they neared us. The idea to use my Level 1: Emotional Intelligence came to me—I needed to practice. Concentrating, I activated the ability and noticed my blue mana bar in the top right corner of my HUD tick down just a bit. It was novel to see, as I hadn't had to look at my mana bar much so far. Extending my awareness to the approaching group, I felt a wave of calm and urgency wash over me—no signs of hostility, just a rush to meet us. Their emotions aligned with Maya's assessment, but I kept my grip on my axe, just in case.

“Be careful, Maya,” I said, just in case. I was mostly sure about what I felt from them but you never knew.

“Oh, nonsense, Everett,” she replied, waving enthusiastically at the newcomers. “This is a merchant caravan. They mean us no harm.”

As they drew closer, a man in well-cared-for light armor came to the front. He had a rugged, friendly look, and his eyes were sharp as they took us in. “Hello there,” he called out, his voice carrying easily. “I see you have weapons. We need a replacement guard for our man that couldn't continue.”

“What happened to him?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“No idea,” the guard said with a casual shrug. “He just fell over and started puking. Had a bad fever. We left him at the healer. Unfortunately, our goods are perishable, so we couldn’t wait for him. Either of you want to join up with us? We have a horse, heading to Templeton.”

Maya turned to me, her eyes questioning. I felt the weight of her expectation. “That’s tempting,” I said slowly, “but we’re traveling together.” I wanted to say we were a team, but I wasn’t there with her yet.

“Can the horse hold both of us?” she asked, her smile bright. “I don’t weigh all that much, and he’s on a diet.”

“How in the hell did you know I was on a diet?” I thought to myself, flabbergasted.

The guard gave us a once-over, then nodded. “For three days? Yes, I’d say so. It’ll be a tight fit, but the roads aren’t always safe, and the extra hands will be useful. You can fight, right?”

“Of course we can,” Maya answered confidently. Her certainty was palpable, and I hoped I could live up to it. I hadn’t fought since the tournament and worried about not having a shield for my handless arm, but my other arm was solid. Plus, my mental abilities would be a boon.

We agreed to join the caravan, the promise of a faster journey outweighing the discomfort of sharing a horse. As we mounted up, Maya took the front position, her back pressing snugly against my chest. The closeness was more than a bit awkward—it was downright uncomfortable. I could feel her warmth through our clothes, her every movement translating directly to me. Her hair brushed against my cheek, and the subtle scent of whatever soap she used was distracting.