It wasn’t until Marie touched him on the hand did he pull himself from his internal world and back into reality. Everyone was staring at him as he stared at the plant in the center of the table without really looking at it.

“What?” He asked, straightening up in his chair.

“Are we doing combat training today?” Phil asked.

“Yeah.” Derek replied, trying to figure out what he should teach them. “I can teach the quarterstaff. I don’t know enough about the sword.”

“Aww. I wanted to learn the sword, like Conan.” Leroy complained.

“The staff is a better weapon for learning. This isn’t necessarily about training weapon skills, this is more about understanding combat. The sword takes hundreds of hours of practice to master.” Derek watched Leroy’s face fall. “But if you want to have one-on-one practice with a sword, we can later.”

“Yes! Please!” Leroy practically begged.

“Okay, but next time you have to be prepared to train everyone.” Derek replied.

“Aunty Marie?” Candace asked, interrupting whatever Leroy was about to say.

“Yes?”

“Why did you give me options for War Mage, Wizard, or Adventurer for my path options?” She asked.

“Because your stats give you versatility to grow in any direction. War Mage seemed like the best fit for your stats, but it would be a life not even I would want to live. Wizard would be a good option, but it doesn’t account for your physical abilities. Adventurer is a jack-of-all-trades class where you could focus on all of your abilities, but would fall short in all of them at higher levels.” Marie explained.

“You recommended that my daughter spend her life on the battlefield?” Jenny asked, with heat rising in her tone.

“No, I gave her some options, and that was one of them. I recommended Adventurer with a slight specialization in magic.” Marie explained calmly. “From what I understand, War Mages are terrifying on the battlefield. They can wipe out thousands in a single spell under the right conditions. That is not something I would want for her, but I cannot deny her the opportunity.”

Jenny turned her fierce, motherly gaze on her daughter. “You are too young to go to war.”

“I agree.” Candace said.

Derek thought Candance might be lying, but the response seemed to calm her mother. Jenny still wasn’t happy about the situation, but seemed mollified for the moment.

“Speaking of classes, Marie, what did you pick for yourself?” Phil asked.

“Um… well… I chose the Oracle path. Primarily an emotional class that focuses on guidance and social situations.”

“Like the Oracle of Delphi?” Phil asked, nodding along.

“Yeah, that’s what I based the class off of.” Marie blushed slightly.

“So, it’s Bard, Barbarian, Mage, Ranger, Oracle, Warrior, Priest, Adventurer, and Crafter. This is perfect for a D&D session.” Phil said with a satisfied grin. “How do I turn this into a bar joke?... A barbarian walked into a bar… and says ‘ouch’?”

Half the table laughed at the attempt.

“A Priest and a Bard walk into a bar,” Derek began, then paused until he had everyone’s attention, grinning. “They sit next to each other, and the Priest says, ‘I gave a sermon last Sunday that was so moving, it brought the entire congregation to tears.’”

“The Bard raises an eyebrow and retorts, ‘Well, that’s nothing. Last weekend, I played a tune so entrancing, the whole tavern danced till dawn!’ “

“The Priest smirks. ‘Ah, but can your tunes make a sinner repent?’”

“The Bard grins, ‘Can your sermons make a miser buy a round for the whole bar?’”

“Just then, the bartender leans in and says, ‘Gentlemen, please! The only thing you two have successfully done tonight is make everyone in here drink to forget! But hey, Priest, at least your sermons aren’t as loud and obnoxious as that truck you drive!’” The table chuckled softly.

“Wow.” Phil replied in shocked silence, just like he had seen something amazing. “Derek, I didn’t know you knew how to joke… but your delivery is terrible!”

Derek shrugged and shoveled another forkful into his mouth.

“The stick up his ass prevents him from being fun,” Carson retorted with a laugh.

“Alright, enough of that, Mr. Priest.” Derek replied with a smile. “We barbarians know how to have fun.”

“I’ve seen you fight. You only are having fun when you’re covered in someone else’s blood.” Carson retorted with a grin.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Ouch. Damn Carson.” Phil replied. “Too far.”

“Ah shit, sorry, Derek.” Carson said after seeing the reaction the table received from the jab.

“No worries,” Derek said, as he tried for an easy smile, while waving his empty fork carelessly.

Easily picking up on the mood. Marie picked up the conversation by directing it elsewhere. Derek retreated into his thoughts, his gaze fixating on the centerpiece as he mechanically ate, the weight of Carson’s words lingering in his mind.

Dinner conversations gradually wound down, and everyone was nearly finished eating.

Derek shifted the focus. “After cleaning up, let’s move to combat training,” he suggested.

Once everyone was arranged in the garage, Derek walked them through some staff training using some of the goblins’ spears. As crude as they were, they would work. He taught them how to spin the weapon and how best to strike, how to use the pointed end to stab, and how best to defend. It was easy to blow a blow with the shaft of the spear, but if the fingers were gripped around the weapon, it might cause some broken fingers. Derek didn’t get overly involved with the lesson and he kept it short, letting them practice familiarizing themselves with the weapon.

The training session ended with everyone a bit more skilled than before. Derek found himself in the garage, working on the pry bar, when Carson approached him. Phil had been in the middle of a monologue about how the apocalypse was going to change the socioeconomic state of the world. As Carson entered, Phil finished his thought, giving Carson space to speak.

“Derek, sorry about earlier. That went too far.” Carson apologized.

Derek paused his filing and looked up as Carson spoke, with Phil observing their exchange.

“It’s fine. I took it as a joke as it was meant.” Derek said with a smile. “It’s not a big deal. Think nothing of it.”

Carson wasn’t exactly relieved at the acceptance, but took it and headed back into the house. Phil followed him, pulling him into conversation as the door shut. Derek went back to his filing, thinking this would be a lot easier with a grinder. He didn’t hold a grudge against Carson for his comment, but it hit way too close to his insecurities. This was a consequence of therapy. Everything went from the imitation of feelings to actual feelings. He didn’t like feelings. It was better when he could brush things like this away with not even a second glance.

Marie came into the garage to find him leaning over the bar filing. She came over and rested a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Derek replied, keeping his voice level and even as possible.

“I know you better than that. Carson hit a nerve and I want to understand why,” Marie said, sitting where Phil had been sitting before.

Derek glowered in displeasure before answering. “Because I think he was right. I don’t know how to have fun and apparently I enjoy killing, like a fucking psychopath.” Derek finished, pushing too hard on his file and with his significant strength it snapped it in half.

The bar disappeared into his storage ring as he turned to face Marie, noticing her effort to keep composed. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll get over it, like I always do.”

“It’s not fair for you.” Marie responded, her voice laced with concern, yet steadier than before.

“Nothing is fair for me. It never has been and probably never will.” Derek replied with a slight nod, acknowledging the truth in her words without falling into their usual pattern of dialogue.

Instead of the usual cycle of tears, there was a brief, shared silence. Marie reached out, her touch conveying understanding. She wiped her eyes before they could well up, offering a small but genuine smile. After a brief kiss, she left the garage quietly, marking a subtle shift in their usual interactions.

Derek grabbed another file from his box instead of running out into the fading darkness and slaughtering a way through monsters. Apparently, the mood of the house felt the awkward emotional state and everyone did their own thing instead of combat training. Which was fine, despite them needing it. Everyone was still trying to get used to living like this and they would need time.

Derek didn’t have the motivation to use the file any more and dropped it back into his box before heading into the addition where he setup the plastic folding tables. Leroy walked into the addition, looking a bit peeved. He saw what Derek was looking at and silently joined him.

“What’s up?” Derek asked after a bit.

Derek was organizing the addition when Leroy entered. With the space being turned into a probable space for the new families, they would need the space.

Leroy’s expression showed impatience. “You promised we would train,”

Derek stopped what he was doing to look at Leroy, gibing birth to a terrible idea.

“Alright…” Derek started to say, but changed his mind. “Or would you rather go on a mission tonight?”

“A mission?” Leroy asked. “Will we get to fight anything?”

“Not sure, I hope so.” Derek grinned.

“Then yes.” Leroy nodded. “But I don’t have a weapon.”

“Want a great sword?”

“Yes!” He nearly shouted.

“Shh, this is going to be a secret mission.”

“You mean we’re sneaking out?” Leroy grinned, completely on-board with the evening’s mischief.

Derek opened his interface to double check to see if he had anything he needed to sort out before an impromptu mission that none of the rest of the household would approve.

An unexpected notification appeared in his vision.

Congratulations:

You have met the requirements to enter an extra-dimensional training zone where you will train under various masters of their crafts. Available training simulations:

- Eternal General’s War Room

- Battlemaster’s Arena

- Elementalist’s Library

- Wizard’s Sanctum

- Staff Master’s Dojo

- Berserker’s Battlefield

- Sword Master’s Training Grounds

You are only able to select a total of two training simulations. While you are in the training simulation, time dilation will occur and only a moment will pass on your home world.

Please select your training simulations and proceed.

That was a first. None of the guides he read said anything about a training simulation. Even so, there was a huge opportunity here. The world’s survival was dependent on being able to use magic, the number of people who would have lived if they received this training… well, he didn’t want to think about it now.

Derek glanced at Leroy for a moment, considering if he should put this off for later. If the training had a time dilation, where he would only be gone for a moment, then it would be best to do it now. Weighing his options, he considered which simulations would best enhance his current skills and fill in his gaps in knowledge. He immediately eliminated several from the list. The Wizard’s Sanctum, Staff Master’s Dojo, and Sword Master’s Training Grounds would be the least effective for him. The War Room was probably more strategy than combat training. The Battlefield was probably something more akin to wholesale slaughter. Leaving the Arena and Library.

“I’ll be back in a few moments.” Derek explained to Leroy.

He made his selections and accepted the prompt. His view faded to black as his mind whirled through the potential possibilities this would have to benefit his survival.