“Still no word from Ethan?” Tara asked, drying a wet glass mug with a soft and fluffy towel.

“Not even a ‘hey, I’m still alive’,” Miguel frowned down at his plate of food. “I’m getting worried.”

“It’s been what, three weeks?” Tara hung the mug by its handle on a large wooden rack holding dozens more identical ones.

“Four,” Miguel answered her, picking at the meatloaf in his plate. “Why do you keep serving this same dinner? You just had this a couple of days ago.”

“It’s popular,” she shrugged, smiling at the man she loved. “Always sells well.”

“You could do a few more of the dishes I created for you,” he said, taking a bite. “Ugh, it’s so good. I hate him.”

The texture of the meatloaf was smooth and velvety. Ethan had told him that back home, in the real world, he cooked it sous vide. In the game, with no immersion circulator or plastic wrap, he’d taught Tara’s cook, Marshall, to use a water bath and a terrine dish.

“Your dishes are too complicated,” Tara teased him, ruffling his shaggy black hair. “They’re good, but people like the meatloaf.”

“I guess,” Miguel took another bite. “Stupid Ethan with his stupid perfect technique and stupid perfect seasoning.” He mumbled into his food.

“Tomorrow I’ll do your, what was it called, Pâte en croûte? The one with the duck and the figs?”

“Yeah,” he said excitedly. That was one of his favorite dishes. Texturally, it was very similar to the meatloaf he was eating now, but much, much richer.

“You going to be able to show Marshall how to do it tomorrow morning, again?” She asked, leaning onto her bartop next to him.

“Oh,” Miguel’s shoulder slumped in disappointment. “No, I’ve got a thing with David in the morning.”

“You guys going back in the Tower?” She asked him, sharing his disappointment. Since Ethan had abandoned them, Miguel had been splitting his time between entering the Tower with David and spending the rest of the time at Greenbriar with her.

“Unfortunately,” Miguel frowned. He’d asked Tara one time what she knew about the Tower, her being an NPC meant that while she was aware of it, she didn’t really understand the importance of it to the trapped player base. She’d told him that people weren’t sure where it came from, only that nearly everyone who’d entered it since the beginning of time had never returned. It was only since the player base got there and had to climb the stone monolith that the lights surrounding it had started appearing.

“In fact,” he looked at the beautiful silver watch on his wrist, a gift from Tara, “I actually need to get back to his place. He wants to leave really early in the morning.”

“So you’re not spending the night?” She asked him, her disappointment plain in her face.

“Not tonight,” he shook his head. “I’ll be back home tomorrow night, I promise.”

“What’s the password if you aren’t?” She asked him, walking around the end of the bar to stand next to him. After the difficulties of his last respawn, he’d come up with the idea of having a code word to use so she would recognize him just a little bit quicker.

“Pâté en croûte,” he said, after a moment of thought.

“Deal,” she smiled sadly, hoping he wouldn’t have to use their code word, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he smiled and kissed Tara on the lips. “I’ll be home tomorrow night.”

“You better,” she said, hugging him tightly.

Miguel walked slowly across the tavern, leaving Tara to her work. He’d more or less moved into her room above the tavern after Ethan and Sam left. The guild hall felt empty to him, only David and Leah were living there anymore.

He didn’t blame either Sam or Ethan, he was mad at them for sure, but part of him understood. Sam had always been about actions. When Ethan had sunk back into his depression, Sam had had to do something. Leaving was his way of keeping his motivation to get home and also, to rescue Tae-Won.

Ethan, on the other hand, had always suffered from depression. For as long as Miguel had been friends with him, Ethan had battled the crippling mental illness, not always successfully.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

He did blame Alera.

She had used them, Ethan most of all. Miguel had watched his friend with her, he knew Ethan’s feelings were true and deep. When she kicked him to the curb, it hadn’t surprised him that his friend spiraled so deep and so fast. As far as he was concerned, she was dead to him.

David was sitting at the table when he entered the Disorder Guild Hall swiping through invisible menus.

“Are you getting ready for tomorrow?” He asked, taking a seat opposite of the Paladin. “What’re we looking at?”

“Easy fourth floor clear,” David grunted in his response. “Bunch of people who wiped recently and are willing to pay for a floor clear for experience and gear.”

“How much are we looking to make?”

“Couple hundred each,” David shrugged. “It’s a quick run.”

“Cool cool, cool, cool cool cool,” Miguel nodded, his eyes landing on the perpetually closed door to Leah’s room. “Has she come out today?” He jerked his chin towards the door.

“She came out for lunch,” David turned in his chair to look at Leah’s room. “But then she went right back in.”

“Did she eat anything?”

“A couple of bites of sandwich, that was about it,” David shook his head. “I’m really worried about her.”

“Me too,” Miguel nodded in agreement. “But I don’t know what else to do.”

“Honestly,” David swiped both hands in the air, closing his invisible menus, “when we get back we need to drag her out of there and have a talk with her.”

“You think that will accomplish anything?”

“Better than letting her just sit there wallowing,” David shrugged again.

Before Miguel could respond, a loud knock on the front door echoed through the quiet downstairs of the guild hall.

“You expecting someone?” Miguel asked David as he got up to answer the door.

“One of the guys from the group tomorrow said they may stop by tonight,” David replied, “to go over the plan.”

“Cool,” Miguel said as he turned the knob and swung the door open.

Standing outside the hall, was not one of the people from tomorrow’s group. A very tired Alera stood in front of him, her usually gleaming white leather armor had been replaced with worn brown leather that had looked like it had been sewn and repaired in numerous places. Her blonde hair was dirty and matted.

“Hey Miguel,” she said tentatively, “is Eth-“

“Nope,” Miguel abruptly interrupted her and slammed the door in her face before returning to David. His good mood suddenly sour.

“Who was it?” David asked as Miguel sat back down.

“Traveling encyclopedia salesman,” Miguel answered him angrily, sitting down heavily on the couch.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

“He’s a pretty pushy one,” Miguel said, jumping to his feet. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Miguel-“ was all Alera managed to get out before he slammed the door in her face once again.

“I don’t think he’ll be back,” Miguel said as he walked back in the room.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Okay, he’s really passionate to sell us some outdated encyclopedias,” Miguel turned around, intending to slam the door in Alera’s face a third time.

“I need you to listen to me!” She shouted at him, blocking the door from closing with her hand.

“And why the fuck should I?” Miguel yelled back at her. “You used us! Weren’t those your words, almost exactly?!”

“What’s going on?” David walked up behind him, “Alera,” his eyes narrowed in anger, “what are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to Ethan and Leah, right now! Can I please come in?” She insisted, her lack of membership prevented her entering their guild hall without permission.

“Ethan isn’t here!” Miguel shouted at her again, “he left, because of you!”

“He’s gone?” Alera looked taken back, Miguel thought he saw actual regret and concern in her face as she stood stunned in the doorway. “Where’d he go?”

“No clue,” David shook his head, “he dropped the guild and disappeared.”

“Please David,” Alera begged him, “I need to talk to Leah then. Please let me in, I swear it’s important.”

David stood silent for a few moments, appraising his former guildmate.

“Miguel,” he finally said, “go see if Leah will see her.” He jerked his head in the direction of Leah’s room. “You wait right there.” He told the rogue.

“But-“ Miguel protested.

“Go!” David commanded him, never taking his eyes off Alera.

“Fine!” Miguel stomped down the small hallway, but softened his steps as he approached Leah’s door.

“Leah?” He asked hesitantly as he knocked softly on her door. “There’s someone here to see you, I don’t blame you if you don’t want to see her, but it’s Alera. She says she needs to talk to you.”

Unexpectedly, the door swung inward. Leah stood there looking furious.

“Alera’s back?” She asked quickly, rushing to the door. “Why the fuck haven’t you let her in?”

“What do you mean ‘back’?” Miguel questioned the thin air that Leah had just left before following her.

“Come in!” Leah practically shouted at her, “you have permission!”

“Thank you!” Alera sighed wearily as she crossed into the Disorder Guild Hall for the first time in six weeks.

“What is going on?” David demanded.

Leah ignored him and grasped at Alera’s hands.

“Have you… did you…?” She stuttered out, tears forming in her eyes.

“Leah,” Alera said calmly, holding her friend’s shaking hands. “I found Tae-Won.”