“Milly!”

Milly’s heart soared as she emerged into the dimly lit cavern and heard Calista’s excited shout. The next moment, Calista wrapped her arms around Milly in a fierce hug, burying her head into Milly’s shoulder. Instinctively, Milly’s hands wrapped around Calista’s waist and she held her tightly.

“I’m so glad you are safe,” said Calista, relieved. “What took you so long? You had me worried sick.”

“Sorry, Calista,” Milly said, leaning into the hug. “I…had a hard time with my scenario. It was not what I expected.”

She could not tell them about Luna. About the backdoor to the Contest. She knew now that everything they did, everything they said, was being watched. If there was a puppet master manipulating the contests from the shadows, he could not learn about Luna.

Calista did not ask her anything further, sensing her reluctance. She simply held Milly tighter.

“Calista… umm… you are going to crack my ribs,” Milly said reluctantly, and Calista released their hug with a sweet smile.

Milly reached up and lightly touched Calista’s short red hair, freshly cut and frayed at the ends. “You look beautiful, Calista,” Milly whispered. “I really like it.”

“Do you?” responded Calista. “I’m glad. It was… a fresh start. A chance to start anew. To be who I want to be, you know?”

“I… yes, I know what you mean,” Milly said, smiling at Calista’s newfound spirit. She seemed more sure of herself, more confident in who she was.

“You two are just adorable,” laughed Rain, who was leaning against the tavern wall and watching them with a sly smile and a twinkle in her eye.

Calista stepped back from Milly, feeling her face flush. “What do you mean by that?” she asked, but Rain did not answer. She was too busy rushing up to Milly and wrapping her in her own enthusiastic hug.

“We were worried about you, Mils,” Rain said, “Calista wouldn’t sit still because she was so anxious. She refused to leave the Arena without you.”

“I’m safe, Rain,” Milly said, returning the hug and feeling grateful for her friends. She looked down at Rain’s hand and saw the cut across her palm. She turned Rain’s palm up and gathered her healing magic in her hand.

“It’s nothing,” Rain explained, but she gave a sigh of relief as Milly’s healing took away the sting.

“I guess we need to wait for Xavier,” Calista said reluctantly. “He hasn’t shown up yet. Once he gets here, we can leave this crazy place. Though he is going to get such a piece of my mind.”

Milly remembered watching Xavier on the monitors, leaving the Arena without a thought given to any of their fates. “Xavier is already gone,” Milly said with an angry bite. “He didn’t wait for us. He just… left.”

“What a tremendous asshat,” Calista spat, no longer feeling the need to hide her intense dislike.

Milly wanted to defend Xavier. She wanted to believe he was still her friend. That he was simply misunderstood and hurting. That he was confusing his games for real life. But after what he said, and after leaving them behind, she no longer believed that.

“Let’s just go,” Milly muttered. “How do we get out of here?”

“Easy,” Rain announced. She walked up to the wall at the end of the cavern and pressed her hand against it.

Arena of Choice, Reward Chamber

Do you wish to proceed?

“Everyone ready?” Rain asked. After Milly and Calista nodded, she spoke, “We wish to proceed.”

There was a click and a whirl, and suddenly a doorway sprung opened in the rock, leading into a narrow corridor. The evening sun was shining at its end, a welcoming sight. Calista gripped her driftwood spear and headed through first, and Milly and Rain followed.

Milly was excited, the bitter thoughts of Xavier already fading. The mountain air wafted into the corridor, bringing a sense of renewal. As they got closer, she could hear the faint and rhythmic crash of steel on steel. It grew louder and louder with each step they took, a triumphant applause that built to a crescendo as they stepped into the light.

They were standing in a forest glade, a stunning waterfall cascading down the side of the mountain and into a stream that split and encircled four large golden chests resting on white pedestals in the middle of the glade. Along the mountain on either side of the waterfall, a dozen statues, twins to the pair that stood at the Arena’s entrance, collided spear and shield to celebrate their victory.

Milly took a moment to breathe it all in. They had won! They had confronted the danger and triumphed. Milly thought back on the little girl she had been when she was hiding in that closet, scared and alone, and, for a moment, felt as though it had happened to her a lifetime ago.

“Shall we?” asked Rain, beaming.

“Absolutely!” shouted Calista, leaping into the air with joy.

Milly stared at them with a massive grin. They had both changed in the Arena. They seemed free of spirit, as if the Contest were resting a little less heavy on their shoulders. Calista practically bounced with giddiness as she ran over to the golden chests, and Rain followed close behind, eyes sparkling with the thrill of discovery.

Milly wished she felt the same. She felt the weight of the Contest pressing down upon her more than ever. Secrets she must keep hidden. She fell behind her friends as they dashed forward, contemplating. Luna was built… no…she was born to guide the Contest to victory. But if Luna was right, and there was a puppet master manipulating the Contests from the shadows, the thirteenth God Contest was doomed to fail just like all the others. It did not matter how well they played if the contest was rigged.

She did not know what to do. It all felt so hopeless. Impossible odds stacked on top of impossible odds. But she did know one thing.

She was not going to leave Luna do it alone. She would help Luna find this puppet master, so they could regain even a faint hope of victory.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” came Calista’s angry shout, breaking through Milly’s thoughts, “That bastard tried to take them all!”

Milly rushed forward and saw what had gotten Calista angry. The chest on the far right, the one for Xavier, was open and its contents emptied. But the other three boxes had deep slashes across their locks, as if someone had tried to break them open with a curved blade. Golden flakes littered the ground beneath the chests, remnants of Xavier’s attempts to gain access. Thankfully, the chests remained firmly shut.

Calista was fuming. “It was not enough that he left us behind. But he thought he would help himself to our rewards? What a complete, narcissistic, grade-A asshole.”

“Calista, calm down,” Milly said, placing her hand on Calista’s forearm. “He did not get them.”

“No, but it looks like he was desperate to,” Rain said, inspecting the damage, “Look how deep these cuts are. He went all out. The Contest must have safeguards to prevent victors from claiming more than one chest. Well, now I am even more curious!”

“Because of the safeguards?” asked Calista.

“No. Because he wanted the others so badly after he got his own reward. It means his reward was worth it, which bodes well for us,” Rain said. She pressed her palm against the nearest unopened chest, and they heard a whirl of gears inside. Then the chest popped open, releasing a cloud of celebratory sparkles and lights.

“You know, it is the little touches that I’m learning to appreciate in the Contest,” remarked Rain, watching the lights. “Now, let’s see what we have here. Ah, this explains why Xavier wanted them so badly.”

Rain pulled out a journal that resembled the one from the goblin encampment that had granted Rain her Alchemy talent. Except instead of leather, the cover was fashioned from gold and silver, interlaced with decorative jewels. The left side was filled with plants and animals as the Alchemy skill journal had been, but the right side depicted the elements. Fire, water, earth, and air spiraling together and flowing between the plants and animals and into a glass bottle at the centre of the image.

“It’s gorgeous,” whispered Rain. Her fingers shook as she held it. “I can feel the power it contains.”

“What is it?” asked Milly.

Rain focused and the description popped up.

Unique Talent Book: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samildànach

The Mage Alchemist can combine natural ingredients and magical elements to create potions of incredible versatility. Beware the player who can bottle the powers of the world itself.

Prerequisites: Alchemy, Magic 10+, Arena Champion, A passion for experimentation

Warning: A Unique Talent may only be learned by a single person in the Contest. Learning this talent will make it unavailable to other players. Unique Talents are not available on the talent map.

You may learn unique talent “The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samildànach”.

Do you wish to learn the talent “The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samildànach”?

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Yes!” Rain shouted with excitement, startling Milly, who had not even finished reading the description. The words inside the journal started tearing themselves off the pages, hovering for a moment before floating into Rain’s eyes. Rain shivered as the information imbedded itself into her mind and a few moments later the book was empty of its knowledge, a gorgeous journal filled with blank pages.

“Oh. My. Gosh,” Rain exclaimed. “This… this is incredible! I have so many ideas. So much to try. I need more ingredients. Milly, we need to head into the wilderness to gather some. I need to take some magic talents. Oh, I got a talent when we defeated that centipede. My mind is spinning with the possibilities. Oh. My. Gosh. Oh. My. Gosh. Oh. My. Gosh!”

Rain was spinning in place, eyes flashing with creative spark. Milly had never seen her so excited and could not help but laugh at her friend’s delight.

“Ok, Calista, open yours. I want to get back to Rain On My Parade and start brewing!”

Calista laughed and pressed her palm to the next chest. The same whirl and click sounded, and the chest’s lid popped open. Calista pulled out her own golden journal, this one decorated with a woman’s silhouette that glowed a faint green across its edges.

Unique Talent Book: Pinga’s Redeeming Protector

Pinga’s Redeeming Protector is on a personal journey of redemption, driven by her desire to protect those she loves. The player gains a personal shield that can absorb incoming damage and may extend this shield to those whom she has a developed a strong emotional connection. She who has love in her heart is an unstoppable force.

Prerequisites: Protective Shield (beginner), Toughness 10+, Arena Champion, Friends and loved ones

Warning: A Unique Talent may only be learned by a single person in the Contest. Learning this talent will make it unavailable to other players. Unique Talents are not available on the talent map.

You may learn unique talent “Pinga’s Redeeming Protector”.

Do you wish to learn the talent “Pinga’s Redeeming Protector”?

Calista stared at the description, reading it through multiple times, appearing overwhelmed. Rain looked over her shoulder and giggled. “You had better love me enough to give me a shield, Calista,” she said. Then she whispered in Calista’s ear, “I know Milly will get one.” She gave the same sly smirk she had given earlier.

“Rain!” Calista exclaimed, shoving her away playfully and turning to cover the redness in her cheeks. “You’re definitely not getting a shield.”

“What the heck are you whispering about?” asked Milly.

“Nothing,” Calista and Rain said in unison.

Milly gave them a suspicious glance.

“I will accept Pinga’s Redeeming Protector,” Calista said, eager to move on from the conversation. The journal shook, its words and images lifting off the page. But instead of entering her mind, they came together to form a single symbol – a rounded shield decorated with a simple pink heart at its centre – which came to rest on her right shoulder. Calista hissed as it embedded itself beneath the surface of her skin, a permanent mark of the power.

“What? Why do I get a tattoo?” complained Calista. “Rain didn’t get anything like that.”

Rain laughed, “You’ll have to start wearing an actual shirt again if you want to hide it.”

“Well, I think it is cute,” Milly said, walking over and leaning forward to gaze at Calista’s shoulder.

“I mean…I guess it could be worse,” Calista mumbled.

“Hey Calista,” shouted Rain. Calista turned just as Rain hurled at small stone at Calista’s chest. It struck and there was a slight flash of pink, the stone falling to the ground at Rain’s feet.

“Hey!” Calista protested.

“Did it strike you?” Rain asked.

“No, but don’t just throw rocks at me.”

“Fascinating,” Rain said, elated. “I wonder how many hits your shield can take without breaking?”

“We’re not going to find out,” Calista objected as she saw Rain searching for another stone. “Milly, you are next. What? Milly, don’t you dare start throwing stones at me too.”

Milly let the tiny pebble drop out of her hand. “Why should Rain have all the fun?” she laughed as she walked over to the final unopened chest.

What would she find? She had used the backdoor to escape from her scenario. Was that cheating? Would her chest be empty?

She pressed her palm to the chest and it slowly opened. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her own golden journal inside, engraved with a simple witch’s hat surrounded by flames.

Unique Talent Book: Salem’s Fury

The world and the heavens are full of those who seek to use others for their own selfish gain. Salem’s Fury stands in opposition to these forces, fighting for those who are lost, abandoned, downtrodden, and weak. The player’s magic power and capacity are increased when fighting against those who seek to harm others for their own gain. May those who would sacrifice others face the wrath of the witch.

Prerequisites: Magic +20, Player Milly Brown

Warning: A Unique Talent may only be learned by a single person in the Contest. Learning this talent will make it unavailable to other players. Unique Talents are not available on the talent map.

You may learn unique talent “Salem’s Fury”.

Do you wish to learn the talent “Salem’s Fury”?

A week ago, Milly had no family. No real friends. No life worth living, and even then she lived it for herself. She was hardly a champion of the downtrodden.

Rain and Calista peaked over Milly’s shoulders to read the description, then nodded to each other.

“Makes perfect sense,” Rain said, “You were the first person to give me comfort when we arrived here.”

“And you’ve helped me to become a better person,” Calista added.

“And you defended us against the mob on the beach,” Rain continued.

“And saved me from the centipede,” Calista expanded.

“And let’s not forget that the CEOs really do not like you. That's always a point in your favor. I mean, this talent was practically made to counteract their influence,” Rain said.

Milly’s mind went to the CEOs, and she could not dispute Rain’s observation. But she did not think the talent was designed for them.

The best I can do is try to identify and counter the puppet master and help the players in small and subtle ways, Luna had told her. Luna must have designed these talents herself. Was this one of her subtle ways of helping?

Milly gave a silent thank you to Luna and accepted the unique talent.

She felt the power of the journal in her hands as it vibrated. Only this time, the entire journal lifted into the air, hovering for a moment before dissolving into a fine, golden dust. Milly gasped, and in that gasp the dust surged into her mouth and down her throat. Milly could feel it disperse into her blood and flood every corner of her body.

“Are you alright, Mils?” Rain asked.

Milly gave a weak thumbs up, bent over and coughing. “Never better,” she said sarcastically. “Always enjoy mysterious dust being shoved into me.”

Calista led a coughing Milly over to a fallen tree and sat down. Rain pulled a water bottle from her inventory and handed it to Milly, who gulped it down until it was empty. She gave a final, feeble cough.

“Thanks, Rain,” she said gratefully, handing the bottle back.

At the moment of Milly’s final cough, as the new power within her grew dormant, waiting until it was called upon, a three-tone chime rang out around them. In the evening sky, centered over the Castle of Glass far in the distance, a giant screen with golden lettering appeared.

Attention Players: Important System Message Incoming

They looked at each other with apprehension.

“Phase Two,” whispered Milly to herself.

“Congratulations everyone!” came the voice of Tutoria, booming across the world from the sky above. “I am thrilled to announce that four of you have just completed The Arena of Choice, marking the end of the Tutorial of The God Contest. It took you nine days and fifty-two lives to achieve this goal.”

Milly remembered the nightly funeral pyres in the prairies, marking the passage of each live lost. Fifty-two people who would never make it home.

“Relish your success, players. You have survived! You have found food and shelter. You built friendships and alliances. You faced tragedy and sorrow. And you came out the other end with the spark of hope. As we enter Phase Two of the God Contest, hold onto those victories, as you will need them more than ever.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Calista murmured.

“I’m sure you are wondering what exciting adventures are in store for you as we enter this next phase. Well, I will not spoil it for you. But I do advise anyone currently in the lobby of the Castle of Glass to vacate immediately. We have some quick renovations to do.”

“I hope they don't ruin Rain On My Parade,” Rain worried, staring up at the sky.

“There are seven hundred and fifty-five players remaining. Good luck to you all.”

With that, Tutoria’s voice faded away, and the message in the sky vanished.

“We had better get back to the Tower,” Milly said, just as another screen popped up in front of each of them.

Congratulations on your victory.

Do you wish to return to the Castle of Glass?

“Good timing,” Calista said, “Yes, we want to go back.”

Activating Waypoint Pillar

The ground beneath them began to rumble, knocking each of them off their feet. Milly watched as the empty chests and the pillars on which they rested vanished one by one. Where they once stood, erupting from the ground, rose an obsidian obelisk twenty feet square and forty feet high.

Milly rose to her feet when the ground stopped shaking and focused on the obelisk.

Waypoint Pillar

Location: Arena of Choice

Waypoint Pillars are located throughout the World. Players may teleport between active Waypoint Pillars by placing their palm on the obelisk and selecting their desired destination.

“That’s handy,” Calista said, heading over to the pillar. “It will save us a ton of time if we can find more of these things.”

“Which is concerning,” Rain countered, moving beside her. “If these are necessary, it means this world is big. Really big.”

“Thanks Rain,” Calista said sarcastically. “It’s nice to know every rose has a thorn.”

“Oh, I should try to find some rose thorns. They have great properties for brewing.”

Milly placed her palm on the obelisk as Calista rolled her eyes, and a selection screen appeared.

Waypoint Pillar. Select Destination.

1. Castle of Glass

2. Arena of Choice (Overlook Mountain)

3. (All other Pillars are locked)

She looked over at Calista and Rain, who nodded. Milly braced herself and shouted, “Castle of Glass.”

An instant later, she was hurling down the kaleidoscope tunnel, trying to keep her lunch down.

* * *

Mildred Persephone Brown

Player

Level: 16

Specialty: Survival

Strength: 16 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre, + 4 from Collar of the Victor)

Agility: 15 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars)

Toughness: 16 (+4 from Collar of the Victor)

Magic: 25 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly's First Witch's Hat)

Talents: Healer's Touch, Fire Magic (Beginner), Earth Magic (Beginner),

Reanimate Rodent (Witch's Hat), Telekinesis (Beginner)

Unique Talent: Salem’s Fury

Rain Desjarlais

Player

Level: 11

Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation

Strength: 10

Agility: 14 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samildànach)

Toughness: 21 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samildànach)

Magic: 12

Talents: Nature's Bounty, Alchemy (Beginner), Dagger Specialist (Beginner), 1 unassigned

Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samildànach

Calista Gale

Player

Level: 13

Specialty: Hunting, Mean Girl

Strength: 20 (+6 from Spear of Pinga)

Agility: 18 (+6 from Spear of Pinga)

Toughness: 12

Magic: 10 (+4 from Huntress' Scrunchy)

Talents: Protective Shield (beginner), Spear Specialist (beginner), Improved Perception*

(from Huntress' Scrunchy), Spear Recall (beginner, from Spear of Pinga), 1 unassigned talent

*Increases Calista's ability to locate hidden paths and locations

Unique Talent: Pinga's Redeeming Protector