There was chaos around them as they appeared at the Castle of Glass, hands pressed against an identical obelisk that had appeared on the outskirts of the beach terrain a hundred paces from the entrance. Milly saw the Freelancer camp up in arms, helping several people laying in the sand who had been forcibly ejected from the lobby.

The glass of the lobby was completely black, as if shielded by thick curtains. There was a timer in bright red letters on every window, counting down.

8:45

8:44

8:43

“Calista,” came Elmer’s call as he dashed across the sand from the Freelancer camp to meet them. “Thank God you are here. The whole Tower is up in arms. The lobby just ejected everyone inside out into the terrains and closed itself off.”

“Did anyone get hurt?” Calista asked.

“Only a few scrapes. Phillis and Ying are tending to them. But that’s not important right now. Just what the hell is Phase Two?”

“I think we’ll find out when that timer hits zero,” Rain answered, staring towards Rain On My Parade, the windows as black as the lobby. “I swear, if they are touching my stuff, I’m going to freak out.”

Rain was trying to sound angry, but Milly could hear the worry in her voice. Everything Rain had worked towards existed within Rain on my Parade. Milly could see the tension gripping her, her eyes fixed on the opaque windows.

“I think we should prepare for the worst,” Calista directed, “Elmer, round up as many people as you can and bring them to the beach camp. People will be less likely to panic if they are all together.”

“Consider it done. Any idea why this is happening?” Elmer asked.

“We beat an Arena,” Calista said bluntly. “We did not know this would happen.”

“I’m not blaming you,” said Elmer. “It was bound to happen eventually. Don’t worry, I’ll get people rounded up.” Elmer dashed back across the sand, bellowing for his people to follow.

“Calista, when did you get so commanding?” Milly said in awe.

“What, that? I go hunting with Elmer and his teams every morning. I give them orders all the time. Don’t make a big deal of it.”

“It’s just… you were so… I mean…” Milly stammered.

“She means she thought you were impressive,” said Rain, tearing her eyes away from Rain on my Parade’s windows. “I did too, for that matter. Calista, leader of the Freelancers.”

“I am not the leader of the Freelancers. Elmer is. I just take them hunting for boar.”

“That is not what I saw,” Rain insisted. “Elmer may be their captain, but you are their general.”

“I have no interest in that kind of thing” Calista countered. “And we’ve got more important things to do right now. Anything could happen when that counter hits zero, so we need to be prepared.”

The trio sat on the sand, screens open and trying to stay out of sight of the growing crowd behind them. Rain and Calista had both earned talent points after the fight with The Crushing Wave. They bantered back and forth on possibilities for a few minutes. They ultimately settled on fire magic for Rain, as it as the base magic for many of the concoctions for The Mage Alchemist, and an enhanced protective shield for Calista, which allowed her to use the talent without holding a physical shield.

Milly watched the ocean waves while she waited for them to finish. Her mind was racing. So much had happened over the past few hours. Would they have been better off to simply leave the Arena alone? To continue to simply survive off the land? It could have been a good life.

She shook her head, dismissing the thought. She had been in the heart of the Contest. It existed for a purpose, and if the players did not move, the Contest would force them to move. Luna would force the players to move. She was still uncomfortable with Luna’s dichotomy, and she tried to shove the thought away. But it stayed there, just out of sight, as the timer counted down its final few minutes.

“We’re ready. Let’s go,” Calista announced, and the trio strolled over to the beach-side lobby entrance, where a crowd of fifty people had gathered and were peppering Elmer with questions.

“Look Paul, I don’t know what is happening any more than you do. Just keep that mace handy in case there is trouble. Jody, the obelisk on the beach is part of this, but it does not appear to be harmful. Look, I want everyone to get back from the lobby. Form a circle in the sand, short range weapons on the outside, spears in the middle, and healers and mages inside that. Will everyone just listen…”

“Hey!” shouted Calista. The crowd grew silent and turned towards her. Calista strode up to Elmer’s side, clutching her driftwood spear and standing tall. “Listen to Elmer. Get your asses away from the lobby and get into position. Now!”

The crowd broke, heading onto the beach and trying, without much luck, to follow Elmer’s instructions.

“Thanks Calista,” muttered Elmer, heading down to bring order to the chaos. “Bunch of yokels. Can’t take orders to save their souls. No wonder the CEOs are content to leave them out here. Will you be heading inside the lobby when it hits zero?”

Calista nodded, “And Milly and Rain. You keep the others safe. We’ll check it out.”

Elmer nodded. “Good luck,” he said, then joined the others, bellowing out orders.

Rain and Milly looked at Calista, laughter in their eyes. “I’m not their general,” repeated Calista.

The timer entered its final ten seconds.

The trio stood at the entrance, nervous but ready for whatever would happen. Milly was surprised at how brave she felt, letting the fire billow in her hands. They had faced a monstrous centipede. They had relived some of the hardest days of their lives. As long as they were together, Milly was confident that they could face anything that Phase Two could throw at them.

3…

2…

1…

There was a blinding light from inside the lobby that cascaded across the terrains in a single, intense flash. In the next moment it was gone, the transparent glass of the lobby restored.

Calista reached for the door and swung it open, and they stepped inside.

The lobby had been transformed into a gorgeous hub. The dozens of tutorial screens were gone and the black marble flooring and central courtyard had been removed. The floor was now composed of a single gigantic and dynamic map that lay beneath clear glass. A model of the Castle of Glass sat at the map’s centre, where the lobby’s small courtyard had once stood. The terrain around the Castle, stretching only an inch away from the Castle boundaries, was visible in exquisite detail. But the rest of the map, apart from a tiny blip that stretched another inch into the prairies, was covered in grey clouds, the features beneath hidden.

Milly walked over to the center of the map, kneeling to get a better view. She could see the mountain river flowing as it descended from the glaciers and waterfalls, and the ocean waters rippling with breaking waves as they struck the sandy shore. A faint breeze swayed the grasses across the plains, and tiny monkeys jumping through the canopies of the jungle. The Arena of Choice obelisk rose above the map at the furthest explored area in the mountains, nearly touching the glass above it.

“It must only reveal the map when someone has explored the area,” remarked Rain, “The area around the tower has been well explored, so it is revealed in great detail. I bet that stretch into the prairies, the one still partially foggy, was from one of Xavier’s forays.”

“It is called a fog of war,” Milly said, then elaborated when Calista and Rain stared at her. “Xavier used to go on and on about it in his rants. It’s standard in exploration or war games. The fog will not be revealed until someone has been there.”

“How big is this world, if everything we have already explored can be packed into the first inch of space?” Calista asked.

“Do you really want to know?” Rain responded, and Calista gave a reluctant nod, “Well, if the map is to scale, and the distances consistent across the map, then this world stretches thousands of kilometers in every direction.”

“That’s insane,” Calista said, flabbergasted.

“It gets worse,” added Milly, surveying the map and seeing structures illuminated through the fog of war. “See those structures spread around the map. They have the same symbol as the Arena of Choice.”

“More Arenas? Two dozen of them, stretched over thousands of miles,” Calista said, shocked, “No wonder the last Contest took over four years. They might not have finished even half. People are going to freak out when they see this.”

“I’m freaking out right now,” Milly said, staring at the map, overwhelmed. Would they need to complete them all? How on earth could they ever succeed?

Milly tore her gaze from the map and looked around the lobby. The map was not the only thing that had changed.

The storefront of Tower Three was no longer vacant. Its metal shutters were thrown open and cases of weapons, armor, and all manner of supplies were prominently displayed, shelves of goods spilling across the map floor. A Tutoria in a white apron sat behind a register with a broad, beaming smile. The words ‘Tutoria’s Emporia’ were lit up in fluorescent lighting above the entrance.

Milly and Calista started heading towards the Emporia, but they stopped when Rain did not move, her eyes flashing over to Rain on my Parade.

“Oh, for goodness sakes, Rain,” said Calista. “Go check on your store. Milly and I will be fine. There does not seem to be any danger here.”

“Thanks,” Rain said appreciatively, then dashed over to her store, fumbling with her keys along the way.

Calista and Milly walked slowly towards the Emporia, taking in the remarkable transformation. Brass chandeliers hanging above held hundreds of wax candles that cast a dim light across the lobby. There were sitting areas interspersed throughout, dark leather chairs and couches of fancy designs, and elaborate end tables of solid black marble. It was as if Milly were wandering through a medieval library, only without the books. She ran her hand along one of the couches as she passed by, relishing its comfort.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Perfect for napping,” declared Calista, excitement building in her eyes. “This is certainly an improvement over the Castle of Glass’ former lobby.”

Milly nodded her agreement, then pointed to a large blue screen floating against the prairie-side window beside the Emporia. “What do you suppose that is?”

“It’s the Mission Board,” exclaimed a Tutoria, suddenly appearing in front of them. Milly and Calista both jumped back from shock, Calista holding her spear out in front of her.

“Damn it, #564. How many times have I told you not to do that” said Calista, relaxing her spear until its tip touched the ground.

“It keeps you on your toes, Calista,” Tutoria #564 countered.

Milly glanced over at the shop. The Tutoria in the apron was still there. “How did you know she was your Tutoria?” Milly asked.

“You mean other than the surprise appearance?” Calista answered, irritated. She lifted her spear towards Tutoria’s right shoulder, which had a shield and heart tattoo identical to Calista’s. “They change their appearance and mannerisms over time. The first day I used my tattered shirt as a bikini, she copied me. We had every guy in this place staring at us with lusty eyes, so I made her change it back. Did your Tutoria not change since the first day?”

“I…I never spoke with my Tutoria after that first day,” Milly said, “I avoided the lobby as much as I could. I guess I never thought it was important.”

“Well, that’s rude,” huffed #564. “She was here to help you.”

Milly knew the Tutorias were just an extension of the Contest programming. But that did not stop her from feeling guilty. After all, so was Luna. “I’ll…I’ll talk with her once this is all done.”

“Ah, well, about that…” #564 started, “You completed the Tutorial, so the Tutorial Tutorias are no longer necessary. After I have explained the additions to the game’s mechanics to you, I will no longer be available. You’ve graduated, and your teachers do not follow you out into the real world.”

Tutoria #564’s face grew grim, and she stared at Milly, “I guess you should have paid more attention in class.”

“Knock it off, #564. Just tell us what we need to know,” Calista barked, instinctively defending Milly.

“Very well. We’ll start with the Mission Board. It is easy enough. This board will display optional missions that you can complete. Missions include everything from killing specified monsters to exploring dangerous areas to collecting certain items. If you complete the mission, you get the specified reward. But the missions can only be claimed once. Whoever turns it in first, gets the reward.”

Milly was scanning through the available missions when a screen appeared in front of her.

Mission: The Goblin’s Wardrobe

Lunky, The Goblin Prince, is assembling a new wardrobe to inspire his people. He seeks only the finest and smelliest of loincloths for his collection.

Victory Condition: Collect 10 Soiled Goblin Loincloths

Reward: 50 gold

Calista looked over Milly’s shoulder. “Milly, why did you open that one in particular?” she teased, “Is there something I should know about you?”

“What? No…Calista… that’s not something I…”

The screen flashed gold, and more text appeared.

Congratulations! You have collected 10 Soiled Goblin Loincloths.

The Goblin Prince is pleased with your dedication to his filthy cause. You must be of like minds. Should you meet in the wilderness, he may ask you to be his wife.

In the meantime, he will reward you with 50 gold.

Do you wish to complete this mission and accept this reward?

Calista burst out laughing, collapsing onto a nearby couch. Milly felt her face flush with embarrassment.

“It’s not…I didn’t… Xavier and I got these on our first day,” Milly stammered, trying to explain.

“And you kept them?” Calista said through her giggles, “Milly, you are so gross.”

Milly’s face fell, and suddenly she felt ashamed. “Xavier was keeping them, so I… I thought…” she couldn’t finish, and turned her head away from Calista. She felt low, and memories from her past surfaced. She remembered that she was still just an ugly girl that no one wanted, a greasy, filthy girl who…

Calista’s laughter stopped instantly. She saw the red on Milly’s cheeks as she turned away, and she could sense the dark thoughts building in Milly’s mind. She jumped up from the couch and hugged Milly tightly from behind. “Oh, Milly, I’m sorry. I was just teasing you. I didn’t mean anything by it. You are not gross. You are a beautiful woman, and I am so lucky to have you in my life.”

Milly felt Calista’s arms around her. She focused on Calista’s strong arms and soft hands touching hers, and the feeling of her breath on her neck. The dark thoughts receded as Milly leaned back into the hug.

“I’m sorry, Calista,” Milly whispered. “I just…I guess…your teasing brought back bad memories.”

Calista gave her another squeeze. “No teasing. Got it. I guess I still have lots to learn about Milly Brown.”

Milly gave a soft laugh. “Yah…I have a lot to learn about her too.”

“So, this is very touching and whatnot, but can we please continue? You’ll regret it if you take too much time for your nonsense,” #564 chided.

“She’s so impatient,” complained Calista, reluctantly releasing the embrace.

“I wonder where she gets that from?” Milly playfully poked.

“Oh, so you can tease, but I cannot?” Calista laughed.

“Pretty much,” Milly confirmed, giving her a soft smile, then focused on the reward screen. “Yes, I will complete the mission. Please tell me that I don’t have to remove those loincloths from my inventory by hand.”

“You are in luck. It is automatic,” Tutoria confirmed.

Mission Complete!

Received: 50 gold

“Now, you’ve been probably wondering what all that gold you have been collecting is good for,” Tutoria said, continuing the lesson, “Now that you have completed phase one, you can finally use it.” She gestured over to the Tutoria Emporia, where the Tutoria inside was impatiently waiting.

“It is about time, #564,” the Tutoria complained, “My shop is more important than the Mission Board, you know. It is going to be critical for the player’s survival in Phase Two.” The Tutoria turned to Milly and Calista, “Welcome players, to my Tutoria Emporia! Here, you can exchange your gold for items that will be of great use to you in the contest. I will have better weapons than those rusted hunks of junk that you received at the beginning, as well as basic armor and supplies. Waypoint crystals in particular will be a hot ticket item, so get them before the daily supply runs out.”

“I know how a shop works,” said Calista, as Milly browsed a rack of bronze-tipped spears.

“Yes…well…You can also sell stuff here too,” continued Tutoria, perturbed. “And my inventory will expand as you progress further in the contest. Did you know that, Calista Gale, you big know-it-all?”

Milly grabbed one of the waypoint crystals from a nearby display case. It sparkled in her palm as she held it. “How much are these?” she asked, curiously.

“Three hundred gold,” responded Tutoria.

“Three hundred gold!” exclaimed Calista, “That is everything we earned from defeating The Crushing Wave. That is excessive. We’ll give you one hundred for it.”

“Supply and demand,” responded Tutoria, rejecting Calista’s offer, “There are only ten available to purchase each day, and there are seven hundred and fifty-five people in the tower. I have no doubt they will sell out quickly.”

“Ridiculous. Come on Milly, let’s go find Rain and…”

“I’ll take three,” Milly announced, causing Tutoria to light up with excitement. Calista gasped.

“Milly, that’s so much gold,” whispered Calista.

“Calista, I used a waypoint crystal to save your life. Keeping you and Rain safe is everything to me. Tutoria, how do I… um… pay you?”

“You just grab the item and walk out of the store,” Tutoria explained, “The gold will be automatically deducted from your inventory. Just make sure you have enough for it, or you will be for a nasty shock. Quite literally.”

Milly walked out of the store, and watched as nine hundred gold was deducted from her inventory, nearly everything she had collected since the Contest began. “Worth every penny,” Milly said, handing one of the crystals to Calista.

“Milly… I…” Calista stammered.

“Just take it, Calista,” Milly said, “One for each of us. In case any of us need it.”

Calista took the crystal, holding it gently in her palm. “If it will help protect you and Rain, I’ll take it. Thank you, Milly.”

“Let’s go deliver Rain’s crystal to her,” Milly said, walking towards Rain On My Parade. People were starting to stream through the lobby doors and descend in the elevators now, and Milly wanted to get out of sight before Mr. Stone or another CEO spotted her inside.

“Hold up, we are not done yet,” protested #564, but then she reconsidered. “Actually, this last one is the most important. Perhaps your friend should be here for it too.”

Milly did not like the sound of that. She hastened to Rain’s shop, dashing through the partially open door.

“Rain, I got you… Wow!” Milly gasped. Rain’s shop had been completely renovated to match the decor in the lobby. The flimsy counters, once in dire need of repair, were now composed of a dark oak, as were the secondhand chairs and tables, including the one Milly had broken. Her floors and walls were made of old hardwood, and a dark leather couch was stretched in front of a broad stone fireplace, nestled against the back wall. Behind the counter, a half dozen table-top cauldrons had joined her electric kettles, one already bubbling and giving off red steam.

It looked like a tiny medieval-style tavern. Even Rain’s makeshift storage closet-turned-bedroom have received a facelift.

Rain was behind the counter, her Tutoria wrapped tightly in her arms.

“I love it, Thirteen. Love it! It looks exactly how I always dreamed it would,” Rain said, giddy.

“I fit the renovation in on a technicality,” Thirteen said, smiling. “The lobby needed to be renovated for Phase Two. And Rain On My Parade is part of the lobby. So, logically, Rain on my Parade must be renovated as well. It would look strange if it was not.”

“Calista! Milly! Look! Isn’t it wonderful?” Rain exclaimed, releasing Thirteen and twirling around to take it all in. “It is perfect.”

“It is beautiful Rain,” replied Milly, ecstatic for her friend. She handed Rain her waypoint crystal. “Here, for emergencies.”

“Thanks, Mils,” Rain said, storing it away.

“You even got your own couch,” Calista said, impressed.

“You and Milly are welcome to sleep on it anytime you want,” Rain offered. “It’s more comfortable than under your desks. However,” Rain paused, looking mischievously at Calista, “there is only the one couch, so you might have to share.”

Calista’s blush stretched ear to ear. She rushed past Milly and Rain to the lobby entrance. “#564 has one last thing to show us,” she squeaked, then ducked out.

“She’s fun to tease,” Rain smirked, winking at Milly, and following Calista into the lobby.

Milly looked over at Thirteen, who simply shrugged. “I have no idea what has gotten into those two,” Milly whispered.

Milly wandered into the lobby, where #564 was waiting for them.

“Alright #564, what is the last thing you needed to show us?” asked Calista, standing in front of everyone to hide her blush.

“The Event Clock,” declared #564, pointing towards the ceiling. In the middle of the lobby, hanging directly over the model of the Castle of Glass, was a digital countdown timer, held aloft by two thick steel wires. It showed a time of 52 minutes and 45 seconds. “The Event Clock is the most important addition in Phase Two. When that clock reaches zero, it triggers an Event.”

“An event,” added Thirteen, emerging from Rain On My Parade, “can be anything, but it is always bad for the players. Natural disasters, disease, monsters, famine. Anything. And you will not know what it will be until it starts.”

“Thirteen, stop stealing my thunder,” complained #564.

“Yes, it could be thunder too,” added Thirteen.

Milly’s heart raced. She glanced at the Event Clock. The first Event would begin in less than an hour. And no one at the Tower was prepared for what it might bring.

“How long between events?” asked Rain. Milly could see her mind racing, and she envied Rain’s ability to think under such pressures.

“It varies,” answered #564, “The Events were added after Cycle #22, when the Contest lasted one hundred and seventeen years. The players grew content and decided to simply live in the contest, surviving off the land in their local area. It was quite dull, and most of the Gods stopped watching. It was their great grandchildren who ultimately emerged victorious. Ever since then, the Events were added to keep the players moving forward.”

“Usually, the Event Clock starts at one week,” continued Thirteen, “but time gets added if the players advance in the Contest. A player exploring a new territory can add an hour, while finishing major milestones can add a whole month. The Events get more dangerous each time, so I’d recommend that you keep pushing forward so you have to endure as few as possible.”

Milly glanced up at the Clock. 51 minutes, 22 seconds.

“Calista. Rain.” Milly said, nervously, “we need to get moving. We do not have much time.”

“Yes, sorry about that. The timing for the activation of Phase Two was just awful for you. Normally, players get at least a day to prepare.”

“Anything else we need to know, #564?” Calista asked, angry that #564 had left the Event Clock until the end. “Because apparently we have shit we need to do!”

“You know the basics,” #564 concluded. “You will figure out the rest as you go. It has been fun, Calista. I wish you the best of luck and I hope to see you again at the end, victorious.”

With that, #564 and Thirteen faded away, leaving Milly, Calista, and Rain standing in the lobby.

Watching the Event Clock counting down to zero.

* * *