“Veronica was a single mother with two young girls. She treasured them more than anything.”

Elmer stood before the funeral pyre. His voice bellowed out across the small crowd gathered, most still nursing battle wounds. A handful watched from the rooftop of Freelancer Tower, those who were too injured or too scared to make the journey to the ground. A few players from Tower One stood on the periphery, paying their respects to departed colleagues.

“Veronica would brag about her daughters, Bella and Daphne, to anyone who would listen. She was so proud of them. They did not have much, and Veronica worked three jobs so she could give them a better life. She fought every day to make sure they survived. To make sure they thrived.”

Elmer let the murmurs fade before he continued. “Veronica was brave. She was one of the first to join the Freelancers. She knew the path back to her children lay in winning this contest. So she started to fight for all of us. In her thirty-four years, she never left the city. Never taken a walk through a forest. Never held a weapon. Yet she took to hunting like a fish to water. She kept many of you fed in those first few days, when food was scarce and we were starving.”

Elmer looked over his shoulder and nodded. Aaron and Diwata, who had been the closest to Veronica, lifted her body and gently placed it on the pyre alongside the others, their tears falling to the coals below.

“Bella and Daphne will never see their mother again. She died protecting us. We owe it to Veronica to win this contest. To make it home. To tell Bella and Daphne that their mother died a hero, fighting to the very end.”

Elmer cleared his throat, wiping tears from his eyes. The funeral had been going on for an hour, and there were still bodies waiting beside the pyre. He nodded, and Billy and Ying took Aaron and Diwata’s place.

“Matt was a jokester of the highest caliber,” Elmer started. “He was always getting on Judy Brass’ nerves. In my opinion, it was one of his best qualities. He taught me so much in the years we worked together, side-by-side. Matt joined Billy, Calista, and I on the very first hunt…”

Milly stood at the back of the crowd, leaning against the tower and listening to Elmer’s eulogy. Calista was next to her, their shoulders touching, and pinky fingers discreetly interlocked behind their backs. Rain sat next to them, a solemn smile on her face as she looked up at her friends. Two lost souls who had finally found each other. A touch of light in the grim darkness.

Milly felt a tear fall on her palm. She reached up and brushed a gentle thumb across Calista’s cheeks to wipe away her tears. Calista had grown close to the Freelancers, and the sorrow she had kept buried last night had finally found its way to the surface. “Are you okay, Calista?” Milly whispered, yearning to comfort her in grief, and feeling inadequate as she tried.

“No,” Calista replied with a gentle sob as she watched Billy and Ying place Matt’s body on the pyre.

“Let’s sit for a while. There are only two more eulogies to go,” Milly said, easing Calista down until the two sat next to Rain. Milly held Calista’s hand as Calista placed her head on Milly’s shoulder and wept.

Guilt gnawed at Milly. An intense sorrow filled the air around them, yet all she could focus on was the grieving woman on her shoulder. As the Freelancers said goodbye, she was learning what it was like to no longer be alone. And it made her happy.

“It’s okay, Mils,” whispered Rain, seeing the confusion etched on Milly’s face. “You are allowed to be happy, even in dark times. Just feel whatever you want to feel.”

“Thanks, Rain,” Milly whispered back. “I just… it feels selfish.”

“Feelings are not logical, Milly, especially in times of sorrow. Some people cry. Some crack jokes. Some get angry. And some lean into the happiness that remains, or happiness newly found. There is no wrong way to grieve.”

Milly looked over at Calista, feeling Calista’s tears seeping into the shoulder of her gown. She squeezed Calista’s hand, and Calista pulled her closer. For just a moment, Milly let herself smile, hidden behind Calista’s crimson locks.

“I am happy for you Mils. For both of you,” whispered Rain. “You deserve someone who makes you feel this way.”

“Thanks, Rain,” Milly said. “I couldn’t ask for a better friend than you.”

They watched as the next body was laid on the pyre, Elmer’s voice growing hoarse.

“What now?” asked Milly as Elmer started the final eulogy, the sun beginning its descent in the sky.

“Elmer wants us in the executive suite after this,” answered Rain. “Stone and Brass showed us their true colors yesterday. None of us feel safe right now. We need a plan.”

“I do not feel safe either. The Freelancers are not in fighting shape, and Calista and I have been declared enemies of the tower,” Milly said. She heard Calista wheeze through her tears and pressed her hand to Calista’s chest. Calista sighed in relief as Milly’s healing magic flowed forth, squeezing Milly’s hand in thanks. The arrow had struck deep, and Milly had been healing her in short intervals all day.

“There is also the Event Clock,” Rain added. “We have already lost a day to grief. Every second we spend here is another second it gets closer to zero. If we do not get out there soon, we’ll be facing another Event in six days. We are not strong enough to survive a second one.”

Elmer finished the eulogy, and the final body was added to the pyre. The crowd grew silent, heads bowed in respect, the only sound the crackling of the flames.

Finally, Elmer broke the silence, giving a grief-filled smile. “There will be a wake tonight in Freelancer Tower. I snuck into my old office early this morning and ‘borrowed’ the Legal Eagle’s hidden liquor collection. Let us now set aside the grief and remember them through story and laughter. Everyone is welcome to join.”

There was a buzz of surprise that flowed across the crowd as they started to disperse. Elmer walked up to the trio, wiping away tears.

“You did wonderful, Elmer,” complemented Rain.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Elmer sunk next to them. He rested his head against his knees and finally allowed his own grief to overwhelm him. Rain patted his back in comfort.

“It felt hollow,” Elmer said hoarsely. “How can I do justice to a person’s life in only a few moments?”

“We do them justice by making their sacrifice meaningful. By making sure it does not happen to anyone else,” Calista said, lifting her head from Milly’s shoulder. There was an anger in her eyes that was flooding away her grief. “Don’t we have plans to make?”

“Yes, I guess we do,” Elmer sighed, once again bottling up his own grief and rising to his feet. “Let’s get it finished, and then we’ll head to the wake. I don’t want to spend tonight sober.”

* * *

“Stone and Brass sent over half their numbers into the terrains at first light,” Elmer told those gathered around the two stained folding tables placed in the centre of the executive suite. “I have friends at Legal Eagles who say the strength we showed at the beach scared the crap out of Stone and Brass. They want to close the power gap and are moving quickly.”

“Are you saying that we’ve found ourselves in a cold war arms race against our coworkers?” Billy asked.

“I wouldn’t count on it remaining a cold war,” Calista chimed in. “Stone and Brass showed us their true colors yesterday. We are a threat to them. They did everything they could to try to get us killed, hiding their intentions under the guise of protecting their people. How long until they stop trying to hide and just attack us?”

“The CEOs will not be able to move against you until they have established firm control of their people,” commented Rain, standing in a corner of the suite.

“It seems like they have pretty firm control now,” countered Ying. “No one came to rescue us.”

“Would you throw yourself into such a battle?” said Rain softly. “Remember, the Freelancers are higher level than almost everyone else in the tower. You’d been busy fighting. Everyone else have kept busy collecting food or cleaning or simply hiding. They are scared to fight, so many are still first or second level. We cannot interpret their lack of action as anything but fear, nor can we assume they approve of the CEOs actions. They knew those that died. Many watched from the windows as Matt, Veronica, and the others were killed.”

Rain paced along the wall, collecting her thoughts. “From what I hear, Stone and Brass are busy dealing with the fallout of their failed attempt to eliminate the Freelancers. Rumor has it that Ms. Cook is furious and is planning to withdraw the public servants from the CEOs’ pact. This would weaken the CEOs and create a potential ally for us.”

There were excited murmurs amongst the group as they discussed the possibilities of an alliance with the public servants.

“What’s your recommendation, Rain?” asked Elmer, curiously.

“The CEOs are relying on fear of a common enemy to unite their people. It is why they demonize the Freelancers. It is why they targeted Milly,” Rain reasoned. Milly, who was sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, perked up at her words. She had thought Mr. Stone was just a bully.

“It is a common strategy, especially in recent politics,” Rain continued. “Negative emotions are powerful motivators. But it has its limits, especially when trying to direct that fear against those whom they know. It needs constant stoking of the flames to be effective. And it relies on ignorance of the group being demonized. So the best way to keep them fractured is to undermine that fear and ignorance. To counter it with understanding, kindness, and knowledge.”

“Are you suggesting we play nice?” scoffed Ying, folding her arms in protest. “After what they did? They tried to kill us, Rain!”

“No, they did not, Ying,” countered Rain. “The CEOs and their inner circle did. Their players just walked away, which tells us they are not yet controlled by the CEOs. So talk to them. Help them. Build allies within their ranks. Do not forget that it has only been a week and a half since the contest began. They were your coworkers before this. Do not let those memories fade. Do not let them forget it.”

Rain paused for emphasis, “Make it difficult for the CEOs to consolidate their power, so they must spend their time controlling their fractures instead of targeting you.”

There was silence around the table, but soon everyone nodded in agreement. They still remembered their lives together with the other players, working their dead-end jobs in a predictable world. And they did not want to forget. They did not want to give up on them.

“Are you sure you won’t join the Freelancers, Rain,” chuckled Elmer, as they reached consensus on Rain’s approach. “You’d be running this place within a week.”

Rain laughed and shook her head, “I’ve got my shop Elmer, and there are a lot of people on all sides that rely on my potions. People with heart conditions and diabetes, who do not have the medications they need. I am not willing to give up on them.”

“Then let’s address the other elephant in the room,” said Elmer, switching topics, “the Event Clock.”

Calista glanced back at Milly, who got to her feet. This is what they were waiting for.

“It is at one hundred and twenty-nine hours,” Calista started. “Stone and Brass’ players are out there, fighting and exploring nearby the Castle of Glass. But this has only added a couple of hours to the clock. We need to be more ambitious if we want to avoid an event in six days.”

Calista withdrew a laminated map from her inventory and rolled it open across the table. It was a miniature version of the map on the lobby floor, purchased by Calista at the Emporia. “Tutoria said completing major milestones can add up to a month to the timer. These Arenas,” she thrust her finger at the closest one in the prairies, “must be major milestones. Milly, Rain, and I are going to head for the nearest one.”

“Calista are you crazy?” said Elmer in disbelief. “That arena must be five days away, and this world gets more dangerous the further out we get. No one has traveled that far from the Castle of Glass. Hell, no one has even survived a night out in the wilderness.”

Milly knew that was not accurate. On the lobby map, barely visible, was a tiny sliver of explored territory running south through the jungle, a day’s travel from the Castle of Glass. No one had seen Xavier since they defeated the Arena of Choice, but Milly had no doubt that trail belonged to him.

“We don’t have a choice, Elmer,” Calista said. “How many people might we lose if another event triggers while we are weak and unprepared? This is our only option.”

Elmer stared at the map, then sat back in his flimsy chair and sighed. “When will you leave?”

“Tonight, before we lose the light,” Calista replied, “Rain needs a few hours to brew her potions, and we need to gather food and supplies.”

“At least stay for the wake. The Freelancers will want to see you,” Elmer requested.

Calista nodded, “We’ll get started then. You’ve got the rest of this meeting handled?”

Elmer chuckled, “I think we will manage. I’ll see you at the wake.”

The trio left the executive suite as Elmer moved on to the next topic.

“Mohammad, what is our food situation? The local area is running low. Do we have people healthy enough to hunt.”

“Stone and Brass’ forces are harvesting everything nearby. We should start looking to the ocean…”

* * *

Xavier watched the smoke billow from the Castle of Glass, a tiny speck in the distance. The funeral pyre was burning bright this afternoon. For a fleeting moment, Xavier thought of Milly, and wondered what had happened to her in the Arena of Choice. Had she survived?

“Do not worry about her. She is irrelevant.”

The deep and malicious voice in his mind had a knife’s edge, laced with power, and promises. Xavier traced his thumb across the dark obsidian ring on his index finger.

“I am not concerned for her,” Xavier spat, “Mind your own business, Cizen.”

“Do not say my name, fool. They are watching. They are always watching.”

Xavier casually sat in his perch above the jungle canopy and removed the ring. He dangled it over the dense jungle. “You think me a fool? I am the player here. I’ve played games with items such as you. You shall do as I say, or I shall dispose of you without a second thought. Somewhere deep and hidden, where you shall never be found.”

The voice chuckled. Xavier slipped the ring back on his finger, feeling the power flow through him again.

“Talking items are just the worst in games,” Xavier sighed, turning away from the tower and towards their destination. “But this one is useful. Which direction, ring?”

“Keep heading south,” answered the voice. “Though if you deviate east there is a village of fairies you could slaughter.”

Xavier considered for the briefest of moments, then climbed down from the canopy. And started walking east.

* * *