The darkness of night had long settled over the Castle of Glass when the last of fairies appeared beneath the Waypoint Pillar. Sapphire and her remaining warriors, who had refused to leave until every other fairy was safe in their new home, appeared exhausted as duty finally gave way to grief.

They left their dead in the valley, in rows ninety long and ten deep, to await burial when the morning sun crested over the horizon.

“Lightpaw and the others are to the north, Sapphire,” Milly yawned, directing her across the sandy eastern beach. “Just follow the footprints, and Nobori will be there to guide you when you reach the pines. They found a place to begin to rebuild where the ocean meets the mountain. There’s a pleasant inlet there, so the Eastern Waves will have access to the ocean.”

“Thanks Milly,” Sapphire mumbled, her eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. She glanced at the shining towers that rose above her in the night, a lighthouse for her people. “It’s going to take some getting used to.”

Milly held Sapphire back as her warriors moved across the beach. “The healers didn’t get to you?” she asked, as she traced her finger over the cuts that crisscrossed Sapphire’s arms.

“The healers are just as exhausted as my warriors,” Sapphire replied. “I’m not a priority. There were others – children and the elderly – who needed their magic more than I did.”

Milly’s hands glowed healing blue as she gently held Sapphire’s scaled arms. Her wounds began to heal. “You’re a priority now, Sapphire. Your people need you to lead. They are scared, and they need you to be healthy and strong for them.”

Sapphire didn’t protest, a testament to the exhaustion and sorrow that had settled over the elder of the Kinship of the Eastern Wave. She had held back her emotions during the battle and the hours that followed, but even she had her limits.

The cuts on Sapphire arm scabbed over enough to get her through to the morning without infection.

“Go get some sleep,” Milly instructed as her magical glow faded. “We’ve all got some long days ahead of us.”

Sapphire nodded her agreement and stumbled her way across the sand to rejoin her warriors. They marched towards their new home, with only the sound of the breaking ocean waves to fill the mournful silence that fell over them.

Calista jogged across the sand just as Milly watched Sapphire disappear into the pines with Nobori.

“How’d the town hall go, Cally?” Milly asked as another yawn escaped her. Her eyelids felt heavy, and her own words sounded distant as exhaustion took hold.

“About as expected,” Calista answered, as she mirrored Milly’s yawn. She waved her hand across her face to try to keep herself awake. “Cheers and tears, and more than a little Freelancer outrage that we would make such an agreement with the CEOs. I can’t say I blame them. Elmer and I spent the last hour trying to calm down those who were closest to Matt, Veronica, and the others who died in the Battle of Tower Beach. I don’t think they’ll do anything stupid, but Elmer will keep an eye on a couple of them, just in case.”

In the distance, the sound of celebration began to fill the air as hundreds of players gathered to celebrate the defeat of the arenas and the addition of three months to the Event Timer. The smell of roasted boar and mushrooms wafted on the breeze. Stone and Brass stood on a table as they soaked in accolades, and the strum of a guitar began to send its notes into the night.

Milly looked for the origin of the notes and was shocked to see Shufflebottom – still clad in his jester outfit – seated on a chair with a simple acoustic guitar.

“A guitar. Can you believe that? Apparently Shufflebottom kept one in his office and would practice during work. He’s talking about building a stage for performances once the wall is complete.”

“Do you… want to go watch?” Milly asked, her question interrupted by another yawn. She stepped and stumbled, as exhaustion threatened to finally claim her. “We could… learn more about… him…”

Calista scooped her girlfriend off her feet and into her arms, a wicked smile on her face. Milly gave a surprised squeal, then quickly nestled her head into the softness of Calista’s white dress.

“I’ve got a better idea,” Calista whispered in Milly’s ear. “Come on, love. Elmer arranged a surprise for us, and I can’t wait to show you.”

* * *

Calista still carried Milly in her arms when the elevator opened to the fourteenth floor of Freelancer Tower.

“Welcome home, love,” she announced with a flourish as she carried Milly across the threshold. “What do you think?”

“Home?” Milly whispered, as she stared across the empty floor. Like all the floors in Freelancer Tower, this one was permeated with the musky scent of disuse and had random stains on the ceiling and carpet. The large windows were cracked. It was open-concept and empty, save for a collection of old mousetraps along the heating registers and a wooden chair with three legs. A tiny staff kitchen, men and women’s washrooms, and four executive-sized offices – one in each corner were all that comprised the floor’s developed space.

“It’s a fixer-upper, I’ll admit,” laughed Calista as she watched Milly take it all in. “But it’s ours. You and me, and Rain when she can leave the medical floor. She can’t keep living in that closet in her shop. Elmer insisted that we have our own space, and I didn’t have the heart to disagree with him.”

“Home?” Milly asked again, speechless.

I’ve never had a real home. I had started to think that way about the Castle of Glass, but this is just so much more… real. It’s a place to call my… our… own.

“Our home. What do you think?” Calista asked expectantly.

“It’s… it’s perfect, Cally,” Milly finally got out, overwhelmed with emotion.

It’s the most beautiful gift in the world. In any world.

“Good, because I have something else for you,” Calista whispered in Milly’s ear as her voice took on a sultrier tone. “Something I hope you’ll like even more.”

Calista carried Milly to the southeast corner office. It’s windows overlooked rolling ocean waves and gently swaying jungle branches. Music from the celebrations below snuck in through the cracks in the window and bathed the office – their bedroom – in pleasant, muffled strums. Their queen-sized bed, which they had bought from the Emporia the night before they ventured into the wilds, had been moved and now rested against the ocean-view window, its blankets and pillows invitingly arranged.

Milly stared at the bed, then at the seductive sparkle in Calista’s eyes, and she suddenly knew what Calista had in mind. Her heart began to race.

“You know, beautiful,” Calista whispered as she leaned down and nibbled Milly’s ear. “This the first night we’ve had to ourselves.”

“Cally…” Milly breathed as her face flushed and warmth spread within her. She squirmed in Calista’s arms, as exhaustion fled her mind and Calista’s touch filled her every thought.

“I almost lost you today,” Calista continued as she slowly planted tiny kisses in wandering path from Milly’s ear to her throat. “Milly… I need you.”

Milly’s chest felt tight as Calista’s kisses grew more urgent and moved to her shoulder, her hand sliding up Milly’s thigh and under her gown.

“Cally…” Milly repeated, at a loss for words. She felt desire spread through her, and she knew she wanted it as badly as Calista. “Don’t… don’t stop.”

It was what Calista needed to hear. Their lips locked into a passionate kiss as Calista carried Milly to their bed and laid her down gently. Their tongues intertwined as their kisses grew more urgent, until Calista finally broke away, chest heaving, and eyes filled with unbridled lust.

“Cally… I’ve... I’ve never…” Milly stumbled, as arousal mixed with anxiety. Her insecurities surfaced and threatened to pull her out of the moment. “What… what if I’m no good…”

Calista placed her finger on Milly’s lips with a wicked smile. She swung her legs across Milly and straddled her waist, her face filled with confidence. Milly could feel Calista’s heat against hers, and her heart threatened to erupt from her chest.

“You just leave it to me,” Calista purred, as she teasingly lifted her white Amazon dress to her waist, her eyes never leaving Milly’s.

“You like?” Calista teased. Milly just stared wide-eyed, but her hands found Calista’s hips.

Calista raised her dress higher, revealing her toned belly, until it reached the bottom of her breasts.

Milly gulped, heat rising within her, as Calista lifted the dress past her breasts and over her head. Calista threw the dress to the ground with a playful flourish and leaned over until her breasts were tantalizingly close to touching Milly.

“I want you, Milly,” Calista breathed in Milly’s ear. “I want you so badly. I love you, and I need to feel every inch of you.”

“I love you too, Cally,” Milly said, without hesitation. The words felt right, and she knew, in the deepest depths of her heart, that they were words she would say for the rest of their lives, however long that may be.

Calista flushed, any lingering doubts of their feelings for each other cast away with those three simple words. She began to kiss her way down Milly’s body as her hands caressed Milly’s sides. She let her breasts slide down Milly’s stomach.

Milly squirmed under Calista, and her hands found their way to Calista’s short, red hair, her desire growing with every moment that passed. Her fingers feathered through Calista’s strands as Calista’s urgent kisses moved lower with each one.

“Cally… please… I need you.”

There was a delicate snap, and Calista’s bra landed on the pillow next to Milly as Calista’s kisses flowed down Milly’s leg. Milly felt her chest grow hot as she glanced at the lacey bra – Calista’s only bra – torn in half a dozen places after two weeks in the God Contest. She could feel Calista’s bare breasts pressed against her legs, and suddenly Milly was very aware of how unkept she was after a week of living and fighting in the wilds.

“Cally, I’m not… I haven’t…” Milly started, but as Calista looked up, Milly could see Calista’s face was as flush as hers, her desperate desire plain as day.

“My love. My Milly. You’re beautiful. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world,” Calista said, as she gently – teasingly – lifted Milly’s gown above her waist and began to kiss her inner thighs. “I love you just the way you are.”

“Cally, what are… oh… oh god,” Milly moaned as Calista moved higher, and the last remnants of Milly’s hesitation vanished in an instant. Milly’s fingers dug into Calista’s scarlet locks as Milly’s own lust consumed all else.

“Oh… Cally…”

* * *

They made love into the late hours of the night, long after the last of the revelers below retreated to their cubicles. Milly learned quickly, and soon it was Calista’s moans that echoed through their new home.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Eventually, exhaustion overwhelmed the lovers, and they fell asleep, curled in each other’s arms as the world fell silent around them.

For one night – for one brief, wonderful night – Milly didn’t think about the God Contest. She didn’t think about her past life and the painful loneliness that had filled it. She didn’t think about the death that surrounded them, or the anger and fear that found its home in death’s wake.

All that occupied her thoughts as she drifted into a peaceful slumber was the woman lying naked in her arms.

The woman who snored like a banshee.

Whom she had found in a nightmare.

Whom she had grown to love.

* * *

“There are a lot of useless choices in here, aren’t there, honey,” Calista said as she flipped through the class advancement screen projected on the ceiling. They lay naked in their bed, Calista’s head nestled comfortably on Milly’s shoulder and their legs intertwined, as they searched through their level up choices.

They had woken up an hour ago, although concepts such as dressing and getting out of bed were the furthest thing from their thoughts. Their efforts to pick their new abilities were continually interrupted by playful kisses and pinches that quickly turned into more.

Milly wasn’t looking at Calista’s player screen on the ceiling. She was staring down at her naked girlfriend, her mind filled with memories of the previous night. She watched Calista’s breasts rise and fall with each breath, and smiled as Calista unconsciously rubbed the spot on her thigh that Milly had playfully bitten.

She’d like that. That little nibble.

“There’s a class called Debutante, Milly. Debutant, of all things. It gives the player a ten-point boost to agility and grants them expertise in fancy dances,” Calista scoffed as she dismissed it from the list of options. “The only arena we’d win with that class would be the Arena of Pretentious Nonsense.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Milly said dreamily. “I’d like to see you in a formal dress, trying to make small talk with a king or whatever.”

“Oh, I think the king seduction would be on you, Persephone,” teased Calista, drawing out every syllable of Milly’s middle name.

Milly pinched Calista playfully on the thigh and was rewarded with an adorable yelp.

“Not a chance,” Milly said.

“Perhaps the AI Director could create a special scenario for you,” Calista mused. “You’d have to wear a puffy pink dress, and we’d win if you managed to seduce the queen.”

Milly removed her spectacles and stared into the lenses. “Don’t you dare, Luna,” she mouthed silently. A slight sparkle of reflected sunlight was the only response she received from the artificial being beyond the glass.

“What about that one?” Milly asked, quickly changing the topic.

“The Feng Shui Consultant? Seriously?”

“Well, we do need to decorate our new home,” Milly laughed. “I’ve never really had to decorate a home before. Or really had a home at all. And, for all we know, decorating could matter in this game. I remember Xavier ranting about a game like that once, I think.”

Calista opened the description out of curiosity and cackled with laughter. “Holy shit, honey. You’re not far off. It’s a class that can design rooms to provide temporary enhancements for a player. It’s a bit like how Billy’s spatula allows him to imbue attribute bonuses into the food he makes, only for this class the player needs to spend six hours in the room. Oh, that reminds me. We need to talk to Billy about those special ingredients we received from defeating Gorath and Fairy Killer.”

“Eww. I really don’t want to eat giant wolf roast or Gorath’s… ugg… fingers,” Milly gagged. “But we should tell Elmer and Alison about this Feng Shui class. It could be powerful in the hands of the right person.”

“Yah,” Calista sighed as she returned to the endless list of possible classes. “But that person is not me. I like shopping. I like decorating. But that class has detailed rules, which I don’t like. There’s got to be something else in here…”

“Cally, you’re not going to find something better than that specialty class you got,” Milly nudged. “I tried to find something more powerful when I received The Scarred Witch, and none of the common classes are even close.”

“Yah, but… the specialty it gave me… it just doesn’t feel right, you know. Plus, I don’t trust this AI Director. He’s got to be fucking around with us, right?”

Milly gave a noncommittal shrug, and Calista brought up her specialty class with a groan.

Specialty Class: The Battlefield Commander

The Battlefield Commander holds the lives of her comrades and her people in the palm of her hand. Leading from the front and surrounded by those who fight under her banner, she stands alone with the weight of responsibility. The price of defeat lies heavy on her shoulders, and the cost of victory lies heavier still, yet no civilization can survive without she who bears this burden.

“See, that’s just horribly depressing,” said Calista. “That’s exactly how I felt yesterday, and at the Battle of Tower Beach. I gave the orders, and fairies died. Win or lose, I still feel like a shitty, shitty person.”

“Maybe that’s why the AI Director gave it to you,” Milly said, stroking her fingers through Calista’s hair to comfort her. “Because you already know what it means to bear that burden.”

“Oh, that feels good, honey,” Calista purred at Milly’s touch. “It’s just… I don’t know if I want to feel that way again. I don’t know if I should be the one leading.”

Milly wrapped her arms across Calista’s chest and kissed her forehead. “If it wasn’t for you, there would be no fairies. There would be no Freelancers. Cally, this class is meant for you. And despite what it says, you won’t be alone. I’ll be there by your side. Always.”

Calista gave a reluctant sigh and scrolled down to the details.

The Battlefield Commander specialty class grants the following to the player:

Soldier’s Morale: The Battlefield Commander’s presence on the battlefield greatly boosts the morale of her soldiers. All players fighting under the command of the Battlefield Commander, as well as the Commander herself, receive a twenty percent boost to all attributes.

The Adaptable Strategist: The Battlefield Commander possesses an endless repertoire of tactics, maneuvers, and fighting skills to find victory in battle. She gains access to the next tier of battlefield talents, including combat, mobilization and battalion talents. She immediately gains two battlefield talent points and gains a battlefield talent point every two levels, in addition to the standard talent point progression.

Unstoppable Force: The Battlefield Commander is an unstoppable force on the battlefield. She immediately increases her strength and toughness attributes by twenty.

The Price of Command: The Battlefield Commander is a noble and visible presence on the battlefield and in the war room. All lone wolf, thief, and assassin talents are permanently unavailable to the player.

Coward’s Folly: The Battlefield Commander’s reputation lies in victory. Although she knows retreat is always an option, she also knows its cost. If the Battlefield Commander retreats from the battlefield, the benefits of Soldier’s Morale are reversed. The attributes of all players fighting under the banner of the Battlefield Commander, including herself, will have their attributes penalized by twenty percent. This effect lasts for one week, and the effects are cumulative if there are subsequent retreats.

“I’m a huntress, Milly,” protested Calista. “The assassin branch has all kinds of useful stealth skills that would be perfect for it. So does the lone wolf. I had my eyes set on a couple good ones there. Is it so bad to just want to wander the wilds, hunting for boar and elk?”

“Lone wolf? Weren’t you mad at me for going off on my own at the Gathering?” Milly asked. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

“I wasn’t mad because you went off on your own. I was mad because you lied to me. But that reminds me…” Calista smirked, and she slapped Milly’s bare butt. Milly yelped in surprise.

“Cally…,” Milly whined in protest, as she rubbed her stinging bottom.

“We went through too much shit yesterday for me to stay mad at you, but don’t you lie to me again,” Calista said with a serious edge.

“Cally, I won’t…”

“If you can’t tell me something because of this stupid contest or whatever, then tell me that. Just don’t lie to me,” Cally reiterated.

“I won’t, Cally. I promise,” Milly said. “I just… this whole relationship thing is new to me, and I’m afraid I’m going to make another mistake and screw this all up. You’re… you’re the best thing to ever happen to me. I don’t want to lose you.”

Calista shifted and climbed atop Milly, her hands gently resting on Milly’s shoulders.

“Honey, you’re going to make mistakes. I’m going to make mistakes. And we’ll get through them together, okay?”

Milly nodded slightly, and the feeling of Calista’s body on top of hers brought up memories from the previous night. In an instant, Milly’s heart was pounding in her chest, and Milly knew Calista could feel the heartbeat against her skin.

Calista gave Milly a wicked grin and leaned down to kiss her neck. “One more time before we start the day, beautiful?” she purred in Milly’s ear.

Calista traced a trail of kisses down Milly’s shoulders, headed for her breasts.

“Wait… no, Cally,” Milly protested weakly. “Your class… we… we need to finish…first…”

Milly had to force out each word past her building desire as Calista reached the top of her breasts.

Calista glanced towards the class selection screen above them and sighed.

“Are you already using sex to get what you want?” Calista said playfully as her fingers gently danced across Milly’s stomach. “You think that will work?”

Milly tried to return her tease, but all that that emerged was a adorable and desperate whimper.

Calista bit her lip at her girlfriend’s response.

“You win. Totally worth it,” Calista said without hesitation. She mentally accepted the Battlefield Commander class as she leaned in and resumed her trail of kisses, their bodies pressed tightly together.

The system congratulation message for selecting a class went unnoticed.

***

Mildred Persephone Brown

Level: 26

Specialty: Survival

Class: The Scarred Witch

Sub-class: Her Inquisitor

Strength:

Base: 24

Enhanced: 39 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre, + 4 from Collar of the Victor, +7 from Obsidian Fists)

Agility:

Base: 24

Enhanced: 39 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars)

Toughness:

Base: 34

Enhanced: 38 (+4 from Collar of the Victor)

Magic:

Base: 48

Enhanced: 73 (+15 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly's First Witch's Hat, +8 from Luna’s Pendant of Guidance)

Talents:

Elemental Magic - Fire (beginner), Earth (advanced), Water (beginner), Air (beginner)

Healing Magic - Healer's Touch (advanced), Regeneration (beginner), Healer’s Aura (beginner)

Psychic - Telekinesis (beginner)

Combat – Hand-to-hand (beginner)

Unique Talent: Salem’s Fury

Class Talents: No limits, Weaver, Relentless, Outcast, Consequences

Sub-Class Talents: Oracle’s Avatar, Ceaseless Skepticism, Explorer, Warrior Witch, Incorruptible

Equipment Benefits:

Reanimate Rodent (beginner, Witch's Hat)

Oracle’s Divination (beginner, Luna's Pendant of Guidance)

Mana Absorption (beginner, Obsidian Fists)

See the Unseen (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design)

Locate Corruption (#error#, Spectacles of Hidden Design)

Calista Gale

Level: 25

Specialty: Reluctant Leader

Class: Battlefield Commander

Sub-class: None

Strength:

Base: 34

Enhanced: 48 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +8 from Luna’s Pendant of The Journey)

Agility:

Base: 21

Enhanced: 37 (+6 from Spear of Pinga, +10 from Talaria of Mercury)

Toughness:

Base: 35

Enhanced: 38 (+3 Rain’s Amazon Dress)

Magic:

Base: 15

Enhanced: 19 (+4 from Huntress' Scrunchy)

Talents:

Shield – Augmented Protective Shield (beginner, enhanced by Rain’s Amazon Dress)

Defensive – Defensive Instincts (beginner)

Combat - Spear Specialist (intermediate)

Exploration – Improved Perception (advanced)

Healing Magic – Regeneration (beginner), Battlefield Stabilization (beginner)

Mobilization – Wilderness Logistics (beginner), Enhanced scrounging (beginner)

Battalion – Battlefield communication (beginner)

Unique Talent: Pinga’s Redeeming Protector

Class Talents: Soldier’s Morale, The Adaptable Strategist, Unstoppable Force, The Price of Command, Coward’s Folly

Sub-Class Talents: None

Equipment Benefits:

Spear Recall (beginner, Spear of Pinga)

Improved Perception (advanced, Huntress' Scrunchy)

Companion of Artemis (Luna's Pendant of the Journey)

Double Speed (Talaria of Mercury)

Temporary Flight (5 seconds, Talaria of Mercury)

Leave No Trace (Talaria of Mercury)

Rain Desjarlais

Level: 22

Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation

Class: None (Class Available)

Sub-class: None

Strength:

Base: 15

Enhanced: 15

Agility:

Base: 14

Enhanced: 20 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samildànach)

Toughness:

Base: 15

Enhanced: 24 (+6 from Dagger of Lugh Samildànach, +3 from Rain’s Tailcoat)

Magic:

Base: 14

Enhanced: 22 (+8 from Luna’s Pendant of Imagination)

(6 attribute points available)

Talents:

Alchemy - Nature's Bounty, Alchemy (beginner),

Combat - Dagger Specialist (beginner)

Elemental Magic - Fire Magic (beginner), Metal Magic (beginner)

(Talent point available, 3 class talents available)

Unique Talent: The Mage Alchemist of Lugh Samildànach

Class Features: None

Sub-Class Features: None

Equipment Benefits:

Creativity of Hephaestus (Luna’s Pendant of Imagination)