Riley’s hands still shook as she reached for Thorne, the reality of what had just happened settling in now that the danger had passed. She tore a strip of fabric from her sleeve and wrapped it around the shallow gashes on his arm, pulling it tight enough to slow the bleeding. The cuts were ugly but not deep. She pressed another strip of cloth carefully against his chest where blood had darkened the leather.

  As she finished securing the makeshift bandages, a faint shimmer caught her eye near the fallen wolf. A small chest rested on the blood-stained ground, its metal fittings catching the light. The HUD glowed briefly across its surface, marking the reward.

  ? Level 1 Monster Killed: Woodland Wolf

  ? Drop Available: Blue Copper Level 1

  Thorne noticed it at the same time and stepped closer, favoring his bruised side only slightly.

  “You took the kill,” he said, gesturing over. “The prize is yours.”

  “Oh no, you did most of the heavy lifting,” she gesturing back toward him.

  Thorne acquiesced and reached down to retrieve the prize and handed it to Riley. She admired its weight and sheen. Rather than put it in her sack, she held onto it and gently tossed it back and forth between her hands as they began walking again through the forest that had already reclaimed its calm.

  “You have a warrior’s spirit,” Thorne said after a moment. “I could see it when you struck the killing blow.”

  Riley grinned, slightly proud of herself. “I am not going to lie,” she said. “It gave me a thrill I have not felt for a long time.”

  “Don’t get carried away. I’m the hero here,” he joked.

  “Don’t worry, it’s all yours. I have enough to worry about.”

  They walked in silence for a few steps before Thorne spoke again, his tone thoughtful. “I should finish explaining my past to you.”

  “I know, there will be time for that. I want to know all about it, I do. One day I will explain my history too. I know that our pasts have shaped who we are today and it does impact what we do in the here and now, but right now, today, with so much ahead of us, I need to stay focused on understanding what I need to move forward. Does that make sense?” she explained trying to control the direction of the conversation.

  “Of course. I understand. You are here to lead us forward. Maybe I can start by explaining what you have in your hand. That’s Blue Copper. Its one of four metals I need to submit to the forge to be able to craft proper armor for me. Red Lead I obtained the other day when I fought another one of these wolves. Yellow Iron I obtained from the monster I killed the night of the raid. The last metal I need is Black Steel. These are all level one metals for level one armor. It’s not the best defence, but it’s a start. That is why it is so important that I go hunting; not only am I eliminating threats to you and the kingdom, but I am earning rewards that will help me grow stronger, sharper, and better protected.”

  Riley nodded, her hands brushing the surface of the metal, acknowledging its worth.

  “You’re our only hero. I definitely want to protect you." She looked over at Thorne, watching the ease with which he carried on despite his injuries.

  “Actually, there are meant to be five heroes in all. Together, our role is to protect the kingdom and lead the army to victory when war comes. When we fight in the colosseum, we earn favor and resources for the kingdom. Kingdom rewards are like what you have been managing to help the realm grow. The most valuable reward I can earn for the kingdom are time tokens. They reduce how long it takes to build or improve structures, shorten research in the academy, and speed the training of higher tier soldiers and specialized personnel.”

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  “That would be extremely helpful. When I obtained Military Training Speed in the Academy, it reduced the time it took for me to produce army personnel by half. Together with your rewards, the kingdom will be able to grow much faster than before,” Riley added, excited by the potential.

  “That’s right, those are rewards heroes earn for the kingdom. Then there are quests, that if I succeed in those, will benefit me. As the kingdom’s leader, you would build a Great Gateway. Once activated, I, and potentially the other heroes, could pass through it to begin a quest. Quests are like training, but with real danger. A hero who falls on a quest can die just as surely as in battle.”

  Riley absorbed this quietly, then said, “It sounds like the kingdom would be without our hero for some time while you are out on these quests.”

  Thorne shook his head. “Not exactly. Time moves differently in the Gateway. Quests take place in other worlds or planes of existence. Days or weeks there might pass as only hours or days here.”

  Riley slowed her steps, considering that. “If that is the case, why doesn’t a hero simply stay there until they level all the way up?”

  Thorne’s smile returned, faint but knowing. “Because quests are not always available. And more importantly, a hero exists to serve the kingdom. That training is only one part of a hero’s role. There are battles to fight, people to protect, and decisions that cannot be delayed.”

  Riley nodded once, resolve settling in her expression. “Sounds like we have to get you access to that.”

  “That would be wonderful,” Thorne said. “Nothing makes a hero happier than serving their kingdom, and the best way to do that is to become as powerful as possible.” He slowed, his steps faltering as his voice trailed off. He frowned slightly, as if weighing his next words.

  Riley noticed and stopped, turning to face him. “What?”

  Thorne hesitated, then met her eyes. “I know you probably think of me as just a tool in your arsenal, but I can offer more. I can help you achieve your goals for the kingdom if you help me understand what you are trying to do. I saw you training Nikola this morning on how to manage the timers while you are gone. I heard you explaining to him that timers must be fully utilized. If I had similar insights, I could execute better.” He hesitated again. “I know it may be bold of me to ask, but what is in store for the kingdom? There has been so much activity and growth, but I do not understand where all of this is leading. We follow, we build, we fight, but to what end?”

  The question landed heavier than Riley expected.

  She stood there for a moment and realized how rarely she had considered that perspective. She had been so focused on the ‘what’, that she had never stopped to explain the ‘why’. In her mind flashed memories of long nights and glowing screens, of solitary progress measured only by numbers going up. Building. Researching. Training. Leveling. Repeating. There had been no speeches to give then, no councils to convene, no one waiting for guidance. Early on, survival was the only goal. Low level players were invisible, unwanted by guilds, left to grind alone and hope they did not die before gaining strength. Vision had never been something you shared. It was something you chased quietly while trying not to fall behind.

  She exhaled and met Thorne’s gaze.

  “You are right,” Riley said. “I have been so busy building that I have not communicated the vision. That will change as soon as we return.” She straightened slightly as she spoke, the words coming more easily now. “We will form a council. You, Valrik, Nikola, and Landryn will be my advisors. Council meetings will give us a chance to formally discuss the kingdom’s development and its challenges. Everyone will be able to lend their expertise and their perspective.”

  Thorne stopped walking entirely.

  “This has never been done before,” he said slowly. “Heroes have never had a seat at a ruling council’s table. Nor engineers. Nor soldiers.”

  “Well, we need to make some bold, new moves if we are going to build this kingdom and stand a chance against more established houses,” Riley said.

  “I agree. And I would be honored.” Thorne said, his voice suddenly loud and full of energy. He laughed once, sharp with excitement. “This is an idea worthy of record. You are a true revolutionary. Your vision reaches beyond our time. This will herald a new way of things. It could change everything.”

  Riley stared at him, caught somewhere between alarm and disbelief. She did not have the heart to tell him that her last major campaign victory had been achieved in pajamas, fueled by potato chips and far too many energy drinks, grinding through an all-night session just to outpace rival kingdoms. Revolutionary? She felt a flicker of panic and decided she had better say something that sounded inspiring. A flood of memes and literary references came to mind.

  “Teamwork,” Riley said carefully. “Together Everyone Achieves More.”

  Thorne blinked.

  Then he burst out laughing.

  The sound echoed through the trees, sudden and genuine, and after a moment Riley found herself laughing too, shaking her head as she joined him.

  As they finally started walking again, Riley made a quiet promise to herself.

  No more motivational taglines.

  100,000 words posted and I honestly can’t believe it! I’m so happy to be sharing this milestone with all of you. What started as an idea has grown into something so much bigger, and that’s entirely because of your support, your comments, and your excitement for the story.

  What’s been your favorite moment, character, or scene in the story so far?