Book 6: Chapter 23: Rivals

Book 6: Chapter 23: Rivals

Frank leaned on the balcony railing as the night sky twinkled over the graveyard. His mind was a storm of mixed emotions, from fear to absolute joy. Behind him were four women soundly asleep in bed, with only Webster's squeaky snores to break the silence. Heather, Breanne, Quinny, and Umtha were side by side, sharing pillows as they slept in the cool night air. He couldn't believe it had come to this, and yet he prayed it never ended. How had he gone from the man not interested in women to the one with a pile of them in his bed?

For hours he tried to convince himself this was all a dream, but then he would look at them, and his heart would beat fast. It might be a dream come true, but it was a dream so elusive that he hadn't dared to believe it was anything but fantasy. Now he stood looking out over their domain as a prince, goblin king, and the husband of four wives.

Hey, A soft voice said as Heathers hand rubbed around his neck. Are you alright?

I don't know, Frank replied as he continued to stare over the graveyard. I keep thinking this is too good to be true. That any minute I am going to wake up and cry that the dream is over.

Oh, Frank, Heather sighed as she leaned into his side. I am so sorry. Despite how much I promise, I still keep pushing you into things faster than I should.

I am not upset with you, Frank said. Just I never believed anything like this could ever happen, and now that it has, I don't know what to do.

We should have waited until later to tell Umtha, Heather insisted. And maybe not have invited Quinny and Breanne to bed until the wedding.

It would hurt her feelings to take Quinny and Breanne in and not her, Frank said as he put his arm around Heather. I am glad she is here. I just don't know what to do with myself.

Well, as the one who likes to overthink everything, I believe you are handling this well, Heather said. Even what you're doing now is a good sign as far as I am concerned.

How is this good? Frank asked.

Heather smiled and ran a hand up his chest as she explained her point of view. A normal guy wouldnt have batted an eye at this, and his ego would have blown up. He would probably have become a jerk about it, acting like he was so amazing the girls couldnt resist him.

But here you are, worried you won't be able to make us happy, Heather said. Proving once again, how good a guy you are. None of this has gone to your head, and you are equally worried about each of us.

I cant help it, Frank replied as he rubbed Heathers side. I love all of you.

Good, Heather replied and leaned on the railing when a flash of light when off in the dark. Somebody is in the graveyard?

A group of three, Frank replied. They are searching the mausoleums down the right side.

Look at how our lives have changed, Heather said as she watched the night go by. Our city is filling with players, your graveyard is busy night and day, and our bed is filled with women. All it took was to understand what you told me the first day we met.

You were in translation shock, Frank offered.

I was in shock, shock, Heather replied. And terribly in denial. Even before I had met you, I had made up my mind to be miserable here. You saw how I was. The only reason I cooperated with you at first was because I thought you might be able to exploit something to get me out. What a fool I was.

Hey, dont say that, Frank urged and came up behind her to hold her shoulders. Not only did you not want to be here, but you dont play these kinds of games. At least if you had been a fantasy gamer you would have understood the systems better. But you had nothing to go and nowhere to turn for help. It would be like plucking somebody out of their bedroom and dropping into the jungle on an alien planet.

I am glad you understand, Heather said and wiped at her eye. Because I was so scared and you never left my side. You were the only reason I didn't fall apart, and I love you for it. She turned and leaned into his chest as her tears started to fall. Frank wrapped her in a warm hug as she quietly sobbed, the pent-up pain finally coming out. Her life had been in turmoil since arriving and she had put on a brave face. However, Frank had always suspected she was burying her fear inside, and now it was breaking free.

Shh, Frank urged as he stroked her head. I will always be at your side. Nobody has ever been able separate us, and they never will. I will protect all of you, no matter what comes, and you will never have to worry about it again.

Heather looked up with wet cheeks and smiled at him before leaning in for a kiss.

Tell me again, you don't know how to handle this? she said with a smile before wiping her cheeks. You are a rare man, Frank, and every girl who gets to know you falls in love.

He sighed as Heather lay her head on his shoulder and clung to their warm hug. It seemed impossible that this could have happened, and yet here she was, crying in his arms.

Are you alright? he asked when her breathing normalized.

I am fine, Heather replied. Just a rare moment of weakness. That's part of what I like about you. I feel like I can be vulnerable and show you my true emotions. She took a deep breath and ran a hand down his arm lovingly. But I am more worried about you. I keep pushing you into things you aren't ready for, and now I feel bad.

Dont, Frank urged. I am happy how things turned out. I am just nervous about how to keep it.

Well, why dont we do something fun to take your mind off this, Heather suggested.

We need to finish the floating island, Frank reminded.

Oh, that can wait, Heather insisted. We have a home here or in Mother's castle or Umtha's doom fortress. We don't need to rush and build another one. Instead, why don't we test that idea we had about pretending to be other people and registering with the adventurer's guild.

We know how all the adventures work, Frank protested.

Not true, Heather said with a tap on his nose. I asked mother to put a couple up, and she sent word to Lydia to put some up. Not to mention the random system might have spawned something by now.

And you are sure they put something up already? Frank asked.

Who knows, Heather said with a shrug. Lets go find out and enjoy ourselves.

I am not much of a tank when not in ghoul form, Frank reminded.

Wear the armor mother made for your ghoul form, Heather replied. We will wear the collars with the altered appearances, so nobody recognizes us.

What about your bone knight? Frank asked. You never use him anymore.

I never use him because hes a dead giveaway, Heather replied. Anybody who gets a good look at him is going to know exactly what I am.

He has a disguise too, Frank pointed out but knew that had already proven to be unreliable. Several times the bone knight had recklessly charged into a fight, nearly revealing what he was. It was safer to leave him hidden in the magic room, where nobody would find him.

His disguise is too risky, Heather said and tugged on his arm. But we can worry about this in the morning. Come back to bed. Quinny and Breanne only went to sleep so they could be with you.

This is so weird, Frank replied but couldn't hide his smile as Heather tugged him back to the warm bundle that waited for him. He spent the rest of the night as the center of their embrace, hoping nobody noticed the tears as his happiness spilled over.

When morning came Heather woke with Webster sleeping on her head as there was no other room on the bed. Heather went to pluck him off and stretch, only to roll over the side with a thump. She grumbled and looked up to see the bed was full of bodies, leaving very little room for comfort.

Are you alright? Frank asked as she stood up.

Im fine, Heather sighed and swatted Quinnys foot as it hung over the side. Wake up.

Quinny yawned and lifted her head high enough to see Heather. She let out a contented sigh and snuggled back in until Heather grabbed her ankle and tugged.

Let me sleep, Quinny complained.

We need to get going, Heather protested as the others started to stir. You dont even need to sleep.

I don't need to, but I am so comfortable, Quinny complained, squeezing Umtha to avoid being dragged out.

Great, it's just like dating in the real world, Heather complained as she tried to dislodge the woman. As soon as I commit, the other person starts laying around the house in their underwear.

The illusion fades, Breanne laughed as she got up. But what is so important about getting up now?

Heather explained her plan to pretend to be regular adventurers and register with the guild. Frank would wear his armor, and they would use the slave collars to change their appearance so nobody would recognize them. Quinny immediately rolled out of bed, anxious to play along, and began asking about what classes they should claim to be.

I don't know, Heather replied as she pondered it. I was going to go as my devil self. What class would that be?

You could probably get away with a DPS melee or a fire mage, Breanne suggested. If you could summon that shadow armor, you could pass for a tank, but the collar will block it.

I know, Heather sighed, then paused a moment. What is a DPS?

Damage per second, Frank said as he went for his clothes. It means your class does a lot of damage but can't absorb the damage back. Rogues are a lot like that. All damage and no defense.

Wizards are the same, Quinny said. Its why people call them glass cannons. They hit super hard but shatter like glass if hit back.

Ahh, game terms, Heather sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair.

You're going to get nowhere with your hands, Breanne said, taking Heather by the wrist. Come sit by the mirror so I can brush your hair.

Heather smiled and went to the dresser, sitting before the mirror as Breanne took up the brush. Frank loved seeing Breanne take charge and mother the others but didn't miss the sudden sadness in the older woman's eyes. He saw her stare at her own reflection as if pained by what she saw.

Breanne, is something wrong? Frank asked as he moved to stand beside her.

It's my hair, Breanne said as she brushed Heather. Blackbast changed the collar so that when I wear the collar, it turns that silver white. I didn't say anything about it before, but that color reminds me of the world I left behind and the torments of my age.

Oh, Breanne, Heather replied and looked back at her. Why didnt you say something sooner? You shouldnt suffer with something like that.

No, I mean for us, Breanne said and looked to the others. You know, since we're in character.

Oh, right, Heather said with a smile and looked a the paper. She picked it up to see it was mostly blank, with a few lines about being a guild member. She looked to Frank for direction, but all he could do was shrug and suggest they try it and see.

Why not? Heather asked. What could possibly go wrong? She put her hand to the paper and said her name was Vandrah, level one shadow rogue.

They all watched as the paper glowed and suddenly changed. There in writing was her name, level, and class, just as she stated it. It also showed a copper seal of the adventurers guild and the title of newbie adventurer.

Why did you go with level one? Breanne whispered. At least start us out at ten.

I wasnt thinking that far, Heather admitted. I got nervous and just went with the first thing that came to mind.

Well, it works, Quinny said and put her hand on a paper. She was now Quintes, the level one warrior. Umtha went next, declaring herself to be Cindrah, the level one elemental shaman. Breanne then declared herself to be Soloma, the level one archer, and stepped back so Frank could take his turn.

Turin, the level five brawler, Frank said as the girls turned on him.

Why do you get to be level five? Heather demanded.

Because I want to be, Frank replied.

Good, good, the rabbit woman cut in. Now you're all registered and can select a quest. Please check our board for quests with the copper emblem on them. You will advance to rank tin when you complete ten quests successfully.

Are we running a recycling center? Heather asked as they headed for the board.

I needed names for the various ranks, Frank explained. They get better as you go up.

This is fun, Quinny said and looked around. Who would ever believe we were finally playing like normal players?

Nothing is normal about this, Heather replied and adjusted her pack as Webster shuffled around and chirped. No, you do not get to make a character sheet, she whispered back to him. You're my secret helper, remember?

Aww, let the poor guy make a character sheet, Quinny insisted. When is he ever going to get another chance like this?

How am I supposed to do that? Heather asked. Do I take him out and press him to the paper?

You could try, Quinny said.

Heather unslung her pack and stormed back to the desk as the cheery woman asked what she needed.

I need another registration sheet, Heather said.

Oh, did you make a mistake? the woman asked as she reached down to get another.

No, my spider wants to register, Heather said and dumped Webster on the desk.

The rabbit woman looked at Webster as one of her ears folded over, and she started to twitch.

You, you want to register your spider? she asked in a confused voice.

Yeah, is there a problem with that? Heather asked.

What? Oh, no, but this is a guild for adventurers, not pets, the woman said.

Just give me the paper, Heather insisted and snatched it from her hand. This probably won't work anyway. She slapped it down and waited as Webster put a leg to the document and squeaked a few times. Heather was shocked as it glowed, registering him as vix, the level one combat spider.

Oh, it did work, the rabbit woman said as she recoiled from Webster. So, you can go away now. Maybe take the spider with you.

Are you afraid of spiders? Heather asked as she leaned on the counter.

What? Me? No, I just dont like it when they are as big as my head, the woman stammered.

Common Vix, Heather sighed and snatched him from the counter. Youre scaring the nice lady. She went back to the board to find the others having a discussion. Heather informed them that they now had a battle spider as a companion and asked what they were debating.

Well, we have to do easy tasks to start, Frank said and pointed to one of the papers on the board. So I say we do a bunch of the quests we made so we can get them done quickly.

But thats boring, Quinny insisted. Why do a quest we know everything about? Lets do that generated one Umtha found.

Theirs a generated one already? Heather asked as Quinny nodded and pointed to a paper in the corner.

Heather leaned in to read the document as Frank shook his head.

By order of the guild, the sum of ten gold will be paid to anyone who can bring back twenty hopper tongues? Heather read and looked up. What the heck is a hopper?

A toad, Frank replied. They spawn out by the marshy area of the lake.

It seriously wants us to kill toads? Heather asked and double-checked the paper. And bring back their tongues?

You have to bring back something as proof, Frank explained.

Oh, why didn't I think of that, Heather said. Well, fine, let's just do this one, but you're ripping out all the tongues. She pulled the paper off the board and went to register it with the guild when a familiar woman in white lace barred her path.

Well, well, look who it is, the woman said as she smiled at Heather. Having trouble finding a quest you can actually do?

Heather twitched as she glared at the couple, who looked at them smugly.

I am just starting, Heather insisted and waved her paper. And these quests are beneath us. We will be at the top of this guild in no time.

Oh, is that so? the woman asked as she glanced over Heathers paper. Assuming you can kill a few frogs.

Toads, Quinny corrected, but the woman only laughed.

And what are you going to do? Heather asked as she took a defiant stance.

Something worthwhile, she replied and took out a slip of paper stamped with a golden seal of the guild with three blue stars. We will kill this haunt in the forest.

Somebody has hit a triple gold rank already? Frank said in surprise.

That's right, the woman laughed and tucked her paper away. And according to the guild rules, the first seven people to hit platinum-crowned obsidian become the guild council. So we are going to hit that before anyone and start running this place. We're not going to bother with posting trash quests for newbs.

What? Heather choked and turned on Frank. What are they talking about?

Its in the rules, Frank said in a weak voice. It was to make it more fun to strive to rank up.

A guild council! Heather shouted. You never told me anything about this.

It didnt come up, Frank said defensively.

Aww, didn't you read the guild tenets on the wall by the door? the woman laughed. Well, enjoy your toads while you can. In a few weeks, this guild will only be for real adventurers.

Heather watched as the two headed away laughing and went for her knife.

Dont! Quinny cried and nearly tackled her. Its against the rules to fight in the guild hall.

I make the rules, Heather insisted and put her knife away. Or I thought I did. She turned to face Frank, who shrank back and played with his claws.

You told me to make this work so it would be fun for the players, he reminded. You said I could do whatever I wanted, and it helps to have rewards for people to strive for.

They are planning to run the guild, Heather argued.

At least there are only two of them, Breanne said as they looked up to see the two join a table of five others. The woman said something and pointed Heather's way as the group started laughing.

And now theirs seven of them, Quinny said.

Get this quest registered, and let's slaughter the toads, Heather growled and held up the paper. If those people beat us to the top ranks, I will turn them all into zombies. Quinny ran off to register it for the group, and together they left with more laughter from the woman's table. Heather simmered as they headed out to find the toads, determined to do whatever it took to beat that group to the head of the council.