“Oh my freaking yes!” I said as I lowered myself into the hot, steamy water. “That’s what I’m talking about.” I could take health potions all day long to feel better, but there was just something about a near-scalding bath that no magic supplement could ever replace.

When I first walked into the room and saw a cloud brewing, it scared the shit out of me—especially when it started shooting lightning. I thought it was a weather-themed trap or something. But once the cloud broke and started filling the tub, I caught on. It wasn’t an attempt at my life but a simple magical amenity. It got even better when the background music in my head changed to “nature sounds of the Amazon Jungle.” That really set the mood.

The indoor thundercloud drizzled hot water over me for a long time, even after the half-barrel tub was full to the rim. Eventually, it decided it was done and simply dissipated with no fanfare, leaving the room humid and warm.

I spent a good ten minutes after that scraping filth and grime off my limbs alone. There was no soap, none that I could find anyway, but the water had a squeaky consistency that left me feeling clean and refreshed. It even worked on my clothes, which I scrubbed furiously in the tub after I’d gotten out.

There was a convenient place to hang clothing by the window. I was on the second floor, my view overlooking the back garden. As I draped my wet items over the drying rack I saw Yuri outside doing something weird.

At first I thought she was dancing, waving her hands around and whatnot, but when a small portion of the garden glitched out and reappeared, I realized she was setting a disguise for a temporary Flesh Garden. I knew she had two Hog-Goblin Livers in her special sack, one of which was ready for planting. And I’m sure she brought her mechanical compressor to prepare the second. We would need those hog MODs to infiltrate the night club, I knew. And if we didn’t plant them soon we could be up here for a long time.

While my clothes dried, I considered how to spend the three experience points I earned by saving that pink elf kid. I wanted to drop them all into the greenhouse room, but after re-reading other abilities and wondering if Yuri would ever take me up on my offer, I decided to drop all three into the Momentum Portal ability because, you know, eeny meeny miney moe said so. And I had a few creative ideas on how to utilize it once I had it.

I considered the outhouse for a moment, but thought better of it. That was probably a LES joke anyway. Although, I’ll admit, having a room to drop a load anywhere you went was an incredible convenience.

***

Yuri and I stood in front of another stone turret with a city gate through the center, exactly like the one we passed through at the entrance of Rockwallow Hollow. This one, however, was abandoned, and this gate, which was golden, was wide open.

Scattered around the base of the gate were rows of flowers and trinkets and carvings laid out to express condolences and commiseration. I took a moment to consider a few of the plaques propped against the stone. This place was considered a cemetery thanks to the paradoxical conundrum it was trapped inside, and nobody knew where the time bubble even came from. I knew eventually I could access an ability called Time Loop but that wouldn’t be for a long time. Whoever locked this place in a bubble had to have been extremely powerful. Or the programmers could have coded the game to start like this, we would probably never know.

“So, this is it, huh?” I said. “This is where the time loop bubble begins?”

“Rolo Village,” said Yuri.

A tall wall extended from the turret on both sides. Yuri explained that the wall encompassed the village entirely in a perfect circle, just as the time bubble did, although we were too close to the wall to see it’s curve.

"Once we're inside, I'm safe, right?" I said. "I mean, I know if you die you'll just get kicked out of the bubble. But if the time loop doesn't effect me, it would make sense that I'd be vulnarable to, you know ... "

Yuri looked at me, put a hand on my chest. "You don't have anything to worry about, Jack."

I shrugged, nodded. "Okay. Okay, then. Ladies first." I gave her a smile, she smiled back.

As she stepped through the gateway, there was a vibration in the air, like she’d just encountered a benign bug zapper. I looked over my shoulder. There were only a few people around, all of whom were paying us no mind. I squeezed my fists a few times, huffed a few breaths, then stepped in after her.

***

There was only one immediate, noticeable change: it was suddenly darker. Not dark enough to call night but dim enough to catch my attention. When I asked Yuri about it she explained that while it was currently mid-day throughout all of Lynn Ella World, the loop inside the bubble, which reset every twenty-one minutes, was stuck in the early morning.

“And based on how peaceful it is, it probably just reset,” said Yuri.

The scenery was very similar to the rest of Rockwallow. The buildings, the cobblestone streets were the same. Even the people, who were ignorantly out and about for early morning stoles, seemed the same as anywhere else, if not a bit dated. The homes were much nicer though, and there were a lot more of them. There weren't a lot of shops, but that’s to be expected in a private community. I only saw two as we made our way to wherever Yuir was leading us: a bookstore called Burns & Nubiles and a small barista bar called Star Clucks Café, which had a big circular sign depicting a chicken on a slab of wood.

“That’s clever,” I said. “Borderline copyright infringement, but clever.”

“We need to hurry,” said Yuri, picking up the pace.

***

We found ourselves in the middle of a beautiful, manicured park. It reminded me of a much smaller, condensed version of Central Park in New York City.

In the center of the park stood a regal, copper fountain. Water spilled out of the top of what looked like the rim of a giant, upside down bell wrapped in a golden serpent. The side that faced the open side of the mountain was tinted green like the Statue of Liberty, but the other side retained a hint of its original bronze. I took a moment to admire the attention to detail on the park’s centerpiece. I mentally gave props to the Lynn Ella design team on that one, my gods, it was amazing.

“This is usually where it happens,” said Yuri, looking toward the sky, shielding her eyes.

“What usually happens?” I said.

“The reset. Or, I guess you could say this where I usually am when the reset occurs. It’s where I make the grab. Usually.”

Rolo Village was built right up against the precipice of the mountain, so we could see a lot of early morning, dark blue sky. The drop off was only about fifty meters away. If it wasn’t for the wall, we could walk right up to the edge.

“So, what now? We just wait?”

“Yep,” said Yuri. “Happens every twenty-one minutes, and I think it took us about ten to get here.”

“Well then,” I said. “I guess it was a good thing I purchased these chairs.”

I opened my inventory and pulled two armchairs out one by one. They were too heavy for me to catch and set down so they fell to the cobblestones, landing upright with heavy wooden thuds.

“Ooh, sorry,” I said as the second one nearly landed on top of Yuri. She jumped out of the way just in time and scoffed at me.

I cleared my throat. “There’s a furniture store next to the inn we’re staying at. So I picked these up while I was waiting for you.”

Yuri just looked at me with an unreadable expression, something between amusement and annoyance.

I sat down in one, crossed a leg over, and patted the arm of the other, inviting her to sit.

“You bought chairs?”

“They’re nice, right? They’re made from darkus wood, probably the Lynn Ella equivalent of mahogany. The padding on the seats are a bit worn, so the vendor was going to toss them. He gave them both to me for a total of five coins. Thought that was a bargain.”

“You bought … chairs?” she asked again, incredulous. She suddenly looked panicked and felt around under her cloak. She pulled out her stolen sack of coins. “Did you take those from—”

“Nah,” I said. “LES gave me a reward chest for saving that kid’s life. See! It pays to be the hero once in a while.” I smiled and padded the arm of the other seat again. “Come on, sit down.”

Yuri let out a huff, hesitated, then finally acquiesced. She looked at me, her face leaning against the back of the chair. For a fleeting moment I thought I saw a soft, genuine smile stretch across her lips before she looked away.

“I originally bought this huge, elaborate chair from the guy,” I said, “I think it once belonged to the Governor, but when I tried to put it in my inventory I got a notification saying I needed to upgrade before I could store something that heavy. LES also made a snarky comment about me not needing such a big-ass chair anyway.”

A couple of elves out for a morning stroll gave us funny looks as they passed by. I waved and nodded to each with a smile.

“Have to admit, I agree with LES on that one,” said Yuri. “However, your inventory ability really is … convenient,” she said.

“It totally is,” I said, producing the pint of Lizard Milk I never finished. It was still fresh. Well, as fresh as lizard milk could be, I guess. I took a sip, spit it out, and broke into a coughing fit. I looked back at Yuri and smiled. “Yum.”

She raised an eyebrow. Then she leaned towards me. “What happens when you die, though? Does all that stuff in your inventory just disappear?”

I opened my mouth and pointed at her. I held like that for a second, thinking. “I … that’s actually a really good question. Is that why you’re hesitant to let me hold your things?” I motioned to her pack sitting on the ground.

“Partiality,” she said.

“You trust me right? I’m not just going to take off with all your stuff and money. You know that, right?”

“Aren’t you in here because you stole a bunch of stuff and money?” she said.

I pointed at her again, this time with the pint of milk. “That was a one time thing. And I got busted. Lesson learned. Plus, those assholes deserved it. I’m glad I did it, even if their insurance covered it. And, hey, didn’t I just catch you swiping a bag of coins off that uppity cow dude earlier?”

“I guess it takes one to know one.”

I studied her face for a moment. “So what happens after this?” I said. “After we complete our objectives. Are you going to dump me for someone cuter? You’re not going to MOD me are you?”

Her smile turned flat. “I can’t ‘MOD’ players,” she said, using air quotes. “I’ve tried. They don’t grow.”

“Oh, well that’s good to know,” I said, taking another sip. I managed to swallow this gulp and keep it down. “Wait, what is that? Do you feel that?”

Yuri sucked in a deep breath and turned to me. “Okay. I just ... there’s something have to tell you before this thing starts,” she said.

“Oh, is this confession time?” I said, smiling. “Because, look, I know you’re madly in love with me, but I feel like maybe we’re just rushing into things a little too—”

“No,” she said. “Listen. Remember how I said you'll be fine if you die?"

"Um ... yeah?"

There was a very subtle vibration in the ground. A small rock danced then settled. I rested my drink on the flat arm of the chair and the foamy surface of the Lizard Milk rippled, settled, rippled, settled Jurassic Park style.

“Well, I actually don't think that's true," she said.

I looked at her and my smile fell slack. “What?”

“I didn’t want to say anything before, in case, you know … ” her comment drifted into a shrugging cringe. “In case you changed your mind about helping me. I just want to say now, you know, sorry—in case this whole thing goes wrong."

“Are you serious right now?” I said, leaning back in my chair. "You've got to be kidding?" The vibration got stronger and stronger, louder and louder.

She just looked at me, guilt plastered all over her face.

“Goddammit, Yuri," I said, slapping the arm of the chair. "We really need to work on your trust issues. And your damn timing.”