Orrin felt a punch to his gut as he realized Daniel had found another party so quickly.

It has been over a week, I guess. He had been stuck in Anthony’s house unconscious for most of that time. If only I could have apologized before...

The woman with the spear turned back and watched him with pity on her face.

“Sorry kid.” She really did look sorry. “Um. If you don’t mind me asking. What is it about him? Nobody has ever heard of him and suddenly all the houses are clamoring.”

Orrin looked away from her face with tears in his eyes. “He’s my friend. We had a fight and he kicked me from his party.”

Orrin knuckled the tears away. “Thanks for the information.”

“Yeah, no problem.” She hesitated. “Listen, if you’re looking for a group to run with, I’ve only got two others but we are a solid team. We could use some fresh blood. What’s your level?”

“Seven,” Orrin muttered.

“A bit low but not too bad. I’m eighteen, myself. Waterspear. Probably a bit obvious though.” She nodded at her spear. “My name is Tin.”

“I’m Orrin. Nice to meet you. Sorry but I don’t think I’m-“

“Don’t say no right away.” Tin smirked and playfully pushed his shoulder. “Meet the others. At the very least, grab some food with us. You look like shit.”

Orrin smiled back. Tin was bubbly but he felt a steadfast personality underneath. The kind of person who would worry after giving bad news to a stranger.

“I’ve been a bit under the weather but I could eat.”

Tin pumped her fist in the air. “Great. Emily, our spellslinger, is holding a table outside at Fredric’s for the three of us, but I’m sure we can pull an extra chair up.”

“I couldn’t believe such a simple recon quest was still up. I don’t know why nobody found you earlier. Like I said, everybody’s trying to figure out what Catanzano is up too. Do you know that-“

Tin kept up the one-sided conversation as they walked down the street towards the fancier section of town. Restaurants and theatres for the rich lined the road. Orrin hadn’t spent any time here and without [Mind Bastion] running; he felt like a tourist. He turned to watch a sign with stencil people dueling, showing the name of a play underneath. One building’s windows were blacked out and the doorman was handing blindfolds to people in line.

“-ing, huh? Orrin?”

Orrin blushed and apologized for not listening. Tin just laughed and pulled him along. She began pointing out different places to him and telling him all the rumors and secrets of each chef or theatre troupe.

“-and when they found him, Peitro had already sewn him into the outfit with his skills. It took burning the cloth to get it off, so the guy was extra crispy when it was all done.” Tin let out a loud laugh. Several outdoor diners looked in disgust at the adventurer. She ignored them.

“Here we are. Fredric’s. Best food in town but don’t tell him that. He’ll just raise his prices again.”

Tucked between two massive buildings with lines around the corner to get in, Fredric’s was a small window. Two tables sat chained to metal posts and a stack of old beaten chairs toppled precariously to the side. Orrin could just make out a shock of red hair moving behind the window.

“Emily! You already ordered?” Tin slumped into a chair next to the only occupied table. While Tin was tall, buff, and carried herself with grace, Emily slunk into the chair as if to escape from her friend. Her dark skin contrasted with the red robes marking her as a fire mage. Most mages wore colors announcing their spells.

“You were late,” Emily muttered. She bent over the bowl on the table and slurped loudly. “Garret’s late. I’m hungry.”

“Garret’s our third,” Tin explained. “Earth Archer. Emily, this is Orrin. Orrin, Emily, our spellslinger.”

Emily shook her head, “I’m a Fireflower Mage, not a ‘spellslinger.’ But nice to meet you.”

“Fireflower Mage. That sounds cool. What’s your build?” Orrin found himself interested. Learning all the different types of classes was a lifetime’s work but it all fit in with his perfectionist, min-max mentality from gaming.

Emily’s withdrawn attitude disappeared as her smile bloomed. “Well, I started off Fire Mage for the first ten levels, as you do, but then the group I was in found this crevice in the cavern we were clearing out. Inside was a slow-moving lava river with about a hundred fire geckos-“

“The number goes up every time she tells the story." Tin slapped his back and walked to the window to order.

Emily continued unfazed, “After we took them out, which is no easy feat as I’m sure you know, I used [Fire Friend] to run across the lava. I could feel it calling me, you know? And then I found a mana construct of fire against the far wall, from where the lava flowed. A tiny flower of fire.”

Emily looked pleased and looked at Orrin expectantly.

“So what happened next?”

Emily frowned. Shit, something I didn’t find in the books. Mana construct? Orrin kicked himself.

“How do you not know-“

“And here’s dinner.” Tin saved him as she slapped two bowls down. Orrin dug right in.

Heaven. He’d found heaven. The bowl wasn’t soup but noodles. Noodles in a creamy sauce with peas and mushrooms. The flavors exploded with each bite and Orrin ignored everything as he worked on the bowl.

“Damn,” Tin laughed. “When is the last time you ate?”

Orrin stopped devouring the food and sat back contently. “Wow. Just wow. That is amazing.”

Emily was still giving him a funny look.

“Sorry Emily, you were explaining the flower? I’m from a small village with almost nobody going beyond farmer, so I’m still learning.” He started eating slower.

Emily shrugged at that and continued, “Anyways, after I absorbed it, I worked my way up to level twenty and changed classes when I got the prompt. Fireflower gives me fire growth abilities. Sort of a mix of fire and plant magic.”

“She’s being modest, Emily is level twenty-four. She can grow a field of fire in a few seconds. She took down a Dryopl with a big flower thing that just ate it up. By herself,” Tin complimented her teammate between bites.

“I had to.” Emily smirked. “Otherwise, Tin would have spent hours attacking it and laughing as it tried to hit her with all its legs.”

The banter between friends was a balm that Orrin didn’t realize he’d needed. Emily warmed up quickly, and Tin’s naturally exuberant personality left an imprint that had Orrin laughing along to their stories in no time.

When Garret, their third party member, arrived, Orrin had already finished his dinner. The man stood a full head taller than Orrin but smiled and shook his hand gently.

“I see the ladies found some eye candy for us.” He gave Orrin an appraising look before heading to the window to order food.

Orrin blushed, not used to being called eye candy. Especially as he spent most of his time with Daniel.

“Oh. Did Garret get to you? You’re red!” Tin laughed and clapped her hands.

“Just tell him you’re not interested and he’ll leave off.” Emily finished her drink. “He’s good people.”

Garret returned and ruffled Tin’s hair. She slapped his wrist.

“So Tin finally found us a new man to drag around?”

Orrin had just returned to normal as his skin flushed again.

“Leave him alone Gar.” Emily closed her eyes and leaned her chair back.

“He hasn’t agreed to join,” Tin chimed in. “Just dinner and meeting us.”

“So, you must want to know all about me then.” Garret pushed his food around as he looked at Orrin.

“I heard you are an [Earth Archer]?” Orrin asked.

“Yep. Level nineteen.”

Orrin waited.

“Oh, I don’t just put out like these two. I want something in return.” Garret winked.

Orrin blushed. He stammered, “I’m a [Utility Warder].”

Garret, Tin, and Emily looked puzzled. “That’s not one I’ve heard of,” Emily started. “Mage or fighter-class?”

“Neither really,” Orrin hedged.

“Now I’m actually interested.” Garret’s eyes pierced into Orrin. “I’ll play. [Earth Archer] lets me create arrows from damn near anything. I can make the arrows heavier or lighter and ignore gravity to an extent. With these two lovelies, I usually just clean up the edges or create nice little rows of big rock arrows to pen monsters up for slaughter.”

Garret paused and looked expectantly at Orrin.

“I’m only level seven. But I can heal and buff. I can increase your strength or will. I can also put a ward- uhm- a magic barrier of sorts around you that soaks up damage.”

Garret’s eyebrows went up in disbelief. Then he laughed.

“Oh. Oh, Tin. That’s a good one. Where did you find this guy? He’s hilarious.”

Orrin frowned a bit. “I’m telling the truth.”

Emily was frowning again, “Orrin, if you don’t want to share, that’s fine.”

Only Tin was smiling like she had won the lottery.

“Is that what Daniel can do, too?”

Orrin’s heart sank as he realized Tin had set him up. She just wanted information on Daniel. This was not a real interview to bring him into a new party. He was only level seven.

What an idiot.

Orrin just shook his head. “Thanks for the meal. Sorry to have wasted your time.”

As he stood up, Tin put her hand out.

“If what you say is true, it’s obvious why the Catanzano’s snatched his friend up. What kind of buffs are we talking here?”

Garret was surprised. “You don’t actually believe-“

“I believe every word he said.” Tin didn’t take her eyes off Orrin’s. “I want him on the team. Any complaints?”

Emily shook her head. Garret opened his mouth, and then closed it again. He shrugged.

“We’d have to get him up a few levels. Grinding can be fun with the right partner.” he smiled a wicked grin.

Orrin’s skin turned red again.

Garret turned to Emily. “Oh, I’m so in trouble with this one.”

“So, what do you say Orrin? Want to join our little party?”

Tin has invited you to a party

Yes or No?

I’ve lost my mind, Orrin thought for the hundredth time. How else am I going to level?

After declining as nicely as he could to join their group, the three friends had taken it in stride. They invited Orrin to hang out anytime or even come on a quest as a temporary add-on ‘just to see what we can do.’ None of them were more than a few years older than him but they’d all been leveling for years. They’d chatted for a few hours about different builds and skills. Orrin shared a little of what he could do. Garret had still questioned his abilities, until he wasted one spell and buffed Garret’s dexterity. He’d shut up after that.

They’d waved as he left, and for the first time in years, Orrin felt the rush of making new friends.

But joining the first group he found wasn’t the smart way to do things. He might have turned off his analytical robot-brain skill but Orrin was still a smart guy.

Right?

He’d turned around three times to go back and accept the offer.

No, he turned back to the guild.

As he slid his coins across the counter, the receptionist tilted her head. “You’re Orrin right? Letter for you.”

Orrin took the key to his room and a large vellum envelope. A stylized C was on the front.

He rushed to his room and tore it open:

To Orrin,

It has come to our attention that you are attempting to contact Daniel. He has decided to rely on our family as he moves towards the future.

While we do not doubt your friendship, we request you do not interfere with his training in the next several months. His will be a hard regimen of training, with no time left to frolic with others. We know that you will make the correct choice.

In return for your discretion, your name has been added to the entrance list for both of Dey’s dungeons. A party of your own may enter as you wish.

Best,

Lord Catanzano, Protector of Dey

Orrin read the letter twice.

“Fuck that.”

As he neared the Catanzano house, Orrin tossed [Camouflage] on. He also pulled up [Map] and activated all the different options. Nothing for party or monster appeared, but [Trap View] showed three separate items.

The front door had a long rope near the two guards. Obviously an alarm of some sort. The windows also had a small bar across the inside. If the window was pushed up from the outside, they’d probably break. Another alarm?

The third was a general haze around the building itself. While the map itself was blue, a light red washed across the Catanzano estate. Trying to zoom in further only showed the roof.

I guess I have to be inside for more.

Orrin had briefly considered just showing up and knocking. But if Lord Catanzano had tried to buy him off, he would likely just throw him out before Daniel even knew he was there.

Maybe I can try inviting him to a party?

Orrin probed the menu until a prompt appeared.

Create a party with ____.

As soon as he thought Daniel, his name filled the slot. The box disappeared.

Did he get it? Orrin had no idea how party creation worked. He’d never asked Daniel.

After waiting a minute, nothing happened. He went back to his original plan: Infiltration.

While [Camouflage] didn’t make him invisible, in darkness he was merely a dark blob moving. Even if he was caught, he hoped he could make enough noise that Daniel would hear him.

He made his way to the servant’s entrance and waited.

Only two minutes went by before a young maid brought a full trashcan out. She hefted the can with one hand and gently placed it down among the other rubbish. Before she turned back, Orrin had already darted inside.

He found himself in the back of the kitchen. It was almost ten at night, so nobody was actively cooking, but a few people were up cleaning. He stood against the wall and shuffled his way to a door, ducking through as fast as he could.

He slammed into someone coming the other way.

“Agh- Sorr-“

“Orrin?”

Daniel stood in the door for only a second before grabbing Orrin and dragging him up the nearby stairs. He threw Orrin through an open door.

Orrin landed on a heavy carpet. He looked up at a four poster bed, a small balcony, and Daniel’s armor gleaming on a chair.

“How did you get in here?” Daniel whispered as he closed the door. “I’ve been trying to find you for a week! What happened to you?”

The abrupt manhandling and Daniel’s concern etched across his face broke the little remaining calm Orrin had. He let out a single sob as he tackle-hugged Daniel.

“I’m so sorry!” Orrin held his friend. “It’s no excuse but my skills were messing with my head. It’s fixed now, but I was sick and unconscious for days. Then I couldn’t find you anywhere and people were saying you were here. It’s fine if you told them; we’ll work it out. I’m just so sorry for what I said and how I treated you.”

Daniel slapped Orrin’s back and pulled him away. He looked him over and smiled. “I’m sorry too. I felt like an idiot right after you left, but I couldn’t catch up to you in time. I found a book that said fighters that use mana skills can have mood swings with overuse of mana. I was wrong too. Tell me everything.”

Orrin laughed and told Daniel what had happened over the last week. Scaring the guard, meeting Tony, the little he remembered of being sick. He even mentioned putting up a quest to find Daniel and meeting Tin.

“You got invited to another party?” Daniel looked impressed.

“But said no,” Orrin quickly added.

“Good for you, O." Daniel smiled and punched his shoulder.

Orrin looked around the room. “Doing alright yourself, huh?”

Daniel shrugged. “When I couldn’t find you, I decided to see if Madi could help. She had her dad put out some feelers to find you and told me she was interested in doing some questing in the meantime. She agreed to help so fast that I was a little suspicious, but nobody has used the H-word. I had just gotten back an hour ago. We hunted these panther things in the forest. They attack from the trees and weigh a few hundred pounds. But I’m up to level nine now.” Daniel puffed up.

“Then I got your party prompt and knew you were outside. I’m in a party with Madi and didn’t want to drop it. I was just drying off from my shower. They have showers here. I came to try and find you, but the guards up front said nobody was around. I was just coming to check the side door when I found you.”

Orrin frowned. “What did you ask the guards?”

“Just if anyone had been asking for me. They just shook their heads.”

“You didn’t use my name?”

“No.” Daniel caught Orrin’s anxiety. “Orrin, what’s up?”

Orrin sighed and handed over the letter he’d gotten.

Daniel read and Orrin watched his normally affable friend get angry.

“D. There could be a perfectly reasonable explanation,” Orrin started.

The door to the room suddenly opened. Madi and Lord Catanzano entered the room.

“Of course there is,” the man said as his wheelchair came to a stop. Guards flooded in behind him. “Why don’t we have a nice little chat.”