**Edited on 8/26/18**

Darren laid in bed, still and silent, until he heard Johnny's slow breaths of sleep from the other side of the room. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Darren rolled over and looked to see his younger brother fast asleep. Relief washed over Darren as he stared up at the dark ceiling. He was finally alone at last and could truly wallow in his defeat.

The teen sat up in bed and pressed his palm to his forehead before taking a deep breath. He had never been so angry or frustrated in his life. The teen fought the urge to slam his fist into his bedroom wall or onto his pillow. It would do him no good. There was so much riding on him being successful in the game, and now, within minutes, someone had threatened to take that away from him. He was angry, angrier than he had ever been at himself in his whole life. He had tried to stand up for himself and ran.

All this time, Darren had dreamed of Rimnir being a place to escape that horrible feeling that washed over him when he was being bullied. But now, within seconds, a griefer had tried to blackmail him out of 5,000 aethys.

My god, Darren thought to himself as he shook his head, Why?

He looked across the room. In the dark of the night, he could see the RMR system, still laying on the charger on his desk. Without thinking, Darren slipped from his bed. He crawled from his bed slowly, silently, and determined not to wake Johnny. Darren moved across the room and sat on the carpet as he laid the system in his lap, looking it over. It was the same RMR system, the same thing he had been coveting and saving money for over a year to buy.

I should log in, Darren thought. A horrible sense of dread washed over him at the thought of Strovach coming after him.

Or maybe the dread was from the possibility of being taken out in game permanently.

Darren pressed his back against his bed and pulled the helmet on. He took the controller in his hand and took a breath. A quick scan of his eye and thumb let him into the game. In the blackness, the words “Ruins of Rimnir” burned gold for a few seconds before fading into the same scene that Darren had left when he had logged out earlier: Blackstone, the hub in the middle of the starting area of Black’s Forest.

The once-bustling town was now quiet and still as night in the game was in full swing. Darkness had fallen over the game, just like in real life. A few players milled around, talking in hushed voices and making plans for the next day. Some NPCs stood around tirelessly, ready to make trades or give directions, each with wide smiles plastered across their faces. The windows of all of the buildings were all warmly lit with fires raging on hearths and Darren watched as quite a few players filed into the Inn to log off for the evening.

Darren looked around with wide eyes. His heart beat wildly in his chest as his ears rang from the strain of listening for that horrible player named Strovach to appear. He was tense and his body seemed poised to jump at the slightest of sounds. But no bully appeared. Darren almost breathed a sigh of relief, but a glance at his health bar told him that he needed to eat something and fast.

The teen looked around, his eyes scanning the area. He walked around, looking at the weapon and armor vendors, all of them being NPCs.

"Whoa," Darren whispered to himself as he passed by shining swords and bucklers with gilded hilts. Bejeweled daggers glinted with red and gold in the low light and the rubies embedded in the hilts seemed to dance before him. Armor in all types, from cloth with bright colors and gilded threads, to medium leather and heavy, thick plate, all hung from carts pushed by NPCs, ready to be bought.

Suddenly, Darren's thoughts went to his poor grade armor and his broken shield. He thought about his little bag of aethys crystals and was tempted at that moment to upgrade his weapon and armor. Now that his shield was gone, he wondered if the right course would be to simply grab something more durable.

And if he was to have another encounter with the bullies who seemed to stalk him everywhere he went, then he would be prepared.

But a quick glance up at his health bar stopped him. He was still sitting at 60/100.

Darren needed to heal himself and fast.

"Fresh fish!" a voice rang out from just beyond Darren's sight.

The teen turned toward the voice. It seemed to be coming from the far left side of Blackstone. He ventured over curiously, his hand resting gently on his sword as he walked. The player didn’t think that he would be accosted in town, but he didn’t want to let his guard down in the slightest.

As he walked through an open gate lit by torches, the words "Trade Square” appeared over his eyes for a moment before fading. Darren looked around and a grin spread across his face. In here, there were no NPC vendors. No, this is where members of the Consortium, actual players, came to trade their goods. A large bonfire burned bright in the middle of the yard, with magical candles floating high in the air just above everyone's heads, lighting the area as though it was daylight.

Rows and rows of wooden booths with canvas roofs stretched out in front of Darren. There were only a few players milling around, each with stalls chocked full of items. One looked as though he had been skinning every animal in Black's Forest that he could find, with dark, tanned hides hanging off of every surface. Another showcased piles of glittering jewels, each one mined and delicately hand cut. A few folks sold cakes, toys, and armor, all asking ever-increasing prices for their goods. Darren's heart sank when he saw a person selling a pile of roddin berries along with other herbs that he had not yet seen in the game.

Looks like I'm not the only one with that idea, Darren thought bitterly.

"Hey! Hey you! Alakir!"

Darren turned at the sound of his character’s name and he faced the player who had called him. It was a squat little dwarven male, no bigger than waist high, with styled back hair and a thick black beard that trailed way past his waist. The player was smiling as he waved the alchemist over. Darren looked up and saw the name tag “Ursao” written high above his head.

"Yeah?" Darren asked warily. He had not forgotten his run-in with Strovach and did not really want to talk to another player. And he did not realize that he had placed his hand on the hilt of his sword until he saw Ursao glance down at it.

Ursao winked. "Been out fighting much?"

Darren shrugged. "How could you tell?"

"Your health bar, silly," Ursao said, pointing just above Alakir's head.

Darren was grateful that the player could not see the blush on his face. He felt a wave of shame wash over him for a brief second as he realized that everyone who passed by could see how vulnerable he was. But the moment passed quickly.

"Aye, well, you know..." Darren's words trailed off. He did not quite know what to say to Ursao. Should he lie and say that he was attacked by a creature? Or admit that he ran from battling another player?

"It's happened to us all, son, especially in the beginning," Ursao said with a wave of his hand, “Lots of high level gankers and griefers will stay in the woods and try to get new players to do almost anything. You’re not the first, nor the last. Do not worry about it. But, how about some bread to bring your health back up?"

Darren allowed himself a sigh as he looked past the dwarf at the rations that he was selling. Bread of all shapes and sorts were stacked high behind him on the wooden table. Rolls, loaves, rounds, they all looked so delicious.

"How about this one?" Ursao said, gesturing to a great cake cut into slices, "Just a single slice will save you from death and heal you for 90 health. Only 275 aethys, the cheapest on the market."

"No," Darren said, stepping back slightly. He looked around, wanting to escape the sales pitches this little dwarf was making.

Ursao grabbed a nearby loaf and grinned eagerly. "How about this one? Just half of this loaf will replenish your health to full. Eat this and get back 50 health. Just 40 aethys, a real bargain."

Darren winced. "I just started playing," he confessed, "And I really do not want to give up that much aethys."

"Hmm," Ursao reached for a pile of corn muffins. He held the tiny yellow things in his hand and held them out. "These are 5 aethys each. They will give you back 10 points of health each. It's not the best bang for your buck, but it is a decent buy."

"I'll take three." Darren reached into his satchel and pulled out his little bag of aethys and forked over 15 of the glowing crystals. His heart sank a little as he watched the total in the corner of his screen drop.

Aethys

85

Ursao traded three muffins back and Darren made Alakir sit as he ate. Slowly, Alakir's health began to rise, bringing him to 80/100. Darren slowly started feeling better about the game.

"So, you're new?" Ursao asked as he dropped the traded crystals into his own side pouch. Darren heard them tinkle next to each other as they fell and settled.

Darren nodded. "Just started today."

"And you are already here? My lord," Ursao grinned and clapped Alakir on the back. "Nice work, son. It usually takes noobs about three days of playing to find the hub."

"Why don't they just look on the map?"

"Lord only knows." As Ursao spoke, Darren heard a slight accent to his voice.

Darren chuckled, thinking of brand new characters lost in the deep woods.

"Noobs," Darren said with a mocking tone to his voice, "They could just read about the game beforehand."

Ursao joined in the laughter. For a moment, the two sat in silence, watching the other players pass by. Darren felt calm peaceful in the little hub, and he realized that he was actually enjoying himself.

"So," Ursao said after a moment, "What are you doing in the game? Off to join a faction?"

"Nah," Darren said as he shook his head, "I was wanting to be a trader and craftsman."

Ursao reached out and clapped Darren on the back. With a hearty laugh, he said, "That's a good man, Alakir. Tradesmen are very needed and underrepresented in this game."

"I'm wanting to pursue alchemy." Darren had never spoken of his intentions out loud, but here he was, telling a stranger.

"Very nice," Ursao said, "Most people do not choose potion making in this game. They prefer to hit hard and think that people who chose trades are soft. But there are so many good things about making potions that players just do not realize until it is too late."

"Yeah. Just makes me vulnerable. I almost got killed earlier. I got lucky and ran off before he did more than just destroy my shield."

The dwarf held up a finger, then disappeared behind his cart. When he came back, he held out a long broadsword of shining steel. It glistened in the light of the bonfires. Underneath the sword was a pair of leather spaulders and breeches.

"Here," The dwarf said, handing the gear over to Darren.

"What? No," Darren protested as he pushed back, "I can't pay you for that."

“I’m not charging you for them, Alakir,” Ursao said with a grin, "I figured it is the best I can do to help out a new player. Plus, I don't really need nice gear if I'm just making bread in this game, you know? Someone traded it a few days ago for some supplies and I just haven't gotten around to vendoring it."

Darren looked down at the shining gear with wonder. He took it with shaking hands and his voice wobbled. "Thank you," he said softly as he equipped everything, "You have no idea how much this means."

"Don’t thank me," Ursao said, "Just come back and buy some bread from time to time."

"I will! I swear!" Darren bowed before the dwarf before leaving the Trade District.

"Bye, Alakir the Alchemist!" Ursao’s voice faded as Darren ran.

Alakir ran as fast as his feet would go toward an NPC vendor. He quickly sold his old sword and leather pants, making 26 aethys for the starter gear.

Aethys

111

Darren glanced at the in-game clock. 2:08am. Crap. He needed sleep.

Rimnir would have to wait until tomorrow.