From Real to Realm

Barrett’s eyes looked wild, ready to lash out at anything—anyone.

Gone was his cocky smirk and confident bravado.

He continued to glare at the girls, as if weighing his options. Amarisse was still tense, shield ready in case he tried attacking. Mina was lowering her stance, anticipating the inevitable.

The air was thick with tension.

Val was preparing her stance as well, even as her hip throbbed.

“My n-nose…” Erick groaned. “I think you broke it.”

Erick’s announcement hung in the air as he rolled onto all fours.

The rules stated once you were unconscious, you were out.

Barrett had played dirty already, so would Erick mirror his lack of respect?

“Fuck,” Barrett spat. “Fuck. Fine! I give, you win.”

He threw his sword down into the sand and backed up.

His glare passed over everyone before finally landing on the third man, making him go pale.

“Come on Klein, we’re leaving.”

Barrett stopped, looking over his shoulder. “This isn’t over.”

Erick swayed, unsteady on his feet as Barrett walked away. 

Lucia walked over to Erick, smacking his hand away when he protested.

Her hands were glowing a familiar green as Erick winced when his nose reverted to normal.

Barrett watched from outside the arena, confusion evident.

“Why would you heal me?” Erick asked.

“Because, you were hurt in a spar and I’m a healer,” she replied. “Don’t read into it, it’s what I do.”

Erick stood and thanked her before turning to join Barrett.

He didn’t offer thanks for taking care of his man. Instead, he shook his head at Erick and finally turned to leave.

Lucia turned to Val with a soft smile of pity. “Let me heal you too.”

Val was leaning on her halberd, heavily favoring her good leg.

As Barrett and his crew disappeared around the corner, the girls finally relaxed.

A few claps were heard from those watching.

Val couldn’t get rid of her smile, even as she winced in pain.

Lucia let Val lean against her as she hobbled her way to the nearby benches.

“That was closer than I liked,” she said. “It doesn’t surprise me he played dirty though.”

“Shit… I’m sorry, Val,” Amarisse said, approaching. “He tried sweeping my legs so I backed off. He already threw the dagger before I could get in close again.”

Val chuckled. “It’s fine, don’t beat yourself up over it. I didn’t like stooping to their level, but I wasn’t going to risk you both going down because I didn’t make a move.”

Mina approached. “You didn’t stoop to his level.”

“How do you figure?” Val asked.

“Barrett purposefully made Amarisse back off so he could give his buddy the upper hand, right?” Mina asked.

“Right…” Amarisse nodded. “Val didn’t do that. Instead, she focused on her singular opponent.”

Lucia nodded. “Exactly. Using fists isn’t cheap or against the rules. If you were to lose your weapon, you’d do the same thing.”

“Yup,” Mina nodded. “Still, I kinda wanted to keep messing with the third guy.”

Mina giggled. “He was so slow.”

The throbbing of Val’s hip was beginning to fade as Lucia focused her healing. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she focused.

Amarisse and Mina had placed all of the weapons back where they belonged while Lucia took care of Val.

“How’s your hip feeling?” Lucia asked.

“The throbbing’s already fading,” Val replied.

“I’m almost out of mana, so I won’t be able to heal your wrist,” she said. “Is that okay?”

Val chuckled. “Of course it is. You didn’t have to take the time to heal me to begin with.”

“Lucia’s too stubborn not to help,” Amarisse cut in.

“Especially when it’s someone like you,” Mina jabbed playfully.

Lucia was blushing as she focused.

“What do you mean?” Val asked.

“You stepped in when you didn’t need to,” Lucia cut in. “You’ve got a good heart, and you’re protective.”

Lucia sighed as the glow faded and wiped sweat from her brow. “I’m all out, how does it feel?”

Val stood and tested her hip with a slow rotation. There was a minor ache, likely just bruising from the initial hit left.

“Might be a little bruised, but it feels leagues better. Thank you.”

Lucia nodded, smiling.

Amarisse patted Val on the back, while Mina threw her arms up with a cheer.

The fight was over and they won against Barrett.

It was an addictive sensation, not only fighting but winning against someone else. Even as the adrenaline dwindled, the high of victory lingered.

“We should get badges now,” Lucia said, grinning. “I think after everything, we’re definitely sticking together.”

“Absolutely,” Amarisse said, pulling Val and Mina close.

“Yeah!” Mina yelled.

“I wouldn’t want to join anyone else,” Val agreed, smiling.

Lucia took the lead, guiding everyone back into the lobby.

To Val’s surprise, it was even busier than yesterday or this morning.

With practiced ease, Lucia weaved everyone through the crowd toward a line. It wasn’t too long, but was full of new faces—some desperate, others eager.

Mina was a ball full of energy while Val was feeling the after effects of a fight.

Amarisse wasn’t kidding. Where does this girl get her energy?

After a few minutes, it was their turn.

Behind the larger counter sat an older plump woman with gray hair held in a bun. A set of reading glasses sat low on her nose as she thumbed to a fresh page of paper.

“Next!”

Lucia stepped up first.

“I’ll need your name, class, and current level to issue a badge. Once we’ve confirmed your information is correct and accurate, you’ll be escorted by another employee to a side room to fill out your official application. Once done, you’ll be taken to another room to be linked to your new badge.”

The woman looked up.

“Any questions?”

The whole spiel sounded so robotic—then again, she probably said it dozens of times a day.

Lucia gave her full information as requested.

The woman scribbled away on the fresh page, filling in information where needed. Once she had all the information she motioned to the edge of the counter.

“Place your hand on the rune.”

There on the edge of the counter inlaid into the deep red mahogany counter was a golden rune.

It gave off a faint pulsing glow, as if asking to be touched.

“It will give me access to see your class screen, to make sure you gave me the correct information.”

The implication was obvious—don’t lie about your class or they’ll find out.

Lucia placed her hand on the rune, the glow seeping through the gaps in her fingers.

The older woman’s eyes drifted slowly from left to right, likely reading Lucia’s information.

After a few moments she looked back down at the paper and scribbled some more.

“Good, you can fill out the official application now,” she said, handing Lucia the paper.

Suddenly a second employee approached.

“Follow Jess to the private room to fill out the rest of the form.”

“Right this way,” Jess said, already turning.

Lucia followed Jess away as Amarisse stepped up to the counter.

The woman gave the same spiel to Amarisse before repeating the process.

Mina was bouncing from foot to foot, while Val tried to take in the environment more.

Even after being here multiple times already, she still couldn’t get enough of it. People of all races and walks of life moved busily around the lobby, some covered in blood with monster parts, others gearing up for their delve.

Groups lingered together at tables or around boards, eager to find their next payday. It was like a beehive the way the entire place was buzzing with energy and movement.

“Next!”

Val almost jumped out of her skin.

“Sorry,” she said, sheepishly.

“I’ll need your name, class, and current level to issue a badge. Once—”

“I don’t have a class yet, is that okay?” Val cut in.

The older woman stopped, brow furrowing. “You can’t receive a badge until you have a class.”

Val deflated. “I didn’t know that.”

The older woman sighed. “If we gave people without a class a badge, they could access the dungeon and get themselves killed. You are trying to fight the monsters within the dungeon, correct?”

Val nodded. “Yes, I want to—”

“Then come back once you’ve got a class. Next!”

Val was brushed to the side by someone else as they stepped up.

Anger welled up inside of her.

That’s it?!

Lucia stepped up next to her, confused—badge in hand. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“They won’t let me get a badge until I have a fucking class,” Val said, throwing her arms up.

Val stormed off, leaving Lucia blinking behind her.

It was best to distance herself from the dismissive old hag, to cool off.

Val chose a table and sat at it, dropping her head onto its surface.

She sat there for a few minutes, fighting back the anger—the tears.

“Val? You good?” Amarisse asked.

“They won’t let her get a badge until she has her class,” Lucia replied for her.

“That’s so dumb,” Mina cut in. “Val can fight, we saw it!”

Lucia sighed. “It might be dumb to us, but it makes sense when you think about it. What if they gave her a badge and she got herself or someone else killed? If people found out, they’d be pissed at the guild.”

“Fuck. That’s rough,” Amarisse said.

Val grunted. “I don’t want to rush my class choice. It’s too big a decision to make on the spot.”

Lucia sat down next to Val. “I agree. You need to at least think it over.”

Mina and Amarisse sat down as well.

I was right there! I was ready to get my badge!

Lucia started rubbing her back. It was soothing, but didn’t really help.

“Want us to help you train?” she asked.

“Put some of Mina’s energy to use,” Amarisse pitched in, chuckling.

Val stood abruptly, shaking her head. “I need time to think.”

She stormed off without giving the girls a chance to say anything.

Mina started saying something, but Amarisse stopped her. Val barely caught Amarisse telling her to let Val go for now.

When she reached the main doors she pushed through into the warm afternoon air.

She wanted—no needed—to scream.

The anger was boiling under her skin, and she didn’t have a way to release it.

“Fuck!”

A few adventurers looked at her, eyes wide.

They’re badged, official, adventurers and I’m stuck flailing!

Is this even the right path for me?! I’m just stuck!

Val slumped down on the stairs. “I don’t want to fuck this up…”

“Well I’ll be, look who it is,” a familiar voice announced.

Val sighed and looked up, forcing a smile. “Hey Cyrus.”

Cyrus walked up a few of the steps, stopping in front of her.

Irina, Dolf, and Zennia walked up with him.

“What’s wrong?” Zennia asked.

“You look like you want to rip someone’s head off,” Dolf chuckled.

Val gritted her teeth. “You’re not wrong there.”

The group looked between themselves, a little shocked.

“Who do we need to pummel?” Cyrus asked, popping his knuckles.

A small smack came from the side.

“Idiot. We can’t go beating people up for her,” Irina cut in. “Is it something we can help with?”

Val chuckled, shrugging. “I have no clue.”

Zennia stepped up, kneeling. “Val, sweetheart, you need to calm down. We just want to help.”

Val laughed. “Then maybe you can make my mind up for me then? I don’t have a fucking class and they won’t let me get badged!” She stood. “Now the people I wanted to party with are badged and ready to go—and I’m the one left behind!”

The tears were welling up again.

Val felt so angry, so pissed at herself for not thinking ahead.

“I don’t want to fuck up and choose the wrong class! I mean what if I—”

Zennia hugged her. “It’s going to be fine,” she said.

“Come sit with us—we’ll help however we can.” She released Val a moment later, her hands lingering just a second longer than expected.

Val wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, nodding.

As a group they made their way to a side table outside, away from anyone else.

Val needed the privacy right now, and was thankful they realized that.

Once everyone was sitting they stayed quiet, giving Val the floor whenever she was ready.

“Alright. So, today I came back to see the group of girls that asked me about joining with them. They were going to help me test out weapons this morning—that’s how it all started,” Val said.

“Started?” Irina asked.

“Well… Barrett, the bald guy from yesterday, made an appearance. He talked shit after hearing how my magic aptitude test went. One thing led to another and we agreed to a three on three spar with his group.”

“Without a class?” Dolf asked, eyes wide. “Ballsy.”

“Did you get hurt?” Zennia asked.

“I’m a little sore, but we actually won,” Val said, fighting a renewed smile.

“That a girl!” Cyrus said, patting her back.

“Anyways, we won the fight and it felt so good, so addictive. We were high off the win and decided to get badged to really capitalize on the day…”

“And they wouldn’t let you without a class, right?” Irina finished for her.

Val just nodded, balling up her fists.

Silence once more overtook the group.

Val didn’t know what to do, but maybe, just maybe, they would.

A sudden smack of the table jolted her out of her thoughts.

“Why don’t we help you train?!” Cyrus asked.

“What?” Val asked, bewildered.

“Yeah! We’ve all been around the block more than a few times, so it only makes sense!” he said, laughing.

“It’s not a bad idea,” Irina said, tapping her chin. “We have trained a lot.”

“We can point you in a better direction compared to your party. No offense, but they are still rookies too,” Dolf added.

“I don’t know…” Val said. “I don’t want to waste your time.”

Zennia gave a gentle smile. “It’s not a waste of our time.”

“Right!” Cyrus jumped in. “We said we wanted to see you grow, so now it’s time to keep our word.”

Val sniffled, struggling to fight back tears.

They didn’t ask me to prove anything…

They just trusted me.

They really want to see me grow.

“Thank you…” Val said, wiping more tears away.

“Of course,” Cyrus said, smiling. “How bout we meet here in the morning just after sunrise? The earlier we get to it, the more time we have to help ya.”

Val nodded. “That sounds good.”

Zennia rubbed Val’s back. “Go home for the day and relax. Spend time with your family and eat a filling meal. Tomorrow morning we’re going to help you.”

Val chuckled through a sniffle. “A home cooked meal sounds amazing right now.”

“Then eat plenty. You’re going to need the energy,” Dolf said, giving her shoulder a playful punch.

Val stood, wiping away the last of her tears, nodding.

Determination flowed through her now.

Maybe I won’t be falling behind like I thought.

Part of her wanted to go back inside, to ask the girls to wait for her.

She looked toward the entrance to the hall, hoping to see them exiting.

However, she knew it would be selfish to do so. If they planned to delve tomorrow, they had every right.

“I’ll see you guys bright and early,” she said.

“And… thank you, again.”

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