We dropped Blaze off downtown outside her office. Shadow wanted to go to the STORE, so we headed there. The sun was bright overhead, the air warm but not muggy, with the faint smell of late spring, early summer, drifting through the car vents as I drove.

  “Will? I got a question.” Shadow said.

  “What question?” I asked.

  “People at work got kinda strange with me after the robbery. Manager too.”

  “What kind of strange?”

  “They ain’t sure whether to be scared of me or not. They were real thankful for saving people and getting help. Then my killing the robber sank in. Couple of them think I might snap and do it to them. I’m never gonna do that.”

  “I know you won’t. I can’t say it’s impossible. I could do it too. But I don’t think either of us will.”

  “Hope not. But I’m worried. Killing is getting too easy for me. Found that out first day. It’s fun being the scary one an’ not scared all the time. People look at me differently now, too. Not in the same way, but I’ve been a lot quicker to react to people. Maybe in the wrong way.”

  Shadow paused, staring out the window as buildings slid past, then said, “Sally’s been talkin’ to me ‘bout it. Her and Darryl both. What happens if I can’t keep control? Or I lose it on someone who doesn’t deserve it?”

  “That’s a good question. And it’s not just you. It’s all of us. Everyone who’s building up Game powers. Like the first day. Some people will hurt other people, just to get back at them. Because now they can and maybe get away with it. There are too many reasons, and most of them are bad.”

  I drove in silence for a couple more blocks, then added, “In your case, I can probably find and catch you, but I don’t know if I could hold you…or if anyone else can. Like the werewolf last night. We trapped him, but we couldn’t move him anywhere in wolf form.”

  “I heard about that. I’d have come, but I was working.”

  “We knew. We had it covered between us and the 19th. Thanks for reminding me, though. I need to check on what happened to him after the moon set and the sun came up. And if they tried waking him up. I’ll check at the hospital later.”

  “What do I do about the people at work? We’re getting more business and some of them are coming to meet me.”

  “Is it making it hard to get your job done?”

  “I just tell them I can talk or make their food, and they’re here to eat. I might just burn something if I’m talking to them. Most of them get the hint.” She gave a quick, soft chuckle.

  I laughed with her. “That’s a good way to get them to not bother you. But it doesn’t answer your question. I’d tell your co-workers what I tell most people: get out there and level up. Be part of this, not just a victim of it. Tell them if you can do it, so can they. There are plenty of non-combat or ranged classes they can take. We’ll always need more healers.”

  “Yeah. More like Sally. She’s practicing every day with her spear. She’s got it up to Level 2, almost 3.”

  “Good for her. I could tell she enjoyed taking on the Kobolds.” We both laughed at that memory.

  “Back to what you should do,” I said. “As long as you want or need the job, keep it. Tell them you don’t want to talk about it. It happened in the heat of the moment and you’d do it again to save any of them. I think you would, too.”

  There was a breathy, “Yeah… I would,” from behind me.

  She stayed quiet the rest of the drive. When we got out at the STORE, Shadow said she was going back to see the old Witch at the end of the corridor. The air inside carried the mixed smells of sweaty armor from a few adventurers selling things, leather, and something faintly metallic. We both sold off duplicate items and loaded the rest into the Guild Bank. Its inventory was filling up fast.

  The bank settings let any member add things, but only officers could take things out. It tracked every deposit and withdrawal. Blackheart had pulled a few items recently, though it didn’t say what she did with them.

  The coin account was climbing too, close to three Suns, and I saw it rise another two Shields while I deposited my share. Busy people. I finished by dropping in the Moons and Shields I’d earned from selling extra gear.

  My own purchases were simple: a shirt and pants close to what I usually wore. I also paid six Moons for cuffed gauntlets. Enchanted ones cost 20 Moons.

  “Why pay extra when I can do my own?”

  Across the aisle, door to the room with spellbooks glimmered MANA blue. Once inside, I saw that their titles had shifted from what I’d seen before, like the Game was cycling them based on the buyer. I saw listings up to Level 21 and spell details up to Level 16.

  When I’d first started, details went out to Level 10. Now, at Level 11 myself, the limit seemed to be five levels ahead. I jotted notes on my phone about the Level 21 spells and details up to Level 16.

  It looked like Mages didn’t always get brand-new spells after Level 11. Instead, we were expected to strengthen what we had. A Level 7 base spell might not hit as hard, or protect as well, as a Level 1 spell with six upgrades.

  One in particular caught my eye. At Level 15, SHAPE MANA. It let you create simple objects directly from MANA… copies or new things. It started with small non-magical items but eventually could make magical ones, like monster drops. I doubted the STORE would value them more than originals, but the possibilities were wide. So were the risks.

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  Someone with DISPEL MAGIC…a Level 15 spell…could unravel what you made unless it was a higher-level item. That was the only major disadvantage I’d spotted so far.

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [I’m done. going over to the TAVERN.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [Done here too. Save me a seat.]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [roger that]

  Wanting to hurry, I picked up a Level 5 DARKNESS spell to pair with my LIGHT spell for five Moons, then headed out.

  The TAVERN smelled of beer and roasted meat. Warm light from the windows to somewhere, shown against the dark walls. Shadow sat at a table in the far corner, mask down, watching the room. I stopped at the bar and ordered a Good Beer, a bowl of Soup With Meat, and a quarter loaf of Bread. Taking the beer, I crossed over and sat with her.

  “Have fun shopping?” I asked her, grinning.

  “Some. You talked about switching to STORE clothes so we’d be ready faster, but it’s gonna take time to buy a full set. And money.”

  “I know. I grabbed a shirt and pants today that match my gear. You can do it piece by piece, like most people. swap out your weapons first, so you don’t always have to dig them out of your bag.”

  “Been thinking about that. I used the new ones from the last dungeon today. I think you’re right. Armor’s another matter. Replacing the mail shirt costs more than I got on the last two runs. And it goes under the top layer.”

  “Got it. Don’t want to wear the outer layer without it. Once you’ve got armor, you don’t want to give it up.”

  “Right. And I’ve been running in it. Like weights, only hangs better with a belt. Andrew taught me that.”

  “When it comes to armor, listen to him. He’s used it, made it…often both.” I dipped bread I pulled off the loaf into the soup and took a bite.

  She leaned in a little, voice lower. “Have you figured out what you’re gonna do with that stuff you hid?”

  “Not yet. But we’re getting more info. Something big out near the commune made it.”

  “How big?”

  “At least level 25.”

  “25! Fuck! We can’t handle that!” she shouted, recoiling.

  “No, we can’t. But with enough of us together, maybe we could.”

  “Maybe. What is it?”

  “I think it’s what some games call a World Boss. Something huge, needing lots of players. It’s Evil with a capital ‘E.’ It can enchant items…and turn people into other things.”

  “Other things like a werewolf?” she asked.

  “Exactly. It can also create MINIONs to act for it.”

  “Like PokerRun and Hitchcock?”

  “And the werewolf. Yes. PokerRun lost the tag when we killed Iago. I think Iago was working for the boss. Maybe it has others.”

  “That sounds bad.”

  “It is bad.” I answered.

  “So, what do we do besides sit here, drink beer, and talk about it?”

  “We figure out how to kill it. And I’m out of ideas.” I took a sip of beer. “So you figure it out and tell us how.”

  Maybe I shouldn’t have said that while she was drinking. She sputtered, spraying beer, then choked out, “Me? I don’t do that. Ninjas don’t do that. We go where you say and kill stuff.”

  “Or scout stuff.” I told her.

  “OK, that too.”

  A voice behind me said, “Excuse me. Sorry to overhear, but maybe we can help you.”

  Turning in my chair, a man in camo with sergeant stripes stood there, two other soldiers behind him. He offered a hand. “I’m Sergeant Seth Moon. Call me Moonie. Platoon sergeant for Second Platoon. We’re camped at the fairgrounds. Ranger class.”

  I used REVEAL STATS. Level 2 RANGER. No Ranger patch yet, but with that class and the right skills, he could earn one.

  “What’s your idea?”

  “If you’ve got a World Boss, you need heavy firepower. We’ve got six Strykers with machine guns and 30’s. A heavy weapons squad. Mortars. Another combat platoon. Think that’ll do it?”

  My jaw closed slowly as it sank in. “We’ve got the Army. Our little shield wall at the Battle of Eddington wouldn’t last ten seconds against that. If that long.”

  Ideas tumbled over each other. Finally, I said, “Talk to Lieutenant Marmari first. He’s been involved in this since the start. Let him work with people higher up. The more firepower, the faster we take it out. Less chance of anyone getting MINIONized or killed.”

  I paused, another thought hitting. “We’ll need Enchanters. A lot of them. To enchant your big guns and shells. Attack on the barrels, Damage on the rounds. Even a plus one makes it magic damage. I hope.”

  Then I saw one of his men scribbling on a notepad, trying to keep up. “Got it. Anything else?” His pen ready to write.

  “No, but I’m sure there will be. First, we find it and get more info. Could be a few days before we do that.”

  “OK,” Moonie said. “Thank you. Sorry to butt in, but we’re supposed to help and protect people. The Army’s never gonna be the same after this.”

  “None of us are. Keep training and killing spawns. The faster you level, the safer we all are.”

  “Yes, sir. We’ve been told. Civilians are helping us some. They said Level 3 minimum for the dungeon. We’re working on it. I want to see the inside.”

  “Well, it’s boring to look at. All stone walls the same.” I covered my ring. “Level 2 will be more interesting. We’ll see what happens then.”

  “Thank you again. We’ll let you eat.”

  “Uh, excuse me,” the notepad guy said, turning to Shadow. “Miss…Miss Shadow. My daughter Janey’s a big fan. Wants to be a Ninja like you. She’s fourteen. Could I get your autograph and a picture? I’d sure appreciate it. She’d love it.”

  Shadow’s expression almost broke my control. “You’ll make her year. The first person to get your autograph. I warned you.”

  “Will, sometimes I hate you,” she muttered. “If I go out, this’ll keep happening, won’t it?”

  “Yeah. It will. I’ve had a few myself. More will come. We can work on that Shadow Ninja Barbie doll idea.”

  I got my MANA SHIELD up just in time as she threw her spoon. She laughed. “I know. I dreaded it, but it had to happen sometime.” She pulled her mask up and held out her hand.

  “Gimme the notepad. What was her name again?”

  “Jamey. J-A-M-E-Y. Thank you so much.” He handed her the notepad and pen.

  Shadow scribbled quickly, then handed it back. “Will. You take the picture.”

  I snapped two shots with his phone. The note read, Jamey. If you want 2 B a Ninja, start practicing now. She’d ended it with two Japanese Kanji I guessed meant Shadow…or Urako.

  We thanked them for their help and finished eating. Outside, the afternoon air felt cooler, the sunt casting longer shadows as we headed back to the van.

  “Thanks for doing the autograph,” I told her. “He looked as proud as he said his daughter would be.”

  “Yeah. I saw. That look in his eyes…I think it was as much for him as her. I’m gonna have to do more of these. You were right. I can’t avoid it.”

  “Not totally. You’re the mystery woman, so people focus on you. I’m just an old white guy with strong shields and a decent idea now and then.”

  “Sometimes? Will, you’re putting yourself down again. Stop it.”

  Laughing, I said, “Yes ma’am.”

  That got her laughing too.

  Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsPdVsIXqzU

  Halloween Country by Hillbilly Hellfire - Bluegrass Power Metal Band

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S9h76N1y9E

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