“Uh...I wasn’t really sure.” My voice felt thin...like I was still trying to climb back into myself.

  “He was pushing MANA in and out of a Battery for a half hour,” Blaze rushed her words out. “He wouldn’t focus on anything else. He had this blue aura around him. MANA blue. When I took the battery away from him...he wasn’t coherent at first.”

  “Why would he do that?” Ryan asked. “The same battery?”

  “Yes,” Li-chen answered for her.

  I watched them with that distant, floating feeling still trying to cling to the edges of my head. Megan sent a JOIN PARTY request. I accepted.

  [Meg:] [William of Brinsford] [What the hell were you doing to yourself. Why?]

  That wasn’t Grandma Meg. That was Grandma Bear Meg worried about a cub.

  [William of Brinsford:] [Meg] [I was...]

  I paused...trying to find words.

  [William of Brinsford:] [Meg] [I was testing something. Couldn’t stop it.]

  [Meg:] [William of Brinsford] [I don’t see any damage on the PARTY SCREEN.]

  She cast a first level HEAL spell on me. Warm white light washed over me like a space heater glow...not like the cold Cherenkov blue.

  [Meg:] [William of Brinsford] [How do you feel now?]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Meg] [About the same. Less tired. Thank you.]

  “I still don’t get what you were doing.” Megan’s eyes locked on me like she was trying to drill into my skull.

  I heard the others talking...but I wasn’t listening. I was trying to remember anything that happened past those first few cycles.

  [Meg:] [William of Brinsford] [This gonna happen again and have to have your girl call us for help?]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Meg] [Hope not. She isn’t my girl. Turning into something…maybe.]

  Megan turned her head and looked at Blaze, then burst out laughing...loud enough to pull every eye in the room toward her. Blaze blushed bright red. That got even more laughter.

  I had the uncomfortable feeling Meg was running more than one chat.

  “I’m no doctor, but he’s chatting almost normal. For him,” Megan told the room. “Don’t think I can do much more. Get Ingrid to look him over...or take him to a doctor. One who knows what he did...which might not exist anywhere on this planet yet.”

  “He’s been pushing things since this blasted thing started,” Ryan said. “Ain’t seein’ him stopping any time soon. He needs someone who can yank him back before he kills himself with another stupid stunt. Might have to use some of them Healing Potions you got from the Dungeon. Hope we get far enough to get some for us.”

  “And no more the two of you fighting in the house,” Megan said. “Least not with real weapons. And not when it’s pouring rain and lightning everywhere. I saw the old Speedy sign get hit twice this afternoon. Be glad it’s over there attractin’ lightning instead of us.”

  Ryan nodded. “First time in years I’ve seen it hit that many times. I may be a Lightning Mage...but I don’t want one hittin’ me. Even if maybe, I could take it.”

  “Check your class sheet," I told him. "Might say something about that at higher levels. Maybe it’ll recharge you?”

  “Maybe...but maybe I don’t wanna blow my circuit breakers. If I got any.” Ryan’s face went distant...probably checking the Game Rules.

  “Ingrid’s on her way,” Blaze said. “She was on an ambulance run. Treat and release. They’ll be here soon.”

  Meg stared at me again...then dropped Party. “You’ll survive long enough. Next time...tell us before you do stupid things. Alright?”

  I nodded. “I’ll try. Hopefully it won’t still be raining when that happens.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “You wait ‘til it snows,” Ryan said. Everyone laughed. “That should be enough time,” He added.

  Eddington didn’t get much snow most winters. It must have been all the way back in my college years the last time we had one of those extra-cold, snowy winters we get now and then.

  We talked a bit longer...mostly trying to connect dots...when Blaze’s face went blank.

  “They’re parked on the cross street" Blaze told us. "She wants to bring her crew. Got a couple new Healers. Training run.”

  “Fine. Let everyone hear it. But hide the rest of the pizza first,” I said, crossing my arms like a toddler guarding treasure. Li-chen and Blaze laughed.

  It wasn’t long before there was a knock. Blaze opened the door. Ingrid filled the doorway...then ducked just slightly as she stepped inside.

  The rain sounded lighter. The thunder was rolling farther away…low rumbles across wet rooftops.

  “Maybe the worst of the storm was moving past us...for now,” I hoped.

  Ingrid had two people with her. All were wearing hooded, blue rain gear that was dripping from rushing in during the downpour. Ingrid pointed at her crew. “Fran…short for Francine…and Andrew. Both Level 2 Healers. My crew for a few years. Three for Andrew. Two and a half for Fran.”

  “They’re good at what they did before the Game. Now the boss lady says everyone’s got to be part of the Game. Tyree’s still in the truck. Basic Warrior. Game gave him a driving skill. Showed up last Sunday. He’s Level 2 in it already.”

  “Another thing I didn’t know. Thanks,” I told her. “Blaze will fill you in.”

  She nodded and told the two to examine me…Game and real.

  I leaned back. They ran through everything, light in the eyes, BP cuff, follow the penlight. They were fast and professional.

  Their COMBAT STATS showed Party status…probably the full ambulance crew.

  I can’t say I enjoyed it, but they were quick and professional. When they were done, they compared notes, verbally and what looked like via Game Chat

  Ingrid repeated the exam with higher-level Healer spells and compared their reports.

  “Good work,” she told them. “Details I got from Blaze. He was fixated on moving MANA in and out of a 25 Point MANA Battery for about thirty minutes. Blue glow…a field…appeared halfway through. After battery removal: exhaustion...dizziness...disorientation...time fugue...MANA down one third. Fran. Diagnosis and recommendation. You’re first. Andrew has seniority.”

  Fran swallowed...but handled it. “Physically...he doesn’t need transport. Palliative only. Analgesics if he gets headache or physical aches. Rest for a few hours. No strenuous activity until he feels baseline.”

  “I don’t think we can do anything except strongly recommend he doesn’t do that again. He’s the First Mana Mage...so my guess is the blue field was MANA field. That’s where his missing MANA went. I can’t HEAL much at my level. BP slightly high…likely resolves with rest.”

  “Thank you. Andrew?”

  “Same rest recommendation. Don’t repeat without recorded vitals. Blue field was MANA bleed or leakage. Cause unknown. Vital signs normal for post strenuous physical activity. Follow up with primary doctor ASAP. By then vitals should be baseline. Nothing here indicates further treatment needed.”

  He offered his hand. I shook it.

  “It’s good to meet you, sir. Saw you at the President’s speech. Thank you for what you’ve done for Eddington. Mrs. McCormack’s shown us faster ways to help people. I joined a guild. Next fight tonight. Second group. She told me to write up what I do.”

  “Good. Keep them alive…you did your job right. New spawns are tougher…you’ll level faster.”

  I reached over to my pouch and pulled out two MANA Batteries...handing one to each. “When you hit your next level…take TRANSFER MANA so you can recharge your own battery. It slows your Healing for a level...but keeps you going longer.”

  With that, I leaned back into my chair and relaxed. Next up was Ingrid’s comments. “You don’t need to tell me I did something stupid. I got that,” I smiled. She laughed.

  “You did. You did you,” she told me. “I trust and agree with their diagnostics. So…what were you trying to do? And why couldn’t you stop?”

  “You can blame Li-chen over there.”

  She glanced at him. “Why him?”

  “He started this. He thinks there should be MANA cultivation like Chinese martial arts Chi cultivation...Wuxia. He’s a Warrior subclass…Martial Artist. His blows can use MANA. He came to me thinking I know everything about MANA cultivation. Wrong on both counts.”

  “Blaze could feel MANA moving to and from a MANA Battery. Not much. I tried it...and got stuck. I was caught in the loop of MANA in and out. They broke the cycle, then Blaze called you.”

  Ingrid nodded. “Given Bhaarrt’s manga obsession, I understand the concept.”

  “So far...that makes sense. If anyone understands MANA...it’s you. You made batteries on day one. How the hell did you get stuck?”

  “Don’t know. I remember the first few cycles...then I sped it up...then nothing.”

  “How did it feel?” Ingrid asked.

  “I don’t know. I don’t remember anything past the first few faster ones.” I looked up at her. She looked taller than usual, maybe because I was still sitting and a little drained.

  “Last thing. We need to go. We’re on the clock and this isn’t an official stop.”

  “You don’t need to worry. I can pay better than a hospital. And it helps knowing I’m okay and it’s fixable with rest.”

  “Fine. Bill incoming. I can take REGENERATION next level. Good for the damage still in your legs. I’ll need it anyway. I’ll practice on you. So don’t die before then...ya hear?”

  We laughed. “Yes mam. Will do.”

  “Like I believe that!” She said…smiling. “Let’s go. No new run yet...but we need to be ready.”

  We said our goodbyes. Then they left.

  Which left the three of us just looking at each other, wondering what was next.

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