Fans, Food, and the Next Move

Ken and Emily helped Avi through the impossibly polished halls of what had once been their school gym. Now, it was a castle straight out of a fantasy RPG—except it wasn't an escape room or some overpriced amusement park attraction.

No, this was real. Too real.

The walls shimmered with faintly glowing runes, casting a soft, otherworldly light over everything. The polished stone floor made Avi feel as if he were walking into the lair of some smug noble who had taken "luxury" as a personal challenge.

But he wasn't complaining. Better this than being outside with whatever else was lurking out there.

Ken, ever the cheerful giant, flashed a toothy grin. "Still with us, Avi?"

Avi groaned. "Barely. If one more person thanks me, I might just pass out again. Consider it a warning."

Almost on cue, a group of players rounded the corner ahead. Most of them wore makeshift armor that looked as if it had been hastily patched together with duct tape and desperation.

"Oh, here we go," Avi muttered under his breath.

"Hey, Avi!" called one of them, a swordsman with a thick bandage wrapped around his left arm. "Thanks for saving us back there. We'd be toast without you."

"Yeah, you were amazing!" another said, a younger player whose wide eyes sparkled with admiration.

Avi rubbed the back of his neck, feeling awkward. "Uh, sure. No problem. Just, y'know, doing my job or whatever."

Ken leaned in, clearly enjoying his friend's discomfort. "You've got fans now, Mr. Hero."

"Great," Avi deadpanned. "Do I sign autographs later or…?"

More players passed by, offering nods and murmured thanks. But what caught Avi's attention was a small group of younger kids. They huddled together, stealing glances at him as though he were a mythical creature. One of them even mimed swinging an imaginary weapon, reenacting Avi's "heroic" moments from the battle.

Ken chuckled. "Adorable, aren't they?"

"Yeah, adorable," Avi said. "Until they start asking me to babysit."

When they finally reached the central pavilion, Avi was tempted to collapse into the nearest chair and call it a day. But Alex, their fearless leader, spotted them immediately. His face lit up with relief as he strode over, his usual charisma practically radiating off him.

"Avi," Alex said, his tone warm and genuine. "It's good to see you up and about. You had us all worried."

Avi offered a weak smile. "Glad I could keep things interesting."

"Lena," Alex called, turning to his ever-efficient second-in-command. "Can you gather everyone? We'll need a full house for this."

As Lena vanished to do just that, Alex turned back to Avi with a look that could only be described as "concerned parent." "You've helped us a lot, Avi. Make sure to take it easy for the meantime, alright?"

Emily immediately jumped in. "Don't worry, Alex. I'll keep an eye on him."

Ken, ever the protective big brother type, crossed his arms. "Yeah, he's not going anywhere unless we say so."

"Uh, guys," Avi said, waving a hand. "I'm right here. Still breathing. No need to plan my retirement party yet."

It wasn't long before others began trickling in. The steady murmur of voices soon grew louder, and before Avi knew it, he was surrounded again.

"Here we go," he muttered under his breath.

The first wave of players approached, their faces lighting up with gratitude and excitement. Back-patting started almost immediately.

"Avi, man, you were insane out there!"

"You totally saved us!"

"Is it true you blacked out and still won?"

Avi forced a weak smile, his exhaustion making it hard to keep up the charm. "Yup, that's me. Your friendly neighborhood blackout hero."

Then came Caleb—lanky, energetic, and entirely too enthusiastic. The moment he spotted Avi, his eyes lit up like fireworks.

"Avi!" he shouted, bounding forward with arms open wide. "You're alive! You absolute legend!"

Before Avi could dodge, Caleb lunged, aiming to trap him in one of his signature overenthusiastic hugs.

Ken, always the watchdog, stepped in like a defensive lineman. He planted a hand on Caleb's shoulder, his grin friendly but firm. "Alright, Caleb. Let's not crush him. He's still in recovery."

Caleb stopped mid-lunge, looking genuinely heartbroken. "Oh, come on, Ken! Just one hug? For the guy who brought my Shadowfang daggers to life?"

Avi sighed. "It's not that deep, Caleb."

"Not that deep?" Caleb gasped, clutching his chest like Avi had insulted his entire craft. "Those daggers are my masterpieces!"

Ken patted Caleb's shoulder. "You can hug them instead."

Caleb pouted but relented, muttering something about "ungrateful warriors" as he shuffled off to find a spot.

Just as Avi thought he might finally get a moment of peace, Tyler sauntered over, his usual smirk firmly in place.

"You stupidly stole the spotlight again," Tyler said, crossing his arms.

Avi raised an eyebrow. "And hello to you too, Tyler. Glad to see you're still your charming self."

For a moment, Tyler didn't reply. Then, in a voice so low it was nearly a whisper, he added, "…But still, thanks for saving me."

Avi blinked, caught off guard by the uncharacteristic show of gratitude. "Wait, what was that? Did Tyler actually say thank you?" He leaned closer, grinning. "Someone write this down. We're witnessing history."

Tyler's face flushed, and his jaw tightened. "Don't push it, Avi."

"Oh, I'm definitely pushing it," Avi teased. "Ty-Ty has a soft side!"

"Call me that again, and I'll—" Tyler stopped himself, visibly choosing to let it go. Instead, he scoffed, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stomped off to a corner like a sulking cat.

Ken shook his head, chuckling. "You really do have a talent for getting under people's skin."

Avi grinned. "It's my only true skill."

Emily giggled, and for a moment, the tension in the air lifted. But it wouldn't last long. With the key players gathered and the weight of Alex's gaze on them, it was clear that the meeting was about to begin.

Alex stood at the head of the room, his usual commanding presence making it clear he was in charge.

"The gym has undergone a massive transformation," he began, gesturing to the grand room around them. "What you see now is a fully functional castle. Lena has been gathering information on the changes, and she'll fill us in on the details."

Lena stepped forward, clipboard in hand. She cleared her throat and began her report with the precision of someone presenting a school project—except this one might actually save their lives.

"The castle has enough rooms to house all of us comfortably," she explained. "And there's even space to accommodate more, should the need arise. We've also discovered specialized facilities, including a fully equipped forge for blacksmith and craftsman classes to produce weapons, armor, and tools. Additionally, there's a training ground divided into sections: one for combat practice and another for support classes to hone their skills."

Avi whistled softly. "Not bad for a place that used to smell like sweaty gym socks."

Lena shot him a quick glare but continued without missing a beat.

"So far, we haven't ventured outside the castle. Our observations from the windows and rooftops indicate that it's surrounded by dense forest. There may be resources—or threats—out there, but we'll need to map the area before making any assumptions."

Alex nodded. "That's where our first mission comes in. I'm assigning Avi, Ken, and Emily to lead the scouting effort. You're a well-rounded team—a damage dealer, a tank, and a healer. Sorry to cut your rest short, but we will be needing your help again. Make sure to prepare thoroughly before heading out."

Avi raised an eyebrow. "No pressure or anything, right?"

"You'll be fine," Alex said with a faint smile. "The system has given us five months before the next wave. That's more than enough time to train, strengthen ourselves, and gather information."

Ryan, leaning casually against a nearby wall, chimed in. "If we're being given that much time, it probably means the next wave is going to be brutal."

"Exactly," Alex replied. "But we'll use this time wisely. No one will be left behind. We'll support each other, train together, and ensure we're ready for whatever comes next."

Ken's face lit up with a rare, genuine smile at those words.

After the meeting, Ken, Emily, and Avi found their way to the castle's cafeteria. The scent of freshly cooked food filled the air, and a small team of Chef-class players bustled around, serving up plates of steaming meals.

The moment one of them spotted the trio, he practically sprinted over, a tray laden with a ridiculously large portion of food. "For the heroes of the hour," he said with a grin.

"Thanks," Avi muttered, trying not to sound too awkward about it. Ken and Emily received similarly generous servings, and the three settled into a corner table.

For the first time in what felt like forever, they had a moment to simply sit and eat.

"So," Emily began, her voice tinged with excitement, "I hit level 3 while you were out, Avi."

"Oh yeah?" Avi said, raising an eyebrow. "What'd you get?"

"My Mana Proficiency expanded!" she said proudly. "I've got Haste, Purify, Heal, Shield, and Barrier now. I've been practicing a lot, and my healing's gotten way better. I can even keep up with some of the other healer classes now."

"Impressive," Avi admitted. "Guess I should pass out more often if it helps you level up."

Ken chuckled. "I hit level 3 too. Unlocked a skill called Aura. It's active, though, so I still need to figure out the best way to use it."

"Active?" Emily asked.

Ken nodded. "Yeah, I can consciously turn it on and off. It coats either my body or my weapon in a glow that's supposed to strengthen it, but it drains mana and stamina when it's active. I figure it's a good emergency skill, but I won't be walking around like a lantern all the time."

"That's... kinda cool," Emily said. "What color's your glow?"

Ken smirked. "Gold. Like a true hero."

"Figures," Avi said, rolling his eyes. "You just had to have the most dramatic aura possible."

Ken nudged Avi with his elbow. "What about you? What's your status looking like?"

Avi sighed, pulling up his stats and letting the familiar blue screen hover in front of him.

Avi Eques (Level 4)

Strength: 17.104 → 18.241

Defense: 11.130 → 11.630

Stamina: 9.143 → 10.008

Agility: 14.110 → 15.067

Intelligence: 8.090 → 8.784

Skills:

|Clairvoyance|

|?a??k??|

(Synchronization: 2%)

 |Battle Instinct| — Predicts certain enemy moves. Fighting proficiency enhanced based on stats.

 |Dagger Arts| — Complete grasp of dagger arts.

 |Aura| — Coats body or weapon with a glow that strengthens it. Can be activated or deactivated at will. Consumes mana or stamina when in use.

Avi noted that his synchronization had increased, and his Dagger Arts skill was now completed. He'd take a closer look at that later.

"Looks like my stats took a nice jump," he said, gesturing to the screen. "And I've got the Aura skill too."

"Turn it on!" Emily said excitedly.

Avi hesitated, glancing at Ken. "Is this gonna drain me? I just finished putting myself back together."

Ken smirked. "You'll be fine. It's not like it'll knock you out cold. Besides, I'm curious too."

With a sigh, Avi focused on the skill, willing it to activate.

A faint glow spread over his hands and arms, starting as a dim shimmer before intensifying into a deep, dark blue. It radiated softly, pulsing like a steady heartbeat.

Emily clapped her hands together. "That's so cool! Blue fits you, Avi."

"Yeah," Ken added, leaning closer to inspect the glow. "Way better than I expected. Definitely not as flashy as gold, but it's... sharp."

"Sharp?" Avi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, like... intimidating," Ken said with a grin. "You'll scare the enemies senseless."

Avi chuckled and deactivated the aura, watching the glow fade. The drain on his stamina was minor, but he made a mental note to use it sparingly. "I guess I'll keep it in my back pocket for when things get dicey."

Ken clapped a hand on Avi's shoulder. "Looks like we've got ourselves a glowing squad now. The forest doesn't stand a chance."

Emily giggled. "You'll need that glow when we're scouting the forest. Who knows what's out there?"

"Probably nothing good," Avi muttered, taking another bite of his food.

As they ate, the conversation shifted to plans for the scouting mission. Ken and Emily discussed tactics while Avi tried to keep his focus on finishing his meal before someone dropped another task on them.

Despite the weight of the task ahead, the warmth of companionship made it all seem just a little more bearable.

For now, at least, they had peace. And a full stomach.