The anger began to win over in my heart and I stood.
“Shin, look at me. Hey.” After a time, he wiped his face and looked up at me with bloodshot eyes.
“What?” That was all he could say.
“I don’t buy it. Mae is one of the sweetest people you know, right?” He nodded. “And you guys were on great terms up until you got this email out of the blue. It just seems too convenient somehow.”
“Convenient?” Shin questioned, a bit of anger filling his own voice.
“Not like that. It just struck me that it might be convenient for your parents. They were the ones that exiled you. Don’t you think they might be doing something to influence Mae?”
Shin froze before me, his body completely still but for the building intensity in his eyes. Then, a moment later, they flicked up and stared into my own. “Those bastards,” he growled. “You’re right. She would never do this. I was just so afraid that it might be true is all. Oh my God, we have to contact her.”
Now I was reeling a bit. “We? What do I have to do with this?”
Shin smiled then, his face finally showing some of the easy good looks that normally characterized him. “Why, you’re my best friend, Hana. That’s what.”
3: “In the far reaches of the world, under a lost and lonely hill, lies The Tomb of Horrors.”
— Señor Ernesto Christy Cline
HANA
My time with Shin had been exhilarating. After he decided to take a much-needed shower, he met me back in the dining area, where I watched him gorge himself like three drunken bulls after a night out.
It was shocking to see the changes in him. Every part of his appearance, from his posture to his gleaming eyes, had all regained that sparky exuberance I’d grown to associate with Shin. It was as if his whole being had been filled with purpose again. I marveled at how huge his sister was to him, how vast and all-encompassing. Without her, Shin didn’t have much to run on. I couldn’t blame him, though, thinking of my own reasons for grinding away in Eternal Online.
“We’re gonna scheme, Dahlia!” he said while shoving a second helping of pizza in his mouth. “We are going to ruin those jerks.”
All I could do was agree with him.
We spent a few hours discussing how we might circumvent his parent’s influence and arrange a meeting with Mae. When we were done, a solid plan had formed. That was when I reminded him that despite how cool it sounded to stick it to his awful progenitors, I still had things to do.
It was October 20th. I had two days until rent was due for my room in EO, and five until I had to send my first payment to AllHands Inc. I explained all this to Shin.
His reaction to my plight surprised me. He leaned forward and clamped down on my arm with a hand full of fury. “Don’t worry, Dahlia. I’ve got your back, okay? You’ll make the money in time, and if you don’t, well, I have a lot of money at my disposal. My parents are such savvy and paranoid investors that they gave each of us our own ironclad portfolio.” I shook my head and tried to pull away. “No, listen. I wasn’t joking, Dahlia. You are my best friend. I’m not going to let you get taken away.”
I still couldn’t meet his gaze but nodded slightly. It was weird hearing him use my real name. I’d grown so used to hearing Hana all the time that Dahlia sounded foreign, as though it were from a past I could barely remember.
I told Shin that I’d meet him at the time we had planned. I would help him in his great adventure, but for now, I had a mine to raid.
When I materialized, Madi was standing with Alysand and Garren. It was nearly full dark, and the night shocked me with a chill I hadn’t expected.
“’Bout time, shorty,” Madi teased, slapping me on the shoulder. “You ready to stumble about in the dark for hours?”
“I can see fine. Sorry, but I think you will be the only one stumbling.”
Alysand stepped forward and handed me a bundle tied together with twine. “This is from Tumsley.”
I took the package and gasped.
It was bear fur, and when I untied it, I saw it was a portion of Marduk’s pelt fashioned into a long cloak. As my eyes continued to adjust, I saw matching cloaks wrapping around Madi and Alysand’s shoulders as well. The fur was indescribably soft. It had the smooth texture of silk, but the strength and bulk of wool. I ran my fingers through it and smiled shamelessly.
Marduk’s Mantle
Quality: Epic: Armor 40
Durability 140/140
+3 to all base attributes, +25% to Stealth
Applies high protection against cold.
“Sweet scrolls, that is awesome! I guess I don’t need my old one anymore.” I took off May’s trusty cloak. It was worn, torn, and mended, stained with blood and travel, but it had been my first piece of comfort in this world.
“It’s alright,” Garren said. “If you agree, one of my daughters asked if she could have it. I can trim it up to fit her. She has taken a fancy to you, Hana. Even carries around a stick and attacks anything that doesn’t move quick enough out of her way.”
I folded the old cloak up a few times, emptying the pockets of a few pieces of dried jerky and the carry stone I’d placed there, and handed it over to the man who had been such a generous host. “Tell her she had best behave herself or I’ll take it back.”
When we finished our quick goodbyes with Garren, I had Madi follow me to his well. Following the simple instructions Tumsley had shown me, I enchanted my katana and then her axe with the Kuthwala’s fiery power. I smiled
