When I had gathered myself into something close to human again, I asked Elendil for the current exchange rate.
He answered me promptly, “The exchange rate has increased by .013 percent since yesterday. Currently, 2.821 gold dragons can be exchanged for every 1 YD. Would you like me to tell you how much YD you have received?”
“Hatori Hanzo, no! This is the fun part.” One calculator app and a second later, I had an answer. I had 8,005.67 YD! I was freaking rich… well, rich for a broke girl from FlatWorld.
I accepted the transfer and then processed the currency through IE’s website. And just like that, I was flush.
“Elendil, can you make payments for me? That, if you’d like to know, is never the fun part.”
“Of course, Hana. Would you like me to send the 2638.48 YD to AllHands Inc.?”
“Do it!” I yelled, hands in the air as if to push away the foul taint of debt.
“Transaction complete. You know, I was quite worried you would not make the deadline, but it seems luck is on your side!”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” A few more clacks on the calculator and… “Now I have 5367.19 YD left. What should I buy, Elendil? Do you want me to buy you a hat?”
His reaction proved predictably delightful. But then he added a more pragmatic comment that really deflated my buoyant ego. “I believe you have an upcoming payment to renew your Eternal Online subscription. I don’t think you can afford a hat right now.”
I rolled my eyes and answered in a groan, “Yeah, yeah. I was just trying to have some fun, okay? I hadn’t allowed that nugget of reality to slip my mind. How much is that going to cost?”
“Normally, a total of 6,000 YD is needed for a month of use, but if you enroll in automatic payment, it is reduced by 20 percent. That is only 4,800 for a month of play time!” His voice carried enough enthusiasm to fuel a marching band for a week.
“And I suppose that if I choose less than a month of payment, the discount is not included?”
“Correct.”
I gave in. “Okay, enroll me in automatic payment.”
A moment later, Elendil chimed, “Finished!”
From my original surplus, I only had 567.19 YD remaining. When added to the balance of my original savings of 132.13, I now had 699.32 YD. Enough to buy a really nice hat…
Still, the infernal loop of debt had been loosened. My thoughts immediately shot to telling my dad. He was always the first one I told about anything big. The despair in his eyes would momentarily lift any time I told him about a passed exam or some cool gadget I’d found on one of my scavenging trips.
My heart fluttered between memories of my dad and when we’d lost my mom. As usual, my emotions plunged immediately toward the stabbing grief that had waited to pounce on me any time I let my guard down. Unlike before, anger rose behind everything like a greedy phantom, and I had to take a few breaths, processing the emotions and letting them go. I was sad and had every right to be. And I was justifiably angry as well.
There were real people in my life again, though, so I moved on to thoughts of my friend. I had spoken with Shin earlier, so I knew he was out in the real world, stomping around and putting down the foundations of his big plan. I would meet up with him again tomorrow.
I sent a quick message then jogged over to my pod and logged back in, excited to celebrate with someone more fleshy than Elendil.
The wide and colorful world of Eternal formed around me. I was laying on my bearskin cloak under the fir tree, and the midday sun burned down on me.
You have returned! Pachi said mentally. I missed you, fang sister.
And I missed you, I said to Pachi, running to her as she stood up from her own nap. Her fur was sun-warmed and smelled like bird feathers and grass reaching for the sky.
Pachi asked me, with concern in her voice, What is it? Your heart beats like a herd of goats. Are you well?
“Goats?” I exclaimed out loud, pulling back to look her in the eyes. “You’re crazy, y’know that? And yes, I’m feeling awesome. Want to do some fishing? Oh, and where is Alysand?”
The fire singer said he was going to scout around and see if he could find any lingering ratkin to kill. I wanted to go with him, but I had to stay in case you came back. Pachi reached her head up and sniffed at my hair.
My God, how did you get so big, Pachi? You look like a pegasus, except, you know… more foxy.
Pachi snorted and shook her head. The pegasus is an abhorrent animal. Terrible hygiene, and their wings are constantly shedding. Too bulky to be a good flyer besides.
Of course, you’re much more beautiful. Hey, did Alysand happen to leave his fishing kit anywhere?
No, but I think he will return shortly.
With little to do, Pachi lay back down and I lounged in the fluffy expanse. No queen had ever felt so pampered as I did then, wrapped in the velvet fur and feathers of my enfield friend.
With time to burn, I decided to check on a few things. The first thing I was curious about was Pachi.
Hey, you got a lot bigger, I said to her. You must have leveled up a bunch, right? Then I inspected her to find out her statistics.
Pachi: Level 22
Light Affinity: Level 5
HP: 8079/8079
Armor Rating 25
Vitality 26 (+10)
Strength 15
Dexterity 28 (+10)
Intelligence 18
Stamina 31
You’ve gotten a lot stronger, Pachi. How do you feel? I hoped my praise would land.
There was little reason for me to doubt it. Pachi replied, her mental voice
