The rain falls quietly as I set down in a clearing beneath a large tree. The ground is dry despite the heavy rain. The others are still a ways out, so I set about clearing the space as the events of the past hour settle in my mind.

  I just killed four people tonight.

  I didn’t even hesitate, I just… killed them…

  They were slavers…

  They worked for slavers…

  The thoughts war in my head as the simple act of clearing a space dominates my movements.

  The others arrive with the horses and see me wordlessly clearing spaces for us to rest.

  They also start to work without words. Some gather firewood, others prepare the site.

  Within minutes, a fire built and started. We sit around the small flame, warming our bodies and souls.

  The silence stretches for what feels like hours, but is probably only a few minutes.

  “My name is Mark,” the human male breaks the silence. “I was an accountant. I… I had work to do in the morning… Then I was here, and those guys promised me I would be safe. They took me to a tavern, gave me food, and I fell asleep. I woke up in a haze, bound in a cage.” He holds back a sob.

  “I’m Jane,” the Orcish woman responds. She reaches out and pulls Mark into a hug. “I was an engineer before all this.”

  “Alex,” says the gnome. “I… I was a mechanic. I played the game as an escape.” He chuckles darkly as he looks at trembling hands. “Not the kind of escape I was looking for.”

  “I’m glad to meet you all,” I respond. “This character is Elkas, my screen name was Tavris. Call me what you wish.” I pause, looking at the fire. “I was a raider in Age of Ascension. A college student outside of it. Barely scraping by with my studies and now I hold more strength than I thought possible.” I look at my friends.

  “HealingHeart, or Lyra,” she responds. “I was a college student, and in Tav’s raid group. Now I’m a Cleric and I can heal people with actual magic.” She looks to her hands and holy symbol with deference.

  “ShadowStrike,” he says simply. “Just Shadow is fine. I was in Tav’s raid group like HealingHeart. That’s all you need to know about me.”

  “I-I think I heard some things!” Alex mentions. “I could be wrong, but they said there are other places. Places where other people find and sell people like us. They called us ‘Awakened’.” He clutches his head as if grasping threads that he can barely see.

  Mark and Jane both stifle a yawn.

  “We should all get to bed,” I say. “Been a very long day for all of us. We’ll handle the first few watches.”

  With nods of approval, the others settle onto the hard floor, using bags, moss, or whatever else they can find for bedding.

  Within minutes, the soft sounds of Sleep fill the space. Minutes after that, Shadow speaks.

  “We killed some people today. That is something we are going to have to live with.”

  “I know,” I respond while staring at my hand. “The thing that scares me the most is how easy it came. One moment, they were alive and threatening us, I casted a spell, they died, and I moved on.” I pause. “I don't want to make a habit of it.”

  “That’s good,” Shadow responds. “Don't lose that feeling. Once you do, there's no going back.”

  “I…” HH speaks up softly after a moment's silence. “I'm not the person I thought I was.”

  Her hands tremble as she tucks them into the sleeves of her robes.

  “He cornered me in an alcove,” she continues. “He had a knife. He called me an imposter. Said I ‘had too much power for someone who doesn't know the basic prayers.’ He was going to kill me. I panicked. It happened so fast. The spell just went. I didn't mean to-”

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  She cradles herself in her arms, rocking slightly at the memory as the words escape like a damn breaking.

  I move beside her and reach out, taking her hand in mine.

  She finches at my touch, but doesn't shy away.

  “I'm here for you, HH.” I say simply.

  The damn bursts as she starts crying. She buries her face into my chest.

  I hold her there for a while until she calms.

  “He attacked you,” I'll say after a while. “You defended yourself.”

  Her cry slows to a sob.

  “If you'll let me. I can help you. I'll think of a way to fix the situation.”

  A slow nod is all she manages.

  “Get some rest now. Shadow and I can manage watches tonight.”

  Taking off my bag, I'll make a makeshift pillow for her and she falls asleep quickly. The relief of expressing her guilt taking its toll.

  “She's not wrong for defending herself,” Shadow says after she's sound asleep. “The issue is going to be convincing her of that.”

  “She'll need time for that to happen,” I respond. “In the meantime, we just need to support her and help anyway we can.”

  He nods.

  “Get some rest,” Shadow commands more than requests. “I'll take first watch. You used a lot of spells tonight.”

  “Wake me in a few hours. You need rest too.”

  Another nod is all I get as I settle under the canopy of the tree. Exhaustion finally takes me as consciousness fades.

  A few hours pass and I'm nudged awake by Shadow.

  A rough nod, then he goes to sit at the base of the tree. He seems to meditate instead of actually sleeping-maybe an Elven character trait.

  My cold hands tremble as I attempt to warm them by the fire. Sitting there, my thoughts wander. ‘Am I really worthy of leading people like this?’ With a shake of my head, the thought clears. This is not the time for that.

  Morning comes with a break in the rain. The sun peaks from behind the gray clouds as the rest of the camp wakes.

  Shadow and HH pass out travel rations as they wake, and slowly the cold of the night starts to thaw.

  “What Alex said last night is correct. For the most part,” Thorin speaks up after a moment. “The drugs they used were less effective on me. There's a patron-house in Dawnreach that is a front for these slavers.” He looks to me, looking for something. “There's a place called Port Corveth where a ship captain steals people from the docks and sells them upriver.”

  The confirmation settles in the air like a weighted blanket. This is an operation that spans the whole area, not just a single city.

  “We have to go back to Dawnreach anyway,” I say more to myself than the group. “We'll deal with the patron-house when we get there.”

  “I-I don't think I'm ready to go back,” Mark interjects. “Back to a city just yet. I don't want to be enclosed by walls again.”

  “We aren't strong like you three,” Jane continues. “We'd just get in the way.”

  Alex nods in agreement.

  I hesitate a moment, caught off guard.

  “I understand,” I reply softly. “You've been through a lot. I won't push you to do this with us. We just need some way for you to stay safe…”

  “I could watch over them,” Thorin interjects. “I'm a decently high level, and if we stay in the woods, we wouldn't have to worry about these kidnappers. I'll keep them safe. Let me do this as a thank you for getting us all out of there.”

  A nod from Shadow and a smile from HH is the only confirmation I need.

  “Thank you, Thorin,” I respond. “Mark, Jane, Alex and Thorin will stay out here while Shadow, HH and I will deal with this patron-house.” I nod to them. “Stay safe and work with Thorin to maybe try and get stronger. We'll all need strength going forward.”

  I turn to HH and Shadow.

  “If we are going to continue to dismantle these operations, we will need local help.” I pause a moment, thinking. “There's the keep and the church in Dawnreach. I may have a plan to get the Church off HH's trail and give them a mutual enemy to focus on. But I need to get into the church to start the plan.”

  “We can get in to report what happened in Brightwell,” HH responds. “You might be able to slip away then.” She looks at me with quiet concern. “What is your plan?”

  “I don't want to share it just yet,” I tell her. “For now, the less you know, the better.” I give her a smile. “I'll be careful, and I'm going to help you, HH. Trust me on this.”

  “While you two report,” Shadow interjects. “I'll look into the target. See what turns up.”

  “That would be very helpful, thank you Shadow.” I look at the group again. My voice catches at the thought of splitting up, but then I find it again. “Let’s break camp and get moving. We unfortunately have to return the horses, so I can't leave them with you guys.”

  “That’s fine,” Thorin confirms. “Horses wouldn't do well in a dense forest like this. Not make some tracks. Those poor souls won't be able to save themselves.”

  Alex raises a hand as if to add something, but lowers it without a word, turning to the task of breaking camp.

  With unfamiliar ease, the camp is broken down and all traces of our nights rest are hidden.

  Thorin and company set off deeper into the woods. As I look back, I see Jane squeezing Marks hand. Then they disappear into the forest gloom.

  My group and I mount the horses and ride off back towards Dawnreach and the next phase of our lives-whether we're ready for it or not.