"The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear."

  -Socrates

  Milly sat on the steps of the plains lobby entrance, watching a dozen people tearing up grass and fashioning make-shift cages from branches and vines. A cup of tea and a piece of leftover boar from last night’s supper rested on the ground in front of her, her lunch for the eighth day of the Contest. She took a sip of tea and frowned. It was cold. She placed her hand over the water and focused, her eyes glowing red as she channeled her fire. When she took her hand away, the tea was steaming again.

  “Perfect,” she purred. “This whole magic thing is just wonderful.”

  She had received only one other talent point during the first week of the contest, when she reached level ten two days ago. She had selected earth magic, though she had precious little opportunity to use it yet. Which is why she was sitting on these steps, watching a few resolute people trying to bring a garden into this new world.

  The public servants from the lower floors of the Castle of Glass were from the Ministry of Agriculture, a mix of policy analysts and field workers. Milly was enthralled by their teamwork and their robust arguments about of proper soil conditions and sunlight levels. Many of the tower’s residents thought they were daft to build a garden when food was so plentiful from the nearby ocean and hunting grounds, but they kept going anyway.

  They were farmers back home, and farmers needed farms to feel normal again.

  Milly thought it was clever, and it would help them survive in the months ahead when food around the tower grew scarcer. It was the first long-term plan she had seen. She wanted to help, but despite glances her way from the dedicated crew, none had approached her to talk, and Milly was too introverted to approach them.

  Beneath the persona of the witch, its still the same Milly. Too shy to put herself out there.

  As she took another sip of her tea, two men exited the lobby doors behind her and headed for the garden. They strode past without a glance in her direction, clutching clipboards and wearing dirty jackets and ties, as if formality brought authority. Milly recognized them from Acicentre, two men from the eleventh floor who had a reputation for micromanagement and an overinflated sense of entitlement.

  Milly sighed. She knew where this was about to head.

  They strode up to the foreman, pointing aggressively at their clipboards and trying to shuffle the crew away from the garden and towards their assigned duties. The foreman, a man not blessed with an ambundance of patience, grew angry, hands clenched into fists at his side. He scolded them - told them they were there with the blessing of their own manager - but the Acicentre managers would not listen. This would come to blows soon if she didn't intervene.

  Milly coughed and the middle managers turned at the unexpected sound.

  They saw Milly - the Witch of the Castle of Glass - seated behind them, casually sipping tea and watching their interaction. Milly smiled and raised her cup in acknowledgement.

  The men’s faces went white. They stammered something to the foreman that Milly could not hear and quickly walked in the opposite direction, suddenly remembering other business that was far more critical than a couple misaligned farmers.

  The foreman laughed as they retreated and Milly breathed a sigh of relief. She tried to look outwardly casual, but inside her heart was racing. Silently, she thanked Rain for helping her to build a reputation that served to help avoid such confrontations.

  “It pays to have the Witch nearby,” said the foreman, smiling and tipping his hat to her. “I didn't want to get into an argument with Jacob Stone’s goons. Ms. Cook sanctioned this. She even plans to come help once her afternoon is clear.”

  Ms. Cook was the most senior manager amongst the public servants. Their representative among the CEOs. If there was a kink in the CEOs' armor, it was her. Not because she was weak, but because she had different motivations than the others. According to Rain’s intel, she believed that the order the CEOs brought was critical to survival, but she didn't care about the power that came with the position, only the safety of her people. If that meant aligning with the CEOs, then she would hold her nose and do so, but it was a temporary aliance at best.

  Alison Cook was the polar opposite of Jacob Stone and Judy Brass, who were growing more controlling each day. They still saw Milly as a threat, though they'd had made no move against her.

  My reputation is working to keep them at bay, but how long would it last?

  “You look lost in thought,” came a melodic voice from behind her. Milly looked up and saw Calista staring down at her with a gentle smile. She had her long red hair tied up in a bun today, and her frilly blouse was barely holding together after a week of heavy use. She had it tied across her chest like a bikini now, leaving her tanned arms and stomach exposed. Even in this place, in nothing but rags, she still managed to look stunning.

  Milly stopped looking up at her, her cheeks flushed as her thoughts drifted places she didn't want them to go.

  “Just…just contemplating how much this place has changed in only a week,” Milly said, pointing at the garden. “Are you ready?”

  Calista gave her a broad smile. “I’m always ready for you, Milly. I want to see how far we can push out today. The hunting crew is itching for me to find some new hunting grounds. They are getting tired of the standard fare.”

  Milly laughed. “It's only been a week, and we have elk and deer now, and mussels and crab from the beach. What more do they want?”

  “Not all of us are used to subsisting on potatoes and peas, pretty lady,” Calista said, leaning down and rubbing Milly’s shoulders playfully. “This woman needs variety in her life. Especially when that life is in a death contest.”

  Milly gave her an awkward smile. She felt uncomfortable every time Calista complimented her. When Milly looked in the mirror at night, she still saw the fat, greasy girl pretending to belong.

  “Come on,” Calista said chipperly, reaching down and hauling Milly into the air. Milly gave a playful shriek, flailing her legs and nearly knocking over her teacup. Calista loved to take every opportunity to show off her enhanced strength. “Or do I need to carry you all the way there? I could do it you know.”

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  “As much fun as that sounds,” Milly chuckled, imagining herself riding atop Calista’s strong shoulders. “I guess I can walk. Where are we headed today?”

  Calista pointed towards the mountains. “Up there. I woke up with a feeling today. That is where we need to be.”

  “Then lead on Huntress,” Milly teased, and she followed Calista’s swaying hips as they headed north.

  * * *

  They walked for two hours, avoiding the packs of roving goblins when they could.

  “They are too easy now,” Calista whispered as they let another patrol group pass them by. “I don’t think they help us level up anymore. But their clubs still hurt. It is not worth the risk.”

  Milly agreed. “Xavier said something similar last night while I was healing him.”

  “And how is the colossal jackass lately?” Calista asked with sarcastic venom.

  “Calista…,” Milly started.

  “I know Milly. That was my mean girl coming out. But I don't like how he uses you. He treats you like his personal nurse, not his friend.”

  Milly did not really know how to answer her. “I…I don’t really know how he is doing. Last night I invited him to join us in our afternoon exploration,” Milly started, and Calista frowned. “He didn't accept. He just said that we would only slow him down.”

  Shesighed. “I think he's jealous that I have you and Rain as friends now. He is certainly stronger than we are individually, but he grows more distant each time I see him. As if each day claims a little more of the humanity within him and replaces it with an unfillable desire to be something more.”

  Calista nodded. “You know, I kind of understand that.”

  “Understand what?” Milly asked.

  “Wanting to be something more. Wanting to push further, faster, and harder each day. I feel that way too. I’m just not willing to abandon everything else like Xavier has. The man is obsessive Milly. He was obsessive about working out and video games before the Contest, and the Contest made both those obsessions irrelevant. So now the Contest is his obsession. It is all he has left to live for.”

  “Then what should I do?” Milly asked, concerned. She had never had a friend in trouble before. Like Xavier, before the contest she had focused only on herself. It was Rain and Calista who made her want to be something more. But Xavier had no one else. No one to help him.

  “Do you need to do anything?” Calista asked. “After all, he might outlive all of us at the pace he is growing. But if you still want to help him, and, honestly, I’m not sure why you would, just keep an eye out for the right opportunity. I’m sure one will come up.”

  “Thanks, Calista,” Milly said gratefully.

  “You are welcome. Now, can we please change the topic? This conversation is too heavy for me. Oh my god, did you see what Judy Brass was wearing this morning? A pink suit with 80’s style shoulder pads and green pants. Either she finally ran out of clothes in her office, or she’s started taking fashion advice from the CEO of EnergyWave.”

  Milly giggled, and they continued their trek. They were deep into the valley now, further than they had ever been. The river flowed rapidly beside them, flowing from the glaciers far into the mountains. It gave the area a coolness that was absent from the other terrains, and Milly saw Calista shivering in her bikini top. She opened her inventory, pulled out her hoodie, and handed it to Calista.

  “Are you sure?” Calista asked, taking the hoodie in her arms, “I know how special it is to you.”

  Milly nodded, and Calista put the hoodie on without hesitation. It fell to her naval, and Calista lifted the front and smelled. “Mmm... smells like Milly,” she said, smiling.

  “You mean smells like sweat and grease,” Milly said, embarrassed.

  “I don’t mean anything of the sort,” answered Calista. She spun around with an exaggerated flourish, as if she were wearing a prom dress. “How do I look?”

  “Like the world’s most confused goth,” giggled Milly.

  Calista slumped her shoulders, swishing her hair back dramatically and an deep frown on her face. “Life is pain,” she moaned, dragging out each word. Then she chuckled, breaking character. “It is really comfortable though. I can see why you like it.”

  “It is, but I don’t wear it for comfort,” Milly said, unconsciously resting her hand on her stomach, conscious of the fat hidden behind her gown.

  Calista saw the dark thought about to enter Milly’s mind. She grabbed Milly’s hand and looked into her fire-touched eyes. “Milly, you are a beautiful woman. Don’t you go thinking otherwise.”

  “Thanks,” Milly murmured. “You... you look really good in the hoodie.”

  “Don’t I just?” Calista giggled, spinning again. Suddenly she stopped, and turned sharply towards the dense forest ahead of them. “What’s that?”

  There was a rough path diverging from the river, leading to a sheer cliff against the edge of the mountain, a large split in the rock that ran far up the side of the mountain, forming a deep cave beyond. It was well hidden in the trees, and if not for their playfulness they would have missed it entirely.

  “Let’s check it out,” whispered Calista, spear and shield in hand a moment later. She ducked down and led the way through the trees.

  Milly opened herself up to the power within her, feeling it cascade under her skin and settle itself just below the surface. It was easier now, almost instinctual, as her magic grew stronger with each additional attribute point. She felt the flames ready to release from her fingertips and could feel the solid earth beneath her feet ready to be molded.

  Calista stayed low and led them to the edge of a small clearing filled with short grasses, moss, and assorted colorful flowers. Squirrels scattered on their approach, scurrying up the pines to angrily squeak at the intruders. At the end of the clearing, nestled against a sheer wall of stone that rose up twenty feet into the air, were twin statues standing outside the entrance to the deep cave - muscled men with spear and shield carved in white marble.

  “We’ve never come across something like this before,” whispered Calista, her eyes beaming with a mix of excitement and anxiousness.

  Milly nodded. “This could be important, Calista. We should get Rain and come back tomorrow.”

  “Let’s see what it is first,” Calista said, and she crept forward into the clearing.

  “Calista…” Milly implored, following her reluctantly.

  The moment Milly’s foot crossed the threshold, she knew they'd made a mistake. The statues snapped towards them, raised their spears and shields into the air, and crashed them together. The crash of spear and shield echoed across the clearing and into the cave.

  There was a loud skittering noise from the depths of the cave. The sound of dozens of footfalls quickly growing closer.

  “Umm… change of plans Milly. Let’s get out of here,” Calista shouted, grabbing Milly’s had and turning back towards the forest.

  They crashed against the air as if they had run into a wall, knocked to the ground by the impact.

  “Ow, fuck, that hurt,” Calista shouted. Milly instinctively put a hand on Calista’s forehead and gave her a short burst of healing. “Thanks Milly.”

  Calista reached forward and her hand fell on solid air, as if it had turned to glass. “Milly, this isn’t good.”

  Calista rushed to her feet, pressing her hand against the transparent wall and running along the edge of the clearing. The barrier stretched the entire way around the clearing. They were trapped inside.

  The skittering grew closer, like an oncoming storm. Calista moved in front of Milly protectively.

  “Barrier,” she shouted, her shield expanding in front of them both. Milly positioned herself behind the shield, as they had done a dozen times before, and let the fire flow into her palms. The flames were stronger now and became easier to control each time she grew her magic.

  “Milly, help us see what is coming,” Calista said, her jaw set, and eyes focused on the cave.

  Milly released a short burst of fire from her palm and sent it into the cave, illuminating the darkness within.

  The black segmented body of the monster was over twenty feet long and three feet wide, ending in a razor-sharp forked appendage. Hundred yellow legs moved its body in a wave as it crawled along the side of the cave, dislodging stones that echoed in the cave’s depths as they fell. The segmented centipede body curved up into the air, forming a thick neck that swayed back and forth as it ran. Its crimson head ended in an elongated mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth, with two short pincers for dragging prey into its depths. Intelligent black eyes searched for the source of the fire. The eyes of a hunter, who had spotted its next prey.

  Milly’s round glasses flashed, startling her, and a screen popped up above the creature.

  "Oh... shit."