We reached the camp a while later, the sun still stubbornly high in the sky, beating down on us. Great. More daylight meant more Karzi. Just what my mental health needed.

  Speaking of the Dame herself, Karzi was right there, in front of her oversized, obnoxiously decorated tent, practicing some kind of martial art that honestly looked way too graceful for someone who routinely ruined lives. I found myself pausing, mesmerized despite my seething hatred.

  She moved like fire made flesh; fluid and elegant.

  Each step and sweep of her arms sent flames spiraling in arcs around her, crackling softly, embers popping and dancing along in hypnotic patterns. It was genuinely stunning. A complete waste of beauty, though, considering it belonged to someone whose moral compass pointed straight toward slavery.

  Her eyes lit up when she spotted us approaching, the expression on her face unsettlingly cheerful. “Girly! You’re back!” Her gaze shifted to the wolf-man, and her cheer dipped into a more cautious tone. “And Fredrik, aren’t you supposed to be guarding exits?”

  Fredrik shrugged, dropping my precious cargo to the ground with a careless thud. “Yea, but this mage sprinted from one of ’em,” he said, jabbing a thumb in my direction. “And brought this.”

  Karzi halted her practice, plucking up one of my hard-won resin pieces. “Girly?” Her eyes narrowed dangerously, suspicion whetting her voice like a blade. “You went against orders?”

  My stomach twisted painfully, worse than when I’d gutted the termite. Breathe. No emotions. I kept my face neutral, my voice as bland as possible. “No, Dame Karzi,” I said, shaking my head with careful calm. “I fulfilled your orders exactly.”

  “Explain,” she snapped impatiently.

  “You ordered me to reach level five and not approach one of the queens.” I took a careful breath. “I reached level five by defeating an entire queen’s chamber, but I only ran there.”

  Her expression twisted into something predatory and delighted, eyes glittering with greedy satisfaction. “Truly? Level five?” She let out an ear-splitting howl, and it took every ounce of my restraint not to spear her with ice right then and there. “Then we leave tomorrow! Excellent work, girly, and well done with the resin. This’ll fetch a nice sum!”

  She spun on her heel, already barking new orders at her pack, who scurried around like obedient dogs. I took that chance to quietly slip away, feeling a weird mix of nausea and pride.

  Food was the same bland mush as always. I didn’t even bother to question the ingredients; as long as it was edible, that was good enough. I ate mechanically, my thoughts spiraling. Tomorrow I’d be on display like some trophy catch. Who knew what kind of buyer wanted me? I shuddered at the thought, the flavorless porridge suddenly feeling heavy in my stomach.

  Shaking my head, I passed the time by imagining the ways Karzi could die.

  Evening fell, and as Karzi sent us to the tents, I reluctantly did what I’d promised Mom. Settling onto the rough, uncomfortable ground, I closed my eyes, took a long breath, and tried to center myself.

  Yeah. Centering myself, with Karzi lurking nearby like a malicious shadow.

  I exhaled, trying to push away my worries, clear my mind, achieve inner peace, or whatever else meditation promised.

  But how the hell was I supposed to relax when tomorrow meant marching into a city as merchandise? Who would buy me? Sure, my magic probably ruled out hard labor or… other unsavory duties. But nobles might see me as a pretty little trophy mage, something to display and control and warm their beds. My teeth ground together at that thought, anger simmering just below the surface.

  “Mom, this meditation thing?” I whispered harshly into the empty tent, frustration clear in my voice. “Yeah, totally working. Like a charm.”

  I closed my eyes, expecting nothing more than some forced meditation and frustration.

  Instead, the world around me lurched violently, reality twisting like a wet rag wrung out too hard. One moment later, I opened my eyes to find myself standing in my apartment.

  The soft hum of electronics, the distant murmurs of city life, and the scent of stale alcohol felt both familiar and profoundly strange.

  “Oh great, another surprise shift,” I muttered, heart still racing from the disorienting transition.

  “Another time shift. I quite like it,” Jerry chimed in, vibrating on my wrist. “Dreaming is strange. I have memories that don’t quite align.”

  I groaned softly. “Jerry, I haven’t properly slept in… forever? Days? Weeks?” My voice trailed off uncertainly. The concept of time was a mess right now. “Could you please call Lola, or…” My words faded as I walked towards the mirror.

  The reflection that greeted me was disheveled.

  My blue hair was a tousled disaster, sticking out in random directions, and my clothes looked rumpled as if I’d wrestled a giant bug queen… oh wait, I had.

  Nobody laughed at my joke, not even me; I glanced into my eyes and let out a sigh.

  Thankfully, none of Rimelion’s lovely assortment of mud, dirt, grime, and suspicious bodily fluids had tagged along. Nothing at all, as if this body was not the same. I desperately needed a bath there, though. Karzi didn’t exactly run a luxury spa service.

  “You have a message from Lucy. She says she’s working on a solution with Lola. And… that’s it,” Jerry reported dutifully. “The instant I pinged Lola, she responded. She’s already on her way here.”

  Relief washed over me, loosening some of the knots twisted inside my gut. “Good,” I whispered, sinking onto my sofa and closing my eyes briefly. The plush cushions felt wonderful against my tense muscles.

  “Charlie?” A soft voice whispered, fingertips gently touching my shoulder.

  “What?!” My eyes flew open as I sprang up, every muscle coiled and ready to attack Karzi… only to see Lola stumbling backward, wide-eyed and startled.

  “Sorry!” she stammered, raising her hands defensively. “You were just… sitting there, staring. Sleeping, maybe? But you said—”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  I didn’t let her finish. I closed the distance between us and threw my arms around her, hugging her tightly. “Hug attack!” I whispered.

  Her warmth, the faint scent of vanilla shampoo and coffee. It all anchored me back to reality. “Thanks for coming,” I murmured into her shoulder, gripping her just a bit tighter, afraid that if I let go, she’d vanish, leaving me alone again.

  “Of course,” she breathed softly, returning the hug. Her arms were comforting and gentle.

  Pulling back reluctantly, I forced a weary smile. “Do you mind if I shower real quick?” I asked, starting to move towards the bathroom. “I just feel… gross. I am not, but… Phantom mud? Like phantom pain?”

  “Sure, but—” Lola’s eyes widened, glancing down at her hand, which I realized, with a growing blush, I was still holding. “Wait, wait!” She squeaked, cheeks turning bright red. “Together?!”

  I blinked, looking down at our intertwined fingers. “Uhh… sorry, brain malfunction. My body apparently just… decided it didn’t want to be alone.” I bit my lip, embarrassment heating my face. “I mean, maybe we could chat while I shower? You know, like through the door or something? I… Hard to explain.”

  Her cheeks flushed even deeper, and she turned her face away slightly, eyes darting nervously around the room. “I mean… I don’t mind chatting.”

  A laugh bubbled up from my chest, the sheer awkwardness of the moment easing my anxiety. Without thinking, I hugged her again, the warmth and closeness instantly chasing away the lingering dread and tension from my bones.

  “Sorry!” I rocked my head. “Apparently I am a child. Maybe a teen. I had a chat with Queen Irwen… mom. She’s so cool. Amazing even. I’ll tell you later then, but… you’re adorable, Lola,” I teased lightly, trying to be myself.

  Suddenly, the world felt manageable again. Being around her reminded me I wasn’t just Charlie, the terrified slave; I was also Charlie, the former Earthling. Or not, because of the simulation thing? I shook my head.

  Stupid mess.

  I slipped into the bathroom, reluctantly leaving the comfort of her presence behind.

  Hot water cascaded down my body, each droplet washing away the phantom grime and lingering stress. Steam filled the room, wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. It’ll be a must have besides a whiskey room in my castle.

  The luxury of a hot shower felt surreal after the past few days spent scrambling through dark tunnels and fighting off oversized insects. Despite wanting to stay in the heavenly spray longer, the looming threat of Karzi yanking me back at any moment made me hurry.

  Quickly toweling off with one of the few remaining clean towels, I bound it around myself and stepped back out into the apartment, feeling marginally more human.

  “No, Charlie, happy thoughts,” I muttered softly to myself, taking a deep breath as I rejoined Lola, who was patiently waiting.

  “Speaking of luxurious, do you mind if we recreate a scene from the day we met?” I flashed her a genuine, hopeful smile, feeling the warmth rise in my chest at the thought. “You know, the one in bed? I really, desperately, genuinely want to feel a mattress under me again. These days, I’m thankful just to sit on grass that doesn’t bite.”

  Lola stared at me blankly, clearly racking her brain to recall our first meeting.

  Her eyes narrowed slightly in thought, and the corners of her mouth twitched as a faint blush dusted her cheeks. “I was in bed. You came to talk with me?” I pointed out gently, trying to suppress my teasing tone.

  I really need to forget about Karzi. Please thoughts?

  Her blush deepened, her eyes darting away as she nodded shyly, and I couldn’t help but grin.

  “I miss beds so much!” I groaned dramatically, sinking into a mattress, my shoulders drooping. “It’s been only a few days, and yet, here I am, daydreaming about pillows and chairs. Actual functional chairs! I would be a horrible camper.”

  “Oh, I love camping!” Lola laughed as she plopped down next to me, her weight causing the bed to dip comfortably. Her presence was comforting, like a warm blanket draped over tired shoulders. “My dad and I used to go hiking for, like, a week straight. We’d sleep in tents, cook over a tiny fire, and just stare at the stars every night. It was magical.”

  Her eyes softened with nostalgia, and a gentle, wistful smile played on her lips.

  “That sounds amazing,” I whispered softly, my voice tinged with a mixture of longing and humor. “I always wished I had memories like that. You know, a parent who’d actually do those things with me.”

  “Oh!” she gasped sharply, nearly shrieking. Panic flashed across her face, eyes widening in horror. “Charlie, I—I didn’t mean—”

  Quickly, I turned to face her, giving her a reassuring nudge with my elbow. “Hey, Lola, seriously, it’s okay. Really. If you couldn’t mention parents around me, it’d be weirder than Riker’s throne obsession. And besides,” I added, my grin brightening mischievously, “don’t worry, I’ve got a mom now.”

  She narrowed her eyes suspiciously without turning her head, a playful suspicion dancing in her gaze. “How exactly did you meet your new mom, anyway?”

  “Oh! Haha, it’s actually hilarious… well, hilariously terrifying,” I started, chuckling at my own recklessness. “I stormed suicidally into a termite queen’s chamber. Totally reasonable strategy.”

  “Whaaat?!” Lola practically squeaked, eyes wide with shock, leaning closer as if expecting me to whisper a juicy secret.

  “Yep! And then there was this super weird system cloud… It’s a whole thing.” I leaned back against the pillows, ready to dive into yet another of my wildly chaotic stories. “Buckle up, this one’s a wild ride.”

  “You didn’t,” Lola laughed, her voice bubbling. “No way. You asked for that because you didn’t want your heels to get stuck in mud?!”

  “Exactly!” I confirmed dramatically, throwing my arms up in mock desperation. “Mud is the true enemy. Not wolves. Wolves are fluffy friends,” I said, putting on my brightest smile before whispering conspiratorially, “until they play in mud. Then they’re traitors.”

  “What was that?” Lola leaned closer, still giggling softly.

  “That I am going to be a queen,” I swiftly redirected the conversation to safer ground, sitting up and resting my back against the cool wall behind us. Lola settled beside me, her shoulder pressing gently against mine. “I… I won’t settle for a barony. Playing it safe was fine before Karzi. But not anymore. Slavery has to be outlawed. We banned it for a reason on Earth.”

  “Charlie…” Lola’s voice softened, carrying a mix of worry and admiration, her gaze turning introspective. “You can’t just do that on your own. But… you know I’ll support you. Always. You’re my queen, after all. And I’m your queenmaker.”

  I turned to grin at her, my heart squeezing pleasantly. “It won’t be easy.”

  She nodded firmly, eyes determined. “I count on that.”

  “Other kingdoms won’t exactly cheer for me,” I said dryly, imagining angry nobles shaking fists and throwing tantrums like oversized toddlers.

  Her voice lowered to a serious whisper, almost threatening in its quiet strength. “Let them come.”

  The intensity was adorable. So, naturally, I teased, “You’re so cute when you’re plotting diplomatic incidents.”

  “Yes, together we can…” Lola began passionately, but then my words registered, and she slowly turned to face me, eyes wide and blinking rapidly.

  “I have land. Sort of. And I have a big-ass, important mom who’s soon to be an empress. I’ll… grow stronger. Plus, I know what players want. I just…” I paused, biting my lower lip softly, uncertainty creeping into my voice. “I know what to do, but not how to actually do it.”

  Her breathing quickened beside me. Whether from the compliment or the sudden surge of determination, I wasn’t sure. Her eyes glowed, lit by some inner fire I couldn’t quite get. “You have me. I’ll figure out how.”

  “I’ll outlaw slavery,” I said firmly, as if speaking it aloud cemented it into reality.

  “Of course,” Lola said without hesitation, nodding.

  “I’ll make anyone harboring slaves submit. They’ll have to change their laws.” I bit my lip harder, anxiety mixing with determination. Voicing it made it feel painfully real, less of a dream and more of a responsibility.

  Lola hesitated, doubt creeping into her voice. “Charlie, that’s not how diplomacy works. You need compromises—”

  “Nope!” I almost shouted before lowering my voice. “This isn’t some na?ve, idealistic ‘slavery bad’ scenario. I know what it’s like. I know how utterly powerless it feels to have no control. To have your fate dictated by someone who doesn’t care whether you live or die. To be weighed in gold like a sheep.”

  A went quiet for a moment and only the distant hum of traffic outside the window reminded me of the world.

  “I won’t tolerate it,” I continued. “As a queen, I refuse to tolerate it. Honestly, I’d rather nuke their capital than allow slavery to continue.”

  “Charlie!” Lola gasped, eyes widening. “You can’t just kill innocent people. Even hypothetically, as a ruler, you have to think things through. Rash decisions—”

  “I know,” I interrupted, softening slightly. “I’m just a child, right? Elven child. Ugh. Emotions. That’s why I have you. And besides, magic nukes totally exist. The Twirs have them. One big bang, and the city’s gone.”

  Her eyes widened even further, shock stamped plainly across her face.

  “But before all that grandiose queen stuff,” I sighed dramatically, breaking the tension with a tired smile, “I need someone to rescue me in Altandai first.”