His eyes locked onto mine.

  “Got you.”

  I battled with everything in me not to stick my tongue out at him, so I did the next best thing: I dramatically collapsed onto the polished marble floor, breathing in shallow gasps.

  Every muscle ached, each breath feeling like knives scraping the inside of my lungs. Sweat mixed with dust caked my skin, making me feel gritty and exhausted. My pulse hammered at my temples, drumming a frantic rhythm against the cool stone beneath my cheek.

  The wind mage, this arrogant, powerful old man with his shimmering white robes and tousled silver hair, stood towering over me, contempt drawn deep into the lines of his weathered face. His robes rustled slightly, stirred by the subtle currents of magic swirling angrily around his fingertips. “Where will you hide now, girl?” His voice was venomous, each syllable dripping with disdain. “You have nowhere left to run. Nowhere to hide. There is nothing—”

  “Ah, Master Mage of the White Dragon Tower!” a familiar, annoyingly smooth voice interrupted his villain monologue.

  It was Master of the Sky, strolling gracefully down the wide staircase, his purple robes neat, each golden stitch catching the sunlight filtering through tall, arched windows. He radiated an aura of infuriating control, his expression calm and mildly amused. “Thank you for returning my property. I gave her permission to test her abilities. Of course, I’ll be sending you the bill for any damages.”

  A surge of wind magic erupted from the mage’s left hand, hurtling toward me with blistering speed.

  My heart lurched; there was nowhere to dodge, no time to even react. I braced for impact, eyes squeezed shut… but the rush of air simply evaporated inches from my skin, dissolving like mist.

  My master lowered his hand, his smile cold. “Now, now,” he scolded gently, yet his voice held a razor-sharp edge. “You’ve caused considerable property damage, terrorized a bustling market filled with innocent citizens, and created quite the spectacle… all to capture a slave operating fully within the permissions granted by her master.”

  The Master Mage of the White Dragon Tower’s furious gaze swept across the hall, meeting the guarded stares of purple-robed figures gathered around, their attention fixed firmly upon the confrontation.

  Silence stretched thick and oppressive, interrupted only by the soft rustling of robes and the faint murmurs from the gathering crowd outside.

  “My mistake,” the wind mage finally conceded, voice brittle with barely restrained fury. “I shall, naturally, reimburse any damage my oversight caused.” His icy stare snapped back to me, pinning me down like a whiskey in a collector’s case. “But I demand to buy her.”

  My pulse quickened, adrenaline jolting through me, each beat a thundering drum in my ears.

  But Master of the Sky merely laughed in a dismissive chuckle that echoed mockingly through the hall. “Her value has at least quadrupled. Clever, resourceful, dangerous... such an asset doesn’t appear every day. She even managed to escape from you, a grand master.”

  His smirk deepened, eyes glinting with greed. “One doesn’t simply buy that cheaply.”

  The two men locked eyes, a silent war of wills crackling in the charged atmosphere. Around us, tension tightened like a noose, each onlooker holding their breath, awaiting the outcome.

  “I’ll pay your price,” the wind mage ground out, teeth clenched so tightly I wondered if they’d shatter. His voice was filled with simmering resentment. “She must answer for this humiliation.”

  My master inclined his head graciously, a triumphant smirk playing across his lips. “You may place your bid at the next grand auction in three weeks.”

  “And I shall,” the man declared, pivoting sharply on his heel. He strode away from the shattered doorway and scattered splinters as casually as if he had merely come to inquire about the price of potatoes at the local market, his pristine white robes billowing gracefully behind him.

  Master of The Sky stood there for a moment, his gaze calmly tracing the mage’s retreating back before turning his attention down to me.

  His expression softened, just barely noticeable beneath his practiced composure. “Good job, mage girl. Until the grand auction, you are relieved of work. Do your utmost to avoid further injury, but practice your magic relentlessly. Do not take a class from anyone under any circumstance. Run again if you must.”

  He turned elegantly, ascending the stairs again, his purple robe fluttering softly with every step.

  I stayed sprawled on the polished floor a moment longer, painfully aware of the eyes piercing into me from every direction. With a deep breath and a sharp gulp of embarrassment, I gathered the little strength I had left and forced myself to stand.

  My body protested, every muscle aching as I limped slowly toward the barn.

  Here, in this crowded place, nobody lingered long enough to stare; everyone had tasks, chores, purpose. That anonymity brought a small measure of relief.

  Finding the closest unoccupied bed, if one could even call the slab of stone with a thin, rough blanket a bed, I collapsed onto it with an audible sigh. The surface was unforgiving, hard and unyielding beneath my battered frame.

  Gritting my teeth, I murmured another healing spell, feeling the warmth of magic seep into my bruised muscles and torn skin.

  Each time I cast the healing spell, it felt smoother, more refined. It was oddly satisfying to experience actual progress, even if it felt a bit too much like a game mechanic. A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips, despite the pain and exhaustion.

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  Lying on the bed, I gazed upward at the rough ceiling, painted faintly by sunlight filtering through small, grimy windows. The sun was still high; it wasn’t even evening yet. Closing my eyes, I focused on the familiar sensation, the unique feeling that tethered me back to Earth.

  The transition was seamless, gentle as falling asleep.

  I awoke on my plush Earth bed, surrounded by soft sheets and fluffy pillows. “Ahhh!” I let out a long, happy sigh, hugging a pillow and rolling gleefully back and forth. “So nice!” I was wearing a… uh… something that Lola bought me, so I had something to sleep in.

  “Welcome back, Miss Charlie,” Jerry’s voice greeted me warmly. “I didn’t experience any dreams today. Perhaps due to your early awakening.”

  I giggled softly, but it was a weak sound, tinged with lingering fatigue. “Haha… Sorry about that. I just barely escaped today. It was close, Jerry.”

  “No need for apologies,” Jerry said smoothly. “There remains no scientific correlation between my dreams and your waking time.”

  “There’s also no proof you actually dream, Jerry,” I teased lightly, staring at the mundane ceiling above. At least it was smoother and cleaner than the barn’s rough stone. “But that’s okay. I like you just as you are.”

  “I appreciate you not prying into the contents of my dreams,” Jerry replied quietly, a sincerity in his voice. “I would feel compelled to answer if you asked.”

  A laugh bubbled up, genuine this time, easing some of the heaviness inside me. “Ordering people around is wrong. And… hurting innocents is wrong,” I whispered softly, the bitter memory of my actions returning.

  “Lady!” Lola burst into the room suddenly, her face glowing with relief and excitement. “You’re early today! It’s still bright out!” She hesitated for just a moment before sitting down gently beside me instead of an exuberant hug.

  I felt a pang of disappointment, missing her comforting embrace. Taking matters into my own hands, I rolled toward her, wrapping my arms around her waist, hugging her tightly from my position lying down on the bed.

  “Huh?!” Lola stiffened, her body going rigid. Then her cheeks bloomed into a rosy blush, her expression softening. “Wait… did you kill someone?”

  Trust Lola to cut straight to the point.

  “No…” I muttered, pressing my face gently into her side, inhaling the comforting aroma of her perfume… vanilla today, stronger hints of coffee underneath. “But…”

  Slowly, I unraveled the tale of my chaotic day: how I’d been ordered to visit the tower, meeting the wind mage, the adrenaline of the escape, and my desperate leap from the window. Her eyes widened, lips parting slightly as she listened intently, emotions flickering openly across her face.

  When I reached the part about the woman who had called for guards, my voice trembled slightly. “I didn’t… mean to hurt her like that. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I don’t want to turn into one of those careless players who hurt innocent NPCs without a second thought. I am those NPC.”

  Lola’s fingers moved soothingly through my tangled hair. “Yet you’re planning to destroy the entire city.”

  Groaning softly, I shook my head, strands of hair wrapping around her slender fingers. “I don’t… I mean, yes. But it’s different. Similar like it felt different with soldiers; they chose their path. But that woman was just doing her duty as a citizen of Altandai… reporting a runaway slave.”

  “Her yell could lead to your death,” Lola whispered softly, her voice trembling. Her fingertips brushed gently against my temple. “We need to get you out of there as soon as possible.”

  Reluctantly, I let go of our hug and shifted slightly to glance up at her. Her eyes met mine, deep with worry, highlighted by the soft sunlight filtering through the curtains. “Am I becoming like that quote? One death is a tragedy…”

  “…a million is a statistic,” Lola finished quietly with a soft sigh. The heaviness in her voice made my stomach tighten. “Yes, Charlie. In our kingdom, we’ll have decisions that affect millions.”

  “Our kingdom!” I echoed, suddenly energized, as I rolled over to the other side of the bed and sprung up onto my feet. The mattress bounced slightly beneath me, the springs creaking faintly. “No slavery! Everyone can… Uh…” My words trailed off as I blinked, realization dawning on me. “Lola, what are our laws?”

  A small, amused giggle escaped her lips. “Charlie…”

  Exhaling dramatically, I let myself fall backward onto the mattress again, sinking slightly into its comforting softness. The scent of freshly washed linens was calming. “What? I have Lola for figuring out all the boring details…”

  With a familiar shift to business mode, Lola raised her tablet, the screen casting a subtle glow onto her concentrated features. “When is the grand auction?”

  In a mock protest, I closed my eyes and rolled onto my side, dramatically showing her my back. “Three weeks.”

  Silence stretched between us, with the only sounds being her soft taps against the tablet. Unable to withstand the suspense, I rolled back to face her. She was fully absorbed, brows knitted in thought. Curious, I reached out and examined my clothes. “By the way, what’s this? I mean name and type? As a girl now, I should learn names for clothes.” I lifted it, examining the soft material.

  Lola glanced up briefly and then consulted her tablet, her voice perfectly neutral. “Let me look… Tijaro, Women’s Elegant Chemise Lace Satin Sleeveless Nightgown.”

  “What?” I blinked, matching her serious expression perfectly, the fabric slipping gently between my fingers like water.

  Our eyes met for a tense second, then simultaneously, we both burst into laughter. It was loud. “I don’t know!” Lola finally managed through her giggles. “It had the fastest delivery yesterday. Okay, good news is we can make it before the auction.”

  “And bad news?” I continued to idly test the nightgown’s smooth fabric, enjoying how it slid across my fingertips. Its craftsmanship felt surprisingly high-quality, not something hastily produced by an AI… though honestly, who knew or cared anymore?

  Lola hesitated, her smile fading slightly as seriousness seeped back into her eyes.

  She glanced down at her tablet again, the faint glow reflecting softly off her worried expression. “We’ll have to move quickly and carefully. There isn’t much room for mistakes.”

  “Won’t players get bored? With days of travel?” I yawned, stretching as the golden sunlight from the window warmed the edge of the bed.

  Lola didn’t answer right away.

  She sat cross-legged at the edge of the bed, fingers dancing across her tablet. Her suit jacket had slipped off onto the floor, and her white blouse was wrinkled from a day of use. There were faint bags under her eyes, and her hair, usually a perfect waterfall of straight brunette, had strands falling out of place. “Thanks to being still officially in charge of the royal treasury and steward, or how it was changed to seneschal,” she said, voice weary.

  “Our kingdom isn’t… real yet, but it is. Sort of?” She groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “The system…”

  “Let me guess?” I scooted closer, wrapping my arms around her shoulders in a half-hug, half-collapse. “Crashed? Glitched? Was too snarky?”

  She laughed softly and leaned into the hug. “Everything I touched was broken… and then I lost access.”

  “Give Cloudy some time, okay?” I murmured, resting my chin on her shoulder. “It’s an NPC kingdom founded by me, with you as a player official. Honestly, I expected it to be completely broken, like… I don’t know, glitching NPCs and floating goats.”

  She chuckled and pulled slightly away to look at me, her expression caught between tired and amused. “I can issue quests and give small rewards. And there are the floaters attacking us…”

  “Ah, the floaters!” I sighed and flopped onto my back, eyes drifting toward the ceiling. “So much XP with Don. Who used to be against me, and now… he’s kinda on the same side? Not exactly a redemption arc, but hey, I’ll take it.”

  Lola blinked rapidly, then turned to me with urgency in her eyes. “Charlie! Got a report from a vid! I… Is your fragment in the heart of Gefahr-lander?”

  My stomach dropped a bit at the mention. “I think so? Why?” I sat up slowly.

  “Count Itzel is going there.” She pressed her hand to her tablet’s screen, pulling up a holo-vid up. “I think he aims to take the world fragment from us.”