They had decided that they wanted their wedding to be a sort of do whatever they want kind of thing without regard to the traditions those around them might’ve preferred.

  Surprisingly, there had been not one iota of push back.

  Not even a hint of displeasure from anyone.

  Thus, Alin stood on the beach.

  Barefoot and in light, loose-fitting pants and a button up long sleeve shirt.

  Attire meant for a dinner in a beach side restaurant.

  He stood alone with only Victor.

  Their friend had gotten a license to conduct legal marriage ceremonies just for this purpose.

  It had been a hard fought challenge to win the right.

  Victor had triumphed over all their friends in contests of brain, brawn and heart.

  “You sweating there, dude?” Victor whispered.

  “It’s a little warm today.”

  The sun shined and there wasn’t much of a breeze coming in from the ocean.

  He no longer had the gray, which meant he had to deal with the environment like normal people.

  “You want a spritz?” Victor brandished a spray bottle.

  “Just a lit—”

  The spray blasted him point-blank in the face.

  “Thanks…”

  “No problem, dude. I got you.”

  Alin took in the large crowd in their chairs.

  It seemed to go all the way to the sidewalk.

  The far edges were hazy, blurry.

  He couldn’t quite make out individual faces back there even with his left eye.

  The nerves must’ve been getting to him even though all he really had to do was say his vows, which he had memorized and uploaded to his eye. If those somehow failed then he had a physical copy folded up in his pocket.

  As per their plans there were no divisions between the guests.

  His side, Kat’s side.

  All were mixed together.

  The only concession to tradition was having immediate family in the front row.

  His parents were in the middle next to Kat’s.

  Moving out to the end on his left were his grandparents, then Aunt Rayna and Uncle Fed, Uncle Eron and Aunt Wytchraven, who wasn’t shrouded by a dark cloud of raven feathers. Lera sat already crying. Madalena shot him a thumbs up that belied the stricken look on her face. Rynnen, Jennie and Ryan were there. Uncle Remy, Aunt Megan, Tessa and Vee were all the way at the end and for some reason they looked off to him.

  They gazed impassively at him, less animated than the others.

  The thought flitted through his mind as his attention was drawn to the other rows.

  Hayden, Dayana, Drake and his kids. Tabitha hunched over on herself, hugging her stomach, unable to meet his eyes. Kelci and Adrian. Marion, Bolder and Luther. Colin held Lash tightly around the shoulder.

  Bei sat stoically.

  Marloes looked angry, but she tended to look that way normally.

  The Threnosh sat in a cluster.

  Frequency waved with a smile and wet eyes.

  Jake sat with Hanna, Rino, Kare and the others from the north.

  Oddly, all of them, except for the big man, seemed as subdued and out of it as his uncle Remy and family.

  Rangers waved and cheered.

  Some happily shot him gestures that would seem rude at first glance.

  Many of his childhood friends weren’t in their seats since they had roles to play in the ceremony.

  He caught Steph’s eyes.

  The gladiator gaped like a fish stunned to learn that being out of water wasn’t a good thing.

  Galen sat at the center of the Mist Spekters.

  Their eyes widened and they rose as one like fighters against a sudden ambush.

  They sat the next moment.

  Confusion on their faces turned to pained understanding.

  Then he noticed it.

  Oddly empty seats scattered throughout his friends.

  He blinked and they filled.

  Primal and Kynnro sat with Frequency.

  Howard laid a hand on Tabitha’s bowed head.

  Ibra sat next to the magus ever ready to defend her.

  The ranger captains stood at the back as if to watch over all of them.

  Captain Mouthy with a wide stance, brawny arms crossed over her chest. Captain Hardhat leaned on one shoulder while Captain Aims leaned on the other. Their weight on her shoulders was as light as a feather. Captain Spiritwalker and Captain Creepy Chipmunk book-ended them. Their faces at peace with their sacrifice.

  Alin’s eyes fell upon Jayde at the last.

  She sat leaning on Drake’s shoulder. A swaddled baby in her arms and a crooked, cocky grin on her face.

  The world blurred for a moment.

  Too much pain and regret threatened to overwhelm him, but as always a soothing touch graced his thoughts to bring him back to his center, to the here and now.

  A bell tolled.

  “Looks like you’re on, dude!” Victor thumped him on the back.

  Eda’s owl flew over the crowd, carrying a basket in its talons.

  As it reached the center it released its hold.

  The basket exploded into a glowing banner that let the crowd know what they were here for if they weren’t sure.

  The banner disintegrated into sparkling lights that tasted like a person’s favorite food once they landed on them.

  One light per person.

  Next a robot horse galloped across the beach, scattering a cloud of sand in its wake that vanished just as quickly as it had been generated.

  Astride Razorwind, Kat sat side-saddle, radiant in her dress that shined with a love only for him.

  The magic they could put into things was something else.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off her even if he wanted to.

  Dark brown eyes sucked him in.

  Enough that he was only dimly aware of her dark brown hair perfectly styled to fall in waves to frame, but not obscure her perfect heart-shaped face.

  The smile caught his attention next.

  Lips with just a hint of color revealed dazzling white that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.

  Kat had said that she was going to the top ranked make-up artist and hair stylist.

  It had completely slipped past his notice since she wasn’t normally into such things.

  Truth be told he preferred her natural beauty.

  And in this case, he would’ve said she had wasted her points because it looked like she barely had any make-up on.

  His eyes flowed down her body as he closed the left to avoid the distraction from the readings.

  Her white dress was tight and short, fitting for the beach.

  Bared shoulders revealed just the hint of a perfect sun’s kiss and her athletic form.

  He traced her curves down to legs and back up again… and again.

  Until she walked up to stand in front of him.

  “I appreciate it!” She grinned. “But maybe close your mouth. You’re drooling a little.”

  His mouth was actually dry as he struggled to say something smooth.

  “You— you’re perfect.”

  “Not as perfect as you.”

  She took his hands in hers and squeezed.

  Time seemed to slow as he gazed down into her eyes and she up into his.

  Just the two of them now as their family and friends vanished along with the sounds from the ocean.

  He wanted nothing more than the moment to last forever.

  And, strangely, it did feel like that… for a moment.

  Until time’s inevitable pull drew them back into the present.

  A smile broke across his face.

  A giggle almost slipped out.

  Kat couldn’t hold hers in, blushing she broke their gaze to nod at Victor.

  “No, no. Please keep falling into each other’s eyes! It’s absolutely, disgustingly sweet and I’m all here for it! As I’m sure everyone watching you two are.”

  “Just start it, Victor.” Kat rolled her eyes. “The people want to get out of the sun and into the party they’re really here for!”

  A hand shot up.

  “Take all the time you need. I don’t feel the weather,” Uncle Eron said.

  “Ahem, I’m gonna start it then, unless anyone has an objection…” Victor looked up to the sky expectantly. “I said, are there any objections!”

  Explosions rocked the sky.

  Colorful lights bloomed like flowers and fell like rain that sang with music.

  An entire dramatic scene played out between dueling forces.

  One that objected and the other that didn’t.

  Drakes skirmished.

  The battle continued to the sand and waves.

  The children and childish adults in the congregation loved it.

  The actual adults sighed and indulged the lameness of it all despite how well choreographed the entire affair was.

  Steph’s doing.

  The gladiator knew how to put on a showy combat.

  “Oh my god,” Kat cringed. “This is so lame,” she hissed. “Why would they think we’d like this?”

  “Yeah, super lame, but they really put a lot of effort into it.”

  “They couldn’t just be normal?”

  “Nope… never. It’d be weird if they weren’t weird, you know?”

  The show ended to raucous applause.

  Victor raised a hand.

  “Right, that’s great, but it’s really time for what everyone’s here for.” He cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to something, something, wedding, something something, happiness… flowers minions please come forth.”

  Jennie and some of Kat’s young cousins marched up throwing flower petals without regard for aim or the people in the front rows.”

  “Ring henchkid?” Victor gestured.

  Ryan walked solemnly up with an ornate box in his hands.

  “Great job, ring henchkid.” Victor took the rings and shooed him back to his parents. “Okay, I’m supposed to say stuff, but time’s wasting. So, I’ll turn it over to you. You guys are the only ones that really matter anyways.”

  Alin took Kat’s ring and suddenly worried that his hands would get sweaty until he remembered that they couldn’t anymore.

  “Loser goes first,” Kat said quickly.

  “What?”

  “Nothing, my love.” She stuck her tongue out to laughter.

  Not that he minded.

  He couldn’t have handled the nerves of having to wait for her to say her vows first.

  Thus, going first was better.

  As it turned out saving his vows to his magitech eye was a prescient choice as the words he had spent all week memorizing slipped through like wet sand on the shore in the face of Kat’s radiant loving smile.

  …

  Madalena hesitated.

  Her eyes and nose were red.

  Obviously overcome with emotion at such a beautiful ceremony.

  Alin sat alone on the shared throne while Kat was off somewhere in the crowd.

  The reception took place under a massive pavilion set on the same beach.

  Tables filled with people dotted the area, surrounding a large dance floor, which was still empty, aside from some children running around.

  He had just returned from making the rounds to each table and was just about to start eating.

  What kinds of food?

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  It didn’t matter.

  He was so overwhelmed by it all that he only really had brain space for Kat and the people.

  “I’m sorry, Boy. I— I failed you,” Madalena finally said as she bent down to wrap him in a tight embrace.

  “Ouch! I’m just baseline human now.” He managed to get out with the last bit of oxygen in his lungs before she eased up just enough that he wouldn’t pass out. “Failed me? What are you talking about?”

  Her red-rimmed eyes widened a moment before she mastered her expression.

  “I failed… to bring a wedding gift.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. We said presents weren’t expected anyways. I’m just glad you could make it.” He looked up at her expectantly.

  A finger tapped her on the shoulder.

  “What!” she snapped. “Lilah?”

  “Sorry, Madalena. You’re holding the line. Also, someone wants to talk to you.” Lilah gestured vaguely toward the crowd.

  “Fine, I know. I’m not messing it up.” Madalena took a deep breath and faced him. “Boy, I want you to know that I love you and Kat is family now. Always and forever. I hope I’ll get a chance to spend more time with you later.”

  With one last crushing hug she reluctantly disappeared back into the party.

  “Hey, Lilah!” He waved. “It’s been awhile since you visited. How are liking it? Better weather, right?”

  She shrugged, leaning forward to whisper.

  “Don’t tell anyone, but I made a sigil that makes it so I’m always at the perfect temperature and humidity level.” She pulled her dress a little lower to reveal the tiny, glowing yellow sigil painted in the middle of her chest.

  Her eyes carried a faint hint of that color. Not like the metallic gold of the demigods and some eidolons. Hers didn’t set off unpleasant memories.

  Staring closer he could almost make out the sigils floating around her sclera.

  “Enjoying the party?”

  “Hmm, yes, but more for the chance to speak to you. It’s a gift your father gives us. One that can’t be understated.”

  The woman tilted her head to one side as if listening to a secret voice.

  “Er, yeah. I’m glad he somehow managed to give so many of you guys the chance to leave your duties and what not to make it. It means a lot to me and Kat that you’re here when you’re so busy.”

  She gazed over her shoulder. “Hmmm, the line grows.”

  They waved at him hesitantly.

  Threnosh, Marloes, Bei, Ranger Captains Butcher, Dastardly and others.

  Hayden, Dayana were toward the back cutting in front of Galen and Ranger Captain Swan Princess, much to the vocal displeasure of the latter two.

  “I remember when we first met.” Lilah leaned down to embrace him tightly without the crushing strength of Madalena, but with what felt like all her might nonetheless. “I was just a girl, who saw the end of a long nightmare in, of all things, a baby boy. Naked. Then, your dad put you in my arms and I had to run and hide while your dad and uncle beat the crap out of each other. Do you know what I did?”

  “You know, I don’t think you’ve ever talked about the specifics.”

  “Because I was guilty. When I found a place to hide while your dad and uncle were hitting each other with the buildings I drew a sigil on you. Right on your fat, little belly,” she poked his definitely not fat belly, “I thought maybe— I thought if it was a trick by the monster then I’d catch it.”

  “I mean, that’s fair.” He patted her back. “It was a good idea to drive the monster out if it was hiding inside me.”

  She loosened the embrace to look him in the eyes.

  “That. And I thought, if the monster was weak, vulnerable, then I could kill it for what it did to my family and everyone. I’m sorry.”

  He took a moment to digest that new bit of information.

  “I’m not mad. You work with the information you have. And the stakes warranted it. You would’ve been foolish not to at the time. Besides, it’s not like I didn’t spend years worried about the same thing. Thanks for telling me, but don’t let it bother you anymore.”

  “Thank you, Boy.” She sighed. “One last thing from that time.”

  “Yes.”

  “You peed on me.”

  He blinked at her flatly.

  “The first of many victims.”

  “Okay, that’s a slanderous exaggeration. And furthermore, it’s not fair because I was a baby and I don’t even remember. It could all be lies.”

  “I’ve heard many tales of Boy’s liquid excretion upon his many caretakers,” Frequency sidled up along with Marloes and Bei.

  The former grunted assent. “Yes, everyone has a story of Boy pretending to be done soiling his diaper only to let loose the moment the babysitter starts to change him.”

  The latter snickered. “Such deviousness, such dishonor!”

  “Oh, yes, he got Madalena so many times,” Lilah said. “It took her awhile to remember to keep her mouth closed.”

  “You are all filthy liars. That’s what you are. Liars lying lies.”

  “Hmm, I think this will make a good story for the storytelling portion of the celebration,” Lilah said as she turned to wander back to the party.

  Their shadows suddenly shivered, disgorging a dark shape that interposed herself between Marloes, who was next in line, and Alin.

  “Tabitha, no cuts!” Marloes said.

  “No! I’m not waiting anymore. I’m not missing my chance to say g—”

  Bei slapped a hand over her mouth.

  “Tabs?” He rose. “It’s alright guys. It’s not like I’m going anywhere. I promise. I’ll sit here all night for as long as someone wants to talk to me even if I’m not really that interesting.”

  Bei backed off as Tabitha glared daggers from beneath her monster hood.

  “What I was going to say that this was— is a good wedding. And I wanted to thank you, Boy for being a good friend that was never annoying. Not even once like the others.”

  “Ouch!” Bei said. “I thought we were cool.”

  “We are!” Tabitha snapped. “You’re just annoying most— sometimes.”

  “I glad you didn’t think I was annoying cause sometimes I thought I was.” He grinned. “And I hope that just because I won’t be going on Quests or training with you as much as before that we can still be the same friends. We’ll find more things to hang and do together. Promise.”

  …

  “Fucker!”

  “Ow! What the funk!” he rubbed his shin. “First of all, no words of curse. And secondly, ow!”

  Lera had kicked him without warning, nor the typical preamble.

  “You can’t tell me to watch my language.” She raised a brow. “I’m an adult now.”

  “Yeah, well, adults don’t go around telling people they’re an adult. It’s got a very hello fellow kids vibe.”

  “Whatever, don’t be Fae. I barely tapped you.”

  “I’m not as tough as before and— what do you mean by you’re an adult now? You’re halfway to 22.”

  His cousin’s eyes widened.

  She was as tall as him now and built like an Amazon goddess.

  He couldn’t quite shake the sense of wrongness.

  It seemed like she was just a gangly teen, all elbows, knees and long limbs not that long ago.

  “Err… yeah. It’s cause 21 is the true adulthood. Not 18, which I was three and a half years ago.”

  “At least your math has improved… a little. So, what’s up? You don’t normally drop in unannounced.”

  “I don’t? That doesn’t sound like me?” she mused. “I would definitely drop in unannounced all the time if I could. That’s what makes being able to fly fun. Think of all the embarrassing situations I could catch you in.”

  “Embarrassing for whom?”

  “Eww…”

  “That’s what the tiger gets for grabbing the elephants tail.”

  He regarded her closer.

  Her eyes were red.

  And she had a bit of snot leaking around the rim of her nostrils.

  The question was on his lips when he remembered she didn’t like being babied.

  So he said nothing and gave her the space and time.

  “I wanted to complain.”

  “I’m listening.”

  He wracked his mind and couldn’t come up with anything.

  “You promised me.”

  “And I didn’t keep it?”

  “Do you remember?”

  “I’m sorry, Lera, but I’m drawing a blank right now. Been having a bit of the mind fog lately,” he grinned.

  “Ha. Ha. Ha. So funny.” She crossed impressive arms. “You promised that I could be your sidekick on adventures.”

  “Huh?” He remembered. Years ago. When Lera had been around eight or nine. Of adventures in the real world and in the Fae realm. He smiled. “I meant it, you know. I was just waiting to get strong enough with the gray so that we could see if I could do something permanent about those Fae bastards that wouldn’t leave you alone.”

  She nodded, sniffling more like that little girl than an Amazonian goddess.

  “That’s impossible now. I’d just get in your way. Besides, the Solar Tyrant grows mightier every day. The Fae Courts’ days are surely numbered.”

  “But we were supposed to do it together!”

  “Hey, it’s okay. I’m not necessarily closing the door on it. Maybe, I can modify my armor with some cold iron and get someone to turn Lucky Charms into ammo? A couple of years from now? When you’re at max power and your mom and the witches finally figure out a way to take out the Fae permanently? I’ll be right there… behind you.”

  “You promise?”

  “As long as I’m alive.” He grinned then gasped as she rushed forward in a blur to engulf him in a mighty hug befitting of a solar tyrant.

  “Lera?”

  She sniffled.

  “Yeah…”

  “Are you wiping your snot on my shirt?”

  “Yeah…”

  He rubbed her back.

  “Never change.”

  “I won’t.”

  …

  The clang of blunt steel rang across the Southern California neighborhood.

  Cut.

  Parry into thrust.

  Side step into snapping cut.

  Pained grunt.

  “Point for me!” Kat crowed.

  He took a moment to breathe and master himself like he had been taught before removing his helmet.

  “Good one!” He tried to smile.

  “You okay, love?” Kat removed her own helmet and laid her practice katana on the grass of their lawn.

  “No.”

  “It takes time.”

  “It’s been over five years and I still can’t beat you even though you have the inferior sword.”

  “Excuse me?” She arched a brow.

  “My longsword is longer with two cutting edges and I used to beat you all the time.”

  “Things were different back then,” she said gently.

  “I know, but it’s frustrating. I feel like I’m a toddler again. My prosthetics are as perfect as they can be. Zero input-output lag, complete tactile feedback and everything else and I feel like I’m flailing around in a body I’m not in control of.” He sighed. “Sorry, I’m just venting.”

  “No, that’s okay. Let it out. I’m not taking it personally.”

  “I guess… sometimes I think back to that night and I wish I could just have one more taste of the power I had when I was fighting Phosfuraie. The worst part is I can almost taste it. Like it’s just hiding behind a paper-thin wall that I just have to poke a finger through to get it back.”

  She regarded him with nothing but warmth and understanding.

  So much that he could feel it as a palpable thing.

  “It’s nothing. I know that’s gone forever. I guess, it’s one of those things, you know?”

  “Like what?”

  “Something you don’t really know you’ll miss until it’s gone forever.”

  “Well, then there’s only one way to go.” She picked up her katana. “C’mon, we’ll get you happy with your blade work no matter how many times I have to beat you with my superior blade!”

  …

  “Beer, Boy?”

  His dad was partway inside the fridge.

  “Sure.”

  Alin had mastery of the snacks, so chips went into bowls alongside a variety of fried foods.

  “What do you want?”

  “Beer surprise! Er… make that a troll beer. You have some, right?”

  He would be most disappointed if there were none.

  “You know I always keep troll beer in supply!” His dad grinned. “Troll beer calls for a stein at minimum.”

  Said stein flew out of the cupboard.

  Finished with the snack set up, he reviewed his warband character sheets one last time.

  “Here you go!”

  “Thanks, Dad.” He took a deep sniff as warranted then a sip. “Honey walnut?”

  “Correct.”

  “Not chicken feet?”

  “I don’t like eating actual chicken feet. No chance I’m drinking beer with that flavor.”

  “It’s not so bad. I mean the food. Chicken feet flavored beer is foul.”

  “Hey, I make the lame pun jokes around here.” His dad laughed. “Alright, you ready? What’s the quest for tonight?”

  He paged through the scenario book until he found the next one in their narrative campaign.

  “In pursuit of the foul lich lord of the sun-baked lands the dueling warbands descend into the fetid Swamp of Magorg where the Crimson Skull Tribes of goblinoids make their home. Can they navigate the dangers, natural and magical, to catch the lich lord before it can reach the hidden temple of the Nole men and its deadly treasures? Test your might, intellect and wisdom! Test it all in this adventure of Steel and Spells!”

  “Dun dun dun!”

  “You want to roll first?”

  “Sure.”

  Dice flew.

  “I’m not saying you’re cheating, Dad. But, I notice that you’ve gone first in five straight adventures.”

  “By definition rolling dice is random. Besides, I wouldn’t trivialize my abilities by using them to cheat at a tabletop miniatures game.”

  “Yeah, that’d be really petty.”

  He eyed his dad’s set up.

  The warband was a group of five painted to resemble a modern comic book superhero team instead of a game appropriate vague medieval fantasy.

  His dad tended to do that.

  Now, his warband was proper fantasy.

  A mixture of different standard fantasy species.

  He even had a Crimson Skull goblinoid that had found the benefits of living an adventurer lifestyle over that of a fetid swamp lifestyle.

  Cremloc the Lip-taker was a nasty little guy to his enemies and a rude bastard to his allies, but in a fun way.

  “You want to roll for random enemies?”

  “Yeah, I’ll do that.” He focused his left eye on the dice, hoping to detect irregularities of a telekinetic variety in how they spun and landed, but found none.

  His dad went first, pushing the warband straight toward the closest bonus objective only to stumble right into a random enemy spawn.

  “Not a good start.” He grimaced. “What am I dealing with?”

  “73. That is a… leech hydra.”

  “Crap!”

  The miniature floated out of the case and landed in front of his dad’s warband.

  “I think, I’ll open up combat with the Gazer Eye artifact…”

  It was just before the third turn that a wrench was thrown into both their warband’s plans.

  “Hey, guys! Can I play?”

  A wild mom had appeared holding something behind her back.

  He exchanged a glance with his dad.

  “Sure!” They said with legitimate enthusiasm.

  His mom didn’t usually play their nerd games with them.

  She was more of a board game player, although she did indulge them a couple of times a year with a minimum of snarky digs at the nerdness and dorkness of it all.

  “Do you need to read the rules?”

  “Nope, Boy! I already did!” His mom placed a box on the table and revealed her warband.

  “That doesn’t seem fair,” his dad said.

  “Why not?” his mom raised a brow. “There are rules and stats for ogres.”

  “Yeah, for one ogre per warband. Not a warband of just ogres.”

  “Well, I thought since this is all make believe then we can just make up our own rules.” She regarded them with the self-assurance of a queen gazing down at her peons.

  “It sounds about right. What do you think, Boy?”

  Low blow, Dad. Show some nuts.

  I’m just happy your mom wants to play without me bugging her for weeks!

  “We’d love to have your warband join the challenge!” He smiled.

  “Thanks, love!” His mom hugged him and kept one arm around his shoulder while she introduced her ogres. “This is the leader, Cassie. She’s an ogre marauder lord, er, lady, I guess. This is Martin, he’s got a cannon, but it’s basically a rifle to him because he’s so big. This one is Timothy, he’s sneaky… for an ogre. He’ll sneak up on you and step on you. My wizard is Eleanor. Her magic is baking focused. Xi’an is an ogre from another ogre country far to the west. She’s a martial artist that uses different pills to gain temporary abilities.”

  “Okay, I’m pretty sure that last bit isn’t anywhere in the rules,” his dad.

  “Oh, don’t worry, guys!” His mom handed each of them a sheet of paper. “I made up rules for that!”

  “Of course, love! Awesome!” his dad said.

  He couldn’t tell that it wasn’t genuine.

  “Alright, sounds cool, Mom! Why don’t you pick a deployment edge—”

  “Wait! I still have five more ogres.”

  “Hold on!” His dad raised a hand. “Objection on that. A five ogre warband is already over-powered. And that’s not counting your blatant self-insert.”

  “Boy?” Her hand squeezed his shoulder. “What do you think? Should your mom have to play with only half her warband after she came up with detailed and deep backstories for all of them?”

  “Er… sorry, Mom, but ten is the max number. And that’s for human-sized characters.”

  “Fine.”

  “I have another complaint,” his dad said.

  “What now?”

  “Your naming conventions.”

  “I can name them whatever I want.”

  “It’s not thematic.”

  “Why can’t ogres come from a society that’s like modern pre-spires America?”

  “I’m not saying anything against that. I’m just saying, it’s like animal pets with people names. It’s just weird and lame. And little disrespectful to people with those names.”

  “You are being a speciest against ogres.”

  “I’m rolling for initiative!” He rattled the dice and tossed them down. “I suggest you guys do the same before the sun-baked lich lord gets away.”

  It turned into a fun night because of his mom’s hilariously over-powered ogres.

  And that’s the only thing that mattered in the end.

  It was just a game after all.

  Not a competition.

  …

  He fell in his home.

  Reaching for the chair as he and Kat were about to have dinner.

  Dimly, he heard her cry out.

  Then, everything went dark.