Chapter 20: Report

They are now at the gate to a town called Deni and rain has been falling, soaking the cobbled path and the weary riders. Hiro dismounted, her cloak already plastered to her armor. She approached the gatekeeper, who stood half-sheltered beneath his watch-post, lantern light flickering across his grizzled face.

“Do you know where the boss of the Warriors’ Guild is staying?” Hiro asked, pushing damp hair from her face. “General Rowen?”

The gatekeeper shook his head. “No one by that name’s come through here.”

Hiro frowned. “What about gamers?”

“Some stay nearby,” the gatekeeper said, jerking a thumb toward the interior. “If it’s shelter you want, there’s an inn at the center of town. Can’t miss it.”

“Thanks.”

She returned to Tayo, who was barely conscious, struggling to keep himself upright on the horse. She mounts the horse. Together, the trio rode toward the city’s heart through the storm.

Back at the valley of Ealao, the rain fell harder, hammering the shattered remnants of the rock formations. Amid the rubble, Gotar sat hunched, his breaths angry, his wounds savage. Blood mixed with mud, and steam curled from the deep gouges across his body. A minion approached silently, offering a green vial.

Gotar’s clawed hand accepted it without a word. He uncorked the top and downed the thick liquid in one gulp.

Moments later, he flexed his fingers. Fire ignited from his palm. The light exposed his monstrous and massive form once more casting towering shadows of him and his minions standing around him.

Warmth, noise, and the scent of ale greeted them as Henry, Hiro and Tayo entered the inn. It was a modest structure, crowded with mismatched chairs and tables, and half-filled with gamers and NPCs who were drinking, laughing, and slinging stories as though monsters weren’t creeping outside the city walls.

They found an empty bench near the back. Henry helped Tayo down beside Hiro, who steadied him gently.

“I’ll go speak to someone,” Henry muttered, heading toward the bar.

Behind it stood a stout NPC bartender, wiping down a tankard with a bored expression. Henry leaned in.

“Can I speak to the master of this guild? We need a place to stay.”

The bartender raised an eyebrow. “And you are?”

“Gamers,” Henry said. “We need a place. And potions, if you’ve got any.”

The bartender nodded slowly. “Give me a moment.” He handed the bar off to an assistant and disappeared through a rear door.

Moments later, two figures emerged from the back—both gamers, their armor cleaner than most. One of them smiled. Evan.

“I was told you needed a room,” he said.

“We need rooms and potions. How much will they cost?” Henry asked.

Evan’s gaze drifted to Tayo at the back. “What happened to him?”

“He’s not feeling well,” Henry said curtly. “How much?”

Evan scratched his chin. “It’s not about cost. We only serve our guild members.” Then, louder, he added, “Hi, Hiro.”

Hiro didn’t even look up. She’s focused on Tayo. “Can you stand?” she asked him.

“I think so. What about Daro?” Tayo replied.

“Gotar attacked. He stayed back to fight. He hasn't... shown up.” Hiro responded to Tayo’s query.

Henry’s hands balled into fists. “This is the only place we could find. He needs help.”

“We all need help,” Evan said with a shrug. “It’s policy.”

“Who’s the head of this guild?” Henry asked angrily.

“I am and you’re welcome to join” said the other gamer—Frank—stepping forward.

Henry turned to him, eyes blazing. “This isn’t how you get people to join.”

Frank didn’t flinch. “Resources are limited. We save them for members.”

At that, Hiro stood and crossed the room.

“We’re already in a guild,” she said. “As you well know.”

Frank gestured between her and the others. “Including them both?”

“Yes,” Henry replied before Hiro could speak. He has decided to stick with her.

“Are you going to give us a place or not?” Hiro asked once more.

“No,” Frank replied cooly.

“Let’s go,” Hiro told Henry. They picked up Tayo and began to head out.

“There isn't anywhere else.” Evan called out.

“I can make an exception.” Hiro stops and Henry follows suit, in response to Frank’s statement.

Frank’s expression was unreadable as he spoke, “In return I'd like to hear what happened to you guys. He was the one who suggested finding the AI right?”

“We'll share what we learned with everyone,” Hiro replied coldly. “When the general arrives.”

Frank raised an eyebrow. “That could take days. Whatever intel you’ve got will be stale by then. I… have a faster way to reach him.”

Hiro’s eyes narrowed. “How?” 

They followed Frank to a quieter room at the rear of the inn. The space was cleaner, more organized. Maps lined the walls, along with equipment and glowing crystals stacked on shelves. Frank approached a polished wooden table, pulled a smooth cube from a drawer, and tapped it in a slow, rhythmic pattern.

“Item Activate: General Rowen.”

The cube flickered, and then a static-filled hologram emerged—a blurry image of a man in dark green armor.

“This is Rowen, boss of the Warriors’ Guild,” came the voice. “How can I help you, Frank?”

Frank took a seat. “Hello Rowen. I’ve got a guild member here with information on this level’s boss.”

Hiro moved into the light of the projection. “Hello, sir. It’s Hiro. I’m with Ray and Henry—the ones I followed.”

“Go on,” Rowen answered.

“During our search for Ea, we encountered the boss of this realm. We believe we know where it might be now.”

There was a pause. Then Rowen replied, “That’s good. Do you know if it has the key?”

Hiro glances at Henry and Tayo before answering, “We aren’t sure, but it should. Have we found the portal?”

“Yes. It’s why we aren’t in Deni. We located it in Valia.” Rowen answered.

Evan and Frank show no reaction—no surprise in either of them. They already knew.

“That’s wonderful,” Hiro said.

“We’ll ride over tomorrow,” Rowen said. “Time to plan our assault. If this is truly the final boss of the level… we may need your help, Frank. Can we count on you and your team?”

Frank nodded solemnly. “Of course. We’ll be glad to help.”

“Good,” Rowen said. “Hiro, send me the rest of the details.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well done, soldier.”

The image dissolved.

Frank turned to Evan. “Get the bartender to show them to the house.”

“I’ll do it,” Evan said, standing. He gestured to the party. “Follow me. It’s nearby.”

Henry nodded and tried to lift Tayo, he refused and stood on his own and began to lumber forward. Hiro stayed back with Frank, to do what the general asked.

The storm had passed, leaving behind the scent of wet earth. In the living room of the guild house, Hiro lay sprawled on a weathered couch, eyes half-closed, her fingers dancing lazily in the air. A soft, familiar melody hummed from her lips—a haunting piece that had once scored the Epic Realms 2020 trailer. A tune from another world.

Footsteps sounded lightly on the wooden floor.

Tayo, awake but still a bit stiff, padded in with an apple in hand. He approached Henry’s room and knocked gently. Hiro’s humming stopped as she glanced up and saw him.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hi,” she replied.

“Have you seen any members of the Gamer’s Guild?” he asked.

Hiro shook her head. “No.”

Tayo took a bite from the apple, chewing thoughtfully as he knocked again on Henry’s door. No answer.

“Henry went to check on his friends,” Hiro added. “You should be resting.”

“I’ve slept enough,” Tayo said, scratching his hair.

His gaze fell on a long, sheathed sword resting against the wall—Daro’s sword. Quietly, he stepped over and picked it up, unsheathing it slowly.

“You think Gotar took the professor’s sword?” he asked, eyes still on Daro’s sword.

Hiro shrugged from the couch. “Don’t know.”

Tayo gave the blade an swing, his form a bit imperfect as he is just waking up . He pivoted and tried again, this time with more control.

Hiro sat up slightly. “Please take that outside.”

Though the rain had finally ceased, the sky still bore streaks of dark clouds. Puddles glistened across the cobbled street, and the wind carried the occasional gust of damp air.

Tayo stepped into the open, gripping Daro’s sword with both hands. He raised it high and stared at the cloudy sky, trying to suppress a nervous flutter in his stomach. His last encounter with lightning still haunted him.

“Sangoooo,” he whispered, then instinctively covered his groin with one hand, bracing for the worst.

Inside, Hiro watched from a window, bemused and confused. Tayo stood still, waiting.

Nothing happened.

He looked back, saw her watching, and raised the sword again—this time more confidently.

“Lightning Magic: Lightning? Thunder? Aara? Eclair? Rai…” he paused, turning to her, “What’s lightning in Japanese?”

Hiro leaned out the window. “It’s rai—”

An explosion rocked the neighborhood, cutting her off. The windows rattled. Dust drifted down from the beams above. Somewhere not too far away, thick black smoke billowed upward into the gray sky.