The dice rolls

- Behold and rejoice! This will be a journey you will never forget!

- We are in the middle of the campaign, though...

- Uuh… What happened last session again?

- We rescued some hostages from an evil alchemist and convinced that grumpy noble to join forces to kick the demons out of the town. By the way, when will he betray us so I can put him in his place?

As you grow up, hanging out with your childhood friends can be difficult. Time can permanently separate old friendships, and all responsibilities of adulthood will likely get in the way of a Friday night hanging out with your favorite idiots. That’s why having a day where the entire gang is free is very rare, almost a miracle. And this specific group of grown-up people, at least in age, are using this precious moment together to play tabletop RPG in a small basement, which is an absolute waste, but they couldn’t care less.

- Exactly! The demons must perish! As knights of the church, it is your duty to end their sacrilege while saving the people and discovering who is responsible for summoning these wicked creatures! You are so close to the truth, yet so far from being ready! - the dungeon master declares, as he makes exaggerated gestures with his hands - Also, please, let’s not harm any more innocents unnecessarily.

Wearing a black robe and a big cross necklace, he’s in character for the session that is about to start. If not for the occasion, you could easily mistake him for a religious figure as he sits at the end of the table trying to act all fancy.

- Giovanni - another man speaks, addressing the one that looks like a fanatic.

- Yes, Kai?

- How’s the catgirl we saved from that alchemist? - he asks in a rather serious tone.

Giovanni sighs.

- She’s very grateful and, as you requested, she’s willing to join the party and wear the maid outfit you took from the noble’s house.

- YES! I knew putting some points in charisma was worth it!

By his messy black hair, pale skin, and dark circles under his eyes, you could easily guess how many times this despicable soul leaves his room each month. His clothes also do him no justice since it seems he just picked the first shirt and pants he saw in his closet and has been wearing the same zip-up hoodie for the past few days. At least he cares enough to avoid smelling awful in front of his friends.

A sudden vibration sound.

- Oh, it's mine. Just a second - a third member of this group says, taking his smartphone to answer the message he just received.

- Nicholas! How dare you use this object of blasphemy in our sacred place! - Giovanni stands and points at him in condemnation.

- Hehe, sorry Gio - he apologizes with a friendly smile.

That's the kind of guy you wouldn’t expect to find in this sort of environment. His soccer uniform and athletic body suggest he's more of a sports person, while his blue eyes and blond hair indicate he’s too popular to be here. Yet, despite all that, there is Nicholas, who has a big smile of enthusiasm on his face and is even wearing a cape to stay in character.

- Repent and destroy this object at last!

- Okay~

While he turns off his phone, the last individual on the team keeps mumbling to herself about what atrocity she should do to prevent a betrayal that has so far only happened in her head.

- …So while we exorcise the demons, I will make sure to put a sleep spell on the noble. Nicholas could probably hold his guards so Kai can find the notes he’s been hiding…

- Pietra?

No response.

- She’s plotting again…

- Gio did traumatize her after our encounter with that cunning bard.

- Don’t forget the high demon that can disguise as anyone.

- Nonsense! I plead guilty to my worldbuilding being quite malign and deceptive at times, but this journey is all about overcoming suffering to achieve glory!

They all focus their attention on her again. Pietra is taking notes while still mumbling. Her petite body fits cutely with the pointy wizard hat she’s wearing. The dress and jacket combo also shows that she had thought carefully about what she would wear today. At last, her long and straight brown hair and clean white skin are the cherry on the cake of her feminine figure.

- Looking at her like that almost feels like she’s not already in her thirt- - Kai was stopped mid-sentence by a dice thrown at the middle of his forehead. He falls back, and his back hits the ground. It was an astonishing critical hit.

- Oh, sorry - Pietra casually looks at the other two as if she almost didn't murder a friend - That is against the rules, no? Making plans before we start, I mean.

- Nah, that's fine - Giovanni even breaks character to confirm that he doesn’t mind. - It’s all about the greater goal of having fun anyway.

Nicholas leans back a bit.

- You okay there, buddy?

- Urgh… - Kai slowly sits back on his chair - Can we… Start already?

- Right. I need one more thing to finish all preparations, and we are good to go - Giovanni says with a gentle smile but hinting maliciousness. He goes up the stairs, leaving the basement.

- What is he up to now? - Kai questions with a concerned look. - Every time he makes that face, something extraordinary happens in our sessions. Usually not in a good way.

- I’m aiming for the noble eyes.

- He’s probably just trying to get us worked up. Gio does like to tease us, no?

Kai sighs and takes one of the dice.

- Warming up your luck? - Pietra looks at Kai, knowing what he’s about to do. He always throws one or two dice before their games, hoping they give bad results to improve the next ones. Not that it makes any difference, but he does it anyway, kinda like a personal superstition.

The D20 rolls at the table and lands near the drawing of a church, a synonym for safe zones in Giovanni’s campaigns.

He looks at the result and groans in disappointment, melting on his chair.

- Natural 20…

Pietra sighs deeply.

- There goes all your luck, idiot.

- Look on the bright side, Pia - Nicholas rests his head on his hand - If getting a good dice now is unlucky, then the real luck is still to come, right?

- I don’t think it works like that…

- Again! - Kai exclaims, quickly trying to reach the dice at the table.

Then, the unimaginable happens. Right between his hand and the table, a magic portal opens out of completely nowhere, making an ominous sound that resembles the hands of an old clock spinning very fast. It happened so abruptly that they couldn’t even see it coming.

They all stay still, amazed by what just appeared right at the top of the table. A dark red magical portal with unknown symbols at its ends, making the slow and steady sound of a ticking clock.

Kai looks down and notices that his right hand is already inside the portal, and he cannot take it out.

- Of course…

- Is this real? - Pietra still can’t believe what she’s seeing.

- Kai, you…

- I don’t feel anything. I think I’m fine.

He starts to get sucked inside the portal.

- Alright…

- We need to get you out of there!

- Nicholas, fast! Grab him and-

- Nah, I’m cool.

- What? - the other two say together, dumbfounded.

- I mean, I’m probably being taken to another world or something. Sounds nice. - Kai says calmly, with his entire arm already inside.

- It’s a red and kinda sinister portal! What if it takes you to hell?! What if it just kills you?! - Pietra tries to reason with him.

- Not so nice, but I’ll flip that coin.

- That’s not the time for your silliness!

Nicholas grabs Kai and tries to pull him out, but he tries to push him away.

- Don’t you dare take me away from my purpose! A world of cute catgirls, tsundere princesses, and ridiculously overpowered magic spells awaits me!

- Well, when you put it like that- Ah!

Underestimating the strength of the portal, Nicholas ended up getting drawn in as well, and since the portal wasn’t large enough for two people, they got stuck. It was quite a sight for Pietra, who was looking at them in disappointment.

She tries to grab one of their legs but quickly realizes that her efforts are futile. After thinking for a few seconds, she makes a decision.

- You know what? - Pietra slowly steps up on the table and breathes deeply.

Like it wasn’t a choice that would change her life forever, she jumps and cannonballs right on the portal, forcing all three of them inside of it.