The trip down the stairs was more disappointing than I’d expected it to be. The stairs weren’t made from bricks, but rather carved into the ground. They were rough and unskilled. The tunnel was lit, but there weren’t any visible light sources. The walk down felt even shorter this time, I wasn’t sure if I should chalk that up to company or an actual physical difference in the two entrances. Or maybe I zoned out without anything interesting to look at.


    I was definitely in the wrong when I asked the Playwright if that entrance was nice, seriously how little effort did some of the others put in?


    Once we finally reached the landing I was entirely shocked, there were virtually no similarities between this area of the Underhollow and the place I’d been before. The entire vast landscape before me consisted of dark rocks that jutted up in sharp points seemingly randomly. As if someone had picked up the floor, broken it and just dropped it haphazardly back down. The sky above us was a dark dull red and didn’t provide much in the way of light, but surely enhanced the barren and deadly atmosphere.


    “This is so…” I didn’t know how to describe it.


    “AWESOME! Wow! How cool, let''s go explore!” Noel was immediately met with the three of us shushing him for his outburst.


    “Oh I almost forgot, I need to ask how the party system works. Could you guys let me know anything?” I asked as I looked at the GGC that had been pretty quiet as of late other than general speculation about my friends and if they’d die.


    [“Abandoned Bloodied Sword” complains that you shouldn’t join a party anyways.]


    [“Traveling Spring Painter” says that you can find it on the system’s main page.]


    “What do you mean main page?”


    [“Seeker of Magic and Knowledge” advises you to say the word system.]


    “System?”


    A panel similar to my status window appeared in front of me, it had various sections such as links to things I already used like my inventory and my status window, but it also included what looked like two sets of dates and times, and a social tab. There were a few other things that were there as well that were obscured, one of those was the year on the first date and some other links and tabs.


    “Oh… well I wish you guys had said something sooner.”


    [“Void Who Gazes Back” asks if you really needed it before anyways.]


    A few more gods or goddesses agreed with the Void’s statement, while a few others stated that they thought I should’ve known because of how popular games became lately. It was interesting seeing them talk about games as if they were created last year, though I supposed it could have been last year for them.


    I clicked on the social tab and was greeted with two  prompts one just above the other.


    [Please input a screen name: ]


    [Make yourself visible to nearby users?   Yes   |   No   ]


    I paused for a while considering what I should input. Rather than treating this casually and using a game screen name I felt I should relate it to my class. I stood for a moment pulling lightly at my hair as I thought.


    Maybe I should make it similar to how the gods have made theirs? I shouldn’t give away my class too obviously… I could use witch instead since they had familiars. Then an action word and a descriptor and the word witch…


    “So are we going to take a look around or what?” Noel was looking at the group impatiently, but the rest of us just exchanged uncertain looks without responding.


    Eventually I said, “I’ll see if Aureus can have a look around, it’d be better to know what we’re getting into. I’ve been to the Underhollow before but we don’t know if it will be similar to this area at all.”


    Caroline and Reid seemed relieved while Noel suppressed an annoyed look. I understood his excitement, I had run into things headfirst as well so I felt a bit hypocritical asking him to wait around and be careful. I decided if Aureus couldn’t find things quickly I should have him make use of his class.


    Aureus, would scouting be useless in this area because of the environment?


    I will try to search the area.


    Thank you.


    “Now that we’ve gotten to flat ground are you ready for me to heal you?” Reid asked as he set me down onto the bottom step of the stairs, it was rough under my palms but not uncomfortable to sit on because of my slime set.


    I found myself tracing a small teardrop cutout on the top of my dress while my mind drifted to the memory of when he last healed me. Caro had added it because of the lack of materials. Thankfully it didn’t reduce any stats even though she’d removed some of the fabric.


    “Mia?” Caroline called me gently.


    “Oh, yes sorry I’m ready.” I set my jaw and prepared myself.


    “Okay, I’ll start now then.” He faltered for a moment, I thought it was because he was worried about how I would react, but then I noticed it was because he wasn’t sure where to put his hand with the splint in the way. In the end he just cupped my foot and the small portion of my ankle that was outside of the splint.


    My leg pulled itself back together, my bones creaked as they fused into each other again. It wasn’t as bad as the first time, but it was taking longer. Which meant the pain lasted longer even if it wasn''t as painful. At some point my hands began to shake, my body tensed while I focused on not digging my fingers into my palms. Tears dripped continuously as my head hung down. I wasn’t sobbing. My breath wasn’t hitching in the slightest, only quick tears falling in succession.


    Before I knew it, we were done, and I was squashed into a Gallagher sandwich. The pain dulled and eventually faded away. As I opened my eyes again over their shoulders I could see Noel fidgeting, he very obviously was ready to get into things. He had been pulling at his sleeves and desperately craning his neck to get a view of our surroundings.


    Aureus? Anything?


    No, everything is just rocks, just black rocks.


    “Okay, Noel, can you do us a favor? Aureus can’t find anything so I was thinking maybe the monsters are underground or maybe hiding. Can you scout for us? I will have Aureus follow you from above if you want.”


    A huge grin lit up his face, his round brown eyes flicking around the area as I said it. “Absolutely, I got this! I’ll find our food.” Before I could question his strange wording he walked towards a taller rock that jutted out casting a long shadow and just disappeared into its darkness. He was gone.


    Aureus? Can you see Noel?


    Not at the moment I’ll look for him if you want?


    Yes please, I’m a bit worried about him.


    “Well, while they’re off exploring should we figure out the social tab? You three should definitely form a party at least.” I asked as Aureus flew out of view.


    “You should join too!” Caroline elbowed me as she said it.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    “I don’t want to eat up all of the XP though…” I said with a sigh.


    [“Playful Cat Hates Yarn” asks why you don’t join the party and set XP share for kills to equal for each participant?]


    [“Seeker of Magic and Knowledge” adds that you could adjust the XP share manually if you want to, so you can get more than them when fighting harder enemies.]


    [“Whispering Playwright behind a Mask” complains that is a bad idea, saying that you’ll be stuck unable to level up for a while which is dangerous.]


    “Yeah, we should do that… I just want to get them to a decent level, so they can take care of themselves.” I couldn’t check the party options because I got stuck on the naming step, so I likely would have learned about that eventually anyways. I knew that my strength would stall since I was helping them, but I needed to be sure that they wouldn’t die.


    “Do what?” Reid asked with his head tilted slightly, briefly he resembled Aureus.


    “The gods were talking about how we could set up party rules around sharing experience. If you just think ‘system’ a window for it should open and there will be a party tab.” I responded casually. The two of them opened their systems excitedly, or at least I assumed they did since I was unable to see their windows.


    They both got up pacing in front of my seat on the stairs, Caroline brightened almost immediately freezing in place. Reid made small circles looking slightly down as he rested his index finger on his lips. It seemed he was also stuck on choosing a name, I assumed we only got one shot at it so I wanted to be certain about mine. Reid was always cautious in nature so his hesitation didn’t surprise either of us.


    “What, you don’t wanna use your usual gaming handle? Hmmm, Reid?” Caro teased as she nudged him with her elbow. He shot back an annoyed glance before falling back into his contemplation. “What about you?” she asked me next.


    “I don’t know, I want to follow the naming conventions the gods use, I thought it would be fun. Plus I’ve never had a good naming sense so I dunno. I just don’t wanna get stuck with something I don’t like.” I responded with a sigh, I was wracking my brain for something, anything good.


    “You wanna bounce some ideas off me?” Caroline walked over and sat down carefully next to me, taking great care to sit on a moderately smooth portion of the rock.


    “Well, I wanted to include ‘witch’ in it since I don’t want to use my class directly…” I trailed off lost in thought again.


    “What about ‘Witch who runs Ahead’, if you wanna follow the way they name themselves?”


    “What? Why ‘runs ahead’?” I asked


    “Cause you’re so reckless. Duh.” she made a face like it was the most obvious thing ever, earning an eye roll as I continued to contemplate.


    “What about ‘Witch of Life’? Cause you created that lil monster.” She asked while lazily gesturing in the general direction of Aureus.


    “Maybe… I dunno.”


    “The Hermit”


    “Dragon Keeper”


    “Crazy Dragon Lady”


    [“Whispering Playwright behind a Mask” suggests “Witch Disguised as a Slime” or “Witch Who Fears Slimes”.]


    “Absolutely not!” I said as I shot a glare towards the GGC, though “Witch Disguised as a Slime” did sound like a fun name I couldn’t give them the satisfaction.


    “Soul… something Witch”


    “Life Witch”


    “Witch of the Wilds”


    I let out a sigh, Caroline had continued prattling off several ideas but I really couldn’t decide. Maybe I was focusing on the witch part too much? The ‘Life’ portion wouldn’t be a bad idea, I did kind of create life with Aureus. But then again so do mothers…


    “Conjuring Witch of …”


    “Witch of the Wellspring.” I mumbled to myself.


    “Yeah that sounds good, you should do that.” Caro patted me on the back and smiled at me.


    “Alright I will, how about you what’d you choose?” I asked while inputting my selection and clicking yes on it.


    “Me and my Patron Goddess talked about it previously, I chose ‘Call of the Void’. Since I’m her spokeswoman and also I just think it sounds fun and kinda deadly.” Caro had a huge grin when explaining it.


    “I think that really suits you.”


    “Of course, dahhlinggg” she pointed her nose up as she mimicked a posh accent.


    “I got it!” Reid exclaimed and I nearly jumped out of my skin. He smiled and looked over at us, continuing, “I’ll use ‘Radiating Golden Light’... or should I say Reidiating”


    We just stared at him for a moment, before Caroline asked, “It took you that long and that’s what you chose?”


    He just shrugged in response and looked back towards his window, but his expression scrunched up in frustration. He glanced to the side and back down before saying, “It says that it’s a protected phrase and I need permission to use it?”


    “Huh, that’s weird. Maybe ‘Golden Light’ is associated with a specific god?”


    [“Seeker of Magic and Knowledge” explains that some gods made portions of their properties such as classes or skills prohibited without permission to prevent – as you mortals would call it – ‘catfishing’.]


    Reid crossed his arms as he tapped his foot on the rocks beneath him, and started a one sided conversation with his system.


    “No, I don''t want to make a contract…”


    “Yes I still want the name!”


    “Hmm… maybe.”


    “No. I won’t-”


    “Still that isn’t good enough, just for the name?”


    “Think about it though, I am a pretty good representative for you. Tall, attractive, gentle, all very good things for a representative and healer.”


    “No.”


    “Yes.”


    “Throw in a skill or two.”


    “Yes really!”


    “No, that one isn’t worth it.”


    “Hmm… Yeah I will take those conditions.”


    “No I won’t breach that clause, I can… It won’t be long for that clause to be irrelevant anyways.”


    “Great doing business with you.”


    It seemed as though business Reid had won yet again, the stark differences in everyday Reid and business Reid never failed to shock me. We waited on the edge of our seats as Reid glanced through the contract before him one last time before clicking something in front of him.


    Once he did, a golden light rained down on him, being absorbed into his chest and slowly dimming over time. After all the light dissipated he opened his eyes and we were shocked to find that his eyes had changed colors. Now they were glowing gently and were a soft golden color, which made his hair look more of an ashy blonde than a traditional one. Or maybe his hair color actually changed, I wasn''t sure.


    I glanced at Caroline next to me, and asked, “Did you experience that when you got your contract?”


    “No… I just clicked the button and nothing really happened. I mean I got my dual class but… nothing like that.” she stared at her brother dumbfounded, he finally turned to look at us with a gentle smile. He was back to regular Reid alright.


    “Soooo…??” I prodded when he didn’t offer an explanation.


    “I signed a contract, and an NDA.” he grinned as he added the last part, shooting Caroline a mischievous grin.


    She frowned in response, but didn’t question him at all. I considered whether to follow her lead, but I was dying to know at least something about what’d just happened. Slowly I started, “So, an NDA… Then can you tell us anything… or?”


    “Well, yes I can say a little bit. I got the name and I got a skill and well this.” he said pointing at his face with a grin.


    “Okay so is ‘that’ from the skill or something that you asked for? Did you have good conditions?”


    “No this wasn’t my request, this was theirs. But I didn’t want to change my appearance,” he snickered as he continued, “So I got something else of enough value, though I will have to behave appropriately as a representative of that god and whatnot.”


    I smiled and nodded, I was glad he got what he wanted from them. I was contemplating what the god might have offered that wasn’t a skill or a class when Caro interrupted my musings.


    “I think Noel’s been gone for too long now…” she said anxiously.


    Reid’s face dropped and he asked quietly, “You sent Aureus after him right?”


    Aureus, did you find him?


    No, but I hear something a little further away. I will let you know if he is there.


    Ok thank you.


    “Yes I did but Noel is very good at hiding. He’s still looking, don''t worry too much.”


    “That’s true he can hide…” He trailed off, still frowning.


    After a couple minutes I still couldn’t quiet my anxieties about him disappearing. I started seriously considering going after him myself when I noticed a strange sound in the distance, it was slowly getting louder and something was coming our way.


    “Something is coming, it could just be Noel but get ready just in case.”


    Did you find him? I think I can hear the sound you were talking about.


    I’m over the noises but I don’t see anything from up here. I’m not sure what it is but it is moving.


    Maybe fly lower? That way you can see more details.


    Wait… disgusting. It looks like rats?


    Rats? Plural? Like how many are there?


    Too many. What a stupid human.


    Noel? You see him?!


    Yeah… well he’s hard to keep track of but it looks like he’s leading those rats towards you Master. Should I kill him?


    What? No! Don’t kill him. He might be crazy but you can’t kill him… well not yet.


    Fine…


    Well this will either be his best idea today or his worst, hopefully we can all handle them.