At 10 am, Zein woke up to the sounds of quiet chirps. He trudged to the bathroom, cleaning his heavy eyes, brushing his heavy mouth, washing his heavy face, and showering his heavy body.
At 11 am, once changed into shorts and a t-shirt, Zein fixed himself breakfast- cereal with milk. A hearty meal in his eyes.
At 12 pm, Zein strayed from routine, staying indoors and reading Age forums instead of shopping for groceries. A ritual he conducted every Friday for the last year.
Aria Mountain Range. Rocky, prone to landslides, inhabited by the Rock Village People, Weeds, Iron Ore, Mud Moles, and Vultures. Recommended level 23. Recommended party size, 8. Make sure to bring a long-range weapon. Average duration 1 hour.
At 2 pm, a transformation. A white t-shirt, a green apron, brown khakis, and grey slip-ons. He grabbed his bag, cleaned his glasses, locked his door, and ventured into the quiet street with a popped umbrella.
At 3 pm, Zein walked into Rich's Sports Wares with bread crumbs forming a perimeter around his lips and a drink. "Hey, manager. How are you? Did you get home safe?" he asked his manager, hunched.
"Zein! Come come." he chuckled. "Everything is good my son. I hope you had a good night's rest."
"My sleep was wonderful."
"I'm glad you slept well too, Zeizei."
"Yeah thanks, Clark."
…
"Clark!?"
"Yessir that's me, that's my name, what can I say that's already been said." Clark boasted.
"Wha-huh?"
Zein was baffled. Clark was dressed in a white shirt, a green golf cap, a green apron, brown khakis, and black oxford shoes.
'I work here now! Well, part-time."
"Manager, I need to file an HR complaint."
The manager twirled his moustache, liver spots glowing on top of his head. "You guys get along now. I'll be in the back if you need anything!" he laughed like Santa Claus, leaving for a glass room by the checkout aisle. Zein, still in disbelief, lumbered to the locker room like a zombie. Clark followed with a dance in his step.
Inside, Zein tossed his bag into an open locker, securing it, and sitting down, collecting himself. Clark crossed his legs and leaned on the locker room door. "What?" he dragged. "You missed me that much?"
"Why is the son of one of the largest conglomerates working at a sports ware shop?"
"Cause it seems like fun! Can't a man work with his pal while surrounded by equipment he loves? Is that not allowed? Is that banned!? I think not."
"Is that right?"
"Whatcha drinking anyway?"
"Poca-"
Clark rubbed his hands while snickering like a fox.
"Here."
"Thank you, thank you." Clark took a swig. Glugging, and glugging, and glugging as Zein pushed himself up with great effort, stretching his back.
Clark threw his arm around Zein. "I miss your cat ears…" he fiddled with an imaginary ear above Zein's head as the bottle covered him in dew.
Zein nudged his ribs. "That's enough." he adjusted his glasses.
"That…was harder than usual." Clark staggered.
"Yeah, yeah, let's get to work."
"Let's go let's go let's go!"
For the next 8 hours with intermittent breaks, Zein and Clark ran the show. Zein cleaned the equipment, cleaned the floors and bathroom, and sorted all the equipment. Clark attempted to clean the locker room, but Zein put a stop to it after spotting him almost mix bleach with ammonia. A super secret concoction of the Siegel family. Banned from touching anything, a law enforced by Zein, Clark stood behind the counter, fiddling with the scanner and aiming it at customers like a gun. Praise came Clark's way, however, as he dealt with the tougher customers.
The night came to an end.
"I'll be heading home now so you make sure you close up and take care of yourself, son." The manager adjusted his sports coat.
"Sounds good. Do take care of yourself, manager." Zein said.
"Goodbye, boss! I will see you tomorrow!" Clark confirmed.
Hohoho. The manager waved goodbye. He hopped on his little red moped and sped away.
A second chance was given to Clark, this time with Zein making the cleaning solution. He moped the floors, whistling an old-timey tune as Zein counted the money and locked up.
Laying on the locker room bench, hands grazing the spotless floor, Clark let time pass him by. Zein sat by him, packing his bag.
"I… didn't think it'd be this tiring." Clark huffed.
"Are you sure you play sports?"
"Hey!" He swung his hand, pointing behind him. "By tomorrow, I'll be wiping the floor with you." Clark finger gunned.
"I'm sure you will." Zein remained expressionless. "I did have a question though. It slipped my mind yesterday."
"Oooooh is it about my dashing looks?" Clark raised his head. "What can I say it's all natural baby."
"No. But it is about Skull Kidds. Where did they come from?"
"Ah. Them." Clark buried his head into the bench. "They popped up about 2 months ago. It was weird how quick they gained prominence but with it being under Ophis, it's most likely a direct subsidiary."
"You think they're washing?"
"Maybe. Who knows. What I do is that the heads of Skull Kidds are getting paid. We don't know how much, but that's what we've heard."
"This is getting annoying." Zein shut his locker.
Clark's chest tightened. "I'm… Sorry. For dragging you into this mess."
"It's alright. I'm sure things would've been worse if you weren't there. Plus, I got Wu and JJ got their bellhop uniform thanks to you." Zein reassured.
Clark smiled. "Thank you. I promise you, things will be different."
"Make sure you don't do anything stupid." Zein smiled.
"I know, I know, I know okay. I know it all after all."
"You are tired, huh."
Clark shot up, posing like a seal. 'Ah! I wonder if she's going to be on today."
"Who?"
"Ohohohohoho wouldn't you like to know." Clark twisted his body, sitting up straight. "I can't wait for us to log on. It's gonna be fun."
Zein walked, showered, changed, and logged into Age of Divinity perplexed. What was going to happen? What did he plan now? Who was this girl? Question after question banged against the walls in his head.
Wood fitted Zein's inn room as its grains blended. Wooden bed, wooden floor, wooden walls, wooden ceiling, wooden fan, wooden table, wooden cupboards wooden chairs, wooden doors, wooden windows, wood, wood, wood, wood. The pillow played contrarian.
"Open Camera. Start Recording."
Walking to the entrance, Clark jumped Zein in the lobby. He changed his gear to something more palatable within the world of Aria. A leather chest piece, iron arm and knee guards, leather boots, and a Mud Mole Long Sword.
"Is your privacy filter on?" Zein asked.
"What happened to "Hello" or "How are you" or "Didja reach home safe?"? I blame you young folk for this."
…
"But yes it's on." Clark confirmed.
"Let's get going then. JJ seems to be online too, I'll let them know to meet us at the mountain ranges. Skull Kidds should know by now too." Zein eyed the SKG badges at the Inn.
"Let's go go go!" Clark opened the inn's door.
The flood of adventurers roaming the streets disorientated Zein, making him uncomfortable. He held his ears, shutting it from incoming noise.
"Hey, you good?" Clark kept a hand on Zein's shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm okay."
"Anodos!"
Zein released his ears, letting his hands sit behind them. "Did… You hear something?"
"Whuh?"
"Anodos!"
His name grew louder. Zein scanned the busy street. "I swear someone is calling out my name."
"Anodos!"
There. A woman with luscious pink hair in a beanie waved her hand as she ran towards them.
"Oh! That's the girl! She was looking-"
The woman threw herself at Zein, wrapping her arms around him as her toolbelt crashed into his stomach. Clark's eyes and mouth blew wide open, letting out a drone.
"Hello…?"
"You're Anodos right!" She asked enthusiastically.
Zein read her nametag. Skada. Level 40. The cogs spun. "Were you the one who made the slime-coated armour I bought." he guessed.
"Yes! Thank you for buying it." She petted Zein's cheek. "Your fur is so soft."
Clark came back to his senses, eyebrows now furrowed, lips reaching his chin.
"Hey! You! Get away from my husband!"
"Husband!"
"Husband?"
"Do you like women too?"
Uhhhhhh… "Yes?"
"There we go! Just cause he got a goalkeeper doesn't mean a girl can't score." Skada booped Clark's nose.
"Excuse me!?"
"You're off age right?" She whispered.
"Yes…?" Zein replied.
"Great! Cause I am too. We in business now." She faced Clark, arm around Zein.
"Why you. You." Clark turned to Zein. " Honey!"
They both looked at Zein with intent. A choice needed to be made. "Okay, that's enough." he dodged, pushing Skada away from himself. "First off, don't call me your husband," Clark looked away. "Second off, that was harassment, so don't so that again." Skada looked away.
'To be divorced like this. How cruel, Zeizei."
"I'm sorry…"
"Good. Now, how can I help you?" Zein asked dusting his robe.
"I just wanted to see what my first customer was like! And I was not let down." Skada said with a hand on her waist.
"You betta not by eyeing my boyfriend lady."
"I'm not your boyfriend either, Kal."
"To be broken up with like this. How cruel, Zeizei."
"That's right Anodos! I know I'm gorgeous but you can't be breaking up with your boyfriend over a game!"
"Enough, let's reset. Would you mind introducing yourself?" Zein switched course.
"Well, my name is Skada as you know, and I am an armourer! I'm currently not part of a guild and I use these bad boys." Skada drew two flintlock pistols, spinning them on the trigger before grabbing them. Pew pew. She mimicked them being shot at Zein.
"Oh that's sick! I haven't seen them in ages. Did you get them in Nedline?"
"Naw I bought them at the auction, but aren't they so pretty!?" Skada caressed the guns against her cheek.
"Hell yeah. But if we're doing introductions, my name's Anodos, currently unspecialised, and he's Kalel, a swordsman."
"What! That's it!" Clark complained. "What about "Leader of the 11th largest guild in the game." C'mon man, this ain't right." he began mumbling to himself.
"Oooh hold on that's kinda cool." Skada said impressed. "You're a connected man aren't you Anodos."
"I guess I am." Zein smiled, glancing at Clark who didn't pay attention. "In any case, we gotta fo, so, we'll see you around. Thank you for the armour again!"
Zein texted and Clark grumbled as they made their way to the raid, leaving a pondering Skada behind.
"Wait! I'm coming with!" Skada decided.
"Are you sure? It'll be a while." Zein turned to face her.
"I've done raids before! I still wanna come." Skada declared. "I wanna see my first client in action."
Zein chuckled. "My bad. Let's get going then. Show Summon: Wu."
Wu's stats and location appeared in front of him. "Level 5. Not bad Wu!"
"Aww what's Wu?" Skada asked, curious.
"My best friend!" Clark exclaimed.
"He's my monkey." Zein laughed. "And my best friend too."
"Ooooh cute! I wanna meet him too!" Skada said giddy with excitement.
"Let's pick him up on the way then, he's close to the goblin cave." Zein waited for Skada to catch up.
The trio departed for the mountain ranges ruled by the vultures, picking up a curious Wu and some exp. The gems and items weren't left out either, Wu made sure of it.
Ding. Level 14 for the cat.
The four of them arrived to a distressed JJ, an annoyed Boom, a nonchalant Buum, a focused Biim, and a gaggle of other adventurers, all preparing for their perilous trip, avoiding the Skull Kidds like the plague. Thankfully, none of them noticed Clark due to the level restriction, placing both him and Skada at level 23.
JJ stomped towards Zein. "Yo! Anodos! The hell's goin' on? Why we doin' the raid with these assholes."
"Yeah why are you doing a raid with the Skull Kidds." Skada asked, her tone piercing.
"Shut up!" Boom retaliated. "You think we're happy about this! If it weren't for our brother-"
"Boom. Enough." Biim shut him down. "Hello, we've been waiting for you." Biim said, cordial.
"I'm sorry, JJ." Zein apologised. "I'll explain later. You too, Skada. If you're uncomfortable, you don't have to raid with us, but I can promise you there is an explanation."
Wu slept on Skada's head as she studied Clark and Zein.
"Okay. I trust you. Only cause you're cute." Skada winked.
"Thank you." Zein smiled. "You too JJ. If you're uncomfortable-"
"Man let's just get this shit over with. Pissing me off." JJ left for the entrance.
"Are you fonna ask me too!? Cman ask me too!" Clark waited, excitement sparkling in his eyes.
"Who cares about you! You don't have a choice loser." Boom scoffed.
"One day… One day." Clark said under his breath.
"Sorry about him. May we know who the girl is?" Biim asked.
"Yeah! Who's the girl!" Buum reiterated. Biim looked at him with confusion.
"She's with us. 7's better than 6 after all, isn't it?" a rhetorical question was posed. "Anyway, do we have potions covered?" a question was posed.
"We have some with us." Biim replied.
"And we're sharing none of it." Boom added.
"Yeah! We're sharing none of it!" Biim followed without missing a beat.
"I have enough for us, Zeizei." Clark confirmed.
"Sounds good, we can get some at the village too." Zein figured. "Shall we head in?"
"Who the hell made you-"
"Boom."
Biim glared at Boom while the rest readied themselves, partying up with each other and ensuring they had their stuff. Steps away from the entrance-
"Excuse me… Do you maybe have space for one more?" A quiet, shaking voice spoke.