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  At first, it had seemed like a cruel ploy to get her to join his military by preying on her desire to see.

  And if he could help her, he could help everyone, right? The more she thought about it, though, the more sense it made. Maybe he could help everyone, but as powerful as he was, he was still only one man.

  Myrddin couldn’t go around curing every disability in the world.

  However, it seemed like a moot point at the moment. The decision had been made. Sighted or not, Alex was staying on Earth. It would eat her alive knowing Middang3ard was a real place she could visit but wouldn’t.

  Then the gravity of the situation settled back in. The whole reason Myrddin needed Alex to come to Middang3ard was to fight in a war. A war meant people were dying. It meant there was a possibility she could die.

  Alex thought back to all the times she’d seen her party members die. Those had been heart-wrenching moments, even with the knowledge that her friends were going to respawn a couple of hours later. Could she handle people actually dying?

  Alex raised her hand as if she were in class. All the adults in the room stopped talking and looked at her. “People are dying in Middang3ard, aren’t they?” Alex asked.

  Myrddin solemnly nodded as he leaned forward on his cane. “Yes, they are, and most of them are innocent people. Our armies are well trained, as are our MERCs. We don’t lose many of them, and we try not to send them into situations they aren’t prepared for.”

  “Why is the Dark One doing this?”

  “We’ve been trying to figure that out for years. There doesn’t seem to be a reason. His backstory isn’t known, unlike those of all the bosses we’ve included in your raids. We don’t know why he decimates everything he comes in contact with.”

  Alex turned to her mother, resting her hand on Liza’s kneecap. “Mom, it should be my choice.”

  Liza’s eyes widened as she practically jumped from the sofa. “Like hell, it should be,” Liza shouted as she shook her head vigorously. “The whole reason that…that this man is here is because he can’t justify taking a child away from her parents.”

  Myrddin tapped his cane three times to get the room’s attention. “I am here because I care deeply about what is best for Alex. Just because I want her to come to Middang3ard does not mean I want her to fracture the relationships with those she is sworn to protect.”

  George was staring at the fireplace, where medals from his time in the Marines were displayed on the mantle. “Are you saying Alex has the potential to help people?” he asked. “To defend them? She isn’t going to be some grunt you’re throwing to the first infantry line or something like that?”

  Liza threw her hands up in exasperation. “What does it matter?” she asked. “Either way, he’s asking our daughter to risk her life for some world we know nothing about.”

  Myrddin raised his cane as if it would cast some kind of peace over the conversation. “I can assure you Alex would not be front-line fodder,” he answered. “We are not the Army. Our Riders are highly trained and highly qualified. They are akin to the Navy SEALS and other such programs—”

  Alex cut Myrddin off. “So, what am I to you?” she accused.

  Myrddin did not back off from the question. “Our only hope, Obi-Wan,” Myrddin replied.

  Alex sighed.

  “You think I’m joking, but no other humans have your reaction time. It rivals that of the elves in the Dragonrider program.”

  There was a brief silence before Liza and George started arguing with each other again. Alex tried to tune them out. She only caught an occasional word or phrase but was able to piece together what was going on regardless.

  George thought they should hear Myrddin out. If Alex really was a prodigy and there really was a war going on, maybe it was their civic duty to let Alex make her own decision.

  Liza wouldn’t hear it. She didn’t care if there was a war going on. She reminded George how adamant he’d been about never letting Alex join the Marines. Liza didn’t see any difference simply because what Myrddin offered included dragons.

  Alex stood up abruptly, causing both of her parents to stop talking. “How about we show them?” Alex stated. “We take them into Middang3ard and let them see the place I love so much for themselves.”

  For the first time since Myrddin had appeared in the room, he smiled. “That is a wonderful idea. What do the two of you think about it? You’ve seen screenshots, but they don’t compare to the real thing. Step into my world and see what it is we are trying to protect.”

  Liza cast a dubious glance in Myrddin’s direction. “You mean, you’ll take us to Middang3ard?” she asked.

  “Not the realm proper. Since humans have lost the use of magic, there are many protections we have in place to keep people from slipping in and out of Middang3ard. But allowing you to see the Middang3ard VR will give you a rough idea of what your daughter would be fighting for.”

  Alex could tell Liza still didn’t trust Myrddin. Even though she’d only had a little bit of time to see her mother’s reactions, Alex could already sense when her mother was not at ease.

  George, on the other hand, could not have looked more excited. “Wait, you mean we can actually see it?” he asked. “And see Alex in action?”

  Myrddin nodded as he stood. “You can definitely see the world, but I would advise against seeing Alex in action,” he answered. “Your daughter’s role in the game is somewhat dangerous. It is not for the faint of heart.”

  Alex shrugged and smiled as she stood and walked over to Myrddin. “How about you let me take them out for a little bit?” she offered. “Give them my own kind of tour.”

  Myrddin waved his hand, and three VR sets appeared on the coffee table. “I would have it no other way.” Myrddin chuckled. “Please show them a good time. You shouldn’t have any problem adjusting your headsets. Put them on, and they’ll take care of the rest.”

  Alex grabbed two of the headsets and handed them to her parents. She was eager to get started, and she saw that same eagerness was on her father’s face. Liza did not look even remotely excited. “Come on, Mom. Give it a try,” Alex encouraged.

  Liza held the headset to her eyes and glared at the visor. “And you’re saying this isn’t dangerous?” she asked.

  “Nope, not at all. I’ve been playing for months, and I’ve never had any problems.”

  “Fine. But if I don’t like it, I’m going to log out. Understood?”

  “Sounds fair enough.”

  Liza and George put on their headsets as Alex squeezed between them. She flashed Myrddin a thumbs-up before putting her own headset on. She hoped this would work. Who could go to Middang3ard and not fall in love with it?

  Alex opened her eyes. She was sitting on a thatch bed back in Middang3ard. She looked around the room, checking to see if her parents had spawned where she had. When she leaned over and looked at the floor, she saw both of them. They had spawned in the fetal position. Alex waited for them to wake up.

  Liza was the first to stir. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. When she saw Alex, there was no initial reaction. Then she smiled as if she’d just seen a long-lost friend. “Honey, your hair is so long,” Liza gushed. “I’ve never seen you wear it that long before!”

  Alex had forgotten that was the one thing she’d done to her appearance that didn’t match up with real life. Since this was just a game, Alex went through three or four different options a week. She sometimes did quests just to unlock more styles; it was kind of a hobby.

  “Oh, yeah,” Alex shyly replied. “I was just curious. It’s much easier to go to the hairstylist and see how something works here than have to spend three years growing my hair out, only to get a haircut I don’t like. I have some pictures saved of the other ones in case you want to check them out.”

  Liza stood up and stretched while she looked around the room. “That sounds great,” she said. “Is this your place? Do you have your own house?”

  “No, no. I didn’t want the whole house thin
g. I just have a room in a tavern.”

  “In a tavern?”

  “Don’t worry, Mom, it’s not what you think. The taverns here are more like inns, and there’s no alcohol for minors in the game. We just get a drink that makes our stomach warm, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

  Liza looked down at George, who was still sleeping comfortably on the floor. “Is he okay?” she asked.

  Alex knelt next to her father and nudged him with her finger. “Yeah, he’s okay,” she answered. “When you wake up in VR, it’s a lot like waking up in real life. Some people are heavier sleepers than others. We could give him the ol’ Middang3ard wakeup call if you want.”

  “What’s that?”

  Alex scrolled through her inventory until she found what she was looking for—a goblin war horn. She selected it, and the horn materialized in her hand, then she took a deep breath and blew with all she had.

  George jumped up at the sound of the horn. His eyes went wide as he tried to find the source of the noise, and he looked as if he were likely to bolt out of the room from sheer fear.

  Then he noticed Alex and Liza were laughing their butts off. “Ha-ha,” George sarcastically muttered. “Mess with the guy who’s enjoying a little nap. Real mature. Glad your sense of humor transfers to VR.”

  Alex walked a circle around her parents. Both George and Liza had spawned with basic peasant clothes. “You guys look kinda…blah,” she said. “If we’re going to go on a tour of Middang3ard, I don’t want you two looking like a bunch of newbs. Let’s get you some new clothes.”

  Alex went over to her closet and flung it open. This was where she kept all the armor she didn’t want to lug around in her inventory. She figured it would be nice to hold onto in case she ever made another character or met a new player she wanted to help.

  George leaned into the closet and whistled. “Wow, how come you can’t manage to keep your room this clean?” he asked.

  “My room is immaculate!” Alex retorted.

  “How did you get so much cool stuff?”

  “Different quests and shopping, I guess. My savings in Middang3ard makes the real-life me look like a pauper. Grab whatever you want, and make sure to pick a weapon, too. You never know what might reach out and grab you.”

  Liza didn’t laugh at the joke, and Alex realized she might have to downplay how randomly dangerous Middang3ard could be, even if it was her favorite part. After waiting for her parents to choose their outfits, the trio left the room and went downstairs.

  As usual, the tavern was mostly populated by dwarves and elves. There were a few humans and a handful of gnomes, but it looked like there might be an event going on in-game for elves and dwarves.

  Either way, Liza and George could not keep their eyes in their heads. They gawked at every player who walked by, marveling at how realistic each race looked. “I used to play tabletop RPG games,” Liza muttered. “I never saw any model or drawing that looked this good.”

  George bumped into a dwarf, nearly knocking his beer out of his hand. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he apologized.

  The dwarf puffed out his chest. “Oi, you better be, or we might have to settle this with axes,” he barked.

  Alex stepped between the dwarf and George. “Hey, hey, don’t make this a bigger deal than it is,” Alex threatened. “Or it’ll be my axe you’ll be tasting.”

  The dwarf looked Alex up and down, trying to gauge how big a threat the girl posed. “Hey, ain’t you Boundless?” the dwarf asked.

  Alex pretended not to be flattered by another player recognizing her, but if she was honest with herself, it was one of her favorite parts of Middang3ard. “In the virtual flesh,” she finally admitted.

  The dwarf’s rough face broke into a smile. “Well, I’ll be pickled. Word is you cleared the Dragonriders’ expansion. Word’s all over Middang3ard.” The dwarf looked over his shoulder, then leaned in close to whisper, “Is it true what they say? About the invitation?”

  Alex’s eyes sparkled as she answered the dwarf. “Oh, it’s true. I’m bringing my parents along for a little tour, so they can see what it’s all about.”

  The dwarf turned to George and bowed low. “I apologize, good sir,” the dwarf practically yelled. “I did not mean to insult the parents of Boundless. It is my honor to meet you. She is one of the most honorable players I have had the pleasure of raiding with. Good day to you, sir and milady!” The dwarf bowed again and strode off.

  George and Liza gave Alex very impressed looks. “Do you usually get such a fanfare when you come here?” George asked.

  Alex shrugged and pointed at the bar. “It’s a Middang3ard custom to open a game with a cup of grog, or in your adult cases, a pint of ale before discussing the quests or plans for the day. You can even get food if you’re hungry. I’d suggest it. The food here is amazing. Not quite as good as yours, Mom, but still pretty good.”

  The three of them went to the bar and ordered a grog, two ales, and a round of mutton cooked medium-rare. The barmaid brought the drinks, and Alex explained they were going to have to wait a little bit for their food. It was part of the VR immersion.

  As George sipped his beer, he let out a sigh and said, “Well, I can tell you right now, I am thoroughly immersed.”

  After some time, the mutton came, and the three Bounds tore into the succulent meat. Liza took a break to talk to the barmaid about how the meat was prepared. She hadn’t had anything so delicious before.

  She wanted to take notes for George, who would not admit he was wowed until the meal was over. Finally, he leaned back in his chair, and exclaimed, “I can’t believe this is virtual reality!”

  Alex handed her cup back to the barmaid and polished off the last bit of mutton before standing. “You haven’t even experienced the best part,” Alex said. “Come on. Follow me.”

  Alex took her parents by the hands and pulled them from the tavern. It took everything she had not to go running down the village streets. She wanted to get them into the sky as soon as possible, but she also realized that much of what made Middang3ard interesting was its small intricacies.

  The expertly-crafted town really did make you feel like you were in a completely different world. Alex made sure to walk slowly so her parents could absorb everything they saw.

  George pointed at a metalworker’s shop. “Can we go see the smith?” he asked.

  Liza laughed as Alex directed them down the street. “George, you can see a blacksmith at a Renaissance fair,” she said. “You don’t have to use virtual reality for that.”

  They were nearing the edge of the village. Some of the local players and NPCs had recognized Alex and were gathering behind her to see her summon the dragon. Alex was beside herself with excitement. She knew this was going to blow her parents’ minds.

  Alex stepped into the clearing outside the village and turned back to her parents. “Don’t freak out when you see this, all right?” she cautioned.

  Liza folded her arms and nodded, her face smug and bemused. “We aren’t going to freak out,” Liza assured her daughter. “We aren’t that old.”

  “Okay, I’ll hold you to that.”

  Alex raised her right hand, and her Dragon Link glowed brightly. From above came the familiar roar that shook the roofs of the homes and buildings surrounding them. Liza and George threw themselves to the ground when they heard it.

  “What the hell is that?” George shouted.

  Alex smiled as she watched her dragon break through the clouds and race toward her. “That,” Alex told them, pausing for effect, “is our ride.”

  The ether dragon hit the ground hard enough to shake the earth around it, gouging out a large crater. It spewed fire as it roared. The townsfolk went crazy, shouting and cheering with excitement when the dragon lowered its head and Alex leaped onto its back.

  She anchored herself to the dragon and guided it toward her parents. They had gotten up but backed away as the dragon got closer. “Come on,” Alex coaxed. “It’s time for you two to
see what I spend all my time doing.”

  The dragon put its head down so Liza and George could climb on. George went first, hands trembling as he reached out for his daughter’s. He helped Liza get aboard once he was settled.

  Alex waved her hand over both of her parents to anchor their feet to the dragon. “All right,” Alex explained, “you’re both going to need to relax. You can’t fall, no matter what. Doesn’t matter how fast we’re going or if we turn upside-down. Just enjoy the ride, okay?”

  Liza frantically looked from her daughter to George, and then at the sky. “Wait, you’re not telling me you’re planning on taking us up there, are you?” she yelped.

  “Like I said, you two are going to need to relax.”

  Alex tightened the reins, and the dragon responded to her command. It spread its mighty wings and flapped them, slowly rising into the air. Usually, Alex would have just rocketed into the sky, but she wanted to give her parents a little space to catch their breath.

  She was glad she did because Liza and George were practically screaming as the dragon rose higher and higher. Either way, they’re going to freak out, Alex thought. Might as well give them something to scream about.

  Alex pulled back on her Dragon Link and her ether dragon shot up into the sky so fast it brought tears to Alex’s eyes. The screams of her parents grew louder and louder, until finally they burst through the first layer of clouds.

  The dragon slowed, almost floating in the air.

  The sun filtered through the clouds, painting everything in a golden hue. From here, it was smooth sailing. The dragon soared above the village beneath them. “This,” Alex said, “this is what I spend all of my time doing. But this? This isn’t nothing.”

  Alex leaned forward, and the ether dragon sped up like a shooting star. They were headed east. There was something Alex wanted to show her parents—her favorite place. She’d never shared it with anyone else in Middang3ard.