Page 57 of Our Final Game

And I have the perfect idea as to where I’ll be getting it.

The bell rings again upon me entering the shop, and the weaponsmith greets me the same as before, giving me a small nod. “You’re back, I got your lance all ready to go for you.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate it,” I say as I walk over to his workstation where he’s holding out my new weapon.

It’s beautiful with new black and gold embellishments adorning it around the spearhead and handle.

It’s also lighter in my hold, making for quicker and better attacks. My agility, strength, and dexterity all increase when I reequip it back into my armor.

“This feels amazing, you did a great job,” I say, giving him a wide smile.

“Ah, really, it was nothing. It was pretty easy with that special metal your friend got ya.” He chuckles, “You should be thanking him.”

My cheeks burn looking down at the lance. “Yeah, I should. I’ll tell him when I see him again,” I mutter.

“I should get going. Have a good day.” I nod before heading out back into the town’s merchant alley.

I never thought I’d ever be thinking this in my life, but I’d love to be able to thank Tyson. I need to get moving on finding him. The afternoon breeze picks up, brushing a little chilly air past my ears. I walk through the alley and toward Leon’s garden. When I reach the entrance, I can see him sitting underneath one of the trees, his hood still fully covering his face.

I pad over to him, tilting my head as I approach cautiously.

“Tryna sneak up on me?” His smile peeks through beneath his hood.

“Not really. But I need your help with something.”

“Oh? Now that’s interesting, seeing as you’re usually the one helping me.” He grins.

“Yeah, well, as you can see, I’m alone.”

“Ah, so you are. Where’s your friend?”

“That’s the thing I need help with. I don’t know. He disappeared a few days ago, and some strange monster approached me in a creepy alleyway saying…” I stumble around the last words, not knowing if I should mention anything about getting out of the game to a NPC. Though the monster had mentioned it to me first, which now, looking back, I find odd. But what isn’t odd about this fucking place?

“And…” Leon says, standing up.

“Oh, it was saying Tyson had … left me here.”

“What did it look like?” He tilts his head, putting his finger to his chin. But it doesn’t seem like he’s really thinking all too hard about any of this.

“Creepy and dark, like something out of a nightmare.”

“Ah, sounds like Jax!” he says, clasping his hands together.

“A … what?”

“A Jax. It lures you in by showing you something you fear. Then they feed off said fears and your dread afterwards. Looks like they got your lover.”

“Lover? He’s not … ugh, never mind,” I sigh, shaking my head at him. I suppose this all makes sense because how else would it have caught Tyson so off guard in the middle of town? He’s always very aware of his surroundings. Unlike me.

“But worst fear…”

Is that really what happened to Tyson?

It doesn’t seem like he fears anything most of the time.

“Yeah, yours is being left by your friend, I suppose.”

“What? No, it’s not.”