Chapter 10 

Dragon Hallow was a bustling city compared to the outskirts and Fire Swamp. There was an active market that was a mix of NPC characters and real people who had set up makeshift stalls along the road. All were competing for the business of various players in the game. 

We made our way to an NPC stall for potions and other magical artifacts. Both Fenton and Kendrick flipped through the menu looking for whatever they needed. 

Fenton must have noticed that I was absently looking around the market because he said, “Hey, you should buy some potions too." 

“Oh, I can't," I replied, still looking around at the people and shops. 

“Why not?" He cocked his head to the side and looked at me curiously.

“I don't have any money," I laughed. 

This got Kendrick's attention and he turned to look at me. “Potions are pretty cheap actually…I do get an added discount so I guess we could do the buying through my account.”

"No, I mean I don't have any gold at all. My balance is 0.” 

I honestly don't know why this got the reaction it did. They both stared at me like I was some mythical animal. 

"How? How have you survived until now?” Fenton asked. 

"Oh I'm fine. I bet I can find some money if I look around.”

That's what I had always done. If I didn't happen to find the item I needed I could generally find gold in broken pots or laying inside bushes. I didn't know if this was just a ‘me thing’ or if anyone could do this though.

"Find some money? Ok, yeah sure. You go find some money. I'll just see how I can manage to provide everything for my freeloading boyfriend. Go stand over there or something, you're driving me crazy.” Fenton continued grumbling to himself while price checking potions with the vendor next door.

“Freeloading…” That was harsh. 

I decided to wander over to the town center. I wasn't far enough away from the others that they couldn't see me, but far enough that I could try to use my skill. 

The thing about luck is that it's not magic. You have to actually attempt something for it to happen. If you just sit still all day food won't fall into your lap, but if you walk around a bit you might find something to eat. 

So I walked around a bit. In the town center was a fountain. It showed two large dragons dancing around each other. Water poured out of their mouths and sprayed down into a large pool. Players had turned this pool into a wishing well. 

I looked down at hundreds of coins. Alright, here is some money, but how do I get the coins without anyone seeing me? 

I sat on the edge of the fountain feigning tiredness and taking a break. 

For items to enter my inventory I needed to touch them. Reaching my hand into the cool water would be too obvious. I sat for a moment thinking through my options. Nearby a few NPC musicians played a relaxing melody. No one seemed to really be paying attention to them. 

I looked at Fenton and an idea sparked. I got up and marched over to him. He looked at me startled as I grabbed his hand. I pulled him back over to the fountain. I took his left hand in mine and wrapped my right hand around his back. His expression was priceless. 

I pulled him closer to me and started to move my feet. Pulling him along with me, I spun us in circles around the fountain. 

“What are you doing?" he hissed. 

“Dancing with you? Isn't it obvious?" I joked.

I picked him up and spun him in the air. A crowd has started to form. A few players let out audible “aw’s.” I set him down on the ledge of the pool and pulled myself up to meet him. He seemed unsteady on the thinner surface so I pulled him closer to me and continued dancing. 

I had expected Fenton to fight me, yell, hit, curse me. Instead, be held onto me. The expression on his face read as confused. The blush on his cheeks read as embarrassed. His eyes told me to be kind. 

Oh, is this still an act? 

I stopped dancing and stared at him. In the background I could hear the crowd clapping and hollering. 

Fenton’s lips trembled as I stared at him. He blinked a few times and then pushed me away. I fell back into the pool of water. 

I didn't see where Fenton went, but based on the crowd's reaction I figured he stormed away. I played in the shallow pool for a bit. The crowd of people had disappeared and it seemed like they were trying to avoid eye contact with me. Lucky me. 

After climbing out of the wishing well I was a few hundred coins richer than when I had gone in. I found Fenton and Kendrick a little further down at a new stall. 

Kendrick’s face said that he had seen the whole thing. Fenton's face remained turned away from me. I used my player menu to send Fenton the money I had pilfered. He looked at me, shocked for a moment, before turning away again, red faced. It seems like he isn't going to talk to me for a while.

I let out a sigh, “So, do we have almost everything we need?" I asked. 

“Almost, we should probably upgrade our armor. Fenton said you were attached to your robes, so I thought we could try some light armor that layers with mageware." 

“You can stack armor?" I was surprised.

“...Yeah, have you really not explored anything with the game yet?" Kendrick asked.

Fenton cut in, “He's clueless. It's better to just assume he doesn't know." He sounded exasperated. I was happy he was talking though, so I smiled despite the insult.

“Let's do that then, as long as it's not too expensive," I added. 

“I actually have some back at my apartment," Kendrick said looking down the road at a tall tower-like building. 

Fenton stopped what he was doing, “Is it safe to go there though?" 

Kendrick hesitated, “I'm not sure. It might be better for you both to wait outside while I go in. Jacob obviously knows where I stay when we are in town, so he could come and check." 

"That doesn't seem worth the risk to me then,” Fenton said with a serious face. 

I had to agree with him there, I could do without the armor. 

"It will be fast, and I'll grab everything else I can for the trip. I promise I'll be in and out within five minutes." 

That's what he said. After ten minutes we were getting a little anxious though. 

Fenton and I had found a hiding spot near the apartment tower. From where we were, we could see the entrance easily. No one suspicious had come or gone since Kendrick had entered the building. 

More than worrying about Kendrick, I was worried about the awkward silence that had fallen between Fenton and me. 

“So, how ya doin’?" I asked, looking at him out of the corner of my eye. 

He let out a loud sigh, "Okay, look, I was just startled. It's no big deal and everything is fine, ok?” He spat out. 

"Gotcha,” I said, nodding my head.

"...how are you? Did you get hurt when you fell?” he asked, side eyeing me now. 

"N…yes. I mean I was really shocked. I even hit my head a bit when I fell back." I was going to milk this.

Fenton whipped his head to the side and looked at me with a guilty expression. “Did you really get hurt?" he asked softly. 

I stopped when I saw his face, “No. I'm fine. I was just joking." 

“Gah! Don't scare me like that!" he said as he smacked my arm. 

Teasing him was fun, but it always left a bruise. 

A voice came from behind us,“I for one thought your little stunt was clever. Though it's bad luck to steal money from a fountain…I suppose you get a pass." 

Fenton and I spun around and were met with the smug face of a stranger. They looked back and forth at Fenton and me and didn't say anything else. 

“Friend of yours?" I asked Fenton. 

“I was going to ask you the same thing," Fenton answered tentatively.

“Fenton and I continued staring at him, not sure what to say. 

From behind us, back in the direction we'd originally been watching, we heard a loud booming voice say, “And who do we have here?”

Fenton and I both spun around to see Kendrick standing there. He looked at us and then at the stranger. 

"How can we help you, stranger?” Kendrick asked while stepping forward. 

"Ah, that was rude of me. My name is Leon Alpin, wizard class. I am here to join your guild. It's so nice to meet you," he answered with a smile.