Cayden, surrounded by notebooks and sketches, tapped his pen rhythmically against the desk as he mulled over the new Nyxara campaign. Collaborating with Goblins & Guillotines was equal parts thrilling and terrifying, but he couldn’t deny how alive he felt diving into the world-building process.

Finally, he pulled up the message thread with Owen and typed:

LeapingLizard: “Do you think a dark geomancer’s ability to manipulate the environment could tie into Nyxara’s lore?”

Owen: “Definitely. The Umbralin are inherently dark, and giving a different slant to their geomancer class could bring a whole new level of danger. I like it.”

Cayden smiled, Owen’s enthusiasm contagious. He typed back:

LeapingLizard: “I’ll mock up some modified abilities where it ties into Nyxaran lore.”

Owen: “Perfect. Can’t wait to see it.”

•♥•♥•♥•

The exchange left Cayden feeling lighter, more focused. Just as he turned back to his notes, another notification pinged. SnakeEyes. Cayden hesitated but opened the chat.

SnakeEyes: “Hey. I heard about the collab with G&G. That’s huge, Cay.”

LeapingLizard: “Yeah, it’s exciting. A lot of moving parts, though.”

SnakeEyes: “If you want help brainstorming—or just someone to bounce ideas off—I’m here. No pressure.”

Cayden blinked at the screen, guilt bubbling up. SnakeEyes had always been supportive, even after he’d gone quiet.

LeapingLizard: “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

SnakeEyes: “Of course. Just don’t overdo it, okay? I know how you get.”

LeapingLizard: “Haha, yeah. Already skipped lunch today. I’ll grab something soon.”

SnakeEyes: “Good. You’re too important to burn out. The community’s been waiting for your comeback... and so have I.”

Cayden hesitated, the sincerity in SnakeEyes’ words catching him off guard.

LeapingLizard: “Thanks. I’ll try to pace myself.”

As the chat closed, Cayden couldn’t shake the weight of SnakeEyes’ final words—earnest, caring, and just shy of something more.

•♥•♥•♥•

A knock at the door broke his focus. Before Cayden could respond, his mother walked in, carrying a basket of laundry.

“Cayden, sweetheart, I had to do these for you. They’ve been sitting there for days,” she said, her voice dripping with a mix of exasperation and martyrdom.

The exaggeration was obvious, and Cayden tried to ignore her insinuations. “Mom, I was going to get to it,” Cayden replied, trying to keep his tone even.

“I know you’re busy,” she said, emphasizing the word like it was a bad thing. “But you can’t just let everything pile up for me to handle. I don’t mind helping, but sometimes I feel like you take it for granted.”

The guilt hit him like a brick. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better.”

“Just... think about how much I already do around here,” she added with a sigh. “And the dishwasher still needs emptying, by the way.”

As she left, Cayden slumped in his chair. The weight of the conversation dragged at him, pulling him away from the creative spark he’d finally felt earlier.

•♥•♥•♥•

Hours later, after completing his mother’s list of tasks, Cayden returned to his desk. Exhaustion tugged at him, but he opened his laptop and sent a quick message to Owen.

LeapingLizard: “Finally getting back to work. Mom caught me in a chore loop.”

Owen: “Sounds rough. You doing okay?”

LeapingLizard: “Yeah, just tired. But I’m good. Focusing on the game stuff helps.”

Owen: “Glad to hear that. Your ideas have been amazing so far, by the way. Bryn keeps raving about the geomancer mechanic.”

Cayden couldn’t help but smile.

LeapingLizard: “That’s awesome. I’m glad it’s working out.”

Owen: “More than working out—it’s game-changing. We should start sketching how it’ll evolve across campaigns. Maybe this weekend?”

LeapingLizard: “Sounds good. Let me know what time works.”

Another message pinged through before Cayden could close the thread.

Owen: “Also, don’t let the chore loop get to you. You’re doing a lot already, and it’s okay to take breaks.”

Cayden stared at the message, his chest tightening slightly at the casual kindness.

LeapingLizard: “Thanks, Owen. I needed to hear that.”

Owen: “Anytime. And hey, don’t forget—you’re killing it.”

LeapingLizard: “Hey, quick question, do you ever get nervous when you’re working with a big team like this?”

Owen: “Not as much anymore, but I used to—especially early on. Why, feeling the pressure?”

LeapingLizard: “A bit. It’s exciting, but I keep worrying I’ll mess something up.”

Owen: “Cayden, you’ve already made an impact. Bryn keeps saying we’ve never had game mechanic ideas this fresh. You’re a natural at this.”

LeapingLizard: “Thanks. I guess I’ve been second-guessing myself a lot lately.”

Owen: “For what it’s worth, I second-guess myself too. But collaboration isn’t about being perfect—it’s about building something amazing together. And trust me, you’ve got that spark.”

Cayden stared at the message, warmth creeping into his chest.

LeapingLizard: “That means a lot. Thanks, Owen.”

Owen: “Anytime. Besides, I like talking to you.”

•♥•♥•♥•

Later that evening, Cayden received a notification about a delivery. Opening the package, he found a Goblins & Guillotines care box stuffed with merch, gourmet snacks, and a handwritten note:

*Cayden,

You’ve been doing incredible work. I’m grateful to have you on this project. Looking forward to seeing where we can take it together.

Cayden reread the note, a smile spreading across his face. He unpacked the merch, a t-shirt with a large guillotine, a bookmark, some enamel pins, and a Morwena figure signed by the main team. He set it up on a shelf where he could easily look at his growing collection of Goblins and Guillotines merch for inspiration.—not just in the game, but in life.