Haru stepped into room 401, where they moved HomeRoom after the incident with Irae. She was relegated to the back of the room where a row of empty chairs lined the rear wall. In her old seat sat Vernal, who permanently replaced her as the starter boss. Everyone was in attendance, waiting for the professor to arrive. The door near the podium slid open.

  Astra Starbreaker, the game’s still undefeated raid boss stood when Professor Min entered the room. “Class, rise.” The raid boss called out.

  In unison, the room of boss encounters stood from their seats. With a deep breath, Haru stood along with everyone.

  “Bow.” Astra commanded.

  As the class lowered their heads, Haru and Professor Min caught each other’s gaze. The professor looked away quickly. Haru followed the class’s lead and bowed.

  “Hello everyone.” Min looked around the classroom.

  “Hello professor.” The class spoke in unison. Haru mouthed the words but didn’t speak.

  The professor took stock of the room and nodded. “Please be seated, let’s begin.”

  Each encounter boss sat down, one after the other until the classroom was back in their chairs. Haru hesitated, again staring and squinting at Min. He’d been avoiding her for a long while now and it was starting to get to her.

  “Roo!” Vernal leaned down and back from her old desk, pawing at the air to motion for her to sit down.

  Haru sighed and relented, returning to her seat.

  The professor cleared his throat. “Right then, today’s going to be another long session. As you’re all well-aware, we have the big 1.2 patch releasing soon, and I want to make sure everyone here is crystal-clear on the upcoming changes, especially since the devs are still pushing updates as we speak.” He looked around the room.

  “Astra.” Min called out.

  “Yes, sir.” The raid boss and class leader responded.

  “We’ve been seeing an uptick in early encounter wipes and the devs have raised concerns.” The professor looked over the console output hovering in front of the podium.

  “Sounds like a skill issue.” Astra cackled. Her flunkies and fellow raid bosses, Petra the World Eater and Gorus the Swallower of Seas, who sat around her chuckled along.

  Min looked up from over his glasses. The three instantly stopped making any noise.

  The undefeated raid boss cleared her throat. “Understood, sir. I’ll cut back on the randomness a little.”

  The professor raised his eyebrows.

  “...a lot more, sir.” Astra straightened the pleats in her skirt then folded her hands upon the desk.

  Min nodded and returned to pouring over the console. He continued down the list and called out each individual boss. Then he asked them to modify some aspect of their encounter.

  “Vernal.” The professor called out.

  “Y—yes sir.” The kitty responded.

  Haru gritted her teeth.

  “We noticed you’ve been getting stuck on the terrain. Be sure to give the props a wider berth in your second phase.” Min looked at Haru for a moment, then quickly returned to his notes.

  “U—understood, sir.” Vernal responded.

  After the professor finished going through the change requests, he closed the console and recited the upcoming patch notes, calling out each individual boss when he went over a change specific to their encounter. Then he finished and got ready to leave.

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  Astra opened her mouth, ready to call out to the class.

  Min put his hand up. “Oh, one more thing.”

  The class leader closed her mouth and sat up straight in silence.

  “We’ve heard reports of an unknown player already using the unreleased Beast Hunter job.” The professor patted the podium with both of his palms and then passed a glance to Haru. “If you have any information about the whereabouts of, or see this user in the world, please use the report function immediately. Exploiting the game to access beta content is a violation of the Terms of Service.”

  The thought of the red warrior crossed Haru’s mind. She didn’t recognize the armor nor fighting style of the stranger, perhaps he somehow figured out how to become a Beast Hunter. But she still didn’t know why that particular player showed up when he did, or why he decided to help her. The witch stared the professor down, with lips pursed.

  “That will be all.” Min nodded.

  “Stand up.” Astra called out. “Bow!”

  The classroom stood and bowed as the professor exited the room.

  After Min left, the bosses turned to each other, and a sudden cacophony descended upon the room as they began talking to each other.

  Haru walked toward her kitty pal embedded in the crowd of other encounter bosses. “Hi Vernal.” She spoke with a raised voice over the clamor.

  The cat turned and raised his paw, but his attention was suddenly drawn away by Bellaritrix, the ghostly encounter in the jungle dungeon of Perser’s Folley.

  “Vernal, you got off easy. They hounded me for months because of wonky pathing.” The frizzy-haired ghost hovered and laughed with a wide smile.

  “I heard you’re getting a buff for the new patch, very exciting!” Another voice in the crowd called out to the cat.

  Haru wringed her hands, a sudden coldness descended from above and she lowered her head.

  “Vernal all the players love your new second form, everyone’s making so much fan art of it!” Another boss on the other side of the room spoke.

  With shoulders slumped, Haru departed, eyes kept low. She let the classroom door close itself as she slinked away down the hall.

  “Roo?” Vernal stood atop his desk to see over the crowd and looked around.

  Dragging her feet as she sauntered down the hallway, Haru felt aimless. Her heart was heavy ever since she returned from the fight with Irae. The witch was convinced that both she and the demon lost that battle. Her only other friend who would be there for her no matter what, Optifex, was gone for good.

  The point of her hat bumped into someone, and she laboriously turned to avoid them. “Sorry.” Haru spoke with a lack of energy.

  As she passed them, a sigh echoed throughout the hall.

  “Haru.” Min called out from behind.

  The witch stopped in her tracks, then slowly turned to face the professor.

  Min cleared his throat and looked around. “Ah, um… exciting there’s a new patch coming, right?”

  Haru blinked, head still held low. “Y—yeah I guess.”

  The professor shifted on his feet, back and forth. He looked around the hallway, never making eye contact with her.

  “Have the Magi said anything about me getting an audience with them yet?” Haru stared at his coat.

  “W—well, not… see, it’s really busy right now and—” Min sputtered.

  “I understand. Maybe later.” Haru muttered and sauntered toward the exit.

  Min scratched his head and sighed.

  Lately when Haru wanted to hide away, she flew to a secret spot she found while exploring Nocturne Forest, a mid-level area past Waylander’s Wastes. And that was her destination.

  After leaving the admin building, Haru summoned her staff and took flight, escaping out of the Backalley side entrance to avoid being spotted by players in Fairbank. The side exit came out near the shoreline on the outskirts of the city.

  The trip was short. In moments the craggy mountains and sandy beaches of Waylander’s Wastes turned into a shimmering emerald forest. Evergreens sparkled and glowed with iridescent auras that spread along the forest floor.

  In a small overgrown shack was a doorway hidden by untamed growth. It led to a staircase which wound around a large tree, up to a rope bridge made of thick vines and nettles. Ascending the rope bridge led to a small room hidden within the confines of the largest tree in the forest, overlooking four different zones: Fairbank, Waylander’s Wastes, The Dirge, and Felmore, all easily visible when the weather was clear.

  There were no quests up here, nor any mobs or chests. It was rare for players to get so curious as to travel all the way up here. In the overgrown treehouse was a rocking chair, a bookcase filled with dusty tomes, and a small table.

  Haru slid the table over, pulled the rocking chair up to the deck door, put out some Royal Choco Biscuits, and sat down. She stared out at the border between The Dirge and Felmore which melded the volcanic foothills of The Dirge with the corrupted, purple plains of Felmore. The witch retrieved a cookie and sighed, wondering what would become of her.

  Before she could get too lost in her own thoughts, Haru heard the wooden floor creaking behind her. She blinked and turned, still sitting on the rocking chair, hoping she wasn’t going to have to make up a story to an adventurous player.

  In her face was a massive bear. But the creature wasn’t just a normal mob. The beast had several runes glowing with the elements of fire, wind, water, and earth; etched into its skin. The magic of the insignias burnt away its fur where it was marked.

  It opened its maw wide and roared, blowing Haru’s hat off.