"Ms. Shelby, I have a combination of good and bad news," AIDAN said as they walked into the inn behind Nisa and Pico.

  "Uh, okay. What is it?" Shelby asked.

  "Is it not customary to request either the good news or the alternative? I have noted this pattern of behavior in my development logs several times," AIDAN said.

  "That's... certainly a thing people sometimes do," Shelby replied, trying not to let the mother of all headaches color her mood.

  "I will deliver the good news first," AIDAN informed her, "I have nearly completed a numerical model of your synchronization rate. I believe this will allow us to select optimal actions for protecting your health."

  "Oh, that's great AIDAN!"

  "The unfortunate news is that my model is predicting that you will reach 100% synchronization within the next 15 minutes, likely imprisoning you within this environment permanently," AIDAN finished.

  Shelby sat down at a small table, opposite Pico, and gently slapped herself on the cheeks a few times. Just what I wanted to hear...

  Pico quirked an eyebrow at Shelby, "Are you alright, Caramel?"

  Shelby gave a half-hearted smile, "It has been a long day. Why don't we talk peace?"

  Pico wagged a finger, "Not without food. It's tradition to make plans over a meal."

  Shelby bit her lower lip, "Sorry again..."

  "I know you didn't mean to cause harm," Pico said, relaxing into her seat, "I hope we can find a solution that works out for the best."

  Nisa appeared a minute later carrying a long, lacquered plank that was crowded with food. She slid it onto the table and then sat down next to Pico. She served herself a heaping serving of vegetables on a small white plate that she plucked from the center of the spread. Shelby took a plate for herself and took in the smorgasbord.

  There were some plain vegetables: cauliflower, peas, and sliced cucumber, all of which looked fresh and startlingly gigantic from the perspective of a rabbit. The cucumbers alone were about the size of the plate she was holding. Nisa carefully chewed on a quartered head of cauliflower that was almost the size of her face. There were also fruits, including sliced apples, tomatoes, and a dozen glossy spirit kumquats. On top of that, there were some glazed carrots that looked especially good, some cubes of plain white cheese, and a few small bowls of honey, cream cheese, and a herby looking mix.

  Shelby took a handful of carrots, sliced apples,and the crisp peas. She raised one medallion of perfectly golden carrot to her mouth when AIDAN blurted out a hurried, "Apologies, but my model has noted that you experience a significant increase in synchronization when you consume food."

  Shelby almost spat out the carrot, but managed to arrest her startled reaction. She coughed into her hand and looked at Nisa, "Yum... so good, thank you Nisa."

  "You're welcome. Thank you for saving me from that wolf," Nisa smiled genuinely, then stuffed the rest of her cauliflower into one of her cheeks.

  Pico finished picking out a modest platter for herself, the opened her hands on the table, "Now then... let's talk terms."

  Shelby nodded, "Yes, let's."

  Pico gave Shelby a serious look, "How much do you know about Hearts?"

  Shelby frowned at the question, "I know there are a bunch of them all around this place, but... I don't understand why Naile wanted the town's Heart."

  "Hmm, well I didn't think you would, but it's surprising that you know as much as you do," Pico said before dipping a slice of apple in honey.

  Should I be honest here? Shelby shrugged, why not, "I only saw them because I died on my way back here."

  Pico nodded and Nisa stopped chewing to listen in. Pico leaned back, "I thought it might be something like that. I have to admit that I don't really know much more than you do. I just know there are Hearts that live inside of most places. That must be what you saw."

  Shelby nodded, "Wild Hearts, I think?"

  "Yes. I was always taught that a Wild Heart is the essence of a particular place. Supposedly they wait for people to come and influence them. Not everyone can sense them, you know."

  "I didn't know that," Shelby admitted.

  Pico shrugged, "I could never tell if that was just the results of old myths or make believe. Say... can you see the windows too?"

  Shelby squinted, "Like... the status boxes? You can see them?"

  Pico nodded and reached for a carrot. Shelby's stomach grumbled as she forced herself not to eat another bite of her own. Pico flicked her free hand, and a screen appeared between them, floating over the table. Shelby's eyes widened, and Pico smiled, remarking, "So you really can see them."

  Shelby nodded uncertainly, "I can see it, but I don't know what it means."

  Pico waved her hand, and the window closed. She pushed around a pea with a finger, "I don't really know either. The last part, 'Development', only showed up after the town changed this morning."

  Shelby raised a slice of apple to her mouth, AIDAN made a sound of disapproval, and she lowered it again, "Since Wild Hearts let me come back to life, does this one too? I see that is says 'Rebirth'."

  Pico shrugged, "I dunno. No one has died."

  "Never?"

  "I'm sure people have died before, but I haven't been this town's mayor for very long. I try to keep the people out of danger."

  "What about the mayor before you?" Shelby asked.

  "There wasn't a mayor before me," Pico said with a shake of her head, "I found out about this window on my own. I could just feel it."

  Shelby squirmed, "I'm sorry that I don't know more."

  "It's okay. I was just checking. Maybe your new charge will know more than I do, but if I had to guess, the Prime Heart protects the people who live around it from dying for good? Something like that. It makes sense that the Hodekin would want that."

  Shelby nodded at that, "That would be an amazing thing to have for anyone."

  "The Hodekin of the area north of here are always fighting over something, maybe they have a Prime Heart like this too," Pico speculated.

  She continued, "Anyways, I think that the new Development option on my window might help us figure out a solution. I think it would be best if you took your new tribe and settled them down somewhere far away from here. Let's call that my first condition for peace."

  "Settle them?" Shelby asked.

  "Mmhmm," Pico said as she picked up a long, shiny pea from her plate, "They have to live somewhere, and I don't think it would be a good idea to have them living in this village after what they've done. I doubt the farming village would take them in, if they even could."

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  "That's fair," Shelby conceded, "but where can they go? I don't think they can go back to their homes. They could go back to living in a cave, but..."

  Pico shook her head, "I'm not asking you to hide them away. Can I suggest a condition for your part of this deal?"

  Shelby shrugged. She was going to agree with whatever Pico asked for, so she didn't have any particular demands. Pico leaned forward and rest her chin on intertwined fingers, "Let's agree that they get to trade with this village, okay? We can trade for whatever they can rustle up with fish and other meat. Maybe they'll need other supplies too. Isn't that what you wanted all along?"

  "I did tell them I would help them trade before everything went wrong," Shelby said, "So that sounds good."

  Pico continued, "As I said, it isn't appropriate for them to live close to this village. That would be too dangerous and, frankly, frightening. They just attacked us. But, trading with us under controlled conditions would help people start to see them as potential friends and allies, wouldn't you agree?"

  "Ah, that's a good idea," Shelby agreed.

  "Then, let them settle somewhere that will let them trade easily. Maybe near the road to the north? I don't have a specific place in mind, but that would by my first choice," Pico said, relaxing and scooping a dollop of herb spread onto her plate. Ugh, I really want to eat...

  Shelby blinked away her intrusive thoughts, then responded to Pico's ideas, "That makes sense, but I'm still not really sure how I'm going to do any of that."

  Pico swished her hand through the air again, then selected something on her menu, "I think that this is what that new option is meant to be used for. Take a look at this item..."

  Shelby looked at a selection that Pico had highlighted:

  "Oh, It's like a seed," Shelby said, starting to see Pico's plan come together.

  "Yes, that's what I think too," Pico said, "you could use this to make a suitable place for the Hodekin to live. Perhaps."

  "This feels like it would be an incredibly generous gift to give them," Shelby said, expecting a catch to follow.

  "I agree, that's why I think it should be part of our conditions. You and your tribe will provide materials and aid in reconstructing our lost homes and the entirety of the farming village that was destroyed. In return, I will give you this wonderful item."

  Shelby nodded quickly, "That would be more than fair."

  Even if they don't agree to help rebuild, I could do that on my own, Shelby thought as doubts about the Hodekin nipped at her mind. Pico leaned back with a smile, "I think that's all that I require. Anything else that you can think of?"

  "No," Shelby laughed nervously, "you're already helping them more than they really deserve..."

  "Don't forget that they're your responsibility now," Pico said, "If they cause more damage then you will face the consequences."

  Shelby's head twinged, and AIDAN did a poor impression of clearing his throat, "I apologize for interrupting, but you are currently at 98% synchronization. I believe that you have approximately 5 minutes before you will become over-synchronized. I intend to forcibly log you out before that can occur."

  Shelby closed her eyes and nodded a few times to Pico, "Okay, I accept."

  Pico held her hand out and Shelby grabbed it eagerly. Pico smiled at her, "Then it's a deal."

  Shelby started to shake Pico's hand, but stopped, "Wait, one more thing. I want to give all of those cherries outside to you as a symbol of good will. I think they got scattered around a little... but I'll have them picked up."

  Nisa perked up, "Can I have them? I'll make something good. You can count them towards our contract!"

  Pico nodded her head, "Sure, sounds like a good first step," then shook Shelby's hand.

  A flood of windows opened.

  Shelby flinched from the surge of light emanating off the sudden onslaught of messages, but as she moved to close them, AIDAN interjected, "Do not close those windows, Ms. Shelby."

  His voice was unusually authoritative, and she could feel a burst of heat radiating from him in her pocket. Shelby yelped, "What? Why?"

  He didn't respond immediately, and Shelby released Pico's hand in the interim, pleading, "I'd hate to ask for even more from you, but would it be okay if I got just a little rest before I start herding wolves? I'm so, so, so exhausted."

  Pico smiled, "Sure, I'll tell your entourage that you need some time."

  Nisa hopped down from her seat and stretched, then motioned for Shelby to follow her, "I'll get you all squared away, come on."

  Pico stood up after them and headed towards the exit door with a nod and a small wave, then slipped out. Shelby followed Nisa back towards her room on unsteady feet. Geez, it's getting hard to even walk straight...

  "You are approaching 99% synchronization. I will log you out in 2 minutes," AIDAN replied.

  Nisa unlocked Shelby's room, but stood in the doorway with a thoughtful expression. This is not a good time, Nisa...

  Nisa pursed her lips, but didn't step aside, "Sorry, I know you want to rest. I just wanted to thank you again. All these changes, the bigger seating area.. what's left of it... and getting out my ladle again. Well, if you ever know of anyone who wants to learn Daizi cuisine, please send them my way. I want to expand my kitchen... That's all. Sweet dreams."

  A new box appeared behind the legion of others, but Shelby couldn't quite read it.

  Without waiting for a response, Nisa stepped aside and traipsed back down the hall, humming a little tune. Shelby stepped into her room and swung the door shut. She asked AIDAN, "Ready?"

  "One moment... You may close your windows now, then we can begin the log out process."

  Shelby willed them to close, except for the faintly purple window that Nisa's plea had opened.

  "Ah, well there you have it. Our next character idea," Shelby said as she closed the window.

  As the Main Quest window had closed, it was replaced by two more. Shelby glanced at the one shining gold first.

  "I apologize for masking your identity, Ms. Shelby, but I anticipate that broadcasting your identity could compromise your safety given recent events," AIDAN said with a hint of nervousness.

  "It's okay. I didn't even know that could happen. I'm guessing everyone in the world just saw that?" Shelby wondered aloud. AIDAN confirmed her suspicion and she shrugged helplessly. She read through it a second time, then closed it.

  Only one window remained.

  Ah! We did it!

  "Ms. Shelby, we have less than a minute until 100% synchronization," AIDAN warned.

  "Ah, not good... can you memorize the player list?"

  "Yes, to save time I will begin navigating the contents automatically. You will log out immediately after the player list has been recorded."

  A series of windows opened in rapid succession and closed just as quickly. Shelby caught sight of a long list of players, but before she could glean any information from it, the windows all closed and the world around her began to dim. Multicolored static ate away at the edge of her vision, and she reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose, but she didn't have any limbs to control. She felt a shock of panic as she realized she was paralyzed.

  A moment later she was back in the campfire area. She wiggled her toes and was relieved to feel them move.

  End of Patch 1.2

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