The following morning, during recess, Mica and his friends tried once again to find Sarah and ask her about James Howard. Once again she wasn't there.

Mica and Hugo took it in stride. They were mostly disappointed that another session would have to wait, and Mica was secretly a little relieved. At least there was no chance of getting home late again and undoing all the progress he'd made with his mother.

Cat, however, saw things very differently.

"We have to go to Tavern and talk to her." She sounded more determined than ever after Tomás confirmed Sarah hadn't come to school.

"Cat, we can wait," Mica said. "It's not like we're going to solve everything overnight."

"And just leave a missing person to their fate when we might have a lead?"

"A lead to what? Seeing someone's face during a role-playing session in the basement of a bar? Do you realize how unbelievable that sounds?"

"I still think you're both crazy," Hugo cut in. "I never saw James. But..." He shrugged. "If there's even a chance we can help, maybe we should."

"Help with what?" Tomás asked, completely lost.

"We'll explain later," Mica replied a little more sharply than he intended. "First we need to talk to Sarah. Any chance you know where she lives?"

"No idea." Tomás shook his head. "I only know her through the Adventurers' Group and..."

"The administration office probably has her address," Cat said matter-of-factly. "We could sneak in and look it up."

The three boys simply stared at her.

"Are you even listening to yourself?" Hugo asked, horrified. "Cat. You're terrified of being late to school because it might ruin your perfect conduct record. And now you're talking about breaking into the administration office to steal a student's private file?"

"We'd have a good reason. A person's life could depend on it. You only show up late because you're lazy."

"...You do realize being late was just an example, right?" Hugo muttered, suddenly feeling personally attacked.

"A person's life depends on this?" Tomás repeated nervously. "Will someone please tell me what's going on?"

"That won't be necessary, Archer." A voice behind them made everyone turn around. Jacob approached as though he just happened to be passing by, though it was obvious he'd been listening for a while. "And besides..." He looked at Cat. "Very brave of you and all... but that sounds more like a job for someone like me."

"You'd be surprised." Cat met his gaze without flinching. "If it came down to it, I'm sure I could keep up with you."

"Hey, Jacob," Tomás said, running out of patience. "Do you have any idea what they're talking about?"

"Nope." Jacob shrugged. "I'm just here to deliver a message from Master. She wants us there today. We're continuing the adventure."

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"By the way, Mica," Hugo said as he stuffed his notebooks into his backpack after the last class ended. "I finally finished Dragon's Dogma. What a game!"

"Told you not to give up on it."

"I can't believe that ending wasn't actually the ending." He laughed. "I thought I was done, and then the game throws another ten hours at you. It was incredible. What about you? Did you finish Valkyria Chronicles yet?"

"No." Mica shook his head. "I haven't really played anything. I've been focused on writing. I wrote an amazing chapter last night."

"Inspired by the Adventurers' Group?" Hugo asked with a grin.

"Yeah. And by..." Mica stopped himself. "...something else. I'll tell you later."

"Hurry up, you two." Cat had already reached their desks. "We're going to be late."

"Relax, Cat, I don't think—"

She fixed Hugo with such a judgmental stare that he immediately changed his tune.

"Come on, Mica! You're so slow! Hurry up!" he said instead.

Less than a minute later, the three of them were already racing down the stairs with Cat leading the way. Instead of stopping by Jacob's or Tomás's classroom, they headed straight for the school gates.

Just as they were about to cross the street, someone called out to Mica.

"Hey! Mica! Am I late?" Rose jogged toward them, waving enthusiastically.

"Oh..." Mica froze. "Damn. I'm so sorry, Rose..."

"Don't tell me you forgot our date." She pouted dramatically. "And I was so looking forward to it." She glanced at the others. "Are these your friends?"

"Yeah. This is Hugo, and she—"

"Who are you?" Cat interrupted, her expression instantly souring.

"Oh." Rose blinked. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had a girlfriend, Mica. Otherwise I never would've—"

"No!" Mica blurted out. "She's not my girlfriend. Cat's just a friend... Right?"

"Yeah." Cat forced a smile. "Just a friend."

"Rose, right?" Hugo cut in, sensing the tension before it got any worse. "Nice to meet you. Sorry, but we need to kidnap Mica this afternoon. We'll give him back tomorrow."

"I'm sorry..." Rose's smile vanished. "...I don't remember talking to you."

"Hey." Cat took a step forward. "Don't talk to—"

"I'm sorry!" Mica interrupted before either of them could continue. "Rose, I know you're upset because I forgot about our..." He hesitated deliberately. "...plans. But I already promised the Adventurers' Group I'd go today, and..."

"The Adventurers' Group?" Rose's smile returned as quickly as it had disappeared. "That sounds like fun. Is there room for one more?"

"You'd actually want to come?" Mica's face lit up. "Of course there is!"

"No, Mica," Cat said flatly. "There isn't."

"Sarah's the one who decides that, Cat. Come on. Rose's great. I'm sure you'll like her. Just give her a chance. If Sarah let me invite you and Hugo, I don't see why it'd be a problem."

Cat muttered something under her breath and continued walking without waiting for them, pretending the conversation was over.

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"Who's she?" Sarah asked the moment she saw Rose coming down the stairs. "More importantly..." Her expression hardened. "...what is she doing here?" She looked straight at Mica. "Swordsman. You broke the first rule."

"Told you so," Cat muttered before walking past them.

She sat beside Jacob and Tomás, leaving Mica without the chance to sit next to her.

"I'm sorry, Sarah." Mica stepped forward. "She's a friend. She's really into fantasy and games too. You'll see, she'll fit right in. Right, Rose?"

"Absolutely." Rose smiled brightly and flashed a peace sign.

"I want to make something very clear." Sarah's tone remained cold. "The first time you brought Archer and Dragoon, I told you the same thing. The invitation was for you alone. So—"

"But it worked out, didn't it?" Mica interrupted.

"Don't interrupt me."

The room fell silent.

The tension in Sarah's voice was unmistakable.

Mica lowered his head.

"...Sorry."

Sarah sighed.

"She's already here. So I'll trust your judgment. But let this be the last time, Swordsman."

Cat let out an annoyed sigh and turned her attention to the wall behind Sarah.

Mica and Hugo sat down. Rose copied them.

"Class?" Sarah asked, looking at the newcomer.

"Uh..." Rose hesitated. "I'm an exch—"

"She means your class in the game," Mica whispered. Beside him, Hugo struggled not to laugh.

"Oh!" Rose laughed at herself. "Right. How silly of me. I'll be a Healer. Do you already have one?"

"I'm Cleric," Tomás answered. "But judging by how our battles usually go... I don't think we'd mind having a professional healer around."

"Then I'll be your Healer!" Rose beamed at the entire group.

"Very well." Sarah folded her hands. "You already know how this works. Close your eyes and..."

"I'm sorry, Sarah." Cat raised her hand. "I mean..." She corrected herself the instant Sarah shot her a deadly glare. "...Master. There's something important I'd like to ask before we—"

"After the session." Sarah cut her off without hesitation. "Take a deep breath..."

Mica did as he always did.

One second later, they were standing in the middle of a forest.