"If necessity is the mother of invention, urgency is the uncle of change. Without it, progress slows and then stops and then reverses."

  Neil Scovell, American Journalist

  "Find the Lost Idol of the Boar. Fetch a black goose egg. What the hell is a sphincter of the ratman, and why would we ever need twenty of them?" Calista read in utter puzzlement as they scanned the screen in front of them. "Just what is this?"

  “This is a Mission Board,” exclaimed a Tutoria, popping into existance beside them. Milly and Calista both jumped back in surprise, Calista raising her spear in a defensive stance.

  “Damn it, #564. How many times have I told you not to do that?” scolded Calista, relaxing her spear until its tip touched the ground.

  “It keeps you on your toes, Calista,” Tutoria #564 countered.

  Milly glanced over at the Emporia.

  The Tutoria in the shop is still there, so this is a different version.

  “How did you know she was your Tutoria?” Milly asked.

  “You mean other than the surprise appearance?” Calista answered, irritated. She lifted her spear towards Tutoria’s right shoulder, which had a shield and heart tattoo identical to Calista’s. “They change their appearance and mannerisms over time. The first day I used my tattered shirt as a bikini, she copied me. We had every guy in this place staring at us with lusty eyes, so I made her change it back. Hasn't your Tutoria change since the first day?”

  “I…I never spoke with my Tutoria after that first day,” Milly said. “I avoided the lobby as much as I could. I guess I never thought it was important.”

  “Well, that’s rude,” huffed #564. “She was here to help you.”

  Milly knew the Tutorias were just an extension of the Contest programming, but that did not stop her from feeling guilty.

  “I’ll…I’ll talk with #788 once this is all done,” Milly promised.

  “Ah, well, about that…” #564 started. “You completed the Tutorial, so the Tutorias designated for the tutorial phase will no longer be available. I'm just here to explained the additions to the game’s mechanics to you, and after I'll be reassigned as well. Essentially, you’ve graduated! And your teachers don't follow you out into the real world.”

  Tutoria #564’s face grew grim, and she stared at Milly. “I guess you should have paid more attention in class.”

  “Knock it off, #564. Just tell us what we need to know,” Calista barked, instinctively defending Milly.

  “Very well. We’ll start with the Mission Board. It is easy enough. This board will display optional missions that you can complete. Missions include everything from killing specified monsters to exploring dangerous areas to collecting certain items. If you complete the mission, you get the specified reward. Some missions can be turned in multiple times. Others are one time things.”

  Milly was scanning through the available missions when a screen appeared in front of her.

  Calista looked over Milly’s shoulder. “Milly, why did you open that one in particular?” she teased. “Is there something I should know about you?”

  “What? No…Calista… I didn't open...”

  The screen flashed gold, and more text appeared.

  Calista burst out laughing, collapsing onto a nearby couch. Milly felt her face flush with embarrassment.

  “It’s not… I didn’t… Xavier and I got these on our first day,” Milly stammered, trying to explain.

  “And you kept them?” Calista said through her giggles, “Milly, you are so gross.”

  Milly’s face fell, and she felt ashamed. “Xavier was keeping them, so I… I thought…” she couldn’t finish, and turned her head away from Calista. She felt past insecurities flood back as the shame settled in.

  I'm just a girl that no one wanted. a greasy, filthy girl who…

  Calista saw the dark thoughts building in Milly’s mind, and abruptly stopped laughing. She jumped up from the couch and hugged Milly tightly from behind.

  “Oh, Milly, I’m sorry. I was just teasing you. I didn’t mean anything by it. You're not gross. You are a beautiful woman, and I am so lucky to have you in my life.”

  Milly felt Calista’s arms around her. She focused on Calista’s strong arms and soft hands touching hers, and the feeling of her breath on her neck. The dark thoughts receded as Milly leaned back into the hug.

  “I’m sorry, Calista,” Milly whispered. “I just… I guess… your teasing brought back bad memories.”

  Calista gave her another squeeze. “Right. No teasing Milly. Got it. I guess I still have lots to learn about Milly Brown.”

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  Milly gave a soft laugh. “Yah…I have a lot to learn about her too.”

  “So, this is very touching and whatnot, but can we please continue? You’ll regret it if you take too much time for your emotional nonsense,” #564 chided.

  “She’s so impatient,” complained Calista, reluctantly releasing the embrace.

  “I wonder where she gets that from?” Milly playfully poked.

  “Oh, so you can tease, but I can't?” Calista laughed.

  “Pretty much,” Milly confirmed, giving her a soft smile, and refocused on the reward screen. “Yes, I will complete the mission. Please tell me I don’t have to hold the loincloths in my hand.”

  “You're in luck. It is automatic,” Tutoria confirmed.

  “Now, you’ve probably wondered what all that gold is for,” Tutoria said, continuing the lesson. “Now that you have completed phase one, you can finally use it.”

  She gestured over to the Emporia, where the Tutoria inside was patiently waiting for them.

  “It's about time you brought them here, #564,” the Tutoria said chipperly. “My shop is more important than the Mission Board, you know. It is going to be critical for the player’s survival in Phase Two.”

  The shopkeeper Tutoria turned to Milly and Calista, a beaming smile on her face that would give Rain a run for her money.

  “Welcome players, to my Tutoria Emporia! Here, you can exchange your gold for items that will be of great use to you in the contest. I will have better weapons than those rusted hunks of junk that you received at the beginning, as well as basic armor and supplies. Waypoint crystals in particular will be a hot ticket item, so get them before the daily supply runs out.”

  “I know how a shop works,” said Calista, as Milly browsed a rack of bronze-tipped spears.

  “Yes… well… did you know you can sell stuff here too?” continued Tutoria, perturbed. “And my inventory will expand as you progress further in the contest. Did you know that, Calista Gale, you big know-it-all?”

  Milly grabbed one of the waypoint crystals from a nearby display case. It was a mirror image of the one she'd received from killing The Crushing Wave. It sparkled in her palm as she held it.

  “How much are these?” she asked, curiously.

  “Three hundred gold,” responded Tutoria.

  “Three hundred gold!” exclaimed Calista, “That's everything we earned from defeating The Crushing Wave. That's excessive. We’ll give you one hundred for it.”

  “Supply and demand,” responded Tutoria, rejecting Calista’s offer outright. “Right now, there are only ten available to purchase each day, and there are seven hundred and fifty-five people in the tower. I have no doubt they will sell out quickly.”

  “Ridiculous. Come on Milly, let’s go find Rain and…”

  “I’ll take three,” Milly announced, causing Tutoria to light up with excitement. Calista gasped.

  “Milly, that’s so much gold,” whispered Calista.

  “Calista, I used a waypoint crystal to save your life. Keeping you and Rain safe is everything to me. Tutoria, how do I… um… pay you?”

  “You just grab the item and walk out of the store,” Tutoria explained, “The gold will be automatically deducted from your inventory. Just make sure you have enough for it, or you will be for a nasty shock. Quite literally.”

  Milly walked out of the store, and watched as nine hundred gold was deducted from her inventory, nearly everything she had collected since the Contest began.

  “Worth every penny,” Milly said, handing one of the crystals to Calista.

  “Milly… I…,” Calista stammered.

  “Just take it, Calista,” Milly said, “One for each of us. In case any of us need it.”

  Calista took the crystal, holding it gently in her palm. “If it will help protect you and Rain, I’ll take it. Thank you, Milly.”

  “Let’s go deliver Rain’s crystal to her,” Milly said, walking towards Rain On My Parade. People were starting to stream through the lobby doors and descend in the elevators, and Milly wanted to get out of sight before Mr. Stone or another CEO spotted her inside.

  “Hold up, we're not done yet,” protested #564, though she reconsidered when the girls didn't stop walking. “Actually, this last one is the most important. Perhaps your friend should be here for it too.”

  Milly didn't like the sound of that. She hastened to Rain’s shop, dashing through the partially open door.

  “Rain, I got you… Wow!” Milly gasped.

  Rain’s shop had been completely renovated to match the decor in the lobby. The flimsy counters, once in dire need of repair, were now composed of a dark oak, as were the chairs and tables. The floors and walls were made of old hardwood, and a dark leather couch was stretched in front of a broad stone fireplace, nestled against the back wall. It looked like a medieval-style tavern.

  Behind the counter, a half dozen table-top cauldrons had joined her electric kettles, one already bubbling and giving off red steam. Even Rain’s makeshift storage closet-turned-bedroom have received a facelift.

  Rain was behind the counter, her personal Tutoria wrapped tightly in her arms.

  “I love it, Thirteen. Love it! It looks exactly how I always dreamed it would,” Rain said, giddy.

  Thirteen? The system judged her that strong of a player on day one? Good for you, Rain.

  “I got the renovation through on a technicality,” Thirteen said, smiling. “The lobby needed to be renovated for Phase Two, and Rain On My Parade is part of the lobby. So, logically, Rain on my Parade must be renovated as well. It would look strange otherwise.”

  “Calista! Milly! Look! Isn’t it wonderful?” Rain exclaimed, releasing Thirteen and twirling around to take it all in. “It's perfect.”

  “It's beautiful Rain,” replied Milly, ecstatic for her friend. She handed Rain her waypoint crystal. “Here, for emergencies.”

  “Thanks, Mils,” Rain said, storing it away.

  “You even got your own couch,” Calista said, impressed.

  “You and Milly are welcome to sleep on it anytime you want,” Rain offered. “It’s more comfortable than under your desks. However...”

  Rain paused, looking mischievously at Calista. “There is only the one couch, so you two might have to share.”

  Calista’s blush stretched ear to ear.

  “#564 has one last thing to show us,” Calista blurted out, ducking back into the lobby.

  “She’s fun to tease,” Rain smirked, winking at Milly, and following Calista into the lobby.

  Milly looked over at Thirteen, who simply shrugged.

  I have no idea what has gotten into those two.

  Milly wandered into the lobby, where #564 was waiting for them.

  “Alright #564, what's the last thing you needed to show us?” asked Calista, standing in front of everyone to hide her blush.

  “The Event Clock,” declared #564, pointing towards a digital countdown timer hung from the ceiling in the centre of the lobby. It showed a time of 52 minutes and 45 seconds. “The Event Clock is the most important addition in Phase Two - its primary theme, if you will. Simply put, when that clock reaches zero, an Event will trigger.”

  The word 'Event' held an ominous tone that made Milly's spine shiver.

  “An event,” added Thirteen, emerging from Rain On My Parade. “Can be any type of occurance, but it is always bad for the players. Natural disasters, disease, monsters, famine. Anything. And you will not know what it will be until it starts.”

  “Thirteen, stop stealing my thunder,” complained #564.

  “Yes, the event could be thunder too,” added Thirteen. "Pray you don't get that one."

  Milly’s heart raced. The first Event would begin in less than an hour, and no one at the Tower was prepared for what it might bring.

  “The Events were added after Cycle #22, when the Contest lasted one hundred and seventeen years," #564 continued. "The players had grown content with their lot in life and decided to live their lives in the contest, surviving off the land in their local area. It was really dull, not to mention counterproductive. The damn thing didn't end until their great grandchildren emerged victorious. Ever since then, the Events were added to keep the players pushing forward.”

  “After this first event, the Event Clock resets to one week,” said Thirteen. “But players can add time to it by completing various tasks. Exploring a new territory can add an hour, while finishing major milestones can add a whole month. The Events get more dangerous each time they are triggered, so I’d recommend that you keep advancing so you have to endure as few as possible.”

  Milly glanced up at the Event Clock.

  51 minutes, 22 seconds. Shit, every second counts right now.

  “Calista. Rain,” Milly said nervously. “We need to get moving. We don't have much time.”

  “Yes, sorry about that. The first Event is practically unavoidable. It gives the players a taste of what's to come, so they are... um... motivated to avoid them in the future.”

  “Anything else we need to know, #564?” Calista asked, angry that #564 had left the Event Clock until the end. “Because apparently we have shit we need to do!”

  “You know the basics,” #564 concluded. “You will figure out the rest as you go. It has been fun, Calista. I wish you the best of luck and I hope to see you again at the end, victorious.”

  Thirteen gave Rain one final hug, and Rain hugged her back, through her eyes never left the clock.

  With that, #564 and Thirteen faded away, leaving Milly, Calista, and Rain standing in the lobby.

  Watching the Event Clock counting down to zero.