Keylynn turned, facing presumably Ody, the storymancer. The fuming human looked like most generic heroes that she’s come across. His golden brown hair was perfectly styled to fall in gentle waves past his ears. He stared her down with his cold, stormy blue eyes. He must oil himself, she decided, seeing his sun-kissed golden skin glistening in the sun.

  “I assume you are the reason why my cyclops will be absent from work?” He glowered up at her.

  “Salutations, I am the HR consultant assigned to file HR-600-1I-N2B-C, Keylynn. It’s a pleasure to be making your acquaintance. I assume you are the storymancer, Ody.” She held out her hand for him.

  His stormy demeanour was forgotten for a moment as he shook her hand automatically. The brief moment of professional greeting ended when he released her hand and glowered at her. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t call head office demanding your immediate termination.”

  “You will find that endeavour to be one of great difficulty. I have acted within the bounds of my role as an HR consultant, and you will find all paperwork is in order for the medical absence of your employee,” she explained calmly. She was grateful that she was unable to manifest bees at the moment. “If you require it, I can explain everything that led to the eight-week paid medical leave necessary for your employee.”

  Tendrils of scarlet reached up his neck. “I don’t give a sheep’s ass about your stupid fucking paperwork! Return my Cyclops. Now.” He ordered as spittle flew from his mouth. If he were taller, it would have splashed her face.

  “No,” she replied. Even if she wanted to, which she didn’t, she can’t. She waited until he suppressed his rage before she continued. “Your cyclops has sustained a permanent injury while working on your quest. As a storymancer, you should be appalled by this, not demanding the return of said employee to worsen the injury.” She paused, hearing her bell shrooms chime shrilly, reflecting her feelings on the matter. Once they calmed somewhat, she added, “And you should know the name of your employee.”

  “Do I look incompetent to you? No, don’t answer that! I have already read your sheepshit report. What I need is my damn cyclops standing in its cage giving adventurers the opportunity to kill it! They were promised a cyclops to kill. Some wait for years to get a chance at this quest, and you single-handedly ruined their chances at being a hero by the removal of my cyclops! If my quest falls into obscurity, it’s on you!” He boomed at her while he paced.

  Before she could stop herself, she snapped at him. “Then procure yourself a replacement cyclops.” She felt immediate shame. She was supposed to be the calm one. If they both react emotionally, they won't find a resolution. She sucked in a deep breath and slowly released it. “If you have read my reports and you have no further inquiry for me, I have no further need to remain.”

  He glared hotly while his jaw clenched and unclenched as if he were chewing on a firm piece of bark to calm himself. “My cyclops will be returning to its cage within the day, so don’t look so smug.” He spoke as if he were trying to refrain from screaming at her. “Once it has been returned, you will be terminated,” he promised. “I wish I could say it was a pleasure, but you are disgusting to look at. You have mushrooms in your hair. Invest in soap.” He turned and left the dock while pulling out his comms device.

  Keylynn didn't doubt that he would call head office demanding her termination. As Dauven would say, ‘He’s out for blood,’ a ridiculous turn of phrase that seems apt in this case. Meeting the infamous Ody Eus of Ithika was disappointing. He was supposedly a world-renowned hero who blurred the lines between hero and storymancer by becoming one. He was neither heroic nor wise, both of which he is famed for. The Ody she met was nothing more than a glory chaser.

  She was more worried about how Akzer will react to having yet another complaint about her than about Ody succeeding in terminating her job. First Demetra tried to have her removed, and now a well-known storymancer was demanding her termination. At the rate she was going, she will be finding herself back on floor five alone by the end of the week.

  The ferry leaving the Isle of Eyes was early, as they were anticipating a large storm, and the ferry captain didn't want anyone stranded on the Isle. The storm, she mused, was on her side, as it would ensure that Ody fails to end Silas’s medical leave.

  Her train back to the office wasn’t as early as the ferry, because trains, unlike ferries, are not bothered by things as trivial as the weather. While she waited for the train, she read through her more important emails on her Matrix tablet.

  To: Keylynn

  From: Dauven

  Subject: Complete Assessment Request

  Keylynn, I don’t know what you did on that HR consultation, and I have a feeling I don’t want to know. Whatever you did, Lark is requesting a meeting with you upon your return. Please tell me you didn’t discover a bee allergy.

  That being said, you were well within your bounds to fill out that request and submit it.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  You should know that whatever is growing in the fishbowl has a negative impact on your team. They aren’t keen on verbalizing what it is doing. You also need to give your team a name before Akzer does.

  I found your comms device. You left it in your desk; I don’t think I need to tell you that it should be with you.

  Dauven, Team Lead, Team Five

  Floor seven, Royal Assessment Department and Adventurer Welfare Council

  Keylynn checked the train schedule quickly. She will be taking the night train, arriving in the morning. As per company protocol for fieldwork, she will be expected to arrive as soon as she is able to the office.

  To: Keylynn

  From: Gwen

  Subject: Coffee Cake

  I didn’t realize you were out of the office. I kept going by your desk to ask if you needed cookies, and Demetra freaked out. I don’t think she’s sleeping well. Or your whole team. They are not sleeping well.

  After that you kept asking me to bring you coffee, but you were never there. I met Gil; he is lovely. Anyways, your yellow slime is rude. It slithered all up and down my robes. Under them. Your slime monster is cold and got in my fur.

  I baked it a coffee cake because it didn’t like the coffee I made it. Gil told me I made the coffee fine.

  YOU NEED TO COME BACK.

  PLEASE.

  It was a disaster.

  Gwen, the scared puppy

  Gwen’s email was concerning. It read like a jumbled mess, jumping all over the place. How could Keylynn request coffee from her if she wasn’t in the office? Just to make sure her friend is alright, she sent a quick email to Dauven requesting that he check on Gwen.

  She spent most of the train home catching up on her leadership training. She read all about understanding the needs of her team and how to best make use of each team member. She found it all incredibly boring, but if Dauven can read through it, so can she.

  When she walked into the office, a couple of hours into their workday, every single person looked as if they were being held hostage by their desks. They all had dark, bold circles under their bloodshot eyes. Everyone she saw gave her cold, withering glares. They all looked like Gary when he couldn’t drink coffee for an entire day.

  Her team didn’t look much better.

  “For fuck’s sake, fine! You foul-smelling fiend!” Demetra snapped, shooting up from her desk with a metal flask in hand.

  “Demi, I told you not to bring any to work,” Zukyov responded calmly.

  “I know! But I thought if I used a flask, which makes its contents appear like water, regardless of what it is, it wouldn't know.” She explained while stomping over towards the fishbowl that was on Keylynn’s desk. Demetra unscrewed the top of her flask and emptied the contents in the fishbowl and returned to her desk. “Oh, fuck you too, asshole. I made that at home. I don’t have a fancy coffee machine.”

  “That flask sounds like a very curious one. Where did you get it?” Ragna asked, his curiosity piqued with a sly grin.

  “I have my sources.” She responded meekly.

  “I’ll expect it returned by the end of the day.” Ragna replied cheerfully.

  Keylynn smiled, rushing towards her desk; her Eugene slime not only has grown but also has telepathic abilities from a distance. Aside from the coffee obsession, she successfully cultivated telepathy at a distance in this variant. “Have you been telepathically requesting endless coffee?” She crooned gently and scooped them up. They responded by rubbing against her and climbing up her arm, showing her all the coffee everyone gave them. She could taste and feel the temperature of every coffee, including the one Demetra just fed to Eugene. Sensory information, not just thought—that is truly remarkable.

  “That is a monster, and you never should have left us alone with it.” Demetra grumbled at her.

  “Oh, Eugene isn’t a monster. They are something new.” Keylynn replied, swelling with pride. “Telepathy across a distance and the ability to manipulate the senses—Eugene may develop compulsion abilities.” She explained excitedly, gathering Eugene from up her sleeve. She gently returned them to their fishbowl on her desk. “You did all this growing in my absence. My apologies.” She spoke to Eugene softly before turning to her team. “My apologies, I did not know they would become so irksome. You have my thanks for the wonderful care you gave them.” From her leadership training, she should always apologize for her faults and acknowledge their feelings, as it builds trust.

  “It would have been better if someone didn’t piss off Gil. Now no one is allowed in the break room until a Negotiator can arrive.” Zukyov explained. She will need to find a way to show her gratitude to not only her team but the whole office.

  Keylynn frowned. “Someone earned the ire of Gil? Is that why everyone looks like they are two steps away from joining Gary the ghoul in the undead company census?” She asked concerned. If there was a break room dispute, Eugene and their newfound abilities would have made it worse. Imagining everyone suffering from the absence of coffee while Eugene constantly filled their heads with desires for coffee was horrifying. How could she be so careless? She needs to find a way to recompense for the pain she caused.

  Demetra folded her arms, glowering. “Yes, someone pissed off the break room brownie, and no one will fess up to who did it. Gil won’t let anyone in the break room. He has been throwing mugs, beans, feces, and so on at anyone who dares. Akzer was dripping in day-old coffee when he tried.”

  “Now that doesn’t sound like Gil at all,” Keylynn mused. What happened while she was away?

  “Then clearly you don’t know anything about goblin brownies.” Demetra snapped. Keylynn chose to ignore that comment because of the break room closure. Dauven informed her of what happens to someone who commonly drinks coffee on schedule when they step away from their routine. It didn’t sound pleasant.

  She sat at her desk knowing there was only one true course of action for her to take. Dauven, Akzer, and Lark can all wait. She has a goblin brownie to speak to. If she can get to the bottom of the break room dispute, she will be well on her way to making it up to the office. She may not be a trained Negotiator, as she didn’t have a high enough charisma score, but she has to try.