Surviving the Simulation: The Grand Crusade

As Xander left the meeting room, he stepped out into the bustling streets of Starlight. The settlement was alive with activity. Shops lining the street had been open for several hours, their colorful awnings fluttering gently in the breeze. It was a gorgeous day to be outside. The lively hum of commerce filled the air as merchants outside their shops called out their wares to passersby. Several others had set up actual street-side table displays almost reminiscent of flea markets.

Xander walked down the street, taking in the familiar sights and the comforting sense of community. He recognized a few faces from his first trip here. People who had become part of the fabric of his life in Starlight. There were Greg and Albert Watts, the pair of boys Xander had met in the Tolono ruins. A horde of Rodentia had trapped their mom in the police station. Mason Jones, the captain of the guard for Starlight. He had upgraded his armor since Xander had seen him last. His new set-up made him look almost like a Roman Centurion, complete with spear and shield. But there were also many fresh faces, a testament to the growing strength and diversity of the settlement.

As he approached the blacksmith shop, the rhythmic clang of hammer on anvil filled the air, mingling with the scent of burning coal. Just before he reached the door, he spotted Jo and Zoey heading toward him, their expressions excited.

"Xander!" Jo called out, waving enthusiastically.

He smiled and waved back, meeting them halfway. "Hey, you two. What's got you so excited?"

Zoey grinned, holding up a sleek device that looked like a marriage of magic-powered technology and steampunk styling. It had brass gears, a polished wooden casing, and tiny, intricate runes etched along its surface. "Check this out! We found these in one of the magic shops. They're entertainment devices, just like the ones described in the patch notes."

Jo handed one to Xander. "I got one for you, too. It's incredible. Like a portable theater and music player all in one. The shopkeeper said a small magic crystal powers it, and it's got all sorts of features."

Xander examined the device, impressed by the craftsmanship. "This is amazing. Thanks, Jo."

Jo beamed. "I thought you'd like it. It'll be nice to have some entertainment during our downtime."

Zoey nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's got every song ever recorded. Eat your heart out, greedy music industry! We've been having a blast with them."

Xander's smile widened before changing the subject. "I can't wait to try it out. But how did things go with Gary? Is he and his team up for the escort mission?"

Jo nodded. "Yes, Gary and his guys are in. They do want to get more details about the mission, though. I only told him the basics."

"Good," Xander replied. "I trust Gary and his guys; they earned it since Philo. We'll need to keep things under wraps until we're ready to move."

Zoey added, "Gary seemed pretty eager."

Xander nodded thoughtfully. "Understandable. Zoey, could you take Gary to see JT? He'll fill him in on what he needs to know."

Zoey nodded. "Of course. I'll go find Gary now and bring him to JT."

Xander turned to Jo. "And you, Jo, I'm assuming you're going to enjoy more of the marketplace?"

Jo grinned. "You know me too well. I'll see you at dinner?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Xander said with a smile. "Harvey is going to join us at the inn later."

As Zoey headed off to find Gary and Jo disappeared into the throng of shoppers, Xander turned and headed down the bustling street back toward the blacksmith shop. He didn't want to admit it, but he was looking forward to getting a new hobby that also helped keep his friends alive.

The building was an imposing two-story structure, its sturdy stone walls and heavy wooden beams speaking of both durability and craftsmanship. The large double doors were open, revealing the bustling activity within.

The forge's heat washed over him as he stepped over the doorway's threshold, mingling with the rhythmic clang of hammers striking metal and the hiss of steam. The main forge, a massive brick structure blazing like an angry dragon, dominated the first story of the shop. Blackened anvils stood at the ready, surrounded by tools of every shape and size. The air was thick with the smell of hot iron, coal, and sweat.

To the right of the forge, the smithing area held several workbenches where smiths engrossed in their tasks worked. The room was a hive of activity, with a range of work taking place. One smith hammered out the intricate details on a piece of commissioned armor, while another carefully shaped a sword, its blade glowing white-hot. Nearby, a younger apprentice worked on more mundane items, creating horseshoes and nails with practiced ease.

On the left side of the building, an attached shop displayed finished goods for sale. Gleaming weapons, polished armor, and various metal tools filled the shelves and racks. Each piece was a testament to the skill and dedication of the craftsmen who had created them.

One thing caught Xander's eye: a pile of railroad spikes being carefully forged and cooled. He knew the caravan heading out to find the steam engine, a crucial component of their survival and mobility plans, was to receive these.

Lily, the blacksmith who had agreed to teach him, approached with a welcoming smile. She was a sturdy woman with calloused hands and a demeanor that commanded respect. "Welcome, Xander. Ready to get started?"

Xander nodded, trying not to look like a kid on Christmas morning, bouncing from foot to foot in excitement. "Yes, I am. What do we do first?"

"Well, have you used your skill book yet or not?"

"No, I wanted to talk to you first."

"Awesome, that's perfect because there are some lessons learned I wish I had known before I learned my skill book. As a profession, blacksmithing is just another skill you have. The first five points are easy to get if someone shows you what to do. My recommendation is to let me show you the ropes, then use your skill book once we get you past the first steps."

"I'll follow your lead. Better to learn it right than waste a book." Xander said excitedly.

Lily led him to an empty workbench, the tools neatly arranged and ready for use. "First, let's go over the basics. Blacksmithing is as much about patience and precision as it is about strength. We'll start with something simple and build from there."

She picked up a piece of metal and placed it in the forge, the flames licking around it until it glowed. "The key is to heat the metal evenly. Once it's at the right temperature, we can start shaping it. Always remember, metal has a memory. Treat it well, and it'll do what you want. Mistreat it, and it'll fight you every step of the way."

Xander kept his eyes on Lily as she worked, the hammer in her hand rising and falling with unhurried precision. She didn't waste motion. She didn't explain what she was doing either. The lesson was in watching.

"We'll start with a chisel," she said, passing him a bar of iron. "Good place to learn the basics."

He nodded and stepped in. The rhythm of heat, strike, turn, and repeat came quickly. The repetitive nature of the forge took most of his attention, and that was enough to quiet the noise in his head.

Then Alex crept in, uninvited. The moment that he tumbled off the roof. Another moment when he was little more than a shambling, rotting corpse they found in Victor's depraved laboratory. Xander blinked, lost the rhythm, and realigned.

He hit the metal again, harder than he needed to. His anger wasn't sudden, it was always present, awaiting a moment of silence to become audible.

Lily glanced over. "You're carrying too much emotional baggage."

She waited, then added, "Blacksmithing helps. Teaches you control. Helps you put things down, one piece at a time."

Xander nodded, giving a slight chuckle to keep the mood light. "I hope so. I have a lot to work through."

"Alright, take a break for a minute. Have you been checking your notifications for skill gains?"

"Uh…"

"Don't be that guy. Pay attention to that kind of stuff," Lily said, smacking him upside the head with her gloved hand.

"Yeah, sorry. I got lost in the moments of zen broken by thoughts of failure there for a bit."

+1 Blacksmithing - Congratulations! You have figured out which end of the hammer to hit the metal with. You're well on your way toward leading an industrial revolution.

The following four messages were all very similar, but in the end, Xander had gained five points of Blacksmithing quickly under Lily's guidance. After a brief discussion, they agreed it was time to use the skill book. Xander could undoubtedly continue to grind out blacksmithing gains, but the entire point of this exercise was to get him up to speed on being able to do valuable things quickly since he wouldn't be spending all day every day in the forge.

Do you wish to use your +12 Blacksmithing Skill Book? Yes/No

Xander selected yes without hesitation. A flood of advanced techniques hit him all at once, each one locking into place like pieces he hadn't realized were missing. What had felt complex minutes ago now seemed obvious, though that was easy to say after the fact. His crafting interface lit up with schematics for weapons and armor, organized and ready, as if they'd always been there just waiting for him to catch up

Looking over the schematics, he saw they were all useful, but nothing jumped out at him as an immediate need. It wasn't until he started really diving into the screens that he noticed that the different materials could empower different base properties, such as silver being blended into the work to provide extra damage against the undead.

+12 Blacksmithing - Congratulations! I guess book smarts pay off. Now, let's see if you can apply that knowledge in practice.

The Simulation was undoubtedly getting a little more sarcastic with the notifications as time went on. Xander wondered if that was intentional or if there were still bugs with the reboot that were affecting the AI. The line of thought disappeared from his mind as he saw the subsequent notification.

Congratulations! Your Blacksmithing skill evolved because of your class. Divine Forge Master has replaced blacksmithing. The Divine Forge Master skill will allow you to infuse the essence of what it means to be a crusader into armor and weaponry. Note, any armor or weapon infused in such a manner will be restricted by class to Cleric, Paladin, or Crusader of the same Light or Dark affinity. Congrats on having BDE: Big Divine Energy.

"Uh… Lily," Xander said.

"What's wrong?" Lily replied.

"Have you ever seen the Blacksmithing skill evolve into something else?"

"No, I've never heard of skills evolving. Why? What happened?"

"Well, I've had some abilities evolve in the past because of synergy with other abilities, but my blacksmithing skill just did something similar. It's transformed into Divine Forge Master. Looks like I have a bunch of Paladin-related smithing options now to create holy weapons," Xander explained. He didn't want to get into his class being Crusader, as he still had unanswered questions regarding what that meant in the grand scheme of classes and its rarity. Still, since it was a derivative of the Paladin class, he didn't feel like he was lying to Lily.

"Wow, that's just… wow," Lily exclaimed with just a minor touch of envy in her voice. "Look, I said you were on your own resources, but I want to see how this works. How about I front you some of my materials? Let's do a practical test of this Divine Forgemaster skill."

"The plus twelve, along with what we did this morning, brings me to seventeen in Divine Forgemaster. It looks like I have schematics for a lot of basic weaponry. What were you thinking?"

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"JT told me you're pretty good with a spear, but I haven't seen you yet. Did something change after you left Starlight the last time?"

Xander gave a full-on belly laugh before replying, "I'm actually between spears at the moment. It's a long story, but I've broken several since I left here. It's still my primary weapon; I just don't have one at the moment."

"Then that sounds like our guy. Let's get to it."

They continued working, the hours slipping in a haze of heat and noise. Slowly, Xander appreciated the craft's more profound appeal. Who needs therapy, he thought, when the forge was a place where he could channel his emotions into something tangible, where the act of creation could counterbalance the destruction that he would reap on anyone who blocked his path to achieving his goals?

The day quickly turned to early evening when Lily excused herself from helping Xander. She needed to freshen up before dinner. Evidently, the innkeeper didn't appreciate the dining hall smelling like steel and sweat during the dinner period. Xander wanted to work just a bit more, but he agreed to monitor the time so that he didn't miss his own dinner appointment.

He looked around the shop and found he was the only one left in the building. That was fine with him, he thought. I just need more alone time to relax. However, without Lily as his anchor, he dwelt on frustration, anger, and fury. Those emotions poured into the spear. At one point, Cabbot attempted to break Xander out of his cycle of anger by knocking over several items from a high-up shelf, but he didn't even notice.

Xander strained his muscles as he swung the hammer, each blow echoing through the shop like thunder crashing from his frustration and fury. The forge's heat wrapped around him, matching the fire of his anger, pain, and sorrow. Sparks flew with each strike, lighting up his face, a mask of determination and grief.

"Dammit, Alex," he cursed. "I should've done more."

The clang of metal on metal filled the shop, a symphony of rage and regret. He could still see Alex's face, still hear his last words. And now, with humanity tearing itself apart instead of uniting, the weight of failure hung heavy on Xander's shoulders. The spear was his outlet, his way of channeling all that raw emotion into something tangible.

Lost in his work and anger, he didn't notice the young woman enter the shop. She stood quietly for a moment, watching him. Her presence was serene, almost out of place amid Xander's storm. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but clear.

"Xander," she called out gently. "May I have a word?"

Xander paused, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. He looked up, his eyes meeting hers. There was something oddly comforting about her, a sense of calm and recognition he couldn't quite place.

"What do you want?" he asked gruffly, though not unkindly.

"I want to talk about you," she replied, stepping closer. "About how you're feeling."

He snorted, turning back to the forge. "What's there to talk about? I'm fine."

She shook her head, undeterred. "No. No, you're not. Look at how extreme your mood swings have been just today. Now you think heat and steel will cauterize the pain. But you're bleeding deeper than that," she gestured to the spear.

Xander's grip tightened on the hammer. "You know nothing about it."

"I know more than you might think," she said, her voice steady. "Alex meant a lot to you. Losing him was a blow. And seeing the world crumble around you, people fighting each other instead of coming together. It feels hopeless. But you can't carry all that alone."

Anger flashing in Xander eyes. "And what would you have me do? People are dying. We need to fight, to build, to survive."

"And we will," she whispered, her eyes never leaving his as she reached out to pet Cabbot. "But we can't do it if we destroy ourselves from within. Your anger and pain are valid. But if you let it consume you, it will blind you to the very things you're fighting for. Look beyond the bad, see the good that is happening."

"What good! All I see is bandits, power-mad elitists, and that shitty cult of nut jobs!"

"How about JT and what Starlight represents? How about those bandits you turned back toward the right path in Philo? What about the other people putting their lives on the line for others? For every person looking out for themselves at the expense of others, there are an equal number of counterparts working to save as many as they can. Look at the successes, not the failures."

He stared at her, something in her words resonating deep within him, reminding him of who his parents had raised him to be. "Who are you?"

She gave him a smile as Cabbot uncharacteristically lept down into her arms. "I'm Lyra, a survivor like you. I've been through my share of loss and pain. And I've seen what happens when we don't take care of ourselves, when we let our grief and anger control us."

Xander's shoulders slumped, the weight of his emotions crashing down on him. "I don't know if I can," he admitted, as he tried and failed to suppress a heaving sob.

"You can," Lyra said. "And you don't have to do it alone. We're all in this together Xander and your friends are there for you if you'd just let them. For humanity to rebuild, we need every part of ourselves. Our strength, compassion, and hope."

"What do I do?"

Lyra squeezed his arm gently. "Take it one step at a time. Allow yourself to grieve, to feel. Talk to those who care about you. And remember, you're not just a warrior. You're a Crusader, and Crusaders fight for a cause. You're a builder, a protector, and most of all not alone."

Xander nodded slowly, feeling a small but significant shift within him. "Alright, I'll try."

"That's all I can ask," she said with a warm smile. "And I'll be here whenever you need me."

She placed Cabbot on a nearby workbench as she went to leave and picked up the smithing hammer sitting there.

"Da mihi vim ad protegendum eos quos amo." she said before handing the hammer to him. "Use this one instead."

Taking the offered hammer, he turned back to the forge, feeling a little lighter, the hammer's weight easier to bear. He would still forge the spear, but now it would symbolize something more. A promise to stand together and build a better world.

He turned back to make a final comment to the young woman as an essential detail he'd missed earlier in the conversation slammed into his brain; only a select few people knew his actual class. But just as quietly as she appeared, she was gone.

"You got friendly fast. Is there something you want to tell me?" Xander said to Cabbot as he stared out the shop doors. A huff and a flip of her tail were the only replies Xander got.

Xander wiped his hands on a rag, his fingers still tingling from the vibrations of hammer meeting metal. The spear he'd been working on lay on the anvil, half-formed but promising. "Okay, on that brief note of weird, we better get cleaned up for dinner," He said, placing the hammer the young woman had given him in his bag.

As if understanding, Cabbot leaped from his arms to his shoulder as if to say something akin to onward, my faithful servant.

Leaving the forge, Xander stepped into the cool early evening air. The now familiar sounds of the village surrounded him. Children's laughter echoed from a nearby square, and the smell of freshly baked bread wafted from a bakery. Shopkeepers were closing their stalls, bidding farewell to the day's last customers. Xander smiled and nodded to a few people who stopped to stare at the spectral cat sitting on his shoulder, his pace unhurried.

The inn came into view, the sturdy stone building with a thatched roof and a welcoming sign that creaked gently in the breeze. In contrast to the rest of the town, which was slowing down for the evening, the inn was a bustle of activity as it had been the night before.

"Evening, Xander!" the man behind the bar called out. "You look like you found some work in the forge today." The words were friendly, but an undertone indicated that the smell that followed Xander in would not be welcome for dinner, just as Lily had said.

Xander grinned. "You could say that. Is there a shower free?"

The man nodded. "Upstairs, you know where it is, third door on the left."

"Thanks, I appreciate it," Xander replied, giving a slight wave to Jo and Zoey, sitting at a table as he headed up the stairs. Cabbot disappeared from his shoulder in a wisp of smoke, only to reappear a moment later next to Zoey.

"Judas," Xander called after his companion jokingly.

In his room, he carefully unbuckled his survivalist belt and set it aside, along with the rest of his gear. There wasn't much room for modesty in the field, but he had to remind himself that not everyone in the inn would understand why a naked guy was running through the hallways. Wrapping himself in a robe, he quickly made his way to the showers.

Within minutes, Xander was soaking under the hot shower, the steam rising around him in gentle wisps. He closed his eyes, letting the heat seep into his tired muscles. It had been an eventful day, and the longer he stood there, the longer he considered what Lyra had told him. He had been having bad mood swings lately, and both Jo and Zoey had tried to broach the subject with him.

He needed to get his head on straight. Being all angsty and edgy sounds great in movies and books, but this was real life, and getting drawn down into a pit of despair didn't make you the plucky antihero everyone was rooting for. It made you a statistic on the Simulations death counter.

Clean and refreshed, Xander dressed in simple but clean clothes. He strapped on his boots and checked his reflection in the small mirror above the washstand. Satisfied, he reminded himself of one of his favorite quotes: The problem isn't the problem; the problem is your attitude toward the problem. He was going to have to work on his attitude toward the problem.

The inn's main room was lively now, filled with the hum of conversation and the clatter of dishes. Xander spotted Jo, Zoey, and Harvey at a table near the hearth. Jo, with her wild mane of curly red hair, was animatedly recounting a story, her hands moving expressively. Zoey interjected additional information or laughed intermittently. Harvey listened with a bemused expression, occasionally responding with a dry comment.

"Evening, everyone," Xander greeted as he approached the table.

"Hey Babe!" Jo exclaimed, standing to hug him. "You look like a new man!"

"Just needed a bit of scrubbing," Xander replied with a chuckle, returning the hug.

"Glad you could join us," Zoey said. "We were just about to order."

Quickly reading the menu board for the offerings of the day, Xander went for the comfort foods. crusted bread, and a pint of beer. He wasn't a big beer person, but soda had been in short supply since Philo. He made a mental note to see if anyone in town had some to spare. As they ate, the conversation naturally turned to the upcoming expedition.

"I'm worried about the condition of the rails," Zoey admitted, breaking a piece of bread. "It's not like any of us have experience with fixing this type of thing."

"Agreed," Jo said. "And there's the matter of fuel. We need to be sure we can find enough along the way, or it's going to be a very short trip."

Xander listened, his brow furrowed as he thought through the issues until a realization hit him. "We'll manage. If anything, I'm going to say that we're worrying about nothing. I'm sure the engineering crew JT has picked out has already thought of all this. We're just here to make sure nobody gets eaten along the way there and back."

Meanwhile, Cabbot sat perched on the end of the table near Xander, drawing curious glances from the other patrons. Many had never seen a spectral cat before, and the eerie, almost translucent creature was a source of fascination. Despite the attention, Cabbot seemed entirely disinterested, staring intently at an empty corner of the room as if seeing something that no one else could.

"Hey Harv, who's Lyra?" Xander asked, steering the conversation in a new direction. "I met her earlier, but she didn't seem familiar."

Harvey paused mid-chew, a puzzled look crossing his face. "Lyra? I don't recall anyone by that name. Let me check." He leaned over to the adjacent table where JT was sitting. "Hey, JT," Harvey called, "Do you know a Lyra? Xander met her, but she's not on any of our lists that I can remember."

JT looked up from his dinner. "Lyra, you say? Hang on a second." He stared off into space, clearly checking his interface. Xander assumed JT had access to special safezone screens as the leader.

"Nope, the safezone's records contain no one with that name. You sure you have the right name?"

"Positive," Xander replied. "She seemed... odd, but genuine. Maybe she's new?"

"That's unlikely," JT said, shaking his head.

The group fell silent, the implications of JT's words hanging heavy in the air. Cabbot's unwavering stare into the empty corner of the room only added to the uneasy feeling creeping over them.

Zoey cleared her throat, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, whoever she is, let's hope she's on our side. We've got enough to worry about without adding mysterious strangers to the mix."

Yeah," Xander said, more to himself than anyone else. "Let's hope so."

"You said that you thought that an infiltrator may have slipped in with your refugees. Could this be that person?" JT said, his voice taking on a more concerned tone.

"No, while I didn't get to know all the refugees personally, I can recognize them all. This person didn't come in with us," Xander replied.

"Hrm, okay. If you see her again, let me know. I'll also have some people look into it as well," JT still frowning, "I can't say that I'm not concerned. I'm going to increase security, but I don't want to go on a witch hunt."

As the evening wore on, their conversation drifted back to the practicalities of the expedition, but the mystery of Lyra lingered in the back of Xander's mind, along with the unsettling behavior of Cabbot, who continued to stare into the unseen depths of the room.

After clearing the last plates and emptying the mugs, the group dispersed, each member going to their own tasks or to rest. Only Jo and Xander remained at the table, the flickering candlelight casting their faces in soft shadows. Someone had set up a larger version of the portable entertainment devices and was currently filling the room with soft jazz.

Xander turned to Jo, his expression a mix of determination and hesitation. "I've been working on something," he began. "A spear. I think I'll have it finished by tomorrow."

Jo's eyes brightened with interest. "That's great! You just started blacksmithing today. I'm surprised that you're already at the point of being able to create a usable weapon."

He nodded, looking down at his hands, rough and calloused from hours at the forge. "There's something else. My blacksmithing skill... it synergized with my Crusader class. It's now called Divine Forge Master." He glanced up, meeting her gaze. "I'm not entirely sure what that means, but I've been using it on the spear. Hopefully, I'll find out once it's done."

Jo reached across the table, placing her hand over his. "That's incredible, Xander. Hopefully, it does something really cool."

He squeezed her hand gently, a small smile touching his lips. "I hope so. This spear... the Divine Forge Master… they both feel like there is something more to the Crusader class than I originally thought. I haven't found anyone mention it in the Data Forge." He paused, his smile fading slightly. "Jo, I'm sorry I haven't included you in everything I've been dealing with. I didn't want to burden you with my struggles, especially when it's clear you have your own."

Jo squeezed his hand in return, her gaze steady and reassuring. "Xander, we're a team. More than that, we're a couple. Your struggles are my struggles, and mine are yours. We're in this together, remember? Gomez and Morticia, that's us."

Xander's heart warmed at her words. He had always known Jo was the stronger of the two of them. Her unwavering support in the face of any challenge never ceased to amaze him. "I know," he said. "And I'm grateful for you every day. I just didn't want to add to your stress."

"You never add to my stress. If anything, sharing our burdens makes them easier to bear. So please, don't shut me out. I want to help you, just as you've always helped me."

Xander nodded, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. "You're right. Thank you. I'll try to be more open."

She leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "That's all I ask. Now, tell me more about this Lyra?"

As Xander described the conversation between himself and Lyra, the room seemed to grow warmer, the troubles fading into the background. For a little while, at least, it was as if nothing had changed and life was exactly as it was before the end of the world.

"Hey, just to let you know. Zoey got her own room for tonight at least," Jo smirked. "She thought we may want some alone time."

"I mean, since she went to all the trouble. We shouldn't really let her down, should we?" Xander responded playfully. "Let's head up to the room. Tomorrow is going to be another long day, but tonight I'd like to just focus on you."

With that, the two got up from the table to head up the room, holding hands. Cabbot stood to stretch, her back arched as she seemed to stretch out every muscle in her body at once before rubbing her face back and forth against an invisible object.

"You're not supposed to be able to see me," a disembodied voice said. "You'll need to keep that to yourself."