<
LOCATION: VARIOUS RESIDENCES
CITY: MULTIPLE
DATE: OCTOBER 18-19, 2025 | TIME: 11:59 PM
Everyone from the first cohort received the new System messages one by one over the ten-day period while Grim and his team were globe-hopping and deep-diving. The messaging function had been a fun discovery.
Mallory sat at her desk on the afternoon of Thursday, October 9th when she got the first notification: the primary data ark was online.
"Messaging, huh?" she muttered aloud. Hm. I wonder if…
She thought about Vanessa, and a small interface popped up in her vision.
---
Vanessa Cho
Status: Online
Send message? [Y/N]
---
Mentally selecting Yes, the interface expanded into something that resembled a basic email window: subject line, body of text, and a Send or Discard button.
Mallory considered for a moment, then mentally composed her first message.
---
Subject: This Thing Working?
Message:
Hi, Vanessa! I saw this messaging function, and thought I’d try it out. Let me know if you get this!
Mal
---
She mentally hit Send, and the interface closed with a soft ripple.
A few minutes later, a notification chimed — Vanessa had replied.
It was just like email, but with a push notification in her mind.
Well, how fun is this? Mallory thought, grinning.
Too bad we can’t send naughty images through this thing…
On the late afternoon of October 18th, Ronan triggered something he had been anticipating for a long time.
The final sequence had been waiting, loaded and ready, and was set to activate at exactly 11:59 PM for each of them — automatically adjusted to their respective time zones.
He gave Operator a final head scratch, tucked into bed, and let sleep overtake him.
Tonight would be an eventful night.
That same evening, across the country in the Boston suburb of Newton, Elise Draven finally surrendered to exhaustion.
Eighteen-hour days had become her normal since returning from the Tutorial, and even meditation was no longer enough to hold the strain at bay.
Let’s get a little old-fashioned rest in tonight, she told herself. Come back full force tomorrow.
She had been working on the final distribution plans for Vitalyx and Rejuvenex — coordinating doses for Graham Thorne’s Peacekeeper force.
Fifty thousand people, staged globally for rapid deployment.
Hard work, yes — but only a rehearsal for the true global awakening everyone knew was coming.
Elise brushed her teeth and washed her face, applying creams she no longer needed — a quiet ritual that helped guide her mind toward rest.
She put on soft background music, fluffed her pillows, and settled in.
Sleep came easily now, a practiced descent sharpened by the mental control of 31 Intelligence and 43 Wisdom.
At precisely 11:59 PM Eastern Time, a System Message bloomed across her mind’s eye:
---
System Message
You have been invited to visit Grimwatch by Mayor Thomas Brae.
Do you wish to accept? [Y/N]
Note: Your body will remain asleep, and you can set an alarm to wake at a time of your choosing.
---
What is this…? Elise thought, selecting Yes without hesitation.
Her consciousness shifted, and she found herself standing in the heart of Grimwatch once more.
The familiar plaza greeted her — the fountain bubbling merrily, the cobbled streets stretching outward — but the town itself had changed.
It was... busier. Brighter.
A pulse of anticipation throbbed in the air, subtle but undeniable.
Across the plaza, the wooden sign of The Lusty Wench swung gently in the morning breeze.
Elise smiled. The name was still ridiculous — but after everything they had experienced here, the tavern felt like home.
She made her way toward it, boots echoing softly on the stones.
Inside, Liesl and Greta greeted her with wide smiles.
Moments later, Aria Vance, Dr. Naveen Singh, and Dr. Renata Passini joined them, drifting in with laughter and hugs.
Since it seemed to be morning in Grimwatch, they sat down for a light breakfast.
Coffee, sausage, eggs — simple fare, but served with obvious pride.
Greta lingered after setting down their plates, drying her hands on her apron.
"The mayor will be along shortly," she said, voice warm but touched with something heavier. "But... I wanted to have a word with you first, if you don't mind."
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Elise exchanged a look with Aria.
Greta — usually the heart of good cheer — looked almost... anxious.
Aria spoke up first.
"Of course, Greta. What's on your mind?"
The older woman wrung her hands, glancing toward the windows before gathering herself.
"Truth be told," she said, "Grimwatch is hanging by a thread. Trade's slow. Supplies are thin. We're doing all we can, but... it's not enough."
She hesitated, then pressed on:
"If you happen to head out hunting—if you could bring back some boar meat, or pelts, anything at all—it would help us stretch what little we have. We can't offer much, but... room and board, at least for a time."
The table fell briefly silent.
Elise felt a swell of warmth—and a fierce protectiveness.
This was their town too now.
Without hesitation, she nodded.
"Greta, consider it done," she said.
"We’re expecting a few more of our friends, but once they're here, we’ll see to it."
Greta's relief was visible—her shoulders eased, her hands fell still.
She bowed slightly, murmured her thanks, and bustled away, her apron brushing the floor.
By midmorning, more members of the Round Table had arrived — Vanessa Cho, Darian Sirova, Graham Thorne, Mason Briggs, Sienna Price, Nina Vosper, and others — until all eighteen of the first cohort were gathered once more at their old table.
Coffee flowed freely.
Laughter stirred the rafters.
When the group had settled, Ronan stood, his coffee mug in hand.
"Thanks to all of you for coming," Ronan said.
"I know it was a surprise — even if you suspected something like this might happen one day. I want to especially thank Graham, Mason, Aria, Sienna, and Nina for everything they did these past weeks. Globe-trotting, deep diving... activating all the pieces we needed."
The room answered with a murmur of approval— real, grateful.
"Now, this..." Ronan gestured around them, "is the new Grimwatch. And there’s much to do here—"
At that moment, the tavern doors creaked open.
A tall, lanky man stepped inside — sun-worn, lean, his long arms spread in welcome.
"If you don’t mind, young man..." he said, voice carrying easily across the room.
"I am Thomas Brae — Mayor of Grimwatch. And I thank you for answering my invitation so swiftly."
Behind him, a woman stepped forward — flour still dusting the sleeves of her blouse, her eyes bright with warmth.
"And this is my wife, Ella," Thomas added proudly. "We’re simple folk, but we have big dreams."
Ella laughed gently.
"He has dreams. I mostly bake bread."
The room chuckled — a low, genuine ripple.
Thomas’s voice softened, almost reverent.
"Grimwatch has lingered in the shadows long enough. But with your help—your strength, your vision—we can build something here. Something that matters."
He met each of their gazes in turn, unflinching.
"You’re free to come and go as you wish. Greta’s got rooms for you, for now. But if you’re willing to lend a hand, we’ll carve a future out of this little village together. One day at a time."
A pause.
The moment stretched, warm and golden.
Outside, the fountain splashed and the early light of a new day poured across the stones.
Mallory spoke up next, her voice steady and warm.
"Mayor Brae, it’s nice to meet you—and thank you, on behalf of all of us, for your invitation. We’re glad to help the town. Even if our time here was short, we have fond memories."
Thomas chuckled, waving a hand modestly.
"Please, call me Thomas, Mallory. No need for titles when we’re all equals here."
"Now—I believe Greta’s already asked for a favor. I’ve also let the others in town know you’re here. If they have similar needs..."
He smiled sheepishly. "...I hope you don’t mind if I encouraged them to ask."
Graham nodded from his seat.
"We’re happy to help, Thomas. It’s the least we can do."
Thomas grinned, the lines around his eyes crinkling with genuine gratitude.
"Well—if you could collect some timber and bring it to the wood shop around the corner, we’ll have enough materials to build a job posting board in a few days for the town square. That’ll make it easier for folks to organize work—and for you to see where you're needed."
Liesl had been standing quietly nearby, hands folded at her waist.
She stepped forward hesitantly.
"Um, Thomas? Mallory? Can we ask for one more favor?"
Mallory and Thomas both nodded, and Liesl, showing a bit more confidence now, continued.
"I’m in charge of the chickens out back, and lately we’ve lost a few to wolves."
Thomas nodded.
"That’s right. Thank you, Liesl. I’d forgotten to mention it. Would you also be able to cull the wolves a little? Ten or fifteen less of them might give the rest a reason to stay clear of the village."
Graham straightened slightly, slipping into his Commander mindset with ease.
"Alright. Let’s split up and get it done."
He turned to Mallory.
"Mallory, Elise—could you two go around town, meet everyone you can, and start putting together a list of tasks? Find out what the village needs."
"Brick and I will head out and find some boar. The woods to the east, right, Thomas?"
Thomas nodded.
"Yup. Around the low hill. You'll find them roaming pretty freely there."
From across the table, Darian leaned forward.
"I’ll take care of the wolves. Anyone care to join me?"
Vanessa just about jumped out of her seat.
"Don’t tease me with a good time, Darian. Nyssara and I are ready for a wolf hunt."
Graham turned back to Thomas.
"And timber? Would the woodworker happen to have an axe or two we can borrow?"
Thomas laughed.
"Old Barton and his son should have a few spares. Check with them at the shop before you head out."
Thomas turned to leave with a nod, then paused and faced the group again.
"By the way, one more thing before you head out. The System has authorized me to award small amounts of experience for tasks that help the village—hunting, gathering, building—that sort of thing. It’s not much yet, but it’ll add up over time. And every bit of strength we build together helps make Grimwatch safer for everyone."
Brick rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"Now we’re talking. Let’s get started!"
Within minutes, the group had coordinated their tasks and split into teams:
- Graham and Brick: Hunt wild boar in the eastern woods.
- Vanessa and Darian: Cull the wolves to the west of the village.
- Nina, Sienna, and Ronan: Visit the wood shop for axes and gather timber to the south.
- Mallory, Elise, and the others: Circulate through Grimwatch, meeting villagers and collecting requests for future days.
They moved out with a sense of purpose, boots crunching on the packed dirt roads, laughter trailing behind, excitement bright in every step.
Grimwatch—the quiet hamlet they had once known—had changed while they were away.
It wasn’t just a training ground anymore.
It was a village now—alive, growing, brimming with potential.
And it was about to become even more.
Over the next few hours, Grimwatch came alive with quiet purpose.
Graham and Brick returned several times, dragging hefty boars between them each trip, while Darian and Vanessa followed suit, each with a dead wolf slung over their shoulders.
By the end of two full days in Grimwatch, they had dropped off fifteen boars and fifteen wolves to the butcher.
Nina, Sienna, and Ronan stacked bundles of timber near the future site of the job board, and Mallory and Elise compiled a growing list of the villagers' needs and hopes.
For the first time in its short, sleepy existence, Grimwatch buzzed with ambition.
As the sun dipped low behind the rolling hills, the group reconvened at The Lusty Wench for a simple supper—fresh bread, stew thick with root vegetables and wild herbs, and mugs of cider that tasted sweeter than anything they remembered from before.
Later that night, one by one, they drifted up to their rented rooms, exhaustion pulling at their limbs—but it was a good exhaustion, the kind that came from honest work and a future being built with their own hands.
Elise lay back on the simple mattress in her room, the familiar creak of the floorboards and the bubbling fountain outside the window a lullaby she hadn’t known she’d missed.
She checked her system messages.
---
System Message
You have supported the growth of Grimwatch.
You have been awarded 300 XP.
---
We’re just getting started, she thought, as she closed her eyes and slept.
When she woke again, it was morning—real morning—in Newton, Massachusetts.
Grimwatch would still be there, waiting for her return.
And now, every night she chose, it would be.