Interviews Part 1

Anna

“I’ll be doing these communions throughout The Quest, but we’ll call them interviews. It’ll give me a chance to check on your well being, and see how you are handling things.”

“I’m fine, this is nothing I can’t handle.”

“You are very brave.”

“I guess.”

“The changes I’ve made to you have made you the wisest of your group. You will not only be brave. You’ve already seen what needs to be done to win the game.”

“That doesn’t mean I like it.”

“No, but it would be wise to try. You held affection for Gabe once. You must try and rekindle those feelings.”

“I liked him when I thought he understood me. When I thought we were both dedicated to winning the league. But now I see that Jasmine was right, he just liked dating someone he was in charge of, he never really liked me.”

“Have you considered that perhaps you were not worthy of his affection?”

“What? How could you say that?”

“You only dated for a scant six weeks. He soured on you awfully fast. Perhaps you were too focused on winning and not enough on fulfilling his needs.”

“I never misadvertised who I was.”

“Just something to think about. Don’t let the classes and monsters distract you from the true goal of this game. If you do not hold true devotion in your heart by the end of this season, none of you will be going home.”

“I’ll try and keep that in mind.”

——-

Lana

“May I just say I’m sorry you’ve been pulled into this situation. What a dreadful turn of fate.”

“Thank you. I know you’re just following the rules that bind you, but it’s hard not to think of you as the villain of all of this. You saying that means a lot.”

“Indeed. I wish I could just wave my hands and save you all. Alas. How are you feeling after seeing everyone reunited?”

“Thankful that I got to stay human. I can’t imagine what it would be like waking up as a goblin or orc. Being another person is strange enough.”

“What do you think of the life you were living here? Was it to your liking?”

“To be honest… I loved it. It was exactly what I wanted my life to be back home. I’m famous, beautiful, and I’m not in the middle of nowhere.”

“I’m glad to hear this. Feel free to return to your role. It is yours to revel in.”

“Seems a little silly to live in a fantasy like that.”

“Tis no fantasy here, besides we gave you these lives to help you navigate the world. Considering your ultimate goal, you’re in the best position to use your new skills to earn Gabriel’s favor.”

“Heh, the other Lana certainly has experience in that department, but I don’t want to be his queen. He cheated on my sister.”

“She would not let you hold her back of the positions were swapped.”

“How could you say that? She’s my twin, she’s more important than anything.”

“A support class through and through, he knew what he was doing when he gave you bard. But search your heart. Search your memories. There must be some reason the Lana of this world succeeded where you failed.”

“Failed?”

“After all, there is no shortage of seamstresses.”

——-

Jasmine

“That second-life stuff is more messed up than you said it would be. I was not playing a part in a play, that was real.”

“Only if you want it to be. Many great actors get lost in their roles. If it’s seductive enough.”

“Don’t be stupid, what’s so seductive about being a sweaty orc?”

“Many things. You have friends, family, an island paradise, but for you I think it was innocence. You got to escape the trauma of your childhood.”

“Your game isn’t much different from those traumas. Any escape I had is ruined now.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way. I don’t wish harm to you. I’d like to help you if I can. I gave you a life free of the burdens that kept you from Gabe in your other life.”

“Those burdens helped me identify a predator.”

“After you brought him to his prey, and only stopped him after he’d already claimed two of the girls you were responsible for.”

“You shut your damn mouth! This is not my fault! He is not my fault!”

“Of course not. I simply wanted to show that your pain was not as precious a resource as you may have thought. You have a chance to be free of your pain. Let it go.”

“That pain made me who I am. Look what I became without it, some aimless dufus.”

“That dufus charmed the prince and his whole court. You don’t need to let yourself suffer to be a strong and admirable woman.”

“Someone has to protect them from him.”

“I’m afraid you’re not that person if ever there was one, The Harem is his, there is no protecting them. You can still help, and comfort and lead, but the harem must be completed by the end or else…”

“I know the stakes.”

——-

Vera

“How are you finding your other life, sweetness?”

“Incredibly reminiscent of my other life.”

“Yes, among our team I felt that you were the most prepared to receive love, so I tried to get you a life as similar to your own as I could.”

“Are you serious? I’m probably the most messed up girl here.”

“You have been through trials, yes, but you’ve come out the other side. You are ready to love, and be loved, and you know Gabe is the one.”

“I didn’t think I’d be sharing him…”

“There’s only one queen, no sharing that.”

“That’s exactly what I thought earlier. He was so sweet to me, he almost made me think I had a chance.”

“Don’t you?”

“Not really. Sweet is one thing, but I think just about everyone has me beat on looks.”

“Careful, you’re getting close to breaking his edict already.”

“Oh yeah…maybe he wasn’t being sweet. He probably knew I couldn’t follow it and would lose all my powers… Just to keep me out of the way of the ones he really wants.”

“Vera you must not think such things. You can win. I would not have chosen you otherwise. Show him how sexy a dwarf can be.”

“How exactly do I do that?”

“The same way any seductress would, with confidence.”