Earning Allies

"Ophelia." Andrew said, taking a deep breath. "There's something I've always wanted to tell you since second grade. Ophelia, I -"

Before Andrew could even finish, Ophelia spat out and nearly choked on her food before looking up wide eyed behind the concerned Andrew. "What the actual hell?!"

Confused, Andrew turned around... And nearly fell out of his seat. At the sight before him.

"Greetings, Kalza and Romanicus the Mighty!" Tara greeted with a wide grin, hands on her bare hips. "I am The Steam Knight, and I require your aid to combat The Dark Queen Lilith!"

"The Steam Knight, ye say?!" Romanicus asked excitedly, throwing his head back with a hearty laugh. "Excellent! These hands of mine have been aching for battle!"

"Hold on know." Kalza said, the tiefling raising a hand. "How do we know she's the real deal?"

"I am so sorry about this!" Jake called out as he approached the two stunned people at the bench. "She's freaking crazy, as you can tell."

"... Why is she naked?" Ophelia asked in confusion.

"I can assure of you, Kalza. I am the real deal!" Tara said confidently. "Lord Octavius himself observed me and informed me himself!"

"That wasn't what I asked..."

"Lord Octavius?" Kalza asked in surprise, "Hmm. That is a horse of a different color, now isn't it?"

"Wait a second..." Andrew said as he observed the headset on Tara's head before gasping in shock. "Get out of here! That's The Vision Mission!"

"And you know this how?" Jake asked in annoyance.

"Hey, Andy here is wicked smart when it comes to technology and video games, Pretty Boy!" Ophelia said in annoyance, causing the young man in question to blush a little.

"A-anyway," Andrew continued, "The Vision Mission is a controversial new gaming headset that can temporarily shut down certain motor functions, so one could do whatever you want without risk of running into walls. It can also recreate all five senses to an eerily accurate level. And from the sounds of it, she's playing the port of Steam Knight! But neither of these things are on the market yet, how'd she get one?"

"That still doesn't explain why she's naked!" Ophelia pointed out.

"Well, if all this is a video game, then maybe we should eject her back to reality!" Jake said as he reached for the headset.

"No!" Andrew called out. "Doing that while she's in the game is just as dangerous as waking someone up while their sleepwalking! She needs to take it off! She has to either win the game or turn it off herself. It was one of the reasons it's not ready for sale yet!"

"Well, if that old wizard says that you're the Steam Knight," Romanicus said with a laugh, "then that must be the case. However, Romanicus the Mighty does not travel with just anyone. To earn our alliance, you must best us in two-on-two combat!"

"Bring it on, Romanicus! Though I hope 'The strongest man from The Northern Tribes' doesn't cry like a baby when we kick his ass!" Tara said as she stared the barbarian down...

... While looking directly at Ophelia.

"Excuse me?" Ophelia asked with a frown, arching an eyebrow.