Breaking Blades
Copyright© 2026 by FozzieBare
Epilogue: “Where I deserve to be”
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “That was quick. I guess I said something that stuck. So, what’s the answer?
Adrian smiled. It was still a tense smile, but the tension was already slowly draining away. “I’m going to contact Heroblade and tell them that I greatly appreciate the honor of being approached for the job, but my circumstances require that I regretfully cannot accept the position.”
Marcus was NOT expecting this. “Are you sure?”
Adrian nodded, becoming almost serene. “Yes. I’m sure. After that “Where you deserve to be” comment, I realized something very important, Marcus.”
Marcus was intrigued. “Do tell.”
Adrian continued. “If it was about the money, or the level of play, then, yes, you’re right, Marcus. That’s what my talent should have me want. But that isn’t everything to me. It’s quality of life. I actually thought of Kevin a little bit. He said after a certain point, money is just a number on a scoreboard. Well, I’m nowhere as well-off as Kevin, but I listened to him explain why he plays a game full time for no salary rather than making eight figures a year on the trading floor. It’s because the stress eats people alive there. At my status, throwing me directly into a captaincy role when I’ve never played in the league would require industrial strength heartburn medicine. I’d have to adjust to the highest level of play on a nearly instantaneous improvement plan. At the same time I’d be rebuilding a shattered team that might be dropped from the League if things continued and they introduced a system where the best Semi-Pro teams moved up and the worst League teams dropped out of the league. That’s not easy. It’s not “Instant fifty points in blood pressure” difficult, but it’s definitely not something anyone should look forward to.
He continued, voice stronger. “Maybe I’ll look for a semi-pro team that can use a part-timer. Maybe I’ll just stick around and play in the Universe with Reforged. Try to figure out a way to work with them to get them up the ranks. See how many people clutch their pearls about “This is not the way things are done”, and then say “Oh yeah? Watch me.” I like challenge, Marcus. But more than that, I’ve spent the years after ... after everything locked in a tiny apartment, never dealing with other people except via business transactions for building their MACs and characters. So, all this?”
He waved his hand, taking in the whole pit.
“This craziness, this absolutely wonderful weirdness? This is what I deserve. I thought being banned from competitive play meant I was isolated from the competitive community. These last few months have been a godsend, Marcus. I’ve faced many challenges. I want more challenges. Of course I do. But I’d rather make a decent living and do it with people I like and who can duct tape me to a chair just for fun and laughs, then make a comfortable living working for a team where every interaction is “Oh god, the captain wants something from me. What’s the test that I must pass here?””
He shook his head. Even worked in a joke because it felt good to relax and show humor. “I mean, Kevin said that if you didn’t have an arcade video game store high score blood pressure, you either had a serious drug habit or a series of embarrassingly young trophy wives. I don’t want the first, and I certainly won’t make enough money for the second. So ... do my best. Live up to the most trite phrase in gaming “Good luck. Have fun.” That’s more important to me than having some extra money in my bank account.”
Marcus chuckled. “Yeah, about that, Adrian? You’re seeing a pay bump in your next check.”
Adrian protested “Marcus, I already told you it wasn’t about the money”
Marcus waved that objection away:”Oh, it’s not just a raise because you’ve decided to stay. That still might have happened. The silly Reforged stuff sells like hotcakes. It takes the piss out of Serious Gaming Culture. You should see the Gorilla Warfare mugs. We even make one now without the Reforged logo, just so those people who hate us can still go bananas with their morning coffee.”
He grinned, and it was the type of grin that usually meant Marcus had an idea, and look out world, Marcus was about to unleash it on them whether they were ready or not.
Marcus then continued. “The pay raise is about your new responsibilities. I mean, after all, you are the first Captain of the Reforged Gaming’s World of WarMachines team. Keeping you on your old pay would be an insult.”
Adrian frowned “Just when I think I had all the answers, you change the questions.”
Marcus pointed. “Exactly!”
Adrian countered. “How the hell are you going to pay for a semi-pro team?”
Marcus grinned. “Trade secret. Let’s just say I have some ideas that you’re going to love. Or at least, tolerate enough that I might get them past our team of lunatics without them making me their next target. Speaking of our band of lunatics, let’s go visit them. Tell them what’s going on. They were worried, Adrian. I’m really glad you’re staying, despite my advice to go.”
He texted Elias.
“All good. Order dinner for me and Adrian, we’ll tell you everything that’s going on as partial repayment for watching us eat while we explain. Unless you guys haven’t ordered yet, in which caee ... well, I’ll still pay for the meal.”
As it turned out, they hadn’t even sat down to eat at all. Not because it was super busy, because it wasn’t. It was a comfortable Italian bistro that everyone loved because the owner’s mama was one of the best cooks around, and still threatened her son with a ladle should he not treat the customers right. She even sang old Italian arias while she cooked. Her assistants had either learned to like it, tolerate it, or wear earplugs, which was dangerous in that environment.
They were outside, munching on fresh focaccia, olive oil that would qualify as an Italian national treasure, and a spice mix nobody could identify all the flavors in, but all of them wanted about nine pounds of it for the kitchen back at HQ.
Mama had come out when they weren’t ready to sit down yet and found Amy pacing a hole in the sidewalk, Elias getting motion sickness from watching her go back and forth like a slow-motion Wimbledon match, and Kevin listening to ... something on his earbuds.
They had asked about Kevin’s musical tastes once, and he had provided a perfectly Kevin answer. He was a big fan of an old style of Mongolian throat singing. Very interesting, tonally, he said.
They weren’t sure if he was telling a story and being Kevin, or telling the truth and being Kevin, so they let it go.
Mama had immediately laid down the law with Amy.
“Bambina, I know you’re stressed, but please, child, sit down. Have some bread and olive oil. PIETRO, GET ME A PLATE OF FOCACCIA, OLIVE OIL AND THE SPICE MIX. You’re going to worry yourself into the ground without some food in your stomach. PIETRO, THE GOOD OLIVE OIL! THESE KIDS NEED THE GOOD OIL! THEY LOOK SO UNDERFED. Then, after you have some bread, and maybe some dinner, you can resume your walk over the Alps if you need to. PIETRO, WHERE IS ... oh, Pietro. There you are. Thank you, son. I’ll take care of these kids. Don’t put anything in the queue yet. When they’re ready, I’ll cook for them personally. They look like they need a good meal from Mama.”
So, when Marcus and Adrian showed up a few minutes later, and Adrian muttered a quick, “Sorry for making everyone worry,” Mama already had the situation under control. She told them to sit there, talk, and not move one inch. She had already decided what each of them needed.
She took off with something that resembled a force-of-nature waddle more than an ordinary walk. Everyone’s eyes turned to Adrian.
Adrian cleared his throat. Took a sip of water for a throat that had suddenly gone dry.
“First, and again, I’m sorry to make everyone worry. I’ve had something weighty on my mind, and Marcus and I have discussed it and come to a decision that affects the Guild, so I’ll start with that.”
He swallowed.
“As you’ve probably guessed, I had a lot on my mind. The reason is that Heroblade Gaming asked me to interview with them, and they’ve since made me a job offer. More than that, actually. They wanted me as the new captain of the team.”
Kevin nodded. Elias winced. Amy looked frozen in place.
He swallowed again. Tried to get the words out.
Failed.
Gathered his courage. Tried again.
“I’m telling them I appreciate the offer, but I’m staying with Reforged.”
Kevin smiled. Elias’s eyebrows rose so quickly that if they went any higher, they might achieve escape velocity. Amy still seemed frozen in place. The words hadn’t yet penetrated.
Adrian smiled, and it wasn’t just because Mama was coming out with another plate of focaccia and oil.
“Instead, Marcus and I are going to form Team Reforged, affiliated with the Guild, and compete in the semi-professional tournament scene. See how far we can take it.”
That did it. Amy nearly broke down in tears. Her shoulders heaved as she processed the good news instead of the bad news she had been expecting.
That concerned Mama, who was putting the bread down.
“Bambina, are you okay, child? If this young man has said something hurtful...”
Amy found the words to speak. “No, Mama. I was just afraid of bad news because I’d been so worried he was going to leave our group, but instead he’s staying. I’m very happy.”