The room was filled with energy as all three celebrated the match. Or, at least Pepper and Marcus. Wilson still remained quiet as the dead and sat in his chair, not saying anything.

  “I don’t know about you two, but I say we go for round two!” Marcus exclaimed.

  “How do we go for…”

  “Season 7, pantheon league final, Timo Burnhams samuri warrior versus Aleron Kong’s rouge knight!” Marcus replied energetically.

  Pepper smiled as his roommate looked like he could barely contain his excitement. The match was a considered a classic. One for the ages and he himself had watched it practically a dozen or more times. “Let’s do it!”

  The rest of the night dragged on and the holoscreen didn’t stop broadcasting famous match after famous match. Marcus and Pepper continued to go back and forth taking turns loading up some of their favorites of the past. Wilson, to their surprise just sat there. The monotone roommate didn’t seem to care either way, nor did he really give any feedback on what he preferred. Pepper started to feel like statues had more personality than the silent tenant.

  Pepper didn’t know what time it was when sleep overtook him. All he knew was the combat action didn’t surrender, but his eye lids sure did. The next thing he knew though was he and Marcus were leaping up and off the couches.

  A blood curdling scream had awoken them and was blaring throughout the house. Amprage and Rattler immediately tuned in to what they also thought was a threat. Amp now barked instinctually after his personality profile for some reason had taught him that that was a thing.

  Pepper quickly homed in on the source and bolted for Wilsons room. Marcus was right in tow and the two charged ahead through the hallway. Pepper didn’t hesitate and turned the bedroom door handle while simultaneously slamming his shoulder into the door.

  Pepper and Marcus poured into the room like the worst SWAT team on the planet. They immediately skidded to a stop when they saw Wilson in a fit of rage. Their roommate now looked as if he was possessed by a demon and had just started smashing his keyboard down on the massive computer desk.

  Plastic keys were flying all around like flak, and Wilson ended with a thunderous axe chop down onto his holographic display screen. The keyboard slammed on the projection base and the display flickered out of existence. Wilson’s tiny body was heaving up and down as he took in deep breaths.

  He slowly started to look up at them. Pepper could have sworn his entire body was beat red with anger. The tiny figure reached up and pressed his glasses up into a better seated position. Once that was done, he slowly reached up and grabbed the headset he had been wearing. A quick toss and he sent the device crashing against the far wall.

  “Wilson… what the hell man?” Marcus said.

  Pepper could hear the shocked disbelief in Marcus’s voice, and Pepper was glad that he wasn’t the only one. “What in the world happened?”

  Their roommate glared back at them and the look in his eyes told them that Wilson’s soul was a burning inferno. “I lost.”

  Pepper turned and looked back at Marcus. They both looked at one another and Pepper felt their baffled expressions matched. “Lost what, exactly?” Pepper asked while turning his attention back to Wilson.

  “My… Golem League TCG match.”

  Pepper mentally ran the acronym through his mind until it finally clicked. TCG… TCG… TCG… “Wait, Trading Card Game?”

  Pepper then heard Marcus from over his shoulder as he muttered out. “The Golem League has a trading card game?”

  “The Golem League has had a trading card game for years. But they haven’t made an officially ranked league… Yet! It’s still in its beta phase. But yes, the Golem League Trading Card Game will have an official league. The next frontier, and I’m going to be a part of it.” Wilson declared and then rolled his head down in disappointment.

  Pepper shook his head and blinked rapidly. Wow… “Well, Wilson. I mean, we all have ups and downs, but one loss can’t be that bad…”

  He didn’t even get a chance to finish his statement. “It is a big deal! That bumps me down from #3 to #5!” Wilson practically screamed and balled his tiny hands into fists.

  “Well, hey. Look at it this way Wilson, it’s just a beta, right? I’m sure the regional rankings will change once the game comes out and you can just rebuild your rank from there.” Pepper said. He felt it was the best approach to help put some perspective on the matter.

  For what Pepper thought was the first time, Wilson showed a sarcastic expression. A sinister smirk appeared on his face and he chuckled. “I’m 5th in the world. And no… they won’t reset once the full version is released.”

  Wilson reached his arm up and wiped his nose across his forearm. The act caused both Pepper and Marcus to cringe as they both made disgusted noises. “I was one out of a thousand who were selected to help create the Golem League TCG. That was my last chance…” Pepper could see Wilson was now gritting his teeth and a small tear rushed down his cheek. “I was going to be #1. If only… if only if it wasn’t for MuscleMommyLover99.”

  Pepper heard Marcus dry cough behind him. “I’m sorry man… umm, could you like, run that by me one more time?”

  Wilson extended his arms and fingers out as much as they could at his side. A foot stomp to match and he looked straight upwards to the heavens. He verbally declared through gritted teeth. “It doesn’t matter anymore! I’m nothing… nothing…”

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  “You know…” Pepper said while nodding his head. “I think you just need some time to yourself.” Pepper started to slowly back up and he sensed Marcus keeping in step with him. “I think Marcus and I are gonna go for a walk or something. So… you can just, you know, have the place to yourself to decompress.”

  The two roommates and their familiars finally reached the door and Pepper gently closed it shut. He and Marcus both took a step back down the hallway towards the kitchen. Marcus now feeling like they were a safe distance away from Wilson’s bedroom said. “Yo, I didn’t realize people still used keyboards man.”

  The two chuckled and shook their heads at the entire ordeal. Pepper was about to change the subject to seeing if Marcus truly wanted to join him on walk or even run around the neighborhood. That all changed a second later. Their holodex’s buzzed to life and they discovered their golems were scheduled for delivery within the next 30 mins.

  “Nice!” Marcus exclaimed. “You’re going to love Sidewinder!”

  Pepper smiled, “That’s an awesome name for a golem. I named mine Mala, he’s a battle tiger. Named him after a character in a dark fantasy story.” It was then that Pepper realized Marcus had yet to see the workshop. “You wanna go checkout the workshop?”

  Marcus seemed to awaken with a bit more excitement over the idea. “Sure” He then paused and held up a finger. “On second thought. Be right back.”

  Pepper realized the morning routine hadn’t occurred for him either. He trotted down the hallway and made his way to his own private bathroom. “Good idea, I’ll be right out.” He called out to Marcus while passing by the closed bathroom door.

  By the time Pepper was done and had returned to the kitchen area, he found Marcus with a look of curiosity. As Pepper drew closer, he could see that Marcus was holding a can of Big Duck Energy in his hand. Marcus looked up at him and pointed towards the can with his free hand.

  “Dude, you have cases of this stuff.”

  Pepper rolled his eyes and reached up to grab his neck. He was nervous and didn’t know how to broach the subject. But there was no way to hide it when the evidence was directly in Marcus’s hand. “Yeah… the whole thing was made by my neighbor. He’s been a big supporter of mine and wanted to be my first official sponsor. So, he hooked me up with a ton of cases.”

  Marcus’s eyes bulged and his mouth dropped open. “That is so righteous man! Yo, we have to post about this!”

  His roommate’s statement caught him off guard and Pepper blinked rapidly. “I’m sorry, what?”

  Marcus paid him no attention though and was quickly loading up his holodex and more specifically, his Golem Chat account. Pepper was hesitant and wanted to ask him to not post or say anything, but in the rapid motion of it all got tongue tied.

  Marcus hit the video record button and they both looked on as a small holographic preview screen showed them how they appeared within the video. “What is going on Golem Chat! Yo, not only did I get hooked up with this sweet setup by my new homie Pepper. But, come to find out, this super star gladiator is sponsored! I mean, not only that, sponsored by the coolest energy drink there is!”

  Marcus grabbed the can and titled it towards him. “Big Duck Energy, Mango Madness. Ha! My southwest people know all about that mad life, am I right? Okay, what do y’all say we give this thing a taste huh?”

  Before Pepper could say anything Marcus had already popped the can lid open and took a massive big swig of the drink. He let out a large sigh once he was done. A huge smile on his face cut through the slightly twitch that occurred on his face. “Woo! That stuff slaps. Man Pepper, you picked a winner… or should I say, Big Duck picked a winner. Haha! You guys, go find this drink and pick it up. This stuff is craziness in a can! Alright, we’re about to go get some golem training in. Y’all be good and catch you guys soon. Peace!”

  Marcus hit the end button and immediately turned to him with a fresh disgusted look on his face. “That is crap in a can, and they’re crazy thinking that people are going to like this.” Marcus then distorted his face and appeared like he wanted to vomit. “Ohh… oh crap it’s in my sinuses. I can smell it, oh that is gross.”

  “Yeah… sorry, I probably should have warned you. Out of all the flavors. That one is the worst. The other ones aren’t so bad.” Pepper winced.

  “I dunno man. I am not sure I can take a gamble on another one.” Marcus then looked back towards the room he had retrieved the can from. “I guess a sip won’t hurt though. You sure?”

  “Help yourself.” Pepper shrugged and he didn’t really know what to say or do. Marcus trying to spread the knowledge of Big Duck Energy was a nice gesture. Yet, at the same time Pepper couldn’t help but cringe at the extra attention it all brought him. His ears tuned in to the distinct snap sound of the can being opened.

  There was a fresh sigh of relief and Marcus then appeared from around the door frame. “Okay, you were right. That strawberry one is way better.” Marcus gave him a quick glance with a smile. But then they both tuned in to the audible dings coming off of Marcus’s holodex.

  Marcus looked back up and Pepper and smiled. “Guess who’s video is blowing up right now? Haha! Dude, dude, dude, check your Golem Chat.”

  That thought alone made Pepper want to crawl into a cave and forget everything. “I dunno Marcus, I mean…” He didn’t get a chance to plead his case as his roommate insisted.

  “I’m telling you man, just check it!”

  Marcus was so persistent that Pepper chose to abandon his effort to resist. He loaded up the application and that was when a whole new wave of notifications flooded in.

  [:::] You have 78 new followers! [:::]

  [:::] You have 149 new followers! [:::]

  [:::] You have 413 new followers! [:::]

  [:::] You have 762 new followers! [:::]

  [:::] You have 41 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::]

  [:::] You have 111 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::]

  [:::] You have 247 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::]

  Pepper was taken back by how many new people were latching onto him. All this from one silly video? He thought to himself while he still stood there baffled over it all. He started to see new messages arrive inside his message bin and immediately closed out the application before he even saw what the contents were about.

  “Pretty cool huh?” Marcus said and chuckled. “It won’t be long before the whole south western side of the nation is cheering you on.

  Pepper looked up and saw Marcus’s teeth looked to be beaming as he smiled. It was as if he experienced a whole new level of confidence within someone. “You seem to be pretty good at this stuff.”

  Marcus waved his hand and rolled his eyes. “Meh, I remember being just like you when I got my first sponsorship. It can be a little intimidating at first, but eventually you come to enjoy it. The popularity, fame, girls….” Marcus dragged that last part out and danced his eyebrows upwards playfully. “Chicks will be melting all over you when they hear how many sponsors you have. I don’t know what it is… they’re like… what bears are to honey. They just can’t get enough of it.”

  Pepper narrowed his eyes and cleared his throat to ensure his statement would land firmly. “I’m taken. Happily, taken.”

  “Already got yourself a cheerleader? Nice! I also have one, one in every zip code, am I right? Ha! We’re gonna go far in the Golem League man… I can feel it!” Marcus looked like he was about to continue but then he glanced past Pepper and out the window. “Looks like our golems just arrived. Perfect timing.”