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counter, where Dwight was sitting on his stool and reading a magazine. He’d gone back to wearing his beard nicely trimmed (black like his hair) and was dressed in a white button-up shirt and red suspenders.
    â€œDude, you look like an elf!” Dirk exclaimed. Dwight glowered and put the magazine down.
    â€œWhatever you want, just turn around,” Dwight said, motioning toward the door. “I see the three of you together and I know there’s trouble.” Dwight was mostly looking at Sarah when he spoke—she might have been friends with Dirk and Max, but she definitely wasn’t the type of person who showed up at the Dragon’s Den looking for new twenty-sided die.
    â€œPleasant as ever,” Sarah replied sarcastically.
    â€œHey, Dwight,” Max said as they reached the counter.
    â€œHello there, Mr. Spencer,” Dwight replied. “Or should I say Mr. Sporazo?” Max still wasn’t exactly comfortable with the idea that he was Maximilian Sporazo’s son, which was probably the reason Dwight brought it up. “So if I can’t persuade you to leave, just how can I help you?”
    â€œWe had a very interesting encounter at school,” Sarah replied.
    Dwight raised an eyebrow.
    â€œWe met a kid named Wayne,” Dirk jumped in, “and he’s from the Magrus.”
    â€œReally . . . and how do you know that?”
    â€œThat’s what he told us,” Max replied. He went on to recount the events of the day.
    Dwight shook his head as he took it all in. “I assumed someone might approach you at some point,” he said. “We defeated Rezormoor Dreadbringer after all. That’s going to leave an impression. Plus, the real danger is still out there.”
    â€œThe Maelshadow,” Dirk said, turning to Max. “Weird to think that there’s this ultrapowerful dark lord still after you.”
    â€œYeah, thanks for reminding me.”
    â€œMaybe we were naive to think that once we made it home, everything would be fine,” Sarah said. She had always been the logical one, and the idea of magic and monsters wasn’t easy for her to wrap her brain around. But she wasn’t afraid to follow the facts, no matter where they led. And if that meant that otherworldly monsterswere hunting them, she’d be the first to admit it.
    â€œHe mentioned you, too,” Max said to Dwight. “He said we should ask you about the Shadric Portal.”
    Dwight blinked several times before responding. “He said what? The Shadric Portal? Are you sure?”
    Dirk tapped the side of his head. “Yep. I stored the name away as possible booty.”
    Dwight slid off his stool and walked toward his back room. “Stay there. I need to find something.”
    Just then the bell jingled and a small group entered the Dragon’s Den. Max recognized Melvin Jenkins at once, followed by Megan and Sydney, two sisters who were part of Melvin’s LARPing club. Megan was in Max’s grade, big-boned with dark hair and glasses. She was also one of the few people who could compete with Sarah for school valedictorian. Sydney was a year younger and a grade below, with blond hair framing a perpetual smile.
    â€œHi, Max!” Sydney exclaimed. She practically pulled her sister across the room until they reached Max and his friends.
    â€œOh, uh, hi, Sydney,” Max replied with a cough. He pushed his glasses up and looked away awkwardly. Dirk and Sarah shared a glance.
    â€œAre you going to go LARPing with us?” Sydney continued, beaming. “Oh, that would be so much fun! You totally could if you wanted to.”
    â€œIt takes a certain amount of commitment,” Melvin added. “It’s not really for casual gamers.”
    â€œWho you calling a casual gamer?” Dirk shot back.
    â€œHe didn’t mean it like that,” Megan said, ever the peacemaker. When she played the live campaigns, she was always a priestess