《Playable Character》


 1 | Act Your Part Well

    She''d spend hours in the shop, looking over different books, holding them briefly in her hand ¡ª until she found one that didn''t want to leave her fingers. It was therapeutic and another way to cure the boredom that came with not being able to leave that very shop.


    It wasn''t clear how long she had been stuck here, alone and unable to exit through the shop''s door. All that she knew came from the little robotic voice that sounded out in her head now and then.


    ''The next batch of players will be arriving soon.''


    ''Remember to act your part well. Don''t step out of bounds. Don''t go out of character or you''ll suffer the consequences.''


    Thankfully, she had never experienced those consequences for herself, and it wasn''t something she would ever want to know. But from what her friend Ashlyn had told her, it wasn''t anything good: not that it was expected to be so.


    It was just something that was to be expected if you stepped out of line, and so far, Faye had done nothing to step out of bounds. She played her part well and did everything she was supposed to.


    Today, she was relaxing on the window seat on the top floor - here was the best spot to see all that was happening outside. It was her favourite place in the shop, as it allowed her to have a sense of connection to the outside.


    Deep down Faye did have a desire for the outside, but it wasn''t enough to break the rules set by the mechanical bodiless voice. As long as she had this one life, she would live it well, and play it safe to not find out what would happen if she went against the mechanical voice.


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    Being absorbed in her book of choice for that day, she was slightly startled when the tinkling of a bell above the door sounded downstairs. Sighing, she placed the bookmark in the book to mark the place she last read, and stood up.


    Stretching out her aching muscles, she made her way down the winding stairs until she got to the bottom and saw the players loitering about the shop. Faye felt a headache forming behind her brows, and it took some effort to put on her work face to mask the irritation that was creeping up.


    "Hello, welcome to The Reading Nook." She smiled genially at the players and swept a glance at each of them. "How may I help you?"


    Some players ignored her and walked off on their own, not even sparing a glance in her direction. She felt her eye twitch, but she kept up her smiling face and pretended like she hadn''t noticed a thing; after all, going out of character or showing emotions that weren''t consistent with her NPC status wasn''t allowed.


    One player stood out amongst the rest. He was handsome in a sunny way. With ash-blond hair and cyan eyes that shone in the overhead lights, Faye had to fight the urge to block her eyes at the brightness. With an awkward look at his companions, he stepped forward and said, "sorry about them. We''re all tired from the long journey and are just looking for a place to have a brief rest."


    He explained his friend''s actions, and Faye relaxed somewhat at his sincere apology. She was about to speak when he continued to say, "would it be possible to sit upstairs for a while, and have some food to replenish our energy?"


    Faye returned his smile with one of her own and stood aside to show the stairs at the end of the bookcases. "Of course, if you''ll make your way upstairs, I''ll be with you shortly to take your orders. And you could browse the multitude of books here to your heart''s content."


    She moved to the side to allow them through and acted like she didn''t see the scathing looks from the players as they went past, all apart from the man who had spoken previously.


    He paused before her and said, "thank you for letting us stay here." He took her hand and placed a hefty pouch in her palm. "Take this for your troubles." And before she could reply in thanks, he grinned and followed his friends upstairs.


    Faye watched him leave and then pinched her furrowed brows to ease the headache that had now fully formed.


    Today was going to be a long day.

 2 | Meeting Again

    Faye sat behind the counter that faced the shop''s door and tried to focus on her book, while the players were upstairs shouting at the top of their voices as they conversed with their companions.


    There hadn''t been a moment of peace since the day those players from before had entered the shop. Word had obviously spread about the bookshop, and it went from being quiet and basically empty to being the new meeting place for players to discuss their quests and the spoils they had received from completing a dungeon.


    On one hand, Faye found it intriguing as she listened in on their stories and a part of her wished she could have been there to experience it all first-hand. However, another part of her hoped they wouldn''t spend all their spare time in the bookstore so she could read her books in peace.


    Business was good, of course, but someone like Faye wasn''t made for too much human interaction, and she preferred peace. So when the players did eventually leave, she would sigh with relief and make some tea to soothe her overworked nerves.


    Today was supposed to be the same, except it wasn''t. The friendly guy from before had stayed behind and was now approaching the front desk. Seeing as the shop was now full to bursting with players, Faye couldn''t sit in her favourite window seat and had to spend most of her time at the front of the shop. Her disgruntled look might''ve been undetectable by the ones who hadn''t been paying attention to her, but the man who was now close to the front desk could see every frown that she was doing her best to hide; he cracked a smile in amusement and suppressed a laugh.


    "Good evening, miss." He politely greeted her and leaned against the front desk, giving himself a careless appearance. "Thank you again for the last time. I hope we aren''t giving you too much trouble."


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    "It''s fine," Faye said briefly, before going back to reading the book in her lap.


    Seeing that Faye would not respond anymore to him, the man tapped his fingers on the front desk and said, "well see you then." He sighed and gave up trying to communicate with her. After he left, Faye looked up from the book and watched him walk past the shop.


    It was strange.


    If it was a normal person in a game, wouldn''t they ignore the NPCs or only speak to them when it was convenient for them? So why did this man speak to her like a normal person? Unless he thought she was a player, just like them. But then wouldn''t it be obvious just from looking at her that she was nothing but an NPC who shouldn''t even understand him when he spoke to her?


    "..." Faye paused in her reading and thought for a bit.


    "This is going to be troublesome." She muttered, before going back to her book.


    ?


    Nearly every day, the man would appear in the shop, either with his companions or on his own, and each time he would try to speak with the girl at the front desk. Even if she appeared irritated or unwilling to talk to him, it didn''t deter him.


    "Keep that up and you''re going to get banned from this place." One of his friends, Ayda, remarked after watching him fail for the hundredth time; it was getting kind of sad to watch, and she couldn''t help but try to stop him from humiliating himself further.


    "Why not leave her alone? She obviously doesn''t want to speak to you, and can''t you see she''s not like us?"


    "What do you mean?" The man obviously didn''t catch the implications behind her words, and just looked at her innocently.


    Ayda couldn''t resist patting him on the head, and said, "never mind. Just don''t go overboard."


    "Don''t worry." The man grinned and said, "I know what I''m doing."


    ''It''s best to just give up,'' thought Ayda. For the life of her, she couldn''t understand his fixation on the female NPC. What''s the point? It''s not like he can become friends with a person who is nothing but computer data. ''Just leave him to do what he wants. It''s not like anything bad could happen, right?''

 3 | Visit From A Friend

    It was a rare, quiet day in the shop, and Faye was happily humming a tune whilst she watered the plants. Gently holding a petal in her hand, she breathed in its fragrance and smiled at the thought that no one was in the shop.


    Things had been so hectic for a while, and having the place to herself to do whatever she wanted was bliss. Until that was broken by the door opening, and a very boisterous individual made their presence known:


    "Faye, my darling, how have you been?" The person gathered Faye up into a hug and squeezed her tightly in their arms. "It''s been forever since we''ve met. Why haven''t you called for me?"


    In this game world, there were as many NPCs as there were players, and like you could be any different class, there were also many types of NPCs roaming about, or not, as was the case for Faye; she was one who couldn''t leave the place she had been assigned. But the one still clinging to Faye was the kind that could move freely around the map. Of course, they couldn''t go off script and act ''normal'' to the players, lest they knew there was something up with the NPCs.


    Actually, Faye wasn''t sure how many of them had their own consciousness and could think for themselves, nor did she know if there were any who interacted as Ashlyn and she did. What use did an NPC have with a friend? It wasn''t like they could spend time together like a human would.


    From the moment they were created, all an NPC knew was what they had been instructed to do, and nothing else.


    Maybe there had been a glitch when Faye and Ashlyn had been created that made them the way they are, which was why they had to be careful every single day of their lives. Who knew what would happen if they were to be caught?


    Not that Ashlyn seemed to mind all of that, as they would always come to bother Faye when they had a chance or felt like bothering her. Faye might act as if it bothered her, seeing that she was a silent, reserved person, but spending time with Ashlyn was always interesting. And when she felt lonely, Ashlyn would always be there to make that all disappear.


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    She supposed that was what the players called a ''friend''.


    When Faye freed herself from the clingy Ashlyn, she smoothed out her clothes and picked up the fallen watering can, then waved her hand to remove the water from the ground before it could spread too far.


    "Wah, seeing your magic is always so wonderful," Ashlyn said wistfully and clasped their hands in joy. "It''s so beautiful to look at." Wisps of lilac magic still floated in the air and looked like fireflies as they lit up the room with their brilliant light.


    Faye watched as the magic faded out and thought that it was nothing special; perhaps it was because she had seen it so many times before, and was used to it. Others, however, had always complimented it and seemed in awe at the sight of it.


    ?


    Later that same day. Twilight had settled over the land, and moonlight streamed into the shop through the blinds in the windows.


    Bathed in its light, Faye and her friend sat on a sofa and talked over what had happened during the week. It was something they did whenever Ashlyn visited, and they would often gossip about the players/other NPCs.


    "That really happened?" Ashlyn''s eyes sparkled at the mention of the man who constantly pestered Faye every chance he could. They nudged Faye''s arm and asked, "what''s he like?"


    Faye rolled her eyes and said, "he''s got blond hair and... Wait, what does it matter? Most days I try not to acknowledge him, so why would I care about that?"


    "Ok, ok I get it. You don''t enjoy interacting with people, but why not give this guy a chance?" They stopped themselves when they saw the scathing look from their friend. "I''m just trying to say that talking to people wouldn''t be so bad now and then. You must get bored being stuck in this shop, and meeting new people might do you good."


    "But we can''t..." Faye reminded them about NPCs raising suspicions in humans. If she spoke to the man like a normal person, that would give the whole thing away and they would be in a heap of trouble. She didn''t want to be deleted. There were still so many books left to be read, and no one was worth risking all of that.


    "True." They leaned on their hand and seemed to think of something: "What if he suspected you''re not like the rest and wants to get to know you? Maybe you could ask him to not tell anyone else?"


    "I don''t think so."


    "Just give them a chance. You never know, at the end of it all, you might have a new friend that isn''t me." Ashlyn smiled and squeezed Faye''s hand.


    Faye smiled in return and sipped on her tea. What Ashlyn said could be true, but was it really worth it? Making friends with him, a player, could either be the best decision ever or nothing but a death sentence. And right now, she didn''t want to find out which one it was.

 4 | Cloaked Figure

    For days now, a mysterious figure had been sitting in the same spot, and even if she didn''t want to, Faye couldn''t help but wonder what his deal was.


    Day after day, he would order the same meal and sit in the corner. He did nothing but sit and eat. Of course, this wasn''t an unusual sight, but what was curious was that he never removed his hood. And it made Faye wonder who he was even more.


    It would be rude for her to talk to him out of nowhere, so she planned on just waiting and seeing if anything would change with the stranger. It didn''t take long for that to happen, however, because whilst being distracted, the man who was always bothering Faye had walked into the cloaked figure''s table.


    A silence fell over the bookshop; it was so quiet you could''ve heard a pin drop. And nobody dared to breathe too loudly at this moment.


    "I''m sorry." The man laughed and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Are you alright? I can compensate you for the drink if that''s ok with you. Heheh..."


    The man stopped his laughter when the cloaked figure pushed away from the table and got to his feet. He rose to his full height and towered over the already tall hero, who now looked tiny compared to the mysterious person in front of him.


    Silence still reigned in the bookstore, and no one let out a noise until the cloaked figure''s hood fell back and revealed long, ebony, unruly hair. Narrowed eyes fell on the hero, who didn''t dare to say anything else to the other man, and backed up a few steps.


    During the Hero''s crisis, Faye was off to the side, pretending to put books on the shelves whilst she snuck glances at the cloaked figure. There was something about him that looked familiar, not like she had seen him before, but more like his appearance made her think of someone.


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    Then she remembered the man that Ashlyn was always talking about, the long dark hair and piercing crimson eyes that looked terrifying at first glance, but still held grandeur within them. The man was a well-known NPC who was the last boss in the highest-level dungeon, so it was no wonder that few players recognised him - only a few were high enough in level to challenge the dungeon. Looking at the Hero, his level wasn''t just there yet, so he was among those who didn''t know who the man before him was.


    Faye recalled his name, Nox, his name meaning dusky night, and she thought it suited him well. She couldn''t help mumbling out his name, and thinking that none of the players would hear her, she said it freely. The only one who noticed was Nox himself, who had better hearing than anyone in the room.


    His ear twitched and his eyes moved in Faye''s direction, only to flit back to the Hero in a second. It was only a slight movement, so it went unnoticed by the players.


    It was confusing. Faye lived in the bookstore and wasn''t able to leave there, so she wasn''t well-versed on the happenings outside her little world, so it had seemed that the only other NPC with consciousness was Ashlyn. Besides them, how many other NPCs had broken free from the main computer''s control?


    Just seeing an NPC moving about on their own, with no care in the world, and not facing any consequences, was a shock to the system, so what would it be like to meet other ones with the same level of consciousness?


    Thinking it over, Faye felt disheartened at the thought of the NPCs who were in a position of never being able to leave their assigned spots after gaining sapience, just like herself. It was fine for the ones who could move about wherever they wanted, but it was a different story for the NPCs who were stuck indoors.


    Once the Hero was finished badgering Nox, he left with his party, without forgetting to say goodbye to Faye; he hadn''t given up on trying to get her to talk to him, but he got nothing but a stiff smile. It didn''t discourage him, though, and he promised to come back another day.


    Rolling her eyes, Faye went back to restocking the shelves, and contemplated life as an NPC, only to be interrupted by a tap on the shoulder.


    Turning her head to face the intruding person, she was a little stunned to see Nox was now by her side and was looking at her with a gentle gaze and a knowing smirk.


    "Can I help you, sir?" She kept up her business facade and returned his smile with one of her own.


    "Perhaps." Nox lengthened his words and peered about him to make sure they were alone, before leaning towards the shorter female and saying quietly, "we need to talk, don''t you think?"

 5 | Someone Like Me

    When the moon was high in the sky, and the shop was empty of players, Faye locked the shop''s door and brought Nox to the back of the shop where she lived. When Faye had gained sapience, she had found herself in her usual spot by the front desk, and it wasn''t sure how long she had been stationed there, but something had felt wrong.


    While she was following what the main computer had instructed, all she had known to do was wait by the front desk for the players who needed information about a quest, or anything else to do with the game. She could do nothing else, so after gaining a sense of self, she explored the shop to her heart''s content.


    While she was looking around and browsing through the many books she couldn''t look at before, she discovered a door hidden away at the back of the shop. And through that door was a little apartment. It was small - only big enough for one person to live in - but it had all the basic amenities necessary to live comfortably.


    "There isn''t much here." Faye looked about the room and led Nox into the living room. "Make yourself at home. I''ll just get some tea."


    Maybe it was a habit she had picked up from having Ashlyn over so many times, but not making tea for guests felt unnatural somehow. And to sort out her thoughts and all the feelings coursing through her right now, it might be best for her to do something in the meantime.


    With Faye in the kitchen, Nox was left on the sofa and he clenched his fists that were resting on his knees. It had been a long time since he had woken up in the dungeon, of which he was the final boss, and this was the first time he was meeting someone else who was just like him.


    As the NPC, who was only there to be defeated in the final battle, Nox only knew how to fight and there was nothing else he could do besides that. So when he woke up to reality, it took him a long time to adjust to the new way of life. Perhaps it only took a few days, or maybe it was years later when he broke free from the restraints that were his role as the final boss.


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    And it wasn''t like he could just leave the dungeon right away; there was something telling him that if he left now, it wouldn''t be unnoticed by the Main Computer, who could somehow watch over everyone at the same time. He had to think of a way to leave without being found out. It took a lot of patience and waiting for the right moment, but he eventually found a way.


    The world, as everyone knew it, was a game. Of course, someone like Nox wouldn''t know its exact name, but he could tell that this place wasn''t real and that he was only a part of a system that trapped him there. But this was something he could use to his advantage.


    Every game, no matter how much the people working on the game fixed them, would always have bugs. No matter how big or small they were, they would always be there. Even though Nox had no knowledge of this, he still found a bug in the dungeon and used it to his advantage. Exploiting this bug, Nox caused the dungeon to be out of commission, and in all the commotion, was able to leave.


    After that incident, he travelled across the game world for a long time. Without a set destination, he could only go where his feet took him and do anything within the bounds of the game.


    At this time, he could still feel the restrictions placed on him as an NPC, and he could only do the things that were written into his data. Fighting. Due to this, there was never a silent moment, and it took him a while to extricate himself from this new way of life.


    Left bloody and close to breaking, Nox felt like he should give up and go back to the dungeon. Things out here were no different to what he had back there, so what had been the point of leaving and trying to find something new out here, in the ''real'' world?


    That was when he had stumbled upon the bookstore, and watched as another NPC entered it without a care in the world, and through the window, watched as they interacted with the shop''s owner. There was something about the owner smiling slightly and chatting amicably with the NPC that calmed something within him.


    Perhaps what he had been looking for outside the dungeon wasn''t something physical or an idea of how he could live the way he wanted, without the influence of the Main Computer. Maybe what he had always wanted was to meet someone.


    Someone who was just like him.

 6 | Teatime

    Faye might not know much about people, despite working in a store that players frequented a lot, but she could still tell that the male sitting on the sofa was feeling nervous.


    Truthfully, she felt a little bad for him, even though she didn''t know how he ended up here instead of being in his dungeon. It was out of character to care about someone she had just met, but maybe him being someone who had completely broken free of the Main Computer''s clutches made her a little curious.


    Placing the tray with the tea and plate of various cakes and biscuits on the table, Faye sat in the only armchair and waited for him to speak. She was a quiet person, so being a good listener was what she was best at.


    Nox was lost in his thoughts and didn''t notice her sitting down. Time ticked by and soon the time was approaching midnight. They were both made of computer data, meaning their bodies didn''t work like an average person''s; sleep wasn''t needed for either of them.


    There was plenty of time for Nox to say everything he wanted. Nerves still plagued him, and just when Faye thought he wouldn''t speak, he said, "I''m sorry for showing up here. It''s... It''s just I have met no one like me since I left the dungeon."


    "It''s fine," Faye said in a soft voice. "How did you leave there? Ever since I woke up, I couldn''t step outside the shop."


    Nox lowered his eyes and focused his attention on the frayed edges of his gloves. "For some time, I was like that as well. Stuck in the dungeon for what was possibly years, with no idea what was happening. Fear of the unknown struck me. I could only carry on playing my part as the Final Boss to quench it.


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    "Then, as I was exploring the dungeon, I found a black mass in one corner. It was inconspicuous and out of sight, and as soon as I saw it, something drew me towards it. And before I knew what I was doing, my hand was reaching for the thing. That was when everything changed."


    "What happened?" Faye couldn''t help but lean forward in her seat. In her hands, the tea was left forgotten and almost spilt, but neither of them noticed.


    Nox took a moment to sip on the tea and collect his thoughts. "It didn''t happen instantaneously. It was more of a gradual thing. At first, when the players tried to enter the dungeon, there was an error preventing them from starting the event. Then the taskbar wouldn''t open at all, meaning that no one could join.


    It wasn''t long before the Main Computer caught on to the abnormality and started investigating. Players converged outside the dungeon and refused to leave until it was fixed. They called it a ''bug'', and I assumed it meant that it made areas of the game shut down, and are unable to be used until the error is fixed."


    "Sounds complicated." Faye''s bewilderment showed plainly on her expression and trying to make sense of it all made her brain hurt. "Were you able to leave because of that bug?"


    Nox nodded and with a small smile he replied, "After leaving that place, I was unsure of what to do. I wandered the game world for a long time, without a sure destination. That was all I could do. It wasn''t until I ended up outside your shop, and saw you talking to the other NPC, that something seemed to settle into place within me, and my true purpose became known."


    "True purpose?" Faye looked at him curiously.


    "It''s n-nothing." Nox avoided her gaze and was inwardly glad that his hair covered up his ears, which were probably a rosy pink. A silence, unlike what it was earlier, overtook the room, and neither of them spoke up again.


    Nox awkwardly drank his tea and nibbled on the biscuits that had been left mostly untouched on the tray. He vowed that he would never mention what the true purpose was to Faye; it was too embarrassing.

 7 | Cleared Suspicion

    The room lapsed into another silence, save for the sound of clinking glasses and the ticking of the clock. Nox was feeling embarrassed from almost blurting out the reasons he wanted to befriend Faye. And Faye, being a quiet person, would not be the one who starts a conversation.


    It was uncomfortable for Nox, who was used to the commotion that the players brought to the dungeon. Every day, there was never a moment of peace.


    Players were nocturnal creatures who loved to play the game until the early hours of the morning, and when they had enough chances, they would challenge the dungeon. And of course, they didn''t care how much of a disturbance it was to the Final Boss waiting at the furthest end of the cave. After all, he was just an NPC, so it didn''t matter how much noise they made while they got rid of the monsters.


    Headaches plagued Nox daily, so he was thankful for the quietness that came with being around Faye. It was refreshing and gave him a sense of harmony; like stepping into a world that just had the two of them, with no outside influences, to ruin the tranquillity.


    And then the door burst open with a bang.


    "Darling, I''m home!" Ashlyn sang as they entered the living room. Their cheerfulness fizzled out when they spotted the man on the sofa.


    With no time to react, Faye found herself behind Ashlyn''s back, who was pointing a magic staff in Nox''s direction.


    "What are you doing?" Faye asked, puzzled. She wasn''t confused over the fact that Ashlyn had somehow entered the house, but more because Nox, who had been startled by the loud noise, was now being threatened for no reason.


    "Do you know who this is?" Ashlyn hissed, not removing their eyes from the sofa and keeping their arm steady.


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    "Of course," Faye replied and peeked out from Ashlyn''s back so she could see the side of their face. Seeing the anger there made her confused even more. "He is the boss of the hardest dungeon in the game. Is there a problem?"


    "Faye-Faye, are you seriously asking me that?" And when Faye nodded innocently, Ashlyn moved their head so they could look at her with a look of incredulity. "He''s not only the boss but also a villain. Have you not heard of the stories about him? There are so many of what he does to the players... And now he''s in your house. What if he suddenly attacks? You have to be careful."


    "We were just talking." Faye stepped out from behind Ashlyn and went back over to the seating area; this time she joined Nox on the sofa. Their legs knocked together, and Nox flinched, but made no moves to move away from her - being this close to her amplified the pleasant feelings that had appeared since he entered the house, and he didn''t want to lose them just yet. It even lessened the biting cold that was emanating from the person across the room.


    Ashlyn lowered the staff, a little afraid that it might accidentally go off and injure their dearest friend. They stood still in place and had to take a moment to think up what they wanted to say to the pair, looking content on the sofa.


    They took a step forward and said to Faye, "I-I know you''ve been stuck in the shop since you were created, and this is the first time you''re meeting another NPC besides me. And I understand that it would be exciting and all, but he is a stranger. How could you let him into your house?"


    Faye avoided Ashlyn''s stare and mumbled out: "He came to my shop and we got to talking. I brought him here so he could tell me what happened after he left the dungeon. His being a stranger didn''t cross my mind... I''m sorry."


    Seeing her looking upset broke through Ashlyn''s bad temper and their demeanour softened. Kneeling down next to Faye, Ashlyn took her hand in theirs and said, "I''m not saying this to be mean, Faye-Faye. I''m just worried about you. We know nothing about Nox, only that he owns the dungeon and the rumours that go along with his name. And when we meet new people, we have to take the time to get to know them before bringing them to our homes."


    "Shouldn''t you do the same with Nox?" Faye worked up her courage to say. "The rumours are there because it was written into this world. We should get to know the real Nox, not the one that was created by the Main Computer to exist as an NPC."


    "You''re right." Ashlyn looked ashamed of themselves as they mulled over Faye''s words. Then they stood up and held out a hand to the male who had been watching the exchange between the two friends, not knowing how to intervene, and was now staring stupidly at the outstretched hand. "I''m sorry for threatening you like that."


    "What Faye said is true. Before jumping to conclusions, I should talk to the person first and make my own judgements about them." They laughed self-deprecatingly and continued to speak, "I guess we''ve all been screwed over by the Main Computer, and have stories about us that couldn''t be further from the truth. Let''s start over."


    Nox looked at Faye, and she nodded at him in encouragement and gave him a comforting smile. He returned it and got to his feet. Stretching out his hand, he placed it in Ashlyn''s and said, "yes, let''s start anew."


    "Ok." Ashlyn let out a breath and grinned happily at the taller male. "Welcome to the club of free NPCs."

 8 | Hero Makes An Appearance

    Time wore on and not much changed in the shop, apart from Nox and Ashlyn visiting the shop frequently.


    The day''s happenings were always the same: the players would crowd the upstairs cafe and cause a ruckus, the Hero would pester Faye consistently, and Faye would try to find the time to get away from the shop and read. Although, it wasn''t easy, as the Main Computer''s warnings were always there in the back of her mind - ''don''t go out of character'' or ''don''t step out of bounds, or you''ll suffer the consequences''.


    The voice was not pleasant either. It was robotic and had an echo that reverberated inside the skull, giving the NPCs something akin to a headache. That was one reason they were afraid of going against the computer; if it could give them pain just with its voice, what could it do to them using physical means? The NPCs tried not to think of it, and would just go about their normal duties.


    However, for the ones who had broken free, the voice was still there and the fear of what might happen lingered behind with their restraints, but they had worked up the courage to think for themselves. And do the things they wanted to do without the Main Computer''s influence. Although this was their line of thought, it wasn''t entirely the same for Faye. A part of her wanted to be like Ashlyn and Nox, who weren''t worried about the computer''s supposed consequences, yet another wanted to stay in the bookshop and play it safe.


    Fear was something that would always hold a person back from doing the things they genuinely wanted to do, and taking the first step is never easy. And working up the courage to take that step is difficult, but once it''s made, the fear will wash away, and what would be left is a feeling of freedom and ecstasy. That was what Faye needed, and with her two friends, that step became even more possible.


    ?


    "It''s so busy out there," Ashlyn commented from the window. They had been sitting on the seat that looked out onto the square and watched as the players moved as a crowd, and gathered around the centre fountain. "I wonder what''s going on?"


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    Faye just shrugged from her usual spot at the desk and lifted her head from the book in her lap to see what Ashlyn was speaking about. She couldn''t see much from where she was sitting, but some players were still visible through the window. It was peculiar, but not enough to grab her attention; now and then, the players would congregate in the town square, and to the NPCs who weren''t in the Speaker class, it was unknown why the players did it.


    "Are you ready for the event?" A voice floated down from upstairs, and Ashlyn focused their attention on what was being said - Faye, who kept her eyes focused on her book, perked up her ears so she could hear the conversation as well.


    This was the only way they could get information about the world around them, and along with it a sense of belonging. And it was what made Ashlyn so knowledgeable, and in turn, Faye, after they shared what they had learned with her.


    "Almost." The Hero spoke up and complained, "upgrading my weapons is taking so long. So many items needed were out of stock this morning, and I have to go grind for them before the event starts."


    "Jarreth, this is why I told you to make sure you have everything days ago." An older male voice sounded exasperated but also contained a hint of laughter. Like a father teaching his son the ways of life. "We only have a few hours left, so finish eating so we can go to the dungeons and get what you need."


    "Ok, ok." Jarreth, also known as the Hero, laughed and added, "I''ll make sure to finish upgrading everything before the time comes. Stop worrying, Elex."


    "Good." Elex sighed and said, "we need to be at full power for this dungeon. There are rumours that the last boss is harder than all the other ones, and you need at least a group of eight to be able to defeat it. And it is said that the drops have a Legendary rating."


    "Legendary?" Ayda exclaimed and slapped her hands down on the table in excitement. "No one in our group has one yet, and those who have them said they give you large amounts of power. Can you imagine owning something like that?"


    "That''s why it''s important to be at our best for this event. Not only can we get a legendary item, but there''s a new skin that gives you even more power, and a ton of other rewards as well."


    "Are we able to beat it, though?" Jarreth sounded worried. "I''ve heard that the final boss is impossible to defeat, and there''s a chance our levels could go back to the start if we''re not careful. Getting to this level wasn''t easy."


    A loud clap was heard as a hand landed heavily on his shoulder. "Don''t worry. As long as we work together, it should be fine."

 9 | Giving A Chance

    The large-scale event of the game was to celebrate its tenth anniversary, and it gave the players a chance to earn countless rewards and an abundance of experience points. That was why the Hero''s team was so eager to hunt for mobs and go into as many easy dungeons as possible to level up their gear, and themselves.


    As the team that was at the top of the leaderboard, they had high expectations placed on them and they didn''t want to disappoint the people who rooted for them. Especially their guild members who were waiting for them to bring back the legendary equipment, and make their guild stronger. Isn''t that what every player yearned for? To be the strongest in the game.


    And it was the same for the Hero, Jarreth. Playing the game, Archeline, was fun and it was something Jarreth did every day, but it was also something to see his power increase. In addition to that, he had made friends in the game that had become like a second family.


    If they weren''t fighting, or levelling up, they could be found hanging out in the bookshop or travelling to different places on the map to complete the miscellaneous tasks. And when they weren''t doing that, Jarreth would be with Faye.


    By now he knew he should give up, but it was the first time someone didn''t want to talk to him, and it confused him. His sunny, friendly appearance wasn''t just a facade, it was his whole personality, and he had always been told how likeable he was. So, Faye ignoring him was something new. And not that he didn''t notice that she was unlike the other players, and was more NPC-like, but when he saw her, he didn''t see it as her being an actual NPC; she was too human-like and different from the other NPC.


    Thoughts of her being an NPC were always pushed to the back of his mind when he saw her, and in this way, it was easy to treat her like he would a fellow player. With this, it made it more difficult for Faye to keep up the act, and there was always the risk of it crumbling one day. This worried Ashlyn and Nox, who were always somewhere nearby in the shop.


    ?


    The cobblestone path felt hard under his feet, and the artificial sun shone overhead, as he moved past the countless thatched houses that lined the path, and he led the party over to the fountain at the centre of town. Excitement stirred in the crowd, and the chatter of countless players came together to form a hum as they waited for the Speaker to announce the start of the event.


    Jarreth took it all in and breathed in; the air was refreshing and filled him with a sense of anticipation for what was to come. "It''s always good to come to Reiftan."


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    "Coming to the town square is an experience." Commented a tall, crimson-haired elf known as Eilron. In the game, he was snarky, but in real life, he was the sweetest guy you''d ever meet. And he was also Jarreth''s college friend outside of the game.


    "Don''t be like that, Eil." Laughed Ayda, and placed her arm around his shoulders. "Just think of the things we''ll gain from the event." Eilron shrugged off her arm and ignored her jabs at his attitude.


    "What are you looking at?" Elex noticed Jarreth staring behind them, followed his line of sight and understood. "Aren''t you tired of this by now, Jarr?" Elex raised his eyebrows and turned his focus back to his friend.


    "No," Jarreth replied, without taking his eyes off the woman that could be seen through the window. "Why would I be?"


    "Jarr, you know the relationship between you can''t be taken further, right?" Elex now seemed distressed when he saw his friend''s determined appearance. "She''s just a..."


    There was a pause and Jarreth, whose gaze was no longer carefree, opened his mouth to say, "I know. I''ll be right back."


    He left the concerned group behind and entered the shop.


    ?


    The bell tingling over the door startled Faye, who had been quietly reading behind the desk, and she raised her head to see who had interrupted the peaceful afternoon she had been having. Today had been quiet with no players entering the shop, and Ashlyn had taken Nox on a tour of the town; they were excited to have someone else they could share their knowledge about the world with.


    Ashlyn liked spending time with Faye, but it had just been the both of them for so long, so meeting another person who had the free will to go against the computer was a nice addition to their little group. And this meant that, when Ashlyn was away with Nox, Faye had some more time to be by herself - to catch up on her reading, or just to relax before she had to open the shop for the players.


    "Um..." The Hero lost his confidence a bit when he saw that she wasn''t going to start a conversation with him. It was regained a little when he noticed that she was looking at him this time, and wasn''t ignoring his presence like she usually did when he came into the shop; this looked like a good sign, and he worked up the courage to say something to her. "Is it ok to talk?"


    Silence reigned in the shop once more, and when it started becoming uncomfortable for Jarreth, she spoke, "sure."


    Jarreth perked up at the sound of her voice, and leaned on the desk with excitement, "really?"


    "Yes." Faye looked like she regretted the decision and moved backwards in her seat, away from the Hero. "Just say what you have to say."


    "Well, I..."


    The Hero was interrupted by a crackling sound coming from a corner of the shop. In shock, they both turned their heads at the same time and saw a large black bubble appear out of nowhere.


    "What is that?" Jarreth stepped forward to get a closer look but was pulled back by Faye, who was now standing behind him.


    "Don''t touch it."


    "Do you know what it is?"


    "No." Faye shook her head, still keeping a hold on the Hero''s arm so he wouldn''t go towards the bubble. "It just feels dangerous."


    She didn''t know what the black bubble was, however, she could feel the menacing aura radiating off of it, and knew that they shouldn''t go near it. And what they didn''t know was that this was what had helped Nox get out of the dungeon.


    It was a bug.

 10 | Trapped

    The black bubble seemed to grow bigger, and its menacing aura surrounded the duo who were still staring dumb-founded at the darkening space. It was something neither of them had seen before.


    Faye wasn''t a player or a person from the real world, so bugs were not something she was familiar with, and Jarreth knew they existed but had never seen them appear in this form before.


    With her hand still on the Hero''s arm, Faye thought about what she should do. She had acted without thinking, spoken to Jarreth, and could''ve exposed her non-player status in its entirety. And before she could rectify her mistake, this situation occurred.


    Before she could say anything to him or do anything, a banging sound came from the direction of the shop''s front and, looking that way, they saw Ashlyn pasting themselves against the window, and a Nox standing by their side.


    He looked calm on the surface, but he was freaking out on the inside. From what could be seen from the outside, he realised what was going on; the same had happened in the dungeons so he had some experience with these bugs - even if he didn''t know the exact name of them.


    The bubble had appeared in the far-off corner of the dungeon, and with it came a dark fog that spread out, until it almost engulfed the entire space and started infecting the players and even Nox himself. It wasn''t until Nox decided to get rid of it, and touched the glitch with his bare skin, that the bubble exploded and shut down the dungeon, making it hard to enter, and the players unable to complete their tasks.


    And while the Main Computer attempted to fix it, Nox had made his escape.


    He watched as the Hero and Faye slowly backed away from it, and his chest ached at seeing Faye''s uncertain appearance. She looked composed most of the time, so seeing her in this state was something new, and he hoped to never see her like it again.


    Ashlyn had moved away from the window to open the door, but it was like someone had glued the door shut, and nothing they did would make it budge. This meant that Faye and Jarreth were trapped in the shop, with no way to leave, and the ones outside had no way to get inside.


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    At least they were lucky that most players were preoccupied with the event, and they wouldn''t be seen by anyone who would see that the NPCs were acting out of character. Although it wasn''t the players they had to worry about, it was the Main Computer. Since the glitch had appeared, all had been quiet on that front, but it wouldn''t be long before they would take notice of the happenings going on in the bookshop, and see what the NPCs were doing.


    Besides that, amongst the players by the fountain was Jarreth''s party, who were waiting for his return, so it wouldn''t be surprising if they started to wonder about his whereabouts and came looking for him.


    "What should we do?" Ashlyn exclaimed as they continued to tug on the door''s handle. "We need to get in there."


    "It''s the exact same." Nox breathed out, and Ashlyn almost missed what he said.


    They rounded on him and grabbed him by the shoulders. "You know what this is?"


    "Yes." Nox was a little taken aback, but still replied to the question. "It''s what helped me to escape the dungeon."


    "It is?" Ashlyn released the taller male and asked, "what did you have to do to get rid of it?"


    "I-I touched it."


    "You touched it?" Ashlyn looked bewildered and like they couldn''t understand what he was saying. "And that helped?" Nox just nodded, and Ashlyn turned back to look at their friend through the shop''s window, and then they sighed.


    "Let''s just hope they''ll figure it out before something bad happens."


    Dark fog seeped out of the bubble and wound itself about the legs of Jarreth and Faye - it was cold and made them shiver. Their fear was becoming stronger and there was now an urge to move forward and touch the object that was floating in the air.


    Faye, who prided herself on her self-control, could resist the impulsivity somewhat, but it was Jarreth who was the most troublesome one. It was becoming harder for her to hold him back, and he was getting closer and closer to the bubble. In the struggle, Jarreth broke free from her grasp and lunged at the bubble. However, he fell to the ground just before it; Faye had grabbed his legs and made it hard for him to stay on his feet.


    Faye breathed out a sigh of relief and made to get back up when a flash of light blinded her and she fell to the ground once more. Then she was blown backwards when an explosion rocked the bookshop.


    When Jarreth had fallen over, they had both assumed that he hadn''t managed to touch the bubble, when, in fact, his fingers had briefly touched its surface, triggering the explosion.


    If no one, namely the Main Computer, had noticed what was happening in this part of town, they certainly had done so now. It was only a matter of time before they would be discovered, and the NPCs found out what it meant when they were told they would suffer the consequences if they ever went out of character.


    If the explosion hadn''t destroyed them, now was their only chance to escape.

 11 | Location Unknown

    The explosion, which was more of a blast of light than anything else, shook the grounds of the bookshop and the surrounding area. Nothing was damaged, but the sound still reached the players, who were still gathered around the fountain. The Speaker, who had been standing on the edge of the fountain, stumbled and tried to right himself so he wouldn''t fall into the water behind him.


    As the players worked out where the noise had come from, an eruption of voices sounded out in the square. The ones who had been with Jarreth looked at each other in concern and rushed to the bookshop. It was the one place they knew he would''ve gone to after he had run off earlier.


    It was just like when the bug exploded in the dungeon. Nothing was damaged on the outside - in fact, the bookshop looked like it always did, but the party could tell something was off about it. They rushed up to the door and attempted to open the door, but nothing they did would get it to open; it was like it was glued shut.


    Stepping back, they each tried to figure out a way to get in. Ayda was the first to notice that something was wrong on the map that was always within their eyesight. Once they entered the game, it was like their entire selves had been transported inside of it, and with it being so immersive, every touch and sensation could be felt as well. It was this experience that made the game so popular, and even though it was like they were going through the game themselves, it still had some features that would help them: such as a map of the world, a system they could pull up that included an inventory, their stats and other such things.


    "There''s something on the map," Ayda exclaimed and told the others to open the map up fully.


    The location they were standing at now was marked on the map with a red dot, and if they zoomed in on the bookshop, there was an exclamation point above it and an error would come up when it was clicked on. No one could open the bookshop''s information, or see the tasks that were associated with it. They had only seen this happening one other time, and that was when the high-level dungeon had unexpectedly closed down.


    Like other games, Archeline also had bugs and glitches from time to time. It was unusual that these two had taken place so close together, and it made the players curious, but it wasn''t enough to catch their attention. There were so many other tasks and things to do in the game that having one dungeon out of commission wasn''t a big deal. But now was different.


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    This time, their friend was involved. Jarreth might be a goofball and too over the top sometimes, but he was still their leader, and if he was ever in trouble, they would be there to help him out of it.


    It was just that, at this moment, they weren''t sure what they could do. They couldn''t get into the bookshop, and they couldn''t accept a task so they could see if they could bypass the glitch and enter the shop that way, so they had to come up with another way to get in.


    "Can anyone see inside?" Asked a tall wizard, that had crimson hair tied in a high ponytail. In their hands, they clutched a silver staff - the knuckles on their hands were turning white from how tight they were holding it.


    "No, it''s too dark in there." Rael, a petite elf girl, cupped her hands around her face, which was pressed against the window. "There''s a strange fog inside, making it hard to see anything."


    "Let me see." Eilron had on his usual grumpy expression, only this time there was a little concern shown there. He joined Rael at the window and looked inside. The fog billowed about inside and seemed to be coming from one direction, but that was all that could be made out.


    Eilron moved back to the group and said, "she''s right. It''s impossible to see what''s happening in there."


    The group turned to Elex to see what he would say or do. While Jarreth was away, Elex would be automatically appointed as the next head of the party, and they would all wait for his instructions.


    Elex saw all of their hopeful faces, which put him at a loss. He felt bad for them, and Jarreth - especially him, who had been so close to the explosion, and his whereabouts now unknown. Nonetheless, he wasn''t sure what to do in this situation. For nearly six years, he had been playing this game, and this situation had never happened before.


    Since the start of the game, he had been in a few guilds and had made so many friends. Yet, it wasn''t until he joined the one he was in now, and met the people there, that he felt like he had found his second family. All of them were important to him, and seeing any of them hurt made his heart ache. And it was happening even more so now, with Jarreth being missing and the party members looking distraught.


    It was hard for him to put on a brave front and not run away from this situation. The members of the party were looking to him as their leader and wanted him to tell them what they should do.


    Sighing, he sheathed his sword at his side and stood tall in front of his family. "First, we need to think of how we could get in the shop, and make sure that Jarreth is ok. And then we can take it from there."


    "What about the event?" Sylian, who had been at the back of the group the whole time, wondered.


    "Forget the event for now," Elex said, a little irritated that someone was bringing up the event instead of worrying about Jarreth. "The most important thing right now is to get inside and get Jarreth out."

 12 | Waking Up

    Reiftan was the place you would arrive at when you first started the game. It was a great place to help newbies level up from accepting miscellaneous tasks or eliminating mobs that hung around the town''s borders.


    For a while, it was known as the Newbie Village to all the experienced players, but soon they grew bored with wandering the map and wanted a place where they could hang out and relax. And that was when they chose Reiftan; it was only used by first-time players, so they had plenty of space to laze about and do whatever they wanted. They could even accept miscellaneous tasks if they wanted to stretch their limbs.


    The town had a square, with a fountain in the centre, and shops that surrounded it. These shops were where the NPCs could always be found, and they would either give out advice or ask the players for help. If the tasks were completed, the players would either get EXP, gear materials, or other items that would help to increase their power. That was why it was an ideal place for newbies to start here.


    While nearly all the shops were used often, there were some that players hardly ever entered - including the bookshop. It was unusual because it was known to all that books contained information that could help to complete a task. Then again, it didn''t help that the shop looked rundown and unapproachable from the outside: it was like the shop had been added last minute by the devs to fill in the space.


    Inside said bookshop, a female NPC could always be seen sitting behind the front desk. She had auburn hair tied up in a ponytail, with a few wavy strands that framed her face. Soft, violet eyes set above a nose that was dusted with a layer of freckles, and lips that always showed a polite smile. The only time people heard her speak was when she was asked something by the players, or giving out tasks. Her voice was quiet and calming: it made anyone who heard it feel at peace.


    Despite that, it was seldom heard, because the players didn''t go in there often, meaning that the NPC was always on her own, with no one to keep her company. That was until she met her first friend, Ashlyn, and later Nox.


    One day, the NPC had been sitting behind the desk like always and wasn''t doing anything except staring off into space.


    Non-playable characters had different modes that had been added to their data - giving out information/tasks, and their default one where all functions were turned off, and all thought processes were shut down. With this, they couldn''t think for themselves and decided to act against the Main Computer.


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    It was only their voice that could be heard, warning the NPCs to not go out of character. Data had no use for feelings or any of the things that would make one human. Plus, having them like this made it easier for them to be controlled.


    And while the NPC was doing what she usually did, something entered her head and overwrote the data there, sparking something akin to consciousness and waking her up to the world around her.


    At first, she had been scared and confused: she had gone from being someone who couldn''t think for themselves, to someone who had a lot of new information filling her mind and causing insufferable pain.


    After a while, she got used to it and spent time at the desk to sort through the jumbled thoughts in her mind, and once she was ready, she began to explore the shop. This was when she developed a love for books and the countless worlds within them. Reading whilst sitting on the window seat that looked out over the town''s square, with a pot of tea on the table beside it, became a favourite past-time of hers. One she could only engage in once the shop closed down at night.


    It was also through books that she chose a name for herself, Faye. And it was the one she introduced herself with when she met Ashlyn.


    They were like a breath of fresh air to Faye''s mundane life and brought a chaos that was readily accepted. One was a quiet character, while the other was unruly; it was an unusual pairing, but their friendship somehow worked, and they had been inseparable since.


    Nox was a welcome addition later on, and just when Faye was beginning to accept the Hero, the explosion in the shop happened.


    The two, Nox and Ashlyn, had been standing outside when the incident took place, and now their location was unknown. At the same time, in the shop, the fog had overtaken everything and made it hard to tell how Jarreth and Faye were faring.


    ?


    The bookshop was large, with a desk at the front and shelves that lined the walls, filled with books of all genres. On the top floor was a cafe, and through the back of the shop was an apartment where Faye used to rest in the evenings. It was a quiet place for players to relax and prepare themselves for whatever expeditions they were about to take.


    Except now, that atmosphere had been broken by the fog swallowing up everything in its path. The explosion had damaged nothing, but it had made it so no one could interact with anything, and the people inside were unconscious.


    Coughing, Jarreth was the first to awaken and for a moment he couldn''t make heads nor tails of what had happened, or where he was. And then once everything had become much clearer, he looked about him and his vision locked onto the woman lying close by.


    Her breathing was shallow, and there were no signs of her waking up. Blood seeped out of a wound on her forehead - it seemed like she had knocked her head when she had fallen to the ground. Jarreth scrambled over to her side and took out a piece of cloth to wipe away some of the blood, and then covered the wound to stem the bleeding.


    He wasn''t sure what else he could do to help her, so he could only call out, "miss... please wake up."

 13 | Discarded Ones

    Ashlyn and Nox had been close to the explosion when it went off, so they had also taken the full brunt of the force. It might not have had much of an impact on the outside, but it affected the NPCs in front of the shop. And they had been transported to a different location.


    "Ugh, where are we?" Ashlyn sat up from where they had been laying on the ground. The bright lights blinded them, and it took a moment for them to adjust their eyesight.


    "I don''t know." Answered a gruff voice from the side.


    "Nox?" Ashlyn looked in the voice''s direction and saw a dishevelled male leaning against a blank wall, or where a wall should''ve been. That was when Ashlyn noticed the peculiarity of the space they were in. It was a large space that was completely white, and the start and end of the room couldn''t be seen. There were no doors - exits or otherwise - and it was devoid of any furniture, or anything else. All it had were the two confused NPCs.


    "What is this place?" They knew there was no point in asking, but they had to ask anyway, just to fill the silence.


    After a moment of rest to sort out their thoughts and check if they had any injuries anywhere, Ashlyn and Nox explored the space, even if there wasn''t much to look at. They discovered it didn''t matter how much they walked forwards, there would never be an end; it was like a long, white hallway that you could travel down forever. The temperature was chilly and made one''s nose red, but it didn''t bother the two who were not human: it didn''t impede them, and they continued their trek down the hallway.


    A couple of hours went by of them walking and soon they had to take a break to catch their breath.


    "Is this ever going to end?" complained Ashlyn, and they ranted about how tired they were.


    "Um, Ashlyn..." Nox, who was resting by their side, spotted something unusual and spoke up. "There''s something over there."


    Ashlyn turned to see what he was talking about and saw a large tear that had appeared in the air. It expanded outwards until it was a large, blue, shimmery void. "It''s a portal." They exclaimed and scrambled to their feet, and made to take a step towards it.


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    "Stay back!" Nox stopped them from moving and held them back. "There''s something coming out of it."


    And what he said was right. At the bottom of the void, a foot appeared and stepped out of the portal seconds later. After that, a whole person appeared, and another followed behind them.


    The younger of the two stood at the side and waited for their companion to close the portal. He was wearing an ordinary pair of trousers and shirt, with a red cloak that floated to the ground; it was the only extraordinary thing about him; his facial features were plain, and he didn''t stand out much. It was his companion that would''ve stood out in a crowd: he had a face that could be described as elegant, and silvery hair that was in a ponytail, thrown carelessly over his shoulder.


    From the looks of them, one was the leader, and the other was his assistant.


    They were conversing about something, and it didn''t take long for them to notice the two people standing behind them. Both of them were unknown to the two men, so at first, they were on guard, but the young man saying something to his boss made the older one relax.


    "Are you new here?" The boss came forward and gave Ashlyn and Nox a friendly smile. "It''s been a long time since we''ve had NPCs here seeking refuge."


    Ashlyn and Nox looked at each other in confusion and didn''t know what to say.


    "Ah, don''t worry, we were all the same at first." The assistant followed his boss and chirped happily beside them. "Once you enter Farwich, you''ll be like the other Discarded Ones, and get used to things pretty quickly."


    "Discarded Ones?" Ashlyn questioned. It was a term they had never heard before, and it seemed to be the same for Nox, who was looking just as confused as they were.


    "Yes." The boss placed a hand on his assistant''s shoulder to try to calm him down. He knew how excited the younger one would get at meeting new people. "Aren''t you here because you''ve been thrown away?"


    Ashlyn and Nox exchanged another glance and, after a brief conversation with their eyes, decided it would be best to go along with it for now.


    "I thought so." He seemed to notice something in their gazes but chose to ignore it. A glimmer of something dark went through his own eyes, but it went away before the others noticed it. "Well, follow us and we''ll guide you to Farwich. It''s not far away from here."


    "Oh, and before we forget, let us introduce ourselves." The boss led them further down the hall, then stopped and turned to face the others. "My name is Eriladar, and this is my assistant, Taegen."


    After giving out his and Taegen''s names, Eriladar pushed on the space behind him and a door, which had been inconspicuous up until this point, opened up to reveal buildings and a hubbub of voices that belonged to numerous people through the gap that had opened up.


    Eriladar bowed slightly and said, "we would like to welcome you to Farwich, the city of the Discarded Ones."

 14 | Farwich [1]

    Farwich.


    A city founded by the first abandoned NPCs who had stumbled upon the island floating in the sky. Ashlyn and Nox looked at the tightly packed buildings of rusty metal. Above them, a train passed on the tracks, suspended up high. In the distance was a towering clock tower that could be seen from anywhere in the city. The large clock face, illuminated in the moonlit night, showed the passage of time.


    Eriladar led them down an alley that opened into a secluded row of shops. The atmosphere was different from the one they had just come from; there was something sinister in the air as if trouble was brewing, but Ashlyn and Nox could not tell where it was coming from. People in ragged clothes were milling about the street and gave the two contemptuous looks that changed to ones of reverie when they saw Eriladar and Taegen.


    "Keep your eyes forward and do not look at anyone." Eriladar instructed the confused NPCs behind him, adding, "We are almost there. We just have to go this way ... ah, here we are." As they turned the corner, a house appeared in front of them. It stood out clearly against the dilapidated houses next to it, which were on the verge of being nothing but rubble.


    Part of the house consisted of a porch leading to a wooden double door, and hanging flower pots adorned the eaves, while ivy grew up the walls, giving the place an earthy feel. Above the doors was a sign with the name Skyreach. All in all, it was a warm contrast to the drabness of the street it was situated on. Eriladar told them that it was more of a place of business than a home, but it was enough for him to live there with Taegen.


    They entered the house, and the hallway was lit by torches that lined the walls. Paintings adorned the same walls, and round windows showed the street beyond. The floor was wooden, and a door led into a living room that was cosy and warmed by a fireplace that Taegen had hastily lit after they entered the house.


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    Ashlyn and Nox settled down on the sofa, not knowing what to do with themselves. It had only been a few hours since they had woken up in the all-white room, and it was the first time they had sat down to collect their thoughts. It was overwhelming and confusing at the same time.


    Eriladar saw their troubled expressions and waited for them to gather themselves before he spoke. "Do you remember how you got into the system space?" Eriladar settled down in his own chair.


    "The system space?" It was the first time Ashlyn had heard of such a thing. Since their creation, Archeline was the only world they had known. They wouldn''t ever have the chance to travel anywhere else.


    "That is what we call the white space. It''s a plane that lives outside the game worlds and really, it''s not supposed to exist at all." Eriladar explained. "Years ago, it was discovered by a group of NPCs who malfunctioned and were discarded by the developers. And after some time, they got tired of travelling the space with no end in sight. But all that came to an end when one of them happened to come across the gateway to an empty land."


    "And that was before it was Farwich?" Asked Nox, who hadn''t spoken up to that point.


    Eriladar smiled in response and held up a photograph that had been on the side table, and his eyes softened a little.


    "An old friend of mine was among those saved by the leading members of this city. They told me what it was like before it was built. At first, people had no direction, no goal; they could only continue their tireless wandering. But then some found their drive and, together with like-minded people, began to build houses. Then the city grew into what it is today." He put down the photograph and turned directly to face the NPCs opposite again.


    "After Farwich was founded, and the population grew larger, the leading members thought it wise to give them and others like them a name. Perhaps that was what distinguished them from the NPCs still living in the game worlds." Eriladar chuckled and said, "They called themselves the Discarded Ones, and that is the name we all now go by."


    "Now, tell me, how did you get to the system space? Were you thrown away by the developers, or was it by pure coincidence that you ended up there?"

 15 | Farwich [2]

    Ashlyn, the more talkative of the two, told Eriladar everything that had happened to them before they found themselves in the system space. When they had finished, Ashlyn¡¯s chest felt lighter, but worry for Faye still plagued them. Here in Farwich, none of them could know what was happening in Reiftan.


    This was a situation Eriladar had never experienced before; the only ones who could get into the system space were the discarded NPCs, so it was unusual for the two of them to appear there for no reason. Unless there were external factors that allowed them to enter the space.


    "Could it have something to do with what was in the shop?" Asked Nox, his voice broke through the silence and drew the other''s attention.


    ¡°It is possible,¡± replied Eriladar, adding, ¡°when that thing exploded in the shop, something happened in the area closest to it, and since you two were standing right out front, it sent you into the system space. Or maybe it was the Main Computer; it sensed something was wrong and saw you two and thought you were bugged, so it sent you out of the game.¡±


    Seeing their faces growing more worried and tired, Eriladar stood up and said, ¡°let us leave this for today and go over it again tomorrow. Perhaps with a clear head, it will all make more sense.¡± Ashlyn and Nox agreed and allowed Taegen to show them to the guest rooms.


    It was simple and not very furnished, but after the days in the system space and the journey through Farwich, it was still welcome. After putting on the nightclothes they had been given, they both fell onto their beds and fell asleep immediately.


    ?


    In the morning, they were awakened not by the sun shining through the cracks in the blinds, but by a commotion going on in the living area. When they arrived downstairs, they were greeted by Taegen and led into the dining room, where breakfast had already been served.


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    ¡°What¡¯s happening out there?¡± Ashlyn asked curiously.


    ¡°Master has a guest today.¡± Taegen sat before his own breakfast and explained further: ¡°Skyreach is a place where people come to make requests and get help for things they can¡¯t solve themselves.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Ashlyn commented, and continued to eat their breakfast. The helping business was interesting, but not something they could see themselves doing. ¡°Then your master must be very popular.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Taegen beamed and spilt compliment after compliment for his esteemed master. ¡°He has helped many people in the city and made a name for himself. Everyone looks up to him. Also, he is...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Tae.¡± Eriladar interrupted him before he said anything he shouldn¡¯t. He patted the little assistant on the head and addressed the two unaware NPCs. ¡°I have to head out today on official business and won¡¯t be back for a few days. When I¡¯m back, I¡¯ll do all I can to send you back to where you need to go. In exchange, I was wondering if you would both like to join me.¡±


    ¡°You want us to come? Won¡¯t we get in the way?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡± Eriladar reassured them with a smile and said, ¡°this task isn¡¯t an easy one, and requires more hands. Right now, there aren¡¯t many people around to ask for assistance. You being here today helps a lot.¡±


    ¡°Well, if we can be useful to you.¡± Nox had been up half the night thinking of how he could repay the older man for everything he had done for them so far, so this came up at the right time, and now he could thank him. In addition, all things physical were something that Nox was good at; he had been a Final Boss, after all.


    Ashlyn had no choice but to go along with him, even though they had wanted to rest at the Skyreach for the day before exploring the city tomorrow. It was what they had done since they ¡®woke up¡¯ in Archeline, and staying still for too long was something they couldn¡¯t do for long; they had to be constantly on the move or they¡¯d get antsy.


    ¡°Great.¡± Eriladar clapped his hands together and placed a piece of paper down on the table and said, ¡°this is what the client gave to me. It¡¯ll tell you all you need to know about the task. Read it over and then rest up for today. We¡¯ll set out at dawn tomorrow.¡±

 16 | Danger [1]

    The woman writhed in pain on the floor, clutching her head. It was as if it would burst at any moment and she hoped it would so that the pain would stop. She let out a bloodcurdling scream and almost burst the eardrums of the man who held her down and tried to calm her.


    Jarreth was pressing the cloth to Faye¡¯s head to stop the bleeding when she let out a scream and broke free from his hold. No matter what he did, it was impossible to get through to her, so he restrained her to stop her from hurting herself further.


    The pain was something Faye had never experienced before; being made of computer data, meant that she didn¡¯t feel things like normal humans would do. At most, she would be uncomfortable. Especially when the main computer spoke in her head or was close by.


    This was a first for the NPC, and it occurred to her that the main computer might have been near the shop and angry. Was this what it meant by consequences, or could this be just the beginning of the punishment?


    Outside the shop, Eilran and Rael were still pressed up against the glass, waiting for any changes to the fog inside. And after what seemed like an eternity, and when the party members were getting restless, the fog ebbed and flowed faster to the corner of the shop. It stagnated for a moment, and then it disappeared, leaving the shop in the state it was before the explosion.


    At that moment, everything became silent, as if all sound had been turned off, and an uneasy feeling came over the players. Faye quieted down and something caught her eye before she fainted a second time.


    A hole opened in the sky above the shop, invisible to anyone except the NPCs who were hiding in the surrounding buildings or wherever they could find that would obscure them from the view of the thing coming out of the hole.


    There was a big computer screen for a head with an eyeball that never blinked. It had no body, but tubes with loose wires at the ends, they came out of the screen and swung back and forth in the air. It had no voice. The only sound it made was static and white noise that made anyone who heard it feel uncomfortable. The main computer needed no human appearance: since its creation, it had ruled the world of Archeline in this way.


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    It descended from the hole and the skies above turned dark. The shop was lit up by the moon''s light and became separated from the shops beside it. The Main Computer came to rest on the rooftop and magically sank through the tiles, and then appeared in the shop. Below Jarreth looked up in horror, not sure what he was seeing, but instinctively he held Faye to his chest.


    He held his breath as the Main Computer drew nearer and every muscle in his body was screaming at him to move, however, he wasn''t able to do so. The MC''s eyeball rolled about in the screen and came to a stop on Faye, the white noise became more intense when it saw the female NPC.


    Eilron, on the outside, saw Jarreth staring at something above him - something Eilron could not see. He said to Elex behind him, ¡°there¡¯s something wrong. We need to get in there now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying.¡± Elex had been pulling at the door handle, with no luck. He was about to give up when the sky darkened and he looked around for signs of danger. Nothing happened so he went back to the door to try again. Fortunately, this time the door made a sound and let Elex open it fully.


    The players rushed in and went to the two who were still on the floor, but they were stopped by an invisible barrier. They pushed against it in vain, and instead, a force pulled them backwards, ensuring they could go no further.


    They watched as Jarreth held onto the woman and made himself as small as possible. His appearance differed completely from what they were used to; Jarreth always had a big grin on his face, laughing and joking. Now he was fatigued and had lost all his confidence. The carefree smile was more down-turned and filled with pain.


    The invisible Main Computer never took its eye off the NPC and moved towards the human/non-human pair. Its tube of wires expanded and once it touched Jarreth¡¯s skin, he felt a surge of electricity and had to bite his tongue to keep from crying out.


    He had never been in a situation like this before, and it was the first time he had been so at a loss for what to do. But he had to think of something, or he and Faye would be in even more danger than they already were. And he had the feeling that if he let Faye go, she would disappear somewhere where he would never see her again.

 17 | Danger [2]

    Elex and the others fought hard against the barrier, but there was no way for them to get through it. They could only stay put and look on as Jarreth protected the woman from something that was not visible to the average person.


    The wires wound themselves around the arms of the man and worked hard to prise them apart, so they could get to the female NPC, but it seemed to have underestimated the strength of the man. He was the Hero, after all; no matter what, he wouldn¡¯t let her go. Not when she was in a vulnerable state.


    Faye, oblivious to what was happening, was fighting an inner battle of her own. NPCs were created with human appearances, but that was where all similarities stopped; no matter what, NPCs didn¡¯t function as a person made of flesh and blood did. Her fainting was not normal, and unusual for someone like her. The same could be said for her bleeding and getting hurt. It was just that with everything that was happening, no one had time to stop and question it.


    In her unconscious state, images floated through her mind. Buildings differed from the old-fashioned ones found in the game, brands she had never even heard of, people in odd clothing and a home far different from the one behind the bookshop. The language was the same, but there were words that were unfamiliar, and Faye struggled to understand their meaning. Along with these images, there was a familiar feeling, but she couldn¡¯t quite place where they were coming from.


    Soon the scene changed, and this time it was a spacious room somewhere in the house. There was no furniture, and the windows were blocked off with thick curtains, so the light was scarce and a large object in the room¡¯s corner was glowing in the darkness. Beside it was a machine that was beeping and wires trailed along the floor and entered certain points of the object. When looking closely, you could see that it was a pod of some sort, and Faye saw a person inside.


    There was a woman wearing clothes of white with a high collar and long sleeves. Her auburn hair fanned out on the soft cushion, and her pallor was grey. Attached to every inch of exposed skin were more of the wires, and a metal cage-like thing was placed on her head. It was uncomfortable to look at, but Faye couldn¡¯t take her eyes away.


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    The woman¡¯s breathing was shallow, and her cheeks were almost hollow. It looked like she had been in this pod for a long time, and hadn¡¯t left it to rest and took care of her other needs. This could also be seen from how dusty the pod was and how grimy the rest of the room appeared.


    Faye¡¯s heart clenched and fought to leave this nightmare disguised as a dream, but nothing she did worked. She was trapped here and could only watch as the woman drew nearer to withering away.


    ?


    On the outside, Jarreth was still being attacked by the Main Computer and had to think of something to get rid of it. The only issue was the electricity the wires exhibited when they contacted his skin. And Faye in his arms was showing no sign of waking up. Sweat glistened on her forehead, and her eyes were scrunched up in pain.


    Jarreth looked about him for anything that could rid himself of the wires wound about him. Fortunately, his sword had fallen out of its sheath attached to his back when he had fallen down and was lying close by. With one arm still around Faye, he struggled to reach out with the other and grab the sword. He swung up and severed one wire and could move more freely. Although he was still restricted, it was better than before.


    With more freedom, he moved away from the Main Computer and continued to hack away at it, until the wires loosened and its grip loosened, making it easier for him to move away. He stood up straight and picked Faye up and laid her gently on the ground, and got into a protective stance, the sword held out in front of him.


    The Main Computer became incensed when the female NPC was taken away from it and rushed up to fight the Hero, only to be pushed back by the sharp tip of the sword.


    ¡°You won¡¯t get past me!¡± The Hero pushed forward with the sword and the Main Computer had no choice but to back up so as to not be pierced through the screen. For the first time since the game had been created, it felt a sense of danger. And in its crisis, it forgot to keep up the barrier and just when it wanted to put up a fight against the Hero, the other players ran forwards and joined their leader in protecting the female still passed out on the floor.


    They didn¡¯t know what he was fighting against, nor why he was so adamant about helping the NPC. However, before Jarreth was their leader, he was their friend. And they would always fight by his side.

 18 | Change

    While Faye was immersed in her dreams with no way to wake up, a change started happening in the data that made up her body, and the NPC aura that surrounded her body faded away. The change wasn¡¯t gradual and hadn¡¯t just started happening. It had been a slow process since the time that her consciousness had awakened.


    The players who were focused on protecting the passed-out woman didn¡¯t notice anything, but Jarreth sensed something and looked back at her. Her face, which had been pale, was regaining colour and her breath was evening out and it seemed she would wake up at any moment.


    Besides that, something seemed different about the woman: before it hadn¡¯t seemed like it, but he had long known that she was an NPC. Any player could know whether a person was an NPC or a fellow player; from the way they acted, the places they were at, or through their interactions. Faye spoke little and acted no differently from the others like her, so it was obvious she wasn¡¯t a player.


    However, the longer he looked at her, the more he felt that something was different about her this time. She still looked the same, but she was less like an NPC and more like a player. What had changed? And how could a character from a game turn into someone who plays it?


    And the Main Computer who ruled over the game and was in control of everything within it could sense something too. It calmed its frenzy a little, but still tried to break through the opposing players obstructing its way so it could examine the woman.


    In the ten years that the game had been created, this had never happened before. It was impossible to go from an NPC to a player: they were different in every way. And if it could find out from the woman how this happened, it could prevent others from doing the same. A game with no characters to give out tasks, take care of the shops, and whatever else they were created for, was worth nothing at all: it would just be a world with no value and could only be looked at.


    Jarreth turned away from the woman and looked up at the Main Computer floating above them. The players on either side of them were shifting their gazes every which way to pinpoint where the enemy was, but it was like the opponent was invisible. If they couldn¡¯t see it then that would make fighting difficult. They could only come up with a different plan.


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    ¡°Take her and leave.¡± Elex kept his eyes forward and murmured to Jarreth. ¡°We¡¯ll distract it and give you time to get away.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Jarreth rejected it immediately. They were a team and had always fought together. He couldn¡¯t abandon them, especially against something they couldn¡¯t see. It was dangerous, and he needed to be there to make the fighting easier. ¡°I can¡¯t leave you here.¡±


    ¡°Although we don¡¯t understand why you want to protect her, you need to get her out of here first.¡± Elex softly said and continued with: ¡°Find somewhere far away from here and we¡¯ll join you later.¡±


    ¡°Yeah boss, we¡¯ll be fine.¡± Rael chirped up from beside Eilron and grabbed his hand to reassure him.


    Jarreth saw the younger girl¡¯s encouraging smile and thought over it for a moment, and then heard movement behind him and a light groan sounded out in the room. Whipping round, he saw Faye scrunching up her brows and appeared to be in pain: this made him make up his mind in an instant and he gathered her up in his arms.


    The Main Computer watched as the man picked up the NPC and anger pierced through its one eye and it rushed at the players in an attempt to knock them out of the way. But as the Hero, how could Jarreth be slow? Before the Main Computer could reach him, he sprinted to the back of the shop.


    He was going to go out the front, forgetting that it had been sealed when the explosion happened. However, a muffled voice stopped him as he was moving forward. Moving his eyes downward in surprise, he saw that Faye had awakened.


    Even though her eyes were still closed, her lips were forming words, and she told him about the back entrance and the apartment on the other side of the door. It was connected to the shop, so it should still be accessible, and right now, it was their only hope.


    Jarreth nodded, knowing that she wouldn¡¯t be able to see with her eyes still closed. He ran to the back of the shop, and with one hand, he tried the door handle. Thankfully, it turned, and he was able to push open the door.


    He advanced quickly through the house, weaving through the furniture, and stopped at the door that led out onto the street.


    Glancing down at Faye to make sure she was ok, he swallowed past the lump in his throat and steeled himself to open the door. If this worked, he could find a safe place for Faye to rest, and then he could come back and help his friends.


    They had always been together as they climbed up to the level they were at today, so he couldn¡¯t just leave them to fight the Main Computer alone. First, he would make sure Faye was safe, then return to their sides.

 19 | Silverport

    Archeline was once a small game with only a few places you could travel to on the map, and after many updates, more cities were added. The game grew and more people were drawn to the game, be it because of the graphics, the gameplay, the promise of meeting players that shared the same interests, or something else. Ten years later, the game didn¡¯t decline but could still keep the players wanting to play.


    Scattered around the cities were teleports that made it easier to travel to another place and were used frequently. The one in Reiftan was placed near the border and it was far away from the bookshop.


    A complicated magic circle could be seen on the cobbled path and a swirling blue light reached up to the sky. The air crackled around it and Jarreth stepped on the magic circle and chanted the desired location in his mind. He felt a pulling sensation in his stomach and his body broke into pieces and repaired itself when he arrived at the other city¡¯s teleport.


    Silverport was just like its name. It was a port town that had boats coming and going, and it was a big trading city. If there was anything you needed that couldn¡¯t be found in dungeons, or from killing mobs, you¡¯d more than likely find it here. The sun reflected off the shiny buildings that stretched out along the pier. And one building stood high above the rest in the centre. It was home to the ruler of this city: he was an amiable man who welcomed everyone to stay there.


    It didn¡¯t matter if you were running from someone, had a bounty on your head, or just needed somewhere to hide out. No one was turned away and surprisingly, the city was harmonious, and there were hardly any troubles. That was why everyone visited the city when they could, and it was the perfect place to hide Faye.


    Jarreth had a friend in the city who had made a name for themselves through the trading stall they owned. The woman was known as Amara and had once been a part of Jarreth¡¯s guild, but left for reasons she didn¡¯t wish to disclose. Amara lived at the end of the pier and she was a good friend to have in times of trouble.


    Faye had awoken long before they had gone into the teleport and was still being held by Jarreth. There had been a lot of things to think about since the explosion in the shop, and everything after was like a whirlwind with no chance of slowing down.


    There was the explosion, the Main Computer making an appearance and the peculiarity of her body. Despite nothing major changing, Faye¡¯s sense of self had changed and was now dissimilar to what it once was. As an NPC, Faye was confined to the bookshop and a ringing voice echoed in her head, making it difficult for her to focus on anything else. But now, all was still: not a single sound, no worry about what would happen if she defied its orders - it was simply silent.


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    It was a first and although it was eerie, there was a relief that came along with it. Closing her eyes once more, Faye relaxed in his arms and a small smile played on her lips, that didn''t go unnoticed by Jarreth.


    He removed his gaze from her gentle appearance and focused his mind on other things - like finding the trading stall. And it didn''t take long to reach there as there weren''t many traders out today, he guessed it might have something to do with the storm that was brewing: not many were brave enough to tough it out in the strong winds and heavy rain. Amara was different and traded in all kinds of weather. That was why it was easy to spot her at the centre of the pier.


    She had just finished selling to a customer, who went away with a satisfied grin and a promise to come back another day. "You''re welcome any time." Amara bid them farewell and waved them off with a bright smile. Then she saw Jarreth approaching the stall and she ran out immediately to greet him. "Jarreth, it''s been a long time! Why has it taken you so long to come to see me?"


    ¡°Sorry, sorry. I¡¯ve been busy with the guild and other things.¡± He laughed and said, ¡°there¡¯s actually something I need your help with.¡±


    That was when Amara noticed the woman sleeping in his arms. Instantly, her face became more serious, and she seemed to understand something. She turned and packed up the stall and beckoned to Jarreth. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Amara ignored the looks she was getting from passersby - they had never seen her leave the stall so early before, no matter what she would always be there selling the goods she had acquired since the start of the game - and she led the pair down an alleyway that led out to the city beyond the pier. It wasn¡¯t as brilliant as the buildings in front of it, but it still shined more than any other place in the game.


    The path they walked down was lined with fluorescent lights and as the storm was now close at hand, it was empty. Jarreth kept his gaze forward and followed Amara closely. His arms tightened around the woman, still sleeping soundly. Her brows had loosened, and she looked more relaxed than she had done for a while.


    At the end of the path was a small house, it was made with the same cold material as the other buildings, and a glow bounced off the windows from the lampposts that decorated the streets. Amara opened the door and moved aside to let Jarreth enter the house and take Faye into one of the guest rooms. He laid her on the bed and covered her with a blanket, then joined Amara in the living room.


    He sat facing her and Amara asked, ¡°who was that NP-Player?¡± Her address of the woman changed because even she didn¡¯t know what exactly the woman was. Her aura seemed like an NPC, but there was also one that belonged to a player. ¡°What do you need my help with?¡±


    Jarreth snuck a glance at the closed door of the bedroom and turned back to Amara to reply, ¡°the woman is called Faye and she owned the bookshop in Reiftan. Something happened and now she needs somewhere to stay for a while. Only until I¡¯ve gone back to sort some things out. Is it ok if she stays here for a while?¡±


    Amara wanted to say something but stopped herself and instead said, ¡°of course. We are old friends and I¡¯ll do whatever I can to help.¡± She gripped his hand reassuringly and gave him a soft smile.


    He returned the smile and looked down at their intertwined hands and a warmth spread in his chest. ¡°Thank you, Amara.¡±

 20 | Start Task

    Nox and Ashlyn were not aware of the events that had taken place in the game world and were roused from their sleep by Taegen the next morning. They quickly washed up and changed into the outfits given by Eriladar. When they had finished getting ready, they went to have breakfast with him and his assistant.


    Eriladar and Taegen were once NPCs who were created for a game that had long been shut down. If a game was going to disappear entirely, there wasn''t much that the NPCs could do except wait for their doom, and for themselves to be lost in the void.


    As an NPC, Eriladar had been working as a tour guide. When the players first arrived at the newbie village, they would be greeted by Eriladar and shown the various parts of the village that would be most beneficial to them, and he would answer any of their questions. It was an interesting job and at the end of the day, he wouldn''t feel the exhaustion that normal people would feel. Instead, he would stand in place at the entrance of the village and wait for the next batch of players.


    That was what it was like for the beings created for the game. Before their consciousness awakened, they would do and say things that were inputted into their data. After gaining sapience, they would then do things for themselves, but they had to be cautious so as to not be discovered and discarded.


    During this time, Taegen worked as his assistant and would help to guide the newbies. And then later, before the game went dark, they had become conscious and before everything around them disappeared, a rift opened up and they found themselves in the system space.


    Confused and lost, they stumbled upon Farwich and were greeted by the NPCs there. They taught the two of them everything they needed to know and helped them settle down in this new place.


    It took a while for them to become accustomed to their new ways of life and make a place for themselves there. That was how Skyreach came to be. Eriladar used his expertise from the game to his advantage, and Taegen asked around to see if anyone needed help with anything.


    After several successful tasks, their reputation grew, and soon people were coming to them for help, from miscellaneous tasks to more dangerous ones. Eriladar didn''t mind what they were asked to do and was happy to help in any way he could.


    And that led up to the day before when he was given a new task, and he asked the newly arrived NPCs for help. It was known as an exchange: you do something for me and I''ll do something for you, and everyone will go away feeling happy and fulfilled. Nox and Ashlyn knew that this was the only way for them to go back to Archeline; they still did not know what was happening, and how Faye was doing.


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    Eriladar started to explain: "Farwich is a large city that is split into different parts with their own names. The lady who came yesterday was from a place called Dreila. It''s a small part of the city that is covered with fog most of the year. It''s home to the elderly and a few young people who were born and raised there." Eriladar paused to take a breath, then continued to say, "the young ones would work and do all the jobs that the older ones could not. And that was how things had always been done there until a couple of months ago when people started disappearing."


    "There are only a couple of young people left and a few elderly who have hidden in their homes since the start of the disappearances." He took a sip of his drink and said, "one of them braved going out and managed to make it to Skyreach to ask for help. The old woman wants us to go to Dreila and investigate what is going on there and find the ones who disappeared."


    Nox and Ashlyn took some time to process the information and Ashlyn asked, "how can we help?"


    "Taegan and I will show you the way to Dreila in a moment and once there, we''ll need help to find clues and question the inhabitants there." Eriladar replied and smiled, "I don''t know how long the task will last, so we''ll need to take some provisions with us, and might have to stay there overnight. Do you have to get back urgently?"


    Although they wanted to go back to Archeline right away, there was no way for them to get there and could only shake their heads and help Eriladar with this task. The question was: how did he know how to get back? And could he really help them?


    ?


    After breakfast and getting all the things they would need, Eriladar took them outside and brought them to a vehicle parked before the kerb. It was long at the front and was open at the back, revealing four seats at the back made of plush leather. A single piece of metal was curved over the top of the seats, which provided some shade and would offer some protection if it rained. Metallic wings were folded in a concertina shape and were placed on either side of the car.


    It was something that Ashlyn and Nox had never seen back in Archeline, as they were more used to getting around on foot or using the teleports. There was no need for any other transportation, so seeing the car in front of them was kind of a novelty.


    Eriladar got into the front seat and Taegan sat beside him, and Ash and Nox got into the back. They sank into the leather seats and sighed in comfort at the unique feeling. Their bodies relaxed against the back of the seats, and they marvelled at the surrounding sights. It had been late when they arrived in Farwich, so they hadn''t been able to take everything in, now they could look to their heart''s content.


    The car broke away from the kerb, and then they began the journey to Dreila.

 21 | Ghost Town [1]

    It took more than a day to reach Dreila, which was on the outskirts of the city. Fog billowed close to the ground and painted everything it touched in grey hues. The wooden houses were desolate, and some had doors still open like the owners had just stepped out for a moment, only to never return.


    Ashlyn stepped out of the car and, unable to see beyond their fingertips, stayed close to the rest of the group to prevent becoming separated from them. Eriladar was familiar with the place as he had been sent to do a task here before, and he easily navigated his way through the streets. After walking for a while, they met up with the old lady, Marilyne, who had visited Skyreach days before.


    Her back arched forward, with wrinkles that etched her aged face and her eyes, once filled with life, were now dull and had lost their twinkle. When she spoke, her voice was raspy and wasn''t very pleasant to hear. "Good, you''re here."


    "Sorry, it took us so long to get here," Eriladar spoke politely and greeted the old woman good-naturedly. "Can you explain what has happened here again? I''ve brought my companions here with me, and they haven''t heard the whole story."


    The old woman didn''t speak for a moment and studied the group before her instead. One man was tall with long dark hair, had fierce eyes and stood quietly at the back. The man who had just spoken to her had silvery hair tied in a ponytail that lay carelessly over his shoulder and looked to be the most reliable.


    The shorter man of all three had mousy features and stood close to the silver-haired male''s side. And the last person had a cheerful appearance and was looking curiously at everything around them.


    After she had examined them for a while, the people around her felt uneasy with her scrutinizing look, so she made a sound and turned away. The group guessed that meant she wanted them to follow her, so they fell into step behind her.


    Along with the fog, a chill had settled over Dreila and gave the village an unsettling atmosphere.


    Vacant houses spread out on either side of the winding path and dust had settled on the wooden platforms outside, and ivy grew up the cracking walls. Doors swung on their hinges, and the creaking sounds were intimidating and were the only sounds that could be heard, including their footsteps on the gravelly path. Dry, leafless, forked trees lined the paths and appeared lonely as they swayed in the wind.


    Beneath their feet, the path was covered in leaves, dust and ground-up stones that were sharp and almost penetrated the soles of their shoes. And while the group tried to avoid the stones, the old woman seemed unaffected and only cared about leading them to her desired destination.


    Nox was at the back of the group, and although he was his usual silent self, he was using his senses honed in the dungeon to keep an eye out for possible danger. A strange feeling overcame him, like there were countless eyes glued to his back. Pausing in his step and turning around, he focused his eyes on one house and swept them over the ones beside it. A shadow flitted away from the window and moved deeper inside the house.


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    The person that the shadow belonged to shrank back against the wall and shivered. It had been so long since anyone had been to the village and in their curiosity had looked out of the window, only to see the old woman who lived alone and a group of strangers. Fear had been a constant since the first disappearance, and the person hoped that the strangers would stay far away from where they were: they wanted to stay inconspicuous, lest they were the next one to disappear.


    "Nox, what are you looking at?" Ashlyn looked up at the taller male and questioned. They followed his line of sight but didn''t see anything. Confusion marred their thoughts for a moment, but brightened up the next moment and waited for Nox''s reply.


    "I thought someone was watching us, but it''s gone now." He squinted his eyes, giving his features an extra layer of fierceness, and added, "we should catch up with the others."


    Ashlyn agreed with him and with one last look back in the direction that was pointed out by Nox, they too felt the feeling of being watched, but it didn''t feel dangerous. They chose to ignore it and hurried to catch up with Eriladar and the others.


    The old woman''s pace was neither too fast nor slow, and soon they reached a house that was set apart from the others. It stood alone and wasn''t as shabby as the surrounding houses. Actually, it looked like the old woman took great care of it and the fog seemed to avoid the house and instead chose to hang low over the surrounding ground.


    A young man was waiting outside on the porch swing and got to his feet when he saw the approaching figures. His face tightened for a moment and a sinister glint flashed through his eyes, only to turn into one of glee when he saw the old woman hobbling up the stairs. White knuckles showed as she clutched the cane in her bony hand, and she grunted when her feet stepped onto the patio.


    Her solemn expression eased up when she saw the young man and she allowed him to help her into the house and settled down onto a chair in the kitchen. The first floor was split into a living room and an open-plan kitchen: a long counter separated the two rooms and a set of chairs were set out before the counter. A fireplace was against one wall in the living room. It was bare and looked like it hadn''t been lit in a long time - the log holder beside it was empty and the fire poker lay untouched beside it.


    The kitchen was bare except for the basic amenities and the table in the middle. Including the chair that was taken by the old woman, there were five chairs in total. The young man took a seat beside the old woman, and said, "feel free to sit anywhere. It''s been a long time since my grandmother had any guests. This house will feel finally lively again, since father and mother..."


    The old woman shot him a glare, cutting the young man''s sentence short, and she barked, "don''t mention them. If they didn''t leave that day, how would they get taken? That man has always been a waste, and now he dragged down my daughter once again."


    "Grandma!" The young man started to rebuke her but was shot down by her glare once more. He bit his tongue and swallowed the words that wanted to spill out. A fire sprouted in his heart, but he could only squash it and keep silent.


    "Ahem," Eriladar cleared his throat and smiled through the awkwardness. "Now we''re here. Can you tell us about the disappearances?"

 22 | Ghost Town [2]

    At the far end of the city of Farwich was the village of Dreila. Although the people in the more densely populated areas of the city rarely visited, the people who lived in Dreila did so happily and in peace. Before the fog descended upon the village, the fields were a vibrant green and used for picnics and other activities, as well as an abundance of crops that were regularly harvested. Additionally, animals roamed freely through the village but ran into hiding when the fog covered the village and the first disappearance occurred.


    The villagers were close-knit, and they all got along fairly well. However, there were some who would keep to themselves and would not interact with the others much - namely the old woman, Marilyne, who was often visited by her daughter and her family. She was someone who was kind to the people she was close to, but to the ones outside of that she wouldn''t give them the time of day.


    At first, she didn''t pay attention to the villagers going missing and carried on with her life as normal. Then one day she had a disagreement with her son-in-law over something she couldn''t even remember when looking back on it, and the son-in-law stormed out of the house, his wife following him. She glared at the old woman before leaving, and that look stayed in the old woman''s mind long after her daughter went missing: it was one regret she had, disappointing her and not being able to apologise for it.


    Fortunately, the couple''s son was in the upstairs room and didn''t follow them out of the house. Whatever took them didn''t get the chance to take him as well, so he was left to look after their house and had to wait for them to be found: he still hadn''t given up hope. And he would still visit his grandmother, even if a part of him blamed her for them going missing. If she hadn''t argued with his father, he wouldn''t have run out that day and would still be here.


    The parent''s disappearances weren''t the first nor were they the last, and eventually, the old woman and grandson were among the few that were left. They tried to stay inside their homes as much as possible and would only go out if it was necessary. And it had been a few days since the person, or thing, had returned to take anyone, giving the remaining villagers some respite, but their vigilance was still high and they didn''t dare to relax.


    Marilyne might''ve been unfeeling about the others, but now her daughter was involved, and she felt she couldn''t sit back and do nothing, so she went to Skyreach to request help. Skyreach was in the wealthiest part of the city and was well known by all, so it wasn''t surprising that a small village such as Dreila had heard of them. Eriladar could never turn down a request when it was brought straight to his door, and he readily agreed.


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    Now they were sitting around the table, with Nox choosing to lean against the kitchen counter, and listened to the old woman''s story. A sense of melancholy had fallen over the house, and they all paid attention to her words.


    When she finished speaking, Taegen pulled on his master''s sleeve and choked out, "master, we have to help them. It''s all so sad."


    Eriladar smiled softly and rubbed his assistant''s soft hair and reassured him, "we''ll do our best. Don''t cry and think about what we should do now to help."


    Taegen perked up and agreed with his master''s words, still clinging to his sleeves, and his mind started whirling. Seeing his happier appearance, Eriladar turned back to the old woman and asked, "can you tell me about the first time someone went missing?"


    The old woman seemed tired out from talking and her grandson handed her a glass of water and then took over the discussion in her place. He first introduced himself as Aldan and answered the question, giving as much detail as he could.


    "The day started out as normal. I got up and got ready to go out into the fields and work on the crops. My dad owned some of the land and would often plant vegetables and the like for us to eat later on, and on that day we had some visitors to the town. I remember because it was so unusual: the village is mostly secluded and no one would want to travel to somewhere that had no entertainment and was as normal as this.


    The head of the village greeted them and welcomed them into her home. She had led her village for many years after her father passed away with no one else to take over, and although she''s normally fearless, there was something about these visitors that made her afraid. And they went into the house and didn''t come out for a long time." Aldan paused and took some time to think about what he was going to say next.


    He looked up at Eriladar and continued, "after they left, things carried on like usual and nothing seemed out of place. Then evening came and one village stepped out for a moment, maybe for some fresh air, and all we heard was some voices and him arguing with someone. There was a loud noise and then nothing.


    I looked out the window and the street was as empty as it ever was, and there were no signs of life out there. And when we went to that person''s house to check up on him, we found that the door was unlocked and no one was home."


    "We don''t know what happened to him: it was like he had just disappeared into thin air."

 23 | NPC/Player [1]

    After he was sure Faye was okay, Jarreth got ready to go back to Reiftan, and Amara told him she would take care of Faye while she was there. He expressed gratitude to his old friend and then left; his concerns for Faye were replaced with the idea of the group in the bookshop fighting the Main Computer, and he quickly made his way to the teleportation array.


    Shortly after, Faye woke up feeling groggy and did not know where she was. The sharp pain in her head had dimmed to a dull ache, and she rested in the bed for a moment as the fog in her mind slowly dispersed and she returned to reality. One moment she had been in the bookshop and now she was in this unfamiliar place. What happened with the Main Computer? What about Jarreth, and her friends that were outside the shop?


    She had no way of getting the answers to the questions, so she could only assess her situation and stay put until she was certain that there was no more danger. As she lay there, she flexed her fingers and moved her limbs: it was as if she was her usual self, but there was also something strange. The annoying noise that had been in her brain was gone, as was the feeling of being confined in one spot, unable to move, and the desire to do whatever was written in the data that made up her being were gone.


    And even though she didn¡¯t know what was happening in her body, there was a sense of familiarity, and like the state she was in now, was how she was always supposed to be. Like being an NPC hadn¡¯t been the real her, and now was what she had been before she was placed in the game: or had she been tampered with, and made into the NPC Faye?


    More and more questions swirled around, and her headache was growing worse. It was no good to think over these things now, especially when she wasn¡¯t sure what was happening back at the shop.


    ¡°Oh good, you¡¯re awake.¡± A pleasant voice broke Faye out of her reverie and she turned to face the door, where a beautiful player was entering the room. ¡°I thought you would sleep longer. You were sleeping so peacefully when Jarreth brought you here.¡±


    ¡°Jarreth brought me here?¡± Faye sat up. Her long hair fell over her shoulders and her violet eyes looked questioningly at the woman.


    ¡°Yes.¡± The player smiled at the thought of the Hero and sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°He left after making sure you were fine. Said something about a situation in Reiftan and he had to go back. When that¡¯s done, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll come to see you. Oh, and you can call me Amara.¡±


    ¡°Can you tell me what happened?¡± The woman made herself comfortable and asked. ¡°Jarreth left before he could tell me anything.¡±


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    ¡°Well, it was...¡± Faye didn¡¯t know what she could say, or where she should even begin. This place was still within the game and under the Main Computer, and even if it was preoccupied with the happenings in the bookshop, it could still overhear what was said there.


    Amara could see that she was struggling to speak her mind and said, ¡°are you worried about the Main Computer hearing us? Don¡¯t be I used an item that creates a barrier around the house and blocks out all sounds.¡±


    And after seeing Faye¡¯s bewilderment she added, ¡°years ago I saved someone just like you: someone who was between a player and NPC, and during their stay here they taught me many things. They had the ability to create barriers, shields and the like and they developed an item that would hide people from the eye of the Main Computer.¡±


    ¡°You can speak freely here and not worry about being overheard.¡± Amara finished speaking and a look of sadness crossed her features at the mention of the person that was saved.


    Faye now had a lot more questions and lowered her eyes to the bedsheet, and contemplation marred her thoughts. A moment later, she spoke, ¡°others like me? Between a player and NPC, what does that mean?¡±


    The woman sighed and said, ¡°truthfully, that person was not the first person I met that was changing from an NPC to a player. I¡¯ve met plenty like that, and for a time, I would help them adjust to their new way of life. Actually, if you go around Silverport, you might bump into someone who was once an NPC.


    Silverport looks like a trading port on the surface, but hidden in the city are the ones who have disconnected from the Main Computer and now it sees them as any other player. It seems that as soon as they became a full player, the Main Computer couldn¡¯t detect them anymore and ignored their existence.¡±


    ¡°Others like me.¡± Faye mulled over the words and took in everything that Amara had said. ¡°Didn¡¯t the Main Computer pursue them, or try to capture them?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Amara sighed again. ¡°At first the Main Computer went into a frenzy and crazily chased the NPCs so it could imprison them and study them. I guess it wanted to know how the NPCs changed back to a player, and how it could prevent that from happening. After all, a game without NPCs isn¡¯t much of anything. How could the game continue if all of its NPCs were gone?


    But when they turned into players, it gave up because it was unable to sense them anymore and went back to wherever it stays. The same happened with the one I saved, but unfortunately, they weren''t so lucky and ended up being erased by the system."


    ¡°Now can you tell me what happened back in Reiftan, and is Jarreth in danger?¡± The last part of the question seemed to be the most important, and the worry that Amara had for Jarreth was written all over her face.


    Faye sat up more and opened her mouth to explain what had happened back at the bookshop.


    ¡°I see.¡± Amara looked thoughtful for a moment, then stood up. She straightened her clothes and went to the door, then turned back to Faye and said. ¡°You wait here and rest up. I¡¯ll get someone trustworthy to stay here with you.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Faye went to stand up but was stopped by Amara.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go help.¡±

 24 | NPC/Player [2]

    Once Amara had gone, Faye settled into the bed, allowing her body to relax, and noticed the changes it had gone through.


    Without the bodiless voice shouting warnings repeatedly, her head was filled with nothing but her own thoughts, and it was refreshing. And although Faye only had memories of her time as an NPC, she still felt she was more like herself than ever before: it was just like she had woken up from a long dream and was now in reality.


    It would take a while to get used to and there was still a lingering fear from the Main Computer''s voice, but mixed in was a happiness that she hadn''t felt in a long time.


    In this game world, Faye was known for being quiet and only speaking when needed. That was all to do with her character setting and what was implanted into her data. Now things were different, and she had a feeling that things would only get better from here.


    Only she didn''t know what was happening back at the shop with the Hero and his party. However, she knew there wasn''t much she could do, and would only hold them all back if she returned there.


    Subduing her thoughts, Faye thought it would be best to get up and leave the room. She figured that focusing on her doubts and worries wouldn''t do her any good, so she decided to find something to distract herself with.


    Exiting the room, she paused at the door when she saw an unfamiliar man sitting ramrod straight on the sofa. As if sensing her presence, the man turned his head and their eyes met in mid-air.


    The man stared at Faye without saying anything, and then he turned away again with no intention of greeting her. In that instant, an awkward atmosphere engulfed the room, and without looking in the man''s direction, Faye went over to one of the lone armchairs and sat down.


    Faye was usually the most mild-mannered person in any room, so when she encountered someone who was even quieter than herself, it was an unusual experience. Although she had grown accustomed to not speaking and never felt the need to, she still attempted to break the silence.


    But before she could even open her mouth, the door was thrown open and a petite figure rushed into the room.


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    "Kei, I''m here!" A man who looked similar to the reticent one sat on the sofa, skidded to a halt and panting asked, "has Amara already left? What about the woman? Has she woken up?"


    Then he noticed Faye sitting on the armchair and with reddened cheeks, he said, "oh, hello. It''s good you''re awake. Amara sounded worried on the communication device when she asked us to come over."


    The man with short, dark hair cut up to above the ears and large blue eyes waited for his breathing to slow down, then continued to shoot out more questions: "Did my brother introduce himself? Are you feeling ok? Did Amara say anything before she left?"


    Before the man could say anything else, a hand reached out and pulled him onto the sofa, and was silenced by a glare sent his way from his brother. Making a zipping motion, then smiling playfully at the other male, he contained his excitement and sat quietly by his brother''s side.


    The other person then began to talk. His voice had a stiff quality to it, as if he rarely used it. "Stop making a fuss." He berated the shorter male, then said to Faye, "as my brother, Amos, said we''re here on the request of Amara. She''s helped us a lot since we lost the status of NPCs and became players once more. My name is Kei, and he''s Amos. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."


    "If we''re not mistaken, you''re just like us and are no longer an NPC. And there''s no need to worry about anyone overhearing us. Before she left, Amara used the magical item that blocks out sound from the inside. So you''re able to talk without worries."


    It was like the man known as Kei had used his whole life''s worth of words when speaking just now, and after he was finished, he sat back in silence again and appeared like he wouldn''t say anything else. Even his brother was a little shocked at seeing his brother speak so much, but thought it wise to not mention it, and instead waited for Faye to say something.


    Faye shifted in her seat and still felt a little uncomfortable. Yet there were so many questions she had and so many things to think about that her head started spinning, and she had to close her eyes for a moment to calm it down.


    When everything was still again, she opened them and asked, "what is it with NPCs and players? I still don''t understand how and why this happened. One moment I was in the bookshop, then I woke up and I could think for myself and do things that I wasn''t able to do before. And you said that you''re both players again. What does that mean, exactly?"


    She had been going over these things in her mind ever since she had woken up from being a mindless NPC, to when she became something different from that. Like she mentioned just now: at one point she was a person who could only do what she was told and nothing else, then she became aware of her surroundings and after a while changed into who she was now.


    Why did this all happen? What is the main cause of the NPCs becoming players? And what did it have to do with the Main Computer?

 25 | NPC/Player [3]

    "Ah, about this..." Amos looked awkwardly at Faye, and then his brother, but saw he had no intentions of speaking, so he continued to say, "the answers to your questions are a little complicated, and what we know is limited. Most of what we do know was taught to us by the Leader. If you want to know more, you might have to ask them."


    Then his eyes lit up as if he had thought of a good idea. Excitedly leaning forward, he said, "why don''t you come with us to meet the Leader? It''ll allow you to get the answers you want, and you can meet players in the same situation as us." Before he could blurt out anything else, Kei held him back and shook his head.


    Seeing his brother''s stern face, Amos wasn''t deterred and asked, "what''s wrong with taking her there? She can''t get past the barrier without someone who knows the counterspell. Plus, she knows Amara, meaning she''s someone we can trust. Also, we don''t know enough to give her the information she wants, so taking her there would help."


    Kei considered his words and then agreed a few moments later. First, from what he could see about Faye so far, was that she had just become a player and only wanted to know what was going on. If she wanted to harm them, she would have tried something by now.


    Besides that, they had been told by Amara what had happened in Reiftan, and that Faye was hiding from the Main Computer - so there was little chance that Faye would draw the Main Computer here, otherwise, she would be caught and taken away by it.


    Taking her to the hideout would be of great benefit to her, and it had been a long time since they had met a player who used to be an NPC. Plus, more people meant that there was a greater chance of taking down the Main Computer, even if it meant risking the game being shut down for good.


    With nothing to discuss, and nothing else to do, Amos and Kei stood up and, seeing that Faye wasn''t injured from the recent incident, apart from a slight headache, they exited the house. Then led her to a hidden teleportation array.


    Amara''s house was at the end of the pier and was backed by palm trees that hid a magical circle on the sand-covered ground. The light coming from this circle was weaker than all the other teleportation arrays and had been forgotten by everyone, bar those who knew where to locate it. Making it a perfect spot for the NPC-turned players to travel between the two places while going undetected.


    It''s how they had been getting around the whole time, and could visit Amara''s home when needed. Since the start she had been helping them to hide from the Main Computer''s sight, taking care of any injuries that needed treating, and even something as simple as letting them rest in her home. Over time, she had earned a reputation among the players, and that was why Jarreth knew that Faye would be safe with her.


    Feeling the pull in her stomach from using the array, Faye''s breathing slowed down, and closing her eyes, she focused on calming her mind. Soon she would get answers to the questions plaguing her mind since she had become a sapient NPC.


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    ?


    Leaving the array, Faye steadied her feet and looked at the surrounding area. It was impossible to get used to being broken down into particles in the array and then being put back together again when reaching the chosen destination: it was unpleasant and left one feeling nauseous. And after the waves in her stomach settled down, Faye could see where they were.


    The bookshop and the apartment behind it were the only places that Faye had seen for the longest time and had travelled nowhere in the game map since awakening. She had been unconscious when Jarreth took her to Silverport, and when she woke up, she was confined to Amara''s house. So this was the first time she could see a whole new place to what she was used to: it was just too bad that she couldn''t do any sightseeing because of the current circumstances.


    From a signboard, she learned the name of the town Bleakacre. Darkened skies and greyish hues coating the buildings and streets were inconspicuous and gloomy - matching its name. If you wanted to hide out and never be found, this would be the place to go to. Not even the Main Computer would want to spend time here. That was why the Leader had chosen this place.


    Amos, the most talkative out of the two brothers, told Faye everything there was to know about the town and the Leader. Her name was Ilaria and had been one of the first ones to awaken their consciousness, and had helped countless players return to normalcy.


    Ilaria travelled the game map to find the perfect place to settle down and stumbled upon this town. It was bleak, boring and a solemn air emanated from the NPCs who inhabited the town: the NPC-Players would go unnoticed in a place such as this, and that''s what made it so perfect.


    The Leader took over an abandoned inn and welcomed all the wanderers who had nowhere else to go. Then she gave them work so they could earn some gold, helped them with tasks and helped them outside of the game. And that was who greeted them when they arrived at the inn.


    Amos fluttered around Ilaria and the two people with him stood to the side and grew tired just watching him. Kei and Faye came to an understanding in that moment and seemed to form a connection only two quiet people could do. And Faye thought that Amos and Jarreth would make great friends if they were to ever meet.


    Ilaria smiled at Amos'' antics and quietened him down, then led them all into the sitting room behind the bar. Only staff and important persons were permitted to enter the room, so they didn''t have to worry about being overheard. Ilaria was tall with short, dark hair and eyes that held wisdom and a calm that would put anyone at ease by just looking in them.


    She was a kind woman who loved to help anyone when and where she could, and this time wasn''t an exception. Happily greeting Faye, she sat her down on the lone sofa that was placed next to a large bookcase and offered her some tea.


    It hadn''t been that long since Faye had been in the bookshop that was filled with her favourite things - books and tea - and seeing these things made her a little teary. Who knew how long it would be before she could go back there again? At this moment, all she wanted to do was curl up on the seat by the window and read. Things had been so simple then, but now it all felt so overwhelming.


    Seeing her teary expression, Ilaria handed her a handkerchief and comforted her. "Oh dear, it''s been hard on you, hasn''t it? Take your time and tell me about it when you''re ready." Ilaria patted her hand and waited patiently for Faye to calm down. "And don''t worry, we''ll do our best to help you. After all, we''ve all been in the same situation and can understand what you''re going through."


    "Don''t worry, you''re safe here."

 26 | The Ones In The Masks

    Back with Nox and the others, no one could think of anything to say after Aldan finished telling them about the missing people.


    The group thought over his words and tried to locate any strange points they couldn¡¯t understand, or where they should begin to unravel the mystery of who or what was causing these people to disappear. There were the people who turned up in the village to talk to the Head, the mist that was suspended over the ground, and the villager who was heard arguing with someone before he disappeared.


    ¡°Is there anything notable about the people who spoke to the Head, or anything strange about them?¡± Eriladar broke the silence and asked the listless old woman. The conversation before, and the trek through the village, had taken a toll on her body, but she and the grandson were the only people they could ask about what was happening.


    The old woman shifted in her seat and replied, ¡°the villagers didn¡¯t have any interactions with the visitors, nor did we see them up close so there weren¡¯t many opportunities to see their appearance. But from what I remember, they were dressed in suits, with dark cloaks and covered heads. They seemed important and were treated with the utmost respect, and no one dared to approach them.¡±


    Sitting by her side, Aldan looked worried about his grandmother¡¯s health and struggled with answering their questions or telling her to go rest.


    Nevertheless, he knew that finding the villagers was important, so he opened his mouth to say, ¡°the last time they were here they passed by as I was tending to fields, and I glimpsed one of them. He seemed a little different to the others with him, more curious, and he stood at the fence for a while and looked at what I was doing. The others were already far ahead and one had to turn back to drag him away. What I saw of him...¡±


    Aldan suppressed a shudder and said nothing else until Eriladar urged him to continue. ¡°The man was small in stature and from what I could tell, he was only in his late teens, but that was all that could be perceived about him. Under the hooded cloak, his face was hidden by a white mask with a red line around it.


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    And through the eye slits, the eyes were... They differed from humans: they were pure black with a red snake-like pupil. His expression was unreadable, and the feeling it emanated when you looked at the mask was chilling. It was as if the mask could see through you, down to your soul.¡±


    A clatter sounded, startling the others, and they turned to see Nox standing up straight, his hands clenched by his sides and with a deep frown between his brows.


    He had been silent all this while, and if it wasn¡¯t for his imposing aura from spending years as a Final Boss in a dungeon, they would¡¯ve forgotten he was there with them. So they were a bit surprised to see his actions now. What was it that Aldan had said that had caused Nox to have such a reaction?


    ¡°Nox, what is it?¡± Out of everyone, Ashlyn was the closest person to Nox, so they took the initiative to ask him.


    Nox controlled his expression and said, ¡°after I left the dungeon, I wandered the game map for a while and only stayed in a town for a few days before moving on. One town I stayed in was small, like this village, and not much happened until they started having strange visitors. Just like the ones you saw.¡±


    ¡°And what happened to that town?¡± Ashlyn asked curiously.


    Nox looked at them with a serious glint in his eyes. ¡°The town has disappeared from the game world. First, the people started disappearing, then the fog covered everything, and after that it was destroyed and no one could get to it anymore.¡±


    ¡°How do you know it¡¯s gone?¡± Taegen listened to Nox with rapt interest.


    ¡°Later I tried to go back there, just to see how things were after I had left but...¡± He took a deep breath in and then continued, ¡°when I got to the teleport array, the magic circle was broken and the light was gone.


    The surrounding ground was dried out and dying plants surrounded the array: it seemed that anything within its vicinity would have no chance of survival, so I left and never returned there again. Later, when I discovered that the town had disappeared, and no one had heard of its existence, it was like it had never been a part of the game.¡±


    The group was all stunned and didn¡¯t speak, making the room sink into an unbearable silence. It was the grandmother and grandson who looked the most stricken, as what their village had experienced so far was the same as the one that had disappeared. It was like the direness of the situation was now sinking in, and they felt as though they were walking down a narrow path with no chance of turning back.


    If no one did anything to change the outcome, they would get to the end of that path and face their deaths with no way to stop it.

 27 | Into The Fog

    After getting enough information out of the grandmother and grandson as they could, Eriladar let them go to get some rest, and then they found somewhere to settle down for the night.


    Unwilling to enter one of the empty houses, they searched for an inn or somewhere to spend the night. It didn''t take long to explore the area, and they soon found a big, abandoned building that had many rooms they could select from. They said farewell to each other at the entrance to their rooms, then went in and there was a stillness in the hallway that was left unbroken.


    Nox closed the door to the room and took a deep breath in. It had all been nonstop since the incident at the bookshop and he hadn''t had the chance to have a proper rest. But now he was on his own and away from all the hubbub, he had a moment to calm his emotions and think over everything that had happened.


    The one he most worried about, however, was Faye. They hadn''t known each other long, but from the moment he had laid his eyes on her outside the bookshop, he had felt a connection with her. This made him decide to talk to the female NPC and get to know her. However, prior to them being able to have a meaningful discussion, the bug had appeared in the shop and transported him to a place outside of the game world.


    Regret always hung over him, but he could not get back to Archeline and Faye, so he had to tag along with the others and wait to find out if it was possible to return to the game. Despite the constant war between regret and hope, he stayed quietly alongside Ashlyn and didn''t fret about it.


    Forgetting about that for now, Nox went to the window to pull the curtains closed and something about the fog made him pause for a moment. Nox looked at the fog, deep in thought, as he ruminated over what made their group different from those in the village that had disappeared and if it had anything to do with the fog or the masked people who had shown up out of the blue. And why had some villagers been left behind?


    What made the masked people take some but not the others? From what he had seen of the grandmother and grandson, there was nothing special about them. And just as he was thinking this over, something flashed by in the fog and entered the shop across from the inn.


    Nox furrowed his brows and watched the shop for any further movement, but none came. Turning away from the window, he strode to the door and exited the room. Inwardly, he questioned why anyone would take the chance and go out when the night had grown so late since there was something suspect and dangerous about the fog.


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    Even if that was the case, he couldn''t let anything pass by that could be a potential clue that could tell them what had happened to the villagers.


    ?


    With heavy breaths, the thin man scavenged through the shop and tried to grab anything that wasn''t rotten or inedible. He had been waiting all day for the evening and for the visitors to leave the streets so he could run to the shop and get everything he needed. Since the villagers started disappearing, life in the village had been dismal and it was getting harder to live day-to-day life as he had done so before.


    The evening was the only time it felt safest to go outside. At first, he didn''t dare to when the masked men were wandering the village and the fog appeared, but after they left, he felt it was a good time to leave his home. Supplies would only last so long and he wouldn''t survive if he didn''t gather up his courage and go to the shops.


    He quickly gathered everything he needed and shoved it into the bag hanging off his shoulder. Then, with a racing heart, he ran to the shop''s entrance and yanked the door open before sprinting outside. He was just over the threshold when a forceful hand grabbed his arm, making him stumble and almost collapse to the ground.


    He had to lift his head to look at the person who had a tight hold on his arm. The man was tall and imposing, with dark hair and crimson eyes that peered down at the one still in his grasp. Taking in the frightful sight, his heart almost seized in his chest and he almost fainted on the spot.


    The man was more terrifying than the masked men and he started struggling, trying to free his arm and get far away from the man as far as he could.


    And before Nox could even say anything, the man pleaded, "please let me go! I saw nothing and I know nothing! I just want to go home." The man was almost crying, and he had to work hard to stay upright.


    Nox saw the man''s struggles and let go. He felt a little disappointed with himself and thought back to when he was in the dungeon and how frightened the players had been when they first saw him. His appearance was something he couldn''t change, nor could he have gone against the demands written into his data, so living life with his normal demeanour was impossible.


    Still ruminating on the past, Nox tried to soften his tone and said, "sorry, I didn''t mean to frighten you. I saw you enter the shop and just wanted to ask you some questions."


    The man heard his gentle voice and calmed down a little. This seemed to be the case of looking rough on the outside but being soft on the inside. He was still shaking and his voice even more so when he replied, "o-okay."


    He had no choice but to follow Nox back to the inn.

 28 | By The Light Of The Fire

    Despite the fire''s light, the shadows still lingered in the room, concealing most of its inhabitants in semi-darkness.


    A man had been escorted to the inn by Nox, who seemed quite intimidating. The man had been caught loitering outside the shop, and as he sat in a wooden chair, he appeared to shrink in the group''s presence.


    The situation was tense as one man faced a group of four, who appeared puzzled by the stranger''s presence. Nox''s decision to bring him back to the inn had left them unsure of his intentions. The investigation on the masked men was ongoing, and now an outsider was brought in. Was there a connection between the two occurrences?


    Eriladar pulled Nox aside and asked cautiously, "is there a reason you brought this man here? And so late at night too. Just look at poor Taegen, he can barely keep his eyes open."


    Nox noticed Eriladar was looking in a particular direction, and upon following his gaze, Nox saw Taegen struggling to stay awake, almost nodding off multiple times, and jerking awake just before his head hit the table.


    Suddenly, he felt bad for waking all of them up over something that could be unimportant. However, the man he had taken to the inn gave him an uneasy feeling, and he suspected he held the key to uncovering more about the masked individuals.


    Nox didn''t answer Eriladar''s query. Instead, he recounted how he had noticed the man entering the shop and that something seemed strange about the way he moved - like he was hiding from something or someone.


    Everyone was gone, from the elderly to the young, apart from a grandmother and her grandson, so they hadn''t expected that there would be another person still in the village. And one suspicious point about him was the declaration that he had seen nothing, nor did he know anything.


    It was like he had mistaken Nox for another person, and there was a possibility that it had something to do with the masked men. What had he witnessed that caused him to be so disturbed by someone grabbing his arm?


    When Eriladar''s gentle and friendly presence was seen, the man felt more at ease, and the trembling lessened a bit. However, when he looked back at Nox, it started up again. The two couldn''t have been more different.


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    Feeling conscientious, Nox moved out of the man''s line of sight and tried to reduce his presence as much as possible. With him out of the way, the man relaxed once more and turned warily to Eriladar, waiting for him to speak.


    Eriladar chose his words carefully: "Sorry for my friend over there. He might look a little rough, but he''s a good person. We''re here to investigate the case of the missing people and we wanted to ask you a few questions. Would that be alright?"


    Panic flashed across the man''s face at the mention of the missing people, but quickly returned to normal: his complexion was just a little more waxen than before. Seeing him nod his head, Eriladar''s said, "maybe you can start by telling us your name. That would make things easier."


    "Saul."


    "It''s nice to meet you, Saul." Eriladar preceded to introduce himself and the others, then began his questioning.


    ?


    The warm glow from the fireplace enveloped the woman sitting beside it, casting a comforting light. A cup of tea was placed before her on the coffee table, and someone kindly grasped her hand.


    Ilaria listened to Faye¡¯s story with no interruption, displaying only a reassuring smile. As a result, Faye felt at ease and recounted every detail, no matter how small. Recalling everything that had happened until that moment was arduous, but it was a relief to unburden herself, and for there to be someone who will listen to her.


    Her tears had ceased some time ago, leaving her with a flush on her cheeks and eyes reddened to match. Her damp lashes framed violet eyes that were cast downwards as she focused on the handkerchief resting in her lap. At present, she felt ashamed for having cried in front of three individuals she had only just met that day. Yet, they didn¡¯t ridicule her and remained silent while she composed herself.


    Since waking up and arriving here, she hadn¡¯t reflected on what happened before or after becoming a player. Adjusting to this new role was disorientating, and it was only now that she was able to process it all. And it left her wondering what she should do now, or even what could she do.


    She had been a non-playable character for a long time, but now she was a player. The experience felt familiar, yet there was something different about it. It would take a while to figure it out. However, she was grateful to have so many supportive people around her.


    Ilaria had to open the bar and asked Amos and Kai to come along to help. Before leaving, she reassured Faye that she was safe and advised her to relax while she was there. Faye thanked her and walked over to the bookshelf to access the books neatly arranged there.


    She reminisced about the peaceful times when she could sit on the chair by the window overlooking the town square and read a book. However, that seemed like a distant memory now that she was alone. Faye picked a book, sat on the sofa, and opened it to the first page. A contented smile spread across her face as she delved into the world captured in its pages.

 29 | The Masked Man In The Window

    Eriladar questioned the man, but it appeared he was hiding some much-needed information. It was most obvious when the subject of the missing people was brought up; he would display unease, which hinted that he knew more than he was willing to reveal to the group.


    Saul felt intimidated by the fierce man sitting behind him, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. Despite the sweat clinging to his shirt, he tried to suppress a shiver while feeling the pressure of the scrutinizing gazes of the people situated around the room. Although he had more to say, his inherent cowardice prevented him from speaking up, fearing the wrath of the masked men.


    Just as he observed the initial arrival of the current group in the village through the window, he did the same when the fog crept in and the masked men roamed the streets at night. He felt afraid as he watched the people leave their homes in a trance-like state and join the masked men with vacant expressions.


    The enticing stares beneath the masks were clearly visible, leaving a lasting impression on the timid man. The memory of how frightening it was threatened to drive him insane.


    He struggled with how he was going to tell the kind stranger what he had seen that night. If it was revealed, how was he to explain that he had stayed in the comfort of his home and didn¡¯t help those in need or raise the alarm to alert the other villagers? He was but a simple man and there wasn¡¯t much he could have done in that situation, but if he had, would those people still be here now?


    Eriladar saw that the man had no intention of revealing any further information, prompting a sigh from him. He reclined in his chair and became lost in thought, tapping his slender fingers on the table. As a group, they had hoped to gain insight from this man about the masked men and their sudden appearance in the village, but their efforts were in vain. The interrogation had yielded no new information, leaving them just as confused as before.


    Altogether they started when the wind picked up outside and slammed the window open, shattering the remaining glass attached to the pane, and raining down to the ground. Shards of glass glistened in the little light of the fire and the group¡¯s hearts pounded in their chests. They had been focused on the man, so the window opening gave them a fright.


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    Ashlyn was the first to recover, and they went over to the window to close it, but they paused at the sight outside. Shadowed figures moved through the dense fog in an orderly fashion - their paces neither fast nor slow. Ashlyn¡¯s heart that had just settled back into place sped up again and they backed away from the window until they were amongst the group once more.


    Ashlyn trembled as the others stared at them, their stares sharp and penetrating. They pointed a quivering finger towards the window, and Taegen quickly approached, gasping in surprise at the sight of the figures outside.


    ¡°Master, you have to see this!¡± Taegen exclaimed and beckoned to Eriladar.


    Eriladar approached Taegen with a serious expression and then turned his attention to the outside. He drew in a breath and protectively pulled Taegen behind him as he continued to study the people outside. The masks were just about visible in the moon¡¯s light: their stride was slow as they moved through the fog, but their heads were constantly moving from side to side as they scanned the buildings for any signs of movement.


    As if sensing something, they collectively turned to face the inn and Eriladar felt like they had spotted him in the window. Gesturing wildly behind him, Nox immediately understood. He ran to the fireplace and snuffed out the flickering flames, causing the inn to descend into darkness.


    Eriladar gathered Taegen into his arms, then slowly stepped backwards, reminding Taegen to match his silent breathing. Speaking softly into Taegen¡¯s ear, Eriladar instructed him to remain as quiet as possible. Taegen obediently nodded and shrunk further into his master¡¯s embrace.


    Eventually making it back to the others, they remained motionless to avoid making any noise. Time seemed to drag on painfully, and soon the masked men arrived at the inn.


    The inn¡¯s occupants had to resist the urge to step back further into the room and instead remain still, trying not to make any noise or movements that could potentially alert the masked men outside. The consequences of being caught were unknown and, therefore, they had to be cautious. One man, that was the closest to the window, turned his head, revealing his eyes, which were all black and had slit pupils.


    It was a frightening sight to behold and Eriladar quickly covered Taegen¡¯s mouth to prevent him from screaming. Taegen grasped his master¡¯s hands tightly and looked at the masked figure with tearful eyes. Throughout their experience as mission-takers, they had never encountered a situation like this, leaving them unsure of how to proceed.


    As the figure glanced into the inn, the sensation of being watched dissipated. He shrugged it off and signalled to the others before they continued on their way down the streets. And once again, time slowed down as the group decided to hold off on moving from their spots until they were positive that the men had all left completely. Finally, they let out a collective sigh of relief and slumped into the nearby seats to rest their exhausted bodies.

 30 | Down In The Caves

    The wind whistled through the empty streets, picking up debris and stirring up a vortex of dust that coated everything in its path. The strong gusts of wind shook the windowpanes and the door, which was already on the verge of falling off its hinges.


    Eriladar and Nox, still shaken from their recent scare, quickly secured their surroundings by barricading the door with whatever objects they could find and using loose pieces of wood to board up the windows. Although it wasn''t a foolproof plan, it provided them with a sense of safety and allowed them to think more clearly, with no immediate threats.


    The fireplace came to life and illuminated the dim room with dancing flames. The group sat in silence around the tables, each lost in thought about their encounter with the masked men. It was surprising for them to come back, especially since there were only three villagers left. What was their purpose for returning to the village if it wasn''t to take anyone else away?


    "If we want to discover what they''re doing, we have to follow them." Ashlyn''s sudden suggestion startled the others, but they spoke with conviction and like it was the only solution. "Hear me out first." They spoke hastily before anyone could interrupt them.


    "Since we''ve got here, we''ve just been sitting around and not making any moves. It''s right to be cautious, especially when we don''t know what we''re dealing with," they paused and then continued to say, "but that will get us nowhere. Before, we didn''t know where to find the masked men, and now they''re back in the village.


    We still don''t know the purpose behind taking the villagers or why they returned this evening. If we discreetly follow them, we might find out what they''re up to."


    The others mulled over their words and Taegen was the first to say something: "I agree with them."


    "Taegen..." Eriladar tried to stop him from speaking further, but he was interrupted by him.


    "I know of the risks, but it''s important to follow them to find out their intentions," said Taegen, who usually had a carefree expression. Now he wore a serious look, and he attempted to convince Eriladar. "We have spells to make us invisible and conceal our movements, and we won''t be detected."


    Eriladar was almost convinced, but he still felt uneasy about the risks involved. "Although I understand what you''re both saying, we must ensure we are prepared before proceeding. Also, we should stay close together and try not to stray too far from the group, to minimise the chances of getting discovered."


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    "So we are doing this?" Ashlyn perked up and asked.


    Eriladar appeared reluctant, but eventually, he nodded. Sitting idle wouldn''t help them progress in uncovering the masked men''s activities. Despite the risks involved, it seemed like the only viable option to move forward.


    ?


    As the masked men walked through the cave, they couldn''t help but notice the impressive stalactites hanging from the ceiling, almost touching the ground. The cave walls were dotted with caverns that required cautious steps to avoid falling into the deep abysses below.


    "Did you discover something?" One masked man turned to the one beside him and, seeing that he was lost in thought, he couldn''t help but ask. "You''ve been absentminded since we left the village."


    "It''s nothing." The man replied and went back to being silent. He had stood outside the inn after feeling eyes on the back of his head, but it had disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Convinced that he was just imagining it the man had rejoined the group and quickly forgot about it, but now he recalled the feeling and had an inkling that there was something amiss.


    He had to join the others in going into the caves, and he couldn''t simply abandon them without a valid explanation. However, he made a mental note to sneak away later and return to the inn to confirm that there really was nothing there. The success of their plan was crucial, so he couldn''t let go of any potential risks.


    If he didn''t speak up about his discovery and the plan failed, he would be held responsible. He had put in a lot of effort to join the ranks of the masked men, and going back to his previous life was not an option, considering the numerous advantages of being part of their group.


    Soon they arrived at the innermost cavern. A warm glow spread out from the centre, where a luminescent orb floated above a podium. Dried corpses littered the ground, and the masked men didn''t spare them a glance as they stepped over them. Thick energy was pouring out of the corpses that were not yet completely spent, and entered the orb at a steady pace.


    The supposed leader of the masked men, his face illuminated by the orb, smiled gleefully down at the floating object and he spread his hand out over the top, making sure to not touch the thing.


    "It''s almost ready." His voice came out raspy and entered the ears of those around him. "Soon what we have been working towards for so long will come to fruition. Just a little longer..."


    Not far away from the masked men, unseen figures peered around the cave''s entrance one after the after. Their shadows were hidden and their bodies were the same as the spell continued to linger over them and kept them out of sight of the individuals in the cavern.


    "What is that thing?" Taegen''s voice was just above a whisper, but could still be heard by the ones closest to him.


    "I do not know," Eriladar answered him.


    And it was true; he didn''t know what the orb above the podium was, or what it was used for, but danger emanated from it and spread out from the cave. It surrounded the hidden people, choking them and making them almost collapse to the ground.

 31 | Life Orb [1]

    The group struggled to stay standing, but they couldn''t hold out for long, and soon they all collapsed to the ground. Luckily, no sound was made, and their presence was still unknown to the masked men.


    Ashlyn looked towards the orb and studied it with their eyes. Ever since they entered the cavern, there had been something familiar about the orb, but they couldn''t quite place their finger on what it was.


    Then something clicked and Ashlyn blurted out, "the Life Orb!"


    The others looked towards Ashlyn and cast them questioning looks. Ashlyn, who like the rest still could not move, kept their voice low and explained, "since becoming an NPC with self-awareness I''ve travelled a lot throughout the game map, and always end up picking up information on magical items, the Life Orb included.


    It was said to be an object that had long been banned from every town, city and village alike. It was found in a remote place and one person took it back to their place of residence. They thought the object was harmless and in the morning they could study it properly to discover its uses. However, as they slept..."


    "What happened?" Eriladar asked and urged Ashlyn to continue.


    Ashlyn took in a breath and felt like their lungs were about to tear from how painful it was. They could feel the effects of being near the Life Orb already, and they hurried to say:


    "Under the moon''s light, the orb activated and began to absorb the life force of the owner of the house, and those that lived close by. Then, as if unsatisfied, it spread out its reaches to every corner of the city and before the break of dawn every single living person was left as dry husks, and were no different to corpses."


    "It was like something had taken the life out of them and left them for dead."


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    "But if it needs moonlight to activate, how did they get it to take the life force of the villagers?" Nox wondered. He was the strongest person there so the orb didn''t affect him much, and he was able to get into a sitting position, but couldn''t do much more than that.


    "Look carefully at the ceiling," Eriladar instructed and raised his eyes to the aforementioned ceiling.


    The cavern was large and deep, and the ceiling was high-up so you had to crane your neck to look up at it. In the rocks above there was a naturally formed circle that showed the moon floating in the sky, and allowed its light to shine through the hole in the cavern.


    It fell upon the raised platform and bathed the Life Orb in its light, making it luminescent and a sight to behold.


    "So that''s how they did it..." Taegen said wistfully then added his own question, "but why hasn''t it done anything to us? Shouldn''t we have been like..."


    It seemed that he had spoken too soon, because fleshbags.not long after he had asked his question their bodies became unbearably weak, and they all found themselves sprawled out on the ground. Their last remaining strength had been stripped away, and now they really couldn''t move at all, let alone speak.


    And just like with the villagers lying haphazardly around the cave floor, streams of light flowed towards the orb, and each of them could feel their lives draining away. Not that there was much they could do about it; the only thing they could do was watch as their life force was taken away and face their deaths.


    Footsteps sounded as multiple feet shuffled towards them and the last thing they heard before everything went black was a low chuckle and someone saying, "looks like some rats have come crawling their way into the cave, and delivered themselves right to us."


    ?


    At some point, clouds had covered the moon and rain poured through the opening above, wetting the cave walls and the ground. The masked men acted like it didn''t bother them and went about their business.


    Droplets of water formed on the pointy edges of the stalactites and landed on the faces of the people chained on the walls. Their legs dangled over the ground with pallid faces.


    A chilly breeze swept in from the hole above and burrowed beneath the skin of one of the hanging men, causing him to shiver and regain consciousness. He kept his eyes closed to not catch the attention of the masked men and he listened in as they discussed their next course of action.


    "Will this affect our plans?"


    "No." The leader answered. "The Life Orb is almost full. People finding this place will change nothing, and it''s too late to stop it now.


    The corpses are almost running out and we''d need to go out and find more subjects. So these people appearing now are what we needed. Once the Life Orb has absorbed everything, we can use its power to become human and won''t need to rely on life force any longer to survive."


    "We''ve been waiting for this moment for so long, so why should we let people who are this insignificant ruin what we have been working towards all this time?"


    Excitement spread throughout the cavern, and no one noticed the people attached to the wall stirring and close to waking up.


    Nox thought of what Ashlyn had said of the Life Orb before they had all passed out. And he knew that if Ashlyn were awake, they might know how to break the orb and stop the masked men from causing any further damage.

 32 | Life Orb [2]

    Nox regulated his breathing and kept his eyes closed, so he didn''t draw attention to the masked men who were still in the area beneath. He was ready for their next steps, but it looked like they would do nothing with the captives at the moment.


    He and the others still attached to the wall were still losing their life force as it was drained away by the orb, and they were physically weakening.


    Although Nox had it a little better, as he had spent time in the dungeon fighting countless players and his strength was greater than most. He could wake up faster than the others, but it still wasn''t enough to fight a group of people by himself. Breaking the chains binding him to the wall would have been simple, but he had to consider his companions and the Life Orb had weakened him somewhat.


    Waiting for Ashlyn to regain consciousness was taking a long time, and all of their lives would be lost before they could wake up. He had to come up with a plan quickly that would save himself and his companions from the draining effects of the Life Orb and get rid of the masked men once and for all. If he didn''t, the remaining villagers would be in danger and the village would end up like the one that had disappeared from the game map.


    He cracked his eyes open slightly and peered down below, so he could observe his surroundings and the people below. There had to be some weakness that he could exploit or some vulnerability that would allow him to break through their defenses and take them down.


    The masked men were focused on the orb and seemed disinterested in their companions. Perhaps it was because they didn''t see any point in dealing with the captives, when it was a guarantee that they were going to die, anyway. Or maybe they were waiting for something else, maybe for further instructions from a higher-up? There was no way to know if there was a person beyond the leader of the masked men.


    Taking into consideration his companions'' weakened states, Nox knew that directly confronting them would be too dangerous, and he needed to wake them somehow and free them from the effects of the Life Orb.


    As he thought of what to do, he felt a disturbance in his consciousness and Eriladar''s voice sounded out in his mind. Sound transmission was a rare magic that was hard to master, so it showed how powerful Eriladar was, and how good he was at hiding his magical prowess.


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    "Can anyone move?" His voice came out hurriedly. "We need to remove these shackles and get rid of the orb."


    "I have an idea." Ashlyn''s voice transmitted into the mind of the ones awake and recited what they had in mind.


    Ashlyn knew about Nox''s time in the dungeon and how strong he was compared to the others, so they trusted him with the first part of the plan. Nox steadied his mind and gathered the strength in his arms and snapped the chains binding his wrists. He landed heavily on the ground, his long hair swaying behind him, and his crimson eyes shot daggers at the masked men.


    He drew the attention of the masked men, who were not expecting one of the captives to still be able to move, and while they were distracted, Eriladar recited a spell to release his own binds and the other captives.


    After they were all on the ground, he picked up the still-unconscious Taegen and moved him safely into an empty cavern that was close by and placed a cloak over him. Then he went back to where the Life Orb was just in time to see Nox fighting with the masked men, and Ashlyn sneaking up on the raised platform.


    The situation was unexpected, and the masked men were weaker than the man who had been a Final Boss for years, so the fight was one-sided, and soon Nox had the upper hand. When one masked man fell down, another would rush up and attack, only to be flung away like the one before them. And with their backs turned to the orb, it was enough for Ashlyn to get near to it without being noticed.


    Eriladar snuck around the back and went over to their side. He too studied the Life Orb and looked for any weaknesses that would make it easier to break it. The orb floated above the platform and appeared flawless, with nothing to exploit, and seemed untouchable. However, it was a magical item, and all magical items had a way to be broken.


    Still using the sound transmission, Ashlyn said, "perhaps we need to break the connection between the corpses and the orb? If we do that, maybe it will be easier to destroy it."


    Eriladar agreed, and he looked towards the strings of light that were slowly being absorbed by the orb. He thought of something and transmitted to Nox, "lead them outside and far away from the entrance."


    Nox didn''t reply and still fighting he moved back to the entrance, and led the masked men away from the cave. When the only people in the cave were Ashlyn and Eriladar, he closed his eyes and then opened them again. The strings of light became clearer and crosses appeared at the ends that connected to the orb.


    Eriladar smiled in triumph and muttered something under his breath before he lifted a slender hand and made a snipping motion. One after the other the strings of light fell away from the orb like they had been cut with something, and they vanished into thin air. And as each one disappeared the orb visibly dimmed, until the last one disappeared and the orb shattered into tiny pieces.


    Ashlyn and Nox watched in astonishment as the dried corpses turned into specks of light and floated up through the hole in the ceiling and became one with the stars above.

 33 | End Task

    Eriladar, with Taegen on his back, led the others out of the cavern and listened as Nox recounted what happened to the masked men as they walked.


    Nox had led the men through the entrance and before he could act further, a shattering sound could be heard coming from inside the cave.


    The masked men didn''t even have time to react when their bodies disintegrated, and all that was left was some dust that blended in with the dirt on the ground.


    Ashlyn looked down at the ground and frowned in disgust at the fact that they could step on dirt that once made up a human being. And they preceded to step more carefully as they followed the others out of the opening, and into the cooling air outside.


    After being in a cramped space for a significant amount of time, being outside was refreshing, and they all consecutively stretched their limbs and rejoiced at the fact they had all made it out alive.


    "What should we do next?" Taegen was awake now and standing on his own two feet, and was looking up at his master, waiting for him to give out any further instructions.


    "We have to go see the grandmother and grandson and tell them the bad news," answered Eriladar solemnly. Then he sighed and added, "this part is never easy, but it has to be done."


    Eriladar had been in this business for a long time - since he was discarded as an NPC all those years ago - and some tasks were simple. Yet others were dangerous, hard to complete, or ended with results that were less than favourable.


    Tasks such as the one they had just undertaken were rare and would almost always end in tragedy. Telling the families of the deceased about their loved one''s departure from the world was never easy, and it was like a blow to the heart each time. He could never get used to doing it, but it was something that had to be done.


    In that moment it dawned on the group how close they had been to being like the dried corpses that were previously scattered on the ground, and they fell silent. Their steps as they made their way to the village were heavy and none of them could find anything to talk about that wouldn''t touch on the danger they were in.


    As they walked, Nox couldn''t help but think of the lives that had been lost in the cavern. It wasn''t like the players who could respawn after losing in the dungeon: these were living people who couldn''t go back to the save point once they died.


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    He felt how far he was from Archeline and how different things were outside of the game. Death was permanent in this world. And it would be the same if he were to ever go back to the real world.


    The gloomy atmosphere hovering over the group remained as they made it back to the village and went to the door of the grandmother and grandson. The village had an added air of melancholy and seemed more dilapidated after the recent events that happened in the cave.


    Eriladar took in a deep breath and braced himself for the tough conversation that was soon to begin, and rapped lightly on the door with his knuckles. The door swung open to reveal the worried-looking grandmother, and behind her was the grandson who had already guessed what they were going to say.


    The grandson''s face flushed in anger as the grandmother stood aside to let them in. He swallowed his anger as the group made their way into the sitting room, and his fists clenched as he took the seat beside his grandmother.


    When they were all settled the grandmother''s usually stern appearance had softened somewhat, and an expectant light shone in her eyes. Hope was an amazing thing, but it could also make someone so anxious they couldn''t focus on anything else. All she wanted was to know that her daughter was ok, nothing else mattered other than that.


    Eriladar noticed the expectant look and the weight on his shoulders felt heavier, and his back hunched where he sat from the burden. He shook it off quickly and sat up straighter, as he wrung his hands in his lap and he opened his mouth to say, "I''m sorry..."


    "You''re sorry?" The grandmother choked as she started to sob and her words became broken as she asked, "so there''s no hope? My daughter... She''s gone?"


    The grandson fell from his seat, shock written all over his face. His mouth kept opening and closing as if he couldn''t find the right words to express the emotions that were wrecking havoc in his body. He ran from the room, resentment boiling within him.


    Deep down, he knew that his grandmother wasn''t at fault for what had happened to his parents, but he still blamed her for driving his parents away and into the paths of those masked men. If they hadn''t left the house that day, they would still be alive.


    Ashlyn made to go after him but sat back down after receiving a look from Eriladar. There wasn''t anything they could do, as this was a family matter. And they had already played their part in informing the grandmother and grandson, meaning they were done here. Nothing they did after that would help, or heal the wounds of the people who learned of the deaths of their family.


    Eriladar apologised again and gestured to the others to stand before leaving the house. The grandmother was left behind, her entire being bathed in shadows.


    "Is this really alright?" As Eriladar''s assistant, Taegen had been through this a lot, but it had never been like this. He felt that there was something more they could do to help, but he couldn''t go against his master in whatever decisions he made.


    Eriladar didn''t reply and his face hardened as he left the village, and boarded the car to return to Skyreach.

 Extra: Mermaid [1]

    Silverport was a trading city, with ships coming and going at all times of the day, and people could be seen milling about the pier that stretched out into the sea. The pier was on a beach that extended along the shoreline and was frequented by the local NPCs and players who wanted to relax before or after undertaking a quest. And on this day, Faye, who had returned to being a player and had joined the Hero''s party, was invited to spend the day at the beach.


    Ashlyn and Nox were included in the invitation, and while Nox would go with whatever Faye decided, Ashlyn was delighted at the thought of going to the beach. They had joined the party alongside Faye, and Ashlyn had long been exhausted from the constant quest-taking and fighting mobs on the outskirts of town and wanted a day to relax.


    They had been enthusiastically running about collecting enough points to exchange for swimsuits and other items needed for the day trip. Since the three of them had become players again, they could access everything that they weren''t able to before, like the system store and a screen that showed all of their stats, inventory, etc.


    Ashlyn had long discovered the skin shop and the selection of summer outfits that had come out during an event the year before. They had told Faye to leave it to them and they would choose the perfect outfit for her: Faye didn''t have a particular style and wore whatever was comfortable, and on seeing Ashlyn''s happiness, she left them to it. Her trust in them was immeasurable, so she knew Ashlyn wouldn''t choose something that would embarrass her.


    After everything was sorted Ashlyn, Nox and Faye used the teleportation array that would take them to Silverport, and met up with Jarreth and the others at the spot that was agreed upon days before.


    Jarreth waved at them cheerily. His blond hair glistened in the sunlight and was almost as dazzling as his smile when he singled out Faye amongst the others, earning a sour look from Nox, who moved closer to her side and took her hand in his. Pretending not to notice, Jarrath babbled about a quest the group had just completed and showed off the items that they had won.


    It had been a long time since Faye could go to a beach, in reality, and in the game. She had been an NPC for a long time and outside; she had been practically fused with the gaming pod and had only recently woken up - extricating herself from the pod and the game. Months of staying in the pod had left her unwell and unable to do anything except get healthy again. But when she felt the sand beneath her feet and the sea breeze, it relaxed her mind and she felt refreshed.


    Sitting on the towel, with Nox still by her side, she planned to sunbathe and finish the book she had brought with her, but Ashlyn had other plans. They urged her to go for a swim, and as if affected by the other''s joy, Faye couldn''t refuse and let Ashlyn lead them to the water.


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    They played in the water for a bit and, while doing so, something sparkled out of the corner of Faye''s eye.


    It was unlike the reflection of the sun''s light on the sea, and it shone so brightly that it went unnoticeable even though Faye was the only one who seemed to have noticed it. And it was like she was being drawn towards it.


    Everything else faded away, and ignoring her friend''s calls, she swam towards it and went under the water. Now, she was able to see it more clearly.


    Magical items were prevalent throughout the game world and were readily available in the game world. From items that could raise stats to ones that would help finish a quest: if you needed it, the shop would have it. But there were also some magical items that weren''t a part of the shop and were instead scattered across the game map, and finding one was a matter of luck.


    Faye''s luck must be good because she had found one under the sea, and once her hand closed around it, a window popped up in her field of vision. The item was round and shone with a luminescent light, and was smooth to the touch. Looking at the information on the screen, the only thing that could be seen was the description and where there should be the stats, there were only question marks.


    With nothing worth seeing on the screen, Faye clutched the item in her hand and started to go back up to the water''s surface, but it was like something was holding her back and pulling her further out into the sea. In the end, her struggles were pointless and came up fruitless as she got swept out into the deepest part of the sea, and was slowly dragged downwards.


    The game was immersive, so pain, emotions and everything would be felt like in the real world. At the moment, the feeling of drowning wasn''t just something that was happening to a character she controlled from the outside but was actually being experienced by Faye herself.


    However, before she could completely lose consciousness, water formed a shield around her body and allowed her to have some reprieve. Taking a breath, her body relaxed somewhat, but the next moment, she tensed up again. Unlike the change that occurred when she went from an NPC to a player, this feeling was something else.


    Crimson mixed in with the sea as it flowed from the slits that had been slashed into the side of her neck, and her ears rang as they stretched and were moulded into something more fin-like.


    Her body started to cramp and felt like it was being stretched, as the skin on her legs stitched themselves together, and elongated as ebony scales started to appear. They covered the surface of the tail that was where her legs used to be, and once the pain disappeared, the water returned to its usual calm, and Faye descended towards the sand below.


    She sprawled out on the sand, the sensation on her back was like a feather that was brushed lightly over her spine. Her mind became cloudy and the blue of the sea was fading to black as her consciousness started to swim, and seemed to ebb and flow alongside the waters that surrounded her. Before everything went dark, her hand slackened against the sand, and the magical item rolled off the palm, and was buried beneath the sand.


    Its light glowed through the sand above and illuminated the beautiful woman, who appeared like a mythical being, with her ebony tail, flowing auburn hair and her eyes closed. It appeared like she was just sleeping peacefully, and the surrounding sea quietened down so as to not wake her.

 Extra: Mermaid [2]

    Eyelids fluttered and slowly opened to reveal the violet eyes underneath. Faye''s vision was blurred, and she closed them and waited for the world to cease spinning. Then she took a moment to inspect the changes in her body and it didn''t take long until she realised something strange about her legs - or what used to be her legs.


    Despite the throbbing in her head, Faye sat up and stared in disbelief. A long, black tail rested on the sand and, still in shock, she raised her hand to her neck to feel the slits that had appeared there. As she examined the tail and swished it about in the water, something twinkled from the sand off to the side, and Faye felt that something like this had happened before.


    Putting the oddity of turning into a mermaid to the back of her mind for a second, Faye moved over to the light and dug away at the sand until the magical item from before came into sight. Once she set her eyes on it, she remembered what had happened before she passed out, and she picked up the item.


    The surrounding sea was lit up by a blast of golden light that enveloped the new mermaid within and gave her skin a lustrous glow. It faded and seemed to enter her body and the light dimmed until it was barely noticeable, but if you looked at her closely, you would see the glow emanating from her pores. And before Faye could react to what just happened, a blue screen came into existence and an image of the magical item could be seen.


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    Earlier, Faye had looked at the item''s information to find that the stats were missing and the description box was blank. Yet now there was now text written at the top of the screen and the stats no longer had question marks beside them: it was all filled in, and Faye hurried to read what they said.


    <u>Mermaid Tear</u>


    The Mermaid Tear belongs to the hidden class: Mermaid and is very valuable. It gives the player the ability to transform into a mermaid and swim freely through the sea and enter the lost city of Setora. It can also raise the stats of the item holder and make them immune to water attacks.


    As a returning player, Faye wasn''t well-versed on classes and their abilities, but she had heard something about the hidden class that would allow a player to become a mermaid. It wasn''t hidden in the sense that no one knew about it; it was the ways to unlock the class that were unknown. And one would have to be lucky to obtain the right to change to the class.


    She studied the item and swished her tail a few more times. It was unlike the experience of her going from an NPC to a Player: turning into a mermaid was better than what she had gone through before. And she would enjoy finding out more things about this ''hidden'' class.

 34 | Return To Game [1]

    All was silent in the car on the way back to Skyreach. Eriladar''s foul mood created an icy atmosphere, causing the others to freeze in their seats, yet the cold air coming in from the gaps of the vehicle was warmer.


    The others kept silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Only Taegen''s concern for Eriladar was visible as he stole glances at him. It was the first time seeing his master in such a way, and he didn''t know how he could help.


    While the tension lingered in the car, Taegen fretted over how he could help Eriladar feel better. The tasks were always challenging and often resulted in disastrous outcomes that could put anyone in a bad mood. It was just that Eriladar had always been strong and was seldom shaken by whatever happened before or after the tasks. So it was difficult for Taegen to see his master in this state.


    After working up his courage, Taegen leaned closer to the driver''s seat and whispered so only Eriladar could hear him. "Master, is there something I can do to help you? It''s hard to see you this way."


    Eriladar was lost in thought until the other person''s comforting gaze snapped him out of it, filling him with warmth. Taegen''s innocent look and the way he was hoping to ease Eriladar''s burdens, even if it was only a little lightened his mood. The tasks weren''t always going to have happy endings, so what was the use of agonizing over them? His job ended when they were over, and he only had to move on and focus on the tasks to come.


    With his eyes still on the road, Eriladar''s smile grew less tense and more gentle. He was thankful for Taegen''s concern and he replied, "your presence and willingness to help are more than enough for me. This task didn''t end how we expected and although it''s upsetting, we can''t dwell on it forever. All we can do is look to the future and hope that the next one will be different."


    "Yes." Taegen relaxed at the sight of seeing Eriladar smiling and sat up straighter in his seat. His body was now closer to where the older man sat, and his face was turned towards the window as he watched the world zoom by the outside. A calming breeze swept over his shining expression and lit up everything around him.


    As the car drew nearer to its destination, no one spoke up and remained quiet. Yet, the silence was now a more comfortable one.


    ?


    After reaching Skyreach, everything was as usual. The familiar building welcomed the group as they stepped out of the car. Eriladar took a deep breath of the cooling air and observed the surroundings. Taegen joined his master in looking around, and they both agreed to forget everything that happened in Dreila and focus on what was to come.


    Moving towards the door of the place they called home, their steps echoed on the stoned pavement. The discomfort vanished as soon as they crossed the threshold, bringing them a feeling of freshness and lightness. The outside world faded away like a distant dream and they could finally relax.


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    Eriladar turned back to speak to Ashlyn and Nox who had entered the building after them. "Let''s hold off on discussing anything tonight, and rest instead. We''ve had a tough few days and I''m sure you''re exhausted. We''ll meet in my office tomorrow and speak then. Your rooms are the same as before and should still be as you left them."


    "I''ll bid you goodnight and leave you to it."Eriladar stepped aside so they could access the stairs and then quietly walked away to enter his office. Taegen followed after him and turned to say goodnight before closing the door, stopping Ashlyn and Nox from seeing inside.


    Ashlyn and Nox dragged their feet up the stairs, and without saying anything, they chose to go into their rooms instead. After they both collapsed into bed, they fell into a deep sleep.


    ?


    They had breakfast in the morning and went to Eriladar''s office to hear what he had to say. There was nothing left for them to do in Farwich, and the anticipation of getting back into the game was overwhelming. Sitting on the sofa, they faced the one person who could help them return, and Eriladar felt the pressure from their looks and he laughed awkwardly.


    Clearing his throat, Eriladar folded his hands on his desk and said, "once a month Taegen and I enter the system space and travel to places that have the energy left over from an NPC becoming a Discarded One. We then bring them back to this place and help them settle into their new way of life. It so happens that today is the day when we will go to the system space and look for them.


    If you follow us, we can help you find the correct door to your world that will allow you to return there. It is not an easy feat, but it is doable. Of course, you have to be willing and follow my instructions if you want to locate the right one. Today is the only time that a gap would open up in the system spaces defense system that will let us through. Otherwise, we would have to wait another month for an opportunity to enter it."


    Ashlyn and Nox exchanged a look and then nodded in unison as they both said, "Understood."


    ?


    Sometime later, they gathered their things and stood in a large room at the very top of the Skyreach. The room was empty save for a magic circle etched into the floor. Lit candles surrounded it, giving the room some warmth and allowing the group to see their surroundings.


    Ashlyn surveyed the circle. Magic circles weren''t rare in Archeline: after all, it was a fantasy game that had a whole array of magical beings that could cast such things. Plus, one could be seen everywhere that was used by Players and NPCs alike to travel to different places on the map. And even with Ashlyn''s limited knowledge, they could tell how high-class this magic circle was and their admiration for Eriladar grew even more.


    It was just a shame that they were going back to the game world and couldn''t ask his advice on magic.


    Nox stood by the outer edge, the glow of the circle lighting up his handsome features, and the glow in his crimson eyes couldn''t be hidden. For the last few days, things had been hectic, so he hadn''t been able to stop and think about what was happening in Archeline, and what Faye could be going through. But now, as he stood by the magic circle, his thoughts were filled with images of her.


    Excitement and longing danced alongside those thoughts as he impatiently waited for the system space to open up so he could meet Faye once again.

 35 | Return To Game [2]

    The system space was just like they remembered: all white and endless, with nothing in sight. And as they moved down it, all the memories from their time in Farwich resurfaced, leaving them with mixed emotions.


    It had been exciting, at least for Ashlyn, to go to a place that differed from the game world, Archeline, and they were excited about all the new experiences they will encounter. However, alongside that was them feeling anxious about the ones that had been left behind to deal with the main computer. And then there was the task and having to deal with the masked men.


    Even though it was only short-lived, being in Farwich was something they would never forget, no matter what happened when they got back to Archeline.


    They walked for a while and Eriladar explained some more about the system space. It was like he was just making conversation to erase his bad mood and to fill the silence.


    The system space was a place of transition and a means to travel between the different game worlds. It appeared empty at first, but when you went over to the wall, a door would open to reveal the world beyond it. And it served as a haven for those NPCs who had been discarded by their respective game overseers.


    And it was Eriladar''s job to guide these NPCs to Farwich, the city of the Discarded Ones, where he would help them start anew. There they would live a life far different from how they did in the game worlds, and answer to no one but themselves. No more would they have to follow a script or be controlled by an unknown entity.


    Coming to the end of his explanation, Eriladar stopped and turned to face a confused Ashlyn and Nox. "This spot will do. If we don''t stop, we''ll be walking forever and you''ll never make it back to your world."


    "Follow my instructions and you''ll be there in no time."


    ?


    The sun was setting, and the fire had dwindled into almost nothing, making it hard for Faye to see the words on the page. It was a telling sign it was time to put the book down, not that she had focused on what had been written.


    She was absorbed in her reading at first, but then her mind wandered and she struggled to understand the words on the page. How could she sit here and enjoy the feeling that the books and tea gave her when Jarreth and the others were fighting against the main computer?


    Thinking it over some more, Faye made up her mind and with a newfound determination to be of some use to the others, she put down the book and raised her arm so her wrist was eye-level with the communication device there.


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    For years she had been nothing but an NPC who gave out information and had nothing in terms of strength, so all she could do was to encourage them. And at the same time find out what was happening with Jarreth and the others.


    She pressed a button on the communication device and tried to make a connection with Jarreth, anxiety bubbling up to the surface as she waited to hear his voice or anything that wouldn''t be complete silence on the other end. But what came out of the device was only static.


    Panic started to creep in as she tried multiple frequencies with no success. The main computer, which seemed to have little influence when they first saw it, was growing stronger and cutting off any external communications. Perhaps it was angry that its important test subject had escaped.


    Her heart raced as she thought over all the reasons Jarreth couldn''t answer the communication device. Staying in the library was no longer an option. It wasn''t right to sit here while Jarreth and the others risked their lives for her sake. It was time to do something about it - after all; the one the main computer wanted was her.


    Standing up she raced from the room and entered the bar at the other end of the inn. It was early evening so the place was filling up quickly, and was already lively. But Faye wasn''t here to soak in the atmosphere of the bar, so she went to the counter to speak with Ilaria.


    Amos and Kai were behind the bar. The grouchier-looking one was sitting on a stool fiddling with his communication device - he had taken it off his wrist and was frowning as he studied it. And the more cheerful one was chatting away happily with the customers. His beaming smile fell on Faye when he saw her coming towards them.


    "Faye! Are you feeling better now?" His loud voice drew the attention of the ones closest to the bar, making Faye a little uncomfortable. She ignored them and returned his smile, although hers was more strained at the edges.


    "Yes, thank you." She answered when she was within earshot. The bar was too noisy to even think, let alone talk, so she had to shout to be heard. She turned to Ilaria and said, "I know you''re busy right now, but I need to speak to you urgently."


    Ilaria looked her over and nodded her head slightly. Then she gestured to the door behind the bar and gave Amos a look before walking inside the backroom.


    Faye followed behind and heard Ilaria speak up after the door was shut, blocking out all the noise from the bar. It was silent in the backroom, so Ilaria''s voice could be heard clearly.


    Her polite, kind self had disappeared, and now she seemed more on edge. "What is it?" She didn''t say anything else, nor did she explain what had put her in a bad mood. However, Faye could guess what was wrong.


    At first, she had thought that there was something wrong with the communicator she owned, but when she saw Kai fiddling with his own, it was obvious that all devices had gone down: the main computer had shut down all communication and wouldn''t allow anyone to be able to contact others. Was this a way for it to gain back some form of control?


    And another thing that Faye guessed was that Ilaria knew Amara, seeing as she had sent Amos and Kai to look after Faye when she was ill. Perhaps when all communication had ceased, Ilaria had grown increasingly worried about Amara, and what this all meant for the players and NPCs of the game. Though, it would most probably be fine for the players, as they could continue to live their lives in the real world.


    Yet, for the NPCs, it meant instant death.

 36 | Return To Game [3]

    "So you want to go back to the bookshop?" Ilaria leaned against the desk and folded her arms in front of her. Her eyes, which were usually gentle, now looked at Faye with doubt and a little pity. "What can you do when you get there? Jarreth sent you away to keep you out of harm''s way."


    "Won''t his efforts to protect you be wasted if you run towards danger?"


    Despite the older woman''s scrutiny chipping away at her earlier determination, Faye refused to let it fade entirely. The one the Main Computer was after was her; it didn''t feel right to hide away at the bar, when everyone was fighting an entity that seemed impossible to beat. She didn''t want to lose anyone.


    Faye glanced at the communication device on her wrist and felt even more determined to help. She couldn''t fight, so there had to be something she could do. Through years of being an NPC, she had honed the skill of obtaining information, which had become her speciality. And that included knowing who the right people to ask were and how to get the information she needed.


    The bar was popular in Archeline and was frequented by a whole array of people: high-level players, ones who have been playing games for a long time, big spenders, etc. There had to be someone amongst them who knew how to win against the main computer without actually having to fight it. The thing was an existence that ruled over the whole game world after all, and couldn''t be fought against with normal means.


    From where Faye was, there was no way to know if Jarreth and the others'' attacks were working on the main computer.


    Looking up from the communication device, Faye replied, "I don''t want to go there directly. I want to help from a safe distance and put an end to this. The one the main computer is after is me, so I''ll have to be the one to defeat it."


    Ilaria stayed against the desk and studied Faye. The doubt and pity vanished instantly, and what replaced them was a look of respect. "If that''s the case, there might be someone I know who could be of use to you."


    "And who might that be?" Faye hid her excitement and asked.


    Ilaria smiled and moved round the desk to the intercom. She summoned a staff member with the push of a button and instructed them to invite someone to the bar. The urgency with which the staff member acted was notable, and it made Faye curious about the person who would soon arrive at the bar.


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    ?


    Nox stood in the spot that Eriladar had instructed him to. Excitement coloured his expression, and Ashlyn beside him was the same. It hadn''t been long since they left the game, but to them, it had felt like a lifetime.


    Eriladar spoke just as their anticipation was becoming too much: "Clear your mind of unnecessary thoughts and form an image in your mind of where you want to go. This won''t work unless you can picture your destination perfectly. There''s no knowing where you''ll end up if your mind wanders to something else."


    "One danger of this is that you might lose a body part, or even worse, your life." Eriladar thought sugar-coating his words wouldn''t help in this situation, and explained everything that could go wrong. "Are you sure you want to go through with this? Farwich is always open for newcomers, and as the leader, I''ll do my best to make your lives there as comfortable as can be."


    Nox and Ashlyn nodded their heads simultaneously. They didn''t have the luxury of staying in Farwich, especially when their friend was in danger, and others in the game faced the main computer. How could they live comfortably in Farwich knowing that they had left people behind in the game?


    "Ok, if you''re sure, do as I said before and open your mind to the surrounding space. Reach out with your consciousness and grasp the strands of light that will appear before you. They will lead you to where you have to go." Eriladar''s soft voice sounded out in the quiet space, and he added, "and this is where we''ll part ways. Once you follow that light, you''ll know what to do next."


    He signalled Taegen to go back to Farwich ahead of him, and as Ashlyn was about to open their mouth to say something, he interrupted them: "There is no need to thank me. It is my job to help those who have lost their way after being discarded from their games. If you find yourself here again, we shall meet again."


    ?


    The two of them kept their eyes closed and didn''t speak a word. Their minds were wholly focused on spreading out their consciousness and feeling the surrounding space.


    The white space was as vast and empty as it always was, but after a while of nothing happening, something shifted in the space and the air crackled like it had suddenly come to life. And out of nowhere, streams of light appeared and flowed in one direction, beckoning Nox and Ashlyn to come forward.


    They were hesitant at first and couldn''t quite believe what was happening. However, Eriladar''s words still rang in their ears, and they followed it without questioning it further: it was the only way they had to get back to the game, and they could deal with any danger that might crop up along the way.


    The beams of light moved ahead, pausing intermittently as if to check if the two were still behind them, and vanished upon reaching a specific spot. The area surrounding them appeared identical to everything else, with no noticeable differences. Yet, there was something ahead that was calling them forward, and they couldn''t help but reach out their hands.


    The air felt solid, and a click was heard as their fingers brushed over the wall, revealing a door that opened up to the familiar sights of Archeline.


    Finally, they were going to return to the game.

 37 | Shutdown [1]

    Upon reentering the game world, Ashlyn and Nox were surprised to find Archeline devoid of its usual activity, with an unsettling silence hovering in the air. The scene was frozen, as if someone hit the pause button, immobilizing both NPCs and players.


    The people stood frozen mid-motion, leaving the two NPCs bewildered as they observed the surroundings. The more they ventured into the suspended realm, the more they realized that something had disturbed the flow of the virtual world, leaving a dark cloud over the once vibrant landscape.


    As they approached the bookshop, it became clear that something had gone awry, and the virtual world had changed since they left.


    They moved nearer to their destination and stopped just short of the large bay window just so they were near enough to see what was going on, but not so much that they would draw the attention of the Main Computer.


    It hadn''t been long since they had been thrown out of the virtual world, but it still felt like it had been a lifetime. Nox and Ashlyn braced themselves and perked their ears as they listened for anything strange. However, there was none to be heard.


    The bookshop was known for being quiet, except when the players had used it as their meeting place, so it wasn''t new. But there was something about the present silence that made their skin crawl.


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    They moved forward a few more steps until they were pressed up against the glass, and in an instant, a dark energy engulfed them. And like before, something made it impossible to see what was happening inside the shop. Ashlyn kept their face pressed to the window, while Nox stepped back and peered about him.


    It was empty on the street, and despite it being secluded from the main square, there had still been a few people roaming about, so why was it that no one could be seen in the vicinity? Perhaps it was because a certain entity, such as the Main Computer, was making it so everyone would stay away from the shop. Nox concluded that if that were true, Ashlyn and he could approach the building because the Main Computer permitted them to, for unknown reasons.


    It knew they were back, yet it had done nothing to stop them from venturing to the shop and nothing greeted them at the door: which meant that it was occupied or could not get away to deal with them. This was the perfect opportunity for Ashlyn and Nox to do what they had come here to do: rescue their friends and destroy the one thing that had turned the virtual world into what it was now. Even if that risked the game shutting down.


    ?


    Today, impatience bubbled within Faye as she anxiously tapped her fingers, her usual calm demeanour replaced by a sense of urgency. While her mind raced with thoughts of the unknown events taking place in Archeline, the quiet wait intensified. The pull of the virtual world tugged at her, worsening her impatience to return and see what was happening.


    The nostalgia of those leisurely days by the window, immersed in books, now felt like a distant memory. The current urgency had replaced the tranquillity of them moments, leaving Faye yearning for the simpler joys of observing the virtual world''s activities from her quiet perch.


    Presently, despite the soothing warmth of the tea in her hands, Faye''s impatience persisted and only grew with each passing minute that stretched into an eternity. The anticipation of the arrival of the person who was going to help with the situation weighed heavily on her, each sigh echoing the unresolved tension in the room.


    Faye got to her feet, pulled on her coat and exited the room. Perhaps getting some fresh air would squash the antsy feeling and calm her nerves a bit.

 38 | Shutdown [2]

    Exiting the room, Faye raised the device once again, only to be met with nothing but static. Frowning at the device, she tapped the screen a few times, but it remained the same. She promptly gave up and leaned against the wall. The coolness on her back calmed her nerves slightly. Although, it still felt like something was weighing down heavily on her heart, with no signs of it easing up.


    In the quiet stillness, Faye found herself transfixed by the stars above, when a loud voice broke the silence beside her, its words unintelligible from a distance. It irritated her slightly, as she had hoped to find some respite from the chaos of the world, only to have that respite interrupted by this person.


    Glancing to the side, Faye found the source of the noise and saw a young man who was in his early twenties. He had dark hair styled to above his shoulders, with a patch of red at the front, and a mischievous glint in his eyes, as he smiled cheekily at the communication device and joked with the person on the other end.


    Faye watched on as the guy continued to speak before she paused for a second and jolted upright as she realized the guy could get through to someone on his device. Everyone else¡¯s had stopped working, so what made this guy different from the rest? Faye hesitated about stepping forward and asking him outright, but she still wasn¡¯t used to talking to people she didn¡¯t know.


    However, she didn¡¯t have time to work up the courage to speak to the guy, because he had already noticed her and had hung up his device. He stood with his hands in his pockets and studied the NPC turned player before him. Then a grin appeared on his lips as he walked towards Faye until he was in front of her and asked, ¡°are you the NPC that Ilaria wanted me to meet? Oh right, you¡¯re a player like us now, right? Were you having trouble with the device on your wrist?¡±


    He fired question after question at Faye, causing her mind to spin, and it took a moment for her to catch up with what he was saying. Looking at him, Faye moved backward slightly and opened her mouth to say the one thing that was troubling her at the moment. ¡°How are you able to use your device?¡±


    It was a question that needed to be addressed urgently. If this guy had a way to get through to someone else, there could be a chance for her to contact Jarreth or one of the others at the bookshop. Or she could call Ashlyn and Nox to see where they had gotten to. She had been anxiously waiting all day, unsure of what was going on. At least now, there was a glimmer of hope in this gloomy situation.


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    ¡°Ah, ah NPC, we can¡¯t be talking out in the open like this. The Main Computer probably has eyes and ears all over this game world.¡± The guy¡¯s smile widened, and he gestured for Faye to enter the building. ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡±


    Faye swallowed the words that she wanted to say and swiftly moved past the guy as he held the door open. Thanking him, she turned to the front and led the way to the inner room.


    Once inside, Faye calmed a little when the familiar smell of books, tea and the fire burning brightly in the fireplace entered her senses and wrapped her up in a tight embrace. It was comforting and eased her troubled mind. She returned to the chair she had occupied previously and sank into its plush cushion.


    The guy chuckled at her soft appearance and perched on the sofa off to the side. He waited patiently for Faye to get relaxed before he took off the device on his wrist and waved it in her direction. ¡°If you were wondering why I¡¯m able to use this to communicate to others, it¡¯s simply because I tampered with it so it¡¯s not affected by the Main Computers blocking system.¡±


    ¡°Then is it like the device that can block out the Main Computer and make the place undetectable?¡± Faye spoke inquisitively. Her gaze stayed focused on the communication device, and the curiosity on her face intrigued the guy who held the device.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± The guy replied and shook the device. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy to accomplish, but I succeeded in the end, which means I can communicate with anyone, and remain undetected by the Main Computer and keep conversations off the grid. Perfect when we need to discuss¡­ sensitive matters.¡±


    Faye couldn¡¯t help but feel some admiration for the guy, and looked back up at him and asked, ¡°may I have a look at it?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± The guy handed it over and spoke while Faye looked it over: ¡°It seems I still haven¡¯t introduced myself. You can call me Alyx, and if I remember right, you¡¯re Faye. Ilaria sent someone to invite me over.


    It sounded urgent, so I came right away. It won¡¯t be like tampering with the device and will take a lot of work, but I think I can work something out. After all, we can¡¯t let the Main Computer carry on with its rampage.¡±


    Faye stopped fiddling with the device and raised her head until she met the eyes of Alyx. The mischievous glint had returned to his eyes: it was like he had found something fun after a long time, and couldn¡¯t wait to get started. However, for Faye, it was a different story, as now she could see a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel, and in her heart, she thanked Alyx repeatedly.


    Things were beginning to change and, if all goes well, for the better.

 39 | Shutdown [3]

    Faye left the inn after thanking Amos, Kai, and Ilaria for their help, promising to return for a visit once everything was over. She followed Alyx to the side of the road and spotted a bike that almost blended in with the darkened street behind it.


    A helmet was held out in front of her. Instead of taking it straightaway, Faye shot a questioning look at Alyx, who simply smiled and replied, ¡°Before we left, I learned that all the teleportation arrays are down, so this is our only option for getting around.¡±


    It hadn¡¯t been long since Faye had gotten to Bleakacre and the inn, but in that short time, the teleportation arrays had stopped working. The malfunction of the teleportation arrays left many people stranded in the various cities that made up the game map, with no means of travelling anywhere else.


    Alongside the arrays not working, players began to notice that they couldn¡¯t log out of the game.


    Panic began to bubble up and was close to erupting. If they couldn¡¯t log out of the game, what would that mean for their bodies that were in the game pods in the outside world? What would happen to them if they couldn¡¯t leave the game?


    They tried to locate the NPCs, but none were to be found anywhere. It was as if they had vanished from the game, leaving no traces behind.


    Even after consulting the game guide or reaching out to customer service, there were no answers. The players could do nothing but remain where they were, waiting for the arrays to come back online or for the chance to log out again.


    Faye felt the worry nicking away at the hope that she had gotten from solving the problem of the communication devices. No teleportation arrays meant that there was now no easy way to get back to the bookshop, and they would have to find another way to get there - which would take more time than was necessary.


    Time was of the essence, and despite now being able to communicate with the others at the shop, she had no idea what dangers they might be facing. On top of that, she did not know that Ashlyn and Nox had reentered the game world and were stuck outside the shop, unable to get inside.


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    No longer hesitating, Faye took the helmet and fastened it under her chin with a determined snap. She got on the bike behind Alyx, who had been waiting for her, and then turned back to look back at the inn. Amos, Kai, and Ilaria were inside, likely getting ready for whatever they might face if the Main Computer couldn¡¯t be stopped. Inwardly, she bid them goodbye as Alyx started the bike.


    A sense of urgency washed over her, overcoming the worry within and filling her with a sense of purpose. ¡°There¡¯s no more time to waste.¡± She muttered as she held on tightly to Alyx¡¯s clothes, and he started the bike. The engine roared to life, the vibrations humming through her body as the wheels began to spin.


    With the teleportation arrays offline and the danger still at the bookshop, Faye knew they had to fix the devices, and then hurry to help her friends. Before the mention of the arrays not working, she had thought that all of this had to do with the Main Computer, but what if there was someone else behind it? Could the Main Computer be doing all of this on its own, or did it have help from outside of the game?


    The answers were out there somewhere, but first, they had to deal with what was happening in the present.


    Through the whistling winds, Alyx told Faye that he lived close to the inn and it wouldn¡¯t take long to get there. This proved to be true when, about ten minutes later, they stopped in front of a rundown house, and a quick glance around the street revealed that most of the other houses were in a similar state.


    Alyx got down from the bike and stood proudly in front of his home. ¡°It might not look like much, but it serves its purpose.¡± He showed a smile to Faye, then he took the helmet from her hand and placed it in the compartment under the seat. Normally, he would store things in the inventory, but that was also inaccessible at the moment.


    Houses in the game were one feature that players could enjoy, and each one came with a password lock. Players could set a password, and share it with their friends if they wished to. It was among the reasons why they enjoyed the game, as they could build, decorate and do with the house whatever they wanted. Materials might have been expensive and often hard to come by, but the quests were enjoyable and kept the players coming back to the game so they could make the home their own.


    Alyx owned a home in the game, and from outside appearances, it seemed that he hadn¡¯t been successful with the quests. His friends pitied him and often tried to offer him some of their materials to help with fixing up the place, but he refused each time.


    It didn¡¯t matter what the outside looked like; it was what was under the home that mattered, which was what Alyx showed to Faye. Among everyone he had taken to his home, she was the only one who now knew what secrets the seemingly unimpressive house held.


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 40 | Shutdown [4]

    The interior of the house matched its shabby exterior. A faint light filtered through the detached shutters outside the window. The cramped space held only a few pieces of modest furniture, appearing seldom used. Faye maintained a polite smile and followed behind Alyx as he led her further into the house.


    He came to a stop at the end of the hallway, and before him stood a small table that had a few ornaments on top, and above it on the wall was a portrait - the subject of which was hidden in the almost darkness. Faye assumed it was unimportant and focused her gaze on the objects below.


    Alyx saw what she was looking at and he turned to face her and said: ¡°The rooms up here, and everything else, is not worth mentioning. I barely spend time here, and stay somewhere else.¡±


    Faye nodded and watched as he slid the table aside, revealing a door embedded in the wooden floor. Unlike the rest of the room, the door was spotless and well-kept, hinting at frequent use.


    Alyx turned back to Faye, his proud smile so broad it seemed his cheeks might split if it grew any wider. The perpetual sparkle in his eyes gleamed as he gestured for her to step back, making room for him to open the door.


    With a quick motion, Alyx crouched down and reached out for the handle hidden in the seams of the floor. Pulling upwards, and using considerable strength, the door opened to reveal a narrow staircase that led down into the darkness.


    The air that escaped through the opening carried an earth, metallic scent and was somewhat refreshing compared to the parts of the house they stood in now. Alyx seemed more relaxed and his excitement at the thought of sharing his interests with another person. He had never had the urge to share what he enjoyed with another player, but something was intriguing about the NPC-turned-player beside him.


    ¡°Follow me and be careful.¡± He took her hand in his and helped her to descend the steps. They were steep and if you weren¡¯t used to navigating them, you might risk falling down them; that¡¯s why he kept a tight hold on Faye.


    Faye¡¯s breath caught for a moment when Alyx took her hand, the sudden contact both unexpected and grounding. His grip was firm, guiding her down the steep steps with care. Despite the surrounding darkness, his touch gave her a sense of security, as if she could trust him to lead her through whatever lay ahead.


    The steps were narrow, and Faye had to keep her balance carefully, feeling the rough edges of the stone beneath her fingertips. The scent of earth and metal grew stronger as they descended, and as they reached the bottom, Faye¡¯s eyes adjusted to the dim glow coming from a lantern hanging low on the wall.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Unexpectedly, the place looked completely different to the house upstairs. The clocks, ticking merrily on the walls, filled the place from top to bottom and dispelled Faye¡¯s preconceptions of the basement. Long tables lined the walls, covered with cogs, gears, springs and blueprints that were hard to decipher. The worn edges of the blueprints showed how much their owner had studied them. It renewed the image Faye had of Alyx from the beginning, and a sense of awe washed over her as she took in the surrounding sights.


    Alyx moved over to a table in the middle of the room and sat down as he took out the communication device from his pocket - it was the one Faye had given him earlier. ¡°Feel free to look around while I work on this.¡± A look of focus replaced the smile on his face as he turned his back on her and began to work on the device. He had told her it would take a while, so Faye left him to it and wandered about the workshop.


    From the stairs, the space had seemed small and cramped, but as she walked about, it was more obvious how spacious it was, and she also discovered that there were doors that led to several rooms. The rooms appeared completely different from upstairs; they seemed to be frequently cleaned and meticulously maintained.


    In the basement, there was a workshop, a bedroom, a living room, and a dining area. While in the game, players didn¡¯t need to perform everyday tasks like they would in the real world. Because people spent more time in Archeline than in reality, they appreciated these spaces.


    That¡¯s also why restaurants and inns were so popular. Eating and sleeping in the game restored a player¡¯s energy and gave them a much-needed break from dungeons or quests. When Faye was an NPC, she couldn¡¯t fully relate to this; she didn¡¯t experience fatigue or need rest the way the players did.


    Faye quickly ran out of things to explore and found a spot to sit. In her hand was a book she had taken from a bookshelf in the living room. It was similar to the ones she usually read, but to her, a book was a book, and that was more than enough.


    Lost in the world of the book, time seemed to slip away for Faye. Before she knew it, Alyx stood before her, having finished altering the communication device. He interrupted her reading and handed her the device.


    Without a second thought, Faye discarded the book, her attention fully on the device. She clasped it in her hands, eager to make contact with her friend, her fingers brushing against it as she initiated the connection.


    ?


    Ashlyn and Nox were still standing outside the bookshop. Whatever was happening inside seemed enough for them to go unnoticed by the Main Computer. This was advantageous for them, but it meant things were possibly dangerous for the others inside the shop. However, they could not get inside with the door still firmly locked.


    At that moment, Ashlyn''s communication device buzzed. To avoid alerting anyone inside the shop, they quickly pressed the answer button before the tone sounded. A familiar, frantic voice sounded from the device, and Ashlyn blanked for a second. The communication device had stopped working a while ago, so it was surprising that someone had managed to contact them with it.


    "Hello, Ash. Are You there? Can you hear me?"